What to do without a digital camera. (Friday)
Well after Tim dropped the small Nikon digital camera at Tennis last week,and it being in the repair shop and my D70 in the shop for cleaning what is there to do .
Well to be honest it is hard.
Friday Morning and was awakened by am amazing storm at 5.45am. Rain pounding at the window and Thunder and lightening blasting for two hours or so.
At one point I could't even see the the gas light or trees in the front garden.
The wind was so strong the trees were bending over. The wind eased and the Thunder and lightening increased continous and intense and far too captivating to not watch so I sat on the front Porch watching it. When it eased off it was already getting light. In the back garden all the metal tables and chairs were on their side as was the cactus in its pot.
Three trees in the neigbhourhood had snapped in half and at Tim's Tennis one of the large spotlights had been blown over. The wind was very selective in what it impacted. I went for a bike ride around the area as the sun came out and before starting work. I've been out on the mountain bike every morning and evening these last few weeks in an attempt to keep fit. Mountain bike in Houston gives a bit of a wrong impression but I do go cross country a little bit where a few little hills or bumps add that air of risk and exhiloration. (OK your not convinced ...but at least I get out)...
(Saturday)
I'm currently sitting at the wrought iron table on the front porch eating toast, frustrated that I left the tea unmade in the kitchen and that I'm going to have to get up again to get it. It's a hot sunny day, and I'm thankful that the porch faces North it is bearable to sit out on, the tables in the back garden are in full sun and far to hot to sit at.
Im listening to the BBC on the computer whilst I type this. (no photos today). Hope to get the cameras back early this week.
I'm watching a small woodpecker pecking and foraging for insects on the trees at the front. The bright red Cardinal is still around, singing from the trees and rooftops. No doubt he is thankful for his freedom from being trapped in our house the other weekend, and unaware of the effort expended in trying to give back its freedom. I hear Sparrows and the Mocking bird wooshes past to land on the gutters on the porch, then back again onto the gas light, always busy.
On one of the mosquito screens on the windows a black wasp has started making a nest. Whilst on a conference call this last week I watched as he looked for what seemed to be a perfect spot in the middle of the screen.
He started by placing a damp mud spot high up then three others strategically in places below each about 2 t0 3 inches apart. Then the 4th spot , by each visit started to get bigger, yet each return visit started at the first mud spot then he'd work his way down to the 4th spot where he added more mud to make the nest. He had made himself reference points or markers to guide him. My conference call was very interesting , im sure, but the wasp captivating to watch.

Hazel is out at a baby shower, never a missed opportunity to socialize. I never understood baby showers and why they wash the baby before its born, or is it that they shower the baby with gifts....Neither, I feel but more like grown adult women, eating, drinking and playing silly games, that I'm sure any baby would be totally embarrased to have been attending, so just as well they hold these things before the birth.
Jon headed off to work at 7.30am, with non matching scrubs for the animal clinic, and Tim has just made me a cup of tea with whipped cream on it and Kaily filmed me drinking it whilst I was getting cream all over my face. Interesting concept , tea with whipped cream..
Anyway that's it for now. Other exciting things for the day ahead? Well, probably clearing up in anticipation of Helen's visit from the UK on Wednesday. Thursday we head of for the Cruise to celebrate Jonathans 18th birthday. He intends to have a cocktail on the beach in Mexico, 'Sex on the beach' with his Mother and Aunt. go tell your friends about that Jonathan......We wil return on the Monday where Helen will spend the week with us, likely recovering from sea sickness and alchohol poisoning.
The following weekend Hazel goes away for her Club Med Travel Course ( right !). Helen returns to the UK on the Sunday and I will be heading out to a 3 day Management Course in Kansas City. Oh joy...
Other events....Seems it is the Queens birthday celebrations in the UK and Sunday is St Georges day...should I get the flag out and hang it from the porch?