Stormy Time in Forest Hills

Yes, we had a stormy day Thursday. Sometimes I wonder if we are in our own little tornado alley. We've had a few weird storms in the 15 years I've lived in Forest Hills. When Bob and I went walking this morning, FLASH didn't have her camera. Got my strength back during my after walk power nap and hit the road with my trusty camera. I met Nancy Visser, star reporter with eastdallasblog.dallasnews.com. She couldn't believe the devastation either. Seeing the big beautiful fallen oaks made me rant to her about the developers who came in and knocked them down for the joy of building track house McMansions, many still empty. We lose enough trees to old age and weather. Don't need developers with no heart cutting them down. But I do rant on.

Notice that each fallen tree pictured did the right thing and fell away from the house. Even in death, our trees are the best trees.

When we walked BlackJack last night my flashlight helped us pick our way through the debris. You can't believe how clean our street was on tonight's walk even with piles of branches stacked high in neighbor's yards. Amazing. We do live in the best neighborhood and by neighborhood I always include Little Forest Hills and Casa Linda.

More State Fair sculpture pictures

More State Fair photos. Let's begin with Richard's blue totem tribute to his rooster Rudy, really a great piece. Then Staci's mosaic's flamingo in a shell. You have to get very close to her piece and see all the interesting little pieces she's mosaiced with. I see something new each time. Last is Tanya's totem. Bob and I were at the garden the other night and we happen to walk in front of her piece. There was a street light behind it making the face shine. Went to the Fair with the Forest Hills Garden Club Thursday. Saw the face on Tanya's piece with the sun behind it making it shine on it's own. Too cool. Dolores, a landscape designer, was impressed with the show as were the garden girls.

There was a lady weeding a landscape bed while we critiqued it. Oops! We were going on about how some plants should have been planted in the shade and other little comments. If there was an academy award for saying the wrong thing when the person is standing right behind you - I'd be the yearly winner. And what do I know about what plants to plant when or how?

Oh, but mosaics I do know a little about. When Bob and I went out to walk with BlackJack this morning we noticed a bunch of boxes on the curb by the newest closest McMansion to us. When we walk in the mornings I always make disparaging remarks about that house. Anyway, in the boxes were plates - colored plates, not just white plates they'd thrown out. Cool for mosaics. Then they threw out some bowls, great for mixing thinset and grout. Jackpot! I might have to quit grumping about that McMansion. NOT! Darling Bob carried most of the stuff home while 65 pounds of BlackJack was staining at the leash he was holding. So nice to be married to someone who'd not embarrassed I'm a curb shopper.

McMansions, sales and such

Bob and I stopped in at the sale on Forest Hills Boulevard this morning.  Knew something was up when we saw the address was at a McMansion.   I had assumed it was an estates sale with a builder "build to suit" sign out front.  Bob's a good sport about this if it's on the way.  We looked at each other as we were walking toward the back yard and knew it would be brief.

As we were leaving Bob said, "That looks like furniture and decorator items they put in these McMansions to sell them."  I said, "Yes, and all the ladies there seem to be working the sale."  As we're walking out we both said almost at the same time, "Check out the cars."  There were 5 white SUV's that looked exactly alike to me parked one behind the other and on the other side of the driveway two similar black SUV's were parked.  We were the only customers there so we know the vehicles belonged to the people who were working the sale.   

I'm going to have to keep my camera around my neck from now on.  But then again, this all kinda scared me so better not to have a picture.  I guess Forest Hills Blvd. is going the way of Santa Clara.  How did this happen?  

My dear friend, Jamie, told me she received the most wonderful gift the other day.  Someone took a picture of her house and framed it.  She said, "You know when we leave our house someone will tear it down, but at least I'll have my photo".  So sad we all think we're the last owners of our happy homes and giant trees.  And we probably are. 

In Kathy's Garden

Here's Donna (heart of the tour) with Kathy in Kathy's beautiful, peaceful garden.  I'd peaked in her yard a few years ago before she bought her home when I went to a garage sale next door, which is a McMansion.  JoAnn and I went to the garage sale so we could complain to each other after about how much we hate the tacky McMansions.  As we were walking up the driveway we got a peek at the mosaic archway next door.  We snuck over to the gate and looked in the back yard, which was charming.  Of course we worried when the for sale sign went up a few years later.   Thank goodness the Glenn's bought the home and in their care the yard is a showplace.  The Glenn's obviously support the "Forest" in Forest Hills.  We adore them.