2010 - Day Two Hundred Twenty Seven...

A pretty good day today, stayed in bed pretty late, got up, read meters, made coffee, read the paper and went outside to start getting things done.

1. Moved the cattle troughs into the current pasture, and gave the cattle some cubes and then moved a fresh bale of hay into their pasture. That was a process that took an hour, but those things always take some time. I also hung out a little while with them, which is something I am going to try and do more of. This is a picture of Violet and her calf. We do not have a 'fer shure' name for this calf yet, but I am leaning towards something with 'Fawn' in it, because of her light brown color, which reminds me of a fawn. Violet was our 'first born' and I have a special place in my heart for her, and 'Fawn' is her first born, so the same thing goes for her. Violet is a very small cow, compared to the others, and I don't know if this calf will be small too, but she is only several months old, and already almost as big as her mama.

2. Went out and cleaned the chicken coop and put in another roost inside the coop for the girls. I also had to block off some areas in the coop where the chickens could have gotten access to the rest of the shed. Not a problem before, but this roost I installed is pretty high, and the larger the girls get, the higher they can get, so I blocked those areas with wire. They should not be able to get into the rest of the shed now, and if they do, I think they might be pretty bloody chickens. Hope not.

3. Took this photo of the morning glories. They have really done well this year, and so far we have been able to keep the yard guys from cutting them down. I really like morning glories, and this year has been good for them. I planted some four o'clocks a couple times this year, and the first set were pulled up be the yard guys. CRAP! I threatened them after I planted the second set, and they are (for the most part) coming up nicely and budding very nicely, but they really are not blooming. It may be just too hot for them, I am just not sure. BUT, they have a lovely fragrance and I really like the scent. Wonderful!

4. Went into Taylor today for the specific purpose of having a spoiler. Mission accomplished.

5. On the way home from Taylor, we drove through Granger. Granger is really a much nicer 'little town' than Bartlett is. Bartlett seems like the red-headed-step-child, and just seems like a sad little place. The Mayor and City Council members were all at it again last week in Bartlett, and no one seems to be happy about being in Bartlett. On the other hand, Granger seems very nice, it looks like people take more pride in everything, and it is just a nice little town. I love this store; it is falling in upon itself, but it looks like it was a glorious spot at one point. And according to the signs, they covered pretty much what needed to be done.

6. Took a nap.

That is about it for the day. We are going in to Georgetown for dinner tonight, we have coupons for Souper Salad, so that will be fun.

Deeds, Actions, Changes, CHICKEN ROOSTS, Kindnesses, Whirled Peas, FUN!

2010 - Day Two Hundred Twenty Six...

Okay, well, in reality, I might have been somewhat less than honest in yesterdays post. You see, I actually did take a few photos yesterday, a couple before the entry, and a couple after the entry was published. So, in today's entry, I will post 50% of the photos I took yesterday, with lines and paragraphs beside each one.

This first photo is one I took as I was getting close to home. I saw this 'red thing' floating around in the sky, and was not sure what it was. Still not sure. Anyway, it was kind of circling around, and I thought at first it might be one of the para-gliders that come around here every now and then. Finally, I turned onto CR 302, and got to a place where I could stop the car and get out to look at it. It looked kind of like a mylar 'thing' kind of balloon like, but it was in four sections. Not any kind of a mylar balloon that you find at the grocery. And, it could go forward and back, and then back again. I have no idea what it was, but it was interesting.

Then after publishing last nights post, I went out to put the chickens to bed, and took this photo of them 'roosting' outside their coop. Tomorrow I will fix them a higher roost inside the coop, and they may be more amenable to going inside the coop in the evenings. As the days are getting shorter, I expect they will go in their coops earlier and earlier. That is what I believe, but we will wait and see.

Today was a great day, I did very little of anything. I went and had my car serviced this morning; 110,000 mile service. Then I put new batteries in our outdoor nuclear weather station. Last week when we had that little bit of rain, there was one good lightning clap, and either that static electricity shorted out something, or the batteries just failed coincidentally. Either way, there are new batteries in everything, and all is back to normal again.

We of course went into Georgetown and stopped at the Dairy Queen for spoilers. Then Jody made a quick pass through HEB, and I made a quick pass through Tractor Supply. We got home and (according to routine) both went down for naps.

Tomorrow I intend to feed the cattle, and move a fresh bale of hay out there for them. I am thinking about trying to spend more time out there with the cattle to see if they will become a little bit more sociable with me. You never know!

Deeds, Actions, Changes, UFO's, Kindnesses, Whirled Peas, FUN!

2010 - Day Two Hundred Twenty Five...

I took no photos today, not that there was nothing of interest, I just did not do it. I was travelling down South First this afternoon with our agent Shane, and while we were stopped at a traffic light, a gentleman dressed in religious looking robes crossed the street carrying a (picket type) sign declaring 'Jesus Hates War'. I really needed to take a photo of that, but he was walking at a pretty brisk stride, so I lost that opportunity. SO, I did an Internet search of 'this day in history august 13' and hit 'images' and this is about the most interesting thing that came up. I have no idea what it is, but it says only 'August 13, 1934'.

Enjoy!

Deeds, Actions, Changes, August 13, 1934, Kindnesses, Whirled Peas, FUN!

