Tuesday, March 18, 2008

Still Austin, TX

Look at what has popped up in Austin!!! Lining the freeways and adorning the meadows, Texas's best features are showing themselves at long last! The Almighty Texas Bluebonnet. Texas' grace in floral form. These were also taken over the weekend of March 8th, when Crystal was in town.
Makes even the greyest day a delight. I really enjoy this picture of Crystal taken beside the highway because it appears to me that she has sprouted from the bluebonnets, and this is how cowgirls are actually born. Fun thought!

The rickety old white fences defining the ranches brought out my desire to strap on my boots, throw on my cowboy hat, and imagine all that I surveyed was mine. If you look closely, you can see the gazebo and red barn in the background amidst the stately (presumed) oak trees. Special thanks to Crystal of takeing the pictures of me.
We kept swapping cameras so that we would have equal amounts of pictures of each other on each camera. Too often, you get back from a trip, and upon reviewing your pictures, realize that you had no pictures of yourself! Many pictures of where you were and who you were with, but none of you, which, of course, are the ones your family and other friends wanted to see in the first place. Solution: give your friends your camera and borrow theirs frequently.
Crystal is such a good sport, posing at the side of a rather busy highway. She is so photogenic, and is perfectly smashing in a cowboy hat. The bluebonnets seem to have bloomed specifically to take a peek at Crystal and dance at being able to be photographed with her.


I love this shot that Crystal took. It gives great perspective as to the sea I felt I was in of bluebonnets.

Getting low, practically laying down, makes for such great photos. I feel you can capture the sould of the blooms.

I also enjoy this candid pose of Crystal. She seems so focused and poised. She fits in so seamlessly.
I felt as though I could have floated away.

Can you just imagine that this is the entry way into your ranch? Unbelievable. You can really see the temper of the clouds in this picture. It is as though the sky was urped that the ground had stolen it's rich blues and sealed the hue in flower form.
We made some friends along the way. They were glad to have someone to sniff. Quite friendly chaps.
The brilliant greens the ponys had to nibble upon was terrific.


And last, but not least, the entry gate to the "mansion" I would have enjoyed to be a guest of. Course, 'round here, they just call it home.
Ranch hardly begins to describe it.
It's good to be me when the bluebonnets are in bloom.

Monday, March 17, 2008

Happy St. Patrick's Day!!!!

I hope you are wearing your green today!!!
Hart did his best to celebrate with us, definately made for a cute decoration...

What Irish decendant American doesn't have "traditional" corned beef, cabbage and potatoes for supper? (On a note though, the entire time I was in Ireland, I couldn't find corned beef or cabbage to save my soul. Or mutton for that matter. Lots of beans, boiled tomatoes and blood sausage though.)

Me parents! The luck o' the Irish gave me two good 'uns.

Daddy enjoying his Guinness. "Guinness is good for you," so the signs in Ireland told me. What you can't see is him hiding the New Castle, an English beer, under the table since we only had one Guinness to share between 3 of us. Bad planning on our part.

Arrrrrr!!!! It be St. Patrick's Day! Pirate Day!!!! Sure. Why not? It's not even Thurrrrsssday yet, but this is Houston and they have done a heck of a job messing up what St. Patrick's Day is. All the people in the crowd of the St. Paddy's Day parade Mom and I went to were waving American flags (not Ireland) and very few wore green. They must still be stuck on Mardi Gras, since all the floats were throwing beads at us, and not just green ones either. Luckily, I did not see any flashing, just cheers of "Beads! Beads!!!" and lots of, what's the PC way of saying it? Not freckled, green eyed or pale skinned people. Think dark skin, burritos, and jerry curls. I think Mom and I were the only ones, uh, like ourselves. Ahem.


I didn't feel the Irish love. If anything, I was more afraid. I think they lynched this Leprechaun. Can you see it hanging from the roof of the truck? Shudder!!! Let's just say Mom and I didn't stick around for the rest of it. Them Texans were getting roudy. For beads.


This morning, Mom and I took our Zoomba class, a combination of salsa, mambo, and whatever else our mainly spanish speaking instructor decides to make us sweat to. This morning, she had on green tights, a tied up green shirt with golden yellow brickabrack, and an alien looking shamrock head band. The assistant instructor showed up with a Canadian Roots jacket. So confusing.
In between cha-cha-cha, she threw in about 3 irish dance songs, complete with the straight arms and dancing on toes. Go figure. I'm going to try out the "local pub" tonight. We shall see if we can get this St. Patrick's Day straightened out. If not, I'm going to go over to the Mexican food shop instead.

I've got my "Kiss me, I've been to Ireland" shirt on, with my green hair tie, green socks, "Lucky" shamrock tattoo (temporary, of course) on, and, after a shower, will be putting on my "Irish Luck" green panties. Too much information, I know, but since I'm not showing them off to anyone, I figured I would share with you! No pictures! I promise!!!!

Happy St. Patrick's Day everyone!!!! It's good to be me, and the Luck o' the Irish to ye today and everyday!!!!


Saturday, March 15, 2008

What a lovely scene for a wedding! What do you know! It is a wedding!
Here comes the Bride!

These were taken just outside of Austin, Texas, on Saturday, March 8th, 2008. So I'm a few days behind in posting. My bad! The bride is a family friend of Crystals. She looked so lovely in her gown. My mother especially loves the sleeves. Long time since we have have seen sleeves on brides. They looked stunning.



Of course, Crystal and I shined too! This picture above is of Crystal on the front porch of the historic mansion where the wedding took place. The porch wrapped around the whole house, adding to its charm.

There was a little chapel looking building that actually served as the food preparation area for the reception, although you would never know it looking at it. So quaint.

For you history buffs out there. Unfortunately, I do not take much joy in reading signs describing the past and why a particular place is being honored. I do enjoy signs that are amusing. Like duck crossings when the ducks are wearing hula hoops and such.

These 2 pictures are repeated on my mom's blog, so you are correct in your deja vous feelings.

Yeah, we rocked the hat look. I claimed "Vintage" and Crystal went "French Country." We got so many complements! Weddings truly are the perfect place to wear a hat. As are museum outings. But we shall get to that later!

I daresay, a goodtime was had by all.

And if and when I do actually go through with a wedding, all guests will be encouraged to wear hats. Everyone truly does look good in one or another! (but no, on my wedding day, I won't be wearing one, just in case you are wondering. Sorry Mom!)
It is good to be me, and I really do enjoy weddings and other opportunities to dress up!


Tuesday, March 11, 2008

A challenge

Today is Tuesday, which means by the time most people read this, it may very well be Wednesday. All the more reason. Wednesdays can be so drab, or disheartening.
So, in light of that, (and an upcoming spring...) I am putting a challenge out there in all of blogger land!
The challenge, should you choose to accept it, is to brighten someone's day. Vague, I know, so I shall specify. Brighten someone's day. Leave a comment on each and every person's blog you read today. Thank them. Encourage them. Build them up. Complement them. Make your comment be a bright spot in their day and aim for a plastering a smile on their face or a laugh in their heart.
Write a letter to at least one friend telling them what a great friend they have been. Tell them why you are glad they are your friend. Tell them what they have accomplished that you are proud of them for. Could be simple, (you get up so early and make sure your kids have their lunches ready for them.) or complex (you finished your doctorate degree, flew to 3rd world countries, and discovered the cure to cancer).
Everyone loves to get a hand written note in the mail, especially amongst all the "not-fun" mail we all get.
So that's the challenge. Extra props to everyone who goes even farther than that.
The point is to brighten someones day. Or everyone's day. Hey! Why not! It's good to be me because of people like you who indulge me, and look for ways to bless others too.

Monday, March 10, 2008

Austin

Ah, Austin! The local folk weren't so impressed with me. These guys were hanging out by the side of the freeway coming in from Houston. I could almost hear them snort, "Eh. City slickers."
So I dressed up to fit right in. Texas sunsets are pretty good. Different from the usual sunset over the ocean like I am used to. Makes for a pretty good backdrop though.

I was in Austin for Crystal's friends wedding. These pictures were from the rehearsal dinner the night before. Kind of different, seeing as how most everyone there was dressed like cowboys and cowgirls, yet everyone was from San Diego.


Crystal and I took the opportunity to look our best in our Country attire.

I had to figure out a way to show off my brand new cowboy boots and hat. These two shots did the trick!

Yee Haw, y'all!






Tuesday, March 04, 2008

Come fly with me....

Back to being in Texas. This year the Heli-Expo was held in downtown Houston. The Heli-expo is an international helicopter convention, and all the big name helicopter companies were there. Of course, I, maybe like you, didn't know any of them. Nor did I know how varied helicopters really were. I was thoroughly impressed! I am sure you are all wondering why I went to a heli-expo. Yeah, I would too. My friend Janitha is a helicopter flight instructor. So she let me join her in her adventures. Thank You Janitha!!!!



The helicopter below was the "all impressive" Euro-copter. Bigger than life, I tell you!!! It could hold about 20 people or more. Apparently they had an unveiling of it earlier with all the drama that goes with an unveiling. There was smoke, special effects, da-da-DAAAAA kind of music and everything. Very, very cool.




















Wow. Thick manual. Glad I don't have to read it. Hope the pilots actually do....




A "vintage" helicopter.























Way cool. It's good to be me and have helicopter adventures. Thanks for flying the friendly skies with me!










Monday, March 03, 2008

Happy Birthday Grams!!!



I wish I could be there with you on your birthday, but it sounds like you had a wonderful start to the your birthday morning!

Your tenderness and dedication to your garden have produced so many beautiful flowers, and I enjoy spending time with you there.


The music you make permeates your home and echos soothingly in my memories.


I love you, and hope you have a splendid birthday and joyful next year.


Happy birthday!