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Housebound We weren't really housebound in July. But, we had a lot to deal with at home.  A huge foundation repair began in the beginning of the month. On July 4th, I made the most of the small mountain (that came from underneath our house) and decorated with a flag. July 4 After all our travel in previous months, we just enjoyed being home.  We watched fireworks from the yard. July 4th Feasting We began the day with the tiniest of homemade waffles.
Later in the evening Don grilled chicken and we feasted on that, along with fresh corn and beans and watermelon. Outside Time Despite triple digit temps in much of July, we spent time outdoors. There were clouds on the full moon night, but I caught it early in the morning... near a cloud and jet stream.
Mornings in July were tolerable. I got out early with my coffee whenever I could. Cool Drinks in the Evening Most evenings, we have a decent breeze in back.
Don made good use of his Father's Day gift from June and made Mai Tais one evening. Another Father's Day gift got some attention in July.  Don's Grandpa & Granddaughter Outfits will be going into the suitcase in August. In August we won't be staying home! Good-Bye in July These photos are from the end of June, but our real good-bye to our neighbors, came in July.
 Mara and her family moved back to Italy right after the 4th. They will be missed. Mara was good at bringing neighbors together! Heat! This is the hottest July I remember in 24 years. But we made good use of the pool.  I got back to swimming laps, using a 40-year-old kick board. Lots of memories of lap swimming with Don, back when this board was new! Our 3rd date, was lap swimming... of all things! Potted Flowers Hanging out at home for a month, I concentrated on the yard and wondered why so many of my plants were suffering, despite my attention! Finally on July 31st, I had 3 blooms on the hibiscus.
I guess it's good we were home all of July. I'm not sure that any plants would have survived, without daily watering. Walking It was a quiet month. Probably just as well since Covid got crazy again, in July. But Don and I put in more walking miles than ever.  We got our earlier, walked longer and created some new routes. That's pretty lame for my July highlight. But I'll take it!
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New Mexico & Colorado Much of June was spent on the road, traveling in New Mexico and Colorado.
We toasted more than once, to the beautiful weather. Nearly perfect weather for 18 days! 12 Hotels We stayed at 9 interesting hotels. All 12 had curious histories. 3 had bank vaults, one had hot springs, 5 had glorious porches, 6 had excellent restaurants... all supposedly had ghosts. This is what we did on our travels... We drove a lot. Or rather, Don drove a lot. I cheered on the scenery. We ate and drank well... ... in pretty places and settings. We sat around... and relaxed. We explored... ...and found some odd things and some unusual picnic spots. Don had fun with everything from intriguing monuments...  ... to kiddie boats. I enjoyed posing...  ... with statues and donkeys and ice cream. Best of all we interacted with people a little more.
The pandemic is not gone, but we've eased back into enjoying conversations with travelers and locals on our trips! It was especially nice to meet up with some people we already know. It was great to spend time with our nephew, his wife and their sweet pooch.
... and it was fun to catch up and laugh with my old (and funny) friend from college!
It was a good month and we came home healthy! May Day! The month started off well, with a May Day Surprise on the porch!
Our sweet neighbors who moved away 2 years ago, moved back. They restarted their May Day tradition, by delivering a surprise goodie to our porch! Cinco de Mayo After 2+ years, Don and I had our first "gathering" at the house.  There were just 8 of us, but it felt like a party to me.  Margaritas, guacamole and lots of catching up! Blood Moon on May 15 Halfway through the month, we had some fun with the sky. Around 8:30, we watched the moon rise and got excited about viewing the total lunar eclipse.
About a half hour later, Don started focussing the other direction. We were able to watch the Space Station cross the sky in the west. Eclipse! Then it was time to turn back to the moon. I grabbed my Nikon and attempted to record the eclipse.
But I was too lazy to get the tripod. I got up once in the night and enjoyed the moon again, from the window. What a special Mid-Month-May treat! Best for Last The best of the month came towards the end. Don and I met up with Heidi, Jamie and little Charlie, for a week in Austin.
