Happy Anniversary to us!
And here we go!
Happy Anniversary to us!
Author: Sheilathreesixfive
Messing around.
While visiting Washington State a few weeks back, I took a photo of a beautiful wooden carving that was unceremoniously displayed in the corner of a building at the top of some stairs. Today I uploaded it and played around with it a little bit. I love the result. I think I’ll make some notecards with this image. 🙂
Have a great Friday!
And the original:
Keep looking up.
It’s Fall. Austin is a still hotter than crazy. But I can feel a change in the air.
Dock wrangling.
We loaded up Porter Belle on the trailer yesterday to help John with the dock at his lake house. When the rain came over the July 4th weekend his cove went from high and dry to full in about 24 hours.
His formerly dry dock floated just fine. But its ramp/walkway sank. It’s still attached but hanging straight down. Its flotation block must have broken away in the storms. All the professional dock wranglers are still booked up so we spent the day giving it a shot ourselves.
At the end of the day, we were not successful. But it was fun to row up and down the cove a dozen or so times. And to problem solve different ways to try to raise the walkway. None of them worked. But the best part was that when we packed everything up, the giant flotation block miraculously floated by! We snagged it for when the professionals eventually make it out. There’s a reason they call them professionals 🙂
There are many ways to spend a good day at the lake. This was just one of them.
February rewind.
On short notice, I had the opportunity to join Lori at a beach resort in Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic. Bonus was getting in a nice long visit with Rudy and Lauren. It was beautiful there. And snorkeling in January is good for the soul!
Headed to the Texas Panhandle.
We have driven by the Palo Duro Canyon State Park many times on trips to and from Colorado over the last 25+ years.
This week we took a little road trip to go see it. Palo Duro Canyon is the second largest canyon in the United States. It’s located in the high plains of North Texas; the Llano Estacado. The elevation at the rim is about 3500’ and the floor of the canyon lies about 800’ below. It is called “the Grand Canyon of Texas” and the steep, layered rock walls sure echo those of its namesake.
We took the 8-hour drive up and stayed in a cabin on the floor of the canyon that was built in the 1930s by the Civilian Conservation Corps.
The park is stunningly beautiful. Being in the heart of nature for a couple of days was unforgettable.
The visitor center provided a nice introduction to the geology and history of the canyon.
And oh the stars! We sat outside for hours watching the sky.
On the way home we made an overnight stop in Lubbock. We enjoy visiting the McPherson Cellars tasting room whenever we are in the neighborhood. We can always find another couple there to talk with over a glass of wine.
We stopped in lots of tiny Texas towns to check out their antique stores, historic county courthouses, and Main Street cafes.
Home sweet home now – ‘til the next road trip.
January rewind.
Noreen and David made a quick trip to Austin in January and stayed with us. They’ve been to Austin many times, and it’s getting harder to find new things to show them. This time we all took a day trip to Gruene. Gotta love the Hill Country’s little towns.
Til next time.
My main intent for this trip to Seattle was to see my 7 great nieces & nephews. ✅✅✅✅✅✅✅
I also spent some good time with all but one of my nieces and nephews, and my sisters. I got a chance to visit my friend Irene again. We surprised her mom who I last saw at our high school graduation too long ago. What a special treat.
The Pacific Northwest is beautiful. It never disappoints.
Lots o’ boats.
I’m visiting my family in Seattle. I took a break from hugging babies to attend the Wooden Boat Festival in Port Townsend. The rain cooperated and Noreen, Colleen, and I had a fun day.
Spanish masters.
I enjoy visiting the Blanton Museum once or twice a year to take in their new and traveling exhibits. A new exhibit just arrived that includes some of the works of Velázquez and El Greco, and similar artists from Spain and South America who were court painters in the 1500s and 1600s. I remember learning of them and seeing some of their paintings for the first time at the Prado Museum when I was in high school. So this was an exhibit I wanted to see. The exhibit is called “Spirit and Splendor: El Greco, Velázquez, and the Hispanic Baroque” and will be at the Blanton through February 1, 2026.
