Thursday:) This Is My Little Town~ McKinney

“I live in my own little world. But its ok, they know me here.” ― Lauren Myrac

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This morning was the first Art Club of McKinney meeting  after our summer break. I love the August meeting because it’s Show and Tell day. Each member or guest introduces themselves, tells what art mediums they use, and brings some examples to talk about. A few of my favorite artist friends…

After our meeting, a large contingent from the meeting went over to The Pantry Restaurant    On the square.for more food and socializing. There’s always a little shopping on the way back to your car.

I always stop at the Visitor’s Center to say hello to Miss Beth. She’s such a sweetie and always has her finger on the pulse of McKinney. If Miss Beth doesn’t know about it…it ain’t happenin’.

This is not a natural stance. I make her pose this way…my open arms request. It’s an inside joke. 

My good friends at Sweet Spot Bakery are always baking up something sweet and special. 

It’s difficult for me to resist a quick stop at the Samaritan Inn Thrift Store on my way home. I generally find several treasures. A beautiful hand painted ceramic plate, two pale pastel purple wine glasses to paint, and a lovely glass candy dish. (My buddy, Miss Bella, looking on in admiration of my bargain hunting skills.)

I stopped to visit my neighbor, Diane, before rounding the corner home. My good friend, Karen, stopped by this evening to drop off her little fishy, Baby. I’m fishy sitting for her for a couple of days. I am the “Pet Whisperer” of McKinney. Dogs, cats, now fish. I’m amazing!

So many friends, so many things to do, this is my little town. I love it here!

“I live in my own little world. But its ok, they know me here.” 

― Lauren Myrac

Oh yes, it was pretty hot here today. It’s Texas…it’s summer…it’s hotter than 

H-E- double hockey sticks.

Theme Song Thursday:) Under Texas Skies

“Know what you want to do, hold the thought firmly, and do every day what should be done, and every sunset will see you that much nearer the goal.” ― Elbert Hubbard

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We’ve had some beautiful warm weather here in McKinney, Texas. I went to Zumba at the Y this morning, then a nice long walk at 10. The sun was shining and the wind was strong, but exhilarating. I was pumped, and decided to get some massive housework done. I cleaned two bathrooms from stem to stern, including floors, mopped all the tile floors in hall and kitchen, and vacuumed. All this before I ate lunch…well, lunch was at 2. 

I was going to try and do some painting, but I decided an evening walk would be better served. Plus, I like to catch the sunset. It’s true… The skies at night are big and bright…da-da-da-da… Deep in the heart of Texas.

  
Every sunset is a miracle in the sky.

   
   

Friday:) From Last Night’s Friendly Rodeo to the Fiery Friday Sunset

“As long as you keep on walking on the old paths, you will never have footprints on the new paths!” ― Mehmet Murat ildan

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I’ve been “walking on old paths” for many, many years, but must admit that lately, my footprints have been on many new paths. As, promised, I wanted to share a few photos from the Fort Worth Rodeo Shoot Out from last night.

“This ain’t my first rodeo!”    Well, yah…it was! New paths to travel. 

  
First of all, y’all gotta wear some boots if y’all are goin’ ta the rodeo.

  
Then y’all gotta get a burger and cheese fries at the RODEO GOAT before the event. Sooooo good!

  
A lot of pageantry and patriotism, a Texas tradition.

   
 
It’s all a big blur. The riders, Broncos, and Bulls move so fast…impossible to get a photo. Each event is over in seconds. I found myself holding my breath and grabbing my chest as each rider got flung and bucked and thrown to the ground. 

   
 
It was a fun evening with my dear friend Sherry, her momma and daddy, and sister and other kin. (Don’t I sound all Texan like?) I was exhausted just from watching all the Cowboys, men and women ride and race and fall and chase.

To contrast the excitement from last night, here are a couple of tranquil firey sunsets from this evening’s walk.

   
 These sunsets are also from my new path, my new life, my new journey.

