Washy Washy Girl

As we embarked the cruise ship a month ago, there were ship employees with bottles of antiseptic, spraying everyone's hands.  Over the course of the cruise, there were always people spraying our hands as we embarked the ship after every port visit.  There were people at the entrances to the buffet restaurants also spraying our hands.  There was a woman from Peru, Josie, whom everyone on the ship got to know as the "washy washy" girl.  Josie has a constant natural smile and would say to everyone coming into the restaurant, "washy, washy, happy, happy."  No one could pass her without feeling happy, happy.

Halloween Party

We had a Halloween Party last night with Carly bringing the kids for dinner.  They were dressed as a witch, Tinker Bell, Batman, and a cow.  Papa was a cowboy and I dressed as a laundry basket.  I made a bewitching dinner of Ghoul Punch, Jack-O-Lantern Quesadillas, Bug Salad, Yummy Mummy Meatloaf, Candied Apples, and Spiderweb Spice Cake.  The kids took home lots of goody bags filled with candy.  We enjoyed our Halloween celebration!

Jack-O-Lanterns

We helped Claire and David carve their pumpkins into 

Jack-O-Lanterns for Emerson's first Halloween. 

Goldeneye

We have had higher than average rainfall on the ranch this year which has yielded a bumper crop of goldeneye.  Goldeneye is a perennial wildflower that grows well at elevations from 4000 to 6000 feet in southeastern Arizona.  Our mountains and canyons are covered with them!

 

Best Friend

As we were in Dallas for a few hours last week, Papa and I stopped for coffee with my dearest friend, Linda.  We are fortunate to have stayed in touch over the past 22+ years, with Linda still living in the same house in Highland Park, while we have moved three times since living a few blocks from each other from 1988-1992.  Linda was particularly gracious last Thursday morning when I called and said we would be stopping by within the hour.  I've always loved her coffee and she had a pot ready when we arrived.  I feel privileged that Linda has been and continues to be such a close friend.

Winchester Ranch Driveway

Papa and I walked to our ranch gate and back a couple of afternoons ago.  I took photos of our driveway as we returned, about 2 miles long from the gate.  It was 4:45 p.m. when we got to the gate and 5:30 p.m. when we came in the house, just after the sun had set.

Fall

As we traveled over the past week, we enjoyed the colors and sounds of fall from Virginia to Texas.  The summer of 2010 corn crop on my Dad's farm was harvested a few days before we arrived and a flock of birds was feasting on the leftovers.  They were quite noisy!

While in Austin, we stopped by a pumpkin patch sale.  Toby had a great time rearranging the pumpkins.

Oak leaves were turning beautiful shades of orange, yellow, and red along the way.  Beautiful!

Visiting Parents

On a cross country driving trip from DC to Texas, Papa and I stopped in KY to visit my parents.  We spent one night with each and didn't get in nearly enough visiting, but it was wonderful to see each of them a second time in 2010.  I was in KY for several days in May for a high school reunion.  The photo with Grammar and Sonny was taken right after we woke up and the photo with Granny was taken just after a long walk.  Not my best moments on camera but wonderful moments with each of my parents!

Grandbabies

Over the past week, we have seen grandbabies Emerson and Toby.  Emerson was born on July 23, 2010, and Papa met her for the first time on our visit to Washington, DC.  She is smiling and starting to grab things.  She loves bathtime!   We drove to Austin, Texas to visit Toby, who turned 1 on June 7, 2010.  He enjoys the outdoors and rearranging the kitchen cabinets.  He is a busy boy!  Both Emerson and Toby are adorable!  Daughters Claire and Whitney are too!

Panama Canal Cruise

Papa and I met Audrey in Los Angeles on September 23 to go on a 14 day cruise through the Panama Canal, ending in Miami on October 8.  We enjoyed every moment of the two weeks, visiting Cabo San Lucas, watching cliff divers in Acapulco, walking on the beach in Huatulco, Mexico, shopping in Antigua, Guatamala, hiking in Poas Volcano in Costa Rica, spending a day cruising through the Panama Canal, and wandering in the old city of Cartagena, Columbia.  We had good meals together, played games, worked out in the gym, power walked on deck 7, spent a day in the ship's spa, read lots of books, and talked and talked.  We spent more time with Audrey over these two weeks 

than ever in her life!  We had a wonderful trip!