And now deep thoughts

I love words. Indulge me. I think if I actually had the patience to write a book or screenplay or such, I would. Everyday on my way to work, I turn off the radio and have quiet time. By the time I get to work, I find myself humming a line from a song that seems appropriate. Tends to play intermittingly in my mind throughout the day. Most of the time it is something Walt or someone we know has written. If I could make a mixed tape still, it would include pieces of all these random lines floating around in my head. You know how there are books of quotes? I think I’m going to start a journal along the same lines. On the top of each page in the journal will be one of my daily lyrics. Ones I think are beautiful, funny or ironic. If I did actually do this…and decided to start today, here are the lines that would be a top the first pages.
-Just one thing is clear to me, there is always more than there appears to be, and when the light’s just right, I swear I see Poetry. –Walt Wilkins & Davis Raines
-Someday we may have a house up on hill, someday we may see the whole wide world, maybe we never will. Everyday I hold you on this circus ride, and it is one more thrill money could never buy. –Walt Wilkins
-There is space enough and time for your dreams to come true. –Walt Wilkins
-I give the Lord my soul to keep, but my heart belongs to you. –Walt Wilkins
-It’s not the destination, but the journey that I’ll treasure best. –Susan Gibson
-Two folks, livin’ together. He’s an oak, she’s a cedar. Over time they’ve intertwined. She tried to choke him out and now he needs her…they had sun, they had rain, and each other’s help to gain the strength enough to bend or else they’d break. They had room enough to grow and the courage to get too close, alone they won’t last long, Together Strong. Deep roots below the surface, it’s the only way they can survive. Without the roots, the branches are worthless. She could’ve killed him, now she keeps him alive. – Susan Gibson
-Everyone is at the mercy of another one’s dream. –Sam Baker
- Somebody made every natural thing from the soul inside out to Saturn's rings, how my baby smiles and how Sam Cooke sings, of course we were created. The clouds make rain, the ocean makes sand, the earth breathes fire, and lava makes land. Now that took a mighty hand and a wild imagination. –Walt Wilkins & Davis Raines
-Before the sun, before the heat. Before we untangle from our sheets, before the summer day unfurls…Pretty World. Before the paper is dropped at the gate, before our coffee, before we are late. Before dreams are lost like midnight pearls…Pretty World. –Sam Baker
-When tonight gives way to another brand new day, come what may. I’m up and on my way. – Walt Wilkins

first signs of spring

It is amazing what the first signs of spring do to people. People are cheerful, happy, and excited at the new beginnings and the changes going on all around. Then you are zapped back into reality by cold, wet rain. For sure changes the mood in an office. I witnessed that first hand. Last week people were itching to get outside...a sense of excitement in the air. Not this week. How is it that when such a gray uphappy day after a few sunny days can make us so lethargic. Personally, I enjoy the rain...sounds like a brillant Brandon Rhyder (I love the rain) or Walt Wilkins (Eighteen Days of Rain) song. There's something soothing about it. But, the cool thing is...Spring brings both the sun and the rain.
Susan Gibson sings a really cool song called "the first signs of spring" (can't find it online, but this is what she sounds like...Together Strong). Her songs are always fluttering around in my head in the Spring (we follow a lot of singer/songwriters so we get a lot of songs stuck in our heads that no one has ever heard of). I hope you have a fun song in your head this wet/dry/happy/sunny/not-so-sunny spring. No, not MC Hammer or Huey Lewis, but something original.

HAPPY TEXAS INDEPENDENCE DAY!!!!

Ryan and I had a pretty nice weekend. I stayed up until 3 in the am on Friday night/Saturday morning after being sucked into Titanic. Saturday we slept in, did some errands and went over to visit Trisha, Matt and the boys. Sweet little Quinton is such a champ. You can tell he doesn't feel good (he had his tonsils taken out last Thursday), but he's taken the pain so well. I'm so proud of him! And he cuddles right now too...which he hasn't let me do in a couple years!
I made us chicken salad and potato soup for the week yesterday after church. Then last night Ryan and I went to the White Elephant in Fort Worth to hear our friends Walt and Tina Wilkins play and sing. Across the street is the Stockyards Saloon. The sign read as follows..."Mardi Gras Party Saturday Feb 28th Cowboy Up!." Anything odd strike you about that...I laughed for about thirty minutes about it.

Nutter Butters,Christmas Eve, Fredericksburg, and New Year's

I have lots to catch people up on...

