Where the Orange Blossoms Grow

Lost Communities of Virginia: Paint Bank

2011-07-30T20:58:00.009-04:00

An old company house and then a gas station, this is now the home of the Paint Bank Post Office.

Paint Bank, Virginia is tucked away in Craig County and lies between Potts and Peters Mountains. It is said there are more buffalo than people in Paint Bank, and my recent trip there makes me believe this may be true. Locals brag about the dark skies lit with brilliant stars; the Milky Way marks a streak across the night sky, and meteors rain down, bolides among them. The red clay of Paint Bank was used to make both paint and bricks; thus the name.

Tingler’s Mill, still standing, was built in 1863 for grinding grain. The mill is comprised of hand-hewn logs and borders Potts Creek. The land originally was owned by Colonel William whose home, Smithfield Plantation, is situated on the Virginia Tech property here in Blacksburg. Preston led troops in the Revolutionary War and was awarded land grants for his service. Preston's granddaughter and her husband ultimately gained ownership of the property. The old mill was in operation for many years, and unlike most mills, the water to Tingler's was overfed.

Mining was an industry in Paint Bank until the Great Depression when the mining operations ended. This led to no need for the railroad, which soon abandoned the small community. As a result of economic depression, Paint Bank suffered and most residents eked out a living with small family-owned farms.

Today, the most notable structure is the old country store, the center of activity for more than 100 years. The original floors and tin ceiling are still evident, though there is little resemblance to a country store of old. It now houses a restaurant and sells items geared to the tourist trade. The photos that follow capture some of the flavor of Paint Bank.

Lost Communities of Virginia: Pocahontas

2011-07-18T15:08:00.017-04:00

Here's the description found on the website of the Lost Communities of Virginia Project at Virginia Tech:

"Virginia's back roads and rural areas are dotted with traces of once-thriving communities. General stores, train depots, schools, churches, banks, and post offices provide intriguing details of a way of life now gone. The buildings may be empty or repurposed today, the existing community may be struggling to survive or rebuilding itself in a new and different way, but the story behind each community's original development is an interesting and important footnote to the development of Virginia and the United States.

Lost Communities of Virginia documents thirty small communities from throughout the Commonwealth that have lost their original industry, transportation mode, or way of life. Using contemporary photographs, historical information, maps, and excerpts of interviews with longtime residents of these communities, the book documents the present conditions, recalls past boom times, and explains the role of each community in regional settlement."

After reading about this recently published book by the Lost Communities project in the Roanoke Times, I knew I had to have it. Since I moved to Southwest Virginia in 1972, I have been fascinated by the very places that are the focus of this excellent tome. I ordered the book and was eager to begin reading the day it arrived in my mailbox. As I scanned the table of content to see what places were included, I got quite excited. Many of the lost communities are ones I already knew about and had visited it the past. The book renewed my interest in visiting them again. So, I decided that every week or so I would take an outing to one of these places. This past weekend my friends and I made the trek to Pocahontas. About twenty years ago, I went to Pocahontas to visit the Exhibition Coal Mine. Since that time, much has changed. The population is down to a bit more than 400, and many of the original buildings are crumbling. The community is a mixture of well maintained structures and ones in ruins. As I walked around snapping photographs, I sensed that there is still a strong spirit in the town. Residents sat on old covered porches talking, and one car with two young women stopped and one of them hollered out the widow, "Are ya'll from around here?" Perhaps it was disconcerting to the locals to have outsiders wielding cameras snapping away to preserve memories of their short stay in Pocahontas.

The place is so small you can walk the entire village in about an hour. Once home to almost 3000 residents--with 45 saloons--in the late 1800s Pocahontas grew up around the coal mine. The best bituminous coal in the world came from Pocahontas, with the seam of coal reaching ten feet thick. In 1938, the section of the mine in Pocahontas was closed and reopened as an exhibition. The walk through the old mine is fascinating as the guide points out fossils, "widow makers" (entire vertical fossilized trees that can let loose at any moment killing anyone underneath), and mining equipment.

Following are pictures I snapped while walking along the streets of Pocahontas.

Some structures are beyond repair.

This photo and the next one show that even a small community can support various denominations. There were more churches to photograph but it started raining so I gave up and headed for the car.

The old commercial district.

A front porch ornament

An interesting light fixture.

Masonic Lodge

The American Legion

The Opera House, c. 1884. This served as the center for entertainment Above the door at the bottom right is a sign that says, "Court".

A rusting firetruck sitting in the ruins of the old firehouse.

Squaw and Buck Grocery Store

Post Office

The old hotel

The above five photos show the collapsed company store.

A New and Exciting Venture

2010-10-25T15:22:00.001-04:00

The publisher I work for has given me a new assignment. I am to travel to 19 US cities (over the next year or so), visit historical sites, take photographs, and then blog about my experiences. The blog will be directed at 6th and 7th graders. The cities are ones that middle school students who take the required class, United States History 1865 to the Present, study over the course of the yearlong class. For someone whose bliss truly is to travel and experience new things, this is an incredibly exciting prospect. My head is spinning as I think of all the places I will go and everything that I will experience. Just last night I was watching Food Network and one program highlighted three different food sellers in NYC. One was a restaurant that sells only homemade pies. What could be better than that? Who doesn't swoon over homemade pie? Heck, I'd even like to work in that kind of place. So, yes, food is a consideration along with historic sites. After all, I have to eat while I am away, and I only want to eat the best of the best food available. Today I briefly watched a program on National Geographic about New York Harbor. Holy cow! Do I ever want to set off on this adventure.

I need help figuring out what to see in each location. I've already come up with two criteria. First, I must visit at least one place that is well known. As an example, when I go to Philadelphia, I surely must visit Constitution Hall. Second, I want to visit little known places that are historically significant, ones that can easily be overlooked. I have been told that art museums can be included. I think it would be fun to visit places that the students will enjoy reading about, perhaps a toy museum or something of that ilk. So, below are my cities. If you have any suggestions about historic places I should visit OR restaurants with to-die-for food, please post a comment.

1. New York City
2. Boston
3. Philadelphia
4. Pittsburgh
5. Atlanta
6. New Orleans
7. Miami
8. Chicago
9. St. Louis
10. Detroit
11. San Antonio
12. Santa Fe
13. Denver
14. Salt Lake City
15. Los Angeles
16. San Francisco
17. Seattle
18. Juneau
19. Honolulu

A Small Harvest

2010-08-01T14:01:00.003-04:00

There you have it ... today's harvest. To date I've picked ten cucumbers from the three small vines I planted and probably about 100 tomatoes, albeit cherry tomatoes. Is there a better snack? I think not.

The tomato plants I'm growing upside down have done well ... at least the leaves and stems have done well. Of the four plants, two have had no blossoms meaning no tomatoes. The third one has produced three small tomatoes all with blossom end rot. The last one has had about twelve pitiful tiny cherry tomatoes. I would love for someone to tell me what I have done wrong considering I followed planting directions to a T. Good grief. I'm not much of a farmer, am I?

Good-bye, Old Friend

2010-07-27T09:55:00.007-04:00

This majestic sycamore tree has sat on Henderson Lawn of the Virginia Tech campus for well over one hundred and thirty-eight years. Today it is coming down. Mark Helms, VT Director of Facilities sent the following open letter to the Blacksburg community:

"To the Campus Community,

After many years of heroic efforts at preservation, the large sycamore tree within the Henderson lawn has succumbed to old age and cannot be saved. We have had several evaluations over the last few years looking to eke out additional time in the life of this very old tree. We regret that it must be cut down. This is the only safe and appropriate course of action. Work will begin about 7:30 a.m. on Tuesday, July 27 and should be completed by about 5:30 p.m. the same day.

Fortunately, the university will be working with town government for possible redesign of the area around Henderson Lawn. It is our intention to plant another tree somewhere in the vicinity of the old tree once the design work is completed. We hope that future generations will enjoy the shade as much as we have.

University faculty have taken cuttings and will attempt to propagate future saplings. However, we can’t site another planting until we fully understand the future use and design for this important interface area between campus and downtown. The wood from the old tree will be saved for the time being awaiting recommendations on possible re-use."

You can tell from Helm's words that this is an emotional time for many of us. I have a plethora of fond memories related to this tree. Since I moved here in 1972, I have enjoyed the shade of its branches and the majesty of its stance. It is a welcome beacon in its position at the corner of Main Street and College Avenue, the most historic corner in Blacksburg. Diagonally across the street is a building erected in 1808, and I wonder how long it was after its construction that this beloved sycamore tree sprouted.

Sycamore tree, you are an old and dear friend and I will miss you. If you could talk, I wonder what stories you might tell. As a sentinel for so many years, you surely have seen many events. You have watched children dance at your feet and weary travelers sit for a spell in your shade. Good-bye, dear friend. I dread going downtown tonight because there will be an empty place where you stood as well as an empty spot in my heart.

These good-bye notes, attached to the tree, express much of what I am feeling.

Addendum: Downtown this evening, College Avenue was blocked off. The tree-cutting crew was still there and huge hunks of the old sycamore were sitting right in the middle of the street just down from the Lyric Theater. Some of the workmen were sitting on them. It was a sad, sad moment. When I exited the theater about 8:30 the road was unblocked and all was "back to normal".

Things are Improving

2010-07-22T12:40:00.004-04:00

At long last my front flower beds are beginning to look better. I'm sure that it is due, partly, to the daily rain showers we have been having. When I planned my front beds, I envisioned masses of large blooms, and to a small degree I have achieved that. However, it is only with the last group of plants that I ordered, a type of rudbeckia. These are not your everyday black-eyed Susans. Instead they are lovely shades of dark red, yellow, and orange.

The sun-patiens are doing okay, but I had hoped that they would mound more and spread farther. They look odd here with tall stalks poking up behind them.

Here on the left are the lovely rudbeckias, but as you can see, some have fallen over. There also are too many bare spots. The million bells have been the biggest disappointment.

I guess that all is not lost because SOMETHING has done well, even if it seemed like it took forever for this to have happened.

Why I Love July

2010-07-21T19:07:00.003-04:00

My own tomatoes aren't quite ready yet so I decided to hie on over to the Blacksburg Farmer's Market this afternoon. The photo above shows a few of my purchases. I bought the zucchini because I planned to make a vegetable tart topped with fresh mozzarella and fresh basil. After I got home I remembered that the oven on the new stove I bought doesn't work, and the store has yet to exchange it. A bit sad that my dinner would have to be something different, I dropped back and punted. I am, and always have been, a flexible sort. When things don't go as planned, I usually quickly adapt while maintaining my good humor.

I am a tomato fanatic and could eat at least one pound every single day. The only hitch is they have to be real tomatoes, not ones found in most grocery stores. Tonight I took one of the large pineapple tomatoes I bought at the Farmer's Market and made a caprese salad, one of my favorites. Tomorrow for lunch I'll feast on one of the Cherokee purples. The Brandywines won't be ready for another couple of weeks, but in my older years, I am patient. Most of life's pleasure comes from anticipation.

My own tomatoes are coming along. So far, I've harvested about a dozen Sungolds, not enough to do anything with except for pop them into my mouth and savor the sweet taste. Next year, I am going to grow tons of tomatoes in many different varieties. That way I can make and can spaghetti sauce. So, while it may be hot as blazes, a rarity for Blacksburg, I am loving July. You can find a place to park downtown because most of Virginia Tech's 28,000s students are gone for the summer. And there is a bounty to select from at the Farmer's Market.

Rose Red, Certainly Celery, Very Vanilla, and Basic Gray

2010-07-16T19:21:00.003-04:00

Rose Red, Certainly Celery, Very Vanilla, and Basic Gray are the colors in this card. I used watercolor paper and a spray of water to get a softer image for the bunch of flowers. I love the little "for you" stamp that I discovered in a stamp set with sayings. I've never used it until today when I used Basic Gray to stamp the sentiment. I added piercing at the corners of the image, but they don't show up in this photograph. The picture doesn't do the card justice. I suppose I need some photography lessons.

Moon Flowers

2010-07-16T11:52:00.003-04:00

I have always been attracted to moon flowers, perhaps because the blossoms remind me (a bit) of gardenias, a flower always blooming in my front yard when I was a child. There is something graceful about moon flowers. The white petals croon serenity. A close relative, not of gardenias, but of the morning glory, the moon flower grows on a graceful vine and blooms at night. They open in the evening to be pollinated by night-flying moths, and are white because moths are attracted to that color. Maybe if I could be a blossom, I'd choose to be a moon flower.

Once, I planted moon flower seeds--they always sprout quickly--and one of the plants lived. I had overlooked it until the huge white flower appeared one evening, and I was overwhelmed by its beauty. Many times since then, I have planted moon flowers, but have had no success. The seeds would sprout and then the plants would quickly die. I decided to try again this year, and I've met with quite a bit of success. Every single seed sprouted, and so far not one of the plants has died. I am excited, and greatly looking forward to when these lovely vines bloom.

The photo above is one I found on the Internet. When my moon flowers bloom, you can bet I'll take pictures.

Rain, Glorious Rain

2010-07-13T14:35:00.002-04:00

For two days it has rained, and the results are magnificent. Already the grass is beginning to "green up" and I haven't had to water the flower beds or the vegetables. Last evening I spread some grass seed on the bare spots left by the gas line installation. I harvested two cucumbers and two cherry tomatoes. Heck, progress is progress. I'm already planning how to move things around in the flower beds for next year. Isn't it marvelous what a nice long rain shower can do?

Looking On The Bright Side

2010-07-07T19:35:00.005-04:00

The last few posts I've been whining about the dreadful state of my gardens. Today I decided to take a few photos of what's blooming. The whole of the garden still looks awful, but individual plants do have some lovely blossoms.

Onslaught of the Drought

2010-07-04T16:00:00.005-04:00

It's been so long since it rained that I cannot recall exactly when it was. It's bad; so much so that I have to water my gardens, at least the ones in the front and on the sides of the house. Things are dying despite my best efforts. I'm also disappointed in my garden plan because even though I followed the directions for each plant and planted by height, things have gone awry. As a result I have very tall plants in front of short ones. Let' just say that what I envisioned for my gardens and the reality are vastly different. The pictures below tell the story.

The moon flowers are hanging on but the soil was dry as a bone, possibly impeding growth. I'm hopeful they will revise with enough watering.

This is one thing that looks pretty good--the crepe myrtle that I cut back. It's shape is much better and the white flowers are lovely.

Sad. Sad. Sad. This is what remains of the poppies I planted near the road. I have no idea what that plant in the back right is, but it looks like some kind of vegetable vine. I'm not pulling it until I know for sure what it is.

I water the heucheras most days, but they still look pitiful. One seems to be dying, though I'm working as hard as I can to try to save it..

The front right bed. So much for million bells. They have not lived up to their billing. I hate all of the patchy places. I keep telling myself that a perennial garden is not created in one year.

This is the left front garden, and it too looks ragged. Again, the million bells probably should be called half-dozen bells.

The zinnias are blooming but take an enormous amount of water. As soon as I finish watering them, they dry out and wilt. I pour copious amounts of water in the planter, but it's so hot it evaporates too quickly.

This greeted me the other day in my side garden. What is it? I wish I knew. It must have been planted by some other owner. One of the joys of buying a house that has had multiple owners is trying to make all of the existing landscaping coordinate. Everyone has a different idea about what should be where.

I won't give up. I'll keep at it and keep trying. Maybe it will rain soon. Maybe in a few years I'll look back on this and laugh at how I seemed to be losing my faith.

Frustration

2010-06-23T11:18:00.003-04:00

I tend to be more intuitive than detail oriented. Knowing this, and wanting my gardens to be perfect, I did something I never have done before. I sat down and created a written plan for my beds. I think I should have gone with my gut instincts instead, because in the past when I have done this, everything turned out well. Before I put pencil to paper, I read a lot about each plant I acquired, paying special attention to height. I made sure to plant things that are expected to reach 24" in height behind those whose full height is 20". So, why when I look at my front beds, are tall things in front of short things blocking the view of the shorter plants? I can't figure it out. The only thing I can think of is that the plant catalogs lied.

Progress At A Snail's Pace

2010-06-11T20:05:00.007-04:00

It's been a while since I have posted an update, and there are two reasons: First, nothing much seemed to be changing except the size of the mulch pile that continues to dwindle. Second, I have been out of town and unable to see any progress. We have had good rain, but nothing the past few days, and it has become hot; today it was 90. The gnats are so horrible that Paul and I can get only two or three wagon loads of mulch spread before the little beasts drive us inside. When I planned the front beds, I envisioned crowds of various plants all in bloom. So, I clumped things together hoping that over time, they would spread out and fill in the bare spots. Sadly, the beds look like pitiful rows of plants struggling to survive. At least there are a few blooms, and they give me hope. The photos below tell the rest of the story. They are in no particular order. Blogger doesn't make it easy to arrange photos so I'll leave them as they are.

This doesn't look so bad, does it? I cannot take credit as a previous owner planted the daylilies in this photo and the three pictures below. They are in the side and back yard.

A couple of things to note about my shade bed. First, it has been mulched, and second the calla lilies are growing like gangbusters. Also, the astilbes are getting big and are blooming. One is dark pink and the other is lighter pink.

This photo and the next show the front beds, which are a bit embarrassing at this point. There are bare spots and some of the plants are shriveling. However, the good news is that some of the plants are taking off. There are a few blooms here and there.

The upside down tomatoes are doing well. A few blossoms hint of fruit to come.

My favorite herb is basil. I could eat it every day and when tomatoes are in season, I go through a lot of basil in a short time. So, I bought a gallon plant and put it on the deck. It is doing well, as is the basil in the standing herb garden.

Drat. I just deleted a photo. It shows moon flower plants that have just erupted from seed. They are one of my favorite plants but have never had luck growing them, save one time. I can get the dang things to sprout, but then they die. Keep your fingers crossed.

I am pleased as punch by my herb garden. It looks just like I envisioned it when I ordered the kit. Now that everything is healthy and thriving, it's time to begin harvesting.

Tuesday, May 25

2010-05-25T16:02:00.003-04:00

It is still raining and we are still mulching. I hope the mulching will all be finished by this weekend.

While taking a skeg aboot the yard I found two different columbines in bloom. They look pretty puny.

Saturday, May 22nd--Mulch and Rain

2010-05-22T13:28:00.002-04:00

Ah, yes, mulch. Doesn't that big pile just scream, "WORK!"? I took the picture after I had already spread some of it, so originally, the pile was a bit larger. I decided to do the work in stages, mostly because I'm in terrible shape and do not have the stamina to do the entire job at one go. Besides, work spread out isn't nearly as onerous. Last evening I began by putting mulch around the poppies by the road, and then added more around the heucheras that are under the plum tree. Both groups of plants have settled in and seem relatively happy as long as they get enough water. The mulch should help with that.

This morning Paul offered to help, and I'm never one to turn down an offer of free labor. We work well together and soon had a rhythm going. We made fairly quick work of the front flower bed to the right side of the porch. We agreed to go inside for a bit to have some tea, and then tackle the larger bed on the left side. Just about the time I was getting ready to go back outside, the heavens opened and rain poured forth. I was surprised by how quickly the monsoon began; I haven't seen it rain this hard in ages. After about thirty minutes, it abated some, so now there is only a gentle rain falling. I guess further mulching will have to wait until tomorrow.

At my age, it's hard to have new experiences because in my long life I have been lucky enough to see and do a lot. I never realized how much fun it could be to buy an older home with expansive grounds that had been landscaped by several previous owners. Every day there is a new surprise, and these lovely irises attest to that. I'm curious now as to what will come up next that I am not expecting. It won't be a year that I've lived here until July 3rd, so I am hopeful that there are new and interesting flowers and plants ready to greet me as I walk around my property. Let's hope that none of them are just weeds.

Thursday, May 20

2010-05-20T10:15:00.002-04:00

Three cubic yards of mulch are being delivered tomorrow. (Oh, my aching back.) While rain has soaked the yard and my flower beds, the moisture in the soil quickly disappeared. I have also discovered that my roof overhang keeps plants put in relatively close to the house do not get water no matter how hard it rains. I was hoping that water would seep back there through the soil, but it does not. So, it turns out that even when the remainder of the plants are thriving from spring rains, I still have to water the ones in the back. The tomato plants are loving the rain and have perked up greatly since I put them into the ground. The ones in the upside-down planter are hanging in there but I haven't seen much growth. I imagine once the weather gets hot, they will take off. I'm not complaining, though, as the cool weather over the past week has made working in the yard relatively easy.

A woman where I work told me she is digging up some huge hostas and clumps of daylilies for me to put into my backyard. This is a lucky break. While I have moved on, somewhat from daylilies, I still love them so very much that I could not resist her kind offer. I know just the place to put these plants. It will be in a part of the backyard that I wasn't committed to working on this year. Free plants, though, have changed my thinking a bit.

I'm hoping I can get the mulch all spread quickly. I have to go to Tennessee to visit my sister, who is ill, so the mulch spreading may have to wait until I return.

Sunday, May 16

2010-05-16T13:21:00.004-04:00

Today I planted in the side bed that gets sun, tomato plants Rachael gave me almost a month ago. They were extremely leggy, and some of them did not make it. When I planted the ones still struggling to live, I had to dig deep holes because, according to what I read about planting tomatoes, you should bury the stem and leave only the leaves above ground. We found some tomato cages in the back under the large rhododendrons left by a former owner. They aren't the kind I like, but they will suffice.

About four o'clock, when the sun is no longer overhead, I'll plant the perennials that arrived from Park Seed earlier in the week. Have I mentioned how much I do not enjoy being on my knees putting plants into the ground? I know it is the cost of having a garden, so I do it. But is truly is not something I enjoy at my age. When I get up, my knees complain, sometimes loudly.

May 15--Happy Saturday.

2010-05-15T09:20:00.004-04:00

This greeted me as I went out to water the back gardens this morning. I have a love-hate relationship with irises. I do think the flowers are beautiful, but then things look raggedy when the first blossoms die. The second round of blooming is accompanied by the dead remains of earlier flowers. I'm not sure if you can deadhead them to make things look better. My neighbors have a bunch of yellow and purple irises that still have lovely flowers, but the dead dregs of the ones that have died make the plants look shabby.

My standing garden is now full of herbs. The ones with the dark orange flowers are tangerine sage. I'm a sucker for most anything with a citrus name. While things look crowded it the picture, there's plenty of room for expansion. One of the tomatoes died; Paul injured it when he put it into its bag, so today we are replacing it with one that Rachael gave me. I have no idea if it is a Sungold or another variety; it will have to be a surprise. The rest of the tomatoes are finally going in the ground today.

Mulch. I need mulch because the ground dries out too soon and weeds seem to magically appear overnight--hundreds of them. (If only the plants I want grew so well.) I found a place in Christiansburg and it's only $19 a cubic yard; I need three cubic yards. Delivery, however, is $50. That seems a steep price to come about ten miles. Last evening Paul and I measured all of the various beds in inches and then I had to convert it all to square feet and then use an online chart to see how much we need in total. That is going to be a big job, but I want to spread the mulch myself to ensure that nothing gets buried that shouldn't be. Each of my plants is dear to me, and I just don't trust someone else--except for Paul--to do the job right.

Back to yard work...

Progress ... Firsts

2010-05-11T18:58:00.010-04:00

I've always loved the symmetry and beauty of trees without leaves in winter. I never saw this phenomenon until I was 24, the first time I saw snow. Growing up in Florida meant that things were always green, palm fronds were always wafting in the breeze, and flowers were always abloom. As a child I never thought about it. It was what was, and children always accept what is and often generalize their own experiences to the global village. It's what they know and rarely question the world as they know it. That said, I did know about snow and longed to see it. In fact, I was always puzzled by my Yankee cousins jealousy that I lived in Florida. When I countered that they had snow, every one of them thought I was nuts.

Every year during winter I look at the bare trees. Each one is a beauty, and I admire them all. Then, suddenly small buds appear and spring is on its way. We had hot days in April; some days were above 90. Because of this, I grew antsy and decided to plant things well before the last frost day in mid May. Then, of course, it grew cold in early May and we had a couple of frosts. One morning recently I woke up and it seemed that overnight many things had burst into bloom. Of course, there were things planted by former owners. Then, just yesterday, I found blossoms on plants that I had put in the ground in the past two weeks. I got so excited I ran in and got my camera. Then I took pictures of everything in my yard that's in bloom. I'm sorry now that I failed to photograph the blood root that was an early bloomer. I hope that next year I'll remember to begin photographing when the first buds appear. I also hope that the newly planted perennials that are just now beginning to show their colors are healthy, thriving and producing a riot of color.

Thankfully, we had rain overnight and today so I haven't needed to water. Armies of weeds are sprouting forth so I need to get out and pluck, pluck, pluck. Mostly, though, I must get mulch. That will help the ground hold water keeping plant roots watered and also will help with the weeds. Below are the firsts: Several are from my spring plantings while the rest were thanks to previous owners of my house.

If my memory serves me correctly, this is a gazania. Each flower is a variety of colors from yellow and orange to purple. You can clearly see the need for better mulch. This mulch is made from wood chips and is not intended for flower beds. It was already here when I bought the house.

These, of course, are not flowers, but huge ferns (ostrich?) that just popped up. Behind them are rhodies.

There are money plants. Some people think they are weeds, but I like them. You can see the "coins" already forming.

This lovely tame bleeding heart has delicate blooms.

I found this wild geranium in the backyard. I used to grow them at my townhouse. I love the pungent aroma of the leaves.

These two pictures are rhodies ... at least that's what I think they are. It doesn't matter. They are lovely no matter what their name. In the bottom picture an azalea is in front.

Huge clumps of stella d'oro daylilies border my shade garden. This is the first bloom of the year.

These irises are about to burst open. I can't wait!

The johnny jump-ups I planted are thriving even though there is no mulch to protect them.

This is a wild bleeding heart. When we lived down "on the run" (Norris Run) we had banks of them everywhere; there they came up by themselves with no help.

One of the calla lilies I planted. They are still blooming.

Another calla lily. I love them so much and was thrilled when Rachael chose them for her bridal bouquet.

Shucks. I cannot remember the name of this plant at the moment. I'll have to go look at the tag that is hiding under the leaves.

Have I mentioned how much I love heucheras (coral bells)? This one is an early bloomer.

Hooray! One of the oriental poppies burst forth yesterday.

I am expecting that this tiny plant with one tiny bloom will mound and mound and mound and be covered with a multitude of flowers. This is a sunpatiens and I have high hopes for it and its sister plants.

Saturday, May 8

2010-05-08T16:07:00.004-04:00

It was a busy week what with my working as principal, doing presentations for Five Ponds Press, and reviewing pages for the US II book for Five Ponds. I didn't do much in the way of gardening except keep everything watered. Sadly, the huge bud on one of my poppy plants died, but there are buds on the others so I'm hopeful I'll see some huge orange blossoms soon. My neighbor's poppies are in full bloom but the color is not as bright orange as I am expecting.

On Thursday, I received a long-awaited package. Inside were the components for my new standing garden (see picture below). I set it aside until the weekend, and Paul volunteered to assemble it. It is the new home of my herb garden, or will be once I get everything planted. The inside bottom has a water reservoir and wicking material so that the plants stay watered. You add water via a tube that sticks up above the dirt. The wood is a special type of cedar that will not rot.

Paul decided to tackle improving the grass by spreading some type of "weed and feed" granules that are supposed to make the lawn lush and dandelion free. We'll see ...

Here's a view of my new standing garden. I already put in a couple of pathetic basil plants and a thyme plant that is almost dead. The standing garden was to arrive a month ago, but was delayed. In the interim, the herbs I bought didn't make it very well. You can see casters on the bottom making the contraption easy to roll. I plan to bring it inside during cold months so that I can have herbs for cooking year round.

Around the left side of house the landscaping is a mess. I found these straggly candy tuft plants struggling to survive among the weeds. This part of my overall landscaping project will need to wait until next year.

Here's Paul spreading the weed and feed. We now need a good rain to activate the granules. My friend, who is an agriculture teacher said this should do the trick.

I hate to waste water, but I hate more to see plants die. So, I bought an adjustable sprinkler that can be set to spray over a specific area. It is working well, both on the front beds and the shade bed next to the garage. I am so impatient and gardening requires infinite patience. I want big showy blooms right now!

Saturday, May 1

2010-05-01T19:41:00.007-04:00

It's been an exceptionally busy week. There was a lot to catch up on because I was away for a week. I worked at principal two days and went to Bastian to give a presentation for Five Ponds Press. On my "off" days, I ran a ton of errands, and also reviewed the first 100 pages of the new US II book that Five Ponds has in the works. It is for these reasons that Saturday arrived without my having spent one minute working on my yard. It shows, too. A few days with no rain left the front beds dry as dust and some of my plants have wilted. I'm hopeful that they will spring back to life soon. My original plan was to get all the plants in the ground and then top with mulch to trap in the moisture. But, I ordered from two different nurseries, and my plants are arriving at different times. I'm going to have to be diligent in watering until everything has been planted and the mulch is in place.

The photos below provide an update as to where I am now. Things still look fairly pitiful.

I was hoping to find red impatiens because they look so vibrant when in full bloom. Luckily, there they were at Lowe's. I bought nine plants, one for each pot on my deck. The deck doesn't look so hot because there is soil spilled everywhere and the paint is peeling. Why someone would paint a deck is a mystery to me. It had been freshly painted last year when I bought the house. I knew it would be a problem, and I've been proven right.

This four-armed contraption is a system for growing tomatoes. At the top of each bag is a reservoir that must be filled with water each day. Wicking material draws water from the reservoir so that moisture slowly seeps down into the bags.

These two pictures show the front beds that stretch across the front of the house. I snapped the second one in the midst of my planting. Today I added more cone flowers and varieties of Rudbeckia. I try to picture them filled out and in full bloom. It takes quite an imagination to do that.

This is the shade bed next to the garage. Things still look sparse, but the heucheras are blooming as are the calla lilies that have been in bloom since I bought them.

This is the same shade bed. The hostas in the back seem to be getting bigger ... or is it my imagination?

I love this little green cart. It goes everywhere with me, and holds quite a bit. The color is festive and perfect for gardening.

This is one of the front beds. I watered and watered, but the ground is so parched, it needs hours of a soaking rain.

The heucheras around the plum tree have been invaded. It always amazes me how some varieties of weeds can grow anywhere and under any circumstances. The reason I didn't pull out these "weeds" is because they look a lot like pansies. I am almost certain they are just volunteers, but I doubt they'll survive long in the heat. It was 85 today and will be 90 tomorrow.

The dry weather has made some of the leaves on the poppies start to turn. However, that gray blob in the middle is a huge bud. Success!

I planted zinnia seeds in this large planter, and I'll fill in with million bells.

These need to be put in the ground tomorrow. Considering it will be 90, I'm dreading it a bit.

More plants for tomorrow. Both of these boxes will go in the front beds.

I've decided to wait until next weekend to put the tomatoes in the ground. Right after we planted the ones in the bags, we had two serious frosts. We covered them well, and they seem to be okay. This has reminded me again that there is a reason for a last frost date. I was just too eager to get going with my gardening. Next year, I won't be in such a hurry.

Sunday, April 25th

2010-04-25T19:17:00.002-04:00

It's been a week since my last post, but there is a good reason for that. Miss Eleanor Jane Davis (Ellie) made her entry into the world last Monday and I raced to Williamsburg to see her and to help out with Lily. It was a wonderful week full of special moments--I could have held tiny little Ellie all day and not tired of it--but today it was time to come home. I don't much like driving long distances, but audio books help the time pass. The interstate highways are far too crowded and filled with insane drivers who think that going the speed limit is breaking the law. "Bring back the trains!" says I.

I arrived home about 2:30 and immediately got out in the yard. While I was gone the heucheras Rachael and Brien gave me for Christmas arrived and they needed to be put into the ground. Someone, probably my kindly neighbor, left me two hunks of hostas under the plum tree. I whacked them into several smaller pieces and put them in the ground. The heucheras went into the two beds in my backyard that I'm attending to this year; the hostas ended up in the side shade garden. Thankfully, while I was gone it rained, so everything looks clean and fresh. Things I've planted over the past month look happy. Even the yard looks happy because Paul mowed it yesterday.

