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Year of the Dragon! Don and I celebrated the Lunar New Year at home in Sugar Land, with some good Chinese food and a dragon... and a bear.  The next day was the Super Bowl and I have no photos and 2 days later was... Mardi Gras! We do love a celebration! And so does the Austin fam! So nice to drive only 2.5 hours to celebrate with them. A year ago, they were 2,000 miles away in Oregon.
Don and Heidi cooked up an amazing gumbo.  No photos of our Sazeracs, but the masks, beads and King Cake were photo-worthy! Valentine's Day The main reason we made the trip, was to be there there for Valentine's Day.
Heidi got up extra early to make this stylin' 3-year-old a special breakfast. Homemade Poptart and fruit!
It's a miracle that Miss Independent Girl was willing to put on a festive dress and tiara and pose for a few pics before heading off to school! She seemed excited about her day! Art in Austin On the way to Charlie's daycare, we spotted some Valentine art from the road! Made me chuckle!  In the afternoon, Don and I were back at "school" for a Valentine Party, for 2 and 3 year olds. What a hoot! Birthday Time! Then it was time for the next celebration. Valentine's Day was also Charlie's 3rd birthday, so there were presents to open.
There was time to play with toys and to eat a a little Indian food. Korma was Char's choice for dinner! Then it was time to sing and blow out the #3 candle!  She tackled her Birthday Cheese Cake, with a few techniques. Flamingos! It was all about flamingos for the next few days. I loved helping with bath and Charlie loved her new flamingo towel.
There were flamingo jammies and a hopping flamingo...
There was some dancing with the "furry" pink flamingo puppet!  Party! On Saturday there was a party with friends. The flamingo sweatshirt came off.
Charlie romped and climbed and played, (in her favorite her Jimi Hendrix shirt) before pizza and cake. Home At home it was fun to watch just a handful of kiddos and adults enjoying the evening.  I have a feeling these 3 little girls, are going to be amazing independent young women someday.  Just like their moms! Leigh (L) and Heidi, have been friends since they were about the same age as the daughters. 3 wonderful moms here! Days of Play Don and I kept Char home from school for a couple days, so we could play.
So happy the predicted rain held off. A year ago we celebrated the 2-Year Birthday in Oregon. There was a snow storm.   We enjoyed being outside with this little jumper, before heading back home! Pool Time? Back home we had work to do. Or workmen to watch.  After a few days of demolition, I took a swim in the mess of old tile and coping! Time at Home After months of being on the go, it was nice to have more home time in February. I've gotten back to the piano.  Instead of getting frustrated with my sloppy skills, I've been creating my own music, instead. Never a mistake if it's all improvised! That clashing note was supposed to be there! Old Boxes I had time for a little memorabilia sorting. I studied my parent's old wedding photos and felt happy instead of sad. Yes, they were divorced. Yes, they have died. But I'm grateful that I witnessed their sweet reunion in 2005.
I found my grandmother's wedding announcement and my great grandmother's wedding invitation. What treasures! Time to Explore Sometimes I forget that I don't have to go on a trip to explore.  With more home-time this month, I discovered this school in Booth, Texas.  Just a 15-minute drive from our house! What an amazing property from 1912! Slow Progress Work on the pool progressed with decent February weather.
 I was totally entertained through the windows!  By the end of the month we had fresh plaster, tile and coping. In March, we'll replace dead plants and get the patio deck refreshed!  As we end February, it's too cold to swim, but we at least have water to look at! Cheers to the hot months ahead!
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Happy at Home! After such a busy and emotional December, we eased into the first day of January. A lazy day starting with Rose Bowl parade. Then we cheered on Michigan. Funny. I don't even like football.  I didn't have the proper shirt, so I wore Don's old U of M rugby shirt!  A week later, we dressed up a bit more and went to dinner. It was the night before Michigan played Washington in HOUSTON! You never know if any celebs will be in town for the National Championship.
There was a festive buzz of energy and we kept a look out. No celebs sighted, but we chatted with many people wearing maze and blue. And we ate well. Getting Out The beginning of January, offered good weather. I stopped rolling my eyes and played Pickle Ball for the first time. I had to admit, it wasn't dumb, it was fun and I was pooped after 90 minutes.
I did a thing I haven't done in a million years. I went clothes shopping with a friend. Shari found a gorgeous Mother of the Groom dress at the Galleria! I love shopping when I'm not the one trying on clothes! Weather January weather was lovely, until it wasn't.  This photo was taken in mid January, the evening before our big freeze. We lost some plants but kept the pipes from freezing. Cabin Time We managed to avoid frozen pipes at the cabin, too. Which is very good, since we had visitors!
Charlie came to the cabin for the very first time. It was fun to see her reactions as she discovered things.
Rocks!
Puzzles and games! We had a quick lunch outing...
Charlie kept busy, but she did pause for some Mommy time.
And we all relaxed and stared at the fire. So much better than a TV. Charlie helped with real cooking... and pretend cooking.
The iron stove was one that her great-great-grandmother played with as a child. It had been a salesman's sample! What a cozy visit. Heading West On January 22, Don and I left the cabin and headed west. 
We stayed at a favorite hotel of ours in Van Horn, Texas. Saguaro Picnic We made sure to allow enough to time in Arizona, for a visit to Saguaro National Park.  What a perfect place for a winter picnic... and posing with cactus characters. Quartzsite, AZ So glad we had time to stop and explore this unusual town!
We visited the grave/monument for Hi Jolly. Hi was not a camel, but he was a camel driver from Syria. Hi died in Quartzsite, in 1902. 2 Nights in Tucson We spent 2 nights in the same city, which we rarely do while traveling. Lodge of the Desert was a little oasis. It started welcoming guests in the 1930's.
Of course we changed it up and stayed the second night at a totally different kind if place. Casino del Sol. "You booked us in a casino, Don?"
But we had fun, jumping from one kind of atmosphere to the next. Slot machines to tiki bars! Food & Drink in Arizona I packed a couple of "just in case shirts". (click to enlarge) You never know when you'll need a western shirt, or a tiki shirt. Villa Royale in Palm Springs The real destination of our road trip was to see our son and daughter in law in CA, So why not stay at the hotel they told us about last year?
It was just as heavenly as they described. Palm Royale was indeed a retro oasis. We lucked out and hit it on their monthly Paella Night! What a feast! Upper Lake, CA We drove through Upper Lake a few years ago, and were drawn to the old hotel.
This time we got to spend a night at the historic Tallman Hotel. What an evening with dinner and live music at the hotel's restaurant. I even danced with some locals! (click to enlarge) In the morning, we had breakfast along with the musicians, from the night before. Then we hit the road. The Coast Big rains were starting to roll in, when we checked into Heritage House, south of Mendocino.
We explored the historic property and took in some incredible views, before the rains hit that night. Napa We had a rainy drive to Napa the next day. Most go to Napa for the wineries. We were content to just stay put near our hotel, which had once been a milling complex. We wandered with umbrellas.
We dined at a sweet French restaurant, spotted a curious octopus near the river and saw the sun peek out the next morning. Sacramento with The Kids! Our meandering road trip was fun, but the real reason for the trip was to see Scott and Chali. It's hard having them so far away!
Hanging out in their home, is always my favorite. Lola the pooch loves the attention and we get to catch up, without distraction. But we did get out for walks in the park and we even had a fun trip wandering through the neighborhood hardware store!
And there was a brunch, at Bacon & Butter. What a name! Cha Time And I had some time with Chali!  She invited me to my very first Sound Bath experience. Soothing, with curious instruments and magical meditation! I finally got to see a movie at Sacramento's old Tower Theatre!
I love old theatres and movies and popcorn! Don and Scott were back home, enjoying some football. Family! It was a good start to the 2024. A little quiet home-time and then some travel.
But, the absolute best part of January was the time spent with The Kids, in Texas and in California. How lucky I feel to have family that we enjoy, so very much. I of course wish we all lived closer. It's especially tough saying good-bye when you'll soon be nearly 2,000 miles apart. But we have a lot of sweet (and fruity) memories to enjoy... until we get together next!
Dad and Charlie Time This photo is not from December, but it captures my bittersweet feelings about this past month. I'm so grateful I was able to spend time with the oldest and youngest members of my family...  December began with focus on Dad. My sister and I spent the first week of the month, at Dad's bedside. It was heartbreaking and heartwarming, sad and touching... so many emotions. When things felt extra tough, I reminded myself that I would be seeing my granddaughter over the holidays. Charlie is the happiest distraction ever. I'm so grateful that Dad was able to have fun with her, 3 months ago. Dad Time This is the Happy Blog, so I won't talk about the darkest moments of our time with Dad. The good parts are shown below.
Jennifer and I were nervous as we headed from the airport to the hospital, but we found Dad alert and with a sense of humor. We laughed and said no to a 6-pack of beer. Dad chuckled over some phone videos and smiled to see photos of his kids from the 1960's.
After one night in a hotel, we returned to the hospital early and "moved in". Staff brought another couch and extra food. (Jennifer's sling came a couple days later) Dad mostly slept that first full day, but we got our brothers on the phone when he rallied. When we sisters were worn and ready for bed, Dad suddenly woke and surprised us with a stronger voice. He had much to say, as he shared stories for nearly an hour. Jennifer pulled out her iPad wth an album of Dad's childhood photos. The images triggered more memories. He talked about his brothers and his pretty mother and funny memories of Halloween stunts from his youth. He spoke warmly about his childhood dogs, Skippy and Shep. Final Days Dad's doctor didn't know how many days he had left. 2-20 is a big span. Dad basically "slept" for the next few days. Jennifer and I slipped away to his assisted living apartment. Staff greeted us warmly. We found "Welcome Back" notes on Dad's door. It was tough breaking the news (especially to his biggest fan, Annie) that he wouldn't be returning.
It wasn't easy (physically or emotionally) rushing to clean out Dad's apartment, while he "rested" a few miles away. But we had good moments, when we found old photos and curious books. Annie was excited when we shared his "Obama Box". She reminded us how thrilled she was when she spotted him wearing an "End Racism" hat. The hurried job got even tougher, when Jennifer slipped off a stool. After getting a temporary cast at Dad's hospital, we were back at the apartment the next day, quickly finishing up. Good Bye Dad On December 8th, Jennifer and I got a hotel room for the night. A nurse called before 4 am the next morning, to say our father had died. I guess Dad just needed some peace and quiet, from his slumber party daughters...
