tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37663505970140282982024-02-18T22:54:40.742-08:00Roamin' Gator TalesThis blog is for everyone who ever lived in a small town, or who lived in a major city, who loved a football team beyond reason, who has wonderful children and grandchildren, who has overcome disappointment, who has been greatly blessed - and mostly who enjoys a good laugh!Lyndahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11034286537160848710noreply@blogger.comBlogger49125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3766350597014028298.post-18491004560957468482011-08-06T14:54:00.000-07:002011-08-06T15:31:47.856-07:00Castles and Palaces - DenmarkThere are numerous castles and palaces in Denmark - and they look quite different from ones I've seen before in the UK. We saw several in Denmark, and visited inside two of them.<br /><br />First, at the end of our train from Copenhagen to where we were staying, we first decided to go one stop further to Helsingor (or Elsinore in Shakespeare's Hamlet).<br />We were so very tired by then we could hardly keep going - at this point we had been traveling for about 20 hours straight. But, when we rounded the corner out of the train station, there before us lay the beautiful sight of Helsingor Castle. Wish we had possessed the strength to tour it - next time!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK30shEZD_7jlL_j9px6l3_gqcB4skWhCKRprcvnff1HoNZGPX9-gqSLEIBeCV70YqP4LS-pPr_smvfIMN4ZrezySAGwlwfznfU9AwP5szAOW0LrFlPn6ojX2LCDXRo3MFXufowpug-p2N/s1600/IMG_0065.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 168px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK30shEZD_7jlL_j9px6l3_gqcB4skWhCKRprcvnff1HoNZGPX9-gqSLEIBeCV70YqP4LS-pPr_smvfIMN4ZrezySAGwlwfznfU9AwP5szAOW0LrFlPn6ojX2LCDXRo3MFXufowpug-p2N/s320/IMG_0065.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5637866140581155074" /></a><br /><strong>This is Hamlet's Castle</strong><br /><br />The next day we took the train back into Copenhagen and visited Rosenborg Slot. Slot is Danish for Castle or Palace I guess. We wanted to visit this one because is is where the Danish Crown Jewels are housed. Well, we couldn't take pictures of the crown jewels - but they were very nice. There was an especially beautiful little set of a tiara, necklace, brooch and earrings made of emeralds and diamonds that Mathilda especially liked. She has good taste!<br /><br /><strong>Kronborg Slot - Copenhagen</strong><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKbsoTWS_klzQUtNod0HEARGozew1-GeOTaoVw2VJVuzpE7BMQLi7mDQzPPo-P9tqv6WMuVnGfRI6SrpZ4VfHYdUs5-ST3MOLSomH2jqgsxmJx_jZ8EKTK7EH2JpbIlY4e2n1oP6L1je97/s1600/IMG_0192.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKbsoTWS_klzQUtNod0HEARGozew1-GeOTaoVw2VJVuzpE7BMQLi7mDQzPPo-P9tqv6WMuVnGfRI6SrpZ4VfHYdUs5-ST3MOLSomH2jqgsxmJx_jZ8EKTK7EH2JpbIlY4e2n1oP6L1je97/s320/IMG_0192.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5637867188446154898" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWisWqPtEVQummkM0GJtCVdkA9PXz598Jl6t_5qAo6rEfm-yU4PpaMRjGFLDfh0LQZaC37MjEoer189FDe8QnwHTbmZOvUFaqh702B3lW60B2L4kyLkzNc-viNu8rHfeOH5JXOzk8EO3zz/s1600/IMG_0196.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWisWqPtEVQummkM0GJtCVdkA9PXz598Jl6t_5qAo6rEfm-yU4PpaMRjGFLDfh0LQZaC37MjEoer189FDe8QnwHTbmZOvUFaqh702B3lW60B2L4kyLkzNc-viNu8rHfeOH5JXOzk8EO3zz/s320/IMG_0196.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5637867618529641010" /></a><br /><br />This Palace is pretty small compared to some others - but it was very beautiful and built as a residence, not a fortification. There are still Palace Guards - but they carry automatic weapons these days!<br /><br /><strong>Palace Guard</strong><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaL-i9BqNkIV4g77qR0VGIMK4q8DqVQG1TnWezgHvkEFYUqQausiD6FgwPY_3RzGf84xPpfLXpcsBnH4HnKCRp4crWwGOevHdLMy1kcXc93IJ9qeoM1MjBHl2DKdIXDkh_YTrzF06ea7WB/s1600/IMG_0197.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 241px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaL-i9BqNkIV4g77qR0VGIMK4q8DqVQG1TnWezgHvkEFYUqQausiD6FgwPY_3RzGf84xPpfLXpcsBnH4HnKCRp4crWwGOevHdLMy1kcXc93IJ9qeoM1MjBHl2DKdIXDkh_YTrzF06ea7WB/s320/IMG_0197.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5637868075000541154" /></a><br /><br />Later that day we took a short train ride to the northwest of Copenhagen to Hillerod where Fredericksborg Slot is. This castle is in a lovely setting, on a small lake, and there are beautiful gardens. Unfortunately, we didn't have time before they closed to visit the gardens - just the castle. It is also now the Danish History Museum.<br /><br /><strong>Fredericksborg Slot - Hillerod, Denmark</strong><br /><br />View of Fredericksborg from the far side of the lake.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4HZr-rC777Wa9wKIXtslfFpeQdLWAVqok6J_MH3zqEEEq0uEVm52NV_3143vxjR7f9X_Dgn-9Ayi8k0HXd1f3YLubuZts0kOj9j0Qv1ty8dgFLozO0k2ZWHkkG9ayUgzzFPF7NLfy68iI/s1600/IMG_0211.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4HZr-rC777Wa9wKIXtslfFpeQdLWAVqok6J_MH3zqEEEq0uEVm52NV_3143vxjR7f9X_Dgn-9Ayi8k0HXd1f3YLubuZts0kOj9j0Qv1ty8dgFLozO0k2ZWHkkG9ayUgzzFPF7NLfy68iI/s320/IMG_0211.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5637868649670963058" /></a><br /><br /><strong>The Neptune Fountain in the inner court yard.</strong><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyhFWqMnNPw8o-vrU4UAC4yw2nPWogHE1cRdQ_4ca1jXtxMCvcoEddGQgWW8niREC8yLYxiC0wZwpzQwFxMDEWOyXRIPNE11cvXl3tjfdcxQC_4EOSuJayFiJwF3sbLls0porh9DxHeHu1/s1600/IMG_0220.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyhFWqMnNPw8o-vrU4UAC4yw2nPWogHE1cRdQ_4ca1jXtxMCvcoEddGQgWW8niREC8yLYxiC0wZwpzQwFxMDEWOyXRIPNE11cvXl3tjfdcxQC_4EOSuJayFiJwF3sbLls0porh9DxHeHu1/s320/IMG_0220.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5637868824715696786" /></a><br /><br />Exterior architecture - very pretty.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbkdRgD39KQPCEYo7Xytb9JAdSj4i1HkZJ6pdxxOS4KCJ2KitAG66arGWEBlpfDZkK0itLIh-7M1sWZzRBgFCxN7gSNet7TEKo4JJtDhkhhIzSPOtDs6xJyUx3x4iUpS6KQ5IxQoRsDhII/s1600/IMG_0223.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbkdRgD39KQPCEYo7Xytb9JAdSj4i1HkZJ6pdxxOS4KCJ2KitAG66arGWEBlpfDZkK0itLIh-7M1sWZzRBgFCxN7gSNet7TEKo4JJtDhkhhIzSPOtDs6xJyUx3x4iUpS6KQ5IxQoRsDhII/s320/IMG_0223.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5637869028085313218" /></a><br /><br />A view of the Royal Chapel - the royal weddings in Denmark are still often held in this Chapel. As you can see, it is extremely ornate!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiflM6S1NdQiAQBk5kytqMG0f7K5PwKt5m4vClIbvdbORMXrKywt0yiWtFSvM0jjy94paHQ0V3ks92cJijlH1Gk9WWCRiQYzkjgI9sNnr7lLqQPnIVbK5y0WHS0OAz4kS9NLcory8RCRHjv/s1600/IMG_0226.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiflM6S1NdQiAQBk5kytqMG0f7K5PwKt5m4vClIbvdbORMXrKywt0yiWtFSvM0jjy94paHQ0V3ks92cJijlH1Gk9WWCRiQYzkjgI9sNnr7lLqQPnIVbK5y0WHS0OAz4kS9NLcory8RCRHjv/s320/IMG_0226.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5637869241274583378" /></a><br /><br />This is the Great Hall, where the king would hold audiences and entertain his courtiers. It was quite magnificent, and had some beautiful tapestries.<br /><br /><strong>Kronborg Castle Great Hall</strong><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE9Nwj80wioK9v8Wg00qicp-veg1Tg0luClsgaOBWoTXXM_XrFk0PWewuY4gDWVyA7CFby9W-IpIsg-HSZbok40nVlJhl9EK2-3LqRJnLWMWsT-RyErFRC_r9NQa9S84zKKdQQXHfhZMEn/s1600/IMG_0236.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE9Nwj80wioK9v8Wg00qicp-veg1Tg0luClsgaOBWoTXXM_XrFk0PWewuY4gDWVyA7CFby9W-IpIsg-HSZbok40nVlJhl9EK2-3LqRJnLWMWsT-RyErFRC_r9NQa9S84zKKdQQXHfhZMEn/s320/IMG_0236.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5637869616395951362" /></a><br /><br />One of many beautiful stained glass windows in the the palace - this one is the emblem for King Christian IX.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5Bw7ku-rnfDYeNM0BxD-NjZF2uo_LIfJ8pKNEE-LcQCORUDyRaGP9sQifdlbSe5I-QJgmythnS-PgfHD9rNCg8X8Qlkm6KYAE3Zid27PEh40b6aASzRNcCpefqwI3FbubcKObwfYo6XCW/s1600/IMG_0230.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5Bw7ku-rnfDYeNM0BxD-NjZF2uo_LIfJ8pKNEE-LcQCORUDyRaGP9sQifdlbSe5I-QJgmythnS-PgfHD9rNCg8X8Qlkm6KYAE3Zid27PEh40b6aASzRNcCpefqwI3FbubcKObwfYo6XCW/s320/IMG_0230.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5637869426426703506" /></a><br /><br />On a boat tour of Copenhagen we could see the back of the current Royal residence - Amalienborg Palace. The Danish flag is flying, indicating that Queen Margaret was in residence.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinRDMN3VmsUCfJNDX8tAQpCh5Yy8A_igMmVDVQN9UDv6QzDfEdlrqtcncZwsQCxVqoEMfnQqSi6zNhrvMpW9G5qkF1W-Sel_lGvm3VaLojkhR3xDaJTw90eqTQopod2YB2ciJAKPm456vV/s1600/IMG_0149.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinRDMN3VmsUCfJNDX8tAQpCh5Yy8A_igMmVDVQN9UDv6QzDfEdlrqtcncZwsQCxVqoEMfnQqSi6zNhrvMpW9G5qkF1W-Sel_lGvm3VaLojkhR3xDaJTw90eqTQopod2YB2ciJAKPm456vV/s320/IMG_0149.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5637872685138220002" /></a><br /><br />Just across the water - at anchor and awaiting its next trip was the Royal Yacht which the Royal Family still uses. Another reason why it is good to be the Queen or King!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEM6Zr0rwevqRPGvohEwdVVowQNia5XAfxe__e5LRCHYdoEm80J0KjoY1X0iGeH4pILewT4W6hrDI6a1t0mNEYaw-YVlPxoDNrgpOkKRCSQ3Xj3NhoukZ7heSgYwx5t7ONh-l0m16ddg33/s1600/IMG_0138.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEM6Zr0rwevqRPGvohEwdVVowQNia5XAfxe__e5LRCHYdoEm80J0KjoY1X0iGeH4pILewT4W6hrDI6a1t0mNEYaw-YVlPxoDNrgpOkKRCSQ3Xj3NhoukZ7heSgYwx5t7ONh-l0m16ddg33/s320/IMG_0138.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5637873257268569122" /></a><br /><br />So, that's it for Denmark.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><strong></strong>Lyndahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11034286537160848710noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3766350597014028298.post-59197058431545356312011-08-03T06:35:00.000-07:002011-08-04T17:44:05.651-07:00Oh the Food!!!Hi ya'll - I guess you probably thought I would never write another post, but here it is. Of course, Spring brought the baseball season and things have been really busy when the team is in town. Before I took the job with The Drillers, I had already scheduled a trip to Northern Europe for early June with granddaughter Mathilda (Tilda). This post will just focus on some of the cuisine we enjoyed while on our trip.<br /><br />First of all, Denmark is VERY EXPENSIVE. Expect to pay nearly $30 to feed two people at McDonalds! However, you can get a Danish Dog, with everything for much less at one of the many carts in Copenhagen. <br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBcg8DXK13P_8XXroAlhK4PUnThmvwX5DMcBTnB-KdJ2YILwxhwoN_G0CFy5x6KWUbBgTXflbUNoPoeMsZqqgb-6R5Jy0egNou9rLLxhzr9W162QN9pfP_3PZqESDccUlpyI_KESYKyqum/s1600/IMG_0274.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBcg8DXK13P_8XXroAlhK4PUnThmvwX5DMcBTnB-KdJ2YILwxhwoN_G0CFy5x6KWUbBgTXflbUNoPoeMsZqqgb-6R5Jy0egNou9rLLxhzr9W162QN9pfP_3PZqESDccUlpyI_KESYKyqum/s320/IMG_0274.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5637165278424106930" /></a><br /><br />We had bought some beautiful cheese (called Sara) and sausages on our first day when we took the train all the way to Helsingor (this is where Hamlet lived - OMG!!) We usually had that for our typical Danish breakfast, along with orange juice and coffee (for me).<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN-KXqeg8-1PUSbpK0VoAM92ihNYRyTtV64wQ_vI1nQEWWVBim9YS9q5ISABNpsGu-IX5V-oqxQCrs8192i-kCVO1APpu_6T3bfuNeiFqVHLjUulN6zZR2m60aWb3EXGsH-B0ilLAzXiMW/s1600/IMG_0079.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN-KXqeg8-1PUSbpK0VoAM92ihNYRyTtV64wQ_vI1nQEWWVBim9YS9q5ISABNpsGu-IX5V-oqxQCrs8192i-kCVO1APpu_6T3bfuNeiFqVHLjUulN6zZR2m60aWb3EXGsH-B0ilLAzXiMW/s320/IMG_0079.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5637165809332073682" /></a><br /><br />We did enjoy a nice meal in the town of Hillerod, where one of the fabulous palaces/castles is located. We'll talk castles another time - lol!!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCukYVdWnE46XpGxdvcfvDtB9RDcDWtAUpkf00wfpb0lc6BerdjQfSS6lBMIz8rmgfHNZLxrg_xos8dMEDzplb8qnfzffwlGfbvpsmv6ECi7S4WT17zRtmUNK8DGMozQrDKw6RzJIlLRi6/s1600/IMG_0245.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCukYVdWnE46XpGxdvcfvDtB9RDcDWtAUpkf00wfpb0lc6BerdjQfSS6lBMIz8rmgfHNZLxrg_xos8dMEDzplb8qnfzffwlGfbvpsmv6ECi7S4WT17zRtmUNK8DGMozQrDKw6RzJIlLRi6/s320/IMG_0245.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5637158623036764130" /></a><br />This is what nachos look like in Denmark - but they tasted good according to Tilda!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAtN4hUvD61tluUi7Vw_hvZesA_lXnfAmn0S-yiVEnUz3ZmnzOCs7FZxEIEVvUHxMX5UHHfMU1oG87MR8ePCfRa_BqpBfuxmhvmGXNxzev7GJ2gQ13vxo17CknGJwgmpnZY_-OAE8sOz40/s1600/IMG_0246.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAtN4hUvD61tluUi7Vw_hvZesA_lXnfAmn0S-yiVEnUz3ZmnzOCs7FZxEIEVvUHxMX5UHHfMU1oG87MR8ePCfRa_BqpBfuxmhvmGXNxzev7GJ2gQ13vxo17CknGJwgmpnZY_-OAE8sOz40/s320/IMG_0246.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5637159106060439170" /></a><br />I order a grilled chicken sandwich - and I got a beautiful feast!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhncXWvMyuEKYJi2bt3kCLlT-iovHBkqhAtCcQ_hH8quLcbQRmr4PCKoczsKKBAPyXMQHwrGyh2XldaqQ2pD6XObtJcmXME3GAHOMHSB3A-P46hMhc-IXxCUpyPNa5xJAU9yPNvIkOCH1BI/s1600/IMG_0247.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhncXWvMyuEKYJi2bt3kCLlT-iovHBkqhAtCcQ_hH8quLcbQRmr4PCKoczsKKBAPyXMQHwrGyh2XldaqQ2pD6XObtJcmXME3GAHOMHSB3A-P46hMhc-IXxCUpyPNa5xJAU9yPNvIkOCH1BI/s320/IMG_0247.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5637159432842034258" /></a><br />Tilda enjoying a cool beverage (actually iced tea) at the Hillerod cafe where we enjoyed the best meal we had in Denmark.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXjXP2rc_j5cIGn2EVIJWWZWS2zVwbW4g5FayCgFHk0KsUwR8T5PVmOD-EMCyxN653423ybsT20VRnWVObTNzFklN92C2RtbzlBV_inLak_vYVBujlIBzTUy1l6cwYj-xN2QD6fcWTa8kP/s1600/IMG_0083.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXjXP2rc_j5cIGn2EVIJWWZWS2zVwbW4g5FayCgFHk0KsUwR8T5PVmOD-EMCyxN653423ybsT20VRnWVObTNzFklN92C2RtbzlBV_inLak_vYVBujlIBzTUy1l6cwYj-xN2QD6fcWTa8kP/s320/IMG_0083.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5637160282438260882" /></a><br />This is the beautiful house overlooking the sea where we stayed in a small town just outside Copenhagen called Snekkersten. More about it on another post - there was some amazing connection to WWII here.<br /><br />We spent 4 days in Denmark before embarking on Saturday, June 4 for a 9-day cruise of Baltic Capitals. It was truly a trip of a lifetime. We had absolutely gorgeous weather the whole time. <br /><br />The first port of call was Rostock, Germany. I didn't know until we arrived, but this area was formerly part of East Germany in the "bad-old" days before the Berlin wall came down. We took a full-day tour with someone I found through Cruise Critic. It's called "Friends of Dave" and he only takes small groups, so it is more like having a personal guide. We chose the "Magical Mecklenburg" option, so we were off early in the morning to Schwerin, which was the former capital of the Mecklenburg Duchy - and remained an independent state until the early 20th century. <br /><br />Dave's price included lunch at the oldest brewery in Schwerin and we were given several choices while we drove over there and he called in the order!! Such efficiency - lol! I wanted to eat local cuisine everywhere - try new things, etc. Dave told us it was "white asparagus season" in Germany, so one dish would have that as a side. The dish was the schnitzel - so what's not to like. I opted for that choice. Tilda opted for a pasta dish - you will begin to see a pattern there - ha!!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLMvqzbIOSv6CmCClJDqy9V_lyuzlJkIyIPtMNkERhfpzwZR51Fn7kSUPVLi4lbyh4kgMxklK9g-7IDK4pJhU7tqkdlgEPZy8tCMhWH4fom9eTADdULiOpHyoqP1UX8Z1Z1d1GsZe7Bi31/s1600/IMG_0368.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLMvqzbIOSv6CmCClJDqy9V_lyuzlJkIyIPtMNkERhfpzwZR51Fn7kSUPVLi4lbyh4kgMxklK9g-7IDK4pJhU7tqkdlgEPZy8tCMhWH4fom9eTADdULiOpHyoqP1UX8Z1Z1d1GsZe7Bi31/s320/IMG_0368.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5637161864983684914" /></a><br />Schnitzel with White Asparagus - oh so good!!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPm8Aj4qcTLcsMqWuI0gMWtjZMp_pg1_ubQbiq_7kW4etBPXx0_3Pj10qAFIgB_hBnnvSY2EqhKA2Gr5r1Zh3uS_0l70mHDBZnF7Ih6y9ttJNLkH_pG_qyEPwjfMr0zo23mE9UyUoTtGtw/s1600/IMG_0367.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPm8Aj4qcTLcsMqWuI0gMWtjZMp_pg1_ubQbiq_7kW4etBPXx0_3Pj10qAFIgB_hBnnvSY2EqhKA2Gr5r1Zh3uS_0l70mHDBZnF7Ih6y9ttJNLkH_pG_qyEPwjfMr0zo23mE9UyUoTtGtw/s320/IMG_0367.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5637161073228615906" /></a><br />A beautiful and good pasta dish for Tilda.<br /><br />After Germany, we spent a day at sea on our way to Helsinki. This turned out to be one of favorite places for easy local transportation and the most wonderful market place where your could buy all kinds of food, handmade local crafts, souvenirs, flowers - whatever you might want. We bought some grilled salmon in the Food Hall but didn't get a picture of it - it was so good. And, we bought dried reindeer meat to bring home to my son - his only request. (I think it is still in the refrigerator).<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgocsb928Ag9Qfd-wxUmOC14wcYFL5P1BmADrWn-aOXFT3dZUFpZwJkpvb9X47SRxwVQjDi5DWDk9qRJGaGBuJC4yhpTDQg9SFqf6BwUW6aDZYUamVDklLmMXT4ZQaRwcAAyEuZZXW1m3r5/s1600/IMG_0478.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgocsb928Ag9Qfd-wxUmOC14wcYFL5P1BmADrWn-aOXFT3dZUFpZwJkpvb9X47SRxwVQjDi5DWDk9qRJGaGBuJC4yhpTDQg9SFqf6BwUW6aDZYUamVDklLmMXT4ZQaRwcAAyEuZZXW1m3r5/s320/IMG_0478.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5637163239457169554" /></a><br />A local hot dog and beer was the food of Helsinki (Coke for Tilda, of course).<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyfeeAUxOUG8Nv58dja92InsPW6-dc5jB9n8Y1GSdI9T9fbREFCV3-xytXySuf-dz1TRsSUUFhsPbBa2diUAJwO9Qr7dlRwy3zKYuC6vmLEkLgh2ayKJWqkC9T10L4sJjtcI4cGYpBpZEQ/s1600/IMG_0479.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyfeeAUxOUG8Nv58dja92InsPW6-dc5jB9n8Y1GSdI9T9fbREFCV3-xytXySuf-dz1TRsSUUFhsPbBa2diUAJwO9Qr7dlRwy3zKYuC6vmLEkLgh2ayKJWqkC9T10L4sJjtcI4cGYpBpZEQ/s320/IMG_0479.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5637163652728808482" /></a><br />I must always also try the pastry!!