FOR EVERY SADNESS THERE IS A HAPPINESS....JULY 31 2011

And for every happiness there is a sadness.  Life was not meant to be all joy, everything always going the way you want it to go, the road always smooth with nary a bump or pot-hole, the sky always blue with white clouds, the winds always soft breezes, the days always the right temperature.

Life is taking the sadness and learning from it, and how to overcome it.
Life is taking the happiness and cherishing it.

No road is ever smooth, straight, there are always twists and turns, bumps and pot holes (especially in Pennsylvania).  You learn how to go around them.

Many days are overcast, the sky gray and gloomy, perhaps with rain, or snow, or, or just plain nasty.  You remember, that there is always a better day ahead.
Many nights are stormy.  The other evening sitting on my deck just as daylight was fading, there was an amazing lightning display to the east of me.  There were storms somewhere, we jut got the lightning.

I watched for a good half hour, the scene constantly changing.  It makes you realize, we are not in control.

The breezes are not always soft, sometimes they howl and shake and rattle everything they touch, sometimes destroying whatever is in its path.  But the calm always returns, you clean up, pick up, re-build, and be grateful it wasn't any worse.

And the temperature, really miserable with humidity, makes you ache all over some days, tempers get short, life is miserable.  But the good days return, and you wonder why you got so up-set.

My favorite Bible scripture is Ecclesiastes, Chapter 3, Verses 1 thru 8. 

To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:

A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;

A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up;

A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;

A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;

A time to get and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away;

A time to rend, and a time to sew, a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;

A time to love, and a time to hate, a time of war and a time of peace.

My life has been a touch of all of these, I have lived and my time to die draws closer every day.  I have planted and harvested many gardens over my lifetime.

I have had my personal life "break down", and with God's help was able to build up.

I have had many many times to weep, with the loss of a loved one, a beloved pet, a friend,  but all these things have passed, and I go on, smiling when I can.

I'm not real good at the part, a time to keep silence, as I tend to open my mouth when perhaps I should not.

I have loved lightly, and loved deeply, but I can't honestly say that I have ever been aware of hating.  Dis-illusioned, yes, upset, yes, many times wondering why, but actual hate - I don't know.

I have laughed a lot, there is always something to laugh about.  In fact yesterday I received an e-mail from a friend, and would like to share it here.
I hope you enjoy this - you may have received it as an e-mail also, but if so, enjoy it again.

A fifth grade teacher in a Christian school asked her class to look
At TV commercials and see if they could use them in 20 ways
To communicate ideas about God.  
 God is like BAYER ASPIRIN, He works miracles.

God is like A FORD, He's got a better idea
God is like COKE, He's the  real thing.

God is like HALLMARK, He cares enough to send His  very best.

God is like TIDE He gets the stains out others leave behind.

God is like GENERAL ELECTRIC, He  brings good things to life.

God is like WAL-MART, He has everything.

God is like ALKA-SELTZER, Try Him, you'll like Him.

God is like SCOTCH TAPE, You can't see Him, but you know He's there.

God is like DELTA, He's ready when you are.

God is like ALLSTATE, You're in good hands with Him. 

God is like VO-5 Hair Spray; He holds through all kinds of weather.

God is like DIAL SOAP, Aren't you  glad you have Him?  Don't you wish everybody did?

God is like, The U.S. POST OFFICE, Neither rain, nor snow, nor sleet nor ice will keep Him from His appointed destination.

God is like, Chevrolet. . . .the heart beat of America.

God is like, Maxwell House. .... Good to the very last drop.

God is like, B o u n t y . . . . He is the quicker picker upper. . Can handle the tough jobs.And He won't fall apart on you.

How many of you will look at commercials in a different way.  I know I will.
So life is many ups and downs, twists and turns, laughter and tears, but that is the way it is supposed to be. 

Before the day closed, the "kids" came to visit.  I watched them play for a good 20 minutes, they had gotten "away" from Mom and were using my front yard as their playground.  I'm sure Mom was just in the woods keeping an eye on her rambunctious kids.

So take each day as it comes, make the best of it, and God Bless.

THE BEST PART OF SUMMER....JULY 30 2011.........

What is the best part of summer?  I am sure everyone has a different definition.  So, maybe I should ask "what is the best part of MY summer?"

It is now, not any particular day, or month, or whatever, it is now, when I am getting my first produce from my garden.  Nothing spectacular yet.  Just one of my favorites.

I really do love fried green tomatoes.  And I have had them twice this week, but I do have to be careful, or I will eat them all green and fried, and not have any ripe and red tomatoes.  I love them also.

I have also had mashed potatoes and green tomato gravy.  Most folks have never heard of green tomato gravy.  One year I had soooo many tomatoes, both green and red, and didn't know what to do with all the green ones.  At that time I was still canning and freezing, so canned the red tomatoes.  Decided to try freezing the green ones, it worked pretty well, but they don't taste like the ones fresh out of the garden.


REFLECTIONS

So somewhere along the line I experimented, an lo and behold, ended up with green tomato gravy. It is really one of those simple, easy to do things, and you wonder why it took so long to figure it out.  Genius I am not.  Sometimes smart I am not.  But I muddle through.

To make green tomato gravy.

Take a couple of green tomatoes, cutting the stem out, then chop the tomatoes into small pieces.  Once they are chopped, place them in a saucepan with butter and slowly saute them until tender, cooked through, but not browned.

To this mixture add flour (don't ask me measurements, I am a "cook by pinch and guess), mix well, then slowly stir in water continuing to stir until the mixture begins to look like gravy.  You will recognize it when you see it.  If you don't, perhaps you have never made gravy. 

Add salt and pepper to taste, spoon over your mashed potatoes, eat and enjoy.

I know there will probably only be one in ten that likes fried green tomatoes, and probably one in twenty that will like the gravy, but if you like it, you really like it, and if you don't like it, don't sweat it.  You have to be a little bit nuts, like I am, to like some of the stuff I do.

Soon there will be green beans, and, if lucky fresh corn.  The potatoes are bloomin' like crazy, the plants full and green, so hopefully will have a good potato crop this fall.  That is the extent of my garden.  Nothing like when all the kids were home.  Then we grew just about anything that would grow in a garden.

One year the kids and I grew peanuts, roasted and ate them.

One year we grew kohlrabi - just wanted to see if we could.  It grew and we ate it.  Every year we tried to grow something different, just to see if we could, and then to see if we liked it after we grew it.  Sometimes we did, sometimes we didn't, but it was fun.

I remember the year I grew turnips.  Cooked a mess of them for supper one night.  One son thought they were potatoes, he had a really really big appetite, so loaded up his plate.  I wish you could have seen the expression on his face with the first bite.  Needless to say he DID NOT like turnips. 

