The Reception

The first dance. The music selections were great--I knew all the words to the songs!

Aunt Louise was my date. Isn't she lovely? This is the new 90!

Here is the cutest guest at the party and another future bride.

(Are you saving your money, Dad?)

Newlyweds...

Alicia and Mike Jerome.

They are now honeymooning in the Virgin Islands.

Aunts, Uncles & Cousins

The James Riviere's from Louisiana. I expect to be parked in their driveway in about 2 weeks and am so looking forward to visiting with them. Jamie flies a plane and invited me to go up. When he told me the plane was made out of fabric (!) I declined. Don't give me a "lighter-is-better" explanation--it doesn't convince me.

The Brown's (father and mother of the bride) and the Bennett's. (Stefanie is sister to the bride)

Aunt Lucille and Uncle Merrill Harper (Grandparents of the bride). They have been happily married over 60 years!! And he still can't take his eyes off her!

Cousin Cherie Otis from Yakima, Washington. Everyone should have a fan to boost their ego and Cherie was mine when she was 8 or 9 and I was 15 or 16. She thought I was cool!! Now I think she is cool--and the most genuinely warm and caring person I know. It was great to see her.

Chandor Gardens Walking Tour

As many of you may know, I am very fond of gardens--mine and everyone else's. Here is one of the loveliest....

Douglas Chandor, an Englishman, came to this country in 1926 and established himself as one of the great artists of the 20th century. His portraits of Herbert Hoover, Franklin Roosevelt and Winston Churchill are among five of his paintings in the Smithsonian's National Portrait Gallery.

In 1934 Douglas Chandor married Ina Kuteman and settled in her hometown of Weatherford, Texas. There they built their home named White Shadows and the surrounding, world renowned gardens.

Chandor Gardens

White Shadows flourished under Douglas' care until his death in 1953.  As a tribute to her husband, Ina changed the name to Chandor Gardens and kept it open to the public until 1978 when she died.

When questioned about his passion for gardening , Douglas would reply that he was given the skills to paint in order to build his garden.

Today the gardens are open to the public and owned by the city of Weatherford.

Weatherford, Tx

The Courthouse

Dining at the Weatherford Cafe--please note we have another stuffed head on the wall.

These little one-of-a-kind, family owned cafes are great. So far the food has been excellent, always inexpensive and served with pride.

Warning--I'm getting on my soap box again! I beg all of you to stop frequenting the chain restaurants and start supporting the local little diners that make your town unique to all the others (even if it means stuffed heads on the walls!) The fast food places all look alike, know only how to salt and fry blobs of greasy fingers, patties & nuggets and are destroying our health and our taste buds. Don't let them take over! Fight back! Dine out tonight at the corner Mom and Pop place and help bring back real food! Tell them 'Toni sent you"!

Museum of the Americas

Weatherford has the most wonderful museum of native American cultures and art owned and operated by Harold (above) and Elizabeth Lawrence. Prepare to spend some time here--there is so much to see and every artifact has an interesting story that Dr. Lawrence will be happy to share with you.

Dr. Lawrence and Aunt Louise in the Indian rug exhibit. He found this rug in a lady's house--she had walked on it for years--it had food, dirt and oil ground into it. He had it cleaned and restored and as you can see it is a beautiful work of art.

Masks from all over the Americas.

Just one small corner of many rooms and many exhibits. This museum is a real treasure in this little town and Weatherford should be very proud to have it.

These artifacts are of the Ulen Indians, an extinct tribe found in Patagonia Chile. This area in Chile is so cold that there was little that could be found to make clothes, so to stay warm, the Indians painted their naked bodies from head to foot with oil mixed with dirt and then decorated themselves with white paint.  I wonder if this may explain why they became extinct.

Weatherford, Tx

This was the Cadillac of stagecoaches--leather seats, plush interiors, and leather suspension straps for a smooth ride. Aunt Louise and I were sold til we heard that they seated 9 passengers in that little space--and not everyone bathed regularly. It was also very expensive to ride in one--even more than going first class in a cross-country flight. The leg room was about the same as third class at the bargain rates.