Strange Saturday

Saturday was not our usual day. We awoke early to run a few errands. The weather was quite chilly and on this April morning, we witnessed small flakes of snow falling. Since this was in the forecast, we were expecting it, but it was still unusual to see small flakes of snow when our azaleas are in full bloom. One of Dave's to-do list items for the weekend was to plant a tree and some lantana; again, it's quite strange to be outside planting when it is snowing. I must admit that the snow was so fine that it could not even be photographed; however, I've seen pictures from south east of here that had a bit more snow on blue bonnets.

Secondly, Saturday was unusual because we had two events. The first, a surprise 40th birthday party for Jimmy. Our second event was a Ranger's game.

Devin was able to have the party for Jimmy because she was "helping" a friend with a 50th birthday party for her husband. What Jimmy didn't know was that half of the party was for him. Jimmy's job was to get the other birthday boy to the party and succeeded. When they arrived they came into a dark room illuminated by 90 candles on two different cakes. The men dawdled a bit as they came in from the parking lot, so that the candles on Jimmy's cake were almost burned down to nothing. After singing "Happy Birthday" the lights were turned on so that the men could see the friends and family gathered to wish them well.







The Ranger's game was a history maker due to the record low temperature. It was 38 when the game started at 7:05. We saw an inside the ballpark homerun by Michael Young. And, we keep our eyes on first baseman and switch hitter, Mark Teixeria, a former Georiga Tech player.







We also saw Sammy Sousa hit a homerun.


As always we were entertained by our neighbors--two rednecks in front of us who kept heckling the Red Sox fans, four college kids behind us--one who kept giggling like a college friend, and a family of six(or seven) to our left that kept us on our feet with their incessant trips to the restroom or concession stand. And, we were shocked that a player for the Red Sox is named Coco Crisp. Why would you do that?

The Stockyards

Mama and Daddy have been out visiting. With Daddy being such a huge wild west fan, we knew that we had to go to the Stockyards in Fort Worth.

Our first stop--lunch. We ate at Riscky's Barbecue in Stockyard Station, feasting on brisket sandwiches with potato salad, fries, or red beans as sides. After that we meandered down the street to the Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame. An impressive display of wagons captured our attention (well, maybe not Dave's but everybody else's). The Hall of Fame displays were interesting as well. Cowboys, cowgirls, and rodeo clowns from the past fifty years had displays. Two of the most famous inductees are George Strait, who participates in team calf-roping, and Lane Frost, whose life and death were immortalized in the movie 8 Seconds.

We explored the Stock Exchange Building and the Cowtown Coliseum. We wandered through gift shops and found a tiny cowboy hat for Hayden. Dave found a custom made boot store, with prices starting around $2,000.

After resting our feet for a bit, we awaiting the daily cattle drive through the stockyards. It is amazing to see the longhorns walk down the street.


























And, only in Fort Worth does a man riding a longhorn not seem out of place.

Homegrown Tomatoes

Dave's Weekend Project . . .

You never know what the day will bring around here.

Tiller rental $38

Edging stones $25

Manure mixture $16

Tomato plants $10

Seeds $6

Supervision by Mason--free

The taste of a home grown tomato= priceless.

Doing the mental math while working and realizing just how many tomatoes we could buy at the Farmer's Market . . . we won't mention that.

Randy Rogers at Billy Bob's

Dave and I have been following the Randy Rogers Band since moving to DFW. Dave is not a country music fan, but since living in Texas, he has grown to like a few Texas artists. It started with Pat Green, then moved to Cross Canadian Ragweed, then to Wade Bowen. Now Randy Rogers has been added to the very select list of country artists Dave likes.

One benefit of living in DFW is the access to concerts. We certainly missed that living in Austin. Last night, we treated ourselves to a night at Billy Bob's to hear Randy Rogers. This is the band's fourth sold-out crowd at Billy Bob's.

The show didn't start until 10:30, so at 9:00, we decided to head to the Stockyards to Billy Bob's Texas: The World's Biggest Honky Tonk. We've been there several times, and I am always amazed at how big it is. There's a gift shop, an arena for bull riding and other rodeo events, an arcade, a restaurant, a dance floor complete with a saddle-disco ball (it's a saddle covered in tiny little mirrors suspended from the ceiling, and the reserved seating area. The walls are adorned with neon signs, caricatures of artists, and stones bearing the handprints and signatures of artists. But with all of this to see, the biggest show is the band. Coming in a close second is the people there.

