MaLinda and I were having a relaxing moment at our backyard patio.
I mean the swallows were doing their usual aerial displays of finding food for their young chicks.
They were also posting guard for possible intruders to their now perennial home under the eaves of our roof.
We enjoy the show and the sense of dive bombing the birds seem to employ when the humans and dogs are around.
MaLinda creates a colorful and comfortable sense of order on the patio.
Unless she decides that more must be done and she starts moving the flowers in their pots around and moving the water hose to thirsty plants.
I got to thinking it was my storytelling that had gone south – certainly that’s not the first time I’ve been guilty of that.
I was regaling her with stories of my ancient days of being a rookie reporter.
I probably have told some of those tales before, but not more tha n once or twice. And that makes it nearly a new anecdote.
MaLinda assures me that’s not the case for moving about – and I think that is her nature.
Meanwhile, back at the patio, MaLinda and I feel blessed to have a long view of plants and grass to a distant fence line.
It’s a nice distraction from recent engagements with home insurance people.
We’re in the same predicament of lots of other Texans who have trouble getting coverage on fire, wind and hail.
That’s especially so on the Texas coast.
Just as soon as we seem to pass muster on an area of the house deemed a problem by underwriters, something else pops up.
We find ourselves dancing to their tune.
With house fixes underway all around our place at least some things are acceptable to our eyes.
Even if it’s just our eyes.
When we’re outside, I like to have our three dogs nearby.
But that’s not possible, because our cocker spaniel – the epitome of canine calm inside the house – becomes a raving monster and chases chickens to exhaustion if she gets out without a lease.
Sunday, I was looking for a hat and opened the back door for a few seconds when the spaniel raced past me and headed for the nearest hen.
I didn’t even know she was in the same room.
MaLinda has a rule based on many dog-chicken chases: never assume you’re alone in the mud room because Penny the spaniel is waiting for her chance to chase.
