Susie & Pearlie

Years ago my Dad had a cow we came to love and christened, Susie.  She had a voice like none other.  Her bellow would go on and on for several minutes...then she'd suck in another lonnnnng breath before letting out another 2-3 minute solo.  We all thought this too funny...it absolutely cracked my kids up.  My brother loved capturing Susie's plaintive cries on video; and now it pleases me no end that Susie's vocals live on.
After she died, her skull lay bleaching in the sun until one day someone recognized the distinctive horns and brought her up to Ma's house.  On one of our trips home, Ma asked if we wanted Susie, and we were thrilled to become the keepers of the skull.  She graced our backyard in Austin, our garage door in Waco, and now has a final resting place on the gate in Crawford, appropriately at Finally Farm! 

I want to be reincarnated as my dog...

Veggies, Oscars, & Aggie

This, plus a glass of wine = perfect Oscar night supper! 

Note: I am not including a pix of the turkey burgers John prepared! 

Aggie truly IS a food whore...

...yep, that was a WHOLE tomato.

Friday Night Fine Dining

We eat at only the finest establishments...

Death of a Microwave...

Another one bites the dust, but i confess...

no tears are shed by moi.  

Birthdays and Marathons Are Fun!

We had a spectacular weekend in Austin...

celebrating Jess' 33rd birthday and Ali's 1st marathon!    

 

Everything was wonderful, starting with our waking Saturday morning to wonderful raindrops!  As we drove to Austin in the rain, our fingers were crossed those droplets would continue all day at Finally Farm too.  We carried with us a birthday gift from a neighbor.  Jess (and now, David as well) loves Oma's Home-made Salsa.  So Oma (Barbara) generously makes this yummy treat specially for our boys...they are always SO thrilled to receive these packages.

After arriving in a downpour, we picked up Jess, went to Zen for lunch, then moseyed around Austin a bit, stopping for 'Dirty Martin' t-shirts for all the guys.  We checked into our hotel to freshen up a bit, then picked up Jess, Ali, and her mom for a carb-loading dinner at Gusto's.   Ali's dad, his girlfriend, and their 4 children met us there for the fun evening.  Here's Jess and Ali with his 'birthday dessert'...

Sunday morning started out dawn-thirty, since Jess had to drop off Ali at 6:30am.  We met Carrie for breakfast at Maudies (closed),but  wound up at Magnolia.  Afterward, we went to Jess' friend's house on the route to cheer runners at mile 10 for an hour or so, until Ail passed us by, fresh as a daisy.  

Then we went over to Congress and the finish line.  Ali's mom had made a sign for mile 15 along the runner's route.  Ali was thrilled to see it, and got a much needed boost of energy!  

We had VIP tickets (thanks to Ali) which let us go upstairs at the Stephen F Austin Hotel and booze, schmooze, and dine.  It was great fun to wander out onto the sunny balcony, right above where the finishers came in!  Ali finished her first marathon in 3:58!  Her personal goal was under 4 hours, so she felt good...we were all SO proud.  Here she is just before crossing the finish line...

And amazingly, an hour or so after running 26+ miles, here she is hosting a surprise birthday party for Jess at Abel's on the Lake.  

She's such a sweetheart...and they seem so much in love it makes my heart ache.  He's supportive of her and everything she does, and she's exactly the same with him.  It's wonderful to see their happiness shine....

Jess was totally surprised!  Ali had a baby picture of him enlarged and up on an easel, reserved a private room right on the water, had mimosas, bloody marys, and appetizers served while we waited on the two of them to arrive, and had arranged for a Mozarts cheesecake (jess' favorite) to be waiting in Abel's kitchen!   Jess was delightfully shocked to see so many friends and family gathered there to celebrate with him.  The whole day was wonderful, and could only have been improved if Dave and family had been there too. 

When we returned to Crawford, Jack was happy to meet us.  We were less thrilled to see (and SMELL) him however..."he fought the skunk, and the skunk won"!

Jess is enjoying the working from home thing, partly cause he's there with Marilyn!  He's doing a surprising lot of administrative stuff.  His title is 'Director of Sales' and there's more 'directing' than 'selling' for now.  He's meeting the challenge though, and what a good experience!
We're going to Louisiana next Tuesday...first to Ruston to visit gravesites, check on properties, and have dinner with John's siblings.  Then we'll head south to visit family in NOLA.  My brother is SEEING a local woman, and sounds a bit smitten. I'm so thrilled for him...and can't wait to meet her.    
John's big conference was Tuesday...and all went GREAT.  Monday afternoon he took some of the guys from Philadelphia, New York, and Chicago driving around the 'Chilsolm Trail' area.  They wound up at Schoepf's Bar-b-Que for supper!  After the conference ended, we took them to a LadyBears game! 
John headed off to San Angelo early today with a couple of buddies.  They're taking a trailer to haul back some seed.  Really, i think it's just a chance for a 'road trip'. But they'll have tons of fun, and stop at only the finest eateries...like this one:

And another bit of excitement...Burke lost a third tooth!  David is putting the Tooth Fairy on retainer.

