Spring cleaning

Everything needs a little freshen-up now and then.  I'm dusting off my keyboard and learning some new things.  One of my goals is to learn to re-size photos.  Watch out - - - you are in a construction zone.

the REAL other me, after a long break

I know – I know - It seems like someone who isn’t working would have plenty of time to post a blog once in a while. Ok, so stop kvetching and read, already!

First, I want to say it seems like my most frequent page visits are people searching for a Disney link to “The Other Me”. Sorry but I invented it. A long time ago. Before Disney even conceived the title. In fact, I think they stole it from me. Too bad I didn’t copyright it. Oh well – look around and thanks for the visit.

The second most frequent visitors to my blog are brought here searching for the eggless cornbread recipe. That recipe was posted way back in November 2006. Yes, it’s true. You can actually make cornbread without an egg. In fact, the egg is totally unnecessary. My grandmother had plenty of fresh eggs on the farm, but she never used an egg in her cornbread. Strange but true.

So now - picking up from late last summer, which seemed like early autumn

I usually think of November when I see a scene like this, but this was taken in late August.

Dad rode 100 miles on his bike in the Hotter’n’Hell ride in Wichita Falls, Texas. I stayed home (hence no pictures).

Followed by a trip to Carbondale, Illinois with my mother in early September. This is the old home place that belonged to my great-great grandparents. I think the old house burned about 1915-1920. The land is now a horse farm. Beautiful!

This is the church my great-grandparents attended, and is scheduled for demolition soon

I was planning to post a lot more, but I've got to divide and conquer. BBS

its a dry heat

There have been a few years i completely missed getting plants into the pots on my front porch.

Considering that, I'm very pleased with the way these plantings turned out. And really glad i took these photos about a week ago - because the heat over the last week has been brutal - and even with my tender, loving care, the plants are beginning to look weary.

I'm feeling a little wilted, myself. I'm going in now for some good ol' southern iced tea. And Julia's cooking supper - Thai cashew chicken. Mmmm . . . smells wonderful.

War Eagle

I know it looks like i fell over the edge again with my lack of posts, but you just have to understand that sometimes life can be high-maintenance. And blogging can be very time-consuming. Something has to fall to the bottom of the priority list.

So . . .
. . . by special request i present this photo i made back in the spring on our trip to NWA (northwest Arkansas). BTW, this makes a GREAT wallpaper!

La Chapelle to Paris

Thursday – June 18, 1959 – Day 5

Continuing southward, we stopped at Reims and toured our first cathedral. :)

We also saw the statue of Joan of Arc in Reims. I believe the car on the far left is Grandma’s car, judging from the pack on top of the car (tent and other camping essentials).

Then we headed for PARIS! TA-DA!

We arrived in Paris mid-day, and probably drove every street of the city. We finally parked and took the tour of You-Know-What.

Looking down from the Eiffel Tower . . .

A view of Paris from the Eiffel Tower.

Another view of Paris from the Eiffel Towel . . .

We stayed two nights in Paris. I do not remember much about the sleeping arrangements, but do remember many of the sights. I would have sworn my Grandmother would never agree to stay in the city, due to the expense, but my mother affirmed that, yes, we stayed in Paris. We stayed at -- not the hotel of the same name, but the city park. WE CAMPED AT THE CITY PARK! All I can vision in my mind’s eye is bums on park benches, but Mom assures me it was all very dignified and proper. Why can’t I remember this? Why is there no picture??? Oh, how I wish . . .

Blumendahl to La Chapelle

Wednesday – June 17, 1959 – Day 4

From Blumendahl, Holland we headed south for Belgium. In Brussels, we toured the grounds of the 1958 World’s Fair and saw the Atomium – a building which represents the structure of the atom. The Atomium was constructed just as “the atomic age” was waning, but the structure is still a famous landmark, and was reopened in February 2006 after renovations.

After our tour of Brussels, we kept heading south, across the Belgium-French border to the tiny village of La Chapelle. There we found a modest hotel / Bed and Breakfast for the night.

Doesn't this scene just shout "EUROPE"?

Amsterdam, Holland

Tuesday - June 16, 1959 – Day 3

Up at the crack of dawn, ready for a day of adventure, we set off to drive north to the Isle of Marken. I remember Marken as a very strange place. Everyone was dressed in traditional costume, and there was some custom about all children being dressed as girls (to keep the gypsies from snatching the boys?). I don’t remember, if I ever knew. It was all very vague and mysterious to the 9-year-old mind. I have not been able to locate the pictures of Marken.

After a boat ride back to the mainland, and lunch at the boat dock, we headed west to the Atlantic side of the country. We made it to Blumendahl Beach by early afternoon, and selected a choice camping spot on the sand dunes. The note on the back of this photo says, “too cold to swim.”

Fellow campers at an adjacent campsite - Helmgart Campground at Blumendahl, Holland.