I love tomatoes so much that I invested in a strange looking system that is supposed to produce tons of luscious fruit. Then, Rachael gave me ten tomato plants, including three (or four?) Sungold plants, my all-time favorite cherry tomato. Mama mia! I'm a happy woman today. Yesterday, Paul began to assemble the tomato growing system, but it was difficult to do alone. So, today we finished that job. On the deck I set out the tomatoes Rachael gave me so that they could begin to harden off. After a few days spending a couple of hours outside, I think they'll be ready to put into the ground. I had no idea I would inherit this many tomato plants, but I have the perfect place for them. At least, I hope it's the perfect place. The small empty bed on the side of my house gets lots and lots of sun. So, instead of putting in zinnias, as I had originally planned, I'll plant the tomatoes there. I am hoping for a bountiful harvest. As I was musing about my love of tomatoes today and how much I love eating them right off the vine, I realized that I could end up with a bumper crop. This led me to daydreaming about something I used to do when my daughters lived at home--canning fruits and vegetables. I love seeing the quart jars lined up on a shelf, each containing something that I'll joyfully consume when the weather is cold. I used to make spaghetti sauce, so if I end up with more tomatoes than I can eat, I may resume my life as a home canner. I certainly have the jars and the motivation.

Tomorrow I must finish a huge project for Five Ponds Press because it is due on May 1st, a date which is looming. Once I get that finished, if there is still daylight, I'll take pictures of where things stand at present. So far, so good because nothing I've planted has yet died. Let's hope it stays that way.

2010-04-18T14:29:00.007-04:00

When it comes to gardening I find it amazing that a whole lot of work can look like a little bit of nothing. That’s how I feel today. I know that we are making progress, but it doesn’t much show. I could spend a month just cleaning the mess out of the area behind the house, but that isn’t my focus at present, and I have to keep telling myself that. Truly, I could easily keep a full-time gardener busy. As I was cleaning out one of the beds in the backyard this morning, I was dreaming about just that. He or she could live in my downstairs—basement level that is finished—and I’d provide food and a small stipend. Ha. Ha. Ha. I can hear my daughters laughing as they read this. My second dream is to find a middle school student who has the soul of a gardener and would love such a project while receiving a reasonable wage, suitable for one too young to get a “real” job.

Yesterday, when I went to Roanoke, I bought a huge hosta in a three-gallon can along with two new varieties of heucheras. This morning, I hacked the hosta into ten pieces and planted them. The heucheras I added to the area around the plum tree. I know in my heart that someday this will all look fabulous, but now the new plants look puny and isolated. Gardening certainly is an act of faith.

Blogger is giving me fits--it's too lame to describe--so the only thing I can see to do is to provide information about the pictures below by numbering them, 1-6:

1. In the first picture you can see the huge pile of monkey grass that Paul dug out. I'm letting it dry out so that I can put it into my garbage can, the only way I've figured out how to dispose of plant mess.

2. In photo #2, you can see the pieces of hosta I put in from the giant hosta I hacked up.

3. The same is true for the third picture. Small pieces of hosta are sticking out of the ground. The bed actually looks better in person than it does in this picture.

4. A previous owner did a Herculean task of gathering rounded rocks and putting them as borders for the many flower beds on this property. It must have taken her forever. Over time, some of the rocks became deeply buried, so my neighbor dug these up for me so that I can place them anew. It was a surprise when I came home one day.

5. I can't wait for these oriental poppies to bloom. Things will look better after I haul off the monkey grass.

6. This last photo isn't a very good one because I took it when the lighting wasn't the best. My little plum tree is now surrounded by a variety of heucheras. Each one is different.

Work, Work, and More Work

2010-04-17T12:35:00.003-04:00

I was just outside picking up a truckload of sticks from my backyard. There's another truckload still to be gathered. While I realize I have selected specific spots on which to focus this first year, the jungle area in my backyard makes me fret. It is all so overwhelming just to look at. At one point, it must have been a beautiful respite ... I see hostas and other shade plants poking their heads up AMONG all of the weeds that got an early start. I just need to get over it and keep my eye on what I can control now.

My lawn has a big hole in the front and I thought it must have been left from a tree that died or was removed, but my neighbor assures me that is not the case. The other evening we removed the sod and filled the hole, carefully replacing the sod. It looks awful and I am discouraged that it might never recover. In addition, there are a few bare patches, but I can't attend to them until the fall when the mole removal has been completed.

I live next to a man whose yard is immaculate. Nary a weed, stick or dandelion is in sight. I'm sure he's thrilled to live next to a lawn that is covered with a thousand or more dandelions in full bloom. I cringe when I think of the seeds that will blow into his yard. For many years I've mostly ignored dandelions, but I suspect it is time to learn how to rid my yard of them. Any suggestions? There are far too many to dig out.

On the progress front, the tangled mass of monkey grass has been removed from the end of the driveway, and in its place are four oriental poppies. I love the papery orange red blooms especially when they waft in the breeze. Once, when I lived way down in the boonies, I disbursed a handful of poppy seeds over a small area. I never even covered them with dirt. The next year I was pleasantly surprised to find that about twenty-five of them had come up. What a sight that was.

I'm off to Roanoke in a short while, and one of my stops will be a large nursery from which I have purchased plants in the past. I'm hoping to find a variety of heuchera that I don't have. I'm also thinking about coleus because I love the many colors and varieties. I just don't have a good place for them, though.

Tomorrow I'll plant the tomatoes if it is warm enough. I have an interesting setup for this project. Watch for pictures.

Beginnings

2010-04-15T19:55:00.006-04:00

I’ve already begun working on my landscaping project. I’ve taken one or two baby steps, but there is a long road ahead of me to travel. It probably will be a somewhat leisurely journey depending on my time, my energy, and my pocketbook. Having past experience transforming a boring yard into a riot of color, I know that it takes time … a lot of time. Below are photos of where things stand today. I do not have a plan for how often I will update my progress through photographs, but this blog will serve as a record of my successes and failures as I strive to create a property as lovely as the others in my neighborhood.

This small bed borders the left side of the house. I am not yet sure what I’ll put here. It gets full sun all day long, so perhaps I’ll start some zinnias from seed. They are easy to grow and very showy. Another possibility is million bells.

This is straggly backyard bed that needs work. I’m counting on the heirloom plant sale for things that will be happy here. A lady in Floyd has a hosta “farm” and I am going to visit her soon. I’ve been told that she has huge hostas for reasonable prices. I’d love to find the same type of hosta that I bought years ago for my old townhouse. It was a steal at the end of the season for fifty cents. I hacked it into eight pieces and each one grew to be huge. I dug up one of those and hacked it into eight pieces and gave it to my daughter, Jessica. They grew huge. Sadly, neither of us owns the property where these hostas continue to thrive.

This is another pitiful bed in the backyard, and I suspect that at one time it was lovely. My goal here is to add hostas and heucheras. However, I may find some shade-loving varieties at the Smithfield Plantation heirloom plant sale in early May.

The two photos above show the bed that runs along the side of the garage. By the time I decided to recreate this blog and take pictures, I had already planted quite a few perennials. But the bed still looks bare. I added some creeping jenny, which is slow growing, and Johnny jumpups, which spread quickly.

This scraggly mess is an overgrown mound of monkey grass. I finally dug out and swore off most of the monkey grass in my previous yard. This is coming out and will be replaced, initially, with oriental poppies, one of my favorite flowering plants. My helpful neighbor already has found a home for the monkey grass.

This plum tree is the only one in my front yard. It has pretty purple blooms on it, which are not visible in this picture. I will plant a variety of heucheras—also called coralbells—here.

This is the front bed to the left of the entryway porch. It, too, has been tilled and a few perennials have been put in. Below are containers on my deck that I will fill with impatiens. I’m not sure yet which color or colors. Maybe I’ll do a variety … I’m just not sure.

It's Time To Dance Again

2010-04-14T16:43:00.002-04:00

I ended this blog a couple of years ago, and lately have been nagged by family and friends to start it up again. I've been thinking about this for a couple of months wondering what in the world I would write about. "Tell more childhood stories," one of my daughters said. I could do that, but at this moment it doesn't interest me. I know that for others it might seem that writing about growing up near a Florida beach in the 1950s would be something worth penning ... and it might be. However, after careful consideration I have decided, for now, to travel down a different path.

At the end of spring semester 2009, I left North Carolina for good, choosing to retire and return to Blacksburg. My second retirement under my belt, I decided to sell my Blacksburg townhouse--one that I loved and could have lived in happily forever--and move to the back of my subdivision into a single family home. Where I now live is so quiet and peaceful that it fills my heart with gladness every single day. From my deck I can see the farm next door and sit and watch the horses and cows.

My subdivision is an older one, established in the early 1970s. Last year the section where I live, Stroubles Mill, was voted the best neighborhood in the entire New River Valley. That includes all of Blacksburg, Christiansburg, Price's Fork, Lafayette, Ironto, Riner, Shawsville, Elliston, Longshop, McCoy, Norris Run, Indian Run, Luster's Gate, Fairlawn, Radford, Catawba Valley, Dublin, Pulaski, and probably more places I can't think of at the moment. It truly is beautiful, my neighborhood. Huge old oaks tower throughout, and most residents spend time landscaping their property to add to the beauty. So, that is what this blog initially will be about. It will detail my quest to make my new property as captivating as the property I sold, the one where I won a town beautification award. This will be my personal diary for how I transform my yard and its beds. I expect the landscaping project to encompass many years, but every garden begins with the first shovelful of dirt.

My house, built about 1984, has had several owners. Two owners ago, an impressive amount of gardening and landscaping was done. The previous owner--the one from whom I purchased the house--had several (six?) children and needed grass for play areas. So, some of the beds that had been put in were removed and grassed over. Probably, that is of benefit to me because the property is almost half an acre, a lot to maintain. I decided to begin by focusing on what is closest to the house, the front beds that stretch across the font, interrupted only by the small porch at the front door, and the side beds. There were pitiful shrubs that the former own installed to help sell the house. I removed them and then worked to get out all of the vinca. I should clarify that I am not doing this project alone as Paul is the muscles behind much of the work. It took a couple of hours to rip out the vinca as it was thick and exceptionally well established. Early we had agreed that a small gasoline powered tiller would help immensely and would pay off in the long run because of the size of the property. After the vinca and scrubby shrubs came out, Paul tilled the beds. I was pleased to see that the dirt is fairly good.

Last fall, I had a landscaping service remove three huge evergreen trees that were smack against the house on the side of the garage. Already taller than the roof, they were only one-third their size when fully grown. This left a huge bare place that is partly shady, so I figured it would be a good idea to use that space for a bed of shade loving perennials. It was filled with English ivy, so much so that some of the ivy was crawling up the brick work. Knowing how invasive ivy can be and how much damage it can do to bricks, I arranged for a teenage boy to remove it. His fee was $15, money well spent. However, before he could complete the job, my dear neighbor did it for me while I was out of town. Paul tilled this, too, and here we found some of the richest soil I have ever seen.

There are overgrown tree-like shrubs that need to be cut back, including a crepe myrtle, but that will have to wait until this fall. A man at the nursery said it is already too late to do that. Besides, the town stopped monthly pickup of yard debris for economic reasons and now only provide this service in the fall. Disposing of piles of brush is almost impossible at other times. So, fall it will be.

Planning gardens is something I love and hate. I agonized all winter about what to do, but when the seed and plant catalogs began rolling in, I was quickly able to devise a plan. Everything about me and my way of doing things is eclectic. I'm not a formal person so I'm not keen on formal gardens. I tend to buy things I like, then stick them in the ground and lovingly tend to them, adding here and there as needed. My favorite thing to do is to go out early in the evening EVERY DAY and deadhead and pull weeds, and I love to water my plants. There is something about this whole process that is peaceful and rewarding.

I choose perennials mainly because they return each year and you only pay for them once. I'm not sure yet if I will fill in with annuals. It will depend on a variety of factors. My ultimate goal is to have the kind of flower beds that bring me joy when I pull into my driveway. I've also defined the other places I plan to work on this year. Rome wasn't built in a day, so I'll begin with what I can manage now:

1. Two front beds
2. Two side beds (along the sides of the house)
3. The huge clump of monkey grass at the end of the driveway
4. Two existing beds in the back of the house that need work.

Tomorrow I will post pictures of where things stand as of today. Bear in mind that this will be a work in progress for many years.

The Last Dance

2008-07-21T18:05:00.005-04:00

I have come to realize that I spend far too much time on the computer. Some of it is required because I teach many university courses online. However, after much soul searching I have come to the decision that I need to spend far less time on the computer and far more time interacting with people I love. It is too easy to sit at the keyboard and waste time. I am sixty years old! I have only so much time left on Earth. I do not want my latter years to be spent playing online games or reading blogs or surfing the web. Rather, I want to give attention to the people in my life that I care about. If one of my precious grandchildren is here, I want to give him or her my undivided attention, someting wee ones sorely need. They learn everything through social interaction ... how to eat with utensils, how to use language effectively, how to interact with others on a personal level, how to problem solve, and so on. But they can't do it alone by merely observing. They NEED as much positive interaction as they can get. Besides, they do not stay little for very long. Some of my very favorite memories involve Hannah and all the fun we had doing goofy things--playing "monkey ball", whipping cream for strawberries, trying on hats and bo-bo shoes, my making up Princess Hannah stories while she lay in bed with me, and so on. Those memories are what makes life worth living. I do not want to miss out making memories with my family; no longer will I allow my computer to rob me of these opportunities. There are many better ways for me to spend my time than vegging out in front of the computer even if it serves as a tranquilizer or an escape, which it can easily do. For the past six weeks I have been going to the gym regularly and I am back cooking every day being careful to prepare healthful recipes with local ingredients. My house is now cleaner than it has been for quite a while (thanks in good part to Paul), and it spurs me on to want to be more productive. While I am tidy and fairly meticulous, I realize that keeping my house SQUEAKY CLEAN makes it a better place to live and a safe place for my grandchildren to visit. Look what has happened since I began to limit my computer use: My neighbor, Greg, and I have had many laughs over vino and good meals. Paul is such an interesting conversationalist and talking to and with him has been far superior than wasting time on the computer. I am back to reading more books ... mostly biographies and historical accounts. My father and mother can now count on receiving regular newsy letters from me. The plants in my container garden are doing well because I take the time to attend to them every single day. Yes, dear readers, life is for living, and in my opinion sitting in front of a computer, no matter how enjoyable, is not truly living. It is escaping. Our lives are over in the blink of an eye. I wonder every single day how in the world I am already sixty. SIXTY!??!?!??! If I got to be sixty so quickly it means the next years of my life will go by at an even greater warp speed.

While I have never been lazy, I have allowed some things to slide since I moved to North Carolina. I took solace in using my computer as an escape mechanism. I know that what I have recently given up in terms of computer time has had a dramatically positive impact on my life. I am convinced that taking that next step and using the computer as a tool only when necessary will be a good thing. So, this is it. It is the last dance. I am ending my blog almost one year to the date that I started it. I will now embrace life more fully and get much more accomplished. I'll have time to give to others and to pursue interests that I put on the back burner. I will go fossil hunting and will attend rock and mineral shows. I'll continue my workout program and will work hard every single day to prepare healthful meals that Paul, Greg, and I can enjoy. I will go to more lectures and more live shows. I'll visit more museums and will plan more international excursions. And I'll see if I can convince someone to take ballroom dancing lessons with me. Yes, you are never too old to rock 'n roll and I'll do more of that as well ... even if it is only in my kitchen while I am preparing dinner.

Thanks to everyone who has stopped by to visit. I hope that after reading this blog post you will think about your own life and prioritize how you spend your time so that you are getting as much as you can from the myriad of possibilities that lie before you. Most of all spend QUALITY time with those you love. Put forth the little bit of extra effort it will take to go for a walk or to smell the roses or to sit at the table together to enjoy a meal. Make your home your haven, your nest, one that is a joy to spend time in. Keep it clean and tidy. You won't believe how relaxing it is to end a hectic day by walking into an inviting home where the beds are made, the dishes are done, and the entire place looks and smells clean.

