When N and I were planning my visit to Texas, I asked if she had ever visited The Silos, AKA Magnolia, in Waco. She had not, and we decided to make the 1-1/2 hour trip to this tourist destination. Have you ever watched Fixer-Upper? Chip and Joanna Gaines have transformed the city of Waco with this place to hang out, play games, shop, eat, and just enjoy the atmosphere. I have enjoyed their books and seeing them fix up homes, along with the fun way they interact.
N wisely chose backroads to Waco, and wasn’t at all averse to stopping any time I exploded with a “OH MY GOODNESS!!”
It was a thrill to see those *big ol’ silos in person. So silly, they are just giant worn out tanks, good for nothing but as a landmark. I don’t go many places or do much, but when I do, I am thrilled. (No, I don’t drink Dos Eck-ees; I don’t drink.)
We asked if there were plans for the silos; nope, they are too greasy inside from cottonseed oil, and just too worn out. But there is storage beneath them, and the man told us we might just spot Chip and Joanna inside if we peeked in underneath. So we did.
N and I inspected each store, finding very little that seemed worth the money, since we are both of an age where we don’t want any stuff. But anything we do together is fun, so we poked around.
Well, okay I did buy one thing. When I was traveling, a zipper-pull on my tote bag broke off. Look what I found in one of the stores:
Why would a store think that there would be a market for monogramed brass zipper pulls??
What I liked best was the architecture of the old church that the Gaineses moved onto the property. It doesn’t function as a church, and I don’t know what its purpose is, other than to delight the visitor.
Besides seeing the church, I was so pleased that we were there when the magnolias were in peak form.
I *might could go back, but would pick a day when I could walk across the Bosque River that goes through town, maybe visit the Dr. Pepper museum, take a tour of one of the fixed up houses, and even eat in the Magnolia restaurant called The Table.
*I learned to speak Texan and will demonstrate occasionally here for your laughing pleasure.
P.S. When I got home, I was shocked to discover that I have those brilliant wildflowers planted in pots near my studio. Why did I not remember this when we were passing fields full of them??
6 Comments
Sooooo how warm was it there? I have been to Fort Worth and McKinney Texas in July and January. July nearly killed me as the wedding ceremony was outside:((((((( I would love to go to Waco and see what the Gaines’s have created, the Dr Pepper museum sounds delicious. I love all the flowers you found on your way around the area!! What I would really like to see is their warehouse with all the furniture they have found in the area for their next projects!!! Sigh
Melissa, it was in the 80s and humid, but I’ve experienced worse humidity. We saw no reference or invitation to the Gaines’s warehouse; we didn’t go to the Dr. Pepper museum. It started raining when we left, so we abandoned plans to find a footbridge over the Brazos River.
Great photos from Waco…thanks for sharing??. That last pic in your own garden is one of my newer favorites that I can never remember the name of…
Thanks, Stacy! The name of the Texas wildflower is Indian Blanket. In the nurseries around here it is called Gaillardia.
I’ll bet that Church At The Silos will be used for weddings, with a handy venue for the reception!
And what is it about zipper pulls that keep breaking off? Ditto for my favorite comfy hoodie! Did they have a zipper pull monogramed with “S”?
P.S. I left a message on yesterday’s post, but I don’t see it. Oh well, more brilliance lost forever in the cyberhole called the “Internet!”
Sharon, your guess is a good one for the church.
My zipper pull was fake leather that just disintegrated. They had all letters of the alphabet, and 2 varieties of rings for attaching. If you really want such an item, I’d suggest visiting Etsy. They have EVERYTHING.
I am guessing that yesterday’s comment went to the trash. It happens from time to time, and I have to retrieve them. Very mysterious, as most of the interwebs is.
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