A Lovely Time in a Lovely Part of Houston -- March 6-14, 2016

As I look around at the cloudless sky and feel the cool breeze that blows a whisper through the palm trees, I get a call from Pearl telling me that we should 'go to the boat.'  It has been a fun and busy week with her and Joe as they spend time at Segars Point, and what better way to end the stay than to head to Port A, where On Your Mark is moored at Island Moorings.

We were actually planning a trip to Houston, and this will get us halfway there.

And another fun day continues!

On Your Mark

It is rare that we leave Sweet Caroline at home and miss our visit to our favorite Advanced RV Park in Pearland, but this is a car trip, mainly because the BMW is not tow-able four wheels down, and the Jeep is in Seattle.    Hotels are nice, too.

We choose Hotel Indigo, a six minute walk from the Galleria, five miles from the Museum of Fine Arts, about seven miles from downtown -- but the main plus is it is within walking distance (a long walk) to Whole Foods.  By the time we get there, it is lunch time and I ask Herb to take a photo of me to send to Maureen, even though this Post Oak store is not in her area of responsibility.

There is so much to explore in this area and one of the most awesome and beautiful is the Water Wall.

In its three acre setting, 11,000 gallons of water per minute spill over the walls of the 64 foot high fountain.     The gabled archway fronting the fountain, the scaenae  frons, is reminiscent of an ancient Roman theatre stage.

John Burgee Architects, with Phillip Johnson of New York, constructed the wall.  The semi-circular design of the fountain was to be a horseshoe of rushing water.  I love seeing the sheets of water cascade.

As we walk around the park, we stop to see families having picnics and kids playing.  Shown here is a relay race.  Good exercise.

Find Willie's lunch....

Whole Foods Store on Post Oak in Houston

Willie of Willie's Tug,
   and of Walldog, Willie and Jake
   March 6-14

Returning to Texas for some Texas Wine -- February 9 - 23, 2016

What goes to Seattle, must come back to Texas (eventually)-- or is it what goes up must come down?  

We greatly anticipate a visit to Joe and Pearl's in Austin, as we make our way south from the Pacific Northwest.  I find the nighttime view of the downtown scene from their north window breathtaking.

Our next stop is in Port Aransas to hop aboard their Bluewater boat, On Your Mark, which is the closest we can come to boating for a while.  Just being on or near the water is good.  An oil rig greets us as we drive across the bridge over the Intracoastal Waterway near Corpus Christi.                                                                                               

Herb goes topside to try the pilot's seat on for size.

Center: "On Your Mark"

Back to Port Isabel we capture a beautiful sunrise and know it will be a good day.

It's a good day to check out Amazon Prime for a fun purchase, and as soon as our wine aerator arrives in the mail, Herb chooses a nice bottle of wine from the Becker Vineyards in the Hill Country and practices pouring, as Vicki had taught him.  "Above the shoulder, and below the hip."  

Find Willie's wine glass....

 

Just a little more, please!

Willie of Willie's Tug,
   and of Walldog, Willie and Jake
   February 9 - 23, 2016

Wine, Anyone? -- February 7, 2016

Herb and I always like visiting with friends Bruce and Vicki.  We have so many stories to share, we have so many laughs, and we enjoy awesome, delicious meals together.

Oh, and we love to see what new toys they have.  Well, the one we see today is not exactly a toy.  It serves a purpose to aerate the wine being poured.  We sit down for dinner and are captivated while Vicki demonstrates how it works.  

Not a drop is spilled!

Above the Shoulder and Below the Hip

A pleasantry is the nighttime view of a pier on Puget Sound, seen from a dining room window.

Find Bruce's 'My Window'....

An evening photo we have come to anticipate -- (Photo courtesy of Bruce C Moore)

Willie of Willie's Tug,
   and of Walldog, Willie and Jake
   February 7, 2016