Just a regular recycling bin. Surely not overwhelming!

The recycling bin looks so innocent just sitting there waiting for someone to empty the appropriate items inside. Such an easy task. Keep recyclable items in a designated trash can inside the house or maybe in the garage. Relocate all of the contents to the bin before the truck arrival once a week . Pull the bin to the street. Sometimes the pulling might require the use of a few muscles here and there. So easy. Such the right thing to do.

The inside the house or garage recycling can.

Such the right thing to do until last Tuesday. I imagine that I simply didn’t have the acceptable technique for putting the contents of the little container into the big container. I mean…really now…it is not such a totally overwhelming task! I have emptied the little can into the big can hundreds of times. My husband has emptied the little can hundred of times. So have our neighbors, our children when they were growing up, all of our neighbor’s children. Not even one mishap. Until the really aggressive behavior of the recycling bin last Tuesday. And…it just had to happen to me. Or was I the aggressive one?

Two liter bottles surely are not heavy!

Maybe I walked too fast to the driveway. Or maybe I simply approached the bin with a less than friendly face. I have never said a negative word about the bin. I have not sent any middle of the night tweets about the recycling bin. I have always been politically correct in all of my recycling comments. I have never even made any harsh statements on Facebook about the recycling bin. I have not even made any sarcastic remarks about the recycling bin. And…I am so unfortunately capable about being sarcastic. Therefore, I have done…

NOTHING TO WARRANT THIS RECYCLING BIN BEHAVIOR…I DO NOT CHOOSE TO REMEMBER IT IF I INDEED DID SOMETHING WRONG.

And then the above pictured problem happened. I walked up to the bin and opened the lid so it would stay back. As I was beginning to empty the small can into the recycling bin, I realized that it was way heavier than I thought. I struggled to turn the can over to empty out. I almost pushed the entire large bin over and dropped the whole small can  into the bin. In this fairly ridiculous process, I slammed my left wrist into the sharp plastic edges of the inside of the bin. They certainly did not look sharp. They were overwhelmingly sharp.

I would not dare show you what my hand looked like at first or how my wrist started swelling so much that I could not remove my watch. So glad that the watch was not high priced at all. Emphasis on WAS since if it is 3:00…my watch now says 5:00 and will not change.

Like the words in the Jimmy Buffett song…

“It’s Five O’Clock Somewhere”!

My hand will also not be working right for a while. There was a place much worse than a scratch…like you would not believe. Let’s not even talk about the large bruise that immediately appeared on the top of my hand. I spent three hours going to the doctor and having my hand patched up. Not fun. Especially after I had been so nice to that recycling bin.

However…I did take the bin to the street. I did not want to take any chances on further injuries!

https://dailypost.wordpress.com/prompts/overwhelming/

Flowers might be about to bloom in Texas…bring out the sandals!!

In Texas, the weather is near perfect today! Bright sunshine. Blue Sky. Just a little wind here and there. Slightly cool, but getting warmer. In other words…it is almost time for me to break out the sandals. To tell you the truth…it is time for me to go shopping for some new sandals.

Replacement time for the boots!

Every year at this time…I decide that spring is bound to be arriving early. There are some January days in Texas that seem like spring never left. And then…the next day we have sleet. Who knows? Since it looks and feel like spring today, I have sandals on my mind. I am crazy about sandals. This is quite odd to say this year…since I have just recently decided that I like short boots! I now have six pair. I have no need for six pair. I may be out of control in the boot department.

It is certainly replacement time!

That is why I am moving straight into the sandal season. I have put together a sampling of new sandals that I might NEED and some that will NEVER see the light of day in my closet!

The Winning Sandal Replacements!

At Least…To Me!!!

*******************************************************************

The No, No, No Sandals…Just Not For Me!

Tell Me Why!! I do not understand the rope look!!

Tell Me Why!! I do not understand the pom pom look!!

Tell Me Why!! I do not understand the “mop the kitchen floor” look!!

