Sun or Snow

It's this time of the year, that you can see why we come home, to South Texas for the winter.

These pictures were taken yesterday, mid November.

As you can see we have mild weather conditions and blooming flowers,

and  by contrast this , also taken this week, is the little town in Colorado where we spend the summer.Yes,
I know it is a pretty scene but, the summer folks leave and many of the stores and restaurants close their doors until the Spring. There are approx. 400 brave souls that live there through the winter...although we have toyed with the idea staying one full calendar year..What appeals to you? Sun or snow?

Mashtini

A while back, I shared that I was a sub in a Bunco group. I am always delighted when they call, because they are such a fun group of girls, and I enjoy playing bunco ( a simple dice game). Last night, Debbie had a Mashtini Bar for us to enjoy, followed by an assortment of small sundaes. A mashtini is a serving of mashed potatoes served in a martini glass. She had a large assortment of toppings . I topped mine with sun dried tomatoes,cherry tomatoes, green peas, broccoli  and a dollop of sour cream :). There is something about a night out with the girls that always lifts my spirits.

High Rise Living

Friends of ours invited us  for dinner the other night. I was looking forward to it because, having sold their home in suburbia, they now live in a high rise building in town. Above is their view from the twelfth floor, which was even prettier after dark. That is actually not a view of downtown Houston. Their condo is on the west side of the building. You are looking at a section of town referred to as the Galleria area. It was a cloudy day, but I was wondering how hot the afternoon summer sun would be, coming through all of the glass.?

How do you feel about condo living? I am not sure that I am ready to give up my yard? Then again...it does appeal to me...

A Good Deed

I know that you shouldn't toot your own horn, but maybe I can brag on my husband, Tom.

 For the last few years he  has been keeping an eye on our 92 yr old neighbor (Dan), who lives alone since the death of his wife, Janet. Dan has several children, but they all live hundred of miles away in another state..

 Anyway, Tom found out that Dan's refrigerator had quit working, and he was having to walk back and forth from his kitchen to his laundry room ...where he had a  second refrigerator. Dan doesn't walk too well, and uses a cane. Living on a limited income, he didn't want to call a handy man to remove the old refrigerator  and put the working one in the kitchen.. When Tom found out, he mentioned the problem to his Saturday morning walking buddies, both members of his Rotary club. These guys grabbed their tool kits... and made short work of it, even though doors of both the refrigerators, and the house, had to be removed to make the switch.

.........I don't think they even noticed me with my little camera....

 

The Cold Front

The cold front finally made it to south Texas last night...and I am very pleased. I made a big pot of soup (turkey kielbasa vegetable) and we will eat on it all week, mainly at lunch. I cook less since we have become empty nesters, but I do like eating at home. Do you still cook a big meal every night?

Can You Drive A Car With Horns?

A fellow blogger (from Amsterdam) had a question when I posted the following picture:

She wondered if you could actually drive a car with horns attached ?

Well, actually, the answer is yes....in TEXAS. While they aren't seen everywhere...you do run into them now and again,

and apparently in Colorado too... where this picture was taken. (okay , so he did buy the car in TEXAS).

There was a restaurateur in Lake City, Colorado who would send this Cadillac, horned limo, to pick you up for a free  round trip ride to his Italian restaurant; which wasn't such a bad idea if you were going to sample his large selection of wine. (that's me holding the coat). Before you come to the opinion that Texans are crazy...you may want to google Wisconsin's Oscar Mayer Weinermobile.

*Teresa I promise I am not picking on you :)

The Reunion

I am taking you back to little Lake City, Colorado today for a story that I think is interesting.

Lake City was playing host to an antique car club (in 2008) . It was on the calendar for the  car club to  stop in our quaint little town for the day. They were to bring around thirty vintage automobiles and their passengers would all be dressed in period costumes. 

Someone said ...wouldn't it be nice to have Lake City's first automobile (A 1910 Peerless) here for that event? Indeed it would..but no one knew where it was... or if it even still existed? This is where I get foggy on the details. I am not sure who conducted the search, but the search did ensue.

The very first automobile in Lake city a 1910 Peerless owned by Thomas L. Beam, son of one of the owner's
of the once famous Golden Wonder Mine, south of Lake City, Co. in Dead Man's Gulch

The car was located in Great Britain, owned by a man who drove it regularly in vintage car rallies (The London to Brighton Car Run).


 
To every one's surprise he agreed to ship (at his own expense) the car to Lake City, Colorado for the days event. Yes, that is correct. He shipped it across the Atlantic ocean, where it was loaded onto and eighteen wheeler (large truck) and delivered to Gunnison ,Colorado sixty miles north of Lake City . It was then driven, by the English owner, the sixty miles through the mountains, and pulled up in front of the museum (chugging and smoking a bit) at the allotted time, joining the other vintage cars. Remarkable enough.

The neatest part of this story (I think) is sitting front and center was one hundred and one year old Margaret L. Cummings, granddaughter of the original owner, Thomas L. Beam. Margaret, who had ridden in the car as a young child.. I don't think there was a dry eye in the crowd as we all witnessed this reunion.

* Margaret L. Cummings 1906-2010