Better Late than Never??

I am only two weeks late posting about our Valentine weekend excursion....

My daughter has wanted to run a marathon for years. She registered for the Houston Half-Marathon several times over the years and when the event rolled around, injuries kept her from running. She has been a runner since high school and a marathon has been the carrot out there. She started training last summer with a marathon group...and when it was time to register for the Houston Marathon....another injury made her doubt her ability. The Houston one fills up literally in hours (what is wrong with these people??), so she missed signing up. Not one to take no for an answer when she makes up her mind...she registered for the Austin Marathon. So....Valentine weekend we all made the trip to Austin.

Can't go to Austin without stopping into Uncommon Objects, can you? Course my hubby was with me as we ducked into there late Saturday afternoon, so I didn't buy a thing. But this one booth really caught my eye....the owner grouped vignettes by color, it was striking....

The green bottle is really the standout and the walls are green but everything else has little bits of the color so it really appears very green. I would love to have that bottle but put it where???


This blue grouping was just lovely. Those hanging letters, the fabric...just really pretty. Next time, I need to be able to really browse.

We caught my daughter and her friend from San Francisco at the 14 mile and 20 mile points to cheer them on and offer orange slices and encouragement. Then it was off to downtown to see them finish!! As we walked from our car, we passed this beautiful house. The grillwork was incredible! All wrought iron....and look at those blue skies. It was a perfect day for a marathon especially with all the rain we have had lately.

And......... as we rounded the corner.....

Look who occupies the building!! Texas Teachers! My daughter is a teacher so I was glad to see such an honorable group spends their days in that beautiful Texas landmark house. Good for them!

Then as you look down onto Congress, there is a party going on!!








Of course, if there is anything going on in Austin, let's make it a party!! Thousands ran the event and if everyone had a cheering section, there were LOTS of people there!









Here they come!!

It was really exciting to watch all the runners come in and know that they were finishing something most of us cannot imagine. I can't run one mile, let alone 26.2!
The Capital is in the background but doesn't show in this picture. It is a great way to finish such a grueling race.

There is the FINISH LINE!!

Which they did cross and I did not get a picture!! As they passed us, we hauled off to get to them on the end. So no pics of the actual crossing! We are very proud of our runners and by the next morning, she was really feeling those Austin hills. She hopes to run in a Texas Independence Relay next weekend IF the knee will recover from the marathon. Our bodies are amazing at what they can do and how they remind you of it afterward! We had a great weekend, ate at Kerby Lane (one of her favs) that afternoon after they recovered a bit and then meandered home on Monday. A great adventure and a nice way to spend Valentine's Day.

Gray & Grey

Twice a year there is a wonderful antique show in Houston, Urban Market. It is a really small version of Antique Week in Round Top. My BFF Cindy & I almost always go & sometimes one or both of our daughters will go with us. It is only open Sunday from 9 until 4. We have gone in the middle of the day & first thing when they open enjoying ourselves at all times. There are some wonderful dealers, even some that are also at Antique Week. One year it had rained & mud was everywhere but we still had fun. Saturday in Houston was one of two sunny days we have had in about a week. They had a lovely day to set up. Sunday dawns Gray or Grey, however you want to spell it! We met up & hurried down in great spirits with an eye on the sky. It was chilly but the day usually warms up. This Super Bowl Sunday it did not!! We were chilled when we got there but by the time we left we were numb. It is a lovely show, but we were not expecting it to stay 50 degrees with no sun.

See that sky? See the mud ruts? See the cedar chips to absorb the water? See those cold people? Some of the vendors were wearing their wares around their waists to keep warm. Bless their hearts!

Had we dressed better, we would have been okay but we didn’t. I know some parts of the country had inches of snow. Sorry but we are spoiled! Only one purchase was made…. Not to go home empty handed, we ventured off to lunch in The Heights at our favorite sandwich shop there, Carter & Cooley. Yummy & warm inside. We did find the cutest new shop, Sew Crafty. I found some great fabrics, even some Amy Butler & some felting wool & needles. Don’t know how to felt but now I can learn! Then we tucked into Jubilee which is always an interesting browse.

Bingo again, I found some of the wrapping paper that Pam Garrison licenses through Papaya! Don’t have immediate plans for it but I love Pam’s drawing so I was tickled pink to have it. All in all, sad that Urban Market wasn’t warmer so we could stay longer but the day turned out successful! Time with a good friend & the Saints won the Super Bowl so it wasn’t all so Gray after all!! Dat is dat!!

& so I launch myself into the Blog world! I have been *Lurking* around so many blogs the last couple of years that sometimes I can’t remember where I started. I read my first blog when I started stamping and making cards. Wow, have I gone a long way from there! & that brings me here, now. Recently I came across Dispatch From LA….& her online class, Remains of the Day Journal. I have always tucked away bits & pieces of paper that I did not want to throw away, too pretty. Well she showed a bunch of us what to do with ‘em! & that brought me to today, when I launch my blog. I just had to join the other videoers (word?) and show mine. So in the hope that I don’t bore anyone too much (in case anyone actually reads), here is my Journal! This class was so much fun and brought me to places I didn’t expect to go. Don’t ya just love life sometimes??

http://vimeo.com/9258588

I am not sure if this will work but that is how you learn! Thanks for dropping by!