Last night we were entertained by two of the couples sharing the long table for 14 with us. The men were around 60 and slightly overweight. I found neither strikingly attractive. The ladies were blondes, in their 40s, attractive, and clad in tight jeans and tiny shirts. When they first sat down Dave made a comment about the men and their trophy wives. Being the girl I am, I started checking left hands. None of them were wearing wedding bands or engagement rings. Believe me, these ladies are the type that would have multi-carat rings and wear them proudly. (Not that there's anything wrong with that, I would proudly don a multi-carat ring.) Nonetheless, watching them was even more amusing realizing that they were divorcees on dates. The dorky man closest to us didn't play air guitar with the band; he played air keyboard. His date, however, would strum along with her air guitar. The other guy had on a huge black Stetson hat, which kept obstructing my view. At various times in the evening, they all had out cell phones or Blackberries, taking pictures and sending messages. Dave chuckled when he heard one of the blondes exclaim, "This is so much fun."

Crowd watching aside, the show was great. The band played for two hours, including an encore of three songs. We were able to sing along and have a good time relaxing.

Sweat Equity

It's a well-known fact that I don't like to sweat. That's my number one problem with exercising--the sweat. Being a lady of the South, I truly don't sweat that much--glistening is an apt description for what occurs when I am hot. But, I don't like glistening either. However, Dave is such a great helper in the house, that I'm beginning to feel guilty about him doing all of the yard work. (For the record, as long as we've had Mason, I have carried the title of "Pooper Scooper" with pride and dutifully performed my job. And, occasionally in the summer, I will help cut the grass.) Dave has taken upon himself the task of cleaning the hand-washable knives and cookware following meals. Additionally, whenever we clean the house, we clean together. The only area where he's a bit remiss is laundry, but all I have to do is ask, and he helps me put the laundry away. (It's the asking that's the rub, but that's another blog.)

Nonetheless, while I was on Spring Break last week, I decided to help Dave with the yard. After a light dinner on Wednesday night, we went out and started working. While Dave cut the front and side yards, I pulled weeds in the front flower bed and scooped the backyard. When Dave grabbed the weed-eater to edge the front yard, I got behind the mower and cut the backyard. He was able to get all of the edging done and everything blown off all in one evening with my help--usually he divides the task into two evenings. When we finished, we felt pride in a job well done. Dave even asked, "Could we pick Wednesday or Thursday nights to designate for yard work so we won't have to do this on the weekend?" Knowing that the exercise would be good and feeling that guilt at not helping outside, I readily agreed.

So, this week I'm back at work. I really didn't want to cut the grass Wednesday night, but I came home talking myself into it. Dave didn't want to cut the grass, either, so we delayed until Thursday. When I got home Thursday, I had even less desire to cut the grass. Dave got tied up at work and didn't get home until almost 7 0'clock, so we postponed again. Friday we told ourselves we HAD to cut the grass; the rye that Dave overseeded with in the fall is getting quite deep after a week of weather in the 70s. We were all set to cut the grass. Dave even got off of work early. But alas, the sprinklers had run on Thursday night, and it was too wet to mow. So, we sat on the sofa for a while eating pizza before going upstairs to the office for Dave to tie flies and for me to work on my portfolio that is due Monday night.

We got up this morning ready to mow. Dave wanted to go pick up some supplies for planting tomato plants; I could have waited on him, but decided I would like to be finished by noon. I pulled the power out of the garage and into the backyard, after scoopin' the poopin' first. As I wheeled the mower into the backyard, I remembered with dread how hard it is for me to start the mower--especially when the engine is cold. I pumped the little primer button about six times and attempted to pull the starter string while I held down the safety lever on the mower. Nothing. And it's no wonder since I barely pulled the string its entire length. I pulled again. If possible, this pull was even more wimpy that the first. I silently chastised myself for all these years of avoiding sweat and yard work and becoming soft, unable to even start the mower. I would not let this get the better of me. Again, I pushed the little primer button and even checked for gasoline--it was low, but it would do. Again I pulled to no avail. But, I persisted and after five or six (I lost count, it was probably higher) attempts, I heard a bit of a sputter. Energized by this sound, knowing that I was close, thankful that I was behind the fence of the backyard so that Mason was the only witness to my ordeal, I pulled hard and fast. The engine growled to life. Yippee!!!

