It's been a fun family weekend so far and it's not even over yet!
Lillian's 84th birthday is October 8th so we picked her up and took her to Charleston's on Hulen for lunch.
Louis Dean was a happy man with his chicken fried steak.....but thankfully didn't eat all it it.
At least not for lunch. He did eat the rest later.
I ordered a sensible house salad (I ate WAY too much last weekend at Chandy's!) while Lillian had Fish and a loaded baked potato. You will be happy to hear that she has started to put on a pound or two since she is actually eating again!
From there we went just a little ways down the street to Trader Joe's.
She had never been there before and she found a few things she liked.....a cheesecake, some fancy crackers, candy and such. They even gave her a free bag since it was her first visit.
I loaded up on a lot of good things!!
Then it was time to go back to her place and play music.
Roberta, now 101 years old, felt like coming down to listen and sing along.
Maria is the lady on turquoise and she enjoyed herself.
I didn't get the first of this......The Man in the Moon.
We had fun and after an hour of playing and singing, Louis Dean didn't need to be told twice it was time to go!
We drove over to Nita and Mike's where we were going to spend the night and he went right in and took a nap in their comfy guest room.
Nita and I went over to family friend Joni to deliver the Santa she won last Christmas.
It was cocktail hour and we had some really nice pear wine topped off with a nice champagne.
Joni, me and her sweet granddaughter Chole.
Joni surprised me with a birthday bag containing Texas Pecan coffee!
My favorite!!!
After our visit we headed back to Nita's where I finally got to meet her super cool neighbors!
This is Sheryl beside me and her beautiful 81 year old mother, Diane.
I want to look like her when I am that age!
Sheryl is a master gardener and is teaching Nita so much - from composting to gardening to all manner of cool things. She worked at the Fort Worth Botanical Gardens today bottling and selling compost tea.....and she gave me a gallon! You pour on your plants - I told Louis Dean DO NOT DRINK THIS!
Our last activity for Friday was a high school football game.
We weren't there for the football, though!
We were there for Andie!
She runs the sound board for the marching band.
Everyone loves Andie!
Friends, aunts, uncle, parents and grandparents, cousins and anyone who knows her.
She is a special young lady and we are all so proud of her!
And today (Saturday) Andie and her Marching Band placed second in overall competition with their show called Orbit!!
Andie blesses and enriches all of us!
We closed down the day with Nita and Mike!
After we were ready for bed, she and I went out to have a glass of wine on her beautiful back porch.
What a perfect day!!
The coffee was ready when I woke up and she had biscuit and sausage sandwiches warm in the oven for our breakfast.
I love waking up here.
I poured a cup of coffee and just wandered around her beautiful home.
I should have taken pictures of her magnificent fence along their enormous back yard and the newly painted house plus the new doors - both front and garage!
We loaded up Nita's car and Mike was our chauffeur both to and from the reunion.
What a luxury that was!!
We went into Mineral Wells to the Market at 76067 first to buy vinegar. Not just any vinegar but a special Raspberry Balsamic Vinegar!
And maybe a few other little things.....
This is such a pretty park!
Every October we rent the dining hall from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm.
I was so surprised to see our cousins Shanna and her sister, Tamara there.
They live in Houston and had driven up last night to surprise us!
Shanna is a survivor of multiple cancers and just keeps on keeping on - just like my Summer does with her situation.
Cousin Anthony is the guy at the back right and he's the one who started the Whitfield Reunions.
Nita.....
Deanie.....
Trish (Deanie's daughter and mother of Andie) is our auctioneer!!
Nita, Deanie and Cousin Tamara!
Ricky (boy on the top left) did a art drawing and it sold at auction for $40!!!
Cousin Pam ( who is Ricky's grandmother and who is bringing him up after her daughter passed away) along with Tamara and Shanna. Their mom also died long ago from cancer.
We had a really good turnout!
I dearly love hearing all the snippets of conversations here and there.
We are a bunch of talkers and laughers and huggers!
