Civil war

It was spring break for some but not all last week.  Joyce and I stayed behind to hold down the fort while the neighbors spent spring break in New Orleans.  As we go to press I haven’t gotten the skinny on their trip.  In fact, I haven’t seen them since they returned Saturday evening but if any were missing I’m sure I would have heard about it.  I was in charge of Tino the dog’s health and happiness while they were gone and that wouldn’t have been a problem except we have acquired new cat Cookie Monster, aka Oreo, aka Big Mean Kitty.  Early after Cookie took up permanent residence on SA Tino made the mistake of chasing him up a tree.  Since then Cookie has stood his ground against TIno, nay taken the initiative.  I tried a couple of times to let Tino out while I was working around the place so he could get some exercise and fresh air.  Trouble is, Cookie likes to hang around and watch me work and the two of them went at it.  I hoped they would eventually sort things out and call a truce, but no, it was constant bickering.  Cookie would chase Tino while spitting and spewing like an old steam engine.  Tino would run but then as soon as Cookie stopped he would be right back in his face barking.  I finally had to chase Tino down and drag him back into the house with Cookie nipping at his heels the whole way.  Made me swear. Continue reading “Civil war”

Like old times

peach blossom
Peach blossom

For the last several days there has been a chance of rain, which is much needed. Yesterday evening after she had put her chickens up I drove Joyce to Rebecca’s school to watch Rebecca and her classmates put on a program. There were some ominous-looking clouds hanging over the southwest corner of town with a few streaks of lightening to make them look even more sinister. Even today, with the chances much reduced, there were plenty of likely-looking clouds around but so far nary a drop of moisture has fallen. Prior to 2015 we got a lot of that. In fact, that was the norm. If this round of weather is any indication, we may be falling back into old bad habits. Continue reading “Like old times”

Nice weather

It was a pretty nice week last week, dry, but nice. Oh, it blew pretty good Thursday. Joyce and I took the day off to visit the Texas Wild exhibit at the WT Cornett Library in Canyon. The photos and video, presented by a biology professor and grad student, were of Texas wildlife in case you hadn’t guessed. They were interesting and nicely done but too few. We would have liked to have seen more. Continue reading “Nice weather”

Basketball

Abigail played in a basketball game last week.  She didn’t get many minutes but they were the first since her ankle was sprained last year.  She managed a nice assist, too.  They clobbered a hapless Lubbock Coronado team.  We’ve been on the wrong side of some of those blowouts this season so it was nice have it go our way this time.  The Abster’s freshman team played AHS Saturday morning, a game she wanted badly to win because of one particular AHS player who went to Crockett with her, played on the A-team and was condescending toward the B-team players.  Unfortunately the Rebel girls sleepwalked through the first half and, though they won the second half, they couldn’t close the gap before time ran out. Continue reading “Basketball”

No snow

SA may be free of snow for the first time since last year.  On the other hand there may be still a little left in a shady spot in the garden.  Where the snow drifted during the Christmas blizzard, which was usually on the north side of something and thus shaded throughout the day, it has persisted for a month now.  Maybe this week it will be dry enough in the lane to get down it with the pickup and clean up debris.  Last week I carted off a load of trimmings from the two big junipers in the front of 2005.  They’ve needed trimming for years and that danged China berry is sending up sprouts all under them.  Some of the sprouts have grown into small trees and I have to get in there and clean them out, a thankless task, but I’ll keeping pecking away at it, weather permitting, till it’s done. Continue reading “No snow”