Denton County Courthouse on the Square Museum - Denton, TX

DENTON COUNTY COURTHOUSE
COURTHOUSE ON THE SQUARE MUSEUM

While in Denton for a day trip, The Travelling Toe and Dear Friend, toured the Courthouse On The Square Museum.

The historic Denton County Courthouse is still used for some county offices but a portion of the Courthouse houses the Museum.

The Museum was opened in 1979 and features a rotation of exhibits.  Check the web site for hours of operation.

Denton County Courthouse on the Square Museum

It is not a large museum but very nicely arranged so that you could walk around and discover how the area was developed.  There are sections within the Museum highlighting the opportunities that attracted pioneers to the area, such as agriculture, cattle ranching, cotton and mercantile businesses. 

The influence of American Natives in the area were featured in an exhibit.

American Natives Exhibit

Different cattle brands used in the area were displayed on one wall in the cattle and ranching exhibit

CATTLE BRANDS

Also included in the exhibits was an old buckboard wagon still in good shape.  Anybody ready for a hay ride?

Buckboard Wagon

There is a small gift shop in the Courthouse with a few souvenir items to purchase as a reminder of your trip to Denton..

We two travelers enjoyed this historic museum and the downtown Courthouse Square full of cute shops, places to eat and a few antique malls.  

Book Review: "The Girl In The Spider's Web"

THE GIRL IN THE SPIDER'S WEB

The Travelling Toe is a charter member of the Good Reads Book Club.  Each month a member recommends a book for the group to read and then presents a review of the book along with other information pertaining to the story line or the author.  After the review, the members have a discussion about the book and what they liked or didn't like. It is always an interesting and informative discussion.

For the month of March, it was moi's time and the book selected was "The Girl In The Spider's Web".  It is the 4th book in the Millennium series. The first book "The Girl in the Dragon Tattoo" was published in 2008 and t was a runaway best seller.  A movie was made of it in both Swedish and English. The second book was "The Girl Who Played With Fire" that came out in 2009.  And the third one, "The Girl Who Kicked The Hornets Nest" arrived in the US in 2010.

STIEG LARSSON

Stieg Larsson, was the original author of the first 3 books. But tragically he died before the books were published or realized the astounding success that they would achieve world wide.  As you might remember there was a fight over his estate between his long-time girl friend and his father and brother.  

Larsson was a journalist and was active in documenting and exposing the Swedish extreme right and racist organisations.  He died at the age of 50. and that is when the 3 unpublished books as several unfinished manuscripts were found.  

David Lagercrantz, a noted Swedish journalist himself, was approached by the publishing company to write a fourth book with the same major characters, Mikael Blomkvist and Lisbeth Salander.  

DAVID LAGERCRANTZ

In an interview with Costco Connection magazine, Mr. Lagercrantz was asked how he prepared himself for writing this book.  He replied that he immersed himself in the Stieg Larsson universe.by reading the books numerous times and taking notes on the characters and their various story lines.

The Amazon website describes the plot of "The Girl In The Spider's Web" as follows:

She is the girl with the dragon tattoo—a genius hacker and uncompromising misfit. He is a crusading journalist whose championing of the truth often brings him to the brink of prosecution.

Late one night, Blomkvist receives a phone call from a source claiming to have information vital to the United States. The source has been in contact with a young female superhacker—a hacker resembling someone Blomkvist knows all too well. The implications are staggering. Blomkvist, in desperate need of a scoop for Millennium, turns to Salander for help. She, as usual, has her own agenda. The secret they are both chasing is at the center of a tangled web of spies, cybercriminals, and governments around the world, and someone is prepared to kill to protect it . . . 

The duo who captivated millions of readers in The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, The Girl Who Played with Fire, and The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet’s Nest join forces again in this adrenaline-charged, uniquely of-the-moment thriller. 

SIDE NOTE:  One important piece of handy information we learned from Lisbeth in this book, is that if you are ever in a gun battle and get wounded and are out of bandages, then just use some good old reliable duct tape to wrap up your wounds.  (Red Green would be so proud!)

Members of the book club did like this book as it had an interesting story line and was not quite as violent as the first 3 books.  David did an excellent job of capturing the essence of the 2 main characters.  He also used the same writing style as Stieg, with one chapter describing the action taking place for one person on a particular day and the next chapter being the same time frame but from a different character's perspective.


The publishing firm has contracted with David to write 2 more books in the series.  So additional Swedish adventures will be forthcoming!

FWSO Symphonic Series - Tchaikovsky Piano Concerto No.1

The Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra's concert for Sunday, March 20th was drastically changed at the last minute.  The featured soloist, Vadym Kholodenko, suffered a horrible personal tragedy and was unable to perform.

The concert had to continue even in the face of tragedy.

