§ ...it's only 'fair'

Twice a year [and I understand that this year it'll be three times], the Peddler Show comes to 'town'. Actually, it's NOT held in Corpus Christi, but all taking place at the County Fair Grounds in Robstown, Texas [about 25 miles from here]. Bud and I don't attend too often, but once in a while I like to go and mingle with the rush and onset of the 'psycho shopper'. LOL. The shows are always on a weekend. And this past weekend, the weather was perfect for getting out and seeing what was 'in store'. There are booths outdoors as you near the Central Pavilion Arena. This complex is huge. Then, pay the entrance fee, and trust me, it's a shopper's paradise. From all over the country [mostly Texans from around the state] have booths set up to sell their wares. Hand made, home made, and just about everything under the sun can be found here. The array of crafts and displays of all the peddlers' handi-work never ceases to amaze me. Oftentimes, I find myself really studying a certain item in hopes when I get home I can duplicate it. Usually, things found here are not all that high priced. MOST are reasonable considering the work and detail put into the products. Here you can also find home made candies...I love the Texas Pecan Brittle and find myself sampling all the sweet things...from candy, to dips, to soups, jellies, teas. Rarely am I disappointed. Once you've sampled the food stuffs, you can find the dry mixes handy; right at your fingertips, in order to purchase those you find your favorite. The last time were attended the show, Bud and I bought a reproduction painting of Texas Longhorns that I posted about... [link]. But, this time around, we had nothing in mind except to take a walk about. Of course, me and jewelry and fashions. Bud, on the other hand, likes the iron works and leather stuffs. He bought himself a new tri-fold billfold. This certain booth's proprietor would 'carve' in the leather whatever you want done. Bud and the guy worked on creating a replica of Bud's registered cattle brand that he has kept registered in Colorado even tho we no longer live there. Keeping the brand registered at the state level means no one else can have the same. It really turned our super. Bud was pleased, so I am pleased. I then, perused most all the sections that had hand crafted jewelry. Found really nothing I couldn't live without. But!! --I did find a place from one of the Texans that was selling their wares at half price 'cause she told me they wanted to liquidate before inventory. I couldn't help myself but oblige her and bought a couple of scarf necklaces. I really don't know just how else to describe them. If there is a special term for them, please enlighten me. Of course, I searched through the collection to find the two colors that are my favorites. Purple and Green. And another favorite 'color' is SPARKLE!! These scarves, and the jewelry that is added had several rhinestone pieces in all a great number of different sorts. From flowers, to bees, to wild animals, crosses and the fleur-de-lis; while some had just a bauble with sparkly rhinestones. The purple one I bought has a nice pretty heart of glitter and silver!! The green one has an elephant with its 'saddle' in rhinestone. More walking, more perusing, taste testing, people watching, fighting for a space in the aisles as the crowds grew larger and larger, after buying some tea and coffee mixes that were so refreshingly tart [the tea mixes] and for Bud, the sweetness of cream and pecans and Irish Cream [coffee mixes], we began working our way back to the great outdoors and the sales exhibited outside. After that, we called it a day and drove back to town and home, stopping for lunch at Texas Roadhouse for a steak lunch, late in the afternoon. I really like those lunches that we have, dining out, 'cause that means not much cooking involved later in the evening other than a chef salad and no dishes or clean up. For Tina's Picstory challenge this week: 18.-20. februar: *dächer - roofs* I thought this would be appropriate...the great towering roof of the Pavilion Entrance.

R M Borchard Regional Fairgrounds

Robstown, Texas

February 16, 2013

Peddlers' Show February 15-17

connecting to:

Ruby Tuesday2

Tina's Picstory

§ Only Time©

The tempest; this juncture in time
Touches of Autumn fill the air
Leaves tossed skyward, downward, coated with rime
Icy wind; tosslin' my hair.














Dry, wheat colored grasses sway
Birds overhead, at the horizon, soar
Trees dance to the tempo 'n' play
My bones chilling to the core.

















