Sunday Mornings

Last weekend, when my sister and I drove to Waxahachie, we were listening to southern gospel music on her satellite radio. There is nothing that speaks to me quite like that old gospel music. I think that it is in my blood.

My grandmother played the piano by ear and loved to sing. She was a strong alto. I guess I took that after her, for I’m also an alto and a piano player. One of my piano teachers was the daughter of a member of the old Stamps Baxter Quartet. Needless to say, that gospel music was what I learned to play…and play I did at women’s clubs, churches, etc. I didn’t appreciate the experience at the time because it made me so nervous, but now I am grateful for those memories. Whenever grandmother visited us she would bring sheet music and hymn books so that I could play the piano and she could sing.

On Sunday mornings when we were growing up, especially when we stayed with grandmother, we used to listen to the gospel quartets on the television as we got ready for church. Our Sunday morning sounds were the steam singing from the roast in the pressure cooker and the voices of the Statesmen Brothers, the Blackwood Brothers, and the Stamps Baxter Quartet lifted in praise. Precious memories…

O come, let us sing unto the LORD: let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation.
Psalm 95:1

Friday Adventure

My sister and I like to follow Caroline, who lives and teaches in Waxahachie. We have been so impressed with some of her posts about the area that we decided to take a little road trip. So, today we drove 3 hours to have lunch at a lovely restaurant/shop, the Dove’s Nest, on a recommendation from Caroline’s blog.

It is a block off the courthouse square.

We had to wait to be seated, so browsed in the store. Both of us really wanted to take home the knife and fork print. It is printed on burlap, but is actually magnetized and the magnets on the front are real knives and forks…too cute!

The candlesticks in this candelabra are actually rolled up sheet music.

I loved the burlap flower on top of the spool.

Loved this chair…

I had tuna and wild rice salad made with oranges and cranberries. It was quite tasty. Then we had blackberry bread pudding with vanilla ice cream for dessert.

Before we left, we had to stop by the ladies’ room and I just had to take a picture of these chickens that were gracing the walls of the restroom.

We did walk around the town square in the 100+ degree heat. Believe it or not, our grandmother’s name was Zula.

I also had to take a picture of this old hotel. When Judy and I were very young, our parents decided to take us to the Texas State Fair. We drove all the way to Dallas to discover that there were no available motel rooms because of the UT and OU football game. We had to turn around and start the drive back to Houston stopping at every hotel/motel to see if there was a place to stay. We finally ended up here on Main Street. Believe me, it was not this nice then. Mom was afraid to let our feet touch the floor and no one slept because of the 18 wheelers going by all night long.

We didn’t want to leave Waxahachie without seeing some of the historic homes and lo and behold I found our retirement cottage and it’s for sale! Don’t you just love the porches and that yard?

If something happens and that deal falls through, maybe we can go for this one.

Or even this one…

Since our husbands were unable to make the trip, we stopped at Woody’s and got them some beef jerky and fudge.

I just love road trips!

P.S. Here’s my little 4th of July firecrackers.

How I Spent My Summer Vacation

That title sure brings back memories. It was the standard assignment we gave students on the first day of school (probably still is). It kept them busy while we organized the school supplies, wrote bus numbers on name tags, found out who were car riders, took lunch counts, etc.

But, back to my summer vacation, which happened to be this past week...

• A new front-loading Electrolux washing machine was delivered on Monday. We spent Monday evening having an ice cream cone and watching the clothes wash. I know that sounds like we're backwoods hillbillies, but I've been needing a new washing machine for quite some time and that baby is quiet, fast, and uses a fraction of the water. Yipee!!
• Tuesday I went to the eye doctor and ordered new contacts and glasses. I get soooo tired of hearing, "As you age...(fill in the blank with any new symptom)" Needless to say, my prescription is much stronger.
• Wednesday morning I went to watch Katie have swim lessons. She and her little friend were already sitting on the steps in the pool beginning their lesson when I snuck in the room where you can observe. She glanced up, saw me, and began waving her arms and saying "That's my grammy!" Of course, all the other moms had to turn around and see who had arrived. Everytime she did something in the pool she would look to see if I was watching and then she'd clap and say "Grammy!" After swim lessons, she changed her clothes and came running out to meet me with her arms waving, ready to be picked up. Katie looked at her mom, said "Bye Mommy. I go Grammy's car. I go Grammy's house." Of course, she had to love my neck. This makes up for the stronger prescription. Ha! I only wish I had pictures. We went to the Farmer's Market and brought fresh peas to have for dinner.
• Wednesday evening my dryer was delivered. Not so exciting as the washing machine, since it didn't work. We'll get a replacement this week.
• Thursday it rained and rained and rained. I thoroughly cleaned the house. I love going back to work with a squeaky clean house.
• Friday I met a dear friend for lunch at Los Tios. We caught up on all the latest news and current events. It was a little embarrassing, however, when I ran into the edge of the wall on the way out of the restaurant. Glenda said to the waiter, "She got her new glasses this morning and she's having trouble seeing. Stronger prescription, you know." It's nice having someone cover your back. Ha!
• Saturday I got a haircut and color. That always makes you feel better. Then we did one of my most favorite things - we went to Barnes and Noble to browse the magazines and books. (I know, it doesn't take much to make us happy.) I left with a sack full. Ahhhh... Began reading The Big Rich, The Rise and Fall of the Greatest Texas Oil Fortunes last night.

Lest you think we have a really boring life, we are going to Boston for the week of Labor Day to celebrate our anniversary. I hope I can see by then to get on the plane!

Happy 4th of July!

I hope you are enjoying your holiday. We are waiting for our grandbabies (and their parents :-)) and their great-grandparents to arrive for swimming, hot dogs, apple pie, and all the trimmings.

The first time I ever heard Sandi Patti sing the Star Spangled Banner was at the bicentennial celebration. Tom Brokaw was at the celebration in New York harbor and he commented that he had never heard our national anthem sung like that. Thanks to Kimberley for recording it.

Let all the earth fear the Lord; Let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of Him.

For He spoke, and it was done; He commanded, and it stood fast.

The Lord nullifies the counsel of the nations; He frustrates the plans of the peoples.

The counsel of the Lord stands forever, The plans of His heart from generation to generation.

Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, The people whom He has chosen for His own inheritance.

Psalm 33:3-12

 

It’s raining, it’s pouring….

 

We are on vacation today and had hopes of maybe getting out of town…or not. As I type, it is pouring down rain. Originally we thought we might go to Canton First Monday. We decided it wouldn’t be that much fun tromping around in the mud. Dan’s asleep on the couch and the dogs are asleep in the utility room. We’re not complaining too much. It’s a welcome relief to the heat and high electricity bills. I guess I’ll go clean out closets.