WHERE IS THE PEACE?

What happened to the old saying, "Live and let live"?  Following two batches of Hood email blizzards during the past few days---I have determined

There is NO peace in the Hood!

Due to the recent road diet-

The heavy traffic has found a short cut through the hood---on the street a block away from the local elementary school.  More traffic--going TOO fast---leads to hood outrage.

Some favor speed bumps to slow the traffic down--

Others scream---NO!  We do have many speed bumps in the hood already--in fact all over Cowtown

Some favor chicanes 

Well as you can imagine--others NOT!

And the small minority wanted both

That went over well!

About the time that flurry died down the next one started -

It seems someone has the NERVE to build a McMansion in the hood (Their words not mine)

This lead to some not so kind words about committee members in charge of historic overlay and went downhill from there.  Not sure how I would feel moving into a neighborhood where I bought a house to tear it down and then build on the lot in anticipation of living in my dream home.  Expensive construction to know your neighbors hate you before you even get the brick on the building.  

The good news this week in The Hood---the Easter Bunny is coming---a HUGE Easter Egg Hunt at the park just down the street with over 100 children and all their kin in tow tomorrow.

And there are definite signs of Spring all over 

And finally four new friends this week---

A Messianic Jew-----

a native of Jordan----

#2 Ranked Ballroom Dancer in the Nation----

a local Director for Habitat for Humanity

MANY interesting and varied people and stories in the city--

soaking in life in the city.

BACK IN THE OLD HOOD

I have been in R for a few days visiting.  It was time---it has been over six months.  When I received the email that STARR testing was happening this week in Fort Worth schools---I knew is was time.  We get busy---time flies by!  As I drove into the city limits---I knew---Ruston Will Always Be Home---you cannot live in a 20 mile radius for 64 years and not feel that way. Each hug and every greeting was balm to my heart. If I missed seeing you---hopefully you will forgive me--a few days JAM PACKED with seeing Ruston friends and family.

Fort Worth is slowly beginning to feel like home also.  I am making some good friends and loving my church and ministry opportunities.  Perhaps this qualifies me to be cosmopolitan---two homes!   What a huge blessing--having two places to call home.

I picked the most beautiful time of the year to visit---Spring.  Except for the thick layer of yellow pollen covering every surface and the itchy eyes and sneezing--It Is Perfect!

I began to see the thick draping of the wisteria vines almost as soon as I crossed the state line.  The trees are a wonder filled with the purple blooms.

Azalea bushes plump with buds---just beginning to open.

Woods and yards adorned with Dogwood trees in full bloom.

The lake at the parish park---in the midst of a forest--soon to be hidden by limbs thick with leaves.

What makes a place feel like home?
It is not necessarily the city---
the people make the difference.

I am truly blessed to now call Ruston & Fort Worth my homes!

A WEEK OF DIETS & POOP IN THE HOOD

The cat fight from last week was on-going this week.  An avalanche of emails continued ---the pros and cons of letting your cats run loose.  Here is what I learned from all the hurrah---

In their defense---cats cover their poop up--unlike disgusting dogs

BUT---this makes it difficult to know you are about to step in a big pile of it when it has 1/4 " dirt covering

Some dogs seem to like to ingest cat poop---others just like to roll around in it.

Cats are pets--not feral animals and should not be allowed to roam around for fear of what could happen to them

Cats are natural hunters and are intended to roam freely.

At one point I thought it best to de-claw the entire hood.  It got TESTY---
and then there was the mother who once again asked "Why are you people so quick to defend a cat or rescue a dog, when you virtually ignore the neighborhood children?"   

WOW---so much for a peaceful existence!

THE NEXT topic of e mail conversation was the "Road Diet".  SILLY ME---I had NO IDEA a road could go on a diet!!!

Turns out they took the four lane thoroughfare that runs through the middle of the hood and turned it into a two lane with a turning lane.  GET IT---they decreased the size of the road.  It was done in a concern for the speed of the traffic through the middle of the hood.  There was MUCH discussion about this--via email---but the majority seemed satisfied it has helped.  There was a smidgen of discussion about "The Idiots" who speed down the turn lane at 45 MPH.

TODAY is the "HOOD WIDE GARAGE SALE".   All those neighbors interested in hosting a garage sale do it on the same day.  The NHA advertises and it attracts hordes of people.  Unfortunately since I have down sized to 2 pairs of socks and underwear and one of everything else---I will not be participating!

The news at the cottage---is the irrigation system and landscaping are being done.  It is feeling more and more like home---with my personal touches.  The plants and grass and oh yes---the foundation should be happy this summer with this change.

CAT FIGHT IN THE HOOD

This little fellow broke out of the joint this week.  His frantic owners put out an APB including getting the PRESIDENT of the HOOD to email everyone.  There were signs ALL over the hood and his master's owner put a magnetic sign on his car door---SERIOUSLY!  Not to worry--he showed up --I saw the happy master gathering his signs tonight with a big smile on his face.

There are alley-ways behind ALL the houses in older neighborhoods.  I am not sure when they stopped this---but #1 daughter's home built in the 70-80's does not have one.  At one time they picked up the garbage by driving down these alleys---perhaps even in horse & buggy?  WELL at a minimum a LONG time ago!  Today this is the view of the alley behind my house---it is a little dis-concerting to have a utility person hanging on the pole looking in your backyard!

These pictures are of the hospitals within a couple of blocks of my house.  I often hear the life lift helicopters over-head taking someone to the hospital--I always stop and say a prayer for them.  Good proximity in case of emergency!

 Behind the park--you see part of the beginning of downtown---I am VERY close--well a stones throw from "Downtown".

I have SO been wasting my time working out----this building a BLOCK away from my house is the "Body Garage" in case you cannot read the sign.  I can just take myself in for a tune up and forget all this hard work!  

AND NOW--"The Cat Fight"

Email from neighbor---A large yellow and white cat is roaming our street and fighting with all the other cats AND he is eating all of our cute little lizards---I PROMISE called the lizards cute!  If someone does not claim this cat, we are calling animal control and having it picked up.  

KILL THE CAT--SAVE THE LIZARDS--my sidenote

Reply from another neighbor---that sounds like our cat---but not to worry--he has been neutered and just likes to roam around

Reply from original emailer---WHEN we call Animal Control--they will kill your cat---call me and I will explain how having your cat fixed will stop this fighting and need to eat lizards

WELL I guess there is some difference in neutering and fixing--WHO KNEW!

SPIIIIITTTTT-----MEEEEOOOOWWWW!

JUST DOWN THE STREET FROM TRENDY!

Here in the hood---I am 3 blocks away from "Trendy"--as the Magnolia District is called---LOTS of wonderful restaurants--shopping--antiques

I had dinner with a friend at the "Yucatan Taco Stand" this week.---see and be seen in the midst of all the young-upward mobiles.

I also tried the "Cat City Grill" for dinner not too long ago.

 My own Fort Worth FOOD ODYSSEY

EVERYONE in TX has the same Spring Break

SO there are as many as 26,000 going to the zoo every day during the week.

The zoo is 3-4 blocks West of the Hood

My friend who is in charge of PR at the Zoo advised

GO EAST- YOUNG WOMAN-GO EAST

MAJOR TRAFFIC PROBLEMS!

Last Saturday these two hooligans had there first soccer game 

It was FREEZING!

After about 30 minutes,

I kindly volunteered to sit in the car with the baby!

MEANWHILE---The Hood Emails continue to fly---the pretty days bring everyone out and about-and the park is full--Life in the City is NEVER dull!

AND the painting in the apartment seems to have become my lifetime project!

THIS WEEK IN THE HOOD

I find myself busier and busier here in The Hood:

Started off last Saturday by attending Mass with a sweet friend:

It was the beginning of a great evening at a Fund Raiser for a local Catholic High School.  These Texans KNOW how to Raise Funds!  The dinner did NOT consist of some rubbery chicken but your choice of 6 food trucks!

Then NO speeches--instead a concert and dancing with Pat Green and his band.  I must confess I did not know who Pat Green was--I do now!

Meanwhile back here in the hood--the emails are flying--

The lost Chihuahua's new mommie reported they have named the nomad "Simon" and the vet has checked him out and he is adjusting to his new family.

The BIG NEWS---the "Travelers" are back in large numbers.  My security light turned on in the middle of the night this week and I found my garbage can lids opened the next day.  Perhaps someone is roaming around my yard in the middle of the night. I also discovered someone had tampered with my garage doors---I would be MOST upset if my blower was stolen!  I turned over and went back to sleep---the alarm is activated every night and I have my protection close.

Look closely at this picture---what you see sticking out is feet.  My heart truly breaks for these people--but I have to be sensible.

And then I saw this house--notice the French Doors over the garage--NO STAIRS---I suppose this is where Superman lives and he needs a place to  take off from when he is on a mission to save the world  OR perhaps it is an escape route when you are over the edge---Who Knows?

I am painting the garage apartment---apartment white.  It was brown--someone had smoked in there---the apartment may collapse from the additional weight of the paint required to correct the smell and color.  EVERYONE KNOWS--you paint rental units neutral colors AND there will be a huge penalty if anyone smokes in the future---Hopefully this will end my short career in painting!

I leave you with this:

My garage has a raised lip to keep water from entering.  The lip is so high it makes it difficult to pull your car into the tight small space (OLD HOUSE)--without gunning the motor while making sure you are properly lined up.  I called #1 Son--asked what do you think I should do.  His reply, "Walk around Lowe's and look until you see something that might work."  YES--I will walk around Lowe's hoping something will fall off the shelf---and hope it might work--because I do not have a clue.  More than likely I would end up looking at the power tools, window treatments and patio furniture!

SO I mention this dilemma to my two friends who are aeronautical engineers at Lockheed.  NEVER present a problem to an engineer---it completely slips their mind that this is NOT their field of expertise--and they are on a mission to come up with a fix.  SO I get an email from them---we will be over Saturday to POUR CONCRETE to fix the problem.  WAIT---this is NOT an airplane wing--this is concrete and when you pour it---if it is not right--it must be JACK HAMMERED out!  I politely told them---"Thank you so much for the offer, but I need further time to think this over."  AND perhaps the opportunity to meet a couple of Civil Engineers!

