A fair Fair is nothing like the State Fair

Blah, this blog is turning into a baby blog! Total GRITS move. I promise there is more to my life than this baby belly.


The Panhandle South Plains Fair in west Texas was this past week. No no, not the State Fair of Texas that lasts an entire month in Dallas. West Texas has it's own horse and pony show. Literally, there are horses and ponies.

My Director is on the Fair Board and gave me free tickets but I was out of town for work, so I passed those tickets along also - #PayItForward #HashtagsInBlogs? #IsThatAllowed?  Ask Jimmy Fallon and Justin Timberlake (video)

I was so bummed to miss the Panhandle fair! Performers included Tommy James and the Shondells, Lee Brice, AB Quintanilla and the Kumbia Allstars, Quiet Riot, Brandy and Adelitas Way. Just kidding, I wouldn't go for the concerts. I'd rather go for the Free Entertainment like the LumberJills: a group of log cutting ladies, Ron Diamond the Hypnotist or ...wait for it....Jimmy the Spoon Man!  Holla!

What I really miss is my State Fair of Texas!!! Kids here don't even get a "fair day". They don't get a day off of school to go to the fair like North Texas kids do (or did - is that still a thing? I hope so!)

To satisfy my Fair Fever I am stalking the State Fair of Texas Instagram this year:

It's great to see the familiar photos....

@statefairoftx traditional photo taken by parent of kiddo with Big Tex in the background

Who is Big Tex you say? "If you have to ask, you're not from around here"

(I think that quote it from a Dallas Morning News article, but I can't find it online)

This photo features my college friend Nicholas...yes, I stole your picture Nicholas!

Is it just me or are Big Tex's boots up to his knees?

 

Here's another from +StateFairofTexas 

Corn Dogs are a staple at the fair and this pregnant lady is DYING for one

Fletchers is the best!

Why? Tradition.

 

Nicholas had the deep fried King Ranch Casserole

A casserole my husband has never had before - add it to the wife list: Make King Ranch Casserole!

The Megadrop at Midway via @statefairoftx

Midway is where all the rides, games and carnies are...it's bright, loud and addicting!

The closest thing Texas gets to Vegas.

 

and for all you Pinteresters who are obsessed with Nutella....

Try the deep friend nutella! My sweet tooth is aching just thinking of this!

No way I could eat it (and stop at just one bite!)

Even when I lived in San Antonio I never made it up to the fair, but my goodness I want to go this year!!

Can we say homesick??

Grits,

A Texas Sized Blizzard!

If you follow High Heels and Grits on twitter or Instagram you probably saw what happened this weekend.  A Texas sized blizzard!  Now, a Texas sized blizzard isn't the usual "everything's bigger in Texas" blizzard.  It's a one foot of snow blizzard.  But that's the amount of snow Texas gets in a decade.  So I'm calling it a Texas Sized Blizzard!!!

Out here in West Texas, in between Amarillo and Lubbock, we got a little bit of snow on Thursday.

This is my drive to Lubbock on Thursday, nothing to write home about

Even Max asked "Why are you taking my picture you crazy lady it's just a little snow"

Friday was a beautiful day with no snow or rain.  I went out to Amarillo to visit my sister-in-law.

Saturday we were out at the barn.  Dogs were running around and even drove home in the bed of the truck. 

Everyone did great until Ranger decided to jump out a quarter mile from the house.  He survived with no injuries, but he was definitely in shock for a while.  Silly dog. 

Sunday night we had youth group and almost cancelled because of the Blizzard warning we got on our phones.  But we stuck with it and had a great time with the teens.  Everyone made it home safely, as the blizzard rolled in over night.

I woke up Monday morning to this view.

Stepped outside to take out the dogs and couldn't see a thing.  This is a still shot.  The wind is blowing snow 34mph!!

 

We stayed inside for most of the day.  I led my nieces and nephews in a much needed yoga session.  Which wasn't as relaxing as yoga usual (they are 6, 7, and 9 years old).  But it did stretch out our couch potato bodies.  The wind didn't stop until the afternoon, and as soon as it did we were outside!

 

Hubby shoveled the walkway for us. 

