I had a three day weekend this weekend, so we decided to take advantage of it and take a day trip to somewhere that K has been wanting to go for years. He's been talking about a restaurant called the Pickett House in Woodville, TX (about 90 miles away from us). Since its so far away we've never made it up there - either we don't have time, we do have time but I don't want to sit in the car, or like last year it got too hot to enjoy it since most of what we want to do there is outside. No excuses this time, the weather was nice and having the day off work it was the perfect day to head up there.
We had a great time. Right by the restaurant is a small historic village that you can walk through and see what life was like in the late 1800s. Exploring this area is why we wanted to go before it got too hot. We had a good time seeing the different buildings and offices and I am so thankful the dentist office has come a long way since then! My favorite building was the one-room school house. As soon as I saw it, I said it was just like the Little House on the Prairie books, and had to laugh when another woman walked in and said the same thing. We really enjoyed seeing all of the personal items and tools that were on display, and I know K wanted to look in more detail at the books they had in the school house.
We walked around until we were hungry, then went to the restaurant. The food is served boarder-style (again, looking at what life was like in the late 1800s) and the menu is the same every day- fried chicken, chicken and dumplings, sides, and cobbler for dessert. It was good, and I know K loved the fried chicken. He had flown up here with his parents as a kid and still remembers how good the fried chicken was! The food was all really good and we had to watch ourselves since its all-you-can-eat. K was pleasantly surprised with the peach cobbler, he doesn't think he's ever eaten cobbler before.....
After we ate, we walked around the parts of the village we hadn't seen yet and then headed back home. I really enjoyed the outdoor museum and need to find more of them. It was laid back and I feel I learned something too :)
Right near Woodville,we stopped at a u-pick-it strawberry place and got some delicious strawberries, and even made some of them into smoothies that night.
We need to take more day trips, it was a great way to spend the day and didn't cost too much since we started and ended the day at home.
Sunday, March 18, 2012
Sunday, March 11, 2012
Rainmaker
We may've just guaranteed a rainy spring and summer for everyone.....we got a sprinkler system installed last week. We're pretty excited about it, this way we can keep our yard alive and not spend what felt like every night moving sprinklers around. We did that last summer and could NOT do it again this year. I didn't get to see the installation, but it went pretty quickly...here's hoping I learn to operate it as quickly.
Its been a rainy weekend in Houston. We rearranged the living room today, and it looks so much bigger. I love a no-cost rearrangement. Down the road we'll want to get some different furniture to better fit the space, but for now, just took some work on rearranging the room.
Ever since I thought of the blog post, 'rainmaker' I've had the matchbox 20 song stuck in my head...whatever happened to them?
I want to boycott daylight savings time! All day I've been finding myself going, is it that late already?
Its been a rainy weekend in Houston. We rearranged the living room today, and it looks so much bigger. I love a no-cost rearrangement. Down the road we'll want to get some different furniture to better fit the space, but for now, just took some work on rearranging the room.
Ever since I thought of the blog post, 'rainmaker' I've had the matchbox 20 song stuck in my head...whatever happened to them?
I want to boycott daylight savings time! All day I've been finding myself going, is it that late already?
Sunday, March 4, 2012
Weekend recap
It was a busy weekend at the Tucker house, a great weekend, just a busy one.
We spent most of Saturday running errands and cleaning up the house.
We made signs for the found dog. Poster board and markers from the store – when is the last time I’d bought poster board? The part we hadn’t figured out was how to make the sign stand up. I’d thought of the fence planks we used to have or some kind of sticks and K improved on the idea by thinking of looking for scrap wood from some of the building sites near our house. We found some wood already cut into a point (easier to push into the ground) and nailed it to another piece to make it taller away from the ground (easier to see). I’m terrible at using a hammer, but we got them in there. K even got to use his saw to cut the piece down to a workable size. He loves a good home project, I'm still a bit terrified of spinning blades! My block handwriting is pretty uneven but it is legible and easily seen from inside a car. We put it out yesterday afternoon, and hoped for the best. I checked when I drove by today and the sign was still standing, success!
We finished Saturday by watching Hanna - great action movie, and I liked the actress so much more than in Atonement. We'd picked up candy bars at the store to enjoy with the movie, not great for the diet...but an occasional snickers is oh so good...
Today we were busy with yard work in the morning. The bushes got a much-needed trim. I can see over them now!
