North Texas Volume 2 Number 2 January 2017
New Edition
In this issue....
At the Table with Chef Brent Hines CRAZY ABOUT...
Mineral Wells Find out what makes this small west Texas town special ... (maybe it’s something in the water!!)
Inside! Graham Livestock Market report TMS Track Update Just desserts More!
Fitzgerald Services Proudly serving Jack County for over 20 years! Dirt Construction, Land Clearing ROW
Backhoe/Loader, Hydro Ax
940.567.2679 Office 940.507.0691 Mobile
(Ronald) (Jimmie)
579 S Main Street - Jacksboro
Erwin Water Well Drilling 940-567-5708 www.erwindrilling.com
Water Well Drilling Water Well Service Shallow Oil Well Drilling Drilling for Cathodic Protection Water Treatment
Table of Contents
Cover photo by Mariah Pogue 2 Table of Contents 3 The Musings of a Crazy Woman 5 Graham Livestock Market Report 6 Crazy About Mineral Wells 8 A Walk In the Clark 10 Just Desserts 12 On Track with Racetrackmom.com 14 Getting Away From It All 18 For the Love of Laundry 20 At the Table With Chef Brent 24 National Vietnam War Museum
About the Cover...
My dear friend, Mariah, and I set out one sunny afternoon in late January to capture the very essence of the town spotlight, Mineral Wells. So many stories have been written with the focus on the Baker Hotel, a once flourishing place for the elite to gather with the locals, that we wanted to see what else there was for the explorer to see. What we found was a PLETHORA of interesting and fun things to do! There is even a Vietnam War Memorial Museum, where visitors can learn about the war and those who bravely fought there. Pictured is the beautiful fountain that is a focal point at the remarkable Clark Gardens! Enjoy!
Photo by Mariah Pogue
The Musings of a CRAZY WOMAN!! After having survived the election of 2016 (I’m really thinking of having tee shirts made to say that)... I have come to realize how desperately our world needs to put an end to all of the bitterness and anger that we have over EVERYTHING. I love social media, but since the election all you see on there now is people that vehemently disagree with politics, school, entertainment and everything else under the sun. I am willing to bet that somewhere out there a couple of ladies are about to go toe to toe over whether to add salad dressing or mayonnaise to the perfect egg salad. What the heck?? How did we get here, to this point where the only opinion that matters is “mine” and if you disagree with me, we can’t be friends? Come on, how hard is it to say something nice? And if you can’t say something nice, keep quiet! Think about it! Your mamas will be proud. Your Grammies will be proud and you’ll be setting a positive example...that’ll make you feel good! Just my opinion. If you don’t agree, find me on Facebook™ and we can “talk”. Photo by Kate Argo at Jacksboro Lake
April 9, 2017
TEXAS MOTOR SPEEDWAY WWW.TEXASMOTORSPEEDWAY.COM
North Texas New Edition Jack County New Edition 114 N Church Street Jacksboro, Texas 76458 940.745.0293 ntne2016@gmail.com
Owner/Publisher...Sandi Argo Photographer.....Sharon Burby Ad Manager...Melissa Rowland StoryContributor:Mariah Pogue Published online the week of each month!
