tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-59112465426650614212024-02-02T16:43:54.660-08:00Return to the Center of AmericaSpring 2009 - ???beth cioffolettihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09300116274007165612noreply@blogger.comBlogger55125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5911246542665061421.post-34373409158348564202009-09-27T10:16:00.000-07:002009-09-27T10:20:39.984-07:00Home againIt is time to bring this blog to an end. John rolled back into Florida yesterday around noon. The end of this adventure is again, bittersweet. We love being on the road and we love being home. The saga will continue ... stay tuned ...<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnreJfO8c2Jg1VKzTahE1RTcn1KtOPBlH0spbz2YTzYdr7Mh3iEIDkIcWdJlfLse3HNHTdijVEIJvfS0jx7Ep-d792klg2hogESlpsKGDEq7wfN9WVXrJ2i1BQ-o6wy-SrK6c-bhGnJDfj/s1600-h/IMG_3248.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnreJfO8c2Jg1VKzTahE1RTcn1KtOPBlH0spbz2YTzYdr7Mh3iEIDkIcWdJlfLse3HNHTdijVEIJvfS0jx7Ep-d792klg2hogESlpsKGDEq7wfN9WVXrJ2i1BQ-o6wy-SrK6c-bhGnJDfj/s400/IMG_3248.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5386198235074578498" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRl9mQCs-glcog9fpMvLHNyp_dsYafIPJmOV_liDtYMxrBydLmA3mCSAYmyESMCGMQldihfHCBwB8eIEOm1MBCjsLj2VqStX255tXBW9fCFu8aEbgjb2maR0eO3Z5Y7E7DPofm5hm7jnCL/s1600-h/IMG_3251.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRl9mQCs-glcog9fpMvLHNyp_dsYafIPJmOV_liDtYMxrBydLmA3mCSAYmyESMCGMQldihfHCBwB8eIEOm1MBCjsLj2VqStX255tXBW9fCFu8aEbgjb2maR0eO3Z5Y7E7DPofm5hm7jnCL/s400/IMG_3251.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5386198230651957586" border="0" /></a>beth cioffolettihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09300116274007165612noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5911246542665061421.post-60655267173069758232009-09-27T09:49:00.000-07:002009-09-27T10:22:45.556-07:00TennesseeOn his way back from the center of America, John stopped off to see his friends, Phil and Cheryl, who live deep in the Amish country of Tennessee. Here are some photos to mark that visit and friendship.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq-ysMWPNaEu2Sz6BCoHnZq5-OeHL0UvYpUAMaxNOfCjfjTMkrR4LM0D7EDI7kM-gq23zbpKCbS9DD1wKCSWNYd2USV3I4e-BNNhFC-iUrxJ2xyVpf5ImGgI86VaN5LRfA-jhczI2waGI4/s1600-h/IMG_0945.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq-ysMWPNaEu2Sz6BCoHnZq5-OeHL0UvYpUAMaxNOfCjfjTMkrR4LM0D7EDI7kM-gq23zbpKCbS9DD1wKCSWNYd2USV3I4e-BNNhFC-iUrxJ2xyVpf5ImGgI86VaN5LRfA-jhczI2waGI4/s400/IMG_0945.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5386191177579671394" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCGpyUEJq1GfYWC5gOqRLMrsaXs4m4CBlNsBdyT_ymdU_cy2pt1lHZXkTuHZ8spFuIpv42MC7R5mWOkdKpyxJZJe01ks23flByW2toBI8gf6nBry05gsU3glyBg-9QBwp9ljdJkugFkCnK/s1600-h/IMG_0946.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCGpyUEJq1GfYWC5gOqRLMrsaXs4m4CBlNsBdyT_ymdU_cy2pt1lHZXkTuHZ8spFuIpv42MC7R5mWOkdKpyxJZJe01ks23flByW2toBI8gf6nBry05gsU3glyBg-9QBwp9ljdJkugFkCnK/s400/IMG_0946.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5386191173489233762" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG959TPY1WhK0M8Uk1ST7WfKwtCTjPyEFVh8ketewgkucn53fbyDCE_KwBnY8xxwNWE-auesZhtL9yr-cF1N4Uu4zxjwEbAP4-m3qi_zCT1hJcBe9xaQehT6KrbG55O7XiahsZBdv2EJOb/s1600-h/IMG_0947.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG959TPY1WhK0M8Uk1ST7WfKwtCTjPyEFVh8ketewgkucn53fbyDCE_KwBnY8xxwNWE-auesZhtL9yr-cF1N4Uu4zxjwEbAP4-m3qi_zCT1hJcBe9xaQehT6KrbG55O7XiahsZBdv2EJOb/s400/IMG_0947.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5386191165679539170" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2eLOGWbOmHoRV-5HQG71gqbo47FuT2SKQMTvoXH6afvgag77WasEmIF9q2JEP8fJELFYXK_CS0UKK-nh6PRXg7QyYzjaIGBHVrAePl6Ly8AyWTcqO_iuNKCGd341aYAwG4ItSiU0wAhju/s1600-h/IMG_0948.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2eLOGWbOmHoRV-5HQG71gqbo47FuT2SKQMTvoXH6afvgag77WasEmIF9q2JEP8fJELFYXK_CS0UKK-nh6PRXg7QyYzjaIGBHVrAePl6Ly8AyWTcqO_iuNKCGd341aYAwG4ItSiU0wAhju/s400/IMG_0948.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5386191160067176258" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs9ypwk4h94zMWYuII6pd8-JFlm2-kJ2eEYvZg0Z2X4JFcFRRMbw1W1TSbiBVL4uJXcoSM3PiDcq7FnWelAcDdSWG48WDgmJPp-FIRJ2Nsfm00hRQHpwcmB_Tch7u82KtbU_dFj1Sway1o/s1600-h/IMG_0950.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs9ypwk4h94zMWYuII6pd8-JFlm2-kJ2eEYvZg0Z2X4JFcFRRMbw1W1TSbiBVL4uJXcoSM3PiDcq7FnWelAcDdSWG48WDgmJPp-FIRJ2Nsfm00hRQHpwcmB_Tch7u82KtbU_dFj1Sway1o/s400/IMG_0950.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5386191156080214066" border="0" /></a>beth cioffolettihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09300116274007165612noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5911246542665061421.post-50333238105927321682009-09-27T01:03:00.000-07:002009-09-27T10:16:15.794-07:00Last days in ILJohn's last days in Illinois were marked by a sailboat regatta at Carlysle Lake, an airshow and a pow-wow. Not much to say about them, the photos tell the story - Go America! (I wonder if real Indians would parade with an American flag?)<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBD7Zbp5TOekrxs-fH-KhP3BH4sGcmNfxydLNp_ztrc1e1FGw0pAQ3yEVY_mEUtYUon6NsW9rLJ03uxmhd42Q4OYtxHSS3udpzuGVS-RDozV__XsBitIURb4VQYqGRSZtVQM4PDmosDzFn/s1600-h/YFlrers.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBD7Zbp5TOekrxs-fH-KhP3BH4sGcmNfxydLNp_ztrc1e1FGw0pAQ3yEVY_mEUtYUon6NsW9rLJ03uxmhd42Q4OYtxHSS3udpzuGVS-RDozV__XsBitIURb4VQYqGRSZtVQM4PDmosDzFn/s400/YFlrers.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5386196883979738002" border="0" /></a>The red chairs were the trophies for the winning boats!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEithEhfe3SGgYk2Yd9Ho-iDzPYM_4vqs2ug7H52AOKGH6j6gj-1z45ykh1bgSIwOYE3nQI4LWi7vG38aGM8sqgkxmNIIsQoENNVp4julHFv4X_AWUOcxFRj87fFITcTqmLfZruS3WPrHaH4/s1600-h/1st6thtrophys.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEithEhfe3SGgYk2Yd9Ho-iDzPYM_4vqs2ug7H52AOKGH6j6gj-1z45ykh1bgSIwOYE3nQI4LWi7vG38aGM8sqgkxmNIIsQoENNVp4julHFv4X_AWUOcxFRj87fFITcTqmLfZruS3WPrHaH4/s400/1st6thtrophys.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5386196879485453090" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaApOj24tUqjVHzi9zJEleSQoMPvJP4F8VKOUdW79jJ0NP7UxYOF6pFO0Id_TOBwgKPNr6Vdqb1DqPqZKIuLW3R4WlilCsukGw9jPPv_vIHJ-pF1zyhakFdbjARqy9CRCvWRTE-ECRCSbD/s1600-h/Picture-003.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaApOj24tUqjVHzi9zJEleSQoMPvJP4F8VKOUdW79jJ0NP7UxYOF6pFO0Id_TOBwgKPNr6Vdqb1DqPqZKIuLW3R4WlilCsukGw9jPPv_vIHJ-pF1zyhakFdbjARqy9CRCvWRTE-ECRCSbD/s400/Picture-003.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5386196871836527618" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuZ3aQjTM39bTxW9GYS8Rc1181xdS-v-fmyWihyY8O1Fe4ldDemMkJ1ACyyXfve6grh5q4K2v2x20iBhvJU8UknvFsrxT52rvFH7N1yD_LCtEcDvLGnX8nRFu9KAj0Cd-9OKGgHzQV5FuQ/s1600-h/Picture-016.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuZ3aQjTM39bTxW9GYS8Rc1181xdS-v-fmyWihyY8O1Fe4ldDemMkJ1ACyyXfve6grh5q4K2v2x20iBhvJU8UknvFsrxT52rvFH7N1yD_LCtEcDvLGnX8nRFu9KAj0Cd-9OKGgHzQV5FuQ/s400/Picture-016.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5386196866125301618" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ2JlDwxC251M2TucL_p2osg6VOj3S20OCZirPMGm1Kwu9GCysa2-_AzaB8nD_-vcUBq_sJOowKBg9c8StONPkF3tSBb4mq4ed7cHqJLAp98V7Wie4zJWlKTfn2fkNF-25YQWV0H-x1IoX/s1600-h/Picture-017.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ2JlDwxC251M2TucL_p2osg6VOj3S20OCZirPMGm1Kwu9GCysa2-_AzaB8nD_-vcUBq_sJOowKBg9c8StONPkF3tSBb4mq4ed7cHqJLAp98V7Wie4zJWlKTfn2fkNF-25YQWV0H-x1IoX/s400/Picture-017.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5386196351442494418" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpdPpdbeL4xZJnn_AJflwNi7Scn1Yd6obQMwn7CIo-GsF8ztRuOGgz8CEuHM3LKiyH7yNx0EhvmzjJYLC1mNFJdrfKC3dEDX9tqiMjCqv7zSeJJaNra8vpx89RY53YW3iA2LRltlhqWzex/s1600-h/Picture-020.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpdPpdbeL4xZJnn_AJflwNi7Scn1Yd6obQMwn7CIo-GsF8ztRuOGgz8CEuHM3LKiyH7yNx0EhvmzjJYLC1mNFJdrfKC3dEDX9tqiMjCqv7zSeJJaNra8vpx89RY53YW3iA2LRltlhqWzex/s400/Picture-020.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5386196346150295842" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ1PVcqMk6SY3QrJZ7tGMJDTtHDIxV2IYNNlL_J7YeACVJIXhypA7eXVHAsIoVARTZjjepRF5dHHtZ6leG42szESWFYq46z3rLdQ8cgqqs6Y2pyJlSjEHluByfVTwdnVG9coLqXZxddS6o/s1600-h/Picture-027.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ1PVcqMk6SY3QrJZ7tGMJDTtHDIxV2IYNNlL_J7YeACVJIXhypA7eXVHAsIoVARTZjjepRF5dHHtZ6leG42szESWFYq46z3rLdQ8cgqqs6Y2pyJlSjEHluByfVTwdnVG9coLqXZxddS6o/s400/Picture-027.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5386196337716758498" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoqgirHLU62ZFiunIwxpRu4eOXgoTZd4ipDaB5CleFCH1z2rtdJAI5O12O-D6OrbRyVTLkgOJo9RPGtQfK41tLkYX9oxDLzhbqlpQVBreMhVfMSnbFmkORxFAwzKK0f2pKeYituWNfC6kH/s1600-h/Picture-029.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoqgirHLU62ZFiunIwxpRu4eOXgoTZd4ipDaB5CleFCH1z2rtdJAI5O12O-D6OrbRyVTLkgOJo9RPGtQfK41tLkYX9oxDLzhbqlpQVBreMhVfMSnbFmkORxFAwzKK0f2pKeYituWNfC6kH/s400/Picture-029.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5386196335521079682" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEherVRK9j4yO4bF6tIkI4olgitEafkH9MQL2_2GXAzgh83XQPMv0heVFkwb0x8TzUfblNlUapRy2Ofnu7izzWxkxyutm05q_Nn1M_64ovCCbbE8pGneXNEYcGZHKLthnr_gQbjL8UEuPbHq/s1600-h/powwow-3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 293px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEherVRK9j4yO4bF6tIkI4olgitEafkH9MQL2_2GXAzgh83XQPMv0heVFkwb0x8TzUfblNlUapRy2Ofnu7izzWxkxyutm05q_Nn1M_64ovCCbbE8pGneXNEYcGZHKLthnr_gQbjL8UEuPbHq/s400/powwow-3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5386196324895078738" border="0" /></a>beth cioffolettihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09300116274007165612noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5911246542665061421.post-39777278428883622212009-09-08T12:16:00.000-07:002009-09-08T12:21:05.943-07:00Fishing in Illinois<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsbiuOfpsWmj00xYWZMmiHyS6kvuRHccftZI2SWxRWTx1UYldeILoyS87fy2cTwMXXI1fBgczu591gKuMaRpVG4Ik4c6IkJYDTqnL4i-UfvJzxoQWhz-mmMjyBmLPutSLfPLDFHvRjcdqC/s1600-h/itt+002.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsbiuOfpsWmj00xYWZMmiHyS6kvuRHccftZI2SWxRWTx1UYldeILoyS87fy2cTwMXXI1fBgczu591gKuMaRpVG4Ik4c6IkJYDTqnL4i-UfvJzxoQWhz-mmMjyBmLPutSLfPLDFHvRjcdqC/s400/itt+002.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379178554689350034" border="0" /></a>Nothing to do but fish, or so John says as he ends up his time in Illinois. He expected to be on the road for home by now, but has been asked to stay on a little longer ...<br /><br />Jubilee and I miss him.<br /><br />Meanwhile there's talk of work in Algeria ...beth cioffolettihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09300116274007165612noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5911246542665061421.post-13908939466144253022009-08-31T07:04:00.000-07:002009-08-31T07:18:50.516-07:00St. Bonaventure University<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv6d8zuO_IoaPllw9NYTMm45Q9g6KuVNa9_PBYBF7rfpTomNMeAKD4fJ9DZfMYNAjDL35v1nkXAzQMQzjqgTpHTol4Ef5beHuSJO_Gyc-Qx44xnv8IDqe9dn5qZgAN5ixsEPHxV4AS4kGP/s1600-h/IMG_3051.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv6d8zuO_IoaPllw9NYTMm45Q9g6KuVNa9_PBYBF7rfpTomNMeAKD4fJ9DZfMYNAjDL35v1nkXAzQMQzjqgTpHTol4Ef5beHuSJO_Gyc-Qx44xnv8IDqe9dn5qZgAN5ixsEPHxV4AS4kGP/s400/IMG_3051.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376130014476369506" border="0" /></a>Taking John back to the airport in Buffalo, we stopped at <a href="http://www.sbu.edu/">St. Bonaventure University</a>, in Olean NY. I knew that <a href="http://fatherlouie.blogspot.com/search/label/Lax">Bob Lax</a>, who had grown up in Olean, had left most of his manuscripts to the University. I wanted to see them - or at least one.<br /><br />The campus itself was unique. John took some “door” photos for his collection. It felt very “Catholic” to me, in a good sort of way.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhohEXqBiay_oqmKFNQlxuaSpaEz4TSfmydqzqfNJSgTDV-AN_tJ2v1rapM1697g0iQiMpQBoo5weU08UmmvYckVNshIK-dQ8dHwTY_0YhjAPHWNq8Wqq6urI9fgrt5C-06MjPELHemMYJU/s1600-h/IMG_3049.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 283px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhohEXqBiay_oqmKFNQlxuaSpaEz4TSfmydqzqfNJSgTDV-AN_tJ2v1rapM1697g0iQiMpQBoo5weU08UmmvYckVNshIK-dQ8dHwTY_0YhjAPHWNq8Wqq6urI9fgrt5C-06MjPELHemMYJU/s400/IMG_3049.