We Are Pleased to Announce .....

California Guest Grace Hall (via ACU)

New gas line gets tested
Grey Boy needs a new name

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The harvest is plentiful - still

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FOR THE WEEK ENDING February 11, 2007

HIGHLIGHTS:

1. WE ARE PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE a delightful visit from Grace Hall. Grace honored us by making the 5 hour drive from Abilene Christian U. after classes and work on Friday. Being from Campbell, CA., Grace needed some additional Texanization. We ate Mexican food at a restaurant and shopped at El Mercado, walked along the famous San Antonio Riverwalk, remembered the Alamo, attended Oak Hills Church, ate breakfast tacos, and spent nearly 3 hours at the San Antonio Rodeo and Livestock Show. Grace saw goats, sheep, pigs, cattle, horses, dogs herding sheep, and shared a funnel cake. Next time you see Grace, ask her to tell you the difference between heifers, cows, steers, and bulls. Her send off on Sunday afternoon was BBQ at the original Rudy's in Leon Springs. Come visit us and we'll show you a good time - if your heart can stand it.

2. WE ARE PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE genuine progress on the plumbing. The gas line was installed on Wed - Thur and passed city inspection on Friday. (Doesn't the picture above of the pressure gauge send shivers down your spine? If so, you need help.) We have water back on the garden hose faucets. Incidentally, there were no leaks in any of the PVC pipe that I glued together about a month ago. The hot water heater plumbing got to about 75% complete by the end of the week. It sure is good to be having real progress and not just visions and sad stories about why we're not working on the plumbing.

3. WE ARE PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE that our leading cat domestication candidate, (the grey cat, formerly known as Grey Boy,) appears to really be "Grey Girl." "Censor Babe", aka OSHA Babe, won't let me tell you why I think this. So, you'll just have to use your imagination.

4. WE ARE PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE that the orange harvest continues into February. We may have a week to 10 days left. I feel like the Israelites who entered the Promised Land and lived in cities they had not built and ate from vinyards that they did not plant. I wonder if they had any oranges?

5. Last, but not least, WE ARE PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE the winners of the "Name that Song Contest." Donna and Dennis, loyal blog readers from Washington State, swept the trophy by naming over 30 songs. Isn't I-Tunes a wonderful resource? In addition to the songs/artists I intended, Donna and Dennis found other artists like Lifehouse, Baccara, Tex Ritter, Patsy Cline, Canned Heat, and Felix Bernard. (Are you two sure that Felix isn't a music teacher at a Middle School in Washington State rather than an artist who recorded Winter Wonderland?) Heather, from California, found titles by U2 and Softsell. She provided background to California Dreamin' that was written by the Mamas and Papas while they were in NY and missing home. (Heather, Pat and I are similarly motivated and working on our version of the song. We plan to call it "California Dreamin', Y'all".) My sister entered and called the contest "silly." Isn't it just like a little brother to annoy his big sister? I did stump the entrants with "Only Time" by Enya, "She's Not There" by the Zombies, and "Eight Miles High" by the Byrds (David Crosby was a member of the group.)

Donna and Dennis, we'll see you in Phoenix and personally present the prize. All of you who are cheesey enough to play this game will be treated to a cold Pepsi (or beverage of your choice) on the San Antonio Riverwalk when you come visit us. Thanks for having some fun with us.

NEXT STEPS:

1. Complete the plumbing

2. Gas Meter move

3. Windows

4. Keep working on the kitchen