First Step: Tree Removal/Trimming

Volunteer trees along back deck rail

Our first step: removing volunteer trees and several crepe myrtles sited too close to the house.

We’ve needed a trim for a while now. Windy storms would blow branches into several areas of the house. And the tree guys needed to finish before the “exterior work” guys arrived. The fewer trees they have to get around, the better. We’ll do another “cosmetic” trim closer to listing time.

Volunteers outside the music room window

When I walked around with the estimator, I asked him to get rid of every single volunteer tree/bush he found. I’ve hated those scraggly things for years, and I could never fully eliminate them. (The one along the deck rail in the back was particularly resilient.) After their removal, he suggested going around every couple of weeks with a bottle of Round-Up to squirt any new growth; after a few rounds, they’ll quit trying. I already have my bottle at the ready.

I happened to be in the music room when they felled the big volunteer tree. It was as if someone opened a dark curtain. I love how much more light reaches that room now. The outside isn’t much to look at now, but I have plans this winter for mulch, a simple border, and some kind of garden art. (*No* Weeping Angels allowed.)

Cutting the volunteers away

Taking out the two volunteers along the back deck rail opened things up and makes the upper backyard more visible.

Look, no more volunteers!

I was surprised at how much they hauled away. One guy had to cut branches with his chain saw and jump up and down on the pile so it would all fit in their trailer.

And no volunteers here either!

After seeing the end result, we both said, “We should have done this a *long* time ago.” I suspect we’ll be saying that a lot over the next few weeks. My sister keeps telling me, “You won’t want to move!” But unless they figure out a way to shave off the second story, we’ll be happy to leave, no matter how good it looks.

Full trailer

Next up: power washing away 18 years of dirt.

It's Time

13502 Charter Bend

Have you ever made a big decision, then thought of it later with a big sigh of relief and feelings of “this just feels right”? Deciding to sell the Charter Bend house feels just that way.

We have tossed around the idea for years of “downsizing” into a smaller one-story house, but never did anything but talk about it. Our financial advisor asked if we’d thought about moving into a smaller place, outside the city (smaller mortgage, no city taxes). Well, yes, we said, but we hadn’t gotten serious about it. “Maybe this is the right time.” (Bruce is gradually transitioning to work from home, so the commute will be non-existent.)

We knew, right from the start, that the house is nowhere *near* ready to list. Carey’s mother Becky is a real estate agent, and she was kind enough to come over one morning, walk through the house, and let us know what needs fixing/repairing/replacing, and what can stay “as-is.” (We want the house to be “sell-able,” not the jewel of the neighborhood.) She also had a favorite contractor, who visited soon after. We now have a list of projects and a budget.

A lot of junk accumulates in a backyard after 18 years. Headed to the dump.

But it’s not just the work on the house; it’s the whole “decluttering inside” required before we move. A family (even an empty-nest one) builds up a *lot* of stuff over 18 years. We’re systematically going through the house and sorting things into various categories: keep, save for Sean, give away, yard sale, trash. It’s not a fun project, but it has to happen. Fortunately, we are in no rush and have the time to properly work the issue.

Bruce is trying to weather the maelstrom that is me when I have the “project bit” between my teeth. I can be a little---um---over-enthusiastic.

We were blessed and lucky in our choice of home. Since we moved here in 1998, Wurzbach Pkwy has been completed, HEB/Alon opened, NW Military has been upgraded, the Jewish Community Center was built, and Hardberger Park and the Salado Park Greenway opened. All directly touch/border our neighborhood (the Salado gate is less than a quarter mile away).

Salado Creek Greenway; gate is an easy bike ride away.

Next up: exterior work (replace trim, power washing, remove deck), then interior painting. I’ll post updates here as we go along. We hope to have the place listed by the spring.

Wish us luck!

Consolidating Everything in One Blog

I have discontinued my other two blogs and will henceforth consolidate all posts here on Alamo A La Carte. If you'd like to see an archive of older posts on the other two blogs, please click the below links:

Laura's Local Kitchen
Mighty Marine Mom
Thanks for your support!

