Almost done!!
Texas: Month Two
At some point, I will quit counting months. Right now though, it is fun to tell people “I’m new!”, which basically means, “I know nothing, be nice!” I still get lost frequently, people still make comments about my accent and I still think their strong pride in all things Texan is adorable.
March is the month that the Houston Rodeo and Livestock Show comes to town. This is HUGE…and I mean HUGE! I had been to a rodeo before in Cody, Wyoming and from what I remember it was small, outside and lots of fun. The Houston Rodeo and Livestock Show is a spectacle. It is in a football stadium…with fireworks…and a concert…and a whole livestock show!
The Houston Rodeo and Livestock Show
The livestock show was so much fun. We got to see chickens hatching and at various stages of development, baby piglets, baby goats (kids?), And there was lots of stuff to buy like outrageous bedazzled cowgirl gear, huge trucks, John Deere mowers, boots, you name it, it was there. No, I didn’t buy any rhinestone cowboy gear, don’t worry. Sadly though, I cannot say I hate country music any longer because I actually enjoyed the concert with The Band Perry. I may or may not be downloading two songs into my iPod (gasp!).
We had the most amazing seats at the rodeo, over the squeeze so my nerdy self could get into the whole process of organizing the riders, the bulls and horses. The best part was that we could see how angry the bulls would already be in their pens and knew which ones would be extra scary.
My Bull Blue
Meet Blue, isn’t that the best name for a bull? Blue was the largest bull I’ve ever seen and he was not digging this whole ordeal. He got extra crazy before his turn that he tried to jump over the gate. I don’t believe the cowboy even qualified on Blue…..I was rooting for Blue.
Oink!
Since I love animals so much, I actually found myself rooting for the calves during the roping competitions. After seeing adorable little piglets and goats at the livestock show, I couldn’t help myself. Who wouldn’t be absolutely crazy over these cabooses?
So the rodeo was the highlight of my spring break and really the entire month of March. I’ve finally gotten into the groove of life and started to get used to my commute, scheduling in my workouts and even reading again. And most importantly, knitting! I bet all of you former students are wondering if I’m ever going to knit again! Well, yes. I won’t be teaching again for quite a while, but I’ve finally finished Mira’s Cowl (pictures to come!) and just ordered some beautiful yarn from Knit Picks to make the long-awaited Holden’s Shawlette. I’m crazy excited!
Prize-winners
I promise, more knitting, less farm animals….any day now!
Happy Knitting!
Peace and piglets, Pookah
A Photo History of My First Month in Texas
Moving Day
It has been quite a first month in Texas. It has been a whirlwind of getting lost on my commute to work, discovering sweet tea, and learning new words like fixin’. Sadly, not much of my time adjusting to the south was spent knitting, but I’m getting back into the swing of thigs. So, for now…no new knitting pictures. But, here are my observations from my first month in a new land.
Puppy smiles
I tell everyone that Texas is a foreign country. Men call adult women here “girl” and “hey gal”. People are really polite (yes ma’am). And really religious – a lady at my new knitting group actually compared herself to someone in the New Testament. And then I learned that finding joy in life means finding God. Yep, I am in the bible belt. No big hair, not many cowboy boots. Lots of accents. And mosquitos. We built an extension to a fence this weekend for the chickens and I had a mosquito bite that was swollen to the size of a plum on my arm. I’ve taken more Benadryl than I probably have in my lifetime.
Sweet tea is amazing, as well as fried chicken, fried okra and fried catfish (I haven’t found anything yet that Texans won’t fry that I don’t love). I also love hush puppies with jalepanos and Shiner brew. I attended a Super Bowl party that consisted of ribs, sausage and bacon wrapped pork. Texans don’t mess around when it comes to food.
Super Bowl Grub
Traffic here, there, and everywhere
The traffic is trecherous and I’ve started listening to audio books again. For the first two weeks I got lost at least twice a day.
The many faces of my Pookah
Mickey is loving life, as always. He has a new cat door and two new friends outside, the two gregarious labs Shiner and Eve. I love being surrounded by animals. Mickey has taken becoming a Texan very seriously and sadly has started to collect guns (see right).
- Chicken Traffic Jam
And I have a new love, chickens! I never knew how fun they were to watch. The roosters are now going through their version of puberty and when they crow their voices crack on the last “cock a doodle dooooaaack”. I can’t stop giggling when I’m around them and I have to make myself not chase them all over the yard. I also found out that I am no good at chicken wrangling. One hid from me under the coop when I tried to put them in for the night. I guess I am no farmer.
Moving to Texas was almost like coming home. The towns are similiar to where I grew up in Ohio, so I’m surprisingly comfortable here. I miss all of my San Diego friends dearly and it can be lonely trying to make new friends, but life is good. And now that life is starting to slow down for me finally, I can start knitting again and exploring the local knitting shops! Weeee!
xoxo
Peace,
Pookah
Life in Texas
I’ve been crazy busy since the move but life is good! I’ve been building Ikea furniture, helping feed the chickens (or entertain them in my case) and learning brand new traffic patterns to get to my new workplace. It’s been fun and interesting being called a Yankee a few times each week. Things I’ve learned so far is that pop is Coke and they are Bug Gulp size at all times, the 45 freeway is the devil, highways here have red lights and BBQ is the most amazing I’ve had in my life.
Cheers,
Pookah (the Yankee)
Goodbyes are Tough
My friend’s little boy dropped this in her jacket when she left to take me to the airport for my journey. So sweet!
Goodbyes and Bottles of Wine
I’m terrible at goodbyes! I’d prefer not to say it, or get teary eyed so I opted for wine instead. It really is the best choice. My knitting buddies sent me off to Houston with huge hugs, knitting in the dark (how romantic) and fantastic cheese. Love!
Peace,
Pookah
Knitting Ladies
My lovely Encinitas knitting group. Gonna miss these ladies lots!
Mira’s Cowl
My latest project is the beautiful Mira’s Cowl. Life is crazy right now so I was determined not to start any new projects – given that my needles are all packed and I cannot find a thing! However, at my lovely knitting group holiday party I was introduced to Mira’s Cowl. It is a very elegant knit, yet incredibly simple to work. All of that means that I am in! Mira’s Cowl is to be knitted with her Baah Yarn, which I have been drooling over for months now. But, I haven’t been able to get to the shop and we all know I have patience issues so I had to start now! ] I had also been given some new yarn by my family for Christmas (yay!).
I’m knitting my cowl with my new yarn, YKnot Alpaca from an alpaca ranch in Leigh Valley, Pennsylvania. It’s gorgeous and I love the way the yarn feels in my hands. It’s been a while since I’ve worked with really nice yarn and I couldn’t be happier.
Happy Knitting!
Peace,
Pookah
Happy Holidays!
This is my reaction to the first snowfall in Cincinnati this morning. The blanket I’m wearing was knit by my friends Jody and Dana. It has a name. It is Kevin. Because of this I am making a new years resolution to give all of my knits proper names in 2012. I hope you all have a prosperous new year!
Peace and love,
Pookah
Merry Christmas!
Enjoy! Hope you are all warm and cozy in your knits!
Love,
Pookahs (Allison and Mickey)
