Kevin Bacon at dawn (February 23, 2024)

Kevin and Colette at dawn. Kevin is a known entity to Austin animal control. He likes to escape and explore. Is he looking for his friend Alexander HAMilton? We offered him cat food but he only wanted to eat grass. 

Construction is ongoing on either side of Kevin's house. We think he ran through some paint or something from one of the sites. The white on his back was stiff and dry, not the natural color of his bristles.

About two days before Kevin's visit, we were talking to our across-the-street neighbor about weird neighborhood pets. She thought we were talking about the actor. We hadn't seen KB in three or four years. Then, two days later, he shows up. Talk about Law of Attraction! Although it was barely past dawn, we had to wake Debbie up to see him. She set up a wading pool for him and fed him walnuts. All was good until he escaped his yard a couple of days later and dug up Debbie's plants. Now, if he reappears, he WILL be bacon!

Kevin and me. We didn't know where he lives so I posted his photo on NextDoor. Turns out he lives a half block away, at the end of our street.

Papa and Kevin, the friendly neighborhood pig

 

STAR brunch for departing Board President Joellen Peters (February 2024)

The STAR (Support Texas Adoptee Rights) Board met at Griselda's on February 17 to honor our departing President Joellen, to my left. Joellen, Noel, and Marla (our incoming President) are adopted persons. The best part of being on the Board? Getting to serve with Joyce, who joined the Board last Fall.

 Our sentiments for Joellen. When the 2025 Legislative session convenes, we'll be back at the Capitol advocating for Texas-born adopted persons to have unrestricted access to their original birth certificate upon reaching age 18.

Happy Valentine's Day! (February 14, 2024)

Caught Danny's improv show at the Boujee Bean in Lorena, Texas, on Valentine's Day. Danny is part of the Silent House Improv Troupe that includes about five school teachers. The troupe presented a delicious Valentine's dinner followed by the S.H.I.T. show. (Hey, that's their title....)

Papa, Joyce, Danny, and Al

 My boujee shoes for Valentine's Day. Donna introduced me to the term. Definition: "luxurious in lifestyle but humble in character." Used to describe a diva with down-to-earth attitude. Hmm. Is that the same as my "hedonistic druid" self description?

When there's construction next door (February 2024)

The neighbors are building a two-story addition. I'm going to miss having sunlight in the bathroom. The plants will have to rely on the grow light.

The second story is going up.

Our driveway is the perfect delivery area. We don't mind. We told Lalo he and his crew could use the space as needed. We've been parking on the street to give the workers space but also to avoid stray nails.

Our driveway is the perfect workspace. 

Oh no! Not a picture window looking right into our master bathroom!

They're also putting in a swimming pool and cabana. The good news? They won't be dividing their lot in half and putting in six tiny homes as will be allowed under Austin's new building code. Originally, the new code allowed for RVs to address the affordable housing shortage. That said, I'm glad bulldozed homes on our street are being replaced with property-line-to-property-line single family homes.

Ah! So not a picture window. Less natural light, but maybe also more shade on the driveway against the western sun. The redbud is in bloom.

 

No electricity (February 2 and 27, 2024)

The city turned the electricity off for hours on February 2 and February 27 to replace leaning power poles. Do you know how many things you cannot do without electricity? The biggie was that our internet didn't work. 

After six hours,  I thought they were almost done, then my heart sank. Two more poles!  Turns out they were for another location.

Almost Mardi Gras (February 2024)

 Ah, yes. King Cake rum creme as a nod to Mardi Gras. Some year I'll get back to NOLA for the real celebration. Donna says the St. Paddy's Day celebrations are better. Maybe hit both one year?

My music corner (February 2024)

 I love my music corner. I played flute in school bands from fifth through ninth grades, then set it aside for about 50 years. Pleasantly surprised last year when I took flute up again and discovered I remember all the fingerings and the embouchure. 

Guitar, on the other hand, continues to confound me about 12 years. I definitely have no natural talent, only persistence. Yet Otis the New Orleans psychic told me on my 50th birthday that I would be a successful blues guitarist. So I bought a guitar. Well, the best blues guitarists are old. 

