29 June 2009

I’d had a recent Facebook chat with Rex, so I knew there was a good possibility that he and the boys would be driving through our part of Texas sometime this week. But, I missed yesterday’s phone call, and when today’s came, they were only an hour out of town! Their timing was perfect, as I’d already finished the work I had planned to do loading tubs of fabric from the workshop into the trailer. I jumped in the shower, and checked my email, and it wasn’t long ’til the doorbell rang!

I knew to expect these two beautiful little boys to have grown like weeds. After all, it’s been years since I had seen them last, and well . . . boys do that! Gareth almost remembered me, and Tristan was still a tiny baby when his family moved from Texas, back to California. I have followed their growth as much as I could via photos online, but that does little to convey personality. It was a pleasure to get to see them, and their dad.

Almost as great a pleasure, though, was getting to see Charlie and Charlotte—the two border collies that round out their little travelling family. Any dogs that visit here are more than welcome, and doubly so those of the same breed as our two. But, what made this really special, is that Charlie (14) and Charlotte (9) are our ‘Tia’s parents. So, it was a real “homecoming/reunion” of sorts.

We had a great visit, and so did the little dog pack. On their way from California to Florida, where Rex is planning to settle down for a while, he had promised the boys he’d show them where they lived in Texas and where Tristan was born. I’m so glad the timing on this worked out such that I was still here, and not already on the road north.

Sometimes I think it’s really difficult to get the cat, or my two dogs to sit still for a photograph. Well, from now on that will seem easy! Try two boys under the age of ten and four hyper border collies! Like nailing jello to a tree!  In this photo, our ‘Tia is front left, and Cormac is front right.  Gareth is holding Charlie on the left, and Charlotte is under Rex’s arm, with Tristan in the center.

I went back to work after hugs and mutual safe journey wishes, and they were all once again on their way. I worked ’til about 7:30 or so when Stephen and Ed brought me the costume bits that I’m transporting to Bristol so Steve doesn’t have to fly with them when he visits. We went to Coker’s for dinner and Kyle met us there. Yet another farewell in the parking lot, there, and my last week marches on.

~MB

Tags: Arlington, Border Collies, boys, Daily, Dogs, Photoblog, Texas

24 June 2009

Phase III of Energy Efficiency Program.

Well, we’ve been “weatherized” and now all we can do is wait and see if the electric bills get lower!

So, here’s the story on this, as I understand it.

In an ongoing attempt to be more energy efficient, the state of Texas has adopted plans and put programs in place, some of which can directly benefit savvy homeowners.  The flyer we initially received called it “a government mandated Energy Conservation Program.”

 In March 2000, the Utility Commission adopted the Energy Efficiency Rule 25.181 and Senate Bill Number 7, to promote energy efficiency. ( I looked these up, by the way, and Rule 25.181 seems to be so-named because it is 181 pages long!)

In 2001, The Residential and Small Commercial Standard Offer Program was developed for energy services to provide energy-efficiency services “to achieve cost-effective reduction in peak summer and winter months.”  It is designed to help conserve energy and at the same time promote awareness of the different things you can do to a home to make it more energy efficient.

Initially, these services were paid for via a special fee added to our electric bills.  Since then (I’m unclear on exactly when the change occurred) that has been revamped a bit, and instead of an extra fee being charged, the cost of this program was rolled into our cost per kilowat hour.  So, on the average, we all pay about 92 cents a month toward this program.  As a result, 90 percent of customers pay $0 to receive the benefits of the program.

The program is geared toward homes that are 100 percent electric.  Those with gas and electric may be eligible for some of the aspects of the program, at a higher cost.  But, even so, it might be worth looking into.

The idea is that a family living in a little house like ours (less than 1400 square feet) should not be paying higher electric bills than those in much larger, but newer, more efficient homes.  So, there’s a laundry list of potential small home repairs that smart hvac and insulation professionals are willing to do at no cost to the consumer, because they can bill to this program and get paid.  I’m not sure what the connection is, but the Encore Energy folks seem to be behind the money on this.

In our case, we received a yellow flyer on our front door from Brandon, of AAA Efficiency.  He is a small businessman serving the entire metroplex, and it is he himself who came to our house today.  It was his brother-in-law who came on Monday to do our initial assessment. Brandon’s number is 817.401.1132.  Times are tough for everyone, and if we can get our electric bill to be more affordable, and put money into the pocket of a local small businessman, I’m all for it!

Our guys do not do windows, so in that regard, we know we are still less than energy efficient—we still have the original aluminum frame, single pane windows that all builders used to cut corners in the seventies.  But, today’s weatherization process involved a rather lengthy process of sealing off air intake returns, and hvac vents, insulating the indoor unit itself (although we didn’t require that work on our unit that’s only five or six years old), sealing off under-sink outer wall where plumbing enters the house, and pressurizing the house to be sure nothing is missed.  I also got the friendly, forehead-thumping reminder that the fireplace flue should be closed when not in use.  (insert eye rolling, here.  I cannot believe I had forgotten that.) And, all this today was at no charge to us.

So, there you have it.  If you live in an all-electric home built pre 1990 or so, I’d say you should give this guy a call, or look into who else in your area might be a a part of this program.   And hopefully, we’ll all save a few pennies on our future electric bills.  I’ll try to remember to report back on this with the next bill we receive.

I’d love to hear if anyone else out there has already participated in this, or chooses to, having read about it here on the KRUMB.

My photo today is of a piece of fabric currently in residence in my workshop.  Pretty, but I don’t think it’s mine!  Kelly, is this yours?

~MB

Tags: Daily, electric, energy, Energy Efficiency Program, insulating, Texas, weatherizing

23 June 2009

Phase II of Energy Efficiency Program.

We got new insulation blown into our attic for the whopping big price of $68.74.

Yep.  That’s the amount I wrote the check for today.  And it would have been completely free if it hadn’t been for the six inches of existing insulation laid over the vaulted ceiling of our living room.  The rest of the house only had a pathetic two inches or so of insulation.  And that qualified us nicely for the energy efficiency program.

I spent my day working in my workshop, despite the early afternoon segment of time when the door had to be open!  Whew!  I guess it’s good practice for my summertime living arrangements!

The insulation truck and two workers arrived around 11:30—about an hour early.  They backed the truck up into the driveway, and proceeded to unload what looked like a giant vaccuum hose.  And, in a way, I guess that’s what it was.  They dragged it in through the front of the garage, and up the attic steps.  Once they got it all set up, it seemed to suck insulation stuff out of a hopper in the back of the truck, pull it through that hose, and then, somehow on the other end, blow it out into our attic! 

I ventured up the attic steps at one point, but I couldn’t see a thing.  So, I just raised the flash, pointed my camera into the darkness and clicked!  This is the shot I got.  It doesn’t look like much, but, I can see the difference between the old pinkish insulation, and the new greyish stuff . 

I’m not sure whether or not to believe the $800 approximate quote I got from the guy on the phone the other day, regarding what this would have cost us without this efficiency program.  But, even if that’s double  or triple the actual going rate, I figure $68.74 was a deal!

No Frills for a quick dinner and some trivia (at which we did not do very well tonight) with Brett and Jill.   Oh well.  Better luck next time.

~MB

Tags: attic, Daily, electric, energy, Energy Efficiency Program, insulation, Texas, weatherization

14 June 2009

Flag Day

I woke up earlier than Kyle this morning, poured my coffee and took the dogs outside with me for my garden time.  <insert sigh of contentment, here>  I took this photo of Cormac while I was there.

The timing was perfect, for just as Kelly and I decided we wanted breakfast, Kyle was up.  We arranged for Kelly to pick up a couple of things at the store on her way to us, and by eleven or so, we were all eating scrambled eggs and having a bloody mary.  Welcome home, Kelly!

Next on my agenda, was attending Dana’s crop, and after allowing myself to get sucked into a chick flick with Kyle, I finally headed to her house around three.  Once there, I enjoyed the company of some wonderful women I love, and learned how to use the Creative Memories computer program.  Digital scrapbooking may just be the way to go for this busy girl.  We’ll see.

