The weather turns crisp, we wait in line to vote, and our hearts start remembering to count the blessings of living in a free country. Humbly, we realize that these freedoms are brought to us by people willing to give the ultimate gift to their fellow countrymen.
In honor of our veterans, Bullard civic leaders are busy preparing this year’s Red, White, and Blue Festival which happens November 7th and 8th, the weekend after the elections.
Bullard folks are hoping you’ll come out to honor our vets. If you do, here are the behind-the-scenes folks to thank for this event which promises to be saturated with boot-tapping music.
Teresa Adams Wilks, of Adams Insurance Agency, has served as Committee Chairman.
City manager, Larry Morgan, has covered innumerable facilities and logistics issues, along with plain old-fashioned trouble-shooting.
Music biz guru, Mike Alexander of Salt Creek Productions, lined up an impressive array of professional performers this year. But that’s not all, folks, he also organized the Talent Search, his brain child, and will be doing all the stage and sound engineering. Mike also serves as this year’s Chamber president.
Larry Melhart of Melhart Allstate Agency, with the help of Judge Danny and Sandy Ray, is the guy to thank for the fabulous parade in the works.
Darlene McKay of Remember When, has put her retail skills to work lining up vendors in what promises to be an impressive array of food and shopping.
If you like car shows and tractor shows, you’ll want to thank Stephanie Moore of Bullard Collision. And you’ll definitely want to make plans to come out and see all the vehicles.
When you see Miss Armed Forces holding a bouquet, know that Sue Hornbuckle of Flowers by Sue has worked tirelessly to help organize and plan the event.
Sherri Glover of Glover Bookkeeping & Tax Svc, has kept the committee up to the minute on income and expenses.
Lori Melinger, along with Cindy Dotson of KLTV, tackled the job of getting the word out to the media and the public.
Last, but by no means least, Chris Thompson of Snow Coney Island, with the help of his wife, Mary Beth, bravely and prayerfully headed up the sponsorship committee to inspire giving in spite of a faltering economy, proving that folks in Bullard are just plain generous.
Finally, teachers and leaders at both Bullard ISD and Brookhill have pitched in to make both the Patriotic Poster and Essay Contests a success, not to mention the students who participated and the parents who encouraged. Be sure and look for our display of all the beautiful posters.
These are the volunteers who have generously given their time for months in order for Bullard to host this tribute to our Veterans.
And while we are talking about people to thank, the event wouldn’t be possible without generous donations from our sponsors.
Major sponsors this year are Brookshire’s and Sam’s Club.
Other generous sponsors include: Salt Creek Productions, Trinity Mother Frances Health Systems, East Texas Medical Center, WRL Construction, and many more.
If you happen to see any of these volunteers or our sponsors, be sure and thank them. For more info about the Red, White, and Blue Festival go to www.bullardtexaschamber.com.
Cathy Primer Krafve, aka Checklist Charlie, lives and writes with a Texas twang. Comments are invited at htt://checklistcharlie.blogspot.com or cathykrafve@gmail.com.
Thursday, October 30, 2008
Favorite Antique Stores in East Texas
Ah…a cool breeze stirs East Texas.
Reminding me that Thanksgiving will be here soon; Thanksgiving being my favorite of all the holidays, in part because no gift-buying is required.
Thanksgiving is also my deadline for Christmas shopping because I refuse to stand in lines or ruin a perfectly delightful Thanksgiving holiday with stress over unfinished shopping.
And since it is still early enough to feel no pressure, now is the perfect time to grab a couple of friends and make a day of shopping.
In Bullard, Darlene McKay offers an ever-changing collection of grandmotherly-type furniture that she finds herself and prices to sell at her store, Remember When, at 202 Main Street. Walking into the old red-brick building in downtown is an experience to stimulate your creativity, mixing china tea-sets and antique collectibles with hand-crafted gifts, like beaded purses or pillows. If you start early you can “Wake up at Jake’s,” the coffee shop across the highway.
In Frankston, stop by Pandora’s Box, at 302 N. Hwy 155. This fabulous store is a maze of decades and styles including a collection of Texas-themed horse décor and another room showcasing china with antique linens. Always unexpected, last time I stopped by, for instance, there were more than a dozen framed Christmas tree mosaics made of buttons and sequins from the 50s. My favorite part is outside, where the owner, Patty Lookabaugh, stocks antique and hard-to-find plants with all variety of garden decor.
Next stop is Ethel’s in Tyler. Just north of downtown at 513 Bois D’Arc Ave, it is worth the drive if you are looking for furniture of any variety because Ethel keeps an extensive collection and she is always ready to sell in order to make room for her next find. She also tends to find great lamps and amateur art, including an impressive collection of amateur portraits of African-american faces. If you need something in particular, it is worth visiting with her.
While you are downtown, don’t wait until the last minute, pick up your tamales now at the Tyler Tortilla Factory at 513 N Border Ave. Call ahead, 903-595-0873 and order my favorite, the chicken ones. Remember to bring a cooler and ice packs for the drive home.
Last stop, Edom, Texas. Allow yourself plenty of time to wander the Blue Moon nursery, where organic gardening meets a very practical philosophy. Here you will find a gift shop to regale any gardener on your list, plus a thousand simple, inexpensive ways to add zest to your own yard, especially perennials.
If you time it right, you can still peek in at The Potters Brown because someone on your list surely deserves a gift of this beautiful art form, hand-crafted locally by the husband and wife team who are nationally-recognized potters.
By now, it is dinner which can mean only one thing: comfort food at The Shed, in Edom. Top of your day and your dinner with a slice of their home-made, meringue-topped delights.
After such a successful day of shopping, you can look forward to a relaxing Thanksgiving and Christmas. Plus, you already have tamales in your freezer.
Cathy Primer Krafve, aka Checklist Charlie, lives and writes with a Texas twang. Comments are invited at http://checklistcharlie.blogspot.com or cathykrafve@gmail.com.
Reminding me that Thanksgiving will be here soon; Thanksgiving being my favorite of all the holidays, in part because no gift-buying is required.
Thanksgiving is also my deadline for Christmas shopping because I refuse to stand in lines or ruin a perfectly delightful Thanksgiving holiday with stress over unfinished shopping.
And since it is still early enough to feel no pressure, now is the perfect time to grab a couple of friends and make a day of shopping.
In Bullard, Darlene McKay offers an ever-changing collection of grandmotherly-type furniture that she finds herself and prices to sell at her store, Remember When, at 202 Main Street. Walking into the old red-brick building in downtown is an experience to stimulate your creativity, mixing china tea-sets and antique collectibles with hand-crafted gifts, like beaded purses or pillows. If you start early you can “Wake up at Jake’s,” the coffee shop across the highway.
In Frankston, stop by Pandora’s Box, at 302 N. Hwy 155. This fabulous store is a maze of decades and styles including a collection of Texas-themed horse décor and another room showcasing china with antique linens. Always unexpected, last time I stopped by, for instance, there were more than a dozen framed Christmas tree mosaics made of buttons and sequins from the 50s. My favorite part is outside, where the owner, Patty Lookabaugh, stocks antique and hard-to-find plants with all variety of garden decor.
Next stop is Ethel’s in Tyler. Just north of downtown at 513 Bois D’Arc Ave, it is worth the drive if you are looking for furniture of any variety because Ethel keeps an extensive collection and she is always ready to sell in order to make room for her next find. She also tends to find great lamps and amateur art, including an impressive collection of amateur portraits of African-american faces. If you need something in particular, it is worth visiting with her.
While you are downtown, don’t wait until the last minute, pick up your tamales now at the Tyler Tortilla Factory at 513 N Border Ave. Call ahead, 903-595-0873 and order my favorite, the chicken ones. Remember to bring a cooler and ice packs for the drive home.
Last stop, Edom, Texas. Allow yourself plenty of time to wander the Blue Moon nursery, where organic gardening meets a very practical philosophy. Here you will find a gift shop to regale any gardener on your list, plus a thousand simple, inexpensive ways to add zest to your own yard, especially perennials.
If you time it right, you can still peek in at The Potters Brown because someone on your list surely deserves a gift of this beautiful art form, hand-crafted locally by the husband and wife team who are nationally-recognized potters.
By now, it is dinner which can mean only one thing: comfort food at The Shed, in Edom. Top of your day and your dinner with a slice of their home-made, meringue-topped delights.
