Mallard duck in the puddles 

We have had all kinds of ducks at Town Lake

Where is Spring at???

I am so ready for Spring to be here. It is cold, gray, and damp outside.  ;(

Lol, well, Valentines was here and it wasn't a bad one. could have been better, not being sick could have definitely helped. My hubby fixed us beef Shish kabobs with onions, bell peppers,  no pineapple, little tomatoes and served it with rice and a nice salad. It was all very tasty.

We were going to have the day with our two youngest grandchildren, but we were sick and didn't want to spread the germs to them, so we sent shish kabobs to them instead.  Also sent two bears for valentines, Miss Sophie picked the white one with angel wings and Robin got the tan bear with hearts on his Tshirt. Don't know if Little Miss gave him a choice! lol

Well, I am grumpy and cranky, so will go. Hope all had a happy 14th!!

 Finally back home.  We have been to Rochester, Mn , Des Moines IO, Overland Park KS, Shawnee OK, Austin TX and back.  My Hubby works for Mayo and we had to go up to MN for something or other, pertaining to his work. We saw his brothers, our nephew, my big sister Nona and her hubby, Bob. Then on down to Austin to see our kids.

Our oldest son and his family were there, flew in from Florida, our 18 yr old granddaughter and her boyfriend , came in from Houston, and our youngest son and his family from TX, our two other children live there.  Our daughter and middle son, built their houses back to back, with an connecting fence between. One has a salt water pool, the other has a huge trampoline and large wooden  playset for the kids. Which my talented son built.

The best thing is, that between the two of them they have six bedrooms and two kitchens. Makes it ideal for all family gatherings. To top it all off, all four of our children and some of the spouses, are better Cooks/Chefs than most people. Makes for some fantastic meals, the night before we came home we had Sliders, a Thai cucumber salad and fresh made Indian bread to go with it.  To toast the meal we had a champagne and Chambourg  drink. As my two year old granddaughter says about good things, ( very Tasty!!) and indeed it was.























Our home




Nothing ever feels as nice as your own bed, or your own shower.
Home Sweet Home

Well, it is still raining in North Texas, good thing is:
 1. a low water bill  
 2. no sunburns at the poolside
 3. no watering the lawn
 4. lower Electric bill

bad things:
 1. flash floods
 2. Mosquitoes
 3. yellow jackets proliferating

I am ready for some good old fashioned HOT Texas weather!!!  (Don't take this too seriously tho)


I love to gamble!!

Time to go to Las Vegas and do some goofing, take in a show and go eat out!!







We have gone to the Choctaw Casino near Durant OK, but not quite the same thing. It is fun tho, for a change of pace.

I never would have believed that it could be a cool 77 degrees on 17th of June in Texas!!  It has rained sooooo much the water in the creek by the Frisbee disc park is just about up to the overbridge. It was lapping underneath the road!!  The Fisbee disc park is full of puddles of rain water. 

It is so bad, I saw two Mallard ducks waddling across the road the other day! No kidding!

Mallard duck

The funniest of all was watching a worker , holding a lawn edger, trying to hurry a large turtle across the road.  You know how pokey a turtle is,  sloooowwww.

Well, back to my doldrums with the rain, and dark gloomy skies, and sudden downpours. ho hum.

Littlest granddaughter with big brothers swimming goggles.

Here it is the Eighth of June and it is cloudy, wet and cool here in North Texas.  We have been in the pool once this season. It is unbelievably cool for June in Texas!!

The good news is that we have finally come out of our drought lvl 3.

Our youngest grandson is sooo ready to go swimming.

Is it warm enough yet? Can we go swimming now?

I remember feeling like that, I grew up in the Oklahoma panhandle, and when summer came, my brothers and sisters were all ready to go to the local swimming pool. Summer in the panhandle was hot!!

I remember my brothers and I, getting a picnic lunch and getting on our bikes and going to the lake. They have a train  that goes around the area.  My Little Sister once caught a big fish in the lake and it made the local front page.

Those were the days of being carefree and young and having the whole summer before us.

SUMMER TIME!!

The Champions!! Apolo and Julianne!!

Well, it has ended and the couple I liked won.

