A couple of weeks ago the lawn grass appeared to come to life within a couple of days, which of course means it is Yardwork Time. There has been lots to do . I’ve had two long weekends in a row.
I hope to do some more posts about the things we’ve planted, but thought I would post some of the pictures that I took around the yard today.
After supper tonight, Danaya and I sat down to play a game of Martian Rails. It is a game in the crayon rails series, but is set on the planet Mars. This post is more for Ben’s family who owns a wide variety of such games. Crayon rails games are games where you build your rail network by drawing on the map with your particular color of crayon (mine is usually orange), and then pickup and deliver loads round the map. Track costs money (especially on Mars), so you typically start with a small layout and then grow it as the money is earned.
In tonight’s game, we were about a third of the way through when your track covered about half the map, and money earned was spent just as quickly on track and train upgrades. Danaya had sixty million in hand, but I had just lined up my next three runs based in the cards in hand, had built the necessary track extensions, and was out of money. I had a load of tourists on board headed for Syrtis Major and had just stopped at Pax Grove for a load of UN peacekeepers (to run down south to Isher for a big payout). Here were my three load cards, track built, and about 120 million in income awaiting.
Then it happened. Danaya delivered a load and in drawing her replacement card, she drew 3 event cards. The first card, Earthlings, Go Home lost me my load of tourists. I counted it out and figured that it had set me back about 3 and a half turns; both Danaya and I had already upgraded to the 16 milepost locomotives already.
Then Danaya read the second card, Green Mars North, which flooded a bunch of the northern canals wiping out 4 of my bridges in the process. The bridges cost 2 million each to rebuild, but I was living in the edge and had spent my money on the tracks that I needed (some of which was for a number of turns down the road).
So there I was, broke and stuck on a section of track that only connected three cities, having no tourists, and no money for bridge repairs. After a good laugh, I conceded the game. Danaya won with 60 million in cash having connected to only three of the major cities, and having already circumnavigated the planet with her track.
I paid Mikaela and Heidi to wash the vehicles on Saturday as we are smack dab in the middle of pollen season here. Apparently there is a drawback to having a nice shiny car, as our itinerant pheasant, Walter, all of a sudden noticed his reflection and presumably mistook it for another male pheasant. I don’t know if he actually pecked the HHR or not (Mikaela thought so), but it got parked in the garage on Sunday. Hopefully it will dirty up fast so as to escape being the target of Walter’s beak.
The latest hanger-on at the Huber Houston house is Walter the ring-necked pheasant. He’s an escapee from the dog shelter/animal menagerie next door. He’s pretty friendly and sort of follows people around (or chases them in Daelynn’s case).
On Sunday afternoon, we were at another family’s home for a birthday party. They love on a couple of acres and have goats and chickens. But those animals are not what this post is about. The neighbor’s dog, Skeeter, was over and brought his not-altogether-hygienic tennis ball with him. While Brock was a little hesitant (see the picture of him tentatively reaching under the dog to get the ball), he played a little throw and fetch with Skeeter.
We got some pics of Brody from Layne and Elissa today–he turned one month old on Jan. 26!! 💜💙❤️
Getting ready for Salvador’s Painting and Remodeling to arrive 8 AM tomorrow morning to begin repairing our ceilings and walls.
We moved our living room furniture into the sitting area of the master bedroom:
Today was a perfect January day: clear skies, 73 degrees, and a slight breeze.
Haven’t lost my touch? Managed to convince Munchkin to have a nap in my arms.
Cool 20th birthday present: Get to know your new nephew.
Grandpa Ben and Munckin/Brody/Scooter have some quality time.
Uncle Davison and Uncle Brock have a turn. Love the hat, Great-Grandma Huber!!!
Brody seems to be enjoying his first bath.
It’s not every Christmas you receive the gift of a grandchild’s birth–and your first grandchild, at that!
Brodwin (pronounced with a long “o”), Brody for short, was born on Dec. 26, 2015, at 3:55 AM, much to the joy (and relief!) of his mother, Elissa, and his father, Layne. Of course, his grandparents and aunts and uncles are pretty excited, too!
Brody is beautiful (I knew he would be! 😉)! He is calm and alert, and looks intently at people and objects. He looks a lot like his parents, IMHO.
Brody did have to spend the night and next day in the neo-natal nursery due to a few issues, but seems to be doing well. He and his mom (and dad, who has been at the hospital most of the time) should be arriving home on the 28th.
It’s going to be ever so hard to leave for our return trip to Houston!!!
We are thankful for the gift of God’s Son, Jesus Christ, for His death and resurrection, and the gift of forgiveness of sin and for victory over the ultimate consequence for sin–life instead of death.
This year, we are also grateful for the gift of our son’s son, and pray that he too will one day receive the gift of forgiveness of sins and the blessing of eternal life!
Sharing some pictures from our white Christmas here in Calgary…
Ben
We’re currently staying at Layne and Elissa’s, prepping for Christmas and more importantly waiting for Munchkin, Layne and Elissa’s baby, to arrive.
This morning Elissa, Danaya, Davison, and myself (Ben) played a game of Settlera of Catan. Davison pulled off a massive win with scoring 10 points while the rest of us were all sitting at 5 or 6. He had the help of the Longest Road, Largest Army, plus multiple 12 and 2 rolls.
