My sister Judy (pictured), my brilliant niece Sarah and I did quite a bit of thizzzz.  We are always ready to settle down for long winter’s naps.

This was my usual view of the kids this week – the backs and sides of heads clustered around whatever iPod, DSi, Nook, Android, iPhone, etc. was handy.  Laura – age eight – picked up Rachel’s Android tablet for the first time and had pulled up Netflix in moments.  They all amaze me.

And now we’re on countdown for the happiest of birthday parties.

Merry Christmas!

Highland Lakes is really gorgeous.  Lots of trees, sports equipment, worship center and – of course – the gift shop!

The Highland Lake is way, way low.  See all the brown dirt at the water line?  That’s supposed to be under water.  Boat launches everywhere are high and dry.  The nearby rivers are more like streams – if that.  Please, Lord – send rain.

The happy camper and her parental units.

Four camp workers share a very “compact” room with two sets of bunkbeds.”  Notice Rachel’s Nemo blanket, which she swindled me out of talked me into in Mexico.  Hannah sent her the stuffed porpoise she’s clutching.

The wall behind her bunk bed, filled with cards and notes.  Thanks to everyone who sent her a 20th birthday card.

I purchased a box of “camper candy” in the gift shop, mostly so Rachel could check me out.   I’ll slip the box into Julia’s suitcase when she heads to children’s camp at Camp Tejas next month.   Hannah is on the church bus right now, set to return from Snowbird Wilderness Outfitters in North Carolina tomorrow morning.  Lois leaves tomorrow morning for the Latin Junior Classical League competitions in Kentucky.  My children have far more glamorous social lives than do I.  I always wanted to go to church camp and we couldn’t afford it.  It means a lot to me that they can go.

Rachel will be home in a few weeks, but visiting her room made me think of how I’ll behave when I visit my girls’ more permanent domiciles in years to come.  Hmmmm – let’s see:

      -  I’m flipping off my shoes wherever I want.  And leaving them there.  In fact – I’ll step over them.

     -  Coasters?  Tell me again – what are they?

     -  I’m coming into their rooms to “borrow” socks, shoes, pantyhose, jewelry - whatever isn’t nailed down.

     -  My dishes?  Anywhere is fine.   Especially on the “rinse” side of the sink.  Just sitting there.

     -  If I see a full trashcan in the kitchen – I’m shoving my empty Sonic cup down into just as hard as I can.

     -  Every one of my hot showers is going to last at least 45 minutes.  And require a quart of shampoo.

And finally…..

     -  If the home phone rings – I’m not answering.  It’s not for me.

Hannah, 15; Julia, 11; Lois, 17.  More room in the car without “the one,” but still – kind of odd.  I’m used to counting noses and I was one short.

A water-filled sand hole is great for cooling feet.  I’m paranoid about everyone wearing beach shoes but really – I saw not one sliver of glass.  Not one.  Lots of trash cans, too, and families picking up after themselves.  Very nice!  The girls and I caught 1,000+ little clams our last afternoon and set them free while Lois sang, “Carry On My Wayward Son.”

Hannah of the “Watch this!” fame…..

In the car, Hannah and Keith were arguing one of the finer points of a Harry Potter novel when Lois said, “This family couldn’t be any nerdier unless we were discussing Dr. Who.”  Keith’s response – “Which version?”

We all loved Sea Turtle, Inc. - South Padre’s sea turtle rescue center.   We texted pictures to Rachel, who had to give away her getting-too-big turtles before she left for the summer.

We had to hurry home Thursday in time to unload the car, eat, nap and be ready for the midnight opening show of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows:  Part 2.   We bought our D-box tickets within an hour of their going on sale several weeks ago.  Keith and I each checked the movie sites 10 – 20 times daily for months to better our chances of getting D-box seats.  We bought eight tickets, so each daughter could take a friend.

Hannah and her friend Dani; Lois and her boyfriend Alex (who flew in for the occassion from Dallas, where he’s spending the month with his dad); Julia and her friend Alliyah.  Lois and Hannah spoted Harry Potter-themed shirts.  In preparation for Part 2, we watched the first seven movies in the last 10 days.

My favorite wizard, in his Father’s Day shirt.  Lots of people in costume – Death Eaters, Quiddich players, students – I was a little jealous in my Muggle-esque shorts and T-shirt.