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376130515896320434" border="0" /></a>I like the St. Joseph Oratory, a little round chapel, right in the middle of campus. Inside there was a statue of St. Joseph, with bench and cushions going around the wall, like a little meditation room. I have special place in my heart for St. Joseph, so I sat for a while.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-E-qfPRevx13AMy_K0igFupNPQETvwokbudRhsx4-rDIj-0VHb74UqdvBnfIGGdFOSwCE-c7GNSMzFGbMS5D4jZNCxVAkr3-I3-sZ1k-BiLlp8q58CCisSv3r5gaaXqVRwmXgokjFd81y/s1600-h/IMG_3052.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-E-qfPRevx13AMy_K0igFupNPQETvwokbudRhsx4-rDIj-0VHb74UqdvBnfIGGdFOSwCE-c7GNSMzFGbMS5D4jZNCxVAkr3-I3-sZ1k-BiLlp8q58CCisSv3r5gaaXqVRwmXgokjFd81y/s400/IMG_3052.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376130519014956498" border="0" /></a>This was a Sunday, and between school sessions, so I knew that I would be lucky if I found anyone around. The art building was open though - I wish I had had more time to browse that place, boy did it look interesting - and I was directed to the library. A young woman was waiting there, and said that it was open from 12:30 to 2:30 on Sunday. So I waited.<br /><br />Unfortunately, the student who was in charge of the library didn’t know anything about Lax, and the best she could do was show me <a href="http://web.sbu.edu/friedsam/laxweb/">the website</a> the school maintained for Lax. I know those papers are in there, I think that they should have a public room exhibiting photos and Lax’s manuscripts.<br /><br />They did have a photo of Merton in the lobby, saying that Lax had introduced him to St. Bonaventure’s, and there was a brochure for a walking tour that would take you to the places that Merton mentions in his journals, like the statue of St. Therese of Lisieux where he heard the call to Gethsemane.<br /><br />Merton gets all the fame, but Lax was very much a part of the inspiration, and an internationally acclaimed poet in his own right. St. Bonaventure’s has missed the boat, if you ask me.beth cioffolettihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09300116274007165612noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5911246542665061421.post-63838782674202808492009-08-22T02:56:00.000-07:002009-08-22T03:00:20.482-07:00How To Build Community<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTjemD691zMx6-yhz5_ZGeF2hw9uC66mCvn3W4azDsxjjDArrg6Q2QbszrVgRFezOvfqRPvAYnmxnvKj7xcEaK9XVicVEre6gFiJhg-k2f7r3WWv5v2YQXBBVXJe9yDySDiE7f1XEkOhXb/s1600-h/IMG_2857.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTjemD691zMx6-yhz5_ZGeF2hw9uC66mCvn3W4azDsxjjDArrg6Q2QbszrVgRFezOvfqRPvAYnmxnvKj7xcEaK9XVicVEre6gFiJhg-k2f7r3WWv5v2YQXBBVXJe9yDySDiE7f1XEkOhXb/s400/IMG_2857.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372725521380407698" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf_2NgJFy-nR3b-70zASZ7VNRXF5qfYoNhF6i4n-K8wwuBEWkxaS1W2FDCyWn-bouNeBpc1WQ7BKt819GqBjSIvNY_h6rVrp_zAFs5NlbbyFdfaElK7UJn2ie4X4sxdRnBCSkoBR9UzK3H/s1600-h/IMG_2877.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 169px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf_2NgJFy-nR3b-70zASZ7VNRXF5qfYoNhF6i4n-K8wwuBEWkxaS1W2FDCyWn-bouNeBpc1WQ7BKt819GqBjSIvNY_h6rVrp_zAFs5NlbbyFdfaElK7UJn2ie4X4sxdRnBCSkoBR9UzK3H/s400/IMG_2877.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372725514803725058" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">This was on the wall of the eco-house, where we stayed in Western NY State (Wellsville):<br /></div><br />turn off your tv - leave your house<br />know your neighbors<br />look up when you are walking<br />greet people - sit on your stoop<br />plant flowers<br />use your library - play together<br />buy from local merchants<br />share what you have<br />help a lost dog<br />take children to the park<br />garden together<br />support neighborhood schools<br />fix it even if you didn’t break it<br />have pot lucks - honor elders<br />pick up litter - read stories aloud<br />dance in the street<br />talk to the mail carrier<br />listen to the birds - put up a swing<br />help carry something heavy<br />barter for your goods<br />start a tradition - ask a question<br />hire young people for odd jobs<br />organize a block party<br />bake extra and share<br />open your shades - sing together<br />share your skills<br />take back the night<br />turn up the music<br />turn down the music<br />listen before you react to anger<br />mediate a conflict<br />seek to understand<br />learn from new and<br />uncomfortable angles<br />know that no one is silent<br />though many are not heard<br />work to change this</div>beth cioffolettihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09300116274007165612noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5911246542665061421.post-24074519519170245762009-08-21T18:00:00.000-07:002009-08-21T18:09:49.881-07:00Hitachi John in Illinois<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglZO2zuK90OZFNtxw5uiSSPSECxVtBzDNslggyDeelPbIftEHZs2mCGV6T8ndOejtzUX0q4t_-tCkRYy6rWS9hcI8ZE8alEcJ-0vVwPFXDNnSdOGeJfd5u29m_vcX5uUT8kFPgUA3GjwR8/s1600-h/hitachi+john_3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 329px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglZO2zuK90OZFNtxw5uiSSPSECxVtBzDNslggyDeelPbIftEHZs2mCGV6T8ndOejtzUX0q4t_-tCkRYy6rWS9hcI8ZE8alEcJ-0vVwPFXDNnSdOGeJfd5u29m_vcX5uUT8kFPgUA3GjwR8/s400/hitachi+john_3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372588008808354674" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMYxCHgGT00EE5eGGvP_B8RZgET5htvzSEKI7bfEsqrP-4UUkidn27FNOjgXWgmwrFqoFpFvNtumddRNz8Sfdmu7YCJrxKg_JBqu4NGStfhycrzsKXxdeT8unl-zxX3Oi-lTfc7-z96imo/s1600-h/hitachi+john+2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMYxCHgGT00EE5eGGvP_B8RZgET5htvzSEKI7bfEsqrP-4UUkidn27FNOjgXWgmwrFqoFpFvNtumddRNz8Sfdmu7YCJrxKg_JBqu4NGStfhycrzsKXxdeT8unl-zxX3Oi-lTfc7-z96imo/s400/hitachi+john+2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372587195506745666" border="0" /></a><br />The new Hitachi John photo, at the Coffeen Plant in Coffeen, Illinois. One more week ...<br />(Note: it appears that blogger is no longer preserving the resolution of the uploaded photos :-( ... photos look look a lot fuzzier than they really are!)beth cioffolettihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09300116274007165612noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5911246542665061421.post-84619766651215077432009-08-19T07:17:00.000-07:002009-08-19T07:32:25.876-07:00homeWhoever knew that Florida could be so beautiful in mid-August, with its billowy clouds stacked high in the sky, delivering little rain squalls here and there? Whoever knew that my home could be feel like such a sanctuary and paradise, with overgrown weeds and pine needles clumped all over the patio, or that I would gulp the sweet, moist air coming in off the Atlantic Ocean.<br /><br />Jubilee can’t stop smiling.<br /><br />The lighting is different here. Sunglasses are not an option, they are a necessity. Florida is that much brighter than the rest of the country. And whereas I chugged to get over the mountains of PA and WV, my old car could glide down the Florida peninsula, keeping up and even passing everyone else. ( I WAS in a hurry to get home.)<br /><br />I especially like the looks of West Virginia. Always I’m intrigued with and drawn toward the low country of South Carolina and Georgia. There are so many trees most everywhere on the Eastern side of the USA! From afar, each individual tree must look like a blade grass.<br /><br />I don’t know where to start. John is still in Illinois, and I may want to express some impressions I got from living there for 2 1/2 months. There are some things to tell about the trip home, though, in no particular order ...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgavft8dKBQXbiIQciDgT4WduhneREgTZQGDmjg2cRmiKxHEvJxKJVOoqbjkC023DAIIXYh9IGouExLy7nIpxZoD3vqiXBh9YhPel7OT_4Mgh6MY93X4srT_5VYMnEGOMB2SkKiTSMyjg3-/s1600-h/IMG_3046.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgavft8dKBQXbiIQciDgT4WduhneREgTZQGDmjg2cRmiKxHEvJxKJVOoqbjkC023DAIIXYh9IGouExLy7nIpxZoD3vqiXBh9YhPel7OT_4Mgh6MY93X4srT_5VYMnEGOMB2SkKiTSMyjg3-/s400/IMG_3046.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371679598513422546" border="0" /></a>Ninety-five year old Aunt Louise showed up at the pig roast in the middle of PA (near Wellsboro) where we were celebrating Jon and Heather’s wedding. One morning at breakfast she told us the story of her visit to the doctor last year when she fell and hurt her wrist. They couldn’t find any medical records for her and asked when was the last time she had seen a doctor. Well, Dr. Harry Spalding used to be my doctor. He retired 15 years ago, they said. Well, I have 2 son-in-laws who are doctors. Do they treat you, they asked. Well, no. So what kind of medication are you on? Well, I eat an egg every morning and I take an aspirin every night, and I just don’t see any sense to going to the doctor when I feel ok.<br /><br />What a healthy attitude she has toward aging, death, and doctors!<br /><br />There was the funky little collection of cottages on Lake Erie, where we had ice cream and yellow Lake Erie perch.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8VBuekit_51tgkKWs7NZKgwbZSE5y0el74hKrXifTncOqlCHb8zZ4r2oeeJh9jrskP3itUjPFrR4dtiC7QVTuHdhUGB-MRcEfngFRp5H2bate4RiZuEhwnMMUBxeOgVx-8C3goMYcQBnp/s1600-h/IMG_2768.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8VBuekit_51tgkKWs7NZKgwbZSE5y0el74hKrXifTncOqlCHb8zZ4r2oeeJh9jrskP3itUjPFrR4dtiC7QVTuHdhUGB-MRcEfngFRp5H2bate4RiZuEhwnMMUBxeOgVx-8C3goMYcQBnp/s400/IMG_2768.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371680454185363170" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEA79FbKHLPd3kB4-ucP__-A_x7_3Qc9H4pZbJBC2ZDTCSurxETrWLiNmtyhmmOcG0TpSzIcpeQbD-PVO7wUwDCnE9GIcJk4Jgk8hY5PfDgw4JtID1Pjb-HPNlyY63Voly15hNey_HPzP3/s1600-h/IMG_2766.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEA79FbKHLPd3kB4-ucP__-A_x7_3Qc9H4pZbJBC2ZDTCSurxETrWLiNmtyhmmOcG0TpSzIcpeQbD-PVO7wUwDCnE9GIcJk4Jgk8hY5PfDgw4JtID1Pjb-HPNlyY63Voly15hNey_HPzP3/s400/IMG_2766.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371680446964565186" border="0" /></a>We stayed in an “eco-house” in western NY State where we walked a labyrinth. I want to remember the eco house because it was so simple yet complete, feeling like everything that I could ever want or need in terms of a living place.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDFqycNSPNp5ZKy5w_aX9WzbCDP7q-GAqTaCSzIrHps7qhp1v3zhBGGh9Tp5ZsCS9GDg-CrsqL_MrrxEJ4AA9PHl1dmu9wPt3ZeBjlr6xnUVqfobEYvti5Q8kl2dSS7HD1UlpeBfwpav3Z/s1600-h/IMG_2862.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDFqycNSPNp5ZKy5w_aX9WzbCDP7q-GAqTaCSzIrHps7qhp1v3zhBGGh9Tp5ZsCS9GDg-CrsqL_MrrxEJ4AA9PHl1dmu9wPt3ZeBjlr6xnUVqfobEYvti5Q8kl2dSS7HD1UlpeBfwpav3Z/s400/IMG_2862.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371682311226056418" border="0" /></a>There was a deeper sense of the meaning of hospitality - that our lives really are home for the souls of each other.<br /><br />I’m tired, but it feels good to be home.beth cioffolettihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09300116274007165612noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5911246542665061421.post-68746793352278277042009-08-08T19:29:00.000-07:002009-08-08T19:54:16.545-07:00Dayton<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0jKF28ZLZ1oyxV2DGdEY335IRVcTjddUtllPJMkc768kBhK1Q8rhP-KiTkt9zJsAIebuOvW3vnWkvTiAlbtqkaa1Qc5nZZlVBmchLaDt_GnfOLi9R91ONKvWgnpQsyqqFjgU_77VGuoPC/s1600-h/IMG_2696.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0jKF28ZLZ1oyxV2DGdEY335IRVcTjddUtllPJMkc768kBhK1Q8rhP-KiTkt9zJsAIebuOvW3vnWkvTiAlbtqkaa1Qc5nZZlVBmchLaDt_GnfOLi9R91ONKvWgnpQsyqqFjgU_77VGuoPC/s400/IMG_2696.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5367788500427347666" border="0" /></a>(gonna make the turn tomorrow)<br /></div><br />There’s something about leaving a place, moving on ... As I was setting out I invoked the memory of many people I had known who had died to watch over me. It’s my way of praying. My mother’s 2 sisters, Louise and Mary B, were put in charge of making sure I was safe. My cousin Doug was in charge of making sure the car ran ok. Sister Charles Benedict, my old high school Latin teacher was to take care of Jubilee.