Home on the Azalea & Spring Flower Trail

Bright colors of a multitude of flowers, a floral scent in the air and the natural beauty of East Texas describe Tyler, Texas. Known as America’s Rose Capitol, Tyler presents the annual Texas Rose Festival in October. Tyler is home to so many wonderful flowers that the city also hosts the annual Springtime…

 Azalea & Spring Flower Trail… a driving and walking tour through the historic and absolutely beautiful Azalea District. 

Located just 95 miles east of Dallas, Tyler is a city of over 108,000 with every cultural opportunity coupled with a strong business base. However, Tyler maintains a friendly Texas ambiance that makes a visit fun for the entire family.

I have loved Tyler for as long as I can remember…I grew up in Longview, Texas…about 37 miles east of Tyler. I even played my accordion at a Friday night variety show at a Tyler city park that just happens to have an amphitheater! Located very near the Azalea District, Bergfeld Park is still vibrant today.

Azalea Trail History

quoted from the following link…

Azalea & Spring Flower Trail

“While oil booms gave Tyler an economic head start in the 1930s, azaleas and rose blooms gave the city its beauty. Azaleas were introduced to Tyler in 1929 by Maurice Shamburger, one of the city’s early nurserymen. Pleased with the results of a test garden of azaleas, Shamburger shipped the colorful plants here by the boxcar loads from Georgia.

After completing his garden in 1929, Shamburger discussed the beautification potential of azaleas with Mrs. Sara Butler of the Tyler Courier Times Telegraph. Mrs. Butler not only encouraged Shamburger to promote azalea plantings in the city, but planted a number of bushes at her own home on Charmwood St.

That home site, along with several other gardens on Lindsey Lane, soon became springtime showplaces with their colorful azalea blooms, and Tylerites began buying the plants by the thousands. Some of the thick, towering azaleas at older homes on the Trail date back to the 30s and 40s.

By 1960, the blooming azaleas were attracting much attention and that year the Chamber of Commerce established a marked route. The first Trail featured 60 homes on a five-mile route.

The Trail was an instant success.”

Azalea & Spring Flower Trail

Tyler, Texas

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

I am crazy about Franklin the Turtle books…that turtle has a place in my heart. If you are familiar with the Franklin series of children’s book, you know that they always teach an important and timely lesson. My own children liked to hear them over and over again and later on they read them over and over again. What could be better?

Some books are meant for receiving awards for writing outstanding children’s books. That does not always mean that those books can truly relay a message to a young child. Certainly, many award winning books are well written with beautiful illustrations. There is no doubt about that.

However…as an elementary school teacher…when I wanted to completely capture a four, five or six year old’s imagination…I pulled out one of the dearly loved “Franklin the Turtle” books!

Tried and True Franklin!!

In the book, Franklin’s Gift…the little turtle made a really wonderful homemade gift for his Mom for Mother’s Day. Franklin soon found out that his friends were talking about what they had bought for their Moms! He was so very worried and thought that he had made a bad decision…but, Franklin was SO proud of what he had made! Should he pursue another present?

Franklin’s Gift

Do you think that Franklin made the right decision? Maybe as grownups, we too are faced with confusing decisions! I never underestimate the power of a Franklin the Turtle book…they simply are wonderful books for children and also for adults!

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

Extra money!

Work just a few hours!

Discount!

DISCOUNT! FOR ME? 25%! SIGN ME UP!

And so began my amazing, yet less than amazing, yet totally stressful summer retail career at a very large department store. I was hired as an “Extra On Call”…a term for “just come in and work as a “temporary” in any and every department in the store that might need someone for a few minutes or a few hours or a few days. And then move professionally and joyfully to another area that you know absolutely nothing about. The job did have some fun aspects. I just cannot seem to remember them.

Before I go into my sales performance details (sure)…let me first announce the following…

I REALLY LOVE THIS PARTICULAR STORE. I AM NOT CERTAIN HOW THEY FEEL ABOUT ME. 