This was Charlie's first time away from her Oregon home, since she was born. She took on the Texas heat better than any of us! Parks Luckily there are lots of parks in Austin. The last time Don and I saw our grand daughter, she wasn't walking. We could hardly keep up! Hanging Out We rented a house and spent a lot of time, just hanging out.
Charlie did some good sleeping and some excellent singing and she loved the hall! Dining Out It was nice to get out and enjoy some of Austin's great food. Although Char enjoyed toys and faces as much as food.
A storm brought a cool front, which made outside dining possible! Friends Heidi and Jamie were able to see lots of their old friends.  I was excited that we got to see a few of them too. These girls have been friends since 6th grade.  It was pretty sweet to see the next generation!
It was also extra fun to see Charlie with other little ones! She was born during the pandemic and hasn't had much interaction with other kiddos. Summertime in May Cheers for sunny days at the end of May!  I'm glad we got to experience some summer activities in the parks...
...and some good food and drink in relaxed settings! A Happy End to May! Lots of laughter...
...and lots of love... in Austin!
"i love you so much" Turning 65! I hate the aging, but I love the Medicare part! Yay for turning 65!  And I didn't mind some of the nice surprises. Some fragrant and some funny and some sweet! Dining Out This year's birthday was lots more relaxed than the last two.  This is my third "covid birthday". But this year feels very different. We had a nice time celebrating at Houston's Rainbow Lodge. Birthday Zoom! This was also my third Birthday Zoom. There were only 6 of us at the first Zoom, two years ago!  I love being able to celebrate with our kids, in Oregon and California. Easter in Springfield A few days before Easter, Don and I hit the road for Missouri.
My sister flew in from Oregon and we spent 3 days hanging out with Dad. Our Airbnb just happened to be the home where Dad's brother and family lived.
We have good memories from visits to the stone house in the '60's and '70's. We made new memories, hanging out with games and coffee and old scrapbooks. A few easy meals out... Relatives We made it simple and met up with our Springfield relatives at a nearby brewery, on Saturday afternoon. It was a block from the old grocery store where Dad worked as a teen.  We visited with the relatives, some that we've known all our lives. And we met the newest relative! On the Road After a good visit, Don and I took four days to meander home, through Missouri and Arkansas. We stayed in a grain bin one night and an old orphanage, another.
We slept in the only still operating bath house/ hotel, in Eureka Springs. We spent the craziest and creepiest night ever, in a room filled with old dolls in Jefferson, TX. Enjoying the Road It felt good to take our time and on back roads. It was refreshing to be on the road, with new spring growth. We made lots of spontaneous stops along the way. Posing And we also managed to find some time to pose with strange characters...
And tasty drinks! Ending the Month At the end of the month, I was able to use a special birthday gift. Tickets to Fiddler on the Roof.  It's been over 50 years since I first saw this show on stage! It's been way over 2 years that I've been in a theatre. I was thrilled. Reminders The theatre's mask requirement, was a reminder that we are still living with a sad and serious pandemic.  The ending of the show, was a powerful reminder of the (also sad and serious) happenings in Ukraine.
War & disease is not something for a Happy Blog. But, there was a positive message after curtain call. Every performance is dedicated to the people of Ukraine. It's a good feeling to have a theatre packed with caring and concerned mask wearing patrons, applauding together in support. Belated Birthday The highlight of March, was our belated celebration with this 1-year-old!  Don and I had planned on being with our granddaughter on her Valentine's Day Birthday. But we delayed our trip for March. Quick Mardi Gras The night before we flew to Oregon, we squeezed in some Mardi Gras celebrating.
We finished packing and celebrated with beads and Sazeracs! From Houston to Oregon I love pre-dawn drives to the airport.
We left balmy Texas and arrived in the cool, moist state of Oregon on March 2. One Year Old It was wonderful spending time with this spunky little girl. At the time of our visit, Charlie was two months older than when we'd last seen her.
Charlie's Aunts were able to come spend some time as well. A year ago, our group of 7 gathered in this house when Charlie was 2 months old... we weren't vaccinated then and Charlie seemed so tiny. The world feels so different now! Celebrating is a lot more fun this year! Just spending time in the house was enough! Outings But it was nice feeling comfortable, out in the world a little more!
