We are so happy to finally be able to go back to our home in Port Aransas. The water, electricity, and sewer are all functional. None of the repairs have started, but the house is livable. We need to say goodbye to Austin
This first picture is of the State Capital building in Austin
The spirit of Texas is reflected in the inlay of the floor directly below the dome. You can see the inlay pays homage to the five countries who at one time ruled the Republic of Texas. Counter clockwise from the top left is Spain, Next is France, next to Mexico, which is next to the Confederate States of America, and finally The United States of America.
The dome is directly above
Here is a memorial to those who lost their lives in the Alamo.
A photo of the downtown from Mount Bonnell which is the highest point in the city.
We cannot leave Austin without paying homage to its weirdness. The photo below shows a group on a pub crawl which is a mechanical device that all the participants need to pedal.
So now a photo of the dawn over the Gulf in Port Aransas taken on Saturday morning.
Another shot taken Saturday
I will be able to show you some before and after shots of the community. It is still too soon, and people do not need me taking up space shooting photos around town while they are trying to restore their lives.
We all need to remember those who are in the path of Irma. Thank you for joining me, and it feels good to be home.
Fiction Favorites 
Welcome home! May this be “a time to heal…a time to build…a time to laugh…a time to dance!” 🙂
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A fine farewell to Austin, and welcome home. Meanwhile, my son and his family are bracing themselves in central Florida for the arrival of Irma!
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We hold them in our prayers.
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Thanks, John. They’re not in the direct path, but it will be a mite windy and wet in a couple of hours.
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🙂
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Good final photos of Austin, John. It’s wonderful you can move back home so soon. I’ve been watching the coverage of Hurricane Irma on CNN and my prayers are with all those in the path. All the best. —- Suzanne
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Yes. It is going to take a lot of prayers.
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Nice pics! Thanks for sharing, and welcome home!
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Thank you, Olivia.
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I’m so happy you’re home, John. Your shots of the Port Arnasas Gulf are beautiful. Welcome home and happy Sunday!
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Thank you, Jill.
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So glad to hear that you and your ‘crew’ are home again.
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Thank you. It feels good.
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Welcome home John. Thanks for the mini-course on Austin, I’m glad you were safe from danger. I hope the girls can enjoy some familiar sand. Good luck getting back to normal.
I hope Our friends and family in Irma’s path find safety where they’ve gone, or in shelters if they couldn’t leave.
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I agree about Irma, Dan. Yes, it is good to be home.
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I’ve no doubt that it feels good to be home John. Wishing everything comes together smoothly. Hugs on the wing.
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Thank you Teagan. Hugs on the crawl.
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Good to hear you can go home. Pub crawl is different than what I expected. At least in college it was actual crawling from pub to pub.
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Ha ha ha. I think I remember those days.
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Good news! Glad you are back home and safe.
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I glad you were finally able to get home, John, and happy to hear your home is livable. Let the repairs begin! My heart goes out to my many friends and their neighbors whose homes are in the path of Irma. Thankfully most have left Florida.
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Leaving is a good thing. Thanks Michelle for your support during this time.
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Good morning, John,
I’m so glad you’re back home in Port A. and found your home liveable at least, and not destryed completely. I hope things don’t look too bad.
When I see the pictures of the Gulf looking so peaceful, it’s hard to believe how vicious that body of water can become.
Take care, and have a great Sunday,
Pit
P.S.: I hate these “beer bikes”, which, alas, have appeared here in Fredericksburg, too.
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The pub crawl things are annoying. Thanks, Pit.
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🙂
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A very fitting farewell to Austin, John. I’m so tickled that you guys are back home and can start repairs and resume your lives. So frightened as Irma barrels into the Florida Keys this morning. Be well, good friend!
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I know. Irma is terrible
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So glad you made it back home. This was certainly a devastating storm for our state. I’m hoping the clean up goes well and people are back to their regular routines soon. I lived in Houston for 12 years a while back, and only experienced tropical storms. The flooding was really bad. Living in North Texas now, we have to cope with tornadoes every spring. Austin is a terrific city, I really enjoy visiting there. Take good care and best wishes!
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Thank you so much for the good wishes.
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Welcome home, John! Nice transition from the Austin Capitol to the beach. Such a serene beach and view – and just to think it wasn’t so not that long ago. Good luck.
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Thanks, Frank.
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Welcome home, John!
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Thank you, Jo.
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Welcome home, John. We understand your need to be respectful as people put their lives back together. Looking forward to hearing about your own rebuilding efforts and I hope all goes smoothly.
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Thank you, Phillip.
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Thanks for sharing these lovely pictures, John. And welcome home. 🙂
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Thank you, Natalie.
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😀
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🙂
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So glad to hear you’re back home, John! It’s been a long haul, hasn’t it? But at least you had a good, safe place to evacuate to; pity the poor folks stuffed into shelters. Thanks for the lovely shots of Austin. Lots of history there. The Gulf looks deceptively calm!
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Thanks, Debbie. The gulf was really calm that first day we were allowed back. Starting to get some wave action.
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Bless you, John. What an ordeal, but one we sea dwellers have come to expect. So happy your home is livable and you can now begin the next exciting chapter in your lives. Happy to see you made it home.
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Thank you, Susan and I pray you are fine.
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Prayers answered. We are fine. Things were tense for a while.
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Great news.
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Glad you all are home.
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Thank you, John. I hope your fix up goes well.
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So glad to hear you are back home! Praying the repairs can be done in good order!
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Thank you, Jackie.:-)
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Sounds like you fared better than some. We have one of those pub crawlers in Boise too. I don’t want to work that hard when I’m drinking.
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We did for sure, Craig. Some lost everything. I’m with you on the hard work and drinking.
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John, glad that the house is livable. Nothing like being back home. Home is where the heart is.
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Yes it is Gracie. Thank you
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I am so glad you are finally home. I know the work just now starts, but one day at a time. Rome wasn’t built in a day.
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I agree, Jan. We are dong what we can do.
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Welcome home, John!
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Thank you, Luanne.
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Glad to hear you’re back home – I’m sure Lucy, Bailey, and Stella are ecstatic.
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They are. Thanks, Teri
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Glad you could get home, John. My best to you and yours. Stay safe ♡
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Thank you, Audrey.
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Welcome home, John. So glad your damage is not catastrophic. Wonderful pictures. I have been in Texas but never Austin. The bosses in your family must be thrilled to be home, if a lttle grumpy over the incovenience.
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Really glad to hear this, John! And happy that you can actually live in your home while the repairs are being done. I’m sure Port Aransas will make a glorious comeback.
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As the police chief said, “Port Aransas 3300. Harvey zero.
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Beautiful pictures of Austin… And Port Aransas. Have to get to Texas someday. Very glad you are home!
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Thank you, DL
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Welcome home, John! And so happy to hear you’re safe!
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Thank you Rhonda.
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So happy that your home is livable and you are home at last! I hope the recovery goes well and everyone gets back to normal soon.
My family that were in Irma’s path in FL came through it very well thankfully! They’re in clean up mode now.
The morning images of the beach are gorgeous, but your ocean is sliding out of the frame! Sorry that’s a bête noire of mine; titled horizons. I can help with that if you’d like. If not no worries it’s your image. 🙂
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Sure help me;
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What software are you using to develop/process your images for the web?
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Apple photo
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Your iPhone? It’s pretty easy to straighten and rotate the image in the iPhone editing menu once you know how. I’m using an iPhone 7+ if you’re not you controls may be a bit different.
Want me to email you the steps? I don’t see a contact email.
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Yes please. johnhowell (dot) wave (at) gmail.com
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