Silver Balls, Silver Balls, It’s Christmas Time Here In Texas…
Just Good Stuff, Photography, The Pea | Posted by Jannie on 16 December 2011 @ 9:05 AM 48 Comments
Sooooo….. we were walkin’ in the hood and came upon this giant agave.
So nice, so nice. I photographed it twice.
And of course, I had to get crazy with the 3rd shot.
Now, Dearest Friends and Enablers…
I am off to package up 3 eBay auctions that sold — some of hubby’s model railroad stuff.
Yay, my auctions sold! My auctions sold!!
Then… I have photos to take of 6 more railroad things and get those listed.
Whooohooooooo, Jannie can now hire her bassist and drummer!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Oh yeah, I’m the luckiest person I know!!
Who’s the luckiest person YOU know? And why?
xoxoxooxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxooxoxoxoxooxoxoxoxoxooxoxo
On 16 December 2011 at 10:01 am Vered | Blogger for Hire said,
Congrats on the sales!
Lovely photos.
xoxo
On 16 December 2011 at 11:28 am Jennifer Susannah Devore said,
La femme avec la plus bonne chance? Why, Moi, of course! Oh, and Miss Hannah Hart of the Hotel del Coronado!! (FYI, doll … the continuing stooory of Hannah’s holiday woes dropping today. Will Dr. Harvey & Hildy host a Beantown Xmas? Murder! http://www.goodtobeageek.com)
Merry Christmas to you!!
On 16 December 2011 at 11:43 am Lynn said,
Right now I think you are the luckiest woman alive for encountering such a way cool Christmas display! That’s downright Texan, huh?
I’m pretty lucky for having such good friends like you. xo
On 16 December 2011 at 12:03 pm Hilary said,
Hi Jannie .. I thought you might have kitted out your garden like this – they’re fun … but I love the 3rd photo .. great fun shot .. and then selling off Jim’s model railroad .. well if it gets you a bassist and a drummer sounds a good way to go for me .. enjoy the putting down ‘em songs .. and layering it all together ..
Have a great few days ahead of you .. fun times – especially with Kelly around .. now BB is excellent the way he remembers ‘Seezins Greetings’ .. good for him .. he needs a comforter me-thinks .. cheers for now .. Hilree xoxoxoxoxox
On 16 December 2011 at 12:46 pm Mike Goad said,
How absolutely wonderful!
On 16 December 2011 at 3:12 pm Daisy said,
I love the silver ball decorated agave. It kind of looks like a giant crown for a giant king! Glad to hear your auctions sold and even more glad that you can hire a bassist and drummer because that means you can make more Jannie music, and that’s a good thing. Great pictures, Jannie! Have a good weekend!
On 16 December 2011 at 7:38 pm ayala said,
Nice !!!!!!
On 16 December 2011 at 11:47 pm Patricia of Patricias Wisdom said,
Jannie Funster is luckiest person I know
What great pictures! and Silver Balls. My husband left Texas with one of those big cactus in the back seat of his 1966 Studebaker Commander and brought it first to San Francisco and then the Pacific Northwest – he put white lights on it for Christmas…brought up good memories here…and Kelly points out the size and I loved your pic reflection
On 16 December 2011 at 11:58 pm Jannie said,
Yay! So glad I coded up that custom button for my GreetingCardUniverse ad. Now it’s a pixel-perfect 150 wide, whooohooo.
And I’m wondering who I shall make the next sidebar button for. Hmmn, I have about 30 of you to choose from, ye dVerse Poets.
But back to this post, and ye wonderful commenters.
Hi Vered! I am ecstatic, especially since I’ve started back at square one again with eBay — brand new account. But folks are nice. I am good at eBay. And shipped all 3 today! With delivery confirmation. I so rock, if I may be so bold as to say.
JSD!! You leave juicy Hannah Hart crumbs from your eternal fun sparkly picnic to my heart’s door. Perhaps I shall read on the terrace — well, no. it’s cold here. in bed in the morning with coffee. And have my chef bring my pancakes in bed to read your splendor by. From one lucky one to another….. bisous.
Dearest Lynn, that was on our way down to the park Sunday to see Santa. There I photographed some very colorful kayaks in their storage rack by the river, with The Castle above. I’ll just have to photoshop out the water treatment center’s pipes behind! Seriously.
But happily. Not really that seriously. 
Yeah, that’s a really nice house. They have a cool kidney shaped pol behind that fence. I’ve spied it when the gate is open!!
