The Double Nickel

Mona came down from Wheatersville to help celebrate my 55th birthday this weekend. She baked me a nice Texas Sheet Cake, which she presented last night night (day early) so we could all enjoy it during her visit. Couldn't resist the trick candles with the 'can't blow out' flame...

Pat helped me out with mounting computer woes by ordering a replacement high-performance desktop and monitor, and I got a bunch of phone calls and cards from welll-wishers, all of which made me very grateful - thanks everybody.

Friday night, Mona, Pat, and I went to an international poster show opening at the University, with a nice reception. Yesterday (Saturday) we spent a few hours checking out the Sustainable Living Show checking out solar and wind power stuff, Yurts, straw bale, and other alternative building methods.


Pat hangs out at the Chili Festival Saturday.

After the Sustainable Living Fair, we went over to a Latino neighborhood park to spend some time a Chili Festival, part of our town's Hispanic Heritage Month celebration. There were some good Mexican musicians (not Mariachis exactly), good home-made traditional foods, and a big chili roaster where they were scorching Hatch chilis. Mona and I bought and split a half-bushel, and each bought a couple of bags of dried chilis. After we got home, we spent an hour skinning and seeding out roasted chilis, and placing them in small baggies for freezing so we could enjoy them later this winter.

Last night, after all that, we watched Little Miss Sunshine - a fun moviethat keeps you guessing about what will happen next, and is well worth viewing.



Today Mona and I went out an spent the whole day visiting local artists in their studios as part of the annual local art museum studio tour fundraiser. It was a real inspiration for both of us, and will likely help us get moving with some creative pursuits we have been stalling and neglecting.


Mona in the driveway of very charming local artist Maggie Kunze on the tour.


Greeters at the front steps.


Behind Maggie's house - her new studio.

Maggie's house is very small. She has an open carport/garage she was using for a studio, but around here that wouldn't be usable in the winter. She told us that she had a dream that she would find a big bus, and use that for her studio. Her kids found just such a bus up in the foothills, and with a little brake and engine work it was made drivable after several years of retirement from hippie-transport and brought down to be delivered into Maggie's back yard in time for Mothers Day. Dreams really can come true.


Maggie and her new studio/hippie bus. It has a small wood stove, and should be A cozy retreat for her this winter. I think I might get her a CO2 detector and alarm though....

Again, thanks everyone for such a nice birthday weekend.

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