1.

Bogart -223

Monday evening I went wading in Lake Travis. I had my camera and was shooting a fun multi-generational family while they ran and played and laughed. I took way too many photos and couldn't help editing as many as possible to share with them, to help them remember the fun they had that day with their parents/grandparents and sister/aunt visiting from Guatamala. You can see a lot of the photos in "Generations".


2.

I saw the movie "Mud" last night with some friends. I hadn't heard much about it, but it stars Matthew McConaughey, and one of my friends is madly in love with him. So I see a lot of Matthew movies.

In my opinion, this is one of his best. I enjoyed the movie so much that I wish it was based on a book so I could read it. 


3.

For Christmas my oldest gave me and Tom gift certificates for massages. 

But between working weekends at the winery and weekdays subbing in the schools as much as possible, I didn't have time for a massage.

Until today. I figured I should take advantage of this unemployed time off, even though I'd rather be working.

Oh, it felt so good! Sitting at this computer typing and editing photos takes its toll on my neck and back, and you can only imagine what staying on your feet for six or seven hours in a restaurant will do to you.

Thank you, Tommy!

If you live anywhere near Austin, or plan to visit, I recommend making an appointment with Ruth Ann Blackwell


4.

INSECT WARNING!

Tom called me down to the laundry room earlier this week. When he does that, I know to bring my camera. Look who decided to visit us.



Tarantula june 13-18

Since tarantulas aren't any help when it comes to laundry – in fact, they can be a downright hindrance – Tom escorted it back outside.



Tarantula june 13-21-2

 

By the way, the herding above didn't work. It went skittering into the shelves. That's when I left and I'm not sure how Tom ended up catching it.

(At least I think he caught it….)

The other night this toad decided to visit us upstairs. Isn't he handsome? I mean, for a toad?



Toad june 13-1

 

We can't figure out how these critters are getting inside, but I'd rather have a tarantula and a toad than those little mice who took such a liking to us. Ugh.

 

5.

Today is Flag Day, commemorating the day the American flag was adopted in 1777. 

I swear I recently took a photo of the little faded flag flying on my parents' porch to post, but it's lost in a maze of files in my computer.

It's just one of those small ones on a wooden stick . They have it tucked into the metal porch supports and keep it up all year. I like that.

So instead of the flag, and since by the time I publish this it won't be Flag Day anymore, here's an old red Ford truck I spotted today. Not quite Old Glory, but an American icon at least.

Hope you have a wonderful weekend!



Truck-29

 

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18 responses to “Five Things…”

  1. Lady Fi Avatar

    Love the first and last shots!
    When I was a child, a tarantula bit one of my friends – such a nasty experience! But so glad Tom managed to herd it outside eventually…

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  2. Ms. A Avatar

    I had four dang junebugs in the house in one night. I hate those things! However, I’ll take them ANY DAY to tarantulas!!! *cringe

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  3. Pauline Avatar

    Great photos! So glad we don’t have tarantulas here in the East (at least i don’t think we do!) but brown wood spiders (shudder) are all too common and their bite is dangerous. It’s ants that are invading now. Guess they’re not any happier about the excess rain as I am!

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  4. VM Sehy Avatar

    A toad and a tarantula! That is so cool. Well, to me since I don’t have to herd them back outside:). That tarantula is a beauty.

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  5. Barb Avatar

    I see you’re running a pet hotel. It must be comfy and welcoming at your place. I really like the jumping shot – so hard to capture everyone and not cut off someone’s head!

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  6. Barbara Shallue Avatar

    They are entirely too comfortable in our home it seems! That jump shot – I took it three times and never could get them all up in the air at the same time! But they had fun trying.
     

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  7. Barbara Shallue Avatar

    They are just so cool, aren't they? I won't try to pick one up, or anything, though. Definitely admire from a distance!
     

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  8. Barbara Shallue Avatar

    We have brown recluse spiders here. Ugh! And the mosquitoes are getting fierce because of the rain. I hope the ants don't decide to come inside, too. 
     

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  9. Barbara Shallue Avatar

    I actually like June bugs. They just seems so goofy. (Unless they get in my hair!)
     

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  10. Barbara Shallue Avatar

    Oh, gosh, now I'm glad I'm not tempted to pick up the tarantulas!
     

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  11. lisleman Avatar

    Old truck reminds me of my dad and the trucks he had. Nice toad. The only tarantulas I’ve seen in the wild were on a road in Missouri. I was in a car. I hear they just want to be left alone.

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  12. Tabor Avatar

    Hubby was barefoot and stepped on a wolf spider the size of your tarantula. Not as scary, but I am not fond of ANYTHING in my house that should be living outside. When they are outside I love them completely. We have trapped about 5 mice in the pantry this year. How they are getting in…??

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  13. Barbara Shallue Avatar

    Oh, I agree with you. If they're in my house, they have to go, even if I have to kill them! I would hate to see a wolf spider the size of that tarantula!!
    I'm grateful that my little mice seemed totally uninterested in my pantry, thank goodness. They did have an affinity for dog biscuits, though. They would steal them from the bag downstairs. We found piles of them stashed all over the house, in drawers, shoes, etc. We have no idea how they moved them and why we never spotted them!
     

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  14. Barbara Shallue Avatar

    Yes, I definitely admire them from a distance!
     

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  15. Wolf Pascoe Avatar

    A friend of mine reviewed Mud recently.
    I agree with you about the toad–very handsome. Maybe a kiss would turn it into a prince?

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  16. Barbara Shallue Avatar

    Maybe, but it won’t come from me! I’ll check out your friend’s review…but I know from Mr. Google that some people loved it, and others…not so much.

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  17. Wolf Pascoe Avatar

    Let me know what you think.

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  18. Barbara Shallue Avatar

    Well…I think he took it way too seriously. I thought it was a good coming of age story, where the boys learn that love and life is more complicated than they thought – they’re pulled from their romanticized ideas of both – but they see that there’s still life and even the possibility of happiness on the other side of disappointment. Plus…we got to see Matthew with his shirt off. 🙂

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