We learned that we liked persimmons, when we knew when to pick them  You have to wait until after a frost, then they become sweet and juicy.  Eat them before a frost, you will pucker up for about 24 hours.

Another thing that was fun was parsnips.  They are a tuber that you don't want to dig until after a hard freeze.  That is what makes them sweet.  We like them parboiled, then rolled in flour and browned in a skillet of butter.  Really good eating.

One year raised broccoli. It grew well, but so did the worms.  Major operation getting the broccoli cleaned so we cold eat it.  Too much work.  Bought all future broccoli from the store.  Tried celery, didn't do much. 

I don't raise cucumbers and zucchini any more - I like them - but they always bear way too many and too much goes to waste.  Tim and Kay have cucumbers and zucchini in their garden, so I always have some fresh on hand.  In fact, my major project today is making zucchini loaf.  My recipe makes two loaves, Jerry and I will eat one, will freeze the other until the kids come home from Maine in September.

All this talk of food is making me hungry.  Wonder if I should have fried green tomatoes for lunch????

Enjoy your day and God Bless.

THE STORY OF PATCHES McGHEE...JULY 29 2011.........

Patches McGhee was a dog.  We are a family of dog lovers, have had dogs since forever.  They become a part of the family.  Each and every dog has been special in our lives, but one in particular, Patches McGhee, was the exception.

She joined our family as a roly-poly fat little puppy.  Because she was multi-colored, she became Patches, I added the McGhee.  She was a mut.  As a full grown dog she was just about the strangest looking dog ever.  She had semi-long hair, her body was long, and square.  Her front legs were slightly shorter than her back legs, so she always appeared to be walking down hill.  Her back was wide and flat, you could put a dinner plate on her back and it would stay put.  She weighed in at about 35 pounds.

She was independent, also timid.  But if she thought any of us were in danger she became a little tiger, no one would harm her people!  She loved unconditionally and completely.  She loved running and playing outside, chasing rabbits, following us wherever we were, whether we were walking, working in the garden, or just sitting on the deck.  Patches was there, always with us.  He ears were longish, and would flop and flap as she ran.  She looked like a kite trying to take off.

As with a pet you get a vet. We have a great veterinary clinic in Claysville.  The only time any of our dogs have ever ridden with me in my van is to go to the vet.  Annual check-ups, shots, whatever, I seem to be the one elected.

I am also the one elected when their journey is over, and it is time to leave this world. 

Patches hated the vet with a passion.  As soon as the leash was attached and the car door opened, she tried to go the other direction.  It was an experience to get her into the van, you had to pick her up and shove her in and shut the door before she was out again. Once we started she would lay on the floor, trying to figure out how to get out of this predicament.

Arriving in town, it was a real contortionist's trick to vacate the van without her jumping out into the street, then getting the curb-side door opened, an inch at a time, to grab the leash before she hit the ground.  Then it was virtually drag her into the building.

Upon leaving the building she was perfectly capable of getting herself into the van, where she would sit on the seat watching the world go by.

Years went by, 10 - 12, maybe more.  Arthritis hit her hard.  Finally she could no longer get up without help.  Her appetite waned.  You could tell she was in great pain.  A call to the vet.  It is time. 

But this time was different.  She walked to the van and tried to jump in.  That had never happened before.  I lifted her into the car, and instead of laying on the floor she wanted on the seat.  I put her on the passenger seat, and she sat there all the way to town, watching her world go by.

Upon arriving, she actually managed to get out of the van by herself, then with head held high, tail pointing to the sky, she walked ahead of me, directly to the Vet's building.  She was dignity magnified.  By then the tears are coming, hot and heavy.  We were taken to "her" room, she was made comfortable, and within a few minutes she was gone.

I know, for a fact, that Patches McGhee knew it was her time, her earthly journey had come to an end, her new journey was about to begin.  She knew that she would be whole again, on the other side of the rainbow, where she would wait until her family re-joined her.

I will never forget her final walk, head held high, tail erect, walking true and steady to her destiny.  At that moment she was no longer the old crippled dog, but the young dog she once was. 

This was Patches McGhee.  Of all my dogs, she is the one I will always remember, her dignity and demeanor as she made her last journey.

If only humans could have the unconditional love and devotion that our dogs have, what a world it would be.  God Bless.

TODAY IS A SPIN-OFF.. JUST LIKE TV .. JULY 28 2011

Today's blog has evolved from my blog of July 26.  It has just been in the last few years that I have begun learning what really went on when the kids were growing up.  It takes them about 12-14 years to figure out how to get into "trouble" and then getting themselves "out of trouble" with Mom never knowing. 

Every time there is a family / friend get-to-gather, the stories start being told.  As I sit listening to them, hysterically laughing because now they are funny, but if I had only known!!!

If I had only known, I would have no kids today.  I probably would have strangled each and every one of them.  If I had only known, they would have been grounded until they were 70 years old.  If I had only known I would have chained them to a tree, but then they would probably find a way to climb the tree and fall out.

I really really believe that we, as parents, are far far far better off not knowing
what your kids are doing.  We probably would never have survived.  The kids would be fine, but we wouldn't.

The time two of the boys were playing something or other.  They had a rope tied to a branch in a willow tree.  I don't really know what it was about, but one son was up in the tree (and he had a hatchet, yet).  Son No. 2 was hauling himself up into the tree, hand over hand, when "whack" hatchet hit rope, rope cut in half, boy on ground, dazed asking "what happened?"

The time Tom and I were invited to a New Year's Eve party.  The kids were all teenagers.  It was safe to leave them home for one evening, wasn't it?  So off we went, to my sister's home in Ohio, about a 45 minute drive from our place.

Little did we know that as soon as we left the house, the kids were on the phone planning their own New Year's Eve party.  One of them even went so far as to call their Aunt Ruth, and ask her to call them when we left so they could have the house cleaned up.

When we got home, the house looked great and all the kids were in bed.  It wasn't until years later that we found out:

No 1 - one of the kids snuck beer into the house.
No 2 - food was everywhere.
No 3 - the place, really really, was a mess

The kids figured they would have plenty of time to clean up before we got home. 

Only problem was - Aunt Ruth forgot to call.  When she finally remembered we had been on our way home for at least 30 minutes.  To hear the telling now it is hysterically funny.  I guess things were hidden, one kid had been sick, mess cleaned up, sweeper run frantically, I can just imagine all these kids frantically cleaning up so we would never know. 

We never knew until years later.  One kid didn't get away, and laid down in one of the closets in the boy's bedroom, and later sneaked out when Tom and I were asleep.  I will give them credit - they did a whale of a job cleaning up in approximately 15 minutes.

