We celebrated my mom's 95th Birthday with cake, party hats and precious birthday cards from my first grade class.  I explained to my students my mom was in a special place for people with Alzheimer's.


"What's that Ms. Kent?"

 I explained it is a disease that slows thinking skills and memory.
When I visit my mom she will repeat herself.  But you have to be patient because she can't help it.
We are lucky because she still remembers us.

 She says to my sons Alex and Michael.

|" It makes me so happy to see your face.  I love you.|"

We brought Happy Birthday Balloons and a special Christmas sweater.

|"I like that."  as she holds the sweater to her chest.


She opened the special hand made cards created with six year old minds and loved the colorful pictures.

|"Oh she likes my pink kitchen."  as she pointed to the picture of her favorite color pink.

She loved her special Christmas tree decorated with reindeer's made with googly eyes.  The red and white candy canes look like Rudolph with pipe cleaners for antlers.  I think it was the same craft my mom taught us to make when she was Room Mother for our class.

She placed the special hand made birthday cards in her memory box.  The same box she holds other letters from her friend Jack.  Old meets youth when she looks at each drawing of stars and Christmas trees.  Sometimes she would stop and say my back hurts.  It's hard when your bones are 95 years old.
We all sang Happy Birthday in the dining hall.  Friends sat at our table as we ate delicious butter cream white cake my brother had brought.


 I am grateful to all of the staff who cares for her.  It is not an easy task but they do it with love and grace.  Thank you to my first grade students who so joyfully made the cards and candy cane reindeer.  It made her birthday more glorious.   Happy Birthday Mom!!!  You are the best Mom ever.

Bob Dylan, the spokesman for a generation, played with a sweet sound of humility at the Winstar in Oklahoma, after recently winning the Nobel Prize in Literature.  The closest photograph I could take of Bob Dylan was the sign in front of the entrance to the seating area.  In big letters was NO PHOTOGRAPHY!  Since my number one goal was to take a photograph I was a little disappointed.  It is historic Dylan won the Noble Prize in Literature and I wanted to record a little piece of history.




 People in the elevator said after the concert,  "He didn't mention the prize.  In fact he didn't even speak to the audience."

I said, "He seemed very humble."

Sometimes silence is more powerful than words.  We don't know publicly what Bob Dylan is thinking about being the first musician to win the Noble Prize in Literature.  Perhaps later he will do a Barbara Walters interview.  I'm sure deep down it  made him a little happy.  But he isn't revealing his thoughts and feelings about it right now.   But what is so terrible about that?  His words in his songs express his feelings for the past five decades.

So as a first hand witness to his delightful concert at the Winstar, a place to escape.




 I want to give my impressions.  Mothers and daughters were sitting side by side.  The lady in front of me had a garland of dried flowers embracing her head as a symbol, I'm apart of the flower child generation. I remember when he fought against the Vietnam War and was a symbol of the movement.  Her daughter gently fixed her flowers so it was ever so perfect right before the concert.  They looked at each other with loving eyes to know I understand how special it is to be in the audience.  It was a memory they will cherish forever.

I saw  men and women coming together as  unified groups saying,
" I love his lyrics and can't wait to hear his passionate voice say them with honesty."

I saw loving couples of men and women sitting side by side, holding hands.   The lady next to me said I don't know how much my husband paid for the tickets but I'm so glad he bought them for me.  She gave one of those yells from deep in her belly that said Bob Dylan brought back a truck  full of happy memories.

He sang for ninety minutes of sure bliss.  Each song was a surprise as the chords of the tune trickled hints of the melody to come.  The seventy five year old musician's voice was a little raspy but it made the words to his songs resonant with purity.

 The vibe in the audience was electrifying as he opened with "Things have Changed."
by Bob Dylan
 Worried man with a worried mind
No One in front of me and nothing behind
There's a woman
Got white skin got assassin's eyes
I'm looking up into the sapphire tinted skies
I'm well dressed, waiting on the last train

Standing on the gallows with my head in a noose
Any minute now I'm expecting all hell to break loose

People are crazy and times are strange
I'm locked in tight, I'm out of range
I used to care, but things have changed

This place ain't doing me any good
I'm in the wrong town, I should be in Holly wood
Just for a second there I thought I saw something move
Gonna take dancing lessons do the jitterbug rag
Ain't no shortcuts, gonna dress
Only a fool in here would think he's got anything to prove
'

Dylan chose for his grand finale "Why Try to Change Me Now?"  As he sang the song he seemed so sweet, not angry.  It was as if to say I am who I am.

