Collecting

I mentioned in yesterday's blog that I went to my hometown for a Christmas luncheon with cousins. These cousins are from my Mother's side of the family. My great grandparents came to Sherman, Texas in the 1880's from Mississippi. They had nine children, and then my Grandparents had ten and my parents, five. So if you have been counting...I am related to a lot of people in this small town.

The lunch was at my cousin Tim's house. Tim is a second cousin ...or is it a first cousin once removed?...I have never understood all of that. It is easier for me to say that my grandmother and Tim's grandmother were sisters. Tim and his wife Judy live a a large home outside of town on acreage. .

The inside of the house is cozy, comfortable,

and full of collectibles.. 

There are multiple display cabinets in every room, even the laundry room.

Since most of the things are in glass cabinets...they are not dust collectors

I don't think that there is a collectible that they don't collect.

There were even multiple cabinets full of any and everything related to sewing

I could go on and on, but you get the picture. This place is like a huge museum.

Even the walk in attic was full of display cabinets. This was mind boggling. They had stapled to the attic ceiling every toy character ever related to the movie Star Wars.

I am not exaggerating here!

It was especially a nice day for me, since all four of my sisters were able to attend.Yes, there are five of us girls and I am smack dab in the middle
Will you be able to be with your siblings this holiday season? ...and since I am asking questions...Tell me what you collect?

Forgotten

I drove north to Sherman, Texas (my hometown), to have a Christmas lunch with several cousins yesterday. We entered town from a new road, and I spotted what looked like an abandoned old farm house.

The rusty old mailbox was open and looked like a bird had made a nest inside

The house actually didn't look that bad, but it was definitely vacant. I was amazed at the size of the porch. What I cant figure out is how I had never seen this house on the north end of the town I grew up in?

There was a rusty old truck sitting on the east side of the house,

and a garage  to the west, that held farm equipment, and a dusty old car...Couldn't tell what make it was? It was above the garage that I saw the no trespassing sign, so I figured  we had better leave,

but not without getting a picture of that old rocking chair on the porch. Oh man, if old houses could just tell their tale.

Home Tour part II

When we finished our two and a half hours of being docents.(see previous blog entry), we were given free tickets to the other four house.

which were more on the order of this ....a bit larger than the house we volunteered in.

The lights above the fireplace mantle in this home were the original ones from the early twentieth century. At that time they were gas lights, but were wired for electricity when it became available.

This is a partial view from the sun room of the backyard pool area. I then found out that I wasn't really supposed to be taking photographs....so I complied :(

Which was a shame, because the last house was the very best. Built in 1917 the elegant Italianate Villa  was one I was most excited about. For this was the home of the developer of the neighborhood way back
then.

From the minute you walked in the door, you knew that this place was decorated with authentic antiques.

There were beautiful porches on both sides of the house. A great place to eat breakfast with our nice Ft. Worth weather.

Everywhere you turned, there were really pretty places to be outside.

Tom and I thoroughly enjoyed our day. We also are invited to a beautiful home in the neighbor tonight for what they call a "Wine down party" for all of the volunteers.

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Annual Home Tour

When Tom and I first moved to Ft. Worth, we leased the top half of an old house in a historic neighborhood. While living there we helped with their annual

 which was held every December. So,we were more than happy to help again when they emailed and said they desperately needed docents.

Most of the homes built in that neighborhood in the very early 1900's  were very large, and considered mansions. Although, in the 1920's and 30's, building came to a standstill. After World War II  when building did resume the homes were more modest. Above, is the home where we were docents yesterday morning. It was built in 1946 by a man who was a brick layer and his wife a school teacher. The present owner is a fireman and his wife works at the Modern Museum.

I was taking pictures...and not real sure I was supposed to. I wanted to show you that the second owner in the 1980's removed the crank out windows, and added glass block, which was very popular to do at that time.

The present owners opened up the wall between the kitchen and dining room, giving the house a modern open effect.

The little dining room was bright and cheery (sorry about the blurr). Remember, I was trying to take pictures on the sly.

Their young son's room was also bight and cheery

Two of the three bathrooms had custom made vessel sinks, and more glass block.

One bathroom had a very deep Japanese soaking tub. I had never seen one...have you?

This cozy family room was an add on, as was another bedroom and two bathrooms. Like so many houses built right after the war there were only two bedrooms and one bath.

Since we were docents for a shift of two and a half hours we were given free tickets to tour the other four houses. It made for a fun Saturday and kept me out of the crowed stores.

I am not sure that any other countries have home tours? I know they have tours of historical homes. ...but do folks open their homes where you live for touring?

Baking

Wow, it is busy around here! Although, I feel sure it is just as busy around your house.

When my girls were growing up, we had the tradition of baking and decorating Christmas sugar cookies. So, I have been  busy baking today.

They are all finished  now, and in the freezer. Our little Hannah will be here for Christmas, and we will thaw them and decorate with colored icing and sprinkles. Sure wish little Abigail could be here too.

Do you have any  family traditions this time of year?

A Work of Art

On our way back from Austin, Texas recently

Tom and I stopped in the tiny town of Salado, Texas where daughter number 3 Kristen lives.

We stopped just long enough to have a light lunch at a tea room,

before heading out of town. All of a sudden I spied this. My Tom was already pulling over. He is well trained.

I thought at first it might be a bike shop, but it wasn't. It is a private residence. An awful lot of bicycles were welded to the fence. I guess you would call it a work of art.

Linking to: Good Fences

Poster

Very early on Tuesday morning, hubby and I stopped on the way to the eye doctor for coffee at Le Madeleine, which is a chain restaurant/bakery.

I was very surprised to see this poster just inside the door. I have never seen anyone displaying a poster of the Bay of Saint Jean De Luz, a tiny commune in the Pyrenees-Atlantiques (southwest France),which prides its self in being in Basque Country.

You see, a little over four years ago, Tom and I along with another couple, rented a condo in that very place. If you will look closely, I have marked a peak (or bluff), which can also been seen  on the poster above. What a great time we had exploring this area, which was so close to the Pyrenees Mountains, the beach on the Atlantic coast, and the beautiful coast of Spain to our south.

Oops! Tom informed me I had marked the wrong bluff. It is the one to the right. Hard to edit once you have applied script!!

Meanwhile, back to Ft. Worth, we sat by the fireplace (twas a frosty cool morning), with a great cup of coffee, and some little mini muffins. You see my Tom had cataract surgery yesterday, and we were on our way to the day after checkup with the eye doctor.

We need to get my travel partner back in good shape! Seen here loving St. Jean-de-Luz.

Next eye is in a couple of weeks. All is well so far.