 It was a very close competition as all three couples were just incredible! Joey and Kim were fantastic, Laila and  Max were outstanding, and Apolo and Julianne were just going like crazy.

They were all tops, they all worked hard to get to the top and it showed. It was a very good season.

I miss not having the show on, it and Bones. My two favourite shows.  Well here is to the Champions....Hurray!!!!  Huzzah!! Cheers!!

 

Ian and Cheryl wk 4

NAME: Ian Ziering PROFESSION: TV & Broadway Star

 PARTNER: Cheryl Burke

BACKGROUND: One of the stars of the hit TV series Beverly Hills 90210, actor Ian Ziering also played a supporting role in the movie Domino, and wrote, produced, directed and starred in the short film Man vs. Monday.

Well, last week Cheryl and Ian were voted off, it was a bummer. The last four couples are all so good, it is hard to decide who is really working the hardest. The ones that should have been taken off were finally outvoted by the majority, and it happened!! 

 Tonight is the competition among the last three couples. Lailah Ali, Apolo Ono, and Joey Fatone

They have all three been hard working competitors, two of whom are top atheletes. Joey comes in with his show time experience and they are all hard workers and hard work ethics. Good combination in my opinion. They will really be going at it full steam tonight. Can't wait to see the show and the outcome.

"Round 8" John Ratzenberger has been dismissed from the floor, leaving five stars to dance for the crown. Each couple must master both a ballroom dance and a Latin dance that they've never tried before. Who will stay on their feet?

 

 

Very disappointed in last weeks decision. John Ratzenberger and his partner, Edyta, have been eleminated. I was very disappointed as he has really been trying and working, and it shows.  Billy Ray and his partner, Karina, are still in competion. In my opinion, because of his daughters infulence and her fans and his fans, not because he has been working hard. Other than trying to "showcase" Karina.

He should have been working at making himself look good!  Nothing like good hard work, and trying to do a good job. This is purely my opinion, but I think the participants should be doing their darndest to do a good job.

Apolo and Julianne got hit by the judges also, and I think those two have been giving it their all. Ian and Cheryl have really been working hard too, their dances have been spectacular.  Lailah and Maksim have been doing a tremendous job, she is such a superb athlete and it shows in her movements and grace on the floor. Joey and Kim are just a fantastic pair. They have all the verve and movement to make it all look easy!

Tonite is the next round and we are looking forward to seeing it. Hopefully the North Texas weather will cooperate, and we will be able to watch the show all the way thru!!

Well, here we are ready for week six to begin! Apolo and Julianne got straight 10's!! First in the competition! Lailah and Maksim got 2 nines and one 10. It was really a great show.

The Star voted off this time was Clyde Drexler, aka Clyde the Glide, and his partner Elena.

 

 

 

 

 

NAME: Clyde Drexler PROFESSION: NBA Hall of Famer PARTNER: Elena Grinenko BACKGROUND: Named One of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History, "Clyde the Glide" was a member of the 1992 U.S. Olympic Dream Team. He began his career in 1983 with the Portland Trailblazers and retired in 1998 with the Houston Rockets, a team he led to the 1995 NBA Championship.

Apolo and Julianne got "Triple 10's", as Julianne put it! They were very excited.

 

Apola and Julianne doing the Jive!

 

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         

 

Joey Fatone and Kim

The Judges thought some of his movements a

a trifle "effeminate" 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

Leilah and partner Maksim

They got two nines and a 10.

 

 

 

Heather and partner Jonathan

She had his chest hair waxed off!!   OUCH!!

 

Billy Ray was so stiff with his dance, like he was afraid to hold her. His fans voted to keep them on. He did not look like a "happy camper"!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dancing With The Stars Week 5

 

Leeza and partner Tony, their last dance

The couple voted off on the last show.

 

 

 

 

NAME: Leeza Gibbons PROFESSION: Talk Show Host PARTNER: Tony Dovolani BACKGROUND: Former host of Entertainment Tonight, Extra and her self-titled daytime talk-show, Leeza, the TV/radio personality currently hosts the nationally syndicated radio program, Hollywood Confidential. Leeza is also the founder of the Leeza Gibbons Memory Foundation, a nonprofit organization offering empowerment and education to caregivers and their loved ones diagnosed with any memory disorder.

