HIGH AND DRY...AND OTHER STUFF

 By

Gypsy Rhapsody

(a 1977 Airstream that's feeling high and dry)

I have some great news!!!

Vannie and Dave bought a villa

at the Airstream park in Hillsboro, TX

(aka NTAC...North Texas Airstream Community).

There is a covered place for MinnieG and I to park,

so we will be high and dry.  I'll have the big space on the left,

and MinnieG will have the smaller space 

in front.  We are already loving it.

V and D have been busy decorating and enjoying having a wee bit more room.

...And then Christmas came along,

BUT...

let me fill you in on the villa first.

We are going to name her

Chateau La Fayette...

in honor of Vannie and Dave's roots in Louisiana.

Our friends Dorothy & Dan Jowers found this treasure for us.

It fits perfectly above our stove.

This is a before shot...

...After shot...

V and D are constantly moving and rearranging.

In a few months the place could look totally different.

...grouping over the theater recliners...

Special pieces...

Wooden shelf from friend, Patty Black, clock already in villa (Dave repaired), round plate from Italy, walking stick from Northern Ireland, art work by Mark Bercier (New Orleans, LA), Vergie Banks (Lafayette, LA), Cooper Harris (Lafayette, LA) and Dennis Paul Williams (St. Martinville, LA)

kitchen

1st thing cooked

Vannie's Mom's Mexican Fudge 

Closet

Bath

Dave's Piano Studio

Vannie's Art Studio

Attic

Great place to watch sunset

Ash, Em and kids all came in one weekend to check out the villa.

Vannie and Dave were singing in the Christmas cantata at church.

...and everyone was there...

Hallelujah 

It was Emilie's birthday, so Maddie got busy and decorated the cake.

...just like her grandmother Madge would have done...

...AND OTHER STUFF

CHRISTMAS 2022

AUSTIN @ EMILIE'S

Nutin' like those grandkids

Looks like Maddie is saying...

"Mom, what in the heck is that?"

A pink whale neck messager...everyone needs one!

Maddie and Vincent with their dad, Roy.

Money...always a winner!

The ultimate gingerbread "house"...

Messy, but lots of fun!

Too much fun and excitement for Dave

He needed a little snooze therapy. 

LAFAYETTE @ ASHLEY'S

The Whole Crew

3 Blessings

Prince #1...Cooper

The Princess...Maddie

Prince #2...Vincent

The ones that gave V and D those 3 blessings...

Ashley, Diane and Emilie

Can't believe Cooper is graduating from high school this year.

Diane has been working on this incredible creation for months.

She finished it New Year's Eve...

1000  origami cranes
Beautiful and Memurizing 

Emilie had rented a B & B 2 doors down from Ashley's house.

V and D stayed with them while they were in town.

Nice to be all together!

Holiday Puzzle #1

New Year's Eve fireworks

Emilie and Diane

Maddie and Vincent

Who is having the most fun?  Grownups or Kids?

Hmmm???

University Women's Basketball Game at the Cajun Dome

A surprise exciting activity

Can you tell Maddie got some make-up for Christmas?

Vannie said she does a great job applying it...

better than Vannie, for sure.

Farmer's Market in Moncus Park.

Those snowcones were out-of-this-world.

Check out the size!!!

Holiday Puzzle #2

Bob the cat is loving it.

...AND AFTER ALL THE CHRISTMAS STUFF...

...STILL IN LAFAYETTE...

CHARLIE

Charlie lives in Washington, D.C.

with his mommy and daddy

(Martina and Chason Smith)

Vannie taught Charlie's mommy, Martina Mills Smith,

his auntie, Jennifer Mills, and his uncle, David Mills...

all in the Gifted program at Broadmoor Elementary in Lafayette.

Charlie will still your heart in an heartbeat!!!

...AND THEN THERE'S THE FOOD...

OH MY GOODNESS

A good ole Lafayette breakfast...

biscuits, eggs, boudin, chicken, fries, strawberries, coffee

Rouse's Grocery Store's

Berry Gentilly Cake

for Howard Mott's birthday

(Howard is one of V and D's Airstream Buddies)

A Boudini creation from Scratch Farm Kitchen

with  friend, David Forchere 

...biscuit, farm egg, boudini patty, cheese, chimichurri, kimchi, Russian dressing

Chef Timmy Credeur's Oyster and Tasso pasta...

Too die for

Pecan Pie from Farmer's Market in Moncus Park

Served at Kitty & Timmy's house

Cane River Pecan Company Pie Bar

New Iberia, LA

V and D with Sarah Bourque...

Ham & Cheese Sandwich, Pecan Pie, Coffee, Tea

and Coconut Crème Pie 

...and then there's these yummy's Vannie didn't take pics of...

Rouse's Shrimp Pie with Miss Becky

Diane Harris' famous chicken and sausage gumbo

Deano's half Meat Lover's and Very Veggie Pizza (3 times in 3 weeks)

Piccadilly's Liver and Onions with Gordon & Jan

Happy Hour's at Lyn's...Ann S.

Hamburger's at the Vincent with Chris & Hal Butts

Tea with Lois...Ann D.

Fabulous Salad with G.I.F.T.S.

Roslyn's & Sarah's spaghetti & meat balls

Jan's pumpkin bread

Vannie is starting to wonder if she can get into her jeans...

She did pack 2 or 3 pairs of leggings...thank goodness.

V and D say it is all worth it...every pound!!!

2023

Is it REALLY???

