Hello October...for Monday's Country Backroads

 

"A Bend in the Road is not the end of the Road...

Unless you fail to make the turn."

Author Unknown

 

October is here,

 and it's the beginning of a new week....

so,

 let's take it easy and enjoy the ride.

Meggie Mac

 

Linking with Tom The Backroads Traveller

The Barn Collective

 Click HERE

to view other barns from around the world.

A Salute to our Flags.....

 

I really enjoy getting out and about so early in the morning.

 

It's the simple things one can experience at this hour... like

watching the daily ritual of raising our Texas flag

 along side our American flag,

a symbol of who we are and our shared values.

 

It wasn't until I started editing the photos, that I realized

 it must be a brand new flag.

 

 You can still see the fold creases on it.

 

 

It warms my heart,

to watch this small Texas town

 wake up in the morning...

Meggie

Small Town Main Street ....for Monday's Country Roads

 

Organic Coffee ?

In a Small Town?

Well, true to the sign, that is exactly what I will be getting

 this early morning.

 

 

And, how early would that be?

The sun is showing it's face just above the horizon...

As you can see,

the main street is still empty of parked cars.

 

It's my favorite time of the day.

 

A table is waiting outside for me,

or....

 

 

how about joining me inside, for a cup of special blend.

We can catch up with some town news

 and, maybe a little gossip.

Meggie.

Peeking Through the Fence for Friday Fences....

 

One of the charms of traveling through so many small towns, in Texas, is finding the older historical homes.

This truly was a lucky find, that my youngest daughter told me about. We both share a love for older homes.

It is situated in the heart of town.... but at the same time, very secluded by many large trees.

 

 

Here is the vantage point from where my camera and myself had to photograph.

 

I must admit, in all my photography, this is the first time I felt like the.....

Paparazzi.

 

Meggie Mac

 

 

Joining today with Good Fences.

To view other wonderful fences from around the world, click

HERE

Inspired Sunday in a Small Texas Town

 

For several months I have been traveling the week ends, from the prairie to a National Forest, where my son lives. The drive takes me through about 15 small towns. I'm always looking for new sights to share with you. Today I stopped to photograph this small historical church.

 

 

The parish will be celebrating 150 years in 2014.

 

 

No luck for viewing the inside...the doors were already locked for the day.

 

 

In reading a history of the church, it said, "In 1890, Ernest Lord, an active church member of English background, was hired as the contractor to rebuild the new church building. He modeled the building after an English village Gothic-style church".

 

 

Over the years, care has been taken not to disturb the original appearance and beauty of the church.

Meggie Mac

 

Linking today with Inspired Sunday.

Click HERE for other links.

Texas Polka Jam Session

Last Saturday, while in town, I decided to join in the Second Annual Open House and Polka Jam Session.

The advertisement in the "The Texas Polka News" stated the following:
Musicians come and jam. Polka fans come see the Museum. Bring your lawn chairs and enjoy the music. Admission Free!

No polka music would be complete without an accordion and tuba. It was very obvious the musicians were enjoying their morning, playing.....

It is no surprise that polka music is so important in the area where I live. The museum honors the European ancestry - Czech, German, and Polish.

The following video is my first attempt at recording. Even though it was a very windy day, I decided I wanted you to hear some of the music.

 

 

Don't you agree, it is happy music.....

Meggie Mac

Looks Like a Pub to Me

Chicken and Cheese Quesadillas

At the moment, this is my favorite place to eat....the tortillas are hand made in the restaurant's kitchen. Everything is prepared from scratch.

Click on Photo

My plate includes the Quesadillas, charro beans, guacamole, pica de gallo, sour cream, and Hispanic rice.  Quesadillas can be made with meat or vegetables, like spinach, along with cheese.

The establishment is called a "Restaurant and Grill". Wine and beer may be served with your meal. There is a guitarist playing music in the evenings. I think it has the feeling of a Pub.