All that I was required to do was to go into the store once a week or something like that and sign up for some hours to work as an Extra On Call…and show up to work! Easy, Easy. Right? Wrong! So Wrong! I did not think about just how many different areas there are in a big department store. I could be in Swimsuits part of an afternoon and then suddenly be called upstairs to Bridal. The Swimsuit Department was truly the most difficult. No…I take that back. The huge department for Junior sizes was the most difficult.

And the teenagers were so fun as they argued and then rolled their eyes at their mothers and eventually at me. It was all I could do to keep my mouth closed. I felt my inner teacher…THE DISTRESSED MRS. DAVIS…starting to emerge. How in the world could I easily (sometimes) handle 22 five and six year old and barely last for three minutes with 14 years olds and their mothers?

And the teenagers were so cute when they tried on a size three when they were really a size 11.  And the teenagers were so adorable when they threw the clothes on the floor, threw jackets over the door, dresses hanging over the top of the racks with the hangers on the floor. At the end of the evening, there would be clothes scattered from one end of the department to the other. Sometimes, I was not designated to be on the cash register. Lucky me! I continuously cleaned up the merchandise and found the proper place where it should be.

Cleaning up after teenagers…hour upon hour. Did I do this in stores when I was a teenager? Did I throw clothes on the floor at a store? I don’t think so! The people at Martin’s or Riff’s…two very nice stores in my hometown…would not have put up with such behavior! I can only imagine what would have happened after my mother was informed!

I finally got off of the Junior Department assignment…I thought that I was being promoted. As if they would really promote a temporary employee! What a dumb thought! What I thought was going to be an exciting transfer turned out to be the emotionally charged…

SWIMSUITS!!! I needed a graduate psychology class to calm down the grownup women who were upset about how they looked in the “can’t hide any shape problems” swimsuits.

I felt so sorry for the shoppers. I could feel their pain. And it just was not nice to remind them that they should have thought about this situation back in January. Maybe a New Year’s resolution? But…how could I tell them about preparing for swimsuit season when I was most likely in the same boat?!

Now I hope that I would just say…who cares? Have fun! Swim! Go to the lake! Go to the pool! You are just fine the way you are! Really!!

I was so thankful to move on from the Swimsuits. I ran out of any mental help assistance that I could offer…I had taken Educational Psychology, not the now needed Swimsuit Psychology in college. I was unprepared for the Swimsuit area. Since I had been a bride who had to make all of those choices about fine china place settings and silverware, I thought surely that the Bridal area would be my ideal spot! Alas…the mothers once again. The rolling eyes from the bride. The grandmothers who really had opinions. No grooms…thank goodness. 

When I became a Mother of the Bride, I remembered how I should act. You can count on that! So…there you have…my distinguished career at a department store. At my favorite store…still my favorite store. I think that I was really meant to be a teacher. People may disagree, but more patience is sometimes needed to work in retail! However…

THAT DISCOUNT WAS THE BEST! I NEVER, EVER MADE A PROFIT! MY PURCHASES EXCEEDED MY PAYCHECK!

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

We made a decision when we lost our son to not be bitter. That would have been the easy way out. He was only 26 years old. Bitterness would have kept us in one spot without movement upwards. Bitterness would have sent us downwards. Bitterness would have kept us from knowing who we are and what we can rise from.

We did not want to feel anger about the car accident. That would have been the easy way out.

We did not want to be resentful towards the person who lost control and crossed over into another lane of traffic. That would have been the easy way out.

We did not want to be sad. Little did we know that sadness is a new segment of life to someone who has lost a child. The sadness does not occur every day or even every week. Sadness just happens. Sometimes it happens in the most joyous of times. Sometimes it happens when we would just like to our son to share a moment with us.

