Jemma's Tales
Christmas In Texas
December 08, 2015
You know you are celebrating Christmas in Texas when you see a Suburban with
a set of longhorns on their grill, and a colorful wreath on those horns.
As much as my heart will always love Idaho, the place of my birth, and where I spent twenty
years of my life.
My heart also loves Texas where my youngest child was born, and where most of my family
now lives
I fondly remember when we moved to Texas 25 years ago to an Oak filled neighborhood,
where I embraced the Texas landscape and friendly folks.
I was immediately welcomed by a native Texan, she eventually became a loyal and caring
girlfriend.
To this day I can see her pulling up to my front door in her blue "Texas Cadillac," also
known as a Suburban.
We loaded our little girls into her Texas Cadillac ( Jessica and Amanda) and I can still recall
looking over my shoulder into the back seat of that looooong vehicle.
I believe I might I have even commented to Tracey that our two youngsters seemed lost
among all of those seats and in the vast space.
Tracey introduced me into my first sampling of Tex-Mex and for the last 25 years I have
eaten it at least once a week.
I can now tell you what a chili relleno is, I have made my own tamales, I chop up a fresh
jalapeno to add to most of my casseroles and my daughter bakes a wonderful sopapilla
cheesecake.
For the most part Texans are warm, welcoming and happy folks.
We will open the door for you at the grocery, we smile alot and some of us still say
Ya'll.
Please join us for day two and three as we continue to celebrate a Texas Christmas.
xoxox
a set of longhorns on their grill, and a colorful wreath on those horns.
As much as my heart will always love Idaho, the place of my birth, and where I spent twenty
years of my life.
My heart also loves Texas where my youngest child was born, and where most of my family
now lives
I fondly remember when we moved to Texas 25 years ago to an Oak filled neighborhood,
where I embraced the Texas landscape and friendly folks.
I was immediately welcomed by a native Texan, she eventually became a loyal and caring
girlfriend.
To this day I can see her pulling up to my front door in her blue "Texas Cadillac," also
known as a Suburban.
We loaded our little girls into her Texas Cadillac ( Jessica and Amanda) and I can still recall
looking over my shoulder into the back seat of that looooong vehicle.
I believe I might I have even commented to Tracey that our two youngsters seemed lost
among all of those seats and in the vast space.
Tracey introduced me into my first sampling of Tex-Mex and for the last 25 years I have
eaten it at least once a week.
I can now tell you what a chili relleno is, I have made my own tamales, I chop up a fresh
jalapeno to add to most of my casseroles and my daughter bakes a wonderful sopapilla
cheesecake.
For the most part Texans are warm, welcoming and happy folks.
We will open the door for you at the grocery, we smile alot and some of us still say
Ya'll.
Please join us for day two and three as we continue to celebrate a Texas Christmas.
xoxox
Dearest Jemma, good morning!
ReplyDeleteI know what it's like to be born and raised somewhere and then leave as a young adult. You become attached to the place where you spend most of your adult life, and for me, I spent my adult life away from my birthplace. You begin to learn through the wisdom of an adult the different dynamics that goes without saying when having to assimilate, to learn the culture. I hope to one day go to Texas to meet you my friend. NOW....are you in the house yet?
Good Morning Dearest,
DeleteYou do know how deep those roots are when they are planted so young. Part of me will always, always still be living on the farm in Idaho. But today and from here on out, my home will always be Texas. I suppose moving to the country is some sort of combination of the two.
No, we are still in this very pretty Hotel, anxiously counting down the days.
We are tentatively scheduled for Friday!
Hello Jemma, wonderful story and post. Your Christmas decorations and images are beautiful. Happy Tuesday, enjoy your day!
ReplyDeleteEileen,
DeleteMy reflections always comfort me and give me a sense of who I really am.
I've never been there, but through blogging, I have met some of the loveliest and warmest Texas ladies. If they are any indication of what's it like, well, it must be a wonderful place! :)
ReplyDeleteKim,
DeleteTexas scenery is lacking, but we try to make up for it in our warm and welcoming dispositions!
