Papa's bee boots (November 16, 2020)

 Because Papa's beekeeper suit is too short, about five bees were able to sting his ankle earlier in November.  The solution?  Food preparer boots.  I got some too because they're thick enough to protect from cacti needles which I've brushed up against out at Cornerstone.  They're also water proof for muddy days.  

Sunday afternoon with Amon, Fox, and Otis (November 15, 2020)

Racing the remote controlled car. That's not an extra arm on Amon's back.

Otis

Fox picked a bouquet of some of the last flowers from the garden
 

Thanks, Mya, for memorializing Zephyr, Einar, and the Zoomer (November 13, 2020)

 Zephyr and Einar have never looked so relaxed and happy.  Thanks, Mya, for a heartwarming portrait of them.

Visitor in the catnip patch (November 10, 2020)

 Neighborhood cats love our catnip patch.  Zephyr with the glowing eyes is happy to share.

No IKEA ever again (November 9, 2020)

Really? I'd never been to IKEA before and thought I'd look for a picture frame while I waited to drive Papa home from his eye appointment down the street.  After following this ant trail for about 40 minutes, I finally found the picture frame section but not one that I wanted.  I left empty handed and was relieved to escape. IKEA could teach Las Vegas casinos how to trap gamblers.
 

Otis, Fox, and Minecraft dynamite (November 8, 2020)

Amon and Fox spend a few hours with us every Sunday.  Otis and Fox blew up their Minecraft creation. 
 

Happy Halloween! (October 31, 2020)

 Halloween was on a beautiful Saturday night, but we had not one trick-or-treater.  Our neighbor's didn't let COVID 19 deter them from putting up their annual Halloween decorations.  Thanks, neighbors!

Some people, like our neighbors across the street, left Halloween treats out on tables for social distancing.  At the end of the night, all the candy was still there.  Otis didn't go trick-or-treating.

Early voting (October 27, 2020)

Being over 65, Papa and I qualified to submit mail-in ballots.  But we wanted to make sure our ballots were securely dropped off and counted. This poll worker held my ballot up for a photo.

The poll worker checked our driver's licenses against our signatures before accepting our ballots. 

Resting (October 20, 2020)

Zombie Otis on the neighbor's lawn.

Zephyr's cat nap

 Cocooned tomato worms

Otis phoning home (Sunday, October 20, 2020)

Otis calls his Mom and Dad every Sunday. Since coming to Austin in April for COVID online schooling, he's been home for the month of August.  He'll go home for Thanksgiving week and for the winter break too, returning to Austin on January 4th. So far, Portland public schools will remain online only through January 2021.  
 

Papa the wood chopper (October 12, 2020)

 We're so sad that our elms are slowly dropping limbs.  Elms typically live only 75 years.  We're guessing ours were planted in 1948, when our house was built.  That puts them at 72 years.  We have them trimmed annually in hopes of extending their life.  They are so beautiful and provide wonderful shade.  Papa used an axe, rope, and to bring the limb the rest of the way down. All I did was hold the rope while Papa eased the limb to the ground.

Last set of post cards to voters (October 3, 2020)

 Brandy left me with one last list of voters to send post cards to.  She and Mya worked so hard to encourage people to vote.  I mailed these on October 3, waiting to exhale.

Busy bees! (October 2, 2020)

 The bees attached honeycomb to the lid.  The honeycomb fit between frames in the top box.

The last Presidential candidate debate (September 30, 2020)

Brandy's friend from the Beto Presidential campaign brought over her life-size Biden to watch the debate with us.

Guess who we supported?  According to CNN, Biden won.  According to Fox, Trump won.  Sigh.  When will we have more objective journalism in this country?
 

Playland Skate Center and movie night (September 27, 2020)

Who are these masked skaters?

A Playland Skate Center staff member teaches River and Mya how to skate backwards.

Movie night with "Annie" the musical.  Otis fled the room when the hero and heroine grownups kissed at the end.

Da boyz.

Avoiding the hot lava on the floor.

Who are these kids?

Lots of laughs with the face switching app.  
 

Turtles at the Lady Bird Lake Board walk and River's coding skills (September 26, 2020)

Tons of turtles at Lady Bird Lake

Piper and Papa can't believe how many turtles are sunning on logs.

River finishes his remote school work early so he can spend time designing games on his laptop.
 

Micah's in town! (September 25, 2020)

I love feeding my boys!  Micah gets coffee, toast, eggs and salsa, sausage.  Welcome home!

Otis gave Micah the "good" game controller and best chair.

Piper's got this!

Hail, hail, the gang's all here!

Brandy really likes that King Cake vodka.  Thanks for sending, Donna!
 

Those darn tobacco worms (who eat tomato and pepper plants)! (September 22-23, 2020)

Mya took good care of two of the approximately 16 tobacco worms Papa has found in the tomato garden.  These two are named Chuy and Baguette, I think.  Mya?  As of November 28, they are cocooning in the butterfly habitat.

Not a leaf left on the stem!
 

Northwest Park and Dad's hibiscus (September 20, 2020)

Now there's a bike rack!  The fifth bike, Piper's, is inside the SUV.

The "Dazed and Confused" baseball field at Northwest Park.

Fox finds a perfect climbing tree. What about the oak behind her?

Piper, Banksy, and Amon on the basketball court.

Well, it WAS a basketball court.  The basket has been taken down due to the pandemic.  No games allowed! Disappointing for all of us, but especially for Otis.

I brought Dad's hibiscus home from Shreveport with me at the first of March.  Blooming beautifully.
 

Scary stories (September 20, 2020)

Reading Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark collected by Alvin Schwartz with Halloween eyes and creepy Kappa. When my Mom was pregnant with me, she won Kappa in a raffle.  I need to send Kappa to the doll hospital for some sprucing up.

Scary Mia.

Piper and Fox have their own scary story to tell.