Finally, I am giving up making excuses. In addition to not wasting time, I am making a commitment to acting like a grownup at ALL TIMES (it's about time, eh?). I always have told my daughters, "Duty before pleasure" and I've been pretty good about following my own advice. But I am putting this out there publicly. I will force myself to do all the things I loathe like balancing my checkbook or denying myself one more piece of junk my house does not need. I will make wise purchases and wise decisions. I will do what SHOULD be done BEFORE what I WANT to do. I know I'll be a much happier and much more productive person.

Coming Up For Air

2008-07-09T20:39:00.002-04:00

This week and next are the busiest in the entire year for me. So, I asked Paul if he would be willing to be in charge of selecting recipes, making the grocery list, buying the groceries, cooking dinner, and cleaning the kitchen. The sweet ole thing said he would. Let me tell you ... this is one of the most wonderful things that has ever happened to me. I can sit in the livingroom grading and working on my classes (read that as responding to email, sending out announcements, answering questions when students call, etc.) while Mr. Wonderful is in the kitchen. Now I know what it is like to be called to dinner in my own home. Is that cool or what? I think so. Too bad this will all be over in two weeks.

Grading, Grading, Grading

2008-07-05T09:41:00.003-04:00

Module 1 work rolled into Digital Dropbox Thursday night so I'm up to my ears grading work. I want to have everything returned by Monday morning, so it's a commitment. In the meantime, my students are busy working on Module 2 and I'll then have to attack getting that graded and returned. The Fourth Annual Academically or Intellectually Gifted Camp begins on the 13th and there is still much to be done! It is likely that I'll have little time to post over the next two weeks. This is strictly a 7:00 a.m - midnight job at present. Overseeing my students in their practicum experience is serious business, and it simply takes loads of time.

Our Outing to Raleigh

2008-07-03T20:44:00.004-04:00

Early Wednesday morning, Paul, Terry, John Alexander, and I took off for Raleigh. My hybrid car did well; we obtained 41.8 mpg going 70 mph (legal speed in NC on the road we traveled) with the air conditioning on. After a short trip to the downtown farmers' market where I bought sun gold tomatoes, Italian bread, and fresh basil, we made our way to the North Carolina Museum of Science on Jones Street. Tickets to see the Dead Sea Scrolls exhibit were $22, a small price, indeed, when you consider that tickets to see Barbra Streisand are as much as $600. We had a nice surprise, though, because senior tickets for those 60 and over were only $16. So, I got in with an $8 discount! The entire exhibit was quite well done. You enter through a cave and have a hand-held listening device that you hold up to your ear to hear pre-recorded information about each facet of the exhibit. I learned so much ancient history that my head is completely filled and the rest has leaked into my body. This is probably why I look fat. :-) Because much of the exhibit focused on them, I was reminded of a book I had read in my early college days about the Essenes. The author's perspective was that Jesus was an Essene, though I am not convinced that he was. It is believed that the Essenes may have created some of the Dead Sea Scrolls.

As we went from room to room, the light grew dimmer. By the time we made it into the high-security chamber with the actual scrolls, the light was so low that it was eerie. This is required because the scrolls are disintegrating at a fast rate and can have only so many minutes of light on any given day. There were pieces--literally fragments--of six different scrolls. I think that many people do not realize that there are various versions of many books of the Bible written in several different languages. The gospels weren't written by Matthew, Mark, Luke, or John; in fact, they were written 70+ years after Jesus died.

So I can now say that I have seen Dead Sea Scrolls. They were interesting, of course, but so were all of the other artifacts on display. I kept wondering, "Who made this? What was this person's life like? How would he feel if he knew that thousands of years later, people like me are filled with wonder as we gaze at his handiwork?" I have so many questions that I have a ton of research to do. The next time I go back, I'll take notes so that I can be better organized about my research. I was left with one big question, though, one I've thought of at other times I have visited ancient treasures: What else is out there and when will it be uncovered?

Exciting Plans Afoot

2008-07-01T18:22:00.002-04:00

Tomorrow Paul, Terry, John Alexander, and I are going to Raleigh. Two exciting things are on our agenda:

1. Visiting the North Carolina Museum of Science where we will see an exhibit about the Dead Sea scrolls. (This has me so excited that I can hardly wait!)

2. Having lunch at Caffe Luna.

We'll leave early and spend the day enjoying our two stops. If time, we'll also visit the Farmer's Market. Raleigh is the state capital and there is a lot to see and do.

Tomorrow I'll post about our adventure.

More Cards

2008-06-29T19:08:00.005-04:00

We made cards again today. Rachael's ability to design cards is simply amazing. She designed all but one of these cards. I designed just one. Can you pick out the one that Rachael's creative brain did not plan?

Pandora.com

2008-06-28T20:41:00.004-04:00

It is no secret that when Rachael and I make cards we listen to Air Supply and the BeeGees. We do this by logging onto www.pandora.com and creating a radio station tailored to our tastes. It's simple. You enter the name of an artist or a song that you like and Pandora searches it's vast storehouse of tunes and selects ones that complement the artist/song you picked. You can hit "Thumbs Up" or "Thumbs Down" to accept or reject a song or you can just hit the skip button. I've created many radio stations for myself that reflect my age: Jimi Hendrix, Cream, Beatles, Rolling Stones, and the like. Tonight I was in the mood for some good ole R & R and Little Richard popped into my head. For the last half hour we have been rockin' round the clock to songs like "The Twist", "Too Much Monkey Business", "Tutti Frutti", "Great Balls of Fire", "Jailhouse Rock", "Jenny, Jenny", "A Big Hunk 'O Love", and "Night Train to Memphis". Many of these songs have been off my radar for so long that I had forgotten all about them. What fun it is to dance in the kitchen with complete abandon! Who cares what I look like? I know my age. But I also know that you're never to old to rock & roll.

Rachael And Lily Are Here!

2008-06-27T21:01:00.005-04:00

Yesterday two things happened. The semester began so I am back at work AND, more importantly, Rachael and Lily arrived. So, now I am still working every day but at least I'm getting paid. My girls helped ease the stress of getting the semester off to a good start. Lily is so funny that she keeps me laughing. She is alternately a doggie and a kitty. She barks and meows and pants. Hee hee hee.

Last night Terry came for dinner and we had a ball. Rachael and I made Mexican pulled pork, guacamole, an interesting salad that contained raw corn, radishes, avocado, red bell pepper, onion, Romaine lettuce, tomatoes, and several other things I can't think of at the moment; the dressing was comprised mostly of fresh lime juice and honey. After dinner, we had a "jewelry show". My friend, Ron, had given me dozens of piece of silver jewelry to go through and to share with Rachael and Terry. The prices are a steal!

Today, we took it easy and one of the things we accomplished was making a few cards. You can see them in the photos below. Several are variations on a theme, as you can see. For some reason I cannot get the one card oriented correctly. Oh, well.

I have more to say but it is Lily's bedtime and she wants me to read her a story, so I'll end here.

Riley's Army

2008-06-25T21:30:00.003-04:00

When I moved to North Carolina I was sad to leave behind the best doctor I had ever had the pleasure of working with. Scott Jamison, M.D. is unlike most doctors in that he limits his practice and gives his patients the time and care that not only make us feel important, but allows him to give us with the best medical care possible. I held out little hope of finding a doctor in Greenville who would come close to providing the level of care to which I was accustomed. It was frustrating after I moved here because no doctor could take me as a patient for five months. In a city with a medical school, it seems hard to believe that establishing oneself with a physician could be so difficult. My doctor here is Kirk Philpot and I have come to love and respect him as much as I did Dr. Jamison. When Hannah died, he was a godsend in so many ways. Like Dr. Jamison, he listens and cares and is tenacious in diagnosing ailments and illnesses. Last fall I received a letter from Dr. Philpot's office stating that he was having to limit his practice because his little girl's cancer had resurfaced. My heart sank because Riley's cancer, while extremely rare, had returned, an even rarer occurence. Generally, children beat the cancer and it does not come back. Riley's returned with a vengeance and she had to have a kidney removed. She also had to undergo grueling chemotherapy and will continue on this course of treatment for another year.

Early this afternoon I received email from Terry asking me if I was going to attend the function hosted by Riley's Army. I had never heard of Riley's Army but went online to investigate. It turns out that the Philpotts have created a nonprofit organization to aid families whose children have cancer. You can read about it at www.rileysarmy.com. Please take a minute to visit this site.

Greg had already invited us to dinner so I wasn't sure I could attend the event that was being held at the local Applebee's. It was scheduled to end at nine and I wasn't sure we'd make it in time. Besides, I knew that Applebee's--along with all of the other restaurants in Greenville--had been closed by the Health Department. It seems that fecal coliform has been found in the local water supply and there was a "boil only" order. Yes, we all have boiled water to put in the refrigerator and to make ice cubes, etc. [It is predicted that the "boil only" recommendation will be lifted soon, so not to worry.]

As we finished dinner at Greg's, I asked what time is was. "8:20," I was told. I mused that it was probably too late to go across town. Greg assured me that we could make it and told me to get the car out because we were going. So, we did ... and am I ever glad. When we arrived, Dr. Philpot gave me a hug and thanked me for coming. He told us all the ways that we could help Riley's Army, and we accepted several of his offers. Keep your fingers crossed. Maybe one of us will win the raffle. More than that, it will hearten you to know that hundreds of people in this community are reaching out to help children battling cancer and their families.

In Search Of The Elusive Nam Pla

2008-06-24T19:43:00.003-04:00

Do you see that little bottle? Two days ago I did not even know that such a product existed. It is called Nam Pla and apparently is a common ingredient in Thai and Vietnamese food. Determined to continue expanding my horizons as a cook, on Sunday I perused the new book of recipes that Greg gave me for my birthday. As I flipped through the pages, my eyes lit upon a recipe with both "lime" and "shrimp" in the title. Whoa, doggies! I read the recipe and realized that it was easy to make. The ingredients were most intriguing. When I came to Nam Pla, I was stumped but put it on the grocery list anyway. Of course no one in the grocery store had ever heard of it so I came home disappointed, though I did have a car full of fresh fruits and vegetables. Don't you just love June and July when it comes to fresh things? I now have quite the selection of fruits--plums, peaches, blueberries, watermelon, raspberries, lemons, limes, and something else I can't remember. When Rachael comes, I am going to make a dessert that popped into my head this afternoon. I've never tried it, but so what? I know it has great potential. But I digress ... Terry is a gourmet cook so I emailed her and asked where I could obtain some Nam Pla. She told me I could get it AT THE STORE FROM WHICH I HAD JUST RETURNED! GRRRRRRRRR! Terry said she had bought it there in the past and would let me have some of hers but she had just run out. Hmmmm. This means that other people use Nam Pla and not just once; they actually run out of it. Today, Terry called and told me she had been to Kroger and found the stuff right on the shelf in the gourmet section. She certainly saved the day because I was making the recipe tonight! Fresh North Carolina shrimp and this divine sauce made with tart lime juice, garlic, and the Nam Pla. The dish was to die for! Now I'm wondering if a little fresh grated ginger might give it a bit of a different twist...

A Mini Adventure

2008-06-23T15:37:00.005-04:00

When I was in college we did a lot of crazy things. One of my favorites was waiting until about midnight and then zipping on over to the local Krispy Kreme. My friends and I would each pick up a quart of milk (in a glass bottle) on our way, and when we got there, we'd buy a dozen hot donuts. The glaze was perfect. The combination of the hot donuts and the cold milk made for an outstanding midnight snack. Back then I could eat all the donuts I wanted and not gain an ounce. I also could scarf down quite a few before getting full. No more. But I get ahead of myself. Last night I watched the 1935 version of Mutiny on the Bounty with Clark Gable. When the movie ended, Paul said, "I can't keep my eyes open; I'm going to bed." I told him I was going to stay up and watch some more television and read a bit about Pitcairn Island on the Internet, something I haven't done in a while. At 10:45 my cell phone began to ring. "What the?" I thought. "It must be Rachael or Jessica." I glanced at the number and it was neither. My neighbor, Greg, was on the other end of the line waiting for me to pick up. When I answered, he said, "What are you doing?" I told him and he said, I'm sitting in my car right outside your office window. I saw the light on and decided you might still be up. When I left downtown after performing at a concert, I noticed that Krispy Kreme had its "Hot Donuts" sign lit. I'm going to get some donuts. Why don't you and Paul come with me?" I told him Paul had already gone to bed, but I'd see if I could rouse him. I tiptoed into Paul's room and he was already snoring loudly. "Paul?" I queried in a tentative voice. "WHAT?!??" he jumped up. I explained the situation and he told me to go enjoy myself. So I climbed into Greg's car and we laughed all the way to the donut shop. Inside--I'd NEVER been to the Krispy Kreme here in Greenville--my nose was met with the aroma of HOT DONUTS! Hooray! I bought two and Greg bought two and we sat on round stools to eat them. The first one was so good that I swooned. When it came time to eat the second one, I had to force myself. Well, "force" is too strong a word. There was no way I was going to allow a hot glazed donut to go to waste. I ate it with gusto, but my tummy complained when I was finished. After buying a few donuts for Paul's breakfast, we came back home. It was a lovely cool summer's night and even though it was dark, you could tell it hadn't been that long since the sun set. This little adventure was so much fun and it helped me take my mind off the fact that it was June 22nd ... the WORST day of the year. Why? Because the 22nd of June marks the day when the amount of sunlight begins to grow shorter. From December 22 on, I can tell myself that the days are getting longer and it makes me so happy. Now I know that the days are growing shorter. I try not to think about it.

Celebrate

2008-06-23T10:14:00.004-04:00

e Dinner at Terry's ... Salad with homemade hummus, French lentils, mixed greens, hearts of palm, tomatoes, radishes, red onions, lump crab meat, and avocado dressing.

Phew. The whirlwind of birthday celebrations has come to an end. I can't remember the last time I felt so special. The festivities began on Wednesday night when several colleagues took me to Finelli's for dinner. I love crab so had their lovely crab meat lasagna. The portion was huge, so I took half of it home to Paul. We all had wine and chatted about our families and jobs. My friends generously gave me gifts, mostly jewelry, with one notable exception. Tricia, our department chair, gave me one hour of release time because I am heading up the East Carolina University Second Annual Conference on Gifted Education. Whoo hoo! This means I will have one intern less to supervise this fall.

Thursday was yet another celebration ... this one at Terry's house. You can see from the photo above that Terry is a gourmet chef. Truly. Paul, Greg, and I went to Terry's house where we had the "bestest" time! The food and company were exquisite. Greg gave me a book of easy recipes and I can't wait to try them. Along with a hat and jewelry, candles and scented oil, the Atkinsons gave me capsules of fish oil and flax seed oil. Lest you think that is an odd thing to give someone for a birthday gift, let me assure you that it is not. Because of medication, my hair has gotten thinner and thinner. Terry's hair is similar to mine and she began taking the supplements with great results. What do friends do for friends? They make sure that their friends have access to the great successes they have enjoyed.

Saturday night more celebrating was afoot. Paul and I went to Blacksburg to take care of business and to check on my house. While there, Dottie and Judy took us to my all-time favorite restaurant in the entire world--Alexander's in Roanoke. While the food was divine, the company was even better. Dottie had sent me my presents early so that I'd have them for the trip to New England. Judy gave me a set of glasses from Xanadu that Rachael and I have admired in the past. Now I have glasses for sipping sherry AND a bottle of sherry to put into the glasses. Yum!

Last, but certainly not least, Paul and I spent part of yesterday with Brenda and Bernie, two of my favorite people. We met at Cracker Barrel (are you noticing the number of times I have mentioned food and eating?) where we all enjoyed the Sunday chicken special. It was so good to spend time with Brenda and I can't wait until I move back to Blacksburg so that I can see her more often. When I moved to NC and Paul went back to England, Brenda took on babysitting my plants. She and Bernie hauled them to her house. The one that I was most concerned about is a dracaena that I bought in 1974 when it was four inches tall. Thirty four years later, the "tree" is so tall that it won't fit in a standard-sized room. Luckily, Brenda and Bernie live in a big old house with high ceilings.

Well, Paul is waiting for me to help him with a little project so I must end this. I have much to do to get ready for the arrival of Rachael and Miss Lily on Thursday. I am so excited they are coming to visit I'm about to pop!

