My Garden Retreat

My Garden Retreat
photo Gridley Graves for Country Living

You must be home from Texas...you're pinning!

Hah, hah!

This  was the phone call I received bright and early this morning from a friend of mine!
She had been watching for me to return by way of my favorite past time...Pinterest!

Yes!
I'm  home from Texas!
From nearly two weeks of working on "Little Miss" and her fiancé Russell Wayne's new home...


Out in the boonies of Weatherford, Texas.
At first glance, It's quite fairytale like!



But...
For the first few days...we didn't even have water!
They had just moved in.. and didn't have the utilities transferred right away!
They still don't have Internet! (that's practically prehistoric)

Let's just say...it was kind of like camping!
We had so...much to do inside before we could start putting away their things...mostly cleaning...
And painting! Lots and lots of painting!
10 gallons worth of painting!
Whew!
I get tired everytime I think about it!


Rebecca was introduced to Texas's textured walls...She isn't a big fan!
She was a worker though...everyday we went at it with only a few breaks in between!


Mostly visits with April's new neighbor  we call "Sugar"
He is such a charmer! Rebecca is head over heals for him and as you can see...He thinks she's pretty special too!

Then we met  the cows across the street...


Sorry...
we didn't get their names.
Life in the sticks...pretty spectacular huh?



We  managed to do some sight seeing!
I had to laugh, I lived in Texas for more than 20 years...




I have been down to the stockyards more times than I could count...



But not once...
Had I ever had my picture taken with Wild Bill!


Until now!


He called this our "Charlie's Angels" pose!
What a hoot!

What would a trip to Cowtown be... (that would be Fort Worth for all you city slickers:)
Without a picture of a Longhorn steer.


Or  a visit to a famous boot store!



I have a case of the serious "I wants"
Maybe if I'm real good...Santa will drop a pair of these beauties into my stocking! I'm not picky...any pair will do!


Next, we headed to Saginaw for April's Wedding Shower.


Hosted by her  gorgeous Cousins...


And a couple of her  beautiful Aunts.

It was so...much fun! I got to visit with people I haven't seen in years! Even meet with  April's future in-laws!
Such adorable folks!

At the close of our Texas tour...
We met up with some blog buddies for lunch and shopping in Dallas.



Do you know these wonderful ladies?
Of course you do!!

It's my dear one Deb of Talking Trash
Her darling daughter Jennifer and of course, the very famous Bella, the beautiful granddaughter.
I have loved Deb since I first started reading her blog! She is such a child of God and funny to boot!
Meeting her face-to-face...was such a treasured moment for me!


Then, the beautiful Lisa of Tarnished and Tattered
I had never met Lisa  in blogland but started following her once I got back home! She is a wonderful lady! So...talented!

Thank you all for such a wonderful day!



So many memories to treasure!
Rebecca and I had a wonderful time in the great state of Texas.

But I am quite exhausted!
She headed back to Chicago the next morning and I started to get back into my home routine...
Yep, I had a ton of email and of course, there was pinning to catch up on!
:)
Hubby and I return to Texas in just a few weeks to spend Christmas with our Texas loved ones and then...
We leave for Las Vegas and the big event~
The wedding of Little Miss and her prince charming Russell Wayne!
(She is gonna shoot me for using this picture...but I thought it was cute!)

January will be here before you know it!

Well, that's the highlights. So many things I am sure I've left out but I really need to get busy!
I well share some pictures of their newly repainted interiors soon...definitely before the New Year!

Here is the sun setting at my daughter's house...can't you just see it...us 'ol cow pokes riding off into the sunset!

Until next time...Blessings to you!



19 comments

  1. Pinterest pinning. So hard to stay away! :)
    Welcome "back", Donna. So fun seeing what you've been up to!
    Hugs,
    ~Zuzu

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  2. What a great trip and what a great house! It's lovely in Weatherford with the country setting but so close to the big cities. I lived in Texas all my life and I've never had my picture taken with Wild Bill either.

