You still have a chance to see the Sanford Zoo’s Asian Lantern Festival tonight and tomorrow for this week  and then it starts up again next Wed thru Sunday 12/4 – 8 and the Wed – Sunday goes on until 1/12/20.  .  Check above and below for more details.  And while I wasn’t able to attend the festival I was able to make a visit to the Zoo this last week and I’ll have full details (including a few pictures (check out the main picture today for a couple of those beautiful lanterns that will be lighted at the Festival times.

Mistletoe was held sacred by the Norse, the Celtic Druids, and Native American Indians, because it remains green and bears fruit during the winter when other plants seem to die.  Druids thought the plant had the power to cure infertility and nervous diseases, and to ward off evil.

https://greenglobaltravel.com/christmas-traditions-around-the-world/

France – France is widely known for its food and delicacies. People in the Provence region even go so far as to serve a sumptuous feast of seven main courses and 13 desserts at Christmas! Among the most popular festive dishes are: Fougasse (pancakes), nougat with honey and pistachios, pumpkin pie and dried fruits.

https://www.ef.edu/blog/language/christmas-around-the-world/

Around Belmont County, Ohio

and routes #147 & #800

Farmer Fields,  forests and rolling hills makes this a lovely little piece of Americana and a good way to spend some time with family and friends exploring and enjoying a day’s drive or an overnight trip and find America.

One of the points of interest:

Bellaire:  Home of the National Imperial Glass Museum.

http://www.imperialglass.org/

Founded in 1901 in Bellaire as New Crystal Glass Company by 1904 t had become Imperial Glass.  By 1907 it had sealed a deal with Woolworth Co and it’s two furnaces were nearly at capacity.  It was producing carnival glass by D1909 thru 1920’s.  In 1923 it added a Free Hand Line in 1923. (discontinued in 1928).   In 1931 (Depression) it filed for bankruptcy and began reorganizing as the Imperial Glass Corporation which was sucessfu and by 1936 their Imperial glass Candlewick was a great success with over 200 items of that style being produced.  But the 1950s brought tough times which resulted in the introduction of new lines in the 60’s.  They were purchased by a party with no experience in the glassware line in 1973 and continued to decline being sold again in 1982 and went out of business in 1984.   The factory was razed in 1994.

The museum has an outstanding collection of pieces produced by Imperial

For more info on the tour go to  Belmont County, Ohio  Drovers’Trail Scenic Byway:  Routes #147 & 800 Driving Tour  https://www.visitbelmontcounty.com/post/travel-the-drovers-trail

In Iceland, children put their shoes on the windowsill so the ‘Juletide Lads’, the Santa Claus, fills the shoes with little goodies. 

https://www.kids-world-travel-guide.com/christmas-around-the-world.html

Another Gift for the person who has everything:

Harry Potter Invisibility Cloak

The Church of St. Mary the Virgin

Nottingham, U  K

It is estimated that this church was founded in the mid-7th c AD,  The original building is thought to have been a wooden structure at this site at what was the center or close to it of Nottingham.  It is listed in the 1086 Domesday survey as the only church in the royal borough and thus considered to have royal status.

The present building is said to be the 3rd on this site—and this new building was built from between the 13th and 14th centuries.  It’s magnificent architecture is a testimony to the status of the city at that time.   The town’s Guildhall stood nearby

Henry VIII”s directives, reformation and Civil War did much to strip the sanctuary of it’s original ornamentation and earlier Catholic trappings and the second world war didn’t help. but what you see today is a loving restoration and rebuilding of the city’s finest surviving medieval building.

Learn more history at www.nottsopenchurches.com

In the above view you see the 125′ tower (38 metres) supported by massive piers inside the church.  Outside there are 3 stages:  blind arcading at its lowest, large four light Perpendicular windows (on each side)  in the middle and at the top are four narrower four-light Perpendicular windows flanked by pairs of blind arcading.  The angle buttresses at each corner has five extensions, and the tower is crowned by battlements and pinnacles.  There is a ring of 12 bells which are using regularly.

And the Lion and unicorn stand on either side of the crown that surmounts the west door and have been in the church sine the early 18th c.—though not originally in this position.  It is believed that they were commissioned to commemorate the time that Queen Anne (a princess at the time) resided in the city during a Revolution in 1688 that took the throne from her father James II.  They eventually became a memorial to the unionization of England (the Lion) and Scotland (the Unicorn) in 1707.

Christmas in Australia falls in summertime; a typical Christmas meal is a barbeque, which the Australians call a barbie, consisting of steak, prawns and fish (surf and turf). Ice-cream Cake is a popular Christmas dessert

http://www.fun-facts.org.uk/holidays/world_xmas.htm

Many people also associate specific foods and tastes with Christmas. Some of these delicious desserts and meals become traditions to top off the holidays. In Germany, for example, lebkuchen and linzer cookies are absolute staples during the holiday season. Lebkuchen is a gingerbread cookie that perfectly pairs with the delightful Christmas spirit. Many recipes have traveled across continents to infuse the heritage of the origin into the family celebrations. Making, sharing, and celebrating food is part of most Christmas get-togethers, though the dishes vary not only from country to country but from chef to chef.

11 Christmas Facts and Traditions that Connect the World

The Legends of the Once and Future According to me

My own writings on the subject for what that’s worth.

