Southern Comfort . . . he he he

    I have never owned anything made out of cashmere, but evidently it is elegant, understated and never goes out of style.  Add to this the fact that it is one of the most comfortable wools available.  Hmmm. . . . my bosom friend Rachel must be cashmere.  

    Rachel and I met ten years ago in college.  We kept everyone on their toes.  In fact WE were on our tip toes an awful lot, sneaking here, there and everywhere, doing this, that, and . . . We did class projects together.  We spent breaks together, watched the five hour BBC Pride and Prejudice five times over a spring break while making bridesmaids dresses.  Sometimes we would just sit in a room together, working on our own projects, or doing nothing at all but enjoying the company of someone so well known.

                                               

     Years have passed and some things have changed, our age, marital status, energy and time levels, but most of all the physical distance.  We now live nearly 4,000 miles apart.  This does not stop us from being the best of friends.  We read together, talk together and sometimes sit for silent moments on the phone together not wanting to hang up, but not knowing what to say.

   A few weeks ago I was able to fly south and spend some time with Rachel IN PERSON!!  It was wonderful!  I was able to see her son and play with him and get to know him (The last time I'd seen him, he was a baby.), and hold her new baby daughter (I totally stored up on the snuggle time as much as possible.), and last but not least I was able to visit with Rachel and Will again.  They introduced me to many new and fantastic things such as Chick-fil-A, Bass Pro Shops, The Mentalist, Total Truth, Planet Earth, and The Blue Planet.  There were others, but I'm already getting wordy.  I brought my camera with me (OF COURSE!) and took lots of pictures, almost as many as my nephew. :D  Here are a (very) few of my favorites.

                  "Look how fast I can run, Aunt Dorina!!!"

            Many mornings and some afternoons the two of us would build "zoos."

    This was in their living room and, honestly, who doesn't find joy in a good cup of coffee?

                                   Me and the sweet peas.

                  Because silly faces are always more fun

              Here they are "sillysweetums" and "cutiesweetums."  He loves his little sister immeasurably.

               They both love their daddy.  So precious.

          I call this "Boy with his Bazooka."  He called it his "bomb shooter."