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Long Month I had to work a little harder this month to find the positive things. After three months of pandemic worries, we added nationwide protests.
In June, our state and city began to gradually open, but Don and I kept close to home. We went on lots of walks and we talked... about our crazy world.
On June 8, I went for a little change of scenery, 20 minutes from home. From the car, I saw the flags lining Hillcroft. It was the day before George Floyd's funeral service and I felt drawn to see and absorb. It was peaceful and calm. I needed that. Cabin We took a few days to go to our cabin, where there's no TV. Our deck is finally redone and I could sit and read.
We played games and ukuleles and did puzzles... Quarantine Buddy Don and I have obviously had more time to hang out. We've been making use of different spaces, like the balcony. Sweet rolls and bagels on Father's Day!
We've worked at a few new hobbies, like juggling. It's pretty comical when we attempt to add music to our fine performances! Ragtime... J. P. Sousa! Now, Don is teaching me how to use the speed bag. That's harder than juggling! Laps and Lounging The weather in June was perfect for swimming. I've been doing laps and kicking, with my 35 year old kick board!
Then I reward myself with some floating. Fashion In June, I hardly ventured out. But when I did, I wore a mask. I've got some stylish ones to choose from.
I haven't been to a grocery store in 4 months, (thanks to Don) but I finally made the big step and had my hair cut. I had the first appointment of the day and we both wore masks. ( So tricky) Skies and Water It's been nice to just enjoy changes in skies and weather. One evening, I spotted a rainbow and that was a treat. I've studied clouds a lot.
We watched turtles underneath this bridge one morning. And I ran through the sprinklers another day. I'm easily entertained. Connecting with Others Best of all, we've stayed connected with family. Luckily our kids haven't gotten tired of Zooming!  And we've had a couple Zooms with my siblings and spouses. Everyone wore hats for our last gathering.
I'm eager for this pandemic to end, but I hope the family Zoom connections don't stop!
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May Day! The month began with a nice surprise.
Easing Up Even though restrictions began easing up in May, Don and I stayed isolated
We had a lot of backyard time, especially with Cinco de Mayo.
We snuck away to our cabin and isolated ourselves there as well. Connecting with Others
A Little Nature The kids' gifts reminded me that you don't have to go outside for nature.
I haven't had plants in the house for years. Suddenly I have these colorful, live things to tend to! It's a perfect time to care for plants! Memorial Day Don and I had a our own silly holiday party on Memorial Day. We had no urge to go anywhere.  Many around the country were hitting beaches and pools. The idea of mingling crowds made me cringe. I didn't realize that something much worse was happening on Memorial Day... Troubling Times In these last days of May, I've seen some beautiful sunsets and peaceful sunrises. But these images don't reflect what's happening around the country.
Outrage over the tragic death of George Floyd, has spurred peaceful protests in every state. Sadly, some of these mass demonstrations have led to vandalism and looting... Racism is not a happy subject for this blog, but it's an important one. Luckily I have the "Not So Happy" blog. Moving Forward So as we leave May behind, we'll try to prepare for this new world out there.  Don and I have some new masks, ready to take on the month of June. We still plan on staying away from crowds, but we need to think about how to do our part. 2020 just got a lot more complicated and we all need to find ways to help.
Outside Time April weather is usually pretty wonderful in Texas. We often travel this time of year and end up missing out. But, with stay-at-home restrictions, we got to enjoy every single pretty day.
We avoided others on early morning walks and runs. We dared to have a picnic with our own chairs...  And we enjoyed our balcony, which is something we haven't done in over a decade! I can't exactly complain. Quarantine Birthday Instead of feeling frustrated by my lockdown birthday, I felt a little bit special. Not everybody will get to celebrate a Covid-Quarantine-Pandemic-Birthday this year.
Don managed a funny birthday treat, with cookies and candy and candle. My neighbor surprised me with birthday torte! Very yummy! Celebrating I didn't ask Don how he managed to shop. I was excited that I had some goodies to open. The 1000-piece puzzle, was a perfect pandemic birthday gift!
The best part of my day, was a Birthday Zoom with the kids! We like to add a theme to our Zooms... Western Theme for April! Don't ask why. Quarantine Activities This month involved a lot more cooking and a lot more puzzle work.