Fourth of July Friday

“A procession is a participants’ journey, while a parade is a performance with an audience.”
― Rebecca Solnit, Wanderlust: A History of Walking
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Mckinney Texas is a fairly large city with a quaint small town feel. I always look forward to the Fourth of July parade on the Square. Hundreds of people line the streets to watch a single police car and fire engine start off the route around the square with sirens blaring, followed by the mayor and his family waving to the crowd. (It’s cool when the mayor’s wife waves and says, “Hi Toni.” Everybody knows every body.) Then, there are a couple of dozen old time cars, a few local businesses had floats, several boys scout and Girl Scout troops, Rotary Club, and my favorite, the Art Club of McKinney float. (Thanks, Lynda Kingsley, family and friends.) etc. Of course, you have to have horses. It’s Texas, there must be horses.

I think it took people longer to find a place to park than it took to watch the entire parade, but the point is, it’s all about tradition, family, waving flags and being proud to be an American. In the afternoon, there was a car show with dozens of old, vintage and souped-up cars. The shops were busy, the restaurants packed and the atmosphere, well, it was a fun place to be on the Fourth of July. I LOVE McKINNEY!

Friday Fire and Brimstone

“There may be a great fire in our soul, yet no one ever comes to warm himself at it, and the passers-by see only a wisp of smoke.”
― Vincent van Gogh
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I’m not sure what brimstone is, but if it is anything as spectacular as the fabulous raku pottery that was being fired this evening at SPARC (St. Peter’s Artist Run Community), then you can see that “there may be a great fire in our soul.”

SPARC celebrated their grand opening this evening with guest potters, including Kym Owens from Sunset Canyon Pottery, Steve Macias, Laura Canfield, and other local potters.

Steve, with the help of other potters, demonstrated outdoor raku firing all evening, while inside, beautiful pottery was on display, and potters were on hand to share their creative expertise.

It was a warm McKinney night, the kiln was crazy hot, the company warm and friendly, but the artists, potters and friends enjoyed a wonderful evening of creativity.

SPARC is located at 405 N. Sherman Street, McKinney, TX 75069 and can be found on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/sparc405. There offer weekly hand-building, private wheel and pottery classes, workshops, parties, date nights and girls night out.

Steve Macias is an amazing potter.

Local artists display their work.

Saturday: Simple Sights and Sounds

“What we do see depends mainly on what we look for. … In the same field the farmer will notice the crop, the geologists the fossils, botanists the flowers, artists the colouring, sportmen the cover for the game. Though we may all look at the same things, it does not all follow that we should see them.”
― John Lubbock, The Beauties of Nature and the Wonders of the World We Live in
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This morning started out with a morning walk with my neighbor, Kat. The birds were chirping and the squirrels and bunnies were romping in the cool morning grass. The sun was gearing up for another warm, muggy day. Then, a quick shower and off to the Square. (I love downtown McKinney.)

Our Saturday morning writing group met at Sweet Spot Bakery, but more socializing, sipping coffee, and gossiping took place. Three hours later, oh my, time for lunch at Mellow Mushroom for some yummy pepperoni pizza.

Liz, Mandy and I walked across to “Mom and Pop Popcorn Shop.” They have the best popcorn and old fashioned candy. Bins, jars, and fun displays in every corner. Liz treated me to a bulls eye candy. Just one is all I needed to bring back that 5 year old feeling and fun childhood memories.

Then a quick stop into Loco Cowpoke Salsa Shop. Two rooms of any kind of salsa, jams, jellies, pickles and condiments your little heart could desire.

After our wanderings, I stopped in to visit the gals at Art on the Veranda, just plopped myself in a chair and chatted for a while. A quick stop into the McKinney Visitors Center to say hi to Miss Sue before heading home. That pretty much sums up my sights on the Square.

Now, just finish up this post, get my gym shoes on and see what evening sights and sounds will be discovered. The sunsets have been amazing.

