Pate Museum of Transportation

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This museum is no longer open.

It was west of Ft. Worth, an awesome place to take kids, and a fun, educational trip for the whole family.
Mr. A. M. Pate, Jr., started the musem in 1969 with a small collection.  It grew through the years and acquired treasured antique cars, airplanes, a railway palace car, Army tanks, a Navy minesweeper, to name a few.

When we went, our son really liked the periscope and enjoyed looking through it to see what was outside.  That was one of his and his friends’ favorite parts.

Many senior citizens could take a walk down memory lane looking at some of the vehicles. The two rarest cars were a 1917 Premier (which is probably the only model of its kind in existence with a push-button transmission), and a 1904 Schacht, which looked like a horseless carriage.

It was a fun place for the whole family, no matter what their age.

Pictures by cmt2779 on Flickr

“USDA Organic” Isn’t Always Grown in the US – Could be China

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I recently bought a can of Organic Black Beans.  The can had the seal “USDA Organic” on the front of it, so I assumed the beans were grown here in the US.   When I looked at the date on the bottom of the can to check the shelf life of the beans, I noticed the words “Product of China.”  I was greatly surprised.   From reading some articles I learned that we really don’t know where a lot of our food comes from.   Most cans do not give that information.  Instead, they’ll say, “Distributed by…”   After hearing about food, toothpaste, defective tires, etc, coming from China that are not safe, I find myself wanting to avoid things from China.  I’m still reading and researching, though, to find out more information.  

Baby Walkers VS Baby Bouncers

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When our two children were babies, baby walkers were popular.  We had a “Super Coupe” Walker that they both enjoyed.  Now that our daughter is expecting a baby, I’ve learned that baby walkers are not as popular.  Now baby bouncers are recommended.   At one of our daughter’s baby showers she received the neatest bouncer.  It has all sorts of interesting things for the baby that are not only fun but educational as well.   It helps the baby exercise but is stationary to keep the baby safer.

Great Tasting Flourless, Low Glycemic Bread

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Ezekiel Bread makes great toast and is so unbelievably healthy. We like to toast it and top with a little butter and organic preserves, either strawberry, raspberry or apricot.  We have been eating it for a couple of years now, and even our son likes the Sesame. It is so nutritious that I try to eat it often.

  • It’s completely ORGANIC!
  • It’s sprouted 100% whole grain bread.
  • It’s made from wheat, barley, beans, lentils, millet & spelt which make a complete protein. That’s why Ezekiel was able to live eating only this bread with water for over a year. (from the Bible, Ezekiel 4:19)
  • The protein quality is very high, so high that it is 84 % as good as the highest known source of protein.
  • It has a total of 18 naturally balanced amino acids, all from vegetable sources.
  • It does not contain any white flour.

I know from experience that I can have a slice of toasted Ezekiel Bread and a cup of green tea for breakfast and it satisfies me and I don’t get hungry for a while. I even use it to make my favorite peanut butter sandwich.

This bread is in the frozen food section. We buy it at Central Market, but it can also be found in the grocery section at health food stores. It comes in three varieties, our favorites being the Cinnamon Raisin and also the Sesame Seed.

If you’d like to make your own Ezekiel bread, click here.

*****************HOW TO GET COUPONS FOR EZEKIEL BREAD!*****************

How Safe are Toiletries & Cosmetics?

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Our toiletries and cosmetics are not tested for safety.  Some contain ingredients believed to be linked to cancer.  Cosmetics Database has information about a lot of the toiletries and cosmetics that we use.   The lower the number on the rating, the safer the product.  You can then click on the product name and you will be given information on that particular product as to the ingredients and the safety of each ingredient.  If you’re using a product with a high number rating (in a red circle), then I would recommend finding a safer product.


World-Famous Collin Street Bakery in Corsicana, Texas

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The Collin Street Bakery is located in Corsicana, TX, and is famous for its fruitcake.  The bakery, started in 1896 by a German baker during the oil rush, makes its way to every state in the United States as well as many countries.  As many as 4 million pounds are sold every year.   Wow, that’s a lot of fruitcake!

A FAMILY TRADITION:  When I was growing up, my parents received our first Collin Street Bakery Fruitcake as a Christmas gift. (also known by some Texans as a Corsicana Fruitcake) I thought it was the best fruitcake I had ever eaten!

Just a few years ago, my family drove by Corsicana and visited the bakery.  It was very interesting to learn the history of the bakery and fun to sample different kinds of cakes.  Our son really liked it and asked if we could order one of their fruitcakes for Christmas, and so we did.   Even if someone doesn’t like fruitcake that much, the bakery is fun to visit and sells all kinds of cookies and pastries.

The bakery has opened a second location which is conveniently located on Interstate 45.  I definitely want to visit there the next time we are passing by Corsicana.

Abbott, Willie Nelson & My Mother

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This summer as we were traveling down I-35 towards Austin, TX, I asked my husband to take a short detour to the small community of Abbott, TX, which is just a couple of miles off the interstate.  I had always wanted to see the place where my mother attended high school.  Abbott just happened to be where Willie Nelson also went to high school.  