"Alexa" provided us with lots of entertainment, while we cooked and puzzled. There was a lot of dancing in the kitchen in April. No photos. Masks and Gloves I wore my mask and gloves when I went out... all of about 2 times in April. (Besides walks and runs)
I wore a different kind of mask and gloves, when FaceTiming with friends. Quarantine Easter It was quiet in our house on Easter. But it usually is. Our kids haven't been around on Easter for many years.
So we just invited a bunch of bunnies to our Easter dinner. They graciously watched us dine. Ukulele The ukes got played a lot in April.  I wish I could say I've improved tremendously, with the intrument. I have not, but we've had some fun. Don is a very patient ukulele partner. I so wish we could both sing!
This was the best Quarantine April, I think I will ever have! Beginning the Month The beginning of March felt pretty decent. Shops, restaurants and museums were all open in Houston.
Halfway through the month things changed drastically. I'm so grateful for those museum visits, in the beginning of the month. Norman Rockwell: American Freedom My visit to the MFAH wasn't exactly happy, but I was so grateful to see the exhibit. Reading about Ruby Bridges and her bravery, did actually make me smile.
 Seeing the four paintings that represented FDR's Four Freedoms, was very moving. The image on the right, "Freedom From Fear" is very relevant for today. Happy Colors At the Color Factory, I embraced my inner child with some hands-on exhibits with color. Now, these happy photos make me cringe a little. On the day I visited, I was in heaven! The art installations were inspiring. Days later, I was worried that I'd put myself and others at risk. Stay at Home Order For the last half of the month, we were pretty much hunkering down at home. Spring weather made things easier. I pulled the canoe out for a little fresh air.  Houston didn't officially call for a "stay at home" order, until the 24th. I felt lucky for pretty weather and a home and husband. St. Pat's
We celebrated at home. Then again, we always do on St. Patrick's Day.
We worked on puzzles and painting projects.
We cleaned the garage and found treasures in there, that we didn't remember we had!
We made a little music. The ukuleles got dusted off and the piano music came out. Staying Connected This has been an odd and eerie month, but we've felt connected with family and friends.
Thank goodness for technology! Emails, texts, phone chats... and Zoom! We had our first Zoom (Tiki-themed) Happy Hour with our kids! Smiles and laughter! Yay for that!
Valentine's & Mardi Gras We did a little February celebrating at home.
I pulled out a few decorations. Always do. Off to New Orleans Then it was off to Nola for the real Mardi Gras festivities. Don and I stayed with my brother & his wife. We spent a couple days visiting and soaking up the atmosphere at nearby parades. When my neck ached from the weight of beads, I knew it was time to turn in! Montgomery, Alabama After New Orleans, we drove 4.5 hours to Alabama. We spent 2 days visiting museums and sights, focussed on the civil rights movement. This blog is meant to be about happy things and these visits were sobering. But sharing the Rosa Parks museum with children, was an experience that made me feel hopeful. Seeing the church where MLK served as pastor and seeing statues and memorials being appreciated, made me feel glad for all that has changed in half a century. Good Food & Good People In February 2020, there was much to fret about... Coronavirus and election stresses. I can't just ignore the bad.
But I'm always grateful when I look back at a month and remember good things. It was a month of good food.
It was a month of good and interesting people. I'm always thankful for that!
Hanging Out in Texas Don and I spent a little time in January, relaxing in the Hill Country.
I did some reading and a little trail running, at our quiet hotel...
I also acted like a kid and went down the windmill slide. Our hotel was wonderfully off-season-empty, but I still felt like I needed to sneak up those stairs before a worried staff member caught me. "Sorry, no one over age 60!" Exploring We were close to San Antonio, but we didn't even drive into the city, to wander shops and restaurants along the winding Riverwalk. Instead, we wandered backroads and found cafes and dance halls, curious shops and fun people. Back Home Back in Sugar Land, I tried to let the new decade motivate me. I created the longest to-do list in history. (instead of resolutions)
At the end of the month, there were very few checks on my list. That's because I kept going back to the things I liked best on the list. Read More Books and Play More Piano!
A decent first month in 2020! December Decorating I love a little whimsical decorating at Christmastime! I knew the kids weren't going to be in town this year, but I had some fun making the house festive anyway.
