One day this week as I was headed toward the gate in front of the house, a quail burst into flight from the other side of the juniper in the corner. It had probably been outside the yard and I couldn’t see it because of the juniper. I knew immediately what it was because of the distinctive whirring sound of its wings. There are plenty of quail out at Wildcat Bluff Nature Center and I often scare a covey up out of the tall grass. This one flew straight toward the enclosure and disappeared behind a juniper. Cookie the cat set off in pursuit but I don’t think he was successful in catching it. Continue reading “Quail sighting”→
Celebrating September/October birthdays has been a challenge this year. It was simple enough with Vivian. Jill made a cake, we sang happy birthday and Vivian opened presents. But Rebecca and Joyce were another matter. Rebecca’s was on Monday, October 3 when we were still in Garland. We got home that afternoon but Monday is an odd time to celebrate a birthday so the plan was to combine Li’l r’s with Joyce’s the following Sunday. We did manage to squeeze it in Sunday afternoon between other activities so they got their cake and all but I still haven’t gotten a present for Joyce. She just waves me off when I suggest doing so. Continue reading “Birthdays”→
We uncovered the west row of grapes Tuesday and Joyce has been busy ever since making grape juice. She bought a juicer that she just feeds the bunches of grapes into and it separates the juice from the skins, seeds and stems. It makes short work of that process and she’s been making popsicles out of the juice. She added cream to some of the juice and made popsicles out of that delicious concoction, too. Continue reading “Joy(ce) juice”→
Smells like bread baking down here in the cave. Monday we harvested grapes, that is, we harvested some of them. This year’s crop far exceeds anything in the past and just picking the west row we had 140 pounds, more than enough for the five gallons of wine I make. And even at that we only picked the low handing fruit, so to speak. We left a lot of grapes on the vine for whomever or whatever wants them. As for the east row, we’ve left the bird-blocker netting on it for now. I want to compare the ripeness of those grapes in a couple of weeks to the the ones we picked this week. Continue reading “The crush”→
Jill posted a video from the archive on her Facebook page I got a kick out of. Them Wylies, I swear. Jill called yesterday and told her mom I needed to be in Garland today for grandparents day at school. The girls saw a picture of their grandma and understood why she couldn’t come but grandpa wasn’t getting of that easily.
Not much rain this week (.09), which is almost news these days, It did threaten much of the week but the only appreciable precip fell on me as I was working out at the Bluff — naturally. September is often a good time for flowers and with the moisture we’ve gotten over the last couple of months they are really showing out.
And so is the grass. Chris referred to my letting the grass grow. Well, I aint lettin’ it. It just is and all I can do is all I can do. Oh, I guess I can work every day and get caught up quicker but there is more to life so I budget time for other things. Really, it’s the weeds that have to be kept under control and I’m managing that pretty well so far. Yes, when the gramma grass puts up seed heads it has to be mowed twice to make it look good, but fall is approaching and the grass will stop growing so fast. At least I think it will.
Good news on Abigail’s knee: It is just inflammation causing her discomfort. She’ll be able to finish the season and then rest it some. there was fear it would require surgery so that is good news. The Rebels played Frenship Tuesday evening and dispatched them easily in two games. Poor Frenship, they never even got their score to double digits.
Last Friday evening Abigail went to the Tascosa-Amarillo High football game. Young people don’t meet up and go to the game together these days. Their parents just dump them off in the vicinity of the stadium, barely even slowing down, and they meet their friends there. The Rebels came from behind to win the game with 40 seconds left on the clock. After the game, Abigail met up with AHS friends, as is her wont, and enjoyed herself immensely, though her friends were quick to point out this was the first Rebel win against the Sandies in seven years.
Speaking of surgery, Joyce went under the knife Monday to have extra skin removed from her eyelids. That had been causing her trouble for some time and she finally decided to do something about it. We were only at the day-surgery facility a couple of hours and she has been home recuperating since. The bruising is beginning to fade which is good. My high school reunion is next weekend so we are hoping she is sufficiently recovered that people don’t start calling me Keeter the wife beater.
by rakeeter 
Celebrating September/October birthdays has been a challenge this year. It was simple enough with Vivian. Jill made a cake, we sang happy birthday and Vivian opened presents. But Rebecca and Joyce were another matter. Rebecca’s was on Monday, October 3 when we were still in Garland. We got home that afternoon but Monday is an odd time to celebrate a birthday so the plan was to combine Li’l r’s with Joyce’s the following Sunday. We did manage to squeeze it in Sunday afternoon between other activities so they got their cake and all but I still haven’t gotten a present for Joyce. She just waves me off when I suggest doing so. 
