Category Archives: Uncategorized

Saturday, August 22, 2015 – Vacation Bible School, The Magnolia Methodist Church and Singing

It’s a Saturday morning and I feel like writing something.

The biggest thing that would happen in the summers in Magnolia at the Methodist Church was when the Morgenroth brothers, Marvin, Cecil and Russell, visited their grandmother, Nina and all of their cousins in downtown Pinehurst. We would all attend Vacation Bible School at The Magnolia Methodist Church in downtown Magnolia.

Delia Duffey & Cecil Morgenroth – 14 years old ??

We would be in the oldest group or “tweens” as they are called today – somewhere between 10- 14 year old. There were usually about 10 – 12 of us – more if the Bodkins were there. Their attendance was usually dependent on if our VCB conflicted with another that had better snacks.

The tweens would be the last to descend the stairs, past Doy and Joyce serving snacks, and turning right into the sanctuary to practice for the end of VBC program. This was my favorite part of VBC because it meant it was almost over. You know VBC was not my thing.

I vividly recall the first summer the Morgenroth brothers attended VBC and the tweens were to practice their song. I remember coming down the stairs from Sunday School rooms, turning right and through the door into the sanctuary. We would be aligned standing in two rows, one in front of the other on the two steps between the two pulpits. I feel certain Grace Moore was playing the piano and I cannot remember the song. All I remember was “Those Morgenroth brothers could sing!” I had never heard guys my age sing like that. I have vivid memories of jerking my head and thinking “Who is that singing?” Suddenly we were all trying to sing like them. Loud and joyous. And mostly on key like they were.

Suddenly there were two things I liked about VBC – it was almost over and hearing the Morgenroth brothers make a joyful noise unto the Lord.

Delia & Cecil @ Rickettt Reunion – 2009

They were better than the windmill cookies and red punch from Groves & Son. Still are today. Happy Saturday.

August 21, 2015 – Snarky Friday – Scheduling Issues, Weekend Trips and High School Football.

I am still trying to pull together the first month of my college football television schedule. Right now it looks like this.

At this point, Karen M., it appears my first weekend available to travel to a county in Texas that is still “dry” and has limited TV viewing opportunities (read: no bars), my first available weekend to attend an antique weekend in East Texas is February 2016.

The television sports in the Brazos Valley consists of two topics – those about Aggies – 8.0 minutes of the 10 minute sports allocation and those not about Aggies – anytime left over. In the “any time left over” slot, especially as high school football begins, a local sports team is highlighted. The other day I heard the sports announcer stumble trying to say “the BVCHEA Mustangs” football team. Research (read: Google) revealed the name of the school as Brazos Valley Christian Home Educators Home School High School.

The sports announcer continued his reporting by saying the “BVCHEA Mustangs would scrimmage this weekend against the East Home School. (No mascot identified).

Then I researched the BVCHEA (which actually stands for Brazos Valley Christian Home School Educators ASSOCIATION and does not really match the name of the high school) and looked at the football schedule. FYI-it is six-man football.

Since my schedule is difficult to read, I am going to share the BVCHEA Mustangs schedule.

Disclaimer: I am just sharing information and have no comments that I am making aloud or in writing. I believe the snark speaks for itself today. You may draw your own conclusions. However, I am interested in the Tribe of Bastrop and just wonder about the make-up of the Tribe with whom it is consolidated.

http://www.maxpreps.com/high-schools/bvchea-homeschool-mustangs-(bryan,tx)/football/schedule.htm

BVCHEA Mustangs 2015 Football Schedule

August 8 @ 9:30 AM – FEAST HomeSchool (sic) (San Antonio) (Rivalry Game)

September 4 @ 7:30 PM         – @ Faith Academy (Bellville, TX)

September 11 @ 7:30 PM @ – Fort Bend Chargers HomeSchool (sic) (Rosenberg, TX)

September 18, @ 7:30 PM – TBA

September 25 @ 7:30 PM TBA – Homecoming

October 2 @ 7:30 PM @ – Texas Christian (Houston, Texas)

October 9 @ 7:00 PM – Victory & Praise Christian Academy (Crosby, TX)

October 17 @ 1:00 PM – King’s Academy (Tyler, Texas)

October 23 @ 7:00 PM – Allen Academy (Bryan, Texas)

October 30 @ 7:30 PM – @ Gospel Lighthouse Christian (Lockhart, TX)

November 6 @ 7:30 PM – @ Bastrop Tribe Consolidated (Bastrop, TX)

Thursday August, 20, 2015 – The Preacher Comes for Sunday Dinner or Why I Believe God Has a Sense of Humor.

I know there are people who know me and those who read what I write on Here’s What I’m Thinking that question whether I had a church bringing up at all. Especially given some of the topics I write about like yesterday’s post about bikini suit football. I did though.

I grew up in the Magnolia Methodist Church in Magnolia, Texas. I do not have many memories prior to about age three. I do have some memories of stories I have heard about me growing up in the Magnolia Methodist Church prior to age three. For example, Mama, yanking me out of the aisle and “whispering” “STOP dancing to the church hymns!” Or stories of me playing with and then putting Mama’s jewelry in the collection plate. And my favorite – Mama carried me, a book, some crackers and a switch to church. If I did not read the book and talked, she popped me with the switch and shoved the cracker in my mouth.

But one year when I was about six years old “The Conference” and if you grew up a Methodist, you know what that means, sent the church a new preacher. His name was David Williamson.

By this time I knew that having the preacher to Sunday dinner was a big deal. It was dinner – right after church. If it were supper, it would have been right before church.

I am not sure which order these should be in, but there were three things that suddenly made Sunday dinners very special.

• Mama fixed my all time Sunday (still today my favorite meal) of roast, gravy, mashed potatoes, carrots and hot rolls. And of course gallons of ice tea. And you know there was a Nanny Cake (formerly known as a Doy Cake.)
• The new preacher was about the coolest person I had ever seen and once per month he would come to our house for Sunday dinner.
• And before we sat down for dinner, I could take off my dress and put on my blue jeans or shorts, depending on the season. I am sure this was a prearranged compromise with Mama to get me into the dress in the first place.

After dinner I was always sent to play. But I would slip back into the living room and sit behind the three-quarter partition and listen to the conversations. Mama, Honeyboy and David would tell stories and laugh. It was the laughter of this man that I remember every time I hear his name – even today. His laugh was as though it came from deep within and it filled the room with joy.

It was booming, rich and hearty. Sometimes he made a whooping kinda sound that became infectious and made you start to laugh too. It just gave you a feel good feeling all over.

So in the logic of the mind of a six year old, I concluded this. If God talks through the preacher, then God must laugh through the preacher too. So that must be the way God sounds when He laughs. And to this day because of David Williamson’s laugh, I believe that God has a sense of humor with a big booming laugh.

Granted it is sometimes difficult to believe given the content I post that there is a Divine inspiration and spiritual purpose in Here’s What I’m Thinking. But remember my daily goal – to make at least one person smile or laugh each day.

Magnolia Methodist Church, Magnolia, Texas circa 1955

Tuesday, August 18, 2015 – One More Honeyboy Photo

A sincere thank you to all of you for the LIKES and beautiful comments about Honeyboy. If you knew him, he soon became your Honeyboy too.

When looking for photos of him I found this one.

When I first saw it I thought – Did he shoot a bear? In Louisiana? Upon closer investigation I saw that it is someone’s finger across the lens. Therefore, Mama took the photograph. We all know photography was not one of her greatest skills.

That is also why I know that either Cousin Joe or I took that photograph of him sitting on the rock in Colorado. Photography was not one of Aunt Claudie’s skills either. And we all knew that Uncle Ralph always had difficulty focusing – whether it was the camera or the world.

But back to the photograph. I believe that you is, my dear sister, sitting in Honeyboy’s lap and appearing to be drinking something from a bucket that would classified as an environmental hazard even back then.

Please let this be one of the cousins whose descendants still live in Louisiana – up around Alexandria. That would explain a lot of things about the shallowing of that end of the gene pool.

And the background appears to be – well, at least it doesn’t look swampy.

Monday, August 17, 2015 – Randall Edwin “Honeyboy” Duffey

Randall Edwin “Honeyboy” Duffey

August 17, 1907 – February 18, 2000

About a week ago I began to think what I would post for Honeyboy’s (HB) birthday.

Colorado – 1968

One afternoon I was reading a Facebook post by Kevin Cochran – one of my former students. Kevin posted an excerpt from a feature column he had written in a 2007 Texas Saltwater Fishing Magazine about the restorative powers of autumn.

While HB did like college football, it was autumn with deer (or any other hunting) season and fishing that restored his soul.

Uncle Dale (as in sister’s name sake) on the left with HB and the fish.

As I read Kevin’s excerpt, I realized there were moments I had been with HB during the waning light as darkness descends watching rutting deer appear among the shadows at the edges of the fields. There were moments when I watched Honeyboy and experienced with him the “quiet solitude” as Kevin describes.

Duck blind somewhere in Louisiana

So for all the Dales, Donnies, Dennys, Gregs, Rays, Davids and everybody else Honeyboy taught to love and respect the outdoors as much as he did, you know you have experienced the feelings Kevin describes with Honeyboy too.

