J is for jujubes

**This post is dedicated to my OLD friend, Robbie!** :)

Do you remember jujubes?

Yes?

Well, I don't!! Sure, I've heard of them, but I've never seen them for sale and, until today, I had never even seen the word spelled out. Which leads me to why this post is dedicated to Robbie. Robbie reads my blog and today I received an email from her with this question, "What's your "J"?

Honestly, I was going to skip today. Because my throat is sore. And I'm whiney. And I just couldn't think of a "J" word to write about. (Shhh...don't tell Mrs. Matlock!)

I told Robbie as much, and promptly received an email back with a ton of "j" words listed out. One word was "jujubes." Which I read as JOO JOOBS. So, I replied to Robbie with, "What is jujubes?"

And she called me a baby.

So, my OLD friend, Robbie - here's to you:

Jujubes were first produced some time before 1920. The jujube is an edible berry that grows in the tropics. But the name of the berry has nothing to do with the make-up of the candy, which is more likely related to one of the basic ingredients of both Jujubes and Jujyfruits, ju-ju gum.

Jujyfruits were first made in 1920. Each box contains an assortment of fruit-shaped candy pieces. Both were originally made by the Heide Company which was started by German immigrant, Henry Heide in 1869. Today they are made by the Hershey Company.

Robbie - the box below is probably more familiar to you! :) tehe

One more day..

On Sunday I happened upon a radio program where people were calling in and telling how they would spend one last day with a loved one who had passed away.

Normally, I would have immediately changed the station.

I don't do well with mushy.

However, my parents have been on my mind even more than usual lately, so I listened to one caller.

And then I changed the station to NPR.

But that didn't stop my mind from mulling over the question for myself. The answer came immediately and with certainty.

If I had one more day to spend with my parents it would be a beautiful Texas Spring day. The sun would be shining and there would be a light and lovely breeze with just a hint coolness to caress our sun warmed skin. Various family members would be lounging in the assortment of rusting lawn chairs Dad has collected over the years. At least two of the grandchildren would be swinging in the metal "porch" swing that has hung for years from one of the huge oak trees in their yard.

Their children would be gathered and would be enjoying each others company. Because that is what made my parents happiest.

Dad would be amused at something my sisters and I were discussing.

There would be lots of teasing among my brothers and sisters, nieces and nephews.

Mom would laugh out loud at something shockingly funny.

Most cherished would be the stories from my parents. Stories of their childhood, early married life and of when my oldest brother was just a baby. The stories would progress to times after various of their children had been born and as each siblings' memories ripened the stories would become embellished with each person's memory of the happenings.

Iced tea would be consumed.

Love and contentment would rule the day.

And that's how it would be if I had one more day with my parents.

I is for Island

It's time for Alphabe-Thursday! Want to play along? Click here.

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Island

I wish I were on one.
The End.

H is for Hamburger

I sacrificed my WW weigh-in for this week's Alphabe-Thursday entry. If you want to play along, click here.



H is for Hamburger and sometimes I just get a Hankering for one. When I realized this week was the letter H, I told my Hubby, "Let's Hop on down to the Denton Hamburger Company for lunch tomorrow." He, of course, was Happy to Help me out!


And so we made our way downtown.

We ordered the Cheeseburger Dinner.

The fixin's:

Look at that Hamburger!

This is what you sprinkle on the fries (Denton County Dirt)

And then you try to bite the Hamburger without completely stretching out your face!

This dude is Humongous! Doggie Bag, please!

2 Boys and an iPhone

Alternate title: FOUND on husband's iPhone!

What do you get when you leave two 12 year old boys alone with an iPhone?
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G is for Gas Station

I’ve been curious about this gas station for years now. I don’t know why I never stopped before. Jenny’s Alphabe-Thursday for the letter G was just the motivation I needed!


This old gas station is located just a mile or so from my house. I pass it at least twice every day. I often look at it as I pass, sitting abandoned with only passing cars and trains for company. And I wonder how the scene might have been different in its era. Then I wonder WHEN was its era? Though I have only lived in this town for about 7 years, my grandparents lived here as far back as I can remember. But, I never remember stopping at this gas station.

The pumps are definitely from a bygone time. The coat of rust they wear is a testament to it. The $.49/gal is an indicator too.



















Each of the pumps have a glass bulb towards the top. At first I think it is a light, but closer inspection reveals it has something to do with the actual functionality of pumping the gasoline:


After inspecting the pumps, I decided to peek into the window of the store. I’m not sure this is the original store – it certainly isn’t sporting the same rust as the pumps.

A peek inside reveals old metal desks and some awesome old office chairs. And my favorite thing… an old, forgotten, tin box of Sucrets.

Birdies at my feeder

Over the weekend Virgil put a bird feeder at the window of my craft room. There is a hook that suctions to the window and the feeder hangs from there.

I sit at my desk and watch the birds take their turn on the feeder. They flit between the fence the feeder and my window seal. I love the quizzical motion of their heads as they check out their shadow on the window. I love their fussiness. I love their whimsy.