Category Archives: Neely’s Canyon

Twin Pecan Trees

Posted on March 31, 2020 | 5 comments

That’s what I’ve decided are the twin grandfather trees off our back porch at Neely’s Canyon. By the shape of their leaves, which are spearhead-like.

And that explains why the squirrels like to play on them, says Barbara Ellen. Ah, but I have seen them play on big oaks, too.

Too bad we can’t gather their pecans, but they are deeply rooted a good hundred feet down the steep slope of the canyon and therefore unreachable. Chiefly because it would be a bear for us two old fogies  to climb back up.

UPDATE: The trees, actually an outgrowth of one trunk at the base, are well over 100-feet high. May have been seasonal harvesting of pecans by a hundred years or more of visits by indigenous people and later, local ranchers.

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Posted in Barbara Ellen, Mini-Rancho, Neely's Canyon

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“Orders” from the pols

Posted on March 24, 2020 | Comments Off on “Orders” from the pols

Travis County has now joined Austin city in “ordering” us residents to stay home from midnight tonight until April 13. To try to slow the spread of the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) Virus.

We can go to the grocery, the doctor, do outdoor exercise, and etc “that contribute to the health of the public” but not, apparently, go to work. That should effectively kill many small businesses, which will not “contribute to the health of the public” employed by them.

President Trump has suggested (not ordered) a return to work by Easter, a week later than which is the 13th, to save the economy. Not to mention the livelihoods of so many people. Small business carries half of America’s employment.

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Posted in Neely's Canyon, The Economy, Wuhan virus

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Working from home

Posted on March 18, 2020 | Comments Off on Working from home

Easy for information workers, like us, who could work from the beach if we chose. Bar is set up with my old laptop on her analyst job. Getting a new one delivered soon. Our upstairs neighbor, an accountant, brought in two monitors yesterday to work from home. I am retired, so it’s just another day.

UPDATE:  Bar’s server keeps crashing and losing her work. Twice so far. Too many people on the system, apparently.

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Posted in Barbara Ellen, Mini-Rancho, Neely's Canyon

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Kitchen fini?

Posted on March 17, 2020 | Comments Off on Kitchen fini?

The replacement has finished the crown and window molding and is due back today to paint it and a new six-panel solid wood door. That will do it. At last.

UPDATE:  Door on order until the 24th, molding getting painted.

MORE: All done but the door. Replacement took a iPhone snap of his work and shook my hand. I waited until he left and then washed it with soap and warm water. My preference to hand-sanitizers.

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Posted in Mini-Rancho, Neely's Canyon

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Kitchen almost done

Posted on March 14, 2020 | Comments Off on Kitchen almost done

A few mistakes but mostly very good cabinets repainted Bright White and likewise the ceiling with new, very light-blue Tame Teal (SW5767) walls.

Crown and window molding to go and painting of new six-panel pantry door. Monday, early, they said and, indeed, they were early Friday and Saturday. We’re putting our stuff back slowly, gratefully, evicting what we don’t need.

UPDATE: Two drawers no longer fit and the pantry door is cheap hollow-core, so door will have to be replaced and drawers fixed before molding can go up.

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Posted in Mini-Rancho, Neely's Canyon

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Painters reprise

Posted on March 13, 2020 | Comments Off on Painters reprise

Promised the neurotic, we’re back to the replacement, who rolled in at 10 a.m. for a wonder and claims he’ll be done by 5. No explanation from the contractor yet.

UPDATE:  At 4 p.m they still haven’t begun to spray paint, though it seems to be coming. Over by 5:30, they’re now saying. Contractor obviously sent them but he’s not admitting it. Really hard working with people who speak no or little English. They had done good work before so we kept hiring them.

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Posted in Mini-Rancho, Neely's Canyon

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The remodel next door…

Posted on March 12, 2020 | Comments Off on The remodel next door…

…has been very loud, considering they were ripping up the carpet for hard wood and remodeling the kitchen. Turned out to be also cutting the tile off the fireplace surround and bashing in some drywall to…? Electric drills and sanders sound like they’re, well, next door. Thin walls we have. I keep waiting for one to come through our wall. While my promised painters still aren’t here.

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Posted in Mini-Rancho, Neely's Canyon

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