2023

Wasn't it 2020 just yesterday?  All the computers were supposed to crash.

(A Good Read Recommend from Vannie..."Project Hail Mary" by Andrew Weir)

Love You All!!!!

THANKSGIVING 2022

 By

Gypsy Rhapsody

(a 1977 Airstream that didn't get to go to New Mexico for Thanksgiving...Waa Waa)

Ok, so I'm acting like a baby about this Thanksgiving trip thingy.

Vannie, Dave, Emilie, Vincent, and Maddie

left MinnieG and I behind in Texas while

they headed to New Mexico for Thanksgiving.

They had rooms at the Caribel Condos.

Guess Vannie and Dave needed a little away time from "trailer living".

MinnieG and I tried our best to act like grown-ups about this situation,

but it was hard, folks.  MinnieG and I finally had to put on our

big girl panties and enjoy our alone time.

V and D kept us posted on their adventures, and assured

us that we would be together again soon.

Vannie sent back lots of great pictures.

Looks like everyone is having a great time.

Dave said that Vincent could hardly wait

to check out the pond at the Caribel.

No Fishing

No skating

Just had a thin layer of ice covering it...

and snow all around.

Don't step on that ice!!!

Maddie was so excited to see her friends,

Audrey and Sidney.

They had met several summers ago,

and are so happy when they arrive

at the Caribel at the same time.

Sledding

The ski slopes were not open until

the middle of the week,

so sledding was the order of the day.

Everyone bundled up and

headed out to the snowiest parts.

There's Maddie on the ground...Vincent's on the right

heading back up to go back down.

Oh my goodness...Vannie said Maddie climbed up to the

top of that "whale" (that's what locals call big mountains of snow).

She slid down with no sled...wheeeee!

Ski Time

There's T-Pop ready to help out.

...and Vannie was there, too.

It took a village to get everyone

ready for the slopes.

Boots, coats, hats, gloves, scarves,

goggles, skis...

Vannie said that she remembered the first time Emilie was on skis at the age of 5.  She was a pro then...and is one now.

Here she is giving Vincent a few pointers.

...and then some tips for Maddie, as well.

Vincent and Maddie did take lessons for a whole day.

...and they were ready to take off.

Success!!!

Very tired at the end of the day...

but all smiles!

Mission Accomplished!

Oh, did I mention...

While the kids were skiing,

V and D were getting some "coffee house" therapy. 

Dave said he loved this type of "therapy" .

Coffee...cinnamon rolls...sausage biscuits

Oink!!!  

...Then came Thanksgiving...

Dave created his "fruit" turkey.

He saw it on Facebook and had to give it a try.

Now, that is a bunch of rolls for 5 people...

but, hey, it's Thanksgiving...you can have more than one.

...and mashed potatoes...

Vannie said the bowl wasn't big enough for the amount of potatoes...

so lots of splitters all over the kitchen. 

There was also turkey, stuffing, cranberry sauce, pie and ice cream.

...and then...naptime...

The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade

A fun tradition

Working on a puzzle later in the day...

...and Maddie and her friends had a hot game of Yahtzee.

They even created their own rules.

Vannie said there was lots of squeals and laughing going on.

Playing in the snow at Mallette Park...

Vincent was having a snowball fight with the girls.

...and how about this.

Vincent playing basketball in the snow.

On a beautiful "no snow" day...the crew heading

to Arroyo Seco for a little shopping therapy.

This old truck is parked at the end of town,

and is a perfect photo op for a couple of cute girls.

On the way back to Red River, Dave saw this guy standing guard

of his haram.  He was making sure nobody came too close.

He is a big horned sheep. These guys have been reintroduced

to the area after being away for over a 100 years. 

His haram!!!

Don't you just love those cute little bottoms!

When it's time to go to the airport to fly home...

and it's snowing like crazy!

Maddie is helping clean off the truck!

The trip down the mountain!!!

Yikes!!!

Vannie said Dave was taking it slow and easy.

...and everyone was praying for a safe journey.

Emilie, Vincent, and Maddie got to the airport in Albuquerque just in the nick of time.

Their flight back to Austin was uneventful. 

Everyone was ready for work and school the next day.

After dropping the kids off at the airport, V and D headed to their friend, Loretta's.

Loretta has a bunch of friends...and now they are all Vannie and Dave's, too.

Judy, Helen, Vera, Loretta

Maggie and Carman

Oh...and they all came and brought food.

Vannie said they ate, played cards, and laughed a lot.

Snoopy Mountain in Questa

Vannie and Dave took the "history walk" in Questa.

It goes around the church...across the highway...

through the neighborhood...down to the coffee shop.

Perfect!

They also visited one of their BFF...Gloria Gonzales.

A good visit around the kitchen table with coffee and cookies...

Gloria is the owner of Gonzales' RV Park.  This is where

V and D park me during the summer.  Gloria always

saves us the best stop.  

Coming back from a visit with V and D's cousins, Kathryn and Jay Brady,

they drove by a beautiful light display in Questa.

It was the annual Santa's Helpers Del Norte Gift Giving Event.

Kids age 0 to 18 got a gift.  There were cars lined up for a mile.

What a wonderful event for a such a small town as Questa!

Questa is small but has a great big heart!!!

Vannie and Dave said it time to go back to Texas

One more pic of the big horn sheep...

Never enough pictures of these guys...

The puzzle is finished...

One more snowball to throw...

...and the sun sets on a sleepy little New Mexico town...

Bye Bye till summer!!!

You guys are not going to get away without me next time!!!