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Graham Livestock Commission LLC Market report January 30, 2017
Receipts were 2156, including 274 packer cows, bred cows and pairs, 1882 yearlings and calves. Packer cows were steady on the higher yielding cows to $4 lower on the lower yielding cows. Packer bulls were steady to $5 higher on the high yielding bulls. The replacement bred cows and pairs were steady with a good demand. Market on steers and heifers weighing 500# and under were steady to $5 lower. Feeder steers, bulls & heifers weighing over 500# were $5 to $8 lower. The market was lower today due to the board being down almost the limit. CONSIGNMENT – FEBRUARY 6 Weaned Calf & Yearling Sale 400 Calves & Yearlings, 400-900# CONSIGNMENT – FEBRUARY 13 135 Blk Cows, 3-7 yrs old, 60 calves on the ground Rest Heavy Bred Cattle Unloading Hours: Monday 7am until the end of the sale Tuesday - Saturday 8am – 5pm and Sunday 8am – 9pm
See you Monday at Graham Livestock! For information to consign cattle, please call:
Jackie Bishop (940)550-5977 Ronnie Hardin (940)521-2158 Greg Sublett (940)328-5224 Check out our website for a copy of the weekly report at
www.grahamlivestock.com
“Live in such a way that you would not be ashamed to sell your parrot to the town gossip.” Will Rogers
For many of us that were either raised up in the “west of the Metroplex” area or got here as soon as we could, we all are very familiar with a little ol piece of ground that is called Mineral Wells. Located (roughly) an hour from Ft. Worth, this town offers plenty for visitors of all kinds. For those with the love of American history, the An old familiar landmark welcomes visitors and residents alike. The town (and area) offer a WELCOME sign was put up in 1922 on “East Mountain”. A tornado blew number of museums to it off the location in 1930, but crews put it back. In 1972 it was moved to the east side of Bald Mountain, where it remains today. learn about life on the Resource: Time Was in Mineral Wells, by A.F. Weaver plains of Texas in the Photo by Mariah Pogue 1800’s to modern times. For folks who like to get out and explore, they might want to check out the Lake Mineral Wells State Park & Trailway, with over 12 miles of park trails, a 640 acre lake, rock climbing and many other things to keep you busy! With a wonderful downtown area, the shopper will find plenty of opportunities to discover that “one of a kind” treasure. When all of the activity makes you hungry, there are endless ways to fix that, from Fuzzy’s Taco Shop, Old School Pizza and the Mesquite Pit to just about every fast food place you can name, if you leave hungry...well then you just didn’t try! Of course, we are all very familiar with the Baker Hotel, the once world renowned gem of the city, now sits empty...waiting to be revived. But did you know that there is a fabulous Washing Machine Museum? Tucked away in the full service Wilson Coin Laundry, the museum gives a timeline of how the people from our past dealt with the chore, and how we need to appreciate what we have now!
(Read about it here, in “For the Love of Laundry!”) Where did this all begin? Glad you asked! Mineral Wells started out in 1877 when the Lynch family, led by Judge James Lynch came to Palo Pinto County. According to the website mineralwells.info/history.htm the story goes... “Soon after settling in, both of his oxen died. Without the animals to pull a wagon, the family had to haul water 8 miles from the Brazos River. By trading the now unusable wagon to a well digger, soon the Lynch family had a well on their own property. Imagine their disappointment when the water that sprang forth was not only yellow, but smelled horrible. Surely any water that smelled so strong and turned anything washed in it red must be undrinkable! One of the sons drank from the well. By luck, he didn’t die...or even get sick. Mrs. Lynch who suffered from horrible arthritis began to drink the water as well. Soon, all symptoms of her illness disappeared. News traveled fast. Judge Lynch recognized a true opportunity...and the mineral water rush was on! People flocked to the area. More wells were dug. The town that sprung up was named “Ednaville”. The population exploded as throngs of people traveled to the town in search of the waters and their curative powers. Shortly, the new town was renamed “Mineral Wells” in honor of the magic waters.