Some may wonder if the sex of a person does in any way determine a person’s acquiring and using magical power.  I have not seen this to be in anyway a determinate.  I feel that women may have a closer connection to the earth and life due to their reproductive functions—but this is not an assumption I have found to be supported by those I have witnessed over the times of this account, for I have seen both male and female raise to high levels of power and capabilities over my many years of this recording.

Czech Republic: Single women stand with their backs to the door and throw a shoe. If the heel lands toward to door, she will remain single for another year. If the front of the shoe points to the door, she may move out of her parents’ house and should start making wedding arrangements.

https://www.ibtimes.com/christmas-trivia-facts-around-world-15-funny-interesting-traditions-other-countries-2217076

The southeast Asian’s Catholicism is a holdover from the Spanish colonial era of the Philippines, as are traditions like the marathon nine-day series of Christmas masses called simbang gabi.

So, too, are the festive parols, or star-shaped lanterns, that brighten windows during the entire holiday season. The lights, which are meant to reflect the Star of Bethlehem in design, are named after the Spanish word for lantern, farol    In the Philippines, Merry Christmas is “Maligayang Pasko.”

https://www.coca-colacompany.com/stories/5-unique-christmas-traditions-from-around-the-world

The three traditional colors of most Christmas decorations are red, green and gold. Red symbolizes the blood of Christ, green symbolized life and rebirth, and gold represents light, royalty and wealth

99 Interesting Facts About Christmas 2020

• Fruitcakes last a long time intentionally. They were originally baked at the end of harvest and some of the cake was saved to be eaten at the beginning to the harvest the following year as people thought that would bring a good crop. It is the sugar and alcohol combination that helps them last so long.

74 Fun Christmas Facts You Didn’t Know

There is an old tradition that in some Irish houses (although now not many), people put a tall, thick candle on the sill of the largest window after sunset on Christmas Eve. The candle is left to burn all night and represents a welcoming light for Mary and Joseph.

https://www.whychristmas.com/cultures/ireland.shtml

Some times you Find Adventure in the most unlikely places…..take this restaurant—if you look at the first picture that’s one I took from the parking lot, you shrug.

It’s located Not far from Cape Kennedy and the like—

http://www.ashleysofrockledge.com/

Now let me tell you a little about the restaurant and a bit more.   Looking at the picture tells you so little —I mean the food is good and I have eaten there several time.

This is how the restaurant tell it:  Ashley’s Restaurant, originally called Jack’s Tavern, was opened in 1933. Over the years the restaurant has exchanged hands a few times, and has gone by such names as Cooney’s Tavern, the Mad Duchess, the Loose Caboose, Sparrow Hawk, and Gentleman Jim’s. In 1985 it became Ashley’s Restaurant. The Tudor-style wood and stucco building is furnished with old stained-glass windows and antique pictures and windows on the dark wood walls. Booth and table seating flank either side of the downstairs bar area, which is overseen by tables along the railing of the upstairs dining area    So nothing strange there—except my title quote on this episode is also from their introduction to the restaurant.

So far you’d never have taken this for part of an adventure day or even weekend now would you?  This is why I read (actual books but if you’re only capable of online links then that’ll have to do.

Rockledge is the oldest community in Brevard County, Florida. The town was once known for citrus groves, but the largest industries are aerospace and technology.

The original name of Rockledge was Peru, named after the Peruvian Mining Company. The company set up small houses for its workers in the area.

USA TODAY

https://traveltips.usatoday.com/history-rockledge-florida-22625.html

• 

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Other Ghosts:

There have been reports of child (not sure of sex), and a man—it is estimated that since the restaurant is sandwiched in between the highway (One) and the train tracks that they died in accidents on one side or another and their lost spirits found a refuge here and have just continued to hang here ever since.

There was supposedly a man arrested here an dragged out of the restaurant by the cops—many people complain of being grabbed or push while going up and down the stairs—and a man who wasn’t there—-has been seen on pictures taken of the bar—I recently found someone who said the man who was dragged out was seen by his autistic daughter who ran out into traffic and was killed, but his is a  recent addition to the story  so…………….

And possibly a long dead employee who is said to still be in service at the restaurant.

Learn more:  https://www.spacecoastliving.com/our-haunted-coast/

Rockledge is very close to Cocoa Village——so that would be a convenient place to visit and perhaps come to Ashley’s for lunch or if you stay the night –Dinner

There never was a good war or a bad peace.

 Benjamin Franklin, 1706-1790, American politician & writer

GINSENG

“Ginseng, a herb prized as a near panacea for varied diseases, is also highly valued as a treatment for sexual impotence.  Its history shows that it was used to pep up fading virility by Chinese men for thousands of years.  According to reports that have filtered through from the Far East, men who have passed the spring and summer of their lives take ginseng regularly and ar abler to satisfy their romantic desires as though they were young again.

Fiction is obliged to stick to possibilities. Truth isn’t.

—  Mark Twain, 1835-1910, American writer

Why Get vaccinated?

Influenza vaccine can prevent influenza (flu)

Flue is a contagious disease that spreads around the US every year, usually between Oct. and May.  Anyone can get the flu, but it is more dangerous for some people.  Infants, young children, people 65 yars of age and older, pregnant women and people with certain health conditions or a weakened immune system are at greatest risk of flu complications.

Pneumonia, bronchitis, inus infections and ear infections are examples of flu related complications.  If you have a medical condition, such as heart disease, cancer or diabetes, flu can make it worse.

Flu can cause fever and chills, sore throat, muscle aches, fatigue, cough, headaches and runny or stuffy nose.  Some people may have vomiting and diarrhea, though this is more common in children than adults.

