Lillies and the Lorax

Saturday we went to Luthy Botanical Gardens to see The Lillies and the Lorax Show. We happily entered Thneedville and found these blue Truffula flowers along with a plethora of lillies.

Linking to Blue Monday

Happy Monday!

House Finch

Another shot of my friend Mr. Finch.

Linking to  the Bird D'pot

The Village of Porches

Every year Hubs and I plant a garden down at my brother's farm. To get to Bro O's house, we pass through the Village of Greenup. 

Sign Photo courtesy of Wiki

1. Greenup's nickname is The Village of Porches. Population approximately 1500. Greenup got its name from National Road surveyer William C. Greenup, who platted the town in 1834. 

Greenup's claim to fame: Abe Bowman, pitcher for the Cleveland Indians, James A. Peters, herpetologist at the Smithsonian Institution, and Cy Warman, 19th century author. 

Not included in this list is actor James Woods. I was up late one night watching a late night show starring Tom Snyder. His guest that night was James Woods. A lady called in from Illinois and he told her he had lived in Greenup as a child. Although none of the information I found lists Greenup as his residence, when I asked around, it seemed to be a well known fact among the older citizens. 

2. Almost all of the buildings in the downtown area have porches. Greenup has always reminded me somewhat of New Orleans, without Bourbon Street and Mardi Gras. They have parades and festivals, but I've always wondered why they didn't participate in a Mardi Gras celebration. It would be the perfect setting. Don't you think?

3. When I was a kid, we sometimes drove the 5 miles to Greenup and occasionally would stop by the Candy Kitchen, which was known as The Greeks back then. They had the best ice cream!

4. Greenup also has a winery. Reminiscent of California Wine Country, Cameo Vineyards is perched atop a hill overlooking the Embarass River Valley. They have several varieties to choose from. Although my favorites are Niagara, Pink Catawba, and Embarrass Blush, I haven't had a bottle of wine I would send back.

5. The Jackson truss bridge is located in Cumberland County, just outside Greenup. The covered bridge spans the Embarras River. Visitors often mispronounce the river name, embarrass, as in red-faced; however, the correct pronunciation should be um-bray. We local folks just call it am-braw. This bridge has the honor of being the longest single-span covered bridge, not posted with restrictions, in the United States.

Jackson bridge was completed and dedicated in 2000. It is an exact replica of the original bridge built in 1832, with the help of such notables as: Abraham Lincoln, Thomas Lincoln, and Dennis Hanks.

Linking to Random 5 Friday

Happy Friday and have a great weekend!

Good Fences #3

Somebody put these beautiful flowers behind bars. 

Oh, guess not. The back is open. My mistake.

Linking to GOOD FENCES #3

A Bud, Petal, Bird, and a Hodgepodge

Mr. and Mrs. House Finch

Linking to Wild Bird Wednesday

***

Sunday I went outside to check for leaves on the trees and look what I found!

 It's a bud, but what kind of bud is it?

It's the Bradford Pear tree and will soon look like this shot from last year.
Linking to 52 Photos Project

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HodgePodge questions:

1. April showers bring May flowers, or so the saying goes. When did you last 'shower' attention on someone or have attention 'showered' on you? Did you love it, or did all that attention make you squirm?

It isn't in my nature to shower attention or be the receiver of the shower. The last time was at my bachlorette party. I was given a foot massage in front of everyone. 

2. Share a favorite 'spring break' memory. Not talking about just the 'college spring break' thing, but any favorite spring break memory you'd like to share. Keep it family friendly please!

Sadly, I can't think of a single spring break memory.

3. It's National Pecan Month...are you a fan? If so, what's your favorite dish that calls for pecans?

I am a fan. I eat them from the bag as a healthy snack, but my hands down favorite—pecan pie!

4.  'Put all your eggs in one basket', 'egg on your face', 'rotten egg', 'walk on eggshells', or 'a good egg'...which egg-spression could most recently be applied to your own life?

'Walk on eggshells' for sure when dealing with upset family members. 

5.  In my experience___________________________________.

...you never write down anything you don't want someone to read. A hard lesson learned after my brother broadcast my diary entries to the whole family.

6. What's a  favorite song with the word rain in its title or lyrics?

Who'll Stop the Rain by Creedence Clearwater Revival



7. What does the word hope mean to you?

Wishing for something that will not likely happen, i.e. I hope I'll win the lottery.

8.  Insert your own random thought here.

I have the day off. I hope the rain stops soon. 

Linking to Wednesday Hodgepodge

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Wordless

Linking to Wordless Wednesday

***

Pioneer Plaza Dallas, Texas

Linking to Black and White Wednesday

Rubbish Tuesday

Does anyone remember all the advertising on barns, etc along the highways? I do. Mostly what I remember from around here are the Meramec Caverns and Mail Pouch Tobacco signs. I remember on a trip to Tennessee once I saw ads for Rock City. This is one remaining along Route 40 here in Illinois.

The building is about to tumble down. If it wasn't for the missing sheets of tin, this sign would be in pretty good shape.

There is something about old things that has caught my interest. Before my blogging break, I thought about making this idea into a meme, but never did. Now that Barn Charm is no more, I decided to post old things on Tuesdays. The idea would be to post a photograph of anything old and deteriorating i.e. house, barn, outbuilding, something rusty, antiques, interesting junk, or just plain old. If you would like to join in, feel free.

Happy Tuesday!

The Race

I grew up with a railroad right across the road from our house. Bro O and I always ran outside when we heard the train coming and wave. The engineer would pull the cord and blow the whistle all the way by the house. It became such a habit for him that he started blowing the whistle whether we were outside or not and eventually even when he went by in the middle of the night.

I'm not sure what that has to do with the fact that every time I see a train traveling beside a road, I find myself driving faster, trying to catch up and ultimately pass the engine. But I do. Yesterday was no exception. I held my camera out the window and snapped a shot, expecting it to turn out a total blur. What I got wasn't a great picture, but it's the best I could do while in the midst of a train chase.

I beat him, too!

Happy Monday!

Linking to Blue Monday

A Goose and Nessie?

The weatherman said it will be a beautiful day today. I hope he's right. I plan to spend the afternoon outside with Fergus. It will be a good day for a long walk. His training is seriously lacking. He thinks sit is lay down. Silly dog!

I enjoy going to The Rez early hoping to see a duck to pose for me. Yeah right! I think critters see me coming from miles away and hide. Occasionally I do get lucky. On this particular day, I saw two geese floating on the water. Did I mention it was early?

Not early for me, but obviously early for some geese. One was still sleeping with its beak tucked beneath a wing. I tried to be quiet. Shh, goose sleeping.

Linking to Camera Critters

Yesterday, Fergus and I walked to The Rez. I like to go early in the morning or later in the evening, which is a better time to find critters. Last evening, we rounded the corner to find lots of SUVs and Trucks parked near the water. This is extremely unusual. It is a rare occasion we ever actually see a person at The Rez. The only time there is ever a crowd is during the summer when lots of people gather for family reunions. So, needless to say, I was a bit curious.

Seems a couple of guys decided to try out their kayaks on the water.

It didn't take long for them to get from one end to the other, but they would turn around and start back.

At one point, they stopped and turned in the water.

I wonder what they saw. Was it Nessie? Does Toledo have its own Loch Ness Monster? Excitement! But, whatever it was, it didn't hold their attention long. Probably a fish.

Happy Sunday to you!

A Bird, Trees, Fudge, and an Old Photo

Mr. and Mrs. House Finch were out and about this morning.

Mrs. hid before I could get the camera out, but Mr. posed nicely.
Linking to Saturday Critters & I'd Rather be Birding

Last weekend, I drove down to Newton, Illinois. Newton is a little larger than most of the villages/towns I have visited recently. It has a population of approximately 3,100. Notable native, Ross Wolf pitched for the Texas Rangers and the Marlins before going to a team in Korea and Author Irene Hunt used the Newton area as the setting in her civil war book titled Across Five Aprils.

There is a very nice park with playground equipment and a swimming pool. Lots of trees. And a quaint downtown area.

 Newton has a town square with hardly any empty buildings. Impressive for this area. I wanted to check out this store called The Country Touch, but it wasn't open.

This sign caught my eye. A Cappuccino in middle-of-nowhere Illinois? I had to have one. I do miss having a Starbucks down the street.

I went inside to browse. It was an Arndt's store. We used to have one of those in Greenup where Mom went to pick up embroidery yarn for her crafty projects. This store had a little bit of everything. Lots of fun things to look at and a Hallmark card section. They also had bulk candy—and fudge!

This is a half pound of praline fudge I brought home to share with Hubs. The texture is creamy smooth, easily the best fudge I've ever tasted. They sell it to other companies and online at Arndt's Fudgery.

And last, but not least, here is an old picture Bro O printed from an ancient negative. Taken at Grandma's house. It is me and daughter about a gazillion years ago. It isn't in very good shape, lots of white specks, but a great find anyway!

Hope you are having a wonderful weekend! I'm taking Monday and Tuesday off, so I'm looking forward to a 4 day weekend. Woo Hoo!

Signs of Spring

Yesterday, I saw another sign of spring. Farmers are starting to think about getting the soil ready for planting.

As you can see, we have been getting some much needed rain.

Happy Friday!

Good Fences #2

Radnor Lake State Natural Area Nashville, Tennessee. This was taken last October. That would be my kids and grands walking up ahead. I'm lagging back to take pictures. They eventually turn around to see if I'm still following. Son was preparing to treat me to the hardest walking trail I've ever been on. Long, steep hills. It was a beautiful hike. We saw deer just a few feet off the trail. They merely lifted their heads to watch us as we passed by.

 This was the road from the parking area to entrance to trails.

This is Fergus welcoming me home for lunch. Do you see a touch of green in that grass?  Woo Hoo!

Linking to GOOD FENCES #2 

Wednesday Hodge Podge

I always find myself apologizing for my less than wonderful critter shots. I don't have the fancy dancy camera and lens I would like, but that doesn't detract from the thrill I get when I see a bird or duck I haven't seen before. So, I take the pictures and cherish them as if they were National Geographic quality. So, here is another one. 

Wood Ducks
The Rez is basically a large pond and park area. I drive by there most mornings on my way to work. Sometimes I get lucky and find ducks or geese. Sadly, they are always on the far side and I don't have time to walk around to get closer. Of course, on the rare occasion when I do have time, they always swim over to the side from whence I came. Non-cooperative creatures!

Linking to Wild Bird Wednesday

On to some Hodge Podge

1. Since these questions are posting on the first day of April it seems only right to ask-when was the last time you did something foolish? If you can't answer that one, try this one-when was the last time someone fooled you?

I don't have to look to far for the someone fooled me answer. It was this morning. The weather girl on our local station said it was going to snow later in the week. Bad weather girl! It wasn't until the end of the forecast that she spit out, "April Fools." With the weather as it has been this winter, it wasn't hard to believe.

2. What's the last biography or non-fiction book you've read? Was it any good?

Mrs Kennedy and Me by Clint Hall and I did find it interesting. Since I lived through the Kennedy years and remember Mrs. Kennedy fondly, anything to do with that time period interests me. 

3. Garlic-friend or foe? What's your favorite dish made with garlic?

Friend. Love garlic! Favorite dish? Not sure, but I absolutely must have garlic bread with pasta.

4. Several Spring flower festivals happen in the US during the month of April. Of those listed, which would you most like to see in person...The Skagit Tulip Festival in Skagit Washington, The Dogwood Arts Festival in Knoxville Tennessee, The North Carolina Azalea Festival in Wilmington North Carolina or the Daffodil Festival Weekend on Nantucket Island, Massachussets?

I lived in Raleigh, North Carolina in the mid 90s and actually attended the North Carolina Azalea Festival in Wilmington, so will pick The Dogwood Arts Festival in Knoxville, Tennessee. I always intended to stop there on my way from Raleigh to visit family in Illinois, but was never able to time my trip with the festival. 

5. How do you choose which blogs to read?  What is something that will make you stop and read every time? Something that makes you say, 'eh, think I'll skip this one and move on to the next'?

I have several 'never miss' blogs that I read every day. I'm not sure how I chose them. I think I found them through participating in memes. A fantastic critter shot will make me stop every time, such as in Brian King Images. I don't know of anything in particular that would make me move on unless it's a topic I'm not interested in.

6. April is National Mathematics Education Month so tell us, when did you last use math? 

Math? What is math? 

7. In honor of the A-Z challenge kicking off on April 1...choose one word beginning with the letter A to describe your yesterday.

Ambiguous.

8. Insert your own random thought here.

I'm writing a short story about my maternal grandmother. This is the beginning...Her Indian heritage manifested itself in the form of dark skin, brown eyes, and coal black hair. She was a tall woman in spite of her short stature. A no-nonsense woman whose gruff demeanor concealed a soft heart. She didn’t show love and affection with words. Her actions spoke volumes.  

Linking to Wednesday Hodge Podge 

A Barn for Tuesday

I don't remember if Barn Charm was on Monday or Tuesday, but I think I posted on Tuesday. Even though the meme is no more, I'm posting a barn.

I found this one on the way to the first tiny town I visited last Saturday. There once was a house on this property, but it is gone now.

All that remains is a dilapidated barn, a silo without a roof, and a slowly deteriorating shed—a mere suggestion of what once was a flourishing farm.

Something draws me toward these dead and dying barns and old houses. I want to know their story, but they cannot speak.

Burl Ives

Keeping my vow to visit some of the tiny towns around here, yesterday I took a drive down to Hunt City, Illinois, which is about 25 miles southest.  According to the 2010 census, its population was then 282. A very small town.  As far as I can tell, it's only claim to fame is Burl Ives.

Burl Icle Ivanhoe Ives was born on June 14, 1909 near Hunt City, Illinois. He was an actor, writer, and folk singer. 

He began his singing career in the garden with his mother. His uncle heard them singing and invited his nephew to sing at an old soldier's reunion in Hunt City. He impressed the audience by singing the folk ballad, Barbara Allen. 

From 1927 to 1929, Ives attended Eastern Illinois State Teacher's College, which is now known as Eastern Illinois University in Charleston, Illinois, where he played football. My neighbor and 7th and 8th grade math teacher, was his classmate. During his junior year, he was sitting in English class, when he suddenly decided he was wasting his time. As he walked out the door, the professor made a snide remark and Ives slammed the door behind him. Sixty years later, the school named a building after its most famous dropout. (Well, most famous alumni until Tony Romo attended Eastern)

During the early 1930s, Ives traveled the U.S. as an itinerant singer, doing odd jobs and playing his banjo to earn his way. He was jailed in Mona, Utah for vagrancy and for singing a song the authorities decided was a bawdy song titled, Foggy, Foggy Dew. 

1931 found Ives performing on a WBOW radio station in Terre Haute, Indiana, which is approximately 50 miles from his hometown of Hunt City, Illinois. He also attended classes at Indiana State Teachers College, which is now Indiana State University. During the latter part of the 1930s, he attended The Julliard School in New York. I guess he decided school wasn't a waste of time after all.

In 1940, Ives began his own radio show called The Wayfaring Stranger. Over the next few years, he popularized several folk songs of which my favorite is Big Rock Candy Mountain. 

In the 50s and 60s, he appeared in several movies: East of Eden, Desire Under the Elms, Wind Across the Everglades, The Big County (for which he won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor), a sequal to Mister Roberts, Our Man in Havanah, and my favorite Burl Ives role, Big Daddy in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof.

(Photo courtesy of Wiki Commons) 
I may have enjoyed the movie more because I was madly in love with Paul Newman at the time. Wasn't he a handsome man?