ChugGing along In July of 1889 the Weatherford, Mineral Wells, and Northwestern railway Company was chartered to build a line from Weatherford to Mineral Wells, twentyfive miles. The line was completed in 1891. The company owned 2 locomotives and 90 cars. In 1902 the line was bought by the Texas and Pacific Railway Company and extended 18 miles from Mineral Wells to Graford in 1908. By 1931 the line was classified as a Class II railroad by the Railroad Commission and they owned 3 locomotives and 3 cars. By 1945 only freight service was maintained and the line went through several exchanges of ownership between 1945 and 1992, when it was closed. (Source:Time Was in Mineral Wells, by A.F. Weaver)
Click here to go to our website! www.oldschoolpizzaco.com
A Walk In The Clark A Garden Grows Where Love Is Planted
Clark Gardens was founded on the blooming love story of Max and Billie Clark. When it
came to their mutual love for gardens and nature, Max built anything Billie desired- She served as much of the inspiration for the gardens, lakes, pavilions, and fountains seen at Clark Gardens today. Billie passed away in September 2012, just a few weeks short of their 62nd wedding anniversary. Today at 89 years old Max continues his labor of love by working in the garden daily and carrying on what he started with his bride in 1972. Surrounded by native woodlands and tucked away down a country road between Weatherford and Mineral Wells, Texas, is Clark Gardens. Its story is one of hard work, dreams and the visions of Max and Billie Clark. What began as the Clark’s private garden in 1972 - a small personal endeavor of traditional landscaping on this rugged Texas hillside - is now a botanical masterpiece. Much of this world of tranquility - this unexpected treasure - was sparked by Billie Clark’s inspirations.
In 1999, Max and Billie established the Max and Billie Clark Foundation, and donated 143 acres including the gardens, to this new non-profit organization Now the gardens are a working model of beautiful, yet sustainable, landscapes. The native Texas and Texas adaptable plants the park exhibits are low maintenance and many are drought tolerant. On April 22, 2000, Clark Gardens opened its gates to the public and has been declared one of the most beautiful gardens in the nation. Visitors may take a photo journey of the making of Clark Gardens, and read more about its unique history when they visit the History House in the Park’s West Garden Area. “We want people to enjoy coming out to Clark Gardens.” says Max. Max is an 89 year old man who goes out into the garden everyday to do something he is passionate about. Max always says, “when you love what you do it’s not work.” He also never goes anywhere without his companion (dog) Duece. She is by his side whenever you see him! Mission Statement: Clark Gardens inspires and demonstrates the many rich horticulture and naturebased possibilities of North Texas to tourists and residents alike.
Let’s get Connected! For more information on Clark Gardens, check out the website: www.clarkgardens.org “Like” us on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/clarkgardens https://www.facebook.com/clarkgardensweddings/
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The staff at the North Texas New Edition would like to thank the folks at Clark Gardens for their story and photo contributions.
Just Desserts! Mom’s Bread Pudding This recipe is one of our favorites! We never eat bread fast enough at our house and it ends up going to waste, quite often. It’s too cold (to me) to enjoy feeding the ducks, so what better to do with the bread than to make bread pudding!! Perfect for an easy “sweet fix” on a cold evening. So, grab a bowl of warm bread pudding (that’s my preference but it is amazing cold too) and snuggle up in your fuzzy pj’s for a cozy evening! Bon Appetit y’all! Ingredients Mix together: 4 eggs (beaten) 2 cups milk 1/3 cup sugar (or sugar blend) 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon 1/2 teaspoon vanilla 1/4 teaspoon salt Place 2 1/2 cups of bread (cubed or torn into smaller pieces) in an oven safe baking bowl, then pour the egg mixture on top. Using a whisk or spoon, press (or moosh) the bread down into the egg mixture to get them saturated in the eggs.
Sprinkle lightly with sugar or sugar blend and cinnamon. Place in oven (preheated at 350° ) for 45 minutes or until a knife inserted in center comes out clean. Allow to cool to room temperature. This bread pudding is good as is or you can top with a lemon sauce (recipe to follow). Note: If preferred, chopped nuts or berries can be added to the pudding mix! Experiment with your favorite “add ins�! Lemon Dessert Sauce 1/2 cup sugar (or sugar blend) 4 tsp cornstarch 1 cup boiling water 1/4 cup lemon juice 2 tbs butter 1 tsp vanilla 1 pinch of salt Mix sugar and cornstarch in a small saucepan. Stir in boiling water and lemon juice. Bring to a boil, stirring constantly. Boil 2-3 minutes until thick and bubbly. Remove from heat, stir in butter and vanilla. Allow to cool before serving. Enjoy!
