The South River, looking North, up river, from the Yellow Fin Restaurant.

Today, Sunday, December 12th, was Peyton's last Sunday with us at BBC. He has finished his work for his masters degree from St. John's. Now he heads to California to a new job and a new chapter in his life.

Third Sunday of Advent.

Bill, our technical help at HIS. Not only is he very good, he is very friendly.

The ice rink at Quiet Waters. It was so warm this day there was a shallow skim of water on the ice.

Dragon and tiger sculpted from a fallen log at Quiet Waters Park.

Al, another of our friends from HSI. Al, weather permitting, plays a round of golf every Thursday before coming to HSI for his turn at volunteering.

Annapolis Town Center, the development that replaced the old Parole Plaza.

N'Kai, one of our friends and volunteer workers at the Health Sciences Institute at AAMC.

Milkweed pod ...

Cierra lighting the first Advent candle at BBC today.

The trail to the top of Hawksbill becomes quite steep near the top as it passes huge stones.

The sun and clouds from HSI at AAMC.

Vista from the Miller's Head Trail on the Skyline Drive. The trail begins near the Skyland Lodge and ends at the end of a ridge. There are beautiful vista views in three directions from that point.

Medical Parkway from HSI

Looking north up Medical Parkway from HSI. HSI is on the 7th floor and there are astounding views in all directions from various locations.

Tina is a great cook and a great person. Born in Savanna, Georgia and a graduate of Kent State she has worked most of her life in food services. She was hired by the hospital and given the task of teaching the cooks to prepare healthy and vegetarian dishes.

"Boy! Did I meet resistance when I started," she told me one day.

Nancy and I work at the Health Sciences Institute and this is where we met Tina. She prepares foods for groups that have requested catering for their meetings and conferences ... and I must say she does a great job.

Rosita and Jennette at the Free Clinic on West Washington Street. Rosita grew up in Portugal and Jennette in Bolivia.

Jenette Mallory

Jenette is our friend at the Free Clinic on West Washington Street. She was born and grew up in Bolivia.

Roger taking life easy and fishing on the Broad River pier. The fish were not biting, but who cares?

The Frampton Plantation near Beaufort, SC.

The house is surrounded by huge Live Oaks hanging full of Spanish Moss. If I lived here I would want a Live Oak in my yard. To me the bit oak trees hanging with Spanish Moss are beautiful.

Park Street Baptist Church

The Park Street Baptist Church in Charlotte, North Carolina was the site of the annual meeting of the Alliance of Baptist, April 17-19.

One thing about this church is they know how to make good, strong coffee. I was told they buy a fair trade coffee from a local coffee shop. More power to them.

Taking Life Easy

Nancy, sitting on the balcony of our room at the Mt. Pisgah Inn on the Blue Ridge Parkway. When we drove up the night before the fog was so thick we could not see more than 15 feet. Fortunately we only had to drive 3 miles in the fog.

Father Anastaqsio --- Church of the Infant Jesus.

Father Anastasio, our friend, who spends six months a year in the Centeral African Republic and six months a year in Prague.

Sheldon Prince William's Parish Church - Victim of the Civil War

Roger and Janice gave us directions to this old church. They said there is controversy over whether the church was burned by Union Troops or by slaves. The historical sign says Union Troops

Hunting Island Lighthouse

The Hunting Island Lighthouse ....
was completed in 1875. It is one of two constructed from cast iron plates. Beach erosion threatened the structure and it was moved over a mile in 1889.

The spiral staircase leads from one floor to another until the top is reached where great views of the ocean and land meet the visitor.

The South Carolina coastal country from the Broad River Fishing pier.

The Broad River Bridge and fishing pier.

Roger taking it easy. The fish were not biting.

"Gone fishin, there's a sign upon my door."

The Broad River Bridge from the fishing pier

Singers Glen Joseph Funk Days

Every ten years or so Singers Glen hold the old time days. Part of the celebration is a production of the life and times of Joseph Funk, the creator of shaped notes.

