The Birbz

 Porch Doves are a pretty common thing on the Prairie.  You might have some on your patio, and not even know.  Well, last year we took notice of the Doves that were nesting in a basket on our back patio.  We knew they were there, and had been there a long time.  But this year was different, and we had to interact with them.  Kim was very excited about the hatchlings, and it was a magical experience for her.

 But then the construction happened.  We replaced the roof, and some siding, and then painted the patio area.  So, we couldn't let the little Dove family be disturbed by the chaos of construction.  So we came up with a plan to relocate the basket to a safe location.  At this time there were a couple Dovelings in the nest, and the two adult Doves that were managing the nest.  I successfully moved the nest with the Dovelings, but then the adult Doves would not go into the nest in the new location.  One was the greenhouse, and the other was the Oak Tree.

OK, Well that's no good.  So, we had to find some compromise so the adult Doves would go into the nest, and feed the Dovelings.  The compromise was literally in between these locations I had chosen.  In the top photo you can see the basket on the table.  Then Kim used an umbrella to shade the basket.  It was far enough away from the construction that Kim was happy, but also in a location that was acceptable to the adult Doves, and they would come into the basket.  Kim was very happy about her solution.

Eventually the construction was over, and we put the Basket/Nest back on the patio, and the Dovelings lived happily ever after...  Well, I guess, because as soon as they learned to fly they flew away...  But, they are back now that it is almost spring, and nesting time again...

Here is the video of The Birbz...

Redbud Memorial Garden

 We have a little garden in our back yard that Kim has designated as our Memorial Garden.  This is supposed to be the place in our yard which is a memorial for our pets that have passed the Rainbow Bridge. 

 

In 2023 Kim decided to populate the garden with little statues that would represent our Pets.  So we had a couple of Black Dogs that have been around our house for a long time.  She started by cleaning, and re-finishing the two Black Dogs as Dusty, and Lucky.  But we were at an impasse when it came to Lizzie, and Rocky.  So, we searched for a couple lawn statues that were similar to Lizzie, and Rocky.

 We did find some statues that were similar enough to represent Lizze and Rocky.  So, now we have some of our Pets in the Redbud Memorial Garden.  There was another Statue that she re-finished and painted that year, and that is the Porch Pup.  You have seen him...

 

 Then Porch Pup also has his own garden.  See this, Kim even takes care of the Dog Statues.

 

Red

Kim's address book in her iPhone has Terri as Terri RED...

Kim's friend Terri writes...

"The one thing that cracked me up is, Kim nicknamed me "Red" because I had red hair when she met me in 2009. But by 2012, I went blonde. However, just last year she asked me to send a picture since I just had my haircut. She texted back, "When did you go blonde?!"  Kimmie, Kimmie...I've been blonde for years!"

 

Portraits and Time Travel

 Pictures are a portal to days long past.  No they don't actually take you there.  But in your mind you can stretch back to feel the past.  People are very image conscious, and photographs can unlock long forgotten areas of your mind.  Those long ago memories are still in there, in the back of your brain closet, buried under all the more recent experiences.

 This portrait of Kim was created in 1987, when Kim was 30.  This was 10 years before I met her.  So, anyway I was looking for another set of pictures, and found this, along with another couple nice portraits.  This one was done by a photographer.  Its a nice picture, well cropped, then pasted to a matte black poster board, then signed, and dated.  It is simply titled "Kim".

 So, this morning I have been Time Traveling back to the 1980's.  No, I did not use a 'time' machine.  All you need is your mind to go anywhere you want.  It seems that Kim was doing better than I was at this point.  She had portraits...

 This last portrait was one of the Glamor Shots, and I am still looking for that set.  This one is 16x20, and in a frame with glass and everything.  This, I guess, was the Glamor Shot people's idea because the look is atypical for Kim.  I like it, even though it doesn't quite look like Kim to me...

Portrait Picture

 This picture may be a candidate for the Portrait Picture.  I considered using this one as the Avatar for the blog but I like the re-touched photo better for that role.  This picture is a possibility for the Memorial Portrait.  It is a professional picture, but I do not know the back story...

 

Ack Nacks

 Kim's corner shelf has some of those Ack Nacks you will find all over the house.  Normal things anyone one would have like a picture of her Goof Bucket...

 

New Mexico

 The first thing we did with Kim's Coach (RX300) was to go to New Mexico in January, after the holidays.  So it was a couple weeks after Christmas, and the vacation crowds were gone.  It was quiet, and snowy, and Kim loved the scenery, and snow everywhere.

