Long Hollow

Where seeds of thought have room to grow

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Realtor, writer, blogger in Austin, TX

Category: Celebrations

  • Party Girl

      This evening my family commandeered the sunroom where my mom lives to celebrate her 83rd birthday a few days early. It was the only day we could all be together, but besides that, when you're turning 83, you really should start celebrating early, don't you think?     I know Mama loves being with…

  • House dogs, Hangar Parties, October(fests), and other sweet!s

      Belle is snoring behind me, curled up on a purple and pink fringed blanket TG gave to her. The past couple of nights she's slept beside my bed on a small rug. She's getting better about sleeping through the night without waking me for attention. Just like a baby.  I've never had a house dog…

  • Silver Linings of a Not-So-Empty-Nest

      On Monday my middle son turned 26. He celebrated by taking the day off from work, sleeping in, and then relaxing on the back porch with Belle, reading and drinking his coffee.  He's definitely a child after my own heart.  The day started out a rainy one. But by the time Belle and I…

  • Sunday afternoons and belated sweets

      Just before sunset this afternoon, I escaped to the front porch swing with a glass of wine and a long-lost book from my childhood. I'd spent the day taking care of the dogs, going to church, fixing one of my signs that got knocked over by city mowers, visitng my mom, and finally making…

  • The Story of Us

      Tom asked me to dance for the very first time 33 years ago tonight.  I was at Kenny Stabler's Diamondback Saloon in Houston on a rare Friday night off, in a bad mood because my boyfriend of five years "had other plans" that night. That wasn't unusual – he wasn't a very good boyfriend.…

  • Surprises…

        “God put us here, on this carnival ride. We close our eyes never knowing where it'll take us next.”  ~Carrie Underwood   There are good surprises, and there are bad surprises. Years ago I met a woman who impressed me with her beauty and bubbly personality. I didn't know her well, and haven't…

  • This time last year…

    About this time last year, I was on a walk of faith. I began a new career. It coincided with dramatic and tragic turns in my parents' lives. The changes that have taken place in all of our lives since July 2013 are mindboggling when I think about them too long. Despite his illness and…

  • They’ve landed! (…and other sweet!s)

    For the past week or so I've been living vicariously through a couple of my kids. Again. My son and his wife have now experienced the beauty, beer, food, art, sights and sounds of Moscow, St. Petersburg, and Amsterdam. And through the wonders of technology, I've been able to tag along through their photos and…

  • Lucky in Love

        Thirty-two years ago today, Tom and I dismissed superstition by getting married on a Friday the 13th. We were so sure of our decision, so confident of our love and our future together, that we challenged those centuries-old superstitions to a duel. Well, of course they just turned tail and ran, because they…

  • Sisters (and other sweet!s)

      It would have been intimidating growing up with such a beautiful big sister if she had been the type to criticize or belittle. But I was blessed with Brenda.      Sure, she liked to tease me sometimes, and even lost her temper with me once or twice, but given that I was a…