Wednesday, September 22, 2010

Scenes of Fall

 

 

 

 



Just before I left West Virginia this past weekend, a couple of things happened to remind me that Fall was just a few days away.

For one, the Canadian geese are honking around and eating the taller grass on the second tee. Probably driving the groundskeepers mad. I saw guys teeing off and the geese not even flinching or moving. I guess if you can fly that far with all the hazards the geese must face, a flying golf ball must not be much to cause worry. I found it a funny sight however. Grown men shooing at geese and the geese just chomping..........

Then a stop at an apple orchard nearby to buy apples, pumpkins, and, oh yes, fresh, juicy peaches. Oops, before I forget, a homebaked fresh peach pie. DE-LIC-I-OUS.

I must confess I had never seen Delicious apples without that wax stuff that they apply to the apples before they sell them. These Delicious red apples came right out of the orchards. I swear they tasted better. Probably my imagination.......I just couldn't resist sharing a photo with you of the apples and pumpkins. Such a fall sight.

I'm back in San Miguel where people celebrate the beginning of Fall at the Botanical Gardens with a Moon Ceremony.
But, alas, no pumpkins, freshly picked apples or honking Canadian geese - yet.
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Thursday, September 09, 2010

THUNDER Over The BLUE RIDGE

 

 

 

 



Saturday we traveled to the Martinsburg Air National Guard base to see a spectacular Air Show. I'm not new to air shows.
Back in my other life I managed a government contract (in the mid 70's) to maintain the air traffic control tower at Ellington AFB, Tx. While the kids were young, we would troop over to see the airshows. The kids always enjoyed all of it.

Fast forward thirty years and the airshows are still interesting and informative. It was a gusty, cool blustery day. Beautiful cloud formations which enhanced the show. There were stunt pilots, AC-5A Galaxy (humongous), A-10s and of course, the USAF Thunderbirds. Quite an awesome display of flying prowess.

To see such maneuvers and flightmanship is an honor, in my opinion. Paul was a Navigator and flew for thirty years. He was a Colonel at this base so it was a treat for me to stand back and see the respect and friendship that he has with the men he worked with for so long.

The airshow announcer was excellent. He talked just like my friend Vandy. Stretching words to describe the sights. Very dramatic and deep voice. I laughed. It was like having my friend announce the show, which he has done all over the country.

Hope you enjoy the photos. We sure enjoyed the day!
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Wednesday, September 08, 2010

Sailing the Potomac River

 

 

 

 



I'm not accustomed to sailing where there aren't waves and whitecaps. It was a strange experience. Not in a bad way, just different. Mostly it is pontoon boats and speed boats with water skiers trailing behind..........on the Potomac River.

We chose to sail one morning hoping there would be enough wind. Unfortunately not - but it was interesting to see the shore line from the middle of the river. One side of the Potomac is a preserved area with the C&O Canal nearby. So, while sailing the beauty of the woods is on one side and river residences on the other.

We were disappointed not to sail up and around the bend. I haven't been that far north yet. Hopefully the next time we go to the river house IF there isn't enough wind, we'll canoe north. It's been years since I've canoed. Decades.

In fact the last time I canoed it was in alligator infested waters, literally. I don't know who was more concerned, my son or I. Those "guys" sure can slip into the water fast and with a big swoosh. I NEARLY jumped out of the canoe. In the interest of self-preservation, I didn't.

I digress.

The Potomac is very calm and beautiful in this area. As we sat one evening watching the sunset, a seaplane came around the curve and landed! I was soooooooo shocked. Who would ever expect that? I think the pilot was practicing touchdowns because he took off again after about 5 minutes. Nice sight.

We saw egrets and the ever present Canadian geese in the evenings. No deer. Oh and rumor has it that a groundhog lives in the shed on the property. I've never seen a groundhog in person. But, I decided to leave well enough alone after I saw the holes it had chewed in the walls of the shed. Big teeth, I presume.

It has been interesting each time that I have been up here in the Northeast to see the difference in the terrain, the lifestyles, and so many other things. Previously when I was in this area it was almost always in DC on business. I'm hoping to go there by train next week with Paul to be a tourist and see all the monuments that I never had time to see while there in the past.

