yum



grilled catfish

 OK - I'll be the first to admit I had my doubts and they were big ones. Who would have thought a fishing, hunting shop would prove me wrong!

Mom had to drag me to Bass Pro Shop Restaurant in Pearland, Texas - the decor was.. well, outdoors lodge look, call of the wild.  Now the important items - the food. Grill catfish and trout, for those who don't care for fish they have steaks, chicken and a wine list.

I tried the catfish sandwich which came with coleslaw which I'm not crazy about slaw, but, once again I was wrong, theirs was good and fresh fried potato chips tasty.  Mom who loves catfish had the grilled catfish with rice. I took a chunk of hers and let me tell you that was the best I have ever had. My mouth is now watering!

Every time I tell someone about the restaurant they laugh, seriously this place ...well I'll be back, ready to try the grilled trout. Yum!

some of my favorite things & people





had fun doing her - she sold! really hated to get
rid of her...reminds me of one of my high school teachers...



title: Glutton

had a extra lid so why not

Me & Bill with Tayton on his graduation day

Tayton with big sister Ryan Marie

Allene in Jefferson, TX

Mom and Lulu











A haunting in Jefferson, Texas

Allene and I started our annual trip on May 20th to Jefferson, Texas. We arrived at the same time the thunderstorm came through that night. Not knowing where to stay that night we stayed in a not the greatest of hotels, that happens at the worst of times. So - the next morning we head out to find a place for breakfast and ended up at Aunties Skinners.



this is what I had ordered..HUGE!



Allene enjoying her morning coffee

Afterwards we headed out looking for a hotel we were lucky we gotten a room at the Excelsior was informed it was haunted.  So we got comfy in our room (204) and went sightseeing. 
after a day of sightseeing we stop at the sandwich shop (the owner a strange man) which at one time was a funeral home, a bar and now he also sells tickets for the ghost tours

Excelsior Hotel

 that are held on weekends.  With tickets in hand Allene and I waited along with 30 plus to hear about the ghost and of Jefferson.  Also, we were treated to tour the Pride House (that's what we were told - a real treat so says our guide) which will and has been on "My Ghost Story".
Anyway, we found out our hotel is rated "10" on being haunted.

 So this is where our story begins. After the tour Allene was freaked out and passed out in bed.  I stayed up watching tv in bed..first this is how our room was situated.. my bed was by the door and closet and by the bathroom and yes the bathroom light was on. anyway - at the corner of my eye I saw a black shadow crossing the bathroom door. I turned and looked and told myself I didn't see what I thought I saw.  Well, it happen again. The black shadow past again. Debating should I wake Allene? No...I stayed up longer and finally went to sleep.



room 204

 

Next morning Allene woke up creeped out.  Telling me she woke up with something/someone doing "psst, psst, psst" in her ear!  She said she looked over at me and I was sound asleep - so she got up and hurried to the bathroom and when she sat down the the hair on her arms and neck was standing up and felt like something was watching her.  So she hurried back to bed pulled the covers over her head and still had this feeling something standing and watching her.  We left for breakfast and made reservation for another night this time across the hall in room 205.  So after doing the tourist thing we once again went up to the room to settle down and once again I get the damn closet and bathroom side.  That night was calm.  ...I wake up around 6ish to 7 before Allene (I haven't informed her of this as of yet) I went to the bathroom and sitting there I hear the faucets turning on several times ..no water; just the turning of the knobs. I tell myself I am not opening the shower curtain. Now we are dress and heading down for breakfast - Allene turns the tv off places the controller on her bed..the tv turns back on..we look at each other and decided we had enough of the visitors.  We had a great time and would do it again! this had to be the best mini get aways we had!!

one of the great houses in Jefferson



Death

The word death just gives me the creeps.  Always has, death, death, death, still creepy word and sound.
I guess death started cropping up in my teens.  Spending a few days in the children's hospital in Galveston, Texas when I was a teenager and been told by a Chinese doctor (still remember his round little face) there's  nothing we can do for her (same breathe) she (looking at me) won't live past her eighteenth birthday.  Well...guess what was on my mind when that day came. Yep. Death.  Let's back up here. I came out of my Mother's womb blue and gasping for air - so death has been with me from the begining of life.  Anyway, at thirty-one death came knocking once again, this time open heart surgery you know the old fashion kind of surgery.  Time has past doing ok them BAM! Turned sixty seems like everything going down hill fast.  Pacemaker, and a few other little things to be hammered out and still gasping for air.  Life really has a sense of humor.