Each year thousands of people in the US die from flu, and many more are hospitalized.  Flu vaccine prevents millions of illnesses and flu related visits to the doctor each year.

CDC

My one regret in life is that I am not someone else.

—  Woody Allen, 1935-, American actor & film director

ANOTHER GIFT FOR THE PERSON WHO HAS EVERYTHING

The Robot Creating Crash Cars

.

Today, India’s population is estimated at 1.35 billion. This means that 1 of every 6 people in the world lives in India. To describe all the seriousness of the problem, the country has over 16% of the world population and only 2.4% of the world area. With 181.5 million people added for last 7 years, India is predicted to surpass China by the year 2024.

25 Facts About Traveling Around the World

Cocoa Beach, FL

https://www.cocoabeach.com/

Cocoa Beach is a family friendly destination, that is only an hours drive from Orlando International Airport.  A laid back beach town with lots of sun and surf and there’s also Kennedy Space Center https://www.cocoabeach.com/ to visit and maybe catch a launch—the night ones are particularly impressive.   Check here https://www.visitspacecoast.com/?gclid=Cj0KCQiAq97uBRCwARIsADTziyY3FIZxDGVXQaovTjZq81H4kGmT-c9xAy0wae1j3O-aGuD8Xr6J_swaAjLNEALw_wcB for all manner of things to do in this area.

Places to note:

Westgate Cocoa Beach Pier

800 foot, historic pier over the Atlantic Ocean–play beach volleyball,  splash abut in the surf, enjoy food and drinks at one of the many bars and restaurants and the pier also offers beach rentals, freshwater showers and year round lifeguards.

http://www.cocoabeachpier.com/?cmpid=google-gmb-organic-wgcbp&utm_source=google-gmb&utm_medium=organic&utm_campaign=wgcbp

Nature:  The Thousand Islands

Located in the Banana River around Minutemen Causeway, has many channels where you can paddle around or take a guided boat tour to enjoy the wild life, including manatee and dolphins.

https://www.brevardfl.gov/EELProgram/Sanctuaries/ThousandIslandsConservationArea

The Dinosaur Store

250 W. Cocoa Beach Cswy.   Cocoa Beach, FL  32931   321.783.7300    info@dinosaurstore.com

Experience the hands on Adventure Zone boasting a variety of science activities, arcade style games and live animals (sorry none of them are dinosaurs.

http://www.dinosaurstore.com/adventurezone.htm

99% of Libya is covered in desert. 

22 of the world’s most amazing travel facts

Conde Nast Traveler

 The shortest international commercial flight available for purchase is a 15 minute trip from Sint Maarten (Dutch Caribbean) to Anguilla (British

\Overseas Territory).

40 Crazy Travel Facts  

SEEING KEY WEST

My recommendation is always to start with THE CONCH TRAIN     https://www.conchtourtrain.com/   OR THE OLD TOWN TROLLEY   https://www.trolleytours.com/key-west tours of the Key.  These are open air rides—and a great way to see the island—many people come here and never see anything but Duval street—missing the beauty and ambiance of the rest of the island.  Their guides point out the island’s  historic its interesting lore of this island town that is a place all to its own.  Both tours do a loop of the island and cover some of the same but enough of the different to allow you to go on both if you want with out a lot of repetition.  Along these loops are stopping points to allow you to get off and visit one of the restored homes, museum or other sites and re-board at your leisure.  

1. Belfast is second largest city on the island of Ireland.

2. Northern Ireland, along with England, Scotland and Wales make up the “United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.”

3. The land that makes up Belfast has been occupied since the Bronze Age.

34 Fun Facts About Belfast, Northern Ireland

Traveling with the Jones

It was reopened in September—why don’t you try a visit.  www.ladylakemuseum.org

BROOKS RIVER FALLS—ALASKA

https://www.nps.gov/katm/learn/photosmultimedia/brown-bear-salmon-cam-brooks-falls.htm

Here’s a park away from it all for you to visit (not now it’s winter and it’s in Alaska…….but!!!!!  And why would you go there—-Yaba Daba DOO—-Yogi—to watch the bears of course.  Her they have bear viewing platforms—(the view above is a view from that platform)—This is at a 6′ tall waterfall in Katmai National Park and Preserve     https://www.nps.gov/katm/index.htm which is 250 miles SW of Anchorage.  And what do the bears come for–well there’s salmon traveling up stream in July  and all they have to do is set here and wait—sounds good to me.

Other things to do in Alaska in July:

4-Wheeler Adventures and Eco Tours

Bicycle Tours and Rentals

Fishing

Flightseeing

Gardens

Gold Panning

Golf

Ice Climbing

Horse Adventures

Museum, Cultural and Heritage Center

and lots more—check it out:  https://www.anchorage.net/things-to-do/?gclid=Cj0KCQiAq97uBRCwARIsADTziyal7dk12lXpCtSEl_2Ap8Afvjz_0aJoKttFVPNgHb7LBp8xrVgHqJYaArw6EALw_wcB

School history for Mt Dora Florida

check the town out:  https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attractions-g34461-Activities-Mount_Dora_Lake_County_Florida.html

This church in Sanford, Florida  https://www.allsoulssanford.org/ dates back to 1882, making it one of the oldest Roman Catholic congregations in Central Florida.  The original building burned down in the 1930s, in the middle of the Great Depression and it took the congregation 5 years to raise the $28,000 to rebuild the church.   This is the present Spanish-style building on thee site with stucco walls, a red tiled roof, tall rectangular stained glass windows and choir loft in the rear as well as two large marble angels.  There is also a School next door with more than 120 students.

