SUCH A FINE BEGINNING TO 2015

By

Gypsy Rhapsody

 

I find the new year a wonderful time.

...a time of new beginnings

...a time of renewing old friends

...a time of making new friends

...a time of loving

...a time of reflecting

...and time of feeling thankful



Here I am...feeling thankful for my great spot in Youngsville, LA

It is just a perfect place...and it is compliments of Kathy and Howard Mott, Airstream buddies.

Thank you, Kathy and Howard

 

Vannie and Dave are close to ...

 Charlie's Grocery Store

Michael's Laundromat

...a precious little daycare.  It used to be a filling station, but has

been given a new life as a daycare.

 

The daycare was cleaning all the rugs and hanging them on the fence to dry.

It made me smile all day.

...a beauty shop

...a church (St. Ann's)

...and  Morvant's Restaurant...look what they are serving.  YUM.

 

Check this out...Vannie decided the new year meant eating healthy.

This is kale and sweet potato soup...recipe from cousin Kathryn Brady.

Dave said it was not only beautiful, but delicious.

Vannie said I must  share this recipe...

1 T olive oil, 1 onion, healthy slug of chopped garlic, a bunch of kale, 3 sweet potatoes, 1 1/2 qts. low-sodium broth, salt, 1 cup of unsweetened coconut milk, (recipe calls for a jalapeno. V left it out, but if you like a kick, put it in)  Saute onion in oil...add garlic...stir in kale, potatoes, broth, salt...boil...simmer about 20 mins.  Add milk and heat and eat.  To serve, add a little cooked rice to each bowl. 

Is this healthy?  I don't think so...but oh, so delicious.

V and D's friend, Beck McKee, shared this recipe.

Mini Pecan Tarts

...and what a tart Dave was when he consumed about 10 in a row.

Yikes.!

 

Vannie has been subbing in the school system in-between visiting, playing with Cooper, cooking...and whatever else meets her fancy.

She has been a second grade teacher, a PE coach, a PE assistant, a Special Ed Resource teacher, a Special Ed assistant, and a Kindergarten teacher...once a teacher, always a teacher.

 

Here they are...buds.!

I REALLY love it when Cooper comes over.

He brings a new life to me.

I want you to meet Kathy and Howard.

They were at the Airstream luncheon at Riverside Inn in Lafayette.

Thank you again, K and H...You're the best.!

V and D looking good...they are thinking about that stuff catfish dinner they are about to consume.

No, Cousin Janet didn't come to Lafayette/Youngsville.

She's in Flower Mound celebrating her 70th birthday...and

V and D were there helping here celebrate.  They left me just for the

weekend and celebrated with her.

 

 

...Madeline was there

...and Vincent.

V and D had picked them up in Austin (along with their mom).

On the way back to Austin, the Dallas Zoo was in order.

...and here is Madeline obviously giving orders.  lol

Emilie and Vincent playing with Leppy.

 

Friends...Dwight and Carla Nelson

They had all just eaten at Pat's Seafood Restaurant in Henderson, LA

Friend...Gordon Bilello

Gordon had come out to see me...and V and D.

Good visit.

 

Our time in Louisiana is not over...

so I'll have more adventures to share.

An Airstream always has so much to tell...

and

I love spreading the joy.

 

Oops...almost forgot.

I need to squeeze in these two pictures that happened

on December 30 and 31, 2014.

 

 

 Dec. 30, 2014

Orville and Claudia Steen

...eating lunch at the Sweet Pea Café in Winnfield, LA.

V and D and O and C share the same anniversary (July 1).

They get their anniversary meal in whenever they can, so

Dec. 30 was as good as any time. 

 

December 31, 2014

Happy New Year

These 6 friends have been getting together for the past 15 years.

Nancy and Jim Underwood

Jan and Chester Baudoin

and V and D.

They never quite make it to midnight, but, as Dave always says,

 "It's midnight somewhere in the world."