My Secrets for Happiness

The Sculpture and Statues Of Pinafore Park

2011-01-16T19:25:00.000-05:00

Hi all my old friends! I just felt the need to post tonight.... I'm glad I've got some pretty summer pictures in my drafts for you. With all the cold we've had, I need some sunny pictures, don't you?

The story of Katie and Mr Werbowski will continue someday, but for today....

We are very lucky to have such a wonderful park in St Thomas!
They keep adding to it and many of the local service clubs donate and contribute.

I just wanted to show you some of the things!

This is a statue of an actual person. His hand holds (I think,) soil.

As well as the Trees of Lives walls, there is this piece of sculpture.

I think more things like this should be built! Oh! If only I was a schmillionair!

These photographs were shot with my Nikon P-90 digital camera and downloaded directly from the camera and then to this blog. My aim is to take my reader along with me on the journey, so although I am aware of my framing of the shot, content and quality, I am most interested in sharing the experience.

Who's Home?

2010-10-20T12:17:00.000-04:00

The story of Katie and Mr Werbowski will continue another day.

For now:

Yoo Hoo!

Anybody home?

Baby Starlings. My Dad used to call them the scourge of Canada. Brought to our country on the boats way back when. They didn't do as well in Europe and England because of the smog from all the coal fires, but one of the earliest explorers brought them in cages and once set free here, they flourished! They scavenge the nests of other birds and dump the eggs and then lay their own.

The European Starlings in North America are the descendants from 2 introductions in New York City. In 1890, 60 birds and in 1891, 40 birds. They have spread to the Pacific coast and up into central Canada.

Taken on June 30, 2010 in Pinafore Park in St Thomas, Ontario.

These photographs were shot with my Nikon P-90 digital camera and downloaded directly from the camera and then to this blog. My aim is to take my reader along with me on the journey, so although I am aware of my framing of the shot, content and quality, I am most interested in sharing the experience.

The Scent Of Lilacs

2010-09-16T18:07:00.000-04:00

Chapter 7 starts below:

This story was begun on Monday, June 28, 2010 and is entitled Katie and Mr Werbowski. Sometimes, I'll still post photographs and jump back and forth, because that's just how I am!

So if you'd like, use the following link:

Katie and Mr Werbowski: The very first post

...For the very first installment! I 'll also copywrite it, so don't get any thoughts there either!
(Little joke there! As if!)
__________________
Chapter 7
The Scent Of Lilacs

The heavy door latched with a clunk and Katie turned toward the dusty streets of Dublin.

        "Hail there lass!" Came a lusty growl and Katie sidestepped the horses hooves and beasts pulling a dray.
           "Morning Mr McGovern!" She shouted, but the man, team of Clydes and wagon load of firewood had plodded on down the street. All she could see of the driver was a hand raised in greeting. No time for pleasantries for sure on this weekday morn'. She must herself make haste in order to get this letter on it's long journey to America!
   " I should have asked in my letter if Missouri had telegraph?" She made a mental note to asking her next correspondence to Mr Werbowski. Surely, even if the farm was far removed from a city, there must be a telegraph machine for the train? She must stop and ask at the Post Office.
       The post office in question was just a few blocks from her parents home because of course, they lived in the oldest and also poorest section of Belfast due to financial restraints.
       "It will be grand to get Ma and Da out of this despicable city!" She cursed under her breath and sidestepped yet another horse plop. "I must come back this way," she thought. That plop will sure an' be dry by the time I come back!" Even if she was bound for America, there were still many bleak and blustery months ahead to survive and dried horse dung made a nice and cheap, toasty fire!
   Katie had trod this same path to the post many times, but today was the first in many years that she actually hummed a tune! Now that she had made up her mind to go and her path was set, she felt somehow that there was a possibility of happiness in this life of hers that had before this, been one of just hard work and grime. When her brother had been forced to flee the country, she had made him promise to find a way to fetch her and when he had written that there were so many men in the wilder parts of America and not so many women still yet, they had hatched this plan: To find Katie a husband! Because of course, a slip of a thing like fair Katie could be allowed to work her fingers to the bone in Ireland and die a haggard old crone, but not ever could she leave her parent's protection without a man at her side!
      Even just remembering that heated conversation with her Da two Christmases ago, she grimaced and cursed! "By the gods! I'll be free of this land full o' killin'!" She shook her head in denial of everything Belfast. "I won't stay here an' watch it na' more!"
   She quickened her pace in determination and just as she was rounding the last corner, she caught her reflection in the windows of a dry goods store.
The image of a young woman stared back at her in serious concentration. Slight, only five foot three inches tall and her bones stuck out at all the angles: Ankles and elbows and that pointy chin! That's what a person saw when they looked!
    "Gor!" She drew herself up as tall as she could and her hand found the errant wisp of red blond hair that always wanted to hide her eyes. "The mess you look lass an' you think a man will want you!"
     Her gaze was drawn through the glass of the window and took in the items temptingly displayed there for shoppers. An idea formed in her mind. "Clever Katie!" She congratulated herself and reached into the folds of her smock for the pocket there and yes, there were the few coins she always carried with her. "For emergencies my girl!" Her Mam had always taught. "Ye must have need of a penny or two and you always have to make sure you carry a few! Never be caught without yer mad money me lass!" This was the very first time in her young life that Katie actually had need of the coins and glad she was that they were tucked in there!
     She walked into the dim cavern of the dry goods store.
    "Mornin' lass!" The store clerk greeted, seeming to sniff a sale. "An' what cha' be a lookin' for this fine fall morn?" His toothy grin was meant as pleasant, but Katie only shivered. His chin bore a jagged gash of a scar that only a bullet would leave. "Just another reminder that I'm doin' the right thing." She thought.
"Mornin' sir, I would like to see the scented soaps if I might please? My mam is poorly an' I was thinking that a wee bit of scent might perk her up! Do you have anything in lilac?"
   The store clerk rushed over to the counter and snatched up a block of creamy soap stamped prettily in the center with the shape of a lilac flower. "Hand milled and straight from Paris France!" He proudly proclaimed! "This is a gift fit for a queen! Your Mam will love it I'm certain!"
      Katie took the small bar in her hand and almost gasped aloud as she spied the price tag and silently cursed herself!
        "Ooh! I only have my few pennies! Not enough to buy this! What will I do?" The unspoken words ran through her mind and just as quickly as she spoke, she turned her wide, green eyes up to the clerk and asked, "Oh! An' do you have any lilac water to go along?" Her eyes searched the shelves behind the clerk as if seeing a bottle of perfume there. The clerk turned to look, as she hoped he would.

        Katie quickly drew the letter back and forth over the surface of the bar of soap, hoping it would take on some of the beautiful, aristocratic scent.

        By the time the clerk turned back to her, she had the bar of soap reaching back over to him and she plopped it into his hand.

        "Oh! I think I hear me Da! I'll be right back! Thank you!" And she fled the store, the clerk not seeming to be the wiser for the transfer.
   Katie fairly skipped the rest of the way to the post and slipped the letter over the counter. At least the letter would smell like she was sophisticated! She prayed:

       ..."Oh Lord! Please let it still be there in America!"
                  .....Mr Werbowski lurched toward the wagon and grabbed the envelope. His senses were tickled with a hint of fresh lilac. His nose involuntarily lowered to the thin parchment of an envelope adorned with fine, fancy handwriting and drew in a heavenly scent. "Ah!" Tears filled his eyes.

Chapter 6 Panic In My Heart!

2010-07-31T12:18:00.000-04:00

This story was begun on Monday, June 28, 2010 and is entitled Katie and Mr Werbowski.

Sometimes, I'll still post photographs and jump back and forth, because that's just how I am! My job has also sort of taken over my energy, but I'll post as much as I can!

So if you'd like, use the following link: Katie and Mr Werbowski: The very first post

...For the very first installment!
__________________

From the previous post.....

( John, hands and arms flailed in anguished expression of his dismay and he yelled his misgivings to the heavens: " I've finally found meself a young lady and what on earth will I do with this bachelor's farm?"

His worried eyes took in the view..... )

Chapter six....Panic!

Suddenly and without warning, there appeared a second cloud of dust as John Werbowski's butt hit the dirt of the laneway. He hung his bronzed chin in his big, working man's hands and wept.

"Oh my Lord! What will she ever think?" He raised his watery gaze to the scene in front of him and here is what he saw:

A shack. A tired and hastily built shack. Made with boards bought at the lumber store in town and they weren't even properly matching boards. Just whatever the lumberyard had that was cheap!

"Aw Jack! You an' me didn't need much, did we?" The dog wagged back. A sharp lick to a defenseless cheek. Jack thought the tears tasted nice. Sort of like the salt pork his master sometimes dropped from his fingers as treats! He cocked his head. Maybe if he stayed very, very still and looked cute enough, there would be pork somewhere?

John rubbed at his bursting eyes to clear them, looked again and this time saw a dirt yard. Not a blade nor a bloom to break up the expanse of Missouri dirt. Not a decorative stone nor a wooden gate for relief. Just dirt.

"We didn't need any fru-frus, eh Jack?" He patted his dog's head and Jack wagged his tail in anticipation...

"He's getting ready to drop pork!" He sniffed his master's hand. "Is there pork there?"

John had stopped the tears the panic had sprung and with the determination he was known for, he studied his homestead. The shack had a window. A door and a window and one big room. Not a thread of cloth hung in the window, not a doorknob on the door. Just plain, simple, functional bits and pieces that a man and dog needed to make a day with.

John lifted the dog's head in both hands and allowed the pet to lick the tears to his hearts content. He laid his cheek next to this buff colored animal who had been his only companion and ordered:

"Well boy! We've got some work to do! We have a fine Irish lady who says she's going to come and keep us company and if we expect her to stay, we'd best get busy and make her a house fit for staying in!"

... And so as Katie was making plans with her trunks and boxes, Mr Werbowski and Jack began the plans for a proper home.

... And with the planning and work, the panic receded to the back corner of his mind....

_____________________

I 'll also copywrite it, so don't get any thoughts there either! (Little joke there! As if someone would steal it and actually put it into print!)

White Flowers!

2010-07-14T19:48:00.000-04:00

Katie and Mr Werbowski will continue... But for today:

White flowers are a symbol of purity and chastity. (Funny, I had to use spell check for both of those!)

These Hydrangeas were in full bloom in Pinafore Park in St Thomas when I drove through on June 30th.

When you see these, you can imagine why folks think white means purity!

The shading of greens and the white that is actually just the palest of green!

These photographs were shot with my Nikon P-90 digital camera and downloaded directly from the camera and then to this blog. My aim is to take my reader along with me on the journey, so although I am aware of my framing of the shot, content and quality, I am most interested in sharing the experience.

A Journey Begun

2010-07-07T07:52:00.000-04:00

Chapter 5 starts below:

This story was begun on Monday, June 28, 2010 and is entitled Katie and Mr Werbowski. Sometimes, I'll still post photographs and jump back and forth, because that's just how I am!

