Tag: compound

Lazy Saturday

Woke up surrounded by snoozy dogs and the sound of rain. I had planned to run a few errands and probably won’t unless the rain stops. No complaints: Since our drought is predicted to last into next summer and maybe longer (three or more years!), rain is welcome. Today is the Iron Bowl–Alabama vs. Auburn football–the day on which both Tom’s and my families take opposite sides, but all in good fun. Tom’s wearing his Bama shirt, and we may have friends over to watch the game. Snacks!

Also, thanks to today’s mail, I know what I’ll be reading the next few days. It’s always fun to get new books from authors who are friends, and these offer a road story, a mystery, and a crime caper. Congratulations, Jeffrey, Greg, and Rob!

A Very Compound Thanksgiving


Me, Kathy S, Debby, Tim, and Tom

The menu: turkey and dressing, cranberry sauce, ham, mashed potatoes and gravy, green beans, corn, rolls.

Later, The Brides arrived with a thermos of freshly brewed coffee to share in our coconut cake, pumpkin pie, and peach pie, along with a snack tray prepared by my sister with cheeses, salami, pepperoni, crackers, and dip.

To keep Kathy and Debby from arguing over who got to do the rest of the dishes, for dessert, we broke out the special paper plates Lynne gave me with my Christmas loot last year, which Lindsey displays here:

I’m not sure if Rhonda is going after peach pie or Bella with her fork.

I have so much to be grateful for–a house full of family and friends, hilarious dogs (Margot managed to get at part of the turkey after dinner), and good wishes from other family and friends throughout the world. It’s a good life.

Ram Advice

From time to time, I like to share a household tip I learn from sad experience. Here’s a new one. Did you know if you put a plastic container on a stove burner that was just used to heat bacon grease in a skillet for cornbread, that plastic container will melt?

BUT–did you also know if you got lazy one day and picked up some Kroger cole slaw instead of making it yourself, the plastic container could be used for leftovers, but if you should happen to, say, melt it, it wouldn’t be a big loss?

See, this post is FULL of helpful tips. Just call me Heloise.

State of The Compound

Since it’s been all Button Sunday/MagPo posts around these parts, I figured I’m past due speaking of what’s going on at The Compound.

Yes, I voted. Early voted, in fact. And I’m so glad this election season is over because the number of phone calls I was getting drove me nearly crazy and distracted me from….uh… whatever it is I do around here.

There have been Craft Nights. And game-watching parties. I’ve been packing away dolls until the next Project Runway season, though I’m not sure I’ll be doing doll fashions again. I always feel this way–a little burned out–after a season of Runway Monday, then I start getting the itch to sew again and am relieved when a new season begins. So we’ll see. Feel free to CLAMOR FOR MORE FASHION in the comments.

My sister is coming to spend Thanksgiving with us. As you may recall, Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday, and Thanksgiving meals are the ones I most enjoy cooking. Rumor has it my sister-wife Kathy S will be here for Thanksgiving dinner, too. Hope so! I’m also hoping these flowers endure until my sister’s arrival, because she did some of the pruning and grooming that resulted in their being so lovely this autumn, despite Houston’s drought:

Lindsey, Tim, and I pre-ordered our opening night movie tickets for Twilight: Breaking Dawn Part 1. I’ve never watched one of the movies with an entirely first-time audience, and I vowed to do so before the franchise ends just for the silly fun of it. It should be a happy audience but not as squealy as it could be since it’s a midnight movie and at least SOME youngsters should be home, if not in bed asleep, at that hour. As promised, when the movie opens, this month’s vampire poetry will end. Thank you again, Marika, for those Twilight-themed words.

Don’t think we’ll be finished with mythical creatures, however, because guess what arrived in the mail this week?

The original sparkly legend! Yay!

Speaking of mythological creatures, Tim and I have been watching Lost on Netflix. We just finished the first season and are either through the first or second episodes of the second season. I’m SO GLAD I didn’t watch this when it was first run, because I’d have been tormented by the cliffhangers. As I learned years ago from watching Sex and the City on DVDs, I enjoy television much more when my viewing isn’t spaced out over years. Otherwise, it’s difficult for me to sustain interest. This partially comes of not being in a workplace where a previous night’s shows get discussed in the break room or at lunchtime, although Tom tells me that doesn’t happen as frequently in these days of TiVo and DVRs.

I’ve been battling a headache for a couple of days with pharmaceuticals and naps, but last night I ventured out to meet Gilbert Ruiz to purchase this sketch from him. I first saw it on his Flickr account in September 2010 and laid claim to it then. When he recently opened up more of his works for sale, I knew the time had come to make it mine.

Gilbert also has a painting based on this sketch that I wish I could purchase. Maybe one day! Without going into too much detail, the sketch perfectly illustrates one of the to-be-written novels inside my head. So far, Gilbert is the only person who’s put it to paper (from his own creativity; he didn’t know about my novel idea), but I’m hoping his sketch will help me get it from my brain into words. It’s long overdue.

On my way to meet Gilbert, I was at one of the worst/busiest intersections in our neighborhood at rush hour when I witnessed a car hit a man and his dog. I joined several others in giving assistance. There were injuries to both, but none of them fatal or requiring medical help at the scene (dog definitely was headed toward ER vet). There’s a lot more to this incident, but really all I want to say is PLEASE be cautious drivers and pedestrians. Awful things can happen when any of us stops being observant for even a second.

So pretty girl


Guinness admires the new scarf Penny was given when she went for a grooming today at Montrose’s wonderful Dogtopia. All the dogs at The Compound are doing their best to make Penny smell like a real dog again with some rousing playtime and their own brand of grooming.

You can see Penny and more of the wonderful at Scout’s Adoption Event, from 10 am to 3 pm, in the Heights at 1128 Heights Boulevard (between 11th and 12th Streets). Even if you can’t adopt or foster another dog at this time, go by to take the dogs out of their crates for bio breaks, walks, and cuddle time, and to visit with the amazing Scout’s Honor volunteers who are the best friends possible to Houston’s abandoned, stray, and rescued dogs and cats. You can also meet Tim, Man’s Best Friend’s Best Friend, and who knows–The Big H has made a guest appearance in the past and may show up again.