Sur la Table

My new favorite kitchen store is Sur la Table. I found it over by the temple in Houston and I can got lost in here. I spent at least 2 hours my first trip examining everything. I have since been back a few times. Just can't get enough!

Just some really cool clouds.

New sister Missionary in our office - Sister Betty Diamond

This is Sister Diamond from Payson, Utah. She is a fabulous cook and a great, kind lady. Her and her husband owned and ran a restaurant until he passed away 6 years ago. She sold the restaurant, got all her affairs in order and came on a mission to serve here in Houston. She was raised on a farm, the youngest of 10 children. Her and her husband had a ranch for their 7 children to roam on. They loved camping, fishing, hunting and  horse back riding. She has hunted for bear in Alaska and has many trophies including a bear rug from the one she bagged. She was homecoming queen for her high school, was a CNA and worked in the court system. She is very accomplished and a real sweetheart. But she loves to bake sweet things so I will probably die of SUGAR POISONING!

Road trip to Prison Museum Huntsville and Texas A & M in College Station

Memorial Day was a great opportunity to get away. Since I love a road trip off I went! I had heard about the Texas Prison Museum in Huntsville so I decided to take a drive up there to see it. It wasn't a huge place but there was tons of information. Across the highway was the actual Huntsville State Pen. I spent a few hours there reading about the great escapes, the famous criminals that spent time in Huntsville and viewed all the artifacts such as their original electric chair, prison clothing, handmade weapons and other guns and such used by criminals and guards. Very fascinating! After my time their I headed over to College Station less than a hour due west. I toured the campus and took lots of pictures, especially of the football stadium. It was a perfect day to be their since school was out and there was practically no one on campus. It is a pretty large campus with lots of old and new building and new construction going on. Late lunch and cruise back down to Houston to get to know the new sister who had come to work with me.

                                                         Entrance to museum and cell display - nicer the Alcatraz

 Bonnie and Clyde display. They were not killed in Texas but their crime spree started here

 Gun owned by Clyde Barrow

 Fascinating reading about all the escapes and criminals

The Electric Chair

 Each year they have a Prison Rodeo which is very famous and well attended by entertainers

 Shackles and cuffs

 Weapons, many so different

 This attempted break out killed 3 innocent people, 2 secretaries and a piest

 These guys made it out but also killed an officer and all eventually were killed or died in prison

 Sample guard house and memorial

 The actual prison across the highway - hard to see but it's there

 Texas A & M main campus building as you come up the drive of the main entrance

 Football stadium

More football stadium

 Yes this is Texas A & M, a very nice campus

My Award from Chris

Not a big deal but it was nice to be recognized. Chris is great! It was because I worked alone for 6 weeks until Sister Diamond arrived. Also Chris and Steve were at a training in SLC for a weel and I ran the show.

Local Chinese restaurant, China Bear

Each month we do a Ward and Stake Employment Training class in the evening. Rather then going home, eating and coming back our boss. Steve, takes us out to dinner. It was just me and Chris in May so he took us to this Chinese buffet close to work. It was very impressive, like it looked like a palace from the outside. Inside it was filled with Asian artifacts, furniture and collector items (some must have been smuggled to the US) in their store area. We browsed thru all the rooms to check out the MANY items they have. We also ate dinner at their huge buffet filled with all kinds of Chinese and some American food. Too rich for me but I did enjoy the prawns.

 Peacock carving from a tree stump

 Carving of a woman's head inside a piece of wood

 Very old face carvings

 One of the rooms filled with many hand carved and ancient artifacts, lots of jade

 Very intricate wood carving                                                         Chair made from tree stump and root

 Outside of restaurant

 Gold fish ponds on either side of entrance. They will give you fish food to feed them

 Amazing table!

Picture update

So all my life I have had thin, fine, straight hair. Not anymore! Texas has turned me curly!!