This Week Recap

This has been a good and uneventful week.  We like those.  We decided a month or so ago that we could use a housekeeper to come in once a month to do things my back no longer allows.  This week was her 2nd visit, and although it is awkward having someone in the house, it is helpful to get baseboards cleaned, etc.

I've started reading a book that was recommended by my friend Cele, "A Note Yet Unsung" by Tamera Alexander.  So far, it is hard to put down.  So thanks, Cele.

Dallas (source)

When we realized we would not be able to take the extended fall trip we had anticipated, we decided to at least enjoy short road trips each week.  We have not explored the Metroplex since moving here five years ago for various reasons, the main one being the traffic to just get out of the city.  Last week we decided that is not a good enough excuse anymore.  As long as I can drive (and I am an excellent driver), and the GPS doesn't fail us, we need to go while we can.

We have been wanting to visit the recently declared, by Steve Doocy on Fox & Friends, neatest little town in Texas, Granbury.  Go HERE to see the show on YouTube.  It is only an hour & a half from us, but of course, it takes an hour to just get through West Dallas and Fort Worth.  We have friends who live there and have heard such good things about the area.  So, that was our destination this Friday morning.  We soon got into a nice rain which made changing lanes and finding the right exits even more exciting.

The most notable thing about entering Granbury is the beautiful and expansive Lake Granbury.  This is what draws so many to this iconic little town, as it did our friends.  There are gorgeous homes surrounding the lake, as well as less desirable ones that have obviously been there for a very long time.

The center of the town and what Granbury is also known for is its town square.  Many small Texas towns were built around their courthouse in the center of the square, with shops and businesses on each side.  It has been called "one of the most complete nineteenth-century courthouse squares in Texas."

Built of Brazos limestone, like many of the old buildings in Texas, between 1890-1891, it consists of 3 main stories.  The imposing 3-story central clock tower was completed after the rest of the building.

A cornerstone

We found this placard outside the building to be interesting.

Hanging inside the courthouse was this handmade quilt showing landmarks of Granbury, and showcased as well is the old sewing machine used to put it together.  So much intricate work.

Now, let's visit the rest of the square.

Our first stop was a store featuring beautifully crafted furniture and leather items.  There was also plenty of Western art.  This realistic bison painting caught our attention, and we couldn't miss getting a picture of it sniffing Dick's head.  

There was music throughout, and most of it came from this real-live jukebox.  When was the last time you saw one of these?

There are quite a variety of shops and businesses around the square.  As we are not shoppers, we really weren't interested in going into many of them.

We found it so interesting that all along the streets were these acknowledgments of "Hometown Heroes."  I think it is safe to say that Texas is a very patriotic state.

The Opera House is a drawing card to the community, regularly showing old movies.  It is also said to be haunted.  It was closed this morning, so we were unable to go inside to confirm this.

I noticed this building as soon as we rounded the corner behind the courthouse.  One of my oldest and dearest friends was a Nutt from North Louisiana.  We later learned that the original building, built in the late 1800s, burned a few years ago and has recently been rebuilt.  It has a fascinating history.

It didn't take us long to discover where we wanted to eat lunch, and we weren't disappointed.

We learned that this massive piece behind the bar was once in one of Al Capone's restaurants in New York City.  Wouldn't you love to know how it came to be here in a small town in Texas?

The food was superb.  My meal consisted of a grilled chicken breast on a bed of sauteed butternut squash and bell peppers, covered in the most delicious gravy.

The doors behind us came from a castle in France.  Again, what's the story behind that?

Needless to say, we are so glad we finally faced off with the DFW metroplex traffic complications and made a trip to the neatest little town in Texas.

Come back next week to see where the roads will take us.  You might be surprised.