Life is an adventure!
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Tuesday, September 07, 2010

My Window on the World

 

 

 

 



When I'm in San Miguel, my "window on the world" looks out over the canyon toward Delores Hidalgo and the tree shaded jardin on the property. Here in West Virginia, its the deck outside the living room and sun porch. I've had fun spiffing up the area with plants and furniture. It's high enough that the deer can't get to the plants (something I've never had to be concerned about in my life). It's a magnificent place to drink coffee in the morning and watch the Canadian geese munching near the second tee of the golf course. Or in the evening about 6PM, the deer are munching between the second tee and the rest of the golf course. One could almost set your watch by the time that they will show up. The fawn leap and play under the watchful eyes of their mothers. Never straying too far. I "ooh and aah" every time. It is a magical sight.

A lot of time and money is spent by the groundskeepers to keep the course manicured and green. Whereas in Mexico, my beauty is totally natural. I can tell you, for sure, that the grass cutters are out there EVERY morning at 6:45 and the first golfers are usually teeing off by 7AM. We sleep with the windows open to hear all the night sounds. But the morning sounds of the mowers and the golfers isn't nearly as pleasant.

I feel blessed to be staying in such a magnificently beautiful place. It feeds my soul. And I also realize how blessed I am to return home to an equally beautiful place.
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Friday, September 03, 2010

The Bells Made Me Sad

Are there times when something happens while traveling and you say, "OK, that's enough. It's time to go home"?

It happened to me twice yesterday in two totally different situations. First, I was waiting for someone in a parking lot in Martinsburg, West Va at noon. All of a sudden the bells in a nearby church began to toll. "Oh my" I thought. Then they went on with a melody and I felt this soulful sadness, deep, deep.

They reminded me of the church bells all over San Miguel. There are little churches and grand churches. They all at some point or the other ring their bells. It is one of the defining experiences for me in San Miguel.

Now, here I am in West Virginia, hearing bells, but no San Miguel. Something is wrong.........something is missing.

Then I go to Winchester, Va later in the day to Costco. My Costco card says MEXICO on it. It always garners a few comments. This time the girl at the register literally held up the line to tell me about wonderful experiences that she and her mother had on the Yucatan Peninsula. She was sighing as I left. Another tug at my soul and heart.

I'm here another two weeks, and having a good time, but I DO think its time to go home.........where my heart and soul sing.

The Bells

Wednesday, September 01, 2010

Fall is Coming to West Virginia

 

 

 

 



Yes, I realize this is only the first of September. However, last week I went out in the yard to see these "webs" that were all over the place and the turning leaves. Now I admit, there aren't many leaves turning yet, but heck, after living where they DON'T turn at all, I'll take every little bit I can see.

The webs are fascinating and were gone in a couple of days. I was afraid they were webworms but didn't see anything except dew accumulating on top of them early in the morning. Quite awesome to see.

This area of West Virginia which is wedged between Maryland, virginia and darn close to Pennsylvania is full of all kinds of vistas. Most I didn't expect. The rolling hills and ridges. Lush green pastures. Apple orchards for as far as the eye can see. Magnificent old barns, stone houses and even old, old log cabins. Some in good shape for the fact that they were built in the 1700's. Others are in not so good shape but oh my, the land they sit on with clear running creeks and brooks are picturesque. In Martinsburg, West Va., which is not far from here, there are over 3000 designated historical structures!

One of the sights that I find not so attractive and quite disheartening is the amount of extremely obese people that are seen in the stores and parking lots. Shockingly so. Their obesity is such that many use wheeled carts to get around. I'm not talking old people. I'm talking people from 30 years old on up. Very shocking.

What the heck is going on? Thinking back to just five years ago, there was definitely not a prevalance of morbidly obese as there are now.

What is the solution to conquering or assisting people in this situation? I did notice at Super Walmart
that the majority of their food is junk food - probably 80% of it and very little of it is nutritious.

I don't know the answer. Hopefully someone does. What do you think? Any suggestions or solutioins?
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