Road & Home in June 2025

​From the Window

The first 10 days of June were spent on the road, heading home after a month in California. 

From Nevada to Texas, I enjoyed the ever-changing scenery from my passenger seat window. Lucky me. Don loves to drive! I don't.

​Overnights

Along the way, we stayed at some historic hotels, retro motels and cozy inns. 

We also reserved a cabin at the Grand Canyon and a luxurious 9th floor room at Hotel Settles in Big Spring, Texas. ​

More later on why those didn't work out!

​Sitting

No matter where we ended up, we always found a good place to sit. Cheers to all the cozy chairs we found in Utah and New Mexico and Arizona.

A little sinus infection & bronchitis along our journey, got me extra excited about sitting time.

Here are the chairs we didn't end up using at Grand Canyon's North Rim! Our 2-night reservation was cancelled due to a power outage.

But we got to enjoy the view before hitting the road to find a hotel. We also found an urgent care clinic, in the middle of nowhere. Cheers to that.

​Food & Drink

For parts of the trip, I wasn't the best travel companion. But I was able to enjoy a margarita and dinner in Santa Fe!

We had other good food moments along the way. 

No photos of our Doordash and pizza deliveries, or my microwaved Campbell's soup.
​
​Good Things to See

Our travels weren't all about sightseeing, but we saw some impressive buildings in Salt Lake City. 

And we did get to absorb the incredible scenery at Grand Canyon's North Rim.

In Santa Fe we caught a celebration outside of Basilica St. Francis. Some priests had just been ordained.

Weather was lovely in the evenings. Sunset in Winslow, near RR tracks.

A balmy night after sundown, sitting near our hotel pool in Santa Fe.  

​Posing Like Tourists

We did some posing with beautiful scenery.

We posed with figures and statues...

I posed with a giant chair. I love giant things.

Don humored me with some posing in Salt Lake City. We didn't need a flag to help us cross the street, but they were available. Don used one in style!

Big Storm in Big Spring

The last hotel stop on our trip was in Texas, at Hotel Settles. It was 100 degrees when we arrived. We got a lovely room on the 9th floor and hoped to use the pool after dinner. 

We had just ordered dinner, when a sudden hail storm began rattling the windows... then breaking glass. 

The storm was over in about 5 minutes. Hotel power was out. Guests trapped in elevator. Dozens of windows busted. Luckily not our room. It took 2 trips up to the 9th floor to bring luggage down, when we finally decided to hit the road.

Midnight Feast at Ihop

We drove 45 minutes with our damaged windshield and had a curious dinner at an Ihop, next to our new hotel. Jason joined us for a good chat!

The next morning, we hit the road and made it to Austin.

Best Medicine

​The best cure for my lingering (non-congaious cough) was this girl on her skates.

What a treat to spend some time, before heading back home... where laundry and a few suffering plants awaited.
​
Back in Sugar Land

​On the 14th, Don and I headed out to join others, near our city hall.

It was a peaceful and positive gathering that began with the Pledge of Allegiance and ended with We Shall Overcome. 

Friends

It's been a long time since my old Book Club disolved. Members moved... then a pandemic.

No need for books to bring us together. We had Shari's landmark birthday to do that!

What a treat to catch up again and celebrate. Just like old times!

Summer Stuff in Sugar Land

Before the month ended, we had 3 visitors. A fun morning at Houston's Museum of Natural Science!

Dinosaurs and butterflies! Both a big hit!

Home Time

We enjoyed some good hanging out time as well. Morning pancakes...

... and an evening with burgers and corn. Thanks for helping, Charlie!

Work & Play

Charlie squeezed in a lot, on their 2-night visit!

She had as much fun making beds, doing dishes and shucking corn, as she did playing!

Back to Routine

It took a while to get my dragging self back to exercise. I'd been spoiled in California, with cool & dry mornings.

After a couple weeks of coughing I took it slow on some muggy mornings. Glad to get my running shoes back on, before the month ended!
​