Ladies... Lost Pines... Laughter... Luxury... and Gypsies!

I HAVE A GROUP OF FABULOUS FRIENDS.

AND WE TAKE A MEMORY MAKING TRIP EACH SPRING...

OUR ANNUAL EXCURSION TO ROUND TOP TOOK PLACE IN APRIL...

IT WAS A "SHOP TIL YOU DROP" KIND OF TRIP...

AND WE STAYED AT THE LUXURIOUS...

LOST PINES RESORT!!

OUR TRIP STARTED WITH RELAXATION DAY...

IT WAS TERRIFIC!!

HERE IS A PIC OF THE GOLF COURSE...

MY FRIEND MAY BE PLANNING A WEDDING SOON AT THIS RESORT,

SO WE ARRANGED A GOLF CART TOUR...

IT WAS GORGEOUS!

AS YOU CAN CLEARLY SEE...

SERENE DOESN'T EVEN DESCRIBE THIS PLACE!!

I THINK THAT PIC LOOKS JUST LIKE A POSTCARD...
(TAKEN WITH MY IPHONE!)

***

SHOPPING BEGAN ON DAY TWO...

 I FOUND THIS EXTRAORDINARILY COLORFUL CHAIR...
FOR WHICH I WAS SPECIFICALLY SEARCHING....

SO I SENT DLW A PICTURE TEXT TELLING HIM I'D FOUND

THE PERFECT CHAIR... 

***A JUST KIDDING KIND OF TEXT***

I MUST TELL YOU THAT DLW HAS NEVER BEEN FOND OF
OLD FURNITURE

(... AN UNDERSTATEMENT INDEED!!!!)

AND HE MADE IT PRETTY WELL CLEAR 

THE NIGHT BEFORE I LEFT...

HE WAS NOT INTERESTED IN OLD CHAIRS...

I THOUGHT, HMMM..... DLW MIGHT THINK

 THIS PARTICULAR CHAIR HAS SOME CHARACTER...

(CAN YOU SEE ME SMILING!!?)

JK-JK-JK!!!

I WAS ENJOYING THIS JOKE TREMENDOUSLY
AND HE DIDN'T EVEN RECEIVE THE TEXT!

(ROUND TOP HAS CELL PHONE RECEPTION FROM THE DARK AGES!)

WHILE ON THE ROUND TOP TRIP

WE LADIES ALWAYS INDULGE IN DELICIOUS FOOD.

ONE ANNUAL TRADITION AT ROUND TOP CALLS FOR DINNER

AT A LOCAL DIVE CALLED...

ROYERS CAFE!!

IT IS HERE THAT THE OWNER STANDS AT THE DOOR 

YELLING NAMES...

LARGE, LOUD, AND SWEATING...

USUALLY GRIPING

***

AND IT'S FUN, BECAUSE THIS CAFE HAS REAL CHARACTER...

***YOU KNOW...LIKE THE CHAIR!!!***

SO

WE ALWAYS EAT AT ROYERS!

IT'S A VERY POPULAR CAFE THAT  

REQUIRES RESERVATIONS...

AND SERVES TERRIFIC PIES!

AND, OH... I SHOULD MENTION THAT

AT ROYERS...

ALL OF THE RESTROOMS ARE OUTSIDE THE FRONT DOOR...

PORT O POTTIES
TO BE EXACT... THEY ARE DELUXE PORT O POTTIES!!
ROUND TOP IS SATURATED WITH THEM.

AT ROYERS...

 JUNK COVERS THE ENTIRE WALLS AND CEILINGS!

HERE IS A PIC OF THE OWNER...

HE DRESSES KIND OF LIKE A GYPSY!

BELOW IS A PHOTO

TAKEN AFTER A LONG DAY OF ROUND TOPPING...

WE WERE WORN COMPLETELY OUT AND HUNGRY...

WHEN WE FINALLY GOT TO ROYERS!

GOOD TIMES

GREAT MEMORIES

FANTASTIC FRIENDSHIPS

UNIQUE FOOD

LOTS AND LOTS AND LOTS OF UNIQUE SHOPPING UNDER 

CANOPIES, METAL BUILDINGS, RECONDITIONED HOUSES, OPEN FIELDS...

AND WE EVEN GOT TO GO TO THE GYPSY PROM...

YOU SIMPLY CANNOT IMAGINE 

WHAT A PEOPLE WATCHING SPECTACLE THAT WAS!
***WHOA... PEOPLE ARE CRAZY!!***

SOME OF MY FRIENDS BROUGHT BACK REALLY COOL FURNITURE...

ME... I JUST BROUGHT BACK REALLY COOL MEMORIES!

I AM REMINDED OVER AND OVER AGAIN
THAT GIRLFRIENDS
ARE ONE OF GOD'S GREATEST GIFTS
THEY ARE GOLD...
***JUST LIKE THE GYPSIES WEAR***

FOR THIS
I AM THANKFUL
AND
I'M SMILING AND SOUL SINGING
ALL THE WAY DOWN TO
MY TOES!

LA - TI - DO!!!

JEANNE