BOARDING, BLUES, BIRTHDAYS, BUSH AND BISHOPS

The Myrtles are in bloom and summer is officially here!

We used to have several of these trees in the back yard, but they didn't get enough sunlight so we took them out. The ones in the front yard, however, are a different story. They are prettier than they have ever been!

Let me remind you again that if you're having trouble reading this due to the verbage "striping", if you double left click your mouse on the right hand side of the text, it will clear up. I have no idea why it does this and I apologize for the inconvenience.
Now that summer is officially here, the boys are really busy. Ian is in "Skate Camp" as they call it, and he is getting very proficient on his skate board. I'm not terribly fond of these things since our eldest son broke his leg in several places on one (it was a neighbor's since I wouldn't let him have one). You can't ever get ahead of kids, so don't even try!

Over the Memorial Day weekend my friend and prayer partner, Diane, had a big surprise. Her stepson was riding his bike near Crawford, Texas and had the good fortune to run into former President Bush. He joined him and his wife and after the ride, invited the two of them to lunch! They were really impressed with both his hospitality and his agility on a bicycle. He's in great shape and glad to be back in Texas!

Last Thursday night Franklin and his band, The Burgandys, played at the Lakewood Bar and Grill in Dallas. If he hadn't given me these photographs I don't know if I would have recognized him!

They play Rock and Roll and I love their style of music, but they never start to play before 10:00 and we've been in bed an hour by then!

We keep telling him that if they would play around 7:30 in the evening, we would be able to make it. We're too old now to be out that late. We USED to go to all of his gigs as well as Jim's and Ian's. At least Ian starts early since he's so young!
The following Saturday was Franklin's 46th birthday. This is a photograph I took of him when he was in his early 20's. He was such a handsome young man. He still is but the hair was wonderful back then ;-) I'm still having trouble with his "new" look!

That night he and Beth entertained some friends with a dinner party at their home.

They had attended a benefit several weeks before, had bid on a dinner which included a chef, and they won the bid. That evening the chef and her assistant came over to their house and prepared and served the meal to the six of them.

They had wonderful hor doeurves to begin, a salad, lamb and Creme Brulee for dessert.

They celebrated Franklin's birthday with champagne (he tended bar in his Charlie Sheen shirt)

And then they drank a toast to the Birthday Boy. Here is Beth with her long time friend, Jennifer. She and her husband Eric were in Franklin and Beth's wedding.

And of course, here is the happy couple!

There were only six of them but they had a great time.

Here are the Brothers (they're not brothers, that's their name). They go with them to Diffa in Dallas each year. It's another benefit that they always look forward to.

They were all anxiously awaiting the meal. Once it was over, Diana flambed the Creme Brulee and the kids said there was not a morsel left!

Speaking of kids, everyone had a sitter that night so it was adult time. What a treat!

The next day, Sunday, was Father's Day. Franklin was born on Father's Day, so we always celebrate the two events together. I decided that I would do something at the house since Franklin usually cooks for the father's and since he is a father as well I thought he needed some special attention! Here he is with his boys.

And here is Big Daddy! He looks very content.

Since it was Paco's birthday, he got to open his presents first.

Just what he always wanted ... a Ranger's baseball cap! There was a monetary gift inside that made the little boys jealous and made their Daddy smile.

Beth and Connor watched as Papa opened his gifts.

Harry was bored with the whole event since he wasn't getting any steak, presents or attention!

After gift time, Beth went outside with her Dad to help Papa cook.

The steaks were cooked to perfection and we all enjoyed a wonderful meal. After all, eating is our favorite pastime as well as a great hobby!

Once the steaks were ready, we all went inside and enjoyed the Father's Day/Birthday feast. A good time was had by all.

Monday (yesterday) was the beginning of the big meeting of the ACNA which is the Anglican Church in North America. For those of you who have been following my blog, this is a historical event as that we are forming a new Province in the Anglican Communion in the United States.

This meeting is being held at our Cathedral, St. Vncent's, in Bedford, Tx. There are nearly 1000 in attendance and this conference will last through Thursday. I won't be seeing much of Papa since he is a delegate representing the Diocese of Fort Worth and will be attending meetings day and night. I love to see the clergy process into the sanctuary at the beginning of the service.

Each session begins with prayer and the Holy Eucharist. I love to see the clergy in their beautiful vestments and hear their wonderful voices singing all the old, traditional hymns.

It's not often that you have this many Bishops gathered together receiving the body and blood of our Lord at the same time.

They took an official photograph of all the Bishops in attendance at this meeteing. They represent all the corners of the earth that are part of the Anglican Communion.

After the Eucharist, the meeting began and there were many people in attendance as well as visitors.

Here are several members of our delegation.

If you remember, we hosted Arch Bishop Gregory Venebles last year. He is the AB of the Southern Cone which is in South America. I love this photograph of him. He is a wonderful and holy man and we are blessed to have him as our leader as we transition from TEC to the new Anglican Province.

Bishop Terrence Kelshaw, the former Bishop of the Diocese of the Rio Grande is also in attendance. Here he is with his wife Hazel and another Bishop. He's in poor health now, but I remember the days when he was in his prime and we ran all over the streets of Jerusalem with him. We made that pilgrimage 16 years ago and our lives haven't been the same since. He's a dear man and we feel so blessed to have him and Hazel for our friends.

The keynote speaker today was Rick Warren. He is the founder and senior pastor of Saddleback Church, an evangelical megachurch located in Lake Forrrest, California, currently the eighth-largest church in the United States.

