Deep in the Heart of Texas.

Still.

The Turtle's repairs were due to be finished either yesterday or the day before. We spoke to the repair manager at Jim Bass Ford today. Now he's saying Monday or Tuesday. That means another weekend with my family, which is a good thing, but it also means there's no way we're getting back home on time, which is a bad thing. We do, after all, have to go back to work sometime, and as the days wear on, that need becomes more urgent
I also spoke to my friend Jane this morning, and she passed on a message from my next-door-neighbour which went:  "Blog, woman! Blog!"

Okay! Okay!

The photo at the top of the post features Tera, one of my grand-nieces, showing off her new doctor kit. She has graduated from medical school, and is now on her way to start four years of residency, specializing in emergency medicine.  Her parents threw her a wonderful party at Jasper's Restaurant.  I think the Fisher Price doctor kit was her favourite gift.

Three times this week, I've had the pleasure of looking after my great-great-nephew (great-grand nephew?), who is one of the sweetest babies I've ever met --- even when he's awake!

Our golf course walks have continued. We seem to be making a daily habit of the walk, weather permitting. There was no walk yesterday, but the temperature hovered around the 90F mark all afternoon, so we didn't think trudging up and down hills for an hour would be a bright thing to do. Today, the temperature dropped -- it was in the forties when I got up, and by the time we went out (an hour ago) it had risen to what felt like around 60F -- perfect weather for a walk.

There were some golfers out, along with dozens of deer. Early on, we heard a helicopter -- one with a very heavy engine -- overhead and stopped to watch it. After it passed, we heard a "Crack!" as somebody whacked a golf ball, followed by the thunder of hooves as all the nearby deer made for the woods. I guess they're used to the noise, though, because once the noisy intruders had passed, they came back out to eat the tasty fairway grass. For the most part, they just glared at us as we walked by.

At the highest point of our walk, we stop to have a drink of water, a stretch, and a rest. I noticed today that the change in weather is reflected in the sky, which looks positively confused.

I think the walk helped us both to relax. Now I have to set about making some (vegan) creamy spinach enchiladas for tonight's dinner before I settle down for some serious birdwatching.

It's a rough life.