Tuesday, July 7, 2015

Road Trip, Old Friends, New Friends and Strawberry Shortcake!

 The summer has been fairly quiet for me this year.  In May,  Ron and I had our wonderful trip to Winterwood  and I also ran up to Pittsburgh for Mother's Day to spend time with John.  In July, I will be going to Paris and I realize that is a big deal.  But, looking at a blank calendar for June was not working for me.  That is when I realized it would be a perfect time for me to go to Little Rock to visit my dear childhood friend, Kay Allen.  I knew this would include a road trip to Beebe, my hometown, and lots of girlie time doing things that girlies like to do.  I was especially honored to get to spend time with Kay's good friends and got to attend the famous, "I Refuse to Be Unhappy" Friday party, even though a storm cut the outdoor fun a little short.    Kay and I are so alike in how much we enjoy people and how much we treasure our relationships.  There are too many names to mention, but if you are from Little Rock or your name is Sandra Garrett, please know that it was pure joy to spend time with you.  I cannot wait to return.
Famous strawberry shortcake with real crust like my mama used to make. Bald Knob, Arkansas!
I am going to end by showing you a few pictures of my days in Arkansas.  These blogs are really documentation for me, not really meant to entertain or inform.  But, if anything interests you, then please enjoy!
I took a stroll down memory lane past my old dorm at Ouachita Baptist University.  After 50 years it is still standing!

Beautiful Berry Chapel where at 18 I dreamed of getting married there! ha Didn't happen!

The famous Flamingo Terrace "porch" in Kay's backyard.  Original "Aline's Beauty Shop" sign hangs in honor of her mother.  Every Friday Kay's guests all toast their mothers.  So very cool that I got to participate in a toast to mine.

This picture doesn't do Kay's yard justice.  It is absolutely beautiful in every way, due to her hard work and the help of her friends!

You can smell these flowers as you drive in the driveway. 

I was so happy to see that my grandmother's house in Judsonia had been renovated and in great condition.

This is Joe Newnom who lives there now and was so gracious to visit with us awhile, once I told him that my grandmother used to live there.  We gave him a quart of blackberries. (that's another story)

Another view of my grandmother's house.  She used to make dresses for me.  There was no picture that she couldn't copy.

When Mother could save a quarter as a alittle girl, she went around the corner to this house and took a piano lesson.  This is where the music in our family all began.  I will have to ask my cousin to help me with this lady's name.

We took back roads all day long and I loved every minute of it.

This is the ice cream company in Searcy that is no longer in business, but is a real icon in the history of Arkansas.

I stopped by the cemetary to spend a few moments of reflection.  There I found flowers and, of course, I knew Sandra Garrett had put them there.  True hometown friendships...priceless.

I snapped this picture of the veterans memorial in Beebe.  My brother and my daddy's names are there.

Kay and I hit the estate sales for two days and her car turned in here at the White Pig Inn for another fabulous BBQ sandwich.  I love family owned businesses....

Yes, that is a Christmas tree in July.  Kay leaves it up all year and we turned on the lights. It was marvelous, darling, just marvelous!  This was after I had played the piano for them and even received some $$ in a tip jar!

I know...more food pictures.  However, you can't ignore the best lemon pie in Little Rock at Izzy's. Oh, my goodness.