After such a successful day of shopping, you can look forward to a relaxing Thanksgiving and Christmas. Plus, you already have tamales in your freezer.
Cathy Primer Krafve, aka Checklist Charlie, lives and writes with a Texas twang. Comments are invited at http://checklistcharlie.blogspot.com or cathykrafve@gmail.com.
Parenting Final Exam
Here's a column from April that I forgot to post. Hope you enjoy!
Your child’s choice for a spouse is the final exam in parenting, right?
Observing my daughter choose who she was willing to spend her life with revealed all kinds of things about her heart and values. So, it makes sense that her choice could be considered the ultimate test of our parenting.
Recently, as that beautiful bride floated down the aisle on the trembly arm of her father, her chiffon skirt stirring around her ankles, gold shoes on feet that were trying not to skip, to the side of her beloved who was smiling as if he was the luckiest human on earth, I couldn’t help but feel that we aced that test. Mainly because she chose a husband who invests wisely and generously in all his relationships.
On the other hand, it turns out I was wrong about it being the final exam.
For parents, our kids’ choice of a spouse is only the mid-term.
I turns out that how we die is the last true test of our parenting.
Yeah, this sounds kind of morbid, given that we just had a wedding. But, you know, those kids are on their honeymoon. I’m pretty sure they are not thinking too much about us; at least I hope not.
The truth is Life has a way of juxtaposing beginnings and endings on us whether we like it or not.
I learned this in the last few years as I watched scleroderma slowly take my husband’s father away from us a few months before the wedding.
Scleroderma, for those of you who have happily avoided knowing anything about it, is an autoimmune disease that slowly freezes your organs and your skin.
We watched as Bill heroically and daily faced increasing physical pain with dignity and perseverance.
As his body failed, his bright blue eyes increasingly reflected the depth of his faith and the shining beauty of his soul.
Some of the best conversations with him were when I asked him about what he had learned through suffering.
People are always surprised that I ask so freely about death and about suffering. I figure I’ll be taking those tests soon enough; it won’t hurt me to study up.
Of course, a true exam tests our character, not our knowledge. That’s the beauty of the process.
In the final days before we closed his eyes for the last time, Bill demonstrated the power and beauty of dieing the way he had lived, with his eyes toward heaven.
Weddings and Funerals. Life and Death. Beginnings. Endings, followed by unseen, unknown Beginnings.
I couldn’t help but think of my dad-in-law as my daughter vowed her heart, life, and faith to her new husband.
Cathy Primer Krafve, aka Checklist Charlie, lives in beautiful East Texas with her husband and unmarried children. Comments are welcome at CaeKrafve2@aol.com.
Your child’s choice for a spouse is the final exam in parenting, right?
Observing my daughter choose who she was willing to spend her life with revealed all kinds of things about her heart and values. So, it makes sense that her choice could be considered the ultimate test of our parenting.
Recently, as that beautiful bride floated down the aisle on the trembly arm of her father, her chiffon skirt stirring around her ankles, gold shoes on feet that were trying not to skip, to the side of her beloved who was smiling as if he was the luckiest human on earth, I couldn’t help but feel that we aced that test. Mainly because she chose a husband who invests wisely and generously in all his relationships.
On the other hand, it turns out I was wrong about it being the final exam.
For parents, our kids’ choice of a spouse is only the mid-term.
I turns out that how we die is the last true test of our parenting.
Yeah, this sounds kind of morbid, given that we just had a wedding. But, you know, those kids are on their honeymoon. I’m pretty sure they are not thinking too much about us; at least I hope not.
The truth is Life has a way of juxtaposing beginnings and endings on us whether we like it or not.
I learned this in the last few years as I watched scleroderma slowly take my husband’s father away from us a few months before the wedding.
Scleroderma, for those of you who have happily avoided knowing anything about it, is an autoimmune disease that slowly freezes your organs and your skin.
We watched as Bill heroically and daily faced increasing physical pain with dignity and perseverance.
As his body failed, his bright blue eyes increasingly reflected the depth of his faith and the shining beauty of his soul.
Some of the best conversations with him were when I asked him about what he had learned through suffering.
People are always surprised that I ask so freely about death and about suffering. I figure I’ll be taking those tests soon enough; it won’t hurt me to study up.
Of course, a true exam tests our character, not our knowledge. That’s the beauty of the process.
In the final days before we closed his eyes for the last time, Bill demonstrated the power and beauty of dieing the way he had lived, with his eyes toward heaven.
Weddings and Funerals. Life and Death. Beginnings. Endings, followed by unseen, unknown Beginnings.
I couldn’t help but think of my dad-in-law as my daughter vowed her heart, life, and faith to her new husband.
Cathy Primer Krafve, aka Checklist Charlie, lives in beautiful East Texas with her husband and unmarried children. Comments are welcome at CaeKrafve2@aol.com.
Mom Deserves a Picnic
Here's a little something I forgot to post back in May. Enjoy!
Have you ever tried smoked oysters? Probably not.
Apparently, someone has been buying them all these years because the grocery store always has them in a small can right next to the anchovies. Unless, of course, it is the exact same can that’s been sitting there all along.
My affection for smoked oysters began as a small child. Somehow they always made it into my mom’s picnic basket.
As a kid, I just assumed that everyone had smoked oysters in their picnic baskets.
Mom grew up in a meat and potatoes kind of family. My dad introduced her to a world of exotic foods. She always mentions shrimp as one of the other particularly delightful surprise bonuses of their fifty-plus love affair.
With Mom’s Day around the corner, I’m advocating picnics instead of presents this year.
Here’s my philosophy of picnicking:
- Food always tastes better outdoors, whether you serve it on the back patio at mom’s house or at a park.
-Bring a cooler if you must, but put the nonperishables in an appealing basket. Baskets add to the mystique.
-Pack something unexpected, like a jar of marinated artichokes instead of pickles. Or a can of smoked oysters.
-Make food everyone loves but make it differently, like peanut butter and jelly sandwiches cut into cookie-cutter hearts.
-Quiche is a big winner for picnics because it can be served hot, cold, or in between.
-Pack something salty because the kids may be working up a sweat, passing around the Frisbee you also just happened to pack.
-Fruit salad because it tends to leak. Instead, toss in a few apples or pears, a paring knife, and a small cutting board. Then, let one of the kids slice fruit and sharp cheddar cheese together and pass them around.
-Remember to pack the deviled eggs in the cooler, not the basket. Not that anyone but me would be confused about this.
-For desert, pack something like a pound cake or lemon shortbread cookies. As tempting as it is at home, chocolate tends to melt.
-Invite people you love. Then, add someone new to your list just for fun.
Later this month, I will deliver a full picnic basket to a reception for the bride and groom to take away with them because no one ever eats at their own reception. I wonder if they will like the smoked oysters!
Maybe I should add a note explaining that you eat smoked oysters on crackers and it takes almost a whole childhood to get used to them.
Cathy Primer Krafve, aka Checklist Charlie, lives and writes with a Texas accent. Comments are invited at http://checklistcharlie.blogspot.co. or cathykrafve@gmail.com.
Have you ever tried smoked oysters? Probably not.
Apparently, someone has been buying them all these years because the grocery store always has them in a small can right next to the anchovies. Unless, of course, it is the exact same can that’s been sitting there all along.
My affection for smoked oysters began as a small child. Somehow they always made it into my mom’s picnic basket.
As a kid, I just assumed that everyone had smoked oysters in their picnic baskets.
Mom grew up in a meat and potatoes kind of family. My dad introduced her to a world of exotic foods. She always mentions shrimp as one of the other particularly delightful surprise bonuses of their fifty-plus love affair.
With Mom’s Day around the corner, I’m advocating picnics instead of presents this year.
Here’s my philosophy of picnicking:
- Food always tastes better outdoors, whether you serve it on the back patio at mom’s house or at a park.
-Bring a cooler if you must, but put the nonperishables in an appealing basket. Baskets add to the mystique.
-Pack something unexpected, like a jar of marinated artichokes instead of pickles. Or a can of smoked oysters.
-Make food everyone loves but make it differently, like peanut butter and jelly sandwiches cut into cookie-cutter hearts.
-Quiche is a big winner for picnics because it can be served hot, cold, or in between.