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  3. Wow! You really had quite the interesting and varied stay in Texas. Great photos. How wonderful that you are such an integral part of their new beginning together. Blessings...

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  4. Welcome back, Donna! You've been really busy lately! Looks like you all had a great time in Texas. I hope you and your family have a happy Thanksgiving!
    Take care,
    Loi

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  5. Dear one, thank you for a wonderful trip, we did have fun!
    and a little work never hurts.
    Blessings to you and your lovely family this Thanksgiving
    Love to you
    R

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  6. Welcome home Donna. So glad that you and Rebecca had fun and met up with Deb. I would love to meet her in person. Looks like you did a heck of a lot of work...but hey you are good at working. It is nice you help your children .Have a happy thanksgiving. xo, Susie

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  7. Looks like you had a wonderful and successful trip. I laughed at the heavily textured Texas walls. They do that here in Oklahoma and I HATE it. Thankfully, mine do not have this but so many do and I despise it.

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  8. Looks and sounds divine... trips like that cement friendships even more.
    Your daughter's home looks amazing...boonies included. Since I can hear my next door neighbor sneeze, I covet the boonies...
    gobble gobble girl <3

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  9. La PrimaDonna,
    Tell R.E., it could be worse. There's always the dreaded popcorn ceilings! I can't believe she was painting in white!!!
    Getting to meet you...even for such a way too short time...made my year. I hope we get to play in December. Must remember to put that on my list for Santa.
    I just old Rebecca we are thinking with one brain since all three of us posted on the same day.
    The only thing missing to make it perfect was your April. I would have loved to meet her. BTW...tell her I said she's gorgeous!
    XOXO and love all the way from Texas,
    Deb
    P.S. Where can I get me some of those cow-cow ear bobs?
    P.P.S. Lady...you are breathtaking...'specially in blue.

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  10. Oh Donna! What a big job you gals took on. It does look like a storybook from outside though. I am sure the inside will be just as storybook-like when she is done with it.

    What a wonderful time to have a wedding. I hope everything goes smoothly. Your daughter is gorgeous, too.
    I am so glad you got to meet a couple of bloggers. What fun.
    I WANT SOME BOOTS! I just love those- xo Diana

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  11. Awwwwwwww, what a cute post. It looks like you had so much fun, not to mention did ALOT of work. The house is charming, i love it's little peaks... how fun to meet your blog buddies... and hopefully santa is noticing how good you've been and some of those fine lookin boots will end up under the tree!

    Cindy

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  12. Oh, tell April I LOVE HER HOUSE! It is beautiful!

    Looks like you girls had such a great time! :) Wish I could have been there! Stuck here playing nurse tot! Hahaha!

    Tell Daddy Bill we said HI! Have a wonderful and blessed Thanksgiving day!

    tot

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  13. Such a fun post! Great pictures and I love the horse. Such a fun time with friends.. it doesn't get much better. What a charming house! This reminded me a little bit of my farm home post.
    http://trouverlesoleil.blogspot.com/2012/09/home-is-where-heart-is.html

    I'm looking forward to following your fun blog!

    Have a nice Thanksgiving!
    leslie
    www.trouverlesoleil.blogspot.com

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  14. Love knowing that you and Rebecca were in the Lone Star State and close to me! So glad you got to have lunch with Deb - I recenty got to meet her in person too - she's a FUN mess! Love the area your daughter is living - and that means you'll visit again!

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  15. Donna! You make magic wherever you go!
    Welcome back!
    ~Lynne
    w/L.

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  16. What a lovely house! And what a lovely mother you are to help with all that painting!

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  17. That sure is one very lovely home spot. What a beautiful and amazing mom you are! :)

    real estate ph

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  18. Haha can't deny being a pinterest enthusiast too. Love the photos in here dear, seems like I had a mini tour wonderful! :) Got my eye on your next posts.

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  19. The post is describing about the home from Texas your are pining. Useful post

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Thank you for stopping by and taking the time to leave me a comment!
I love reading them~they truly make my day!
~Donna Reyné