Read Any Good Books Lately????

Decisions, decisions. This weekend I purchased these two books:

and



I've heard good reviews on both of these, so I had a hard time trying to decide which one to read first. I just reached in my sack and grabbed the first one which happened to be Francine Rivers' Redeeming Love. It's been on the best seller list for many years, so most of you have probably already read it. I've only read the first 125 pages so far and it's great! It is the biblical love story of Gomer and Hosea in a tale set against the exciting backdrop of the California Gold Rush. Now excuse me while I get back to my reading.

Fort Chadbourne

We attended the Fort Chadbourne Fundraiser last night. Fort Chadbourne was established October 28, 1852 by companies A and K of the Eighth United States Infantry. The fort was named for 2nd Lt. Theodore Lincoln Chadbourne who fought and was killed in the Mexican War in the Battle of Resaca de la Palma. Fort Chadbourne is one of the frontier forts established to protect the settlers moving west. Other forts located in the Texas Forts Trail Region are Fort Mason, Fort McKavett, Fort Concho, Fort Phantom Hill, Fort Griffin, Fort Richardson, and Fort Belknap.

The dinner began with the shooting of the canon by the soldiers.



We had delicious mesquite cooked steaks, green beans with potatoes, salad and of course, dutch oven peach cobbler for desert. We were able to walk around and see the fort as they continue with the restoration. There were all kinds of characters walking around:



Aren't these horses pretty? ....I guess horses can be pretty.





Look at this horse all by himself. Can you see the soldier's sword in the saddle?



This guy really liked having his picture taken.




He just kept following me around, wanting me to take his picture. He reminds me of some of the sidekicks for famous sheriffs like Wyatt Earp, Pat Garrett and of course good ole' Matt Dillon.




Here's a picture of the double officer's quarters.






And it's real hard to tell, but some of the men who served at the fort, carved their names and the year into the plaster on the walls.




Fort Chadbourne served as a Butterfield Stage Stop from 1858 - 1861. The Butterfield Overland Mail's first stage rolled through Fort Chadbourne on September 23, 1858. The stage traveled a 2800 mile route that began in St. Louis, Missouri and ended in San Francisco, California.



Barry Corbin served as the station keeper for the show.




Doesn't he just look like he's from the 1850's??? He tells the story of Dr. Tucker's journey from St. Louis back to his home in San Francisco which ended with a duel taking place at the Fort Chadbourne Station.




It was pretty dark, so this next picture isn't very good, but here is a picture of the stagecoach recently purchased for Fort Chadbourne. I don't know why they didn't have it on display earlier in the evening.



The weather was great and we had really good time.

Happy Birthday Sunshine Girl!

Just five short years ago, I got to experience the miracle of birth!!! Oh, I had already had two children, but I never really got to watch everything. When Jennifer got pregnant, she asked me to be in the room with her and Nathan. What a thrill!!! I had never really seen anything like this 'cause like I said I wasn't able to watch anything when I had mine (I really didn't want to, either!). I have to admit there was a few times I wanted to ring the doctors neck. Jennifer's doctor was out of town, so another one delivered the baby and Jennifer had a difficult delivery. But everything turned out and she has a beautiful daughter! And the best part is I became a grandmother or Granna, as she calls me. There's no better experience than being a grandparent. You get to love them and spoil them and not have to worry about the actual raising of them. Isn't that great???? Anyway, HAPPY BIRTHDAY SWEET KAYLEE, MY SUNSHINE GIRL!!!!!

I've Been Tagged

Stacey tagged me with this really fun game.

The rules of the game are that you have to take pictures of the following things, just as they appear at the time of being tagged. No straightening, no cleaning, and no making your kids look cute! Then tag someone else (preferably more than one person).


Stacey couldn't have tagged me on a better day. My housekeeper was leaving as I was coming home. Hehehehe, great timing, Stacey!


1. Fridge

2. Closet (you didn't really think you were going to see all of my closet, did you? I'm not about to show you the floor, that's where I shove and hide everything out of site when the housekeeper comes.)






3. Kitchen sink




4. Bathroom






5. Favorite shoes






6. Favorite room - This is our parlor, right next to the living room





This is the room we sit and read the paper and look out the window at that gorgeous view!







7. Self-portrait




Now comes the fun part, I get to tag other people. Stacey, you're so right, it does bring out the voyeur in all of us! It sounds a little more exotic to say it that way instead of saying we're just plain nosey!!!!

I tag:

Cathy

Jennifer

Jeri

Julie

Jamie

Kellie