We had a (wizards) ball at the movie, but it was also a little sad.  It’s the end of an era for us.   Keith, Lois, Hannah and I have all read the books – they multiple times, me just once.  Julia is reading them now.  We’ve all seen the movies opening night at midnight, except for Rachel this time, and me in 2007 when I needed to stay home with Julia.  Hannah wasn’t quite six years old in 2001 when we all went to see Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone – she slept in my lap for all but the first few minutes.   Just kind of hard to realize – Yep, it’s over.

And the days of our family easily going on vacation – or even a long weekend – together are over, too.  Rachel’s gone this summer – has a part-time job during the school year – has responsibilites at church.  Lois is a senior this year and who knows what she’ll be doing next summer?  Her grades are excellent and she wants to go away to college (and she should.)   Plus she and Hannah – who will be a sophomore this year – are immersed in Latin and its competitive practices.  Hannah has worked at Girl Scout camp part of this summer and is talking about working all of next summer.  Julia is still around, of course, but even so – this is her last year of elementary school.

Our family is changing – growing up – pulling away.  It’s normal, of course.  It’s what parents want.  I sure don’t want our girls living at home indefinitely. 

I’ve been thinking about this a long time, as they’ve matured.  Babysitting jobs – then real part-time jobs.  Report cards and tests and then the grades that really count.  Driver’s Ed and then car insurance and then worrying every time they’re late.

There’s an exchange between Harry and Dumbedore in Part 2 that spoke to me:

     Harry:  Is this real?  Or has this been happening inside my head?

     Dumbledore:  Of course it is happening inside your head, Harry, but why on earth should that mean it’s not real?

Change is happening in my head, and it’s real.

And there are definitely things I’m going to miss.

Our dear family friend Jean was coming to visit.  Jean was at the hospital the day I was born and holds in place in my heart like no other.  She arrived a-okay and that – at least – went according to plan.

Jean and me today.  She’s recently moved to Mexico and – at age 87 – is learning Spanish so she can minister to those near her.  We spent part of yesterday afternoon in search of new walking shoes because she doesn’t use a car in her community.  Why exactly do I whine about church committee meetings and having to drag myself through Costco?

Part of our plan was for Keith, Lois, Hannah and Julia to go visit Rachel yesterday at Highland Lakes, the summer camp at which she’s working. Keith – knowing her passion for all things tie-dyed – bought white T-shirts and fresh color kits so they could create custom shirts to wear for the visit.   They did get to go – that part of the plan went well.

Me thinks she was surprised when she opened the door and saw their tie-dyed shirts.  They brought two new ones for her, too.

They spent the day together messing around Austin.  Keith planned to leave by 7 p.m., but here’s where the plan crumbled.

Highland Lakes is gorgeous.  And Rachel was in no hurry for them to go.  So they tramped around until 9 p.m.

Mighty pretty scenery!  Julia – 11; Lois – 17; Rachel – 20; Hannah – 15

In the meantime, Hannah got a email.  If she wanted to volunteer the next few days at Girl Scout camp – which she did – she needed to be there by 1 p.m. today (Sunday.)  If we had known that earlier, Keith and the girls definitely would have left Highland Lakes earlier.

They got home after 11 p.m. last night.  Hannah had to get packed for camp.  Keith had to leave with her by noon today.  So —–

      We didn’t eat breakfast together.  Oh, sure, I made Keith’s favorite quiche, but he and Hannah were up late getting her somewhat ready so they slept late. 

      We didn’t go to church together.  Hannah and Keith stayed home – she to finish packing, him to get lunch ready so he could leave by noon.  This was particularly disappointing.   He missed (the most excellent) Father’s Day sermon, plus acknowledgement with the other fathers by the congregation.

      He had to rush opening his gifts after lunch.

It occurred to me that while we had plans for Father’s Day that were derailed – they were changed only because Keith is a real father.  He wanted to visit his eldest child and surprise her with tie-dyed shirts for the whole family – neat!  They stayed longer than expected because Rachel didn’t want them to leave – sure.   He stayed up with Hannah last night, then shepherded her this morning – fine.  He made lunch for all of us so we could hurriedly eat and he could transport Hannah – uhhh, okay.

So instead of getting fussed over all day today – Keith spent most of it ensuring his family had what he wanted them to have.

Happy Father’s Day to the man who knows that his children replace our ”plans” in any equation for celebration.

Rachel is leaving Friday to work at Highland Lakes Camp this summer, so we decided a quick trip to the border in 100 degree heat was the perfect send-off.  It’ll make her appreciate the shade of all those pine trees ringing that shiveringly-cool body of water.

