Summer Sundays in Texas
Happy Father’s Day for your families, and welcome to Summer Sundays in Texas!
We began Father’s Day weekend with the gender reveal of another grandchild and it will be the third girl!
My oldest son is father now to three girls and one boy…he needs to start saving for those weddings and beauty products ahead!
We are thrilled to have the birth of a baby boy and baby girl ahead for fall.
Naturally, for Summer Sundays in Texas, my mind has been on grandchildren, so let’s start there.
SUMMER SUNDAYS IN TEXAS: MOM RESPITE
I gave my daughter a little time off this week and spent time with these three…very active…young men!
They are ages 11, 9, and just turned 6.
A huge blessing for me began our time together, when my oldest grandchild walked into the house and said that it always feels like coming home!
They were here for the birthday of this big six year old so we had a little party with the cousins.
I do recommend the Garfield Movie. We all enjoyed it.
Why does a six year old have a University of Texas cake?…he requested it because he loves their football team.
They are looking forward to the The Wild Robot, because they have read and enjoyed the books.
Here is a link: The Wild Robot.
I like to make recommendations when something holds their attention for long periods of time.
This trip, it was a football tee….THE WILSON PRO KICK FOOTBALL TEE.
Despite the heat, he kicked and kicked and kicked and kicked…it was a great purchase on my part.
We had a great time together, but Gigi was tired.
SUMMER SUNDAYS IN TEXAS: COMPLIMENTS OF THE HOUSE
Recently, I realized that I utilized one spice over and over again on many items I cook…it is a fajita spice.
Upon reading the label, I discovered it does have additives in it that I would like to do without.
So, now that I have a spice grinder…I decided to make my own…and it is my new HOUSE SPICE that I am using on just about everyting.
I grind together a teaspoon of fresh peppercorns & fresh sea salt; a 1/2 teaspoon of garlic powder and onion powder; and 1/8 teaspoon of smoked paprika and cayenne pepper.
Very pleased with the House Spice.
You are seeing here my favorite lunch…tomato sandwiches with low carb whole grain bread.
I use the HOUSE SPICE and my HOUSE sandwich spread. I know I shared it with you before…but we are eating a lot of it.
I also put it on my tomatoes without the bread.
The HOUSE SPREAD is one tablespoon of olive oil mayo; one teaspoon of whole grain mustard and dijon mustard; and 1/8 (sometimes 1/4) teaspoon of Chili Garlic paste…mix it together and keep refrigerated.
SUMMER SUNDAYS IN TEXAS: CHILL OUT
During the last Summer Sundays in Texas, I was not chill. My apology brought so much relief to me.
However, one of the advantages of aging for me, believe it or not, has been that I am much more chill than I was as a career woman.
I see so much anxiety on social media and people who seem to get upset about the smallest things.
Life is just too short for that. I had too big reminders this week.
Yesterday, I was so excited to attend a Frederiksberg Peach Festival at one of our local malls.
Frederiksberg fields are known in Texas to yield the most succulent and delicious peaches.
I had such plans for those peaches and a fun post about the festival…this picture above is me right before I walked out the door to head toward the outdoor mall.
However, this particular mall is located adjacent to where a huge clover leaf highway is being built for this growing city and the two freeways were shut down by the mall.
The traffic I hit on the side streets was incredible and I ended up turning around and escaping.
This Peachy Clean sponge was the only PEACH I saw yesterday.
I was disappointed but ended up finding an alternative plan that I will share with you later this week.
There was no reason to get upset….and every reason to avoid the traffic backups.
Friday came with a similar kink in my schedule.
I ended up with a nail in one of my tires.
By the time, I got to my tire place (which is Discount Tires and I really love this company), they informed me that the wait would be two hours.
What was I going to do? Drive around with a leaking tire? No…and it just would not be healthy to sit there an stew.
So, I spent my time working on the blog on my phone and listening to some great oldie/goldie music they had playing.
I was even surprised when they announced the car was ready.
It does help me to pray when feeling anxious or stirred up in a moment.
Prayer settled me to re-read last week’s comments and pen an apology.
The “chill” life is so much better than an “anxious” one.
FINAL NOTE:
We are entering the time when big sales will begin to hit in order to prepare retailers for early fall arrivals.
I will get this information to you as quickly as I can, but keep an eye out for sales.
There is a big one this week, but I do not have permission from the retailer to share it early…I know this is a tease but I want to prepare you to watch for it…on Tuesday.
