Saturday, October 27, 2007

Texas - Part 3

Ame, Barbie and Me! Saturday, Oct. 6, 2007, Ame and I drove (well Ame did the driving and I did the riding) to Oklahoma to meet up with another blogging friend, Barbie. It was our first meeting and it was GREAT! It was like a meeting of very dear friends who had known each other for a long time!

You just have to love Barbie. She is such a comical, witty person and so much fun to be around. We went to Carrabba's to eat. Our waiter asked "what can I get for you GUYS? and Barbie responded with a look down the front of her shirt and said "Yup, they're still there so we're ladies"! Very funny moment......you had to be there!!!! But that was the day of the Oklahoma University/Texas football game at the Cotton Bowl and since Barbie was interested in the outcome (she was cheering for Oklahoma) the waiter was kind enough to keep her informed of the happenings during the time we were there. We had a lot of fun that day. On the way to meet Barbie we also stopped in a city south of where Barbie lives to meet one other blogger. I know, meeting 3 in a span of less than a week was really awesome. This one is a college student. His name is Chris and I found him to be such a delight. He is very intelligent and has more depth than some people twice his age!

Anyway, Ame and I had such a great time........something we will always remember. And we talked and laughed the entire trip...both there and back! But we sure were tired by the time our heads hit the pillow. I don't remember even falling asleep!

Wednesday, October 24, 2007

Texas - Part 2

Pleased to introduce "Big Tex" who greets all visitors to the Texas State Fair every year! I am told he even says "HOWDY", but I didn't hear him.

This is a photo of me taken by Ame. We are way up high on the ferris wheel with the Dallas skyline and the Cotton Bowl behind me.

One of the walls in a little "hole-in-the-wall" restaurant that served the BEST Mexican food!

Ame's oldest on the climbing wall at the fair.

Ame's youngest on the adjacent climbing wall. She made it all the way to the top and rang the bell! Pretty impressive!

And this is a photo of the new harbor that is being built near where Ame lives. It is absolutely beautiful, but then all of Texas that I saw was! ;)

Tuesday, October 23, 2007

The plane has landed..............first in the series on Texas!

Sunday, September 30, 2007. I'm here. I gather my carry on from the overhead compartment and follow the crowd off the plane into the terminal. I walk toward the luggage carousel to claim my suitcase and there she is.........beautiful AME! I would recognize her anywhere. She looks exactly like the picture she sent.......and her smile reaches from ear to ear! We embrace, and it is like we have known each other all our lives!

The ride to her home from the airport is spent in a rush of talking and laughing. And after we arrive, her precious girls return home from their weekend visit with their dad. What absolutely beautiful, loving girls. It is apparent where they get their smiles from. And they give the best hugs! They all made me feel so welcome, so special and so loved! I was charmed by these girls and if I could have figured out a way to bring them and Ame back home with me, they would be here now. But life is what it is and I had to leave them in Texas and return alone to Michigan.

The entire time I was there was just such a joy to me. I kept asking Ame what I could do to help her and she just kept telling me nothing........spending time with the girls was a huge thing for all of them. I actually felt guilty not helping more with dishes, etc. but as a good 'mom' I always try to follow the rules of the home I am in. ;)

On Wednesday we all went to the TEXAS Sate Fair.......my very first visit to this state and I got to attend the fair! It was much larger than any fair I have ever seen.......and it was fun to watch the girls reactions. The day was hot and humid, as I found most of the days down there to be, but not unbearable. Thank goodness for air conditioning!!!

Tuesday, October 16, 2007

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I'm trying to post about my trip to Texas, but blogger is unable to upload any of my pictures at the present time.

I guess I will have to finish this in the morning....but one more day probably won't matter that much.........ya'll have waited this long!

Sunday, October 14, 2007

I thought that I would have had a chance to post about my wonderful trip to Texas by now. And I fully intended to do that tonight but got called to watch Drew while Naive went to the ER. Everything turned out good.

I came home and intended to post but wanted to return some phone calls and check my email first. My son, Doug, called and asked me if I would hang onto a little black box he had that contained a matching wedding band to the diamond he just put on his girlfriend's finger after he asked her to marry him and she said YES! Wow, this is really a huge moment for Doug! I am so happy for him and his bride-to-be!

I called Naive and filled her in on the news and she was going to call him and tell him congratulations. As soon as I hung up from talking with her, Bumpa came home and let the dog out.

When she came back in the telltale odor of skunk was strong. Of course we didn't have the ingredients for the skunk neutralizer in the house so Bumpa had to go to the store and purchase 4 bottles of peroxide! IT is now 1:30AM and the dog smells much better and I have emptied an entire bottle of 'Febreeze' throughout the house and it still smells. If anyone has any ideas how to rid my home of this odor please let me know.

Here is the recipe for the skunk odor removal from a dog.

1 quart hydrogen peroxide
1/4 c. baking soda
1 teaspoon liquid detergent

Wash the dog for about 5 minutes with this solution paying attention to keep it out of the dogs eyes and ears. Rinse thoroughly. This mixture will wash a dog approximately the size of a Jack Russell Terrier. Double or triple it accordingly.

Now I am going to try and get some sleep!

Tuesday, October 09, 2007

Time is flying!

My time here in Texas is flying by now and my plane leaves on Thursday morning.

While I do miss Bumpa and the rest of the family, my dog and my home, a part of me wants to stay and bond some more with this new family I have been blessed with. The girls are so precious and sweet and Ame is so appreciative of the time we have had together, and I will miss all of them.

As I look forward to the future, I am confident that we will see each other again soon! Perhaps next summer.........I'm sure Ame would not care to come and visit during Michigan winters. When one is use to the Texas heat, Michigan winters just aren't able to compete. It's fine for those of us who have grown up here and love the four different seasons, but for those who would be experiencing it for the first time would be difficult at best!

We also took a road trip Saturday and went to Oklahoma to meet a couple more blog friends and it was so much fun. Stay tuned, there will be more on that when I get back.

Wednesday, October 03, 2007

Texas State Fair

Today started out with rain......and changed to sunshine and very warm and humid!

We went to the Texas State Fair! Now, being from Michigan, I am use to the size of county fairs not state fairs. It was huge! I have pictures of some things that I may or may not ever have the chance to see again and I will post them when I return home.

The time here is just flying by. It seems like I just arrived and come tomorrow, I will only be remaining for one more week. I will fly out on Thursday morning and Bumpa will pick me up at the airport.

More to follow! ;)

Monday, October 01, 2007

TEXAS!!!

I'm here and it is wonderful!

Ame and her girls are such a blessing! Love them all.

This is just a quick update.

I will tell you all about my visit when it is complete..........I am tired, but happy!