2600 miles to go: September 2015

Friday, September 25, 2015

Jade hears the news

This was Jade's response when I told her that Otis will visit during one of Otis's upcoming school holidays. The trains are waiting for you, Otis!

Moonflowers and morning glories

I love the delicately fragrant moonflowers, that only bloom once, and at night

And there's the magical transition time, just after dawn, when the moonflowers are closing and the morning glories are opening.

Do you see the bee on the morning glory?

Look very closely. Here's a bee on a moonflower!

Sunday, September 13, 2015

Beka's birthday party: Saturday, September 12, 2015

Here's the birthday girl. She turned 31 on September 10.

Jim got to wear the birthday hat too. And Papa Tom made sure that Flat Stanley, being made of paper, avoided the candles.

Flat Stanley's adventure continues

At the state capitol, I saw the cowboy statue. Mia made it look like I'm wearing the cowboy's hat.

I'd like to ride a horse someday. And have boots and a hat.

Gave my paper legs a workout by walking to the top of Mt. Bonnell. The view was worth it!

My pet armadillo is going back to Asheville with me. He's so smart! He plays guitar. But what else would you expect from an armadillo from Austin, the Live Music Capital of the World? Still can't think of name for him. Any ideas?

Finally got that cowboy hat and boots, and learned to say "yeehaw!" Should be back in Asheville by Thursday. I hope to go on more adventures soon!

Flat Stanley visits Texas

Mya sent her pal Flat Stanley for an adventure in Texas. Let F. Stanley tell you all about it: "Al, Joyce, Emma, Papa Tom, and Mia took me to the Via 313 food trailer on Rainey Street, where Emma tried to turn me into "Fat" Stanley with some delicious pizza."

Mia offered me a "man"-icure, but I kept the tennis shoes on. No pink toenails for me!

I got to see "Mission Impossible" at Alamo Drafthouse, by standing in the slot where patrons place their orders for food. Here, before the movie, I was fascinated by the short on skydivers plummeting from the tallest building in the world, located in Dubai, I think. Maybe I'll have my next adventure there!

Mia took me out of town with her for a hearing. The hotel was being remodeled. I got to hang with some of the construction guys in the hallway.

Wouldn't be Texas without cacti and cows. And wouldn't be Austin, Texas, without a cow covered in daisies.

Just to prove I was in Austin.

I as surprised to learn that the Texas state capitol dome is taller than the U.S. capitol dome. Yes, everything is bigger in Texas.

Sunday, September 6, 2015

Joyce's birthday eve: September 5, 2015

The Horns came to Austin on Saturday, September 5, Joyce's birthday eve. We had dinner at Via 313 on Rainey Street. Flat Stanley came along on our adventure. Mya's teacher sent Flat Stanley to us. We're supposed to take him on adventures, photograph the action, and send him and the photos back to Mya.

After dinner, we returned to our house for gelato and ice cream. Joyce got a birthday candle on her gelato.

Back-to-school night: Wednesday, September 2, 2015

Lala (Anjanette's Mom, Laura Humphrey) and I attended Jade's back-to-school night. Her pre-K class has 13 girls and 4 boys!

Jade drew a picture and said "I like to play horses at school."

Jade showed Lala and me around the playground.

She showed us how she crosses the monkey bars.

Jade meets Dr. Gonzalez

Jade needed to pass a physical to be eligible to participate in Extend-a-Care after school. She had not seen a doctor since her well baby visit when she was 3 months old. She loved interacting with Dr. Ashley Gonzalez, who handed over the stethoscope when Jade asked if she could listen to her own heartbeat. Jade liked the play area so much that we stayed a played after she saw Dr. Gonzalez.

Taco Tuesday at Wahoo Fish Tacos

We stopped by Wahoo Fish Tacos on South Congress, where Anjanette works, to say "hi" on September 1 but she had worked the day shift so we missed her. Turned out it was Taco Tuesday: all tacos were $2. We kind of went crazy, trying one of each: shrimp, blackened redfish, pork, chicken, . . . .

Remembering Hurricane Katrina

Hurricane Katrina hit the Gulf Coast 10 years ago on August 29. Tom and I attended a panel discussion about "New Orleans--10 years after" at the Cactus Café on September 1. Among the speakers was former Austin Mayor Will Wynn, who talked about welcoming 42 busloads of people, some arriving barefoot and wearing only pajama bottoms, to Austin after New Orleans flooded. He said the City of Austin contracted for aircraft to transport stranded people out of the city. Also on the panel was a Mardi Gras Indian Chief (I wish I'd written down his name!) who told his Katrina story and brought up his band to play some Mardi Gras Indian music, oh yeah.

Mt. Princeton Hot Springs, Colorado

For our annual "girl trip," Cheryl and I went to Mt. Princeton Hot Springs Resort and Spa about 3 hours from Denver, Colorado from August 27-30. Good to spend time with a close friend in a beautiful place.