Check out some other historical churches all over

Florida

https://www.onlyinyourstate.com/florida/churches-fl/

“Once a year, go someplace you’ve never been before.”

Dali Lama

Henry VII

THE BATTLE OF BOSWORTH

The significance of the Battle of Bosworth (1485), then, is that it ended the “lack of governnance” by putting a strong king on the throne.   Henry Tufor, Earl of Richmond landed in Wales on a doubtful enterprise, crossed England, and fought the king, Richard III, whose usurpation had divided the supporters of the Yorkists dynasty, Richard was killed at Bosworth, and the Tudor was hailed king as Henry VII

Visit:

Bosworth:  https://www.bosworthbattlefield.org.uk/

King Richard III Visitor Centre
4A St Martins  Leicester  LE1 5DB
Richard III’s Original Grave—where he was discovered in a parking lot—formerly buried at the Abbey that was here in Liecester by the Tudor conquerors,  the abbey was destroyed by Henry VIII’s destruction of the monesteries and just discovered recently.

Home

Richard’s Final Resting Place:  

After the discovery of the body and the confirmation it was Richard he was buried at Leicester Cathedral.

Richard III

You can see Henry VII’s tomb with his wife one of Richard III’s nieces at a beautiful chapel in Westminster Abbey.

https://www.westminster-abbey.org/abbey-commemorations/royals/henry-vii-and-elizabeth-of-york

As the biggest county in England, Yorkshire is resplendent with historical sites and buildings, from the pretty hillside town of Richmond, to the sprawling ruins of Easby Abbey, to the county town of York (see Part I and Part II), whose history spans back to the Roman occupation.

Places

Memories of Central Florida and places you can visit to learn more about them

On August 15, 1887, 27 registered voters, all black men—met in a building they called Town Hall and voted unanimously to incorporate 112 acres as a town.  But the roots of this town go back to just after the Civil Work and involved the many freed slaves who came to the area looking for employment—and work they did at jobs as varied as domestic servants in wealthy family’s homes, or various jobs on the areas early railroads that were developing in the area.

For African Americans in Florida and in all the USA has great significance as it is the oldest surviving incorporated black municipality in the USA.

To see a historic site and learn more about the people who found and their descendants  you can visit:

The Moseley House

11 Taylor St.
Eatonville, FL 32751
(407) 622-9382

Constructed between 1888 and 1889, Moseley House is the second oldest remaining structure in Eatonville, and one of two remaining examples of the pre-1900 wood-frame structures typical to the town. The Moseley House has been restored and is furnished with period pieces. The house is directly associated with descendents of two first-generation Eatonville citizens: Joe Clark, Eatonville founder and second mayor, and Mrs. Matilda Clark Moseley, niece of Joseph E. Clark, who was married to Jim Moseley, son of Sam Moseley, Eatonville’s fourth mayor. Miz Matilda, or Tillie, as she was known, was Zora Neale Hurston’s best childhood girlfriend. Hurston was a frequent visitor at the Moseley house.

https://www.visitflorida.com/en-us/listing.a0t40000007qtiMAAQ.html

Check out this guide to thee town by the Orlando Sentinel

https://www.orlandosentinel.com/classified/realestate/neighborhood-guide/os-et-eatonville-neighborhood-guide-2018-htmlstory.html

%%%%%%%

 Hurston’s mother died when she was thirteen and, coupled with her father’s remarriage, this undoubtedly led to her wandering spirit. Accounts of her young teenage years place her living in the households of various relatives, working as a maid for whites, and serving as a wardrobe girl for a traveling Gilbert & Sullivan performance company. Eventually she enrolled at Morgan Academy (now Morgan State University) in Baltimore, again working as a maid. In the fall of 1918 she enrolled at Howard University in Washington, DC where she took classes off and on until 1924. The year 1925 found her in New York City where she became one of the contributors of the Harlem Renaissance, her contemporaries including Langston Hughes, Countée Cullen, and W.E.B. DuBois

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/2571/zora-neale-hurston

• 
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OTHER HISTORICAL SITES in Eatonville and Orlando.

ST. LAWRENCE AFRICAN METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH,

549 E Kennedy Blvd,

Eatonville, FL 32751

 Eatonville Community,

2 miles West of Maitland

on Rt. #2, Orange County.

Founded in 1881.

Building first service was held in is a small wood frame building  which has since been torn down (1908)  but it was on the present site.  The current wood frame church with a bell was erected at that time.

First clergyman:  Rev. S.H. Coleman 1881-1884.

Present Clergyman Rev. B.C. Burden (1940 – )

Wells’ Built Museum: Highlighting Orlando’s African-American History

www. wellsbuiltmuseumofafricanamericanhistoryandculture.org

511 West South St., Orlando
Open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and Saturday by appointment
407.245.7535

The Museum is in a hotel opened by Dr. William Monroe Wells, one of the few black doctors of his time, in 1929 and it was very popular for Black entertainers and celebrities in the days of segregation.  It closed in 1970 and more recently has been re-opened as a museum of African America history and culture and contain photographs, artwork, book, artifacts and other mementos of Orlando’s as well as Florida’s black citizens who made them.