So if you'd like, use the following link:

Katie and Mr Werbowski: The very first post

...For the very first installment! I 'll also copywrite it, so don't get any thoughts there either!
(Little joke there! As if!)
__________________

Chapter 5

      Katie finally sobbed herself to sleep that night and crawled into her bed in the rafters with a heavy heart. The sleep of total exhaustion enveloped her and a finger of morning light found it's way through the thatch of the roof way too soon. She rubbed her gritty, swollen eyes and sighed. "Well my girl? You've decided and so ye'd best make tha' best of it!" She swung out from under the bedclothes and made her way back to the worn, wooden kitchen table where she had last night sealed her fate into a filmy piece of paper.
Today, she would begin the process of telling her hard won customers that she would no longer be available for their abusive comments and filthy clothes! She lifted her chin just a notch. "An' that'll be a joy, it will!"
    "What di' you say there my Katie?" Her mother was already at the sink, a big spoon in hand and as she turned to give the oatmeal a stir, she jumped into Katie's thoughts: "Are ye a goin' to tell your customers today? You hated the drudgery for sure!"
      "How did she read my mind?" Katie thought and then with a brave smile she answered: "Yes, I hated the servitude o' it Mam, but it was work all the same and I was glad o' it!"
      Her mother again waived the worn, wooden spoon for emphasis. "There'll be none of that where you're goin' and for that I'll be ever grateful to your brother Sean and that Polish man!" And then she noticed her beloved daughter's weary countenance and scurried over to her side." Aw my babe! Is it changin' your mind you're thinkin'?"
     "No Mam. It's surely I'll be missin' you and Da though." And then an idea invaded her mind like a bingo ball popping out the bubble to go down the chute. "Oh!" She couldn't help but give a start!
        "If I'm able and sent for you, would you an Da come to Missouri?" Her hand fled to her lips almost as if the thought wasn't better to be spoken! Where had that come from?
        Her Mam fell back against the solidness of the sink and for a moment, Katie thought she might have to rush over and support her mam's weight. "Mam? Are you alright?" She quivered herself in fear!
        And then the future took an enormous swing to the positive and Katie's Mam said: "Why..... Why yes! We could! Do you suppose your Polish man would bring us?"

           ....And Katie didn't know, but answered all the same, "Don't worry Mam. You an' Da will be with me in that Missouri before the next year is gone by!

             ...And Katie began placing the crockery for breakfast. She had to start this journey she had set herself and her family upon!

______________

PS: If anybody's wondering... I've got a promotion and once again, life is getting in the way. So! If I go missing for a couple of days, don't worry, I'll be back again as soon as I catch my breath!

Walking Up The Lane

2010-07-03T16:49:00.000-04:00

This story was begun on Monday, June 28, 2010 and is entitled Katie and Mr Werbowski. Sometimes, I'll still post photographs and jump back and forth, because that's just how I am!
So if you'd like, use the following link:

Katie and Mr Werbowski: The very first post

...For the very first installment!

I 'll also copywrite it, so don't get any thoughts there either!(Little joke there! As if!)

__________________

Chapter 4 Walking Up The Lane

Mr Werbowski fairly skipped up the lane! Well, if a fairly big man could skip and hop, that's what he would have done!

"John" as he thought of himself, was so truly, unbelievably happy! He had his letter in his hand, (gently held so as not to ruin the fragile paper! He would never let anything happen to this letter of hers!) And... The very fact that she had written at all, was just so unbelievably unbelievable!

Little puffs of dust kicked up with each joyous footstep! The cuffs of his work trousers becoming chalky with it! A whiff of Missouri river sand hit his nostrils and plop! He stopped! He looked down towards his planted feet.

"What will a young lady think Jack?" He demanded to the yellow dog.

Jack of course just plopped himself on his haunches, (swirling more dust) and twisting his wide noggin sideways in universal dog-ism, asked his master: "What cha' mean boss?"

John, hands and arms flailed in anguished expression of his dismay and he yelled his misgivings to the heavens: " I've finally found meself a young lady and what on earth will I do with this bachelor's farm?"

His worried eyes took in the view.....

So here's something else: I've never been to either Missouri or Ireland, so if I make a historical, geographic or period information mistake, I'm sorry!

Happy Canada Day!

2010-07-01T17:30:00.000-04:00

I hope everyone in Canada has enjoyed their day!

...And rejoice in the truth that we live in a country that is so beautiful and free!

These photographs were shot with my Nikon P-90 digital camera and downloaded directly from the camera and then to this blog. My aim is to take my reader along with me on the journey, so although I am aware of my framing of the shot, content and quality, I am most interested in sharing the experience.

What To Write?

2010-06-30T19:19:00.000-04:00

Sucking the tip.

         Gripping it's feathery length. So hard to hold with any dexterity in your hand. A hand so chapped and worn from the lye soap and boiling water. Be damned!

   Katie threw down the quill and wrung her tired hands in anguish! "What shall I say?"

      What on this heaven's earth could she write to an American man she had never yet met?

A Mr Werbowski.

           Ma had told her that he was Polish from Poland, but he was in America? Would she be able to have a conversation with him? Would he understand her lilting Irish speech?

         "Sure and 'tis enough o' that!" She drew her dainty feet firmly beneath her chair, set her teeth and again clenched the fragile quill in her right hand. She started:

Dear Mr Werbowski,

(Would 'Dear' be too personal? She hadn't met the man! Well, she pondered, that was how she'd been taught the way to write a proper letter was and by gor! She'd at least be proper! Mebe' this Polish man wouldna' have any schooling, but she did and she'd be proper about this whole affair, she would!)

          My brother has said many good things of you and your  wonderful farm in Missouri. It sounds truly beautiful and not at all  like my home in Belfast. I am grateful that my brother has sent enough  money for me to come to such a wonderful country full of such plenty and  has befriended a kind and successful man such as yourself. 

(Whew! Katie wiped her brow. She wasn't used to speaking so many words at once! This letter writing was na' what it was held up ta' be!

Her brother had written a letter simply stating that this man was looking for a 'comely' woman of child bearing years to marry and work the farm with him. Her Ma and Da had told her she was comely, even pretty on the occasion of her birthday, but... and here she tucked a stray curl of strawberry hair behind her ear, but would a Polish man think she was pretty? What did Polish women look like? Lor'! She had never laid eyes on one herself!

Katie had read the letter to her Ma and Da because of course, they couldn't read. The three of them sitting around the harsh wooden kitchen table and sitting on the stools of many generations handed down. The firelight had made the words from America come alive! Her breath had come quicker in her chest just at the thought of America! Land o' the free and so much plenty and space! Could it be true that a man wanted to bring her there?

"Ma! Da! What should I do? How ca' I leave you both?" Katie had cried the words, flinging them out to the loving ears of her parents.

"An' go you will child," was her mother's gentile voice. "Aye! Go my girl of my heart and you don' na' turn back! Yer Ma and me'l get by an' live happier knowin' you've got a better life!"

"Da! Should I go to the priest? Da! Should I?"

And her Da had scrunched his bristly eyebrows together, gently slammed a clenched fist to the table top and with vehemence, but also an indoor voice, proclaimed: " The priest won't feed ya or look after ya! You go!" And with that he had shoved off his stool and slammed out the door!

Ma had said later that it was his way of dealing with the "losin' o' his rosie haired girl!"

And that had been the whole conversation that had decided her fate!)

        I have considered your kind offer of marriage and have  spoken long with my father and priest and I write to you now to let you  know that I will accept!

(It was a small lie to say about the priest she knew, but gor! It needed to sound like she had a head about her!)

         I come by train and I am hoping you will be at the  station to pick me up. 

(The boat and train tickets had taken all of her savings and her brother's bits would need to pay for her food! The ticket master had knowingly told her that Missouri was almost half way across America and that was farther than she could imagine? She had clutched her shawl to her breast and shivered as if it was January and it being only September!
And how on earth would she find his farm if he didn't come to meet her? Katie whispered a prayer as her hand continued this letter of new life... "Please god! Let him be a man who would meet his new wife!" Her fingers swung the sign of the cross on her chest.)

    I must apologize for traveling with a trunk and  hope it will not be an inconvenience.

(Her ma and her had been stitching and tucking away since she'd come to womanhood in preparation of this time. A decent girl came with a dowry. It didn't matter it wasn't grand or a whole house worth, but she'd need some necessities in the wilds of America she would!
Her normal spunk surfaced for just one moment and raised itself above the terror of her enterprise. "He'd better no mind!"
She gazed toward the eternally grit soaked window, clenched her teeth in determination and finished her letter. )

Your offer is very kind and I await our marriage and new life. I promise to work very hard and make you proud of your new Irish wife.

        Yours truly,

              Katie Donovan

Very deliberately, the fine boned Irish lass her parents had named Katie, lifted the stub of tallow candle and gently dripped a splash of wax upon the folds of her letter to seal.

Katie flung the pen across the floor with a clatter and sobbed...

The Letter

2010-06-29T18:41:00.000-04:00

The paper came from pennies made with her sweat and the muscle wrenching wringing of other people's clothes. The boiling water to wash them in had been the back breaking labor of carrying the buckets from the only tap in the square. The fire under the enormous cast iron kettle built from precious kindling. (There was no "hot and cold" here in this time and place.) The soap; sparingly shaved from a hard brick of harsh lye.

She had saved each and every penny that hadn't been needed to feed the family. Saved and saved and when her brother had finally come to rescue her with such news, she had been ready.

For she knew that she would not, could not stay in this city!

The filth and misery that was the place of her birth would be replaced with a greener, wider country that they promised was free of conflict between this religion and that. Cousin against cousin and neighbor against neighbor. It would never stop.

Katie felt her red rimed eyes fill with tears as she picked up her pen to write the letter.

Dear Mr Werbowski..... She began.....

John Werbowski

2010-06-28T18:06:00.000-04:00

John couldn't help but pace the width of the gateway in frustration.

"Damn! The cursed man should be here by now!" His feet would not hold him in one spot and he resumed his pacing back and forth....

...Back and forth across the entrance to his farm.

And keeping the vigil with him was his mongrel Jack.

"Jack!" Mr Werbowski always talked to the gold colored mutt like he was a human. "Jack! Do you think it'll get here today?"

But, of course Jack had nothing to say. Just a tail wag and a lop sided grin that was more from thirst than anything.

Mr John Werbowski, thirty seven years of age was a successful farmer. He raised crops that provided many bushels of grain. His cows and sheep gave more than enough milk to use at his own table and a bit to churn yellow butter from and sell at the market on Saturdays. The jug on the mantel was stuffed to the brim with coins and he had possession of a rare thing: A bank account.

Mr Werbowski was well respected and held a position on both the church board and local council and his opinions mattered. Tall and well built, with sandy brown hair and ice blue eyes. He was his mother's son and the spitting image of his father and yet, no one here had wanted him!

He had waited too long you see. Worked his whole life so far to make a go of this parcel of land and yes, he loved it! Loved the dirt and the blades of grass and even the breezes that blew the dust in his eyes! He loved it! With Jack by his side these last ten years, he had carved out a homestead from this backend piece of America.

...And now that he figured it was time (and it was the time for a wife and please, some children,) the girls were just that, girls and all the women were already married with young-uns and haggard faces and bodies.

"Eh?" John whirled, his eyes searched the dirt road leading from town. He hand shaded his brow against the morning sun and ... "Yes!"

He slapped his thigh and anyone standing there would have just been compelled to guffaw! Mr Werbowski actually danced a jig! (Jack the dog sat plop on his haunches. He had never seen such goings on!)

The horse and nondescript gray cart slowly approached the farm gate and really, Mr Werbowski was wringing his hands by the time the postmaster commanded "whoa!" and wrapped the reins on the doorpost of his wooden mail wagon. He smiled a toothless smile and greeted: "Hallo there John! I think that letter you've been waiting for has come." He lifted a small white envelope high as if it was a prize. "Do you suppose this is it?"

Mr Werbowski lurched toward the wagon and grabbed the envelope. His senses were tickled with a hint of fresh lilac. His nose involuntarily lowered to the thin parchment of an envelope adorned with fine, fancy handwriting and drew in a heavenly scent. "Ah!" Tears filled his eyes.

"Lord and be govern!" The postman exclaimed! "Well! I never! You have to sign! " He waived a stumpy pencil and Mr Werbowski snatched it up and scrawled his name on the dull paint with the others.

The postman, unaccustomed to such a spectacle of emotion, yanked the reigns and the poor horse lunged in his traces. The small wagon left a dust boil in it's wake, but Mr Werbowski was not paying any attention.

