Fort Worth - Texas: The Stockyards

On Saturday afternoon we set off for the stockyards..... 

....we waited and waited....but the Molly the Trolley who was to take us there never showed up, and eventually it was decided to abandon our plan and try again the following day.  Probably just as well as I think I would have melted in my full cowboy gear!

Fortunately the following day we made it!

There was lots to see, although Mum said it was a bit too 'shoppy' for her.

I decided not to have my fortune read....I was sure Pappy would say something about my hair, and quite frankly I hear enough about that!

I tried saying hello to this Longhorn, but he seemed to be rather silent.

I hope no trains come while we are walking down here!

There was a great saddlery shop!  Mum said it reminded her of her riding days.

Wren hopped on a saddle in the hope she could convince Mum to buy her one!

I did as well, but it seems only Wren got her photo taken - doesn't seem fair!!

My friend and I did get to sit on some other saddles though.  

This one really was a bit big for us.

Ride 'em cowboy!  

Yee hah!

This reminded me a bit of a film we watched on the plane on the way over.

There were rides up and down the street, but I felt sorry for the horses having to pull wagons in this heat.

Ooh a real one this time!

At least this Longhorn is in the shade....

More rides on a different wagon.

Uh oh...why do I always seem to end up behind bars?

Help, let me out of here!

Another Longhorn.

I wonder how much they like having to give people rides?  Or in this case letting people sitting on them.?

This looked interesting.

Ah boot shine!  No one available to shine my boots though.

Waiting for the bus on our return home.

Oh and almost forgot the highlight!  Yes sir/mam, I got to ride with a mounted officer again!  

I sure want to be a policeman when I grow up.  

I just need to find me a sheriff star badge, like others found....we looked everywhere and had no luck!

Fort Worth - Texas Day One: The Botanic Garden

After our walk around Sundance Square and the River we returned to the hotel for instructions on how to get to the Botanical Gardens....

We caught 'Molly the Trolley' to the train station and from there we caught a bus that dropped us off right outside the gardens.

While waiting for the bus we had a look at 'Car 25'  both inside and out.

The 'plush' seats at the front were for the ladies

and the plainer vinyl seats at the back were for the men - as they more often than not smoked.

The interior was lovely.

Shame it couldn't actually take me anywhere!

Also at the train station was an information plaque about the African-American History and some great murals featuring different time periods in history.

These were very well done, and had a lot in them to look at.

Finally our bus arrives and a short journey later we arrive at the Botanic Garden.

My friends Wren and Hitty Madge joined me - it is always good to have company.

As unusual as it may seem to some, I enjoy looking round gardens, even though I have heard that often little boys and sometimes bigger boys do not!  How strange!  There is lots to see, do, smell and explore!

We enjoyed our time wandering round the gardens which really were quite beautiful considering how hot it is here.  You wouldn't think anything could grow, but grow it does.

These were funny roots coming up from below the tree.

I have a closer look - they are a bit like alien pods.

This lake I am standing near had lots of turtles in it.

They had the right idea - keeping cool in the water!

Of course there is always an opportunity for tree climbing in these gardens....

Looking towards the rose garden.

Ah, it was good to have a sit down, although not for long as boy was it hot!

Pretty fountain.

We wander towards the rose garden...

...smelling the flowers along the way.

Unfortunately the rose garden was blighted - it had been destroyed by a pest and there were virtually no roses left.  How sad, it must look spectacular when it has roses as the beds were laid out nicely.

I sit for a while and imagine what the rose garden would look like.  

An interesting bird sculpture.

Walking 'on the boardwalk'

That's where I'll be....

Off to see where it will take me..

Found a grass hopper!

Had a closer look - they look a bit like an alien or a dinosaur.

Pretty Wren poses for me.

Red Hibiscus - I saw some of these in Australia last year and New Zealand this year.

More pretty flowers.

Continuing our wander round the gardens.

They were all nicely laid out and well tended.

Why oh why am I wearing my vest though?  I must be mad as it was so very hot.

These leaves under this tree were like giant heartss.

Ah, a cool little stream.

If you look carefully you can see the gold fish.

A squirrel - very much like the ones we see in our garden at home!

Playing....

Hey there!

We finished the gardens with a nice lunch in the restaurant/