tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-60034892960670009542023-11-16T13:06:05.734-06:00The Writers Porch" WHERE LIFE, NATURE IN ALL FORMS and THE CREATIVE SPIRIT ARE CELEBRATED "Carol Murdockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16749285023748227382noreply@blogger.comBlogger302125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6003489296067000954.post-30780255079452911052016-08-04T08:32:00.000-05:002016-08-04T08:36:49.087-05:00Diatomaceous Earth ~~~ Miracle Dirt<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I know, I haven't posted in almost 3 years but I had to give a shout out to what I consider a miracle find !!<br />
Anyone who knows me, knows I'm all about natural. I try my best to stay away from doctors and their prescription pads. I believe western medicine has its place in trauma and yearly wellness check ups but otherwise I'm all about using natural cures. God has provided us with some incredible plants to use.<br />
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So last week I went on line to look at natural flea remedies for my pets. One thing I came across was DE.<br />
However when reading the reviews I kept seeing people talking about how they were taking DE for their own health. They were raving about how it got rid of joint pain, lowered their blood pressure and bad cholesterol. Ok.....they got my attention.<br />
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For someone about to turn 64, I'm in pretty good shape I guess. I'm not on any medications and have no illness that I know of. I haven't been to the doctor for anything but check ups in about 3 years. However, I did have a total hysterectomy 3 years ago this past April and haven't really felt good since. I seem to have lost all my "get up and go " and have to make myself do anything I do. Now joint pain, I know all about joint pain! In 2001 I was diagnosed with degenerate disk disease and fibromyalgia . Now DDD is nothing more than weak, brittle bones in my opinion. Fibro is said to be an inflamation of the connective tissue. Yes, I hurt! I hurt all the time but I have learned to live with it. On top of these 2 things, last year I started having severe problems with my siatic nerve which was causing hip pain and cramps in my legs and feet. I also suffer from bad sinuses and acid reflux. Let's don't even talk about the pain in my left shoulder!After canning, I can barely lift it! Now my PCP wants me to take steroids for my sinus and Nexium for my acid reflux but instead I use salt water rinses for sinus problems and baking soda for acid reflux. If the joint and shoulder pain gets too bad, I take an Advil. I just refuse to take prescription drugs.<br />
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What is Diatomaceous Earth? That's what I wanted to know! So I started doing research, lots of research !! I'm not going to go into a big long spill about it because the internet is full of information you can read. YouTube has lots of videos you can watch of people taking it. The short of it is ~~~ it is 85% silica. What is silica? The most important thing our body needs after oxygen! Silica controls everything in our body! Skin, hair, nails, bones, teeth, all body tissue. Babies are born full of silica that is why they are smooth with rosy skin. Silica helps our body to absorb nutrients. We are nothing without silica! So I went from researching DE to researching silica. I suggest you research silica first then DE. I think I have been silica deficient for years!<br />
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Now, here is my story of taking DE. Last Wednesday July 27, 2016 the DE I had ordered from Amazon arrived. I knew from research that I was going to be taking it in the morning on an empty stomach so I waited for the next day to start. On Thursday morning I woke up with severe shoulder and hip pain and stiff as a board! I drank my coffee then fixed my DE. I put 1 teaspoon in 2 ounces of water and drank it down. I followed that with about 4 more ounces of lemon water. Now it is a fine white powder about like flour so you have to stir it up good. It really has no taste, maybe a little bit chalky. Not hard to take at all.<br />
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Now this is why I used the word miracle. In about 4 hours, a miracle happened!! I noticed that I had NO pain. None! Now I'm not telling you that it will work this fast for you or that it will work at all for you. I'm telling what this inexpensive all natural product has done for me. It has given me my life back! I have had no back or shoulder pain in a week! No stiffness! I have had no leg or feet cramps, no acid reflux, my sinuses are clear and my energy has sky rocketed ! My motivation is back! I have been a house cleaning demon for the past 3 days! I am praying it continues because I haven't felt this good in years! I'll never miss a day taking DE !<br />
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So, I just wanted to share my story and maybe help someone who is suffering from the same problems! If you decide to try it I would love to hear about it ! It's time to go take my dirt !! Have a great weekend everyone!<br />
