Gatherings: Family

Despite not making it to Gilhooley's and despite the lack of boudain egg rolls at Thibodeaux's (Will they ever visit again, now that we've disappointed them like this?), Elizabeth and Nathan's visit from California was great. A trip to the Bayway El Toro was always a part of any visit when we lived a few blocks away, but substituting the nearby El Brisa worked just fine. And Tom and I reestablished ourselves as the Sanders/Bell family shuffleboard champions at Jackie's Brickhouse, keeping our cool and breaking through at the end despite our poor showing early. Shows character, no? Now, now Nathan, . . . something about sour grapes?

We saw few friends while they were here (Steve and Ellen were the delightful exception), but did get visits from family, Marian and nephew Eric. Both visits were great. Thank you both for driving from Katy/Houston, a pain of a drive when you take I-45, which they both did.*

When the futon that we had ordered** arrived, Elizabeth and Marian jumped to, putting it together with some help from Nathan. What fun it was to sit and watch! 

And Nathan hung my brass rubbing, risking life and limb on the expandable ladder. Thank you, all.

*Tom and I agree that the relative difficulty of getting to/from Houston from here is the only negative factor in the move from Baytown to Clear Lake Shores. We could get to downtown Houston in an easy half hour from our old neighborhood on I-10, a luxury only those on the unfashionable east side of the city enjoy. 

**In dire need of more seating, aware that one double bed for guests may not be enough, and not yet ready to buy new living room furniture, we went the futon route. It's big and fairly unattractive despite our best efforts, but when hosting a small group now no one will need to sit on the floor. And when we do spring for some good furniture, it can go upstairs.