Ane and Drew

When I think about what I’m going to share, it blows my feeble mind. Thirty nine years ago, I met Ane and Drew at a small State Univeristy in Texas. Wwwhhhhaaaaatttttt? 39? Yikes. Can’t be. It was my third college. Long story. But even though I’d gone to two other schools—quit and worked full-time for a year in Ft. Worth—I wasn’t too much older than these two cutie-pies.

Ane was my roommate. We didn’t know each other before that moment we arrived at our dorm. I don’t remember if we’d even talked. Neither of us knew anyone, actually, when we met that “move-in” day in September. She had grown up in Austin. I’d been in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex since 6^th grade. She was beautiful. Blonde. Pretty smile. Free-spirited, honest and brave. (She brought both a horse and boat to school. Not at the exact same time. But she could back a trailer like no guy I knew. Until I met my husband. I should make them have a contest.) I remember knowing our thrown-together relationship was going to work. No doubt! And it did. We were roomies for two years. Then Ane made the difficult decision to transfer to Texas A&M. She wanted to pursue a degree she couldn’t get at our college. I was crushed.

Drew lived on another floor of the dorm when we all moved in—but we met her early on. She, too, was beautiful. Grew up in a small town near Austin. She was tiny (still is). But full of sass and spirit. FUNNY. (She had a car she called "The Flying Turtle." Because it wasn't fancy and "sporty" and, well, fast. We sang our share of Tanya Tucker songs riding around the country in The Flying Turtle during our time together!) I pledged a Social (campus) Club with Drew. Ane pledged the next semester (after giving us a hard time for putting up with all the cRaZiNeSs we endured for seven weeks as pledge sisters).

For my three years at my "final" college, two while Ane was still with us, we laughed. We cried. We partied. We complained. We cried some more. We went to class faithfully. Mostly. (At a small college—in classrooms with not too many students—it’s quite noticeable to the professors when one is not there. Attendance is pretty much required.) We believed. We cared. We did stupid things. We did smart things. We changed. We stayed the same. We experienced. We dreamed.

Here is a “club” picture of us I copied out of our 1975 annual (TLC cropped and edited this for me. Thank you, Little Mama. Thank you very much.) Yes. We might have been at a bar. I’m in the middle. Geez—why didn’t someone tell me I needed bangs? Ane is in front of me—black hat with a flower—to my right. Your left—as you look at the picture. Drew is behind me. Looking right at the camera. My left. Your right. That’s our cherished friend, Liz, holding a can of Diet Coke (That’s my story and I’m sticking to it.). My Big Sis, Meg—who I still adore—is to my left. Your right. No hat.

We had a LARGE time in college. Very large. Special/Dear/Treasured Memories.

Recently, Ane and Drew came to stay with me at my country casa. They spent an afternoon and Saturday night. My Sweet Hubby (MSH) cooked us a delicious dinner. Breakfast, the next morn. He's a keeper, that Man O' Mine. There wasn’t a moment of silence between the three of us gals. For hours and hours. We hadn’t seen each other for many years. Yet, as happens to y’all, too, with close friends, it was like we’d been together the week before. We headed over to our Barn apartment at midnight. MIDNIGHT. I went back to our house at 3:00. That would be A.M. Crawled into my bed at 3:30.  (We’re close to hitting our 60s Decade! I say: WE ROCKED. BTW: We each had one small glass of wine. That’s it. VERY different from our college years. We apparently got wise.) We laughed. We complained. We shared. One or two of us might have cried. We laughed some more.  

We promised it wouldn’t be years before our next visit. We always say that, though. Hopefully, this time, we’ll stick to it. We don’t live that far from each other. It’s so senseless to lose touch with friends you cherish. Especially now. Having instant access to communication! 39 years ago? We had telephones. (Calls that were charged as “long distance.” I know. This is sooo foreign and mysterious to our young folks of today.) We had mail. “Snail” mail—as it’s called. Oh, and I guess we had Western Union. I never once sent a “telegram” to anyone. Nor did I ever receive one. Does Western Union still exist? Hmmm.