www.mineralwellstx.com www.visitmineralwells.org
on track with racetrackmom.com The racing season for 2017 is finally days away! With the Daytona 500 coming up on February 26th, race fans are counting down. Since the Championship race, way back in November, there have been the usual announcements about drivers, their sponsors and the 2017 cars. There have also been announcements that completely took our breath, such as the sudden and completely unexpected retirement of our beloved Carl Edwards. In January he announced that as of immediately he would no longer be racing. Daniel Suarez, the 2016 Xfinity Series Champion, will take the wheel of the 19 car vacated by Edwards. A very emotional press conference by Edwards gave 3 reasons but fans are still wondering why now? Feeling their driver had a huge shot at the Championship in 2017, after coming just laps away from it in 2016. Edwards explained to the group that he was completely satisfied with his career, had no health issues from racing and felt the need to spend time with the people he loved. Who could argue with any of those statements? As hard as it is to let go, we all wish him the very best in whatever he ends up doing. Classy guy, I (and all of his faithful fans) will miss him dearly. Of course, closer to home, the fans of our “home track” Texas Motor Speedway got an announcement that brought us a major case of curiosity. It was announced that the track would undergo rennovations (including a repave) before the 2017 season. While a number of drivers had expressed their “gentle opposition” to the repave for a number of years, track owner, Eddie Gossage Jr. deemed it necessary in order to provide good, exciting, and safe racing for the fans and drivers alike. Coincidentally, in an interview in Frisco last September, Carl Edwards stated that he loved the track as it was and if the rumored repave were to happen he would lay down in front of the dozer...oddly, the retirement announcement came soon after the TMS announcement. Coincidence? Of course! We will all be pleasantly surprised in a few weeks when the racing community gathers at OUR home track in April! In a press release this week, the following update(s) were announced... FINAL STAGE OF TEXAS MOTOR SPEEDWAY TRACK RENOVATION PROJECT TO BEGIN NEXT WEEK WITH REPAVING Completion Of Track Repave On Target For Beginning Of March Full Repave Of Pit Lane Added To Project New Surface, Layout To Debut April 7-9 At O’Reilly Auto Parts 500 NASCAR Doubleheader FORT WORTH, Texas (February 2, 2017) - The final stage of Texas Motor Speedway’s major capital improvement project will begin next week with the repaving of the track surface for the 1.5-mile oval configuration at the world-renowned motorsports facility that annually plays host to NASCAR and INDYCAR events.
The project began Jan. 9 and construction crews already have completed the installation of the drainage system on the backstretch and frontstretch as well as the grade changes in Turns 1 and 2. The re-profiling of that segment of the track will reduce the banking from 24 to 20 degrees and expand the racing surface from 60 to 80 feet. Turns 3 and 4 will remain unchanged from the current configuration of 24 degrees of banking and 60 feet of racing surface. Lane Construction Corp., known as the preeminent paving company for NASCAR speedways, will direct the repaving project. The entire 1.5-mile oval racing surface will be repaved, along with pit road being recently added to the project list and scheduled for a complete repave. The paving phase is expected to take 28 days barring any delays. “We didn’t initially mention we were going to pave pit road, but over the years it has gotten a little rough and this was an opportune time to add it to the project,” Texas Motor Speedway President Eddie Gossage said. “It’s been re-patched where needed over the years, but a new layer of pavement will make it nice and smooth for both the NASCAR and INDYCAR competitors. “Paving equipment will be on the track within the week and the project should be complete and ready to roll by March 1. We are moving ahead wide open and right on target.” The new configuration and racing surface will debut April 7-9 with the O’Reilly Auto Parts 500 NASCAR doubleheader. The weekend features SportsDay Qualifying Day Powered by The Dallas Morning News for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series on Friday, April 7; SportsDay Qualifying Day Powered by The Dallas Morning News for the XFINITY Series and Cowboy 300 race on Saturday, April 8; and the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series O’Reilly Auto Parts 500 on Sunday, April 9. Tickets are available by visiting www. texasmotorspeedway.com or calling the speedway ticket office at 817.215.8500. Change is always inevitable. Some we like, others...not so much but when it happens we just have to find ourselves adaptable and willing to roll with it. Thats just life. And life is a really great adventure if we will let it be.
autopro2016@att.net
Getting Away From It All At the...
