Where Good People Meet Good Food

Abraham Lincoln's birthplace is not far away from here, so Jackie and I headed over there to check it out. But first we took in some lunch at...

The other signs were good, too--a full parking lot and packed interior. The food was the reason without doubt. The lushious pie and strawberry shortcake desserts, which we didn't need at all after excellent made-by-hand lunches, were baked and served up by the waitress.

The presentation at the Federal Parks & Monument building at Lincoln's, and the grounds at his birthplace gave a great sense of place. Information that was new to me was that his family did well, and in their industriousness were not exactly rich, but certainly a part of their community's middle class. From that information, too, it was interesting that Lincoln was at an early age a story teller as was his father.

The site now has this monument that houses a log cabin from the early days. It isn't, however, the Lincoln's cabin, but an authentic log cabin salvaged from that era. Theirs has been gone for a long time.

Back at Jackie and Taylor's I found a clarifying Next of Kin list in some albums put together by Aunt Hilda...

I'll never remember this, but it's fun to try to figure out who is what to whom among our family members.

And, Grandma's Baptismal Certificate--I think. It's in German, so I'm not sure. I'll ask Jackie tomorrow.

Right here I want to put a shoutout to Aidan: Congratulations! and High Five! for achieving Student of the Month. 

And another to Keoni: Congratulations! and High Five! for the good news you received from Eastman School of Music.

This grandma really has it good.

Well, it's been a long day. Pussycat Buzzy thinks so, too. I'll say goodnight.

Movie Palace & Kitchen Traditions Forever

Jackie's and my attention was diverted from our visit-fest to the local movie house Thursday where we could see The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel before the screenings changed today. Nowhere near the story the first Marigold was, it is, nevertheless, very entertaining and has some great Indian music and dancing that I admire, the ever-wonderful Dames Judy Dench and Maggie Smith; plus, Bill Nighy and Dev Patel. Richard Gere doesn't quite fit, but, hey, I don't care.

The local movie house is a paean to small-town KY entrepreneurship having two employees on duty to sell the tickets, serve up the popcorn, and run the projectors. The not-in-evidence proprietor has on local TV sworn to make the offerings family-oriented with none of those "independent movies", and especially protect the populace from seeing anything Jane Fonda has done. Jackie reluctantly goes to Movie Palace since there's no other choice for 35 driving minutes in all directions.

Jackie carries on the skills and traditions of our mother's and grandmother's family kitchens...

And Beau takes up his kitty vigil at the window...

Shoutout to Toby: Please, don't be jealous. I still love you and when I return the spring should have warmed our porch enough to resume early coffee, kitty love, and observing the morning happen.

Taylor quotes Margaret Meade (1901-1978): "Always remember that you are absolutely unique. Just like everyone else."

Food and Conversation

That spot of warmth yesterday was over so quickly, but it didn't stop a day of excellent food and excellent conversation from happening.

Wendy reports clear and cold at home in PA. She sent along a snap of Toby enjoying the sunshine of a clear day...

it's funny that again starting out on this trip I missed Toby as I did the last trip to the west. He was such a good companion on our drive to move from Tucson to PA. Don't anyone tell Toby that I am enjoying Jackie and Taylor's Beau and Buzzy cats here in KY. They are fine surrogates.

Putting on warm clothing layers again, I joined Taylor walking over to the college where he teaches math. It is Spring Break, but he has to report in each day. There I had a small startled moment when I saw a pastel I'd once done that he has hung in his office. Quite an honor to be on someone's wall space--and right next to a Chihuly poster.

My onions, Chihuly's glass bowl.

And...

Rules of Data Normalization.

Nice getting out for a walk now since the slick, frozen landscape at home prevented that piece of enjoyment for a number of weeks. I got to do the break-in of my $14.99 walking stick that I bought in a West Virginia, hillbilly souvenir joint next to a gas station. It's great.

A Quick Goodnight

West Virginia and Kentucky. My, how far I can travel and meet no one. Odd that we can travel these monster interstates and scarcely have a human interaction. You don't even have to talk to anyone to pump gas. I'd have loved to get on the more rural West VA roads to see what the coal mining of their mountains looks like. But, the large artery that I was on was miserably chewed up from the winter, so I didn't try alternate routes for the same reason as in PA since small roads seem to be way worse than the big ones.

Jackie and Taylor were busy in their front yard bagging up the last of their rose bush trimming when I pulled into the driveway at 4:30 p.m.

What a good visit I am having with them already. Lots of laughter and catching up.

Their windows were open! It's in the 60s!

Gettysburg and Beyond

The day began with John's early morning coffee; then, goodbyes to he and Wendy, Keoni and Aidan. I'll miss them while I'm away.

My pony Subaru all packed we pulled out onto Ridge Road.

The first plan of he morning to take some back roads to Gettysburg was quickly abandoned because of the road conditions. I didn't want my pony injured by the giant potholes in the roadways so thought it better to stick to the main arteries that have more quickly been patched after all the freezing, thawing, salt, ice and snow entirely undid the patching from last winter that took all last summer to complete.

By late morning I was in Gettysburg. I did some of the car touring. There are many, many monuments commemorating those fallen. The wind had picked up so the 37 degrees were pretty uncomfortable.

I snapped a few pictures, but didn't get the details of who and what regiment or military groups.

An Indian and tepee on this monument for a New York regiment.

This little bird sat so quietly, for several minutes. I haven't identified him yet.

