{"id":55885,"date":"2016-06-02T10:39:29","date_gmt":"2016-06-02T14:39:29","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/oliverands.com\/community\/?p=55885"},"modified":"2017-12-06T08:48:55","modified_gmt":"2017-12-06T13:48:55","slug":"flat-s-visits-houston","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/oliverands.com\/community\/blog\/2016\/06\/flat-s-visits-houston.html","title":{"rendered":"flat s visits houston"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><em>When we last heard from Flat S, she had just finished spending <a href=\"http:\/\/oliverands.com\/community\/blog\/2016\/05\/flat-s-has-a-kiwi-christmas.html\">Christmas in New Zealand<\/a>. We think with her recent journies around the globe she had become a little homesick for America, so she made a trip back to her native country.<\/em><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-medium wp-image-5985\" src=\"\/\/o.osimg.net\/community\/content\/uploads\/2013\/03\/flat-S-tour-logo-194x275.jpg\" alt=\"The Flat S Tour Logo\" width=\"194\" height=\"275\" srcset=\"\/\/o.osimg.net\/community\/content\/uploads\/2013\/03\/flat-S-tour-logo-194x275.jpg 194w, \/\/o.osimg.net\/community\/content\/uploads\/2013\/03\/flat-S-tour-logo-564x800.jpg 564w, \/\/o.osimg.net\/community\/content\/uploads\/2013\/03\/flat-S-tour-logo.jpg 1259w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 194px) 100vw, 194px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><em>Flat S made a brief stop in Houston to visit Soraia and family. Here&#8217;s a report from Soraia about what they did during Flat S&#8217;s visit. You can find out more about Soraia on her blog, <a href=\"http:\/\/sewhappysew.blogspot.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Sew Happy<\/a>.<br \/>\n<\/em><\/p>\n<p>Flat S arrived to Texas a few days after the Houston Rodeo! This is a major event in Houston, but don\u2019t be fooled, there is always a lot going on in this town that does not involve cowboys!<\/p>\n<p>Besides the rodeo, Houston is known for being hub for the oil and gas industry and has the biggest medical center in the world. Houston has become a very cosmopolitan city, as you can find people from all over the place.<\/p>\n<p>So, on her first trip to Texas, Flat S did not get to meet real Texans \u2026 instead she got to know a Portuguese family!<\/p>\n<p>The kids were thrilled with her visit and promptly decided they would take her to their favorite places in town.<\/p>\n<p>So, for our first visit we went to downtown to the Theatre District.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/oliverands.com\/community\/content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/1-1.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-55892\" src=\"\/\/o.osimg.net\/community\/content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/1-1-580x395.jpg\" alt=\"Flat S visits Houston\" width=\"580\" height=\"395\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Right next to the Theatre District, there is the Buffalo Bayou. Here, at the Preston Street Bridge, there is a mysterious red button that controls something very intriguing \u2013 a bubble of compressed air which shoots through the calm waters of Buffalo Bayou. very cool! Here you can see Teresa helping Flat S press the button.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/oliverands.com\/community\/content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/2-2.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-55893\" src=\"\/\/o.osimg.net\/community\/content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/2-2-580x395.jpg\" alt=\"Flat S visits Houston\" width=\"580\" height=\"395\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Still in downtown, we went to Sam Houston Park.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/oliverands.com\/community\/content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/3-2.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-55894\" src=\"\/\/o.osimg.net\/community\/content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/3-2-580x395.jpg\" alt=\"Flat S visits Houston\" width=\"580\" height=\"395\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>In this park, we can find a number of real historic buildings that have been preserved by the Heritage Society. The buildings are representative of many eras, from a pre-Texas revolution cabin to an 1891 church built by German and Swiss immigrants to a mansion built with all the conveniences available in 1905. The homes show us how diverse segments of society lived daily, from freed slaves building new lives for themselves to prosperous merchant families.<\/p>\n<p><!--more--><\/p>\n<p>Here is Flat S and Teresa at the \u201cFourth Ward Cottage\u201d. It is dated of 1858 and was built in a style suggestive of architectural ties to Acadian Louisiana.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/oliverands.com\/community\/content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/4-2.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-55895\" src=\"\/\/o.osimg.net\/community\/content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/4-2-580x395.jpg\" alt=\"Flat S visits Houston\" width=\"580\" height=\"395\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Yet, their favorite building was the \u201cThe Old Place\u201d: a rustic cabin built of rough-sawn cedar planks about 1823.