Dearest Hilary — by comforter you mean BB needs a hot toddy or a blanket? : I think he needs some silver balls hanging off him, but he and I were SO busy all morning with eBay he did not put up as elaborate a new header as his time would allow. He stuck a cute cardinal on this year, tho. Yes, BB fetched the correct size boxes for me, dusted off the bubble wrap, and did a great job sealing and adressing the 3 parcels that Kelly and I posted from the P.O. And only had a 10-minute wait there. GREATER proof of my extreme luckiness. But nope… not my silver balled garden. Tho I did get our Christmas fir yesteday. Have not found the stand yet. But….. I can make one with a bucket and a bunch of landscape stones. Just need a steady hand to hold the tree while I put the rock around the trunk. But back to your comment… Yep, Kelly’s last day of school today, until I think january 4th — which will actually be her first day of team gymnastics. They have chosen her to now move from recreational gymnastics to TEAM!!! She has been so hoping to make team, and doing a great job of paying attention to her coach, so she is moving up. And will get to wear the team leotard! Is growing her bangs out to make a tidy bun easier. And Hilary — great chat with you here tonight — thanks!!
Oh, and I look like a loon in the 3rd pic. But that’s what makes life fun, eh. 
Dearest Mike! I KNOW!!! I am having, like… The. Best. Life. Ever. And I think you probably are too, because you make it that way.
Dearest Daisy. You win a prize for your king’s crown comment. I LOVE it!!! You bring a little poem to this post, and it makes me smile with my heart. And now I’m picturing your agave crown idea atop the Statue Of Liberty. She’s have a ncie Texas Christmas twist with that!!
Dearest Ayala, well my friend who is going to play bass, whom I met as my guitar teacher about 12 years ago said “not to worry” about paying him, which is so sweet, but I will be able to. As I said to a friend in an email earlier about me selling this stuff on eBay… “The Lord helps a Jannie who gets off her butt.”
And I think I’ll check my e-mail now.
xoxoxooxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxooxoxoxoxoxoxox
On 17 December 2011 at 12:03 am Jannie said,
Well, by golly — i LOVE when I’m writing a comment, and another comment comes in, don’t you??!
And to have it be Patricia, is just the icing on my silver balls cake!!
Now, what did she write??? Wow! What year did your hubby do that in? How long did it live? So glad you liked this. Yes, and with Kelly being petite for her 10 years, it makes it look even more impressively big!! Yes, crazy reflection, eh?? Was pleased how nicely it turned out, even with a couple scratches on the ball.
Well…
Now I shall go back to e-mail. There are a few to reply to.
xoxoxo
On 17 December 2011 at 12:10 am Patricia of Patricias Wisdom said,
It was 35 years ago that he designed a whole new energy efficient city in Texas called Flower Mound – While he was at Rice School of Design at the University doing graduate work. He gave the cactus away in SF and so he does not know how long it lived….Flower Mound won him several awards and has been renamed – His community center/ swimming pool were very innovative.
On 17 December 2011 at 12:16 am Jannie said,
Get out of town, Patricia!! What an amazing thing to build a whole energy efficient town. You were newlyweds then? Or before the wedding? Flower Mound Texas. Is there only one location of that Rice School of Design? Seems so famous I think there must be more than one. Okay…. I am for sure Googling Flower Mound, and wonder what the name is now. Very very interesting!! Watched “Thrive” with Kalyani tonight. You’ve seen it, right?? Getting my new bank account at a credit union! And gonna check out the Thrive site to see what else I can do immediately. NO GMO’s!! Free energy. All that. So… you and your hubby — both incredibly talented and amazing peeps — made for each other indeed.
But… first I AM going to that e-mail!!
xoxoxox
On 17 December 2011 at 2:09 am Hilary said,
Hi Janny .. ooh BB is hiding behind the Funster wreath .. he’s peeking to see what else needs to be done … I think by comforter I meant a lovely long warm woolly scarf .. to keep his neck and ears warm … You were lucky with the PO .. So pleased Kelly’s made the team – good for her .. please pass on my congratulations from across the pond. Fun – great to be back for my morning coffee .. cheers and have a very happy day .. xoxoxox with lots of baubles and goodies .. Hilreeeeee
On 17 December 2011 at 2:55 am kaykuala said,
Great to have made the sales Jannie! I have as yet to try some.
Hank
On 17 December 2011 at 9:33 am brian said,
that is awesome…i think it looks pretty cool what a find…almost as good as a goodie i found in my inbox…just saying…smiles……
On 17 December 2011 at 4:39 pm Linda said,
Wow, I’ve never seen an agave plant – and decorated to boot. Merry Christmas!