I got home much later than I’d planned and said goodnight to my husband who, sadly did not play in his football match due to a very sore back.  Bowling perhaps, is the culprit, there.  I’m not sure.  But, he’s unhappy and uncomfortable and I feel badly for him—after all, I am all too well-acquainted with back pain, and wouldn’t wish it on anybody!

Tonight’s a late night for me . . . my mama’s coming to visit!  I expect their arrival on Tuesday some time.  So, between now and then some housecleaning will have to happen!

~MB

Tags: Arlington, border collie, cormac, Daily, DOG, Photoblog, Texas

8 December 2008
A leisurely start to the day as we broke fast and bade goodbye to loved ones turned into an adventure hunt as Stephen & Marita Beth chased down clues. We drove or strode through 4 different graveyards (3 of them connected by a single drive, but technically different graveyards) in separate & distant parts of Galveston Island.
I’m not beholden to the concept of burial, preferring for myself the finality of cremation; however, I fully respect the sanctity of the decision and the necessity for the family to have a gathering place. I do, however, marvel at the intricate works that are erected in honour of the deceased and hold in my heart a special fondness for ancient cemeteries such as these on Galveston. This lovely statue was unravaged by Ike and stands silent sentinel over her ward in the first graveyard we visited:
. I took many other photos, but unlike these stone sentries, I am not immune to the irritation of the mosquito and retired to the vehicle rather quickly abandoning the photo safari I had, briefly, undertaken.
After our tour of graveyards we returned to the Strand to gawk at a structure (the Fadden building) that holds special interest for both Stephen & Marita Beth. We then took an unexpected, but glad-we-did-it detour to the end of the island. The devastation near the tip of Galveston was nigh on complete and depressing to view. It did, however, bring home just how lucky we are as a species that we have the knowledge to learn from an experience such as Hurricane Ike and rebuild lives where we may.
Departure for home was much delayed due to our travels, but we were content & happy in each others’ company, although a certain sadness always accompanies the Monday after Dickens.
Cheers.

~KR (Written on 11 December 2008 )

Listening to:
Vegas by Two Tons of Steel
from Vegas

Camera: Nikon D70
Exposure: 0.002 sec (1/500)
Aperture: f/5.6
Focal Length: 135 mm
Exposure Bias: 0 EV
ISO Speed: 200
Software: picnik.com

Tags: Cemetery, Daily, galveston, Photoblog, Statue, Texas

7 December 2008
Day 2 of Dickens on the Strand and most of us are only barely recovered from Day 1 – part of the fun, I suppose.
I didn’t take as many photos on Day 2 as I did on Day 1 with only 248 making the cut; but once again I was faced with the challenge of what do I post? This is the one I settled on:

While it does not show the entire group of us, it shows enough to prove the incredible & imposing sight we can be. Some years back some other friends of ours, who flutter along the edges of this core clique, labelled us the Ostentation. I think, looking at the photo, that not a one of us can complain of the label, and in fact I think many of us take pride in the term.
In this photo from left to right, front to back we have:
Front Row: Ginger, Denise, Marita Beth (my wife), BJ (new this year) & Kat
Back Row: Allyson, Larry, Rod (also new this year) & George
A large number of our Ostentation are missing from the photo, sadly, but that certainly didn’t stop this little pose from being one of the most photographed things on the Strand this day. There must have been more than a dozen photographers stopping & shooting over a 5 or 6 minute period. I’m proud to be part of the beauty.
Cheers.

~KR (Written on 10 December 2008 )

Listening to:
From the Edge of the Deep Green Sea by The Cure
from Wish

Camera: Nikon D70
Exposure: 0.005 sec (1/200)
Aperture: f/3.5
Focal Length: 28 mm
Exposure Bias: 0/6 EV
Software: Adobe Photoshop CS Windows

Tags: Faire, Festival, Texas, Victorian

6 December 2008
Galveston has recovered from Ike sufficiently that the 35th annual Dickens on the Strand took place, albeit smaller & more intimate & shorter than normal. This is a weekend I look forward to every year because I get to play. I get to play with friends that I don’t see often enough. I get to play in a manner of playing that suits my sentiment and makes me happy.
On this particular Saturday of Dickens I took 348 photos (that made the cut). It was difficult to decide on which one to use as my Photo of the Day. I eventually settled on this one:
.
Larry is a dear friend that lives too far away in the hinterlands of North Milwaukee. In this photo, he epitomizes all that is good & great about Dickens on the Strand. And behind him, you can see the fuzzy colour of the hustle-bustle that is the festival.
Thanks Galveston Historical Foundation for providing us this festival.
Cheers.