Snap!  I always make  ask the girls stop in front of the U.S./Mexico boundary crossing sign so I can take a picture.  They humor me.  Not too gracefully.

Beer - it’s not just for breakfast anymore.  Though at 10:30 a.m., it qualifies.  This brew was “Indio,” a new one for Keith who loves to sample the local cuisine.

Buying movies off the street is always a crapshoot.  Hannah’s copy of “New Moon” was perfect.  Last year, though, her “Twilight” was in Chinese with Spanish subtitles.  Rachel’s “Precious” was shot with a hand-held camera (complete with shaking) and you could hear a guy speaking Spanish in the row behind.   I am sad to say X-rated trash is also being sold now. 

The Great Physician

Much lovely Talavera for sale, including some really large pieces like this moon face.  At Julia’s request, Keith brought back a bending flamingo to keep our original upright flamingo company.  He also got a cow skull for the fence and a roadrummer for the yard.  The only piece that broke:  a new spoon rest for the kitchen.  I saw more lovely Talavera dishes than ever before, and those would have fed my terrible dish weakness.  I think Keith would have endured (yet another set) of dishes at home, but the thought of lugging them across the border convinced me to be sensible.  Those plastic-handled shopping bags grow heavier with each step taken.  As Rachel groaned, “My shoulders are coming out of their sockets.”

We’ve never gotten a “service” before – no manicures, pedicures, or sweet tats – but Rachel wanted a hair wrap.  So we waited while she got a hot pink string woven into her hair.   Hannah took the opportunity to order seven matching name braclets ($3@) for her “seven pack” of friends at church.  When Rachel’s hair was done, so were the bracelets.

Time for a candied pecan break.  Sadly, the one restaurant we trusted had closed (in fact, many businesses had closed since last October) so we didn’t eat lunch in Mexico.  It was too hot to eat much anyway. 

I’ve said for years – if it’s got a screen, Julia is in love with it.  When we stopped for Cokes, she immediately plopped herself in front of this tiny TV with a talent show playing.  Mind you, it was in Spanish -which she does not speak.  And the performers were singing, which is generally not to her liking.  But she was mezmerized. 

Rachel’s prize of the day – and also the last one for the family - a ”Finding Nemo” blanket which Rachel desperately wanted to take to camp with her.  “Finding Nemo” is her favorite movie and it always makes her cry….of course, so do many commercials.  She was out of money, of course.  I vacillated, since the only blankets we buy are the lovely cotton Mexican weaves and  she was supposed to stay within her budget.  What sold me – its clear plastic packaging denoted it as part of the “Rachel Collection.”  “Mom, it’s meant to be!”  I suppose so since I got it for her as a have-fun-at-camp gift. 

We had a lot of fun this weekend.  Julia would live in a hotel if we’d let her.  Just the experience of a room key, little shampoo bottles  and a TV at the foot of her bed thrills her.  She’d be just as happy at the Courtyard a mile away as she was in Weslaco.  Rachel, Lois and Hannah love trolling for bargains.  There is just no such thing as too many purses, head bands and skirts as far as they’re concerned.   Keith and I enjoy a break from the daily grind.  I think anything I don’t have to cook and clean up is delicious. And let’s face it – there’s a bit of excitement to going somewhere a passport is required.

But as much fun as it was – there’s no place like home, especially when you live in a country that allows you to visit another and return of your own free will.

 God bless the U.S.A.  Thanks, veterans!

We’ve not traveled for Sisters Day since our first celebration in 2007.   Five years home – it was time.   So at the girls’ request, we had a weekend in Austin – about 90 miles north of us, but oh-so-different.

“Keep Austin Weird” is more than a slogan – it’s a commitment.  Often described as “Texas’ Left Coast” or “The Third Coast,” Austin is a mecca for aging hippies, today’s hipsters, UT students in shorts, lawmakers and lobbyists in suits – and all manner of folk in between.   Julia didn’t really care about the slogan.  She just likes tie-dyed clothes. 

As we’ve done before – everyone got to pick out a new book but this time at Book People – the largest independent book store in Texas.  Hannah surprised me with an autographed copy of Connie Rice’s  autobiography for Mothers Day – score!  Hannah – “Twilight – The Official Illustrated Guide.”  Rachel – “My Booky Wook” by Russell Brand.    Lois – “This is a Book” by Demetri Martin.  Julia – a book about crystals and gems, which I am hoping she can use to develop her fifth grade science project next year.   

