2023 Travels and Adventures

 Well, sorry I haven't blogged about 2023 travels yet.  I thought I better hit those before I worry about 2024.  I've had a lot this year and if I put them both together it would be a super long post.

My first big trip in 2023 was to Washington DC with Janice Minyard.  We went in April and we were fortunate enough to be there around the Cherry Blossom time (at least in time for the parade).  We did all the things you need to do in DC.  We toured the White House and visited a lot of the museums including the Holocaust Museum.  We also went to Virginia and to Monticello.  

In May I went to California for my friend Sara's wedding.  And then in November Sara, her new husband Terry, and the two girls came to Texas to spend Thanksgiving with me.

While in California, I stopped in to visit with Marcy and Brian (my brother and his wife).  Lori Nickels came over to visit with us too. 

A few weeks after the wedding I drove to California to help my Father-in-Law go through his stuff as he was going to sell his house and get married to a new lady.  Long story, I was half way there when he called me and said his realtor would take care of everything and that I don't need to come.  It was a horrible time as I am not very fond of his new wife and the fact that she made him get rid of everything that Jeff, Erma or I made.  She wanted nothing in their new house of ours.  Kelly was supposed to come help too, but he told her not to, which broke her heart.  Our relationship has not been the same since.  I still call him to check up on him but he told me that if something should happen to him, she or her family would not call either Kelly or I.  So we are hoping that they will at least contact Joyce (Al's sister) and she will let us know.  Yes, that lady is that bad.  But her family is getting a great deal.  He bought a new house for them to live in, she is out of assisted living (so they don't have to pay for her lodging anymore) and he is paying for everything.  And he is taking care of her and all her health issues.  Mind you folks, Al is 95 years old and she is now 89.  

Sometime that summer I was invited by Beth Rhodes to join her friendship group at a retreat at the Red Boot Retreat Center which was a lot of fun and I was invited to come back in 2024 (which I did).  But before the retreat, she came to visit me for some relaxation and sewing.

I went to my first Wurstfest with Deolinda's cousin and her husband (Renee and Gary).   Lots of good food and fun.

And in March and April, I had my front and backyard landscaped.  

It's all filled in and full of flowers and plants.  The work included flower beds along the fence in the backyard and two 6' above ground veggie garden beds.  (Yes, grew some great tomatoes.)

The year was a great year and am so very thankful for what I have and am able to do like travel.  God has blessed me richly.

I have traveled a lot in 2024 (New Orleans during Mardi Gras, Memphis/Nashville and Savanna and Atlanta, Philadelphia and New York) and had some company.  My little sister and her hubby came to visit us in October and Deolinda and Kathy Morrison came in Oct/Nov to go to the Houston quilt show).  

Thank you for looking.

Barbara