Where oh where did Einar go? (February 15, 2021)

Why would Einar leave his insulated cat carrier?  With the heating pad that automatically turns off after two hours, meaning I got up every two hours through the night to turn it back on for him?

First clue that Einar wouldn't be around for breakfast.

His tracks lead to the gap in the fence.  Maybe he was headed for the neighbor's pool house?  Wherever he holed up, he left Monday and didn't return until Thursday.  
 

President's Day dawns (February 15, 2021)

The north wind blew snow onto the front porch.  Tom placed a caution cone on our icy front steps.  It was a postal holiday so we didn't get to find out if "Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds."

Six inches fell at Austin Bergstrom International Airport.  Probably close to that at our house?

Sleeping in on a below freezing morning after 16 hours at work on Sunday.  Tom, that is.  Zephyr put in her regular checking out the yard and house day on Sunday.  But she cat naps, of course.

Nine degrees and sunny at 7 a.m.

Eleven degrees on the front porch.

The view from our bedroom window.

I simply don't like to wear shoes.  Stood barefoot on the front porch to take photos.

Snow on the deck.  Tom covered the greenhouses with tarps on Sunday.  Hopefully the space heaters will keep the inside above freezing for our tomatoes, basil, strawberries, snapdragons, pansies, and more.

View from one kitchen window.

View from the other kitchen window. See Einar's footprints in the snow?  He was headed for the gap in the fence.

 

The St. Valentine's Day snowpocolypse begins! (February 14, 2021)

Because we're on pier and beam with exposed water pipes, a predicted low of 10 degrees means turning the water off at the street.  Dripping faucets won't be enough.  Tom was at work and I couldn't get the water meter handle to turn, even after applying WD40 and hitting it with a hammer.  Luckily Tom's boss let him come home to use his manly skills with tools to turn it off.  Thanks, Katrina!

Snow started falling on Sunday afternoon. 

The snow was blowing from the north, right on to our front porch and temperature gauge.  By the time Papa got home at midnight, the temperature had dropped to 18 degrees.

Remember the brothers barefoot in the snow challenge in Flagstaff?  Otis reenacts the moment.

The snow was thick by 1 a.m. February 15th. Otis is going Austin with flip flops in the snow.

Einar is in his insulated cat carrier with a heating pad.  The other extension cord goes to a space heater in the greenhouses.  Fingers crossed that the plants make it.
 

Ice! (Thursday, February 11, 2021)

The tomato plants were still green and producing.  Then--Elsa!

We still had tomato blossoms.  Ja vel.

Hoping the tree branches can take the extra ice weight without breaking.

Our Chinese Plum blossoms encased in ice. 

Portent of things to come? (February 7, 2021)

Amon and Fox sing along with David Bowie. "Back at ground control there is a problem."  Not yet, but soon.

 Fox's serial killer snowman with his pet snail and horse cape and horse stew.

Home grown tomatoes for Roy--in January! (January 26, 2021)

We've never had home grown tomatoes in January before.  Papa babies his tomato plants, some of them seen here behind Roy.  We're happy to share!

Papa and Roy have been friends for 50 years.  They met when they both worked construction for the same company. Roy usually has short hair.  He's sporting his COVID look these days.  Aren't we all???

Inauguration Day (January 20, 2021)

Welcome President Biden and Vice-President Harris. Einar approves. 

COVID closes my bank ( January 19, 2021)

I stopped by my bank only to find it closed for COVID disinfecting.  Luckily another branch was open.

Meet our neighborhood pig, Kevin Bacon (January 17, 2021)

 

When Otis and I got home from Austin Park and Pizza, our neighborhood pig Kevin Bacon was hanging out near Papa Tom's tomato garden.  Instead of posing for a photo like Miss Piggy would have, Kevin trotted down the block.  Otis caught him on Woodrow.  We were concerned he might get hit by a car.  We later found out someone had taken him to the Austin Animal Center, where he was later claimed by his owners.

Austin Park and PIzza (January 17, 2021)

Amon, Fox, Otis, and I met at Austin's Park and Pizza on a beautiful Sunday afternoon for some rare time out of the house. I hadn't been here since Danny's birthday party about 10 years ago. Fun then, fun now.  Remember Danny? Here, Amon's watches Fox scale the climbing wall.

Otis kept accidentally knocking our balls away from the hole.

We chased and squirted each other in the bumper boats.

There was no escape!

Wringing out the clothes.  Brrr!

Otis won the Werewolves 3-D theater experience game.

Otis was born to drive--fast!

On the roller coaster with Fox.

The main purpose of the visit--driving go-carts.  Amon and Otis waited in line for more than an hour for their big chance, while Fox and I rode the roller coaster, Ferris wheel, and merry-go-round.