Wedding Time & other fun

 I went and got my hair cut Thursday (9/17) before I had to leave to go book club meeting back in Houston. I was in the chair and I said let's continue to embrace the gray and cut 2-3" off. My Stylist Gene asked if I was sure and he showed me how much he was gonna cut off. I decided what the hell .... Let's Cut off 4". It will grow back. Again he asked if I was sure and I said go for it and he did. Not sorry at all.

After my hair cut I drove to Bryan to Lone Star Quiltworks to spend money. YIKES. Bought me a Baby Lock Flouish II embroidery machine. I've been wanting one but wouldn't cut loose of the money but I guess this was a day of daring moves. First my hair and an embroidery machine. I've been trying to re-organize my sewing/office area and had to go a tad further to make a home for the machine.  Got it set up and now I need to play with it and get the hang of it. Isn't she purdy? 

 After making my purchase I drove to Pamela's to drop on my new machine. Didn't want to leave it in my car while at book club. 

Pamela got put on call that day and by the time I had to leave for book club she could leave and go with me.  YAY. I haven't minded driving the hour and half each way but it was great having her company. Even enjoy her giving me a bad time. 

We left her house between 4:30 & 5 to drive to the Spanish Flower Mexican Restaurant on I-45. Tonight was one of the largest turn outs we've had in a while. We were discussing the book Bluebird Bluebird by Attica Locke. This was quite a drive but the WTS Book Club was established in 1997. We've been together quite a while so it's hard to just leave my friends and good conversation just because I moved to the country. We normally only meet every other month but it's not in stone so sometimes they're closer together.

The story is based in East Texas and the main character is a Texas Ranger. There has been 2 murders in the small town of Lark. Darren, the Texas Ranger is intrigued and thinks the murders might have been racial motivated. It was a great book and provided lots of conversation. Of course this group never has a problem talking. Love'em all.  

After the meeting we drove back to Pamela's and I spent the night since I had a doctor's appointment the next morning. I had an MRI on my left hip area to see if the could determine what is causing the pain I every morning for a couple hours after I wake up. 

So the doctor says the tendon looks fine so my next step is get a cortisone shot but they'll need to ultra sound to make sure they don't hit the sciatic nerve. That would be nice. So now I have to wait another week for the doctor that can give that shot. Oh well what's a few more days. Now to go pick up my groceries and my bag and machine from Pamela's house and head back to the farm. 

It was date night (Friday 9/18). We had tickets to see Josh and Kristi Grider at the Old Post Office in Caldwell.  We arrived early so we decided to walk around the corner to the Funky Junky to see what it's all about. They have a small antique shop with an outdoor area. They had live music that night and they also served food and beer. We hung there for a while and had a couple beers. The owners were super friendly. Would you believe if I sad they told me I was an Angel? LOL  I didn't think so.

The Halo is pretty tarnished trust me.

Next time we'll try out their food and stay longer.

But it was getting close to 7:30 and we wanted to place our food order and be done eating by the time the music started. Plus we wanted to get a good table and we did. So we walked back around the corner to the Old Post Office. David wanted to try they're jalapeno grill fish and I got the salmon. The food was tasty. I will say the broccoli could have cooked just a minute longer but it had a good flavor. Next time we'll try the burgers. Josh and Kristi Grider were really good. We really enjoyed their music. They even had their 10 or 11 year old son come up and play the guitar and sing. He was pretty good too.

Saturday was a big day (9/19). My niece Shelby was getting married. It was gonna be a drive. Her wedding was in Seabrook which was a 2 hours and about 45 minutes away but we can't miss her wedding.  She was beautiful. The wedding was at the The Admiral over Sam's boat. It's a really nice venue.  She and her new husband Jorge Torres make a cute couple. 

At the beginning of the night my hair was all fluffy but by 8 it was just curled. No fluff. But I'm really liking my new cut.

            

Prior to the wedding there were pictures being taken out on the balcony with water in the background.

Siblings: David, Glenda, and Gary(father of bride)         Pamela and Me

      

  

Pamela hanging with her cousins Phillip and Kevin then Aunt Glenda joined them. She's boy's mom

This is David's cousin Pam and her husband Brian. This is who our Pamela is named after.

These two were so cute. They didn't smash the cake on each other until Me and a cousin said "What no cake in the face?" Then Shelby put icing in Jorge's nose and vice versa.

This was great. Shelby did a fake toss but then she turned around again and tossed the bouquet. Only it didn't make it to the single ladies. LOL! It ended up in ceiling light fixture. She took one of the bridesmaids bouquets and 3rd times the charm. Her little sister Kendall caught the bouquet.

