A sad day :-(

Though I am WAAAYYY behind in this, today's entry will begin with last Thursday and then travel back in time to complete the backlog.  This is because of the HUGE loss we have just suffered, when Molly took a turn for the worse during the night....a summary:


Dear friends: Molly's cancerous hip gave out during the night. She has gone to doggy heaven today. She went peacefully here under the canopy in her favorite place to hang out. We petted her and talked to her since early this morning, feeding her her favorite food, along with muscle relaxant and Tramadol. All her life seemed to be devoted to redefining quality of life for us. I think of all the times, over our tens of thousands of miles we have traveled with her, and evry time we would come to a slowdown spot, I would lower the rear windows. She would stick her head out, and we could hear children's voices yelling "look Momma, that doggy is smiling at me". Fast forward thru time and space to this afternoon when, even in pain, she raised up on her forelegs to greet our vet, with a smile, as he had traveled across the Hill Country to allow her to go home in peace and dignity, among those who loved her best (Tessa, Jan and I) and who will be missing her the most. The vet kneeled and stroked her head and said " this is the hardest part about my work". Farewell Molly....Happy Trails!

Who made who happier?

With Natalie and Grandpa Dave

Sunday paper weighed more than she did....brought it in every day!

With Rufus...her fav!

.

Tessa arrives

"Who is this and when is she going back where she came from?"

Our beautiful girl!

Ours hearts are left behind with a cavernous hole.  Tessa seems to be doing well, though still looking for Molly now and again.  It helped to take her shopping for a new bed and meet some new doggie friends.  Bill is talking about getting her a new sister  (Blue or Red Heeler) but with our new, condensed lifestyle, I think it more prudent to maintain 1 dog only.

The LBJ 100 (an annual bike ride fundraiser) was last weekend.  Despite the altered schedule (volunteered to work Saturday- usually our day off) and the intensity of the work for those two days, we had a great time

ANNNDDDDD their off!

Fun with traffic control?

LBJ's favorite car

When I told Kelly we got to see Luci Johnson Turpin (LBJ's younger daughter.....





She said "Mom, that's the most random celebrity sighting ever!"  Still, we were pretty excited!
Larry looks like we all felt by the end of the weekend!!!!After an exhausting weekend, we relaxed with fellow V.I.P.s at Albert's Dance Hall, where Bill and I embarrassed ourselves with our 1st clumsy tries at the "2 Step".  We were saying "so long for now" to
 Diane (with Suzi) as she heads off to Alaska.  


Kathleen :-)

Suzi, Jim, Larry, Mary, Marilyn, Diane

The band is GREAT!  See them at Pecan Street Brewery on Sunday's as well.https://scontent.xx.fbcdn.net/hvideo-ash2/v/t43.1792-2/10173988_10203810664772266_331298464_n.mp4?oh=50c142611b4f1c4a51823e367fc93828&oe=534144FC

Good company!
TBC later today (promise)

Wait! What?? This is too much like REAL work.....

Now two months in to our new volunteer assignment at the LBJ National Historical Park as Interpretive Guides at the "boyhood home"

 and we are loving it! All except the hours.  Working Sunday thru Wednesday, 8:30 am to 5:30 pm with a 20 minute lunch break is WAAAAYYYY too much like real work.  We get home most evenings and CRASH, spend our weekends relaxing.

Now I'm not complaining mind you....it has been a great to learn the job of  "Interpreter" (which we find we really like).  The volunteer Coordinators here have provided us with great training, (both in the classroom and on the job).  If our work week was 3 days on, 4 days off, this would be the perfect place.

As on most jobs we are meeting a lot of great people and slowly getting to explore the area.  There is a HUGE advantage to being 1 hour north of San Antonio where Bill's little sister, Jane, lives.  Jane and her husband Tim know the area well and have been able to  make some fabulous recommendations to us for stuff we can do with them, or not..... but all fun!  It seems like we never have enough time to spend with them over the years.....For a few months anyway, we'll be able to get our Tim and Jane fix:-)

For the last 2 weeks we have been training for the "Texas White House" venue.  The LBJ National Historical Park consists of two venues, 13 miles apart.  You have seen the Boyhood Home...now take a look at LBJ's adult home, The "Texas White House".We have been preparing to take tours thru this much larger home, and have learned a great deal more about the man in the process: fascinating!

During our short breaks between tours we hang out in the "poolhouse".....too bad it has been drained.

It is positioned by the outdoor pool, and on a nice day, the outdoor pool is a wonderful place to sit and relax.  The breaks are short (10-20 minutes) now....but when the busy season starts in March, even those short breaks will vaporize and we will jump from tour to tour.

These busy weeks have been made easier to take, due to fun times with family and friends....times that would not have been possible without us having hit the road....chances to give and receive:

Surprise visit from Tim and Jane (Bill's sister)

Molly is hanging in there, happy with her pain medication.  Still, we know she is in her last weeks:-(

Jane and I at the rodeo/concert

Tim and Bill at the rodeo/concert

Mutton Busting:  The BEST part of the rodeo!  Hysterical!

After the rodeo...how bout a little Tim McGraw:-)

And a little "Mi Tierra"  Yum (picture taken BEFORE the security guard respectfully separated Bill from his gun...story available on request:-)
And Lynne/Brad arrive!!!!!!! 

What fun day out would be complete without a trip to the winery?

Or the Riverwalk...

                                                                     a boat ride followed by dinner 
on the water.

Meanwhile, back at the ranch........this guy was dead asleep....didn't even wake up when we started talking...sleeping on the tip of his horn...how could that possibly be comfortable?

well, Hello 

At Sauer-Beckmann Farm by the LBJ STATE Park (may do this next year)

Meadowlark at The Ranch

 Prairie Hawk

Calf about a day old....this is how it feels when I am getting up from the floor :-)

Picnic lunch.....

This guy was scooping leaves under his tummy?????

I know these 3 are out of focus,

but I kept them for the joy 

they Show! 

Praying Meadowlark

Drinking from our neighbors hose

2 days old 

Taking a walk with  Mom

This guy is our neighbor.

Interesting that the deer around here are so much smaller than ours at home.And some of the adults are spotted like our fawns would be.

Every Saturday night is Potluck fun with our fellow volunteers

 Bill, Ron, Louise

 

some of whom have become,

 Larry and Mary

Marilyn and Jim

or will become 

Jeanne

Lifelong friends.

Hank and Larry

And lest I forget...this Sunday is Oscar night!  Bill and I have been on Oscar Quest (the time of year following Oscar nominations during which we go see all the movies nominated in these categories: Best Movie, Best Actor/Actress, Best Supporting Actor/Actress) for weeks.  We still have to see Dallas and Gravity, but we can tell you some of what I think so far:

     Best Movie- 12 Years A Slave (have not seen Gravity)

(Wolf of Wall Street is just pornography...but DiCaprio did a GREAT job)

( and WHAT is Her doing in this category?)

(Loved American Hustle and Nebraska)

Best Actor: Christian Bale (NOTE- THOUGH HE WASN'T NOMINATED-THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN TOM HANKS...JUST SAYIN )

Best Actress: Meryl Streep

Best Supporting Actor:  Bradley Cooper

Best Supporting Actress: June Squibb

Will let you know if this changes after Friday, when we go see the last 2.  I will also list Bill's pics soon.

Well, time to prepare for work tommorrow...they're forcing us to go to the LBJ Library and Lady Bird Wildflower Center:-)

Why we're here:

Love to all...Vaya Con Dios!