While I was not able to see my blood sisters for my birthday, I did get to spend time with my other "sisters". What could possibly be more important than family?

Quick Update

2008-06-22T12:26:00.002-04:00

I'm in Blacksburg and will post a new blog when I get home. I had some banking legal to take care of in person, here ... it's a hassle but I also needed to check on my house so it wasn't a wasted trip. My house is still standing; I haven't checked on it since Easter and that had me worried. An empty house doesn't fare too well, especially when the absentee owner can only visit it every two or three months. My fabulous neighbors keep an eye on it for me, so I can breathe a bit easy. I've also been able to visit with friends while here. Dottie, Paul, and I had a burger at Mike's on Friday night, and then Judy joined the three of us for a birthday celebration at Frankie's and then Alexander's in Roanoke. This morning I've been working on the house since we returned from breakfast at Gillie's. Now it's time to pack up and head back to NC. On our way out of town, we'll stop to visit with Brenda Wojo and Bernie for a few minutes.

When I arrive home, I'll post pictures from dinner at Terry's.

It Wasn't As Bad As I Feared

2008-06-18T16:34:00.002-04:00

I did the ViQuest thing today. Yup. I got my sorry ass off the couch and went to exercise. It was a great time to go because there weren't many people there and competition for the weight machines was minimal. Of course I could not remember exactly what to do because it had been so long ... but the kindly trainer printed out another copy for me. I went through my complete program, carefully entering my tracking number into each machine prior to using it. Yes, ViQuest keeps track of how many pounds you have pushed or pulled or raised above your head. I also did twenty mintues of brisk walking. So far, so good. I'll know in the morning if I overdid it, but I don't think so. After I finished at each machine, it queried whether or not I want the weight increased for next time. Um ... not yeeeeeet. Give me a couple of weeks. I looked a bit longingly at the pool and will try to go back to water aerobics. As much as I love water aerobics, I hate getting all the cholorine in my hair. Oh, all the other women can exercise hard and not get one hair wet. Not me. My entire head is soaked when I get out. Another thing is that I no longer wash and blow my hair dry every single day and going to water aerobics doesn't allow for that option. The hell with that. Now that I'm turning the BIG six-oh, I want to do less maintenance. Yes, of course I realize that at my age I need MORE, but I'm just worn out from it all. I'm sick of putting on makeup and sick of doing my hair. I've never enjoyed either task so doing less of them makes me happy. I'll be okay, I guess ... as long as I don't look in the mirror!

It's Time

2008-06-16T20:53:00.002-04:00

In January 2007 I joined ViQuest, a local health-fitness wellness center. I loved going to water aerobics and did well. While I never lost any weight, I know that my commitment to improving my physical stamina was paying off. Then, Hannah died and I no longer had the heart to go back. I just couldn't face all the women I'd been exercising with for six months. I couldn't face getting into the pool. I couldn't face much of anything, except work, for a long time. Now it is time for me to go back. Today, I took Paul to ViQuest so that he could join. I know that the two of us will motivate each other to "keep at it". Prior to Paul's coming back to the USA, he regularly exercised at a facility similar to ViQuest; he also rode his bike for many miles each week. I don't think he'll by trying to bike ride here in North Carolina for two good reasons. 1. He doesn't have a bike here. 2. He is accustomed to riding on days in the sweltering heat of South Shields--65 degrees--and the sweltering heat here in Greenville tops 100 degrees quite often in the summer. Lately it has been in the high 90s and over 100 on far too many days ... and it's only June. Poor Paul would collapse in a puddle on the pavement were he to attempt bike riding here. So, instead we'll go to ViQuest where there are a plethora of ways to work on getting fit. I'll let you know how we do.

Happy Thoughts

2008-06-13T12:24:00.001-04:00

1. I have two of the greatest kids on the face of the earth.

2. My grandchildren are precious and bring me joy every single day.

3. I'm cooking again and trying NEW recipes!

4. I have a freezer full of locally raised meat.

5. I am taking time to read a biography that's been patiently waiting for me.

6. Jess and Bob dodged the tornado bullet yesterday.

7. Rachael is creating a craft room.

8. I am going to finish a card-making project this weekend.

9. My house is clean and the laundry is done.

10. My patio is clean and my heucheras are thriving.

Maintaining a Home

2008-06-12T12:08:00.000-04:00

What a job it is to maintain a home! I'm not complaining because I know how blessed I am to have a lovely place in which to reside. Daily chores just keep the dust and dirt at bay for a short while. No matter how careful you are ... not matter how many times you wipe your feet before entering, the dirt and dust quickly accumulate. With Paul being here during the day, the problem is worse. I'm not blaming him! Houses are meant to be lived in. Besides Paul is neat and tidy, cleans up after himself, and pitches in with the chores. I once had a fantasy about having all of the laundry done and the house spotless, so much so that not one germ could reproduce itself. The only way to achieve such a goal would be to sit naked and not move. Why naked? Because if you want ALL of the laundry to be done, you can't be in the process of dirtying anything. Silly pipe dream, eh?

In many ways, exterior maintenance is worse. Paul is out there now cleaning the patio, front sidewalk, porch, etc. In this heat it is a killer job and Paul drips with sweat while he works. Eastern North Carolina is humid with a lot of pine trees. We also have some hardwood trees, but pines abound. My house is surrounded by trees which keeps it much cooler in the inferno that has been the order of the day this week. However, copious amounts of pine needles rain down each day. In addition, the crazy squirrels chew the ends off the branches of the deciduous trees so large curled up leaves also come down. Each day, the sidewalk and patio are totally littered and require sweeping. I have, on occasion, let it go for a few weeks and then the job is so awful I almost weep trying to dig it all out. The peskiest thing of all, in my opinion, is weird cobweb type material that forms on everything over night. It is as if some night stalking creature walks along with a device that sprays gray filmy matter all over everything. It is creepy to behold, nasty to touch, and worse to remove. If you don't get rid of it each day, it just piles up and grows worse and worse. My porch light is up a bit high and there have been times when it was so coated that it interfered with the amount of light that could shine through. I have oft wondered just what it is that leaves that mess behind; I really don't think it's spiders because I don't see very many of them. Besides, it appears that it would take an army of spiders to create that much "gray stuff" every day.

Paul made jambalaya on Tuesday and there was plenty for a few meals. He did an excellent job and the flavorful stew was rich and hearty. I have to confess when I look at a recipe and see more than eight ingredients, I quickly move on to something less intimidating. Not Paul. He doesn't care if a recipe has 50 ingredients; he'll tackle anything that looks good. The Jambalaya had about fifteen different ingredients--sausage, shrimp, ham, celery, tomatoes, rice, etc. It was a tad bit spicy for me, but it tasted so good I just drank copious amounts of iced tea. Neighbor Greg came by to return a few dishes just as we were preparing to eat leftovers and we talked him into staying. Racing next door, he fetched a bottle of white wine and a lovely repast ensued.

This morning I made a recipe of maple-almond scones. They are fairly easy to make and taste divine. This evening I'll do the cooking. I'm making Capellini with Salmon and Lemon-Dill-Vodka Sauce. It has eleven ingredients but I can't wimp out after Paul tackled Jambalaya all by himself while I was at work.

I'm taking it easy today ... I've been emotionally upset about a lot of things lately and I just need some time to "get over it" all. I feel somewhat guilty about just being "around the house" but I am attending to several job-related things that need to get done. My job is such that often I can do the work from my home office rather than waste gas slogging all the way downtown. Many of my colleagues are also choosing this route; I know because I generally can find a parking spot on campus without too much trouble. If I get everything done, I'm going to begin a biography about Theodate Pope Riddle that I've had tucked away. Why I feel guilty is a mystery to me. After all, I am not teaching any classes until June 26th though I still am working every day (without pay, of course).

Father's Day is this weekend and I will greatly miss being with Dad. He'll soon be 89 and I know he loves to have company. The drive is ten hours each way and I have work commitments on Friday and Monday so cannot get away. I feel like a bit of a heel for not being able to go. I knew when I took this job that the distance it would put me from much of my family would be a big negative and it certainly has turned out to be the case. My sister, Susan, has made the trek here a few times and she knows what a drive it is. I go to Tennessee when I can get off four days in a row which isn't very often. Mostly I go to Williamsburg to spend time with Rachael and family as I NEED to feel connected to my child who has suffered the worst kind of tragedy possible. I also try to check on my Blacksburg house at least once every three months. That isn't nearly often enough, but it's a five-and-a-half-hour drive to Blacksburg from here and it's hard to get away. Another factor is that the quickest route is almost always via interstate but it is also the most stressful. On my recent trip to New England, we avoided the interstate at all costs. What a difference driving on uncrowded country roads is when it comes to stress. Interstates today are like NASCAR races with people who do not know how to drive. I always arrive feeling beaten up and frazzled.

Okay, I have rambled enough. I need to write a letter to Dad, something I do every week. He told me he loves to get letters because he can read them again and again. I generally cut and paste my daughters' blogs for the week at the end of my letter and he loves that. Call me old fashioned but I much prefer letters to phone calls ... phone conversations are ephemeral ... letters can last forever.

I'm Meeeeelting!

2008-06-10T18:40:00.002-04:00

Unlike the wicked witch of the west, this afternoon I would have welcomed someone dumping a bucket of water on me. I know I'm not alone in suffering from the intense heat as this oppressive spate of boiling weather has struck the east coast. Thank goodness I am fortunate enough to afford air conditioning at home and that my ECU office is also cooled by AC. Today when Terry, Paul, and I rode out to Rainbow Meadow Farms in Snow Hill, North Carolina it was 101 degrees. We roasted as we waited for Jenelle to fill our order. We stood outside her parents' house as Jenelle made her way to the next building over where the meat locker is housed. As we waited, the sweat dripped down my back, down my front, and down my brow. I'm not a sweaty person so this is saying something. It was disappointing that the pork loins weren't going to be delivered until tomorrow, but we did get pork chops, chicken, eggs, and bacon. On our way home we stopped at Renston Farms and bought a bit of produce. As always, the money box was on the counter next to the scale; we weighed and paid for our purchases as Mr. McLawhorn was nowhere in sight. Call me a sap, but I just love the honor system. I bought the first peaches of the season. They are small but dead ripe. I'm saving them for breakfast. I'll slice them up and drizzle a bit of cream over them. Isn't it wonderful to have good wholesome flavorful food that is locally raised and far more inexpensive than the grocery store?

Visiting the Davis Family in Williamsburg

2008-06-08T18:10:00.008-04:00

Rachael was antsy to see Paul because six months had passed since she was with him last. So, I took Paul to Williamsburg this weekend to visit the Davis clan. I'll let the photos will tell the story...

Here is Miss Lil' in her Farmers' Market sun hat.

Lily in her little red wagon on her way to pick out fruits and vegetables for the week.

It was hot, hot, hot, but bear didn't seem to mind. See him in his red sweater?

Lily's special marketing shoes. Of course she insisted on wearing them instead of her sandals. What two-year-old wouldn't?

At home, Lily continued to shop. She's checking to see that she's pulled the correct bill from her purse so that she can pay for her purchase.

We all had a ball playing Wii. Here Paul is bowling.

I am terrible at sports ... the highest game I ever bowled was 121 when I was a teenager. Mostly I bowl about 70 (or lower).

On Wii, however, I bowled a 210!

Now Paul and Rachael are boxing. I think she KOd him.

Later, but still shopping, Lily decided she DID NOT want her picture taken. Smooth, move, eh?

I caught Lily unawares and you should have seen the face she made at me AFTER I got the photo! If looks could kill ...

Lil' still isn't happy about my having the camera but conceded to letting me take a shot of "the BIG blueberry, Lissie"

You can see the master at work here. Rachael's card designing ability is amazing. I made two copies of each of these cards she designed. I'm such a huge citrus fan and they look so cool and inviting. We had a lot of fun! Of course we listened to The Bee Gees and Air Supply while we cut and pasted.

Here's my sweetie hard at work. You can almost see the wheels spinning as she
designs new cards. A few weeks ago Rachael made wedding invitations! They were stunning.

Here's a close up of one of the cards.

Judging

2008-06-06T21:08:00.002-04:00

Oh, how easy it is to judge others when you don't have all the facts. How quickly you can deeply hurt another when you judge. Deep wounds heal slowly ... if at all.

We're Still Cooking

2008-06-05T21:30:00.003-04:00

Terry came for dinner tonight; a good time was had by all. She is such a dear and so much fun. I'm ashamed it has taken me so long to get off my derriere and have her over. It seems I am at Chez Atkinson all the time and I've been awful about reciprocating ... especially since Stephen took the job in Winston-Salem and is only home on the weekends. Shame on me for being such a failure as a friend! With Paul here, I am cooking every night and it feels so good to be back in the groove. I spent too many months eating cereal (or worse!) for dinner.

Paul and I created an interesting dish with penne pasta, Italian sausage, tomatoes, onions, Monterrey Jack cheese, cream, and other tasty ingredients. I made up a salad (I mean a MADE UP the recipe) ... neighbor Greg had given me some homemade Tahini dressing and it has such a delicate flavor I decided to try something different. Last Saturday I bought fresh, just-picked peas at the farmers' market along with some particularly nice tomatoes. So, tonight I par boiled the peas until they were not too soft and still a bright green. Then, I drained the peas and quickly but them in a bowl in the fridge until they were cold. I cut up the tomatoes and an avocado, some fresh mozzarella, and a couple of green onions. I tossed it with the Tahini dressing ... it was a winner ... a nice refreshing salad on a day that was so hot at 9:00 p.m. the steam is still rising from the sidewalk. No kidding ... when I got in my car at 1:00 p.m. to come home, it was 108 ... and this is just the beginning of June. I dread what it will be like in August. I called Paul from my car and told him that he could not go outside! No Englishman could possibly survive the heat. After all, in Geordieland where Paul originates, a hot-as-hell day is 65 degrees.

After dinner, I took some leftovers to Greg and he sent me home with two mojitos. So, here I sit on my couch watching the 2008 Spelling Bee finals and sipping my drink. What a fortunate woman I am!

The Infernal Heat

2008-06-05T07:38:00.005-04:00

It is only early June yet the oppressive heat is already with us. Yesterday it was 97 when I left my office. This meant that it was too dangerous to do yard work or to clean out the garage, both chores that I had planned to attack. After the sun went down I did get things out for the trash men and emptied the garage of about fifty cardboard shipping boxes and a pile of shopping bags. I am loathe to throw away boxes and shopping bags because it is such a waste of resources and they can always be reused ... by someone. There comes a time, however, when you can no longer maneuver around your garage and something has to go. By the time I came back inside I was a total sweat ball and I felt icky and sticky. This morning I realized that I hadn't put something out for the garbage collectors and so I zipped out there to throw it on the heap. I almost fainted from the heat. At 7:10 it already is so hot that a sun stroke could occur quickly. I dread thinking about how much hotter it is going to get today. It also makes me worry about the possibility of a tornado hitting this area (my neighborhood). One did in 1987 and seven people died. I know I shouldn't complain because there are people around the world whose lives are so desperate most of us cannot even relate.

Well, it is time for me to get off to work even though OFFICIALLY I am not working until June 27th. Okay ... whining mode OFF!

Addendum and Apology: Mea culpa. I failed to note above that Paul helped me with all exterior chores yesterday, especially the cleaning out of the garage. I always try to give credit where credit is due and am embarrassed that I failed to do so this time.

On another note, when I was leaving this morning I was relieved that neighbor Greg said he had "poached" several things from my trash pile. I feel less wasteful as a result. I hope some other neighbors helped themselves to anything they found useful.

A Lovely Evening

2008-06-03T20:33:00.002-04:00

In our continuing efforts to eat well and to eat locally as much as possible, Paul and I again cooked a delicious meal. It was so good that I actually ate seconds, something I never do! This recipe came from Cook's Country; it was another one of their 30-minute meals. I have never been fond of teriyaki sauce ... until tonight. Oh. My. Goodness. It was divine and I can't wait to make it again! We used strip steaks, ones that had no hormones, etc. that we bought last Saturday, freshly grated ginger, freshly minced garlic, soy sauce, scallions, and other ingredients. Dear neighbor, Greg, came over and we laughed and laughed ... but then we did drink a bottle of Chianti. Oh, what a lucky woman I am!

