Yee Haw, Texas Again!

I know I have been oh so bad about my blogging habits of late.  During our blizzard I got addicted to Facebook.  I found many, many friends from childhood and high school, downloaded photos from our yearbooks and such, and really kind of brought a whole bunch of all of us together, (literally) virtually, again.  Things took off and we were all getting to know each other again.  It was (for lack of new extreme adjective) wonderful.  After the high of that wore off things went a little south for me.  I guess it started with us taking in Paul's Uncle Robbie in August and trying our hearts out to keep him alive for three months but we lost him in late October.  Then we had the winter from...well, I'd say hell here but that just wouldn't make sense...I don't know where...Alaska, Fargo.  I've admitted here before that I have clinical depression but it's been under control for years with meds.  I guess too much of too much led my meds to fail.  So since January I've been on three different combos of meds; each time many very hard days to adjust or not.  It's just been in the last two or three weeks that I have started to feel somewhat normal.  In the meantime I've not been blogging or making much art or doing much of anything other than trying to keep things really level, quiet, and simple.  Part of depression is loosing interest in everything and I did except I was keeping as good a face on Facebook as I could and that's about it.  I was even freaked out about this trip to Texas which I used to set up an event where a whole lot of us from childhood/high school are getting together.  Well I've gotten over my willies and I am so excited about going and seeing all these wonderful people.  I think that Cindy and I go the farthest back being friends since we were four.  Soon after came the Elmendorf girls.  And then I get to stay with my fab bff, Becky.  And see my two older boys.  And, and, and!!! Anyway, I'm off to my hometown on Wednesday and when I get back I'm going to have a ton of photos and great tales to share.  So I've dusted myself off and I'm gettin' back on that horse...I think it's going to be one fun, wild ride.

So not me, but Spring Break in NYC

Little Miss Texas-Wide-Open-Spaces-Looking-Across-A-Praire was talked into going to New York City for Spring Break.  Well we waited too last minute to make any real travel plans so not until the night before did we decide to go to the city.  Not just all fun, we also are still working on cleaning out Paul's Uncle Robbie's apartment in Queens which we did the first day, Wednesday, all day, the hottest day without air conditioning.  A very long but productive day.  42 years of not getting rid of ANYTHING.  Last year we did spend Spring Break in Texas so it was the guys' turn to pick and Paul really needed our help with so much to do in the apartment.  Thursday evening we headed to Manhattan, stayed in a nice place, and walked out for dinner.  By then the cold front had come through and it was in the 50's and 60's the rest of the time.  We really hit the town starting Friday morning heading to The Museum of Natural History first.  We stayed right across from there with Central Park on the other side.  Matt's fave is the museum and we'd been there before so we didn't spend all day as one could if it's a first trip.  Great place.

A compromise was that I said no subway; plenty of people on the streets without going underground squeezed into cars with them.  I do it in DC but I drew the line in NY.  So we taxied to 30 Rockefeller, above, showing the beautiful Easter flower topiaries they still had in front. 

Lots of beautiful flowers all around there.

Paul and Matt are big fans of the show 30 Rock and most all NBC shows so they were tickled to be there.  They had a huge store dedicated to NBC souveniers where Matt got his, "That's What She Said" t-shirt.  In case you don't know, that's from The Office, maybe their favorite.  We watch the reruns every night;  I'm starting to "get it" and it's funny.  And Matt loves how passive-agressively he can use that line inappropriately.  You know how hard it is to be firm with a kid when you are giggling at them.

The ice rink at 30 Rock, beautiful with the gold statue and all the flags.

Then onto Times Square, a slight overload for me but still fun to sit and people watch.  You could make a full time hobby of  just people watching in New York; it really is amazing.

More Times Square with a British photographer who made some comments to us about how fat Americans are...like we were interested in his opinion...what, did we seem like tourists?

And then came Mecca-M&J Trimming!  I could have spent all day and all our money in that one spot.  Knowing I was being a good sport even being in the city, Paul and Matt were patient for about 1/2 hour while I showed great restraint and only got two different lengths of trim and ribbon.  It was hard to keep up with it all anyway and I could see that a girls field trip would be the time to do it up right in there.