Alessio Bax

Luckily, Alessio Bax, a marvelous pianist, was able to appear at the very last minute. He performed Tchaikovsky's Piano Concerto No 1 B-flat Minor.  It was an amazing performance.  He received numerous standing ovations.

Pyotr Tchaikovsky

The orchestra opened the concert with Edward Elgar's "Nimrod". It was a very stirring and heart-felt piece of music and reflected all the emotions that had surfaced during the week. So meaningful.

Edward Elgar

After Mr. Bax performed, there was a short intermission.

Following the intermission, the orchestra played Johannes Brahms, Symphony No.3 in F Major. Wow!  Another wonderful performance.

Johannes Brahms

As Maestro Miguel Harth-Bedoya shared with the audience before the concert began, "When all words fail us, we have music".

Hot Springs National Park - UPDATE

CBS Sunday Morning

On the CBS Sunday Morning program, a reporter, in celebration of  the 100th birthday of the National Park System, is visiting numerous parks.  Recently he visited and reported on Hot Springs National Park.

Here is the link to the segment that will give you a good peak at the park..

Enjoy!



CBS Sunday Morning - Hot Springs NP

Hot Springs Naional Park in Hot Springs, Ark

 

Hot Springs, Ark

Hot Springs Ark

One National Park not that far from the DFW Metroplex area is Hot  springs NP.  What is so unique about this NP is that it encompasses the whole row of the downtown area known as Bathhouse Row.  This is were people came to "take the waters" in the late 19th century. 

Bathhouse Row

The Hot Spring National Park was established "to protect it's unique geothermal spring water and associated lands for public health, wellness, and enjoyment". The area was set aside in 1832 to protect the hot springs.  When Yellowstone was established as the first National Park in 1872, Hot Springs was folded under it and they were managed together.

Hot Springs National Park


Strolling down Bathhouse Row you will find the NP souvenir store and park office.  If you have a NP Passport, be sure to get it stamped there.  Also there are hot springs pools in the downtown area that you can stick your footies in, but be warned......hot means really HOT!   And there are drinking fountains that are available where you can fill up bottles and take some of the water home with you.

Hot Springs Pool

But the fun thing to do is schedule a spa treatment to take out all those road trip knots! There are several places to choose from when you are ready to be pampered.

awwwwwwww

When The Travelling Toe has visited Hot Springs, we have scheduled a hot soaking bath followed by a massage.  Oh wow!.....was that ever delightful!  We have enjoyed these spa treatments at The Arlington Hotel. The 3rd Arlington Hotel, constructed in 1925, is still a beehive of activity.  It is reported that Al Capone liked to go there.   




The Arlington Hotel

SIDE NOTE: If you are from Texas, The Arlington Hotel might look familiar and the reason why is that is it a "sister" to the Baker Hotel in Mineral Wells...another spot known for it's healing waters.


There area lot of cute shops across the street from Bathhouse Row so you can enjoy some retail therapy as well.


Just right outside of town is the Hot Springs Tower.  It is 1,256 miles above sea level and is a fun drive up and back on a winding trail full of switchbacks.  But the view is so worth it!

Hot Springs Tower

So pack the car and head to Hot Springs National Park.  You will enjoy the visit.







 

 

 

Butterflies in the Garden

FORT WORTH BOTANIC GARDEN CENTER AND CONSERVATORY

Each year the Fort Worth Botanic Garden presents the  “Butterflies In The Garden” exhibit at the Fort Worth Botanic Garden Conservatory.   

The exhibit is sponsored by:

·         The Fort Worth Botanic Gardens
·                  www.fwbg.org
 
·         Fort Worth Garden Club
·                  fortworthgardenclub.org
 
·         Fort Worth Botanical Society
·                    www.fwbg.org
 
·         Botanical Research Institute of Texas
·                    www.brit.org

The Travelling Toe joined in with the other Westmont Garden Club members to tour the exhibit.

The 2016 exhibit is titled "The Mayan Experience: and features butterflies from Central America, Africa, Asia and even the US. 

The Fort Worth Conservatory is 10,000 square feet of glass-enclosed tropical forest.  This conservatory houses plants from all of the world’s tropical regions. 

As you enter the conservatory a lovely waterfall welcomes visitors to the rainforest. 

The environment is perfect for the butterflies to enjoy and for visitors to enjoy the butterflies.  Throughout the rainforest, there is small hanging feeding stations loaded with various fruits for the butterflies to feast on.  Kroger sponsored the fruit for these feeding stations.

All the members enjoyed the stroll through the tropical rainforest butterfly hunting with cameras not nets.  Many butterflies were discovered fluttering about and resting on plants as well as on humans.

After enjoying the butterfly experience, it was then time for lunch.  Garden club members found their feeding station at the Gardens Restaurant on the grounds of the Botanical Gardens.

"As You Like It" presented by National Theatre Live!

