Deep in the Heart of TEXAS!

Hi!  Tina here from Not Just Another Mother Blogger!

Remember way back to last month, when I received an interesting package from Australia?    Turns out that I received one of the Traveling Stones from my friend Red over at Amazing Australian Adventures!  I was so excited, and determined to show the stone a rollicking good time.  When I say that the traveling stone I received earned some mileage, I mean it.

I put the items in my purse and was off to explore the wide world, and off we went.  The Kiddie Park was especially fun, except that I got nauseated watching the Merry-Go-Round.  I HATE when that happens!

Kiddie Park, San Antonio, Texas

While at the Kiddie Park, I noticed a few issues.  The stone was continually rolling about in the box.  Also, the little boomerang that Red sent along would not fit into the box, and was often relegated to the bottom of my purse.  I decided that this would not do...and I went into problem solver mode!

I felt that the tiny pearl was likely to fall out of the box and then disappear, which would have been a catastrophe of epic proportions, not to mention embarrassing for my country!   So, I got out my jewelry making tools and prettied things up a bit, adding a decorative bow and a place where someone might put a safety pin.  Perhaps a person might want to safety pin the pearl to their shirt for a night out on the town?

It was necessary to find a box big enough to carry the coin, the boomerang, and the pearl.  It just didn't seem fair to leave the boomerang at home after it had traveled all the way from Australia, so I hunted for a bit for just the right box, and then spent a little time securing everything for safekeeping.

Then I had to find me a helper, since my arms are just not long enough to hold up the box and snap a photo. Luckily, this particular helper was easily bribed persuaded with cookies.

With all that taken care of ,  it was time to head back out, box of travelers in hand. We went to the Riverwalk, San Antonio's most 'romantic' spot, where all the tourists hang out.  We hopped on a boat ride to avoid some of the crowds along the edge. Also, since there's no guard rail along the river, I had visions of my son attempting to walk on water in order to visit one of the ducks that live along the water's edge.

As we floated, I took the opportunity to show the stones a good time.

Some weird statue thing that was a gift from Mexico.  I think it is art.

Riding along the River Walk, Downtown San Antonio

Adina De Zavala was one of the people who wanted to preserve the Alamo, so they gave her a plaque, and named a street after her.

Of course, we could not leave the downtown area without visiting the most sacred shrine in Texas, the icon of our state.  Texas was an actual, honest-to-God independent country prior to joining up with the United States, and we are proud of our independent streak and what we had to do to get there.  The Alamo was originally a mission, and the main part was a church. Of course, that made zero difference to all those guys fighting to the death over it, but today the Alamo is indeed a shrine, which means that a hushed silence pervades the place out of respect.  The other missions in San Antonio don't get nearly the same amount of visitors!

The Alamo, San Antonio, Texas

We didn't just go traipsing all over the downtown area.  We also took the stones to a landmark hamburger joint, Biff Buzby's, for some righteous hamburgers.  We probably should have gone to a place that served more of the local cuisine, known as Tex-Mex, but I was craving a cheeseburger!

Hanging with Biff Buzby, Live Oak, Texas

The travelers and I spent the last day of our spring break at a kid's place, Chuck E Cheese, where the pizza and the beer made up for the fact that I would have to go back to work on Monday.
 

These guys won all those tickets. Really.

But our time is at an end, and the stone and her friends must be moving on to their next exciting adventure!  The next blogger who gets to host the stone is Dionne over at Raw Christian. Dionne graciously volunteered to host the stone and her friends at her home state of Utah.  I have never been to Colorado, but I've heard things about forests and wildlife and Bigfoot, and I'm looking forward to seeing her plans for the stone!

Downunder to Australia ... and off again!



The Travelling Stones on Goolwa Beach in South Australia

G'day! Red Nomad OZ from Australia – bringing you the next stage in the Travelling Stones' journey!

When Saz sent me the Travelling Stones, to say that they caught me at a busy time would be an understatement. They arrived on the last working day before Christmas so I left them to their own devices until the new year.

Actually, that's not quite right.

I forgot them in the whirling maelstrom that is Christmas, New Year, Australian summer school holidays and visitors from interstate. 

But once Saz's polite reminder goaded me in to action, I got right into it. Here's some of my first post about the stones:

 

The stones' magical mystery tour - for they never know where they are going next - started with Darlin when they came into her possession at a dinner.  She decided to send them out into the world to seek - well, if not their fortune, at least some new friends, landscapes and experiences.

 

And perhaps a little fame!

