It's Beginning Already...Royal Mania

Got this book at the library today...

Austintatious ~ The RROC Inter-Regional Meet March 23-27

A real Texas-styled Rolls-Royce greeted us at the hotel ~ These dancers entertained us after the opening dinner

One of the fun events was a cooking class/lunch at Whole Foods in Austin

Whole Foods sells the highest quality of natural and organic products. They  do not sell any meat, fresh seafood, produce or dairy products from Japan. There is a wine bar and several makes of beer on tap.

Several members donned true Texan attire

 (0630) Dawn Patrol breakfast run on Friday was to the Westwood Country Club.

Friday evening we were bussed to the Austin Rolls-Royce Motor Cars dealership for a sumptuous sampling of local restaurants' fare and adult beverages (no sodas or water)

Traveling to the Car Show we passed the "food trailers" and gazed upon the Capitol as we made a left hand turn in front of the edifice

A disjointed showing of the Rolls-Royce and Bentley motorcars that traveled to the meet and participated in the Car Show. The oldest car on the field was a 1919 Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost, the newest was a 2008 Bentley Continental.

Participant Ribbon on Marque ~ At the end of the day, we were a bit tired. The car show was open to the public. I helped collect donations, the funds of which were shared with the Capital Area Food Bank, Austin, and the Rolls-Royce Foundation

Proof positive that the motto for the city is "Keep Austin Weird"

John is pointing out where we are having Sunday breakfast, Carmelo's ~ a scrumptious buffet offering over 30 items to be enjoyed over and over until one is sated. I actually filled my plate and went back for a few second helpings.  

Those who know the way I usually eat would have been surprised.

Thus we ended our stay in Austin, I traveling home in the 81 Rolls-Royce Corniche we had borrowed from friends who were currently in Florida, and Sneed in the Silverado with Marque safely ensconced in Big Red, the trailer.

A Cardinal, A Corniche, and a Butterfly

It wasn't the raven, but it was a gorgeous Cardinal rapping on my bedroom window. Evidently he saw his reflection in the window and wanted to meet the other image. He even responded as I whistled his tune.

Carolyn, Richard and Beth, and I went to lunch in the '81 RR Corniche we borrowed to take to Austin for the Inter-regional Meet. It was quite windy, thus the caps on us all. With Carolyn, her sweet dog, Beau.

A lovely butterfly seeking nectar in a pink Azalea in the back garden

Morning Delights

A brilliant pink Azalea flower on a light pink Azalea bush

A Purple Martin enjoying the deck outside its condo

It's Primavera!!

The birds have been chirping for some time now. We've already seen Robins, Cardinals, Blue Jays, and Mockingbirds. The Purple Martins have once again taken up residence in their boarding house out back. They've been frequenting the place since we first put up a house at least 10 years ago.

However, what we haven't seen yet are Bluebonnets. Thus our journey on the back country roads in search of the Texas State Flower.

This young hawk was on sentry duty ~ Indian Paintbrush ~ Plains Wild Indigo ~ Indian Paintbrush

An old style oil pump ~ An old style Exxon gas station

Various colored Drummond's Phlox

I actually had Sneed stop so I could take a photo of the calf nursing in the background, but this big guy in the front turned to pose so he turned out to be the focal point ~ BueLingo cows aka Oreos

Texas Bluebonnets

Sycamore Hill, a new area between Brenham and Bellville, on Old State Road 36. Buy your lot and build. The dogwoods were blooming so I picked Lot 24

Sneed liked Lot 9 which featured some huge Live Oak trees, an old chimney, and some Drummond's Phlox

Showy Primrose in light pink ~ Yellow Thistle ~ Showy Primrose in white

A Blue Jay with wings spread out takes a sun bath in front of the pummeled azalea

Kristin and Michael's Big Day

THE WEDDING

St Paul's Methodist Church

Sneed and Marque await in the porte-cochere ~ taking wedding photos ~ Kristin and Michael with their best friends, "Oz", Kristin's first friend in TX and Matt, Michael's brother

Innovative photo of rings ~ Michael and Kristin

A pit stop at Little Woodrow's where Kristin first met Michael ~ It was love at first sight for both of them

THE RECEPTION 
UNION STATION LOBBY AT MINUTE MAID PARK

In 2004, the 75th All*Star Game was held in Houston

Minute Maid Park, Home of the Houston Astros

Flags unfurled in the wind ~ Just me and the park ~ This year's Team Captain, #9, Hunter Pence

Bride's cake ~ Groom's cake with real Bud Lights

Sneed and Marque waiting for the couple to exit the Crawford St entrance

Wedding program, souvenir koozies, and pom-pom to wave as the couple left ~ K & M in the center of the photo are enjoying another kiss

Super Moon of 2011 – it’s the closest the Moon will be to the Earth until 2016 and the biggest the moon has appeared to us in almost 20 years - unfortunately there were a lot of clouds tonight

After the rain...

