Breezeway

Butch tore out the east wall of the breezeway and is reconstructing it. Poorly done to begin with and not at all weather proof.
The assessor came down this morning and is reassessing our place. Of course the devalue of it will be temporary but will save us a few dollars in the meantime. And then the city has a revitalization program that will save us a few more dollars for 3 years but that will be after the renovation is complete. So we are learning the ropes and saving some future money.
I was alone on my walk this morning but took my camera and got a couple of shots

On west side of square facing southeast.

Russell Street Squirrel

On our walk today...

We received our tax bill a few days ago and noticed that the homestead discount was not on it so we stopped at the courthouse to check on it. It is a timing thing just as I suspected so it will be on there next year. In the conversation Butch talked to the assessor and she is coming down in the morning to look at the house to perhaps readjust the assessed value. I am looking at Butch like he is out of his mind knowing that in short order it will look considerably different  and the value will most likely be much higher than it is now. Just not sure we needed to stir that bucket of worms but she did mention something about applying for a 3 year revitalization tax break of some sort. So perhaps we will find out more about that tomorrow.

A little further down the street Butch and I stopped for an extended conversation with Duane Ogren. After 15 or so minutes it was on with our walk.

Then I remembered that Estel and Pat Ott  told me that if I wanted some tomatoes to stop down Thursday or Friday and it seemed like a good time to do so.
Estel and his first wife Joann were good friends with my Mom and Dad so I have known Estel my whole life. My very first babysitting job was for Estel and Joann. Going back even further when I was in kindergarten we only went half days and since my name started with a bee,Brock, I was in the morning group. My friend Jean Bartley ran ahead of me one day and I became lost, so recognizing Estel and Joann's house I stopped there. Joann called my Mom but then I had to wait for my Dad because Mom had little ones at home and no car. It was a different life in 1948.
Estel was a bit younger than my Dad. He is now 85 years of age. His mind is razor sharp and no one would ever guess he was even close to 85. In his youth, he would have been labeled as hyperactive.  He is only a little less so today! I remember being at their house when the Friday Night Fights were on TV. Estel would sit on the very edge of the couch and he would fight each and every round of those fights right along with the boxers. It was something to see! And after the fights were over he would be exhausted. Yup, Estel was and is quite a guy.

Vintage ads

These vintage ads from long ago are interesting to look at. And if you really want to you can buy one.
http://store.vintagepaperads.com/servlet/StoreFront

Fact finding

Butch and I went on a fact finding trip yesterday to the Des Moines area. We needed to find out more about pocket doors. Of course we stopped to see Mickey and go to lunch. Kinda got stuck there but that was okay. Mickey gave me a clump of a flowering plant from her yard. I had seen it flowering in the past and taken a picture of it. Seen here

The ones Mickey gave me were drooping pretty well by the time we got home so I quickly stuck them in some dirt and they look perky this morning. They are the ones closest to the camera. The other is a hosta that stayed too long in the pot so looks a little haggard. I hope it comes into its own next spring.

Here is some more info on this clever little plant.

After we had our enjoyable visit with Mickey we stopped at a lumberyard in Grimes and picked their brain about pocket doors. They were quite obliging and I think we know enough now to proceed.

We stopped at the Farmers Market when we arrived in Jefferson because I wanted some tomatoes and to look over the other offerings. We ran into Jack and Denise right away and the guys had their picture taken with the Farmers Market Fairy, Chris Henning.

All in all it was great get-away day. And we had not done that in awhile.

BLT Salad

The tomatoes were late this season due to unruly spring weather but they are starting to come on now. Yum!!

BLT Salad Rated: Submitted By: D. L. Mooney Photo By: wannabe chefette Prep Time: 15 Minutes Cook Time: 10 Minutes Ready In: 25 Minutes Servings: 6 "Crumbly bacon, chopped tomato, shredded lettuce and a creamy dressing with a hint of garlic - this chopped salad has BLT down pat." INGREDIENTS: 1 pound bacon 3/4 cup mayonnaise 1/4 cup milk 1 teaspoon garlic powder 1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper salt to taste 1 head romaine lettuce - rinsed, dried and shredded 2 large tomatoes, chopped 2 cups seasoned croutons DIRECTIONS: 1. Place bacon in a large, deep skillet. Cook over medium high heat, turning frequently, until evenly browned. Drain, crumble and set aside. 2. In a blender or food processor, combine mayonnaise, milk, garlic powder and black pepper. Blend until smooth. Season the dressing with salt. 3. Combine lettuce, tomatoes, bacon and croutons in a large salad bowl. Toss with dressing, and serve immediately. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED © 2011 Allrecipes.com Printed from Allrecipes.com 8/17/2011

Work Day

I had a long post all written and what I thought posted and then I find it isn't there. So it is LOST forever! I will try again...

Yesterday was  a busy work day with much accomplished I washed bedding including spread and mattress pad. We did the heavier items at the laundromat and brought them home to dry on the line. The line broke so now I get the new line I have wanted since we arrived here. I dry the bulk of our laundry on the line robbing the utility company of many dollars.
Butch prepared the southwest corner of the roof/house for Russ Cosens to fix. And Russ showed up about 4:00 PM.  So now all of our spots for potential leaks should be good and dry. Since it rained last night we will soon find out. Butch also worked on the inside door situation in the house getting ready for pocket doors.

We also washed moho windows inside and out. It has needed done for longer than I care to admit. They sparkle now.
And then we went to Wet Goods for a tenderloin. Yes Wet Goods is the name of the place. It is a bar on the east side of the square and they have top notch tenderloins. Some of my perhaps fussier friends think the place could use some sprucing up and maybe they are right. But then they haven't been to our favorite places in Sunny south Texas. I think my focus must be food related. I seem to care little for the ambiance.

So now I have rewritten my long and brilliant post. Unfortunately it isn't nearly as brilliant as the first one but oh well,
-heavy sigh- it will have to do.

Videos from Grandpa Gary

Got a little video from this week's babysitting opportunities. Wish Elise was feeling better. She has had some mysterious illness involving runny nose and hives.

 

Dancing Elise: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zo1oIc9l_K4
Elise makes choice: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0F5jMNd8kHc

 

Great-Grandma Barb says : Sounds like allergies to me. Figuring out  what is causing it can be tricky though.

Party & Pedal

Last night we went to a party made up of people we went to school with in our youth. All of the people present had lived other places most of their working lives and now have come back to make Jefferson their home. There were 10 of us total. This is something I never thought for a minute that we would be a part of. It was a whole bunch of fun talking over old times and the pranks we pulled or ones we knew were pulled. There was some talk about the statute of limitations. And the food was fantastic. Our hostess Judy Peacock Wills is an excellent cook. Sure am glad there are lots of those good cooks in my circles of friends!

Today Butch and I rode the bikes instead of walking. We rode to the river bridge and back, a total of 4 miles. It felt good to be giving different muscles a workout. 

I have started on a wide bracelet that will be a wedding gift. I have a good start on it but it is wide enough that I will be working on this one for a few weeks. My to-do list of bracelets to make keeps growing.