Cometsgirl

Last night we attended the choral performance – Voices of Light. It was held in the cavernous Buffalo Bayou Park Cistern. The Cistern is a former drinking water reservoir built in 1926 for the City of Houston.

After operating for decades, an irreparable leak was found, and the reservoir was decommissioned in 2007. Three years later, thanks to the Buffalo Bayou Partnership, “the 87,600 square-foot Cistern was restored and repurposed into a magnificent public space for performances and art installations.”

The Schola Cantorum of downtown Houston’s Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart, sang for around 25 minutes. Their offering was a “journey through centuries of music, from 4th-century chant to ethereal modern compositions”.

Special lighting complemented the singing and transported us to another realm.

Works of Hildegard van Bingen, Guillaume Dufay, Elizabeth Poston, Arvo Pärt, Crista Miller, filled the space.

The acoustics were incredible; the echo carries for 17 seconds.

The concert was all too short. However, as we walked out of the Cistern, we decided it was a must to make this an annual tradition. Yes, it shall be!

As I write this, I am seated in my chair in the sky headed to Atlanta and on to the mountains. The 2-day lark was just about perfect.

One awesome concert,

a meal at the original Ninfa’s on Navigation,

beautiful Sunday worship at Holy Family Episcopal Church,

a new coffee spot – Coco’s Donuts & Coffee Bar – with perfect cappuccinos,

and time spent with my best friend in her home and garden. .

Abundance!

Traveling mercies.

Today is the winter solstice. For we who reside in the northern hemisphere, it is the longest night of the year.

Mary Chapin Carpenter’s The Longest Night of the Year is a favorite of mine.

They say that spring will come again
But no one knows exactly when
Still the sun’s a long lost friend
On the longest night of the year

Make a vow when solstice comes
To find the light in everyone
Keep the faith and bang the drum
On the longest night of the year

I’m on my way to Houston for a couple of days. My best friend and I have plans. Two concerts, Sunday worship, a new-to-me coffee place, and Tex-Mex dining for sure.

So keep me safe, hold me tight
Let the candle burn all night
Tomorrow welcome back the light
After the longest night of the year

Traveling mercies.

Family members gathered the last few days for my grandson’s college graduation. And oh what a celebratory gathering it was!

The first evening those who had already arrived dined at Ruth’s Chris Steak House. The drive to the restaurant was 45 minutes or so, requiring two cars. I suggested the two grandmothers ride with Jack. Nana (me) and Mimi.

Oh, what a ride it was. We three talked. And listened. And talked some more. I find it hard to describe the richness, the profoundness, the warmth and love that was spoken and heard.

After dining we three – Jack and his grandmothers – continued our special conversation as we returned home.

Throughout the graduation weekend I reflected on that drive with Jack and his grandmothers. I suspect Jack did as well. And Mimi too.

“Jack you are a graduate of The University of Texas at Arlington. Now go forth and thrive! Your grandmothers are so very proud!”

Traveling mercies.

Do you recognize that tune?

Yep, it’s Pomp and Circumstance. I’m headed to Texas so I can hum along to that tune.

My grandson, Jack, is graduating from the University of Texas at Arlington. Yippee!!

An early morning departure and we are on our way.

I’m SO proud of Jack. When his name is called, there will definitely be a memorable Nana shout out!!

Traveling mercies.

The Fall grandchildren tour is complete! I visited Georgia, Jack, Valerie and Nathan.

I’ve had great joy visiting each one.

As I awaited my flight home, I thought about my time with Nathan.

The drive to Fort Collins, where CSU is located, was filled with winter expectation.

We were both on time! We met in the campus parking lot where he keeps the Swagon.

Walking a short distance across the campus, we arrived at his dorm.

He has a single room and it’s almost spacious. His bed is essentially a top bunk, with space underneath for a desk. Instead, the desk is across the room. Recently he and a friend drove the Swagon to pick up the leather couch he had found on Craig’s list. It fit inside the Swagon! And now sits under the top bunk. We sat in this cosy space and I listened to all the goings on of Nathan’s freshman year of college. What an interesting and invigorating time he’s having!

Then it was time for lunch. As we walked to the parking lot, it was clear that some trees just DUMP their leaves all at once. It grabbed my attention.

Nathan had decided on a French Crapery for our lunch. It was really fun to sit up at a high table and enjoy our meal. It was a delicious meal of crepes and conversation.

Then it was time for class for Nathan and the drive to Denver for me.