-Pack something salty because the kids may be working up a sweat, passing around the Frisbee you also just happened to pack.
-Fruit salad because it tends to leak. Instead, toss in a few apples or pears, a paring knife, and a small cutting board. Then, let one of the kids slice fruit and sharp cheddar cheese together and pass them around.
-Remember to pack the deviled eggs in the cooler, not the basket. Not that anyone but me would be confused about this.
-For desert, pack something like a pound cake or lemon shortbread cookies. As tempting as it is at home, chocolate tends to melt.
-Invite people you love. Then, add someone new to your list just for fun.
Later this month, I will deliver a full picnic basket to a reception for the bride and groom to take away with them because no one ever eats at their own reception. I wonder if they will like the smoked oysters!
Maybe I should add a note explaining that you eat smoked oysters on crackers and it takes almost a whole childhood to get used to them.
Cathy Primer Krafve, aka Checklist Charlie, lives and writes with a Texas accent. Comments are invited at http://checklistcharlie.blogspot.co. or cathykrafve@gmail.com.
Do NOT Glue Your Fingers Together
“Mom, these instructions say not to glue your fingers together,” said my son in reference to the new model kit I bought him.
He’s making a snappy-looking F-106 Delta Dart that requires paint, super glue, but no screw drivers.
I bought him two tiny screwdrivers anyway. Just because a boy is bound to need tiny screwdrivers for something.
At school this past year, one of his friends tried unsuccessfully to glue four fingers together. Fortunately, it is a law of nature that no boy can be still long enough for Elmer’s glue to set. That’s probably why super glue never makes the back-to-school supply list.
Somebody pointed out that boys come equipped with an automatic delete function for the “not” in all Mom’s sentences? Good point.
It follows that while mom is emphasizing the “not” in the following sentences, the boy is hearing “definitely DO this.”
Do not stick those screwdrivers in the electrical socket.
Do not play with matches.
Do not point the BB gun at your friend.
Do not parachute off the roof with a towel.
Do not cut your own hair. Do not cut your little brother’s hair.
Do not pester your sister.
Do not put Blackcat firecrackers in the fireplace.
There is a correlating principle that suggests that boys reverse the words “always” and “never,” as in the following examples.
Always make up your bed.
Always keep your room clean, just in case you get invited to play airsoft.
Never stand in the front yard and moon the neighbors.
Never use gasoline to start a fire.
I suppose it is a rite of passage for boys to do things that their moms don’t like. A rite of passage for moms, you understand.
The process causes moms to grow up and face the fact that our sons will be men some day. Being a man is a very different state of existence than the one we exist in as females. So, it follows that they will do things that our daughters never even thought of.
Raising a boy will make a man out of ya.
Unless you are the child’s mother, in which case you will be scratching your head and turning to your husband with the words, “Well, he is your son.”
I guess my son is growing up; he has painted the fighter jet without spilling the paint even once.
The question remains, though. Can he reach adulthood while resisting the urge to glue his fingers together with super glue? I’ll keep ya posted.
Cathy Primer Krafve, aka Checklist Charlie, lives and writes with a Texas twang. Comments are invited at http:/checklistcharlie.blogspot.com or cathykrafve@gmail.com.
He’s making a snappy-looking F-106 Delta Dart that requires paint, super glue, but no screw drivers.
I bought him two tiny screwdrivers anyway. Just because a boy is bound to need tiny screwdrivers for something.
At school this past year, one of his friends tried unsuccessfully to glue four fingers together. Fortunately, it is a law of nature that no boy can be still long enough for Elmer’s glue to set. That’s probably why super glue never makes the back-to-school supply list.
Somebody pointed out that boys come equipped with an automatic delete function for the “not” in all Mom’s sentences? Good point.
It follows that while mom is emphasizing the “not” in the following sentences, the boy is hearing “definitely DO this.”
Do not stick those screwdrivers in the electrical socket.
Do not play with matches.
Do not point the BB gun at your friend.
Do not parachute off the roof with a towel.
Do not cut your own hair. Do not cut your little brother’s hair.
Do not pester your sister.
Do not put Blackcat firecrackers in the fireplace.
There is a correlating principle that suggests that boys reverse the words “always” and “never,” as in the following examples.
Always make up your bed.
Always keep your room clean, just in case you get invited to play airsoft.
Never stand in the front yard and moon the neighbors.
Never use gasoline to start a fire.
I suppose it is a rite of passage for boys to do things that their moms don’t like. A rite of passage for moms, you understand.
The process causes moms to grow up and face the fact that our sons will be men some day. Being a man is a very different state of existence than the one we exist in as females. So, it follows that they will do things that our daughters never even thought of.
Raising a boy will make a man out of ya.
Unless you are the child’s mother, in which case you will be scratching your head and turning to your husband with the words, “Well, he is your son.”
I guess my son is growing up; he has painted the fighter jet without spilling the paint even once.
The question remains, though. Can he reach adulthood while resisting the urge to glue his fingers together with super glue? I’ll keep ya posted.
Cathy Primer Krafve, aka Checklist Charlie, lives and writes with a Texas twang. Comments are invited at http:/checklistcharlie.blogspot.com or cathykrafve@gmail.com.
Day Tripping to Carthage
“East Texas Oil and Gas Blast, Feel the Energy!”
Great line, huh? And what timing, given that all the politicians are talking about energy now that prices at the pump are way up.
Well, we have to give our East Texas neighbors in Carthage credit for doing their part to keep us independent of foreign oil, by celebrating our rich oil and gas history with a festival.
Why not fill up the tank and mosey over to Carthage for the fun?
The Saturday, October 11th event, promises all day entertainment, from 10am to 5pm, including performances by special guests, Tony Booth and Johnny Lee.
The Texas Country Music Hall of Fame is in Carthage, of course, and worth a visit all by itself. But there’s plenty more to do while you are there.
There’s also the Old Jail Museum, built in 1891, featuring restored jail cells on the second floor and the Leila Belle LaGrone Family History Center, an active genealogical research library housed downstairs.
Blast special events will include arts and crafts, a pie contest, a car show, and hourly drawings for prizes.
But each and every Saturday night in Carthage means live music at the Esquire, an old downtown movie theater which is now the home of the Country Music Hayride, where “All shows are geared towards providing good family entertainment,” according to the East Texas Tourism Guide. When there’s a fifth Saturday night in the month, music is usually gospel.
While you’re in town, check out the historic downtown where music chimes all day long, and the streets are lined with boutiques and antique stores.
There’s the Emporium on the Square, at 102 N. Marshal/Henderson, specializing in antiques, sporting a nice collection of rhinestone jewelry.
At Blessings, 110 E. Main St., gifts have a faith-filled message; I bought ribbon-trimmed dish towels and tucked them away for stocking stuffers. Lunch is served daily at quaint tables in the back.
Speaking of lunch, there’s also the Texas Tea Room, 100 E. Sabine, where volunteers serve up fresh sandwiches and soups at reasonable prices in an effort to support the Heritage Museum which is devoted to the history of Panola County. Above the tea room, the museum is a tip o’ the hat to inhabitants of the county, including Native American artifacts, photos of early community leaders, and a history of education in the county.
Save room for desert because the Fudge and More Store, at 106 W. Sabine, serves fresh, buttery fudge to chocolate-seeking customers, prepared after-hours each evening by owners, Dean and Brenda Jones. My favorite was a chocolaty concoction of pecans and toffee filling, but the traditional toffee was good, too.
Carthage is also home to Panola College, where the manicured, park-like campus could even inspire an old person like me to re-enroll for classes.
With so many cafes to choose from, lunch could be just another excuse to come back and visit Carthage again, not to mention the shopping and the museums in this history-loving little Texas town.
Cathy Primer Krafve, aka Checklist Charlie, lives and writes with a Texas twang. Comments are invited at http://checklistcharlie.blogspot.com or cathykrafve@gmail.com.
Great line, huh? And what timing, given that all the politicians are talking about energy now that prices at the pump are way up.
Well, we have to give our East Texas neighbors in Carthage credit for doing their part to keep us independent of foreign oil, by celebrating our rich oil and gas history with a festival.
Why not fill up the tank and mosey over to Carthage for the fun?
The Saturday, October 11th event, promises all day entertainment, from 10am to 5pm, including performances by special guests, Tony Booth and Johnny Lee.