We had our first inside dining experience with Charlie!
On a cool, sunny day, we made it to the park. Charlie had her first time in a park swing! It was hard heading back to Texas. Spring in Texas But we were back in time for bluebonnets!  These were spotted on a walk in a nearby neighborhood. International Art & Kite Festival Just a few miles from home, I ventured to an annual event that I've never attended.
 The weather was perfect. Just warm enough and just windy enough. Friends Again in March March marked 2 years, since our real pandemic worrying began. This March, suddenly felt so much more relaxed.
It felt good to catch up with friends again... in person. TX Travel Although Don and I have traveled during these 2 years, we got out and enjoyed a quick trip with friends, Christy and Alan. A few lovely spring days, wandering in Texas Hill Country! What a great way to end the month!
Quiet Month It was a quiet and chilly and slow month.  We kept things simple in February. One highlight was enjoying a nice moonrise, over Lake LBJ. Ukes at the Cabin We spent a couple nights at the cabin. A fire and ukuleles. Perfect.
It's been over a year since Don and I pulled out the ukes. I'm pretty rusty. Games and Puzzles Seemed like time stood still this February. We watched a lot of the winter Olympics.
And we read and played games. Year of the Tiger We celebrated anything that came our way in February.  Happy Lunar New Year! Eating cake with chopsticks is not a good idea. February 14 On Valentine's Day we were supposed to be in Oregon, celebrating with this little one. But there were surges in Covid, so we rescheduled for March.  We Zoomed with this little Birthday Girl instead. Our Valentine's Day Don and I have had 43 Valentine's Days together. We've learned to keep it simple. Cookies and Cactus!
Music and Champagne. A big night! Galveston Weather was lousy towards the end of the month, but we enjoyed a getaway to the island for a couple nights.
It was only a 75 minute drive and suddenly we could see beach and tropical vegetation! A treat, even with blustery weather. Historic Buildings I adore the historic parts of the old city. The architecture of the Sacred Heart Church and Bishop's Palace, always impress me.
Some of the beautiful old homes were decorated for Mardi Gras. The Kettle House We ended the month with a stay at one of the more curious "hotel" options of Galveston. The Kettle House today, is an Airbnb.
10 years ago, I took a photo of what looked like spaceship with a roof! I never dreamed that someday we'd sleep inside that thing. Mid-Century Modern This oddball structure was transformed into a modern-cool, Airbnb a few years ago. We arrived with food and games and books and made ourselves at home.
The circular, modern space was lovely and comfy. It had a very fun Jetson's vibe, with decor from the 1960's.
We settled into the oddly shaped space, with all its knotty cypress. We entertained ourselves with ukes and Margaritas.
The upper and lower level were connected with a spiral staircase. It felt like a boat down below, with bunks built into the side and hanging chairs. Deck Space It felt like we'd drifted off in a boat for 2 days. I tried to go out "on deck" a couple times.  But it really was too windy. I lasted only minutes. Dinner on the Bay After a couple months of opting out of restaurants, we stepped back into the world of dining out! We found this spot within walking distance of "The Kettle".
The best part of this month was seeing some light at the end of the pandemic tunnel! Cheers to seeing the numbers drop! Bring on the spring!
Bye-Bye What a treat to wake up on New Year's Day to this little grand-baby!  But we also had to say good-bye to this little cutie (and her parents) on the first day of the year. That's never fun, but we had to head home. Good Start! The beginning of the year started with our road trip, from Oregon back to Texas. We squeezed in 2 family visits, in the first 2 days of January.
We had lunch with my sis and sister-in-law, on the first day. We had dinner with our son and daughter-in-law on the second day. No complaints about that! Scenery I soaked up all the scenery, during the 6 days of travel home. Luckily the roads were clear of snow on our first day. The windshield was pretty filthy by the time we reached west Texas. I pretended it was snowing. More Views from the Car Being winter, we took the southern route. We stayed in Tucson one night and I snapped a photo of a pretty church, not far from our hotel. In the sleepy Texas town of Van Horn, we spotted this Blue Origin mural. That was sort of amusing, so I snapped a pic from the car. Best Stop on the Route But the very best stop on our route was in Riverside, California. We booked one night at the historic Mission Inn Hotel.
