STEFFINEE VISITS

Steffinee rode the Amtrack Train from OKC to Ft Worth to be here for Samantha's birthday. We had some time to visit her favorite spot in Grapevine on Tuesday before her train departed. She absolutely loves the Grapevine Library.

WILDLIFE SANCTUARY

Samantha and I were joking that the recent floods have made our church a wildlife sanctuary. A few weeks ago Chad took this picture of the ducks outside the lower entrance. Yesterday we had a turtle waiting outside the door!

RESULTS OF MAY'S RECORD BREAKING RAINS

Last month went down in the record books at the wettest May ever here in Grapevine, Texas. Here is a picture showing the results at some picnic structures around the lake. This picture is from the City of Grapevine and The GPD.

ONE OF THE WETTEST MAYS ON RECORD IN THE METROPLEX

After years of drought we have had one of the wettest months of May ever in Grapevine. There has been much damage from the rains in Central and South Texas. Thank God we haven't had it bad here. But we are tired of rain. Third rainiest month of May on record and we still have three days left in the month. Chad took this picture yesterday of the Oak Grove Park Ball Fields and parking lot. We used to live a couple of blocks from there and had a flood back then. The kids posted the following remarks after he posted the picture. The Grapevine Police posted the spillway picture today.

• Christy Wilson Bowman Right i remember that when we were kids and lived out by the lake

  Unlike · Reply · 1 · Yesterday at 6:45pm
• 

  Cindy Wilson Hart We swam in the parking lots!

  Unlike · Reply · 1 · Yesterday at 8:01pm
• 

  Chad Wilson I might go fishing in the parking lots this weekend

  Unlike · Reply · 3 · 23 hrs

The Spillway at Grapevine Lake.

SATURDAY NIGHT AT TEXAS MOTOR SPEEDWAY

Samantha loves NASCAR and wants to be at every major race that comes to TMS. Saturday night was the Duck Dynasty 500 and she was there. She gets this love of NASCAR from her daddy and Aunt Christy. Here's her selfies from Saturday night. She has on her Danica Patrick cap and shirt. She met Danica and was excited about that!.

STATE FAIR OF TEXAS 1955

A look at Fair Park in Dallas during the 1955 State Fair of Texas. Hard to imagine the fair being so small. I was an 8-year-old Southern Indiana girl at the time.

February 27, 2015 Was a Strange Day in Grapevine, Texas

Today was a strange day for us in Grapevine. Our average high temperature for Feb. 27 is 63 degrees. Our high yesterday was 30 degrees. We had 2-inches of snow officially at DFW. That broke the record set in 1934 when they had .5 inches! Where is all that global warming they keep talking about?

I must say many of these Texans seemed really excited to see snow, not me. I have seen enough snow in my lifetime to satisfy me. I am a native Hoosier and lived one winter in New York so let me assure you that 2-inches of snow is nothing to get excited about! Dustin loved it though and had to get out in it then make snow ice cream. Me, I am ready for Spring!

FAIR PARK IN THE SNOW FEBRUARY 27, 2015

Since this blog is basically history for my grandkids to have later in life I thought it would be appropriate to post this picture of Fair Park in Dallas in today's snow. There is quite a change from the 1915 picture and this snowy scene. Mom (Mam-Mam) would have loved seeing this. She loved this part of Fair Park.

STATE FAIR OF TEXAS 1915

I love this picture. I have always enjoyed history and especially in areas I am familiar with.

Folks at the State Fair in Dallas, 1915. I'm always drawn to images of people having a good time. Do I detect (dare I say it?) a trace of a smile on a couple of their faces?

This image courtesy Southern Methodist University, Central University Libraries, DeGolyer Library.

THE PENNY GILLEY SHOW TAPING

Had fun with Samantha last night. Chad dropped Steve, Samantha and myself off at the Palace Theater (Grapevine Opry) on Main Street for tapings of The Penny Gilley Show for RFD-TV. Having been in some TV filming when I worked in JCP corporate office I understood all the workings of making a production. Since Samantha likes watching Penny's show on TV I wanted her to see how it was produced. She had a great time, got to talk with and had her picture taken with Penny, saw country star Johnny Lee and another of her favorite RFD-TV stars Molly B, etc. She learned to sit quietly during filming, watch all the behind the scenes communication, and was surprised that sometimes it takes many retakes to film one song or conversation. Now she is anxiously awaiting seeing these new shows on TV. Another part of the learning process is that they filmed in segments and now the shows have to be 'put together'. It was interesting to her that after Johnny Lee sang and had left, they filmed Penny's introduction to him. I think she was a little surprised to know that won't be shown until later, starting in April. Steve enjoyed it so much he is considering going back today. If RFD-TV is available in your area and you enjoy classic country and gospel music be sure to check it out. Who knows, sometime this Spring or Summer you just might see us on TV! Now wouldn't that be a treat?!!

The Old Sign at The Palace.

Penny Gilley inside the Palace.

STEFFINEE HAD A FUN TIME IN TEXAS

Steffinee is headed back to her home in Shawnee, Oklahoma this afternoon. She really had a great time in Texas and was thrilled to spend time getting to know her Great-Aunt Janet Ritter and Cousin Stacy Ritter.

Sisters, Steffinee and Samantha, having fun at Great Wolf Lodge.

CRAZY COUSINS

I think these two crazy cousins could be dangerous if left together for too long! They will give you a case of the giggles for sure!

Stacy Ritter and Christy Bowman at TMS.

STACY AT THE FT WORTH STOCKYARDS

I love this picture of Stacy on the Grapevine Vintage Railroad Engine that pulled our train into the Fort Worth Stockyards Station.

NASCAR LADIES AT TMS

Christy and Stacy are big NASCAR fans. They enjoyed spending Tuesday morning at Texas Motor Speedway. From all the laughter, I think they had a good time. I'm sure they would love to attend a race together.

RIDING THE TRAIN FROM GRAPEVINE TO FORT WORTH

Samantha and Steffinee at the depot before departure.

On Monday ten of us boarded the train in Grapevine and rode in the old-fashion first class car to The Fort Worth Stockyards. We all had a great day. It has been great having Janet and Stacy visiting. We are sorry to see them leave today.

Samantha, Lindsay, Linda, Steffinee (in hat), Lauren (behind Grandma), Janet, Steve, Cindy, Stacy, and Chad in the back.

Samantha Having Fun With Cousin Stacy

Steffinee and Samantha wanted to take Stacy and Janet to one of their favorite places, the Great Wolf Lodge. Here are Samantha and Stacy having fun.

More of Grapevine's Christmas on Main Street 2014

Samantha loved the red tinsel tree.

Grandma liked the green on this tree and Samantha enjoyed sitting on the window ledge.

I was just strolling along when Samantha tugged on my arm and pointed up. I would have missed this one but she notices everything.

PICTURES FROM FOUNDERS' PLAZA ON MAIN STREET

Pictures from Founders' Plaza on Main Street.

FROSTY WITHOUT THE SNOW

Nothing like hugging Frosty when it is 70 degrees and there's no snow on the ground! (Thank Heavens!!) Thank you Texas weather.

 

OLD FASHION CHRISTMAS ON MAIN STREET

 Part of the Main Stree Christmas that reminds us of our past. Christy once built a replica of this cabin and did a report on its history when she was in middle school. She came in second place in an area contest.