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.
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