Later in the day I went to my long-awaited massage. I’d scheduled it purposefully a little while after the conference so I could look forward to it and really treat myself after that stressful week was over. Kevin will use his after this comp exams – we bought them both w/groupons. It was well worth the wait, so relaxed now..
After my massage, we went to enjoy the *beautiful* weather on the patio of a nearby bar. I finally got my crawfish fix and we spent the afternoon catching up and people-watching.
It has been interesting having 2 dogs in the house. Smokey enjoys his status as 'only child' and has not been happy to lose it, even temporarily. He's pretty possessive of both of us and of his toys, so he's been in trouble more than usual the past few days. He's so much bigger than the found dog and has to play nice. The dog is really cute, though may be too small a dog for us. I also didn't realize how good it is that S never has accidents in the house, this dog did - not sure if its because he's in a different place or that he's not totally housebroken, but it got old really quick. We have decided that for now, we are a one dog household. We may get a second dog one day, if we ever do we'll have to do a trial period to see if S can get used to it, he does NOT like change....
THE SIGN WORKED! A guy called us this evening and came to get the dog. He was house sitting for his aunt and the dog got out. The timeline and dog description all matched up. So glad we could help the dog get home, he and his sis both got out...I'd be devastated if Smokey got out and I didn't know where he was, hope they find his sister...
We spent most of Saturday running errands and cleaning up the house.
We made signs for the found dog. Poster board and markers from the store – when is the last time I’d bought poster board? The part we hadn’t figured out was how to make the sign stand up. I’d thought of the fence planks we used to have or some kind of sticks and K improved on the idea by thinking of looking for scrap wood from some of the building sites near our house. We found some wood already cut into a point (easier to push into the ground) and nailed it to another piece to make it taller away from the ground (easier to see). I’m terrible at using a hammer, but we got them in there. K even got to use his saw to cut the piece down to a workable size. He loves a good home project, I'm still a bit terrified of spinning blades! My block handwriting is pretty uneven but it is legible and easily seen from inside a car. We put it out yesterday afternoon, and hoped for the best. I checked when I drove by today and the sign was still standing, success!
We finished Saturday by watching Hanna - great action movie, and I liked the actress so much more than in Atonement. We'd picked up candy bars at the store to enjoy with the movie, not great for the diet...but an occasional snickers is oh so good...
Today we were busy with yard work in the morning. The bushes got a much-needed trim. I can see over them now!
Later in the day I went to my long-awaited massage. I’d scheduled it purposefully a little while after the conference so I could look forward to it and really treat myself after that stressful week was over. Kevin will use his after this comp exams – we bought them both w/groupons. It was well worth the wait, so relaxed now..
After my massage, we went to enjoy the *beautiful* weather on the patio of a nearby bar. I finally got my crawfish fix and we spent the afternoon catching up and people-watching.
It has been interesting having 2 dogs in the house. Smokey enjoys his status as 'only child' and has not been happy to lose it, even temporarily. He's pretty possessive of both of us and of his toys, so he's been in trouble more than usual the past few days. He's so much bigger than the found dog and has to play nice. The dog is really cute, though may be too small a dog for us. I also didn't realize how good it is that S never has accidents in the house, this dog did - not sure if its because he's in a different place or that he's not totally housebroken, but it got old really quick. We have decided that for now, we are a one dog household. We may get a second dog one day, if we ever do we'll have to do a trial period to see if S can get used to it, he does NOT like change....
THE SIGN WORKED! A guy called us this evening and came to get the dog. He was house sitting for his aunt and the dog got out. The timeline and dog description all matched up. So glad we could help the dog get home, he and his sis both got out...I'd be devastated if Smokey got out and I didn't know where he was, hope they find his sister...
Thursday, March 1, 2012
Animal Magnet
Animals LOVE Kevin and keep finding him. I hope this doesn't become an annual occurrence. Last March, a bird randomly appeared in the yard when he was home and today, March 1 (see a trend?) a little white dog started following him and Smokey on their walk. They weren't even on their way home yet, but the dog followed them for the whole walk and all the way home.
K called me wondering what to do, he's clearly a lost pet.. I've seen signs up in the neighborhood but they are mostly for FOUND pets. He took him to our vet to see if he's microchipped - nope, and no collar or tags or anything. Do yourself, and your pet, a favor - put tags on them!
We've already put a notice on our e-bulletin board for the neighborhood and will put up signs if needed. Our guess is that people may not even realize that he's missing until tonight if they were at work all day...