The Saturday before Christmas, our good friends Jenn and Erik came over.  We had a really fun visit.  But Ryan and I's pride that day...chocolate covered nutter butters.  At work, we received a gift basket with some in it that were really good.  So we bought some melting chocolate, and dipped them ourselves...alright folks...you have to try it.  They are really tasty.  And soooo easy!  We even made white chocolate ones a few days ago and those were good too.  Anywho, chocolate covered nutter butters...try it!

Christmas was such a whirlwind this year.  Christmas Eve we made a spinach casserole one of the ladies at my work had made for our Thanksgiving Potluck.  As far as I'm concerned, I could have some of it every day and would be a happy woman!  Easy to make and somewhat nutritious...that is if you leave out the stick of butter that goes in it.  HA!  We baked all day then went to church with my mom, sisters, brothers-in-law, and kids.  We got there a little late, so we didn't get to all sit together.  Mom and Lindsey sat across the aisle from Trisha, Becky the rest of the kids and I.  The guys all sat at the back.  Little Lindsey was precious!  She would press her little cheek right up to mom's and sing with her.  And it was a really nice service.  Very kid friendly and very nice to focus on the reason for the season.  Christmas morning Ryan and I went and picked up Granddad and brought him to mom's.  Ryan and I agreed, our conversations with Granddad were our favorite part of our day that day.  

Friday after I got off work, we left for the hill country.  

We got down to Austin and ate at my absolute favorite...Maudies!  Okay folks if you are ever down there, this is a must try.  And talk about packed!  I had two wonderful chalupas and Ryan had enchiladas.  And probably a pint of salsa too!  I have a picture with my camera phone, but it didn't turn out so great, so you'll just have to go to the website to see it for yourself :o)   We woke up about 8 on Saturday, and of course headed off to Magnolia for breakfast.  Amazing you can get such an awesome breakfast, in such a cool little neighborhood for such an affordable price.  And we only had to wait like five minutes too!  Afterward we drove around the area a bit.  Look at this cool cactus we found!

A few storm clouds started to roll in so we went ahead and hit the road for Fredericksburg.  By the time we got to Dripping Springs, the skies were clear and it was a beautiful, cloudless day.  We stopped at Grape Creek Vineyards on our way in and bought three bottles of our absolute favorite wine.  Cabernet Blanc.  They don't distribute yet, so you can only get it down there.  They asked us, "so would you like a sample" and started naming off all these prices.  I just looked at Ryan and was like, uh, three bottles of cab blanc to go please :o)  Then we headed to the Fredericksburg Winery.  For the past three years that we have gone down there after Christmas, we always go by the Fredericksburg Winery and get a bottle of their Christmas wine.  Then we just moseyed up and down Main Street for a bit.  Last year it wasn't near as crowded after Christmas as it was this year.  In fact, the Fredericksburg Inn was completely sold out!  I was happy I called on our way into town, checked in early, and didn't book through Orbitz or Priceline!  We bought a couple of sandwiches from the HEB down the street, and sat out on a picnic table by the creek next to the hotel and ate a late lunch (picture up top).  After lunch we walked back up to Main Street to hit the shops we missed.  I went in and talked to our shop owner friend who told us where to go to get freshly picked peaches from a woman off of Highway 16 in the summer.  Not long after we headed back to the room to rest.  Walt Wilkins was playing at the Auslander that night.  A couple friend of ours had reserved a table ahead of time so we were lucky enough to get a prime seat.  After the show we just went back to the hotel and sat out by the fire and chatted with other folks staying at the hotel with us.  Oh, and if you ever go and we aren't with you, don't forget to go ask the front desk for a smore kit...hot smores on a cold night just can't be beat!  Sunday morning we slept in, showered and hit the road.  

Becky and her girls were still in town so Sunday night when we got home, we had the crew all over for dinner.  Those kids have so much energy, I just don't know where they get it from!  Monday night we all went over to Granddad's.  My cousins and their families were all in town so we all got together to celebrate Christmas a little late.  So good to see everyone.  And AMAZING to see how much the kids change in just a few months.  Makes you appreciate the little ones.  

On New Year's Eve we went over to my mom's for a bit.  We had sparklers we bought after the 4th of July this year and mom and Aunt Terri had bought a plethora of those little poppin' things you throw on the ground and they snap.  It looked like someone had taken bags and bags of feathers and thrown them all over my mom's back porch by the time the kids were done with it.  Then we went over to Jess and Deron's to celebrate the turning of midnight and to spend the night.  We just didn't want to be out on the road that late.  Too dangerous and not worth the risk.  So Happy New Year everyone.  I hope you have a blessed and beautiful 2009.  And one of my resolutions is to update this at least weekly if not more often...hold me to it!!!

Rathskeller's is the home to my favorite dessert...PEACH BREAD PUDDING!