Our World - Visit by a world traveler

When our friend Claudia visited earlier this month, a world traveler also came along. It was Gumby's first visit to Gettysburg. First stop a photo op with Mr. Lincoln.

Being from New York, he stopped at all the New York monuments and looked over the weapons of the 1860's.

And he was amazed at fences of the mid 19-th century. Come back soon Gumby!

Sky Watch - Morning sky

Tuesday morning from our backyard clear sky and a little ground fog.

 

Header Challenge - The Great Frederick Fair

 

Last week was the 151-st edition of The Great Frederick Fair. The Fair showcased the agriculture industry in Frederick County, as well as arts and crafts. Food, rides, games and entertainment were also a big part of the 9 day event.
 

We went on one of the days us old folk got in free. First we grabbed some food and a drink from the root beer truck.
 

 

A stroll through some of the exhibits found the winning pumpkins and some of the kids craft work with farm produce.
 

 

We skipped the concerts this year and just watched some of the kids having fun.

At the birthing center, Zeus was born about 4 hours earlier and another cow was in labor. One of the owners was explaining the process and answering questions. A Holstein calf weighs between 80 and 100 pounds at birth, learns to stand and start nursing within 30 minutes after birth. She asked the crowd to suggest names and then held a voice vote. The crowd was divided on "Sonny" and "James" so this one became Sonny James. The piglets in my header were about 12 hours old when I took the picture.

 

New models of farm machinery are on display and they are ready to take your order for a new tractor, combine, or other equipment.

For more photos from the fair, see my Our World post.

Our World - Afternoon at the Fair

We try to get to The Great Frederick Fair each year since retirement. The fair has an abundance of displays of farm goods, food, crafts, sewing and photography. We started with lunch - Hemp's Meats serves up great barbeque beef. Then checked out some of the indoor exhibits wandered through the midway area and large animal barns.  

 Rides and games for young and old

Lots of farm animals: sheep,

horses (this colt needs a name),

geese;

 

big farm equipment;

 

 and other items for sale.

For more of the fair come by Wednesday for the Header Challenge.

Sky Watch - Wednesday's skies

 Sky above the fair

 

 

Late afternoon - east

Late afternoon - west

After sunset



Header Challenge - Welcome Home

In early December 2004, we welcomed home my daughter from her tour of duty in Iraq. She wanted a chocolate fix (it melts in the heat over there before you can get it out of the box), so Hersey, Pennsylvania was her chosen spot for a family get together. (It was also convenient for family from Pennsylvania, Maryland, West Virginia and New Jersey.) She had been assigned to the 31-st Combat Support Hospital in Bagdad, Iraq and was Chief, vascular and general surgery. She retired from the US Army after 24 years of service. This home coming was special!

 

Ginny (left) in OR

With Marianne and me (below)

 

My World - Redecorated

As we reach the final days of summer, Marianne redecorates for fall. Cool weather has arrived, but we probably will have some more hot days ahead.

Sky Watch - Morning clouds and contrails

Header Challenge - Romance . . .

. . . came into my life again when this lady invited me to celebrate the Fourth of July with her and her son a bunch of years ago. A cook out with her son and his friend, a few fireworks the boys had gone south to buy, (along with a noise maker then wired to go off when I started my car). That was the start of a romance that lasts as we now grow old together. Thanks, my Love, for all those years together and many more to come! 

 

Disney World

 with her camera

 

Gazing across our yard

With our youngest Grandson

Our World - Friends

 

Claudia and Marianne have been friends for a long time, but visits have been sparse with us in Maryland and Claudia in New York. They spent the week catching up on the past few years. Another friend from Harpers Ferry joined us for dinner one night.

We visited Gettysburg National Cemetery and the park, site of the turning point in the US civil war. Lincoln's Gettysburg address is on the right plaque. The invitation to Lincoln to attend and speak is on the left.

 

Saturday was "Dog Days of Summer" in Frederick and we took a stroll along Carroll Creek, enjoying the warm end of summer, the water lilies,

 

 the dogs large and small,

 

the kids doing flips,

 

and this little one feeding the ducks.