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Jade helped me arrange esperanza and lion hearts (also called obedience plants, because the flowers follow the sun just like sunflowers do).
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The flowers are from the front yard. The lavender lion hearts will spread all over the yard if you let them. They're heat resistant and don't require a lot of water: perfect for Austin, Texas.
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Well, the light was interesting too. She discovered that the "curly cue" light bulb wasn't as hot as the traditional light bulb.
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All done!
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Papa Tom and our friend Greg took a guys' road trip to Abilene on Friday. Stopped at a place called Wholly Cow that serves the Wholly Grail: a burger with eight patties, a mountain of fries, and a milkshake. If you can finish it in 30 minutes, it's free! But these photos aren't from the Wholly Cow. These are from the Perini Ranch in Buffalo Gap, about 20 miles south of Abilene. The burgers are rated #1 in Texas. The bacon-wrapped jalapeno poppers stuffed with cream cheese are delicious too!
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Ready for that first bite!
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Pumpkins at the ranch
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Outside the restaurant
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Have you ever been inside a tin-roofed building during a thunderstorm? Sometimes the rain pounding the roof is so loud you can't hear yourself talk!
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Papa Tom and Greg's ride. Just kidding!
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Must be beautiful to stroll among the mesquites at night.
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Bevo's cousins hanging out at the ranch. They're safe; I think the burgers are made with Angus beef.
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Will and Tory, right across the street from us, built their house about 3 years ago after Jay's house was torn down.
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Next door to Will and Tory, Joel and Debbie are remodeling their house. Maybe we've brought you some of Joel and Debbie's LovePuppy brownies? They're available at various restaurants all over town, including Torchy's Tacos.
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Two doors down from Joel and Debbie are Sybil and John. They moved their 2/1 off the lot a couple of years ago and built this house because they wanted more space and also wanted to stay in the 'hood. They both work at home. Sybil bakes and decorates cakes; she now has a separate pantry for storing the decorated cakes before delivering them to customers.
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Alice lives next door to Sybil and John. That "Pool" sign does not mean she's having a swimming pool installed. Neither are we. We also have a "Pool" sign in support of Leslie Pool, who we're voting for in the November City Council election.
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Next door to Alice, another contemporary house is going up. The original home was sold and torn down earlier this year after owner David passed away.
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Next door to David's house is what appears to be a giant house of more traditional design. The original house suffered extensive smoke damage in a fire late last year and was torn down to make way for this new one.
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| Who needs an Austin Outhouse when the garage is already equipped? |
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Looking back down the street toward our house. Watch out for nails in the road!
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Grand-nephew Jim, age 2, on the Amy's Ice Cream playground near our house.
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Papa Tom hoists kiddos Jade, Jim, and grand-niece Sadie, age 2, onto one of Amy's cows.
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Cowboys and cowgirls!
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Onward to the slide! Never mind that chocolate ice cream is melting in its cup.
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| Papa Tom with cowgirls Sadie and Jade. |
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Following the concert, we celebrated birthdays at Al, Joyce, and Emma's house. We brought chocolate-covered strawberries, Dubliner cheese (Emma's favorite), and a bottle of wine from a Montreal vineyard to belatedly celebrate Joyce's birthday too. Do you know what "7-26" and "8-9" stand for? Hint: thanks, Joyce and Emma, for not including the years!
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Emma, Al, and Joyce
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Mmm! I suppose we'll share . . . .
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| Emma, Papa Tom, and me |
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When did you get so tall, Emma?
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Do you see Emma? Here she is posing after the Midway High School fall choir concert with some of the other members of the all region concert choir. She was one of few freshman chosen from area high schools to sing with the choir. We're so proud of you, Emma!
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Oh my! I asked Brandy to send me this photo of Mya to put over my computer to remind me to work, work, work! I think Mya means business! Mya, you make me smile every time I look at your picture!
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Sweet little Piper was more ready for yesterday's UT v. Baylor game than the Horns were, apparently. Being a graduate of both schools (Baylor undergrad, U.T. Law), my position was "may the best team win" and I think it did! Do you see big brother River in the background with his jack-o-lantern?
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| Papa Tom gave me an amethyst point for my birthday back in July. Amethyst is believed to have both stimulating and soothing properties for the wearer. Our friend Jules, who is a jeweler, added the chain and clasp. Thank you, Papa Tom! It's beautiful! |
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| If you just felt the universe shift, there's a reason. Papa Tom and I now have android phones! Oh, and Papa says the best way to reach him is by text, not email. Well okay. My new phone arrived yesterday (new, improved communication began October 3). I spent a good bit of time today adding contacts (your names, phone numbers, etc.). Instructions with the Moto G said I simply had to remove the SIM card from my old phone and put it in the new one, and the contacts would automatically transfer. Yeah, somehow I don't think the Moto G people realized what kind of phone I had before. My old phone didn't take or receive photos, connect to the internet, play music, etc., etc. One of my favorite features on the new phone is that I can listen to FM radio (read "NPR") simply by inserting headphones, which act as an antenna. Having so much fun already! |
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Tamyra (Lawanda's cousin who moved to Austin a couple of years ago) and roommate Aaron had us over for dinner Friday night. Delicious chicken roasted in chipotle raspberry sauce. Good to catch up with Tamyra. She and Aaron work at W, Austin's upscale hotel. She's gotten to meet muscians, F1 racecar drivers, etc. She gets to park cars so has driven a Lamborghini, antique Hudson, and others at least around a corner. Her favorite was an Audi S8.
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Tamyra's Thai elephant tattoo, as designed and applied by Skyler, before Tamyra moved from Portland. Great work, Skyler!
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Aaron works and goes to school. He's interested in the field of biotechnology. He told us about scientists growing a human ear on the back of a mouse and the ear being successfully transplanted on someone who had lost an ear. Very interesting! (But disturbing to imagine a mouse running around with a human ear on its back!)
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When Papa Jay and Jade stopped by after school on Friday to pick up the birthday present and card Jade had made for him, Jade warned me that there was a skeleton out in the car. So there was! Appears a ghost might be flying through the back seat too!
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Jade usually likes to be wrapped up in her towel after bath and paraded through the house with the announcement that the "sweetest little girl in the world" is clean. This time she wanted to be the "sweetest little kitty cat in the world."
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Some of the elm tree limbs needed to be removed. One limb had cracked and was resting on the roof. Papa Tom took care of things with his trusty chain saw and pole saw.
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Papa Tom's work. I'm always surprised when limbs and branches covered in green leaves crack and either fall or need to be removed.
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Papa Tom with a lot of elm tree behind him and below, on the driveway
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Jade entertained herself with a game on the KindleFire while we waited for dinner to arrive. "We"= Evelyn, Tom, Sarah, Kirk, Jim, Jade, and me
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Jade showed Grandma Evelyn how to use the KindleFire
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Grandma Evelyn and Jade
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As we were leaving, Jade spotted a toad and caught it!
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Jade with her toad and toes of her cowgirl boots
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