I went into the museum at the park visitor center. Among the first displays in the museum is one that  affected me--slave shackles that showed wear and tear by some long ago souls.

On the whole, the monuments and histories of the entire area are extremely comprehensive and take far more time than I spent to take in. I think it is one of those places you can go to many, many times and still find more to see and learn and think about. The museum has about a dozen adjoining pod-like areas on different facets of the war and the battle for Gettysburg, but suffers from its many video presentations going on within hearing distance of each other creating a cacophony of history. I watched a couple of them before feeling overwhelmed.

The book store has so much literature relating to the battle and war and those times that I get a strong sense of the profound questions it brings to many minds about how the savagery of that war came to be, what it solved, and what remains for us to resolve and heal.

I stuck my hand next to this case to give a sense of the size of one of the cannon balls the Confederates fired at Fort Sumter that ignited the Civil War. 

The Appalachians--Maryland, West Virginia. There have been places with some snow and ice left. There is an Eastern Continental Divide though the highest point is around 2700 feet, more or less. The temperature then climbed to 73 degrees by mid-afternoon. I couldn't wait to get out of my long underwear in Fairmont Super 8 where I self-indulged in happy ablutions. 

Maryland Highway 77 connecting two main arteries. It might have been PA without the potholes.

I didn't see any more snow piled anywhere when I walked to a restaurant.

Plan C

Weather still predominates thoughts, largely, because a week has past and the deep snow, fog, icy rain, sleet, grey skies, faltering electricity, school snow days, delayed starts, single digits and high winds have given way to rapid melting, gurgling ditches, swollen streams, Aidan in shorts, and long put-off errands.

Goodbye, snow.

One snow day Aidan came to my room and began construction of the prototype of a huge inventory of "shooters" that he constructed; mostly using whatever was at hand--coat hanger, rubber bands (keep them aways from the cat, says Wendy), wooden skewers and tape. It was successful enough to pierce a cardboard box and maybe more successful than the house can quite accommodate. It was pretty accurate, and quite effective on the back porch when the skewers were launched with flaming toilet paper wads on the front end.

Sitting on the floor in my room with the first prototype.

Keoni finished the cycle of auditions and competitions, and he and John returned home having threaded their way in between storms and severe weather pretty well. The last trip was Saturday and Sunday to Pittsburgh and back. Nine auditions and competitions in seven cities. Results are beginning to come in and bringing joy to all, but the decision will take place later. Between April 1 thru 15 all should be known.

Aidan has been stepping up his cello practices to two hours a day. It is making a difference. He, also, has made some really good friends; two of them within a quarter to half mile away. Another, close friend has been playing soccer with him since summertime.

Keoni's friend Nathan was on spring break from U Penn and it was certainly great to see this fine young man again. He and Keoni managed to get out to see other of their local friends.

I had a lovely day with a friend, too. On Monday Sarah and I went to Longwood Gardens for a lovely time walking around the four acres of ornate, sort of Victorian, greenhouses built by Pierre DuPont.

Orchids were the DuPonts' favorites. All is climate-controlled.

This fountain behind the yellow flowers reminded me of the fountain Phil made for Tucson's Presidio Plaza.

Sarah is making the "selfie."

DuPont took care of the property's trees, as well. No, men don't grow on trees. These guys are working up there.

A shoutout to Janie in Tucson. Good going getting that knee replaced this Wednesday. Hope you got to go home today. And, thank you for reminding me of what I will see in Tucson...

Beep, beep!

Yes, Tucson is in my sights. I'm starting off Monday with Plan C. Cousin Jackie and Taylor will be my first stop in Kentucky. Cousin Jim and Nancy in Texas, grands and great-grands in Salt Lake City, friends in Tucson, sisters in Missouri, Cousin Marilyn in Iowa. This is Plan C--there could be D, E and F, but my pony Subaru and I will find out as we go along. 

Thick and Fast

Our times are like the snow this morning--thick and fast. Aidan's Tuesday night music event was canceled due to freezing rain. But, yesterday and last night, the Regionals Orchestras were busy as planned. We went in the fog and cold rain to Souderton High School auditorium last night to watch and listen as Aidan took his place in first cello chair.

Aidan as orchestra members took their seats. As usual, my orchestra pictures are D minus quality. Maybe you can tell which one he is. Plus, pictures were banned during this particular concert. And well they were, since the place was packed with admiring family and friends all armed with cameras.

We returned home in more rain and fog. Slow going. This morning the predictions were true. No fog, but...

John and Keoni loaded up for New York City and the Juilliard audition that takes place about noon today. At least three of the four violin instructors Keoni has on his want list will be on the panel. And, Itzhak Perlman may be, too, depending on some scheduling happenstances. Cool Runnings! Keoni.

And Cool Runnings! John. A little while later the driveway...

It was 34 degrees and is now 32 degrees. The salt trucks and the snow plow are keeping Ridge Road open.

And, Wendy keeps our driveway open.

Souderton School District declared a snow day. Aidan went back to sleep upstairs after a brief goodbye to his dad and brother.

The back porch is starting to freeze the moisture on the decking, so I'll stay a safe distance after taking a look at it with Frezz...

Toby only leaves to use his facility under the deck. Otherwise, this is a common view...

A shoutout to Paula and Carl in Tucson...

Beautiful Prius and Paula photo received here of her brand new acquisition. They are now a two-Prius couple...

And, talking about weather...well, you know.

Tonight is Kimmel Center with Aidan and Wendy. Sunday, Keoni and John go to Pittsburgh.