And the time, when Tom and I were gone - if we had known what we learned years later, we probably would never have left the house.  Jerry was working at Oglebay Park part time while attending school.  He found a baby raccoon that had been abandoned, and brought it home.  Fine.  It stayed out side, the boy fed it, when it grew up it would leave.  Right!.

I just found out that while we were gone some other teenagers dropped by, so, of course, our kids just HAD to show off their little raccoon.  So into the house came the 'coon.  And the 'coon got away.   And hid.  They searched and searched, had to find that darn 'coon before Mom and Dad got home.
They finally found it hidden underneath a room divider, which was hollow inside, and there was just the tiniest of tiny holes in the back that the 'coon wiggled through.  They had to tear the room divider apart to get said 'coon, and then reassemble it.  Again, we never knew.

I don't know if we were super trusting, super stupid,  super what-ever, and they were very very good at covering their tracks.

I could probably write an entire book on the Life and Times of Tom and Martha and the teenagers that were really really smarter than their parents.

You that have grown children probably know what I am talking about.  You with young children, watch out.  You are in for some hair-raising experiences.

Just remember, when you all get older it is really really funny.  Not so when it is happening.  Keep your sense of humor and God Bless.

TALK ABOUT A PROUD MOM...JULY 27 2011...........

To quote my daughter - "IT DOESN'T GET ANY BETTER THAN THIS".

I am sure you are wondering what this is all about.  So I will have to give you a thumbnail sketch of what my daughter Rebecca is all about.

She is all about doing what she loves to do, and doing a great job on top of overseeing a husband, four teen aged children, two in college, one dog, one cat, one house, and one business.  Makes me tired just writing this down.

Always interested in reading, writing (no arithmetic) and keeping busy, (she began her own publishing house - DoubleEdge Press) in 2005 (I think.  I lose track of time, but there-a-bouts).  Since her first release, to date she has published and released 16 books, with several more pending.

She has also been an invited guest/speaker at the Florida Writers Association annual meeting in Orlando Florida, for three years, where she has met with writers, and brought home manuscripts for consideration.  She has also presented workshops on writing, and been on one of their discussion panels.

I was fortunate enough to be with her for two years, her husband Neal went with us last year, and this year it will be just Neal and Rebecca, as I have other commitments.  But I will will greatly miss being there.

Now for the exciting news - FOUR, yes I said FOUR, of her authors are award winning authors.  Imagine the excitement of knowing that four authors you chose, yes I said CHOSE, to represent, are award winners.  I believe that says a lot about both the authors, and the publisher.  The author writing exceptional books, and the publisher realizing they are exceptional writers.

 Jane Gill's book, published by Rebecca  A Matter of Pride is a finalist FWA's Royal Palm Literary Awards contest for Published-booklength works this year.

Her most recent book, A Place No One Should Go by DL Havlin won a POW award for Best Novella (unpublished) in 2009. And the author himself won POW's Author of the Year Award in 2008. Did she know these things when she read his work? No. 

This is her newest release.  By the way, she also designed the book covers for these two books.  WOW!!!

The third award winning author, is Gail MacMillan for her book entitled Ceilidh's Quest which won the DWAA Maxwell Medal in New York for Best Non-Fiction 2007.

Her fourth award winning author is Sunny Serrafino, whose latest manuscript has been received by Rebecca and will be one of her forthcoming releases. 
Yesterday, she received an email from Sunny with the incredible news that her Unpublished work Finding Amy  has been selected as a finalist in FWA's Un-Published Booklength Category.  Rebecca had just recently received this manuscript for editing and publication down the road.  This will be the second book Rebecca is publishing for Sunny.

As this manuscript has just been submitted, no book cover is available as of yet.

And, who knows how many manuscripts she and Neal will bring home with them from Florida this year for consideration.  In addition to all this, she currently has seven (yes I said seven) manuscripts scheduled for release in the next 18-24 months.

I think I forgot to tell you that in addition to all she does, she also works outside the home for a temporary agency, one who places someone to work for a company on a temporary basis to catch up back-log, or until they hire a permanent employee.  I wonder what she does with her spare time?

I hope this wets your appetites, and that you will check out Double Edge Press and order some of the books she has published.  I have read them all to date, and they are very worthwhile reading.

I can't help but wonder which cabbage leaf I found her under!

So, if you do order a book,  enjoy reading, and God Bless.

STERILIZED, SANITIZED, and SECURE....JULY 26 2011....

I know the world has changed.  I know that things cannot ever stay the same.  I know all this, but at the same time I wonder.  Are we really better off?  I'll let you decide the answer to this question.

When I was a child - we played outside all day, every day, unless there were extreme weather conditions.  We didn't have TV, X-boxes, Wi's, that sort of stuff.

Our mailing address was a street in town, but we were pretty rural.  Had fields and woods close by (the woods were our jungle), creeks (we called them cricks) running through the woods.  We waded, built dams, chased craw-dads, drank the water (how very very unsanitary),climbed the trees (and fell out of the trees) coming home scraped and scratched.  Out came the Mercurochrome, if we were lucky, the iodine or Merthiolate if we weren't.  It hurt.  We cried.  Then we went back outside and started all over again.

We roller skated - on the sidewalks or paved alleys.  We rode tricycles, bicycles, scooters.  We fell, scraped knees and elbows, went in to be treated, came back out and started all over again. 

After a rain we played in the mud, even ate the mud pies we made.  In winter we built snow forts, threw snowballs at each other, went sled riding, ate the snow, and even made snow ice cream.

No one had ever heard of bottled water, hand sanitizers, anti-biotics, and we all survived.  Not only did we survive, we were able to be kids.

I realize that all kids weren't that lucky.  Kids growing up in the cities did not have all our advantages, but they did have parks where they could swing and see-saw, run and play.  Today they have the parks, but have to have rubber or some soft material on the ground so they don't get "hurt" if they fall, and all the things to play on are so safety-regulated, they really can't have any fun.

But if I were growing up today -- don't wade in a creek, or drink the water, it is not sanitary.  Don't climb a tree, you might fall and hurt yourself.  Don't roller skate unless in a professional roller rink, where you are less likely to fall and scrape you knees and elbows.

And for pity's sake, don't ever touch the mud, let alone play in it, and even eat it.  Look at all the germs.

If you want to ride your bicycle, you have to put on a helmet, elbow pads, knee pads.  By then you have lost all desire to ride your bike.  Same with scooters, but then I don't think they even make scooters anymore, unless they are the electric kind.

And, whatever you do, don't ever ever leave the house without your hand sanitizer, use it every time you touch something, sneeze, cough, or even look at something.  Nasty germs.  Got to kill them right now. 