The kids weren't around to help put up the tree... or to blame, when I knocked it over. Oh dear. Reading, Playing, Baking... It was nice having a lot of home time, this year. I actually got around to reading some of my favorite Christmas stories. Truman Capote's "A Christmas Memory" with a cup of coffee, on a balmy morning! Perfect.
I had a little fun playing some carols and baking cookies. I fumbled with graham crackers and a glue gun and invited the neighbor kiddos over to make candy houses. Gatherings It was nice to have a few toasts with friends at the house. I shared some wonderful feasts, with old neighbors and new neighbors. Christmas in Nola Our quiet house felt cozy and festive, but we decided to shake things up and celebrate Christmas Day in New Orleans.  We spent two nights at The Monteleone, in the French Quarter. The Roosevelt On Christmas Day, we walked our bags a few blocks to stay in the ultimate Christmas Hotel!
Who does that? We do. Two hotels... twice the fun! At both places, I had to get up at 6:00 am, to get festive photos without crowds. Wandering For someone who loves an old fashioned Christmas, it actually sounds awful to spend a 3-day Christmas, in a city known for partying and drinking. But the city was as welcoming and happy as I've ever seen it. No bachelorette parties and frat boys were spotted. The weather was pleasant and the locals and travelers we met, were all pleasant to talk to! Merry Christmas! On Christmas morning, we made it to Jackson Square just as the bells of St. Louis Cathedral were calling folks to 11:00 mass.
We spent Christmas morning enjoying the sounds of music and bells, church folk and street entertainers. We wandered and absorbed and best of all, talked and FaceTimed with our kids on the west coast. What a treat to hear their voices and feel connected on Christmas morning! Back Home On December 26th, we headed back to Texas.
That evening, we had more Christmas and a few days later, we ended the decade!
Cheers to December and to 2019! Tulsa In mid-November, Don and I headed off on a visit to see my Dad in Missouri. We included Oklahoma on the route. Fun to see good old Tulsa, where our family lived in the 1990's.
We spent some time exploring with dear friends, Dan & Kim. We drove to our old neighborhood where our 2 families once lived. We took in Tulsa's latest surprise, the amazing Gathering Place! What a beautiful park on a lovely day, with such special friends. Springfield In Missouri, we spent some time in the town where I have the deepest roots. I never lived in Springfield, but I have endless Christmas and Summertime memories of the town where all my relatives lived.
We enjoyed one evening with a cozy gathering of some of my cousins, aunts and uncles. We spent another day with my 91 year old dad, driving out Route 66 and taking in a little history at a local museum. Curious Stops in OK, MO & AR Our route to and from Springfield gave us some options for interesting overnights.
We stayed in a Frank Lloyd Wright "skyscraper", a 1912 Tudor hotel, an Ozark cabin and a midcentury modern hotel. All fun. Dining We sampled some local favorites at small town diners. Massive pancakes and spaghetti with pickles... hamburgers covered in gravy.
We had a memorable meal at 21c Museum Hotel in Arkansas, where we shared our table (and cotton candy dessert) with one of their penguin mascots. Stairs In a few small towns, we found some wonderful stairs to climb.
I don't think they burned off many of the road food calories we consumed. Lounging We found a few good chairs here and there.
But we never sat very long... Christmas Decor! It was November, but it felt like Christmas in Missouri and Arkansas.
I used to complain about early decorations, but it was cold and the festive decor fit! Thanksgiving for Two! We made it home just before Thanksgiving. Our feast for two could have felt lacking, but we had lots to be thankful for.  We toasted to the fun we'd had in recent months with family and friends. Most of all I felt thankful, knowing our kids were sharing the day with family in Oregon and California. FaceTime and texts and phone calls made them seem closer.
One nice perk... the post feast clean-up was a breeze! With the Kids! We started the month with a reunion in Sacramento, where Scott and Chali live.  Jamie and Heidi flew down from Portland and we had a few days celebrating all together. Cheers! We celebrated with wine and we celebrated with tiny hats! Don & Heidi both had birthdays.
