Over The River, and Through The Woods

Well OK, I went over the river...but there aren't any woods to go through, but there is a scenic route to the adorable, quaint little town of Salado, Texas. You actually go over a river, called the Little River, and a reservoir called Stillhouse Hollow Lake.

I really need to go to Salado more often, and definitely when the weather is more suitable to walking around town. But for today, I have two birthdays next Sunday, and I decided to look for something different and unique...so it was off to Salado.




You can click on this picture to see the kids cooling off in the Salado Creek, from the natural Salado Springs.




I love this fence made out of bicycles. It's along a bike trail that runs through town and around the park.

I did bet some shopping done, and wandered around a few antique shops, but the heat!! Seriously, there's only so much walking you can do in hot humid weather, so it was adios for today.

My last stop was the post office to mail the birthday packages.




You guys remember Jack, right? He thinks Grandma J is nuts, and I wouldn't want to ruin his day by telling him the real reason I take his picture. Do you think all of his tattoos are on his arms?

When Phillip Johnny Bob...



....gets down in the dumps the whole world seems a tad darker just keeps on spinning.

Grandma J would notice PJB staring our the window, confused over what was happening. This whole moving thing was new and foreign to him. He wondered just what did this new Spa place have, that the Compound didn't? Surely there couldn't be a better band of loonies this side of Albuquerque neighbors to entertain him there.

Grandma J was a bit put out to see all the junk Phil was force feeding himself. This plate of left over Easter candy troubled her. Especially since he didn't have candy in his Easter basket this year. Come to think of it, Phillip Johnny Bob didn't have an Easter basket.

Phillip Johnny Bob said it kept him "regular" was comfort food, and he was confused over this moving thing, and he knew JJ was riding around with Grandma J. He was jealous. He wanted to run away. That's when Grandma J came up with a solution...

He was going away on a well deserved trip. One that would take him to meet fiddler crabs new friends on the shores of Chesapeake Bay.

That's right, he's off to help Chesapeake Bay Woman plan the biggest blogfest ever....the Virgina Blogfest in Mathews, VA. Of course Big Hair Envy will lend a hand, and for that Phil is grateful.

Jack wasn't working at the Post Office and this guy told Grandma J not to take his picture. She obediently said, OK.




Too bad smug postal worker doesn't know that Grandma J doesn't use flash in well lit buildings.....Gotcha, Mr. Postman!

Travel safely, Phillip Johnny Bob. I hope you write home, and I will see you next month. JJ says good riddance have fun dude.

A Grandma J Tale

Once upon a time, about a year ago, Grandma J took a large parcel to the local post office. There was a disgruntled patron named Tom. It seems Tom was unhappy with the service he was receiving twice a day....and he wanted everyone to know it. Do you remember?

When Jack, the postal clerk laughed at Tom, Tom got angry at Jack....but Jack just laughed some more. Then Tom made sure his protest sign was aimed directly at the surveillance camera ...that's when Grandma J took a picture. Remember?

OK, no need to rehash that whole incident, you can go back and read it here later because it has nothing to do with today's tale. What Grandma J really wanted to tell you today, is that she mailed the book, The MIDDLE PLACE to Noe Noe Girl...Tall Tales from a Short Chick. Yeah, that's what she wanted to tell you. Well, and there's more to the story. You knew that, yes, you did.


So, pulling into the parking lot was a surprisingly pleasant experience, because here in Texas, just getting out of the Compound the Post Office is the place to be.

Today, the place was like a morgue! Seriously, no one was there but me, Jack, and another postal clerk. This is rare folks, because usually there is a line out the door and just one postal clerk.



Jack is always flirting talking to Grandma J, but it's always such a rush rush situation...except for today. He let me take his picture again, and he was grinning ear to ear. And don't you know? Grandma J was grinning too. Then I noticed something new on his arm.....do you see it?



Now isn't that special? Who wudda thought?



Then Grandma J asked Jack to turn around so she could show you, all her blogger friends that he cut his three foot long ponytail off.

JJ was in the car the whole time staring in at Grandma J. She took him the long way home as an extra treat.


It's always a sad time driving away with JJ staring out the window. If you can't see JJ's sad face, click on the picture....see?

Oh yeah, and Noe Noe Girl, your book is on it's way.

IT'S A WRAP

That's what I'm calling it.......In the wee hours of the morning, which is really the end of yesterday.

I had chauffeuring duty in the early morning and late afternoon...which included taking JJ along, riding shotgun..

Then a doctor's appointment and two basketball games sandwiched in between.

I came home to this mess of gifts and boxes mixed with receipts, bags and junk.

After a few hours I finally got my wrapping about halfway done, and under the tree.

Once I'm done, they will be packed up to ship to Florida, California and Colorado.

I can't wait to go visit all my friends at my local Post Office.....Remember them?

A LITTLE BIT OF THIS.......
......and that

I made me a Wordle today.... I feel so damn accomplished, you know, almost smart. So, because I love you with all my heart, I thought I'd give you the link so you can make one. Please don't think this is a meme or mimi, or mama....it's not. I'm just a kind, loving, sharing, type of person like some of the famous bloggers. Here's the Wordle link again because if you make one, let me know so I can come see it.

Please don't confuse this offer with the infamous Arte Y Pico This is so not that! Besides I'm sure you all have a Arte Y Pico award by now....No? Please, I find that hard to believe. But if in fact you don't, I will bestow one on you. I know it's against the rules, but if you don't tell anyone, no one will know the difference. SHHHH!

Now for the "one of the thats" of This and that..... I sent a huge care package to my granddaughter, Little One, for her second birthday. She will be two, oh yeah, I said that already, at the end of the month, but I like to send packages early because I know it will drive my daughter nuts....I mean I can't depend on the mail system to be swift and dependable because, hello...you've all seen my local post office .

Anyway, I send one much wanted gift, then a few things I know her mom would never buy her, a few odds and ends that I find at The Dollar Tree Nordstroms, and then a little something for Pooper and Beauty.

They received the package, and a few things weren't wrapped..like a Dora umbrella and a three-piece outfit. Little One can't open her gifts yet, but she walks around with the umbrella in the closed position........because no one will tell her what it really is! She thinks it's a friggin stick with a Dora head on the end. Anyway, here's a hint at a couple of the odds and ends.......

Now for the final "that"....

my sweet almost wannabe grandson JJ is a curious little guy. He hops from the couch to the air hocky table to sniff things out.....

Or maybe he's just a sneaky thief. We find these hidden all over the house! You're busted dude!

***if you are a big brother fan, don't forget to vote now!

THERE'S SOMETHING
IN THE WATER

Every once in a while a simple thing like taking a parcel to the post office takes a sharp left turn...into the world of weird. Our post office is in a fast growing town next to a larger, older town. The small post office is crowded, really crowded, all the time. But I like it because it's newer and not a hassle to get to, it's also near Wally World close to shopping. Here is an idea of what our post office looks like.

Because I like to go at odd times, when working people should be working, the clientele at the post office is made up of senior citizens, stay-at-home-moms, and normal people like me. But then, out of the blue, we can count on someone like Tom to come tearing in just like the Texas tornado that almost killed me.

Tom has a complaint, "the stamp machine in the lobby is still broken....and I'm back with a new sign, y'all." So we all just sort of stare at Tom. Tom is loud and he comes in every day...and plans on coming back every day until things change around here. Jack is the only postal clerk working on this Friday afternoon. This doesn't make Tom happy, but Jack ignores Tom. Tom doesn't like being ignored so he points out the fact that Jack has a hickey..."did y'all see the hickey?" Oh yeah, some people nodded, because maybe Tom will shut up...um yeah right . When it was my turn at the counter, Tom mentions Jack's man-boobs to everyone. Jack said, "why don't you just take a picture."

So, I grabbed my camera out of my purse and said, "may I?" Jack, laughed and said, "sure"

I left the post office, and wondered if there wasn't something in the water in this cute town.