Usually I arrive in mid-afternoon, on Saturday, after the lunch rush is over. The owner knows me by name, expecting me to come this time of day. It is one of the beauties of small town living.

My favorite table by the door....

Still warm with a sprinkling of cinnamon....

Click on the link below to read a short history of the Sopapillas

I couldn't resist, when the owner of the restaurant offered to make Sopapillas for dessert. I asked her to put them in a to-go-box. But, first I had to sample them. Look how light and flaky they are. You drizzle honey over the top, and take a bite.

Wish you could join me next Saturday for afternoon lunch !

Meggie Mac

Parade Time in Texas

Festivals and Parades, in a small community, are an opportunity for everyone to get together and have fun. The banners in town have been flying for over a month, promoting this past week end.

Very early on Parade Day, chairs began to line up on Main Street....no reservations necessary.

By the time the parade started, the temperature was in the middle 90's. If there was a tree along the parade path, people gathered under the shade.

No parade is complete without a marching band...

                    The Shriner's, driving their famous small cars, are always fun to watch.

         Clowns...is that a riding lawn mower? And, take a look at his hat by clicking on the photo....

Small town parades have their share of decorated floats with the local beautiful girls in long party dresses...each one, Queen for the Day, waving to the crowd.

                        Cowgirls and cowboys must be included in a Texas small town event.

And, of course, some horses.

                                        There is always good support from our veterans.

    The heritage of this community is Czech and German....so a Polka Club is a natural.

I don't know the significance of the mule drawn cart, but the animals were so magnificent, I couldn't resist showing them.

What wonderful spirit this small community of 2,500 has, to show up on a very hot morning and support the town parade....

Meggie Mac

Military Convoy Stopping for Lunch

I decided to pop in to town for lunch on Friday. Much to my surprise, there was a military convoy traveling towards me on the main road. It is something you rarely see, and I have never encountered in our small community.

Since the beginning of my blog, my camera has become my sidekick. My thoughts were...A perfect opportunity for a post!

After they passed by me, I quickly turned around to follow. In less than 5 minutes, it was obvious they were stopping.

It was a lunch break for them, too!

And, to the surprise of my small town fast food restaurant, Whataburger, they were about to have a full house for lunch.









I quickly went to my favorite eatery, next door, for lunch. Then, I returned to Whataburger parking lot, to watch the convoy leave.

One by one, the soldiers began to walk back to their military vehicles, each carrying a rather large cup of iced drink. It was almost 100 degrees at Noon on Friday.

All lined up...and ready to roll.

The sight of this vehicle brings a tightness in my throat.....

From talking with one of the soldiers, I found out the convoy was returning from a training exercise at Fort Bliss Base, near El Paso, Texas.

I was thinking....What an appropriate place for them to stop for lunch!

Meggie Mac

Low Calories...I Don't Think So !

You are looking at what is left of my Coke Float.

It all started with my trip to town, on Saturday, to photograph the Railroad Depot Museum.

As I sat in my truck, parked by the museum, I looked across the parking space and saw the Dairy Queen sign. The longer I sat, waiting for the museum to open, the louder the Dairy Queen sign called out to me....."Lunch, lunch, LUNCH!

They make it so easy with a drive-up window. If you have one in your town, you know what I mean. Well...that's my story and I'm sticking to it !

You may be familiar with the Dairy Queen, because in 2008, there were over 5,700 locations, in 19 countries.  What is the slogan, on the bag, in your town?

Having a light breakfast Saturday morning, I decided to splurge and have a DQ Dude Burger....French Fries, of course....and top it off with a Coke Float. If you are not familiar with a float, it is Coke poured over a generous helping of  Soft Serve ice cream, made in the store.

Trust me when I say, "Calories should not be counted when eating here" ! And, yes, I did eat it in my truck as I was waiting.

Temptation is everywhere !

Looks like I wasn't the only one, tempted to have lunch, at the Dairy Queen....

Meggie Mac