Food, Food and More Food!

Papa Ben has been looking into a new hairstyle, and this might be it.

Jacob, always improving on favorite grandchild status, worked on this 500-piece-puzzle by himself.

One of Dave's morning activities was preparing the meat for dinner.

Actually, the way it worked out was Dave made dinner while Carolyn made a special breakfast for Ben.

Melanie got an early start on her chores for the day.  Smart girl.

The puzzle was completed before breakfast. I was intrigued.  Maybe he'll let me put it together with him tomorrow.

After the lawn, Mel changed the water in the jetty tank.

In the meantime, breakfast was about ready.  Carolyn fried bof root for Ben, his favorite African meal.  Carolyn is texting a picture to one of Ben's employees in Africa.

If you can believe it, Carolyn's Walmart sells Milo.

To say Ben was pleased would be an enormous understatement.

To say I had Raisin Bran would be stating the obvious.

I have a new favorite Ravensburger puzzle.  Nate liked all the little creatures hiding in the weeds.

Jacob planned lunch.  Papa Ben bought.  It was wonderful.

Dave worked on our evening meal all day long.

I requested Cuban sandwiches for dinner.  The chicken happened because there was room on the smoker.

Some of us sat in the back on this glorious day and chatted with Aunt Pam.

Melanie worked on an art project.

This was a lot of fun to watch.

Papa Ben and Nathan had a fun time bonding.

Matt made plans to be elsewhere for dinner.  He looks good all spiffed up.

A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away, Papa Ben used to slick down Matt's hair.  Now Matt can do it himself.  Without being asked.

Three couches in the living room is a temptation no one seems to be able to resist.

The pillows squished Jacob right off the couch.

Finally, dinner was ready.  I love this meal.

After dinner, it seemed almost everyone had something to do or somewhere to be.  Only the faithful joined me for Star Trek.

Our numbers increased as the evening progressed.  At one point Will started to discuss some of the physics involved in the show.  Papa Ben, off screen on the right, wisely silenced him.

I'm still working on teaching basics such as: Romulans are bad guys.

Another basic we worked on before the night was over was another new chocolate cake recipe.

The Cake is a Lie

I took Jacob to school this morning.  He was ready for the pouring rain.

Julia and I played together all day long.

Fortunately, she and I have the same preferences.

She puts puzzles together from the inside out.  Very clever.

This is a special puzzle.

Four of us in the guest bath, plus a tripod and a towel under the door, encouraged my camera to capture the glow-in-the-dark feature.

Dave and Steve practiced all afternoon for their next gig:  a wedding.

I listened to Norwegian Wood, Something, and many other beautiful songs while I prepared butter chicken.

Dave picked extra-hot jalapenos from his garden for the dinner.

We waited outside for Nate's bus.

A new attraction was a couch Carolyn bought today.  Dave and Steve were the designated deliverymen, but until they finished with their rehearsal, the kids had fun.

Dinner was delayed a little by the latest Space X launch.

I really love eating butter chicken with people who appreciate this dish.  Roasted cauliflower was the vegetable du jour.

Jacob gave it two thumbs up.

Nate approved, too, although after a few more bites, he thought it might be a little hot.

For the record, that's a smile on Will's face.

Mel loves butter chicken, too, maybe as much as I do.

After a Voyager fest, we ate my new favorite chocolate cake, made even more delicious with Blue Bell Vanilla.

Melanie tried to poison me with with a drink out of her latest creation. I survived.

All of a sudden, it was time to go.  Everyone waved good-bye.

Everyone.

Just in Time!

Ben and I arrived in Houston much later than expected tonight.  However, we ran up the stairs to the balcony just in time to hear Matt's chamber orchestra play.

I was blown away.  This orchestra played for over an hour:  Vivaldi, Bach, Saint Seans, Mendlessohn, Mozart.  Matt's a sophomore, first chair bass.  Half the orchestra members are seniors.  It's going to be hard to top this experience on this trip.