Views of the Neighborhood – Potpourri

~ John W. Howell

Today represents one of those in-between kind of weeks. I have called it potpourri. We went to Bee Cave to witness Bee Cave Bob the Armadillo, seeing his shadow indicating early spring. It is too early for many Valentine’s decorations. So, we will now wander the neighborhood to see what else is going on. We are catered by Diner Bar in Austin. Our entertainment is Fleetwood Mac.

Menu

To start

  • SHRIMP TOAST– benne seeds, fino sherry, sourdough
  • DEVILED EGGS – smoked fish, Dijon, trout roe
  • SPICY BLUE CRAB SALAD – 0ld bay, cayenne, toasted saltines
  • DINER BAR LETTUCES – feta, pickled peppers, oregano
  • CHICORY SALAD – radicchio, escarole, anchovy dressing
  • RABBIT DIRTY RICE – braised rabbit, chicken livers, Holy Trinity
    Dinner
    • COUNTRY PASTA – bucatini, pork belly, black pepper, parmesan
    • CHICKEN COUNTRY CAPTAIN – curry, sourdough trencher, almond, currants
    • GRILLED KOBOCHA – pumpkin middlins, coconut, pepitas
    • 16OZ NY STRIP – maître d’ butter, garlic confit, lemon
    • PORK SCHNITZEL – Dijon, chicories, anchovy vinaigrette
    • DAYBOAT CATCH – salsa verde, clams, potatoes, white beans

Picture of an old time school bus

Let’s get on the bus.

Austin Statesman photo

 

Bee Cave Bob coming out of his den.

Taylor Kamnetz photo

An early spring  prediction by Bee Cave Bob

Deer in the neighborhood

Wondering if I have a handout

Oops. Looks like someone forgot the holiday decorations.

The first Valentine’s decoration.

A new sculpture on the mailbox.

A shutter that needs fixing and a wreath that needs storing. (I am not going to mention the holiday lights)

Some more deer in the yard.

Looks like this mailbox had a rough night.

Ding, ding, ding. Another winner for Valentine’s decoration.

A bunch of does getting carrots.

All (but one) scatter when the buck arrives.

I hope you enjoyed the little tour. Now, it is time for food and music. I hope you have a great week.

 

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Published by John W. Howell

I have been working in business for over forty years and now have the time to work in special areas of interest. My passion has always been to create compelling stories of fiction. I have authored six novels and am working on my Seventh. The first novel is still in manuscript form and being utilized as a door stop in the laundry room. The second is a contemporary fiction novel of 89,000 words and is complete and I am currently seeking a publisher. I also write poetry but have not had the guts to share any with anyone. The one time I read a piece to a person their only comment was, “it doesn’t rhyme.” I will continue to write and hopefully my blog, Fiction Favorites at www.johnwhowell.com will provide some entertainment and an interesting thought or two. I live in the Austin area with my wife Molly and an assortment of loving pets.

106 thoughts on “Views of the Neighborhood – Potpourri”

  4. Your neighbors never fail to give you fodder for Sundays. And you amuse us with your captions!
    I got up just a few minutes ago, so I’m not very hungry, John.

    Liked by 1 person

  5. I still can’t believe all the deer you have. Bee Cave Bob seems like a cool dude. I like his prediction. I finally got the Christmas wreath down last week and put up a eucalyptus wreath for the rest of the winter.

    Liked by 1 person

  6. Interesting that Texas uses and armadillo, not a groundhog, to predict spring’s coming. They’re fascinating to me. Your neighborhood sure looks nice, John. That collapsed mailbox looks like a drunk knocked it over. All those deer!

    Liked by 1 person

  10. You sure set a mean breakfast table John. It is great that both Punxsutawney Phil and Bee Cave Bob agree on an early spring. They both can survive to prognosticate another year.

    Liked by 2 people

  13. Poor Monk would likely have a heart attack if he looked out the window and saw that many deer in his yard! The Valentine’s wreaths are pretty, but yes, the Christmas decorations need to come down. Surely y’all have had sufficient nice weather for people to complete that task?

    Liked by 1 person

  14. What a perfect day – lots of things to see and Fleetwood Mack. Their Rumors album will always be their best of all time. Some folks are just lazy – probably put the Christmas decorations up late and just don’t want to take them down?
    As for me the schnitzle and deviled eggs – going for broke with cholesterol.

