hidden passages

I have always been fascinated by hidden passageways whether they be narrow paths between two buildings, neighborhood alleys or outdoor stairwells.  It doesn't matter.  I always wonder where they go.  What is at the end?  I was sitting in a small cafe yesterday afternoon looking out at the street and at the buildings on the other side of the street when I noticed an outdoor stairway placed between two buildings.  As I ate I kept wondering where the stairs went.  What was at the other end?  I finished eating and as I left I walked across the busy street to the other side so that I could better examine the object of my interest.  I could see that the entrance to the stairwell was beginning to get overgrown.  The stone walls on either side of the stairs looked solid enough.  I got closer and then...I looked.  What!?!  There was nothing at the top!  It was empty!  Just air!  And blue sky!  Oops, I didn't notice that one of the bordering buildings was undergoing reconstruction and was currently gutted.  No wonder the stairs led to nowhere.  There just was nothing there for it to "go" to.  The laugh is on me.  Nice stairs, though.  I guess they will "go" somewhere, someday.

well said

I saw this message painted onto the front glass window of a store in Ballinger, Texas.                           I  believe these words speak for themselves.  Well said.

mysterious cloud formation

I stopped in Lubbock, Texas for the night.  As I got out of my car I looked up at the sky and I was amazed to see this cloud formation.  I have never seen anything like it before.  At first I thought I was looking at a VERY large space craft just hovering over the city.  I was wondering if we were all about to be "beamed up" so to speak.  Wow!  This is my first trip to the Texas panhandle.  Is there something unusual going on here?!?  hmmmmm

Runnels County Court House

I passed through the town of Ballinger, Texas on my way to Lubbock and I had to stop and take a picture of these pretty flowers lining the sidewalk leading to the county court house building.  The iris plants were in full bloom and the vibrant colors were magnificent.  That's all.  I just thought you might like to see the colorful flowers.  You can almost smell them, don't you think?

historical markers

Many a time as I travel along rural highways I see the small signs by the side of the road announcing that a historical marker is ahead.  The sign generally gives a mile notice and I spend what I estimate is the distance of a mile looking for the marker.  So many of them slipped by before I was able to slow down enough to see them.  Sometimes traffic or time schedules keep me from stopping.  That's kind of a poor excuse since these signs are commemorating a person or event and are put along the highways for people to stop, read and, maybe, learn something.   Today I was traveling up route 83 in west Texas and I decided to stop at a few of the markers (there were many) and read the plaques.  This marker tells about John Chisolm, a cattle baron, who was a rancher in the area with a herd of thousands of longhorn cattle.  He was famous for his cattle drives, crossing the dangerous waters of the Brazos River with his large herd and delivering the cattle to the confederacy in the east.  Farther down the road I found another marker that was dedicated to Samuel Maverick, a farmer from this area who fought in the Texas war for independence and was instrumental in negotiating the surrender of soldiers in San Antonio.  Each sign is different and, yet, in some ways they are all the same...like little gifts given to the public to be enjoyed.  So, the next time you are driving along a rural highway and you see a sign announcing a historical marker is ahead,  take the time to slow down and see (read) for yourself.  Please.  You will not be disappointed.

FROZEN Disney on Ice

Yesterday I had the pleasure of accompanying my four year old granddaughter to the Disney on Ice production of FROZEN at the Alamodome in San Antonio.  Wonderful!  The audience was packed with families and many of the children came dressed in the costume of their favorite character.  There was even one little boy dressed as Olaf, the snowman.  Adorable.  A few Dad's wore moose ear head gear, as well.  The show was wonderful and the skating was spectacular.  So-o-o-o-o much fun!  Kept the four year old mesmerized.  That and popcorn.  Perfect afternoon family time.

Air Force One (half)

The airplane in this picture is the plane that Lyndon Baines Johnson used when he was the vice president of the United States of America.  He jokingly referred to the plane as Air Force One (half). It is parked under this awning on the Johnson Ranch in Texas.  Just thought you might like to know.  hahaha