Today’s Neighborhood Challenge is to find something weird around the place we call home.
Well that shouldn’t be too difficult, seeing as how it’s our slogan and all.
I’ll start with one of our neighbors, God love him (refer to previous post for the explanation of this phrase 
, who began painting his house some 10 years ago, and just decided to up and quit. I don’t know if he ran out of paint or didn’t have a ladder tall enough or what, but he shows no signs of rectifying the situation.
He’s kind of a weird bird anyway. He hoards newspapers and puts his trash in our can because he’s, um, shall we say, too “frugal” to pay for his own trash service.
He’s a nice enough guy though, and I kind of think he adds character to the place. We like to make up stories about the stuff that might be hidden away in his house… pirate treasure, secret tunnels and the like.
Then of course, there’s the folks who are so incredibly festive that they leave their Christmas lights up all year.
We discovered too, when we set out on our bikes to cruise the neighborhood in search of oddities, that excess in the way of yard decor is fairly common in these parts.
So are skulls.
Of course, it could be, that we fit right in.
I’m pretty sure that anyone who saw us at the corner store today, might have thought we were a little weird too. Kids, not in school and stuffing thier faces with doughuts and apples,
while their mama stood in the vacant lot next door, whacking the hooey out of the pecan tree with a big stick, and gathering up her loot like a nut-crazed, well… nut.
Yeah, that mighta looked a little odd.
In other news, my James asked me to tell you that he did not get lost in the mall this afternoon, but he did get new shoes.
More skulls.
They’ve had us dancing and singing this song all day:
Tomorrow’s assignment: special… does that mean like “special,” like wonderful and unique or “special”, like needs a little help. Hmmm… well whichever, we can oblige, I’m sure.
{ 25 comments }
Wow, you just really made me miss my old neighborhood. We called it quirky. The one I’m in is nice, but very boring. Love love love those shoes – G is very jealous.
just wanted to say that I love your blog. I don’t even have children yet, but you have a wonderful way of describing your life (or the part of it you cover in the blog) and it makes me feel inspired and excited to become a mother myself someday. Thank you.
The unfinished paint job is cracking me up. And I also considered the Christmas lights still up as a photo option, but then decided against it
Like Sarah, I’m missing my old neighborhood after reading/seeing this post. We had a big ol’ pecan tree out in front of our house, and all the houses on the street were different. Ah yes, the overabundance of yard decor in Texas–our next-door neighbors had a nice family of fake deer.
Hey, what’s wrong with fake deer? And a nice gathering of fake geese to form a counterpoint on the other side of the driveway?
Now I know where I can move when it’s time to retire…
I’m imagining you standing in that yard, whacking at the pecan tree – I would have stopped and laughed with you, and then climbed up the tree to help you. Thanks for your whacky viewpoint on weird.
Dang! That’s it, we need new shoes NOW! Love James’s new ones and what I wouldn’t give to have a pecan tree to whack!!! WOW! I’d say Austin is doing just fine keeping it weird…
i am gonna carry the image of a mama whacking a pecan tree all day….
good.
Weirdness abounds. I love that you had to go nut gathering! So cute. I’d love to have a pecan tree to whack, but we only have walnut trees that the squirrels ferry the nuts all over the neighborhood and I don’t really know if they are fit for our consumption anyhow…
i’ve heard austin is a cool place to live (and the pecan tree? maybe just a litle weird.
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please pass on my compliments to the owner of the new kicks. super cool.
I LOVE his shoes! *laughs
I can just picture you whacking that pecan tree..love the new shoes.
Love the shoes, and I have to say, the music makes me want to go buy some, too! Um, I only have six windchimes at my house–and they’re in different places. Guess I don’t quite make the “weird” cut yet. Thanks for the smiles.
Please define “hooey”.
Fun new shoes! And fun song – I may have to play it on Polka Dot Radio
Sounds like you’re weird like us. Instead of collecting pecans, I’m usually out gathering apron loads of acorns and handfuls of leaves. Our neighbors have quite the medley of yard art, most of it homemade (cowboy boot bird feeders), but they are always home and I was afraid I would get caught taking pictures.
Weird it is then…..I love the nut tree assault!!
Your “weird photo” post was the BEST laugh I’ve had all week!! My neighbor not only has the Christmas lights..but turns them on every night! Does that have something to do with “Redneck Woman” or is it just one of those southern traditions????
you crack me up.
I can just picture you trying to get those pecans down. Too funny!
I can just picture you trying to get those pecans down. Too funny!
skulls baby! all tying in to the halloween frenzy!
i tell people looking for my house that we’re “just past the house on the corner. the one with all the fake deer in the front yard.” and the gnome. and the blue xmas lights still ON in APRIL – - – yeah, it’s fun. what’s funner is they obsessively mow. like 7:30a.m. on a Sunday mow. I’ve only now become near-homicidal.
dh does this thing when we’re out driving (heavy stage whisper)”SHHHHH – DEER” when we see the fakes.
okay, from one *slacker* mom to another (mine were eating Krispy Kremes in Target at 10:30, but I was not beating a tree with vengeance, only perusing the clearance maternity clothes – no, I’m not, but damn those things are cute and empire waists are stylin’ and I’ve got things to hide) – bye. and sorry to write a fracking novel on here. what is it about you woman???
ever your verbose stalker,
estea
Great photos and story of your neighbourhood!! That paint job is too funny!! And loving the song!! I can’t help moving to it!
We have our own nut tree, so we don’t have to bang on other peoples…..
Ya know College Station came out with a shirt that says “Keep College Station Normal.”
Austin’s always been a little quirky…
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