 

So far, after leaving darlin in Canada, they've visited Dormy Saz in the UK - where Saz added a friendly little 10p piece to keep them company - before they arrived in the Adelaide Hills of South Australia.

 

Once I've found them a new host, I'll be adding a souvenir from Australia!  But - you won't find out what it is until they reach their next destination!!

 

Meanwhile, the Travelling Stones await! And we all know what happens to stones that wait too long ...

Surprised by the response from readers who volunteered to host the stones, I contacted Darlin and Saz and together we worked out a new plan. Darlin set up the Travelling Stones blog with Saz's suggestions. I wrote a new covering letter to accompany the Stones.

And we decided to split them up!

That way, they'll visit more places more quickly, and more people will get the opportunity to host the stones – with the added bonus of being able to track their progress. And also wonder whether they're ever going to meet up again!!
 

But, once that was over it was time to select two new hosts and send the stones on their way.
 

Here's some of my post about their last day in Australia:

I see a lot more crowds in the Travelling Stones' future! But that's because I know something that only two of you don't – YET!

So for their last day in Australia – on this visit, anyway – I gave the stones the gift of Australia's Magnificent Emptiness!

Apart from a 4WD mostly obscured by the sea spray and mists of the Great Southern Ocean right down the end of Goolwa Beach on a mind-blowingly awesome South Australian summer day, we were alone. Just Pilchard, me and the two Travelling Stones.

That's if you don't count the pelicans. Or the seagulls!

As we farewell these tiny dots in the vast and empty panorama of Goolwa Beach, the Travelling Stones spend their last moments together.

For now.

Because the purple stone is already winging its way to Solitary Wanderer Aleah in the Philippines, where she'll be taking them to India!

And the pink pearl is en route to Texas where Not Just Another Mother Blogger Tina is ready and waiting, with great plans afoot!!

Where will they go next? Who will they visit?? Will they return to Australia??? And – most significantly – will they EVER meet up again????

Meanwhile, farewell from Australia – and if you ever get to host the stones, you'll know where those tiny grains of sand came from …

And now it's Tina's and Aleah's turn!! Watch this space!!!

Point Number Two

Hello everyone,

My name is Saz, I live in Bracknell, England, but when the stones were sent to me I was in Scotland, as with Darlin, if you click my name you will get linked to my blog. Darlin sent them to me from Canada as you can see from the first post. I took these stones, and got some photo's to add to my blog post, and just before sending them off to Red in Australia I added a 10 pence piece.

Anyway, so I don't ramble on too long.. Here's the post that I put up about the stones. (:

Hello guys! 

Look what arrived at my house.. Or what was at my house when I got home anyway, haha.

So I got back from Isle Of Arran, to a few packages. And I must say I was more than happy when these popped in. Thanks Darlin! I shall now send them on to someone... As soon as I have details from someone to send them, haha.

I must say they are absolutely gorgeous. (:

In the next post you'll find out about their journey to Australia with Red. (: 

Dormy Saz

The Beginning.

Hello, my name is Darlene, I live in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada (you can find me and my blog by clicking on my name) where it's been chilly, not too bad this week, but last week we saw temperatures drop down to -35c, it was cold! ... but I'm digressing here.  I'm the one who initiated the Journey of the Stones and here is how it all began. 

I'll be right back, I have to go to my blog so I can just copy and 

paste the date this all began. 

Ahhh, here it is....

Thursday October 11, 2012

The Game

Tonight I went to a fund raiser dinner, at this dinner they were selling small boxes and whoever bought one was told not to open it until we were instructed to do so. I was curious what was in the boxes, but I never peeked, not even once. Sure I felt the weight of not only my two boxes, I also felt the weight of others boxes at the table. I had one really light one and one heavier one. After dinner and a guest speaker it was time for the game. We all were instructed to open our boxes, everyone who had a pink pearl was told to sit down. 

As you can see I had a pink pearl, BUT I had another box so I remained standing.

The next to be eliminated was the black pearl, no black pearl here so I continued

to stand, I was still in the game... that is until they called the next stone, it was

the purple stone so I sat down, I had been eliminated. There was one more

round of eliminations which left one gentleman standing, needless to say he

was the winner. Better luck next time I say. 

After giving these stones some thought I wondered how far they could make it

around the world, I contacted one of my blogger friends, Saz (who you

will meet in the next post) and sent them off to her in England. 

Saz can fill you all in on the Journey of the Stones and how they 

came to be in her possession. Take it away Saz!