Monday, October 22, 2012

A Rose Is A Rose Is A Rose {Part I}

I've lived in Texas all my life... well, with the exception of the first four years of my life.  But that time doesn't really count... I barely remember it.  I'm a Texan and proud to be.
 
Texas is a big state.
{That was a total Texan thing to say- we state the obvious.}
 
 
Speaking of size, have you seen the movie Bernie?  It's set in east Texas and is such a terrible story as far as what happens because it's a true story, but to be honest, it's hilarious because it's SO dead spot on.
One of our favorite characters described Texas as such....
 
"...Texas, which could be five different states, actually.  You got your west Texas out there with a bunch of flat ranches.  Up north ya got the Dallas snobs with their Mercedes.  And then you got Houston, the carcinogenic coast is what I like to call it, all the way up to Louisiana.  Then down south, San Antonio, uh that's where the Tex meets the Mex... like the food.  And then in central Texas ya got "the people's republic of Austin", with a bunch of hairy legged women and those liberal fruitcakes.  Of course I left out the panhandle... a lot of people do, but... Carthage, this is where the South begins.  This is life behind the "pine curtain" and truth be known, it's a good place.  Carthage is in east Texas and it's totally different than the rest of Texas."
 
Hahahahaha... Love it!
{here's a link if you want to watch that bit}
 
 
I kinda got off course there, but not really because it's east Texas I want to tell you about.
 
When the Farmboy and I met, both fairly new divorcees, I was living back in Dallas and he was living in the "ugly, little pink house", as I liked to call it, out in east Texas.
 
 
We dated for over a year and then were engaged for just over another year.
It was a long distance relationship, which included high phone bills and lots of driving the 7 hour round trip, for each of us.
 
 
Tyler, Texas is located about halfway in between from where each of us were living.
 
I've been out there a number of times and the Farmboy, well he had been living out in east Texas for about 20 years or so and had actually lived in Tyler for awhile.
 
 
Tyler is known as "America's Rose Capital" and has an annual rose festival.
It's something I've always wanted to go to, but haven't.  The Farmboy, even having lived in the town, has never been either.
And quite frankly, to my dismay, probably never will.
 
 
So it was with total glee that I, when my best pal Cheryl suggested a girl's weekend during Rose Festival, immediately jumped right on board with that idea.
 
 
We spent two days smelling roses, oohing and ahhing over the Rose Court gowns and giggling.
We had such a fun time, that I think we've decided to make it an annual girl's weekend trip.
 
 
These are just a very few of the photos I took of the Tyler Rose Garden.
At the gardens, on the second day, they held the Rose Queen's Tea.  Which was fantastic, because we got to see all of the Rose Court costumes up close and personal and take photos of the girls, which we weren't allowed to do during the Coronation of the Rose Queen the day before.
 
 
And those photos, I will share with you next time.
I have never seen so many sequins in one place at one time.
 
Till then, have a beautiful Monday.
 

6 comments:

Wanda said...

Holy crap...that was funny..I have to show my Texan. Beautiful photos, Miss Alisa..as always. :) I'm glad you had a good time.

Photocat said...

Well, they sure have enough roses. I nearly smelled them. Weirdly enough for a Belgian, I love Tex Mex music and Mariachi. I would like to visit San Antonia at least once in my life to visit the Alamo. And the mission. All the missions of the South West are on my to do list!
Your rose shots are gorgeous...

Dorthe said...

Alisa, that must have been a very exeptional experience, THE ROSES ARE FABOLOUS---- and so nice to hear how you and your husbond met and lived the first period of time you knew each other.
AND I look forward seing all the seequins next time :-)
I wish you a happy new week, dear.
Hugs,Dorthe

Cheryl Carey Bass said...

Wow! Your photos turned out fantastically! (I never doubted they would.) I love how you see such beauty in life. It's one of the things you've helped teach me to look for. I'm so happy that I got to experience the Rose Festival with you. You GET it. Great job, and I can't wait to see your pics of the costumes so I can oooooooh and aaaaaahhhh all over again.

Lorrie said...

Love the story. And the movie quote. We lived in Texas for one year, studying Spanish before going to Ecuador. In the Rio Grande Valley. Not my favourite place in the world. But we got out to the coast and that was pretty.
Love, love the roses! How fun to take a girlfriend and have a blast together.

Margaret said...

Wow what a beautiful post, totally enjoyed the rose read! Love the Texas definition, will be bookmarking that one! Mx