The Texas Country Music Hall of Fame is in Carthage, of course, and worth a visit all by itself. But there’s plenty more to do while you are there.
There’s also the Old Jail Museum, built in 1891, featuring restored jail cells on the second floor and the Leila Belle LaGrone Family History Center, an active genealogical research library housed downstairs.
Blast special events will include arts and crafts, a pie contest, a car show, and hourly drawings for prizes.
But each and every Saturday night in Carthage means live music at the Esquire, an old downtown movie theater which is now the home of the Country Music Hayride, where “All shows are geared towards providing good family entertainment,” according to the East Texas Tourism Guide. When there’s a fifth Saturday night in the month, music is usually gospel.
While you’re in town, check out the historic downtown where music chimes all day long, and the streets are lined with boutiques and antique stores.
There’s the Emporium on the Square, at 102 N. Marshal/Henderson, specializing in antiques, sporting a nice collection of rhinestone jewelry.
At Blessings, 110 E. Main St., gifts have a faith-filled message; I bought ribbon-trimmed dish towels and tucked them away for stocking stuffers. Lunch is served daily at quaint tables in the back.
Speaking of lunch, there’s also the Texas Tea Room, 100 E. Sabine, where volunteers serve up fresh sandwiches and soups at reasonable prices in an effort to support the Heritage Museum which is devoted to the history of Panola County. Above the tea room, the museum is a tip o’ the hat to inhabitants of the county, including Native American artifacts, photos of early community leaders, and a history of education in the county.
Save room for desert because the Fudge and More Store, at 106 W. Sabine, serves fresh, buttery fudge to chocolate-seeking customers, prepared after-hours each evening by owners, Dean and Brenda Jones. My favorite was a chocolaty concoction of pecans and toffee filling, but the traditional toffee was good, too.
Carthage is also home to Panola College, where the manicured, park-like campus could even inspire an old person like me to re-enroll for classes.
With so many cafes to choose from, lunch could be just another excuse to come back and visit Carthage again, not to mention the shopping and the museums in this history-loving little Texas town.
Cathy Primer Krafve, aka Checklist Charlie, lives and writes with a Texas twang. Comments are invited at http://checklistcharlie.blogspot.com or cathykrafve@gmail.com.
Motivating Your Kids: Inspirational Parenting
Unconditional commitment inspires devotion.
On the other hand, conditional commitment breeds rebellion.
We all long for unconditional love, but in reality, we don’t necessarily recognize it.
As parents, we find unconditional love difficult to practice. Probably because our heart tells us that we love our kids passionately and unconditionally, but our attitudes and actions sometimes convey a different message to our kiddoes.
“Get every last spot off that dish before you put it in the cabinet,” says the parent with the intention of teaching thoroughness.
“I only love you, if you get it right,” hears the kid who identifies an unspoken threat of rejection or anger from the parent checking for spots.
Anger can be a tool for controlling others.
Inspiration is the antidote for using anger or complaining to control others, especially our children. If, as a parent, you catch yourself threatening your kiddoes, it is time to rethink your strategies.
So, how does unconditional love sound to a kid?
“Well, you are going to need a new bike. I’ll pay for half and because you were irresponsible, you will have to pay for the other half,” says the wise parent to the junior high kid who left his bike out on the corner the night it was stolen.
Paying for half communicates to the child that irresponsibility has consequences, but we all make mistakes. Even mom and dad. So, we stand together and help each other.
Of course, depending on the age of the child and frequency of the mistake, sometimes a loving parent will only provide encouragement, not money, while the kid works to pay off the consequences.
Unconditional commitment says I am committed to what is best for you.
What is best is not always what a kid wants, though, is it? It costs a lot to stay the course as a parent.
We say “no” when “yes” is so much easier and simpler.
Saying no, when your kiddoes want to hang out at the mall, may mean that you have lots of kids at your house instead.
Unconditional commitment can be costly and I’m not just talking snack food here.
You may have to listen to their complaints as they try to persuade you to do things their way. Or their temper tantrums as they slam doors or fuss.
Oh well.
A few years down the road, your kids be the ones telling your grandkids, “No, you can’t hang out at the movie theater and wouldn’t it be so much nicer to stay home and play board games while your grandparents visit instead?”
They’ll be the ones inspired to do what is best for their kids. Rather than controlling their kiddoes, they’ll be looking for ways to inspire them, too.
Cathy Primer Krafve, aka Checklist Charlie, lives and writes with a Texas twang. Comments are invited at http://checklistcharlie.blogspot.com or cathykrafve@gmail.com.
On the other hand, conditional commitment breeds rebellion.
We all long for unconditional love, but in reality, we don’t necessarily recognize it.
As parents, we find unconditional love difficult to practice. Probably because our heart tells us that we love our kids passionately and unconditionally, but our attitudes and actions sometimes convey a different message to our kiddoes.
“Get every last spot off that dish before you put it in the cabinet,” says the parent with the intention of teaching thoroughness.
“I only love you, if you get it right,” hears the kid who identifies an unspoken threat of rejection or anger from the parent checking for spots.
Anger can be a tool for controlling others.
Inspiration is the antidote for using anger or complaining to control others, especially our children. If, as a parent, you catch yourself threatening your kiddoes, it is time to rethink your strategies.
So, how does unconditional love sound to a kid?
“Well, you are going to need a new bike. I’ll pay for half and because you were irresponsible, you will have to pay for the other half,” says the wise parent to the junior high kid who left his bike out on the corner the night it was stolen.
Paying for half communicates to the child that irresponsibility has consequences, but we all make mistakes. Even mom and dad. So, we stand together and help each other.
Of course, depending on the age of the child and frequency of the mistake, sometimes a loving parent will only provide encouragement, not money, while the kid works to pay off the consequences.
Unconditional commitment says I am committed to what is best for you.
What is best is not always what a kid wants, though, is it? It costs a lot to stay the course as a parent.
We say “no” when “yes” is so much easier and simpler.
Saying no, when your kiddoes want to hang out at the mall, may mean that you have lots of kids at your house instead.
Unconditional commitment can be costly and I’m not just talking snack food here.
You may have to listen to their complaints as they try to persuade you to do things their way. Or their temper tantrums as they slam doors or fuss.
Oh well.
A few years down the road, your kids be the ones telling your grandkids, “No, you can’t hang out at the movie theater and wouldn’t it be so much nicer to stay home and play board games while your grandparents visit instead?”
They’ll be the ones inspired to do what is best for their kids. Rather than controlling their kiddoes, they’ll be looking for ways to inspire them, too.
Cathy Primer Krafve, aka Checklist Charlie, lives and writes with a Texas twang. Comments are invited at http://checklistcharlie.blogspot.com or cathykrafve@gmail.com.
Motivating your Kids: Identifying Temptations
As a parent, I found it helpful to notice what kind of temptations tended to get my little toddlers in trouble. I tried to have sense of humor about the whole parenting thing.
I envy parents who seem to have the gift of turning the most tedious chores into an excuse to laugh and have fun together. Haven’t you noticed, though, that even the children of fun parents can still be ornery at times?
No matter what parenting skills we bring to the task, one of the toughest jobs for a parent is teaching kids to be self-motivated.
The best kind of human is one that serves others, right? So, it follows that we want to inspire our children to be self-motivated about serving others. But how?
Humans are universally motivated by the desire for the same three types of things; the desire for success, stuff, and security.
These are sometimes referred to as temptations, as in boastful pride of life, lust of the eye, and lust of the flesh. I suppose temptation and motivation are almost synonyms sometimes, depending on how you look at it.
If you can identify what tempts your child, you then hold the key to motivation.
-For the child that is tempted to do things because of peer pressure, as in the boastful pride of life, it is a small step to help that little one understand that they have a loving Father whose favor is more valuable than any human peer’s.
If your child attends school, it is surprisingly easy to use the volatility of popularity to point out the vast advantage of seeking the approval of a God who is not arbitrary and whose love does not waver.
Serving others becomes a natural by-product of seeking what is best for others in response to a loving God who does the same.
-For the child who seeks reward in material ways, as in the lust of the eye, a parent can use simple, immediate rewards to teach the principle of greater, far-off rewards.
For example, when our girls were young teenagers, we paid them to “babysit” when young mothers brought toddlers to our house. It wasn’t long before we weren’t paying to have young guests entertained.
