One of our co-workers here this winter decided to tackle the project of re-doing her coach.  Let me just say up front, her coach is BEAUTIFUL to start with, but she did want to freshen it up some and make it even more to her liking.  So, not too long ago, we (she & I) spent the day at one of the fabric warehouses down in the heart of McAllen.  We looked at bolt after bolt after bolt of fabric, trying to find just the right one for her window treatments.  Eventually, we found THE perfect combination of rusty-gold-red nubby, creamy soft nappy (nooo, not like that!), and all trimmed out with navy "ribbon" embroidered with creamy-gold geometric designs. 

Unfortunately, I have no pictures of what we ended up with, but trust me when I tell you it is abSOLUTely FANTABulous!  She was going to wait and do it this summer, up in Iowa, where she'd have tables & room to work, but somehow, having the fabric sitting there waiting & the time to do it just ate at her until she broke down & started taking the windows apart.  She started with the frame around the main slide, that being the easiest, since we had decided not to trim that out.  Once she got that up & we all loved it, she got confident and started taking down the window surrounds.  Again, once the first one got completed & duly admired, her confidence level SOARED (as well it should!) and she just kept on going!!  Heck with waiting!!  Poor John, her hubby tho....he came over to our camper a few times, just to "get away from the sewing stuff."  OK, so I dunno what he's thinking - like *I* don't have sewing stuff strewn all over????  Maybe he was dreaming..

Anyway, when I went over there  one night, and saw the dinky little sewing machine she was using, I felt I had to step in & offer up one of my machines and a walking foot to go with.  You know the old adage - the right tool for the job makes the work MUCH easier!!  She worked tirelessly, night & day, day & night, and yesterday, they brought the machine back...job done.  And FANTAStically, I might add.  If I can, I'll see if she'll let me take some pics to post. 

But, tonight, being our last night, and our dishes are all packed up for travel tomorrow, they wanted to thank us by taking us out to dinner.  Because of the health issues of John's dad, they didn't want to stay gone to awfully long or go to awfully far, so we all elected to go to our local & favorite Chinese buffet.  And while there, John just happened to mention it was Lora's birthday today!  WHO KNEW??  They were successful in keeping that under wraps for the longest time, but once they told us, well, you know the story!!!

Oh, yeah, it wasn't long before the waiter knew!    We had a lovely, leisurely dinner & we were just sitting there, chewing fat (like we didn't have enough else to chew!), and over the PA system comes the strains of a very Chinese Happy Birthday....and here come the waiter & the manager with a lovely tray of goodies and a lit candle!  There was red & green jello cubes, a very decoratively cut orange & zucchini, maraschino cherries, little cakes, ice cream & sherbert.  How lovely!  And unexpected!!!  Of course, Lora thought we'd put 'em up to it, but nope, not this time!  They just took it upon themselves, and made it up & brought it out.  Soooo sweet!

We all oohed & ahhhhed, then we each dug in.  I took the veggies (surprise, surprise), John & Lora took the icecream, and Jose took a cherry & a piece of bannana.  And here's what Lora did with the orange:

Who needs Mexican dentists when they have Chinese just down the road!?

Happy 29th birthday Lora!  THANK YOU for taking us out to dinner!  It's been a wonderful & wacky winter, and we've loved every minute of working & playing with you!!!  Y'all drive safe & have fun at Coffeyville!