luluIf you’ve followed along for a while, you know that my life is split between Maine and Houston. I enjoy both places, but transitioning into Houston does have its challenges.
There are some highlights, including coming home to the house I love.
The first few minutes are spent wandering from room to room reacquainting myself with each one.
Even before bags are unpacked, I go to buy foodstuffs. Now, that is one of the joys of being in Houston. Costco and Trader Joe’s are just a few minutes away as well as a grocery store that has everything and then some. Between the three the pantry is well stocked and bunches of flowers make it seem like home.
Now for the hard part. Compared to Rockport, Houston is a behemoth! What that means is traffic, lots of it. Already I’ve had to do some freeway driving and after traveling mostly two lane roads for the last few months, six lanes of cars moving at fast speeds is a trifle scary.
Houston has been home for many years, and I do have good friends here that I am anxious to see. I appreciate the amenities this big city offers, but I miss the simple life and the natural beauty in Maine. Heck, I even miss shopping at TJ Maxx!
I especially miss opening my eyes every morning and looking out to see how Rockport Harbor is welcoming the day. Here, when I turn my head all I see is the wooden fence that separates us from the neighbors.
Oh well, it’s a good life and I am very grateful for all that each place affords.
i so appreciate your visit and the comments you leave behind
For the next 3 weeks western attire will be the norm in Houston as it’s rodeo time. I have to confess that I don’t own a single piece of western style clothing so I don’t quite fit the look.
The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo is a really big deal featuring big name entertainers and raising lots of money for scholarships awarded to young people.
I don’t know how many people go to the rodeo, but when I tell you it’s mass humanity both on the grounds and in the stadium, believe it. This is not a great thing for one who does not like crowds!
As much as the entertainment, I totally enjoy the events. Bronco and bull riding take a lot more courage than I could muster up.
Not being a gal who has ever enjoyed horseback riding, I have great admiration for these gals who showcase their skills in the barrel race.
Chuck wagon races are just plain fun and get the crowd cheering .
The calf scramble is madness with kids doing everything they can to get a calf tied down. The calves are not always real cooperative.
With the rodeo events over for the night, the lights go down and quick as a wink the stadium is transformed into an entertainment venue, this night featuring Garth Brooks, a real favorite among country and western music fans. I have to say he is quite the entertainer feeding off the crowd energy and giving it his all.
I don’t know how late into the night things go, but as we left there was a little two steppin’ going on 
and the amusement park was still in full swing.
Every Houston winter is different, and this one has been no exception. The first few weeks of 2018 have been colder than usual and mostly gray causing me to stay inside and focus more on preparing comfort food.
Sadly, there were just enough below freezing temperatures to do considerable damage to yards not designed to tolerate the cold. Now, much of what is in my yard is cut back to the ground waiting for sunshine and warm weather to bring it back.
As I walked around, I noticed little hints of green that promise regrowth.
Weather here can turn on a dime and today is warm and sunny, perfect for a trip to the nursery to gather a few things for repotting.
With the planting done, it was a treat to sit on the porch for some leisurely moments enjoying a simple lunch and reading.
If you know nothing else about Houston, it’s likely you know that it’s home to Mission Control for NASA’s space program and the training center for astronauts. Located here in 1961, NASA continues to be an important part of what goes on in Houston.
Exhibited there are spacecraft flown on three missions, Mercury 9, Gemini 5 and Apollo 17. As I looked at the early capsules, I had a whole new appreciation for the early astronauts who were confined to very small spaces. Having a tendency toward claustrophobia, I couldn’t begin to imagine myself shut in for more than a few minutes!
Nor could I imagine floating in space tethered to a capsule. I couldn’t help but wonder what would happen in case of separation.
Anyone around in 1969 remembers man’s first landing on the moon and Neil Armstrong’s defining the experience as one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind. It gives me chills just to remember the moment.
Displayed are the Lunar Rover and many artifacts associated with moon landings.
Especially fascinating are the mockups for the space station.
The fact that it is home for months means it has to have conveniences that would allow the travelers to maintain a life as normal as possible.
Floating weightless is yet another concept I can’t imagine.
January and February are blurs as most of that time was spent laid up thanks to surgery to rebuild a heel bone and reattach an Achilles tendon. To say the least, I’m glad that’s behind me and grateful for that being the worst health issue I’ve had.
Getting out was a treat even though it often meant scooting around rather than walking.
By March I was back in the kitchen experimenting with new food ideas and challenging myself to spend some of the down time working on food photography.
Having a bit more mobility in April allowed me to take advantage of exhibits at The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, where Ron Mueck’s life like sculptures were both intriguing and a tad scary.
By the end of May, we were on the road to Maine making stops in Savannah and South Carolina to explore the low country and binge on yummy food.
Arriving in Maine, the first order of business was to replace the water facing porch, the maintenance for which had eaten the hubby’s lunch over the years. What an improvement and hubby will be ever so happy next year when all he has to do is put the furniture out!
After a month of projects, it was time in July to do what we like best: explore Maine’s coast and islands on Pipe Dreams.
August was family time, and it makes my heart sing to see how much the grandkids enjoy the magic of Maine.
Much of September was shrouded in fog which limited boating but provided good excuse to discover what else Maine has to offer.
In October, we journeyed to the Moosehead Lake region where we enjoyed natural beauty and stumbled upon a memorial that introduced us to a tragic event about which we knew nothing.
A dream came true in November when girlfriends traveled together in India. Bus rides got to be a bit much, but the adventure was one that more than met expectations and provided us with memories to share.
Though we had expected to end 2017 in Maine, winter got the best of us and we returned to Houston to celebrate the coming of a new year with long time friends.
It makes me sad that our small family, which now includes sons-in-law and grandchildren, is rarely all together during the holiday season.
I will enjoy time in Houston while awaiting the return to Maine
where there is boating, exploring islands and spending time with family and friends.
Without question I will eat more lobster!