Swinging Saturday on Square

In life you are going to make mistakes, you’re going to fall down, but it’s the getting up that counts. Just like in baseball: you’ll get a few hits, but most likely, you’ll strike out more than you’ll get on base. But don’t quit. Find your focus, relax, take a deep breath and give it a good swing.
Dave Pelzer
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An early morning walk, a quick shower and off to the McKinney Square, my favorite place to hang out. A social-slash-writing meet up at Sweet Spot with Mandy. Then, across the street to paint and chat with Judy at Art on the Veranda.

You never know when friends will pop in. Hi Miss Erma and Miss Connie.

Ok, by now I was pretty hungry, so I ran (literally) over to Snug to get my favorite yummy yogurt parfait and a big hug from my buddy Daniel. The Square was hoppin’ with several weddings coming and going. When my painting/visiting ended, I scooted back over to Sweet Spot to people watch and wait for the Second Saturday jam session. Great people watching. “Here comes the bride.”

Now, coming to you live from the jam session. Folks just stopping by to play instruments, sing and share good music and friendship.

Theme Song Thursday: Walking in the Rain

“Are the days of winter sunshine just as sad for you, too? When it is misty, in the evenings, and I am out walking by myself, it seems to me that the rain is falling through my heart and causing it to crumble into ruins.”
― Gustave Flaubert
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Walking in the rain is refreshing and cleansing. It’s also wet, so when I went for my morning walk after Zumba, I took an umbrella. We definitely need the rain, so no one is complaining.

Well, what I CAN complain about is this wordpress site. Several times, I’ve completed a long post with pictures, quotes and terribly wonderful, insightful information, and the darn thing crashes and disappears. Then I have to start over. Did it yesterday. Anyone else having trouble? I have to remember to copy/paste before I click publish. Gotta get into that habit, ’cause this is my second time writing this and it’s totally different from the original. (I forgot what I wrote an hour ago.)

So, here’s the theme song, “Walking in the Rain, ‘ by the Ronettes 1964. An oldie but a goodie.

Sunday: Acceptance, Understanding, Appreciation

“Love is made up of three unconditional properties in equal measure:

1. Acceptance
2. Understanding
3. Appreciation

Remove any one of the three and the triangle falls apart.

Which, by the way, is something highly inadvisable. Think about it — do you really want to live in a world of only two dimensions?

So, for the love of a triangle, please keep love whole.”
― Vera Nazarian, The Perpetual Calendar of Inspiration
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McKinney celebrated North Texas Pride Day this afternoon. The threatening clouds and rain disappeared, and the sun heated up the day. Maybe a little too hot, but better than rain. Everyone had a good time.

It was great to see all the support from the community. It was a fun event.

Sizzlin’ Saturday

What dreadful hot weather we have! It keeps me in a continual state of inelegance.
Jane Austen
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Well, we finally went and did it. All that complaining about our dreadful winter and freezing temps, I knew I’d start complaining about the heat soon enough.

I got up early for a walk, but it was already in the 80’s. I went to a 9:30 Zumba class right afterwards, and by the time I slid my sweaty self into the car at 10:45, I thought I was going to melt. 90’s are not fun…but we’ve only just begun the summer. Wait, it isn’t even officially summer yet.

I spent the afternoon on the Square, and ran into my friend Sherri at Snug. What made this such a cool coincidence is, (excuse the pun) she had recently found an old friend on Facebook and they were getting together after not seeing each other in twenty-five years. I enjoyed having lunch with them and meeting Mary. How cool is that? I know Facebook gets a bad rap sometimes, but, it does have its merits.

After hanging on the Square, I came home and decided to cool off by cleaning out the freezer. Not really a good idea on a warm day, but it was refreshing to handle massive quantities of frozen vegetables, containers of soups, etc. I was cool, but the freezer was churning hard.

So, now I’m just waiting for it to cool off for an evening walk. Well, that ain’t gonna happen. It’s 8 pm and it’s cooled down to 91. I think that’s as good as it’s gonna get. Better get going before dark. Hope you stay cool!