From a personal perspective…at our daughter and son-in-law’s wedding, I could see Justin perhaps standing with the other groomsmen. I could see Justin dancing with his much loved younger sister at the reception. I could see Justin laughing and talking with friends and relatives. And yet…the vision was perhaps only in my mind.

We did not let any sadness take away from our joy. That would have been the easy way out.

And yet again…we do believe that he was there with us. We do believe that he is happy and smiling and filled with joy. We do believe that he is with us whenever we are sad and whenever we are happy and whenever we realize the wonders of our life.

We did not stop believing in the wonders of life. That would have certainly been the easy way out.

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My feelings about losing our son came about because a family friend once told me…

“Don’t ever, ever think about

Should have, Could have, Would have

when you recall moments with Justin.”

“Think about what you can possibly do and what you can possibly accomplish to honor his memory. Think about what you can do to make your part of the world a little better.”

These words kept the bitterness from entering our lives.

“Should have, Could have, Would have”

Words from a family friend who had lost her own son years ago. Words that I share with you today in hopes they will also bring you peace in whatever situation you may find yourself.

***Thank you to my mother’s friend, Zelda Johnston for giving us words that have made such a difference in our lives.***

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

Why am I so oblivious to these wonderful recipes that keep popping up all over the place? It happens all of the time…I will tell you again…there is a conspiracy to keep these delicious and easy recipes from me! However…I am exposing the recipe right here and now!!! Here is what they are saying…

“Don’t tell Pat about…

Vanilla Magic Custard Cake!

Shhh!! She will put it on her blog and then EVERYONE will know about the recipe!!!”

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In all honesty, I have to admit that I MIGHT have seen something on Facebook about a cake that tasted like custard. I even think that one of my cousins posted the recipe more than a year ago. I meant to copy it…really I did mean to save it…I planned on emailing the recipe to myself…texting the recipe to myself.

Yes…I do text important things to myself. I know…probably weird!

I think that I had the best intentions! I did talk a friend into giving me the favorite recipe!

“Of course, I most likely will not put the recipe on my blog! Well…maybe I will just  post it once!“

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Vanilla Magic Custard Cake

Ingredients:

1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted and slightly cooled

2 cups milk, lukewarm

4 eggs, separated

1 1/2 cups powdered sugar

1 tablespoon water

1 cup flour

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Powered sugar for dusting

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F.

2. Lightly grease 8×8 inch baking dish, set aside.

3. Whip the egg whites until stiff peaks form, set aside.

4. Beat the egg yolks and powdered sugar until pale             yellow.

5. Mix in melted butter and the tablespoon of water (for     about two minutes) until evenly combined.

6. Mix the flour until evenly incorporated.

7. Slowly beat in the milk and vanilla extract until well       combined.

8. Fold in the egg whites (1/3 at a time, then repeat until     all of the egg whites are folded in).

9. Pour the batter into the pan and bake for 40 to 60           minutes (until the cake is barely jiggly in the center).       Baking time may vary depending on your oven or             pan that you use. Start checking after 40 minutes. If         the top browns too quickly before the minimum of 40     minutes, you can cover the top with aluminum foil.

***Cool the cake completely before dusting with powdered sugar. Even cooled, the cake will be slightly jiggly because it has a custard layer in the center!***

ENJOY!!!

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

I better not attend the Kentucky Derby today. It will much better for me not to attend. Once again, I will watch the race in the comfort of my own home…the house that needs to be straightened up a bit. Nothing worse than watching the Kentucky Derby in a house that is not particularly and perfectly tidy. Well…one thing is worse…what if I had no snacks and no drinks? Shameful!

Don’t worry one little bit…I always have snacks. And I will vacuum before the horses begin the race…before they even leave the barns. I can somehow get my entire act together!

And they’re off!!

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One problem…the reason I certainly am not invited to Louisville, Kentucky for the big race…I DO NOT OWN A FANCY HAT!

