Happy Birthday and Hanging with Hippies

Toby's birthday is Sunday, but he has to work that day and all the days up until that day this week, so we decided he and I would celebrate it today.

We headed downtown to our favorite place in Austin, Barton Springs. We got the bright idea a few weeks ago that we wanted to float down the springs "channel" up until Town Lake.

It was SO MUCH FUN! I told him I hoped he was having as much fun on his day as I was!

The Birthday Boy....

Us. We're not really "selfie" kind of people, but I know for memory's sake we have to do the dirty deed at times....

When I see graffiti in odd places, I always silently wonder who has the forethought to bring a spray paint can to the creek. Not that I have anything against graffiti, just curious....

More US. I love US and our life here in Texas.....

Toby pointed out the Capitol as we were floating down. See it in the distance?....

After we got through floating down the river we hung out with some hippies at the upper end of the creek. This guy said we looked like the kind of people that would enjoy listening to him play guitar...so we did. He played nicely....

More hippies. I always find these sort of people more interesting to talk to than society norm types. I like people with interesting, non-traditional stories and backrounds. I find the talk of school, work and kids that you get from conventional types to be exasperatingly boring...

After we got home Skye asked me if I would ride with her to Sonic so she could get her an ice cream. We decided to do a little sight seeing while she ate her cone. We drove through the cemetery and we drove by an old mansion in town. On the way back to the house we got caught by the train, we usually hear it, but never see it. I love to watch the trains....

It was a very memorable day.

Play Day

Today we did something a little different than our usual. We had family game day....

First, we went bowling at  Highland Bowling Lanes.....

 

I haven't bowled in years, and even though I'm pretty bad at it, it was enjoyable and I even managed to win one game.

Then, onto the nearby pool hall at Slick Willies. Slick Willies is a really nice pool hall if you're into pool....or drinking....

Playing pool was fun too. Even though I'm really bad at it too, I could see myself mastering pool before I could bowling.

After we got home, we checked out a park near our house that has a boat launch into the Colorado River. They also rent kayaks and canoes. We rented a canoe here years ago, but I wanted to see how easy it would be to own my own "vessel" and launch....

Skye was more interested in playing "American Ninja Warrior" on the play equipment than the water...

Later on, we all got in the pool and floated around. It's nice that Skye is older and can enjoy lounging in the pool on a float now, rather than splashing around and making us play tiresome pool games. Kids are way more fun when they're grown.

It was a fun day. I've really been enjoying the summer and am not at all looking forward to those cold months I feel like hibernating, which I know are still a few months off in this neck of the woods.

BUT, we're going on vacation in a couple of weeks and I'm looking forward to that.

After The Rain

Growing up in Mobile, it rained so frequently that it was, at times, depressing. Back in my days of holding down a "paying a.k.a real job", I also remember it ruining a lot of weekend plans...beach trips, or any outdoor activities.

Here, deep in the heart of Texas, rain is as infrequent as it was frequent back in Mobile. Even though the drought can sometimes get oppressive in the dog days of summer, I still prefer the days of blazing sun over the gloom of a rainy day.

That said, now I can actually enjoy a rainy day when it comes along. Yesterday, was our infrequent rainy day. The vegetation really needed it, and it cooled the dog days of summer off a bit.

Me and Skye decided to go outside and putter around the yard a bit...

My pecan tree is yielding nicely this year. Hopefully, I will be able to harvest them before that lone squirrel I see running the greenbelt gets to them...

I'm looking forward to trampling around in the greenbelt again, once the weather cools down and the grasses die off...

Here's where my sunset usually sits, but as you can see it's filled with the darkness of the passing rain clouds...

 Cat joined us in the back yard, and I took the opportunity for some photo opps...

Recently we had our overgrown oak trees in the front yard professionally trimmed. Now you can actually see our house! Whoever landscaped these homes apparently didn't realize how big oaks can get or they would have never had the bright idea of putting two in these small front yards....

Skye is like me and hates being on the receiving end of a camera, so she wasn't too keen on my requests for her to pose....

Every evening for the past few weeks, me and Skye have what we call "porch time", when we come sit out on the front porch and enjoy the evening. It reminds me of how it was before technology, and the pursuit of the "rat race" was so common, when folks would just sit out on their porch and chat the evening away. I suppose I'm a just a bit old school.

Traveling, Squirrels, and Johnny Depp

Last week, Lucas and Emily stopped through for the night on their way to a vacation in Aspen, Colorado. We lounged in the pool enjoying some adult beverages before they were off early to bed to get ready for their before dawn start on a long drive the next day.  My son has always talked about taking a trip to Colorado, so I was pretty excited for him that he was finally able to go.

They sent me some pictures of their stop in Palo Duro Canyon, which I may add is on my Texas bucket list.

Look at the lizard on the post photo bombing this picture of Emily. I LOVE IT

I'm pretty sure I drove them nuts messaging every few hours to check on them and request photos. They're either really good sports, or they just love me.

Yesterday, Toby and I stopped in at Baby A's for some lunch and a purple. Our favorite location is the one downtown. It's outdoor patio allows us to people watch the tourists and visually entertaining locals. We are also entertained by the Grackles and squirrels who are always close by to beg. Even they can't resist chips.

Usually, the Grackles are the head beggars, but today the squirrels were pretty demanding. They would come close enough to intimidate us into throwing them a chip.

Skye has been trying to train the dog and cat to "like" each other. I don't think that will ever happen, but at least now they can tolerate each other, as long as one or the other doesn't impede on the other's personal space.

Bo was getting too close to the cat's personal space here, so she had to let him know who boss was with a swift swat of the paw...

Recently, I had heard through some small town gossip that Johnny Depp had left his initials and shoe print on the sidewalk in front of the Manor Grocery where parts of the movie "What's Eating Gilbert Grape" was filmed.

I had to check it out and see for myself, and yep, there it was.....