May 31, 2010

Climbing vine

Happy Memorial Day.   After two days on the lake it’s nice to lay low.   I had work stuff I needed to get done today, but found time to talk a walk out back and water the flowers.

This is a shot of the morning glory that I planted from seed.   I got this garden obelisk several years ago and have tried to grow a climbing, flowering plant on it several times in the past, but each time it has died.   This one seems to have legs and I like to go out in the morning to see the blooms.

I didn’t get a flag pole mounted for this year.  Hopefully I can do that before the 4th of July.  For now, though, on this Memorial Day, let me just leave you with this:

“It is the soldier, not the reporter, who has given us the freedom of the press.  It is the soldier, not the campus organizer, who gives us the freedom to demonstrate.  It is the soldier who salutes the flag, who serves beneath the flag, and whose coffin is draped by the flag, who allows the protester to burn the flag.”

– Charles M. Province, US Army

May 30, 2010

Red-winged blackbird

This morning I took the kayak to check out the cove.   I also brought a fishing pole with me, but there weren’t any fish interested in playing along.

In the coves on either side of Arkansas Bend we always find red-winged blackbirds.   They have a signature trill, and you usually hear them long before you see them.

While I was kayaking, there were several flying back and forth between shrubs on either side of the cove.  Every time I would slide up close to one to take a picture, he’d fly across the cove.   So, I’d quietly paddle across to try again — and the same thing would happen.   After about an hour of this, I packed it in and headed back to the boats for a swim.

Afterward, I was very pleased to see that I did get a couple of pictures of the birds after all, though all a tad grainy due to the zoom.    This picture was the best of them.   I caught a shot of this guy in the middle of our little game of keep-away-from-sheila,  as he was flying away from the shrub.

Not fast enough blackbird!

May 29, 2010

First raftup

Ahhh, a 3-day weekend!   This is the weekend of the Turnback Canyon Regatta, a 2-day race up the lake and back.  We had talked about cruising along and spending the night up the river.  But as it turned out this morning there was no wind.

By noon the racers had already motored by the marina, sails down.   So, we decided to go to the South Arkansas Bend cove to raftup with Marty, Sue, Lori, Dave and Jake.  Doray and Tom came out to float with us for several hours, too.

Even without the wind, today was as an absolutely great day.  Temps in the 90s;  water temp over 80;  a full lake.   A perfect combination for an afternoon of floating.   We brought the kayak, so everyone got a chance to explore.

Arky south has great sunset views.   This is a classic.

May 28, 2010

My lovely hibiscus

After being out of town all week, I was looking forward to check out the garden and flowers.   So, I took a walk out back with my morning coffee and my camera.   There are so many pretty blooms.

There are 3 hibiscus plants along the back of the house and they always put out a ton of blooms.   This is a picture of a Rose of Sharon — hibiscus syriacus.   Google tells me this is the national flower of Korea.    That’s nice, but I like having it here in Central Texas.

May 27, 2010

Last leg

I’m  headed back home — had a bit of a delay in Detroit, but made it home before midnight.

This is a shot as we pulled away from the gate with thunderstorms looming.    I’m glad that we were able to make it out around them.

Home sweet home.

May 26, 2010

Somers geese

Another long day.  The IBM site here in Somers sits on a huge, wooded piece of property.  For as long as I’ve been coming here there have always been large flocks of Canadian geese and many deer all over the property.

I took this picture as I was leaving the site at the end of the day.   The geese were heading down to one of their ponds for happy hour.

I went to dinner at a nearby Indian restaurant with a team of IBMers.  Around the table were 2 Americans, 1 Canadian, 2 Indians, 2 Koreans, 1 German and 1 person from Taiwan — a very enjoyable evening.

Now I must say goodnight so I can finish the presentation that I have to give first thing in the morning.

May 25, 2010

Morning commute

We have long 12-hour days of meetings each day, starting at 7:30.   I’m actually staying in Connecticut — which just means that I have to get started pretty early to beat the traffic and get there on time.

Yay.

May 24, 2010

On the road again

Well, it had to happen.   My first business  trip after a very long time of not having to travel for work.

I’ll be in NY for a week of meetings.   I hope it’s productive.   I already can’t wait to get back home.

May 23, 2010

Spa day!

Once or twice a year some girlfriends and I book a day at the spa.   We’ve been doing it for about 12 years now and it’s AWESOME.

I had a fantastic, much needed massage… dissolving weeks of stress in about an hour.

May 22, 2010

First float

We headed to the lake for a sail today.   It was very windy out, but Ryan and Mary both tried their hand at the helm and did great — first time sailing for both of them.

We anchored up in Arky south and took the first dip in the lake of 2010.    The lake temperature is about 73 degrees, and was a bit chilly for the first 5 mins or so, but it was great to be at waterline again.  🙂

Lori, Dave and Jake showed up a bit later on Camelot.  And Marty & Sue tied up to them on Caribbean Hug.    It’s beginning to feel alot like summer!

May 21, 2010

Patience

We’re having visitors this weekend, from San Antonio – Mary and Ryan.  Ryan’s birthday is today, so I baked this cake last night.  We will celebrate when they get here this evening.

The cake was staring at me as I was making coffee this morning.   It’s calling my name.  It won’t leave me alone.  I must be strong.

It’s going to be a long day.   😉

May 20, 2010

Mmmmm

Our basil is booming.   In anticipation of lots of pizza feasts in our future, we have 2 patches of basil plants this year.  This patch was planted from seed.  Well, actually, there were probably about 5 times this many plants that sprouted, but Monte has been thinning them down to a managable number.

I think it’s time for some pesto!!!

May 19, 2010

Goody bag

Bleh!  Dental appointment for twice-a-year cleaning today.  One of my least favorite things to do.  But do it, I must.  At least this time they didn’t break off a part of one of my tiny teeth while cleaning them.  Sheesh.

I’m always glad to get out of there.   To make it seem like a festive occasion, they always send me home with a goody bag of dental supplies.   woo hoo.

May 18, 2010

Petunias

I’m a big fan of perennials.   They make gardening a lot easier.  I’m sometimes surprised at what comes back every year.  This petunia is 3 years old.   It sits outside every winter and dies back to nothing but dirt in the basket.   This last winter was particularly cold.  I didn’t think it had survived.  Yet, every spring I’m pleased to see it pop back to life with one little green leaf.  It doesn’t take long for it to fill up the basket once again.

I think I’ll get a bunch more of these in lots of different colors — since I am apparently unable to kill them.