Thanksgiving Part II

The Four Siblings

This image was taken by Jeff, my brother-in-law. Thank you Jeff for such a great photo!

Happy New Year to all.....
.....TravelLady

Thomas and Winston at Thanksgiving

Thomas had a great time playing with Winston.

Winston was gentle and patient with Thomas.

Thanksgiving was celebrated at the TravelLady and James' home this year.
James and I did not have our children or grandchildren home, but we had a houseful of guests.
The Morris family - Christi, Jeff, Aaron, Noah, and Winston. My sister's family.
The Wimpy family - Glen, Mariana, and Thomas. My brother's family.
And my other sister, Janice Sue. We had a great afternoon of family and fellowship.

So thankful for all her family....
TravelLady

The Martin House

Free plans found on-line

12 inside compartments

Finished Details

Finished House - Beautiful!

This past summer had many rainy days and mild temperatures, the mosquitoes were plentiful, large, and to be avoided at dusk and after dark. So, James decided to build a martin house to attract martins next summer. They love to eat mosquitoes especially at dusk!
I found this plan on line at the Missouri Department of Conservation site.

For the body James used 1/2 sheet of 1/4 inch outdoor grade plywood and 2 1x12x8 foot pine boards for the ends, bottom, and roof. We chose 3/8 inch cooper tubing for the roost above the roof line.

James now plans to buy a 15-18 foot pole and erect the birdhouse in February 2010 when the scouts come to Tennessee.

A Beautiful Home by James....
.....TravelLady

Book Report

With a total of 535 pages, this book has taken me quite some time to read. It is full of geography and adventure. Henry Morton Stanley was hired by James Gordon Bennett of the 'New York Herald' to find Dr. David Livingstone, a Scottish missionary and traveler-explorer.
No letters had been received from the Dr. for several months and he had been reported as deceased.
Stanley arrived in Zanzibar on January 6, 1871. He bought supplies and hired porters for the journey. He departed Zanzibar on March 21, 1871 for the east coast of Africa and sailed to a town named Bagamoyo. The journey from Bagamoyo to Ujiji took eight months. Ujiji is a village on the eastern side of Lake Tanganika. At the sight of Livingstone, Stanley wanted to run and embrace him but did not. He was unsure of how "he would be received."

Quoting from the book--So I did what moral cowardice and false pride suggested was the best thing-walked deliberately to him, took off my hat, and said: "Dr. Livingstone, I presume?"
"Yes", said he, with a kind, cordial smile, lifting his cap slightly. (end quote)

I became interested in this subject after watching the History Channel series "Expedition Africa" and found the book on Amazon. Loving to read about travels and adventure.......

.....TravelLady

My Gift From Jeff

Precious Faces

Jeff, my brother-in-law, went to a yard sale and bought two pretty glass frames for Christi and me.
The frame has a curved shape with silver accents. It looks great with the photos James printed.

So thankful for Jeff.....
.....TravelLady

Nature Image

When James trimmed the crepe myrtles beside the garage, he found this growth on a dead limb. I rescued it from the brush pile at the side of the road and placed it in my pottery crock on the front porch. I thought that it was too pretty to destroy. It is about three inches round and has a flat plate-like form. Does anyone know the name? Ever amazed at God's creations.......

.....TravelLady

Fall Images

The Front Flower Bed

Closer View

Yellow Mums

Beautiful Maple

As some of you may know, autumn is my favorite time of the year. I love the colors, cool weather and clear air. The above images can be seen from my living room. James planted the mums - he truly has a green thumb and can make anything grow. After two days of rain and clouds, we had a beautiful blue sky and sunshine today. Loving fall.......

.....TravelLady

Toni's Raincoat

We have had too much rain for the months of August, September and October. Toni loves to walk and splash in the rain - so James requested that I sew a raincoat. We went to Hancocks and chose the fabric and pattern. We found a plastic/vinyl bonded to brushed cotton - so the inside is very soft.

Simplicity 9520

There are multiple patterns for dogs and cats in the pattern books. Who knew? But this one looked the most like what James wanted. With the outside temp at 45 degrees today, he now has requested a coat for Toni.