<br /><br />I forgot to take pictures of our two meals in Russia. The first day we had a typical Russian meal starting with Borscht (beet soup). I like beets, but I may have been the only one in our tour group who ate it - ha!! We had stroganoff and blintzes for dessert. I enjoyed it all - not great, but edible. The second day we had a chicken soup (much better), Chicken Kiev, and other sides. It was in a very charming restaurant in the middle of Saint Petersburg. So....next time I'll tell you about two amazing meals: Tallin, Estonia and Nynashamn, Sweden.Lyndahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11034286537160848710noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3766350597014028298.post-55548660289138693362011-03-10T11:05:00.000-08:002011-03-10T11:33:17.530-08:00Spring Means BaseballNot much to write about during the winter!! I could have posted how bad the snow and below zero temperatures were - but nobody wants to hear another complaint about a bad winter!<br /><br />Hopefully, we have turned the corner at last, here in T-Town. The Bradford pear trees are coming into full bloom and we have a blue-sky day - at last. <br /><br />It is less than 3 weeks to our Big Rockies Exhibition game - March 30. Needless to say, things are starting to "wake up" at ONEOK Field. The field is looking so beautiful and green - today they are working on installing a new warning track. <br /><br />Baseball fields covered with snow are a sad sight! This is from February - glad those days are gone - for now anyway.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOqFm49LA4Nh0zxjFZbIGi7jiYSuMwvbG2S3R8e7-_GYoUXS4qBdCzdLN9q3054IDbJ-ic6reQ5FVx5Bn5QL36x9-EVpOsLptfLVHcJxslKqgO9dodQazE2mLL-8nnyNkhpkm31yNrDT47/s1600/Jan202011+006.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOqFm49LA4Nh0zxjFZbIGi7jiYSuMwvbG2S3R8e7-_GYoUXS4qBdCzdLN9q3054IDbJ-ic6reQ5FVx5Bn5QL36x9-EVpOsLptfLVHcJxslKqgO9dodQazE2mLL-8nnyNkhpkm31yNrDT47/s320/Jan202011+006.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5582530675615534226" /></a><br /><br />This Saturday there will be auditions to sing the National Anthem at the ballpark. Tori got her foot in the door when she was up here for New Year's and has already been allotted a slot. She knows the words!! (No apologies to Christina A.)<br /><br />If you haven't already, check out her singing a cover of some grunge band from Seattle on YouTube. <br /><br />http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-dOiJI6Hh1w&feature=feedlik<br /><br />Both the younger grandsons are 10 this month. Michael's big day was March 6 and Wyatt will be 10 on March 28. Tilda will be spending Spring Break with us and for that we are totally grateful! She is such a sweet girl. And, I have some new clothes to show her that I bought her for our cruise in June.<br /><br />On the cruise front - airfare paid - check; cruise paid - check; Germany excursion paid - check; now saving for the rest of the things like lodging in Denmark, tipping on the cruise, etc. And - the highlight of the trip is St. Petersburg, Russia. We are booked on a 2-day tour to try and squeeze in the main things one is supposed to do in St. Petersburg. I just want to see the Hermitage - the rest will be gravy for me.<br /><br />Itinerary:<br />May 31 - Fly from Dallas to Copenhagen (arrive June 1)<br />June 1-3 - Copenhagen and around there - Hamlet's castle for sure!<br />June 4-13 - Baltic Capitals Cruise<br /> *Warnemunde, Germany - see old Hanseatic League towns<br /> *Helsinki, Finland - just walk around and see the old town<br /> *St. Petersburg, Russia - see as much as we can - lol!! Russian Ballet??<br /> *Tallin, Estonia - enjoy beautiful old Medieval town and have lunch<br /> at the Olde Hansa restaurant - costumes, candles, oh my!<br /> *At sea - thank God<br /> *Nynashavn, Sweden - not worth trying to see Stockholm - we'll just wander<br /> around the port.<br />June 13 - Arrive back in Dallas - LATE! Spending the night there for sure!<br /><br />I am sure to have much more interesting things to post during/after this trip!<br /><br />Now, let's get ready for some baseball!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEw0G47-ZopK1GW8_ig8Z9EXBQ2tnnALR5ODY7qmwoRUtQdOdvj8ntOfwhF_0uga2JtQd-CwicS0O7seYy4HPVjtqoZzjI9jPnXFY4onloKWuYaHKj5kcrTG7-YX0BTzWabrd3odCHCjsd/s1600/Primary_BW.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 112px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEw0G47-ZopK1GW8_ig8Z9EXBQ2tnnALR5ODY7qmwoRUtQdOdvj8ntOfwhF_0uga2JtQd-CwicS0O7seYy4HPVjtqoZzjI9jPnXFY4onloKWuYaHKj5kcrTG7-YX0BTzWabrd3odCHCjsd/s320/Primary_BW.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5582536071863537042" /></a>Lyndahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11034286537160848710noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3766350597014028298.post-32602922794876194352011-01-10T17:17:00.000-08:002011-01-10T17:34:43.094-08:00Long Time, No Post!Happy New Year to all!<br /><br />Now that I have "un-retired", I haven't had time to gather up pictures and do much on this old blog. But, working for a baseball team - well, let's just say that was a dream come true. As a dear old family friend told me - "Your daddy would be so proud". That's what it's all about!<br /><br />I just tuned in the National Championship game - and there is Urban Meyer at the desk talking about the game - he looks good - sure hate to lose him as Florida "Head Ball Coach", but glad he's doing what is right. Oh...there's Nick Saban with him...well him I can do without - lol!!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLs9LwUrToT7z4p49NLVBmtEn2qXFh8stw6KKRsuhRGNPBpIpa0e6X0ElySMlBM4CZeieu3JBmNmbmFquZS2EtD9j8rrOXXgDd6Bu6MXN6RQfCXhD2DhHjnpLhcwZKrG5Qgdkfl3uKfBzz/s1600/Christmas+2010+005.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 286px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLs9LwUrToT7z4p49NLVBmtEn2qXFh8stw6KKRsuhRGNPBpIpa0e6X0ElySMlBM4CZeieu3JBmNmbmFquZS2EtD9j8rrOXXgDd6Bu6MXN6RQfCXhD2DhHjnpLhcwZKrG5Qgdkfl3uKfBzz/s320/Christmas+2010+005.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5560732293235946530" /></a><br />Here's the family out at Tulsa's WinterFest - in front of the big tree - which my son, Jeffrey said didn't count' because it was fake!<br /><br />Tori and Tilda were up for a few days between Christmas and New Year's Day. They are 16 and 14, respectively. They are starting to not be as "bestest" friends anymore because Tori is very trendy, social and outgoing whereas, Tilda is more bookish, quiet and introverted. Oh, the LOVE is still there, for sure, and the rest will work out as they get out of these WONDERFUL teenage girl years - ha!!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAPi5Q4xckDh_j_mAH1uLs3XVD2G4s_nxB0yVy1vwFJwW3BChvsiLCGryAluJbXIdohv2_SpRC1vTvdFU2ujcyxugunvjV_nXl8k-8zdz4UfKcNcwhXANdeOgbJgq4i4i2x4Fn1nfhsbZB/s1600/Christmas+2010+007.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 298px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAPi5Q4xckDh_j_mAH1uLs3XVD2G4s_nxB0yVy1vwFJwW3BChvsiLCGryAluJbXIdohv2_SpRC1vTvdFU2ujcyxugunvjV_nXl8k-8zdz4UfKcNcwhXANdeOgbJgq4i4i2x4Fn1nfhsbZB/s320/Christmas+2010+007.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5560733172998756002" /></a><br />Tori, the blonde and Tilda, the sweetie!<br /><br />We girls all just LOVE the musical WICKED! I swear, these two are the leading ladies - really. Tori is such a "Glinda" and Tilda is "Elphaba" - and both have their strengths, don't they? If you haven't seen that show - you should go see it soon. It is really, really great. The music is wonderful.<br /><br />Here are Michael and Tilda just before we left to go see it on the Friday after Thanksgiving. That was part of their Christmas presents.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimHEBrHt7ygDPWxcQ9HAwkW4FcyFE9QJ5TOY-9YmpQCCSLHKKfnUlrmNR1P0iGaf4_HkWLnYhSqmuus0sk0CUC3xThj9Q7XqC5P4l6xS1WY2VL9L-vVuw53ynZDB4b0VVwK2fgrvJgZRKX/s1600/IMG_0002.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 286px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimHEBrHt7ygDPWxcQ9HAwkW4FcyFE9QJ5TOY-9YmpQCCSLHKKfnUlrmNR1P0iGaf4_HkWLnYhSqmuus0sk0CUC3xThj9Q7XqC5P4l6xS1WY2VL9L-vVuw53ynZDB4b0VVwK2fgrvJgZRKX/s320/IMG_0002.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5560734186852768258" /></a><br /><br />And, by the way, Tilda wore GREEN in Solidarity with Elphaba!!<br /><br />I'm loving working at the Tulsa Drillers. Every day is something new and all the people are great to work with. I've even been called on to get back to putting together some SWEET PowerPoint presentations for sales meetings and training. I haven't lost my chops!<br /><br />All in all - life is VERY, VERY good. The countdown is on for the BIG TRIP with Tilda in June. We fly out of Dallas-Ft. Worth on May 31 to Copenhagen, Denmark. Then on June 4 we take a 9-day cruise of the Baltic Sea - seeing many countries including Germany, Finland, Estonia, Sweden and RUSSIA!! Yes, indeed, we get to spend 2 days in St. Petersburg, Russia. It is going to be EPIC!!! Truly, this is a trip of a lifetime and we are both very excited. I will be sure to do many blogs telling you all about it!!<br /><br />Until then - less than 90 days to first pitch! Go Drillers! Go Gators!Lyndahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11034286537160848710noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3766350597014028298.post-24777480194040226942010-11-25T07:58:00.000-08:002010-11-25T08:25:02.825-08:00It's Been Too LongHappy Thanksgiving to All.<br /><br />The title has a double meaning - it's been too long since I posted anything AND it had been WAY too long since I saw my BFF Marsha Jane Johnson Bryant and then my relatives in Virginia. So....I took off for a long visit in late September to North Carolina, Virginia and wee bit in South Carolina.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkTATKKdt6OtzeKwuJE0sa_M9e86ePoP_nimiGzIgnjvbpk4GxqD3DB9N0n62kfwYJy7_4jxEOHY6Zo4ln_WtHmr3y9v2gsflCTN0-0QI66T2v_LpnClf0H52mW0_U_96zqIFN01vJ8wU-/s1600/IMG_0033.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkTATKKdt6OtzeKwuJE0sa_M9e86ePoP_nimiGzIgnjvbpk4GxqD3DB9N0n62kfwYJy7_4jxEOHY6Zo4ln_WtHmr3y9v2gsflCTN0-0QI66T2v_LpnClf0H52mW0_U_96zqIFN01vJ8wU-/s320/IMG_0033.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5543518044297833682" /></a><br />This is "my girl" Marsha and me standing by the James River on our way to walk around the Jamestown Historic Park. <br /><br />I had not seen my cousin Jim since the late 80's - and he has had serious health issues in the past couple of years - so Marsha and I went and stayed with him, and his lovely and gracious wife Beverley, for a few nights. First of all - their house is absolutely gorgeous and they were the most gracious of hosts you could ask for.<br />Second, I just wanted to hang out with Jim - and catch up. We had many great times when we were growing up together. Here's proof.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOhr3QkylXEyFSGQIoME4k7IRUBb89096jKjmWRs7udBKDrHHKLi_MbeJyhxdngROpTSB1TRgZUcHrEXgM8mWqjhCV8o9AOrXUzK1mHlLQT8GIWe_kR17_AsdhHf7foI45p6otxt3FdNu2/s1600/Jim+Lynda+Sam0001.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 221px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOhr3QkylXEyFSGQIoME4k7IRUBb89096jKjmWRs7udBKDrHHKLi_MbeJyhxdngROpTSB1TRgZUcHrEXgM8mWqjhCV8o9AOrXUzK1mHlLQT8GIWe_kR17_AsdhHf7foI45p6otxt3FdNu2/s320/Jim+Lynda+Sam0001.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5543518967235954050" /></a><br /><br />The other fellow on the far right is a little boy named Sam, and he was a foster child who stayed with Jim and his family once upon a time. My daddy and mother wanted to adopt him - he was to be my brother!! But, alas, the State of Virginia would not allow him to be adopted in Florida. Here's hoping that little Sam had a good and secure life.<br /><br />Here is Jim and me - at this time in our life - along with his wife Beverley and his mother - my Aunt Rosetta.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC6LXoMDzBN791stgNO4KwTMKPM15iItcZhQuDbyJ6wnCUUf-i7kNQSxEu6_wD-SnXqyGUda-EGvFWnto0k4yQzLyoz5Fl8aKB_iv6dLFzqUmgZ4ptJK2Eksjd7Ix_PX2JSDb2ACeKTbrQ/s1600/CIMG0204.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC6LXoMDzBN791stgNO4KwTMKPM15iItcZhQuDbyJ6wnCUUf-i7kNQSxEu6_wD-SnXqyGUda-EGvFWnto0k4yQzLyoz5Fl8aKB_iv6dLFzqUmgZ4ptJK2Eksjd7Ix_PX2JSDb2ACeKTbrQ/s320/CIMG0204.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5543519787166737410" /></a><br /><br />Back to Jamestown - in all my genealogy research I found that way up my Carter-Erambert-Sheffield branch my 9th great-granparents were John and Ann Johnson who just happen to be shown on the 1624 Jamestown Census!! Here are a couple of pictures from the unbelievable Jamestown historic site - where there are current archeology digs in progress.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3iSoONCJkevwoh3Qh09w1pJBR1rF404VyAT4zNWJ9sDNNIZuJJNn205O25vE-31YHrExDTLSMx57p-uw2Ls5r0elcRrV7rAGRaWTTFCYxWnkGKmvuh_-q-mRpweX2wYc8ZsTQo8jGFbMj/s1600/OldChurchJamestown.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3iSoONCJkevwoh3Qh09w1pJBR1rF404VyAT4zNWJ9sDNNIZuJJNn205O25vE-31YHrExDTLSMx57p-uw2Ls5r0elcRrV7rAGRaWTTFCYxWnkGKmvuh_-q-mRpweX2wYc8ZsTQo8jGFbMj/s320/OldChurchJamestown.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5543521491788037954" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiC3-BghQ4r9WAamj8wBf6ug8HVWg6NaOrwSHLtPKktKBXagM3HNqyF1Tk_sAXrbbzKixH1ShLWXEK45VM1BvdNcEBSf3i0DiPdPFjgx17scm7WR-RgA6gYEZO1-JQDWgk8nBx7c8lDpru/s1600/JamestownDig.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiC3-BghQ4r9WAamj8wBf6ug8HVWg6NaOrwSHLtPKktKBXagM3HNqyF1Tk_sAXrbbzKixH1ShLWXEK45VM1BvdNcEBSf3i0DiPdPFjgx17scm7WR-RgA6gYEZO1-JQDWgk8nBx7c8lDpru/s320/JamestownDig.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5543521820827192690" /></a><br /><br />We got to walk around with one of the archeologists for about an hour and learn alot about the historic significance of what they are finding - and also how life was really tough in the Jamestown colony.<br /><br />That afternoon, we took a walk around Williamsburg. Luckily for me, my Cousin Jim actually lives in Williamsburg - so very convenient for tourist me! We didn't do any of the museums - not enough time - but just seeing the "living museum" that Old Williamsburg is was so worth it!! Especially for this DAR member!!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivLOvEbFjb4BXi-ikejigyt-W4z95LwNLlZlYXrM2RxlliuPJk3GfrWHVaFxUemzfs5ng9hxu5pxhZonK5bRdF5z-HboBfCvAfTNTqqdL99gtNr51zHW6E0sx6sGJdrJqnJb-cFozCsnRi/s1600/DSCN0412.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 256px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivLOvEbFjb4BXi-ikejigyt-W4z95LwNLlZlYXrM2RxlliuPJk3GfrWHVaFxUemzfs5ng9hxu5pxhZonK5bRdF5z-HboBfCvAfTNTqqdL99gtNr51zHW6E0sx6sGJdrJqnJb-cFozCsnRi/s320/DSCN0412.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5543522940773454690" /></a><br /><br />This is the Virginia Colony Governor's mansion - it was GOOD to be the governor.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAQIbVRKTjTsAghg-ThevaOpcfTDqC2aEx2lzcuCvqF0J9tKhg1NkFGSCmCkvUWBHS84ysJ_FaxR3fTkW5OL-HMtoLmzHfecGSsZyJEdrRinAkudul27LE6k6wdAMvn4q9b3_pCAeWUYIi/s1600/DSCN0399.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAQIbVRKTjTsAghg-ThevaOpcfTDqC2aEx2lzcuCvqF0J9tKhg1NkFGSCmCkvUWBHS84ysJ_FaxR3fTkW5OL-HMtoLmzHfecGSsZyJEdrRinAkudul27LE6k6wdAMvn4q9b3_pCAeWUYIi/s320/DSCN0399.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5543523244476690306" /></a><br /><br />Ok - so that's it for this time. Next post - I'll tell you about the Benton's North Carolina connections! Many generations lived around the Wilmington-Brunswick County area.Lyndahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11034286537160848710noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3766350597014028298.post-31046719383828546682010-09-15T16:33:00.000-07:002010-09-15T16:43:58.414-07:00The Good Old Florida Days<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMsxQDJjiqvOJLythuMS0vrEfBFiT1ANFhyphenhyphenASNsOkANthAxkMyI4nxTaV29tj_amahj0WzffRVPzwGY4jPM-6okVHOGYWa41_rauDjaSIIzSc9ub0IW-DRuxQk_xA1Bo_2ukyCRHhCo5NF/s1600/ArcherChildren1951.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 221px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMsxQDJjiqvOJLythuMS0vrEfBFiT1ANFhyphenhyphenASNsOkANthAxkMyI4nxTaV29tj_amahj0WzffRVPzwGY4jPM-6okVHOGYWa41_rauDjaSIIzSc9ub0IW-DRuxQk_xA1Bo_2ukyCRHhCo5NF/s320/ArcherChildren1951.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5517288536121999954" /></a><br />This will be a quick one, but I just have to post a couple of old pictures I came across today.<br /><br />The first one above is some shindig or other the dear mothers or Archer, Florida put together when I was about 4. I think it was called a "Tom Thumb Wedding" and it was held in the Archer School Gym - which is still standing. I barely remember it at all, but I do remember being so afraid that I was crying, which made my mother laugh and say that "mothers are supposed to cry at weddings". I portayed the mother of the bride or groom - not sure which. The lovely bride is my very dear friend, Lura Williams and I think that is Frank Batey as the groom. I am the "lady in black" on the back left side.<br /><br />Next - and this is for my cousins in Florida and their children - my cousin Larry Benton and his sister, little Miss Donna Benton. Honestly - I think this picture of Larry looks quite a bit like one of his gorgeous grandsons. These two adorable kids were my "living dolls" growing up. I was the "big" cousin - 5 years older than Larry and 6 years older than Donna.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhE2VcCrQ4esFnvZBwqcVsHEUTOmMI6_7mE6pjO5Onj2rRWdOm42YGdjoqhEsXkgXuVhacjxfg2hJo536AwF6Fa-AvWtBB3m2HysQmFM1pdUKuXllw38zQoAosMgCbD5IggN-2HlOncgsh/s1600/LarryandDonnaBenton.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 229px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhE2VcCrQ4esFnvZBwqcVsHEUTOmMI6_7mE6pjO5Onj2rRWdOm42YGdjoqhEsXkgXuVhacjxfg2hJo536AwF6Fa-AvWtBB3m2HysQmFM1pdUKuXllw38zQoAosMgCbD5IggN-2HlOncgsh/s320/LarryandDonnaBenton.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5517289386053246802" /></a><br />Thank you, Donna, for all your patience in having your hair done a hundred different ways. And Larry, thank you for always loving me like a sister - even after all these years.Lyndahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11034286537160848710noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3766350597014028298.post-41578431010971386792010-09-10T07:28:00.000-07:002010-09-10T08:22:58.262-07:00Faith of our Fathers (and Mothers)The past few weeks have been a whirl of family secrets revealed and exciting discoveries of family history. You know - I am just the biggest history nut in the world and it is so much more interesting when it involves your own family.