The Watercolors

Ross's grandmother had a beautiful house with lots of beautiful things.  When she died Ross's family asked him what he wanted from the house.  He said he wanted the watercolors.  His mother told him that they had already been claimed by a cousin.  Fast forward 15 years...one day I used Susan's (Ross's mother) restroom and saw the watercolors hidden away in the tiny little toilet area. You sneaaaaaky Mom!

Well, when Ross's mother died Ross claimed the watercolors.  We brought them back with us from El Paso and I hung them up over the fireplace.  It is funny to think of Ross's grandmother having these racy watercolors.

Story of the Nazi Flag

My grandpa fought in World War II.  He spent time in North Africa and Europe.  The story I always heard was that he came home with a Nazi flag.  My grandma cut it up into hearts and made a quilt out of it.

My mom gave me the quilt this last time I was visiting.  I brought it home and I've washed it a couple of times to try and get the mothball smell out of it.  Unfortunately the batting is coming out of the quilt backing and forming little white pills.  I'm working on picking those off.

I'm going to use this quilt, just like I use the others I have.  They were made to keep people warm, not be kept in a cabinet or hung on a wall.

Fear v Security

Here in Austin we have the Dell Jewish Campus. A bunch of synagogues, Hebrew school, Jewish Community Center.  Big fence around it--a ghetto.  I have strong feelings about this.  There is a security guard/shack at the front gate.  I hate it.  It makes me feel unwelcome.  Why do we need a guard?  What do we have to fear?  Some people say it makes them feel more secure.  Secure about what?  Being stopped at the front gate to ask me what I'm doing and where I'm going just makes me angry.  Apparently just a sticker on the car is pass enough not to stop you.  So how is that secure?

If someone wants to bomb me, shoot me, or otherwise terrorize me because I'm a Jew they will find a way to do it.  A guard at the front gate won't stop them, it just angers and insults me.  I refuse to live in fear of some unknown threat.  And I refuse to believe some guard at the front gate is actually protecting me.

Gingie's First Fall

It is Gingie's first Fall.  Well, first Fall with me.  Gingie's leaves have changed colors and started falling off.  Actually, Gingie has lost a lot of leaves since this photo was taken.  I have to remember that Gingie is just hibernating, and still needs water.

First Swing Class

Last Saturday Ross and I went to our first swing class.  Swinging on the trapeze looks easy, but it takes a lot of muscle.  Swing class only lasts one hour and that's a good thing.  The swinging zaps all your energy and the gauze bar tears up your hands.

 Ross tore up his left hand on his last swing.

I peeled off one layer of skin on one swing and then popped off a few more layers at the base of my pinky finger--that is when I called it quits.

Ross's swing greatly improved after his first turn.

This was my best turn of the day.

My hand has pretty much healed up, Ross's hasn't fared as well.  I'm taking another class on Sunday, and I'm hoping not to rip too badly.  I need to remember to chalk up before I put on my grips.

Year of the Zoo: Austin Zoo

On Saturday we went to the Austin Zoo and Animal Sanctuary.  All the animals at the zoo are rescued animals.  December 1st and it was 80 degrees.  It was a great day to go to the zoo.

The marmosets were very active and making little noises.

The zoo had lots and lots of big cats, including a lynx and a panther. The male lion was very sleepy, and the female lion was taking a bath.

We could see all of the animals very up close.  The problem was that they were behind chain link fences, so a good clear photo was impossible.

Of course there were peacocks and peahens.

The Austin Zoo isn't a typical zoo.  You can get very close to the animals.  The paths are really just dirt/rock trails. It is pretty small, and there are no pachyderms.  Still, I enjoyed the zoo.

Hardest Part

Okay, so I was in El Paso, Thanksgiving was great, now I'm back in Austin.  The hardest part about the move? Downsizing...specifically the bed.  We went from a queen sized bed to a double.  For me and Ross, that isn't really a problem, but for me, Ross, and Bailey--now there's a problem.  Curled up into a little ball Bailey doesn't take up much room, but she tends to expand.  We end up sleeping not shoulder to shoulder, but shoulder atop shoulder.  It's time to start looking for a house so we can upsize the bed.