The Journey Back: January 2022

Monday, January 31, 2022

Cruisin' Galveston Artwalk Little Daddies Gumbo Bar

Our new home town is a super fun place! We are lovin' or new 🏝️ Island life and Cruisin' around town exploring.

There are lots of fun and free things to do . . .

Affaire d'Art Fine Art Gallery

Several galleries and shops stay open late during Art Walk. Some have little munchies and serve wine.

A musician was playing on a corner by one of the many murals.

I never pass up Fried Okra!

I had a child's Burger that came with Fries. The Cowboy had a bowl of Gumbo.

Since then he has had Gumbo at several places. This one is the best!

I enjoy the fun Artwork. It is hard to get pictures when it is busy! Which it usually is especially on Artwalk night.

As we walked up I snapped this shot. The island 🏝️ is super dog friendly!

At the end on the evening the Cowboy sat on a bench and watched the party busses go by.

I fought the crowds for beads!

Wednesday, January 26, 2022

Wordless Wednesday - Cruisin' Galveston

No Tea Today! Sharing My Ta Da Moment

Welcome and Good Morning

Still in the mood for Hot Chocolate.

Today I am sipping and looking around at my sewing space!

I didn't get alot done on my quilt yesterday but today maybe the day I am able to whiz through it. I sure hope so so!

Keeping this one small. LOL.

The vacuum is still out from this morning. Domino is in here most of the time. I have to fight her for the chair!

I still have some boxes to go through. One is residing at the moment under my sewing table.

See the quilt waiting to be stitched!

Always happy to be by my feet!

And so my Ta Da Moment today is getting my space more usable my and presentable.

It's getting there!

Enjoy your day. I hope you have a

Ta Da Moment!

Stichin'

And keeping it Simple

Tuesday, January 25, 2022

Character Guest Post-Frozen In Motion by Lori Roberts Herbst-Great Escapes Book Tour

January 26 – My Journey Back – CHARACTER GUEST POST

Back in the 1930s, Thomas Wolfe wrote You Can’t Go Home Again. I admit I’ve never read the book, but I can tell you from experience that the title is a lie.

I went home again, and it was the best thing I ever did.

My name is Callie Cassidy—or Callahan Maureen Cassidy, as my mother used to refer to me when I’d done something to frustrate her. (I say that as if it were past tense, but in the interest of truth, I still hear my full name on her lips occasionally.) I was born in Rock Creek Village, Colorado, a small, sweet mountainside town nestled at the foot of the Rocky Mountains. My childhood—if unremarkable—was a happy one, complete with parents who loved (and still love) me, a tribe of friends, and a beautiful landscape in which to practice the craft of photography.

But I was one of those teenagers who couldn’t wait to fly far from the nest. The small-town vibe bored me, and I dreamed of the day I’d escape to the big city, where my fantasies told me excitement abounded. So when I graduated from high school, I set off for college in Austin, Texas. It was everything I hoped it would be, and I vowed never again to live in anywhere with a population of less than a million souls. For the next twenty-plus years, I kept that promise while I chased my whirlwind career as an investigative photojournalist, reaching a pinnacle when I snagged my dream job at The Washington Sentinel. Rock Creek Village became a distant blur in my rearview mirror.

I thought busy and successful meant happy—at least for a time. Who needed friends? When I got lonely, I adopted a loving golden retriever and named him Woody, after Bob Woodward, one of my journalistic heroes.

Then, about a year ago, a lapse in my judgment led to devastating mistake at the newspaper, and I knew I could never make it right. So I did what thousands have done before me and many more will in the future: I proved Thomas Wolfe wrong. Dog in tow, I ran back to Mommy and Daddy, who tucked us into a cozy cabin at the Knotty Pine, a resort they own and operate. They fed me comfort food, soothed me, and babied me—until they wearied of my wallowing and decided my pity-party needed to end. Without my permission, my mother signed me up for a photo gig at the village’s winter ball. Though that didn’t exactly work out as expected, it was just what I needed to rejoin the land of the living.

As so often happens, my parents knew best. What I believed to be the worst thing that could have happened to me turned out to be the best. Moving back to Rock Creek Village has been such a positive journey that I often wonder why I ever left. After a wobbly start, I’m on my feet again, stronger and happier than I can ever remember. My new career—owner of Sundance Studio photography gallery—fills me with a peace and joy I never attained as a journalist. My friendship with Tonya has blossomed again, and I’ve even rekindled a high school romance with Sam Petrie, owner of the Snow Plow Chow. The relationship has its trials, but I think we just might make it—whatever that means. Woody and I even adopted a brother for him last year—an orange tabby cat I named Carl, after Bob Woodward’s partner, Carl Bernstein. Every day, I’m more convinced Carl possesses an innate wisdom, along with investigative skills that may surpass those of his namesake.

Mostly, my life is ideal. Sure, sometimes I long for the adrenaline rush of my former life. But when I yearn for those old investigative days…well, fate seems to intervene with murder in our little village, and I find my skills in demand yet again.

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Monday, January 24, 2022

Busy Monday-Sewing-A Prayer Need - Batch Cooking

I had a fun busy day planned

But

We got a knock on our door at 7:45. A.M.

Changed all my morning plans. I guess I should have written my post last night

But

I needed to take these pictures

But

Let me tell you about who woke us at 7:45! Because it actually is part of the prayer request I mentioned yesterday.

Our visitor was the owner of our building. He surprised us last Thursday. I/we weren't totally surprised because I briefly saw him earlier in the week when I was walking dogs. He was on our porch talking to our neighbor.

I had an odd feeling about what was going on. When I came out he was shocked to see the dogs.

Which prompted his visit on Thursday. It seems the management company did not tell him about the dogs!

He was o.k. with us we actually have papers for the dogs because they are service dogs.

Besides not telling the owner there have been major problems and so he is taking over the property.

And the best part is he has an apartment in the historic district. Our neighbor might move in but he is trying to buy a house.

And so our prayer is he gets the house.

The apartment is great. Great location. Great streets and sidewalks and a yard for the dogs.

We can move w/o any fees or deposits!

Our prayer is this is where God wants us to be!

I will keep you posted!

And now onto the sewing

I hoped to finish this quilt by the end of the month.

I adore the Vintage Snow Scene. It reminds me of Dickens on the Strand. It's perfect for Galveston. And I love how it looks on the bed.

I originally started this project as a lap quilt for my Mama. The folksy holiday fabric is more her than me! So I will be using the back for my front.

I didn't have any batting so I ordered some from Wal-Mart and it came today! Maybe tomorrow I'll have time to sew!

Because

I am doing Batch cooking today.

I have Pinto Beans and Ham in the Crock Pot for tonight.

I will be cooking 4 Hamburger patties 2 for later in the week and 2 for the freezer.

This is where we get the patties, Bacon and a few other things. I wish we could buy all our meat there. But with our budget we have to buy what is on sale.