Second Half of Sunday With Min

Mindy is such a wonderful and unique individual. The world around her is just better and different somehow. When we go places together we just notice things differently. I bet I've passed giant wrestler blow-up dolls on building rooves a million times, but they suddenly become interesting when we are out driving together!



What's more there really are things out there when I am with her that aren't there otherwise. I never saw this guy before. He played up a storm as cars went by, but as soon as they passed he would stop. I gather he wasn't really into it for the music!




Mindy has already detailed oour trip to the spooky church, but that isn't the only interesting thing we found together. While we were driving around the Heights waiting for it to pour we noticed this interesting place. The gate had irregular holes cut in it...



but what drew us to it were the gigantic horns on either side of the driveway.



The sign above the door of the house read "Museum of the Weird"



As you can tell, Mindy had a certain interest in the place. You can't really see the details of the fascinating and unusual objects in the yard, but each was unique and had its own aura. We rang the doorbell (I wasn't about to make the same mistake we made by not trying to enter Spooky Baptist Church.) A woman in a wheel chair became barely visible behind the gorgeous metal door.



The Houston Press described the place as follows:

'Local artist Dolen Smith transformed his home into the Museum of the WeirD. Guests will see found objects and artworks inside and out, including a photo booth, a giant wasp nest and a creepy-sounding "Gazebo of Scars."'

What! I missed the Gazebo of Scars!!

The Austin Chronicle says this :

MUSEUM OF THE WEIRD is a new Sixth Street homage to the dime museums of P.T. Barnum's day. It features a slew of curiousities, including a fiji mermaid, a two-headed chicken, and some shrunken heads. Lucky Lizard Curios & Gifts, 412 E. Sixth, 476-5493. $3 ($1, kids under 12).

Spacetaker.org says:

info
The Museum of weirD is a pleasant place to spend an afternoon. Jolly creatures crafted from scrap populate the yard. Well, okay, jolly or possibly winsome and mildly tragic — but isn't that a state to strive for? The Gazebo of Scars, the Dark Room, the Pet Columbarium, and the baptismal stock tank are also outdoors.

Museum of weirD is open by appointment, and occasionally to drop-in guests. But stay out of Dogtown - that's private.

Want more? Here's the website!



It turns out Dolen Smith loves to show visitors around, but because the woman we were talking to (behind the iron screen) was recovering from surgery he had lent her his one level house so she could get around in her wheel chair. The museum would not be open again until later in July. I was crushed and immediately started plotting my return.



When I got back into the car I noticed that weird was all around! This is my sister's knitting (Or at least that is what she says). I notice that it has been with us everywhere and it (cue spooky music) NEVER GETS ANY BIGGER!



Personally I think it is a breeding ground for aliens. I know you saw the movie with the POD people




Well, that was a good day! Time to eat at the local mexican restaurant. Can you see the satisfaction in our eyes? What's on for tomorrow?




By the way The Museum of the Weird is mentioned on this web site and it has some people weighing in on whether Houston is cool or not. It has many suggestions of places to visit including the Museum of Funerary History. MINDY!!! Let's go!