A Great Father-in-Law from the Greatest Generation: A Remembrance

Bob and Jean, around their 50th anniversary

Among the sadder of life’s milestones: when your son loses his last surviving grandparent. My father-in-law, Bob Bray, passed away peacefully on October 1, two weeks shy of his 90^th birthday

Bob proudly served in the US Navy as a sonarman on a destroyer escort and saw action in the Battle of Leyte Gulf and Battle of Okinawa in World War II. (He also served during the Korean War.) Our son Sean became the fourth generation of Brays to enter military service when he enlisted in the US Marine Corps.

Bob in his Navy uniform

Bob's military decorations

I could not have asked for a better father-in-law and a better grandparent for our son. Bob adored Sean. When we handed him an infant Sean in the Albuquerque airport, Bob, an otherwise fairly stoic man, began to cry. Bob’s own parents died before he met my mother-in-law, so Bob often worried he wouldn’t live to see his grandchild.

We never lived in the same town (and sometimes, not even the same country), but we worked hard to make sure Sean had quality time with his grandparents, especially after we moved back to Virginia from spending four years in Germany. Sean has fond memories of spending summers with Grandma and Grandpa. One summer, they took him to the YMCA, and he returned home knowing how to swim. Another summer, to DisneyWorld and the Kennedy Space Center (where Bob worked on the Apollo program in the 60s and 70s). And one summer, my exasperated mother enlisted my assistance in getting Bob to turn loose of Sean so she could have some time with her grandson.

In 2013, the extended Bray family met at a hacienda B&B in Albuquerque to celebrate Bob and Jean’s 50th wedding anniversary, and Bob surprised me by starting to cry (the second and last time I saw this) as he recited his renewal of vows.

From the time Sean turned 15, Bob’s first question to him (on phone calls or in person) was unfailingly, “How’s your love life?” the question only stopping when Sean became engaged to Carey in the summer of 2014. And despite failing memory in his later years, Bob absolutely knew who Carey was, never needing a reminder. (We asked him on one fall visit, “Do you remember what happens with Sean in January?” Without a pause, and with lots of enthusiasm, he replied, “Sean’s getting married!!”) 

When talking about losing loved ones, people often ask if it’s better for it to be sudden and quick or long and drawn out. Having lost both my parents fairly young (and my mother totally unexpectedly), I can tell you, they both just suck.

I’ll close with a line from the Navy theme, “Anchors Aweigh.”

      “Until we meet once more, here's wishing you a happy voyage home!”

Over the Top Cake Shop

Just a portion of their many sprinkles and decorative candies.

Bakers, rejoice! You now have a one-stop-professional-shop for all things cake. The retail arm of Johnson Brothers Bakery Supply, Over the Top Cake Supplies stocks a full range of pans, cake boxes and bases, sprinkles in a rainbow of colors, candy-making supplies, decorations, kits, and even fondant. They opened on July 11.

Glimmer Glaze

Over the Top is the only shop in town that carries Fondx and Glimmer Glaze. A flavored glaze that comes in a wide range of colors, decorators can use Glimmer Glaze to give a cake a special sheen. They’re offering a class on Glimmer Glaze on Thursday, September 19 from 6-8pm ($40). Call the shop to register.

Just about any size and shape of cake pan you need

The friendly and helpful retail manager Chelsey Cure knows all the products in the store, and she can special-order any items not currently in stock. In addition to hands-on classes (they’re hosting a “Sugar Skulls” class tonight with one of the nation’s leading decorators), they feature demos and other presentations. “Like” them on Facebook to get all the latest details. Space is limited, so register early to ensure a spot.

They have two shelves of decoration kits and can order more.

The Taste section of the Express-News profiled Chelsey and owner Kevin Johnson in August. If you’re a digital subscriber, check it out.

A wide variety of fondant products

It’s a bit tricky to find (address below). Located along the IH-35 frontage road on the west side between Weidner and Thousand Oaks, the shop is tucked into a large warehouse complex. They have a small sign out front, but it’s easy to miss. Heading south, you’ll pass a Quality Inn, then a Yamaha boating center. The next driveway is the warehouse complex, but use the second gate and head toward the back. If you pass the Kingdom Life Church, you’ve just missed it.

Cake bases of every size and shape

We don’t bake often, but I’m glad to know that we have somewhere local that can get us the special supplies and ingredients we need when we do bake.

Over the Top Cake Supplies, 210-561-1300, 10731 IH-35 N, San Antonio, TX 78233