 

Joey Fatone and partner in wk 3

The Light sabre dance!!

Tones of Star Wars

 

 

 

 

 

                                                                                        Leilah and Maksim wk 4

Apolo and Julianne wk 4

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ian and Cheryl wk 4

 

 

 

Billy Ray and Karina wk 4

The judges pick Billy Ray for the hardest worker and most improved.

I figure Miley and her siblings are really cheering Dad on! My six year old grandson, Robin , is cheering for him because of the "Hannah Montana" show, Billy Ray and his daughter  Miley (who plays Hannah Montana) are on the show. It is a real cute sit com. I enjoy it anyway. lol

 

They are all looking really good.  Running out of space for more pictures , but will put others in the next group. 

The next one gets it!

It is cold and windy in North Texas today. I ran to the UPS store and the DJ says "It is a cool 47 degrees today with a high wind"

That means it is cold!!!!  I want it to get warm and sunny!! Mid April and it should be warm.

I am ready to go swimming!  I talked to my oldest granddaughter, who lives in Miami Beach FL and it is 88 degrees there and they were headed to the pool!!

 Whimper, I want it to be Sunny and hot.....

 

A friend of mine sent these to me in an email and I thought they were really neat looking.

 

 

 

 

JAL Dream airline with Disney theme

 

 

Cathay Pacific

        

 

 

 

Qatar Airline

 

 

 

 

Air Nippon

 

 

Avis airliner with Stretch limo decal

 

 

Austrian Airliner with

Weirner Philharmonic motif

 

Universal Studios Japan

Two Airliners

 

 

 

 

 

 

       John Ratzenberger
Edyta Sliwinska                                                              Apolo Anton Ohno
                                                                                          Julianne Hough

 

 

 The first week has begun and tonight we find out who the first to leave will be.

Billy Ray Cyrus was a big improvement on his dancing , as was Heather Mills. Heather Mills did a fantastic flip during their dance, and didn't miss a step. Clyde Driscoll aka Clyde the Glide, used the whole floor in his dance, he had been told not to worry about his size and to use the space. He did.

Apollo really had worked on his posture and really looked good. We are anxious to see how they all do tonight.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Heather Mills did a back flip in their dance, amazing feat to do with one real leg. Letting people with prosthetics know that "yes, you can do it", not everything , but more than you thought possible.

 

 

Heather Mills
Jonathan Roberts

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dancing With The Stars is back again with Season 4!!

We really enjoyed watching last season, Emmett Smith was our favorite of all time.

 

 

 

Laila Ali and partner Maksim Chmerkovskiy

 

We rooted for Billy Ray Cyrus, Apolo Anton Ohno, and Clyde Drexler.  Billy Ray because he is Miley Cyrus' dad, Apolo, because I love his skating, Clyde Drexler, what is not to like.

This is one of our favorite shows, oh yeah, we really enjoyed Laila Ali too, she is absolutely gorgeous.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Clyde Drexler and partner Elena Grinenko

 

 

 

 

This is a list of the participants:

Laila Ali Maksim Chmerkovskiy Billy Ray Cyrus Karina Smirnoff Clyde Drexler Elena Grinenko Joey Fatone Kym Johnson Shandi Finnessey Brian Fortuna Leeza Gibbons Tony Dovolani Heather Mills Jonathan Roberts Apolo Anton Ohno Julianne Hough Paulina Porizkova Alec Mazo John Ratzenberger Edyta Sliwinska Ian Ziering Cheryl Burke

 

 

 

                                               

                                   St. Patrick's Day;

Celebrating the Green St. Patrick is believed to have driven the snakes from Ireland. Once a pagan himself, St. Patrick is one of Christianity's most widely known figures. The modern secular holiday is based on the original Christian saint's feast day also thought to be the date of the saint's death. In 1737, Irish immigrants to the United States began observing the holiday publicly in Boston and held the first St. Patrick's Day Parade in New York City in 1766. Today, the tradition continues with people from all walks and heritages by wearing green, eating Irish food, and attending parades. St. Patrick's Day is bursting with folklore; from the shamrock to the leprechaun and to pinching those that are not wearing green.

