A NEW Steed in the Barn

Marque meets Marquis

Wine and Wheels Day Trip to Richards, TX

John, one of our RROC members, is also a member of the CCCA (Classic Car Club of America) Either due to the hot weather or the economy, this day trip wasn't attracting the numbers so he opened it up to our club as well. We're so glad we jumped on the opportunity albeit we took the MKX and not Marque as he would have overheated.

We cruised along some state highways before getting off on some Farm to Market roads meandering 41 miles through the Piney Woods to Grimes County and our destination of the Thomas Ranches. Around 4000 acres, the ranch uses 3000 acres as a working cattle ranch that has been in the Thomas family since the 1950s.

The Plantation home (11000 sq ft) and The Vineyards at Grand View (2 yrs since planting half Blanc du Bois and half Lenoir - Black Spanish vines) ~ Our host, Bill Thomas and his cousin, Judi Benestante, the proprietor of the vineyard along with her husband, John.  John, in the Carriage House kitchen, cooked up a true TX BBQ for us - brisket, chicken, sausage and sauce, baked beans, cole slaw, and little white potatoes in cream sauce. For dessert, large scoops of Blue Bell ice cream ( the only ice cream still sold in 64 oz containers - yum) and homemade cookies. To quench one's thirst there was an abundance of water and soda, and libations of beer and wine that flowed freely.

We were allowed to roam inside the plantation. John admires the mural of the South painted by Bill's 80 yr old uncle ~ Above the front door, the Texas star made of inlaid hardwoods from the ranch ~ Portrait of  Bill's mother in her wedding gown ~ The very same wedding gown restored in one of the bedrooms (talk about being taken aback when one entered the room)

Bill not only collects antique cars but also memorabilia from the area

This was called the $50 room. To make a long story short, when Bill was a teacher in the 70s, a local church was relocating and not taking the pipes for the organ. Bill wanted the pipes and the church sold them to him for $50. ~ Hearing the former Astros organist, Jim Connors, play the Rogers 5 keyboard organ, was a highlight for me. My father's sister used to play the piano in theaters before talkies came into being. Jim gave a performance nonpareil.

Some of Bill's cars ~ L>R 1931 Cadillac, 1930 Packard, 1929 Cadillac

The 'theme' seemed to be Caddys so here are the ones that came on the trip. The unique feature of this 1953 is that the gas cap is located in the left rear tail light. Press the button and the cap is revealed. A non-functioning button on the right tail light provided symmetry. (yes!)

Seeing is Believing

We had always heard of the greatest advertising feat...balancing a Rolls-Royce on Wedgwood tea cups. Today we got to witness it for ourselves.

What a feat!

Proof positive

Went across the street to the Original Pappadeaux c.1984 for dinner

Fantastic garlic bread followed by seafood gumbo which we shared. Sneed had fried soft shell crabs and I had 'my usual' Greek salad

Georgia and Rob's Big Day

Once again, Marque was requested by some Aggies to take a bride and groom from a church, in this instance St. Martin's Episcopal Church, to their reception at the Junior League of Houston, and then to the couple's 'beginning of honeymoon' hotel. Happily we tagged along.

Marque waiting to be called into service ~ the program ~ one of the Church's cornerstones

Mr and Mrs with Marque

Koozies as the memento ~ Pop the top and with a flick of the wrist propel the paper confetti into the air ~ Makes a snowy pile on the ground

The bride's mother assured everyone that the paper was biodegradable, that it would 'melt' in water, or could be swept up easily = )

As the groom's mother wishes him farewell, the expression I captured on Georgia's face is priceless

Dylin spends Friday night

Sneed and I were in Sugar Land and stopped by to pick up the tent Terry was lending us to shade us at the car show next weekend. Dylin was once again in full play make-up and wearing the Queen of Hearts costume. It 's a perk when your Mom is the Executive Director of the theatre and the costume used to be your Halloween costume in the first place. She asked to have a sleepover, so into the car with me she hopped after saying good-bye to her family.

After our pizza dinner and ice cream sandwich dessert, she wanted to go into the pool.   An hour later, it was starting to get dark and the purple martins were circling their house but not landing as she was disturbing the usual serenity of the water. As soon as Dylin got out, they were happy. Next on the agenda after a bath was watching a Fraggle Rock DVD. She remembered a lot of the episodes from having seen them before.

The second Saturday of the month is the regularly scheduled RROC breakfast down at Skeeter's in the West University area. This wisp of a girl can down scrambled eggs, a cinnamon bun, and lots of cantaloupe and pineapple. Skeeter's covers the tables with brown paper and leaves crayons in a cup on the table. Dylin added her name to the brick column. Then she drew this lovely flower with a butterfly passing by. She was probably the first child to request to take her artwork home.

Queen Theatre's First Ever Performance - Alice in Wonderland the Musical during Summer Camp

Queen Theatre ad on Erika's Ford Flex ~ the program

Aedin (with Terry after the show) was the Caterpillar and King of Hearts ~ Dylin was a Rose and the Jack of Hearts, i.e. the Executioner

Alice in Wonderland Cast

Check out the Queen for more photos from rehearsals. When you get to the Queen website, click on the photo on the screen to start the slide show. It's amazing what a great performance they put on with only a few days practice.The camp was only a half day for a week. The performance which included song and dance was viewed Friday at noon.