Upgrades!

Brought back so many souvenirs from New Mexico that I had to do a little changing around here.

It's always nice to change something.....even if it's something small.

I used to have a couple of family pictures on each side of the fireplace, yesterday we added a couple of small shelves.  Well actually, my #1 handman Cris added the shelves for me.

I am really liking how they look.  Still have a little more items to add to the area.....but it looks good so far.

In fact, I liked them so much in the living room......I had him add a couple in the bathroom too.  (Don't judge the ugliness of the bathroom.  One of the last rooms on my house that needs demolished and painted and upgrading.  My plan is to have it done by the end of the summer.  In the meantime, just look at the shelves and admire how nice they look.....even if I don't have all the stuff on them yet).

And because my #1 handyman did such a great job.....I invited him to dinner.  Steaks on the grill, bacon wrapped stuffed jalapenos on the grill, and my all-time favorite Potato Salad.

This was the first time I cooked the jalapenos on the grill.  I learned a lesson....don't try to turn them over to cook the bacon on the top......just close the lid to the grill.

They might not be attractive.......but they were sure delicious!

A perfect meal to end a perfect day!

Mourning a loss

I have spent so much time nurturing my little garden and getting excited over every milestone........and then the yard guys showed up today.

They had absolutely no respect for my little garden.

Instead they just mowed down whatever was in their path, and unfortunately it was the cucumber plant that took the biggest hit.

So I lovingly cleaned him up, trimmed him up, and gently peeled the rest of him.  We shall ceremoniously eat him for our dinner tonight and mourn the loss of the other 5 inches of him.

Plans begin tomorrow on how to block off the garden from our murderous yard guys.

Two "NEWS" in one post

The first NEW: New Orleans
As I was perusing my photos today.....I discovered that I never properly posted the ending of the New Orleans trip.  Unfortunately, I got sick and then lots of things happened in between......but I'm sure that all of you have been sitting on the edge of your seats waiting for the final day in New Orleans.

Well......it started with hangovers.  We really had a great time our last night there and probably indulged a little more than normal.

Got on the road about 10am and started heading west on good old I-10.

Of course, when you have the best travelling companion in the whole wide world......there is no long silences in the car.......it's filled with music and of course discussions about Pizza Zone!

It was finally determined about noon that we should stop and get some lunch.  Since we had done nothing but sample the local cuisine for the first 3 days.....it only seemed fitting to stop and get some Cajun or Creole food for lunch.  We found the perfect place in Lafayette, Louisiana.

A stop was made at ******* (I was hoping I remembered the name of the place we ate at....but I can't).  It was a Cajun/Creole establishment and we ate the best dang food ever!  There was an old grandma in the kitchen just cooking up a storm and that food was awesome.

I can't remember what Paul ate.....but I had deep fried pork chops, cabbage, some kind of fancy rice....and more food that I could possibly eat.  Delicious.  (I had a picture, but now I can't find it....of course)

With our bellies full...we jumped in the car and headed back to Houston.  The end. (trust me....the rest of the journey home included rain, traffic jams, and long periods of boring silence.  But we still can remember it being as a fun trip).

The 2nd NEW:  New Mexico
As you know, we just recently had a new adventure there.  Not ready to start detailing that trip yet (but if I don't I'll forget it too)......so just a little picture to show you all the magnificent shopping that I did there.

Aaron bought me a new Indian pot, I got a Sun, a new address marker, a new salsa bowl, a new kachina, and I got Cris a new lighter.  We bought a couple of other items that didn't make this picture......but it is so hard not to spend money in that beautiful old historic city.

Stay tuned.....the exciting play-by-play details of this trip will be coming soon!

Smile. Smile. Surprise.

Smile:  The beautiful New Mexico view from the Highway.  This was taken about 30 minutes from Santa Fe headed towards the Albuquerque airport. Especially beautiful due to only seeing gray skies and snowy weather in Santa Fe all morning.  The perfect ending to another fun vacation.