Lake Mineral Wells State Park and Trailway
Photo: Carl Edwards via Sandi Argo’s phone
Story and Photos by Mariah Pogue
Lake Mineral Wells State Park and Trailway lays in the heart of north central Texas Cross Timbers ecoregion which spans 26,000 square miles. The park itself is roughly about 3,282 acres with most of its structures built in the 1930’s by the New Deal agencies: Civilian Conservation Corps and the Works Progress Administration. The state park was open to the public in 1981 and continues to maintain the local ecosystem as well as provide recreation opportunities for tourists and Texas residents. David Owens, a park ranger at Lake Mineral Wells State Park mentions that the park is here to preserve the ecoregion and offer the “opportunity to experience and enjoy the Cross Timbers in its natural state”. “The Nature of the Cross Timbers, plants, insects, birds and mammals, coexist in a natural balance specific to the area” says David. Guests are able to explore certain areas of the park by means of hiking, biking or horseback riding, but please remember that it is BYOH. Bring Your Own Horse. There are 12.8 miles of trails, 20 miles of Trailway, opportunities to camp, swim, fish, boat, geocache, bird watch and rock climb on natural rock cliffs. The park staff also hosts a wide variety of local nature and wildlife based events for both adults and kids geared towards educating about the local Cross Timbers ecoregion. Pictured: One of the many white tailed deer that are found inside the Lake Mineral Wells State Park.
Lake Mineral Wells was impounded in 1920, is about 440 acres, 30 feet deep and plays host to species of fish like the largemouth bass, crappie, channel and flathead catfish. The lake has made it onto several top lists for crappie fishing, and just this last year a local resident caught the 50+ pound flathead catfish.
Keep in mind that Lake Mineral Wells State Park offers rods, reels and tackle boxes through their free loaner program, and you do not need a license to fish on the shore or in a boat.
The building that is the Trailway Trading Post, the store within Lake Mineral Wells State Park, was also built in the 30’s and is run by two wonderful local residents who enjoy helping park guests get all they can out of their visit to the park. The store offers bait, souvenirs, camping supplies and in good weather offers kayak, canoe, paddleboard, and john boat rentals.
The recreation opportunities within the park are almost endless. Just two weeks ago the Phi Chapter of Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society at Weatherford College held a guided nature hike and activities for local area children to help promote the benefits of spending more time outdoors in a natural environment.
Chapter President Reese Oxner said this about the success of the event “This event wouldn’t have been possible without the support from the Mineral Wells State Park’s administration. With their assistance, we were able to host a fun and educational nature hike that the kids loved. We already have plans to repeat the event in the spring. Mariah Pogue, who was the event coordinator and speaker did a wonderful job and was definitely in her element!”
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Oh, For the Love of....
LAUNDRY!
For some, it’s a pain...others, a passion. For a family in Mineral Wells it’s a way of life that has spanned decades. Read on and find out why we should all be hugging our washers every day!
