Spooky old trees

I'm just sure that Stan and Jan Berenstain must have lived around, or at least seen, some old, twisty, gnarly live oak trees growing. Especially in the wild as opposed to nursery live oaks, these trees look unbelievable, like they are straight out of some dragon slayer story. (They are called live oaks because they don't lose their leaves until Feb/March, followed directly by the new leaves - hence they always have leaves.)

Austin, or maybe I should say the Hill Country of Texas, or maybe just Texas, is wooded with these cool trees. We have one in our backyard. The branches grow up and out, and twist up over and around. The Alamo has some that must be hundreds of years old and are incredible looking. Below are two by the carwash Rick uses along HW620. I have never particularly noticed them while driving, but when I got out while he was vacuuming, their awesomeness could be seen.

Look who's wearing the sailor dresses!

I loved sailor dresses and had one (or two?) for Paige when she was little. I have posted a pic of Stella and Macy in these same sailor dresses, a few years ago. Now it's Macy and Hattie. Notice Hattie's two little pigtails; getting long enough for piggies and not the little pineapple top pony. (I wonder when her grrls will discover that the little colored hair rubber bands are not actually called ponies, which is what Paige always calls them and now all the grrls do also?)

St Pat's Day

They couldn't get any cuter if they tried.

Beautiful day in the neighborhood

We had 1 1/2 weeks of rain, rain, rain and it was chilly, chilly, chili.
Thurs temp was low 60s, Fri temp was 70s, and today it is 70s also, maybe low 80s, bright blue skies.
I was out this morning fussing with my plants, the pool, sweeping porches and patios, watering, etc.
Now that I have recovered from Daylight Saving Time, it is nice for darkness to come after 7:30pm and at the solstice, 9:30 or so. During the winter when it's dark at 5, I feel like curling up in a blanket and book. Now I want to be outside (like Hattie).

The lots directly across from us have sold and they have started staking and cleaning, putting up their black net fence. Just in time for summer. Yay. In Indy, the old White Castle by Jason was torn down and they built a new one. The medical center wouldn't let the construction workers use their parking lot for any reason, so they used AutoZone's. Jason said it was kind of a nuisance but he wanted to be a good neighbor so he didn't tell them to stop. (White Castle also sent over to his store cartons of the burgers two different times, totalling about 60 sandwiches. Mmmm, I love White Castles.) I need to be a good neighbor and not complain when the trucks and workers get going directly across from me. If the music gets loud and obnoxious, they still get the police!!

I can hear the birds chirping outside. Yay for summer!!

Aging parents

Fred is not doing well. The valve the docs put in his heart worked so well it put stress on another valve. Plus his kidneys are not working, and he had fluid build up on his lungs, causing pneumonia, and sent him back to the hospital, where they discovered the second valve to be non-functioning (or little function). Rick is flying back to Indiana tomorrow, Thurs. He has talked a lot with Barbara on the phone, and then last night with half sisters Ginger and Robin. Ginger especially is so upset; she was just sobbing on the phone last night. I have never heard her cry like that.

Ginger also is not doing well. I have them all in my prayers.

My own mom is not doing well, either. She began having undiagnosed mini-strokes as long as 5-6 years ago, and they keep happening. We had her on non-stroke meds, but they caused more problems than the strokes. So grateful that she is living with my sister, Kristi.

Larry, also, is not well; his is diabetes related. Numbness in both feet, which affects his balance, numbness and pain in one hand, ears messed up. .

This all reminds me of my own mortality; our time on earth is short. Really need to make sure that we know Jesus and accept and believe in Him. This is our most important mission - to follow Jesus. I'm not always sure that my actions show that I am a Christian.

The woes of Daylight Saving Time

Jason's flight out on Sunday was at 6:15am, so with Daylight Saving Time kicking in, that meant he was getting up at 4:15 to leave at 4:30, which was really 3:15 and 3:30, respectively. Plus he went out with friends and didn't get home until after 12am. Then, his flight was delayed until 12:30pm, putting him home at 8pm instead of the 2 he was expecting. All day in airports and airplanes flying. I guess it beats 3-4 months in the hold of a sailing ship, fighting other passengers for the rats. Alyona and Chris' flight left at 7am, but we dropped them all off at the same time, since it is a 40 min drive to the airport. They were home in Utah before Jason even left the Austin airport.

Anyways, Thurs we spent looking at houses in Austin and found the housing market to be waaay more expensive than we thought. Then Fri in Dallas, with the housing market being better than we thought. Then on Sat, back to look some more in Austin.

But the most important part is we ate at the Twisted Root in Dallas, a delish hamburger place that makes the BEST shakes I have ever had, and I don't particularly like ice cream. Found out it was a franchise and there was one in Austin, so I was all excited for Rick and me to go, and then take Paige and Kincade. I looked on the internet - Austin site - closed!! So sad.


But we did eat at Torchy's and Rudy's, so Jason was happy. I made him scones, which he ate most every morning, which also made him happy. By Sat evening he was asking me for a tums, so I guess he got enough and more than enough of his other favs.

Rick and I said on Sunday afternoon, this house is too quiet.

Littlest goat

I have started reading a health/fitness/food blog called www.weedemandreap.com. I really like this blog; an AZ girl (woman, but she's young) convinced her husband to buy some land and have goats and milk them for home use (I guess only home).

Her goats had babies, but the other goats and then the mother goat wouldn't accept this teeny tiny baby goat, the mom goat just walked away after seeing the other baby goats being mean to the littlest one (so not nice of the mom!) so the goat raising blogger, along with her children, raised the goat herself. Below is a pic of the littlest goat a few days after birth.


Yes, that is a regular soda can the littlest goat is standing next to.
Baby animals are so adorable and this littlest goat is no exception.
Actually, I think the cutest baby animals are pigs.
Yet they grow up to be so ugly (but delish).

Cripple hip

Rick has been crippling around. His hip has been hurting him a lot. Sunday especially he could hardly walk. He laid on the couch, bundled up with a blanket, and watched TV. Not good either to be inactive; usually he just walks and works thro the pain. I guess on Sunday he wanted a break. He needs to just go ahead and schedule the surgery.

We are both really looking forward to the kids, Jason, Christopher, and Alyona late on Wed.