Once again The Travelling Toe and a Dear Friend attended a telecast of a Shakespeare play presented by National Theatre Live.  The play, "As You Like It" was shown at the Magnolia Theater located in the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth.  Amphibian Stage Productions sponsored the production.

First page of "As You Like It" from the "First Folio" of Shakespeare's plays, published in 1623.

The Travelling Toe and Dear Friend having seen numerous National Theatre Live productions found this one to be our least favorite.  

William Shakespeare

Shakespeare's tale is full of mistaken identity, love lost and won and family feuds. This play is known for the very famous speech "All The World's A Stage".

Rosalind is a young girl who is close friends to Celia who is the Duke's daughter.  But Rosalind is banished from the court, so Celia and Rosalind cook up a plan to escape in the middle of the night. Rosalind disguises herself as a young man and Celia as a poor woman.  

Also part of the story line is a young man, Orlando, who is being mistreated by his older brother and eventually has to flee for his life.  When Orlando leaves, his trusted servant Adam goes with him.

In one way or another (of course) all these people end up in the Forest of Arden, along with a shepherd, a shepherdess, a country boy, a country girl and other strange people.  But somehow Shakespeare wraps up all the entangled stories and provides a happy ending with each person winding up with the the right person.  

The stage setting was very inventive. The first act took place in an office environment with desks, chairs, and tables. Then as the characters were entering the Forest of Arden, these tables, desks and chairs were pulled up on long chains, left hanging down and became the forest.  In the background, a chorus provided the sound effects of forest life.  And some even came on stage to play the part of sheep for the shepherd.  

NT Live always presents an interesting take on Shakespeare's play.

 National Theatre Live

Amphibian Stage Productions 

Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth 

NT Live: As You Like It

 

"The Divergent Series: Allegiant" (movie critique)

THE DIVERGENT SERIES: ALLEGIANCE - movie poster

The Friday Movie Mavens and The Travelling Toe having seen the previous movies in the "Divergent" series, decided to see the latest feature "Allegiant".  Once again this franchise followed the playbook of other serial movies such as "The Hunger Games" and "Harry Potter" by taking the last book in the series and stretching it into 2 movies....and not always to a good outcome.  Usually the 2 parts are presented months apart and it is easy to forget what action took place when the first part ended and then picking up that story thread again where the second movie premiers.  But anything to milk more money out of a successful franchise!

"Wikipedia" describes the plot as follows:

Tris (Shailene Woodley) escapes with Four (Theo James) to journey beyond the wall that encloses Chicago.  For the first time, they leave the only city and family they have ever know to find a peaceful solution.  Once outside, they learn shocking new truths that render old discoveries meaningless.  As the ruthless battle threatens humanity, Tris and Four quickly decide who to trust to survive.  Tris must ultimately make difficult choices about courage, allegiance, sacrifice and love.

 If you have not seen the previous movies, this one might be hard to figure out all the intrigues of the plot and who is really the "good guys" and who is not.

Unlike the first movies, this one had less action and more interaction with techie stuff. It was slow but the CGI was very effective in creating vastly different worlds and adding interesting elements in them. One of the best parts of the movie was the movie score composed by Joseph Trapanese.

Joseph Trapanese - music composer

CAST:

Shailene Woodley

Theo James

Ansel Elgort

Miles Teller

Jeff Daniels

Naomi Watts

Octavia Spencer

Daniel Dae Kim

 













seeing him is one of the best parts of the movie
(sigh)






 And a host of other actors!

The Travelling Toe gives this movie 1 middle toe and 1 pinkie toe up with a bottle of  milk, since we bought a ticket to the movie!

Disclaimer: The Travelling Toe is not a professional critic and any opinions expressed are for entertainment purposes only.

 

 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO THE NATIONAL PARKS SYSTEM!

Dear Readers, as you may or may not know, the National Park Service is celebrating it's 100the anniversary this year.

 National Parks Service

President Woodrow Wilson signed the act that created the National Park system on 
August 25, 1916.

Yellowstone National Park was the first nation' s first National Park established.  President Ulysses S. Grant designated it so on March 1,1872.  

There are 410 National Parks throughout the entire 50 states.  

The arrowhead has been used as the National Park Service logo since 1951.  It is worn on the Park Ranger's uniform and is used on signs and publications.

National Park week is  April 16-24 and you can visit ANY  park for FREE.  That is correct...for FREE!  What better reason to give you than that to go and explore one of "our" National Parks.

To find a National Park close to you go online to:

Find Your Park


The National Park System has more than 18,000 miles of trails where you get to see a variety of landscapes, solemn battlefields, along with historic and cultural sites. 

Visiting anyone of the the 410 sites will make you appreciate even more the vast and varied lands that make up our Nation.

So get out and go!

The Travelling Toe has been fortunate enough to have visited a few of our National Parks and plans to share her travels with you in future posts.