Tales from the garden...

On Saturday we spent the day digging up part of our yard and making a garden. (I guess when I say we, I should say Ryan. I spent about 20 minutes out there, died of heat exhaustion, and resorted to observing from the couch while I watched the Olympics.) Ryan was out there for a good 3 hours, and when I came out to tell him that USA got silver in water polo, half the yard was finished and planted with spinach, cilantro, and forget-me nots. It was so cute I had to take a picture.






I guess my job is to dig up the rest of it. I don't think that is going to happen for quite a while, or at least only in 20 minute intervals. :)

After digging, we got cleaned up and went to dinner at The Oasis in Austin. (http://www.oasis-austin.com) It has a beautiful location on a cliff over-looking Lake Travis. This is probably the first time I've uttered the words "Look at how beautiful this is" while living in Texas. It was beautiful right up until it started pouring rain and we were sitting outside. Yes, more moderately heavy rain.




In the next picture, you can see the looming dark clouds- and some cool houses built into the hillside.

Rain- No, really...

I'm from Seattle and I know rain, but I have never (well maybe once 15 years ago in Panama) seen rain like this. It has been an off and on torrential downpour for the last 3 days- enough to flood my entry to the house AND force me to pull over on the interstate. I can't believe it rains like this in Texas. The dead grass must be in shock.

I really wanted to know what true Texans defined such dramatic rain, so I went to the source- the local weather channel- and found this:



If you can see in the center, I live in Killeen. And according to the key, the rain was only moderate to moderately heavy. In my personal opinion, it was heavy. The whole map should have been white. If you stand outside in the rain and are completely soaked in 20 seconds, that is heavy. But maybe not. I'm scared to see what heavy actually is.