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/oliverands.com\/community\/content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/5-2.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-55896\" src=\"\/\/o.osimg.net\/community\/content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/5-2-580x395.jpg\" alt=\"Flat S visits Houston\" width=\"580\" height=\"395\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/oliverands.com\/community\/content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/6-1.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-55887\" src=\"\/\/o.osimg.net\/community\/content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/6-1-580x395.jpg\" alt=\"Flat S visits Houston\" width=\"580\" height=\"395\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Next stop was the Museum District. Here we can find dozens of museums. Teresa\u2019s favorite Museum is the Museum of Fine Arts. Manuel\u2019s favorite is the Natural Science Museum, where we can see all the dinosaurs.<\/p>\n<p>After visiting the museums, we took Flat S to see the Centennial Gardens, which have recently opened. The gardens are beautiful and the kids (Flat S included) loved playing around.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/oliverands.com\/community\/content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/7-1.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-55888\" src=\"\/\/o.osimg.net\/community\/content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/7-1-580x785.jpg\" alt=\"Flat S visits Houston\" width=\"580\" height=\"785\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Since it was really hot that day, the kids decided to take their shoes and play in the gardens of the Herman Park. Here you can see Teresa and Flat S playing in the water fountain!<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/oliverands.com\/community\/content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/9-1.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-55890\" src=\"\/\/o.osimg.net\/community\/content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/9-1-580x791.jpg\" alt=\"Flat S visits Houston\" width=\"580\" height=\"791\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>One of the things we like most to do in the spring\/summer is to watch ballet or opera at the Miller Outdoor Theater. We just seat in the grass and see the wonderful shows put together by the Houston Ballet or the Houston Opera. They are amazing! The kids absolutely love this. Here is Teresa and Flat S at the Miller Outdoor Theater during the day. In the evening we went to see Sleeping Beauty (no photos are allowed).\u00a0 Did I mention that this is free?<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/oliverands.com\/community\/content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/8-1.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-55889\" src=\"\/\/o.osimg.net\/community\/content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/8-1-580x395.jpg\" alt=\"Flat S visits Houston\" width=\"580\" height=\"395\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Finally, the kids insisted that Flat S could not leave town without eating an artisan ice cream at our favorite place: Amy\u2019s Ice Cream.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/oliverands.com\/community\/content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/10-1.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-55891\" src=\"\/\/o.osimg.net\/community\/content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/10-1-580x851.jpg\" alt=\"Flat S visits Houston\" width=\"580\" height=\"851\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>We really enjoyed having Flat S with us. I hope that she loved it too and that she continues to have fun in her trips. I wonder where she will be next&#8230;.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>We have another update from Flat S today. She&#8217;s been spotted most recently back in the US, this time in Houston, TX.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":55892,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_bbp_topic_count":0,"_bbp_reply_count":0,"_bbp_total_topic_count":0,"_bbp_total_reply_count":0,"_bbp_voice_count":0,"_bbp_anonymous_reply_count":0,"_bbp_topic_count_hidden":0,"_bbp_reply_count_hidden":0,"_bbp_forum_subforum_count":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[20687],"tags":[85],"class_list":["post-55885","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-general","tag-flat-s"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/oliverands.com\/community\/content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/1-1.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p5jZS5-exn","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":10920,"url":"https:\/\/oliverands.com\/community\/blog\/2014\/05\/flat-s-spends-springtime-in-colorado.html","url_meta":{"origin":55885,"position":0},"title":"flat s spends springtime in colorado","author":"Todd Gibson","date":"May 5, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"We've just received another report on Flat S's journey. She's just spent some time enjoying early spring in Colorado with the Knowles family.","rel":"","context":"In &quot;general post&quot;","block_context":{"text":"general post","link":"https:\/\/oliverands.com\/community\/list\/general"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/oliverands.com\/community\/content\/uploads\/2014\/05\/After-the-Mint-Tour.