2010 - Day Two Hundred Thirty Four...

Okay, I'm just sayin'...this is my 600th post to this blog. Is anybody out there?

We did not make it to the Filling Station last night, but we did go tonight. Very good! We will be sorry for the loss of that restaurant in Bartlett. That little town may just dry up and blow away. We shall see...

The day started out kind of late, but a few accomplishments were made. The snake was gone from the now dry fountain, so I got that cleaned. I also went out and cleaned the chickens water buckets, and gave them fresh water. And then I pulled a few weeds, and I found out that I am really not that good at pulling weeds, so I think it will soon be back to having the yard folks come out to pull the weeds. Knowing your limits is half of the battle.

I went out to feed the cattle and give them a fresh bale of hay. As I was doing that, I came upon these amorous grass-hoppers. Hopperus-Interuptus I believe is the technical term for this, but the larger female looks a little pale if you ask me. I'm just sayin'...

The cattle were happy to get their feed, and I found the fence to be shorted out in two different places. All that is taken care of and we are all back in business. All the cattle seem to be doing well, and the young ones seem to be thriving. This photo was chosen just to show you the incredible blue sky that was evident this morning. Just beautiful. Of course, by the mid-afternoon, the temperature here was 104 degrees, so things got a bit more pale. But anyway, it was delightful in the morning.

Deeds, Actions, Changes, GRASS HOPPERS EN FLAGRANTE, Kindnesses, Whirled Peas, FUN!

2010 - Day Two Hundred Thirty Three...

Okay, so among other things I wanted to get accomplished today, one of them was to clean the little garden fountain that is on the front porch. Jody had reported that it had quit working, so he had unplugged it. We got lots of things accomplished today, and this was on the list, so I told him I was going to go out and take care of the fountain. I reached inside the hole in the back of the fountain, and I was unhooking the little pump from the hose that pumps the water up...and the fu**ing hose started moving, and writhing in the water. THERE WAS (and still is as of this writing) A FU**ING SNAKE IN THE FOUNTAIN. And, you can rest assured, it scared the SH*T out of me. Of course, it did not scare me badly enough that I could not take a photo (okay, three photos) of it for the blog, but believe me, it scared me! At the moment, the fountain is on its side and we are hoping the snake will take the hint and slither on off so I will not have to 'cowboy up' and deal with it later.

This morning, I put my bee suit on and went out and cut grass around the bee hives. As it turned out, the bees paid little attention to me (okay, they totally ignored me), but I expect if I had not suited up, I may well have regretted it. Recently in Austin, a man was cutting his grass and was stung several hundred times. I think that was a fluke, they were not Africanized, they were just 'in transit' and he was in the wrong place. He was hospitalized in serious condition, but I am pretty sure he has been released.

After that, I cut grass in the dogs yard, and around the edges of the beds, in anticipation of getting more serious later with the riding lawn mower. I made an egg loaf for breakfast, and then Jody and I went off to the Bartlett Library and then into Davilla and Holland, then to Taylor for spoilers at the Dairy Queen, then to Tractor Supply for a few things, then home. When e got home, Jody went down for a nap, and I went out and cut 'at' more grass. Then it was time to jump in the pool, and clean the skimmers, etc.

After that is when I stuck my hand in the 'snake fountain'. Enough said.

I think we are going out to dinner later tonight. The Filling Station Restaurant in Bartlett is closing on Monday, so we are going to do our 'swan song' there. We are both sorry that they will be closing.

Deeds, Actions, Changes, CHECK FOR SNAKES, Kindnesses, Whirled Peas, FUN!

2010 - Day Two Hundred Thirty Two...

Just in time for the price of eggs to hit $15 or $20 a dozen and the great egg-shortage to be the lead-off stories on all the national news programs, our chickens should be getting close to laying-age. They were pretty darn happy to see me this afternoon, when I went out to herd them into their pen. Jody had not let them loose the last couple of days because I was working late, and would not be in until 9 or 10 o'clock, which would have been WAY TOO LATE to find chickens if they did not automatically go into their coops. I think they would have cooped themselves, but no reason to tempt fate, so we both just chose not to deal with it.

ANYWAY, they were happy for my offerings of figs, cole-slaw mix and bread cubes. Pretty darn contented chickens if I do say so myself.

Today was a pretty good day at work. I had a 9 o'clock meeting this morning, and spent the rest of the day leisurely taking care of office details. I left the office about 3:15 and headed for home, and was happily ensconced in my big chair in front of the television by about 4:30. In-and-out of napping situations for the next couple hours, and getting ready to enjoy a nice dinner.

The four o'clocks are really getting big, but they still do not seem to be blooming. There are lots of buds but no evidence of REAL full fledged blooms. It is really an unusual thing.

Looking forward to an uneventful weekend, and a couple spoilers along the way!

Deeds, Actions, Changes, HAPPY CHICKS, Kindnesses, Whirled Peas, FUN!

2010 - Day Two Hundred Thirty One...