Happy that I had conquered the mower, I pushed it through the tall green grass of the backyard, throwing tennis balls and frisbees out of my path as I went. Mason lay happily panting on the cool concrete of the backyard, content to supervise. Dave arrived from his errands just as I finished the backyard. He took the mower and tackled the sloping front yard next to the neighbor's house. While he mowed, I weeded. He took a break to weed for a bit, and I mowed the street-side of the front yard. There is a slight slope on this side that almost got me, but I wouldn't let it. Dave finished the weedeating, just as I finished the sideyard.

There's something to be said for working in the yard--especially when one is avoiding graduate school homework!

Broccoli Slaw

Yesterday it occurred to me that the blog has not addressed one of my passions--cooking (and, of course, eating)! Perhaps that is because I have not had much time lately to cook, and I certainly haven't been trying any new recipes.

Since the weather is getting warmer, Dave and I like to eat salads, sandwiches, and other light meals. So, as I created the menu for the week, so I could do the shopping, Dave requested this slaw that I made last summer after watching an episode of Paula Dean's show on Food Network. Last night as we had seafood salad sandwiches with this broccoli slaw, Dave commented, "This is what should happen to all broccoli stalks."

Broccoli Cole Slaw
*I typically omit the green onions; Dave doesn't care for them.

2 bags (3-ounce) Ramen Noodle Soup in Oriental (other flavors will work, too)
3/4 stick butter
1/4 cup slivered almonds
2 bags (12-ounce) bags broccoli cole slaw (in the bagged salad section of the grocery store)
1/4 cup sunflower seeds
Chopped green onions, for garnish

Dressing Mix:
3/4 cup canola oil
1/4 cup brown or white sugar
1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
1 ramen noodle seasoning packet

Put the ramen noodles in a bag and crush them with a rolling pin while melting butter in a large skillet over low/medium heat. Add the crushed noodles and slivered almonds to the skillet and saute, stirring occasionally (keep temperature at low/medium heat). Meanwhile, whisk together all the dressing ingredients in a small bowl. Place the shredded broccoli into bowl and toss with the noodles, almonds, and sunflower seeds. Pour dressing over salad and toss to coat. Garnish with chopped green onions.

Spring Broken

Devin used this title in her blog, and I have to agree with her kids; I'm having a spring broken instead of a spring break. Unlike the J's, however, I did get to escape to Charlotte for a weekend. And, unlike Devin, I don't have any cute pictures of weed-pullers to post. A picture of me grading papers is not cute. But since my return home, I'm definitely dealing with a broken spring.

Monday, when I returned, I had the bug-guy scheduled for 2pm. It's a good thing. When I walked upstairs around 1:30, I was greeted by the corpses of lady bugs--everywhere. Dave had emptied the flourescent light fixture in the kitchen every day last week and had to vacuum up quite a few from the attic when he retrieved our luggage, but I didn't expect this carnage. I started to clean it up before the guy got here because I didn't want him to think that I'm a sub-par house keeper (truth aside). I decided, however, that I should leave it so he could see what we're dealing with. He was impressed by the number of dead lady bugs, too. So, he dusted the attic to kill them. We've decided they were hibernating in there this winter and since it has warmed up are looking for a way out. I still can't figure out why they were dead when I found them.

Tuesday, I decided to attack the remaining research papers that I had to read. I thought there were less than ten still to read; turns out there were around twenty unread papers. I spent much of the day reading them. Around 3pm, a storm started moving in. I decided I should allow extra time to get to my class on the south side of Dallas, so I left at 3:45 in torrential rains. I could barely see in some places but crept along to class for I am a conscientious student. At hour one into the drive, I seriously began to consider turning back, but the traffic on the other side of the highway was just as bad. And, I'd already used an hour to drive this far. The traffic and weather forecast was dismal; hail was falling ahead where I would be driving. But, I persisted. I arrived one hour and fifty minutes later, safe and sound, and late for class. But the professor was understanding, and two other students arrived after me.

