Adventures All the Way to Abilene!

Our life seems to be one adventure after another. I'm not sure how that happens.

We started our day EARLY loading up the car and closing up the house.
Just for the record - taking 183 to 161 to I20 is THE way to get to Fort Worth!

Even though we are celebrating our anniversary weekend - it WAS Friday and Mother was waiting for us to pick her up at the beauty shop! Our lunch of choice today was The Olive Garden!

The food was wonderful and the lemon dessert provided the perfect ending!

Mother even had enough leftovers to take home for her supper!

After I showed her my Facebook pics and recent blog posts we were ready to hit the road WEST to Abilene! Louis Dean drove and I snuggled down in the back seat for a lovely nap!

He stopped in Eastland for gas. Just after filling up and driving off he noticed the 'Low Tire Pressure' light flashing so he pulled across the street to check it out. It was FLAT!! No 'low' about it! It was also about 3:30 in 100+ heat and NO SHADE!!! As he surveyed the situation - almost IMMEDIATELY! - a truck pulled up and a young man jumped out and not only OFFERED to help but went right to DOING it!! Just as he was struggling with the tire, ANOTHER truck pulled up and ANOTHER young man jumped out and started helping the FIRST one!

We are here to tell you chivalry is alive and well in West Texas!!

As they shook hands with Louis Dean and were directing us to the local Goodyear, one of the young men said, "You had no business being out here in this heat! I have a Granddad, too, and I would want someone to stop for him." God is good to us and if you HAVE to have a flat tire - Eastland, Texas is a good place to have it! Although the first young man is from Cisco. His sister was driving the truck so she was the one who pulled over. When her brother got down on the dirty pavement and LD wanted to put a blanket down for him, she said, "He's a good ole country boy and not afraid to get dirty!"

Those young people sure were a blessing to us!

We drove to the Goodyear just up the road and for $12 and in 30 minutes we were back on the road.

But not for LONG!!

It was my turn to drive and I made a left when I should have made a right and we ended up in the town square.

How could I not stop HERE???

It was OPEN and we needed a little FUN after our tire ordeal.

I found two vintage hankies. I may the last person in the country but I carry a REAL fabric handkerchief in my purse at all times. I've had them for years and years and years and now I have two more!

I was the one who spied this bread pan! Louis Dean was a professional baker and has been looking for one.

Of course it won't fit in our oven! Nita, YOU have a big oven! Will it fit in YOURS??? Louis Dean could bake at YOUR house!!

The shop was cute with all it's little what knots everywhere.

The gal has fun displaying all her wares. You can tell!

I want to buy a screened frame like this! 

Decorating possibilities would be endless!

This shop keeper had a huge selection of 'yard art.'

She stacked and glued all sorts of glassware together. 

A novel idea. Kind of quirky.

I just may make one! Although I think I would spray paint them all the same color. 

I think I'll do a WHITE one. 

We not only shopped and found some treasures, we also enjoyed a nice visit with the owner.

SUCH a sweet lady!

She even gave us chive, snapdragon and other seeds from her garden.

We plan to share them with Louis Dean's son.

I drove us on in to Abilene stopping at the grocery store for a few things we forgot. 

I called the motel to let them know we were arriving later than anticipated.

The lady at the desk answered, "Hello."

Made us nervous as to just WHAT the motel would be like!

Not to worry. It is a nice room with a fridge and microwave and COOL and CLEAN!

That's all we want. Easy in and easy out. Louis Dean is old fashioned and wants to park in front of his motel room! He got it!

We brought an ice chest with the makings for a picnic supper which we have already enjoyed.

I have a book I am finishing up tonight and Louis Dean is over there in the corner playing his guitar.

It is a wonderful thing to be away from all the routine of home - as wonderful as that 'routine' will be by the time we return!

In the mean time we have a few things to do while we are here in Abilene!

At least FOUR of these things are on our list!