A Quiet Christmas

Since Jimmy has been out of town building a house for his niece and her husband, it has been quiet around here. Putting up a tree and Christmas decorations seemed like too much this year since I was the only one here to enjoy them. At the last minute, my grandchildren came to stay for 3 days. Then I was sorry the tree wasn't up. Next year I'll try to be more festive. I don't want to be like so many "old" people and just get out the ceramic Christmas tree and plug it in! I missed the Bubba Tree...and the Living Room tree with the ornaments from my childhood and special things collected for over 40 years. I did do a fair share of baking including the old family recipe for Applesauce Cake and mailed all the gifts in time for them to arrive before Christmas. So all is not lost. But next year will be different!

An American Classic--A True Story

I just read Secretariat. Coming home last Monday night I was listening to NPR. There was a quick little announcement that Kate Chenery Tweedy would be giving a lecture at noon on Wednesday about Secretariat's Meadow, her new book, at the Virsgina Historical Society. WOW! I checked it online and told Jimmy that I was going. I couldn't think of anyone else that would be interested in going (Jimmy showed no real interest) so I would go alone.

I knew when I got there early and had to go to the parking deck and wait in line that there was going to be a crowd!

I had a great seat. The Museum Director had a real smooth introduction. He's definitely the right man for the job. Then they played a recording of the horns announcing Post Time. Nice touch.

Kate is about 4 or 5 years younger than me....salt & pepper hair cut short and not nearly as tall as her mother. She was very nervous. She confessed that she'd delivered this material to other audiences a number of times and never fumbled. She considered everyone in this audience to be experts. Kate had spent a couple years in the greater Richmond area doing research for the book and felt her statistics, etc. might be scrutinized. She's a lawyer and wanted it to be accurate and perfect. You can't blame her. There were a bunch of academics in that audience of the Virginia Historical Society. Everything she said went along with what I'd read in the other Secretariat book. She had exquisite photos of Secretariat and of life at the Meadow the way it was. That was my favorite part. Most are in her new book, Secretariat's Meadow. At the end, she showed us a short film that was assembled by Penny's brother. It featured video clips of Secretariat in his paddock at Claiborne Farm. Audio clips from the track--the announcer calling the race, voices, newsmen, etc. had been added and was syncronized to Secretariat's movements running and turning. Very nice. She said we were the only people who had ever seen this film other than some close friends in Denver.

One of the fascinating things she said was that Riva Ridge is never mentioned in the new Walt Disney movie. When confronted with this omission, the Disney people said it wasn't good for the movie to have more than one star!!! Keep that in mind when you see the movie. Riva Ridge won the Kentucky Derby and the Belmont in 1972--the year before Secretariat won the Triple Crown. Riva Ridge was horse of the year in 1972. He, too, was a horse out of the Meadow Stable.

I'm fascinated with how Penny Chenery Tweedy rose to meet the challenges of running a racing barn and program in the middle of a man's world. She was dauntless. She never considered that she couldn't do it even though she knew she had a lot to learn--and fast. According to Kate, Penny was a great mom and wife but when the call to action came to run the stables, she was ready and able. (Kate was about 20 years old then.) There is a scene in the movie trailer where Penny is sitting at a dining table and they are trying to tell her that this was a "Men's" Club. It didn't phase her at all. I think that is true to her real character.

Fascinating family. Great horses. History. And an age that has passed!!! And our Virginia and national treasure, Secretariat. What a fabulous horse!

I'm glad I went.

Herbs Galore

For around 30 years I've been attending an annual herb sale at Maymont Park in Richmond. The first few years it was held behind the gorgeous stone stable with the slate roof. At max there were maybe 10 vendors selling just herbs. As good ideas will do, the venue grew and grew. It is now held on the large field in front of the stables and who knows how many vendors participate--lots. This is still "the" place to purchase herbs for the summer, but many other vendors are selling perennials, trees, vegetables, homemade goods (such as honey, soaps, wreaths) and garden accessories. Every year it is held on the last Saturday of April, rain or shine. Yesterday started off with early morning showers and gray skies so we donned clothes that were suitable for the wet and cool weather. We lucked out and the sun eventually showed its happy face.

This year Jimmy went with me. We met Carey and Reagan at Joe's Inn at 8 A.M. and had a big breakfast. In past years, the pancakes were yummy but now the carbs are not my friends so I bypassed the pancakes for the standard egg breakfast.

Even with the iffy weather, the event was crowded. Carey and I headed for Amy's and bought our heirloom tomatoes. Then we searched other sellers and found 3 varieties of healthy basil. As a bonus, I purchased some wonderful herb markers from my friend Cathy Chain from the Herbs of Happy Hill in Chester. We browsed the various tents and enjoyed people watching. Reagan got a cup of chocolate gelato and then we called it a day. These little piggies had gone to market! Another year, another Herbs Galore!

The Yard is Smiling!

I spent several days combing through the beds and pulling weeds and wiregrass (aptly named!). There is one fellow that has mulched most of the neighbor's shrubbery and we got a price from him. He's weedeating the beds, spraying with Roundup and mulching. He said anything that pops through the mulch he'd hit again with the Roundup. He's about half way through and we are looking fine!!! Now to get Jimmy to cut the grass and we'll look real neighborly! Last year the weeds took off. This year they are my challenge.

Spring Muscles

Finally a day of sunshine and warmth. It feels good to soak in the vitamin D. Our yard is showing neglect so I spent the whole day yesterday cleaning out the beds. I didn't finish but at least it looks like somebody cares! After cleaning up and putting everything away, I took out the second pizza dough and put together a scrumptious pizza with artichoke hearts, chicken sausage, fresh spinach, fresh mushrooms and mozzarella. Boy was it good! No sooner had I eaten 2 small slices, I was overcome by exhaustion. That was when Jimmy came home from fishing. He and Lewis came in and finished the pizza. (I detest leftovers--glad they ate it!) I got up in the middle of the night feeling muscles ache, took 2 Motrin and felt pretty good this morning. Ready for another round with the rake.

Spring Around the Corner...I Hope!

This winter has been cold, dreary and gray. More snow and freezing temperatures than I can remember. Today was sunny and nice if you were sitting on a window seat looking out. Outside if the wind touched you, your face was cold like a marble slab. But there are signs. The willow tree across the lake is signaling that spring is in the near future. Its bare branches are getting thicker and there is a slight twinge of color....at last!

The Family Tradition

Both my father and brother were fighter pilots. On my recent trip to Denver, my brother showed me a photo of him taken in Thailand while he was in the Air Force. Roland flew Phantom F-4C's and F-4D's on night missions. It's amazing how much knowledge he has about every facet of his flying career. I took his photo and created layout commemorating this time in his life. Like my Dad before him, he is so thorough to a fault. But that's what kept him alive!

Heritage Fotos is one of the favorite classes I teach. I guess I just have a soft spot for those classic photos and portraits from yesteryear. My favorites are the pre-50's photos. It's like a piece of detective work looking at the clues--hair styles, clothing, jewelry--and seeing if I can come close to dating an image accurately. I've been lucky having recently acquired scans of old family photos. Those faces from the past are trying to share their messages. It's fascinating!