List Friday

Top 10 Days I Will Always Remember

1. My wedding day (so happy!)

2. The day my divorce was final (absolutely devastating)

3. The day my Dad died (heartbreaking, shock)

4. My first day in Spain (studied abroad - scared to death, but excited too)

5. My first weekend down in Texas (wondering what in the hell I was doing, but super excited too!)

6. The day we got Maggie (fun!!)

7. The day I adopted Owen (overwhelmed, but loving it!)

8. The day I closed on my house (my first one!)

9. The day my Dad dropped me off at college (sweet freedom! I couldn't WAIT!)

10. The day I found out Grandma Larsen died (the end of an era - what a crazy wonderful lady!)

Thankful Thursday

This week I am thankful that I come from a long line of hard working people who did what they had to in order to take care of themselves. Independent, spunky, people who didn't care what other people thought - just did their thing and lived their lives the way they wanted to.....on their own terms. They didn't cave to peer pressure or try to impress others with wealth, possessions or achievements, but rather a quiet, confident people.

I think of my Grandma Larsen (my Dad's Mom) a lot - she died at age 90 in her own home, living there by herself for the last 35 years of her life. She took care of herself, trimmed her own hedges, nurtured plants/flowers like the best of 'em, cooked, listened to Twins baseball games on the radio, did craft projects, went out with her friends, volunteered at her church, drove her car, went shopping, etc. She was eccentric and quirky, but that was kind of her charm.

She did exactly what she wanted and didn't let circumstances or external forces change that. She became a widow in 1959 at a relatively young age, with a 19-year-old and a 12-year-old still at home. After Grandpa died, she worked 2 jobs to make ends meet and provide for herself and her children. She did what she had to do in order to live the life she wanted to live. I LOVE THAT about her. I love that I'm RELATED to her, that I have that same strong, independent, persevering blood running through my veins to this day, to carry on her legacy. I know my Dad had it in his veins too, and so I feel like it's my duty to live up to the standards that they lived by.

It was inheritance from Grandma (that passed down to Kristi and I because my Dad was already gone) that allowed me to put a down payment on my house, so I feel that both she and my Dad are here with me, enjoying this house together. I hope she is proud of the person that I have become and continue to be.....and I hope that her and my Dad are looking down from Heaven and are happy with the way I am passing along their traits, genes, and way of life.

Keepin' Austin Weird

And in keeping with tradition, I always have a post about every trip that includes oddities and outtakes.....and this one was no different!

When we walked around UT, we saw this huge area that had a bunch of trees with knitted/crocheted 'socks' over them. They were all multi-colored and very weird! We never found out why they were there, but it was fun looking at them!

Very pretty, but a very odd project to do.......

Since I am also obsessed with moving water and fountains, I LOVED this shot of a cool fountain with the football stadium in the background!

It was kind of an 'open house' weekend for the University of Texas, so there were TONS of people milling around the campus. It was quite packed, in fact. I loved their cool trees that lined the streets.....

And we missed the South by Southwest festival by a couple weeks - probably a good thing since that is a BIG deal around here and it would've been packed! But I would like to check it out someday.....

Next week, I will post about the Capitol tour!

Austin By Night

At night, we drove out to Lake Travis to eat at The Oasis - a restaurant that sits on a hill overlooking Lake Travis (you can even see Sandra Bullock's house from the restaurant).

Here are a few pictures of it during the day:

And these are pictures that I took of the outside when we were leaving - SO PRETTY!

It looks like a Romeo & Juliet window!

So quaint with perfect lighting....

Absolutely stunning atmosphere.....

And later on, we walked down famous Sixth Street, but decided to head to The Broken Spoke for some country music. When we got there, we saw this old tour bus in the parking lot - SO COOL!

Super awesome, but it had a window punched out - so not cool.

Here's the Broken Spoke.....

It is one of the many places that make "Keep Austin Weird" a popular saying around Texas....

I don't know about THAT, but it WAS fun to watch them! I NEED NEED NEED to learn how to do regular 2-step so that I can participate!

Here are the dancers working their magic.....

Studyin' Up - Austin Style

A couple weeks ago, I went to Austin for a short weekend trip. This satisfied one of the things on my 33-list and I have been meaning to check out Austin since I moved here 3 years ago! Like usual, I packed a LOT into the 1.5 day agenda and the trip was a success!