So…there you have it! My “very best” sandal choices and my very “no way” sandal choices! You may disagree with me and that is just fine! I simply cannot replace my boots with the “mop the kitchen floor” or “pom pom” or “rope” look!!

https://dailypost.wordpress.com/prompts/replacement/

My first cookbook…Betty Crocker’s Cookbook for Boys and Girls! I can’t even begin to tell you how much I love this cookbook! I have my original copy…typical…I have my first doll and my first prom dress and my first drill team practice uniform from high school and also my second drill team practice uniform…my very first Nancy Drew book…my first tea party set…my first elementary school picture. You name it and I probably have it. However, my most prized keepsake is this Betty Crocker Cookbook.

I first saw the cookbook at “The Golden Hour Bookstore” in my hometown. I always thought that the name of the store “Golden Hour” meant that the *** yellow sun*** was about to go down. After sunset was the best time to read! 

I was probably about nine or ten years old. The Betty Crocker Cookbook for Boys and Girls had been in print for several years, but I had never noticed it. My mother and I were in downtown shopping (as usual) on a Saturday afternoon. It seems like the bookstore had been open for just a few months…very close to Harvey’s Candy Store. When I saw the cookbook on a shelf, I practically begged my mother to buy it. I know, I know! It is not really that polite to beg…but think about it!

I was looking at a cookbook made just for children! What could be better?!

I have literally read the cookbook from cover to cover so many times that a lot of the pages are totally loose. I have them safely tucked inside. I thought that it was very cool that the book was for girls AND boys. I had never actually seen a boy cooking, but I supposed that it was possible. OK…I really thought (at the time) that it was (for sure) highly unlikely! Betty Crocker was really “with it” to think of those boys who probably did not want to cook in the first place! This was a long time before there were any celebrity chefs like Bobby Flay or Wolfgang Puck!

One of my favorite parts of the cookbook were the 12 boys and girls who were called the Home Testers. The pictures and comments of the testers were throughout the book. I thought that I would someday be getting a special phone call from Betty Crocker (the real Betty Crocker) asking me to be a Home Tester! I am still waiting for the call, but there is always hope! At least, I can sort of cook now!

The following are some of my most favorite pages from my first cookbook…the start of a now          out of control collection of cookbooks!!  

The Home Testers! 

More pictures and comments of the Home Testers!

Even Party Ideas!

Special occasion cakes for boys and girls to make!

And my favorite page…the ice cream cone cake!!

***Lots of people are probably familiar with the ice cream cone cake! They are so much fun for children and adults to make! The variations for the decorations are limitless! Just in case you have never seen the ice cream cone cake…here is the recipe…***

Ice Cream Cone Cakes

1. Heat oven to 400 degrees.

2. Make batter for cupcakes as directed on your favorite flavor cake mix package.

3. Pour scan 1/4 cup batter into flat-bottomed ice cream cones, filling scant 1/2 full. If you fill the cones too full, they will not have nice round tops.

4. Set on baking pan and bake 15 to 18 minutes.

5. Cool and frost with your favorite frosting.

6. Decorate as fancy or simple as you want!!!

***The recipe does not call for “made from scratch” cake or frosting, but of course you can put it all together yourself! However, a cake mix and canned frosting work great!***

************************************

https://dailypost.wordpress.com/prompts/yellow/

When Miranda Lambert sang the words to her song “Automatic”, she was singing about life back in simpler times. Simpler times that really were not that long ago. She was singing about what it was like to live in a small town where life was still slow. She was singing about new inventions that were not always in her hometown. I know that simpler time and I know that town…Lindale, Texas.

Miranda grew up in Lindale and still has family there. Many of her songs relate back to her life in East Texas. I grew up in Longview, TX…about 40 miles east of Lindale. Our farm is located not too far away from Miranda’s hometown…a pretty area just now starting to grow. Once Walmart and Lowe’s and Chili’s came to town, that small town atmosphere started to disappear a little bit more everyday. However, drive out of town going northeast for two or three miles and you are back in the piney woods.

