Old City Cemetery

Hi Ladies!

Today I wanted to start a little segment that is near and dear to me, called Historical Thursdays.

I'm such a lover of history.. I even got a degree in it. Two to be exact, one in history and one in anthropology.

Nerd. I know. Plus I work at a museum. Oh my! 

I've always been completely infatuated with the past and the people who lived during different time periods.

These next pictures are from a local cemetery in town, called Old City Cemetery.

Not very imaginative, I know, but the tombstones and statues there are beautiful!

The cemetery has been around since the cities founding, the 1850s.

It's so awesome to think that people were walking in the same place I was over 150 years ago!

              

There are soldiers from the Mexican-American War, the Civil War, and even the Texas Revolution.

There's children as well as adults buried there.

They died from all types of ailments including yellow fever, gunfights, cholera, and of course

victims of war.

I live on a border town with Mexico. At the very tip of Texas.

This is important because it is very influenced by Mexican culture. It once also had German, Spanish, and French people who lived here, as well as contributed to the city as a whole.

Now it is a very heavily Mexican cultural city.

The flowers they put on the graves show some of the burial practices for those of Mexican decent.

I'm sure some of you know at least a little bit about Day of the Dead. 

It's imagery is amazing and it's practices are very old.

People would traditionally, which some still uphold, spend the whole day at a cemetery with the lost loved ones. They leave offerings and adorn their graves.

Even though some of these graves are taken care of most are not upheld. Evident by the picture of the knocked over cross.

Sad really, there's so many awesome gravestones, crypts, obelisks, and statues that are completely decrepit.

This is an opposite example of upkeep. The family obviously comes and maintains this grave.

These are very few and far between from the norm at the cemetery.

There is no complete record as to how many people are buried here because not every burial was recorded.

The records also get skewed due to family lots being broken up and sold into parts.

The tombstones don't always list everyone who was buried there either.

People buried their loved ones and didn't record it anywhere on the markers on the tombs.

That information is long gone.

Brings an air of mystery to the cemetery. Which I think is pretty neat!

Beautiful right?

Hope you enjoyed my mini tour.

With all my love,

Pati

Abigail

Hello ladies!

This weekend was so relaxing and stress free. I didn't do much though.. but sometimes you just need rest. I know I'll have tons to do  in a couple of days so it was definitely a welcomed

rest.

So a couple of weeks ago I wrote a post about my first loves, my kitties. 

Today I wanted to introduce you guys to my dawg. She has been such a big part of my ife in the last year it wouldn't be fair to leave her out.

She's so cute isn't she?? My little Abigail. I love you so!

I've never had a dog before her and I also couldn't imagine the love that I have for her now.

She's so amazing.

The boy and I were actively looking for a puppy from several rescues around town last year.

She popped up on our Facebooks and we couldn't stop going back to her picture.

We called and left messages about her and someone finally got back to us a couple of days later.

She officially came home with us January 2, 2012. 

It feels like she's been around for so much longer though.

Abby was the hardest puppy EVER to train, or maybe it was just my inexperience, but I'm so glad I didn't give up on her. 

She would make messes and chew things up.. It was so frustrating at first. Cats are so much easier to train and they're ready in a matter of days not months!

The love of a dog though, is something else. She is my best friend, my companion, and I know she'll always be there for me while she's around.

She greets me when I get home as if she hasn't seen me in weeks, rather than hours.

This pup is the most active and laziest pup ever. She runs circles outside and loves to chase birds.

I hope she never catches one because she's that quick.

Cuddles though... oh man! She is the biggest cuddle monster ever. As I type this, she is laying right next to me with her head on a pillow.

Perfect example of what is happening right now.

If you were wondering what kind of dog she is, Pitbull mix is your answer.

We thought she was a purebred Pitbull when we got her from the shelter but she never filled out.

I don't think she'll get much bigger than the size she's at now but that's A-OK with me.

I would not trade her for the world!

This is clearly not Abby... but I had to also include this cutie on this post.

Crusher is his name. He's Bob's dog and a big lovable ham.

Abby and Crush are the best of friends. Apparently Crush's first real friend, according to the boy.

They look out for each other and play like crazy whenever they're together.

I love him as my own.

