An odd sort of radio commercial has recently been running on a.m. radio. It’s of the public-service variety. I’m not sure of the station since I listen a lot to country-wide iheart radio. The gist of it is that children can drive you crazy, even to wits end; have patience because that behavior is normal for offspring’s. I wonder if
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Recently back from our respective vacations Ernie and I resume our early morning walks. Before I open the door I shine the flashlight through the glass and check its bottom outside: is our little toad ensconced in the corner? He isn’t. So with full enthusiasm we go into the darkness; Ern’s leash is on because I never know if we
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The pictured cork bottle-stoppers remain shrouded in mystery. Of course I know who owned them and where the hand-carved and painted collection originated: brought from France by my grandfather. He emigrated to the U.S. shortly before WWI. There isn’t a lot of detail about his growing up before that. What is a fact is that he spent his new life
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[This article first appeared in 2004 when my daughter and I had a website together. I hope that new desktodirt readers will enjoy it, and that long-time followers will appreciate it as a classic. This piece will appear each year at Christmas and the holiday season.] Ah, the yearly ritual! The family would pack into the sedan and off we
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Last Friday night began uneventfully. The fact that it was Friday the thirteenth had come to mind but only fleetingly. It was about ten p.m. and I had just finished washing dinner dishes. While starting my pre-sleep routine Ernie began barking towards the side door. Normally I would check outside to discover the source of his concern. This time I
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Texas summers can feel interminable; that’s because they are. Depending on the year, it is not unusual that they begin in April and continue until Halloween. That leaves five months of other. Fingers crossed, I think we have mercifully reached that climatic stage. My plea for relief from heat is because at heart I love the four seasons and cold;
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Ray Wylie Hubbard put on quite a show Friday night at Round Top Festival Hill. If you’re a non-native and have any hope of being adopted in the Lone Star State you need to know about this native son. Never having seen him before I have to say that the man can entertain! Even the concerts are bigger in Texas!
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Many times over the years I’d simply drive through neighborhoods during Christmas to see the lights. There was always at least one property where I heard myself say, “Wow, look at that one.” This year one of those homes – with figures, props and background music – is in Fayetteville, Texas, population two hundred fifty eight. At night the show
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That’s a little hyperbole. Dr. Frankenstein’s exultation was a much bigger deal, and certainly in a different realm. But real garden success is something to shout about too. After three years trying to grow in dreaded black-gumbo clay soil – with little to show for it – I finally have tangible progress. [Please see Archives 23 June article: DRAT THAT
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[This is a continuation of the article posted around mid-day on 8 October. You might want to read that first. The events described below – hard to believe – are true and took place later, between five and ten o-clock p.m. that same day.] It was another hot, humid afternoon in South Central Texas. I went outside to see how
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