My Favorite Herbs to Grow - Year Round.

It's Awesome!

My herbs don't die here during the winters!

J'aime les fraises...

We like strawberries.

The squirrels like strawberries.

We don't like squirrels who eat our strawberries.

As soon as a strawberry is almost ready, they pick it, they eat the red part 

and leave the stem and the unripened part next to the pot!

Just so we know... 

They are taunting creatures, just ask the dog Chloe, or the cat Tiny.

Sarah was going to outsmart the little devils.

After a couple of hours searching on the web 

&

All kinds of interesting ideas 

&

Some good laughs

Ta... Da!

Sarah's invention!

She made a squirrel scare mobile with sticks, string, glue 

and Mike's new-outdated-obsolete cd's (don't ask me why we are still keeping these?)

We were so proud when the evening came and the ripe strawberry was still intact.

Then night came.

Then morning. 

The strawberry: 

Half eaten next to the pot!! 

URG!!!

We were beaten! 

By the little tauting creature!

Here is Chloe wondering why this dumb invention was even created!

She obviously thinks, she can keep the squirrels away...

With all the countless hours of guarding the back yard she does!

We had to reassure her that she is very competent and it's only for when she is gone...

Boy, can her feelings get hurt sometimes!

When Mom Forgets & 'Can You sing a song'?

How to make sure mom does not forget to buy the Flippers!

 A couple more were around the house and one on my car door handle.

Do you think I forgot today, like I did yesterday? 

Well, I'm happy to say that Amelie showed up today at her Summer Swim Team practice 

with a set of brand new flippers!

    Car steering wheel                  Coat closet                        Kitchen cabinet

 Toilette door                         Front door                      Garage door

Tonight after we said our family prayer, and read from the scriptures, Mike said out of the blue:

Emric, can you sing a song?

Like a 16 year old boy is going to sing a solo at 10 at night!

I found it so funny! 

Well kinda...
Not really, since at that time of night, I just want everyone to disappear...

 I told Emric he could go to bed.

No need for a bed time serenade...

Just so every one knows we are not a musically sound family,

Well, Alexi is, he can hold a tune and play the guitar beautifully.

Justine was also descent at piano when she was taking lessons. 

Unfortunately we left the piano in Ohio when we moved to Texas. 

So sad...

Earth Day

Last week, while leaving the forest, Sarah and I were given, by a nice couple,

3 seedlings of Bald Cypresses (about 5-6 inches high). 

They had some 500 in their truck bed, ready to give out that week-end at a University.

Sarah ended up planting them in our back yard Monday the 22d,

Which happened to be Earth Day come to find out later on!!!

What coincidence!

I already have one of those trees in our back yard.

I fall in love with it over and over again every Spring,

It comes back to life with such beautiful tender green needles...

I hope I can keep at least one of these babies alive to grow strong a beautiful!

All 3 would be a huge success!

Gathering Berry Goodness

Ti's the season for gathering blackberries in the forest!

We washed them, individually froze them, and filled a full gallon size freezer bag!

I now have a good supply for my fruit smoothies.

Half of what we picked ended up in our bellies!

It brought back childhood memories, 

I would go with my sister gather blackberries behind our house in the country, along the Canal.

Then too, half would go in our bellies.

The other half my mom would make blackberry tart and/or jam.

Yumm... all good!

PS Chloe ate a little too many, she seemed to have a tummy ache later on...

Made up Bedroom

Take a look at Amelie's fun bedroom while she has so kindly let Sarah use her bedroom for a week!

Come See! Come See!

Welcome to the Neighborhood Nakata Family Circus Act!

Where: 

Along the neighborhood walking trails.

Bicycle Stunt Act 

The Powerful Dog Chloe pulling a mini hot pink bike, transformed into a high speed moped.

Driven by The talented K9 Trainer Sandrine Nakata.

Real life Moped Sound effects also by Ventriloquist Sandrine Nakata

Balancing Act 

Acrobat & official breaker of sound barrier:
Amelie Nakata
& 

Mike Nakata
In a death and gravity deifying, loud, high speed bicycle balancing act.

