#17 - 17th Christmas Tree post, Store Colection

Our Walmart Christmas tree section 
[click picture for a MUCH larger view]

Did you buy a tree here, one of Walmart's Christmas sections?  We've had our current tree when we moved here nine years ago.  We bought an 'on sale' pre-lighted seven-footer (much shorter than our former--there we had 19-foot living room ceiling, here it is 23 feet, tree at XXX Department store near us in Katy, Texas.  So far all of its white lights still burn. 

We are greeted at the front door of our Walmart store by this huge blow-up Santa. It is over nine years old; it was here when we came.  

Blow up yard decorations, someone stole our younger daughter's Rudolph from their front yard.  Could it be the ones who stole our wheeled green garbage recycle can sever years ago.

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Galveston Mardi Gras - Number Nine 2021 Cristmas Tree Post

MERRY CHRISTMAS !!!

One aspect of the Galveston (TX) Mardi Gras parade is that there are several parades for each of the two week ends for the celebration.  

Back in the 90's when I was still teaching most years I was the lead sponsor for the business club, for us a chapter of Phi Beta Lamda.   PBL, as it was called for short, was a national college student organization, holding a national conference each year at various cities.  Most often I would attend with a couple of handfuls of business student members.  At the conference's student business knowledge competitions we would place high and often would win.  

For three years in a row I would take all the members who wanted to go to the Galveston Mardi Gras and have a "float" entry in the Business oriented parade.  Doing that was an attraction for securing club members.  The third year our club had 126 members, the most ever for our college and that year the club with the most members.  The parade was strictly a walking one, we were not allowed motor vehicles to ride or power "floats".  The fourth year we withdrew from activities as the function moved to the fun section of Houston and was renamed the Budweiser Celebration.  I instigated our withdrawal as I knew our college would not approve of us participating in a beer sponsored event.  

That didn't keep Mrs. Jim and me from attending the Galveston Celebration.  In addition to the parades there was a "Dickens on the Strand" celebration that lasted two weeks.  The favorite costume was old fashioned English dress.  

Daughter's Tree - Number Eight of ??? 2021 Cristmas Trees

 MERRY CHRISTMAS !!!

This is our daughter's 2021 Christmas tree.  It is a new one to replace the older one that Mrs. Jim bought when she and my sister shopped for after Christmas bargains.  That was back in the 1990's or earlier.  Sister, Lois, still uses hers, I had her this year's trim that she used for my Tree Number Seven (link) 

Our daughter's motif this year was to have pictures of the granddaughters, known on my blogs as BP and KP, for their different years growing up.  BP is now 22, KP is twelve.  Two of these pictures of KP hanging are shown to the right. 

[click on the pictures for larger viewing, click again for larger still]

We were visiting part of our family last evening for a chili supper.  SIL had just finished making it using my recipe, the chili was really good, best I've had for several seasons.  

You might like to try my recipe, as are my other recipes it is very easy to make.  Please if you publish it someplace I would like you to let me know and as well as give me credit on the page.  ("Jim's quick and easy chili recipe", click here for URL Link)

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See all my 2021 Christmas Tree posts so far here

I will be posting Christmas trees and other Christmas decorations here as I take pictures to show.  

The blog is mostly Christmas oriented but also has recipes and other items that I don't put on my other blogs.

Jim's Little Blog 

Jim's Little Photo and Poem Place 

Ask Dr. Jim (blog) 

Jim's Little Happy Place 

• 
  
• Those are my main blogs, there are others if you can find them.  Only the first two of the above are regularly posted weekly. 

I will post pictures of readers or their photo finds if you will email them to me at " jhovendic at yahoo.com ".  I will give you credit by name and/or URL of your blog or other if have these where you wish my readers to read. 

Please do not be anonymous.  

 - - - 

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My Grandchildren

Where were your grandchildren today;    Or if you don't have some, where were 
      you; that your grandmother would care 

From youngest to oldest I pray

Where are they what are they doing

It is a mean crazy world today

How there do those grandchildren cope  

Lovely granddaughters I have four 

Oldest two working at their homes 

Both married, one mother of two  

Younger two school has been their thing 

One, college grad, now at D.C. 

At White House front she's protesting 

The younger's home, in junior high 

Works Soduko, beats me at Clue  

My two grandsons do their own thing 
 

Keep good tabs on your grandchildren  

Stay in good terms and good graces 

One day soon they'll be watching you 

 _ _ _ 

 - Poem Copyright, Jimmiehov 2020, All Rights Reserved 

 - Photo by Joel, see Magaly's post below 

 - I am linked with Magaly Guerrero in the Writers' Pantry #23 at https://poetsandstorytellersunited.blogspot.com/2020/06/writers-pantry-23-growing-along-with.html?m=1 . 

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Photo Challenge, Rectangles

Rectangles everywhere!  Here are a couple.  Remember, SQUARES are a rectangle with all four sides of equal length.  But if you wish to measure, you will find this first photo is not an exact square.