He gently ran his finger along the fold of the envelope and gingerly pulled the pages from the folds. "Jack! Do you suppose?"

He started to read:

"Dear Mr Werbowski,

My brother has said many good things of you and your wonderful farm in Missouri. It sounds truly beautiful and not at all like my home in Belfast. I am grateful that my brother has sent enough money for me to come to such a wonderful country full of such plenty and has befriended a kind and successful man such as yourself.

I have considered your kind offer of marriage and have spoken long with my father and priest and I write to you now to let you know that I will accept!

I come by train and I am hoping you will be at the station to pick me up. I must apologize for traveling with a trunk and hope it will not be an inconvenience.

Your offer is very kind and I await our marriage and new life. I promise to work very hard and make you proud of your new Irish wife.

Yours truly,

Katie Donovan

Mr Werbowski scuffed a big fist against his cheek, vainly trying to wipe the tears coursing down his face. His hand reached down to rub the old dogs head.

"Jack my boy! We best get home and throw the windows wide! We're going to have a Missus!"

Can you see his signature? What were all those signatures for? Who were those people and what did they do? I can't help but wonder..... Do you?

These photographs were shot with my Nikon P-90 digital camera and downloaded directly from the camera and then to this blog. My aim is to take my reader along with me on the journey, so although I am aware of my framing of the shot, content and quality, I am most interested in sharing the experience.

Help! The House Is On Fire!

2010-06-26T18:17:00.000-04:00

Way back when....

Is it any wonder that when a fire burst out, that the whole city would burn down?

How totally frustrating it must have felt to see someone's home be devoured by hungry flames and have just a trickle of water and not enough of it to boot?

I was raised tagging along to auction sales with my mom because you see, both sides of my families were burnt out and had no heirlooms! We cherish what we do have, but they only go about a generation back!

What do you have right now in your home that could be the next generation's heirloom?
Is it a piece of sculpture that you bought from some starving artist, or something simple like the jug you brew your sun tea in?

...A couple more pieces from the permanent display at The Henry Ford!

These photographs were shot with my Nikon P-90 digital camera and downloaded directly from the camera and then to this blog. My aim is to take my reader along with me on the journey, so although I am aware of my framing of the shot, content and quality, I am most interested in sharing the experience.

The US Mail

2010-06-25T20:01:00.000-04:00

Neither rain nor sleet nor threat of night can stop the US Mail!

This basic wagon was in service delivering the mail.

Imagine finding something like this in a barn or shed!

The whole surface is covered with signatures!

I'm so glad they preserved it!

My Friend Dakota

2010-06-24T18:35:00.000-04:00

Pets!

What would we do without our little fur babies?

Well, sometimes our babies have feathers instead of fur!

This is Dakota and his mom!

Dakota is a twelve year old parrot who goes everywhere with his mom!
(Of course his wing feathers are trimmed so he can't fly.)

Quite fickle is Dakota! He doesn't care who's head or hand he's on...

...And sometimes he doesn't even want a hand!

Dog and Beth Chapman The Bounty Hunters

2010-06-23T17:10:00.001-04:00

Do we ever expect to be pleasantly surprised?

Sure, when I bought tickets to go see the Mercy Tour that Duane and Beth Chapman were on, I knew I would likely enjoy myself.

(My friend Stella and I both watch whenever we can.... For different reasons...)

But! Who knew?

Who knew that this unusual looking, muscular, five foot seven inch man would hold an auditorium packed full of every age, size and description of people in his hands with only his words?

Who knew that this tough man would be nervous enough that he had to continuously pace the stage until his beautiful wife came to stand beside him?

Who knew he could speak of heart wrenching personal episodes and still be so overcome with emotion that he would be hampered by a catch in his throat and tears in his eyes?

Who knew he was REAL. What you see on TV is not just an act but a living, breathing, bad guy gone good?

Who knew someone who looks this rough and dresses this way could laugh and make jokes about his (what he calls) mosquito netting of hair on the back of his head and would ask the folks in the balcony section if they could see his bald spot well?

Who knew that he is so in love with his drop dead gorgeous wife and partner and that he would literally beam when he speaks of her?

See... Who knew that a cat can choose to change his stripes?
He can still be a tiger but choose to be gentle and empathetic and kind?

Who would think that a man and a woman who met after they had already created families that produced many children would draw all those scattered sons and daughters and grandchildren, nieces and nephews to their home and make a nest under one roof that is so full of lasting love and protection?
This beautiful young woman with such sparkle in her eyes is Baby Lisa and she is a Bounty Hunter as well!

In his own words... "I am what the word rehabilitation means!"

Who knew that a family of just regular people from all sorts of lives can overcome incredible obstacles and still love, rejoice and really be alive? He is a husband, a father, brother, grandpa and the "step" included in all those combinations as well?
....That he still does the vacuuming!

Can you see the love in their eyes?

I knew!

I knew ...
.....And yet Stella and I were pleasantly surprised last night and walked out of Centennial Hall in London with a renewed sense of spirit and generosity.

His message is one of forgiveness, love, the power of positive thinking...

...And at all costs:

......Stop the spread of addictive drugs in this world!

I applaud this family with my whole being! This is a love story of two people who came from nothing and nowhere and have accomplished miracles by just believing, being a family and hard work. By doing what other people won't do.

If you ever get the chance, spend the reasonable price and get yourself a ticket for this show. This man is a Tony Robbins' trained professional motivational speaker and you will be glad you listened!

Some of my photographs in this post were cropped because we were in an auditorium and heads got in the way! No touch ups though... Never is...
These photographs were shot with my Nikon P-90 digital camera and downloaded directly from the camera and then to this blog. My aim is to take my reader along with me on the journey, so although I am aware of my framing of the shot, content and quality, I am most interested in sharing the experience.

Here She Comes Again!

2010-06-22T06:10:00.000-04:00

Here she comes....

Floatin' down the creek...

She gets the funniest looks from...

Every boat by the beach!

Whew!

Miss Libby sure does take a few shoves and pushes to get around!

That'll be me in a few years!

It'll take at least a tug boat on each end to get my big butt out ta' this Lazy Boy Chair!

These photographs were shot with my Nikon P-90 digital camera and downloaded directly from the camera and then to this blog. My aim is to take my reader along with me on the journey, so although I am aware of my framing of the shot, content and quality, I am most interested in sharing the experience.

A Lady In And Out Of Time!

2010-06-21T18:19:00.000-04:00

Time... A constant thing.... Tick... Tock...

Does time ever stand still or....

Is it a live and energetic thing?

Can someone be stuck in time?
....Or can two "times" exist in the same space?

A contradiction?

Or a conundrum?

.... Can you always believe what your eyes see?

These photographs were shot with my Nikon P-90 digital camera and downloaded directly from the camera and then to this blog. My aim is to take my reader along with me on the journey, so although I am aware of my framing of the shot, content and quality, I am most interested in sharing the experience.

Bugs and Butterflys!

2010-06-20T19:51:00.000-04:00

BZZZ BZZZZ

A lovely little moth butterfly on the Queen Anne's Lace.

Hard to get close enough without my camera's focus going all wrangy!

I love how the horse flies are willing to share.

If you look under the fly, you can also see a big ant!

Must have been some good eats there!
I don't know what any of these little guys are, but they are pretty for pictures!

These photographs were shot with my Nikon P-90 digital camera and downloaded directly from the camera and then to this blog. My aim is to take my reader along with me on the journey, so although I am aware of my framing of the shot, content and quality, I am most interested in sharing the experience.

Stumped Saturday Again!

2010-06-19T18:31:00.000-04:00

Just an old stump and when they cut down the dead tree, they've thankfully left the holy home!

Looks like lots of hungry wood peckers have lived here!

This tree stump is located inside the Fingal Wildlife Refuge just west of Fingal, Ontario. This was the site of a Canadian Air Force training base and airport and they've torn down all the trappings and runways. Dick's dad trained here and it is odd to walk the paths that his father may have walked all those years ago.

Was this dead tree stump a spindly sapling when Harvey trained here?

Harvey is gone many years now, but they buried him with his uniform's cap and medals. He's much more alive in our thoughts as we walk the trails and pathways of this acreage than if we went to visit his grave.

Happy Father's day everyone! Kiss and hug your dad if you've still got one. Mine's been gone since 1969 and Dick's died in 1999 but there isn't a day goes by that we don't think about them or remember them. Good men both and they did the best that they could for us and without question, loved us.

You can't ask for anything more, can you?

These photographs were shot with my Nikon P-90 digital camera and downloaded directly from the camera and then to this blog. My aim is to take my reader along with me on the journey, so although I am aware of my framing of the shot, content and quality, I am most interested in sharing the experience.

Freedom

2010-06-18T19:25:00.000-04:00

Our freedom is taken for granted....

I want to honor some of the people who gave so much!

The horrid contraption was an actual slave collar.
I'm sorry if I upset you, (my stomach contracts when I look at it.)

The wide arms were meant to catch in tree branches to slow a slave down if they ran.

I walked up to the display inside the Henry Ford and I was drawn to the glass! My hand involuntarily reached out towards the piece of metal and I laid my palm flat against the glass. My eyes filled with tears. I gave a silent prayer to live where I do and in the time that I do. I am so lucky!

This woman knew pain and suffering and she did what she could to help.

Could I also do what she did? Would I have been that strong?

Gosh! I hope I could have done something!

These photographs were shot with my Nikon P-90 digital camera and downloaded directly from the camera and then to this blog. My aim is to take my reader along with me on the journey, so although I am aware of my framing of the shot, content and quality, I am most interested in sharing the experience.

Freckles

2010-06-17T18:37:00.000-04:00

Ever read articles about pets looking like their owners?

I stumbled across this interesting looking man who had kittens to give away.

Look at that little baby! So cute sitting on the man's lap like it was the safest place in the while wide world.

Now, here's a mental exercise for you:

Picture walking alone down a dark street at night and this man is walking towards you...

What would you see?

A man who cuddles a kitty on his lap?

Or...?

Look at this precious little baby!
His freckles blew me away and I wanted him!

Sure, the others were very cute too, but...

This one was so special.

"Ok Dad... Is it time for chicken yet?"

"Maybe I'll just sleep a minute more!"

These photographs were shot with my Nikon P-90 digital camera and downloaded directly from the camera and then to this blog. My aim is to take my reader along with me on the journey, so although I am aware of my framing of the shot, content and quality, I am most interested in sharing the experience.

Wieners Rule!

2010-06-16T18:05:00.000-04:00

It takes a certain sort of person to have a certain kind of sense of humor and whether it was Henry Ford or Clara or one of their many employees who thought of this theme for their cafe in the museum, I don't care! It is funny!

Let me introduce you to the Oscar Meyer Wienermobile Cafe located inside The Henry Ford Museum!

During our visit, we were again peckish in the middle of the afternoon and just happened to be more than half way through the museum. A hot dog and drink and a little sit down were in order and so over we went!

Cafeteria in style, you can buy all sorts of gourmet hot dogs and Dick ordered a Chili Dog and me, well, I just had a Cheese Dog. Num! Num!

Has anybody seen this vehicle for real? What fun!
And of course it's right there in the Museum!
There were only six of these vehicles built.

I am humming the Oscar Mayer theme song as I type...

My Balony has a first name,
It's O - S - C - A - R ...

My Baloney has a second name,
It's M -A - Y - E - R...

(Come on! What's the next line?)

Oh! I love to eat it every day,
And if you ask me why I'll say....

(Big breath now...)

Cause Oscar Mayer has a way,
With .... B - O - L - O - G - N - A!

Here's the link to a YuTube page of the little guy singing it!

Oscar Mayer Wiener Jingle

Oh, I wish I were an Oscar Mayer wiener!

That is what I'd truely like to be...

'Cuz if Iwere an Oscar Mayer wiener,

Everyone would be in love with me!

