A soul food of black-eyed peas and rice called Hoppin’ John is eaten by some here in the U.S. as New Year’s Eve custom—it is believed that black-eyed peas are lucky.
Month: December 2007
Five Minutes to Midnight
Not so long ago, New Year’s Eve called for gentlemen in black ties, ladies in formal gowns, an elegant menu, exotic libations, and an orchestra with a chart of “Auld Lang Syne” on their music stands. In the Mulberry Room of the Grayson Hotel or the Ballroom of the Hotel Denison, revelers danced the night away until the clock’s hands came together at XII, and then the band played, couples kissed, and streamers, confetti, and the toot of tin horns filled the air.
L A Hudson
L A (that’s all, just L and A, the letters don’t stand for anything else) Hudson’s father was a successful merchant in Colgate, Oklahoma, who longed to be a show business impresario. “He was a public speaker, and he promoted entertainment to advertise the store,” said Hudson.
Bob Leeman
“Some time between the time I was a toddler and a first grader, I got interested in show business. I always loved it,” said Bob Leeman of Sherman. Leeman grew up in Bonham, and even as a small child he exhibited talent as an artist, painting and drawing. At 10, he found another outlet for the “ham” in his veins, a little wooden friend he named Nicky.
Homes for Christmas
All too often the holiday season can be completely overwhelming— gifts to buy and wrap, cards to mail, meals to prepare, parties to plan. With so much to do, there is little time left for anything else. As daunting a task as it may seem, holiday decorating does not have to contribute to the stress level.
Selling the Bath
You will see a smattering of higher end plumbing fixtures at Home Depot and Lowe’s—but for the really upscale stuff you’ll have to do a little more research. Consumers motivated by big, splashy, ads in magazines and on television are becoming more interested in more unusual, more expensive plumbing in ever-expanding kitchens and baths.
Memorable Tables
Our homes are the nests that we must keep warm and cozy for our families. As a mother, grandmother and wife, I consider it an honor to make our surroundings as beautiful as possible. Our homes seem to sparkle and take on new life during the holidays. Families come together in anticipation of the celebration—the excitement grows with each day.
Flush with Success
“Most houses in Sherman, Denison, and Grayson County have something in them that came from here,” said Jesse Parrish, President of Johnson-Burks Supply. “It may be 20 cents worth, it may be 20 dollars worth, but virtually every house built here has something of ours in it.” From a simple pipe to an entire plumbing system, Johnson-Burks has for the past eight decades supplied plumbing supplies to Texoma.
Ventriloquism for Dummies
What do ventriloquists talk about when no one is listening except the dummies? Do they move their lips?
Booking on Success
Under the assault of national chains, big box retailers, and Internet discounters, local bookshops in many parts of the country are closing their doors and saying goodbye to devoted customers. In Denison and Sherman, three local bookstores, Epiphanies, Ex Libris, and The Book Rack have bucked the trend and kept their doors open, and Texoma bibliophiles are glad for it.