Thank you, Dolls. For the joy you gave—and continue to give—to me…I love you, both!

These Are A Few Of My Favourite...

... PUMPKIN THINGS!

ELC and I HEART PUMPKINS!  Did you know she and MSD (My Sweet Dad) actually grew their own pumpkins one year?

Aren't they adorable?

Even though it's still ninety-plus degrees here in Texas, I'm ready for all things FALL and PUMPKIN.  In particular:

1.  Pumpkin Cream Cheese Muffins (Oh.  My.  Gosh.) and Pumpkin Spice Lattes (decaf and nonfat, please) from Starbucks.  Be still my heart.

2.  My NEW Pumpkin Scentsy Warmer (next to the latte).

3.  Tiny, little white and orange pumpkins with curly-q stems.

4.  My new LEOPARD PRINT PUMPKIN doodad from Hobby Lobby.  In the words of my dear Rachel Zoe:  I die.  I mean, seriously.  Leopard print and pumpkin?  The best combo!

And I bet you can't guess who my MOST favourite Lil' Pumpkin is?

That's right!  This girl.  My Little Leighton.  She was TWO MONTHS OLD this week.  Wow.  I truly can't believe how quickly time is flying.

(You didn't actually think I could make it an entire post without sharing a picture of her, did you?)

Happy Fall, Y'all!

Have a wonderful, pumpkin-filled weekend!

Two Yeehaws for Y'all!

Hope you were sitting down when you realized I had something to share in the form of Two Yeehaws! I know. I know. I've been very lazy about said Yeehaws. Seems like a certain Little Angel has kept my mind (and time) preoccupied. I didn't think most of you would be interested in the changing pads I like to have at my casa now. For Little Leighton's mini nursery set up in our guest room. Like TLC, I haven't had alot of time to browse the drugstore aisles or department stores for more exciting discoveries.

BUT...TLC and I both could NOT be more thrilled about these Yeehaws. In fact, this post should probably have been Two Yumhaws. I did, however, discover both these devine items on a trip to her Kroger's. I'm taking credit for them. Period. Pepperidge Farm Pumpkin Spice Swirl Bread and The Laughing Cow Cinnamon Cream Spread.

So here's the calorie count on two pieces of this SCRUMPTIOUS bread and spread:

Each piece of bread has 80 calories. After toasting four pieces for me and TLC one morning last week, I only had to use one cute little package of the Cinnamon Laughing Cow between ALL FOUR SLICES. Seriously. Each little pie wedge has 45 calories. I then put a teensy bit of sugar and cinnamon on top of the Laughing Cow spread. (We both require a bit more "sweet" than maybe some of y'all might?) I then halved a medium banana, putting a few thin slices on each of the four pieces of toast.

Estimated calorie-count per slice of completed and ready-to-eat pumpkin toast? 125. I actually think that's a smidge too many. We like to err up on our calorie estimations.

When I say this was a filling and beyond delicious breakfast (assuming you love all things pumpkin as we Leightons do), I'm not exagerrating. Word of honor.

Happy Saturday Night! Here's wishing each of you a Sweet Sunday!

ta-ta for now...

Just Humour Me... Again!

What I did today:

1.  Changed Little Leighton's (very) dirty diaper in a Walgreens parking lot.
2.  Bre@stfed her in a Walmart parking lot.

Do you notice a theme?

After those two experiences, I think it's only fair that you humour me, once again, and let me inundate your computer screen with photos of my Sweet Angel.

Here we go!

I could look into those big, beautiful eyes every second of every day.

A few "outtakes" from our One Month Photo Shoot:

This isn't comfy, Mom.

Even in the name of fashion.

Seriously, Mom.

OVER IT.

Teddy Buddy Boo Bear being a most excellent "babysitter."

(Truth be told:  He's eyeing her paci.  He thinks it's a toy.)

Posing for the camera!

I hope everyone has a WONDERFUL week!