The Orange County Regional History Center

 65 E Central Blvd, Orlando, FL 32801

Hours of Operation: Monday-Saturday 10am-5pm

and Sunday 12pm-5pm

Features a permanent exhibit on African American History which is sure to catch your eye and teach you something new. Take a close look at the pictures, text, and items on display to learn more about the plentiful Black history in Central Florida. Perhaps the most enticing part of this exhibit are the paintings by Florida’s Highwaymen, a group of 26 African-American landscape artists.  *Trigger Warning*

http://bestlifebabe.com/index.php/2019/02/03/the-exclusive-rundown-of-orlandos-best-black-history-month-celebrations/

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Hannibal Square:

The Hannibal Square Heritage Center was established in 2007 by Crealdé School of Art, in partnership with residents from the Hannibal Square community (west Winter Park) and the City of Winter Park. It is a tribute to the past, present, and future contributions of Winter Park’s historic African-American community. The Heritage Center hosts the award-winning Heritage Collection Photographs and Oral Histories of West Winter Park, a permanent, museum-quality exhibition of more than 100 framed, archival pieces that capture the lives of Winter Park’s African-American community spanning the 20th century, and The Hannibal Square Timeline which documents significant local and national events in African-American history since the Emancipation Proclamation

Barefoot Get Aways

SCHEDULE YOUR ORLANDO AFRICAN-AMERICAN EXPERIENCE TODAY!

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I’m back—sorry about that—-have you been getting your holiday mood on—not to mention energy level in gear cause it’s coming that time when you have to go out in the cold (or worse yet make the feast yourself and invite others to partake) and hang the decor—hang with the relatives or friends or other crazy people for the holidays—-3 of them —-two with huge feasts—-one with a slew of mandatory (well kinda) decorations involving trees and snowmen—even when you live in Florida—and one with drunken or hopefully if you’re driving more sedate and late celebrations and all of these in less than 2 months—-in fact less than 1 & 1/2 months.  Its that time of year when we can be very happy or very alone—I hope that most of you have never had a really alone one—but most of us older teens have had one or two at least—-big families can drive you crazy at time, but one never has to spend time alone at the holidays and that is surely a blessing.

It’s a time when the TV plays drippy (not the bloody kind) movies—few a few years it was one Hallmark (they now have two stations and both play) playing them for about 2 months and now we’ve added Lifetime—which usually features all manner of evil and nasty personage—quite a skip to Christmas…I’m watching one now—don’t ask me why I prefer my Christmas in December…but—Oh as now ION has started the same thing—-HELP—-where is Scrooge when you need him?

My friend and I and her kids all spend the holiday together—used to be on a boat trip with a seasonal dinner on Thanksgiving day—but they are so booked up now that we haven’t been able to get a reservation in years—-now we just book at a restaurant somewhere near by and hope they don’t mess up the dinner too badly.  I actually cook for Christmas as ham is my meat for Christmas which I don’t mind cooking—Turkey is much much too much of a pain….Oh and we have added a couple that are good friends and so we’re now five of us…..

Today I choose life. Every morning when I wake up I can choose joy, happiness, negativity, pain… To feel the freedom that comes from being able to continue to make mistakes and choices – today I choose to feel life, not to deny my humanity but embrace it.

Kevyn Aucoin

• 

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• 
• I try to reason with you all occasionally on how living life is important and how  life was never meant to be lived in  front of a screen—be it TV or computer or what ever else you lock your eyes on (phones included)….but a recent conversation with a great young man made me think of another thing that I would like to remind you of:   That life is to live not to spend in servitude to provide us with items we think we need.
• I don’t have to remind you that we all live in a material world—and by that I mean that from the time we are able to comprehend we are convinced by print and internet—by TV and now hell I get ads on the stupid phone as well……we are not worthwhile if we don’t have this car and that type of phone.  We don’t love our children if we don’t buy them the right shoes—-we can’t afford to donate to charity because we spent a hundred dollars on each of our kids tennis shoes—-not because they’re better for their feet—-but because a basketball player has his name on them, for that ever reason that required you to stand in lines in 3 separate stores for 5 or six hours each—and on and on ad nauseam.

Or you set up your whole life around making a payment on a car that takes more of your income than you can really afford—and that steals your time and your leisure—and it becames all  your focus and in the end by the time you have it paid for you don’t have much of your life left to live and it’s aging and needs expensive repairs and so on…..you could have had a cheaper car that got you places and actually had place that you could go to and enjoy, instead of just having the pleasure of life—-you have the pleasure of owning that car—-and the loss of a lot of the living you’d be doing if you weren’t so dedicated to having a THING—instead of a life.

• 

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  $37.58

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Instead of spending hours in line for hard to get expensive items—THINGS- for no reason than they’re well advertised like propaganda—I urge you to:  spend that 15 or 18 hrs with those kids—take them to the zoo, or maybe on a train trip—–In Orlando there’s a train to Tampa (and another one back daily) or you can just go from Orlando to Kissimmee—most kids in Florida have never been on a train—it’s an adventure—-  trips leave Orlando at 10 am and 1 pm and return trains are 12 pm (Great for a quick lunch and return—and remember you don’t have to go thru security or anything so no early arrivals needed)  the second return train is at 6 pm  and the trip is generally under half an hour—you can also catch  and return on the train at Winter Park (just off of Park Ave) too.

From the Station you can walk to Main Street Pizza (about 5 min)

https://www.mainstreetpizzakissimmee.com/   It’s got a 4.5 rating on Trip Advisor.

