Save the Jackalope

Have you ever seen a Jackalope? Me neither that’s because it is actually only a mythical creature. A large jack rabbit with antelope horns.

Back in 1982 a shop selling Mexican pottery,plants, gifts and clothing opened on a popular shopping street just a few miles west of downtown Ft. Worth. In addition to their sign, they installed a super sized wire and fiberglass likeness of a Jackalope. A work of art by a local artist. At the time there was a bit of opposition among nearby home owners and businesses.

Everyone was a bit surprised when the business closed and the new tenant...a used car lot opened in 2003  and left the Jackalope in place.

Seems views had changed regarding the Jackalope and locals were saddened recently when the car place announced they were moving which would surely be the demise of a loved fixture which
by now had gained almost a cult like  following. After all, he had proudly perched up there for close to  forty years through rain, hail and an occasional tornado. Heck he  was even listed  in some guide books

Imagine the excitement when the newest tenant a sign company announced that The Jackalope Stays! He is already sporting a new paint job and word is lights will shine on him at night and he may even dress up occasionally On holidays.

Rodeo Part ll

To be honest I am not a rodeo fan. Yes, I said it..a very un-Texan thing for a Texas girl to say, and my roots run deep in this state. So why did we accept the invitation? First of all I adore The Cowgirl Museum, but I was really excited  to see the new 14,000 square foot Dickies Arena that just opened in the Fall of this year. Our town, which should not be discounted on a trip to Texas has a whole batch of billionaires who are not only rich, but philanthropic, and they have poured their money into Fort Worth...more on that another time.

The New Dickies Arena

The new multi use arena was built west of downtown near the aging  Will Rodgers Coliseum (white oval roof far left) where the rodeo has been held for the last 76 years. Naming rights given to a local manufacturing company, Williamson-Dickie who make work clothes.

Yes it is also Art Deco Style....and no expense was spared...

Okay, enough about the arena. I did take a few blurry pictures of some of the events. Although I closed my eyes during steer wrestling. I for one would be rooting for the steer.

 Cowboys and cowgirls from five cites competed in events such as: Bucking Bronco

Barrel Racing

Bull Riding
click on photo to enlarge

and of course Steer Wrestling which it is difficult to photograph with your eyes closed ...

Have you attended a Rodeo? If so, do you have a favorite event? Just wondering....Janey

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It’s time to Rodeo!

It’s that time of year in Fort Worth where for 124 years this town has celebrated it's western heritage by putting on a world famous Fat Stock Show and Rodeo.

We received an invitation from our local bank to be their guests for the evening with a whole host of activities to celebrate the rodeo. We were to start with cocktails in the bank lobby. I am showing you the bank because I love that the building is a repurposed old movie theater..

 I was surprised that when the party started that the bank was still open, but it is large enough that the one hundred extra people could move about and not disrupt the other customers. Next we were bused to our town's Cow Girl Museum. Where we were to enjoy a buffet dinner.

It is not unusual for there to be a cowboy museum the western U.S., but to my knowledge Ft. Worth has the only Cowgirl Museum

The large trompe l' oeil mural gracing the side of the building was done by artist  Richard Haas. A trompe l’ oeil mural is a technique where the painting seems three dimensional.

Inside is what you would expect, room after room with interesting exhibits... all with a common theme, cowgirls

.I photographed the tables set up in the large foyer from above.

As you can see there were a lot of cowboy hats being worn. After dinner we were free to roam around the museum.

Where there were paintings and photographs with girls and their horses

lots of old photos of trick riders from wild west shows

and of course the fashions of the day...

Everything was celebrating the female....even the security guard!

              Even I got into the spirit of things and posed for a cheesy photo.
We were then all rounded up to head to the spectacular new Dickie's Arena...since the rodeo was starting...more on that later.

Celebrations of Life

It’s been a weekend of celebrations for me. One of my sister’s celebrated the big 75 and her daughters held a beautiful catered brunch and invited a big group of her friends.

Everything was just perfect.

Especially the cakes which where made by one of her son in laws.

I was nice enough to take a slice home to Tom, since this was a ladies brunch.