The reward of having younger friends following them is highly motivating for young people.
-For the child who is motivated by security, that is, the need to feel safe and special, as in the lust of the flesh, nothing is more reassuring than self-confidence. Confidence is cultivated by taking small risks and experiencing success.
Both success and failure will teach the child that risks are manageable because he has a parent who will be there for him and a God who is even more trustworthy than the most loving parent. Learning to trust God will allow that child to take risks in order to serve others.
It sure takes a lot of pressure off a parent to understand what motivates our kiddoes.
Less pressure means more time to laugh.
Cathy Primer Krafve, aka Checklist Charlie, lives and writes with a Texas twang. Comments are invited at http://checklistcharlie.blogspot.com or cathykrafve@gmail.com.
I envy parents who seem to have the gift of turning the most tedious chores into an excuse to laugh and have fun together. Haven’t you noticed, though, that even the children of fun parents can still be ornery at times?
No matter what parenting skills we bring to the task, one of the toughest jobs for a parent is teaching kids to be self-motivated.
The best kind of human is one that serves others, right? So, it follows that we want to inspire our children to be self-motivated about serving others. But how?
Humans are universally motivated by the desire for the same three types of things; the desire for success, stuff, and security.
These are sometimes referred to as temptations, as in boastful pride of life, lust of the eye, and lust of the flesh. I suppose temptation and motivation are almost synonyms sometimes, depending on how you look at it.
If you can identify what tempts your child, you then hold the key to motivation.
-For the child that is tempted to do things because of peer pressure, as in the boastful pride of life, it is a small step to help that little one understand that they have a loving Father whose favor is more valuable than any human peer’s.
If your child attends school, it is surprisingly easy to use the volatility of popularity to point out the vast advantage of seeking the approval of a God who is not arbitrary and whose love does not waver.
Serving others becomes a natural by-product of seeking what is best for others in response to a loving God who does the same.
-For the child who seeks reward in material ways, as in the lust of the eye, a parent can use simple, immediate rewards to teach the principle of greater, far-off rewards.
For example, when our girls were young teenagers, we paid them to “babysit” when young mothers brought toddlers to our house. It wasn’t long before we weren’t paying to have young guests entertained.
The reward of having younger friends following them is highly motivating for young people.
-For the child who is motivated by security, that is, the need to feel safe and special, as in the lust of the flesh, nothing is more reassuring than self-confidence. Confidence is cultivated by taking small risks and experiencing success.
Both success and failure will teach the child that risks are manageable because he has a parent who will be there for him and a God who is even more trustworthy than the most loving parent. Learning to trust God will allow that child to take risks in order to serve others.
It sure takes a lot of pressure off a parent to understand what motivates our kiddoes.
Less pressure means more time to laugh.
Cathy Primer Krafve, aka Checklist Charlie, lives and writes with a Texas twang. Comments are invited at http://checklistcharlie.blogspot.com or cathykrafve@gmail.com.
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
Easiest, Cheapest Costume Ever
“Mom, how do you make lion costumes?” asked my daughter calling me on the day of a gala philanthropic event supporting literacy in which college men compete for a crown by dancing across stage to musical productions they choreograph themselves with a team of girls.
My daughter’s team was competing to tunes from The Lion King.
No need to panic, even though it was the very day of the event. Our family knows how to make the easiest, cheapest, lion costumes ever.
My mind flashed back to my early days of parenting when this same daughter was a twin set with her sister who is only a year older; two little blond darlings with huge, relaxed smiles and easy giggles.
We were living in Louisiana, eating beans and cornbread every night and thankful just to pay our bills.
For Vacation Bible School that year I turned to my rag closet and pulled out an old brown towel to make the costumes they needed for Noah’s Arc day. They skipped into church, holding hands and dressed as a pair of lions without worrying about the fact that, scripturally speaking, one of them should have been a male.
“Guess what, Mom, we won first prize!” was how they greeted me that afternoon, tiny fingers trailing fluttery blue ribbons in the air.
To make two costumes, you’ll need about fifteen minutes and the following:
-one brown or tan towel,
-3 yards of bright ribbon,
-2 plastic hair bands,
-2 safety pins to hold the tail to their pants,
-your glue gun.
Cut the towel in half, lengthways.
Then, to make two tails, cut another four inch strip lengthways off the rough edge of each half. Roll up each four-inch strip to form the tails, but cut off the last three inches to save for making the ears. With your glue gun, run a seam down your rolled tail almost to the end to hold it together. Cut the lose end, fringing to look like a lion’s fuzzy tail.
Cut your ribbon into six equal parts, ½ yard each, then, tie one ribbon around the ends of each tail. Done.
To make the lion’s mane, fringe the remaining towel into strips starting from the rough side and cutting to within two inches of the seemed side. Don’t cut all the way through, just close to the seemed side of the towel.
Glue a piece of ribbon on each end of the seemed side, hang it around the neck of each little lion and tie a big bow. Done.
To make the ears, simply fold the remaining scraps from the tails into squares, then, cut into triangles. Glue two triangles onto each headband. All done.
We laughed as we watched two grown college men dance to “I just can’t wait to be king,” competing with twenty other contestants. But the best part was when both lions made the finals.
We are pretty sure it had something to do with the costumes.
Cathy Primer Krafve, aka Checklist Charlie, lives and writes with a Texas twang. Comments are welcome at http://checklistcharlis.blogspot.com or cathykrafve.gmail.com.
My daughter’s team was competing to tunes from The Lion King.
No need to panic, even though it was the very day of the event. Our family knows how to make the easiest, cheapest, lion costumes ever.
My mind flashed back to my early days of parenting when this same daughter was a twin set with her sister who is only a year older; two little blond darlings with huge, relaxed smiles and easy giggles.
We were living in Louisiana, eating beans and cornbread every night and thankful just to pay our bills.
For Vacation Bible School that year I turned to my rag closet and pulled out an old brown towel to make the costumes they needed for Noah’s Arc day. They skipped into church, holding hands and dressed as a pair of lions without worrying about the fact that, scripturally speaking, one of them should have been a male.
“Guess what, Mom, we won first prize!” was how they greeted me that afternoon, tiny fingers trailing fluttery blue ribbons in the air.
To make two costumes, you’ll need about fifteen minutes and the following:
-one brown or tan towel,
-3 yards of bright ribbon,
-2 plastic hair bands,
-2 safety pins to hold the tail to their pants,
-your glue gun.
Cut the towel in half, lengthways.
Then, to make two tails, cut another four inch strip lengthways off the rough edge of each half. Roll up each four-inch strip to form the tails, but cut off the last three inches to save for making the ears. With your glue gun, run a seam down your rolled tail almost to the end to hold it together. Cut the lose end, fringing to look like a lion’s fuzzy tail.
Cut your ribbon into six equal parts, ½ yard each, then, tie one ribbon around the ends of each tail. Done.
To make the lion’s mane, fringe the remaining towel into strips starting from the rough side and cutting to within two inches of the seemed side. Don’t cut all the way through, just close to the seemed side of the towel.
Glue a piece of ribbon on each end of the seemed side, hang it around the neck of each little lion and tie a big bow. Done.
To make the ears, simply fold the remaining scraps from the tails into squares, then, cut into triangles. Glue two triangles onto each headband. All done.
We laughed as we watched two grown college men dance to “I just can’t wait to be king,” competing with twenty other contestants. But the best part was when both lions made the finals.
We are pretty sure it had something to do with the costumes.
Cathy Primer Krafve, aka Checklist Charlie, lives and writes with a Texas twang. Comments are welcome at http://checklistcharlis.blogspot.com or cathykrafve.gmail.com.
Red, White and Blue Festival Sign Up Now
Ever dream of being a rock star? Want to hear the next country star before he’s famous?
Now is the time to sign up if you are planning to compete or perform or participate in any of the many events planned during this year’s Red, White, and Blue Festival which happens November 5-8 right here in East Texas, in Bullard.
There are so many ways to participate; it’s hard to know what to sign up for first.
The Talent Search is an obvious opportunity if you are a talented, amateur musician. Besides the chance to perform on a professional stage in front of a receptive, hometown audience, there is the grand prize of a professionally recorded sound tract contributed to the event by Greg Hunt of Rosewood Studios.