The original high school was replaced many years ago, but it was neat to see the site where she attended even if it wasn’t the actual building.  We  drove a few more blocks to the main part of the community.  There were a few old stores still there and I realized that my mother probably went to some of the stores when she was a teenager.  And who knows, maybe Willie Nelson did also.

My mother passed away, and so it meant a lot to me to visit where she had been even though the school had changed.  As we passed some old houses on the way back to the interstate, I thought about how some of my mother’s friends may have lived in those houses and she could have visited them.  I could imagine giggling girls talking about the cute boys in their classes , just as I had done, and just as our daughter had done.  Some things never change!  🙂

Easy Summer Fresh-Fruit Cake

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All You need an angel food cake, a large container of Cool Whip, and a mix of berries (thoroughly washed and dried) and kiwi. Place the cake on your serving plate, ice it with Cool Whip and decorate with the fruit. One thing that I’ve started doing is cutting the cake into individual pieces and putting the pieces side by side and then icing with Cool Whip to make it look like a whole cake. This makes serving so much easier. Otherwise, it’s hard to cut the Angel Food Cake with all the Cool Whip and fruit on it.

Here is an example of a pre-cut cake that looks like one whole cake. Serving it was real easy. I usually decorate the sides of the cake also, but I didn’t on this particular cake because of the cake carrier I was using. I use Lite Cool Whip so this low-fat cake is light and refreshing.

Mosquitoville

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Beware!!  If you’re traveling through Arkansas this summer, be sure and bring insect spray with you that works well on mosquitoes.  We spent the night in northeastern Arkansas recently, and we killed more than 25 mosquitoes in our motel room.   I’ve never seen so many mosquitoes in one room.  We kept thinking we had killed all of them, and then another one would appear.  

We told the lady at the front desk about our problem and she said that because there were so many rice fields and soybean fields in this part of Arkansas, they can’t seem to kill off the mosquitoes.   They have small planes and trucks that spray the area but that doesn’t get rid of them.  So…if you’re planning on spending the night near rice fields, be sure to pack some insect repellent!

Small Towns & Courthouse Squares

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We visited my mother-in-law recently and took a day trip to the area where she grew up.  We drove around the town square as she pointed out places she went as a young girl when her family would come to town.  One place that was fascinating to me was a tiny building that was still a beauty shop just like it was 70 years ago when my mother-in-law went there for her first permanent.  She said she was there several hours.  There was a machine with long attachments that connected to each roller on her head or something to that effect.  I can just picture her as a teenager with all these things sticking out of her head.  It’s so neat hearing stories first hand about the past.  It’s like taking a walk back through time and seeing history through the eyes of the person telling the story.  Now as I’m approaching the wonderful experience of being a grandmother soon, I will probably one day help our grandchild, when he’s older, to take a walk back through time and experience history.  How exciting that will be!!  🙂

The Star Spangled Banner – Note the 4th Verse

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You’ve probably sung this song many times, but have you ever heard the 4th verse?  I thought it was worth sharing.

……………….

FIRST VERSE:

Oh! say, can you see, by the dawn’s early light,
What so proudly we hailed at the twilight’s last gleaming?
Whose broad stripes and bright stars, through the perilous fight,

O’er the ramparts we watched were so gallantly streaming?

And the rocket’s red glare, the bombs bursting in air,

Gave proof thro’ the night that our flag was still there.

Oh!  Say, does that star-spangled banner yet wave,

O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave?

FOURTH VERSE:

Oh! Thus be it ever, when freemen shall stand,

Between their loved homes and the war’s desolation,

Blest with victory and peace, may the Heaven-rescued land,

Praise the Power that hath made and preserved us a nation.

Then conquer we must, for our cause is just,

And this be our motto — “IN GOD IS OUR TRUST.”

And the star-spangled banner in triumph doth wave,

O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave.


Sopapilla Cheesecake

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Our daughter gave me this recipe, and I’ve made it several times and have had numerous requests for the recipe. It’s so easy to make. People are surprised when they find out just how easy it is. This is not a “healthy” recipe, but it’s a great time saver when you need a homemade dessert to have for company or to take to a luncheon. I did change a couple of the ingredients to reduced fat.

INGREDIENTS:

  • 2 cans crescent rolls (I use regular for the bottom crust and reduced fat for the top)
  • 2 pkg of 8 oz. cream cheese (I use reduced fat)
  • 1 stick butter ( I’m going to try it with less butter)
  • 1 1/2 cup sugar
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • Cinnamon

Unroll one can of crescent rolls and place in the bottom of a 9″x13″ ungreased baking dish. Pinch together the seams to mostly make a solid layer. In a mixing bowl, combine softened cream cheese and 1 cup of the sugar and 1 tsp. vanilla. Mixture needs to be well blended. Microwaving it for a few seconds at a time improves being able to pour it in the pan. Pour mixture and spread over crescent roll layer. Unroll other package of crescent roll and lay on top. Don’t worry about pinching the seams together. In a small microwavable dish, melt butter and 1/2 cup sugar. Pour over top and spread. Sprinkle generously with cinnamon. (we use a lot) Bake at 350 degrees for about 30-35 minutes or until top and sides are golden brown. Let cool about 15 minutes before cutting into squares and removing from pan. I usually cut it into 24 squares. Enjoy!