Frosty and the Nelson Family
Patrick Nelson embraces his newly fashioned snow friend, Frosty.
Fun in the Snow
The recent snowfall yielded a variety of photos that I’ll be sharing throughout this Christmas week. Today we’ll visit with a family having fun together building a snowman.
After walking through Lewisville for several hours on Saturday morning (December 19, 2009) and photographing scenes from the beautiful snowfall, I decided to head back home. My shortcut down Belnette Drive led me by the Nelson family building a snowman in their front yard. Patrick (turning 10 this week), his sister Colleen (5), and their dad, Rob, were getting ready to place Frosty’s head on his chilly body when I dashed up and began photographing them.
Gradually, Frosty developed a carrot nose, orange-peel eyes and a mouth made up of Tootsie Rolls. A hat, gloves and a scarf topped off his cheery countenance.
Frosty turned out to be quite a respectable snowman, and I have no doubt that he’ll hang around the delightful Nelson family as long as he can!
Here’s wishing the Nelsons a wonderful Christmas!
Photo Gallery
To see more photos of Frosty the Snowman and the Nelsons, CLICK to visit the Nelson Family Snowman photo gallery.
Bringing History to Life
Brad Craver, accompanied by his son Andrew, gave a Civil War presentation at an outdoor meeting of the Lewisville Historical Society in Lewisville, North Carolina.
A Civil War Family
In 2002 Brad Craver and his sons, Austin and Andrew, decided to take up a hobby that has kept them close as a family and has brought history to life for them. As amateur Civil War historians, the Cravers spend six or seven weekends each year participating in Civil War reenactments in North Carolina, Virginia and as far north as Gettysburg, Pennsylvania.
On the evening of September 14, 2009, Brad and his sons met with members of the Lewisville Historical Society under the oak trees at Shallowford Square. Their Civil War presentation included relics of that era — a sword, a pistol, and a rifle that was loaded and fired by both Austin and Andrew.
Dressed in full Civil War garb, the Cravers also brought with them items that a typical Civil War soldier might have carried in his haversack (backpack): a “housewife” (a sewing kit), military handbook, Christian tract, playing cards, bed cap, eating utensils and a supply of hardtack (hard biscuits).
Whenever the Cravers share with groups of various ages or are involved in Civil War reenactments, they typically represent two particular regiments: the Federal Army’s 83rd Pennsylvania Regiment and the Confederate States Army’s 24th Virginia Regiment. They’re part of the approximately 50,000 Civil War reenactors from nearly every state in the USA, as well as from other countries, including England and Belgium.
To see more PHOTOS and to hear the AUDIO RECORDING of the Cravers’ Civil War presentation, please continue to the NEXT SECTION. CLICK for more on the Civil War
Lewisville Honors Chris Paul
Lewisville Elementary third-graders lift their handmade signs high at a Shallowford Square ceremony, chanting "Chris Paul! Chris Paul!" for several minutes, as they await Chris Paul's introduction.
Hometown Pride
Yesterday the Town of Lewisville honored one of its own, Chris Paul, with a special ceremony to unveil a plaque at Shallowford Square honoring Chris as a gold medalist on the 2008 Olympics USA Basketball Team.
Following the invocation given by Rev. Louis Hunter, Jr., young representatives of Lewisville Elementary School’s third-grade classes presented Chris with a gift.
Lewisville’s Mayor Dan Pugh, who knew Chris when he was a Pop Warner football player, reminisced about Chris’ athleticism and also highlighted a conversation he once had with Chris’ grandfather. Although appreciative of Chris’ athletic talent, his grandfather emphasized that his greatest prayer for Chris was that he would be a man of integrity. Mayor Pugh also recited a long list of Chris’ achievements as an athlete, from his days as a high school basketball player, to his ACC/Wake Forest basketball days, and his present role as an NBA player with the New Orleans Hornets.
Chris’ high school principal, Kurt Telford of West Forsyth High School, shared his recollections of Chris as a student who led by example and humility, both on and off the basketball court.
Photo Gallery and Audio
Please continue to the NEXT SECTION for more PHOTOS and AUDIO of the ceremony honoring Chris Paul. CLICK for more PHOTOS and AUDIO of the Chris Paul ceremony
Frank’s Boundless Imagination
This metal beast can be seen in the yard of Joe and Esther Marion. It's just one of many wonderful creations by sculptor, Frank Holder.
Frank Holder, 1931–2009
I never personally knew Frank Holder, but I’ve heard about him from my mother, and I’ve seen his wonderful handiwork. In fact, I see it every time I travel Highway 421 from Lewisville to Winston-Salem.
Just beyond the Lewisville/Williams Road exit on the right, at Joe’s Landscaping and Nursery, you can see some of Frank Holder’s big metal beasts, flowers and an unforgettable spider mailbox.
Taking photos of those sculptures had been on my mental list for a while, but I hadn’t gotten around to photographing them until yesterday. That’s because Frank Holder passed away earlier this week at the age of 78.
TO READ MORE about Frank Holder and to see more PHOTOS of his creations, please continue to the NEXT SECTION. CLICK for more on Frank Holder
