Austin, Texas

 The weather was warm our first two days.  Then it turned cold & rainy, but we still had fun.  

Ariel had a haircut at Sport Clips.  Instead of watching sports, she watched TV.  The other clients were little boys.  At the end of their haircuts, the stylists let them pick a colored gel, and they spiked their hair into mohawks.

 We looked at lots of model homes in Austin and San Antonio.  The prices were so much lower than DC area.  I could not believe the size of the bathrooms and walk-in closets (which really could function as a separate room!)  At each  model, Ariel figured out where the master bed was, and we tossed her onto each one.  We also tried out each big bathtub and shower.

 We stayed with Lois and the Kittens at the Peaceful Haven.  Actually, it's a cottage in her backyard that she rents out through Airbnb.  It was a comfy cottage full of pillows and futon mats, and 3 kittens (Bunny - pictured, Booie, and Beauty.)  We often let the kittens in to play and snooze.  Lois' place was decorated with funky art (most of it her own) and garden treasures.  Her car was a work of art, too.

 Ariel & Bunny

 With Mark and Winnie at Mount Bonnell, the must-see view in Austin.  Mark and I have been friends since freshman year of college, and were in the Air Force together.  He worked for Dell Computers in Austin for years, and is working on a new project.  Sounds like he has lots of job-hunting connections for Jeff if we want to move to Austin.  Mark and his girlfriend, Winnie, took us on a super tour of Austin, and out for vegetarian health food.  We also got to see their homes and meet Winnie's dogs (she's a vet.)

 Modeling her Hello Kitty hat from Mark and Winnie.

 Lois' art car: "Peaches on the Beaches" (she's from Houston and loves beaches and swimming)

Aliens on top!