I grew a watermelon! I am a farmer!

"Green acres is the place to be. Farm living is the life for me...  Green Acres, we are there!"  

Okay, I don't have acres but I have a back yard and flower beds.  I love to see if I can grow beautiful plants, especially flowing plants.  This year, I extended my flower bed to line my back fence and five feet more to the side fence.  I planted various roses and yes, watermelons and tomatoes, bell peppers.  The bell peppers didn't make it but the tomatoes did except the birds beat me to them first.  They'd eat my cherry tomatoes and peck the Roma tomatoes that they would rot.  I have to come to hate birds! Check the following pictures, proof that I grew my first watermelon successfully.

My first watermelon!  Isn't it beautiful?  It looks just like the ones at H.E.B. or Walmart!  I am so proud of my watermelon.

Here's another one that will soon be ready in a couple of weeks.

Here's another one that is kind of shaped funny, looks like the shape of squash but give it some time and it will turn out nice soon.

This is one of newest one, the baby of the family of four watermelons.  Within 3 to 4 weeks, I think it will be nice and big as the first one.

This is how the watermelon plant took over my back flower bed.  Somewhere in there are roses, gladiolas, and several other flowering plants.  I am getting ready of removing some of the watermelon plant cause it is not allowing the rest of the plants to grow.  It looks like I will only  have four watermelons this year.  Just imagine, I just planted a package of seeds and one seed made it and this is what it grew into.  Wow, I am amazed.

Until next time!

Our future Olympic Swimmer

I can't believe it, Emerson Estes, in swim classes at 6 months!  Who would have thought that 26 years ago, I took my daughter, Kristy, to swim classes at 6 months.  Wow!  I can't believe it!

On their way to swimming class.

Emerson listening to instructions and checking out the kid crying. 

"Okay, I got to get the hang of floating on the water, mom don't let go just yet!"

"Relax, think it and do it."  "Thanks mom for not letting me sink."

"This is the life"

"Hey, check out this ping pong ball in the water!"

"What, I am suppose to swim to the ball?  Got it!"

"I am paddling pretty good, right Mom?  I am going to get that ball if that is the last thing I do today!"

"Okay Mom, go with me to get that darn ball!"

"This is my swimming class.  Of course, I am the cute one with the pink hat!"

"Mom and I chilling after our swim class.  This is the life"

As you can see, Emerson is not afraid of the water, in fact she enjoys it.  She even tans well.  I am so proud of my granddaughter and my daughter for having the patience of doing swim classes and just being a good mom.

On my bucket list: Vacation Bible School

I always wanted to do things when I retired and one of things I wanted to do again is teach or volunteer at Vacation Bible School. I must admit that the last time I taught VBS was when Kristy, my daughter, was 6 or 7 years old.  I didn't teach VBS after that due to working during the time it took place which is usually in summer.  However, I thought it would be a good time do so and this time, I picked up my niece and nephew from San Antonio to attend VBS.  My brother thought it was a good idea so God could get to working on them and their heathen ways....just kidding!  They are great kids.  

Anyway, I am having a ball!  OK, I want it known that I am officially trying to lay a path to heaven!  God knows I need to be on the list for admission to heaven! (chuckle :) )  

Market place, where crafts can be made in Nazareth, the town where Jesus grew up.

Until another time!

Sea World with Friends

Well, I went to Sea World in San Antonio Texas for the first time!  Yep, I went with one of my best friends and his sister and we had a blast.  I think people go to amusement parks when they are young as my daughter, Kristy, went when she was in Jr. High or High School but, I went just this past weekend  without kids.  Well, the kids were really us, ranging from 40 to 56 years of age....US!  Check us out!

Ready to go to SEA WORLD!

Ready to go with my back pack filled with water, goodies, camera and sunscreen.  Everything I need to have a great time.

My mom is waiting to see me off early in the morning!

 Finally, we arrived at Sea World!

