Mike's new project

Now that our major project at church is done, Mike is concentrating on a project here at home. He is putting a deck and a ramp by our pool. This part of the deck will be level with the top of the pool.

It doesn't look like much, but this is where we will have a ramp from the front porch to the pool deck.

See the rounded part of the water hose spool on the lower right? That will be an outdoor shower area so that we have a way to shower off before and after getting in the pool. I don't like walking through the house in a wet suit. And the ramp will keep us from walking through any grass or dirt before we get to the pool. I am really, really looking forward to this!

Unfinished Business: Friday's Photo Challenge

The theme for the photo challenge this week at Renaissance was "unfinished business". Bread, after rising on the counter overnight, but not yet baked is unfinished right?

Now it is baked. You could say it is finished. However, the fact that we still need to eat it renders the whole process unfinished still. I say, time's wasting....get the butter....let's eat.

A look underneath

Once again, the ordinary becomes extraordinary when observed from a new perspective. I wanted to see if I could capture the translucence of the light from the sun.

Translucent means"Transmitting light but causing sufficient diffusion to prevent perception of distinct images". Yes, I looked that up too.

Lemon petunia. Very translucent.

 Those specks are on the inside of the flower.

A marigold. Not as translucent as the petunia.

This view did allow me to see the receptical and the sepal, which is the bulbous, green part by the stem of the flower. My camera allowed me to see a little more-and a little more clearly. And...I saw beauty.

A look inside

I took a close-up look at my new lemon petunias. I think they are so pretty, a fresh lemon color.

I marveled at the veins in the petal and the tiny pistil and stamens. I looked it up and found out that this green part in the middle is the pistil, which contains the stigma, style and ovary. The brown edged structures are the stamens. They are made of the anther and filament. These are the reproductive parts of the flower.

Isn't it amazing that even a small flower is actually an intricate, well designed, living organism!

Friday's Photo Challenge: Green

I photographed this little frog last summer and chose this picture to illustrate the concept of "green". He definitely is!
Visit Renaissance to see more pictures.

Another lucky find, a local restaurant, The Lemon Wedge

Downtown Bryan, Texas.

Gorgeous table settings.

Today's starter: Zucchini bread with cinnamon butter.

Green and yellow decor.

Lemon themed paintings and painted quotes are showcased.

We both ordered the asparagus, canadian bacon, brie and ciabatta sandwiches with homemade potato chips and fruit.

Our waiter suggested that Ky and I needed a photograph together. I agree!

Ky finally had a little break in her schoolwork, so we went to see "The King's Speech" and it was excellent . Afterwards we treated ourselves to lunch at The Lemon Wedge. I had wanted to try it for the longest time. It is a little more expensive than we are used to, but the food was so good and the atmosphere was so interesting and refreshing....it was worth it. I will definitely be returning soon.

Grandpa's table

While we were visiting my son, Lee, we accidentally started a home improvement project. He has my grandpa's table and it had cheap veneer glued to the top. It was so cracked and had chunks flaking off. We were talking about the table and feeling of it when we discovered that we could peel off the veneer fairly easily. What didn't peel off right away could be chiseled off. So we all started working.

Lee

 

Mike

 

The veneer is gone and underneath is a pretty wooden top.

Now, the guys do a lot of sanding-all by hand.

 

Time out for a little horseplay...

Lee and I put on Linseed oil as a fnish, and Peggi photographs us.

 

Mike takes a break.

 

I think Grandpa would like how the finished table looks. I think it looks really pretty.

I remember him, sitting at this table with a cup of coffee, reading and talking or working on something...and talking. I also remember huge, magnificent meals prepared by my Grandmother-covering this entire table. We sat together many times, right around this table. It was a joy to get it refinished a bit. We will remember...and enjoy...for many years to come.

Peggi makes Pickle Chips

My son's girlfriend made us pickle chips on our last visit. Take dill hamburger slices, dip them into a mixture of milk and egg, then in seasoned flour, back into the milk and eggs, coating them finally with seasoned bread crumbs. Deep fry them until golden brown. Yes, they were extremely delicious. Thank you Peggi!

I missed getting a picture of the finished pickle chips. We started eating them right away and I forgot.

Next time, I'll take a picture of them AND the chicken strips she made to go along with them.

Photo Friday, a Feast for the Eyes, Mouth, and Soul

If you are ever in Castroville Texas.....eat here. We were 3 1/2 hours into our drive, on our way to visit my son Lee. We left our little dog home this time so we were actually able to go inside a restaurant to eat. It is always fun to leave the main road and look around the town square when you travel. We found a gorgeous restaurant on the edge of the block.

My meal: a grilled pork chop, green beans with garlic, sweet carrots, roasted potatoes, brown gravy and a homemade roll with real butter.

 We didn't see the restaurant at first because it looked more like an antique store in a restored house. Isn't it pretty?

 Here's a clue!

 We were seated and a beautiful cat came to sit outside our window.

 The view was wonderful through the other window too.

 Each room in the house contained small, private tables. Little lap blankets were placed on each chair. We sat by this fireplace.

The entrance hallway is in the center of the house. The door leads to the kitchen.

We were hungry and a bit tired. This wonderful food, served in such an inviting atmosphere refreshed us....and nourished us in more ways than one. It was an unexpected experience in this small town, almost in the middle of nowhere.

Just a little, light meal

I came across this picture of the meal I fixed on Valentine's Day. Bacon wrapped hot dogs.

Self explanatory.

Delicious.

Splurge.