On the road today in Houston. The old hometown. It’s a big day. National Adoption Day. Mark it. I’m participating as a grandpa, supporting my daughter and her husband as they officially tie the knot with two lovely children they’ve fostered for the last three years.

I was sitting in the front room of a friends house outside Wimberly on Saturday night waiting on a house concert to start when I noticed the drapes.

It’s raining this morning. The sky is gray. The air is cold. We’ve had nearly an inch of precipitation fall in the last several days. I have been remiss in emptying the gauge and checking the amounts, so I don’t know what came today or what came earlier.

Home again. Home again. I love being on the road. I love being home. There is nothing quite like your own bed. But then again, there is nothing like sleeping on a trailer’s dining room table that folds into a bed, especially if you have a self-inflating mattress, which I do.

When I first started hiking, I was nervous. I felt as thought I’d kept myself active over the course of my life, but I had my doubts when it came to walking up and down mountains.

Changed our pace yesterday. We went underground. Carlsbad Caverns are right down the road. So, off we went.

Went for a walk to the far reaches of McKittrick Canyon yesterday in Guadalupe Mountains state park. The day was cool, the breezes constant and the beauty nearly overwhelming.

Watched the blood moon of a full lunar eclipse this morning. It was hanging in the clear skies over the Guadalupe Mountains. I tell you; I have fallen well and truly in love with West Texas.

I moved to Houston in 1962. A traveling boy in a Navy family, finally landed. It was great. The best thing about Houston in my opinion was the Colt .45s. A major league baseball team.

Went to the hills just south of town to watch the sun go down yesterday. There were big clouds all around. I thought they might make for a nice show. They did.

I admit it. I turned off the radio last night with the Astros up 2-1 and a Philly on base. I have a weak constitution. I knew if they blew the lead and lost the game, I’d being going to bed feeling bad and it would be hard to sleep.

I’m getting a late start today. Stayed up to listen to the Astros and Phillies game. Our boys won with a combined no-hitter. That’s pretty special. It’s only the second no-hitter in World Series history.

Did more fence work yesterday on the big fence around the back lots. For some reason, I decided when I built it to make it eight feet tall. Lots of privacy, but an eight foot tall fence catches lots of wind.

Handed out candy to kids last night. It was fun. Had to drive to a friends house to do it. But it was worth the trip. Got a good meal. A nice drink. And plenty of camaraderie.

Home. Nice. Easy drive in yesterday. There was traffic but there’s always traffic, and I have learned there will always be people with a less than solid idea about what they’re doing.

Both my teams won yesterday. Collegiate. Professional. I feel good. And I am still at a loss to explain how I missed the Astros in the World Series last year.

Relatively easy drive into Houston. Hard loss to watch with the Astros. Of course, they’ve never won a game one of the World Series, so hope is not lost.

Went outside to tell the cats I forgot to buy cat food yesterday, which is not something you really need to tell them, and discovered it was raining.

It’s probably time to bring down the cat crates and blankets. Cool weather is beginning to feel like cold weather. Mind you, no one is complaining, but then again, the cats don’t really complain. They just sort of mill around and look at me.

Lost a limb off one of the big oaks in yesterday’s storm. I’m a little sad. We’ve been babying those trees since the last big drought hit them hard. There is good news, however, you really have to look to see where the limb fell. So, it’s all for the best.