A nice day at the office. It is Thursday, so that means PM meeting, and Meals-On-Wheels. One of my favorite clients is back on my route; she broke her hip several months ago, and have been convalescing. She is back in her own home, BUT her caretaker has found another job, and she had a care giver that was not working out so well. I am making the assumption that she will keep trying to find another care giver, but in the mean time, she is having mobility issues, and it is not a good situation. Another bad review of the state of our health care system.

Tonight was the TREPAC Wine Tasting and it was a lot of fun. It was from 6 until 8 PM, and I had two glasses of wine, and then it was time for me to go for the ice-water. I am definitely not much of a drinker. Carrie and Toni and Shane from our office were there, and this is a photo of Carrie and Toni. It looks like Toni thought I was going to hit her! There were lots of folks there that we all knew, and it was fun seeing them all there relaxing and casual.

One of my good friends Pam was there with her good friend Jim, this is a photo of me with Pam. Jim was out officiating something I think.

On the way home, I stopped by one of my listings to change the lock box on it. The property has been leased, and I needed to put a different lock box on it so vendors could access the property and do a little bit of cleaning and change the locks.

I brought a good bit of some sort of chocolate dessert home for Jody, but that will have to wait until tomorrow.

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

2010 - Day Two Hundred Thirty...

Well, I have to tell you, I was a little bit concerned that I would be able to come up with a decent photo for today's entry. I am leaving the office and heading for the Board of REALTORS to teach the first evening class at the Board, sort of an experiment. BUT, lo-and-behold, as I was driving down Oltorf, what do you think was in the middle of the cross-walk? Well, I am not sure either, but it gives a new meaning to 'cross-walk', if you know what I mean. Wink-Wink! AND, it is not Leslie. I know Leslie would not be wearing all that cumbersome clothing in hot weather like we have been experiencing lately. Leslie would be on the streets in a thong and a tube top. Okay, and a Marlboro, but NOTHING else!A great day today, and I know the class tonight will be a lot of fun. Keep your fingers crossed that some attendees show up!

Deeds, Actions, Changes, CROSS-DRESSERS, Kindnesses, Whirled Peas, FUN!

2010 - Day Two Hundred Twenty Nine...

Well, the rain that we were supposed to get last night turned out to be just ANOTHER major disappointment. There was rain in Austin, but nothing here. RATZ! We had some nice winds, but nothing more. There were stronger winds all around (some damaging winds as well), but no problems here.

A BEAUTIFUL SUNRISE this morning. Interestingly, I go nowhere anymore without a camera, so I am (almost) always ready to document happenings. Incredible. I took about seven photos of this same scene, and this is the only one that does not look like I had the DT's. Now, if you know what the DT's are, I have a pretty good idea of how old you are. I'm just saying...

This is a photo of my friend Deb, and a beautiful acrylic painting she did and is donating to the silent auction at the TREPAC Wine Tasting event Thursday evening at the Central Market on North Lamar. It should be a really fun event, and I hope we raise a lot of Moo-Lah! I pretty much have the Moo part of it covered, because I am donating a heifer calf to the auction. Get it? Moo - Calf... Whatever...

Tomorrow will be a great day if everything goes as planed. Two meetings during the day and I am teaching a class from 6 until 9 PM. A first! We shall see how it goes.

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

2010 - Day Two Hundred Twenty Eight...

Have I mentioned to you lately that it is hot? Well, it still is.

Last night after I posted my entry, we had a visit from Vince, the mad who made the Air Show that was Jody's Anniversary Gift this year. I was on the phone, and I noticed a truck driving very slowly past the house, and then the truck backed-up and did that at least twice. The next thing I knew, the truck was coming down the driveway, and so I went out to see who it was (of course wearing my usual outfit, boxers and a t-shirt). It was Vince, and he was just checking out the Air Show to see how it was doing. He also had a sheet metal cupola in the back of his truck, so I took this photo of it. Very interesting, and he said the man he built it for wanted a 'Monk' on it, so here it is. Vince is really a very talented artist, and I love walking through his work shop. I will be back over there very soon.

Still hot! Have I mentioned that? Just checking. In my car on the way home, the thermometer was registering 106 degrees; the official high temperature for today was 105 degrees, and our newly revived nuclear weather station reported it to be 112 degrees. I can tell you, it felt every bit of 112 degrees this afternoon when I went out to feed the chickens. I also spoke with our friend Mike in Florida this afternoon, and he said a friend of ours in Memphis reported the heat index there to be 117 degrees. What in the hell...or, well, maybe that is it! Who knows?

Spotted these clouds when I was not too far from the house this afternoon, and our illustrious weather prognosticators are reporting a 30% chance of a thundershower later this evening. We would really like that to come true, but you never can tell. These days we are getting really excited about a 10% chance. Whatever...

Tomorrow should be a pretty peaceful day, two meetings (one included lunch) and then Wednesday and Thursday will bot be late nights; evening meetings, so I will not even get home wither night til about 10:30. I hope I make it!

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