Two Gypsies

Lisa and I met at Hillary's on Sunday, July 18. We loaded up in the Black Honda and sped away, stopping immediately at Sonic to load up on caffeine! We headed out of Waco towards East Texas....promising each other we would stop whenever and where ever we wanted to stop!

By the time we got to Corsicana we were beginning to feel hunger pains....the almonds and walnuts we had been snacking on weren't quite as filling as these two traveling gypsies needed. We stopped at Collins Street Bakery with high hopes of a delicious sandwich and maybe some of the baked cookies that lined the glass shelves. However, after waiting 45 minutes on Lisa's sandwich (they lost the order!), we left the joint with heavy hearts. They did take half off our sandwiches and a bag of cookies that no one else wanted.

Ruby joined us along the way. She was too much for us at times and we had to put her in the trunk!

We picked these two fellas up to keep Ruby company, but had to let them out down the road because they had horrific gas.

Soon the rolling hills turned to piney woods....tall trees towering over us like skyscrapers...and the highway turned to a red brick road.....and there we found Richie and Linda's apartment!

It was great to see them! We went to eat at Jason's Deli....wonderful as always. It makes me feel like I didn't eat too much when I eat all their fresh, organic food. I stuffed myself with all the makings of a salad, organic humus....pudding sprinkled with granola....Full of good food, we returned to Richie and Linda's house to laugh at facebook and all the events in our lives! We climbed into bed....it was just like going to a bed and breakfast. The bed was soft and covered in a white down comforter...just perfect until a few minutes after turning out the light, we were blinded by a bright fluorescent light, similar to a UFO shining in the window. The television had come on for about 5 seconds and scared the peewadins out of us!

After a good night's sleep, we headed to LaPorte to visit with Larry and Margaret Ann. It was wonderful to see them. We puttered around the backyard and laughed about our memories of Mother. It never failed that after a visit to Larry's, Mother would go home to West Texas with the goodies she had taken from their tropical backyard paradise and try to plant them in that hard red dirt in her hot, dry backyard!

Notice the mailbox...it came from Mother and Daddy's house in Anson! And then notice the Christmas lights on their back porch.....leftovers from a Christmas party! They loved them so much they left them up!

Supper was a typical bay side dish.....shrimp boil! We could have fed a dozen more! It was wonderful!

On the way home....we made a quick trip to IKEA! We browsed the top floor and then finally found the IKEA cafe! We loaded up on coffee and Ballerina cookies! Neither of us will be ballerinas after the amount of food we ate on our trip!

As Ruby says, "Folks...I can guarantee you....we had a wonderful time! But now....On the Road again....Like a band of gypsies we go down the highway....We're the best of friends...Insisting that the world keep turning our way...and our way!"

Hey Cupcakes!

It takes a lot of car seats and patience to buckle up FIVE precious pieces of cargo!!!!!
Now...Let the wild rumpus begin!!!!!
What happens with Nana....stays with Nana!!!

Steak and Shake was delish!!!! Personally, I did not stay on any sort of healthy diet during my stay in Austin!

Waiting for the bats to fly!!!!

Denton would rather be snoozing, but Madilyn ready for the flight!

It was great to have Lisa and my niece, Bonnie to help hold a hand....Five kids....Five adults....it was definitely helpful...We felt like we had played a basketball game that night....the Kids won!!!! They may have been little, but they were feisty!

Hi!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Before this happy picture....Hillary had to jump in after Madilyn! I walked in to find Hillary's shorts and t-shirt dripping wet....Madilyn decided to go into the pool WITHOUT her floaties and Hillary decided to go in WITHOUT changing into her swimsuit first! Maddie wore her floaties after realizing she couldn't "walk in the pool" like Denver and Averi!

Denton....3 weeks and Tristin....9 1/2 months! Wow...what a difference a few months makes...as well as a few meals!!!

Nana crew! Averi, Denver, Madilyn, Tristin, and Denton....

hey cupcake! on Congress Ave.....amazing cupcakes BUT, I suggest you go at night or during the winter months to avoid the heat that reflects from that shiny trailer!!! Wow it was hot!
You might want to take a new box of Wet Wipes because you will have icing all over your face and hands.....it would be convenient if they offered a shower afterwards!

Kevin joined us for this excursion!