Gymnastic/Contortionist  Act

Performed by
* Body Builder Sarah, family friend guest appearance coming to us all the way from Ohio.

* Amazing Contortionist Amelie Nakata

Entrance fee

Free

Disclaimer

Pictures are only a mild sample of the thrilling acts and do not give it a true representation. 

You just have to come and see for yourself! 

Come take a stroll around this normally unusually peaceful quiet neighborhood 

and possibly encounter this amazing & spontaneous family act!

The awe of this family production was witnessed 

(among others, including a young couple from our church, 

who I told to forget they saw what they saw!)

 by an unsuspecting Chinese family during their Sunday stroll. 

With no true understanding of what they were about to witness, 

defied death themselves by making room for the oncoming Circus act 

and stepping from our side walk stage, onto the dangerous road!

Sunday Best

In our Matching Sunday Best!

Just like teenagers!

When in High school, I had a best friend, we would call each other to match our outfits!

Yesterday

After all the yard work, time to eat a yummy Pasta dish I threw together.

Pasta, Olive oil, Swiss cheese, Parmesan cheese, Pine nuts, Rosemary ham, Coruzo sausage, 

fresh basil and oregano, with a sunny side up egg. 

Yeah! A favorite Visitor is Here!

I can't tell you how good it was to have my friend Sarah walking with me this morning in the forest!

To have her in person and not on the phone... 

She arrived during the night at 2 am. 

Poor thing was stuck in Charlotte because of very bad weather, like tornado-warnings-bad-weather!

Anyhow she made it to our house and we are thrilled!

Of course our back yard was delighted too!
This is her first day and what does she do?
Get to work!
Have I mentioned how much I like my friends! :)

Under her care and Emric's help, it is starting to look very nice, 

We were neglecting it a bit these past few weeks...

(It's her in red weeding)

This is moi, putting my feet up.

 After making a delicious salad. 

Lots of yummy stuff  and love were put in it!

Homemade dressing, tomatoes, tuna, (Choruzo sausage for mike) pine nuts, cubed cheese, blue,

 broccoli, red cabbage, cucumber, 

small crispy pan fried potatoes cooked in coconut oil, 

We ate it with a side of toasted Cibratta bread and a 

Champagne infused olive oil with Balsamic Pear vinegar!!!! 

A nectar from strait from Heaven!

Wild Flowers Bouquets

 I love making bouquets of pretty wild flowers I find on my daily walks...

It's cheep and it makes my home pretty.

One of life's little joys...

Next week I will be bringing home wild Blackberries!

I've started eating them on my walks and this time I will not miss making a yummy

Wild Blackberry Tarte!

Don't Laugh!

Today I went with my friend Sandra to her Boxing class!

Boy did I sweat! And I didn't do too bad, kept up the pace... 

My favorite thing was getting a turn at boxing the trainer!

I'm thinking of doing this for a month...

No one mess with me now...

I can see how this can be therapeutic for someone that has... say, anger issues?

Or Someone who wants to feel more empowered. 

Which I like - feeling empowered.

Since I don't, have anger issues, 

I thought about the 2 terrorist from the Senseless Boston Marathon Bombing.

Yes, the blurr is moi!

Doggie Fair

There is always something going on in The Woodlands!

I was planning on going to an Art Festival, but drove by this fun event!

The Art Festival will have to wait until next year...

So we took our Amelie and Chloe to the Yearly Dog Fest at Northshore Park, 

for a couple of hours.

The fair consisted of different booths of local dog rescues organisations, hospitals, 

pet care and the likes, and a few competitions for the dogs and their humans.

Our favorite part of the event:

* Seeing all the different breeds of dogs.

* Watching the Dock Diving competition.

We tried it with Chloe but she did not want to do it.

But she enjoyed the free swimming!

* Meeting 2 cute Brittanies just like Chloe.

* For Mike and Amelie - Eating a hot DOG!

* And I did not like getting a sun burn on my nec!

It was cloudy and it caught me by surprise.

Side note: I love this outfit I am warring!

White Linen pants from France I bought about 8 years ago for $10.

A cute top I found at the High school rummage sale for $4.

Banana Republic flat Stappy Sandals for the outlet store: $24

When My Human is on her Computer

Looking out the window...