Why Change me Now originally by Frank Sinatra
I'm sentimental
So I walk in the rain
I've got some habits
That I can't explain
Could start for the corner
Turn up in Spain
Why try to change me now

I sit and daydream
I've got daydreams galore
Cigarette ashes
There they go on the floor
I go away weekends
And leave my keys in the door
but why try to change me now

Why can't I be more conventional
People talk
People stare
So I try
But that's not for me
Cuz I can't see
My kind of crazy world
Go passing me by
So let people wonder
Let em laugh
Let em frown
You know I'll love you
Till the moon's upside down

Don't you remember
I was always your clown
Why try to change me now
Don't  you remember
I was always  your clown
Why try to change me
Why try to change me now

The audience in Oklahoma gave Dylan a standing ovation and cried for more.


He came back out for his last song of Blowin in the Wind, my favorite..   He sang the lyrics like true poetry.
I came a little closer so I could get a closer look from my C section position.  He moved from mike to key board so gracefully.  As if the instruments were an extension of his being.

Fans lined up to get the latest TShirt with his face etched in the fabric.  Leather bracelets were sold with a silver emblem of his name.

The last time I saw Bob Dylan was at the Bronco Bowl in 1980.  He was just as delightful as years in the past.  He has aged with wisdom but I think a big dose of humility is sprinkled to make the seasoning just right.  Go see Bob Dylan in concert if you get a chance.  It's well worth it!!!! 

It was announced Bob Dylan won the prestigious Swedish  Nobel Prize in Literature for having created new poetic expressions within the great American song tradition.  The Nobel Foundation thought Dylan deserved the honor because of his choice of words, which turned him into an icon. His work became popular for human rights in the turbulent 1960's and his ideas of revealing the human condition span six decades of potent lyrics.   The last American who won the prize was Toni Morrison in 1993.  It was the first musician who ever received the award making the win even more extraordinary.   Bob Dylan said his lyrics to his songs painted pictures.   

Blowin In the Wind by Bob Dylan  It shows the ability to question everything around you.
How many roads must a man walk down




Before you call him a man?
How many seas must a white dove sail
Before she sleeps in the sand?


Yes, and how many  times must the cannon balls fly
Before they're forever banned?



The answer, my friend, is blowin in the wind
The answer is blowin in the wind.

Yes and how many years can a mountain exist
Before it is washed to the sea?


Yes,  and how many years can some people exist
Before they're allowed to be free?


Yes, and how many times can  a man turn his head
And pretend that he just doesn't see?

The answer, my  friend, is blowin in the wind
The answer is blowin in the wind.

Yes, and how many times must a man look up
Before he can see the sky?


Yes, and how many ears must one man have
Before he can hear people cry?
Yes, and how many  deaths will it take til he knows
That too many people have died?

The answer, my friend, is blowin in the wind
The answer is blowin in the wind.

If You See Her Say Hello by Bob Dylan

I see a lot of people
As I make the rounds
And I hear her name here and there
As I go from town to town
And I've never gotten used to it
I've just learned to turn it off
Either I'm too sensitive
Or else I'm getting soft.

The Times They are a Changin by Bob Dylan

Come senators, congressmen
Please heed the call
Don't stand in the doorway



Don't block up the hall


For he that gets hurt
Will be he who has stalled
There's a battle outside
And it is ragin'
It'll soon shake your windows
And rattle you walls
For the times they are a changin


By Bob Dylan
Let me ask you one question
Is your money that good?
Will it buy you forgiveness
Do you think that it could?
I think you will find
When your death takes its toll
All the money  you made
Will never buy back your soul




Mr. Tambourine Man by Bob Dylan
Yes, to dance beneath the diamond sky with one hand waving free,


Silhouetted by the sea, circled by the circus sands,
With all memory and fate driven deep beneath the waves,
Let me forget about today until tomorrow.



