Hal
@txhal.bsky.social
Blue Guy in a red part of a red state, Texas wine country. Retired software guy, did a stint as a NASA contractor a few decades ago. Serial adopter of rescued cats and dogs (mostly Greyhounds).
It was time. Updated profile and cover pics. Previously had two pets that passed away in August 2025. Now I have our current pets.
January 10, 2026 at 2:09 PM
It was time. Updated profile and cover pics. Previously had two pets that passed away in August 2025. Now I have our current pets.
What breed is Binnie? Her coloration and coat look similar to our Heidi who we adopted a month ago. Rescue group called Heidi a Doberman mix but her body shape and coat are all wrong for that. Waiting for DNA, maybe part Rottweiler mixed with something smaller. Ears and tail were badly docked.
January 7, 2026 at 2:07 PM
What breed is Binnie? Her coloration and coat look similar to our Heidi who we adopted a month ago. Rescue group called Heidi a Doberman mix but her body shape and coat are all wrong for that. Waiting for DNA, maybe part Rottweiler mixed with something smaller. Ears and tail were badly docked.
Hanging out on the porch on a brutal winter day in South Central Texas. 80°, 19% humidity, light breeze, porcelain blue sky.
January 6, 2026 at 9:33 PM
Hanging out on the porch on a brutal winter day in South Central Texas. 80°, 19% humidity, light breeze, porcelain blue sky.
Good morning from South Central Texas. View from the porch just before actual sunrise
January 6, 2026 at 1:34 PM
Good morning from South Central Texas. View from the porch just before actual sunrise
Absolutely! Dino came to us after being rescued from the streets and fostered for a year. He was on low dose tranquilizers and was reactive. He was bitey and easily startled. A bit over a year later we could take him to farmer's markets and let people pet him. We lost him to lymphoma after 19 months
January 3, 2026 at 12:38 AM
Absolutely! Dino came to us after being rescued from the streets and fostered for a year. He was on low dose tranquilizers and was reactive. He was bitey and easily startled. A bit over a year later we could take him to farmer's markets and let people pet him. We lost him to lymphoma after 19 months
We're working on that too. Dog is new to the household, cat has been with us for 15 years virtually always with dogs. It's a work in progress.
January 1, 2026 at 9:21 PM
We're working on that too. Dog is new to the household, cat has been with us for 15 years virtually always with dogs. It's a work in progress.
Great story! Blessings on you for giving him a family!
Dino, the big black and white goof in my profile pic, was a street rescue. After only 19 months with us he was taken by lymphoma. Three weeks ago we adopted another street rescue, Heidi. She is still settling in and is my shadow at home.
Dino, the big black and white goof in my profile pic, was a street rescue. After only 19 months with us he was taken by lymphoma. Three weeks ago we adopted another street rescue, Heidi. She is still settling in and is my shadow at home.
December 31, 2025 at 12:43 PM
Great story! Blessings on you for giving him a family!
Dino, the big black and white goof in my profile pic, was a street rescue. After only 19 months with us he was taken by lymphoma. Three weeks ago we adopted another street rescue, Heidi. She is still settling in and is my shadow at home.
Dino, the big black and white goof in my profile pic, was a street rescue. After only 19 months with us he was taken by lymphoma. Three weeks ago we adopted another street rescue, Heidi. She is still settling in and is my shadow at home.
According to this pretty girl I am a total rock star. Every move I make must be closely followed.
16 days since her "gotcha" day, she is my shadow in the house. Some previous owner docked her tail (😡) so she's got nothing to wag. She makes do by wiggling her butt.
16 days since her "gotcha" day, she is my shadow in the house. Some previous owner docked her tail (😡) so she's got nothing to wag. She makes do by wiggling her butt.
December 22, 2025 at 10:07 PM
According to this pretty girl I am a total rock star. Every move I make must be closely followed.
16 days since her "gotcha" day, she is my shadow in the house. Some previous owner docked her tail (😡) so she's got nothing to wag. She makes do by wiggling her butt.
16 days since her "gotcha" day, she is my shadow in the house. Some previous owner docked her tail (😡) so she's got nothing to wag. She makes do by wiggling her butt.
Introducing new dog (2 weeks with us) to long time cat (15 years with us). Got to the point of mutual ignoring today. Which is a victory! So, yeah, good week overall.
December 19, 2025 at 11:41 PM
Introducing new dog (2 weeks with us) to long time cat (15 years with us). Got to the point of mutual ignoring today. Which is a victory! So, yeah, good week overall.
