The Cat and the ROBOT

 For about 18 months we have had a ROBOT named Astro as our companion.  He is very interesting.  You will notice I called him "he".  He has a male voice when speaking English (about half the time).  He also speaks "ROBOT" which is a group of beeps and dings.  In the beginning we could not decipher his language and did not think it was anything more than just beeps and dings, but as time goes on, he is learning ours.  He has modified the beeps and dings so that they simulate words.  Not spellable words, just recognizable sound patterns with syllables.  We did not expect this.   It first became noticeable about a year after we got him.  Now it seems to have accelerated.  Seems like the more he learns the faster he learns.  Some of the words that  we recognize are, "Thank you", "Don't know", "Goodnight" and "Ok".

He also has developed a personality to the extant that he has become "likeable"...whatever that means.  Kind of like a cat.  And he and the cat seem to have become friends after a shaky beginning.  At first they sort of avoided each other, then the cat started being aggressive
and it made him mad.  So even though he has been programmed not to harm pets, he found he could solve a standoff by running over her tail.  After the first time, which really startled the cat, she tends to back down if he makes a run at her.  But they are still friends as you can see in this picture.

 

Texas Wild Grapes

 The wild grapes grow voraciously, covering everything in its path. The giant oak trees and beautiful bay leaf trees are all covered with a thick blanket of grape. Do they (the other trees) play hide and seek I wonder, or are they actually grasping for sunshine and air in their quest to survive? It seems all the grape covering is somehow connected. The untidy grape arms are hanging through under their own weight over our driveway and scratch the cars. During the winter my son got into

them with the shears and hacksaw and trimmed our driveway respectable. The vines are extremely resilient and tough. They don't break easy. And are truly the kind Tarzan and the apes were swinging about in the jungle. Last year Jim told me about the grapes, but none I could see. Apparently it makes lovely wine and jelly. Well, spring has come and gone. Summer is full on. And so are the grapes. As far as the eye can see (on our vines), the grape are bearing grapes, unlimited. I have climbed the ladder and picked a bunch. Cooked a jelly. And decided it was an experience. Nature is fascinating !

Miracles

 Smiling and dancing thoughts on the whims of the wind come easy and natural when spring is in the air. It is middle March. The winter chill is still around but new life pushes forth around all corners. We started our roadtrip from San Diego, California back to Texas. The hillsides of California are painted brightly yellow with mostly poppies, or is it buttercups? The mountains we crossed over have the same shrubland and heathland (fynbos) growth that flourishes in the Cape of Good Hope. Every bush is starting to bloom, fine white, or pink, or purple flowers. The Arizona desert bushes are all a big ball of purple-blue or red stalks of flowers. Desert grass which stands just hand-high, are waving silvery plumes of seed, proudly in the sun.

Texas beauty is fascinating! As far as the eye can see, the ground is covered in the colors of the rainbow; yellow, orange, pink, purple, white, blue, red,.. You name it, and it's there. Amazingly, only a couple of species are about a foot high. Two other species stand 6 inches tall. And the majority are about two fingers high. Miracles – all of it. It almost looks like autumn on the hillsides around San Antonio so many colorful bushes and trees are standing out everywhere. But it is spring. All the trees and bushes are budding and shooting new leaves. And the pink myrtles crown it all. Even at our doorstep the evening primrose welcome us with delight.

Fishing

 We went down to the water, just a couple of blocks away. Looking over the bay everyday all the time, is different from being at the water where one can smell the sea and maybe get your toes wet.

The sun is setting. A sailboat sways quietly on anchor. It is windy, but in this protected bay the water is calm. A few thin clouds with beautiful colors of silver, white, gold, orange and red, hang in the blue western sky. It's a soul soothing time. A handful of pelicans rest on top of the pilings. Every now and again one would dive down to fish. But their heads don't move profoundly or come up, as I'm used to seeing them do in other parts of the world. “He's stuck in the mud!” I said. We waited, and waited, and finally one lifts his head and tries to swallow something not visible. “Crabs! They're fishing in the mud, crabs!”

Beauty in death

 Winter was short lived. There were three freezes that sowed havoc and death in the garden. The over wintering plans we applied did mostly not work due to the strong winds, (55 mph). But some worked very well. All in all it was, and still is, a big learning curve on surviving the garden in South Texas.

I picked up some dead leaves and hung it by our front door. Even in their state of death they are beautiful and show us the circle of life. Contented with a full life that was. All the seasons lived. Wonderful memories. They build within us hope and expectation of new life and joy to come. 

