Galveston Get-a-Way!

So after taking an almost 2 year hiatus to follow my dream of getting my BSN, I'm back in the game of life!  So many things that I want to do, including catching up with family and friends.  I had the opportunity to spend several days on a canal in Galveston, TX ~ really doing nothing but eating, drinking, and talking with my 2 sisters, cousins and niece and nephew.  What a sweet, sweet time for making memories.  💜

Stress - nothing that a few adult beverages cannot overcome!

We absolutely loved our rented vacation home, right on the canal in Jamaica Beach.  Just beautiful and restful.

My oldest sister Veda, with her prize catch - a stone crab!

Family celebrating my beautiful cousin, Kim's birthday ~ Pleasure Pier, old time photos, 

a nice drink, and lots of chatter!  What a fun day! 

It's Mardi Gras!

And we are headed to Fred's in Mamou for some of the most authentic music experiences around!!! But Poo Yiie it's raining cats and dogs and ducks and frogs too!!

Don't Eat The Dead Ones!

It's Mardi Gras Time!

Up early and so excited to be headed down to Cajun Country for some Mardi Gras! We have lots of fun stuff planned ~ it's only a 6 hour drive from our home near Ft. Worth to our Cajun Cottage near Lafayette, La ~ time to get the Community Coffee brewing, the car and the doggie boys loaded up, and moving South down the road. 

I participated in the T-Mamou ladies run in 2010, and that's where we are headed again this year!

LAISSEZ LES BON TEMPS ROULER!!

Oh ~ and Happy Valentine's Day, Cupid!

WANDERLUST

WANDERLUST ~ a great desire to travel or rove about.

(German, literally: wander desire)

I've got it bad ~

Mount Rushmore!

We have had a glorious week at Sturgis, and have enjoyed so many rides and experiences!  One of my absolute favorites has been the ride to Mt. Rushmore ~ what is not to love at this place ~ and the weather was perfect for us!!

You reall have to see it to beleive it!  Just beautiful!

Coming around the corner to one of our first glimpses of the monument.  Breathtaking!

Me and my Honey Bunch!  We had such an amazing time at Sturgis.

Some sights really are better seen from the back of a Harley!

Winter Wonderland

So this man of mine is military ~ A Soldier ~ one of America's finest ~ a hero.  He's also my partner in crime ~ the one that if I have one minute in one day to spend, I want to spend it with him.  So, imagine my delight when we were able to take a 3 week R & R together in December, 2011 - He came from Afghanistan, I came from Texas ~ and there we met ~ at Ramstein Air Force Base ~ (he's Army National Guard ~ But the Air Base is an amazingly hospitable place to lay your weary head during your travels!) ~ After a couple of Honeymoon "Get Re-Acquainted after 6 months" Days ~ our travels began!  What an amazing trip!

We ended our trip by spending New Year's Eve in Paris!  OOMG ~ I am 100% TOTALLY smitten with the Eiffel Tower!

My family ~ from way back when ~ is from the Alsace Lorraine region of France ~ I was thrilled beyond measure to
 be able to drive the Alsace Wine Route with the love of my life, stop in for some wine tastings, and just BE THERE!!

My Sweet, Sweet Honey Bunch of a Husband ~ I was so happy that he was SAFE, WITH ME, AND ABLE TO  ENJOY
many, many glasses of wine ~ it was so great to see him smile and relax after where he had been! 
CHEERS my love!

So much fun to do wine tastings in FRANCE ~ dream come true -
 this was the sweetest little winery in the heart of the Alsace Wine Route

Don't you just HAVE TO drink beer while in Germany??  Of course you do!  And you have to go to the Hoffbrau House!
Where beer was invented!!  (not really!)  Great, fun, LOUD touristy place with lots of beer and atmostphere ~
 I just loved my little friend with him umpah hat!

Thrill of my life~~~ We found them!!!  We really found the STORKS that live in France~we saw their nests, their babies, and tons of them - I was so, so, so very excited!!!

When in France ~ you just have to have them!!  OF COURSE I had the Escargo ~ and they were absolutely fabulous!!

Honey and I did a Champagne River Cruise in Paris on New Year's Eve - doesn't that sound ROMANTIC!!!  Oh, to be in Paris again with him!  It was an AMAZING trip~

                                  Cheers on New Year's Eve ~ Paris, France ~ under the Eiffel Tower ~~ December 31, 2010 ~
               He said he'd show me the world!