These past few days were such fun and excitement, and we're looking forward to lots more next week on our trip.  Unfortunately, I'm having another visit from the Witch-Doctor of Vertigo.   Hopefully, it will be a brief appearance, but it's unsettling, no matter...

Losses

The loss of another day could be sad, if a wonderful sunset wasn't here to cheer us and a wonderful dog wasn't here to guard us.  Luckily...we got both!  

And here's another dog...she doesn't guard us, but she does cheer us.

Well, probably I shouldn't get started on the demise of bookstores!  But I can't help myself.  I always enjoyed the rows and shelves and stacks and tables filled with books...a feeling of comfort and ease settled over me when I entered.  But, unlike a library (my first love), bookstores also offered bright lights, soft chairs, pleasant chatter, and...coffee!  Never did I leave a bookstore empty-handed...my weakness for books prevailed and I would purchase several new tomes - often partially read, thanks to those soft chairs.  John shared my love of bookstores.  When we'd visit other cities, a Barnes & Noble often drew us in and we'd browse those rows of books with a warm cup of coffee in our hand.   

Alas...those idyllic days are of the past, at least in Waco. This picture is the B&N scene that greeted me recently.  The rows and shelves and stacks and tables are mostly absent books, and full of crap.  Much space is devoted to electronic books,  their retrieval, storage, and carrying, and all the paraphanalia associated with books...but fewer and fewer actual BOOKS!  I hate it.  However, if you're looking for puzzles, legos, headphones, chocolates, stuffed animals, stationery, pens, plastic cups, ipad/ipod accessories, eyeglasses, journals, magazines, electronic toys, and/or gadgets galore...then Barnes & Noble is your place.  Just don't go looking for an actual BOOK...grrrr. 

Is this 'Bizarro-world'?

I was out in goat pasture recently and noticed one of the chixxx pecking something on the ground.  Moving in for a look-see, I spied Midnight's horn!  Hooray!  This most recent scur has hung on and refused to budge when John would try to loosen it...so I'd resigned myself to Midnight as a unicorn (albeit, off center).   It would just add more character I mused.  But, apparently, she somehow got hung in a gate opening or fence or somewhere else her head shouldn't be, and pried it loose.  Anyhoo,  the hornlet is gone!  I grabbed it up to save for Luke and Burke...another 'show and tell'.

Here's the wee horn...

...and here's Midnight nibbling my shirt...a bit bloody, but unfazed!

Silly Goats

It's simply not satisfying to have your choice of select alfalfa flakes and a special mixture of black oil sunflower seeds, whole oats, and goat pellets and a vast pasture to munch upon!  Oh, no...there might be a morsel left in the chicken's empty bag of scratch.

silly goat!

Goodbye, Teeth

In the past week, Burke has lost two more teeth!  He's thrilled with the experience...and the tooth fairy visits!  I love this picture of him... 

...all sparkling eyes and happy smile!

Weekend Fun

We drove to Austin Saturday morning, stopping off for breakfast in Temple at Megg's Cafe...a lucky find.  It's the only place I've ever seen 8 different kinds of toast available...and I'm talking 8 different bread types!  We've promised ourselves to return for lunch and/or dinner soon. They serve locally grown and/or produced goods and bake their own breads.  It's fairly new but already rated one of 'Texas Monthly's Top 100'...or some such.  

Then it was to A-town where we, Jess, and Ali drove over to the South Congress Cafe for lunch; Ali's mom met us there.  The meal was spectatular, preceded by the obligatory Austin wait of 45 minutes, and the Bloody Mary's were YUMMY!  We had such a great time dining, laughing, and people watching.  S. Congress has become quite the hot spot, gentrified and brimming with sight-seers and sights to see....not unlike intersections in other vibrant cities also bursting with energy and money and young people!  After lunch we walked over to Allen's Boots, but it too has become a huge tourist attraction.  Sigh...I'm so old.  

After dropping Jess off, we drove to our friends house for an evening of sharing news, sharing drinks, sharing a yummy dinner, and sharing fun over '42' ...until midnight.  We all slept in a bit, then had a lazy Sunday morning with oven pancakes, fresh fruit, strong coffee, and 'sunrises'.  After more reminiscing, laughter, and a bit of philosophical discussion, John and I headed back to Waco.  We have a long history with these dear friends, and hopefully, our lives will be entwined for years to come...

More Grandson Fun

Boys+Bonfire+Beans+Marshmallows=Happiness

Last weekend at Finally Farm was wonderful...mainly cause our grandkids visited!  There was lots of lolling about...gathering eggs...pasture exploring...crafting and creating...Just Dance(ing)...card playing...etc.  But there was also time for lunch at Golden Corral, supper from Bush's, Ice Age (AGAIN!), fun at the SLIC, Shel Silverstein, and bonfire shenanigans with Pap.  Here's a few pix...

Almost to the top...

I'm There

Burke's favorite is 'free' climbing!

A fun discovery was the 'chalk bag'!

Meem & Burke's Favorite.

Who doesn't love a candy bar?

Luke's Concoction...Yogurt+GummyBears

A caution...

 

Off to Bar None with Pap...in 'Marilyn'.

Burke's Creation!