Sunday, November 3, 2013

NASCAR Texas Motor Speedway

Bob is a NASCAR fan.  When ever we travel we listen to NASCAR radio on Sirus.  Many of you may not know that there is a radio station that talks all day and night about NASCAR.  Last year the Texas AAA 500 was racing here just before we got into town.  I suggested maybe Bob would want to go, but he didn't want to speed up to make it for the race.  This year we were already in Texas for the race, so he decided to go.  I sacrificed going so he could buy a better tickets.


He left the house at 9:30 am for a 1:00 pm race.  I think he looks like a race driver here.  I made him take some selfies.


Texas Motor Speedway


Midway where you could buy souvenirs.


Kyle Busch's car was on view for people to take a closer look.


Inside Kyle's car.  Not much room for the driver.


Bob watched a race show, Track Side, being filmed before the race.


The race.


Pit stop.


Racing again.  Jimmy Johnson won.  There are two more races in the season.  Jimmy is in the lead by 7 points after this race.  If he wins the championship, it would be his 6th.  Which is very special.


Bob enjoyed the race.  He rented a scanner, so he could hear the drivers and spotters talking.  However.....


It took him 3 hours to get home.  Usually a 45 minute drive.  He doesn't think he will go again.  He liked it, but a 3 hour drive home was tough.  He got home at 8:30 pm. I think it is like any large event if you know the tricks, there probably is a way in and out a lot quicker.

Thursday, October 31, 2013

Halloween 2013 Theme The Wizard of Oz

We wanted to be back in the Dallas/Fort Worth area in time to share Halloween with our grandchildren.

We have Addie, as Dorothy.


Asher as the flying monkey. He had wings but he only wore them for candy.


And Claire as the tornado.  Have you heard of type casting.


Our first stop was a block party for a Halloween dinner.
They tried to get a group picture of all the children. Like herding cats.


A few parents trying to get a picture.


We tried for one picture of our three some.




 Finally a perfect picture.


We had mummy hot dogs and it was a party enjoyed by all.  Well maybe Uncle Scotty was not too sure about all the hyper little ones.  


Then we headed out for Trick or Treat.

Tuesday, October 29, 2013

Frontier Texas in Abilene

Our friend Jackie, told us to not miss Frontier Texas in Abilene.  We had been to a lot of museum on Texas recently but if Jackie recommended it.  We knew we'd not want to miss it.

The museum started telling the history of Texas, with the Native Americans story. 
The Comanche Indians were buffalo hunters.  They were a nomadic people who lived on the Texas plains.


















At this innovative museum, technology and history come together . First person accounts are told by holograms.


The pioneering life was not easy, especially for women. Often the target of kidnapping by the Indian raiders.
This first person account tells of life for a woman on the plains.


Tools of the plains.


Another first person account of a African American, freed by his master, to hunt for his wife and daughters who had been kidnapped by Indians.  He was successful in finding his family and started a business of his own.  He was a teamster.


Wonderful time.  Lots of artifacts like this stage coach.


We had a great lunch at Lucy's Burgers.  Another Yelp's recommendation and now it has ours.
Super!!



Saturday, October 26, 2013

Buddy Holly

Our last stop with Jackie and Chico before they head south was Lubbock, Texas.  Why Lubbock? Bob wanted to see the Buddy Holly Museum.  Get the glasses???


Scot came to Lubbock to spend the weekend with his friend Michael.  So the stop to say, "Hi" to us at the museum.


We all were at the right age to enjoy this museum.


The Buddy Holly material was all copyright protected, so no pictures.


Jerry Allison's house had been moved to the museum and pictures could be taken of the house.
Living room with portable TV.
And kitchen, remember the Revere Ware.



 Dining Room and a picture of the Crickets.

















J I Allison's bedroom where the band practiced.

There also was a guitar exhibit. Which I include for my son in law, Craig.  I figure he will know who these guitars belonged to and what they did.  I never heard of any of these guys.

John Sprott's guitar.                                                                     David Brandon's guitar.

         Sonny Curtis' guitar.                                                            Jesse Taylor's guitar.  


Bob absolutely loved this museum. The host at the campground told us this museum would take 10 minutes and Michael who lived in Lubbock, also said 10 minutes.  We were there over 2 hours.

Friday, October 25, 2013

Bosque Redondo Memorial Museum

The other thing we wanted to see at Fort Sumner was the Bosque Redondo Memorial Museum, honoring the Navajo and Mescalero Apache people, who were forcibly moved from their traditional homelands to the land surrounding this lonely outpost.


This was a weaving showing the Long Walk, where Mescalero Apache were rounded up from their homes in the Sacramento Mountains and brought to Bosque Redondo in early 1863. Over 50 different groups made the trek over a period of nearly three years.  Four different routes were used, based on the weather, water, and rations available along the way.


Whenever I don't remember what is in a picture, I call it an artifact.
Indian artifacts.

A model of Fort Sumner.  It is no longer standing.


Pottery.


Basket.


Arrowheads.


Seeds used to color weaving.


Over 8,500 Navajo and nearly 500 Mescalero Apache were spread along the banks of the Pecos River with the Bosque Redondo.

Today a unique new museum designed by Navajo architect David Sloan-- shaped like a hogan and a tepee--and an interpretive trail, provide information about the tragic history of Fort Sumner and Bosque Redondo Indian Redondo Indian Reservation.