A Multiple Wednesday Medley

This is truly a National Day Medley this week.  It should be fun, so scroll down and answer Terri's questions along with me.

You will enjoy going to Terri's blog to read the history of and how to observe each of these special days, and to see how others answered. 

Your Friend From Florida's Blog Here!

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NATIONAL PEACH ICE CREAM DAY – July 17

1.  Do you enjoy fresh peaches?  What is your favorite way to use them in a recipe?

This should be a National Day every day!  As long as peaches are in season, of course.  Yes, I love fresh peaches and my favorite way to use them is eating them fresh.  However, I have not been known to turn  down a Peach Cobbler.

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NATIONAL WRONG WAY CORRIGAN DAY – July 17

(Is this supposed to be upside down?)

NATIONAL WRONG WAY CORRIGAN DAY

National Wrong Way Corrigan Day on July 17th commemorates the transatlantic flight of an Irish-American stunt pilot from Galveston, Texas. Douglas Corrigan gained notoriety for an unplanned transatlantic flight to Ireland on July 17, 1938. 

2.  Have you ever gone the wrong way on a one-way street?  What do you think about Mr. Corrigan's story?   True or False?

In one of the little towns where we lived for many years, there were an abundant of one-way streets.  Fortunately, I do not recall ever going the wrong way on any of them.

It is certainly an interesting story and without instrumentation, it may be possible to have wandered so far in the wrong direction.  The matter of gas in a small plane is a logistical concern for me though.  True or False?  I'll not be the judge of that debate.

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NATIONAL YELLOW PIG DAY – July 17

NATIONAL YELLOW PIG DAY

National Yellow Pig Day on July 17 honors the unique attributes of the number 17 and its significance to mathematics. 

Terri says one of the ways of observing this strange day is to brush up on one's calculus.  Folks, that alone disqualifies this participant.

3.  Tell us about your life when you were 17.

I was 17 and a senior in high school and the year was 61-62.  We lived in a small town in South Central Louisiana, at the very top of Acadiana, where my dad was pastor of the Baptist Church.  Most of the folks there were Catholic Cajuns or at the least had French ancestry.  Good folks!

In the basketball picture, my pretty younger sister and a much better player than me, is the tall one in the center.  See blue arrow.

I was very involved in activities at the school, which was not unusual for all of the kids at that time.  I was Homecoming Queen, Senior Class Secretary, on the Yearbook Staff, Future Farmers of America (FFA) Queen, took voice lessons, was in the senior class play, and played basketball.  I also taught preschoolers in Sunday School.  My sister and I played the piano together for the church services, and I know you are dying to know what that must have sounded like.

I had a steady boyfriend until we both graduated and went our separate ways.

From High School to Collage.

In the Fall of 1962 I turned 18 and was a Freshman at LSU-Alexandria, which was a commuter school at that time, majoring in Elementary Ed.

Seventeen was a good age and 1961 - 62 was a great time to be a teenager.

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WORLD EMOJI DAY – July 17

4.  Do you use emojis when you text, email, or FB message? Do you have a favorite?

Yes, I am guilty of using emojis in texts, and occasionally a FB message.  Not so much in emails.

My favorite

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NATIONAL TATTOO DAY – July 17

5.  It has been asked many times, but do you have a tattoo?  Do you want to get a tattoo?

NO & NO!

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6.  Last, but not least, please tell us something about your week!

On Monday, I did volunteer work at the church which I do on an every two week basis.

Monday evening found us enjoying the peace and quiet of our back porch.  The clouds were amazing and the Morning Doves were so busy either feeding or encouraging their young to spread their wings a bit.  I captured some of both with my camera.

Brave little dove baby.

These particular doves are evidently so comfortable with us, that it allowed me to get very close with my clicking camera.  Amazing!

These of the mother feeding her little one were taken through the screen on the porch so aren't as clear.

The mother regurgitates the food for the baby to remove from her mouth.  The parents are extremely attentive while the babies are learning to be independent.

We think these gorgeous thick cloud formations may be the remnants of Barry.

I never tire of God's masterpieces.

Its time for some Sister Therapy, so on Thursday morning I will be driving south for a couple days.

Enjoy the rest of your week!

Saturday 9: 1959 Bonanza!

I am again joining in the Saturday 9 blog sharing this Saturday morning.

Saturday 9: Bonanza (1959)
 
Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here.