Our trip was more about destination than exploration. We were all about getting home. But we made a last minute decision, to enjoy a night at Mission Inn. Exploration This grand hotel was worthy of a being our destination. The hotel complex covers an entire city block and gave us lots to explore.
Arriving on January 3rd, we had the added bonus of seeing the Festival of Lights display... without crowds. Home We made it home to Texas by January 6. The next night we had a second mini Christmas, opening the gifts we left behind.  Our holiday trip to Oregon, had been a last minute change in plans. It was a treat to get home and have a little extended celebrating, a week after Christmas. Christmas for Two I was in no hurry for the holidays to end. We enjoyed a tiny feast for 2.  And we enjoyed some gifts for two! This wasn't the first time that Don and I gave each other the same gift. Pitiful and Funny After traveling in the first week, my focus was "un-decorating" during the second week of January. I wasn't too surprised to se the sea of needles under the tree.  It was a pretty hideous sight. Our fresh tree was not so fresh! It was easier to face the pitiful tree with a camera and sense of humor. Good-Bye Tree I was never so happy to get rid of a tree. There was still water in the stand, but the tree refused to drink while we were gone.
I used my new gift of work gloves, to deal with the removal task. Last Weeks We started January with family and good scenery. Then we arrived home and did little with the rest of the month.
I was perfectly fine with that. There was time to catch up on some important things. Lounging and Zooms/phone chats with friends. Nice to be home.
Altering Plans December was a crazy month, with lots of last minute changes. We had expected to have Christmas in Texas, with the kids.
But with Omicron cases spiking, we all worried over the safety of our unvaccinated grand baby. Flights were cancelled and Don and I drove to Oregon. Decorating I got a little manic, in the first weeks of December. I decorated every surface I could find. It's been 5 years since the "married kids" have all been in this house together.
Baby Charlie has never been to our house, so I put out silly things... that a 10-month-old is far too young to care about. I practiced the carols, that I played for our kids, when they weren't old enough to sing. And I decorated for the adult kids. Scott likes the old ceramic tree... once corny, but now kitschy.
I pulled out all the Xmas coffee mugs and holiday glasses and silly decor for Tiki Night. Work! Don did as much as he could. It's not easy to help, when your fractured back is trying to heal. I did the tree hauling and decorating. He cheered me on!
 We finished up our renovation projects and the upstairs rooms were ready. I made a lame attempt at outside lights. Good enough! By December 21, the house was ready to welcome the kids home. Rethinking Plans On the 21st, the house was ready, but suddenly our eager moods changed. Don and I spent all day debating with the kids, through texts and phone calls. Advice from doctor relatives and pediatricians, had us extra worried about air travel with a baby. Our kids were concerned about their parents as well. Especially the one who had open heart surgery... By 9 pm, we decided we all wanted to be together, with the lowest risk. Don and I said we'd drive out the next day. I gathered the boxes the kids had shipped to Texas. I bagged the wrapped gifts.
In the morning we threw some clothes in suitcases, grabbed bread and peanut butter and filled the car. We were off by 10 and hoped to make it to Portland in 5 days. As soon as the car pulled from the drive, I stopped moping about the Christmas we weren't going to have in balmy Texas. I started focusing on being together, in wintry Oregon! Holiday Travel It was an odd 5 days, rushing through 5 states during the holidays. One morning I lived it up, with red Krispy Kreme donuts! On Christmas Eve I crossed my fingers for good luck as we left our hotel. We worried over winter storms and mountain passes.
