by rakeeter 
We’ve had a busy week around here. Tuesday evening there was the volleyball game in which the Rebels thumped the Herford Whitefaces, or the “Herd” as they call themselves. Our favorite Lady Rebel put on a show, including a kill shot that closed out the win in the first game for her team. She was wreaking such havoc on the visiting team that the coach, in her infinite wisdom, chose not to play her in the third and final game. Continue reading “Seventieth birthday”
by rakeeter 
On one occasion, a driver I observed drive through a stop sign without stopping wouldn’t stop when I tried to pull him over. He drove for several blocks with me behind him, lights flashing. Finally he did stop in front of a house but jumped out of his car and ran inside. His wife, who he left to deal with me, was laughing so hard when I approached the vehicle she could hardly contain herself. She handed me his wallet and told me he didn’t stop because he had to get home to use the bathroom. His need was greater than his fear of the police. I decided under the circumstances I might have done the same thing and let the matter pass.
Joyce spent 21 years on the Dallas Police Department. These are some random anecdotes from her time in uniform.
by rakeeter 
Yesterday (Saturday) evening we had real rip-roaring downpour accompanied by lots of wind. The dry creek bed in the front ran like a mighty river. It was fun. I emptied 1.15 inches of rain out of the gauge this morning and others living farther south we talked to at church didn’t get half that, which I’m sorry for them, but so many times this summer it seems like it has been the other way around. We would get some but south of I-40 would get significantly more. A couple of weeks ago the weatherman reported that five inches of rain fell south of Perryton (northeast Panhandle), which just goes to show it’s a crap shoot whether any one area gets significant moisture. We nearly made our average for August (2.91 vs 3.07) and with last night’s frog-strangler we have nearly made our September average (1.15 vs 1.97). I should be out annoying the weeds right now but, what the heck, life is short and tomorrow is a holiday so they’ll just have to wait till Tuesday. Continue reading “August wrap”
by rakeeter 
As I finished my workout early one morning last week, I glanced out the open garage door and saw a porcupine ( Erethizon dorsatum) strolling across the driveway. It followed the fence around to the backyard, climbed a juniper and settled itself down on a limb for the day. It paid no attention to us even when we approached it for a closer look. That evening about dusk it roused itself and I saw it in the front following the fence again. I opened the gate to the rest of SA and it ambled out as though that the was opening it had been looking for. Continue reading “Erethizon dorsatum”
by rakeeter 
Finally, my efforts to make the lily pool look good have begun to pay off. By draining much of the water out every couple of weeks or so (putting it on trees) and refilling it, the clarity has improved to the point that the fish are easily visible. For the first time all three lily colors, white, pink and yellow, have had a blossom at the same time. It has been well over sixty years since I asked my long-suffering father to build the lily pool for Mother’s Day and I’m confident it has never looked better. Continue reading “Bye bye July”