Winston is Trish and Andie's dog and is the best mannered of any I have ever met!!!
Louis Dean had a great time.
Everyone loves him!!
Here's some of the things brought for the auction!
I think we brought in about $500 and that pays for the catered meats and dining hall rental.
Brother Lonnie!
It was a wonderful time of visiting and eating and before we knew it - it was time to go home.
Louis Dean and I got back to Irving in time to catch a quick nap!
We ended our Saturday night with another one of Mike's hockey games.
When we walked in, Trystan hugged me and said,
"This is WONDERFUL! We have our WHOLE family here!!"
Both sets of grandparents!
I don't think we could have added even one single thing more to the last two days!!!
Closing this journal entry tonight with a grateful heart for a family who loves one another and can be counted on for support and comfort.
Wow, it has made me so tired just reading all you have been up to!! Your energy is boundless, I do not know what your secret is! Diane doesn't look anywhere near her age. This is the cutest dog! Nita's house is so lovely!
ReplyDeleteYour family puts in the effort to stay in touch and have fun together! It is beautiful. Does Andie remind you of Summer when she was that age? Good to see Lillian looking so well and happy. A blessed and restful Sunday to you and yours🌻
ReplyDeleteyou do more in one week end than I do in 5 years. hope LD remembers not to drink that tea. ha ha… glad Lilian is eating again. your sisters are so sweet and beautiful.. love all the pics of family and the auction items.
ReplyDeleteLinda, What an amazing weekend. You did squeeze lots of family and fun into that short span. Good to see Lillian enjoying her time with you. Your reunion had to be a fun time. It's always good to catch up with our families. I liked what Tristan said when she saw you. Your sisters and brother are looking good. Blessings to all, xoxo, love you, Susie.
ReplyDeleteI clearly need to move back to Texas just to hang out with you! So much energy, and lots of fun activities and lots of great pics! I was stationed in Lackland while in the USAF, then came back years to work as a Customer Care Manager in a cable company in Abilene. I miss the peeps, but definitely not the heat.(lol) Hugs, RO
ReplyDeleteYou really did have a picked couple of days, but all wonderful ones. How nice it is to see all the smiling and happy faces. Days like those are wonderful! and make for some wonderful memories.
ReplyDeleteThis was a busy few days and filled with so many different people and relationships. You are a blessing and blessed:)
ReplyDeleteLinda, I love coming here and looking at your photos! You have a really nice way of presenting them :) That wine/champagne cocktail looks deeee-lish! Oh Winston is a doll! I had a pug named Winston (RIP) and he was such a sweetie. :)
ReplyDeleteOh my goodness it seems like you know the entire state of Texas. You are one busy, busy bee. I did buy some Texas Pecan Coffee yesterday at the Apple Orchards we went to visit!
ReplyDeleteI looks like you had a great time!
ReplyDeleteSounds and looks like a perfectly wonderful weekend and filled with love!!
ReplyDeleteLove that plume in Andie's hat - I need to start wearing one to look taller! Cheers
ReplyDeleteWhew, I'm exhausted just reading this.
ReplyDeleteBut, how wonderful to do so much with family and keeping the home fires burning. Love the idea of the auction to help pay for your reunion rental...terrific things that were for auction too.
This post is so full of love and happiness.
Great to see Lillian thriving too. You have certainly been a big part of that.
Its always an adventure visiting your blog.
Sue
Such a lovely post...filled with love of friends and family!
ReplyDeletei really don't know how you keep up linda, you have such a busy life!!
ReplyDeletethere was a sentence somewhere in here that said "everyone loves louis deen", i can certainly see why!! i listened to his you tube, he is very good with his guitar! you guys are so good to lillian, she is very lucky!!
i have never been to trader joes either, we are getting one in our town so i'm sure i will go after it opens!!!
Yes, Linda, like a few others have commented, when do you get time to rest? Seems that you and Louis Dean are always on the go and spending time with family and friends, which is great. Enjoyed all the photos and belated birthday wishes to Lillian.
ReplyDelete