Back to Texas, Florida and "My Fair Lady"

After our visits to Arizona and California this year we headed back home to Texas and the Hill Country, to spend more time with Meg's Centenarian Father.  His church has a seniors retreat each year at Alto Frio, the Baptist Encampment at Leakey, Texas.  It's a beautiful site and we've taken them there for several years. 

This year we bought a cake and shared it with his church family.  Now, if there are two things Carl loves, they are the Lord Jesus and ice cream (probably in that order).  So, on the way home we stopped at Medina and the Apple Store and treated him to apple ice cream.  Try it sometime; mmmmmm!

We read an article in Escapees magazine entitled, "No Siblings Allowed!"  The article encouraged grandparents to take along cousins (rather than brothers and sisters) from their family when they travel: that they tend to leave their "baggage" at home, with its pettiness and squabbling, and concentrate on learning each other and having a good time.  We're implementing this into our plans and it works very nicely!

In June we picked up Lydia in Kyle, Texas and took her with us to Maypearl and the Lakeview Camp, where we worked as MAPS workers for two weeks.  Andrea brought Reagan down from Oklahoma City and we enrolled the two cousins in their first church camp experience together.  They had a wonderful time, as did we. 

Not sure what is going on here: make-up or a snack....but they ARE having a good time!

We had dinner with Peggy and Ken McGowen (MAPS friends) at Mo's Diner in Maypearl.  Great food and always nice to find a new good place to eat.

Following our camp experiences we took the girls back to Oklahoma and Andrea's home for a couple of weeks. We parked our home at the Central State Park campground in Arcadia, OK as usual, while the girls stayed and played at Reagan's home. July 4th involved Independence Day fireworks in the park with Rodney's family.  Later in the week Rodney took us to the Oklahoma Aquarium in Tulsa. It features a lovely arrangement of buildings and exhibits, and was well worth the time we spent there. 

Leaving Oklahoma this time with Andrea, Reagan, Ryan and Lydia, we made our way back to Abey's home in Kyle, spending one night enroute at Maypearl again.  Our friends Chuck and Vanay met us for dinner at Cici's Pizza in Waxahachie. 

During this time my physician assistant class in Arizona sent me an "Oscar" ("Hollywood Best Teacher") as their personal award and thank-you for my time spent with them.  A wonderful surprise and I'm very grateful!

 Our trip gave Andrea and kids some good family time with her Brother Abey and his family,

 Meg with Sunny

Christian Abey and Phineas

 as well as with the new puppy "Snowflake." 

We spent a beautiful summer day swimming at Splashtown, a large waterpark in San Antonio that is very fun and family-friendly. 

After creating some new sweet memories with family, Andrea and girls returned to their home  courtesy of an Amtrak train from Austin to Oklahoma City.

 

 

Roger and Meg flew to Florida to attend performances of "My Fair Lady", starring our daughter Stacey, and including Ashley as a supporting castmember.  While there we celebrated our birthdays at the local restaurants.

Now, with little comment, other than to say that the show was FANTASTIC, I'll conclude with pictures from the play.  Wish you could have seen it!!

Liza Doolittle meets the Colonel

Practicing her work

At the Royal Ascot

Ashley and Joey ("Mr and Mrs Tarrington")

 By Jove, she's got it!

 Liza with Henry Higgins

Joey and Ashley

 Stacey with our lovely Granddaughter Ashley

 At the Royal Ascot: "Move your arse!!"

 The family that plays together stays together!

Taking her bow!

 

Sailing the British Virgin Islands Part II

On Friday morning 27 April we took the ferry from St Thomas to Tortola to begin the next part of the adventure.  We boarded our catamaran, the "Escape", and after stocking it with groceries, the harbor pilot took us out of the marina.

Our captain, Bonnie, then took over for the rest of the trip.  We spent a week traveling among the British Virgin Islands, sailing each day for a few hours, mooring in a different bay each evening and sampling the fares of some wonderful local restaurants.  Most days we spent a few hours snorkeling as well.  We each took our turn sitting with Bonnie and "navigating" for her, "helping her" drive the boat.

Pat, her husband Bruce, and Bonnie relaxing at the restaurant after a day of travel:

With five Texans as crew, it was important to fly our "colors!"

"Crew members" Jon and Roger:

At a local outdoor cafe we were entertained by Michael Beans, a local "pirate."  Part of his show included a conch-shell horn blowing contest: Roger came in second!  (A real "blow-hard!"  I know everyone is surprised!)

One of the most visited sites in the BVI is "The Baths", a collection of enormous boulders, around and through which the ocean circulates, creating these large pools and tunnels of reflective water.  Quite exciting to wade through them! 

This fellow and two other barracudas joined us in the bay on our last morning aboard.  We didn't swim with them, but by all accounts, they are non-aggressive and mind their own business. (We did the same!)

The second week of our trip was spent on the island of Tortola at the Heritage Inn.  Here's a view from our balcony down to the pool and restaurant area.  

It was a romantic location which allowed us all to recoup and relax after what was a fairly strenuous week aboard our catamaran. 

Jon and Geri made great traveling partners. 

 

Bruce and Pat were the perfect hosts!They literally thought of everything!

We spent time at local beaches on Tortola, often joined there by local fauna.

Beautiful flowers were everywhere! 

A popular local spot is the Bomba Shack, a small bar/eatery on the beach which has been literally put together with whatever was available: flotsam, boards, pieces of metal, etc. 

Grilling burgers by the "hereditary keepers of the flame!"

Finally, after two glorious, romantic weeks it all  came down to our last night, and our last sunset over the islands set the sky ablaze! 

We shared a farewell dinner at the Heritage Inn restaurant, the "Bananaquit", whose food is especially wonderful.

There is truly something magical about the islands!  We had a wonderful and memorable time, learned new skills, made new friends and acquainted ourselves with a previously unknown area of our beautiful world. 

Hope you, too, can experience the Virgin Islands.