April 2018

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Surprising

What is it inside the imagination that keeps surprising us
At odd moments
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . when something is given back
We didn’t know we had had
In solitude, spontaneously, and with great joy?

Charles Wright

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When we were newlyweds, Greg’s Grandma Rouble, in between serious laments for my failure to change my name to Cooper (Are they really married?), sent us photos of Texas Bluebells and other wildflowers in an attempt to convince us to visit while they were in blossom. Though we did visit in springtime, we sadly missed the blooms. So, every time we drove past a  field dappled with every color and hue, we thought of her bidding us good day from the sweet hereafter, the pair of us offering our most cheerful “Hello Rouble!” in reply.

Good coffee and even friendlier service in Post!

Greg’s Dad grew up in Ralls. Hi Alan!

While in the Panhandle, we stayed with our cousin and very fine host, Cynthia. Juniper was ready to romp with her dogs. This is Groot.

League adjacent bowler…

Sunrise at Cynthia’s

Juniper in wild wonder at the sight of bison at Caprock Canyons.

Adorable babies!

Hello!

Cousins AND fabulous music fans.

Jimmy Dean – most notably of breakfast sausage fame, hailed from Plainview. We went to his museum and learned he was a singer, an actor, and super dandy dresser, too.

When I was a little girl, my Grandma Frances LOVED Furr’s. She would always convince me to go by saying that I could get anything I wanted, which actually translated to most anything (Jell-O!) but not everything. I could never-ever have a pat of butter or a beverage, because, at the time, they cost extra. So, when I saw the sign for Furr’s, you bet I wanted to go, and so we did, TWICE. You bet I got extra pats of butter and iced tea, too!

Kress sunset

A wee slice of Oklahoma.

Two Buttes

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Our breakfast stop in San Marcos – a full twenty-five (for dramatic emphasis) degrees cooler than the beach! When we embarked on our journey, the hubster delighted in what he thought was the fact that he wouldn’t need to wear pants again until October. With a high of 43 one of the days we were there, he was mighty disappointed to put on jeans.

While in San Marcos, we visited the diminutive and sweet LBJ Museum off the town square – that’s one of his hats up there! They run audio of his speeches and commentary, and I do believe we stumbled upon the comedy section. The man made me chuckle!

Welcome to Austin! Sadly, I don’t believe they are Keeping it Weird (Portlanders, did you know the expression came from here??), but it IS rather fine.

melia azedarach

Smells so sweet!

swan song

The best Croque Madame I’ve had outside of France at June’s All Day.

My favorite turquoise on one of my favorite trucks for the wanderer win!

The company of our old friends Whitney and Michael – we’ve known each other since we were newlyweds – the absolute highlight of our time in Austin!

My favorite Cooper at Cooper’s BBQ – It’s All About THE MEAT! What fine meat, too. Good golly!

The Driskill

Thank you, Austin!

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one foot

L O V E

wind blown

pelicans

Wind Dancer

H.W. Tatum

Rollerblading Nun

She gave a homeless man candy bars and called him by name.

pattern

uplift

I’ve owned a Swiss Army knife since I was a teenager. It’s a big, bad-ass version, not with ALL the things, but darn close (the Swiss Champ, sans pliers or pen and pin, ruh-roh). The first longest stretch I’ve been without it happened on my honeymoon, when it was stolen from my pocket in Saint Mark’s Square in Venice, a VERY sad day! I had to wait to replace it until arriving in Switzerland, which was actually pretty special. I still remember climbing up these steep steps to a tiny chalet and being utterly dazzled by the selection.

The second was this trip. I swore I put it in my purse and was wrecked when I went to slice an avocado and couldn’t find it. Every day, I would have a need for it, and every day I would be heartbroken not to have it. Then, under this sculpture in Corpus Christi (what say you, flowers or spurs?), I found one, nonchalant and half-hidden in the grass. Not as special as mine, but darn sweet. One of those grand times when the universe tipped its hat in my favor. Hey there, this blade was well loved and lost, but I know you’ll take good care of it. You bet I will.

tussock moth caterpillar

I heart Guadalupe

small mouth

Texas Surf Museum – it’s FREE, but they’ll gladly take a donation.

ride

Corpus Christi Botanical Gardens

movement

stillness

Goodbye, Corpus Christi!

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Mistakes

A life spent making mistakes is not only more honorable, but more useful than a life spent doing nothing.

George Bernard Shaw

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