RIP...The Big Books of Sears, JCP, and Wards

 

‘The Big Book’  (1893-1993) R.I.P.

Recognizing one of this country’s greatest teachers.   By JB Blocker

The Millennials don’t know about this. Much of the GenX Generation don’t either. As an immigrant from the ‘60’s, the Sears and Roebuck catalogue was one of my best friends. It taught me America!

  The first true Sears catalogue was produced and distributed in 1893. Many others were to follow. It became an iconic lifeline of what people wanted and needed across America. If you had a mailing address, you could own anything in those pages.

  Clothing, toys, guns, farm tools, kitchen, living room, garage items, even houses, and cars stirred the imagination of families from the city streets to farms, fields, and newly discovered parts of this growing country.

  I remember in the early ‘70s listening to some old cowboys at the local pool hall in my panhandle farming community. They got into a discussion about the new Christmas catalog at the Montgomery Ward’s one day. 
  The talk started over the price of things. But the discussion moved to how they had been making their wish list from those catalogs most of their lives. Those pictures of what the world looked like outside of their world gave them reasons to save their money.

  Studying catalogs allowed America to become aware of the choices they never had before and how much money they would need to save.

  A few of those senior citizens also talked about the catalogs as a teaching tool. You could learn how to read while you were learning the value of all those items available from the pages of pictures, descriptions, and prices.

My Crash Course

Jewel of DIvision Street, Giovanni (John) Bucci

 

John Bucci and the 15-foot long replica Traveling Trevi

 A crowd milled around one large exhibit at the Houston Greater Southwest Food Festival as if it were a museum attraction. The Italian food section's centerpiece was a 50-foot long replica of the world-famous Trevi Fountain.

   With water flowing from the giant clam shell chariot seat of Oceanus and his trumpeting mermen atop powerful seahorses, the feature captivated the attendees and gave me the feeling of being at the Palazzo Poli in Rome.   
  Standing Greco/Roman statues and reliefs were being moved around by a spry, graying image of an Italian Formula One driver of the '60s. But this was the '90s, and I had to meet this man who was furiously arranging the Italian Exhibit. 
  By the end of the four-day event, John Bucci and I were friends. His art is just now being sold to private collections. I thought you’d like to know more. - jb 

Gazpacho by a Master

 

Elevated Shrimp Cocktail

By J.B. Blocker

   When my eat healthy gene kicks in I have a tendency to go on auto-pilot when I grocery shop around the fresh produce section.  

  That is when the spirit of my chef mentor, the great French Master Chef Jean La Font speaks to me.

  “Gazpacho”, he whispers!
It has become one of my go-to dishes. My really healthy comfort food. It gets even better on day two and three but it rarely lasts that long. I don't even use a bowl. I fill a mug and add some chilled shrimp if I have it ready.

Amusing God

 

I think

it amuses God to amaze us.

The more we know about this world,

the more we experience it,

the more we will be Amazed,

and the more God will be Amused.

With this reality

I am compelled

to Taste, Smell, Feel, See, and Experience

New Things.

                        

To see them with open eyes.

To experience them with moderation!

In order to amuse God.

 jbblocker

A New Years Tale

 

The possibly true story of Juan Valdez

Romancing the Bean 

A Series Of Short Stories

By J. B. Blocker
the Caffeine Cowboy

  

 
  In a little over 1000 years, coffee has been elevated to the second most traded commodity after oil and is the most prepared beverage in the world. 
  Kaldi the Ethiopian goat herder is said to have discovered coffees kick and introduced it to monks who were able to chant and pray longer. A French Lieutenant stole a kiss and two coffee plants from Napoleon's garden and brought it to the New World. Stories abound!

   I’ve got a long list of these stories if you’re interested. Most of them are true! At least parts of them are!

   The story I am about to share may or may not be true. No matter, it is close to my heart and carries a modern-day lesson somewhere inside.

   Our story begins on New Year’s Eve. In a small community hospital in South Texas, two young couples await their firstborns. All the while the hospital staff anxiously anticipate the race for the first birth of the New Year. Two expectant fathers pace into the midnight hour. As the town clocks strike midnight, simultaneous declarations of triumph announce two births!

   It is a tie! For the hospital and even the state of Texas, the firstborn pair of the new year are named Juan and Josephine. 

Four Hours with a Sheriff

 

Four Hours that changed a life.

J.B.Blocker the Lone Star Reporter

 

Sheriff John Murry Easley, Veteran, Moore County, Texas

Born:  13 May 1912 Eldorado, Jackson County, Oklahoma, USA

Reborn:13 Jan 1970 (aged 57) Dumas, Moore County, Texas, USA

Burial: Northlawn Memorial Gardens Dumas, Moore County, Texas, USA

 

How a Texas Sheriff became my hero!

I want you to know about this man. I want him to be remembered! In four hours he changed my life. The effects would last a lifetime!

 

Luke 14 vs. 11 and Punk Carter

LUKE 14:11 and Punk Carter

Who so ever exalts themselves shall be humbled and who so ever humbles themselves shall be exalted!

Celina, Texas Christmas tree lighting on the square.

The town square was filled to capacity. Families reflecting the diversity of Celina, Tx. roamed the several blocks surrounding the square. They were joyous and full of holiday spirit. Vendors filled the streets and sidewalks. Family entertainment, foods and beverages, and holiday gift items that included many local artisan creations lined the surrounding two or three blocks.

In the central square a stage was raised large enough to hold a dozen. There were speakers and musicians taking turns entertaining the vast audience as they sat in the central lawn and continued to migrate to the center stage.

Celina was about to light a magnificent Christmas tree just across from city hall.

  Colleen Blanks and the Celina Tree

                                

I was watching the power level of my camera and regretting not bringing my battery pack. Texas at it’s glorious best was all around me from seniors holding hands to seniors holding grandchildren. A family affair! I was wishing mine were with me to share in this celebration.