We traveled south this week to visit our kin in Texas for the holiday. It has been a long time since I have been on a twelve-hour, one-way road trip. We decided to take the gas-guzzling Explorer for the extra room it would provide our back seat passenger, but it was well worth it. You know if Molly is not happy, no one will be happy.
In the early afternoon, we decided to stop for lunch at some place other than fast food. We saw several great places to stop, but, of course, by the time we spotted them we had already passed the exit to get off the highway. After repeating this process for a few miles we decided we would get off at the next exit and take our chances of finding something. At the end of the exit ramp we found ourselves in the left-turn-only lane so, of course, we turned left. We immediately saw a sign directing us to “Historic Downtown and Dining.” After about two miles we found ourselves in the middle of downtown McKinny, Texas, which was fabulous.
The town square was surrounded by blocks of small, unique shops with several dining locations. The entire square was decorated for Christmas, and many people were strolling around shopping and dining on the patio of the small cafes. We decided this was the perfect place for lunch, so we drove until we found a parking place then walked a couple of blocks around the square and settled on a place called Churchhill’s.
The food was very good, and the walk around the square was just what we needed after six hours in the car. I would have loved to spend the rest of the afternoon exploring all the little shops. During our next trip to Houston I might just schedule an afternoon there.
We finally made it to Houston after spending multiple hours in traffic jams in Dallas and north Houston, a total of fourteen hours in the car. It was really only the last couple of hours that were difficult, but I was really stiff the next day.
Thanksgiving was fun with great food, games and lots of family time.
We took Percy to the dog park and walked on some of the trails. Percy was determined to get a squirrel even if it meant climbing a tree.
Friday was spent doing some shopping and taking in a movie, “The Descendants.” The movie was entertaining, but it was a little depressing. Today we are going to an MU-kU watch party with the Houston Texas Tigers (the Houston chapter of the Mizzou Alumni Association) then heading home. It has been a great visit. I hope you all had a great Thanksgiving, eating good food and spending time with family.
Note: If this post looks more grammatically correct than normal posts it is because it was professionally proofed!!! I think it might have actually caused her pain to read this.