<br />Carol Murdockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16749285023748227382noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6003489296067000954.post-25006586220099294232013-12-15T09:29:00.000-06:002013-12-15T09:29:48.019-06:00Killing Cancer................CANCER.........a word everyone dreads to hear! It breaks my heart when I hear of someone facing this fight. Other than my brother-in-law who successfully recovered from Prostrate Cancer years ago, no one on either side of my family has ever been diagnosed with cancer thank God! Let me retract on that, I was mis-diagnosed with Ovarian Cancer in 1997 by a Radiologist, a MD, and 2 different Gynecologists, the last of whom had the good sense to refer me to Oncologist/Gynecologist Dr. David Bard at the University of Arkansas Medical Center in Little Rock who told me it was NOT Cancer. It scared the beejeezus of of me though and I thank God everyday that I am one of those people who always wants a second opinion before believing anything I hear. Even before that fiasco I was very interested in Herbal/Holistic Medicine and read everything I could find on the subject. Below is the book that started my reading.........<br />
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With the coming of the PC, the Internet, Google and Amazon, I have acquired a very impressive medical library. However is was the book below that really got my attention concerning disease and its causes. Guess what? It all goes back to the age old adage.... " We Are What We Eat " !<br />
What we put in our temple determines the health of the temple. Don't get me wrong, I do believe that Western Medicine has it's place when it comes to trauma but when it comes to diseases, doctors are all about pharmaceutical drugs. The pharmaceutical industry owns the medical industry in America and it is all about money not the person. They have a drug for everything and every one of those drugs have side effects that are often worse than the ailment they are prescribed for!<br />
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I'm not trying to be some " know it all " nor am I saying that a life style change is easy. Giving up all the food and stuff we call food that is lethal to our body is perhaps one of the hardest things in life to do. Let's face it, we are products of our environment. We love food in America! Look around you, America is the most overweight country on earth ! I need to lose at least 10 pounds or more myself. Most of what we eat, is acidic to our bodies and acidic bodies get diseased. Nexium is one the most prescribed drugs on the market! Eight out ten people in the US are diagnosed with acid reflux. Our body is meant to be alkaline not acidic. Cancer cells CANNOT live in an alkaline environment!! However, no medical doctor is going to tell you that because Cancer is big business in America and it's going to stay big business as long as it is owned by the big three pharmaceuticals.<br />
Chemotherapy is a 200 billion dollar a year business and it is nothing but pure poison! People spend billions to poison their already sick bodies? I know how scary it is to be told you have cancer, I understand how desperate it makes one feel ! I also know that the human body is designed to heal its self if given the proper nutrition. I would never go the chemo route, I do not believe it works, it makes you even sicker, it's adding insult to injury. I am not bashing people who take this route, I understand it totally, you are desperate and have been led to trust your doctor!That is the American way. Doctors not only prescribe it, they too take this route. However we must remember that doctors are not taught nutrition in medical school, they are taught disease and pharmacy. They do not work for you, they work for the AMA which is controlled by the Big 3 Pharmaceuticals. Your health lies in your hands, who are you going to trust with it?<br />
I hear you saying; " what about the people who do take chemo and survived cancer " ?<br />
I think if we could look close at their lives, they did something else also. Did they begin a better diet? Did they unknowingly change it because the chemo made them too sick to eat bad stuff? Was it prayer? I do believe it was something other than chemo ! All I'm asking is that if you or a loved one is diagnosed with cancer, don't give your doctor complete control of your life. Do your research, YouTube is full of great information from survivors who took charge of their own health. There are dozens of videos on You Tube of a TV show called " The Incurables " featuring people who were sent home to die by their doctors from all sorts of diseases who wouldn't give up. Look for one on there by typing in Baking Soda and Molasses Cancer Cure from a man with stage 4 prostrate cancer who was told by his doctor to get his business in order because he had less than six months to live! Robert Morse ND on the video below has spent 40 years helping people recover their health, he's brilliant ! We are about to enter 2014, let us all make a vow to take charge of our health and make it as healthy as we possibly can !!!<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="270" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/4iHso23A14Q" width="480"></iframe>Carol Murdockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16749285023748227382noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6003489296067000954.post-89386475478397495642013-11-19T10:19:00.001-06:002013-11-19T10:19:22.938-06:00" The Silence of Bonaventure Arrow " by Rita LeganskiAfter spending a couple<span style="font-size: small;"> of weeks reading some very interesting Civil War Diaries I felt the need to switch reading gears to something light and mystical. I'm not going to tell you this book was light, but it was one of the most mystical books I've ever read..................</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">If you've read my book reviews before you know I love Southern Gothic books and when they are set in or near New Orleans...........oh my ! This book is unworldly </span>yet the characters are so down to earth they reel you in like family. I LOVED THIS BOOK !!<br />