Fortunately…I have put together a collection of potential hats for next year. Yes…2018 will be my Kentucky Derby attendance year. Unless I am invited to Hawaii or perhaps Switzerland for the month of May. If so, forget the Kentucky Derby for me!

And Now…My Better Than Best Hat Choices For Next Year…

***The hat pictured above is my favorite because of the monogram! Some people from Texas sort of like their initials on things…no idea why!***

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As In Any Race Of This Magnitude…There Are The Losers. And Now For The Incredibly Lousy Hats…According To Me!

Double dislike on the feather disaster pictured above!

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 Send In Your Vote For The Winner!!!

Decisions, Decisions!!!

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

A March 1943 issue music magazine…The Etude

Soldiers marching, a flag, a piano, two children and their grandfather…waiting for Daddy to come home. These images are featured on the cover of The Etude, a music magazine, in the March 1943 issue. The war was on everyone’s minds including the world’s musicians.

I had no idea about the numbers of vintage magazines showing lifestyles from the late 1880s and published through the 1950s. I recently started searching for original copies of the Delineator, a magazine published by the Butterick Company beginning in 1873.  I wrote a post about the Delineator last February. Here is the link for that post:

The Delineator. One Fine Magazine.

The Etude was first published 10 years after Delineator  found it’s place in the beginning era of the magazine market. I shopped in antique malls all around Dallas and Fort Worth…looking for vintage magazines.

You might call my shopping expeditions for old magazines a new obsession. Well…it is! At least, they are lots less expensive than new shoes!

The National Farm Journal, 1931…another day, another story

We were in Branson, Missouri recently. My husband reluctantly visited an antique mall with me…certainly not his favorite place unless they have old cars or tractors! Guess who found the most magazines? Hmmm…once he found a 1931 copy of The National Farm Journal, he found the store very interesting!

Back to The Etude…I’ll save The National Farm Journal for another day!  The Etude was a magazine dedicated to the study of music and to the joy found through music. The Etude was published in the United States  and founded by Theodore Presser in Lynchburg, Virginia. The first publication date was in October, 1883. After moving their publishing company to Philadelphia in 1884, The Etude continued to be published until 1957. The magazine was directed towards new students of music to the professional musician performing on a stage.

Music literature and music history stories were interwoven with politics, gossip and even advice columns about musical instruction and teaching methods. Musical compositions at every level were included in each issue that I have seen. As The Etude attempted to grow as the years moved forward, editorial content accepted new inventions such as radio and the record player as well as the emerging television industry. 

Since one of the issues that I found was published during World War II, articles about soldiers were included…the covers during this time period tended to reflect the national concerns. If you closely at the cover of The Etude at the top of this post, you will see the words “When ‘Daddy’ comes marching home again, Hurrah, Hurrah!”, the word ‘Daddy’ replacing  ‘Danny’ from a Civil War song. The Etude featured classical music as well as significant World War II songs such as “Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy” sung by The Andrews Sisters in 1941…

Just as The Andrews Sisters helped to boost the morale of soldiers during World War II through their music, musicians serving in the various service branches did the same. The Etude published an article in their March 1943 issue about “The Violinist in Army Life”.  The last paragraph puts words to the thoughts of other young men from all walks of life…but, specifically to the musicians who were called to serve their country…

“If his practice has been intelligent and systematic, his playing has, at the very least, been kept up to par, and the rigors of Army training have been softened. Above all, he has, by his talent, given enjoyment and entertainment to hundreds of appreciative fellow soldiers- which in itself is sufficient incentive for remaining a violinist while training to be a soldier.”

And for that musical gift of enjoyment to the soldiers in World War II…my Dad included…we are indeed thankful. 

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

Red River, New Mexico…a small town with fun for all ages!

For seven consecutive summers when our children were growing up, we spent our vacation at the scenic mountain town of Red River, New Mexico. The first summer that we traveled somewhere else, we stopped in Red River on the way home. We had planned on a different route home, but there was such begging from our children…plus my husband and I felt the same way! Our children grew up and we still feel the same way about Red River! We missed the ambiance, the western atmosphere and the mountain trails. Other nearby vacation locations…none compare to Red River!

We missed our annual Red River trail ride…the first place that both of our children first rode a horse for a long length of time…especially in a high mountain setting. At first, I was not comfortable at all riding on a relatively narrow trail…but, that feeling subsided as I began to trust the experienced trail leader.

Not that I trusted myself on a horse at all…however, none of my family members felt the same way. And besides, the beautiful and totally natural surroundings took over my trepidation. 

There are countless activities to fill a summer vacation in Red River…as well as a winter ski vacation. Most of our experiences have been in the summer…because of the cool mountain air and the triple digit temperature that we thankfully left in Texas.

Some of our favorite activities in the small town of Red River (besides riding horses!) included the following:  

      1. Renting a jeep to explore the many trails.

      2. Hiking anywhere and everywhere.

     3. Fishing in cool mountain streams

     4. History walking tours.

     5. Music venues.

     6. Mountain bike riding

    7. Shopping in small stores along the one street.

    8. Riding the ski lifts even in the summer.

    9. Having a picnic at the city park.

   10. Walking along the river that runs through town.

   11. White water rafting.

   12. Reading, relaxing and reflecting!

Pictured above are samples of the abundant scenery around Red River.

A favorite family experience from Red River…we were having dinner at a steak restaurant near our cabin. Our children were taking their sweet time finishing their dinners…talking and listening to the music. The waiter said…

“Don’t worry! Just take the plates with you. I’ll get you some foil to cover them. Just bring back the plates tomorrow!”

Ahh!!! Red River…where the air is cool and everyone you meet is friendly!!

https://dailypost.wordpress.com/prompts/none/

“Let Love Take Control” as sung by Hall & Oates

Letting love take control of your life can be a lesson in inability for many of us. We want to be in control. You want to be in control. They want to be in control. Some people do not want to be in control of themselves at all They choose to hover in the atmosphere….breathing in and breathing out without accomplishing not one task on any one day. So many people…so many personalities.

The doers and the non-doers…it seems like we might have more doers these days, but in a rather negative way. I would dare to call them control fanatics. In my way of thinking…you can only really take control of yourself.

*You can attempt to influence other people in positive ways, but there is no guarantee that they will listen. Therefore…you have no real control on someone else and their positive attitude.

*You can attempt to tell someone to gain control of their temper, but there is no guarantee that they will listen. Therefore…you have no real control on someone else and their temper.

*You can attempt to tell someone to strive to attain total self-control, but there is no guarantee that they will listen. Therefore…you have no real control on someone else and the extent of their self-control. 

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One solution is to…

“Let Love Take Control”

…as sung by Hall & Oates in the video at the top of this post. When I really began reading and listening to the lyrics, they made me stop and think how I feel about the meaning of control in our lives.

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“Let Love Take Control”

I’m a soul surviving

Love give me all or nothing

I used to wake in the morning and say

Can I get through another day

Look around, I see everybody’s running

Trying too hard to make the money

But we forgot the taste of honey

Oh babe, can we lose the confusion

Let Love Take Control

Sweet Soul got a hold on me

Let Love Take Control

Sweet soul got a hold on me

Little things can get you down

Getting caught up in the run around

Gotta live in the here and now

Oh babe, gotta lose the confusion

Let Love Take Control

Sweet Soul got a hold on me

Let Love Take Control

Sweet soul got a hold on me

You can’t control your destiny

Love laughs at all your plans

Just let love show you what you need

You know I understand

Don’t let the weight lay too heavy on you

Gotta let it go, hold onto that sweet, sweet soul

Let Love Take Control

Sweet Soul got a hold on me

Let Love Take Control

Sweet soul got a hold on me.

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