Sun, Jun 12, 2011

Sunday, June 12, 2011

Today my dear mother celebrates her 92^nd birthday.  Happy Birthday Mom! A daughter could not ask for more in a mother than you have given me. I love you! – Donna Downey

Of course the day had to begin with a call to my mom to wish her a happy birthday.  Luckily we had a good cell phone signal so we were able to talk for a long time as Charles drove along the back roads.  My mother is such an incredible person and I know how blessed I am to have her still at the young age of 92.  I grew up at a time when many mothers stayed at home to raise their children and my mom made those years priceless.  We lived in a wonderful neighborhood near Highland Park full of kids and except for our time at school or at church we were always playing outside.  It was a wonderful place to grow up… a very “Leave It To Beaver” life.  Thanks for those wonderful days mom. 

Today we continued our meanderings thru Texas in the general direction of home.  We spent the morning enjoying a drive thru the beautiful ranches around the Stephenville area before heading up to the small town of Strawn, Texas to eat at Mary’s Café.  Mary is famous for her chicken fried steak, the friendly service and welcoming atmosphere in this very casual café. Neither Charles nor I have ever been real fans of chicken fried steak but have tried it on occasion when it was recommended by a waitress.  It was always a disappointment. Then we had the chicken fried steak at Mary’s and now we are spoiled!  All of their food is cooked from scratch and their seafood, Mexican and hamburgers also get great reviews but we get by so seldom we always opt for the chicken fried steak.  It’s just like a good home cooked meal which we have been craving! 

After a delicious lunch we continued wandering the smaller roads while also trying to end the day closer to home.  After lunch it was, unfortunately, “windows up” time again as the temperature climbed to 100.  Still, we enjoyed cruising around looking for roads we have not taken and were able to find quite a few before the day ended. 

We opted for a quick and small supper at a Sonic before getting a room in Tyler, Texas.  Charles and I love Texas for many reasons but one is because of the endless acres of some of the most beautiful ranch land to be found anywhere.  For us it truly is like heaven so I thought I would share this poem.  I have had a copy of it forever but could not find an author and I have altered it to apply more to the Texas countryside.  Anyone that loves the outdoors though will appreciate the sentiments expressed. 

                                    I bought ten thousand sunsets,

                                    And an ancient Mesquite tree,

                                    And a thousand fields of bluebonnets,

                                    When my ranch was deeded me.

                                    Ten thousand perfect mornings,

                                    With a meadowlark to sing,

                                    And a grassy meadow, with a live oak shade,

                                    And the music of a spring.

                                    The owner thought he sold me land

                                    How poor a trader he!

                                    But it all was fair, for it was there

                                    For all the world to see.

                                    A meadow filled with wildflowers,

                                    And a wild rose rambling free,

                                    And a squirrel’s den and a nested wren,

                                    And it all belongs to me.

                                    I paid the man his money,

                                    Though he did not understand

                                    He had put a price on paradise,

                                    When he thought he sold me land.

 We are well tonight and hope that ya’ll are too.

 Peace, Hope & Love,

 Donna, Charles, Paris & Dodger