OK. I admit this photo was taken traveling 65 mph, the car window down, traversing over a large body of water (for inland Texas anyway), in traffic, and with one hand…but the hot air balloon next to a setting sun was just too much (good) to ignore.
Under bridge in Austin – oh the things you see and notice (not to mention the occasional pedestrian passing by on the other side)
I realize this is my third post in a week of the little Scottie, but he’s so dag-gum fun…the FD thinks we ought to refer to him as “Prince of Peat” – for the time being, we’re just calling him “Peaty”….
Even if he is still pooping and peeing in the house, he’s my kind of ornery….
He’s growing fast…
And from this you can start to see a personality in the making….
The Princess Zoey? She has fully accepted him into the Royal household…as long as he knows and keeps his place.
For this Prince of mine I have considered many a names:
Barclay, Gowan, Callum, Toran, Margadale, Marcus, Laine, Innes, Nachton, Lyall,
Dunyvey, Tain, Barley, Haggis, Glenburgie
And considered many suggestions:
Peat, Ozzy, Fergus, Farquhar, Shamus, Duncan, Dexter, McTavish, Cosby, Milton, Angus,
Hamish, Ollie, Piper, Charming, Edward
I have a name in mind….
If you think of some other name, leave a comment. Keep in mind the Princess as our two Scotties will be called “Zoey and _________, the Royal Heirs”. This Prince will be named by sunrise tomorrow. But I give y’all an opportunity to chime in with a poll of a narrowed list:
I love signs…especially the home made ones (with a hand reflection no less)….
And some homemade signs are so blatantly simple, it makes you wonder sometimes….
Some signs just make you go “Huh?”
Others make you nod your head….
Some are…well…I have nothing on this one….
And then we always seem to come back to those “huh”" signs….
Beautiful morning with fishing poles a plenty….
Alone at the shoreline; the distance skyline reminds us how close we are to the city….
Fisherman three, distant one….we all enjoy the dawn
We got to see the FGs on Saturday. And of course I took about a bajillion photos of him. But it was this video sent by the FS yesterday that topped anything I could photograph….
‘We sing Amazing Grace right before we go to bed…’
We’ll do pictures with the next post.
I remember loving this lady’s singing (way) back in high school. So tonight I catch the credits of the movie “The Family That Preys” and the closing song made me pause….”is that?…could it be?…yes it is Gladys and it’s no Midnight Train she’s belting!” Now she’s gone and got me loving her all over again. Thank you lady!
I know, some of you will be thinking I’m so far behind on this song sung some four years ago, huh? Well don’t. It is as much a song for the soul tonight as it was in 2008!
“…Promise me that you’ll give faith a fighting chance,
And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance.
I hope you dance….
“Coming and Going” or “To and Fro”. Whichever the case, it is always so much fun to be the first in the park after (or during) a snowfall.
It wasn’t much of a snow, but it was snow nonetheless….
Dead as a doornail, but still majestic in its stature is this Oak tree….
You see things differently when it snows (or fogs)…this looks like it could be an old farm road, or just a natural, coincidental clearing in the trees
I sure would have loved to sit around and watch the snow melt….
We spent 4 days in Austin with Lincoln…and everyone else. He had a blast!
Lincoln get to tooling around, sometimes with Mom’s help….
Lincoln hanging out with Uncle Mark – he “picked” this seat on his own BTW :) ….
Then off we go back to Dallas…just in time to enjoy the hospitality of dear friends Oona and Ettore for their annual Boxing Day party with friends and a few very special young ladies.
This is the second time meeting these neat young ladies, all who have a deep loving relation with Oona and Ettore….BTW, they are watching the Flickr slideshow of last year’s party on my cell phone
Another one of the neat young ladies – the 6th girl was unable to attend this year’s party and she was missed….
The FS, FD, and FSIL were able to join in on the Boxing Day party this year. FS had 2 job interviews in Dallas, the FD and FSIL have their rescheduled (due to bad weather) flights out of DFW tomorrow….
Oona and Ettore (far right), aka wonderful hosts and friends! Happy Boxing Day you guys!
What fun we’ve had!
Fun times with the present opening….
His other grandpa repurposed the FDIL’s childhood Radio Flyer wagon for Lincoln – turned out great!
Lincoln got an alligator hat for Christmas – it didn’t stay on his head long….
A long day and tons of presents…he’s now starting to wind down for the day….
