Exploring Plainview Texas

Jamaica ...

It's just a big block party...literally!  From 6th to 7th Streets and Baltimore to Austin Streets, Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church is having a jamaica (ha-MIKE-uh) in downtown Plainview. They just open their parking lot and grounds and say, Come and celebrate with us!

Jamaicas take their names from the jamaica, a Mexican flower often made into a beverage or used to flavor food. How the flower and the church block parties became partnered, I'm not quite sure.

Jamaica or Hibiscus flowers have varying meanings; nice summer, delicate beauty, and gentle, to list a few.  

A big party on a nice summer's day, a delicate beauty of a day with a gentle breeze!

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College Hill Lake ...

College Hill was my elementary school. There are new windows, lights, outside halls enclosed, and few out buildings that make it appear different, but the memories are forever made there.

When we would play outside, recess, as we called it, there would often be a "lake" from the rain. We were not to go near the edge because we would get mud on our shoes and we might possibly fall in and drown! Yikes!

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Too bad school isn't in. The kids would enjoy it so much!

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A beautiful day in Plainview looking over the College Hill Lake!!!

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Doing the Dip ...

Anyone from Plainview . Texas has to have done "the dip"!  Remember picking up speed down Joliet Street to get that drop feeling?  Well, the Joliet Dip still lives but the Hike & Bike Trail crosses it so it has become a spot to slow down instead of speed up.  Dip with caution!

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Giving ...

The line had started. The line to get food on a rainy morning.  This is one of my favorite things about Plainview...our giving spirit.  Oh, we have those who never think about the blessing of giving, never do for others, but for the most part our people are compassionate and giving.  We are fortunate to be a community of many agencies that care for every need; regardless of color, creed, or circumstance.

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I also find it interesting at how Plainview is the popular city to throw into conversations...like in the rain news...

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Rain 1

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Rain 2

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Rain 3 ...  (this story is written by a young lady that we were privileged to watch grow up...great)

Gutter Running ...

It is a gutter running kind of day again here in Plainview.  That's right.  The rain is running down the gutters and creating full low spots everywhere.  As kids we all played in the gutter rain, kicking and splashing.  I know we have had about 4 inches thus far and some places more than that.  The Running Water Draw is doing a happy dance, as are our farmers!!! And when our farmers start dancing it makes everyone feel like spending money at our businesses.  Yes, rain is good!

Confirmation once again that God hears and answers!

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Windmills ...

The plains are known for windmills.  Windmills are typically painted in all of the landscapes for our area. Windmills were an important piece of equipment to have if you were a pioneer here in the early days. My grandmother, Lucy Etter, loved windmills. She had windmill paintings by themselves and in plains landscapes. I have taken photographs of windmills through the years. The were once made of wood, then metal, and now plaster...

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This windmill is displayed where they are doing the redesign and turn-around on I-27 and Southwest Third Street...where one day soon, one way access roads will return to two way access roads.  Be watchful and careful!!

Hill ...

I always find it interesting when people talk about how flat it is here where I live. We do have hills. They may be subtle but we recognize them.  Because our hills are few our brakes on our vehicles outlast those who have lots of hills. See, there is always a plus to every minus!  LOL

Here is the Highway 70 hill.

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We sure are loving the clouds and cooler temps.  It is 65 here this afternoon.  The problem is they are fooling us...not much rain coming from these low things.  We have gotten a light sprinkle or two which we are thankful for.  We are praying for a wonderful slow rain of an inch or two, too!

Thumbprint ...

Each one of us leaves a thumbprint on the place where we live. My thumbprint just happens to be in Plainview, Texas.  I have written a blog for the local newspaper for several years.  It has become increasingly difficult to maneuver the software as a blogger. Today I found no way to get into the blog so...I decided I would try this route.  I'm not connected to a big old newspaper but I'm still living.  Still living means a thumbprint left and a story to be told or a picture to share.

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