Cool Jade

Jade and I spent the afternoon together on Sunday, June 24.  It was so hot!  The wading pool and some fresh-squeezed limeade helped cool us down.

Home grown tomatoes

We're enjoying so many tomatoes.  Did you know you can chop them with cilantro, salt, and lime juice to use as a topping for black beans?  Or chop them with basil, Parmesan cheese, black olives, and salt to give salad an Italian food flavor?  Or chop them with dill, lime juice, salt, cucumbers, and onion to go with Middle Eastern food?  And they're so good by themselves!  And on sandwiches.  We'll miss them when they're gone.  Given that 106 degree temperatures are predicted for this week, they could be gone sooner than later.  We've already picked some tomatoes and peppers that had semi-roasted on the vine.

Emma in Sydney

Emma is fifth from the left, in the second row.  (Control + to enlarge the photo).  The group of student delegates for  People to People toured the Sydney Opera House, in the background, that day. I think it was June 17, but am not sure since Australia is across the International Dateline from us and it could have been June 18. The students are from Waco, San Antonio, and New Orleans.

Clean kids!

River and Mya with bubble hats

Cake on a Stick

Yes, cake now comes on a stick

Mmm!  Chocolate!

Papa liked it!

Father's Day in Shreveport

Dad with Martha, DonnaLynn, Martin, and me.

Mom and the Sistas

We all met in Shreveport to celebrate Father's Day.  DonnaLynn  drove in for lunch from NOLA, Martin from Houston, and I drove in from Austin.

Michael Craig came in from Pensacola for lunch with his "Navy Dad" Craig.  He's on his way to being stationed in the Washington D.C. area.

Dad in the den

The guys:  Michael Craig, Craig, Dad, and Martin

Summer or Christmas?

We're very confused by our neighborhood ice cream truck.  Yes, the ice cream truck equals summertime.  But our ice cream truck plays "Deck the Halls" and "Oh Come All Ye Faithful." Maybe a clever way to draw our attention?

Brunch with the nieces et al: June 16, 2012

Beka and Scott were in town from Chicago with baby Sadie: the only one who's not in the photo!  You can see the top of her car seat showing from the end of the table.  She's 3 months old and adorable.  Clockwise around the table:  Papa Tom, me, Sarah, Kirk, Scott, Beka, Sadie's car seat (sorry Sadie!), Hannah, Charles, Evelyn peeking over Charles' shoulder, Coulter, and Jan.

In Houston with Martin

I arrived in Houston the evening of June 13 to interview administrative assistant applicants' in our Houston office on Thursday.  Martin and I had dinner at Baba Yega's, which had a beautiful outdoor garden.  Martin's place is in Midtown,  near the restaurant, with a clear view of the Houston skyline from the third floor.  

Judging by the squawking, I don't think Baba Yega's parrot liked the camera flash.  Sorry Polly!

Part of Baba Yega's outdoor garden

Wedding anniversary eve: June 9, 2012

We decided to check out Austin's light rail.  I had voted against it, thinking that for the same investment, the city could seriously upgrade bus service.  After last night's experience, I'm a convert and a fan.  The train ride was fast, smooth, and very pleasant.  We parked at Crestview Station, very near our house, bought our tickets from the machine, and waited for the train.  

Papa enjoying the ride.

We arrived at the Plaza de Satillo station in East Austin in just under 20 minutes.  We didn't have to look for parking and had to walk only three blocks to the VIA pizza trailer that our friend Greg had highly recommended.

Detroit-style pizza is baked in an oil pan (a nod to Motor City?) .  Delicious!  The owner talked to us for a bit.  He let us know that when the trailer first opened about six months ago, all the pizzas were made with meat.  But due to the number of vegans and vegetarians who stopped by, VIA now serves pizzas without meat. Our herbivore pizza was very good, as Greg had promised.

Our tickets were good for 2 hours.  We left Crestview Station at 7:30 p.m. and caught the train back at 9:16 p.m.   Round trip was a dollar apiece.  We're sold on Austin's light rail and plan to ride it whenever we want to go downtown on the weekend.  You can ride one stop past Plaze de Satillo to the Austin Convention Center.  Very convenient!

Bye-bye train!

Anniversary flowers

Visiting with Mandy: June 9, 2012

Papa, Jodi, Anjanette, and Mandy.  Mandy and Jodi had brunch with us on Saturday.  Jodi lives in Austin.  She and Mandy met through Rotary Club in Chicago, where Mandy lives.  After brunch, Jodi and Mandy shopped for cowboy boots at Shepler's.  

Mandy and Jade. 

We hope Mandy will come back for a visit soon!  She hadn't been in Austin for 16 years.

Friday night dinner: June 8, 2012

We had dinner with Evelyn, Anjanette, and Jade on Friday.  Mint chocolate chip gelato is Anjanette's favorite.  Like mother like daughter, looks like.

Four generations of the girls: Evelyn, me, Anjanette, and Jade

Jade and Papa have such beautiful smiles!

Jade was determined to escape the front porch.  She was able to duck under the table and head straight for the stairs.  She likes to climb up and down, over and over again.

Beach observations

Did you know seagulls have webbed feet?  I'd never thought about it before, but it makes sense, since they dive for fish and swim in the waves.

Classic beach experiences:  couple hugging, boy tossing shells into the water, long shadows late in the afternoon.  I was surprised that the sun was setting behind us, not over the Gulf.  

At the Bob Hall Pier

Lovely view from Barnacle Bill's, 15820 Park Road 22

I wanted to walk out on Barnacle Bill's pier, but hadn't brought my purse, only the camera bag, so didn't  have the $2 fee.  Darn it!  Next time.

Was sooo windy and sandy and humid!  Wonderful!

This sign made me laugh

This sign, up in a local Corpus Christi restaurant, made me laugh.  Kind of scared me too. . . .

MOM or WOW?

Came across a message in the sand.  Pretty sure it said "MOM."

But maybe it said "WOW"?

Hearings in Corpus Christi: May 30-31, 2012

After Wednesday's hearings, I took the Zoomer to the beach.

Seagull

I was surprised that the sun set over land, not over the water.   I guess that makes sense, since I was headed south on South Padre Island.  Must look at a map . . . .

Hearings in Victoria: May 29, 2012

I drove to Victoria Tuesday morning for hearings that were held in the Victoria County Courthouse.  The courthouse has been lovingly restored and discreetly modernized.  I think it's one of the most beautiful courthouses I've ever seen.

The Stars and Stripes and the Lone Star flags, flapping in the breeze.  Tuesday was primary election day with voting at the courthouse.

As is typical at Texas courthouses and public squares, statues honoring Confederate soldiers adorn the grounds.