Tropical Landscape

When Hurricane Ike destroyed our pine tree, which we didn't want in the first place, we wanted to replace it with a palm tree.  We love a breeze gently blows the frawns.  There is something calming about their sway.

We finally found the perfect tree; a Queen Ann Palm.

Thursday morning 3 men delivered and planted the palm. I was really surprised there were only 3 men. The tree is huge and very heavy. I kept asking if more men were coming to help. The foreman laughed and said " No just the 3 of us". I really expected a disaster but to my surprise it went off without a hitch.

Tree delivery

Off the trailer and into the hole

Lifting the tree

Straightening the tree

In order to give the front of the house a more tropical "feel" we also bought a 3 trunked Pigmy Date Palm.  It brings a more uniform appearance to the landscaping.

Craig loves his tree

Thanks to an extremely cold winter (the coldest in 20 years) many of our plants froze so we also added several ferns and other flowering plants which I have no idea what they are called but they're pretty.

The finished product

Hopefully we will not have such an extreme winter this year so we won't have to replace so many plants.

Craig is content

Sailing, Brunch and Hoola-hoops

Not much has been happening in my little corner of the world except tax prep, estate work and trimming/removing dead plants that didn't survive our "coldest winter in 20 years".

We did get out last weekend.

Craig and I went for our half day mentor sail in Galveston Bay.  We had completed our keelboat class in November and have been waiting for warm weather to take our mentor sail.  It was a beautiful day on the water.

On Sunday, the Davis', Craig and I went to The Last Concert Cafe for brunch.  It's a little hole in the wall in downtown Houston.  On Sunday's they have a brunch menu and a "jam session" with local musicians.  Interesting thing is the front door is always locked so you knock to get in.   

Laurie was told about the cafe by a friend of hers who described it as "someplace I think you will like because a bunch of hippies hang out there".   With a description like that who wouldn't want to try it.

We really had a great time.  We all tried to hoola-hoop.  Albert was the funniest.  He had never hoola-hooped before but finally got the hang of it.

The food was good and the music was great. We are definately going back.