We couldn't help but laugh as we saw this commotion around this display! Giggling and laughing!

I would love to meet the person who thought this up!
The children were having such fun!

... And no, Oscar Mayer didn't, nor did anyone else compensate me in any way to post this! I just love the whole concept!
Brilliant Marketing and I 'm just jealous I didn't think of it!

These photographs were shot with my Nikon P-90 digital camera and downloaded directly from the camera and then to this blog. My aim is to take my reader along with me on the journey, so although I am aware of my framing of the shot, content and quality, I am most interested in sharing the experience.

Rosey Rhubarb Days

2010-06-15T19:02:00.000-04:00

Ever heard of a town where the residents use the humble Rhubarb plant as a decorative feature?

Shedden Ontario, Canada!

It was over eighty degrees Saturday and this team and pair of babies pulled the wagon full of folks all day!

The babies were very good, but did voice their disapproval!

Mmmmm.... Cotton Candy!

Rosie Rhubarb is after all, all about the rhubarb! These are jars of Rhubarb salsa and Dick says it is good! (Too bad they weren't sharing their recipe!)

My friend and I shopped all the vendors...

Tons of children's activities! This little girl was catching fish in a fish pond. It was so hot and humid, I was considering shoving them all aside and sitting in the thing!

Mostly, Rosie Rhubarb days was about garage sales and the whole town had turned their stuff onto their lawns. We didn't buy much, but had tons of fun.

These photographs were shot with my Nikon P-90 digital camera and downloaded directly from the camera and then to this blog. My aim is to take my reader along with me on the journey, so although I am aware of my framing of the shot, content and quality, I am most interested in sharing the experience.

I Make Hobo Bread

2010-06-14T18:29:00.000-04:00

Shortly after we arrived at the Henry Ford, I was feeling a wee bit peckish and said to Dick:
"Time for coffee Dick?"

...And his reply was of course and always: "Sure! I could use one too!"

So into the restaurant we went and the search for something snack-ish to go along with the nectar of the gods began. No muffins, no croissants or bagels of note and then my eyes landed on a rack full of what was labeled "Hobo Bread." Baked in tin cans and you could buy a soup can size or big pie filling can size. It was sliced and so...

It was divine! I got some packets of butter and a knife and we ate the whole thing!

So, when I came home, I had to Google the recipe and came up with a couple of versions. This is mine, but next time I would like to use a heartier flour and make it denser than mine turned out.

My ingredients:

1 cup water
3/4 cup boiling water
1/8 cup sour cream
2 tbsp soft butter
2 tsp baking powder
1/4 cup white sugar
1/4 cup brown sugar
1 egg
1 cup walnuts
2 cups flour

Soak the raisins in the boiling water and let cool,

Add a couple of tablespoons of flour to the baggie with the nuts in it to coat them. (If you don't they sink in the batter to the bottom!)

Mix all the dry ingredients and the stir in the stirred egg, butter and raisin / water. Mix until moistened, but don't worry if there's a few strings of flour in the batter.

Pour into several greased tin cans or I just poured the whole batch into my silicone loaf pan.

Bake at 350 for 45 minutes to an hour, or longer for the loaf pans.

If you haven't yet bought silicone pans, you'll never believe how long you put up with the old kind and trying to pop your baked goods out! I didn't even grease my pan and look how it comes out?

We always out butter on something like this....

I don't know... Just seems right is all!

These photographs were shot with my Nikon P-90 digital camera and downloaded directly from the camera and then to this blog. My aim is to take my reader along with me on the journey, so although I am aware of my framing of the shot, content and quality, I am most interested in sharing the experience.

Camping is the Holiday Inn!

2010-06-13T17:22:00.000-04:00

I was lucky, because I traveled a bit as a child. Not big, grand tours or anything, but always a road trip in the car with my mom and dad and sister.

We would 'motel it' and I recall my mom would always ask for the keys to go see a room before she would rent it for the night.

It was so cool to see new places and things ...

...And I've never gotten over that.

How many of you stayed in a room exactly like this one?

I think this is one thing that blows me away about the Henry Ford Museum! They have rebuilt this motel room inside the museum and it is exactly like what I remember!
I bet there's still more than one out there in the mid-west somewhere that still looks like this?

These photographs were shot with my Nikon P-90 digital camera and downloaded directly from the camera and then to this blog. My aim is to take my reader along with me on the journey, so although I am aware of my framing of the shot, content and quality, I am most interested in sharing the experience.

Stumped Saturday!

2010-06-12T17:54:00.000-04:00

How can I do it?
How can I do it?
How can I do it?

Reuben paced back and forth. He was mumbling to himself:

"How can I do it?"

Miss Rebbecca had agreed to be driven to the service on Sunday! He had hoped and dreamed of this day, never before daring to ask her, she was just so beautiful!

Better to watch from afar lest she scorn him or worse yet, laugh!

He had finally stumbled the words out this morning as he helped her carry home her market basket and as her prepared himself for her rejection, lo' and behold her lips had spoken the word yes!

Fair she was with hair of corn and eyes the blue of a June sky and Reuben had silently watched her grow from a child to womanhood. (He was barely a man himself with only a few stiff hairs poking from his chin!)

He kept pacing and muttering, obviously puzzled with some sort of dilemma!

"She's still no bigger than a mite!" Reuben muttered. "How is she ever going to get up onto my stage coach's seat? I daren't touch her!"

His face turned ashen at the mere thought of approaching her let alone having to touch her to help her climb up into the buggy as he would one of his fares. A woman never traveled alone and always had her husband or father to assist her and his mother, he would just scoop up into his well muscled arms and pop her right up onto the seat!

"I could use a chair from the way-station kitchen?" As quickly as thought of, the idea was dismissed. No, the rotund inn keeper would never allow such misuse of her furniture!

Spying a nearby fallen tree he crowed: " I know!" He clapped his hands in glee and ran for the axe that was kept in the stage coach's tool box. He began his work, chips and sawdust flying!
Chop! Chop! Chop!

That very next morning, the delectable Rebbecca Farnsworth fell for a somewhat homely young man of simple means. The villagers spoke of the occurrence for many weeks and came to gaze at the thing that the love struck man had hacked from the stump, marvelling that such a thing could be so useful!

Before long, every front yard sported what the townsfolk had named a Mounting Block. Some very crude, some very elaborate and some made by artisans and craftsmen. Some were whitewashed and some tinted with berries and beets so that they'd be colorful...

But not a one could hold a candle to the first one carved by a young man in love!

Stumped Saturday

..... Should I make this an event so you can all join in?

Post #196

These photographs were shot with my Nikon P-90 digital camera and downloaded directly from the camera and then to this blog. My aim is to take my reader along with me on the journey, so although I am aware of my framing of the shot, content and quality, I am most interested in sharing the experience.

Ross Carriage

2010-06-11T20:44:00.000-04:00

The pictures will tell the tale...

Ever seen anything like this before?

Amazing carriage!

Looks like a Cinderella coach?

The buggy is 'hung' with leather straps for shocks!

What amazed me is that they still have the traces intact!

On display at the Henry Ford Museum!

These photographs were shot with my Nikon P-90 digital camera and downloaded directly from the camera and then to this blog. My aim is to take my reader along with me on the journey, so although I am aware of my framing of the shot, content and quality, I am most interested in sharing the experience.

Honor Amoung Thieves?

2010-06-10T18:10:00.000-04:00

Imagine just simply taking something because you wanted it or it was left within arms reach and you could just reach out your hand, wrap your itching fingers around the thing, clutch and then slide the item right into your pocket?

Imagine just walking into bank, shooting off a couple of rounds of exploding, raucous bullets, presenting a formidable figure with legs spread apart, rifle in the crook of your arm, a jaunty smile or your seriously cute face and demanding:

"Everyone hit the floor! This is a stickup!"

Imagine.....

Knowing...

Just knowing that you are the one in complete control of that bank full of townsfolk. That they all know your name and fear you.... that you hold their very lives in the palm of your hand to do with as you wish...

Knowing without a shadow of a doubt that you would walk out of that building with a big cotton sack stuffed with bills and coins and that nobody would even dream of lifting a finger to stop you...

Knowing that your honey lady was waiting....

Gunning the motor of the last car you stole in the last town, just after the last bank job...

Knowing that when you reached that car with your sack stuffed full of bills and coins and that when you jumped onto the conveniently wide running boards that your honey lady would pull the clutch and that the shiny black Ford would successfully screech away from the scene of the crime and barrel off down some country road to oblivion and safety...

Knowing that there were a hundred other Fords just like this shiny black one in the country and that the cops wouldn't really know which one was yours and which one was not....

...And having the balls to write the man who built the shiny black Ford to tell him how happy you were with his product....

I will type here what this letter says verbatim, just in case you can't read the writing:

Tulsa Okla
10th April
Detroit Mich.

Dear Sir,
While I still have got
breath in my lungs I
will tell you what a dandy
car you make. I have drove
Fords exclusivly when I could
get away with one. For sustained
speed and freedom from
trouble the Ford has got ever
other car skinned and even if
my business hasn't been
strickly legal it don't hurt any
thing to tell you what a fine
car you got in the V-8.
Yours truly
Clyde Champion Barrow

This letter is stamped as received on April 13 in 1934 and is on display at the Henry Ford Museum, Dearborn, Michigan.
Who says there isn't honor among thieves?

Bonnie and Clyde in March 1933, in a photo found by police at the Joplin, Missouri hideout.

I wonder if they would have ever thought they'd make it to a museum?

This photograph of the letter was shot with my Nikon P-90 digital camera and downloaded directly from the camera and then to this blog. My aim is to take my reader along with me on the journey, so although I am aware of my framing of the shot, content and quality, I am most interested in sharing the experience.

Fast Food... Old enough to be vintage?

2010-06-09T19:11:00.000-04:00

I am floored!

I am flabbergasted!

Fast Food is old enough to be considered Vintage?

Pardon my language, but how the hell did that happen?

They had a display at The Henry Ford Museum?

Sure, so I was seventeen when the very first chain fast food place opened in London, Ontario! I had a car and so I had to load up three other girls and they MADE me take them to the west end of London after school for this new treat!

... And I thought.... What's all the fuss about? Steamy, puny sized buns with a thin, sliver of meat inside that my mom would be too ashamed to serve even to her own family if we were starving? (Which we never did by the way...)

The fries were great though, but now who's allowed fries?

Ever since, I have not been able to develop the taste for the stuff and prefer an nice, thick, juicy hand made patty so the burger tastes like meat, not condiments.

Sure, during my youth I had a religious experience with Kentucky Duck, but I was more inclined to do one of the independent drive ins locally, like The Food and Foam and The Dairy Freeze!

I also had a brief fling with the red haired girl's dad's place and still to this day we buy their salads. (Have you tried their Mandarin Chicken?)

The self proclaimed King of burgers and me never really hit it off either, but the teenage burger place would get my business if it was within a mile of where I was foraging for food. I'm not sure why, but I think it was simply the choice made through the process of elimination, of all those that were quick, easy to get to and could be eaten in my car.

The one thing that did stick in my mind about that very first fast food chain was something I heard about right from the start. The guy who started it told people he wasn't interested in selling a good burger, he was interested in building the worlds largest distribution system. And he did!

I wonder if my baby niece gives a hoot about that when she gleefully chows down on her prepackaged meal complete with a toy? The look on her sweet face tells all and I think I get it now. He was simply before his time....
They invented fast food for this generation, not mine!

Fast food is considered vintage? Bah! I guess I am getting old!

Well! There's another sign of age... Ranting!

These photographs were shot with my Nikon P-90 digital camera and downloaded directly from the camera and then to this blog. My aim is to take my reader along with me on the journey, so although I am aware of my framing of the shot, content and quality, I am most interested in sharing the experience.

Murder on the high seas!

