Friday, May 24, 2013

Friday Mishmash - We've Got the Blues!

Sometimes, a theme for the day presents itself so clearly that you just have to go with it, and such was the case on Wednesday, when Barbara, Theresa and I had a visit to the Blue Bell ice cream factory on the agenda.  We dressed in blue and headed off to our first stop - Blue Baker, for breakfast:
A hearty breakfast to start our big adventure, plus how could we not get a shot of our blue flip flops on the painted blue floor?
 Fed, hydrated, and ready to roll!

Then we were off, in our blue car (OK, that just happened to work out, I didn't go buy a new car for the theme), to Brenham, Texas - home of the Blue Bell ice cream factory!  For $6, you get a guided tour of the factory plus a big scoop of ice cream afterward.  Picture-taking wasn't allowed on the tour, but we took plenty before and afterward.  The tour was fascinating!  We watched them make Strawberries and Homemade Vanilla, Cherry Vanilla, and Cookies n' Cream, as well as ice cream sandwiches and some sort of cone treat.  We knew we were in for some fun when we pulled into the parking lot and opened the car doors - the place smelled amazing.  We had a great time on the tour as well as poking around the grounds - it's a charming place and I can't believe I've never been there before now.
Scenes from our visit to the factory...

After the tour, we were ushered into the ice cream parlor, where we got to sample some flavors before choosing what we wanted as our treat.  We each chose different flavors so we could share - Krazy Kookie Dough, Moo-llennium Crunch, and Mocha Almond Fudge were the winners for us:
Ice cream happiness!

Then we visited the gift shop:
In keeping with the theme, here's a couple of blue ice cream scoops.
Wearing Blue Bell logo glasses - they were bizarre!  I did not purchase them, but I did take home that cute orange logo mug!
One set of elevators - have I mentioned how charming the building was?  I have?  Well, it really was!

Outside of the factory was a statue of a cow and little girl, just like their logo.  Naturally, we couldn't leave it alone:
The great thing about Theresa is that she doesn't even get embarrassed when we pretend to milk the cow - she just kept taking pictures and laughing!

After our tour, we shopped and ate lunch in Brenham.  Then we got on the road for home, as Theresa serenaded us with the "Dinosaur Blues" song.  We planned on stopping in the town of Navasota on our way back so we could visit Blues Alley, but she fell asleep in the car, so we just paused for a quick photo of the sign:
An apt spot to finish out our blue day!

19 comments:

  1. What a fun fun day! Especially because you made it more fun by giving it a blue theme.

    Hey, that picture of the ice cream is cool because there you are in the picture (in the mirror!)

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    1. ...and grinning like a fool at all those flavors of ice cream! ;)

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  2. Fun, fun, fun. What a lovely say.

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  3. Of course I mean day, stupid ipad :)

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  4. Did you want to face plant it in the cookies n' cream? Wait...that's just me :) How fun and I love the glasses! Have a great weekend, Shelley!

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    1. I can pass on the Cookies n' Cream, but other flavors - yes, on the face plant, lol!

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  5. That was fun, coming along on Blue Day. I like
    your hair straightened.

    I didn't hear you were getting more special
    company--so nice! Probably helps make your
    parents' departure more bearable. :)

    That sure does look like a hearty breakfast--mmm!

    I'm guessin in another year or so, ya'll will be
    able to easily embarrass Theresa without even tryin!
    Hurray for girl time!
    Chrissy

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  6. When I was in Atlanta last week, my sister in law actually had Moo-llennium as a dessert choice. Yes, please! It was great. I don't think we get Blue Bell Ice cream here in the Philly area, which is probably just as well! Looks like a funtastic day!

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  7. I love tours! We went on the Ben and Jerry's tour and the ice cream at the end was so incredibly fresh. Hard to believe it could be better, but it was.

    I don't think I have seen Blue Bell in our stores.

    Have a super weekend!

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    1. I think they said it only goes as far north as the Carolinas...it's more of a southern brand, but is the third best-seller in the U.S. - interesting, considering it's not national. Speaks to how much ice cream we southerners eat, I guess!

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  8. Blue is my favorite color - love it! Tony and I split a small cup of the Italian Blue Bell ice cream - so good and I don't even like ice cream all that much!

    Enjoy your weekend!

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  9. What a fun way to spend the day! We DO have Blue Bell in Memphis, but I try to ignore it. :) Not because it's Blue Bell, but, well, you understand, I'm sure. :)

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    1. I totally understand...we don't keep it around because it's TOO GOOD!

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  10. Blue Bell is awesome ice cream! Chocolate ice cream with a little half and half poured on top, stirred with a spoon is one of my favorite once-in-a-blue-moon treats!

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  11. Loved your creative fun! You took a fun outing and made it even better.

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  12. HOW FUN!!!! I don't think anyone could look better in funky blue glasses than you!!! Have a great rest of the weekend Shelley!

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  13. Shelley - those glasses are SO you! Thanks for sharing your good time with us. Loved all the pictures.

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