ABKHAZI GARDEN IN VICTORIA, B.C., CANADA

Heidy-Ho, Blogging Buddies!

Alright.  I mentioned this garden in my last post.  I encourage you to read the story behind its beginning in with the history of the builders in the 1920s, their separate hardships during WWII, and finally their reacquaintance and marriage in 1946.  Check it out here.

This excursion was, by far, one of the most beautiful and calming I have taken over the years.  I am just going to post the pictures I took (there are a LOT!) with an occasional commentary.  I hope you can enjoy them even though they can't do true justice to the walk we took through them.

Without further ado...

The house on the hill below is where we were served Royal Tea.  It was incredibly lovely and we watched the sun set as we enjoyed the story of the Garden.

The little building below was a gardening shed built into the landscape.  It was a pleasant surprise when one came upon it.

I hope you enjoyed the Garden tour.  I know it isn't like being there... but I hope you at least get a feel for the peace and loveliness there.

AGAIN... FAR TOO LONG...

Heidy-Ho, Blogging Buddies.

Yes... I know.  I have been extremely slow in posting.  There have just been a lot of things taking more time than I anticipated... so... I apologize to you again and thank you for staying with me!

So... let's talk about what one should do when it is summertime in Texas.  There are a lot of options.  But the best idea is to try to escape the heat!  I actually managed to do that this year.  A few pics to give you an idea of how:

Head north...

Have plenty of fluids available... (thank you, spousal-unit!)

Continue north... (wave goodbye)...

Awaken... in Alaska...

Cruise where the glaciers are...

Enjoy some time in a warmer area...

Okay.  So now you know.  I "escaped" for my "major" birth anniversary and simply let time pass by.  Sometimes, one just has to do so.  This past summer was mine.  My best friend and I enjoyed a trip I had taken twice with my Aunt... and we toasted "Aunt Bubba" on multiple occasions as I remembered the good times with her.  It was really nice.

I have some truly fabulous photos from one of the shore excursions I had not taken before.  It was a Royal Tea at Abkhazi Garden in Victoria, BC.  So amazingly beautiful... and you know how much I love gardens!  That will be the next post.

So... thank you for allowing me to venture off without a goodbye!  After the last several years, it was terrific to be able to not worry about what might be happening at home.  It was a peaceful and lovely trip.

Until next post...

REMEMBERING SGT MAJ LARRY STRICKLAND... 9/11/2018

Greetings to my Blogging Pals.

Those who have been with me a while know about my participation in Project 2996. I began my participation in 2009 and plan to continue this as long as I am able to do so. I ask each of you to take a moment to remember what happened on 9/11/2001. Even if you read my tributes previously, please read them again. It's important that we see this as an individual, personal event... not just something that happened in New York, D.C., and Pennsylvania over a decade ago. It affects us all and will continue to do so. I do not see the 12th Anniversary as any different from the 2nd, the 19th, or the 100th. The pain for the families is the same. But this is a tribute to their loved one!! Please read about this wonderful gentleman.

*** This was posted in 2009 as my tribute to Sgt. Maj. Larry Strickland. I repeat it here as I will continue doing so on each anniversary of 9/11 as long as I am able. There are a couple of notes and updates from 2010 in italic.

Please meet Sgt. Maj. Larry Strickland. He was 52 years old, born in Washington State, and had a Bachelor of Science degree. He had served our country in a lot of places including Germany, Washington State, Washington DC, Texas, and Virginia. He had many awards and decorations. Most devastating for me to learn was his plan to retire upon completion of 30 years of service... at the end of September 2001. After all of his service, he was close to spending more time on his hobbies (fishing, hiking, gourmet cooking, and needlepoint) and especially looking forward to spending more time with his family. SGM Strickland left behind a wife, Debra, who was the Garrison Command Sergeant Major of Fort Belvoir, VA. at the time, three adult children, and one grandson who will never know his grandfather as he was only a year old when SGM Strickland was taken. His parents also were left to deal with the untimely loss of their child.

NOTE: I posted a note to the family at Legacy.com and received two emails.

One was from SGM Strickland's son-in-law and read, in part:

"I came across your blog today while searching for SM Larry Strickland. I am lucky enough to be married to his daughter Julia and I just wanted to take a moment to thank you for caring enough to research this remarkable man. Everything you read about him and his character is true. He left behind an amazingly strong wife, a beautiful daughter, his two sons, and his grandson. His grandson was 4, not 1 as many newspaper articles claim, so he does remember his grandfather, and fondly."(I was SO happy to read that his grandson did remember his grandfather and wanted to share that with you all! MNC)

The other email was from SGM Strickland's daughter and read, in part:

"Mary, thank you very much for your kind words. I am Larry's daughter, and it is wonderful to know that though it's been 8 years, remembering him and this tragic event is still as important now as it was the day it happened. He was truly a wonderful man, and the best father anyone could ask for."

