hasting.org

I didn’t chop down the apple tree.

richard — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 19:04:17 +0000

But I did tear up my foot on the steel fence post that we are using to support that apple tree.
So, after two hours of bleeding, Sharon finally convinced me to go to the emergency room to get it all fixed up.
Then she posted a picture of my foot on facebook. Ouch. Got a lot of sad comments on that photo.

We had a really dry 2011. We were about 15 inches short of rain, and the lake is drying up. There are wells just north of here that are running dry, and the LCRA is having to truck water into those communities. So, we pray for a lot more rain…

Newbie & Junior: For the Wedding

richard — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 17:48:03 +0000

Vera’s song that she sang to two camp counselors who tied the knot at Texlake Girl Scout Camp, July 2010

There was gossiping going about you and me

Being together

So we decided to play along with them all

Then one day I was thinking about us

being together forever for the rest of our lives.

You and me will become a family

But there is only you and me to start

And we’re taking little steps at a time.

You and me used to be just friends

but now we’re man and wife

So you may kiss the bride.

Oh yah nah nah nah oh oh yeah.

Vera’s Letter from Camp, July 6, 2010

richard — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 17:45:16 +0000

Dear Mom, Dad, Aric, and Scott,

I am having fun here and I have 12 girls in my group. We both sleep in different places but we have two cabins. I met new people like Emma, Avery, and (blank). (Guess she couldn’t remember her name…)

On Tuesday for dinner we had chicken, potatos, carrits, sunflower seeds to! What we ate often that’s bannaboat it with bannas, marshmelos, miny kisses, it was good.

How was your time family? I miss you all but I will see you all on Friday. I love you all. Kisses and hugs.

Love, Vera

6-6-2010

10:30 pm

Starting Fresh

richard — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 20:12:09 +0000

Has it really been this long since we dusted off this strange compilation of thoughts? Obviously, it’s time to start again. It’s the “starting again” season, too, making this blog renewal all the more appropriate.

(What? You thought the season of renewal was spring?)

Nay. It is August, where all of us with children celebrate their grudging return to a place of bells, loudspeaker voices, lining up, and taking turns. (Somehow, my children always forget how to do that last thing over the summer break.)

Plus new clothing (that can’t really be worn until mid-October, since it’s still 100-and-hell degrees here in Austin), non-sticky lunchboxes, and backpacks without that funky residue that lodges along the bottom seams, comprised of…well, there’s no point in speculating.

And while I’m filling out endless school forms that HAVE NOT CHANGED IN TEN YEARS BUT I HAVE TO DO THEM EACH YEAR ANYWAY, I’ll be thankful that my children will no longer be home to take a clean glass from the cabinet, take a single gulp of water from that glass, set it down, and then repeat that action about ten times each over a 6-hour period. I came home one day last week to no fewer than 23 juice glasses discarded about the kitchen and family room.

I also will be thankful that, in spite of the fact that this was the “summer of the emergency room,” we’re all healthy and relatively sane (although 60+ days of 100+ degrees threatens that status just a bit).

What are you thankful for, as we unwrap this new school year?

Funny Things Your Kids Do: #347

richard — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 03:04:00 +0000

Funny thing #347 – Your kids post things to Web sites. Sites that YOU read.

Our intrepid Web explorer Aric apparently “makes LOLs” on icanhascheezburger.com. I saw this the other day, and then tonight he was looking at it to see how many votes it had gotten, because he’s the poster.

It IS really cute.

more animals

Freedom

richard — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 17:48:09 +0000

I ran across this essay that Vera wrote at school, thought it was pretty neat, and thought I’d share:

“Let Freedom Ring”

Freedom is yellow.
It tastes like lemon pie.
It smells like lemon.
Freedom likes pie.
It hates cookies.
Its favorite sound is people talking.
But it hates to hear bad words.
Freedom lives in Texas.

Crossing Over

richard — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 01:20:12 +0000

It’s the end of an era for us. One of the Hasting boys has been at Steiner Ranch Elementary since 2001, but today #2 “crossed over.” Parents and faculty worked hard to make the event really special, and the young men and women moving to middle school responded with their nicest manners during the long-ish event. In spite of some technical difficulties with part of the presentation (my part, of course!), it ran smoothly.

It’s amazing to see how these kids have grown. We’ve known many of them since they were kindergartners, and they’ve grown so mature!

This class (about 130 kids) was particularly academically focused, scoring 100% in math, 99+% on language arts, and 98+% on science TAKS. A great many earned the Presidential Award for academic excellence. We’re so proud of them!

Warming Up

richard — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 21:44:42 +0000

Well, it’s April 3 and it’s already beginning to warm up here in Austin, enough so that we’re breaking out the lawn equipment for the much-dreaded “landscaping season.” (That’s 9 months each year.) Our neighbors have already been hard at it, disturbing the post-winter quiet with the mellifluous sound of leaf blowers. We’ve resisted as long as we can, but already our lawn is horribly overgrown with grass and (yes) some weeds.

Isn’t it too EARLY to have to start this? Maybe global warming *is* a real possibility. Heck, even the snowmen are being really impacted by this trend:

http://www.theonion.com/content/news/nations_snowmen_march_against

On the positive side, we’ve planted upside-down tomato plants and have high hopes that they’ll eventually sort themselves out (currently they’re trying valiantly to grow UP in their hanging pots). They’re high enough that they may escape Sydney’s reach. She’s pretty bad about picking off the ripe fruits. This year she’ll have to content herself with the odd berry or try to graze on the rabbit’s herb garden!

I love you so much

richard — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 14:59:22 +0000

Yesterday, we took my friend Kevin, his intended, and her two great kids out on the lake.
Vera and I were playing on the back of the boat and I asked her “How much do you love me? This big?” with my arms stretched out. “No! I love you to Russia and back!”

“Well then, I must love you more. I loved you to Russia and back, Twice!”

Richard

Estes Park, Day 2. Charming But Chilly.

richard — Sun, 11 Nov 2007 03:54:53 +0000

We spent another beautiful day in RMNP. We’ve definitely decided, though, that it’s later in the season than we prefer. Our previous visits included the colorful aspens of fall, but temperatures just warm enough to be comfortable. Today, it was cold and windy, and we decided not to take any extended hikes at high altitude.
At Endovalley, we did find a nice spot with enough sunshine to enjoy a picnic. We were almost immediately joined there by some cheeky creatures. First came the Steller’s Jays…

followed quickly by a chipmunk…

and then finally by a black squirrel who appeared at first to be shy. After he decided that we weren’t dangerous, he warmed up quickly, taking almonds from Richard.

We spent the remainder of the day in downtown Estes Park, enjoying the shops and then a terrific dinner at Nicky’s. We’re leaving tomorrow, but we’re reluctant to go.

(Click the squirrel pic to see him munch!)