Showing posts with label The Gray Havens. Show all posts
Showing posts with label The Gray Havens. Show all posts

Tuesday, April 14, 2026

Life Lately: Tiny Travels, Family Fun, and Everyday Joys

 Dear Lovely Reader,

I’m tapping my pen and trying to think of what to write. It is April in Houston, which means it is the true beginning of the hot, humid season that will last till October (maybe till Thanksgiving).
Here is a pictorial update of my life:

Over spring break (early March), I took a couple of days and went to Round Rock, TX (a little bit north of Austin). I had never driven myself that far…Remember, I didn’t get my license till I moved to Houston.
I admit I got pulled over and given a warning for an expired registration (which, in Houston, no one cares about), so the first day I was a little hesitant to drive anywhere, but that was fine because the Airbnb I stayed in was near downtown, so I could walk around. I found Round Rock Donuts, which is apparently world-famous. I got some writing done at a little coffee shop, found the Round Rock Public Library (and, of course, took a picture). Enjoyed my quiet time outside on the porch (until the ants came), got some pretty sunsets, and took a lot of pictures of cute houses and flowers.
On my last day there, it was actually cool enough to wear a sweater and enjoy a hot latte while I walked around and found the rock the town was named for. All I can say is the park was really pretty, and it was bigger than Plymouth Rock (in Mass), which is not saying much.
{Plymouth Rock}

After getting back from Round Rock, my cat Beacon has needed lots of cuddle time.
I celebrated my nephew’s 11th birthday, where my niece and nephew decided my hair needed an upgrade—so they gave me a wild, gravity-defying comb-over.
Easter followed, and though I spent time with family, I somehow ended up with more photos of their pets than of people. My selfie skills have also gotten a workout lately—turns out, there’s a guy in Tennessee who enjoys a steady stream of my daily expressions.
Other than that, I have tried to make time to do creative writing, but sometimes things like laundry, talking to the guy, and helping a friend move have taken over my weekends. I did go to see The Gray Havens (website & Spotify)—they are a folk Christian band, I would say, with 289,496 monthly listeners; they probably have a cult following, but that makes tickets pretty cheap, and it’s fun. But it is a little different: people are not always standing or dancing around as you might typically do, but sitting and maybe seated-dancing, listening, and singing along. 
"Storehouse" The Gray Havens


Thanks for reading and sharing a piece of my spring with me—until next time!