Alabama

Gerry and recently took a trip with our new (to us) camper.  The goal was the Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum in Birmingham.  This is the largest motorcycle museum in the world.  Pictures fail to get the feel, but I will try. This is looking out of the five story elevator. These are not models, they are the real thing.  

Truth be said, it was a bit of overload for me, but of course not for Gerry.

The next two were placards on the tables where we had lunch.

Looking into the past

Every year G goes to a local engine show.  Engines are all sizes that are imaginable.  This is how boards were made years ago.  I am sending the link to the video.  Hope you can see it. Looks like you might need to cut and paste.


https://photos.google.com/photo/AF1QipOgGbfetCX10WK8KmlszS0-ja8C19mAtcuC6fMC   

Old cars 

Everything you could image and more at the flea market.

It was a tiring day! 

Week in CA in photos

We are completing our week long visit with family near San Francisco.  Pappa G spends quality  time with his granddaughter.  

Enjoying art in Walnut Creek.  

A photographer at work

This is one of her works.

Celebrating my 74th birthday.  

Back to normal routine

Now that we are back home from Minnesota (Mom's funeral and lots of quality time with family) it is time to "hit the road running".  As an aside, that phrase means "start something and proceed at a fast pace with enthusiasm".  Because of my Mom passing, we had to reschedule the Pig Roast which was to be that week. It involved contacting about 80 people.  It will be in about two weeks from now.  That entails making a new spread sheet of guests who are coming or denied.  We use that to make name tags and to decide who to invite next year.  You don't RSVP and you may not be invited again!!

Yesterday we mowed the lawn which was long enough to bale it for cattle food.  Luckily we don't feel we have to have the best lawn in the neighborhood.

Today I will buy locally grown peaches and make freezer jam and enjoy the rest.  I also need to renew my driver's license.  That involves looking good for the picture (ha) and bringing extra documentation.  We now have to prove who we are, our legal presence in the US, address, and who knows what else. 

Tribute to my mother

On Sunday we lost my mother.  Gerry and I are in Minnesota now, having had calling hours yesterday and the funeral today.  I am sharing her obituary. 


 https://sturmfh.com/tribute/details/6356/Ruby-Pankratz/obituary.html#tribute-start

I know this is short and to the point, but that is all I can do today. 

Road trip part 2

Lake Placid is a lake of the same name as the village.  We all know it from the Winter Olympics being held there in 1932 and 1980.  We had a tour of the grounds, ice rinks and learned of the history.  We viewed a tape of the last few minutes of the "Miracle On Ice" February 22, 1980. It almost made my heart stop and then brought me tears as I watched the video.  Don't have room here to give the details.

A small museum of Robert Louis Stevenson and the farmhouse where he lived are in Saranac Lake.

As always when I visit a museum like this, I realize how little I know about famous people in our history.  One picture stands out for me.  He suffered from some sort of disease of the lungs. So he wrote sitting up in his bed with pillows behind him - smoking none stop!! But he did not keep this from his living a full, interesting life.

Whiteface Mountain was next on our itinerary. It is 4867 feet above sea level. We drove up and then hiked the last 330 feet.  There was an elevator but it was out of order.  It was overcast but on a clear day one can see mountains in Vermont, skyscrapers in Montreal and White Mountains of New Hampshire.  Guess we will have to come back on a clear day.

Last was the War of 1812 Museum in Pittsburgh.  Again, how little I know of history other than dates.  The curator told me this was the best book on the topic, written by a non biased author. So no excuse for being ignorant of it now.

Mirror Lake is near Lake Placid.  It has a wonderful walking trail around it.

Road trip

In June my sister, Marge, and I took a road trip through the northern  part of New York state.  

It was a nice mix of museums, hiking, and just enjoying the scenery. 

  Does it look like someone is exited to go?

Corning Museum of Glass was first on our itinerary. I had not done a lot or research, just went on friend's recommendations so thought it was an exhibit  of the Corningware dishes we all use.  Instead it truly was the history of glass as well as glass art from ancient to present.

Yes, that is made of glass.

Our first hiking challenge was the Gorge Trail at Watkins Glen (800 steps and 19 waterfalls).

And going up means coming down again!

That was to prepare us for Bald Mountain. 

 The view was worth it.

 I am tired from all the hiking so will continue this blog another day.