Now let's talk about our immune systems.  I grew up with none of today's supposedly safety precautions.  I have a great immune system.  Except for the few years when I HAD to take a flu shot or my husband would not get his (and because of his medical problems it was a necessity for him) he didn't get the flu, but I GOT THE FLU EVERY YEAR.  After he passed on, I discontinued the flu shots, and guess what.  I haven't been sick since.  I believe the reason is - that by just being a kid, getting dirty, etc., my immune system had a chance to grow.  I very rarely am sick, and then it is usually just a cold.

Today kids are obese, because they sit and play their games without having to go outside, or even get up.  They are always having some sort of medical problem as their immune systems never have a chance to develop, because of all the precautions and sanitizers and more sanitizers.

I am not a doctor.  I am not an expert on health issues.  But I do know my kids grew up in the country, doing all the things I did, and even some I had never thought of, and with five kids, they all have great immune systems, are healthy, rarely have anything of a major nature hit them.

One of my irises in bloom this spring

So, back to the question.  Are we really better off?  Or is it the medical field is what is better off?

Take care and God Bless.

PIATT CASTLES ... HISTORY 102 ... JULY 25 2011........

As promised a few days ago, and because my mind is completely blank, I will share the history of the Piatt Castles with you.  One picture I will be showing was taken by me on my last photo-shoot.  The other three are from their web-site, but I thought they would fit in.

I had never heard of, or seen, Piatt Castles until I picked up a brochure at the Red Roof where I was staying in Dublin.  I knew immediately that when I checked out Sunday morning to do my photo-shoot before heading for home that I would place the castles at the top of the list.  And so off I went.

I let my GPS drive me to Mac-A-Cheek Castle, arrived about 9:15 a.m., and was greatly disappointed that the grounds were not open, tours did not begin until 11 a.m., and I could not even see the castle from the Road.  Bummer. 

Retracing my route, as I went around a bend, wow!!!  Mac-O-Chee Castle was on my left, visible from the road.  Although their tours did not begin until 11 also, the grounds were open.  I had missed the Castle before as I was watching for the road going left to Mac-A-Cheek.  (Mac-O-Chee was on my right at that time)

This is Mac-O-Chee Castle, the one I was able to photograph. 

In the 1800's there was a division of the Shawnee Indians, known as the Mac-O-Chee, living near a creek also called the Mac-O-Chee.  Hence the name.

WHO WERE THE PIATTS?

Benjamin Piatt, a Federal Circuit Judge and his wife lived in Cincinnati, Ohio.  In the early 1820's they purchased a large plot of land in Logan County Ohio, where the Mac-O-Chees had once lived.


In 1828 Judge Piatt and his family moved to Logan County where they raised their family.

Later two of their children, Abram Sanders Piatt and Donn Piatt built their own homes, Mac-O-Chee and Mac-A-Cheek in the area they knew as they were growing up.

The Mac-A-Cheek picture, and following two were taken from the Piatt Castles web-site.

Tours are conducted from early spring until late fall.  The two castles can also be reserved for weddings, receptions, reunions, parties, even in the winter when the castles are closed for daily tours.  Group tours can also be scheduled in the off season. 

Can you imagine having your wedding and reception in a castle, in this country, in Ohio yet.  What an awesome experience that would be.

I would like to go back, arriving at the proper time, and touring these two homes.   They are private family-owned museums that interpret over 200 years of history of the Ohio land and Ohio people.

I hope you have enjoyed your history lesson.  Perhaps, one day, you will also have the experience of seeing and exploring these two unique structures.  In the meantime, if anyone is contemplating a wedding, or reception, or party of any kind, don't want to go too awfully far from home, you might want to consider a "castle". 

Enjoy your day and God Bless.

THE BARNSTORMERS ... JULY 24 2011.............

the 10th anniversary picnic has come and gone, now have to wait for another whole year before number 11.  What a great day.  What a great group of people.  What a good bunch of food, and there was a lot of it.  By the end of the day there were just crumbs left.

All the tables looked so pretty with the yellow place mats and red napkins.  They also had red and yellow balloons scattered throughout the area.

I think this was one of our larger, if not the largest, group of barnstormers.  And I know we had many more donations for the auction than we normally have.  We had to set up an additional table to hold all the memorabilia. 

We had two guest speakers, one a Professor who shared a lot if information about Wheeling in the late 1800's through the 1900's, little known tidbits that we were not aware of.

Our second speaker was Stuart Bloch, a direct descendant of the original Bloch Brothers who founded Bloch Brothers Tobacco, and began our first form of roadside advertising, the Mail Pouch Barns.

This is just a very small portion of the many items up for auction.

It was fun meeting up with folks you only saw once a year, from all over the country.  I am always amazed at how far some of our members travel to attend this fun day.  At the present time we have 155 members, gaining a few new ones almost every year.  That is a pretty awesome number, in my opinion.


This is Mr. Bloch telling tales about Mail Pouch.  He was quite an interesting gentlemen, and even though the tobacco company was sold many years ago, he still maintains an office in their headquarters on Water Street in Wheeling, and helps oversee the management of the Company. 

How many companies today still have in their management positions descendants of the original founders?  It is a rarity.

The day passed quickly, all too soon it was time to say good by, and head for home.  Now it is time to start planning for next year's picnic.  It is always the 4th Saturday in July, which will be July 28 2012,  Mark your calendars, come to Belmont Ohio, near St. Clairsville, Ohio, head for the school gymnasium - there are signs pointing the way - and picnic with the best of the best in a nice air-conditioned building. 

Until next year, God Bless.

JUST ME and THE DOGS.....JULY 22 2011...........

Since Tuesday it has been just me and the dogs.  The Kids returned to Arizona, Jerry flew to Massachusetts on business, so there is just me and the dogs ---and my three outdoor cats, that come every morning for breakfast, then the heck with me, until they are hungry the next morning.  Fickle animals!!!

It has never mattered about being alone on my hill-top, in fact it is more secure up here than down on a main, paved, road where we used to live.  I have never felt the least bit insecure.

But I did feel weird the other evening.  Really weird.

It was about 9:30 in the evening, dark, there was a slight breeze blowing and I was sitting on the deck.  Suddenly I heard so much yipping, barking, growling, and it sounded really really close.  It was coyotes.  We have coyotes on the farm, I have seen them several times this summer.

They must have been having a major disagreement, or a major fight, or a major something.  From the direction of the noise I placed them in the area where our mail box and newspaper box are at the foot of our driveway (3/10 of a mile from the house) and out of sight of the house. 