I like old pickups, the older they are the better I like them. I have been trying to trade my pristine 1974 Ford Mustang II Ghia for a 1950 Ford F-1 Pickup.  The fellow who wants the Mustang is willing, of course we haven't finished bargaining. 

There is a problem with this however, the pickup belongs to his wife and she does not wish to trade.

Another old"Toyota Truck" that we found on the island of Bonaire.   "Bonaire (is) an island municipality of the Netherlands (which) lies off Venezuela’s coast in the southern Caribbean. (Google search, "Bonaire") 


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Photos and Blog Entry Copyright, Jimmiehov 2019, All Rights Reserved
I'm linked with jansenphoto at Tuesday Photo Challenge. https://dutchgoesthephoto.net/2019/07/30/tuesday-photo-challenge-rectangles/  The topic this week is "RECTANGLES." #fpj-photo-challenge

I Live in the Fast Lane
Day Thirty-one of March Spiky Squares! 

[where Becky of Winchester's other entries are]

 

 

This was a "loner car" while ours was in the shop under warranty work.  It was a Cadillac XR5 with less than 1000 miles (about 840) when we picked it up.  We drove it around town and then to Jackson, Tennessee, and back.  We had permission to do this.

Becky is the keeper of the Square stuff.  March is Spiky Squares. 

The picture has to be square.  Mine is "CD Cover" squared according
to Picasa 3, my photo helper app but discontinued by Google. 

Becky's posts can be seen at the link above.
_ _ _ _

Song of my days, Life in the Fast Lane:


YouTube Video, Joe Walsh singing "Life in the Fast Lane"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rsYhDSR9mGI
_ _ _ _

Lyrics from AtoZ Lyrics:
https://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/eagles/lifeinthefastlane-1976.html

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Walking in the moonlight with Mom;

"I can see the great uncomplicated thing;
Isn't it nice to be old enough for glasses
 

We'd go walk around the block Mom and me
A little girl, about five I would guess

Maybe four or six, can't remember well

The Moon was bright, fuzzy as usual

Remember the night, last time for a bit

 

Then one evening we went again, us two

Moon was bright, I could see the sidewalk cracks

Next remembered looking up, sight to see!

"Mother, I can see the Man in the Moon!"

"Uncomplicated Things" doctors can fix  

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_ _ _ _

 

 - Photo and Poem Copyright © 2017, 2010, 2008 (photos) and 2017 (Poem) Jimmiehov, All Rights Reserved

 - Photo at top is a "Print Screen" copied from Kerry's post below   - Photo below the poem was published on my other blog in 2008 and 2010 

 - I'm linked with  Kerry O'Connor, at the Imaginary Garden with Real Toads, Micro Poetry ~ Uncomplicated Things,  http://withrealtoads.blogspot.com/2017/08/micro-poetry-uncomplicated-things.html  - Kelly's instructions are, "This weekend, our frame of reference is "Uncomplicated Things" - from the second line of the poem, The Moon, by Leonard Cohen. "  Then build a short mini-poem around that line as inspiration, ten lines or less (I have ten lines).

 
- Notes:
 - - In a couple of places I purposely confused the correct form of pronouns (note especially for a certain daughter, then for my sister, and for other unnamed ladies, who are keepers of the straight)  - I have deleted a small amount of text, third line from Cohen's poem as it was unsuitable for some of my younger readers.
 - - The "Moon Jar" pictured above was made by pottery artist, Helen Garriott.  This jar and companion "Sun Jar" were of limited production, each one handcrafted. (previously posted in 2008 and 2010 in my other blog - link).  Helen Garriott (link) was the wife of Owen Garriott (link), Sky Lab Astronaut and is mother of Richard Garriott (link) who is a civilian who paid his own way to ride up the Space Lab. 
 - - While I was an aerospace engineer at NASA, I worked with Owen and had met Helen a few times in her pottery studio.  I also taught their daughter for a semester in a business class at the college but was not acquainted with Richard.  However I did hear personal reports from time to time about him.
 - - The cougar behind is a print by Charles Fracé, a nature painting artist. Mine is autographed by him, "To: Jim", and represents my college, The University of Houston, and its athletes, the Houston Cougars. Mrs. Jim gave me the picture after having it so nicely framed.
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# 3 ~~ This little rabbit was waiting

 

# 3 ~~ This little rabbit was waiting for us when we came home

It was between our house and our neighbors

I didn't let the horn honk when I locked the car 

Jobs I've Had

My first seven jobs (plus the eighth and ninth, that's all I've had):
1. Corn detassler for seed corn company, two years - HS summer job
2. Department store flunky, rug department - 1.5 years - in college
3. Form gang laborer -- two summer jobs, in college
4. Elgin National Watch Co three years - college dropout
4. Park cars -- part time while at Elgin
6. Stuff ads & funnies Saturday nights - while at Elgin
7. U.S.Army, five years, enlisted man
    - - - -
8. Philco (bought out by Ford), 17 years Aerospace Engineer at NASA Houston - night college eleven years
9. San Jacinto College, Business Professor 22 years
XXX. Retired 15 years so far
#firstsevenjobs

One-year-old, Happy Birthday !!!

