Sleet

 

Yesterday brought sleet and rain to our local area.

 

We didn't get much in accumulation, but it was enough to close schools, and government offices.  The roads were dangerous and many wrecks occurred.  We are predicted to get snow on Wednesday evening, which could cause a few problems and give a few inches for the kids to make snowmen.

Fresh Pecans

 

A friend offered my to go pick up pecans in his yard.  This is a small portion of the one's that remain on the ground.  It was a good growing season in Texas this last year, for pecans.  

 

These are not the native pecans, you see growing in local parks.  They were planted by the person who owned the property.  I have a native tree in my yard and the pecan shells are harder, and the pecan is smaller.

Progress in Royse City, TX

 

Looking ahead of us while taking the detour to the freeway, we can see the new bridge being developed.

 

As we are going down the street, we look to the right and see the excavation in full progress to build our coming Walmart and other businesses.

 

After standing here several years, taunting us, it finally has a real meaning.

 

Soon the tanks for gasoline will get installed for the "USA Murphy's"  gas stop and convenience store.  Finally some cheap gas that we won't have to drive all the way to Rockwall, TX to buy.

 

Me as well as the rest of the local residents are eagerly waiting for this to get build, so we can get decent groceries and other needed items at a decent price, without having to drive to other towns for these services.  It will also create new jobs for our community and give more volume to the resources of our town.

Waiting for the Bathroom

 

Here are some more pictures of the flea market trip and you can see how crowded it was.  One way in and one way out is very hard to accept when you need to get to the bathroom.

 

The men's bathrooms were moving faster, than the women's, so the men would get their business taken care of and stand around on the other side of the building waiting for their spouses and children to get their turns in the lady's rooms.  

 

It was almost like being at the "State Fair of Texas", with all the people standing in line for the bathrooms.  One thing we noticed, when going through the market, is how commercialized it the stalls were becoming, since the last time we were here.  I looked for the plant stall and it wasn't there this time.

I really wanted to pick up some new plants, especially some aloe vera, which you can usually find there.  Pepper plants are available for the Mexican people to purchase and use for cooking and condiments.  But I didn't see very many of them this trip either.  I'm sure as the spring progresses, these plant stalls, will become more available.

175 Flea Market

 

We couldn't believe how long the lines were to get into the flea market on hwy. 175 at Combine.  It was Sunday and it seems everyone and his dogs were going to this place.

 

We looked at the side of the road for some sort of exit, since the lines were so long.  Who the hell wants to sit in long lines just to walk through a flea market?  Well, that's what we saw along side of the road, so there was no getting off and going somewhere else.  We were stuck in that long line, on the opposite side of the road, waiting to make it around to the other side of the road, where the flea market is located.

 

Once we paid our $2 to enter the parking lot and walked what seemed another mile, we encountered all these people.  There were doing the same thing as we were.  It was the weekend and this was the place to go cheaply, browse for items, get good food, drink your beer with no problem, and take the whole family.  Wow, what a deal.  Yes, if your not stumbling over others just to get the hell out of the damn place.  With all of the property owner's enlargement of the property and extra pavilions, they still had a record crowd.  Everyone knew where to go for free entertainment as well, there were at least two, bands playing Mexican music and singing, very loudly.  Then there was the other dealer, who was trying to pull traffic to his tent, to buy discs of Mexican music, so there was loud music all over the market.  Walking past one of them could render you almost deaf.  

Like most of the people who went we considered it a time out of the house on a nice sunny Sunday, for only $2 entry fee.  One of the only things a family can do on a weekend and not spend an arm or leg to do it.  

Gregg Abbott Declares Today........

Gregg Abbott signs "Chris Kyle Day", Feb. 2, 2015