Told ya, another short road trip

This time to Beaumont to photograph the courthouse there. We've passed through Beaumont many a time; however, most of the time it was pulling a trailer so very unwieldly to drive down through the center of town. The one time we were 'unattached' so to speak, it was raining. So today with nothing else planned on the horizon, we set forth taking a circuitous route instead of the usual I-10. It was interesting, but hardly a road we will venture forth on again.

Passing through Liberty on the way, we stopped to take a new photo of the Liberty County courthouse there as last time it was a very dull, relating to the sky, day. This is the 7th courthouse to sit on this square since the original was built in 1831. We next drove on down the road to Beaumont, the county seat of Jefferson County.





Before stopping for lunch at our favorite restaurant, Pappadeaux Seafood, I saw a sign for the Beaumont Botanical Gardens. So we made that our last stop of the day before heading on home. We took I-10 home listening to the breathtaking, literally, Astros v Reds game. When we tuned in it was the 7th inning and the game was tied at 0-0. Fortunately, in the top of the 10th, Lance Berkman hit a 2 run double to put the Astros ahead 2-0 and our closer shut down the Reds in the bottom of the 10th giving the Astros a face-saving win. The previous 2 days they had lost 15-6 and 12-2.

A short road trip in the MKX

First of many, I'm sure.


This morning, Sneed asked what I wanted to do today. We like to be spontaneous. I said I wanted to get a photo of some white wildflowers we had been seeing along the roadside but hadn't shot yet. I asked him what he wanted to do. He said, "Let's drive some back roads to Blessing for lunch". That was a good deal!

We hopped into the car, and toodled down the road stopping to get the photo first. Officially known as Lindheimer's Bee Balm, I think this looks more like steamed rice on a stalk.

We arrived in Blessing right around noon. Perfect timing! The first thing we noticed was the old hotel had gotten a paint job. The inside was the same old, same old. The food was the same as ever. Just down home cookin' by LOLs - Little, Old, Ladies. They've been making the same green beans, taters, greens, corn, peas, etc with (this time) some liver and onions, chicken fried steak, and fried chicken all being kept piping hot on the old timey stoves. There's salad and cole slaw, and cherry and peach cobblers as desserts. All this for less than $10 each and it's all you can eat. Worth the trip a couple times a year.




The following photos are some scenes on the way home along our great Texas highways...

A Day of Angst

Today was the day....

Last Saturday, we had a bit of free time, so we decided to look at cars. We look at cars all the time just to see what's out there.

After a lot of wailing and gnashing of the teeth (if it sounds like h*ell, it was), I succumbed to getting a new automobile without (shock factor) manual transmission. I had seen a few Lincoln MKXs on the road and thought they were something I might like.








As it turns out, we bought a car on Saturday and picked it up this afternoon ~ after signing our lives away on so many pieces of paper, I lost count. I even caught a typo and corrected it before signing one. Whatever happened to just handing the dealer the check and they hand you the keys? Not anymore, you sign your life away and your privacy too. I balked at signing that one.

So without further ado, but still some sadness that my Saab is no longer in its appointed place in the garage, here is my new ride ~ a 2010 Gold Leaf Metallic Lincoln MKX with all the bells and whistles.

Recital Time

It's May, it's recital time. Aedin and Dylin have worked hard for this. They even performed in "Jungle Book" at 3pm before coming to the Stafford Centre Theatre for the 7pm performance tonight.


Dylin was in two dance classes, and Aedin with were her eye captivating smile was in one.


They always make us proud.

Astros take on the mighty Rays

and WIN! Yep, the basement Astros (with the worst record in the NL as of today) took on the mighty Tampa Bay Rays (best record in all of MLB, that's the NL and the AL) this evening and we were there to see it.


Sneed (or I should say his company as we weren't footing the bill) was entertaining some Egyptians so we had spectacular seats in the suite above Hunter's Lodge. Not only was the view great but the food was outstanding also.



Perhaps the Rays were coming down from a high after beating the Yankees in a two game stand, or they were tired after arriving in Houston at 5am this morning with little or no sleep on the plane, but the bottom line is (and the scoreboard indicates) that the Astros beat the Rays 2-1. All in all, it was a nice victory.






We stayed until the end as we are wont to do. The stands had started thinning out after the 7th inning although the paid attendance was only 27,601 to begin with - down from past seasons by at least 5,000. The roof was closed during the game but opened afterwards for a spectacular firecracker display.

Picnic in the Park

Merwin & Mai, Dennis & Elisabeth, Sandy & Richard, Butch & Debbie, Carl holding Max & Iris holding Freida, Anne & Sneed

Taylor and I got up early for the drive back to Katy this morning. Made great time and arrived around 1030. Sneed was leaving for the picnic at 11 so I had a little time to refresh before getting in the truck. Yep, I said truck, to take Taylor home which was on the way to the park. Marque was in the shop having a loose steering wheel corrected and a few other minor problems tweaked. Those of us who braved the warm (90+ degree weather) had a wonderful time. We don't usually do much in the warmer weather so were glad to have a good showing.

Annemarie's Austin Shower

Obviously, the word 'shower' has a double meaning. Here we are on Congress Street waiting for a table to have lunch at Home Slice, a great pizza place. The wait was over 30 minutes but well worth it ~ note the smiling faces and our 'to go' boxes.


Taylor, Autumn (Brett's older sister), Annemarie, Erika


As Annemarie introduced these ladies to the rest of us, she realized that almost each one of them sat next to her at Dell at one time or another.