For our first anniversary Faye and I rented part of a house overlooking Lake Travis, outside Austin. Because it was an off time we wound up having the entire place to ourselves. It was a lovely place to share with a woman, friend, partner, companion, as lovely then as she is today.
On Friday Faye and I day tripped to Rock Glen Conservation Area. The waterfall was only partially frozen. That’s Faye on the far left, which gives a sense of scale to the waterfall. It was a real treat; we agreed that we need to return in the spring and summer.
The dogs were zoomed in on Faye because she was simmering beef liver prior to dehydrating it for dog treats. As you may imagine, Faye had their attention for some time.
Kendal, Achilles, and Stella barely registered my presence taking photos. Almost every particle of their beings were zoomed in on Faye, who was (you will have to read the next post to learn why)
Cabinets done, and in time for Christmas. Faye is thoroughly cleaning the sink and counter (if you want a job done thoroughly you can count on Faye.). The counter is tile which we’d like to replace; it will have to wait until the next refresh.
The next stage will be painting and installing the ceiling and base trim. We’re taking a break from kitchen work so we can prepare our Christmas dinner at enjoy it.
I may or may not post during the next few days. If I don’t, I want to wish each and every one of you, my readers, followers, and commenters, a very merry Christmas, a happy New Year celebration, safe travels, a prosperous 2015. I am deeply appreciative and grateful that you find my photos and comments worth seeing and commenting on, here and on Facebook. Thank you very much.
Cheers and best regards, Andrew
Today has been my birthday. In some ways it was unremarkable. Faye and I shopped; we walked the dogs; visited a friend’ checked many movies out of the library; had dinner out.
In other ways it’s been a remarkable day. I am healthy; happy; have work I enjoy doing; have three great dogs; and the most marvellous wife, companion, best friend, partner.
I’m very thankful.
Taken with the PlayBook
Despite the busy and hectic few days mentioned, when I saw this photo I was compelled to make time to comment.
This photo is from from last January. Yes that’s right, Faye is hanging laundry and yes, the ground is snow covered. Though a cloudy day the humidity level was probably low and as you see from the sheet slightly billowing, there was a slight breeze.
Laundry does dry in subfreezing weather. Not 100%, but enough that a short session inside on drying racks removes all residual moisture. I did not believe it until I witnessed it.
We hang laundry because we do not have a dryer, which must seem amazingly primitive to some people. Even when our small town had a laundromat we used the ‘solar and wind powered dryer’. Even if we did have one (and it would be nice), we’d still hang laundry. Hanging laundry smells fresher. It endures less wear and tear. It costs far, far less money. There are also two somewhat overlooked attributes to hanging laundry.
One is that is that you pay a little more attention to the weather. ‘Do I have an opportunity to get laundry done tomorrow, before that chance of rain?’ Related to that, you have to get outside. To get off the couch, to be active, to live in our real world of warmth, cold, sun, clouds, wind, no wind.
I must confess. Faye takes responsibility for doing laundry, which means that she’s the one much more often than not who is hanging, un-hanging. I’m very, very grateful and appreciative that she does it. And am reminded when these chores fall on me how very blessed I am to have a partner to take on this responsibility.
There are 110 followers of my very modest and unassuming blog. I started it as first a place where I planned to post about baseball, life, and various other topics.
It’s morphed into a place to post photos and to give thanks for the many blessings in my life. Good dogs, weather of all kinds, a snug little home, a place to garden. Most especially my marvellous good fortune in having my best friend, companion, wife, lover, Faye to share all of this good fortune with.
I also deeply appreciate your follows, visits, and likes. Your likes, your comments, means a lot to me and at times are what, more than anything, encourages me to continue. Thank you very much, each and every one.
Faye learned about a farm that seemed to have a small herd of Longhorn cattle. A bit of research and driving around confirmed it and led to this photograph of an iconic image of Texas.
Taken in April 2005 on Mount Bonnell in Austin with my beloved Labx Moonpie. Faye and I had met only a day or three before yet I was wondering, thinking, that we had a great deal in common beyond a love of and for dogs. It was a happy time, showing my guest my version of Austin. A happy time, the best time for me in several years.
It’s still a happy, good time. I never expected life to lead me to getting married, moving to Canada, becoming Canadian. Regret none if all that’s transpired and would do it all again in a heartbeat. Thank you sweetie.
previouslytexan 