Maybe I'm not old enough yet? I mean, I'm not old enough to be President....

New roof and ceiling, finally, after September 2023 hailstorm (January 30-31, 2024)

Remember that nearly baseball size hail that pummeled our roof back in September 2023? We're finally next on the roof replacement list. Shingles were delivered at the end of January.

A hardworking, efficient crew completed the roof replacement on January 30. New gutters would go up about a week later.

The ceiling repair guys started their prep.

Everything is covered because after the leaky spot is repaired, the entire ceiling will be painted to match. The guys did great work!
 

Mya's art is up (January 23, 2024)

Art by Mya

What better place for Mya's coffee shop art than above our kitchen table!

 The tablecloth was embroidered by my maternal grandmother, Ima Hazel Heard Meek, who lived in North Louisiana outside the town of Coushatta, or as my Dad (who grew up there) used to tease, "We called it Cow Shadow."

Back home, ready for next year's half marathon (January 22, 2024)

 Donna and I are registered for the January 17, 2025 half marathon in Key West. We're counting on sunshine in the 70s, not 27 degrees like in Charleston. We've reserved our condo. Waiting for airfares to come down before booking. Tom will be there as our driver and cheerleader.

Bye-bye, Charleston (January 21, 2024)

One last look at the beautiful, conveniently located VRBO.

From the top of the stairs to the living room, into the bedroom, onto the veranda.

Papa on the stairs.

 

A very modern bathroom carved out of an original bedroom space.

Rewards and relaxation after the race! (Saturday, January 20, 2024)

Grace and Grits for dinner. The specialty is shrimp and grits, of course. But we also tried the flight of grits: pimiento cheese grits, Brussels sprouts pesto grits, carrot cake grits, blueberry grits. All delicious! I grew up eating grits with melted butter on top, sometimes with an added spoonful of sugar.

Team effort on the crossword puzzle. Tom, Ryder, Brandy, River.

Mya

Artist Piper

Sweet drawing, Piper!

Mya gave Papa and me her drawing of a coffee shop complete with a dog instead of a mermaid on the Starbucks inspired cup. Thank you, Mya!
 

We did it! (Saturday, January 20, 2024)

Finished in 3:31, slightly better than the 4-hour average for 70-year-old female first timers. I was in last place from about miles 2-11, with the sweepers wobbling on their bikes next to me. They told me I was walking about 4 mph. Any faster, and I'd have to jog. They waited for me at the three pit stops. Sigh. 

Grateful for a flat course. We all finished within about a half hour of each other, me coming in last, no surprise. Donna overcame a wrong turn; Ryder's leg gave out at about mile 6 but he valiantly limped on to finish. The organizers were picking up cones and police were telling us to get on the sidewalk by the time Donna and I were covering the last couple of mile. 

Celebrate!  Donna pulled two bottles of King Cake Rum Creme from her fanny pack. 
 

Race day has arrived! (Saturday, January 20, 2024)

Tom dropped Donna and me off at the starting line shortly after 6 a.m. A literally freezing 27 degrees. Nobody else was there because we were supposed to be in one of the runner corrals instead. 

We finally connected with Mya, Piper, Brandy, and River. They would run the 5K, starting at 8 a.m. after we took off at 7 a.m.  Ryder, who would run with us, took the photo.

The run has started!  Ryder and I are about to cross the Start line. Our bib chips will start our individual times as we cross.

 The route map. The 18 minutes for 13 miles is by car. The half marathon is 13.1 miles long.

The night before the race (Friday, January 19, 2024)

A quiet moment on the VRBO veranda before we walk around town.

We checked out King Street for blocks, then headed back to the VRBO. Had to stop in the alley with Charleston's Smallest Bar, literally a hole in the wall.

Five barstools and Marshall, the friendly, knowledgeable full-time college student, part-time bartender. Dollar bills on the wall, just like at the Griffon, where we had lunch.

 I'm standing at the far end of the bar to take the photo. Small but classy, not a dive bar.