Is your child a promising young artist?
Area school children are invited to participate in a poster contest honoring vets.
Are you a young woman longing to put your patriotism into words? Do you look forward to a future as a writer?
Miss Armed Forces will be selected based on an essay written in honor of vets. She will be crowned right after the parade on Saturday. Those essays can be submitted at the newspaper office.
Ever dream of marching in a parade or riding on a float?
The Smith County Sherriff’s Posse, and the Shriners, horse clubs, bands, US Armed Forces squads and many others are promising to turn up and wow the crowds lining downtown Bullard. If you are interested in honoring our military veterans by strutting your stuff, too, now is the time to reserve a place for your group or float.
You’ll be marching with a star-studded line up this year including Star McFarlin, the Great American Dog and Proud Mary who is the fastest woman in a speed boat according to the Guinness Book of World Records.
Have a tractor or an antique car you like to show?
Registration is already happening for the Antique Car Show and the Tractor Show.
Have you got crafts you want to sell or projects to bless the community?
Clubs, artists, and craftsmen are already contacting the Chamber of Commerce about filling the limited number of spaces.
And what would all this fun amount to without the food, right?
Food venders, including corn dogs, hamburgers, lemonade, funnel cakes, nachos, you name it, are signing up now.
For more information, go to www.bullartdtexaschamber.com.
See ya at the Festival!
Cathy Primer Krafve, aka Checklist Charlie, lives and writes with a Texas twang.
Comments are invited at caeKrafve2@aol.com or http://checklistcharlie.blogspot.com.
Now is the time to sign up if you are planning to compete or perform or participate in any of the many events planned during this year’s Red, White, and Blue Festival which happens November 5-8 right here in East Texas, in Bullard.
There are so many ways to participate; it’s hard to know what to sign up for first.
The Talent Search is an obvious opportunity if you are a talented, amateur musician. Besides the chance to perform on a professional stage in front of a receptive, hometown audience, there is the grand prize of a professionally recorded sound tract contributed to the event by Greg Hunt of Rosewood Studios.
Is your child a promising young artist?
Area school children are invited to participate in a poster contest honoring vets.
Are you a young woman longing to put your patriotism into words? Do you look forward to a future as a writer?
Miss Armed Forces will be selected based on an essay written in honor of vets. She will be crowned right after the parade on Saturday. Those essays can be submitted at the newspaper office.
Ever dream of marching in a parade or riding on a float?
The Smith County Sherriff’s Posse, and the Shriners, horse clubs, bands, US Armed Forces squads and many others are promising to turn up and wow the crowds lining downtown Bullard. If you are interested in honoring our military veterans by strutting your stuff, too, now is the time to reserve a place for your group or float.
You’ll be marching with a star-studded line up this year including Star McFarlin, the Great American Dog and Proud Mary who is the fastest woman in a speed boat according to the Guinness Book of World Records.
Have a tractor or an antique car you like to show?
Registration is already happening for the Antique Car Show and the Tractor Show.
Have you got crafts you want to sell or projects to bless the community?
Clubs, artists, and craftsmen are already contacting the Chamber of Commerce about filling the limited number of spaces.
And what would all this fun amount to without the food, right?
Food venders, including corn dogs, hamburgers, lemonade, funnel cakes, nachos, you name it, are signing up now.
For more information, go to www.bullartdtexaschamber.com.
See ya at the Festival!
Cathy Primer Krafve, aka Checklist Charlie, lives and writes with a Texas twang.
Comments are invited at caeKrafve2@aol.com or http://checklistcharlie.blogspot.com.
Motivating Your Child
How can I motivate this child?
I can’t count the number of years that the above prayer haunted my sub-conscious like an old, but annoying friend that I couldn’t seem to understand.
All parents find themselves in a tug of war with a lethargic, rebellious, or de-motivated child from time to time. In those moments, all the glory and victories of parenthood are forgotten amid the exhausting work of seemingly endless cajoling and pep-talking.
What’s a parent to do? Hang in there, I guess.
Then, one day, I was puttering through I John again for the zillionth time- okay, zillionth in any book of the Bible is an exaggeration for me- and… Eureka!
The answer to motivation jumped off the page. Why had I not seen it before!
The Bible is a collection of documents, not one book as is often assumed. I John is a short but informative document written as a public memo to answer the question, “Is my faith real?”
Anyway, lo and behold, there in verse 2:16 were three of the four categories of things that motivate kiddoes.
The Boastful Pride of Life, the Lust of the Eye, and the Lust of the Flesh.
“She’s got to be kidding!” could be what you are thinking right now as you read this.
Okay, I’ll admit it sounds far-fetched. That is, until you realize that those three categories are the main motivators of all humans, including parents, no matter what our age.
Tripping over the lingo? Yeah. Me, too.
Try this for a Texas-style paraphrase:
-The Boastful Pride of Life: Wanting to be the big cheese. Seeking fame and accolades from other humans. Peer pressure. Status seeking. Recognition for your hard work. Popularity contests. That kind of stuff. Oh.
-Lust of the Eye. Wanting stuff. Collecting stuff. Getting the best technology, sports car, fancy house, mink coat…Oops, for a minute there I forgot we were talking about kids.
-Lust of the Flesh. Well, besides the obvious, this is anything that makes us feel safe and special. Security. Abundance. Overeating.
There is one more category of motive that is described in Matthew 4. Matthew is the training manual for folks who want to follow Jesus.
The fourth category is the Desire to Respond to a Loving God by honoring Him. Hmmm…easier said than done.
As a parent, then, the challenge is to notice which motives surface in our children’s hearts and direct them toward a loving God who can inspire them to be loving like Him.
Or, just maybe, the real challenge is to notice what is motivating my own parental heart.
Cathy Primer Krafve, aka Checklist Charlie, lives and writes with a Texas twang. Comments are invited at cathykrafve@gmail.com or http://checklistcharlie.blogspot.com.
I can’t count the number of years that the above prayer haunted my sub-conscious like an old, but annoying friend that I couldn’t seem to understand.
All parents find themselves in a tug of war with a lethargic, rebellious, or de-motivated child from time to time. In those moments, all the glory and victories of parenthood are forgotten amid the exhausting work of seemingly endless cajoling and pep-talking.
What’s a parent to do? Hang in there, I guess.
Then, one day, I was puttering through I John again for the zillionth time- okay, zillionth in any book of the Bible is an exaggeration for me- and… Eureka!
The answer to motivation jumped off the page. Why had I not seen it before!
The Bible is a collection of documents, not one book as is often assumed. I John is a short but informative document written as a public memo to answer the question, “Is my faith real?”
Anyway, lo and behold, there in verse 2:16 were three of the four categories of things that motivate kiddoes.
The Boastful Pride of Life, the Lust of the Eye, and the Lust of the Flesh.
“She’s got to be kidding!” could be what you are thinking right now as you read this.
Okay, I’ll admit it sounds far-fetched. That is, until you realize that those three categories are the main motivators of all humans, including parents, no matter what our age.
Tripping over the lingo? Yeah. Me, too.
Try this for a Texas-style paraphrase:
-The Boastful Pride of Life: Wanting to be the big cheese. Seeking fame and accolades from other humans. Peer pressure. Status seeking. Recognition for your hard work. Popularity contests. That kind of stuff. Oh.
-Lust of the Eye. Wanting stuff. Collecting stuff. Getting the best technology, sports car, fancy house, mink coat…Oops, for a minute there I forgot we were talking about kids.
-Lust of the Flesh. Well, besides the obvious, this is anything that makes us feel safe and special. Security. Abundance. Overeating.
There is one more category of motive that is described in Matthew 4. Matthew is the training manual for folks who want to follow Jesus.
The fourth category is the Desire to Respond to a Loving God by honoring Him. Hmmm…easier said than done.
As a parent, then, the challenge is to notice which motives surface in our children’s hearts and direct them toward a loving God who can inspire them to be loving like Him.
Or, just maybe, the real challenge is to notice what is motivating my own parental heart.
Cathy Primer Krafve, aka Checklist Charlie, lives and writes with a Texas twang. Comments are invited at cathykrafve@gmail.com or http://checklistcharlie.blogspot.com.
Overcoming Scuba Aversion
“Oh that was just a sand shark. They don’t even have teeth,” she said with a soothing smile.