Jess just called on SightSpeed and I got to talk to her and Ella. She emailed pictures she just took out her window of a nasty Kansas storm. Every since she moved to KC, I've worried a bit about the weather they encounter on a regular basis.

Earlier I talked to Rachael who is getting ready for the invasion of the Melissa & Paul team. Yes, we are off to Williamsburg on Friday. We'll make cards and listen to the Bee Gees and Air Supply. Lucky Paul. Lucky Brien.

Back At It

2008-06-02T21:07:00.002-04:00

I am not teaching Summer I. This means I am "off" from work until June 26th when Summer II begins. So, then, WHY AM I AT WORK every day this week and next? The life of a professor is such that work is never done even when you are officially not working and not getting paid. I guess it keeps me out of trouble, eh?

Paul and I have been cooking every day and it has been a lot of fun because we are trying new recipes from Cooks Illustrated and Cooks Country. We have made General Tso's Chicken, and while it was tasty, the recipe didn't work out as it should have. Today we made Spinach, Bacon, and Potato Fritata. It was quick and easy and tasted great! My neighbor, Greg, brought over some homemade Tahini salad dressing this evening and we are saving it for when Terry comes to dinner on Thursday. I do so love to cook and it is nice to have someone else in the house it make it worth doing.

When I talked to Jess today I was stunned to learn that when she called my parents' house on Sunday morning my mother answered the phone and explained that Dad had gone to church! This is so amazing I can hardly believe it.

It looks like I'll be going to Williamsburg this weekend. This gives me something to look forward to. It's been a good while since I've been with Rachael and family. I miss them all and can't wait to see my tiny little Lily. She is changing so fast I hate to miss any of it. What a feisty little bit she is. One of my favorite Lily stories took place in late April. When I arrived at Rachael's, Lily looked up and grinned. "Lissie," she squealed, "you comed home!" What more could a grandmother ask for?

Feeling Like A Slug

2008-06-01T10:35:00.007-04:00

I have no get-up-and-go. Though my list of chores is long, I am struggling to make myself get up from the couch to tackle them. This is not like me! I simply must get motivated to ... oh, heck. I can't even find the motivation to finish this...

Eight Hours Later: Okay ... I'm on a new medication and I think it's sapped my energy. I finally sucked it up and got my rear in gear. I accomplished quite a bit today after all. In addition to doing yard work--it was 96 degrees so I only lasted an hour--I organized my closet, baked cookies, fixed dinner, cleaned the kitchen, and got my nails done. I always feel better when I accomplish something.

On another note, Mother seems to have rallied, though she is still extremely ill and weak. Dad is a trouper and I don't know how he has done all that he has for the past several years. For a man in his eighties to take up cooking, cleaning, grocery shopping, laundry, etc., etc. is above and beyond the call of duty. At least I think it is! Kudos to you, Dad, for all that you have done to keep home and hearth running smoothly and for taking such loving care of Mother.

Home Again

2008-05-28T22:00:00.003-04:00

We arrived home safely. As we were pulling into the garage, my cell phone rang. Rachael read to me a message my Sister, Susan, had emailed to the family. My mother has taken a turn for the worse and will be admitted to the hospital in the morning. At ninety, her body is worn out. She is only semi conscious and refusing to eat. This is very serious. Please keep my family in your thoughts and prayers at this difficult time.

Day 18: Hill-Stead and Heading South

2008-05-27T20:01:00.004-04:00

Today was our last day of sightseeing and it all ended with a bang ... at least for me it did. Of the multitude of places we have visited and sites we have seen, it turns out that what we did today was, in my opinion, best of all! What a way to end a fabulous adventure. It just doesn't get any better.

We spent last night in Manchester, Connecticut--right outside of Hartford--and this morning we traveled a short distance to Farmington. The first thing I spied was Miss Porter's School. I knew it was in Connecticut but not sure exactly where. If you have never heard of Miss Porter's School, allow me to enlighten you. Founded in the 1840s, it is the swankiest private girls' school in the country. Two of its most famous graduates are Jackie Kennedy and Gloria Vanderbilt. There it sat as we tooled past. We weren't able to get good photos because of the traffic, but we tried our best.

Our destination in Farmington was Hill-Stead, a large home noted for its art collection. We had to pick between going there or visiting Mark Twain's house. It was a tough decision, but lucky for us we picked the right one. When we visited the mansions ... er cottages ... in Newport, I thought we had seen it all. Was I ever wrong. Those summer homes were ostentatious and it didn't seem like comfy places to live. They seemed stilted. Hill-Stead, on the other hand, seemed like a lovely place to live, though it did have 33,000 square feet and incredible artwork. The Monets, Manets, Degas, Whistlers, Barres and Cassatts fit in so well with the decor, they seemed to be exactly where they should be. Comfy furniture and cozy fabric were endemic to every room. The lovely long curved arches made the rooms flow into one another. You can see interior pictures at this web address: http://www.hillstead.org/ (Interior photography was forbidden.)

The house was planned by Theodate Pope, a young woman who had attended Miss Porter's School and fell in love with the area. She convinced her parents to relocate from Ohio. Ms. Pope's father helped her study to become an architect in the late 1800s at a time when women were not welcomed into the field. Theodate designed the house though an architectural firm in New York created the actual blueprints. Theodate was an interesting woman, so much so ... to me anyway ... that I bought a biography of her in the gift shop. An ardent liberal with a social conscience who believed fiercely in the importance of education, Theodate donated most of her money to build two schools. She also took in two foster boys and raised them. When she died in 1946, Theodate left the house, intact, as a museum. Thus, nothing has been recreated; it's all as it was when she died.

Blogger is not behaving tonight and I'm not happy about it. I'll try to get the rest of the photos to upload so that we can write captions and finish this so we can post it. [Time passes...] It is now morning and I still can't get the rest of the photos to load. I realize that beggars can't be choosers; after all Blogger is free. However, it is disconcerting nevertheless. On this rather unhappy note, I'll make comments about the few photos that would load.

The sign for Miss Porter's School.

Miss Porter's School

Another flowering shrub for Rachael to identify. :-)

Hill-Stead. You can begin to see how large the house is.

This is just one of those lovely artistic shots Paul is so skilled at taking.

I've always wondered what it would be like to ride in one of these carriages. I'll bet it would be a cold, bumpy ride in the winter.

A lovely old elm tree, a rarity these days.

As you can see, the front of the house was patterned after George Washington's home, Mount Vernon.

I love the shape of this sugar maple. This tree is simply majestic.

I have a fondness for these old dry stone walls.

Well, that's it. Our trip has come to a close. It truly has been a once-in-a-lifetime adventure. It will soon be time to begin planning our next journey, perhaps to the American Southwest.

Day 17: Old Sturbridge Village

2008-05-26T20:18:00.008-04:00

We Americans don't have much history. After all, we are a young country. Consider the Chinese or the Egyptians ... their cultures have been on the go for thousands of years. Even the Europeans can trace their history back more than a millennium. I sometimes wonder if that is why we Americans, with great pride, create historic villages so that we can learn about and preserve our history. Probably the most famous of all is Colonial Williamsburg which is set firmly in the 1700s. Today, though, Paul and I visited Old Sturbridge Village, a recreation of life in the 1840s. What a difference a few years and an Industrial Revolution make. Life was still difficult and work, work, work was the order of the day. Hey, wait a minute. That's the order of my day in the 21st century! Seriously, I do work long hours but it is a very different type of work. I end up mentally fatigued at the end of the day but never physically tired. I've often been asked if I cold live in any period in history which would I choose. That's an easy one. I love living in the present because of advances in medical care and progress made toward the rights of women and minorities. Plus, I do like modern conveniences. Today, as I strolled through the village imagining myself enmeshed in the era, I decided that life was a bit better and somewhat easier in the 1840s than it would have been in Colonial times.

The weather was perfect and we spent most of the day enjoying the sites. We walked and walked and walked in efforts to see it all. We pretty much did just that. The photos from today are below. Both Paul and I will comment about them.

This is in the Pottery. The potter told us that good clay came from a pit at least twenty feet deep.

This huge waterwheel powered the grist mill. It was interesting to see the large gears that were all wooden.

A mechanical carding machine. (Carding straightens sheep's wool so it can be spun into wool fibre; used as padding; etc.) This is a lot easier than carding by hand! This is an original machine and dates to the early 1800s.

The blacksmith's shop. Inside here is a forge and hundred upon hundreds of iron working tools.

The Freeman farm house kitchen where you can begin to see great differences between this era and Colonial times.

Here is the kiln adjacent to the Pottery where the potter would fire his wares. It took a couple of days and much wood to fire the clay with no guarantee of success.

Here is the front of the Thompson Bank. It is a commercial bank meaning its main role was to lend money to businessmen. The banker was at pains to point out that the emptier the vault the better the bank was doing, financially!

I took this picture hoping that someone can tell me what these lovely yellow flowers are.

Some of the many items being made in the Tin Shop. Tin became quite popular. It was cheap and easy to work with.

A dam across the Quinebaug River that was built in the 1930s. We kept waiting for the large boat giving rides up and down the river to go flying over the dam. Then we discovered that Toonces was not piloting the boat.

Another view of the Quinebaug River from a covered bridge along the scenic River Walk. The river was named by a local native tribe but I can't remember what the name means.

One of the beds in the Salem Towne House. You can see how colorful the fabric was and how much of it was available. The many textile factories in New England provided fabrics for women to use in making things. No longer did they have to weave their own.

The kitchen area of the Salem Towne House. Note the sand on the floor near the hearth, to help combat fires on the wooden floor.

Cheese presses. (Cheese, Gromit?)

This stagecoach picked up passengers at Bullard Tavern for rides around the village square but it cost five dollars and the line was long. We enjoyed watching the team of horses pulling the coach, but we did not ride inside.

The outside of the Salem Towne House. There are lots of windows. We learned yesterday at the Shaker village that windows were extremely expensive so most structures did not have many of them. The number of windows in this house indicate wealth.

Machinery for making brooms. As you can see, the brooms are round. The Shakers had not yet developed the flat broom.

A recipe for tomato ketchup. I wonder if it is as good as proper British ketchup?

This strange looking structure is a "Fiddler's Throne." It is where the fiddler would sit when playing rousing tunes for citizens to dance to.

The front of the Salem Towne House. This was the largest and most sumptuous home in the village.

Inside the ground floor of the Salem Towne House, looking towards the front door. I chose this picture to show how color became accessible during this era. Folks living in this era loved bright colors and used them for most everything.

Lambs near the Fenno Barn. I asked Paul to take this picture because I knew it would bring back fond memories for Rachael and Jessica who had to help raise lambs when they were children.

A rooster strutting his stuff at the Fenno Barn. The light played off his iridescent black feathers that shone green in the sun.

The Grant Store and Bake Shop. Before Paul took this picture there were a bunch of men sitting on benches in front of the store, much like you still see across the South at old country stores.

A printing press inside the Printer's Shop.

Printed books and items in the Printer's Shop. What struck me about this display is that it explained how Americans of the era would buy printed pictures of political figures to hang on their walls. Hmmmm. I wonder how many Americans have a picture of the current president hanging in their homes.

A weather vane showing the symbol of Old Sturbridge Village: a grasshopper. I had trouble figuring out what it was until Paul pointed out that the antennae or on the left.

Looking towards the Small House ... this old rail fence was called a Virginia fence probably because old split rail fences were so popular throughout Virginia. You can still see old ones today as you drive through the countryside.

The entry of the Small House where an interpreter inside was cooking.

Here you see the interpreter cooking a meal inside the Small House. Most all of the foodstuffs come from the village farms.

A big wheel of campaign slogans for the 1840 election. Click on the picture to enlarge it and you will see some of the campaign rhetoric of 160+ years ago.

Tomorrow is our last day to visit a site which we will do in the morning. Then, we'll begin the trek south toward home.

Day 16: Bennington, Hancock Shaker Village, Mohawk Trail, and Travel to Worcester

2008-05-26T10:17:00.001-04:00

We began our day by meandering through the Green Mountains with our first intended destination the Hancock Shaker Village. However, when we go to Bennington, Vermont, we decided to stop at the Potters' Yard. Back in the 1980s Bennington College had the highest tuition in the nation, but I do not know if that is true today. I doubt it considering that Harvard now costs $60,000 PER YEAR!! As I drove along, I reminisced about driving through Bennington about twenty years ago. Paul and I began to discuss the pottery, so when we saw a sign for Potters' Yard, an establishment born the same year as I, we stopped. It was well worth a look-see; we went into the factory and took the guided tour. We must be the biggest nerds on the planet because we both love doing this kind of thing. I've always said I want to know everything before I die--yes, I realize that is a ridiculous quest--so when afforded the opportunity to learn something new, I jump at the chance. In a short time, we learned how pottery is made in a factory where artisans still are part of the process. Paul bought a mug for his collection and I bought a pasta serving bowl and four individual bowls that accompany the larger one. We left in search of food because it was midday and we had not had a substantial breakfast. We found a small cafe in an old building with a tin ceiling. It turned out that the ceiling was the most interesting part of our visit.

Off we went in search of Hancock, which we found with no trouble, only it wasn't the right Hancock. Yes, in Massachusetts there are two Hancocks right near each other. After stopping for directions, we learned we were on the wrong side of the mountain. We ended up having to go into New York and then doubling back to reach our destination, the Hancock Shaker Village. You can read about it by visiting this web site: http://www.hancockshakervillage.org/accounts/28/homepage/
The Shakers were a very interesting group formed in the late 1700s. Their beliefs included full equal rights for all including women, African-Americans, etc. They also believed in celibacy which may partially account for the fact that there are only five remaining Shakers in a small village in Maine. Their number grew by a large percentage last year when a young woman joined the sect. You may be familiar with the Shakers or at least their furniture or wooden boxes. The photos below will give further explanation.

We left the Shaker village about 5:00 and headed east on the Mohawk Trail, a lovely ride through the mountains, albeit a slow one. I had to laugh when we passed through Florida because there was a sign showing a snowman sitting under a palm tree. By the time we reached Worcester, it was almost 9:00 p.m. We had previously booked our room via the Internet, something we do each day. It is so much easier to travel this way. You know that when you get to the end of the day's journey, you don't have to scramble to find lodging. We have had no hitches with lodging. Most of the time we have used the Marriott site and stayed for free using my accrued points. A few times, though, no Marriott was in the area where we were headed so we booked using both Orbitz and Priceline.

Road Signs:

1. Deaf Child Area
2. Milled Road Ahead--Motorcyclists Use Extreme Caution
3. Lane Drop Ahead

Our fabulous adventure is quickly coming to a close. Boo hoo hoo.

The pictures below give a glimpse of all that we saw. They are, of course, in random order. Blogger is so finicky, I fear that trying to arrange them in order will result in lost photos. Thanks for bearing with us.

Shaker boxes

The Shakers loved windows and spared no expense when building. This is a side view of a dormitory for 100 men and women. One side was reserved for men and the other for women.

These lions invite you to enter a trailer park. No kidding! We saw this on the Mohawk Trail.

The Mohawk Trail we steep and twisty but quite scenic. Naturally, you couldn't travel very fast.

Paul said that after seeing Mexico, it was natural to visit Florida. Only this Florida was in the mountains and gets a lot of snow.

This is the Brethren's Shop in the Shaker Village. It is a laundry and machine shop. The women did the laundry in the other room. They ran the machines using a water powered turbine.

This is another view of the dormitory. You can see how expansive it is.

This is typical Shaker furniture with the clean simple lines. The Shakers took great pride in their work and their craftsmanship is well known and appreciated.

Here's another example showing how the Shakers lived. Notice the stove in the middle of the room that acted as a radiator.

I was surprised to learn that it was Shaker ingenuity that developed the flat broom as we know it today. Prior to that brooms were round.

This sign had us scratching our heads. Just what does it mean? It wasn't as if we were in a highly populated area.

This is the entrance to Hancock Shaker Village. You can see the round stone barn in the background.

This barn, while similar to the one we saw at Shelburn Museum, is made of stone and wood. It dates to the early 1800s.

These are further examples of Shaker handiwork. Their attention to detail and excellence are noteworthy.

I love this idea! It is a rack with framed screens used for drying seeds. The Shakers had quite the seed business growing only heirloom varieties. You can still buy Shaker seeds today.

This is Potters' Yard in Bennington, Vermont.

I love the Wellies on this whimsical moose whose head is poking into the building.

A view inside the pottery factory.

Pottery in the making.

Day 15: Shelburne Museum

2008-05-24T20:02:00.006-04:00

We spent the day at the Shelburne Museum and it was grand. Of course, we didn't get to see it all, but we tried our best. Shelburne Museum is located in Lake Champlain Valley in Shelburne, Vermont. The museum, put together over many years by Electra Havemeyer Webb is incredibly diverse and includes some of the most unusual collections I've ever seen. Thirty-nine exhibition buildings contain hundreds of thousands of items. The 45-acre grounds are beautiful and include twenty historical structures carefully removed from their locations across the northeast and moved on site. The effort it took to do so was amazing. As an example, the old paddle-wheel steam ship was moved intact. It took four months to move it because progress was only 150 feet per day. Other structures were disassembled prior to being moved. These include houses, barns, a meeting house, a one-room schoolhouse, a lighthouse, a jail, a general store, and a covered bridge. In the Electra Havermeyer Webb Memorial Building, five rooms from her parents' Park Avenue home were reconstructed to house a small portion of their extensive impressionist art collection. Monets, Corots, Cassats adorn the walls. (Most of the collection was donated to the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City.) In fact, in one painting by Mary Cassat, Electra is pictured as a child with her mother. We lucked out by arriving on a day when all of the huge 400 lilac bushes (90 varieties) were in full bloom. The aroma of that many lilacs was almost overwhelming as the sweet perfume of the blossoms that ranged from white to deep purple wafted through the air.

I think what struck me most about the museum is the huge quantity of artifacts in each collection. As an example, the collection of straight razors filled two display cases positioned on long walls. A similar glut of artifacts was found in every building we visited--quilts, band boxes, antique toys, carousel horses, horse-drawn carriages, and so on. The general store alone had on display over 100,000 items while retaining another 30,000 items in storage. Needless to say, I had a ball! This type of thing is right up my alley. We stayed until the place was ready to close and then traveled down Route 7 through scenic countryside to Mendon where we are staying for the night. Along the way, the following things caught our fancy:

1. On Route 7 we saw camel in a field with merino sheep.
2. A sign that warned us of "Scarified Pavement".
3. A sign reminding us to "Share the Road" with a picture of a bicycle under the words.
4. A sign that read, "Blind person next 500 feet". (We never did figure this one out.)

In the photos that follow, we have tried to capture the essence of Shelburne Museum. From the entrance at the huge round Shaker barn to the back of the property, it is about one mile. The 45-acre property is one small part of the 3,000 acres Ms. Webb owned. And, in case you are wondering, there are Vanderbilts in this family, hence the big money it took to create and maintain the museum.

The photos below are all higgledy piggledy and out of order. However, I'm not complaining because at least they loaded. I'm going to let Paul write the captions while I take a bath.

This is a Jacquard loom. The pattern to be woven is encoded on a roll of punched cards. It is an early example of a computer.

Here is a whimsical piece we found in the Shaker Shed.

Melissa and I thought this sign was funny alternative to the usual "shoplifters will be prosecuted" sign.

A weather vane bearing the Webb family name.

We visited the horseshoe barn annex where we saw many interesting carriages. This one belonged to a traveling medicine salesman. Apparently, he suffered terribly from rheumatism and developed a tonic for himself which he also sold. He claimed it could not only help with rheumatic problems but could also help with any ailment known to man.

These are printer's trays in the print shop containing both upper case and lower case characters.

Here is another view of the Jacquard loom. Note the punched cards near the top that control the lifting of the warp threads that determine the final woven pattern.

A closeup of the punched card roll of the Jacquard loom.

Some of the many, many straight razors in the barber's exhibit.

Beautiful willow trees at the duck pond.

Did you expect an Englishman not to take a photo of a tea exhibit? This one is in the General Store.

Some of the picturesque museum buildings on the Shelburne Museum site grounds.

[Melissa] Believe it or not, this is the floor in part of the Ticonderoga. As an aficionado of jigsaw puzzles, I asked Paul to snap a photo of it for me.

As we reported earlier, weather vanes abound in New England. This is the first one we have seen with an eagle.

The facade of the General Store containing a multitude of authentic items, including a large apothecary area.

Some of the thousands of items on exhibit in the General Store.

[Melissa] I asked Paul to snap this one for nostalgic reasons. When I was a little girl, every year the PTA mothers posted this "E" eye chart and checked our vision. We had to use our finger to point which way the E was positioned. Thanks to a chart just like this one, in second grade I ended up wearing glasses.

This is the Round Shaker Barn that forms the entrance of the museum. It actually consists of three levels containing exhibits.

[Melissa] This old Pontiac "woody" brought back memories of a similar Pontiac station wagon we had when I was a very young child, about three. Our car somehow got a couple of grass seeds in the cracks in the wood and they sprouted! Yes, we had a car with grass growing out of the side.
A couple of the 400 lilac bushes throughout the museum grounds.

This old lighthouse used to be on Lake Champlain.

The S.S. Ticonderoga---an old Lake Champlain steamboat---is really quite luxurious and a fascinating exhibit to tour.

That's it for today. Tomorrow is more of a driving tour. We will finalize the itinerary before we go to bed.

Day 14: Burlington

2008-05-23T17:33:00.007-04:00

Today was a "catch our breath" day. We decided to spend a day tooling around Burlington because we both like it so much. It is set on Lake Champlain and is surrounded by mountains. An old college town--the university was chartered in 1791--it is filled with interesting buildings dating back well over one hundred years. As we wandered around, it began to rain so we sought refuge in various places as we waited for the rain to let up. Each time it did, we would zip back out and make our way around the town until rain again stopped us. Because we find the mundane to be interesting, Paul and I have seen a plethora of fascinating places without spending a bundle. I saved my Marriott points for eleven!! years and am having fun cashing them in. It is quite satisfying to stay in nice hotels and not having to pay for it. In addition, having a hybrid car has been a God send. I've never much cared about cars; I viewed them as a means for getting from Point A to Point B. The only car I ever really "loved" was my Infiniti I-30, the car I traded in for my hybrid Camry. If I were still driving the I-30, it would have cost us at least TWICE as much for gas. You just can't beat a car that gets 44+ mpg.

The following pictures, in random order will provide you with a brief overview of what you can see if you come here. Right now we are reworking our itinerary as we head down the home stretch of this fabulous adventure. It will be hard to return to the realities of work, work, work after having such a grand time on the road.

We liked this old church with the clock at the base of the steeple which is replete with windows.

I had to laugh when we saw this sign as I remembered Paul's difficulty finishing his breakfast yesterday. These pancakes sound much more sensible.

The folks of Burlington have a social conscience. It is an eco-friendly place. One thing that struck me is this: If you want to fulfill a local government contract, you must pay more than $13 per house--called a "livable wage"--and you also must provide your workers' with health insurance.

I thought we had finished seeing lighthouses because we are no longer on the coast. This one is in Lake Champlain not too far from shore. You can tell from this photo that it is a stormy day.

In this photo you can see across Lake Champlain to the mountains.

This is part of City Hall Park. We took a lot of photos because it is so pretty. While we were strolling through the park, a man was sitting on a bench playing his guitar. He called out to me, "Free love songs today." It made me laugh.

Another view of City Hall Park.

I love this tree. If you know what it is, please leave a comment.

Since I moved from Florida to Virginia I have always said I had to come north to be in the South. There are those in Virginia who still have not gotten over the Civil War, and once I got "in trouble" with a parent for using that term. He told me it was "the War of Northern Aggression" and as such should be called that. He did tell me I could use the term "War Between the States". Today when I saw this monument to "The Great Rebellion" I had to laugh.

I'm such a sucker for interesting old architecture. Lucky for me, Paul is, too, because he snaps away whenever he sees a good example.

How could we pass up taking a picture of this sign? I'll bet the owners really look like this.

I *think* this is the entryway to the building above.

This is the old downtown fire station situated next to City Hall. I love old fire stations and always nag Paul to take pictures of them. The next two pictures are of City Hall. We were attracted by the GOLD dome as we entered town; we could see it in the distance. Apparently, it was considered to be falling down and unsafe in the 1920s. I'm glad they saved it. The inside looked just like you would imagine an old city hall should.

You have to hand it to people who come up with creative names for their businesses. Today we saw the Ho-Hum Motel and also this place--Daddy's Junky Music. Go figure.

As many cities do--Charlottesville, Virginia immediately springs to mind--Burlington has blocked off the downtown shopping district and made the street a wide walkway. This is looking up Church Street from Main Street to the other end.

I like the whimsy of this "Leap Frog" statue. You can read about it below by clicking on the next photo and enlarging it.

That's it for today. It is now Paul's turn to write his impressions of Burlington.

Melissa covered pretty much everything above. After the long drive yesterday we wanted to take it easier today. Breakfast was at a little "coffee/tea" shop called Belles near our hotel. I was reminded of places like The Easy Chair Cafe in Blacksburg and the erstwhile La Lee's in Greenville. The treats were tasty, and I decided because I was in Vermont I'd have the Green Mountain Coffee Vermont Blend to start off my day.

We headed into Downtown Burlington. On the way in we drove through the beautiful campus of the University of Vermont. I was struck by the panoply of historic buildings they appear to have there. I thought Virginia Tech has a picturesque campus but UVM gives it a run for its money.

It rained on and off so we tried to get in some sightseeing as best we could. The old City Hall was very nice, as was the waterfront on Lake Champlain. I was very heartened by all the bicycle lanes and bike paths I saw as we drove around. I was used to them in South Shields, but it is unusual to see extensive provision for cyclists in the USA in my experience. (Often pedestrians get short enough shrift.) Burlington, VT struck me as a very progressive, liberal city. It's a place in which I could easily see myself living.

Melissa and I were recharged today so we're ready to head out on more adventures tomorrow. Stay tuned!

Day 13: Eastport, Maine -> Burlington, Vermont

2008-05-22T21:57:00.004-04:00

Today we made the 404.2 mile trek to Burlington, Vermont mostly via back roads. It rained off and on making it a good driving day rather than a walking-about day. Thus, it took us the entire day to reach our next destination. Our drive was uneventful, but along the way we noted the following:

St. Croix Golf Course near Calais, Maine: "Easternmost Golf Course in the US".
Colony Hotel, Brewer, Maine: "Sleepy People Wanted."
Oosoola Park in Norridgewock, Maine.
Mad River Valley Ambulance, outside Montpelier, Vermont.
Near Burlington, Vermont someone is living in a tepee down by the river. The person or persons has a nice stack of firewood.

As we set out,we stopped in Calais (pronounced "callous") for breakfast; it was there that Paul met his Waterloo. While I certainly need to lose weight, I am not a big eater. I do not consume a lot of food at one sitting and often have to pass off what I can't finish to someone else. It makes sense really, rather than wasting food that will grow increasingly more expensive what with the price of gas. (We saw gas at $4.02 today.) I used to work with a nice guy named Butch who was shorter than I and weighed about 100 pounds soaking wet. The guy could eat. He often accompanied a bunch of women to lunch and ate his own meal and half of each woman's. Butch once told me that he bought a gross of Honey Buns--that is 144 buns--from the Lanz man on a Thursday and by Sunday he and his teenage son had eaten more than half of them. But this is about Paul, not Butch. Paul also can eat reasonably large quantities of food at a sitting but at Karen's Main Street Diner he met his match. He ordered the "Diner Big Breakfast" that included three eggs, ham, two sausage links, two strips of bacon, homefries, two pancakes, and two pieces toast. Paul knew that was a lot of food but thinking it was akin to Waffle House's All Star Breakfast he thought he could manage it. I knew he was in trouble when the pancakes arrived. They were the size of hubcaps and at least half an inch thick.These pancakes were so big that they hung over the side of the plate. "Uh oh," I thought as he plowed through them. The pancakes alone were enough for a family of four. Then the rest of his meal arrived and Paul's eyes grew as large as the pancakes. It was served on a platter! The home fries alone must have equaled four cups. I honestly believe that is the most food I have ever seen on one plate. Paul again dug in but it wasn't long before he flagged. "I can't do it," he declared in defeat. "I've met my Waterloo." Groaning, he made his way to the car and complained about having to climb in. As I type this it is five hours later. I just asked Paul if he wanted to stop for lunch and he let out a low moan. I guess he'll be sated for quite some time... The worst part of it is that Paul couldn't finish my breakfast which meant wasted food. While I did not order the big breakfast opting instead for a much more modest meal, I couldn't finish it.

I'm typing this as we drive along and will cut and paste it into Blogger later this evening. As we drive along, it is comforting to see such beautiful countryside. Drivers are reasonably courteous. At long last we have found the Maine policemen--we saw three of them today, the first since Ogunquit where we saw only the one. All I can conclude is that those who live Down East must be a law abiding bunch.We drove through Mexico-- Paul didn't get to add another country to his list because it was only Mexico, Maine--where we happened to see another policeman.

When Rachael and Jessica were growing up, we lived way out in the boonies. Norris Run was fourteen miles from civilization. We were so far out in the woods that we could have gone around naked outside without anyone seeing us. It was a grand place with a lovely stream meandering through our acreage. I have missed living there since we moved away. So, it has been a real thrill for me to ride on back roads through the countryside as we have done on this trip.

I am totally pooped so Paul is going to write captions for the photos. Blogger behaved today, thank goodness.

This is the symbol of the Passamaquoddy Tribe that we passed early on our journey. It is located in Sipayik / Pleasant Point, Maine.

We saw several houses in the area that had elaborate decoration under the eaves. We joked that perhaps someone had been given a jigsaw for Christmas and had gone hog wild throughout the region.

Calais, ME is a major local crossing point into New Brunswick, Canada, so I'm led to believe.

This is where I met my Waterloo as I did battle with the Diner Big Breakfast.

I used to live in Bangor, North Wales. I'd wanted to get a snap of a "Welcome to Bangor, Maine" sign but our route never took us past one. So, I figured this would have to do.

We passed through Mexico on our way through Maine, but alas I didn't get to add to the list of countries I've visited. (You'll have to click on the picture to enlarge it to see what I mean.)

Here is but one of the amusing businesses we traveled past.

Snow-covered peaks in the White Mountains National Forest, New Hampshire.

A bizarre sight greeted us near Jefferson, NH: some kind of western-themed attraction. Luckily, we sped past it before desperados were able to hornswaggle us.

Above is the lovely Rialto Theater in Lancaster, NH. (It's a pity the SUV got in the shot just as I snapped it.) Old cinemas like this always remind me of the Lyric in Blacksburg, VA.

When in Vermont we started seeing plenty of signs like this.

I guess we wouldn't be in Vermont if we didn't see a mention of maple syrup.

We thought this is a nifty slogan. We even saw it on a regular sign.

Another typical Vermont sight. Okay, so maybe it's not. (This was in a business selling statuary.)

Day 12: Raye's Mustard Factory, Reversing Falls Park, Campobello Island (New Brunswick), Quoddy Point Lighthouse, Eastport

2008-05-21T18:21:00.009-04:00

This lovely lass sits at the entrance to our hotel in Eastport, Maine. I guess if you came home inebriated, she would help you find your way ... or maybe she would ask you to dance.

Today we were in the easternmost city in the USA, the easternmost town in the USA, and we passed the easternmost gift shop in the USA. Yes, we are as far east as one can go and still be in the United States. We are staying in Eastport in a hotel that overlooks the water, a lovely sight, indeed. What is funny is that outside our hotel room is a body of water and we can clearly see just what is across the harbor. Getting there by car, however, was a long drawn out process. The Maine coastline is not designed so that you can go as the crow flies. If so, we would have reached Roosevelt's cottage on Campobello Island in five minutes. Instead, it took us about 45 minutes on narrow, twisting roads. The roads here are in terrible disrepair and I chalk it up to the hard winters. I have come to realize that it is easy in the South to maintain the high quality roads we have because winters aren't severe and don't do a number on them.