We headed to the hospital to say good-bye. There's nothing Happy about that. But the smiling moon and decorations tried to cheer us. And the chilly air seemed to slap me with a shot of courage. I was relieved to step into empty elevators and quiet halls. I was so very glad to have my sister with me, to face the moment we knew was coming. Kisses, hugs, tears... Grateful for This One Jennifer and I tied up loose ends before we headed to the airport. We drove by our grandmother's house and stopped for a quick selfie, near the stone post we used to climb. Daw's house was our anchor, when our family moved frequently. We stayed in her cozy home, whenever we visited our Springfield relatives. So many memories.  In recent years, Jennifer and I have met up in Springfield numerous times to visit and care for Dad. On December 9, we stood on our favorite corner in Springfield and wondered when we'd ever be together in this town again. I don't like thinking about that. But, I'm glad we snapped the photo. It's a reminder of just how lucky I am to have this sister of mine, who laughed and cried with me for a week... and broke her arm and kept going. Love you Sis! Happy Dad Days I've shared some heavy stuff for a Happy Blog. So here's a slideshow, with happy pictures of Dad. There are a couple photos from when Dad was a boy and others from when he was a young dad. There are photos with grandkids and his 2 great- grandkids. The most recent photos are from his 95th birthday in September. When I feel the saddest, I remember how we all celebrated, so recently! I'm so happy to have those memories. December Part 2 There was a foggy week between my farewell to Dad and my much needed hello to Charlie. Knowing the the house would be full of energy and happy noise, got me through!  I brought a grumpy/sad mood and nagging cold home from Springfield, but there was no time to pamper myself. I still had unpacking to do from Europe and I hadn't started shopping or decorating. My lack of patience was evident, when I found myself ranting over ripped wrapping paper or glaring at long Post Office lines. The way I yanked at the vacuum cord as I raced to clean, showed I was not in the holiday spirit. But suddenly it was the 19th and Charlie and her parents changed everything! Zoo Light Adventure! We got into the holiday spirit quickly, with an early Christmas gift from Charlie's Uncle Scott and Aunt Cha! Tickets to Houston's Zoo Lights! It was just what we needed! It was a colorful night, with illuminated creatures and a few real animal sightings! The carousel might have been Charlie's favorite! Dining Out We had 9 days together, so we were able to fit in a few restaurant outings.
Dumplings and lollipops were a hit, at Mori Sushi! Schnitzel and live music at Rudi Lechner's! (click to enlarge) Don was in heaven with his boot-of-beer!
Charlie loved the music! Alpenhorn and accordion! She tipped well. Home-cooking There were no Christmas cookies in the house until Heidi arrived.  The house was filled with wonderful smells every day! We ate well!! Ready For Christmas On Christmas Eve the stockings were hung. We were missing Scott and Chali's stockings this year. But happy to know they were with family, in Thailand.
The Christmas Crab was also hanging and ready to be worn! You never know who might get crabby and need to wear the plastic crab necklace! Charlie was up and ready at 7. We all wore jammies, all day long. Some of us added hats, when the sun poured through the windows and made us squint through gift opening. 9 Days I'm so grateful that we had so many days together. I needed some festive distraction. There was time for the park and the piano. Lots of time for play. I needed that. Skippy I loved the happy distraction, but I also loved the precious reminders of Dad, throughout the holidays. Charlie for some reason wanted me to read the "Skippy" book to her, numerous times a day. After a couple of days, Charlie was "reading" it to me.
This is the book that my dad made for his grandkids in 1989. (My brother did the illustrations) It's the story of a boy, whose dog is missing. Every time I read the story, I remembered Dad when he last spoke in the hospital and talked about his dog Skippy. I never grew tired of reading this story over the holidays. Good-Bye 2023 The month began with Dad... and my sister. A good portion of December was spent with Charlie and her wonderful parents.  The last day of the month and year, was spent with just Don. It was peaceful and lovely. We sat near the fire pit with champagne. I feel very lucky to have had his never-ending support, this month... and always.
Museum & Lunch When Don's sister visited in early November, we had lunch and visited the Houston Museum of Fine Arts.  We dined near the museum, at a cafe table that reminded me of Paris... which was exciting since Don and I (just days before) booked a spontaneous trip to Paris Art Near Home With Jane, we practiced being traveling tourists at the museum.    We walked some miles seeing numerous exhibits at the museum! Museums & Galleries The very next day we were off to Austin where we joined family and played tourist a little bit more.   Weather was lousy, but the Thinkery Museum for kiddos was a blast! More Art Jane and I enjoyed touring some studios and galleries.  "Austin's Studio Tour" festival, gave us a chance to meet artists in their own studios. Best Entertainment Besides galleries and museums, there was time for Charlie's last soccer match.  And there was time to hang out at the house. Coloring, puzzling and hamming it up a bit! ❤️ Paris By November 22nd, Don and I were suddenly in Paris! Our last visit was 24 years ago.  It was a last minute decision, since we had no holiday plans and flight costs were low! Fouquet's We had Thanksgiving dinner at Fouquet's, just like we did in 1999.  Years ago, Don and the kids studied the brass plates on the walkway, looking for the names of famous visitors. This time, I posed on the red carpet. Things looked a lot more decorated! Eating Through Paris We ate a lot. Food and drink always tastes better in lovely settings, like Fouquet's and Musee d'Orsay and Hotel Bristol. We ate inside quaint cafes and at a tiny outside table in Montmarte, watching the artists, paint and sell. Walking Through Paris Although we Uber-ed a couple times, we mostly walked. And walked and walked. That's how you burn off all the French food! Museum Time We only had 4 days in Paris, so we chose Musee d'Orsay over the Louvre. We loved seeing the classics, like Degas' Little Dancer. But we also love the grand building itself and the stunning views from windows! Strasbourg, France I'd barely heard of Strasbourg, until the day after we decided to go to Paris.  I woke up and peeked at Instagram and saw a mind-blowing reel, showing magical images of the old city's annual Christmas Markets. We booked 2 nights in the storybook town, on the border of Germany. Night Market There are numerous Christmas Markets in Old Strasbourg, all just steps from our hotel. At night we bundled and joined the crowds. Ate pretzels and German sausage and hot wine, as we wandered. Exploring In the early morning, it was easier to see the old village without crowds. I meandered and found us some wonderful restaurants... we returned and ate some memorable meals! Zurich A quick trip to Paris had been the plan. But when we realized we could fly out of Zurich, we added 2 nights. We had one full day with sunshine, in Zurich. Food & Drink Adventures While wandering, we did come across some fun dining options. Our lunch at the ritzy Baur au Lac Hotel, was heavenly. Walking back from lunch, we discovered the Conelli Circus, floating over the water. The circus was almost over, but we were welcomed into the bar and enjoyed coffee. A perfect dinner of Swiss Fondu in our hotel, on our last night! Old Zurich The best part of Zurich was the sweet old town area. We stayed in a centuries old, hotel. Hotel Adler was just steps away from quaint shops and churches and lovely old fountains. On the morning before departing, the snow began to fall and we made it to the airport before big traffic issues. Christmas in November! We flew home on the last day of November, feeling like the Christmas holidays were in full swing!