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Bonaventure was born mute two months after his father was murdered. Yes, his voice was silent but his hearing was intensely magnified, so much he could hear what no other human ever had. The only one able to hear his silent voice was the ghost spirit of his father William who stayed earth bound to interact with his son. <br />
Do you ever wonder what's really out there, is magic, voodoo, hoodoo, root work really real? Where does our spirituality fit in to the great scheme of life ? Do you want to escape the real world and hang out in the other realm for awhile ? This book will answer those questions and let you escape if only for a little while to the world of a magical little soul............... watch the trailer it's awesome..........<br />
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<br />Carol Murdockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16749285023748227382noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6003489296067000954.post-91304143606748259962013-10-31T10:17:00.000-05:002013-10-31T10:17:32.216-05:00 Haunted History at Rosswood Plantation<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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If you read the post below you know we took a trip to Rosswood Plantation.... </div>
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Built in 1857 by Dr. Walter Wade.......... </div>
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This is Ms. Jean Hylander our wonderful host and Mistress of Rosswood since 1974..</div>
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This...is the haunted bedroom we occupied. I awoke at 2:45 Am to visit the potty room. Notice the TV to the right of the bed, it has a Direct TV box below it that illuminates the room with blue light. As you come around the bed from the right, there is a dresser directly against the wall in front of this bed. The bathroom door is across from the sofa on the left. As I came upon the dresser I saw a full bodied apparition of a woman in the mirror. She was standing between the sofa and bed looking toward the mirror. I turned around toward the sofa to look and she vanished ! She was in Victorian dress with dark hair piled on top of her head. She appeared to be late 30s-early 40s in age. I'm not the first to see her but it is not clear who she may be. Ms. Jean thinks it may be Mabella Wade whom the house was built for. I think her clothes come from a later period than Mabella. Maybe more late 1800s- early 1900s. At that period a woman named Mary Elizabeth Davis Mitchell Hamer lived in the house. She was the niece of Jefferson Davis CSA and reported to be his favorite niece whom he addressed as Liz..............<br />
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We loved sitting on this upstairs balcony with its awesome views!<br />
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This is the downstairs parlor. I was sitting on this sofa talking to Ms. Jean when Eric came downstairs from his afternoon nap. When I asked him if he had a good nap he replied; </blockquote>
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" yes, till those little girls in the room in back of ours got to giggling ".... Ms. Jean and I looked at each other because we both knew that the 3 of us.... were the only 3 people in the house! We learned Eric is one of many who have heard the giggling girls in that room.</blockquote>
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Ms. Jean with what may be the best cook in Mississippi....Miss Peggy !!</div>
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What's a great trip without meeting new friends!! This is George & Vicky from Atlanta, GA. They were awesome company on our history trip, talking on the balcony and great companions in the dining room..........</div>
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Happy Haunted Halloween...............</div>
Carol Murdockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16749285023748227382noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6003489296067000954.post-1001573344824345092013-10-14T11:22:00.001-05:002013-10-14T12:47:22.689-05:00The Word Is Resurrection ~~~~~<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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We are planning to step back in time this week to an area steeped in Mississippi history half way between Natchez and Vicksburg. I fell in love with the history of Natchez thirty years ago after reading Harnett T. Kane's book " Natchez ". <br />
I have collected all of Mr. Kane's wonderful books on the South and also have a collection of Natchez history books that will rival any in Mississippi libraries.<br />
