Long Story Short

It's been quite a year.

But here we are.  

Back in the UK.

Ready for the next adventure.

Hong Kong Market

John's ongoing search for Prawn Crackers took us to Chinatown in Houston

and to the Hong Kong Market.

The smell inside immediately took me back to Kowloon in the early 1970s.

There was strange fish in buckets.  I think these are Cuttlefish but I'm not sure.

Lots of interesting looking vegetables

and roots

and three whole isles dedicated to "Noodles"

We spent ages looking around and trying to figure out what things were.

We came back with veg, fish and sauces.

No Prawn Crackers :( 

Houston Museum of Natural Science | Sugarland

Teenage one was working again today and I didn't fancy doing the ironing

so hubby and I used a Groupon voucher for a local museum.

Yes!!  I know.  You have to pay to get into a museum here and it's not cheap!! 

We went to the Natural Science Museum in Sugarland.

Thankfully we didn't pay much as we were in and out in an hour and that was with us having a go on all the touchy feely exhibits for the kids!!

There was Petrified wood, which is amazing.

Strange looking crystals.  I like this one as the bit on the right looks like a Hedgehog.

These Citrine geodes were huge (which is why that lady is sneakily on the left so you can see how big!!)

 There was a T Rex

 and a Stegosaurus

and I had great fun with sound waves and polystyrene balls

After spreading it out over an hour we picked up a coffee and a sandwich and had lunch in a nearby park.  We weren't there long as the temperature was 98C.

A bit too warm and humid for a picnic!!

Happy 4th of July

This was our third 4th of July in Texas

and this year was a lot quieter.

The Teenager was working an 8 hour shift

and hubby and I just pottered around all day.

 John made BBQ ribs and fried chicken along with corn and salad.

followed by cheesecake.  (He didn't make that!!)

I was going to make 4th of July cupcakes but the ribs were in the oven for 4 hours!!

We had dinner once the Teenager was back then sat out on the porch 

listened to Luke Bryan and waited for the sun to go down.

We watched the neighbourhood fireworks 

and I managed to get the second photo of the Teenager this year.

All in all a good day.

Stress Buster

It's been a bit of a stressful two days.

What with the teenager being sick and off work,

John doing something to his shoulder/neck and being in a lot of pain,

and waiting to hear news that will determine what happens in the next few months.

Then we get this photo from John's son in the UK.

Welcome to Grandbaby Lee.

Born 27 June 2016,

weighing 9lbs 2oz.

How could this cute wee thing not help get rid of your stress?

Garden tidy up

Hubby and I popped into our favourite Garden Center last weekend.

I love this place.  It's so quaint and full of interesting nik naks.

But Oh! it was soooo hot.

The temperature said 95F - but feels like 114F.

I think they could have been right.

We bought some hardy plants that will survive both the Texas weather 

and me having to look after them.

John spent two days planting them out and putting in a new sprinkler system

(he obviously knows how bad I am at watering)

and the flower bed looks great.

I helped out by cleaning the patio furniture and getting the cushions out.

Every little helps.

The garden know looks summer ready and will have visitors in the not too distant future.

Lights please

Last December Hubby and I went along to a Christmas Market for a mooch.

(Yes I know I said the C word in June!!)

We saw some wine bottle filled with lights and he casually said in passing

"I could make one of those".

Six months later he did.

He says it's only a prototype and we'll need to drink a lot more wine till he gets it just right 

but I think it's great.

Of course, being the ever dutiful wife that I am if I have to drink more wine 

in the name of research, I will :0)

Calm

Does anyone remember this photo?

This is what the I10 into Houston looks like on a daily basis.

This, however, is what it looks like at 6.30am on a Sunday 

when you have to go and collect your teenager after a night spent gaming with his pals!!

No need for the HOV lane today.

Hmmmm!  Let me think.  Which one do I prefer?

Everything is bigger in Texas

Wine drinking.........Texas style.

Guess which one's mine J

Summer Scrapping #5

A very simple layout of the Teenager and his young Cousin H at the Lone Star Flight Museum, Galveston last August.

No need for a title as the card says it all.