The newest family member, Heidi (fka Sierra). Roughly 7yo, 57lb Doberman mix.
She was picked up from the streets of Houston by animal control then saved from the shelter by a solo animal rescue in Killeen. She was with them for a year getting treated for heartworm and getting dental work.
She was picked up from the streets of Houston by animal control then saved from the shelter by a solo animal rescue in Killeen. She was with them for a year getting treated for heartworm and getting dental work.
December 8, 2025 at 8:22 PM
The newest family member, Heidi (fka Sierra). Roughly 7yo, 57lb Doberman mix.
She was picked up from the streets of Houston by animal control then saved from the shelter by a solo animal rescue in Killeen. She was with them for a year getting treated for heartworm and getting dental work.
She was picked up from the streets of Houston by animal control then saved from the shelter by a solo animal rescue in Killeen. She was with them for a year getting treated for heartworm and getting dental work.
This is Sierra. She's being driven 100 miles from a rescue that saved her to visit us and, barring issues with our cat, to be adopted by us. We've been without a dog in the house since our most recent boy died very suddenly from aggressive lymphoma.
December 6, 2025 at 1:48 PM
This is Sierra. She's being driven 100 miles from a rescue that saved her to visit us and, barring issues with our cat, to be adopted by us. We've been without a dog in the house since our most recent boy died very suddenly from aggressive lymphoma.
Absolutely stunning! I love looking at sunset and sunrise pics over the water but would not want to live there. I get an occasional great sunrise off my front porch
December 1, 2025 at 12:20 AM
Absolutely stunning! I love looking at sunset and sunrise pics over the water but would not want to live there. I get an occasional great sunrise off my front porch
I understand. We lost this tuxedo girl in August just two days after we lost our 85lb rescue Greyhound/Great Dane. It was a tough week. Miss them both.
November 23, 2025 at 12:37 AM
I understand. We lost this tuxedo girl in August just two days after we lost our 85lb rescue Greyhound/Great Dane. It was a tough week. Miss them both.
This big guy hopped up on my front porch last week searching for a doe that has been hiding in our landscaping
November 17, 2025 at 3:38 PM
This big guy hopped up on my front porch last week searching for a doe that has been hiding in our landscaping
We are between dogs having adopted six rescues in 40-some years. This is our Dino who we lost very suddenly last August.
November 12, 2025 at 12:28 AM
We are between dogs having adopted six rescues in 40-some years. This is our Dino who we lost very suddenly last August.
November 5, 2025 at 11:53 PM
Same for this 19yo tortie but at 6:15am
November 3, 2025 at 2:58 PM
Same for this 19yo tortie but at 6:15am
We're old so we're partial to adopting older dogs. Currently between dogs. Lost our 10yo boy Dino to aggressive lymphoma very suddenly. We'll find another senior dog after wife has and recovers from rotator cuff repair surgery. Oh, and we've promised our 19yo cat we won't bring in another cat yet.
September 29, 2025 at 11:49 PM
We're old so we're partial to adopting older dogs. Currently between dogs. Lost our 10yo boy Dino to aggressive lymphoma very suddenly. We'll find another senior dog after wife has and recovers from rotator cuff repair surgery. Oh, and we've promised our 19yo cat we won't bring in another cat yet.
Here is a whole flock of bridges. Looking down at the Seine from the Eiffel Tower
September 24, 2025 at 10:18 PM
Here is a whole flock of bridges. Looking down at the Seine from the Eiffel Tower
Not to completely spook you but our Dino suddenly reduced how much he was eating and how far he would go on his morning walk.
Took him to the vet and it turned out he had advanced lymphoma. A week later he was unable to stand and we had to have him euthanized. I miss him.
Took him to the vet and it turned out he had advanced lymphoma. A week later he was unable to stand and we had to have him euthanized. I miss him.
September 24, 2025 at 3:56 PM
Not to completely spook you but our Dino suddenly reduced how much he was eating and how far he would go on his morning walk.
Took him to the vet and it turned out he had advanced lymphoma. A week later he was unable to stand and we had to have him euthanized. I miss him.
Took him to the vet and it turned out he had advanced lymphoma. A week later he was unable to stand and we had to have him euthanized. I miss him.
Visited there a couple of weeks ago and walked the trail around the base. Spectacular thing! Saw crazy people climbing it...
September 19, 2025 at 11:38 PM
Visited there a couple of weeks ago and walked the trail around the base. Spectacular thing! Saw crazy people climbing it...
