Lunch With Friends

When we learned that long time full-timing friends John and Anita Laffey were on the other side of Houston, we made arrangements to meet them for lunch halfway between us.  This happened to be the town of Humble.  The town was named for its first resident, Pleasant Humble who settled his family along the banks of the San Jacinto River and operated a ferry for a time near the present crossing of Highway 59.  Since his family was from Britain, he pronounced his name as Umble, and it remains so to this day.  It is so close to Houston that the city threatens to gobble it up, but since Humble was incorporated first, they remain autonomous. When we arrived around noon, the downtown area was pretty quiet.  There are still quite a few small businesses here but a lot of them were closed for the day.

We met John and Anita at the local restaurant called the (H)umble Cafe.  We enjoyed a couple hours of visiting and catching up while we ate a pretty good lunch.  A couple of times we heard the owner/manager break into song.  He greeted us personally and told us that he is so grateful to have a singing voice that he feels compelled to use it!

One of the things Anita has been doing is experimenting with bead jewelry designs.  She is wearing one of her bracelet designs and made me a present of another.  I think that she is pretty creative.

 After our lunch we took a walking tour of the downtown.  Across the street from the cafe is the Humble Museum.

Inside we were greeted by Bertie Hammonds and Jerri Christian, two congenial and informative ladies who were proud to show us their town' museum.

The following are some of my favorite exhibits.

Permanent wave machine using electric heat instead of chemicals to set the curls.  Bertie says it was harmless and points to her headfull of hair as proof!

Curling irons  

Wood carving representing the building of the town.

The local Boy Scouts made this extensively detailed diorama of the battle of the Alamo.  This is just a small part of the exhibit.  The cotton swatches represent smoke.

Finely detailed wood carvings showing the industries that built the town.  Lumbering, cattle ranching, 

the arrival of law and order, education.  Some of the details include bullets in the sheriff's cartridge belt and a slingshot in the boy's back pocket.  The relief carving in the background shows the arrival of the oil industry. 

Women have always loved their high-heeled boots.

I liked this camera.  After you took the picture you used the stylus to write in the open slot.  You could write anything you wanted and it showed up on the picture in white.  Cool! 

This innovative bottle was designed to keep the fizz in soda.  It was unwieldy, but it worked.

This dollhouse furniture has a poinent story.  The little girls parents couldn't afford a Christmas present so dad made a dollhouse.  Then he used wire and the beads from mom's wedding dress to create the furniture.

Done with our tour be bid goodby to our hostesses and perused some of the open business.  We had a pleasant chat with the dr in this holistic medicine clinic.

We enjoyed a rest in front of this innovative green space which was originally a building.  The remaining front of the building, complete with street number, adds a unique touch.

We wandered into this antique store and met its delightful proprietors.  We had a pleasant chat about traveling in general and rving in particular.

This bike is a Harley-Davidson Heritage, like ours.  When it's turned on the head and tail lights come and the engine rumbles.

While the old downtown was quiet, there were a couple of reminders that the town was still in business.  One of the more modern sections was just a block away, and about 1/2 mile from the cafe and the museum was US 59, and

every 10 minutes or so a jet flew over the town on its way to the Houston airport.

We really enjoyed our time with Anita and John, but they had stuff to do, so we said goodby and went in opposite directions.  When we got home we goofed off, ate a light supper, and headed to the pickleball court.  We had two new players tonight--Jane, who had just arrived today, and Yvan (I think that's how he spells it but it is pronounced the French way-E-vawn.)  Jane was a pretty good player and Yvan just learned the game.  We started at 7:30 and ended up playing until 10:30!!!!

Hope you had a good time,

Louise and Duane

Another Day In Paradise

Well, maybe just almost heaven.  The weather was perfect with a cooling breeze offsetting the hot sun.  Duane took the bike on a couple of chores this morning.  I stayed home and read.  After lunch  we decided to try out the shuffleboard court.  I was mistaken earlier when I said that the courts were like new.  They are actually in need of resurfacing and some of the pucks were missing.  We managed to collect two sets and have a game.  Since this is a game of physical coordination, I, of course, did badly.  We couldn't remember the scoring so we just played until we got too hot.  The final score--Duane 22, Louise -29.  I turned out to be very good at hitting the minus 10 space perfectly!

While we were playing we saw something interesting--parents actually playing with their children!  This family (there are more children) rvs full time.  The children are home schooled.  They even walked around the park selling candy to raise money for a field trip to Sea World!  I know that sounds as if the parents are cheap, but we considered it a "school" fundraiser and that the kids were getting the full school experience.  There is another family like them here and the kids all hang out together.    This evening we all played pickleball together.  The boys had fun playing with Tom and Duane and vice versa.   All of the children are cheerful and friendly, and seem to be very well adjusted.  We all enjoyed playing with all of them.  

