Gibson Girl...Flirtatious Thursday Show and Tell

I'm guessing this tinted photo is a Gibson Girl from the early 1900's. The old cabinet card photo was unframed at the time I found it.

As with most of the things I have collected over the years, the photo was purchased in a flea-market for just a few dollars.

She appears to be demure with her eyes cast down....

What I find so unusual about the photograph, is the very flirtatious way she has dropped her gown to expose her shoulder. The early 1900's saw big changes in a woman's world. Click HERE to read about the Gibson Girl image.

By today's standard, the revealing of a shoulder would be nothing. In the early 1900's I would say it was quite a statement!

Meggie Mac

Remembering....

 

 

Memorial Day 2013

 

 As I promised in my post, "Observing a Mural Artist at Work",  here is the completed right side of the mural. The purpose of the mural is to honor the towns railroad history and to honor our veterans. Click HERE if you would like to read this post.

Meggie Mac

 

The Buddy Poppy....Celebrating Memorial Day

As far back as I can remember, I have known about the Buddy Poppy. Each year it is given away on Memorial Day week end, by a member of the VFW (Veterans of Foreign Wars).

Yesterday, while doing my weekly grocery shopping, is when I saw him. A neighbor and veteran, a member of the VFW...standing outside the entrance of the store, giving away a "Buddy Poppy".

To tell you the truth, I didn't know the history of the poppy until I decided to write this post. If you would like to read more about it, please click HERE.

Below is the beautiful poem by Lt. Col. John McCrae, M.D. of the Canadian forces. He was inspired by the poppies growing wild amid the ravaged landscape in the World War I battlefields of Belgium.

In Flanders Fields

In Flanders fields the poppies blow

Between the crosses, row on row
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

 

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
 In Flanders fields.

 

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
 In Flanders fields.

May we remember those who have given so much.
Meggie Mac

Friday's Fences with Texas Wildflowers

         Texas roadside beauty...... Cedar posts, Barbed wire fencing and Black-eyed Susan.

This was taken last week end while attending the Texas Draft Horse and Mule Association Harvest and Plow Day.

Meggie Mac

Joining with Jan 'n Jer's Friday Fences.

RS Germany Porcelain for Thursday Show and Tell

What I love about Thursday's Show and Tell, is the opportunity for me to share some of the items I have collected over the years.

 I don't recall ever paying very much for my finds. After all, for me, that is part of the fun.....something so beautiful for a bargain.

Click on Photo

I really wish you could see this pierced plate in person.  My appreciation of the soft colors and fine finish on the porcelain was renewed today, as I was photographing it.

In this photo you see a green leaf with a "shadow" of a leaf painted just below it.

This porcelain was first produced by Reinhold Schlegelmilch. The factory became more successful from the work of his son. Some of the history I read was a little confusing. I have also collected some other items marked with "RS Tillowitz" and "RS Prussia".

Zooming in, you can see the careful detail in each flower.

 

I'm thinking this close-up would be lovely framed, and hanging on a bedroom wall.

 

Last March, I wrote a post (click HERE) showing this plate from RS Germany.

It is equally as beautiful.....

Meggie Mac

Texas Draft Horses Plowing Through History

Do you not agree....they are beautiful. This past Saturday, after reading an article in the local newspaper, I decided to attend the event. After all, it was listed as "free" with hamburgers and drinks being served.

I love horses. Naturally the news article, with headlines of "Plow Through History" caught my eye. The event, held each year, is call Texas Draft Horse and Mule Association Harvest and Plow Day.

How is that for directions? It was on a road I had not traveled before. And even though it was in the same county that I live, the event was almost 45 miles away. When I turned off the main road, I almost gave up and turned back.

Finally, I saw the sign.....

and the entrance gate to the farm!

I can't express how excited I became. There were about 10 to 12 teams of draft horses pulling vintage farm implements for plowing, discing and mowing.

How often do you get the opportunity to see past history in action? Take a close look at those boots.

Would you believe they belong to a woman? Yes, she drove a team of four beautiful Belgian Draft Horses, riding this vintage disc. Her team of horses are featured in the first photo.

In talking with her mother, I found out they are training them for another owner. Her mother said the horses are about 5 years old and still growing.

To give you some idea how tall the horses are, this young woman is about 5' 6".

There was one team of beautiful mules. I thought this photo deserved a title....something must have gotten their attention for both to be looking in the same direction....maybe it was time for lunch!

One minor accident occurred, which only proves how dangerous it might have been for a farmer to be in the fields by himself. This was a time before cell phones!

It was a very hot day with strong winds blowing. But the video was still worth sharing with you. I ended up taking about 100 photos....too many for one post.

My only regret was not doing my homework before attending the event. It was only after, that I started some research on draft horses. I was able to identify two breeds as Percheron and Belgians. Please click HERE to read more about the Belgian Draft Horse.

Are they not magnificent animals?

Meggie Mac

Cactus on Monday's Country Back Roads

"Wow" is what I said, when I first saw a pasture covered with these blooming cacti.

Over the week end I traveled some country back roads just to the north of my home. My plans for Saturday were to attend the Texas Draft Horse and Mule Association Harvest and Plow Day. I will be posting about this event later in the week.

Directly below this delicate flower lies the prickly spines of the cactus.

It was a rather warm day with temperatures reaching in the 90's. The bees were buzzing....

It has been a day of shock and sadness as I have watched the news of the devastating tornadoes in Texas' neighboring state of Oklahoma.

Please remember the Oklahomans in your prayers.....

Meggie Mac

Friday's Fences

 

At first glance, the gate may not seem so special. But the more I look at the photo, I realize the effort someone put into designing, cutting and assembling the gate.

 

 

The three diamond shapes are cut from a single piece of wood.

 

 

On the very same road, I see what appears to be an apartment, in a vintage stone building.

 

 

These are not perfectly cut stones.

 

 

 

I wonder what the story is behind these metal shutters.

 

 

They definitely look like they were made for protection. Maybe it was simply to keep out the hot sun.

 

After all, today it was 93 degrees on the prairie.

 

Meggie Mac

 

I'm joining with Jan 'n Jers Friday Fences

 

 

Observing a Mural Artist at Work

I read in the newspaper that a neighboring town, population 1,383, had commissioned a muralist to paint a side wall of a historic building. The purpose of the mural is to honor the town's railroad history and veterans.

The article stated Jason Patterson, the Texas muralist, would be completing the project by next week. I felt like it was a chance for me to see the mural while he was still working on it.

Just as I had hoped, he was painting on Saturday afternoon, along with another artist. He was more than willing to answer my questions, as he continued to paint.

The details are amazing...

You can see, from his artwork, the power that ran this train.

Here is the Pullman or dining car.....giving all the comforts traveling could afford, in this time in history.

On one end of the mural, you can see how it was sketched in before the painting was started.

At times, it was necessary for the artist to work on his knees.

I tried to photograph the actual spot that is depicted in the mural.

You can see the switch tower is still in good condition, taking it's place in the town's history.

Coincidentally, while I was photographing....a freight train passed by on the very tracks as in the mural.

As you can see in the photo, it is almost life-size.

If I were the town officials, I believe I would re-locate the tree that is blocking the view.

I do believe I will go back this week end and take a final photograph for another post. Wouldn't you like to see what is painted in the right corner of the mural?

Meggie Mac