Papers are Recollections and October Afternoon 

and stickers and title card are all from a kit by Echo Park.

Chase Tower

So hubby and I were out and about again this week.

This time I thought I would be brave and take a trip up 60 floors to the 

observation area of the Chase Tower in Houston.

It's the highest building in Houston at 75 floors.

You can see which floor it is from ground level as the windows are bigger.

I checked out the opening times on the website and got the directions for downtown.

We set off to travel the 30 miles so I could scare myself from a great height!!

The area around the tower is nothing spectacular.  Just businesses, a few bars

and lots of building work.

After finding a car park and paying the extortionate amount of $14.00 for parking

we arrived at the tower.

You have to check in with the security desk so after psyching myself up about the height

I was about to go up too, I went to the check-in desk.

Only to be told "Oh I'm sorry ma'am the observation area is closed today".

Whaaaaaaat???

  Their own website said it was open and even gave the times.

Not happy at all.

We had to check out the height of the tower - from ground level.

It was interesting to check out the other buildings and

like a lot of cities now, the old is dwarfed by the new.

and they all seem very shiny.

Another day not as planned but interesting to see and it has taught me something.

I really don't like city living.

Give me the countryside any day.

Summer Photographic Scavenger Hunt 2016

The lovely Rinda over at Gallo Organico has agreed, once again to host the 

Summer Photographic Scavenger Hunt.

I have done this for the last few years and it's great fun trying to find 

photos for the required list.

Which just so happens to be here.......

I think this year I'll wait until the end of the hunt and then post my pictures.

The hunt dates are 1 June to 22 September 2016.

Summer Scrapping #4

I completely stole this layout idea from Tanya Hubbard who posted

on Shimelle's blog a while back.

August 2015

I used up some of my Cosmo Cricket papers that I've had for years and finally found a use for the chipboard pea pod from Riff Raff.

I'm also trying to use up my alphas but it's getting more difficult

as I'm running out of vowels!!

Day Trip

Last week John and I decided to take a short trip, 30 miles up the road 

to visit Stephen F Austin State Park.

The drive there is pretty unspectacular as it's straight along the I10 

and there is nothing to see except really bad drivers.

We got there in good time only to find, that after the recent rains it was closed to the public.

Not one to give up and go straight home we took a detour and headed to Brookwood.

The sun was out and it was really peaceful.

 The flowers were blooming but I decided against buying any 

as they all seem to wilt if I have to look after them!!

The cacti looked great all stacked together and I'm sure in a garden that

doesn't look like a football pitch they would look amazing.

We had a quick look around the shop then headed back home.

After driving straight past the turning to go home John

decided to tell me that we were going to Olive Garden for lunch.

The chicken and Gnocchi soup was amazing.

Sometimes when you're original plans go awry

you can still have a good day out.

Summer Scrapping #3

So far this year I have the grand total of one, yes one photo of the teenager.

I only got this one as it was his Birthday and I asked him for a photo

to send to mum, who was in hospital.

January 2016

It's only............

Six weeks till these lovely people arrive in Texas.

I can't wait JJJ

Summer Scrapping #2

Up early today as Hubby had an appointment at 8am.

What to do whilst he's busy?  Scrapbook of course.

So in between appointments and line dancing

I came up with this.

July 2015

Again a variety of papers including Basic Grey and Recollections.

The green letter are so old that some of them don't actually stick any more!!

Summer Scrapping #1

I have 10 weeks holiday just now and hope to scrapbook every chance I get.

I don't know if I'll be able to manage every day

what with visitors and line dancing 

but I'm at least hoping to bring the Teenagers album up-to-date.

First layout of the summer.

The Teenager will hate it but some days it's so him.

July 2015.

A mixture of papers from the last 10 years or so

plus some brads and stickers.

Summer Begins

Woo Hoo!!

School has finished.

Class of 2016 has Graduated.

Ten weeks of holidays begins.

Time to enjoy the sunshine.

Flood Warnings!!

These maps have been popping into my email all morning.

Thunder storms forecast for this afternoon.

Lets hope that the rain stays off and everyone stays safe.