1) Bonanza ran on NBC for 14 seasons. Today it's rerun on Me-TV and TVLand. Were/are you a fan? 

Oh yes, my whole family were fans of the Cartwrights back in the day.  I would have been 14 years old in 1959.  Gracious!  I have never watched a re-run that I know of though.

2) The show centers on The Cartwrights, who lived on a massive ranch in Nevada. License plates in Nevada read, "The Silver State." What's on your license plate?

"Louisiana Sportsman's Paradise"

3) Ben Cartwright made his fortune as a cattle rancher. What's the last beef dish you ate?

I made a most delicious meat loaf a few weeks ago.

Interesting side point:  The recipe came from the "Mountain Mama" cookbook compiled by the Creede, CO Baptist Church.  It was published in 1978 and given to us in 1988 by Herb and Betty Willis in whom's home we stayed when visiting Creede.  (See 4th of July pics from previous post)  The meatloaf recipe is also Herb's, and the best I've ever tasted.

4) Patriarch Ben had his eldest son, Adam, with his refined, bookish first wife, Elizabeth. Unfortunately, Elizabeth died in childbirth. Still Adam inherited her love of the written word. What's the last book you finished?

5) Ben's second son, Hoss, was born to his second wife, Inger, who was killed as the family traveled West by wagon train. Hoss inherited her open, friendly manner and her way with animals. Are there pets in your home?

None from the animal kingdom.

6) Ben's youngest, Joe, arrived after Ben married a third time to the passionate Marie, who died in a riding accident when her son was only five years old. Little Joe inherited her impetuosity. Do you consider yourself more spontaneous or predictable?

I'm probably a combination of both.  I crave and thrive on routine and predictability.  I also enjoy some spontaneity as well.  I like to call my comfort zone, "Planned Spontaneity!"

7) Samuel Clemons was a reporter in Virginia City at the time when the Cartwrights would have been there, and a fictionalized version of Mr. Clemons appeared in an episode of Bonanza. Without looking it up, do you know Samuel Clemons' famous pen name?

The famous Mark Twain

8) Hair was a big deal in the Bonanza dressing room. Three of the original four stars -- Lorne Greene, Pernell Roberts and Dan Blocker -- all wore hairpieces. (The fourth, Michael Landon, began dying his hair while still in his 20's because he was going prematurely gray.) Have you ever worn a wig or a hairpiece?

Yes, I have.  The above picture was taken in the early 70's when our children were quite small and I had very long hair.  This was in the day of sitting under hair dryers and my thick hair took FOREVER.  I didn't wear the wig often because it was so hot and I had to wear a stocking under it to keep all my hair inside, but it did come in handy a time or two.

I now occasionally wear a wig especially while vacationing for those times my now short hair isn't up for public display.

9) Random question -- Tell us the story behind one of your scars.

A picture is worth a 1,000 words.

In 2014, I had extensive foot surgery.  Thankfully, the scars are almost gone, but for a long time, this foot was not very pretty.  Because I love not having a bunion, hammer toes and pain, I would do it again in a heart beat.

Saturday 9: America, the Beautiful

America, the Beautiful

Unfamiliar with Frank Sinatra's 1945 version of this song? Hear it here.

1) In 2016, a group recommended that this week's song replace "The Star Spangled Banner" as our national anthem. They maintain it's just as beautiful but easier to sing. How do you feel about this?

I agree it is a beautiful song and is easier to sing, but do not agree that it should replace the traditional "Star Spangled Banner."  Because it asks that God "shed His grace" on the country, there would be an element of our society that would find this offensive.  This is unfortunate, because without His grace being shed on our country it would not be the wonderful nation it was and continues to be.

2) Katharine L. Bates said her lyrics were inspired by a trip to Pike's Peak. What's the most beautiful American spot you've ever visited?

There have been so many.  These however, will always be some of my favorites.

California Coast Line Hwy

Grand Canyon

Niagara Falls 

Cumberland Fall, KY

Great Smokey Mountains

Train ride from Seward to Anchorage, Alaska

3) The music was written by organist Samuel Augustus Ward. Both Bates and Ward were very formal when signing their names professionally -- she including her middle initial and he with his full middle name. How about you? When you sign checks or documents, do you use your middle name or initial?

I always use the initial of my maiden name.

4) In 1945, when this version of the song was recorded, America lost Franklin Delano Roosevelt and Frank Sinatra said, "I lost a hero." What late, great American hero from our past would you like to honor today?