My sisters favorite color is red so an email was sent out right before the event to suggest that everyone wear red. It is apparent those who don’t read their emails.

Later the same day I along with Tom this time attended a 90th birthday dinner for a friend at a local country club.

At the entrance of the room there was a life sized cutout of three children which I later found out  was the birthday girl Joann as a child with her two little bothers.

There were other life sized photo cutouts scattered about the room, depicting Joann in her younger very elegant life.

The dinner tables had gorgeous centerpieces 

and for those that couldn’t wait for the cake to be cut, there was a table set up with strawberries and cream.

We all enjoyed the delicious dinner and the music of her favorite era supplied by a live band....and yes there was another fun cutout of Joann sitting on the piano.

I hope that you too had a fun and festive weekend....Janey

Our First Flight and The French Open?

Fort Worth is celebrating an aviation feat this week. It's the 104th anniversary of the first aircraft to fly in Ft. Worth way  back in 1911. Yes, the Wright brothers had achieved flight  in 1903, but by 1911 most people across the country had not seen one of these flying machines.. Seventeen thousand people were on hand to watch this amazing event, which happened to be just up the street from me. Okay how does that tie into the French Open?

Well one of the pilots of the Moisant Flying Team,  and the one at the controls for that first flight was Roland Garros.

 That is Garros in the center standing in front of that plane, a Bleriot XI. in Fort Worth. Garros went on to become a celebrated fighter pilot for his country of France in World War I, and the event we all know as The French Open is played at the Tennis Complex named for Garros. Actually the French don't call it The French Open, but the Roland Garros Tennis Tournament.

This likeness of the plane stands in the exact location of this exciting event.

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 From this angle, you can see the skyline of downtown Ft. Worth.

There is a history plaque at the sight, but I'll bet most folks in town have not stopped to read it. Funny, when folks think of Ft. Worth,  they think of Cowtown, but aviation fever caught on here and one in five in this town are employed in the aviation industry. 

If you would like to read more about Roland Garros go:HERE

The Volunteers

 Tom and I try our best to stay busy since we have retired. So when a volunteering opportunity came our way recently, we signed up. For the second year in a row, the College Gridiron Showcase has been held here in Ft. Worth. This is where recently graduated football players from across the nation get their chance to be interviewed and scrimmage in front of the National Football League scouts (professional football). Over 200 players were to arrive in Ft. Worth, many by plane. Our airport, which  we share with Dallas is over twenty miles to the east so we were delighted when we finally got train service connecting the two.

Tom and I,  unlike most folks have already ridden it several times,

so meeting  the players at the airport and directing the to the train seemed the perfect job for us. It was a fun day...although standing on my feet for five hours straight and all of the walking here and there  I have to admit was a bit tiring. It really didn't seem that long though because we were so delighted to meet so many friendly and polite young men.

Big Sister

As some of you know, we had another granddaughter arrive five days after Christmas, which is why we have been in Austin for so long.

The nursery was all ready for little Margaret Lynn, who they will call Maggie, even though she arrived two weeks early.

 Hannah had even graduated from Big Sister school, where she learned everything she will need to know in helping care for her new little Sis..

So what do we do with big sis while Mom and Maggie are in the hospital all week? Mom thought of everything and enrolled Hannah in a riding school that is on a beautiful multi acre ranch right in the city.

There was even a graduation day for that .. We watched Hannah go through the paces with her horse Poco..not missing a single step..
Mom and Maggie have finally arrived home after a few minor complications that kept them all week, and we have returned to Ft. Worth where wehope things will settle down to a regular slow pace around here.
Medical update: I have an appointment with an orthopedic doctor this week and will probably start physical therapy on my still ailing right arm...although I am amazed at how good I have gotten using my left arm. :) I have missed blogging and hope to get caught up with what all of you have been up to.

It’s A New Year,

It is a new year and I am aware I have been neglecting my blog. My daughter whose baby was due in January had the baby early...five days after Christmas, so we have been here helping out. I hope to be home soon and back on a regular schedule.My wish for all of you is to have a: