tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-42078810533460959562024-03-27T01:37:27.310-05:00Renaissance Woman RetiredA mature retired woman examines her many interests and hobbies, and writes for your enjoyment.RenRaehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17961222558357224052noreply@blogger.comBlogger270125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4207881053346095956.post-19047993107339963372023-10-08T19:28:00.000-05:002023-10-08T19:28:22.049-05:00Mystery Photo Explained. <span> </span><span> </span>I am preparing a Powerpoint talk on Buddhism at the request of a book club that
I attend at my current church in my home community. I do not claim to really
know or practice Buddhism to an adequate degree, but I have also attended weekly
meetings to a meditative and spiritually seeking group of folks of various religious
backgrounds and traditions which does have some Buddhist leanings and which
meets in a local Mindfulness center which is Buddhist. I therefore know enough
that I want to try to give at least an idea of the basics belief system of
Buddhism. Some of the more esoteric ideas about non-self and the lack of a
belief in an actual personified deity seem quite alien to our Western patterns
of religious thought. Yet Buddhism and at least one of its regular practices,
that is various forms of meditation, have gained a foothold in Western
practices. Meditation indeed has a multitude of benefits both for mental health,
and even for physical health. Such a practice is easy to establish but perhaps
somewhat difficult to stick to. The group I am giving this talk to is strongly
Christian, actually the local equivalent of the Church I grew up in located in a
small town in northern Illinois. The congregation of my new church is fairly
intellectual and well educated and some of them are curious about Buddhist
traditions. As I say, I don't know much, but I think I know more than my
audience.<div><br /></div><div><div><span> </span><span> </span> Buddhism is older than Christianity, with the Buddha's life occurring
at about 500 B.C.E. For 400 years, his teachings were not even written down
because the Buddha himself discouraged recording them. For several centuries the
sutras, ie the teachings, were memorized and orally transferred by monks
dedicated to such an occupation. However, once their written recording occurred,
another 2 millenium's passage has led to multiple lists of beliefs, many
interpretations, and blosoming of numerous different sects of practice. It may
take a lifetime of study to fully understand all these variations. Still there
are some very basic beliefs mostly in numbered lists that pertain to all
Buddhist beliefs. My plan in my talk is to present some of those basic belief
systems.</div><div><br /></div><div><span> </span><span> </span> A significant resource for me has been Thich Nhat Hanh's book: "The
Heart of the Buddha's Teaching: Transforming Suffering into Peace, Joy, and Liberation." Thich Nhat Hanh, affectionately called Thai or Thay, was a Vietnamese monk since age 16 who is credited with bringing what he called "Engaging Buddhism" to the West. He had to leave Vietnam during the 1970s due to the Vietnamese War and its aftermath. He established a retreat center in France called "Plum Village." He finally had a very disabling stroke, but was able to return to his home city of Hue, Vietnam and died there in 2022. He has written many books and his style of teaching is very approachable and very easy to read.</div><div><br /></div><div> <span> </span><span> </span>Of course, during my many world travels, my husband and I visited several countries in East Asia where Buddhism is a significant if not the dominant religion. We visited several places in India important in the Buddha's life and saw the monuments there. In China, after supression of significant Buddhist presence during the Revolution, Buddhism is being allowed to return, though it is still heavily monitored and controlled by the Comunist Party. Buddhism has been historically and still is a strong presence in both Cambodia and in Thailand. And of course, Tibet is the source of one very large and prominent variety of Buddhist thought. I have a multitude of photos of all these places. Therefore, I plan to intersperse these photos amongst the lists of the Buddhist belief system numbered bullet points.</div><div><br /></div><div><span> </span><span> </span> Hence I came upon some photos of the Potala Palace in Lhasa, Tibet. This imposing structure on a hilltop in the middle of the capitol city of Tibet. It was the home of the Dalai Llama before he was exiled from Tibet to Dharamsala, India, by the Chinese takeover. It also was home to multiple monks, with multiple shrines and memorils and relics of many boddhisatvas throughout Tibetan Buddhist history. I have always said that after visiting Tibet, I understood the strong presence of spirituality there of whatever kind. At the altitude of Lhasa, oxygen is scarce. The landscape is harchnd austere. And it is so very different a culture from what we know in the West. Yet the people are so friendly and outgoing, that one can't help but feel an opening of the heart, and a sense of peace and wonder.</div><div><br /></div><div><span> </span><span> </span> So here is a photo, your Mystery Photo, of the Potala Palace in the center of Lhasa, Tibet.</div></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVPW1Y1n2oPipA0IPrnX6BNQ1zDTG1PABVgHbdAYJvlnVG-FLnq-ukWNsyiVwmZAUtN3viLhln7wBQDhZ2lY-p3T5d4_wiLxBjzbF2IEdrm9vtdlUs8rWmbWYNo_ZswoFsnVQkskVOdS4V0sqaYY7FEwPQi6QZyQAC8CHbSeFHZHS5dg2qJxi_CM5RItE/s1740/Tibet%20Lhasa%20(24).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1151" data-original-width="1740" height="308" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVPW1Y1n2oPipA0IPrnX6BNQ1zDTG1PABVgHbdAYJvlnVG-FLnq-ukWNsyiVwmZAUtN3viLhln7wBQDhZ2lY-p3T5d4_wiLxBjzbF2IEdrm9vtdlUs8rWmbWYNo_ZswoFsnVQkskVOdS4V0sqaYY7FEwPQi6QZyQAC8CHbSeFHZHS5dg2qJxi_CM5RItE/w464-h308/Tibet%20Lhasa%20(24).jpg" width="464" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyfTuveGQOLoMB6PFqIeqFt9u2tnP7CDGau38FXpppbM6w2Ob4LAzuTpCiQFq6Ux82Xf1qX66PXH3-4YagK5QYYPf2ptV-sMz1PmwT9HAyuI2zebGKzxUvf1OOGv6u26lo_l0JphtxbNxUQiz7KbUVA05oFzsnB7knftBEw8XkUff8g1vwWsNPTmUh3mo/s1734/Tibet%20Lhasa%20(2).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1146" data-original-width="1734" height="306" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyfTuveGQOLoMB6PFqIeqFt9u2tnP7CDGau38FXpppbM6w2Ob4LAzuTpCiQFq6Ux82Xf1qX66PXH3-4YagK5QYYPf2ptV-sMz1PmwT9HAyuI2zebGKzxUvf1OOGv6u26lo_l0JphtxbNxUQiz7KbUVA05oFzsnB7knftBEw8XkUff8g1vwWsNPTmUh3mo/w464-h306/Tibet%20Lhasa%20(2).jpg" width="464" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxImyJAxl93VzMDgbZv7jticcCIwUgZqqlPYp7ZO8m9cbc5KnvjXfpflqu6-EvYNOD9JLW62WVSwK2zZOWPbGeatAwgF-2hvziXeCftTFzceXSOym5Xa48gaw8QkaAjI-5jIvIqGzY3n1NSxpqaPWsi6Lk8EbdEulge2zAxHv-2RWsocd1-nEgsYECNg8/s1734/Tibet%20Lhasa%20(3).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1146" data-original-width="1734" height="302" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxImyJAxl93VzMDgbZv7jticcCIwUgZqqlPYp7ZO8m9cbc5KnvjXfpflqu6-EvYNOD9JLW62WVSwK2zZOWPbGeatAwgF-2hvziXeCftTFzceXSOym5Xa48gaw8QkaAjI-5jIvIqGzY3n1NSxpqaPWsi6Lk8EbdEulge2zAxHv-2RWsocd1-nEgsYECNg8/w457-h302/Tibet%20Lhasa%20(3).jpg" width="457" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFRg8We6TnpGB8DnqEt9JB6jRRVhSwcMZzAw5Gd-j4sssfeRGrB8isFzJQrIWwBzHDOUUgJpRFvTZxJS5dFubBbw8GtZDZHphH-aXRq-JS9FAeLMLNiAbxfmeKUYIZ7i1e2BjKF0wAqNDnVvL-zKI46tzzvDQMUKYM6Ye6Lpga3kaFHaNgkzoC1fBf7rg/s1740/Tibet%20Lhasa%20(8).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1146" data-original-width="1740" height="321" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFRg8We6TnpGB8DnqEt9JB6jRRVhSwcMZzAw5Gd-j4sssfeRGrB8isFzJQrIWwBzHDOUUgJpRFvTZxJS5dFubBbw8GtZDZHphH-aXRq-JS9FAeLMLNiAbxfmeKUYIZ7i1e2BjKF0wAqNDnVvL-zKI46tzzvDQMUKYM6Ye6Lpga3kaFHaNgkzoC1fBf7rg/w488-h321/Tibet%20Lhasa%20(8).jpg" width="488" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><script type="text/javascript">
var _gaq = _gaq || [];
_gaq.push(['_setAccount', 'UA-17518819-1']);
_gaq.push(['_trackPageview']);
(function() {
var ga = document.createElement('script'); ga.type = 'text/javascript'; ga.async = true;
ga.src = ('https:' == document.location.protocol ? 'https://ssl' : 'http://www') + '.google-analytics.com/ga.js';
var s = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(ga, s);
})();
</script></div>RenRaehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17961222558357224052noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4207881053346095956.post-60090837420334425142023-09-22T23:37:00.000-05:002023-09-22T23:37:53.164-05:00Mystery Photo Reinstated<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnQyGoPDkiRU51D-WlFAueks36q7zoIts105Ygp4Ghy2zljwg_cozTk-jDCRuYloKccWfS6o7JWLi_aD7dxG_y5JW5OjBklKz_xnOf7f9yhn37mwr5N9Q5PjyBqTjha1ImPXAnEGpjPTvFWN1hFVIk1GtcFJ8lfcLF4v19Otg1U0cWjvgRCAIy6qCa_Y8/s1740/Tibet%20Lhasa%20%2827%29.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="" border="0" width="600" data-original-height="1151" data-original-width="1740" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnQyGoPDkiRU51D-WlFAueks36q7zoIts105Ygp4Ghy2zljwg_cozTk-jDCRuYloKccWfS6o7JWLi_aD7dxG_y5JW5OjBklKz_xnOf7f9yhn37mwr5N9Q5PjyBqTjha1ImPXAnEGpjPTvFWN1hFVIk1GtcFJ8lfcLF4v19Otg1U0cWjvgRCAIy6qCa_Y8/s600/Tibet%20Lhasa%20%2827%29.jpg"/></a></div>
In my past as the author of this blog, I occasionally tried to stump you with a photo from somewhere in my husband's and my world travels. Well I am no longer making such long jaunts, and my husband has moved to another realm, but here is one of my husband's photos from a very famous city in the world. I really think that this one should be pretty easy. Watch for an upcoming blog with more photos from this great city.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><script type="text/javascript">
var _gaq = _gaq || [];
_gaq.push(['_setAccount', 'UA-17518819-1']);
_gaq.push(['_trackPageview']);
(function() {
var ga = document.createElement('script'); ga.type = 'text/javascript'; ga.async = true;
ga.src = ('https:' == document.location.protocol ? 'https://ssl' : 'http://www') + '.google-analytics.com/ga.js';
var s = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(ga, s);
})();
</script></div>RenRaehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17961222558357224052noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4207881053346095956.post-81584039807821821302023-09-22T23:14:00.000-05:002023-09-22T23:14:07.506-05:00Censorship in 2023: I am angry!<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGExm889nBA2-nxHLFN7ShGSSeWWqHzqp5kPf4TEHjQWHmSXfSp3yUebQoz57n3KvSvnfIGpuP24pXoV1NV-IU9GBV5aHt_RGJnZLMwyhK6VXGev1eAgcN_v6houeOZn9G1iLOQnjd67EbPu2RjPe7woxzQ1B1O-t5F-lsDvOK5TtIRaKlD4uUlrTfu6o/s600/american%20early%20flag.webp" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; clear: left; float: left;"><img alt="" border="0" width="200" data-original-height="360" data-original-width="600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGExm889nBA2-nxHLFN7ShGSSeWWqHzqp5kPf4TEHjQWHmSXfSp3yUebQoz57n3KvSvnfIGpuP24pXoV1NV-IU9GBV5aHt_RGJnZLMwyhK6VXGev1eAgcN_v6houeOZn9G1iLOQnjd67EbPu2RjPe7woxzQ1B1O-t5F-lsDvOK5TtIRaKlD4uUlrTfu6o/s200/american%20early%20flag.webp"/></a></div>
I am very disappointed, offended, insulted, angry. Well, I have gotten some of those feelings out into these words and feel very slightly better.
As a physician I know that bottling up and burying feelings of anger and frustration are not good for our physical health. But I never thought I would be faced with such a cause for all this frustration in 2023 in the United States of America. I have been a user of Facebook for many many years. Most of my blogs here are informational and sometimes personal, but I like to think usually examples of fairly OK writing and my hope was always that they would provide some value to others by representing both educational topics and just topics about living life during the last 13 years of my postings.
I wrote a blog here, the one previous to this one, dated May 2023, entitled Delinquency. In it I apologized for not having posted in a long while. I also like to use these blogs aa an oral history of a time that was very trying for our world with Covid 19 and the results of this epidemic and also justaposting these historical times with my own personal trials of the last several years.
I tried to post a link to the blog of May 2023 just now and it was censored by Facebook. I invite you to read this previous blog. It is the one just prior to this one that I am writing right now. I don't feel that it was exceptionally political. In fact I think it was rather factual. I would suspect that at least 2/3 of our current population in the United States if not more would agree with my concerns. It was not judgmental, it was not derogatory. It was as far as I can tell not racist, or homophobic or any other type of ...phobic. But Facebook judged it not fit for public consumption and censored me. Until I erased it, I was not allowed to post anything further on Facebook. Any way that I tried to get the link into a post on Facebook as I had done in the past, was censored. Finally I entered an incomplete link asking readers to guess the rest of the link so that some might find their way to my blog. Just as an aside, in the past I have done this many times, and there has been no problem Also in the past when I posted very frequently on the blog, you could find that blog just by googling "Renaissance Woman Retired" and the link would come up. Now since I have not been posting very much, that is no longer the case.
More importantly, I would like my current readers here to read that former post at blogspot, and tell me what needed censoring there. I am just curious what my readers think. What did the current AI of Facebook identify that was unfit for general consumption? Yes there is a fairly dismal look at some of the current affairs around the world. So are we not allowed to look at bad situations, or negative outcomes? Are we expected as writers to only state "apple pie in the sky" pollyannaish views now? Is it a fact that human beings can't take a critical look at what is happening around our country, in our cities, at our border, and indeed in the world? If that is so, I feel we all have a lot to worry about.
This post is critical and negative and so I am sure that Facebook will not allow it to be posted, so I will not even try. Therefore, I am resorting to my old standby, blogspot, to allow me to vent my frustrations. I think we have a lot to worry about here. <div class="blogger-post-footer"><script type="text/javascript">
var _gaq = _gaq || [];
_gaq.push(['_setAccount', 'UA-17518819-1']);
_gaq.push(['_trackPageview']);
(function() {
var ga = document.createElement('script'); ga.type = 'text/javascript'; ga.async = true;
ga.src = ('https:' == document.location.protocol ? 'https://ssl' : 'http://www') + '.google-analytics.com/ga.js';
var s = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(ga, s);
})();
</script></div>RenRaehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17961222558357224052noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4207881053346095956.post-13618181865121022952023-05-05T23:29:00.001-05:002023-05-05T23:31:22.744-05:00Delinquency is My Middle Name.<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOAjFNjJOFy5eq0LOWSt4mD3OSdeMGyNPiZ8okggxJA3dQq8Vs26lKqqVEyYVk_3V-3kjW_kPrsnFNZjR0rz0jEZ-GPvADrvf2axFs6YFDSMK9P3f0sCxE547i8rrnb00p-LvsZuF-dO-wkMhvi2qNgaFSjfWlzMHH3c2uWCRmipVd9M5OeEo6Tgnj/s325/nscc2.png" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="" border="0" width="320" data-original-height="222" data-original-width="325" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOAjFNjJOFy5eq0LOWSt4mD3OSdeMGyNPiZ8okggxJA3dQq8Vs26lKqqVEyYVk_3V-3kjW_kPrsnFNZjR0rz0jEZ-GPvADrvf2axFs6YFDSMK9P3f0sCxE547i8rrnb00p-LvsZuF-dO-wkMhvi2qNgaFSjfWlzMHH3c2uWCRmipVd9M5OeEo6Tgnj/s320/nscc2.png"/></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh122jVDBKt1if8Q5YVjgugpOSrm3cPdv_rGGNK8CMkBM34GOLAgDk2h2KjUCJlLeSbMDTivarKj1_UQxUSRWZY_n8-3LqXnthE4-tfHo1MxDPAS2Dt7BgtkBsu0WItyMO7LK2Z32CWrLjALjtz9sQKtjRrb61YLpholf1P3Lb7waCxuTVvsjYera7c/s480/NSCC1.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="" border="0" width="320" data-original-height="360" data-original-width="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh122jVDBKt1if8Q5YVjgugpOSrm3cPdv_rGGNK8CMkBM34GOLAgDk2h2KjUCJlLeSbMDTivarKj1_UQxUSRWZY_n8-3LqXnthE4-tfHo1MxDPAS2Dt7BgtkBsu0WItyMO7LK2Z32CWrLjALjtz9sQKtjRrb61YLpholf1P3Lb7waCxuTVvsjYera7c/s320/NSCC1.jpg"/></a></div> What can I write here? An apology to any of my readers that are still out there? Some excuses. Annoying affirmations. I don't know. I guess I will just stick to the facts: I have not posted here in over 3 years. So I will just deal in hard on facts! The fact is that we are now beginning the 4th year in Covid. Certainly things have improved a great deal. We are not only no longer in a lock down. We are no longer wearing masks. And most of us are now not consciously trying to avoid people, or trying to stay six feet away from others when out and about. I just returned from a trip from my home in Wisconsin to visit my younger son's family in San Clemente, CA. Flights are very crowded now, ie full planes on almost every route. Rarely do you see someone wearing a mask in the airport and I saw no one else on my flight wearing a mask of any kind, regular cheap around the ear kinds, or N 95 masks. There just are none. I did wear a mask on the way out because I didn't want to get there for my several day visit and then start to get sick. The one time that I got Covid in August of 2022, I came down with symptoms 24 hours after the known exposure so I knew it could happen rapidly. And I wore the mask on the return trip from CA just because it wasn't a significant discomfort on the way out so why change on the way back. And getting Covid is still an annoying discomfort. You need to isolate still. I as a physician do not feel I can go out to public places and be close to others unless I have turned from positive on the home testing devices to negative. The one time I got Covid, I just had maybe 4 days of significant symptoms but it took 11 days for me to turn negative. That is very annoying because I just felt I had to stay home.
Covid is still around. Every few days one hears of someone we know that has been ill. Yet when I ask my surgeon son about the situation in the hospital, he answers that it is normal. Everything is running as smoothly as before Covid, though there are still some precautions being taken. Elective surgery is still precluded in the presence of Covid positivity in the patient. And there are still some cases of severe SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) in the ICU, but mostly in patients with other compromising illnesses. Visitors to outpatient care now often see a posted notice that wearing a mask is optional and there is no longer a greeter asking every person entering the clinic a group of questions about recent possible symptoms of any Covid like illness. Our society as a whole still shows signs of what we have gone through. Many businesses and restaurants in particular have closed. People now have discovered multiple different ways to go shopping, to do business online, even to seek medical consultation online, and certainly there is evidence that the long shutdown of schools have left our young people at least a year behind in their schooling if not more. We still do not know the social scars that the absence from school has caused. Our society seems still somehow anxious, fearful, angry, lacking civility, and common decency, and crime rates have skyrocketed. There is dramatic inflation that is slowing the economy. In person retail has been irreparably damaged in many ways. Small colleges are closing because of multiple effects: smaller enrollment, inflation of costs, and who knows what else. There have been a tiny number of bank closings, but these have been explained away as caused by poor management, and the government has extended FDIC coverage to all patrons of those couple banks. Our country is engaged in a proxy war in Ukraine and our enemies around the world seem emboldened. The causes of all of these crises and others are multifactorial and can not be entirely blamed on Covid though it no doubt has had some effect everywhere.
How do we individually and societally deal with all of these changes and our current collective malaise? There is no easy answer. But I think that we need to return to some of our former values. Church attendance is reduced. Small kindnesses and politeness, and deeper compassion seem hard to practice. There are occurrances of road rage, of airline passengers just totally losing control of their emotions and striking out at others, of course, the crime waves in cities, and other examples demonstrate our collective anxiety and even despair. So we need to return to what could be called "Church" practices, no matter what the exact spiritual tradition or belief system. Almost all world religions have practices and rituals that reach beyond the individual and express caring, compassion and concern for others. We need to start practicing those traditions again. After 50 years of my life, while educating myself, raising a family, maintaining a household while working fulltime as a physician, I had ceased going to church. I always had an active spiritual practice but it was irregular and not based in collective society. I meditated, attending a spiritual seeking group weekly, and read a lot. But I was not a participating member of a large traditionally practicing religion. Within the last year I have returned to a church similar to the one in which I grew up...a Protestant sect, called Congregationalists, which is mostly baed on Calvinistic thought, but has not succumbed to mergers with other Protestant denominations. I have found a very accepting and welcoming community in that church and have become significantly more involved in the activities there. I think that has helped me with some of my pessimism about the current state of affairs around the world. It is good to have at least weekly attempts to find goodness in people and to find hope that the current cycle is a passing phase of humanity's existance and to return to acts of kindness and good deeds for our fellows that hopefully will turn us all around. For me at least, this has helped.
I don't have any other magic ideas. I think everyone has to find their own best pathway but I think that many of the traditional ones used in the past would work for each of us. We must remember that the causes of our current societal malaise is multifactorial and very complex. No single solution will work to solve the ills but I think that small steps that are familiar to each of us individually, especially those with which we grew up, will help us cross the bridge to some sort of world change that is better. We must hope and build faith that this will happen. I myself plan to continue to update this old fashioned blog with some new posts that hopefully will be worth reading. A lot has changed in my life in the past 3 years and maybe just reading about some of my experiences and how I handled them will be of some help to my readers. I hope so.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><script type="text/javascript">
var _gaq = _gaq || [];
_gaq.push(['_setAccount', 'UA-17518819-1']);
_gaq.push(['_trackPageview']);
(function() {
var ga = document.createElement('script'); ga.type = 'text/javascript'; ga.async = true;
ga.src = ('https:' == document.location.protocol ? 'https://ssl' : 'http://www') + '.google-analytics.com/ga.js';
var s = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(ga, s);
})();
</script></div>RenRaehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17961222558357224052noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4207881053346095956.post-87684722021930553382020-04-27T20:04:00.000-05:002020-04-27T20:46:13.830-05:00Synchronicity<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
As I wrote in a previous post, Covid 19 isolation has me cleaning out closets. I found a clipped article from Shambhala Sun, a Buddhist magazine, from November, 2000, written by Rachel Naomi Remen, MD, who in the 2000 magazine is listed as a clinical professor at UCSF School of Medicine and medical director of the Commonweal Cancer Help Program. She has written a very entertaining book called "My Grandfather's Blessings: Stories of Strength, Refuge and Belonging, published by Riverhead. In this article she talks about the strange coincidences that occur in our lives that seem as though they have some outside guiding hand and often serve to awaken us or guide us in some fashion. In this time of great travail, I was moved again by rereading this article. I especially found her opening moving and reproduce it here for your edification.<br />
<br />
"<i>Glimpse of a Deeper Order: According to the Buddhist understanding of auspicious coincidence, all circumstances can be brought to the spiritual path. Everything that happens in our lives, whether positive or negative, can serve to awaken us to the nature of the world. But occasionally, events cluster in particular ways that give us a glimpse of the deeper structures of reality, and suggest that time and linear causality may not be the ultimate way in which the world is ordered..</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i> "There are many possible re</i><i>sponses to such happenings, which Jung called synchronicity. Some people give them a highly individualized meaning, finding guidance in a personal decision they are facing or confirmation of a directi</i><i>on they have already chosen. But perhaps the real meaning of synchronicity is more universal than personal, with every instance simply pointing to the possibility of a hidden pattern underlying the events of this world. </i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i> "Either way, these events offer us a certain reassurance, and they also have the power to awaken us. A common response to such an acausal happening is a sharpening of attention, a sense of the closeness of something unseen. Startled awake, we may listen for the direction in which the universe is moving, and discover a wish to participate in it.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i> "Synchronicity often takes us unaware and may restore us to ourselves."</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
The author goes on to tell about an experience during the Christmas season when she was so busy with her work that she had no time to prepare for the holiday and especially to do one thing she always did which was add an angel to her many years of collecting angels to honor those who had died that year in her medical practice. She dealt with End of Life care and thus was often placed inside another human being's crossing into whatever lies beyond. She met a lady on an airplane who sensed her troubled state of mind and gave her an angel which that fellow traveler's grandmother had just given to her. What a coincidence or was this occurance the definition of a synchronicity?<br />
<br />
Dr. Remen writes further "I<i> suppose one might call this coincidence and perhaps it is. But it felt as if whatever it is that we really serve when we serve others had reached out and shaken me awake, saying 'You get on with the work...I'l take care of the small stuff.'</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i> "This is the sort of event which Jung meant by synchronicity, a meaningful coincidence which thumbs its nose at linear causality. At a certain level, synchronicity suggests there is more to life than we realize, and that we and all others may not be alone, I regard such a happening as a blessing. Such things may happen at any time, but in the years I have worked with people facing death and those who survive them I have heard many such stories. Perhaps such things are either more frequent at these times, or perhaps in some way every death is a bridge between worlds, and allows us to see things differently for a little while.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
"<i>Synchronicity is always an experience of the unknown. Events such as these do not really prove anything. They are simply a reminder to wake up and pay attention because the mystery at the heart of life can speak to you at any time."</i><br />
<br />
When I reread this little article, I felt a few moments of expansiveness which some people of the Buddhist bent have called "kensho." As a physician, I have certainly experienced what Dr. Remen is talking about and these episodes certainly do seem to occur around death. Many of my patients have told me stories of "coincidences" or "synchronicity" that happened around the time of a death in their family. Some of these stories also seem to involve a "ghost" or "seeing" the deceased again in a very life like way. I will tell a little story about just such an experience in a later post.<br />
<br />
Curious about synchronicity. Here's a starting reference:<br />
<br />
<a href="https://lonerwolf.com/synchronicity/">https://lonerwolf.com/synchronicity/</a><a href="https://lonerwolf.com/synchronicity/">https://lonerwolf.com/synchronicity/</a><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer"><script type="text/javascript">
var _gaq = _gaq || [];
_gaq.push(['_setAccount', 'UA-17518819-1']);
_gaq.push(['_trackPageview']);
(function() {
var ga = document.createElement('script'); ga.type = 'text/javascript'; ga.async = true;
ga.src = ('https:' == document.location.protocol ? 'https://ssl' : 'http://www') + '.google-analytics.com/ga.js';
var s = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(ga, s);
})();
</script></div>RenRaehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17961222558357224052noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4207881053346095956.post-21159793270794557912020-04-20T19:37:00.002-05:002020-04-20T19:37:36.254-05:00Closets, Crocus, and helebores<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
This elderly couple is about 3 weeks into our "Safer at Home" policy in Wisconsin. the pandemic surges on. In Wisconsin seems somewhat behind many other regions. Of course, this means that we will probably be at this isolation longer than other places because we started earlier and we will still have to go through the peak and the trough before may people are able to return to work. And then there is, of course, our age and our comorbid conditions that I think means we will have to continue at home even after many populations can return to work.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibBsm4em4XoQ9sXYWnG1jUSnhBvpM_vDYUvLRGl2Bab1hB-cnr71oBy891B1wHkCeXWQfgqCW1qri1HJp6ntiLMBjsZFAOIYh7D9BRN73PAcYVgpAFw8vEPzlJ6S2_jJmBGxHb1lN7IIM/s1600/my+closet.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="712" data-original-width="517" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibBsm4em4XoQ9sXYWnG1jUSnhBvpM_vDYUvLRGl2Bab1hB-cnr71oBy891B1wHkCeXWQfgqCW1qri1HJp6ntiLMBjsZFAOIYh7D9BRN73PAcYVgpAFw8vEPzlJ6S2_jJmBGxHb1lN7IIM/s400/my+closet.png" width="290" /></a></div>
The first thing I did was to clean a closet. I missed an opportunity in that I should have taken a before and an after photo of my hall linen closet. This is a large double door closet with 5 very deep and long shelves. I can only describe to you the mess that it was. heeps of unnecessary and unused linens which still sit packed in bags to take to the Goodwill Store as a donation when it reopens. Mixed in with all these linens were very non linen type items such as photo albums from a couple of our trips. I think they got put there because it was handy and other closets were full. There were some automatic plant watering systems consisting of beautiful glass bulbs that you fill with water and put in the plant's soil. They never worked very well for long trips. I found several nice children's gifts that never got gifted. At 13 and 10 years old, the two older grandsons have outgrown them. But I now have a 2 year old grand daughter and will soon have a baby grandson. I saved those gifts. They may still find a child's home. Of course, there is always my own antique toy collection if I save these long enough. One real itme of interest that made my younger son laugh: a paper grocery bag full of one particular sample drug, folders with 4 small diamond shaped blue pills in each. I am known in my family and among friends as a prepper. Well, these were certainly prepping for a different situation. In case you are having trouble guessing what these pills are, there is a photo at the end of this particular blog.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfKwd9arH9fwLgsYpfUGrLhvTkWdM_UHIf2coqc4v7E0U5aztw8JE3ihKnCqgcKkNKs4EabvZEzMj1Ugdq2dRZbC0N5fxh-APeeRxzRcVK7MTZ6FTTpfBWMeyW-fp2LEdW623YDld3tGg/s1600/my+closet.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfKwd9arH9fwLgsYpfUGrLhvTkWdM_UHIf2coqc4v7E0U5aztw8JE3ihKnCqgcKkNKs4EabvZEzMj1Ugdq2dRZbC0N5fxh-APeeRxzRcVK7MTZ6FTTpfBWMeyW-fp2LEdW623YDld3tGg/s1600/my+closet.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfKwd9arH9fwLgsYpfUGrLhvTkWdM_UHIf2coqc4v7E0U5aztw8JE3ihKnCqgcKkNKs4EabvZEzMj1Ugdq2dRZbC0N5fxh-APeeRxzRcVK7MTZ6FTTpfBWMeyW-fp2LEdW623YDld3tGg/s1600/my+closet.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfKwd9arH9fwLgsYpfUGrLhvTkWdM_UHIf2coqc4v7E0U5aztw8JE3ihKnCqgcKkNKs4EabvZEzMj1Ugdq2dRZbC0N5fxh-APeeRxzRcVK7MTZ6FTTpfBWMeyW-fp2LEdW623YDld3tGg/s1600/my+closet.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfKwd9arH9fwLgsYpfUGrLhvTkWdM_UHIf2coqc4v7E0U5aztw8JE3ihKnCqgcKkNKs4EabvZEzMj1Ugdq2dRZbC0N5fxh-APeeRxzRcVK7MTZ6FTTpfBWMeyW-fp2LEdW623YDld3tGg/s1600/my+closet.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfKwd9arH9fwLgsYpfUGrLhvTkWdM_UHIf2coqc4v7E0U5aztw8JE3ihKnCqgcKkNKs4EabvZEzMj1Ugdq2dRZbC0N5fxh-APeeRxzRcVK7MTZ6FTTpfBWMeyW-fp2LEdW623YDld3tGg/s1600/my+closet.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfKwd9arH9fwLgsYpfUGrLhvTkWdM_UHIf2coqc4v7E0U5aztw8JE3ihKnCqgcKkNKs4EabvZEzMj1Ugdq2dRZbC0N5fxh-APeeRxzRcVK7MTZ6FTTpfBWMeyW-fp2LEdW623YDld3tGg/s1600/my+closet.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfKwd9arH9fwLgsYpfUGrLhvTkWdM_UHIf2coqc4v7E0U5aztw8JE3ihKnCqgcKkNKs4EabvZEzMj1Ugdq2dRZbC0N5fxh-APeeRxzRcVK7MTZ6FTTpfBWMeyW-fp2LEdW623YDld3tGg/s1600/my+closet.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> </a></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx_hx2puBBRaBr9xMsf2IFgmNkdfMmtP5kb24GHBQ6uRl61HR3p63fJEfNWL5g0V6_l7TwfiEFoHA1dT44ARC6aGTeYLwiEI8MHGYyuVzE6gyK_EMmnpBN1EchvPz_euOqnBxFfkY-bX8/s1600/crocus.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="543" data-original-width="511" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx_hx2puBBRaBr9xMsf2IFgmNkdfMmtP5kb24GHBQ6uRl61HR3p63fJEfNWL5g0V6_l7TwfiEFoHA1dT44ARC6aGTeYLwiEI8MHGYyuVzE6gyK_EMmnpBN1EchvPz_euOqnBxFfkY-bX8/s400/crocus.png" width="376" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Crocus</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
We had a couple of nice days and of course, gardener that I am, I had to get my hands in the dirt. I had ordered 12 new hellebores before this whole isolation process began, so on the first nice day I got out and stuck them in the ground, most of them near the house and the rest out in my woods where there are more that have grown over the years. Hellebores are also called the lenten rose because they are certainly among the first flowers to bloom in spring, around Lent. They like shade and are just about indestructible. The blooms lasts for about 3 months and after that the foliage is quite attractive. I wanted some up near the house where I could see them easier since you can't always depend on April weather for a walk in the woods. Here are some photos of the first blooms timed right along with an early crocus near the house.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOf27FQPy-O-xuoGWNlEfyQATcc_BTZg6ABAPE68127u6ccCPoxYIRqwHfzXVqSjr6uPF9368UTEtZIKipB7Rt9uWYuygpltQoy4UDgjvO2EVOtKf5X7fu1E89mZq8m8hT7iZCkdelfF0/s1600/hellebore1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="670" data-original-width="847" height="316" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOf27FQPy-O-xuoGWNlEfyQATcc_BTZg6ABAPE68127u6ccCPoxYIRqwHfzXVqSjr6uPF9368UTEtZIKipB7Rt9uWYuygpltQoy4UDgjvO2EVOtKf5X7fu1E89mZq8m8hT7iZCkdelfF0/s400/hellebore1.png" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHsIWYNZtkaP96cHPGGL0_S9N5cwHW5CNqhom58ZIEF6V8MMfKzif3cFzb9lphXl5Z3Z5cfAieKfWB83W5YcpMr32KyK7v4qqYeLIlQt3xYNC7w4vqsdsFHNSNAGybqw8G677PCBtd4y8/s1600/hellobore2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="606" data-original-width="497" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHsIWYNZtkaP96cHPGGL0_S9N5cwHW5CNqhom58ZIEF6V8MMfKzif3cFzb9lphXl5Z3Z5cfAieKfWB83W5YcpMr32KyK7v4qqYeLIlQt3xYNC7w4vqsdsFHNSNAGybqw8G677PCBtd4y8/s400/hellobore2.png" width="327" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Now of course since I was cleaning off some beds near the house, I had to arrange some of my fairy scenes.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO15XaDMYK5Lz-rzpX5Pji0RRyv4zVWDszdTBUQ6aPEW56ZqHNxqvYbKG1Njmroj2uqGtzsbODudFvmjua5zZHW1GDwgO0V5FW_D8HyF-leHjadyKcQgUc41mJKhenUxWBSUVUyOxJWYc/s1600/fairy+site.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="660" data-original-width="862" height="490" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO15XaDMYK5Lz-rzpX5Pji0RRyv4zVWDszdTBUQ6aPEW56ZqHNxqvYbKG1Njmroj2uqGtzsbODudFvmjua5zZHW1GDwgO0V5FW_D8HyF-leHjadyKcQgUc41mJKhenUxWBSUVUyOxJWYc/s640/fairy+site.png" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
During this stay at home time, some of our neighbors started a nice little email group. And I joined another group also that stretches further along the Lake Michigan shoreline, down into Bayside and maybe even up into the next community north. One neighbor got the idea that since this email group has been so active with advise, grocery shopping, and other helpful ideas, she wanted to drink a toast to the organizer. She and her husband left bottles of wine out front and invited people to come up their driveway and drink a toast and then take the bottle home with them. Since we have some new neighbors with younger children, the next week this same couple put out boxes of animal crackers and invited strollers to come up and take a box. This stimulated the organizer to suggest that since the real zoo was closed, that we create our own neighborhood zoo by putting small toy animals, stuffed or otherwise in the window for the families to walk around the neighborhood and find the different animals. Almost everyone participated, and there was quite a menagerie.<br />
<br />
I have a very large stuffed animal in my toy collection. It is not really a zoo animal but I thought it would work. My oldest son won this at the Wisconsin State Fair when he was a sophomore in high school. He remembers it well. It was a very hot day and he was lucky very early in the day and had to carry this huge animal around his neck for the entire day at the fair. Since he left home, this creature has been sitting in a corner of my toy room. I thought it would fit very well with zoo animals. It is a 4 foot tall stuffed blue performing horse with white mane and tail, and a saddle and golden bridle. He is stuffed tightly with straw, but over the years, he can't stand anymore but sits as though ordered by his trainer into that position. I heard some interesting stories about the horse as the neighbors passed. One neighbor was walking her two dogs and they would not pass the horse. They put up such a barking fuss that she had to turn around and go back toward their home. Another neighbor told of walking her great dane, who also was terrified of the big blue horse. Finally when slowly allowed the length of his leash, he made friends and immediately went around to stiff around the white tail, just as dogs do. The owner of the dog was seen to absolutely crack up with laughter. So my blue performing horse was a big hit even with the adults and some of the dogs.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmbzoBB2yFu3Sfx5JWdgXeS_vvmGe1Rc26tGLxLucFqF_DjVzk97XXJHqgPHXFYYJe6NYCLH8eHVh0tPdoAdaMSwRjM0eeE6RGQo0uEKV6pyUCt613iIXmDqIBTWTKHtLhHGrIZuhfctI/s1600/blue+horse.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="240" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmbzoBB2yFu3Sfx5JWdgXeS_vvmGe1Rc26tGLxLucFqF_DjVzk97XXJHqgPHXFYYJe6NYCLH8eHVh0tPdoAdaMSwRjM0eeE6RGQo0uEKV6pyUCt613iIXmDqIBTWTKHtLhHGrIZuhfctI/s640/blue+horse.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Have you figured out what the tresure chest of medical drugs I found in my linen closet? Well here is a big hint. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrof16a1kwt_qorFrVCr9e3lq1K1kxHrDDkBy3ktd0RhswbJ7PEyB1Q7Iqy8m1SuySnaaAcapsRrFkgCxvoPc8FSGnHR-nz_J0vlk6GSM6Eywq5oMJcdTbB2GPELUJW3SgRjPSX_7YHxw/s1600/Viagra+picture.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="300" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrof16a1kwt_qorFrVCr9e3lq1K1kxHrDDkBy3ktd0RhswbJ7PEyB1Q7Iqy8m1SuySnaaAcapsRrFkgCxvoPc8FSGnHR-nz_J0vlk6GSM6Eywq5oMJcdTbB2GPELUJW3SgRjPSX_7YHxw/s400/Viagra+picture.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer"><script type="text/javascript">
var _gaq = _gaq || [];
_gaq.push(['_setAccount', 'UA-17518819-1']);
_gaq.push(['_trackPageview']);
(function() {
var ga = document.createElement('script'); ga.type = 'text/javascript'; ga.async = true;
ga.src = ('https:' == document.location.protocol ? 'https://ssl' : 'http://www') + '.google-analytics.com/ga.js';
var s = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(ga, s);
})();
</script></div>RenRaehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17961222558357224052noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4207881053346095956.post-68416154725965355392020-04-01T15:47:00.001-05:002020-04-05T20:18:46.738-05:00 April 1, 2020 Some Scientific and Technical Info about Covid 19.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI_6NmfPHQEgtaIBG6je7FyaA-0xQaEG9vIEtFEblXO2wgvV4dTFXdT_CfNjhqlMyI1f_BIhzFavxS0GOt7_BhmdguBwIn7nDOmFIACDbgjoJNlWWt8soCxOAwndeTEg1q4hJut_Lca8c/s1600/Staff+of+Aesclepius+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="266" data-original-width="189" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI_6NmfPHQEgtaIBG6je7FyaA-0xQaEG9vIEtFEblXO2wgvV4dTFXdT_CfNjhqlMyI1f_BIhzFavxS0GOt7_BhmdguBwIn7nDOmFIACDbgjoJNlWWt8soCxOAwndeTEg1q4hJut_Lca8c/s320/Staff+of+Aesclepius+%25282%2529.jpg" width="227" /></a></div>
I previously promised some information about the COVID 19 virus itself. The following website is an excellent source of rather detailed information about this virus and what we have learned since its discovery in December of 2019. For those who want to delve into this science, this is an excellent source of information. Since my undergraduate major was microbiology, I felt I should be able to at least refer you to a good microbiology source.<br />
<br />
theatlantic.com/science/archive/2020/03/ and find the article called biographynewcoronavirus. <br />
<br />
Your can access this article by going to the above site and type biography (dash) new (dash) coronavirus. My computer's dash is broken so I cannot type that in here. Otherwise you can google Science of Coronavirus and pick The Atlantic article.<br />
<br />
I would like to just summarize some of this scientific information here in case you do not want to delve deeply.<br />
<br />
The Coronaviruses are a widespread group of RNA viruses. Most are spherical and have spikes on the spherical surface that have what look like small crowns on the end of the spikes; hence the name Coronavirus. Coronaviruses exist rampantly in bats, pangolins, and have been found in civets and camels. Four of the Coronaviruses are human viruses only and cause relatively mild colds much like the common Rhinoviruses. It is thought that they cause up to 1/3 of common colds. They have been named OC43, HKU1, NL63, and 229E. Research on these viruses, both the cold viruses, and the animal Coronaviruses in the past has been few and far between. Such research has been regarded as sort of boring and backward. But we have faced two other Coronaviruses in the past which are nothing like the common cold virus. The first of these was called COV1 and caused the first epidemic of SARS Cov in 2003. SARS stands for Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome. This Coronavirus also rose in China again from animals and then moved to humans. This particular Coronavirus did not transfer very effectively from human to human but it did do this well enough to move to 26 different countries. Fortunately it was not so communicable because its death rate was very high at 15% overall and 50% for those over 64 years old. The second famous Coronavirus to cross into humans was the MERS Cov 2 virus which caused as the name implies, Middle Eastern Respiratory Syndrome which broke out in Saudi Arabia. But again this virus did not transfer well between humans and stayed mostly in the Middle East. The camel was thought to be at least an intermediary vector. However, this virus also had quite a high death rate. So now we have reached the feared point where a deadly Coronavirus has gained the ability to rapidly and easily transfer from person to person. It is also thought that its origin was in bats in China but it is suspected that there was some intermediary animal between bats and humans, possibly an animal that was sold at the wild animal bushmeat markets of China. This virus is fortunately not as deadly as either SARS COV, or MERS COV, but on the other hand it has very effectively evolved to be able to infect humans very easily.<br />
<br />
Just to clear up some confusions, this virus has several names. Some people in the beginning it called it a novel Coronavirus. Then people began to call it COVID 19 based on its origin in ;ate 2019. The Chinese scientists were able to sequence its RNA very early and did indeed supply that information to the world research community. Since this virus acts very much like the original SARS COV1, it is technically now called SARS COV2. But still the acronym COVID 19 is used both to refer to the disease it causes and to the virus itself.<br />
<br />
Microscopically the crown at the end of the spike is really a couple of pincers held together by a lipid and protein bridge. In order for it to hook onto human cells and hold on long enough to break through the cell wall, this bridge has to break letting the pincer action allow the virus to stick to the cell. This virus has accomplished this mechanism. Actually it has adopted to use a small enzyme that the human cells themselves produce called furin. This protein is readily available throughout the human body and it accomplishes that break of the bond between claws on the crown allowing the grabbing of the human cell by a pincer like action.<br />
<br />
Apparently it has evolved to utilize the ACE 2 receptor which is found on many cells in the human body. It seems that pincer actually grabs the ACE 2 receptor protein. The lungs have a particularly high concentration of these receptors as do the walls of blood vessels, and the gut. You may recognize the acronym, ACE. It stands for Angiotensin Converting Enzyme. Some of those of you with hypertension may recognize that you are on a drug called an ACE inhibitor. Such drugs block the protein, angiotensin and its tendency to raise blood pressure in our bodies. So does being on such a drug have any bad or good effects on this virus or the disease that it causes? Well we don't really know. There are anecdotal ideas, some held even among doctors, that one of the reasons that older individuals with underlying conditions often die from the disease is because they are on ACE inhibitors for their high blood pressure, or heart disease. Doctors have noticed this fact among their ICU patients on ventilators. But there are no studies that would prove this or disprove this idea. Since ACE inhibitors are so commonly used in these conditions that affect older people, it is more probable that this is just a coincidental presence of severe COVID 19 disease and the use of these drugs, and there is not a cause and effect relationship. In fact there is one small study that seems to postulate that being on ACE inhibitors may actually protect against the severe disease. We just don't know at this time. At any rate, we know that the virus uses the ACE2 receptor to stick to the cell wall and eventually get into the cell.<br />
<br />
Many respiratory viruses tend to either cause mostly an upper respiratory illness or an infection of the lower respiratory tract. This virus seems to be able to do both. It first enters human cells probably in the upper respiratory tract and is able to infect cells there and proliferate without a lot of symptoms. This may be why people can seem almost or totally asymptomatic. But then once the virus has multiplied more it seems to in some people move down to the lower respiratory system and cause a viral pneumonia. At this stage several mechanisms can lead to worsening of the patient's condition. One problem seems to be that the secretions are very dry and hard to clear with coughing and this leads to portions of the lungs being closed off to good air movement for proper oxygenation. The body tries to mount an inflammatory response to kill this virus but sometimes that response seems to go berserk especially in compromised people such as the old, or those with other severe underlying conditions. This inflammatory over response does a couple things. First there is something called a cytokine storm where the inflammatory response produces a lot of these inflammatory proteins which in smaller amounts attract the white blood cells that produce killing antibodies and help fight off the invader. But if too much of these proteins are produced they make the blood vessels leaky and lots of fluid leaks out of the blood vessels into the lungs adding more difficulty to the breathing and oxygenation, essentially drowning the person microscopically. Also all of these conditions make the lungs open for invasion by bacteria as well and a bacterial pneumonia may occur. Sepsis is the cause of death in many of these patients which causes shut down of many other organs, such as the kidneys and liver.<br />
<br />
There are a number of ways to attack this virus. Corticosteroids are used to suppress this immune over reaction called the cytokine storm. Now plasma from persons that have been infected and now recovered is being used in the very ill. There is one study from France with a relatively small group of patients who were given the antimalarial drug, hydroxychloroquine, and there seemed to be a good response that was statistically significant. But this was just one study. Currently studies are being done and this drug along with zithromycin are being used actively in the field against this virus, as long as the results are part of an organized study. Antivirals that have been used for influenza, HIV and other diseases are being tried. Various labs around the country now have live virus and are using those live virus to infect cell colonies and then measuring what various drugs do when added to these small human cell colonies. All of this work is done by robots and is observed microscopically. One drug seems to hold some promise so far, called remdesivir. This drug has been used to fight another very lethal respiratory virus called the Nipah virus which has caused outbreaks in Bangladesh and in Kerala, Inda. Studies are ongoing for this drug. There maybe new drugs that could be effective and perhaps are being safely used for totally different diseases. If any of these drugs have benefit in the lab, they could be introduced to human populations with COVID 19 fairly quickly because their general safety is already known. Such is the case for hydroxychloroquine and thus it is already being employed to some degree.<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer"><script type="text/javascript">
var _gaq = _gaq || [];
_gaq.push(['_setAccount', 'UA-17518819-1']);
_gaq.push(['_trackPageview']);
(function() {
var ga = document.createElement('script'); ga.type = 'text/javascript'; ga.async = true;
ga.src = ('https:' == document.location.protocol ? 'https://ssl' : 'http://www') + '.google-analytics.com/ga.js';
var s = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(ga, s);
})();
</script></div>RenRaehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17961222558357224052noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4207881053346095956.post-47665997478039686242020-03-31T20:57:00.002-05:002020-04-05T20:25:56.457-05:00March 31, 2020: A View of This Pandemic from the Healthcare Perspctive<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<img alt="Image" src="https://pbs.twimg.com/media/ETwXUCdWkAEPs4n?format=jpg&name=small" /> <br />
Photo from Twitter. <br />
<br />
I am a medical doctor and have been retired 11 years. I don't have a medical license anymore so I am not helping with this pandemic. And my knowledge has certainly waned in those 11 years. But my son is an MD. He is Chief of General Surgery in a large Midwestern University Healthcare Organization. He works very hard normally and I often worry about him and all of his responsibilites as a busy general surgeon, director of various sub departments of the Surgical Dept, as active member of multiple national surgical organizations, and as Chief of the Department. Well, now he has a huge burden on top of all that mentioned above. Elective surgery of course has been stopped so a large source of his income has dried up. Now he just does emergent surgery. That means every surgical case is an unknown and big risk. The patient is very sick, otherwise surgery would not be necessary. This makes every case much more anxiety producing. Add to that COV 2. The patient might be infected which until recently would be unknown to the surgeon and his staff. He was looking forward to a short test that can give a result in 15 minutes. He has that now but that does not take away the risk of doing surgery on an infected patient. There is some indication that for fear of causing aerosols of infected material in the OR, electric cautery should not be used. This increases the risk and the time of the surgical operation with more bleeding risk as well. On the phone recently he told me he operated on a patient that morning and that patient's test had been negative. He was doing another surgery later on Sunday and didn't yet know the COV 2 status of that patient.<br />
<br />
Remember that this man and all his surgtcal colleagues and staff go into the hospital every day where dozens of infected patients are entering the ER, being evaluated and many of them being admitted to the hospital, to ICU, etc. My son enters all of these regions to see sick patients of his own whom are pre op or postop for other reasons. Think of the level of his exposure to this virus every day. My son is 49 years old and at the peak of his surgical career. But he has Type II diabetes mellitus. He is just on a single medication, metformin, and he follows his diet, exercises, and controls his blood sugar meticulously. His usual Hemoglobin A1C is 6.3 which is very good for a diabetic. Still we know that just having diabetes does add some risk of complications should he get the disease. He knows this every day as he enters the hospital, or his office, or the ER, or the OR.<br />
<br />
On top of all this anxiety, he is the Chief and has to direct the 35 or so surgeons that are in his department. He has to think about all the ramifications of this pandemic on his department. And he has to participate in hospital meetings that try to plan for the surge, as they are calling it now. In his city, the surge is expected in about 2 weeks, but they already have a lot of ICU beds taken up by COVID 19 patients. There has been the usual shortage of Personal Protective Equipment, (PPE). The hospital had already taken enlightened steps to preserve N95 masks, by limiting each individual worker in the number used and were trying to sterilize the masks by exposing them to UV light for a period of time. My son made the comment that because of the high costs of medical care in this country, he as the Chief of Surgery had benn encouraged to cut costs again and again. One of the ways this could be done was to decrease the inventory of PPE. The hospital had done a good job of this. Now there was a shortage and no storage to back up the new intense needs. I am sure that the meetings of the leaders of this hospital are very intense, and there is no doubt discussion of the worsening spread and the increase of patients that will appear deathly ill with COVID 19.<br />
<br />
There is no doubt that the job my son has loved and has devoted his whole life to without any other interests beside his family, has now become a daily source of anxiety and despair. The pandemic situation has not spared my son's homelife. His two sons, 13 and 10, are home from school and trying to engage in some degree of virtual learning. But they are missing their school friends and cannot participate in sports and music lessons, and other activities that basically define these young boys at this stage of their life. My daughter in law teaches pharmacy at a local college and is now teaching virtually from home. She is also trying to manage her son's studies, and to manage the household. In addition, she has just gone through a trauma. Her stepfather has died from a fall and head injury leaving her slightly demented mother alone and unable to take care of herself. She has made 4 or 5 trips down to the south of the US to the funeral, and to visit the family. And after arranging by phone a nursing home for her mother, she had to drive down to the south again this past week to get her mother admitted and moved in. Her mother, with some agitational mental issues, will have to be quarantined in her room for 2 weeks. My daughter in law has no idea how this will turn out.<br />
<br />
As you can imagine, when my son comes home from his work, things are not calm and easy at home either. He worries about all that his family is going through at this time as well. When I spoke with him, on Sunday, I heard the stress in his voice. He has always been a very hard worker, and I have always worried about him taking on too much for one doctor, for one human being to handle. But I had never heard the tone in his voice that I heard on Sunday. He spoke softer than ever, and there was a note of despair in his voice. My second son had talked to him a couple days before and had been told that this brave doctor had lost 12 pounds since this pandemic had hit our country. His anxiety was preventing him from sleep. He had only been getting 2 hours of sleep a night for various reasons, but no doubt largely from worry. When he spoke with his brother, he had finally been able to sleep a couple of nights for 6 hours. He had taken the time to organize and get all the family finances in order to have it prepared for his wife in case something would happen to him. He is certain that he is going to get this virus and he is deathly afraid it will cause complications because of his diabetes. I tried to tell him that he had only had diabetes for a couple years and not like me and others of my age, it had not taken a toll yet on his body. Also he maintains meticulour control of his blood sugars as I have said. But all of this weighs greatly on his mind. I am worried that he is almost at the breaking point.<br />
<br />
Then I see nurses on TV crying about their experiences in the ER and in taking care of the very sick COVID 19 patients. Our death rate rises. And the number of infected and therefore the number of very sick continues to rise. There is not really an end in sight yet for our healthcare workers, and our first responders. I just wanted to present to the public a view of what life is like in a doctor's or for that matter any hosptal worker's role right now. These are people with the bravery of the first line infantry soldier on D day. We will never repay them for what they are doing in every city in our country.<br />
<br />
Please God, bless them and help them do their job, and protect them not only from the virus but also from the worry and despair that sits next to them every minute of every day and of some nights. Please provide the support and calm that only you can supply. Amen <br />
<br />
</div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer"><script type="text/javascript">
var _gaq = _gaq || [];
_gaq.push(['_setAccount', 'UA-17518819-1']);
_gaq.push(['_trackPageview']);
(function() {
var ga = document.createElement('script'); ga.type = 'text/javascript'; ga.async = true;
ga.src = ('https:' == document.location.protocol ? 'https://ssl' : 'http://www') + '.google-analytics.com/ga.js';
var s = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(ga, s);
})();
</script></div>RenRaehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17961222558357224052noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4207881053346095956.post-8315899763208655522020-03-29T20:20:00.000-05:002020-04-05T20:40:11.223-05:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
March 27, 2020 "Safer at Home"<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-yMr2M9G4cePhNSqDRVNhJLRbsFyLIKiW07pEyNTRahITOVHr2uW_CXNRAVzIjWw4F_c1dLNildwk1hZMM9lNM0BdR3ojnDtFDZ8_UDgiE0_fywUJmWdZ7TRkQXm7Bt2Vwq3YpxGFE6k/s1600/Smithe+and+Wesson+Shield+with+ammo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1200" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-yMr2M9G4cePhNSqDRVNhJLRbsFyLIKiW07pEyNTRahITOVHr2uW_CXNRAVzIjWw4F_c1dLNildwk1hZMM9lNM0BdR3ojnDtFDZ8_UDgiE0_fywUJmWdZ7TRkQXm7Bt2Vwq3YpxGFE6k/s320/Smithe+and+Wesson+Shield+with+ammo.jpg" width="320" /></a> Our Governor Evers has locked us down a little more. He has recommended that all non essential workers stay home, except for trips to the grocery store or to pick up take out, the former ideally only every 2 weeks. Grocery stores are making time in the morning of some days entirely for elderly and those with preexisting conditions who still remain the most vulnerable to this disease in terms of death rates. We now know that young people also get the disease and end up in the hospital with it but they still seem to withstand the deadly effect on the lungs better. Essential workers are healthcare workers, pharmacy and drugstore workers, food supply workers at stores and at restaurants who do take out, first responders, goods transport, gas stations, energy workers, certain manufacturing workers making things necessary for safety, life, and supplies for all things needed in this emergency, home repair, news reporters and radio and TV workers, mass transit, airlines, cleaners and maintenance as well as waste management and garbage handling, and infrastructure. These businesses vary somewhat from state to state. For example, the production and sale of marijuana is deemed essential in California. Basically each state has decided what they deem essential for the safety of people's lives, and maintenance of their ability to stay safely in their homes.<br />
<br />
New York state and especially New York City and surrounds are the epicenters currently in our country and our country now leads all countries in numbers of cases. It should be noted that we hold this record, mostly because we are dong more testing than any other country. And yet we still are probably missing the vast majority of the cases.. The actual number of infected is probably a multiplier of 5 or even 10 times this number of confirmed cases. Italy still leads the death toll and it is still mysterious why Italy has such a high death rate. We now have over 137,000 cases in the US and 2400 deaths. Every state has cases. Other highly effected areas are Florida, Louisiana, Washington State, and California. Chicago is also effected heavily. All of these areas are on different time lines toward their peak of cases based on how much they were seeded by travelers early and then how soon they began to close down schools, large events, and businesses.<br />
<br />
Testing has advanced and not only can tests be pretty easily done, there is now a rapid test that gives a result in 15 minutes. My son, who is Chief of General Surgery at a large Midwestern University Health system, was especially anxious for that. He felt that without knowing whether a surgical patient was COVID 19 positive or not would endanger the entire operating room staff. To speed surgery electric cautery is widely used to stop bleeding during surgery, but this creates an aerosol that could be very infectious. On a COVID 19 positive case, perhaps cautery would not be used and this would lengthen the surgical time often dramatically and make for more surgical risk. Also testing now can be done by the patient in their drive through car, utilizing mostly just the anterior nose and throat which would induce less coughing and sneezing. Therefore the collecting healthcare worker doesn't need to wear as much Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), saving it for in hospital and clinic workers.<br />
<br />
The shortage of this PPE has been a problem across the entire country. My son told me that their hospital was reusing N95 masks and using a period of UV light exposure to sterilize the masks inside a plastic bag. Multiple companies, especially garment makers have retooled to make N95 masks. 3M, the largest producer of these masks has hugely increased its output and is teaching other companies how to make them. Various local people here and there are making cloth masks and even stuffing them with feminine hygiene pads or coffee filters and providing them for some protection, not meeting hospital standards, but useful in other sites where there is required exposure to a large number of people. Small distilleries are using wasted amounts in their drinking alcohol production to produce hand sanitizers and are delivering them to local hospitals and other places that are in need. Various large manufacturers are retooling to make more venilators which are always in short supply<br />
<br />
One thing that President Trump and his team have done very well is to involve the private sector in answering the many shortages and needs of the pandemic. Now private labs have stepped up to make rapid testing kits. Already the virus has been RNA sequenced and within 2 months the first group of people have gotten a vaccine for its first trial, totally skipping trial in animals. It also has been found that antimalarials may help treat this disease. Someone noted that countries or areas in Africa and in South America where people are on antimalarials don't seem to have many cases. A study was done in France that is very promising. These drugs are already being used and our government is allowing this as long as these patients are part of a study to get the data as the drugs are used. There is also a new antiviral, called remdesovir, ?sp. Many individual people and small groups of people have started to make masks and sew full body suits that protect our health care workers. Individuals and very small companies even with just s single 3D printer are making face shields. In other words, the movement against this virus and protection against it has been a combination of government management and gathering of the most up to date and wisest knowledge, of the private capitalistic production abilities of our big companies, and the small but just as dedicated efforts of tiny businesses and individual people. This massive effort though not making itself effective just yet on the illness numbers, will in the end defeat the virus. Our form of government and current leadership combined with our capitalistic economy will win in the long run.<br />
<br />
The former paragraph sounds very positive and it is. But there is no doubt that we are taking a big hit both in illness which is overwhelming our healthcare system and has at least temporarily destroyed our economy. It is going to take a long time to come back from this. And my husband and I are no doubt going to be isolated in our home for many months even after others are going back to a more normal life because we are at so high a risk that we cannot take a chance on becoming infected.<br />
<br />
One of the interesting things that has made a lot of news is the run on toilet paper. Why was that the one item that people hoarded and worried so about not having enough? This is still a mystery and will remain so, I guess. Another run on goods was the dramatically increased sale of guns and ammunition. There is certainly more reason behind this buying spree. This pandemic has led the prepper like me and many other people in addition to worrying about the disease and how to protect against getting it and the economic loss the mitigation of the disease has caused, to begin to think about what this combination could cause if it advances much further in society. That fear is that we would have a breakdown in society and great civil unrest. Preppers worry about protecting what they have gathered to weather this pandemic from those who might come to take what they have. Hence people want to buy a gun.<br />
<br />
I am a prepper and I admit it. Some people laugh at this fact about me. If they could see me not worrying about getting to a grocery store now and just digging into my supply of freeze dried food, they would laugh less. But one thing I did not have was a gun. I did join a range club, take two courses on shooting, one for beginning shooters and one for learning about Conceal and Carry. I have shot two different hand guns a few times at the range, but I had never taken the step to buy a gun. I decided this was the time to do that. However, I had waited a little long, Many stores were out of 9 mm handguns. Then I tried to get some ammo and at least two gun stores that I called had none on their shelves. Finally I found a range and gunstore down in Racine, WI and was able to get a gun held for me as well as 2 boxes of 9 mm ammo, though I had only one choice there. The more expensive copper or brass coated shells were sold out. I just had to take metal jacket which I think is nickel. Then I could not take the gun with me that day, because there was a backup at the Department of the government that ok's background checks. I waited in the store a short time but the background check was put on delay. Two days later it had passed and I had to drive back down to Racine to pick up my gun. Soooo...... though I had planned to buy a gun all along, like many others, I was affected by the mass fear and effects of mob mentality and I went out and bought a gun. I didn't buy any toilet paper though so I didn't totally lose rational judgement.<br />
<br />
I am going to do a little research on the drugs that might be useful for COVID 19, and on the vaccines. In the next report here I will try to give you some up to date info. There is some hope there. It is just gong to take some time to accomplish this.<br />
<br />
Stay safe out there and practice the hygiene and physical distancing from others recommended by all health scientists. But don't practice social distancing. Call your loved ones. Call those you haven't talked to in years. Send emails, texts, and even snail mail cards to raise other spirits. And we will get through this. <br />
<br /></div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer"><script type="text/javascript">
var _gaq = _gaq || [];
_gaq.push(['_setAccount', 'UA-17518819-1']);
_gaq.push(['_trackPageview']);
(function() {
var ga = document.createElement('script'); ga.type = 'text/javascript'; ga.async = true;
ga.src = ('https:' == document.location.protocol ? 'https://ssl' : 'http://www') + '.google-analytics.com/ga.js';
var s = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(ga, s);
})();
</script></div>RenRaehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17961222558357224052noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4207881053346095956.post-12599678803558222212020-03-20T20:30:00.000-05:002020-04-05T20:57:57.305-05:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
March 20, 2020: The Pandemic<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7qIlL89MQKZWB0W6JLuySpRE-MUpMvb8FOSFeSVhU8DZxE3nZiqsm7FPHLkLHnbf7fr9158bbAxssa74aHWVyN-bPQyZG0YQS-_LXg0J3gJrH07hfGRmIM2vvJn6YoYaV7caGj4GQ0iE/s1600/Coronavirus.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="577" data-original-width="748" height="307" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7qIlL89MQKZWB0W6JLuySpRE-MUpMvb8FOSFeSVhU8DZxE3nZiqsm7FPHLkLHnbf7fr9158bbAxssa74aHWVyN-bPQyZG0YQS-_LXg0J3gJrH07hfGRmIM2vvJn6YoYaV7caGj4GQ0iE/s400/Coronavirus.png" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
Notice the above date. An interesting combination of numbers. Maybe our numerology expert can give us some information on their significance. Well, we are certainly right now as I write this and as you read this experiencing a fantasmagoric event which shall be forever recorded in history. We are experiencing a very frightening pandemic of the Coronavirus Covid 19.<br />
<br />
It started in China in probably December but the Chinese Communist Party hid its presence from the rest of the world. We did not learn of it until the very end of December, 2019. Now there were two previous Coronavirus epidemics that were not so bad. In 2001 to 2002, SARS, Severe Acute Respiratory syndrome, started also in China and did spread around the world but not to any great extent. It seemed to peter out on its own and did not harm economies of the world. Then in 2012 to 2014, MERS, Middle Eastern Respiratory Syndrome, started in Saudi Arabia and might have had something to do with camels. It stayed mostly in that area, though there were two cases in the US in 2014. But fortunately that one also died out. In the beginning, the hope was that this novel Coronavirus would act the same way. However, China was hit very hard especially in the province in which it started. Then we heard of cases spreading in South Korea and elsewhere in southeast Asia. Our President, Donald Trump, made a fairly early decision to shut down the US to Chinese travelers especially from this province but also in general. Our west coast particularly receives large numbers of Chinese nationals daily and the fear was that this would rapidly import the virus to our country. Indeed, Trump faced harsh criticism for doing this so early. He was called racist, xenophobic, and even Nazi, for this decision. However, he went on to make light of the risk to our country. There is no doubt he was trying to reassure and calm the American people, but he was blamed for being slow to mount an all out protective and aggressive war on this disease. The problem was complicated by the fact that for the last 30 years, much of our manufacturing has been moved to China and we depend on them for all sorts of parts, and indeed large percentages of our pharmaceuticals, and even our hygienic protective gear like face masks. Meanwhile, the virus hit Italy dramatically because they had not shut down their borders. We have continued to close our borders, but the virus is here, as it is all over the world. It is a health, economic, and worldwide disaster. At this point in time, none of us know what will happen from here.<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Since one week ago today, there have been hourly changes in our status in the US. Currently everything is closed: all sports activities, schools, gym, restaurants and bars, and many many non essential businesses and services. The State of California is on a modified lockdown, with people only going out for food, or health care. Likewise New York City is locked down in the same way. In addition, there are hot spots in New Jersey, Florida, Washington State, and the Los Angeles and San Francisco area. Wisconsin is just starting the climb of cases with our first 3 deaths in the last 2 days and with about a thousand confirmed cases. This disease seems to be at least 3 times as contagious as Influenza, and it especially become lethal for our seniors and those with underlying health problems. Those are the ones who mostly die, but young people can also get sick enough to be hospitalized. Yet many young people get a relatively mild cough and cold but with fever. There is evidence that some almost don't realize they have this disease but shed the virus, a very dangerous situation. </blockquote>
<br />
Well, to try to avoid what is happening in Italy and Europe, and Iran, as well as China and southeast Asia, our economy is being closed down. The stock market has lost almost a third of its value from 3 weeks ago. And it is expected that there will be many more cases that are beginning to overwhelm our supply of ventilators and our protective health gear for the first responders and health care workers. There is huge debate about how to handle this. I feel that some good things are being done: the private sector is being called in to replace and add to the manufacturing of these health items that are in short supply. Hospital ships and even the possibility of cruise ships being moved to New York, San Francisco, LA, and maybe Miami to provide more hospital rooms. But our health care workers without enough protection are going to get sick themselves and there will be no one to staff these ships. Car companies are saying they can retool to make ventilators, but that will take some time. The Federal Reserve is doing what it can with interest rates, and Congress is slowly passing bills to provide money, to stimulate the economy and help people who are out of work. Tax day has been postponed to July 15. Prisoners who are due for release are being let out of prison because the virus is getting into the prisons. Meanwhile fear of civil unrest has made most gun shops sell out and ammunition is no where to be found. Well, I can't even begin to log here all the effects of this virus and our government's response to try to save lives.<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Well, I guess I would like to chronicle my reaction to all this. It think it is very typical of the average person over 65 in this country. We began to hear a lot about this about 10 days ago. Still we had no confirmed cases in the Milwaukee area and no evidence that there was community spread. All cases to that time had been tied to either international travel, or to national travel to hotspots in the US. These cases were still being isolated and their contacts were still being traced and self quarantined at home. A week ago Wednesday I drove by the grocery store and the parking lot was full. There was an obvious panic buying spree going on. I joined the panic a little bit though I had stocked up a few days before. The comical portion of this whole event was that people were wheeling cartloads of toilet paper to their cars. We have never discovered what that was. Hand sanitizers, disinfectant wipes, and rubbing alcohol were to next to fly off the shelves.</blockquote>
<br />
That was the first sign to me that we were in big trouble, much worse than just a normal flu season. It was being emphasized so strongly that we oldies were so much more at risk for lethal complications. No one knew entirely why, but statistics seemed to prove this. And Italy being one of the oldest countries in the world, citizen age wise, had death rate running very high, maybe 8 to 10 per cent.<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
One night last week, I lay awake thinking about what I would do if one of us got sick. I have somewhat of a special case. My husband is mild to moderately demented and would not be able to take care of me if I got the disease. I am having trouble explaining to him how we need to keep the outside out of the house and not contaminate surfaces in the house with things that have come from outside. I will say that he is washing his hands more than usual. If he got the disease, first of all he is at high risk for complications and severe disease because he is 83 years old, and has moderate renal failure in addition to the dementia. How would I take care of him without getting the disease myself. I began to run through some things I could do in my mind: use separate bathrooms, separate bedrooms, keep our areas apart, continue to wipe down all surfaces even more than I am now. I would be totally isolated in my efforts with no family in the area and no one to turn to. All of these thoughts kept me from sleeping.</blockquote>
<br />
In addition, coincident with this, perhaps because of me being on my feet more and running more errands to try to get ready for this event, I developed worse left sided back pain with radiation of an<br />
intense ache into my lateral left thigh and upper left calf. Clearly I had a pinched nerve in my back. I went to see my internist who agreed with me and gave me a Medrol dosepack. Great! Now I was on an immunosuppressive dose of prednisolone while a lethal disease is beginning to run rampant. At my Spirit Mind body group a week ago Thursday, I didn't hang around afterwards and on Friday at my water aerobics class I participated well away from others in the water and refused to play Canasta. After all, playing cards for 3 hours passing these cards from person to person without touching our faces, seemed very unhealthy to me. The next day, Saturday, I decided we would self quarantine except for having to go out to get groceries, or gas. I also have had to go out to get a prescription for gabapentin for my back when the Medrol Dosepak gone, my pain began to come back. When I go out for these necessary trips, I wear an N95 mask I have saved since my retirement 11 years ago, and I wear plastic gloves. Of course, being a physician, I understand sterile precautions and so I try to wipe down the inside of the car and door handles, and leave the packages that I can sit in the cold garage for 24 hours so that any virus particles on the paper bags can disappear. I handle the plastic bags and plastic wrap with care and dispose of it with care and wash my hands all the time. When I come into the house I wipe off the doorknobs and take off my coat and put that one aside for 2 to 3 day and use a different coat to go outside the house the next time. I immediately wash my hands then.<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
When I have to go to the bank, I just drive through. I use some alcohol in my car and cotton balls to wipe down the air tube carrier and to wipe down my ID after if I have to put that in the air tube container. If I use my credit card in a store I wipe it down with alcohol afterwards. It really becomes exceedingly anxiety producing to remember the order in which to do all this. I have no idea if I am exercising over kill for this virus or not, but I know that we just cannot get this bug. I could not handle it emotionally within our little household. Suddenly I know how a pathological germophobe feels.</blockquote>
<br />
Our sons and their families are also going through some sort of hell. My younger son has a 2 year old and his wife is 5 months pregnant and very nervous about all this. They live in California, which is a hot spot. They are practicing all these safe practices as well and my son is reading all about whatever new info comes out. Sometimes this might be a little encouraging but mostly it just adds to the fears. My oldest son is of course Chief of General Surgery at a midwestern University Hospital and is in the thick of things. He predicted last week that all elective surgery would be curtailed to preserve ventilators, hospital beds, and supplies and indeed that has happened. This will mean a great reduction in income, and he will likely have to go into the trenches to care for the sick. His wife teaches pharmacy and though the school is closed, she may be called in to deal with pharmaceuticals in the hospital. Their two boys at 13 and 10 are home alone and dealing with that. I worry about all of them.<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
No one can predict in any reliable fashion how long this will go on. It is true that our country is behind others in the onset of this spread here. That is because we closed our borders early. But we are having logarithmic increases in the infected and in deaths now. On an optomistic side, most agree with how the President is handling this and government in combination with the private sector are stepping up to help out. All of our experts and our President and Vice President are thinking outside the box to try to think of thousands of ways to help contain the virus and its spread, help the economy, and to help all those who have been sidelined at home and have no income coming in due to that fact. We are seeing thousands of little acts of kindness and ways to help people. Since many churches are closing, one priest held drive through confession in the parking lot. Everything is being done electronically and more and more ideas are coming forth to supply more electronic help. We have a new neighborhood hotline on our phones and people are volunteering to make runs to some of the few drive through restaurants to pick up food for anyone in the neighborhood to help support those restaurants. Perhaps we can maintain some degree of perspective and also hope that this will be over soon.</blockquote>
<br />
I plan to start posting every day or so describing our life under these circumstances. If nothing else I think it will have historic interest for readers who find my work many years later. That probably will be one little old lady like me who is interested in genealogical work and wants to know what her ancestors' lives were like during this historic time.<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer"><script type="text/javascript">
var _gaq = _gaq || [];
_gaq.push(['_setAccount', 'UA-17518819-1']);
_gaq.push(['_trackPageview']);
(function() {
var ga = document.createElement('script'); ga.type = 'text/javascript'; ga.async = true;
ga.src = ('https:' == document.location.protocol ? 'https://ssl' : 'http://www') + '.google-analytics.com/ga.js';
var s = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(ga, s);
})();
</script></div>RenRaehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17961222558357224052noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4207881053346095956.post-51705855154624026222019-05-22T23:02:00.002-05:002019-05-22T23:02:53.272-05:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Hello blog readers. I must admit total delinquency in posting to this blog. A year and a half have past since I have been true to my goal here. I have no excuse other than the journey of life itself and its various complexities. But here, at last, is another post.<br />
<br />
I have been reading a book. I often make this announcement to my friends who gather for coffee after our water aerobics class. One or the other of these friends usually cut me off right there and say, "Well, good for you." or "Isn't a book remarkable?" Well, this book that I want to tell you about here is a truly remarkable book.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLMhJ-S70osoVekRFexyPAu_eWffoaaAxRgs6-SEuyGnpG5IzqQulYlbUXyJ8WIM4buHkhy1FVmdXfI3IdsX1ojm0LdfaCFU6_nrkod7h8VFyWMMZJhj2gLs9VTanOlswsdZxlan1IwWg/s1600/Photo1.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="832" data-original-width="631" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLMhJ-S70osoVekRFexyPAu_eWffoaaAxRgs6-SEuyGnpG5IzqQulYlbUXyJ8WIM4buHkhy1FVmdXfI3IdsX1ojm0LdfaCFU6_nrkod7h8VFyWMMZJhj2gLs9VTanOlswsdZxlan1IwWg/s640/Photo1.PNG" width="483" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2kSyGkwsNd9vRG77HsuqbY9Y63fp40v-2yc5HKtdmF2hKrgEu1sNq0uffKzxSc8nWq4iEKUB1HvRiQJl_HtqtvWYoSFzj5OLWx5tssAWQTUGK3uFdi-AEZxgCWgRWCASAhPHzfToaUV4/s1600/photo2.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="913" data-original-width="701" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2kSyGkwsNd9vRG77HsuqbY9Y63fp40v-2yc5HKtdmF2hKrgEu1sNq0uffKzxSc8nWq4iEKUB1HvRiQJl_HtqtvWYoSFzj5OLWx5tssAWQTUGK3uFdi-AEZxgCWgRWCASAhPHzfToaUV4/s640/photo2.PNG" width="490" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
This book is more or less the life story of Tal Keinan who is an American Jew who in order to find his identity decides to become an Israeli citizen, as a 19 year old. He becomes an Israeli Air Force pilot and later instructor. After his military service is complete in Israel, he founds a company called Clarity for which he works half a year in Israel and half a year in the US. The book is well written and reads well as his life story. But mixed in with his experiences are very thoughtful analyses of the economics, sociology, religion, current divisions in politics of Israel, and the future challenges to the survival of the State of Israel. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I guess I am particularly interested in this topic, because I am an American, formerly a Protestant, now married for 52 years to an Israeli sabra. We have lived our married life completely in the US but at one time we considered going to live back in Israel. But my husband thought it would be difficult for me, not only being a non Jew but also because in the 1970s, life was just not as easy in Israel as it was here. There were not the aids to daily living that we had here in the US. There were no delis, no laundromats, no ease in finding household help. It was just harder to maintain a household. I was going to be a practicing physician and would need all those aids that I could get. So we made the decision to stay in the US. Now from this book I am indeed learning how difficult it would have been to go back and live there. That is not all I am learning. This book is not just for the Jew or even for someone directly connected to Judaism like me. There is a tremendous amount of info to learn on the current stalemate that the State of Israel is in. It's future is very questionable. I am half way through the book but the review says that the author has some ideas for ways out for Israel but the State needs to bring together the various factions and form a unified vision taking into account all the divisive forces. No doubt it will be tricky to accomplish this. But the world needs a unified Israel and this ideal needs to be accomplished. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
To give you an example of just one of the deep dilemmas that the author considers, he speaks about the Israel Air Force and its missions to respond to and protect innocent Israeli lives when Hezbollah from Lebanon, and Hamas from Gaza are lobbing rockets into Israeli villages to kill civilians there. The Air Force is often called in to carry out very tricky operations to eliminate those bombs or the firing squads. But neither of these terrorist organizations care about their civilians and they hide their munitions and themselves in private homes, hospitals, schools, etc. This makes it exceedingly difficult to prevent the use of the rockets or to retaliate. Accordingly Israeli forces do sometimes inadvertently kill Palestinian civilians. And then, often the world reacts negatively on Israel, whereas there was not even record of the rockets falling on Israel that forced Israel to react to protect itself. Here is what Tal Keinan says about some of these opinions and how they hurt in Israel.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
"But they (the Air Force pilots) pay a personal price, and large segments of the Israeli and world Jewish population fail to acknowledge it, A smaller but growing segment even view their defenders (Air force pilots and soldiers in general) with scorn. This attitude is not sustainable.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
"When mission we flew were condemned in global forums, I found I could accommodate the most unrestrained hypocrisy with equanimity. I did not care much about the misinformed opinions of commentators and institutions that had not been moved to action when Jews were being exterminated (in the Holocaust). We were no longer relying on these people to protect us, and we would not seek their approval when we protected ourselves.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
"It was the Israeli press, and the occasional global opinion piece by a European or an American Jew that upset me. It was a betrayal when a Jewish writer ignorantly portrayed us as cavalier in the face of Arab civilian casualties as if we were not doing everything in our power to prevent them, as if they did not haunt us personally, as if it had never occurred to us that they harmed Israel. When i read a Jewish writer casually throwing around nonsensical terms like 'disproportionate response' as though this war was a business transaction in which we would readily exchange the life of an Israeli civilian for that of a Palestinian civilian, as though defense by whatever means necessary was a privilege in which only American or Europeans were entitled. I felt undermined by the very people I was serving. "</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
This double standard has always been present in world dealings with Israel. This is just one conundrum that the author eruditely considers. I highly recommend this book.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<br />
</div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer"><script type="text/javascript">
var _gaq = _gaq || [];
_gaq.push(['_setAccount', 'UA-17518819-1']);
_gaq.push(['_trackPageview']);
(function() {
var ga = document.createElement('script'); ga.type = 'text/javascript'; ga.async = true;
ga.src = ('https:' == document.location.protocol ? 'https://ssl' : 'http://www') + '.google-analytics.com/ga.js';
var s = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(ga, s);
})();
</script></div>RenRaehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17961222558357224052noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4207881053346095956.post-9859952149131426532017-10-01T20:12:00.000-05:002017-10-01T20:12:34.270-05:00Muir Knoll, Madison, WI<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
The current issue of On Wisconsin, the University of Wisconsin Alumni Magazine has a picture on the back page of what it calls Muir Knoll. I certainly have memories of this hilltop on campus in Madison, but I never knew that it was called Muir Knoll, named after of course, Wisconsin's well known naturalist, John Muir. This spot on the bluff overlooking Lake Mendota is located just North and across the street from Bascom Hall, and just up the winding road from Student Union down on the Lake. <br />
<br />
<img class="mfp-img" height="425" src="https://onwisconsin.uwalumni.com/content/uploads/2017/05/Muir_Knoll17_2091.jpg" style="max-height: 687px;" width="640" /><br />
<br />
If you still can't place this spot, here is a link to youtube containing various slides of the Knoll during its recent history. It is the last slide that shows the picture I remember as a large part of my future life and it occurred on Muir Knoll.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SMF3dE5IYhg">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SMF3dE5IYhg</a><br />
<br />
Now do you remember it? The area is just north of Bascom Hall and is really the north extension of the peak of Bascom Hill. Observatory Drive passes by this bump in the hill projecting toward Lake Mendota. The Lakeshore Path leaves this open grassy area and continues east along the shore of Lake Mendota through a woods that appropriately enough is named Muir Woods. Following Observatory Drive in its double back path to the west takes you down to the UW Theatre attached to UW Student Union at a even level with Lake Mendota. <br />
<br />
Muir Knoll has quite a history that I was not aware of. When UW's own John Muir was a student at UW, he had his first botany lesson taught to him by a fellow student by the name of Griswold, who taught Muir to identify a black locust tree growing on the knoll along Observation Drive. Muir knew that its flowers at the time looked like pea blossoms and he couldn't understand how the members of one plant family could include the flimsy vining pea and the majesty of a black locust tree. This lesson had a significant meaning in Muir's life and he long remembered it. This north knob of Bascom Hill was dedicated as Muir Knoll in an elaborate ceremony on the site in 1918 A plaque on the Knoll marks this occasion. <br />
<br />
In the 1920s a group of students with faculty support built a wooden ski jump from the Knoll down toward Lake Mendota and there was participation in competitions for about 10 years on that wooden jump. Later as the wood deteriorated, it was replaced by a strong steel jump, that was used off and on until it was torn down in 1953. <br />
<br />
Also various professors would hold class outdoors in good weather on the Knoll. Best known was the "Folk Lore" meetings held by the director of the Historical Society which led to another name for Muir Knoll -- Storeyteller's Hill. The Folk Lore Meetings even preceded the ski jump era.<br />
<br />
I suspect that Muir Knoll was always a popular love trysting spot. It is told that even the ski jump became part of such lovers' meetings. That is how I remember the Knoll. I met my future husband at the Student Union the summer before I entered Medical School at UW Madison. We spent much of that summer together as often as we could be together outside of both of our jobs -- me as a microbiologist in the Entomology Department and my boyfriend (future husband) was working two jobs, one in the physics lab and the other as the swimming pool keeper at a private dorm on Langdon Street just west of the Union. He had a second floor apartment on State Street. I was at that time living on Orchard Street near Regent with a roommate I brought along from my undergrad years at University of Iowa. I remember one night that fall as my boyfriend and I began to talk about our future, we walked up from the Union to Muir Knoll. At that time there was no stone circle there as there is now. That was created in ??. There was just the stone bench. It was a chilly fall night, but we sat on that bench and talked about what we were going to do with our relationship. Our backgrounds were so different, he from Israel and Jewish, and me nothing at the time, but certainly having been raised a Protestant. What would a marriage between us look like? We agonized over this for a couple months. But I recall that discussion beginning that night on Muir Knoll. And yes, there was a lovers' tryst between us which began at that time. <br />
<br />
Just to let everyone know, that we finally quit agonizing over our relationship. We decided to jump into life together even though my family was very negative. We got married the following summer. And this last June 10, 2017 we celebrated our 50th Wedding Anniversary. That is why you saw a post about our Anniversary Trip to Yellowstone Park a few posts ago where we also brought our two sons and their families together with us. <br />
<br />
Who would have thought that it all would be starting there on Muir Knoll? Life is certainly an amazing surprise. I think if we are willing to just jump into life and take a risk, at least for me and mine, things work out. There may be rough spots, but my philosophy of life says that "It always works out!"<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer"><script type="text/javascript">
var _gaq = _gaq || [];
_gaq.push(['_setAccount', 'UA-17518819-1']);
_gaq.push(['_trackPageview']);
(function() {
var ga = document.createElement('script'); ga.type = 'text/javascript'; ga.async = true;
ga.src = ('https:' == document.location.protocol ? 'https://ssl' : 'http://www') + '.google-analytics.com/ga.js';
var s = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(ga, s);
})();
</script></div>RenRaehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17961222558357224052noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4207881053346095956.post-15699739596670049722017-08-29T20:29:00.000-05:002017-08-29T20:29:07.951-05:00What drifts by on Lake Michigan<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
My husband and I have now lived on a bluff overlooking Lake Michigan north of Milwaukee for 19 years. I never tire of the view of this lake. One of the most exciting things to view from our large east facing windows is the weather. The oft remarked cliche: If you don't like the weather, wait 5 minutes" is certainly personified by what I see as I look out over the Lake. <br />
<br />
Given my longtime interest in birdwatching, it is not surprising that I am constantly on the alert for birds flying along the Lake front, or resting on the lake. Of course, given that our bluff is about 100 feet high, and about 2 acres long, any birds on the surface of the lake are necessarily quite distant. However, if I see something unusual, I will do my best to get a photo. The following series of photos was taken in about 2010. For some reason in May of that year, a small family group of tundra (whistling) swans decided to come to rest just off of the point of land that our lot makes into Lake Michigan. They spent half a day just resting and floating and in general gathering energy to continue their migration north, I assume. I called everyone that I could think of and invited them over to take a look through my spotting scope. Here are a couple photos that I obtained during that time. There is a photo of the bluff as well. This was when I was still trying to slow the erosion on the bluff. I had thrown a whole package of vetch seed over the bluff and this plant had seeded quite well. There are still some patches of these plants notable on the bluff. This seed was used a lot on roadways but it was found that such a monoculture was hard on wild life and also the plant became invasive and difficult to eradicate. It has invaded natural areas from roadsides where it was planted to control erosion. I didn't know this at the time that I threw the seed over the bluff, but even so our bluff was so defoliated at that time I was excepting of any plant growth at all. Other plants have now replaced some of this crown vetch.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhl90B-cT2xySev0piVqjAe7PLJphSszW8t9qrIyLWk6911ns4CohjVJt2MSRq4Vsaw1fB8mtfUQ3qs3szFaZrPN0ZJf09J5k6Wj5HHJ7ORtoDFKDEMfM_P-i9DU0Nwf5ESCP1aMGs-6M/s1600/swans+004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="573" data-original-width="873" height="420" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhl90B-cT2xySev0piVqjAe7PLJphSszW8t9qrIyLWk6911ns4CohjVJt2MSRq4Vsaw1fB8mtfUQ3qs3szFaZrPN0ZJf09J5k6Wj5HHJ7ORtoDFKDEMfM_P-i9DU0Nwf5ESCP1aMGs-6M/s640/swans+004.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tundra swan family resting for 1/2 day on Lake Michigan.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLstekt5BIgwLosn4qZdwiiztzZtvEP4QuJPIfqbKuX-Pmoan4H9LpoBBOluCirRoMwfAAaetq2XwDJtb_Wbileuqc3Q9NGdOEA19yCxYgviR2ZqQm2mkFGjPBuv3lLmeWyUi1tTgIE-4/s1600/swans+005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1063" data-original-width="1600" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLstekt5BIgwLosn4qZdwiiztzZtvEP4QuJPIfqbKuX-Pmoan4H9LpoBBOluCirRoMwfAAaetq2XwDJtb_Wbileuqc3Q9NGdOEA19yCxYgviR2ZqQm2mkFGjPBuv3lLmeWyUi1tTgIE-4/s640/swans+005.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The purple flowering vine in lower right side of photo is the invasive non Native vetch, called crown vetch</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
This year, a large number of white pelicans have been seen at various locations along the Lake Michigan coast, in quite large numbers. I am always amazed at my ability to look up and see something unusual out over the lake. I happened to be weeding my flower beds in June, when I looked up and saw this group of large birds flying north and then they turned and flew back south toward Fox Point, north of Milwaukee. I later had postings on friend's facebook about seeing these birds at various points and parks along the southern Wisconsin Lake Michigan shore. They are magnificent birds especially in a large group like this.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGnCddERgJhfzhVyS_vBbvfkVSntv4RP_IFsAbq8UDdR60RK87nTgbcbNMXYk5OXuRDjhY_2fTQvA4TpoLwPvvKf7GIN_vXQrPxiv2EVJyhsr19j2VZFHo4QN5XUxV2FsWgyItDvbE3m4/s1600/DSC_0154.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1063" data-original-width="1600" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGnCddERgJhfzhVyS_vBbvfkVSntv4RP_IFsAbq8UDdR60RK87nTgbcbNMXYk5OXuRDjhY_2fTQvA4TpoLwPvvKf7GIN_vXQrPxiv2EVJyhsr19j2VZFHo4QN5XUxV2FsWgyItDvbE3m4/s640/DSC_0154.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK_3RsN6Disw9c7b1Y2tyZzmXK9C0AY_K4iyuKQ508cx4wqldJy42PwUEdKtHzuXEYPYwGCBLfc2g9FmzW8sJbt7TsocpXR5MLliJvOgPB1J9m8HLdwc0whO0MaUfW10d9pfkyg5drPk8/s1600/DSC_0155.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1063" data-original-width="1600" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK_3RsN6Disw9c7b1Y2tyZzmXK9C0AY_K4iyuKQ508cx4wqldJy42PwUEdKtHzuXEYPYwGCBLfc2g9FmzW8sJbt7TsocpXR5MLliJvOgPB1J9m8HLdwc0whO0MaUfW10d9pfkyg5drPk8/s640/DSC_0155.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoTk4k_p-iPYTn31_QPy3Kgs2cWwzXcV7JLPm9tTYJwKiodCwrJ6rXWz7EbyV8TaF8ab3S3vaCL1h0FmAX7xA__q_XpnMzTgBTe34xfa11h4QXZM3GBmBuxmRFHyA-BLshAXq0blKd20I/s1600/pelicans.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="405" data-original-width="540" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoTk4k_p-iPYTn31_QPy3Kgs2cWwzXcV7JLPm9tTYJwKiodCwrJ6rXWz7EbyV8TaF8ab3S3vaCL1h0FmAX7xA__q_XpnMzTgBTe34xfa11h4QXZM3GBmBuxmRFHyA-BLshAXq0blKd20I/s640/pelicans.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div>
About 500 white pelicans in Manitowoc, WI harbor on June 17, 2017. </div>
<div>
Photo by P. T. Wallen, published in Herald Times Reporter of Manitowoc.</div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
As the years have passed, wild turkeys have become more and more common in many urban areas. The Milwaukee area and our backyard are no exceptions. Here are seen a group of hens grazing their way across our backyard. Sometimes I have noticed that they have a hard time learning from one another how to get over these fences. These birds in these photos seem to have figured it out pretty readily, but I have seen a single left behind hen run up and down along this fence for a couple hours rather than fly over it. I don't know if this is just laziness and difficulty thinking about flying over or if it is ignorance. I guess I have never thought of turkeys as extremely bright birds.<br />
However, I may be wrong. I have done some research on wild turkeys in Wisconsin. By the 1970s due to hunting, these birds were almost absent from Wisconsin. However, they were re introduced in various natural areas in the central part of the state accomplished with a trade of Missouri turkeys for Wisconsin ruffed grouse. At this date, turkeys are prominent in all 72 Wisconsin counties including urban and suburban Milwaukee County. Apparently our bird feeders, and overgrazing by deer have provided food and the forest edge habitat that the turkeys like. They may be more adaptive than we have ever thought. They have even been seen on the Federal Plaza in downtown Milwaukee. The absence of predators such as coyote where humans are very populous also helps them succeed very well.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiliIDgi8B5gcV0JzS8oYD6z4c4z-MbfKLJnfSSuXRbJ8T0zBpdGcXgWop0CLrcTZJN120gLmIBM57Jm9W-K8Hwmxk58DF9_lHIyX9OjVQHbWACwzqxV9uCD86AWGx0Urmoqzw7yK8YQIE/s1600/Will%252C+Indy+Zoo%252C+etc+4.2010+144.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1063" data-original-width="1600" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiliIDgi8B5gcV0JzS8oYD6z4c4z-MbfKLJnfSSuXRbJ8T0zBpdGcXgWop0CLrcTZJN120gLmIBM57Jm9W-K8Hwmxk58DF9_lHIyX9OjVQHbWACwzqxV9uCD86AWGx0Urmoqzw7yK8YQIE/s640/Will%252C+Indy+Zoo%252C+etc+4.2010+144.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjui6rPeFBHkic5mAoIiDSr2Gxr7d_WX_GkC6nq4U6Vir_mob6JsXXOqfjhckf_5EzYgecIRUtlUnnIraVTLwSDNAdH7gKe0PTJ1xvwo1Z7Vfd11TKJoXENHhh6_0Va9pqZZ4HoGn2EbR4/s1600/Will%252C+Indy+Zoo%252C+etc+4.2010+150.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1063" data-original-width="1600" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjui6rPeFBHkic5mAoIiDSr2Gxr7d_WX_GkC6nq4U6Vir_mob6JsXXOqfjhckf_5EzYgecIRUtlUnnIraVTLwSDNAdH7gKe0PTJ1xvwo1Z7Vfd11TKJoXENHhh6_0Va9pqZZ4HoGn2EbR4/s640/Will%252C+Indy+Zoo%252C+etc+4.2010+150.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZADpp4z1NYPxFxXtdofGTcLMWyJ5bsRZak39WMoT9VQJHyEhP-yuzmCn4-ROVapGV5J-MKuem59rVL7TR9l7QJiekaqNnqKTyKakXFtjZCUlUrVzazkamwhinvwOU1RYklGxYN_rwZF0/s1600/014.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1063" data-original-width="1600" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZADpp4z1NYPxFxXtdofGTcLMWyJ5bsRZak39WMoT9VQJHyEhP-yuzmCn4-ROVapGV5J-MKuem59rVL7TR9l7QJiekaqNnqKTyKakXFtjZCUlUrVzazkamwhinvwOU1RYklGxYN_rwZF0/s640/014.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuslxZhDlJI0eGW4UQXt2jkc74ZqGWolqiANM6M9cY6NnWeIvxsZIAeoSkcOMuiRhKR4eDiBjikDEm-90Ow0Bewvonmdz_HauEMPa9fQMBVbRrquhgyMtqdxXG8mhYY35YiKEn08I74UE/s1600/033.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1063" data-original-width="1600" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuslxZhDlJI0eGW4UQXt2jkc74ZqGWolqiANM6M9cY6NnWeIvxsZIAeoSkcOMuiRhKR4eDiBjikDEm-90Ow0Bewvonmdz_HauEMPa9fQMBVbRrquhgyMtqdxXG8mhYY35YiKEn08I74UE/s640/033.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi115i3tJ341g4hOKzbLJ3VwsBt5_525rwvNcrwVXn-oRia_KXvSXTLL6hxszAcEGiBM69JI0zLc6hKzFZx83V3RgjUqmQ_Ot7VyNPSI819Alqc6mfiXF7cmyHO1Bm2yedYVLmk6Ku8F_8/s1600/Will%252C+Indy+Zoo%252C+etc+4.2010+158.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1063" data-original-width="1600" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi115i3tJ341g4hOKzbLJ3VwsBt5_525rwvNcrwVXn-oRia_KXvSXTLL6hxszAcEGiBM69JI0zLc6hKzFZx83V3RgjUqmQ_Ot7VyNPSI819Alqc6mfiXF7cmyHO1Bm2yedYVLmk6Ku8F_8/s640/Will%252C+Indy+Zoo%252C+etc+4.2010+158.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Living here on Lake Michigan, we have been fortunate to have a pair of bald eagles as close neighbors for about 8 years. Now I am told that their nest tree has collapsed but I still occasionally see them on the bluff so they are still nesting in the area. In the photos below, we have one of that year's youngsters sitting on our neighbor's chimney.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLjeBwU_s0c4clgNTR-uJD2cbQ7x3LhWDxvRuZJ7qS2Jgn256xKtCerZfF9AlAwU8QPZ8pJdnJED0flLJNpfBynvXAiFcJV_9MdvvLeFd8_Pw08jEP6v8KIGQIPGOAJ229Ult4sSDNteY/s1600/Eagle+006a.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="945" data-original-width="1600" height="378" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLjeBwU_s0c4clgNTR-uJD2cbQ7x3LhWDxvRuZJ7qS2Jgn256xKtCerZfF9AlAwU8QPZ8pJdnJED0flLJNpfBynvXAiFcJV_9MdvvLeFd8_Pw08jEP6v8KIGQIPGOAJ229Ult4sSDNteY/s640/Eagle+006a.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyvNAFJ5lEZDxZ0CkELTyUtIYm9tai3cfvsxrh_nGtPFChmHDEXcpxhkQVqt0Vi1cIkERKalAhGybCyWgwoGtcXnBB4yowWtFkdDTzUyXhXxxSvCWgKIaUkZYkX-f0Eqda12X7bYqdZpQ/s1600/Eagle+007a.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1192" data-original-width="1600" height="476" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyvNAFJ5lEZDxZ0CkELTyUtIYm9tai3cfvsxrh_nGtPFChmHDEXcpxhkQVqt0Vi1cIkERKalAhGybCyWgwoGtcXnBB4yowWtFkdDTzUyXhXxxSvCWgKIaUkZYkX-f0Eqda12X7bYqdZpQ/s640/Eagle+007a.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">You can see that this is an immature bald eagle because of the lack of a white head, and the amount of white on its body.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh71tNxHs-AfN5u1Y2FNfoxWN3-WCT_c2N5iIwC3gxo0PSi_Unr5QgfHQ8q_8SMkTI-eCjPFaSEZSEo4Z-CSXownISq6O3fF4ry6yd8LcKj98W-Ey5zuoq8FEw4p5elK5yz4UrxWyc-0yU/s1600/July%252C+2010+473.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1065" data-original-width="1600" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh71tNxHs-AfN5u1Y2FNfoxWN3-WCT_c2N5iIwC3gxo0PSi_Unr5QgfHQ8q_8SMkTI-eCjPFaSEZSEo4Z-CSXownISq6O3fF4ry6yd8LcKj98W-Ey5zuoq8FEw4p5elK5yz4UrxWyc-0yU/s640/July%252C+2010+473.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One Baltimore oriole among many; this one waiting its turn for the jelly feeder.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyv-_RBKAex_95hyphenhyphen1Y6Hsn-px88zizRaqCeuvjUIjLRjA19-3J-qJZv4zW9EQSBmm0RH3IxHX4-Qw6g_Wa8oW0YIZQgPviz8Hz-oVZlFZOu75A3u2CEWjWPIdZObu-9Yu45C-ajZwmyvs/s1600/July%252C+2010+490.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1065" data-original-width="1600" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyv-_RBKAex_95hyphenhyphen1Y6Hsn-px88zizRaqCeuvjUIjLRjA19-3J-qJZv4zW9EQSBmm0RH3IxHX4-Qw6g_Wa8oW0YIZQgPviz8Hz-oVZlFZOu75A3u2CEWjWPIdZObu-9Yu45C-ajZwmyvs/s640/July%252C+2010+490.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">White crowned sparrows and goldfinches at the feeders and oranges for the orioles in May.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3voNX3RNGytWDGo2es5XRVWBhdQp2MOi2ZTR9llDewWV1eZP0M1NS1Glze_AONGgRO2xLjR4ws2m6ZK_wXLwCXWuIIe0lzAci62mis8BoqrTLNQehgN2f1fGC3u-hMmubN848oAVYgpw/s1600/Greisha+visit%252C+Milwaukee%252C+local+birds+055.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1063" data-original-width="1600" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3voNX3RNGytWDGo2es5XRVWBhdQp2MOi2ZTR9llDewWV1eZP0M1NS1Glze_AONGgRO2xLjR4ws2m6ZK_wXLwCXWuIIe0lzAci62mis8BoqrTLNQehgN2f1fGC3u-hMmubN848oAVYgpw/s640/Greisha+visit%252C+Milwaukee%252C+local+birds+055.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My water feature in the late fall: this year's bluebird family bathing in the water and on top of the icy coating.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJF6KCzhmsP_XLQf4ZeXKqPZRBIA-emLpFEHSusc0VqHL-v-R0blIlzdonvL3X9ON0cYQ82bsU67cgIaskC1UvuX-jEwryVIs0_cN4sqL9_cpRfe8kmtG3hMHX1pVMHFa-lPGMTVwvOk8/s1600/Greisha+visit%252C+Milwaukee%252C+local+birds+056.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1063" data-original-width="1600" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJF6KCzhmsP_XLQf4ZeXKqPZRBIA-emLpFEHSusc0VqHL-v-R0blIlzdonvL3X9ON0cYQ82bsU67cgIaskC1UvuX-jEwryVIs0_cN4sqL9_cpRfe8kmtG3hMHX1pVMHFa-lPGMTVwvOk8/s640/Greisha+visit%252C+Milwaukee%252C+local+birds+056.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXLVsd-ILkOVF5cooVZrxKyH1lph2M8J0D8YWYuzyFuYNTk1DNFhp_nc8IIfZrOUUmhCU5Q1xDl5hz1JOjoiTtAkoRGJDDCMyYKdDj77VaAtOPJ4aNnyIPn4IkKKFq0eW7eRIRwesZ4vI/s1600/039.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1063" data-original-width="1600" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXLVsd-ILkOVF5cooVZrxKyH1lph2M8J0D8YWYuzyFuYNTk1DNFhp_nc8IIfZrOUUmhCU5Q1xDl5hz1JOjoiTtAkoRGJDDCMyYKdDj77VaAtOPJ4aNnyIPn4IkKKFq0eW7eRIRwesZ4vI/s640/039.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In this series of photos, a Cooper's hawk has grabbed a songbird and is cleaning the carcass before taking it back to its youngsters in the nest.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQrTIIikkO8jucvrk6X9jgw8guY__wk6TOxJqyy8V1BcPYoep88DEDaeDyleqatHCy2CTxWDBBs-FaT1AlAUjxSACSoggUYxJ3mLVTcmEC5icx-XpTy5aj8izk5IFOIESOi6AVsAZjOZk/s1600/042.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1063" data-original-width="1600" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQrTIIikkO8jucvrk6X9jgw8guY__wk6TOxJqyy8V1BcPYoep88DEDaeDyleqatHCy2CTxWDBBs-FaT1AlAUjxSACSoggUYxJ3mLVTcmEC5icx-XpTy5aj8izk5IFOIESOi6AVsAZjOZk/s640/042.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSBVxxuCmHMJ641rL_eW5sHKcfSQNA55-HI1qNmBzvZ7Nvq_pBb0todd-KGFyXhPIW-EYsu2wAiftPT8sRFPlW_jE5KK4ani25cikFWy7zVQO3NJ_Lj9hSPWPeC2dMIqKISq3ZyAafubo/s1600/DSC_0918.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1063" data-original-width="1600" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSBVxxuCmHMJ641rL_eW5sHKcfSQNA55-HI1qNmBzvZ7Nvq_pBb0todd-KGFyXhPIW-EYsu2wAiftPT8sRFPlW_jE5KK4ani25cikFWy7zVQO3NJ_Lj9hSPWPeC2dMIqKISq3ZyAafubo/s640/DSC_0918.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A spotted towhee, on the ground. This bird's famous call: "Drink your tee!"</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
A certain times each year, we see huge numbers of dragonflies going up and down along Lake Michigan. They seem to be particularly attracted to Lake Michigan, though they are seen in few numbers inland. They are feeding on flying insects and my theory is that since there is no vegetation on the Lake and therefore less insects, these "hawks" of the insect world congregate at Lake Michigan's edge. This particular species is quite large and beautiful and goes by a common name of the green pond hawk.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsZ-vikU3kG-sdiYsmNgs6tUMdxjgQHQ60bcL2_vlv7BDVU5u9c2OY3vkK-1TgEWn2xUxsVPiRddMVWgFg6JTkXZ2hkPRCKgpnB4TMflliAlun9Lysh1ezWinJrqS5kXXaNExM7_KXPhI/s1600/Miram%252CRivkavisit+152.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1063" data-original-width="1600" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsZ-vikU3kG-sdiYsmNgs6tUMdxjgQHQ60bcL2_vlv7BDVU5u9c2OY3vkK-1TgEWn2xUxsVPiRddMVWgFg6JTkXZ2hkPRCKgpnB4TMflliAlun9Lysh1ezWinJrqS5kXXaNExM7_KXPhI/s640/Miram%252CRivkavisit+152.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgNqD1DJbPtetXEh2lDFL24DCe1caRSzAS_c5UiMs5mXgLsfnfPIGcTJ7v-tAI2qzCQJN5mKNWIU7FKTZjFovoxgniXd7oMSnOC1I4wglaBJX8Gc7TdCrOcOGLvE9o3zrmPM3mFLVgDlo/s1600/dragonflies%252Cflowers+051.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgNqD1DJbPtetXEh2lDFL24DCe1caRSzAS_c5UiMs5mXgLsfnfPIGcTJ7v-tAI2qzCQJN5mKNWIU7FKTZjFovoxgniXd7oMSnOC1I4wglaBJX8Gc7TdCrOcOGLvE9o3zrmPM3mFLVgDlo/s640/dragonflies%252Cflowers+051.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisCFdeRItYskcQD_XyAp1D2zcy1k5ETDDj2KlQKomjEDwwO8vwmTQNhOAU55LpsLjDlUc2oc6ZmLAiyfnf4t5gNuZFX_Z6tOrzrk1sd46NC0ZLLxzjpXPZhdloBy6gW9WDr0ciUOMaJQA/s1600/dragonflies%252Cflowers+060a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisCFdeRItYskcQD_XyAp1D2zcy1k5ETDDj2KlQKomjEDwwO8vwmTQNhOAU55LpsLjDlUc2oc6ZmLAiyfnf4t5gNuZFX_Z6tOrzrk1sd46NC0ZLLxzjpXPZhdloBy6gW9WDr0ciUOMaJQA/s640/dragonflies%252Cflowers+060a.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Monarchs have become somewhat more rare due to habitat loss; here is one on my Echinacea.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
Of course, no natural history section about Lake Michigan would be complete without the white tailed deer, an animal that is at once lovable (Ah, Bambi.) and also in my mind as a flower gardener, a huge species of "rat", that is prolific and destructive. But what human can look at the bottom two photos and not have a warm hear?<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJhR0YP39R312P4tXWCrxZGVn-sGIw2vNIuPAV8iTKrwX-evhsWZQiZ5xen5Zj6qAGU-gE_trv3jUzWyPMXaBqESBl_e0gOhyphenhyphenYmAOthyphenhyphen3f77LP680CPHbRa8_an5yu3lp1e5Hhc2hwU0Y/s1600/Unknown+004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1009" data-original-width="1600" height="402" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJhR0YP39R312P4tXWCrxZGVn-sGIw2vNIuPAV8iTKrwX-evhsWZQiZ5xen5Zj6qAGU-gE_trv3jUzWyPMXaBqESBl_e0gOhyphenhyphenYmAOthyphenhyphen3f77LP680CPHbRa8_an5yu3lp1e5Hhc2hwU0Y/s640/Unknown+004.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh59fD6zSueJZi-9FMIbElzDSXqr4bea6vcOMT3PRxi8almskuVNQefdX9TQZJT5ZAbwGVhpxFhtowUUa7yBngeT6_oIovQ_taJzruA-ix6f1DmbQdDssWT9aSD4KT4nZ0rNWVXxwgfXh0/s1600/071.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1063" data-original-width="1600" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh59fD6zSueJZi-9FMIbElzDSXqr4bea6vcOMT3PRxi8almskuVNQefdX9TQZJT5ZAbwGVhpxFhtowUUa7yBngeT6_oIovQ_taJzruA-ix6f1DmbQdDssWT9aSD4KT4nZ0rNWVXxwgfXh0/s640/071.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD-lhqMufI0PD75Ohil3aJCuvXIq2fbPmpoYj_tmqct8_J4BzeGv3Uw3FN_SiWhsE6WifmUqI-fETiciyOmGM-W1u61afLcifbH5P1reUi8IhVuEqVHGjodYRZGhbn9ghexnqX3cbL7ZM/s1600/075.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1063" data-original-width="1600" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD-lhqMufI0PD75Ohil3aJCuvXIq2fbPmpoYj_tmqct8_J4BzeGv3Uw3FN_SiWhsE6WifmUqI-fETiciyOmGM-W1u61afLcifbH5P1reUi8IhVuEqVHGjodYRZGhbn9ghexnqX3cbL7ZM/s640/075.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
Milwaukee is lucky to have the Denis Sullivan Great Lake Schooner, a partial copy and hand built in Milwaukee by over a thousand volunteers, and over a million volunteer hours, conceived and designed in 1991 and completed in 2000. Above the water, this Denis Sullivan looks very much like the cargo lake schooner that plied Lake Michigan waters in the 1800s. It has 3 masts, ten sails: 3 main sails, 3 raffees, 3 jibs and a flying jib. Below water this ship varies from the lake schooner for safety purposes in that it has a much deeper weighted keel allowing 6 foot 4 inches of head room below decks. This type of ship was once commonly used to ply the waters of the Great Lakes. As far as we know this is the only modern lake schooner in use in the world. The Dennis Sullivan spends summers in Milwaukee, offering day sails, and tours, and participating in various Tall Ships events in port cities up and down Lake Michigan. In winter, it usually sails up the St. Lawrence River and out to sea to winter in either Florida, or the Caribbean, returning every summer to its birth at Discovery World Museum in downtown Milwaukee.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTUnNvDMiQgqZfnyiuZkn9nKJLKlJMZejqcwbwIu5mlxX94fIQoVvzlx-FMFxtvBbsL2pdXBr3f9SLk8LnlCUY1UtfqTCjQdINmp15dJcOpstRajZBaQNbULHMk4020Yy1kcH843tK6ZY/s1600/Richard+Spielman+002+%25288%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1063" data-original-width="1600" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTUnNvDMiQgqZfnyiuZkn9nKJLKlJMZejqcwbwIu5mlxX94fIQoVvzlx-FMFxtvBbsL2pdXBr3f9SLk8LnlCUY1UtfqTCjQdINmp15dJcOpstRajZBaQNbULHMk4020Yy1kcH843tK6ZY/s640/Richard+Spielman+002+%25288%2529.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoZ8YXWxXr0gynWBAACrTyuiWshyZlRy4am392RcXgILZzplVzT23Tkq6pyNx8Ywgi8J6fQ2M8IET-DlxQL_Ez6P4pWDAqz5OGzUYbl4M8WJwPgGYN8Nku6DBVwbqwgA-AC4Xz0Y-YDUg/s1600/Richard+Spielman+0023.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="438" data-original-width="665" height="420" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoZ8YXWxXr0gynWBAACrTyuiWshyZlRy4am392RcXgILZzplVzT23Tkq6pyNx8Ywgi8J6fQ2M8IET-DlxQL_Ez6P4pWDAqz5OGzUYbl4M8WJwPgGYN8Nku6DBVwbqwgA-AC4Xz0Y-YDUg/s640/Richard+Spielman+0023.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdM2fPhyphenhyphen6ku5sQHVGB5zQGPeO2KP9XDVBCSdV_ScOz7SBszNsFfWMWLiWwSFGFAq5rWN1RBDcaxt-wwZ95XGYpQCkjI-TTBSguO4x30zwKZr9p-d7LMkT3i4-cVdUUYFqnTqqFYZzCUqg/s1600/Denis+Sullivan.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="161" data-original-width="314" height="205" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdM2fPhyphenhyphen6ku5sQHVGB5zQGPeO2KP9XDVBCSdV_ScOz7SBszNsFfWMWLiWwSFGFAq5rWN1RBDcaxt-wwZ95XGYpQCkjI-TTBSguO4x30zwKZr9p-d7LMkT3i4-cVdUUYFqnTqqFYZzCUqg/s400/Denis+Sullivan.png" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
Beginning on August 13, 2012, Chicago hosted a Navy Week of celebration at Navy Pier commemorating the bicentennial of the War of 1812. Many activities centered on this well known landmark in downtown Chicago. Two US Navy ships, a US Coast Guard ship, as well as two Canadian Navy ships participated in this celebratory week at various times. The Canadian Navy ships were the HMCS Moncton 708 and its sister ship HMCS Summerside 711. These two Canadian ships are in the Kinston class of coastal defense vessels. Built n 1998, the Moncton is a minesweeper type vessel but also has participated in world wide Canadian deployment, several times to the Arctic in Operation Nanook, to participate in naval exercise off Denmark and Norway, to West Africa also to participate with naval exercises with the Liberian Navy, and various other missions around the Canadian eastern coast. The Moncton is 181 feet long, 37 feet wide, and draws 11 feet. I am telling you about this ship, because I looked out at our little segment of the lake one morning and there was this grey large ship anchored off our point. With the binoculars I was able to see the Canadian Maple Leaf flag, and I could see its classification number MM708. This allowed me to identify it. The ship was anchored there for most of the day. At times some seamen were working over the side of the ship on its aft, I thought, perhaps painting. This was in 2012 and I am sure the ship had come from its deployment to Chicago. By evening the ship was gone. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxt1ggUwFK0jLSa_cZinDEH-gIKT0URVf1hsXAhNzjpJRPSSwOAj3dv3KGvD4LP9FGsaUHl4M8tCoC0Bq6OSoRH_N5czcRPaOr2uXHp3NnMwUpdKI9Bw-bCoDX90qA5zkppi9QuGHOMEg/s1600/moncton-708.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="787" data-original-width="1180" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxt1ggUwFK0jLSa_cZinDEH-gIKT0URVf1hsXAhNzjpJRPSSwOAj3dv3KGvD4LP9FGsaUHl4M8tCoC0Bq6OSoRH_N5czcRPaOr2uXHp3NnMwUpdKI9Bw-bCoDX90qA5zkppi9QuGHOMEg/s640/moncton-708.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
Of course, any gathering of what is viewed on lake Michigan has to include sunrises, sunsets, the moon rise, clouds and storms. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuYZb-xiEkrOcgKPOYf0Un4kpMR2hqw-Gl0FStcdsY-GKvZybTUKDFu9tDn5p4nMxWdkv7VQ9wYm6bFxLdp7pzaHk2QKbE4fSXqs3aGEjrUxUaOErROawJHRCUBe7tbcS7JlSVf5rdmBE/s1600/July%252C+2010+463.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1065" data-original-width="1600" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuYZb-xiEkrOcgKPOYf0Un4kpMR2hqw-Gl0FStcdsY-GKvZybTUKDFu9tDn5p4nMxWdkv7VQ9wYm6bFxLdp7pzaHk2QKbE4fSXqs3aGEjrUxUaOErROawJHRCUBe7tbcS7JlSVf5rdmBE/s640/July%252C+2010+463.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1ofr2_2BgBvJHFPYtAdD6ytmEpenSEGaslwWA7acodbK41l68BFQMTL0APQHKm7rJss3up8VSIMFZXulHXHY8SfugLtQZrNNnA2vcEcR2X17DEvTOYFmy88SErRDwWgu7Piu03Ns_sy8/s1600/Greisha+visit%252C+Milwaukee%252C+local+birds+043.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1063" data-original-width="1600" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1ofr2_2BgBvJHFPYtAdD6ytmEpenSEGaslwWA7acodbK41l68BFQMTL0APQHKm7rJss3up8VSIMFZXulHXHY8SfugLtQZrNNnA2vcEcR2X17DEvTOYFmy88SErRDwWgu7Piu03Ns_sy8/s640/Greisha+visit%252C+Milwaukee%252C+local+birds+043.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZvCunwynnyqGAceLbpHpdNn6HvSz2WqhsVhJLEmuVTraNCw6xLh_3OTcR9kymTwhYIDYudIVS_sPJS-YkxwOEDztDVF10NLrcVazmWazlC4dsHG2GsxmBqRukOkPFxd8o7pj3VYKfOb8/s1600/DSC_0410.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1063" data-original-width="1600" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZvCunwynnyqGAceLbpHpdNn6HvSz2WqhsVhJLEmuVTraNCw6xLh_3OTcR9kymTwhYIDYudIVS_sPJS-YkxwOEDztDVF10NLrcVazmWazlC4dsHG2GsxmBqRukOkPFxd8o7pj3VYKfOb8/s640/DSC_0410.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer"><script type="text/javascript">
var _gaq = _gaq || [];
_gaq.push(['_setAccount', 'UA-17518819-1']);
_gaq.push(['_trackPageview']);
(function() {
var ga = document.createElement('script'); ga.type = 'text/javascript'; ga.async = true;
ga.src = ('https:' == document.location.protocol ? 'https://ssl' : 'http://www') + '.google-analytics.com/ga.js';
var s = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(ga, s);
})();
</script></div>RenRaehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17961222558357224052noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4207881053346095956.post-1341542777449458112017-08-24T21:22:00.000-05:002017-08-24T21:22:42.416-05:00Fifty Plus Years and Things are the Same Between Us.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXKdwUcHo0zJTLY-ploFxGhN8BH9clCyFR4c4dGz154dMGJoYiIddAam_6lStnpWBG-R-fe-bSjQOCiG1OWxPAdpuCIC1vawK0iOwTb1e0R8aKSG5ZAsxeYbkN4aZX2Nr1kUEtx8DURW8/s1600/Meeting+old+friend.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="370" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXKdwUcHo0zJTLY-ploFxGhN8BH9clCyFR4c4dGz154dMGJoYiIddAam_6lStnpWBG-R-fe-bSjQOCiG1OWxPAdpuCIC1vawK0iOwTb1e0R8aKSG5ZAsxeYbkN4aZX2Nr1kUEtx8DURW8/s400/Meeting+old+friend.png" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
I like to look up people from the past, both ancient long dead relatives for my genealogical collections as well as guys and gals that have been part of my own life. I keep track of my college roommates, not often, but at least once a year. And I have traveled sometimes fair distances to meet up with these friends from the past. One time during my life I got in to big trouble with my husband because I looked up an old boyfriend. Facebook was not available then but we began emailing. He had been pretty interested in me, but the feeling wasn't mutual back in college, and I am afraid that I dumped him rather brutally. But this time in our emailing, I found some interest on my part. We met a couple of times and I enjoyed those outings. My husband knew about our meetings, but then he found some of the emails that this guy had written to me and I got into trouble. Needless to say this fellow and I mutually ended our communications. I read a book once about such renewed past relationships. There is something in the brain circuitry that makes these connections very very dangerous. Both individuals apparently see themselves as their much younger selves. They readily step back into their roles and feelings that existed between them when they were vibrant, active, young people. If these pairs are available, unmarried, and capable, a new relationship can develop, sometimes even more powerful in nature than the original one. Such renewed relationships are the subject of novel and movie. And of course they are the subject of emotional and sad stories when they have a tendency to break up established marriages. I didn't fully comprehend this at the time. I read the book afterward. My husband once told me that he had telephoned a gal that he had known in college. He knew she was married, but he was in her hometown and just wished to talk to her. She had not been his romantic interest, but they had just been friends. She answered the phone but when she found out who was calling, she refused to talk to him, said Good Bye kindly and hung up. She was much wiser than myself and many other people. I have not contacted any other members of the opposite sex that I knew in the past since this experience.<br />
<br />
However, I have contacted several previous girl friends from college and I have looked for many others. I had a roommate for one semester in college, then she left the school. I found her and she and her husband have visited me twice two years in a row at my home as they were traveling in the area, and likewise, I and my husband have visited her when we were traveling in her area of the country. We have thoroughly enjoyed those visits and will possibly do it in the future. I have made contact with a couple other college female friends and found them. We have become Facebook friends. By the way it is much more difficult to find former female friends. Marriage changes names and they tend to drop out of sight.<br />
<br />
About 8 months ago I was successful in finding a college friend whom I had been looking for for some years. I don't know why she didn't appear in search sites before. But all of a sudden, a search site opened up and there was her name, address, and phone number. She had been a medical professional, had retired, but the licensure board still retained her information and this time the search site (a free one, interestingly) found the listing. <br />
<br />
She was taking a friend to a medical appointment in my previous college town nearby. We arranged to meet for lunch in that town. I was familiar with some places to meet and some places to spend time together. I enjoyed meeting this gal so much. We talked and by chance seemed to have similar political viewpoints. She told me all about her interests in retirement, her hobbies, several of them quite creative, her travels, and future plans. I was taken by her same sort of edgy sense of humor, though she has mellowed considerably. Her memory of our friendship and all the times we spent together was somewhat lost but to me she seemed much the same. I also loved to hear the same laughing out loud that she could do in response to our joking and just looking at life with a humorous not too serious viewpoint. This experience again showed me just how important these old connections are to me. So far, I have found that the people I find and establish a connection with, continue to be interested in maintaining the connection. That's why the opening cartoon seems so indelibly true.</div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer"><script type="text/javascript">
var _gaq = _gaq || [];
_gaq.push(['_setAccount', 'UA-17518819-1']);
_gaq.push(['_trackPageview']);
(function() {
var ga = document.createElement('script'); ga.type = 'text/javascript'; ga.async = true;
ga.src = ('https:' == document.location.protocol ? 'https://ssl' : 'http://www') + '.google-analytics.com/ga.js';
var s = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(ga, s);
})();
</script></div>RenRaehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17961222558357224052noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4207881053346095956.post-20500222888004089952017-08-22T19:16:00.000-05:002017-08-22T19:16:24.370-05:00Dignity: A Statue Honoring Indigenous Peoples of the American West<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUVxAepUT1ijBDvErlDUrh7wSeN848-ZjlWqabHS7qiXq44xuazoVQqaCx72oZ8mH12QSoL95mS4QenzpbEgtaX4k24PB_aaHsl7an2WfKapme2JyU4KEbNNGTjLF02rXn7xzaM2Yre2k/s1600/Lewis+and+Clark.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="515" data-original-width="736" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUVxAepUT1ijBDvErlDUrh7wSeN848-ZjlWqabHS7qiXq44xuazoVQqaCx72oZ8mH12QSoL95mS4QenzpbEgtaX4k24PB_aaHsl7an2WfKapme2JyU4KEbNNGTjLF02rXn7xzaM2Yre2k/s320/Lewis+and+Clark.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