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMfI0VyCOj_nsVfN0orYgRnFsbrfk3CqjuS8zMKvBqWO83og9EmBBsYGBip2qdQf3e6wP-jYd9OctdDfOnOL4Qb0c2rvcT4yAwF6X0TXZZJbeD2N_xA4b-x8wfiyHFVxGQmcaYGLzR5CQV/s1600-h/IMG_2701.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMfI0VyCOj_nsVfN0orYgRnFsbrfk3CqjuS8zMKvBqWO83og9EmBBsYGBip2qdQf3e6wP-jYd9OctdDfOnOL4Qb0c2rvcT4yAwF6X0TXZZJbeD2N_xA4b-x8wfiyHFVxGQmcaYGLzR5CQV/s400/IMG_2701.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5367789182840925570" border="0" /></a>I’m in Dayton tonight with my cousins, Bill and Mary Ellen, whom I’ve known forever. It was an easy drive from Greenville. The land undulates more as you get into Indiana, and I recognized that this was all old territory for me. Coming through Indianapolis I remembered the Indiana State Fair of 1964 when I saw the Beatles perform.<br />The winter of 1972 when I was working in Chicago and John was still at the University of Dayton. Many weekends I would drive from Chicago to Dayton, once during a snowstorm. I could barely see so I just stayed in the wake of a big truck and let him lead the way.<br /><br />Anyway, I got to Dayton early and stopped by the University of Dayton. At first I didn’t recognize the place. I was only here for 1 1/2 years, but I sure don’t remember it being this pretty.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaiHMyJBCgUI6eioYB7aNhVghyRpzuR7vv7WgyxcP0RqtCoCT1n2fgXAZhEpwhuuLBeUSIjnuRbMqpLMgoI-fkuKqHkml_JDI4ZDWPOb9sGVM6PRlH9GyALIn_d-UF_xeHGQE1c_Ktd24h/s1600-h/IMG_2732.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaiHMyJBCgUI6eioYB7aNhVghyRpzuR7vv7WgyxcP0RqtCoCT1n2fgXAZhEpwhuuLBeUSIjnuRbMqpLMgoI-fkuKqHkml_JDI4ZDWPOb9sGVM6PRlH9GyALIn_d-UF_xeHGQE1c_Ktd24h/s400/IMG_2732.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5367789731486928066" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikVE9ALt0ly2jdltoAmRmBncms8yiTC9QFcwPMm_xerZDxVO5cUE1TpYE14jgADI94fPiTa4IKBpo87A0C47yk5c2KrFUItgMeatTLIAt737Ho7N5FD_-5iwPg9azOwbUCsthQ519nARtT/s1600-h/IMG_2728.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 327px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikVE9ALt0ly2jdltoAmRmBncms8yiTC9QFcwPMm_xerZDxVO5cUE1TpYE14jgADI94fPiTa4IKBpo87A0C47yk5c2KrFUItgMeatTLIAt737Ho7N5FD_-5iwPg9azOwbUCsthQ519nARtT/s400/IMG_2728.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5367789730500492290" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj9qeu3LiwJ_2ywxHap_PoPZYiDBAkmzQ68DDCFlgkwcktzPgOb4MqCjjSsjGjpT9I_84w2qOtFMuHoDG82tEKx0kjy2jPMFzsa8NRyOIL_K9Aco-PjQmu5lRWpDoVN2BnLdzxoBtxYYHm/s1600-h/IMG_2715.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj9qeu3LiwJ_2ywxHap_PoPZYiDBAkmzQ68DDCFlgkwcktzPgOb4MqCjjSsjGjpT9I_84w2qOtFMuHoDG82tEKx0kjy2jPMFzsa8NRyOIL_K9Aco-PjQmu5lRWpDoVN2BnLdzxoBtxYYHm/s400/IMG_2715.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5367789724899093554" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9fAJNfa5BB8VrAzZIXFK7x_pMdll4KNhDAbeu0JFJVlXpksUCAM6PPY4LAcftRBLKtOZh7wateh8ra06bd0m6U9i1aJgV8jy9IbiM8pA-eMXxb64OSD3QqLQabkE95pWWv8A4xjlsHvyo/s1600-h/IMG_2709.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9fAJNfa5BB8VrAzZIXFK7x_pMdll4KNhDAbeu0JFJVlXpksUCAM6PPY4LAcftRBLKtOZh7wateh8ra06bd0m6U9i1aJgV8jy9IbiM8pA-eMXxb64OSD3QqLQabkE95pWWv8A4xjlsHvyo/s400/IMG_2709.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5367789718617667522" border="0" /></a>I first met my husband John in front of this house - the house on the right (I think). John was living in the house and his roommate, Frito, left the cutest little black puppy, Kilo, out in front. It was the dog that I fell in love with first! I remember climbing out on the roof to have a cigarette - the summer of 1970. The house looks better now than it did back then.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4rqBMBzCTpnfbYB4Uicxep3v8GZ40YMhgrcbAEPXmeOAS1GbC1d3DZHPRZ7RalBrLOEekkAI-QU2Jh746wc3j0kVSTdTFbc2jyf_Vc_FDj9lVW09mu6wK4oLwugMzRi_kNATS2sygZGOT/s1600-h/IMG_2740.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4rqBMBzCTpnfbYB4Uicxep3v8GZ40YMhgrcbAEPXmeOAS1GbC1d3DZHPRZ7RalBrLOEekkAI-QU2Jh746wc3j0kVSTdTFbc2jyf_Vc_FDj9lVW09mu6wK4oLwugMzRi_kNATS2sygZGOT/s400/IMG_2740.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5367790327580088162" border="0" /></a>This is the dirty deli. It looks the same as it did back then.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuO4b-opc6QTvEOkhGxDW_RCQ3-CZhx7H1fi_cpeFuMxgcAT_CVRCXMhEU9RkOznLPmJSvL_ZKLhWy2UgJNbGnhM6UgUlWY4pT-RtkjOJ0rRBwbiwcuOgQlylPUmVucqw3Xx1P4siX4Zcq/s1600-h/IMG_2748.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuO4b-opc6QTvEOkhGxDW_RCQ3-CZhx7H1fi_cpeFuMxgcAT_CVRCXMhEU9RkOznLPmJSvL_ZKLhWy2UgJNbGnhM6UgUlWY4pT-RtkjOJ0rRBwbiwcuOgQlylPUmVucqw3Xx1P4siX4Zcq/s400/IMG_2748.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5367790896876184946" border="0" /></a>And this, my dear readers, is where my husband and I first kissed. A bell tower (Carillon Park) on the banks of the Miami River.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrVtGrajMIwBDglPPFDAuRAhUSJVac576ycBb_DetWiu6nTmlLjQJMVJzGLGqAVeW96qvomi4sK5D-wPEufep8emQ50VxpJzaX9OzvovvpZNJL4JwQR2TGaXb5URSu78cEmM4Ji82i0QmM/s1600-h/IMG_2762.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrVtGrajMIwBDglPPFDAuRAhUSJVac576ycBb_DetWiu6nTmlLjQJMVJzGLGqAVeW96qvomi4sK5D-wPEufep8emQ50VxpJzaX9OzvovvpZNJL4JwQR2TGaXb5URSu78cEmM4Ji82i0QmM/s400/IMG_2762.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5367791484143033554" border="0" /></a>beth cioffolettihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09300116274007165612noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5911246542665061421.post-89915779249035859692009-08-07T13:12:00.000-07:002009-08-07T16:10:28.371-07:00My last day in Greenville<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMzRLePciM_tEvXwRc-dckPNcKv9laPxTnzYKxSSHxm6SUEbaQpuZNZOG0JDTkk_A_kJxuEFY5VdxxELf_SR7IW3xQXTPr35VPoGiGAsXIC5LWFA_B7MZPOrGthsNwj6hV7Tszglg2_JQf/s1600-h/IMG_2689.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMzRLePciM_tEvXwRc-dckPNcKv9laPxTnzYKxSSHxm6SUEbaQpuZNZOG0JDTkk_A_kJxuEFY5VdxxELf_SR7IW3xQXTPr35VPoGiGAsXIC5LWFA_B7MZPOrGthsNwj6hV7Tszglg2_JQf/s400/IMG_2689.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5367318179324916178" border="0" /></a>Today is my last day in Greenville.<br /><br />There is something in the air. It is slightly overcast today, not quite hot, but with a fairly strong wind. They say that a big heat wave is moving in for the weekend, with an expected heat index of 107 tomorrow.<br /><br />I went to the Greenville library. It was built in 1905 with funds from Andrew Carnegie, hence it is known as a “<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carnegie_library">Carnegie Library</a>”. More than 2500 libraries were built with Mr. Carnegie’s money, often the library was the most imposing structure in town. The one in Greenville is quite impressive.<br /><br />The clock in the round “Ladies Room” was built in 1800 in Bardstown KY and brought to Greenville by one of the early settlers who migrated from Bardstown to Greenville. So most likely I have some kinfolk here. Most of the early white settlers came from Kentucky, Virginia, or North Carolina. Accustomed to wooded lands, they were actually afraid of the open land of the prairie. I read that some of the older ladies were afraid that it would “swallow them up”!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEqv-2u8tj376_EUFBUjHJUV4M-zvxZ0R8uBhDoRsfxbddiXImlNChTe-Gn9sj85A1eiMREIO1aaxUQ_EFPGhUE5YizfiIqWKpoJeO-hSx0Op1rHHydAJ4zFk10Ulx3WXnQd9djhTHEgH8/s1600-h/IMG_2690.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEqv-2u8tj376_EUFBUjHJUV4M-zvxZ0R8uBhDoRsfxbddiXImlNChTe-Gn9sj85A1eiMREIO1aaxUQ_EFPGhUE5YizfiIqWKpoJeO-hSx0Op1rHHydAJ4zFk10Ulx3WXnQd9djhTHEgH8/s400/IMG_2690.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5367318568698948354" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQzIp9UYNG9iQwN4UFnN3fEga2kduHRKYnun7nxJwyF4FY3lNSvZqQM1uITtwjVo8F2V3uLYC0VFP6kszcp8e19YN5bDjn-prg8odrc1ftGSFVOHaepR9z4PuLY32Et_mhO2qYuLLkCVOv/s1600-h/IMG_2691.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQzIp9UYNG9iQwN4UFnN3fEga2kduHRKYnun7nxJwyF4FY3lNSvZqQM1uITtwjVo8F2V3uLYC0VFP6kszcp8e19YN5bDjn-prg8odrc1ftGSFVOHaepR9z4PuLY32Et_mhO2qYuLLkCVOv/s400/IMG_2691.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5367318573200874386" border="0" /></a>The young man at the front desk was most helpful pointing things out to me, especially the Bible, which was the library’s first book. He said that not too many libraries could boast that claim.<br /><br />I asked about newspapers. They had the St. Louis newspaper, the Greenville newspaper. The New York Times? No, but they had the Wall Street Journal. Bummer.<br /><br />I also got some more photos of the art that is on some of the buildings around town. Someone told me that this was all done by the high school students. The doctor is on a Medical Building, the woman carrying the chair is a at an antique store, etc.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEKLeLbGLuSL7GKO_r60Aamvptcge_KoTZASJYMJL_MuZMpnSva2BfQznIMOnS_vCqpmw3-gKtUUD6K6znh4eHPs6VC1FIdPzXQyVLqfDIkpUr6vptRB9dz1dB1p_eNJjZH4tWIeiE00D7/s1600-h/IMG_2448.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEKLeLbGLuSL7GKO_r60Aamvptcge_KoTZASJYMJL_MuZMpnSva2BfQznIMOnS_vCqpmw3-gKtUUD6K6znh4eHPs6VC1FIdPzXQyVLqfDIkpUr6vptRB9dz1dB1p_eNJjZH4tWIeiE00D7/s400/IMG_2448.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5367319871454732194" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipJqD6wgWnUO9AC_2NurXgBRH4-Du30qRd0t6dBsa1jdOhuEQS70bJz6EE9zMDvDvWQA1dUVGWycPlGegXNNJL8run2Oa0G_yJuq9dneX6rgcZ2tW2AA5WHIwqW1NzV-ePXoaw-mVCyrB0/s1600-h/IMG_2450.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipJqD6wgWnUO9AC_2NurXgBRH4-Du30qRd0t6dBsa1jdOhuEQS70bJz6EE9zMDvDvWQA1dUVGWycPlGegXNNJL8run2Oa0G_yJuq9dneX6rgcZ2tW2AA5WHIwqW1NzV-ePXoaw-mVCyrB0/s400/IMG_2450.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5367319620538018482" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGJun-zwunOZj6vUSSrKJRsUOiamirXbcGzkXB3m-P69dotAgqNfuJ88E3kmkCt-l7xz8knJWHbUIzj2UAvWeQRIBT5l7cnrZYcpyLH0ewi9lyEix3R4yNsfQxwcH9pGPEOWTxfYx-kXgm/s1600-h/IMG_2679.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGJun-zwunOZj6vUSSrKJRsUOiamirXbcGzkXB3m-P69dotAgqNfuJ88E3kmkCt-l7xz8knJWHbUIzj2UAvWeQRIBT5l7cnrZYcpyLH0ewi9lyEix3R4yNsfQxwcH9pGPEOWTxfYx-kXgm/s400/IMG_2679.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5367319447676384770" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitOriBCGCrm-f19n-792la3YxIIeToy1ZVvdjCljxw4HuG6qGXuywdV5Duzp-YnHdS8fv4XKiM4x2F1tBMmy1eNjIdQ4avTLUIFKkSwPkymQfno4LgoUcvUP_LOUgfryLYbogVsDw-gA3Z/s1600-h/IMG_2682.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitOriBCGCrm-f19n-792la3YxIIeToy1ZVvdjCljxw4HuG6qGXuywdV5Duzp-YnHdS8fv4XKiM4x2F1tBMmy1eNjIdQ4avTLUIFKkSwPkymQfno4LgoUcvUP_LOUgfryLYbogVsDw-gA3Z/s400/IMG_2682.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5367319440819939634" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR9c8BsvX2-GixN9akSwtYnEzYbx4CpnhcpI9t4ls0P1W9vLqXMkf55IkK0anFBV2CA_9Q5GfOJ5TelYh3V18z8nsnf7lUFpJpu2l-90Nq74cehKzfeUd-_PuMwbVdvCBEjkb-6LLI1I2J/s1600-h/IMG_2676.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR9c8BsvX2-GixN9akSwtYnEzYbx4CpnhcpI9t4ls0P1W9vLqXMkf55IkK0anFBV2CA_9Q5GfOJ5TelYh3V18z8nsnf7lUFpJpu2l-90Nq74cehKzfeUd-_PuMwbVdvCBEjkb-6LLI1I2J/s400/IMG_2676.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5367319439239656546" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqAvvBVIvwhS7OZfpiCgVQdZ1noS9Kd-XJtqmt32rqzvBHFYJrI59csyl1zjXImwwsRNKxXtaMZgfXYI5pZB3WB21qrlbQvI2UIJZQ3fhGym8lHIKpJEb861QYX46UtijUiH7thUMQpSs3/s1600-h/IMG_2677.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqAvvBVIvwhS7OZfpiCgVQdZ1noS9Kd-XJtqmt32rqzvBHFYJrI59csyl1zjXImwwsRNKxXtaMZgfXYI5pZB3WB21qrlbQvI2UIJZQ3fhGym8lHIKpJEb861QYX46UtijUiH7thUMQpSs3/s400/IMG_2677.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5367320619197637714" border="0" /></a>This is the old firehouse turned into an artists’ coop.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQqKEB2CiQi4ldwerjKeNqVQte3VUDNrzBV69vMgBxXJ_9KGy3lKb1-_Vg2JDc24XBgTxpVu7fWisWYUzgqF5uoHqziXZ2ex1uP64w2OwrvGSB-_ydGGxqVmUhOCqUkjoUkLGNZp3lC-YM/s1600-h/IMG_2686.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQqKEB2CiQi4ldwerjKeNqVQte3VUDNrzBV69vMgBxXJ_9KGy3lKb1-_Vg2JDc24XBgTxpVu7fWisWYUzgqF5uoHqziXZ2ex1uP64w2OwrvGSB-_ydGGxqVmUhOCqUkjoUkLGNZp3lC-YM/s400/IMG_2686.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5367321331838472210" border="0" /></a>Just as I was bemoaning the insularity of small Midwestern farming communities, a woman with a Harvard t-shirt came right up to me and we started talking about small towns and Florida and radio stations! She wasn't the least bit suspicious of me!beth cioffolettihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09300116274007165612noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5911246542665061421.post-62125972455134262762009-08-05T09:32:00.000-07:002009-08-05T09:55:56.993-07:00The Bond County Fair<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUKcWtnYDlHdUAfSQR007PtE7tN8TOHexLxKApSeU260AQqd9M3OUnkp4O9VHZN8WeppE9swom_YNxjUGNhZukviuVvE-OV6rCaoeET2OxeK0_FePpZgetYrVxfFFBdH5gzwVLWTWNikwb/s1600-h/IMG_0671.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUKcWtnYDlHdUAfSQR007PtE7tN8TOHexLxKApSeU260AQqd9M3OUnkp4O9VHZN8WeppE9swom_YNxjUGNhZukviuVvE-OV6rCaoeET2OxeK0_FePpZgetYrVxfFFBdH5gzwVLWTWNikwb/s400/IMG_0671.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5366524353212071138" border="0" /></a>Last night was the Bond County Fair Parade. I walked with my fellow Curves ladies, giving sparkly beads to the many children along the route. "Beads, Beads!" they all called as we came by.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9lHjIFYDqv7fy-ckWypTufBckjqyB6o3NoOB4sWmr0KD0qDZp5g6Wlszpd9Yg9rJQEPkS9kNsmduEb0KyAZi7fJ3wOUZqaAK2qJPnN5MjKnjYbNumjOS4YmkFhqxJ_HVYP1_EFI-vMo1y/s1600-h/IMG_2636.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9lHjIFYDqv7fy-ckWypTufBckjqyB6o3NoOB4sWmr0KD0qDZp5g6Wlszpd9Yg9rJQEPkS9kNsmduEb0KyAZi7fJ3wOUZqaAK2qJPnN5MjKnjYbNumjOS4YmkFhqxJ_HVYP1_EFI-vMo1y/s400/IMG_2636.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5366520272345514626" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4Vt2AKxr95r-4LRttbdnNySX7YvRQ5dFSBhToHq3xmq4em5flWhxTnieIxkWbG7pwdcVMzSoZUIis9YTuLCrKtF560yLdVJudepwQqosQIAr3QDzhBfn88QaFcuzkY_vD8pPg7YoikXgp/s1600-h/IMG_2635.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4Vt2AKxr95r-4LRttbdnNySX7YvRQ5dFSBhToHq3xmq4em5flWhxTnieIxkWbG7pwdcVMzSoZUIis9YTuLCrKtF560yLdVJudepwQqosQIAr3QDzhBfn88QaFcuzkY_vD8pPg7YoikXgp/s400/IMG_2635.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5366520268872472322" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtEWo5hw_taCUgbIZv10AjZiAxn9iBawg-HgwAt5RuTSdQ_gvzHdIPv4w1K80wNZdBgRALRfVBQQ6Sacezezp3VM8WHtzA-iat2eygCgHdxhLe2Nmgf2wkS5huG0dQPU_DmAlGopQRMsAa/s1600-h/IMG_2627.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtEWo5hw_taCUgbIZv10AjZiAxn9iBawg-HgwAt5RuTSdQ_gvzHdIPv4w1K80wNZdBgRALRfVBQQ6Sacezezp3VM8WHtzA-iat2eygCgHdxhLe2Nmgf2wkS5huG0dQPU_DmAlGopQRMsAa/s400/IMG_2627.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5366520261528755170" border="0" /></a>Animals, tractors, pretty girls and more ...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFVq5HEexn_yOcndQ-dI5toiUCPqoXUiBNuOpxmfEap1ET-AyRwqaKLXI8r-EnsrUTCeeD9r9nO_KXecv38hChe18ETdi7hUvz84hQ-RRUR-mGxDrrjuQb-sqDrAwUK4emkUWNv70_yH-g/s1600-h/IMG_0674.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFVq5HEexn_yOcndQ-dI5toiUCPqoXUiBNuOpxmfEap1ET-AyRwqaKLXI8r-EnsrUTCeeD9r9nO_KXecv38hChe18ETdi7hUvz84hQ-RRUR-mGxDrrjuQb-sqDrAwUK4emkUWNv70_yH-g/s400/IMG_0674.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5366524073322963090" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjANaSDc1306Kn-j56KHZJhBz0Z1SMjS-kimQB_v4WnEj4JFzBgPnKidnnVpoun2xiCf8CHSqOB8HGcOe7_Ib5IGzliAB6DNMeT6S18MmG_jXI48WKFYAhYptNzKiwAOPqBgHgnyu55fkhh/s1600-h/IMG_0675.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjANaSDc1306Kn-j56KHZJhBz0Z1SMjS-kimQB_v4WnEj4JFzBgPnKidnnVpoun2xiCf8CHSqOB8HGcOe7_Ib5IGzliAB6DNMeT6S18MmG_jXI48WKFYAhYptNzKiwAOPqBgHgnyu55fkhh/s400/IMG_0675.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5366524071407056562" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1C1V-kMBam_-ZP4TbpMI5-ojR-Gs4N6XbS77956V__ciSxDe7kj8IR1NfoaS5OiKsTtWEf7PhKut67d0bFXiHlrD10T7P57L7A9C5NFqg6nS12ylCRAfu_WiF3pjjDgytRkIkudyXwcO1/s1600-h/IMG_0679.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1C1V-kMBam_-ZP4TbpMI5-ojR-Gs4N6XbS77956V__ciSxDe7kj8IR1NfoaS5OiKsTtWEf7PhKut67d0bFXiHlrD10T7P57L7A9C5NFqg6nS12ylCRAfu_WiF3pjjDgytRkIkudyXwcO1/s400/IMG_0679.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5366524065581744738" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_d7GvalnsVi2noeQHCd2qBuEAfMMy9QFkvz312OnyUbq4K4Av8QTePSWyd5Q2YMELMHHL_eRUs4p1iqs8jyqFJzD7hrGNd8Nomlk4q700umXqzHc4nD3wdbPV5KLSmHnjLuqQfSq8_XoF/s1600-h/IMG_2666.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_d7GvalnsVi2noeQHCd2qBuEAfMMy9QFkvz312OnyUbq4K4Av8QTePSWyd5Q2YMELMHHL_eRUs4p1iqs8jyqFJzD7hrGNd8Nomlk4q700umXqzHc4nD3wdbPV5KLSmHnjLuqQfSq8_XoF/s400/IMG_2666.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5366521455779694962" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYV4nk5tOnfwXK8w33GS9N3Z99DuBMUroeqgQxILtI4PrNXFz8d2HR51MRlTYj_OyPSNEV_xB18ImY61T-1B928K-0RZOIzhPYdM4wK3Kln937ie8EMiqj_25NkHeKIz4sXCMQfNgMsK7Z/s1600-h/IMG_0686.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYV4nk5tOnfwXK8w33GS9N3Z99DuBMUroeqgQxILtI4PrNXFz8d2HR51MRlTYj_OyPSNEV_xB18ImY61T-1B928K-0RZOIzhPYdM4wK3Kln937ie8EMiqj_25NkHeKIz4sXCMQfNgMsK7Z/s400/IMG_0686.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5366521444134516674" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUUpRNXzkvOUlm-Q7i8ZdRLYwsOr7CnoZ76N5zMR-uZyoSayMNS9sC4mtQ_Nm6WoiWk_BSCxpxo-rHgZSPJhIWEaNwQ-0EoyNlxGwCu_G_OKEIbBaC7wzDsr-BLyyvROS7-CS2_E-aDRG_/s1600-h/IMG_0687.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUUpRNXzkvOUlm-Q7i8ZdRLYwsOr7CnoZ76N5zMR-uZyoSayMNS9sC4mtQ_Nm6WoiWk_BSCxpxo-rHgZSPJhIWEaNwQ-0EoyNlxGwCu_G_OKEIbBaC7wzDsr-BLyyvROS7-CS2_E-aDRG_/s400/IMG_0687.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5366521440281749698" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbJATBktYcktsYMU-Rc-UHmg3-Aq1TCsCy0Pu39aLrcQsZHQ7w2IP5FwLQDPa6RUHJtyleCZyEQAjVFQhj7M60naXri7CrRdaJHdjjpkpvDILmR0PzzchKQr75M_Z1ax0afBtAhjh7cFLn/s1600-h/IMG_0694.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 279px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbJATBktYcktsYMU-Rc-UHmg3-Aq1TCsCy0Pu39aLrcQsZHQ7w2IP5FwLQDPa6RUHJtyleCZyEQAjVFQhj7M60naXri7CrRdaJHdjjpkpvDILmR0PzzchKQr75M_Z1ax0afBtAhjh7cFLn/s400/IMG_0694.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5366521438717140978" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAgEdf9LDsvy6jrq1n_uwU4-3v8BHVxbPO7sOGJzd3_8JNNx5IqKsKlVC5hCNNfh7ViDwDqyiNQlSCArZlENQQtBwBg4-sPc7oyEGTP6RWJErl66KsBbYWroArF5IVUUPHYzHDK4q81uCX/s1600-h/IMG_2649.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 333px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAgEdf9LDsvy6jrq1n_uwU4-3v8BHVxbPO7sOGJzd3_8JNNx5IqKsKlVC5hCNNfh7ViDwDqyiNQlSCArZlENQQtBwBg4-sPc7oyEGTP6RWJErl66KsBbYWroArF5IVUUPHYzHDK4q81uCX/s400/IMG_2649.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5366521432876710114" border="0" /></a>beth cioffolettihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09300116274007165612noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5911246542665061421.post-88236342634338147412009-08-04T18:56:00.000-07:002009-08-04T18:58:15.902-07:00more corn tunnel photos<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUcHRV_NcQixV5biKc0mAhe_Yv8n_d3pVWQTKBEdzB_th3jo4y0CJjsQEPrT3x5ua9ESxvqnV52ShONjck8ONeB_Dn9BiwAkZrybLOpbUtpbrDDmu1ZEj2fxxr1spty9JPOCl5rztXB9kk/s1600-h/IMG_0667.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 203px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUcHRV_NcQixV5biKc0mAhe_Yv8n_d3pVWQTKBEdzB_th3jo4y0CJjsQEPrT3x5ua9ESxvqnV52ShONjck8ONeB_Dn9BiwAkZrybLOpbUtpbrDDmu1ZEj2fxxr1spty9JPOCl5rztXB9kk/s400/IMG_0667.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5366293110780310018" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgNOZbEGnbpbZFH6HYcmiq98GMeXDFb2Av90_95Cgzl7kjpN7EYXTaDERGkwHQ6pd12FOlR0IAKbuIuT42lQEFCGL5bADS0Kw6l8eakhbqB3r_HSk5i8y0qAvHWxo9vW5cSUenl-Q8VazG/s1600-h/IMG_0666.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 222px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgNOZbEGnbpbZFH6HYcmiq98GMeXDFb2Av90_95Cgzl7kjpN7EYXTaDERGkwHQ6pd12FOlR0IAKbuIuT42lQEFCGL5bADS0Kw6l8eakhbqB3r_HSk5i8y0qAvHWxo9vW5cSUenl-Q8VazG/s400/IMG_0666.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5366293108108292146" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbYXO27-ENTWBMXTIS0SBvrd7ssIgwQ_t1_kw-81144AyzO2ANHl_v_wnaEjzqBcmUONkWun9lZfXxCIvEhaIyQBjhreBi9pNWa8p4V3kdV2P0nhkyth0WfdpfpQrIfEwcsKxzJDQHIGMf/s1600-h/IMG_0665.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 276px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbYXO27-ENTWBMXTIS0SBvrd7ssIgwQ_t1_kw-81144AyzO2ANHl_v_wnaEjzqBcmUONkWun9lZfXxCIvEhaIyQBjhreBi9pNWa8p4V3kdV2P0nhkyth0WfdpfpQrIfEwcsKxzJDQHIGMf/s400/IMG_0665.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5366293098325186114" border="0" /></a>beth cioffolettihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09300116274007165612noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5911246542665061421.post-48114072074030317682009-08-03T17:04:00.001-07:002009-08-03T17:08:30.367-07:00Corn Tunnels<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggVsI2Q-E81SSSqaGRxUxw9A5y-MoU71u2Y1opQ7UkYxSkPLqe_mDJAu-oyhZWXetO6kf3NB0uxVBWtpW39kwvYF8l5GRHcv9Jx-hZE6o3Iw0rE4A4SThv9gAdXQyFPKQJWRhhpT-TLQB6/s1600-h/IMG_0664.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 216px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggVsI2Q-E81SSSqaGRxUxw9A5y-MoU71u2Y1opQ7UkYxSkPLqe_mDJAu-oyhZWXetO6kf3NB0uxVBWtpW39kwvYF8l5GRHcv9Jx-hZE6o3Iw0rE4A4SThv9gAdXQyFPKQJWRhhpT-TLQB6/s400/IMG_0664.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5365892953987505522" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRDzUlsHCB1HT91BeJ3KDGECRVKXy7idFyD-jG4IETP52WeWe4pCNTXWaA7mQZA6URVlMvaBivA6FQrCIFwPSawR639W4tbLQK3fOL2uwU6E0Ur658rsKaxulrB4ouYpeh6TcfrPkwi9DR/s1600-h/IMG_0663.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 245px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRDzUlsHCB1HT91BeJ3KDGECRVKXy7idFyD-jG4IETP52WeWe4pCNTXWaA7mQZA6URVlMvaBivA6FQrCIFwPSawR639W4tbLQK3fOL2uwU6E0Ur658rsKaxulrB4ouYpeh6TcfrPkwi9DR/s400/IMG_0663.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5365892951450524642" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />The corn is so high that it feels like you're going through a tunnel when you drive through.beth cioffolettihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09300116274007165612noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5911246542665061421.post-44430361030420893682009-08-03T06:25:00.000-07:002009-08-03T07:17:30.367-07:00the long journey homeA big journey is coming up for Jubilee and I - the long winding trip back to Florida. In less than 5 days we will be on the road. I can’t believe it is coming up so fast. First we will cousin-hop across Ohio, visiting Billy Hart in Dayton and then Felicia and Aunt Louise in a cottage on Lake Erie somewhere outside of Cleveland. Then we will head over to western NY where my sister lives. We will stay the week there, preparing for the big pig roast to celebrate the marriage of Jonathan and Heather (which took place last year, but we’re just getting around to celebrating). Nephews and nieces-in-law and grand nephews and more.<br /><br />From there we will wind our way down to Florida, visiting whomever we can find along the way.<br /><br />The summer has been delightfully cool. Not like the summer of last year (in Missouri) at all. This morning it was in the low 60s. Cooler than Chicago. Maybe the coolest place in the state. Not quite as cool as Badlands, but getting there.<br /><br />I keep thinking that the Big Heat is coming, that August for sure will be super hot to make up for the cool days. Dennis says, no, that this is a cool summer. The pattern of weather from the north is set for the season. It’s part of a bigger weather pattern that is more than just one year.<br /><br />I am ready to be moving on. I may write more publicly about my impressions of this part of central America when I get a little more distance and can put it in a better perspective. It may be that I was not able to break into the local culture enough to make a valid assessment.