Unless you happen to live in the deep jungles of Africa, where clothing may be optional, you are probably (often) faced with what many consider to be the worst chore of all...laundry! From dirty socks to towels, bedding to bras we all eventually find ourselves up to our elbows in the endless pile that my friend Laura always called “Mount Never-rest”! In the west Texas town of Mineral Wells a couple took what we dread and built a beautiful life. For Fred and Marylin Wilson, laundry wove it’s way into the fabric of their lives when Fred and a friend jumped into small business ownership when they bought the first of what would (over time) be several laundromats in 1980. Fred (an x-ray tech at the time) eventually left his job at the local hospital after “having enough of the politics” that came along with it. Longing to work for himself, his decision to leave was “spot on”, having survived a slow economy through the years and the “Big-O-Mat” business that came to town in more recent times. Like the old time full service filling stations, the Wilson Coin Laundry still offers full service to their loyal customers. For those that prefer to do their own, the coin operated machines at the Wilson have an advantage over the others. As they say in laundry circles...it’s all in the rinse. “We offer a 5 cycle rinse, compared to a 2 or 3 cycle at other places” says Fred “This gets the clothes cleaner”. The difference is noticeable, says Marylin “We’ve had people tell us that their clothes weren’t getting clean at the other places, and that was why.” Perhaps the best thing about the Wilson Coin Laundry isn’t even the modern day fancy super-washers. Perhaps it is the atmosphere that envelopes you as you step through the unassuming doors.
story by sandi argo
In what has been dubbed a “ Washing Machine Museum”, Fred has found a niche that most would have overlooked. Perched atop the rows of modern day machines are the army of old washers, used from early 1900’s to machines that were used in the 30’s through the 50’s and up. Marylin laughs as she tells “I didn’t even know he had bought any machines for a while”. Fred says “I had thought that I might decorate the business with old machines. I found one right down the road and it had been sold to a guy that offered it to me for $50 over what he had paid, which was $200. I left and did some thinking on it, and then went back and bought it from him.” Apparently it was something that people found interesting, Fred adds “People ooh’d and ahh’d over it... and it’s been all downhill from there!” From old glass bleach bottles to a little wire scorpion and everything in between, what began as a way to decorate has turned into a small scale Ripley’s™. And yes, the machines do take up a large portion of the museum. Fred is happy to share with the curious and truly loves what he does. Walking along the concrete “path” I got a sense of what those poor folks from the past had to do just to have clean clothes to wear. I have a hard enough time with my easy breezy machine from Sears (Darned right!) In the back room at Wilson’s there are washers stationed, ready for the next load(s) from the linen service they operate. A small crew of one usually works it but on some days they have another worker that comes in to help get clothes and linens washed and ready to go. A small yet mighty crew that tackles loads after load. The morning crew that day had already done about 1000 pounds before lunchtime. Not uncommon, say the Wilsons. As you walk through this time capsule you get a true sense of the way that we have evolved, and why the women we see in all of the old photographs look so tired. After my visit at the Wilson Coin Laundry I came home and reflected on the day. Fred and Marylin are amazing historians, and very educated on a large number of subjects (both came from a health care background, with Marylin having an RN license and having retired just back in the fall of 2016). Stop in and check it out! If they are able, they’ll be happy to visit! Once you’ve see how they did it in the old days you’ll do what I did...you’ll go home and kiss your washer!
Wilson Coin Laundry 700 W Hubbard Street Mineral Wells, Tx 76067 940-328-1662
At the Table withChef BrentHines W ith this crazy weather in Texas it’s sometimes hard to decide what’s for dinner. One day there are ice sickles and the next day you’re putting on your favorite flip flops. For me, during these confusing times of winter I have a go to a dish that is comforting in any condition. During winter and, well, most of any season I love to slow braise our meals. There is nothing like throwing on a big ole ham hock and beans or a slow cooked chuck meat chili. The smells it creates throughout the house are both mouthwatering and very memorable. One of my favorite is my North Texas Braised Chicken. This simple dish is great for tacos, over rice or served with jalapeno corn bread. I hope you enjoy cooking the recipe, but most importantly it’s enjoying it with your family... whether kicking back and snuggling up on the couch or on the patio in this crazy Texas winter! You can find this recipe and a few others on my website www.TXSiennaSpice.com. Have Fun! Chef Brent
North Texas Braised Chicken • 1 and a half pounds chicken thigh meat • ½ cup white onion-small diced • 2 garlic cloves-minced • 1 Tablespoon fresh cilantro-minced • 1 teaspoon fresh oregano-minced • 1 teaspoon avocado oil or vegetable oil (this is for the marinade, you will need more for the searing process) • 1 teaspoon cumin • 1 Tablespoon Sienna Spice • If you don’t have the “best spice in the world” then substitute with the following. • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika • 1 teaspoon coriander • 2 teaspoons chili powder • 1.75 cups stewed tomato • ¼ teaspoon liquid smoke • ½ teaspoon sweet cornbread mix • ¾ cup chicken stock • 2 Tablespoons orange juice • 2 Tablespoon pineapple juice • 1 lime-zested and juice • 1-dried ancho chili pepper • 1-fresh serrano chili pepper-deseed (you may remove this for a milder chili flavor) • Salt and pepper to taste. Instructions on next page!
