Coming up…


Debby’s birthday is tomorrow, and that’s the photo of past birthday celebrations at Houndstooth Hall I’ll post on Instagram tomorrow morning. Getting this in because tomorrow’s post will be the Photo Friday theme.

We’ll be celebrating on Sunday Monday night with dinner and cake, because that’s when everyone’s more available. Right now, pollen allergies are kicking my butt. Hopefully, Sunday Monday will be a low pollen day!

King of the Acorns

We’ve had an abundance of acorns this autumn, and no matter how many times we’ve swept or raked them and disposed of them, they’ve been replenished. Folklore has it that excessive acorns mean a hard winter* (an indicator that animals will be well fed during unusually long or intense cold seasons). Folklore is rarely dependable in today’s climate studies.

Still, I dubbed Rocky “King of the Acorns” today at his annual wreathing.

*I used this factoid in one of the novels in the Neverending Saga after a conversation with Lynne.

ETA: Later, after Tom and Debby returned from running errands, Tom took me outside to see what Timothy had done earlier in the day. He’s been working on cleaning and pruning the front yard, and he wanted to try some plants/herbs in Rocky’s flower bed, where they can get more light. Thanks, Tim!

And Tom has put the Christmas wreaths in the windows, including two in the windows of Lynne’s room.

And four in the living room windows. They now have little plaid reindeer on them.

Old Texas

I’ve tried in vain to find information online for this utility box mini mural on Bunker Hill Road. It’s an often-used image in Texas art: a longhorn in a field of bluebonnets.

I remember on long road trips when I was a kid that my sister used to sing this song as part of her car songs repertoire. Never dreamed back then we’d both one day live in the Lone Star State.

Why?


Tom and I got our early voting done. Some people ask why, and if for no other reason, it’s a continued effort against cynicism. I might be a skeptic, but I hope never to be a cynic. Maybe the choice to hope is part of that.

A Google search on the difference between cynicism and skepticism:

While both skepticism and cynicism involve questioning assumptions and evaluating evidence, there are key differences between the two mindsets. Skeptics are open to new ideas and are willing to be convinced by evidence, while cynics tend to be closed-minded and mistrustful.

Button Sunday


October 22 is National Nut Day, created to encourage healthier snack options.


My favorites are pecans, cashews, walnuts, almonds, and pistachios. Other than in peanut butter, I like peanuts best when I can eat them roasted from the shell. My college roommate used to bring back bags of peanuts after a weekend working in her parents’ grocery store and roast them for us as a snack to eat throughout the week. As a kid, I liked boiled peanuts (a snack discovered by a Yankee character traveling through the South in the Neverending Saga). I probably still would like them, but since I no longer drive rural Southern roads, I don’t get opportunities to buy them.

Showing support for the home team in tonight’s game by eating a few of these later.

What are your favorites?