Friday, February 29, 2008

Dicky computer-no posts

While my computer is in Pflugerville, I cannot post easily. My replacement is a brick!
I bought it a couple of years ago as a temp replacement for when my main computer is being repaired. That way I am able to get mail and watch Wall St. tumble without interruption.
But, the temp replacement is a real pain. It is so slow it sometimes takes 45 mins to just open the mail service. And I cannot see pictures and there is no audio. Firefox doesn't load and I'm forced to use Internet Explorer. YouTube video watching is out of the question nor can I upload to it. The thing is constantly telling me there is insufficient virtual memory paging and that I am at risk! (Fast lane at last!)

Anyway, don't look for highly entertaining stuff here until Anthony sends me my lifeline back.

Saturday, February 23, 2008

What a great day.............

We had a nice visit with Anthony just before the weekend. He looked at my computer which was malfunctioning for a few days before he got here. It behaved poorly when he was working on it and he scolded it and threatened it with severe remedial action including a complete overhaul. It wasn't listening and farted in his face as he was trying to coax it into acceptable behaviour. Anth didn't get pissy at all. He unplugged it and said "That's it, you need to come with me".....sounded just like a Cheshire Copper treating an out of control Liverpool lager lout.........so off it went to Austin environs and will get its insides repaired.

Friday we took Graham to Costco and bought, among other things, a battery to replace the one in Katie's Jeep. We also bought fresh mussels which you will see later in photos. We had a lot of fun. GB loves food and we hit Costco as they were serving lots of samples. We had chicken, sausage, health bars, fondue, fruit juice...........and much more. He was really good and even though the traffic on the highway both going and returning was challenging - it made a 10 minute trip 30 minutes both ways - he was content entertaining himself in the back seat.

Saturday shaped up to be a very special Houston day weatherwise. It was in the 70's. So we got the spring bug and decided to buy some plants. We got Paige to help us because she knows a lot about blooms........... After the Garden Shop we went to pick up some ingredients for the mussels. PK was wearing her little sister's rose coloured glasses......


When we went to pick up Paige Evie was playing on the floor of Steph's office...........
Like all babies she is mouth oriented. She is is just spellbound to put whatever is in her hands into her gob. But what's so nice is she doesn't seem to mind one sticking one's fingers into her mouth to remove the soppy paper matter or whatever. She's just so accepting. Just look at this tongue.....







Then we prepared dinner with the twins helping.





Nana and Paige made some great shrimp cocktails..





While Graham was washing the home grown greens for our salad........














G'Dad and Nana finished fixing the mussels..





After that Steph and the kids got into the bath while G'Dad finished the Brunello di Montalcino and Daddy cleaned up the dinner dishes. I'm sorry I do not have a picture of Al doing the dishes.........but here's one of him loving on Paige.


I have some videos, but I'm too pooped to upload tonight. I'll make a supplemental blog manana.

Friday, February 15, 2008

One from column A, one from B....CONTINUED

Here's a pic of Nana and Emily at the airport as Emily was leaving for NYC.
And here's a pic of Evelyn and G'dad photoshopped to remove Evie's red-eye.



And here's a picture of Bev with our friends Jack and Jill (whom we met through our friends Peter and Wendy ) ----honest!





And here's Li'l Beverly (BIG Beverly's namesake) who was accepted to Texas A&M University to continue a great tradition in the Brooks/Lewis families.



To complete the title of 'one from column A', here's a picture of the fish we ate in a Chinese restaurant with Jack and Jill.............................

Monday, February 11, 2008

Foot note

Beverly has been a real trooper with her gimpy foot. She hasn't complained and has been quite active despite the boot. Here is the foot after the cast was removed.
That's without the boot, and here are a couple of pictures showing how it looks with the boot on.




She may get the pin removed in about a week's time. We're hoping for Tuesday or Wednesday next week.



The twins as they were off to school this morning. Emily has been with them all weekend and has lots of blog material to post.
Finally here's a video of Evelyn........



Tuesday, February 5, 2008

Lemon Tree very pretty.....


And the fruit on this little bugger is not too bitter to eat. Beverly calls it her Martini tree!
Here's a shot taken this morning just before we went to get the cast removed from Bev's foot.



And here's a shot with Evelyn ......

Here's the tree next July ......

Monday, February 4, 2008

Evelyn Update and Piney Woods w/e

Here is a nice picture of Evie.....






And here's one of Beverly and Sandy......and Patchie.......


We were in Lufkin (oops, sorry Em I did slip and say LBB) Saturday to visit Brian and Sandy. Old friends. Much older than us! They moved to Lufkin 15 years ago.

And here's one of me....
And one of Brian....