I would honor my dad.  He never served in the military or held an elected office, and will not be read about in the history books, but William Porter Lazenby will be remembered by all who knew him as a great man of integrity; a very wise and loving man; truly a man "after God's own heart;" a faithful and devoted husband and family man; a man held in great esteem by all who knew him; a lifter-upper of the down-trodden.  And my own personal hero, my Daddy!

5) Also in 1945, a 19-year-old "hoofer" waited outside the Los Angeles radio station where Sinatra was being interviewed. That was the beginning of the friendship between Sammy Davis, Jr., and Frank Sinatra. Tell us about your oldest friend.

My oldest friend would be my sister, Gingie who is two years younger than me.  She remains my closest friend to this day.

The second two pictures also include my 2nd oldest friend, Judy.

In 1951, we added my 3rd oldest and my other closest friend, Sarah.

6) The Fourth of July means we're in the middle of summer. Are you careful about applying sunscreen?

I do on my face daily but not on the rest of my body.  I am careful to not spend much time out in the sun.

7) Mosquito bites can be a major summer annoyance. Are you scratching any itches right now?

I did get a couple bad mosquito bites while working in the yard yesterday morning, but thankfully no itches today literally or figuratively.

8) Emergency rooms report an increase in wrist injuries in summer, with people falling off bikes and skateboards and jamming their wrists catching hard-hit softballs. Have you  been to the ER or Urgent Care during 2019?

No, thank the Lord!

9) New York is home to Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest every year on the 4th. Will hot dogs be consumed in your household this weekend?

I could not tell you the last time I had a hot-dog.  Other than when I was first pregnant with our first child, have I ever been a fan of hot dogs.  We will be having a very non-traditional meal of tenderloin, field peas with onions and okra, and wok'd fresh carrots.  We are simple, happy folks.

I am joining Samantha for this week's Saturday 9 link up.

Wednesday Medley: July 4th Memories

Of course, we will be honoring the USA's Independence Day

for the Wednesday Medley!!

Click Terri's Link HERE to join the other bloggers who answered the questions.

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1.  Please share a favorite July 4th memory with us.

I think perhaps the most memorable was back in 1990 when we took my parents on a two-week vacation trip to Colorado and New Mexico.

Mom and Dad on the left

We were in Creed, Co for the big July 4th Parade.  It doesn't get any more "down home" than this.  We loved it!

Being from Louisiana we found the "Cajun Embassy" float fun.  People all over holler "throw me some Mister!" and scramble for the beads.

This old truck was loaded with mountain men, hunting dogs and their trophies.

The parade participants would get to the end of the street and turn around so we got to see everything twice.  The Creede Repertoire Theater entertained us both ways with their Kazoo Band.

2.  How do you plan to spend tomorrow?  If you are working, will you celebrate later?

We don't have any plans for celebrating the day at this time.  We may decide to take a road trip and let someone else cook for us.  Who knows!

3.  Is there a favorite food always reserved for your 4th of July celebration?

No, we don't have any traditions for celebrating this day.

4.  In Florida, you can buy all kinds of fireworks, including some that fly high and burst into pretty cascades.  Are fireworks legal in your state/community and does anyone you know put on a display for your neighborhood?

Yes, fireworks are a huge money making business in our state and city.  Our city puts on a very big fireworks display on the Red River.  We have only been once and that was enough.

The nearby country club does a large display as well, and we usually sit on our front porch and enjoy it.

There are several families in our neighborhood who do very large and noisy firework displays.  The booms will go on until well past approved cut-off times.

5.  Do you have a favorite movie that you always watch sometime during the 4th of July?

For many years we always watched the Boston Pops perform on TV, but am not sure they even do that any more.

6.  Share something from your week, please.

Our Indiana family was down visiting our daughter-in-law's family for the week.  They live in the central part of our state, but were in our city doing something for her dad.  John picked up some good Cajun food and they all came by our house for supper.  It was so good to see them even for a few minutes even though we were up there only a short time ago.

Today (Wednesday) we will be attending the funeral of a former pastor and great friend where we served together for 22 years.

I love this picture of Dick and Bro. Mac from 1979.

We thank God for the opportunity to serve with and know such a fine, godly family.  Bro. Mac's sole desire was to win the lost and serve His Lord among the people God gave him to serve.

We love you, Bro. Mac and look forward to seeing you again soon.

A few pictures from last weekend.

HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY
&
MAY GOD BLESS THE USA!