Thursday, October 15, 2015

Mart! Small Town USA!

Wednesday Sherry and I gathered up our laundry and headed into town to the local laundromat!
Sherry has a washing machine and clothesline but wanted to get ALL the laundry done at once and I thought it would be wonderful to NOT go home with piles and piles of dirty clothes to deal with!
Just walking into that laundromat brought back good memories for me.
When I was just 11 years old, Mother would spread a sheet out on the floor and throw all the dirty clothes in the middle of it and then tie it up in the middle like a giant's hobo sack. She would drop me off at the WASHETERIA, as it was called here in Texas at that time, and I would spend the next several hours loading and unloading the machines, feeding them dimes and nickels instead of the numerous quarters we need today. I have always loved the smell of CLEAN and especially the fresh scent of clothes still war - or HOT! - from the dryers!

Sherry and I got our laundry started and then went two doors down to the Dollar Store to pick up a few things! This Dollar store is amazing and has just about anything you need! It's like a small town Wal-Mart! Back to the laundry to change out the machines and then we were off to have a bite of lunch! It's amazing how many good places there are to eat in this tiny Texas town!



Pizza Pro on Main Street was our choice and it was delicious!
I was craving a good salad and they sure had one!
These bread sticks with garlic butter was wonderful.
We took salad AND bread sticks home with us because the portions were HUGE!


This art work poster is on the front counter......


We can't figure out what kind of fruit or berries this is!
Also the white striped grapes look like tiny watermelons.
We can identify the blueberry so that makes the red berries really tiny.
Wonder if this is a real fruit or if someone took artistic license with the poster?

On our way out of town, we drove through some back streets looking at the houses.


There's something sad and yet sweet about an old abandoned house.


This reminds me of Abandoned America!


I didn't get close enough to photograph the inside but I could see purple walls and tatters of curtains through one of the windows.
You can still see the purple window trim.


Right down the street from the abandoned house was one loaded with personality!!
They had all manner of whimsical things decorating their front yard.


Like this wooden stagecoach! I love the wooden gazebo and swing in the background.


Sherry hopped out and took these pics for me!
We think this might be something the people make and sell.
They had a large lovely home with pretty landscaping.
Shacks and mansions on the same street!


We had a real feast for dinner last night!
I bought these ingredients at HEB the other day.
Olive oil, Italia topping - which is just garlic, lemon peel and thyme, salt, spices and crushed red peppers - with grated cheese to dip our bread in! Delicious!!!


Louis Dean bought a beer can chicken cooker thing and prepare the main course for us.


Sherry and I sat out on our picnic table and put together foil packets of potatoes, carrots and onions seasoned with garlic and butter to cook on the grill.

It was a meal to remember!!!
We are really turning into country folks!
It was 9:00 when we gathered up the remains of the meal and came back in the camper.
I looked at my phone at 9:38 - just as I turned out the light!


21 comments:

Deb said...

you had a fun filled day! they look like grapes to me....love hearing about your day...old abandoned houses look so sad...I always wonder who lived there...if the walls could talk...

MadSnapper said...

great idea on the washateria.. i remember when they were called that. but i hated going to them. the first thing i bought when baby number 2 came along was a washer. took 2 years to pay it off at 10 per month. and i hung out diapers for 2 in diapers. then i bought a dryer. when i was divorced in 1980 i lived in a rental unit for 3 years and had to use the laundromat. and they were still using the dimes even in 1980. i love that sweet sad little house with the broken window and all that beautiful art work in the other place

Kathy said...

The first thing I thought of when I saw those berries was cranberries. But I think they are larger than that. Maybe huckleberries? It would be interesting to find out just what they are.

I feel sorry for old abandoned houses. They have a story to tell of a happy (or not so happy) family who once lived there. I would love to take that house, refurbish it, and make it livable once again.

Glad you had such a good day in Mart.

Arlene G said...

The only fights Marvin and I had when we first married was about going to the laundry mat!!lol....Your post brought back memories. Like you, I find old abandoned houses rather sad and I always wonder what happened to the people who lived there.

Angie said...

You got some beautiful photos Linda and it sounds like you had a beautiful day!

Susie said...

Linda, I remember going to the laundramat many times as a young married and right before leaving home. With so many to wash for, mom would haul us there also. I love to smell clean clothes too. You sure are eating good down on the ranch. Hugs to everyone, love you, Susie

Curtains in My Tree said...

The old abandoned house is sad,just thinking how life was lived it in at one time and probably babies born in it, birthdays , Christmas etc

That chicken on a beer can makes me hungry, there is nothing better than food cook over an open fire or grille

Nonnie said...

I remember the laundromat in the apartments when I was first married. I felt I had to stay and tend to everything just in case somebody came and removed my things! Love all the pictures and your thought of Abandoned America.

I'm going to pull out my beer can chicken dish and have some of that! Yummy. Looks so very good. I'm glad you are having such a wonderful time.

mxtodis123 said...

Those bread sticks really got to me. Nothing better than a great salad and garlic bread sticks. Yummy.
Mary

Idmo said...

The red ones are redcurrants and the grape-like berries are gooseberries.

Idmo said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Nita said...

Looks like a wonderful day, I think it's great that when your tried and sleepy who care what time it is...you can just go to sleep. You're finally "relaxing".

Aloha Acres said...

I love old abandoned houses and barns. You just know they hold so many stories. As my mother used to say, "If those walls could talk."

Jutta said...

Red currant

Vee said...

That abandoned home looks pretty far gone, but so quaint and charming. It must have been darling in its day. Oh you've got answers already for the restaurant. So now that you have clean clothes again, you don't need to go home for a while! The description of your evening meal is making me hungry!

Carole said...

They look a bit like large rosehips to me.... Cheers

Marsha Young said...

Linda, You are just a creative whiz ! Beautiful pics and a great description of a wonderful day.

Cathy said...

Red currants and gooseberries

Cathy said...

Red currants and gooseberries

Cathy said...

Red currants and gooseberries

Changes in the wind said...

What a fun day with your daughter-in-law.