2010 - Day Two Hundred Tewnty Four...

There is so much beauty in central Texas where I am fortunate enough to live. It is really sometimes just breathtaking. You really just need to know where to look, and to STOP AND LOOK, and to appreciate what you have around you. Last night there was a really lovely sunset (this photo is not nearly a good depiction of it), but it was later in the evening, and I was in bed watching tv. I could see it, but I did not have the motivation to get up and digitally document the event. BUT, I have it in my head, so that is just as good.

This morning, as I was going off to work, these lovely pink clouds were just hanging there, ready for someone to notice, and so I did. It is not hard to find beauty, you just sometimes have to stop and realize it. And appreciate it.

A nice day today; it was Meals-On-Wheels day, and that is always nice. Unfortunately, it is hotter-than-the-hinges-of-hell in central Texas right now, so that does to take some of the enthusiasm out of short trips in and out of the car and its' air conditioned comfort. BUT, it is a good thing to do, and I have done it for a long time, and it is part of my habit.

Showed some property for lease this afternoon, and that was fun and (hopefully) productive. Tomorrow will be another good day (at least that is the plan), and it will be nice to have another weekend of nothingness. I asked Jody if there was anything that he would like to get accomplished, and he basically said he did not want to plan on doing anything after 9AM, it will be too hot! Good plan!

Deeds, Actions, Changes, BEAUTY, Kindnesses, Whirled Peas, FUN!

2010 - Day Two Hundred Twenty Three...

Yippee-Skippee! RAIN! We had a little bit of rain today, and there is hope for some more later this evening. While in Austin today, the skies opened up around 3 o'clock, and there was a very nice little downpour. I called Jody, and of course there had not been a drop. Lots of lightning (brilliant) and thunder too. Later on, I was on my way home (via a listing in Round Rock) and it began to rain again. Then it quit. Then when I got to Georgetown, it rained again. Then it quit. BUT, when I got home, our rain gauge had about a quarter-inch in it, so that is LOVELY! Come on and rain some more!

Nice day today, a couple meetings this morning, a lovely lunch this with my friend Bryan, and then back to the office to get some work done. Tom and I went to visit a couple properties, and that was all good, although one of them was supposed to be vacant, and it is not, so that is a problem. We have new tenants moving in later this week, so that creates an opportunity! FUN!

The chickens were running around when I got home, and they had been somewhere sheltered, because they were all dry, not a bit damp even. I was suspicious that we had a new calf in the back because I did not recognize one of the calfs back there, but after dinner Jody and I went back and there were no new ones, and all were present and accounted for.

A calm day tomorrow I hope, usual property management meeting and Meals-On-Wheels. Good stuff!

Changes, Actions, Deeds, RAIN, Kindnesses, Whirled Peas, FUN!

2010 - Day Two Hundred Twenty Two...

I have fallen prey to the Madison Avenue hype and the mass hysteria of consumerism. I have seen the enemy and it is the iPhone4. Mine arrived today, and it is really pretty, and fast, and all those things. I hope it is as good as my iPhone3, or whatever it was. We shall see, I will let you know in a week or so.

Nice day today, but it is really hot, and it is oppressively so. Too hot, too humid, too much longer to wait for cool weather. We really have nice weather in central Texas (most of the time), but the summer heat is too much for too long. I will quit whining in a couple months, about the middle of October. But until then, please forgive the ranting (and perspiring).

We sponsored a break at the Board of REALTORS this morning, and then we had a strategic planning meeting at the office. After lunch, I had a REALTY ROUND-UP meeting at the Board, and then I was off to a property management appointment in Round Rock. It worked out nicely, and we have a new managed property in our portfolio. Always a nice thing to add a nice property and nice owners to our group.

Tomorrow is a few meetings in the morning, lunch with my friend Bryan, then I will be off with Tom from our office to walk a property.

Deeds, Actions, Changes, iPHONE, Kindnesses, Whirled Peas, iPFUN!

2010 - Day Two Hundred Twenty One...

If you are not careful, something like this could have a negative impact on your drive to the office. And, as a matter of fact, it did. It was not as bad as it could have been, but it did cause a certain amount of delay, and there was nothing I could do about it. It was too early for the traffic to be backing up because of the President's visit to Austin, so it had to be something else. And, in fact, it was!

Finally made it to the office, and it was really a pretty darn good day. Around noon time, I headed off to Costco to buy supplies for a break sponsorship we are providing tomorrow, and traffic on Highway 290 (which goes straight to the airport) was indeed already backing up (most likely because of the President's visit). He was due to arrive at 12:05, and word was he arrived 15 minutes early. STEER CLEAR!

Made it back to the office, got some more work done and headed out just after four o'clock. Not too much trouble getting home, just the 'usual delays' and the Pres was long gone by that time. He does not have to stop for red lights!

The chickens are all doing well, and they really like the figs, so at least that is one place I can get rid of some of them. Otherwise, we are all pretty much figged-out!

Tomorrow is Melody's birthday. I called her to surprise her a day early with birthday wishes, and that was a good thing, since she will be out-of-pocket all day tomorrow. WE LOVE YOU MELODY!

Deeds, Actions, Changes, PRESIDENTIAL VISITS, Kindnesses, Whirled Peas, FUN!