First up - The Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum. It is located near the Capitol and right next to the University of Texas at Austin.

I thought it was a GORGEOUS building - inside and out. I had a mild obsession with the big star outside the front entrance!

I'm right underneath the star in this picture, but you can hardly see me....

This is the main lobby - all shiny marble floors and absolutely beautiful!

Now THAT is a pretty map of Texas on the floor in the lobby!!

Well said, Sam Houston, well said.........

Even the carpet in the museum part has "Texases" in it!

The tables in the cafe were Texified as well - LOVE THEM.

This super cool neon light used to be a staple on a very old theater, and now it has been restored and lives in the museum for everyone to enjoy!

I just couldn't stop thinking how good it would look on the side of my house......but then I thought that it might look like my house was the 'red light district'......no bueno......

They did a cute little recreation of the Alamo with a movie theater inside, showing the story of the Alamo - and outside in the concrete around the facade, they even had weapons cured in the concrete!

This is the original 'goddess' that stood atop the Capitol building (but she got too weathered, so they took her down and put a new weather-proof one up there). I'm going to just be honest, she is NOT attractive!

Here's an article about this original goddess - from 1888!!

I thought these unique spurs were pretty neat - some are very ornate and very big!

Look at the detail on the spurs!

Is this the cutest little cowboy (or vaquero) you have ever seen?!

The fancy outfits were amazing........

More Austin fun tomorrow!

List Friday

Top 10 Things I Would Grab On The Way Out Of My House If It Were On Fire:

1. Maggie & Owen

2. Dad's memorial box (with his ashes in it)

3. My planner

4. The quilts my sister/Mom made me

5. My phone

6. My childhood Christmas stocking that Grandma Larsen made me (and as much other family stuff from that cedar chest that I could grab!)

7. My favorite picture of my Dad and I when I was a baby

8. Photo albums/scrapbooks from my semester in Europe

9. My 'card' box - meaningful cards that I have received over the years, they are all in a box in my bedroom

10. The street sign from my childhood home (the city was changing the design, so my Mom called and asked to buy the duplicate street signs that they had in storage - my sister, my Mom and I all have one)

Thankful Thursday

This week I am thankful for my favorite talk radio personalities. I know, I know - TERRIBLY lame and old-sounding....but I have come to think of them as old friends since I listen to the same people every day and I get to know their personalities.

Here's my line-up:

• Kidd Kraddick (top 40 morning show - local to Dallas, but also nationally syndicated) - while I'm getting ready on weekdays at home

• Mike Gallagher (national Conservative talk)/Mark Davis (local Conservative talk) - on the drive to work

• KQ Morning Show (Minneapolis radio morning show - through the Internet) - during the work day on my laptop

• Jon David Wells (local Conservative talk)/Chris Kroc (local Conservative talk) - the drive home from work

• Laura Ingram (national Conservative talk) - evenings if I am in the car

• Glenn Beck (national Conservative talk) - I listen to his TV show while I do stuff around the house

I know it's kooky to think of these people as 'friends', but I actually do. They are great companions during times when I might be lonely, bored or just want some familiar company. I love keeping up-to-date on politics, news, current events, pop culture, things that are going on nationally, locally or back home in Minnesota.

I am so thankful for technology so that I can get my fill of all of it!

I Think This Calls For A Snow-Day......

This post seems a little ridiculous to me since it's March and snow is a distant memory since the grass and trees are blooming right now, but it reminds me of home in Minnesota.

These pictures were taken in Lead, South Dakota, on January 5, 2011. That's just off
I-90 close to Rapid City near the Wyoming border.

For those that are not from the north, this is what tough northerners have to deal with! And this is more snow than I have EVER seen in my 30 years surviving northern/midwest winters. INSANE!!

I love the snowmobile on the roof!

Can we say CLAUSTROPHOBIA???

If this kind of shoveling doesn't give you a heart attack, nothing will!

Now these folks are true "glass is half full" kind of people! Love it!

Ummm.......I'm ALL about hot tubs, but is this safe???

Gives new meaning to 'cabin fever'!

Looks like Alaska or something!

Is this a Glacier????? Nope, just South Dakota....

Going around tight corners, huh?

Shoveling isn't just for sidewalks!

UGH!!!!

You need a tough engine for that!!

Probably the ONLY time you would let your child jump out the second story window!

New scenery!

Watch those power lines!

Wow - didn't even know there were houses there! HAHA!