In my previous post, I included the Rest Stop on I 90 just east of the Missouri River as a deserving stop on the drive west to Yellowstone Park. The large Visitor Center here in addition to the usual such as tourist information, vending machines, clean restrooms, green space, and picnic tables is a museum devoted to the Lewis and Clark Expedition which traveled on the Missouri River through the Chamberlain, SD area on both the out trip and the return. there is a typical campsite that the very military Expedition, requested by the President of the US would have used. there is also a plains Indian tee pee and campsite which represents the indigenous peoples that were in the area. There are also several taxi dermic examples of local animals to give an impression of the natural history of this area. Hanging overhead of these exhibits is a mock up of a large keelboat that would have been the Missouri River transport for the expeditionary forces until the Missouri became to small to handle this large boat. One can climb a small stairway and view the inside of the keelboat. It is true that this is a very small representation of the local Akta Sioux Nation that lived in this area at the time of Lewis and Clark. If one wanted more information the Akta Sioux Museum down the road would provide that better. <br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuBB9HhJ9fJF-HerZhA9zzhtjstzR8M2q8Xg2kOEJvsuNuVJ9AK1P4W01pvABjoTw8p-Mxww_OlNZ97gAgOFk9UVhEXSTCoUSXyE86JDGS89FdaumyNcunHS0t2pby8PumN0rQKWPlk8w/s1600/DSC_0550.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1063" data-original-width="1600" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuBB9HhJ9fJF-HerZhA9zzhtjstzR8M2q8Xg2kOEJvsuNuVJ9AK1P4W01pvABjoTw8p-Mxww_OlNZ97gAgOFk9UVhEXSTCoUSXyE86JDGS89FdaumyNcunHS0t2pby8PumN0rQKWPlk8w/s640/DSC_0550.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik9zJrV6ltu-x1YuDo-6Gt7W25yB75WDw8QIQGA57LpFqktl1nTsDuWz1zxmMF9kWCw3dunNZ1uxbj5gRy6eE4MX7xHWS0r0m2pKIRa9lcEUDgWGOW91uKvPn1gQe8RtuSLFXem9r34Kg/s1600/DSC_0551.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1063" data-original-width="1600" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik9zJrV6ltu-x1YuDo-6Gt7W25yB75WDw8QIQGA57LpFqktl1nTsDuWz1zxmMF9kWCw3dunNZ1uxbj5gRy6eE4MX7xHWS0r0m2pKIRa9lcEUDgWGOW91uKvPn1gQe8RtuSLFXem9r34Kg/s640/DSC_0551.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw6SEpdtUoz2HTq7LEFUj23NfZcFOzcl_trKVuaXhSUQsSOATjZBY2F4x340zaZBsR-ko3V8AwwnSdNMlYLLindogAOjhQMZY7XlW1d3TMqxU8wvGkeQSGbXxbbHm6iL4nFPdamsdWyZg/s1600/DSC_0554.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1063" data-original-width="1600" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw6SEpdtUoz2HTq7LEFUj23NfZcFOzcl_trKVuaXhSUQsSOATjZBY2F4x340zaZBsR-ko3V8AwwnSdNMlYLLindogAOjhQMZY7XlW1d3TMqxU8wvGkeQSGbXxbbHm6iL4nFPdamsdWyZg/s640/DSC_0554.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFPXc8chy7BpVTBm5Pl7pnMDwKV1O42o2OKKUjEeWU1yhSqr-AIUcEpwU2ZE4n1lmmMQ1sB19gTXaXXvCogSwlXfQaGhhUQcEVaoyf-4obsah7i6lu9VtFaH_ppYhW1Y7tsEXDNk76b1Q/s1600/DSC_0555.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1063" data-original-width="1600" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFPXc8chy7BpVTBm5Pl7pnMDwKV1O42o2OKKUjEeWU1yhSqr-AIUcEpwU2ZE4n1lmmMQ1sB19gTXaXXvCogSwlXfQaGhhUQcEVaoyf-4obsah7i6lu9VtFaH_ppYhW1Y7tsEXDNk76b1Q/s640/DSC_0555.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMPB0Ox7dUJBHKVAU249LopbgZ9cSlTi_nXe5XyMf54_0v24lzAoUDak-Bba47hw5BXgo2TR7eMBJRhwPMN2zuc-1MzVZj6fsiY64a7Ifo1hpdO9HNbn76YMeFopL8epNo-jAfaex3b1Y/s1600/DSC_0557.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1063" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMPB0Ox7dUJBHKVAU249LopbgZ9cSlTi_nXe5XyMf54_0v24lzAoUDak-Bba47hw5BXgo2TR7eMBJRhwPMN2zuc-1MzVZj6fsiY64a7Ifo1hpdO9HNbn76YMeFopL8epNo-jAfaex3b1Y/s640/DSC_0557.JPG" width="424" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje0Mcj6_rWkSzQagyu4BZ33fcXEWgil3HdTWOYHZRG5LcymaXlJCRwIT9uaqSR2upHWGV2aZxbx9MHcDZEjHs-EBvVNE33GfSJeAmedXfqpuS6A7S_ukSN7uq3JD1_z5zJd9whuDuEuKY/s1600/Missouri+1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="601" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje0Mcj6_rWkSzQagyu4BZ33fcXEWgil3HdTWOYHZRG5LcymaXlJCRwIT9uaqSR2upHWGV2aZxbx9MHcDZEjHs-EBvVNE33GfSJeAmedXfqpuS6A7S_ukSN7uq3JD1_z5zJd9whuDuEuKY/s640/Missouri+1.png" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAiDpVWjjy_wWAcbQDv4HxCe698wjAvkl6ijHYVuvoSsyxDMrGVFvjETZpWDhthTua30TNB-k6Ebs13gLUtoGFI09bvskihd85_2JvWEcQlPf23Sg2KCxIpE9jCEmzazLOtVY_cXUlgKg/s1600/keelboat.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="156" data-original-width="236" height="423" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAiDpVWjjy_wWAcbQDv4HxCe698wjAvkl6ijHYVuvoSsyxDMrGVFvjETZpWDhthTua30TNB-k6Ebs13gLUtoGFI09bvskihd85_2JvWEcQlPf23Sg2KCxIpE9jCEmzazLOtVY_cXUlgKg/s640/keelboat.png" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
But the feature that makes this stop so worthwhile is the stainless steel statue entitled "Dignity" which is a relatively new addition to the Interpretive Center. When I saw this statue, I was almost certain that it represented Sacajawea. But apparently the sculptor intended this indigenous woman to be much more inclusive and to more expansively represent the indigenous women and the entire culture of the Native Americans of the plains. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnSpyElMbdhbrU1QBl0FZJ4G0nNISDlPfENeKtSVaolbKDcRmhEwjN00RpaksCzGduP-P04W00cnoF4G13BQRCR_IJA3CtRmo2vYN5thuqhOQ-aPxhmbrgmU_C_s6zCTyFX3H92I6ultQ/s1600/DSC_0560.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1063" data-original-width="1600" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnSpyElMbdhbrU1QBl0FZJ4G0nNISDlPfENeKtSVaolbKDcRmhEwjN00RpaksCzGduP-P04W00cnoF4G13BQRCR_IJA3CtRmo2vYN5thuqhOQ-aPxhmbrgmU_C_s6zCTyFX3H92I6ultQ/s640/DSC_0560.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhFioVr8RHFWIZ8b7nbVu93WFsSUTyvoLddkJc2n_djkAc2eLwhfmYeg37H_kop0q_OGI6u_88W1rDiSGhSzpYS78P2Xhga-fY59_KtFBFCKNoFymlfr_6HsnbtRu0xOkR9nDsPPHIwLQ/s1600/dignity-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="205" data-original-width="137" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhFioVr8RHFWIZ8b7nbVu93WFsSUTyvoLddkJc2n_djkAc2eLwhfmYeg37H_kop0q_OGI6u_88W1rDiSGhSzpYS78P2Xhga-fY59_KtFBFCKNoFymlfr_6HsnbtRu0xOkR9nDsPPHIwLQ/s400/dignity-2.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
A Wikipedia article tells us more about this exquisite statue. This stainless steel 50 foot high statue was designed by South Dakota artist laureate Dale Lamphere, assisted by sculptors Jim Maher, Andy Roitgen and Grant Standard. An automotive paint expert Brook Loobey helped with the colors for the quilt she is holding behind her. Albertson Engineering of Rapid City, SD engineered the statue to withstand the winds that occur on the prairie and especially on this point of high ground. The statue was given to the State of South Dakota in 2014 in honor of the 125th Anniversary of South Dakota statehood by Norm and Eunabel McKie of Rapid City. It was erected in September 2016 at this Rest Area site. Three Native American women from Rapid City were used as models for this statuesque representation. The quilt she holds has a star design with 100 blue diamond shapes that move with the wind and are described by the artist as moving "like an Aspen leaf." As of July 1, 2017, South Dakota residents can purchase auto license plates bearing the likeness of <i>Dignity. </i> The sculptor plans to put the name of every federally recognized tribe on a stainless steel band around the base of the statue. Lamphere said, "I wanted something that would really honor the indigenous people of the Great Plains and I kept that in mind all the time. I made the work reflect the name that it has of "Dignity," and I think that's the part of what makes it work so well."</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br /></div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer"><script type="text/javascript">
var _gaq = _gaq || [];
_gaq.push(['_setAccount', 'UA-17518819-1']);
_gaq.push(['_trackPageview']);
(function() {
var ga = document.createElement('script'); ga.type = 'text/javascript'; ga.async = true;
ga.src = ('https:' == document.location.protocol ? 'https://ssl' : 'http://www') + '.google-analytics.com/ga.js';
var s = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(ga, s);
})();
</script></div>RenRaehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17961222558357224052noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4207881053346095956.post-44814042166939597212017-08-15T21:27:00.001-05:002017-08-19T15:27:06.910-05:00Driving Across the US Prairies --A List of places to Take a Break.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
My last post was about our recent trip to Yellowstone National Park. My two sons and their families flew in and met us there. But because my husband needed an electronic scooter to be able to see some of the sites, we drove with my sister, toting the scooter on a hitch on the back of our car. <br />
I have often thought that it should be a requirement or a bucket list must to make the drive across the prairie from the Midwest where we live to at least the front range of the Rocky Mountains. Flying over this stretch is certainly more convenient and quicker but the image and vast impression of the middle of our country is missed and I feel therefore the view of our country as a whole is skewed.<br />
I recall the first time I made this trip in an unairconditioned car and seeing this country for the first time. It is amazing and a necessity to see.<br />
On the other hand, making such a trip can be exceedingly tedious without things to stop and see, things to do, and things to look forward to seeing on the way. This post is going to list some of those stopping points. Each such stop by itself seems either corny, or certainly less majestic that the destination, but taken individually as wonderful breaks in that tedious action of driving across the country, each of these suggested stops offers something memorable and special.<br />
The first stop would be at the Mississippi River. We took I 90 so this was at Lacrosse, WI. If one had some extra time, there is even the possibility of driving along what are called the Palisades, the rocky promontories along especially the Minnesota side of the River. If there is no time, there is still a rest area (Wisdot Area 31) that has a pretty good view of the river and some of its bridges. Unlike many rest areas that are built on high ground with a vista of the scenery , this one is built down low and intimately close to the waters of the Mississippi, or actually a side water that is called French Lake. However, the viewer looks out across a narrow island to the open waters of the river itself. There is actually a bench on a walkway down close to French Lake that has the view I just described. Perhaps I recall in my mind my first trek across the Mississippi when starting out on a new journey in my life, ie. entering college at State University of Iowa. For me the Mississippi was a symbolic border which I crossed to proceed in my life journey. Perhaps that is why I enjoy the intimacy of a stop to sit on a bench and gaze for a short time at that body of water.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq1Pk4Q8MSBbZcdx8dCI0CyO7F7L5M-MYlhxM0LGGZzqAcyD_7Gtzs-bb6PRSUwTah3UDCsFBceuxzwTCYXfJU3UvogK98TYv-Zoqi8DajlQDEtmHIGChqqJoTaA08iRGmerBDstFjUlQ/s1600/Area+31.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="671" data-original-width="1297" height="329" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq1Pk4Q8MSBbZcdx8dCI0CyO7F7L5M-MYlhxM0LGGZzqAcyD_7Gtzs-bb6PRSUwTah3UDCsFBceuxzwTCYXfJU3UvogK98TYv-Zoqi8DajlQDEtmHIGChqqJoTaA08iRGmerBDstFjUlQ/s640/Area+31.PNG" width="640" /></a></div>
The next stop I would recommend would be at a little known National Monument called Pipestone. The small Pipestone National Monument is located about 30 miles north of I 90 near the western border of Minnesota. Yes, it is a little out of the way but if a family is looking for a break, it is worth the short drive out of the way. Basically this site is a stone quarry, but a very historic one. The stone is one of the most malleable of stones and our indigenous peoples came from throughout the prairies to this quarry to obtain the malleable stone from which smoking pipes and indeed peace pipes were carved. hence the name Pipestone. At the Monument visitors can walk through the quarry and see the stone in place. The Visitor's center does a very nice job of presenting this history. The Upper Midwest Center for Indian Culture sponsors demonstrations of pipe carving also at the visitor Center. Local Native Americans have been involved in the Monument's administration since the property's beginning in 1937. The National Park Service and the Pipestone Indian Shrine Association share in the Monument's activities, and decisions about its use and presentations.. Currently only Native Americans are allowed to quarry the pipestone and all tribes are welcome though there have been various movements by the Yankton Sioux to take over the Monument's use. The gift shop has replica Indian pipes for sale as well as historical coloring books and other historical items that develop the knowledge of our Native American residents. A visit doesn't take much time but is very educational, and it would let the kids run around a little and dissipate the stored up energy of a car trip.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4rKn1Y5PDfeMp5lBJKHK94KCfMKSbIpqeQTN3-KXZsUSYtTE2vcXXOkWhcB-rQhDhpRllzC0oIscS5AhhN2cSwaz0okm_MBFvWzVE4uT7-4rTICh6On1cobgOxYzzzWwinSHwI7N8xRQ/s1600/Pipestone.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="276" data-original-width="183" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4rKn1Y5PDfeMp5lBJKHK94KCfMKSbIpqeQTN3-KXZsUSYtTE2vcXXOkWhcB-rQhDhpRllzC0oIscS5AhhN2cSwaz0okm_MBFvWzVE4uT7-4rTICh6On1cobgOxYzzzWwinSHwI7N8xRQ/s640/Pipestone.jpg" width="424" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Above is a trail through the quarry. The stone seen here is the quartzite that must be removed before the shallow grain of pipestone can be found.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQH2wiMBGKrcAGVpE8kLsMiCRqvFzEKF_tOb9hYwX45rsoYpM4jrskJfVkChjLSUXeXSYjzx95axkXA2bgTdtQ4hlwMFrQ1fh7TFqfeAZ-taT-9JEfhtnLTGpz7z4JDUC-t9nyby4T6VU/s1600/Pipestone2.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="657" data-original-width="1116" height="376" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQH2wiMBGKrcAGVpE8kLsMiCRqvFzEKF_tOb9hYwX45rsoYpM4jrskJfVkChjLSUXeXSYjzx95axkXA2bgTdtQ4hlwMFrQ1fh7TFqfeAZ-taT-9JEfhtnLTGpz7z4JDUC-t9nyby4T6VU/s640/Pipestone2.PNG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div>
Examples of ceremonial and sacred pipes made by Native Americans from pipestone.</div>
<br />
<br />
<div align="left">
We spent our first night on the road during this year's trip to Yellowstone at a Days' Inn in Sioux Falls, SD, just across the border from Minnesota. It had been a long day of driving and I would have preferred to just relax in front of the TV of our motel room, but I am glad my younger sister was along. She wanted to drive to downtown Sioux Falls and see what it was like. During our previous 3 trips to Yellowstone, we had never taken tine to do that. As we followed Cliff Ave from the outskirts of town where we wee lodged, it became obvious that Sioux Falls was a spread out city with low buildings and often quite a bit of land occupied by businesses. As we came to the center of the city, however, we found several very interesting buildings: the old County Courthouse that is now a museum, a Catholic Cathedral 3/4 of the way up a rise that had a nice view of the downtown. But striking was the emptiness of the downtown streets which were wide, at least 4 lanes, but without any vehicles moving, sometimes for several city blocks. This was Saturday night. Where was everyone? We spotted maybe two pub and grill establishments but even in that case, there didn't seem to be a lot of cars around these. We kept remarking about this. My sister had read about a Park in the center of the downtown along the Big Sioux River. We began searching on the map for the entrance to the green area on the map. Finally we found an entrance and a line of cars to get into Falls Park. The parking lots were jammed and family groups were strolling the large central green area. So this is where everyone goes on a Saturday night. And what a wonderful Park it is. The Big Sioux River cascades over heaps of rounded stones and boulders here which spreads the River out and beautifies it. In addition there are ruins of an old mill that once worked along the cascades, as well as a reconstructed mill tower, and an observation tower, a café overlooking the cascade built in a later Electric Company building that has been revamped. There are wading pools along the river, and an antique railroad bridge adding to the charm as well as a modern foot bridge. A beautiful site and evening spent in downtown Sioux Falls, SD.</div>
<div align="left">
<br /></div>
<div align="left">
<br /></div>
<div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBGJLyXrz2EUyps8eJa412vpGi14lgfLMp_miryuPDdSFpZWmxJLuhC6vt_LuD7qmJbi4PEyFtsuoNfWmC0Ffzo7adhSQ60DTp5Z2ApwuXohD9oEPucRrTEezgxzUE9Lqt_e0t_YOzPiQ/s1600/falls-park-1555.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="503" data-original-width="720" height="446" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBGJLyXrz2EUyps8eJa412vpGi14lgfLMp_miryuPDdSFpZWmxJLuhC6vt_LuD7qmJbi4PEyFtsuoNfWmC0Ffzo7adhSQ60DTp5Z2ApwuXohD9oEPucRrTEezgxzUE9Lqt_e0t_YOzPiQ/s640/falls-park-1555.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="left">
</div>
<div align="left">
The next possible stop is the famous Corn Palace in Mitchel, SD. Mitchell is a small town just off I 90 so you needn't detour at all. The original Corn Palace was a wooden castle shaped structure on Main street of Mitchell constructed in Mitchel in 1892 to celebrate the fertile soil and successful harvest in the lush eastern half of South Dakota. A building more like the present one was built in 1904-05 by the Mitchel authorities along with an attempt to attain the goal of becoming the capitol of SD. The current Corn Palace building was completed in 1921, and recently the interior has been remodeled with seats along one end, and a basketball court, with stage along the other end. The outside of the Palace is covered with mostly corn and also with other grasses and grains being redesigned each year, and currently readied for a Corn Palace Festival to be held at the end of August of each year. Workers were placing bundles of grass on some inter spaces between corn murals. And the final mural on the right side of the long wall is completed but the inter spaces and design that surrounds the mural is only some chalk marks on a black background. Work is continuing. Inside the Corn Palace is a multipurpose space with a central scoreboard, basketball court for the local high school and a local college, and when we visited housed a souvenir marketplace on the basketball court. Various music groups and indoor rodeos have performed here in the past. At the bottom of these photos is a framed photo of what the Corn palace looked like when we saw it on our first trip west in 1967. Framed photos of all previous Corn Palaces are displayed along the back wall of the auditorium. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNhi4sAMGwbI4rHAAjnOBl7uMpbcCf43JyDBFTXXTZ0-fOOK3ZgB7GzZIjRgFEqV1SiDNdoeyrY9YTBMWruc3D1Lzrc4BlrepZ4rMbbHhq8VBTfI0-7HkwU9DMXrIDYdpJGTCk9-9Xjt8/s1600/DSC_0568.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1063" data-original-width="1600" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNhi4sAMGwbI4rHAAjnOBl7uMpbcCf43JyDBFTXXTZ0-fOOK3ZgB7GzZIjRgFEqV1SiDNdoeyrY9YTBMWruc3D1Lzrc4BlrepZ4rMbbHhq8VBTfI0-7HkwU9DMXrIDYdpJGTCk9-9Xjt8/s640/DSC_0568.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo1RYutA5PXF7eaxm8rgSFKLIQbRgwKT0dya0T5z5d9bqoa8b5GmiaFC4GUnn1u7d1Zzplt38Pg6chM8z4YMUZVtMq6FbW0quvA4VQkniaTBWTVWdCJotU-NuPbQN6oyp-fbYs6ZoHI-4/s1600/DSC_0571.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1063" data-original-width="1600" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo1RYutA5PXF7eaxm8rgSFKLIQbRgwKT0dya0T5z5d9bqoa8b5GmiaFC4GUnn1u7d1Zzplt38Pg6chM8z4YMUZVtMq6FbW0quvA4VQkniaTBWTVWdCJotU-NuPbQN6oyp-fbYs6ZoHI-4/s640/DSC_0571.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij7_Xt3NsH5FBZAubsZJJzGJ3-Iy5niI71PgiDA-IGcsbPbPRj4z1myb-bBvJxPby9tkHpb8wIepoYitg4mp_t8efRrBaytq2cf6HQk9zJxmPM5jcew-5DeYfB64dc5i8ztgfxJ9F6_pU/s1600/DSC_0575.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1063" data-original-width="1600" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij7_Xt3NsH5FBZAubsZJJzGJ3-Iy5niI71PgiDA-IGcsbPbPRj4z1myb-bBvJxPby9tkHpb8wIepoYitg4mp_t8efRrBaytq2cf6HQk9zJxmPM5jcew-5DeYfB64dc5i8ztgfxJ9F6_pU/s640/DSC_0575.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-nzzf8F6a5E7Wq8GOEIw6Wu7rNM0IyO3ezpPB5GMOLk-pWdbRlIT05RRGqEOyEK7W5kOhSckEUwk0ejYAMR6QhEdbOOIBSNpWzugrNF12o78e4AZuSnYPA0A05St6zT9Zg2gCsIERigY/s1600/DSC_0585.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1063" data-original-width="1600" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-nzzf8F6a5E7Wq8GOEIw6Wu7rNM0IyO3ezpPB5GMOLk-pWdbRlIT05RRGqEOyEK7W5kOhSckEUwk0ejYAMR6QhEdbOOIBSNpWzugrNF12o78e4AZuSnYPA0A05St6zT9Zg2gCsIERigY/s640/DSC_0585.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div align="left">
<br /></div>
<div align="left">
Above is a photo among many others on the upper back wall inside the Corn Palace showing what the Palace looked like in 1867 when we stopped there on our first trip </div>
<div align="left">
<br />
Driving across Minnesota provides unending views of cornfields and soybeans, and as you drive west, sorghum fields come into the mix. Very little pasture land is seen. Dairy cows are not seen along the road unless one of the huge <span style="background-color: yellow;">corporational</span><br />
dairy barns are seen built close to I 90 with hundreds of head of dairy cows in their stalls visible through the open to air sides of the barn. As you enter South Dakota, the fields turn more and more to sorghum which is used to make molasses, and also some sugar beets as well as a shift toward wheat. But in eastern South Dakota, the country remains gently rolling and agricultural harvesting is seen. When you reach the Missouri River everything suddenly changes. Of course along such a river of such a size, there is a valley marked on both sides by steaper small rolling hills almost like bumps in a child's sandbox. And suddenly there are no more planted crops. This is open grazing land and as you continue the beef cattle herds become prominent. The farms are more widely scattered. There are stretches of road where no visible human habitation is seen. And all of this has changed suddenly at the Missouri River. Since we are talking of rest stops, the I 90 Rest Area in located on the East side of the Missouri and on the south side of I 90 but is accessible to travelers in both directions. This stop is part scenic overlook of the River, its Lewis and Clark Bridge and Chanberlain, SD; part museum celebrating and interpreting the Lewis and Clark Expedition which had a significant stop here at Chamberlain, SD on the Missouri. And of course, the site provides also the typical picnic tables, clean restrooms, vending machines, and tourist info center that most rest stops provide. In addition in the museum there is a hanging 55 foot replica of a keelboat which was used to explore the Missouri. And outside is a wonderful statue entitled Dignity. I am sure this beautiful pewter colored detailed representation of an Indian woman in her best buckskins is meant to represent Sacajawea. It is magnificently formed and placed on the high edge of the bluff so that it is visible to all travelers, indeed, as though she is leading you west or east, whichever direction you are going. Beautiful and definitely worth a stop. I have since learned more about this statue and this blog will shortly have a post dedicated solely to this magnificent statue.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK4rPkFEc7Hi1-fBe5mKm7fEXu3TMnpJakNDUSXUqK34CQKBOoBoIWAFw4TPo7wasBNH41KWP8NukbGghqdHStK80kR1AAzHpfLnmLdIO0-h_tARkec_tlwgjxKlINGAI8NEPxxLN3vOU/s1600/DSC_0550.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1063" data-original-width="1600" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK4rPkFEc7Hi1-fBe5mKm7fEXu3TMnpJakNDUSXUqK34CQKBOoBoIWAFw4TPo7wasBNH41KWP8NukbGghqdHStK80kR1AAzHpfLnmLdIO0-h_tARkec_tlwgjxKlINGAI8NEPxxLN3vOU/s640/DSC_0550.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzOBMtrGXlveU5-nrDWMVXo43p8d82Gu1oWiFCO96ZxY3E1MzjCEgS4QKFPv9CiKCIl1wAX25_bnVqxzs_7-KMfcEEAGcDv-o8Lnm3QXSTpLoDngKvyGlwCIoxGnUNa7KP0w1MJtEmoBM/s1600/Missouri+1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="601" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzOBMtrGXlveU5-nrDWMVXo43p8d82Gu1oWiFCO96ZxY3E1MzjCEgS4QKFPv9CiKCIl1wAX25_bnVqxzs_7-KMfcEEAGcDv-o8Lnm3QXSTpLoDngKvyGlwCIoxGnUNa7KP0w1MJtEmoBM/s640/Missouri+1.png" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ6oWB-etL_tnUB0j37IQQqtoxBFrXPVdLrlxftxu946GDPqKaSu0Vc-QaZ62hpMcyzGpL3Y3kEZXYjAV1AJ0eh1D1DJQO342XrA0YCJ3wZaE3iY02LcUbYbxgY44_d_KaTZTnnx29uX0/s1600/Missouri+2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="601" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ6oWB-etL_tnUB0j37IQQqtoxBFrXPVdLrlxftxu946GDPqKaSu0Vc-QaZ62hpMcyzGpL3Y3kEZXYjAV1AJ0eh1D1DJQO342XrA0YCJ3wZaE3iY02LcUbYbxgY44_d_KaTZTnnx29uX0/s640/Missouri+2.png" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO1_S-oSvHzCMyoUwU8UHxTLLCCpFkkDhDCUHD6Nq9QRnnOrayNDv36NsBQ-1ZADArDCXQAzJxVfRIr_9cMfeMKyi12z5W1WssXBzvJZgosSE_JSQmtB73C04VINKRYeZ6CdutcwqRGm4/s1600/Missouri+3.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="601" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO1_S-oSvHzCMyoUwU8UHxTLLCCpFkkDhDCUHD6Nq9QRnnOrayNDv36NsBQ-1ZADArDCXQAzJxVfRIr_9cMfeMKyi12z5W1WssXBzvJZgosSE_JSQmtB73C04VINKRYeZ6CdutcwqRGm4/s640/Missouri+3.png" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidVA-VxFShdJKj4dbRBotVX32lNup2ftLHK483YSI6KEySbwPqN0QaLk6qPvRbF7c1s89QdPGY3kx3tUpCgTExVm-7Gx0Oq-3BarbGiRsTgUMEea51YPzxg3CwXxpwh3A1c-ZucVHQU9w/s1600/DSC_0561.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1063" data-original-width="1600" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidVA-VxFShdJKj4dbRBotVX32lNup2ftLHK483YSI6KEySbwPqN0QaLk6qPvRbF7c1s89QdPGY3kx3tUpCgTExVm-7Gx0Oq-3BarbGiRsTgUMEea51YPzxg3CwXxpwh3A1c-ZucVHQU9w/s640/DSC_0561.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
The next stop is one that you logistically can not miss. Multiple billboards announce its presence and list what it sells, as well as where to exit I 90 to get there. This place is, of course, Wall Drug. This "store" indeed started as a drugstore out in the middle of nowhere almost in a little crossroads called Wall, SD. Over the decades since Ted Hustead decided to open a true drugstore in a little town "in the middle of nowhere" as he himself described his decisions, since 1931, Wall Drug has grown into a huge shopping mall, changing and growing each time we have visited. The original marketing gimmick was to offer free ice water to all the folks that were traveling across this dry section of SD especially to visit the new monument Mount Rushmore. Wall Drug still offers free ice water and also 5 cent coffee. Ted Hustead died in 1999 and was honored by the Governor of SD at the time. Over the years of our traveling there, Wall Drug has done nothing but expand. The original little pharmacy is there but it is surrounded by a huge rustic looking mall with every kind of shop that you conceive. There are souvenir shops, art dealers, book shops, jewelry, leather and local crafts, plus a small museum, a very reasonable and efficient café, and ice cream shop and much more. If you can't find what you want at Wall Drug, you are going to have trouble finding it anywhere in the central US. Yes, it is a tourist trap, but I can't imagine one person feeling cheated by a stop there. Get your free ice water and 5 cent coffee and you will be refreshed to begin again on your journey cross country.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQXIeocC8A8xeXeSCgxphw59JpTmyfFntLt5jVNQ7JUougA8BHfOHLNXfI4Qbyq-8oJoGMN4wXdE-NgtlenQ9GhyphenhyphenjljrI7O1mJQwzgakK2Kgkr4qV-grsWvUqyMI_EE8uQ2J3Pv1sckqU/s1600/DSC_0160.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1063" data-original-width="1600" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQXIeocC8A8xeXeSCgxphw59JpTmyfFntLt5jVNQ7JUougA8BHfOHLNXfI4Qbyq-8oJoGMN4wXdE-NgtlenQ9GhyphenhyphenjljrI7O1mJQwzgakK2Kgkr4qV-grsWvUqyMI_EE8uQ2J3Pv1sckqU/s640/DSC_0160.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjEwHncC4luMKm_ot0O-YU4DBqozMXQR14VQlWQ207wGpOhO58T-FDvScEkWKimK5qlduuQXHZOm1mIUcnFr14uAqH9xsfsxMB_cslbOp79BtBYLqUHjWBlmiX38bp4Zgn2ORV2s3nv2g/s1600/DSC_0161.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1063" data-original-width="1600" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjEwHncC4luMKm_ot0O-YU4DBqozMXQR14VQlWQ207wGpOhO58T-FDvScEkWKimK5qlduuQXHZOm1mIUcnFr14uAqH9xsfsxMB_cslbOp79BtBYLqUHjWBlmiX38bp4Zgn2ORV2s3nv2g/s640/DSC_0161.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div align="left">
<br />
Note the Harley Davidson motorcycles in both photos. We happened to be traveling during the time of the Sturgis, SD yearly Motorcycle Rally. This means that lodging and eating places are a little more crowded and you must watch very closely while driving to make sure your path will not cross that of one of these vehicles. However, the drivers were consistently a source of humor, friendliness, and even whatever aid they could offer, such as helping we two women to get our luggage into the motel. <br />
<br />
Of course, the next stops are likely to be official destinations in a trip to Yellowstone such as this one. They are, of course, the Badlands, the Black Hills and Mount Rushmore, and the dozens of destinations within the Black Hills, and Devil's Tower. We have toured these sites extensively in our various trips to this area. Many people, my sister included, have made these above listed places their destination without going further west. I am only posting a couple pictures here to remind you of these sites, but they do not really fit into this post topic. They are magnificent destinations in their own right. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxy1qjrfHM9gmcOzjVsIuaGLY0k09XzY8V8AJTfKO78zcvOZpRnVIL2zez1KaCaU0i83g6uIwMjavuvW6jCuZ3OOHpefja6WOH5ZA3IEdjIdB81zH7mIVyqWpr6KuK5jwpzjBDkLXxf68/s1600/DSC_0169.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1063" data-original-width="1600" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxy1qjrfHM9gmcOzjVsIuaGLY0k09XzY8V8AJTfKO78zcvOZpRnVIL2zez1KaCaU0i83g6uIwMjavuvW6jCuZ3OOHpefja6WOH5ZA3IEdjIdB81zH7mIVyqWpr6KuK5jwpzjBDkLXxf68/s640/DSC_0169.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZywSd7YsHAIqLD94U2NXPu7-kAcdK4PvS4-CWxTlllUCUutH0pU1sJXkUVe6fhP44wLyGX1W9g_J_sp64nPOEyeAfsfUkrBpj8aJbKtdE7x9nKs_2gKtWuIjiTGOieEPFM-SORWFlHng/s1600/DSC_0505.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1063" data-original-width="1600" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZywSd7YsHAIqLD94U2NXPu7-kAcdK4PvS4-CWxTlllUCUutH0pU1sJXkUVe6fhP44wLyGX1W9g_J_sp64nPOEyeAfsfUkrBpj8aJbKtdE7x9nKs_2gKtWuIjiTGOieEPFM-SORWFlHng/s640/DSC_0505.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
The last stopping spot I want to mention could be a mini-destination in itself. We ran into a family touring this site who said it was their third day perusing what was to be seen there. On our last trip to Yellowstone we did not investigate this site at all. We were too much in a hurry to get to the National Park. And I also thought it was in the category of the tourist traps that abound in this area such as Petrified something or other, or this Rock Museum or some other name. This trip on the way back home we overnighted in Greybull, WY and we decided this site would be a good place to take a break, have lunch and spend some rest time after crossing the Bighorn Mountains. Located in Cody, WY, this place is called Buffalo Bill Center of the West. It is certainly not just a tourist trap. This Center is a wonderful museum; in fact it is 5 museums each able to stand on its own, all within one large building that occupies 7 acres with many wings, and curates over 50,000 artifacts of the "Old West." This museum was founded in 1917 when the Buffalo Bill Memorial Association was established after the death of William F. Cody, or Buffalo Bill himself. In the beginning the Association and its museum was interested in preserving the memory of Buffalo Bill and all of his accomplishments. But as time went on, the museum became a magnet for all sorts of memorabilia and artifacts of the "Old West" which now occupy 5 different themed museums: Buffalo Bill Museum, Plains Indians Museum, Whitney Western Art Museum, Draper Natural History Museum, and the Cody Firearms Museum, along with the Harold McKracken Research Library. This museum as a whole is now considered the oldest and most comprehensive of museums of the West. NewYork Times has called it "the most remarkable of present day museums." The Center is a member of the Smithsonian Affiliates program meaning that exhibits are shared back and forth between the Center and the Smithsonian in Washington, D.C. Dedicated to the purpose of preserving the <span style="background-color: yellow;">probably</span> flawed but still cherished idea of the American Western Frontier and everything that idea has meant to people of varied race, origin, time periods, and cultures. This museum is vast, very complete, moving and blessed by magnificent presentations of the Western Spirit. It is even worth taking time away from Yellowstone to see it. Even better, make it part of you return trip and it will be something to look forward to after the let down of leaving Yellowstone National Park.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIWbZvYn8yCf44xSA470eBG6liwuk17vIyuMOMrc0gyM1BWN0ab5rvkqVE64QKwR0Cv3LkcwbMBFhWkMttK2rHv-E1e4VXZAqL3YKtMvMu0VdZ2Bm9AA7TK7tsGh4y5_BSnPmwL41o72I/s1600/DSC_0381.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1063" data-original-width="1600" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIWbZvYn8yCf44xSA470eBG6liwuk17vIyuMOMrc0gyM1BWN0ab5rvkqVE64QKwR0Cv3LkcwbMBFhWkMttK2rHv-E1e4VXZAqL3YKtMvMu0VdZ2Bm9AA7TK7tsGh4y5_BSnPmwL41o72I/s400/DSC_0381.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgic4jzgYsRD7ITKSGi-HP3IId0-NLcGX54UtRktGCRk0kR47BqvHOZmOTcyQQvdjA7n-wknM1R0lo5WSZX1YnBgrJn5G7ecIyrCKztMcbnbTiFS6iNjac39rRhlC7-6f8_BD0LK_HXfs0/s1600/DSC_0395.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1063" data-original-width="1600" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgic4jzgYsRD7ITKSGi-HP3IId0-NLcGX54UtRktGCRk0kR47BqvHOZmOTcyQQvdjA7n-wknM1R0lo5WSZX1YnBgrJn5G7ecIyrCKztMcbnbTiFS6iNjac39rRhlC7-6f8_BD0LK_HXfs0/s640/DSC_0395.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaS7npGgHImkiqwCX9qXN8ELNGHGGxgjsLx7crKCJKMgQn3otyyy_T5ftuljcQABGwvju50hb_IJHPXhJAsFzMKLOIdk03SoUj0yxhUeQgj4Hr-NQvVm7j5lig7KIgC_9qmI2nYPpd3zs/s1600/DSC_0423.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1063" data-original-width="1600" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaS7npGgHImkiqwCX9qXN8ELNGHGGxgjsLx7crKCJKMgQn3otyyy_T5ftuljcQABGwvju50hb_IJHPXhJAsFzMKLOIdk03SoUj0yxhUeQgj4Hr-NQvVm7j5lig7KIgC_9qmI2nYPpd3zs/s640/DSC_0423.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVoGSIUgnQaQGIcrylUNiE9uXaM9INCId77I9_LvFy-tMjmdmP56HHuSdz2VU1Mwh1kjl55qbRgbFslpsW9-BvW1kJXf28RSwJHL157kI_M1m-LtsvY2F4Vv6bx7uRRDWWp60wHWGl6sI/s1600/DSC_0430.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1063" data-original-width="1600" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVoGSIUgnQaQGIcrylUNiE9uXaM9INCId77I9_LvFy-tMjmdmP56HHuSdz2VU1Mwh1kjl55qbRgbFslpsW9-BvW1kJXf28RSwJHL157kI_M1m-LtsvY2F4Vv6bx7uRRDWWp60wHWGl6sI/s640/DSC_0430.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNVHMNods2lYOwHwXDK3qqrBYMDqSwkLlsHcyeBB9xBVFhwYts9gn9cOtUgQArcLVnejZ7N1cs8pLbnT-VhEH6tsAPZjP9YAOandfLQnSljtLvgIEBu6JDJgYCjeWxFb_NnJo-fdF-wCA/s1600/DSC_0432.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1063" data-original-width="1600" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNVHMNods2lYOwHwXDK3qqrBYMDqSwkLlsHcyeBB9xBVFhwYts9gn9cOtUgQArcLVnejZ7N1cs8pLbnT-VhEH6tsAPZjP9YAOandfLQnSljtLvgIEBu6JDJgYCjeWxFb_NnJo-fdF-wCA/s640/DSC_0432.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfMrYsP420HHj9HTaQiruPTBcMhof0y_FAxp4VTBGyXva8_2iethOlfQxq0OwP1U2ulOZrZXPcoOE8kkGtWtId0-QWONWPM0heRY33IqFAt3Ee2Ii1Xgp-axKwIhvQgu6SflubMIA7jdE/s1600/DSC_0435.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1063" data-original-width="1600" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfMrYsP420HHj9HTaQiruPTBcMhof0y_FAxp4VTBGyXva8_2iethOlfQxq0OwP1U2ulOZrZXPcoOE8kkGtWtId0-QWONWPM0heRY33IqFAt3Ee2Ii1Xgp-axKwIhvQgu6SflubMIA7jdE/s640/DSC_0435.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
</div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer"><script type="text/javascript">
var _gaq = _gaq || [];
_gaq.push(['_setAccount', 'UA-17518819-1']);
_gaq.push(['_trackPageview']);
(function() {
var ga = document.createElement('script'); ga.type = 'text/javascript'; ga.async = true;
ga.src = ('https:' == document.location.protocol ? 'https://ssl' : 'http://www') + '.google-analytics.com/ga.js';
var s = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(ga, s);
})();
</script></div>RenRaehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17961222558357224052noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4207881053346095956.post-56627183543756027352017-08-14T20:58:00.001-05:002017-08-15T14:16:51.299-05:00Yellowstone National Park -- Revisiting for the 4th time. <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I have often said that every person should take the time and effort to drive from middle America across the wide expanse of countryside at least until they reach the front range of the Rocky Mountains. My husband and I along with at times our young children have done this several times. In 1967, after marrying this young man from Israel who had come here to go to school, we decided to make such a jaunt. I had never been west of the Missouri River, and only west of the Mississippi to go to undergraduate school at University of Iowa. My husband had toured this country shortly after arriving on a student visa in 1963. He purchased a ticket that was available then from Greyhound that for $99 allowed him to travel by bus anywhere in the continental US as long as he didn't use the ticket to keep going back over the same route again and again. After this trip, he was able to actually show me my country. It was his idea to take this big wedding trip, not exactly a honeymoon, because we had to arrange it at the end of summer after we had finished our respective summer jobs and before school started in the fall after Labor Day. We left Madison, WI for a 13 day trip west, stopping in the Badlands and camping in the valley near the visitor center the first night after driving 700 miles that day. We went on to the Black Hills and Mount Rushmore, Devil's Tower, Yellowstone National Park, the Grand Tetons, then up into Idaho, to Mount Rainier, on to Seattle, down into Olympia National Park, then up to Vancouver, and back through the Canadian Rockies to Banff, Jasper, and then down to Calgary, to Waterton Lakes Canadian National park, Glacier National Park and then home to Madison. That is correct; it was done in 13 days. I recall seeing the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone and wanting to just sit and enjoy this for a while. I had never seen mountains and landscape like this. But I was already learning that I only had the time it took for my husband to take the photos that he wanted and then we were on to the next stop. I complained about that overlooking the magnificent canyon with its two waterfalls, but I just barely heard his comment as he led me back to the car, "We'll come back some day." And we did, 3 more times, this 4th visit just completed to celebrate 50 years of our marriage. This time we brought our two sons and their families to meet us in Yellowstone, at Old Faithful Inn. My younger sister went with us. These younger people wanted to do many more activities than we were capable of at this point in our life. But we told them the only expectations we had of them, was that they be back at Old Faithful Inn for dinner each night by 6:00 PM. They could otherwise do whatever they wanted during the day.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZH_vR2-pd0Kew1nPMFv5Lvai18f-cCmwHw0lihZlrdryLnzpfCZLVjazhQEKZhVm-ap4HMT2FDGhj1dkZwyr_ZWsXpLKgFrugHivNOhaZ2ecp6Lb5GjN-TZuXzg26-9LWjXgyOSeK10A/s1600/DSC_0195.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1063" data-original-width="1600" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZH_vR2-pd0Kew1nPMFv5Lvai18f-cCmwHw0lihZlrdryLnzpfCZLVjazhQEKZhVm-ap4HMT2FDGhj1dkZwyr_ZWsXpLKgFrugHivNOhaZ2ecp6Lb5GjN-TZuXzg26-9LWjXgyOSeK10A/s640/DSC_0195.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">East Approach to Yellowstone</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Throughout these 50 years, Yellowstone has deserved its popularity as a travel destination. Although Yosemite in California was set aside as public land called a Forest Preserve previously, Yellowstone was the first public land set aside and called a National Park, signed into law on March 1, 1872 by Ulysses S. Grant. Yellowstone is so very unique in that it contains more than 10,000 geothermal features ranging from geysers, to boiling mud pots, to fumaroles, to hot springs many of which are colored like a rainbow by algae that grow at various hot temperatures. The Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone River and its two magnificent waterfalls are almost unrivaled in the West and is more intimate than the better known Grand Canyon. Mammoth Hot Springs is unique in the world and in my view from our world travels, is only rivaled by Pamukkale Hot Springs in Turkey. Lake Yellowstone which occupies 1/3 of the giant caldera which forms the Yellowstone Plateau is the largest fresh water lake at this elevation in North America. Add to that Hayden Valley with the buffalo and pronghorn antelope and their predators including relatively newly reintroduced wolves. Multiple waterfalls and cascades, short and long hiking trails, horse riding and ranch activities in the north of Yellowstone at Roosevelt, and mountainous beauty make the 3,400 square mile park (larger than Rhode Island and Delaware combined) a wonder for visitors no matter what their interests.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhif_VFYxRbCjZ1FxvYd8krerctrAhn_O3RU2jw78LbtT6FJF53FekjMNhxe1O4DWdwMZnpT18JW3-7OMhSXYpNyYT5zi4Ufjr-fbs2z7MFuJ42a_oDz8xBhelE1REfpdEoWnXwxX1jCvU/s1600/DSC_0218.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1063" data-original-width="1600" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhif_VFYxRbCjZ1FxvYd8krerctrAhn_O3RU2jw78LbtT6FJF53FekjMNhxe1O4DWdwMZnpT18JW3-7OMhSXYpNyYT5zi4Ufjr-fbs2z7MFuJ42a_oDz8xBhelE1REfpdEoWnXwxX1jCvU/s640/DSC_0218.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Old Faithful Geyser, often erupting to 100 feet of boiling water and steam.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW5XA5ZZyBLeLxnqOsQqvSxAHju0mnEbbyH9im7r-ObwknheLpueSbqaGQpwrLFtOoa2rx6cPfIipD8sSN35MZOkur-PH250mIaM8yoGSYBT0F13Xx7yrZtVnlyIm-FE3QKUZHhK-9-1k/s1600/DSC_0232.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1063" data-original-width="1600" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW5XA5ZZyBLeLxnqOsQqvSxAHju0mnEbbyH9im7r-ObwknheLpueSbqaGQpwrLFtOoa2rx6cPfIipD8sSN35MZOkur-PH250mIaM8yoGSYBT0F13Xx7yrZtVnlyIm-FE3QKUZHhK-9-1k/s640/DSC_0232.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlxj1wdAZiTonNRBO66rdvDZ3lND2_eI3EWce3lpH7mmivhSkLr8kvYSoqVEYRxFT6vFtI2clAn_wtwlq2YcbHIzdPypVjkZiHuHCFLKenk83wfxuW-nt9B0wW_rT-PJ1NWsgy3eWtbfI/s1600/DSC_0237.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1063" data-original-width="1600" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlxj1wdAZiTonNRBO66rdvDZ3lND2_eI3EWce3lpH7mmivhSkLr8kvYSoqVEYRxFT6vFtI2clAn_wtwlq2YcbHIzdPypVjkZiHuHCFLKenk83wfxuW-nt9B0wW_rT-PJ1NWsgy3eWtbfI/s640/DSC_0237.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bubbling Mudpots at Lower Geyser Basin</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEharPqH1b6rWFAposubgMuRAgoQhmpSyoRHp3YfhqNTEfhOsuKspxSd7i6PL7OZJMH8RkJ0FTnrJOCRQ9HWQqDphlevYdp9tfC4ZJYjDMUZDW7T40RbWqsz254ZbiLuL42sDaHi-dAqxyk/s1600/DSC_0244.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1063" data-original-width="1600" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEharPqH1b6rWFAposubgMuRAgoQhmpSyoRHp3YfhqNTEfhOsuKspxSd7i6PL7OZJMH8RkJ0FTnrJOCRQ9HWQqDphlevYdp9tfC4ZJYjDMUZDW7T40RbWqsz254ZbiLuL42sDaHi-dAqxyk/s640/DSC_0244.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lower Geyser Basin</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE4xkniZkafzxjM5J5dYz4BpQnBJ0y0RLpg8FeuTg9EXM1MwDqdpWpKGtXI_SgXeba6mtQsyqnCAqEzbvUyh0Vb3DFefqEhq5IvzAdTm36Rn4n4mhuXdjN0hbFPkYUK_PpTUJL5e5Txqg/s1600/DSC_0264.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1063" data-original-width="1600" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE4xkniZkafzxjM5J5dYz4BpQnBJ0y0RLpg8FeuTg9EXM1MwDqdpWpKGtXI_SgXeba6mtQsyqnCAqEzbvUyh0Vb3DFefqEhq5IvzAdTm36Rn4n4mhuXdjN0hbFPkYUK_PpTUJL5e5Txqg/s640/DSC_0264.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqL75ncltHo1PlGbWReSOHS14BOjjH386cjLGfwVF5Ju2TrcWsFhVBMhYvanbYzGcnW1fZ0FTjac_s59H-UIEivM8KS1q8dLDQstyL9FlX93dyyl9_ienLrfNq_tD5TdKiKwpe5ESLL1E/s1600/DSC_0278.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1063" data-original-width="1600" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqL75ncltHo1PlGbWReSOHS14BOjjH386cjLGfwVF5Ju2TrcWsFhVBMhYvanbYzGcnW1fZ0FTjac_s59H-UIEivM8KS1q8dLDQstyL9FlX93dyyl9_ienLrfNq_tD5TdKiKwpe5ESLL1E/s640/DSC_0278.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mammoth Hot Springs</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-IA_CEMfj2g0IgJMIFoXxurx6t1crbrUCIMChTcAIaT1xIV-yw7MFa48ncZRZEBYxa8eKAN6an7cX8m2-UGVtbUY2ctG_CZEWBSAuY0Oj0GveEVnGpJEoC79MB1SS4_XksQxlbNyX9hE/s1600/DSC_0293.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1063" data-original-width="1600" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-IA_CEMfj2g0IgJMIFoXxurx6t1crbrUCIMChTcAIaT1xIV-yw7MFa48ncZRZEBYxa8eKAN6an7cX8m2-UGVtbUY2ctG_CZEWBSAuY0Oj0GveEVnGpJEoC79MB1SS4_XksQxlbNyX9hE/s640/DSC_0293.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Norris Geyser Basin</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