Gotta Serve Somebody by Bob Dylan  Written after he saw Jesus in a hotel room.
You may be an ambassador to England or France


You may like to gamble, you might like to dance
You may be the haveyweight champion of the world
You may be a socialite with long string of pearls

But you're gonna have to serve somebody, yes
Indeed you're gonna have to serve somebody
Well, it may be the devil or it may be the Lord
But you're gonna have to serve somebody

You might be a rock n roll addict prancing on the stage
You might have drugs at your command, women in a cage
You may be a business man or some high degree thief
They may call you doctor or they may call you chief

But you're gonna have to serve somebody, yes you are
You're gonna have to serve somebody
Well, it may be the devil or it may be the Lord
But you're...




Slow Train by Bob Dylan
Sometimes I feel so low down and disgusted
Can't help but wonder what's happen-in to my companions
Are they lost or are they found?
Have they counted the cost it'll take to bring down
All their earthly principles they're gonna have to abandon?
There's a slow, slow train comin up around the bend



I had a woman down in Alabama
She was a backwoods girl but she sure was realistic
She said, "Boy, without a doubt, have to quit your mess and straighten out
You could die down here, be just another accident statistic
There's a slow, slow train comin up around the bend

Man's ego is inflated, his laws are outdated, they don't apply no more
You can't rely no more to be standing around waiting
In the home of the brave, Jefferson turning  over in his grave
Fools glorifying themselves, trying to manipulate Satan
And there's slow, slow train coming up around the bend.

Big time negotiators, false healers and woman haters
Masters of the bluff and masters of the proposition
But the enemy I see wars a cloak of decency
All non-believers and men stealers talking in the name of religion
And there's slow, there's slow train coming up around the bend.
'
People starving and thirsting, grain elevators are bursting
Oh, you know it costs more to store the food than it do to give it
They say loose your inhibitions, follow your own ambitions
They talk about life of brotherly love, show me someone who knows how to live it
There's slowl slow train coming around the bend.

Well, my baby went to Illinois with some bad talking boy she could destroy
but there was nothing I could do to stop it
I don't care about economy, I don't care about astronomy
But it's sure do bother me to see my loved ones turning into puppets
There's slow, slow train coming up around the ben.

Monarch Butterflies must begin their journey each fall ahead of cold weather.  They travel 3,000 miles from their summer home in the Rocky Mountains and migrate south to Mexico for warmer weather to wait out the winter months.  They fly through Texas in the month of October.
North American Monarchs are the only butterfly that make such an incredible journey.  Butterflies that emerge from Chrysalises in late summer and early fall make the journey.  They are born to fly and know the changing weather means its time to prepare for travels.
They love to sip nectar from purple flowers for energy.  It took several generations of butterflies living their cycle for a period of one year to prepare for just the right Monarch to hatch.
It will be the great grandchildren to make the trip.  They open their wings to feel the warm sun.
The average life span in the wild is 6 to 8 months.  The wingspan is 4 to 10 inches.  Flutter is their group name.  They are about the size of a tea cup.
The butterfly lays their eggs on milkweed plants.  The larvae enjoys eating the green plant and becomes beautiful caterpillars.  They create a hard shell and enter the pupa stage.  They emerge as black, orange, and white adults.  They have an interesting pattern on their wings.  The black etching makes the Monarch Butterfly easy to recognize.

Follow the pumpkin trail at the Dallas Arboretum to celebrate a fall tradition.   The nationally acclaimed pumpkin village contains 90,000 pumpkins, gourds, squash and bales of hay with cornstalks.  Enter the gate to see assorted pumpkins greeting guests.
Walk down the winding path to see Cinderella's carriage waiting to pick you up to escort you on a magical adventure.

The Fort Worth Water Gardens is an urban water oasis in the middle of downtown.

  New York Architects Phillip Johnson and John Burgee designed the park as an escape for urban life.  It opened in 1974 as a renewal project to revitalize the downtown area. It was constructed by Thos. S. Byrne General Contractors based in Fort Worth.