Burl Ives was well known as being a pipe smoker, but he also smoked cigars. In 1994, he was diagnosed with oral cancer. After several surgeries, he decided against further treatment. On April 14, 1995 he died of complications at the age of 85, at his home in Anacortes, Washington. He was burried in Mound Cemetery near his hometown.

(Photo courtesy of Wiki Commons)

On Route 130, just north of Newton Illinois, the bridge across the Embarras (pronouned am-braw) River has been named the Burl Ives Bridge.

This is a view of Hunt City, Illinois, immediately after passing the Hunt City sign. There are a few houses off to the left, but don't blink or you will miss it.

Happy Sunday!

Snugglers

On my way out to work yesterday, I saw these two sparrows all puffed up and snuggling next to each other.  It was a cold, windy morning.. They moved into the birdhouse on the utility shed and claimed it for their own. I can get a sparrow picture anytime I want. We have tons! They can empty the bird feeders in a day. But they are birds too, and I do enjoy hearing them in the morning.

Linking to Saturday Photo Hunt and Saturday Critters and
Camera Critters

Critter's Martini

May as well finish the week as I started, with another beverage.
1. Before I begin, I would like to re-iterate, I am not a lush. As a matter of fact, I haven't even had a glass of wine since Christmas. But I do like a cocktail on occasion. My favorite drink would be a margarita on the rocks, second in line is son-in-law's version of a Dirty Martini.
2. Son-in-law's name is Christopher. My daughter always seems to come up with nicknames for her loved ones. She may possibly have come up with this idea from her mother, but I'm not admitting anything—Punkie Doodle.
3. Perhaps the whole nickname thing started in high school. My nickname was Mort, short for Morticia, as in The Adams Family. I had long hair and my taste in clothing was rather unique. Hey, it was the 60s.
4. But back to son-in-law. Daughter randomly started calling her husband Critter in lieu of Christopher. Not sure why, maybe it was merely easier to say.
5. Early on in their marriage they decided to buy a house. A husband and wife realtor team were showing us a nice home. As we roamed around talking about the pros and cons, Daughter kept talking to, "Critter." The realtor must have decided he had Christopher's name wrong and said, "Well, Critter, what do you think?" Son-in-law was mortified, Daughter and I still laugh about it.

Critter's Martini Recipe
Gin (Tanqueray is preferred)
Vermouth (sweet red)
Dash of lemon or lime juice
Spanish stuffed olives
Mix splash of vermouth and lime with a good amount of gin with ice
Drain into glass.
Enjoy
TIPS:
Measuer a martini glass full of gin into mixer glass.
Critter's advice, don't drink more than four.

Linking to Random 5 Friday

A post without pictures? Impossible!

 This picture was taken at The Rez a couple weeks ago.

This picture was taken 3 days ago. Today, instead of ice and snow we are having rain. I prefer rain.

Happy Friday!

Old Hickory Cocktail Anyone?

So keeping to my unintentional theme this week of alcohol related posts, how about an Old Hickory Cocktail? In case you have forgotten your history lessons, President Andrew Jackson was nicknamed Old Hickory by troops during the War of 1812, because he was considered to be tough as a hickory tree.

Jackson was in New Orleans during the Battle of New Orleans (1814-1815). As legend has it, he liked a particular drink so much it was named after him. Thus the Old Hickory Cocktail.

Ingredients for an Old Hickory Cocktail
1 1/2 ounces dry vermouth
1 1/2 ounces sweet vermouth
2 dashes Peychaud's bitters
1 dash orange bitters
Garnish with a lemon twist

I think one of these would put me under the table! Wonder if his favorite drink contributed to his death.

My research indicates he suffered abdominal pains, a bad cough, and headaches as a result of a musket ball in his lung. He died from a combination of chronic tuberculosis, dropsy, and ultimately heart failure. He was 78. Guess none of these health problems were alcohol related.

When he died in 1845, he was buried on the grounds of his home, The Hermitage. This is Andrew Jackson's tomb—with a really great fence around it.

Linking to a new fence meme called Good Fences

Wild Turkey

It seems like I'm doing a lot of posts about alcoholic liquors—moonshine—and now wild turkey. I do know the names, even though I'm not much of a drinker. More than two drinks of anything and I'm under the table.

Hubs is a retired teacher. After being bored out of his mind for a few months, he took a part time job with Home Depot. What does that mean? He works every and I do mean EVERY weekend. I have been staying home while he is at work, but have had enough. When I was a single lady, I went places by myself all the time. So why not now? Do I think now that I'm married I can't do anything alone? I didn't make a new years resolution, but I'm now resolving to get out and go when Hubs is working. I already have a plan to visit my son in a couple of weeks, by myself. And there will be more plans this summer. Thus the trip to Moonshine last Saturday.

As I was driving down the road toward Moonshine, I saw turkeys in a clearing to my left. I quickly checked my rear view mirror and not seeing anyone about to rearend me, I slammed on the brakes. Now had I not been by myself I would never have gotten a pictureof these odd birds. I would have been yelling, "STOP!" until Hubs finally got 'er whoa'd about a quarter mile down the road.

Even with my quick reaction time, I was only able to get a couple of shots before they disappeared behind weeds and then into the woods.

Happy Wednesday!

Linking with Wild Bird Wednesday

Dream Cabin, Firetruck, and a Barn

During my excursion last Saturday, I found a few interesting items to shoot.
Such as this little cabin stuck back in the Shag Bark Hickory trees.

If this place were hiking distance from the road and next to a pond, this would be my dream house/cabin. It is small. No room for clutter, only necessities. Easy to clean, no toilet to scrub. No traffic noise or neighbors. Just peace and quiet. Yes, I could live here. Well, for a while. I suspect I would start looking for electricity and a computer connection before the week was out. Great idea in theory, though.

I passsed this graveyard of anything and everything that once had a motor. Wrecked cars and trucks were farther down the road, past the house. I am a minimalist at heart, so I would probably find it difficult to live surrounded by junk vehicles. I know for a fact the man who once owned this property made a good living selling parts. He was a friend of my brother's and passed away a few months ago. He once raced stock cars at our local racetrack and Bro O was on the pit crew. It made for a fun Saturday night in an area where entertainment was hard to come by. It still looks like someone is conducting business, I suspect a family member has taken over.

Before my blogger breakdown, Barn Charm was one of my favorite memes. I'm told the meme is no more. I would take over the reins myself if I had more time, but alas I fear it would be too time consuming. Is there someone out there willing to take on the task?

Hazel Dell

On the way to and coming back from Moonshine, I passed through a tiny town called Hazel Dell. The sign says it was founded in 1866, but doesn't give a population. The main street no longer looks like it did on the sign. I like the color combination of blue and yellow. It makes it stand out, otherwise I might have missed it.

It does have an elementary school and a restaurant, but mostly it is a very small residential community. I have no idea what the population is, but I'm guessing less than 500 and probably more like 200.

The restaurant is well known for its homemade cinnamon rolls and pies. I've never actually been to the restaurant, but on one of my trips up here from Dallas before I moved back, sis-in-law served them for breakfast. I can tell you, they are melt in your mouth wonderful.

This is the only business I found on the main street. I'm thinking it might still be open during the week.  I drove through on Saturday, so maybe it isn't open on weekends. After all, there is a freshly painted sign, a 7up machine, and a trash bin which indicates life to me.

On the outskirts of town, I found this old house. Looks spooky doesn't it? To add to the eeriness, there are buzzards sitting on the roof...

...and on the chimney. Those birds always creep me out, but I can't help but take pictures every time I see one. It was a cloudy day until I drove back through Hazel Dell. The clouds slowly crept away, leaving a blue sky. Too bad it wasn't warmer. Still waiting on spring and I'm told today we will have snow again. I only like the first snow of the season. This one is way down the list of things I want to see on this day.

I hope wherever you are you have a wonderful, warm Monday!

Linking with Blue Monday.