Remembering Our Veterans...

 

 At the last minute on Sunday, I decided to drive to Praha, Texas, a community near Das Kleine Haus, for a 50th Anniversary Celebration of Veterans Day.

 

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So many activities, in small Texas towns, center around the local church. This celebration is no different.

 

The day begins with a church service honoring the vets. It continues on to the outdoor program, finishing off the day with a lunch served in the Parish Hall.

 

 

The beautiful historical church is the perfect setting for the Day of Remembrance.

 

 

It is amazing to see a community, with a population of less than 50, to have a turn out of more than 600 patriots to honor veterans of all wars.

 

 

An audience mixed with mothers, dads, wives, children, grandparents, and friends.

 

 

Here is one of the oldest veterans, on the way to his honored seat near the podium.

 

 

The postings of flags are about to begin...

 

 

All lined up to set their flags in place.

 

 

The POW and MIA flag was placed near the wreaths honoring all fallen military.

 

 

The placing of the wreaths....

 

 

The patriotic music was performed by the young musicians of the Flatonia High School Band.

         

 

 

 

It was a very windy day, with the threat of rain. In the above video, you can hear some of the wind noise. I hope you will over-look this point, and enjoy a sample of the music.

 

 

The closing ceremony was complete with the playing of taps and a fly-over by three vintage airplanes.

 

 

Circling around, flying over again to make a flower-drop over the area.

 

Truly a very moving day....giving remembrance to those who have given so much to our country.

 

Meggie Mac

 

Country Church and Christmas Bazaar

Here is what the church brochure says about this beautiful historic church...

"It is older than the telegraph, the telephone, the automobile, the electric light bulb and the airplane...like a sentinel on watch, since 1879." 

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It is located on a winding hilly road near Das Kleine Haus. If you look closely you can see the top of the church steeple above the trees. 

As I approach the church, I look up at the bell tower. I can feel a tightness in my throat as I see the steeple cross, reaching high towards the clouds.

Written on the historical marker are the words, "It is an excellent example of an open plan Gothic church with a central bell tower."

The rose design window, above the pointed arch doors, takes center stage. The dedication year is shown in the window frame.

As I step inside, the sun is shining through the rose window, casting light on the wooden Cross.

Looking up, I see the rope to the bell tower. The brochure tells me the bell has engraved, in German, the words of Matthew 11:28, "Come to me all yea that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest."

The bell has been rung for 13 decades, at the beginning of each service. It has rung joyously for weddings and somberly for funerals. Other occasions it has rung, have been the declaration wars, fires in the community, and other significant events in the world.

It also rang somberly, according to the brochure, on September 11, 2001 following the terrorist attacks on New York and Washington, DC.

Opening the door, my eyes were immediately drawn to the altar, where you see a brightly colored stained glass window.

On my way outside, I noticed the church bazaar announcement.....so, it was off to a local ranch to check out the goodies being sold.

I was very late arriving, but I did manage to buy some home-made treats. I was reminded by a very friendly woman, that next year, I need to arrive around 8am. It seems there is a line waiting to get in early.

Hmmmm....if it's good enough for Santa's reindeers, it's good enough for me to eat!

And so, another Saturday, in my wonderful part of the world I call home....

Come on over, and let's sample all the treats...









Meggie Mac

Friday's Fences

 The eye-catching colors of the concrete fence, almost look out of place with the rural style building in the background.

 Just at the top edge of the overpass road, you can see the tin roof building from the first photo.

When traveling through the community near Das Kleine Haus, I frequently use the underpass road.

Meggie Mac


I'm joining in with Jan and Jer's Friday Fences ...... use this link to see other fence photos.

Thursday Show and Tell

Looking down at the top of the free-blown vase almost gives the appearance of flower petals. If you look closely, you can see how the glass loops over-lap in a irregular pattern.

I enjoy sharing the history of my show and tell pieces, but in this case, there is not much to tell. Being free-blown by the glass blower, it is a one of a kind vase.

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What I can share with you is the interesting term, Pontil Mark. Looking at the bottom of the vase, you see the pontil scar where the punty (glass blowing rod) was broken from the blown glass.

Placing the vase on it's side, over the white tiles, you can see the rich color of the cobalt blue. The vase measures about 10" tall.

 I cannot help wondering, what inspired the glass blower to make this unusual design....

Meggie Mac

The Book Room

The naming of this room came about when I was moving into the Haus. The guys moving my boxes and furniture, from the farm, started calling it "The Book Room".

After carrying more than 25 containers of books up 18 steps on my very long staircase, they just assumed the room was for books.










Even though the room will eventually be for sewing, a guest bedroom sofa, TV watching and my writing, it will also house all my books.

Two bookcases in upstairs hallway...two more to go!

This story actually begins with the gift of 4 bookcases, from my dear friends who lived across the road from me at the farm. The three of us, all too old for this project, carried the bookcases upstairs. I can tell you, after two of them, I was ready to quit.

The shelves filled up quickly. So, today I ordered two more from Ikea.

Nothing like spending a winter's evening, curled up on the sofa, with a HEA (Happy Ever After) book....

The room is far from completion....there are curtains to sew, more wall paneling to install, and of course, setting up my sewing area.

The reflection in the window pane is a lamp in "The Book Room"

This is the view from my writing desk.

      So very different from the farmhouse.....but, I'm beginning to appreciate the new life in Das Kleine Haus.

Meggie Mac

Monday's Country Back Roads

Picture Perfect....from the many times I have traveled down this road.

I do believe, I will never tire of driving the back roads on the prairie.

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Roads so narrow....
       At times, you must pull over, in the grass, when faced with an on coming vehicle.

Meggie Mac



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