This is a mildly spiced recipe with hints of citrus and smoke. Give yourself some time with this recipe as the chicken needs to marinate for 4 hours. The total prep and cook time is no more than 60 minutes. Place chicken thigh meat in a large mixing bowl. Add minced garlic, cilantro, olive oil, cumin, Sienna Spice, orange pineapple juice and lime zest. Toss chicken with tongs until all pieces are evenly coated. Let chicken marinate for at least for hours covered in the refrigerator. Pull the chicken and let it set at room temperature the last 30 minutes of marinating. For this recipe I used a cast iron skillet. I've always enjoyed braising meats cook in cast, which is why I choose to use it a lot in my cooking. Heat the pan to a medium high heat. Pour 1 Tablespoon of vegetable oil in skillet. Add the serrano chili and sear until the skin starts to blister. Add chicken and sear until dark golden brown. Add onion and continue to cook. You may need to adjust your heat at this point. If it is too hot then the chicken marinade will burn. If it is too cold then the chicken will not properly sear. Turn chicken over and continue to cook. Stir the onion and pepper so that it doesn’t burn. Once the chicken is a nice color add remaining ingredients besides cornbread mix. Turn the heat to low and simmer for 20 minutes. Next, turn the chicken over and add cornbread mix. Simmer for additional 20 minutes. At this point you can either leave the chicken in whole pieces or shred chicken with two forks. Serve with rice, tortillas, cilantro, lime wedges and your favorite hot sauce and enjoy!
www.txsiennaspice.com For I know the plans I have for you,� declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Jeremiah 29:11
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Because They Gave It All... One of the most precious places in Mineral Wells is the National Vietnam War Museum. Located on Highway 180 as you leave town headed toward Weatherford. We stopped there with the intention of writing a story about it to go with the rest of what we did this month, but, as I walked through the museum and then the grounds I couldn’t shake the feeling that I needed to do more than just a story. It needed to honor the many MANY names that were there. Each and every one died for my freedom, and anyone else reading this who lives in this wonderful country of ours. It dawned on me that the “story” has already been written. It was written in the blood shed by these heroes. There is nothing I can add. So, I decided to just show the pictures that mean the most, then encourage you to make the trip to the museum to pay your tribute/honor to our finest that gave everything...for you and for me. I hope I “represent”...
The third garden on the Museum site is the Vietnam Memorial Garden. It contains a 300-foot long replica of the Moving Wall™, a 1/2 scale version of the Vietnam Memorial in Washington, D.C. The wall construction generally follows the techniques that John Devitt used in building the Moving Wall™. The wall is constructed in a forest of Arizona Cypress trees and is accessed by a path of decomposed granite. The wall is unique in a number of ways, but particularly due to its focus on the accuracy of the names on the wall. The wall is updated at least annually to ensure it stays as current as possible.
National Vietnam War Museum 12685 Mineral Wells Hwy, Weatherford, Texas (On Hwy 180, in western Parker County, about a mile east of the Mineral Wells city limits.) phone: 940-325-4003 Hours Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Saturday, and Sunday: 9:00 am to 1:00 pm Thursday and Friday: 9:00 am to 5:00 pm
I Can Live Free And I Thank You All