 

 

The truck was full of snow!  So we took the work truck into town to check out the damage.  I think J really wanted to look for people in distress.  Every stranded car we came across he'd slow down and make sure there was no one inside.  He loves his truck and handles it great in rain, snow and mud so I'd trust him to pull me out of any ditch!

Thoughout the day I learned something new about our small town.  They love their town!  The first road cleared after the storm was Main street.  Main Street isn't a interstate or TX Hwy, it's just a little road through town.  But it's OUR road and it's gotta be clean.

A big pile of show in the middle of Main Street

 Main St.

None of the shops were open...but Main Street was clear!

 

To give you an idea of the amount of snow...Here's a before and after.

 

Official reports say 7".  I say between 16"-24"!!

This is my first blizzard, so maybe things were a little exagerated in my eyes.

 

 

There is ONE thing this city girls knows about snow:

 

 Don't eat the yellow snow!!

 

We didn't eat yellow snow and we survived just fine.  I hear it was only 3" or so in Lubbock, so I'm glad my little town the amount it did!  Snow slowly melts into the ground.  There are still huge piles of snow across town and on the fields!  Praying for a great crop this year and a full water well!

 

 

 

Have you ever been in a blizzard before?  What was your experience like?

 

Grits,

 

Weekend Update

NBC Saturday Night Live Weekend Update

No, not that weekend update...but I do love Seth Meyers!

My weekend update, which consisted of:

 

Going with Farmer J to the cows to give them water.  They were thirsty and started running right up to us.  I am still not comfortable around these cows, I've seen too many rodeos!  J says they aren't snakes or coyotes, I'll see a cow coming if it wants to charge at me.  But they usually just stare at us or run away.  Them running at us was a new thing.  In the end they posed for a picture so I can't complain!

 

I attempted this drawer organizer.  Instead of stacking shirts and pants on top of each other, roll them up and slide them next to each other.  This way you can see what is in your drawer without messing everything up.  My drawers are packed tight so we'll see what happens when I start wearing these clothes.  Will they all unroll into a huge mess?  Stay tuned....

 

On our way to Valentines dinner (on Saturday) I attempted this new scarf knot.  I loved it!  I kept un-tying and re-tying it at the restaurant.  We did have an HOUR wait...(no reservations)

 

Found this tutorial on Pinterest which led me to Meg's Blog

Super easy: end 1 over-under, end 2 under-over, done!

 

We went out to eat at Stella's, an Italian restaurant I am officially in love with.  After the hour wait, I found out Lubbock does have some nice restaurants.  Ok, one.  I've only been to one, but we'll get there.  When we got our oyster appetizer J asked "Are you going to take pictures of the food all night?" which I really meant 'if you get to have your phone out I get to have mine out' so we both put our phones away and enjoyed each other's company.  It was a blast.  A great first Valentines as a married couple.

 

Identity Thief

 

Before dinner we saw Identity Thief. It started at 4:30 and we figured since it's been out for a while there was no rush. We got there 5 minutes before the start time and the theatre was PACKED. We sat in the third row! I guess everyone went to the 4:30 movie and then out to dinner. Identity Thief was a funny movie. J said he would have done the same thing Jason Bateman does in the end. I won't spoil the movie, but if you've seen it and know J, you'll understand.

 

How was your weekend?  Hope it was great!  When did you celebrate Valentines Day?

High Heels!

West Texas

You might be wondering where in the heck I live now.  I'm in a little town west of Plainview TX and northwest of Lubbock TX.  I'm south of Amarillo and have only a 1 hour drive to New Mexico.  It's a wonderful area known as 'West Texas'.  We all claim one another.  If you were to ask someone from Lubbock if they were from Amarillo they'd say "No, but I have an aunt/sister/brother who lives there".  See?  We're all family out here.  If you need help the people of West Texas will make it happen and by the end of the day the whole town will know your name. 

My mom sent me this beautiful video featuring a photographer's view of West Texas.  I hope you enjoy the video below.  I watched it yesterday morning and it reminded me of what I love about this place.  No buildings, no roads, just God's great earth, wild animals and nature.  NONE of these pictures are of my small town.  But I've been to the Palo Duro Canyon and it is beautiful.  I am definitely in the market for a high end camera so that I can feature my small town as the gem it is.  Enjoy the peace and quiet in this 5 minute video:



Livin' in West Texas in my High Heels!