Saturday, January 8, 2011

Grumpy!

It's taken me a while to come to a realization that I finally reached today. That is, just because I write a blog about Afton Station doesn't mean I have to love every moment I spend there. I started this blog for two reasons: 1) to have a written record of what happens on a day-to-day basis at a Route 66 business, and 2) to introduce others to Afton Station so that they might want to visit us during their Route 66 travels. For the second reason, I often feel I should bathe everything in a rosy glow, day after day.

Sometimes, however, I'm just not feeling like Little Mary Sunshine. Today is starting out to be one of those days, and this time I'm taking the gloves off. It's 10 a.m. I'm sitting in an ice cold room in my uncomfortable heavy coat. I have not much to do. I'm thinking of about 10 more places I'd rather be right now. I'm in a generally pissy mood. I have no expectations of meeting any visitors today, and I'm bored. My power of concentration is shot to the point where I can't keep my mind on the very good novel I brought with me. The Saturday crossword is much too easy, I have nothing to clean, and to top it off, there's the prediction of snow for tomorrow. Snow! It's no secret to those who know me that I loathe snow, which I consider to be Mother Nature's sick and cruel joke. Bah, humbug!

There, I got that out of my system!

I see a note left by Marly that says he was here for a while yesterday and greeted a nice and very generous couple from Illinois. (If that couple happens to be reading this, thank you very much!)
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Ok, it's now later in the day and things improved considerably in the afternoon. The first bright spot in my day was when Betty W. dropped by and actually stayed until I closed. It was so great to have her to chat with. Not long after she came, we had actual visitors, a couple from just up the road in Grove who were out for the day and were thrilled to find us open. Something like that does a great job of lifting my spirits. Although those were the only visitors, they made my day. No longer grumpy!

When I left, I drove around back to snap this picture of the new showroom. I know it doesn't look like much from the exterior, but it's huge inside, and since it's behind the Station, it doesn't spoil the look of the historic building. I can't wait until "move in" day, which I hope is soon.
The old westbound bridge outside of Catoosa is being replaced, and traffic has been detoured to the newer eastbound side. I snapped this picture as I passed.
I don't think I've ever taken a photo of the 1913 Sears Roebuck house in Chelsea. It's said to be one of the largest Sears houses ever delivered in pieces to the spot where it was to be constructed. This was possible since it was delivered by rail and the tracks are very close to the site. Cost of the house (complete, including all interior fixtures), $1600.

3 comments:

Trevor Hilton said...

Winter is a bad time to run a tourist attraction. In just a couple of months the cruisers will come out of hibernation.

I'd never seen that house. I should look for it next time I'm up there.

Ken Riches said...

Showroom looks great.

Rachel Shoemaker said...

If you stop in Chelsea to see the Saratoga Sears mail order house then drive just a few blocks over to 811 Vine and see the other Sears house. At 811 Vine sits a remarkable Sears Avondale. The Sears Avondale was first featured at the Illinois State fair in I believe 1910 maybe 1911. It is also one of Sears "Honor Bilt" houses.