What an amazing time I had! Let me just say, it was much easier to travel back in the "olden" days....we spent 50% of our time unbuckling and buckling car seats!!! Since Cari lives in Buda, I took Hillary and Denton to her house to stay. I wanted to stay at Hampton Inn with Denver, Averi and Madilyn so they could swim and be loud and jump on the beds in the motel room. Luckily this motel had a rule...Rule 32823 You can only jump on the bed between 6:00 p.m and 7:00 p.m. The kids were great....they all took turns pushing the button on the elevator (they chose the floor we could stay on...which was 4...I'm sure they would have chosen 9 if they had offered it to us!). They also took turns helping me with the key-card. Lisa and Bonnie came to join our fun and after a swim, we headed to Steak and Shake for supper before heading to the Congress Bridge to watch the bats. The bats were not cooperative at all and didn't start leaving on their nightly flight until after dark...so we couldn't see as much as we wanted. We stopped by Amy's Ice Cream for a late night snack....sooo good! We didn't get to tour the Capitol, but I promised them we would go back during August for that. Nana sorta got lost on the way to the Capitol and the kids sorta fell asleep on our way. So we settled for a slushie! And of course, we stopped by hey cupcake! on our way home and it was fabulous! I'm ready for another trip....well, not today. I need to take a few naps and do a few pushups before I take them all again!

Contacts

Okay...so I'm as old as..well...let's just say I'm over half a century (ouch). For some weird reason, I decided I should try contact lenses. Today was my first day. I had to go for a "tutorial" and it was embarrassing. I nearly failed. I know I frustrated the he!! out of the poor "tutor". I could not get the fricking contact in my left eye. I got the right contact in after three tries. But, OMG, I could not get in the left. I wanted to cry. I was so mad at myself. I know the lady that was helping me was thinking "This is the oldest woman in the world to come in and try to wear contacts. As old as she is, surely she can get the darn thing in her eye." I know I heard those words come out of her! I know she felt the same way I do when I try to teach a third grader how to explain multiplication and they can't! "Sweetheart, can you show me with your tiles how you multiply 5 x 2?" For some reason, they can't show me! "Honey, make five groups of two" and they come up with two groups of four. It drives me crazy and this is what I was doing to this lady today. She kept telling me to open my eye when I was putting the contact in, but my eyelids would not cooperate....at all. It is abnormal to keep your eye open when your finger is headed toward it! After about 15 attempts, I finally got the lefty in....I was elated and then she told me to take them out and do it all over again. I obeyed, unwillingly. And I finally got the hang of it. However, I had no makeup left under my eyes and I had wiped half of my eye shadow off. I looked like a clown...an OLD clown. I wore them for the prescribed 5 hours and I was able to get them out without calling 911! Mission accomplished...now we'll see about tomorrow!

Out of Shape/Signs of Aging

I am so out of shape! It hit me this morning when I awoke to sore legs....I'm sad to say that it may be because I went up a long flight of stairs! Sad, huh? Lazy ladies should take the elevator and NOT the stairs...especially if you've spent your summer sitting on your rear checking out FACEBOOK, playing FARKLE or catching up on HGTV! But Lisa and I were determined not to appear as old as a couple of old sisters who shuffle around the mall in their SAS walking shoes and matching t-shirts. So we high stepped up the flight of stairs at The Shops in Waco! http://www.shopsofriversquarecenter.com/ I really love this place, but in order to enjoy it you have to venture upstairs. Lisa and I had just enjoyed a Rt. 44 Sonic drink (hooray for happy hour!) and lunch at Hillary's. We felt it would be best to take the stairs instead of the elevator so we could burn off a few calories...once you get up the stairs there seems to be about 5 acres of "wonder"! Oh...so much to see! We walked and browsed and "oohed and aahed", sniffed and dabbed and even made a few purchases. It was wonderful until 24 hours had passed and my legs began to hurt! I know...it is sad and I have plans to start walking and exercising again..I really do..just as soon as I go to get a coke at Sonic (it's Happy Hour!), check my FACEBOOK, play a few games of FARKLE

and finish watching this episode of House Hunters!

JUST SAY NO!

Braggin' Rights

This is a bragging post! Hillary and Dennis welcomed Denton Karl Thom into the world on June 21! Hillary had a smooth delivery and Denton was just perfect. I'm so blessed to have five adorable grandchildren...along with their parents...and of course Dillan who hopefully is years away from parenthood! Just want to show my little brood off!

Dillan just off the plane from 10 days in Europe. He was extra excited to get his iPhone back!

Tristin....he's 8 1/2 months and is growing up way too fast! He is cutting teeth and learning to crawl. He'll be walking before we know it!

Madilyn...just about an hour before her little brother was born. Denton was 6 lbs. and 13 oz. and 20 inches long. Isn't he a doll?

Cousins....Denton, Averi -5, Denver-7, Tristin 8 1/2 months and Maddie-3.

Proud Uncle Dillan and big sister Maddie

Home from the hospital....so so sweet!

Maddie came to Nana's house for a few days after Denton was born. Averi and Denver came over for a sleepover...we sang and danced and turned flips and rode bikes and swam and tried really hard to sleep!