Tippy toe Tippy toe who shall we pick to go into the black hole?
Is she ready to go?
Oh no. Let's spare the wee one; there's more for her to do
Tippy toe Tippy toe looking around the corner, who's out there for me?
No, no still too young
Tippy toe Tippy toe waiting for the right one to go once again into the black abyss
Well, when he had ask
Tippy toe Tippy toe once again been told there is still too much for the young lass to do
Tippy toe Tippy toe growing impatience ask isn't she done yet?
Surely as a babe, and now with the snow on top she should by now drop!
Oh no, oh no there is more too do
Now go and leave alone look for something else to please thee
Tippy toe Tippy toe lurking around the corner with just a half cocked smile!

Easter

Easter. is really a day of beauty.. Believe this is the only thing that says Easter, pretty sad if I say so myself.   What makes it sadder Santa has taken up residence in our entry.

after awhile you get to overlook him, don't know how considering he's 6 foot plus!

corner of back yard with hostas, periwinkles, rex begonia



Charlie



petunias along with pineapple sage saliva

birdbath with maidenhair fern, moss & sedum -

Mom, & Keith came over for lunch we grilled for the first time since we've been here.  Everything turned out good except the ribs - I'll never make the mistake of using another recipe. 

Our yard as I call it the yard from hell...I have really work hard but you can't tell it. I go forward and then 10 steps backward. Now have professional yard company just to do the weeds and whatever else that keeps popping up.  I miss my old yard nice great thick green san Augustine grass and my yard guy. why can't I have that here? why why why NOT.  gripes my butt.....I'll keep plugging at it.

another day

so today I went to see my cardiologist - came home with the monitor for 24 hours.  seems like my heart racing which sometimes feels like it could just jump out of your chest. looking into why my blood pressure keeps jumping from the lows to the highs and back.  if nothing comes out of that well then onto the doppler and ct on the head. have been told I'm a bit ditzy!
one good thing got home before rush hour which can make a stress free day turn into one of roadrage day at times. just go with the flow.



under the capony of clementis

hummm...checking on a new bleeding heart that was coming up in the garden ...it's m.i.a.  do squirrels like the bulbs? if so - adios. but that won't keep me from planting a replacement one way or other I will win. maybe.

Bubba

Bubba, was recently diagnosed with kidney failure...

down time

something Bill & I hated to hear especially when he's the kinda of kitty that is so easy going and the protector of the others in the house.  Bub loves to pick your purse and whatever else that is not nailed down.  Many times had to find glasses, cell phone (have no idea how he could carry that off - go figure).  can hear him hollering with a toy just to drop it off at your feet for a "good Bubba" and a head rub.
 

OH NO!!!

Well it finally happen my hard drive went kaput on my laptop. did not I repeat did not backup any of this.  just crymeariver.  my photos of my orchids that finally decided to bloom were on it -a great pic. of Mom & Lulu together.  but hey I'll take new ones. just remember most of Billy's pics. of his truck was on it.  oh well.......I'll break the news to him later!

the weather has been great in fact heading out the door to do some planting.  later.

where has the year gone?

cannot believe January is already over with, it just slipped away from me! And February is waving itself goodbye -til next year! and another birthday has passed too!

I'm ready for spring, hurry up please.  another cold and miserable winter here in the gulf coast of Texas. but, really can't complain this past week was nice and warm in the 70's & today in the 80's!  yes that's the kind of winter I love.  spent the days working the beds for new plants since the hard freeze zap the oldies but goodies.  and the heat of Texas can kill the rest.  not a winning battle.

ready for road trip with Allene in April we're heading to San Antonio and see what's new there...haven't been there for awhile.  hopefully staying on the riverwalk. take pictures of course. eat our way down the river to the Alamo. good ole tex-mex food.

later ....peace