We ended up taking the safer and much longer, coastal route. It landed us in the magical town of Ferndale, CA by 7 pm. For Christmas Eve dinner we had cheese and crackers in our room and felt giddy to know we'd be with the family on Christmas. Christmas Entertainment Luckily Don's back didn't bother him while driving. He drove the whole 2,700 miles!  We couldn't complain about driving on Christmas, when we studied the scenery. The rainbow seemed to be a pretty good sign! We texted Christmas greetings during the day and made it to Happy Valley just before dark! Baby Time The house couldn't have felt cozier. There was a fire and a lit tree. The kids handed us champagne and unloaded the car for us. Baby Charlie woke up from her nap and I had to hold back my giddiness, so I didn't scare her. But after a few minutes, Charlie happily went along with the celebration! I tried my best to share, but it wasn't easy! Cozy Christmas We were quick to shift the calendar dates. When you don't leave the house, it's easy to believe that December 26th is Christmas Eve. For the next couple days, we celebrated with food, games, music and gifts. No captions needed. It was wonderful to be together. December 28th There was a new layer of snow the day Scott and Chali had to head back to Sacramento.
I'm glad they had a couple days to hang out before we arrived. But it was hard saying good-bye. Luckily they made it home safely in a day. Post Christmas Don and I had a quiet couple days, before we left to head home.
We got in some book reading time. Charlie loves Don's chin. New Year's Eve It was a quiet New Year's Eve. We didn't spend time reflecting on the year. 2021 will not be remembered as a favorite, for most. But it was the year this baby was born... during a pandemic, in the middle of an ice storm... on Valentine's Day.
We made no resolutions, but toasted with Hotel Nacional cocktails. We made interesting and funny predictions about 2022. Good Ending It was a strange year and a strange month. But the last week of December 2021, was a special one!  It didn't really matter where we were. We 7 were together for Christmas and I'm so grateful for that!
A November Wedding Weather was beautiful in early November. I attended my first "event" since the pandemic started. Poor Don started having serious back issues and I had to go alone.
It was nice and and sort of odd going solo to a wedding. I haven't attended a wedding alone since 1978, when I caught my friend's bouquet... chatted with the groom's friend Don, then married him year later. Stuck at Home Don's bypass recovery (and added back issues) kept us pretty much stuck at home in November.
But we made good use. After 23 years in this house, we finally got around to making some changes. Thanksgiving By November 22, Don was willing to give travel a try. We headed for New Orleans to be with my sibs and their spouses for Thanksgiving.  After 20 months of pandemic (and 2 months of post surgery healing for Don) it felt wonderful to celebrate with family again! We were able to dine out safely. (Vaccine cards required in Nola restaurants) And we feasted at home. Mostly it was just wonderful to catch up with each other, after such a long time. Good Old New Orleans We avoided the crowds and tricky logistics of the French Quarter, this time. But we walked daily in the Garden District. What a treat to see the old homes, the decorations and a few sweet animals as well.
November ended much better than it began! Favorite Month October is one of my favorite months. Don and I often travel during October and end up missing some of the great weather. No travel this year.
I got some of the old decorations out, on the first of the month. I knew we were going to be spending a lot of time at home. Early Celebration We had a long Zoom with the kids on October 3, two days before Don's birthday.  That was a highlight of the month for sure. Baby Charlie joined in for way over an hour. She even clapped when we sang Happy Birthday!  I made Don spaghetti and meatballs and a funny looking cake, for later that evening. Happy Birthday Surgery Don's 67th birthday won't go down as one of his favorites. He had open heart surgery that day.
A couple days later, Don got out of ICU and was able to have flowers and a better view. Visitors Luckily the Covid restrictions had recently eased a bit at the hospital. Don was able to have more than one visitor per day.  Scott flew in from California. With the help of a couple Covid tests, he felt safe helping out with his dad. It was a treat for me too! We didn't get to be in the building at the same time, but took turns cheering Don on. Home! After 5 nights in the hospital, Don came home. Scott cut his dad free. No more hospital bracelets!
There were cards and goodies to open and late birthday gifts. Support Things were quiet and not as festive as our usual reunions, but it was wonderful having Scott's support.
