In Loving Memory...

In Loving Memory of Buddy Joseph

1998 - September 3, 2013

Fifteen years ago you came wandering over to our apartment door and life has never been the same since.  Maybe you had grown tired of living out of the dumpster...maybe you didn't want to fight off racoons just for a bite to eat...who knows.  It doesn't really matter.  You ended up finding a family to take you in and it's going to be hard to imagine life without you now.

When I think of you I'll laugh about how you used to hide behind the door and bite my ankles, or purposefully walk along the counter top and knock my plants over.  It wasn't funny then, but it makes me smile now.  I can't believe I almost gave you away shortly after we took you in until that morning I took you for your haircut and you meowed pathetically and wrapped your big paws around my neck like you wouldn't let go. We've been the best of friends ever since.

You purred like a freight train, snored louder than anyone else in this house, and kept your position at the top no matter how many new four-legged children joined the family.  You've been a fixture in our home for so many years.  

We miss you already.  

These last days have been so hard, but I imagine now you are finally at peace.  We will remember you often and think of how much of our lives you have shared with us.  Thank you for stopping by so many years ago and for staying with us this long.

"What we have once enjoyed we can never lose. All that we love deeply, becomes a part of us." 

- Helen Keller

Double Family Sunday Fun-day Post

We spent last Sunday afternoon at the Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum for Free First Sunday.  Alex really enjoyed looking at the exhibits and showing everything to his dad.  We loved it because it has AIR CONDITIONING!  Enough of the heat already.

This Sunday we spent the afternoon at the Harris Branch Community Pool (otherwise known as "our neighborhood pool") where Alex met a new friend, used a humongous amount of energy, and managed to keep cool in 105 degree heat.  Thank you for swimming pools.  In Texas.  In August. 

Field Trip Around Texas

We don't really need much of an excuse to go driving around Texas, but meeting up with family is the best excuse there is.  And after finishing up a custom order that I needed to deliver, we couldn't pass up the opportunity to have lunch with Cathy and Cheryl - "the ladies" as Alex calls them.  So we hopped into granny's car and hit the road with our grand field trip plans hastily thrown in.  Because really, we can learn just about anything anywhere we go!

FIRST STOP: The Texas Cotton Gin Museum, Burton Texas

SECOND STOP: Royers Round Top Cafe, Round Top, Texas

(though you'll notice I forgot a picture of the cafe...excuse to go back?  I think so!)

And then on the way home, just because we could...

THIRD STOP: Texas Wendish Heritage Museum, Serbin, Texas

(I WANT one of these for my sewing room!)

Alex LOVED the classroom and thought the giant Abacus (left, middle) was super-cool!