Thank You, Goddess!

I am so honored.

I was awarded the Goddess button!  Yup!  For the second time, I was mentioned on the Goddess’ Posts of the Week list for my “Dry Dry Dry” post.  I honestly don't know how she does all she does - and then figures out the best blogs of the week?  Wow.  I am so honored (didn't I already say that?), and for those of you that are new to my blog, coming via the Goddess, you are welcome here to Mi Vida Loca!

The first time I was awarded was in June, when this happened to me enroute to Alaska for vacation.  I had to write about it, that sweet lady broke my heart as she sobbed in the airport.

And this time, it is for my half-plagiarized joke e-mail I received.  I did tweak it, and add to it.  I feel a little guilty.  It is funny, too!

But it is dry in Texas, and I can prove it.  Because my darling little brother and I went trekking Friday afternoon through the oilfields.  The same oilfields that were burned to a crisp about three weeks ago.

And I, being the ammy photographer who wants to get a Pulitzer be somewhat recognized for her merely wanna-be portraits and frantic capturings of everyday life stupid I think they should be posted on every wall in North America pictures try as I may I never quite master the natural lighting ,took some photos.

Just so you could see how Dry Dry Dry it really is out here.

We are top of a hill, looking down at the destruction.

Hundreds of thousands of acres.

A sign of hope - a deer hoof print.

And this?  Looks like water.  But it is...salt.  Dry saltwater river bed. 

Here, at bottom of hill, looking back up to the green.  Across another salt flat.

At the edge of the burn.  See it?  And these are all baby salt cedars,  growing back.
They will ruin the land. Livestock won't eat them.

Closeup of baby salt cedars.  They can grow 12-16' tall

Beautiful - but I don't want them on my land.

Looking up to the hill where we started.

Burned mesquite tree.  Beautiful, even dead.  But look
at the bottom - a new tree is beginning.
Mesquite tap roots grow deep - so should we.

An entire yucca family - dead.  Those little clumps?
They were clusters of grass.

Mequite family - deceased.

Another sign of hope - baby grasses.

Cactus family - deceased.

Healthy prickly pear cactus on another portion of land.
My hunting dogs wish cactus didn't exist!

We SO need rain.  This has been going on for months, no rain and plenty of wildfires. Lots of the fires are started by mere static electricity.  And these fires are killing people, livestock, and wild animals.  


When good ol' West Texas and New Mexico come to your mind, please offer up a prayer for rain - we will be eternally grateful.


And did I say thanks for coming by?  I greatly appreciate it.  And Goddess?  You rock!