On the Front Porch - and Off

Judy and Lonnie's Vist

Judy and Lonnie, she of my traveling friends, paid us an overnight visit over the weekend for a look at our new house and community, and for a long-overdue visit. After the requisite golf-cart ride (both around the neighborhood and over to Kemah), dinner at Gilhooley's (which we knew they'd love, and which they did), and a relatively-early night, Tom graced us all, the next morning, with a delicious boudain omelet "dressed" with a fresh-fruit-and-orange-liqueur topping.

Judy took this shot that morning:

and I caught her about to climb aboard for the trip home:

I hope that Lonnie was able to concentrate on driving home, given Judy's provocative (in Lonnie's stated opinion) attire.

Other Porch Doings
Man, these doves are bold, as well as prolific. Are they on their third set of babies this spring?

Annie and Papa (?) Dove Face Off

Another Sunset:

And some close-ups of our giant bird-in-paradise plant, flower:

and leaf:

Glenn and Anna's Visit

We had also taken a golf card ride to Kemah when Glenn and Anna were here the weekend before, stopping for lunch at Bakkus Taverna. We were taken by this Lotus (Note the license plate, too.), and Anna wanted a photo made to send to their son Daniel, a car buff. He was impressed, as was Tom.

Art, Barb, and David's Visit
No pictures, but we enjoyed seeing them on their day-trip over from Sabine Pass. Sitting on the front porch peeling and eating Tom's boiled shrimp, we caught up until it was time for them to run errands and for Tom and me to run to Baytown for a doctor's visit. That evening they went to the South Shore Harbor boat show while Tom and I met some of the CLS gang at T-Bone Tom's for dinner and live music. That was a good day.


I don't know why I wasn't inspired to take pictures of our guests during their visits. Well, actually, I guess I do: I suppose it is because I am not quite myself, nor have I been for more than two weeks, since I've been suffering, on and off, with a cold or allergies. Just when I think I'm getting better and can resume my normal activities, my coughing and sleepless nights resume, and I decide that I'd best just rest, momentarily regretful for dancing at T-Bone Tom's or walking through the neighborhood, causing a setback. I've finally decided to go to the doctor, which I will do tomorrow. I will be flying to California to see Elizabeth and Nathan next week, right after another busy weekend with more guests, so it's time to grab this thing by the throat and strangle it.

Sick of Being Sick

Just sayin' . . . .

And perhaps Tommy was right last night, when he told me that I probably should take it easy and not dance last night at T-Bone Tom's (Luther and the Healers -- great group to dance to), but what the heck . . . it was well worth it.

I'm getting over it, and looking forward to our next set of guests, Judy and Lonnie, tomorrow. Guess I should clean the house . . . .

What Are Those People Doing Over There?

A trio of young people had stationed themselves at the concrete table and benches on our little waterfront area, so I strolled out to figure out what was going on. Turned out that they work for a drone company, and were getting shots of the marina across the way. After chatting for a bit, they agreed to take a shot of our house from above, using their cute little drone. Very cool:

Our house (the one in the middle) is just as cute as their drone. What about that interesting roof-line? Looks much bigger from this perspective, too.

The drone:

The company: D&C Inspection Services, DCI Aerial Division, in Seabrook. Ask for Mitchell.

And its operator:

'Twas a very interesting encounter with some young, pleasant, earnest people, and with a drone, my first. They didn't seem very concerned about privacy concerns, concerns which are probably of more note to my generation, though Mitchell was willing to discuss them with me. They are, of course, of the generation that has happily given up privacy, through their use of smart phones and such, for convenience. And though it gives me pause, I have largely done the same. I want my I-gadgets to know where I am so that they can direct me, either in the boat or the car, to where I want to go.

A fun encounter. Glad they chose our table to set up on. Thanks for the photos, guys.

Saturday

Saturday in Clear Lake Shores generally calls for a stroll over the the Farmers' Market, but that looks unlikely today due to the steady rain. But with the door open, the sound of the rain is friendly, soothing, relaxing, and the back part of our front porch remains dry. And we still have some of Glenn and Anna's beautiful home-grown produce that they brought to us last weekend from Baton Rouge. So we're good, thank you.

The doves have raised another pair, now adolescent and having flown the nest:

I did take down the newly-reinstalled curtain sheers to prevent Annie from shredding them in an attempt to get up to her intended prey. We love Annie, but bird-stalking is in her bones. We think it's odd that Mama and Papa Dove continue to nest as an obviously-interested cat stalks, but, as Tom says, God made doves tasty and stupid and fast-breeding.

Glenn and Anna, along with the produce, brought over several salmon steaks cut from salmon that he had caught in Alaska. Is there anything better? Well, yes, combining them with (Glenn and Anna's) collard greens, grits, and homemade biscuits. Oh, and smoking them in the stove-top smoker* that G & A also brought (bday gift for Tom) -- what generous friends! This was the menu earlier this week, and resulted in a pretty, tasty delight:

Tommy, on his own for a few days while Tina was in Louisiana with her church women's group, joined us for dinner.  With his ready laugh, Tommy is always good company.

Tom and I have both been a bit sick. I have either allergies or bronchitis, depending on whom I speak to, and Tom has a cough as well. But we're both improving, and about ready to re-enter the world, a delightful spring-y one now (complete with rain).




*Highly recommend. Will be perfect for the boat. While G & A were here, we smoked shrimp and onions in it, and they were also outstanding.

More Movin' and Shakin' in Clear Lake Shores: Debbie S's Party

It was to be a major birthday for Debbie S, and her best bud, Karen, planned a major party in celebration. The theme: "Her Favorite Things." In need of a creative project, apparently, I jumped on it, writing a Debbie-skewed parody of the Sound of Music song, with Karen's help, a song that we printed out and then performed for Debbie's benefit. Debbie loved it, and it was all great fun.

Karen and Ray hosted a great party, anchored by Karen's delicious grits and grillades.

Some of the "girls."

The ladies sing (and some sway) . . .

and Debbie reacts.

She liked it!

From tears to laughter, both good for the soul.

One More Quick One

I guess we should feel no hurry on getting back to the boat on the Chesapeake:

https://mfburchick.wordpress.com/2015/03/11/the-chesapeake-bay-is-closed/Chesapeake Bay Frozen

Wow.

I'm Ba-ack!

Inspiration has been lacking, and surely you wouldn't expect me to post without that strong creative urge to do so . . . right?

Apologies, especially to Ken, my patient number one reader/viewer, for my absence. Truly, I just haven't felt like it, though nothing is wrong. Plenty of blog-worthy topics have arisen and events have occurred, but, again, I just wasn't compelled to post.

And now we begin a busy month, with out-of-town guests aplenty and planning for our cruise and a big birthday party for the core Baytown group, and taxes and such, but I plan, nonetheless, to post more regularly until we leave.

So, first, I want to write about how excited I am about my recent decision, with Tom's urging, to have some of my photos printed on a large-scale printer (belonging to Copper, an interesting islander) and framed (by Mary, another interesting islander). The positive reaction that these prints have received has been heartening, even prompting some serious thoughts of trying to make some money from my photography.

This is my favorite result so far:

I just love the combination of the innate bling of the master bathroom with the rustic nature of the New Mexico elk head, and my photo of the pelicans brings it all together for me. Also pleasing to me: the floating shelf that Tom installed, getting some of my toiletries off of the counter.

That's all for now. Glenn and Anna will be arriving from Baton Rouge later today, so I must get busy getting ready for their visit. But I am back, and promise to post again next week.