Dallas Bluebonnets

Ohh Emmm Geee --- I so love the beauty that the state flower of Texas provides each spring.  Thank you Lady Bird Johnson.  Our state is a plethora of color each year due to your efforts.

For the rest of you --- enjoy:

Mister's Camera at the Zoo

Oh my gosh --- it's a gorgeous morning and I want to walk again.  Mister wants to put his camera to use and thus the choice is made.  Early morning member admission to the Zoo and the opportunity for some wonderful pictures.

When we arrive, we discover that they are doing a special presentation with a few of the "ambassador" animals so that is our first stop.  Oooh, oooh, oooh -- a beautiful barn owl.

Utah Days 5&6

It's a shopping day.  I love that when I visit, we always get to have a shopping day for Miss Ophelia.  Cass had bought quite a bit already so we went through to determine what else was needed and if anything could be returned.  Once the decisions were made last night, we are off and running this morning.  The mall is handing out bunny ears and coloring books, so once we have Oph's new dresses/hat in hand and the returns have been made, she is treated.

Utah Days 3&4

It's another beautiful day and we are heading up to the cabin for a little getaway.  Kaylene is driving so I take up residency in the back seat with Ophelia.  Isn't she styling?  We talk and play games the whole way there -- oh, and eat goldfish, of course.

Paul and Scott have arrived before us, so the fires are already going and oh my goodness I do love that warmth.  Nothing else can warm the backside like a roaring fire.  It feels so nice.

Ophelia is watching Daddy get the four wheeler ready for a ride.  She can't wait to get on the "mo-mo".  

Utah Days 1&2

Happy St. Patrick's Day!!!!  Yes, we are all wearing green as our "ode" to St. Patrick.  Do you know why we wear green?  It's representative of the shamrock that St. Patrick used when trying to explain the concept of deity - the Godhead.  This explanation greatly help him in his efforts of conversion in Ireland.  This day of honor actually falls on his death day.  A bit odd as most of the time when someone is remembered, the day of honor is placed on their birthday.  A little known tidbit is that originally "blue" was associated with St. Patrick, green came along later.  Okay, enough with the history ---

I am the first one awake and hear Miss Ophelia in her room so I sneak in and close the door quietly, letting Cassie get some additional sleep.  We read books and play with her fabric "paper" doll that I gave her before she asks to go and color.  Coloring it is.  Apparently I must color too but at breakneck speed.  The moment my color touches the page, it is time to turn to another one.  As a result, EVERY page as a bit colored on it and no pages are finished.  Okay, now that I know the rules for the coloring books, let's try some plain paper.  Here, we are allowed to draw a week bit longer and I take advantage to make a memory page that we can both look back on.  Ah, fun times.

Traveling to Utah

I have an evening flight to Salt Lake City and guess what?  I am chasing the sun the entire time.  For a 2 1/2 hour flight, I watched the sunset.  I didn't do ANYTHING else.  (I know they are taken through a window, but dang they are sweet still.)

Winter is Leaving -- It's Spring!!

I love looking out the back door and seeing green everywhere.  Then, add in a bit of color and I'm in heaven.  The iris', garlic, and blackberries are starting to come around.

Jackson Pollock at the DMA

It's a date day!!!! Squeeeaaalll.  I have been away from my sweetie for quite awhile and just want a wandering around, enjoy each other day.  We are off to the DMA for the Jackson Pollock exhibit.  Take a peek at our eye candy.

Days at Jen's

After Bekah's cotillion, Mister transferred all of my "stuff" (i.e. - suitcase, carry-on, AND all the sewing things I had him put in the trunk before he left to join me in Colorado) into Jen's van and we left to find a hotel while my sweetie made the journey back home to relax a day before work starts again.  Yes, I am still on the road even though I am actually back in Texas and was literally in the metroplex for about 1/2 an hour.  Oh my.

After a good night's sleep, we are on the road again.  Off to Abilene.  My sweet daughter is camped out in the middle seat totally surrounded by the plans that Bekah received last night while Bekah is in the far back, packed in with all of her grandmother's "stuff", more plants, and a big white dress.  Yep, she's happy.  We arrive at the house a few hours later and the first thing Bekah does is show me her car.  Woohoo.  I am so happy for her.  However, for now -- it is time to clean and organize for the week.  We get Jen off to bed while the boys and I tackle the downstairs of the house.  Soon, we are in ship shape and ready to prepare for school tomorrow.  I am ready for some sleep as well.