I have only passed through Texas. I think we can make any state our home by meeting lovely people and just dig in. We all have our roots someplace and we treasure those memories. Love some of the Texan accents and the welcome, howdy! Wonderful Christmas decoration Jemma dear. I know you will soon be in your new home. Merry Christmas. xoxo
ReplyDeleteI can't believe I've never been to Texas with all the traveling we did around the US when I was a kid!! I'm glad you made a good life there, Jemma, and many sweet and wonderful friends - the Texans were super lucky the day you made Texas your home!! xo
ReplyDeleteOh Jemma, I am really enjoying these Texas posts. Your tree with all the red balls and ornaments, so pretty! And the two little elves hehehe. I have two smiling ones sitting right on my desk. Don't you just love the whimsical that they give us during Christmas time? Oh, I've always wanted to visit Texas, Jemma. It sounds wonderful. These are great pictures on here today, really merry and bright, perfect for the season.
ReplyDeletelove, ~Sheri
SO very beautiful, Jemma! I'm almost done with my decorating and eager to post soon but I'm not sure it could hold a candle to yours! Four star!
ReplyDeleteYou fit right in with the happy folk Jemma! I moved only to the far side of Toronto shortly after I married. It seemed like the other side of the world at the time with my first daughter only a year old. I felt I left all my family behind. But of course you settle in, you make changes and I wouldn't move back for anything (in fact I would move further north if I could!). I read in your early comments here that you hope to move into your house on Friday! Wow! I have missed too much on your blog it seems, but will catch up. Good luck with everything on Friday ... so exciting :D
ReplyDelete~Wendy
It is said we never truly leave a place, as we leave a piece of our hearts when we go. I think that's true, and especially so if we were happy there.
ReplyDeleteAlthough I'm sure you might sometimes miss the seasons and maybe even the snow (just a little), home is where we are comfortable and surrounded by people we care about and care about us, and it sounds like you have that.
I know I said it on FB, but your tree is stunning! I'm just a tad confused...is that at your new home? I know you're not there yet but don't imagine you put up such a lovely tree in your hotel.
In the northeast we hear a lot about how big everything in Texas is but someday I want to see it all for myself! Thanks for sharing some insight into your part of the world. Your pics are pretty!
ReplyDeleteYou know, Jemma, I'm a Native Texan, have the accent Linda Primmer mentioned and speak to everyone I see. "Ya'll" is just a part of our language and Mexican food is part of the food pyramid. :) I'm just so glad you made it here as fast as you could!
ReplyDeleteYour photos are beautiful...loving the red! I know you're anxious to get moved and I really hope the rain holds off for you to do so. Can't wait to see the new place!
xo
Pat
Oh Jemma isn't it sheer joy to be in the countdown to the most wonderful time of the year? I've spent time in Texas, enough time to fall in love with Ya'll, big hearts, big homes, much generosity. Gotta tell you I love cowhide, rode a mechanical bull and did better than I thought I would. i enjoy my boots, love Tex-Mex and I'm excited and wide eyed for the Texas Christmas tours,
ReplyDeleteSending a huge hug your way from the city of brotherly love.
xoxo,
Vera
Beautiful post, Jemma. I've come to 'know' so many great bloggers from Texas and I have a whole new respect for a state I never knew much about except it was HUGE!!! Your love for your home resonates in this post. :)
ReplyDeleteJane x
I miss Texas so much! Can't wait to get back to Dallas! My first white Christmas was in Texas! Hugs!!
ReplyDeleteI love to see/read your posts Jemma!
ReplyDeleteAww this post just warms my heart. You know we moved to Oklahoma when we first got married and lived there 23 years. We loved it but always wanted to come home. It feels so good to be here again. :)
ReplyDeleteOK... I had forgotten that before I moved to Texas 34 years ago, my idea of Mexican food was Taco Bell. It is a family joke now that when we get back from any vacation out of state, we will stop for good Mexican food as we get close to home! Great post.
ReplyDeleteYou write such endearing and warm posts, Jemma!
ReplyDeleteWell, speaking as a Connecticut yankee who eventually made it to Texas....
ReplyDeleteI wasn't born here, but I got here as fast as I could!!!
Love your post!!
Blessings,
J
PS: aren't those sopapilla cakes heavenly?? :^)
Jemma, I just had to comment--even though I'm still on a blogging break!--and tell you that I've sat here going back through your posts, showing R.H. pictures of your house and then when he discovered you're from Texas I had to read more to him. He loved the story of Texas Cadillacs and reading about your Tex-Mex cuisine has made us both hungry. I told him that you were the blog friend who got both of us involved in the Christmas party long ago where he helped me do 4 tables for Christmas, a feat we both look back on and wonder how in the world we ever pulled that off!
ReplyDeleteJust saying hi and wanted to tell you that I do admire your writing gift on these posts. And now I'm going to visit some of these Texas bloggers and show my Texan!
Merry Christmas, Jemma!
Dewena