SGM Strickland headed out to work that day at the Pentagon as there were some meetings he deemed important enough to attend even though he could have skipped them. He had annual leave built up that needed to be used or lost. He chose to go to work. If you knew nothing more about him than that, you would know the character of the man. It was that character that had him in his office on the second floor when the wing he was in was struck by American Airlines Flight 77.

But this is a tribute to SGM Strickland's life. And I've got to tell you the things said about him and written about him are absolutely glowing!! What a wonderful thing... to have those left behind remember you so well and so lovingly. It's not just family. These were friends, co-workers, people who knew him on a "business" level where, many times, the feelings are not so great. I would suggest you take a few moments today to review three different web sites where there are tributes (and from where I gathered much of the information I am sharing with you). It really won't take that long and, thankfully, most of us did not actually know anyone who was lost that day. Perhaps it would be good to learn about at least one of them. I know it gave me a very new perspective.

Pentagon Memorial Fund - Names of the souls lost at the Pentagon are alphabetical by last name. Scroll down and click on SGM Strickland's name to read about his service career.

Columns - The University of Washington Alumni Magazine- Read a really great article here about SGM Strickland's personal life. Sounds like someone we would all like to have known.

The Washington Post - This project is a database of all of the souls lost that day and has a very nice tribute to SGM Strickland.

Legacy.com - This is where folks can leave notes for the family. Many folks were positively impacted by SGM Strickland. Some commented here about their appreciation of the man. I invite you to take just a moment to leave a note here to let the family know the loss of their loved one is something we all remember.

9-11 Heroes - This is another site where a note can be left. Again... take a moment to leave a note on at least one of the sites. You have no idea how much this can mean to family members.

Thank you, SGM Strickland, for your service, for your honor, and for your character. I'm glad I got to know you.

We should never forget.

REMEMBERING MAJOR RONALD D. MILAM... 9/11/2018

Greetings to my Blogging Pals.

Those who have been with me a while know about my participation in Project 2996. I began my participation in 2009 and plan to continue this as long as I am able to do so. I ask each of you to take a moment to remember what happened on 9/11/2001. Even if you read my tributes previously, please read them again. It's important that we see this as an individual, personal event... not just something that happened in New York, D.C., and Pennsylvania over a decade ago. It affects us all and will continue to do so. I do not see the 12th Anniversary as any different from the 2nd, the 19th, or the 100th. The pain for the families is the same. But this is a tribute to their loved one!! Please read about this wonderful gentleman.

Major Ronald Dutrell Milam was born in Muskogee, Oklahoma, and had a Bachelors degree from Eastern New Mexico University earned in 1991. He served his country in Germany, Korea, and Saudi Arabia. He had recently received his assignment as Military Assistant for the Secretary of the Army. He had also recently married Jacqueline on January 15, 2000. Things were definitely going well for Major Milam and his new family. His future was clearly a bright one and who knows what wonderful things he would have accomplished!

On 9/11/2001, Major Milam, who had just turned 33 the month before, was at work at the Pentagon. His wife, Jacqueline, five months pregnant with their second child and an Air Force officer, was also at her job at the Pentagon. Neither had an office in the area where Flight 77 struck that morning. Jacqueline was not terribly concerned immediately after the attack assuming they would connect in the parking lot. Major Milam had been attending a staff meeting that morning... right where the aircraft crashed into the Pentagon.

But this post is a tribute to a man who lived well, with honor and with dedication to his country. His college basketball coach had no doubt Major Milam was a leader and a role model during his years working with him. When Major Milam told his coach he had chosen the military as his career, the coach, who thought Milam should pursue a career in law, told the young man he supported him 100%. Major Milam clearly touched many lives during his own. What a great legacy to leave!! We should all be proud of this young man.

Take a few moments today to visit the sites below. If you can, leave a note for his family at either Legacy.com or at 9-11 Heroes. All of the sites below are links to get you there quickly.


Arlington Cemetery Site - If you read nothing else, read this tribute. Major Milam's wife recounts the events of that day and what has kept her going.

Pentagon Memorial Site - This site has a full obituary providing information on Major Milam's life.

The Washington Post - This site has a short remembrance from Major Milam's father about the Major's love of golf.

Legacy.Com - Take a moment and leave a note for the family here, if you wish.

9-11 Heroes - Or you can leave a note for the family here, if you wish.

Thank you, Major Milam, for your service, for your honor, and for your character. I'm glad I got to know you.