 A trip to Magnolia Market reveals the joyful atmosphere of Chip and Joanna Gains amazing creativity. They united as one to provide products everyone can use in their home from the inspiration of their HTV Show, Fixer Upper.   I got addicted to the show as I visited my elderly mom. We stayed in bed as we watched a marathon of episodes.  Each one tells a story of family.  The show unites all generations of decorating enthusiasts.  Chip and Joanna picked the name from their courtship days. He picked white Magnolia blossoms as a symbol of love for Jo.


Giant white washed silos are the landmark of the market standing tall and Texas proud located in the heart of Waco. I was grateful my husband had business in Waco so I could tag along and visit the shop. The couple had a vision to transform a former cottonseed mill to a thriving market place.
Upper will continue to be popular because it's based on the lives of real people who want their home to be restored.

Fourth of July

Families unite together with blankets and chairs
Picnics prepared for a feast of hot dogs and brisket
Laughter, sparklers, children dressed in ruffled dresses of red white and blue
All saying we are here to be thankful
To celebrate the day our country became free


Coolers packed with ice cold drinks
Take a sip
A cool breeze flows across the crowd
White puffy clouds float across the sky
As the opening act

Pie eating contests
I ate the whole thing
Apple, Blueberry, and Peach pies with flaky crusts
The bell rang
Contest over
I won!!!

Tractors pull guests
Community Workers Serve their time
Each sitting side by side on bales of hay
United in freedom
Children sit close to mom or dad
Families have different stories
Of how they came to America
But the story is the same
They came to America for a better life


Night falls
Glowing sticks of light wave in the darkness
It's a pattern of movement
Of joyful freedom
Happy Independence Day

Music unites generations
With the backdrop of our American Flag
Joyful sounds spring forth from trombones
Guitars are plucked with chords of past songs
Freedom rings Freedom rings


Loud explosions of light
Happy 4th of July to you
God Bless America
Home of the free
Our founding fathers said
All men are created equal

Light reflects across the faces of Americans
Red White and Blue flags are raised in the air
Smoke fills the night sky
Curved lines are arranged like giant sparklers of hope
Hope of raising children with the same freedoms



The grand finale of fireworks pop and crackle
Each face with aspirations
Friends and families holding each other close
Couples holding hands
Children looking up to the lighted sky
God Bless America Land of the Free
Stand beside her.

On this Memorial Day offer prayer for those who have sacrificed their lives for freedom in the United States.


 Freedom has been bought with a price.


 Our government was established with a balance of powers, the legislative, the executive, and the judiciary branch.  Under the separation of powers each branch is independent and cannot control another branch.  The 27 Amendments to our constitution is a living history of the struggle for freedom so all can have an equal voice.
Bill of Rights
Amendment 1 Freedoms, Petitions, Assembly
Amendment 2 Right to bear arms
Amendment 3 Quartering of soldiers
Amendment 4 Search and Arrest
Amendment 5 Rights in criminal cases
Amendment 6 Right to a fair trial
Amendment 7 Rights in civil cases
Amendment 8 Bail, finds, punishment
Amendment 9 Rights retained by the People
Amendment 10 States rights
Amendment 11 Lawsuits against states
Amendment 12 Presidential elections
Amendment 13 Abolition of slavery
Amendment 14 Civil Rights
Amendment 15 Black Suffrage
Amendment 16 income taxes
Amendment 17 Senatorial elections
Amendment 18 Prohibition of liquor
Amendment 19 Women's suffrage
Amendment 20 Terms of office
Amendment 21 Repeal of Prohibition
Amendment 22 Term Limits for the Presidency
Amendment 23 Washington D. C. suffrage
Amendment 24 Abolition of poll taxes
Amendment 25 Presidential succession
Amendment 26 18 year old suffrage
Amendment 27 Congressional pay raises

Let us remember our National Symbol
The Bald Eagle was adopted as the national bird to symbolize; majestic beauty, great strength, and long life.  The wingspan of a Bald Eagle is six to eight feet. It is the only eagle that is found exclusively on the North American continent.

  John F. Kennedy said,
"The Founding Fathers made an appropriate choice when they selected the bald eagle as the emblem of the nation.  The fierce beauty and proud independence of this great bird aptly symbolized the strength and freedom of America"


 Our nation endures because of the sacrifice of so many. At least 1.2 million people have died fighting for America during its wars dating back 241 years.  It started with the American Revolution from 1775 to 1783.



