Summer Sundays in Texas
Happy Sunday, friends and welcome to my weekly lifestyle post called Summer Sundays in Texas.
On these days, I am sharing with you snippets from my life in the state where I was born and raised.
So far, most of Texas is enjoying a mild summer with more rain…however, the Houston area took a hard hit from Hurricane Beryl and continues to struggle with power outages.
Our prayers have been with them.
Personally, I have been thankful the last two weeks for milder temperatures on my Summer Sundays in Texas and beautiful cloudy skies.
But, more about that later.
For now, let’s get a cool beverage and a cozy spot and enjoy Summer Sundays in Texas with me.
SUMMER SUNDAYS IN TEXAS: LUNCH WITH A FRIEND
Last week, I met a friend at the JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort and Spa for lunch.
We had delicious poke bowls at the Replenish Spa Bistro…and they were exceptional….now a huge fan of sea beans.
I share this with you, because when I tried on this TRAVELERS PAISLEY CHIFFON LAYERED TOP recently at Chico’s…a woman in the dressing room area asked where I would wear it.
I answered, “Most anywhere.”
I really like this piece because it has a Travelers Tank sewn into the poncho style top underneath which makes for a very comfortable, flattering fit.
Here I am wearing it to lunch with my friend and I enjoy this top with its olive green and cream base…I did add to it the ADJUSTABLE SEED BEAD BIB NECKLACE…on sale for a great price.
A young dad in the hotel complimented it! I will take it.
SUMMER SUNDAYS IN TEXAS: CRAB CAKES
My poke bowl at lunch included both tofu and crab. It was so good that I came home desiring to make crab cakes.
I usually purchase crab cakes pre-made, but it was past time for me to give this a try…and they did come out good.
So, I took the Taste of Home Recipe: EASY CRAB CAKES. and tweaked it just a bit.
To begin with, I used can crabbed meat and it would be much, much better with fresh. One can makes three crab cakes.
For the bread crumbs that go in the cake, I used Mediterranean seasoned bread crumbs.
But, for the outside, I used Garlic flavored Panko crumbs.
In place of garlic seasoning, I used minced fresh garlic.
I also added to the cake a 1/4 tsp of smoked paprika.
They were very good and with sides of corn and salad, made for a nice meal. I like the way crab cakes taste with corn.
I just drained a can of corn, stirred in some of the leftover red bell pepper, seasoned with a little heat, and poured it in the same pan I cooked the cakes in…with an additional teaspoon of butter.
SUMMER SUNDAYS IN TEXAS: WEST TEXAS SKY
I attended high school in West Texas in a town called Midland.
It was there I first fell in love with West Texas Skies…they are large, vast, and for the most part unhindered by large buildings, lights or landscapes.
Yes, it is flat…but makes for exceptional star gazing and cloud watching.
I distinctly remember how sad I was when I arrived at college in Austin and the skies were not the same.
Last weekend, we headed out to West Texas and it was an amazing three days of incredible sky.
I took so many pictures and was thanking God every morning and evening for the show.
We also enjoyed the coolest temperatures I think I have ever experienced for July. It was almost too cool to get in a swimming pool and down in the sixties.
So refreshing with no humidity. In a Texas summer, I consider that a gift.
However, the pièce de résistance was…..
The most remarkable rainbow.
I cannot remember the last time I saw a big, full arch rainbow….it was incredible…God’s promise. It spanned from end to end and rose high above.
I am so glad three of my grandsons were able to experience it.
Taking time to relish in the beauty around us is so important…I praise Him for the show in the West Texas Skies.
The plumbego in my backyard is so vibrant this summer…as opposed to this time last year when it struggled to survive the heat.
More heat is ahead, but the past two weeks are keepers.
SUMMER SUNDAYS IN TEXAS: THERE IS ALWAYS HOPE
There is always reason to have hope.
Perhaps like here, last summer was brutal, but this summer so far is wonderful.
The God of Hope is willing and ready to fill us with joy and peace…just ask him for it.
Thank you for joining me for Summer Sundays in Texas…tomorrow I go to Nordstrom…and hope you will come along…until then make sure that you…..
STAY STRONG & KEEP SMILING!
By Pamela Lutrell
Remember: Right now, there are MAJOR SALES HAPPENING...that will continue throughout July. My Nordstrom Anniversary Sale Post is Monday.
If you go to my SHOPPING LINKS to find your favorite retailer in fashion and home decor.
Since our days here in South Georgia have been 100+°, I’ve started my cemetery walking in the evenings around 8-8:30 when it is much cooler. One other benefit of late afternoon walking is that I get to enjoy glorious sunsets then. I always think of beautiful sunsets as God saying “ Good Night, my Child!”. I’m happy that you have experienced some cooler days. Our humidity has been high as have our temps so we have stayed inside for most days.
One Christian songwriter calls it…Love Letters in the Sky. Thanks for sharing your walks, Celia.
Pam, your outfit is stunning and perfect for a ladies lunch. I read the Chico’s reviews and a couple said that it runs large. Did you find that to be true?
It fits in the middle area well with large flowy sleeves which I like. If you are uncomfortable with the sleeves you might call it large. But the Travelers tank sewn in is true to size. It’s a lovely garment and 25% off today!
Pam, you look stunning in the chiffon top; it really hits all your style objectives and highlights your long legs too. I’m so glad you are having a nice summer in Texas. I know last year was hard on you and your yard. We are suffering from a drought with high temps and most days high humidity as well. I guess its our turn. I water early in the day and at night. I need to get out with the dogs before 8 and then even then its hot by the time we head up the hill to our house. Your sky photos are beautiful. There is so much variation in the sky and in the quality of light in different parts of the country. Here I often marvel at the clouds when they appear to be sitting atop the mountains. I usually see that when I’m driving so no chance of capturing it in a photo. Thank you for a moving and appropriate quote today. God bless you.
So sorry it is your turn, Kathie. But how wonderful that you have mountains! Each new day has its own set of gifts if we just look for them.
Those are some beautiful skies, indeed. My husband attended medical school in Oklahoma and has always talked about the dramatic cloud formations he witnessed. This week we traveled over to the coast, waiting until near sunset and the outgoing tide to sprinkle my mother’s ashes. It was a simple but lovely time for our family, and a fitting goodbye for a woman who adored that stretch of beach and ocean.
I am so glad it was a special time, Connie. Blessings to your family.
Connie, I am glad that you were able to get that final goodbye. My mother chose to have her ashes taken out to sea on a fishing boat before my brother and I could fly to Florida. It was her choice and my mother always did it her way.
I has been over 100 every day here with humidity 5-9%. We have a few fluffy white clouds over the mountains and a light breeze which helps with the bugs on our dog walks early in the morning. We are grateful for air conditioning and spend the rest of the day inside except for today. The neighborhood every three months party is at 4:00pm outside in our cul-de-sac under tents to Sade from the sun. It is expected to be 104 then. Yikes! 46 have signed up to come and there is always lots of food thanks to the women on the committee for entertainment. It is always fun to see our neighbors and catch up.
Pam, you look terrific in your outfit today! It is too warm for it here. Shorts and gauze flutter top are laid out for me to wear today. Please enjoy your day ladies wherever you are and under whatever weather conditions. Be safe.
I am glad your summer has not been as brutal as some of those in the past few years. Here in central Indiana, it has been a summer of ups & downs. For the next few days, it is going to hot & humid, but by the end of the week, we are expected to have highs in the upper seventies & low eighties with overnight lows in the lower sixties or even upper fifties with lower humidity. It is always nice to be able to open the windows in July. Your lunch outfit suits you perfectly. Have a wonderful week.
Pamela, you look stunning in today’s outfit.
I too love watching the sky. I have a story to share from when my daughter, now 47, was about 5. We were driving home and there was a stunning rainbow overhead. She asked me, “Mom, does God make the rainbow?” When I answered yes, she thought for a moment and said, “Boy, he must have some really big crayons!” Oh, the faith and imagination of wee ones!
Thanks for sharing the beautiful skies of west Texas. Growing up in southwest Minnesota the land was very flat. So we did see some beautiful skies. Our Creator gives us so many beautiful things to enjoy. Blessings always
Thank you, Sydney!
Enjoy those low temps, Becky! So jealous!
I love her comment so much!! Gave me a huge smile.
He is a master painter…thanks Audrey!
What a perfect outfit for a girls’ lunch! I am returning a different poncho (the one with the bright pink flowers) to Chico’s this week, and will look at that one as an alternative. The crab cakes you made sound easy and delicious. I don’t cook much, especially in the summer, but I look forward to trying them. I make a corn and black bean salad that might be good with them; thanks for the idea! Your Sunday verse was our morning benediction today, and I’m going to print it from your post so I can remember it all week. I love sitting down to a real “Sunday dinner,” and reading your Sunday posts – such a special way to start my week.
I love starting my week with everyone here! I have that verse taped on my desk!