Since our day was short on activity, I will share something I read today.  During the 1700's and into the early 1800's, those Americans who could afford to have a clock in their home usually purchased a tall case clock--the grandfather clock that we associate with old-fashioned parlors.  These clocks were expensive, in part because the case, face and works were all made by different, specially trained people and then put together for use in the home.  In addition to choosing a style, the customer could also choose how the face was to be decorated.  Popular motifs included floral designs, bucolic landscapes or time related symbols such as the sun and the moon.  In the early 1800's Eli Terry of P;ymouth, CT transformed the clock making industry in two ways.  First, he produced clock works from  wood.  Prior to Terry's innovation, most clock works were made of metal--expensive and often hard to find.  Terry also used a production line and standard sized parts to make clock works efficiently and cost-effectively.  Terry  converted a grist mill into a clock factory, harnessing the water power to speed up production. 

Always learning something new,

Louise and Duane

Walk Around The Park

Another faultlessly blue sky day.  Today was the warmest yet with no breeze.  We had a busy morning. I walked some mail up to the mail box at the park entrance, then returned a book to the library.  Duane prepared and e-filed our income taxes then caulked around the antenna.  After lunch I decided that we needed to see the rest of the park.  When we arrived we drove around park of the park looking for a spot.  We picked one in the first area we perused.  Today we walked around the rest of the sites.  The road led us to the water.  When you enter the park all of the sites, buildings, and recreational areas are located on the left of the road.  Today we saw what is on the other side. We found a nice sand volleyball court on a small beach area.

The sand gives way to the boat docks.  We thought this sign oddly worded since the boat ramp is between the van and the golf cart.  That little covered area to the right of the golf cart is the fish cleaning station.

An island in the inlet seems to be a popular gathering spot for the local vultures.

Mouth of the inlet taken from the fish cleaning station.

More mallards

Across from the volleyball court/beach are new houses for sale within the park.  

With the water behind us we headed home.  If you look between the red pool cabana and the bathhouse on its left you can see the top of our house and our antenna.

We were hot after our stroll and in need of refreshment and cool air.  Home we went to relax until time for our evening games of pickleball.  

I don't know what's in store for tomorrow.  You'll find out when we do.

Louise and Duane

Nice Day For A Ride

Actually it was a spectacular day for a ride.  Another blue sky, warm sun, cool breeze day.  Between the two of them Eddie and Duane determined that, as of now, our oil leak was of minor concern.  Gloria, all blinged out and Eddie with his constant riding companion led the way.

We followed the shore of Lake Conroe for a while.  This is a nice rv park right on the water.

All kinds of activity on the lake.  Later on in the afternoon there was some chop, but this am the water was fine. 

Where the "haves" spend the summer.  

I liked this old building, but it turned into a contrast of old and new.  Then I noticed our images in the glass.

Most of these trees butchered to accommodate electric lines look dangerously off balance.  This one looks as if a strong gale is blowing all of the branches one way.

Old hotel in Anderson

Anderson courthouse (and most of the town).

Our only stop on this ride

The church is the covered open space on the left.  The bar and grill in on the right.  After Sunday service everyone walks next door for lunch.  We used this popular spot as break time.  We sat out side chatting and enjoying a cold drink for an hour or so.  It was difficult to hear, though.  Bikes were constantly coming and going.  The rumble was almost constant.

These signs were prevalent along the roads surrounding this place.  We blame the crotch rockets.

We shared the road all day with other bikes.  This one is giving us the biker wave.

Quite a few nice small lakes along the way.

Riding through part of the Sam Houston National Forest.  

OK, what does bent water look like?  How does it get bent in the first place?  Inquiring minds want to know!

Ready to recross Lake Conroe

Lighthouse (middle of pic)

For me half of the pleasure of riding on the back of the bike is the panoramic  view.  The other half is the smells.  Along the way today I got whiffs of freshly cut grass, newly mown hay, perfumy flowers, and warm pine.  I have tried to share my experience with you.   I hope you have enjoyed riding along with us today.

To top off the day Tom, Paula, Duane and I played several games of pickleball under the lights.  We usually play several games switching partners and sides of the court because the sun and direction of the breeze make a difference.  Tonight Duane and Paula won two games over Tom and me.  We decided that we had to win at least one game against them.   We finally wore them down and won the fifth game.  We quit while we were ahead!  

The weather people have promised another beautiful day tomorrow.  Stay tuned to see if we get out of the house and enjoy it!

Louise and Duane 

Oops!

