Sort of...Wordless Wednesday

Only In Texas!

Allen Texas is northeast of Dallas about 25 miles. 

We were sitting at a stoplight in Allen recently and were tickled to see this memorial to the first train robbery in Texas!

I would take a better picture if I could find this corner again

The plaque reads:

"The first train robbery in Texas took place in Allen where railroad tracks cross Main Street. Sam Bass led the hold-up on Feb 22, 1878."

Only in Texas would a town proudly boast of having the first train robbery in the state.

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Can I Have This Dance?

Yesterday on the Veterans Day holiday, my WWII father-in-law Raymond left this world to join Jessie, his sweetheart of 71 years.

Jessie and Raymond, Now Together Forever

We do not grieve for him as we all knew when Jessie passed last June that Raymond would be impatient to once again be by his wife's side.

All his life Raymond loved to dance, and it was at a dance club in Dallas Texas back in 1947 that he asked a shy girl (sitting far back at a table with her friends) to come dance with him. 

The music was lively, so Jessie said yes. Due to a paralyzed arm  (which was injured by the doctor at birth) Jessie seldom danced to slow songs because she could not lift her paralyzed arm to a slow dance position.

When the fast dance ended, Raymond did his best to keep the pretty stranger on the dance floor with him for a slow dance. 

Jessie would have none of it, and she told Raymond she did not dance slow dances! 

Now Raymond prided himself on his dancing prowess (and of course he thought he could change her mind) so he smugly asked, "Why not?"

Jessie's quick response was to point to her limp right arm and retort (in 1947 language), "I'm crippled!"

And an amused Raymond (who grew up with his beloved deaf older brother) shot right back, "Isn't everyone?"

They danced.

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Colorful Outdoor Pots For The Holiday Season

Are your potted plants losing their color and life as mine are? 

I was looking for inspiration down in McKinney Texas the other day and the plants outside the shop My Favorite Room drew my attention.

Potted Plants Outside My Favorite Room

The shop owner always manages to pick just the right time to add a few new seasonal plants to the year-round boxwoods and ivy in front of her shop.

Here the purple and green cabbages and the yellow mums are growing in fuller just as the peppers are starting to fade away...

No matter how I try, our front entry doesn't have the northern exposure that seems to provide the perfect light and temperature to keep potted plants as happy as these plants seem to be no matter the season.

Yet, despite past failures *sigh* I plan to try once again to perk up our outside pots this season. 

Please let me know if you have a favorite outdoor plant that will add some color to outdoor pots in an east side exposure and thrive for the holiday season.

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Joining Here:
Home And Garden Thursday

Favorite Photo Sunday...The Story Behind The Photo

Here's my favorite photo this week...

Would You Believe She's Almost 45?

Oldest Daughter as Dolly Parton!  

She even got her husband (at 6 foot 5 he had to stoop down to get in the picture) to grow a beard and dress as Dolly's favorite singing partner Kenny Rogers...

And then they did a lip sync to Dolly and Kenny's recording of Islands In The Stream and made a video to share with all their family and friends. 

This photo is an inspiration for me because Oldest Daughter doesn't really like to wear make up or put herself "out there" usually.  

She chose to do different this year. It's an example I plan to follow.

Do you see the joy on her face in these photos? I do. Joy is what I aspire to next year and why not start now? Joy comes when you loosen up a little and let yourself try new things. 

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Friday Finds...Finding More Space

We met with a realtor this week and now the idea of selling our house is getting real!

The "one in, one out" rule doesn't work for us since we're trying to clear our house out as much as possible...less clutter looks like more space, right?

My 'thrifty and frugal' blogging friend Laura, over at Harvest Lane Cottage, claims she regains a square foot of real estate space for every shopping bag full of stuff that goes out of her door. We all can use more space right?


Now seldom does illness come with a benefit, but a weight loss of 70 pounds has been one Wild Bill appreciates. Some of his dress clothes just had to go! 

We started with Bill's closet and also cleared off some shelves in the garage. I estimate we regained 9 square feet of real estate.

Out this week: 

• Eight men's button up dress shirts (3 sq feet)
• One barely worn sports coat (1 sq ft)
• Two large boxes of garage stuff -- work gloves, boxes of nails, power drill, etc. (4 sq feet)
• Bag: women's clothes, household goods, a 3-tier shelf (1 sq ft)

Where Did It Go? 

We have a friend, Henry, who is heavily involved with local chapters of military veterans' service organizations like the VFW (Veterans of Foreign Wars) and the DAV (Disabled American Veterans) to name a few. 

• For the clothes: We asked Henry if he knew any vets (short on cash) who might be in need of 'Big and Tall' dress clothes. Sadly, Henry assured us there are more than a few in the local area. 

• For the tools etc: We had lots of rain a year or so back and one of the veterans' organizations was flooded twice! They are working on repairing the facility. Henry also took the two boxes of garage stuff to help in the rebuilding.

• Everything else: Went to the Goodwill.

If you need inspiration on recovering your space, check out Laura's blog and start tracking how much space you regain in your home. 

If you're interested in saving money, check out Laura's post called Forty Ways To Use It Up And Wear It Out.

Thanks for dropping by!