A little iPod action while awaiting our lunch from Flip Happy Crepes, the trailer the girls and I visited last June sans Keith.   Everyone got something different, but mine was the best – fresh spinach with feta and garlic.  So, so good.  We also hit Cornucopia Gourmet Popcorn.

Trailer eateries have mushroomed in Austin.   This one – Hey Cupcake – sported a funny sign on its back door.

We took a two-hour cruise around Lake Lady Bird arriving back on shore with pink noses.   Julia was disappointed we weren’t kayaking with all the college students and their dogs.  The most interesting part of the cruise…

 ….was definitely passing under the Congress Avenue bridge, where 750K pregnant bats currently live in the cracks.   We couldn’t see them, but we could hear them “cheep,” and the smell?  Sort of like spoiled corn tortillas.  The tour guide warned us to keep our mouths closed.  The colony will grow to about 1.5M bats before they migrate in October, as they’ve done each year for decades.   We were interested because we knew we were coming back at dusk to see them fly out.  What a rush!

Not the world’s greatest video, but after all, it was dusk.  The swirling mass at the top of the tree line that looks like mosquitoes?  Those are bats.  Watch carefully for the flying specks as they come out from under the bridge.  They eat about 30K pounds of insects each night. 

 Really like this pictures.  I used the flash on my little waterproof Olympus and it highlighted their fluttering silhouettes.

I am fearful of Sisters Day become just “one more thing” with no real meaning.  So, through the weekend, I tried to spark some conversation with the girls about what was happening five years ago.  “This is the day Daddy and I left for Russia to get Julia.”  “Julia, do you remember the Neva River in St. Pete?”   “Hannah, you taught Julia to count to 10.  Do you think that’s why she’s so good in math now?”  Pretty much – that fizzled.  The girls are way more interested in what is than what was.   Julia usually acts politely bored when I bring up Russia, her birth mother, how she rolled her r’s when she came home, her asking for “cheese y bread,” etc.   From what I’ve read and the parents to whom I’ve spoken, that’s pretty normal.  The pendelum has swung one way; it’ll swing another in a few years (those delightful teen ones), then someday – if we’ve done our jobs right -  it’ll stop somewhere in the middle.

While the girls were celebrating Sisters Day, we squeezed in Mother’s Day, too.  It all goes together.  Without those sisters, I’m not a mother.   They’re talking about a “Ssisters Cruise” in several years, once college is behind them and – please Lord – they’re all gainfully employed.  Maybe I’ll be invited for that.  I would like that.  Because what I really want is for them to want to celebrate Sisters Day when I’m not around to remind them of it.  There is so much unhappiness in this world.  You have to take time to celebrate the happy things.

And celebrating the happy things are what sisters do best.

Of course, now that we’re in San Antonio and went to visit Houston family over Spring Break – my brilliant niece Sarah and I took five of our six* kids and trooped off to the fairgrounds of Reliant Stadium to with its booths, rides and livestock exhibits.  What a hoot!  Loved it.  Of course, we went when they opened at 9 a.m., and left in torrential rain right after lunch.  Not much traffic, and no lines with which to contend.  A great day!

*  Hannah is hitting Disney and Universal in Orlando this week with her Scout troop.  I am just a teensy bit jealous of her getting to see Harry Potter World.  Yes, Hermione, I am.

Sarah and James (4) shook hooves with a friendly cow.  Poor James collided with a neighbor bicyclist and broke his lower left leg in two places last month.  Sarah and I have decades of experience managing wheelchair transport so – no biggie.

Laura (7) and Julia (11) collected “tickets” at each farm and ranch exhibit.

Deer me!  This critter in the petting zoo – or one of her siblings – took a bite out of Lois’ shirt and was unnaturally interested in my lady parts before nibbling James’ wheelchair parking brake – at which point we skedaddled.

Ride ‘em, Cowboy!  The cast didn’t slow him down.

Mooooovelous!  Udderly delightful.

Julia and Laura picked plastic “produce” at the outdoor farm.…

….while my special needs teenagers posed…..

…and picked a few shiny veggies of their own.  The outdoor farm was really clever.  You progressed through different parts of the farm, picking vegetables and selecting dairy products, which you “sold” at the end of the exhibit for “money,” used to redeem a treat (juice box, cookie, etc.)

Bubble Mania!  Julia and Laura removed their shoes before stepping into into giant, dense-plastic bubbles.  The bubbles were re-filled with air and zipped shut to bob on a shallow pool of water.  James’ cast prevented him joining the fun.