    Liked by 2 people

        1. We are thankful that other states recognize the bullying behavior of the Biden administration. Unlawful immigration is being encouraged by Biden and efforts by Texas to stop it have been challenged in the courts. So far the courts have sided with the feds which is logical because it is federal responsibility to keep our borders secure. The unfortunate part is the feds are not fulfilling their responsibility, so we have rampant incursions into Texas. The 26 states that support Texas are sending police to help stop the illegal immigration and to protect the rights of legal citizens. Biden blames Congress for not passing stricter laws but the point is the laws on the books now are strong enough to stop the problem. All that is necessary is to order the border patrol to enforce the law. That has to come from Biden and the head of Homeland Security. So far they refuse.

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  19. Loved the tour John.. and oh to have deer in the front garden, but no good for the flower beds :-)… And the trimming up for Valentines… A new concept for me here in the UK… 🙂 but I guess it will eventually catch on, like Halloween did.. 🙂
    Enjoy your Week ahead.. ❤

    Liked by 1 person

  20. I went to my sister’s on Friday and there is this one house that not only still has the lights up (I can understand waiting till it’s warmer to remove them) they were turned on. Good grief. The deer are having a day, unlike that mailbox – let’s call it vintage!!
    Thanks for the tune!

    Liked by 1 person

  21. Wow, you really do have a lot of deer in your neighborhood. We get a few every now and then, but that’s the extent of the visits.

    I had no idea about Bee Cave, Bob. He’s in agreement with Punxsutawney Phil, who also predicated an early spring. YAY!

    Liked by 1 person

  22. John, what a terrific tour! Ending it with The Mac was the perfect touch.
    Just the idea of Bee Cave Bob the Armadillo had me smiling. I’m so glad you took (and shared) photos. The menu is mouthwatering too.
    Holy Hannah! That’s a lot of deer in one place considering it’s a neighborhood. Big hugs.

    Liked by 1 person

  23. Great tour, John. I love the old rustic mailbox, but bending might be an issue. It looks like it’s almost on the ground.😊

    Liked by 1 person

  25. Listening to and loving the song!
    What the heck are pumpkin middlins?
    I’ll just have the chicory salad, hold the dressing!

    The new sculpture is quite cool.
    The “dear” steal the show.

    Random, like the tour!
    🟠✖️ 🐂 🦊-F 🐸 – fr&g+x

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    1. Rice middlins are broken rice grains. I don’t know what pumpkin middlins are. The deer do take the show always. Thanks, Resa
      🟠✖️ 🐂 🦊-F 🐸 – fr&g+x

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  26. Go Your Own Way is a god tune for this collection, John (I love Fleetwood Mac). Somewhere between Christmas and Valentine’s Day. And the deer don’t seem to care one way or the other.

    I’ll try the Spicy Blue Crab salad and the Pork Schnitzel. I won’t mention the rabbit appetizer to anyone around here.

    Liked by 1 person

  27. I think I’ll bring my own lunch this time 😉 Awwww … Bob is cute! Never saw an armadillo up close and personal before! Wow … all the deer … I love seeing how unafraid they are coming right up to the houses like that. I will hold my tongue about the Christmas decorations, since we still have our Christmas lights in the window — it’s just been so grey and dreary that we hate the thought of taking them down! Thanks for the trip, John!

    Liked by 1 person

  30. I don’t think Bee Cave Bob is as famous as Punxsutawney Phil, but perhaps his predicting skills are better. I read that Phil’s prediction skills are terrible.

    Liked by 1 person

  31. Go Your Own Way is a great tune while sampling the local food fare. Bee Cave Bob is quite a celebrity to be sure…perhaps one day he and our PA Phil will make a dual appearance together? (Those deer ARE like pets…!)🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    1. The deer are so used to humans that it is scary. We have our share of those hit by cars each year (usually fawns) and the community mourns each one. They are part of what the vommunity is. Thanks, Bruce.

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  36. John, I enjoyed learning about Bee Cave Bob – what a tradition! Love Fleetwood Mac and listening to the link as tapping away here! I’m beginning to wonder if some people are leaving up the Xmas decs until next year as there are a couple of houses with theirs still out. odd! Oh, I’ve never seen Valentines Decorations before but they are lovely and much needed colour in the darkness of February!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. So true, Annika. We have very few Valentine’s decorations but it is nice to see the happy colors. I have no good reason for people leaving decorations up. Maybe they just don’t want to let go of the feeling of the holiday. Thank you for the lovely comment. 😁

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