Family Day in Dallas

Jen called a couple of days ago to say that their exchange student, Leon, wanted a day of shopping in Dallas before he returns home this month.  That means a day of family for us.  Woot woot!!  We don't get to see this crew near often enough anymore.  They all have such busy lives.  It's land of the giants and a LOT of testosterone on the front porch.  Hello boys.

Red Hat Birthday Celebration

May is the birthday season for me.  It's also the birthday for our local chapter of Red Hatters, The Big D Re-Gals.  The chapter is Sweet Sixteen.  How fun.  As I'm sitting her noodling this post, I have come up with my own version of Ringo Starr's song You're Sixteen:  Cue the music -

You came on like a dream

Red, purple and bling

Shining like bright stars

You're sixteen, you're beautiful and you're ours

You're all glitter and hats

Giggles and chat

Lunches lasting for hours

You're sixteen, you're beautiful and you're ours.

You're our baby, you're our pet

We fell in love on the day we met

Cynthia started it all, we joined along

And now we are over twenty Re-Gals strong

You walked into our lives, full of surprise

Now our hats boxes tower

You're sixteen you're beautiful and you're ours. 

College Graduation for Bob

I am leaving retreat super early this morning as my nephew is graduating from college in Dallas today.  That means I am beating the sun.  Yay!  Not.  We were up late last night enjoying the last night at Brazos until October.  It was a short night, for sure.

As I'm driving, the sun starts to rise.  I love these moments so very much.

Baby Blessing Bliss

It's EARLY on Saturday morning as I leave Rainbow, TX and the quilt retreat behind.  I am making a very fast trip to Utah and back for my new grandson's blessing.  As I drive, the sun is trying to rise but the clouds are super low, making a surreal landscape for me to journey through.

France - Day 8 & 9 - Paris and Travel Home

Oh dang.  It's technically our last day of vacation.  It always stinks when this day comes around.  I want to keep going.  Can I stomp my feet and scream?  Will anyone care?  Well, get up Mister -- let's get as many hours our of the day as we can.

Our path takes us down the same street as the other day and one of the things in Europe that I simply love is the small shops that people visit daily.  Since we are in BNB's, our rooms have been people's homes.  We have seen how small the kitchens and refrigerators are.  It's obvious that they shop often and the stores back that up.  I LOVE the specialties too ---- pastries, produce, meat, bread, etc.  We have passed stores such as these each day, but today I will share my view.

France - Day 7 - Paris

Good morning Paris!!  We are not sleeping in today.  The agenda is FULL and I'm hoping to check a few things off the list.  We have one "have to" be at a certain time, but other than that ---- let's put the walking shoes on.  I have opted for a dress and sandals today.  Why?  Because it is Paris.  Isn't that enough of a reason?  Starting out, we pass a juice shop and, oh my, that sounds great.  I get a lovely "smoothie" and we are once again on our way.  The first stop is the metro and then off to Notre-Dame.   See, the dress works.  Hello Metro.

France - Day 6 - Lyon and Travel to Paris

Rise and Shine!  We only have 1/2 a day left here and so much still to do.  We are packed and ready to go around noon, but for now -- it's straight to the funicular and up to Fourviere Hill.

Crossing the bridge first thing is wonderful.  Look around.  Do you see anyone?  For a city of 400,000 people it never feels crowded at all.  I simply adore it here.

The funicular will take us most of the way up but we have just been informed that it is not working for the second half and we need to find a bus up there.  No worries, we can do this.