It's Monday (Leap Day) and once the school drop-offs are finished, Jen is feeling up to a quick trip to get some supplies for decorating the soccer lockers.  We find some golden stars, purple feathers and ribbon, and some M@M's to work with.  I also suggest that I can make some kleenex holders for the girls so we make a short pit stop at Hancock's and pick up some fabric.  Now to get Jen back to bed and me to the sewing machine.



A couple of hours later, I have the tissue holders ready and Jen is awake and ready to help put the locker decorations together.  Then, it's off to the school to get everything ready before doing the school pick-up and deliveries all over again.

At this point, somehow my camera has gone into hiding.  What's up with that?  No pics for tonight.  Louis and I take Bekah's non-starting (which apparently has happened A LOT) car to get it fixed and we just have leftovers for dinner from all the delicious meals that have been dropped off here the past week or so.  Nice and easy.  Homework and bed.

 
 It's another day and after drops, I settle in with getting my retreat projects drawn and ironed onto the wool while doing laundry and visiting with Jen while she is awake.  After that -- just regular life.  I'm loving the time with Jen --- so fun to be able to see her every day.

Wednesday is here.  Wow -- the week is already half over.  Today is finish laundry, clean patio, shop for soccer dinner tomorrow, cut and kit up retreat projects, and let Jen have the honor of making the prototype for me.  It actually all gets done.  Are we good or what.  AND --- Jen spent the majority of the day in bed resting still.  Yep.  Teamwork.  (Doesn't Jen's leprechaun look good?)
 

It's Thursday and that means the soccer dinner is tonight.  Once I have all the drop-offs finished, it's time to clean up my sewing mess and rearrange the dining room to feed everyone.  I'm still plugging along at the laundry (oh goodness, now I remember what it was like when I had five of my own running around the house) but am down to 2 loads a day now -- just the regular stuff.  We bake brownies, prepare condiments for burgers and brats, open bags of chips, and make lemonade just as the barrage hits.  Eighteen lovely young ladies full of smiles and energy.  It feels good to do this again.  These are the things I miss now that all my children are grown.  (Meanwhile, the teen boys have relocated to the garage to play games, except for the piano solo by Jon which is requested by the girls.)

Doesn't my granddaughter look happy here?

Unlike these ladies, who look like they are enjoying themselves completely.

At one point, they all go up to Bekah's room where she treats them to a rare drum performance and I am incredibly jealous as I stand at the bottom of the stairs to listen.  Ahh, sure wish she would play for me but apparently I am intimidating.  Or something.

It's the end of another day.  The mess is cleaned up and everyone is happy.  Night.

Friday - It's my last day and I am trying to let Jen rest as much as possible.  She did a bit too much yesterday with the party and all.  I, once again, have created a wonderful sewing mess.  I really want to finish the back to a quilt and with some furry help, I accomplish just that.  What a little sweetie.  She decided that the selvages from my fabric were the perfect play toy.  That is, when she wasn't sitting on my fabric trying to stop me from measuring.  Jen and I make a trip to pick up Bekah's car, which is hopefully fixed correctly this time, as a surprise to her.

Our evening entertainment is Bekah's soccer game.  When we arrive, they are handing out shirts and I score on one.  Fun for me -- it has her name on it.  The first thing I see when I enter the stadium is:

Just before the game starts, the sign is taken down and I get a chance to see the back of it.

I'm not sure I understand that one, but it's great that they are there.  Especially since there are very few signs at all.  She is the back-up goalie this year making her playing time minimal; but tonight I am lucky as she is indeed in the game. 

 

The game ends well with a win and afterwards, I take her fixed car over to her - earning me smiles and "best Gammy" accolades.  Well, plus I gave her money for food.  Yes, bribery works.

I am heading home in the morning as Mister is coming to get me.  I have only two days to prepare for retreat and Jen will be joining me there for another 4 days of rest.  As I go to sleep, I look over at Jared.  He is determined to watch his movie first.  What do you think?  Night all.