Austin ModHouse

getting things ready for the cool house tour has involved getting rid of a bunch of surplus building materials.  we can't seem to throw useful materials away and have held on to them for "future projects".  it is now time to use it or loose it. 

this far end wall of the garage has always leaked.  all the water sheets down the wall that has no overhang.  the tongue and groove cedar just wicked a lot of that up.  now we have this mondrian-esque metal skin that reaks of neoplasticism.  thanks to my mom for working out there in the heat and the sun to make this happen.

I discovered and anihilated two more giant wasp nests.  they are likely attracted to our van gogh-esque sunflower field .

kat spent the morning replanting the circle in the middle of the drive.  we strive to plant texas natives that are drought resistant.  yet, she has been getting caught by bright blooming annuals.  her last selection lasted about a week before they turned brown and crispy.  this mix of succulents and sedums has a good shot at making it for the long haul.  we know some of these are suriviors because we cut them from a nearby cactus patch that was growing like mad.

I spent the morning putting up some shade cloth over what we call the man-hole.  the idea is that if we have a bunch of people at the house, this is where the men and congregate to get away from the women.  (I borrowed this concept and name from a friend's ranch I visited) our man-hole is the paved space between the garage and the carport.

  it's a great idea but since I do all the cooking, I am often found lurking around the kitchen, or wherever the wine is.  the correct title for the pic above would be; KAT IN MY MAN HOLE.

she was demonstrating that the shade cloth works.  there was an instant fifteen degreen difference. 

the chunk being cooperative.

this one didn't make it.  was being eaten from the inside by ants.

it was replaced by a pair of yucca 

 after we finished all this hot yard work we were in need of some spicy father's day foods.  we saw a car pull up and a nice couple got out with their child.  they greeted us and explained how excited they were to be touring our house.  I had to tell them we were not ready and could they please come back NEXT sunday.

it's father's day and I wasn't gonna put on airs about some fancy food joint.  I wanted super spicy with a big beer.  I once spent a year working in the kitchen at hooter's while I was studying photography,  I still have a soft spot for their wings,  but today we opted for plucker's!  they have THE spiciest foods I have ever put in my mouth, fire in the hole wings! 

when Hsin-hsin was here I made a special trip to pluckers to share these wings.  I've seen her eat a raw jalapeno like it was an apple.  the fire in the hole wings proved too much for her.  kat had announced that she would not give in to the spicy temptation, but she ended up eating some as well.  my mom also had some of the spicy chicken delights.

a fireman's #4 so big it takes two hands (this was before the spicy chicken)

we are VIP material at pluckers.  later we called my father to wish him a happy father's day.  he asked oldest son (pictured above) what we did for father's day.  his reply, "uh, we went to pluckers and got plucked up!"

the chunk is still too young to sample their endorphin rush poultry consumables.  that has not stopped him from expansion.  I'm not sure we will be able to carry him in a few months if he keeps sumoing at this rate.

she can eat the hot (which is pretty darn hot!) but not the fire in the hole.

this is kat after giving in to the poultry of pain.  they also have great sweet potato fries!