 

 

 

 Smile:  We just got this new address display in Santa Fe.  Both of these items

had been purchased in Santa Fe (the welcome sign was last year).  Now every time we

walk into the house.....we get to see these little reminders.

Surprise:  My little cucumber that I shared a picture of last week........is HUGE.  He really had a growth spurt while I was gone.  Can't wait to pick him and eat him.....yum!

My life is so good.

We are family

I'm grateful that this group of individuals have developed into a family. 

I sure do love all these guys.

 

I'll give you a glimpse into some of the fun we had in Santa Fe for Mother's Day.

 

My sister sent me a text today asking me how it was.

I described it as "awesomely fun, relaxing, and expensive.

 

I can't wait until I can relive it all over again by sharing it with you on this blog.

 

This is better than saying "I'm bored"

Life is busy and that's a good thing.  It beats sitting around and doing nothing.

Of course, leaving for our little trip has consumed most of my time today.......but there is also this list that is going to be needing some top priority when we return.

It's the "Things I Have To Do To Be Able to Sell PZ" list.

It seems like there's as much on this list as if we were opening a new location.  But the prize at the end of this list is worth it in so many ways.

I also had my first "harvest" today.  Fresh basil.  Of course, I have no idea why I'm even growing this.  I don't use it for anything.  Guess I need to find some recipes.  In the meantime, I am going to turn this into fresh Pesto Sauce and freeze it.  The plan is to make a tortolini salad with it.  Just like the delicious one that Baggins sells.  (by the way......I think I am going to forgo the tradition of getting an Eegee grinder while we are home.  They haven't been really great the last couple of times.  The plan is to get a delicious Baggins sandwich.  Although, I would hate to miss out on an Eeegee grinder.  Maybe I'll just have to get both).

The last news of today before we head off on our big adventure.......the tickets to Tucson were purchased today.  That makes it official.

Two things related to dirt

Interesting topic.  But two big stories in my life today that are related to dirt.

The good dirt news:
The test garden in buckets is growing!  Here's some latest pictures.

See the yellow squash growing?  We've got about 5 little ones just beginning to grow!

 

There is about 5 cucumbers growing......this one is the biggest.  He's about 6 inches long so far.

This tomato hasn't really grown much, but he hasn't turned red yet.  I see two new little baby tomatoes just starting to grow.

Here's the basil.  I will be harvesting some today so that it can grow nice and bushy.  We are planning Chicken Fried Rice for dinner.....and I think some fresh basil added to it will make it even more spectacular!

The cherry tomatoes (2 buckets) and the jalapenos are growing really well.  I think I'll probably see some blooms on them soon.  Still also waiting for the watermelon, red peppers, and zucchini to start growing veggies.

Cris will be in charge of watering the garden while we're gone.  Luckily, he has an interest in it and is always checking on it when he comes over to see what is growing.  OMG......I've turned into a garden nerd!

The bad dirt news:
Our house is collapsing into a sinkhole!  No, that's not the news.....and hopefully it never will be.

Actually, the sewer line underneath the sidewalk in our side yard apparently has a leak in it and is sucking the dirt into it and causing a problem with our sidewalk.

We have had to call the county a couple of times in the last two months to try and get someone out here to fix it.  The one slab of sidewalk has fallen at least 6 inches.

They finally came out this week and caution taped off the area and told us they would be bringing a crew out with a machine to lift the slabs, repair the sewer lines, fill in the dirt that is missing which makes the sidewalk all wavy, and then they'll put our sidewalk back to a nice walkway again.

Apparently the sewer lines that they put in when the neighborhood was new in 1982, they did a bad job and they have been collapsing all over the neighborhood.  It's not uncommon to see 3 ft. wide sink holes along the street that they have blocked off.  A few slabs down from here, we had a problem about 5-6 years ago.  They supposedly repaired the sewer line (I don't think so) and then they poured some cement in the crack of the sidewalk so the water wouldn't drain down there.  I believe because they didn't do a good job before, the problem is now worse and there is more repair involved.

We'll see how long it takes them to come out and finish this job.

Ok, I'm out of here.......got some things to do before we go on VACATION!