Lost and Found

Are you looking for something special that no one else has? You are likely to find it among all the treasures at Maine Barn & Attic Antiques in Azle, just west of Fort Worth, Texas. It has been a very long time (or maybe never) since I have seen such an amazing collection of Americana. The best part (aside from the smell of your grandmother’s basement) is that the entire place is organized and grouped so that if you are looking for something particular it can actually be found.

If you are like me and can’t deal with digging through piles, the vignettes and collections make it very easy to enjoy walking through, even if just perusing.

Only open on Saturdays which is great; you can take your time!

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Millions of Peaches

Need a little road trip with a tasty treat or two or three?  Try Ham Orchards in Terrell, Texas this summer. Nope, they don’t have “orchards of pigs” they have orchards of peaches silly!  All summer long they will be harvesting 30 different varieties on approximately 10,000 trees. We were given the hot tip that July has the crowd favorite varieties!

Ham Orchards has a fantastic market store where you can purchase the fresh picked peaches that are in season. They have many delicious jarred goodies like jams and salad dressings that you can not find in the corner supermarket. Wait, there is more!  Fudge, fresh baked goods and the fan favorite…PEACH ICE CREAM!

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The best surprise for us was the Peach Pulled Pork. This pulled pork by Eddie Deen and some sweet peach tea will put you into a food coma that you never want to come out of. Except for maybe to get more peach ice cream.

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On our visit we were able to pick black berries right of the vine. Funny how fresh berries last a longer than those from the grocery store. Check the Ham Orchards website to see if the berry pick’n is still an option when you plan you trip. #ExploreEatEnjoy 

 

Hike the North Shore Trail?

After hiking a beautiful 9 mile section of the North Shore Trail on Lake Grapevine with a group of gals, I thought I would share a few things I learned.

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  1. There are 5 main trailheads to enter the 22.5 mile trail that is made up of two large loops, then broken down into smaller loops.
  2. These ARE actually bike trails so expect to be jumping off trail to let them pass. No one wants to be permanently branded by a bicycle tire.
  3. The bikes run counter-clockwise, therefore hikers and walkers should go clock-wise. Just like on the street, you want to see the bike coming! 
  4. The trails are closed when muddy – for your safety.
  5. The trail has lush vegetation for some good cover from the sun. The lushness does contain poison ivy so watch your step!

See the map, trail rules and more on the Dallas Off-Road Bicycle Association Website. Enjoy!

Start Your Engines

A night at the races for the Verizon IndyCar Series at Texas Motor Speedway, home of Big Hoss, the world’s largest HDTV screen that is nearly a half-acre in size and nine stories tall.

There is an abundance of patriotism going on at this 248 lap race. The race doesn’t start without a prayer, a fighter jet flyer, the fireworks at the end and as you leave the track you see Big Hoss’s backside, our country’s flag.  God Bless Texas!

Oh, and the best corn dog I ever had – never new there was a corn dog worth mentioning.

 

There is a Name for Us

Yup, that is what I was told as we were packing up and moving to Texas. “There is a name that native Texans will call you,” said a coworker to me. This was one of many comments I heard, not all were supportive sounding either. I guess that was jealousy speaking.

Why did we choose Texas?  I might say that our 2016 adventure to Waco and the 2nd Annual Silo Bration had something to do with it…

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Magnolia Silos 2nd Annual SiloBration

In reality, God answered hubby’s prayers with a wonderful work opportunity, so here we are!

Now that we are here, I can honestly say that we couldn’t be happier. The only thing I have heard native Texans say so far is “Welcome to Texas”  and “Yes ma’am”. The person handling my car registration, the servers waiting on us, the cashier at the grocery…they all seem happy to have us!

In being new to Texas, I feel it’s our responsibility to get to know the Lone Star State, so that is what LoneStarry.com is going to do. Get out there and share what we find. I hope you Explore, Eat and Enjoy with us!

EXPLORE   |    EAT    |     ENJOY    –  #ExploreEatEnjoy