Clouds and sunbeams in the evening sky near El Reno, Oklahoma. June 11, 2011.
This is my post for Skywatch Friday, a meme for sharing views of the sky from all over the world. To see more, or to join and share your own photos of the sky, click HERE.
As we were driving toward Weatherford, Oklahoma, on our trip west, we were treated to a beautiful display of light and clouds in the evening sky. I simply had to pull off the interstate to snap this picture of a sunbeam showing us the way.
The uniforms of soldiers involved in Fort Smith's history. June 11, 2011.
One of the first places we visited on our recent trip west was Fort Smith National Historic Site in Arkansas. During our visit we were fortunate to be able to hear a presentation by a park ranger on the history of Fort Smith. The ranger was supported by the re-enactors wearing the uniforms of soldiers during the different periods of the fort’s history.
Fort Smith was established in December, 1817, by a company of the U. S. Rifle Regiment (the soldier on the extreme left in the photo above). The fort was established to maintain peace between the Osage and Cherokee Indians. The original fort was abandoned in 1824.
In the 1830s Fort Smith became a supply depot for Indians and soldiers (next two soldiers in white) moving westward along “The Trail of Tears”. In 1838 a new Fort Smith was constructed near the site of the first. This was a masonry fort, but it was also used primarily as a supply depot.
Confederates (the soldier in butternut in the middle of the group above) took possession of Fort Smith when Arkansas seceded in April, 1861, but was recaptured by Union troops (next two soldiers) on September 1, 1863.
In 1872 the Federal Court for the Western District of Arkansas took over the fort. The barracks were modified to serve as a courthouse and jail. During this time the fort was a base for U. S. Marshals (the man on the extreme right).
The re-enactors described the uniforms they were wearing and gave a firing demonstration of their weapons. The early muskets certainly made for an interesting show.
Firing 1830-era muskets. June 11, 2011.
This gives new meaning to 'the smoke of battle'.
Betsy at a portion of the wall of the second fort. June 11, 2011.
Betsy enjoying the snow banks along a trail near the Visitor Center at Cedar Breaks National Monument, Utah. June 20, 2011.
This is my post for Watery Wednesday. To see more of our beautiful watery world, or to join and post your own pictures to share, click HERE.
Cedar Breaks National Monument, near Cedar City, Utah, was a last minute addition to our itinerary. After we arrived in Utah on June 18, our good friend Neal suggested that we visit Cedar Breaks.
We did an internet search and found that the roads in Cedar Breaks had been opened on June 17. We also found we could include a visit to the Monument while driving to see some of the places we had planned to visit.
The elevation at Cedar Breaks varies from 10,100 to 10,500 feet. As we approached the Monument, my little bride was delighted to see snow on the mountain tops. As we drove into the park with snow piled high on both sides of the road, Betsy was like a kid in a candy shop, as you can see from the picture above.
We asked a ranger how much snow they had gotten over the winter, and he said they had 395 inches by May 31, which was the ‘official’ end of their winter season. However, it had snowed several times since then, including the day before we got there.
Betsy enjoying the snow at Cedar Breaks National Monument, Utah. June 20, 2011.
If you know anything at all about Betsy, you know she was excited with all that snow around. And, of course, we had to find a place where she could get out and walk in the snow. She did not, however, make a snowman for me.
Betsy with Becky and Michael, Jackson, Tennessee. June 10, 2011.
This is my post for the My World meme. It is hosted by Klaus, Ivar, Sandy, Wren, and Fishing Guy. To learn more about our world or to join and share your part of the world, click HERE.
One of the nicest things about the trip that Betsy and I took last month was that we got to meet three good friends for the very first time. On the very first day of our trip we met Becky of Thoughtfully Blended Hearts and her husband Michael for lunch. They were both as charming and as friendly in person as they are in Becky’s blog.
Betsy and Vedarae, Amarillo, Texas. June 12, 2011.
On our way through Texas we met Cotton Lady, Vedarae, for lunch. Vedarae doesn’t have a blog, although I’m confident she could write many fascinating and interesting posts. Vedarae and Betsy have been e-mail buddies for quite some time, and it was a pleasure for me to meet and get to know her.
Betsy and Linda, Grand Junction, Colorado. June 24, 2011.
On our way to Rocky Mountain National Park we met Linda — Colorado Farm Life — and her husband, Terry, for lunch. (Are you beginning to see a pattern here?). Meeting them was truly like seeing old friends again. Linda’s blog is full of insights into the joys — and trials — of farm life and both Betsy and I enjoy following her. The time with the two of them went entirely too quickly, but we hope to meet them again either here in Tennessee or when we return to Colorado.
If you ever get the chance to meet a blog friend in person, I encourage you to do so. I promise you won’t regret it.
The room in Independence Hall, Philadelphia, where the Declaration of Independence was adopted.
