§ Sunday Morning...

...the fog along the seawall was thick as I walked my 10k steps!! I couldn't see the bay water at all, I could only hear faint sounds of the slow surf, a few gulls calling but not seen. I walked from the seawall to the culture center of the downtown area and over to the port of call, under the Harbor Bridge....

The sun trying to break through the misty air...a brown pelican perched on a pylon...the seawall walkway and the fog beyond the visual distance...palms along Shoreline Drive.

One of many Miradors in the fog...another walker...the view from the Mirador [looking out on the hidden bay water] ...a bronze sculpture on the Art Museum grounds [buffalo] and a cargo ship moored on the Harbor's Port Channel

The HARBOR BRIDGE...half visible...A BRIDGE TO NOWHERE

I thought this was ironic [or iconic], being a Sunday morning [Christian Sabbath] and its treasured treat it found was the shape of a CROSS!!

...by the time I did my two way walk to and from and back again, the air was clearing, the breakers on the bay were becoming visible and people were walking, jogging, biking, and enjoying the peaceful day.  Only to get home, party and watch the Super Bowl [I'm glad the Eagles Won!!!!].

§ Saturday's wrap-up...

Sunday morning report: We here in South Texas woke up to a beautiful Fall day!! Finally, after weeks of highs in the 90s and lows in the mid to upper 70s [a few early mornings in the low 80s], we have an outdoor temp reading of 63 degrees!!! I couldn't wait to get outdoors and let the light cool breeze blow across my body!!! My son, living in Houston, told me according to their meteorologists that August of this year, it was actually the coolest August on record. I beg to differ. LOL At least not down here in the Corpus area. Hot, humid, and miserable all summer long. And it was a long summer!! With the cold front moving in from the northwest, I kinda have a feeling that that is the reason that Tropical Storm [in the Gulf] that is predicted to hit around the New Orleans area today sometime, has petered out quite a bit since its beginnings. It is now downgraded to a Tropical Depression and will stay on a more easterly path instead of going up farther into the mainland. According to the National Hurricane Center, it will go over the Florida Panhandle instead. Of course, only time will tell. Luckily for Louisiana [and all states] there isn't something like Katrina heading their way.

Bud and I drove to Portland yesterday afternoon and did some dollar store shopping. Here in our town the solar dancing figurines for Autumn only had skeletons and scarecrows. But, online I saw that Dollar Trees around the states should have a dancing witch. In hopes of the Dollar Tree in Portland would have it, we decided to go and see. And they DID have the dancing witch!! Along with a dancing Pumpkin Head. I got 'em both. They're fun little figurines. And I figure you can't buy a pack of gum these days for a dollar, so I don't consider it a waste of money. Besides, they entertain our kitties, lol...

On the way home, just before crossing the Harbor Bridge, I swear I spotted a Whooping Crane. I think I was seeing things. Of course, on Saturday, with weekend traffic, you can't slow down as you'd be doing some serious impeding traffic flow, so I'll just think I saw one and let it go at that. Maybe today, in the coolness of the morning, we'll drive around the outer limits of town and see what kind of birds we find. Mostly, I'll be enjoying the end of summer heat more so. :o) After a late lunch at home then, Bud napped while I began another bird pencil sketch. This time 'round it will be a GREEN KINGFISHER. I posted about the 'rare' bird spotted along Pollywog Ponds a couple blog entries ago, and shared the two photos I got of it on my Bird Photo Blog...HERE [it's a special little, tiny bird, that doesn't show up anywhere else in the United States, and the link will open in a new window if you're on a computer. I don't know if the coding to open in a new window actually works on a tablet, I do know it doesn't work on a smart phone...] And, of course, when the sketch of the kingfisher is completed sometime soon, I'll share it on my blog.

Oh, and I just added the 2nd week's Halloween Treat for my October guests (found at the top of my blog)....just click on it and the save.

§ Gnome-body's Home...

Been kinda another busy week. At least the time slipped by so quickly, again I didn't know half the time what day of the week it was. If you were here Thursday to read my humorous British Gas post, then, you know that that was the day set aside to spend a few long hours at my electrophysiologist. After the initial routine questions and answers, he then only wanted an EKG done on me. I was hoping that. A few times ago, he suggested a stress test and I refused, so I guess he thought the better of even thinking it a 2nd time. Anyway, other than remaining on my hypertension Rx, he got up to leave and allow me to prepare to get out of there...as quickly as my legs could carry me as I really hate doctor's appointments, lol...anyway, as he was getting ready to exit stage right, he turned back to me still sitting on the examining table and said with a smile..."You are definitely a success story". I hope it remains that way now for a long long time. It's a stressful few hours for me in there. They call it the 'white coat syndrome'. Yep, that's me.

