Davis Visits Blytheville

Now for the real reason of the visit.  Davis now has his driving permit and he knows WMV is a great place to practice, and Old Pap is a good teacher.   Kids have a hard time driving in the city with all the traffic so we are glad we can help.   ( He's a good driver).

Davis always has to visit Miss Ollie.  They go back a long ways.  When Davis was a little fellow Miss O taught him to play Mexican dominoes  at game night and they have been friends ever since.  Davis thought her golf cart was great.

More: Davis Visits Blytheville

We don't get to have many visits with the Grandchildren any more, so it's a treat to have a visit from Davis.  We will have a busy couple of days.  Davis has his drivers permit, and also needs help with his radio merit badge, so driving and studying is a full time job.  We will return him to Memphis when we take Cloody in for a Dr. visit on Thursday.

Pea Shelling

  
    

Thanks to Bennie and Patsy we are enjoying fresh vegetables.  You all are very kind and generous.  It's been a long time since we shelled peas, but it came back to us in no time at all. I guess it's like riding a bicycle; once you learn, you never forget.

I think I will do a hat blog next.   

 

 

     

Landmark Oak

Everything is bigger in Texas they say, but I'm not sure this is the largest Live Oak .   I must admit it's a large one.  We came across it in the Texas Hill Country and just couldn't resist taking the photo. 

(Click on photo to enlarge) 

 

          

                                               

COLD SOUP ( You must be kidding)

I casually mentioned cold soup to a group of fellow Villagers, and immediately I got my head handed to me on a platter ( If you know what I mean).  All I could hear is, " I don't eat cold soup".  

Well, I never know when to quit.  Immediately I thought about words like:  Gazpacho, Ratatouille, Vichyssoise, and Soup A La Courgette, and I wonder what we're missing.  I guess the approach should be, " If you haven't tried it, don't knock it".  

Last week Cloody and I made cold cucumber soup for our  bridge luncheon with good results.  Well enough to try Blueberry a few days later.  It was wonderful, but I didn't take any chances by calling it cold soup.  Instead I froze it and called it blueberry sorbet, and it was a big success.  We have had great success with Gazpacho when we lived in Arizona.  

I recall a Mr. Parker who ran a beer drinking establishment in Mississippi.  It was located near the county line between a dry county and a wet one, and was a favorite stop for thirsty travelers.  Mr. Parker had a large crock on the bar and it was filled with chopped fresh vegetables, mostly tomatoes , but also peppers, onions and whatever his friends would bring in. To this he would add, salt, a little vinegar, hot sauce and other goodies that suited his fancy.  It was offered to anyone brave enough to eat it, and after a couple of beers it was a welcome summer treat.  Served in a paper cup along with soda crackers.  I often thought of what this concoction really was but thank God No One There Ate Cold Soup. 

If I remember correctly the name of this illustrious establishment was PARK-HER-IN

The temperature is hot, the summer flavors are high, and in the words of Old Dizzy Dean, " Whatever you do, don't fail to miss it".

  

Westminster Trip To The Brooks

All Aboard for the  Brooks in Memphis

Yes, 14 of us got on the bus which holds 14.  Good planning. Becca drove and she did an out standing job.  We got there thanks to Map Quest and the good directions from Jerry Brown.  We had a great time, a good trip, and I think everyone enjoyed the day.  We had a guided tour at the Brooks , saw lots of interesting things, and I learned what a Sugar Chest is.  The tour ended with a special Tea and sandwiches, and other goodies which were all excellent.  Thanks to Becca and all of Westminster for a nice trip.

Doing what we do best

A top priorty was eating, so our first stop was  West Memphis 

I'm not too sure Cloody liked posing with the " Seasons"

Everyone is heading for the bus , and home.

Shopping With Tita Mama

Yesterday we made the trip to Metrolina.  I took our camera.   Little did I know that taking pictures would be as satisfying as buying the merchandise.  I would be a rich woman today if I had learned this years ago.  Look at all that I was able to bring home with me:

Beads, beads, and more beads.

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Glass Door Knobs.

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Succulent Garden!

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The entire backyard!

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Lunch !

