Texas 2013 - Houston/Galveston

We're back from Houston! It was such a great time. I have fallen absolutely in love with Texas. The food, the heat, the people - I can't stop raving. (And Tom & I can't stop saying, "Just livin' the dream, darlin'." Heard it everywhere.)

We arrived on Saturday but our condo wasn't available until Sunday, so we stayed at a hotel near the airport the first night. The hotel manager directed us to Pappas Seafood House for lunch - what a way to start a vacation! We had crab cakes with crawfish, fried calamari, zucchini, and garlic toast with spinach dip, and then fried crawfish and catfish. Because it was our first time in Texas, the manager gave us free crème brûlée as a welcome gift. We had leftovers for days. I couldn't help but top the mini brownies we brought with us with crème brûlée and whipped cream. Does this not look amazing? (It was.)

Our condo was in Kemah, a little town southeast of Houston. It had plenty of light and space. The walk-in closet was absolutely huge - why in the world didn't I take a picture of it?

We had just been in World Market and admired these exact pillows, but figured since we were flying we couldn't buy them. I got to enjoy them for a week though.

The only thing missing in the kitchen was a draining rack - so Tom improvised. Clever, isn't he?

We were within walking distance of the Kemah Boardwalk - a carnival-type place with food, games, rides, and hungry catfish. You could throw pellets of food to them and they would just swarm. Kind of cool, kind of creepy. And that is the true colour of the water. Yum.

The boardwalk is really pretty though and being able to walk along the water after being cooped up in planes and then the car was just what I needed.

Even the police are having fun in Kemah.

 Some of the houses right at the water were amazing. I'm so jealous. Imagine the view every day?

We stopped at a bar for dinner, right across the road from our condo. It was a tiny, little place called the Loco Deckhouse that has only been open for a few months.

We got to talking with the waitress (Hi, Mari Ann!) and she gave us a list of places to visit every night for dinner and entertainment. She started calling us her "Canadian friends" and then she introduced us to the owner as "her Canadians". We didn't hit half the places she mentioned - she has energy! - but her recommendations were perfect. After dinner the owner took us across the street to his "party bus".  He rents it out and people party while he drives around I guess. It was full of flashing lights, neon ribbon lighting, even a disco ball. This was the best picture I could get - a totally psychedelic atmosphere.

The main reason we stayed in Kemah was to be closer to the beaches at Galveston. The owner of the condo told us that right now the beaches there were covered in seaweed, so we drove farther down the coast to Matagorda. It was lunch time when we got there so we asked our GPS for suggestions. "She" led us here.

It's someone's backyard full of oyster shells. Thanks, lady. So we ended up buying flautas and corndogs from the convenience store and eating them at the beach. When we got home I looked up the restaurant and right on the site it says that your GPS will lead you to the wrong address. Good to know. 

How was the beach? Well, the seaweed had made it down south as well. 

No swimming that day. But we did  have fun walking out on the bridge and then along the jetty (is it a jetty? a spit?) to take pictures of the pelicans diving for fish. I don't really like birds but I swear I couldn't stop taking pictures.

The day before we left for home, we decided to make the trip to Galveston anyway. And you know what we found? Perfect beaches. I guess the seaweed had moved along (and we had blindly followed it, of course.)

We didn't bring bathing suits or towels because we didn't expect to swim, so we had to settle for just walking along the water's edge. But we did come back the next day before we had to leave for the airport so we could experience the gulf waters. It was so warm! Nicer than the water in Cuba even (though I haven't been there in June.)

The coolest thing was the fish swimming in the water around us. They would randomly jump out of the water or would surf the waves in huge schools. It was one of the most amazing things I've ever seen. If I'd only had a waterproof camera with me.

Oh, this was cool too. This is Callie. She's six months old and it was her first trip to the beach. Is she not just the cutest thing?