When you’re finished

(note—don’t have kids—invite a date–or do a girl’s day out—or a guys—-they have a couple of fishing guide not too far from downtown:  https://fishingbooker.com/charters/view/6175?booking_persons=2&booking_children=0

and there are all kinds of restaurants :  some momuments: to WWII  https://richesmi.cah.ucf.edu/omeka/exhibits/show/cflmonuments/bcmem and the states  https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/monument-of-states,  as well as shops (from antiques and beyond,  all within a walk or at worst a short cab trip….and you’ve just got a day out  and a great chance to enjoy, life, your friends, kids or just to get away on your own from the normal rat race.

Events for the Holiday—you’ll have to drive here for this one—or spend a night in a local hotel  or there’s Kapp and Kappy’s a bed and breakfast about 25 min walk from downtown:   http://www.kappandkappy.com/

Christmas big event:

and the above out line of your adventure is just an example of a way you can put that screen time to good use—I pulled all this up with a map of Kissimmee and Google search engine—-I have not tried any of these places —but I have enjoyed browsing downtown Kissimmee—-you can do it in your town and with the adventure vehicle and/or theme of your choosing—-and you’ll get good at it and look at the reviews and the like to give you an idea—-and the web sites will give you the costs and let you know if it’s within your budget.

Life is inherently risky. There is only one big risk you should avoid at all costs, and that is the risk of doing nothing.

Denis Waitley

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  Derby Silver Co. Silver Plated Candle Holder on Owl Perch 6″ Tall

  $150.85

  https://www.etsy.com/listing/259016784/derby-silver-co-silver-plated-candle?ref=shop_home_active_3

The modern-day history of Kissimmee got its start when it was incorporated in 1883 as a city. Originally, the area was known as Allendale, named after JH Allen, a Confederate major who operated a cargo steamboat on the Kissimmee River.

and it’s not a bad idea to research the history of the place you’re going to find out things like how did it get it’s name:

Find someone who has a life that you want and figure out how they got it. Read books, pick your role models wisely. Find out what they did and do it.” Lana del Rey

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  12th and Final plate of the French Plates “Brigitte in Mini Skirt” complete with original packing, booklet and certificate

  $8.88

  https://www.etsy.com/listing/721532205/12th-and-final-plate-of-the-french?ref=shop_home_active_4

see you Weds.

Skipped Memories Wed this week as already did memories on my Monday salute to Veterans and my dad…and today it’s B&P or O&E….enjoy

Oh and our cutie for the day is from Longwood, Florida and no she isn’t a poodle—they just cut her that way.

Protect you Pets

The Humane Society urges you to keep them inside—never leave them outside in winter weather.

To avoid hypothermia, especially short haired dogs have them wear a sweater outside, even during short-haired dogs.

And don’t forget to wipe all dogs paws after their walk to remove rock salt and other chemicals that can irritate their pads of their feet

Wipe up spills of anything that could affect your pet–like antifreeze and house hold chemical (like strong cleaners) .  And use coolants and antifreeze made with propylene glycol which arr less toxic to us, our pets and wildlife as well.

Use plastic tubs to make outside shelters for outside cats.  And when you’re going to start parked cars and bang on the hood before doing so to scare away stray cats and small wild animals that may have sheltered there.

Yogi at the Dali Museum St Petersburg, Florida

Join Lucky Cat Yoga every Sunday (except 12/29) 10:30 am  at The Dalí  (except– a remarkable environment where Dalí’s energy infuses the physical, mental and spiritual inspiration of yoga.)  Classes are held in the Raymond James Community Room or Avant-Garden, both with incredible views of the waterfront.

Go to https://thedali.org/events/category/yoga/ for more information.

Who Was Salvador Dalí?

Salvador Dalí was born on May 11, 1904, in Figueres, Spain. From an early age Dalí was encouraged to practice his art, and he would eventually go on to study at an academy in Madrid. In the 1920s, he went to Paris and began interacting with artists such as Picasso, Magritte and Miró, which led to Dalí’s first Surrealist phase. He is perhaps best known for his 1931 painting The Persistence of Memory, showing melting clocks in a landscape setting. The rise of fascist leader Francisco Franco in Spain led to the artist’s expulsion from the Surrealist movement, but that didn’t stop him from painting. Dalí died in Figueres in 1989.

https://www.biography.com/artist/salvador-dali

I am the daughter of a WWII veteran —-a member of Patton’s Third Army

Daddy went into Normandy 10 days after D-Day—he said the landing field was 10 miles deep—meaning the Germans had been pushed back 10 miles by that time he explained to me when I questioned the term.   He still landed on a landing vessel and suddenly a country boy from PA was in his second new country—He had not served in Africa as he was found to have promising learning abilities and was sent to Cape Cod where he was taught to work with telephone and radio communications and he would provide this service during the 3rds march across Europe—in fact he always said that was why he was given the Bronze Star award for stringing communication lines—no big thing he’d say—but my understanding is this particular time was under the heavy enemy fire—something most of our local communications people don’t usually have to carry out.

Wars may be fought with weapons, but they are won by men. It is the spirit of men who follow and of the man who leads that gains the victory.

George S. Patton

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  A Collection of Michael Waltrip Pictures, Cards, sticker, articles and an Autographed Card

  $39.00

  https://www.etsy.com/listing/751174155/a-collection-of-michael-waltrip-pictures?ref=shop_home_active_1

My Father was stationed in England for awhile and never did I hear him say so much as a mild complaint about the country or the people—he reminded me regularly when he was telling his stories how much they gave, how they lived (an many died) thru the bombings…..how they routinely spent their nights in the underground—he was one of the first that taught me you never called the TUBE a subway—-and then went to work or what ever other responsibility as if they’d spent the night in a cozy bed at home.

He told of the horrible damage to London and other parts of the country from the bombing and how even though the rest of Europe folded, they stood alone on their island and would not give in nor even compromise.   How the British Air Force battled the Nazis to protect their home–(I was in London for the Queen Mum’s funeral and they flew one of the British fighters over the area where we were standing in the park watching her last procession out of London to her final resting place with her husband in Windsor.  One of the ladies that was standing with us told us of her time in London as a child during the Blitz and how she always felt safe when they would hear the fighter planes because they knew they were safe during that night at least) and how they sent their children away from the big cities (not all as the lady I meet explained her parents decided against it) and he also related with a kind of pride in the country that the King and Queen had remained in London with their people.

When I was in London the first time and took a tour of Westminster Abbey the elderly lady showed us a book that they have displayed in this ancient holy place which bears the name of all the Americans who were lost fighting in Europe.  When I told her that my dad been part of that fight she took my hand and with a tear in her eye thanked me and of course my dad.

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  Reprint of the Original Tiger Beat’s 1968 Official Monkee Spectacular Collectors’ Annual

  $4.99

  https://www.etsy.com/listing/737297600/reprint-of-the-original-tiger-beats-1968?ref=shop_home_active_2&cns=1

I have heard many people say that their fathers never spoke of the horrors of war that it was something to keep to themselves, but my dad shared his experiences, he shared his stories with others—-and he taught me  as well to try to take life and make the bad bearable by making it a lesson and to add to our knowledge and our strength—that I learned from dad.

He was in Paris—some place I am totally sure he would never have seen if not for this horrible war—He was not so complimentary of the French and I always felt that he and many Americans during that period felt betrayed by the Nazi sympathizers in their government, but he did speak highly of de Gaulle and his returning to save his country.

Much of of Europe he traveled by foot, but I do know that he was in a truck with other troops during part of that trip for he told the story more than once while holding the empty shell in his hand (I have no idea what happened to that spent bullet—it has disappeared from the family pieces of the past)—and he would tell the story of going thru the country—then he would go off to explain about  this one night and the bullet coming thru the opening in the back of the truck and him actually feeling it pass—it was so close to his head—-he would continue—that he felt the heat and after the event was over his hair was fused  and burnt from front to back, by passing bullet that if it had been a tiny bit lower would have meant that he would not have returned from the war and I would never ever have been…..my first taste of the mortality of this world.

Tracer ammunition (tracers) are bullets or cannon caliber projectiles that are built with a small pyrotechnic charge in their base. Ignited by the burning powder, the pyrotechnic composition burns very brightly, making the projectile trajectory visible to the naked eye during daylight, and very bright during nighttime firing. This enables the shooter to make aiming corrections without observing the impact of the rounds fired and without using the sights of the weapon. Tracer fire can also be used to signal to other shooters where to concentrate their fire during battle.

When used, tracers are usually loaded as every fifth round in machine gun belts, referred to as four-to-one tracer

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tracer_ammunition

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  Add to cart

  8 x 10 Autographed by Bobby Allison Photo in a Metal Glassless Frame

  $20.00

  https://www.etsy.com/listing/751150945/8-x-10-autographed-by-bobby-allison?ref=shop_home_active_3

This picture is one of the few my dad made any identification on:

It says:

“Taken from the top of Eagles Nest overlooking  Berchtesgaden , this isn’t  fog in the background its a cloud.”

While many visitors assume that “Berchtesgaden” and “Hitler’s Eagle’s Nest” are one and the same, “Eagle’s Nest” (“Kehlsteinhaus” in German) actually refers to just the mountaintop chalet, located right above (but not in) the resort of Berchtesgaden. This extravagant lodge — its precision stonework evoking both fascist obedience and slave labor — was only the tip of a vast compound that served as Hitler’s second seat of government and his planned refuge of last resort. What remains is now wide open to visitors.

Berchtesgaden, the alpine ski town on the southern edge of Germany, just 12 miles from Salzburg, is now primarily famous for its Nazi history. But long before its association with Hitler, Berchtesgaden was one of the classic Romantic corners of Germany. Hitler’s propagandists capitalized on the Führer’s love of this region to establish the notion that the former Austrian was truly a German at heart.

Hitler’s Eagle’s Nest at Berchtesgaden

So my dad made it to Germany—and stood where that evil creature once stood and he took a beautiful picture of it—which should tell you something about my dad.

After the war he turned to religion–one that did not believe in using fire arms what-so-ever and he stayed faithful to all the tenants of that church and it’s worship practice until the day he died…..oh so many years ago—I returned for his funeral and mourned his passing……and a summer two years ago after my mom left this earth as well my brother and I took their ashes and sprinkled them on White Fish Bay as they had requested.

And today I shared my remembrance of him with you all as my celebration of one and in my own way all of those out there that have served their country and gone on to raise their children and make a better land of this country—-I am afraid that it is something that we are close to loosing now and pray that we will remember what they fought and many died for and that others went on to live out in their post service lives and I pray that they have not labored in vain and that we can see the good in this country and come together and preserve what they so valiantly fought for.

Thank you Veterans.

Oh and in the main picture the soldier on the left is dad and the picture below is him too.   And all these pictures were taken by him or a fellow soldier during WWII

Thank you for listening to my memories

Never was so much owed by so many to so few

–Winston Churchill

Gilda (1946)

Glen Ford & Rita Hayward

Film Fact:  Rita Hayward, who had the capacity to be more provocative on screen than any other actress of the time,  blamed the producer for creating a sex goddess no woman could ever live up to.

page 72

Perfect Pairs

If you’ve ever watch Notting Hill https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0125439/  Julia Roberts mentions this movie when she’s in bed with Hugh Grant and describing her life as a movie star and her relationship to men.

“Frankly, my dear, I don’t give a damn.” Gone With the Wind, 1939.

D.H. Lawrence was arguably one of the most talented rebel writers in Nottingham. Critics have outlined his 1913 book “Sons and Lovers” as one of his best pieces of work. It is included in the Modern Library list of 100 best novels in English of the 20th Century. Written in Lawrence’s adaptation of the East Midlands dialect, it controversially explains an almost autobiographical story of a miner’s son who battles through life and relationships.

Hollie Hines

Nottingham, in the heart of the East Midlands, has a population of around 311,000 and is one of the youngest cities in the UK, with over 50% of the population under 30. It’s 30 miles (48km) south of Sheffield and 30 miles (48km) north of Leicester.

https://www.creativequarter.com/life/about-nottingham

Boots AND Ibuprofen

The Boot family, born and raised in Nottingham, created one of the biggest chains of pharmacies that is still getting bigger and bigger to this day. John Boot opened a small herbalist store on Goose Gate in 1849 and had expanded the business by 1927 – now Boots is the UK’s leading pharmacy, health and beauty retailer with over 2,500 stores across the UK. Ibuprofen was also invented in Nottingham by Dr Stewart Adams. Dr Stewart Adams left school at 16 and worked as a pharmacy apprentice at Boots laboratories, claiming he was very ambitious at the time. Dr Stewart Adams was working in a house in the south of Nottingham, performing random trials on pain-killing chemical substances – eventually leading to his only successful attempt, ibuprofen, which he tested on himself for a hangover. Thanks Stewart – you’ve rescued many of us from that very same ailment.

10 things you didn’t know about Nottingham

https://www.sacoapartments.com/blog/10-things-you-didn-t-know-about-nottingham/

Cloud Hill

https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/clouds-hill

“I covet the idea of being sometimes to myself near a fire with a hope of having a warm solitary place to hide in sometimes on winter evenings,” wrote T.E. Lawrence, or Private Shaw as he then was, to a friend soon after he had found this cottage, Clouds Hill, and rented it in 1923.  The cottage is alone in a dip in the moor, very quiet, very lonely, very bare.  A mile from Camp (Bovington).  Furnished with a bed, a bicycle, three chairs, one hundred books, a gramophone of parts, a table…I don’t sleep here, but come out here at 4:30 pm – 9 p.m., nearly every evening, and ream or write, or read by the fire, or play Beethoven and Mozart to myself on the box.”   Although T.F. Lawrence left Clouds Hill for long periods he returned whenever he could and finally retired here in 1935.  On 8 May of that year he wrote to Lady Astor that wild mares would not persuade him away from his ‘earthly paradise”,   Clouds Hill.  Five days later he was fatally injured when his motorbike went out of control while he was swerving to avoid two young boys on bicycles near Cloud Hill.

Bone Daddy Ensemble

70 Quick Health Facts: Food, Fitness, Hydration, Random (Fun!)

Last Saturday I spent some of my day at the

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  Women of the Century by Ganneau La Femme indpendante 1960

  $8.88

  https://www.etsy.com/listing/702728618/women-of-the-century-by-ganneau-la-femme?ref=shop_home_active_5

“Maid of Athens, ere we part. Give, oh give me back my heart!” 

Lord Byron, English Poet 

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  Elroy Vintage Pocket Watch with Hunting Scene on Back Swiss Movement

  $55.40

  https://www.etsy.com/listing/562286317/elroy-vintage-pocket-watch-with-huntng?ref=shop_home_active_11

Another thing I saw at the Greek Festival was this which was at the side of the church’s entrance along with some beautifully painted rocks.

The pamphlet goes on to describe how Icons exist not only here on earth but in heaven as well and are in fact a gateway.  Now this is not something that I have dealt with before, which given the time I have spent studying all manner of religions and beliefs in my own studies—which is good and keeps me from over-rating myself.  It also states that they are a window to heaven, transformed through the faith of the artist and viewer:  You can read the full account below:

and the lady who does a lot of this work locally

Athens – The eye of Greece, the mother of arts and eloquence” 

John Milton, English Poet 

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  Fragile by Yes Vinyl 33 1/3 LP

  $7.99

  https://www.etsy.com/listing/537987481/fragile-by-yes-vinyl-33-13-lp?ref=shop_home_active_14

Events at the church for the rest of 2019

 “Let there be light! Said Liberty, And like sunrise from the sea, Athens arose!” Percy Bysshe Shelley, English Poet

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  Wamsutta Standard Cotton Sheet with Disney Character Parade

  $10.00

  https://www.etsy.com/listing/745459371/wamsutta-standard-cotton-sheet-with?ref=shop_home_active_15

For more information on potential sites to visit in regard to this blog 

Want to attend a similar festival: