Saturday with Family

Today was a good day with my sister Jane and my brother-in-law Hack. First thing this morning we went down to Southwestern Gems and Minerals on Central Avenue. Jane is a rock hound and loves to look for unusual rocks and stones for her collection. This store was a good one, according to her - what do I know?


After lunch, we went to the Corrales Heritage Days which is centered around the Casa San Ysidro, a museum in an old Spanish house close to the old Church. We saw artisans, heard stories of how the original and recent owners built and changed the house, saw interesting animals, and learned how to bake bread in an horno.


Then we finished the day with a walk through the Corrales Bosque along the Rio Grande River.


All in all, a good day.

They're Here

My sister, Jane, and my brother-in-law, Hack, arrived today from Bowling Green, Kentucky via Dallas. They had a good, uneventful flight and we had a quiet evening.

Tomorrow morning we hit a rock shop in Albuquerque as Jane is an avid rock collector. In the afternoon we're going to attend Corrales Heritage Days.

It should be fun.

Thursday Gettin' Ready

I went out to Galloping Grace Youth Ranch this morning and worked with some great kids. While I was there, Betty went to Sam's Club to do some shopping. This afternoon we're cleaning the house.

We're getting ready for a visit from my sister, Jane, and my brother-in-law, Hack. They're coming in tomorrow from Bowling Green, Kentucky for a week's visit.

One of the reasons for their visit is they want to go see the Grand Canyon so Monday we're heading over their and won't be home until next Thursday night. During their visit my posting may be kind of haphazard.

Today's flower is the bloom on a False Yucca.

More Memories and Wednesday's Flower

Time for more memories.

When I was a kid in the very early 1950's my two favorite TV shows were "Watch Mr. Wizard" and "The Howdy Doody Show."

Mr. Wizard was Don Herbert, a decorated B-24 pilot during World War II. "Watch Mr. Wizard" came on every Saturday morning starting in March, 1951. He was an early version of "Bill Nye, the Science Guy."

He would have a visitor, usually a boy named Jimmy, and he would do simple experiments to illustrate some scientific principle. It was always done in a way that even a kid like me could understand.

His show ran though most of the 1950's and was briefly revived in the early 1970's and then again in the 1980's on the Nickelodeon Channel.

My other favorite show was "The Howdy Doody Show." The show made its debut in 1947 and was extremely popular during the 1950's. The host was Buffalo Bob Smith and the show always started with the song, "It's Howdy Doody Time." Most of the characters were marionettes with the main character being Howdy Doody himself.

Other marionette characters were Princess SummerFall WinterSpring, Mayor Phineas T. Bluster, Dilly Dally, and the strange Flub-a-Dub, a character made up of a duck's bill, a cat's whiskers, a spaniel's ears, a giraffe's neck, a dachshund's body, a seal's flippers, a pig's tail, and an elephant's memory.

There were two main human characters, Chief Thunderthud who originated the cry, "Kawobonga!" and Clarabell the Clown, both of whom were played originally by Bob Keeshan who went on to his own fame as Captain Kangaroo. Clarabell the Clown never spoke until the final show on September 24, 1960 when he said, "Goodbye, kids."

I also enjoyed watching Sid Ceasar, Milton Berle and the Ed Sullivan Show with the rest of the family. But, these two shows were my shows.

TV was a lot simpler in those days.


Today's favorite flower is Salvia Greggii.

Have a great Wednesday.

Bosque Ride and Tuesday's Flower

Yesterday, Betty and I had our first ride in the Bosque, the woods along the Rio Grande River, since last summer. It was the first time for Sugar as well.

Naturally, I forgot my camera, but we had a nice ride through the woods for over an hour. The total ride time was about an hour and a half.

Sugar did well. She and Betty had their first water crossing. There's a clear water ditch where the horses can get some water to drink after the ride. Sugar had no problems walking down a slope into the water.

Both horses trailered well both going and coming, especially Sugar. She's learned to walk in on her own with little encouragement from Betty. She's a smart horse.

When we got home we took off their tack and brushed them down.

Then they got their carrots (unpeeled, Michelle) - Morgunn gets his in a tub.

And Sugar gets her carrot by hand.

Then we hosed them down since it was warm, starting with Morgunn.


Then Morgunn took his role in the dirt and gravel.

Then it was Sugar's turn to get a bath.


We expected Sugar to roll also and she walked around a lot like she was looking for a place to roll.

However, she finally decided to get a drink of water with Morgunn.

Then she finally decided to roll.


Other times Sugar has kicked up her heels and run around a little bit, but I guess she was too tired today. She just went into her stall to wait for lunch.

Tuesday's flower is Rosemary. We have several large Rosemary bushes that have the small bluish-purple flowers.

Monday's Video - Magic

(For those who read yesterday's Mother's Day post - when I was a little boy in the late 1940's and early 1950's and everyone dressed up for church on Mother's Day, both the adults and children would wear a red rose bud if your mother was still alive and a white rose bud if your mother was dead.)

I have always been fascinated by magicians or illusionists (whatever you want to call them). This guy is amazing because of the quickness of his illusions. You know that there's a trick somewhere, but it boggles the mind to think that people could move as quickly as needed to make his illusions work.

Enjoy.

Sunday Reflections - Mother's Day

May your father and mother be glad; may she who gave you birth rejoice! (Proverbs 23:25)

A mother is a person who seeing there are only four pieces of pie for five people, promptly announces she never did care for pie. ~Tenneva Jordan

As a mother comforts her child, so will I comfort you;... (Isaiah 66:13)

The heart of a mother is a deep abyss at the bottom of which you will always find forgiveness. ~Honoré de Balzac

...honor your father and mother,... (Matthew 19:19)

If evolution really works, how come mothers only have two hands? ~Milton Berle

As Jesus was saying these things, a woman in the crowd called out, "Blessed is the mother who gave you birth and nursed you." (Luke 11:27)

A mom forgives us all our faults, not to mention one or two we don't even have. ~Robert Brault

When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, "Dear woman, here is your son," and to the disciple, "Here is your mother." From that time on, this disciple took her into his home. (John 19:26-27)

The image I love of God's love is the image of a mother and her unborn child. When Betty was pregnant with Wade Daniel and Chris she carried them in her womb - just below her heart. For nine months they were comforted by the beat of her heart. Every beat was a sign of her love for them. This closeness of a child and his mother's heart is the closest we can come to understanding God's love for us. Every beat of his heart is a sign of his love.

Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her... (Proverbs 31:28)


To all Mothers everywhere, Happy Mother's Day. To my Mother in heaven, Happy Mother's Day. To the best Mother I have ever known - my sweet wife, Betty, Happy Mother's Day.

(PS: To those who are old enough, you may understand why I chose a white Rose bud for the picture.)