In just a few moments they must have settled their dispute as all became quiet once again.  I just breathed a sigh of relief when our motion-sensor outside light on the shop building, just to the right of the house and deck, came on.

I am sitting there, on the deck, by myself, and something was down by the shop.  I am not sure whether I should sit very very still, should run into the house, or scream.  Of course screaming would do no good as there would be no one to hear me, except whomever or whatever was by the shop.  So I waited, hoping the darkness kept me hidden, wondering what was down there.

I never did see anything, and shortly the light went back out.  Whatever was there had moved on.

I moved on also, into the house.  I could handle the coyotes, and I could handle the light coming on, as birds, rabbits, cats, anything that moved would trigger the lights, but both at the same time.  Forget that noise.  Next time I sit on the deck in the dark by myself, with no one else anywhere around, I will know for sure I have gone 'round the bend - so to speak.

Now have to prepare my covered dish to take to the Barnstormers picnic tomorrow.  Supposedly Jerry will be arriving home tonight.  But then, who knows for sure.  All depends on what is happening in Mass. 

So, off to get busy.  Everyone have a great weekend.  I will not be blogging tomorrow, but will touch base on Sunday re the picnic.  Stay cool and God Bless.

FALL IN JULY --- FROST IN AUGUST???JULY 21 2011.....

Seriously.  No, I haven't gone over the edge -- yet!  I know it sounds like it, but, stop and think.

The last two mornings have LOOKED like fall, fog you could cut with a knife, such a heavy dew you would swear it had rained.  What do you think of?  Fall of course.  See, I am not really off my rocker, if I am a lot of you are out there with me.

What follows fall?  Frost of course of course.  After frost, snow, cold, winter.
So, will we have frost in August?


This picture is of Dutch Fork Lake, located between West Alexander and Claysville Pa.  At least it was.  It was fall, a heavy fog hung over everything, but also created a mirror image.  Several years ago the lake was drained, because of damage to the dam and spill-way.  What a tragedy.

But back to reality.  After these foggy mornings, winter moved in with frost and snow and stuff.  And more stuff.

So I ask you - will it frost in August?  Think about it and while you are thinking, God Bless.  We all need all the blessings we can get.

WHY DO I SKIP AROUND?....JULY 20 2011

You have probably asked that question more than once.  I never seem to have a theme.  I just go here and there.  Take yesterday for instance.

After writing my blog, doing a few things around the house, in early afternoon I headed to Washington to run a couple of errands..  While doing said errands I kept wondering what I would blog about tomorrow (which is now today) I think.  Perhaps.  I don't know.

Anyhoo, exiting from the Interstate at the West Alexander exit, directly in front of me parked in an empty lot were these really really huge trailers.

As you can see, they are really really big.  There were three of them and two vans, all painted the same colors and designs.

Two of the trailers each held 3 teams  (that would be 6 in each trailer) of the beautiful Clydesdale Horses.  The ones you see on the TV commercials.

They were awesome. 

Of all the TV commercials I have always loved the Budweiser horses the most.  There is something so majestic and elegant about them, as they prance along, pulling the wagon, the Dalmatian dog sitting on the seat with the driver.

I don't know if I like the Christmas commercials or the Super Bowl commercials the best.

I spoke with one of the crew who was with the horses and was told that they had reservations just down the road from where we were at the Old Brick Road Stables, but when their supervisor went down to check out the facility, the trailers were too long, and too heavy, to cross the culvert, make it up the lane, and there was no place to turn around.  He was, at that time, scoping out the area, trying to find a place for the horses to spend the night.

I also asked the young man where they were headed, and he replied that they were to participate in the Italian Festival being held in Wheeling WV this coming weekend, and needed accommodations for the horses until Friday, when they would appear in the evening sometime between 5 and 7 p.m.

I kept wondering all evening if they had found a place for the horses, and the men traveling with them.  They were giving them water while I was there, and each bucket looked like a small swimming pool. 

It is strange, you see commercials, see them performing in different locations, but never once do you wonder - how do they get there, what do they travel in, how many handlers have to travel with them, questions you never think of.

Then out of a clear blue sky you go around a bend, and there before you are all the answers to the questions you never thought to ask.  What a truly amazing sight it was.  I was not the only one stopping, folks getting off the Interstate were driving in, taking pictures, one young woman said to me that never in a million years would she have expected to see the Clydesdales in little old country town West Alexander.

I had to agree.  Big cities, yes.  A dot on the map country town, no.  But it made my day, gave me something to talk about, and to write about.

Why do I skip around.  Perhaps it is because there is always something unique, different, unexpected just waiting to be discovered.  Life is full of discoveries.  Life is full of wonders.  Life is full of awe. 

Always be prepared for what is around the next bend, it just might be three trailers full of horses and equipment, painted bright red.  Who knows.  I guess we are not supposed to know.  That is what makes life so interesting.  So skip around with me, and God Bless.

CATCHING UP WITH MYSELF.....JULY 19 2011.......

Today, hopefully, I will catch up with myself.  I have been so out of control, there are so many phone calls I need to make to touch base with friends, things I have let go as the time has just gotten away from me this summer.

The kids head back to Arizona today.  They have been here three weeks, and it seems more like three minutes - the time has flown by so fast, I really hate to see them go.  It will seem as if they were never here.

We had a good rain last night, really needed it, but now I can mow the yard again.  It really needs it also, but didn't want to do it while everything was so dry.  So, tomorrow, will - hopefully - mow.  Not today.  Today is catch up with myself day - doing the little things that need done.  Tomorrow will take care of itself when it gets here.

I will share a couple of my new pictures with you here, it always fun to have something new to show.

The first is the ruins of the Henkle Mill near Delaware, Ohio.  It had once been a very productive mill, now all that remains are the walls, the roof and two floors are gone.  However, where the remains are located is on well-kept property, and the couple living there were very gracious in letting me photograph the mill, and telling me a little bit about it.

They have done a great job of landscaping and mowing around the mill, I think I may add this picture to the business.

The next picture is of an old barn, with Mail Pouch on one end and Kentucky Club on the other.  I am showing the Ky Club pic here.  You don't find too many of them anymore, so it is fun when you run across one.


This pic will also go into the business.  I have several more that I will share down the road, but for now I have to:

Clean out the refrigerator.
Take a break.

Make some phone calls to friends.
Take a break.

Get the spare room put in order for the next round of guests.
Take a break.

Run some errands.
Take a break.

Don't have to worry about planning meals for the rest of the week, as Jerry left for Massachusetts this morning on business and will not be back until Friday evening.  The dogs and I can crash this afternoon.  And this evening.  And tomorrow, when I am not mowing.  And Thursday.  Maybe by Friday I will be back to normal, whatever that is.  Any more I am not too sure.

