Fall.

It seems like fall has arrived to Texas almost overnight. Just a week ago, it was sunny and warm, and then one night it decided to get cold. Well, colder, anyway. I have been enjoying the cooler temperatures - especially at night. It's nice to snuggle up on the couch with blankets! The temperatures have been dropping into the high 40's overnight, and by the morning, the floors are very chilly on bare feet. We have dug out slippers and flannel pajamas. Mmm! I love fall in Texas!

The puppies have been spending less time outside these days (I guess we've all gotten soft with the mild Texas weather!), but we were outside taking our Christmas photos last week and they happily join in the fun.

It amazes me that half way into November the grass is still green!

A few leaves have started to turn. Nothing like the gorgeous color changing that happens in the north, but I'll take what I can get. :)

Enjoy your fall!

After & Before, and other such nonsense

Warning: this is going to be a very unorganized and picture-heavy post.

It's been a busy fall for us. We are finally enjoying some cooler weather (read: upper 70's) with sunshine!

To celebrate, I baked my first-ever-100%-from-scratch chocolate cake. The recipe comes from The Pioneer Woman, who incidentally has a new cookbook hot off the presses. You can find the recipe right here. And while it was a little more difficult than opening a box of cake mix, I have to admit the result is worth the effort. This cake is delicious!

This past weekend found us with no pressing obligations, so we took advantage of the perfect weather and headed out in the NSX. Top off weather and I didn't even need a jacket (although I did bring one just in case). I'm not very good at taking photos like this, but you get the idea.

Dan had today (Veteran's Day) off. What do you think he did?

I meant to post that photo last, but I am having a heck of a time getting blogger to allow me to rearrange photos. For instance these next ones are supposed to be "before and after" puppy haircuts, but instead you must bear with me with the "after and before"...

The dogs were long due for haircuts.

Here is Bentley's "after":

Isn't he cute?

And here is Bella, chillin' on the couch. She doesn't look too happy, does she?

Here's her official "after" shot:

They are so furry and cuddly right before a haircut.

Reminds me of when they were baby puppies. Hard to believe that they turn 4 years old this month!

Happy Autumn!

Randomness

I'll admit it. I've been a lazy blogger as of late. But I have an excuse...sort of. It's been slow. Life just sort of trudges on.

Anyway, here are a few things happening in our neck of the woods. So to speak.

It's October, and we finally got the calendar hung up in the office. This calendar holds special memories for me. When we hung it in our first home, we thought we were so good and screwed right through a stud. Well, we thought it was a stud until water started running down the wall later that morning. Turns out the "stud" was a pipe. Oops. Chalk one up to first time home owners.

October has brought a lot of rain to Houston. Several large storms in the past few weeks have caused a few problems around town. Luckily, our new home does not have the same drainage problems that the rental did. (You can click here to refresh your memory regarding last year's flood) The drainage ditch in the front yard did a good job of keeping the water away from our house.

The puppies are doing well. Bentley especially loves the doggie door and the freedom he has to the outside world (we have started referring to the back yard as his "kingdom"). I have not been enjoying all the leaves he brings inside now that the leaves are falling (and most of the time they are wet, which is even more fun).

Bella, however, prefers this approach to fall.

My Blackberry takes terrible photos, especially in low light, but you get the idea. Here's a better one (taken with real camera).

Both the dogs are looking a bit scruffy these days. That will soon be remedied, as they have their annual trip to the vet and then an appointment with the groomer next week. Poor puppies can barely see through their bangs. :)

Happy October, blog readers!

Where is my husband?

When Dan got home from Dallas last night, I thought I had married Paul Bunyan.

Where is your blue ox?

But later that night I found out I was wrong.... he is not Paul Bunyan.

He is Abe Lincoln.

Bokeh practice

A few weeks ago, I was reading about bokeh on Pioneer Woman's blog. This is what she has to say about it.

"Bokeh, which is pronounced bow-kay or bow-keh, refers to the wonderful out-of-focus light and shapes and colors you find in the background of many photos taken with a digital camera. It is created by light and glass (in your lens) and distance and wind and focus."

It takes a bit of practice, but I think I'm starting to get the hang of it.

When Chris came to visit in September, we this game several times:

That's right: Risk. And for the record, I was red. With Chris and Dan attacking each other all the time, I pretty much sailed to victory all weekend. But I digress...

What a perfect time to practice my bokeh, right?

Isn't it beautiful?

I think this might be my favorite shot.

You know what they say, practice practice practice. Now if I could just find some models that aren't carrying tiny plastic weapons...

Time Flies...

...Even if you are not having so much fun. :)

We've been plugging along with little interesting to say these days. With Dan driving back and forth to Dallas, it has been getting kind of mundane around here. We spend our weeks hoping for the weekend, and then when the weekend comes, it is always too short! We are hoping and praying that he is offered a permanent position here in Houston very soon.

Last week, I captured this as my photo of the day. If you look carefully, you can see the little lizard. As long as they stay outside, I am fine. :)

Rocking a New Haircut...

at least that is what I keep telling myself.

It will grow back, right?