Does the Fourth of July mean anything more than picnics, fireworks, and a day off work? I have to admit that I sometimes wonder. Now don’t get me wrong — I enjoy a picnic as much as anyone, and I absolutely loved a day off from work before I retired. But even then there was something special about the Fourth of July.
This day commemorates the day when The Declaration of Independence was adopted by the Second Continental Congress meeting in Philadelphia in 1776. The Declaration, containing the words “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.”, is one of the most profound documents in history.
It used to be that most people felt this was a pretty special country. We learned the history of our country — the people and places. We said the Pledge of Allegiance in school, and the Star-Spangled Banner was played at school events. We also learned how the song came to be written. We learned the text of the Gettysburg Address, and knew the words to “My Country Tis of Thee”, “The Battle Hymn of the Republic”, and “America the Beautiful”.
I grew up on a farm outside a small town in Indiana. Almost everyone in the area turned out for the Fourth of July parade, and the program before the fireworks display. The fireworks themselves almost always included a representation of the Liberty Bell or the American flag. We all felt we were a part of something very special.
The title of this blog is “Senior Moments”, and I’m getting more senior with each passing day. I guess I’m rapidly becoming a curmudgeon. If so, please forgive me. I only wish my grandchildren realize that they, too, are part of a very special country.
I hope you all have a very wonderful — and happy — Fourth of July.
Betsy and I have returned from a wonderful 19-day trip out west. The picture above, which can be enlarged by clicking on it, shows the highlights of our trip. We drove 5,414 miles, passed through 14 states (counting Tennessee), visited nine National Parks, did some hiking and even saw some waterfalls. Oh, yes, we also took many, many pictures.
I have to admit that Bryce Canyon was my favorite place — the hoodoos were absolutely fantastic. But the Grand Canyon was every bit as grand as the name implies.
I think the high points for Betsy were the snow we encountered at both Cedar Breaks and Rocky Mountains National Park. Six-foot drifts of snow in the June were a treat for my Beautiful Bride. It almost made up for the snow we didn’t get here last winter.
A wispy cloud in the sky above Fairfield Glade, Tennessee. October 17, 2010.
This is my post for Skywatch Friday, a meme for sharing views of the sky from all over the world. To see more, or to join and share your own photos of the sky, click HERE.
If you watch the skies often enough, you will see all kinds of fascinating things. I captured this wispy cloud in a brilliant October sky last year. It wasn’t a part of a larger cloud formation, but just seemed to be suspended in the sky. I thought it was both interesting and pretty.
********************
I would like to thank each and every one of you for your kind words and prayers on the passing of my mother. The funeral was hard for my Dad (he’ll be 99 in August) but he was doing pretty well on Thursday. The entire family felt surrounded and uplifted by your thoughts and prayers. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.
Betsy and I are once again taking a blog break. We’ll be traveling for the rest of the month. I’m not sure what kind of skies we’ll encounter, but I expect we’ll both come back with plenty of pictures to share.
I’ll see you in July.
Kay Adams. May 2, 1920 - June 6, 2011.
My mother died this morning at my sister’s home. She had been in declining health, but apparently had a massive heart attack and died quickly. Betsy and I had seen her (and Dad) on Thursday and I talked with her on the phone Saturday. She sounded very chipper and in good spirits. She had just had some ice cream before I called, which was her favorite snack.
The feature of Mom that most people commented on was her smile. When my parents moved to Tennessee, the children in their new neighborhood called her the “Smile Lady”.
Now she’s smiling in heaven — it must be a brighter place today.
Sunrise from Sunrise Point, Mount Nebo, Arkansas. December 4, 2008.
This is my post for the Scenic Sunday meme, which shares beautiful scenes from around the world. To see more Scenic Sunday posts, or to join and show your own pictures, click HERE.
The yard has been keeping me very busy, so I went to the archives for this week’s post.
When we’re on vacation I like to sleep in (in truth I like to sleep in any morning, but that’s another story), but sometimes getting up in the early morning hours is worth the effort.
One such time was when we were at Mount Nebo in Arkansas in December, 2008. We got up before sunrise and drove to Sunrise Point to watch the sun come up. Shortly after we got there we were treated to the scene in the picture above. The horizon turned a gorgeous orange-gold with the sun beginning to peep above the mountains on the other side of the valley.
Sunrise Point, Mount Nebo, Arkansas. December 4, 2008.
A few minutes later the star-burst and fiery clouds announced the arrival of the sun.
Sunrise Point, Mount Nebo, Arkansas. December 4, 2008.
In another few moments the sun cleared the mountain tops and began its climb into the sky. That was definitely worth getting up to see.
Cades Cove landscape, Great Smoky Mountains, Tennessee. May 23, 2011.
This is my post for Skywatch Friday, a meme for sharing views of the sky from all over the world. To see more, or to join and share your own photos of the sky, click HERE.
Whenever we go to Cades Cove in the Smokies, I have trouble deciding which is most impressive — the mountains or the skies. When we were there last week I decided that both were magnificent.
Senior Moments 