After 4 visits to Yellowstone, I can relate to some of the changes that have occurred during those 50 years between our first and now our most recent visit. In 1967, I don't think we even had any reservations. We found a cabin on the same day that we arrived, in one of the sites with cabins -- I don't know if it was in Canyon or perhaps in Norris Basis. I know it was not in Old Faithful. On that trip there were animals all over the park. Particularly the black bears were prominent along the roadways. Sows would bring their cubs to the roads to teach them how to beg at the cars. People were stupid then, just as they are now. They would get out of their cars and approach the bears to take a relatively close photo. The bears would move from car to car, panhandling. We always had lunch from a cooler in the back seat and on one occasion while stopping for the bears, we had some sandwiches sitting on the console between our two seats in our red Dodge Coronet. I saw a fairly large bear slowly walking up on my passenger side of the car. I had forgotten about the visible sandwiches. I quickly rolled up the window and watched. That bear stood up on its hind legs against my door. I had not gotten the window completely tight and the bear got its claws in over the top of the window glass and began to pull the window down. I yelled at Amos to drive, but he said, "I have to get a photo first." I am currently trying to transfer this photo so you can see my terror.<br />
<br />
The next tine we went with the kids when they were about 10 and 7, there were no bears to be found. At one of the evening ranger programs we asked about the bears. The rangers had apparently been instructed to not answer that question. They basically ducked it and began talking about the bear life cycle. But other articles did state that the bears had been moved. The open dumps where grizzlies gathered every night had been closed. Bear proof garbage cans had been installed throughout the park so that we would no longer as we had then see a black bear upended in a garbage can as we had skirted around on our way back to our cabin that first night in 1967. Bears that were used to coming to the roads had been tranquilized, caught and transported to the high country. On the third trip, a black bear sow and her cubs were sighted near a hiking trail near Tower in Yellowstone. The rangers are on call and were immediately dispatched to such a sighting. The trail was closed until the bear had moved away from it. Bear encounters when they occurred were closely controlled. <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9R78N2luYJhvovOnCsWxTsNEZKXXem6lj11OueMVGOZRrmiTWRcTcH3gFtI1fjyiHvUvYk6W4Q_M_kO69fCghCzmOmCsatMuJ0WopoNvyfDFBYJRo6amOyqeVKZNbr6s0xLBd9dpHOF8/s1600/DSC_0224.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1063" data-original-width="1600" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9R78N2luYJhvovOnCsWxTsNEZKXXem6lj11OueMVGOZRrmiTWRcTcH3gFtI1fjyiHvUvYk6W4Q_M_kO69fCghCzmOmCsatMuJ0WopoNvyfDFBYJRo6amOyqeVKZNbr6s0xLBd9dpHOF8/s640/DSC_0224.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My sister's cabin at Old Faithful</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicH-kfS8qhQTBT439-DljwGkwS-4nyq8dHjqR8J1G9c_w0a8iX0FaUQG2TXXu-Jr8qtQITNK0zV78HrUBQdd5n2PahmE0l1Z8rGIjpPhAndubXNYj7R4zQBi4_0OresORqomkQvfzv_ck/s1600/DSC_0222.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1063" data-original-width="1600" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicH-kfS8qhQTBT439-DljwGkwS-4nyq8dHjqR8J1G9c_w0a8iX0FaUQG2TXXu-Jr8qtQITNK0zV78HrUBQdd5n2PahmE0l1Z8rGIjpPhAndubXNYj7R4zQBi4_0OresORqomkQvfzv_ck/s640/DSC_0222.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Inside the cabin.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<i>least </i>chipmunk, smaller than the common ones we have here in the Midwest.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
This last trip no one in our party saw a bear in Yellowstone, except me. Driving back to Old Faithful just at dusk, I caught a glimpse of a car with its sunroof open and someone standing in it taking photos. The object of the photo, a young bear standing on its hind feet, scraping a young tree. No other bears were seen. Indeed, the striking contrast in this recent trip is that very few animals were seen at all. Some members of the family saw a black wolf with the buffalo in Hayden Valley. An occasional elk, or mule dear was seen. Each evening at dinner we compared notes for our day of touring. One evening the only thing I could come up with in the line of animals were two least chipmunks that had crossed the road in front of our car. Well, that was my first time seeing what I identified as a <i>least </i>chipmunk, which is about 1/2 the size of our Midwestern common chipmunk.<br />
<br />
I did find two lifer birds though: a Clark's nutcracker, and a violet green swallow. Several members of the family were impressed by the white pelicans and also by the trumpeter swans. <br />
<br />
If you would like to know the complete and most striking change from 1967 to 2017, it is the number of people. Yellowstone is swamped with people. More than 3 million people visit Yellowstone annually. That is probably one reason why so few animals are seen. <br />
<br />
We made reservations for our Old Faithful Inn rooms and for my sister's cabin at Old Faithful, along with all of our dinner reservations over one year in advance. One certainly can not whip around either of the loops to easily make an appointment for an activity. There is construction which ties up traffic. In the middle of day, one comes to one of the major attraction sites and there is a line to get into the parking lot with your car. Often people are parking off the side of the main road where they can and walking the 1/4 mile or more into the site before they even get to the viewing trail. Old Faithful area looks like Time Square between 11 AM and 4 PM. The only recommendation I can make is to get up early and get to the main sites very early in the morning. Most people start to head back to their lodging about 4 or 5 PM so one could pack a dinner to take along and see some of the sties before dusk. That is when it is more likely to see some of the animals. My other suggestion is to go off the beaten path if you are capable. Make reservations in advance for kayaking, boating, fishing trips, or hike some of the longer trails which do not attract every visitor. <br />
<br />
For 2017 and the next few years, here are some very specific suggestions for things to do in Yellowstone to get away from the maddening crowd. During our family visit, several members of the family did a few unusual things. Our son's family of 4, including 2 children 10 years old and 7 years old reserved a kayaking trip on Lake Yellowstone. There are several outfitters that provide this service and will accept beginning kayakers and offer some teaching to start out. Views of geothermal areas are different from the lake surface. Most of these start at Grant Village or in the West Thumb area of the Lake because the geothermal area is there. Many start at 9:30 or so in the morning giving time to get there from your lodging and end at about 2:30 pm. Another great activity is fishing either on Lake Yellowstone or on some of the smaller lakes. Lake Lewis in the south of the park is a fairly little used but larger lake. From here one can motor up the Shoshone river Channel to smaller Shoshone Lake. In the nearby southwest corner of Yellowstone is the Bechler and the Falls River. Cave Falls on the Falls River is reachable by road and provides a dip and exploration of a cave under the falls. Many water falls can be hiked to from this area of the park. The Bechler and Falls River provide the most waterfalls in number and in beauty of anywhere else in the Park area, save Canyon. Speaking of the Canyon area, Cascade Lake Trail with its trailhead near Canyon will provide a day hike and will get you away from people. If you have a fishing permit, you may even be able to catch some trout during this hike. The Firehole Canyon Drive on the west side of the Park, just south of Madison Junction is a popular drive, but for those who stop, it offers a relatively off the road swimming hole and a nice view of the Firehole River and its falls. Another nice drive would be to Lamar Valley, heading toward the northeast entrance to the park. Some of my family drove there and reportedly there is good animal viewing in this area of the park. You are decreasing the number of people who go this directions as most people enter from the east from Cody, or from the south and the Grand Tetons, or from the west from West Yellowstone. If you are planning a visit, look into these less traveled areas and ideas for activities. Yellowstone is a big Park and can provide lots to do. You just need to get off the beaten track. <br />
<br />
I do think in the long run, Yellowstone is going to have to make changes, perhaps following the path of Yosemite and just closing down the entrances when a certain number of people have arrived on any given day. Perhaps they can also follow Yosemite's path and allow those with backpacking gear and back country campsite reservations to get into the main park even after the day quota of entrances have occurred because they know these people will be heading away from the main confluence of people. <br />
<br />
There is one thing that has not changed in Yellowstone. Old Faithful Geyser is still quite faithful for a geyser, going off between 1 hour and 1 hour and 15 minutes between eruptions. Some are short in height and large in volume, and some are very very high with smaller breadth, often more than 100 feet in the air. The local geologists are able to use some of these data to predict the next eruption with some degree of accuracy. And we found staying right at Old Faithful, we still went out every evening to see another occurrence. It never seems to get old. <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSPDMqU-uqkSpngXx2U2ETSVZ8qOY7hHtcC217AWuzJ9Bi7bLYuAwZ7Nb08454JvTQRiibR4ld9yhFIaAHcYRA7xG2GSzQGtYJk_9LiwYHcR2i8VQ4fUFdggW4a16KlEOld7DB0-Xw8os/s1600/DSC_0335.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1063" data-original-width="1600" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSPDMqU-uqkSpngXx2U2ETSVZ8qOY7hHtcC217AWuzJ9Bi7bLYuAwZ7Nb08454JvTQRiibR4ld9yhFIaAHcYRA7xG2GSzQGtYJk_9LiwYHcR2i8VQ4fUFdggW4a16KlEOld7DB0-Xw8os/s640/DSC_0335.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div>
Old Faithful Inn, our base for 4 nights at Yellowstone. Built in 1904, this building is the largest log hotel n the world. possibly even the largest log building in the world, built of local wood and stone.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
In spite of all of the people concerns, we did enjoy the park. It was my sister's first visit, and my two daughter in law's first visit as well as my two grandsons. They all had a good time by applying some of these tricks that I have described above. <br />
<br />
I want to close this post with an interesting story about our first stay at Yellowstone and perhaps the most frightening encounter with a bear, though my view of that car window encounter produced a fair amount of my adrenalin. The first night we were in Yellowstone, we were able to take a cabin, much like the one my sister stayed in this time, pictured above. But we did not know that most of the cabins closed on Labor Day. Our stay was to last a bit longer. We had camped on the way out to Yellowstone, at the Badlands and at Devil's Tower, but we had not intended to camp in Yellowstone primarily because of the bears. Now learning that cabins were all close and being unable as students to afford Old Faithful Inn or even any of the other lodges, we decided to camp our last night in Mammoth before exiting the park. WE bedded down in our little dome shaped pop up tent and fell asleep quickly. In the middle of the night we were awakened by people in the tent at the next campsite banging on pots and pans, making a terrific racket. We thought, "What is going on? Are these people packing up and leaving in the middle of the night?" The next thing we heard was the recognizable sound of a car rolling on gravel. We were mystified. AND THEN, we heard a snorting and snuffling sound at the wall of our tent. We now knew this was not a human sound and we hugged each other thinking that we were done for. Whatever it was outside, moved away, and I unzipped a window to catch sight of a black bear behind as it hurried away. Later we found out that the people at the next campsite owned a convertible and had placed their food in the trunk. Two bears had gone through the roof of the convertible and were trying to claw their way into the trunk from the back seat. One of them kicked the car into neutral and as we had heard, it began to roll. This scared the bears out of the car and they escaped, checking our tent for any scent of food, before taking off into the woods. We learned that the night before the folks at our campsite had made the same mistake I had made earlier and didn't get their window up totally on their hard topped car which contained food in the passenger compartment. Bears had entered that care and had done a lot of destruction in getting to that food. So as you can see, times and bear encounters were very different back in 1967. Obviously these encounters between humans and bears could not be allowed to continue, and now at least those encounters are much healthier for both species.</div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer"><script type="text/javascript">
var _gaq = _gaq || [];
_gaq.push(['_setAccount', 'UA-17518819-1']);
_gaq.push(['_trackPageview']);
(function() {
var ga = document.createElement('script'); ga.type = 'text/javascript'; ga.async = true;
ga.src = ('https:' == document.location.protocol ? 'https://ssl' : 'http://www') + '.google-analytics.com/ga.js';
var s = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(ga, s);
})();
</script></div>RenRaehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17961222558357224052noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4207881053346095956.post-37064498103542122192017-04-11T16:55:00.000-05:002017-04-11T17:15:09.298-05:00Mystery Photo 28: Hearst Castle, San Simeon, California<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFmMtd3f8pnksesCI1xRkr0dpKCksvcAMxETR_LC1Rt3NMPhPrmrOVzO307AwGsR4Df76_82wtfVKPspZV1yn2mdPtQKooWRUcSGTtldO_ck_s-mlbppPMw-H6MuMTYEgoCdIDoJWqxOU/s1600/File0071.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFmMtd3f8pnksesCI1xRkr0dpKCksvcAMxETR_LC1Rt3NMPhPrmrOVzO307AwGsR4Df76_82wtfVKPspZV1yn2mdPtQKooWRUcSGTtldO_ck_s-mlbppPMw-H6MuMTYEgoCdIDoJWqxOU/s640/File0071.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
The Mystery Photo 28 is indeed a unique castle -- Hearst Castle at San Simeon, California. This 60,645 square feet Casa Grande, the main building of "La Cuesta Encantada" (The Enchanted Hill) was built by architect Julia Morgan, between 1919 and 1954 at the behest of then famous newspaper Randolph William Hearst. Hearst purchased the property consisting of 245,000 acres, and 14 miles of Pacific coastline in 1915. This wonderful and scenic property was located in the coastal foothills of the Santa Lucia mountain range. It was then and still remains a somewhat remote and unpopulated area due to these mountains. For some years Mr. Hearst and his family visited this site and what he called in spite of his own fantasy name for the location, his "ranch." During those early years he and his family engaged in tent camping on the hillsides, but eventually built a Victorian home in a eucalyptus grove over the hill from the later Castle. In 1919, Hearst hired Julia Morgan as an architect to build a permanent home on the top of a hill on his property overlooking the Pacific Ocean. His first intension was a smaller bungalow, but those plans gradually evolved into a larger and larger mansion, built in Spanish Colonial style. Hearst was a great antique collector. Especially he purchased large antique statues, stone works, and even sarcophagi. He assembled a collection of old ceilings from churches and monasteries in Europe and had his architect design rooms to fit those ceilings. That is one reason that his mansion became so large, so intricate, and in some cases so strangely laid out. <br />
<br />
Interestingly Julia Morgan was the first woman graduate from L'Ecole Nationale Superieure des Beaux Art. in Paris. She and Hearst worked on this mansion until 1947. At this time Hearst ceased going to visit his "ranch" as often and eventually a worsening health stopped the progress on Hearst Castle. To this day it sits there with one whole end not completed on the outside. During its heyday, many famous people visited Hearst Castle, among them Hollywood stars such as Clark Gable, and even Presidents such as Calvin Coolidge, and Franklin D. Roosevelt. Even Winston Churchill was a guest there. Adjacent to the mansion, were two lovely 2,000 to 3,000 foot guest "cottages.' There was plenty for guests to do at Hearst Castle including a huge outdoor Greek style swimming pool below the Castle, and a connecting large indoor pool, a theatre, tennis courts, dozens of bedrooms, sitting rooms, a wine cellar, library, and even the largest private wild animal zoo in North America, at the time.<br />
<br />
Hearst died in 1951 and the property could no longer be maintained by the family. It was donated to the State of California in 1954. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4F2tdMVLeWaoFFLnABHEAFVzlqs3rqaq2QIRItwGtoA_Xo0p3T-XdfMkjXZpoP5YIT5H_pLjVQaZyW7IWpb7j_FPuTR_Jucxipo6fRCNhlbjf3kLdJAFpcH24dM2p58AGfgGmvenqXqU/s1600/select+pictures+feb.+2008-659.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4F2tdMVLeWaoFFLnABHEAFVzlqs3rqaq2QIRItwGtoA_Xo0p3T-XdfMkjXZpoP5YIT5H_pLjVQaZyW7IWpb7j_FPuTR_Jucxipo6fRCNhlbjf3kLdJAFpcH24dM2p58AGfgGmvenqXqU/s640/select+pictures+feb.+2008-659.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmiAS_gLNbtGdQOXGQxnLEwEFiUBs3ensN8dbH8VgTG7HEVsldGpiZc_gz_fZLY8-aHzWFBW0EYMrQ25UVUAPdplqT0OiABLM3-iDPFJp8okQt4olujUIYaXobNcvUtAdV9ogB2VuT6sU/s1600/Hearst+Castle1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmiAS_gLNbtGdQOXGQxnLEwEFiUBs3ensN8dbH8VgTG7HEVsldGpiZc_gz_fZLY8-aHzWFBW0EYMrQ25UVUAPdplqT0OiABLM3-iDPFJp8okQt4olujUIYaXobNcvUtAdV9ogB2VuT6sU/s640/Hearst+Castle1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFNJ6Vd7YIV0BotxLIjoJQjc2Ds69F6Z3Syjv1OXAp-SivAEkfIgCdWTZxEBU2-Hd-h9zWfqejWqC_-Os631M4h0ynRwsM3P2XtoV8iTuxqzYtdfphQRSbx7S7TpVQjQQfqeVopGAM4rk/s1600/California+Jan.+14-29+2005+067.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFNJ6Vd7YIV0BotxLIjoJQjc2Ds69F6Z3Syjv1OXAp-SivAEkfIgCdWTZxEBU2-Hd-h9zWfqejWqC_-Os631M4h0ynRwsM3P2XtoV8iTuxqzYtdfphQRSbx7S7TpVQjQQfqeVopGAM4rk/s640/California+Jan.+14-29+2005+067.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sunset over the Pacific taken from the Terrace of the main building of Hearst Castle.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
There are several different tours of the Castle that can be taken as it is too large and extensive to see in one tour. We have taken most of the tours during different visits to this iconic location. However, one of the most memorable tours was an evening one, led by a California State Park director through the auspices of the yearly Spring Birding Festival headquartered in Morro Bay, situated just a short distance north of San Simeon. This tour was arranged only for registered attendees of the Bird Festival and had to be reserved in advance. The purpose of the evening visit was to view three different species of bats that make their residence at Hearst Castle.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5s1lRaZGcfqyBDAuKn9ch39PNdkpr7jd9sEMUsPwzpSmDMPHDmbpkWEHaM9_qhjWUYfMdTw1j-UpT3JkerWlZbEuvfF4B6pAMDfnY_nDQyy9lg2kVXUGR9QCL4lcPG-kXrmvhayTWUiI/s1600/Hearst+castle+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="313" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5s1lRaZGcfqyBDAuKn9ch39PNdkpr7jd9sEMUsPwzpSmDMPHDmbpkWEHaM9_qhjWUYfMdTw1j-UpT3JkerWlZbEuvfF4B6pAMDfnY_nDQyy9lg2kVXUGR9QCL4lcPG-kXrmvhayTWUiI/s640/Hearst+castle+2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div>
Workmen repairing tile roof of Hearst Castle. The bats day roosted and nested</div>
<div>
under these tiles.</div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl_nDyp1JotSXyi8MCu6acXVyJyEZr5Jc4qLO0UwO9ddaadv4GgdUnk0kCgt3KbV5cjhvPGV15PuwptfJ73Lnke-kM5g4SWgEit0jLxUmplwqr2JRcVmYSfigsQySMukkQa_pJyHnsGtQ/s1600/Heart+Castle+guest+house.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl_nDyp1JotSXyi8MCu6acXVyJyEZr5Jc4qLO0UwO9ddaadv4GgdUnk0kCgt3KbV5cjhvPGV15PuwptfJ73Lnke-kM5g4SWgEit0jLxUmplwqr2JRcVmYSfigsQySMukkQa_pJyHnsGtQ/s400/Heart+Castle+guest+house.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div>
A single bat spent the summer season day roosting in the lock mechanism of </div>
<div>
this glass encased guest house door.</div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Our leader had tape recordings of some of the bats calls and at dusk began playing the tapes. One common species of bat called the.... is present in large numbers and lives under the edges of the tiles of the roof of the Castle. As soon as the sun fell and the tape began these bats began streaming out of their roosts. Another species of bat was living actually inside the attic of the castle and had to be evicted with the accesses sealed up because the bat guano was damaging the walls of the rooms below. A third species was living under some cement works of the gorgeous outdoor Neptune Pool. This particular species had not yet, appeared so early in the season. Our Park Director showed us on psot in the overlaid glass of one of the guest cottage doors where everyday a single bat roosted all day long as the daytime visitors put their hands on the door knob and opened and closed that door. I could just imagine those many people who are still to this day somewhat skittish about the ideas of bats in spite of most of the benefits that this species provides -- yes, I could imagine those thoughts if only some of these skittish folks knew of the bat's presence. After we had had our fill of the bats which unfortunately for this piece, did not provide good photo material, we went inside the Castle. The Park Director asked if there was any area of the mansion that the group would like to see. I mentioned the Wine Cellar, and so that was our first stop. The following dark photos show some areas of the castle in an unusual light. Please enjoy them for what they are -- representatives of a very unique and memorable visit to this iconic home. For other photos of the Castle in daytime, I recommend the following websites:<br />
<br />
http://californiathroughmylens.com/hearst-castle<br />
<br />
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V1HXvwJNojM<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO4RuK-eWFupWHCBPdBN1osGCnB07hIhhRWkE6ljT2vCbrDkgcWGi_-IE17Mijvh_o44CLx9cxst_p67sdHVgKrshrIoE1bUky_nJL3uf1gzdWMFAZ5kNVYxCN9QQJRvrMfChxwQhPjyE/s1600/California+Jan.+14-29+2005+077.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
<div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO4RuK-eWFupWHCBPdBN1osGCnB07hIhhRWkE6ljT2vCbrDkgcWGi_-IE17Mijvh_o44CLx9cxst_p67sdHVgKrshrIoE1bUky_nJL3uf1gzdWMFAZ5kNVYxCN9QQJRvrMfChxwQhPjyE/s1600/California+Jan.+14-29+2005+077.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZww1TprFijsAozXpScnq6HHrLm66xcPyqUBv4CeVzeHKToUPReHaG6LkohfaPdz6OOXK6-d-4Sf2x4zb2AWbQGD3f1TMpTrWs1kNQvPsLke-O5W7cuuuVhi0FXqXRLEEHpLG4kRCw-YM/s1600/California+Jan.+14-29+2005+076.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZww1TprFijsAozXpScnq6HHrLm66xcPyqUBv4CeVzeHKToUPReHaG6LkohfaPdz6OOXK6-d-4Sf2x4zb2AWbQGD3f1TMpTrWs1kNQvPsLke-O5W7cuuuVhi0FXqXRLEEHpLG4kRCw-YM/s640/California+Jan.+14-29+2005+076.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Above we see several examples of Curacao Triple Sec Bardinett. This is an orange flavored liqueur that has quite an interesting history but which is still made today. There is a fruit called the laraha citrus fruit which is similar to the Valencia orange. It was transplanted from Spain to Curacao in the Caribbean in 1527. However, on Curacao it did not grow like it did back in Spain, instead producing small hard bitter little fruits. However, it was discovered that an oil made from the dried peels retained some orange flavor along with variable amounts of bitters which were found to flavor a local alcoholic brew called Triple Sec. The current Curacao Triple Sec today is the only one which can claim the use of the original Curacao variety of laraha fruit.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO4RuK-eWFupWHCBPdBN1osGCnB07hIhhRWkE6ljT2vCbrDkgcWGi_-IE17Mijvh_o44CLx9cxst_p67sdHVgKrshrIoE1bUky_nJL3uf1gzdWMFAZ5kNVYxCN9QQJRvrMfChxwQhPjyE/s1600/California+Jan.+14-29+2005+077.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO4RuK-eWFupWHCBPdBN1osGCnB07hIhhRWkE6ljT2vCbrDkgcWGi_-IE17Mijvh_o44CLx9cxst_p67sdHVgKrshrIoE1bUky_nJL3uf1gzdWMFAZ5kNVYxCN9QQJRvrMfChxwQhPjyE/s1600/California+Jan.+14-29+2005+077.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB7J5b17R3LP1NKtuozKQDPx_czu30v8Ep5LXzOjTHDJIAZzKTT5CA89lkvpKtYOIJ0yCC1EzJA6o7leTNVMk9K4__relG57gGB5z-O0t0NFC-DDrvzQ33tWWWum2EOBopbHIb12duOjA/s1600/California+Jan.+14-29+2005+077.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB7J5b17R3LP1NKtuozKQDPx_czu30v8Ep5LXzOjTHDJIAZzKTT5CA89lkvpKtYOIJ0yCC1EzJA6o7leTNVMk9K4__relG57gGB5z-O0t0NFC-DDrvzQ33tWWWum2EOBopbHIb12duOjA/s640/California+Jan.+14-29+2005+077.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This entire case is filled with what appears to be red Italian wines under the name Martin. Now there still is a wine dstributer operating in the United States. I don't know if this distributor put their labels on all these bottles of wine or not, or whether there was an Italian vintner by this name at the time of Randolph Hearst and his big parties. We did see some Bordeaux in the cellar but were told these were empty bottles. The excellent wine in them had been consumed long ago.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</a></div>
<div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
<br />
<br />
More photos below -------Please scroll downwards.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
<div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO4RuK-eWFupWHCBPdBN1osGCnB07hIhhRWkE6ljT2vCbrDkgcWGi_-IE17Mijvh_o44CLx9cxst_p67sdHVgKrshrIoE1bUky_nJL3uf1gzdWMFAZ5kNVYxCN9QQJRvrMfChxwQhPjyE/s1600/California+Jan.+14-29+2005+077.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
<div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO4RuK-eWFupWHCBPdBN1osGCnB07hIhhRWkE6ljT2vCbrDkgcWGi_-IE17Mijvh_o44CLx9cxst_p67sdHVgKrshrIoE1bUky_nJL3uf1gzdWMFAZ5kNVYxCN9QQJRvrMfChxwQhPjyE/s1600/California+Jan.+14-29+2005+077.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
<div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO4RuK-eWFupWHCBPdBN1osGCnB07hIhhRWkE6ljT2vCbrDkgcWGi_-IE17Mijvh_o44CLx9cxst_p67sdHVgKrshrIoE1bUky_nJL3uf1gzdWMFAZ5kNVYxCN9QQJRvrMfChxwQhPjyE/s1600/California+Jan.+14-29+2005+077.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
<div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO4RuK-eWFupWHCBPdBN1osGCnB07hIhhRWkE6ljT2vCbrDkgcWGi_-IE17Mijvh_o44CLx9cxst_p67sdHVgKrshrIoE1bUky_nJL3uf1gzdWMFAZ5kNVYxCN9QQJRvrMfChxwQhPjyE/s1600/California+Jan.+14-29+2005+077.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
<div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO4RuK-eWFupWHCBPdBN1osGCnB07hIhhRWkE6ljT2vCbrDkgcWGi_-IE17Mijvh_o44CLx9cxst_p67sdHVgKrshrIoE1bUky_nJL3uf1gzdWMFAZ5kNVYxCN9QQJRvrMfChxwQhPjyE/s1600/California+Jan.+14-29+2005+077.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
<div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO4RuK-eWFupWHCBPdBN1osGCnB07hIhhRWkE6ljT2vCbrDkgcWGi_-IE17Mijvh_o44CLx9cxst_p67sdHVgKrshrIoE1bUky_nJL3uf1gzdWMFAZ5kNVYxCN9QQJRvrMfChxwQhPjyE/s1600/California+Jan.+14-29+2005+077.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
<div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO4RuK-eWFupWHCBPdBN1osGCnB07hIhhRWkE6ljT2vCbrDkgcWGi_-IE17Mijvh_o44CLx9cxst_p67sdHVgKrshrIoE1bUky_nJL3uf1gzdWMFAZ5kNVYxCN9QQJRvrMfChxwQhPjyE/s1600/California+Jan.+14-29+2005+077.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
<div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO4RuK-eWFupWHCBPdBN1osGCnB07hIhhRWkE6ljT2vCbrDkgcWGi_-IE17Mijvh_o44CLx9cxst_p67sdHVgKrshrIoE1bUky_nJL3uf1gzdWMFAZ5kNVYxCN9QQJRvrMfChxwQhPjyE/s1600/California+Jan.+14-29+2005+077.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
<div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO4RuK-eWFupWHCBPdBN1osGCnB07hIhhRWkE6ljT2vCbrDkgcWGi_-IE17Mijvh_o44CLx9cxst_p67sdHVgKrshrIoE1bUky_nJL3uf1gzdWMFAZ5kNVYxCN9QQJRvrMfChxwQhPjyE/s1600/California+Jan.+14-29+2005+077.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
<div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO4RuK-eWFupWHCBPdBN1osGCnB07hIhhRWkE6ljT2vCbrDkgcWGi_-IE17Mijvh_o44CLx9cxst_p67sdHVgKrshrIoE1bUky_nJL3uf1gzdWMFAZ5kNVYxCN9QQJRvrMfChxwQhPjyE/s1600/California+Jan.+14-29+2005+077.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
<div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO4RuK-eWFupWHCBPdBN1osGCnB07hIhhRWkE6ljT2vCbrDkgcWGi_-IE17Mijvh_o44CLx9cxst_p67sdHVgKrshrIoE1bUky_nJL3uf1gzdWMFAZ5kNVYxCN9QQJRvrMfChxwQhPjyE/s1600/California+Jan.+14-29+2005+077.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
<div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO4RuK-eWFupWHCBPdBN1osGCnB07hIhhRWkE6ljT2vCbrDkgcWGi_-IE17Mijvh_o44CLx9cxst_p67sdHVgKrshrIoE1bUky_nJL3uf1gzdWMFAZ5kNVYxCN9QQJRvrMfChxwQhPjyE/s1600/California+Jan.+14-29+2005+077.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
<div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO4RuK-eWFupWHCBPdBN1osGCnB07hIhhRWkE6ljT2vCbrDkgcWGi_-IE17Mijvh_o44CLx9cxst_p67sdHVgKrshrIoE1bUky_nJL3uf1gzdWMFAZ5kNVYxCN9QQJRvrMfChxwQhPjyE/s1600/California+Jan.+14-29+2005+077.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
<div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO4RuK-eWFupWHCBPdBN1osGCnB07hIhhRWkE6ljT2vCbrDkgcWGi_-IE17Mijvh_o44CLx9cxst_p67sdHVgKrshrIoE1bUky_nJL3uf1gzdWMFAZ5kNVYxCN9QQJRvrMfChxwQhPjyE/s1600/California+Jan.+14-29+2005+077.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
<div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO4RuK-eWFupWHCBPdBN1osGCnB07hIhhRWkE6ljT2vCbrDkgcWGi_-IE17Mijvh_o44CLx9cxst_p67sdHVgKrshrIoE1bUky_nJL3uf1gzdWMFAZ5kNVYxCN9QQJRvrMfChxwQhPjyE/s1600/California+Jan.+14-29+2005+077.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
<div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO4RuK-eWFupWHCBPdBN1osGCnB07hIhhRWkE6ljT2vCbrDkgcWGi_-IE17Mijvh_o44CLx9cxst_p67sdHVgKrshrIoE1bUky_nJL3uf1gzdWMFAZ5kNVYxCN9QQJRvrMfChxwQhPjyE/s1600/California+Jan.+14-29+2005+077.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
<div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO4RuK-eWFupWHCBPdBN1osGCnB07hIhhRWkE6ljT2vCbrDkgcWGi_-IE17Mijvh_o44CLx9cxst_p67sdHVgKrshrIoE1bUky_nJL3uf1gzdWMFAZ5kNVYxCN9QQJRvrMfChxwQhPjyE/s1600/California+Jan.+14-29+2005+077.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
It appears that the interest of our visiting group, in addition to the wine cellar, tended toward the culinary. The next photos are of the dining room and some of its art objects and then the kitchen, where most visitors do not visit. <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwZEqy-OUQ0zuFvoabn-KN_l9chyphenhyphen0JGqRv1bq0wKQnYGofiwU2v_BrXk-Z8rf0zMck0piGWmykYMYbqqCJSDIomPCUINEXeXNQ9QKyXXgkB7q9Vd9qpOnMWYKKmefkrMiiOqi0vpxeoUE/s1600/California+Jan.+14-29+2005+085.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwZEqy-OUQ0zuFvoabn-KN_l9chyphenhyphen0JGqRv1bq0wKQnYGofiwU2v_BrXk-Z8rf0zMck0piGWmykYMYbqqCJSDIomPCUINEXeXNQ9QKyXXgkB7q9Vd9qpOnMWYKKmefkrMiiOqi0vpxeoUE/s640/California+Jan.+14-29+2005+085.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div>
The ceiling in this sitting room was purchased whole and then the room was designed to </div>
<div>
accommodate the antique ceiling.</div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6BRADeSrzuCw4Aq8wLQo09Ykuqhtw7c4SzkXvu2pcLr38N6UOcZ7hnCEmOZAkX1fcuPgU7ZQQ9i7SBsPzv6IbFnRkAgFajmR8omTW65zj1-BLxawgO0wvd4OIEOK_f5OHOGUCysDZzpU/s1600/California+Jan.+14-29+2005+086.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6BRADeSrzuCw4Aq8wLQo09Ykuqhtw7c4SzkXvu2pcLr38N6UOcZ7hnCEmOZAkX1fcuPgU7ZQQ9i7SBsPzv6IbFnRkAgFajmR8omTW65zj1-BLxawgO0wvd4OIEOK_f5OHOGUCysDZzpU/s640/California+Jan.+14-29+2005+086.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Objects of art in the sitting room.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN0WVvoiGL5QeYEtOExzdF8I7q2d2VeZFLxYS8Cfdp5IWfBaDu3bJEIqF1nhiOsLS7xfaaycyMqmpyUi_abk_2TRU4CcMfSFlsLm13zDP23urQeSKVYos83_i4RJz_SBXG74hvrvhmbNA/s1600/California+Jan.+14-29+2005+094.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN0WVvoiGL5QeYEtOExzdF8I7q2d2VeZFLxYS8Cfdp5IWfBaDu3bJEIqF1nhiOsLS7xfaaycyMqmpyUi_abk_2TRU4CcMfSFlsLm13zDP23urQeSKVYos83_i4RJz_SBXG74hvrvhmbNA/s400/California+Jan.+14-29+2005+094.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A cloth table runner in the dining room.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxk3vh9rgpRYf2ETIj5Da3bOAIn4W35qaGYG1IVNpca7bJvadM-hrFCDOwD4nAJd9ppjRC1w00Ua4d65Vmxt5sUWylgn3g9CDR792lfaN-aPLJJ3qnL88P0oEDP0qyBf83xYLCASZ4dnE/s1600/California+Jan.+14-29+2005+098.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxk3vh9rgpRYf2ETIj5Da3bOAIn4W35qaGYG1IVNpca7bJvadM-hrFCDOwD4nAJd9ppjRC1w00Ua4d65Vmxt5sUWylgn3g9CDR792lfaN-aPLJJ3qnL88P0oEDP0qyBf83xYLCASZ4dnE/s640/California+Jan.+14-29+2005+098.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The dim chandelier lighting barely illuminates the very long guest dining room table.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI8n3doiloSJa7Saqse6ES2Trpzxhkkcz3m2LhZ24NzJVP0J1MS3Ohi_0axl8KQJq7E7J4LLreNFNS2s1-PRPnJvXX6KfT9Ol0GapfcG8IYo7N9aJ3z4OADCQtApaEHoMPUxOTGA9ZSeM/s1600/California+Jan.+14-29+2005+103.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI8n3doiloSJa7Saqse6ES2Trpzxhkkcz3m2LhZ24NzJVP0J1MS3Ohi_0axl8KQJq7E7J4LLreNFNS2s1-PRPnJvXX6KfT9Ol0GapfcG8IYo7N9aJ3z4OADCQtApaEHoMPUxOTGA9ZSeM/s640/California+Jan.+14-29+2005+103.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is our bat watching group milling around in the living room. We were told we could step beyond the confining rope boundaries and look at anything we wished to look at.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9Z_f5xQxN0epXGdqDu5YfHG4qn42lEhP9KGVkNb1s9qT33XrBDMkzTk2HmhCVSBsv8sgB9OMCEiTr-ulYmpl6m7S3rF3Ma2nuBuqfKKl5Ahhr976FGodrApRvJF6ESXABof1acNhgK4U/s1600/California+Jan.+14-29+2005+101.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9Z_f5xQxN0epXGdqDu5YfHG4qn42lEhP9KGVkNb1s9qT33XrBDMkzTk2HmhCVSBsv8sgB9OMCEiTr-ulYmpl6m7S3rF3Ma2nuBuqfKKl5Ahhr976FGodrApRvJF6ESXABof1acNhgK4U/s640/California+Jan.+14-29+2005+101.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div>
A set of candlesticks placed on a sideboard in front of a very antique tapestry. Randolph </div>
<div>
Hearst had an exquisite taste for wonderful antiques and his Castle was built to display them.</div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
And the kitchen:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjVaEXXF5zzBCjJzaKoY49av4eGVpGMnDbPZrcWglwcY2POJX-m6PldgEfP6UXzG0AilCgZ3EsShOe6BSsxp_Vt77p8w572-sd2TPBDxh_E3FQN6yPbBz_iKKqhEoXVMdPnBieJBd8UFw/s1600/California+Jan.+14-29+2005+108.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjVaEXXF5zzBCjJzaKoY49av4eGVpGMnDbPZrcWglwcY2POJX-m6PldgEfP6UXzG0AilCgZ3EsShOe6BSsxp_Vt77p8w572-sd2TPBDxh_E3FQN6yPbBz_iKKqhEoXVMdPnBieJBd8UFw/s640/California+Jan.+14-29+2005+108.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuM3xn3_QuPbWHr1ucR1hQCgWdq8PsnsOTLxSI6PqUrueYQYrWtAwJim1ZQ45Ep9swWwx8JJPR6fBG3eDDeycYARihnby8sFuKEM6FExX7ZqJRtwF7Yz4hTf6PBNbJqKDDjd7Th9N7zT0/s1600/California+Jan.+14-29+2005+109.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuM3xn3_QuPbWHr1ucR1hQCgWdq8PsnsOTLxSI6PqUrueYQYrWtAwJim1ZQ45Ep9swWwx8JJPR6fBG3eDDeycYARihnby8sFuKEM6FExX7ZqJRtwF7Yz4hTf6PBNbJqKDDjd7Th9N7zT0/s640/California+Jan.+14-29+2005+109.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4Rztdcx6Q-HsRd7dSkefr0iQ2oHTSwMVhkJsjWX-wubs9fC8Gg_W9PZk2czHoMxYQMvmH6xzd6FDeyRr2ctq3HgKhaq9gzV0LxjyjD4JrtKLrd1uMvl5Rm-5dt28WIuVEgdIckQd_aYs/s1600/California+Jan.+14-29+2005+110.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4Rztdcx6Q-HsRd7dSkefr0iQ2oHTSwMVhkJsjWX-wubs9fC8Gg_W9PZk2czHoMxYQMvmH6xzd6FDeyRr2ctq3HgKhaq9gzV0LxjyjD4JrtKLrd1uMvl5Rm-5dt28WIuVEgdIckQd_aYs/s640/California+Jan.+14-29+2005+110.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer"><script type="text/javascript">
var _gaq = _gaq || [];
_gaq.push(['_setAccount', 'UA-17518819-1']);
_gaq.push(['_trackPageview']);
(function() {
var ga = document.createElement('script'); ga.type = 'text/javascript'; ga.async = true;
ga.src = ('https:' == document.location.protocol ? 'https://ssl' : 'http://www') + '.google-analytics.com/ga.js';
var s = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(ga, s);
})();
</script></div>RenRaehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17961222558357224052noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4207881053346095956.post-60965571880285050102017-01-14T14:30:00.001-06:002017-01-14T14:30:48.950-06:00Mystery Photo 28: Clues<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1ZTnjtExkYIuOZmWRov6Phy0mnLjXetfpCnb0-60rZK1HK3_acShnFT3iQ9-aoucxrwjOZKCANzxbhcjHawztx_xDe-TreovqQLNSTt3Ghk-5mgxvbc0ATj0oUEGwNt9qnxa5mkb1z3M/s1600/select+pictures+feb.+2008-634.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1ZTnjtExkYIuOZmWRov6Phy0mnLjXetfpCnb0-60rZK1HK3_acShnFT3iQ9-aoucxrwjOZKCANzxbhcjHawztx_xDe-TreovqQLNSTt3Ghk-5mgxvbc0ATj0oUEGwNt9qnxa5mkb1z3M/s640/select+pictures+feb.+2008-634.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This lighthouse is located on the coast just a little north of our mystery Castle.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV3ko3nJAfHV9KOyU-fhEBEcYryrm0129LhfgjTBgXbdmTP7ildDvFeM9aOAUEg9u1aXLywjDjDbbfiF69CONA7emVzpmVgWSPuwhWDCfBP_QZmzGUC0VzfMEBrGtn7-nowYylUrcqisw/s1600/select+pictures+feb.+2008-652.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV3ko3nJAfHV9KOyU-fhEBEcYryrm0129LhfgjTBgXbdmTP7ildDvFeM9aOAUEg9u1aXLywjDjDbbfiF69CONA7emVzpmVgWSPuwhWDCfBP_QZmzGUC0VzfMEBrGtn7-nowYylUrcqisw/s640/select+pictures+feb.+2008-652.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">These fascinating animals beach themselves for several months a year, about 4 to 5 miles north of our mystery Castle.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-70pioXpuBS-MIqgs5dbD88RQWT2HtQ-qjEiM6d1-IoqCH8ozznp4ykF81t_fM1REXuOzYK1rC_CbzuCUAf_Cjw-cdznpTO4eeIDuTyCrjI-ggnIGMfj4x6ENiCtY9xSbDpFNWla1jnY/s1600/select+pictures+feb.+2008-612.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-70pioXpuBS-MIqgs5dbD88RQWT2HtQ-qjEiM6d1-IoqCH8ozznp4ykF81t_fM1REXuOzYK1rC_CbzuCUAf_Cjw-cdznpTO4eeIDuTyCrjI-ggnIGMfj4x6ENiCtY9xSbDpFNWla1jnY/s640/select+pictures+feb.+2008-612.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div>
This beautiful bay is very near our Castle that is Mystery Photo 28. The Bay is named after the rock that is seen </div>
<div>
to the left of the photo. It is in the Pacific Ocean, well, I will tell you --- it is on the west coast of the US.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
These three photos should help you a great deal in locating the object of Mystery Photo 28. Let's see some answers. Want to play?</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
</div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer"><script type="text/javascript">
var _gaq = _gaq || [];
_gaq.push(['_setAccount', 'UA-17518819-1']);
_gaq.push(['_trackPageview']);
(function() {
var ga = document.createElement('script'); ga.type = 'text/javascript'; ga.async = true;
ga.src = ('https:' == document.location.protocol ? 'https://ssl' : 'http://www') + '.google-analytics.com/ga.js';
var s = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(ga, s);
})();
</script></div>RenRaehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17961222558357224052noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4207881053346095956.post-6241176410296912512016-12-27T17:22:00.000-06:002016-12-27T17:35:42.233-06:00Mystery Photo 28: Where Is This Hilltop Castle?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Castles and castle like buildings abound in all parts of the world. I have not posted a Mystery Photo for years on this blog. Therefore it is about time. Does anyone recognize this destination castle without my giving any clues. If the comment section is quiet, I will post a couple clues in a few days.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLumuq2JDz3aZx2dXPcUcGCsergjInBr9lW07KNPzuSzCLTF4SX7iTp3pj6Z9031qi0lGsCqflUL9AIrC5z_Jm-ArAzQwaFHPP9ez9Ong8_qOQJRv9GAJ4F9nNo6ft7ZeYbXiW8DE5L3I/s1600/select+pictures+feb.+2008-655.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLumuq2JDz3aZx2dXPcUcGCsergjInBr9lW07KNPzuSzCLTF4SX7iTp3pj6Z9031qi0lGsCqflUL9AIrC5z_Jm-ArAzQwaFHPP9ez9Ong8_qOQJRv9GAJ4F9nNo6ft7ZeYbXiW8DE5L3I/s640/select+pictures+feb.+2008-655.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE3b-sPAMOkHoNqTqa5-WUbFFVkEynH9mfzy8GMjB5OmH0UrffMZd-4EkYOdOUm8GxTV37hdMgKKQLhlPGhxUBbw4sDLijUQSC9N-VHTVSTBseRllZYf1Pl12J2gb7fuG_YxED61sDNqE/s1600/select+pictures+feb.+2008-677.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE3b-sPAMOkHoNqTqa5-WUbFFVkEynH9mfzy8GMjB5OmH0UrffMZd-4EkYOdOUm8GxTV37hdMgKKQLhlPGhxUBbw4sDLijUQSC9N-VHTVSTBseRllZYf1Pl12J2gb7fuG_YxED61sDNqE/s640/select+pictures+feb.+2008-677.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer"><script type="text/javascript">
var _gaq = _gaq || [];
_gaq.push(['_setAccount', 'UA-17518819-1']);
_gaq.push(['_trackPageview']);
(function() {
var ga = document.createElement('script'); ga.type = 'text/javascript'; ga.async = true;
ga.src = ('https:' == document.location.protocol ? 'https://ssl' : 'http://www') + '.google-analytics.com/ga.js';
var s = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(ga, s);
})();