The First Parade St. Patrick's Day is celebrated on March 17, his religious feast day and the anniversary of his death in the fifth century. The Irish have observed this day as a religious holiday for thousands of years. On St. Patrick's Day, which falls during the Christian season of Lent, Irish families would traditionally attend church in the morning and celebrate in the afternoon. Lenten prohibitions against the consumption of meat were waived and people would dance, drink, and feast;on the traditional meal of Irish bacon and cabbage. The first St. Patrick's Day parade took place not in Ireland, but in the United States. Irish soldiers serving in the English military marched through New York City on March 17, 1762. Along with their music, the parade helped the soldiers to reconnect with their Irish roots, as well as fellow Irishmen serving in the English army.

Over the next thirty-five years, Irish patriotism among American immigrants flourished, prompting the rise of so-called ;Irish Aid; societies, like the Friendly Sons of Saint Patrick and the Hibernian Society. Each group would hold annual parades featuring bagpipes (which actually first became popular in the Scottish and British armies) and drums.

No Irish Need Apply Up until the mid-nineteenth century, most Irish immigrants in America were members of the Protestant middle class. When the Great Potato Famine hit Ireland in 1845, close to a million poor, uneducated, Catholic Irish began to pour into America to escape starvation. Despised for their religious beliefs and funny accents by the American Protestant majority, the immigrants had trouble finding even menial jobs.

When Irish Americans in the country's cities took to the streets on St. Patrick's Day to celebrate their heritage, newspapers portrayed them in cartoons as drunk, violent monkeys. However, the Irish soon began to realize that their great numbers endowed them with a political power that had yet to be exploited. They started to organize, and their voting block, known as the ;green machine; became an important swing vote for political hopefuls.

Suddenly, annual St. Patrick's Day parades became a show of strength for Irish Americans, as well as a must-attend event for a slew of political candidates. In 1948, President Truman attended New York City 's St. Patrick's Day parade, a proud moment for the many Irish whose ancestors had to fight stereotypes and racial prejudice to find acceptance in America .

The Shamrock In fact the first written mention of this story did not appear until nearly a thousand years after Patrick's death. The shamrock, which was also called the ;seamroy by the Celts, was a sacred plant in ancient Ireland because it symbolized the rebirth of spring. By the seventeenth century, the shamrock had become a symbol of emerging Irish nationalism. As the English began to seize Irish land and make laws against the use of the Irish language and the practice of Catholicism, many Irish began to wear the shamrock as a symbol of their pride in their heritage and their displeasure with English rule.

 

 

 

We went to the Choctaw Casino near Durant OK, about two weeks ago. They were featuring the Indian dancers, and this time they had an added bonus. They had some small children dancing with them. They were fantastic to watch, and we thoroughly enjoyed it.

 

 

 This is a little 5 year old Indian dancer doing the Hoop Dance. She was absolutely great, she knew her routine and did it very well. You could see all the beautiful needle work her mother had done on her high mocassins. Her costume was beautiful.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is a little 8 year old boy doing the Buffalo dance with his father, this photo shows only him tho.

He had to keep lifting his buffalo head up to see where he was going, it kept sliding doing. He really did a beautiful job.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is a hunting dance, where the two boys are imitating the elder warriors on a hunt.

It showed them counting coup at the end.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This was a finale dance showing all of the dancers.

The female twirling in the flowing blue outfit is a Fancy Dancer. They have different areas of dance when they go to a competion.

First pedestal brought into dining room

We have a new table for our dining room.  Not new, per se, but an old table from an antique store. It is really gorgeous!  It is big enough to seat 12 people, it has two 18 inch leaves, two pedestals underneath for support. and has a beautiful finish.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Second pedestal brought in

Our old table just didn't fit all of our kids when they came down to visit. This table will fit, kids,

in-laws, out-laws, grandkids and friends, it is so big!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fitting the top on and screwing it down

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Putting the leaves in

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ta Dah!! All together!

It is really a gorgeous thing, the leaves will only be in when the family is altogher. I love the parque like design on the top.

Now all we have to do is find new chairs to go with it.  Dang, my work is never done.