Fireworks

Jeff and Lynne hosted the regular holiday fireworks show at their house in the evening with their church members, friends and family. The teenagers played out in the yard/pasture until dark then started lighting the fireworks. Because of the dry grass conditions I had taken a trailer loaded with 300 gallons of water and a high pressure pump but we didn't have to use it.

The best part of the show was a missile that misfired and shot fireballs out into the dry grass starting several small fires. The boys (all wearing short pants) ran out into the weeds and grass and stomped out the fires. Only then did they realize that there were lots of beggar's lice in the weeds. They came back to the house crying about those burs caught in their leg hair. I thought that was funny!

As we drove home we could see many many fireworks all around the countryside. There must have been thousands of dollars spent on fireworks just in our neighborhood.

Fourth of July

The "Fourth" always has a special meaning to the Pipes family. In 1945 the Pipes Boys all went camping on Chambers Creek about a mile and a half east of Grandview not too far upstream from Davis Lake. This began a tradition that has lasted through the years. The location soon moved to the Brazos River where the Fourth was celebrated with a 2 or 3 day camping trip. Through the years we visited several locations on the Brazos and encountered lots of mosquitoes, sand burs and other joys but always had lots of fun and family togetherness.

Later the site of our Fourth of July celebration moved to lake Whitney for several years, then back to Chambers Creek again on our farm near the Auburn Cemetery. But alas we were all getting older and the idea of air conditioning was catching on! For the last several years we have met at the home of some of the family. Jerry and I hosted the event for a while; then Wayne and Debbie opened their home to us for several years. This year we were welcomed to Jeff and Lynne's home for the second year.

We all had a good visit and tried to put names with faces that we had not seen in several years.

Jerry Pipes earned the title of one who came from the farthest distance. He stopped at DFW on his way home from a longer trip and then drove to the country. We were glad to see him.

I didn't take pictures this year so I will try to remember who was there this year.

Jeff, Lynne, Andy, Will and Jesse
Marie
Kenneth and Jerry
Rex and Evelyn
Clarice and Kenneth
Darla and Gary and Samantha Price
Joyce and Jack
Sam C, Cage, Colton, Gracie Mae and _____
Debbie Pipes
Sarah Goff
Jerry F. Pipes
Shelley Davidson, Rebecca and Shelby
Emily and Parker Duke
Jeremy and Dixie Tack, Madeline and Clara
Lenny and Patricia Place and Lyn David Roland
Ronny Bosher and Kenny

Let me know if I missed anyone.


Lynne's parents were there as well as Andy's friend Olivia.

Rex and I tried to remember how long Grandpa and Grandma Pipes had lived with Claude and Marie after they left the house in Auburn. With Marie's help we decided they moved in September of 1955. Grandma died Mar. 3, 1956 and Grandpa lived until April 20, 1958.