This pretty much sums it up.

But in Indiana it's not like New York where everyone's like, 'We're from New York and we're the best' or 'We're from Texas and we like things big' it's more like 'We're from Indiana and we're gonna move."  
Jim Gaffigan

I must have had THE WORST driving day of all times today.  I even blasted my horn at an old lady!  Sorry.  Everyday that I leave my street I am furious by the time I get to the first  traffic light.  I'm not a violent or un-understanding person.  Anyone who knows me knows that one thing about me.  But, PLEASE, people, learn how to drive!!!!!  OMG, I could go on for days. (Breathe, count to 10.)     But, I won't.  I  am not without experience, mind you.  I have driven in most of the states of our nation.  So, it is not as though I don't have a point of reference.  When I see someone driving like a "normal human being"  I think to myself, 'They must not be from here'  Really.
kat

Iris Garden

These iris bulbs were here when we bought the house in Dec. 2007 but of course we didn't know about them until spring.  We were thrilled when they came up the first year we were here.  This year, though...let's just say they must of had a lovely winter and their showing this year is magnificent!  These are the heartiest iris' I've ever seen!  6 to 8  huge blooms on each stem.  Even the bulbs that my husband moved to other beds are doing great.  We had one gold one last year but, the lavender and bi-color ones are new (and facinating!)  The last picture features our Border Collie, Allie, posing, er, resting.

Again, the wonderful scent... oh the memories...

kat

Memories from a 1957 Postcard Communication

Postcard dated June 19, 1957 from my grandfather, George L. Horton to my grandmother (Grandmommie) Ella Mae Horton.  PaPa's  note reads: Temple [Texas] Tues. June 19, 1957
Dear Ella and kids well I am feeling fine thay sure nice to me  I had 5 x-rays yesterday an 3 today  nice S.E. room on floor.  The Dr. said he was  (? positive ) it wasn't something else.  I will have to take insulin shots at most anything.  So it won't be so bad afterall.  Drive careful.  By love George.
Okay.  so the story is  this:  my grandfather worked for the Santa Fe Railroad in Cleburne, Texas and when you needed to go into the hospital you went to the Santa Fe hospital in Temple, TX.  My grandmother was a nurse at the time.  This was when they found out that he was diabetic.  Turns out he was a "brittle diabetic"  (extremely difficult to control his blood sugar level).  He sent her this postcard to let her know when to drive down to pick him up from the hospital.  You didn't pick up the phone and call someone in those days, it cost money.  A postcard and a 1 cent stamp was cheaper.
So, I just spent the last 30 min. or so looking at the old photo album.  The obituary from the Cleburne newspaper doesn't give the date (or it was cut off) but, PaPa died in 1959 (?)  I remember that I was 5 years old and in a car parked in the Santa Fe hospital parking lot late at night and my mother came out to the car crying and said that "Daddy passed away".  My uncle was sitting with me and my little brother, sister and cousins in the car.  It was warm and the windows were down.  Must have been summer.
That's the way it was in those days.

The treat of Texas comes to Indiana!

Now we're talkin!!!!  It seems that there are enough of us here that have some pull to convince Blue Bell to come this far north.  And I was thrilled just to find Ranch Style Beans at Marsh, hah!  Tip of the iceberg, so to speak.  I saw the billboard last week, heard the radio ad today.  It is only available at Meijer stores (bless them) and I will drive the extra miles to bring back the best ice cream on earth, dammit.  There goes my weight loss goal for the summer!  Now... to whomever brought this piece of heaven to us grateful, misplaced Texans - we thank you!  But, just so you know, if you could get Whataburger up here... you would be a god/goddess in my book (and a godsend to all of us!)  A "heya" to all you Hoosiers, get out there and try Blue Bell ice cream! 
On a side note: (a million years ago), my ex, an artist, did a painting for the owners of Blue Bell Creameries.  It is also a print and features our daughter, Kellye, as the little girl leading the cow.

Can you just smell the Blue Bonnets?

Once you smell the blue bonnet you never forget!  Drive down the highway or country road with the windows down and become intoxicated!  They are probably gone by now down there but just seeing a picture of one of the beauties brings back all kinds of memories.  I hope everyone enjoys this little glimpse.
Photo with permission by Susan Wittig Albert of Lifescapes

Any Texans Out of Water out there?

I, a Texas native, am looking to connect with other (poor, misunderstood, lonesome) Texans that are not/can't be living in Texas at the moment.  Only a Texan can understand what it means to be a Texan.  And, those of us that (for whatever unfortunate reason) cannot live there right now, need to band together, by God!!!!  We need the comfort of fellow Texans!