When we are at our farm, we often go to Lindale for lunch. Our favorite place is one of the original businesses…Petty’s Steak & Catfish…known for old fashioned home style cooking,  perfectly made rolls and cornbread. There is a plate lunch that includes an entree, three vegetables, a dessert and tea or coffee. You most likely cannot find these kind of prices in Houston. I doubt that there is anything automatic at Petty’s.

Non-automatic menu at Petty’s Steak & Catfish…Lindale, Texas!

The waitresses all seem to have known the regular customers for years and the items that they normally order.

“Surely you want some sweet tea?”

“Chicken Fried Steak?

“Do you want cream gravy on both the steak and the mashed potatoes?”

“No gravy?! What’s wrong? Are you on that diet again?”

Some places…like Petty’s… are still holding on to parts of yesterday. Miranda Lambert’s “Automatic” laments no payphones, no drying laundry on the line as well as cassette tapes, Rand McNally maps, writing letters by hand, mailing the letters, shifting gears on an old truck and boys calling girls to ask them to go out. Not so long ago, it was not an automatic world at all.

As the refrain of the song says:

Hey, whatever happened to waitin’ your turn?

Doing it all by hand!

‘Cause when everything is handed to you

It’s only worth as much as the time put in.

It all just seemed so good the way we had it

Back before everything became automatic.

https://dailypost.wordpress.com/prompts/automatic/

FORT WORTH STOCK SHOW & RODEO…YES! ANOTHER POST ABOUT THE RODEO!!! 

Rodeo cowboys must be either totally crazy or more confident than is necessary.

They filter out the fear. They filter out the noise.

Clearly, a rodeo cowboy’s confidence is often very outweighed by failure. And then…they try again and again…day after day after day…rodeo after rodeo. When I stop and think about it…maybe we all need a quick dose of that confidence.

Well…perhaps we need the confidence with the horses and bulls very absent. And while we are at it…filter out the fear and the noise!

The Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo has another week to go before the 2017 show is complete. As I wrote earlier, this is my second post about Fort Worth’s legendary rodeo…I suppose that the tradition of the Stock Show & Rodeo is important to me!

Besides…this time the videos have decided to post correctly…I hope!!

https://dailypost.wordpress.com/prompts/filter/

Celebrity status does not mean that a person can utter phrases that appear to threaten the safety of any individual or any home…especially the home of the President of the United States. What a devastating statement. This is strictly my opinion and I normally do not choose to enter into discussions involving controversial political viewpoints. However…I have reached my limit.

No More Patience.

Celebrity status does not mean that a person can speak in Washington D.C. (or any other public location) using disrespectful and crude language. If a person does not have enough grasp of their language to refrain from having to repeatedly use inappropriate words, then perhaps they should keep quiet. I am most assuredly not a prude and do not profess to have ever been the epitome of perfection. However, I do know how to give a speech without resorting to degrading verbiage. Remember…this is strictly my opinion. However…I have reached my limit.

No More Patience.

Celebrity status does not mean that a person can incite people to be a part of a revolution or a part of a rebellion. On 1/21/2017, the following words were spoken: “Welcome to the revolution of love. To the rebellion.” It is beyond my capability to clearly comprehend the distinct words “revolution of love” and “rebellion” used in such close proximity. The contradiction of these statements as well as the contradiction of these words is obvious. One definition of revolution states: a fundamental change in political organization; especially: the overthrow or renunciation of one government or ruler and the substitution of another by the governed (Merriam-Webster). Two definitions of rebellion state: 1. opposition to one in authority or dominance 2. open, armed, and usually unsuccessful defiance of or resistance to an established government (Merriam-Webster). I do not see the word love in these definitions. Remember…this is strictly my opinion. However, I have reached my limit.

No More Patience.

