Another Fence

I see so many unusual fences in my new town of Ft. Worth , Texas.

This  stone fence, is an entrance to what I would call an estate. I think there may be another entrance, as this one always seems to be pad locked.

Linking to : Good Fences

A Little Car

Tom and I were out for a drive over the weekend, and saw this little car for sale. Of course, I yelled " Stop". He is use to that by now.....  knew that I wanted to take a picture.

I wasn't familiar with this car. It is a Morris Minor, built in England

click on photo to enlarge

I guess the first Morris was debuted in 1948. I think top speed they said was only 60 miles per hour.

So, if you are looking for a cute little  (slow),vintage car...I know where you can find it! 

Basking

In a little park, there is a little pond....and if the sun is shining,

you will find these guys basking in the sun.

I think they like the sun almost as much as I do.

Did you have sun this weekend where you are?

A Confession

I know we shouldn't eat so much ice cream...but it is a favorite outing that we (my husband and I), take.

We drive to a local ice cream store, and get just a single scoop. I am a vanilla girl...Tom has an obsession with cookie dough. It is  vanilla ice cream, but has chunks of things that taste like chocolate chip cookie dough.

Then we take the long way home.(enjoying our cones),..through pretty neighborhoods. We are having perfect weather this weekend.

Do you have a guilty pleasure?

On The Trail

In my latest endeavor into genealogy, I have been on the trail of one of my GG Grandfathers. I think I have found the right family, in a small Indiana Town, although it is still a mystery as to what happened to him. If I have the correct family, this is a photo of his niece Nellie, and her husband.(1892)

 Nellie's father (my gg-uncle), is the one who built the large house that I showed you in a previous blog, "Before and After".Nellie's father was a merchant in this small town....

I guess you are wondering how I came across this photo? Well, I have been reading any, and everything, I could find on this small town....and came across a blog. That's right folks.. blogging is helping me with genealogy :) Anyway, this blogger had his email address listed. We are now emailing back and forth. Guess what! This blogger is the great grandson of the partner of Nellie's father. I am sure I have lost you here. Nellie's father had a Mercantile Store and his partner's great grandson is a blogger.

I am still hot on the trail, which can be very time consuming....but rewarding .

I Know, I know

I should be out taking photos for my blog.

Instead, I have been out shopping. You see, next weekend, not one, but both of my granddaughters will be here at the same time! Stacy is flying in from North Carolina, with five month old Abigail, and Katy is driving up from Austin, with almost three year old Hannah. We will have the whole family over for a cookout. Wouldn't do unless, I could dress my little dolls alike! I got the little pants in case it is a bit chilly....but it looks like the weather will be great; fingers crossed!

Unusual

I have found, if you want to find some unusual fences,

you just need to take a walk. If you decide you don't want to take a walk, you can just,

click here:Good Fences

Before and After

Lately, I have been doing genealogy research again (as I have mentioned).

I found a photo of this house (with the wonders of the Internet), that belonged to a great great uncle. It is in a small town in Indiana.

......and by the same miraculous  means, I came across a present day photo.

David and Goliath

Me O My!

I would not like to be the sweet little house on the left...

Have a Drink

This is a small park I found on one of my walks around my new neighborhood.

I  bet the birds and animals like this sculpture or fountain (what ever it is).

A great place to get a drink of water

A Whole Year!

It amazes me how fast time passes. This weekend, we went to a celebration.

My little great nephew turned one already!

There were clues everywhere that there was a party going on!

It was so beautiful that most of us ate outside

where it was very inviting

with tables here and there.

Jack and his grandpa had fun blowing bubbles,

although he wasn't sure about that cake...or maybe if was all of the people staring at him.

.....and then he had a taste....hmm.

Genealogy

I was bitten by the genealogy bug several years ago, and didn't surface for a breath for like three years. I am not sure why it fascinates me so? I have gone back on several sides of the family, almost to Adam and Eve...which we all know is an exaggeration!

Recently I have been taking classes at our local University (yes, those ones for seniors). One of the classes was Genealogy.

I took this of one of my classes

I realized that I had not researched my maternal grandfather's side.

His grandmother sent her children to Texas with family in 1873, and stayed behind in Indiana, to get a divorce. I have no further mention of that GG-Grandfather. So, that was my goal.

