Linda Bourgault

The City Center of Lewisville, Texas is known as "Old Town" Lewisville which consists of old buildings that have been resurfaced and remodeled in an effort to revitalize the area along Main Street. One of the things that makes Lewisville memorable is the towns tenacity to hang onto its roots in agriculture. From the high school mascot, The Fighting Farmers, to the 100+ year-old Feed Mill, the City of Lewisville screams "farmers!" even if little farming actually takes place here any more.

The coolest "Old Town" Lewisville attraction is the Lewisville Feed Mill which opened it's doors in 1886. It is the city's oldest continuously operating business. The Polser family has owned the feed mill for 123 years which has been handed down from generation to generation. John Polser is the current family member running the business and has been at the cash register everyday for 32 years. It is a thriving family business that feels like home ... where they remember your name, help you figure out what you need, load your car with a smile and welcome you back time and time again.

The Lewisville Feed Mill is chocked full of livestock feed, landscape equipment, gardening supplies, fertilizers, plants, seeds, pet supplies, tools and more. When you walk through the doors you feel as though you have stepped back in time. The Feed Mill is a great place to take your family... the kids will love it and the young at heart will feel as though they've come home again.

One day in February I spent the afternoon at the Lewisville Feed Mill and had the time of my life. Mr. Polser let me take all the photos I wanted and invited me to visit any time. If you want an inside glimpse of James Polser, his personality and his employees check out the video of "Scared of Snakes" ... you'll get a kick out of it! Here are just a few of the photos I shot that afternoon.

The Lewisville Feed Mill is located at:
119 E Main St
Lewisville, TX 75057
972.436.3596

When you visit be sure and tell John I sent you. He'll treat you like a member of the family!

Copyright 2009 Linda Bourgault, Double D Enterprises and lulugraphix. All rights reserved. Photos taken by Linda Bourgault may not be reproduced without express written permission of Linda Bourgault. Double D Enterprises is a loss mitigation service. lulugraphix is a creative design service for real estate, small to large companies, start-up companies and nonprofits.

Copyright 2009 Linda Bourgault, Double D Enterprises and lulugraphix. All rights reserved. Photos taken by Linda Bourgault may not be reproduced without express written permission of Linda Bourgault. Double D Enterprises is a loss mitigation service. lulugraphix is a creative design service for real estate, small to large companies, start-up companies and nonprofits.

Copyright 2009 Linda Bourgault, Double D Enterprises and lulugraphix. All rights reserved. Photos taken by Linda Bourgault may not be reproduced without express written permission of Linda Bourgault. Double D Enterprises is a loss mitigation service. lulugraphix is a creative design service for real estate, small to large companies, start-up companies and nonprofits.

Yes, today's photo is a weed, a common weed, known as the dandelion.

The dandelion is a perennial, herbaceous plant with long, lance-shaped leaves.

They're so deeply toothed, they gave the plant its name in Old French: Dent-de-lion means

lion's tooth.

The flower head can change into the familiar, white, globular seed head overnight.

Each seed has a tiny parachute, to travel far and wide in the wind. A strong wind can carry the

parachutes miles away from the parent plant. A dandelion is really many tiny flowers

bunched together. After a dandelion blooms, each of its tiny flowers produces a seed. Each see is attached

to a stem with white fluffy threads.

Most gardeners detest them. The more you try to weed them up, the faster they grow.

The taproot is deep, twisted, and brittle. Unless you remove it completely, it will regenerate. If you break

off more pieces than you unearth, the dandelion wins.

Consider this... If you were a dandelion and saw a gardener approach with a digger designed

especially to eradicate you, what would you say?

Dandelion one: "What's a dandelion digger for?"

Dandelion two: "It’s a human invention to help us reproduce!"

That is how tenacious dandelions are! They are also time honored edible and medicinal plants.

Dandelion greens are tasty in salads, sauteed or steamed. You can also eat the dandelion flowers or

use them to make wine. You can even eat the tap root. The leafy greens are nutritious, high in beta-carotene,

vitamins B, C and D. Dandelion tea helps our bodies metabolize sugar well and helps the kidneys, liver

and gall bladder stay healthy. The use for this common weed is virtually endless.

Note: This information is not intended for personal use. Consult your nutritionist and/or physician for appropriate use.

So, what can we learn from the common dandelion?

Their tenacity teaches us that if we develop our business and business plans with determination we can

establish deep roots which provides us with a solid foundation. This foundation is the bedrock of our

professionalism which includes: how we treat our clients, how dependable we are, how flexible we are

when confronted with change and our staying power in a challenging market. These abilities will sustain us and

help ensure we are still standing when others fail... just like the dandelions in our garderns and yards!

Copyright 2009 Linda Bourgault, Double D Enterprises and lulugraphix. All rights reserved. Photos taken by Linda Bourgault may not be reproduced without express written permission of Linda Bourgault. Double D Enterprises is a loss mitgation service. lulugraphix is a creative design service for real estate, small to large companies, start-up companies and nonprofits.

Spring is already here and summer will be here before you know it, which means you're probably going to be in need of some fun family activities to keep you and your family busy. After all, no one wants to hear "I'm bored" day in and day out, right? Here are some things you can do with the entire family. The best part? They won't cost you a dime!

Call the Zoos and Museums

Most zoos and museums offer free family days a couple of times each year. Find out exactly when those dates are and then mark your calendar. With some of these attractions charging $10 or more per person for admission, free family days can save you a pretty penny or two.

In Fort Worth, The Amon Carter Museum, is devoted to American art of all media. Admission to the permanent collection is free; admission to most of the temporary exhibits is free, but not all, so check the web site. The Amon Carter Museum also sponsors family days with crafts and other activities, storytime for the younger set, and a variety of lectures, talks, and tours by experts, also free. The museum is located in the Fort Worth Cultural District.

Plan a Picnic

Picnics are one of the most tried and true fun family activities, and millions of moms and dads pack picnic baskets each and every summer. This year plan a picnic and pack a basket filled with your family's favorite foods.

Just remember, not all picnic locations are created equal. Find one that is family friendly and bring your Frisbees, balls, or croquet set. You can make an entire day out of a great picnic in the park.

Camp in the Backyard

If your kids are bored with the day in and day out drudgery of mundane life, they could probably use a vacation. But what if you can't take the time away for a family vacation (or you just can't afford one right now)? Then bring the vacation to you and pop a tent in the backyard. With some flashlights, a campfire, smores and a few spooky stories, your family's favorite vacation memories might just take place right outside your back door.

Hang-out at a Local Lake

Going to the lake for an afternoon is a great opportunity to teach your kids how to fish, learn how to swim or just have some quiet time watching the the sun dance on the water.

Let's face it - all families need to have fun. Fortunately for those of us who don't have money trees in the backyard, there are some fun family activities that don't cost a penny. The four things above are just the tip of the iceberg. Why not share a few of your favorite free family activities here and let others know what cool stuff you'll be doing to keep your kids happy and won't break the bank?