Happy Halloween

A couple of weeks ago, we had a wonderful dinner with our friends Elizabeth and John.  Somehow, the conversation turned to neighbors of theirs who were having a Halloween costume party for their neighbors  on the 30th.  As luck would have it, Rick knows them well -- so, we told Elizabeth and John that we might just drop by unannounced!

One problem, Rick and I so don't like wearing costumes because we're dorky enough -- costumes might make us look normal and then we'd have to dress up all the time!  So the wheels in my head started spinning.

What to do, what to do -- I mean, we weren't officially invited, although our friends of the friends invited us.

Eureka!

Our very elaborate (and expensive) Halloween Costumes!

You guessed it (or maybe you didn't), we came as alleged party crashers.

One lady figured it out -- and asked me where my blond wig was.  I explained that the wig would only have been the start.  I would have had to miraculously grow about a foot taller and lose 50 lbs.  Neither was going to happen in less than a month, so I didn't bother with the blond wig.  Another lady at the party called me Michelle, so I'm quite positive she didn't get my costume.  Oh well -- so, maybe it wasn't the brainiest of my ideas -- but we sure had fun explaining our costumes.

I need to wish my bestest friend in the world a very happy 7th dating anniversary!  He's treating me to Game 4 of the World Series in Arlington tonight!  We (and every Texas Ranger's fan) were thrilled when they won Game 3 last night in front of a home crowd!  GO RANGERS!!!!!

Happy Anniversary Rick!!!!  I love you!!!

Everyone else -- be safe, watch for kids out trick-o-treating, and have a wonderful Sunday!


PS -- thank you John and Elizabeth for (allegedly) inviting us and a huge thank you to the LaTour's for not kicking us out and treating us to a fun party (the food was delish!!!!)!

Texas Rangers Claws and Antlers Parade

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How did I answer that question? Oh, (e) of course!

We went to the final regular season Texas Ranger's game Sunday and were pleasantly surprised when we walked through the gates to see that some of the players were in the lines handing out the schedule for 2011. Ok -- it was fan appreciation day so maybe we should have expected something special from the Rangers.

OMG CJ Wilson is so cute (and young), but why oh why couldn't I get my act together to at least shake his hand????? Rrrrrrrrr! I was so mad at myself because here was a prime opportunity to snag an autograph -- but a zillion thoughts were spinning through my head -- and none of them made any sense. You have to know that we went to see the Rangers in Boston, MA -- and I made Rick wait with me a little over an hour so that I could try to get their autographs before they left Fenway (and of course, I left empty handed). So - you would think that I would have succeeded when I had one of the players right in front of me! Oh brain, oh charm, why doth thou leave me when I need thee?????

Oh well. I still have the schedule he touched!

A number of the players were there. Rick was greeted by Michael Young and Seth was greeted by Clay Rapada!

Josh Hamilton handing out 2011 schedule

Anyhoo, the reason we got there early was so that we could watch the Claws and Antlers Parade. Luckily, our seats were down low so I had a great vantage point to take pictures.

Here are a few pictures from the parade.

Just in case you want to see more cute fans, check out the slideshow below.

The Rangers lost -- but we still had a great time!  We're so proud of the team and wish them the best in the post season!

Well, here's to a brain (mine) that doesn't engage when coming face to face with a sports hero!!!!

Have a great week!

; ~`)  Frances 

PS  -- Please tell me that I'm not the only one who goes brain dead when face to face with a celebrity!

Wichita Falls Food Photography | Food, glorious food

Gee, I wish my favorite hobby wasn't centered around food. I do so enjoy it!

I was out yesterday at one of my favorite, upscale restaurants  shooting some food pics for an upcoming website developed by Crane-West.

I wasn't hungry when I got there, but I was feeling light Pavlov's dog when I left. I hope nobody noticed the slobber running down my chin and onto my shirt. How embarrassing!

Here's a few photos from yesterday's shoot. I hope this makes you run out to Pasqual's located at 3001 Garnett Ave, Wichita Falls, TX 76308. I'll embed their website link as soon as it's completed.  If you need website development or advertising, give my friends at Crane-West a call at (940)691-2111 (they're awesome)!  If you have time, stop on by my food photography gallery.

 

Have a great Wednesday!

