Austin ModHouse

it was one year ago I found the property on the blanco river (pic below was taken one year ago).  it had been abandoned and gone through a tax sale.  we bought it some time in the fall and started to clean it up.  the pic above is current, one year between pics. 

there was no front door and the inside was filled with trash, including stinky sofas and mattress. 

but before I could get up there to paint... I hired a professional wasp warrior.  he may be good with a bee suit and a can of wasp spray, but his ladder placement skills were not the best I've seen.  needless to say, he quickly realized my advice to use the tree to anchor the base of the ladder was solid. 

lazy saturday/dog days of summer:

we went to wimberley market days (first saturday of the month) and blah blah blah, kettle corn, pork rinds (when pigs fry) blah blah ice house bratwurst etc.  our usual market days stuff.  then we went to middleton brewing company....

they have two pug dogs there.  one was surprised when #2 son got down and started to "ARF" like a dog. 

generously portioned cheese plate from antonelli's ($9.50), sunner kolsch on tap, house made wit and saison beers... 

spent our lazy afternoon down at our river park.

most of the blanco river is shallow, 6-12 inches.  there are deeper holes, some deep enough for swimming or rope swings.  #1 son is standing in a hole just about his size. 

kat cleaning a snapper for dinner. 

the displaced wasps had moved to the back section of the barn/cabin roof.  I was ready to get up early sunday morning (6AM) to get up there and battle them myself.  wasps sleep in, I don't.  I'm posing with my arsenal of weapons (above), wasp spray and expanding foam.

dinner was good, as usual. 

we now have a camping guitar.  it worked out great!  everybody took turns playing.  the daughter is taking a few guitar lessons this summer while their piano teacher is away visiting family in italy. 

#2 son has been obsessed with windmills since we travelled to nebraska.  he studies the landscape from his car seat and yells "WIND-MAIL!" when he spots one.  then he started to suggest "we need to get a wind-mail for our river house".  harbor freight had one for just over $30.  kat got up sunday morning and tackled the assembly.  the blades turned with only the slightest breeze. 

blanton museum of art has some great summer kids programs each thursday and friday.  arts and crafts, story time...  they had a good time. 

had the windshield on the falcon van (econoline window van) replaced.  but the installers broke it and I'm now waiting for them to order another one.