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Buckets of all kinds .

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This lady has not learned what a camera can buy.

She is still back in the old day of actually carrying items home!

I'm now living in a virtual world!

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What would I like ?  Chairs or stars?

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I'll take the stars! 

Jerry was kind enough to arrange for me to

take one of the small ones home!

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A star for me.

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Signs are sometimes confusing?  

How do you get out of here?

Which way is home?

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A self portrait?  Opps!  I cut my head off

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The Metrolina Gate Keeper.

He showed us the way to go home!

 What a day!  Maybe our monthly trips to Metrolina will resume now that I have learned how to purchase things without using money!   

                                                                                                                                                     

PEACHES

One of the best things about living in this part of the country is the peaches of Campbell, MO.  Last year was a disaster . A late freeze wiped out the entire crop, leaving us without our usual summer treat, but this year the crop is good and the peaches are wonderful.  We usually make several runs up to Campbell each year, but this  year the price of gas makes us think twice, and travel once, but whatever the price; they are worth it.

We enjoy just eating them and bringing some back to our neighbors.  Some of the things that the excellent cooks of the Village do with these peaches are amazing.  Peach cobblers are probably first on the list, and then peach fried pies.  Peach ice cream and the list goes on forever.  I suggest you check out Peaches for some information about this great place.

Sweet Corn Catches the Eye

It Looks Great

A Prayer For Andy

This Has Been Around For A Long Time

In 1982 Cloody was diagnosed  with a None Hodgkin's Lymphoma and was started on Chemotherapy.   She was very Ill and needed support.   She clipped the prayer from the Phoenix newspaper and posted it on the refrigerator, and it remained for a long time.  Finally it became yellow and the Scotch tape holding it dried completely and that's when I took it and had a sign company make me a new one.  The sign is still  on the refrigerator, being held by a very strong mounting tape making it impossible to remove.  Cloody has been in remission for over 24 years, and we are thankful to God everyday for our blessing.  

I'm hoping this prayer will now be yours, and you can see it's a proven winner.

Soy Beans

For the past couple of years soy beans have been planted on the property . Now land that was laying fallow is growing a productive crop.   Early in the year the plots are sprayed to kill the weeds, then after frost the beans are planted  by machine that do not till the soil.  The soy beans make a beautiful crop and greatly enhance the property in addition to producing a good money crop.    

Early Spring

Mid July

More Soy Beans

More 

And More

I'm not a farmer, but I sure get a thrill out of seeing things grow, and this is a wonderful time of year.

July 4th Picnic

Good Turnout

Jesse The Cook

A Star is Born

Mattie on the Mike

A Very Special Guest

Cloody and I went to the big party.  Since it isn't too far we always walk.  It was nice. The weather was cool and no mosquitoes were present.  In all, it was a perfect day.  The food was good and I thought the barbecue was some of the best.  The serving arrangements were organized and well planned.  I'm sure everyone enjoyed themselves.

We were surprised with some awards for volunteers who work hard to make the Village a nicer place.  Fannie Ruth received the volunteer of the year award and Ed Hanson received a special award for his special help for always doing what's needed.  Congratulations to both, and we are proud to have them as residents in the Village.

Thanks to all the singers and entertainers who helped make it the nicest July 4th picnic ever. 

Sea Exploring with Davis

Well, Davis is off again.  No Blackberries to track his travels this time.  I'm not sure if he has electricity of the correct voltage, or if this type of thing is possible for whatever reason.   I'm listing the site that gives more information.  Sailing With Davis

 

Have a good trip and we will be checking your web site for any posting.  

July 4th at Westminster Village

We are thankful for our freedom and pray for peace.

Looks like everything is ready for the big celebration at 5 p m.   The time now is 1:30 and it's raining.   Don't worry thing will be dry in time.  

 

This is my flag that I'm proud of it.  It was a gift from Michele and Lee and they even put it up for me.  I used to have a flag that I used everyday, but it was getting old and was not being use. It was one with  48 stars so you know it had been around for a long time.  It was the flag from the Grant store in Galveston, TX, and after the store closed it was mailed to me at the District Ofice.