The trip home wasn't without excitement either. We had a layover in DC at Dulles. The plane from DC to Buffalo had mechanical issues so we had to wait while they flew in a replacement part from Kansas. But the plane carrying the replacement part broke down as well (I'm not kidding), so they cancelled the flight and sent us to hotels for the night. (And gave us food vouchers just as all the airport restaurants were closing.) 

The next morning we got on our new plane but they couldn't get the air conditioning to work so we were back in the airport until they could bring in another plane from Albany. Because it was such a short flight home we hadn't packed anything in our carry-ons other than some snacks and a book. So, 16 extra hours in an airport with no toothbrush, no makeup, no clean clothes. (And we finished our books so we had to buy new ones - used our food vouchers!)

We were exhausted but happy to get home to the puppies. I almost cried when the border guard  said, "Welcome home!" (we flew into Buffalo and then drove home to Ontario).

So glad to be back, but I'm already planning our next trip to Texas. Just loved all y'all!

Pallet Cottage Art

Thank you all for sticking around - I know I've really been slacking on the blog front, but I'm going to try really hard not to feel guilty about it. Sometimes you just gotta take a break.

And I think the break was worth it because it renewed my interest in finishing my pallet sign. If you remember, I took a pallet and turned it into a blank canvas many, many months ago.

It sat in my craft room all that time because I couldn't get the phrase I wanted to fit the way I wanted. Too big, too small, it just wouldn't work. So the sign and I studiously ignored each other day after day.

But then I started thinking about a new sign. One that looked like it came from a seaside rental property. The last time Tom & I went to Hawaii, we stayed at a place called Turtle Beach Rentals just north of Haleiwa on Oahu. Now I have no affiliation with this place - I'll just recommend it to anyone who will listen. Because it is just that wonderful. Small, secluded, literally steps from a nearly deserted beach.

So I took the name of the place and made my sign. I put "North Shore" instead of the actual town to make it a little whimsical, and so that I didn't infringe on any ownership issues. The catch phrase for the site is "This is the place!" so of course I added that too.

And then my favourite turtles. If you know me at all you know I looooove turtles. Plus the first day we stayed there I managed to get up close and personal (zoom lens, I didn't get in his face) with one of the turtles the beach is named for. It made my whole vacation.

Once I knew what I wanted to put on the sign it all came together quickly. I cut the words out with my Silhouette Cameo and used painter's tape to secure them to the boards. I have stencilling brushes, but I found that a flat-edged artist's brush worked better. The "N" was done with the stencil brush and you can see that more of the paint was getting on the stencil than on the exposed wood.

I used white paint on a grey background and then, once it was dry, I sanded it to make it look old and worn by the elements. The spots where parts of a letter are missing are my favourites. And my sweet little turtle came out just as I wanted. Such great detail.

As a final touch I hot glued starfish to each of the top corners. It adds a three dimensional quality and increases the beach feel.

It will eventually be hung in the basement above the couch. Right now it's balanced on DVD box sets on the sofa table we built in March.

We're going to paint the walls a light blue (I think) or maybe a soft sand. We spend a lot of time there watching TV and hanging out with the dogs, so I want it to be relaxed and cozy.

This sign was huge to work on. But we aren't going to have that many decorations in the room so whatever things we do hang have to be commanding. This is definitely commanding.

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I'm linking up here this week!

Houston or Bust!

Hey, everyone! (or should I practice my y'alls?)

We're heading down to Houston, Texas next week for some fun in the sun. Apparently spring/summer got lost on its way to Canada so we're going looking for it.

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We're going to be staying in Kemah, but travelling around to Galveston, Port Aransas, and San Antonio hopefully. We always overschedule ourselves (I'll take the blame for that) and misjudge how long it takes to get anywhere.

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So who has recommendations for us? Things to do, places to eat, must-see sights? We love to be outdoors - I swear the last time we went to Hawaii we spent the whole week hiking - but we're also going to hit up the outlet malls.

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The above picture kills me. There's not a chance my husband would look that happy while shopping. Not even at a sporting goods store. Maybe an ice cream shop - he definitely looks this happy when he's eating ice cream.