Thanksgiving Birthday

This Thanksgiving was great! We were able to combine Bob's 83rd birthday and Thanksgiving together. What better thanks could we ask for than to have so much family to share it with.
It started with a visit from Carie and Joey on the 24rd to the 26th. Joey played Frisbee golf with Carie, EJ and the Dog Horde, Carie helped EJ clean Guinea cages and make shell jewelry, and we still had plenty of time to sit around and visit.
Bobby drove in on Saturday afternoon and Debra made it home by around 5pm with more food to feed an army. We commenced to prep and cook as much as we could before Sunday, the Birthday Boy's Feast.
We had turkey and the whole kit-an-kabootle. Willeta and Fred came in about 10? Sunday, bearing pies galore then Jennifer and the Girls a little later, followed by Travis and Kelly and their two girls.
We were seated around the table for the meal. When everyone was finished we lit the candles on Bob's cake and sang a very loud rendition of Happy Birthday. Bob blew his candles out and we all cheered and clapped. The sound was incredible in that it was filled with so much love that it was almost overwhelming.
Yeshua, thank you so much for our blessings; our family. Please increase our times together!

The New Garden from Start to Now

Bill started the garden where Bob and Debra had it last year. They had been throwing all the kitchen compost on top of the area. Bill tilled and toiled until there were four long raised beds, then he proceeded to put the local river stone around each bed. (Still not quite finished but -- priorities, priorities!) He then dug fence post holes, cemented them in and put 8' deer fencing around the beds. Bill also made rebar gates in and out of the garden. We call one the sunrise gate and the other the harlequin gate. With all that done, we began planting with two apple trees and various cold weather crops, some perennial flower plants and herbs. I'm so loving those. Still to be done is the arbor for vining plants. A garden for utility, but artistic at the same time. (That's Bill for you!)

Great Growing Greenhouse

Bill and Bob put up a greenhouse for the potted plants to survive the winter and to start seeds in the early spring. They had it up and finished in 4 days. Bill used twisted juniper branches for the door handles and fencing for more support and plant protection when the plastic is removed. Bill and I moved the plants and seeder in and arranged them to my liking. Bill also hung up the birdhouses for storage on the shed wall inside. Debra's 55 gallon drums, she gave to Bob for water, are just inside for solar heat release at night and water in a pinch. Now the learning begins!

Absolute Albuquerque Adventure

Headed to Albuquerque, New Mexico to visit with Mom. We had a great time together, wonderful coffee by an aromatic fire in the cool crisp mornings, Chinese healing massages(the best I ever had!), "deep meaning" bible study (Thanks Mom for the Torah book), a vote for change, field trip to Santa Fe, and a to-die-for lunch under a huge poplar tree at La Casa Sena. So much in such a short time and every minute a pleasure. In youth we learn and in age we understand. (Marie Von Ebner-Eschenbach) Hope we have many more times together!

Trippy Time Travel

Debra came home for a few and days and told us that if we wanted we could take a day for ourselves and she would look after things here for us. She almost got whiplash as we jumped for the door.
Took a drive to some of the old places in Austin this last Saturday. Before we got too far I asked to stop by this metal works place between Kerrville and Fredricksburg. Some beautiful pieces and pretty good prices. Once we reached Austin, we stopped by the house we lived in, near Lake Travis, Windy Point, and the Oasis Cantina down Commanche Trail. There were roofs everywhere where before were only trees. And the houses are huge and villa-like. It was a strange feeling seeing no familiar places while knowing I'd been there before. Even Windy Point was divided up into two parks and specialized between divers and sailors. We walked out on the diver's side.
The Oasis was under construction and the old building, that I thought was so big, was dwarfed by what is there now.
Our old house was remodeled and using every spare inch on the lot. You can no longer drive over the dam but use a lower highway that goes over Lake Austin right next to the dam.
The lady we met at Windy Point said the Iguana Grill was a great place to eat and had live music. The Suzie Brooks Band was great and the sunset beautiful. The food wasn't bad either. All in all, a great day.

Kabobs and Charcoal Aspearagus

Dick Allen came over last Wednesday and visited with us. We invited him to stay for dinner. He didn't know what he was in for. We later served him charcoal seared aspearagus and asked him how he liked it:) Then we served him kabobs with rice, which we find out he didn't care for rice. Just so everyone knows, we know how to make company feel comfortable. Hey Dick, where are you going? Come back!

Carr Carrier Cahoot

Dad and Mary came last weekend to pick up a carrier "especially made to tow behind their little volkswagon fuel saver up to Ohio" in Bandera, Texas. Thank goodness it was near us as we were lucky enough to visit with them for the weekend. We went to a party that was thrown by a local man who wanted the community to come together to get to know one another. He had a band featuring Jody Jenkins. There was free food and drink and we made the most of it. How nice there are people who open their homes to perfect stangers; what hospitality! Willeta came to do some paper business and deliver some MORE gifts to Bill, Diana, and Elura. Wow, family getting to know family - Cool! This is like I'd hoped it would be.