Beauty Abounds

West Bibb County

Georgia

A few flowers from the

Flower Child's

Winter Garden

These pictures were taken on January 9, 2013.  The beauty of Winter Flowers.  Enjoy and appreciate the gifts we all have received.

2013 Old City Flower Festival

Second Annual Show Hosted

by

Christ Church Episcopal

on Walnut Street

Macon, Georgia
January 18 - 25

The doors Open at 10:00 A.M. each Day

except Sunday - Open at 2:00 P.M.

Please arrive prior to 3:00 P.M. each day

as the Festival concludes at 4:00 P.M.

each day.





Two arrangements by
Holy Cross Greek Orthadox
flank the Entrance



The Baptism Font was decorated by
First Presbyterian

The Gallery Banner of Flowers was done by
Saint Joseph Catholic Church
Holy Spirit Catholic Church
Sacred Heart Catholic Church

Christ Church has many Beautiful
Stained Glass Windows
I took this picture because the
Sun was shining just right at
10:00 A.M. on
Friday, January 18, 2013

I enjoyed my visit to this Festival.  I would encourage everyone who can to do so.  It is a beautiful display/Festival.

Thirty One Years Ago
Alan Retired From The
United States Navy

 

I will always remember 31 December 1981.  That is the day I retired as a Chief Petty Officer in the United States Navy.  I was a Yeoman, which means administration.  My last duty station was Navy Recruiting Area Three Headquarters at 451 College Street, Macon, Georgia.  I was assigned to the Enlisted Programs Section where we managed the Recruiting efforts in the entire Southeast United States.  I served in the Navy for 21 years.  I have now been retired for 31 years. 

Kingsley Plantation

Fort George Island Plantation

Jacksonville, Florida

During our recent visit to Northeast Florida our Host took us to Kingsley Plantation, which is a part of the National Park Service.

The Plantation has a history that dates back to the 1760s.  It has a rich history involving Spanish and British rule.  It also experienced a series of owners.  We were able to visit the remains of the tabby slave quarters, a restored tabby home, the kitchen house and the barn and well of the Kingsley Plantation.

At one time Zephaniah Kingsley owned more than 32,000 acres which included four major plantations and more than 200 slaves.

The visit was most informative and provided a unique insight into the life of the early days of our Country and Northeast Florida.  A very worthwhile adventure. 

You can learn more at:      http://www.nps.gov/timu/historyculture/kp_history.htm

 Weight Control for Humans

The start of each new year causes many to make a resolution about weight control.  I know that I need to shed a few pounds.  Therefore I typed the above caption into a Google Search.  Within 25 seconds I have 5,280,000 possible sites.

After giving the situation some serious thought I determined that I could develop my own scheme to loose some weight.

Every morning prior to consuming anything I will weigh
myself at the refrigerator door.  I will then record this weight.

Every evening prior to my going to bed, but after I
have discharged all of my body waste for the day I
will weigh myself again.  I will then compare this
weight with the one that I recorded in the morning.
If I weigh more I will know that I can not consume too
much food the next day unless I discharge more than I
take in.

It will be a challenge, however I feel that I can loose weight following this scheme.  After all on May 25, 1998 I laid down the last cigarette I smoked and have not taken up the habit since that date.

Jacksonville, Florida

Breakfast Report

Metro Diner

During our recent visit to friends in Yulee, Florida I encouraged our Host to take us to Breakfast at the Original Metro Diner.  I had observed a visit to this delightful establishment on Television.

I did take my Camera to acquire appropriate images of the delightful Pecan French Toast, however I deleted the pictures by mistake.

We visited the Metro Diner at about 8:00 A.M. on December 31, 2012 and while we did not have to wait, the place was very busy.  My Bride and I enjoyed the featured Pecan French Toast and the great coffee.

If you ever have the opportunity to visit Jacksonville I would suggest that you dine at the Metro Diner at least once during your visit.

Here is the link:    http://metrodiner.com/

Barbara Jean's Restaurant

Amelia, Florida

31 December 2012 - Amelia, Florida.  My Bride and I visited dear Friends in Yulee, Florida this past week.  We enjoyed the opportunity to dine at Barbara Jean's early on New Year's Eve.  This family owned eating establishment has several locations in the Southeast U. S. A. near the water.

We enjoyed the meal and the fellowship with our dear friends and returned to their home to enjoy the New Year's Eve television broadcast.  Many years ago we all lived in Macon and we enjoyed welcoming in the New Year with omulets to order at our homes.  Our children were much younger then and they usually were asleep so we enjoyed the fellowship and the opportunity to Greet the New Year.

We enjoyed the opportunity to once again dine on omulets in the early hours of 2013.

To visit the website for this delightful dining establishment please click on:

http://www.barbarajeans.com/



Folkston, Georgia

1 January 2013

Train Town Georgia

As you may suspect, I recently visited Folkston, Georgia.  Several years ago I viewed a TV segment about watching Trains in this Southeast Georgia Town.  I took the opportunity to do so and I recorded several videos.  This is the best one.  Enjoy!!!!



