Running without shoes

It's been awhile since I read Born To Run. It's about barefoot running. At the time, I tried to run barefoot in my neighborhood, but the cement streets, being over 40 years old, are too rough on the old soles. A few weeks ago, I had an idea on how I could overcome the rough streets and still run barefoot or at least almost barefoot. I made my own "running shoes". I took a pair of old socks and sprayed the bottom of them with "Plasti Dip". The Plasti Dip came from Home Depot and was only $5.98 for the can.


They are working pretty well. I've used them a half dozen times for walking and running. Sunday I did 4.5 miles total (running and walking) in them. I did blister up a bit, but I think that will stop once my feet get used to going barefoot, since the blisters are the same for both feet.

PS: I hope my wrinkly old feet didn't scare you!

Drive -Thru Prayer

I'm not quite sure what to think of this, Drive-Thru Prayer. I don't recall Jesus having many "drive by" encounters. He usually spent time with the people that He helped and in some instances He even engaged in follow up.

There were lots of people manning the Drive-Thru Prayer. Look at all the big red signs. Interesting, but I don't think I'm ever going to be using their services.

Remodeling . . . again

Here's a couple of views from the "library" room, previously the formal dinning room, through the new dinning room, previously known as the formal living room, to the foyer.

We've greatly widened the opening from the library to the dinning room and made it an arch. For the opening from the foyer to the dinning room we've added french doors.

It's been a lot of work, but finally you can start to see what it's going to look like.

Still to do.
1. crown molding
2. window casement
3. door trim
4. window trim
5. paint all the crown, casement, trim, and French door
6. second coat of paint for the walls
7. new electric plugs, switches, and wall plates
8. new door for the new pocket door
9. new front door
10. put in the wood floors
11. put in the baseboards and flinch blocks
12. paint the baseboards and flinch blocks
13. clean, clean, clean!

It will be nice once it's finally done.

Sharpstown Sunday Service and Six, Seven, Eight, and Nine

It was hard, hot, long, and dirty work, but with a few friends, it was great.

Brenda and I hit the streets at around six in the morning. We were soon joined by six others. We weed eated (is that a word), edged, mowed, picked up lots of trash, shoveled, and swept up.

The list of Hornwood Heroes: Dean, Roberto, Maria, Abram, Vic, and Benny. Thank you all for helping.

We got about half of the street mowed. Maybe next weekend we will get the rest of the street done. Maybe we'll do it on Saturday.

Here's an after shot.

The varmints won

I had nine apples on my two apple trees. Six on one and three on the other. When I was down to only three, I gave up and picked the last three from the tree. Me, I got 1/3rd of the harvest, those little no good, apple stealing varmints, they got 2/3rds of the harvest. Those bunch of free loaders. I picked them green and they are in the kitchen window ripening up.

Sharpstown Sunday Service at Six to Seven

Well, I couldn't take it any more. At six o'clock this morning, I walked to Fondren and Moonmist and cleaned up the Fondren left turn lane. I'm jealous of those neighborhoods that have beautiful medians and clean streets. We don't have either. So, this morning I tried to help change that.

I took a broom, shovel, and a five gallon pail to cleanup the trash that accumulates in the left turn lane of Fondren. There are lots of left turn lanes and all of them are trashy, but I figured I could at least clean up one of them. Who knows maybe others will join.

The job wasn't hard, but man did I underestimate the amount of trash!!! I had to go back home to get a full size trash can and bags. I filled up three large trash bags. But, now at least the left turn lane at Fondren and Moonmist is no longer strewn with trash.

It felt good. I hope others will join in and soon we will have a beautiful street.





PS: My wonderful wife is trying to help inspire people to help. She created a handbill to encourage our neighbors to help. This evening she distributed it to 49 homes in the neighborhood. Maybe something will come of this.

Father's Day Gift

This is a picture of my Fathers Day gift from my lovely daughter. It is an insulated glass with a motorcycle on one side and my name on the other. If you notice, it comes with a top where I can put a straw. It is a very lovely cup, but . . . Is my daughter trying to tell me something? Is that why she gave me a "sippy cup" for Fathers Day? I'm not old yet. :) I'm really not.

Love you Anisha and thanks for the lovely gift. It has already saved the day.

Disaster in the Apple Trees

Some unwelcome varmint is stealing my apples. I've lost three of the nine apples. That dastardly, no good, bushwhacking, varmint is not going to be happy if I catch'em. What's that click you hear . . . could if be a round being chambered?

Cat Toys Treasure Trove.

Our cat loves to play with the plastic rings and tops from the milk jugs we buy. When I'm opening a gallon of milk, I often throw the plastic ring to Shim and he goes nuts playing with it. I've always wondered where they go. Today I found out. We moved our couch, to get ready for the US vs England world cup game, and look what we found! A cat toy treasure trove.

Apple Trees

Last winter (2009) I planted two apple trees in my back yard. Houston is not know for growing apples, but I thought I'd give it a try. I planted an Anna and a Dorset.

This year they have bloomed and I have apples! Here's a series of pictures of their progress.

February 20th, blossoms just start to open.

March 4th, more blossoms.

March 25th, apples the size of marbles.


April 20th, they are the size of golf balls.

May 10th, don't the just look great!

June 2nd, almost there

June 2nd, notice the stocking on the center apple. It's my wife's experiment.

Now, if I can only keep the birds from discovering them! I'm looking forward to some delicious, fresh, organic apples, SOON.

Tomorrow, I'll show you the pictures I took of our black berries.

Salt & Pepper

Last Saturday, my wife and I went to get our hair cut. I got my money's worth as Brenda cut her hair much shorter. For the record, I like her hair and so does she.

On Monday, we went to see Brenda's mother and father. It turns out that her mother has pretty much the same hair cut. As you can see from the picture below, I think I'll take to calling them "Salt and Pepper". Guess which one is pepper.

My apologies to the owner of this truck, but this is just wrong! Especially in Texas.