I think we've been back in Austin long enough now that we are all realizing we aren't going back to Durham, we won't be seeing our North Carolina friends anytime soon. It was really hard for Gus to leave his best friend (Vinicio; this is their very last good bye hug--it lasted over a minute) and he's started mentioning him a little bit more, wanting to write letters and things like that. I know when school starts up again (Gus cannot wait and wishes school were here already several times a week.) that he will have less time to miss his friends but I am not hoping he just forgets about them. It's a hard balance since there is no point in wishing we lived in NC because we don't, but those were important years for Gus and I hope he remembers them.
It's been a little bit hard for me too. I still have very good friends in Austin and I've been seeing them and of course all our family is here which is just so wonderful. But I miss my good friends in Durham too, and I miss our routines and favorite activities. I do not miss our horrible rent house though! And, I was worried that I had gotten so used to the North Carolina landscape (just imagine being in a forest of pine trees, even in your own yard) that I wouldn't like it here anymore but I LOVE it here. It is so much more beautiful here (to me) being able to see the sky and having a few magnificent trees to look at and appreciate rather than 40 identical trees. I grew up here and I guess it's affected my tastes because even though I wish summer weren't so hot and I wish more flowering things could grow here I think it's worth the trade to have sky and beautiful Live Oak trees and more space.
With only a month of summer left I really want to make the most of it so I'm working on a list of things to do...at least one thing a week out of the house out in Austin. Enchanted Rock is one (which is a little bit crazy because it is going to be so hot, but I'll just sherpa up with a bunch of water bottles and snacks). Oh my, that reminds me, it has been GLORIOUS having our refrigerator back! It has in-door ice and cold water dispensers that I just love every single day. I'll never take them for granted. We'll go to the Children's Museum which I know Abe will enjoy but I'm not sure if Gus is too old now. And I'm still looking around for 2-3 more good ideas. Indoors I want to do some projects with more direction to them. Gus just finished a great drawing class (I will scan his self portrait and post here soon...it's bigger than my scanner so maybe I'll take a picture of it? I don't know, I'll figure it out.) and I want to build on that so I just requested Artist to Artist from the library. I think Gus might find it fun to make artwork following the different styles. I also found a used copy of Kristin Nicholas' Kids Embroidery and I think Gus will really like making some projects since he likes to sew. Even Abe should be able to get in on the fun!
We lost one fish but the other four in our new aquarium are doing well so maybe we can add a few more soon. And Gus bought a chicken (a white silkie) to live at my mother's house. That turned out to be a near-disaster when the thing was petted for one minute and then hopped immediately through the fence and disappeared! Thank goodness chickens really prefer to be around other chickens because the darn thing did come back on her own and is now safely locked in a pen until she gets bigger!
I welcome all great ideas for things to do with the rest of the summer!
Last night we went to the zilker summer musical, which was fun. We put our blankets and coolers down at 6 and went swimming at Baeron Springs until 8. We left. At intermission but it was still a late night. I'm hoping to go see the bats next week. I'm so glad you're back!
Posted by: April | July 18, 2010 at 12:17 PM
What about the Austin Nature Center in Zilker or Wild Basin? And Boggy Creek Farm -- I know you can walk around there when they have their markets, but I think they have official tours, too. Aquarena Springs is still around, but I think it's less cheesy and more "science-y" than it used to be...
Posted by: Rebecca | July 18, 2010 at 01:12 PM