Squirrels? 

  She's not moving. It's going to be a while... 

I'll just wait here... and look sad. 

 So sad...

And hopeful...

And patient...

Sad puppy eyes? 

Not working... (sigh)

She moved! False alert... Just a bathroom break. Never mind. 

 Bother...

 I'm sleepy 

One squirrel.

 Two squirrels.

Three squirrels. 

 Did you say 'squirrel'?                                         Stop taking pictures already!

Where's the squirrel?                                          Puppy eyes... Don't you feel guilty?

More sad eyes...                                                  I'm ready! 

I was born ready!

And hopeful...

When Things get a little Rocky

Sometimes things can get a little rocky between moms and strong-willed little girls.

Sometimes we need to take a good look at our relationship, and change some things.

And how better to know what needs to change than to ask the little girl?

So Amelie and I had a little talk about what we can do better to have a more fulfilling relationship.

Where each feels more loved and valued among the business of daily life.

I had Amelie write down a few things I can do better and what she can do better

Amelie for Mom

1. Stop threatening me sometimes.

2. Be more calm with chores.

3. Don't tell me what to do at the same time.

4. Be more patient.

Amelie will

1. Be kinder.

2. Be patient.

3. Be obedient.

(Man, do I love the last one!)

My List for Moi

1. I will cuddle her more.

2. Give her more words of affirmation & praises & 'love yous'.

3. Read books with her.
4. Give chores, one at a time.

You'd think that after 20 years of raising kids I'd be a pro by now!

Far from it!

I fail. I get distracted. I make mistakes.
What works with one doesn't work for another.
Thus the constant need to reevaluate.

 I hope that in some small way, my kids will come out OK. 

That they know I mean well.
I am still fumbling my way through parenthood.

Because I want the best life has to offer for them.

I want them to be happy and fulfilled.

I want them to be strong and courageous when tough choices and trials come their way.

I want them to be good, and caring, and happy.

All that despite my failings as a parent.
They can be all that despite me, because they have potential, they have free agency,
and they can become who they want to be.

Today is Part of Eternity

Blessings at the Lollipop Gymnastic Meet

 We had a great experience this past Saturday.

Besides listening to General Conference in the car on our way to Dallas.

A little background first:

As part of keeping the Sabbath day holly, as a family we do not do sports on Sundays.

Unfortunately, 2 of Amelie's Gymnastic meets have been scheduled on Sundays.

For the 1st one, we got permission from the meet director to have her compete 

on Saturday with a different level from her team.

This time, they told us she could do it on Saturday but with another team from Dallas!

Total strangers for Amelie!

Needless to say she was not comfortable with that!

As her mom, it was so hard to see her so distraught and wanting to be with her team. 

She decided not to go...

Until the last minute, after her coach and I talked to her, she decided to go.

And that took sooooo much courage!

So we packed up the car and drove the 3+ hour to Dallas.

On the way there, she told us how nervous she was.

Which is totally understandable!

And she dreads her beam routine, because she fell the last 2 competitions because of nerves.

I suggested she pray and ask her Heavenly Father to calm her nerves.

She was making a big sacrifice to keep his commandments.

He would help.

So she said a little pray of faith

Well, she did so well! 

So well, that she felt comfortable with the team she was placed with, 

the coaches & teammates were so welcoming and friendly! 

And she did not fall off the beam! 

She beat almost all her previous scores.
And with a score of 36.15, she surelly went up a level, maybe even 2!

Beam  8.500

Floor  8.600

Bars  9.300

Vault  9.750

She was so happy!

And so was I.

I watched her the whole night with a feeling of joy and may I say pride?

At the same time I felt humbled and grateful to a God that answers prayers, and cares deeply about us.

It was wonderful to see my little 10 year old girl be so confident, calm, 

elegant and beautiful in the executions of her routines.

She was like a little shinning star! 

Being the only one from her team, she really stood out in her pink outfit!

Her daddy and mommy only had eyes for her!

And I knew that her Heavenly Father had blessed her as she obeyed one of His commandment.
I hope she remembers and learns to trust her God through out her life.
He is good.

I only have 2 videos this time