November Chronicle

November was a good month.  Full of gratitude which eased the effects of Mercury in retrograde in my life.  I've been listening to Marie Manuchehri and through her podcasts I was introduced to Christopher Renstrom's sight, Ruling Planets.  It's like a light bulb went on in my head.  I'm not completely convinced, but it sure explains a few things.  The reverse spin has taken it's toll and I'm ready to move into December.

It was a busy month and December promises to be double that.  As I'm starting to wrap up my year in preparation for 2013 I'm amazed at how much has been accomplished in 2012.  I once wished to live a full, happy life, and the other day I realized that I am here.  Ever a work in progress, but present. 

• Since I love fall, this month was spent nesting.  Furniture rearranged, nature brought indoors, and a general turning in.
• The time change hit me hard this year.  Maybe it's age.  I remember being young and wondering why older people blamed things on their age.  I am beginning to understand.  
• Took my two favorite girls out to an open house at the lake.  They played in the sand and thought the day was a big adventure. 
• Annie started her second level of training. She is progressing, and it's nice to see the training pay off.
• Strangest thing happened.  I was in a meeting at work with a potential vendor and I was stung by a bee on my arm.  At the time it didn't bother me, but the next day it blew up to the size of a golf ball and itched horribly.  I can't remember the last time I was stung by anything.  
• We took our friend's daughter on a road trip to Austin to visit a school is interested in attending.
• We attended our annual neighborhood meeting.  I'm very thankful for community.  It's interesting to see others so passionate about where they live.
• Grams and my good friend BR celebrated birthdays this month.
• Our cat, Luna, suffered from an abscessed anal gland.  It was horrible and gross.  Because of this she has to wear a collar, and she had to travel with us during Thanksgiving.  She has been dubbed 'cone head.'
• I was lucky enough to snag an afternoon with aforementioned friend BR.  She was off for Thanksgiving week and we were able to sit, undisturbed, and catch up.  I think I did most of the talking.  Thanks, BR!
• Studio CB was spotlighted over here this month.  I enjoyed digging deeper into the scope of her work.  She is very talented.  
• We celebrated Thanksgiving on Galveston Island in the gulf. 
• I participated in Michelle's gratitude week and that inspired me to create a gratitude tree in my front yard.
• My parents decided to come to TEXAS for Christmas.  First time ever to host them in my home for a holiday.  I'm thrilled. 
• Annie was spayed this month, but we received some bad news about her hips.  She as mild to moderate hip dysplasia.  Treatment seems to be a gamble between the severity and her age.  Did you know dogs can get hip replacements?  Titanium hips...in a dog.  We have a long road ahead with this little one. 
• With the coming of fall comes the best food.  I made the best pork loin with apples and shallots and cream gravy (recipe to come), almond bread, and butternut squash bread.  Not to mention all the roasted butternut squash.
• Movies || Perks of Being a Wallflower
• Election || Obama

Road Trip || Austin...Again

I just can't get enough of Austin.  This road trip will never get old.  I realized that this post looks very similar to this one.  Creature of habit, what can I say?  We did have a purpose this time.  A friend of ours has a senior in high school AND she loves Austin as much as we do.  So we took her down to check out St. Edwards University and hang out in the SoCo district. 

We stayed in the wonderfully quirky Austin Motel on South Congress.  It's an old motor inn.   Each room has a different motif.  Ours happened to have wallpaper showcasing a desert scene.  All of the furniture is vintage.  I loved it. It was clean and within walking distance to all of our favorite spots.  

We took photos all weekend long.  We possibly have a photojournalism major in our future.  SoCo boasts food truck vendors, vintage clothing, and artisan vendors.  We hit all of them.

Jo's is a corner coffee shop on SoCo that makes the best latte.  While the teen slept, we walked over to enjoy a latte and the morning paper. 

You can't go to Austin and not visit Uncommon Objects.  Even if you are not into antiques they carry the strangest things that are so much fun to look at.  I walked away with quite a few new objects.

My favorite street vendor, besides Black & Bluebird Studios is a couple that makes succulent gardens from children's toys.  I have no idea where the card is to even tell you who they are, but if I find it, I'll let you know. Genius!  

A new find on this trip is a store named Parts + Labour.  Their motto is All Texas All the Time.  They only sell merchandise from local artists, and Austin is full of very creative people.  I bought the most adorable onesies for the babies in my life.  

There is no telling when I'll be back.  I just know it won't be soon enough.  If it were possible, I would set up camp in Austin.  It's weird, I'm weird.  Seems like a perfect fit!  I suppose what draws me in is the originality.  Austin, in particular South Congress Ave, doesn't look like the rest of the world.  It's hard to find a chain store of any kind.  It's defines the term local business and I dig it.  

Road Trip || Galveston Island

This year cc and I had a non-traditional holiday.  We left town and headed to the beach.  We stayed on the west end (the quiet side) of Galveston Island.  We shut ourselves in with books, comfort food, and old movies.  Most of our time was spent on the beach as you can tell from these photos.  The weather was too gorgeous to pass up. 

It was an interesting turn of events.  We booked at the last minute but we were still able to find a cottage steps from the crossover that allowed dogs.  While we planned on taking Annie, we did not expect to take Luna, our oldest cat.  Luna came down with an abscessed anal gland, I'll spare you the disgusting details, and therefore had to wear a collar and take medicine twice a day.  

I've never traveled with a cat.  She started in her crate, but when the crying became too much, we let her roam around the car.  Annie, who still thinks she is a lap dog, rode in cc's lap and Luna rode in mine and looked out the window most of the time.  A passing stranger would get quite a chuckle.

After a long car ride, we made it.  Annie loved the beach, and Luna was just fine perched next to a sunny window.

We did venture out to The Strand and walked around.  We found this fortune teller (similar to the movie Big) and decided to give Zoltar a try. Here is our fortune. 

Recently you've had to make some judgements as others may be judging you. A wise man makes his own decisions, an ignorant man follows the public opinion.  A mountain is composed of tiny grains of earth.  The ocean is made up of tiny drops of water.  Even so, life is but an endless series of little details, actions, speeches and thoughts...and the consequences whether good or bad of even the least of them are so far reaching.  The more we judge, the less we love.  Patience and thought will show you the right way.  

Wise words.  Very applicable to recent events in our life.  

We celebrated Small Business Saturday by dining at Gaido's.  It's a family owned and operated restaurant that is been in Galveston since 1911 and is still in the Gaido family.  

Other than a few brief adventures out in public we were on the beach: walking, watching dolphins play, mesmerized by the pelicans diving for fish, and falling asleep to the sounds of the surf.  It was rejuvenating...and I really didn't want to come back to the real world, but all good vacations must end so there can be another.  

Hope you had a great Thanksgiving.  

Update || Gratitude Tree

Last week I created a gratitude tree in our front yard and asked neighbors and friends to stop by and hang a note of thanks from my tree.  Many came and left sweet notes of thanksgiving.

I am THANKFUL for living in a place that still values community.

I loved seeing all the notes fluttering in the wind with the leaves still hanging on.  Too bad we have to take them all down.