: ~ P  Frances

Friday the 13th, dunnnnh, dunnnnh, dunnnnhhhhhh

Hola and happy Friday the 13th!

Gosh -- what can you say to friends who give you an opportunity to take pictures from a helicopter????????? How about THANK YOU VERRRRYYYYYY MUCHHHHH! I got the opportunity to take pictures of the Windthorst football field from high in the sky in my friend John's helicopter. My dear friend (and fellow photography enthusiast) Elizabeth, who just happens to be married to John, asked me if I'd like to take pictures of the new Windthorst Trojans' football field. It took me about .00000001 seconds to say "YES"!

John doing his instruments check, me giving a very crooked thumbs up!

Bumming Elizabeth's camera again!

Up, up and awayyyyyyyyyy!

Things I learned on today's flight:

1. Plowed dirt looks amazing from up high.
2. Cows don't look so tough from up above.
3. Man, every fourth house in Wichita Falls has a swimming pool (where's my invite???).
4. Not everybody uses their pool for swimming, some use it for algae growth, frog ponds, or mosquito pools.
5. I sure enjoy flying!

Anyhoo, here's what the new Windthorst football field looks like from the air.

And finally, some artwork from today's helicopter flight.

We landed next to runway 13 -- no kidding!

Thank you John and Elizabeth for a really fun morning!  You two are the best!

Here's to good friends -- and the weekend!

;+)  Frances

Till finally, there was no more (death of a snowman, part deux)

There is but a trace of my once proud and robust snowman, carefully constructed on Christmas day -- only to slowly melt away and disappear on this, the last day of the year. Sob. I do believe that when dawn yields it's lovely colors in 2010, my snowman will....be....no.....more (dunnnnhhh, duuuuuunnnnh, duuuuuuunh).

Ok -- I can be a drama queen. But it was great fun playing in the snow -- heck, I even had fun shoveling snow at Rick's office! Who knew hard work could be so much fun????

Anyhoo, for those of you headed out to parties tonight, please be safe. I guess that really goes out to anyone who will be out and about tonight!

Happy New Year!

Cheers!

;~D Frances

PS -- saw this video online and thought it was terrific! Enjoy!

Death of a snowman

Soft, fluffy, beautiful snowflakes fell again yesterday afternoon.  Unfortunately (or maybe fortunately from someone else's viewpoint) the temperature remained above freezing, so the new snow melted quickly.

The temps will rise into the 50's today -- so much of what remains of the snow will probably disappear.  Just in case we don't get another beautiful snowfall for another ten years,  I captured it in photographs from my back porch (didn't want to venture too far as  I fell once in the snow --yep, call me chicken, baucckkk, bbaaauuccckkk, bauccckkk).

Maybe I shouldn't have taken pictures, so that years from now, I can tell the grand kids about the blizzard of 09 and how we were stuck in the house for two days and had to survive with  the little food we had in the pantry, and how people were stuck in their cars for 20 hours, and when we were finally able to get out, the grocery store shelves were barren, and how grandpa and I got the last 1 lb bag of pinto beans and Rotel Mexican Lime & Cilantro on the shelves (that part is actually true), and how we helped a guy get his car out of the middle of the street, aaahhhhh you get my drift!  Yep, I'm already working on the tall tales I can tell years from now about our Christmas Eve snow!

  

 

 

And finally, my poor snowman, who is slowly melting into the ground.

This will certainly be a Christmas that many area residents will remember!  I hope each of you had a Christmas to remember.  Here's to a wonderful New Year!

Cheers!

;~D Frances

Wichita Falls Blizzard | Attack of the Snow People!

It's such an unusual sight -- snow people in Wichita Falls, Texas! They were everywhere. Some all duded up, some missing eyes and noses, some resembling cartoon characters.  There were snow couples, snow families, snow cats, snow hunters, snow country singers, and snow athletes.


Rick and I had a great time driving around (I highly discourage it unless you have 4-wheel drive - the roads were still treacherous this evening) looking at these marvelous snow creations.  I even busted my tail when I slipped getting out of the car!  Luckily, Rick was the only witness!

I hope you enjoy my pictures of the new (and very temporary) residents of Wichita County!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

My pride and joy!

 

 

Snow Goose at Lucy Park