After that was done, Bud [he goes with me in case I can't drive home] and I stopped at the grocery store and stocked up for the rest of the week and into the weekend. Getting home soon afterward, we put all the purchased goodies away and left again. Only to go to the bookstore, and the craft shop, Hobby Lobby. There was a project for fun I wanted to do. Pictures of the finished sweet thing, you'll find below my text.

At the beginning of the week, one day it was rainy. A good rainy day. But way too warm still for this time of year, the day after the rain...very muggy!! Another day we took the morning and went birding. Among the birds we watched with the binoculars, besides the regular bay birds, as I was walking quite a way ahead of Bud back to the car, I spotted off to the other side of the feeder canal that goes into the bay...in the bushes, a Night Heron. They're so silent during the day, they're rarely spotted....being mostly nocturnal. I watched it after taking a photo of it. It sat there, statuesque, for a few minutes, then turned and watched the canal waters; finally leaving the scene altogether, back in the dense shrubbery. Their red eyes are very hypnotic if you ask me. Stout and sturdy, they are still quite a pretty water bird. After I got home, I uploaded the photos and worked a bit on my birding blog [link on sidebar] to pre schedule a post for the weekend, with photos of a cardinal, a Tennessee warbler, a golden-fronted woodpecker and a couple more photos. We went to lunch one of the days this week at Logans Steakhouse. It's been months since I've had a char-grilled steak and it sounded good. Went to Tuesday Morning [the store] and several others to see what they had with post-Halloween sales. I only found some ceramic witches' boots for 75% at the World Market. They'll look very cute hanging from the fireplace mantel next year. Oh, and speaking of stopping at the book store on Thursday, I found "Doc"...a novel about Doc Holliday of Gunfight at the O K Corral fame. Naturally, it's just the way that I am...I stopped reading The Wild Irish for now and began reading "Doc". This book was reviewed in the newspaper some time ago, and nothing but praise for it. I hope it's as good as said.  Got all the Halloween decorations down and packed away for another year, and put out a small amount of Autumn/Thanksgiving trinkets.  While typing all this, I am thinking of another project, a crochet project, that I should begin for the Christmas season.

Alrighty, then...'nough babbling on and on. Here are some photos of my project, creating his own shadows:

Thanks goes to Ann for showing her visitors her hand-sewn gnome project and telling us about one that she found in a craft magazine. I didn't have any directions, but from her photo I got the gist of the whole concept. BASE -2" wooden ball painted blue. HEAD- 1 1/2" wooden ball painted flesh.  Both, after I painted them, I glued together with wood glue. I cut a strip of white fur for his beard. Purple felt for the hat [the brim is white yarn...crocheted in a chain stitch, sewn on to the felt hat. Wire shaped into eye glasses...moveable eyes glued on above small bulbous [wooden ball] nose also painted flesh. I plan on making some more. :o)

CONNECTING TO:

               Shadow Shot Sunday
               Camera Critters
               Photo Hunt [SEASONALbird migration season---hence the Night Heron]

§ Plants, No birds, Paint and a Deer Butt.....

TAKE NOTE: The constellation...Orion...will have a meteor display this Saturday evening & Sunday morning!!! Supposed to be spectacular. I'm thinking this is a sure sign we'll have an overcast, cloudy sky then. 99% of the time this happens.

This past week I mentioned that one of my potted Epiphyllum plants was going to bloom again for the 2nd time this season [they usually bloom once a year] !! I have two that are in planters outdoors, but so far only one has bloomed. They both look healthy, yet, it's my understanding that they prefer to be root-bound. And the 2nd one is much smaller and of a different species. Hopefully someday it too will bloom. They need to be brought indoors when temperatures head below the 50 degree mark. They HAVE been PAMPERED. I acquired them both through bidding on cuttings through e-bay from a friend of a friend of mine who lives close by in San Antonio...I saw them in her yard a few years ago and she told me to check her e-bay occasionally as she sells cuttings when hers needed to be 'cleaned out'. Anyway, I finally got the photos that I took around 2 a.m. --dark o'thirty-- off the camera and resized. Some of them showed some well-formed shadows so I thought I'd share them today with the Shadow Sunday meme-ers. Ready? There are quite a few photos. Here goes:

According to the history of the plant [of the cactus family], the first record of these plants was in 1753. Read more

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SUNDAY'S SUMMARY

For those that visited with me this Wednesday and read my Hodgepodge "random thought", I posted that this past week I've been a bit busy with a household project that has kept me away from much blogging. It is something that for the past year or more I've been meaning to do but never really quite got into the notion much. Why? 'Cause it entails a lot of lifting, a lot of work that is very time consuming. The 3rd bedroom that we converted into use as an office slash library for Bud's book collection, was painted a chocolate brown on the walls. Altho, I really liked the color....do you know how difficult it is to find already made curtains that are brown...even a little brown? Well, I'll tell you---it's not easy finding the right color to match very well. Throughout the many months as I sat by the computer having the desktop situated just below the one window that has southern exposure to the sunlight....well, the curtains from the beginning didn't perfectly match the chocolate brown walls and made the room [even when the venetian blinds were open] way too dark. I was constantly turning on the ceiling light and the desk lamp to 'brighten the room' some. The other day I asked Bud what he wanted to do today...he said, "Let's just stay home today"...soon afterward it started raining, so I let him sit home while I went shopping for paint and some sheer curtains. I had in mind to re-use the chocolate brown curtains...but to have the sheer curtains behind the brown to let in light. And make the walls much lighter. Which meant giving it two coats of paint to cover the dark brown walls. When I got home with all my supplies and goodies, Bud knew he was in for some work. As he took down the books of his, I started painting. Yippee....

It took the two of us four days to complete. One day tearing down the books...two days painting...and one day replacing the books in order of subject.

BEFORE [two shades of brown - it didn't settle good with me from the beginning]:

DURING: [a total mess! - books in hallway, computer room, dining room and extra bedroom]

AFTER: [Finally some more light and even with the brown 'accent's it's much brighter]

After this project was done, we then took the day off to drive about an hour over North Corpus Christi Bay and then over Capano Bay that is north-east of Rockport, Texas - for a nice drive through one of Texas's state parks - Goose Island State Park. All in hopes of seeing some birds that perhaps stopped off from the migration route. We spent about 3 hours there, seeing only ONE bird the entire time...and a mocking bird at that!!! At one point, through the park's entrance gate to the water, we pulled off the winding road to walk the nature path...some beautiful oak covered scenes, no birds. At one turn we found ourselves head to head with a very handsome 6 point buck!! [a deer]...by the time I got my camera up to my eye level he had turned away from me...I got a photo of his cute white-tailed butt!!! He quickly disappeared in the woods. Eventually, on the road back to the car, as we walked, Bud spotted the doe crossing over the asphalt into the trees, never to be spotted again...perhaps a 2nd doe was spotted as we drove out of the state-run part of the park. After our disappointing , no bird sighting, trek along the trail we hopped back in the car, and drove around the entire mapped area to go and stop by the 'oldest, living' oak tree in the entire state of Texas. I took a lot of photos and some photos of the signage near the tree to make an entire blog post about only the tree itself someday soon. The following day we stayed closer to our own area and went out birding again, with much better luck. Spoonbills, ducks, pelicans [both white and brown] comorants, herons, egrets, stilts, curlews, black skmmiers, ibis, an osprey, and more!! Sometimes is pays to stick around home. :o)

§ Screamin' Shadowy Spookies

I love everything Halloween. I've been called the Queen of 'Ween in my family since I love to decorate the house inside and out [tho, we haven't done much outdoor decorating since living in Tucson AZ]. Halloween has not always been the traditional trick or treat and costuming as it is today. Its origins are quite religious through the church and the Celts...it was a Christian tradition. To coincide with All Hallow's Eve, the Spanish Conquistadors found, at the time, in Old Mexico and parts of what is now America [AZ, NM, and TX], the more popular celebration that is Day of the Dead. For this 'holiday', the celebration of deceased family members are remembered and families gather to have their ancestors join in on feasts, fun, and festivals. I understand that The Day of Dead is catching on now, world wide. In any case, in my opinion, most people view the celebrating with evil tones....it's not the case if you keep an open mind and do no harm to others except for enjoying the ambiance you create yourself, and celebrate it with making it enjoyable around you, without any negativity...

