Mom's 80th Birthday Trip - Days 1-3

If you have been following this blog, you know that was at the airport saying good-bye to grands yesterday.  Well, I'm on the way back there today.  It's the start of my trip to Montana to spend time with my mother and sister along with celebrating my mother's 80th birthday.  Mister has to work today so I'm taking DART and standing here waiting.  My carry-on contains my mystery quilt so that I can finish the binding while up there -- in addition to about another 10 pounds.  It is HEAVY but necessary.  So many upcoming deadlines.    My flight is on time which is amazing as Dallas was hit with tornadoes last night and one would think that everything would be halted.  I am flying out of DFW instead of Love Field, which is the only reason all is going well.  It's so sad as many of our beloved places are totally wiped out.  I settle in and am soon saying farewell to Texas for a bit.  My flight is a bit odd --- the first stop is in El Paso.  That's a new one for me.  It's not a very long stay, but enough to switch to Alaska Airlines (from American) and find a set of ear buds that I have buried in my suitcase.  Movie time ahead.

Fall Time With Hyrum and Zyra - Days 3-5

With only a few days to play together, we are going to jam the days as best we can.  Today's request includes the Children's Garden/Arboretum so after making eggs with Grandpa, we are dressed and out of the house.  It's time for some beauty and fun.  Beauty first.  Simply lovely.

Fall Time With Hyrum and Zyra - Days 1-2

It's been a minute since two of our grandchildren have come to visit.  That means it's a happy day for Mister and I.  After a crazy busy morning trying to get everything ready, I am at the gate waiting . . .

Happy 9th Anniversary!!

Nine Years!!!  I can hardly believe it.  It just doesn't seem possible, but the calendar does not lie.  We have been married for one year shy of a decade.  Crazy.

It's just kind of another day.  My sweetie is working and I'm working feverishly on my annual quilt mystery along with the mundane stuff of life.  At some point, Mister tells me that we have dinner reservations for the evening.  Yay!!!  On the way, he shares that it is something new.  Even better.

Our stop is at Yoshi --- a Shabu-shabu restaurant.  If you are like me, you have no idea what that means, but let me tell you --- it's a blast.  Come along and feed your eyes.  Shabu-shabu is a Japanese hotpot dish of thinly sliced meat and vegetables boiled in water and served with dipping sauces.  The term in onomatopoeic, derived from the sound emitted when the ingredients are stirred in the cooking pot (i.e. swish-swish).  The food is cooked piece by piece by the diner at the table.  As we are seated, this is what our table looks like.  The large square is a burner and the pot has water and a small piece of seaweed in it.

Swim Meet, Breweries, Packing

Spending time with my daughter and grands today makes perfect sense to me.  I need happiness and joy for a bit.  The first swim meet of the year is in Keller and that's a new area for Mister and I.  We are up and out bright and early to meet Jen and Louis for breakfast first.

With food in our bellies, a walk over to the center and finding seats is next.  It's a chance to visit and catch up as even though we live in the same state, we don't get to see each other very often and I treasure these moments.

I've taken videos of the races, but Mister has all the still shots and he's even further behind than me in going through pictures.  It's been one of those months.  I'll add the pictures as soon as I can.

Jared Team Medley -- I didn't record the other team members and even got a late start with Jared

Keeping Our Minds Busy - History, Beer, and Food

The plan for today was changed and we absolutely need to be doing SOMETHING.  Hanging around the house is not a good plan so, after my sweetheart's doctor appointment, we are just going.  Where?  Not real sure, but somewhere.

As we are driving, Mister remembers a place we had talked about going last month -- Farmers Branch Historical Park.  It's not too far and we are soon walking the grounds.   Out front there is a windmill.  The history is that Mrs. Judy Byrd donated it to the Historical park which was originally located on Keenan Bridge Road, about 2 miles from the Historical Park and was the last working windmill in Farmers Branch.  In is a Dempster No. 12 Annu Oiled and was originally manufactured in Beatrice, Nebraska.  The Dempster Mill Manufacturing Company first opened up it's doors in 1885, and continues to manufacture windmills today.  the No. 12 was first introduced in 1922 and is still in production.  It's most popular feature was that it is a self oiling, back geared, steel pumping windmill which only required the owner to lubricate the gears once a year, rather than a more frequent oiling that other windmills required.  The Dempster windmill must have been an unusual sight on the Byrd property, as the majority of windmills in the area were Aeromotors, which could be purchased through an agent in Fort Worth.

Music in the Garden and PUMPKINS!!

The last two days have just been so hard.  Going walking surrounded by beauty and listening to music seems as though it may lift our hearts a bit and help to revive our ability to continue with all that must be done.  The Dallas Arboretum has a special members-only event tonight and we are going to just enjoy.  Not only do we have the chance to hear the music throughout the gardens, but Autumn at the Arboretum is never to be missed.  I do so love this time of year.