That bring us to today. So far, I've finished reading those pesky research papers and now have only the task of putting a grade on them ahead of me. The a/c guys have been out to replace a motor on our upstairs unit so that we won't suffer the heat the way Devin and family did last summer when one of their units went out. And, I have three hours until I have to go to the dentist for part one of a crown.

I keep telling myself I should not be complaining about my Spring Break. Yes, it would be much more fun to be getting a mani-pedi and a massage. It would be great fun to be shopping with all the money I'm paying for a crown and a a/c motor. It would be awesome not to have graduate projects hanging over my shoulder. But, I am thankful that I don't have to go to work this week and try to accomplish all the items on my to-do list. And, the a/c guy gave me another great thought, I'm getting paid to be at home. (Well, actually, I could totally argue that point. I only get paid for 180 days and it's divided over 12 months. . . but I'm trying to focus on the positive, right?)

Weekend in Charlotte

Dave and I traveled to Charlotte to spend the weekend with his parents. Mike and Letha drove up for the weekend bringing the dogs with them. The weather was beautiful, and we had a great visit.

Saturday, Dave, Mike, and Bob fished from the dock with no success; however, Sunday was a different story. Dave and Bob each pulled in a good sized bass. Mike caught a big catfish. (The catfish picture is on a 35mm camera, so we'll have to post that picture later.)

Of course, we had to work in some shopping. Letha and I first "shopped" Judy's "sanctuary" looking through antique collectibles and jewelry. Even the boys got involved in trying on some of the flashy stuff. Mike was adorable in some "ear bobs" that I eventually took. Dave piled on several really big necklaces. After shopping from the comfort of home, we went over to the antique mall where Bob and Judy have a booth. Judy extracted a carved necklace that she will lengthen. I found the mate to the earrings Mike was wearing, and Letha found a rhinestone choker. It's great to shop from your mother-in-law's booth; the prices are really great! Dave purchased a belt buckle to wear when we go to Billy Bob's and Gilley's; we'll have to get a belt now. Sunday, we went to the best Ace Hardware I've ever seen. It was packed with all kinds of home decor and design objects. And, we stopped by one of our favorite stores, Black Lion. With just about an hour 'til closing, we made a quick tour of all of the beautiful home decorating booths in this mini-mall.

And, whenever we get together, the food is delicious. Since the weather was so great we ate lunches and dinners al fresco. Judy made a delicious vegetable beef soup for lunch Saturday; we had dinner at Firebird's on the patio under the heaters Saturday night. While everything there was delicious, we all loved the tortilla slaw marinated in a cilantro-lime vinaigrette. Sunday we ate on the deck at the house. The view of the lake from the deck is phenominal. We watched the sunset last night just before cooking dinner.

As always, family visits are too short. But, we look forward to the next one!

Tessa Turns Four

Today is Tessa's fourth birthday. To celebrate, my aunt Lesa had her party over the weekend. Being the scatter-brained girl I am these days, I thought Tessa's birthday was March 13th, not 7th (I knew it was an "unlucky" number, though we are certainly lucky to have Tessa as a niece, er cousin.) So, Tessa--your gift's in the mail, really.

Tessa is a sweet, tender-hearted girl, much like me, but I think to an even larger degree. She loves to give hugs, and she always tells you how glad she is that you came to visit. Even, when Miss Miranda can't make it to see her that often. When we visited at Christmas, she even snuggled up in Dave's lap for a while. I can't wait to see her this summer!

Night Fishin'

Dave writes:


Yesterday I got an invitation from a friend to do some night fishing for hybrid bass at Cedar Creek Lake. Being the boatless soul that I am, I always clear my schedule when someone offers a free fishing trip in a boat - even when forecast calls for a low temperature of 39. We launched at around 8:00pm to do some night fishing around the many dock lights that dot the shoreline at Cedar Creek. Fishing was slow most of the night, but one dock provided some excitement. This hybrid bass was the highlight of the night (please try to disregard the majorly dorky headlamp that is a necessity when fishing at night). It weighed in at about 8lbs.--which, incidentially, would have been the water body state record for a hybrid on a flyrod. But I didn't get into flyfishing for all the fame and fortune - so I didn't take the trouble to turn in the record fish. I'm perfectly happy when I can get together with a friend in the middle of the night to do some fishing when it is a teeth chattering 39 degrees.