The evening rumor of substantial snow with the possibility of canceled flights swept through me, grabbing my attention. At the recommendation of the hotel front desk people, I turned my rental car in then and there. I got up at 3am so I could be sure to get to the airport as it had begun to snow.

Several hours later, wonder of wonders – the aircraft coming from Atlanta to Denver for the return trip, made it! Turn around was faster than usual, with a not so quick de-icing, followed by a take-off into nothing but white.

With a medical emergency onboard, the captain put the pedal to the medal and we blew home!

Now awakening safely at home, I’m thinking about the Fall grandchildren tour just completed. I am SO grateful to Nathan, Valerie, Jack, and Georgia for welcoming me when I visit. Each one is so unique, so interesting, and so generous with their time they spend with me.

Stay tuned for news of the Grandkids Spring Tour!

Traveling mercies.

I’ve been on a Fall grandchildren tour the last few months.

To date I have visited three grandkids, with one more to go.

I’m on my way to snowy Colorado! The forecast is for 5”-6” of snow today. In theory all the inches will have fallen before I land.

As I took my chair in the sky, reality hit: so much for my snow theory. My planned lunch today with my sister-in-law is now reset for Spring 2025 due to the amount of snowfall. It’s been a long time since I last visited with her, and I was so looking forward to time with her.

She sent me the snowy scene outside her window.

Beautiful sky outside my window.

Fortunately the snow is not expected to move any further north of Denver. So I will drive north ASAP. I’ll have some snow on the road challenges: slow as I go will guide me.

Located in Fort Collins, Colorado State University is where my grandson is a freshman.

CSU is about an hour’s drive north of the Denver airport. I have lodging tonight along the way to CSU. Tomorrow morning I’ll drive the remaining 45 minutes to meet up with Nathan. I’ll have a few hours with him to walk around the campus and then have lunch, all the while hearing about his freshman life here. Then he will be off to class and I’ll be off to the Denver airport hotel for my flight home the next morning.

I can’t wait to see him!

Traveling mercies.

While my trip to Taos, NM came to an end, my travel continued on.

Instead of returning home, I flew home with my traveling friend to Texas. She lives in Houston, and my granddaughter is a Rice U student in Houston. It made sense to continue on for a few days so I could visit her.

For our time together, I suggested an exhibit at the renowned Menil Museum. With dinner to follow.

I Uburred to her apartment and from there we traveled on to the Menil.

The exhibit took up significant space in the museum. Some of the images were huge. Others tiny. While my granddaughter and I really tried hard to learn more about the pieces, knowledge eluded us.

Though eluded, we entertained ourselves with some of our own interpretations.

The Menil is a real treasure, always free,; it is a huge contribution to the city.

We dined just across the street at the Bistro Menil.

Reverse Uber route return. This time with a retired respiratory therapist who talked women’s basketball from the early days of the WNBA. The Houston Comets!

I loved being with my granddaughter. I loved hearing about her life. It was precious time.

The following morning at dawn, I flew home. I’ll be back in the air again soon, as I head off to Colorado to complete the grandkids Fall visit tour.

Travel days – The rest of the trip,

The remaining days in Taos were filled with sights of gold and yellow, the colors of Aspen and Cottonwood.

There’s gold in them thar hills…

Originally used in the phrase “there’s gold in them thar hills”, possibly a misquote of the phrase “there’s millions in it” (meaning. the North Georgia mountains) uttered in Mark Twain’s 1892 novel The American Claimant by Colinel Mulberry Sellers, a character though to be based on Dahlonegal Mint assayer M. F Stephenson.

From Wiktionary

Travel day 2

Taos Apothecary to begin the day.

After coffee we were off to the Empty Bowl event at St. James Episcopal Church – in support of the St. James Food Pantry

For $25, you received a ceramic bowl crafted by a local potter. Lunch consisted of soups, accompanied by bread made by local chefs, and cake or ice cream.

After lunch we decided to drive up to the Taos ski area. It appeared to be snowing up on high.

As we drove up to the ski area, we caught glimpses of aspen gold.

Driving down…

….it was wintertime, and time for…

a fire and quesadillas!

A day filled with gold. Indeed.

Travel Day 1- Lakemont to Taos

ATL > ABQ

Soaring over Escabosa, NM

Rental car pick-up.

Headed north.

Lunch with Sue, a friend of over 40 years.

Chimayo chile powder!

Rainbows along the High Road driving north toward Taos.

First sign of yellow – northern New Mexico Fall.

At last, home away from home.