arrived Saturday afternoon much to the amazement of Hitty Mom Eileen. I had gotten on the postal bus in Pasadena, Texas at noon the day before! She was saving my arrival as a surprise for the Plano Hitties and it was a true surprise! Patience and Merry had gone to a book signing early in the afternoon and were still chattering about that when I appeared! Well, you all know how excited Hitties can become, lots of hugs and warm welcomes! That night a sweet golden dog stayed by my bed and made me feel so very safe (I'm hoping she can fit in my postal box!).

Sunday Patience and I went to the Bluebonnet Doll Club meeting. Wow, the ladies thought I was beautiful! Bunny gave me a Valentine card just my size and some wanted to know if I had sisters! There were lots of dolls there called Nancy Ann Story Book--they were beautiful, too, and just about our size. They live happily with Sally who told us about the history of the NASB dolls.

Today we met Aunt Josie, Hitty Sarah, and Hitty Moxie in downtown Plano, first for lunch
and then........ I'll save that for tomorrow.

(PS Mom said to tell you she will post more photos in the folder as soon as she figures it out.)

Is there such a thing as happy exhaustion? Good night!
Hitty Sojourner Truth

Ann's Hitty Moxie is here for a visit (yes, Ann, it finally got chilly enough here for a sweater)
so of course she came along to meet HST.

When Patience excitedly told me we were going to meet Aunt Josie for lunch, I began looking forward to meeting this new people person. Patience hasn't been wrong yet! Aunt Josie is indeed a very special person. And she and the girls came bearing gifts--from Mexico! There is a just my size basket and a pottery mug!

Mom had to eat first (Patience says that is normal), so we had lunch at Nooks and Krannies Tea Room and the four of us had our own chance to visit. Hitty Sarah has been to the Holy Land and said she thought she heard Israel nearby but couldn't see him. Israel is the little donkey they brought back for Eileen. He's carved from olive wood! Hitty Sarah's ears must be much keener than mine--I don't hear anything out of the ordinary and that would definitely be out of the ordinary. Hitty Moxie is on a quest to visit every state--wish we had more time to talk about where she's been so far.

All of a sudden Aunt Josie and Mom realized what time it was. We were quickly nestled deep into the layers of the carrier and off we went. The Interurban Railway Museum was just a short distance from the tea room, but we could hear the moms talking about the cold wind. Indeed, we were happy to have our cloaks and sweaters as we posed by the historical plaque at the entrance to the museum. (Has Aunt Josie told y'all (it's contagious) about Hitty Moxie's clever belt?)
MORE TO COME...........HST

They thought that together the calls could be made, even though this phone in the museum has no push buttons.

Imagine my surprise when I was asked if I would like to meet the Curator of the Interurban Railway Museum.
Robert Haynes emerged from his office with the kindest smile and greeted us with warmth.
He wanted to know all about me and how I came to be and what I was doing in Plano,
Mr. Haynes was very interested in who carved each of us and the history of our ancestor.

I was so happy when he agreed to a picture with me and offered to use the white museum gloves to best showcase me,
I couldn't believe I was being so honored! Robert Haynes is a most gracious host!
HST and Robert Haynes, Curator of the Historic Interurban Railway Museum, Plano, Texas

The museum had a room full of scientific experiment boards that explained
much of the history of rail operations. Patience and I tried to figure out this one on our own

This light bulb came on by turning some kind of a crank. Mom got some cool contrast pictures and I was mesmerized!

The members of the conservancy were very kind to us, sharing the history
and future of connecting North Texas communities. Russell even let us step back into early Plano.

Mom heard Aunt Josie say "Eileen likes donkeys", so we went into the next room where Russell was telling about this area at one time being the donkey capital of Texas. Well, Hitty Sarah, it turns out, did hear Israel 'cause now all four girls heard him. He wanted out of his carrier and wanted to know all about Jack.

There is a wonderful farm right in the heart of Plano that is still a working farm with cattle, horses, llamas and it belongs to the Haggard family, one of the founding families of Plano. It turns out that Jack followed behind the Haggard wagon to Texas and established a very fine lineage of donkeys and mules. A plaque is embedded in the sidewalk in downtown Plano on the site where the livestock auctions took place (it is now a brick paved city block with antique stores, specialty shops and eateries). We were all very impressed that Jack had earned such recognition!

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An unopened package is a terrible thing according to Patience, who isn't--trust me! When this package arrived, nothing would do but to enlist Joey's help.

Wow! Just our size. Is it for the house behind us? HST

Texas has become an important state in the race for the White House and I have been very interested in the local TV news.

