On The Road Friday ~ Texas to Wisconsin

 

 

I am a wee bit behind in sharing some of the highlights of 2023 with you all. Here we go with a little catch up. Mid-May my Uncle Paul and Aunt Sally came for a Wisconsin visit. I took a photo of the TEXAS license plate of their truck parked in our driveway.

 

All the way from, The Lone Star State. My Uncle Paul and Aunt Sally did a true Wisconsin Family Tour, starting in Southern Wisconsin, heading way North to Eagle River, Wisconsin and then heading West to Northwest Wisconsin. They visited and stayed with family and friends during their month long trip. 

It was a true blessing to catch up, right where we left off in 2018, our last in person visit.

 Our family is wearing short sleeves and my Texas family is wearing long sleeves, in fact my Aunt Sally had a turtleneck on prior to heading out to take some family photos. 

It makes me laugh how climate can change us.. how we can get cold fast after living in a hot climate and us Wisconsin folks can get hot fast when visiting a hot climate.

 

 We had a lovely three day and two night visit. And when they left to head South for Texas they said, "it is your turn to visit us."

 

♥ 

Carla

How about you, have you had any traveling friends or family visit you this summer season? 

Young at Heart and it is the Hodgepodge!

 

The above photo was taken of Marv and our son Sam last summer. Marv is 92 years old in that photo. His life long lesson was to keep moving and keep learning!

Now it is time to do the Hodgepodge..

Joyce asks the questions.

We answer the questions.

 Click here to join the fun!

1. How would you define 'old'? I would define 'old' well loved.

 At what age is someone old? I will have to say it depends on the person. Our friend Marv was 92.. but you would never have guessed that. He was passionate about life and doing his best everyday. If you are new to The River, Marv was a dear family friend, who passed away May 2021. He was a Korean War Hero.. his stories could make you question how he could be so positive in life.. but he decided early that life is .. 10% of what happens to me and 90% how I react to it.

2. A place you've been that's old? Tell us something about your visit there. 

The Alamo.. it was very moving. We visited in 2012. At that time RESPECT for the Heroes who died was enforced by Texas Rangers. I was moved that how we were in the city of San Antonio, yet, when in The Alamo, I did not even realize city was all round me.

 

 

 

 
3. Something you miss about the 'good old days'? Thinking back to our visit to The Alamo, I miss respect. When were they anyway? I am not sure.. but I do know respect is something missing in our current times.

 4. In what way are you a 'chip off the old block'? Or if you'd rather, in what way is your child a 'chip off the old block'? 

I will go with our boys are 'chip off the old block' .. My husband and I both are patriotic. We know America is a true miracle. Our boys feel the same way.

5. Old fashioned, Old Testament, old timer, same old same old, old glory, good old boy, old wives tale...choose an 'old' phrase that relates to something in your life or the wider world currently and explain. 

Old Wives Tale.. currently we are hashing out what kind of winter it will be in Northwest Wisconsin. An abundance of crab apples..  the acorns are big and already dropping..

 6. Insert your own random thought here. 

This week I listened to an interview with Yeonmi Park. 

She has an amazing story! 

Yeonmi Park, a North Korean defector, suffered unimaginable horror on her journey to freedom. Desperate from starvation and oppression, she managed to escape to China, but had been sold. Several years later, she escaped through the Gobi Desert into Mongolia and then finally to freedom in South Korea.

Prayers for Texas

 2012 we visited our family that lives in Texas.

We attended the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo.

The following photos are from the rodeo in 2012.

 If you have followed The River for awhile, you know the story of my garden mentor Marv, who is 89 years old. He lives alone, gardens and travels to Rockport, Texas to his cabin each November.  Marv has been the subject of many posts here at The River, from the little tricks he likes to play on me and my boys at the Community Garden. His recipe for Deer Out and other garden tricks he has shared with me.

At this time, Marv has not been able to connect with his friends and neighbors in Rockport. He has dear friends who live year around in Rockport. Marv comes to stay in his cabin in Wisconsin during the summer months.

As he waits to hear news, we are trying our best to cheer him up.

Our family that lives in Texas are fine. They received rain, lots of rain, but they are doing well.

Praying 

 ♥

 

Dream Car

 Do you have a dream car?

Is the Chevrolet  Camaro your style?

What color?

Black, Red, Yellow

 Convertible?

Do you like to drive with the top down?

Or maybe the Dodge Challenger?

 My son Atticus, getting excited to drive off in this Red Ford Mustang.

 

 And me sitting in my dream car.

A Ford Mustang has been my dream car.

I love the color black for vehicles. 

A black Ford Mustang for me.

How about you? Do you have a favorite color for a vehicle?

 And what is your dream car?

Motivation and Habit

Motivation is what gets you started.

 Habit is what keeps you going!     

Jim Ryan

Names

 We took the following photos for Atticus at the Houston Rodeo. He is asked about his name a lot.

Jeremy and I both love the novel To Kill a Mockingbird. Atticus Finch ... he is an amazing man in the story. I do not want to give to much away in case you have not read the book or watched the movie.

We decided to name our second son .... Atticus.

He is asked often about his name.

We could not help but tease him a bit "Atticus, how many times do you think Straws is asked about his name?"

How about Stockton?

I love different names. I love to hear why people are named what they are.

While in Texas, we also met Brick!

Atticus was feeling pretty good!

How about you? Did you name your children after a family member, a favorite character or just because you like the name?

And if you have not read To Kill a Mockingbird   check it out from your local library. I guarantee, you will enjoy it!

Give him yours

Be helpful, when you see a person without a smile, give him one of yours.

Zig Ziglar

Remembering Zig R.I.P 

On The Road Friday

 Today, we will head back to Texas.

We visited the Alamo in March. This was an amazing adventure for us. On our ride home back to Wisconsin, we talked over and over again about the Alamo. It had an great impact on our boys. The price for freedom is definitely taught here at the Alamo.

 To start your visit, I would suggest watching... Alamo...The Price of Freedom at the Imax Theatre Rivercenter. The movie wows the kids and gives perspective on the historical site.

 After the movie, head over to the real site. The battle and the importance of this time in history, fresh in your mind.

 The city is built up around the Alamo, but once inside, you feel like it is just the Alamo...not the city of San Antonio.

Bullet holes in the rock.

 During our study of the Alamo, I fell in love with Colonel William B. Travis. It was so sad to watch him die.

 I appreciated this sign!

 Gentlemen remove hats.

Texas has made it very clear that the Alamo is a place that is to be respected. I appreciated it. It was refreshing that others did too. The men who held the Alamo, were very brave.

Remembering the Alamo!

God Bless!

Texas at night

We are on the road this Friday to Texas at night.

Here we go...

I love fair rides at night, they are so pretty!

I love posing for this photo.

It is so beautiful.

The boys with Aunt Sally and Uncle Paul.

I think they should have done the kissing pose. Just kidding!

That is our trip to the Houston Rodeo at night.

Have a great weekend!

Rodeo Night

Welcome friends! It is, On the Road Friday! If you have been following along, we are still in Texas. Tonight, it is Rodeo Night! Put on your cowboy boots, rhinestone belts and wrangler jeans! Here we go!

Bareback Riding

Team Roping

Saddle Bronc Riding

Bull Riding

Bull Riding and the clowns in for the rescue!

Sorry clowns...you can not get me!

Okay, I was just having a little fun. I will go back in my pen!

 This was my favorite event. I loved this bull! He had an attitude. It took awhile to get him to decide to head back to his pen. It was great fun watching everyone work together and the bull made it safe and sound to his pen.

Chuck Wagon Racing

Calf Scramble

Have any of you been to a rodeo? This was our boys first. They enjoyed it. I think it is amazing how brave these folks can be to ride bulls, bronco's and jump off a horse and wrestle a steer. Well, brave may not be the word some of you are thinking. :)

Have a great autumn weekend!