Good evening from Arlingon, TX where the weather is hot but we are enjoying visiting our family. There is absolutely nothing better than visiting those you love and we were blessed to be able to celebrate our great neice's birthday. Happy Birthday, sweet Autumn and thanks to your parents, Lauren and Mark for a great party.

Sam and Cindy carried us to our first Scottish Festival yesterday where we made the acquaintance of some of the Gunn Clan of which the Robsons are a Sept and we discovered that some of our family, the Williamsons and the Robins were also members of the Clan Gunn. We saw lots of men wearing kilts and I still don't know what they wear under them but maybe I really don't want to.

We heard some absolutely fantastic Celtic music. One of the artists is from Scotland, Alex Beaton played an accoustice guitar and sings with a smooth, mellow voice that transports you to Old Scotland - Caledonia. The group we heard is Smithfield Faire and they are from LA but have spent a great deal of time in Scotland and learning the music which they do wonderfullly. We enjoyed the music best of all.

The caber toss was most unusual and those are some strong men but why you want to toss a great big old metal ball as far you can is a little strange to me. I will post some pictures of this sport when I get home.

We ate a Scottish egg for the first time and like that. Think I will get a recipe and try to make some. This was all the Scottish food we ate for it was sooooo hot we finally called it quits and came home.

I have left the best for last. We attended church or the Kirking to begin the day. A beautiful young lady began the service with several hymns played on the harp and if there are musical instruments in heaven this is one of them. She played with love and understanding of the music. For the service she was joined by Alex Beaton with the accoustic guitar and we were led in singing by a lady with a marvelous voice.

It was a led by a minister who brought a good sermon to a group comprised of about 8 different denominations ans we all agreed that it was a picture of heaven where the denominations will not be and issue. During the service we had the procession of the clan's tartans led by bagpipes and the blessing of the clans. Under a tent joined in our worship, praising God together was a most enjoyable hour for all of us. God's Spirit was there and we acknowledged it and I know He was pleased.

The day was great, fabulous, wonderful and fun. Thanks to Sam and Cindy for giving us the opportunity.

That's about it for today from the big, state of Texas. Ya'll stay cool and come back to see me.

Nuff said,

The Georgia Peach

Texas Here We Come

Good evening. ya'll. Come on in the house and have a cold coke for it is hooooot outside. I'm all packed for our trip to Texas, except for my makeup and meds for I surely have to take my "calm-me-down" pill and paint the "old barn" before we leave.

I had planned for both of us to pack in 1 suitcase for as you know they charge you more for the second one but it just was not possible. A woman just cannot pack for a week in 1/2 of a suitcase so I kept the big one and gave Roy the little one. He doesn't need as much as I do, don'tcha know. That is what my home ec teacher, Miss Leacy used to say a lot. It was a lot of "dont'cha knows." I guess I will have to pack some snacks too for now they charge you for your eats. I think a peanut butter sandwhich will be just right. Fried chicken is just too much trouble.

As you can tell we are flying and I found a picture of the new plane we'll be flying on. I was so glad to find a picture for I didn't think I had the words to describe it.It is quite unusual and we have seats on the top deck and I was quite impressed that we have 2 crews to get us from Atlanta to Dallas/Ft. Worth. I'll take lots of photos so you can share the experience with us. It kind of looks like the space shuttle being delivered doesn't it? Wonder if is can go that fast, whoo hoo.

The other picture is what I plan to do in Fort Worth. Sam said he had found a new barbecue place and it is right across the street from Billy Bobs - the largest honky tonk in the world. Being that close I just didn't think I could miss the opportunity to ride the mechanical bull. I thought that would be safer than the real ones. At my age you have to be careful and those live ones can be kinda tough or at least the ones we rode as children were. So I think that I best ride the artificial kind. Got to find my boots and cowboy hat and practice my "Yee Haws."

We also plan to visit down at Houston and see our new great-niece - Miss Lilian Polk. She is a beauty according to her pictures but she comes from beautiful parents - Frank and Christina. I am looking forward to making her acquaintance and tell her how much we love her and welcome her to the "Polk" clan of which I am the matriarch. This just means I am the oldest of the bunch.

There are 3 little girls waiting on us in Houston and I just absolutely love being with them and the big folks too. It is always a good time for they are good hosts and Gregg does know how to cook some good deer meat - hint, hint. I just wish we didn't live so far away.

There is also a BIG birthday party we are going to attend - our great-niece Autumn. This is her first birthday and we are looking forward to celebrating it with her and the family. We get to watch her grandparents shower her with gifts and show her lots and lots of love. She is a blessed little girl for she has a lot of family to love her. I will be sure and take lots of pictures to show you.

The reason we chose this weekend about a year ago is because there is a Scottish Festival in Arlington, close by to my brother's home. Roy and I are both of Scottish descent and know our clans so we are looking forward to experiencing this event. Now I do hope my brother doesn't wear his kilt but I bet he wears his vest with our plaid. I hope they will have a shawl in the Pollock Clan's plaid for I would love to have one.

Now Roy's clan - the Gunn clan of which the Robson's are a part of- is a rough bunch if what I read about it is true. They were a border clan and like to raid but it was mostly against the English so I guess that was alright. It's fun to let your imagination run away isn't it?

Well I guess I better finish up my packing and cleaning up the house for I hate to come home to a dirty house. Let's see, clean out the fridge, take out the trash, empty the litter box, check the dog food, and all that other stuff.

Ya'll come back to see us and I'll find time while in the great state of Texas, land of Blue Bell Ice cream and barbecue brisket, to write a note on the Net Porch maybe.

Take care.

Nuff Said,

The Georgia Peach

Summer in Texas

Good morning, ya'll. I am writing this from the Great State of Texas and it is hoooooot our here but it truly is a great state. We have seen long horned cows, mesquite, the new Dallas Cowboy's stadium, eaten some of the best barbecue you have ever eaten, visited with family and toured the best ice cream factory in the world - Blue Bell. We have also eaten one of the best hamburgers I have ever eaten at Kincaid's Hamburgers. That thing was huge and I ate every bite. The barbecue was at Hickory Hollow in Houston and we had lunch with the cowboys and oil folks and it was good.

Now all that food was good, but not as good as what my kin folk cook. The Johnsons and the Polks know how to feed company! I think I have gained another 10 pounds already and looking for more. We are enjoying every mouthful and so thankful for family who loves us.

Have you ever seen a nutria? We had not until we went to the park with our niece and great nieces. They are large rodents and were actually cute except for the long rat tail. They have great, big, orange buck teeth which really need and orthodontist. When they come up to you and grin a great big welcome those big, orange teeth just ruin your first impression. They were brought from South America for their fur, but it looked a little rough to me. We did enjoy watching them and they surely are great swimmers.

If you have never eaten Blue Bell ice cream, I really feel sorry for you. It is wonderful! Now you have to live in one of ten states to enjoy this treat. The creamery has been in production since 1947, I think and they only have 3 plants - Texas, Alabama, and Oklahoma. When you tour the creamery, you get to sample and I was tempted to tour several times.

As you can tell, we are enjoying our visit to Texas and it is not a place I would want to live, but we sure do not want to live here.

Ya'll take care and talk to you soon.

Nuff said,

The Georgia Peach
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