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Sin

Cold Harbor

Looking down one of the tranches used by Lee's soldiers to defend Cold Harbor.

This is one of the hills Union soldiers faced in Grant's ill fated attempts to break through the Confederate lines at Cold Harbor. One of the signs read, "The Creek Ran Red With Blood," A small creek runs nearby this spot.

Behind well dug and built trenches Confederate soldiers waited for Union troops to charge. Generals on both sides never seems to realize the great advantage men behind fortifications had against approaching soldiers. These trenches were, when constructed, were similar to those found in France in World War I.

There is no harbor at Cold Harbor. The word harbor was used here to mean a stopping point for the teamsters where they could rest and buy food and drink. The word cold was used as this particular way point did not sell hot food, only cold food ... thus it was named Cold Harbor.

Greenville, SC - Civil Rights - Sterling Highschool

This statue, on one of the main streets in downtown Greenville memorialize the students of Sterling High School who desegregate the public schools in the town. The two young people shown here were at the dedication of the memorial.

Greenville, SC

The Reedy River runs through Greenville. It was the power from the water that drove the machinery of the cotton mills that lined the river. Many of the old mills have been converted into restaurants and other businesses and this give downtown Greenville flavor and character.

Our biggest snow of the winter came in early March. We could get more, but it is unlikely.

Keith and Steve

Keith, visiting from Prague, preached at BBC.
Here he ane Steve are together before the service.

Steve giving his children's sermon. He has a piece of bread in his hand that just came out of Donna's bread making machine. He put pieces in baskets and had the children serve bread to each person at the worship service

Tuesday February 24th, 2009

Tuesday February 24th, 2009
We are having a colder winter than normal with night temperatures constantly falling into the low 20’s. This morning when I got up the temperature stood at 20. I remember many winters when the temperature almost never got that low except for a few days when a cold front came in from Canada. I am looking forward to March when we usually begin having days when the temperature reaches a more comfortable level.
I drove to Bowen’s Farm Supply this morning to buy a new pruning extendable pole cutter. My old one broke yesterday as I was snipping branches on the two apple trees in the back yard. The old one must have been about 20 years old. I checked Home Depot online this morning and they did not have one for sale. I am continually surprised how often this chain store, where each store has thousands upon thousands of items, does not have the item I need, but the small farm store, Bowen’s always seems to have what the huge store does not have. I am glad to give the business to Bowen’s. I did call before I drove to Bowen’s to be sure they had what I wanted. They not only have new ones, but also replacement parts. Additionally, a family run store is always friendlier than a chain store.
Anna Z IM’ed me using Skype a few minutes after four here. I asked her if it wasn’t her bedtime. She said actually it was a bit after her bedtime, but she was staying up until eleven. She has been sick with a viral infection and has medicine she has to take every 7 hours and the next scheduled time was 11:00 Prague time. Every 7 hours seems a strange segment of time. I do not believe I have ever had a prescription that did not have me taking it as intervals that could be divided into 24.
President Obama gave his economic speech to Congress this evening. I thought it was a good speech in that he laid out the problems that Congress needs to face during the coming year. I do not know if they are up to the job or not. Time will tell. If the Republicans continue to go down the road of opposing everything he proposes without coming up with something positive then they will continue to be in the dog house with many Americans. They need to realize we are no longer in the Reagan era. Time has changed and the world has changed. Continuing down that road will not help the situation.

A piece in the new exhibtion at the Mitchell Gallery.

Saturday January 10th, 2009

When you have company for supper you end up with a lot of dishes to wash.

Friday January 9th, 2009 - Annapolis Public Library

We stopped at the public library on our way home, returning several items and checking out two books and several books on CD.

Friday January 19th, 2009 - Weems Creek Frozen Over

Ice on Weems Creek.

We are having a cold winter. For the first time in many years Weems Creek is frozen completely over.