I was glad that Scott made use of the pool a few times. I miss having him home! Good-bye I made sure to put the camera timer on, so we could have a photo before I took Scott to the airport. No selfies for me.  So happy to have had this guy home for a week! 42nd Anniversary Don and I have had a lot of anniversaries. We knew this would be a quiet one.  It was 2 weeks after surgery, so we toasted with sparkling juice and got DoorDash delivery for dinner. This wasn't the best of all anniversaries, but maybe the most meaningful. I'm grateful that Don had this surgery. Because of that, we'll be having lots more! Walks The one thing we did a lot of this month, was walking. Don started with 5 minute walks in the hospital. His first days at home he walked 4 times a day, inside the house.
The weather got nicer and 10 days after surgery we started 2 walks a day outside. By the end of the month, we were enjoying the scenery and talking. Sometimes 50 minutes at a time. Gradually getting there! Cheers to Home Just like those pandemic quarantine months, we spent a lot of time at home. With a couple cool fronts, the plants started perking up! We were home to enjoy the changes in the yard!
And towards the end of the month we had a tiny toast with some tiny martinis. Very yummy, after almost a month of juice and sparkling water! Halloween The last day of the month gave us the prettiest weather. I carved the pumpkin as I do every year. Don came out and watched.
We had only a few trick-or-treaters, but I enjoyed my candy duty more than most years. So happy to see faces and not wear cloth masks this year. So glad to for the balmy air. So glad for the end of the month! Cheers to 27 days of recovery!
Dodging Hurricanes Last month my brother's family evacuated from Nola (and Hurricane Ida) to our home.  This September, Hurricane Nicholas headed towards Houston. Don and I headed to the Hill Country. No Rain We were lucky. It was peaceful at the cabin.  There was no rain. Back Home We returned to Sugar Land to find a lot of sticks in the yard. But we also found happy plants.
And pretty sunsets. Volunteering I haven't been able to volunteer with my Quilt Groups in 18 months. But in mid September, I was able to help out with families who have evacuated to Houston from Afghanistan.  There were 20 families living in a Houston hotel. The children had opportunities each day to gather with other kids for games and art, in the hotel conference room. Communicating I've worked with kids before, who don't share my language. But I've never volunteered in a mask before.
It was tough communicating with only half a face. But the kids were gracious and appreciative. Their drawings were brighter and happier than I would have imagined, from kids who recently fled their country. The word LOVE was written on many of the papers. Keeping Positive Sadly, the pandemic continued to interfere with our world in September. The Delta variant... Anti-vaxers... break through cases... led to some changes in plans. I cancelled a trip to Montana. We stopped dining in restaurants. We stayed closer to home again. Not a bad thing.
There was lots of good scenery in the old 'hood. This Guy Towards the end of the month, we found a little something else, that would be altering our world along with Covid. A stress test led to more... and now it looks like this guy will be having a bypass, next month.  That's not great stuff for a Happy Blog. But look at him in this pic! Don was feeling happy, because the decision was made. He was lucky to have a good team of doctors helping him make the best decision. Don is also lucky to be in good health otherwise. Good bye blockage, comes next month.
Cheers for science and living in one of the best medical communities in the world! Baby Time We spent pretty much all of August, at home in Texas.
But on the first day of the month, we spent time with this little one in Portland. We flew home on the second.  We were forced to enjoy Charlie's half-year birthday from afar. It seems so long ago that this little girl joined the world on Valentine's Day. House and Yard Most of August was centered around home chores.  We finally faced facts that our palms weren't coming back to life.
After 22 years, these tall friends left us. It was at least very entertaining to watch. Finally Also after 22 years, we decided it was time to face the aging kitchen.  I don't love shopping and I don't like big home improvement decisions. But Don and I spent some time educating ourselves and we are beginning to make some changes. Cabin Time We had no travel in August, but we headed to the cabin and faced more plants, that died in the winter freeze.
We dealt with spiderwebs and plumbing issues and celebrated over the palm that survived.  It was sizzling hot during the day, but we managed to sit outside and enjoy the quiet evening. Popcorn and martinis! Classy. Cautious Socializing After a few months of feeling safe with our vaccines, we were back to worrying over surging Covid cases, in August. More news of the Delta variant and breakthrough cases, made us go back to wearing masks and avoiding indoor dining.  We haven't really done much socializing since Covid began. But we did safely enjoy a few friends in August.  Cheers to friends who are vaccinated and cautious. Hurricane Ida On the anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, Ida made landfall in New Orleans.  A few days before on Friday, Don and I stayed up late watching the news. That's not stuff for a Happy Blog...