Then Saturday the Barnstormers picnic.  Can hardly wait for that, it is one of the highlights of the year.  I really don't need to be wishing time away as it goes by too fast all on its own, but there is always something neat down the road.  So guess I'll just keep movin' along, enjoyin' the sights, and havin' a good time. 

Hope the same goes for all of you and God Bless.

EXTREMES -- Some Bad, Some Good, Some Worthwhile......JULY 17 2011

This was definitely a weekend of extremes, I experienced them all. 

First was the Dublin Art Fest - this was the "some bad".  Unloading and setting up on Friday was the worst ..and hardest... that I have done in years.  It was an outdoor show, which I do a lot of, but there was absolutely NOTHING to make set-up easy.  In addition it was 88 degrees and humid.  Really really humid.  Saturday was the same temp. wise, and the dedicated festival goers that did come out were definitely not buying, drinking cold stuff, but not buying.  So, the weekend was pretty much a bust.

Because the festival did not end until 8 p.m. Saturday night and it takes about 2 hours to tear down and load up, I had made reservations to stay an extra night, starting home Sunday Morning.

Sunday was the "Some Good".  Since I was in the area, decided to stick around and do a photo shoot.  This worked out well,  Found two old stone buildings, one castle, one mail pouch barn, two abandoned mills, a covered bridge and a neat old falling down barn.

This is the MAC-O-CHEE castle in Logan County Ohio.

I don't know the history of it yet, but when my research is done I will share with you. 

The next thing I will share was the "Some Worthwhile".  It was actually a huge Worthwhile.  We were sitting on the deck when the moon began to rise from behind the trees.   It looked huge, I grabbed the camera, not knowing if I would get a good pic or not, took several shots.  I must say it was an awesome sight.

I got 8 pictures, as the moon rose higher and higher in the sky.

How can anyone ever say that this world "just happened"?  Nothing that looked like that "just happened".

Looking at that sight made me realize that all the ups and downs of the weekend, of the week, of your life really don't matter.  What is around you is what matters.

So the next time you see the full moon appearing from behind the trees, or buildings,  think about all the stupid things we worry about, and how few of the majestic things we enjoy.  We are always too busy doing something else.

Think about this, look at the sky, and see how awesome it is.  Take care and God Bless.

HAVE YOU EVER SLEPT ON A FUTON???...JULY 15 2011

Have you?  I never have.  I have never even been near one, just seen pictures of them.  Really never thought much about them.  Just something out there that people are supposed to sleep on, hear stories about them, how miserable they were, uncomfortable, etc etc. 

Then last year when Mike and Jerry went with the Arizona bunch to Alaska to go fishing, Jerry got the room with the futon.  I have heard nothing but good things about the one he slept on, it was queen size, and, according to him, verry verry comfortable.  So what does this have to do with my blog today?

I guess a lot.  Remember when I mentioned Jerry's cousin Bob was moving into his own home.  As he had very little furniture (his bed and his dog's bed) we volunteered to help him out by giving him a dinette table (decades old, one I inherited, but still in pretty good condition) a small couch (which opened up into a twin bed, which everyone who ever slept on it said it was the worst bed they ever slept on), two chairs for the dinette table, and a microwave.

Our family room got pretty well cleaned out.  Now what?  We had to replace the really uncomfortable couch with something that over-flow guests could sleep on, and actually get some rest.  That is where the futon comes in.

I went on line checking them out, because Jerry thought one would be perfect for the family room.  Found lots of futons, mostly single or double.  We wanted queen or king. 

We're not the least bit picky!!!!  We just know what we want!!!!

Found one on the 'net, queen size, choice of three different mattresses, no choice of type of wood or finish, but it is for the family room for gosh sakes.  We didn't need a canopy bed with curtains around it (or mosquito netting), and fans blowing, and a step stool to be able to climb into bed.  Just wanted something someone could crash on, and not get up in the morning crippled for life.

So, we decided to order said futon.  One main reason being they were offering free shipping.  Sounded good, or bad, depending on how you looked at it.  Free Shipping!  Is there something wrong with it, so they will bring it to you free if you take if off their hands?  Or is it just a really good deal?  After our refrigerator fiasco, I am almost afraid to trust any "really good deal".

Futon was delivered today.  Jerry and Dave, with Linda supervising, got it assembled.  I will have to order a mattress cover for it, and some throws to cover it, but BOY IS IT COMFORTABLE!!!   Really really comfortable.  I don't believe anyone sleeping on this sucker will have a problem navigating the next day.  It just might be more comfortable than my bed.

One more thing off the to-do list, or in my case, the bucket list.  I have lost count on the number of things still on this list.

I leave this morning for Dublin Ohio and their art festival this week-end, returning on Sunday.  So hopefully will be back on line Monday morning.  Until then, have a great week-end and God Bless.

A BEAUTIFUL TIME OF THE YEAR...JULY 14 2011....

There are many many beautiful times of the year, and summer and haying season is one of them.  The spring rains help the grass to grow, and this year it grew and grew and grew.  Tim has been cutting hay for the last couple of weeks, first you cut, then you rake, then you bale.  Over and over again.

This was the week to cut the hay as seen from our patio.  On Monday he was up here with his tractor, cutting the hay, then letting it lay over night.  On Tuesday he was up here raking the hay into the furrows, or rows, getting it ready for baler.  Yesterday was the day to bale, and on our farm he uses the big round baler.

He also does several hundred square bales for customers who buy for their horses, etc.  He has customers coming from several nearby states.  He is one busy somebody.

Tim cuts hay on about 4-5 different surrounding farms, as he, as of right now, has over 140 beef cows to feed, along with the livestock belonging to his customers.

This picture is of Tim's Dad Bob raking the hay into the furrows.

It is a hot job, and can be very dusty - the dust coming from the dried grass.  Sometimes, if the grass if very very dry, you just see a cloud of dust.

The grass was exceptionally tall this year, and Tim believes he will have the most bales from our farm that he has ever had.  The cows will eat well this winter.


Here is Tim with his big tractor and the round baler, beginning the process of baling the hay.  You can see one of the bales in the background. 

I wonder sometimes, how he keeps from getting dizzy, the going around and around and back and forth, over and over again.  

But somehow he seems to keep his sanity.  You can see the corn in the right side of the picture, this fall that will also be harvested to feed the cows.

Here you can see the baler dropping one of the large bales, you can also see the dust from the hay.

Later this week he will bring his flat-bed trailer up here and park it.  He   will have a fork lift on the front of the tractor, and will drive up to each bale and shove the forks into the middle of the bale, lift it up, and drop it on the trailer.  He can haul about 5 bales at a time.