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However, it is this wonderful book " Mississippi In Africa " by Alan Huffman that sends me on a journey this week. I first read this book eight years ago and have just finished re-reading it. What an amazing true story it tells! It has stayed with me all these years and refuses to leave me. Alan did some incredible research to gift us with the story of Captain Isaac Ross and his wife Jane.<br />
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Capt. Ross migrated to Jefferson County, Mississippi in 1808 from South Carolina, bringing with him a large group of slaves as he was against selling them and separating families. After his arrival he built Prospect Hill located 27 miles north of Natchez and 30 miles south of Vicksburg. He spent years before his death in 1836 perfecting what he believed to be an unbreakable will that granted freedom to his slaves and passage to a colony in Liberia called Mississippi in Africa. After his death, his grandson Isaac Ross Wade wasted no time in contesting the will bringing about a battle that would take years and the Mississippi Supreme Court to settle, would cause discord between family members and lead to a slave uprising in April 1845 that resulted in a fire that not only burned Prospect Hill to the ground but killed a six year old child named Martha Richardson who was the great granddaughter of Capt.Ross.<br />
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After the will of Capt. Ross was finally upheld by the courts, Isaac Ross Wade bought back the plantation at auction and built the present house at Prospect Hill which was owned by the family until the 1970's when Robert Wade one of the last family members to live at Prospect Hill sold the house which was falling into ruin, along with 3 acres to a man from Natchez who claimed to want to restore it but never did.<br />
The Archaeological Conservancy has now purchased the house and 3 acres with hopes of selling it to someone who will indeed follow through with restoration and give them easement rights to have archaeology digs.....<br />
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If I was younger I would be very tempted to take on this project and restore this wonderful piece of<br />
history to her former glory, instead I'm visiting the area this week in hopes of resurrecting the spirits of this historical place to guide me in bringing their story to the pages of some fact based fiction .....<br />
We will be staying at Rosswood Plantation ( pictured at top ) built in 1857 by Dr. Walter Wade the grandson of Capt. Ross and brother of will contester Isaac Ross Wade.<br />
Rosswood stands on land that was once part of Capt. Ross 's original acreage .Carol Murdockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16749285023748227382noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6003489296067000954.post-79904776563876738702013-09-08T09:28:00.003-05:002013-09-08T09:36:01.482-05:00" The Storycatcher " by Author Ann Hite<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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The agonizing wait is over ! Tuesday September 10, 2013 Ann Hite's second novel<br />
<strong>" The</strong> <strong>Storycatcher</strong>" hits the shelf of your favorite book store.........<br />
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I fell head over heels for 16 year old Shelly Parker in the pages of Ann's first novel<strong> " Ghost On Black</strong> <strong>Mountain"</strong> <br />
(which was not only a Townsend Prize Finalist but won Ann Hite " Georgia Author of the Year 2012 for First Novel") <br />
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when Shelly said;<br />
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<strong> " we was the only Negroes on the</strong> <strong>mountain and that made for a mighty lonely life. All I had was Faith Dobbins who made me her baby doll until I got old enough to be her maid"</strong><br />
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<strong></strong><br />
<strong>" The Storycatcher "</strong> is Shelly Parkers story. 16 year old Shelly has the "gift of sight" and them dead haint's have been bothering her for as long as she can remember. Sometimes they want to warn her to protect her and sometimes they just aggravate the daylights out of her wanting her help. Shelly does her best to ignore them most of the time but when that Black Mountain haint Arleen Brown decides she wants revenge on her beloved Faith Dobbins sinister daddy by taking over Faith's body, Shelly knows she's in for a fight to save Faith!<br />
So Ann Hite takes us from Black Mountain, NC to the swampy marshes of Coastal Georgia as Shelly and Arleen join forces to untangle years of lies and murder spanning from the 1930s to the 1980s....<br />
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<strong>For those of us book lovers who be came Ann Hite "addicts" after reading her first novel </strong><br />
<strong>"The Ghost On Black Mountain" </strong> it's like an early Christmas present ! <strong>NO ONE</strong> among today's authors can out write Ann Hite when it comes to Southern Gothic. A few pages into <strong>" The Ghost On</strong> <strong>Black Mountain</strong>" I was saying I think Ann has channeled the spirits of William Faulkner and Flannery O'Conner to write this book. A few pages into <strong>"The Storycatcher "</strong> I was convinced she had !!!<br />
Her writing is very literary, beautiful, lyrical, poetic and spellbinding and I am hooked on it !!<br />