</script></div>RenRaehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17961222558357224052noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4207881053346095956.post-14025884377030987682016-11-26T15:39:00.002-06:002016-12-02T16:22:26.841-06:00Woodpeckers, especially the red bellied woodpecker.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf7ln_JE2MRBEQpHVn78O3Bwsloec8kjj4bhb8ACyYQXj1BnrqIw7HTpALEPgcitkwsIGSmMxrtR3yjtT-PvNS_9UKnx8jtm06JOChvle3EY_xgS-I91sMYX5MhjHfGPngBucjrpD3MNI/s1600/Red-bellied_Woodpecker-27527.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf7ln_JE2MRBEQpHVn78O3Bwsloec8kjj4bhb8ACyYQXj1BnrqIw7HTpALEPgcitkwsIGSmMxrtR3yjtT-PvNS_9UKnx8jtm06JOChvle3EY_xgS-I91sMYX5MhjHfGPngBucjrpD3MNI/s640/Red-bellied_Woodpecker-27527.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div>
Male red bellied woodpecker. Note the red on its head extends from eyebrow </div>
<div>
to the nape of the neck in the male. Also note its toes: two toes forward, two </div>
<div>
toes back to enable better grasp when it is vertical on a tree trunk.</div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHqchj2qSg0c1TEF3SRxskxOweOIbpLVb60E8u_kxm9G55SPjXS8jCrx9Xn7lVXuJdAjab87XgChek5j5oIhy0gc3U4A_8DzcReJfqOLlAFtiUv21xGCBHIGsxv58Gw0CDNz8r1cPiiAY/s1600/female+red+bellied+woodpecker.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="446" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHqchj2qSg0c1TEF3SRxskxOweOIbpLVb60E8u_kxm9G55SPjXS8jCrx9Xn7lVXuJdAjab87XgChek5j5oIhy0gc3U4A_8DzcReJfqOLlAFtiUv21xGCBHIGsxv58Gw0CDNz8r1cPiiAY/s640/female+red+bellied+woodpecker.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div>
This is the female near a nest hole. Note the red on its head is interrupted and forms only a small patch near its </div>
<div>
beak and then a long patch from the back of the head to the nape of the neck.</div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Woodpeckers are fascinating birds. I originally wanted to write about the red bellied woodpecker because I have now had a nesting pair living and breeding on our property. I saw and heard the male for the first time on January 6, 2016. And the pair has remained the entire year. These birds are monogamous and defend a territory throughout the year. I still hear it around some of our tall cottonwoods, especially those that have some dead branches. I heard the young begging for food right outside our front door most of the summer. These birds can sometimes hammer on your downspout or metal gutter because they have learned that these structures serve as excellent amplifiers for their communicative tapping. Some of their tapping is to excavate a home in dead wood, some is while foraging for grubs and insects beneath the bark of trees, and some is to warn others away from their territory or to attract a mate during the courting season.When such tapping is carried out on your fascia, soffit, and gable boards it is not as noisy but may be a sign of insect infestation in your wooden house. We have had some tapping on the front of our house on the gable and at least once have had to fill some shallow holes with wood filler. In spite of these risks, I am pleased to have the red bellied woodpecker as a guest in our yard. And I have learned that a pair of red bellied woodpeckers can remove as much as 85% of the emerald ash borer larvae in a single tree in a single season. We have 4 still living green ash trees and paid for injections for all 4 this year though there was no sign of definite infection yet. Maybe my red bellied woodpeckers will also help preserve these trees. The link that follows shows a red bellied woodpecker in action on trees and on the gable of a house much like we have experienced. <br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SYDQX7Whjm4">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SYDQX7Whjm4</a><br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0qjbB056xi407RssXuDY1BobYEmppBZnNRen3MZ637lOPJPdN3LR2xqOEhhxL8Oysy36j492JvdUbf7PM5AImVTRaei1WiXYklfVwOTHuAqCAXaRxe3ujj7WYnzyaRBGeMdFzREC1K6o/s1600/red+headed+woodpecker.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0qjbB056xi407RssXuDY1BobYEmppBZnNRen3MZ637lOPJPdN3LR2xqOEhhxL8Oysy36j492JvdUbf7PM5AImVTRaei1WiXYklfVwOTHuAqCAXaRxe3ujj7WYnzyaRBGeMdFzREC1K6o/s320/red+headed+woodpecker.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Red headed woodpecker</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg10Izvx89Q2WDz4s-CO3fDtwRj7-fqLGUsWUH9__MOHkuGjRUhjFlQSEh5SbicZZhxugMIiNqEpzPc0I1MVPX2s_EcqSWn6dGhWfRWubrAv5faBfSsKFfiCgCz16vc9Uc9zlrA20DdJA/s1600/Red-bellied_Woodpecker_Female.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg10Izvx89Q2WDz4s-CO3fDtwRj7-fqLGUsWUH9__MOHkuGjRUhjFlQSEh5SbicZZhxugMIiNqEpzPc0I1MVPX2s_EcqSWn6dGhWfRWubrAv5faBfSsKFfiCgCz16vc9Uc9zlrA20DdJA/s200/Red-bellied_Woodpecker_Female.jpg" width="146" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div>
Here you can see a small </div>
<div>
patch of red in the lower</div>
<div>
belly of this female.</div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Since you have examined the photos above and perhaps even seen a living and drilling red bellied woodpecker in the wild, you may wonder about its name. Where is the red on its belly? It certainly has a red head or at least a red stripe on its head. But the name, red headed woodpecker has already been used. And it is clear that that common name is very apt for the woodpecker pictured on the left. They are striking birds! We had a pair raising their young in our back yard several years ago, but they have apparently not found a suitable nesting tree lately. It is true that in suburbia, especially in our area, people tend to keep their dead trees and branches trimmed and removed. Thinking they are ugly, folks often remove snags as soon as they are obvious. And of course, with various tree diseases, the authorities and arborist do recommend getting rid of the dead wood. But this practice certainly hurts species like all woodpeckers. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiCHbbBScCp_gsXQr7iPF3r1mIPAzFYMIBw6Q_A0Ezes2VwPyQaG1Ks2T9SdQu1ZwIeKbzyu-AIyxDxW-I4yJCdRmI2uo-HHqVS5kniBsqf-DiszQNl9UjL9aI4Ys0fDwpBkRWiKW4Xr8/s1600/pileated_woodpecker_marcussharpe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiCHbbBScCp_gsXQr7iPF3r1mIPAzFYMIBw6Q_A0Ezes2VwPyQaG1Ks2T9SdQu1ZwIeKbzyu-AIyxDxW-I4yJCdRmI2uo-HHqVS5kniBsqf-DiszQNl9UjL9aI4Ys0fDwpBkRWiKW4Xr8/s320/pileated_woodpecker_marcussharpe.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Male pileated woodpecker</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
Some of you may be familiar with the large crested pileated woodpecker pictured here. This species is rather secretive and prefers mature hardwood forests in the north in Wisconsin. But the species ranges throughout the Eastern US, Canada, the northern boreal forests of Canada and in forests along the west coast of the US. I have only see this bird once. We were traveling to the south and at the edge of a woodlot near a motel we stayed at in Tennessee. From a distance I saw several pileateds fluttering along the trunk of a tall tree. This woodpecker is often given the honor of modeling for the famous cartoon character, </div>
<div>
<i>Woody Woodpecker, </i>whose laughing voice we all recall. Certainly the character resembles the </div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYv51f1hurvsc2GgtgvnxFhl575_0zMcT8_VVUp3Z6JwD2peeOteRT6t46wg3H9xR1G-TWjiqOpPuTimbzhaUXwlXnleQxGC4-ea2buWWYmF2zi10Xr8b2jFCZgXj0T18pzC4Uw4M7DvY/s1600/acorn+woodpecker.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYv51f1hurvsc2GgtgvnxFhl575_0zMcT8_VVUp3Z6JwD2peeOteRT6t46wg3H9xR1G-TWjiqOpPuTimbzhaUXwlXnleQxGC4-ea2buWWYmF2zi10Xr8b2jFCZgXj0T18pzC4Uw4M7DvY/s400/acorn+woodpecker.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Acorn woodpecker</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
pileated woodpecker with his red crest, but the creator of the cartoon maintains that he modeled the anthropomorphic woodpecker after the acorn woodpecker that resides in many park areas of Southern California. Walter Lantz created <i>Woody</i> in the 1940s along with storyboard artist, Ben "Bugs" Hardaway, creator of both Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck for Warner Brothers. I chased down the acorn woodpecker to add it to my life list in a regional park in Orange County while visiting my son at University of California, Irvine. Certainly the acorn's antics seemed similar to <i>Woody Woodpecker's </i>antics.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Anyone who pays any attention to the birds at their feeder at all, especially if suet is being fed, will know of the downy woodpecker and the hairy woodpecker. The problem always is telling them apart when only one is present at the feeder. There are a couple of tricks that can help. Certainly the hairy woodpecker is slightly larger but that may be hard to judge when just one bird is seen. It might help to know that the downy is the size of a house sparrow while the hairy is the size of a robin. Also you can identify them by their bill. The downy has a very dainty bill which is about a third of the length of its head, while the hairy has a big stout bill which is almost as long as the length of the hairy's head. A more subtle field marking is the side tail feathers. The hairy has all white side tail feathers whereas the downy has 2 or 3 small black spots interrupting the white of the side tail feathers. Another clue is that the downy woodpecker is much more common, particularly in suburbia, so they will be much more likely to be seen at the feeders. The hairy woodpecker prefers woody areas and tall trees so will be less likely to be seen in the suburbs. Compare the two photos below.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfeBfZdAA0tEU3qSDRA_cuilbmMKI5YGKqZL6as4UQAJLqn1wARdr1UWBvrVJeCeiioy25vG4hSKbGIyIwCDh2AqYkz8fZ9T2Mhzi5wTUPW899QQ61Ap1bYSDZYGw2hPzD0izWD8Rvnts/s1600/downy+woodpecker.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfeBfZdAA0tEU3qSDRA_cuilbmMKI5YGKqZL6as4UQAJLqn1wARdr1UWBvrVJeCeiioy25vG4hSKbGIyIwCDh2AqYkz8fZ9T2Mhzi5wTUPW899QQ61Ap1bYSDZYGw2hPzD0izWD8Rvnts/s320/downy+woodpecker.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div>
Downy woodpecker</div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: right;">
</div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: right;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBzX7THX9l-p252PGZvP8hJ5ojncBS3GfyXa52HXd0LghzwwhRCTCXUD71idCooxb-ZVAA3Sea4uCP618HWHWBuEibbzAn-j0gqKvWKFdTpYZdBqOwl4QfK-AcwBrN_spBnyMCxU1RME8/s1600/red+cockaded+woodpecker.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBzX7THX9l-p252PGZvP8hJ5ojncBS3GfyXa52HXd0LghzwwhRCTCXUD71idCooxb-ZVAA3Sea4uCP618HWHWBuEibbzAn-j0gqKvWKFdTpYZdBqOwl4QfK-AcwBrN_spBnyMCxU1RME8/s200/red+cockaded+woodpecker.png" title="" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hairy woodpecker</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxY3xVjZ2q3nPmjpLlXjv_pM-0TZlnTHtWwGqBK-6zVa-yGvw4SS2s0rVpP_6raFQDIXqYdC2r5VTcCTrfoYw6fEilkJM8mFfs8oTcvD0gZ4pyT5K2rrBzy80jHrx9scNVg_64sCD2qvk/s1600/yellow+bellied++sapsucker.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxY3xVjZ2q3nPmjpLlXjv_pM-0TZlnTHtWwGqBK-6zVa-yGvw4SS2s0rVpP_6raFQDIXqYdC2r5VTcCTrfoYw6fEilkJM8mFfs8oTcvD0gZ4pyT5K2rrBzy80jHrx9scNVg_64sCD2qvk/s400/yellow+bellied++sapsucker.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yellow bellied sapsucker</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
There are a few other woodpeckers that are on my life list. Of course yellow bellied sapsuckers are fairy common around our location especially during migration. They spend winters in the southeastern US, in the West Indies and in Central America. These woodpeckers also nest in cavities that they excavate. But they also feed on sap and the insects they draw by drilling small holes in a line up and down a tree. If they happen to girdle the tree, the holes can kill the tree. There is also a fungous infection of aspens which causes the heart wood of the tree to soften and attract sapsuckers to nest there. A colony of sapsuckers can take residence and badly damage a stand of aspen. In these cases, the fungoused trees are removed to prevent a sapsucker colony from forming. There are three other species of sapsuckers but they are not nearly as common as the yellow bellied in our area.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjElRBQvCAWICDmcRy8l0e8z1Y7VZAiY0Ic_B58Z49TT_4f6l1UGqnlHd0dpghJm_wdLeUZCOpKrun1qXtbeVQMIGB7CfO_xEgEVXz_SP-TWnTK3GzXeMP4rQb3IcA7KC7UeJfdCPntWTU/s1600/red+cockaded+woodpecker.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjElRBQvCAWICDmcRy8l0e8z1Y7VZAiY0Ic_B58Z49TT_4f6l1UGqnlHd0dpghJm_wdLeUZCOpKrun1qXtbeVQMIGB7CfO_xEgEVXz_SP-TWnTK3GzXeMP4rQb3IcA7KC7UeJfdCPntWTU/s320/red+cockaded+woodpecker.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Red cockaded woodpecker</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
My birdwatching is not usually such that I will drive way out of our way to find a specific bird. But on this occasion in 2003 on a trip to Jackson, MI to meet our future daughter in law, we did make a jaunt east a to find the red cockaded woodpecker. This is one of the most studied birds in our country. It has been very threatened due to loss of habitat in the Southeast of our country. It was estimated to be down to a low of 3,000 family units but through restoration projects its estimated that there are now over 6,000 family units. This bird is a cousin of the red bellied woodpecker but its behaviors are quite different. The birds prefer to nest in tall mature pine forests that have been subject to fire so that the understory is quite thin. They also prefer very mature trees, often 80 year old trees, because these elderly ones are often subject to a fungous disease that softens the heartwood and makes it easier for this woodpecker to excavate a nest hole. Even so it often takes a pair a couple years to form their nest hole. They also have the habit of drilling small holes around the hole which fill with pine sap. It is thought that this oozing sap provides a barrier against a local predator snake that tends to seek out the nestlings. Due to these very specific requirements, there are not many stands of burned out open mature fungous infected pine trees in the Southeast of our country. Efforts have been made to get lumber companies and private land owners to leave about 10 pines to mature per acre specifically for this woodpecker. Also controlled fire burns, artificial nest cavities, and transferring family units from private land to National Forest land have all helped to bring this bird back to some degree. The red cockaded woodpecker has an interesting nesting habit. A pair will form and remain pair bonded but often several younger birds, especially males will stay with this pair and help to raise the young. Therefore a family unit often occupies one nest tree and consists of up to 6 or 8 individuals. The name of the bird refers to an occasionally seen few red feathers located on the side of the head of the male just above and behind the eye at the edge of the black cap. One can sort of imagine that color in this photo. Well, our jaunt to Noxubee Wildlife Refuge in eastern central Mississippi did allow me to put this bird on my life list.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNoK1d-An6NDxL_u4s9l13R-SZVB8si2kb7XoNh_0NaOgCeZsr8GEywcpZwqt15lr-FIbaqfsyaEyAnNqp9pBRotduqteQry1FXHgutqdeTKYQFEsAKck_iBqcJ-SscAohPUFsCli4Ox8/s1600/Eurasian+wryneck.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNoK1d-An6NDxL_u4s9l13R-SZVB8si2kb7XoNh_0NaOgCeZsr8GEywcpZwqt15lr-FIbaqfsyaEyAnNqp9pBRotduqteQry1FXHgutqdeTKYQFEsAKck_iBqcJ-SscAohPUFsCli4Ox8/s320/Eurasian+wryneck.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
There is another interesting family of birds that are related to the woodpeckers but they do not exist in our hemisphere. There are two species of these birds. They are called the wrynecks. When I went to a birding conference in Ailat, Israel in the 1980s, I participated in some bird banding and we were fortunate enough to band a Eurasian wryneck. They winter in The Sahel or sub Saharan Africa and then migrate north as so many birds do in the Eastern Hemisphere to breed in Eurasia. Israel forms a land bridge for a multitude of different species as they migrate out of Africa and into Europe and Asia. Therefore the Spring migrations in Israel are absolutely phenomenal for bird sightings. There is a yearly Spring Migration Festival in Ailat. Because this city is on the Red Sea and has some artificially created date palm fields and other vegetation as well as some fresh water, it serves as an oasis for these birds who are on such a long journey through desert and inhospitable territory.<br />
<br />
Think about the woodpecker behavior of drilling repeatedly on the hard wood of trees both to excavate a hole for breeding as well as to forage for food and to communicate with other woodpeckers and proclaim territory. Think of our human brains and how susceptible we are to concussion with just a single head bump. How do these woodpeckers do it? Well, interestingly, they are built for concussions. First their bill consists of three layers: the outer layer is strong keratin like our fingernails; the inside layer is mineralized collagen fibers and in the cavity between these two layers is a very porous spongy compressible bone. The bird's brain itself is smooth and fits very tightly inside the skull so that it can't move around a lot during the drilling and drumming action. The subdural space is very narrow and there is very little cerebrospinal fluid. Also the skull especially in the front and in the back has a very spongy compressible bone to help absorb the blows. In addition, the drums are very short and quick. It has been found that 99% of the energy created by the drum is converted to what is called strain energy. It is absorbed in elastic tissues and very quickly distributed to the entire body of the bird. That does create heat, however, and it is thought that that is why the woodpeckers only drill for a short time and then rest to let the brain cool off. Fascinating, isn't it? </div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer"><script type="text/javascript">
var _gaq = _gaq || [];
_gaq.push(['_setAccount', 'UA-17518819-1']);
_gaq.push(['_trackPageview']);
(function() {
var ga = document.createElement('script'); ga.type = 'text/javascript'; ga.async = true;
ga.src = ('https:' == document.location.protocol ? 'https://ssl' : 'http://www') + '.google-analytics.com/ga.js';
var s = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(ga, s);
})();
</script></div>RenRaehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17961222558357224052noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4207881053346095956.post-82545556728601012362016-11-25T23:20:00.000-06:002016-11-25T23:20:34.776-06:00My Woman Cave<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
In the 1990s, there deeloped a kind of place the theoretical need for which arose in prehistoric times. This no doubt is where it's almost universal name came from. That place is called The Man Cave. The idea of its necessity dates back to Cave Man times. Men think that since those beginning times, a man has had a need of a place where he can get away from his woman, his female family members, or even from any females of the species all together. Today in this space, a man can do what he wants, keep whatever he wants, watch or listen to whatever he wants on TV or in music. He can keep his hobby items and the things he loves such as his beer can collection, or his guns, or all his electronic items, or even his car and mechanic tools. And he need not worry about keeping this area neat, or about leaving empty beer cans around or even yesterday's dirty dishes there. He can welcome his friends there or not -- his choice. Other members of the family and especially his wife must respect this space and not interrupt him there unless it is an emergency -- a truly life threatening emergency. The name of this space -- Man Cave -- reflects the view that such an exclusionary space has been necessary since Cave Man times. But the need in recorded history first appeared in the late 20th century. No doubt, its necessity is contributed to by so called Women's Liberation, the feminist movement. Supposedly we women first asked men to become more sensitive. When a lot of men did their best to move in this direction, women asked them to be more manly. Various other demands led men to wonder exactly what women want of them. Out of this frustration, grew the idea of a place in the home where the man could retreat from their woman's demands, and be segregated, and allowed to do whatever he wanted to do.<br />
<br />
The Man Cave certainly is a common occurrence. It can vary from just a corner of a room with a recliner and TV set to a den, or a portion of the garage or an entire basement space. Just Google "Man Cave" images and you will see how elaborate such a space can be. Here are some fancy ones from the Internet. Some were posted on Pinterest and others on various blogs. These photos were intended to serve as idea sources for the Man who really wants his Cave.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO7jqkTkF3HvfMtW2aZR23W2d5dwIINO5QLnmH79HIv7_oLuJLWRBt3Z0zcdMOXShv7vo03Lfs3HhhaEnNrAfmE_ITAoJWzbfLxv_HNb29H2y7SUeBdYgfjR8NM5lEmVn9JLU-DPJOgPs/s1600/Man+Cave+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEAW3-dgg0oWlftqYxiWwWt_4pPzQmqlALfMPCgXzVUCUomhv7UUJnr3czXQMvEL_3mkzkZs81TlDFfA-tI5psdNqbMC5YogAAoRrxTZ6O42iEX2GXArxIkJnAzdDRaTGI6i_YNu7H0kk/s1600/Man+Cave1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEAW3-dgg0oWlftqYxiWwWt_4pPzQmqlALfMPCgXzVUCUomhv7UUJnr3czXQMvEL_3mkzkZs81TlDFfA-tI5psdNqbMC5YogAAoRrxTZ6O42iEX2GXArxIkJnAzdDRaTGI6i_YNu7H0kk/s320/Man+Cave1.jpg" width="240" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO7jqkTkF3HvfMtW2aZR23W2d5dwIINO5QLnmH79HIv7_oLuJLWRBt3Z0zcdMOXShv7vo03Lfs3HhhaEnNrAfmE_ITAoJWzbfLxv_HNb29H2y7SUeBdYgfjR8NM5lEmVn9JLU-DPJOgPs/s1600/Man+Cave+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO7jqkTkF3HvfMtW2aZR23W2d5dwIINO5QLnmH79HIv7_oLuJLWRBt3Z0zcdMOXShv7vo03Lfs3HhhaEnNrAfmE_ITAoJWzbfLxv_HNb29H2y7SUeBdYgfjR8NM5lEmVn9JLU-DPJOgPs/s320/Man+Cave+2.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="213" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHjEhQTSYRMIrkiNA-aa0SX3I0iSygI5toYR04UD3YilsxGgNTTx3T1IX51ti2XzS6BsNTW378EM4Oto_HvjzT7NEBcaJwrQDRR3KrVxx3vkkNr618hcY4-lZ-hEL1gbjuZtd211GgY28/s1600/Man+Cave+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHjEhQTSYRMIrkiNA-aa0SX3I0iSygI5toYR04UD3YilsxGgNTTx3T1IX51ti2XzS6BsNTW378EM4Oto_HvjzT7NEBcaJwrQDRR3KrVxx3vkkNr618hcY4-lZ-hEL1gbjuZtd211GgY28/s320/Man+Cave+3.jpg" width="248" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKr4wQLppzHADNAPsFTwihmPh0D-ndslnxOLygpcgqk3SkJMnWHoP_m1miHhIdGO3DsAa6ZAVTzJ_ch07w3W9mkSsl1B5I_SO2nINSiSk1wTG6klcoNJfFGJOZdIqvPfF1mqbyoLYVOMo/s1600/Man+Cave+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKr4wQLppzHADNAPsFTwihmPh0D-ndslnxOLygpcgqk3SkJMnWHoP_m1miHhIdGO3DsAa6ZAVTzJ_ch07w3W9mkSsl1B5I_SO2nINSiSk1wTG6klcoNJfFGJOZdIqvPfF1mqbyoLYVOMo/s320/Man+Cave+4.jpg" width="180" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB_b0JotF75tPhQlu-5CL9EwxYgrVgmGYzUWcMm31JuP9_byqF_NJNMYb6T_yG1xMUfGYtgOJbnUR82hLBcs1aTL7NMgPduX_9GIOM_qzoq9zEmft6qOYOwOTEku5Qx_56PWGUQwrQDG0/s1600/Man+Cave+5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="319" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB_b0JotF75tPhQlu-5CL9EwxYgrVgmGYzUWcMm31JuP9_byqF_NJNMYb6T_yG1xMUfGYtgOJbnUR82hLBcs1aTL7NMgPduX_9GIOM_qzoq9zEmft6qOYOwOTEku5Qx_56PWGUQwrQDG0/s320/Man+Cave+5.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGosCxOa8Jpc1rV39TPHsOflDl51VPj_IrhJSoEEO-1rLpX_iXtCxq0qnlPBwJevo9Ky1JarVGvObJHKTDMDHBvwos6oZ9R0uGyzwOZYOYz_6F1_4loqWDUKQJU3A7kmH1EMKT_n9j8SI/s1600/Man+Cave+6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGosCxOa8Jpc1rV39TPHsOflDl51VPj_IrhJSoEEO-1rLpX_iXtCxq0qnlPBwJevo9Ky1JarVGvObJHKTDMDHBvwos6oZ9R0uGyzwOZYOYz_6F1_4loqWDUKQJU3A7kmH1EMKT_n9j8SI/s400/Man+Cave+6.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
Of course, the theory behind having a Man Cave is that the entire rest of the house is the woman's domain which she rules. Traditionally she takes responsibility for decorating the rest of the house, for maintaining its neatness and orderliness. This remainder of the house regularly includes spaces where she does most of her housework -- the kitchen, the laundry, the mud room, the bedrooms where she makes the beds and cleans; the bathrooms which all family members use and she takes the responsibility for keeping them clean, the living room which she maintains in a presentable order so that guests can be shown an orderly household. She may have a corner of the couple's bedroom, or a space that she can do crafting, or a corner of the living room where she can read. But usually these spaces do not carry the exclusivity that the Man Cave owns. If Mom is needed, even sitting on the toilet in the bathroom is not off limits. The children and maybe even the husband can approach the door of the bathroom and make whatever demands they feel necessary at that specific time.<br />
<br />
From this description one can discern that these women's spaces in the home are different than the Man Cave. First of all, many of these spaces are where the homemaker does a lot of her work in maintaining the household. Even a woman who works outside the home is still responsible for the cooking, the laundry, the cleaning. If she doesn't do it herself, she is the one who hires, supervises, and pays someone else to do it. And if a woman does indeed have a space that she calls her own, it is usually not exclusive. Young children, adolescents and even the husband/father will approach this woman in her own space and demand a problem solution immediately.<br />
<br />
A woman who maintains the household, raises the children, often works outside the home has just as much need for her own exclusive space as the man. Although the woman may require a slight difference in her space. She usually wants it peaceful, pleasant, perhaps with space and storage to do the things she loves to do with her leisure. It may include the need for quiet, relaxing music, exercise, or crafting.<br />
<br />
So I googled "Woman Cave" and found likewise many images of spaces that have been created in the home for a woman to retreat and do her thing. I especially like some of the names for this space: In addition to Woman Cave, there is girl cave, she shed, diva den, babe cave, or even bitch cave.<br />
<br />
Within the last year, my husband and I have worked to clean out our basement. This is a very large space that stretches under the entire house. It was never finished. And over the 20 years that we have lived here, it had collected a huge amount of detritus. There was a huge amount of left over building supplies from when we built the house -- extra boxes of tiles, carpeting, wooden molding, paint, and various plumbing and electrical fixtures. Also we had moved some "stuff" from the old home and placed it down in the basement. We had torn down a house where we built this house and there were even kitchen cabinets which were new in that house we tore down. We had saved some of those items. We had tax records for our own personal tax accounts as well as rental and income tax records that pertained to the 20 apartment units we owned and managed, dating back almost 20 years. There were also light bulbs, garbage disposals, tools and other items needed to maintain those apartment units. On top of all this stuff a light coating of dust and dirt had settled. What a mess. Slowly, slowly I worked to get through all this stuff, decide what we needed to keep and what needed to be tossed. Slowly we worked our way through all those records and tossed what we no longer needed. Some had to be taken to be professionally shredded for privacy sake. After cleaning a lot of this stuff out, we hired two fellows to paint the cement block basement walls. After some further weeding through things and some degree of organization down there, we then hired the same two fellows to paint the basement floor. They had to do it in two sessions moving around the stuff we wanted to keep, from unpainted end to the painted end. Once that was done, I spent some more time organizing what was left.<br />
<br />
What I created was a space of my own. I haven't decided whether I want to call it my crone cave, or my bitch basement. I need this space because my husband is somewhat autocratic and he basically rules the upper part of the house. He even tries to tell me how to load the dishwasher. And if I do load it, he always moves things around to follow his own rules. He has control of the great room TV and if he wants to watch sports or something else I am not interested in, I have to watch an old one in my bedroom. I do have a reading chair in my bedroom, but there is no exclusivity. And there is not room to spread out any creative projects that I might have going on now as a retired woman.<br />
<br />
Sooooo...... I created my Bitch Basement. I moved some bookcases that were down there but never utilized. They now effectively divide the basement into two sections. The back section has all those building supplies organized in one place either on shelves, or where appropriate in boxes labeled with what is inside. There are also storage shelves which my husband put up when we first moved here but now there is less stuff on them and they are more organized. In the other section opening immediately as you descend the stairs, I have created my space. I resurrected my two fish tanks which were sitting around empty. I now have a 45 gallon African cichlid tank up and running. And I have a 30 gallon freshwater angel tank. I moved the old kitchen counter with its raised counter over in front of the wine cellar where it can serve as a wine bar. I took all my art books down there and placed them in order onto the shelves facing into the room.. And I hauled my large drawing table and easel down there, set up a table with my art media, and set up lighting to enable me to do my art projects. I mounted some of my previous art works on a wooden wall to the workroom that is adjacent to this section of the basement. Now I can go down there and sip a wine, watch my fish, or work on a watercolor, pastel, or acrylic painting. I can utilize the cleared off counter in the workroom for any more crafty or mechanical project as well. It is exclusive because my poor husband has a bad knee and doesn't go down there anymore unless absolutely necessary for some household needs. Voila Crone Cave, up and running. The basement is not really finished. The rafters, the plumbing and the wiring is all still visible in the ceiling, but it is clean and organized. I love it.<br />
<br />
Here are some photos. <br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV8u1cuqHAI5NEdbXc17pmR4et5U_7RfZNWvDVGkgY3rEJJfeg2-URw2phnRisLUyViWujKk7pA50myM6uGRhMx7qNM5s_NA8kA5PejVIDDgczGQ5m-B5poPxR15nUiLInBxXL3sRgVkE/s1600/DSC_0001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV8u1cuqHAI5NEdbXc17pmR4et5U_7RfZNWvDVGkgY3rEJJfeg2-URw2phnRisLUyViWujKk7pA50myM6uGRhMx7qNM5s_NA8kA5PejVIDDgczGQ5m-B5poPxR15nUiLInBxXL3sRgVkE/s640/DSC_0001.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My 45 gallon African cichlid tank.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOSy4EVYINf4mFlMKjjaJL5ZJM-aD3WcxwN2FvXzJxzVgekkiNEeGd_rAaqYnMAhvba4t60j9-EvcR2aGWrRwrNtWa_vJ7Bfv2bRreUNgHh6vaIg2xmM57-7jbAKA5ppbB5Wt3RaC80E8/s1600/DSC_0005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOSy4EVYINf4mFlMKjjaJL5ZJM-aD3WcxwN2FvXzJxzVgekkiNEeGd_rAaqYnMAhvba4t60j9-EvcR2aGWrRwrNtWa_vJ7Bfv2bRreUNgHh6vaIg2xmM57-7jbAKA5ppbB5Wt3RaC80E8/s640/DSC_0005.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Various cichlids: from left to right: giraffe cichlid, 3 acei cichlids, red zebra, kenyi cichlid in upper right.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVSSvedAY_hyJpte6QVdjmuv2I4QQXtNrdESpky96zacEAd_OCybZeOa5-O4QIq3r6J46YPwQf3wOdANQZ7oa37j6LANdrRD1bt_HZUOdg1kPJaea0TFQz7o5OfIHaLfOpQ9q1oNFr3Zc/s1600/DSC_0010.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVSSvedAY_hyJpte6QVdjmuv2I4QQXtNrdESpky96zacEAd_OCybZeOa5-O4QIq3r6J46YPwQf3wOdANQZ7oa37j6LANdrRD1bt_HZUOdg1kPJaea0TFQz7o5OfIHaLfOpQ9q1oNFr3Zc/s640/DSC_0010.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The hungry hordes getting fed at the surface. Left to right: red zebra, acei cichlid, and bumble bee cichlid to the right top.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjQ0CZxw_WgqH0HXiWLYO5dqXGqhfGWOEzzlt32S0FakpJ8lXaNB30cAfnpzpxYU-qXk6vctGPw1K0ymv6GigdGLn4U6vzh2pdKh8Lq5iuJNaJD-6jCMFlnyhSzDvgXKe7w6pjTAQ1yFI/s1600/DSC_0014.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjQ0CZxw_WgqH0HXiWLYO5dqXGqhfGWOEzzlt32S0FakpJ8lXaNB30cAfnpzpxYU-qXk6vctGPw1K0ymv6GigdGLn4U6vzh2pdKh8Lq5iuJNaJD-6jCMFlnyhSzDvgXKe7w6pjTAQ1yFI/s640/DSC_0014.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My little art studio area.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvbL0kMC-5dk2n5xeHXnT48KWUi5zvzhSX-erfR6sMlZkGkp3VuZBL6LvFgAyBGe_3b8W4leqtxbTco33rSZ21gLU3wWhMmhvCvcSPSOTZY_ccLHknDdpjiJ45DOTGMudifKaSWKZQhBQ/s1600/DSC_0012.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvbL0kMC-5dk2n5xeHXnT48KWUi5zvzhSX-erfR6sMlZkGkp3VuZBL6LvFgAyBGe_3b8W4leqtxbTco33rSZ21gLU3wWhMmhvCvcSPSOTZY_ccLHknDdpjiJ45DOTGMudifKaSWKZQhBQ/s640/DSC_0012.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Head on view of my drawing table/easel. Media are placed on side table. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZHNpXSsvu6_iS0fbAL0e_7mLImYUXTs9jKmfk614DHxJyECXAlAmgUmIBjBYCx5riK-mCZ49pCWRmzXAYvf6QA1AOzWnhg6Qx8lT5g4dVnyL288yw9TYj5XzLiMnWoMey3NR-VvHJcn8/s1600/DSC_0015.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZHNpXSsvu6_iS0fbAL0e_7mLImYUXTs9jKmfk614DHxJyECXAlAmgUmIBjBYCx5riK-mCZ49pCWRmzXAYvf6QA1AOzWnhg6Qx8lT5g4dVnyL288yw9TYj5XzLiMnWoMey3NR-VvHJcn8/s640/DSC_0015.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My 30 gallon angelfish tank, which is a community tank with a mated pair of angelfish.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5TiZude2Zo0edK6Y4Qikwof8y2VdCNgA3OH6Acm3Kd480yjsXNMD8nCp0krM74toxjgV_Xlbx7b2_BPx_VeFEvrIBJho7MbF4jliKw-UlM7Vjpd3QvaxHzYzS3CPBaoXWov6itbV-p9s/s1600/DSC_0021.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5TiZude2Zo0edK6Y4Qikwof8y2VdCNgA3OH6Acm3Kd480yjsXNMD8nCp0krM74toxjgV_Xlbx7b2_BPx_VeFEvrIBJho7MbF4jliKw-UlM7Vjpd3QvaxHzYzS3CPBaoXWov6itbV-p9s/s640/DSC_0021.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My 30 gallon fish tank: two German blue rams flanking corydoras resting on the bottom.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxcGQTwAsn76-PTeCVPAykTYJ6uBYYaamXybUEetd7mBBYcP5xL_-aPGamdtx-fPQz2_OtP2eQaTySBkc8r2dYcNQNcwfuS57beoVANQK4WFNIeK3clf6_z1uHmhe4M4xhoLgaNve7oZY/s1600/DSC_0028.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxcGQTwAsn76-PTeCVPAykTYJ6uBYYaamXybUEetd7mBBYcP5xL_-aPGamdtx-fPQz2_OtP2eQaTySBkc8r2dYcNQNcwfuS57beoVANQK4WFNIeK3clf6_z1uHmhe4M4xhoLgaNve7oZY/s640/DSC_0028.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Petricola catfish on left, a corydora on right, and albino plecostomus in doorway of decorative house.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-NlheXiW-T0bFTf7pB_4pjgPalPqPmjKv1iUj2io43XqnC8xGYp6iyKMRaHCqD3TRj911hEybdjvBoex2uQuBFNS_0yr6VNvqRfBE3maAhYckZ3sYotm_UQfhPTO63VA-9ZqifxbMpkM/s1600/DSC_0036.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-NlheXiW-T0bFTf7pB_4pjgPalPqPmjKv1iUj2io43XqnC8xGYp6iyKMRaHCqD3TRj911hEybdjvBoex2uQuBFNS_0yr6VNvqRfBE3maAhYckZ3sYotm_UQfhPTO63VA-9ZqifxbMpkM/s640/DSC_0036.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Big triple spot gourami, head on.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAr_mq8TJKA8KV4tUPVu-qLvnnrPbwW7S5XqQaUoB8npHq5r7rvKarD_wP09z4LaKcYdioqnBpYe5QsgAsP4Eq_QSV7cEP-UAzANMN4vnH6TWvflQzeH9aEIqoovsgJJ7lul49ibmQDrk/s1600/DSC_0038.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAr_mq8TJKA8KV4tUPVu-qLvnnrPbwW7S5XqQaUoB8npHq5r7rvKarD_wP09z4LaKcYdioqnBpYe5QsgAsP4Eq_QSV7cEP-UAzANMN4vnH6TWvflQzeH9aEIqoovsgJJ7lul49ibmQDrk/s640/DSC_0038.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The gourami broad side.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQA2Dp_MM2zj-4s_EGMkxaqANYUeP7B4LpxT1UbbkGdP-6A5507677MaZppzoTt1BJQKfdI3v1GDZfHsdv5IwBNTm4rmDLV41FPRPItLsp7KYalqsxZlGTsJYrU8NEN7-mSRhNBQ1aaG0/s1600/DSC_0048.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQA2Dp_MM2zj-4s_EGMkxaqANYUeP7B4LpxT1UbbkGdP-6A5507677MaZppzoTt1BJQKfdI3v1GDZfHsdv5IwBNTm4rmDLV41FPRPItLsp7KYalqsxZlGTsJYrU8NEN7-mSRhNBQ1aaG0/s640/DSC_0048.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The big male angelfish.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhowGxiIWhfIdRrES4WlW-uChZAGQlRXqXVLIPUS4nHpC7ZpnLw3qQmr73gGEs81AKvMQ_FWCgkjLt6xPhFz-UCgUZj6ncdW8XG8AN-DCI3nhf4coTU9HXJzTtgcZN5MUcC0Qj9ms9pslU/s1600/DSC_0047.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhowGxiIWhfIdRrES4WlW-uChZAGQlRXqXVLIPUS4nHpC7ZpnLw3qQmr73gGEs81AKvMQ_FWCgkjLt6xPhFz-UCgUZj6ncdW8XG8AN-DCI3nhf4coTU9HXJzTtgcZN5MUcC0Qj9ms9pslU/s640/DSC_0047.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div>
Female angelfish.</div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOBPZ3SJSWZCtZVYjIduO9fyYUfZrqm_z8lfCSXc3wQpCC0utpjy5nN30dqzlTZDoXwdDQdj87xSB4eT6_MgbFSiW_oB5fn-nlocF7H5ZSzdbrYs9ZVmqrOr72aq0xyg0mpFw5F2LY1E8/s1600/DSC_0040.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOBPZ3SJSWZCtZVYjIduO9fyYUfZrqm_z8lfCSXc3wQpCC0utpjy5nN30dqzlTZDoXwdDQdj87xSB4eT6_MgbFSiW_oB5fn-nlocF7H5ZSzdbrYs9ZVmqrOr72aq0xyg0mpFw5F2LY1E8/s640/DSC_0040.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of my three corydoras in the 30 gallon tank.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw0jA7P2Cjb7-WbNCONR2Lqgxp_0q4Z5e30MwLQEZhY2uLRounyi_a0WDz-_bnuIZPAA_rSH_XJBF3W_itH9h2g8BxY_IE4p_s3WEFIeht5suwjp2z-tB5cG5XupOiHJk8LvKPPFKAoK8/s1600/DSC_0058.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw0jA7P2Cjb7-WbNCONR2Lqgxp_0q4Z5e30MwLQEZhY2uLRounyi_a0WDz-_bnuIZPAA_rSH_XJBF3W_itH9h2g8BxY_IE4p_s3WEFIeht5suwjp2z-tB5cG5XupOiHJk8LvKPPFKAoK8/s640/DSC_0058.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div>
The albino bristlenose plecostomus.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCLxS44jjjfOHUv5lxN8NXUtqo6JYdiSnHOdEsyYHoPKBDfvWzmlOby7e10Uj0gBUqyYTzQSlRoKM2PUvEQfS1ag6oxkGAYDe0vEbi_T6dTpSLp-8P4LyITNivAmYEF62vS9BuX3xlH0c/s1600/DSC_0064.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCLxS44jjjfOHUv5lxN8NXUtqo6JYdiSnHOdEsyYHoPKBDfvWzmlOby7e10Uj0gBUqyYTzQSlRoKM2PUvEQfS1ag6oxkGAYDe0vEbi_T6dTpSLp-8P4LyITNivAmYEF62vS9BuX3xlH0c/s640/DSC_0064.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div>
This big male angel is not allowed in the 30 gallon tank. The mated pair immediately attack him. So he resides in</div>
<div>
a 10 gallon aquarium by himself. </div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjge6zj8OOC2R2uhXRbZ3bcqYYw1jq1yY5VKc_7lBltGun5OKQa-j9YZFUWZ0TCpvQJaYS76ARgIDo7g1ExqJ0PsfR4d4O2fWuHq6sTURni38e20UJrpayhI5-oKFCXxm7yn-BHY4cuTY0/s1600/DSC_0068.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjge6zj8OOC2R2uhXRbZ3bcqYYw1jq1yY5VKc_7lBltGun5OKQa-j9YZFUWZ0TCpvQJaYS76ARgIDo7g1ExqJ0PsfR4d4O2fWuHq6sTURni38e20UJrpayhI5-oKFCXxm7yn-BHY4cuTY0/s640/DSC_0068.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The spread of my various attempts at artwork. An overview.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhFzFmTPX5KEOtXmm2YaKXoKACuVtD_rBLhyphenhyphenTyZkWA7zihdtp9fYahbAwurMMfF0G-G7LP5cV_JxRq9spSBMxNVUHDgWP2xCKeyyJe63-lBDTVITwBK417OaVu1jA-4VLOYChYD5-Qfh4/s1600/DSC_0069.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhFzFmTPX5KEOtXmm2YaKXoKACuVtD_rBLhyphenhyphenTyZkWA7zihdtp9fYahbAwurMMfF0G-G7LP5cV_JxRq9spSBMxNVUHDgWP2xCKeyyJe63-lBDTVITwBK417OaVu1jA-4VLOYChYD5-Qfh4/s640/DSC_0069.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The first of my art pieces.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0xBVx-c4oAT-X_UixdqBJGg4zwfKP-hjf_vuHazLoFkX6bhfo5NcO2Fa3duKz44TVxJ2-VMZQRlX1SbWs4W_Tq-lrSsLUJtrqF0YP6c3EMaDICQJnBO09LbBHG3TZOv36JzclSi_g2QY/s1600/DSC_0071.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0xBVx-c4oAT-X_UixdqBJGg4zwfKP-hjf_vuHazLoFkX6bhfo5NcO2Fa3duKz44TVxJ2-VMZQRlX1SbWs4W_Tq-lrSsLUJtrqF0YP6c3EMaDICQJnBO09LbBHG3TZOv36JzclSi_g2QY/s640/DSC_0071.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8494DGHBhoFhj5qZu0tdkG0aAIQ4b7BpdtrEsxjqyFZuVWzPBGF8uPEmtweRdsHufu0x_wpZFT2IR55qM7QA775UZF07LFjDfNhs_r2azlhGI5toNi_CTJZpuhFzcnf66BbTfiL3NIqY/s1600/DSC_0072.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8494DGHBhoFhj5qZu0tdkG0aAIQ4b7BpdtrEsxjqyFZuVWzPBGF8uPEmtweRdsHufu0x_wpZFT2IR55qM7QA775UZF07LFjDfNhs_r2azlhGI5toNi_CTJZpuhFzcnf66BbTfiL3NIqY/s640/DSC_0072.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA8AXxg7xoe13-C0vhm2AlmMqbPTdGqc9cMwD3ndJ9vZw6t5ROC_ne78RgUKhuEnc17j3LgTgCGeB6PaT724SOxzX0oESI8Up6a1MKsDbwrPgnpok_qY_WzSEc8Bn4rdJJ50GTOcu1s7k/s1600/DSC_0075.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA8AXxg7xoe13-C0vhm2AlmMqbPTdGqc9cMwD3ndJ9vZw6t5ROC_ne78RgUKhuEnc17j3LgTgCGeB6PaT724SOxzX0oESI8Up6a1MKsDbwrPgnpok_qY_WzSEc8Bn4rdJJ50GTOcu1s7k/s640/DSC_0075.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My first attempt at acrylic painting. This a beach at the Grand Turk, in the Caribbean. Painted it on a cruise.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer"><script type="text/javascript">
var _gaq = _gaq || [];
_gaq.push(['_setAccount', 'UA-17518819-1']);
_gaq.push(['_trackPageview']);
(function() {
var ga = document.createElement('script'); ga.type = 'text/javascript'; ga.async = true;
ga.src = ('https:' == document.location.protocol ? 'https://ssl' : 'http://www') + '.google-analytics.com/ga.js';
var s = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(ga, s);
})();
</script></div>RenRaehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17961222558357224052noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4207881053346095956.post-719651093830762632016-11-21T07:17:00.001-06:002016-11-21T07:41:30.087-06:00Kensho. Wow! I Had No Idea!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTcYcKIkILYSO3VNZt7vXbXCjTrxq1uwrih4-Up0wr-RY26PPOYCvbdHj9plFL5F3E4CnkUo0iXSYj2ta81YwgvQTw3Q_HQOSlXmI4G2TpW7ipLF1N8GBUJKSLtgpU7IhSj_1tSJ2A2XQ/s1600/sartori+by+martin+la+spina.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTcYcKIkILYSO3VNZt7vXbXCjTrxq1uwrih4-Up0wr-RY26PPOYCvbdHj9plFL5F3E4CnkUo0iXSYj2ta81YwgvQTw3Q_HQOSlXmI4G2TpW7ipLF1N8GBUJKSLtgpU7IhSj_1tSJ2A2XQ/s640/sartori+by+martin+la+spina.jpg" width="524" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div>
Sartori Visionary Art by Martin La Spina</div>
<div>
The article below describes my experience of <i>kensho </i>or <i>sartori </i>and provides a little bit of information </div>
<div>
about this very powerful Zen spiritual event.</div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span style="color: #fdeada; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"> It was
January, 2016. I had been a member of the Spirit Mind Body Group now meeting at
the Mindfulness Center on Locust for probably 12 or 15 years. The history of
this group is written about in another article. Since shortly after our
leader’s death, I had been serving as the moderator/facilitator, pressed into
this role by the consensus of the group, being first suggested as the leader by
our former leader’s wife. Again you will have to read something about this
group in other articles. On Thursday, our regular meeting day, January 28,
another member and I were scheduled to cooperate in a presentation considering
“Women’s Wisdom.” There is a summary of what we had presented on my Spirit Mind
Body blog. This presentation had necessitated me to search as my co=presenter
had done for something to document, something to present, something that would
sound better than just empty aphorisms about wise women’s sayings. My colleague
wanted something deeper than that. This had prompted me to do some searching
into the legends of The Goddess, and even some modern Wiccan ideas. I had even
sent for several copies of the Sage Woman magazine, especially one with a theme
called “WiseWomen”.This magazine, along with two others</span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "calibri";">--The Crone and Wiccans and Pagans—all delve
into the modern Wiccan religion, which features The Goddess as the icon, in
many different forms, dating back to pre-recorded history when the Goddess was
worshiped. My colleague had brought along a copy of the current National
Geographic magazine the cover article of which Is on the Virgin Mary and her
current and previous almost cult worship. I get this magazine thanks to my
mother who pays for my subscription of this magazine as a gift, but I had not
read this particular one. </span></span><br />
<br />