But these dogs made us happy. My brother and wife, their niece and the two bulldogs arrived at 1 am. They made a last minute decision to evacuate from New Orleans, on that Friday afternoon. Waiting and Watching  We spent a few days watching the TV and hoping for the best. On Saturday we toasted to my bro and sis-in-law's anniversary.  On Sunday, Ida made landfall and by evening all of New Orleans was without power. Again, that is not "happy" news, except that we were so glad they had chosen to come. When you have family spread out over the country, it's hard to help during a crisis. It felt so good to have them safe, in our home. Last Day of August Here's a photo taken on the last day of August. It's not my most flattering portrait, but I'm smiling behind that mask.
When I met with my oncologist he pointed out the good results on my labs. He looked at my records and said it was time for me to stop seeing him so often. Yay for ending the quarterly visits! What a good way to end the month!
Portland In the beginning of July, we flew to Portland.
Don and I spent 10 days hanging out with Heidi, Jamie and our grandbaby.  Charlie couldn't have been more fun.  5 months is a pretty perfect time to enjoy this little one! Good sleep schedule and no crawling! Getting Out Our time felt so different, than the time we spent together last winter. It was cold and none of us were vaccinated, then. We enjoyed those special 2.5 months in a family bubble, but activities were obviously restricted.
What a treat to be together this July. We were able to get out and enjoy the beautiful Oregon weather.  We enjoyed a couple wineries, without sweating!  And we sampled craft beer in the city. Mostly we just enjoyed being together. Travel After our stay in Portland, we rented a car and headed south towards Sacramento. We meandered along the coast driving to California and back, staying at 9 epic hotels. We slept in a riverboat and in a few 100-year-old hotels. A couple vintage motels, balanced it all out! Sacramento In Sac, we stayed with Scott and Chali. The 4 of us enjoyed cooking and hanging out, just like we did during our last visit. But this time we had fewer restrictions. We got out and explored!
It felt like we'd gone to a tropical island, when we had drinks at Shangi-La. Locke, California I felt like we'd stepped back in time, when we wandered the small rural Chinese town of Locke, 30 miles south of Sacramento. We spent a peaceful morning exploring the historic community, that has changed so little since it began, in 1915. James Motlow We had a nice surprise before leaving Locke. We met the photographer of the book, Bitter Melon.  James Motlow lives in Locke. Chali and I each bought his book, which features his photographs from the 1970's. Such a special community. Scenery Don and I soaked up some stunning scenery, in both Oregon and California. We appreciated it even more, after stopping to buy warmer clothes. Our Texas blood is too thin, for the cooler temps at the coast. Eugene On our trip back to Portland, we had a 2-night stop with my sister and family.
Jennifer and Kate served up some amazing meals. Aly, got us laughing with her "Cards Against Humanity" game.
A heatwave annoyed the locals, but Don and I loved it. We took off with Jennifer and her pup, Charlie. Nice to get out hiking! Mini Reunion Back in Portland we had a Sunday picnic, the day before we left town.
Charlie got to meet her second cousin and all of Jenni and Kate's family. I got to do little more baby holding.  It was wonderful to spend a few hours visiting and feasting on a lovely day. A good ending to a good month!
Friends, Family, Travel A year ago, Don and I were only Zooming with friends and family. This June felt very different. We drove to Missouri to see Dad and we were able to gather with my Meyer relatives... in person.
We also spent time in Oklahoma, with our old neighbors Kim and Dan. We toasted to good health and to the fact that the 4 of us became grandparents, during the pandemic! Juneteenth We began our 4-state road trip on June 19th. We learned about Juneteenth when we first moved to Texas, 23 years ago. This year it was declared a National holiday.  Our first stop was in Carthage, Texas where we lucked into a Juneteenth fundraiser celebration. The mood was festive, but the history of Juneteenth (and shirt messages) is sobering. "Juneteenth, Free-ish since 1865" We met some wonderful people and sampled our first goat sandwich! Dad Time In Springfield, we had 4 days to do some catching up and exploring with Dad.  I'm so grateful that Dad and my relatives are vaccinated. After getting home, Dad's facility went back on lockdown, due to 3 residents getting Covid. The covid case numbers are spiking in his city. This is the Happy Blog, so I'll only say... I'm feeling lucky for our 4 days. Travel Buddy We had a few fun overnight stops, on the way to and from Missouri. 