Oh, the weather forecast is on and we have to know what Saturday will be like...........something about a little gathering in Dallas and more Hitty friends meet:

We were so excited about the trip to Dallas that we couldn't sleep. Even though it would just be Patience and I going, Hitty Jane, Merry, and BB wanted to join us and tell me all about some of their adventures to Great Cranberry Island:
Aunt Josie brought Waggles to Patience from Detroit and the sweet golden girl without a name stays as close to me as she can get. (Maybe her name should be Sweetie.) (Hitty Jane's bed is the giant swan, Merry's is a golden Neiman Marcus box, and Patience's is a twig bed decorated with silk flowers, butterflies and dragonflies--not very traditional, but very comfortable! HST

At last, Saturday is here! Linda drove Eileen and us to Fair Park in Dallas so we could explore the sale at Buchanan's (mostly old stuff) and meet Bunny and Sally and their girls.

Several of the Bluebonnets couldn't make it because of the flu and we really missed them!

Sally's girls brought their own canoe--we need to find a lake!
Patience and I begged mom to adopt this camel. He has done some serious traveling himself! He promised to give everyone a ride. Bunny and Linda's kids wait their turns. HST

Bunny spied this wonderful sign on one of the tables.

Mom took me over and asked permission to take my picture with the sign. The dealer thought I was truly beautiful and was very happy to tell Mom that my hair was in the exact style of Rosa Parks.

Texas is full of great people. Another dealer let us get a picture of her tent. (Later you will see the little girl that came home with us.)
HST

We didn't make it to the African American Museum today, maybe that means I'll have to come back to Dallas one day. Mom did promise to take me to the site of the new one in Plano before I leave.
After Buchanan's we all had lunch--the moms all ordered the restaurant's "Famous Chicken Fried Steak"--a real treat!

"See you laters" were said (no "good-byes") and we headed back to our cars.

The huge ferris wheel was in the distance and Linda offered to hold me up high for a picture.

It isn't a very clear picture, but it is a great reminder of a fun day:
HST

this one gives a better idea of how far away the ferris wheel was from us:
HST

Marilyn is a member of Mom's doll club. She and her family invited me for a true Sunday afternoon drive.
Image a special trip just for me! Our first stop was South Fork in Murphy. This is where the TV show Dallas was filmed and one could almost see JR coming down the drive for the trip to Dallas.
In the first pic, I am the tiny speck to the left of the iron gate:

Inside the gate.
It really was a beautiful day! HST

Marilyn was sure they wouldn't mind me being there for just second.

Check out the barbed wire behind me--that's the serious stuff! HST

Going for a ride with a real family on a Sunday afternoon was treat enough, South Fork was a bonus!

But, then we drove north to McKinney and a place called Craig Ranch.

There, I got close enough to a famous Texas Longhorn to be very glad Marilyn was holding on to me! It didn't take me long to realize that they are beautiful, gentle giants:
Marilyn says I get to meet some of her girls next. HST

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Patience sat near by as Mom snuggled me into a lovely piece of fabric that Becky had given me. Today is overcast, rainy and cold with snow predicted later in the afternoon. Quite a contrast to Saturday and our grand adventure--the Irish Festival in Dallas--pictures later today or tomorrow.

I know my friend is very sad. Sometimes "See you laters" are just as hard as "Good-byes", even though we both know more adventures are waiting for us. It is our lot to bring fun and happiness to those around us and I do think we succeed rather well!

See you later, Patience.
HST

It was a wonderful end to a beautiful day:
These girls were most gracious hosts as I chatted from above. HST

These lovely ladies from Limerick, Ireland were a great introduction to the vendors at the Festival:

I always wanted to perch on the shoulders of a leprechaun. HST

This was one talented artist:

I never thought I'd hear bagpipes in person! HST

Dad caught us whispering in the sheep's ear:

We found Mom's grandfather's name in the book of Irish family names:

And then there was Bailey, a sweet and loving Irish Wolfhound:

Bailey's family let Mom take pictures of Bailey 'cause she wants to carve an Irish Wolfhound for Patience. HST

Some of the Plano gang trying to give me advise on packing my treasures:

Tia, Hittilin and Baby made me promise to tell Julie "Hi". Hittilin was the first to experience Camp fun!

Patience tells me that Sweetie is mine! She will keep me safe on the trip to Julie's. HST

I couldn't leave Plano without visiting the soon-to-be African American Museum.


It truly is in the very beginning stages, but will be very important because it is located in the historic Douglas Community.
I am the tiny spec hanging over the top of the sign--reading upside down is one of my talents!

Tonight I'm safely back in New York with Julie and we are waiting for Nelly Bly's arrival.
I am looking forward to hearing of her adventures in person! HST