Happy Veteran's Day

Being a veteran and before I retired, I used to annually take this day off to reflect upon the great and ultimate sacrifices we all made for this country. I'm not much of a person who marches in parades to receive accolades, or standing out among people with my Army cap on my head with medals pinned to my shirt or other ways to draw attention or even to point out I was a veteran at all from a past war long ago. I like to take the day to just reflect upon who I am, where I've been, where I'm to go but, mostly just to be thankful I lived through some very horrible times where some did not. I like to think about them and where they would be today, with families that were never meant to be and children who never had the chance to be born. I remember them and I will never forget them or their ultimate sacrifice for this country.

In my reflections I try and come to place where these soldiers, seamen, and marines lost in battle are alive, laughing and happy again. Each year becomes harder but, one thing I have learned from being one of the many who made it back alive is that these precious souls should never, ever be forgotten regardless what a person's opinion is about war and peace. They gave the ultimate sacrifice for this nation, something we should always hold dear to our hearts.

Happy Veteran's Day

Butch

The Cliffs of Moher Bike Path

The breathtaking photographs were taken by Victor Lucas of the bike path that follows around the Cliffs of Moher, located in the Burren region of the Republic of Ireland.

This picture shows dare-devil bicyclists travelling the narrow paths that have a drop of approximately, 600 feet ( 200 meters ) to the sea's surface.

When we arrived in Limerick, Ireland on a misty morning back in 2000. The Cliffs of Moher was the first sight we took in after the all night flight out of JFK airport. It was a sight to behold for these tired eyes that chose to go sight-seeing rather than checking into an hotel to sleep the first day and one that could give one "weak-knees" just looking over the cliff down to the water.

Recently, I read from one of my Irish news sites that there was a section of this path that broke off and fell into the sea. With my problem with acrophobia, I can not imagine trying to walk these paths, let alone riding a bicycle on them.

What a beautiful vista to behold, starting out our journey to the land of my ancestor's, and viewing all the ancient sites.

Here is a view looking down at the cyclists. It is hard to believe some parts of that trail on the ledge are that narrow. Considering how the wind was blowing when I was there last, I can not imagine how they were able to keep their balance whilst riding them.

I would again, like to thank Victor Lucas for sharing these exciting photos, and I hope you enjoyed the adventure.

All Aboard to BobLo Island

When I was growing up in the 1950s and 60s, we would visit BobLo Island for a day of amusement food and a typical day at an amusement park. The only difference, was that we would meet at the Detroit River docks to board the BobLo Island Ferry which took us to an island owned by Canada that had the whole island full of amusement rides, fun house, and all sorts of foods.

This was "Captain BobLo," for as many years as I can remember, welcoming all of us kids on board. Of course there was music, dancing, and plenty of food on board the two ferries that transported us to and from the island. Those boat rides were my fondest memories of this special day going to BobLo Island.

Here is the starboard view of one of the ferries. As you can see, it had four or five decks with different interests on each level and one was free to move about on the boat. (technically, it is a ship since it is well over sixty-five feet long. The captain would blow the very loud steam whistle and this very low, throaty sound would instantly appear telling us we were about to be under weigh on our journey to BobLo Island.


This is the view of the bow of one of the two boats that serviced BobLo Island with what looks like a view of the Ren Sen or now known as General Motors Center.

Here is the port-bow view of the boat. Unfortunately, good things and good times come to an end and the island closed it's park in the 1990s, if I have it correctly. The Island went back to its original name and has been turned into some very nice condominium development. The two boats stayed moored at the docks for many years, were moved to another site and finally sold to a private company that has plans to make them floating restaurants.

"All aboard!!" "Welcome to BobLo Island!" I will always remember that call from my past youth.

We Are Killing Our Country by Destroying the Environment

I would like to talk about the present strip-mining that is happening in West Virginia and other states cursed with having coal deposits underneath them. One of the major problems with the mining of coal is that it causes severe environmental damage unless it is severely regulated to reduce the damage.

When I was a lad in the 1950s, my family would make an annual drive from Michigan to visit our relatives in West Virginia for a summer holiday. One could always tell when we were getting close to our first stop in Morgantown, W.Va. because one could smell the sulphur, a byproduct of mining, in the air. One could see that the streams were not crystal clear but, the color of gold, and it was obvious, nothing could possibly live in those streams. This was the reality of mining until environmental protections were put in place. Slowly, the streams came back to being clear again and the air didn't have the sulphuric smell.

Enter a new and cost effective way of mining coal: Now the Appalachian Mountain range is being literally, flattened by strip mining. The tops of the mountains are blown apart by using dynamite and the coal is removed in this way. What is left over falls down into any streams polluting them again with the byproducts of mining. Iron Oxide deposits are left in place of rich earth. People who have drunk water from their wells all their lives noticed that they had become polluted of course, with the denial from the mining company telling them they couldn't prove the water had been poisoned.

In addition, the eight years of the Bush tenure, allowed the rules and regulations of the environmental act be stripped and weakened to the point it was ineffective allowing mining companies, and oil companies to go back to their unregulated days of carrying on business-as-usual. Hence, we are back with polluted streams, not unlike those of the 1950s and we are losing the topography of our oldest mountain chain, the Appalachians.

Obviously, the regulations need to be put back into place and they need to be stronger this time around. Will it happen in the present dysfunctional climate chamber known as the Senate? I doubt it. Even though the democrats are in the majority, they refuse to fight allowing the other side to continue the status-quo on many issues. The House has been busy doing their jobs but all the bills that make it to the Senate side of Congress, languish in the Senate going no where. I wonder if it is time to retire the Senate or would this ridiculous "super-majority" ruling where it has to be at least 60 votes to pass, be retired? In my opinion, if you have 50 or 51 votes, you have a majority, ergo, the law passes. We seem to make it harder to pass any legislation if it always has to be a "super-majority" to pass it, especially, when the other side of the isle is hell bent on objecting to each and every bill brought up for a vote by democrats.

I haven't been very impressed with the "hope and change" we were all assured whilst they all were campaigning, especially, President Obama. I think we got the old "bait 'n switch" once he was elected. I don't expect much to be accomplished in making mining regulations strong. The mining lobby is much too strong and our representatives, senators and president are much too weak to make any significant difference. ( Third party, anyone? ) ;-)

Happy Independence Day

Happy Independence Day !

Late to the June Party

The two Hawthorn Trees have bloomed and gone and I have yet, to post them on the blog. Many apologies, it's been very busy and I had to decide what was to be attended first. Obviously, the blog fell behind.

All the pictures are essentially from the month of May save a few that bloom in June. I hope you enjoy them half as much as we have.

After the Daffodils came the tulips and now it is the Columbine flowers taking center stage.


The Hawthorne Trees were spectacular this year. As soon as the flowers start to fade, it drops about three-fourths of its leaves. It left a bit of a mess on top of the solarium and sides. Everything has been early this year.

A walk down the hill and one can see a better view of the two trees.

Our only Rhodie in the back yard went into bloom as well. This picture is deceptive as to the size of the bush. I would guess it is about ten to twelve feet high, perhaps, even taller and a generous thirty feet or more long. ( wide, depending upon your angle. )

Here, I'm trying for an "artsy-fartsy" view of the patio adjoining the solarium and upper yard.

In the distance is our decorative Plum Tree and to the foreground, our Rhodie's in the front yard. The Bumble bees love these blooms and I startled an Humming bird the other day as I was walking up the walk.

Here's a closer view of the flowers.

Steam wafting off the roof when the sun comes out in the morning or after a rain fall.

Here are some Iris' and Wisteria on our property line. Our neighbor planted these a few years back.

The tall, damaged and very old bushes are gone. They became an eye-sore and were affecting the miniature crab-apple trees, not to mention the Lilac Bush on that side of the driveway. What a difference it makes when one is backing out of the drive-way hoping there are no cars coming from that direction. Now, there are no worries and the view is much better.

This year the city had to tear up our street and lay new pipe for the new water main being worked upon in our neighborhood. We and our neighbor sawed each of those trees down and cut them again into smaller and easier to handle, pieces. During this time one of the medium-heavy equipment operators mentioned he could pull those tree trunks out of the ground in seconds for us if we liked. ( we liked. ) So, within a matter of ten to fifteen minutes, he had the trunks pulled from the ground and they hauled them away. We were grateful for them helping with an huge project. They didn't have to.

A late bloomer to the back yard. This picture is recent.

A final picture of it blooming.

Thanks for stopping by, as I will try and blog more. I don't know where a month went by without any updates. I hope we're all enjoying the different weather patterns Mother Nature has sent our way. Keep some kind thoughts in your heart for those who make their living in the Gulf as they watch their livelihood disappear. It is doubtful if this dead zone will change for the next two generations. It is unfortunate when greed and deregulation work hand in hand, nothing of any worth ever comes out of it for the common man.

Have a wonderful June and I hope to see you soon. - Butch

April showers bring May flowers.

This Ivy stayed out all year and has never looked healthier. I usually would bring it in and keep it in the solarium for the winter months but, it was on the deck, under the eves and well protected from frost. It seems to like this corner as well.

" April showers brings May's flowers, " or so it is said. Our yard has started to become more colorful with the addition of the flowers.

This flower box has been very busy these past weeks and there is more to come.

The Wedding Tree ( Weeping Cherry Tree ) has already bloomed and once that happens, the leaves come next. Under neath the blue bells are making their appearance.

They're really beautiful this year.