It has been a wonderful weekend here at the ranch. When I talked to Keith on Friday for the usual "what's for supper" routine, I had it already planned out. We are going to grill steaks and steam some fresh vegetables while enjoying a glass of wine (or several). Keith got to try out the new infrared burner with the steaks and boy did they cook quick. They had really good flavor but next time he will cook them slower. The directions with the burner instructed to cook for 2 minutes each side on high. I'm glad he waited for the veggies to finish cooking before he put them on the grill! Our favorite wine wasn't available so Keith got another kind from the same region in Chile. It was OK, but kind of grew on us. Although the meal was very good, I gained most of the pleasure from being together as a family and enjoying our quiet time together.
Saturday morning came without warning as Keith awoke me at 7 am for coffee on the patio. As simple as it sounds, we plan to do this more often. Just watching the birds diving through the pillars on the patio and the bees pollenating the rogue sunflowers was very relaxing. I don't remember the last time I was so relaxed and really felt happy about it. We've been so busy here and there that we just haven't been able to enjoy each other as much as we'd like. This weekend was different.
Sunday morning started out with mass for which Dustin and Rachel were serving. This too turned to be eventful. The heat indexes here are well over 100 degrees which just drains the energy right out from underneath you. During mass, Dustin disappeared when it came time for the offertory. I wrote it off thinking he must have had to blow his nose and didn't have a tissue with him. I was relieved when he came back. But after that during the consecration of the bread and wine, he missed his queue to ring the bells as he was swaying trying to keep his balance. He rang the bell and then disappeared again. Now I knew something was not right so I went around to the sacristy to find him lying on the floor. He had gotten hot the first time and became nautious. The second time he got so dizzy he could not walk. He all but passed out. I felt so bad for him. He had not been feeling bad before this, so I really think the Texas heat got to him.
We got home from mass and had our traditional brunch of bacon, eggs, and biscuits. One of our favorite meals is breakfast and especially this one. Even Dustin made a happy plate, so I think he got over the heat episode.
Our community baseball/softball league sponsors a day at Summer Fun Water Park for all the players once a year at the end of the season and today was that day. Over the last few weeks, I have been taking the kids to swim lessons and they were ready to strut their stuff. Even Courtney is swimming like a fish. It was nice for all of us to get into the pool after such a blistering hot day. I noticed the temperature in the truck around 1:00 was already at 107 degrees and then at 5:00 it registered 114. I have never seen it this hot in June. We are hoping for a cold front soon to bring it down into the 90's!
Oh, and we did throw in some yard work this weekend. Keith spent all day Saturday and half of Sunday on the tractor moving the piles of rocks out of the yard. He did a great job and had fun with it so it wasn't so much like a chore.
Saturday morning came without warning as Keith awoke me at 7 am for coffee on the patio. As simple as it sounds, we plan to do this more often. Just watching the birds diving through the pillars on the patio and the bees pollenating the rogue sunflowers was very relaxing. I don't remember the last time I was so relaxed and really felt happy about it. We've been so busy here and there that we just haven't been able to enjoy each other as much as we'd like. This weekend was different.
Sunday morning started out with mass for which Dustin and Rachel were serving. This too turned to be eventful. The heat indexes here are well over 100 degrees which just drains the energy right out from underneath you. During mass, Dustin disappeared when it came time for the offertory. I wrote it off thinking he must have had to blow his nose and didn't have a tissue with him. I was relieved when he came back. But after that during the consecration of the bread and wine, he missed his queue to ring the bells as he was swaying trying to keep his balance. He rang the bell and then disappeared again. Now I knew something was not right so I went around to the sacristy to find him lying on the floor. He had gotten hot the first time and became nautious. The second time he got so dizzy he could not walk. He all but passed out. I felt so bad for him. He had not been feeling bad before this, so I really think the Texas heat got to him.
We got home from mass and had our traditional brunch of bacon, eggs, and biscuits. One of our favorite meals is breakfast and especially this one. Even Dustin made a happy plate, so I think he got over the heat episode.
Our community baseball/softball league sponsors a day at Summer Fun Water Park for all the players once a year at the end of the season and today was that day. Over the last few weeks, I have been taking the kids to swim lessons and they were ready to strut their stuff. Even Courtney is swimming like a fish. It was nice for all of us to get into the pool after such a blistering hot day. I noticed the temperature in the truck around 1:00 was already at 107 degrees and then at 5:00 it registered 114. I have never seen it this hot in June. We are hoping for a cold front soon to bring it down into the 90's!
Oh, and we did throw in some yard work this weekend. Keith spent all day Saturday and half of Sunday on the tractor moving the piles of rocks out of the yard. He did a great job and had fun with it so it wasn't so much like a chore.