He's a cute fellow, just not what K needed today. He has class today and was busy getting ready for that. We're also not sure how this dog and Smokey will get along, they seem ok now but have snarled/snapped at each other. Smokey is very spoiled and loves his only child status. Luckily my boss is really understanding and let me leave early so I could puppy-sit.
I'm going to take this as a trial period to see if we want a second dog :)
Poor puppy, he's tired....
K called me wondering what to do, he's clearly a lost pet.. I've seen signs up in the neighborhood but they are mostly for FOUND pets. He took him to our vet to see if he's microchipped - nope, and no collar or tags or anything. Do yourself, and your pet, a favor - put tags on them!
We've already put a notice on our e-bulletin board for the neighborhood and will put up signs if needed. Our guess is that people may not even realize that he's missing until tonight if they were at work all day...
He's a cute fellow, just not what K needed today. He has class today and was busy getting ready for that. We're also not sure how this dog and Smokey will get along, they seem ok now but have snarled/snapped at each other. Smokey is very spoiled and loves his only child status. Luckily my boss is really understanding and let me leave early so I could puppy-sit.
I'm going to take this as a trial period to see if we want a second dog :)
Poor puppy, he's tired....
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
Success!
HUGE sigh of relief....the conference I've been working on for nearly a year is now over and done with, and it went really well!!! It took a lot of hard work by a lot of different people and it was all worth it. I think that all of the 170+ attendees had a good time and we'd planned for it so well that even though small issues cropped up throughout the week it was nothing we couldn't handle.
I drove down to Corpus Christi on Monday and didn't come back until Saturday. The conference actually kicked off on Wednesday but there was a lot to do to get ready for it. I am so glad K let me use his truck, all the stuff I had to bring + picking up another person would not have fit in my little car.
The conference was at the Omni Hotel, and they took really good care of us and were wonderful to work with. I'd been working pretty hard leading up to the conference and wound up with a cold before I left Houston. It got so bad that I lost my voice and actually had the President of the organization send me to my room to rest. I didn't think I'd be able to sleep, but I did and it really did help! If you have to lose your voice, this hotel was the place to lose it. The hotel staff went out of their way to help me, providing a steady supply of hot tea with honey and lemon and the other officers really helped too - one even brought me some lozenges for my throat. It sounded a lot worse than it felt, and it sounded BAD! My voice still isn't back to 100%..
I didn't attend many sessions during the conference, its a full-time job putting on the conference! I was able to attend the general sessions and the special event. I had a lot of good seafood being so close to the coast and we had a great evening on the USS Lexington. The tours were really interesting, and I even got to sit in the captain's chair on the bridge!
I feel like I'm still recovering from my lack of sleep during the conference. I didn't get much sleep between stressing about the conference, being away from home and hearing drag racers (loud even 17 floors up!) and wind the last morning. I've had some early nights since I got home - I went to bed at 8:45 on Saturday! I should be back to normal soon, and am very glad I'll be in town for a while - two work trips in one month is plenty for this girl!
I drove down to Corpus Christi on Monday and didn't come back until Saturday. The conference actually kicked off on Wednesday but there was a lot to do to get ready for it. I am so glad K let me use his truck, all the stuff I had to bring + picking up another person would not have fit in my little car.
The conference was at the Omni Hotel, and they took really good care of us and were wonderful to work with. I'd been working pretty hard leading up to the conference and wound up with a cold before I left Houston. It got so bad that I lost my voice and actually had the President of the organization send me to my room to rest. I didn't think I'd be able to sleep, but I did and it really did help! If you have to lose your voice, this hotel was the place to lose it. The hotel staff went out of their way to help me, providing a steady supply of hot tea with honey and lemon and the other officers really helped too - one even brought me some lozenges for my throat. It sounded a lot worse than it felt, and it sounded BAD! My voice still isn't back to 100%..
I didn't attend many sessions during the conference, its a full-time job putting on the conference! I was able to attend the general sessions and the special event. I had a lot of good seafood being so close to the coast and we had a great evening on the USS Lexington. The tours were really interesting, and I even got to sit in the captain's chair on the bridge!
I feel like I'm still recovering from my lack of sleep during the conference. I didn't get much sleep between stressing about the conference, being away from home and hearing drag racers (loud even 17 floors up!) and wind the last morning. I've had some early nights since I got home - I went to bed at 8:45 on Saturday! I should be back to normal soon, and am very glad I'll be in town for a while - two work trips in one month is plenty for this girl!
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