Swim Meet, Breweries, Packing

Spending time with my daughter and grands today makes perfect sense to me.  I need happiness and joy for a bit.  The first swim meet of the year is in Keller and that's a new area for Mister and I.  We are up and out bright and early to meet Jen and Louis for breakfast first.

With food in our bellies, a walk over to the center and finding seats is next.  It's a chance to visit and catch up as even though we live in the same state, we don't get to see each other very often and I treasure these moments.

I've taken videos of the races, but Mister has all the still shots and he's even further behind than me in going through pictures.  It's been one of those months.  I'll add the pictures as soon as I can.

Jared Team Medley -- I didn't record the other team members and even got a late start with Jared

Keeping Our Minds Busy - History, Beer, and Food

The plan for today was changed and we absolutely need to be doing SOMETHING.  Hanging around the house is not a good plan so, after my sweetheart's doctor appointment, we are just going.  Where?  Not real sure, but somewhere.

As we are driving, Mister remembers a place we had talked about going last month -- Farmers Branch Historical Park.  It's not too far and we are soon walking the grounds.   Out front there is a windmill.  The history is that Mrs. Judy Byrd donated it to the Historical park which was originally located on Keenan Bridge Road, about 2 miles from the Historical Park and was the last working windmill in Farmers Branch.  In is a Dempster No. 12 Annu Oiled and was originally manufactured in Beatrice, Nebraska.  The Dempster Mill Manufacturing Company first opened up it's doors in 1885, and continues to manufacture windmills today.  the No. 12 was first introduced in 1922 and is still in production.  It's most popular feature was that it is a self oiling, back geared, steel pumping windmill which only required the owner to lubricate the gears once a year, rather than a more frequent oiling that other windmills required.  The Dempster windmill must have been an unusual sight on the Byrd property, as the majority of windmills in the area were Aeromotors, which could be purchased through an agent in Fort Worth.

Music in the Garden and PUMPKINS!!

The last two days have just been so hard.  Going walking surrounded by beauty and listening to music seems as though it may lift our hearts a bit and help to revive our ability to continue with all that must be done.  The Dallas Arboretum has a special members-only event tonight and we are going to just enjoy.  Not only do we have the chance to hear the music throughout the gardens, but Autumn at the Arboretum is never to be missed.  I do so love this time of year.

Mister Plans a Day

My sweet man has a whole day planned for us and I'm along for the ride.  I truly love when he does this.  We do the errands, drop groceries off at Mom's and then are off for a fun day.  Next stop is the farmer's market.  More than one vendor receives our money, but lots of fresh, delicious treats are in the car.

Beer Nerds Win

September 1st and the unofficial beginning of fall.  It's also the day MANY new laws take effect here in Texas.  However, before we move onto one of them, a stop at the coffee shop allows me to have a pumpkin scone!!!  It is the season.  I even truly splurged and had the pumpkin spice coffee.  Once per year is required.

Now, we are ready for the day.  Back to the new law.  As of today, the breweries are able to sell "Beer to Go" AND in a truly bizarre side story -- open at 10:00 a.m. on a Sunday to do so.  Yes, here in Texas you cannot buy hard liquor on Sundays at all.  Beer and wine in stores, but only after noon.  Read that again y'all.  We are now at Oak Highlands Brewery at 10:00 a.m. to break the chains for beer to go.  ALL breweries can now open AND serve at 10 a.m. on Sundays.  It's crazy, but true and we are not complaining.

We ARE, however, just beer nerdy enough to want to experience the moment. Thus, our true reason for being here.  It's not to drink beer at 10:00 a.m. (although we are), but it is to watch the moment take place.  As we enter the building, I take one last picture of the locked up cooler.  We have stared at this for several years now --- just waiting for today.

Downtown Dallas and Beyond

Downtown Dallas is calling.  We've answered.  A chance to visit with the nephew and do some city walking is always a choice opportunity.  To make it ever more urban, it's a DART day.  Why not?  Who wants to deal with parking?

Due to some work on the rail lines downtown, the last stop we can exit at gives us additional fun with a little longer walk.  You see -- some could be brought down by that, but not us.  It's just that much more up close fun.  Yes, we drive through downtown all the time, but when driving just how much can you really see?  It's hard to look up and keep eyes on the road AND all the great stuff is small.

Our first stop is at the Majestic Theater.  OMG -- I had no idea about the history behind it.  "The Majestic Theater is the sole survivor of a section of Elm Street that was once renowned  as Dallas' 'Theater Row.'  Built in 1921 (and by coincidence, located at 1921 Elm Street), the Majestic is actually the second theater by that name, the first being a vaudeville house built in 1905 at Commerce and St. Paul.  Throughout the 1920s, this grand old theater, designed to seat 2,400 patrons, presented vaudeville shows as well as motion pictures and, from time to time, live theater.  Some of the better-known performers who appeared on its stage were Milton Berle, George Burns and Gracie Allen, Bob Hope, Ray Bolger, Sally Rand, and Duke Ellington.  During its early years the elaborately-decorated Majestic boasted a full orchestra pit and a downstairs play area for children called 'Majesticland.'  In the 1930s the vaudeville acts were dropped and for many years only movies were shown here.  Today the Majestic is a live theater venue only."

This is cool --- old meets new.

Red Hats at Rockfish

Can you believe it is August already?  Wow --- The summer has flown by and it's time for another Red Hat event.

My life is a bit on the crazy side today, but I really am looking forward to the time I get to spend with my Red Hat Ladies.  Each month I feel as though I get to know them a little better, making the whole thing more and more comfortable.  I am racing from event to event today and by the time I get to Rockfish Grill, I really just want to sit down and take a deep breath. Whew.