Well I messed up that last post! I hit the "Publish Post" before I was ready (oops)! I hope anyone reading it "gets it" : )

On Saturday, we had a large crew of men here pouring concrete for our new porches. Look what a beautiful day it was...not a cloud in that lovely blue sky!







This picture was made on Monday. It started raining on Sunday and it hasn't stopped yet. The plan was to pour the front walks and the driveway on Monday...that hasn't happened and probably won't for several more days since rain is predicted to last here through Thursday.


But just look at the difference!


This is how the back of the house looked when we returned home after Hurricane Ike.

I had a really fun Halloween as the Cat in the Hat. Most of the children loved the costume but there were a few little ones who wouldn't come near me...not even for the candy (I do look pretty sinister, huh?)! The kids and grandkids came over and Becky was in town. We watched Young Frankenstein after the little ones had left and we laughed hard and out loud (great idea, Becky). It had been too long since I'd seen that movie.

The Texans are about to play the Minnesota Vikings. Joe, Trey, Donna and I went to the game last Sunday where the Texans romped all over the Bengals (of Cincinnati)...and we met and got an autograph from Bum Phillips (head coach of the Oilers back in the "Love Ya Blue" days)! It was the first time Joe and I had ever been to Reliant Stadium. We sat way up in the "nose bleed" section and even those seats were good! I'm going to watch the game now.

It's later, the game is over and the Texans lost : ( Oh well, maybe next week...

It's been a crazy week for us! We found out that the insurance adjuster that came out a couple of weeks ago quit and took our entire file with him...so, a new adjuster had to come out and start all over. He was here yesterday. Also, Joe and I both have been sick with an awful "tummy thing" so we didn't get to go to Emily's birthday party today or to ranch to plant our wildflowers : (
The "up side" is that I've almost finished the latest Oprah Book Club Selection, I've watched most of my favorite movies again and I've had time to bug my family (via email) about viewing my blog and pictures : )

We went to the ranch for the first time since returning after the storm. It was a beautiful weekend. Joe worked really hard getting the yard cleaned up and the ground prepared so we can plant our Wildseed Farms flower seed next weekend. We fed the cattle and then we took our traditional ride to the Piney Pasture to watch a beautiful sun set. That's my pet longhorn, Rosie watching me through the well cover and posing for a close-up. For those of you who don't know, Rosie was my anniversary present from Joe five years ago. Isn't she cute? Rosie is really sweet and docile but she isn't what I'd call a cuddly pet : )

The family went to Fredericksburg, TX last weekend. It was really fun! We stayed at 1 Big House...a 2-story (3 bedroom; 2-12 bath) house located at the Cotton Gin Restaurant & Lodging. It was the perfect place for our family getaway. The first night (Fri.), we made S'mores on the fire pit located on the back patio and visited. After a leisurely breakfast at the house, the rest of Saturday was spent shopping and eating (including authentic German food at Der Lindenbaum)...then we drove to an old abandoned train tunnel about 12-miles out of town (operated by Texas Parks & Wildlife) and watched the bats emerge. Unfortunately, little Emily got a sick tummy during the night (poor little thing) so Trey's family left right away on Sunday morning to get her home. Melissa's family went with us to the Airport Diner for breakfast before they headed back. Joe and I stopped at Wildseed Farms on our way out of town and we had a slow leisurely drive back home. It was a wonderful family weekend...made some good memories! Trey says Emily is finally feeling better today. Also, the insurance adjuster came today so we should be able to start repairs to the house some time next week...yippee! I can't wait to get my house put back together.

So much has gone on since my last post! I suppose I'll start where I left off...with Tiffany. Tiffany is staying with her paternal aunt and she is being home schooled. I spoke to her a few days ago and she is fine.

Joe and I went to San Francisco for our 42nd wedding anniversary from September 6th thru the 9th. It was the first time either of us had been there and we had the absolute best time! It is so pretty...we're already talking about going back.

We were home just two days when we had to leave because Hurricane Ike was knockin' at the door. So it was off to the ranch! Hurricane Ike just followed us...the winds were 70 mph up there! We lost lots of pecan tree limbs and the beautiful old peach tree in the front yard blew over. But everyone returned home safe and sound. Our house here took a pretty good hit. The whirley-birds blew off (leaving holes in the roof) and the water poured into our bedroom as well as the newly renovated bathroom. It looks pretty sad upstairs right now...but I'm going to have a blast fixing it up again!