Last Weekend of Christmas Vacation

It always comes down to the last days of a vacation period and you go, "What the heck happened to my vacation?!?" Even though I tried to keep blogging I still feel like I wasted it. But, enough of that business. Let's talk about the rest of Dallas.

So, once I got to Dallas I totally got lazy. I wouldn't say lazy as much as COLD. Well, I forgot a jacket (because you don't really need one in Houston. Wellllll, even though Dallas is only 200 miles north it's quite a big difference temperature-wise. On my first day, Tuesday, I believe it snowed almost ALL afternoon. It was magical!! I had the blinds open and the blanket on all day. It was great.

The next day, the sun came out so I explored the AW Perry House and Museum and Historic Downtown Carrollton. Again, I've seen these places a million times but never photographed them, and I needed the research for the wcities.com job. Enjoy the photos!

Oh, and update: After I left Dallas I stopped off at the lakehouse to see my aunt. I dropped off Matt's flag gifts and got my jacket I had left there a week or so ago. Then today, I drove home. I'm trying to clean up a bit and watching the bowl games. I'm hoping to get some Houston trips and errands run the rest of the break. It was fun while it lasted!


AW Perry House and Museum. Funny story: The sign said "Open" so I went to open the door. It wouldn't open. So I kind of leaned down to look in the window and my hair got caught on the wreath. So the lady comes to the door and I'm like stuck on it and she's kind of weirded out. Haha, I'm.......a loser.
I liked this pic too. I must have a thing for old timey looking lampposts.
The barn...there wasn't any path to walk there although it kind of looked open. There was an old man walking around the area and I had just watched a freaky episode of Cold Case and Law and Order so I didn't really feel comfortable checking out the old-looking barn alone with that guy in there. Plus it was really windy and the windmill in the top left hand corner was making this really weird banging noise that I started psyching myself out that I would die in there. Oh, and I had just watched Changling, too so yea, no barn discovering.


I liked this one...with the lamppost and all.
All lit up
Agave is where my grandma and I ended up eating dinner later that night. It was good Mexican food but the mango margarita was definitely the best part. :)

Christmas Vacation 2009: Day 10

Wow, has it already been 10 days? I have another week left but it feels like my vacation is wasting away already. Well, today I drove from Houston to Dallas (again) to get some entries for my wcities.com articles. My editor said my entries were "flawless" so I'm super energized to get more.

Today I went to the Addison Town Hall and talked to their visitor's service director. Nice woman. Beautiful house. Then went to dinner with my grandma at a not-so-good restaurant. I looked for the old school house and cotton gin in the book I'm using but didn't find anything. So I'll be calling in the morning to find out the details about what Addison's historical buildings are or if they're still even around.

I have LOTS planned tomorrow. If I get plenty done then I may be spending Wednesday in Arlington or Salado. We'll see! Keep ya posted. :)

Christmas Vacation 2009: Day 8 (I think)

Well, since I last posted I cut all my hair off. Enjoyed a fun Christmas with my parents (doing absolutely nothing and loving the break and stress-free feeling). And now I have a little over a week to travel anywhere I want. :)

Today I wanted to see Yuletide at Bayou Bend in Houston. The house was built for our first native Texan governor Hogg. His daughter (weird sense of humor) Ima Hogg spent most of her life here and collected many antiques and pieces of art. The house was beautiful, each room decorated in a time period's Christmas decoration. The gardens are much better in late February and early March when I hope to return. But, for now, here ya go.

Still haven't made plans for tomorrow, though....Hmmmm (can't go too far since I have NO clean clothes).

Funnest bridge ever!!!
Gardens
See, I'm not lyin' it's important!




The Butterfly Garden
Cupid with my heart ripped out of my body......(you don't wanna know)

Christmas Vacation 2009: Day 2

So, today I started at Aunt B's lakehouse that I got to on Saturday. We had a lazy morning then went into Dallas. We visited Nana Bev and I dropped off gifts. We ate at Babe's restaurant in Carrollton. Then Aunt B and I went and saw Betty Buckley perform at Addison's Water Tower Theater. Great show! Fun day!

Weekend Update with Brandy

So, exciting weekend...

Spent time at The Nutcracker Market in Houston and then the FFA Craft Show in Cypress. Much fun shopping for gifts!

Then, Saturday morning was invited to go to COLORADO with Aunt and Uncle Barbara and Terry this summer as soon as school gets out!!!

Dallas, Texas

Uncle Jeff and my cousin Sarah




My cousin Jacob....we tried about a million times to get a picture with the kids jumping in the air. Yeah, waste of time....

Joy riding with the top down with Sarah and Jacob in Downtown Dallas Saturday night.


This weekend was full of new restaurant reviews for my new job with www.WCities.com Jeff and his family were also in town so we all had a good time trying new places in the Big D.

Travel Updates

So, since the boys were here I really didn't have an opportunity to get much done. I should have! But I didn't...I was just really overwhelmed with both of them and spending every minute I could with them.

However, this week has been tremendous for my travelling life.

1) I have my first Top 5 place in Fredericksburg, Texas on VT

2) I got a wonderful email from a person on the VT website telling me how good I am as a writer and that I have a great writing talent.

3) I was talking to someone last weekend who said I had a "natural talent."

4) I was hired for Wcities.com to be their DFW representative so I will travelling to Dallas once a month getting things done for the city.

5) After opening up my blogs to the public I have recieved more followers (which isn't a big deal but always nice to know that people sympathize with you.)

6) While visiting with my family this weekend we moved back the Alaska trip to 2011 but added a trip to Lake Tahoe.....omg so beautiful!!!!

All of this happens while my teaching life is getting harder. Grades were due and times are rough but things pull out when you put the kids first.

Next weekend I'm going to Austin for the Texas Book Festival so I'm looking forward to that. Will have to post pictures next weekend.