This is Red River when we got there.  The drive from Texas was cold but not snowy.  Going into the mountains there was residual snow, but clear skies.  Then once we were there a blizzard happened, and it looked like above.  Time to goto the start the fireplace, and watch playoff football...

We were in Red River for a few days, and then we went to Albuquerque to see Kim's cousin.  This drive was exciting, and little more snow, yeah, but driving down out of the mountains into the desert with snow yeah...

Kim's cousin had a really cool southwestern house.  Kim was always interested in the Southwestern Style, but this gave her new inspiration.  It was a neat house, with yard art...

The landscape in Albuquerque is quite a bit different.  But it was still cold, and there were pockets of snow around.  The place was very charming, and quite a bit different than was we were accustomed to.  Then the yard art is awesome.

As we came back home I could tell Kim had a bunch of new ideas to play with.  And you can see that in her decorating style around our house.  Definitely southwestern...

Hallelujah

 This is a rare song indeed.  It is a live cover of Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah" by Bon Jovi.  So there is no studio version, and it's not on any record.

Well, this is one that Kim wanted for her Memorial, and the best we have is a live performance on You Tube...

Princess Kim

 There is a story to be told about Princess Kim.  We met in 1995, and were married in 1997.  That same month, and year (August 1997) we lost Princess Diana.  I noticed that Kim was strangely obsessed with the details surrounding the incident.  She watched the news coverage so intensely, and seemed to greatly concerned with Princess Diana.  I did not know this at the time, but she indeed considered herself to not only be a Princess, but also related to Princess Diana.

This was all new to me having just been married.  I thought OK, its a nice little fantasy, and I guess she can play with that if she wants to.  Little did I know that this was going to be a recurring theme in our marriage.  So, maybe five years later, we decided to get a bigger house.  That was a tedious process, and we looked at houses all over Carrollton and Farmers Branch for months.  But, when she finally found the suitable dwelling it was on Kensington...  Kensington?  That sounds familiar...

Well, as I found out later Princess Diana lived at Kensington Palace.  Oh...  Well, OK, maybe she is a little more drawn into this Princess thing than I thought, LOL!  But, yeah it did continue.  The Princess should also have a Royal Coach.  But in this case it is Japanese.  I heard about this coach for many years before we were able to get one.  In 2008 I found a very clean example of the Coach she had wanted since the turn of the century, so this was her Christmas Present in 2008...

This was perfect for Kim, and her Royal taste.  Through the years I have kept this one in pristine condition for transporting the Princess, and her Royal Puppies...

Kim and Harlz

Harley B. Woofington, what a monster, and Kim loves him so much.  Her big fuzzy snuggle buddy...

The B in Harley's name is Beth.  When Kim was upset with him she would call him Harley Beth...

For comparison here is Harley Beth at eight weeks...

Winter on the Prairie

This is the first post for the Kim Barkley Memorial Blog.  I would like to memorialize Kim the way she was in real life, and not just a flowery portriat.  Kim was a part of my life for 30 years, and we have a LOT of pictures of all the things we did together.

Kim's favorite time of the year was Winter, and not just the holidays.  She really loved the wintery weather, even if we were completely snowed in with the power out.  There was one ice storm in 2010 where everything outside was glazed with ice after a freezing rain event.  We had to do a little survival cooking in the fireplace, and outside of the gas grill.  I remember her remarking that it was a special time for her because it was just us and the dogs, and there were no distractions.

This is one of those time where it is frozen outside, and possibly the power is out.  I think this one is in 2011.  You can see the stockings hung on the fireplace, so close to Christmas too.

This is what the garden looked like Feb 12, 2010.  This was freezing rain that continued into the night.  In the morning everything was coated with a glaze of Ice.  It was awe inspiring, and beautiful.

Look, it's Kim in the snow.  Well she likes to be out there a little, seen here with my boots and coat.  She much preferred to observe from the other side of the window where there was heat.  I think all the puppies agreed with her.  They would have a run in the snow, but generally were back in the house within 10 or 15 minutes, and go back to starring out the window.

Kim was always willing to come outside in the snow to take pictures of the puppies in the snow.  Here below is the Wolf Pack, Lizzie, Dusty, and Lucky frolicking in the snow with the Monkey.  I guess the snow took her back to a simpler time when she was a child in Ohio.  Also, after snow, in Texas, everything gets really quiet because the entire city shuts down.  Its weird, but quiet, and serene...