...and since I was just a kid some 60 years ago, Halloween has always been a fun time of parties, costumes, decorating. The parties and costumes for the most part I've not participated in since the block parties in Tucson, but I still LOVE to decorate and collect items for the October celebration. Bud likes everything skulls and gargoyles...I like Witches and Pumpkins carved. My Halloween shadows:

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SUNDAY'S SUMMARY

Finally!!! We actually had a couple days of coolness. I woke up the past Sunday and Monday to morning temperatures of the low to mid 60s!!! A brisk wind blowing, gray skies, and a wonderful chill in the air. I was elated. 'Bout time. Of course, before mid week, the temperatures began to climb, but all in all I had two great days of weather bliss. Best thing about here, tho the summers are brutal, I don't have to look forward to those wintry blizzards that shut down the city in the months of October thru January or even into March and April like we experienced for decades in Coloardo. And 90% of the time, during the latter part of October through to next summer, in June, we have no threat of hurricanes coming off the coast of Africa or being created in the Caribbean. The one this week, looks to be headed back out into the western Atlantic regions. Also, over the weekend, I spent several hours on the phone. My sister called with their planned itinerary of their upcoming trip to Texas [Houston and Corpus Christi]. We will get to spend a week with them here in town and then, they will spend three days with Erik in Houston while he's on holiday sabbatical from his teaching. Then, Irene called and we chatted for well over two hours...in fact, the phone battery was getting mighty weak and if it weren't for having to have to stop to charge the battery, we may have talked for several hours. But catching up with those two was a good deal. Speaking of phone calls...the place where I took the CD of all my genealogy work for my sister and brother in law also called me this week and told me that the book had been published and printed out with the cover colors I chose and that I could pick it up any time. Needless to say, I was there in a heartbeat!!! The title of the book that I chose is there surnames with "Legacy" behind their names. I'll share a couple pages of the inside pages [all the text has been pixelated for privacy issues of course]...

the cover

my sister and brother in law

...and since he doesn't know that much about his American family, with the help of another genealogist, I received a photo of his great great grandmother [American born] -maternal side of family.

It's printed and bound, all 289 pages of my work, waiting for their arrival [I won't have to send any gifts this year 'cause they'll be here for the holidays.]

As I mentioned above, the entire remaining days of the week were miserable.  The humidity and heat returned.  Was that the Autumn days?!!  Summer has returned with a vengeance.   We're back to 90 degrees and heat index nearing 100 again.  Bummer.  I was so looking forward to no more summer.  LOL  Tuesday we spent all day outdoors in our yard.  Bud got up on the ladder and used the hedge clippers to cut out the long spindly branches of the pyracantha bush that insists on making its home in the tree branches!!  While he was doing that, I cleaned out the flower box and used the electric hedge trimmer on the gardenia and the lower branches of the pyracantha, all the while the hummingbirds protected their feeders that are near the two bushes!!!  I also used the manual hand held clippers to trim out some of the huge lantana bush that was smothering a couple of our variegated hibiscus plants.  After that I crawled back of all the plants in the raised stone flower bed and pulled all the 'wild' grass that was jutting up between the privacy fence and the plants.  We then edged and mowed grass.  Lookin' good!!!  At least for another week or two.  While all this was being done, I happened to notice that the potted Epiphyllum plant had 4 blossom buds getting ready to bloom for the 2nd time this year...this past Spring it bloomed and I figured it was done for the season...but nope. Now this is a night bloomer, so I made sure I went out early one morning in the dark and took photos!! I still have the pictures on my camera, I'll get them and add them to my blog in a few weeks. When I can get time to resize them and get 'em uploaded here so I can share their beauty with y'all. The rest of the week went by quickly, we went birding a couple of mornings, I did several loads of laundry, I remembered to make my annual appointment with my electrophysiologist/cardiologist for the 1st of November. Took the car in to get a safety inspection/sticker that the state requires. We both got badly needed hair cuts, and perused the book store afterward. We bought 3 previewed rental movies for $20 at Blockbuster, The Rite [starring Anthony Hopkins - a priest/exorcist that was based on a true story] <-- not all that entertaining! - The Debt [starring Helen Mirren] - a spy thriller and again just so so. The 3rd one we bought was the BEST one I've seen in a long long time....The Artist!!!! It is bound to become a classic in its own right. Amazingly done. The stars, the theme, the story...all wonderful. If you haven't seen it, I highly recommend it. Beware...it's not something you'd expect, unless you know about it beforehand....I knew, Bud didn't ---we both really really enjoyed it. From the first clip to the last. Excellent...finally the Academy actually picked a movie that is WORTHY of the title Picture of the Year!!! [by the way Uggie was awesome]. Yesterday I hulled some of the pecans from the tree in the yard and made a batch of chocolate-mint brownies and used the whole pecans in the recipe....delicious!!! Friday morning, to my surprise, I checked our theaters in town to see if the opening of the movie, Atlas Shrugged part II, was showing here [part one never came to our area and I had to wait for the DVD]....it was at ONE theater, so Bud and I went to the first showing. For those of us who enjoyed the book from the 1950s....you'll appreciate the 2nd part of the trilogy. It's VERY political and shows the corruption of our government [foreseen by Ayn Rand, the book's author]. The ending of part II follows the book's part II...so it leaves you wanting more ---hope part three, the ending will come sooner than later.