We celebrated in the vineyards in Napa and Calistoga. We celebrated with pumpkins at "Apple Hill". It was a warm and wonderful few days! Two on the Road Don and I spent about 2 weeks exploring Northern California and Oregon. We had summer temps in the wine country and winter at Mount Hood, OR. We drove down shady US 199, through the Redwoods and we absorbed brilliant fall colors, in Oregon. We enjoyed a misty morning in Mendocino and total sunshine in San Francisco. Portland! We spent a weekend in Portland with Heidi and Jamie. The city has some pretty amazing options for food and drink. We made use of some spectacular scenery in and outside of the city. More Family Between visits with our kids, we met up with a couple sisters! Jennifer, Kate and their new pup Charlie, hosted us in Eugene, OR.
In Sunnyvale, CA, we spent an evening with Don's sister Jane, our grand-nephews and their parents. All visits were way too short, be we felt lucky to have them. Tahoe Later in the month we caught up with Scott and Chali again, in Sacramento. The 4 of us drove 2 hours and spent 2 days enjoying some hikes and views in South Lake Tahoe. It's hard having our kids so far away, but it's pretty special spending time with them in their beautiful states. Happy 40th! We finished up our trip in the Bay Area, where we celebrated our 40th wedding anniversary at San Francisco's Fairmont Hotel.  On the evening of October 20th, we threw on our tiki attire and headed to our hotel's Tonga Room to begin our fun. Sadly they were closed for a function, but we got our photo taken and found fun elsewhere. Happy 40th to this guy!
What an exhausting and wonderful month. So grateful for all the time we spent with family! Pink Critters! There were no big travels for me in September. I had to find a little fun closer to home!
It was wonderful getting back to routine, volunteering with my senior groups. You're never too old for flamingo puppets... or unicorns. Fine Dining Sometimes Don and I just have to pretend we're traveling, with a little Day Trip Dining.
We love a small town cafe, especially when it has a cool sign, announcing Pie Happy Hour. We were too early, but lunch was good!
Another day, we had lunch at a Mexican restaurant, just 20 minutes from our house. The decorated building was pretty festive! When Don needed his Spanish skills to order, we felt like we'd taken a trip across the border. Work and Play This month at the cabin, we got a lot of chores done. The beekeeper's hat was very helpful, with our spider issues.
 We had some downtime, too. No TV at the cabin, so I spent a little time browsing through old hotel & motel postcards. Sadly, not one of these fine places is still open for business. Work and Play, in Sugar Land It was chore month in Sugar Land, too... back breaking, furniture moving kind of work. I did get to sit though, when I enjoyed my first job playing plumber. Don coached. Later came the reward.
I don't have photos of all we accomplished, but I have photos of both of us... accomplishing nothing.
It was a miserably hot September. I don't feel guilty! Texas Time It was a hot August in Texas, but we hung in there. We didn't leave the state, once.
We enjoyed some good rainstorms and rainbows, some sunsets and just a couple sunrises. Volunteering  I dusted off my quilt and got back to my volunteer groups. My first theme was puppets. Paintings and Statues I got in a little exploring, outside of Houston.
Fort Worth had an exhibit of Monet's later works. The town of Hutto had hippos. Lots of hippos! Small Town Dining Don and I had 4 memorable lunches in 4 small towns. Llano, Fayetteville, Hutto and Columbus. More Art
We discovered more art while driving Texas highways. We didn't have to leave the car to enjoy the barn art, Sorting and Shopping Mostly, this was a month of sorting through junk. Don and I have gotten serious about facing all our stuff. We've been making decisions about what to do with it.
Whenever we got stumped, we took a break and went shopping.
We didn't buy giant chairs or sharks at Gallery Furniture, but we did buy. We also bought a few un-needed items from an antique store... and Goodwill. We are a bad pair. Maybe we'll be better in September.
U of M Memories Don and I were in Ann Arbor over the 4th of July. We spent some time wandering campus and remembering. Both of us have strong connections to the town and university, going back to the fall of 1973.  Don was a freshman at U of M, that fall. I had just moved to town, as a high school junior. I spent a lot of time around the university, since my dad was UM faculty and my siblings were UM students. But I never met Don on campus, during the 2 years that we both lived in Ann Arbor. We met a few years later, in St. Louis and bonded over our Ann Arbor memories. Dining in Ann Arbor
Don and I had only 2 days to enjoy and absorb Ann Arbor. We explored and dined and best of all reunited! My dear, high school friend and her mom, met us for dinner one night.  I last saw saw Lorie, nearly 15 years ago, when moving my daughter into her U of M dorm. It has been about 45 years, since I've seen Lorie's mom. The reunion couldn't have been better. It's impossible to explain in a brief post, just how special it was to see my unique friend, Lorie! I'm so grateful that we 4 had time together. Heading North
After our short stay in Ann Arbor, Don and I spent a week enjoying the cool breezes and sunny skies, in Northern Michigan. We posed with some of Michigan's farms and beaches. Food and Drink
We ate German food (and fried chicken) in Frankenmuth. We sampled wines in some of the 100+ Michigan vineyards. Family!
