The air is getting cooler and we (joyfully) dug our sweaters and down vests out of the storage for the Annual Floresville Peanut Festival. Floresville happens to be the "Peanut Capital of Texas"...which is saying a lot. Texas is big. And to be known as the capital of anything in Texas is worth celebrating.
A few weekends ago we went down to main street (Floresville only has a few streets) and parked ourselves with doughnuts and hot chocolate in hand, ready to watch a small-town country parade.
These are the kinds of things you get to see in a parade which celebrates all of the local peanut farmers. Here is the local high school band.
There they go, in and...out...of step.
And parades aren't complete without a King and Queen and their Royal Peanut Court.
Look closely at the girl on the child-size John Deere...leg on the steering wheel, arms relaxed, fully asleep. Their sign boasted "5th Generation Peanut Farmers."
This was too funny not to capture on film. One thing about Texans, we can laugh at ourselves.
It wouldn't be a proper parade without an antique tractor.
This dude converted his lawn mower to propane...and is bragging about it.
Now, who is this little adorable munchkin?
Grandpa and his grandson.
Abram is a man's man. There are three men in his life and two women. He always gives us each a smile, but some more readily than others. First always goes to Riley. Then Grandpa. Then his Papa. And last are the women, Mama and Gigi. (But he loves us all just the same)
The Rickstrew Men
If you come hungry, expect there always to be a Frito Pie for sale.
Or anything deep-fried. These were peanuts fried in their shell. They were mighty tasty, if I don't say so myself.
Grandpa decided to challenge Mama saying that he'd pay $5 for me to climb this wall...not sure I could do it. Well, Mama always likes a good challenge and never backs down so she harnassed up.
...And got to climbin'...
Until she reached the top..."Ding, ding, ding!"
That's right! That little rock wall has nothin' on me!
(I hate to admit though-- my forearms were shaky the rest of the day-- it was definitely harder than it looks)