On 17 December 2011 at 5:58 pm Jannie said,
Dearest Hilary of the Misty Moor… BB has been napping all day. Ahhh, yes, a scarf. A muffler I’ve heard it called too. Yes, SO lucky at the P.O. And many smiling faces there. Plenty of laughter. I WILL pass your felicitations on to the Kellster Re her great gymnastics achievement. We are all pretty pleased and proud. She will now start going to gym 3x weekly, whooohoooo.
Hi Hank. Well, I did a fair bit of eBay in earlier years. And am happy to be getting back into it. Was a little apprehensive the items wouldn’t sell. But I should’ve know to trust the Universe to give me waht I was asking. You should try eBay — it’s fun.
Dearest Brian, ahhh good you checked your inbox. I’m actually listening to that song RIGHT NOW, yes, as I type this. Singing some little counter harmonies.
Linda! Isn’t tequila made from the agave? I think so. Well, there it is.
xooxoxoxoxo
On 17 December 2011 at 9:45 pm Pat Hatt said,
So nice so nice that you rolled the dice and gave a rhyme with your silver bell chime..haha Great shots too!
On 18 December 2011 at 9:28 am Yousei Hime said,
I have to say I’ve never seen that holiday decoration down in Texas, but I’m not there nearly as often as I’d like. Looks like the holiday spirit is flying all over the place in your neck of the woods. I’m sorry to hear about the loss of your friend. Best of the season to you and yours. Burn a little fire, snuggle with your loved ones, and find a peaceful moment to write something wonderful. I know you will.
On 18 December 2011 at 11:59 am Alice Audrey said,
OMG I LOVE it!
On 18 December 2011 at 2:27 pm Jannie said,
Dearest Pat, shouldst I start this verse again. With this mighty cyber pen. Each and every second line. Wouldst be ending with a rhyme. But since the post is done and posted. And my morning toast long toasted. I shall give thee now this fresh one. And bid thee happy Sunday blessings.
Hey, Yousei. Pretty cute and creative, I thought. I think red or green balls would be cute on it too. Or gold. I LOVE gold at Christmas, such a warm and comforting color reminding me that all is unfolding beautifully in the Universe. Ahhhhhh, peaceful moments — they are nice. Puppet show this a.m. And piano recital this afternoon. The sharing of music will be inspirational. And quiet moments of the coming week before Christmas is much anticipated too.
Blessings to you, my friend. Oh yes, glad you got the mp3! This technology is SO AMAZING, eh? This Internet — great little invention.
Dearest Alice Audrey — I am assuming you mean my ebay sales!!!!!!!
Which reminds me — whooooooooooohoooooooooooo — I have my 6 new auctions up. Kelly’s moving up to team gymnastics which will cost more — so any money into the Funster coffers is much appreciated! And if you mean loving it — as the agave tree decorated so cute. Yep!! Wait — you LOVE my reflection in the silver ball, that has to be IT!! That was pretty fun. 
xooxoxoxoxo
On 18 December 2011 at 2:58 pm LL Cool Joe said,
I love the plants with the silver balls! Well done for selling your stuff in Ebay. I’ve sold quite a bit too and it’s so satisfying!!
I hope your new auctions do really well too!!
On 18 December 2011 at 5:00 pm Patricia of Patricias Wisdom said,
My hubby was in graduate school at Rice University in Design Architecture. We were 8 years away from meeting. I was in Graduate School in New Jersey and engaged to someone else. I am sorry I do not know the name of the town, but I think the surrounding town is just plain old ‘burbs…and nothing planned or totally energy efficient…and of course that was 30 years ago – so the town would need updating now.
I have not heard of Thrive except for Dr. Christiane Northrup’s monthly workshop?
I will look it up
Yep Credit Unions are great places and so far here none have been called to task for strange and illegal behaviors.
On 18 December 2011 at 8:23 pm Ravenblack said,
I like how the agave plant is decorated.
What a great idea! Awesome photos. 
On 18 December 2011 at 8:50 pm Talon said,
Love the festive agave!
Who’s the luckiest person I know – well, it’s you, Jannie, of course!
xxxx
On 19 December 2011 at 11:12 am Aimee said,
Haha! Great pics! Congrats on the Ebay sales. I’m glad to hear you’ll be swimming in bass and drum lines
On 19 December 2011 at 11:25 am Jannie said,
Hey, Joey, yep. I know you do a LOT of eBay with all your hats and such. Thanks. I see a couple of my new auctions are selling LOVE when those prices go from red to green, eh??
