Volume 18 - Day 269/96, 2026 - Saturday

Okay, it's a full moon, and I don't think too many people even noticed. Marian, Judy, Diane and I hit four estate sales this morning, and I came home with some real treasures. After the sales, I took the Buzz to the Discount Tire place, because I am too lazy to put air in the tires. I think that is a good thing they do, I was number six in line for air, but worth the wait. I finished the book I was reading, and I am looking forward to something less disturbing. Our book club book for October is The Exorcist, and I am thinking of reading Tuesdays With Morrie in between times. We shall see. The house concert was tonight, and I think we all had fun. It was not extremely hot, and the humidity had taken a dive, so that was good. Gina and Billie brought me an Apple Pie from Whole Foods, and a box of kiwis. I'm pretty sure the pie will be saved for Val. The concert did exactly what it is supposed to do; I met four new people from the neighborhood, and that is excellent. Jim, Janet, Michelle and Toshana. That is the whole reason for the concerts. For some reason, I am watching a football game while I write this, and A&M is losing again. I don't think they have won a game this year, but Texas won today, and I don't think they have lost this year. I know nothing about football.

Volume 18 - Day 268/97, 2026 - Friday

I am really good at doing piddly little things around the Curious House, and that is what I did today. A bunch of piddly little things. Some of those piddly little things have been needing to be done for quite some time, so even though they were piddly, I do have a certain feeling of accomplishment. I am kind of embarrassed that the person that (used to) puts fertilizer and weed killer stuff on the lawn and I got in to a screaming match, therefore the 'used to' notation. I think both parties are happy that we will not need to deal with the other going forward. At least I got to fire them before they got the opportunity to fire me. Mainly because I have photos to back me up. I went to Costco this morning, and bought one thing. I looked for something else but I could not find it. I may be back there next week. I also stopped at HEB and all i needed was food for the girls, so they are set for the near term. The definitions accompanying this journal entry were stolen from my friend Deb's Facebook page. Deb used to be a few houses down the street and now she and Jay are living in Washington state. I miss them. Tomorrow, there are four estate sales for us to go and rattle. Just a normal Saturday morning!

Volume 18 - Day 267/98, 2026 - Thursday

Paul was not going to walk this morning, so I seized the opportunity to go back to bed. Okay, not really, but I didn't walk. I did some stuff around the house, and did my usual stuff. I did spend a good amount of time in the office, and Holly and I texted back and forth about a project. I thought I had a 9:30 zoom meeting, but it was cancelled, so I had an extra hour. Perfect. I am looking forward to a weather change that the prognosticators are threatening us with next week. Lower temperatures, lower humidity, and higher chances of rain. I'll believe it when I see it. Tonight was the fourth Civilian Police Academy class, and the scheduled topic did not happen for some reason, so we had a fill-in, and we spent the class time talking about A Day in the Life of a Policeman. At one point, we were listening about tasers and pepper type deterrents, and one of the lady participants said she was not interested in any type of deterrent unless they were 'tactical grade.' That tells you a little about the people I am in the class with. I have nothing on the schedule for tomorrow but I am certain I will find something to fill the time. Oh, do you see the misspelled word in the list of typical police calls? My acting as spell check was not particularly appreciated.

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.