In just a few days you will see the fields beginning to turn green again as the second cutting of hay begins to grow.  Later this fall he will go through the same process again. 

The cycle of life goes on, regardless of what else is happening.  The sad thing is that farming as a way of life is disappearing rapidly in our area.  There are not too many actual farmers left.  And then what?  It is something I really don't want to think about. 

It is sad to drive around and see farms either growing up abandoned, or being divided up and houses being built.  I guess that is called progress, but is it really?  Are we progressing or regressing?  Good question.

Perhaps you have an answer.  I don't.  Think about it, wonder about it, but is there an answer.  I just don't think there is.

In the meantime, enjoy what you have and God Bless.

THE CAIN PARK ARTS FESTIVAL ...Cleveland Heights Ohio ... July 13 2011

The Cain Park Arts Festival is just one of many many outdoor arts and/or arts and crafts, festivals I have done throughout the years.  However this particular one stands alone in every category.  I would do it again and again, provided I was accepted as a vendor, and I cannot say that about all the outdoor festivals.

There are three types of outdoor festivals:  No 1 - Everyone puts up their own tent, or shelter.  No 2 - the festival committee supplies large tents and/or buildings,  and outdoor spaces, you have the choice of opting to exhibit inside their large tent and/or building, or setting up your own tent in the outdoor spaces.  No 3 You are inside their building, or tent, no individual outdoor spaces available.

Where outdoor spaces are available the rental fee for the weekend is usually a few dollars less than the rental fee for inside their buildings and tents.  I, personally, will always pay the extra fee to be inside their facility.

NOW FOR THE PLUSES:

1.  At designated arrival time being escorted to your location.
2.  Being able to park directly behind where your tent will be.
3.  Staff helpers waiting to set up your tent for you.
4.  Staff helpers available all weekend to (a) booth sit (b) take orders for any food from the food vendors and deliver it to you (c) bring you cold bottled water, (d) help you in any way possible.
5.  Staff helpers were completely professional and ranged in age from teenagers to middle aged.
5.  The promoters and coordinators made their presence known, by visiting each and every booth at the festival (a little over 150), introducing themselves, welcoming back previous participants, and welcoming new participants.
6.  At the close of the festival, staff helpers were there, taking your tent down for you and loading it in your vehicle.

NOW FOR THE MINUS:

1.  It was hot.

It was a complete and utterly rewarding experience to have been selected to be a participant in this festival, the crowds were excellent, sales were far more than I expected, and I sincerely hope that I am accepted for this festival next year. 

The quality of the artwork was over the top, I saw a lot different types of artwork that I had not seen before, met some really wonderful new vendors, and all in all had a great weekend.

I cannot say enough GOOD things about this festival. 

Also another plus, I found several things to photograph on my drive to Cleveland Heights, and a couple of them will be incorporated into the business.

It is always fun to find something new on my travels,  I love driving the back roads, you never know what is around the next bend or over the next hill.  I look forward to each and every road trip I take.

Well, enough for now.  Printed pictures yesterday, have to mat and frame today, as I will leave Friday morning for Dublin, Ohio and a new show I have been accepted in there.  I am sure it will be quite a different scenario than last weekend. 

Have a good day and God Bless.

I AM FRIENDS GOOD WILL ... THIS IS MY STORY ... JULY 12 2011 ... PART THREE

I then served with the United States Navy, transporting troops across Lake Erie for the invasion of southern Ontario.

Then in December 1813 I was driven ashore by a great storm near Buffalo New York, and as the weather worsened I was frozen in place surrounded by ice.  I was held prisoner for days by the ice.  Then in January 1814 the British raided Buffalo.  I guess that was because they were bent out of shape about losing the Battle of Lake Erie.  As I lay frozen in the ice they decided to take some of their revenge out on me.  That fateful night they set me afire, and laughed as they watched me burn.

You wonder, how can I write this story?  It is because, even though they burned my body, the dream that someone had in 1810 was still out there.  For many years that dream lay dormant, waiting - waiting - waiting.   Finally, almost 200 years later, the dream finally landed with a group of people who wanted to preserve that part of our history.

A foundation was formed and rebuilt me as an exact replica from the original blueprints.  In 2001 I was once again launched by the Michigan Maritime Museum.  From that day on I have been sailing every day, weather permitting, carrying passengers on the trip of a lifetime, back into history, sailing on a sleek, beautiful sloop, helping the crew with the raising of my sails, and taking them down, learning how to steer with the tiller. 

Once again the breeze fills my sails, and as they billow out we go skimming over the water, bow breaking through the waves, and spray cooling the summer heat.  I understand that soon, in the year 2012, there will be a great celebration held commemorating the War of 1812.  200 years.  I hope you join us all for this wonderful trip back into time.

I hope you have enjoyed this story as told from this beautiful ship's viewpoint.  It is a wonderful way to learn the history of a subject.

For more about the war of 1812 contact http://doubleedgepress.com/ where you will find Jim's books listed, or search for James Spurr on amazon or any other major book retailer (also available on Kindle, etc.).

Tomorrow I will share some of my time at the Cain Arts Festival in Cleveland Heights Ohio.  Of all the out-door festivals I have participated in over my 35 years of doing such things, this was a new, and wonderful, experience.  It makes me wish all outdoor festivals would follow their lead.

Until then, have a good day and God Bless.

I AM FRIENDS GOOD WILL ...THIS IS MY STORY...JULY 11 2011...PART TWO

We were captured by the British, our crew and few passengers became either prisoners of war or were forced to sail the ship for the British government.  My furs and skins were confiscated and sold by the British.   My owner was on board and became one of the prisoners.  He looked so sad as he and the crew were led away.

My name was changed to Little Belt.  Little Belt!  What kind of name was that for a sleek, beautiful sailing sloop?  But that was just the beginning.  Those sneaky British decided to change my appearance entirely.  I was no longer a merchant vessel.  They fitted me out with canons, men with muskets, and other nasty weapons, and made me into a fighting vessel.

I belonged to the Royal Navy the remainder of 1812 and into 1813.  By then the war of 1812 (I guess they called it that because it actually began in 1812) was in full swing along the Great Lakes.  Neither Canada nor the United States wanted to share the waters.  Each country wanted to OWN the Great Lakes. How can you own a huge body of water?


I fought in several battles, being hit with canon balls, blasted with musket balls, sails torn, masts broken, just really nasty stuff.  But I was tough.  I survived these battles.  After each battle repairs were made, holes plugged, new mast and sails put in place, and then we started all over again.  What a mess!

So far in my short life I have belonged to an American Merchant, the American Federal Government, and the British Government of Canada.  My flag just kept changing.