I wanted to believe her. The big, blue sea beckoned.
Most folks have an instinctive aversion to scuba. Too much equipment.
Scuba is closely related to swimming and swimming is, after all, one of those water sports where the motto, “Less is better,” means a practical bathing suit is better than a fancy or skimpy one. Less distraction from the pure delight of being in the sun and water, right?
It follows that cumbersome scuba equipment, while necessary, would be a distraction.
Of course, when it comes to scuba diving, there is that worrisome problem of needing oxygen to live. For me, it always seemed logical to enjoy water sports on top of the water where human lungs function best.
Not to mention sharks. They seem more real under water, don’t they? Like they have the home team advantage. Even sand sharks.
Scuba was not even in my vocabulary until I went snorkeling.
Who knew there was so much social life under the surface? Snorkeling gave me a ring-side seat to the underworld circus of fish and sea creatures too numerous to name.
From the moment I got a glimpse of the sun fish flitting under the surface, I knew I would need a tank to get close enough to satisfy my curiosity.
If you are trying to get a scuba-phobe to immerse with you, here are some things that may help encourage a new scubie to bite the bullet. Oops, mentioning biting in the same column as sharks seems counterproductive.
-First, the tanks are a lot lighter under water. When you use up all the air, the tank actually tends to make you float to the surface. I find this somewhat reassuring.
-It is great for families; scuba is a great way to keep your kids involved with you and stuck together for hours at a time, in a pursuit so fascinating and complicated that they forget to whine or complain. That is, until they finally come up for air and remember suddenly that they are totally starving.
-The underwater world is an incredible expression of God’s creativity. The variety and beauty of the fish alone, not to mention the other creatures or the vegetation, are enough to make you take a second look at the infinite variety of the people He made.
-Learning something new keeps old folks young. And it is great exercise.
-Scuba masters have been through rigorous training themselves. They seem to enjoy checking all the equipment as many times as you like, which in my case is annoyingly often. Like Texans know the best fishing holes, Dive Masters often know the underwater terrain in their neighborhood and can make sure you see lots of action.
-If you reserve an excursion off the coast, you’ll get to ride in a big boat under a big blue sky on the wide-open turquoise water to the dive site.
When we got back from my first blue water dive recently, I trolled for sand shark on the internet. Guess what? Sand sharks do have teeth. They can even be dangerous!
It’s just a good thing I couldn’t take my lap top on the boat.
Cathy Primer Krafve, aka Checklist Charlie, lives and writes with a Texas twang. Comments are invited at cathykrafve@gmail or http://checklistcharlie.blogspot.com.
I wanted to believe her. The big, blue sea beckoned.
Most folks have an instinctive aversion to scuba. Too much equipment.
Scuba is closely related to swimming and swimming is, after all, one of those water sports where the motto, “Less is better,” means a practical bathing suit is better than a fancy or skimpy one. Less distraction from the pure delight of being in the sun and water, right?
It follows that cumbersome scuba equipment, while necessary, would be a distraction.
Of course, when it comes to scuba diving, there is that worrisome problem of needing oxygen to live. For me, it always seemed logical to enjoy water sports on top of the water where human lungs function best.
Not to mention sharks. They seem more real under water, don’t they? Like they have the home team advantage. Even sand sharks.
Scuba was not even in my vocabulary until I went snorkeling.
Who knew there was so much social life under the surface? Snorkeling gave me a ring-side seat to the underworld circus of fish and sea creatures too numerous to name.
From the moment I got a glimpse of the sun fish flitting under the surface, I knew I would need a tank to get close enough to satisfy my curiosity.
If you are trying to get a scuba-phobe to immerse with you, here are some things that may help encourage a new scubie to bite the bullet. Oops, mentioning biting in the same column as sharks seems counterproductive.
-First, the tanks are a lot lighter under water. When you use up all the air, the tank actually tends to make you float to the surface. I find this somewhat reassuring.
-It is great for families; scuba is a great way to keep your kids involved with you and stuck together for hours at a time, in a pursuit so fascinating and complicated that they forget to whine or complain. That is, until they finally come up for air and remember suddenly that they are totally starving.
-The underwater world is an incredible expression of God’s creativity. The variety and beauty of the fish alone, not to mention the other creatures or the vegetation, are enough to make you take a second look at the infinite variety of the people He made.
-Learning something new keeps old folks young. And it is great exercise.
-Scuba masters have been through rigorous training themselves. They seem to enjoy checking all the equipment as many times as you like, which in my case is annoyingly often. Like Texans know the best fishing holes, Dive Masters often know the underwater terrain in their neighborhood and can make sure you see lots of action.
-If you reserve an excursion off the coast, you’ll get to ride in a big boat under a big blue sky on the wide-open turquoise water to the dive site.
When we got back from my first blue water dive recently, I trolled for sand shark on the internet. Guess what? Sand sharks do have teeth. They can even be dangerous!
It’s just a good thing I couldn’t take my lap top on the boat.
Cathy Primer Krafve, aka Checklist Charlie, lives and writes with a Texas twang. Comments are invited at cathykrafve@gmail or http://checklistcharlie.blogspot.com.
What to Do First in Romantic Miami?
It turns out that Miami is one of my favorite places in the world. Who knew?
I guess I pictured the Miami that Hollywood invented, filled with drug-dealers and scantily dressed floozies.
Turns out Miami is the perfect place to travel with your family. Or, as we recently found out, it’s a great place for a romantic getaway.
Of course, who can argue with any place that features sunshine glistening off of turquoise water and sandy beaches, combined with fun stuff to do, delicious restaurants, and live music?
Here are just a few of our favorite things about Miami:
-The aquarium. Yes, and I am old enough to remember and be impressed by the original set of the TV series, “Flipper.”
-South Beach. The sandy, white beaches are fringed by water so clear you can see for yards and so gentle, that your smallest children can walk out that far without ever getting into trouble. Plus, there is public access through parks that have restrooms and outdoor showers; parks so picturesque that they frequently make the cut as sets in movies and TV shows.
-South Beach shopping. Still in your bathing suit, wander into any of the famous designer stores or, my favorite, choose from all the shoe stores whose windows boast shelves of fancy, colorful shoes and purses at discount prices.
-The Vizcaya. This historic mansion overlooking Biscayne Bay once belonged to the guy who owned American Harvester and sent his decorator all over Europe, furnishing his summer home in layers of history by way of antiques. It is also a self-sustaining, eco-friendly agricultural estate.
-Los Ranchos at Bayside. A Nicaraguan restaurant serving thin-cut steak served with three sauces, my favorite of which is a parsley and garlic sauce. Steaks come with fried green plantains which are crisp like potato chips, fried sweet plantains which are similar to sweet potatoes, and pinto gallo, a traditional way of preparing pinto beans and rice. Don’t miss the Yucca or the Nicaraguan tamales.
-The Café Versailles in Little Havana. A classic Cuban restaurant serving flaky, buttery pastries unique to Cuba that bring to mind Paris but are filled with tropical jellies like mango or guava. Here, elderly Cuban gentlemen dressed in nice slacks and dress shirts line up at the window outside for the Cuban coffee. Inside reasonably-priced Cuban specialties are served on white table clothes. Plan to order in Spanish because the waiters aren’t necessarily bilingual.
-Puerto Sagua on South Beach. Try the fish soup or the pushed Cuban sandwich. Similar to French bread, Cubans make their soft, crusty loaves fresh every day, then fill them so full of ham, turkey and a mild, melted cheese that the sandwich has to be pushed down to hold together.
-Catch an outdoor concert. Walk outside any day of the week in South Beach and you’ll stumble onto a live concert at any of the restaurants where tables spill over onto the sidewalks. Order dinner and enjoy the musical benefits of the local culture. If you are so inclined, you can even smoke one of the other benefits of Miami culture, hand-rolled Cuban-style cigars.
Outside of Texas, there are few places in the world that I want to visit twice. It turns out Miami is on my short list of places to return to again and again. Bienvenidos a Miami!
Cathy Primer Krafve, aka Checklist Charlie, lives and writes with a Texas twang. Comments are invited at CaeKrafve2@aol.com or http://checklistcharlie.blogspot.com.
I guess I pictured the Miami that Hollywood invented, filled with drug-dealers and scantily dressed floozies.