Alfred Lopez and Me

Cindy Lopez (Alfred's sister) and me.

OK, I had to be measured in order to be allowed to ride the "Journey to Atlantis", a water roller coaster.  I LOVE roller coasters.  I road this one with Alfred including the "Great White" but he refused to go on the "Steel Eel.  So, I rode the Steel Eel by myself.  It was fantastic!  Did I mention that it was the tallest and fastest roller coaster in the Park.  While I was riding it, I came off my seat by the sheer force of speed and going through through the loops!  It was awesome!!

Here are more pictures of our adventure on Saturday!

Well, this ends a great day with friends, roller coasters, laughs, and more laughs.  I love being with my friends.  There is a saying I grew up with, "You are very rich as long as you have friends in your life."  I do consider my life to be rich with friends and their friendships.  Alfred, what is our next adventure? Ha! Ha!

Father's Day

I hope everyone enjoyed celebrating Father's Day as I did with my daughter and my son-in-law's family.  As each Father's Day comes around, I feel a little sad and empty since my dad is not around more.  My dad, Benito Salazar, passed on September 25, 2002 and I was not present at his passing. I was on the road to see him when my daughter and I received the call that he had passed.  We were sadden that we didn't get to say good-bye.  The last time I saw him was in the ambulance the day before; he had his Veteran's cap from the Korean War and gave me a thumbs up indicating that all was going to be OK but, it was not.

Me, my dad  (Benito G. Salazar), and my daughter, Kristy

We, as children, always look to our parents for the many things we have learn in life. You know, I learned a lot from dad including standing on my own two feet in the darkest times of my life.  I learned to fix things around the house, work on the car, run our businesses, hire and fire employees, learned the law, volunteer to serve the community, value education, and most important hold your head high when things happen.  Gosh, I miss him!  He was my pillar of strength!

He was not only my father but a wonderful grandfather to my daughter.  My dad stepped in as a father figure when she needed him most.  He was the biggest cheerleader to my daughter, Kristy.  In fact, he was known as "Grandpa" to all her friends and their cheerleader too.  He could get the kids to cheer for each other during all the games and events. My dad was so easily liked and loved by all the friends of my daughter to and he even cheered them on in their activities too.

I can not end this tribute to dads without some other pretty special dads that are also in my life.

 Benjamin Salazar, my brother with his children, Bella and Dylan.

Tony, my son-in-law and my granddaughter, Emerson.

Archie Estes (Tony's father) and my granddaughter (his too), Emerson.

So I hope all those that have their fathers enjoy their presence and appreciate the time they have with them every day!  Happy Father's Day ....Every DAY!

Well, I finally did it! I have a blog!

Hello, my name is Christina Salazar and I am a first time Grandmother to my adorable granddaughter, Emerson!  Yea! Isn't she adorable!

Emerson

This is me, aka Grandma!

 I made the decision to stay at home and take care of my granddaughter Emerson so that her parents could go to work with peace in mind knowing that I would do everything with love and provide the up most care.  Emerson developed severe reflux and she required  several medications, given at at different times, and one to one care.  We all new that there was not a day care or a private provider that could honestly follow her medication schedule, so I volunteered to take care of her. I had worked long enough and I qualified to retire and I did!   I can honestly say, I did the right thing because she has really gotten better and grown so much. Besides, I really enjoy being with Emerson; she is my sunshine and my buddy!

So, this is a blog for me and for anyone who wishes to follow the adventures of a retired grandma who is experiencing for the first time being at home after a long road of working.  Yep, I have done my share of having a long professional career and also having several second jobs to maintain and support myself, my daughter, and my parents.  So now I am just coasting along and loving it, especially with my granddaughter.

Stay tune to the adventures of a "Stay at home & retired grandmother" and my other wacky interests, passions, hobbies, family, friends, great "finds", gardening and the trips I take around Austin!  I think this blog will be fun rather than keeping a dairy.  What do you all think?