<br /><br />I don’t know what will happen in the future to places like Greenville. These towns don’t exactly look like they are primed for thriving in the future. I don’t see a lot of young people. Maybe when the kids come back to the college in the fall things feel differently. There is an art coop downtown that sells locally made arts and crafts, but that is the only business that I found that was the least bit innovative.beth cioffolettihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09300116274007165612noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5911246542665061421.post-84396967117524474792009-08-02T13:53:00.000-07:002009-08-02T13:59:04.945-07:00Back to Mahomet!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUK6zXETmNkg2Uqs401j4ghR_wFe58_IfrJlUWm2uLDwonAxnJq_kqmJt2fKQj7ns1XBekjnb_fmFgJAc8jQh8VMHB95lSkKDBtWnIgjktwjZd_cfk3Gp5gHgMVpDwHvG9d7fqGQmA9n3D/s1600-h/IMG_2561.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUK6zXETmNkg2Uqs401j4ghR_wFe58_IfrJlUWm2uLDwonAxnJq_kqmJt2fKQj7ns1XBekjnb_fmFgJAc8jQh8VMHB95lSkKDBtWnIgjktwjZd_cfk3Gp5gHgMVpDwHvG9d7fqGQmA9n3D/s400/IMG_2561.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5365473027654421826" border="0" /></a>We spent the weekend with the McMillan clan in Mahomet Illinois. Dennis and Barbara are our friends from the 70s and we have reconnected with them since our returns to the Center of America (see <a href="http://centerofamerica.blogspot.com/2008/11/thanksgiving-in-mahomet.html">here</a> and <a href="http://centerofamerica.blogspot.com/2008/09/friends-and-on-road-again.html">here</a>.)<br /><br />It was a fun time with lots of good food and good friendship. Barb is an artist with so many talents. The flowers and landscaping of her yard is but one of her many endeavors.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRD8tOwzDQ1fQEhhI1tn6nA_0qwDH6F7dOBvUAZgI16QfmRitTIcfJYBdSKpYb7RFBzfGYM4GACLQ2d8IQ31OB7EHjNSAa2bx6A2vYV9jZBwuT3zH8NiYYGrERl5Q2Bq0V9Q3SQwWsZWNA/s1600-h/IMG_2534.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRD8tOwzDQ1fQEhhI1tn6nA_0qwDH6F7dOBvUAZgI16QfmRitTIcfJYBdSKpYb7RFBzfGYM4GACLQ2d8IQ31OB7EHjNSAa2bx6A2vYV9jZBwuT3zH8NiYYGrERl5Q2Bq0V9Q3SQwWsZWNA/s400/IMG_2534.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5365473529336689090" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieS6Z9Z6Jai7SfX_Hlb4d_QLFwZLJY08pkhkO-y4LJmO2uiI45kW_qYtRttbdfYv-TZHS2FUrAuMCH6ulKZyldHygcSq4Fl05ymDv6F4r6AYIBjtLqaXg5XAzr9e3fwKlQ-eZnwEXap63A/s1600-h/IMG_2525.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieS6Z9Z6Jai7SfX_Hlb4d_QLFwZLJY08pkhkO-y4LJmO2uiI45kW_qYtRttbdfYv-TZHS2FUrAuMCH6ulKZyldHygcSq4Fl05ymDv6F4r6AYIBjtLqaXg5XAzr9e3fwKlQ-eZnwEXap63A/s400/IMG_2525.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5365473211653139714" border="0" /></a>We came across this along the Illinois highway. Kind of scary. John said “I wonder what Muslims think when they see that?”<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdx32TXONgU_fM3Yw2tGZIO38bga2lXaKwL2ILVi4klKJgIEtbSOu7win5XvijUanfXTyZLWleXwnLE0rFN9qj-tBCuYacrWtiqnyQQYUyJLKT_znl_QGPkaGJF_PgBL7Z9xFvyASJe2oU/s1600-h/IMG_2502.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdx32TXONgU_fM3Yw2tGZIO38bga2lXaKwL2ILVi4klKJgIEtbSOu7win5XvijUanfXTyZLWleXwnLE0rFN9qj-tBCuYacrWtiqnyQQYUyJLKT_znl_QGPkaGJF_PgBL7Z9xFvyASJe2oU/s400/IMG_2502.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5365473536819215762" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR_G7yPs74-vYhSAqXRfi0_K1qlfQGQtlo_sXTe3RF1mWLsPt1DrPlIj_5PxjPl-FFp82vMSonEbXhqJoVAxh3eRNteggCX_nOlBcWvv5G6quV_cYjgGqsXSEwqh06FUFpMZHzA48g7bBz/s1600-h/IMG_2503.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR_G7yPs74-vYhSAqXRfi0_K1qlfQGQtlo_sXTe3RF1mWLsPt1DrPlIj_5PxjPl-FFp82vMSonEbXhqJoVAxh3eRNteggCX_nOlBcWvv5G6quV_cYjgGqsXSEwqh06FUFpMZHzA48g7bBz/s400/IMG_2503.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5365473533378644450" border="0" /></a>beth cioffolettihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09300116274007165612noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5911246542665061421.post-34250082295029142282009-07-30T11:59:00.000-07:002009-07-30T12:26:15.781-07:00Trees<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBdiSIQbR6c0tJplqGYFIhr_y-Baegn6i-OY2LyqaGFGw3LOeUFdlrcqiWtHpCqGKPjfa4XrfHWmTOAgqpD5HM_zKYKKOyCeV5RC0e7KPd4giDwnFn4qixHoa7OjiQcnoVXYoK6oqxNQSn/s1600-h/street2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 282px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBdiSIQbR6c0tJplqGYFIhr_y-Baegn6i-OY2LyqaGFGw3LOeUFdlrcqiWtHpCqGKPjfa4XrfHWmTOAgqpD5HM_zKYKKOyCeV5RC0e7KPd4giDwnFn4qixHoa7OjiQcnoVXYoK6oqxNQSn/s320/street2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5364334647587886770" border="0" /></a>(Photos take during a walk around the block in Greenville IL, July 30)<br />Someone told me that there must be a “Greenville” in every state. I don’t know about that. But I do know that Greenville Illinois is “green”, at least in the summertime.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO8UK2SMamTARKX4sUx9gBN_cHUln_AjP42xGK1iENaqElErseADOqIHY9mvDvKqm7TrRTL8vF3Y7pZ9CtBB5vK8Gdjs_72O1sl4YZuP7PWNHRN9QcS0DaREcW26DDkAUNo_U6eFcpeTTy/s1600-h/treesbest.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO8UK2SMamTARKX4sUx9gBN_cHUln_AjP42xGK1iENaqElErseADOqIHY9mvDvKqm7TrRTL8vF3Y7pZ9CtBB5vK8Gdjs_72O1sl4YZuP7PWNHRN9QcS0DaREcW26DDkAUNo_U6eFcpeTTy/s320/treesbest.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5364330157029436466" border="0" /></a>I suppose I grew up with all these kinds of big trees around me in Kentucky, but I don’t remember noticing them as much as I do this summer in Greenville. The trees are large presences, standing guard at the street and towering over the houses.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQQJmVOw3X5tcveRO1j0WT0cBicQdKtpYgHSJ3RwjHsPEWS8mBQDd4v0k7wNtTK5UYSZPYOSxHM62YmhsjZ_tspJsznJRb9b0lPq1Z3rFj0Zxq0AR7OtBkApPGI7avjpU3pPv_fZ7x6AEV/s1600-h/tree2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQQJmVOw3X5tcveRO1j0WT0cBicQdKtpYgHSJ3RwjHsPEWS8mBQDd4v0k7wNtTK5UYSZPYOSxHM62YmhsjZ_tspJsznJRb9b0lPq1Z3rFj0Zxq0AR7OtBkApPGI7avjpU3pPv_fZ7x6AEV/s320/tree2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5364331692451829138" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVKs4UbOjkdYAzUhu99sp4zRloIn4IprNYrRZ7DiXFFiyLH_bEp5CFFsrvWJpZSCuhTf20x1AtX6l-5GvWxKvoNSSDSZRR3bSqsNOCw8GyMvAvn0mlB5YZMq7U1xE3aWaAMbS0LWTuCE1R/s1600-h/tree1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVKs4UbOjkdYAzUhu99sp4zRloIn4IprNYrRZ7DiXFFiyLH_bEp5CFFsrvWJpZSCuhTf20x1AtX6l-5GvWxKvoNSSDSZRR3bSqsNOCw8GyMvAvn0mlB5YZMq7U1xE3aWaAMbS0LWTuCE1R/s320/tree1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5364330972438073634" border="0" /></a>The house next door is so shrouded in the shade from these trees that I think it must be cool inside all the time.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmJPeHIxyA5_714yUP3Ua2rb32oQeB5lgqqjm0_jCBS25GEwBkrP5dXnv1dgvC3lKCKtLcT0oqfusl0s4XfPNbEfRYJyjTp70Q6kxmtphd5SbZbobax9n6JPm73BJb-S5Y2E2BjaG2kprn/s1600-h/housenextdoor.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmJPeHIxyA5_714yUP3Ua2rb32oQeB5lgqqjm0_jCBS25GEwBkrP5dXnv1dgvC3lKCKtLcT0oqfusl0s4XfPNbEfRYJyjTp70Q6kxmtphd5SbZbobax9n6JPm73BJb-S5Y2E2BjaG2kprn/s320/housenextdoor.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5364331879198936610" border="0" /></a>Just in the one block around our house there are so many trees, every one different. The really big ones are Elms (I think). There are a lot of them around, each with its own personality. This place must be a sight in the autumn when all the leaves fall.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKhJ3MtphD3KNp7TAgEHGQc3d5lW7FoL_oJE8zaYGFBFXk81YqosVEFpbSdm-QUFRSAZLTBTVKatSVMHIMtj-FKpTniT8XlpYGcEEssYXLc2sfsL3Cs_ozKzXBfsllMAphQtwVKW5sewSx/s1600-h/ptree2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKhJ3MtphD3KNp7TAgEHGQc3d5lW7FoL_oJE8zaYGFBFXk81YqosVEFpbSdm-QUFRSAZLTBTVKatSVMHIMtj-FKpTniT8XlpYGcEEssYXLc2sfsL3Cs_ozKzXBfsllMAphQtwVKW5sewSx/s320/ptree2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5364332310372371458" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuMsW3DZZMyrGfXqOC7IRfV3ax6_CZzS2rIO8L85LB6Hv0_YUNEp4oBH0WCwOrbJvPTKpqDxLItBPNNaSY1BEmH_8rlTi4wZ2tX8G4D0SxDeHRY9ZI5AM7uBH9CkOHMV03IMoCrpb_nvlL/s1600-h/ptree1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuMsW3DZZMyrGfXqOC7IRfV3ax6_CZzS2rIO8L85LB6Hv0_YUNEp4oBH0WCwOrbJvPTKpqDxLItBPNNaSY1BEmH_8rlTi4wZ2tX8G4D0SxDeHRY9ZI5AM7uBH9CkOHMV03IMoCrpb_nvlL/s320/ptree1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5364332306067773554" border="0" /></a>Even the bark is fascinating and seems to have its own story to tell. Imagining the giant roots going way down into the ground is almost scary.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIzci4BzJOH6fYnrEvq8W9FfFIsdOpFROn6kS47jo5v0OIROQL6j-GqvuJc10St2yHt4buJHCRGcgYdtEcJyyiuYBr4iLu5Q8DhlgLRYwAdwp5MqmPXmxHehX1aEcJrBW0NygvINu8l1en/s1600-h/bark3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIzci4BzJOH6fYnrEvq8W9FfFIsdOpFROn6kS47jo5v0OIROQL6j-GqvuJc10St2yHt4buJHCRGcgYdtEcJyyiuYBr4iLu5Q8DhlgLRYwAdwp5MqmPXmxHehX1aEcJrBW0NygvINu8l1en/s320/bark3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5364332697393316450" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDMNceC2Y3DSNS5Qyzv2pnm_u43X-lU-hSCqdhsbg32BjoLFsio0pwK2wTxrEwWgOTcBTk4ZlyxHAzvixKDO9nZOtelYdOsOGpjoVvbYPbmtSU9gIWWihAoqr1SoIF6I1plWrbMIe0p9a_/s1600-h/bark2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDMNceC2Y3DSNS5Qyzv2pnm_u43X-lU-hSCqdhsbg32BjoLFsio0pwK2wTxrEwWgOTcBTk4ZlyxHAzvixKDO9nZOtelYdOsOGpjoVvbYPbmtSU9gIWWihAoqr1SoIF6I1plWrbMIe0p9a_/s320/bark2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5364332692925927282" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwVJIxmeCAPBDiirbCg_MCItQ4uffinui_lZMnLrgDFiggM5EkrgB5RicbOtdm-GsyoUBUvwBZFoB1sqs8vQRU6uejGofPmLkrS3p55EH-AUlF0X8B9RSe8Ef18qJM3sk3fXZNrkTkpZPl/s1600-h/tree1bark.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwVJIxmeCAPBDiirbCg_MCItQ4uffinui_lZMnLrgDFiggM5EkrgB5RicbOtdm-GsyoUBUvwBZFoB1sqs8vQRU6uejGofPmLkrS3p55EH-AUlF0X8B9RSe8Ef18qJM3sk3fXZNrkTkpZPl/s320/tree1bark.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5364332689080765250" border="0" /></a>I think this “twin” is an oak. It feels mighty, indeed.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj8Kgeth4yQvqeUcbbErR5HWtm1sSCiUqy9kkW_TmIY6MxzXgEj-rbP_dWbyYK3mxzPvVTRzSb5AI9QdjO3UKqOP9B4DGd2mAjV3qZGC7KtEqEuHr87h_04VsG6jEGH5C8Shzm4YeJS7DB/s1600-h/oak.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj8Kgeth4yQvqeUcbbErR5HWtm1sSCiUqy9kkW_TmIY6MxzXgEj-rbP_dWbyYK3mxzPvVTRzSb5AI9QdjO3UKqOP9B4DGd2mAjV3qZGC7KtEqEuHr87h_04VsG6jEGH5C8Shzm4YeJS7DB/s320/oak.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5364333320947119426" border="0" /></a>Every day I get at least one apple from this tree.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUbngtu0yMUyidFNVGfoQXcW7x0PVR3laI1Cr0PXR_pdj9U9oxlCIH0FQgRJE5b88YcEpL9NXGJpndC4ue957CwmEVXVQpJg1pK8lCmTjFIVTPgG3tUchnNXmRZh53KN_SZfaJoQy-PRKB/s1600-h/appletree.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUbngtu0yMUyidFNVGfoQXcW7x0PVR3laI1Cr0PXR_pdj9U9oxlCIH0FQgRJE5b88YcEpL9NXGJpndC4ue957CwmEVXVQpJg1pK8lCmTjFIVTPgG3tUchnNXmRZh53KN_SZfaJoQy-PRKB/s320/appletree.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5364333900073989730" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9lRhyphenhypheniPWfmIzeezyTOffwdf2Meix0lEL_3DgyD0rmtSw9TJ4k2Hr5OcNQoRmfiaZRe67M5lI0LbTY9P4gGLoZpa2S_CgECF6RB45qxZAAYSKDO43vCdprbi6nPx4VVD16uFuucAqxmYnq/s1600-h/apple.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9lRhyphenhypheniPWfmIzeezyTOffwdf2Meix0lEL_3DgyD0rmtSw9TJ4k2Hr5OcNQoRmfiaZRe67M5lI0LbTY9P4gGLoZpa2S_CgECF6RB45qxZAAYSKDO43vCdprbi6nPx4VVD16uFuucAqxmYnq/s320/apple.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5364333888124110114" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAQPH9ZFYoUSGCh-RjyKxqvU6D9QC9DVgcMiOBS_n6j6ycGYVUlxOnt279T-2K7sQoC-ZTVjo89DQTbXkfNKIPxDHmf7EPR4jq3UJ9hAILVpmtL6s5_CJLPw3YuaERkgWcgUMt8K_ibJr2/s1600-h/street1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 178px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAQPH9ZFYoUSGCh-RjyKxqvU6D9QC9DVgcMiOBS_n6j6ycGYVUlxOnt279T-2K7sQoC-ZTVjo89DQTbXkfNKIPxDHmf7EPR4jq3UJ9hAILVpmtL6s5_CJLPw3YuaERkgWcgUMt8K_ibJr2/s320/street1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5364334872453301042" border="0" /></a>beth cioffolettihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09300116274007165612noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5911246542665061421.post-37622099635335319432009-07-27T17:55:00.000-07:002009-07-27T18:09:43.073-07:00Aunt Louise's 95th Birthday<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQsgydDpGaLjlz4brxdIhTT3YBElIsMJnDJgpMNcilTlE0N9sP8_3zvjta_-Sjat0iHRdcxP-Ag853ub9EeWgHtyEe1Lyrp384Gf1ySY_Ngo6SzmnJCxO_4dLnq3FrXQm53RfoXLQIfiF3/s1600-h/louise95.