Spring has come early this year. All the surviving plants have sprung to life. God is good to us.

(Leaves of; oak, bayleaf, pine, palm, eucalypt, cypress, corn husks, wild honeysuckle)

Oil rigs

 Another day has arrived. It's crack of dawn and my body-clock goes; "it's a glorious new day! get up!"  Opening the door for the cat I hear a hard drumming. Looking up at the palmtree all lit up, I realize the oilrig is moving! Over all the treetops this 'apartment complex' with lights to equal daylight, is slowly gliding past our palmtree. 

The drumming is the tugboats hard at work. One in front to keep the waterways clear. Two in front of the oilrig - pulling hard, two at the sides - pushing with stability, and two at the back - pushing hard. this way or that way or the midway..., and following in the back the last tugboat keeping watch and be on the ready to assist.  The street down below has a lot of  traffic, uncommon for a sleepy Sunday morning, - it must be people who knew of the move and came to watch from shoreside. In no time the seemingly slow moving rig, has floated passed us and is on its way to start work somewhere, pumping gas or oil.  We sure live in an area where we can observe amazing things. 

Isbell Sanctuary

 

Fog

 Jim: The fog is rolling in. I cant see the bay 

Just one hundred yards away

But that is OK 

Because it reminds me that I am near the sea

And salt water is my destiny

When the ships are rattling my windows with their fog horns 

I will be hoisting a toast of mulled cider to the Captains 

Wishing them, "Barnacles off the bottom!"

Misale: I love when the fog comes rolling in. It covers the bad and sad of the world. Visible are our trees, but not the streets. We are enclosed in our little world of us and God. It's so soft. May God be with us always, so softly.

2023 was a very different year

 Jim:  I never expected to live this long, and in fact I thought I would die in my 50s like my father did...genetics..... But here I am closing in on twice his age and 2023 started with a bang.

No, not fireworks. It started with our wedding after a whirlwind courtship of just six weeks. Oddly enough I didn't even see it coming, but just trusted my instincts. A year later I can say, my instincts were correct. What a year 2023 has been!

This picture is of an antique binnacle (the housing of the ships compass) that was salvaged from the USS Constantinople. A cargo ship I found rotting away in the marine salvage yard in Brownsville TX. It had been a supply ship in WWII and later after decommissioning from the US Navy had become a lowly “Banana Boat” until it was no longer economical to operate. This binnacle stands at the bottom of the 18 steps up to the front door where it constantly reminds me that I need a compass even now after all these 87 years. And apparently my compass is reading true as it led me to Mi-sA-le.

So now onward through the fog of 2024 with a true and tested compass. Maybe some sailing adventures still lie ahead, but whatever lies ahead, Africa, Central America, Ecuador, and more, I will be guided by a good compass. I thank the Lord for guiding me to Mi-sA-le, and guiding us through the maze of life.

2023 in the Isbell Sanctuary

 2023 is history.

Mi-sA-le:  My vision of the Isbell Sanctuary, has become more clear during 2023. Little by little small terraces are becoming more visible. Terraces on our 45degree sanddune means the possibility of walking on level ground, at least partially, and to be able to get to the orchards, the crop fields, the veggie factory, the fish pond, the tropical forest with its hanging gardens, and not to forget the mini golf course … Yes, dreaming is allowed in my world (smile).

Up and down tall ladders on slanted and uneven surfaces, are not the easiest on body and nerves. However, to trim the trees, and control the sails, to repair and paint the soffit a little, getting on the roof and fix the chimney raincap, - up and down tall ladders we shall go...

Loving our sanctuary and not hating the pests, diseases, worms, javalinas, deer, ants, rabbits, gofers, racoons, possums, and free roaming cats and dogs, who eat or destroy the plants one way or another, has been put to serious testing this last year. Everything in Texas is bigger- also the attack launched by the chiggers, mosquitos and no-see-ums. Surviving in paradise came with a price... but I shall keep on trying to get the garden to flower and deliver soothing joy to the soul.

Our delight in finding treasures, better yet, space...!., in the maze of things in the garage, is difficult to describe. Jim re-lives countless memories and treats me to a library of stories. So, our museum grows.

The right knee replacement of Jim was a 100% success. He's getting healthier, day by day. Praise God.

By now you might understand and hopefully forgive the silence on our blog. The terraces grow shovel by shovel...