 All 3 cities surprised us with festive decor! We finished up the month happy... and cold! Ready for some Texas warmth!
Birthdays in Austin We don't need excuses to gather, but we let 2 October birthdays nudge us towards a little reunion. 
We celebrated Heidi and Don's birthdays, over the first weekend of the month. Been a While In recent years, we've managed to get our gang together... in many places. This was the first time we've all been together in Austin, since both of these young couples got married over 5 years ago. Cheers to that! Celebrating with Food We had a fun birthday dinner outing... Lots of good food and lots of lingering. Hanging at the House We spent a lot of the time hanging out at Heidi & Jamie's house. After months of sizzling hot weather, we had a pleasant-coolish weekend. Hanging at the Pumpkin Patch It was perfect weather for visiting a pumpkin patch.  At just over 2 1/2, Charlie was the perfect age. Actually we all were. Chicago A few days later, Don and I met up in Chicago, with Heidi.
Chicago weather was not ideal, but it was cozy in our little hotel.
Our schedule (and lots of rain) didn't allow us much time for exploring... but we had fun.
We managed to squeeze in a few good eats... plus a very important (pretend) phone call.
We were able to sample some Polish pierogi, in the neighborhood where Don's Polish grandparents once lived. Why Chicago? We made the trip to Chicago, for a happy reason. Heidi's friend since preschool, was getting married.
Nathalie's mom (Milissa) and I have been friends since the 1990's.
Two special evenings...
And lots of smiles. These 2 haven't changed much! Exploring Iowa Heidi flew back to Texas and Don and I spent 6 days exploring Iowa, in a rental car.
I loved my view from the passenger seat, spotting changing colors and curious barns. Fields of dry cornstalks.. an Amish buggy! 6 Nights Don and I have our own childhood memories of Iowa. I lived in Grinnell till age 10. Don grew up visiting relatives in Iowa. We spent 6 days traveling around the state, staying in interesting places.
We had popcorn in Perry and met a pup in Decorah.
We had breakfast in old Dubuque and I read books overlooking the Mississippi River. Pleasant Places We stayed in mostly small towns and a couple small-ish cities. The slideshow above shows the places we stayed and the wandering we did nearby. Cheers Every evening, we relaxed in a new place. We had a relaxed poolside toast in Iowa City. We had a riverside drink, overlooking the Mississippi.
We sipped wine looking down over Main Street in Dubuque and said "Cheers to our 44th Anniversary", in Hotel Pattee's library! Grinnell On October 20th, I dropped Don off at the Des Moines airport and headed for Grinnell.  I was excited-nervous about reuniting with my old buddies Joanna and Debbie for a couple days, in the town where I lived my first 10 years. 1967 and 2023 I remember the day Debbie's dad took the photo on the left. My family was getting ready to move to Florida.  Deb and Jo no longer live in Grinnell, but Jo's stepmom does. She took our photo when we stopped in for a glass of wine. Wandering It was wonderful to wander the old college campus and parks and neighborhoods, where we used to ride our bikes.  We stayed in Hotel Grinnell, which used to be Grinnell's Junior High.
Debbie and Joanna have memories of walking the halls as students, in the 100 year old building. I don't think they ever enjoyed a Margarita in this building until 2023.
We regressed to the kids we were in 1967, with candy cigarettes and Bugles... comic books and troll dolls.. We wore the "Not Now" ties (used for door signs) and took our candy cigarettes and water glasses into the halls to misbehave.
A very nice staff member humored us and snapped some photos. Catching Up It was fun to compare childhood memories.  But it was also special to get caught up as adults. There was a lot of catching up to do. Wandering in Grinnell I wish I had more photos of Grinnell from when I was a child. I made sure to take many, when we explored. Summer Street I borrowed one of the hotel bikes before I left town and rode down my old street. I knocked lightly on the door of what had once been "the yellow house". No answer, but I was just happy to stand on my favorite porch!
My Grinnell visit was a good trip down memory lane. I'm so glad I was able to reconnect with old friends and to reconnect with my 10-year-old self a little bit! I may have changed in 56 years, but I still love a good sweatshirt! Halloween We spent the end of the month enjoying home! We ate some healthy food on Halloween... lots of candy and chili, too!  I Facetimed with poor little Charlie who was sick on Halloween. She helped me decide which pumpkin to carve. You can tell which one she picked.  Sadly, not a single trick-or-treater rang our bell. So we'll be eating a lot more candy in November!
Dad's 95th Birthday In the beginning of September we gathered in Springfield, to celebrate Dad's 95th!  Dad is pictured above, with his 4 kids and spouses, 3 of his grandkids, his great-granddaughter and her daddy. Over Labor Day weekend, the 12 of us traveled from 6 states to celebrate with Dad in Missouri. The Meyer Clan On the second of September we gathered with more family at my cousin's. Dad was born in Springfield exactly 95 years before.  Most of the Meyer gang still live in Springfield, where Dad grew up. Since I've never lived in town with relatives, it boggles my mind (in a wonderful way) to see all these connected people, in one place! Hats and Cake All felt amazingly relaxed, as we gathered on a lovely day. Food, Family... party hats for some!