Best of all, we spent time with family, in Northport! My brother and his wife, opened their home to my other 3 siblings and spouses. We spent some time exploring nearby parks and small towns. But mostly, we enjoyed each other. When you live in 4 different states, you never take these reunions for granted! Back to Texas  It was hard saying good-bye to Michigan. The weather was sweltering, by the time we returned home to Texas. But this sweet Texas Bambi, standing near the Mickey Mouse cactus, made me happy to be back home.
July was good! Beginning in Colorado  We began June in Colorado. After spending the last week of May with snow and mud, we were thrilled to see flowers and leaves on trees. Meandering Back to Texas Don and I took 10 days, wandering home, from Breckenridge. We stayed in some curious, luxurious and quirky hotels and motels. We dined in retro cafes and dim saloons. We watched the scenery and seasons change. Best of all, we met interesting people and had fun reunions with good friends and family. And... what a treat to meet and feed the donkeys of Cripple Creek! Fun Back Home
The rest of June was spent catching up and attending to the chores we've put off for so long. But, we did spend one morning with Van Gogh at the Houston Museum of Fine Arts! What an amazing exhibit... with a some playful, posing at the end!
Gateway to the West
In early May, I flew away from the drenching rains of Sugar Land, to meet up with my dear friend in St. Louis. The old Gateway City, was also swollen from rain. Busy with Milissa
Milissa came in from Chicago by train and we spent 3 days exploring. We wandered from Union Station to the Arch. We visited the Art Museum and ate Italian food on The Hill. We rode the trolley... drank coffee and martinis... talked and talked and laughed into the night. Mother's Day  I had some time alone in St. Louis before my late flight on Mother's Day. It could have been a little lonely, missing my own kids... while visiting the city where they were born. But I loved my day. I spoke with my kids on the phone and I had a picnic in one of Mom's favorite parks. St. Louis was her home town and I felt like she was right there with me! Further West  In mid May, Don and I stuffed the car, for a road trip to Colorado. The wind pushed us through West Texas, right into New Mexico. The gusts halted for a moment, one evening in Albuquerque. Then the winds blew us right into Colorado. Snow in Breckenridge  Inches of snow fell the night before we headed to Breckenridge. Luckily the roads were clear by the time we got close. Family  Don and I planted ourselves for one week in Breckenridge. (Unusual for us!) Our kids and spouses were able to free up schedules for a quick visit! Even our nephew and his wife came for a night! Mud and Snow!  Memorial Day was full of flurries and there was a light layer of fresh snow 2 days later. We attempted a muddy hike... and we dreamed of the Tropics, at a local Tiki Bar! Good-Bye Kids
We didn't have enough time. We never do. But we were all together for a few days and that got the summer started off, just right!
62nd Birthday at Hamilton Pool I turned 62 in early April. Nothing special about that, so I had to add some fun. Don and I grabbed the picnic quilt and headed to Hamilton Pool, just west of Austin. The old "swimming hole" was pretty peaceful on a weekday in April.  Don made it classy, with Mimosas. I made it less classy, with my choice of foods. We food shopped at Buccee's Gas Station/Store... which is a very Texas thing! Texas Parks
April gave us some good weather for enjoying the parks. Later in the month we visited Enchanted Rock... which is much more enchanting in person than photos. Don and I did some posing with the pink granite. Road Trip!  The most fun part of April was a whirlwind road trip with our friends Susan and Pat. They were game to have us pick a route that included lots of curious, quirky, historic and fun stops. Nearly 1,000 Miles In 5 days, we cover 955 miles. We started near the gulf and circled back to the Hill Country. We hiked and roamed an antique store or two... ate BBQ and sampled Texas wines. We hit towns with wonderful names, like Comfort and Blessing and we gabbed and laughed the whole way! Yay for April and Yay for our fun traveling friends!
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