He also spoke at the Inauguration this year. The next few days will be exciting ones in the life of our church and I know Frank feels privileged to be there.

While he is watching history in the making, I'm trying to get things together so we can leave for Santa Fe on Friday. I almost have my bags packed and we will soon be hitting the road.

It's time for us to head for the Land of Enchantment once again, enjoy the cool, high desert air and get out of the Texas heat. I'll check back in from time to time and please do the same.

Have a delightful and cool summer!

XOXO, Pcasso

SPRINGTIME, STORMS, FOOD FESTS AND SURPRISES

It's been quite a while since I've posted anything here. Time seems to really fly by. We've been having our usual Texas weather and I really don't like it!



When you live in Texas, it's either feast or famine when it comes to the weather. There's an old saying here that if you don't like the weather, just wait a minute and it will change!After returning from New Mexico where we attended our friend's grandchild's funeral, we've gotten back on that proverbial merry-go-round once again. I'm not complaining. What can be better than friends, fellowship and food!

We got together once again with our friends from Dental School for a nice dinner at Piccolo Mondo.

There's never a dull moment when there three are together. Lou and I just sit and listen to "the boys" exchange stories. They always seem to tell the same old stories and never tire of them. At least we all still have our memories to some extent!

On Thursday we went to Key Elementary School and attended Connor's award program. He won many awards and we are so proud of him. The boys seem to grow up so quickly. Seems like yesterday that he started school and now he's ready for the 4th grade WITH HONORS!

He waited very patiently with his friends for the program to begin. Then the award giving started and he was on the stage for almost every category.

He's a very special young man and we're very blessed to have him for a grandson.

Frank got an award that week as well. He was honored at a luncheon at the hospital for the volunteers. Here he is with his group (he's the cute, young one on the left!) I love them in their matching uniforms ;-)

Then on Friday night of that week we went to a dinner party at the Iker's. The weather was perfect and they had a marquee set up in the back yard so we could enjoy the food and friendship in a very relaxed environment. It was lovely.

This gathering was for the delegates and their spouses of the new Province and it was a beautiful evening.

The next night which was Saturday, we went to the Ashton's for dinner. Our good friends, the Mitchell's were there as well.

Both K and William are the perfect hosts. We began the evening on the portal with cocktails and hors d'oeurves.

After cocktail hour, we went inside for a lovely meal. William loves to cook and he made the most delicious lasagna that I think I have ever tasted. Needless to say, we didn't leave a single bite!

Sunday was the Feast of the Pentecost so we had our annual outdoor church service and gathering at Legacy Park. The service was lovely and very well attended and afterward we had a picnic which the younger ones prepared for us.

On Monday we went back to the school for Ian's program. He did as well as his brother and spent a lot of time on the stage. He even got a special medal for being at the top of his class. Of course as proud grandparents we had to pose with him, but we also wanted to show you this photograph of his Mom and his teachers.

He will be in the 6th grade next year and then on to Junior High. Where on earth has the time gone???

The next night we went to Fort Worth for dinner with our friends, the Pattons, and Canon and Mrs. Heidt. Jo Ann has always been the "Hostess with the Mostess " and cooks like a dream. She makes it seem so effortless.

To top the meal off, she served us this beautiful dessert and it tasted as good as it looks!

Kiwis, blackberries and whipped cream top this lemon tart. Yummy!

I went to lunch on Thursday with an artist friend of mine. She's such a talented young woman and I always enjoy her company. This is a shot that I took of her at work at the Gallery some time ago. She was so busy painting that she wasn't even aware that I had taken her photograph.

We went out again with the Ikers on Tuesday night to Bonnell's. (Do you get the feeling that all we do is eat???) At our age, that's about all we can still do and do well, so why not!) The food is always delicious and we wanted to get together with them one more time before we leave for Santa Fe. I went to school with the owner's sister. In fact, we were sorority sisters. That was a long time ago as well!

Frank went to the baseball game on Wednesday night. He had barely left when a storm came up from out of the blue and it was awful. The trees in our yard were bending over as the winds got up to nearly 70 mph gusts and it looked like it was raining horizontally. We got over 4 inches of rain in a couple of hours. I thought the water in the pool was going to come up over the top. We made the National weather news it was so bad. We live in a high area, so we don't have to contend with flooding, thank goodness! Of course we were also under a tornado warning and I was terrified. I tried to call Papa on his cell but couldn't get in touch with him. All ended well but I hate it when we get this severe weather. I though we'd missed it since we are in June but it is like the old song title, "Spring Will Be a Little Late This Year"!! Here are some of the results of that evening.

The ballpark looked like a lake and so did the yards.

Speaking of school and old friends, my best friend all through school's name is Joanna. She and I were inseparable at the time. We were even cheerleaders together. Here are the before and after photographs. We've changed a lot in looks since then, but we're still young at heart.

Her Mother passed away several weeks ago and we decided that it was time that we rekindled that friendship of so long ago. Her Mother was like a second mother to me. I could talk to her about things that I didn't feel I could talk to my own Mother about. Everyone needs someone like that in their lives. Anyway, she and her husband came over last night and we went out for dinner (of course ;-) and had a wonderful visit. We are planning on many more good times together in the near future.

We will have a Family Day tomorrow after we have been to church. Beth and Franklin are hosting this one. I'll post more pictures then. Have a happy week.

XOXO, Pcasso