These girls are so beautiful.  

Kendall, Shelby, Pamela - cousins

Got the father of the bride dancing. 

Kendall sister of bride  with Pamela.  Cousins

Pamela and her dad (David)                     Pamela with her Cousin Shelby the Bride

More Cousins Jordan and Nathan. Brother of the bride. Everyone had such a great time.

While at the wedding Pamela got a text from her friend Lauren. Lauren sent us a picture of Owen on the quilt I made her. Sew cute. It is always nice to receive pictures of the recipient with the quilt. It's nice knowing they are using the quilt. It's a great feeling.

I noticed that I was on a sort of roll in my completed quilting projects but I slowed down dang it. I've completed 6 quilts this year so far and I'm working on one now that's not hard but several small pieces to sew back together. And why is it we cut up a perfectly good and beautiful piece of fabric into little shapes to sew it back together you ask... To make it new and be creative..  I need to get back to it.

Later..

Until next post...There is only one happiness in life, to love and be loved

WOW

 This is one of Lilley's favorite spots if she's not following one of us or supervising 

David from under his work desk or 

in front of the bookcase in my sewing room while I'm sewing or working on the computer. She's our sweet Lovable fur baby girl.

Now she can be a pain when she wakes up at 3am to go potty or gets sick. That wakes you up real fast. I know you animal lovers with fur babies know that sound well.  LOL

I'm not overly political but I just have to share this picture I saw on FB. With things being so ugly every over politics I thought this was appropriate.  

It seems people have forgotten their manners. That's my story and I'm sticking to it.. LOL

Wednesday 9/2 was our 42nd wedding anniversary. I guess our gift from the man upstairs was a much needed rain. YAY!  We got almost 3" by the time we got home from our adventures.

Our plan was David to finish up on some work and we head into Bryan for some lunch and then adventure time. We went to lunch at The Chicken Oil. They have some of the best burgers around. We both got the Snuffy Special. Cheese Burger, Fries and a drink. They were so darn good and so very filling. That good for me until I went to bed.

From here we headed down the road to Navasota to a cute little nursery there called June Bug. This nursery is really cute, their plants are so healthy and the prices are pretty good.

And guess what they're closed on Wednesday's. Really?! LOL. Well isn't that just great. 

So we turn around and head to the 3 antiques stores in town. Fun. We stopped at the first one and were we in for a surprise.  The outside was deceiving. It looked small but it went straight back and room to the right and the left all the way down. Wow. So much to look at.

David didn't find anything but I did.  I didn't break the bank. 

The 2nd place was okay but not alot of the stuff we like to look at. It was more about old coins, stamp and paper money. And the 3rd place was kinda neat and I found a couple more items. I know where's the picture.. OKay Okay.

I found a Vera Bradley purse barely used for $10. then I found the cute purple cow vase/bowl. At first I said no that's silly but then before we left I picked it up and put it on the counter.At the 3rd Place I found the Jim Shores Angel of Contentment. If your not familiar with Jim Shores, he is an artist and designer. He has various figurines but the ones I like has quilting designs on them. This one stands about 10" high. New she sells for $35 but I got her for less than $20. Then I found the little white bowl with purple flowers and then the open shoe. Got both for less that $10. Obviously the figurine will find a home on a shelf in my sewing room and little containers we become pincushions for a gift. Well I'm keeping the cow,,, mmm maybe the shoe.  They're all sew cute. My friend and quilter has created a monster. She taught me how to make them into pincushions. 

From here we headed to a quaint little town called Chappell Hill. I've been there for wineries but nothing else. I thought they might have a small antique store to check out and I knew they had a new quilt store in town.  We were taking the backs roads and admiring the landscape and homes when David saw and commented on the blue barn house and as we passed he goes "They have a quilt on the end of it".  LOL I tell him that's what I what to add to our barn and maybe our house. I explained it was either drawn and painted on wood. Some are cut into individual blocks, painted and glued/nailed back together. This one was painted.

              

I didn't see it when he did so he turned around so I could see it and take a picture.  Cool Beans!  We continue to roll down the road. We pull in to Chappell Hill and guess what nothing was open on Wednesday except the Town Museum till 4 and it was 4:15.  So much for that. LOL. We did drive around the town a bit and was impressed by all the pretty homes and properties. I couldn't even suggest we hit the wineries because they're only open Thurs - Sun.  LOL

So from here we decided to drive into Brenham Just down the road. We had just enough time to one antique store. Didn't fine anything we couldn't live without.

David was thirsty and I was getting there. But I misunderstood he wasn't talking soda or water he wanted a beer so we walked a block and half to BT Longhorn Saloon. We weren't hungry yet so we passed on food and sat by the bar and had a beer. 

Happy Anniversary to us.

We had planned on having dinner somewhere but we were too full from lunch but I wasn't worried I knew we were gonna have a nice dinner Friday (9/4) and Pamela was gonna come up and join us.  

photo by C.A.B

We went back to the Central Avenue Bistro located in Cameron. For tonight's menu David and I had Surf & Turf and Pamela got the Red Pepper Salmon that we got the first time we came. Can not complain at all. The steaks and the shrimp were awesome and Pamela loved the Salmon. Oh and this time we got a dessert to share .... The apple pecan cobbler. OMG!  With a scoop of ice cream of course. It was delicious. 

The outside looks brand new but it's really an old house that they took the time and love to renovate. 

Saturday (9/5) David and I rallied around and went out for another day of adventure. We headed back to Cameron to check out the grand opening of a new antique store called "Chelle's" on N. Houston.  They have newer vintage lookin items of all kinds and they have older items. Great little shop and awesome people who run it. Of course I made an impression big time and embarrassed myself. I was looking at a picture frame and couldn't see the price. I picked it and sure enough the price was on the back. I sat it back down and the back stand folded up and it sled down and knocked of the porcelain birds that sat in front of it and knocked it off the table. Of course leave it to me to yell 'Shit' in this quaint place  and then sorry at the same time.  I almost cried. I felt so bad but they told me not to worry about it, that things happen. David kept insisting they charge us for it but they said no.  I'll be a good child and touch nothing on my next visit. I mean these folks were so nice. We did walk out with a large framed picture, a T-towel and a jar for me to use.

 

The jar will probably be filled with sewing trinkets to display. I added my new T-towel to some of my others. The new one is in the middle. I liked the saying and the color. So far I haven't used my T-towels with sayings on them yet.  Most of them were gifts from friends. I'm sure I will in time but for now I like to display them.

And this picture will go in our bedroom I think. David saw it and really liked it.  The frame matches our furniture in the bedroom and it adds color.

From here we went to get a bit to eat at El Charro on the corner of 36 & 77 North. It was very tasty. We had section all to ourselves. That works. We'll go back one night for dinner. With our Tummies full we headed to my former coworker's family home in Cameron that they're renovating. It was Fred's mom's house. Ellen is also a fellow quilter and friend. Can't get over how big the house really is. As of right now they're gonna use it as a get away place when they need a break from the rat race in Houston. Her girls and their families love to come visit up there. The son-in-laws had Fred busy patching things up in one of the bedrooms. I was busy listening to Ellen and the tour that I smooth forgot to snap pictures. Surprise. Dang it.  Sew enjoyed our visit with Ellen and seeing her get away place. This puts her about 15 miles tops from the Rock'n K. YAY.

Now we are headed home but took the scenic route back and David wanted to check out a town not far down the road. He thought it might be something special since when he checks the weather Jones Prairie keeps popping. Well.... We went, and there was nothing there. LOL  He knows now. 

Sunday (9/6) is a day of quiet and relaxation. Sorta. David is working so he can provide me some paperwork he needs scanned into a PDF file before I go to Pamela's to watch the furry grandpups and the dentist the next day. 

I'm finishing up this post to schedule to publish and then I'm going to go work on a quilt top for someone special as a surprise so I can't share right now. I had to take a break from it because it's a lot of small pieces to sew back together after I cut it up. 

Until next post....

Date Night and Critter Life at the Rock'n K

 Our first date night really in months due to the virus. On 8/15 we decided to drive into Cameron which is about 12 miles down the road and check out the food and music at Central Avenue Bistro. We went to their pre-opening back before Covid and were impressed so now it was time to check out the food. We weren't disappointed. This place was an old abandoned house that they fixed up and opened it up as a restaurant. There was supposed to be a market place on the 2nd floor but Covid got in the way and now they plan on opening it up for more dining area. 

This service was great and so was the food. We both got the roasted red pepper salmon with bread and potato. The plate was prettier when I got it. I had already started eating when I thought about taking a picture. 

We had one annoying couple behind us giving their waitress a bad time for no good reason. She handled well but she should of had to. He was complaining that everyone else was getting their food and they hadn't.  Well duh people "You came in almost 20 minutes later than the rest of us"  I mean the guy was rude and further told the little waitress she needed to work on that and get their food. I let the restaurant know that the waitress was not at fault in case the couple complained to management. They were appreciative that I made them aware.  After dinner we went outside and found a place to sit and listen to some music. At this moment I forgot the guy's name who was playing but he sounded good.  There was a light breeze so it wasn't bad outside but David had been outside in the heat and we were both tired so we didn't last long. Getting old I guess.

When we got home we took Lilley outside to go potty before hitting the couch to watch the news and go to bed. She came running back up on the porch and ran to her water bowl for a drink and found this big ole toad going for a swim.  

She turned up her nose and waited for a drink until she got inside.  He has been going for a swim each evening we leave her bowl down.  

I'm a little frustrated with blogger since they changed the format because it won't let me align the pictures to the right or left of a paragraph. Instead the sentence is at the bottom corner of picture. Grr. Maybe one day they'll fix it because I haven't figured it out yet. Oh well moving on.  

This is our baby bull that was born in June. His coloring is changing from a dark black to a dark brown but he still has two dark circles around his eyes so we've named him Bandit. He's growing fast and pretty stout like his daddy Ferdinand.  And he already has little numbins for his horns.  And this is the youngest calf that we figured out is a girl.  The middle calf that I didn't get a picture of is a girl too.

 Jerry thought it was time for me and David to give him some attention. He is quite the charmer. He nudges us in the back or he tends to nibble on David's arm. The other day when we were giving the cows some medicated cubes he got all butt hurt and wouldn't go in his corral for some regular cubes. Finally he just ran to the far eastside of the property over a slight hill to pout. He wouldn't even eat out of my hand. About an hour after we went in he went in and cleaned up any sweet feed and cubes the cows didn't finish. What a brat.

Pamela called me Thursday (8/20) saying Sophie was sick. She had to take her to the vet. She had to leave her so they could observe her and so Pamela could get to work. So I went in early for my appointment that day to have time to grab Sophie once the vet assistant Wendy called and said we could come get Sophie. 

They gave her some meds and lots of lovin and no more accidents. Wendy sent Pamela this altered picture of Sophie saying she could come home.  LOL 

The following week it was time to get all beautiful and smelly good. Top Paw Pet Spa does a great job and takes a themed picture almost every time.  

     They are so darn cute when the finally behave but Lilley wasn't to impressed having that prisoner cap on. LOL   Picture one is Sophie owning it and # 3 is Bri looking all cool.

David and I love pizza but don't usually eat it unless I use the cauliflower crust.  HEB has a good cauliflower crust that I use. It comes 2 crusts per box but they're not real big so I fix both. I add a lite coat of olive oil to my stone and on top of the crust, then top with various fixings. This time it was  a lite coat of pizza sauce, mozzarella cheese, sauteed mushrooms, onion, bell pepper and jalapenos, then pepperoni and another lite dusting of mozzarella cheese.  Yum Yum.  Everyone on FB asked how I made the crust so I took a picture of the brand/box. 

 

There's another brand we tried that was square. It had a strong cauliflower taste and looked more like bread and didn't hold up to eat like a pizza.

For Valentines David had brought over 2 dozen roses and this was a miniature rose in a cute decorative wood crate but David transplanted it to a bigger pot outside. Now what normally happens is it doesn't do so well and dies but not this little cutie.  It keeps on blooming. I love it. Makes me thing of peppermint candy with the little white stripes.

Oh Looky it worked this time. The picture is in line with the paragraph.

Pamela asked last week if we'd babysit her girls so she could go hang out and most likely stay the night with a friend of hers out past us in the country. I sure and that I'd bring them home the next day when I went to my doctor appointment.  Next morning as usual David got up to walk to work. 

LOL About 10 steps out of our bedroom. The youngest pup Bri gets a little noisy and David had to shut his door.  Lilley always sits outside with a sad face and tail hanging down but this day he had the three girls waiting for that door to open.

This past Friday 8/28 I went out to help David feed the cows and operate the gate. But I didn't change out of my capris and just slipped on my farm boots. So I posted on Facebook my retired country girl fashion statement.  Don't laugh too hard. 

 David took the picture and just shook his head. A girls gotta do what she's gotta do. LOL

That evening there was a gentle breeze so we decided to take happy hour to the front porch. It was National Red Wine Night so I grabbed my new wine I received from a new friend Kelli Kennedy down the road.

Tasty... Good way to end the night and this posting.  Stay safe and healthy everyone.

Until next blog post....  Common sense is the most evenly distributed quantity in the world. Everyone thinks he has enough.