<div align="left" style="margin: 0px 0px 13px; text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #fdeada; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Now it was Sunday, January 31, 2016. I had
awakened at about 7:22AM, had tried to go back to sleep and failed. I sat up in
bed. Recently, I had purchased a floor lamp, a reading lamp to place beside the
easy chair in my bedroom. I needed the light due to my worsening cataract I
think, and therefore had made this chair a much more attractive place to read,
especially on a somewhat dark, cloudy day like this Sunday was starting out to
be. I grabbed the “Mary” National Geographic and went over to that chair. As I
often do I gazed out over Lake Michigan, thinking that this was a place in my
house that I didn’t take advantage of as much as I should. Such a beautiful
view, although today it was rather grey and drab. Still that view out over the lake
is always, no matter what the weather, beautiful and a source of inspiration.
As I sat there, I was thinking about this space, and some other spaces I had
recently created in our basement by painting the walls and floor and cleaning
it out, resurrecting my 45 gallon fish tank and stocking it, and creating a
space for my art table and for all my art books and supplies, almost like a
small artist studio, something I had never had beforer. I was planning for
further enhancement of those spaces and just day dreaming, looking out over the
lake. The sky had brightened slightly and the view was much more pleasant,
though still introspective and clouded. I am currently starting a watercolor
painting based on a sunrise photo over the lake and was thinking I should try
to remember this aspect of the lake views as another possible painting subject.
</span></span></div>
<br />
<div align="left" style="margin: 0px 0px 13px; text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #fdeada; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Finally I picked up the NG magazine and
turned to the Mary story, and began to read. Every now and then I would look up
at the lake view. The article opens with the story of Medjugorje, Bosnia
Herzegovina. I knew about this sight of Mary apparitions and miracles because
our former cleaning lady had actually traveled there in order to experience
these visions, healings and sightings of the Virgin Mary. I had always thought
very little of them and also had always thought she was too religious and
following a blind faith. But I knew about Medjugorje through her. I was reading
the following section on page 34, the first written page of the article: “I’m
in Medjugorje with a group of Americans, mostly hockey dads from the Boston
area, plus two men and two women with stage 4 cancer. We’re led by 59 year old
Arthur Boyle, father of 13, who first came here on Labor Day 2000, riddled with
cancer and given months to live. He felt broken and dejected and would not have
made the trip had not two friends forced him into it. But that first night,
after he went to confession at St. James the Apostle church, psychological
relief came rapidly.</span></span></div>
<br />
<div align="left" style="margin: 0px 0px 13px; text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #fdeada; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "calibri";">“ ‘The anxiety and depression were gone,’
he told me. ‘You know when you’re carrying someone on your shoulder in a
swimming pool water flight—they come off, and you feel light and free? I was
like, wait a minute, what just happened to me? Why is that?’</span></span></div>
<br />
<div align="left" style="margin: 0px 0px 13px; text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #fdeada; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "calibri";">“The next morning with his friends Bob and
Kevin, he met another of the “visionaries,” Vicka Ivankovic-Mijatovic, in a
jewelry shop and asked for her help. Gripping his head with one hand, she
appealed to the Virgin Mary to cure him. Boyle said he experienced an unusual
sensation right there in the store. ‘She starts to pray over me. Bob and Kevin
put their hands on me, and the heat that went through my body from her praying
was causing them to sweat.’</span></span></div>
<br />
<div align="left" style="margin: 0px 0px 13px; text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #fdeada; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "calibri";">“ Back in Boston a week later, a CT scan
at Massachusetts General Hospital revealed that his tumors had shrunk to almost
nothing. </span></span></div>
<br />
<div align="left" style="margin: 0px 0px 13px; text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #fdeada; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "calibri";">“Since then Boyle has been back to
Medjugorje 13 times. ‘I’m a regular guy,’ he said. ‘I like to play hockey and
drink beer. I play golf.’ But, he continued, ‘I had to change things in my
life.’ Today, Boyle said, he’s become, ‘a sort of mouthpiece for Jesus Christ’s
healing power and of course, the Mother, and the power of her intercession.’”</span></span></div>
<br />
<div align="left" style="margin: 0px 0px 13px; text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #fdeada; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "calibri";">I don’t recall, but I don’t think I could
even complete this whole reading. By the time I read “Back in Boston”, I was
being overcome by something. I looked up at the lake and it was even more
beautiful, still cloudy and grey but more beautiful. I felt a sense of oneness,
of wholeness, of a joining with the whole universe. I felt that everything in
life would be fine. And in death, also. I felt a sense of being taken care of
and of compassion toward others. It was enormously expansive. Tears were just
running down my face. I ignored them and just gazed out at the Lake. This
sensation went on for some minutes. I have felt sensations of expansiveness
before, sometimes consciously induced by meditation or by Buddhist and
mindfulness readings but they were always somewhat intellectual and compared to
this overwhelming sensation, somewhat forced as though they were something that
I was supposed to feel at that time. And except for one previous experience,
these lesser experiences were always quite brief. This sensation completely
took over my body. My breathing was rapid, I think my heart was beating fast, I
don’t know. I felt my head rise and as though I were uplifted. And again the
tears flowed. I have never experienced anything this intense. In all of our
world travels, in seeing so many wonderful beautiful places, I have never
experienced anything this intense. And here it is occurring right in my chair
looking out over our view of Lake Michigan. Even as I write about it now and as
I was restating some of the magazine article above, some tears came and a brief
less intense repetition of this feeling occurred. Wow! I don’t know how to put
it into words </span></span></div>
<br />
<div align="left" style="margin: 0px 0px 13px; text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #fdeada; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Later, after I had recovered, I was
continuing to read the article, when again I looked up at the lake. A hazy sun
had come through the clouds and created a pink path on the lake surface that I
love so much. I gazed at it, thinking that I had to preserve this for my art
projects and also I decided that I wanted to write about this experience and
this view right now would help me portray it. So I got up and went for Amos’
camera and took several photos. I will include these in this write up to
perhaps stimulate the reader or just help me to focus on this experience again
in the future. </span></span></div>
<br />
<div align="left" style="margin: 0px 0px 13px; text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #fdeada; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "calibri";">I don’t know what this was. Perhaps my
reading about The Goddess, and presenting about Womens’ Wisdom and my work at
creating truly spiritual places in my home, and then the view which certainly
has stimulated previous less intense comtemplative moments in my life – then
reading about Medjugorje, and the Virgin Mary. Perhaps this was an intercession
by her. I don’t know but it was wonderful. </span></span></div>
<br />
<div align="left" style="margin: 0px 0px 13px; text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #fdeada; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Unfortunately my memory of this is already
fading. That is why I felt I needed to sit down and write about it. I needed to
somehow recall this sensation of reassurance, compassion, and oneness – this
expansiveness. I want to be able to call upon this in the future. I want to
maintain this feeling. After all these years of Spirit Mind Body, after my
childhood of being raised within the Congregational Church by fairly religious
and practicing Protestants, after all my meditation and mindfulness, all my
intellectual readings and seekings for enlightenment, it is ironic that reading
about the Catholic Virgin Mary and Medjugorje is what produced what I now
regard as a moment of true enlightenment. I think that the very special view of
my Lake Michigan and past number of times that it has inspired lesser moments
also played a role. Now the important thing is to keep it going. Of course, the
NG article proceeds to put a map of all the places where the Virgin Mary has
been seen and the degree of documentation of those sightings. There is a slight
attempt to bring science into the mix in the article. And of course, my
scientific background has me even trying to explain what happened to me this
morning </span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "calibri";">But it is like Arthur Boyle’s
doctor said, that perhaps it was the heat created in Arthur’s body by the
praying that cured the cancer, but “he added, ‘I also believe there are times
in human life when we are way beyond what we ever expect.’” </span></span></div>
<br />
<div align="left" style="margin: 0px 0px 13px; text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #fdeada; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "calibri";">“Boyle said that although he continued his
tests after his return from Medjugorje, ‘it was faith that enabled me to get
into a state of peace where my immune system rebooted itself and killed the
cancer – that was all done through God.’ “ </span></span></div>
<br />
<div align="left" style="margin: 0px 0px 13px; text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #fdeada; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "calibri";">In thinking about this experience and as
the hours from it have passed, I still find myself falling back on my
scientific background. Did my autonomic nervous system totally create this
feeling? Was there nothing else to it? I am not ready yet to say there is a
personified God somewhere in heaven and a place where his Holy Mother sits
beside Jesus and intercedes for us. But after this experience there is a strong
belief is “Something”, some force, some not understood causal complex
organization of the universe and of being itself that must give meaning to our
existence. I hope to continue to seek and try to bring about this great sense
of expansiveness that I have experienced today. It was so ineffable that I have
to end my attempts to explain it right here. </span></span></div>
<br />
<div align="left" style="margin: 0px 0px 13px; text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #fdeada; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"> </span></span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Nov.
18, 2016.</span></span></div>
<br />
<div align="left" style="margin: 0px 0px 13px; text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #fdeada; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "calibri";">This past Thursday at Spirit, Mind, Body
Group meeting one of our members, himself an author of a book on spirituality
and science, presented a piece entitled “Miracle of Faith Healing:. He first
told about driving past a deer that had been hit on the road and probably had
his leg broken. Gary drove on by, but then began thinking that he should have
stopped. He is an MD and thought perhaps he could have helped somehow. The
police were there,</span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "calibri";">but he thought maybe
he could have somehow helped the deer. “Maybe I could have healed the deer.” He
told us that he has always wanted to heal someone, even to heal an animal, a
pet dog, or this deer. Then he went on to talk about healing by faith. He read
the introduction of “A Course in Miracles” to us. He doesn’t understand why
more people don’t use faith healing. From his lead, our group’s discussion, as
it often does, went far afield. But it began to center on moments of
enlightenment, or moments of spiritual inspiration, during meditation and at
other times. Various words were used such as the Eureka, or theAha! Moment,
prayerful feelings, and other such feelings. Of course, Gary has written in his
soon to be published book, about non-local reality, and other quantum physics ideas
of his. Then someone asked Gary “What is enlightenment, and how do we know we
have experienced this?” Some were confusing MIhalyi Czikscentmihalyi’s idea of
“flow” with a moment of spiritual expansiveness. As the moderator of the group,
I tried to clear up these ideas. Czikscentmihalyi’s “flow” is different than
enlightenment or mindfulness practice. It goes on for a long time and is not so
much a moving spiritual event. It is joy or happiness while doing a task and
losing all sense of time while perfectly accomplishing the task. I explained
this process of “flow” as described by Czikscentmihalyi involves combining
perfectly or almost perfectly a challenging task with the person’s own ability
to accomplish that task thus creating this timeless sense of accomplishment or
“flow”. I explained that if you put the degree of challenge of a task on the
vertical axis, and you plot your ability to accomplish that specific task on
the horizontal axis, then flow would occur on a bisecting line starting at zero
and progressing at a 45 degree angle from the zero point. If the task is too
easy for your abilities, you will fall down near the horizontal axis and will
be bored. If the task is too hard for your abilities, you will fall above the
45 degree line and you will be frustrated. One member of the group said this
was the best explanation he had ever heard of “flow.” Of course, then in his 2</span><sup><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: x-small;">nd</span></sup><span style="font-family: "calibri";">
and 3</span><sup><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: x-small;">rd</span></sup><span style="font-family: "calibri";"> books, Mihalyi Czikscentmihalyi tried to explain how to bring
flow into the activities of every day life. </span></span></div>
<br />
<div align="left" style="margin: 0px 0px 13px; text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #fdeada; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Then others began to talk about brief
moments of spiritual insight often experienced during moments of meditation, or
at other times. But then some described moments of spiritual insight that come
over one at unguarded moments, such as while crossing a street. It was thought that
the surest way to chase away a spiritual moment is to try to achieve that
moment. The harder you try, the less likely it will occur. You have to just
surrender and try to ignore the ego, and then it may occur.</span></span></div>
<br />
<div align="left" style="margin: 0px 0px 13px; text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #fdeada; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "calibri";">With this discussion I felt I had to briefly
mention the feeling that I experienced which I described above. I had felt it
to a much more minor degree some years ago while going for a walk, after having
read some of the books by Redfield, (One was The Celestine Prophecy). These
books talked about looking at a person and seeing their aura. On this walk in
our Circle Road neighborhood, I was walking around looking at the trees and
trying to see their aura. While doing this I had a shorter period, feeling an
expansional sensation and with a few tears, but it didn’t last as long as the
one described above. One </span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "calibri";">member of our
Spirit Mind Body group, asked me to describe the experience I had earlier this
year and I did. The group was mesmerized by my description because I felt it so
strongly then. Then the President of the Mindfulness Center, a member of our
Spirit Mind Body Group who understands Buddhism better than any of the group,
mentioned the phenomenon called </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">kensho</span></i><span style="font-family: "calibri";">.
After the meeting, Paul said to me: “You experienced </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">kensho</span></i><span style="font-family: "calibri";">. That’s what that was.” I had never heard this word before
and so I had to read about it.</span></span></div>
<br />
<div align="left" style="margin: 0px 0px 13px; text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #fdeada; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "calibri";">After some research, at this time, the way
I understand it, kensho is a spiritual degree of enlightenment which the
Buddhists say can occur in at least three levels. Some are more minor. Some are
like mine. And others approach what the Buddha experienced as enlightenment.</span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "calibri";">One monk is cited as having had 18 such
episodes during his life as a monk. So guess what</span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">? I experienced something really cool. Kensho. I want to read more
about this and I will write more about it.</span></i></span></div>
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #fdeada; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Later:</span></i><span style="color: #fdeada; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0px;"> I
read a little information from Wikipedia. Kensho literally means in the
Japanese Zen tradition, seeing one’s true nature. Other words in other
spitirual traditions are enlightenment, nirvana, in Christianity, a revelation,
an epiphany, a theophany, or the moksha of Hinduism. Originally in Buddhism
kensho referred specifically to the awakening that occurred after a lengthy
training in koan interpretation. But kensho has also occurred during
meditation. The word, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">kensho</i>, <span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>in some traditions has been used for the first
awakening or a brief episode of spiritual “knowing”. Sartori has been used
again by some traditions to mean a kensho that has a more lasting affect or is
more of a process than a sudden single moment of experience</span><br />
<span style="color: #fdeada; font-family: "calibri";"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #fdeada; font-family: "calibri";"> Quoting from Wikipedia for your information:</span><br />
<span style="color: #fdeada; font-family: "calibri";"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #fdeada; font-family: "calibri";"><br /></span>
<br />
<div align="left" style="margin: 0px 0px 13px; text-align: left;">
<b><span lang="EN" style="color: #fdeada; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; margin: 0px;">Encyclopedic and dictionary definitions[<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Kensh%C5%8D&action=edit&section=5" title="Edit section: Encyclopedic and dictionary definitions"><span style="color: #fdeada; margin: 0px;">edit</span></a>]</span></b></div>
<br />
<div align="left" style="margin: 0px 0px 13px; text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #fdeada; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">Some encyclopedia and dictionary
definitions are:</span></div>
<br />
<ul type="disc">
<li style="color: #fdeada; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin: 0px 0px 13px; text-align: left;"><span lang="EN" style="color: #fdeada; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: windowtext; margin: 0px;">Soothill (1934):
"To behold the Buddha-nature within oneself, a common saying of the
Chan (Zen) or Intuitive School."</span></span><span style="color: #fdeada; margin: 0px;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kensh%C5%8D#cite_note-FOOTNOTESoothill1934244-19"><sup><span lang="EN" style="color: #fdeada; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 9.5pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: windowtext; margin: 0px;">[15]</span></span></sup></a></span></li>
<li style="color: #fdeada; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin: 0px 0px 13px; text-align: left;"><span lang="EN" style="color: #fdeada; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: windowtext; margin: 0px;">Fischer-Schreiber
(1991): Lit. "seeing nature"; Zen expression for the experience
of awakening (enlightenment). Since the meaning is "seeing one's own
true nature," <i>kenshō</i> is usually translated
"self-realization." Like all words that try to reduce the
conceptually ungraspable experience of enlightenment to a concept, this
one is also not entirely accurate and is even misleading, since the
experience contains no duality of "seer" and "seen"
because there is no "nature of self' as an object that is seen by a
subject separate from it.</span></span><span style="color: #fdeada; margin: 0px;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kensh%C5%8D#cite_note-FOOTNOTEFischer-Schreiber1991115-12"><sup><span lang="EN" style="color: #fdeada; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 9.5pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: windowtext; margin: 0px;">[10]</span></span></sup></a></span></li>
<li style="color: #fdeada; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin: 0px 0px 13px; text-align: left;"><span lang="EN" style="color: #fdeada; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: windowtext; margin: 0px;">Baroni (2002):
"Seeing one's nature," that is, realizing one's own original
Buddha Nature. In the Rinzai school, it most often refers more
specifically to one's initial enlightenment attained though </span></span><span style="color: #fdeada; margin: 0px;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/K%C5%8Dan" title="Kōan"><span lang="EN" style="color: #fdeada; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: windowtext; margin: 0px;">kōan</span></span></a></span><span lang="EN" style="color: #fdeada; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: windowtext; margin: 0px;">
practice.</span></span><span style="color: #fdeada; margin: 0px;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kensh%C5%8D#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBaroni2002188-1"><sup><span lang="EN" style="color: #fdeada; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 9.5pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: windowtext; margin: 0px;">[1]</span></span></sup></a></span></li>
<li style="color: #fdeada; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin: 0px 0px 13px; text-align: left;"><span lang="EN" style="color: #fdeada; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: windowtext; margin: 0px;">Muller (year
unknown): To see one's own originally enlightened mind. To behold the
Buddha-nature within oneself, a common saying of the Chan school, as seen
for example, in the phrase 'seeing one's nature, becoming Buddha' </span></span><span style="color: #fdeada; font-family: "ms gothic"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: windowtext; margin: 0px;">見性成佛</span></span><span lang="EN" style="color: #fdeada; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: windowtext; margin: 0px;">.</span></span><span style="color: #fdeada; margin: 0px;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kensh%C5%8D#cite_note-FOOTNOTEMulleryear_unknown-18"><sup><span lang="EN" style="color: #fdeada; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 9.5pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: windowtext; margin: 0px;">[14]</span></span></sup></a></span></li>
</ul>
<br />
<div align="left" style="margin: 0px 0px 13px; text-align: left;">
<b><span lang="EN" style="color: #fdeada; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; margin: 0px;">Definitions by Buddhist scholars[<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Kensh%C5%8D&action=edit&section=6" title="Edit section: Definitions by Buddhist scholars"><span style="color: #fdeada; margin: 0px;">edit</span></a>]</span></b></div>
<br />
<div align="left" style="margin: 0px 0px 13px; text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #fdeada; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">Buddhist scholars have defined <i>kenshō</i>
as:</span></div>
<br />
<ul type="disc">
<li style="color: #fdeada; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin: 0px 0px 13px; text-align: left;"><span lang="EN" style="color: #fdeada; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: windowtext; margin: 0px;">D.T. Suzuki:
"Looking into one's nature or the opening of satori";</span></span><span style="color: #fdeada; margin: 0px;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kensh%C5%8D#cite_note-FOOTNOTESuzuki1994-B259-20"><sup><span lang="EN" style="color: #fdeada; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 9.5pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: windowtext; margin: 0px;">[16]</span></span></sup></a></span><span lang="EN" style="color: #fdeada; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: windowtext; margin: 0px;">
"This acquiring of a new point of view in our dealings with life and
the world is popularly called by Japanese Zen students 'satori' (<i>wu</i>
in Chinese). It is really another name for Enlightenment (<i><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enlightenment_in_Buddhism#Buddha.27s_awakening" title="Enlightenment in Buddhism"><span style="color: #fdeada; margin: 0px;">Annuttara-samyak-sambodhi</span></a></i>)".</span></span><span style="color: #fdeada; margin: 0px;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kensh%C5%8D#cite_note-FOOTNOTESuzuki-1994-B229-21"><sup><span lang="EN" style="color: #fdeada; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 9.5pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: windowtext; margin: 0px;">[17]</span></span></sup></a></span><span style="color: #fdeada; margin: 0px;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kensh%C5%8D#cite_note-23"><sup><span lang="EN" style="color: #fdeada; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 9.5pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: windowtext; margin: 0px;">[note
4]</span></span></sup></a></span></li>
<li style="color: #fdeada; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin: 0px 0px 13px; text-align: left;"><span lang="EN" style="color: #fdeada; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: windowtext; margin: 0px;">Dumoulin (1988/2005):
"Enlightenment is described here as an insight into the identity of
one's own nature with all of reality in an eternal now, as a vision that
removes all distinctions. This enlightenment is the center and the goal of
the Zen way. Hakuin prefers the term "seeing into one's nature",
which for him means ultimate reality. The Buddha nature and the </span></span><span style="color: #fdeada; margin: 0px;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dharmakaya" title="Dharmakaya"><span lang="EN" style="color: #fdeada; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: windowtext; margin: 0px;">cosmic
Buddha body</span></span></a></span><span lang="EN" style="color: #fdeada; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: windowtext; margin: 0px;">, wisdom (<i>prajna</i>),
and emptiness (<i>sunyata</i>), </span></span><span style="color: #fdeada; margin: 0px;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Original_face" title="Original face"><span lang="EN" style="color: #fdeada; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: windowtext; margin: 0px;">the
original countenance one had before one was born</span></span></a></span><span lang="EN" style="color: #fdeada; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: windowtext; margin: 0px;">,
and other expressions from the rich palette of Mahayana terms were all
familiair to him from his continued study of the sutras and </span></span><span style="color: #fdeada; margin: 0px;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zen#Zen_literature" title="Zen"><span lang="EN" style="color: #fdeada; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: windowtext; margin: 0px;">Zen
literature</span></span></a></span><span lang="EN" style="color: #fdeada; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: windowtext; margin: 0px;">."</span></span><span style="color: #fdeada; margin: 0px;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kensh%C5%8D#cite_note-FOOTNOTEDumoulin2005-B380-24"><sup><span lang="EN" style="color: #fdeada; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 9.5pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: windowtext; margin: 0px;">[19]</span></span></sup></a></span></li>
<li style="color: #fdeada; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin: 0px 0px 13px; text-align: left;"><span lang="EN" style="color: #fdeada; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: windowtext; margin: 0px;">Peter Harvey (1990):
"It is a blissful realization where a person's inner nature, the </span></span><span style="color: #fdeada; margin: 0px;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eight_Consciousnesses#.C4.80layavij.C3.B1.C4.81na" title="Eight Consciousnesses"><span lang="EN" style="color: #fdeada; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: windowtext; margin: 0px;">originally pure mind</span></span></a></span><span lang="EN" style="color: #fdeada; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: windowtext; margin: 0px;">,
is directly known as an illuminating </span></span><span style="color: #fdeada; margin: 0px;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sunyata" title="Sunyata"><span lang="EN" style="color: #fdeada; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: windowtext; margin: 0px;">emptiness</span></span></a></span><span lang="EN" style="color: #fdeada; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: windowtext; margin: 0px;">,
a </span></span><span style="color: #fdeada; margin: 0px;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tathat%C4%81/Dharmat%C4%81" title="Tathatā/Dharmatā"><span lang="EN" style="color: #fdeada; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: windowtext; margin: 0px;">thusness</span></span></a></span><span lang="EN" style="color: #fdeada; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: windowtext; margin: 0px;">
which is dynamic and </span></span><span style="color: #fdeada; margin: 0px;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Five_Ranks" title="Five Ranks"><span lang="EN" style="color: #fdeada; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: windowtext; margin: 0px;">immanent
in the world</span></span></a></span><span lang="EN" style="color: #fdeada; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: windowtext; margin: 0px;">."</span></span><span style="color: #fdeada; margin: 0px;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kensh%C5%8D#cite_note-FOOTNOTEHarvey1990275-276-25"><sup><span lang="EN" style="color: #fdeada; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 9.5pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: windowtext; margin: 0px;">[20]</span></span></sup></a></span></li>
<li style="color: #fdeada; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin: 0px 0px 13px; text-align: left;"><span lang="EN" style="color: #fdeada; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: windowtext; margin: 0px;">G. Victor Sogen Hori
(2000): "The term consists of two characters: <i>ken</i>, which means
"see" or "seeing", and <i>sho</i>, which means
"nature", "character", "quality." To
"see one's nature" is the usual translation for <i>kensho</i>".</span></span><span style="color: #fdeada; margin: 0px;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kensh%C5%8D#cite_note-FOOTNOTEHori2000287-2"><sup><span lang="EN" style="color: #fdeada; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 9.5pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: windowtext; margin: 0px;">[2]</span></span></sup></a></span></li>
</ul>
<br />
<div align="left" style="margin: 0px 0px 13px; text-align: left;">
<b><span lang="EN" style="color: #fdeada; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; margin: 0px;">Definitions by Buddhist teachers and practitioners[<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Kensh%C5%8D&action=edit&section=7" title="Edit section: Definitions by Buddhist teachers and practitioners"><span style="color: #fdeada; margin: 0px;">edit</span></a>]</span></b></div>
<br />
<div align="left" style="margin: 0px 0px 13px; text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #fdeada; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">Buddhist teachers and
practitioners have defined <i>kenshō</i> as:</span></div>
<br />
<ul type="disc">
<li style="color: #fdeada; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin: 0px 0px 13px; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #fdeada; margin: 0px;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jiyu-Kennett" title="Jiyu-Kennett"><span lang="EN" style="color: #fdeada; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: windowtext; margin: 0px;">Jiyu-Kennett</span></span></a></span><span lang="EN" style="color: #fdeada; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: windowtext; margin: 0px;">:
"To see into one's own nature. The experience of enlightenment,
satori."</span></span><span style="color: #fdeada; margin: 0px;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kensh%C5%8D#cite_note-FOOTNOTEJiyu-Kennett2005-B263-26"><sup><span lang="EN" style="color: #fdeada; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 9.5pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: windowtext; margin: 0px;">[21]</span></span></sup></a></span></li>
<li style="color: #fdeada; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin: 0px 0px 13px; text-align: left;"><span lang="EN" style="color: #fdeada; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: windowtext; margin: 0px;">Myodo Ni Satomi, a
student of </span></span><span style="color: #fdeada; margin: 0px;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hakuun_Yasutani" title="Hakuun Yasutani"><span lang="EN" style="color: #fdeada; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: windowtext; margin: 0px;">Hakuun Yasutani</span></span></a></span><span lang="EN" style="color: #fdeada; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: windowtext; margin: 0px;">
(1993): "Seeing the-self, that is, the true self or Buddha
nature."</span></span><span style="color: #fdeada; margin: 0px;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kensh%C5%8D#cite_note-FOOTNOTESatomi1993203-27"><sup><span lang="EN" style="color: #fdeada; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 9.5pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: windowtext; margin: 0px;">[22]</span></span></sup></a></span></li>
</ul>
<br />
<div align="left" style="margin: 0px 0px 13px; text-align: left;">
<b><span lang="EN" style="color: #fdeada; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; margin: 0px;">Further notions[<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Kensh%C5%8D&action=edit&section=8" title="Edit section: Further notions"><span style="color: #fdeada; margin: 0px;">edit</span></a>]</span></b></div>
<br />
<div align="left" style="margin: 0px 0px 13px; text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #fdeada; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">The term <i>kenshō</i> refers to
the realization of nonduality of subject and object in general,</span><span style="color: #fdeada; margin: 0px;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kensh%C5%8D#cite_note-FOOTNOTEHori199430-28"><sup><span lang="EN" style="color: #fdeada; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 9.5pt; margin: 0px;">[23]</span></sup></a></span><span lang="EN" style="color: #fdeada; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"> but the term <i>kenshō</i> may
also be applied in other contexts:</span><span style="color: #fdeada; margin: 0px;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kensh%C5%8D#cite_note-FOOTNOTEHori2000290-29"><sup><span lang="EN" style="color: #fdeada; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 9.5pt; margin: 0px;">[24]</span></sup></a></span><span lang="EN" style="color: #fdeada; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"> "How do you <i>kenshō</i>
this?"</span><span style="color: #fdeada; margin: 0px;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kensh%C5%8D#cite_note-FOOTNOTEHori199430-28"><sup><span lang="EN" style="color: #fdeada; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 9.5pt; margin: 0px;">[23]</span></sup></a></span></div>
<br />
<div align="left" style="margin: 0px 0px 13px; text-align: left;">
<i><span lang="EN" style="color: #fdeada; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">Kenshō</span></i><span lang="EN" style="color: #fdeada; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"> is not a single experience, but
refers to a whole series of realizations from a beginner's shallow glimpse of
the nature of mind, up to a vision of emptiness equivalent to the </span><span style="color: #fdeada; margin: 0px;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bh%C5%ABmi_(Buddhism)#The_first_bh.C5.ABmi.2C_the_Very_Joyous" title="Bhūmi (Buddhism)"><span lang="EN" style="color: #fdeada; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">'Path of Seeing'</span></a></span><span lang="EN" style="color: #fdeada; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"> or to Buddhahood itself. In all of these, the same
'thing' is known, but in different degrees of clarity and profundity.</span><span style="color: #fdeada; margin: 0px;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kensh%C5%8D#cite_note-FOOTNOTEHarvey1990275-276-25"><sup><span lang="EN" style="color: #fdeada; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 9.5pt; margin: 0px;">[20]</span></sup></a><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kensh%C5%8D#cite_note-FOOTNOTEHori199431-30"><sup><span lang="EN" style="color: #fdeada; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 9.5pt; margin: 0px;">[25]</span></sup></a></span></div>
<br />
<div align="left" style="margin: 0px 0px 13px; text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #fdeada; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">"Kenshō" is commonly
translated as </span><span style="color: #fdeada; margin: 0px;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enlightenment_in_Buddhism" title="Enlightenment in Buddhism"><span lang="EN" style="color: #fdeada; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">enlightenment</span></a></span><span lang="EN" style="color: #fdeada; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">, a word that is also used to
translate </span><span style="color: #fdeada; margin: 0px;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bodhi" title="Bodhi"><span lang="EN" style="color: #fdeada; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">bodhi</span></a></span><span lang="EN" style="color: #fdeada; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">, </span><span style="color: #fdeada; margin: 0px;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wisdom_in_Buddhism" title="Wisdom in Buddhism"><span lang="EN" style="color: #fdeada; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">prajna</span></a></span><span lang="EN" style="color: #fdeada; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">, </span><span style="color: #fdeada; margin: 0px;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Satori" title="Satori"><span lang="EN" style="color: #fdeada; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">satori</span></a></span><span lang="EN" style="color: #fdeada; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"> and </span><span style="color: #fdeada; margin: 0px;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buddhahood" title="Buddhahood"><span lang="EN" style="color: #fdeada; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">buddhahood</span></a></span><span lang="EN" style="color: #fdeada; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">. Western discourse tends to use
these terms interchangeably, but there is a distinction between a first
insight, and the further development toward Buddhahood.</span></div>
<br />
<div align="left" style="margin: 0px 0px 13px; text-align: left;">
<b><span lang="EN" style="color: #fdeada; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 18pt; margin: 0px;">Insight versus experience[<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Kensh%C5%8D&action=edit&section=9" title="Edit section: Insight versus experience"><span style="color: #fdeada; margin: 0px;">edit</span></a>]</span></b></div>
<br />
<div align="left" style="margin: 0px 0px 8px; text-align: left;">
<i><span lang="EN" style="color: #fdeada; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">See also: </span></i><span style="color: #fdeada; margin: 0px;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buddhist_modernism" title="Buddhist modernism"><i><span lang="EN" style="color: #fdeada; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">Buddhist modernism</span></i></a></span><i><span lang="EN" style="color: #fdeada; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">, </span></i><span style="color: #fdeada; margin: 0px;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transcendentalism" title="Transcendentalism"><i><span lang="EN" style="color: #fdeada; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">Transcendentalism</span></i></a></span><i><span lang="EN" style="color: #fdeada; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">, and </span></i><span style="color: #fdeada; margin: 0px;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perennial_philosophy" title="Perennial philosophy"><i><span lang="EN" style="color: #fdeada; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">Perennial philosophy</span></i></a></span></div>
<br />
<div align="left" style="margin: 0px 0px 13px; text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #fdeada; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">Kensho is insight, an
understanding of reality as-it-is.</span><span style="color: #fdeada; margin: 0px;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kensh%C5%8D#cite_note-FOOTNOTESamy199882-31"><sup><span lang="EN" style="color: #fdeada; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 9.5pt; margin: 0px;">[26]</span></sup></a><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kensh%C5%8D#cite_note-FOOTNOTEHarvey1990275-276-25"><sup><span lang="EN" style="color: #fdeada; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 9.5pt; margin: 0px;">[20]</span></sup></a><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kensh%C5%8D#cite_note-FOOTNOTEDumoulin2005-B380-24"><sup><span lang="EN" style="color: #fdeada; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 9.5pt; margin: 0px;">[19]</span></sup></a><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kensh%C5%8D#cite_note-FOOTNOTEHori199430-28"><sup><span lang="EN" style="color: #fdeada; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 9.5pt; margin: 0px;">[23]</span></sup></a></span><span lang="EN" style="color: #fdeada; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"> Contemporary understanding also
describes kensho as an <i>experience</i>, as in "enlightenment
experience"; the term "enlightenment experience" is itself a </span><span style="color: #fdeada; margin: 0px;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tautology_(rhetoric)" title="Tautology (rhetoric)"><span lang="EN" style="color: #fdeada; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">tautology</span></a></span><span lang="EN" style="color: #fdeada; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">: "Kensho (enlightenment) is an enlightenment
