Fort Worth, Mom's Visit, Albuquerque

My Aunt Joy moved from Council Bluffs, IA, to Fort Worth, TX, almost six months ago.  I miss seeing her often, so we decided to take a trip to visit her and her family in late October.

On the way, we lunched at the Deep Deuce Grill, an old restaurant in Oklahoma City's newly revitalized Brick House area.

The Deep Second neighborhood became home to two of America's most famous jazz legends, Jimmy Rushing and Charlie Christian, as well as to famous author, Ralph Ellison. In 1953, Ellison wrote a poem entitled Deep Second as a tribute to the Deep Deuce, where he landed his first job.

Aunt Joy, enjoying the warm Texas sun on a late fall day.

Joy has a very nice apartment in an assisted living facility.  She has a lovely view from her porch, overlooking a park area with nice trees.

We did most of our visiting here with my cousin, Nina, and her husband, Jerry, in their lovely home.

Jerry tells us about his golf game.  They live across the street from the golf course, so he gets plenty of opportunity to play.

While in Texas, the MN Gophers beat the Huskers!  Jerry, a MN alum, was thrilled!  Fox Sport says: "The University of Minnesota football team continues to win, and has turned into one of the best stories in college football this season."  Go Gophers!

It was especially nice to have my Mom join Joy and us in Texas for the visit.   Sisters-in-law, they had a lot of catching up to do.

Mom and Rusty enjoy a little wine.

Nina's and Jerry's daughter and son-in-law, Ryan, have a lovely new home in Fort Worth.  Five-month old Landon was the star of the show.  I really enjoyed holding him!

Proud Papa Ryan makes faces while Grandma Nina holds Landon.

Allison, Joy and Landon

Di, Pearl, Joy

It wasn't until we got home that I realized I didn't get a single picture of Nina.  I think Nina takes after our grandmother!

These smiles show how much fun we had!

Thank you, Nina, Jerry and Joy for showing us such a good time and feeding us wonderful meals!

We left Texas with Mom in tow, and traveled through northern Texas, Kansas, and eventually, Nebraska.  Along the way we enjoyed watching the steady harvest of grain and the yellow cottonwoods of autumn.

While Mom was in Nebraska with us, we walked at least a mile every day.  Mom was a real trooper while she was here.  She went with me to work with my Teammate, Maria.

We decorated a fall pumpkin.

Mom went to yoga class with me and did a fine job!  Mom even enjoyed a short ride with me in the Miata (top up, since it was chilly).

We took Mom to see the two homes our family lived in while in Lincoln.  This one is the home where we lived while my father was finishing his degree at UNL.

I was actually born in this house.  The neighbor was a nurse, and she delivered me.

Mom and Rusty and I went to a Halloween party.  Mom and I had a fun afternoon making the costumes.

See no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil.

We even had tails!

Mom said this is the first costume party she ever attended.

On Halloween night we had a couple other visitors...

Celeste, just as cute as can be!

Lindsay as an insane patient with boyfriend, Tyler.

The last evening Mom was in town she treated us to dinner at The Blue Orchid.

Rusty, Di, Pearl at the Thai restaurant.

On Monday, we had lunch in Midtown Omaha with Mom's only living brother, Uncle Mike, and his wife, LeAnn.

  Then we dropped Mom off at the airport and she was on her way home.  Thanks for visiting, Mom!  I hope you come again soon!

We had two days before packing our bags again.

Rusty took advantage of the time to do some more planing on our future dining table.  Since he's using all hand tools, this table has become a very exhausting and extended project.

Now that Rusty is retired, he thought it best that his Weibe bass find a new home.  Shipping a bass without breakage is an impossibility.  Flying is nearly impossible since it requires the purchase of two first-class tickets (one for Rusty, one for the bass).  With high security, there is no guarantee they will even let the bass on the plane.  So, we drove to Albuquerque, NM.

Robertson and Sons Violin Shop, Albuquerque, NM

Aaron Robertson, a bass player from Curtis, gushed over the Weibe bass.  We hope he will find it a good home.

After breathing a huge sigh of relief at having delivered the bass safely, Rusty and I headed to Old Town to have a margarita.  Mine was a jalapeno margarita---awesome!  Then we walked the streets of Old Town and enjoyed the amazing history.

Old style southwestern architecture.

One of the many little streets or alleys with shops.

Howdy, Pardner.

This guy is always causing trouble.

Locals, many native Americans, selling their jewelry.

Steeples of San Felipe church

I'm unclear about who would be the "secular clergy."

San Felipe, a very simple, yet beautiful church.

We were not looking forward to the two-day drive home, but there were interesting things to see along the way.

In northern Texas, we passed mile after mile of huge feed lots.  I had no idea there were such gigantic places.

  

Liberal, KS claims to be the home of Dorothy, from the Wizard of OZ.

We actually ran over one of these tumbleweeds in southern Kansas.  There is a farm that sells them!

Monument to George Washington Carver, famous for finding many uses for peanuts.

In August 1886, Carver established a claim on the SE ¾ of 4-19- 26 approximately l½ miles south of present day Beeler. He maintained a small conservatory of plants and flowers and a geological collection; as well as working for George H. Steeley on his ranch and doing odd jobs in town.

While trying to prove up his claim he broke out seventeen acres, all of which were plowed, and planted rice, corn, Indian corn and garden produce. Also, he planted forest trees, mulberry, plum and apricot fruit trees and shrubbery. He made all these necessary improvements with a spade, hoe and corn planter, but no domestic animals.
In early 1888, after successive years of drought, Carver obtained a $300.00 loan from George A. Borthwick, Vice-President of the Bank of Ness City, stating he wanted to further his education. In June of that year Carver left the area, and on January 1, 1891 he deeded his claim over to Fred C. Borthwick for one dollar and other valuable considerations.

Our last night was spent in Dodge City, Kansas.  The town is surrounded by feed lots and has quite a strong odor.  Being a lover of Gunsmoke, I had to tour main street before we left.

Yup.  I think I see Matt headed to the Longbranch to talk with Miss Kitty right now!