New Collins Street Bakery

Growing up in Navarro County, Texas, just 10 miles from Corsicana where the Collins Street Bakery has been made famous by their fruit cakes, I was delighted to see that there is now a Collins Street Bakery in Waco!

The exterior of the business is very attractive.

Don makes his way to the door as I snap pictures.  (Thunder clouds seem to be gathering.)

There is even a deli counter inside offering sandwiches, soups, salads and all kinds of desserts.  We enjoyed their chicken salad sandwich; mine on pecan bread and Don’s on whole wheat.

The interior of Collins Street Bakery is just attractive as the exterior.

Did you notice the wall light sconces?

What a clever use of rolling pins and very appropriate for a bakery.

Back at the Q, we watched the rain all around us and then it finally made it’s way to us.

This new Hillcrest Hospital is about a mile from the Q, as the crow flies.  However, the road is about six miles.

After the rain flash flood, the creek behind us was roaring over the private road.

I sure enjoyed capturing a few artsy photographs last this afternoon.

#1 on my bucket list

A visit to the home of my Italian ancestors, Vernante, Piemonte, Italy.

Vernante was the last home of master illustrator Attilio Mussino, who illustrated Carlo Collodi's Pinocchio. Two Vernante townspeople have reproduced those illustrations on many walls as murals, making Vernante an interesting day trip in Piemonte.

For a description of the city and other attractions, see Pinocchio's Artistry in Vernante.

Map of Vernante - Piemonte - Italy

Tip: Before you leave Vernante, stop in for a sip of tea (or something stronger) at the Pub "Il Cavallino" in the piazza de 1'ala 20. You won't believe your eyes. Il Cavallino is an authentic Irish Pub. The owner has a passion for all things Celtic, including music. He speaks English and is glad to be able to practice on you--and he's a wealth of information on the history and festivals of the region. We attended a spectacular mountain music festival on his advice.

(copied from http://goeurope.about.com/library/bl_vernante_map.htm )

Next, I would love to visit the Pelissero Winery.  Relatives.

I took a walk today..

I saw a snake today.

Walk was over.

It almost became a run.

No, I did not get a picture of the snake.

Did you really think I did?????

{Click here for more pictures taken today.. Don fishing, etc.}

Use the WHOLE thing….

Many professionals in restaurants and eateries are using or consuming the entire lemon and nothing is wasted. How can you use the whole lemon without waste? 

Simple..place the lemon in the freezer section of your refrigerator.

Once the lemon is frozen, get your grater, and shred the whole lemon (no need to peel it) and sprinkle it on top of your foods.

Sprinkle it to your whiskey, wine, vegetable salad, ice cream, soup, noodles, spaghetti sauce, rice, sushi, fish dishes.

All of the foods will unexpectedly have a wonderful taste, something that you may have never tasted before. Most likely, you only think of lemon juice and vitamin C. Not anymore. Now that you've learned this lemon secret, you can use lemon even in instant cup noodles.

What's the major advantage of using the whole lemon other than preventing waste and adding new taste to your dishes?

Well, you see lemon peels contain as much as 5 to 10 times more vitamins than the lemon juice itself. And yes, that's what you've been wasting.

But from now on, by following this simple procedure of freezing the whole lemon, then grating it on top of your dishes, you can consume all of those nutrients and get even healthier.

It's also good that lemon peels are health rejuvenators in eradicating toxic elements in the body.

So place your lemon in your freezer, and then grate it on your meal every day. It is a key to make your foods tastier and you get to live healthier and longer!  That's the lemon secret! Better late than NEVER!

The surprising benefits of lemon!

Lemon (Citrus) is a miraculous product to kill cancer cells. It is 10,000 times stronger than chemotherapy.

Why do we not know about that? Because there are laboratories interested in making a synthetic version that will bring them huge profits. You can now help a friend in need by letting him/her know that lemon juice is beneficial in preventing the disease. Its taste is pleasant and it does not produce the horrific effects of chemotherapy. How many people will die while this closely guarded secret is kept, so as not to jeopardize the beneficial multimillionaires large corporations? As you know, the lemon tree is known for its varieties of lemons and limes. You can eat the fruit in different ways: you can eat the pulp, juice press, prepare drinks, sorbets, pastries, etc...

It is credited with many virtues, but the most interesting is the effect it produces on cysts and tumors. This plant is a proven remedy against cancers of all types. Some say it is very useful in all variants of cancer. It is considered also as an anti microbial spectrum against bacterial infections and fungi, effective against internal parasites and worms, it regulates blood pressure which is too high and an antidepressant,combats stress and nervous disorders. The source of this information is fascinating: it comes from one of the largest drug manufacturers in the world, says that after more than 20 laboratory tests since 1970, the extracts revealed that:

It destroys the malignant cells in 12 cancers, including colon, breast, prostate, lung and pancreas ...The compounds of this tree showed 10,000 times better than the product Adriamycin, a drug normally used chemotherapeutic in the world, slowing the growth of cancer cells.

And what is even more astonishing: this type of therapy with lemon extract only destroys malignant cancer cells and it does not affect healthy cells.

Disclaimer:  I received this in an email and I loved it.  I researched it and found nothing that said this was false.  The only thing I know for sure: lemons are good and they won’t hurt you.

Thursday with the Grands

Emma and Camden came out to the park today and while it was cool in the morning, we took a walk to do a little exploring.

We had fun walking all over the fun places to explore on this park!

Two adorable children.

This afternoon, we took them to see Madagascar 3.  They loved it.  I enjoyed it.  Don did, too, until his Double Dave’s pizza got the best of him and he took a little nap.  He didn’t miss too much, though, but we’ve all sure enjoyed giving him a hard time about it. 

{Click Here for more pictures taken today}

Did it myself flip flops!!

Plain white flip flops at Wal-Mart – $2.29.

Scrap piece of fleece from Mama Trudy’s treasure of scrap pieces of fabric.

Remove the rubber straps.

Cut two strips about 1 1/2” wide and 36”-38”  long.

Followed instructions, sort of, on a Pinterest site I found yesterday!

Voila!

So soft and comfy!

 

Embellishment may happen yet.But for now, I’m just so tickled that I actually completed a project I found on Pinterest!

Kris update: Where to begin?

Dearest friends and loved ones!

Where to begin, indeed! The last update was sent just about one month ago. We hadn’t left Florida yet but did so on May 15th. When we arrived in Texas, our first hurdle was where we were going to stay. All existing RV parks in the surrounding area were full because of oil workers. Finally found an RV site in Seguin, Texas, 20-some miles from LaVernia, where Kris is at Country Care Manor... still.

The next hurdle was finding Kris in such a decline again, and being able to pull her back up. It seemed as though everything was so up in the air about what was happening, what was going to happen, and how it would happen, I decided to send an email to all the “powers-that-be” and then pray very hard.

Then George and I went to see two facilities we had heard about with the same potential programming as CORE, the facility west of Austin that seemed to still be Kris’s destination SOMEtime! One place did not accept PEG-tube fed patients, the other place would, but it is not VA funded. This is the main consideration now, it seems, since Kris will be retired officially as of July 28th from the Air Force and will be on VA funding.

While all this was going on (within the first week), Russell contacted the administrative assistant from Kris’s former department (now at Brooke Army Medical Center), who said anyone who would be involved with a retirement reception for Kris seems to be either deployed, retired or moved on. We contacted the administrative assistant for the dental and oral surgery department at Wilford Hall Medical Center (who really “runs” things there!). Kris went there for so many appointments over the past two years, and this person has become a dear friend. She has managed to set up the entire reception for us. It will be Wednesday, 20 June 2012, in the Wilford Hall Medical Center (WHMC) auditorium from 1300 to 1500 hours (1 to 3 p.m.), and anyone is welcome to attend!

Over the past two weeks or so since we have been here, I have been walking Kris every day with her walker, and I’ve started to feed her again – little half-teaspoons of yogurt. It took a little patience but I truly believe now she will eventually eat. What started with just one teaspoonful the first week, became 11 earlier this week. I am thrilled (really upside-down tickled!!!) to report to you that she ate 20 teaspoons full last evening (Saturday, 6/2) and I promised to bring her some pureed rice and cheese today. (She loves rice and cheese!) What she is given must still be soft, easy to swallow and very moist. Heavy, thick, creamy or chewable doesn’t work. And she cannot feed herself yet, but I know she will when the swallowing is much farther along. Right now... last evening, it all went down slick as a whistle! And THAT is a definite praise the Lord!