There were little ones for Dad to watch. Cake to sing around. And a quick "speech" by Chris, that made Dad laugh! Birthday Party Slideshow This slideshow gives a glimpse of the fun. It was a pleasant lunchtime gathering. We made sure to get a photo of Dad and his kids, before the party broke up.  Springfield is Dad's hometown, not ours. However, my siblings and I have fond memories of yearly visits to see relatives in the town. Cherry and Pickwick in Springfield We 4 kids grew up in many in different towns. I feel like I remember more street names from Springfield, than anywhere I've lived. Our young mom once lived on Pickwick. Our young dad worked at a grocery store on Cherry.  Today, the neighborhood near this sign, is a fun and hopping area. We made this neighborhood our home for a few days, while we visited. Cherry Street Grocery When I was little, I thought it was so cool that my dad had worked at a grocery store as a teen. The old Cherry Street Grocery, is now a gift shop.
Above the shop, there are now 2 Airbnb rentals called Pickwick Places. A few of us stayed there. Right above Dad's old store! Cherry Street House The rest of us stayed a few doors down at this adorable rental, sitting right on Cherry Street.  We have no history with this house. But having a porch brought back memories of the porch games from childhood. Kitty in the Corner!
It felt like home, having a porch and sofas and a dinner table, to gather around,  The evening before Dad's birthday, we gathered with party hats...  ... and we toasted to the Birthday Boy. Having a backyard also made it feel like we had gone back in time.
My brother Chris, grilled up the same bbq chicken recipe that my Grandpa Meyer used years ago. Cherry Street Slideshow Here are more photos of hanging out at the Cherry Street House. No explanations needed. Springfield Highlights We had a few days, to hit some favorite places.
Steak n Shake is always a must. Great Grandpa's Place We had no idea how 2 1/2 year old Charlie would be with her Great Grandpa.
First of all she managed to call him Great Grandpa, which is a mouthful. And she was more than happy to go along with Great Grandpa's playful games and teasing.
Heidi and Scott got in their own poses before saying good-bye. Exploring with Scott Before taking Scott to the airport, we fit in a neighborhood run together. Scott ran slow for me and we made some little stops... at a small park.
Then, Scott posed with the rock pillar in front of his great grandmother's old house. I remember when I was finally big enough to climb it. More Relatives At Scott's request we stopped to see the graves of my mom and her relatives.
It was a sweet visit, until a thunderstorm forced us to dash back to the car. From Springfield to Eureka Springs, AR Don and I departed Springfield, the day after Labor Day. We drove home to Texas, making a stop for the night in Arkansas.
It's always nice to see the curious Ozark town, when it's quiet, after a busy holiday weekend. Nola in Arkansas We stayed at the old New Orleans Hotel.
Eureka Springs always reminds me of New Orleans, with its wrought iron balconies.
We didn't have a room on the balcony-lined front. Instead we had a room on the back with a sunporch, looking out at the spiral, iron fire escape! Cheers! Like Nola, Eureka Springs often has a bit of a noisy, party vibe going on. Mostly with motorcycles coming through.  We enjoyed a drink in the hotel's Voodoo Lounge. It was quiet, (unlike Nola) and that suited us just fine. We toasted to a good birthday celebration. One More Visit Don and I made one more quick trip in late September.
It's nice to be only 2.5 hours from Austin. We had a good visit with this little girl and her parents.
Char loves round things, like soccer balls and pumpkins.
And she loves dressing up! It's not even October! Friends September was also a month for seeing some special (unrelated) people. My childhood friend Diane, came to Houston for work and we met up at her hotel.
I brought along some old dolls to amuse us. It's been 58 years since we were next door neighbors. I was 8 then and that's about how I acted, when I spilled my red wine all over my lap! Honestly, I had only 2 sips before that mess! Friends Nearby We also saw some friends who don't live so far away.  Pat and Susan made me laugh, but I spilled no wine. Texas "Reunion" At the end of the month, my college friend Martha and her hubby Bill visited from Colorado.  We got in the Texas spirit with some western bandanas for our photo. (goofy glasses, candy necklaces and leis in the past) My stomach muscles were sore after our 24 hour visit! September Skies As the month came close to the end, I caught some beautiful skies.  At the lake, we saw eerie clouds before an evening storm. The sky was glowing in the morning.  From our backyard at home, I caught the full moon in the morning and the sunset in the evening. A good way to end a full month!
Full Sturgeon Moon There were 2 full moons this August!
We started the month with a full Sturgeon Moon. But I only saw it in the morning.
The ducks were unimpressed. Coolish Mornings This was the hottest August, I ever remember in Texas. It was tolerable being outside, very early in the mornings.  I tried to get out for runs before the sun came up. Muggy and 80, but better than 104. Not So Cool Pool Most pools in the Houston area became like giant bathtubs.  But it was still refreshing to be able to jump in. Sometimes in my clothes after yard work or running. Pampering Plants After the big freeze last winter, so many of our plants suffered, or were lost.  I spent a lot of the month trying hard to keep the plants from dying.  Most of our plants aren't used to triple digits. I was proud for every bloom! Lucky for Meds Poison ivy used to be a regular thing, in my childhood summers.  Weeding led to a huge outbreak. I suffered until I got steroids. No complaining, though. My rash was nothing compared to Don's back issues. Activity was limited for Don in August. Chores With lots of home time, I got some chores checked off my list. I thought painting the laundry room would be fun and easy.  I was sloppy and impatient with my brush and little roller. Don to the rescue! He ignored is back pain and fixed my mistakes! Barbie We haven't been to a movie theatre since the pandemic. (Seats are much comfier than 3+ years ago!). Barbie was a fun pick for a hot summer day. I ate my weight in popcorn.  My bucket of popcorn was half gone, by the time we got through all the movie trailers! Yep, I got the free refill before heading home! Pool Time The pool got more use than it has in years. Sometimes, I skipped my run and did laps. And sometimes I just lounged.
I did some reading and floating (with plunging mixed in) and I stared at clouds. Do you see a pig? On the Road At the end of the month, we hit the road and headed for Missouri. We picnicked at a park in Corsicana, Texas.
