lost & found

Saturday, I learned about a tradition that - unbeknownst to me - my parents have upheld for nearly 35 years. Knowing my family, it's no big surprise that it revolves around food. Every year, on the last Saturday in January, my parents drive about an hour through rice fields to the tiny community of Deutschburg, where a seafood feast is put on to support the work of this tiny town. I was pretty excited to get insight into this little tradition, so off we went.

We were not disappointed: there was a huge amount of seafood (all fried, of course: shrimp, oysters and trout) served alongside pinto beans (just so we all realize it's in Texas), cheesy rice that's probably grown in the nearby fields, plenty of dessert and sweet iced tea. An auctioneer sold off dozens of cakes and pies and young people from the town paraded these up and down the aisle of the community center. One pie sold for $65! What a great support for that little town. Everyone knew everyone, made apparent by the auctioneer announcing the winners of each auction by name. It was small-town, laid-back, home-cooked goodness.

Feeling terribly stuffed, we decided to stretch our legs by walking through a nearby abandoned old homestead that belongs to family friends. My parents used to come here when they would meet friends for the seafood lunch every year. I adore a bit of adventure, especially among forgotten barns, and realized as my parents explored with me, that they're where this sense of adventure comes from. What fun.

Amazing, huh? Just as I thought that the decay had taken everything, I stumbled upon a real treasure...

It's already starting to look beautiful, and I'll be sure to post a complete "after" picture once I'm done resurrecting this amazing mirror. What a fun tradition my parents have! I'm so glad I was able to be a part of it.