~KR (Written on 10 December 2008 )

Listening to:
Don’t Let Me Die Still Wondering by Flogging Molly
from Within a Mile of Home

Camera: Nikon D70
Exposure: 0.008 sec (1/125)
Aperture: f/5.6
Focal Length: 200 mm
Exposure Bias: 0 EV
Flash: Flash did not fire
ISO Speed: 400
Software: picnik.com

Tags: Faire, Festival, Friend, Texas, Victorian

5 December 2008
Friday of Dickens on the Strand. Most years we’re already on the island and preparing for the Gingerbread Ball. This year, however, with the destruction that Ike brought with him, the ball didn’t happen so we went down a day later.
Also this year, we stayed at the Galvez rather than the Tremont which is still closed. Not as convenient as the Tremont is the Galvez, but just as lovely in different ways. I especially loved the view over the Gulf of Mexico we had from our room

Cheers

~KR (Writtenon 9 December 2008 )

Listening to:
Maybe Someday by Cure
from Join the Dots: B-Sides & Rarities, 1978-2001

Camera: Nikon D70
Exposure: 0.008 sec (1/125)
Aperture: f/5.6
Focal Length: 145 mm
Exposure Bias: 0/6 EV
Flash: Flash did not fire
ISO Speed: 800

Tags: Daily, galveston, GALVEZ, GULF OF MEXICO, Hotel, JETTY, Man-made, Photoblog, Texas, Travel

9 December 2008

In this case, when I write the words “hand warmer,” I’m not referring to mittens or heat packs, or pockets . . . I’m not referring to anything for warming my hands, at all.  Instead, I’m talking about my hand acting as a warmer for this beautiful little Texas Spiny Lizard that has taken up residence in my workshop.

I first spotted her a couple of weeks or more ago, scurrying between bolts of fabric when I moved one.  Once after that, just last week, and now again today; she (assuming there’s only one) gets around!  We have quite the community of these lovely little creatures around our home, and we love it.  The pesty ant population is certainly less than it used to be!  The lizard population has grown in the last ten years or so, since before that, our indoor/outdoor cats kept them from multiplying!  But, it’s not too often that one gets indoors, and when it happens I usually catch them and put them outside. 

But, it was cold here today—it actually was sleeting at about the time I first corralled this one into a large Rubbermaid tub.   I simply didn’t have the heart to put her outside.  So, I gave her water and fabric to burrow into, and I hope it’s warm enough tomorrow to let her out, ’cause I really don’t want to have to go buy live cricket-food!

So, here’s my quandry:  I’ve kept a lizard as a pet, and I really don’t want to do it again, at this time.  So, my other two options are:  1. Put her outside where I would think she’d be behind the eight ball in terms of burrowing in for the winter.  If I do that, am I condemning her to freeze to death?    I can’t find any evidence in my research that these creatures hibernate . . . would she survive?  Or 2. Let her go free inside my garage workshop where it’s certainly warmer, but not “warm,” and worry about her not getting enough food to live.  I’d hate to move a bolt of fabric and find her dead of starvation someday.  I mean, how many bugs can there really be in my workshop?  I don’t deal with bugs out there, that I know of—can there be that many that I don’t know about?

I’d love to hear the opinions of our readers on this question.  What would you do?  Okay . . . if you were me, and you really like lizards, what would you do?  

And, by the way, I’m pretty sure she is a “she”—I did some research and came up with the fact that the male of this species has blue markings on the belly, and my little lizard does not have those markings.  Hence, I believe her to be a “her.”

I’ll be watching for your comments, replies, and suggestions! 

~MB

Tags: Daily, lizard, reptile, Texas, Texas Spiny Lizard