It was fun to be back on the road, stopping and exploring. Arkansas, Missouri and Oklahoma The weather was mostly sunny, during our week away. We explored a few small towns, on foot. Mena, Eureka Springs, Pawhuska... and the small city of Springfield. Pretty Weather We had beautiful weather in Arkansas and Missouri.
 We took advantage of the cool temps and sunshine. Father's Day We stretched Father's Day weekend, with a couple visits to craft breweries. Don loves them, so I was happy to go along... especially with a lovely outdoor patio. 
A brewery in Mena, Arkansas had no outdoor seating. It felt oddly normal to be back inside again. I'm glad we have choices now. Plus, they had some tasty non-beer options for people like me! Cheers to Hard Lemonade Slushie! People Encounters After a year plus of hiding behind masks, we found ourselves opening up to strangers again. I enjoyed a converstaion with the owner of our Missouri motor court motel. We discussed our relief of getting vaccines, especially with worries of the Delta variant.
With the young cowboy in Oklahoma, I did not discuss the pandemic. I guess I should feel pretty embarrassed by this photo. Giddy expression and zero social distancing. I'm excited about the near future when I don't feel guilty about spontaneous moments like this. Mom There's one more sweet moment, I'll remember from June. We made a stop to Maple Park Cemetery, before leaving Springfield.
I forgot to plan ahead, so I had no flowers for the graves of my mom or grandmother. But I found a stray piece of flower in the grass and I built a silly stick structure. I have good memories of stick building with Mom, on summer days of my childhood.
June was a good month. I visited Dad and I visited Mom. Color Field Exhibit Don and I started May off with lots of color!  We finally got in the car and drove down to University of Houston, to catch this temporary exhibit.  The weather was lovely and we wandered the campus, spotting bright and mostly happy pieces of art. Cinco de Mayo We celebrated May 5th, pretty much like we did in 2020.  We could have gone out this year, but it was more fun enjoying the good weather and fun colors, at home. Green Margaritas and guacamole! Red salsa! Spontaneous Trip The month of May didn't start well for my daughter. She came down with a case of Shingles. Not easy for a new mama.
I made a quick trip to Portland to help out. It was odd to get on a plane after all these pandemic months. I've never been so grateful for my vaccine. I wouldn't have done this a year ago. Charlie I flew out on Thursday before Mother's Day. Luckily Heidi's illness took a good turn and we had a short and enjoyable visit.  This sweet little girl kept me sighing and laughing. I got in lots of holding time, before heading home on Mother's Day. Travel for Travel's Sake For the first time in 15 months, Don and I traveled just for the fun of travel.  We took off on a 4-day Texas road trip and stayed in historic hotels. Port Aransas, McAllen, Gonzales, Castroville. Dining Out We had our first inside dining experience since the pandemic started. We ate oysters and burgers and crepes and pasta.
We wore our masks coming and going, since this pandemic is not over. Navigating this partially vaccinated world is odd. I chose to just enjoy the fact that we feel safe and tried not to overthink it. Food tastes so much better on a plate, than in a carryout container! Porches Our road trip took us to some great hotel porches.   We may be easing back to normal, but we're still very content with a little isolated porch time! What We Saw It's kind of amazing how refreshing a 4-day getaway can be. Change of scenery. That's really all it takes sometimes. Here are just a few little images that are sticking with me, from those few days. Chores and Rewards The rest of May was filled with catch up chores. Don continued working with the chainsaw. The oleanders began coming back! There's still so much yard repair, from the damaging winter.  But we've given ourselves rewards and the last was on Memorial Day weekend. Let the summer begin!
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