Fall

Fall has finally arrived here in North Texas

I noticed my neighbors little tree when I opened the shutters this morning. I also noticed that their grass is a bit greener. Hmm

I spotted this one when I was driving home from the grocery store. Maybe if I had slowed down it wouldn't have been so blurry?

We don't have a yard since we down sized, but we do have a side courtyard, where planted a Crepe Myrtle against the fence. It has really grown since we moved in, and it too is showing some color.

Does it look like Fall where you are? Or are the leaves already gone?

Lemonade

It was a beautiful day yesterday and Tom wanted to go for a walk. We decided not to take our usual walk so we parked in a different part of town... and almost got lost.

Then I remembered that we had parked on a street where this little lemonade stand was in the front yard. Did you ever have a lemonade stand? I remember making Kool-Aid to sell as a kid, but as I remember, due to the lack of customers we ended up drinking most of it ourselves.

A Holiday

On Thursday of this week most Americans gathered around a bountiful table of food to give thanks.

Our family was no exception.

 My sister Polly hosted this year in her beautiful home.

She is a busy executive,wonderful cook, talented photographer and always goes the extra mile to make her home look festive and welcoming.

 which we all appreciate.

Even with several missing, we had at least twenty in attendance. Like many families, we all contribute to the meal. I made cranberry sauce, green beans

and a cheese ball that was intended to look somewhat like a turkey.

With all of the sad news in our world this year, it is comforting to have such
a close loving family. For this I give thanks.

Cowgirls (I've lost count)

I know, I have kind of over saturated you with Cowgirls.

So, I will move on. I just wanted to post this last picture. I liked it because most photographs from that time period all always seem so somber....and I like the way these girls are smiling.

There seems to be something for everyone to enjoy in the museum. Remember these old table top jukeboxes?

I liked photo booth where you can choose which old photo you want to be a part of. So I decided to hang out with the chiefs!

If you are ever in Ft. Worth, Texas...don't miss the National Cowgirl Museum

Scarves

I was a bit surprised to find this staircase in the National Cowgirl Museum decorated with framed

Hermes scarves. My knowledge of Hermes scarves is limited to the fact that I knew they were French...and quite expensive. So, I was happy to read the company's history.

You may click on item to enlarge.

Our docent told us that Hermes has one U.S. designer and that person is from Texas.

I did some research on this guy, found it astounding...and was saddened by the tragedy in his life. You may want to read an article written in 2012 about him Yes, he really is a retired  postman in a small town south of Ft. Worth. Go: HERE

Unbridled

Fooled you! If you have been with me for the last three posts, you know that I have been sharing exhibits from the National Cowgirl Museum located in Fort Worth, Texas. 

So, in all honestly this should be part IV.

The museum does have what they call a Flux Space where they have temporary exhibits.

They are currently exhibiting photography by Constance Jaeggi

Constance hails from Switzerland, but chose to come to Ft. Worth to attend Texas Christian University, where she could complete her studies while  honing her cutting horse skills.

After years of traveling around with her horse, and collecting sizable prize money and trophies, she became interested in photography.

Constance, who has now completed studies at The New York Film Academy, lives on a central Texas ranch. Shown here at her studio where she does indoor horse photography.

For more about her work, go: HERE

Cowgirls part lll

The name that comes to my mind when I think of women in a Wild West Show

would be the famous Annie Oakley. Annie was born Phoebe Moses to a poor family in rural Ohio and learned to shoot at an early age hunting with her father.

 She was such a good shot, that she hunted  game and sold it to the local grocery to help support her family after both her father and step-father died.

She was discovered by Frank Butler, when he came to the area in a sharp shooter competition. By the way she beat him. They later married and joined Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show.

This is a replica of the outfit she usually wore in the show, adorned with all of the metals she won. Those are not the actual medals since she donated them during WWI to be melted down to make bullets.

There is a life sized Hologram of her in the museum that tells you about her life. I have never seen one like this. It is like you are standing there talking to her.