Lois has watched too many episodes of “Swamp People.”   She chose fried alligator for lunch.  Sarah and I got “Pulled Pork Sundaes” – layers of mashed potatoes, pulled pork and gravy in an ice cream cup.  Alas, the rain kept me from trying the delicacy I’ve always wanted to sample – a fried Twinkie.  I really like Twinkies which is why I never buy them.  I’d eat them.  All.

Sarah, me and my sister Judy before we left this morning.  Just throwing this out there because we have family members who read this blog, plus lots of friends who knew Sarah when she was little.  They’ll be amazed to see none of us have changed a bit.

We’ve invited ourselves back to Sarah’s house next Spring Break because really – I missed getting to try that fried Twinkie. And what the heck – I’d be willing to brave the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo fairgrounds again for the chance to do so. Fried creamy goodness- I’m coming back for you, baby!  Wait for me!

(clockwise) Hannah, 15; James, 3; Lois, 17; Rachel, 19; Laura, 7; Julia, 10

…and visit Bucee on the way to and the way home from Houston.  Hannah was sporting one of her (many) Buckee’s shirts while shopping in the store, which I understand is an apparel faux pas.   They let her in anyway.

When you see the billboards, you might as well sigh and say “Oh, dam” – because you’re stopping for the beaver.  No way around it.
I’ve always been a believer in “wearing them out” on Christmas Eve so they’ll go to sleep and Santa can come.  So today it was two games of laser tag, with a mechanical sketch before the zapping began.

We’ll be off to the Christmas Eve service soon, and watch The Nativity after we get home.

There are no “Happy Holidays” or “Seasons Greetings” in our house.  But we do wish you a…

Merry Christmas!

And to all a good night.

I’ve taken a variation of this shot since 2003. There’s something fun about placing one foot in one country, and the other foot in a second country.

Had to chuckle at this text to Keith’s iPhone, which was wisely set in airplane mode.  The last time we’d gotten that message was on last year’s cruise.

The best selection of purses we found was actually in a pharmacia.  “Juicy” was the big brand, in the $28 – $70 range.  Lots of “Coach,” too, plus “Chanel.”   “Chanel” scarves, wallets and sneakers to match.  I was looking for a new backpack purse as mine is three years old and starting to look it, but the only ones I saw were fugly chunky leather.  No “Kate Spade” or “Dooney and Burke.”    Gum wrapper purses – still very available, and in the $10 – $25 range, depending on size.

Best quote of the trip – from Lois, to Julia – “A slingshot – yet another thing you’re not getting.”  Julia is not enamored of purses and dresses, but did score a large plaster parrot for her room, and a stash of Mexican candy.  Actually, you don’t have to buy the child anything to make her happy.  Just plunk her down in a motel.  She loves the entire experience – little bars of soap, a different bed, setting the air conditioner (or – in her case, which endeared her to her sisters in the wee hours – flipping on the heater), the ice machine, the room key – everything about a motel.

Keith had to drive 250 miles to buy San Antonio habanero  sauce?  Hannah’s in awe.

The street vendors loved Rachel, whom I think bought at least one bracelet of every style.

Love this picture of Julia, because it so says whom she is.  Everyone else collapsed at a table during a Coca-Cola Light (Diet Coke) break.  Not Julia.  She climbed onto a bar stool so she could survey her surroundings.  Julia does not walk – she skips, hops, struts or runs.  And she does not sit.  She’s “on the lookout” for what’s next.

Speaking of Coke – Hannah always buys a bottle of “the real thing” with real Mexican sugar.  A jaunt to Mexico is the one time I do not forbid sugared soft drinks.  We now return to our regularly scheduled program.

Our favorite lunch stop – La Fogato – was empty except for our table, and one other. The girls and I wolfed the delicious pico de gallo, but Keith declined, “just in case one of us needed to be able to drag five of you out of the bathroom.”

The eldest three purchased dresses, which they wore to Chili’s for dinner Saturday night (American side.)  We don’t stay in Mexico after dark anyway, but especially not this year. The “South Padre Island Bike Fest” was just up the road, and we figured they’d be coming to Progresso for an evening of partying.  They did.  When we crossed the border at 4 p.m., there were already dozens of hard-drinking, leather-clad bikers roaring down the streets.