2010-06-08T17:50:00.000-04:00

Every day we watch CNN for the updates on the catastrophe in the Gulf Of Mexico and how many of you are all thanking the "powers" that be to not be living near this nightmare?

Be careful of how you speak!

Did you know that there are capped petroleum wells right here under Lake Erie?

I looked out at my beloved harbor the other morning and was rewarded with this sight:

Yes, this is a maintenance rig being towed out to the location of one of the capped wells that have been drilled right here on Lake Erie.
She has been docked in our harbor for a few days now, I think for maintenance herself.
I held my breath as I snapped away and watched the Tug tow her out the mouth of the harbor.
(It's a narrow channel and because the Federal Government decided to no longer dredge it, it is very shallow.)

Whew! Safely out!

This photo is cropped so you can see the rig better. Click on it to pop it open!

The Miss Libby Link... funny, Transport Canada has her registered for service out west?

You never know what's in your backyard, do you? I have a nuclear reactor just across in Akron and capped wells littering the lake's bed.

What's in your neighborhood that's just waiting for the moment and time?

These photographs were shot with my Nikon P-90 digital camera and downloaded directly from the camera and then to this blog. My aim is to take my reader along with me on the journey, so although I am aware of my framing of the shot, content and quality, I am most interested in sharing the experience.

A Barn Caught Before The Storm

2010-06-07T18:02:00.000-04:00

A stunningly beautiful blue sky and a cloud bank.

A barn on the horizon.

I'm a happy camper!

The swamp!

2010-06-06T19:01:00.000-04:00

Remember my swamp of a couple of weeks ago?

It is a cat tail bog and there were humps of cut cat tails and I didn't know what for?

Well, I don't know if this was the intent or not....

But this Mallard Duck seems to have claimed this hump as his home!

I've seen him roosting here the last couple of weeks...

Although, I never see a nest or a female?

Poor little guy!

Busted!

Who Dat!

These photographs were shot with my Nikon P-90 digital camera and downloaded directly from the camera and then to this blog. My aim is to take my reader along with me on the journey, so although I am aware of my framing of the shot, content and quality, I am most interested in sharing the experience.

I Carried The President Of The United States!

2010-06-05T20:12:00.000-04:00

I am Lincoln and I have carried the President of the United States.

Richard M Nixon
Gerald Ford
Jimmy Carter
Ronald Reagan
George Bush.

I am the last Presidential parade vehicle that will be given to any museum because the Secret Service will destroy all future presidential vehicles so that the complex electronic and security devices will remain confidential.

How sad is that?

Born in 1972, I was one of three cars used by Lindon B Johnson and I'm known as The X-100. I was was stretched to 22 ft (7 m), outfitted with armor plating, bullet resistant glass and powered by a 460 cubic inch (7.5 liter) V8 engine mated to a C-6 3-speed automatic transmission.

Years later, President Richard Nixon replaced my famous large, one-piece glass roof with a smaller, safer glass area and a hinged roof panel.
I also had several alterations over the years including a replacement of front end piece to update it to a 1978 grill.

I retired after the assassination attempt on President Reagan and am happy to take my place in the museum for all to see, the last of my kind to be so honored
!
We are some of the cars that carried Presidents and we lived, breathed and had life of our own!

These photographs were shot with my Nikon P-90 digital camera and downloaded directly from the camera and then to this blog. My aim is to take my reader along with me on the journey, so although I am aware of my framing of the shot, content and quality, I am most interested in sharing the experience.

I Carried The President Of The United States!

2010-06-04T19:29:00.001-04:00

My name is SS-100-X Car and I carried The President of the United States!

John F. Kennedy
Lyndon B. Johnson
Richard M. Nixon
Gerald Ford
Jimmy Carter

November 22, 1963 in Dallas, Texas: We were on parade and I was carrying my precious cargo: The modern president that held the world in the palm of his hand.

Firing!
Jackie screaming and reaching back across my trunk lid for the secret service member... "Help!" I can feel her still and hear the terror in her beautiful voice!

Oh! What could I have done?

I am a 1961 Lincoln Continental Convertible and I came equipped with a Plexiglas bubble top in the event of inclement weather. I was delivered in Midnight Blue and I was a gorgeous sight if I do say so myself!

After John F. Kennedy's assassination, I was brutally stripped down and was custom re-built in Cincinnati, Ohio by Hess and Eisenhart and the rebuild was reported to cost a whopping $500,000.00! My regal navy blue was covered with black and I was slung with armor plating, (1,600 lbs worth, increasing my overall weight to 10,000 lbs. )

Solid aluminum rims inside the tires to make them flat-proof, a permanent sedan roof, a new interior, an improved, two unit air-conditioning system with the extra unit in the trunk, my fuel tank was filled with porous foam to prevent an explosion in case a bullet penetrated me, electronic communications equipment, bulletproof glass and cosmetic alterations to remove damage incurred during the assassination. They also beefed me up with a more powerful motor with 17% more power.

My rebuild finished in May of 1964, I was placed back into service and carried President Johnson, Nixon, Ford and Carter before thankfully being retired in 1977. My odometer showing over one hundred thousand miles!

I have done more than I ever thought would be asked of me, but isn't that how a life of service is?

These photographs were shot with my Nikon P-90 digital camera and downloaded directly from the camera and then to this blog. My aim is to take my reader along with me on the journey, so although I am aware of my framing of the shot, content and quality, I am most interested in sharing the experience.

I Carried The President Of The United States!

2010-06-03T17:53:00.000-04:00

My name is Bubble Top and I carried The President of the United States!

President Harry Trueman
Dwight D. Eisenhower
John F. Kennedy
Lyndon B Johnson

I am a 1950 Lincoln Cosmopolitan and was one of two identical delivered.

President Trueman was my first! I was delivered to the White House with nine other shiny, closed roof limousines because the existing fleet was quite out of date. The President felt it was a modern age and he should have modern vehicles.

President Eisenhower was the one who had my Plexiglass bubble top made and installed so he could see out and be seen. Before that, I was a convertible.
See the window panel just where he stood in the back seat that would protect him?

I was especially built as a Presidential car and had many security features right from the start with a wide, rear bumper and platforms for the Secret Service men to ride on. No hand holds though! Yipee!

Many artful touches were added making me fit for the President, such as gold plating, reading lights and letter desks. Advanced electronics were also installed, providing such features as a two way intercom between the passengers and driver and full power windows. The President could control them all right from his comfortable seat.

My driver sat exposed to the elements though... Oh Well! That was his job!
He could play my radio and he had air conditioning!

Born in 1950 and finally, after seventeen years of service to my country, they let me retire in 1967!

Only 18 cars like me were built and nine of them went to the White House where they shipped the other 8 around the United States to places Truman frequented. They remained closed top cars though.

These photographs were shot with my Nikon P-90 digital camera and downloaded directly from the camera and then to this blog. My aim is to take my reader along with me on the journey, so although I am aware of my framing of the shot, content and quality, I am most interested in sharing the experience.

I Carried The President Of The United States!

2010-06-02T18:34:00.000-04:00

My name is The Sunshine Special and I carried the President of the United States!

Franklin D. Roosevelt
Harry Trueman

Born in 1939, the White House Staff sent along no less than five pages of specific instructions for the safety and security of my precious cargo. With war looming, extra caution was needed and then after Pearl Harbor was bombed in 1942, even more security features were added! I was modified to be bulletproof, with armor plating in the doors, bullet-proof tires, inch-thick windows and storage compartments for sub-machine guns.
My powerful V-12 engine would pull through the worst and my siren and 2-way radio were always on stand by for any emergency.
The Ford Motor Company leased me to the office of the president for $500 a year. I served my country until 1948 and I've been here on permanent display in the museum ever since.

By the time I was built, President Franklin D. Roosevelt already had become paralyzed from (at that time,) incurable polio and I was constructed lower to the ground so that his aides could lift him in and out easier. Also the back doors were hinged at the rear making a wider opening.
He loved having my top down, enjoying the sunshine and making himself visible to people hoping to catch a glimpse of this very special man.

I was the first of more than 50 Lincolns to be built for special White House duty. I have platforms on my tail so the security men could ride along in safety, gripping the chrome handrails you'll notice, just below my canvas top.

A special vehicle that turned the heads of the nation's people and built fit for a special passenger. Polio or not, President Roosevelt was an incredible man and I was honored to present him sitting tall!

This amazing car is on permanent display at The Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn Michigan as part of a five vehicle display of Presidential vehicles.

These photographs were shot with my Nikon P-90 digital camera and downloaded directly from the camera and then to this blog. My aim is to take my reader along with me on the journey, so although I am aware of my framing of the shot, content and quality, I am most interested in sharing the experience.

I Carried The President Of The United States!

2010-06-01T18:14:00.000-04:00

My name is Brougham, (Born in 1902) and I carried Theodore Roosevelt for his parades and public outings because he was not fond of those new fangled things called automobiles.

I was not custom built, but well constructed all the same and could carry two people inside and the coachman up front on the seat.

I was the very last horse drawn vehicle to carry a president and my last coachman, (or driver) was an African American by the name of Daniel Webster, who served as the White House coachman from 1913 to 1928. After me, he drove the Model A Ford that finally replaced me.
Still, they did not just send me away, but allowed me to still serve and be used by the White House housekeeping department for marketing and other errands right through the administrations of Taft and Wilson.

Apparently the other Presidential carriages were all used until they gave up to rust and wood rot and have not survived for future generations. Very little is known about this carriage, but it is believed to have been built in England.
This carriage is on permanent display at The Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn Michigan as part of a five vehicle display of Presidential vehicles.

The others will be posted, one at a time as they deserve.

These photographs were shot with my Nikon P-90 digital camera and downloaded directly from the camera and then to this blog. My aim is to take my reader along with me on the journey, so although I am aware of my framing of the shot, content and quality, I am most interested in sharing the experience.

What a man leaves behind...

2010-05-31T16:12:00.000-04:00

How do each and every one of us leave our mark on this world?

Yesterday, I wrote about the farming blood in my veins. The people of my family also write, paint, draw and build. We create and grow things to make our mark and what we each leave behind will be a measure of who we are and how we lived and thought.

Henry and Clara Ford.

Dearborn, Michigan.

Each of you will say: "Oh Yeah! Henry is the Ford of the Ford Motor Company!

...And you will be right.

But.... Did you know they also built an enormous museum and pioneer village?

The Henry Ford Museum.

We went there this last Saturday and it was my fifth trip in my lifetime. Each and every time since the first, I have chomped on the bit until I walk through those doors yet again and every time I leave, I just want to go back as quickly as possible!

What a legacy!

Admission is a mere $15.00 per person. (No, we're not seniors yet!)

Henry Ford began collecting historic objects as far back as 1906. Trains, automobiles, aircraft, farm implements, personal and household artifacts, guns and rifles, any and all types of glass, china and metalwork, Clocks and just about anything else man has built!

The 12 acre site is a true testament to man's ingenuity and perseverance and you just cannot imagine the things on display inside!

If you can't read the inscription, Edsel on the left, Clara and Henry! (Click on each photo and they'll pop open bigger too!)

(Wouldn't you have loved to have Clara for a mom? Look how sweet her smile is!)

