Floods in San Antonio
Yesterday was a wet and soggy day - very wet and soggy! Today Fox News posted a couple of photos taken in San Antonio. The one posted here is of 281 which is the main north-south freeway that runs through the city. We are located about 10 minutes east of the intersection.
Our sub was relatively unscathed (we live on high ground) but there were plenty of roads around us that were closed yesterday and part of today.
Sun greeted us this morrning, and although there has been more rain forecast for our region, I think it is slightly less than what we had in the last 24 hours.
Labels: flooding, Rain
Possibly the Wettest Summer?
I suppose I shouldn't be complaining about all the rain we've received so far this summer since last year the summer was so dry we had watering bans - but I have to cut my grass once a week at the moment! Last year if we mowed three times the entire summer that was a lot, this summer already I have mowed more times than I can count. And it takes me 90 minutes just to mow, and I haven't even started edging yet!
The rain has sometimes put a crimp in the family activities - there have been a couple of times I've loaded the kids up for the pool and then the deluge starts. And here in San Antonio that's what we get, a deluge. The Weather Channel has issued several flash flood warnings for San Antonio. We have learnt to take those seriously. Every year the news reports of some unfortunate soul who disregarded the warnings, attempts to ford a road (either on foot or in their car) and they get whisked away by the water. Invariably the story does not have a happy ending.
On a happier note though, the girls are almost done with the summer league swim team. This weekend marks the final meet. If either girl places in the top 5 of their division then they go onto a regional event, but frankly at this point I am not sure either one will place in the top 5. Competition has been stiff this year and with Hayley not competing for one school year she lost some ground. Next year I think she will fare better.
And just because I didn't want a text-only blog, here is a photo of the two newest members of the feline family - Drake and Puma relaxing together.
Labels: Drake, Hayley, Puma, Rain, Teagan
Spoilt?? No - Not us!
Last week Lauri, the first mom I carried for, called me to set up a barbeque date for our families. I haven't seen the twins in a few months so it will be good to see them again. At the end of the conversation she mentioned that she and Wendall wanted to treat us to a weekend away! He uses a business card for all his practice purchases and they have accumulated quite a few points. As a result they are giving us a weekend at either one of these downriver hotels:
Watermark Hotel or at
La Mansion. They are both four-star hotels! Here are a couple of photos of the Watermark guest suites:
And here is one of the guest suite at La Mansion (these are just the standard rooms!)
Now Terry and I are looking for a weekend we can get away. I think the weekend after July 4th will be our best bet - just imagine, two whole nights away with no kids... just think of the fun we can have! We have to decide which one we want to stay at - La Mansion is known for its stately, olde world elegance whereas the Watermark is almost brand-new. They have completely different atmospheres - choices, choices.
On a completely different front - once more the Smelker family have become victims to cuteness! Last Thursday Terry left for work and 5 minutes later he was back. I happened to be outside sweeping when he pulled in. "What did you forget?" I asked.
"Nothing," He said coming around the van, "Instead I found this." He was holding a little black kitten!
Apparently he was about to go under the overpass to get onto the freeway when he saw this little kitten right in his lane! It is at a 4-way stop with the freeway exit on one side and our HUGE sub (over 1,000 houses) on the other. It is a wonder the kitten hadn't been run over. He stopped and another car stopped too right next to the kitten so that it was no longer in danger of getting hit. Terry picked him up and he was shaking like a leaf and also panting - he was so hot - the poor baby!
What makes me mad is this is not a kitten who was born in the fields. He is fairly well-nourished, but the most telling feature is he has no fleas whatsoever and is also used to people. Some one dumped him!! Ithink someone from one of the neighbourhoods saw the couple of acres of land that line our sub and dumped him thinking he'd land up in someone's back yard, but instead he landed on a four lane entrance ramp to the busiest freeway in San Antonio!! GRRRRR!!
Anyway, initially both Terry and I agreed we could have no more cats! In fact we just spent $65 getting Drake neutered this weekend. Well, I saw the writing on the wall when Terry was reluctant to leave the little one and go to work. And when he named the kitten I knew he was not leaving this house again! It has taken him very little time to adjust - he spent the first day on a towel under my bathroom vanity but since then has taken over the house.
I took him to the vet last Friday and apart from a case of round worm (which is very common in kittens) he was given a clean bill of health. He was approximately 5 weeks old (as I had thought when I first saw him) but he is on the petitie side. Puma has now made himself a part of the family. Drake and he have become best buddies and are constantly play fighting with each other. I was concerned about bringing in another kitten, but he is no threat to the hierarchy already formed. However, I, the perennial cat lover am putting my foot down - this is positively the last cat we are getting!
Labels: La Mansion, Watermark
Summer Days
I thought summer was meant to be a time to relax, sleep in a bit, take it easy, take time to smell the roses as it were (although Terry bought me some last week that I have been smelling!) But since the first day of summer the kids and I have been on the go! I looked at my blog and realised that I hadn't posted anything in three weeks.
The girls have joined a swim team again this summer. We bought a family membership for a local neighbourhood association pool and they have a strong swim team. Every morning from 8:30 to 9:30 the girls train. They have had 2 meets so far and they are 2-0. Already the kids are turning blonde and my freckles have emerged in full force!
Terry and I were roped into going on the chidlren's church camp again. We went last fall and I suppose we must have done a good job of supervising the kids because we were asked to return. Coffee was my salvation from the sleepless nights (as you can see I am holding a cup here!)
Hayley participated in one of the 'electives' held, Butterfly Ballet. She loved it and it was great seeing her dance in front of 700 people. Terry as usual had a great time with the kids - being a big kid yourself I suppose helps.
The girls have swim practice for another month, and then I suppose we might be able to sleep in a little later than usual.
I have been very busy with freelance work. Just this afternoon I signed off on a 700 page manual I had been editing for a client. That was a great feeling - it was a lot of work and I know more about retirement communities than I think anyone should ever know! The local papers have also been keeping me busy and I have actually been given my own weekly business column for one of them. That is fun because I get to choose what business I want to showcase and interview the owner.
So, the Smelker Summer is shaping up very well - perfect weather, wonderful pool and long summer days - my favourite time of year.
Labels: church camp, Hayley, swim, Terry
