Nocona, Texas ~ Small Town America

We visited Nocona, Texas one night last week for dinner at Times Forgotten,

which I can enthusiastically recommend. 

 

Nocona was your last stop in Texas on the Chisholm Trail

before crossing the Red River into Oklahoma.

 

It's one of the sweetest small towns I've visited.  It's so "Americana".  So TEXAS! 

So quiet and  peaceful.  Lots of pretty old homes and architecture. 

 

Funny thing too, Nocona is just a stones throw from Archer City,

where "The Last American Picture Show" was filmed. 

Larry McMurtry lives in the area (outside Archer City). Driving into this area, you can see where Larry got his inspiration for Lonesome Dove  and other works. 

You can picture cowboys and cattle drives. 

Comanche Indians.  Leather boots.

Oil wells are every where, still pumping. 

 If you're in the North Texas area, I highly encourage you to drive out this way

and just "breathe" for the weekend...

 

Oh, and in Nocona, there are several American car museums

built by "oil money" from the area. 

I don't know their names responsible for all the building up

and restoration work of the town, but they are doing a beautiful job. 

If you're a car person, be sure to visit Nocona!!    You'll be thinking of the movie "Cars" and singing, "Life is a Highway....I wanna ride it all night long..." 
It was exciting seeing so many beautiful cars
IN THE MIDDLE OF NO WHERE!

 

I was only able to see it at night, and I can't wait to go back again. 
I walked down the street and around a few blocks and this is what I was able to capture.
Mind you, I'm not a great photographer and it was dark. 

 

I love this picture.  What's more American than cars and church? 
Two buildings of "worship" beside each other.  LOL

I LOVE THIS!!!!!  I want this painted in my house, exactly like this.  Isn't it beautiful? 

 

I'm sharing with...
(if you like photography eye candy, don't miss these blogs)
The View From Right Here ~ Rurality Blog Hop
Lesley ~ Signs Signs

Middle of no where Texas Morning

I'll be going back to my house in Florida soon. 

It's not my home. 

I always say, if you have to be stuck some where, Florida is a great place to be stuck. 

I would much rather be HOME, in TEXAS, where I belong. 

Good bye, middle of no where Texas. 

I love you. 

Stay beautiful. 

I'll be back as soon as God allows. 

 

 

~ sigh ~

 

********************************************************************************

Zuzu, the furry granddaughter says,

"Yawn.  No pictures of cats.  This blog is boring.  Keep scrolling Nana."

 

 

Happy Birthday Texas!

  She is 176 today

Yeehaw!!!!!! 

Well that didn't take long...how long did you think I was gonna go without mentioning Texas? 

Day 2 and I'm already whining celebrating. 

***Friendly Texas Cheesy Grin and a Big Howdy Wave***

These are a few of my
FAVORITE
Texas things around the house...


A shelf in my kitchen.  Wish I could find more Texas plates. 

Yes, I know it's an ash tray. 

You don't really think I would leave a Texas shaped ash tray at the thrift store

to be bought by someone else, do you? 

A vintage "6 Flags Over Texas" ice tea set. 

It was in my mother-in-law's home and one of the things my husband wanted most. 

I treasure it. 

 

I just love this little guy.  I found it at a garage sale in Kerrville for .25 cents. 

A vintage TWU (Texas Woman's University) plate. 

Where I went to college. 

Dr. Pepper for my daughter's wedding on May 27th. 

She's marrying a Texan.

God love her!!!!

If you want to make a birthday cake for Texas,

here is a recipe for "Texas Sheet Cake"

in my mother-in-law's handwriting. 

We've already made ours today and we will eat it after our

King Ranch Chicken birthday dinner.  :)   

(PS:  I don't bake with margarine.  Gross)

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God bless Texas. 

Be blessed and Be a Blessing. 

"I'm about to enter Texas...my spirits are good and my heart is straight."
 ~ Sam Houston, 1832

Shug (short for Sugar) is our only native Texan pet. 

She says hide under the curtain for a nap. 

Shhhhhhhhh.....

Linking up with:

Wow Us Wednesdays at Savvy Southern Style

Show and Tell Friday at My Romantic Home

Open House Party at No Minimalist Here

My hero, Fred Sanford

At least I've got good taste...in trash. I know good trash when I see it and I'm not too proud to stop and pick it up. I love antiques and vintage things, but I'm super, super, super cheap. FREE from a generous trash can is the BEST price. Score!!

 

It was trash night over by Tom Daniels Elementary in Kerrville, Texas. I talked my friend into driving around with me. It was so much fun laughing with her (she's been my best friend since 6th grade), digging through "safe" trash. We didn't touch anything that looked scary....ewwww.

Funny thing about this fan. I have wanted one for years and years but was too cheap to buy one. I saw one at an estate sale last year and it was marked ridiculously low. Someone grabbed it before I could. Snap! (Look out....cat fight at the estate sale....no, not really, I would never do that...really!) A cheaper one will come my way, I just KNOW it. Hahaha...well I found this one. I'll make my husband clean it up. I doubt we can get it to work. Anyhoo...I was stoked when I found it.

 

 

No needlepoint goes to the landfill on my watch. This was on a chair and the chair was beyond salvageable, so I pulled the seat off. Don't know what I'll do with this yet, but it will become something pretty in our home, I'm thinking maybe a pillow or I'll frame it.

Big huge enamelware bowl. The apple in there is a large Granny Smith. It was filthy but cleaned up perfectly and sparkly and shiny. Yes!!

 

I love, love, love vintage garden stuff. I haven't figured out what I'm going to do with this rake piece yet. My immediate thought was to use it in a window treatment I need. Now I'm changing my mind. Hmmmm... Check out those cool pots in the background! One almost looks like a turnip. LOL I love the green one the most though. Pot with the green chipped paint....I LOVE YOU!!!

James 1: 17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above

Matthew 7:11 If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!

Psalm 34:10 …But those who seek the LORD shall not lack any good thing.

Hooches and Smugs!!

(((Group Hug)))

Texas, where even the cows are friendly

I sure do get to missin' Texas a lot. Both my sisters are there along with my little niece and nephew. My brother is there. My mama is there and my sweet mother-in-law is there. Our mothers are getting older and I don't like being away from them. Seems like we don't get home as much as we wanted. 

See, how can you not love a state where even the cows leave a friendly little sign

for all the nice people who drive by?

Is that a piece of litter I see in the right hand corner of the picture?  

Uh-oh Who messed with Texas???

This was taken around Tioga, TX a few miles from "home".  You know who is from Tioga, don't ya?  Gene Autry, of course.  :)   

I'm excited to hear your thoughts. The comment section is a friendly place. Really.  :)  

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