We all hope y’all are having a grand and merry Christmas
The end of a long day….
With the sunrise in your face and reflections off the water, this balloon ride drifts towards the northeast….
Dipping low to the lake surface – the pilot was just showing off for the passengers
On one of the chilliest morning of the year, a hot air balloon defies the 28° temperatures….
Each of the last 4 years, the Friday before Thanksgiving, my company has a rousing, lunch hour game of flag football to raise money for a worthy cause. Past games has sent money to Children’s Hospital, a soup kitchen, and Scottish Rite. Hospital. This year our money goes to the family of a co-worker that unexpectedly passed away a few weeks ago. Whipped cream pies-in-the-face always end to this day of fundraising.
Ryan, this year’s event coordinator, gets a pie-beard (and foil cap)….
Newlywed Andrew catches one square in the chops….
For some, the pie comes to them…for others, they go to the pie.
It’s maybe only once a year that a boss catches a pie to the face and grins about it….
Austin was a real trooper here – he took this pie to the chops for his dad….
Perhaps my favorite: a double pie smack to and from Kips and Angela….
Kips wipes away the cream….
Angela searches for a wash rag….
Picked up my FugiFilm FinePix S4000 “drive-by shooter” camera on the way out the door this morning, and discovered a beautifully calm, sunny morning…so my work commute took the lake route.
Our local 70-year-old Lavekview Marina (I love the obviousness in the name) serves many a boaters and fishermen…I’m just glad they waited till after I left this morning to stir up the water.
My beloved Kansas State Wildcats traveled to Fort Worth to play the TCU Horned Frogs…I had great seats along side a great friend….and the Cats won!
It was a very purple crowd….
You will need to forgive my photographic skills with this post – I did not have the media guy’s high dollar equipment, but merely my iPhone and shirt-pocket Canon to “snap” photos….
The pre-game saw pants of wild-ness….
And costumes from the book of out-there-ness….
But what caught my eye the most were the boots…TCU gals wear skirts and boots to the football games for crying out loud!
Purple Leggins and Boots….
And Just Purplely Decorated Boots….
Black and Brown Boots….
And Boots with “FROGS” on the heel….hey wait a minute lady, where are your boots?
We got your all Purple Boots….
And a walking closet of Boots….
Bare leg and Blue Jean Boots….
Tall Boots….
Fuzzy Boots….
Shoes amongst the Many Boots….
Ahhh yes! The occasional Wildcat Boots would come along….
The junior Frog had no Boots….
And guy’s boring shoes kept hiding the Boots from me….
We had your Tennis Shoes, Knee Braces, and Boots….
And TCU Boots next to Sneakers….
Strappin’ Boots….
Sandals with heels and Boots….
Boots standing, and Boots walking away Boots….
Shoes, Flip Flops and TCU Boots at the curb….
And Curly, Pointy Toed Boots….
The think the Cheerleaders should have Boots….
I really could have used my “good” camera this night, but my “bitty” camera got my point across….The Cats gave the Frogs the “boot” 23-13
Klyde Warren Park between downtown Dallas and uptown Dallas open last weekend….
An urban park destined for becoming one of Dallas’ most popular….
It spans over a 6-lane freeway and is flanked by high-rise buildings (some casting quite the glare)…
The dog park, although small, is very popular….
Families find shade in the downtown building shadows….
Ping pong can be played while at the park…
Kids are everywhere – portable tables and chairs are as well….
You can take in a friendly, yet competitive game of chess if you so choose….
Game over!
Even found a K-State family using the lawn expanse for a little exercise – Go Cats!
Walkways, gateways, funways….
Each year at work we hold a tailgate party – clients are invited to a lunch BBQ and everyone is encouraged to show their favorite college spirit. This year…not so many hats were worn
Even the deserting school of the Big 12 was represented…
You can probably imagine some of the “smack” conversations going around with so much Texas school apparel being worn.
Family and kids are always invited – one of my co-worker’s daughter
Poor girl…Dad’s “picking” on her
Some of the camera people were happy the entire time….
Hey wait a minute…who’s that…and in particular, who’s guy behind the guy with the camera?
Our pre-game brunch with the reunion bunch-of-us
Our tailgate meal with the reunion bunch-of-us….
Game day signage in Aggieville….
Game day apparel for sale (they weren’t selling).
Game day outside the stadium….
Game day inside the stadium….