Then in September of 1812 The Battle of Lake Erie began.  Some famous American naval person named Commodore Oliver Perry decided that enough was enough, and he was going to end this stupidity once and for all.

This mighty battle began with sloops against sloops, war ships against war ships.  The British sailors and soldiers on me were bragging about how soundly they would defeat the poor, primitive American fleet.  The battle lasted ONE HOUR.  The guns fell silent --THE BRITISH HAD BEEN DEFEATED.

I have heard that at the end of the battle Commodore Perry sent a dispatch to shore that read:  "We have met the enemy and they are ours - two ships, two brigs, one schooner and one sloop".  The sloop was ME!  Friends Good Will.  I was back with the Americans where I belonged.  And I am only 2 years old.  What an adventure...

TO BE CONTINUED:

I wanted enough room to touch base about my weekend in Cleveland Heights, so the final chapter will appear tomorrow.

There is so much good stuff to say about Cain Park Arts Festival, that I will probably need an entire day to go into detail.  In a nut-shell, it was one of the very best outdoor festivals I have ever done, I don't mean financially, even though it was above average, but the people who were in charge, the young folks at your beck and call, always polite, helpful, just there for you.  I came home from this festival tired, but rejuvenated because of the young folks and their wonderful attitudes.  If your weekend was busy, I hope you have recovered and God Bless.

I AM FRIENDS GOOD WILL ....THIS IS MY STORY....JULY 07 2011.....PART ONE

Hi!  My name is Friends Good Will.  I am a single masted sloop, a neat looking sailing ship.  My home is on the Great Lakes, and my home has varied many times.  My blueprints, I guess you would call them, were began in early 1810, my actual construction in late 1810 and I was launched in 1811.

I was built in Detroit as a merchant vessel.  My owner to be was a merchant.  At that time all the merchandise he sold was carried by horse-drawn wagons over land.  He decided it would be more economical and a lot more profitable for him to invest in a small sloop and have the goods brought by water.  He was a pretty smart cookie.

I was beautiful, sleek and shiny, my sails gleaming white against the blue sky.  I loved the feel of the waves as my bow plowed through the Great Lakes, the breezes being caught by my mighty sales, and I would skim along, flying across the water, spray from the waves keeping me cool, even on the hottest of summer days.

My owner hired a captain who was a fair man, he had a good crew who worked very hard for him as he was very kind to them, as long as they obeyed orders.  He could be very harsh if someone failed to carry out an order, or did  something wrong.  Because the crew really enjoyed working for him, he had no problems. Life was good!  I always had a full load, once everything was placed ashore, I wold sail to another city for a new load.

But then, life changed - really changed.

In the summer of 1812 the U. S. Federal Government chartered me to carry military supplies to Fort Dearborn, you know it as Chicago.  But in 1812 it was just one of many forts lining the shores of the Great Lakes.  The British owned Canada and had their forts on the Canadian side, and America had their forts on the American side.  There were Fort Dearborn, Fort Oswego, and Fort Niagara, just to name a few.

In 1812 the British captured Mackinaw Island from the Americans.  But, boy were they devious - that means sneaky.  Very sneaky.  When they captured Mackinaw Island, instead of raising the British flag, they left the American flag flying.  Why did they do this?  Because the British needed fast sailing sloops and they knew the Americans had these.  Get the picture?  As I said, very sneaky. 

So this fateful day, being fully loaded with furs and skins for trade, we entered the Harbor of Mackinaw Island, and guess what??????

TO BE CONTINUED.

This will be continued on Monday, July 11, as I will be leaving in just a short time for Cleveland Heights and the Cain Park Festival to be held this coming weekend.  I guess you would also call this "being sneaky", but the ship's story is just a little longer than  I want one blog to be.  So tune in on Monday, enjoy your weekend, cross your fingers I have a good one, and God Bless.

NOW FOR THE "WAR" PART OF YESTERDAY's BLOG ... JULY 06 2011....

Not the Revolutionary War, but the War of 1812, the 200th anniversary will be celebrated next year - 2012. 

There is so much history connected to this War of 1812 that was either, never taught, or I did not listen.  I have learned so much from a series of 3 books published by Double Edge Press about this particular war, and the role of the sailing ships, written by James Spurr, living in Michigan, having his Master's license, who can command South Haven's beautiful sailing ship "FRIENDS GOOD WILL".  Today's ship is a reproduction of the original ship involved in this war.

After publication of Jim's books he invited Rebecca and her family (me too!!!)to come to South Haven, and he would take us sailing on Friends Good Will.  We all needed a vacation, so planned a week in Michigan, doing Holland, Frankenmuth, and the Henry Ford Museum and Greenfield Village.  We spent one day in South Haven, met Jim, went for our sail, which by the way, was completely awesome, then in the afternoon while Rebecca and the kids went to the beach, Jim took son-in-law Neal and me out in his small boat while the tall ship was on its afternoon cruise, and circled Friends Good Will out in Lake Michigan where I got some fantastic pictures of this ship.  What a day!!!!

If you have never been on one of the tall ships, you have missed a great experience.  All you hear is the waves created as you sale along, and the wind in the sales.  It is so completely peaceful, and relaxing.

I'm sure my family would disagree about the relaxing part, as all 6 of them helped raise and lower the sales, it was really hard work.  Lucky me, I got to sit and enjoy, because I was the OFFICIAL PHOTOGRAPHER.  Sometimes a title comes in really handy.


Part of the crew. Jim in white and straw hat, then  grandsons Coleman, Austin, and Garrett.  They were all pulling away, got to get those sails up!  They had a ball, but it was hard work. 

Here is the rest of MY crew, son-in-law Neal, granddaughter Shelby, and daughter Rebecca, hidden behind Shelby.

Rebecca informed me she was never going to be "crew" again for a sail boat.  Shelby seconded that motion.

This final picture is Rebecca and Jim having a conference regarding the publication of (I believe) the last of his three book series.  But don't quote me on that last, I lose track pretty easy.  Too much info, not enough brain.

The titles of his books are as follows:

Book 1 - "Sworn for Mackinaw"
Book 2 - "One Sloop & Slow Match"
Book3 - "Reflections in the Wake"

I never knew that the sailing ships played such a large part in this particular war.  You think of them as recreational, not fighters.  If you want a good read, especially with the anniversary next year, be sure to pick these up.

Tomorrow you will get a more in depth history lesson, as I will tell the story of the Friends Good Will's part in the war of 1812, as told from the ship's point of view.  It is another story that is included in the second volume of IF ONLY I COULD TALK.  I hope you will enjoy the story, and learn some history you were not aware of.  I know I did - the history part.

Have a good day and God Bless.