Not far from the giant flag, I discovered an old metal merry-go-round! It brought back good memories. Atoka, Oklahoma We spent one night in a small Oklahoma town.  My mother's family has owned land in Atoka County since 1915. Reba's Place Country music singer, Reba McEntire grew up on a ranch in Atoka County. She recently opened a restaurant/bar, in Atoka's century old Masonic Temple.  I shopped on Main Street and got a blouse for $4.75 at the hardware store.
We had a grand time eating dinner at Reba's Place and learning lots of inside scoop, from the staff. They were very friendly on that slow night.  We closed down Reba's at 9 pm and wandered the cute little Main Street, under an almost full moon. Atoka Critters I met a doggy while shopping on Main Street the day before. I met a longhorn, in the morning.
 We spotted the cows when we headed out in search of the family's property in Atoka County. Reba's Bro Just after we pulled onto this dirt road, I asked Don to pause so I could take a photo of the sign... Chockie Mountain Road.  A man driving a truck slowed down and greeted. We ended up chatting through our windows for 10 minutes. Turns out he was Reba McEntire's brother, Pake. He said our car was parked where the old McEntire mailbox used to be. The Land After our fun, chatty encounter, we headed down another gravel road and found the 40 acres, that my grandmother's uncle purchased from a Choctaw Chief, over 100 years ago.  My 3 sibs and I now own two thirds of that property. Which means I own about 6.6 acres of Oklahoma property, near the McEntire Family Ranch! Time to build a tiny house! Tulsa On nearly the last day of August, Don and I stayed with our old Tulsa neighbors, Kim and Dan. Cheers to about 35 years of friendship!
We only had one night to catch up, but it was a perfect evening! Another full moon night!  We walked up the street to spot the full Blue Moon, through the trees! I absorbed all the warmth and power of that beautiful moon, to let me start the new month! September will begin with a family reunion in Missouri!
At Home Don and I spent almost all of July at home.
For the first 10 days of the month, our house was loud and happy, with celebrations and voices and toys and activity.
After our long roadtrip in June, we enjoyed hanging out at the house with Heidi, Jamie and Charlie. It was nice to have time together, while their furniture was in transit from Oregon to Austin. July 4th It's been years since Don and I have had "kids" at home over the 4th.  Charlie wasn't sure what to do with that flag... so I blasted on some Sousa and we did some marching throughout the house. Can't say I've done that in recent years! Keeping Cool The temps reached about 100 on the 4th.
 The pool helped!
A quick storm helped. Thunder sent us to the porte cochere, for some tricycle time. Hard to believe Charlie's mom once rode that!  The sun came out again and popsicles helped cool things off.
Fresh plums, watermelon, hotdogs and corn on the cob! It felt like the 4th! Colorful! Don wore his Party Crocs!
And we toasted with red, white & blue pina coladas! Toasting made me miss the rest of our family! More Toasting After the 4th, Heidi was busy working remotely. We squeezed in some toe-time after work one day.  We did not have coffee on those mugs. It was after 5. Pop-Pop Time Heidi and Jamie left for Austin when the moving pods arrived. Don and I had Charlie to ourselves for a few days.  I love these two together. Charlie doesn't do much sitting around, but she did have some couch time with Don.
We only watched TV once, to watch a little bit of "Frozen". Singing Charlie's voice was just as sweet as these photos, when she sang along with the Disney musical.  "'Cause for the first time in forever..." And More Singing We heard a lot of singing!  Charlie's Old MacDonald Voice is much louder. I believe in both photos, she's holding that last note for a little drama.
Charlie visited the piano every day. We sent a video of "Happy Birthday to Uncle Scott..." on his birthday. Sometimes "Grandma" was allowed to play the piano. But often I was instructed to dance to Charlie's music. "Happy!" "Sad!" "Silly!" It was exhausting. And funny.
Charlie's feet couldn't reach the pedals, so I was allowed to help with the pump organ. Strings We went through a lot of instruments. The cigar box "guitar" that Heidi made in high school, was a hit.
The ukuleles were fun.   Don taught Charlie how to strum. Plucking the old zither was more fun than strumming. Charlie tried to sing the sounds she made.  Better than I could do! Old 45s I was excited to get out some old records from my childhood. Charlie was less enthused.
Charlie listened to Burl Ives sing "There was an old lady who swallowed a fly..." But when he sang the words, "...Perhaps she'll die!" They didn't match the words Grandma had been singing for days. I think Charlie wondered why the man sang, "Perhaps she'll die" instead of "Perhaps she'll cry". Such a weird song! Pretend Lot of old toys and teaching props came out of hiding!  It was fun to see Charlie pretend. I'd forgotten how much I actually love to pretend. The old black phone was a prop I used with classes. Charlie took right to it.  I'm not even sure who she was talking to! Books I adore reading books to kids, but mostly Charlie read to me.  She found this old gem, made by my dad and brother. Eloise The book that Charlie seemed to like the best was my childhood favorite, Eloise!  Charlie could definitely relate to the spunky 6 year old Eloise! Austin After a couple days of Pop-Pop and Grandma time, it was time to drive to Charlie's new house!
The 2.5 hour drive was nothing, compared to the 2,200 mile drive we used to make to Oregon! It was fun to see the new house, but I only stayed one night. Quiet at Home It should have been easier saying good-bye, since our cities are so near, now! But after 5 weeks of bonding with our favorite 2-year-old, I knew it would be tough not waking up to her in the morning!  It seemed way too quiet back in the Sugar Land house. Even the neighborhood felt quiet. Routines and Heat It was nice to get back to routines. I don't love running, but it felt good to get out there again.
I went early to avoid the scorching heat. I was happy for sprinklers. Poolside The fierce heatwave called for cold drinks. And since our downstairs a.c. went out, we enjoyed them outside.