We set off this morning to visit Raye's Mustard Factory because the older gentleman at the Welcome Center when we entered Maine from New Hampshire insisted that we stop there. It was quite interesting. We learned that Raye's (in continuous ownership by the same family for over 100 years) is the only place in North America that still stone grinds mustard. It turns out that mustard is one of the world's oldest condiments. At Raye's the mustard is not cooked, but aged.The stone grinding is followed by a barrel aging process, which allows the mustard paste to lose its bitterness through a natural chemical reaction. Raye’s makes its mustard in small batches, just enough to satisfy customer orders, thereby
ensuring freshness. The good news for us is that Raye's just signed a deal with Harris-Teeter so soon those of us who live in North Carolina and Virginia will be able to buy it locally!

This is the sign out front the Mustard Factory

After we left Raye's, we tooled on over to Reversing Falls, a place not easy to find. There wasn't much to see when we got there; I guess the falls weren't in the process of reversing. Heck, now that I think of it, we didn't see any falls! We headed back out to US 1 and made our way to Whiting where we picked up Rt. 189 to Campobello Island to see the Roosevelt-Campobello International Park. In order to achieve this goal, we had to enter Canada. This was easily accomplished. The border "guard" asked us if we had any firearms, alcohol, or tobacco in the car. Then she checked Paul's passport and my driver's license. She asked if Paul had been in Canada in the previous six months and if we were planning to stay over night. That was it. She waved us through. Sad to say this wasn't the case upon re-entering the USA where our car was searched and our license plate run and I had to give my place of birth, etc. etc. etc.

In Canada, they sensibly use the metric system which is soooooo much easier than the English Standard system we use. While I am fairly adept at converting between our system and the metric system, I noticed that my speedometer also has the metric labels, but they are so faint they are difficult to see.

What does this sign tell you? Yes, it says that we are in Canada where they speak both English and French.

What does this sign tell you? Yes, it clearly shows that idiots live in places other than Virginia (like Maine) where shot up road signs are common.

We toured some of Campobello Island. The summer "cottage" of the former president was not open for the season, but we were able to walk around the grounds and peek into the windows. It was a lovely home, far larger than any I've lived in, but it was considered a cottage nevertheless. As we began to walk down to the water, a red fox crossed the lawn in front of us. We had already seen one by the road right after we entered the island. I could not believe our good luck to see TWO foxes within fifteen minutes.

Red fox in front of Roosevelt cabin.

We both liked this simple gate.

This is the Roosevelt's Cottage.

All my life I have heard about birch bark canoes that are hand stitched together. At long last I got to see one. This sits on the porch of the Roosevelt cottage.

After viewing the Roosevelt cottage we made our way to the house next door--Hubbard Cottage. It, too, was not open, but Paul took this interesting shot through a window. Yes, he took the picture through a window from the outside looking into the interior through to a window to the outside. Does this make sense?

Below is an exterior shot of the window.

Again, I love how these large homes are termed cottages. I guess if you live in a mansion, this house would seem small by comparison.

This lovely spot could be shot in many, many places along the Maine coast. There is so much water, it is everywhere! I am embarrassed to admit that I had no idea that there is so much coastline here. This spot is looking south on Herring Cove Beach. We stopped at several places on Campobello Island like Liberty Point and a couple of beaches. However, Blogger is being its obstinate self and will not upload any more pictures. I am so frustrated!

As you can see in these two photograph, Quoddy Point Lighthouse is, in fact, THE easternmost point in the USA. The lighthouse can be viewed only from the outside. The lamp is a Class 3 Fresnel lens and its light can be viewed from 18 miles out to see. I learned today that the government doesn't maintain all of the lighthouses any more because they are old technology. With GPS systems, they just aren't much needed. I'm glad to see, though, that private groups are keeping them up so that this aspect of our history wont' be lost.

On our way back to Eastport, we passed this interesting site. There is a companion photograph that is equally intriguing but it won't load. This is not laundry. It is huge pieces of cloth suspended high in the air.

I'll try again later to load the rest of the photos. Wish me luck.

Tomorrow we leave Maine and head over to Vermont.

Day 11: Acadia National Park and Following Route 1 to Eastport

2008-05-20T18:33:00.007-04:00

Today was about as good as a day can get. Honestly, the beauty of Acadia National Park is so sumptuous that words cannot adequately describe it. Not to fear, though, as Paul took 244 photos today. However ... GRRRRRRRRRRRR ... Blogger will not load them. I got the five below to load and then nada. I've spent the last two hours trying again and again to get the pictures to load with no luck. I have about twenty more to share because it was impossible to winnow the lot to ten or fewer. If Blogger behaves later, I'll add them.

Where do I begin? When I visited Yellowstone I was convinced there could be no other national park as beautiful. I was wrong. Acadia is equally beatiful but in very different ways. Looking down on Bar Habor from the top of Cadillac Mountain provided a new perspective of Frenchman Bay with all of the surrounding islands. The water was a deep blue green and all looked serene as we gazed down into the distance. Sand Beach was pristine; the beach proper was comprised of ground up shells. The pieces were so tiny they looked like sand, but a closer inspection proved that they were, indeed, shells. One nice feature of the park is the 26 mile driving loop that circles the island to the top of the mountain and back down. Along the way we stopped to see Thunder Hole but it wasn't thundering at the time we were there. Jordan Pond was a lovely site to view as we sat in the Jordan Pond House and had lunch. Yes, we again ate lobster. The best part, though, were the popovers. We had heard about them and read about them and I was hell bent on having one. As soon as they were served Paul and I said in unison, "Yorkshire pudding!" Yes, that is what popovers are. We decided they were so tasty that we conned the waiter into giving us the recipe and then we bought a popover pan in the gift shop. Come to my house and I'll make them for you. While we were waiting for the restaurant to open, we took a hike along a lovely nature trail. We crossed a small footbridge and jumped up and down on it to make it wiggle. Silly us. Paul said I need to mention the nice china in the restaurant--Syracuse restaurant china; what made it nice was the Bubbles were glazed into the rim. The Bubbles are two hills you can see behind Jordan Pond. They looked more like a pair of boobies to me than bubbles, and I'm sure others have come to the same conclusion. In addition to the nice china and the lovely view, Paul fairly swooned when his coffee was served in a Hall china coffee pot. It was, for your Hall China lovers, a New York style pot. Paul has quite a collection of one- and two-cup Hall china pots, both coffee and tea.

We exited the park grudgingly as we could have stayed much, much longer. There is so much to see and do in Acadia. One feature that would be fun to explore are the carriage roads built by John D. Rockefeller, Jr. He wanted separate roads for carriage rides. The auto was quite new when he and other rich denizens of Mount Desert Island built their summer mansions a hundred years ago. It was Rockefeller who eventually bought up and donated the land so that a national park could be established. Now, there's one rich guy who provided something for those of us who could never afford summer mansions. We get to share in all of the beauty. For a mere $10 you can stay for a week! There are plenty of places to camp.

Check back for more photos. It will make you put Acadia National Park at the top of your list of "must-see"places.

After leaving the park, we drove along US 1 for a couple of hours until we reached our next destination--the Easternmost city in the USA aptly named Eastport. We found a mom & pop motel that is right on the water and the view is exqusite. This will be our base for the next two days. We have so much to see in this area. One thing I am looking forward to visiting--don't laugh--is the mustard factory. We have been told by several residents that we mustn't miss it. In fact, when we stopped at the welcome center upon entering Maine, the older gentlemen who helped us insisted that we visit it. We also will go to Campobello Island, Quoddy Head Lighthouse, Reversing Falls Park, Pleasant Point Federal Indian Reservation, Cobscook Bay State Park.

Eastport is an old seaport that was once the number one source of canned sardines, hence the mustard factory. The quaint old buildings are fabulous. We walked around the harbor area and found Wadsworth Hardware Store. The original owner was Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's uncle. Now the store is run by the sixth generation of Wadsworth. We walked out on the pier and saw a tugboat named Ahoskie; I couldn't help but wonder if the owner is from Ahoskie, NC.

One final thought for today ... we have been in Maine for four days, have driven hundreds of miles, and still have seen only ONE policeman.

A view in Acadia.

More beauty.

Sand Beach

A view from Sand Beach.

Sand Beach yet again.

Day 10: Bar Harbor, Maine

2008-05-19T17:01:00.006-04:00

We took the day off to catch up. After breakfast, we undertook the onerous chore of doing laundry. At least we did not have to beat it on rocks in a river like I saw women in Morocco do. However, it took quite a bit of time and as far as I was concerned, it was time away from exploring a new environs. By 11:30 we were finished and made our way into Bar Harbor proper. Mama mia! It is an exceptionally beautiful harbor. The pictures we took do not give it justice. One thing that rankled me greatly was that a rich old gadgy named Tom Walsh SOMEHOW (did envelopes filled with cash pass hands???) convinced the locals to allow him to build a high rise hotel right at the water's edge. The dang thing is under construction and it already is blocking the view. Once again, rich people get to see the majesty of one of the loveliest spots on earth (assuming they book a room) and the rest of us suffer. It just ain't right, sez I.

Bar Harbor is a "must see" place. It is fairly dripping with charm. The harbor truly is the prettiest I can ever remember seeing and I've seen many harbors. Establishments are again open for the season, which begins in May and ends after Labor Day. A business has a very short time to make it's yearly income. One fellow told us that all but three or four businesses close for the winter. Only three restaurants remain open year round. I imagine this place is a ghost town by October 1st.

We ate our main meal in a restaurant that overlooks the harbor. The food was excellent. I've eaten my way across Maine by munching lobsters. What else is a person do when confronted with huge Maine lobsters at every turn? I have always been a big fan of lobster so having fresh lobster every day has been more than a treat. After eating lobster here, I may never eat lobster again at home. It will only pale in comparison.

It was quite windy today, and, of course I froze. One man told me that they will be lucky if it is this warm on the 4th of July. It got up to 64, but with the wind it was too cold for me. I shivered all day. Paul finally insisted that I buy a fleece jacket, made of the same material as the "Lissie" blanket Woli made for me. I love that blanket so much that I caved in and bought a fleece jacket. I haven't had it off since. It is wonderful! I'm sure it will become one of my favorite articles of winter clothing.

The Internet in this room is so flaky I've been trying to connect for two hours. Every single time I finally get connected and try to upload photos I lose the connection. Grrrrr. Now the cable TV has gone out. This place cost $99 per night which isn't a lot in a swanky resort town. However, breakfast was not free and the advertised wifi works less than 10% of the time and now no cable TV. This is a rip off and an unpleasant ending to a very pleasant day.

Bar Harbor

I love all the boats that dot the harbor.

Wouldn't you love to go sailing in this lovely vessel? I'll bet its' majestic when its sails are all unfurled.

Here's a nice place right on the water where you can stay.It does not obstruct the view.

Another view of the harbor.

A bit of whimsy.

More fun.

A Change in Plans

2008-05-19T09:07:00.004-04:00

As we realized at the outset, our itinerary was ambitious to say the least. Yesterday we came to understand that the joys of traveling at 45 mph on old highways make it more difficult to get from place to place in a timely manner. We have decided to relax and enjoy the byways; doing so will mean that our itinerary has to be altered. No problemo. We are relaxing and taking it easy. This is a vacation. While it is also an adventure, circumstances require that it be a somewhat more leisurely one. I'm not complaining. We are still on the go - go - go. It just takes us longer to get from one place to the next. Today we are in Bar Harbor where we have to do laundry and see the sights. We also need to find lodging for the next few days. In the morning we'll visit Acadia National Park before leaving for the Easternmost point in the USA. I'll write more about Bar Harbor tonight. I'm sure Paul will take a few hundred pictures. Again, this is not a complaint ... merely a comment. Paul loooooooooves to take photos and he snaps them at every chance. The digital camera we borrowed from Rachael holds 600. Each night we download them from the camera and we pick ones to post. The ones you don't get to see are just as lovely as the ones you do. Blogger takes forever to load photos so we select only a very few from the hundreds Paul has taken that day.

This morning at breakfast there was a party of six at the next table. I noticed they were speaking German. I glanced over and who did I spy? Dr. Dr. Becker! You read that correctly. In Germany, if you have two Ph.D.s you get to call yourself Dr. Dr. When I was in Germany a few years ago traveling with the Goethe Institute group, Dr. Dr. Becker was one of our lecturers. [Note: He assured us that there is no anti-antisemitism in Germany. Yeah, right ... and I'm not pushing 60.]

One thing I forgot to post last night is something we have noticed in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and now Maine. Many houses have large 3-D stars attached to the sides of them. Some stars are red while others are blue. Once in a great while you will see a burnished gold one, but they are rare. I have no idea what, if anything, this means.

Random thought: When we book a hotel, we look for ones that serve free breakfast; sadly, we aren't always successful. A more serious concern is having Internet access so that we can maintain our blog and check email, etc. We also book hotels via the Internet. When we booked our current room, free wifi was advertised. That may be true, but the reality is that in our room there is one tiny spot in the corner where we can connect. So, here I sit in a cramped little corner praying that the one bar of connection that I've managed to access won't go belly up before I finish this.

If you are reading this, please take a moment to leave a comment saying who you are and where you are located.

Well, off to explore Bar Harbor. More this evening...

Day 9: Portland, Popham Beach, Boothbay Harbor, Pemaquid Point, Camden Hills State Park, Bar Harbor

2008-05-18T21:17:00.008-04:00

First--Things We Have Not Seen in Maine:

1. Policemen, save ONE we saw in Ogunquit
2. Wal-Mart

Happy Things:

1. My hybrid Camry got 44.3 mpg today! We are on only our third tank of gas.
2. Eating a surfeit of Maine lobster in Maine. [As Dottie aptly pointed out Maine lobster and Red Lobster are very different.]
3. Having the time and means to travel (though I did save for this trip for three years).
4. Early spring blooms and leaves (Maine is a good month behind VA and NC).
5. Traveling in May before the season officially begins and school is not yet out for the summer.

Odd Things We Noticed:

1. Gritty's Pub Restaurant
2. Pedro O'Hara's Mexican Irish Cuisine
3. Mangy Moose Emporium
4. Bumpy Hill Road
5. Hair Tanning Salon (Shall I have my hair tanned tomorrow?)
6. Smiling Cow Restaurant
7. A sign for popcorn blouses (What the heck are they?!?!?!)

Then, there are the Toonces bridges. For some reason New England seems to have quite a few of them. We call them Toonces bridges because they are old bridges that have been chopped off in the middle (with only one half torn down) and have not been blocked to traffic even though a new bridge has been built next to it. I guess they are used as fishing piers. The end points do have barriers of sorts, but I can just see Toonces barreling down one of them and then sailing into the air right off the end into the murky depths below. "TOONCES!"

The next time you get change, check to see if any of the quarters are from Maine. If so, flip the coin over to look at the back. You will see a lighthouse, the Pemaquid Lighthouse. Today, Paul and I climbed up inside of it to the top where the c. 1856 Fresnel lens is still in place and used today. The light can be seen 14 miles out to see. It is one of 60 lighthouses that dot the Maine coast. The view from the top was breathtaking!

We just arrived in Bar Harbor, so I'll write about that tomorrow. Photos from today follow. [Note: They are not in sequential order. I'm too tired to reorganize them.]

Looking down at Camden from the lookout point atop Mt. Battie

This tower, atop the lookout point, was built in 1921. It is on the site of a house that burned down. Teddy Roosevelt's daughter visited here and Edna St. Vincent Millay wrote a poem after being moved by the beauty of the site.

Boothbay Harbor

This was also taken in Boothbay Habor. See--Rachael isn't the only one who can snap photos of flowers. :-)

Pemaquid Point Lighthouse. It was only thirty stair steps and one ladder to the top.

This old Fresnel lamp dates back to the 1850s. We are warned not to touch it because it is fragile and of historical value.

This is the staircase in the lighthouse. The steps got narrower and narrower as you approach the top to the ladder ... or else my feet just grew bigger.

This statue in Portland, Maine reminds all of us to value firefighters who risk their lives on our behalf.

"Through these gates pass the best ship builders in the world" ... I wonder what the blokes at Tyne Dock would say about that!

Popham Beach--It was cold for this old Florida gal--58 degrees--but that didn't stop the locals from pretending it was a warm July day in St. Petersburg.

This is a typical Maine sighting.

You just can't explain some things...