40 years in the House of Light and Joy (October 2024)

 Papa bought the house in October 1984. See the asbestos siding? He was delighted to find ship lap underneath, in perfect condition. See the elm tree in the front yard? Insects killed it and it almost killed Papa!  He was headed up the walk when it dropped a gigantic branch a few feet in front of him! What you can't see is the gravel driveway. Nobody in the neighborhood had paved driveways.

The back of the 2 bedroom, 1 bath, 1200 square foot house. Tom and Roy (then his roommate) added the third bedroom on the left. See how there was no deck? The picture window is now the open doorway between the living room and the kitchen.

The classic 1948 kitchen space is now where our master bathroom is.

We voted after four tries! (October 23, 2024)

 We visited the Shriner polling place twice on Monday, and once on Tuesday, as well as the polling place at the Northwest Recreation Center. We wondered if we should opt for mail-in ballots. Not just anyone in Texas can use them. You must be absentee; 65 or over; sick or disabled; within 3 weeks of a pregnancy due date; or in jail but eligible to vote. 

Wednesday, October 23, was our lucky day. We arrived just before the lunchtime crowd. I'm shading my face because the doctor said no sun for 6 months as a way to prevent the scar from darkening. Not trying to be the mystery voter. Anyway, my cap identifies me as a Cloninger Cellars fan so maybe not so secret. That was a California winery that has closed since our visit about 20 (?) years ago.

Texas Chainsaw Massacre Day (October 11, 2024)

 Anjanette, Fox, and me with Leatherface. Mayor Watson declared October 11 as Texas Chainsaw Massacre Day, to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the film's release. It is credited with starting the Texas film industry. Micah assured me that a chainsaw without the chain can't cut you. He says you can hear the difference. If Leatherface was chasing me with a chainsaw, I wouldn't pause to listen for the sound. But I WOULD kick off my red stilettos so I could run away faster. 

The inviting two-story home in Kingsland, Texas is a popular restaurant and bar called Hooper's (after filmmaker Tobe Hooper) but it has a terrifying past. In the 1974 original movie, “Texas Chainsaw Massacre,” this was the home of Leatherface and his mentally disturbed family. I used to drive past the house in Round Rock, where we lived when Ryder and Micah were born. The house was moved to Kingsland to make way for ... a subdivision? A highway? Don't know. It was a farmhouse.

Fox and Anjanette with Teri McMinn, who played "Pam," the girl on the meat hook. I had to be told. I've never seen the film. But it's Fox's favorite horror film and Anjanette is a fan too.

The original van from the film, refurbished. Franklin (taxidermied? a mannequin?) was inside in his wheelchair.

Leatherface served "pulled pork" sandwiches. We hope!

Beka and Miles visited from Chula Vista, CA (October 4, 2024)

 Shoot!  We didn't get a family photo of Beka, Miles, Sarah, Jim, Jake, Jan, Jim, and us. But we did get a photo of the delicious brisket, sausage, and sides from famous Franklin Barbecue. Pre-orders are picked up in the green trailer outside the restaurant, thank goodness. The line was l-o-n-g to get inside! Jan brought homemade banana pudding, the perfect dessert to top off an incredible dinner. Oh! The bumper sticker in the window says "I brake for brisket." I was afraid it was going to say "road kill."

Beautiful autumn art from Mya (October 2024)

You'll notice the swinging cats are enjoying a book by Mya's favorite author, Stephen King. I wonder which one? Pet Sematary?

 

Cats and bees (September 2024)

Oh happy day for Zephyr, TC aka Big Boy, and Colette. Zephyr's favorite Temptations treats (called "cat crack" by Brandy due to Mylo's insistence on them) now come sprinkled throughout cat food. All our regulars plus Georgie the Stray love this more than Friskies. 
 

Fall flowers at the apiary. Nectar and pollen after a long, hot, dry summer.

Testimony at the Texas Capitol (September 18, 2024)

 The Senate Health and Human Services Committee took testimony related to access to medical care. Our point was that adopted persons who don't have their family medical history are possibly not being monitored or treated for conditions that run in the family. The first step in having your medical history is knowing who your family is, information contained on your original birth certificate which is sealed upon adoption. In Texas, adopted persons must either present a court order to Vital Statistics or be able to name their birth parents to get their original birth certificate. 

A Midsummer Night's Dream (Friday, September 20, 2024)

Fox went with us to see Danny as Puck in "A Midsummer's Night Dream" put on at the Waco Civic Theatre.

Fox, 13, and Danny, 24, are about the same height now!

 Sometimes you just have to stretch after a show!

Zany election season (September 10, 2024)

 

"They're eating our pets, . . ." A wacky statement from the Trump-Harris debate inspired this sign in front of a neighborhood church. 

Max gets a new windshield (September 9, 2024)

Andrew's ready for Max. How do you handle a big, awkward windshield?

A second guy shows up! We kept having to reschedule replacement because of rainy days. The cracks ran across the driver's vision. So nice to see clearly again.

Still harvesting (September 5, 2024)

So many serrano peppers! We use them in chicken and in Papa's famous black beans.

 Home-grown tomatoes! And peppers!

COVID days (September 5-10 or so)

Yep, Tom tested positive on September 5, after we got our COVID boosters. Any time he has symptoms he has to test, given that he works with clients at the drug study.

The next day, we received a wonderful surprise package from Mya. Here are TC aka Big Boy and Colette vacationing on a French Quarter balcony. Thanks, Mya!

Mya made Papa a basil plant pot at her summer pottery class. Thanks, Mya!

My turn!  I guess COVID is with us now. Luckily Papa and I had nothing worse than allergy-like symptoms. But we still had to stay away from others. We used HEB's grocery pick up for the first, ane probably last, time. Very convenient but I like to choose my tomatoes, etc.