Keep in mind that every Tuesday is Free Tuesday at the Blanton. But go any day that works! UT is back in session, so parking was a bit of a zoo. The Brazos Garage was full. Try the Trinity Garage; they were allowing public parking last week.
Old School Maine.
Earlier this month, Monte and I checked something off his wish list. We booked a 5-day/4-night cruise on the Lewis R. French. The French is a 2-masted gaff-rigged wooden schooner. Built in 1871 in Christmas Cove, it is the only remaining 19th-century schooner built in Maine. It is a National Historic Landmark, and is the oldest active commercial sailing vessel in the United States. It is part of the extensive Maine Windjammer Association, taking guests on 3-6 day cruise adventures in Penobscot Bay.
The French hosts twenty guests, with a crew of five. The weather was excellent. We had a little bit of everything: sun, sporting wind, fog, light wind, and some shooting stars, thanks to the Perseid meteor shower. Guests are welcome to hoist and lower sails, sound the fog horn, steer, raise anchor, and help row one of the two wooden rowboats to shore and back. The French operates on sail only, but tows a diesel tender behind which is used to push it in and out of harbors and as an auxiliary motor in case there is no wind at all.
Kurt, Kevin, and Edie also came on the trip, which made for even more fun. We arrived one day ahead of time to explore Camden and other towns a bit before boarding our cruise. We stayed at the Lord Camden Inn, and had a great view of the entire harbor from our balcony.
We didn’t have to board the schooner until 5pm, so we had plenty of time to explore. We drove to the top of Mount Battie and took in sweeping views of Penobscot Bay, and Camden Harbor.
We also visited nearby coastal towns of Rockport, Damariscotta, Rockland, and Bath.
Our first night we slept aboard at the dock in Camden. In the morning we set off to the east, ending up anchoring at Burnt Island outside North Haven. We enjoyed a lobster bake ashore on the beach.
The next day we headed north, it was a long day of sailing, sometimes in light wind, sometimes in moderate wind, anchoring in Holbrook Harbor. We rowed ashore for a short walk on one of the islands there before dinner.
In the morning, I was happy to hear that we would sail to the nearby historic town of Castine after breakfast to grab a mooring and then go ashore for a couple of hours. I walked to the lighthouse and back, exploring the museum and the historic fort locations along the way.
After everyone was back on board, we hoisted sails again for a really lovely sail in good winds south to Gilkey’s Harbor at Islesboro.
The next morning we headed out in thick fog southwest back to Camden.
The food aboard was plentiful and delicious. The chef “OB” kept bringing up baked goods, meals, and snacks from the galley below.
Captain (and owner) Becky kept things running smoothly. First mate Alex and her deck hands Jesse and Jenny kept things ship shape and made it all look easy.
After coming ashore again in Camden, we piled into the car headed back to Portland. We bid adieu to Kurt, dropped Edie and Kevin at the airport, and then Monte and I hopped a Casco Bay ferry over to Great Diamond Island to stay with Lori and Mike for a few days in their wonderful vacationland home.
While they no longer have a sailboat, they have a new addition, a 27′ Boston Whaler that is moored at the island. We used it to head over to Peaks Island one night for dinner, and to spend an afternoon taking in a floating concert at Cow Island.
This is my 3rd summer visit to Maine, and each has been very memorable and fun.
December rewind.
We had a houseful in the middle of December. Susanne, Laura, PJ, and Frankie found themselves in Austin for a swim meet at the University of Texas that PJ competed in. We had fun going to the meet, cooking up meals, going to the lake, and just enjoying eachother’s company. Susanne and Laura stayed through Christmas to help us ring in the season.
Goodnight, moon.
A shot of tonight’s full sturgeon moon shining bright. 🧡
November rewind.
I had a big birthday last year, and my sweet sister Fran came down to help me celebrate. <3.
She gave me a book to plan and log travel. I’m working on it! Thanks Fran!
Sheila365 