Thought for the Day:  I LIKE rain. It brings forth beautiful flowers. I DON'T LIKE rain because it doesn't know when to stop.

Goodness. The weather prognosticators got it right today. 50% chance of thundershowers and sure enough , by noon we had had two openings of the sky  with rain coming forthwith.

Sneed called around the time the second shower began. I looked out the window and saw this pink azalea and commented on how vibrant it looked. Sneed said I should get a photograph of it when the rain stopped.

Well, not only did the bush come out in full bloom, but it was decimated by the hard rain and now looks forlorn. I should have gone out in the rain with an umbrella but my being intrepid this morning just wasn't in the cards. Unfortunately for that bush, that's the end of its spring splendour.

These beauties fared somewhat better in the downpour. Hopefully they will delight us with visual displays of color before their glory days are through.

Sunset on the Grand Parkway

Beautiful sunset reflection in the PMC's bonnet

All's right with the world tonight

Monday, the day after the weekend that was

Erika and Aedin (still a bit under the weather) showed up with gifts of thanks...If you use your imagination you will see a bunny rabbit's face made out of the miniature candy bars (after all, the package was labeled Easter candy)

Later that day, Aedin sent me this e-mail...how serendipitous that Cole was home too so the two best buds were able to commiserate together

A Weekend with A-D-O....and Pistol, Cody, Dot, Zac, and Smoky

Erika and Terry were out of town this weekend so I traveled down to Sugar Land to stay with the little ones. Picked them up from school and first thing on the agenda was Aedin's violin lesson. Since it was only 30 minutes long, Dylin, Olsin, and I walked around that neighborhood and they collected humongous acorns. When we got back home, it was a good thing no one had homework as they were out the door playing with their friends. Papa Sneed came down and  made an impromptu trip to McDonald's and with Dylin's help ordered food for everyone (normally he would cook something but the new ceramic stovetop wasn't working). Erika had left cards for each child so they read them out loud after dinner. Then Aedin entertained us with her Money Magic kit. She turned a strip of paper into a dollar bill and a quarter into nickels. She did it so well and kept me so entertained that I forgot to make a video.

Remember the TV program "Dawson's Creek"? Dawson and the girl next door, Joey, were best buds. Well, that's why there are very few photos of Aedin. She and her next door neighbor, Cole, are best buds and she's a great tomboy (takes after Grandma there)

When Aedin is out playing with Cole, it is practically de rigueur for Dylin and Olsin to play games on their computer. Here is a cake that Dylin designed for Grandma.







Later, Dylin and Olsin were upstairs and Dylin was playing hairdresser. Olsin was a willing subject. He wanted a Mohawk. With a lot of water and gel, Voila!  Dylin finally fashioned one and he was nonchalantly pleased.

Ah, the joys of spring arrive. Friday night, nary a bud on the leaves. Saturday morning with extremely high winds and chilly temperatures, this beautiful Louisiana Iris decided to bloom much to our amazement.

Dr Aedin makes sure we are up to date on our shots ~ The girls like to stage dance performances

Aedin steps up to the plate and prepares lunch for all. Her specialty - sunnyside up eggs over easy. Dylin anxiously awaits for her repast.

Best looking #14 on the Tampa Bay Rays

Team Photo of the Tampa Bay Rays. Olsin is kneeling far right. On his first at bat, he hit the third pitch (mechanical pitch this year). Evidently he is quite happy to have made it to the base. Aedin captured Olsin sliding into home base on his knees. Dylin  took this photo of Olsin in the dugout ~ Here we are bundled together trying to keep warm (Aedin's the blonde hair)  ~ Final Score Rays 10, opponents 9

Whoopee!! Papa brought shrimp for dinner

Pistol, the Chihuahua, Cody and Dot, the Rat Terriers ~ Zac the Cat

Oh what fun, mini donuts for breakfast, powdered sugar and chocolate

Olsin with Smoky ~ Olsin's fave site Ben10 games ~ Dylin with Zac

So, how many of you can perform these moves? Great photo of Aedin on the wall in the background

Aedin went to a sleepover birthday party Saturday night. When we went to the church service on Sunday, she doodled this portrait of me (it was still windy, thus the disheveled hair), then she promptly fell asleep in my lap. She climbed into bed when we got home. Evidently she didn't get much sleep the night before.

Aedin was supposed to go see "Hairspray" with Dylin and me. As she was so tired, Dylin's friend Susie was able to take her place at the last minute. Lauren and McKenna, friends of Dylin's, were in the play. Here they are together after the play.  Aedin missed a great performance.