Bonus yawn picture. Such a cutie, no?

Until next time.

With all my love,

Pati

Pizza Mia.

Hey gals! 

So I love to cook. Loveeeee it. It's super stress reducing and calming for me.

The best is trying out new recipes and adding them to my go-to dinners.

I also love PIZZA. Pretty sure it's the best meal ever invented in the history of meals. If you don't agree what is wrong with you?

Last week my sister and I made pizza. Completely down to the dough. It came out scrumptiously delicious.

First we started with bowls..or so I thought. It was a bowl vs. counter top controversy.

Counter top won, as you'll see by the pictures that follow, and it was a MESS.

There's liquids that go into this recipe. I could not keep them contained and ended up yelling at my sister to help me with the mess. Wish I could've gotten pictures but alas I was too busy trying to keep everything on the counter. Silly me.

I knew it was a bad idea from this very first step but whatever I had fun!

Flour on the counter.

This is after we had successfully joined all the ingredients into this amazing looking dough.

At this point I was just happy it was actually looking like dough and not a hot mess.

My mom graciously took this picture because as you can see, my hands were icky-sticky.

We wrestled up all the dough and stuck it into this super cute bowl to rest.

Into the refrigerator it went for approximately two hours. I know, the refrigerator you say? Weird. Just following the recipe. My mom and I were skeptical about it but the dough came out tasty, so no complaints.

This is what monkey was doing while I was cleaning up the floury mess. I caught him mid yawn. haha.

While we waited for the dough we made tomato sauce and onions. Noms!

After we took the dough out I let the kids make their own mini pizzas.

Pia of course HAD to go first.. this is her spreading the dough.

Her posing with the finished product. She doesn't always smile this weird. I'm pretty sure she had something in her mouth. :\

Monkey had his turn next.. but I pretty much ended up doing most of the work for him.

He doesn't have much patience. NO clue where that trait could've come from!? The apple never falls far from the tree..

My sister was the only one who could properly roll out the dough. I'm pretty sure after doing it 8 times in a row she was over it. I tried to help but just kept thinning it out too much in one area.

Needless to say she got the job back.

Pre-baked pizza.

The finished product. They're not the same pizza though. Have no clue why I didn't take a before and after of the same pie. You get the idea right? Doughy, delicious, cheesy goodness!!

Had tons of fun and spent time with the fam. 

Wouldn't have changed anything.

With all my love,

Pati

Jolly Jar

Hiya!
This year feels so amazing already. We have tons of plans in the works.
Super stoked for the million and one things we will be doing this year.
Everything feels so new and refreshing. Which is why I want to remember every little thing.
Soooo.. I saw this on Pinterest a while back and have always wanted to do something like it.

A jar that holds memories you make throughout the year. I started it today and have three things in there already from the past week.

Big events are always what you remember but I also want to remember the small and cute events that make life awesome.

I think Willow was quite perplexed at what in the world I was doing. 

It's cool my kitty. This year will be the best ever!

If you were wondering if I named the jar.. why yes, I did! It's called the Jolly Jar. We will only be making JOLLY 

memories to fill up its insides.

The one for yesterday reads: "bought tickets to Chaos (in Tejas) fun times ahead".

Chaos is a 4 day festival in Austin that has metal and punk bands. I've always loved punk but not the way the boy does.

He's obsessed. He knows every band out there it feels like. Weird.

This won't be his first time going but will be mine. Eeep!

Anyway.. this festival is crazy and I cannot wait to be in the middle of it all. 

May cannot come soon enough!

Are any of you lovely gals making jars?

Let's see them!

With all my love,

Pati

Kickin' this year's butt.

First of all Happy New Year to all of you lovely gals out there.

I hope this last week has been a refreshing new start to the hustle and bustle of the last couple of weeks.

I love the holidays..but oh my are they busy.

I end up being pulled in fifteen different directions. Totally glad it's over.

These are my crazy little minions. Starting off the year in their PJ's. Excuse the poor quality.

I wish I had taken more pictures of them and all the fireworks. Boo.

So goals. Yes, those pesky goals that we all write down and semi finish each year.

This year I will tackle them all. Yup.
I feel so good taking on this new year. Pretty sure this is the happiest I've been. Well ever.


