Yesterday

Has it really been this long since I sat here and rambled about stuff.  I suppose so.  Lots of things have happened - very little of earth shaking happenings - at least in my backyard world.
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Yesterday was a pretty good day.
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On Sat. daughter Christine drove up with her (now) 2 dogs.  She has lost two fine dogs this past year:  Buddy and Wesley.  Actually, Buddy's name was Butty, but I find that hard to mouth.  They were great pound puppies once they settled into their new world.  Loss of both was traumatic.  Now she has Oli and Bella.  Oli's real name was Ali.  He showed up on Christine's doorstep several days in a row, running away from a duplex down the block.  The Black Family down there owned Ali.  Being Black is only relevant because of Ali's name - named after Muhammad Ali, the boxer.  I'm sure they were fine folk; but, Ali - or, now, Oli, enjoyed Christine's dogs more.  The family readily gave the little dachshund to Christine.  All is well.
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Bella joined her family about a month ago from a shelter - I think in Waco.  She is a dachshund - dorky mix - or something.   Long ears, curly coat, long doxie tail, face of a doxie but hair of a different breed.  Bella had belonged to a lady in a home - but Bellas was way too active for the situation.  Sad-really.   She is another ball dog similar to my Oscar.  If she can, the ball is being chased.  Sweet little girl, fits right in.
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Saturday night we smoked some pork ribs and wrapped presents and threw the ball (s) for Oscar and Bella.  It was a good time.
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The dogs were put away Sunday as we traveled north to Arlington to meet daughter Laura and husband Tom at  a Panchos.  For my niece Sharla's info, Laura chose the restaurant.  ( Sharla doesn't think "Panchos" and "Restaurant" belong in the same breath. )  It was not my idea, while I think it was a superb idea.  I tried to "upgrade" the outing to a finer (humor here) restaurant: The Golden Corral. There is a fab. Golden Corral just west of Hwy 157 on I-20 near Grand Prairie. Sometimes this place is known in our family as the Trough.  
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There had been some communication by Laura to other DFW family members to join us for lunch.  Conflicts arose and nobody else arrived.  But, we 5 had a good time and overate, which  IS  what Panchos is all about.  The conversation was brisk; the food flew off the plates; the sopapillas looked beautiful; etc.
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This was our mild celebration of Laura's birthday which was on the 5th of February.  It takes a while to find dates to meet when all are scattered throughout the State.
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I'll say it again.  It was a good day.  It could have been a bit nicer if some others had been there - but, on the other hand, the conversation might have been too complicated for my little brain if we had added more folks.
With that I close.  Once again I vow to write more often.  Once again.
m3