§ HUMmer-DINGER of a shadow!!

Tho there are TWO hummingbirds in the photo, I thought the shadow of the one feeding made a GREAT shadow image on the tree's bark. By the way, the park has dozens of hummingbird feeders all over the area, thanks to volunteers who keep them replenished during the migrating season....
photo taken at Hazel Bazemore Park in Callallen, Texas [the Hawk Migrating area I posted about previously this week].

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SUNDAY'S SUMMARY

Not much happenin' this week. Too many hours spent revamping and renewing the computer to tell you the truth. I think most of all the glitches are finally getting cleared up. At least the cpu is running a bit more smoothly now. Other than that, laundry, cooking, plumbing problems solved [outdoor water line], a little bit of birding...and TWO days of RAIN!!! [not all at once tho, this past Monday and then last night into this morning]. Every little bit helps. Of which I'm very thankful. But now, it's like walking outside into a steam bath. LOL....but, I'm pleased for the rain.

§ Shadows at the Marina...

Early in the morning, there are days Bud and I walk along the boardwalk at the Marina, downtown. It's especially fun to watch the most silent of pelicans and seagulls flying and cackling high above in anticipation for the shrimp boats to come back in. The anticipation is for all the refuse of the small fish from the shrimping nets that are not wanted and the shrimpers toss it all over the side of the boat...then the ruckus!! And bird bickering. When all that scene has calmed down and the shrimpers set up their catch of the day to sell to all us humans who want to buy the biggest and the freshest, Bud and I continue our walk...along the multitude of yachts that are moored; amongst the many shadows that are cast around us. I love to hear the gentle lapping of the water slap against the hull of the yachts, and the clinking of the lines and hardware tapping against the masts....steady and consistent; a bit relentless, but never oppressive. To me, it's a tranquil, peaceful setting...when these sounds are combined with the distant call of a seagull and the breeze carries a slight salt water odor. Awwwww, a piece of heaven on earth!!!

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SUNDAY'S SUMMARY


Since I didn't post last week...the biggest item on chore list was that I completed the months'-long project of a Norwegian Genealogy! I must tell you this, a long time ago, when the four of us [Bud and I, my sister and brother-in-law] were out dining, the conversation had something to do with family backgrounds. My BIL is only second generation American, his father migrated to America from Norway ---anyway, he was being silent while the three of us were conversing...all of a sudden he popped in with "We're all Norwegians here!". Well, that has become a family motto as far as the four of us are concerned. Ya, we're poking a bit of fun on him, but it's just something that stuck and it's used in conversations now over and over. I also must add that the cover page I designed has that quote --- The page consists of a black silhouetted tree with a large canopy....shaded a bit and the quote below the tree, before they'll peruse the book ---states--- "We're All Norwegians Here...." I know my sister will like the reference. Anyway, over 200 pages of family history, Norwegian, Scottish, German, Irish, and of course American heritage will be encased, and this past week then, I took the disc in to be bounded on paper with my love to the two of them. One thing, while having a genealogist librarian help me with some history, I found out, and didn't realize this 'cause my sister and BIL don't talk much about the subject ---His father froze to death while trying to get home in the blizzard; white out conditions in Colorado --in 1949...February to be exact. The month and year I was born!!! The obituary was a shocker. Of course it's been added as a page in history....but, I learned of the hardships for this family and the successes along with it all. Amazing.  Bud and I celebrated the feat by going out to dinner...a steak dinner!! Then, we stopped by Spec's Liquor and picked up a bottle of chilled wine. I saved the bottle --- it had such a beautiful LONG neck and clear glass composition. I made a 'witchy brew' Halloween decoration out of it --see it HERE. I also treated myself for a job well done by making a double batch of Rice Krispies™ treats. I'm enjoying those!!!! ...they are always so tasty and satiates my sugar appetite when I'm craving something sweet without chocolate. LOL I caught up on loads of laundry, did a bit of yard work and replenishing the hummingbird feeders and seed holders around the yard while Bud trimmed the bottom section of the huge gardenia bush. On another note, taking breaks here and there we did take in a couple of short birding trails during the week. And one morning this past week, we were preparing to get in the car and go hawk hunting since the beginning of September it's hawk migration season and there is a particular area about 20 miles northwest of Corpus that two migrating 'highway's intersect and hawks galore. Well, there is an old saying "Well laid plans of mice and men"......we didn't go birding afterall. Turning over the key in the car's ignition didn't sound right. The engine did finally kick over, but I was certain the battery was at fault. So, we drove to the dealership and sure 'nough, the battery was NO GOOD...in need of replacing....or so the diagnostic test printed out. Okay, so we had to sit and wait for that to get done. And, there were 6 cars ahead of us in turn. Wasted nearly 2 hours .... waiting!!! I'm just glad it happened while we were still at home, before we went out in the boondocks. Otherwise the towing cost would keep us from going anywhere else soon. Y'know? Oh yes, and I went to the store to find some jute and some Autumnal picks from the craft shop to make another decoration for the house. Something that another blogger shared [I'll link up to her blog when I finish my project --stay tuned].