Celebrity status does not mean that a person can extend their personal interpretation of the Bill of Rights that were originally formulated by our Founding Fathers. Regarding Freedom of Speech, the free speech rules as outlined by the Supreme Court appear to reflect thinking and experience from 1910 to the current time. In regards to threats, it has been stated in the following way: Threats: Speech that is reasonably perceived as a threat of violence (and not rhetorical hyperbole) can be punished. Virginia v. Black (2003). Rhetorical hyperbole can be characterized as an exaggeration of ideas for the sake of emphasis. These words do not sound like hyperbole to me: “The revolution starts here. The fight for the right to be free, to be who we are, to be equal.” as well as “Change that will require sacrifice, people. Change that will require many of us to make different choices in our lives, but this is the hallmark of revolution.” Remember…this is strictly my opinion. However, I have reached my limit.

No More Patience.

Celebrity status does not mean that it is fine when a person refuses to maturely and graciously accept the results of the election of the President of the United States of America. The statement “good did not win this election” and the subsequent statement that has been perceived by many to be a threat to the White House…I personally find this offensive, disturbing and enveloped in hatred.

Madonna…you may be surprised to discover that you are free. It appears that you have been allowed to be whatever you want to be. You live in America. Where is your pride? ?

Remember…this is strictly my opinion. However, I have absolutely reached my limit.

No More Patience. 

https://dailypost.wordpress.com/prompts/devastation/

Cowboy on the way to a tumble!

What in the world makes a cowboy ride a bull or a bucking horse in a rodeo? Why? Surely it is not that fun to break three ribs and an arm and who knows what else. Maybe it is the possibility of big-time money! Or fame! Or perhaps just the thrill of a successful ride! Or maybe some people are just prone to put their life on the line for a few minutes! Cowboys must be accustomed to pain and to the dirt of the rodeo arena!

Oops! The cowboy is just about airborne!

Just brush off the dirt. Cowboy, you will be fine.                 I suppose you eventually will be fine!

Champions also come in small sizes!

What I really know is that the Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo is a happening event right now! The rodeo began on 1/13/2017 and will be running through 2/4/2017. We were there with friends last Thursday night…sitting in the same place where we have sat for years. We will go see some more exhibits this weekend and go back to the rodeo a few more times. The Stock Show & Rodeo is fun and exciting and loud, but most of all…

The Rodeo is a Fort Worth Tradition!!

With our friends at the rodeo last Thursday!

The Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo is also a tradition for our family. We started taking our children beginning when they were toddlers. We always went to the actual rodeo performance and also walked all around the exhibit buildings. Our children’s favorites were always the dairy cows, longhorns, chickens and pigs. There were and are horses galore, but those buildings tend to be the busiest. Some of the horses are for the rodeo participants and there are quite a few animals coming and going.

Bright lights, fireworks and action!

There are many fun events held in Fort Worth, but the Stock Show & Rodeo is absolutely the largest production. It is hard to believe that Fort Worth has hosted a rodeo in addition to a stock show for over 120 years. Practice makes perfect or so people say! Fort Worth has it down to a successful science with absolute organization…from the food vendors to checking in the stock to the rodeo program sales. Every aspect of the event provides old fashioned fun integrated with modern event buildings. The cowboy lifestyle is always on display around Fort Worth.

You may think that the bull looks calm! Think again!

The Fort Worth Convention & Visitors Bureau always extends a warm welcome to Fort Worth TX …”the 16th-largest city in the United States and chosen as one of America’s Most Livable Communities“. Sarah Covington, public relations manager for the Fort Worth Convention & Visitors Bureau has compiled the following list for future visitors to the Stock Show & Rodeo…

Nine Things Everyone Should Know About the Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo!

1. Southwestern Parade…Held the first Saturday of the Stock Show each year, the parade is the world’s largest all-western parade. This means no motorized vehicles at all! Stagecoaches, equestrian troops, marching bands and more make their way down the streets of downtown Fort Worth as 100,000-plus spectators look on.

