It's About Time

This store contains a mixture of antiques, vintage and new finds. Anything one of the three co-owners likes and brings in to creatively display is for sale. In a review of this place, I first read of the Japanese term, "wabi sabi" and am now I'm enraptured by the concept. It means something like "old and new together," and is about finding beauty in worn, used things and how they juxtapose with new items. Some cool life lessons in there, yes? The way furniture, jewelry, wall art and home decor are artfully combined in this shop offers loads of inspiration.

Larry's Better Burger

Other than the fact that this place looks deserted, with its faded sign and rusty carport, it's a busy joint serving lunch along Treadway Boulevard. Lots of workers in pick-ups stop in, but I also saw a fully gussied-up older woman in a Lexus. Ordering a "small cheeseburger" at the walk-up window (the way its done) got me one that came with mustard, lettuce, tomato, mayo and onions. Just FYI, in case you want to be more specific about condiments. The best part was the buttered, crispy-on-the-inside bun. Also got a strawberry shake which was good. I would say this place has decent quality food - one step up from fast food chains, one step down from homemade.

Saturday Morning Soccer World

Starting at 9:00 a.m. and going on throughout the afternoon, there is a hidden world of activity that many don't know exists, and are happily sleeping in oblivious of.

I'm talking about Big Country Soccer leagues.

The season now is Fall Soccer, lasting for 8 weeks. There is also a Spring season.

Cars arrive in a stream starting at 8:30, turning off of Maple Street onto the dusty gravel road under the entrance to the fields near South 27th. Parents and grandparents help children unload stadium chairs, coolers, regulation-size balls. Players are dressed in elaborate uniforms of bright neon, with matching patterned socks with the likes of stars or flames.

Competition is fierce, at least for some of the parents. Many of the younger kids are still caught up in the simple joys of kicking a ball and running. They make easy mistakes like, "Which goal belongs to our team again?"

Level of play can be high though and some of the girls and boys will go on to play in high school or college.

Until then, their 'fan clubs' (again, parents and grandparents) come to watch them, wearing team colors, some using umbrellas as a shield from the sun.

One girl had a pink blanket from her bed with her to spread on the grass, and I saw a woman carrying a box of donuts.

It's quite an event.

Resigned Sign

"There is nothing left to steal. Please stop cutting my fence." I can only imagine the stories behind this. Think about the time it took to stencil the sign and hang it. On Maple near Berry.

Abilene Sunsets

Seriously?! Can you believe the above?! They are glorious around here. This photo was taken from the alley behind our house. It's like free entertainment many nights. Plan your spot and time, get there, watch and enjoy.

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"Dear God, I didn't think orange went with purple until I saw the sunset you made on Tuesday. That was cool!" Eugene (From "Children's Letters to God")