Alyse French | Fine Art Portrait Photographer | Houston, TX »

Five houses. One home.

She’s a small-town girl. Born just 30 minutes from where she’s lived her entire life. Twenty-two years. Scratch that, reverse it.. Twenty-two LONG years.

She’s known the same friends since she was four. She’s known, perhaps, a little too much. About everything. Okay, not everything. But about Sharon Springs. And farming. And cows. And cow poop. Not that she’s ever lived on a farm, but it comes along with the territory.

She’s known five houses. The small yellow one – where a baby calf got stuck under her porch, where her older sister used to pull her around in a cardboard diaper box for fun, and where catching snakes at the well was something she actually enjoyed. The big yellow one – where she learned to ride her bike, where she used to walk around pretending she was Tina from Ghost Writer, and where she found a dead rotting cow in her backyard. (Anybody sense a theme here?) Then there was the little white house – where she had to share a room with her smelly little brother, where her obsession with Shirley Temple originated, and where she lived a happy little life with Sully the blue parakeet. Then of course, came the big white house – where climbing the apple trees out back was her favorite pastime, where she experienced the first death in her family with the passing of her grandfather, and where she suddenly wasn’t a kid anymore. And finally, the brown house – where she’s spent the past 11 years, where she became an adult, and where she’ll have to say goodbye.

Five houses. One home.

But Dylan and I will be making a new home in Houston, TX come late June. We’ll be leaving everything we’ve ever known. (Of course, Dylan’s had a head start by being assigned to Houston in the past.) But on the whole, everything will be unfamiliar. The heat. The big, modern city. And the lack of cows, (I think?) just to name a few examples.

We’re so ready for this change. Something completely different, in the southern 50, and something we can make our own. It will be lonely at first, I know this. But my all-time favorite part is that I’m going with my best friend. :)

So this is our announcement. Please note that if you’ve already booked your wedding with me later this summer, we’re still good to go! So don’t you worry!! Also, if you have ever lived in/visited Houston, do tell me all about it!! I’ve been researching for a while, but there’s got to be so much more. What’s your favorite thing about Houston? What’s your least favorite thing? Will I be able to survive the scorching summers? And will there be any cows? You just let me know! :)

Oh, and big thanks to Google for this rather unrealistic picture of Houston. I’ll take it. :)

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  • April 9, 2010 - 7:25 AM

    jessica - man oh man!!! it’s official!!! i am soo soo glad you now definitely know where you will be living!!! and i am so so sad that i will have to depend on my computer to see your face and not be able to wonder…will she be at chuch Sunday:( but YAYYYY!!!! cause God has place you and your best friend in the perfect place for starting the married part of your life’s adventure together….and now this just means that when Gabe gets a Houston client…well, i will have to join!

  • April 9, 2010 - 2:49 PM

    Amanda Krufchinski - Houston is great! They have beautiful museums, a huge mall(with an ice skating rink inside!) and wonderful people. A zoo, big library and Trust me, you will definately eat well! Also Galveston is a must see. Also a fantastic art car show. Good luck with the move!

  • April 9, 2010 - 5:15 PM

    Breanna - OMG i am sad, but happy for you! Congratulations, never been to Houston.. clostest i became was Oklahoma which was very nice. I am sure wherever you are you will do great thing and have lots of friends!!! I am so happy for you both.

  • April 10, 2010 - 6:18 AM

    Colette Wilber - Well that is amazing, so happy for you. I don’t beleive in the 2 years I lived in Texas i ever visited Houston, but if it is anything like San Antonio… It will be spread out alot more then NYC is! At least that’s what I remember from 32 years ago. I wouldn’t be surprised if you still see cattle there,lol. At least outside the city, but who knows maybe inside it too,lol.

    I really have been missing Texas alot the past few years and would go back down in a heart beat if I could talk your uncle into it. If just for a long visit. Maybe someday.
    Just make sure you check you shoes everyday before slipping them on and check your bed before climbing in. I’m sure someone will tell you that down there they did me and I am so glad they did.
    Be aware of black widows and scorpians and if you go to the country Rattlesnakes, I had a few run ins with all them, But other then a few reps and insects… it’s great down there!
    Nice and warm! Beautiful counrty! Beautiful people! Ok gotta stop thinking about it, starting to tear up and getting homesick.

    Maybe we will be able to come down for a visit sometime ?
    love ya,
    Aunt Coey

  • April 10, 2010 - 7:03 AM

    Kristen Padula =) - Oh my word!! Craziness! I am so happy for you both. Love you! =)

  • April 10, 2010 - 7:29 AM

    Missy Simpson - Any city that you are in will be a beautiful and better place just because YOU are there!!!! Congratulations Alyse and “May your pockets be heavy and your heart be light. May good luck pursue you each morning and night.”
    You will be missed!!
    The Simpson Family.

  • April 11, 2010 - 8:56 PM

    Alyse - @Ya’ll :) Thank you so much for your sweetness and support! We are thrilled!! XOXO!!

  • April 12, 2010 - 7:57 PM

    jenn spaeth - You’ll have to track down the ‘Oh My! Pocket Pies’ food truck in Houston. They are hand-stuffed pastries – both savory and sweet! http://www.ohmypocketpies.com/

  • April 13, 2010 - 5:32 PM

    April - OMG!! Alyse, I remember when you found that dead cow behind your house…I think we were on one of our Ghost Writer missions…I miss that show!!

  • April 13, 2010 - 5:35 PM

    Alyse - @April – Hahaha!! Yup!! I totally remember you and Clara stumbling across that dead cow with Lorae and I. I’m glad you remember it, because it was SUCH a strange experience, I thought I may have made it up. :)

  • May 2, 2010 - 5:44 PM

    Jenny - Came across your blog through Facebook. Totally in love with your pictures. I am a Houstonian. Welcome to TEXAS! LOL. No worries, THERE IS DEFINITELY COWS AROUND! The city hosts the annual Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo from about Mid February to Mid-March.. THERES COWS EVERYWHERE.. Its at the Reliant Stadium & Arena. ITS A MUST! My least favorite thing about Houston– TRAFFIC & CONSTRUCTION :( Boo for that. Rush hour begins about 4 pm ends about 8 pm. SUCKS! Shopping is great, Museums & Parks are great, food is great. Youll see more McDonalds here than anywhere else. & so many culturally-diverse people. Im sure youll love taking pictures downtown.. theres lil corners and places for great shots! Enjoy the city- ITS HUGE HUGE HUGE!!! & once again.. you are in TEXASSSSS now.. Everything is bigger in Texas :)