*Volunteer more-- I've had this one on the brain for quite some time. I use to volunteer all the time. Then I had kids, responsibilities, a job... the list goes on. It just feels so good to give to those who don't have.
*Read more-- This one is easier said than done. I have however read three books in the last month and a half. Something I haven't done in quite some time. I have so many books piling up that are dying to be read. Here I come!
*Travel more-- I have a gypsy soul. Truly, I do. I hate that I have to live in one place. The world is so vast and so beautiful. People are awesome. There's so many places to see and lessons to learn. I have to get out more.
*Spend more quality time with those minions-- This one is because I don't feel like I spend my time wisely with them. If that makes any sense? I want to craft more, cook more, adventure more.. etc.
*Blog more-- The little time I have spent blogging has been so fulfilling. I cannot wait to make more friends and meet some of you in real life! The support from all of you is so amazing. Plus this blogging life fits me. I hope it goes somewhere.
*Save more-- I'm horrible with money. It burns a hole in my pocket. I see it this way: I  can't take it with me when I'm dead.. so why not use it?! Bums me out that I need money for everything. Blah. Why can't we barter for things? I'm such a hippy. ha!
*Make time for me-- I need that quality time with myself. The boy is truly so supportive and amazing but I can't forget that I also have my own two feet to stand on. Plus it's quite stressful to not have time with my own thoughts and feelings.

I will accomplish all. I will accomplish all..

With all my love,

Pati

New Year

Via

So this year I'll be having a two part New Year's Eve.

We've been making pizza dough and dessert all afternoon with the fam for an at home night.

(Pictures coming up later on in the week)

The second part of my day will be spent with friends on the beach.

I have a really close nit group of couple friends that the boy and I see regularly.

It's never a dull moment with those guys.

I'm sure somewhere in there there'll be fireworks. Sparklers!! I know.. I'm five. Meh. They're fun!

In the next couple of days I need to sit down and jot down all those pesky resolutions that I haven't even thought about yet.

I mean.. everyone has the usual. Eat healthier. Lose weight.

Those don't have much substance though.

I want something that will be soul-fulfilling? If that makes any sense.

Y'all have fun and be safe if there's going to be one or two drinks involved.

I'll see you in the new year!

Here's to 2013!

With all my love, 

Pati

Austin Adventures Murals

Hiya! Hope you enjoyed the brewery adventure I took you on.

I sure did enjoy being there.

Today I wanted to show you some neat-o murals I found around Austin.

This first one isn't mind-blowing or anything. Just..UVAS (grapes in Spanish for anyone wondering). I just

like the clean lines and that every letter has two different shades of the same color.

This one is one of my favorites for sure. All the geometric shapes that made this face are A-mazing.

The quote on the side "La soledad solo existe cuando abandonas tu ser" is really powerful. It roughly translates to, " You can ever truly be alone when you abandon yourself". 

I stood and stared at this piece for quite some time. 

This one wasn't a mural but rather one of those poster transfer things. Still thought it was cool. 

This mural was pretty weird when I first saw it but after I read about it I like it a lot more now.

I believe it says "Bienvenidos" at the top. It means welcome in Spanish.

There's an awesome Mexican calendar girl and then some type of Greek/Roman philosopher type. 

The philosopher is trying to empower the woman to stand up and have her voice heard through the use of the microphone and the spray paint cans.

The two children at the bottom are actually dreaming all of this up and want it to be their reality.

I LOVE the concept of this whole piece.

This was my favorite one. Visually anyway. I'm obsessed with skulls! 

Something I really haven't shown on this blog yet. I dedicated a whole wall in my house to skeletons/skulls. The element of death is just fascinating to me. Plus skulls are rad and you can't tell me any different.

I'm also a die hard hopeless romantic. I'm a super sappy love story kind of girl. This is just the perfect mural for me all around.

Studebaker! I love those cars. Nothing fancy here. 

Not a mural..but these are all over down town. Art everywhere.

Last mural was this Virgen de Guadalupe one. Really traditional looking Mexican mural. 

It was actually outside of an awesome store called Tesoros. The store had all types of hand made goods from tons of different Latin American countries.

Hope you enjoyed all those. Gotta get these resolutions written up!

With all my love,

Pati