2. Fine Dining…Fair food is great, and we have it all, but that’s not what we mean by fine dining. The Stock Show & Rodeo offers some of the city’s best cowboy cuisine from Reata Restaurant (Reata at the Rodeo) and Mexican Food from La Espuela Mexican Cantina for all to enjoy.

3. Multicultural Rodeos…Two of the 30+ rodeos being held highlight the influence of Hispanic and African- American culture present in the rodeo today: Best of Mexican Celebracion and Cowboys of Color Rodeo.

4. Shuttle Bus Service…Don’t feel like fighting the traffic? No worries. Every Saturday and Sunday during the show, park for free in select Park & Ride lots, and then hop aboard the T’s Stock Show Shuttle. Drop off is at the front gate and the cost is $1 each way.

5. Free Museum Admission….While you’re here, explore the cultural side of Fort Worth with free admission (must present Stock Show ticket for free entry) to the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History and the National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame.

6. Red Dirt Entertainment…Enjoy the day with the family, then let loose at night with an adult beverage in hand at the Coors Light Roadhouse Tent. Patrons swing to the tunes of the hottest acts every night Tuesday through Saturday. Know what makes this better? Admission is absolutely free with your daily grounds admission!

7. Horse Show Exhibitors…The Stock Show is held at one of the finest horse facilities in the United States, Will Rogers Equestrian Center. Enthusiasts will enjoy horse shows featuring NCHA Cutting Horse, NRHA Reining Horse, Paint Horses, Palomino Horses and many more.

8. Livestock Show…One of the many missions of the Stock Show is to promote the breeding, raising and marketing of livestock to encourage excellence throughout the livestock and agriculture industries. Because of this, the show will host over 22,000 head of livestock this year, with exhibitors representing 41 states and three foreign countries.

9. The Carnival Midway is the place to be for all kinds of family friendly entertainment. Take a break from the show and  play your favorite carnival games or enjoy the thrills of the midway rides!

The Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo!

   Roping and Riding in the heart of Texas…   

Where the West Begins!!

https://dailypost.wordpress.com/prompts/successful/

 Fort Worth’s Japanese Gardens

Calm winds and enchanting beauty permeate every aspect of The Japanese Gardens located in Fort Worth, Texas. The gardens are very quiet and you almost feel like you should tiptoe through the pathways…that you should take your shoes off at the entrance…that you should keep your talking to the minimum…that your should keep your eyes open wide for the lovely sights to behold.

A stepping stone path through the water.

An aesthetic masterpiece, Fort Worth’s Japanese Gardens are a hidden treasure for the city. Conveniently located within Fort Worth’s Botanic Gardens, The Japanese Gardens cover a 7-acre parcel of land.

The beautiful trees are not to be missed!

According to their website…

“The Japanese Gardens entice you to surrender your senses and discover a new treasure at every turn. Feed thousands of exotic Imperial Koi that beseech your attention. Stone, Earth, Leaf and Water become one in this land of wonder.”

Ornate structure within the gardens.

When our children were very young, we started visiting The Japanese Gardens. As soon as we walked through the entry gates, our son and daughter would become very quiet and observant. They were transformed by the serene and lovely ambience of the gardens. There were many days when I considered the effect of The Japanese Gardens on our children to be quite magical!

Koi!

These gardens were first opened in 1973. The designers were very traditional in their approach to the garden plan. You will see cherry trees, Japanese maples, magnolias, bamboo, bridges and ponds. Besides springtime, visitors will not see many blooming flowers. It is said The Japanese Gardens practices “Mono no Aware”. These words mean transient and bittersweet beauty. The idea is that if the garden was always blooming, it would never be special!

Architectural beauty!

Personally, I find the Japanese Gardens to be beautiful during every season. Fortunately, there is something different to see during each visit! Yes…magical!

Fort Worth’s best kept secret…a place of pure enchantment…The Japanese Gardens!

https://dailypost.wordpress.com/prompts/aesthetic/