Thank you, Kevin for the beautiful memories of our father, grandfather and great-grand father – Our Honeyboy. Used with permission.

“Autumn is to the year as evening is to the day. Just when fish begin to bite better and rutting deer appear among the shadows at the edges of the fields, the light fades away. We get a brief, frantic flurry of activity in the waning light, then the dark of night descends. Yet in that otherwise bleak night there burns a guiding light, especially for trophy trout hunters in South Texas. While the hoopla over pigskin rivalries, macho hunts for Muy Grande and camaraderie shared by waterfowlers hiding in brushed blinds draw others away from the bays, we keep on plugging in quiet solitude. When other sporting seasons end and winter settles in, our high times are just beginning.”

Photo by me.

Photo by me

Thursday, August 13, 2015 – Merry Christmas and the Domino Dog Days of Summer

With the temperature predicted to reach 102 today, here’s a Christmas photo to remind us cooler temperatures are coming.

Our photo today is the traditional family photo in front of the tree. Clarification: it is the photo that is traditional. The family well…

At the far right, we have Niece#1 playing a joyful tune on the piano.

Photobombing long before it was popular and jumping from behind the tree is Nephew#1. Nice camo to blend in with the tree, D.

In front of the tree is my sister, Dale and her country-western singer hair-do of the day. In front of her is Nephew#2 holding Domino the Dog. Next to him is Niece # 2, petting Domino and then inserting her fingers into her mouth.

This, I believe is also a photo of Domino the Dog. It maybe our Cousin Itt like the one fromThe Addam’s Family.  I believe our Cousin Itt is from the Colfax, Louisiana family tree branch and the shallow end of the gene pool.

Stay cool! Blue Bell is on its way!

Wednesday, August 12, 2015 – LOAD, READY, AIM, FIRE, RELOAD! A&M Give Us Room!

Today’s post is definitely coming from the random/access side of the brain. I think that is the left side. You can skip to the bottom line if pressed for time.

So many wonderful comments regarding Monday’s and Tuesday’s posts. And most about Cousin Donnie. Yep, that is what a national championship will do for you. The fame extends way beyond your circle.

There were Comments, Likes, related stories told, a sent YouTube video, a share on FB and a bunch (John Wax math term) of readers. All of this, of course, after I realized my Facebook settings had to be reset – once again. But more to come about The Chinese Bandits, LSU, Alabama, The Texas Aggies and all the rest as the tent revival of the Autumnal Religion of The South begins – College Football!

Of course none of the people pictured in HWIT (aka – Family) have commented. I am going to blame it momentarily on the FB settings and perhaps incorrect tags on my part.

Please know Baylor and Oklahoma State graduates that I know prominent people in Waco and Oklahoma and I can get your parents’ money refunded for your degrees if you do not start reading HWIT. – Especially when I write about you!

Which brings me to today – It is a rehash of the July 27 post with some reminders and more info you need to know since college football kickoffs are days away and more people are following.

Blog Name: Here’s What’ I’m Thinking (HWIT)

What is HWIT about? Whatever I am thinking. But it usually centers on college football, some other sports, the Texas Aggies, the educational institution, Texas, life in general and with some politics thrown in to piss off people.

Daily Goal: Write something Monday through Friday that will make at least one person smile (hopefully laugh) and/or think.

Access: You do not have to access Facebook to read HWIT. One can enter the following into their search engine – Drdrd85.me. That is the site of Here’s What I’m Thinking. The site then connects to Facebook and Twitter.

Settings: My settings on Facebook are Public. This is intentional. I want people to read Here’s What I’m Thinking. So your Likes/Comments on FB are public too.

Comments: This is where it gets tricky. One is able to leave a Like/Comment on Facebook and one is able to leave a Like/Comment on the site of Here’s What I’m Thinking. However, what is Liked/Commented on FB is NOT shared with Likes/Comments on HWIT and vice versa. Are you still with me?

Reteach – HWIT connects to Facebook. Facebook does NOT connect to HWIT. This creates two sets of comments. I know all the techno nerds know what that means.

Still not there?

Barbara leaves one of her wonderful Likes/Comments on Facebook. Dale leaves one of her wonderful Likes/Comments on HWIT, Barbara does not see Dale’s comment, but she can if she chooses to go to the site. But Dale does not see Barbara’s comment because Dale is not on FB. This is unfortunate because there are funny comments on FB and HWIT. Never mind, just leave comments.

Bottom Line – THE BLUE BELL TRUCKS ARE COMING! HOORAH! HOORAH!