Shanana/Mia's happy birthday

<>

Shanana/Mia and Uncle Tyghe after lunch in Austin

Thank you, everyone, for a most happy birthday!  Emma, Al, and Joyce left "Happy Birthday" on the answering machine.  I can play it and enjoy it over and over.  And Mya put a video of herself singing "Happy Birthday" to Mia on her blog.  Thank you, Mya!  You make me smile.  And Otis played with his train in the background while Skyler and LaWanda sent birthday wishes.  Not to mention that Tyghe and I had a long lunch together.  What a fabulous day!

Mr. Jeff at Work

Mr. Jeff and Papa/Papa Papa talk about the poor hackberry tree that will find a new home as mulch in someone's garden.

Mr. Jeff took part of our fence and part of  Ms. Lisa's fence down to drag the branch from her swimming pool through to Mr. Neighbor's yard where the hackberry tree was  for chipping.

Papa/Papa Papa rares back for the hurl

Papa/Papa Papa putting the melon (Papa/Papa papa says anyone with too much sports time on their hands knows what "putting" means)

The Great Watermelon Hurl

Papa/Papa Papa is winding up.

Okay, so things are kinda slow at 1303 Alguno Road.  But we have our fun.  Like when Papa/Papa Papa demonstrates his fastball form by hurling watermelon rinds out to the compost heap about 60 feet 6 inches from the deck.  You baseball fans will know that's the distance betwen the pitcher's mound and homeplate.

Hackberry Tree Trimmed

A limb from this hackberry tree fell into our backyard and across the fence into the neighbor's swimming pool.  Luckily for us, Mr. Jeff knows how to cut down trees that are about to fall over.  Here's Mr. Jeff's ladder leaning against the tree with ropes anchoring limbs to be cut.  Skyler knows how to cut down trees too, but he lives far away from us in Portland, Oregon.

Baba Cat Is Still Looking!

Here is Baba Cat checking on the humans inside the house.  "Where's my dinner?" she's asking.  Luckily for the fat little squirrel, Baba Cat does not go to Mozart's with us!

Fat little squirrel

Hi Emma, Mya, and Otis.  On Saturday, we had coffee at Mozart's, next to Lady Bird Lake.  This fat little squirrel lay in wait for any cinnamon roll or breakfast taco crumbs.  If you didn't watch out, he would hop up on the table and scamper away with a bite of your breakfast!

Moonflowers

We love our moonflowers!  They only bloom at night.  When moonlight shines on them, they nearly glow.  Moonflowers have a faint, sweet fragrance.  The seeds are as prickly as cactae and as big as ping pong balls!  I'll send you a photo later, after the blossoms have become seeds.

Porch swing in the rain

We were surprised with a steady summer rain this afternoon, after I had watered both the front and back yards.  The basil plants and impatiens were wilted but perked right up.  Then, before I'd even turned the water hose off, a summer rain blew in.  It was wonderful!  The cats and I sat on the front porch, safe and dry, while grackles on the power lines enjoyed a bird bath and doves cooed.  Raindrops dripped from the peach tree right next to the porch swing, where I rocked.  Tonight many moonflowers will bloom.  I'll send you a photo.  We love you!

To Emma, Mya, and Otis

Hi Emma, Mya, and Otis.  How are you today?  We have created this blog for you and all our wonderful grandchildren to come.  We will be joined by little Grace very soon.  Will she be a Leo? A Virgo? Or a "Lego," as Emma calls herself due to her August 24th birthday? Skyler and LaWanda are keeping Grace's first name a secret until she is born.  What will it be?  Any guesses?