Casper, Wy in August 2010

Few would dispute that I love to travel and a chance to see a far North part of the USA was a grand adventure.  Casper lies in the east central part of the state and is locked away from the world when the winter snows arrive.  As a southern native I was amazed to hear that Casper folks don't think it odd that the main and only road from here to there; I-25 is literally closed for weeks at a time.  I loved the wide, open feeling, the cool moutain air provided by none other - Casper Mountain that establishes the Southern border of this lively town.  The massive wind turbines dot the Northern hills.  Located about 15 miles from the city, they dwarf the huge power plant they supply.
It's been a long time since I've flown and now remember why - I hate airports but the chance to capture the view from above the clouds was worth it.
To quote Dorothy - "There's no place like home".

Granbury, Tx July 2010

An extended weekend to visit this very historic town.  Rick and I acting like professional tourist for a few days. A favorite photo spot - Grandbury Live theater.  We didn't have a chance to catch a show, but hear that they rival Branson, MS shows.  Maybe little morbid, but we love historic cemeteries and this town has some fantastic history.  The old jail house has been converted to a museum with loads of stories from the retired volunteer gentleman who is old enough to recall a lot of first hand info and tales from his folks.
Notable facts -
Forensic anthropologists are conducting DNA testing on the bones of one J. Frank Dalton, who just prior to his 1951 death in Granbury claimed to be the notorious outlaw Jesse James. History currently purports that James died in 1882 in Missouri, gunned down by a member of his own gang. But revisionists in Granbury have long claimed that James came to their town in the 1880's to work on the railroad.
Then there was John Wilkes Booth, Abraham Lincoln's assassin. He evidently spent a lot of time in Granbury's saloons. And like Jesse James, Booth evidently assumed an alias.
 Granbury Opera House takes front and center stage amongst the town's entertainment venues. Built in 1886, the opera house exhales a rich history that architects resuscitated in 1975 when they restored the building to its original grandeur.
A quick google of Granbury, Texas reaps a wealth of colorful history for this small, but growing, community with roots dating back to 1871.

Found Discarded / 365 - 7.18 to 7.24.10

DISCARD [dɪsˈkɑːd]

vb 1: to get rid of as useless or undesirable 2: abandon.

There's nothing like finding a good deal - trash to treasure kind of thing, especially when a visit to the local library reaps an extraordinary find - FREE set of The International Encylopedia of Social Sciences. Doesn't matter that they were published in 1968 - all knowledge is good.
Rick rescues many unwanted things - sometimes cheap and other times, well, not so. I now have a beautiful desk that was originally a dresser; ugly, unwanted, greatly used up. In his usual methodical manner this rejected bedroom suite is slowly being restored.
When is a flower a weed - when it goes wildly about the yard in unwanted places - like the lawn.
I think of the many, many, endeavors I've taken up - only to be abandoned when I reach my self-described level of competency. This is especially true considering the time, money and complete satisfaction I found when I was aspiring to be an acrylic artist.