Fall in Austin

 

It's hard to believe it is already November 1! Fun fact: it's almost been a full year since I cut my hair! I donated 10 inches at the end of last November and with the excuse of COVID keeping me away from the salon, this is the fastest it's ever grown back 😄! Work is keeping us busy. I'm back at school and have two to four students in my room per class as I teach in-person and online at the same time. Right now the students are only attending their fine arts classes in-person. Starting November 9 the students on campus will begin rotating to all of their classes. James is working from home and frequently has visitors that pop in for a cuddle or a nap. 

October and November in Texas tend to bring beautiful weather, which has made for some beautiful hikes and even a camping trip. If you have been for a visit and hiked up Mt. Bonnell with us, you were on the other side of the Colorado River (pictured behind us in the next picture). James discovered the trails on the other side of the river during one of his long runs and brought me back to see the great views.

James ran a 5-mile run in the Hill Country State Natural Area last weekend, which perfectly coincided with the cool front that brought us into the 40s overnight. It made for a comfortable night of camping, great race weather for James (3rd place!) and a nice hike post race.

Another fun thing about living in Texas this time of year is that we are able to fit in another gardening season! We had more blooming flowers and saw the monarch butterflies make their way back through on their way to Mexico. We have three resident lizards in the backyard gardens and I finally saw the frog that I've heard singing at night.

Plumbago

Gregg's Mistflower

monarch caterpillars on the milkweed

kale

broccoli

chard

We planted a Big Toothed Maple tree in our backyard! The only type of maple tree native to this area. We're crossing our fingers for some colorful fall foliage in our future 🍁.

Lots of love from Austin 💙💚🧡💜💛!

 

Hello Family:

I apologize for my lateness.  COVID time is so weird.  On the one hand it goes slowly and on the other it speeds by and half the time I’m not sure what day it even is.  That being said, when the Givans got the month of September, it was with the thought that I’d have the fair to talk about.  Instead, you shall be bored by just ordinary life.  

As you know, we currently are a household of 3 humans and too many dogs to talk about.  Kate’s dogs like to escape so we have made some dashes around the neighborhood. I’m so sorry I laughed at the Johnston’s when we use to watch you race by chasing Spotty.  It has come back to me.  

I returned to the school building June 1.  Kids arrived August 27 and so far we are all still in the building.  We have had some close calls so I’m sure it is only a matter of time before just essential office staff will be in the building.  

Tim grew a COVID beard.  Labor day weekend he announced if he and I could take a picture looking happy, he would shave it off.  Notice how happy I look!!

  He worked throughout the lock down.  Many of his people were working from home but he stayed.  Maybe that was good since that would have put us home together 24/7.  I do feel like my house plants flourished while I was home.  I just don’t converse with them as much when I work at the school building. 

On Labor Day, several of us made a trek to the Holyrood home land.  We checked out the farm ground where the crops looked good, drove by Great Tillie’s house and our house in Chase.  Each looked smaller than we remembered and closer to the street.

Cemetery where Great Tillie and Grandpa Billie are buried

Great Tillie's house in Holyrood

House in Chase where we grew up

This is Grandma Stratman's House in Holyrood where Great Tillie grew up.

  One of the best things that has come out of this time, is that the Rise and Shine Puppets have been filming weekly puppet shows for Sunday School Chapel.  I hope to make a You Tube channel and then they will be easier to find and watch over and over again.  Granny Feathers and the Chef (both done by Charles)have been a great addition to the troupe.  Clarissa from Calcutta spent some time with us (Mary) and that was neat. Aurora was good support as she usually clapped and shouted A-Men.  Our newest theme is the Lord’s Prayer.  I’m biased I know but think it will be a good one.  Here is part 1.  https://drive.google.com/file/d/14a-3EqrBNNZr5aVZIWcgiKQ4F8dp2lGW/view?usp=sharing   Hope everyone stays safe and healthy.   Love Auntie

Team Givan's Temporary Place

 We've been in Colorado for just over a month now, temporarily living with Theresa's parents. Theresa works weekends, from 7AM-3PM, as a "concierge" at a senior living center. I mark time and apply for jobs. As you might expect, for the museum industry there's not a lot being posted that I could naturally step into and earn enough to survive. Perhaps the most egregious post I've looked at wanted a master's degree-holding educator but would only pay $14 an hour. With little better to do, I've gotten to know a lot of the types of birds around here and have been trying to document some of them:

Say's Phoebe, a fun insect-catcher to watch with some incredible maneuverability

An American Kestrel that visited one evening.

A magpie. I know people think of them as pests but I find them interesting

A broad-tailed hummingbird in an Estes Park parking lot

Unfortunately we packed the tripod in our moving POD so the pictures with the telephoto have a "soft" focus! I also spent some time working on a telescope Theresa's parents have, after we arrived, and the second thing we used it to look at was actually a red-shouldered hawk on someone's house:

Behind Theresa's parents is a house that predates the development which actually has some livestock. Right now there's two horses, some chickens, and pony. Every afternoon I take the pony my leftover applecore and give her a few fistfuls of grass from the "greener side" of the fence. We've nicknamed her Sweetpea and she definitely knows me and waits for me, but has made it very clear that if there's no food, then there's no socializing (she's a bit piggy).

We also bought Theresa a wedding band, because despite our reduced employment, she doesn't like her job so a reward seemed appropriate, and because apparently when she lost hers two years ago I promised I would pick out the new one and then just forgot. It's an antique we found at Estes Park, made sometime between the 30s and 50s probably which puts it close in period to her engagement ring as well.

Finally, it's snowing here today. For the second time since we got here the temperature swung from 90+ one day to winter temps the next. This is the first time there was actual precipitation though.

Johnston Summer Photos

 We had great company with the Rutherfords here for an extended visit for two months.  We got to do lots of family and cousin things.  It will be a time to remember always!

                                                                                    A fun Fourth of July parade.

                      We did a lot of swimming at Aunt Carol's pool with family.

Watching Amtrak come in with Uncle Charles. 7-7-20

   

                      We had a fun time with Christmas in July!  The grandchildren got Christmas pajamas and a small present.  Cassi and Dave hosted it!  July 12, 2020

We ended our time together by having each grown-up read part of Mr. Willowby's Christmas Tree.  

     

                                         July 19,2020 Charles celebrated his 35th birthday.

          

                             July 31, 2020 Family dinner at the Shooks.

Ollie, Grandpa, Emily

A cousin sleep-over was held August 1, 2020, at Grandma and Grandpa's house.

Aurora, Olivia, Adelynn

Aurora and Kinley

Olivia, Aurora, and Ava.

Then we had family time at the pasture on August 2, 2020, with fishing, playing, and a meal. 

                                                                              Dave caught the only catfish of course!

                             Uncle Charles took the nieces and nephew for rides in the trailer! 

                                                           It was almost like a train ride.

Kinley, Emily, Ollie, Aurora