As I said, we left Florida Tuesday, May 15th, arriving here Friday afternoon, May 18th. What a reunion! What a lot of smiles and hugs! What a joy to be with Kris again, but what a heart wrenching time, too. So much of the great work at the VA Poly Trauma Center back in February and March is all but gone. But prayers are answered, and a meeting was called this past Friday to discuss the future plans for Kris.

First, the Air Force military liaison (the meeting was in her office) will soon turn the mantle of supervision over to the VA liaison (who has been working somewhat in the periphery these past months) now. She will take charge, especially since Kris’s retirement has been set, and she will be the main contact person for questions/concerns. She explained a great many things and has set goals, the first of which is that now Russell will commence renovations on their house in September. Everything will be in place by then to make it possible for him to do that.

Another prayer answered is that Dr. Johnson, the director of therapies at the VA Poly Trauma Center, has agreed to have Kris return there for two or three weeks prior to her being sent to CORE. You may remember that CORE is her main choice for the final months of Kris’s rehabilitation and to get her as close to home living capability as possible. This was my hope (that she would go back to the VA PTC), especially when she had to return to Country Care back in March since CORE wasn’t ready at that time to admit her.

My fear and deepest agony was that Kris had “fallen through the cracks” and it just seemed as though no one was listening. But, thank a great God in heaven, they are listening and there is the outside chance Kris will be home by Christmas or shortly thereafter. The way is paved now. There is a plan and we are just absolutely delighted!

Two things happened over this past few weeks since we are here which made it imperative for us to return by mid May. One – we wanted to be here for Kris’s birthday on May 23rd. Two – we wanted to be here for our grandson’s graduation on June 1st. The pictures attached tell the story somewhat, but let me fill in the spaces.

On Monday (two days before Kris’s birthday), I asked George if we could do a little program here for the folks at Country Care but, most especially, for Kris to help celebrate her birthday. He said, “Of course!” The folks at Country Care said “Of course,” and even Kris shook her head “yes” when I asked her if she would like that. We did it. It was just the greatest time! The folks loved it (they always love music), and Kris was animated and delighted, bouncing her head and keeping time with her feet. We even invited friends who came: dear friends who invited us to sing in their church last summer up in Kerrville, TX, a sweetheart of a nurse (from the VA who cared for Kris) and her husband came, and the very administrative assistant from Wilford Hall who is helping to plan Kris’s retirement reception along with the former dental technician (now retired) who use to take care of Kris’s dental needs the past two years – they all came!!! Of course, Russell and two other family friends were here as well, and the cake was beautiful. Kris had some cake, too, (but more icing than cake!) which she loved, and enjoyed opening all her gifts and cards. What a day! And many thanks for all the cards, too, that were mailed to her! It all helps!

The next major event was Joshua’s graduation, which was Friday evening, June 1st, at 8 p.m. in the high school stadium. Planning to take Kris was a moment-by-moment question: Would she be able to do it? She shook her head “yes” several times, but it takes a great deal of work and planning to make something like that happen. I gave her a shower early, got her dressed, Russell came and we loaded her up in the big truck; wheelchair in the back. When we arrived at the field, cars and people were everywhere. I explained our situation to one of the policeman at the main entrance (which was barred now), and he let us drive in right up to the closest parking point, which was also barricaded. Another policeman agreed to let us park, but it was still on the opposite side of the football field. Kris had her hand on the door knob, and we decided to take her over to the grandstand. Once there, I wheeled her up the ramp, all the way to the middle where the students had just begun walking out onto the field. When she saw Joshua, she waved; he saw her and waved, grinning from ear to ear. I couldn’t do anything but shed tears of joy. She did it all.

We couldn’t stay very long but I must tell you... as we were leaving, once all the students had taken their places, the salute to the flag was called. We were then down off the ramp and, when I looked to my left, there was the flag and all the students had turned toward us because the beautiful American flag was in between. Russell asked Kris if she wanted to stand, and we helped her stand up for the salute. She held her hand up in as best a salute as she could do, held it there, and continued to stand for the National Anthem. My heart nearly burst!!!