That is all I can say.
But I will say…Have fun celebrating all the dads today!
Please share any comments or questions about today’s Summer Sundays in Texas….Summer officially arrives for everyone on Thursday! Until then…..
STAY STRONG & KEEP SMILING!
By Pamela Lutrell
The comment from your grandson saying your house feels like “coming home” would be all the reward I need as a gran. Blessings to you and happy Father’s Day to Mr. L today.
It blessed my socks off!! Thank you, Kim.
Happy Sunday, Pam! It is so much fun, and rewarding, watching grandchildren grow. Yes, tired after a group visit, but we accumulate years worth of wonderful memories. Priceless. I’m looking forward to your “secret” sale announcement. And, also looking forward to making your House Spice and House Spread. How long have you kept your House Spread in the fridge? I sure do enjoy your blog.
What a beautiful, heart warming post! Loved your recipes and I plan on incorporating them in my kitchen. As I get older I find myself being more mellow. Things just don’t “set me off” like they did when I was younger, racing to work, not knowing how long my shift would be or what I would be facing.
Now I am more receptive to what life has to offer and what simple beauty awaits me every day.
Thank you for being here, Judith. I make the spread in small jars and I guess have had it as long as two weeks, but Mr. B is a sandwich lover so we go through it quickly and I often remake it weekly. Enjoy!
I see myself becoming more and more this way, Rhoda. My younger self would have been mad at the traffic and really mad about the tire. Now…no big deal, adjustments are made.
Hi, Pam. Happy Father’s Day to all the dads. Your grandchildren are precious; what a gift! I LOVE peaches. They will be in season here in the Midwest soon, and I’ll send you some recipes, if you want. It’s always better to take a breath and chill. Life is too short and glorious to waste it on bad feelings. Happy day!
So many great messages here, Pam. Thank you. I too have mellowed in older age- no more panic over car issues. No more upset in canceled plans. Loving (?) the mess my two 5-year-old twin “Grands” leave my house in, after a day-long visit. Its a reminder that they were here! And with retirement I have time to re- do their attempts at cleaning up. Haha.
I hear your sweet messages and live them too.
I’m in So Ca and read today’s post before getting ready for church.
Your comment reminded me of something our pastor said a couple of years back during a sermon on “us versus them”, how we tend to categorize people instead of loving them.
I wish I could remember exactly how he phrased it, but it was something along the lines of “next time you are hopelessly stuck in traffic, and railing against it, just remember you are it for everyone else.”
It took a heartbeat for that to sink in, but then we all laughed.
peace out,
C
Oh how great it is when the “grands” want to come and visit. My 7 year-old granddaughter is busy with school and after-school programs in the winter and attends a “parks & recs” program in the summer. But when she wants some down time she calls and asks “can I come to your house Nana?” Lovely words they are because she knows she is always welcome and we direct all our attention on her when she is here. Sometimes it’s time in the pool, sometimes just coloring at the dining room table, sometimes cartoons on TV and always always “I’m hungry Nana”. Pure joy for us.
Yes! I would love peach recipes, Marcia. Thanks for offering…over50feeling40@gmail.com! Bless you!
That is true, Paulette…I did not stress over the boy’s messes this week and you just reminded me of that. I still don’t like them to hit the walls with the basketball…but everything else was chill.
LOL…and it does sink in, Chris. I need to remember to share this with one of my sons. He always gets so frustrated in the traffic and San Antonio traffic worsens day by day. Thanks for this!
It is pure joy to hear those words. Such a blessing and I am glad you have a granddaughter who wants to be there, Ann.
Lovely blog today! We had a family celebration yesterday, and a wonderful time. I like to say “ don’t sweat the small stuff, and it’s all small stuff”. Blessings!
Aloha, Pam!
Congratulations on another beautiful granddaughter in your beautiful family! 💕
Your tomato sandwiches are one of my favorites, unfortunately, here in Hawaii a single tomato costs on average $2.00!
We are learning so much on living here, and renovating our new home, but I make time to read your blog when I can! God bless you, your family, and Mr. B – Happy Father’s Day to him!
Pretty small stuff here, Lisa. I agree!
Congratulations on your new home, Linda. So glad you stopped by…$2.00 tomatoes!! Hope you have a green thumb!
Happy Fathers Day to Mr.B. and to your sons. Congratulations on the upcoming births of two new grandchildren. What a lovely sentiment from your oldest grandson. Last year I cut my ties with social media with the exception of a very few blogs which I enjoy. I did keep Instagram under some pressure to “expose” my art to a wider audience but after looking at it a few times I haven’t quite figured out how that would benefit me. I suppose it leaves me behind the times. Enjoy your Sunday and your lovely family.
There are several social media outlets I am told to frequent in order to be a successful blogger that I simply am not going to do. You will not see me on Tik Tok or Threads or Twitter. Instagram and my Facebook page are as far as I will go. We have to weigh other consequences when promoting our work. I will pray for your decision Kathie. I am one who understands that it is a difficult one.
I envy your time with grandchildren. When mine were growing up, we would see them once a year when we would drive to Arizona from Colorado. It is a 12 hour drive and too much for us for a while now. Most of them are now in their 30s and have families of their own. Alas, they live even farther away now. We treasure the texts and videos of the great grandchildren. Your family is wonderful! Congratulations on 2 new grandchildren in the fall. Happy Father’s Day to your Mr. B! We already walked Trix and will have a quiet in door day as it is expected to be 101 degrees today here! I’m definitely more mellow now. As a critical care nurse, I was always on edge. Retired and relaxed especially over your blog with my tea.
So glad you can relax here, Sydney! I get how a critical care nurse would always be on edge.
My daughter and I are both UT Austin grads and my grandson graduated from UT Dallas in May. Hook ‘em!
Hook ‘em! I graduated UT in 1975!
It is important to remember all your great words of advice and that of others here as well. Today being Father’s Day, the children were supposed to sing a little special number in our Church meeting. However, someone neglected to let me know that the plan had changed. I had practiced this number on the piano in anticipation of accompanying and also had the responsibility for accompanying 4 hymns on the organ. Anyway, the children did not sing. I thought about letting people know I had been under some stress to get all of this music as ready as I could (I am really not very good at either piano or organ, but I am all they had today). I also thought about asking why no one had let me know of the change in plans, but then I decided it was not worth making anyone feel upset on my behalf. In some sense being able to tell all of you about this is venting, but I am also grateful that it just did not stew up to the level of needing to let off steam. I may eventually let people know of the mix up, but we are an all volunteer church, and everyone tries pretty hard. I remember seeing a sign that said, “be kind, everyone is really trying hard.” or something like that. Resiliency does require that we be able to pivot and also zip it. But again thanks for letting me share. I love your blog and am going to invest in a spice grinder. There are often ingredients in mixes that are not so great and not gluten free as our daughter needs.
Congratulations on another granddaughter! I’m sure you are excited to welcome two more of God’s gifts into your loving family later this year. Your grandson’s comment about coming home had to swell your grandmother’s heart to bursting. What a sweet young man! Our table group discussion & the minister’s message today was centered on anger & what Jesus had to say about it, so your comments about not stewing & fretting over things fit right in with that. By the way, I can so relate to your road construction woe. The main highway closest to my home has been under construction with various ramp closures since 2022 & will be until late 2026.
Wow, I can’t believe how timely this was today, Mary. Sounds like you handled it with strength and grace. Maybe you will be able to help them in the future with better planning.
Now, I love this spice grinder! I got one on Amazon. The depth of flavor is so much better with fresh spices. I plan to make my own Pumpkin Spice this fall!
It is crazy in San Antonio. I am not exaggerating when I say there is some level of construction on 95% of the roads. It will require much patience. I will let you know if I remain chill!
What a blessing to have another granddaughter on the way, in addition to the newest grandson! As another “Gigi,” I rejoice for you and your growing family. I was feeling a little sad in church this morning that I didn’t have a daddy to celebrate, when I realized I could thank my son-in-law for being such a good husband and father to my favorite people in the world. Gave me a whole new perspective of gratitude instead of sadness today. Like you, I’m a Discount Tire fan for life. I first used them when I came out of a soccer game to find a flat tire on a cold, rainy day. They not only sent a truck to tow me to their store, they drove me and my young daughter through McDonald’s so she could get her favorite post-game meal without waiting for the tire to be repaired. I’ve used no one else for tires since then (over twenty years now) and I highly recommend them to all my female friends because of the warranty they offer. I’ve been eating a fresh tomato every day lately and can’t wait to try your homemade spice mix on them – sounds much better than the traditional salt and pepper I put on mine. Blessings to you and your family as you celebrate all the dads!