<br /><br />In trying to track down where my great-great-grandmother, Margiana Cathren Erambert Carter (also known as Kate) might be buried, I was getting stumped. By the way, my Nana - Margie Anna Carter Camp Stokes was quite obviously named for her. Well, she was not buried anywhere near the grave of her husband, John Thomas Solomon Carter (whew - is that a mouthful or what?) This is a picture of his headstone at Mt. Zion Cemetery in Cass County, Texas.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsIKWN81WJQ4vkOipTpz12zQ9BZTi0mfzOB6FuFOGgyW1rdMJ7bnh5v-BTMP9MNO1AFGPfG1heEPXpI6tqlD7FsLzk1u7-lVpZ__izNGe9waOPHK_67QzPJlCTUQ_Wl8heBhdm7JLe-Vpb/s1600/IMG_0039.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 210px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsIKWN81WJQ4vkOipTpz12zQ9BZTi0mfzOB6FuFOGgyW1rdMJ7bnh5v-BTMP9MNO1AFGPfG1heEPXpI6tqlD7FsLzk1u7-lVpZ__izNGe9waOPHK_67QzPJlCTUQ_Wl8heBhdm7JLe-Vpb/s320/IMG_0039.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5515297550741976354" /></a><br /><br />It is so hard to read what people put on these old headstones, but here is transcript of what is written on his. "No pain, no grief, no anxious fear can reach the peaceful sleeper here". I think that is so touching. He died at the very young age of 26, after having traversed with his wife and young family to make the move from Terrell, Georgia to the far northeast Texas lands.<br /><br />I also had found her mother Sarah Erambert's headstone very near J.T.S. Carter. And here it is. <br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqc51wEpZy1OUjjvht3hSTvahJTLsyDFs7r_KNR-fIxRBgLNL9RjMRISmEZttIUrvlYmD815ZiscXsmBUgyPwHbjIGson_3BXjM-J-rx4msSq0NFS4MnUZzVJSlD2X9pvHYp5s6tCxCXrP/s1600/IMG_0040.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqc51wEpZy1OUjjvht3hSTvahJTLsyDFs7r_KNR-fIxRBgLNL9RjMRISmEZttIUrvlYmD815ZiscXsmBUgyPwHbjIGson_3BXjM-J-rx4msSq0NFS4MnUZzVJSlD2X9pvHYp5s6tCxCXrP/s320/IMG_0040.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5515292953845886034" /></a><br /><br />Sarah was a widow and she had moved with her daughter, son-in-law and grandchildren to look for opportunity in Texas. Her headstone has the following inscription:<br />"We saw not the angel who met her at the gate of the City. We could not see over the river, Over the river our mother stands - Waiting to welcome us". Obviously, my ancestors were people of deep faith.<br /><br />There a many, many Carters (and Camps) buried in this cemetery. And, let me quickly tell you this is a very historic old pioneer church. The congregation has been disbanded for many years, but they still have a once-a-year service at the church, and all who ever attended or who have ancestors buried in the graveyard and welcomed. I am thinking I WILL be at the next one. It is a covered dish lunch following, and I can attest to what that means in East Texas from the family reunions I attended when I was growing up. Here is the Texas Historic Marker from Mt. Zion Baptist Church.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHZnw4wAR_AZ7aW2MWAVRQSsS5TxDx66CFZmf9Kene1vN6rCl3xnSVydWWrpO7Jig3NQoq8ot1Q4J6hHvdab-y7j7DxEQjmqlPXSxQOt-vOuRUHsvdh3luA_s8dHXFwbFttJU5lseTwpHR/s1600/MtZionBaptistChurchHistoricMarker.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 296px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHZnw4wAR_AZ7aW2MWAVRQSsS5TxDx66CFZmf9Kene1vN6rCl3xnSVydWWrpO7Jig3NQoq8ot1Q4J6hHvdab-y7j7DxEQjmqlPXSxQOt-vOuRUHsvdh3luA_s8dHXFwbFttJU5lseTwpHR/s320/MtZionBaptistChurchHistoricMarker.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5515297237864683938" /></a><br /><br />And here is a picture of the inside of this old church.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2oWr6_gRV-kaap5ADxzYZeLNiilXQ19ZHe5E5Cp52d-a8ddS_3S8OpRuMGH1ZzCwDMs1wcYO6Wrl92UNs8ydX3-I4JI5IZi-tNGfZ4sMktvmhoY8Kc99xGZMmgZZAXFDUGB-7BxE3ZeYm/s1600/IMG_0050.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2oWr6_gRV-kaap5ADxzYZeLNiilXQ19ZHe5E5Cp52d-a8ddS_3S8OpRuMGH1ZzCwDMs1wcYO6Wrl92UNs8ydX3-I4JI5IZi-tNGfZ4sMktvmhoY8Kc99xGZMmgZZAXFDUGB-7BxE3ZeYm/s320/IMG_0050.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5515295892463997650" /></a><br /><br />As usual, thanks to Ancestry.com, I found someone else who had Kate Erambert in their tree. I contacted them, because their tree is "private" and got a quick response. Kate remarried, after her husband John (my great-great-grandfather) passed away. She married William Harrison Sedgass and she is buried in Trinity Cemetery. (The person who contacted me is the grandchild of Ruth Carter who was my great-grandfather Charley Carter's sister - so they are some sort of cousin of mine).<br /><br />I had also been to Trinity cemetery on the same day as I visited Mt. Zion. My Charley T. Carter, son of said Kate, is buried there along with my great-grandmother Lily Ann Fason Carter. <br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdJUIne1jtlgoLgmbZvbJTDCFPMmC9z2d-pd_ANOztfPpGBsO0M2XmekgogvgVInJNNYhyMCJj6KIBfLItJ4qowvelfWjUfIdh5utfwIyJc4HT0UNLXFoTGFztecixwku6VDUtfd0FpohI/s1600/IMG_0021.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdJUIne1jtlgoLgmbZvbJTDCFPMmC9z2d-pd_ANOztfPpGBsO0M2XmekgogvgVInJNNYhyMCJj6KIBfLItJ4qowvelfWjUfIdh5utfwIyJc4HT0UNLXFoTGFztecixwku6VDUtfd0FpohI/s320/IMG_0021.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5515304228550558210" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_DFiZFE1IXOu8b7wtTbf1mRl_Sh5cZWQWeGD-cTYagDJaU2Koei524OzBZAQgVfsqPqzaFGZYKQUTuHmxgHOQMVGxG0IwtcAtzXiFYd2m2qTLzir6DJfHiT3Jo3NkwsVlVD2bnpqzraE6/s1600/IMG_0023.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_DFiZFE1IXOu8b7wtTbf1mRl_Sh5cZWQWeGD-cTYagDJaU2Koei524OzBZAQgVfsqPqzaFGZYKQUTuHmxgHOQMVGxG0IwtcAtzXiFYd2m2qTLzir6DJfHiT3Jo3NkwsVlVD2bnpqzraE6/s320/IMG_0023.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5515303781699503938" /></a><br /><br />Several other close family members are buried at Trinity, including my sweet uncle James Earl Camp, who died at the tender age of 12. He was the one who stayed behind when Nana brought my mother, Gladys and my Uncle Joe to Florida.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBzaiUxuqK7huu8Y-9E9VEL5xvtrQAc2aJGewmrGhjUZXXSCL35oM5Bd9ssYgkLM-O5t7qc8mWuz16kNAs5A_ax59ed8b6kthwidIZfY0wlvjp4pzMstNcYc2cP4YjYYDTz0d1IMxoYaXI/s1600/IMG_0025.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBzaiUxuqK7huu8Y-9E9VEL5xvtrQAc2aJGewmrGhjUZXXSCL35oM5Bd9ssYgkLM-O5t7qc8mWuz16kNAs5A_ax59ed8b6kthwidIZfY0wlvjp4pzMstNcYc2cP4YjYYDTz0d1IMxoYaXI/s320/IMG_0025.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5515298956730884434" /></a><br />His little headstone just says "Gone Home". <br /><br />And here is a picture of old Trinity Methodist Church.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdj7l74jC-weYGvfn8mTTuLkOX1nhlG0qss4iflLmQlDPT56lPTw-tRifKGdj8eSd9c1-MUGENL-Mn0FvTgsb-CmrMFt1dzqaSSWTxnejHjleqhaJLTUJNOf1ToP9nW8MXRS6oy3oXY5FE/s1600/IMG_0027.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdj7l74jC-weYGvfn8mTTuLkOX1nhlG0qss4iflLmQlDPT56lPTw-tRifKGdj8eSd9c1-MUGENL-Mn0FvTgsb-CmrMFt1dzqaSSWTxnejHjleqhaJLTUJNOf1ToP9nW8MXRS6oy3oXY5FE/s320/IMG_0027.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5515301999582126226" /></a><br /><br />So, I'll be heading back to Jefferson, Texas within the next month or so, and going to Trinity Cemetery to look for my great-great-grandmother's burial site. I am on the trail of membership in the Daughters of the Texas Republic, because Miss Margiana Cathren Erambert Carter Sedgass was the daughter of Charles Erambert who served in the Army of Texas during 1837. He had come all the way from Virginia to help the newly found Republic of Texas as they continued to struggle for independence from Mexico. Charles was granted two "bounty land grants" of 480 acres each for his service. He promptly sold them both after his discharge and headed back towards Virginia. On the way he stopped in Baton Rouge and there he met and married a young widow named Sarah Sheffield Edwards. Coincidentally, it is through Sarah's grandfather that I have my membership in the Daughters of the American Revolution. Their story is fascinating - and you will hear more about that one in the future. Stay tuned.Lyndahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11034286537160848710noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3766350597014028298.post-85651104111862475272010-08-31T14:57:00.000-07:002010-08-31T15:38:06.809-07:00My Margie<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNSPex9Kb4uQw__rQs8SKtLYJ3kmKo2G0mSnr0bO0qaEQN3hW3mJXomUvSM5vktkO90cJ-tSHftLKLUUYyhOmSaBYAY25SH1GtQCjJadCT6dweTVHF6jhzW0wXKzLtfD9jmMv49qhNac3f/s1600/MargieCarter.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 269px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNSPex9Kb4uQw__rQs8SKtLYJ3kmKo2G0mSnr0bO0qaEQN3hW3mJXomUvSM5vktkO90cJ-tSHftLKLUUYyhOmSaBYAY25SH1GtQCjJadCT6dweTVHF6jhzW0wXKzLtfD9jmMv49qhNac3f/s320/MargieCarter.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5511701450362687314" /></a><br />Margie Carter Camp - circa 1931-1934??<br /><br />So, when last we met, I had made contact with and visited my long-lost Camp family around the Shreveport, Texarkana and Jefferson, TX area. What I didn't have room to say in that LONG post was that all my life when I was growing up - my grandmother Margie, my mother and I would come to that area - every two years - for about two weeks in the summer. We came to attend two family reunions which were held around July 4th.<br /><br />One of the families we always spent a night or two with was my grandmother's brother John and his wife Zanah Carter. They had A LOT of children - from some that were my mother's age down to a couple of girls who were just a little bit older than I was. And - coincidentally - one of those daughters was also named Lynda - with a Y. <br /><br />During conversations with my newly found uncle James Leland Camp, he has shared that his dad (my grandfather Jim Camp) and his second wife Hattie remained very good friends with John and Zanah through the years. He recalls visiting their house often and that they would come over to visit Jim and Hattie - even spending the night. So....this begs the question...why didn't John and/or Zanah ever tell Jim where his children were? You see...Jim Camp always believed that Margie had taken the children and moved to CALIFORNIA. Holy cow - sure glad that didn't turn out to be true.<br /><br />Well, so be it, maybe they felt on some level they should not get involved. But James Leland and I think it so strange that he and his parents were often in the same places that Margie, Mother and I were. My poor Mother always believed that her Daddy had abandoned her, wanted nothing more to do with her and her brothers - or something to that effect. And, I don't know what his true thoughts were - but I believe he did love them and wondered where they were. <br /><br />After he remarried, he still felt love for Margie (my grandmother). One night, he couldn't sleep and was up and wrote a song about her. First thing the next morning he told his wife, Hattie that he wanted to tell her something. He didn't want her to be offended or have her feelings hurt, he said, but he had to write this song.<br />So, let me share the lyrics here with you. James Leland so very kindly gave me one of the two remaining copies of the sheet music.<br /><br /><strong>My Margie </strong><br /><em>lyrics by J.D. Camp music by Gene Brooks</em><br /><br /><em>I've been wondering since you went away My Margie,<br />What I'd done to make us drift so far apart.<br />Since the day you went away to love another,<br />My love for you still burns deep in my heart.<br /><br />After twelve long happy years we spent together,<br />I still wonder why you felt you had to roam.<br />Til the day I die I know I'll still be wondering,<br />If you will change your mind and come back home.<br /><br />I am sure down in your heart you know I loved you.<br />Yes, I loved you more than human tongue can tell.<br />And I wonder if in trhis great lonely world dear,<br />Together we will ever chance to dwell.<br /><br />Chorus: <br />My thoughts are always with you, My Margie.<br />And our loved one's you've had through long years past.<br />If in this world we never meet again dear,<br />May we meet in the world on high at last.</em><br /><br />You may remember I mentioned "secrets" in the previous post - and<br />within the lyrics of this song, you will see at least one of them.<br /><br />Here is a picture of James Daniel Camp, my grandfather. How<br />I wish I could have known him here in this world - but I am looking<br />forward to a reunion, as he says, in the "world on high".<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAL02fEBp7UiKOCXPx_r-kZ0qqipyrEH4HsihFyWDgvjYsTIzhWx0H8GlO6lyXhbdQ37HABPZX-KTWAbwjkA9cmP22wE5Y6UDfUxzGlXuC5jQ2RfZYVOyeu1QpAJ8QpIvkhuM4EOVKtF1p/s1600/JamesDCamp.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 208px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAL02fEBp7UiKOCXPx_r-kZ0qqipyrEH4HsihFyWDgvjYsTIzhWx0H8GlO6lyXhbdQ37HABPZX-KTWAbwjkA9cmP22wE5Y6UDfUxzGlXuC5jQ2RfZYVOyeu1QpAJ8QpIvkhuM4EOVKtF1p/s320/JamesDCamp.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5511701922098112402" /></a><br /><br />Remember that line in the chorus - "and our loved ones you've had since longs years past"? I believe that line refers to his three "lost" children. The eldest, James Earl, passed away within a year after he remained in Texas with his grandparents and Margie, Gladys (my mother) and Joe had moved to Florida. My grandfather was not informed until six months after his son had died. I'm going to post another picture of Earl and Joe - and look at those crazy high-top tennis shoes Earl is wearing. James Leland tells me that his father (my grandfather) kept those shoes for years, in a box along with other memories.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil6R2QlxK4OajjbT4qnA34h42XDx4rEWRFROTwx0EdjYKDYZ-cjAGcrfAISL-bZuCteYXc2olSCn1EebfdFXN-7kyplem1Cw5i5l4rjGvcrn1rRfa5AYTVMe6PV4TKy2Zem6vS2Y5t2kCC/s1600/JoeandEarl1930.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 224px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil6R2QlxK4OajjbT4qnA34h42XDx4rEWRFROTwx0EdjYKDYZ-cjAGcrfAISL-bZuCteYXc2olSCn1EebfdFXN-7kyplem1Cw5i5l4rjGvcrn1rRfa5AYTVMe6PV4TKy2Zem6vS2Y5t2kCC/s320/JoeandEarl1930.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5511705532945680338" /></a><br /><br />I just wish my mother would have known all this, in her life, but you know, I guess when she went to "that world on high" in 1979, her Daddy was probably right there waiting for her, and her brother James Earl right by his side.<br /><br />This is all very emotional for me - and I truly feel the loss of not having had the chance to know James Daniel Carter "in this lonely world". He passed away in 1963. See you in Heaven Papa Jim (this is how his other grandchildren refer to him).Lyndahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11034286537160848710noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3766350597014028298.post-62640207758237753732010-08-31T06:34:00.000-07:002010-08-31T07:36:24.523-07:00My Other Side - Camp FamilyIf you read my blog - you know how proud I am to be a Benton - and to have grown up surrounded by that wonderful Clan. I greatly credit who I am to having been raised in a big extended family of grandparents, uncles, aunts and cousins. We had some great times.<br /><br />Even so...there has always been another side that was missing. You see, my sweet mother, Gladys Lorraine Stokes Benton, was, in truth, Gladys Lorraine CAMP Stokes Benton. She, along with her two brothers James Earl and Joe Edward were born to Margie Anna Carter Camp and James Daniel Camp in and around Jefferson, Texas back in the 1920's. <br /><br />This is a picture of Joe Edward Camp and James Earl Camp circa 1930.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjdLlL29POI7_qNsgLjgkoa2pkrxsGdLRSS-b_Qvu-lnGMbmH1Ser-aPP4glLfAGIv4oaRQavgvOStx1lqskhx8fJ21KfDaWQixlUbQHRhLTBM9G0bagjwcrOIkAI2_OLtii0fSvPwcTWg/s1600/JoeandEarl1930.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 224px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjdLlL29POI7_qNsgLjgkoa2pkrxsGdLRSS-b_Qvu-lnGMbmH1Ser-aPP4glLfAGIv4oaRQavgvOStx1lqskhx8fJ21KfDaWQixlUbQHRhLTBM9G0bagjwcrOIkAI2_OLtii0fSvPwcTWg/s320/JoeandEarl1930.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5511572845990756818" /></a><br /><br />And here is their sister and my mother Gladys Lorraine Camp at age 7 - which would be sometime after July 1930.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN1yMuQ83f777MiPCxWpXhIyR38GxQN56PwtpVoNSlBJoEo3hiE89_FA5dDK02Riq1zqfcpCw9uAETor3wn_uqM119yGMnAO8xEBhJStNjgXc5One6KMaT43DfcTV2nijF8CC7TRRv3FTw/s1600/GladysCampAge7.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 218px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN1yMuQ83f777MiPCxWpXhIyR38GxQN56PwtpVoNSlBJoEo3hiE89_FA5dDK02Riq1zqfcpCw9uAETor3wn_uqM119yGMnAO8xEBhJStNjgXc5One6KMaT43DfcTV2nijF8CC7TRRv3FTw/s320/GladysCampAge7.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5511573233548203138" /></a><br /><br />Like Glinda the Good says in "Wicked", every family has their secrets - and mine has its fair share. At some point, in the year or so after these pictures were made, things went wrong in the Jim and Margie Camp family. I won't get into the details here - but it was sudden and sad. The parents went their separate ways and these three sweet children were left with my great-grandparents, Charley and Lily Carter. They did not know where their parents were - or if they would ever see them again. Before I - or you - start "blaming" anyone - let's remember this was the Depression -with a CAPITAL D. Times were very different, easy communication from distances was difficult and people were trying to survive.<br /><br />Sometime two or three years later after the EVENT, Margie returned - reportedly having been in Oklahoma trying to find work and put together money to raise her children. She then took Gladys and Joe and moved to Florida. James Earl stayed behind with his grandmother and uncles on the Carter Farm. Charley had passed away during this time.<br /><br />This picture was taken around the time Margie returned and moved with Joe and Gladys to Florida.