This weekend marks exactly 5 years since we moved to Texas!
Wow. I honestly can’t believe it’s been that long. Or that Owen was younger than Clara when we arrived here (read more about our decision to move from California to Texas here).
Over the years we have really grown to love Texas.
I mean, we loved it from the get-go. It’s charming. And the people are so kind. And there’s tons of great food, right? But I guess there are things you never know about yourself until you move somewhere different….like how much I love wide open spaces. I grew up in the suburbs of Orange County, California and then lived in Los Angeles for my young adult years, where people and street sounds were constant. And it was great! And fun! And I knew the best back roads and alleys to avoid the 405/101 interchange at 5pm (the SNL Californians. heh heh). But today I love breathing in the space around me. Every day I drive down a wide country road to get to Target, the freeway, Clara’s school. And I just love it.
I guess there’s a season of life for everything.
And one day we might be back in the bustle of cityscapes.
But for now we’re exploring Texas.
Here’s a taste of our adventures so far:
Texas Bluebonnets
The Poppy Festival
Friday Night Lights
Lake LBJ
3 days at the beach
The Kite Festival
Trip to Dallas
Shopping for fabric in Texas
Weekend at the Lodge
And this summer we made it to Fort Worth! (which is near Dallas) and spent a couple hours at the Fort Worth Stockyards, which friends have recommended over the years. The irony of our adventure is that the stockyards are great to visit with your kids….and we left ours at home (thank you Grandma and Grandpa for the day of freedom!)
So if you’re looking for a fun family outing, here you go.
And if you see this in your rear-view mirror it means (A) something fantastic is about to happen or (B) you parked in the wrong spot.
It was a little of both.
But mostly fantastic.
So, the stockyards are a slice of old Texas life. It’s the place where cattle were once sold and traded and was considered the “Wall Street of the West” (read more about the history here).
Twice a day at 11:30am and 4pm, the Longhorn Cattle Drive comes trailing down the main street, giving you a glimpse of real Texas longhorns. It’s a pretty short procession and kinda gimicky, but it’s colorful and cattle-y and so very Texas.
Hook ’em!
And just like that it’s back to normal life….
…or to the awesome stockyard maze.
Just make sure you stamp your timecard. And head to the lookout platforms if you’re totally lost!
There are spots for goodies,
and silly photo-ops (I need one of those signs).
And plenty of moments to look like you’ve mixed up your “Wall Streets”.
(which is what happens when the outing is planned at the tail-end of business meetings)
So head to MJ Leddy’s and you’ll be looking like a local soon.
Seriously, this store is worth a stop! There is a boot for EVERYbody.
….and the boots are all fixed by the chimney with care….
Annnnd, we still look like idiots.
Sorry Texas.
But hey, need a knife? Need an alley? We found both.
And this guy definitely made my day.
My name is Chong Wang.
John Wayne?
Chon Wang.
That’s a terrible cowboy name!
On the drive home we found a fantastic little hole-in-the-wall taco joint called Melis Tacos. Delish! The egg and bacon breakfast tacos (add cheese) were my favorite. And we ate under a scrap-tin roof while the rain poured down. I’ll always remember that moment. And the sunset that followed us home.
Thank you Fort Worth for a fun outing.
Country roads, take me home,
To the place I belong….