Two movies were made about Annie. One in 1935 starring Barbara Stanwyck and another, a musical in 1950

Annie Oakley 1860-1926
featured at The National Cowgirl Museum Fort Worth, Texas

Cowgirls part ll

Several of the displays on the National Cowgirl Museum, here in Ft. Worth, celebrate the cowgirls that were trick riders in the old Wild West Shows which toured the country in the early 1900's

One such cowgirl was Mamie Francis 1908-1950. Mamie was inducted into the Cowgirl Hall of fame in 1981 for her daring performances in Wild West Shows. She would dive, on horse back, from a 35 to 50 foot platform into a tank of water below..

as seen from this old photo. Mamie, who was only injured a couple of times preformed this act over 600 times.

 There is an artist's rendering of this event on the ceiling, as soon as you walk in the door of the museum.

Next up...the famous Annie Oakley

Cowgirls

In 1975, in the basement of the Library in Herford, Texas a display was assembled documenting the American Cowgirl. The idea was not to preserve this history, but to share it.

Those items laid the groundwork for the 33,000 square foot building that is now The National Cowgirl Museum. The imposing Art Deco designed building  by Mehl Lawson opened it's doors in Ft. Worth, Texas's Culture District in 2003. The senior program (Silver Frogs) at TCU University had a docent tour of the museum yesterday and Tom and I both attended.

An imposing sculpture by Mehl Lawson titled "Desert Princess" greeted us at the front door.

The attention to detail was amazing everywhere you looked...notice the door handles. I should have cropped it...but there I am!

For the next few days, I will share with you the displays that impressed me. So stay with me!

The Old Front Porch

So many of the old neighborhoods in Ft. Worth, Texas that are close to downtown are being refurbished.

I came across this old beauty in an area just south of downtown. I adore the front porch, and it looks like the people that live there do too.

The Parking Garage

This photograph caught my eye.

and some of you may have already seen it.

Yes, it is a parking (or car park) garage in Houston, Texas. So, why is it full of people?

Well, the Houston Astros (baseball team) had just come home from wining the World Series in baseball and, they were watching their celebration parade through the streets of downtown. I am not much of a sports fan, but seems all of Houston and the whole state of Texas was very proud of this win!

The Musicians

I would like you to meet Amy and Benny, friends of my niece's who joined our family dinner on Halloween night.

Amy and Benny are both from China and studying at Texas Christian University (TCU) in Fort Worth, Texas.

Benny, who is completing his PHD in Music Performance, is a renowned double base player in his home country, and is being courted by the Beijing Symphony.



Amy, who is an undergraduate, has the same major and also plays the double base. I feel sure both of these students are multi-talented, but I have a bit more info on Amy. She has a beautiful voice, sings opera and and is proficient on both the Gugin,

which is a seven string instrument in the zither family,

and the Pipa, a four string instrument with a 2,000 year old history that is often seen in Chinese operas.

Lilly

I sure had a nice day yesterday, went out with some of my Colorado girlfriends to a beautiful new French restaurant for lunch. I didn't take any pictures. Sometimes I am uncomfortably aware that I am the only one photographing things. Do you ever feel that way?

 Afterwards, I stopped at a new gift shop that is primarily a stationary store. If you can believe that. I didn't think people were actually using stationary anymore, but this store is huge...two stories!!....and that is where I met Lilly. I guess Lilly belongs to the owner,

and she sits quietly watching customers walk to the door. She doesn't try to get out, or even react when you enter, which surprised me.I thought she was just darling, especially since my last dog was a Westie. I sure miss my Duffy. I know some of your pets....Does everyone but me have one?
 For my Colorado followers that don't comment. I was with Linda G, Betty T, Marty N and Jane A

The Dinner Party

I hope that everyone had a fun Halloween. We sure did. Now, I simply must share pictures of a friend's dinner party. She loves Halloween and goes to great lengths.

A ghoulish butler welcomes you to dinner.

My goodness this place looks scary!

The table is set with great pains....matter of fact the centerpiece looks a bit hungry,

 and so do those folks on the chandelier.

There was a delicious soup served in a test tube, followed by a scrumptious salad

and very unusual pizzas.

home made cookies,

along with delicious and "brainy" red velvet cake topped with raspberry sauce.

....and then there's Leslie, the chef and hostess who is probably already planning next years feast.

*I didn't actually attend this dinner party. Leslie lives in Houston