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiole_-Op8jHwEeNrrSEZ-KHPmuz9BowcBv_ZATt0dXNCF5nB3YcNefqBV0IOryuB0H8s7EXBmL3VNkVAJqBFT9HPVqW2VO3Qi65vCezXXsw1dWY67541z5lii8FK9OOyynpryOpBW6I-QB/s1600/MargieandCampKids.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiole_-Op8jHwEeNrrSEZ-KHPmuz9BowcBv_ZATt0dXNCF5nB3YcNefqBV0IOryuB0H8s7EXBmL3VNkVAJqBFT9HPVqW2VO3Qi65vCezXXsw1dWY67541z5lii8FK9OOyynpryOpBW6I-QB/s320/MargieandCampKids.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5511575433053025346" /></a><br /><br />So, first Margie and the children went around Lake Okeechobee - and she had a hard time finding work. They traveled north and landed in Gainesville, Florida. And thus, I am a native Floridian - and proud of it - rather than being a native Texan - which I also sort-of claim - and proud of my Texas heritage as well.<br /><br />This picture is of Gladys and Joe after they are living in Florida.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7oh9N_1juZcTsnK4cqrYJn8kajV6Wm2o3YQl9R3e4FBR5FlWFnstCqZKu2UmL1xRVxOz7K1ncbSwJ2aV95JO8cf8V2bRSIK5TA8LPY24iITQFae6cqp-OnqHAHonvyROHU7jJAySTs7LZ/s1600/JoeGladysFlorida.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 178px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7oh9N_1juZcTsnK4cqrYJn8kajV6Wm2o3YQl9R3e4FBR5FlWFnstCqZKu2UmL1xRVxOz7K1ncbSwJ2aV95JO8cf8V2bRSIK5TA8LPY24iITQFae6cqp-OnqHAHonvyROHU7jJAySTs7LZ/s320/JoeGladysFlorida.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5511576765951478546" /></a><br /><br />Margie met and married Furman Lee Stokes in Gainesville - in 1938. He was a wonderful man and he loved Joe and Gladys and was a good "Daddy" to them for the rest of their lives. But...when I was a curious child, I wanted to know what happened to their "original" Daddy. I was just told - he abandoned his family. Of course, as with secrets, that was not the whole story - or necessarily even the true story. That will all be in a different post. Let's just say, I was always bothered to not know anything about my Grandfather Camp.<br /><br />You may know, I am into genealogy and family history. Through my research I truly hit a dead end where James Daniel Camp - my biological grandfather - was concerned. So, I posted a question on Ancestry.com. (By the way, if you aren't watching Lisa Kudrow's program on NBC, "Who Do You Think You Are?" - which is sponsored by Ancestry.com - you should. It is wonderful). As usual, I digress.<br /><br />I was contacted, through my post on Ancestry.com, by Mike Stout who told me his wife, Christine, was the daughter of Frank Camp, who was the brother of my grandfather James Daniel Camp. We began to email back and forth - and found we had some similar pictures of James when he was a young man. Mike told me that my grandfather had remarried and had two more children, Elizabeth Ann and James Leland. He had heard that Elizabeth Ann had died but thought James Leland might still be living. I am having visions now of a brother my mother never knew she had. I am picturing a man - probably in his late 70's who could go at any time. I wanted to meet him, or at least talk to him. Maybe he would know what had happened to my grandfather and why he never had contact with my mother and uncles.<br /><br />About a month ago, Mike Stout (who is a truly kind and generous person) emailed me and said that James Leland Camp's wife had passed away and Christine was going to go to the funeral and would try to tell James Leland Camp about me and find out if it would be okay if I contacted him. She did get to tell him and he said - yes, by all means - please have her call me. I finally did last week call him. I felt awkward and shy to some extent - what would I say?? Well, when he answered the phone, I just said "Is this James Leland?". He said, "Yes it is". Then I said, "well this is Lynda, I am your niece." The conversation started and has continued and this weekend I met some of my Camp family - at long last. Here I am with my "Uncle" James. He is only six years older than me, so he seems more like a cousin, and definitely like a friend.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWS5ZgLCXzeexJy7fW_rzyvYs_9iXsDqJ31Zo7HrzWgEaURBpqqiZbvdTEuayR6VAOT9frq9DLJ-0NXe7NrDN7Xvzk6UH3QhkFrzZ-jZ7o3ogSuMLBebD17DrlYpiUZc-MO1B9Ty3yDJy2/s1600/IMG_0008.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWS5ZgLCXzeexJy7fW_rzyvYs_9iXsDqJ31Zo7HrzWgEaURBpqqiZbvdTEuayR6VAOT9frq9DLJ-0NXe7NrDN7Xvzk6UH3QhkFrzZ-jZ7o3ogSuMLBebD17DrlYpiUZc-MO1B9Ty3yDJy2/s320/IMG_0008.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5511580415185381218" /></a><br /><br />I hope I have "teased" you with this posting. So, stay tuned, for more about my adventure into my family's past and the mysteries surrounding what happened way back in the 1930's.Lyndahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11034286537160848710noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3766350597014028298.post-52206255925884768902010-07-23T16:21:00.000-07:002010-07-23T16:52:17.153-07:00Finally...the rest of the St. Louis Story<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkL3HstD5lxg1bXC4mdE5g97BRCHHMS1bsAcFG4JX0VJIn44jYDjhPAIne3PVVx1_Umsuqe8LE27z1-ZW_gUD8uYVS5X6FTRZCw2ZhNp7rvOv-Zi306KVXT2bPe-tyRKZ4sdaWFpR3ETwr/s1600/IMG_0620.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkL3HstD5lxg1bXC4mdE5g97BRCHHMS1bsAcFG4JX0VJIn44jYDjhPAIne3PVVx1_Umsuqe8LE27z1-ZW_gUD8uYVS5X6FTRZCw2ZhNp7rvOv-Zi306KVXT2bPe-tyRKZ4sdaWFpR3ETwr/s320/IMG_0620.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5497249657201679890" /></a><br />Well, to make it short and sweet - we had another fun day going to see Grant's Farm. Seems the Busch family (of Anheuser-Busch) had a big estate a few miles out of St. Louis, which they loved and used. <br /><br />It is called "Grant's Farm" because the land originally belonged to Ulysses S. Grant's wife's family, and they were given some land and a house their when they married. This is adjacent to Grant's Farm and is a National Historic Site. Apparently U.S. Grant would ride his horse from his military post in St. Louis out to court his future bride on this farm.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRnAjBgIxnpltz3p6at4qcCG62mxGqpUKBzzQe326bp3UrTNl1ZiKgz7r47PnBptov0J8QgKAF-KK6lNdZCaAou_SVDqD7t6xl84Z5aGgMckt32Fzn3T32uxJ5xa6LFPn_w8D-7brFDQUL/s1600/IMG_0510.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRnAjBgIxnpltz3p6at4qcCG62mxGqpUKBzzQe326bp3UrTNl1ZiKgz7r47PnBptov0J8QgKAF-KK6lNdZCaAou_SVDqD7t6xl84Z5aGgMckt32Fzn3T32uxJ5xa6LFPn_w8D-7brFDQUL/s320/IMG_0510.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5497251724765785138" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwcKTh8nhndBPx378geHrBOWRhJsKq7BhjKoH4I3dsqUSJJun609nJEt63IG57rRmjqObsDomkEc3njXdrPYDZe1oaJYhFNWiW5xMDIfYjpSZTax_hSF_lMsttr4KHT1HluD8NjD73m4e1/s1600/IMG_0509.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwcKTh8nhndBPx378geHrBOWRhJsKq7BhjKoH4I3dsqUSJJun609nJEt63IG57rRmjqObsDomkEc3njXdrPYDZe1oaJYhFNWiW5xMDIfYjpSZTax_hSF_lMsttr4KHT1HluD8NjD73m4e1/s320/IMG_0509.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5497251948992492594" /></a><br /><br />The Busch family lived near the brewery in the city and it would take a whole day to take a buggy out to their "country estate". Finally, Mr. Adolphus Busch moved the family to the farm when transportation became easier between city and country.<br /><br />Mr. Adolphus Busch loved wild animals, and it became a bit of an animal sanctuary over the years. Mr. Augustus Busch, who passed away in 1989, is the one who is responsible for those wonderful parks many have enjoyed - Busch Gardens. Anyway, it is now mostly open to the public, and the grounds are beautiful and full of wonderful animals to see up close and personal.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0a_PUKUIBMJfQiRDtBMWkEVbevouWQMTdezPIOnrZr5gTA4peXys55d64dIxhBAwaoqVNoQedXiDbZboIdcPMN6FxaKBDRTJLXfcet-RJwzS4V4nynr7z38cZK20HmjM7VufvG4R4CH5l/s1600/IMG_0573.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0a_PUKUIBMJfQiRDtBMWkEVbevouWQMTdezPIOnrZr5gTA4peXys55d64dIxhBAwaoqVNoQedXiDbZboIdcPMN6FxaKBDRTJLXfcet-RJwzS4V4nynr7z38cZK20HmjM7VufvG4R4CH5l/s320/IMG_0573.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5497246717770165186" /></a><br /><br />A little "aside" about Mr. Gus - when my daddy was still alive, he had the opportunity to go fishing with Mr. Gus on the Miss Budweiser, out of Tampa. It was all set up by none other than Roger Maris - Yankee great and record setting home-run hitter - who owned the Budweiser distributorship in Gainesville after his retirement from baseball. Anyway - so I have a special place in my heart for Mr. Gus.<br /><br />On the grounds of Grant's Farm is the famous Budweiser Clydesdale Stud farm - and we got to see several of these magnificent animals up close. This one is named Carter.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXHOElUH9lA3E3vm2Df25j3ITxKkXFGxHqfGA99Wuzny2HsVeuCCyohecKy6ObokWF52HXzIVzjYoPv3yUzrwXQM-EyY1bUu1DXXpNNjaa8jWMSwfDGk0_ssvLBkrys3LOvSqtkKQi7KaX/s1600/IMG_0511.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXHOElUH9lA3E3vm2Df25j3ITxKkXFGxHqfGA99Wuzny2HsVeuCCyohecKy6ObokWF52HXzIVzjYoPv3yUzrwXQM-EyY1bUu1DXXpNNjaa8jWMSwfDGk0_ssvLBkrys3LOvSqtkKQi7KaX/s320/IMG_0511.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5497247585312213378" /></a><br /><br />One of the most fun parts is getting "baby bottles" and feeding the goats. They don't seem to get enough of this and will climb on you for the next bit! Tilda really got a kick out feeding them - as well as numerous muddy hoof prints on her clothes!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk4EN8yKANXgwc0SVBhW6MoNMpv9zE7Gmp3CeVLYwrMjnVn7Eb6fJN2hxak647YVx3nVpHFy_dWrzs5pRUvL6qV8vnNw81DKMagIc5wMbWM63SosZ9S_YSakBKIuV7IUNu1SlCanzYGCBK/s1600/IMG_0552.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 202px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk4EN8yKANXgwc0SVBhW6MoNMpv9zE7Gmp3CeVLYwrMjnVn7Eb6fJN2hxak647YVx3nVpHFy_dWrzs5pRUvL6qV8vnNw81DKMagIc5wMbWM63SosZ9S_YSakBKIuV7IUNu1SlCanzYGCBK/s320/IMG_0552.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5497248117077090482" /></a><br /><br />The old barn and carriage houses are now museum areas and a place to get some good food and a free sample of some of Anheuser-Busch's finest.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8qI7EmgO0MOP3iokrfggUjIEb8EwSUO6hPhfxFucf1Da6yiL1DdeFzmRzGBZbmCMbbN3mKEj3yWIcVl5BNrereYzqyNPN40vcBUO7vFblO3I8b9hmjV7gQGL4V04Riz6xkWGBXJmmidbQ/s1600/IMG_0618.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8qI7EmgO0MOP3iokrfggUjIEb8EwSUO6hPhfxFucf1Da6yiL1DdeFzmRzGBZbmCMbbN3mKEj3yWIcVl5BNrereYzqyNPN40vcBUO7vFblO3I8b9hmjV7gQGL4V04Riz6xkWGBXJmmidbQ/s320/IMG_0618.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5497249339622141714" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXJUfHpZ1e3pc9g35EkZV206mXDM9xrYnQgfpBmgJGZHsI2hpnjPdtE8iCxJoMeqQSjVQPWHDgAWJkJi3A43TLN7dC6rX6TAR6jPviqeLQxaUImbjedK9dt3X_MOEj6OmMhUGKUYfKfHNu/s1600/IMG_0586.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 245px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXJUfHpZ1e3pc9g35EkZV206mXDM9xrYnQgfpBmgJGZHsI2hpnjPdtE8iCxJoMeqQSjVQPWHDgAWJkJi3A43TLN7dC6rX6TAR6jPviqeLQxaUImbjedK9dt3X_MOEj6OmMhUGKUYfKfHNu/s320/IMG_0586.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5497248752918854898" /></a><br /><br />There's much more to show and say about Grant's Farm - but to sum it up - it is a wonderful place to spend a few hours - and it is FREE!! You do have to pay to park, but that is all. We highly recommend it for anyone visiting the St. Louis area.<br /><br />One the way back to our hotel, we detoured to the area of St. Louis known as "The Hill" which is very much still an Italian neighborhood, with more great restaurants than you can pick from. We stopped at a deli and picked up some wonderful meatball subs to eat back at the hotel. It is a very cute old neighborhood and I'd love to try one of the restaurants next trip to St. Louis.<br /><br />I realy loved that St. Louis is more "old fashioned" than the newer big cities in Texas - I like cities that have their unique neighborhoods with their own distinct personalities. It is really a beautiful city, with many wonderful museums and parks. Can't wait to visit it again one day.Lyndahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11034286537160848710noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3766350597014028298.post-63053865884021309352010-07-12T19:17:00.000-07:002010-07-12T19:41:35.973-07:00Wicked Fun<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL67_26vstxmndlyVMeApHlDlrUiDoWry2zJiaikWGPObw0kWgbkjc7-kl44r-k-BQ0zanlyCgmoWEHRT1qNVXwQuK291Xj-wdQdr1LKDWA7unpEneOL9dbyWRAtgYv9mlYX4ZADXg1kuz/s1600/IMG_0501.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL67_26vstxmndlyVMeApHlDlrUiDoWry2zJiaikWGPObw0kWgbkjc7-kl44r-k-BQ0zanlyCgmoWEHRT1qNVXwQuK291Xj-wdQdr1LKDWA7unpEneOL9dbyWRAtgYv9mlYX4ZADXg1kuz/s320/IMG_0501.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5493210695804889810" /></a><br /><br />So...after a nice nap, Tilda was in charge of getting Google map directions from the Hotel to the theater - the Fabulous Fox Theater. The Fox is famous and is one of the amazing art deco masterpieces from the 1920's. They sure don't build them like this anymore.<br /><br />Tilda's directions were perfect, and we found our way to the theater district with no problems. I was concerned about finding parking - not knowing the area at all. But, as usual, our angels were looking out for us and we found a little parking lot with ONE space left just a half-block from the theater.<br /><br />There's a cute little park on the corner of the street in the theater district which had this unusual and rather lovely statue of a rabbit. It is called "Earth Rabbit" and he seems to be doing Yoga. The statue is covered in colorful mosaic tiles - wish it had been brighter in the picture. (I was having an issue in getting my camera to go flash on, no flash or auto).<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdVlw7ucuMyidnr4s9hbASnlpaFbm-3kk1OYKKx4pfdICDCr3sjcgJfZZjg7uZTh3TifaFolDgHd1yEjHbdZpgZx6TsiTn6gTMbjMVaQz6hLuP-ss7qU5-jobcIbPdzXXcSF6LofLtvHwS/s1600/IMG_0498.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 290px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdVlw7ucuMyidnr4s9hbASnlpaFbm-3kk1OYKKx4pfdICDCr3sjcgJfZZjg7uZTh3TifaFolDgHd1yEjHbdZpgZx6TsiTn6gTMbjMVaQz6hLuP-ss7qU5-jobcIbPdzXXcSF6LofLtvHwS/s320/IMG_0498.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5493210511410724882" /></a><br /><br />Here is a picture of the outside of the theater - even it's exterior is so reminescent of those "good old days" of big movie theaters - not the kind we have these days at the mall. I used to love going to the "Florida Theater" in Gainesville when I was a kid and sitting in balcony - front row - and watching movies. But, as usual, I digress.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0o5hvlB1tbhMWg1sClfFR1tLug2uv-q0CBqtpyzVne3PPuyfOdTBzeB4u5te8kxCDaj70FPvyRxyBnyNmhEody8yrF0h6E26YsdihgTnjtvlzTEUFLzJeUNZJIKKosFzHroFPOnBP5pDJ/s1600/IMG_0500.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0o5hvlB1tbhMWg1sClfFR1tLug2uv-q0CBqtpyzVne3PPuyfOdTBzeB4u5te8kxCDaj70FPvyRxyBnyNmhEody8yrF0h6E26YsdihgTnjtvlzTEUFLzJeUNZJIKKosFzHroFPOnBP5pDJ/s320/IMG_0500.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5493213650103080162" /></a><br /><br /><br />When we walked into the lobby, we were stunned at the beauty of the architecture - I just really can't describe how ornage it was. Every where you looked was elaborate carvings, gargoyles and more. Darn my camera for not working to get a picture of it.<br />We learned there was an elevator to take us up to the "middle balcony" area - and it was the old-fashioned kind which requires and operator to stop and start it. Very cool. We found the ladies room - and it was as beautiful and exquisitely decorated as everything else in this place. <br /><br />When we got to our seats, I tried to fidget with camera and got one picture of the interior of the theater - not very good - and was told "NO PICTURES". I wasn't trying to take pictures of the show - but apparently taking any pictures inside is not allowed - for goodness sake! If you look really hard, you can almost make out the dragon that is part of the stage decor (over the stage) and the curtain which glows green on the map of Oz.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfU3rVP_cT9XziMtdVpYXlxu2cDz1XplGvWnSe-lZJjRqf6nZg8_DWcTt_sLiH78qU19mu8GDl-vh-eHvV7GJV_rTcnrBrYhCuHNjfih1yVjEO5-Nwr2kFG-V2ZXQkXfRqb5J5G1WbQeCQ/s1600/IMG_0504.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfU3rVP_cT9XziMtdVpYXlxu2cDz1XplGvWnSe-lZJjRqf6nZg8_DWcTt_sLiH78qU19mu8GDl-vh-eHvV7GJV_rTcnrBrYhCuHNjfih1yVjEO5-Nwr2kFG-V2ZXQkXfRqb5J5G1WbQeCQ/s320/IMG_0504.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5493212862560049202" /></a><br /><br />Now...for the most important part....the SHOW! Well, it was fabulous. So creative and such a great message. I read the book "Wicked" a few years ago - and the musical is "loosely" based on the book. They do a great job of tying the book's main theme's in with the original "Wizard of Oz" story. The dialogue and lyrics are clever, and go between hilarious and very touching. The sets and costumes were just great. I have to say, it is one of the best - if not THE best - musical I have ever seen. And, I have been lucky enough to see some great shows on Broadway and with major touring companies. I guess I always love them all - but this is one I hope to see again - very soon. It is really special. Tilda just loved every minute of the show. We bought the CD and listened to it almost all the way back to Tulsa. We want to be ready if they need us to fill in on the tour - Ha!!!Lyndahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11034286537160848710noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3766350597014028298.post-27910632807042153412010-07-11T07:20:00.000-07:002010-07-11T07:54:00.071-07:00Meet me in St. Louis, Louis!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfusPWkiIfBXUiOcgrKEp0C39BVyJm8wtKm4YOQdDhbdgmz3Qc_lNEA1fFRAvOTUM5vmkf1fLwBLiCaW9Pd2uY0XJXit6FJsiMIHhv9ij8AeuTdvhN6OsJYw6fUzYi73LzI0X1rKh6XH31/s1600/IMG_0455.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfusPWkiIfBXUiOcgrKEp0C39BVyJm8wtKm4YOQdDhbdgmz3Qc_lNEA1fFRAvOTUM5vmkf1fLwBLiCaW9Pd2uY0XJXit6FJsiMIHhv9ij8AeuTdvhN6OsJYw6fUzYi73LzI0X1rKh6XH31/s320/IMG_0455.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5492655057479068578" /></a><br /><br />I am asking myself "Why, why have I waited so long to go to St. Louis?" It is a beautiful city and has so much to do - great place for a family vacation. The main reason I always wanted to go someday was to see the Arch - well, that's the tip of the iceburg on the fun that awaits in beautiful St. Louis.<br /><br />I booked a room via Hotwire for 3 nights and went for the 3.5 stars downtown choice. It was - as always - a great hotel for a great price. (If you aren't using Hotwire, you should be). We got the Crowne Plaza, right across the street from the Jefferson Expansion Memorial - aka - the Gateway Arch. Let me also mention that I got it for $57 a night - which you can hardly get a Motel 6 for in a major city these days. Here's the hotel as seen from the parklands around the Arch.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5zQHonfXZTeQJI_scwI2I5vgybYlvN8vY_ZGLYG_uofv4Cf5ZGK9hS5Z0fIASre09H1mvdzeWBlNG8ZDP_RpdXSA55eY76e0qPj0uulca-tpEQkZlZUy8hgE97JJuFFKsHpqsiH7hNuWj/s1600/IMG_0427.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5zQHonfXZTeQJI_scwI2I5vgybYlvN8vY_ZGLYG_uofv4Cf5ZGK9hS5Z0fIASre09H1mvdzeWBlNG8ZDP_RpdXSA55eY76e0qPj0uulca-tpEQkZlZUy8hgE97JJuFFKsHpqsiH7hNuWj/s320/IMG_0427.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5492654851131781218" /></a><br /><br />When we checked in, since I was traveling with my teenage granddaughter - I asked for a king room. The front desk clerk said - not only am I putting you in a king room, but I'm giving you a balcony, sofa with pull-out bed and a kitchenette. Are you kidding me (thinking to myself - I only paid $57). We were on the 25th floor - and here is Tilda on the balcony. Honestly - can you believe how blessed we are?<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh_gpWNGqtd5qAFRHXaOu3HLyBILUYD8yaaqen0wdCjVMb_9-LW7-5nlFAPkrX_q8o84VsTArqki3X_cSzND8ysvcF7gvAbdgBdY6o3TdrS1k7cRm88LnT2Z3ToGjoFYLA58zMDOHgKshH/s1600/IMG_0415.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 285px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh_gpWNGqtd5qAFRHXaOu3HLyBILUYD8yaaqen0wdCjVMb_9-LW7-5nlFAPkrX_q8o84VsTArqki3X_cSzND8ysvcF7gvAbdgBdY6o3TdrS1k7cRm88LnT2Z3ToGjoFYLA58zMDOHgKshH/s320/IMG_0415.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5492655719353663746" /></a><br /><br />We took a nice stroll around the national park grounds and then headed over to eat at Joey B's which is Laclede's Landing area. This is an historic section right by the river and next to the park - just a few blocks from the hotel. I had found Joey B's online and picked it when I saw that Rachel Ray recommended it! Yahoo!! The old area is charming, with original cobblestone streets and the old buildings that used to be warehouses for goods brought up the Mississippi by river boats.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRK1R1OgFm_q3Xmpom80nmPa5Kgod0jW3vOdc69I4yOqVXck-0cmmY_mkbdMt3iISBS1fIpAVreyPHDePZ1j9erkGi80LwxuaSE1AG-7HIIJhnNr06UVe-8-Wlt3YOiAQpZC9-WqZiaPoR/s1600/IMG_0440.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRK1R1OgFm_q3Xmpom80nmPa5Kgod0jW3vOdc69I4yOqVXck-0cmmY_mkbdMt3iISBS1fIpAVreyPHDePZ1j9erkGi80LwxuaSE1AG-7HIIJhnNr06UVe-8-Wlt3YOiAQpZC9-WqZiaPoR/s320/IMG_0440.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5492656561098956818" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOomHHfhEY45v3E1eO6BxsONnIqWrgZazRJvgMLqVlIdlqbSMqja83b0s82CQvs8uT2aLVfbPNC2AmUczxCpApIrS4iE-Nv-sMvfgSclu_fwhlvmzrepnnixcEwB4QXRQi_pOnRtpaPI-l/s1600/IMG_0441.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOomHHfhEY45v3E1eO6BxsONnIqWrgZazRJvgMLqVlIdlqbSMqja83b0s82CQvs8uT2aLVfbPNC2AmUczxCpApIrS4iE-Nv-sMvfgSclu_fwhlvmzrepnnixcEwB4QXRQi_pOnRtpaPI-l/s320/IMG_0441.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5492656421645412738" /></a><br /><br />Next morning - we were off to discover St. Louis. We had reservations to take the trip to the top of the Arch at 10:30am (you can book your reservation and get your tickets on-line). Before our appointed adventure to the top, we did a little walking around downtown and found ourselves at the home of the St. Louis' Cardinals - Busch Stadium. I had hoped they would be in town and we could take in a game - no luck on that one. But, I have to say this is a gorgeous baseball stadium and quite an addition to the downtown area. My daddy loved Stan Musial, and I had to take the picture of his statue in memory of Daddy - who loved baseball so much!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc77aDUJbH_U3dPLmVY37HexIEzAE_H4ixXui5dWR8VqSepvgYJzfwzpuWWrVwFInZkUubJ43S-EerVLqU-ilUBKcOKuMr5037SEyP3seHn8poSWo2nCIAtw0_DrkpmXmYc0fC95NhWHl5/s1600/IMG_0462.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc77aDUJbH_U3dPLmVY37HexIEzAE_H4ixXui5dWR8VqSepvgYJzfwzpuWWrVwFInZkUubJ43S-EerVLqU-ilUBKcOKuMr5037SEyP3seHn8poSWo2nCIAtw0_DrkpmXmYc0fC95NhWHl5/s320/IMG_0462.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5492657873437152114" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjD1cw7HWxwP3ANiy2kfc_SBx49pgVZhjjLo19HLtOCdNkRf6sni-lJVMbvXB0FPhAIOONW45hwCsHC9XMc5BwxQMyU1V5FCXIaHfncpkIDC01APNHky3XEDbpTf1MQBCTRx0LyYpwboI2/s1600/IMG_0456.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 155px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjD1cw7HWxwP3ANiy2kfc_SBx49pgVZhjjLo19HLtOCdNkRf6sni-lJVMbvXB0FPhAIOONW45hwCsHC9XMc5BwxQMyU1V5FCXIaHfncpkIDC01APNHky3XEDbpTf1MQBCTRx0LyYpwboI2/s320/IMG_0456.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5492657748284338642" /></a><br /><br />We discovered the MetroLink right next door to the stadium, and a quick subway ride later we were back at the Arch park and on our way to the top - oh my!! You ride a "tram" with about 10 cars, each holds five people and are shaped liked bubbles!<br />Here is the door to the tram car and the tram car - showing only 3 of the 5 seats inside. This trip is not for anyone who suffers from claustrophobia!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0njpz-IW8gwLy9nlzPk4tWYt2BHunlhKC8m1hsIeQxUqBi7XHXzeHcP8RtDHqBZXQyt4sBz7pMhDJItbZ-_b4B2Stp_qJtDl8ETMOtJnpOj_tdPNYsgQZcky6lJzEkjAL0jMsnFS36oto/s1600/IMG_0475.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0njpz-IW8gwLy9nlzPk4tWYt2BHunlhKC8m1hsIeQxUqBi7XHXzeHcP8RtDHqBZXQyt4sBz7pMhDJItbZ-_b4B2Stp_qJtDl8ETMOtJnpOj_tdPNYsgQZcky6lJzEkjAL0jMsnFS36oto/s320/IMG_0475.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5492658654302975122" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkl6ExKQo8oga1PejNr18MptfskNXANKHDUVKxnGLy6Nz7R8HN3cIedXa7S_SZoA_hfx6ahZfsR4inBhQ0BuxRErV5hFjOP9fO7dr_8FtuKAkUMHx4OflYPCO1trg3Eju1y8mhK28v_bic/s1600/IMG_0476.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkl6ExKQo8oga1PejNr18MptfskNXANKHDUVKxnGLy6Nz7R8HN3cIedXa7S_SZoA_hfx6ahZfsR4inBhQ0BuxRErV5hFjOP9fO7dr_8FtuKAkUMHx4OflYPCO1trg3Eju1y8mhK28v_bic/s320/IMG_0476.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5492658827439743042" /></a><br /><br />Fortunately, the ride only takes a few minutes - and then you are up 630ft in the air. It wasn't windy during our visit - but I've heard people say you can feel the sway up there - I didn't. The arch was constructed to sway up to 9" in either direction during a 150 mph wind - and is said to usually be swaying about 1/2" on most days. Note to self - don't go up there during a storm!! Got a nice picture of Busch Stadium from on high and here we are in the somewhat tight space at the top.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnGXvIKxm9iG1RAsEOxGmqETRoWSisRF_2eyCCJSWXv4KSAKATGJ2Wir2R89LNBVZppsdxJ7Xpr9gq_Rusi_60tQsdL0Pry_5toCRwrGgTXAcZyHpioT8bYlcRfj7UN9IeNPCNoprWoz1u/s1600/IMG_0465.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 253px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnGXvIKxm9iG1RAsEOxGmqETRoWSisRF_2eyCCJSWXv4KSAKATGJ2Wir2R89LNBVZppsdxJ7Xpr9gq_Rusi_60tQsdL0Pry_5toCRwrGgTXAcZyHpioT8bYlcRfj7UN9IeNPCNoprWoz1u/s320/IMG_0465.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5492659606841685858" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXUI58UpDd_EgyVPpCNU0_mAP9jm76jObSeGSWcF99Im5H-XEN9nEyzbXoV5lN1QkdMxQxzOPHpdJ1wjAteQ8rECBzPmHiil_JV8YcbQwzReKh1p6yAoW4Qc0_Z_0QxTzq3GGiAcchQn2m/s1600/IMG_0471.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXUI58UpDd_EgyVPpCNU0_mAP9jm76jObSeGSWcF99Im5H-XEN9nEyzbXoV5lN1QkdMxQxzOPHpdJ1wjAteQ8rECBzPmHiil_JV8YcbQwzReKh1p6yAoW4Qc0_Z_0QxTzq3GGiAcchQn2m/s320/IMG_0471.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5492659796728178578" /></a><br /><br />A good friend had recommended we check out the old Union Station - once the largest train station in the world - while in St. Louis. It has been "saved" and is a shopping and dining area now. The architecture is beautiful and they have small exhibits highlighting how travel was when everyone went by train - the beautiful dining cars, etc. There are even stained glass windows in this lovely old building.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAZQ-6mqd6S9ZvulSGxqgRKOhHuhM4a9dDGuVGA_v1rt95o-UbE-bA1uuIeSsTsb8-tMt9lWSRQRHXYH0Y_9iIKVRFOt3H8U_XismfbcnOwnhyphenhyphenadL2jPqdbf8vzlAdlE0ggixlJlmhhlIz/s1600/IMG_0490.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAZQ-6mqd6S9ZvulSGxqgRKOhHuhM4a9dDGuVGA_v1rt95o-UbE-bA1uuIeSsTsb8-tMt9lWSRQRHXYH0Y_9iIKVRFOt3H8U_XismfbcnOwnhyphenhyphenadL2jPqdbf8vzlAdlE0ggixlJlmhhlIz/s320/IMG_0490.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5492660486379979218" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitlnS4R_MYFm0WSh5vtXPgWrxEjg5eLZnYziuPUsG0WK6cvHAEcFuRbxjLpxftZ8h5AW6hgp_iR7nMp0l-yUCIXWYbi5ORCldIDhF6oYL4yOGm3-n55S_msjnh1TY8k_kdn6JYqLBUlVRQ/s1600/IMG_0489.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitlnS4R_MYFm0WSh5vtXPgWrxEjg5eLZnYziuPUsG0WK6cvHAEcFuRbxjLpxftZ8h5AW6hgp_iR7nMp0l-yUCIXWYbi5ORCldIDhF6oYL4yOGm3-n55S_msjnh1TY8k_kdn6JYqLBUlVRQ/s320/IMG_0489.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5492660699109682754" /></a><br /><br />After lunch at the St. Louis Hard Rock Cafe, we headed back to the hotel for a swim on the roof-top pool - 29 floors above the city - and a nice nap - and then we'd head for the Fox Theater to see "Wicked". That's another post!Lyndahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11034286537160848710noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3766350597014028298.post-31410909344336087902010-06-21T18:19:00.001-07:002010-06-21T18:39:59.863-07:00The Red, White and Blue<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZHWSKohfYgye65m8XVT9MSg75EyS2QdBRkLW7loXHTs2Y-qVynkN_4npB1jqv16Hl7hFh0mu7gp2poJkrc303eaS9aAqWu38w3U2EeitJMgnKFlAIZAaEVF6HTYdQ7jYdCF-v6ysEL7y8/s1600/FlagDay5.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZHWSKohfYgye65m8XVT9MSg75EyS2QdBRkLW7loXHTs2Y-qVynkN_4npB1jqv16Hl7hFh0mu7gp2poJkrc303eaS9aAqWu38w3U2EeitJMgnKFlAIZAaEVF6HTYdQ7jYdCF-v6ysEL7y8/s320/FlagDay5.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5485403269194448194" /></a><br />Starting with Memorial Day and going on to July 4, Old Glory gets some much deserved attention this time of year. June 14 is Flag Day and is a day to honor the symbol of our country. It really irks me how irreverant many people have become about this flag, which proudly waved over our country for over 200 years. From the original 13 stars and stripes - to now 50 stars and the original 13 stripes (representing the original 13 states) - our flag has been at the head of victories and defeats and all over the world it shows who we are.<br /><br />Of course, the DAR is an organization who focuses on promoting patriotism and a love of country. It was a special occasion earlier this month when my chapter - the Capt. Peter Ankeny Chapter joined with the Tulsa Chapter DAR, the Tulsa Chapter of the SAR, the local CAR and Boy and Girl Scouts to conduct a proper Flag Retirement Ceremony.<br /><br />I remember learning in school that our flag should be burned if it becomes old and worn. I never actually participated in that event. It was very moving. I had the honor of cutting out the stripe for the Commonwealth of Virginia and placing that stripe in the fire. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRUVHXMI2DZH7OtRl9436VFUkzsHiefyDuvcRzMxBNLuvHv_IiyqHD5vuIDrqIsE0LgLkMNWNnG2eSKUFpfFB6OWUI7lX8cyiKDF0b8tO7XBdI6t1Rhsm6hxsKpx5AC_rLN7A3gG6oFz1X/s1600/Scouts+cutting+the+field+out.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRUVHXMI2DZH7OtRl9436VFUkzsHiefyDuvcRzMxBNLuvHv_IiyqHD5vuIDrqIsE0LgLkMNWNnG2eSKUFpfFB6OWUI7lX8cyiKDF0b8tO7XBdI6t1Rhsm6hxsKpx5AC_rLN7A3gG6oFz1X/s320/Scouts+cutting+the+field+out.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5485403463146478098" /></a><br /><br />The "field of stars" are cut out and burned last. <br /><br />Over 100 people attended the event, and many people brought flags to be ceremonially retired. This is one of my favorite moments. Isn't this a beautiful symbol of what is great about this country??<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEititi43rLDSInYjDG_8RDwwLOcOnmz-Ryxn0XP19KmzzxsznBljX7qY82RWtu8M9Osm9LSJKozzQze0VJUEFKrg02UQPUna2g3-9ANMnHdxXxx3HnETzLKPteGlIzpcNgTOjayNi4HN8nO/s1600/flagday2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEititi43rLDSInYjDG_8RDwwLOcOnmz-Ryxn0XP19KmzzxsznBljX7qY82RWtu8M9Osm9LSJKozzQze0VJUEFKrg02UQPUna2g3-9ANMnHdxXxx3HnETzLKPteGlIzpcNgTOjayNi4HN8nO/s320/flagday2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5485403929896005970" /></a><br /><br />I was a participant in the proper folding of the flag ceremony - I spent a while with the Boy Scouts practicing the folding. They were such nice young men. <br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5ZC2EEAOe03d9m7dnYKHdZDmkvtH8Rs2RDlNAGSX3IYzkHe1bUdWYlKkI7IXZnBQiS1jn0unRtgT560iprtBCUAb35T6tToCD8J8GE86p9Ri-LlwjyzJoAZOsadogoK5Wg4fUJp57FpOZ/s1600/Flagday4.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5ZC2EEAOe03d9m7dnYKHdZDmkvtH8Rs2RDlNAGSX3IYzkHe1bUdWYlKkI7IXZnBQiS1jn0unRtgT560iprtBCUAb35T6tToCD8J8GE86p9Ri-LlwjyzJoAZOsadogoK5Wg4fUJp57FpOZ/s320/Flagday4.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5485404426552745938" /></a><br /><br />We invited our local Civil Air Patrol post to demonstrate the "POW/MIA Remembrance" ceremony they did for us earlier in the year. It is a lovely depiction of the love and sacrifice made not only by members of the armed forces, but also their families. Each statement is ended with -- REMEMBER!! We must never forget.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii_y06S-rGfgSikSfgL70NTQEZTBzasvcySZlV2a56au5fSxQxx4J2sFkrWgYyG6xO-mdrzT9pF4JFSjxivK1UAMFIoY3x3cV3oGh0HUJjT6bY0h7gtenGjlXGEz4uk2PVAXPIOSrlmJQb/s1600/MIAPOW+ceremony.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii_y06S-rGfgSikSfgL70NTQEZTBzasvcySZlV2a56au5fSxQxx4J2sFkrWgYyG6xO-mdrzT9pF4JFSjxivK1UAMFIoY3x3cV3oGh0HUJjT6bY0h7gtenGjlXGEz4uk2PVAXPIOSrlmJQb/s320/MIAPOW+ceremony.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5485405303039641650" /></a><br /><br />When I think about how much I love the Florida Gators and how proudly I fly a Gator Flag and have a sticker on my car, etc. it makes me think - what if everyone were that big a fan of our Country. No -- I'm not saying let's be a fan of what goes on in Washington - but let's be proud to be Americans - let's remember the sacrifice and loss that happened so that we have the opportunity to be who we are and where we are. As bad as things are - oil spills by greedy corporations, corrupt politicians, unknown health care in our future - this is still MY COUNTRY. And, I love Her. God BLESS AMERICA!! Fly your flags for all to see.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-7f-E3WinZGqYqdq7AJFvV32Tk6_o2Y0A1HHMky7AHOAIgNuGHGb84dfeiFraNNlRlrnxWgrQwHdsV_7OeSg8U_bgBMCQ7MxFiybMrEYBS3x3PLKyhH_ePkxwnc3ASrFLGuyNNcMm11Kb/s1600/Flagday3.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-7f-E3WinZGqYqdq7AJFvV32Tk6_o2Y0A1HHMky7AHOAIgNuGHGb84dfeiFraNNlRlrnxWgrQwHdsV_7OeSg8U_bgBMCQ7MxFiybMrEYBS3x3PLKyhH_ePkxwnc3ASrFLGuyNNcMm11Kb/s320/Flagday3.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5485406371458152466" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEiuBfF_AlO2i6Moy-rGoRtOgP7YbyN1tLq6PpjE9CRvQW4qUAi-abuZ55JpWg6FxsSP8CO9lSYWBJ5j0fGKB9xEeka0WEurzH-qTdWt8fCln9yjXkZH1HnsxhXzHkop2fXFr9ot3YGgiN/s1600/FlagDay1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEiuBfF_AlO2i6Moy-rGoRtOgP7YbyN1tLq6PpjE9CRvQW4qUAi-abuZ55JpWg6FxsSP8CO9lSYWBJ5j0fGKB9xEeka0WEurzH-qTdWt8fCln9yjXkZH1HnsxhXzHkop2fXFr9ot3YGgiN/s320/FlagDay1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5485406545501004354" /></a>Lyndahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11034286537160848710noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3766350597014028298.post-50647254733350609262010-06-10T08:11:00.001-07:002010-06-10T08:19:00.419-07:00Dell Tech Support 2010Oh Lordy - here comes a rant. First, let me explain. I used to work for Dell as a phone technical support person. Therefore, I believe I am entitled to have a wee bit of an opinion about what decent support looks and feels like. You won't find it these days, I am afraid. As with most other hardware/software/banks, etc. - it's all outsourced. I truly believe the people taking our calls on the other side of the world have all great intentions of doing a good job. But, somewhere along the line, it falls short. Here's my example.<br /><br />My laptop was overheating - it was just getting so hot when I was using it I couldn't even hold it ON MY LAP. I called tech support. Caveat - I SHOULD HAVE LOOKED AT THE FAN MYSELF. <br /><br />Three calls later I was promised on-site service (which I have already paid for up front for 3 years) with a new mother board, power adapter and fan. Service man shows up with 2 out of 3. Puts the new fan on - same thing - spins up and shuts down. He calls Dell. They want me to send my laptop to the "depot" to be repaired.<br /><br />Hand me the phone, I request in my sweetest voice (you can read between the lines here). Look, I tell the nice man on the other end. First of all - you were supposed to be sending a new mother board per the last call I had. Second, I have paid for on-site service. I am NOT sending my laptop in - you are sending a mother board out. He agrees. (Why do we have to get testy sometimes for people to do what they are supposed to do???)<br /><br />When I worked on the phones at Dell, I averaged between 45-72 calls per day (eight hour shift). My success rate in troubleshooting and sending correct parts was almost 100%. I have spent over 2 hours on the phone so far for a very simple hardware issue. So, while they may be spending less per hour per support technician, it doesn't take a math genius to conclude they are probably spending as much - or more - overall for technical support due to the low volume of calls these people are capable of handling. <br /><br />Oh, if I ruled the world...... Hey, Michael Dell - remember me - I had lunch with you one time back in 1995 (LOL). I have a few suggestions....Lyndahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11034286537160848710noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3766350597014028298.post-32719757155172831522010-05-31T12:07:00.000-07:002010-05-31T12:29:56.674-07:00Memorial Day 2010Sixty years ago, a young man from Tulsa found himself in the USMC and deployed to Korea. He married his sweetheart shortly before deploying - they had 10 days together before he left. He would never return.