,

I did find his marriage licenses, and listing on two census reports, prior to the marriage The above picture is not him, but of his father, which would be my ggg-grandfather. I am still looking for those divorce papers and what became of him.

*believe it or not, this photo was on Ebay...I probably should buy it?

An Old Fence

On a recent walk, I noticed this little black fence that appears to be very old.

The house although, looks like it was built in the 1950's. I like that they saved the fence.

Linking to: Good Fences

His Home

We are fairly new to Ft. Worth, TX, and I have enjoyed scouring the town for historic places, and learning about past leaders. It seems almost every beautiful old place that I discover here, whether it be a home, building or church...the same architectural firm keeps popping up. Yes, even the Flat Iron building that I featured here several blogs ago. The Sanguinet Staats Architectural Firm. Who were these guys? I researched first Sanguinet, only to learn I could walk to his home.

Marshall R.Sanguinet moved here from St. Louis in 1893, and built this home one year later. Parts of it burned, but he repaired it, added on to it...and even later added a dining room.

He lived out his life here, dying in 1935. He was wildly successful, designing all of the tallest buildings in this town, as well as Houston, Midland and many others before 1930.

click on image to enlarge

His home was declared a Texas Historical site in 1981

I was surprised to see the old carriage block  at the end of the walk. Placed here so that ladies could step up, and get into a carriage.

*The Sanguinet family home was sold in the 1950's

April Showers

We sure have had a lot of rain. They tell me "April Showers Bring May Flowers"

So far, this rain has produced a cluster of mushrooms.....

Art Show part 3

This is the last in the art show series. I just had to show you something that caught my eye.

I am not even sure what it is, but they were hard to miss

I guess they are sculptures to put in your yard? They sure were bight, in the wonderful sunshine we had.

Art Show part 2

There are other things to do at the art show, like eat. I didn't photograph any of the many food stations, but there were plenty. I did enjoy seeing so many bands about.

These guys were cute, and fun to listen to....but their music was a little before my time.

I identified more with these guys who were playing Rock n Roll! You get the idea, there was entertainment everywhere.

I always get a kick out of people watching...and thought this young woman looked very artsy.

and I had a good chuckle out of this. I had to look closer to see if the dog was hitching a ride with the baby. Nope no baby!

Downtown

Every year at this time, Ft. Worth hosts The Main Street Arts Festival

Artist from all over the country are showing and selling their works of art.

It stretches right down the center of Main street, from the convention center, on the south

 to our beautiful pink granite courthouse on the north .

There are all types of paintings

sculptures

Photography

and crafts...These chicken were advertised as foot stools. There were also jewelry booths but Tom kept steering me clear of those.

I am not sure what this is. Looks to me it's Mona Lisa on a guitar?

What is it?

What is this tree?This is not a contest....because I do not know the answer

I just saw this on my morning walk...and really liked it. We are trying to find a tree to plant in our front yard, between the street and the sidewalk. I am looking for a colorful tree, but not one that drops things all over the yard other times of the year (except leaves, which I expect.)

Does anyone know?

Girlfriends

I was so thrilled to find out that some of my Houston girlfriends wanted to come see me! Tom hearing this, thought it was the perfect time to head in the opposite direction, to talk to our CPA about our taxes. Oh my goodness, did we have fun.

Left to right Brenda, Peggy Jo and Sandra...all from Houston. Betty lives here. I invited her because Sandra and Betty also have homes in the little mountain town where we spend half the year.......and besides I like her.....I enjoyed showing off my new place, and then we went to a little neighborhood bistro for a fun dinner. Pictured above, they are posing in front of the Kimbell Museum where we viewed the Bass Collection the next morning.

We then met my sister Nancy (she's camera shy), who had a great idea that we have  lunch and tour the Fort Worth Woman's Club and Junior Woman's Club.

We did a lot of posing for pictures

Looks like we were the first ones in the dining room.

Then we went from room to room counting chandeliers. The two houses are both elegant.

We actually lost count after a while.When we left the club, you wouldn't believe where we went! Yep, they wanted to go the our famous Stockyards....but I won't bore you, because you have all already been.
Can you tell I had a wonderful couple of days? They are now headed south to Houston, and I hope my hubby is headed north to Ft. Worth. I think we all need girlfriends. I sure do miss mine...Janey