A Perfect World

My cousin split on Tuesday after a pretty jam packed week here. She probably needs a vacation from her vacation :) The last couple of days have been chore days as I am trying to get ready for both the NC trip and then the fast turn around for the Oregon trip.

Yesterdays shower pals...

Last night's Bunco pals...


Later, rob

Go Fast Shoes

My cuz came in on Wednesday from Florida and we hit the deck running! After picking up Mighty Cone for dinner we headed to Blues on the Green to see Carolyn Wonderland. Cathy met us there and then took Dani home early as Jodi and I closed down the show.


Yesterday we worked on the quiz for the ride on Sunday and then picked Dani up from soccer camp at noon. We had Maria's Taco Express for lunch (a big hit with the cuz) then headed off for a longer than anticipated hike on the greenbelt to Sculpture Falls for a dip.


Dinner at Gueros last night rounded out the day...then a quick stop at Whole Foods and we both crashed last night watching True Blood.

later, rob

Farmers Market

Yesterday the Gucciones (aka 'Ithcyonnes') came over to swim and have dinner. There were a few new recipes I had been looking at that I wanted to try. We picked up some grass fed beef from a local rancher as well as some tomatoes and eggplant at the farmers market last weekend. So I included it to make 1) Korean style short ribs 2) grilled eggplant with a tomato basil relish 3) lime and cilantro coleslaw 4) romaine salad with a bacon balsamic vinaigrette 5) flank steak with prosciutto and Gouda. Everything was tasty but the flank steak was too tough IMO. Diane brought over some delicious cupcakes and banana cake and I also made some homemade cookies and cream ice cream. We played catch phrase for most of the evening and had a great time. Like I said before, summer is time to catch up with friends I don't get to see nearly enough!

This morning I went out to the garden and noticed the tomatoes are about to explode. I also noticed there was a couple of red birds (I don't think they were cardinals but ?), that were trying to eat the yellow 'maters. I ended up putting some of last year's netting over the plants and hopefully that will be enough to discourage the birds from feasting on our hard earned produce!!


A couple of pics from this morning...a cicada and the sun coming up on the back deck...




later, rob

Summer Breeze

Summer means a lot of things not the least an association with travel, friends, swimming, birthdays, adventure and much, much more.
I can't keep up a yearly, daily, whatever blog. I don't have the patience nor the discipline. But after blogging our adventures last summer it seems a really great way to stay in touch with my family and friends. I am picking a random point to start...this week seems as good as any since it already involved activities I only do in the summer.

I was originally gonna do Juan Pelota's 2nd Moonlight Tower Constellation Tour with my friend Pascale but she wasn't feeling good at the last minute so I went myself. Cathy was at a Friday night swim meet with Dani and Garrett was being a lazy teenager. I knew that the ride started at the Zilker Tree because that is one of the more famous Moon Towers in Austin but for some reason I went to Mellow Johnny's instead (this is where the ride ended). I was running late and had to park a zillion miles away because it was friday night on 6th street and the crowds were already crazy. I got to the shop right at 8:15 when the ride was supposed to start except I was about 2 miles off-doh! Let's just say I spent the next hour and a half doing interval training :) The group ride alluded me until 41st and Speedway where the now dark night showcased all the red blinkies in the distance. I finally caught up and found some friends that were like "where in the world did you come from?" Ha, playing catch up!!
It was all good and we ended the ride together. There was cold beer and a summer breeze at the end of the ride...excellent!