Poor Don dealt with worsening back issues during the month. But we got a smile from him, here!  The new baby ducks on the lake, didn't seem to notice the heat. They seemed surprised to see me. The only person not hunkering down in their air-conditioned home! At Last! After a week without a.c. (and dishwasher & disposal) the house came to life with repairmen. Actually it was 2 days!
We got a new a.c. unit AND furnace. It took the workmen many trips up and down the wooden attic stairs. Some sloppy work caused a hole in the wall and stained carpet... ugh! Attic Adventure I was sort of furious with the workmen, before the carpet cleaner and painter did their work. But the focus on the attic prompted me to have a look for forgotten treasures. Toy kitchen! Charlie needs that!
I only explored the oven-attic for a moment. I brought down the old "Showboat Theatre" I adored as a child. I cleaned it and played! Finishing the Month By the end of the month, Don's back was feeling up for a drive to Austin, so he could see the fam in the new house!  We only stayed one night, but what a fun time! And what a relief to know we no longer have to book flights or block big amounts of time. What a sweet way to end the month of July!
Starting in Springfield June began with a one-night trip to Missouri.
I gathered with relatives to celebrate my dear Aunt Spencer, after her sudden passing. I felt extra grateful, that I had seen her in January. Sad occasions often result in good reunions. I had a nice visit with Dad.
I saw cousins that I haven't seen in a while. It was a sad, but special beginning to the month. Off to Oregon! On June 4, Don and I left for Oregon. We stopped for a night at the cabin and toasted to safe travels ahead.  Our drive began in Texas, but took us through New Mexico, Arizona, Nevada and California. Cheers! Every evening we celebrated with a toast. We talked about what we'd seen along the way and the good things coming up. Hotels We hit some interesting hotels. La Posada in Winslow was once a Harvey House Hotel. The old Mizpah has been sitting in Tonapah, NV for 116 years. The Border House was next to the state border, but it was also once a "boarding" house hotel. In Crater Lake National Park (OR) we stayed in a rustic lodge. All so different! Road Food We had good food on the road. Don enjoyed a burger and tots in Post, TX and a spicy Mexican feast in Albuquerque, NM!
I ordered at a crazy looking counter in Seligman, AZ and a wooden counter in Tulelake, CA. No complaints about my grilled cheese or my ice cream! Feasts We wore the proper dress for our bigger feasts in the evenings. Bolo tie for a Southwestern meal in Winslow.
Neon paisley for my crazy steak feast, in a retro Lake Tahoe casino! Curious Crossroads & Borders We stopped to admire some noteworthy intersections and state lines, on our trip. The iconic Winslow intersection was free of tourists at 5:30 am.
We couldn't stay at the iconic CALNEVA Hotel, because it had closed down. The hotel (once owned by Frank Sinatra) sits directly on the border of California and Nevada. But we stayed at the hotel next door. Sunsets and Sunrises I love catching a good sunrise or sunset while traveling. The RR tracks were glowing in the evening, near our hotel in Winslow.
I rose extra early to catch the sunrise at Crater Lake Lodge. 5:15 am! Happy Valley, OR! Happy Valley was our destination. We arrived on the 10th.
This was the real reason for our trip. We came to help with a move. Grandma & Pop-Pop Don and I didn't fill boxes or move furniture. We entertained Charlie, more than anything!  It was a little sad to know we would never come visit this house again... or enjoy neighborhood walks, with views of Mount Hood. Not Sad But there was nothing sad about this little girl. And there was nothing sad about knowing our daughter's family would soon be living in Texas!  After 2 years of traveling over 2,000 miles to visit Charlie, we now will drive only 2.5 hours from Sugar Land to Austin! Starting Off in Oregon After packing and closing up the house, the 5 of us left in 2 cars. We gave ourselves 12 days to meander back to Texas.  The first stop on the road involved a cozy stay, back at Oregon's Crater Lake Lodge.  Fireplaces, mountains, volcanic lake and snow...! Pool & Ice Cream in California There was nothing unique about our chain hotel in Redding, CA where we stayed on our second night.  But Charlie had her first ice cream cone ever. She also had her first real pool experience! Both were a hit! Food Stops Fun food stops made the road travelers happy.  Lucky for us, Charlie is pretty content in the car and she loves restaurants! Reunion in Sacramento! Our most special stop on the road was a 2-night stay in Sacramento. What a treat for our family to be all together. (click to enlarge) We had a Father's Day BBQ and a wonderful brunch outing. We had lots of yard time with apple picking and rock collecting.
It was relaxing to spend 2 days (mostly outside) before being stuck in a car again. It was extra hard saying good-bye to Scott & Cha. Wish we could have had a 3-car caravan! Nevada... Vegas with a 2-Year-Old! We spent 2 nights at the Mirage, in Las Vegas.
Sounds like a crazy idea with a 2-year-old... especially one that won't be carried and doesn't like hand holding. Charlie would have preferred running ahead of us at all times, but she was given a choice of holding hands or holding the strap of my bag. She cooperated well! Sin City Entertainment It was all about the pool and shopping for Charlie. Actually she only "tested the fabric" as we passed a display.  None of us are big gamblers, but Heidi and I did dash away one evening and had fun losing some money on the slot machines. I would recommend Willy Wonka, as the most entertaining slot machine. Arizona's Grand Canyon We spent one night at the Grand Canyon and caught the sunset.
I stayed on Charlie duty most of the time. I was happy that she liked following birds and looking into trees more than climbing the wall. We couldn't get dinner reservations at El Tovar, till 9 pm. But it was a wonderful feast and our toddler hung in there well. Cooling off in Colorado We took a break from the road, for 2 days of relaxing, in Durango. 
We only wandered from our hotel as far as our legs would take us. The children's museum was a hit. The food trucks at 11th Street Station fed us well. Mostly we loved hanging out on our hotel's terrace. New Mexico Santa Fe is not the ideal vacay destination for kids, but again it was all walkable for us.
