More To Love 'bout Texas ~ Day Four, Five and Six

Yes, they have mansions in West Texas

andcows with expressions on their faces...he is thinkin'

"Say whut?"







This one could have been the inspiration behind

"Don't Mess With Texas" ~

Get a load of those Long Horns!


This one is thinkin'...


"Aint no way in hell you're going down this road, cowgirl."





AHHHHHHHH how I love to ride!



Especially in Texas were you can ride all day and never see even a house.

And last but not least...I love the Strong and Good Looking Cowboys~


AHHHHHHH ~ these are a few of my favorite things.


Our friendship with this cowboy, pilot, rancher, Judge has endured 45 years...years ago, he gave up flying to go back to his ranch in west Texas... While we were there, he gave us the grand tour to see that part of the world. Looks to me, he owns a lot of it.

We drove all day taking in some of his 6200 acres... I can't wrap my head about that number, can you?
Lunch time, we stopped at a little grocery store where the lady there had a little business making sandwiches for stragglers like us.
What a neat experience.

We really enjoyed the VERY WIDE and OPEN SPACES~
It was a lovely, lovely time there with Bobby.
We can't wait for Christmas as he will be here with us.
YEAH!!!

AH HA! Secret Shots of Photographer With Camers With Eyes on Texas

Story of Texas will be completed when I am back from Reunion and trip to Florida.

THEN will have yet another story to share. Thanks Travis for catching this girl in action. Texas is a BIG STORY to share.

He even caught me saying "Just one more."

Never have enough photos of a good thing.

Day Three in Texas ~ Putting Over 1000 Miles on Rental Car

We stopped at one of the oldest family cemeteries.


The intense heat, harsh winds blowing dirt, sand and rain onto tombstones soon wipe away all information left of the lives of forefathers.

Our destination took us by "The Hanging Tree" as it served just that purpose in that County in Texas. Of course, that was when judgement and justice were swift.

I can imagine a bunch of cowboys around the tree ~ saddled horses and dusty trails

as the backdrop.
None of our family were involved on either end of the rope.

We left Central Texas and drove across the state to West Texas to visit a dear friend.

OUR TOTAL MILEAGE on the rental car was over 1000 miles

and we never left the state.

Texas~ Day Two ~ Don't Mess with Texas

We had a lovely day with Travis and Sharon, cousins who live in Central Texas.







We visited a quaint little town not too far from their home.


Found neat little houses with tin roofs and flowers planted everywhere~






We enjoyed exploring around this little Texas town. !!!



Lunch was fun; only two choices in the tiny town..

Both were crowded~ where did all the people come from?

Inside we settled in for a Texas cafe experience.
I was the only one not ordering steak. I went for the catfish...

When our lunch arrived...I had hit the jackpot~

five large catfish filet's topped fries and rings~ on a
Texas size platter. Another Texas size bowl of coleslaw came with it. DON'T MESS WITH TEXAS!

Around the corner was parked THE CAR...seen before in my joke page.

Think it belonged to the owner of the other restaurant. I couldn't resist going in to just to check it out.















There I met the owner who was seated holding his 6 wk old baby ~ his young wife joined for the photo. ~ The place was packed with happy, happy people.

Made me want to sample their food too. .

This nice, neat sandwich and tea room had no customers at all. Back home in Virginia, this room would be packed...those Texans seemingly love being surrounded with lots of stimulation and real man food !!

Leaving the little town, along the roadwe stopped for a few photos.

Large and wild Jack Rabbits are very abundant in West Texas

We stopped for a close look at what was still in bloom of the famous and prolific Wild Texas Blue Bonnets ~

They grace the roadsides for miles and miles of Texas highways in the Spring.

As you can see...we were a little late in the season to see them at their best.

Have you ever seen Thistle in Bloom?

Wild and considered a weed in Texas.
One guy out there decided to gather, package and sell the seeds.

Word is that he made millions in the seed business.

I think I have actually bought some.

They didn't grow in Virginia.

Neat little wildflowers ... worth a stop and photo to share.

They are growing wild along the roadside and in the fields of Central Texas;

Texas Trip ~ Day Two ~ The Wedding

Family Wedding at Texas A & M UniversityFather 0f The Bride on Left
Bride center with Sister, the Maid of Honor
Surrounded by all blood relatives there to help celebrate her big day!

I think August, the baby,

is perhaps the only one in the photo without at least

one Degree
from Texas A&M
To be an Aggie is family tradition and lives on.



All pictured have the same last name or maiden name

as the Bride

Texas family of proud

German Decent

This was indeed a wonderful day to be in Texas.
We really enjoyed being a part of this wonderful Celebration !

Deep in the Heart of Texas

Arriving in Houston , we needed a rental car appropriate for our two weeks and
the many, many plans for

the Texas visit.








I kinda like this one...but many to choose from...





I really like the blue...

Comfortable? You BET..LOVE IT !!!

I think I had this one in a past life...just perfect to arrive in style...

all needed here is one of my BIG DERBY HATS!



But then....maybe not the convertible








....hummmmm





This one it neat too...

But back to the one I liked first...
feels good...

It is my style, with a picnic basket on the back...

And this color is perfect~ too many decisions...

I want this one... maybe...hummmmm

(Made this photos at a Cadillac Museum somewhere deep in the heart of Texas)

FINALLY~
just the right one caught my eye....

Get a load of this one...

Getting the car settled, we took off across the still wild and wonderful state to see all the family~

Still Going, Going, Going After All These Years

High School friends travel to enjoy life together~

We just keep going, going and going~ Seeing the world together once more.

Neither rain or more rain keeps up for our planned picnic ~

Guess what we shared under the newest hanger at my brother's Airfield? Good ol' Virginia Barbecue~

Too bad we didn't get to go up for a low level flight~ Tommy is a great in the air host~

oh will...next time. AND there WILL be a next time for this group!

Can't resist these photo opps~ Can you believe these ducks are nesting right on the Mall in DC? Yep~ lots of baby ducks on our Reflecting Ponds.

We honor the Unknown Soldiers ~ wreath laying, which always is a time to stop and reflect on those who gave their lives that we may live in a free Country~ (thus far.)

Downtown we enjoyed everything dressed in flowers this Spring.







Always a place to spend all day~

Among the treasures at the Museum of American History is every one's favorite places...

The Inaugural Gowns worn by the First Ladies...

We girls can't get enough ~

We remember Jackie O in her life~and stand sadly at her graveside.





Last day, we visited the Civil War Battle Field.

This historic house stood during that first Battle of Bull Run~ The house was turned into a hospital during the war between the states.