After the graduation ceremony, Joshua came to see her in his cap and gown, and I can’t tell you how much that meant to Kris. I can’t tell you how much it meant to me to see her so happy (tired and already in bed though she was) to see her son. It was a monumental moment in her life now to be able to see him (albeit just a short while) at his graduation, and then have him come to see her in his cap and gown, holding his diploma.

I have decided that, somehow, Kris is going to her retirement reception in her full Air Force dress uniform, with her major cluster and all her medals. I have also decided to take her upright walker so that she can stand when the colonel pronounces her retired. I’ve asked her if she wants to do that, and she shook her head “yes.” I know... when Kris puts her mind to something, nothing will hold her back. She’s always been that way! We will be right there to help make it happen for Kris.

Please enjoy the photos attached. I know many of you have been wondering what’s happening, and I apologize for taking so long. I have discovered I don’t have quite the stamina I had before, so it takes me a little longer to do things. We still plan to leave on June 27th, to begin our summer tour. While we are looking forward to all of that, we have decided it will likely be our last one. One more joy before we go is that our oldest daughter, Diana, will join us for a week here, and she will be here for Kris’s retirement ceremony. Leaving on the 27th will be... well, I’m trying not to think about it, really. But the joy of sharing our gospel ministry will help, as it always does.

Pray for our safe travels, and continue to pray, please, for Kris, for her family, for all that needs to be done yet, and that she is on the final road before going home at last. Your prayers mean so much! They always have and they always will!

Blessings,

Carol and George

[I am having issues with downloading pictures from emails, therefore I can’t attach the pictures Carol sent.  They are really good, too. Sorry.]

“Have You Prayed About It”

God, in His infinite wisdom, led us to Oakhills Church this morning.The story of this church and how they came to acquire this location is amazing.  It’s a perfect location and was built by a family for family reunions and meetings.  Oakhills Fredericksburg is a satellite campus of Oakhills Church in San Antonio where Max Lucado is the pastor.

I will post about Max Lucado’s sermon, “Have You Prayed About It?” in a separate post.  Don and I walked out of church with a fresh fire, so encouraged about prayer and our call to it.

While visiting with the Oakhills pastor, we learned of their vision to incorporate work campers in their community projects as leaders, workers and mentors.  The church is prepared with ten full hook-up sites on the campus and the work campers will be able to park for free while working.  We were thrilled to hear about this churches vision for developing relationships with RV’ers!

Before going to the afternoon show at the Rock Box, we had an OPA sausage and kraut sandwich at Altdorf.

The doors open at 1:30 PM at the…for the 2:00 PM show.

This lady could belt out Areatha Franklin.  WoW!

There was a band and six singers that performed for two hours and were really good.  We thoroughly enjoyed the afternoon.

I get the top bunk!!

Were you like me and most other children?  Did you just love bunk beds and wished you had one, if you didn’t?

Me, too!

So when I saw this picture, I thought…. that is the coolest bunk bed bedroom.

The downside, now that I’m an adult… senior adult, they are difficult to put sheets on!

But I didn’t think of that when I was a kid and I still think this is a wonderful room to share with siblings.

A beautiful mystery…

… solved!! 

It’s a Desert Willow!

Saturday in Fredericksburg

We started today on Main Street.

We ate breakfast at a sidewalk patio.

We window shopped.

$50.  I batted my eyelashes and got, “Your birthday week was last week.”I would not have allowed him to buy them for me anyway.

We saw a car/motorcycle show. (Don loved that!)

We walked in a garden. (I loved that!)

We spent the rather warm afternoon at the Q.

We ate dinner at Andy’s.

Do you see anything strange about this old stove that was at Andy’s.

They were selling fresh peaches at Andy’s.  We have some in the frig.

We finished up our day exploring a new place:  The Lady Bird Municipal Park.

Sunset across Lone Oak Creek.

Ducks on the creek.

We’ll are pretty sure we will park in the RV park here the next time we are in Fredericksburg.  It’s very nice here.

Click >>here<< and then >>here<< to see all the pictures I took today.