<br /><br />His unit was assigned to the attack at Inchon - which proved to be a difficult landing under enemy fire. Think D-Day on a smaller, but no less horrendous scale. PFC Albert Collins took a mortal wound to his chest while running with his machine gun to the position assigned him by his platoon leader. Despite this wound, Albert continued to crawl until he reached his position. Once there, he continued to fire his machine gun accurately into the enemy position until he was found by a medic. <br /><br />In 1951, Albert's remains were returned to Tulsa where he was buried at Memorial Park. Albert was a member of the Sons of the American Revolution (SAR). He was twenty years old when he gave his life in service to his country.<br /><br />Today, the Tulsa Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution, along with local Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) gathered to honor PFC Collins. A proclamation honoring him from the Oklahoma State Legislature was read. Members of the Oklahoma State Marine Corp Veterans, Albert's class of 1949 Central High classmates, and other dignitaries paid tribute to this forgotten hero.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiyNbFGtZQo87e0Hjs3VjRDZT0kAIAtoLXJfasXQqP8gzVvsVWbSTRR6ZV7WXJadt2HL4x7WCjFNoAuZ9ET1fBUH8dNRR6VI87EEORW_pRiE4-8WaVnoiiY9CTst0FemtJIqSJbSicWtVM/s1600/IMG_0362.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiyNbFGtZQo87e0Hjs3VjRDZT0kAIAtoLXJfasXQqP8gzVvsVWbSTRR6ZV7WXJadt2HL4x7WCjFNoAuZ9ET1fBUH8dNRR6VI87EEORW_pRiE4-8WaVnoiiY9CTst0FemtJIqSJbSicWtVM/s320/IMG_0362.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477516340635840354" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKL4iBK_5PDeYlng2cOMfSN2lTV2Jqem_jqaAF6rowx5Y28dBsVlUMA4JovMIqh_hhoo2yu5-puNG4SSbmeiI1pLdIveQlM32H-rLFw0aCJr6XjReWRzIN4rcD8rIGf3mNz8pUde2NYnMF/s1600/IMG_0365.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKL4iBK_5PDeYlng2cOMfSN2lTV2Jqem_jqaAF6rowx5Y28dBsVlUMA4JovMIqh_hhoo2yu5-puNG4SSbmeiI1pLdIveQlM32H-rLFw0aCJr6XjReWRzIN4rcD8rIGf3mNz8pUde2NYnMF/s320/IMG_0365.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477516565690994578" /></a><br />Some of Albert's classmates from the Central High School Class of 1949.<br /><br />Albert was awarded a Purple Heart, the Navy Cross (which was awarded to his widow following the war on the steps of the Tulsa County Courthouse) and many other medals for his service. Today, he received a grave marker designating him as a member of the SAR, and a beautiful wreath depicting the Navy Cross was laid by the DAR.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMRYbLB901u_PEyGMsqDg1vVFqx9yNoUgvPZKI0plARhbMSmrT41wJPSjcmcn8FzjW5q0sdGpaYHi-ZjbNUWPra133qiuXGftB8x36imwp44LE2qWN0KOJB3zT-GYYKU7gtp6TMm56jdz0/s1600/IMG_0368.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 254px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMRYbLB901u_PEyGMsqDg1vVFqx9yNoUgvPZKI0plARhbMSmrT41wJPSjcmcn8FzjW5q0sdGpaYHi-ZjbNUWPra133qiuXGftB8x36imwp44LE2qWN0KOJB3zT-GYYKU7gtp6TMm56jdz0/s320/IMG_0368.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477516763890751906" /></a><br /><br /><br />The USMC JROTC of Sapulpa High school closed the ceremony with the 21 gun salute - 7 guns firing 3 volleys. Taps was played. PFC Albert Collins was remembered.Lyndahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11034286537160848710noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3766350597014028298.post-84497488926245046722010-05-30T13:56:00.000-07:002010-05-30T14:11:41.526-07:00Little Bunny Phoo Phoo?Did you or your kids ever sing that song? I remember learning it when my daughter was in Girl Scouts. It is the kind of semi-cruel song that kids just love. But, it also has a bit of a redemptive message.<br /><br />I've been seeing a few wild bunnies around my neighborhood - which is rather amazing since I live smack-dab in the middle of a mid-size city - Tulsa, OK. This morning I looked out and there was one of them grazing on the front lawn. Granted this lawn is more weeds than grass, and maybe he finds some tender flowers on the weeds there!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhupvo78ZTAMfQPpV6bm5vGuhSl0YY37T9ZvuE_TUYXukmY_RPIiQCweRZyGj0V-oTIsu4PmEpOXRbfIGfBhK_yXENbAn5viwecc6zPReyZY4sNeaCxzCM89sdtGQi4miIgLJuwM7aYl2pg/s1600/IMG_0357.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhupvo78ZTAMfQPpV6bm5vGuhSl0YY37T9ZvuE_TUYXukmY_RPIiQCweRZyGj0V-oTIsu4PmEpOXRbfIGfBhK_yXENbAn5viwecc6zPReyZY4sNeaCxzCM89sdtGQi4miIgLJuwM7aYl2pg/s320/IMG_0357.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477170764525866370" /></a><br /><br />I got my camera and took a few shots through the big front window - I feared if I went outside my presence would scare him away. He continued his grazing and hopping until he was a bit closer to me (yes, that was a human behind the curtain - lol).<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivZs4mQQQwDQbYH5eIuqx-26yLo4qY1mqaHQNLToGBIdDQ-0xughj_e5ysjxmN70pHxG_aRc2Y2JXl9DVp-aYGbqqGR4DNkQ1YQ3XhBjvAGv7QpOqt-OtNAsfykPMHL3vRuoxV_zj3iNe6/s1600/IMG_0358.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 255px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivZs4mQQQwDQbYH5eIuqx-26yLo4qY1mqaHQNLToGBIdDQ-0xughj_e5ysjxmN70pHxG_aRc2Y2JXl9DVp-aYGbqqGR4DNkQ1YQ3XhBjvAGv7QpOqt-OtNAsfykPMHL3vRuoxV_zj3iNe6/s320/IMG_0358.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477171466646955410" /></a><br /><br />I think Little Bunny Phoo Phoo looks a wee bit raggedy in this picture. I hope he isn't sick and is finding enough food to forage around the Turner Park neighborhood.<br /><br />In a couple of minutes he decided that the grass might be greener on the other side of the street, so he hopped on down the Bunny Trail (sorry for all the puns - I just can't help myself).<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifCHJXIbhIyxutTLw6-MpZgAsYtDmPi1SV2eZpjGkBe1GQTOPoBbwZ33s5pooj1ofAyG9xZAxpCuWnxYZoRnLQjgop0G_BrwD-Sv26p1u-s3gXqCeKluzCSTwjk6zh5262xNIa1byMBJsT/s1600/IMG_0359.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 254px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifCHJXIbhIyxutTLw6-MpZgAsYtDmPi1SV2eZpjGkBe1GQTOPoBbwZ33s5pooj1ofAyG9xZAxpCuWnxYZoRnLQjgop0G_BrwD-Sv26p1u-s3gXqCeKluzCSTwjk6zh5262xNIa1byMBJsT/s320/IMG_0359.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477172014094961218" /></a><br /><br />So long, Little Bunny Phoo Phoo!! See you around the neighborhood.<br /><br /><br /><em></em><em>Little bunny phoo phoo - author unknown<br /><br /><br />Little bunny phoo phoo, hopping through the forest<br />Picking up the field mice and bopping them on the head!<br />Down came the Good Fairy and she said - <br />"Little Bunny Phoo Phoo, I don't want to see you <br />Picking up the field mice and bopping them on the head!"<br />I'll give you THREE MORE CHANCES!<br /><br />Little bunny phoo phoo, hopping through the forest<br />Picking up the field mice and bopping them on the head!<br />Down came the Good Fairy and she said - <br />"Little Bunny Phoo Phoo, I don't want to see you <br />Picking up the field mice and bopping them on the head!"<br />I'll give you TWO MORE CHANCES!<br /><br />Little bunny phoo phoo, hopping through the forest<br />Picking up the field mice and bopping them on the head!<br />Down came the Good Fairy and she said - <br />"Little Bunny Phoo Phoo, I don't want to see you <br />Picking up the field mice and bopping them on the head!"<br />I'll give you ONE MORE CHANCE!<br /><br />Little bunny phoo phoo, hopping through the forest<br />Picking up the field mice and bopping them on the head!<br />Down came the Good Fairy and she said - <br />"Little Bunny Phoo Phoo, I Gave you THREE CHANCES - <br />Poof, you're a field mouse"</em>Lyndahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11034286537160848710noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3766350597014028298.post-53765554620684909792010-05-27T13:38:00.000-07:002010-05-27T14:00:52.162-07:00My talented grandsonWell, that could be an ambiguous title, since I have THREE very talented grandsons. But in this case, I am speaking of Michael Edward Davis - age nine. Michael loves to dance. One of the first things he did when he could walk was make up his own little dance. It wasn't random steps - because he would do the same little series of steps over and over.<br /><br />Michael is in the cast of the Oklahoma Renaissance Festival this year - in the dance troupe.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-2RNFi4m0HxRba4sEwWi-R3kWUXE03KVol2CuKlJperuQ0j2RtNI_KDX_CgNeIa_7fgO4f5iD0MsWKyExY_qdpTBybYreNxCqSk1ECYjiEk72uIWUgxtxW9eD0Zl6_LWvC0LE00g5n2t0/s1600/IMG_0258.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 250px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-2RNFi4m0HxRba4sEwWi-R3kWUXE03KVol2CuKlJperuQ0j2RtNI_KDX_CgNeIa_7fgO4f5iD0MsWKyExY_qdpTBybYreNxCqSk1ECYjiEk72uIWUgxtxW9eD0Zl6_LWvC0LE00g5n2t0/s320/IMG_0258.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476053143226261522" /></a><br /><br />He tried out for the talent show at his elementary school and his "folk dancing to traditional Irish music" was selected. The talent show was today - two performances. I went to the 1pm show and he was so great. I had to sit through 32 other not so great performances (ha!!) to get to him - but it was worth it.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOKJNrHlydbhRi8d6Tdu_nf0jdmlD6TSpgm-sHVwD3qeCPgPtmcXssIvCYNQnnVo01Bdg6_fb146V04tK4hs9FzgcwT9IRXul3FRWbIS3jB41FVWxZN2sBh5iyePplLoV6YuvAwzL7vVNM/s1600/IMG_0347.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOKJNrHlydbhRi8d6Tdu_nf0jdmlD6TSpgm-sHVwD3qeCPgPtmcXssIvCYNQnnVo01Bdg6_fb146V04tK4hs9FzgcwT9IRXul3FRWbIS3jB41FVWxZN2sBh5iyePplLoV6YuvAwzL7vVNM/s320/IMG_0347.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476054722853580946" /></a><br /><br />I have posted his dance on YouTube and here is a link for you to go watch it.<br />http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wBtOn1djZq4.<br /><br />Not only is Michael a very talented dancer - he is also a wonderful artist. Here is a picture he made in art class at school which was selected to be submitted to the Tulsa School District competition. I think it is really cool (well, duh).<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNIcv7gMXi-RQqrtrXdnKWMuo6IT_8NSvIyr3Qw14G2enrYutCd7V2jSvBBgx2A64IPv8_8U0sCVF6PLbes3ksgMAjJUL45hIxHnicgkAEem53OUdS6B0iPVBM2uiTPKaacafBgv5uvjaC/s1600/IMG_0352.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNIcv7gMXi-RQqrtrXdnKWMuo6IT_8NSvIyr3Qw14G2enrYutCd7V2jSvBBgx2A64IPv8_8U0sCVF6PLbes3ksgMAjJUL45hIxHnicgkAEem53OUdS6B0iPVBM2uiTPKaacafBgv5uvjaC/s320/IMG_0352.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476055986727506786" /></a><br /><br />Getting back to dancing - as part of the dance troupe at Faire, he is required to ask patrons to join him in the dances - AND - teach them the dances. Some adults have demurred and commented, he's just a kid! Well, not only can he do the dances, he also has led many other people as his partner.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4P0j4CeTA_R0KiCCda_F5wDMKRMpnX8sMYK1e76Ykbdugpo4wZy0JB2zv5U-OU5w597XexdQjuoweQ78W79snhfNTTMJdBOOEc82UAk_5GJ1cs1NYvW_yKRuxbM0kOyV8LUQRq45n4d-X/s1600/IMG_0287.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4P0j4CeTA_R0KiCCda_F5wDMKRMpnX8sMYK1e76Ykbdugpo4wZy0JB2zv5U-OU5w597XexdQjuoweQ78W79snhfNTTMJdBOOEc82UAk_5GJ1cs1NYvW_yKRuxbM0kOyV8LUQRq45n4d-X/s320/IMG_0287.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476056877942268674" /></a><br /><br />I wasn't at the Masqued Ball, but apparently he danced a number of ladies around the ball doing a fine waltz! Boy, is he going to be a popular prom date - LOL!! <br /><br />That's the end of this Mima bragfest.Lyndahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11034286537160848710noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3766350597014028298.post-58935825277410831002010-05-21T11:08:00.000-07:002010-05-21T11:42:51.624-07:00Florida and....back to TexasWell, as you know if you've been reading this thread, my mother was born in Texas and moved to Florida in the mid-1930's. The story I heard was they first went to Belle Glade and at some point ended up in Gainesville. I have to say a BIG Thank You to divine providence, fate, because that allowed me to claim heritage from two fantastic places and - best of all - to be a FLORIDA GATOR!<br /><br />Here's a picture of Nana around the time she moved to Florida with my mother, Gladys and my Uncle Joe.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig15NkAU6l_fZg-O2J9T7F5dfAwWbJMgqGU9bRvCU8Pce8EPA4GbBIIb63M1f53lYc1b328cml1ZlZfdIAg6azkPdeRXOjv1NjxLkFIjnnNoMIVkS3qA5nZSCUluMgDO1I06wlensdqwWP/s1600/MargieCarter.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 269px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig15NkAU6l_fZg-O2J9T7F5dfAwWbJMgqGU9bRvCU8Pce8EPA4GbBIIb63M1f53lYc1b328cml1ZlZfdIAg6azkPdeRXOjv1NjxLkFIjnnNoMIVkS3qA5nZSCUluMgDO1I06wlensdqwWP/s320/MargieCarter.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5473788070018728082" /></a><br /><br /><br />My Nana met my Grandaddy (Furman Lee Stokes) and they were married in 1938. He was in a grocery business - back when there were still such things as neighborhood grocery stores. He had been born and raised around Worthington Springs - which is near Lake Butler, if you know north-central Florida.<br /><br />Here are a couple of picture of Nana and Granddaddy from the old days.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7IDBxLx7cMWEcl8CIPaFAhncUF8rmO3vGbEvoRj4TidIMEVugHBrWCZi4BrueTh8TTDRro_3OAenryXE-0ZxXph_0ywhMa8GB4vunQ4oa_CvlCBD83EdU62gGOkasgf-RjbJbPa7uAZvq/s1600/Margie+and+Fred.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 187px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7IDBxLx7cMWEcl8CIPaFAhncUF8rmO3vGbEvoRj4TidIMEVugHBrWCZi4BrueTh8TTDRro_3OAenryXE-0ZxXph_0ywhMa8GB4vunQ4oa_CvlCBD83EdU62gGOkasgf-RjbJbPa7uAZvq/s320/Margie+and+Fred.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5473788802399962018" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgudIQLInnMzVE9cr0tnQHMnDXLzf6Gjf7gkdwlHniUYFAjvr2Vr_eyOUKyZMdqvvIkdqpEX8eO3em9Zh6PMy0qGYLqz3WxFxUkbnrZRd_qhQYYlRivH13tqwgKVRsf45lHdvpb2urVK93R/s1600/MargieandFred.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 229px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgudIQLInnMzVE9cr0tnQHMnDXLzf6Gjf7gkdwlHniUYFAjvr2Vr_eyOUKyZMdqvvIkdqpEX8eO3em9Zh6PMy0qGYLqz3WxFxUkbnrZRd_qhQYYlRivH13tqwgKVRsf45lHdvpb2urVK93R/s320/MargieandFred.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5473789044521604098" /></a><br /><br />My mother and uncle attended Gainesville High School in the 1940's. Grandaddy was a good man who never had any children of his own. He "adopted" my mother and uncle and they changed their names from Camp to Stokes. I have found during my genealogy research that the "adoption" probably never took place, or certainly was not legal. In spite of the fact that Nana married Grandaddy, and there are court records to prove it, in 1938 - she was not divorced from her first husband until 1952. Oh - the plot thickens then, does it not? Granddaddy Stokes was a wonderful man and a loving father and grandfather until his death in 1987. I could not have asked for sweeter man to be my grandfather. <br /><br />I recently made contact with one of my relatives on the Camp side over in east Texas when I was searching for what ever had happened to my biological grandfather, Jim Camp. The story told in Florida was that he abandoned his wife and children and was never heard from again. I have now heard from the "other side" that he told everyone that "Margie took the kids and moved to California". Since all parties are deceased at this time, I don't supposed I'll ever know the actual facts. But I suspect the truth lies somewhere between the two opposite stories. Here is a picture of my grandfather Jim Camp with his brothers a long time ago. <br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlol27jK4fJMXGubI1_cDctrVgh-ax9kYDMOSSxycGvqBUExWTQ-vGBjLpaFZKFpBHS7b6DMamFA8PQFHRCmrx4E4wR9vxIZGq5LsBn3vOPzGU7KwtXL3jxLuXEFdIesi_zg4I7UurrRgJ/s1600/Jim+and+Frank+Camp.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 201px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlol27jK4fJMXGubI1_cDctrVgh-ax9kYDMOSSxycGvqBUExWTQ-vGBjLpaFZKFpBHS7b6DMamFA8PQFHRCmrx4E4wR9vxIZGq5LsBn3vOPzGU7KwtXL3jxLuXEFdIesi_zg4I7UurrRgJ/s320/Jim+and+Frank+Camp.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5473790766635949154" /></a><br /><br />I am sorry I never got to know Jim Camp. I hope to meet his niece, and my mother's first cousin, Christine, in the near future and get to know that side of my family tree better. It turns out to be a very old limb in American history.<br /><br />Well, of course, my mother met my dad right after World War II, they got married, I was born into the huge and wonderful Benton clan, and I grew up knowing that family was the most important thing, surrounded by loving uncles, aunts and cousins. I graduated from Gainesville High in 1965 and from Santa Fe CC in 1967. I married Chuck Davis in 1967 and our first child - Katherine Anne - was born at Alachua General on June 21 1970. You don't have to be very good at math to know that means she is going to be 40 soon - HOLY COW!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigajUyC8IeivtFtcXJg6ciIoowG5ttJAJxvgtOj7hTrMYJn7e4AYArPENxvDTbZ4AQF6Ij6CvUgVsXjAkDUcYsGmKEvYPMxvKIhpG_Pe4KWCYek0phhjnF8nXaNKf5jVa1E1wtZHegt28w/s1600/DavisFam1972.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 309px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigajUyC8IeivtFtcXJg6ciIoowG5ttJAJxvgtOj7hTrMYJn7e4AYArPENxvDTbZ4AQF6Ij6CvUgVsXjAkDUcYsGmKEvYPMxvKIhpG_Pe4KWCYek0phhjnF8nXaNKf5jVa1E1wtZHegt28w/s320/DavisFam1972.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5473792136391748594" /></a><br /><br />Son Jeffrey came along - another Alachua General baby - in 1974, and here is a picture of our little family that Christmas.