Tuesday, October 26, 2021

Today is the Birthdate of a Gentleman



And I'm proud to tell you, he was MY gentleman!
 Yes, Jack Stovall would have been the same age as I am today. (He didn't really like it that I was 3 months and 13 days older.)



Jack was handsome, refined, distinguished, and generous. I saw a movie recently which reminded me of him. It is The Intern with Robert DeNiro and Anne Hathaway.


Anne is in online fashion and decides to try a "senior" intern, and Robert applies. He gets the job, and we get to watch as he carefully chooses his wardrobe for his first day--dress shirt, tie, jacket, impeccable grooming. The younger fellows tell him he is overdressed, but he lets them know this is how he feels comfortable. (Think Jack Stovall)


Jack had the most beautiful ties, and this is what I did with them. All of the Stovall girls have one of these purses.




These pictures represent the thing that most reminded me of Jack in the movie.





You see, what Robert is doing here is offering his handkerchief to someone who needs it.


Jack always had a clean handkerchief in his pocket. I called Madeline and Susannah and asked them if they remembered that. They both most definitely did. They said their dilemma, since no one else had offered them a handkerchief, was whether or not to accept and actually use (mess up) said handkerchief!    (I kinda felt the same when offered to me!)



In the last scene of the movie, Anne is crying and suggests to her husband that he might think about starting to carry a handkerchief.



Jack's are still where he left them.















Sunday, October 24, 2021

The Lynn Girls Together on Festger Mountain*

Actually, cousin Sarah Lynn Festger calls it a hill!* It is near Cedaredge, Colorado, and is owned by Sarah and her husband Dick, along with a charming home, etc.! Their daughter, Emily, lives close by. And this Texas girl went to visit!


I was amazed that American Airlines had a nonstop flight from DFW to Grand Junction, CO. It was an experience going from one of the world's largest airports to one that was very small by comparison.


As we were flying in, I was fascinated by this unusual topography. I learned that these are the Book Cliffs. Aren't they pretty? I'll show you more of them later.


      The airport may be small, but I found lots to photograph as we drove away. I kept asking Sarah to "go around again!" Here are some of my shots!



This very tall beauty faced me as I rode down the escalator.
 




Impressive!

Heading for home. Just the beginning of beautiful fall color!

Our first stop!

 Sarah told me we didn't have to go in. We were just picking up all those bags of feed you see in the trunk for Emily's animals. I joked that maybe Tractor Supply would have a Dr. Pepper! Sarah thought I needed to go in anyway for the full farming experience. So...this is a carefully staged picture of the feed sacks and me holding my Dr. Pepper! They said I was lucky to get one. They sell out very quickly.


About an hour 20 minutes from the airport we drive past 
Festger Mountain!* My cousin and her husband actually own this! 




We be comin' round the mountain* when we find...
the ultra charming Festger Mountain Home!*


Sarah had my room set up for me very appropriately.
I added the little roses from her bushes!


My first morning there, right when I got up, it began snowing. Snow had not been predicted, but it sure as the world happened, just for me! It was gorgeous--something I seldom get to see and love so much. I took a video, was able to put it on You Tube, but I cannot get it to post here on my blog. And believe me, I have tried and tried and tried and.....


Sarah had told me that she would have a coat for me. Lo and behold, I came out wearing an ensemble for the day that totes matched the coat she had for me! 



 We visited a very nice facility where Sarah goes to play the guitar and sing for the residents. She had her biggest crowd--about 12 in all, and she was a big hit with them!
Again, I took a video of Sarah singing and playing, but 
can't get it to show up! Probably a good thing...we didn't have permission to photograph the residents!!


 I made us root beer floats!
This was the extent of my "cooking" while I was there!



But I did set the table for a delicious soup luncheon which
Sarah threw in my honor! Her friends were lovely!

 

Next stop: Cedaredge, a fun little town.
And here we are at Main Street Market, my kind of place!
Sarah treated me to wonderful coffee and shopping!



Maybe some Christmas presents here, as well as a gift for Emily! The talented metalsmith personally brought me additional items.
I was getting serious Hallmark movie vibes at this point.



Now we're headed up to the Mesa where there will be more snow.






I was looking forward to the Visitor's Center, but we didn't know if it would be open. I got all excited when I saw a sign lit up in front...until Sarah told me the sign said "Closed." 
We met a snow plow up here. I've not seen many of those!
F.Y.I. This is only about half way up the mesa, but was as far as we went.


Dick is a master restorer, and he is making fantastic progress on this log cabin which is next door to their home.
At Emily's suggestion, they have dubbed it "The Saloon."

This saloon has a real pretty bartender!


And here's Emily showing me her fab farm! I couldn't wait to see it, cause I had heard so much about it.

And here the three of us girls are, along with Emily's geese!

Emily has remodeled her historic place into something irresistibly cozy and charming and appealing!
Even to this city girl!

Look closely. That's a tractor on the sign I got her. Yes, Emily  says she WILL have a tractor one day! I just got her her first one! And believe me I can visualize this cute little farm girl wranglin' that tractor! (Hallmark...just picture this!)
Note to Self: Never pose in a picture with Emily again.


And then we went to dinner in Cedaredge! We had the best food (chicken fried steak for me!) and the funniest waiter. In having a great time together, 
we forgot to have our picture made while our table was lookin' nice, so I made Sarah order cheesecake for dessert just as a prop! ($$$ date)
It started snowing while we ate...a definite Hallmark moment!


Sarah had chocolate cake Krispy Kremes and wonderful coffee with heavy whipping cream for me every morning. And I was totally smitten with her gorgeous last rose of summer.



She also waited on me hand and foot...example...

"Does this picture make my butt look big?" "Yes, Linda, it does.   So does eating all that salsa and those chips."



She said she got this sign in my honor. I can't figure out why, y'all.


Festger Overlook* (also named by yours truly) would be worthy of a stop on a highway. The depth perspective is not adequately represented in a photograph, but it is deep and wide and breath taking! And it is on their property!



Another favorite thing of mine was the flowing stream that runs in front of their home. I have THE BEST video of it, but again, I can't get no cooperation. Best I can do...





Another favorite: this tree. Even more vibrantly beautiful than the photograph shows! And one day I could see it from Sarah's deck, and it was completely white with snow!


 

Boo hoo. Time to go home now.
The Book Cliffs from the highway...

and from the runway...



******************
Disclaimer

******************
 
 Only to this flat lander Texas girl does Sarah live on a mountain! She actually lives at the base of the Grand Mesa in Colorado. However, this picture with Emily and one of her friends is the first I received of Sarah's Cedaredge home.



When I showed this to Rob, he observed that it looked like the home was built into the side of a mountain. Then when Sarah showed me the mountain (hill!) they owned as we approached, "Festger Mountain" became my reality.  Sarah's previous home in Conifer, CO, was at a higher elevation and, therefore, much more a mountain home! To her, anyway!





































Saturday, October 23, 2021

A Farewell to Debra

      Debra Permenter faithfully led the Women of Faith class at Fielder Church for over 20 years. Then she made the decision to     move to Corpus Christi to start a new chapter in her life near   family. The class threw her a dazzling farewell party! 



Our precious Debra
                                   


Q







Isn't it all gorgeous?


                                               Surprise!


                                       
Queen worker bees!


Debra's Guests























My contribution: Photographer!


And here's my fellow photographer:


We miss you like crazy, Debra, but we are excited with you
about your new home-to-be!
Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for all the years
you dedicated to us.
We will be forever grateful.
We know that God will bless you as you blessed us.


WE LOVE YOU!