We should never forget.

RANDOM POST 1

Heidy-Ho, Blogging Buddies!!

Again... long time between posts.  I won't bore you with details but sometimes "stuff" just gets in the way!  I know you all know that... so hope you are forgiving.  :)

This post is named based on my knowledge I will periodically not have a full event to share... thus you will get random thoughts, random pictures, random randomness!!!  There will be more... so each can be numbered and you will know what to expect.

Without further ado (AKA "rambling"), here are some interesting things I have discovered over time here in the Waco area.

While walking, I encounter any number of interesting things.  One thing I found that I really like is a home up on a slight hill in the neighborhood that has a long run of concrete steps to get to the front door.  While usually we find just the steps, someone apparently had a level of creativity that allowed them to embellish the steps.

Now then... not everything is quite so substantial nor does everything catch one's eye immediately... but I was drawn to a bright blue spot on the curb along the street so investigated further.  Very interesting!!

Quite honestly, it took a few seconds to sort through this mentally!!  It was very early morning and quite the surprise.  Yep.  The cicada had just removed its old brown "jacket" and was greeting the morning in its brand new blue one!!  Had never seen that before!  I assume it was "drying out" to be able to fly since it allowed me to get extremely close.

Now then... a cicada's worst enemy is a Mississippi Kite.  They are beautiful birds that are in the Waco area from about late April until they migrate around October.  They hang out in the tops of trees or on power lines.  They take off and swoop through the air, diving and swerving until they grab... yep... a flying cicada right out of the air!!  They catch it with one foot, fly to a nearby point to sit, and eat it right up!  I really enjoy watching them while they are here.  This guy was hanging out in the tree next door.

When I was looking in Waco for a house, my friend met with me a couple of times.  We did go to the Magnolia Silos, primarily just to see what was going on.  Over the course of a year or so, we went a few times.  Each time, new things had been added.  This was one of the earlier trips (when the crowds had not yet gotten ridiculous!).  I was interested in the gardening area and liked some of the ways the beds were set up.

Some really great ideas of how to garden in a smaller or higher space!  That's what we seek as we get older but still want to enjoy our gardening.

So... these are little things that get my attention but not full-blown events to post about.  Hopefully you are willing to see some randomness from me periodically!

Thank you for staying with me!!  I really appreciate it!

Until next post...

THE POND LIFE!!!

Heidy-Ho, Blogging Buddies!!

Well now... I became aware of the 2018 Waco Pond Tour at my local Wild Birds Unlimited (where I buy a TON of bird stuff!).  The tickets were only $5 and benefited the Lake Waco Wetlands which looks like another place I need to visit!  It was a self-guided tour with some ponds open Saturday and Sunday and others only open one of the two days.  Having LOVED my pond in Austin, I thought it would be fun to see what is here in my new Texas home!  I am (currently) pondless here.  (This is where the spousal-unit's eyes roll back into his head as he becomes afraid there is a pond in his future!)

So... I asked a "new" neighbor with whom I have talked frequently if she would like to join me.  She agreed so we got the tickets and set off early on Saturday morning.  I didn't want to impose on her day so had only mapped out six ponds on our side of town to view.  She wasn't familiar with ponds but after the first couple, she was ready to add others to our tour!!  (There were over 20 ponds on the tour.)  Our morning stretched to a 9:00-4:00 day of navigating and enjoying!!

I will say the folks who graciously opened their homes (back yards, really) to strangers were absolutely lovely.  Many had cold water, tea, and/or lemonade available for those touring.  There were sign-in sheets at each location.  The owners were more than ready to talk to you about the pond, the fish (which many had), and the enjoyment of it all.  It was really an interesting day meeting and greeting!

The ponds ranged from small (alongside the back patio with a few plants and no fish) to massive (multi-levels with waterfalls, lots of water lilies, fish in two levels, and rambling throughout the back acreage!).  There were "formal" ponds... and there were completely "natural" ponds.  There was something for everyone.  It was very interesting.

So... without further rambling on my part, I invite you to view the pictures I took at some of our stops.  Unfortunately, you can't hear the waterfalls or see the fish swimming... but I think you can get the idea.

I do hope you saw at least one picture that made you stop and go "That's so cool!"  :)  There was such a variety, it was impossible to pick a favorite!  Each pond had its very own personality... and the most interesting part about that... the pond personality was the owner's personality!!!  Seriously.  They matched.  It didn't become apparent to us immediately but, at about the fourth or fifth stop, we realized what we were encountering!  So funny.

With all that said, I hope you enjoyed the tour.  I would definitely do it again.  It was worth the driving... and even the heat.

Until next post...