Out and about - Dallas Zoo, Fort Worth Fun

 A couple of weeks ago, Mister signed us up for a Member Morning at the Dallas Zoo.  Yesterday, Jen asked us to go to Fort Worth and meet them.  We now have a very busy day ahead of us.

That means - an early rise and shine -- a stop for donuts and coffee -- and to the zoo right on time.  As we are walking towards the hippos, a quick stop to see the penguins swimming and I almost walk into this spider.  OMG.  As we moved past it, the spider went back up the web, taking all trace of it with her into the eaves.  Crazy.

White Rock No-Water No-Birds

 Needing to walk for a bit, I suggest going to see if the pelicans have returned to the lake.  Imagine our surprise when this is what we discover.

A Night With Van Gogh

We have tickets to the Van Gogh Immersive Experience tonight --- we've been waiting MONTHS for this to take place and I am super excited.  Come along and share the fun.

 

Big Boy Steam Engine Fun

 Yesterday, Mister and I heard about Big Boy being in Fort Worth and we missed it.  What?  A little digging found their travel schedule for the next day and we quickly made plans to rise early and be in Midlothian when he arrives.

We've found a great spot under a bridge along the tracks and are pretty much at the front of the pack.  Here is our view and as we wait.

Who is Big Boy?, you may be asking.  Well, here is a LINK to a site with lots of technical information but the short of it is, "Twenty-five Big Boys were built exclusively for Union Pacific Railroad, the first of which was delivered in 1941.  The locomotives were 132 feet long and weighed 1.2 million pounds.  Because of their great length, the frames of the Big Boys were "hinged," or articulated, to allow them to negotiate curves.  They had a 4-8-8-4 wheel arrangement, which meant they had four wheels on the leading set of "pilot" wheels which guided the engine, eight drivers, another set of eight drivers, and four wheels following which supported the rear of the locomotive.  The massive engines normally operated between Ogden, Utah, and Cheyenne, Wyoming.  There are seven Big Boys on public display in various cities around the country.  They can be found in St. Louis, Missouri; Dallas, Texas; Omaha, Nebraska; Denver, Colorado; and Cheyenne, Wyoming.  Big Boy No. 4014 was delivered to Union Pacific in December 1941.  The locomotive was retired in December 1961, having traveled 1,031,205 miles in its 20 years of service.  Union Pacific reacquired No. 4014 from the RailGiants Museum in Pomona, California, in 2013, and relocated it back to Cheyenne to begin a multi-restoration process.  It returned to service in May 2019 to celebrate the 150th Anniversary of the Transcontinental Railroad's Completion.  

Mister and I actually saw Big Boy 4004 in Cheyenne, WY (LINK) back in 2013, and we've seen the one in Dallas, but they are just on display, not operating.  THIS sweetie today --- the ONLY one actually operating.

Summertime in Montana - Days 11- 16 and Home

 19th - We are back to finishing up the family room desk today and come across an envelope full of pictures.  Mom settles in to put names on the backs of them (so happy for this) and while doing some comes across this picture of a great-uncle.  She starts telling me his story and I'm getting that "this has to be an exaggerated family legend feeling" so I head to the internet.  Lo, and behold - everything she's said is right there in print.  Want to know?  Let me share what I found and it's not always in order, but still intersting.

Please meet Ole A. Olson, a.k.a., The Hermit.  

"He was a quiet, unassuming fellow who didn't seek publicity.  But oh, how he could carve.  His name was Ole Olson, but he gained the fame he didn't want as Ole the Hermit.  He didn't always live alone.  He was married in 1921 to an Irish girl named Hazel but after her death in 1934, Ole settled down in Valley City, N.D., with only Bertha, his cat, for company and spent much of his time carving.  Ole died in 1966 but he left behind many carved figures which are popular because of their intricacy and the wry humor he carved into them."

Now for the details:

Summertime in Montana - 6-10

 July 14 - Mom and I are off to Kalispell this morning for her stress test, a stop at the bank, and to pick up her new car.  No point in pictures from the first two, but TA-DA --- she's driving it home even - back from Kalispell.  This is further than she will usually be driving, but excitement is the same no matter what age we are and a new car, well . . . . dang, that's jus exciting period.

Summertime in Montana - Days 1-5

 July 9 - It's my sister's birthday and we are off to Montana.  I haven't spent her birthday with her in oh so many years - in fact, I can't remember the last time.  It's time.  We have snagged non-stop flights from Dallas to Kalispell and that is amazing in itself.  It's a nice day and we are outta here.  Hours later, lakes begin to appear and we are getting close.