  Men and women decided it was worth giving their lives so the birth of our nation could represent equality.

Each one serving wanted future generations to have freedom.  The First Amendment says;

"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof, or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press, or the right of the people peaceably to assemble,



 and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

 Let us not take our freedoms for granted.  Many have sacrificed so our country can be free.  

Mother's Day Blessings come in many packages.  Not every Mother's Day is perfect, but it is a day to show love.  My mom is suffering with back pain and unable to get around like she did.  Her days in the home with nursing care come with little joys like eating in the dining area.

I surprised her this Mother's Day with pink roses, chocolates and a card that says how much she is appreciated.  She can still read every word, repeating the phrases over and over.  She put up the card with the  heart opening and said I can see through it.

My mom loves boxes so I found this special one that she can keep cards or chocolates inside.

She opened  the box to see words of encouragement.   Faith heals.  During difficult times God is near, holding your hand.

The Fort Worth Zoo was voted best zoo by Family Life Magazine, LA Times, and USA Today.   It is home to 5,000 exotic and native animals.   When the zoo opened in 1909 the animals to see were one lion,
two bear cubs, an alligator
a coyote,

a peacock and a few rabbits.

The Herpetarium was completed in the summer of 1960 with one of the largest exhibits of reptiles and amphibians in the world.  The original Herpetarium closed in 2009 to be replaced by the Museum of Living Art in 2010.

Zookeepers are available to let you touch a snake.  The scales are scratchy to the touch.

World of Primates opened in 1992 with an indoor and outdoor exhibit of gorilla groups.

Watch the apes eat lettuce and other treats for primates.
Asian Falls opened in 1992 with an exotic exhibit of White Tigers.


White and Malayan tigers share a habitat of majestic waterfalls flowing.
White Tigers enjoy the sound of water splashing on rocks.
Raptor Canyon is an aviary that opened in 1993.  It is home to crowned eagles,
An Andean condor,

a milky eagle owl, harpy eagles, and bateleur eagles.

The cheetah exhibit opened in 1994 with exotic black spotted wild cats.
Flamingo Bay is home to the 70 peach colored birds who love to flock together.

Parrot Paradise was opened in 2004 to a free flight aviary.  Children have fun feeding the parakeets and cockatoos.  .

Animals from Australia hop with their friends.  Kangaroos carry their babies in their pouch.
 Kangaroos have large ears to help them listen for predators who might want to harm them.  My what large tails they have.


Black and white penguins have a thick fur to keep them warm.

Wild Pheasants roam the Texas Hill Country to  make the hillside colorful.  Their eyes can spot food to eat.

Angel Fish love to play chase in  aquariums for fish who love to swim in coral reefs all over the world.

Antelope love to play in the open grassy fields of green.

It takes alot of workers to help maintain a safe place for animals to be healthy.  Thank you zookeepers for providing such a wonderful zoo for all to enjoy.

C

Cesky Krumlov is an enchanted town located in the Bohemian Region of the Czech Republic.  The old Cesky Krumlov Castle is a UNESCO World Heritage site.


  It's an amazing example of a quaint European medieval town whose architecture has remained safe for five centuries.  The castle is set high on the hill with a wall of protection.



Vitkovci began building the castle in 1240 by the Vltava River because it was an important trade route in Bohemia.



  Most of the architecture dates from the 14th to 17th centuries.  There is a combination of Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque styles.



The House of Rosenberg acquired the castle in 1302.  Gold was found in the 15th century so miners came to explore for their own treasures.  Emeror Rudolf II bought Krumlov in 1602 and passed it down to his son Julius dAustria.



 Power kept passing hands and Emperor Ferdinand II gave Krumlov to the House of Eggenberg which made the town the seat of Ducy of Krumlov.

The House of Schwarzenberg had a long relationship with the castle because it took control from 1719 to 1945.


  The core of the town is next to a curve in the river with the castle on the other side.  Germans and Czechs both lived in Cesky Krumlov in 1910.  But by the end of 1918 the Czechoslovak army gained power of the area.

A wall divided Berlin into two very different parts, east and west.  As tourists visit Berlin there is a memory of the separation throughout the city in the trail of a brick wall.  The construction began in 1961 to stop Eastern Bloc emigration because twenty percent of the East Berlin population fled to the west from 1949 to 1961.  Many were engineers, teachers, lawyers, and skilled workers.

Easter celebrates Jesus's resurrection from the grave.  Jesus is risen and has conquered death so we might have eternal life with him if we believe, cling to and rely upon him.



The Resurrection
The angel said to the women, Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus who has been crucified.  He is not here, for He has risen, just as He said.  Come see the place where He was lying.  Go quickly and tell His disciples that He has risen from the dead, and behold, He is going ahead of you into Galilee, there you will see Him; behold, I have told you. So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples. Suddenly Jesus met them, Greetings, he said.  They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him. Then Jesus said to them, Do not be afraid.  Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee, there they will see me.   Mathew 28:5-10




Then Jesus came to them and said,  All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.  And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age. Mathew 28; 18-20

For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of a huge fish so the Son of Mary will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.  Matthew 12:40




Don't be alarmed, he said.  You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified.  He has risen?  He is not here.  See the place where they laid him.  Mark 16;6


But God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him. Acts 2;24
But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.  Acts 1:8


Peter replied, Repent and be baptized, every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins.  And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.  Acts 2;38

If you continue in your faith, established and firm, and do not move from the hope held out in the gospel.  This is the gospel that you heard and that has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven and of which I Paul, have become a servant.  Colossians 1:23

Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  Matthew 11:29
Do not offer any part of yourself to sin as an instrument of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer every part of yourself to him as an instrument of righteousness Romans 6:13

Christians all over the world remember the day Jesus died on the cross for our sins so we might have eternal life if we believe in him.  He carried the cross after being scourged by Roman Soldiers with leather ropes attached with bone pieces cut from a lamb's pelvis.  The sharp edges penetrated Jesus's flesh.    His open wounds were bleeding as he took each step up the steep incline to the hill he would be crucified.  Good Friday falls on March 25, the traditional day of observing the Annunciation, when the angel Gabriel came to Mary and told her she would become pregnant with Jesus.  Mary received the news with joy.  "Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word," she told the angel.

Prague's Top Ten Attractions will take you to a magical place founded by an ancient King Boyya in 1306 B.C.  By the 9th century A. D. the city was named Praha or Prague.  According to legends, Prague was founded in the 8th century by the Czech duchess and prophetess Libuse and her husband Premysl.  The Duchess had a vision of a rocky cliff, " I see a great city whose glory will touch the stars."   She ordered to build a wooden fort where Prague Castle sits today.  She thought the city would reach the world with it's splendor.   When you cross the Charles Bridge you can see the diversity of people who want to visit this special city.  Nearly 25 years ago Prague staged the Velvet Revolution of peaceful protests to bring down the communist regime.  The city of a thousand spires has become a tourist destination of Gothic Cathedrals and chic cafes.

1.  Charles Bridge

Charles Bridge is named after Charles the IV because he built the bridge in 1357, founded the University, and created the foundations of the city we see today.  He was the second Bohemian King from the House of Luxenbourg and the first King of Bohemia to become the Holy Roman Emperor.



The university is one of the oldest in the world.  He built the bridge to cross the Vltava River.  It has  30 statues of religious people and 16 glorious arches.  Until the ninetenth century it was the only bridge to cross the river.  The 1,700 ft. cobblestone bridge is full of vendors and tourists wanting to savor every moment of the historic bridge.  You can grab a sausage if you're hungry from the walking.

The Dallas Aboretum explodes with white blossoms from cherry trees each spring.  Mothers bring their strollers so their babies can enjoy the sun's rays and see radiate bursts of color.
Children, grandparents, newlyweds come to see the 66 acre botanical gardens located at 8617 Garland Road in East Dallas.  They stroll the winding paths to see white, yellow and buttercup tulips from the Netherlands.
Geophysicist Everette Lee DeGolyer and his wife Nell donated their home and gardens so generations can enjoy nature.  Ms. DeGolyer had a hobby of growing flowers and plants.  Her home is now on the National Register of Historic Places.  Since 1976 the Degolyer estate has formed the largest portion of the Dallas Arboretum. The 44 acre estate was known as Rancho Encinal.  Tours are available to see the 21,00 square foot Colonial Spanish Revival Style.
Many weddings have been held at the beautiful estate.  Brides must book ahead because it's very sought after.

