04-08-15 Dinner with Family & Friends

Had a wonderful time visiting with family and friends at Abuelo's Mexican Restaurant in Ft. Worth. This makes it easy to see more friends and family too. Quite a few of my old high school friends came and my niece and her family and my brother, Gary and his girlfriend, Suzie.  My sister, Melanie and her hubby, Jimmy weren't able to come as she is staying in Dallas for a work conference that she had organized. I won't see her this trip as she leaves from there, straight for the airport to go and see her son, DIL and newest grandson, Carter in North Carolina.

Earlier in the day, we went and visited my BFF from high school, Beverly and her hubby, Lee. Found out they had moved into an over 55 apt. complex earlier this year and she hadn't told me., thought she had. It was a very nice apt.

 Lee & Bev and the dogs

 





Second table - Harold sat at it with Lindsey and her family and rest of the gang. 

 

 

Our niece, Lindsey & family (Jason, Josh & Jay)

 

John and Suzie(Gary's girlfriend)

 

Main table

 

 Glenna

Barbara, Karen, Bev and Lee

 

 Amanda Pryor and Roxanne Jones

 

 Stacey Holland and Pam Cook

 

BeverlyGreene, Barbara Price, me, Glenna Hampton, Pam Cook, Karen Crouch

 

 Me & my brother, Gary

 

John McQuagge (dad's friend), me and Gary

04-07-15 TX bound from KS

Our visitations, Apr. 3-6 with George are over . Bittersweet. I already miss him so much. I am glad we are able to go and see family and friends in TX and then in LA.

We stopped at a café in Guthrie, OK that Harold and George had found on the trip they made from KS to TX after his Army trial (that we one and they determined he DID NOT do what he was charged with) and let him finish his remaining time in the Army and leave with an honorable discharge. The café they discovered was owned by a couple named Marc & Debbie Prather. Thought that was pretty cool, since I have a cousin Mark and Debbie Prather (brother & sister). Food was delicious. Best coleslaw I have ever had.

 

 

Visitation with George

We had a wonderful time visiting George and hated having to say "Goodbye!" today.

We arrived in KS City on Thurs. night and went on Friday to see him. We have special visitation for 4 days, 8hrs. each day instead of just 4hrs. since we are from out-of-state. We saw him for the first time since Oct. 2013 on Friday. It was wonderful, location not good, but it was just good to be able to finally see him and give him a hug.

Saturday we went a little later so that he could sleep in and then had problems getting in because the alarm kept going off on metal detector when I went thru it. I was wearing the same slacks as Fri., a shirt that was exactly the same, just a different color. Only change was my bra, wore one that had 5 hooks vs 3. OMG! Are you kidding me! Plus, they have a wand and when we asked if they could wand me, the lady said they didn't have one (we saw it later) and was then advised they could only use it if alarm went off for medical reason (hip/knee replacement or something like that). Seriously, just plain stupid. We had to drive all the way back to hotel for me to change my bra. by the time we got in it was 1pm and visitation ends at 4:30pm. Wasted a lot of time on that. Getting a sports bra for the next time we come.

Sunday, no issues. Frida came in Sat. night and joined us for today and tomorrow. We played some cards. They have a little mini snack/food booth till 2:30 or so each day. Food was pretty good and prices reasonable. Per George, food better there than what they get in cafeteria.

Monday, our last day to visit. Frida joined us again, but she left around 2pm to head back to TX as she had to work Tues. We aren't heading out for TX until Tues., so we stayed until the end of visitation, 4:30pm. It was so hard to say goodbye. I didn't want to leave him and, of course, I had a mini-breakdown, but I was able to keep it fairly under control until after we left.

Visiting George

Headed out on 4/1, on our way to see George over Easter weekend. Can't wait. Thank you Jacob for making this trip possible and for holding down the fort while we are away. Love you!
https://www.change.org/petitions/george-ferenz-is-innocent-demand-justice-for-a-falsely-accused-veteran

We continue to need to collect funds to support us in the fight. Still owe legal fees to trial attorney and more fees will be accrued once appeal granted. We know we will succeed in getting him freed. The REAL truth will win the fight!
http://www.gofundme.com/4hcla0

We were stopping in Louisville, KY. I had messaged one of my red hat friends, Bonita Smith that lives in Lexington, KY to get a recommendation for a place to eat in Lexington. Found out she was in Louisville and recommended a place called Buckhead Mtn. Grille and she was at the college library across the street from it. So we continued on and met her there for a late dinner. It was great to finally meet her in person.

 Me and Bonita Smith

 

At the hotel to rest.

Rosetta, Peter, and Rosebud are making this trip with us.

 

 

On the road again (5/2). It was raining in Louisville, KY when we left, but cleared up by the time we got to St. Louis. MO. I was glad as I love seeing the Arch, it always amazes me to see it in the distance.

 

Picked up a friend for Peter.

 

 Got my coffee fix!

 

 Skeeter Mtn., IL Rest Area

 

 Jacob loaned us his car for the trip.

 

Stopped in O-Fallon, MO at a Cracker Barrel for an early dinner. Yum! We both opted for the breakfast that included a chicken fried steak for me, chicken fried chicken for Harold.

Can't decide if it wants to be sunny or overcast.

 

We found out in the morning that Louisville had some major flooding overnight from all the rain they had after we left.



I'm a Great-Auntie again!

My sister, Melanie's son, Brandon and his wife, Heather had their baby yesterday, 3/18, 9:43 pm, 7lbs. 15 ozs. Welcome little Carter Daniel Thomas!

September My Paper Pumpkin - Boo-tiful Bags

Love, love, love this month's MPP! They revealed it at convention in July, so those that went shared pics and I have been anxiously awaiting it since then. Can't wait to get together with my customer's that signed up for it and are coming over on the 27th to put them together and adding a few things to it. This kit comes with 6 bags and lots of labels. Also, plan to make some cards with the leftover elements and a few of the extra tags.

 

 

UPDATE: Here are the bags made up and extra tags. So cute!

 



Added a few things to a few of mine (ghosts or pumpkins) during the class.

 

 

The ghost below is from some things that Melodye brought with her for everyone to use. The pumpkin (below) and ghost (above) is cut out using Stampin' Up!'s Fun Fall Framelit Dies (#135856, $24.95) Used Dazzling Diamond Glitter Paper and rubbed the Tangelo Twist ink pad over it to color. and then stamped the face with Memento Tuxedo Black (or you can use Black Stazon) from the Fall Fest stamp set (#135194, $15.95 polymer) that coordinates with the Fun Fall Dies. The bundle with both is #137628, $34.75.

 

These are Melodye's bags and some of the goodies they filled them with.She and Margarethe went and bought them for me as I had been without a car and not able to go get any and then they donated them for everyone to use.

These are Jennifer's bags.