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":59392,"url":"https:\/\/oliverands.com\/community\/blog\/2017\/01\/flat-s-pays-a-visit-to-sydney.html","url_meta":{"origin":55885,"position":1},"title":"flat s pays a visit to sydney","author":"Todd Gibson","date":"January 31, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"We have word from Flat S again as she continues her travels around the globe. She's just had a nice visit with Thao and family in Sydney where she witnessed a new world record being made.","rel":"","context":"In &quot;general post&quot;","block_context":{"text":"general post","link":"https:\/\/oliverands.com\/community\/list\/general"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/oliverands.com\/community\/content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/FlatSSydney.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":62269,"url":"https:\/\/oliverands.com\/community\/blog\/2017\/08\/flat-s-visits-the-netherlands.html","url_meta":{"origin":55885,"position":2},"title":"flat s visits the netherlands","author":"Rachel Le Grand","date":"August 16, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"We've heard from Flat S again as she continues her travels around the globe. She has just wrapped up a nice visit with Nelleke and family in The Netherlands. Here's a recap on what she did during her stay.","rel":"","context":"In &quot;general post&quot;","block_context":{"text":"general post","link":"https:\/\/oliverands.com\/community\/list\/general"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/oliverands.com\/community\/content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/FlatSNetherlands.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":6997,"url":"https:\/\/oliverands.com\/community\/blog\/2013\/06\/flat-s-arrives-in-the-united-kingdom.html","url_meta":{"origin":55885,"position":3},"title":"flat s arrives in the united kingdom","author":"Todd Gibson","date":"June 25, 2013","format":false,"excerpt":"Word is in that Flat S has been spotted in the United Kingdom. Here's a report about what she's been up to lately.","rel":"","context":"In &quot;general post&quot;","block_context":{"text":"general post","link":"https:\/\/oliverands.com\/community\/list\/general"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/oliverands.com\/community\/content\/uploads\/2013\/06\/HideNSeek.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":55237,"url":"https:\/\/oliverands.com\/community\/blog\/2016\/05\/flat-s-has-a-kiwi-christmas.html","url_meta":{"origin":55885,"position":4},"title":"flat s has a kiwi christmas","author":"Todd Gibson","date":"May 19, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"Today we're getting another report on Flat S's continuing travels. It turns out she spent Christmas in New Zealand.","rel":"","context":"In &quot;general post&quot;","block_context":{"text":"general post","link":"https:\/\/oliverands.com\/community\/list\/general"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/oliverands.com\/community\/content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/4-1.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":62722,"url":"https:\/\/oliverands.com\/community\/blog\/2017\/10\/flat-s-visits-ghent-and-bruges-belgium.html","url_meta":{"origin":55885,"position":5},"title":"flat s visits ghent and bruges, belgium","author":"Rachel Le Grand","date":"October 4, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"We\u2019ve heard from Flat S again as she continues her travels around the globe. She has just wrapped up a nice visit with Nele and family in Belgium. Here\u2019s a recap on what she did during her stay.","rel":"","context":"In &quot;general post&quot;","block_context":{"text":"general post","link":"https:\/\/oliverands.com\/community\/list\/general"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/oliverands.com\/community\/content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/Belgium.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]}],"amp_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/oliverands.com\/community\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/55885","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/oliverands.com\/community\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/oliverands.com\/community\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/oliverands.com\/community\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/oliverands.com\/community\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=55885"}],"version-history":[{"count":8,"href":"https:\/\/oliverands.com\/community\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/55885\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":63547,"href":"https:\/\/oliverands.com\/community\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/55885\/revisions\/63547"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/oliverands.com\/community\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/55892"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/oliverands.com\/community\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=55885"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/oliverands.com\/community\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=55885"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/oliverands.com\/community\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=55885"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}