Independence

A few months ago we visited the little place called Independence Texas.  At one time in the 1800's there was a college there.  Ruins below in 2 pictures.

 We enjoyed this trip back in time viewing the old houses and ruins in that area.  Lots to see there.

The hero of Texas Independence, Sam Houston visited here often because his mother in law lived here in the community.  His wife who died after himself was buried here.

Sam, himself is buried here in Huntsville.  On his birthday each year, which is March 2, the same as the day that Texas delcared their independence from Mexico our local Historical Commission has many events
to celebrate with Houston decendants coming to participate.  Check the Walker County Historical Commission web site to get this info which is being planned now.  We met last evening to make these
plans.

I will also post more about this in the weeks to come.  Perhaps pictures after the event.

My husband James is my model for these pictures.  We enjoyed our little visit or stopover to see this old community near Brenham.

All this area is where Texas was planned and where our ancestors fought for the right to be the Republic of Texas, and later a state of the United States.

There is enough to see to warrant a stopover here in Independence. 

There is so much more to see.  You can roam around and peek in windows.  Well, some of them.  Not those that are lived in of course.

Totally natural landscape too

.  My husband liked this old gas pump we saw.

Down the road is the famous Antique Rose Emporium. 

Another lovely scene:

And more:

Remember this was in the springtime

Everywhere you looked there is another beautiful area to behold.

And this little house, I know you have seen it before when Theresa Cano did a post on it with her mother standing in the doorway.  Has anyone ever said here what a nice lady her mother is? 

I am sure they have.

So this concludes the visit to the Independence community near Brenham and not far from Roundtop and Warrenton if you are in the area.

Lois

 

New Year, New hopes

Hello to all you in blogger land!!! 
I have been away for a couple of months due to my son's botched surgery.  He is healing finally but
the nerve damage in his hand has not gone.  Please add him to your prayer list.
I am at the store now regularly again.  He is staying now with his son who can pop in and out to check on him during the day.  He sleeps allot at this point in his recovery.  I have to run him to all his DR appts.
It seems strange after all we have been through to even think of decorating and antiques and anything trivial but now I am back at work most of the time, I am afraid I have to do so.
Thanks for all the good wishes and prayers.
Lois

Merry Christmas to all

As many of you know this has been a bad month for my family.  My son's back surgery went bad
and he had that failed surgery plus one a few days later to correct that but still has not had anything
done for his back.
It is so easy with all the care for him and the trips to and from the Dr. and trying to run the store with
others being paid to work for me, well it is more than I almost can bear.
But as usual, God gives comfort even in the most unusual places where this all had taken us.
My shopping for Christmas this year will likely be online.  I am the one who always refuses to shop
anywhere but locally but this year may be different for me.  Sorry all you local stores.
There are still the small ones to buy for, grandchildren, who won't understand that we have been
fighting all month for my son's life.  They will expect those good things that come along at Christmas.
We may end up with a simple meal for Christmas this year but that does not hurt anyone.
But for all of us, the main thing this year and every year is the reason that we celebrate Christmas.
We celebrate Jesus' birth and there is no other reason.  This is not a holiday season and I refuse to
say happy holidays.  This is CHRISTMAS.
So to each of you who follow along with me, I hope things improve and can again post some things
soon.  For now, please know I am sincere in wishing each of you and your families a very happy
CHRISTMAS.
Lois
PS:  The picture on my header is one I got from free images on the internet and I certainly hope it does not belong to someone who does not want to share it but I was very careful in trying to find one with meaning that was not a snowman or bells or santas.  That is why I specified that it said free images. If not, please notify me and I will be glad to remove it.

no posts recently

I am sorry I have not had time to post recently.
My son went into the hospital for surgery on his back and ended up with two surgeries
and still not had his back fixed.  He has had a fight for his life. We were at the hospital for over
2 weeks.  I had others working the store for me, one was Bette who I hired to work and the other my sister Deb who worked days free for me. Without her help I could not have made it.
We appreciate any prayers in his behalf. His name is Larry.
Thank you,
Lois

Books Books Books

I have always loved books!!!! 
I remember books in childhood which were read to me.  And then books in school.  The bookmobile in
summer where we were allowed to check out only 2 books every two weeks when they came around again. 

We lived in the country and our closest small town did not even have a library then. 
I remember coaxing my younger sister into letting one of her selections go to me since she did not really
care to read anyway.  I lived for reading then.  So I would get to check out 3 every two weeks. 

Later on there were plenty of books available to me and as a pre teen I read every Nancy Drew book ever written. 
 Did you see the Country Living article last month showing prices for some of these older ND books?  I was floored!!!  I have all of them here in the store.

Today I still love books and cannot imagine why  anyone would choose a Kindle over a real life hold in your hands book. 

I especially love antique books. In the store I have an extensive selection of antique rare and first edition books for sale.

When I sell one I know that the person who buys it is just like me and loves to hold

that old book and cherish it forever.  It is just going on a  new adventure to another's care. 

Old eyeglasses

Glasses have changed allot through the years. 
I was looking at some items in the store here this morning and thinking this very thing.

The ones above are very old. They have silver rims and are in their original case.

These are almost rimless but still mostly silver.

Another old pair with an ad from the same era.

A glass eye cup and orignal box.

Cat's eye glasses of the 50's and 60's.

I found these items very interesting.  Now I wear glasses too.  One customer comes in and buys these
old glasses which he then takes to his optometrist to be fitted with his own prescription and wears them daily.
Recycling and much less expensive than the new frames.
Lois

Head vases

Did anyone see the latest copy of Romantic Country and the article on head vases? 
I did not think these were very pretty and we have many here in the store.  I have

never liked them but apparently there is quite a following. 

I will admit to them having a certain charm, I mean some look like old ladies who

paint their lipstick too big for their lips.

  Their eyelashes remind me of a lady that
used to work with me who wore false eyelashes to work every day.  Overdone

is what I would call them. 

We have some that appear to be modeled after old movie stars.  I do not see Jackie

Kennedy in these at all but who knows. 

More like Lucille Ball.  I am sorry but I hated
her television shows.  I was never captivated by her problems which she brought on
herself.  She was too unorganized in her thinking to suit or appeal to me.

I read in the article that they were used to place flowers which the florists delivered.
Did not know that.  The value is more than I guessed they could ever be worth.
Let's just say though there are many here in this store, I did not personally value
them as much.  There are also many new ones called Cameo ladies.  We have some of those too but
I will not show them here except the header.

Just goes to show there are people who like all kinds of things.  They may say the
same about my obsessions for white ironstone, rose painted plates and china,
Czech 1920's jewelry,  apothecary items, bees, old books and who knows what
else.  Anyway, here is my contribution toward the subject of head vases.

Lois