Henry Ford once said:

“ I am collecting the history of our people as written into things their hands made and used.... When we are through, we shall have reproduced American life as lived and that, I think, is the best way of preserving at least a part of our history and tradition...^"

^{Originally, the museum was named the Edison Institute, dedicated to his good friend and inventor of the light bulb: Thomas Edison, but now is known as the Henry Ford or the Ford Museum.}

^{Grand hallways lead you into the buildings of the museum proper. You can only stand with your mouth open in awe at the work the craftsmen performed to create opulent splendor and yet it is there for all fingers and eyes!}

^{You walk through the arch and into the museum's expanse and looking straight ahead, you are immediately floored by the huge airplane suspended from the ceiling! (The Heroes of the Air Exhibit.)}
^{And that's not the biggest airplane they have in there either!}

^{To the right is the automotive section and there! There's the lineup of Presidential Limousines! (To come is a separate post!) Campers and camping equipment. (Did you know Henry and Clara were avid back to nature folks?)}

^{Swing your head to the left towards the farm implements and household section and .. Oh! There! The history of the Automobile and The Human Rights Exhibit! (The museum switches up several exhibits yearly so there's always something new to see.) The original engines and pumps and factory machines!}

^{Marble, granite, sandstone and brass were used everywhere. (Walmart can't keep their brand new bathrooms clean, but here in the almost hundred year old museum, the sparkling white floors shine!)}

^{Televisions are everywhere running vintage programs, commercials and documentaries. Each exhibit has a plaque with a full and interesting story about what you are seeing. Several areas have interactive displays for children and you can climb into the cab of a locomotive train's engine!}

^{Benches abound for resting tired feet and the food in the restaurant and snack bars is tasty and reasonably priced. You can just imagine Henry announcing that things were to be touched and in full reach of the general working public. No gouging here!}

To enter the adjoining Greenwich Village, go in at the gate and pass by the Josephine Ford Memorial Fountain and Benson Ford Research Center. This village was constructed to show how Americans spent their days both at work and at home. Almost one hundred buildings were moved to the site. Some as old as from the 17th century and some quite recent. You will be delightfully surprised by the costumed workers performing period tasks of home making and their work. Pottery, glass blowing, ice cream making and a tin smithy are all there to see. You can also purchase the goods as souvenirs. You can buy a ride pass and tour the grounds in a vintage Ford car or by horse and buggy. Only 90 of the over 240 acres is currently occupied by the village. The rest is forest, river and pasture for the resident sheep and horses of the village.

There are special themed weekends at both the museum and Village, but this weekend past, being Memorial Day, they were re-enacting the Civil War complete with battles!

These are just a few of the pictures I took during our visit. You can expect many more over the next few weeks and there's some I want to write stories about separately.
If you ever get a chance to visit this place GO! I cannot explain how wonderful it really is, but I want to personally thank each and every single person who every had a finger in this marvelous place.

You must be so proud to be a part of this legacy!

All of these photos were again shot and loaded directly from my Nikon P90 and then posted without alteration of any kind.

The Need....

2010-05-30T18:54:00.000-04:00

Agricultural roots run as deeply as the long fingers of the tree's roots that stands in your backyard. The 'rule of thumb' is that however wide you see the canopy, the roots actually reach that far out as well!

Our own personal roots run much deeper and take hold with much more tenacity that mere vegetation.

The traits that pass down through the generations have been gained through years of hard work, dedication and yes, even love. Where we walk and talk is exactly where our ancestors trod. Those words from our mouths are words spoken by mouths that gave us life:

Our Mothers
Our Fathers
...and so on ...

My family is just now one generation away from the farming life.

My sister and I grew up on a farm, but left. Drawn by the siren called Lake Erie.

For my sister and I, it is absolutely necessary to turn the soil in gardens and planters as soon as our Canadian winters allow. Our bodies crave the feel of the soil sifting through our stiff, arthritic fingers and our senses demand the sight of spindly, opalescent green bedding plants. Our nostrils sing with the odor of the damp, rich earth!
I feel validated when I can pick a succulent red tomato or a few leaves of aromatic Basil from my own planters. I weep real tears when the frost takes it's revenge on summer's glory and my plants are black and shriveled.

My sister had one daughter who grew up on a farm, but left. Drawn by the needs of her family.
She has a fabulous garden with fruit trees and raised vegetable beds.

I never have to worry about a gift and only need to buy a certificate from a build-all or the local nursery for this woman.

Two weeks ago, she gave me this planter...

Called it my:

"Your not my mother's day gift..."

...And I am sooo proud!

She chose and planted it herself and it is perfect for me and our house!

My niece has had two daughters born in the city and I am wondering if the traits of the generations of farmers who have gone before these two precious girls will wend their way through into their future?

Will I see them plant and till the soil, growing abundance where only dirt and moisture exists?

Will they stay city girls?
Will they be Lake girls like their Grandma and Antie?

Or will they go back to the earth and our roots of hard working farmers?

What will they be?

All of these photos were again shot and loaded directly from my Nikon P90 and then posted without alteration of any kind.

Stumped Saturday

2010-05-29T21:58:00.000-04:00

Stumped again!

....Gosh I hate that!

Torn from the soil and abandoned to summer's dry arid winds...

Still many rings could have grown...

.... Still birds to support and squirrels to house

Waiting for a flame? Hungry tongues of red and yellow heat...

What I find on a drive in the country.....

All of these photos were again shot and loaded directly from my Nikon P90 and then posted without alteration of any kind.

Field of Cows

2010-05-28T18:18:00.000-04:00

Notice I said cows?

...Actually, cows and calves.

I went out for another drive tonight, but not as far as last night.

Isn't this a pleasant sight? A Charolais mix of some sort and there's a holstein over in the corner too!

The I spotted this almost pure white cow and wondered why she was watching me like a hawk! See the little guy to the right of her?

Oh! Look who's come to dinner! And totally unconcerned about me!

That must taste good! Look how the eyes are half closed in bliss?

This girl needs for one of those calves to wake up and have supper too. That looks like it must hurt?

I think this must be Daddy?
OOOH! I wouldn't want to meed him in a dark field at night!

The air was so humid today you can actually see it in the pictures. 90 Degrees F the thermometer in my car said.

Ah! An afternoon in the shade!

All of these photos were again shot and loaded directly from my Nikon P90 and then posted without alteration of any kind.

Meep! Meep!

2010-05-27T18:52:00.000-04:00

I took a drive today after work.

I know, it's only Thursday...
But the weather was so brilliantly warm and the air felt so lush, I just had to!

Off in the distance I saw a plume of dust....

The Road Runner I ask?

Is Wylie Coyote in hot pursuit?

But no...
The farmer's are out in full force planting.

This chap was pulling a set of harrows

Without going to that Wikipedia link, Harrows are flat farm tools pulled behind a tractor to level out the ground. Also breaks up the soil to ready it for planting. I've pulled a few sets around in my day!

All of these photos were again shot and loaded directly from my Nikon P90 and then posted without alteration of any kind.

My Pond in Spring!

2010-05-26T18:05:00.000-04:00

Remember our pond from those icy days of winter?
I took several photos all frozen and glistening! Use my new search box at the top if you want to compare winter to spring!

For those of you who haven't seen our pond yet, Dick and I dug it and built it ourselves. The huge Lava rock was drilled at Silverthorn's Landscaping, near Aylmer and was boomed into the hole.

The hole is about five feet deep and full of rocks. We heat it in the winter and the sound of the bubbling water was worth every back breaking, sweating, miserable minute it took to build!

It serves as a bird bath and deer watering hole. Every morning when I come out to go to work, the edge is soaked from animals dripping.

This was a gift from our marvelous neighbors, the plant fairies...

Our other sweet friends gave us a half dozen snails. (See up in the top right hand corner? ) These puppies are about two inches across. I think this is the only one that survived.

If you're thinking about building a water feature, take it from me: Do it!

All of these photos were again shot and loaded directly from my Nikon P90 and then posted without alteration of any kind.

Beauty or Pa-Tootie?

2010-05-25T17:17:00.000-04:00

First of all! I've added a Search box at the top of the page!
I've got way too many topics to find easily and so I hope you all approve!

I want to be a beauty!

I look in the mirror and wish upon a star, a candle's flame, a lucky head of clover and wish:

I WANT to be a beauty.

Not someone that you could pass by on the street and not turn your head as you walk by....

Not something that you will forget the instant a new sparkly thing catches your eye.

I want to be that special something that lingers in your mind's eye and later that day, that night, maybe that next week...
You will pull the memory of me back out of the layers of your subconscious and revisit the unique experience of meeting me...

Talking with me....

Someone that once met, you will never, ever, EVER forget.

Someone who makes you smile even twenty years after meeting me and you'll say:

"I remember her!"

I want to be a beauty.....

All of these photos were again shot and loaded directly from my Nikon P90 and then posted without alteration of any kind.

A Foggy Barn

2010-05-24T16:35:00.000-04:00

It's been a few days since I posted a barn and yesterday was maybe not the best day to be out shooting pictures, but oh well!

There I was...

Because the lake is still cold and the air was so warm, yesterday was foggy almost all day.

This field also contributed to the mist because the dirt is still really cold too...

Makes the picture sort of spooky, don't you think?

Happy May 24th: Victoria Day!

All of these photos were again shot and loaded directly from my Nikon P90 and then posted without alteration of any kind.

Lilacs

2010-05-23T20:06:00.000-04:00

As a child, I would climb the lilac that had grown wild beside my parents garage. We lived on a farm as you know and my mother was an amazing gardener. We had more flowers and plants than anyone else I knew for many years! (Flower gardens not being high on the priority list for rural Canada when I was young.)

I would climb the old shrub and feel on top of the world! It grew way higher than the roof and I recall it was very big.

Of course being small myself at the time, it seemed I was climbing to the land of Jack's giants and even to this day I can remember how smart and strong I felt while scaling those limbs.

I would scooch over onto the asphalt shingle roof of the garage and sit out there for hours watching traffic going up and down the dirt road. I was positive I was invisible, but of course I know now that I was not.

How funny the thoughts of a child?

I was a lucky girl! My folks never said Boo about me climbing that tree. It was my secret garden and they were smart enough to let me have it!

Did you have a secret spot too?

All of these photos were again shot and loaded directly from my Nikon P90 and then posted without alteration of any kind.

May Two Four Weekend

2010-05-22T17:23:00.000-04:00

This is our long May weekend fondly nick-named the May 2- 4 after a case of Canadian beer, which you can buy in a box of two dozen bottles.

Picture all us frozen Canadians released from our parkas and artifically heated homes and with the doors thrown wide, Barbeque - ing and patio-ing and yes, party - ing. (With our cases of beers!)

Really, it is the anniversary of Queen Victoria's Birthday.

Also this is the time of year when we finally might be able to think we'll not have another frost until September! And so out we all truck to buy bedding plants!

Dick and I stopped at a landmark in our area, the mother of all greenhouses, Canadale Nurseries in St Thomas, Ontario.

This shelf of yellow greeted us. Really, even with the gloomy day we had today, who could feel sad with these in front of you?

Going to the nursery is such a family thing! I was glad to see a lot of little ones with mom and dad.
(Hey kid! Don't finger the hostas!)

If I could, I would just buy one of each geranium.

It's good to see the little ones with mom!

Peonies in June! Memories of the farm where I grew up.

With all these people, I'm impressed Dick stayed with me!

What did you do today?

All of these photos were again shot and loaded directly from my Nikon P90 and then posted without alteration of any kind.

The Grackle

2010-05-21T20:22:00.000-04:00

Grackle (Link to Wikipedia)

Sure, I can get a Grackle to sit still, out in the open and looking pretty!

This photo is cropped so you can see him better!

You'd think that a bird that a lot of folks think of as trash would hide more, wouldn't you?

Myself.. I like the way their necks are iridescent and I actually like their call.

The first photo was again shot and loaded directly from my Nikon P90 and then posted without alteration of any kind.

American Canada Geese?

2010-05-20T18:30:00.000-04:00

Extra! Extra! Read All About It!

Canada Geese are flocking to the US for foraging and frolicking!

No Grassy expanse is safe! Warn your neighbors!

Keep your children and dogs in the house!

You cannot be certain of their intent! Do not approach!

They may look harmless, but before you know what's happening all the bugs will be skimmed from your blades!