Every season is beautiful at the Dallas Arboretum.  The sounds of water trickling down streams is everywhere.

Our Second Grade Class took a vote today and decided to let the Painted Butterflies go free.  We had watched them go from the larva stage to growing a pupa.

Ten 20 Gallery opening night created a buzz in historic downtown Plano as a place for artists to show their creative works.




 The Gallery specializes in Pop Art, an art movement emerging in the 50's as mass culture imagery.  The place was filled with people excited to experience the creative expressions.



  Jorg's Cafe Vienna owner Jorg Fetcher,  and friend Jeff Bergus, owner of Lockhart Smokehouse collaborated as a team to create a unique experience. Ken Wesley of Supreme Dream Photography also helped to create the idea of showcasing local artists.  Jorg Fetcher used the opportunity to reveal some of his photography.  He used the use of lines and depth to draw you into the photograph.  .





 The gallery is located close to their restaurants so people can have a fun place to browse either before or after dinner.  Located at 1020 E. 15th St. in a red brick building perfect for the backdrop of Pop Art.   Johnny Cash, Cary Grant and Grace Kelly were one of the many entertainment icons represented.
 Pop Art uses images of popular culture through the use of irony. The movement started in Britain but is essentially an American Movement that spread to different parts of the world.  It was a reaction against Abstract Expressionism.  Jasper Johns was known as a bridge to Abstract Expressionism and Pop Art.   Andy Warhol used Marilyn Monroe and Campbell's Soup Cans as a marriage of advertising and the consumer culture. He pioneered  compositions and techniques that emphasized repetition.  He started as a magazine illustrator to create paintings of mass culture and media stars, The Pop Art movement believed art may borrow from any source.  They embraced the WWII manufacturing and media boom to interpret the art of popular culture.  Pop Art represented the  globalization of pop music and youth culture personified by the Beatles.

Voting is an American responsibility.  I did vote today and I feel good about that.  I participated in early voting so the crowds would not be long.  Women did not always have the right to vote.  It was apart of the 19th amendment for women to exercise their power and freedom to vote.  The right was won in the year 1920 for the United States.  The date is different for other countries  but women are exercising their right to vote in lands all over the world.  It gives power to an individual voice.

This voting period in the United States is very important because it decides who runs for President, Judges in power, propositions and many other positions in the political arena.
So get out and exercise your freedom to vote.  It was bought with a precious price.

Fort Worth Stockyards is where the west began.  The historical society has preserved the area so children and adults can learn about how the west was won and became more civilized.



  Fort Worth began life as a refuge against Comanche attacks.  It later became a rough and tumble town of the frontier.  Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid were once part of the lawless group. An animal called a Longhorn Steer saved the day.  Cowboys began to take their rest in Fort Worth during the 1870's,  after a long cattle drive from south Texas on the famous Chisholm Trail.

Deep Ellum began in the late 1800's as a neighborhood on the east side of downtown Dallas.  The area has gone through changes that corresponds with the history of Dallas.




 The name "Deep Ellum," was originally called ,"Deep Elm" because its located by Elm Street and the pronunciation led to its current name.
 It was one of the first commercial districts for African-Americans and European immigrants.  Henry Ford selected Deep Ellum as the site for one of the first automobile plants in 1914.  It created many jobs so people built homes close to the plant.


It has one of the largest selection of commercial storefronts from the early 20th century.


Robert S. Munger built his first cotton gin factory in a series of brick warehouses along Elm Street and Trunk Avenue in Deep Ellum in 1888.  It became the largest manufacturer of cotton-processing equipment in the United States.
The industrial complex was converted to loft apartments in 1997 and the community keeps growing.
Adam Hats moved into the four story building in 1959 added to the growth of the community.

Now it is home to many wonderful places to eat.  Serious Pizza will provide hand tossed, yummy crust with your favorite toppings.
Savor the smells as you walk in the door.