Turns out Miami is the perfect place to travel with your family. Or, as we recently found out, it’s a great place for a romantic getaway.
Of course, who can argue with any place that features sunshine glistening off of turquoise water and sandy beaches, combined with fun stuff to do, delicious restaurants, and live music?
Here are just a few of our favorite things about Miami:
-The aquarium. Yes, and I am old enough to remember and be impressed by the original set of the TV series, “Flipper.”
-South Beach. The sandy, white beaches are fringed by water so clear you can see for yards and so gentle, that your smallest children can walk out that far without ever getting into trouble. Plus, there is public access through parks that have restrooms and outdoor showers; parks so picturesque that they frequently make the cut as sets in movies and TV shows.
-South Beach shopping. Still in your bathing suit, wander into any of the famous designer stores or, my favorite, choose from all the shoe stores whose windows boast shelves of fancy, colorful shoes and purses at discount prices.
-The Vizcaya. This historic mansion overlooking Biscayne Bay once belonged to the guy who owned American Harvester and sent his decorator all over Europe, furnishing his summer home in layers of history by way of antiques. It is also a self-sustaining, eco-friendly agricultural estate.
-Los Ranchos at Bayside. A Nicaraguan restaurant serving thin-cut steak served with three sauces, my favorite of which is a parsley and garlic sauce. Steaks come with fried green plantains which are crisp like potato chips, fried sweet plantains which are similar to sweet potatoes, and pinto gallo, a traditional way of preparing pinto beans and rice. Don’t miss the Yucca or the Nicaraguan tamales.
-The Café Versailles in Little Havana. A classic Cuban restaurant serving flaky, buttery pastries unique to Cuba that bring to mind Paris but are filled with tropical jellies like mango or guava. Here, elderly Cuban gentlemen dressed in nice slacks and dress shirts line up at the window outside for the Cuban coffee. Inside reasonably-priced Cuban specialties are served on white table clothes. Plan to order in Spanish because the waiters aren’t necessarily bilingual.
-Puerto Sagua on South Beach. Try the fish soup or the pushed Cuban sandwich. Similar to French bread, Cubans make their soft, crusty loaves fresh every day, then fill them so full of ham, turkey and a mild, melted cheese that the sandwich has to be pushed down to hold together.
-Catch an outdoor concert. Walk outside any day of the week in South Beach and you’ll stumble onto a live concert at any of the restaurants where tables spill over onto the sidewalks. Order dinner and enjoy the musical benefits of the local culture. If you are so inclined, you can even smoke one of the other benefits of Miami culture, hand-rolled Cuban-style cigars.
Outside of Texas, there are few places in the world that I want to visit twice. It turns out Miami is on my short list of places to return to again and again. Bienvenidos a Miami!
Cathy Primer Krafve, aka Checklist Charlie, lives and writes with a Texas twang. Comments are invited at CaeKrafve2@aol.com or http://checklistcharlie.blogspot.com.
Travel the Florida Keys
Twenty-five years later, my husband and I decided it was time to celebrate our marriage with a fancy trip.
“It’s a miracle,” he said every time anyone commented on our marital accomplishment.
You would think I’d feel insulted hearing that over and over again as we traveled down the Florida Keys.
Not so. There’s just enough truth in the comment to be funny. After all, I was there for those same twenty-five years together, miraculously enough.
We both know Who gets the credit for keeping us committed to each other and to the process called marriage.
Given that marriage is one long negotiation, we wisely decided on a destination that produced no squabbling; the beach.
It turned out to be a judicious choice, even given Florida’s propensity for hurricanes. Days were balmy and lazy, filled with sunshine, surf, and seafood.
Here are the places along the way that deserve consideration for honeymooners, families, or old lovers, like us.
-Palm Island. There’s no car access to the island, so prepare yourself to be taxied over in a gorgeous wooden motor boat named “Bess” or “Truman” after the presidential couple who made Palm Island one of their favorite fishing get-aways. Executive Chef, Luis A Pous, is the #2 chef in the world, apparently. I have no idea where #1 works, but the food on Palm Island was terrific. I also enjoyed dancing under the stars to live music.
-Deer Key. The last remaining 700 or so of their own special species are making a comeback here in this tropical paradise. These tiny deer know they are loved, so they think nothing of coming up and nuzzling humans.
-Casa Marina in Key West. Recently updated, this jewel of a resort hotel has two swimming pools over-looking the Atlantic and luxurious, crisp linens.
-Turtle Kraals. Sit upstairs on the deck, watch the sun set, and enjoy nachos even Texans can appreciate while you watch the yachts come and go at the marina.
-Southpoint Scuba. Its tempting to laze by the pool all day and take in the innumerable restaurants in Key West, going from lounge chair to table and back again, but don’t miss an amazing chance to get scuba certified in a matter of two days on the #3 choral reef in the world.
-Graffiti’s. It is hard to narrow down the best boutique shopping in Key West, simply because there are so many stores and they were all running sales while we were there. My pick is Graffiti’s where the owner sells his own design of Speedo-style trunks for men. However, if I write too much about the swim trunks I bought there for my husband, I may not make it to our twenty-sixth.
The total drive time from Miami to Key West is an easy four hours; that is, if there is no threat of hurricane. The locals tend to view hurricanes as an excuse to have hurricane parties.
I’ve already started negotiating for another relaxed trip to the beach for our thirtieth. I’d wait to our golden anniversary, but it will be miracle enough just to live that long.
If only marriage were just one long trip to the beach. Wouldn’t that be grand!
Cathy Primer Krafve, aka Checklist Charlie, lives and writes with a Texas twang. Comments are invited at cathykrafve@gmail.com or http://checklistcharlie.blogspot.com.
“It’s a miracle,” he said every time anyone commented on our marital accomplishment.
You would think I’d feel insulted hearing that over and over again as we traveled down the Florida Keys.
Not so. There’s just enough truth in the comment to be funny. After all, I was there for those same twenty-five years together, miraculously enough.
We both know Who gets the credit for keeping us committed to each other and to the process called marriage.
Given that marriage is one long negotiation, we wisely decided on a destination that produced no squabbling; the beach.
It turned out to be a judicious choice, even given Florida’s propensity for hurricanes. Days were balmy and lazy, filled with sunshine, surf, and seafood.
Here are the places along the way that deserve consideration for honeymooners, families, or old lovers, like us.
-Palm Island. There’s no car access to the island, so prepare yourself to be taxied over in a gorgeous wooden motor boat named “Bess” or “Truman” after the presidential couple who made Palm Island one of their favorite fishing get-aways. Executive Chef, Luis A Pous, is the #2 chef in the world, apparently. I have no idea where #1 works, but the food on Palm Island was terrific. I also enjoyed dancing under the stars to live music.
-Deer Key. The last remaining 700 or so of their own special species are making a comeback here in this tropical paradise. These tiny deer know they are loved, so they think nothing of coming up and nuzzling humans.
-Casa Marina in Key West. Recently updated, this jewel of a resort hotel has two swimming pools over-looking the Atlantic and luxurious, crisp linens.
-Turtle Kraals. Sit upstairs on the deck, watch the sun set, and enjoy nachos even Texans can appreciate while you watch the yachts come and go at the marina.
-Southpoint Scuba. Its tempting to laze by the pool all day and take in the innumerable restaurants in Key West, going from lounge chair to table and back again, but don’t miss an amazing chance to get scuba certified in a matter of two days on the #3 choral reef in the world.
-Graffiti’s. It is hard to narrow down the best boutique shopping in Key West, simply because there are so many stores and they were all running sales while we were there. My pick is Graffiti’s where the owner sells his own design of Speedo-style trunks for men. However, if I write too much about the swim trunks I bought there for my husband, I may not make it to our twenty-sixth.
The total drive time from Miami to Key West is an easy four hours; that is, if there is no threat of hurricane. The locals tend to view hurricanes as an excuse to have hurricane parties.
I’ve already started negotiating for another relaxed trip to the beach for our thirtieth. I’d wait to our golden anniversary, but it will be miracle enough just to live that long.
If only marriage were just one long trip to the beach. Wouldn’t that be grand!
Cathy Primer Krafve, aka Checklist Charlie, lives and writes with a Texas twang. Comments are invited at cathykrafve@gmail.com or http://checklistcharlie.blogspot.com.
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