Tie One On Dad

Dad…you’re my dad, and I LOVE YOU MAN!!!

"Big, Bad, Jim"

Jimmy Ray Dean, born August 10, 1928 in Plainview, Texas, died June 13, 2010, of natural causes at his Henrico County, Virginia home.



Singer and songwriter, Dean was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame, on February 23, 2010.



A successful entertainer in the 1960s, including the nationally televised, 'The Jimmy Dean Show.' He appeared on TV talk shows, game shows, and performed on popular variety programs.



An actor, he starred as the reclusive Las Vegas billionaire, Willard Whyte, in the movie, "Diamonds are Forever". He also acted on various TV shows including, "Daniel Boone," and "Fantasy Island".
In 1969, he created the Jimmy Dean Meat Company, and his sausage became a successful business and a household name. In 1984, he sold the company to Sara Lee and was their spokesman until 2005.


How I came to make sausage: "I was raising hogs in west Texas — about six thousand a year. It was going along really fine, and then the market fell out. All of a sudden I was losing about twenty dollars an animal every time I sold one. What in the hell am I gonna do? I can't stand this forever. So I was having breakfast in a little old diner in my hometown. Sausage and eggs. I pulled some gristle out from between my teeth about the size of the end of your little finger and I said, "Man, there's got to be room for quality sausage in this country." That's over thirty-five years ago, and we've been number one in this country for a long, long time. Now I'm more famous for my sausage than my music. That's all right."

This is to honor Jimmy, and my favorite food---breakfast, lunch or dinner---in a bag.

Rest in Peace, Mr. Dean.

To Summarize and Review

Around every corner and curve, something wonderful to see or do.
Welcome everyone.

Corn on the cob.

Lollipop.

Waving wheat.

Hand over the cracker, or I'll pluck out your eye.

Sharp dressed man.

Brute strength.

Pin striped suit.

Head and shoulders above the rest.

Feeding time at the Puffin pool.

Cool runners.

Polliwogs. How long has it been since you've seen polliwogs?

The biggest gator I ever saw.


What can I say? The place was a zoo!

Sunday Lunch

So, you may ask, what's for lunch at the NC Zoo. Well, there are these famous hot dogs. I know they're famous, cause it says so on the sign.

But if you aren't into sandwiches, there's my favorite food.


I was really hungry after walking all morning. The salad was cool and refreshing on such a hot day.

And I wasn't the only one who thought so.

Art in the Park

Saturday afternoons are a fine time to enjoy some art. Here are some lovely things from the NC Zoo.











































Okay, this one I put in for fun.

Now the art is beautiful, there's no doubt. But it pales in comparison to the real thing.

Snoozin

Late afternoon at the NC Zoo.

Gators.

Sea Lion.

Polar Bear.

Grizzly Bear.

Chimpanzee.

Lions.

Wild Cat.

The power of suggestion is overwhelming. Yawwwnnnn...zzzzzzzzzz

Flora and Fauna

I made my first visit to the NC Zoo when it opened, some twenty years ago. I remember it was a very hot day. There were few shady spots for either man or beast. If I stumbled across one of the few park benches, it was smack in the sun. The animals, being wiser than humans, stuck to the cool shadows around their enclosures, at the very back of their compounds. Frankly, there wasn't a lot to see. I remember feeling disappointed.

What a difference twenty years makes. The gardens have matured, plenty of benches dot the shady landscape, and interesting flora and fauna abound. There's something pretty to see around every corner.

Including down by the marsh.

And tucked away under shady canopies.

This little lovely adorned a gentle curve in the path.

But this is a zoo. So there has to be a little danger too. Here, a deceptively delicate pitcher plant awaits a fresh victim.

And did I mention the orchids?

Too numerous to count.

In every color imaginable.

"Earth laughs in flower"-Ralph Waldo Emerson.

Amen Brother.