We had a heavenly dinner at the Pink Adobe. The 300 year old building has housed the restaurant since 1944. The atmosphere was quiet and cozy. The food was heavenly! Touristy Stops Along the Way Arizona & New Mexico We found some kid-friendly dining along Route 66 in New Mexico and Arizona.  Elvis and diner decor in Kingman, AZ. A stuffed bear and BBQ in Tucumcari, NM.
Charlie obviously thought it was silly to pay $8. per person and wait in a line for a goofy photo op at "Four Corners! She walked away. But we did get to add Utah to our list of 7 states. (somebody should have instructed us about putting our feet in different states!) Back in Texas We spent 2 nights at Texas hotels before reaching Pop-Pop & Grandma's house. The Big Texan in Amarillo and Shady Villa in Salado.
The kitschy Big Texan was a hit. Shady villa's pool was broken and the restaurant was closed, so no comparison. Big Texan actually wins the prize (for kid friendly fun) out of all our stops. (click to enlarge) We swam in the Texas-shaped pool, then dined in the crazy Big Texan restaurant. We stopped to visit the Horse Hotel, before turning in at the Big Texan Motel. I love a motel room with saloon doors! Home in Sugar Land On the 28th, we split up our caravan. Heidi and Jamie said good-bye to Charlie in our car. They headed to their house closing, in Austin.
Charlie slept a bit and woke in good spirits. We had a couple days to reintroduce Charlie to the house. Back at Christmas she wasn't yet 2, but she remembered her favorite things.  After 2 weeks of no crib and no routines, Charlie was suddenly in a house with no Mommy or Daddy and no baby-proofing. Thank goodness this little girl is flexible! Charlie kept me moving from room to room and activity to activity, but I couldn't have been happier. I was giddy when she picked "Eloise" as her go-to-sleep-story, each night. I was delighted over her songs and pretend games.  But the most exciting thing, is what you don't see in any of these photos. Her beloved "Paci" went to his own bed, as soon as we arrived at the house. He only came out at bedtimes! The timing was lucky! None of us can believe that she happily went along with this. Last Day Heidi and Jamie arrived at the house on the last day of the month. We cracked open champagne to celebrate their return to Texas after 6 years.
What a packed month! We spent so much of it on the road, that we literally zoomed through the month! I will admit I'm pooped, but in a good way. It feels like we squeezed 90 days into 30. Why? I think because Charlie seems 90 days older! What an experience to watch your grandchild grow for a month! July 2023 won't be forgotten!
May Celebrations Don and I spent the entire month of May, getting caught up at home... and celebrating here and there.
A May Day surprise (from very special neighbors) was our first little celebration! Cinco de Mayo Weather was just right for margaritas and guacamole on Cinco de Mayo.  We added some Mexican carryouts and some mariachi music1 Royal Celebrations You know it's a relaxed month, when there's time to revolve the morning around the TV, watching Prince Charles become King Charles III!  We didn't get up in the wee morning hours to watch, it live. But we taped the 4-hour event and watched the best parts with breakfast. Served on the Royal Doulton china, of course. Mother's Day TV We hadn't intended on eating our pasta in front of the TV on Mother's Day. But by the time we finished FaceTiming with the kids and Zooming with my siblings, the daylight had disappeared.  I still got what I had hoped for... ravioli and chianti (in a champagne flute!) and an Italian movie. My kind of celebrating! Celebrating with House Projects New paint always feels good. We got the bathroom and kitchen painted.  After the mirror mishap in April, we were prompted to make some changes.
This is our mirror, shortly after we heard the dramatic shattering from the other room. "Shattering" actually sounds too gentle. The sound was more like an explosion! But no one got hurt. Not even finger cuts, with the 3-hour clean up!
Weeks later, when the workmen carried in the new mirror, I held my breath. But all was good! That's worth celebrating. Walks & Runs It was nice to get back to regular exercise in May. Don and I got back into our own walk and run routines.  I love to run early, before the sun's up. But I started getting nervous about hidden obstacles.
There were so many odd discoveries on the sidewalks, in May.  Now I run when there is some light. Lake Drama The lake behind our house is usually calm and predictable.  But the lake got very active in the month of May Birds For the first time in 25 years, we spotted a bald eagle from our yard.  He stayed around the lake for just 2 days and then he was gone.  But this pretty guy, left the lake and wandered into our yard and made himself at home. Gator Drama Luckily, this 9-foot alligator did not invite himself into our yard. But he did live in our lake for about 10 days.  Mostly he stayed in the water
He enjoyed the fountain behind our house. He camped out near our mailbox and near the "Catch & Release" sign.  I took this photo (from the car) on Mother's Day morning. He was facing the same culdesac, that he had visited day before. He seemed to be thinking about exploring again. He actually ended up on someone's porch. Mother's Day "Rescue" In the afternoon on Mother's Day, I briefly watched a skilled "Alligator Rescuer" capture the gator.
I only watched for a bit. It was actually kind of sad. But this post is about happy stuff. The happy part is that the gator was relocated, not killed. And hopefully we'll go another 25 years being gator-free in our neighborhood. I didn't realize how stressed I was, until he was moved. Enjoying Others On my birthday in April, I vowed to enjoy and celebrate with more people this year. I tried not to forget that vow, as we entered a new month.
I'm a happy hermit at heart, but I know being with others really does feel good.
Now and then, I have to remind myself what it was like 3 years ago. In May of 2020 we were all pretty isolated, during the first pandemic spring. Celebrate So in May 2023, we said cheers with others.  Cheers to the pandemic being pretty much behind us. Cheers to getting in the pool for the first time in 2023.
And CHEERS to seeing our kids next month! June will not be a quiet, stay at home month. Baby Ducks! And Cheers to the new baby ducks on the lake!
 So glad we don't have to worry about the ducklings meeting up with the gator! What a good way to end the month!
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