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 254px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQsgydDpGaLjlz4brxdIhTT3YBElIsMJnDJgpMNcilTlE0N9sP8_3zvjta_-Sjat0iHRdcxP-Ag853ub9EeWgHtyEe1Lyrp384Gf1ySY_Ngo6SzmnJCxO_4dLnq3FrXQm53RfoXLQIfiF3/s320/louise95.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363311895604268178" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip6KGH7QUlhzJcHy-d1DRAfzc7zd9IkWKWQw_daGQH7ZdB2wmqeLNID8GU6-32le-AJ_yrdapGq73IF3hNC83FAbEZ308fpZRIKe2wU0YQZo5VGDxQCMTrO3mCUYJm_toTDsVOxEWEvzjK/s1600-h/harry.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 264px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip6KGH7QUlhzJcHy-d1DRAfzc7zd9IkWKWQw_daGQH7ZdB2wmqeLNID8GU6-32le-AJ_yrdapGq73IF3hNC83FAbEZ308fpZRIKe2wU0YQZo5VGDxQCMTrO3mCUYJm_toTDsVOxEWEvzjK/s320/harry.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363311659646574850" border="0" /></a><br />We were able to get to KY again this year for Aunt Louise's birthday. Isn't she lovely? I feel very fortunate to have been able to be there for her 94th and 95th celebrations. Harry had Mass in the living room the next morning ...beth cioffolettihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09300116274007165612noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5911246542665061421.post-70319787123345062952009-07-20T17:48:00.001-07:002009-07-20T17:56:19.896-07:00The Honeymoon Suite<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD0PiLj8JHm26FFvOG58ly0E-_G0YvNU5uVjsMeBXS4OPLNRlS5b15njyHFYDcS9nFLDR_XyUI9tunO1LgRnl7r2gAapImB1dwoC8gPg-rlGO_nMCGfiUr6mBUtqzub2aclwYqQaq065rg/s1600-h/IMG_2211.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 269px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD0PiLj8JHm26FFvOG58ly0E-_G0YvNU5uVjsMeBXS4OPLNRlS5b15njyHFYDcS9nFLDR_XyUI9tunO1LgRnl7r2gAapImB1dwoC8gPg-rlGO_nMCGfiUr6mBUtqzub2aclwYqQaq065rg/s400/IMG_2211.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5360710324970057794" border="0" /></a><br />In the house that we are renting there is an upstairs room. We rarely go up there, since it is on a separate air conditioning system, and we really have no need for the extra room. We don't even have access to the stairs going up there unless I go to the front foyer where the mail comes in through a slot in the door. It's not easy to describe the confoluted layout of the house. There's a door from the front porch that goes through a bathroom to the basement.<br /><br />Jubilee is fascinated with this upstairs room. Whenever I open the door to the front hallway she makes a beeline up the stairs and there's no simple calling her down. She seems to think that this room was made for her!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqWV26s2_6Cd_kws-rHw51MWKJddxz1g9vyvsS2yQmTdFHjVL60tKzzYy5QZ78HSWqZXenk43leabeHXByOdnyMejiw2M9eEk2fN3fsd25jQsfdVwvO8Yq_PMaWxq9wH6xoC3acpSyf5rL/s1600-h/IMG_2216.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 299px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqWV26s2_6Cd_kws-rHw51MWKJddxz1g9vyvsS2yQmTdFHjVL60tKzzYy5QZ78HSWqZXenk43leabeHXByOdnyMejiw2M9eEk2fN3fsd25jQsfdVwvO8Yq_PMaWxq9wH6xoC3acpSyf5rL/s400/IMG_2216.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5360710697756414226" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq3amo1RftGIR4yAWSBj-S_n3th1Ay5ZO0ATxVjFK85WWdt60oFEfr9ODI0g5VqRbn3sL4pTGiYfq2omgfyAbWL0VLlM-yi2QYqo2XOuZTVX4V886kJXOWh6cHug1kGzogsvPXn_h6VUDV/s1600-h/IMG_2215.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 299px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq3amo1RftGIR4yAWSBj-S_n3th1Ay5ZO0ATxVjFK85WWdt60oFEfr9ODI0g5VqRbn3sL4pTGiYfq2omgfyAbWL0VLlM-yi2QYqo2XOuZTVX4V886kJXOWh6cHug1kGzogsvPXn_h6VUDV/s400/IMG_2215.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5360710476703128130" border="0" /></a>I sure hope the landlord never sees this blog!beth cioffolettihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09300116274007165612noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5911246542665061421.post-38524503926053986872009-07-19T12:43:00.000-07:002009-07-19T13:07:41.942-07:00Illinois from the back of a bike<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyNGt7RpwV1AD5Ibo9cAgWyXdFSt0ro2O3X513xidIkuG9WoSgwozI8Za31GW0rLKtimzTcPhaeCDSP7I1RKc6D-npSsxijYESSlooGsJKGfcMNPTbnuSEKnytkwaH3ruL_0dhE6X7K5Ky/s1600-h/IMG_2346.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 299px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyNGt7RpwV1AD5Ibo9cAgWyXdFSt0ro2O3X513xidIkuG9WoSgwozI8Za31GW0rLKtimzTcPhaeCDSP7I1RKc6D-npSsxijYESSlooGsJKGfcMNPTbnuSEKnytkwaH3ruL_0dhE6X7K5Ky/s400/IMG_2346.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5360260696078721218" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivaykI6IKuFooWbROEZ05QMrNSt56MOPRV-4n3C8bD4tH8gDozOiSashHdNZB72yjdkCBKcXVT1w02r0LT6j7hGdrCfxibFNpVsAwwvNEhXr2vJuCNFL-ROMrtnVQ9qTy22txpTAMmDVmK/s1600-h/IMG_2344.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 179px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivaykI6IKuFooWbROEZ05QMrNSt56MOPRV-4n3C8bD4tH8gDozOiSashHdNZB72yjdkCBKcXVT1w02r0LT6j7hGdrCfxibFNpVsAwwvNEhXr2vJuCNFL-ROMrtnVQ9qTy22txpTAMmDVmK/s400/IMG_2344.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5360260017999573826" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6X8LWcfe5lF14MwxaWk0CM_MceEfFUiChI8YdpGQG03HsRgiRJcz_fdlgbemoK5UTFuVJQ5c2HEgTLq_C-ZS290eODUJclvjnttvUgdPrmp-75gZJPTANdAXKAj7Y7O9LzPEytd8kBLzf/s1600-h/IMG_2339.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 299px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6X8LWcfe5lF14MwxaWk0CM_MceEfFUiChI8YdpGQG03HsRgiRJcz_fdlgbemoK5UTFuVJQ5c2HEgTLq_C-ZS290eODUJclvjnttvUgdPrmp-75gZJPTANdAXKAj7Y7O9LzPEytd8kBLzf/s400/IMG_2339.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5360259887798180498" border="0" /></a>In order to retain my <span style="font-style: italic;">biker babe</span> status, I joined John today for a road trip. Straight across Illinois on state road 140 there is corn, and more corn for Americans and their animals.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuXefLOGTNJOn2jySSHg7jFiC2F8Xm_WCUYCz9-gPNZ9mMT-5MHhkQzDvqx6kmzL6PkCeZM2Qb-FR9P3ZxpvOa5zbBIfELdZgYUyDUnsT0x6ikhf7_ALKfnMx9VTydwXwtf44XD9PN2K0S/s1600-h/IMG_2348.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 299px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuXefLOGTNJOn2jySSHg7jFiC2F8Xm_WCUYCz9-gPNZ9mMT-5MHhkQzDvqx6kmzL6PkCeZM2Qb-FR9P3ZxpvOa5zbBIfELdZgYUyDUnsT0x6ikhf7_ALKfnMx9VTydwXwtf44XD9PN2K0S/s400/IMG_2348.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5360260448676979330" border="0" /></a>The photos are all taken from the back of the bike. At first I was a little wobbly, but I got confident as we rode along.<br /><br />We made our way over to Alton. I was glad we didn’t have to stop in Fast Eddie’s again. It’s more of a local site than a real biker bar, anyway.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi65ipAWYRQFrHCcQ7VbwgWXPdV_7bq8CIjOsSuZz9PB6qb9RL66TwaxBjSGtS69ngZOTX3pZHjN0_9Rzr27uvI2tCD-Xu7vxovgM7rk2CNA39L9CSc66a4yKpE4H8AbSU7wEa8Y_JouSRH/s1600-h/IMG_2340.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 299px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi65ipAWYRQFrHCcQ7VbwgWXPdV_7bq8CIjOsSuZz9PB6qb9RL66TwaxBjSGtS69ngZOTX3pZHjN0_9Rzr27uvI2tCD-Xu7vxovgM7rk2CNA39L9CSc66a4yKpE4H8AbSU7wEa8Y_JouSRH/s400/IMG_2340.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5360261102124243282" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBI_LK1gSkuLjo3C5JxMER7ei9kO3H18z4RlGVjgqnaYq4oGeNnyjxpuDiDo6VyL3qRPSccttGPTAU2IxaTBRVPq600XWrle0zroe0xYFgb5yhyphenhyphenuOorp-onsh4QvdEPErS297sy3EaFYkh/s1600-h/IMG_2341.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 299px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBI_LK1gSkuLjo3C5JxMER7ei9kO3H18z4RlGVjgqnaYq4oGeNnyjxpuDiDo6VyL3qRPSccttGPTAU2IxaTBRVPq600XWrle0zroe0xYFgb5yhyphenhyphenuOorp-onsh4QvdEPErS297sy3EaFYkh/s400/IMG_2341.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5360261016808595538" border="0" /></a>Instead, we did the river road up to Grafton. The road had been paved since we were here last Fall, all part of the American Recover and Reinvestment Act!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_sVhEDYdN6EXuh6W6bKQwZvsEcWXEJjoFzCMTLVwhXXjlVt16EY9FTiquIes5mxf4MoDr82Gy7w1wYWKgElHlaiVTq7KuAfGMYJHyllq1D19WAo5v2_4hkufwXDV-GJDLWbEiBcPs0eKn/s1600-h/IMG_2316.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 299px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_sVhEDYdN6EXuh6W6bKQwZvsEcWXEJjoFzCMTLVwhXXjlVt16EY9FTiquIes5mxf4MoDr82Gy7w1wYWKgElHlaiVTq7KuAfGMYJHyllq1D19WAo5v2_4hkufwXDV-GJDLWbEiBcPs0eKn/s400/IMG_2316.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5360261716950822066" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTyz9aM2ClreV9ARbf3QY1mAI_WwtN2dTCFalSYGSGWu485-0ZeJtRzczboxx-1fHAvLAe9xmYONvq9hX-4vHd-ERzk2pJqKXwB83gK2Syvz7KRUGsO4Rpmgg60Rhwf-h1qzMLfEBWun8B/s1600-h/IMG_2332.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 236px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTyz9aM2ClreV9ARbf3QY1mAI_WwtN2dTCFalSYGSGWu485-0ZeJtRzczboxx-1fHAvLAe9xmYONvq9hX-4vHd-ERzk2pJqKXwB83gK2Syvz7KRUGsO4Rpmgg60Rhwf-h1qzMLfEBWun8B/s400/IMG_2332.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5360262180071165538" border="0" /></a>Mississippi River<br /></div><br />We had a good lunch at a place called Piasa’s Pub - pulled pork sandwich, Asian cole slaw, chips - and looked around Grafton some.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiTWqdVwhPnXqOObyV5ZGjDCe6Rms76tcvJraiqY-F-2FQ8aTrgeorVHvHCqekxAH_fRQzGXE5pgBxXgUpJzZhOZTAqNqMk92Ka2gAqYbtPWwYr0TOeP6R0iXhhO1FqcTTjv-V4h8F-3lX/s1600-h/IMG_2328.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 299px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiTWqdVwhPnXqOObyV5ZGjDCe6Rms76tcvJraiqY-F-2FQ8aTrgeorVHvHCqekxAH_fRQzGXE5pgBxXgUpJzZhOZTAqNqMk92Ka2gAqYbtPWwYr0TOeP6R0iXhhO1FqcTTjv-V4h8F-3lX/s400/IMG_2328.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5360263256611534530" border="0" /></a>The Piasa Pub in Grafton<br /></div>And then we came back ...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy7-sCvuB1Ex7hitiobfipJMvLw0v5G6SHyxHbxoGW-SH1bcCkL0vq0cgheHuxr_EX5n6IlOniXngmqXxtBRFkhFkEKRDAVhz8ZVdrCp2CasK01OMngFuYFzd6fAZwJ8ZqIc6n7uw2enfc/s1600-h/IMG_2355.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 299px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy7-sCvuB1Ex7hitiobfipJMvLw0v5G6SHyxHbxoGW-SH1bcCkL0vq0cgheHuxr_EX5n6IlOniXngmqXxtBRFkhFkEKRDAVhz8ZVdrCp2CasK01OMngFuYFzd6fAZwJ8ZqIc6n7uw2enfc/s400/IMG_2355.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5360264108682666882" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2AIwQJwfY-lPsi1_7RJ_Fro5Zzus70eFzpqvH2tpFy_tE9llujZ1kiZ4Ljd1jOR4PfhAbNF89cw_D26E8F5uPrFyDj2sLtKZgBlQm1kT84gR_R1-fdq_MOaCh2ODKeJScw8yBcBK4cjQy/s1600-h/IMG_2359.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 144px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2AIwQJwfY-lPsi1_7RJ_Fro5Zzus70eFzpqvH2tpFy_tE9llujZ1kiZ4Ljd1jOR4PfhAbNF89cw_D26E8F5uPrFyDj2sLtKZgBlQm1kT84gR_R1-fdq_MOaCh2ODKeJScw8yBcBK4cjQy/s400/IMG_2359.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5360264038697586802" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO-XtZqAVSzJvhkNPhZREmfX0QvMCuYg24EuxFribiTvAWAlrjx6T3AZ3o1agpeMqDrUM6yIrgys8BWGL6QfpjF95gfgO1rucNCqKDsBCpA-7eag4A1yLxKjevlXWGHSNs2u7mCud775WZ/s1600-h/IMG_2361.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 299px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO-XtZqAVSzJvhkNPhZREmfX0QvMCuYg24EuxFribiTvAWAlrjx6T3AZ3o1agpeMqDrUM6yIrgys8BWGL6QfpjF95gfgO1rucNCqKDsBCpA-7eag4A1yLxKjevlXWGHSNs2u7mCud775WZ/s400/IMG_2361.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5360263801892436450" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL0DlqfuWcUAoWqrNnMrd_3Yc1N6ulfbcwLrHZ1Q0IzJDSfEEjZ_R6DZ18TRqC-rGlia2FMxHtHqr_IIu-I1a7sSUCdwf4neQpTE6ERud44_TYJLzlTPZcZrmHTe73ad37VwX5xvAnhfGA/s1600-h/IMG_2366.