As much fun as we had – and we really did – the trip was kind of sad, too. The family-owned-for-generations shop where Keith bought his “tortuga giganta” two years ago?  Closed.   Roxy’s – the upscale shop where we bought so many lovely crosses and talavera last year -closed.   I’d guess half to two-thirds of the side street/alley shops were vacant.  Why?   Even though Progresso has been spared the drug violence that has ruined other crossing spots (Laredo, Tijuana, etc.) for tourists – Americans are scared to cross.  I can understand that.  Even in Progresso, there’s a tank and soldiers at the entrance to the city – though I actually find that less threatening than comforting.  Maybe Mexico is serious about keeping it safe.

I really don’t care how many drug lords and runners kill themselves.  I really don’t.  I know I should.  I know God loves them just as much as He loves me.  I know their souls are precious.  And I still don’t care.  As far as I an concerned, you could lock them all in a cement cage with guns and let them shoot each other to shreds and the world would be a better place.

What I do care about is what this horrendous violence is doing to decent people across the border.  That guy selling gum wrapper purses is trying to support his family.  That woman desperately trying to interest you in her blankets has kids at home – and maybe on the street right next to you – that are hungry.  And yet they are the ones that suffer from this godless insanity.  You can’t make a living from tourism when they are no tourists.  And there are fewer and fewer tourists as more and more Americans are caught in the violence - 48 in the first half of this year alone.

Laredo provided decades of enjoyment for my family.  Then Keith and I acknowledged it was simply too dangerous to visit any longer, so we switched to Progresso.  And now we see Progresso withering, not because of drug violence, but because of the (very understandable) fear of it.

I’m especially glad we went this weekend, because as Keith said before we left, “This trip could be our last.”

I hope not.  Not only for us-the-tourists, but also for the decent people that are just trying to make a living.

I played hooky today to take the girls to the LBJ Presidential Library and Museum in Austin.  There’s a Walter Chronkite exhibit in addition to the permanent Presidential/Texana displays.  Awesome!

Not a bad drive – less than two hours.  And blessedly overcast as Texas awaits the arrival of Hurricane Alex.

Great Minds

I explained to Hannah:  I was in second grade when JFK was assassinated.    A neighbor – Bobby Dyer – shared the news as I rode my bike home.  I called him a dirty liar and beat him up.    A few years ago, I entered the Kwik Copy he managed with his wife.  He recognized me and quickly hunched and raised both fists.

We talked a lot of WWII history on the way home, including PT109, LBJ and his fellow Congressmen called home after a few months of military service, the role of the GI Bill in post-war America, etc.

A wall of campaign buttons.  I have dozens (hundreds?), the oldest of which is a 1900 McKinley/Roosevelt.  At the 1984 RNC in Dallas, I had an opportunity to buy a Lincoln  Daguerreotype for $125 – and I didn’t.  I wish I had.  Those were the days when I had time and money.

The Civil Rights displays totally mystified and captivated Julia, whose best friends (and our next door neighbors) are black.

Tricky Rachel, who says she’s not a crook – though not all my change comes home from the grocery store

Animatron Lyndon cracking jokes freaked the herd of daycare kids.

Lois liked the memorabilia in the Cronkite exhibit, including NASA models of space craft.  My dad worked at NASA and we had two of those models.  I have no idea where they are now.  (sigh)

Lots of Cronkite’s notepads, teletype sheets, spirals, etc. on display.  Julia said, “Mom, his handwriting looks like yours,” to which Rachel responded, “No, you can read it.”

A little post-museum break for Hannah.  Julia was confused by the fountain geyser, thinking it was somehow related to the coming hurricane. Lois somberly confirming with a “Yes, Julia, it is – and we’ll probably have a tornado, too” didn’t help.

Many out-of-state plates in the parking lot, including those belonging to Twilight fans.

Ever heard of Flip Happy Crepes?  It’s about two miles from the museum.  Keith watched a “Throwdown with Bobby Flay” episode featuring the Flip Happy trailer, crew and delicious crepes!   We messaged poor Keith several photos while he slaved away at work, munching the lunch I packed before we left.

Flip Happy’s owner – Tessa – featured on the Bobby Flay program graciously stepped out for a photo.  Nice lady.  And tasty, tasty eats! Necessary to build our strength before an afternoon stop at the Tanger Outlets on the drive home. Everything at the Old Navy Outlet – 40% off today.  We did damage.

A great museum, fantastic exhibits, wonderful lunch and jaunt through the outlet mall – well, my fellow Americans - “That’s the way it was.”