Today was an absolutely beautiful day!  Blue sky, no clouds, brisk breeze--chilly in the am, cool in the pm.  Everyone was out and about the park today.  People playing mini golf, basketball, pickleball, tennis, using the playground equipment, walking dogs and themselves.  We even saw a kid on a hover board.  I couldn't see if anyone was in the pool, but people were soaking up the sun everywhere.  Duane managed to get ourselves outside about ten when we saw Tom and Paula at the pickleball court.  We played several games before we all pooped out about 12:30.  After lunch Duane and I played a couple of rounds of mini golf.  (I am really bad at this game.)  Duane won of course.  We didn't really keep score (too depressing for me!) but did keep track of who had least strokes at each hole.  We ducked inside the Family building to see what was what.  Duane decided to shoot some pool for an hour and I worked on the jigsaw puzzle.  For supper we decided to cash in our McDonalds discounts.  In FL we took a survey and got a discount--buy one get one 1/4 pounder or egg mcmuffin.  Yesterday our Monopoly sticker won us free medium fries.  I don't like to eat the same thing two days running, but our bogo was about to run out.  Our supper cost $6 so I couldn't really complain!  Back home we practiced pb for a half hour or so before we said goodby to our beautiful day.

Duane wore out  and went to bed about 10.  I was making the really good oatmeal cookies and didn't make it until midnight.  I was stretched out in bed just beginning to relax when---and here's the oops--I remembered that I hadn't written the blog!!!  Well, I'm counting this as Sunday's blog even though it is 10 minutes into Monday.

The weather is supposed to hold for the next few days.  Our biker friends, Eddie and Gloria asked if we wanted to ride tomorrow.  Duane told Eddie that the bike has an oil leak somewhere.  Eddie offered to take a look.  If it is nothing serious, then we will ride during the day and play pickleball in the evening.  I'm telling you, the days are just packed!!

Here is how to make the really good oatmeal cookies.  Use the regular oatmeal cookie recipe but don't put in any spice.  Add dried fruit (cranberries or cherries are really good and I like to plump them up a bit by soaking them in water), white chocolate chips, and raw white nuts like macadamia or almonds.  To make them chewy, add 1/4 cup molasses in place of the water.  Bake like regular oatmeal cookies.  Yum!

I'll bet you didn't know that yesterday was International Children's Book Day because it was Hans Christian Andersen's birthday.  Put that on your calendar for next year so that you can read a fairy tale to a young child or/and donate a children's book to your local library to celebrate the day.  Do it right now so that you don't forget.  Or not.

More fun and frolics tomorrow (today) and maybe even some pictures,

Louise and Duane

April Fools

We were the fools, and Mother Nature was the tricker.  After such a beautiful day yesterday, heavy winds blew in a cold front  with overcast skies and  and chilly temps.  The clouds allowed a weak sun for a few hours, but in the evening it disappeared altogether.  Duane used the am to pay leftover doctor bills that straggled in with the mail.  I did laundry and read Nick Russell's latest Big Lake offering--Big Lake Brewpub.  Very interesting.

We both had sinus headaches.  That, coupled with the weather kept us inside all day, so no trips, no pix.  However I do have some fun facts to share.  (At least they are fun for me!)

For the past seventy years Smokey Bear has warned us of the dangers of wildfires. In 1964 to accommodate his fan mail, the USPS have him his own zip code--20252.

In 1965 President Lyndon B. Johnson signed into law the Medicare program.  In 1965 I was starting my Freshman year in high school.  That means that this month I can now take advantage of the Medicare program which has been in use for the past fifty years.  I am also the recipient of all of those supplemental insurance mailings.  Win one, lose one.

Forty years ago in the 1970's we boomers were still making our mark through fashion, slang, and fads.

Fashion trends for men included leisure suits, high-waist slacks in bright colors and patterns, and close-fitting knit shirts worn open to mid chest to display gold chains or necklaces.  Women wore mini, midi, and maxi skirts, wide bell-bottom hip-hugger pants (mine were purple with big jungle flowers all over), tube tops, and "Daisy Dukes".  Both genders wore platform shoes and lots of double knits.

Everyone knew what it meant to boogie, book, jive talk,and keep on truckin'.  No one wanted to be a jive turkey, but did want to be far out, funky, or outta sight.

Cb radios, disco, pet rocks and mood rings were very "in".  Everyone made Teriyaki Chicken with pineapple and the ever popular Watergate Salad.

You're not done laughing yet.  I got this tidbit from the back of my desktop daily calendar.  It seems that among some of the large scale April Fool's Day pranks, a Danish newspaper reported on April 1, 1965, that the Danish parliament had passed a law requiring all dogs to be painted white.  The purpose of the "law" was so that the canines could be seen more easily at night and, thus, increase road safety.

Hope you had a fun April Fool's Day!

Louise and Duane