Hi Dearest Patricia, I found Flower Mound TX, west of Plano. And the town looks like it’s still going strong. Population 50,000 in 2000. Yes, Thrive seems exactly your kind of movie. Kalyani downloaded it for $5 the other night. You have it for up to 48 hours. All about stopping global corporate and banking domination and bringing things local. Getting rid of the Federal Reserve. And allowing “free energy” to be developed, among other things, of course. With love at the helm, of course.! The site is http://www.thrivemovement.com They talk a lot about the world tipping point. And guess what — the universe, and all it’s energy bubbles are shaped like a… get ready for this…. a DONUT!!!
Hey Ravenblack, Dearest — ain’t it cool to the max that agave!!
Ahhhh, Dearest Talon, it’s largely because of YOU and your sweet ongoing friendship that I’m soooooo lucky. Thank you!!
Dearest Aimee — and guess what colors the bass and drum notes will be?? Bass — chestnut, of course. And the drums — summergold Mick Fleetwood summergold!!! Bring on the sweet rhythm!!
Now back to lyrics.
oxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo
On 19 December 2011 at 3:01 pm Lisa said,
That is a very “Texas” Christmas display, Jannie!
Does someone still anonymously decorate random trees along 360 near the bridge? I used to love seeing those on my way to work… but I always wondered if anyone “un-decorated” them after Christmas, or if they were simply left to the wind and rain…
Congrats on the auctions and hiring a bassist and drummer! Exciting stuff!
On 19 December 2011 at 4:08 pm Sara said,
Jannie,
I love coming here!!! You always make me laugh. That picture of the decorated plant is priceless:~) I also like the fact that your replies are as long as mine are. We both must like to talk:~) That’s a good thing, by the way.
Hey, you left a comment and mentioned a mp3 you sent. I didn’t get it because I’ve had problems with that email account. I lost it when I upgraded my Windows to Windows 7. After the switch, I only got new mail in and still haven’t figured how to get my old mail back. Would you mind sending again sometime?
Happy holidays, my friend. Of all the people I know, I have no doubt you will enjoy your holidays:~)
On 19 December 2011 at 5:43 pm Jannie said,
LISA!! Funny, on the way to Kelly’s piano recital yesterday afternoon we remarked at all the trees decorated. The cutest is one done all in pink purses. yes, more trees there each Christmas. Funny too, I had those exact questions running in my ind yesterday, do them come back and clean up the tree. I’m guessing yes they do. Yes, just the 1st 6 tunes for rhythm for now. And 2 more songs to finish writing. And we’ll put the bass and drums on the rest probably in February. The French have a saying — you know it? “Petit-a-petit-l’oiseau-fait-son-nid.” Meaning… bit by bit the bird makes his nest!! Hey, Brian Wilson sometimes takes YEARS for albums.
SARA!! It will be my divine and complete pleasure to send the mp3 again in a minute. I’ll check the email addy you left with this comment. Hopefully it’s your updated one? And if it’s not — I’ll bug you for it again. Was it the ball reflection photo that made you laugh?
yes, I LOVE to talk. When we meet in person I’m sure we’ll both lose our voices yakking so much. 
Long replies are fun. SO many gret friends to chat with here!!
Yep, xoxoxoxoxoxoxooxoxooxoxoxoxo
Now….. where is Miss Snaggle? She must be at work.
On 20 December 2011 at 7:42 am Dr. J said,
I think I stepped on one of those baby cacti while running one day, ouch!
Happy holidays to you and your wonderful family, Jannie Funster!!
On 20 December 2011 at 3:39 pm Kim said,
Love the photos!
I think I’m the luckiest person I know. My family is the best.
On 20 December 2011 at 10:56 pm Jannie said,
Jannie has a little blog.
She has a little tree.
Jannie has 2 little dogs
And now two parakeets.
Yep.
And we still have 2 cats
and a bunch o’ fish.
But back to this comment~!
Hi Doctorest of Dear J… What were you doing in a cactus patch? (Great song title, I think.) Or did a rogue one chase and attack you? Wait, do you run barefoot? Some do I see!
Dearest Kim. That’s AWESOME!! Right in keeping with your Thanksgiving post you wrote. I’m so happy for you! So happy for me! So happy we keep in touch!
xooxoxoxoxo
On 21 December 2011 at 4:54 pm Jeanne said,
Jannie,
Congratulations on selling your auctions!!