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL0DlqfuWcUAoWqrNnMrd_3Yc1N6ulfbcwLrHZ1Q0IzJDSfEEjZ_R6DZ18TRqC-rGlia2FMxHtHqr_IIu-I1a7sSUCdwf4neQpTE6ERud44_TYJLzlTPZcZrmHTe73ad37VwX5xvAnhfGA/s400/IMG_2366.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5360263652012346594" border="0" /></a>Christmas Tree Farm<br /></div>beth cioffolettihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09300116274007165612noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5911246542665061421.post-10129994262882703982009-07-18T17:07:00.000-07:002009-07-18T17:29:38.004-07:00Cahokia Mounds, part 2<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr9GLwneluCaOT-Ea12-4sYC58xDqsoWdg6cMbP8DSUo6U0Zn_UJmQM4TETfQH1bHttQ7DVQug1RHj4ZzkqKtjMVZQzupJd41D64GCFbR_ddMsaPDQdh0MJIVCXabxmpzb5miJPnlUT6yX/s1600-h/IMG_2246-3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 394px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr9GLwneluCaOT-Ea12-4sYC58xDqsoWdg6cMbP8DSUo6U0Zn_UJmQM4TETfQH1bHttQ7DVQug1RHj4ZzkqKtjMVZQzupJd41D64GCFbR_ddMsaPDQdh0MJIVCXabxmpzb5miJPnlUT6yX/s400/IMG_2246-3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5359956533261748930" border="0" /></a>We spent the better part of the afternoon exploring the Cahokia Mounds.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV0e58d1o8cdJmLcUwMsAiwpM_uo9T1gk5jcdlP0E8g5jWkx8xCai_Saj-szdtcfVvTowF9ksm1csYWhwvhXmn2qeO2I7gMJyPclA7m2hPBkqPASMk4qL6G9UKf0GNK94frATpvE27KNm3/s1600-h/IMG_2250.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 228px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV0e58d1o8cdJmLcUwMsAiwpM_uo9T1gk5jcdlP0E8g5jWkx8xCai_Saj-szdtcfVvTowF9ksm1csYWhwvhXmn2qeO2I7gMJyPclA7m2hPBkqPASMk4qL6G9UKf0GNK94frATpvE27KNm3/s400/IMG_2250.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5359959439869293314" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim-O0o6an-IpZUR84DsC4STgoG392022Ha3jcjz0nrOPUC7wI6xXZvsQ-98Qd1W5V4TdCshLvptJOw3pmGK4fBX38FxWs4OIAwG0PLLu0vAZUNenXXyS8xhQmSgX6CpnVLciJw0jC2qfiY/s1600-h/IMG_2251-1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 299px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim-O0o6an-IpZUR84DsC4STgoG392022Ha3jcjz0nrOPUC7wI6xXZvsQ-98Qd1W5V4TdCshLvptJOw3pmGK4fBX38FxWs4OIAwG0PLLu0vAZUNenXXyS8xhQmSgX6CpnVLciJw0jC2qfiY/s400/IMG_2251-1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5359957275268519026" border="0" /></a>It reminds me, somewhat, of a golf course, with its perfectly kept expanses of grass. It’s hard to imagine 4000 people per square mile inhabiting this place - 250 people per square mile is the definition of an urban area.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiENk5oyrHzkrFOZUVnvmZgoj5KDL7L3iIJn5p300zblc-JQvZ-KP9I0HiT_nDDKPRnLjiHs0-vV4cmNB4PYLn5pNOnBIyx1eXG7T1PaG3jvhygyzt7AYIxO-KdxRT2M6l8uk61NMX0WhET/s1600-h/IMG_2287.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 299px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiENk5oyrHzkrFOZUVnvmZgoj5KDL7L3iIJn5p300zblc-JQvZ-KP9I0HiT_nDDKPRnLjiHs0-vV4cmNB4PYLn5pNOnBIyx1eXG7T1PaG3jvhygyzt7AYIxO-KdxRT2M6l8uk61NMX0WhET/s400/IMG_2287.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5359958768686851346" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy_5529MrB0kJ3nNHJe_W0lnv1RUe1wT_J2KfTa7reHken_F9TA7f35UBSusRuITCH43acwMvZVX1OJKFwCfpXwlsL-jTHdochFmLD5e_472GAe15047ofwx908-ExLjsEVIiqTIAxBpR0/s1600-h/IMG_2274.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 299px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy_5529MrB0kJ3nNHJe_W0lnv1RUe1wT_J2KfTa7reHken_F9TA7f35UBSusRuITCH43acwMvZVX1OJKFwCfpXwlsL-jTHdochFmLD5e_472GAe15047ofwx908-ExLjsEVIiqTIAxBpR0/s400/IMG_2274.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5359958974486258962" border="0" /></a>Seeing St. Louis from the top of Monk’s Mound was cool.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbRu-gCty1mJHFKSd_V57MzkRt_1KT4_2Sq-Oo4FfFQPGxJGgrc078QEKTCzhbjWAcffrIHkFBKkiWSFv-lLTzRKQzQc_ZaWd8_pY087bmaf4TIL5XCZrPuuO9af32_34sd6Lz6YsKNPTE/s1600-h/IMG_2259-1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 299px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbRu-gCty1mJHFKSd_V57MzkRt_1KT4_2Sq-Oo4FfFQPGxJGgrc078QEKTCzhbjWAcffrIHkFBKkiWSFv-lLTzRKQzQc_ZaWd8_pY087bmaf4TIL5XCZrPuuO9af32_34sd6Lz6YsKNPTE/s400/IMG_2259-1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5359957752953632290" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjk0TRalsXgdBnlohb_MRcdRaBa8V1LQWCRaJfBpp4awellY_nFwsV-8SotIzST6WphEdUHYSXLZ8VxvmTpIMynEX09c4pvvjWznZSL_mWJajMKsd-uyLGQcii_17z4iR0nMxjd2qz7VAu/s1600-h/IMG_2258.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 299px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjk0TRalsXgdBnlohb_MRcdRaBa8V1LQWCRaJfBpp4awellY_nFwsV-8SotIzST6WphEdUHYSXLZ8VxvmTpIMynEX09c4pvvjWznZSL_mWJajMKsd-uyLGQcii_17z4iR0nMxjd2qz7VAu/s400/IMG_2258.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5359957624249697234" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdHsh0h6Jh_C1a3OO7m_VtPpOybpjxnFy1pLR4DaVkL2vyxRxdGSSYsLPZNZO-XmyMMNMO4cUbUskFTABVvVbZ_wPk0j_sOdWMemIH2p-Rkd9cWa62gEsC3rMuicuaLxlepsUk6C5afPfl/s1600-h/IMG_2269.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 303px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdHsh0h6Jh_C1a3OO7m_VtPpOybpjxnFy1pLR4DaVkL2vyxRxdGSSYsLPZNZO-XmyMMNMO4cUbUskFTABVvVbZ_wPk0j_sOdWMemIH2p-Rkd9cWa62gEsC3rMuicuaLxlepsUk6C5afPfl/s400/IMG_2269.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5359958472352281106" border="0" /></a>The exhibit area is quite comprehensive and impressive.<br /><br />The diet of the people who lived here consisted of corn, squash, pumpkin, a green leafy plant with black seeds (I can’t remember the name), sunflower seed, and the animals that they could hunt.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPSo2jJ0ATd4bTTBEJokVG9fG_jVila8Hq6gypGAcOWlrDtlouxYsIWdq9IRsqd3N0mTaDPrpJc8hCHLQby0kElTGNOjivaNCaYsV65ItbYKvAp_0QFoNwrOoFASO9msVjEU7yqtr5thcL/s1600-h/IMG_2296.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 299px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPSo2jJ0ATd4bTTBEJokVG9fG_jVila8Hq6gypGAcOWlrDtlouxYsIWdq9IRsqd3N0mTaDPrpJc8hCHLQby0kElTGNOjivaNCaYsV65ItbYKvAp_0QFoNwrOoFASO9msVjEU7yqtr5thcL/s400/IMG_2296.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5359959741554715410" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHx1xzMGgimYYG4BG5UUn3L0-2uaohq6HE3eIHioRbNfJLgiMhkA8whftIAZocxSM4Kjx2maRJN6-l4-LC2WkEVGVtUEWN_Qy14GWFRb3UXfK6OgKKYmCexhT0W97tooFos7w2wuR_T4gN/s1600-h/IMG_2294.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 299px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHx1xzMGgimYYG4BG5UUn3L0-2uaohq6HE3eIHioRbNfJLgiMhkA8whftIAZocxSM4Kjx2maRJN6-l4-LC2WkEVGVtUEWN_Qy14GWFRb3UXfK6OgKKYmCexhT0W97tooFos7w2wuR_T4gN/s400/IMG_2294.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5359960188385884418" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-x2B0ETJcxCtuviPN1uc4kyJ6qAOiu2TI-_Fum2ZUZqlrhiBhxQlRAoR86Kut4TDu2WrftxqHIOd4_0Es3MHn5RuftYhj0TRWILmfcgzbqoPFxjwaQpG3yVwbAC8IaxaPqlglb3z-XQZe/s1600-h/IMG_2307.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 299px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-x2B0ETJcxCtuviPN1uc4kyJ6qAOiu2TI-_Fum2ZUZqlrhiBhxQlRAoR86Kut4TDu2WrftxqHIOd4_0Es3MHn5RuftYhj0TRWILmfcgzbqoPFxjwaQpG3yVwbAC8IaxaPqlglb3z-XQZe/s400/IMG_2307.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5359960361203526754" border="0" /></a>Evidently it was not an ideal situation since many of the people were malnourished and their bones show advanced arthritis and gum disease. They used the term, "urban stress".<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnZza22-ikZEiBod_qKMRTGkv8O6Y_BqdpH9h6M0Jdw1PkjLqEQJ0VbjzwrsfmlOxtNKowfaM3sop9Tmo0EG_P1qKOX7hNiNBacqiFOW8AJVcOSDSdR4Rkt6g4G7cA9nMXmFwU4NcRONYP/s1600-h/IMG_2297.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 299px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnZza22-ikZEiBod_qKMRTGkv8O6Y_BqdpH9h6M0Jdw1PkjLqEQJ0VbjzwrsfmlOxtNKowfaM3sop9Tmo0EG_P1qKOX7hNiNBacqiFOW8AJVcOSDSdR4Rkt6g4G7cA9nMXmFwU4NcRONYP/s400/IMG_2297.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5359959990584859282" border="0" /></a>As usual, I’m interested in the prairie grasses ...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp7aUAoO8KRHDrUiVUasrPLtb79MtHT1ptAo-tnzv5a71O7pBLhJarHCTBELPZoeIVzzgoa_AnXCu6rwoFshUKaKS4NDz1tqegLQ2u8J_Asp0BdZmWCsIevBSjsH1SvNicG6QiTv7HG8wp/s1600-h/IMG_2234-3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 299px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp7aUAoO8KRHDrUiVUasrPLtb79MtHT1ptAo-tnzv5a71O7pBLhJarHCTBELPZoeIVzzgoa_AnXCu6rwoFshUKaKS4NDz1tqegLQ2u8J_Asp0BdZmWCsIevBSjsH1SvNicG6QiTv7HG8wp/s400/IMG_2234-3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5359956912626071954" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIqDpOQTeYcGlHApDJdY0Juu5ExjOnUwM4lRzliHLrEsW9YwCQZKelRqtnKaqMdyS1Q19M2ub749P7qqUxcasS3CDUUAt6ypm-VaOgoIYGZdZegyDnUZkE5ZfOyYci0R57h66m7fdDMMY6/s1600-h/IMG_2241-4.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 299px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIqDpOQTeYcGlHApDJdY0Juu5ExjOnUwM4lRzliHLrEsW9YwCQZKelRqtnKaqMdyS1Q19M2ub749P7qqUxcasS3CDUUAt6ypm-VaOgoIYGZdZegyDnUZkE5ZfOyYci0R57h66m7fdDMMY6/s400/IMG_2241-4.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5359956825460442514" border="0" /></a>Coming home we passed, again, the Federal Prison just outside of Greenville. I am always sad, seeing this place, and it looked especially grim today. Not the best photo because I took it from the car window and John wouldn't slow down because there was a cop behind us.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaCDko_LpFGrN7uSe6k-JFUdsVynuHS4dCa5UX42GZaabj9pHOcXPEoCmYaItHdy8WxWnE_Scu_hRayHLPFg0oy0HB0ZKyNGKVUmlWhQjKHceJx6nzPWTr7zkwjgK4usKKycGXVaUe3xrF/s1600-h/IMG_2314.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 238px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaCDko_LpFGrN7uSe6k-JFUdsVynuHS4dCa5UX42GZaabj9pHOcXPEoCmYaItHdy8WxWnE_Scu_hRayHLPFg0oy0HB0ZKyNGKVUmlWhQjKHceJx6nzPWTr7zkwjgK4usKKycGXVaUe3xrF/s400/IMG_2314.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5359961512438335666" border="0" /></a>beth cioffolettihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09300116274007165612noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5911246542665061421.post-17734810440843837982009-07-18T14:45:00.000-07:002009-07-18T14:52:25.331-07:00The Best Kept Secret in Greenville<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6GvL74w0MfmSvxEzPBQOA64a26awv7URsd5tJhn8iZwVx7NjlA0PaPA1dgMEyIq9yNOuJ-4sVA8LqxdNF_8xU2HCcnPCypUpDZg30R6DUGwb_QdZdgMk0rLrO1Rm35QZMoTZ9Uk6wR7mW/s1600-h/IMG_2230.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 299px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6GvL74w0MfmSvxEzPBQOA64a26awv7URsd5tJhn8iZwVx7NjlA0PaPA1dgMEyIq9yNOuJ-4sVA8LqxdNF_8xU2HCcnPCypUpDZg30R6DUGwb_QdZdgMk0rLrO1Rm35QZMoTZ9Uk6wR7mW/s400/IMG_2230.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5359920839237355778" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS78ikrba8_4iQ7gm4j75RzRr6_Bkcu-7NtM5_P2706u5ISqKREJkjop5rir_lSeG64svSbNHBKiFkHOV_P8UT1GDXg1B6mqM_rDQrgQtcakWy-aHCGixDtsnmPZiQWV7yJWJH-vV2-E5b/s1600-h/IMG_2232.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 299px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS78ikrba8_4iQ7gm4j75RzRr6_Bkcu-7NtM5_P2706u5ISqKREJkjop5rir_lSeG64svSbNHBKiFkHOV_P8UT1GDXg1B6mqM_rDQrgQtcakWy-aHCGixDtsnmPZiQWV7yJWJH-vV2-E5b/s400/IMG_2232.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5359920738706564338" border="0" /></a>Nobody there but me and my European dog. Where is everybody??!! John said today that this is the only town he had ever lived in that didn't have its own watering hole. Maybe we haven't found it yet?beth cioffolettihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09300116274007165612noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5911246542665061421.post-49501067577144843842009-07-17T15:03:00.001-07:002009-07-17T15:05:04.512-07:00The Weather!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs7tqkc4sMe08dlhKTP23RVJC_XRxRZP-swg967bqv8tyqpOJo85LYVH4b7ShtHYvbhHlZZYZn7lDZDOgR2Mq-1XAouoP_sH4yjpkESirGYQHziIVK8bhH0SE7mHZZkUrEqhc8KJyYxhOc/s1600-h/IMG_2226.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 311px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs7tqkc4sMe08dlhKTP23RVJC_XRxRZP-swg967bqv8tyqpOJo85LYVH4b7ShtHYvbhHlZZYZn7lDZDOgR2Mq-1XAouoP_sH4yjpkESirGYQHziIVK8bhH0SE7mHZZkUrEqhc8KJyYxhOc/s400/IMG_2226.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5359553212584677714" border="0" /></a>It is an absolutely gorgeous day. Not at all like a summer day. It is cool! Less than 80 degrees, I think. Not humid at all. The A/C is off. When you’re outside, you just want to exult in it all, both your body and your soul recognize the wonder and specialness of the day.<br /><br />It wasn’t like this at all when I arrived in Missouri this time last summer. Every day, all the way until October, was HOT. Very hot, like in the upper 90s. There was no break or relief. This summer, except for a week or so of very high temperatures in June, has been relatively cool. What an unexpected treat.beth cioffolettihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09300116274007165612noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5911246542665061421.post-3766934462421165842009-07-15T12:20:00.001-07:002009-07-15T12:44:28.770-07:00what I've been up to ...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBZw29cVkD5LC6oH2ICJu8wTsAbJzqDXh1LnetIKyzkziurHroFRsu6ClQxety9nDFdUcveywXYoRt0AqCZE4QXecRQOTI4Z0RyKKphWqQDCyP-3x9jD_lDq8wXeCFvdjr6EpnwjHZvWzq/s1600-h/IMG_2207.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 299px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBZw29cVkD5LC6oH2ICJu8wTsAbJzqDXh1LnetIKyzkziurHroFRsu6ClQxety9nDFdUcveywXYoRt0AqCZE4QXecRQOTI4Z0RyKKphWqQDCyP-3x9jD_lDq8wXeCFvdjr6EpnwjHZvWzq/s400/IMG_2207.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5358768978903129154" border="0" /></a>If you're wondering what I've been up to ...<br /><br />One of my projects this summer was to make the <a href="http://jupiteracademyofmusic.com/">Jupiter Academy of Music website</a> <span style="font-style: italic;">more professional.</span> I've been the JAM webmaster for a number of years, and though I'm not an official web designer, I know enough to put together basic websites. Well, <a href="http://www.absolutemusicstudios.com/">some competition</a> moved into the area, and they had a big flash-y website. "They're going to put us out of business!" the JAM director histrionically told me. Something had to be done.<br /><br />I knew that I'd have some spare time this summer, so I told the JAM director not to worry, that I would hone my web skills, and redo the site. Then my trusty old laptop (on the right in the photo above) began dying on my lap. The screen fell off. The power cord frayed. It would overheat and turn itself off every 20 minutes.<br /><br />I was going to have to get a new computer. I had been lusting for a MAC for a long time, but could never quite justify the expense. Being on the verge of a computer meltdown, and faced with having to buy another PC (and Vista, at that), I decided it was now or never.<br /><br />I went to the Apple website and ordered a MacBook Pro.<br /><br />Oh man, is this baby a joy. I love it. Once in hand, I began exploring the website design software made for Macs and settled on RapidWeaver. It took me a day or so to figure out - and I still have a ways to go - but in less than 5 days I redid the JAM website.<br /><br />Tell me, would you go to the competition after seeing this website?<br /><a href="http://jupiteracademyofmusic.com/"><br />http://jupiteracademyofmusic.com</a><br /><br />Make sure you check out the <a href="http://jupiteracademyofmusic.com/page3/page12/page12.html">Piano Camp page</a>. It's my favorite.<br /><br />I may make a little business out of this!<br /><br />(I'm still hoping to keep the old laptop alive, since that is where Photoshop is ...)beth cioffolettihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09300116274007165612noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5911246542665061421.post-24929965345168910952009-07-13T09:19:00.000-07:002009-07-13T09:23:16.554-07:00Cahokia Mounds, part 1<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR83iJE0YjKe_2wSr5JJyNr1G1VBwGZdH2s4cvx9In9veUcA335foWtaOXQL_yrsAd7n7h24CViwENMVlZp_WZkH6vno-JbEQWuMLZoFOwkBn_bXrMVi1wuB-d1XvupktPaZpmJKt1wCtY/s1600-h/cahokia2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 149px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR83iJE0YjKe_2wSr5JJyNr1G1VBwGZdH2s4cvx9In9veUcA335foWtaOXQL_yrsAd7n7h24CViwENMVlZp_WZkH6vno-JbEQWuMLZoFOwkBn_bXrMVi1wuB-d1XvupktPaZpmJKt1wCtY/s400/cahokia2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5357980571481905602" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicyndbsdtKz7cyr5OfJ55-uI4ampNQCibWDab14R1UoXnmbMNHrVSH785F4kk0IpEWU5LBAzqP0nXXl4PUAOJLLSEXTkHDJ0psAN_cfzc1YwW1bPs8qr_r7TNZ6cWTFpzqmQeG8uX9ZWGF/s1600-h/cahokia1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 245px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicyndbsdtKz7cyr5OfJ55-uI4ampNQCibWDab14R1UoXnmbMNHrVSH785F4kk0IpEWU5LBAzqP0nXXl4PUAOJLLSEXTkHDJ0psAN_cfzc1YwW1bPs8qr_r7TNZ6cWTFpzqmQeG8uX9ZWGF/s400/cahokia1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5357980415353815778" border="0" /></a>Enroute to Edwardsville (yes, I did get my sparkling water), we went to <a href="http://www.cahokiamounds.com/">Cahokia Mounds</a>. I had been wanting to visit this ancient Indian site since we were in Missouri last year.<br /><br />They were hosting a Native American art exhibit yesterday, so there was a crowd, which I didn't expect.<br /><br />We were impressed with both the site and the exhibit hall. Huge, huge mounds, comparable to pyramids, around which was built a Native American center with 10-20,000 inhabitants. The wealth rested upon the huge amounts of corn that could be grown and stored. This land has been farmland for a long time.<br /><br />The largest mound, Monk's mound, is named after some French Trappist monks who farmed on its terraces in the late 1800's.<br /><br />The rain began just as we were ready to walk around the grounds and climb Monks Mound, so we will have to go back.<br /><br />Meanwhile, this is what the Japanese Beetles are doing to the grapevine on the back fence.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwUhW8WSan_Wcrep5nLmAY418P3AoSR2JGcoGF7d7yGh_KtkLW2EsPpRLt73YAQwRRFNL8Glm0vnqZJ_B8XuPWiayl1LYj4BSgi_4jcpnVMbiMIcMgVTAl42cCrvEh8APVG7Ren8bcC_W8/s1600-h/grapesvine.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 369px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwUhW8WSan_Wcrep5nLmAY418P3AoSR2JGcoGF7d7yGh_KtkLW2EsPpRLt73YAQwRRFNL8Glm0vnqZJ_B8XuPWiayl1LYj4BSgi_4jcpnVMbiMIcMgVTAl42cCrvEh8APVG7Ren8bcC_W8/s400/grapesvine.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5357980708375359266" border="0" /></a>beth cioffolettihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09300116274007165612noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5911246542665061421.post-82878573153860407972009-07-12T04:03:00.000-07:002009-07-12T05:05:05.986-07:00Little towns and stealing chard and hope<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpg4rhh_we98mmFktBdCKkRI1qG-MIivegk5J1StTiF5ovt-H0Ti4Nu-cbve0o3eCcPEJfH_lfWnX1iG3CGV-RbEj4qX4RxKElE_71y3aoSSpMW2kZYBRTmLyGfnmXIzah9k7MspPYkXkW/s1600-h/hillaboro1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 279px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpg4rhh_we98mmFktBdCKkRI1qG-MIivegk5J1StTiF5ovt-H0Ti4Nu-cbve0o3eCcPEJfH_lfWnX1iG3CGV-RbEj4qX4RxKElE_71y3aoSSpMW2kZYBRTmLyGfnmXIzah9k7MspPYkXkW/s400/hillaboro1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5357529553526111794" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidVKGoVirI6pEFQRJlRed4WL3x79ivi1nvTCfndZIpFlaDYWjxBKBGDXUahJPK_s8i3mWRKUZ9AuoD0Kza9l71A5h6UZffkQZAbGXtWfFOYmLlRDnJvOYETMsj1cJM4uL6D5CyTQwcz0HC/s1600-h/hillaboro2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 395px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidVKGoVirI6pEFQRJlRed4WL3x79ivi1nvTCfndZIpFlaDYWjxBKBGDXUahJPK_s8i3mWRKUZ9AuoD0Kza9l71A5h6UZffkQZAbGXtWfFOYmLlRDnJvOYETMsj1cJM4uL6D5CyTQwcz0HC/s400/hillaboro2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5357529470278936194" border="0" /></a>The little towns that are about 20 miles apart all seem the same. The downtowns consist of a couple of blocks of mostly empty storefronts. There are a couple (or more) antique-junk stores, maybe a Subway and a Curves. There are the usual fast food restaurants on the outskirts of town. An IGA. Everyone must go to the regional WalMarts for things like clothing or houseware items.<br /><br />Our little town of Greenville has a beautiful college campus - Greenville College, established in 1892. It has been fairly deserted this summer, but in the mornings I see several cars parked along a side street so I know that some classes are taking place. I heard that they offer several online classes. The tennis court gets a lot of action.<br /><br />On campus, next to the bookstore, there is Jo's Java, a little coffee shop. It is the nicest little place, making the best lattes around. (Forget the things at McDonald's that they call latte.) It is not open much, and there is never anyone there when it is open. I wish that it was open all the time. Maybe when the students come in mid-August. I wonder just where the students congregate in this town other than Jo's.<br /><br />My neighbors are on vacation this week. I was just getting to know them and I miss them. They are Mennonites (I knew that there was something special about them). The father is a Chemistry teacher at the college. The Swiss Chard in their garden is ready to pick, and I wonder if picking it is considered stealing? Last night I picked 3 of the giant leaves that were beginning to wilt.<br /><br />I am going to Edwardsville. It is 40 miles away, but I want to go to a grocery store where I can get sparkling water. What an elitist I am. THey have bottled water here - they have bottled water everywhere, even Africa - and they have that awful flavored water that they have the balls to call "vitamin" water. But they do not have clear, clean sparkling water. Like Perrier and Le Croix. I have loved sparkling water since it first appeared in the general American market 30 years ago. What is it about rural America that has to have everything flavored and sugary? Yesterday I got a latte at McDonald's and it was so thick with sweetness I had to give it back. The woman making the lattes said that unless you asked for it to be unsweetened, they put the liquid sweetener (corn syrup??!!) in.<br /><br />Maybe I just got up too early this morning.<br /><br />Maybe it is the strange homesickness I feel. It's not exactly homesickness.<br /><br />Driving through the farmland around here always leaves me a bit bemused. The land is not stark, wild, open like more Western landscapes. Nor is it quaint countryside like you would find in New England, or parts of the South. It is similar to rural Kentucky, but I don't know rural KY that feels quite so, well, Big Farm-ish. Overwhelmingly Farm-ish. Nothing but Farm-ish.<br /><br />Yesterday I told John that it feels a bit like what I imagine The Ukraine to be like. And I don't know a thing about The Ukraine. I don't even know where the Ukraine is.<br /><br />And then we saw this ...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj16YD34UF5IdTMoa7CvcQtX_xQ2PcU3wrbti4BKc-iPahCV107HstMeRorwLGW0qcdZs2naClHsSSVXHXPoj0VNCdpjd6QEBstVRiQUHtZDeV__EkxwhskpgJGKR4fYT7fW4anycgdBo3Z/s1600-h/bonsai1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj16YD34UF5IdTMoa7CvcQtX_xQ2PcU3wrbti4BKc-iPahCV107HstMeRorwLGW0qcdZs2naClHsSSVXHXPoj0VNCdpjd6QEBstVRiQUHtZDeV__EkxwhskpgJGKR4fYT7fW4anycgdBo3Z/s400/bonsai1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5357542769447963122" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTDU3MFyWp7K-RtCjtL3s3VcfFo2U3m3yeeAj-OastXu2mOQAFpRzm0tltHB0NwljWN-WGfC1wZjBeGTtkbn7z_Y1RVxSqjeoUeV2_DEkgI-356jb1PudPWpxlUPGd4eAzbDBd0gbmmlMF/s1600-h/bonsai2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTDU3MFyWp7K-RtCjtL3s3VcfFo2U3m3yeeAj-OastXu2mOQAFpRzm0tltHB0NwljWN-WGfC1wZjBeGTtkbn7z_Y1RVxSqjeoUeV2_DEkgI-356jb1PudPWpxlUPGd4eAzbDBd0gbmmlMF/s400/bonsai2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5357542674084649442" border="0" /></a>On the side of the road a Chinese man from Texas selling Bonsai plants from his truck.<br /><br />Every bonsai that we have ever owned has died, often very quickly. For awhile now we have vowed not to get another bonsai.<br /><br />John bought a small bonsai.beth cioffolettihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09300116274007165612noreply@blogger.com0