Volume 18 - Day 266/99, 2026 - Wednesday

I learned a new way to make it rain today, just accept an invitation to an outdoor garden party. That will do it. I ran a couple errands today, and I left to go in to Austin about 3:45. I was going to meet Eileen at 5, and I forgot how impatient and obnoxious drivers are in rush hour traffic. I got to the agreed upon meeting place about five-after-five, and Eileen got there about 5:15, and we made it to the Umlauf Sculpture Garden and Museum right on time. We made it under the pavilion and the skies opened up. It only rained there for about 25 minutes, and we walked UP to the Umlauf home and workshop, and it was all very interesting. Neither of us knew anyone except Jonathan (President of the Board) and Dale. Going from the pavilion through the sculpture garden, up to the house and workshop, is a 45 foot climb, and I admit it was a little shaky on the steps after the rain. Plus, I am naturally shaky, so there is that. I got back to the Curious House just a little bit after 8, and I was kind of surprised how dark it was, that early. Today is the first full day of Fall, so I expect the dark to set in early, but I wish the heat would lessen accordingly. I was a little bit disappointed that I could not find 'Jeremiah,' the Umlauf piece that Jody donated back to the museum when it opened. It is there, somewhere.

Volume 18 - Day 265/100, 2026 - Tuesday

A nice walk and breakfast is always a nice way to start the day. After that, I did not very much of anything, and that's a nice way to get to the middle of the day. I did do a little bit around the Curious House, and this evening was book club at Shelley's house. Essie went with me to book club, and that was a nice way to introduce her to the group, and I think she survived it pretty well. Of course, I forgot to take a selfie of the group, but I won the door prizes, a lovely 'serene' candle and a box of shortbread scottie dog cookies. It all had something to do with the book, and Shelley and Rick put out a lovely spread. Book club nights are always fun, and it was fun to see Dick and Margie (remotely). They are getting on a train in Chicago tomorrow to go to Portland to see their son, and I am very jealous. I love riding the train! Tomorrow should be pretty calm as well, I will be going to Austin in the late afternoon to celebrate the 35th anniversary of the Umlauf Sculpture Garden, and I am looking forward to that. Look for photos, if I can remember.

Volume 18 - Day 264/101, 2026 - Monday

As I was about to fall asleep last night, I flashed on the fact that I used the wrong ratios when I made the humming bird syrup. I wonder how long I have been doing that? Not sure, but I made syrup with the correct ratios this morning, and put it out for the hummers. That was done after our walk this morning and after I had watered the front and back, and P&V's plants while they are out of town. We got no rain at all, and there was a chance of some rain this afternoon, but nothing! I had a prescription to pick up today, so I drove in to Austin, which gives me some extra time to listen to my book. I find this book (not a book club selection) to be interesting, but I don't think it is for a wide audience, so I am not recommending it here. It has received very favorable reviews in the New York Times, but I still think it has a small audience. If you want to know what book it is, you can look at previous posts (about 2 weeks ago) or message me. I didn't get the Piglet's face washed yesterday, but I am threatening to do that in a few minutes. I am also threatening to vacuum one of these days. Maybe. 

Volume 18 - Day 263/102, 2026 - Sunday

I got quite a few little things done today around the Curious House. Once I finish this entry, I have to send a couple emails, and wash the face of the Piglet. She hates that, and I hate that, too. I went to another nursery looking for impatiens, and was told (again) what I have already been told, and I am beginning to believe; impatiens are spring plants, and we don't have any. While I was at the nursery, I saw this truck, and I thought it would make a good hobby truck. Not for me, but for somebody! I used the leaf blower and got the front patio and the back patio and deck cleaned off, and I really need to scrape some mud off the back patio and deck. I am pretty sure that is a result of a sprinkler gone wild. I need to have the sprinkler guy come out this week, there are three places that I think are not getting water and one place that is getting too much water. I'll get that fixed. Once the sun goes down, I will bring the humming bird feeders in, clean them and put fresh syrup in, and then fill the finch feeder and the other bird feeders. It is just something that I do every now and then. I actually read both papers today, so that is a feat that usually takes a couple days. I have a couple things on my chore list for this week, nothing exhausting, which is just how I like it.

Volume 18 - Day 262/103, 2026 - Saturday

I stayed busy again all day. After the walk, I went to breakfast with V&P, and then we made a stop at Galaxy Bakery. After a while, I took them to the airport, and I cannot comprehend how much luggage they took with them. A checked bag and a carry on, each. Plus Paulina has her purse and a canvas bag, too. I got them to the airport about 1 o'clock, and I think their plane left close to 2:30. There were five estate sales today, and I did not go to any this morning, which crossed off three of the five. Two of the sales were open until three, and I did make it to those. I bought one thing at each of them, and I spent $38, and I am really happy with the two items I bought, see the photo accompanying this entry. The one piece is just a print, but I like it and it will fit with the 'beach' theme I have in my bathroom. The miniature reproduction of the JFK bust is really nice, and I like it a lot, and I can't believe it made it through the day and no one else wanted it. I got the other four Mandevilla planted, so that is all of them. I may go see if I can find four more, that will give me something to do tomorrow. Okay, that is it for this entry.

Volume 18 - Day 261/104, 2026 - Friday

I had what I would consider a pretty busy day today. I was at the dermatologist at 7:20, and gone by 7:45. Nothing terrible, about a half-dozen pre-cancerous things that she froze off, and my next appointment is in a year. Then, I stopped back at the Curious House, just to confuse the girls. I left at about 8:45 to go to far south Austin, 40 miles from the house, for my fifth knee injection. Viscosupplementation. I am, unfortunately, not really convinced that any thing good is happening with these shots. The next thing we discussed that might help is 'turning off' some nerves in the knee. Apparently, there are four groups of nerves in the knee, and they would 'disconnect' three of the four. I am not sure that is something I want to consider at this time. Who knows. A trip to the pharmacy to try and get my refills figured out, and then I had the little white car washed. After that, I stopped at two different places looking for impatiens. Not an impatien to be had in the city, so far, and I was told that impatiens are a spring time plant. Whatever. I have now planted eight of the twelve mandevilla that I bought yesterday, and I expect I will get the other four planted tomorrow. I think tomorrow might turn out to be a busy day, too. Stay tuned.

Volume 18 - Day 260/105, 2026 - Thursday

We did not make it to 100 degrees today, so I guess that is a good thing. Not a big difference between that and 98 degrees. After our walk this morning, there was just a couple things to do around the Curious House, and I did spend some time (a couple hours) in the office getting some stuff done. I went to HEB and bought a dozen Mandevilla to replace some things I planted from seed and never did turn out as they were advertised. I am putting the Mandevilla into containers, and I have planted 4 of the 12 so far. There were no Impatiens, so I will look for them tomorrow to supplement the ones I have left that were hit with spider mites. UGH. Every year I say I am going to have less potted plants next year, and every next year, I have MORE potted plants. I had another class of the Citizen's Police Academy tonight, the topic was Drones and Traffic.Pretty interesting. THe photo accompanying this post is of the flags outside the Police Station. I thought they looked interesting, and I think the photo is interesting.