§ Summertime Shadows

Hot Town, Shadows of the City....

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SUNDAY'S SUMMARY

Even if I don't work the clock, and have to go working outside the home anymore, the holidays still make a week a bit 'foggy'. Me, not knowing what day of the week it is for the most part 'til everything according to stores, government, closures gets back to 'normal'. In other words, I thought Tuesday was Monday and so on and so forth. GEEZ. So, what did I do this week? Not much. Bud and I mowed and edged the lawn, tho it really isn't in a 'high growth' period. We try and water the grass to keep it from getting too scorched, but it just isn't growing at a healthy rate. In any case, that's done for a while. I noticed when out in the front yard, the crepe myrtle is blooming for a second time this season, but sad part it, the leaves on the bush are a rusty brown from this eternal inferno. On Wednesday we went birding to a few places....everywhere we stopped, either dried up and weeds growing where there should be water, or the water is so scant that it's turned green with slime...not fresh water at all!!! We saw a few American Coots and a few Warblers, but that was it. Even the fresh water ponds stood quite vacant and no activity whatsoever. This all took place on the island...Mustang Island, where the little town of Port Aransas is located. And there, I turned in my art submission. Thanks to all who commented on my finished painting, you talked me into submitting my work. Also on Wednesday, after working on Joyce's Wednesday meme, Hodgepodge, there was mention of creamy or crunchy peanut butter....which made me instantly think of peanut butter cookies...so, had to make a half batch of them!!! And oh were they ever ooooey, goooey, good!! By the way, Tuesday morning, we, just for the heck of it, we stopped at TUESDAY MORNING, and as suspected all the Halloween Decorations were sold out!!! I'm sure glad we bought the three witches back at the beginning of August!! I'm not the only one in town who loves to collect 'em I guess. And I am truly pleased I have 'em for next month's decorating. I've dubbed them Lenore, Annabel Lee, and Raven [Raven is all dressed up in black!!]. We sat at the desktop computer and watched the third episode of the season of GRIMM....the 1st thru the 3rd episodes have been more or less a 'tell all' for now. All very good. Looks to be an upcoming promising season for this program...one of two that we continue to watch online, without cable TV. One day this week, don't ask me what day it was, LOL, we began pulling up and getting rid of all the rose bushes in the rose box. For the last two years they have been nearly stagnant, non-existing growth, again because of the 2 year drought. No matter how much I'd water [sometimes twice a day] they have become so destitute looking that I couldn't take their suffering in the extreme heat. Either this Fall we'll replace all we dug out, or put something a bit more drought tolerant in the area that is full sun!! The only other thing that has been on my itinerary this past week is looking for our annual trip with Erik. Instead of going out of state, we are planning on traveling around Texas's beautiful Hill Country. There is always something to see in Texas!!! And for the most part, even if we have seen them, most likely it was years ago when the kids were little. I've been tracking places to see and where to stay, etc. Of course there WILL be at least ONE birding expedition included. LOL Much to Erik's chagrin. Too bad. rofl

hill country image courtesy of Google Images