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Double exposure: Houston debris from Hurricane Ike and Austin signs warning against travel to Houston.

After having watched Hurricane Ike blow into Houston at 110 miles per hour, we did only the essential clean-up and headed for family in the Texas Hill Country (this experience gives new meaning to "heading for the hills.") After three days of pampering (Saara's wonderful food, air conditioning, safe water, laundry facilities and great conversations, etc.) we missed home. In spite of the warnings not to travel to the Houston area, we bought bottled water and non-perishable food, filled up the old Bemer and pointed it toward home. At least we have a home. Some of our fellow Texans do not.

When we arrived at the edge of the city, we saw a 30 mile traffic jam. People were heading out of the Houston and the Gulf Coast areas. On the car radio we heard two pieces of great news: we would have water and unseasonably cool weather. This made up for the lack of electricity. We were ecstatic.

We have long conversations by candlelight, feeling the cool evening air blow through the house. We read by our battery-powered book lights. We eat tuna sandwiches and listen to our battery-powered radio. We visit with neighbors in our hurricane ravaged gardens. Life in Southeast Texas has changed and I am sure we will find that we have too.

Tall Husband and I will not have electricity or the Internet for several more days. Friends, who own a company that now has power, have invited me to use their facilities so that I can blog in comfort. Thanks so much, Guys!

Things You Miss After Ike

Hot coffee made from fresh-ground coffee beans

Ice and safe water

Fresh, chilled Strawberries

And air conditioning!

All of us would like for things we miss to be limited to simple creature comforts. Some of us lost loved ones and homes. Our hearts go out to each other.

Styling by Saara

Danger Will Robinson!

TxDOT signs along the Austin Freeways warn about the danger of traveling to Houston and Beaumont in the aftermath of Hurricane Ike.

I Don't Like Ike

The lack of Internet, electricity and water drove our house guests, Tall Husband and me to plan B. After two days of clearing debris left by Hurricane Ike and checking on family and friends, we have escaped to the Texas Hill Country. So, I am posting remotely.

The Bunny Bungalow in Houston Heights survived without a scratch and so did we! Three new trees will have to be braced and hopefully saved but we cannot believe our luck, though Houston looks like a giant salad bowl with all the fallen trees and strewn greenery. Have a look at My Ranchburger for Hurricane Ike photos and the Texas can-do attitude.

Thoughts Before the Storm

We will wait for hurricane Ike. Friends are with us, having boarded up their home and evacuated, leaving the stuff of their lives behind, not knowing if they will have a home after this weekend...Not even knowing if they will be safe from the storm in our home. They each brought something with them that is special: a doll that had belonged to a grandmother; treasured Russian dolls; sausage from Paris (the wife's parents live in Paris) for comfort food; and precious photographs. We do not know what the next days will bring but for now we eat homemade oatmeal cookies and catch up with the stories of our lives.

9/11: We Remember

Jeff Jennings at TCA Studio in Houston

Artist Jeff Jennings at TCA Studio, Houston, through September 27, 2008

At Texas Collaborative Arts Studio, Jeff Jennings discusses the inspiration for this group of 10 abstract monotypes with an art patron. The series, Chittagong Suite, evolved from the artist's fascination with ship breaking or ship demolition. According to Jennings: "At various locations around the world, between 20 and 24 degrees North Latitude, there are places where they take ships apart by hand just as they were built. In many cases it is accomplished without the use of cranes or other types of heavy machinery. After being driven up on the beach at high tide, the ships are cut into pieces using torches and hauled across the beach by hand..." Jennings explained that insurance on old ships becomes prohibitive and they are sold for their scrap value, ending up at ship breaking yards such as those in Alang, India; Brownsville, Texas; Karachi, Pakistan; Shanghai and Xuinhui, China; or Chittagong, Bangladesh.

This monotype was inspired by a red Russian ship the artist saw in New Orleans.

Getting out of bed, stepping outside of one's home each day is an adventure to be anticipated with relish. Tall Husband and I both love learning esoteric bits in unexpected places. Who would have guessed that we would learn about ship breaking from an artist? On the surface Art and Ship Breaking are miles apart but Jennings pulled the two into one bright point of interest.

Speaking of ship breaking, I must go to prepare for hurricane Ike, who is most unwelcome here on the Texas Gulf Coast. We will not evacuate but are making plans with friends who live closer to the coast than we. They waited for hurricane Rita with us three years ago. We loved having a houseful of interesting adults and children for a week, as they waited for power to be restored to their home. The conversations we had. The stories we exchanged. Stimulating! So they will await Ike's rude arrival with us. I wonder what adventures await us. Ike, you're lemonade!

Tip: Get cash in preparation for Ike, as we may lose power and our plastic will not work.