Quality of Life

Dear Readers,
I am just back from a trip south ~ while gone, I received a phone call from the daughter of a long time friend saying my friend had died peacefully. The daughter lives in Paris as did her Mother for many years. Sadden, I look back on my friend's life and all the reasons she is my friend~ I so admire her for the quality of children she raised and life she lived. She lived a many faceted life ~ and shared her secrets with me over the many, many years. She and I had totally different political views which I overlooked as she overlooked mine. She had too many other redeeming qualities and I assume she thought same of me as well. I will miss Cay.

All that said, and mentioning I have been away for this past few days ~
took an early morning flight down south to check on my elderly Aunt. God Bless her, she has entrusted her well-being into my hands as did an Uncle for the last few years of his life.

I look back on those years, and my responsibilities to my Uncle as being one of my finest accomplishments. With him, it was a monthly flight from Key West, Fl to spend time and shop with/for him. With my Aunt, at the point, that won't be necessary. Thank God. She is still in her home and I phone daily, so this keeps me close to her.

I found my Aunt Dot doing well...very well indeed. In fact I will say she looks fabulous to be rapidly approaching 90 and becoming her sassy self again.

We give thanks for Mike who was willing to move in with her so that she can stay in her home.
He is doing an outstanding job. He manages her, the house, lawn, food and over-see her medicines, Doctor's appts etc.. He's a great cook and loves to help her. He has actually brought her back from the brink of death.

It was heart-warming to see her laughing and happy. Met with cousins as she has no children, and some of us worked on legalities for her and then went on a shopping spree to enhance her life~ We met with her Doctor as well.

We showered her...new dresses for home wear, new shoes, hair cut, closets arranged and then, yesterday, we put the icing on the cake, so to speak ~ we bought for her the largest LCD, HD flatscreen TV they make...

She once was a pro golfer and of course an avid follower of the game plus football season is almost here. Seeing her new flatscreen, was amazed and thrilled~

She looked like a million dollars and everyone was HAPPY, HAPPY, HAPPY!!!
What a wonderful four days in my life.

Hot Air Ballooning on Daughter's Birthday

Ballooning over Northern Virginia

Aug 16, 2009.

This the top of their balloon while we were above them

Their pilot took them low enough for him to pick a flower for Birthday girl....

Today was the day we celebrated all of Birthdays...we sent all daughters up in Balloon together.

I went along with other friends in another balloon for photos of them in flight.
There were 11 of us who went up in 3 balloons....there were 7 balloons in the air total. Of course, it was so, so fun.

They LOVED it and thought everyone should have that experience in their lives.

Mint Julep

Earlier blog about the Kentucky Distillery has generated lots of emails, especially from my Wine loving group. As you know, we are members of the American Wine Society, therefore, touring and enjoying a Distillery seems way off track.
Decided we needed to blog.

Yes, I love the ceremony of opening the wine too ~ I love the presentation of red wines on a silver tray already opened to breathe. I enjoy the little glasses of Port and the aroma of a fine cigar...

BUT, I tell you, NOTHING TOPS a MINT JULEP, especially when you are sitting in a big swing on a large porch, on a sultry summer afternoon, looking out on those magnificent Southern Magnolias and visiting with friends.

Today, we take a short-cut using Bourbon and sprite over crushed ice, crushed mint, topped with a sprig of mint, served in a tall glass.

Here is THE BEST RECIPE

MINT JULEP

The following recipe for Mint Juleps comes from Booker Noe, Jim Beam's grandson. It produces juleps on par with the recipe given to me by Bill Samuels of Maker's Mark, but it is much less labor intensive.

There are six essential ingredients for a proper mint julep:
good 90 proof bourbon whisky (I prefer Maker's Mark),
sugar,
fresh mint leaves,
metal cups (preferably silver),
short straws, and
shaved ice (the kind snow cones are made with). Once these accoutrement have been assembled, you are ready to proceed.

You cannot make just one mint julep and have it taste worth a damn. You must make them in batches. What follows is a recipe for one quart and change. Multiply accordingly for a big party.
Pick a bunch (enough to fill a quart-size bowl) of dime to quarter sized mint leaves - but no stems; they're bitter. Wash the leaves and pat dry.

Now prepare some simple syrup by combining two cups sugar to one cup water in a saucepan and heating over medium heat until it turns crystal clear. Do not let it boil, which causes the sugar to caramelize and ruins the whole wretched mess. Pour the simple syrup over the mint leaves in the bowl and let it steep like tea for 10-15 minutes (longer can't hurt).
Now you're ready to make julep. Pour a quart of whisky into a non-plastic container that holds more than a quart. Add four ounces of mint flavored simple syrup to the quart of whisky, and stir well. Put the resulting mixture back into the whisky bottle, cap tightly, and refrigerate for 24 hours. (Since you've mixed a quart of whisky with four ounces of syrup, you'll have four ounces of julep that won't fit into the bottle. The obvious solution: drink it!)

Next day, pack a metal cup with shaved ice. Cut a plastic straw so that the end extends no more than two inches above the rim of the cup. Shove the straw down into the shaved ice, and fill the cup with julep. Remove the straw and place a large sprig of mint in the hole where the straw was. (You won't be able to get the mint through the ice otherwise.) Replace the straw, sip and enjoy. Your nose should be right down in the mint leaves for full enjoyment. Be sure to put a cocktail napkin around the cup, because it will soon be too cold to hold.

The mixed up julep can be refrigerated for up to a year, and the syrup can be refrigerated for three or four months.

Garden Club ~ Gardens Through A Camera Lens

Our Garden Club is lucky enough to have a professional photographer as a member. Jeannie presented the program for us on Monday evening. "Your Garden Through the Camera Lens."


