Monday, February 20, 2017

President's Day

It's another good Monday - the 3rd Monday in February bring spring temps to the Valley - today is no different.  I had planned the day off - and had some big plan, which never came to pass.

So despite the words of Burnham - "Make no little plans, they have no ability to ignite the soul" - today is a day of little plans.  But I'm happy with the way I'm feeling.   Woke up at the right time with the right frame of mind.

Thankful for the ability to handle a number of little matters that tend to stack up and stress me out when it is hard to deal with them without appropriate space.   Some are better than me at dealing with that - good for them.  Doing it the way that I expect that it can work usually leaves me feeling satisfied.


Sunday, February 5, 2017

Waco, TX

I've enjoyed the show Fixer Upper on HGTV this past year.  At Christmas, I saw that some of my friends had gone to the Magnolia Market and liked it.  So when I had a free afternoon in Dallas last week, I took the opportunity to drive the 90 miles south to Waco to visit.

It's located in the Silo District, so the idea of buying the silos was not completely out of the blue.  Right downtown and off I -35 the location is ideal.  The Interstate is a defining part of Waco and it unfortunately cuts off the downtown from Baylor University.  But it is definitely a college town and there were lots of young people working at Magnolia.

The old silos are a landmark but the moneymaker is the large shed turned into a store.  And there is a brick building of the Silo Baking Co. with the line out the door.  The store was pretty full, particularly for a Thursday in February.

Outside there is a large green area for impromptu play, plus swings plus covered space for sitting (an old barn).  There are food trucks and bathrooms and general open spaces to just be outside.  It has a Disney feel in the best way possible -- a fun place to be.

Joanna Gaines will likely be the next Oprah Winfrey.  Everything she touches seems to turn to gold.  Waco is lucky that she has found the uniqueness of that area.  The farmhouse look is right at home there.  Even the rest area on the Interstate in the area have silos and metal roofs.

The rest of Waco needs a little help in some area.  Over by Lake Waco there are large homes and nice waterfront lots.  But on Valley Mills Blvd., it is 70s suburban sprawl from when people moves out from the older city.

A fun time and worth a return visit.  Exit 335A from the Interstate (of course), west on 4th street and south on Webster St.  You can see the silos from a distance.  Maybe Chip and Joanna will be there.