IT'S THE LITTLE THINGS...

By:

Gypsy Rhapsody

Bet you didn't even know people have written

songs about this very subject...Sonny and Cher,

Sonny James, and Alice Cooper.

I was going to include a few lyrics,

but Sonny and Cher's and Sonny James' was

just a little sappy...and Alice Cooper's was

way to weird.  Goggle the lyrics if you really

want to know more...

 

Since we have been back in Texas,

I've realized how "all the little things"

are so precious.

 

Just the smallest thing can make my

heart go pitter-patter.

Vannie and Dave have been gone all summer...

working and having fun in New Mexico...but

when I saw these pictures, I could see that it

was good to be home.

Precious moments...

 

V and D said they took McD's for granted while

in NM.  The closest one was about

45 minutes away. 

We made several pit stops along our

way home....a latte, burgers, fries, milkshake, etc.

Not too healthy, but, hey, gotta

do some bad stuff once in a while.

"It's the little things..."

 

As soon as Vannie and Dave arrived in North Louisiana,

the festivities began for the wedding of their great niece, Brooke Welch.

Here they are enjoying the rehearsal dinner at  Cotton's Restaurant

in Monroe, LA with Pearl, Dave's brother, Roger,

and sister-in-law, Judy

"It's the little things..."

 

The Lafayette kids and the Austin crew all arrived to help

celebrate for the wedding.  They stayed at one of the cabins

on Lake D'Arbonne in Farmerville.

Vannie said this was one of her favorite moments.

Grandson, Cooper, playing his new saxophone

with his adoring fans cheering him on ...

Roy, Diane, Vincent, Maddie, Emilie

"It's the little things..."

 

V said that Maddie is always ready for tea.

The pause that refreshes...

Drinking tea with Maddie.

"It's the little things..."

 

Dave said that the wedding was fantastic.

Lots of beautiful, happy people

Celebrating the wedding of V and D's great-niece, Brooke...

L to R...Roger and Judy Harris (grandparents of the bride),

Pearl Harris (great-grandmother of the bride),

Stephanie and Rusty Welch (parents of the bride)

"It's the little things..."

(This was probably a BIG thing...but gotta stick to the theme.)

 

 

 

The wedding reception...

Vannie said it was more like a carnival

honoring the bride and groom.

One of the favorite booths...Cotton Candy

Son, Ashley...Grandsons, Vincent and Cooper

"It's the little things..."

 

Cooper, Maddie, Vincent

Silly Faces

"It's the little things..."

Smiling Faces

It's the little things..."

 

 

 

Check out this big gumball tree just starting to turn yellow...

behind McD's in Farmerville.

"It's the little things..."

 

"Who's going to help me pick the apples?" said Vannie.

"I will," said Dave.

"Who's going to help me cut up the apples?" said Vannie.

"I will," said Dave.

"Who is going to help me cook the apples?" said Vannie.

"Not I," said Dave.

"Who is going to help me can the apples?" said Vannie.

"Not I, " said Dave.

"Who is going to help me eat the apples?" said Vannie.

"I will," said Dave.

And he did...

Finishing up 10 jars of apple butter from NM apples

"It's the little things..."

 

V and D love to walk...and in Hillsboro it has to be early...why?

HEATWAVE

On a walk in Hillsboro...and witnessing this beautiful sunrise.

"It's the little things..."

 

 

One of the houses in our area has a beautiful bush of yellow roses.

V spotted them on a morning walk.

The Yellow Rose of Texas

"It's the little things..."

 

Vannie and Dave made a quick overnight trip to Austin to see

these cutie pies.  I didn't have any hot water...and not much cold

water would come out of my taps.  Dave had ordered a special

part, but was waiting for it to come in...so they loaded up

their dirty clothes, dirty dishes, and dirty bodies and headed to

Roy and Emilie's house in Austin.  They got everything spic and span

before they came home the next day.

Vannie said having these 2 wake you up in the morning was a plus.

"It's the little things..."

 

Vincent started kindergarten this year.

Dave said that getting to walk Vincent

 to his kindergarten classroom was awesome.

"It's the little things..."

 

I have so many friends here.

Airstreams are in every driveway.

Peaceful

"It's the little things..."

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

MY SWAN SONG

By:

Gypsy Rhapsody

 

Yep, it's time to sing my "Swan Song" to New Mexico. 