She presented digital photo shots for us with and without special effects, even moving the camera to make the shot a little blurred. Of course, different lens produced this and that effect. I could have listened to her talk about her work for hours.

Was eager to try shots of my garden, but they are not wildly interesting.

Maybe it is time a refresher course to bring me up to day in today's technology. I always think I need a new camera...can't be me, right?


I really enjoy her presentation and learned so much about the capability of my cell phone camera. Unreal what that little thing can be programmed to do.
I did hear a report of the 40th Anniversary of landing on the moon. It was said our little cell phone has more capability than the computer that landed that Space Craft. Amazing!

I have taken the first photo with my camera, but can't figure out how to send it to my computer.
As soon as we think we are up with the latest technology, something comes along to throw us back to the stone age, it seems.
June

Miami County Museum, Indiana

Raining this morning, time to see this Museum before leaving, going to Kentucky and on to Alabama and then back to Virginia.

This clock immediately caught my attention from all the others in their antique clock room. This one ~ Ah HA ~ I could see my grandfather putting a key in the face to wind it up ~saying that was one of his Sunday morning rituals.

The full shot of the dresser stopped me cold~ I know there were more than the one that belonged to my Granny Richards, but this was just too much of a heart stopper for me to think it wasn't hers.

In my mind's eye, I could see it in her bedroom along with a very high four poster bed plus more marble top furniture. It was elegant. White lace window dressings added her delicate touch.

She had fine furniture, all marble tops which she kept fancy dollies, not junked up as seen in this museum piece.

I always wondered where all her furniture was, but I just know in my heart, it was sold to someone who brought it all there.

The pump organ, I sat and made sounds as a little girl. My cousin Clara and I would take turns pumping, while the other played on the keys, as we were too little to sit on the stool and reach the pump peddles at the same time.

The My Aunt Audie could play her Mandolin like an angle. She taught me "You Are My Sunshine" to sing as she played. I was barely three so she had a show. Everyone would be happy and clap.

I long for these things to be the ones of my memory. I know they are somewhere...and I believe I found them.


The Old Victrola~ it sat in my Granny's hallway.

My Granny had such a fine house. She would put a record on to play for us. The last time I had her to myself was when I was 6 years old.

She died in I was eight. She was the most beloved person in the world to me. She was warm, sweet, loving and all good things. It's amazing how much I remember of my time with her.

The Buggy below sealed my hunch. These things were from my Grandmother's house.

Remember back in my blog about Amanda~ and her black buggy? The site of this buggy leaves no doubt in my mind ~ I was looking at my own history.

If you haven't read that blog....it is Amanda, My Great, Great Grandmother from Virginia story. At the top you will see a black buggy moving.





There were nice coaches uses in 1800's in Indiana~in the museum as well...

The mail man's vehicle.

They were really fancy and the best way to travel before cars.

And of course, Cole Porter came along to put their little town on the Map~

And, of course, he brought home a wonderful, black, shinny car of style~ Cadillac, of course.

Remember white wall tires? What a beauty~~!!!

Cole Porter's Birthplace Now a B & B

We are still reading my Travel Journal and will go back to Peru, Indiana. When there last September, we discovered the picturesque home of Cole Porter.

WHAT? Way out here?

Where did I imagine a talent would emerge? Now, being here, one can understand how his creativity could grow and be inspired by the surrounding clam.

The next house is the ouse he built for his Mother.


An "Old Fashioned Garden"

From the other side of the Wabash river we saw an amazing sight. These perfect columns were cut by the river.

In the residentual section of Peru we found the his birthplace. It opened to the public as a B&B only two weeks before we were there this year.

I LOVE B&B's with style...and they all have a story to tell.

They have his cradle... and much more.

Decorated in his memory~

Music, music, music everywhere~

Look at the bathroom...this could be a photo of the bathroom in the house where I grew up.

I LOVE his dash....his panache, his flare.


Of course, being a grandmother of 8, I notice no evidence of children that would have torn the place down and driven him nuts.
Know what I mean?

A cafe in town was a natural place for perfect lunch.

Look at the creative Cole Porter Sont Titles on menu ~ Remember any of these?

I had the "Kise Me Kate on Wheat."

Delicious! Have to say it was a very interesting small town, USA.

The Miami County Museum on their Main Street was worth my time. Will go there next blog.

Patton Museum, Ft. Knox, Kentucky

Visiting the Museum honoring the life of General George S. Patton was such an interesting morning. I was awestruck by the collection. There we were, standing in the middle of an unimaginable creations of great minds. All designed to free the world of cruel and oppressive dictators.

We are amazed by the similarity's of the actor who portrayed General Patton in the movie "Patton."

To me, Actors are born to play ONE ROLE and to George C. Scott goes an Oscar (which he refused) for his role as this colorful Army Four Star General.

Likewise, Vivian Lee was born to play Scarlett in "Gone With the Wind." Don't you agree?

General George S. Patton is truly immortalized by George C, Scott who so eloquently brought him to life on the screen.

There is no way I can add all the amazing photos here...

A segment of the Berlin Wall.

Of course, this wall wasn't there during WW ll ot in General Patton's lifetime, however, it represents world conflict.





On top of the wall is mounted a round pipe some 20 inches in circumference, which would make it impossible to climb over from either side.

A German donkey cart.

If you saw the movie, you will know the significance of this.

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This is the car General Patton was riding in when it was involved in a minor traffic accident at an intersection.
Before the days of seat belts, he was "slightly injured" and taken to an infirmary. It was then discovered his neck was broken which paralyzed him from neck down. He died in the following few days. May God Bless his soul.