After the kids are in bed (Friday, December 13, 2019)

After the kids were asleep, the grown-ups hung out in the downstairs den.  "Will the circle be unbroken...." on piano and ukulele, thanks to Papa Tom and Micah.

It had been a long, busy day.

So good to relax!

Papa and Micah

Urban Air and the Howells (Friday, December 13, 2019)

Otis's slam dunk

Ryder on the Ninja course

Go Mya!

Piper

Sarah, Jake, and Lucy joined us for dinner Friday night.  Otis stayed at our house to play his NBA2020 video game.  

HomeAway rules (Friday the 13th)

"Beware the $1,000 hot tub!" Piper warns.

So many warning signs around the house.  Understandable, I suppose, as the house is the owner's home when guests aren't there.

The lake is about two blocks away.

Friday the 13th

Hide and seek time

Bead art

Brandy and Piper

Basketball

At Hula Hut, looking for large fish in Lake Austin

Thumb wrestling at Hula Hut

Light show at Mozart's (December 12, 2019)

Mozart's, a coffee shop and bakery, was an easy downhill walk from our HomeAway.

Live music!  Flashing lights! Hot chocolate!

River, Fox, and Amon on the lower deck of Mozart's.

Fox

Mt. Bonnell flora (December 12, 2019)

Ryder re-lived elementary school days by showing us how to rub mescal beans on the concrete table top until they were hot, then hold them against your hand . Ow!

Piper discovered she likes cactus (after the thorns are removed).

Great view of Lake Austin next to juniper trees

We all tried juniper berries: sweet at first, then tasted like pine needles.

Mt. Bonnell (December 12, 2019)

Ramzi arrived on Thursday. How could we resist visiting Mt. Bonnell on such a warm, sunny day?At 775 feet above sea level, Mt. Bonnell offers great views of downtown, Lake Austin, and the Colorado River.  

Amon and Ramzi had the best view of all.

And Mya too!

Downtown Austin behind us, only 5 miles away.

Above Lake Austin, with houses along the shore

Ramzi balances on the cable

Papa grabs for River at the base of the trail at Mt. Bonnell

Karaoke time (December 11 plus, 2019)

The Asheville Lewises arrived on Wednesday, December 11.  Amon and Fox met us after Fox got out of school. Piper performs "Who let the cats out?"  Meow, meow, meow!

"Shot a man in Reno, just to watch him die."

Amon rocks Lady Gaga's "Bad Romance."  

Checking out Christmas lights for your visit (December 9, 2019)

Live music and a light show every night while you're here at Mozart's, a coffee shop and bakery on Lake Austin.  We'll be staying only 3/10 mile away for an easy walk over.

Crazy car accident (December 6, 2019)

Around 11 p.m. Friday night, a teenage girl was tearing down the street next to ours. Her car swerved off the road, drove over the tree (the rest of the tree is across the yard), became airborne, and landed on its rooftop on the carport.  She survived the accident, probably because the carport roof broke her fall.  Yikes!  Be careful out there!

Welcome home! (December 7, 2019)

Upon our return from Shreveport, we discovered that Zephyr was not happy about being locked in the house for two days.  Her revenge?  Knocking over the napkin holder and shredding napkins.  Duly noted, Zephyr.  

And because we never seem to have a "normal" trip....We returned the rental car and dropped the keys in the night box on Saturday.  Only after we got home and Papa couldn't find his wallet did we go back to Hertz.  Yep, there in the front seat of the locked Kia was Papa's wallet.  We couldn't let it sit in plain view until Monday; this is a busy parking lot.  Hertz's emergency roadside assistance could have taken up to 2 hours to arrive, but our guy was there in 10 minutes.  Yea!  We were prepared with a pillow and blankets in the Zoomer to wait until about 3 a.m.  Instead, we got home around 1:30 a.m.

Videos of Emma performing her original compositions (December 7, 2019)

https://photos.app.goo.gl/YgemtcCmDdCMXJZV6

https://photos.app.goo.gl/gitgBChLDfmGSmez8

https://photos.app.goo.gl/KqHgY9vt3pne4F6E6


I apologize in advance for holding the phone upside down for the first video, portrait v. landscape for at least one, etc.  Also, you'll have to copy and paste these into your browser to open them.  Enjoy!

Emma on stage (December 7, 2019)

We traveled to Shreveport December 6-7 for Emma's performance with the Centenary Choir's Christmas candlelight service on Friday and Emma's presentation of three original compositions on Saturday.  Here she is with Dr. Gay Grosz on piano.

We went to lunch afterward with Emma and two of her musical composer friends Ollie and Devon.

Get-together preparation (December 2, 2019)

We're so excited that so many of you will be with us in Austin December 11-17.  Papa's been practicing the keyboard for our "concert" with Micah on ukulele and me on guitar.  I've been studying the camcorder manual for our family interviews-  Zephyr's been cat napping. 

Keeping Austin weird (November 30, 2019)

I walked to the mailbox on Saturday only to discover the Christmas elves had been busy decorating.

Cats and a possum (Thanksgiving week)

Cats at the kitchen window (November 28, 2019)  Yes, the Halloween lights are still up.  We'll put Santa hats on them for Christmas. :-)

Penny Possum likes cat food too.

Eye opener (November 26, 2019)

My droopy eyelid, known as ptosis, was interfering with my field of vision.  Time to get it fixed, which involves an incision in the natural crease of the eyelid.  How do you like my "iPad"?  And the iodine on my face?

I like my doctor but wondered if he'd invited Dr. Frankenstein in for the surgery.  Maybe he'll get the turkey wattle next time.  Ugh!

Otis wanted me to post the eye photo on Facebook along with my "guns," claiming I'd been in a fight.  No way! You're so funny, Otis!

Papa Tom, Piano Man (November 25, 2019)

Papa Tom's new Yamaha P125 keyboard, just in time for live entertainment during the family get together in December.  Micah will be on ukelele and I'll be on guitar.  Micah might also pick up the bass guitar.  Our set so far:  Blowin' in the Wind (Bob Dylan), Me and Bobby McGee (Kris Kristofferson), A Boy Named Sue (Johnny Cash), and Boris the Spider (The Who).  Should we call ourselves the "OK, Boomers!" given our song choices?

Zephyr the Explorer (Monday, November 25, 2019)

Zephyr in the elm, wondering if Scruffy the Squirrel is home 

Hello?

Nobody home