James loves the coat!

Toni needs a rainy day to decide if she likes the coat......
......TravelLady

Bookcase Redo

My Refreshed Bookcase

Birthday Gift from Melissa, Billy and family

Today was my off day from work. So, Christi and I met at Panera Bread for lunch then she came to my home for a bookcase redo. (Last week James took everything out of both bookcases and cleaned and dusted.)
The idea for a redo came to me when I received the beautiful wedding photos from Melissa and family. The double silver frame is beautiful and the images capture both couples at their wedding cakes.
Christi and I bought more silver frames to match and blend with the birthday frame. Then we transferred photos to the new frames. I had several orange accessories that seem to blend with the colors of the room.
Then Christi did the arranging and editing. Several old frames and accessories will go to the Goodwill. Christi took the black frames and some items that she could use for her bedroom redo.
Thanks to Melissa!! Thanks to Christi!!....

.....Travellady

Glen and Thomas

If you live in Memphis or the Mid-South area and have tree cutting needs, Glen's Tree Service can be counted on to do a great job! He is my baby brother and I am proud of him. Glen sent this image today via e-mail........TravelLady

The Dogwalker

Spot, Hannah, Toni

On our recent trip to Kentucky, we of course took Toni. Hannah loved walking both the dogs!!

....TravelLady

Images by Elijah

Mount Rushmore Shirt

Elijah took great pains to focus and center this image of David's Mount Rushmore shirt. What fun we had!!

...TravelLady

Images by David

Light Sabre and Rifle

Dog Fence

Precious Moments

David loves to take photos with my Kodak digital camera. These are three of the best images. I love looking at my camera when I get home and seeing the great images taken by the grandkids.

Indiana Jones

taken by TravelLady.......

Sewing Part II

Bible Book Bag

Elijah chose the fabric with printed squares. TravelLady also loved this fabric. He wanted to make a draw-string bag to fit his bible. We then attached a loop of soft rope making it possible to carry the bag like a backpack. He learned the concept of folding the fabric with right sides together to sew; then, when the bag is turned, the pretty side of the fabric will show. He also learned the basics of the drawstring placement. I had a great time......

.....TravelLady

Sewing Lessons

Cover for Spot's pillow

The Travellady and James recently took a trip to Kentucky (with Toni of course.) On the way to our destination, we stopped at Mammoth Caves and James took the Historic Tour - 2 hours. He loved it.
During my time at the grandkids home, I planned a sewing lesson for them. I researched the subject on line and learned that it is best to teach the basics of hand sewing first. Some of the basics are threading a needle, knot tying, putting the right sides of the fabric together, and simple stitches. I bought online a fat quarter bundle with bright prints that coordinate.
Both Hannah and Elijah loved looking at the prints. They each had specific likes and dislikes for color and print. (David at 5 years old was not very interested. More later.)
Elijah sewed for about 1/2 hour and Hannah sewed for about an hour. I hope we can do sewing again......

......TravelLady

Winston

We recently hosted Winston for the weekend. He is a rescue greyhound who belongs to my sister, Christi. Winston is five years old and recently retired from racing - he won about 1/3 of his races.
James was able to capture these images of Winston "smiling" using a Nikon D-60.
A sweeter, quieter dog could not be had on the face of the earth! Toni, the pit bull, wanted to engage Winston in play, but he would have none of that.

September

Since today is the first day of September, I wanted to display another fall image. Traditionally fall has been my favorite season. But, since we had such a mild summer, I have not been yearning for fall as much as in past years.
This past summer was one of long trips, great sites and a gigantic life change for the TravelLady.

It was my first and only time to be the Mother of the Bride. (I have been the Mother of the Groom once.) Hopefully, I will live long enough to be the Grandmother of the Bride.

