A Grateful Heart

With three dear Seguin friends, I share Moments of Gratitude. We have purposed to pay special attention to the daily blessings that God bestows upon us and share our thoughts about these Moments of Gratitude. Such attentiveness has opened our eyes to God's grace and to the beauty of our friendship with one another. I am so thankful for these friends - and for this exercise in Gratitude!

Support Seguin Arts!

Support the Seguin Arts! http://www.seguinartcenter.com/

from the Seguin Enterprise newspaper, April 4, 1946 (copied from internet)

The city of Seguin will have a new and modern motion picture theater, construction on which will start just as quickly as possible according to a statement this week by H. A. Daniels, local theater owner. Daniels’ Palace Theater was destroyed by a gas pipe explosion and fire 10 days ago.

Meanwhile Daniels said he will erect an open air theater across the street from the present site of the Palace to take care of the motion picture customers, and will show the best pictures there until such a time as the new theater structure can be completed.

The new building will be built of steel and concrete, Daniels said, absolutely fire proof, even to the roof.

Plans are finished and construction will start as soon as possible. Daniels estimated the finished structure, seating 1,100 patrons, will cost $150,000. In it will be incorporated smoking lounges for both men and women and a “cry room” for babies. Plans to give ample attention to colored patrons are also in the new program.

In extending his thanks to the thousands of people who expressed regrets following the recent fire, Daniels said the new structure would be dedicated as a monument to Seguin and Guadalupe County.
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Note: the Mosheim Bed and Breakfast also hosts theater productions. Check it out now and then.

http://www.mosheimmansion.com/

A modest man - a great writer

In 1995 Elmer Kelton was named the greatest Western author of all time by Western Writers of America. Kelton grew up on a ranch near Crane, Texas and earned a journalism degree from the University of Texas.

His awards have been seven Spurs from Western Writers of America and four Western Heritage awards from the National Cowboy Hall of Fame. Among his best-known works have been The Time It Never Rained and The Good Old Boys, the latter made into a television film starring Tommy Lee Jones. He served in the infantry in World War II. He and his wife, Ann, a native of Austria, live in San Angelo, Texas. They have three children, four grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

Kelton is a modest man. His telephone number is listed in the local directory. He is a gentleman. He will engage in a conversation with anyone (we can attest to this!).

http://www.elmerkelton.net/

On with the dance!

"You've got to dance like nobody's watching and love like it's never going to hurt."

Image of Ruth St. Denis from New York Public Library Digital Library

"If you're going to walk on thin ice, you might as well dance."

View from my porch in the evening

“When I admire the wonder of a sunset or the beauty of the moon, my soul expands in worship of the Creator.” ~ Mahatma Gandhi

Hats Off to Juan Seguin!

Each year there is a Hats Off to Juan Seguin event, combined with The Pecan Festival, Trade Days, Heritage Days, the Chihuahua Races, The Red Barn old town, etc. It is such a fun weekend!

Regarding Hats Off: “This event celebrates the birthday of Juan Seguin,” said Main Street Director Mary Jo Filip. “It was started to build community support and awareness of the city’s namesake. Juan Seguin was a hero of the Alamo, and he and his family are very prominent in Texas history. We really planned this event for the purpose of making sure people knew that and understood who he was.”

There is a "Hoity Toity Hat" parade beginning in front of The Oak (another Must Go To place in Seguin). The parade is usually led by the Academicos da Opera Samba School of Austin, a group of about two or three dozen performers. A band plays. People dance. People sing. One visits with friends. Children are running around, joining in the festivities. It is a great family time. A great night!

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My Long Ago Family

Chinese proverb: "To forget one's ancestors is to be a brook without a source, a tree without root."

Who knows why I became interested in tracing my family's history - but interested I am. This photo is a baptism taking place in Mrs. Essie Sammon's fishpond in Gwinnett County, Georgia. I'm not certain of the date of the photograph. Essie was a member of the Hebron Baptist Church which was organized July 2, 1842. My direct Sammon ancestor (Mary B. Sammon) was also a member of this church.

The charter members were: John Wood, A. J. Wood, L. A. Wood Sr., H. M. Wood, Wm. Richardson, Sanford Goodwin, Mrs. Sanford Goodwin, Elizabeth Wood, Suanna Wood, Elizabeth H. Wood, Emily H. Moore, Nancy Reed, Mary B. Sammon, Polly A. Green and Marcouri Richardson, a colored slave. Almost all of these families are connected in some way to my Sammon ancestors. [GWINNETT CHURCHES A COMPLETE HISTORY OF EVERY CHURCH IN GWINNETT COUNTY, GEORGIA,WITH SHORT BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF ITS MINISTERS BY J. C. FLANIGAN 1911]

I love the research!

Crossed Purposes - we reap what we sew

Cross-stitching is a hobby which is a passion. While stitching, I feel a Great Peace and as with reading, it is as necessary to me as breathing.

http://hopecrossstitch.blogspot.com/

I prayed

Dear God, I prayed, all unafraid
(as we’re inclined to do),
I do not need a handsome man
but let him be like You;
I do not need one big and strong
nor yet so very tall,
nor need he be some genius,or wealthy, Lord, at all;
but let his head be high, dear God,
and let his eye be clear,
his shoulders straight, whate’er his state,
whate’er his earthly sphere;
and let his face have character,
a ruggedness of soul,
and let his whole life show, dear God,a singleness of goal;
then when he comes
(as he will come)
with quiet eyes aglow,
I’ll understand that he’s the man
I prayed for long ago.
(From Ruth Bell Graham’s Collected Poems, p. 35)

A great restaurant closes its doors

The Badu House in Llano, Texas had great food, excellent service, AND across the street is a most interesting museum connected with the restaurant. Unfortunately, this restaurant closed its doors October 21, 2008.

The Badu House was built in 1891 by the Austin architectural firm of Larramour and Watson. It was originally constructed to serve as the First National Bank of Llano, with office space on the second story. In March 1898, the bank became defunct and the building was sold to French native N.J. “Professor” Badu, a noted local mineralogist. Professor Badu and his family made a home of the Badu House and the building was passed down for generations.

Even until 1980, the Badu House was still owned by Mrs. Robert (Carrol) Phelan, granddaughter of Mr. Badu. In 1980, Ann and Earl Ruff of Houston, Texas purchased the Badu House and restored it as a restaurant and country inn. Throughout the last 20 years, the Badu House has had several different owners, but most often it was known as a lovely restaurant, bar and bed and breakfast.

A Novice at Blogging

I am a total novice at blogging (which will be evident!); however, I wanted to share photos and news with family and friends and rewire the synapses in my brain at the same time. Learning something new at my age! Here we go . . .

This snapshot of the fireplace was taken at a local Mexican restaurant in Seguin (good food - good service): El Ranchito. The restaurant was so festive this Christmas season.