Practicing Bach on a chilly October morning (October 28, 2019)

Papa's been learning one of Bach's arias this past few weeks.  The heat was off and it was 70 degrees in the house.

Happy Halloween!

Kitty Kat candy jar is ready.

Flashing lights are in the kitchen windows

Lucky Kat is guarding the candy from Papa Tom and me

Officer Donna keeping New Orleans safe (October 2019)

NOPD officers held a Night Out Against Crime, attending many parties, on October 15th.  Donna's subject line said " Not ght Agave nst Crime."  I'm thinking auto correct was already having too much fun.

Looking good, Otis! (Fall 2019)

Otis's sixth-grade school photo.  He's now 5 feet tall.  I'm going to need higher heels very soon!

Urban Air workout (October 27, 2019)

Amon, Fox, and I worked out hard at Urban Air Sunday afternoon.

Oops!  After shooting this video, staff informed me that diving into the ball pit is against the rules.  Of course.  The pit is only 3 feet deep.  I'm grateful Fox wasn't hurt.  Here's the video link: https://photos.app.goo.gl/rqirkpr61YqTYMWg6

Updating tank technology (October 26, 2019)

Papa was undaunted by outdated "gasket" technology in our 20-year-old fixture.  Thanks to Josco Plumbing, we now have the latest in a leak-proof gasket.

Highway proposed to cross Cornerstone's driveway (October 2019)

The proposed Ronald Reagan extension, from IH-35 to State Highway 95, is proposed to cut our mile-long driveway in half.  The beginning of the driveway is at the blue dot and Cornerstone is in pink.  The Holy Trinity Catholic Church is marked in yellow.  Not sure how we'll access Cornerstone or our beehives if the proposed route is adopted.

Time to vote! (October 21, 2019)

Papa and I voted early, at the Ben Hur Shrine Temple, for the November 5th election.  Texas is one of seven states that don't levy a personal income tax.  We were all about Proposition 4, making it more difficult for the Legislature to impose such a tax.

Hands-on camera class (October 19, 2019)

Intense 5-hour hands-on camera class at Austin Public on Saturday.  Musicians Bri and Brian were willing subjects.  We're creating a music video for them to post on YouTube and elsewhere.

I learned a lot but have a long, long way to go.  Especially liked the slo-mo effects.

I learn something new every day--seriously.  Didn't know there was such a thing as a foot tambourine.

"Austin" at the Blanton Museum (October 16, 2019)

"Austin" is the monumental last work by renowned American artist Ellsworth Kelly.  The 2,715-square-foot stone structure has luminous colored glass windows.

Light poured through the south-facing windows when my friend Sarah and I were there at about 1 p.m. 

Standing in the light

The east wall

Sarah and me

Austin Capital complex construction (October 16, 2019)

A jet overflies Capital complex construction.  

Two office buildings totaling a million square feet are being added to the Capital complex.  The buildings plus a five-level underground parking garage and shopping mall are scheduled for completion in 2022.

Shreveport weekend (October 11-12, 2019)

We had dinner with Emma on Friday at Imperial Cathay before she left town for Fall Break. Martha and Craig were there too.

Tom is ready to blow leaves off Dad's roof and out of the gutters.  In the meantime, heavenly light shines on Craig (as well it should). :-)

After grilled hamburgers at Martha and Craig's, we settled in for the UT-OU game.

Such a gorgeous day!  Keily got to visit Shreveport too.

We passed this Longhorn hopeful on I-35 North on our way to Shreveport. Next year....

Outdoor school for Otis (September 30-October 4, 2019)

Every fall, Portland public schools send sixth graders to a week long camp to learn about natural science in an outdoor laboratory.  Here's Otis, ready for camp.

Happy camper Otis is home.  Can't wait to hear about what you learned, Otis.

Black bean beer (October 1, 2019)

Our friend Greg brought us some Japanese black bean beer.  Had never seen a pull tab bottle cap before.  Or tasted black bean beer.

Roller skating with Amon and Fox (September 29, 2019)

Amon, Fox, and I went roller skating.  Fox practiced on the carpet while Amon zoomed around the rink.  About 45 minutes in, I was congratulating myself on what a great roller skater I am when my right foot rolled to the right and my left foot rolled to left and I was about to do the splits!  I'm not that flexible!  I leaned forward and caught myself about a foot from the floor, mainly concerned about protecting my phone.  Nobody and nothing hurt.  Yea!

Uni is reunited with his humans (September 29, 2019)

Troy and Yvette were reunited with Skittles a month after he disappeared from their home, about 1.5 miles from us.  I posted his photo on our neighborhood list serve and Yvette recognized him.  In the "small world" category, it turns out she works at the Austin Public Library downtown with my neighbor Suzan.

This sweet guy, who we named "Uni," showed up at our house around September 21, skinny and ravenous.  He'd eat three full bowls of cat food every day.  We posted his photo on our neighborhood list serve and Troy and Yvette responded.  Turns out they'd recently moved to Austin--about 1.5 miles from us--and Skittles (his real name) disappeared.  He'd been away from home for more than a month.  Ah, the tales he could tell!

  

Thank you, City of Austin (September 25, 2019)

Sewer backup, once again.  Papa Tom has cleared out the sewer line from the house to the street, using a 100-foot "snake" rented from Top Gunn, more and more frequently.  (One brother is "Ray Gunn.")  We finally called the City to find out if the problem is in the main line.  Our old tar paper pipe from the house to the street was replaced by Tom and his brother Jim with PVC in 1994.  But some of the tar paper pipe remained in the City's line, and was disintegrating and clogging the connection.  Now it's all cleared out.  Yea!