Visiting with Sarah and Beka and their families (July 10, 2021)

Scott, Beka, Miles (4), and Sadie (9) are visiting Austin from Seattle.  

We hung out at the Howells, which meant time with Jim (8), Jake (6) and Lucy (6).

Lucy and Sadie balancing on the sofa arm. Great-uncle Tom was ready to catch a falling grand-niece.
 

Beyond Van Gogh (July 6, 2021)

The two Sharons and Tom took in the immersive Van Gogh event at Circuit of the Americas.  Time entries ensured no overcrowding.  Great music accompanied the giant-sized Van Goghs.

So large the brush strokes are apparent.  Weirdly, portraits occasionally blinked.

Tom in the Van Gogh forest.

The famous self-portrait sans ear. Vincent van Gogh cut off his left ear when tempers flared with Paul Gauguin, the artist with whom he had been working for a while in Arles. Van Gogh's illness revealed itself: he began to hallucinate and suffered attacks in which he lost consciousness. During one of these attacks, he used the knife. But this looks like his right ear is bandaged??? Did he look in a mirror to paint himself???

The two Sharons catching up.  We hadn't seen each other since before the COVID shutdown.  Too long!

More Van Gogh.

 

Less of the elm, more of the front garden (July 8, 2021)

Our other elm tree is dropping limbs too.  We're grateful for Mario and his crew.  They always do a good job.

Bees, grasshoppers, and passers-by enjoy the front garden.  We've seen several people stop to take photos or videos.
 

Meet Gardenia the hamster (July 5, 2021)

Fox saw Violet's old cage in the top of my office closet which led to a trip to PetSmart for Gardenia.  She's a fluffy little cotton ball with one black spot on the top of her head.  Fox named her gardenia because I'd brought a blossom inside and she loved the fragrance.

 Zephyr would love to meet Gardenia too, close up.  Sorry Zephyr!

Trying to save the elm tree (July 2021)

I know this looks like an elm crew cut but the plan is to lessen the load at the top of the tree.  The elm has been dropping perfectly leafy limbs on sunny, windless days.  A sure sign that the tree doesn't have the power to pull water to its topmost limbs.  We're guessing the elms have been here since the house was built in 1948.

The seep at the base of the trunk is a sign that the tree cannot lift water to its topmost limbs.  Kind of like when you quit pulling liquid up in a straw and the drink drops back into the glass.
 

Hanging at the house (July 3, 2021)

Fox continues crafting her first novel using the Scrivener app.

Should I be yellow?  Should I be green?  Maybe both.  From Papa's garden, of course.

 

Roller derby teams in the 'hood (July 3, 2021)

Our neighborhood Violet Crown Clubhouse hosted Texas roller girls on July 3.

Wheels and boots.  It's all Texas, y'all!

The roller girl ride makes our Max look like a minimalist with only a decorated fuel door.

Anyone with skates could join the teams in a neighborhood parade.  There was a little showing off.  Didn't catch their skater names (probably something like Alice in Wounderland or Sic Shooter) but Tom saw one skater barreling toward another one, who laid down lengthwise in the street at the last minute for the barreling skater to zoom over her, skates on either side.
 

Fun with Fox (June 2021)

Om....and martial arts at Amon and Fox's house. With school out, Fox and I got to spend some summer time together while Amon was at work.

 Demonstrating that phone photos are mirror images.  But selfies aren't.  Why?  The Shining's "redrum" is revealed.  But "All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy" is reversed.

At least the bottle opener works

 For some reason, our Medicare supplemental health insurer sent us the above touchless keychain tool. Why?  Who convinced them this was a good idea?  OK, the bottle opener and push button rubber tip work  But we couldn't open one door in the house with the tool.  Amon explained the configuration is for doors with rectangular handles in public places.  But must be an exact fit, right? So I still have to touch doorknobs?  Ah, the wet wipes will help.

Mia in Portland (June 11-14, 2021)

Otis finished 7th grade on Friday, June 11.  We flew to Portland the same day.  Otis tried on his birthday shoes for the first time. Micah created the coffee table by covering the top of a drum with wood that he cut, sanded, and stained.  

Otis quickly rediscovered his basketball hoop.

Texas kitten Vix is now a full-fledged mouse catching Portland cat.

So happy Micah suggested Cartlandia for dinner!  LaWanda joined us.

 Ok, even in Texas we don't make chimichangas that big!

Celebrating 26 years with my angel on earth (June 10, 2021)

My favorite gardener Tom planted jasmine to celebrate 26 years together.  The jasmine plants will grow up either side of the arch in the backyard.  Will be so fragrant to relax under it!

Oh yes, he is a gardener!  I planted the zinnias but Tom gets all the credit for the plump, juicy, tasty tomatoes.
 

Mia flies home to Austin (June 7, 2021)

 So glad I got to the Asheville airport two hours early!  The security line was surprisingly long for an airport with only 7 gates and barely moved.  Maybe a result of the TSA's inability to adequately re-staff as COVID winds down?

Mia in Asheville, continued again (June 2-7, 2021)

Piper and I were sidewalk artists on Sunday.

We spent the afternoon at Mills River Park.  The water was cold and clear and the gravel was mostly rounded.

Piper made a lake for stone babies.

River borrowed my flip flops to mosey on the river bottom.  His feet are bigger than mine!

Mama and Daddy weren't due home until after their bedtime.  So they left a "Welcome Home" poster for them in the kitchen.
 

Mia in Asheville, continued (June 2-7, 2021)

Mmm!  Warm chocolate chip cookies!

River's bloody thumb!  We sent the photo to Ryder and Brandy who immediately called and played along.  River was laughing so hard he couldn't talk.  The thumb is from River's magician's kit.  Now I wonder how it's used in a trick.

Piper took a look at our 2017 Iceland photos.

We finished the day with "scary" stories.  I tried.  But they just laugh when I try to scare them.  At least we turned Banksy into a zombie street artist dog.

Piper and Mylo tell each other good night.

 

Mia in Asheville, continued (June 2-7, 2021)

Took the kids to school on Friday.  Did my best to go no faster than 6 1/2 mph in the school driveway.

Returned to school Friday night with Piper to check out the student art show.  Here, Piper points out River's project.

Piper wove a rainbow for her project.

Mya decorated a skateboard with cats and fruit.  Her project was on display at a local skateboard shop before being returned to the school.
 

Mia in Asheville (June 2-7, 2021)

Enjoyed time with Ryder and Brandy my first night there.  They were headed to Denver the next morning to connect with friends who had worked with Brandy on Beto's Presidential campaign.

They sure look happy about getting out of town!

On Thursday, June 3, I took Piper to swim team practice.  Luckily the pool is heated.

Mimi and I watched River and Mya clown around about falling in.  They didn't.