Ok! So I went cross border shopping again last weekend and spied this gaggle of geese feeding on the median at the Outlet Mall?

New Americans or would you classify these as illegal aliens?

All of these photos were again shot and loaded directly from my Nikon P90 and then posted without alteration of any kind.

Maybe I stopped a tragedy from happening today?

2010-05-19T19:09:00.001-04:00

No pictures today. No cute dialogue. No brilliant recipe.

I'm just going to tell you what I did today.

On the way home, I decided to whip in to the ice cream store located on the highway. This is a landmark ice cream store and folks drive for miles to get their fix and it's always busy. Being on the highway home from the beach doesn't hinder it's popularity either, but it is open all year long!

I got my scoop and a half of Raspberry, Chocolate trifle and was just walking back to the Magnum when I heard the high pitched screeching of car's tires! I looked towards the parking lot entrance and here came a tiny little silver car just flying in off the highway!

As usual in a situation of danger, I scoped out my own safety and escape route and because there was a row of cars between me and this speeding car, I wasn't worried about myself, but the Magnum! In seconds, I was reassured that the driver would not hit my car as he flung his little jet into a parking spot and to my disbelieving eyes, the male driver got out and the 6... Count them... Six young girls got out one by one. Squealing in glee and laughing as young people do when they are having a time!

It just took me about two seconds to turn my cell phone on, get out of my car with pen and paper in hand, write down the plate number and dial 911!

It wasn't five minutes before they had a pair of Ontario's finest down, (the Ontario Provincial Police Station is only a mile away!) As I left the parking lot, they were having a little visit with the young ones.

Now, you might think I'm mean or just miserable, but I'll tell you this. That car only had four seat belts in it. ( I knew that because I used to sell cars for a living.) Four of the girls had been all one on top of the other in the back seats! ( I think they had laid the back seats down?) The car was so tiny and quite old, that if the driver had seen fit to stop suddenly, all of these your girls would have been thrown right through the front window!

About ten years ago, my own son was injured by being nothing more than a bone head teenager. He had just turned 16 and was sitting on a girls car at a birthday party. She got in the car and started it, threw it in gear, took off and proceeded to do donuts in the parking lot! To everyone's horror, he was of course thrown from the roof to the gravel below. (She was running about 40 miles an hour!)

He has teeth implanted and had to suffer bone grafts and resetting of a broken wrist that still doesn't function properly. His back is a constant agony for him.

He refused to watch Walker Texas Ranger after that.....

God how I wish someone had just called 911 on him that night!

My Elusive Red Winged Blackbird

2010-05-18T20:39:00.000-04:00

Still not good enough...

Still taunting me....

Still, the elusive photograph...

I'll get it before the summer is over and they once again fly south.

If I would just give in and crop one or buy Photoshop and fix one up, I would be able to present a perfect picture, but I want to frame one and shoot one and just download it fit to post.

....And I want it perfect!

Want to live in my head?

All of these photos were again shot and loaded directly from my Nikon P90 and then posted without alteration of any kind.

Ewanda, Evelyn and Elizabeth Ewe.

2010-05-17T17:58:00.001-04:00

"Hi!"

"My name is Ewanda and I'd like to welcome you to our pasture." Ewanda exclaimed! (She was just ever so glad to see the visitors in the fancy black Magnum pull up.)

"Evelyn! do you see the car? Do you think they'd like to take my picture?"

But, as usual, Evelyn had her head stuck under the wagon. She squeeled! "Oh Ewanda! Please! Don't be so crass! They'll see us!"

... And on the far side of the pasture....

"Oh Lord!" Elizabeth grunted. "Do you see that hussy Ewanda gawking at that car? I tell you! She's going to get us all carted off to the glue factory if she's not just a little more discreet!"

"Quick! Pretend to be sleeping!" Exclaimed Elizabeth. "So they'll stop taking those infernal pictures! "Do I look asleep?"

But Ewanda had gone on to the next event in her life, the shiny black Magnum and the visitors now forgotten.

"Wait! Is that the corn wagon coming?"

Just a day in the life of the pasture.
Were you aware things like this went on?

All of these photos were again shot and loaded directly from my Nikon P90 and then posted without alteration of any kind.

Bridge

2010-05-16T14:49:00.000-04:00

What sends you over?
What crosses the gap?
What appliance comes from the dentist?

Who first thought to build a bridge? Did they need to replace some rotting logs so that they could get to the other side for food? Did they need to make the logs wide and smooth enough so that they could drag stuff across? Was it a necessity or just because somebody thought they needed to build something beautiful and strong, better than simple logs that continuously rotted and collapsed. Did they need the mental exercise needed for the engineering of the construction or was it just that man always thinks there's something better?

Take a good look at a bridge the next time you are near one.

Sit and stare.

Dream.

Does it signify more than connecting the two sides of a rushing river or yawning canyon? Is the structure an example of the strength of man. The endurance and stamina needed to hold on during the fiercest of storms and winds.

The winter can throw as much sleet, ice and snow at one of these iron structures and they can remain. A tornado can hit and the bridge will twist and bend, but not always will it release it's grip on each shore. Floods of angry water will stream through the iron beams and stringers and does not always wash the bridge away.

And then one day, the slightest of breezes or the metronome clopping of a horses' hooves can bring it crashing down!

Think about this for a minute:

"Bridge the Gap."

How many times in our lives have we uttered this phrase and not once actually thought about a bridge? The word "gap" seems to describe a void or empty space and bridges hang over living water. I suppose there's a space of air underneath, but in my mind's eye, I see air currents, leaves gently moving in the wind and bugs and gnats. Certainly not a space of emptiness?

"Bridging the generations."

There is no gap between each generation. They flow one to the next. That phrase somehow does not seem to be the stuff that our society is constructed of: Rigid iron and cast. I cannot imagine cement, pig iron, heavy bolts and iron welds needed to connect me with my children.

"Water under the bridge."

Ponder this phrase. Lean over a bridge and stare deeply into the water as it rushes under the structure of a bridge. Yes... Water goes under the bridge. But the phrase gives the impression that once it goes under, it's gone or lost or somehow not as good a thing as before it went under? Stare into the rushing waters that go under the bridge and then! Race on over to the other side and stare at what comes out the other side! Does it look different or not as watery? Is it of less importance in the flowing to the ocean thing than the stuff that went in the other side?

I spied these two chairs under this bridge. What a place! Imagine spending a few stolen hours listening to the babbling sounds and tinkle of the water. Imagine spending a few hours with a fine line dangling in the swirling waters with the expectations of fish for dinner? Just you, someone to share it with and this lovely hidden spot. Imagine!

A bridge. Just anywhere on a country road in Ontario.
What would you have found there?

All of these photos were again shot and loaded directly from my Nikon P90 and then posted without alteration of any kind.

Stumped Saturday

2010-05-15T20:29:00.000-04:00

...well, what else did you expect from me?

All of these photos were again shot and loaded directly from my Nikon P90 and then posted without alteration of any kind.

Lake Margaret: The Tixth Great Lake?

2010-05-14T18:51:00.000-04:00

When one of the big home builders in St Thomas, Ontario decided to develop a piece of land on the south side, they launched an interesting marketing campaign and called this subdivision Lake Margaret. Then, decided to nick-name it the Sixth Great Lake.

And this is it! Nice, big houses all around it and this park.

The Canada Geese love it!
Doesn't this scene look peaceful and idyllic?

Well..... Maybe not so much for the homeowners.

Fences anyone?

Awww! Baby ducks!

I must say I had to keep my eyes peeled on the grass as I walked to and from the car for the goose fertilizer!

....I'm glad it's not my back yard!

(But then, I live on a real Great Lake!)

All of these photos were again shot and loaded directly from my Nikon P90 and then posted without alteration of any kind.

Noses belong on faces.

2010-05-13T18:21:00.000-04:00

Noses ... which one is which?

Let's put faces behind those noses!

Did anyone know there was a car called a Hornet?

Makes a modern day Nascar look pretty high tech, doesn't it?

Which nose adorned this red fireball?

Bet you can't guess what the Plymouth sports?

Holey Moley from Plymouth!

Now we'll see who has the sculpture?

The winning-est race car in history, that's who!

Leave it to the Ford family to think up something like this! Now here's the real surprise!

Yes! A convertible! In that lovely shade of salmon that only Ford would produce!

These photos are all from our trip to Darlington Motor Speedway in South Carolina at the Stock Car Museum. Thanks for coming along!

All of these photos were again shot and loaded directly from my Nikon P90 and then posted without alteration of any kind.

Noses

2010-05-12T17:39:00.000-04:00

Ever think how important our noses are? In spring, our noses become so important here.
(It's allergy season!)

Does your nose stick out and lead the way so you never get lost?

Is it flat against your face and you look like you hit a brick wall as a child?

Have you had too much surgery and you're suing?

Is your nose a classic and needs to be in pictures?

All of these photos were again shot and loaded directly from my Nikon P90 and then posted without alteration of any kind.

The Buffalo

2010-05-11T17:18:00.000-04:00

These shaggy beasts are so awesome to look at!

Can you imagine standing on an open plain, grasses waving in the breezes. The air is hot and dusty. You've just ridden your horse for two days and not spotted a living human.

Joshua scraped his stetson from his sweat soaked noggin and slapped it against his thigh. The resulting dust cloud choked his already heaving lungs.

"Dam! Will this heat not stop?" He exclaimed! He still had a days ride before he could hope to gain the fort. (He was riding his very first pony express run with news....) He took in his surroundings.

He had dismounted at the base of a small rise with some relief from the incessant wind afforded by an outcropping of grim looking rocks. He turned to his horse.

"Well Turnip? Will we stop here for a bit?" His horse didn't reply and so, expecting the silence, Joshua also answered for the dun gelding. "Yes boss! Let's have some of that water you bin toting!"

Joshua chuckled, gave the horse an affectionate pat on the nose and lifted the canteen to the large think lips of his steed. "There you go my faithful! Enjoy a little nip!" The horse greedily sucked the tepid water. Joshua pulled the canteen away from the working mouth. "Now ya' gotta' leave a little for me!"
And he lifted the same canteen to his own parched lips and drank.
"There! Don't that whet your whistle Turnip?" He chuckled and tucked the leather water bottle back into Turnip's saddle for safe keeping and hooked his big felt hat over the horn
He stood, feet firmly planted, hands on his hips and surveyed his surroundings. "Well Turnip, I think this would be as good a place as any to spend the night! I'm a goin' to have a little look see over this pile o' rocks first though, what do ya think?" Of course Turnip didn't reply this time either and so heaving a sigh, Joshua dropped the reins to ground tie his steed and proceeded to shimmy up the rock face; about a ten foot climb.
Foot by foot and handhold by hand hold he scaled the rocks and then very slowly, he peeked up over the top. He muttered, "No point in letting the cat outa' the bag if'n there's rustlers over this here hill"

.....And this is what he saw.... (minus the fences and trees of course!)

Imagine what those original frontiersmen thought when they first laid eyes on these animals?

The huge, furry beasts are scary enough when they're laying down like this...

But picture if you will, a thousand galloping buffalo rushing headlong across the plains of the west in masses too huge to take in all at once?

Joshua slowly ducked his head back down behind the rocks. "Whew!" He exclaimed as he as quietly and carefully made his way back down and over to Turnip. "Whew! He whispered as he plunked the filthy stetson back on his head and shakily climbed the stirrup and mounted.

"Come on' Turnip," he softly cajoled, "We need to walk a piece up this way..."

And he and the horse spent the night farther along the trail where there were no giant critters to frighten the bee-geebers out of them!

All of these photos were again shot and loaded directly from my Nikon P90 and then posted without alteration of any kind.

Tomorrow!

2010-05-10T21:03:00.000-04:00

Remember our friends in the rain?

The rest of the photos tomorrow!