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPms1D2ol0JDYoK4WgI7sRbDZ0zOJD53oXkq2Ky6BiPPm7zAttmGlano49n0NtUmU4gC1usxGFtmLzHb0K4cIKNVoGZR9g5pshn3mQ5rLBsTMVE1EVgCQbhLioCJO5Tj4gaMW2FXcxt4BL/s1600/Christmas1974.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 306px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPms1D2ol0JDYoK4WgI7sRbDZ0zOJD53oXkq2Ky6BiPPm7zAttmGlano49n0NtUmU4gC1usxGFtmLzHb0K4cIKNVoGZR9g5pshn3mQ5rLBsTMVE1EVgCQbhLioCJO5Tj4gaMW2FXcxt4BL/s320/Christmas1974.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5473792494261403330" /></a><br /><br />Unfortunately - we had to leave Florida because my "ex" had lost his job and we ended up - of course - in Texas in 1977. So, that was a little bit of a full-circle for my life. I spent the next 18 years in Texas and after a brief time in Nashville, another few years in Dallas. I think that I feel very much a part of both states. I was fortunate to always know my Texas heritage - Nana and Mother brought me to big family reunions around East Texas every two years from the time I was a toddler until I was about to graduate from high school. So - while I definitely will always bleed ORANGE AND BLUE - the sight of Texas bluebonnets waving in a breeze can bring me to tears. I really can't think of two greater heritages to have than to be a Florida Cracker and a Texas Pioneer. I am twice blessed.Lyndahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11034286537160848710noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3766350597014028298.post-3770995018919777682010-05-10T12:34:00.000-07:002010-05-10T13:21:01.507-07:00Texas to Florida and back....So, I am a 5th generation Floridian - on my daddy's side. On my mother's side, I am a Texan. Times were very hard in the 1930's. At some point, my maternal grandmother, Margie Carter Camp (Nana), decided that Florida was the land of opportunity. She and two of her three children (my mother, Gladys and my uncle Joe) headed that way for a better life. Her oldest son, James Earl Camp, decided he'd rather stay on her parents' farm with his grandmother Lilian, who had mostly raised him for a few years. I believe he was around 13 or 14 years old at the time. <br /><br />Here is a picture of my mother, Gladys Lorraine Camp (Stokes) Benton and her two brothers in the early 1930's. My grandmother and her parents lived just outside Jefferson, Texas which is in far northeast Texas.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjysmSuLvIO3VfLtgw_6fUso3q60Fy4e-eq1oYwyks5P5S-1GW3WeVLtdUi5cOxDd1KXH6H-YooX9fVkb79tj21oYsPrEfT9-ml__ReE-fH4bL6gyBBGlF42wpnYIGMCyR-ghxjK0EQBzmS/s1600/CampChildren.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 225px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjysmSuLvIO3VfLtgw_6fUso3q60Fy4e-eq1oYwyks5P5S-1GW3WeVLtdUi5cOxDd1KXH6H-YooX9fVkb79tj21oYsPrEfT9-ml__ReE-fH4bL6gyBBGlF42wpnYIGMCyR-ghxjK0EQBzmS/s320/CampChildren.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469728456889240386" /></a><br /><br />I am not sure of all the details on how or why Nana's ancestors moved into Texas. Most likely, they were in search of a better opportunity - is there a theme here? After the War between the States, many people from the south went west in search of new land and new chances. Nana's father was born in Georgia and her mother in Alabama. Charlie T. Carter was born around Doraville, GA in 1871. His father dies in Cass County, TX in 1875. Charlie (my great-grandfather) married Lilian Fason and together they raised nine children on a 400 acre cotton farm. <br /><br />Here is a picture of Charlie with his youngest daughter, Lillie Mae Carter. It was taken some time before he died in 1931.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrM1Mb9Zv4oENqG4pmoXSHlAlx7idKGm9zvreeWMYxNYTnmqqB0HN4TXstkUYwTwG-k40NKw8GQkIuwm0usVUlQ-Q_NG2UYT4FR-GMXQa9olmb46RP463GBS1a8lkBBGY4MVP58jp5RzV-/s1600/Charlie+Carter.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 238px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrM1Mb9Zv4oENqG4pmoXSHlAlx7idKGm9zvreeWMYxNYTnmqqB0HN4TXstkUYwTwG-k40NKw8GQkIuwm0usVUlQ-Q_NG2UYT4FR-GMXQa9olmb46RP463GBS1a8lkBBGY4MVP58jp5RzV-/s320/Charlie+Carter.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469732123730151538" /></a><br /><br />On Lilian's side, her father (William Duffy Fason)was born in Georgia and lived around Ashland County, Alabama for a few years. Sometime between the 1880 census and the 1900 census, they arrive in northeast Texas. His occupation on census records is listed as farmer. Lilian lived until 1942, and from my mother's accounts, was a wonderful grandmother and person. I did get to meet her brother, Travis, when I was a child, and he was a fun, eccentric fellow. <br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtj1N_joL8bfnpLXNFYlRB5j2qSX4gSJmcfnKf7q_fxz2xOuUtbNCkAeV2H9MmY4NTXmsGqjsNPS-en1jbdxDnDcV0lgHqhZ1imp_czHfEB3Bw7i71_lcYvuccXvg2SCN8njvp0IhWvK9H/s1600/Lillie+Faison+Carter.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 119px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtj1N_joL8bfnpLXNFYlRB5j2qSX4gSJmcfnKf7q_fxz2xOuUtbNCkAeV2H9MmY4NTXmsGqjsNPS-en1jbdxDnDcV0lgHqhZ1imp_czHfEB3Bw7i71_lcYvuccXvg2SCN8njvp0IhWvK9H/s320/Lillie+Faison+Carter.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469732814984096722" /></a><br /><br />My uncle who stayed behind, James Earl Camp, passed away suddenly when he was only sixteen years old. Nana never quite got over that - having left him in Texas. Apparently he had a congenital heart defect and then he came down with pneumonia. It's hard to imagine, but in the 1930's they did not know penicillin would cure pneumonia! Here is a picture of my mother and Uncle Joe on the trip back to Texas for Earl's funeral. I found a letter he had written to mother and Uncle Joe among old pictures of Nana's when she died. It was such a sweet letter, and Earl talked about going to church. So, I'm looking forward to meeting him in Heaven one day.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFVXVriCarg4PvNp2nilu2Rh8Jx4qZuib7kty0Azj8b4QMcbNFrnrirCWPUTeVZ3Exn1G9AXgRmRqm-XX7WqnHuJyy1tjJLjRfv2UBuPKqXeO4mDfXJRMEAWAwYtiZcpPGg4NY9mkUF3Hz/s1600/GladysandJoe.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 194px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFVXVriCarg4PvNp2nilu2Rh8Jx4qZuib7kty0Azj8b4QMcbNFrnrirCWPUTeVZ3Exn1G9AXgRmRqm-XX7WqnHuJyy1tjJLjRfv2UBuPKqXeO4mDfXJRMEAWAwYtiZcpPGg4NY9mkUF3Hz/s320/GladysandJoe.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469733647868125826" /></a><br /><br />Another find among Nana's old pictures were two very old photos of people I did not know. When I removed them from being glued to the page of an old album, I discovered one was of "Mr. Jim". That would be my mother's father, James Daniel Camp. The story I was told was that he had abandoned Nana and his children at some point, and they did not know what happened to him. I don't know the circumstances of the family separating, but I have recently learned more about what happened to him. <br /><br />Through Ancestry.com I made a connection with Christine who is my mother's first cousin on the Camp side. She was always told that "Margie took the children to California". Grandfather Jim remarried, had two more children, James Leland Camp and Elizabeth Camp. He died in Shreveport, LA in 1963. James Leland is still alive and I may get to meet him this summer at the Camp Family reunion, which I have been invited to attend. I sure hope I get to meet him - my long-lost uncle! And, there sure were two sides to the story of my grandfather. <br /><br />Here is a picture of James Daniel Camp with his brother Frank (Christine's father).<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyXrQKyibkq8WOuwqfWotwETti5eY-ubkGw5HXv501_2b6S4wvI0oMfB-XZC2ALqgU0YcSaJBzF2yoBt1MHnr3x8JqcYha9zxdVZ9CIc9rjoP4TJWAdiP0JKPwgsZBxRDdr3X15OdWEiCD/s1600/Jim+and+Frank+Camp.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 201px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyXrQKyibkq8WOuwqfWotwETti5eY-ubkGw5HXv501_2b6S4wvI0oMfB-XZC2ALqgU0YcSaJBzF2yoBt1MHnr3x8JqcYha9zxdVZ9CIc9rjoP4TJWAdiP0JKPwgsZBxRDdr3X15OdWEiCD/s320/Jim+and+Frank+Camp.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469736614996441282" /></a><br /><br />I've learned some interesting things through Christine and her husband. They've sent me records of Jim's grandfather, Daniel W. Johnston's service in the 2nd Mississipi Cavalry during the Civil War. I just love family history. <br /><br />I think that's all the room I have for this time.Lyndahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11034286537160848710noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3766350597014028298.post-1192300483983497032010-05-08T11:59:00.000-07:002010-05-08T12:34:31.346-07:00Lots of Old Memories!And, there are some I don't have memories of - because I wasn't born<br />yet. I have been busy using my new toy - an Epson Perfection V30<br />scanner. For a long time, I've wanted to scan many old family pictures<br />so I could be sure they would not be lost, and so I could use them<br />electronically - like for this posting.<br /><br />First of all, I grew up in a huge extended family of Bentons. For<br />those who were in that bunch, you know what I mean. My daddy,<br />Samuel Edward Benton, was one of seven children. So, in my<br />generation of first cousins, there were 14 of us. And we were<br />thick as thieves growing up. So, not only did I have the blessing<br />of family, but several of my cousins were also my best friends.<br /><br />The Nathan and Ethel Benton Clan - 1958.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOk2lKnN8n_s6L7wjLVuW6QiphrvQQBmu5F-P-ofhExmoFywpo9ShcxRvBNxtWf_7wdWJ8MYleFVvXB1CYgx1X7sRsZQPOypa-g1nf8rgZ791zFHdJotTqQ38XOuA0wv-3_BiW8nLshQ7a/s1600/BentonFamily+1958.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 226px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOk2lKnN8n_s6L7wjLVuW6QiphrvQQBmu5F-P-ofhExmoFywpo9ShcxRvBNxtWf_7wdWJ8MYleFVvXB1CYgx1X7sRsZQPOypa-g1nf8rgZ791zFHdJotTqQ38XOuA0wv-3_BiW8nLshQ7a/s320/BentonFamily+1958.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5468978368485670930" /></a><br />L to R: Harvey, Marian, Rosetta, Cecil, Edward, Kathleen, Grandpa, Grandma, and Buck<br /><br />The matriarch and patriarch of this clan were Nathan Benton and<br />Ethel Martin. Nathan was born in South Carolina, and grew up in<br />what is now regarded as N. Myrtle Beach. Lucky guy! His parents where<br />William George Benton and Katherine Graham. He must have learned some<br />good coastal cooking there, because he made the best stuffed crab<br />I have ever had. He grew his own hot peppers which he did NOT use<br />sparingly! I love this picture - it is how I remember him.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlKRRebnBKhVzLdVYQsmNecv1cScj7psSiPdDW9w8OcgcIMJ9skbhGE0AxXtJewHI1TsBLbNTNZNRw1P7rvvVjRIJ3zLSyy4ulgzzYee07t4nx2lvuDnLbhn34qBGTE7x2lQLLwciGsWYB/s1600/NathanBenton.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 228px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlKRRebnBKhVzLdVYQsmNecv1cScj7psSiPdDW9w8OcgcIMJ9skbhGE0AxXtJewHI1TsBLbNTNZNRw1P7rvvVjRIJ3zLSyy4ulgzzYee07t4nx2lvuDnLbhn34qBGTE7x2lQLLwciGsWYB/s320/NathanBenton.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5468978674341812578" /></a><br /><br />Grandma Ethel was born around Trenton, FL to Evaline Faircloth and<br />Samuel A. Martin. Samuel's mother was Carolina Townsend, and the<br />Townsend family was very prominent around the area where the Santa<br />Fe and Suwanee rivers join. The Townsend brothers settled in that<br />area in the mid-1800's. This branch of the Townsend also has roots<br />in South Carolina in what was Craven County, and on the shores of the<br />Pee Dee river. Samuel's grandfather, John "Jack" Townsend, was<br />accidentally drowned in the Suwanee river in 1847.<br /><br />Love this old picture of Grandma - she's holding my daddy, Edward, when<br />he was about one year old. This picture is from about 1922.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiREWUPJ2oGRv9POUzk8wt6ED_vVQbBSFhA69KzHfWhvotW0ankYw0JN3ipaRkXbl4rS0rEV1Y8y6Yy6dQ3-EPTK74OF54FeirkiZvMFTU21UdwApHh55ojJsexEeJJ4mzZtHVGmYFlydlh/s1600/Ethel+Benton+1924.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 221px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiREWUPJ2oGRv9POUzk8wt6ED_vVQbBSFhA69KzHfWhvotW0ankYw0JN3ipaRkXbl4rS0rEV1Y8y6Yy6dQ3-EPTK74OF54FeirkiZvMFTU21UdwApHh55ojJsexEeJJ4mzZtHVGmYFlydlh/s320/Ethel+Benton+1924.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5468979071431429682" /></a><br /><br />And 50 years later, in this picture, she looks like we remember her. My daughter, Kate, is the little blondie with her great-grandmother. This is from 1972.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM7OGsoFfvEPsrCmMHEJOqwiNRFLER1F0vhprKnHLR6AVJs2W6JBt_vQfxl7uNLnVlfk0fHS1c_S43Q0mTL6Uma5V0ArVnyMUknCB03c7NDfHhpa4gvVZBqaXETAP2zcJAp5b8Pg9G7tPc/s1600/EthelMartinBenton.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 247px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM7OGsoFfvEPsrCmMHEJOqwiNRFLER1F0vhprKnHLR6AVJs2W6JBt_vQfxl7uNLnVlfk0fHS1c_S43Q0mTL6Uma5V0ArVnyMUknCB03c7NDfHhpa4gvVZBqaXETAP2zcJAp5b8Pg9G7tPc/s320/EthelMartinBenton.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5468979477198435858" /></a><br /><br />I wish I would have talked to my grandparents more about their "history" when they were alive. I did sit down with Grandma in about 1982 and jotted down her memory of names and dates. It was very helpful when I began my obsession with genealogy.<br /><br />Finally, here's a couple of pictures of my daddy, Samuel Edward Benton. He was born in Jacksonville when Grandpa and Grandma lived there - Grandpa worked for the railroad. They relocated to Archer when Daddy was very small. Most of his siblings were born in Archer. He played three sports in high school and was named to the all-district teams in all (baseball, football and basketball). He loved the outdoors. <br /><br />In World War II, he served in the famous 1st Seabee Battalion in the Pacific theater and was involved in the Battle of the Coral Sea. After the war, he returned to Archer, and stated he "never wanted to leave again". <br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7hCatMmiBDwCeoPNJdahOVqDrpXWUCp2NhacqXMEsnbnPLqZQr23ZiJ15ONuJJozV0VSog88V6RvLovlADfMUUd8zeWkVm4Yu8Zj21rDaIABJdfngNjRbd4tTS8FltOsdO58UhconRQ4b/s1600/EdwardBenton.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 248px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7hCatMmiBDwCeoPNJdahOVqDrpXWUCp2NhacqXMEsnbnPLqZQr23ZiJ15ONuJJozV0VSog88V6RvLovlADfMUUd8zeWkVm4Yu8Zj21rDaIABJdfngNjRbd4tTS8FltOsdO58UhconRQ4b/s320/EdwardBenton.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5468981578140423474" /></a><br /><br />He rarely left north central Florida the rest of his life. He was devoted to his parents and siblings. Always ready to give a helping hand, he was remembered by the citizens of Archer after his death in 1978 by a headstone erected to honor him.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuOD1GI2taI6XN5cJZWfK2DUz2SUogLkgsEDzgj02AylRYz5X-ksJjFyLhfF_6h4jWo8Te8hh5GYWyjwk8JvM1wJCGAanVjLc9LjydrHsD9jKTwD9DcEVyTuJC1lyr0wX63PYezwc0RB-u/s1600/EdBenton.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 230px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuOD1GI2taI6XN5cJZWfK2DUz2SUogLkgsEDzgj02AylRYz5X-ksJjFyLhfF_6h4jWo8Te8hh5GYWyjwk8JvM1wJCGAanVjLc9LjydrHsD9jKTwD9DcEVyTuJC1lyr0wX63PYezwc0RB-u/s320/EdBenton.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5468981824610950946" /></a><br /><br />Daddy's grave in Laurel Hill Cemetery, Archer Florida. My granddaughter Mathilda visiting his memorial.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjloRv25LGc8NLit20D_JvbHBO39yiqvnlmg1ILu2eRTdMvITRJ6h8rQup0Pgb6clkV2QVGIQueNXq_kFVNQb2Fb0Wmh0dqZ6T4bureNTqGzySXAYiAJOvWl1f-NKrilNQBYGzPoXA5aBl_/s1600/TildawithDaddy.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 319px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjloRv25LGc8NLit20D_JvbHBO39yiqvnlmg1ILu2eRTdMvITRJ6h8rQup0Pgb6clkV2QVGIQueNXq_kFVNQb2Fb0Wmh0dqZ6T4bureNTqGzySXAYiAJOvWl1f-NKrilNQBYGzPoXA5aBl_/s320/TildawithDaddy.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5468982168446424002" /></a><br />The inscription reads: "A Faithful Servant to His Community - He was Loved and a Friend to All". Now, that's a life well-lived.<br /><br />Next time - My Texas Connection!Lyndahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11034286537160848710noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3766350597014028298.post-48161759246569621032010-05-02T16:27:00.001-07:002010-05-02T16:54:31.514-07:00Tra-La, it's May<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHROSsY67UdGsCIlcPg3J7v5qA4HaEGVowlVbWCnnDZ0CEHsRqC5tqQQCcReIGWtL4WWqaXYLu7MBE-xbKkyODYzgW6Xb_ulkuTkzuELSl-i_MY18mLKMKCddjuc6hUIT8bG9k_CTkJCuA/s1600/OKRF.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 225px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHROSsY67UdGsCIlcPg3J7v5qA4HaEGVowlVbWCnnDZ0CEHsRqC5tqQQCcReIGWtL4WWqaXYLu7MBE-xbKkyODYzgW6Xb_ulkuTkzuELSl-i_MY18mLKMKCddjuc6hUIT8bG9k_CTkJCuA/s320/OKRF.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5466819969055389618" /></a><br /><br />And, in NE Oklahoma that means it is time for the Oklahoma Renaissance Festival (OKRF)in Muskogee. I have loved Ren Faires since I first attended the Texas Faire just north of Houston back around 1978. That became an annual event for as long as I lived in Houston, and I think I've been back there once since. <br /><br />Last year, my son Jeffrey and his partner Amie were invited to participate in the OKRF. I took Michael (his son) out every weekend so he could enjoy all the fun. Michael loved it so much he wanted to be in the "cast" this year, and he was selected to be on the dance team. He has learned all the steps to all the many authentic folk dances the team does, and he's a good dancer.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPA7t7kVU0O8oY9SXBiiSPTzBTRy2X5eUY9qmSHa5frTS1Fyed63NZnohQpSHRkEf6cWlFQX31ZTMixTjja0KP4zpFsl8kbESetZpinB_vwlRub3sMnAfmaz-g0acRZJxtAW21V2kutWyA/s1600/IMG_0287.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPA7t7kVU0O8oY9SXBiiSPTzBTRy2X5eUY9qmSHa5frTS1Fyed63NZnohQpSHRkEf6cWlFQX31ZTMixTjja0KP4zpFsl8kbESetZpinB_vwlRub3sMnAfmaz-g0acRZJxtAW21V2kutWyA/s320/IMG_0287.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5466820710367866594" /></a><br /><br />Amie and Jeffrey's very good friend Jeremy is one of the main characters at OKRF. He plays Will Somers, King Henry VIII's fool. Will Somers is an actual historic figure and was, in fact, more of a friend of Henry's than a fool. "Master Somers" is also in charge of the dancing and parades, and the center of the festival grounds are named for him "Somers Field".