2012 Rain Fall

West Bibb County Georgia

Several days ago the local newspaper "The Telegraph" published an article concerning the annual rainfall in Macon, Georgia.  The official recorded rainfall was reported as 32.41 inches which was 13.14 inches below the normal rain in a year.

When 2012 started I launched a project where I would record the daily rain fall.  I did not have an official rain fall gauge because it was a plastic device that I installed at the end of the driveway near my home; however it was some distance from any trees or shrubs so I feel that it was quite accurate.  Here is a breakdown of the monthly amounts:

January 2.75 inches

February 2.95 inches

March 1.75 inches

April .80 inch

May 2.00 inches

June  5.20 inches

July 1.60 inches

August 5.65 inches

September 3.60 inches

October 1.30 inches

November 1.45 inches

December 6.15 inches

This amounts to 35.20 inches in West Bibb County where I live.  This is also quite close to Tucker Road where it crosses over I-475.

While Macon was 13.14 inches short for 2012 my lot was 10.35 inches short of rainfall in 2012

I am also aware that many areas of our State and even our United States has experienced shortages of rain fall in recent years.  I am also quite certain that this will cause an increase in our food supply and the prices we have to pay for food.  It will most certainly have an impact on the price of clothes because cotton requires rain to grow.

I have also heard that irrigation systems are pumping water out of the ground at a rate greater than the rain supply has recharged our ground water resources.  This is not a good situation.



The Tale of Two Bicycles

I believe that it all started in 1975 when our oldest Son received an AMF Junior Coaster Bike from his Grandparents in Macon, Georgia for his third Birthday.  This Bike traveled with him to California and back to Macon before he outgrew it.  At that time we placed it in the attic to save for the future.

This past Summer I thought it would be a great idea to gift this AMF Junior Coaster Bike to our Grandson, our oldest Son's Child.  In early November I got a quote on a custom "John Deere Paint Job" from a local Auto Body Shop.  That would be quite expensive so I took the Bike to the same repairman we used when our Children were much younger at Capital Bike Shop.  Calvin has his own shop at their new location.  When I dropped the Bike off for Calvin to replace the worn out pedals and acquire new handlebar grips I was told that he would call me when he came in to work.  Calvin only works a few days each week.  So I waited and never received a call from Calvin.  Therefore I went on the world wide web and searched for an AMF Junior Coaster Bike.  I found one in Coopersburg, PA which is near Allentown.  I called the contact number and waited.  A few days later I called again.  This time I got a call back and I told the seller that I was interested in the Bike but I would like to know what the shipping charges would be.  The seller told me he would find out.

Then, Calvin called me and informed me that he could do the replacement parts and align the handlebar for a sum of cash which was not too high.  I told him to do the replacements and repairs.

So, I have one bike getting ready for the Christmas Gift for our Grandson.  No problem.  Then a few days later the Seller in Pennsylvania called and informed me that it would be $80.00 to ship the bike by either UPS or FedEx.  I asked if he could take it apart and put it in a smaller box and ship it United States Postal Service.  So on the Friday after Thanksgiving the seller called me and said it would take $20.00 to ship the bike to me in Macon.  I said, ship it.  I then sent him a postal money order for the sum of the bike plus the shipping charges.  It arrived seven days later.  It took me a few minutes to unwrap the parcel's contents and about fifteen minutes to rebuild the AMF Junior Coaster Bike. 

So I now had two Bikes for the Grandson.  I decided that he could share the second one with his older Sibling Sister.

The Two Bikes at our Home in Macon.
Appropriate bows on each.

The original bike with the new white pedals and the black
handlebar grips.

The bike from Pennsylvania with the original pedals
and grips.  The seat is slightly different.

All packed up for the Christmas Day Trip to deliver to the Grandchildren.

Our oldest Son unveiling the two bikes.

The Granddad, the daughter-in-law and our oldest Son
getting ready to surprise the Grand Young Ones.

My Bride captured the grandchildren as we
rounded the corner of the garage.

Modeling the bicycles.

The Pennsylvania Bike modeled by our Grand Son.

The Original bike modeled by our Grand Daughter.

Christmas 2012

at

128 Weatherby Drive

Macon, Georgia

This Nativity Scene was a gift from my
parents many years ago.

We obtained this Nativity Scene about six years ago
at the Macon Christian Book Store.  It was close to
Christmas and it was on sale for $49.95.

Of Course the Stockings were Hung on the Chimney with
care.  Also shown here are several pictures of family members.

This is the very first Nativity Scene I ever had.
I obtained it for the Christmas of 1971 when
I observed my first Christmas in Macon, Georgia.
I had just been assigned to Navy Recruiting Area Three
and I needed a Nativity Scene for
my home in Wells Mobile Home Park
in
Jones County

This custom made decoration features two lovely
Grand Children