USS John Paul Jones (DD-230/DD-932/DDG-32/DDG-53)

2017 Reunion

in

Chesapeake, Virginia

May 4 - May 7

 

Enroute to the Reunion My Bride and I traveled to Kitty Hawk

North Carolina to visit the Wright Brothers Monument

These pictures were taken on May 4th.

 

On May 5th the group traveled to Williamsburg, Virginia to visit this Historic City. 

 

Our Oldest Son is named "Shield" so we had to pose for a picture at this Tavern.



 

On May 6th we visited the Battleship USS Wisconsin (BB-64) which is a Museum in downtown Norfolk.  We conducted our Memorial Service and had the opportunity to tour the ship.

 

After the Tour of the Wisconsin we enjoyed the opportunity to share sea stories in the Hospitality Room.  We concluded the day with the Reunion Banquet at the Marriott Chesapeake.  We heard a very inspiring talk by an Active Duty U.S. Navy Captain who encouraged us all to promote our Navy at every appropriate opportunity and to also encourage our Youth participate in the defense of our United States.

Match Day 2017

Medical School Scholars

enrolled in Medical Schools

throughout the United States

learned where they will

be assigned for their respective

residencies.

Since September of 1999 I have been a part-time employee of the Mercer University School of Medicine here in Macon.  My duties involve being a Standardized Patient so that the Students have an opportunity to work with real people during their training.

 

Today at Noon here on the East Coast each Graduating Medical School Student opened an envelop which contained their next assignment.  Each of the four Medical School Students that I worked with during their Freshman year received the assignment that they had requested.

 

The pictures shown here were from a BBQ Fun Event at the completion of their First Year. 

 

 

American Camellia Society

Massee Lane Gardens

Fort Valley, Georgia

 

 

Several Members of the Pine Ridge Garden Club located in Macon, Georgia visited the Camellia Gardens on 9 February 2017.  

 

 

One of the many pathways which allow the visitor to see all the blooms without compacting the soil between the shrubs.
 

The Japanese Garden

 This bloom was labeled "R. L. Wheeler Var 1953."  I believe that this was developed by R.L. Wheeler of Wheeler's Nursery located on the Gray Highway just North of Macon, Georgia.

These Tea Olive Blooms were photographed in my backyard to include in this Post because the Teal Olive is in abundance at the Massee Lane Gardens.  They certainly add fragrance to the Gardens, especially on a moist warm day.  The Daphne Odera Plants were in bloom during our visit to Massee Lane Gardens, however I did not take a photography of them. Like the Tea Olive they add fragrance to the many Camellia Blooms which are in the Green House as well as the natural areas.

 

I include this picture here so that the readers of this Post will be aware of the History of the American Camellia Society.  It was founded in Macon, Georgia on 29 September 1945.  This marker is located in the Third Street Park in downtown Macon between Cherry and Mulberry Street.  It is just across the street from the Dempsey Motor Hotel.  The Dempsey is now a Senior Living Apartments. 











 

Sixth Old City Flower Festival

21 - 24 January 2017

Hosted By

Mulberry Street United Methodist Church

Macon, Georgia

 

Today I show the arrangements that were part of this Festival.  On each Picture you will note the Name of the Church Involved.  It was a challenge to acquire these pictures because of the surrounding décor and the lighting in some situations.  Additionally I was hampered because I was using a Walking Cane.  However this series of pictures allows you to see the beauty that was presented at this Flower Festival. 

 

The Old City Flower Festival was started n 2012 by St. Joseph's Catholic Church as part of their "Week of Prayer in Christian Unity."

 

The Host for the Seventh Annual Old City Flower Festival was announced and it will be St. Paul's Episcopal Church.

 

 

The following three pictures were not included in the original post and are  herewith published so that every Congregation that participated has their Floral Display on this Blog.  Thank You!! 

 

 



 



 

 

Martin Luther's Seal

Sixth Annual

Old City Flower Festival

21-24 January 2017

Hosted By

Mulberry Street

United Methodist Church

Macon, Georgia

 On September 20, 2016 I attended the initial meeting to plan for this annual event.  I attended on behalf of The Lutheran Church of the Holy Trinity where I attend Church.  The theme for this Festival is:  "The Art of Our Worship."

 

I signed up to place a flower display featuring the 500th Anniversary of the Protestant Reformation which is being observed in 2017. 

 

I ordered the appropriate flowers in the proper colors in early December 2016 so that I would have them on January 20 so I could fabricate the arrangement.

 

 

 I had determined that I make the arrangement at my home and deliver it to the church before the 5:00 P.M. deadline on January 20th.

 Here is a picture of the arrangement with the Yellow (Gold) outer band.  I am also holding up an image of the seal which I used as the blucprint for my arrangement.

 Although the second band of color is blue, I used purple because there were no blue flowers available to purchase when I placed my order.

 As you can ascertain, I have now completed two bands of color in the seal and I must now arrange the white and red flowers to complete the seal.

 The red heart is now almost complete.  It was a challenge to get all the flowers arranged so it actually looked like the seal.

 The arrangement is now almost complete.  The "cross" in the center was the most challenging task in the fabrication of this seal.

 The completed seal on the work table in my garage.  We are now ready to transport the finished arrangement to the church.  Prior to starting the arrangement I had pre-soaked the oasis and placed it in the round cake pan.  The edge of the pan was wrapped in yellow satin ribbon so the cake plan would not distract from the finished "Seal."

 Here is the finished arrangement in the Atrium of Mulberry Street United Methodist Church.  I understand that there over twenty arrangements provided by various Congregations in Macon on display for this four day Old City Flower Festival.

I had ordered enough flowers to complete the arrangement, however once the Seal was complete I determined that there were plenty of flowers remaining so I placed them in this arrangement to simply display all of the colors I used in the "Seal."  It is also on display in the Atrium of the Church.

 

I enjoyed the opportunity to participate in this "Old City Flower Festival" in 2017 and also the opportunity to focus on the work of Martin Luther 500 years ago.