We all enjoyed the party. 
JV the most.

Happy First Birthday, JV !!!

[click on any picture to make it larger]
[click again to make larger still]
[use your 'Back Button' to return]

JV is our youngest Great Grandchild. 

Happy Birthday again, JV !!!
 

Plage(beach) de Beauduc road cairns near Arles, Provence, France

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This is a Google Earth picture of the beach road going to Beauduc Beach (Plage de Beauduc) near Arles, France.  The blue stripe is from my Googling the route from Saint-Rémy-de-Provence, France, to the Plage de Beauduc on to the coast from Arles.  Towards the beach is down and to the left. I used St. Remy because I was familiar with its location having stayed there for a week in

the spring of 2006.

 

Of interest to me was the little row of "dot"s along the road on its left hand side as we go towards the beach.  I believe these were the ones discussed and pictured (see above) on my blogging friend Lynn's Blog (link).  Lynn calls them 'cairns' (link) and was speculating on their origin.

 

I believe they were "planted" in the horse and carriage days to help keep the carriages from going off the road in case the horses decided to stray off the road on that side.

 

Google Maps showing a bigger picture of my route: (click picture for larger size)
 

More old chairs -- Windsor Chairs

[large picture] [super sized]

[large picture] [extra large]

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These are the chairs Florence had in her breakfast room. They are BP's pick for my office (they looked the newest). But you can keep them as long as you want. Mom will very likely want then back when you are finished as they were from Florence.

They are in good shape. We found them on the Internet once, they are Nichols & Stone Windsor Chair. The current model is the Rockport but these have different bottoms and back rungs.

http://www.nicholsandstone.com/OurProducts_Results.cfm?cat1=2107&view=all

I would guess they are from the 1960's. Could be 5-'s or 70's.

Old chairs

[click on picture for larger size]

Hi Karen -- I know you and Mom have been talking about these. They belonged to a lady who took care of you while we worked. She lived down the street from ours on the intersecting street that went over to I-45.

We bought them from her when they got a new dining room set. They are pine, should be six. We have five here. You might be using one in your office?

The flood was over almost to the tops. It pretty well ruined the big drop leaf table. I used one of the drop leaves (large) for cutting wall paper on when we put our house back together again.

I would say they are probably 1960's era, we got them around 1975. Mom found the manufacturer, Stickley, on the Internet. She will call you. Love, Dad

A twenty-five (25) question Meme -- The questions

A twenty-five (25) question Meme (I found/stole it here)
[If you must, I guess you can steal it from here like I did up there.]

1. How old do you look?

2. Where do you live?

3. Are you waiting for something?

4. What’s one pet peeve of yours that is not common?

5. Do you want/have kids?

6. Have you ever thought about converting your religion?

7. Last shocking news you heard?

8. What was the last thing you drank?

9. Who do you most look like in your family?

10. If you could have something right now, anything, what would it be?

11. Where does most of your family live?

12. Where did you grow up?

13. Where do you want to go on vacation?

14. Have you ever had a panic attack?

15. What can’t you wait for?

16. When’s the last time you told someone you loved him or her and meant it?

17. Have your parents ever smoked pot?

18. Want someone back in your life?

19. What do you order at the bar?

20. When was the last time you cried really, really hard?

21. Ever licked someone’s cheek?

22. What is your favorite thing to eat with peanut butter?

23. Where were you on July 4th, 2008?

24. What are your nicknames?

25. If you could go back in time, how far back would you go?

The Jim Bunch Eats Again -- This time French Toast Sundae at a men's Tuesday Morning Bible study

This is a Texas version of French toast (everything is big in Texas). The cook called it French Toast Sundae. It may have been called that where he first ate some similar creation as well. I don't know about that.

[supersized breakfast picture]

The ingredients are baked French Texas toast (it's much thicker and richer that ordinary bread--better too), ham and sausage on the side, and shrimp, bananas, passion fruit, strawberries, raspberries, and pineapple on top. Some had whip cream on top but I opted out. The toast was smothered with maple syrup.

Mrs. Bob, Mrs. W, and did the cooking. We had coffee before the meal. I was on my second cup when we were told to find ourselves places. So I had an extra cup, empty as you see in front of my plate with the glass of orange juice.

You thought I was going to tell you about Bible study. Okay, I will.

Our Tuesday Morning Men's Bible Study meets every Tuesday morning and we finally finished the book of Romans. The pastor, Dr. Buddy Burns, started it last spring. We had the Bible study all summer, but last year on December 19 (2008) Dr. Burns died (

link). We continued until finishing Romans up on February 24, 2009.

Bob S, one of the Bible study participants, holds an annual breakfast for the Men's Bible Study group. We all agreed that right after finishing Romans would be a good time for having it this year.

There were about twenty-four of us for breakfast. These are the fellows who sat with me at our table. Most of the group live in our subdivision but it's not a requirement. Again most attend the church here but that isn't a requirement either.