All of these photos were again shot and loaded directly from my Nikon P90 and then posted without alteration of any kind.

Mother's Day Rhubarb Cake

2010-05-09T18:27:00.000-04:00

There's several postings of this cake on the recipe web sites and I imagine they're all delicious, but I, (of course,) think my version is best! It is very much a comfort food. Light and delicious, but something you can sit down and eat a whole pan full of!

1-Yellow Cake Mix of your favorite brand, I used Betty Crocker.
1- Box of Vanilla Pudding that has to be actually cooked.
4-cups chopped fresh rhubarb, (I like the fresh stuff! It's so plentiful here.)
1, 2/3 cup granulated sugar
2-cups whipping cream, from carton, Do Not Whip! (In Canada, we have a half liter size. It's just less than a pint and I just use the one.)

I slice my rhubarb up very thinly. About a quarter of an inch wide pieces. If the stuff is thick and old, I'll slice it lengthwise first so my pieces are about the size of a dime and three times the thickness. Nothing I hate worse than a rhubarb something that'll pucker a goat! so I mix in the sugar and let it set up like you would sliced strawberries.

Preheat oven to 350*F
Prepare cake mix as directed on box. I use all milk instead of water and sometimes change up the oil for sour cream.
Don't scrimp on the beating.
Pour into a buttered 13 x 9 pan or you could use a glass dish.
(I'd like to try this one as cupcakes?)

Spread / distribute the chopped rhubarb on top of cake mix batter. The best way I've found is to simply droozle it with your fingers on the top. Do it in small enough bits so it sits on top of the batter.

Now, for Momma's day, I squirted a few drops of red food coloring into the cream jug and shook it. Then, poured the 2 cups of whipping cream evenly over the rhubarb/sugar mixture by pouring onto a spoon or spatula so it didn't disturb the cake batter. The first time I made this, I thought: Oh My Gosh! this is going to be a mess!

Bake at 350*F about 55 minutes or until center springs back SOFTLY. Don't bother sinking a toothpick in it, 'cause all the goopy part is now at the bottom!

Great served warm, but it needs to be stored in refrigerator.

Last weekend I gave this a test run and sent the most of it to work with Dick. His friends said I needed to quit work and just stay home and cook for them!

So! Wouldn't it be great made as cupcakes and then turned out on a serving platter cold and then let warm?

I have a little goof to admit!

     Yesterday, I had taken my normal bunch of photos of the process of making this cake and I threw the cake and camera into the Magnum to drive the hour and a half to Cambridge, Ontario, where my mother in law and sister in law live. We stayed overnight in our favorite hotel there and then after a leisurely night, morning and breakfast, drove over and picked mom up and drove over to sis' place for lunch.
   We got Kentucky Fried, (which mom loves,) and after lunch and cake, I had to run to the car to get my camera to take the expected mother's day photos of mom with her two kids.
   Here's where the goof was. I turned my camera on and hit menu delete and then proceeded to take wonderful shots of my sweetheart, his only sister and his darling 85 year old mom. I didn't realize until half way home....
   ...... I had deleted all the pictures of the cake making!

         I don't care though.... My own mom's been gone these three years and I'm just so glad to still have my mom in law to take pictures of!

       Since we've driven back home tonight, I've had my little cry within the safety of Dick's arms (I do miss my mom so much...) and even though her favorite was always pie, I am so happy to post this cake that she would have loved.

All of these photos were again shot and loaded directly from my Nikon P90 and then posted without alteration of any kind.

Pensive....

2010-05-08T20:09:00.001-04:00

So...

          .... Right this instant, there's many little ones coloring paper and pasting doilies and making Mother's Day cards for momma... Curling ribbons onto a brightly wrapped package that holds a gift for mother or grandmother....

...Grammie...

       ....Nana...

               ....Nona....

Mother.....

      .....Mom...

              .....Ma!

.....Carefully signing their name to the card, either store bought or crafted. Each card the most beautiful sight to a mother's eyes.

...Each baby the most precious gift the mother ever had.....

Motherhood.

I never gave birth to a one and yet I have two wonderful children and four amazing grandchildren....

How lucky am I?

Happy Mother's Day to all!

Pensive....

Link to Straight From The Camera Sunday

More horses to look at

2010-05-07T18:43:00.000-04:00

More horses. They're all so unique. Just like us folks!

This beauty was curious!

My Dad got us a pony when I was all of five.
Dinky was his name and he was a Shetland pony.

Friend here was checkin' out the Magnum!

Dinky was a black and white pinto and had stocky legs and a barrel body. A long, flowing mane and tail that I would brush. I can still remember what he felt like under my caressing hand.... Warm with his dense muscles tight and sometimes quivering as if he was dislodging a fly.

I flick my tail in your general direction!

Ever had a Shetland pony? Compact, strong and mean as a rattlesnake if you try to get them to do something they don't want to do! We gave up trying to ride him after awhile and my dad took him back to the person he borrowed him from and got us an old, docile mare that I recall looked much like these two horses.

Dandelions are so pretty!

...Much like Dinky was... Pretty, very striking in appearance and very attractive in the sunshine. Try to bend them to your will though and they're tough and almost impossible to tame!

All of these photos were again shot and loaded directly from my Nikon P90 and then posted without alteration of any kind.

Horses

2010-05-06T17:23:00.000-04:00

Just some horse pictures....

This matching pair! I wonder if they're related?

The muscles are amazing. No wonder they can pull like crazy!

This is the type of horse that the Knights of old England rode. The horses had to be this size and strong to carry all the weight of the armor!

This is another young riding horse. Or maybe used to pull a light buggy.

So shiny and beautiful!

All of these photos were again shot and loaded directly from my Nikon P90 and then posted without alteration of any kind.

A corncrib with corn in it!

2010-05-05T18:13:00.000-04:00

Remember the corn cribs I posted this last winter?
We found one on Sunday that they still use!

A swell red barn with an authentic corn crib! The tree beside it is a wild pear tree, (I think because of the white blossoms and they are quite natural for this area.)
The long thing pointing upwards to the right of the photo is a grain elevator. Inside the trough is a belt that has paddles on it. As it moves up and around the top, it carries the grain or corn cobs up and drops them over the top and into the crib. Or from the bottom of the crib into a "hopper" wagon.

Corn cribs are never painted and are just plain, untreated wood. I guess so that no paint or chemicals get into the corn.

We got close enough so you can actually see the cobs!
There's a lot of money in that crib!

All of these photos were again shot and loaded directly from my Nikon P90 and then posted without alteration of any kind.

A tall barn

2010-05-04T17:23:00.000-04:00

It's really been awhile since I posted a barn and on our Sunday drive, we found a really cute and interesting one for you! Once again located between Aylmer and Springfield, Ontario.

Look at this little cutie! They've got a nice 'drive' shed or 'implement' shed too on the right of this picture, but I'm all about the real barns! On the far right is a corn crib. Remember I posted one earlier and I have another for later this week!

Looks to be three stories high and I have always had a soft spot for a hip roof.
(That's what they call that shape!)

Now, there are no natural gas lines out here and so you'll see the two propane tanks. (The tubular things under the tower. That's a Purple Martin birdhouse in the back of the barn and two wind power windmills. The red wagon immediately to the right of the tower is a 'hopper' wagon used for grain. It's shaped into a V so the grain will run out the bottom when a door is opened.

Those two little windmills likely produce more power than this farm would ever use. I imagine they send it back through the grid and Ontario Hydro pays them!

All of these photos were again shot and loaded directly from my Nikon P90 and then posted without alteration of any kind.

Chickens at the market

2010-05-03T18:28:00.000-04:00

As I walked up the incline Saturday, to that end of the barns, I thought maybe I'd be out of luck for chicks too, but I was not disappointed.

But I could hear them clucking before I saw them.
I rounded the corner and there!

I am chicken number 484!

Such sharp, bright eyes!

Then I saw this young man at a table full of boxes and Jackpot!

Baby Chicks and Ducks! Yay!

Little babies all huddled in corners of boxes...
Makes me sort of sad...
These are Arcana.

Even with the serious cuteness!
I overheard a man tell the young chap that the names of the breeds were written in marker on the boxes. These are Africans.

42... 67.... 12..... Hike!

The softest of the softest. just makes you want to cuddle something!
These are Spekin ducks.

These two little ones were big enough to see out the box! They kept popping their heads up, not seeming to be afraid at all! Good to see!

I spotted these vintage chicken cages. Whew!
They look like a lot of work to make, don't they?

All of these photos were again shot and loaded directly from my Nikon P90 and then posted without alteration of any kind.

Our Sunday Drive

2010-05-02T18:07:00.000-04:00

Everything is so beautiful! The spring showers have certainly brought flowers and all is green and growing!

I don't care if they're weeds, they make me smile!

This pasture was quite a distance, but we got some fun shots.

Goats are so much fun. Look at those little tails!

He shouldn't have paid us any mind, we were so far away, but I guess life is boring on the farm!

All different shades and splotches. Some solid color, some not.
Goats and horses make great buddies. Strange, isn't it?

The horses are draft or 'work' horses. No particular breed. Likely a bit of this and that and Percheron.
The pasture is between Aylmer and Springfield, Ontario.

All of these photos were again shot and loaded directly from my Nikon P90 and then posted without alteration of any kind.

The Market in Spring!

2010-05-01T17:06:00.000-04:00

Same Market as at Christmas.

Here's a few Spring shots!

We had a thunder storm go through Ontario this morning. Just a couple of claps and some rain. I made it back to the car without getting drenched.

I had thought that the market would be full of puppies, seeing as it was spring, but no puppies. Lots of spring flowers though!

Soft and lovely shades of petunias.

Begonias are some of my favorite plants. I think it's the texture and waxiness that draws me.

I don't know about you, but I'm still afraid of a frost here.

Look at this fresh Ontario asparagus grown not thirty miles from my house! I bought two bunches and can hardly wait to roast it in the oven tonight! My mouth is watering just writing this!

The marvels of the modern age. Ontario produce from last year. Isn't it something how they can store it? Makes you wonder what they do!

Yes, I bought some... One each of Parsley, Basil and Rosemary! They were two dollars a plant! How could I not?

All of these photos were again shot and loaded directly from my Nikon P90 and then posted without alteration of any kind.

Red Winged Blackbird

2010-04-30T18:26:00.000-04:00

I grew up with the twittering song of the red winged blackbirds. I think more than any other birds, theirs is the call I most love in the spring!

I wasn't close enough to really capture him!

...But! I'm going to try again on Saturday!

All of these photos were again shot and loaded directly from my Nikon P90 and then posted without alteration of any kind.

Cormorants of Florida

2010-04-29T18:53:00.000-04:00

Every day we were on the St Johns River, we watched these birds!

They are so cool! Stretching this way and that. Sunning themselves.

The 'Gators' would float by and the birds would be oblivious to the danger!

(But you know? They never seemed to get eaten?)

And here's the eagle again!

And I cropped this one so you'd have a close-up!

All of these photos except the cropped one were again shot and loaded directly from my Nikon P90 and then posted without alteration of any kind.

The Cat Tail Swamp

2010-04-28T17:19:00.000-04:00

This is a swamp south of St Thomas, Ontario, that I drive past on my way home from work some days. A few weeks ago, I noticed these humps.
Someone, or something, has cut the cat tails and humped them up, creating open spaces of water.

What are they?

Of course the first thing that entered my mind was... Beavers!
And then I thought, no... We're too far south for Beavers. We don't have them here...

And then Saturday Dick and I drove past and we saw a Canada Goose sitting on one and we cried, "Yureka! They're for the geese!"
But no, I haven't seen any geese sitting on them since Saturday...

So! I'll just have to keep my eye on them and see what, if anything develops!

What do you make of it all?

All of these photos were again shot and loaded directly from my Nikon P90 and then posted without alteration of any kind.