I need confirmation from Aunt Marilyn or Cuz Brent, but I’m kind of certain the young lady with blond hair is my 2nd cousin Karissa…she’s a Classy Cat even if this isn’t her….
Down there in that mass of purple…here come the Wildcats!
Coach Snyder (the young white-haired guy going into the special teams huddle) is King of Manhattan and all of the Wildcat Nation….
Not too bad of a shot…from 30 rows up, right?
The young Wildcat fan seated in front of me….
The goofy Wildcat fan seated to the right of me (it was 33° and the guy had no fashion, or pants, or coat, or sense….but he was loved by the entire crowd of purple)
Willie the Wildcat exciting the crowd with his “K” – “S” – “U” chant and dance! Cat’s win big over Texas Tech! Thanks Willie!
Road Trip!!!! My 30th college class reunion! You know you’re getting close to Manhattan (KS) when the water towers are properly adorned with the ‘Powercat’. Let the reminiscing begin.
A few stragglers from the Homecoming Parade…”the pride of Wildcat Land”
the famous Call Hall dairy sciences ice cream parlor – having a “Purple Pride” ice cream and a rush of fond memories of buying, back-in-the-day, a dozen eggs and a gallon of milk to feed the wife, FD, and me for $2….total. This one scope of ice cream, 30 years later, well…it cost me $3 so I ate it reeeaaaallll slooooowww with a grin on my face.
the true 1950′s-built barracks where we lived – aka married student housing – has been replaced with this….and they have the audacity to say “Founded 1957″ for these apartments built 3 years ago?
A tavern in Aggieville – a reference/likeness to our beloved football coach? Only partially for sure!
Everyone that reads/follows my blog is encouraged to go vote and vote often for Rod – he’s my college classmate and all-around good guy (but he didn’t want me to walk the parade route with him for some reason).
Holy cow…only the paint color on the press boxes have changed. I happened upon Cico Park, home of my summer job umpiring unruly young men playing baseball for their all-knowing volunteer coaches (it was on the “blue” field that I tossed out of the game my first, and only, coach…and did so quite loudly and with a whole lot of theatre I might add).
Don’t we all end up taking a picture of our weekend accommodations? Or is it just me?
Food at the State Fair of Texas is all about the 70-year old business of making Fletcher Corny Dogs….
And a dish of ‘Fried Jambalaya’ wins this year’s Best Taste of the State Fair
You know you’re in Texas, at the State Fair when the hood of the golf carts are decorated as one would expect…..
We grow our hats big down here….
And purses in the shape of quilted fish…
Fried Mexican Fire Crackers….
Orange flamingos at the Lagoon await their evening “Chinese Lantern” show….
Happened upon the Pillsbury pie judging – I LIKE PIE! but I would be danged if these ladies wouldn’t give me a fork for a taste….
The wall of ribbon-winning jellies, jams, pickled whatevers, and the like….
Oh geez…you figured out quickly your in the textile area of the Creative Arts Building when their golf cart is covered in…in…in yarn stuff
Dancing in the streets! (The Children Alpine Dancers) – made me break out in true Von Trapp family song “Edelvise, Edelvise…hum hum (couldn’t remember the words, nor could the folks on either side of me)
Fried Mac-n-Chese Sliders gets the ‘Most Creative’ food pick of the Fair
I wonder how Mom and Little Brother convinced Dad and Big Brother to push them around the State Fair….
Barbecue Texas style is done off a flat bed semi-tractor trailer…at the front door of the Midway.
The Chicken Fried Cactus Bites…won’t do those again
With the main Fairgrounds being 60-70 years old, you can find some pretty neat Art-Deco detailing in/on/around the buildings….
Big Tex saying “Howdy Folks” and mounted police plodding through the Fairgrounds!
A nice finish to the day: Deep-Fried Divine Chocolate Tres Leches Cake…
The 56th Annual Greek Food Festival of Dallas! Let’s Dance!
And dance!
And dance in shoes with pom-poms on the toes (and please note I’m not the only one taking pictures of them)…
And then let’s dance some more…..
Then we eat! (Loukaniko Sandwich and Dolmathes)
And then we eat some more! (Greek coffee and Baklava)
And some folks, besides the dancers, were in full costume….
A bit ominous were their costumes if you ask me….
But let’s not forget the Police officer…who danced between the 6 lanes of traffic, was in full costume himself, and decided to eat by starting the grill…in the middle of the road (and right next to the truck’s gas tank!). Grand time had being Greek for the afternoon!
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