<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSlk2j5W-D9YDiJ3coeaESU8k7qnnTYLnbvZd2duMhPIK8ajvVFLNkA5Ofh2LfvHa_grvtbA8c5lfQbxCbodykXZQsKMThyZF0k9-Dbi73dDKgRtZYConX2ufz2xHKNIrD4QMcb5dPOTS0/s1600/IMG_0320.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 216px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSlk2j5W-D9YDiJ3coeaESU8k7qnnTYLnbvZd2duMhPIK8ajvVFLNkA5Ofh2LfvHa_grvtbA8c5lfQbxCbodykXZQsKMThyZF0k9-Dbi73dDKgRtZYConX2ufz2xHKNIrD4QMcb5dPOTS0/s320/IMG_0320.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5466821470344057810" /></a><br /><br />The Castle in Muskogee is a wonderful place, that can transport you back in time. I enjoy dressing in period costumes and being a "playtron" (what they call someone who isn't in the cast, but likes to play along).<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjianRI9aN2xyZ9EpsH5GSRSJPNx-mkLMyXbNs9X96VlNSgteIRN7K-VJimv6s-RblR1f9pz5mUwftBn1N-hj44nez-f9A8HoHUapcUNkG2U84EAxUSYs5w5DW3eMctYZdRqgiPIUNeNGtz/s1600/IMG_0328.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 190px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjianRI9aN2xyZ9EpsH5GSRSJPNx-mkLMyXbNs9X96VlNSgteIRN7K-VJimv6s-RblR1f9pz5mUwftBn1N-hj44nez-f9A8HoHUapcUNkG2U84EAxUSYs5w5DW3eMctYZdRqgiPIUNeNGtz/s320/IMG_0328.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5466822161872902818" /></a><br /><br />Here are my Gypsy men: Rikkirik (Jeffrey) and Lil' Rikki (Michael). To make the family complete, Amie is Lucynda and goes by Lucy (get it??).<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizJ4UkPzgp1w0cL4vTTv0VKzXuD8YTrNN4u8Ew1IPGDQ0xGe0pSZxnNLh_agIbfktsB4IS81911A1zKxuXrVn5oXUsIJgDUlqOQomhE8nU3ZexbgFpcTGNXxfO_hyphenhyphenhnK7CFRaqlXfSXm5B/s1600/IMG_0294.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 302px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizJ4UkPzgp1w0cL4vTTv0VKzXuD8YTrNN4u8Ew1IPGDQ0xGe0pSZxnNLh_agIbfktsB4IS81911A1zKxuXrVn5oXUsIJgDUlqOQomhE8nU3ZexbgFpcTGNXxfO_hyphenhyphenhnK7CFRaqlXfSXm5B/s320/IMG_0294.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5466822684138502274" /></a><br /><br />Here I am with Master Somers, who has a different gorgeous costume for every day of the Festival (that is at least eight). Amie has helped him make several of them.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzS-z-ArLmsiIVk-JwMZOWnhBKPVGzfB1rvPxerMRYyVlsyAi8iND6hYOHJ-4nKzCjxIZP6mRsvrixKSD3-wNQwoPqJgguHN_F-tSxkhPW7YAI5j2XQn3dD3mMelruavaGFUxQeBLyFGRo/s1600/IMG_0331.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 306px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzS-z-ArLmsiIVk-JwMZOWnhBKPVGzfB1rvPxerMRYyVlsyAi8iND6hYOHJ-4nKzCjxIZP6mRsvrixKSD3-wNQwoPqJgguHN_F-tSxkhPW7YAI5j2XQn3dD3mMelruavaGFUxQeBLyFGRo/s320/IMG_0331.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5466823096465388002" /></a><br /><br />And, here I am with Lucy (Amie).<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIexP1jCrGQPw5Z0MKsJhIcubmru6dO1xoHKW_y-ij7MnHA0BYdaR-IfaWy7G7AJQlsNH0xcP2a4nk56x1i37euYw86ETtlDReO85dOvVm6NeDoMxlxDfzZwIraT6IiEejC0mULMrjO-CC/s1600/IMG_0338.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 298px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIexP1jCrGQPw5Z0MKsJhIcubmru6dO1xoHKW_y-ij7MnHA0BYdaR-IfaWy7G7AJQlsNH0xcP2a4nk56x1i37euYw86ETtlDReO85dOvVm6NeDoMxlxDfzZwIraT6IiEejC0mULMrjO-CC/s320/IMG_0338.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5466823423860250994" /></a><br /><br />Finally, here I am with Rikki.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwKoZO8ESDAQl2qHwiz8ugiXDnpU6Fy69mgH5XKs2Oz-ZWSoRqeEV2c8y70I0PFzOQtVPcVqZTOAhQLCK-TMXwMA5vKmTigegpRk4FhlBU_xgCYm7pWE1gFh_cBo9jlFcWhaGYQ6f0-Bro/s1600/IMG_0340.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 268px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwKoZO8ESDAQl2qHwiz8ugiXDnpU6Fy69mgH5XKs2Oz-ZWSoRqeEV2c8y70I0PFzOQtVPcVqZTOAhQLCK-TMXwMA5vKmTigegpRk4FhlBU_xgCYm7pWE1gFh_cBo9jlFcWhaGYQ6f0-Bro/s320/IMG_0340.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5466823753225059666" /></a><br /><br />Last year at a different fair in Missouri, I was privileged to get to assist in the "Birds of Prey" show by catching a beautiful red-tailed hawk named Lady Valkyrie. This group also comes to OKRF and I was able to get a new picture of Lady Val (she's the one on the arm of the other Lady (ha!)).<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4Eovg9zXufIaBKpczbWjPYP8GneMd9zh2m8p1_OwT27QCYZbFSDDU9Xm452UmvXBMSYufhldEOZHCAPPjtSxy8lC6pOa-QBkRv0_-UC8z7Q1flBNLdoMT3cksbBpF2d565ciSpBwnB5kv/s1600/IMG_0334.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4Eovg9zXufIaBKpczbWjPYP8GneMd9zh2m8p1_OwT27QCYZbFSDDU9Xm452UmvXBMSYufhldEOZHCAPPjtSxy8lC6pOa-QBkRv0_-UC8z7Q1flBNLdoMT3cksbBpF2d565ciSpBwnB5kv/s320/IMG_0334.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5466824268357268610" /></a><br /><br />Finally, here is just a very cute picture of my grandson, Lil' Rikki (aka Michael Edward Davis). Dancing works up a mighty big thirst! <br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiSoSIhrMq-lHZzFTnnsKAJ_qlEGrdUzQATcD9wfUadwLVSjbmNilbK4cMgwJ27h43aMqKgslv3k9UUvN4kNWruQEjTaHkoCYg0WmTNEPY_tV4RPrYsYry4ZdM38wQx78U4w_6n6GPwU4-/s1600/IMG_0297.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 268px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiSoSIhrMq-lHZzFTnnsKAJ_qlEGrdUzQATcD9wfUadwLVSjbmNilbK4cMgwJ27h43aMqKgslv3k9UUvN4kNWruQEjTaHkoCYg0WmTNEPY_tV4RPrYsYry4ZdM38wQx78U4w_6n6GPwU4-/s320/IMG_0297.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5466824876347046866" /></a><br /><br />I have tons of other pictures and if you wish to see them, go find my facebook page and look for the new album OKRF 2010.Lyndahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11034286537160848710noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3766350597014028298.post-13687467687882855002010-04-14T11:18:00.000-07:002010-04-14T11:34:49.655-07:00Spring has Sprung!This morning I was up early to attend my monthly DAR meeting. Since it is April, we were celebrating Earth Day and Earth Month. The centerpieces were little Arbor Vitae trees that will be planted. We meet at the Philbrook Museum in Tulsa - which is centered on the former home of Waite Phillips, founder of Phillips Petroleum. It is a wonderful museum (fine art) and the house is fantastic. Lunch is available from La Villa restaurant at Philbrook, and is always tasty. You can see the menu for the day on the table.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxIn5i_yHw5Dw-krCfOCy6p-L8PTBXAEXhseDuIkQsfFIGnJuRdSrHWP4dR05nvkEgMgvQR4uq53QESoN0iNyRfKJ7YWhtJzPU3NYOWpQP2qxUqUXLMzp8lLto1O5RuqDA97aNRAXdmvgx/s1600/IMG_0231.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxIn5i_yHw5Dw-krCfOCy6p-L8PTBXAEXhseDuIkQsfFIGnJuRdSrHWP4dR05nvkEgMgvQR4uq53QESoN0iNyRfKJ7YWhtJzPU3NYOWpQP2qxUqUXLMzp8lLto1O5RuqDA97aNRAXdmvgx/s320/IMG_0231.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460061442203194066" /></a><br /><br /><br />On my way over to Philbrook, I passed by Woodward Park here in Tulsa. It is always beautiful, but never more so than when the azaleas are in bloom. I couldn't resist making a stop there on my way home and taking a few pictures.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlwi37kc5edNZAvtZWNIeNd_Y9RYSlkjGrYhqSmOLMCErrtpYWjVm_xvcCVwyn3q1MBibZnnTpAE2vvmRcFE0-Irzk9ybh07aS5a7F9AaMKOylyMW8alCqCcvFCLsDgeDo-lg864EE6l2V/s1600/IMG_0241.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 202px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlwi37kc5edNZAvtZWNIeNd_Y9RYSlkjGrYhqSmOLMCErrtpYWjVm_xvcCVwyn3q1MBibZnnTpAE2vvmRcFE0-Irzk9ybh07aS5a7F9AaMKOylyMW8alCqCcvFCLsDgeDo-lg864EE6l2V/s320/IMG_0241.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460061626931736610" /></a><br /><br />Many people think of Oklahoma as flat, dry and dusty. The northeast part of Oklahoma is anything but that. It is hilly, green and gorgeous. We are, after all, in the foothills of the Ozarks. It is tragic that our Native American tribes were forced to leave their beloved land in North Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi and Florida (to name a few places). I think the land they received in the Indian Territory is beautiful and I hope it was something they would be at home in one day. We have great tribal organizations now that mean so much to this part of America.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB4DuGWNny4ypqqwuRN3sGM1Jl3TM46nw6Fa1wenoSSrdQYd4hUIjbF5oEFDEPjyuig_XY5Ch0WkJWQl3adxZBdYtieHDZ2wWjG3YXxVO6L7qEv7ANuU0L3rU97AZkjgWY3b3TROT4jJc1/s1600/IMG_0242.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB4DuGWNny4ypqqwuRN3sGM1Jl3TM46nw6Fa1wenoSSrdQYd4hUIjbF5oEFDEPjyuig_XY5Ch0WkJWQl3adxZBdYtieHDZ2wWjG3YXxVO6L7qEv7ANuU0L3rU97AZkjgWY3b3TROT4jJc1/s320/IMG_0242.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460061834548571682" /></a><br /><br /><br />A few dogwoods are still blooming and the trees are in that lovely spring green.<br />Woodward Park is a favorite place here for families to get pictures made and for engagement and wedding portraits to be done.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinL1v_7YQHcpbrG9vQtkdPOzAZfmM3avhAU0iubK7iRGSWypdBt3VJYHQJT-7xTU34JQDxzheo_NNM0sEzWCAwSOzTXLxLODDyQfwI3cU9M_h1VhHeLUrTpYqZ4dp7hPW7H9v6QiNLfSCi/s1600/IMG_0243.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 193px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinL1v_7YQHcpbrG9vQtkdPOzAZfmM3avhAU0iubK7iRGSWypdBt3VJYHQJT-7xTU34JQDxzheo_NNM0sEzWCAwSOzTXLxLODDyQfwI3cU9M_h1VhHeLUrTpYqZ4dp7hPW7H9v6QiNLfSCi/s320/IMG_0243.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460062070144103506" /></a><br /><br /><br />What would spring be without baseball. I've been asked to come back to Oneok Field for three more days to help out with the high school baseball showcase going on from now through Friday. It should be a fun time for the schools and their supporters.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAKa_Ogy16s-E-U9tLolpABdlw0vCo9WI1W9i6EmDQ5oZ_s7uyel4ZOq8-YcZKRxDzmI6PcSS2LM9quwRwiqnBBy80ubd-o-H-HDRc8nWs-QSCpeVq1gssblN2l7pqy85fSZGfphyphenhyphenKo7lV/s1600/IMG_0247.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAKa_Ogy16s-E-U9tLolpABdlw0vCo9WI1W9i6EmDQ5oZ_s7uyel4ZOq8-YcZKRxDzmI6PcSS2LM9quwRwiqnBBy80ubd-o-H-HDRc8nWs-QSCpeVq1gssblN2l7pqy85fSZGfphyphenhyphenKo7lV/s320/IMG_0247.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460063280330117938" /></a><br /><br />I hope you enjoy these pictures of beautiful Tulsa. I think the wet cold winter should always end with such a lovely Spring.Lyndahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11034286537160848710noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3766350597014028298.post-12397216574837235382010-04-12T06:16:00.000-07:002010-04-12T06:46:32.124-07:00Drillers Ups and Downs<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb5p7Fni54lQGuxvXUbsg5iFluUdCBfF7yeQAHedYWGj1z2nDDji9JUgay-kfYUwUpOhNeMa5jP-To6sRqATY0OlZsstlLhRkt9dVHw_3KoKAwoiM18C588rBU26mvw7RzkicjNdmarFAw/s1600/IMG_0226.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 293px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb5p7Fni54lQGuxvXUbsg5iFluUdCBfF7yeQAHedYWGj1z2nDDji9JUgay-kfYUwUpOhNeMa5jP-To6sRqATY0OlZsstlLhRkt9dVHw_3KoKAwoiM18C588rBU26mvw7RzkicjNdmarFAw/s320/IMG_0226.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5459240580747773634" /></a><br />I just couldn't resist that - since I run the elevator at Oneok Field in Tulsa which takes Driller fans to the suites (if they are so lucky as to have a ticket for a suite). I also get to take media folks up to the press box, and occasionally I give a ride to a player down to the clubhouse level. I also occasionally help Hornsby - the Driller's Mascot - get ready for his entrance if a little tucking in is required before the doors open. Hornsby is such a great blue bull!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmhbNN2ImkxG3r6rngjO4wOMwjoAZNFwGg3RrrePuxqaJAcoW2VU05I0DOUNIhbL7_f7mW9RivtauDlgH6TYIAvbqiav6Uewycm5xVtQEMaX53zoAPem4gZdCkn7u1a235OMKjP3YIRsaz/s1600/Hornsby.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 235px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmhbNN2ImkxG3r6rngjO4wOMwjoAZNFwGg3RrrePuxqaJAcoW2VU05I0DOUNIhbL7_f7mW9RivtauDlgH6TYIAvbqiav6Uewycm5xVtQEMaX53zoAPem4gZdCkn7u1a235OMKjP3YIRsaz/s320/Hornsby.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5459244828156585538" /></a><br /><br />So, with four games down in the beautiful new Oneok Field, the Drillers got their first win on Sunday. Most of the scoring was done in the first inning - with the home team getting EIGHT RUNS. That is more runs than they had scored in the previous 3 outings together. They were off to a great start. The final score was 9-5.<br /><br />The weather has been just made to order for the opening home stand. When I left the field around 10:30pm on Saturday night it was still about 71 degrees out - perfect night for a game. Sunday was the first "day" game - and I saw more than one person who forgot to use their sunscreen - ouch! I'll bet they remember the next time.<br /><br />I don't like this picture much - but here I am in my official Driller Operations Team uniform. Every game the full-time Driller employees have a "shirt of the day" they wear. They have royal blue, white and grey golf shirts they alternate.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy-iAE_B-4BveCkOMtJRJDSP1xNLnEwnB7-a2oQNii-DDrd_K7OBd8eFBLpKHL_43XIv2NYo93WTKVHIGlj-KLetVIV3s8rmfb7mW8Y3-DZa8PtT0CC9JjVnPK3kWsAjSZMeHyKW9xbYFr/s1600/IMG_0228.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy-iAE_B-4BveCkOMtJRJDSP1xNLnEwnB7-a2oQNii-DDrd_K7OBd8eFBLpKHL_43XIv2NYo93WTKVHIGlj-KLetVIV3s8rmfb7mW8Y3-DZa8PtT0CC9JjVnPK3kWsAjSZMeHyKW9xbYFr/s320/IMG_0228.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5459241467421159282" /></a><br /><br /><br />In order for the suite and club level fans to go back and forth between the concourse level and the suites they have to wear a wristband. Whenever I've had to help someone get theirs on, I always seem to get the sticky part stuck on their arm hair - some hilarity has ensued on that one! There was a group of guys yesterday that I could tell was a "party looking for a place to happen". One of them wanted to show off his rather prominent beer gut - they were laughing and teasing each other alot. I couldn't help saying "you look like you are about due!". His friends just fell out laughing - and we had good times on my elevator. I try to bring something fun to each ride up or down. I took this one of myself in "my suite" - the elevator!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjom0F1RpJIcUmacDx7mczXRHdxZrvegDw5sRi58Bzr2afK8GJ0SsTaKLXQJW3hLn7se4zamoonNKnGu94ksvBTFW31bUhYEhRMvpMQLZnUKGOdGmoNCmg5zahMcY08_5MaNlt3L-cH5yA/s1600/IMG_0229.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 279px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjom0F1RpJIcUmacDx7mczXRHdxZrvegDw5sRi58Bzr2afK8GJ0SsTaKLXQJW3hLn7se4zamoonNKnGu94ksvBTFW31bUhYEhRMvpMQLZnUKGOdGmoNCmg5zahMcY08_5MaNlt3L-cH5yA/s320/IMG_0229.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5459243665814719506" /></a><br /><br /><br />The only downside - I don't get to see much of the game. But, since my job is to ensure that the fans have a great experience and want to return to many games - I think its more important to bring a little fun to an otherwise routine elevator ride. Apparently I'm doing okay - I've had lots of positive feedback and some fans even tried to slip me some money - which I AM NOT allowed to accept. However, their desire to "tip me" is so lovely and makes my day - it's nice to be appreciated!<br /><br />I just feel so blessed to be at a point in my life where I can "afford" to take a job like this. And when I think of people who are depending on these kind of jobs for their livelihood - then I know how lucky I am and I stop and say THANK YOU to God for this new opportunity He has given me. <br /><br />The only downside to a perfect Sunday in the Park with the Drillers was that the concessions ran out of peanuts - what's up with that? I don't think the Circus is in town - ha!!Lyndahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11034286537160848710noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3766350597014028298.post-64058048755803923502010-04-09T05:59:00.001-07:002010-04-09T05:59:22.690-07:00<img style="visibility:hidden;width:0px;height:0px;" border=0 width=0 height=0 src="http://counters.gigya.com/wildfire/IMP/CXNID=2000002.0NXC/bHQ9MTI3MDgxNzU*NDkyMyZwdD*xMjcwODE3OTczNzA1JnA9MTk4NjgxJmQ9MF9qemV*NTJ1YSZuPWJsb2dnZXImZz*yJm89Njc4/MGJiNjc4OTlmNDQzZTg5NDNiMWFkNGI3NWMzY2Umb2Y9MA==.gif" /><object name="kaltura_player_1270817534" id="kaltura_player_1270817534" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowScriptAccess="always" allowNetworking="all" allowFullScreen="true" height="335" width="400" data="http://www.kaltura.com/index.php/kwidget/wid/0_i5rgbqod/uiconf_id/48411"> <param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"/> <param name="allowNetworking" value="all"/> <param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"/> <param name="bgcolor" value="#000000"/> <param name="movie" value="http://www.kaltura.com/index.php/kwidget/wid/0_i5rgbqod/uiconf_id/48411"/> <param name="flashVars" value=""/> <a href="http://corp.kaltura.com">video platform</a> <a href="http://corp.kaltura.com/technology/video_management">video management</a> <a href="http://corp.kaltura.com/solutions/overview">video solutions</a> <a href="http://corp.kaltura.com/technology/video_player">video player</a> </object>Lyndahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11034286537160848710noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3766350597014028298.post-23165712585678623452010-04-09T05:55:00.000-07:002010-04-09T05:58:44.107-07:00Tulsa Drillers Opening NightHi everyone -<br /><br />Go to this website and watch the video of the opening ceremonies. I saw none of it since I am working the elevator to the suites. I had a great time last night and so did everyone who rode up and down with me to the pressbox or suites or to the locker room level. Driller's management got positive feedback on my performance, even though our team didn't win. It was still a winning night for Tulsa - and for me.<br /><br />http://www.tulsaworld.com/sportsextra/article.aspx?subjectid=241&articleid=20100409_225_ON1_Tulsas609023Lyndahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11034286537160848710noreply@blogger.com1