Espying a green sprout; kept hidden
Underneath the brown, red, orange and gold
"Don't touch my blades of jade; it's forbidden
Dear man, Jack Frost, with your gales so cold".















Some forfeit their right, give up so to speak
Departure 'n' free will, 'tis yet another season
Dwindle and fade, but ne'er too weak...
Decay and wither; compromise 'n' reason.








An encore forthcoming nears
Autumn winds subside, the offspring; seeds of time
Melted snowfall, awash of promise; rebirth reappears
Restored, recovered; returning to their prime!!








Only Time - Poem composed by Hootin' Anni
All Rights Reserved
November 11, 2012
Photos by Hootin' Anni
watermarked.



CONNECTING TO:

CONNECTING TO:
Macro Monday
I Heart Macro
Mellow Yellow
Ruby Tuesday2
Tina's Picstory [category challenge "Red"]

§ Gotta Love it!!

J is for "JOKESTER"

This was spotted as we were driving home some time ago. I've seen this classic car [my three brothers were 'into cars' when I was the younger sister admiring the handi-work and pin-striping and drag racing they did which I couldn't be part of because of my age and back then, it wasn't 'kosher' for a girl to like cars!]...anyway, I've admired this piece of automotive history...the owners always have it shining to a gloss finish like it's ready for anything; including a Mechanical Digest layout/centerfold!! But, the other day, as we drove home, I was on the lookout for the car - hoping it would be out of the garage. And it was! Parked in their driveway...Just like out of a movie about Al Capone or the Prohibition Days!!! But there was something added ----Check it out....what's hanging out of the TRUNK!!! All for Halloween fun perhaps? Or are they really part of the mob?!! I had to have Bud turn around and make my own drive-by cellphone camera 'shooting'. The first shot was right on target=======

CONNECTING TO:

§ Jock-a-mo...

IKO Iko!!!

Mardi Gras Indians have been parading in New Orleans at least since the mid-19th century, possibly before. The tradition was said to have originated from an affinity between Africans and Indians as minorities within the dominant culture, and blacks’ circumventing some of the worst racial segregation laws by representing themselves as Indians. According to some accounts, the tradition began as an African American tribute to American Indians who helped runaway slaves. These slaves married into the tribes on occasion. An appearance in town of Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show in the 1880s was said to have drawn considerable attention and increased the interest in masking as Indians for Mardi Gras. In the late 19th century and early years of the 20th century, the tribes had a reputation for brawling with one another. This part of Mardi Gras Indian history is immortalized in James Sugar Boy Crawford’s song, “Jock O Mo” (better known and often cover versions as “Iko Iko”). As the 20th century progressed, physical confrontation gave way to assertions of status by having better suits, songs, and dances. Generations ago when Mardi Gras Indians came through neighborhoods, people used to run away; now people run toward them for the colorful spectacle. A tradition of male-only tribes ended in the late 20th-century as women began appearing in costume as well. Generally each “Indian” makes his own suit, assisted by family and friends to sew elaborate bead and feather work-a chief’s suit can weigh up to 150 pounds (68 kg) and cost up to U.S. $5,000-and traditionally a new suit is required each year.

Also, there is a stand of hierarchy with the tribes. From high...the chief down in rank.

The song "Iko Iko" which was made popular within the last half century, was written in 1953, according to this site.

Info courtesy of History Site

Picstory challenge:  vacation - photo taken on our trip to New Orleans, 2011. If you look closely, the tribal king in his garb; his face, can be seen between the two decorated faces - just below the white fur trim.

CONNECTING TO:

§ When you gonna let me get sober?

The Picstory Challenge this week at Tina's Picstory is "feet". Well, the bottle of Cherry Wine Bud and I decided to try, after it was emptied, I saved and washed it out. Painted it a bloody red and let some black paint drizzle down the sides from the bottle-top. Then, I decorated it. I went to Hobby Lobby and the Dollar Store. At Hobby Lobby, they had their CHRISTMAS decorations and craft items at 40% off [Halloween was full price...hmmm]. Of course, I wanted something with red and black, so I 'lucked out' with the Christmas stuff...I found a red berry and black branch decorating pick along with black ribbon with added red sequins!! At the Dollar Store, I picked up a card of plastic skeletons. After returning home, I drew a 'ghostly spirit and barren black tree on a packaging label to make the bottle's label. Y'all know by now how I really get into the 'spirit' of Halloween...so, my wine bottle is CRIMSON SPIRITS....

...and naturally, I show off the skeleton's FEET, just for Tina

CONNECTING TO:

§ White shifting sands...

This week's topic for Tina's Picstory is TEXTURE.
The dunes along the shoreline near Whitecap Beach [North Padre Island] show off a lot of windswept textures... with the patterns in the sand, and the plant life that takes root, and added - the rippled texture of the gentle turquoise Gulf surf in the background. And then, another view of all together different textures would be the cactus plant that I saw along one of the trails we frequent; the ruby red is the blossom pod where you find cactus seeds - after blooming!!...






CONNECTING TO:

§ ...favorite things

Flower from our yard, this past Spring...
Dianthus
aka Sweet William


_ _ _


Tina's Picstory Challenge this week is *my favorite color*


I have two that are equally favorites...



purple and green
shown in this photos taken along a birding refuge trail park
flower: salvia [annual]




CONNECTING TO:

§ unbearbeitete bilder

Tina's Picstory challenge for us this week is: "unbearbeitete bilder" Which translates [according to Google Translate] - "unprocessed images". Now I'm being honest here, I'm not sure what she means by this, and I'm hoping that she means images that are not touched up...and right out of the camera ---

How I wish it were Spring again. These images below you'd see in our front yard in full bloom. But only in Spring and late Fall...right now, with the parched land, and those dictating us to conserve watering....my roses are looking mighty poorly about now. So, I see these in my archive photo folder and just dream of cooler times again soon---





---they ARE 'unprocessed images' except for my watermark. :o) The name of the patented rose is SIMPLICITY....I like 'em very much 'cause they're quite like a wild rose with single petaled blossoms and very light in fragrance.





CONNECTING TO:

§ nature...one way or another, a long story---

When I was just a youngster in Nebraska, even before my parents relocated to Colorado and I grew up in the foothills of the state, I could barely walk back then, but in the summer, I'd snitch the salt shaker from the kitchen, and waddle out to the vast crop of tomato plants and sit myself down on the muddied ground, pulling off the barely ripened tomatoes and just munch away, juice dribbling down my chin and onto my dress. My mom always used to tell me [a family lore] that when I couldn't be found around the yard, playing or in my room...she knew just where to find me! Yep, I loved the home grown tomatoes. And I have never tired of their taste. In fact around June of each year in my entire six decades, the hankering begins to grow within me and I need a tomato-fix!!! Now, over the years, my father, once we moved to Colorado, bought a large piece of ground adjacent to the house....he worked diligently over the next few seasons, planting an orchard of cherries, peaches, pears, apricots and apples. Along one fence he had grape vines. And in between all this, in the more protected area of the land, he planted vegetables. It was a family of five at that time...my two older brothers had left for serving the country at the end of the Korean War, and eventually married and started their own families. It was just mom and dad, my older brother, my sister and me. But, he had enough to feed the entire neighborhood once the 'harvesting' began each season. Yes, he even had enough tomatoes, even after mom would freeze and can the entire summer, to disperse to the lucky ones living next to us and around us. He never sold anything....he always gave from his heart. By the time I married, he was still tending to his acreage, and we could expect a 'care package' now and then from his garden. And he'd always save and make sure I had enough tomatoes to satiate my craving!!! Once I even had Bud spade up a small parcel in our own back yard and I planted tomatoes of course....they never did do as well as my dad's. He chewed tobacco, and mom wouldn't allow that stuff in her house---so, out to the garden he'd chew and spit. That too is a family lore --- his chewing and spitting on the plants made them grow much better than any one garden around town. Eventually, he passed on and I became quite disinterested in gardening. We retired to Arizona and all I could grow there were desert plants with success. Then, becoming tired of the desert summer heat and the day after day of white hot skies, we changed our minds about desert living [I still miss the desert landscape tho at times]....we ended up near the beach. The soil here in Texas isn't the best for tomatoes unless you add a lot of sand....neither one of us wants to tear up our flowers that we worked on to make a beautiful yard. So, each summer when that magical time of year rolls around, when my system drools for a home grown tomato, I grab the keys each weekend from May [tomatoes can be set out in MARCh around here] to August ---and buy those luscious beautiful red fruits. And yep, when I get home at the Farmer's Markets....I still grab the salt shaker. Sea Salt now.

_ _ _

For Tina's Picstory Challenge this week, it's the letter "H". Sunday morning we went out for a breakfast at a Texas known eatery; one of the clean ones. Taquerias....they're found all over the state of Texas. In fact, we have dozens of them around town. Most are quite grubby so we don't frequent those. Who in their right mind would care to dine with cockroaches? Not me. Anyway, after our Mexican breakfast, Huevos Rancheros, we hopped in the car and drove to one of our favorite birding areas. We spent some time there, just watching the activities. At that time of day, and low tide, we spotted white pelicans, seagulls, terns, a few spoonbills, egrets, a juvenile night heron and Bud enjoyed watching through the binoculars, a great blue heron with it's own breakfast, a fish [which you can see in the image to the right...the heron is in the background, and its breakfast is atop the water near his beak]. When we left that area, we drove around to the back side of the bay near the naval air station and parked to walk a short distance around the trail. Mostly Herons were spotted. And, a few Black Necked Stilts... By the bay side near the naval air station, Bud sat down and enjoyed watching the fisherman and birds on one of the park benches, while I walked back along the trail with my camera ready. At first, it was a cloudless day again, Hot and sultry. It didn't take long to work up a sweat without much exertion...but a Heady storm front was moving in; vigorously moving clouds began to cast a darkness overhead!!! Once the sun was Hidden behind the cloud bank, the temperature dropped by a few degrees instantly. A relief. I walked just a few yards before I came upon the first of many Handsome and well-kept gazebos for those who like to stop and just drink in the views of the bay or watch birds. These are Handy for those who bike, jog, walk, stroll. And as I said, there are several along this side of the bay around the area [it's all part of the city's birding trail system...this in particular is on the grounds of the Texas A&M West Campus]. Shaded, lighted at night, and a few down the trail more are camouflaged somewhat by sea grass and live oak ---still offering a view of the water front. It's an area that offers birders a goodly chance of seeing some great water fowl and shore birds. This is the area we spotted and watched a lone Wood Stork dine along the tidal basin of the bay waters!! The trail is paved and well lighted at night for those who wish to get their exercise after working hours, not too much of a challenge with hilly incline...but curvy and following the shore line. Sunday morning, I was alone on the path and saw no others, except for mostly Herons. They watched me as I watched them!!!

Storm Update:  Looks like my prediction of Ernesto is to be way off!!  I had it making landfall around Rockport Texas...well, after he leaves the Yucatan Peninsula of Old Mexico, he's gonna turn to the west and make landfall along the Eastern Coast of Mexico; not even coming close to USA ---so, no rain for us....again!!!





CONNECTING TO:

§ ...on the 'port side' of town

The "William M". A RUBY tugboat going out from the harbor house to greet a tanker coming into the harbor. Tina's Picstory theme last week, which I didn't participate in was 'wet' & this week it's azure for the newest photo challenge. I don't think you can get much more wet than the sea. And the sky is a light azure blue... LOL [next week Tina's photo challenge is the letter "H"]





CONNECTING TO: