Barbara S. Duncan ABR, CRS, GRI, e-PRO Searcy AR

Two more pictures contributed by my blogging buddy, Anita Hart. Her mother is in each of them and they were traveling. The first picture shows the ladies in Hot Springs Arkansas in the mid 50's. She has the identity of some of them. Her mother, Corrine Hart, Inez Pickens (Dean of Women at Harding College), Margurrite O'Bannion (Exec. Secretary to Dr. George Benson), Myrtle Roberson (owner of the Rendezvous Restaurant), and an unknown lady with the long fur tails.

The long furs were so popular then. I think the more furs you had, and they still had the heads on them, the more money you had.

Personally, I never had any fox or fur heads and tails.

They definitely had to have on high heels (but not as high as today's!) hats and gloves and the little purses that matched the shoes.

That was during a time when fashion dictated the length of the dress. It appears that fashion said to have the skirt about mid-calf and these ladies, who loved to be fashionable, followed to the inch!

The next picture finds girls at the Peabody Hotel in Memphis TN. They are actually on top of the Peabody. That's where the famous Peabody ducks live.

For those who have never heard of the Peabody, it is famous for the ducks who march into the lobby to spend the day swimming in the fountain and basking in the love and adoration of the guests at the hotel. At the end of the day they march back up to their home on the roof.

A red carpet is laid down for the little ducks to walk on.

They again have on their hats and probably gloves are somewhere present. Two-toned pumps must have been in style. No doubt the purses matched the shoes. Corinne Hart, our famous one, is second from our right. Looks like slightly askew hats may have been the rage!

At the St. Augustine Florida alligator farm, they also had a few birds in captivity. Some were lovely. Some were noisy. Some were.....well.....look here.........

My daughter was reading about this poor bird and said it was a stork. She said the thing hanging in the front is supposed to attract the opposite sex. She said the reason storks have the reputation of delivering babies is because it looks like they are carrying something in the sack.

I believe she also said they get pecked on the head a lot. I guess that has to do with "pecking order." I just couldn't help but stare and stare at these poor birds. They make we think of someone who has pulled their cloak around their shoulders and want to disappear.

Happy Thanksgiving, all of you on the Rain, and to this bird who will definitely not get eaten!!

Having inherited a few old pictures of Searcy Arkansas houses that a widow was throwing away, I have posted a few on these blogs to see if Searcy residents recognize them. The designer of the houses had taken photos and saved the photos and the floor plans. Once he died the widow wasn't keeping them. I kept them from being lost forever.

Here's another picture of a newly built house.....or at least one that wasn't very old.

And here is the same house today. It appears largely unchanged, doesn't it. Those little trees really grew!!!

On a trip to St. Augustine Florida last week, which took me away from activerain for a few days, decisions had to be made on what to visit. We decided to visit the Ripley's Believe it or Not Museum even though I had doubts about its interest to me.

Was I wrong!!

The trip through the museum was so much fun! Here I'm staring up at the likeness of Robert Wadlow, the now celebrated "gentle giant."

He was 8' 11" and wore a size 37 shoe and was once billed as the world's tallest man. I think there may be taller ones since his time.

He grew too fast for his own safety, however, and died at the age of 22. Google him for more about his life.

In the same room was this other fellow. He must be the widest man or something similar. However, with obesity becoming more and more common, he may not be the world's heaviest man.

I also loved this guy taking a picture of his wife. They have put every mole or discoloration possible on him. When a person walks by, between him and his wife (girl friend?), the camera snaps.

If you're in a place with a Ripley's museum, visit it. I don't think they'd all be the same but if they were all like this one, you'll have a great time. The one in St. Augustine was possibly the first one and it may be the most entertaining one.

I recommend them!

It's another year of Winter weather.

Drag out the old Winter clothes and put up the Summer ones.

I have done that.

Now eliminate the ones that you no longer wear!! OK, I can handle that.....

How about this nice green pant suit. Man, I look good in that! (Well, perhaps I "looked" good in it.) It is tailored. Pleated pants that go to the waist. The jacket is long enough to cover any widened hip flaws. I'll think about giving this away because it is lined and hot and my office is TOO hot.

Okay, here's another lovely suit. The jacket is a little shorter but it still covers most hip problems. Pants also go to the waist and have belt loops for me to hang my phone. But it is very old and perhaps should go? Here's a gray suit. I liked it too but it was sans belt loop pants.

Looky!! My favorite Liz jacket, covers the hips, long sleeves with definite tailored look. And here's my Jones New York one!! You know, even though they were on sale I paid quite a bit for them. With this global warming and my heightened body temperature I may not get to wear them again so should they go?

What about this one? Skirt and weskit! Weskit? Is that a word anymore? Used to be. Oh, I loved this outfit. What? Size 10? 10? When was I a 10? I'll lose weight and wear it again possibly.

My Liz shiny sweater!!! It had to be worn at Christmas or parties back before everyone wore glitter every day of the week. Hey!! I may be able to wear it now as an everyday sweater!

#$%#&$$#!!! That's it. I cannot part with any of these things this year! I'll just go sneak some of my husband's old clothes out and get rid of them and I'll have room to keep these outfits for a few more years. He'll never miss them because he has too many and never gives anthing away.

Great solution, Mrs. Duncan!!!!

My very favorite coat of all times is>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>. WAS.....: (

Gosh, I wish I had not given that away. It was lightweight, had a faux fur collar so that when I wore it to New York to NAR convention, no one spit on me. Wait! That may have been before fur brought out nasty comments and expressions........Anyway, that was a good lesson. Don't give away your favorite things!

Very good solution, Ms. Barbara!!