The Rain Held Off

long enough for us to enjoy a fun afternoon with Ben and Shannon at a place we've been wanting to visit.

I Wish You a Wave O' The Sea

When you do dance, I wish you a wave o' the sea,

that you might ever do nothing but that

William Shakespeare

An inexhaustible good nature is one of the most precious gifts of heaven,
spreading itself like oil over the troubled sea of thought,
and keeping the mind smooth and equable in the roughest weather.

Washington Irving

Driftwood Fort

The Beach

A few hours at the beach, is all it takes to make me feel like I have gotten away, breathed some fresh air into my lungs, and of course... had a reason to get the camera out!

Carousel Workshop

To continue with a little more about our visit to the carousel workshop...

Ilex and Drake helped me take Luke and Levi on a short field trip to the Albany museum (which I did not get pictures of, for some reason).
This stop, at the carousel workshop, was just a lucky afterthought.

The photos from yesterday's post, of Levi in his reverie, were my favorites, because they're just so Levi.=)

Fortunately the workshop also had a completed frog (set up as the only moving animal). Luke immensely enjoyed his ride, but in a more staightforward 'Lukie' sort of way.

This is really a remarkable project that the city of Albany is undertaking... To quote from their website~

"Albany's Brass Ring carousel studio is a non-profit, volunteer organization dedicated to building a traditional Victorian carousel in Albany's downtown historical district. This project is funded through donations, grants and fundraising activities."

Volunteers are hand carving and painting a wonderful menagerie of animals to eventually be assembled on the donated and refurbished Dentzel mechanism.

History in Shedd

Last week, evidently, was the week for History lessons and field trips. Thursday, some of John's siblings joined us for the afternoon to tour a wonderful old grain mill.

Then we went on to a nearby, small town cafe, {where a cruise-in was happening} .

John and I had borrowed Russ and Heidi's Mustang, so were right in style. Old cars are extremely photogenic I found, though not my usual fare :) .( But there were no grandchildren along on this one!)

Old churches are also fun to photograph, and there was one within walking distance of the cafe. Perfect for a stroll after dinner with dusk coming on.

Beach Boys

“I honestly think the beach is the only place children actually entertain themselves.”
~Donna McLavy~

"At the beach, life is different. Time doesn't move hour to hour but mood to moment. We live by the currents, plan by the tides and follow the sun."
~Unknown~

Americans~ Civil War Reenactment

Both parties deprecated war, but one of them would make war rather than let the nation survive, and the other would accept war rather than let it perish,

and the war came.

~Abraham Lincoln~


Neither party expected for the war the magnitude or the duration which it has already attained. Neither anticipated that the cause of the conflict might cease with or even before the conflict itself should cease. Each looked for an easier triumph, and a result less fundamental and astounding.

~A. Lincoln~

Reenactment





"Abandon your animosities and make your sons Americans."

Robert E. Lee, 1865;"He Lost a War and Won Immortality"
~Louis Redmond~