(kensho)-experience".</span></div>
<br />
<div align="left" style="margin: 0px 0px 13px; text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #fdeada; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">The notion of
"experience" fits in a popular set of dichotomies: pure (unmediated)
versus mediated, noncognitive versus cognitive, experiential versus
intellectual, intuitive versus intellectual, nonrational versus rational,
nondiscursive versus discursive, nonpropositional versus propositional.</span><span style="color: #fdeada; margin: 0px;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kensh%C5%8D#cite_note-FOOTNOTEMohr2000282-32"><sup><span lang="EN" style="color: #fdeada; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 9.5pt; margin: 0px;">[27]</span></sup></a></span></div>
<br />
<div align="left" style="margin: 0px 0px 13px; text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #fdeada; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">The notion of <i>pure experience</i>
(<i>junsui kuiken</i>) to interpret and understand kensho was introduced by </span><span style="color: #fdeada; margin: 0px;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nishida_Kitaro" title="Nishida Kitaro"><span lang="EN" style="color: #fdeada; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">Nishida Kitaro</span></a></span><span lang="EN" style="color: #fdeada; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"> in his </span><span style="color: #fdeada; margin: 0px;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/An_Inquiry_into_the_Good" title="An Inquiry into the Good"><span lang="EN" style="color: #fdeada; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">An Inquiry into the Good</span></a></span><span lang="EN" style="color: #fdeada; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"> (1911), under influence of
"his somewhat idiosyncratic reading of western philosophy",</span><span style="color: #fdeada; margin: 0px;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kensh%C5%8D#cite_note-FOOTNOTESharf1995-B248-33"><sup><span lang="EN" style="color: #fdeada; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 9.5pt; margin: 0px;">[28]</span></sup></a></span><span lang="EN" style="color: #fdeada; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"> especially </span><span style="color: #fdeada; margin: 0px;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_James" title="William James"><span lang="EN" style="color: #fdeada; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">William James</span></a></span><span lang="EN" style="color: #fdeada; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">, who wrote </span><span style="color: #fdeada; margin: 0px;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Varieties_of_Religious_Experience" title="The Varieties of Religious Experience"><span lang="EN" style="color: #fdeada; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">The Varieties of Religious Experience</span></a></span><span lang="EN" style="color: #fdeada; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">.</span><span style="color: #fdeada; margin: 0px;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kensh%C5%8D#cite_note-35"><sup><span lang="EN" style="color: #fdeada; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 9.5pt; margin: 0px;">[note 5]</span></sup></a></span><span lang="EN" style="color: #fdeada; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"> </span><span style="color: #fdeada; margin: 0px;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wayne_Proudfoot" title="Wayne Proudfoot"><span lang="EN" style="color: #fdeada; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">Wayne Proudfoot</span></a></span><span lang="EN" style="color: #fdeada; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"> traces the roots of the notion
of "religious experience" to the German theologian </span><span style="color: #fdeada; margin: 0px;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Friedrich_Schleiermacher" title="Friedrich Schleiermacher"><span lang="EN" style="color: #fdeada; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">Friedrich Schleiermacher</span></a></span><span lang="EN" style="color: #fdeada; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"> (1768-1834), who argued that
religion is based on a feeling of the infinite. The notion of "religious
experience" was used by Schleiermacher to defend religion against the
growing scientific and secular critique. It was adopted by many scholars of
religion, of which William James was the most influential.</span><span style="color: #fdeada; margin: 0px;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kensh%C5%8D#cite_note-FOOTNOTESharf2000271-36"><sup><span lang="EN" style="color: #fdeada; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 9.5pt; margin: 0px;">[30]</span></sup></a><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kensh%C5%8D#cite_note-41"><sup><span lang="EN" style="color: #fdeada; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 9.5pt; margin: 0px;">[note 6]</span></sup></a></span><span lang="EN" style="color: #fdeada; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"> </span><span style="color: #fdeada; margin: 0px;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/D.T._Suzuki" title="D.T. Suzuki"><span lang="EN" style="color: #fdeada; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">D.T. Suzuki</span></a></span><span lang="EN" style="color: #fdeada; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">, who introduced Nishida Kitaro
to western philosophy, took over this notion of <i>pure experience</i>,
describing it as the essence of all religions,</span><span style="color: #fdeada; margin: 0px;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kensh%C5%8D#cite_note-FOOTNOTESharf1995-B248-33"><sup><span lang="EN" style="color: #fdeada; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 9.5pt; margin: 0px;">[28]</span></sup></a></span><span lang="EN" style="color: #fdeada; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"> but best represented in the </span><span style="color: #fdeada; margin: 0px;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nihonjinron" title="Nihonjinron"><span lang="EN" style="color: #fdeada; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">superior Japanese culture and
religion</span></a></span><span lang="EN" style="color: #fdeada; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">.</span><span style="color: #fdeada; margin: 0px;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kensh%C5%8D#cite_note-FOOTNOTESharf1993-42"><sup><span lang="EN" style="color: #fdeada; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 9.5pt; margin: 0px;">[35]</span></sup></a><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kensh%C5%8D#cite_note-FOOTNOTESharf1995-A-43"><sup><span lang="EN" style="color: #fdeada; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 9.5pt; margin: 0px;">[36]</span></sup></a></span></div>
<br />
<div align="left" style="margin: 0px 0px 13px; text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #fdeada; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">The influence of western
psychology and philosophy on Japanese Buddhism was due to the persecution of
Buddhism at the beginning of the </span><span style="color: #fdeada; margin: 0px;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meiji_Restoration" title="Meiji Restoration"><span lang="EN" style="color: #fdeada; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">Meiji Restoration</span></a></span><span lang="EN" style="color: #fdeada; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">, and the subsequent efforts to
construct a </span><span style="color: #fdeada; margin: 0px;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buddhist_modernism" title="Buddhist modernism"><span lang="EN" style="color: #fdeada; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">New Buddhism</span></a></span><span lang="EN" style="color: #fdeada; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"> (<i>shin bukkyo</i>), adapted to the modern times.</span><span style="color: #fdeada; margin: 0px;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kensh%C5%8D#cite_note-FOOTNOTESharf1995-B246-248-44"><sup><span lang="EN" style="color: #fdeada; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 9.5pt; margin: 0px;">[37]</span></sup></a><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kensh%C5%8D#cite_note-FOOTNOTEVictoria2006-45"><sup><span lang="EN" style="color: #fdeada; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 9.5pt; margin: 0px;">[38]</span></sup></a><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kensh%C5%8D#cite_note-FOOTNOTEMcMahan2008-40"><sup><span lang="EN" style="color: #fdeada; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 9.5pt; margin: 0px;">[34]</span></sup></a></span><span lang="EN" style="color: #fdeada; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"> It was this New Buddhism which has
shaped </span><span style="color: #fdeada; margin: 0px;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zen#Zen_Narratives" title="Zen"><span lang="EN" style="color: #fdeada; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">the understanding of Zen in the
west</span></a></span><span lang="EN" style="color: #fdeada; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">,</span><span style="color: #fdeada; margin: 0px;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kensh%C5%8D#cite_note-FOOTNOTESharf1995-B-46"><sup><span lang="EN" style="color: #fdeada; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 9.5pt; margin: 0px;">[39]</span></sup></a></span><span lang="EN" style="color: #fdeada; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"> especially through the writings
of D.T. Suzuki</span><span style="color: #fdeada; margin: 0px;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kensh%C5%8D#cite_note-FOOTNOTESharf1995-B247-248-47"><sup><span lang="EN" style="color: #fdeada; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 9.5pt; margin: 0px;">[40]</span></sup></a><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kensh%C5%8D#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBorupYear_unknown-48"><sup><span lang="EN" style="color: #fdeada; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 9.5pt; margin: 0px;">[41]</span></sup></a><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kensh%C5%8D#cite_note-FOOTNOTEMcMahan2008-40"><sup><span lang="EN" style="color: #fdeada; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 9.5pt; margin: 0px;">[34]</span></sup></a></span><span lang="EN" style="color: #fdeada; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"> and the </span><span style="color: #fdeada; margin: 0px;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sanbo_Kyodan" title="Sanbo Kyodan"><span lang="EN" style="color: #fdeada; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">Sanbo Kyodan</span></a></span><span lang="EN" style="color: #fdeada; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">, an exponent of the Meiji-era
opening of Zen-training for lay-followers.</span><span style="color: #fdeada; margin: 0px;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kensh%C5%8D#cite_note-FOOTNOTESharf1995-C-49"><sup><span lang="EN" style="color: #fdeada; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 9.5pt; margin: 0px;">[42]</span></sup></a></span></div>
<span lang="EN" style="color: #fdeada; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">The notion of "experience" has been
criticised.</span><span style="color: #fdeada; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0px;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kensh%C5%8D#cite_note-FOOTNOTESharf1995-B-46"><sup><span lang="EN" style="color: #fdeada; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 9.5pt; margin: 0px;">[39]</span></sup></a><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kensh%C5%8D#cite_note-FOOTNOTEMohr2000282-286-50"><sup><span lang="EN" style="color: #fdeada; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 9.5pt; margin: 0px;">[43]</span></sup></a><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kensh%C5%8D#cite_note-FOOTNOTELow200612-51"><sup><span lang="EN" style="color: #fdeada; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 9.5pt; margin: 0px;">[44]</span></sup></a></span><span lang="EN" style="color: #fdeada; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"> Robert Sharf points out that "experience"
is a typical western term, which has found its way into Asian religiosity via
western influences.</span><span style="color: #fdeada; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0px;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kensh%C5%8D#cite_note-FOOTNOTESharf1995-B-46"><sup><span lang="EN" style="color: #fdeada; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 9.5pt; margin: 0px;">[39]</span></sup></a><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kensh%C5%8D#cite_note-53"><sup><span lang="EN" style="color: #fdeada; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 9.5pt; margin: 0px;">[note 7]</span></sup></a></span><span lang="EN" style="color: #fdeada; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"> The notion of "experience" introduces a
false notion of duality between "experiencer" and
"experienced", where-as the essence of kensho is the realisation of
the "non-duality" of observer and observed.</span><span style="color: #fdeada; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0px;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kensh%C5%8D#cite_note-FOOTNOTEHori199430-28"><sup><span lang="EN" style="color: #fdeada; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 9.5pt; margin: 0px;">[23]</span></sup></a><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kensh%C5%8D#cite_note-FOOTNOTESamy199882-31"><sup><span lang="EN" style="color: #fdeada; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 9.5pt; margin: 0px;">[26]</span></sup></a></span><span lang="EN" style="color: #fdeada; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"> "Pure experience" does not exist; all
experience is mediated by intellectual and cognitive activity.</span><span style="color: #fdeada; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0px;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kensh%C5%8D#cite_note-FOOTNOTEMohr2000282-32"><sup><span lang="EN" style="color: #fdeada; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 9.5pt; margin: 0px;">[27]</span></sup></a><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kensh%C5%8D#cite_note-FOOTNOTESamy199880-82-54"><sup><span lang="EN" style="color: #fdeada; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 9.5pt; margin: 0px;">[46]</span></sup></a></span><span lang="EN" style="color: #fdeada; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"> The specific teachings and practices of a specific
tradition may even determine what "experience" someone has, which
means that this "experience" is not the <i>proof</i> of the teaching,
but a <i>result</i> of the teaching.</span><span style="color: #fdeada; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0px;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kensh%C5%8D#cite_note-FOOTNOTESamy199880-55"><sup><span lang="EN" style="color: #fdeada; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 9.5pt; margin: 0px;">[47]</span></sup></a></span><span lang="EN" style="color: #fdeada; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"> A pure consciousness without concepts, reached by
"cleaning the doors of perception"</span><span style="color: #fdeada; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0px;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kensh%C5%8D#cite_note-57"><sup><span lang="EN" style="color: #fdeada; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 9.5pt; margin: 0px;">[note 8]</span></sup></a></span><span lang="EN" style="color: #fdeada; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">, would be an overwhelming chaos of sensory input
without coherence.</span><span style="color: #fdeada; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0px;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kensh%C5%8D#cite_note-FOOTNOTEMohr2000284-58"><sup><span lang="EN" style="color: #fdeada; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 9.5pt; margin: 0px;">[49]</span></sup></a></span><span lang="EN" style="color: #fdeada; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"> The notion of "experience" also
over-emphasises kensho, as if it were the single goal of Zen-training, where-as
the Zen-tradition clearly states that "the stink of Zen"</span><span style="color: #fdeada; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0px;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kensh%C5%8D#cite_note-FOOTNOTEHori2006143-59"><sup><span lang="EN" style="color: #fdeada; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 9.5pt; margin: 0px;">[50]</span></sup></a></span><span lang="EN" style="color: #fdeada; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"> has to be removed and the "experience" of
kensho has to be integrated into daily life.</span><span style="color: #fdeada; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0px;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kensh%C5%8D#cite_note-FOOTNOTESekida1996-60"><sup><span lang="EN" style="color: #fdeada; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 9.5pt; margin: 0px;">[51]</span></sup></a><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kensh%C5%8D#cite_note-FOOTNOTEKapleau1989-5"><sup><span lang="EN" style="color: #fdeada; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 9.5pt; margin: 0px;">[4]</span></sup></a><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kensh%C5%8D#cite_note-FOOTNOTEKraft199791-9"><sup><span lang="EN" style="color: #fdeada; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 9.5pt; margin: 0px;">[8]</span></sup></a></span><span lang="EN" style="color: #fdeada; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"> In the Rinzai-school this post-satori training
includes the study and mastering of great amounts of classical Chinese poetry,
which is far from "universal" and culture-transcending. On the
contrary, it demands an education in culture-specific language and behaviour,
which is measured by specific and strict cultural norms.</span><span style="color: #fdeada; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0px;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kensh%C5%8D#cite_note-FOOTNOTEHori199950-53-61"><sup><span lang="EN" style="color: #fdeada; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 9.5pt; margin: 0px;">[52]</span></sup></a></span><span lang="EN" style="color: #fdeada; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"> Emphasising "experience" "reduces the
sophisticated dialectic of Ch'an/Zen doctrine and praxis to a mere
"means" or set of techniques intended to inculcate such experiences</span><br />
<span lang="EN" style="color: #fdeada; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><br /></span>
<span lang="EN" style="color: #fdeada; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">
<br />
</span><br />
<div align="left" style="margin: 0px 0px 13px; text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #fdeada; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #fdeada; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">11/19/2016</span></span></span></div>
<span lang="EN" style="color: #fdeada; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">
<span style="color: #fdeada; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>This
morning I was flipping through my facebook and came upon someone’s reposting of
Jackie Ivanya’s rendition of God Bless America sang at the Capitol July 4<sup>th</sup>
Celebration this last summer or maybe the year before. I have so often heard
this song or more commonly the song, Amazing Grace, sung and have had an
overwhelming sense of … well, I have always called it nostalgia. Tears do come
to my eyes and my overwhelming sense is to try to control this lack of control.
But now after thinking about the intense experience of last January and after
reading about the definitions of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">kensho</i>,
I am wondering if these experiences, certainly more common in my life now, are
really minor episodes of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">kensho.</i> The
definitions talk about more minor episodes and more intense ones, and then
longer lasting ones which are sometimes more defined as <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">sartori. </i>I now wonder if rather than trying to control these rather
common episodes, I would be better off just embracing the sensation or even
trying to encourage the expansiveness and sense of oneness, and non duality
that is defined as part of a <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">kensho</i>
experience. I am thinking that these common experiences are really a touch of
the Absolute, of our own Buddha Nature. Wow. If so then I am much more in touch
with that Higher Power than I have ever thought. It may be that this
connectiveness, this sense of the True Self is much more easily obtained. It
might be true that you just have to open to it and let it happen. I will try
this in the future whenever I am moved to tears by commercials, family moments,
and things that move me when I am reading</span></span></div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer"><script type="text/javascript">
var _gaq = _gaq || [];
_gaq.push(['_setAccount', 'UA-17518819-1']);
_gaq.push(['_trackPageview']);
(function() {
var ga = document.createElement('script'); ga.type = 'text/javascript'; ga.async = true;
ga.src = ('https:' == document.location.protocol ? 'https://ssl' : 'http://www') + '.google-analytics.com/ga.js';
var s = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(ga, s);
})();
</script></div>RenRaehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17961222558357224052noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4207881053346095956.post-2849260644772115942016-05-05T20:04:00.000-05:002016-05-05T23:00:32.015-05:00The Foods and Wines of a Spouse's 80th Birthday Celebration.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqeT1Y0Ny8_lZ3GAYRHuVKCEUnnKAxKwXb49Il_cjvpKlVC4MeFolgAmIrsyWfFmIQsRuM21gFvIfCzibnBwS8neiLBMJNk-Hvh457D12EieUsQUoPhf7qEnq07eqXiWr2ahVnJX3X_m4/s1600/Larry%2527sMarket.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqeT1Y0Ny8_lZ3GAYRHuVKCEUnnKAxKwXb49Il_cjvpKlVC4MeFolgAmIrsyWfFmIQsRuM21gFvIfCzibnBwS8neiLBMJNk-Hvh457D12EieUsQUoPhf7qEnq07eqXiWr2ahVnJX3X_m4/s320/Larry%2527sMarket.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Larry's Market, Brown Deer Village</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0vrqY9E8V-0GIfBP8VHIx1Y47iHwz43GX0cEBuX46wyVjQOx10SeH83ZVsvqfGMdmy6oj1BfXILnYGXrg9OLr0kko1qwDcSekr-uEG2tfSDdH2a9-hTSR2QMFNVZ9p_LAnH0gesTl5Dc/s1600/Larry%2527s+Market.+Larry.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0vrqY9E8V-0GIfBP8VHIx1Y47iHwz43GX0cEBuX46wyVjQOx10SeH83ZVsvqfGMdmy6oj1BfXILnYGXrg9OLr0kko1qwDcSekr-uEG2tfSDdH2a9-hTSR2QMFNVZ9p_LAnH0gesTl5Dc/s1600/Larry%2527s+Market.+Larry.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Larry, with his signature beret.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Recently my husband of 49 years celebrated his 80th Birthday. He has been feeling those 80 years and I did not think he would really want to celebrate other than perhaps a visit to our most often attended restaurant, Joey Gerard's, in Milwaukee. But I discovered that even after knowing a person for 50 years, it is not always possible to know what would make them happy. My husband began talking to his sons about them coming to visit around the birthday time. And, God bless them, they both agreed to work a visit into their busy work schedules. Then they began to ask what the celebration would entail. That prompted me to ask my husband if he wanted to have a true dinner party. After some discussion, he seemed to actually want a few guests in addition to our two sons. Therefore, I was able to find a few friends, most of them MD's to come to a dinner at our home on April 30, Saturday night. I decided at this point in my life, I was too lazy to do a complete dinner party for 10 people myself. First I went to Shully's in Thiensville, to check out what they had to offer. I had hired their catering services fully 25 years ago when we celebrated our 25th Wedding Anniversary on the same day that we celebrated our youngest son's Graduation -- a two party extravaganza. They had done a superb job. However, now they have built a lovely venue along the Milwaukee River to host weddings and other events. At least regarding my intentions for this party, they were too pricey. So my husband and I returned to an old favorite in the Old Village of Brown Deer -- Larry's Market. As we entered to discuss our dinner with the Event Planner, we met 92 year old Larry, himself leaving the premises. It was a Friday and the first Baseball Season outdoor cookout at Larry's and he had come to kick it off. Well, suffice it to say, Larry's Market also came through for us. I was able to serve a wonderful pate' appetizer plate, a fresh green salad, both roasted tenderloin and mashed potatoes and a grilled salmon entree with lemon dill sauce and noodles, glazed carrots, dinner rolls. For dessert, we had an Edible Arrangements fruit bouquet that my sisters sent, and Larry's Chocolate Decadence Cake. <br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoZVEWlQBWwGxSlbQ1w5QfNr0Q4oXoTnNFFQppFwlXsYpEhTjUyGORhpom6NeENhAl5Dqx0HqtTNZ6qpsPdKwsOjMdtfj9GD73T-0mUS8EAFawONZcgWZZI0DzuThR717irW8bihZW0y4/s1600/Tobin+James+Gang.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoZVEWlQBWwGxSlbQ1w5QfNr0Q4oXoTnNFFQppFwlXsYpEhTjUyGORhpom6NeENhAl5Dqx0HqtTNZ6qpsPdKwsOjMdtfj9GD73T-0mUS8EAFawONZcgWZZI0DzuThR717irW8bihZW0y4/s320/Tobin+James+Gang.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The James Gang; our cousin, right, at the end.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqNghblDQSso9_qIc5MJ5NgSZokPO2ZRrELlVRGO3gyJPgk5PzlhRkk_MNMrIi0NIyM3Qb_YPx_7lLEF6sW8TNnXXF_MTx7vKUL3OGJ1QtOgxqIvxLWJbMAY4FBCQNr1rsLhbTlEgp2gA/s1600/Tobin+James+tasting+bar..gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqNghblDQSso9_qIc5MJ5NgSZokPO2ZRrELlVRGO3gyJPgk5PzlhRkk_MNMrIi0NIyM3Qb_YPx_7lLEF6sW8TNnXXF_MTx7vKUL3OGJ1QtOgxqIvxLWJbMAY4FBCQNr1rsLhbTlEgp2gA/s400/Tobin+James+tasting+bar..gif" width="290" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">1860s Brunswick mahogany bar, Blue Eye, MO</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRtJ755V4UMUhSOJT0s-WDffX5-s14b8gxPUK16aJqWN3kI_BbqoWMjKw5T3IpPsg_-aKYclqQiaaRWLMMLv4ICRJsZjoFxK6NeKpt7euLvNu2TmUF7O8oQsyp-qIL6f4suEx-lyT7b1Y/s1600/Tobin+James+Winery.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRtJ755V4UMUhSOJT0s-WDffX5-s14b8gxPUK16aJqWN3kI_BbqoWMjKw5T3IpPsg_-aKYclqQiaaRWLMMLv4ICRJsZjoFxK6NeKpt7euLvNu2TmUF7O8oQsyp-qIL6f4suEx-lyT7b1Y/s320/Tobin+James+Winery.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tobin James Wine Tasting Room</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
For our wines at this dinner party, I chose the James Gang Club Wines, from Tobin James Winery, Hwy 46, Paso Robles, CA. The co-owner of this Winery is Lance Silver, a third cousin of my husband, on his mother's side. Some years ago, we made a surprise visit to Tobin James fun tasting room, found his wife behind the tasting bar, and spread out a huge genealogical tree that showed how we were distantly connected. Amos' father used to say we were not a shirt-tail relative, but indeed we were like the threads of the shirt tail. Lance was called out from the winery and seemed mildly impressed with the family tree, but his eyes lit up when we began to comment about his Silver Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon. After another comment about his Zinfandel, he gave us a fresh tasting glass and invited us out to the "cave" where he dipped some soon to be bottled reserve Cabernet from the oak barrels in which they were aging. We were able to do a vertical tasting of several years worth of some of his best wines. We were a member of his Club, called the James Gang, for a while and these wines are at peak at this time. A few of us sampled a 2010 Radiance, a Reserve Chardonnay by Tobin James. My dinner guests enjoyed the 2010 Silver Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon just as much as we had in the past. I let my sons choose what to open next. These wines included a combination of 60% cab and 40% syrah, a very unusual combination of a bordeaux grape and a Rhone grape. (They grow a lot of Rhone varietals in the Paso area.) We also drank a very unusual wine: The 2010 Tobin James Reserve Lagrein. Here is a quote from the winemaker's website:<br />
<br />
"<b>Lagrein</b> is an ancient grape variety that finds its home in the sunny vineyards of <a href="http://www.wine-searcher.com/regions-trentino-alto+adige" title="Trentino-Alto Adige Wine Region">Trentino-Alto Adige</a>
in northeastern Italy. Its wines are strong and full bodied with plum
and wild cherry flavors, and the variety is particularly well known for
the deep, dense color it imparts on wines. Lagrein has a
characteristically north-Italian fresh, <a href="http://www.wine-searcher.com/technical-wine-terms-a-b.lml#acidity" target="_self" title="'Acidity' definition">acidic</a> structure and a slightly astringent finish, making it best paired with food.<br />
The grape is most probably native to the region, and is thought to
take its name from the town of Val Lagarina in Trentino. It has
certainly been grown in this area for hundreds of years, and is first
mentioned in texts that date back as far as the 16th Century. Other
theories give Lagrein a Greek origin, suggesting that it is closely
related to wines that were once made around the city of Lagaria in <a href="http://www.wine-searcher.com/regions-greece" target="_self" title="Greek Wine">Greece</a>. DNA testing has suggested <a href="http://www.wine-searcher.com/grape-484-teroldego" title="Teroldego Wine Grape Variety">Teroldego</a> as a possible parent, supporting the theory that the variety is native to Italy's Alpine northwest." A description on line reports that this ancient and little known grape is being grown in the New World, especially in Argentina and in California.<br />
<br />
It is quite interesting that Lance Silver and Tobin James have tried very unusual wine varietals in the past. I wrote at this site in the past about a Tobin James varietal wine, called Refosco. See the following link: http://renraeretire.blogspot.com/2012/05/exciting-wine-new-to-me-but-not-to.html<br />
As an interesting aside, the Lagrein grape comes from a similar area as the Refosco grape. Trentino, an area in northern Italy, is named in both of their origins.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyiNmL8zOA6-CWA1wJ-K9RlQ9aBi9qZ1tTvKYDB58BIkBbd2pN1xR0_JkTmC4dO-6X3-d6lTPRCGeRt45QO8EdWDl1eRqMzy7_t96NijspSj-ZzETHXuUfmBWueCzUQrbJIRw0TTK3D4c/s1600/Tobin+James+wines.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyiNmL8zOA6-CWA1wJ-K9RlQ9aBi9qZ1tTvKYDB58BIkBbd2pN1xR0_JkTmC4dO-6X3-d6lTPRCGeRt45QO8EdWDl1eRqMzy7_t96NijspSj-ZzETHXuUfmBWueCzUQrbJIRw0TTK3D4c/s400/Tobin+James+wines.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A grouping of Tobin James wines with the famous logo.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Getting back to our dinner party: Tobin James makes a late harvest Zinfandel, I believe, every year. It is called "Liquid Love." I have purchased a lot of bottles of this wine over the last few years and there were still a couple bottles left from our "James Gang" club orders. This was the perfect sweeter dessert wine to serve with Larry's Market Chocolate Decadence Cake. At that Tobin James tasting bar, a few pieces of semi sweet chocolate are placed on a napkin when Liquid Love is poured. I believe it is unusual to make a 'late harvest' zinfandel, though since so much zinfandel is grown in the Central Coast of California, there are a number of late harvest zinfandels bottled. I just have learned that the typical "Liquid Love" vintage can be 35 brix at harvest; this is a lot of sugar. Yet the wine is not overly sweet and is often classified as a semi-dry wine. That is because it is made in a style that ferments most of that sugar to alcohol, reaching often over 17% alcohol, making it very Port-like. Our guests certainly enjoyed the Liquid Love.<br />
<br />
Here are a couple photos of our Saturday night celebrations:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9RFRrlV6H1u_R6wFuMT3eyie6xqWOqnsB33uUGpSACBYoo_3nFB68alNjNdJSvglP1TPTwCOWjrsmeKWIFeNauAANp8s0InoPqMwSyjjA3AhST87cClIzMOh7gHpiPrTpdLm-VV_7X9E/s1600/Amos+birthday1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9RFRrlV6H1u_R6wFuMT3eyie6xqWOqnsB33uUGpSACBYoo_3nFB68alNjNdJSvglP1TPTwCOWjrsmeKWIFeNauAANp8s0InoPqMwSyjjA3AhST87cClIzMOh7gHpiPrTpdLm-VV_7X9E/s400/Amos+birthday1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHbQemIGd5CIU86hmUARc__H-EGVHDHkmjjjNpPlLP8OizSoXzQQcgJ6c2dVTJPheuYxbmz1r45Mv3WfD6lG1V7aPmAnUREVkBN-PeKp2zC-PQN0FfDG6mVWLfaL2rAiifF5veea3c7t8/s1600/Amos2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHbQemIGd5CIU86hmUARc__H-EGVHDHkmjjjNpPlLP8OizSoXzQQcgJ6c2dVTJPheuYxbmz1r45Mv3WfD6lG1V7aPmAnUREVkBN-PeKp2zC-PQN0FfDG6mVWLfaL2rAiifF5veea3c7t8/s400/Amos2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
Our sons gave my husband a very nice birthday present: a gift certificate to Sanford's, our favorite restaurant in Milwaukee. I guess after 49 years of marriage, I deserve to get to go along for a wonderful dinner, on my husband's actual birthday evening. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdSHPpb5Oo1ubePIOxN4CgUxa7v11eL7NJ2XmN0yUSCL_6Pt8MUAoAAAHDm-bg4Sm3pWzzeJ0g2Vk3CMbGL3_gK3ENaFMtCVFfqkP9Z6WWAXEoerSTTWO90TqJjkrlntaHVvzIdL_OaGI/s1600/Sanfords.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdSHPpb5Oo1ubePIOxN4CgUxa7v11eL7NJ2XmN0yUSCL_6Pt8MUAoAAAHDm-bg4Sm3pWzzeJ0g2Vk3CMbGL3_gK3ENaFMtCVFfqkP9Z6WWAXEoerSTTWO90TqJjkrlntaHVvzIdL_OaGI/s400/Sanfords.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The intimate Sanford Restaurant, Milwaukee, East Side</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmOmpDiO4QaXMfcDnOPTMEhiTQ-Jb47pIxElAROVQ5N1yJxC4ozIpGBMQqFmtnlKHLpEMJ36KuqUYD6XdhpjLxA5Xe-S8qsbRRW4pNOgt8qba4XbCe0XIwfgAI9MCxMqmy0L5CyunnIpE/s1600/sanfords6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmOmpDiO4QaXMfcDnOPTMEhiTQ-Jb47pIxElAROVQ5N1yJxC4ozIpGBMQqFmtnlKHLpEMJ36KuqUYD6XdhpjLxA5Xe-S8qsbRRW4pNOgt8qba4XbCe0XIwfgAI9MCxMqmy0L5CyunnIpE/s400/sanfords6.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Intimate Interior of Sanford Restaurant.</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOhPFcwkPHYA8-hWSt2GI3Q25Mmne276d-1dC2Hkdjql-1CeANMDgjqzoN4GUFQCgF0faCTuchuigY9e15WNIFms9GKP8nC-TcZmYdN2n6LZ4F_vBMJ5RlMlZ9INy9ryw8YyFi_jh0OS4/s1600/Sanfords2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOhPFcwkPHYA8-hWSt2GI3Q25Mmne276d-1dC2Hkdjql-1CeANMDgjqzoN4GUFQCgF0faCTuchuigY9e15WNIFms9GKP8nC-TcZmYdN2n6LZ4F_vBMJ5RlMlZ9INy9ryw8YyFi_jh0OS4/s400/Sanfords2.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hard salty and spicy breadsticks welcome on every table.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Sanford's has not changed at all since we were last there a couple of years ago. We both chose the Chef's Surprise menu with wine pairings. This special menu is supposed to be 7 courses, but they serve everyone a small bite of a liver pate mousse first and then we also got a special dessert plate<br />
with Happy 80th Birthday written in frosting with some whipped cream and a candle at the end. So we really had 9 courses -- that is 9 different plates of food. The first of the seven courses was a goat<br />
sausage with goat cheese yogurt drizzled with apricot honey and sprinkled with toasted walnut pieces, served with a Spanish sparkling rose wine. Cindy, I bet you could smell that goat even from<br />
Indianapolis. The second course was a sea scallop with some veggies and a mole sauce served with a German Riesling; which was my favorite course. Then there was swordfish with sauteed baby fiddle head ferns; served with a Vouvray chenin blanc wine from the Loire Valley which was my favorite wine; then a grilled piece of quail with heritage potato pieces with salmon roe and an Argentinian malbec wine. Last savory course was grilled tenderloin with mashed potatoes and finely slivered<br />
carrots and other root veggies served with a very nice Sonoma Zinfandel. Then there was a palette cleanser -- a sweet coconut soup with a dollop of lime sorbet floating in it. The dessert was an<br />
espresso chocolate cake with coconut sorbet, chocolate sauce and roasted peanuts., served with a sweet bordeaux white wine. Then came Amos' Happy Birthday plate. Then coffee. It was a very fun evening. The surprises on the palette were fabulous. And many people around us were also trying the Surprise Menu so one could share the tastes. I thank our sons so much for this wonderful evening. We enjoyed it very very much. <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7oIVDrP0GOdoOYweuBa8t1Wqu3z1rsr_QPs-1h5jB9HYpa7c7mYhnWkvMjlCHVbSa2pbWLUVkG8COaLDh60B3kFrvKev4ic-l-MFOO2MVzFDvcWAkiuc1AYUKxfDvLMMqf3UWpEWt9fs/s1600/Sanfords4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7oIVDrP0GOdoOYweuBa8t1Wqu3z1rsr_QPs-1h5jB9HYpa7c7mYhnWkvMjlCHVbSa2pbWLUVkG8COaLDh60B3kFrvKev4ic-l-MFOO2MVzFDvcWAkiuc1AYUKxfDvLMMqf3UWpEWt9fs/s400/Sanfords4.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Goat sausage with goat milk yogurt, apricot honey and roasted walnuts. Yummy!</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_lFvPY0j4KCQ8rh3qImDHO55jUpnE8ABmoFY7e-2q6fYDniyG6DW2kShlHLbPwvimg_14Shm9v78y-3iFZ9Lz_VU2yUse33dlSSs3JbKEhbedfr6lzK6M3LtPm3vg5Esw7Z-tt1ziWD8/s1600/Sanfords1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_lFvPY0j4KCQ8rh3qImDHO55jUpnE8ABmoFY7e-2q6fYDniyG6DW2kShlHLbPwvimg_14Shm9v78y-3iFZ9Lz_VU2yUse33dlSSs3JbKEhbedfr6lzK6M3LtPm3vg5Esw7Z-tt1ziWD8/s400/Sanfords1.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Swordfish with ferns and apricots.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKrq8_IRDR1CTy3LLPof4XZ_KK932aKjGiTfCNqpg-dxwxM6XWRG-KBbtVSbNCfECBvFXQZh32x3-gFOKg6OFCekdT0T4mpe1htHOp6F6i_dK4_l-KqlKkp5ebV2YlyCOR7tWVB5O7_ZM/s400/Sanfords3.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="300" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Quail with salmon roe and veggies.</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
So now my husband is 80 years old and we are completely satiated. Wonderful!</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer"><script type="text/javascript">
var _gaq = _gaq || [];
_gaq.push(['_setAccount', 'UA-17518819-1']);
_gaq.push(['_trackPageview']);
(function() {
var ga = document.createElement('script'); ga.type = 'text/javascript'; ga.async = true;
ga.src = ('https:' == document.location.protocol ? 'https://ssl' : 'http://www') + '.google-analytics.com/ga.js';
var s = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(ga, s);
})();
</script></div>RenRaehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17961222558357224052noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4207881053346095956.post-5317549922386446552015-11-22T13:34:00.001-06:002015-11-22T13:34:49.926-06:0098 Years Old and Still Going<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
My mother turned 98 years old in October. She still lives by herself. She is almost blind with wet macular degeneration and is what I would call "stone deaf." But her mind is fine and she still fixes food for herself, and keeps her small house. We three daughters take turns attending to some of her needs, such as making sure there are groceries in the house, and sometimes bringing prepared food for her, taking her to various doctor's appointments, and to social and family events. My two sisters keep track of her finances and keep files for taxes, for greeting cards she wants to send to various people, and of appointments she must keep. She is a member of a church in her small town and the members there make sure she gets to church events and even to a few other social events in the community.<br />
<br />
Neighbors watch out for her. One morning she awoke to the sound of a man's voice calling her name as he came down her hall to her bedroom. She had fallen back asleep in the early morning after a somewhat sleepless night and it was 10:30 in the morning. She had not opened the shade on her bathroom window. A neighbor gentleman can see that window from his living room window and noted this. He considered what to do for a while and then decided he would check on her. He became more worried as he came down the incline from his home and said he was running by the time he got to her door. He had a key and came right into the house. But she was alright, a little confused and scared by the sound of his voice in her home. We three daughters were thankful that she has neighbors like this. Another lady who lives across the street watches to make sure she opens the living room drapes each morning. <br />
<br />
My husband believes we are abusing this old lady by not putting her in a nursing home. His mother lived and died in Israel and a relative there did find such a place for her so that is what my husband knows. He was living in the US and didn't have to deal with this decision himself. He actually got into trouble with my sister and her husband by being too vocal about that issue. But we three girls are all in agreement. Mom wants to stay in her home; doesn't want a nursing home unless she gets to a point where she must. Now, she is at some risk, we know. She took a fall a few weeks back and an abrasion on the front of her leg is still healing. We know there is a risk of her falling and breaking a hip or even worse. We have done what we can to prevent that. Recently the Comfort Care Keeper supervisor came for a visit and rolled up some throw rugs that were laying on the floor and took them out of the house. We have purchased a medical alert system and she wears an emergency button around her neck at all times. There is a lockbox outside the home so that in the event of a medical or other emergency, first responders can get into the locked home. We have employed a worker from an organization called Comfort Keepers to come and do some light housekeeping and to serve as a companion every couple weeks. When my mother's back was really bad, we had her coming twice a week, but as the back improved Mom lengthened out the time between these visits. She says she feels she has to come up with something for Joan to do, like she has to entertain Joan and that has become a burden for her. Lately we have encouraged her to have Joan to come more often, because we want her to do some light cooking for mom.<br />
<br />
The beauty of all this is that Mom still has her mind. She wants to know what is gong on. Even though she can't hear well, she always asks what was said. She is having a little word finding difficulties but otherwise her memory is almost perfect. I keep telling her that she will make it to 100. She doesn't believe it, but I <br />
<br />
Mom has always been a packrat. Now that tendency is somewhat worse because she can't see well enough to know what can be thrown away. Also she has some treasures among all that stuff. We will have to sort through it some day. Someone recently said that there is another euphemistic name for a packrat. I have that gene also so I was happy to learn that I could call my mother and myself, an archivist. </div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer"><script type="text/javascript">
var _gaq = _gaq || [];
_gaq.push(['_setAccount', 'UA-17518819-1']);
_gaq.push(['_trackPageview']);
(function() {
var ga = document.createElement('script'); ga.type = 'text/javascript'; ga.async = true;
ga.src = ('https:' == document.location.protocol ? 'https://ssl' : 'http://www') + '.google-analytics.com/ga.js';
var s = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(ga, s);
})();
</script></div>RenRaehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17961222558357224052noreply@blogger.com0