Yes, two photos of M&J but none of The Empire State Building in which Paul and Matt went to the top of and went out.  Yikes!  Not for me but they loved it and I'm sure it was great.  The photos Paul took are amazing, I'll have to share them later.  They are on his camera along with our visit with Justin so hold your breath.

And, finally, on our way out on Saturday, I found just the place where I would have felt right at home.  Unfortunately we were on our way out and there were no parking spaces anywhere around, otherwise I'm sure I'd have loved their margaritas and good food as advertised!  While the guys could go back tomorrow, I'm good for a while, but it was a fun trip and nice to have a change of scenery.

Spring is springing at The Pink Cabbage!!!!!

The thermostat on my truck said 70 degrees today!!!!!  Then when I pulled up to The Pink Cabbage it looked every bit like spring there!  Flowers, pansies, everywhere and lots of other goodies...

...more pansies and goodies...

...inside there are spring items and colors everywhere.  Please enjoy the photos of all the fun.

Okay, I'll stop here and say this is my stuff...ummm...art and

antiques and

lots of fun!

Just look at all these spring headbands and hair ribbons, lots of hair, accessory candy for the girls!

And this is just a peek, there is sooooooo much more to see and be inspired by.  Come by, we are open every day 10-5.  See you there!

Treats from Richmond

I've been getting requests to show what I got on my venture to Richmond.  I showed great restraint.  Above is a little Hummel-like figure who I was attracted to at East End Antiques Mall.  I got a couple of other figures but I'll be using those to make collages so you'll see those later...

...and I really showed restraint in Squashapenny at Squashapenny Junction.  Everything there is fabulous and wonderful; a whole huge store chocked full of beautiful, fun, and funky things.  Everything there is special.  So I decided, since I had limited the funds I was using on the trip, to pick one reasonably priced goodie to take home like a souvenier.  Above is the antique figure/planter I decided on.  She spoke to me, no not literally, but had-to-have spoke.  I probably would have gone back for other items that I saw that day on the way to Richmond but the store was closed on the day I came back home.  I've got a little wish list in my head for next time...

Trip to Richmond

Above is the precious reason for my trip to Richmond, Stacy, my college roommate and bff extraordinare.  Why we never take a picture of ourselves together when we are together I don't know.  We are both picture people.  Anyway, here she is cropped from a photo I have of her when I was visiting her in Houston last year.  There is just not enough time or room to tell how much I adore Stacy; she exudes love, she is love.  It's very lovely to be with her as an understatement.  Thank you, Stacy, for being you.

On my way there I stopped at Squashapenny Junction in Squashapenny, Virginia.  Another fab friend, Patrice, had been telling a group of us for a while about Squashapenny.  We had planned for our group to go there together but it's never come about.  Mellie made it there by virtue of convenience on a family trip and now me because of going that way also.  You can see that I was snapping my first picture before I even closed the truck door getting out.  Above, I didn't realize until I was leaving, is the old bank that's been turned into an antiques shop.  Oh well, that's for next time and next time will not be another 52 years!

No doubt from the outside that it's going to be wayyyyyy cool inside and it did not disappoint.

It was even a patriotic priveledge to shop there!

If you look at this photo bigger it's a little creepy but in a very cool way...

...on my way out another look at the front porch...

...a huge hand very welcoming coming and going...

...and many of these little vinettes here and there, some not quite sure whether or not they are real until you get really close to them.  From here I went onto Richmond and had a great time with Stacy.  While Stacy was in meetings on Tuesday I went into Richmond to all the wonderful places where my home girls had suggested I go.  I was too busy trying not to get into too much financial trouble to take photos of that part.  Again, I don't think it will be long before this eye candy siren calls to me again.  I got to the really cool interior design and clothing shops (some combined-real trouble), the World of Mirth "toy" shop, and the place everyone mentioned, Ukrops.  Ukrops is a grocery store which has been a historical part of Richmond and is famous for their baked goods.  Stacy got her dinner from there at the salad bar but I went straight to the bakery.  I only ate the custard tart that night that Patrice had suggested but brought home a half of one of their famous layer cakes and a whole layer cake for our neighbors who took care of Matt at the last minute when Paul had to take his dad to the hospital after I had arrived in Richmond.  Paul's dad is still in the hospital with nothing remarkable found yet but tests are still being done...an aside...other than that it was a great little trip!!!