Jeanne
On 22 December 2011 at 12:35 pm Jo Mifflin said,
Hey granny knickers
Your photos are so bauble-lisous
Love you all darling…
xoxoxox
On 22 December 2011 at 4:55 pm Jannie said,
Jeannie Jeannie, My Jeannie-Bo-Beenie… I recorded 3 clips earlier today I think you’ll like. Trampolines may be one fo the songs, kind of naughty like Wedgie Wedding.
Yes, and now that Kelly has let me have our shared laptop back for a while, I am going to check my current auctions on this BIG (tho actually, quite small,) computer. 
just not up for the iPhone challenge. Got a Christmas tree stand on sale. But have to either have Jim drill bigger holes for the screws, or take it back. Wrong size hardware. Anyhoo….. I’m sure as soon as I put the tree up (finally) we’ll find the old stand. So where was I? Oh yes, eBay. EBay is a special land with lovely people buying and selling stuff and shipping it around the Universe, and beyond. 
Dearest Jo — gugess what? I saw you in some photos I was shuffling around earlier today on a Great Organizational Christmas Card Frenzy. A nice kind of frenzy, tho. That was after Michael left from our music practice. He’s my bass man! And was my guitar teacher right about the time I went over to your land of the Kingdom that’s United in love and arse-kicking.
your card and parcel will most likely be posted in the next 6 to 9 days!!! NOt bad for me and Christmas this year. Found cards Kelly wrote up for some uncles and aunts in Canada, in 2010. Plus, her grand-parents. But better late than never. And now she can write 2011 ones and the recipients can joyfully compare her hand-writing from last year and now! Ahhh, having a cup of my Throat Coat tea. Can feel me sining better already. 
Dry air in the winter does add on an extra care to be gentle with my voice, and try not to belt out too many Elvis medleys without warming up my chords gently, while I warm up a pot of rum. Just kidding on the rum. Had some wine 2 nights ago, tho. And a beer last week. No. 2 weeks ago. If I had some Kahlua I’d add that and cream to vodka. Had that same bottle of vodka for at least 5 years or so. Nd still probably 5 more years to finish it up for my Christmas “White Russians” unless you come over in the meantime and help me polish it off. I like tequila.
Well, see about eBay now, and if there are any questions from potential buyers waiting. Then… maybe lyrics. Got some sweet bits of line, yesterday. Kinda like a Rubik’s Cube, my songstering goes. Juggle a lot and it al falls into place.
Then see about getting a free video editing download to show you guys a sprig of Kelly at her piano recital…
oxoxoxoxoxoxooxoxoxoxoxoxo
On 23 December 2011 at 12:51 pm secret agent woman said,
I usually think of those plants as being unfriendly. In fact I dug out two yuccas from my own garden when I moved in. But I absolutely love it with the silver ornaments. It looks like a multi-eyed alien!
On 23 December 2011 at 2:08 pm Liara Covert said,
Love your priceless ways of inviting readers to appreciate life, the holidays and wherever we perceive ourselves to be. Happy Holidays to you and yours!
On 24 December 2011 at 5:57 am ayala said,
Merry Christmas!!!!!!
Hope it’s a great one.
xoxo
On 24 December 2011 at 9:01 am Caty said,
I love that, what a great Christmas idea!!! Sorry I haven’t made it by more recently…what a busy month it’s been
On 24 December 2011 at 9:26 am sheila said,
OMGOSH how fun!!!!!!!!!!!
On 24 December 2011 at 2:52 pm Jannie said,
Thanks so much, everyone!!
I am going now to wash my Christmas Hair and get all beautiful for church later.
xooxox
On 25 December 2011 at 3:12 am SnaggleTooth said,
Sorry, btw- thought I commented here already… OK who ate that comment?!!?? (burp!)
The third is the best one! Nifty- A whole world in a shiny ball… Very unique dec idea!
On 25 December 2011 at 9:17 am colleen said,
Your take on the holiday tree makes me smile!
On 27 December 2011 at 5:26 pm Jannie said,
oh hi, Dear Snaggle. yes, the 3rd was fun!!
hi Colleen. Gotta love Texas!!
xoxoxoxo
On 29 December 2011 at 2:17 pm sandy said,
Wow, love that agave plant.
congrats on your sales.
On 30 December 2011 at 11:33 am Alice Audrey said,
All the above? It’s all good.
On 30 December 2011 at 4:56 pm Jannie Funster said,
Sandy — hi, so awesome you popped in. And now I have bass and drums on 6 songs!!!! Moving forward indeed.
Ahhh, Alice Audrey — you crack me up, coming back here and following-up. Very very thorough you are!
xoxoxo
whooooooooooooooooooohooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo