Category: Amazing Things

Amazing Things, Smithwick, The Early Days3 Comments

My Quest To Find Out More About The Life Of Charlie And Minnie

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I have over time written several stories about Charlie and Minnie. That couple has always been a curiosity of mine. They claimed to no have living relatives. But I remember when Minnie died, Charlie had my mother contact some people, perhaps a sister of Minnie’s to let her know of the passing. There were some people, a couple of ladies and a teen daughter, not much older than me, showed up from Oklahoma to attended the funeral. I could remember that Mrs. Redd, Minnie’s Mother, it was told was with them when they first came to our family part of … Continue reading My Quest To Find Out More About The Life Of Charlie And Minnie

Amazing Things, Smithwick, The Early Days1 Comment

Minnie’s Stash (originally written Nov. 30, 2014)

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Kenny reminded me of something yesterday that I had forgotten. I wrote about Minnie and Charlie Campbell and her dying. Charlie would always tell us that Minnie kept up with their money and he didn’t know where she kept it or how much they had. I guess they thought, as we all did that she would outlive him. Charlie wasn’t in a shape to do much looking so the first one and the other looked but never found any money. We were all pretty sure they didn’t have two dimes to rub together, so when nothing turned up, no one … Continue reading Minnie’s Stash (originally written Nov. 30, 2014)

Amazing Things, The History of Texas2 Comments

Sears Modern Homes

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How many homes around Austin were Sears Kit Homes? I would think there are many. Click on the first link below to check out the history of these very fine homes. Then click the second link to see groupings of homes sold in various years from 1908-1940. By comparing the homes in these catalogs, you may find some in your neighborhood that are Sears Homes. You may be living in one and not realize it. http://www.searsarchives.com/homes/ http://www.searsarchives.com/homes/byimage.htm Continue reading Sears Modern Homes

Amazing Things, The History of TexasLeave a comment

What Do You Mean It All Started As A Joke ?

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Some History Of The Cowboy Hat The first known felt hats were narrow-brimmed affairs worn by ancient Greeks and their gods. J.B. Stetson fashioned the prototype of the cowboy hat to entertain his hunting companions back in the 1860s. By then, wide brims and tall crowns were already the signature look of cattlemen and horsemen from Texas to California. Spanish vaqueros wore sombreros with massive brims and crowns long before Stetson came along. ”Sombrero” is derived from the Spanish word for “shade” or “shadow;” a felt or straw sombrero protected its wearer from a relentless sun. The wide-brimmed and high-crowned … Continue reading What Do You Mean It All Started As A Joke ?

Amazing Things, Crazy Times, On The Job, The Early DaysLeave a comment

More About Jester Blvd.

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We had just finished getting the entire length of the boulevard built from bottom to top, the base was laid and tested, the curbs were all in, all we needed to do was put the asphalt down when the Memorial Day Flood of 1981 hit Austin. During the course of that one night and day, the torrents of water that came down, coupled with the extreme steep grades, we saw 3500 tons of limestone flex-base disappear from that hill. To give you an idea of how much that is, it took 150 large 18 wheeler loads to replace it. In … Continue reading More About Jester Blvd.

Amazing Things, Kenny Lewis, My FriendsLeave a comment

The Thoughtfulness Of My Brother

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One day my brother, Kenny, walked into my wood shop carrying a wooden saddle rack, that he had bought somewhere. He ask if I could carve a name and maybe put something fancy on it. The rack was fairly simple, made from pine, just plain looking. He told me the story of seeing a saddle hanging in the barn of an old cowboy friend of his. He ask about the saddle and got a complete history of it. The old cowboy had owned that saddle most of his adult life I believe. He told him who made the saddle and … Continue reading The Thoughtfulness Of My Brother

Amazing Things, Meeting New People, My Friends, The History of TexasLeave a comment

Over The Hump

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A story about Howdy Fowler (yes our own Angora Chronicles Friend – Howdy Fowler) and his adventure of a lifetime. “Howdy told me once that this adventure is the single greatest highlight of his life and to have it captured on the pages of Texas Monthly – Don’t get much better than that”. I asked Howdy about some pictures one time and he came thru with this one. This is a story that was written by Carol Chapman for the February 1995 issue of Texas Monthly. NOW THAT STORY: THE REAL REASON THAT camels are called ships of the desert … Continue reading Over The Hump

Amazing Things, Meeting New People, The History of Texas, Thoughts and MusingsLeave a comment

What did we talk about that afternoon?

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This is an add-on to a story about an afternoon conversation I had with our then Governor Mark White. It was mostly centered around the over crowding problem in Texas Prisons. He knew I was in the construction business and was seeking my assistance in piloting a program to give early release to some worthy prisoners that just needed a break. He thought that if they could come out and show up to work (digging ditches, if you will) and not get back in trouble, they could find their way more easily back into society. We did some planning and … Continue reading What did we talk about that afternoon?

Amazing Things, Meeting New People, Thoughts and MusingsLeave a comment

The Little Actress

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Not long after we moved to Bertram, a new pastor was sent to the Methodist Church. He and his wife were very lovely people. They had arrived here after spending time in Goldthwaite, Texas. They had become acquainted with a young couple there that had a young daughter and twin sons that were toddlers. One time the little girl came to spend a few days with them. They brought her over to our place see the donkeys and the lambs. I was heading down to feed the catfish in our pond so she wanted to go too. I put her … Continue reading The Little Actress

Amazing Things, Crazy Times, Meeting New People, Old Dog - New TrickLeave a comment

Rubbing Shoulders With Eva Longoria

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During a rant earlier on my Political Speak Group I related the following true story. I didn’t repost it in its entirety due to my desire to not politicize this group. But you can gather I have a very different view of life than she does. Now for the story: And to think – I once found myself rubbing shoulders with this bimbo. “Yes, the Ronbo here rubbed shoulders with Eva Longoria”. I was invited to sit on the floor at a SA Spurs game in the owners seats at courtside. Eva and Tony Parker were an item at the … Continue reading Rubbing Shoulders With Eva Longoria