Always thankful for the blessings of life...I am the
TravelLady

Lambert's

On our recent journey home from Wyoming, we stopped for lunch at Lambert's in Sikeston, Missouri. Oh my goodness, the amount of food was amazing. In addition to your meal, there are waiters walking the aisles with pans of fried okra, peas, fried potatoes, and buckets of molasses for your 'throwed' rolls.
This was our first time to visit Lambert's. We arrived at 11:00 am - opening time. By 11:15 the place was full of diners. We had food left over to fill 2 takeout dishes. The food was tasty, southern, and plentiful.

Lambert's is recommended by the...
TravelLady!

A Blast From The Past

Pumpkin Patch

I am looking forward to fall, pumpkins and visiting Kentucky!

....TravelLady

Travel Lady

Travel Lady

From a distance - prior to a rainstorm.

After the Storm.
Inside the park.

It's official. A name change has taken place. From May to August I have been the Mother of the Bride. Now, two months after the wedding, I will become Travel Lady. The bride and groom have been officially visited in Wyoming, all the gifts have been delivered, and the Travel Lady is home in Tennessee. But, a trip is planned for September! I am so excited.

Travel Dog

Toni spent many hours sleeping.

A toy is her pillow in this image.

Self-portrait

Weary!!

Toni is officially our road tested travel dog. Tennessee to Wyoming one-way mileage is 1350 miles. She slept many hours; we made frequent rest stops for walking and play.
The image titled 'weary' was taken during the last 100 miles of our journey home. Toni was restless and we knew that she was probably very tired of the Honda.
Upon arriving home, she ran and played, flipped and rolled, and smelled all corners of the back yard......

I was also happy to be home.....
TravelLady

The Great Plains

We saw this at a rest area in western Nebraska.

The scene behind the rest area.
Beautiful!

On our recent travels to the west, we loved the state of Nebraska driving on I-80 across the state. Rest areas are placed about every 40 to 50 miles - they were clean, neat, and all that we stopped at were in working order.

The plaque above describes the great plains - they extend from central Nebraska to the Rocky Mountains. This is a semi-arid region with short grass prairies. Traditionally used for ranching and farming, the region also provides minerals, coal, and oil.

The scene behind this rest area was so beautiful that we were awestruck. We stood silently gazing at the beautiful pastoral setting. What a wonderful and beautiful land!

Mount Rushmore

As the Travel Lady, I felt both amazed and humbled to be at the Mt Rushmore National Memorial! I sat and stared in awe at the detail on the faces carved in the granite. I am thankful to the sculptors - from 1927 to 1941 - who carved this great memorial to some of our great leaders.

Washington and Jefferson

To give a perspective - on Washington the nose is 21 feet high and the mouth is 18 feet wide.

Roosevelt and Lincoln

I have always wondered why Roosevelt was chosen for Rushmore. I have since learned that he was a great naturalist and believed in preserving our natural land with its great parks, rocks, vistas and wonders of nature from commercial exploitation.

I am so very thankful to be able to make this amazing journey....I am the....

TravelLady aka Mother of the Bride

South Dakota

As my name implies, I love to travel! But, for the first three decades of my life this was not so!! What a waste of three decades!!

James and I just returned from a weekend trip to Devils Tower in northeastern Wyoming and to Mount Rushmore in South Dakota. We returned to our temporary home in Sinclair, Wyoming this evening. By temporary, I mean that we will be heading home to Tennessee on Wednesday. Sinclair is the home of the bride and groom.

This image of Mt Rushmore was taken with a long range lens from the parking lot of our hotel in Keystone, SD. This is a profile of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson and a partial profile of Abraham Lincoln. (From this angle the face of Theodore Roosevelt can not been seen.)

More great images will be posted...soon....I am a tired...

Mother of the Bride

Carbon County Fair

Last evening, Keith, James and I went to the Carbon County Fair. The parking was free, the admission was free, and the dinner was provided by the Bank. We had a delicious dinner of beef brisket, beans, slaw and bun.

Then we watched the herding dogs competition. Three heifers are led into the ring by cowboys, then the dogs work to herd them past barrels, around obstacles and into pens. The winner of the contest was Chester. We also liked a dog named Red. The images were taken with the new Nikon camera.