The night before Denton was born, Hillary asked Maddie what she would do once Denton was born. Maddie said, "I'm gonna stick him back in!" Looks like she may have changed her mind! Isn't this adorable?

Caldrea

I love the days when Lily comes to clean my house! There is nothing better than coming home to a clean smelling house...floors mopped and vacuumed...furniture dusted....bathrooms clean (no nasty commodes)....kitchen spotless.....rugs scattered in all the wrong places (that drives me crazy, but I'll not complain too much). While in Waco, I shopped at my favorite place...The Shops. This week all their Caldrea products were on sale...40% off! I was ecstatic! I love Caldrea products. My favorite fragrance is Ginger Pomelo....let me say it is heavenly! The countertop cleaner is super and makes the kitchen smell divine. The all-purpose cleaner can be use anywhere...I guess that's why they call it all-purpose cleaner. Lily uses it to mop the floors and clean the bathrooms.

My new fav is the Linen Spray! It can be used anywhere to make the house smell fresh and clean. I love to spray it on my sheets before I go to bed or I guess you could spray the sheets when you wake up...whatever or whenever...you'll love it.

Now this bad boy brush is just what the doctor ordered. I bought it on sale as well! It is gigantic....it's about 10 inches long and the brush will cover a large area! I think I might even want to clean my floor or my shower with it! Or if I really want to clean my teeth, I can use it for my daily tooth cleansing.

If you are looking for some super cleaning supplies...you might try these products. I think you'll love them. At least buy the Linen Spray and just squirt away and at least your house will smell good even if it's dirty!

Grandmothers

I officially have five grandchildren now and that makes me sound like an old lady who sits in her rocker with a dip of snuff watching "Days of Our Lives"! Do you remember your grandmother??? Mine were OLD by the time I got along!

Mama Cox had a butt-load of grandkids...since she had 16 kids of her own. (Those reality shows have nothing on her!) Mama Cox lived in Anson on the "north" side of town....just off the street that took you to the "New Addition" (which I always thought was hilarious cause the houses were built in the 50's and 60's....I wonder if it's still called the "new addition") Anyways....she lived in a little two bedroom house with no air conditioning (we all had no air conditioning...just window units...except for those who lived in the "new addition"...now those houses had the real thing!). When we went to see Mama Cox, she would be sitting in her rocking chair just a rockin away and dipping snuff, while a trickle of the brown molasses looking juice would barely escape the edge of her smile before she wiped it away with a handkerchief! I loved Mama Cox...she later moved to the rest home and died peacefully..in her rocking chair after reading her Bible....now that's the way to go! That was the first and only time I ever saw my daddy cry!

Mama Warren lived in Abilene...on the north side of town...just as you come in from Anson. Her house was also without air. We had to go see Mama Warren every Saturday and in the summer on a week-day every now and then... and let me tell you...it was a chore! She was addicted to "Days of Our Lives" and pain-killers. Lisa and I hated to go there...there was nothing to eat unless she had a box of saltine crackers and nothing to play with. Mother finally let us leave some paper dolls there and when we went we would go to her bedroom and play paper dolls while Mama W. and mother discussed the lives of Doug and Julie on "Days" and Mama W. planned her next trip to the drug store. After a while, we would get ready to take Mama W. to town (which meant grocery store, drug store and Thornton's dept. store). We watched in awe as Mama W. put on her old shoes (they looked like the type the wicked witch of the west wore in Wizard of Oz). Now, Mama Warren had big toes that had to have been 4-5 inches long cause they curved behind her other toes all the way to her little toe and beyond, if I remember correctly. I prayed nightly as a child that my toes would not grow like that. Once we got her shoes on, she would grab her purse and we would all head to town for a terribly boring trip. Mama Warren had a fear of escalators, so we had to coax her to even get on one. Lisa and I would go up and down them 5 or 6 times trying to convince her to get on...and that was the best part of the shopping trip. If we were good (very very good..."you girls be nice...Cheri don't be ugly to Lisa!") we got to go to Mackey's Toy Store after we left Mama Warren at her house with a fresh box of saltines and a supply of pain medications. We usually only got to look at the toys, but the store had air conditioning so we were fairly happy. I always wanted to get on the bikes and bouncing horses while Mother was steering us over to the doll section. Anyway, Mama Warren later moved to a rest home. We would have to visit her there and dodge the old women who would try to grab Lisa and I for a hug. Mama Warren died when I was about 13.

So...there are my memories of my grandmothers....hopefully I can leave a better memory with my grandkids.....so I vow to always have a fresh box of Nabisco Crackers...a beautiful pedicure...toys galore.....and a Bible next to my rocking chair! I'll hide the snuff and the pain pills until the grandkids leave so I can "dip" and relax while I watch "Days of Our Lives"!