 

"Way down upon the Swan-nee River...far far from home..."

Guess that's not really a "swan song"...but it is the only "swan song" I know.

 

We will be back, because we love this state, but it's time to head back

to Texas and Louisiana.  I'm going to share some of the highlights

during our last two weeks. 

 

Vannie and Dave needed to get in one more hike.

I told them to take it easy, and run if they saw a rattlesnake.

 

Vista de Questa Trail

I think Dave was kind of thinking about that

rattlesnake statement I made.

Resting at the top

Watch under those rocks, guys.!!!

Notice the bench...about a two mile hike to the bench

...then they headed back down...very carefully.

 

Picking Choke cherries

(Never heard of these before...don't think they have them in Louisiana)

Angelique's uncle has a bunch of trees with a bunch of cherries.

(Angelique is V and D's boss at the Caribel Condos.)

He instructed Vannie and Dave on the fine points of picking choke cherries.

V said they grow in clusters.

Boiling the Cherries...

...then squeezing the juice out...what a mess..

Dave made Vannie go outside...I was getting little red dots all over me..

Dave said the end results was delicious, but lots of work.

 

V and D and the neighbors, Bob and Jean, discovered an old table

out in a junk pile around the campers. 

Needed just a little paint...and it was as good as new.

After finishing the table, Bob fried up some rainbow trout for supper.

Dave and Bob had to get the New Mexico flag positioned on the top just right.

After trout, Jean and David played the keyboard for our entertainment.

My wheels were just a tappin'.

 

Santa Fe Opera

Vannie said tailgating is a big deal at the opera.

Tailgating at the opera...I thought that was just for football games.

But what do I know???

 

Cousins, Kathryn and Jay Brady, met up with V and D at the opera.

They were celebrating Jay's birthday.

Rigoletto

Makes me want to break into song...

but I just don't know any songs from Rigoletto...go figure.!

 

Check out this project V and D completed

in the housekeeper's bathroom at the condos.

 

Dave painted the whole thing blue.

Vannie painted the hollyhocks.

She calls it..."Peeing in the Garden".

 

This is V and  D's friend, Katie.  Katie works at the

Caribel.  She is giving Vannie a salsa making lesson.

Fresh homegrown tomatoes, onions, garlic, peppers

Dave said it would make your "slap ya mama".

 

Vannie said they can't go to northern NM without seeing this church...

no matter how many times they have already seen it.

San Franciso de Asis Church.

 

Dave said it is just more beautiful every time.

 

The deer just love the flowers V and D planted around the Caribel.

Vannie said they think it is a salad bar.

These little guys kept me company all summer.

 

Michael's Kitchen in Taos

Pinion Pancakes

Vannie, Dave, Bob, Jean, and other friends, Bob and Mary started

their day off with this breakfast.  I bet this meal lasted them all day.  

 

 

Then on to the farmer's market...

 

After that big breakfast, V said walking around the square was the thing to do...

lots of walking...around and around the square...many times!!!

Vannie, Jean, Mary...relaxing listening to the music..

notice the guy in the background...he is the one doing the serenading.

la la la  

What is this?

Squash blossoms stuffed with mozzarella...sautéed in olive oil, garlic, wine.

It smelled delicious...just wish I could have sampled one.

Vannie bought them at the farmer's market.

Gee Whiz...the smell was intoxicating.

 

 

Last day at work...Party Time

Apple Pie with vanilla ice cream

Dave(laundry), Karen (accountant), Barry(maintenance)

FYI...they did wait to the end of the day to celebrate...

Vannie said there was work to do.

How much of that pie did you eat, Vannie?

Are you sure work was a priority today?

 

Closing up shop...

 

Heading down the road...

Next stop...Odessa, TX...overnight with friends, Dot and Dan Jowers.

Then on to Hillsboro, TX...I'll be staying there and visiting with all my buddies, while

Vannie and Dave head on to Louisiana.

Great Niece, Brooke Welch, is getting married,

and everybody that's anybody is going to be there.

 

"Way down upon the Swan- nee River..far far more home"

 

One last "swan song" for New Mexico...

 

Bye Bye for a little while...

 

ps...It was 36 degrees this morning when I woke up.

I'm going to miss that...for sure.