ANOTHER WEEK IN THE HOOD

We had a hero return to his wife and daughter this week in the hood.

The streets in the hood were lined with flags welcoming the fighter pilot back!  It warmed my heart!

(Sorry for photographer's goofs---cannot figure out how to use "Paint" to fix the pictures, but it will come--bear with me.)

And then there is the school where I volunteer.  My sweet little student LOVED her Valentine and we made one for her mother and daddy.

A short walk from my cottage I see these gatehouses--announcing the entrance into another neighborhood.

This gives NEW meaning to underground parking.  I have a storm cellar--these neighbors have an entire garage underground.  I did wonder if they have an interior stairway up to their home.  Look to the right of the garage doors and you see an exterior staircase to their home---but SURELY they have an interior one also!

This week crime stats & emails might lend some to be concerned--a murder and many car burglaries----LOTS of lost/found  dogs--and various other hood business.  I met another neighbor--had an invite for a picnic at the park--all from being out and working in the yard. Going to SO love the front porch sitting!

Busy week coming in the hood---my first "Neighborhood Association Meeting". There is POWER in unity!  I am leading an orientation Small Group for my church for 7 weeks beginning this week.   I have volunteered for the "Cowtown Marathon" and will be handing out packets.  My first time on the "Other Side" of the table.  And THEN--I have been invited to a "Dinner-Silent Auction-Fundraiser".  Meeting new people---can that be bad?

SNOW DAY IN THE HOOD

After five days of ice in December, I thought winter was over here in FW.  

I was mistaken---No ice this go around--only about 1/2 inch of snow--but bitter cold - freezing temperatures.  I cannot find what happened to my coats in all of this moving.  I finally located one long dress coat and a couple of jackets--but I seem to be without a warm jacket and the wind will cut right through you.  Thank goodness for layers!

I stuck close to home the day of the snow.  I am very careful---my little car would be like an ice skate on icy roads and if I slip and break a bone---I am up the creek!

I ventured out on Friday-but the snow was still covering most things--especially my car.  Fortunately since it was so cold when all this came down--no ice--it was like a fine powder.

Here at "The Cottage" all was warm---though I really--really miss my working fireplace I had for my entire life.  Standing over the vents which are all in the floor in an old house--is just not the same!  Can still hear that fire popping and sizzling in my head.

While Meredith was here, I had small group friends over to hear her story.  It was wonderful to share a meal and have good company in my home once again.

Over the back door which I always leave from hangs these.  A constant reminder of the grace I live under and the need to share as I leave the safety of these walls.

Meanwhile--there is a daily blizzard of emails from the hood---missing dog--found dog--furniture for sale--house or apartment for rent--returning heroes--bombard City Hall with a sidewalk request---  For a big city neighborhood--they are organized and united in community.  I am going to love sitting on my front porch--when the weather warms!

DOWN THE STREET FROM THE HOOD

It is a rite of passage when you move to Fort Worth to attend the Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo.  Who am I to miss such an opportunity??  I spent a lovely Sunday-after church and lunch walking through the exhibits, barns, and watching some of the competition.  It was a beautiful and wonderful day!

 

Every stock show/rodeo needs a midway and the rides went on for blocks.  If you had rather have a tamer side of the Midway-games were more numerous than rides AND do not forget the Yummy Midway Treats!

The rodeo is so famous that the tickets sell out months in advance.  Two and a half weeks of rodeos---and you cannot find a ticket!

HEY I FOUND THE COWBOYS/GIRLS!

We stopped by and watched some riding competition.  I do not have a clue what they were doing--beyond riding horses--BUT note young-old-female-male.  I have not seen that much silver as was on riders and saddles since the hay day of silver wedding gifts.  As if that was not enough--the riders equaled any pageant dresses when it came to sparkle.  Amazing competition!

The children's art display included the picture above--an elementary school child's rendition of a boy, a truck and a dog!

It would NOT be Texas without the LONG horn steers!

 Saw my LONG lost friend Billy while there!  He was NOT happy with the fence and begged to go with me!

MEANWHILE--BACK IN THE HOOD

The Hallelujah you heard me singing was after the completion of the painting project-

Here we have the molasses dining room wall-

I think I need an antique breakfront in this spot

And then there is the Summer Tan Living Room

With a Molasses Fireplace

You do remember the Vanilla Bean Kitchen?

This is my bedroom which is sunbaked with one wall of molasses.

PERHAPS I like earth tones?

No sign of "The Whiz" across the street as someone so laughingly named him on facebook.  Except for the flurry of emails from "The Hood" all has been quiet.

The GOOD NEWS---the firemen are coming Monday to move the furniture.  My small group volunteered to come help move me--but I told them I have moved all the boxes-and SURELY you will not deny me the fun of watching the firemen move all this heavy furniture.  At that point several volunteered to come help watch!