Happy 13th Anniversary to my wonderful son John and his beautiful wife, Erika! It feels like just yesterday we were celebrating their unforgettable wedding at Mercury Hall in Austin, Texas. After months of meticulous planning, the day finally arrived, and it couldn’t have been more perfect. Erika was an absolutely radiant bride, and John was beaming with happiness as a handsome groom by her side.The ceremony was heartfelt, full of meaning, and the reception that followed was a true celebration! We enjoyed a delicious dinner, indulged in the most decadent cake, and then the dancing began. The dance floor was alive with music from every era, and I’ll never forget when my granddaughter exclaimed, “I just got out-danced by my grandmother!” Paw Paw was also in the groove, leading a Congo lin... 09/16/2024

Beckett has officially stepped into the world of cotillion! This past Sunday marked the beginning of her 6-week journey, and she’s already embracing it with enthusiasm and grace. Along with several of her 5th-grade classmates, both boys and girls, Beckett began learning the ropes of social etiquette, following in the footsteps of her big brother Hudson, who did the same at her age. The program kicked off at the Shirley McPhail School of Dance on Sunday, September 15, where the group tackled the art of introductions and learned some classic moves. They practiced the two-step (because, hey, this is Texas!), line dancing, the foxtrot, and more. Next week? It’s all about western flair! Cotillion isn't just about dancing, though. It’s about teaching these young ladies and gentlemen the impor... 09/17/2024

Photo Journalism on September 14, 2024 by Patricia  Hiking is good exercise. On Saturday I hiked the Lewisville Lake Environmental Area. The gate opens at 7 a.m. What I discovered most interesting is the Elm Fork of the  Trinity River that once flowed into the direction of tree lined trails, supplying water to the bottom land plants like pecan trees and inland sea oak grass. In order to build the Lewisville Lake dam, the river was moved about one half mile east. This made me think. The river and the trees responded to changes in the environment by branching out in unexpected ways.  Taking the Cicada Trail I hiked to the old green river.  I walked along the river and there was no break, it was completely green with branches and trees that had been affected. Down below is where the river ... 09/15/2024

Photo Journalism September 15, 2024 by Patricia  This is the story of the little cabin in the woods and other structures too. There was no tour or information booth to get the history on the property owners, so all I can share is what I could only imagine. My story begins on September 14, 2024 in the early morning. The weather was in the low 70 degrees. I took the Green Dragon trail to get to the cabin at the Lewisville Lake Environmental Learning. After miles of hiking through the woods, you can only imagine what I was thinking.  My initial reaction was, what a great place to bring scouts and to teach them about Pioneer Living. The door was locked. The shutters bolted. So I mozied around to look, see, feel, and imagine what life was like back then. Seeing the circle of benches got me e... 09/15/2024