Turtle Rabbit

Last night we saw something very strange (to us ex-mountain folk, anyway) wandering and digging around the fence right behind our apartment--what the Aztec's called the turtle rabbit (also known as an armadillo).  I know that they are common here, but it was exciting for us.  I ran into the house and grabbed the camera, then ran back outside to snap a picture.  Alas, it was too dark, and I couldn't figure out how to get the camera to focus while I was chasing a turtle rabbit in the dark without shoes on--sometimes I'm not very good at multitasking.

So, sadly, all I can do is grab a picture from wikipedia, and, pointing in slack-jawed yokel fashion exclaim, "That thing!  Looky there!"

I've been wondering about a number of big holes that have been dug around the fence and bushes that surround our apartment building.  I think I have my answer now.

Oh, and I saw my first armadillo roadkill this morning on the way to church.

More info on the turtle rabbit here.

Forecast

What a forecast!  This coming week will certainly be an experience for us pasty, ex-Colorado folk!

I think it is important to point out a few things.  First, this iPhone Weather app screenshot was taken @ 8:45PM--98 deg. @ 8:45PM!

Second, our AC had been out for the past 2 days.  After having dinner at a friend's house in Garland we came home to our apartment.  It was about 9PM.  The first thing I noticed was that there was no atmospheric change stepping from the outdoors into our apartment.  I checked the thermostadt: 90+ deg [maxed out].  At 9PM there is nothing you can do with a busted AC unit.  So we stripped the girls down and put little, glistening, exhausted, naked bodies to bed with ice packs and fans blowing on them.

A day later and it was off to Sam's for a backup AC unit.  With that running full time, and another that was loaned to us by the apartment complex, we were able to keep the apartment at about 86 deg.  Same routine again: glistening, little naked bodies, ice packs, and fans.

But today is a good day!  We have a brand new AC unit that is working famously........And just balance the last 2 days out a bit, we're still running the 2 backup units.  98 deg. outside; 73 inside.  Tonight it's back to PJs ;-)

"Family Monday" @ the Dallas Arboretum

Here are a few pictures from our recent outing:

FREE petting zoo!

FREE popsicles!

Giant toad fountains!  (also free)

Facepainting........select styles for FREE!

Kitty cat was popular...

See?

Zoom in on the teeth:

roar!

I think we'll use this one for their next album cover.

And off to our next adventure.

Our Home~

Here are a few pictures of where we're living now:

This is our back deck, over looking the golf course~

My 'tinsy' kitchen~

Main living room, adjacent to the kitchen~

Thea's room ;)

Petra & Ivy's room~

We're still working on a few things, picture hanging~ curtain rods~ needing a few more shelves. But all and all we're fairly settled in & enjoying the change of pace and scenery. 

Love to you all~  Ami

Etymology: Lasterday

For those of you wondering where the title "Lasterday" comes from, this post is for you.  Our youngest daughter (3) coined the term during one of her many hurried storytelling sessions.  At first her stories began with "Last time ago..." which I assume to be a form of "Once upon a time..." (e.g., "Last time ago my sister frew [threw] up in the dirt; I no lub dat [that was a distasteful experience that did not solicit my love].").  But it is also used in the sense of "before" (e.g., "Mom gave me dem [them] fishy crackers last time ago.").  During one of these urgency-laced stories her limited vocabulary tumbled over the concept of yesterday to form the word lasterday.  And it makes sense: for instance, we don't say yesteryear anymore; instead, in this modern age, we say last year.  So you see, our youngest daughter is really a cutting-edge linguist.  She's pushing the envelope of modern english and teaching us to let the old-timey terminology of yesteryear fade into the purple distance of all our unreachable lasterdays--putting "yesterday" to pasture with white-bearded thees and thous.  We'll see if it catches on ;-)

Those Conspicuous Buttons in the Margin

At the risk of looking like this:

I have added a couple of buttons to the left-hand margin of this blog.  But hear me out, I do so mainly to make things easier and less awkward for those several individuals who have already expressed interest in donating.  If you are not one of them feel free to disregard the buttons completely.  ............Hallel-u-jah!

Nudity at the Arboretum

You can't get anything past Ivy!