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You do not have to have read <strong>" The Ghost On</strong> <strong>Black Mountain "</strong>to enjoy <strong>"</strong> <strong>The Storycatcher"</strong> <br />
it is a stand alone novel but you will enjoy it so much better if you have the back story of Shelly Parker & Faith Dobbins.....<br />
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Carol Murdockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16749285023748227382noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6003489296067000954.post-69896750337660683252013-04-07T08:37:00.001-05:002013-04-07T09:36:00.010-05:00" WHILE WE WERE WATCHING DOWNTON ABBEY" by Wendy Wax<h2 class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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On Tuesday April 2nd 2013.....the wait was over! <b>Author Wendy Wax</b>'s much anticipated <b>WWWWDA</b> was released! As a devout<i><b> " Downton Abbey "</b></i> fan, I knew I <b>had</b> to read this book, I was not disappointed, it is 354 pages of pure delightful reading!<br />
The characters are diverse and so well written you long to introduce yourself and hang out with them !<br />
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In the beginning the only thing they seem to have in common is that they are all residents in the beautiful <b>Alexander</b>........a luxurious, old world charm apartment building in downtown Atlanta where only the ritzy can afford to live.<br />
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<b>Samantha Davis</b>....a forty something beauty whose outward beauty screams, " high fluting rich (well you know the type) who appears unapproachable". She married high profile, handsome attorney, Johnathon Davis 25 years ago for security when at 21 she found herself an orphan with two younger siblings to raise...........<b> "Samantha is a true case of looks can be so deceiving.".</b><br />
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<b>Claire Walker</b>........ she knew before she said I do that she really didn't! After giving it her best for a few short years, she said; "I do to a divorce " and set out to raise her young daughter Hailey and become a novelist. Now that Hailey is off to college and with two published Historical Romance Novels under her belt she moves to a studio at the Alexander to write full time where she discovers..........<br />
<b>"you can force a writers butt into a chair but you can't make her think"</b><br />
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<b>Brooke Mackenzie</b>.....mother of two small daughters has just been dumped in an apartment she didn't want to be in , by her ex-husband Zachary whom she didn't want to be her ex. Finding herself living the age old story.... <b>"I worked 2 jobs to put him through medical school, residency and set him up in private practice and I get dumped for Barbie "</b> .<br />
As if that wasn't enough, <b>" Ken & Barbie"</b> decide to move into the Alexander also making Brooke even more miserable!!<br />
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<b>Edward Parker</b>.........<i>.Downton Abbey</i> fans.......think Mr. Carson with a little Mr. Bates thrown in!<br />
Edward hails from Britain where his family has been<b> "in service"</b> for eons. He now holds the coveted position of <b>Concierge of The Alexander</b> where he sees too much and knows more about it's residents than they seem to know about themselves.<br />
<br />
The residents are brought together when Edward decides to make Sunday nights in the club room<br />
<i><b>" Downton Abbey Night "</b></i> complete with English food and drinks. They will watch one episode a week of Season 1 & 2 in preparation of the upcoming Season 3 premiere.<br />
<br />
Thus the story of true friendship, mother/daughter relationships and finding ones self starts to emerge in these 3 totally opposite women as they form a common bond. <b>Wendy Wax</b> has placed in our hands a work of fiction that not only entertains but delights us and leaves us wanting more,more,more of both these characters and<i> Downton Abbey</i> !!! Get yours today, you won't be sorry!!!Carol Murdockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16749285023748227382noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6003489296067000954.post-48537887892091220982012-08-07T01:38:00.001-05:002012-08-07T11:25:33.625-05:005 Star Reading.........In preparation for our trip to Alaska I researched and ordered some books to read that would get me in the mood.<br /><br />One of the small towns I would have loved to visit was<b> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Haines</span>, population about 1,800</b>. However our ship only passed it by between<b> Juneau</b> and <b><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Skagway</span></b>. This is a wonderful read about a newly married couple who went to Alaska for their honeymoon and stayed. It is the true story of <b>Heather and Chip <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Lende's</span></b> life in small town Alaska. I promise you will want to move to <b><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Haines</span> </b>after reading this one! Heather is a fantastic story teller!<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF6HWWtvjCOm-8AJ3kGfJ3-A33wp748T75HGZc2viMBah83xOAL52H30d6XsLSKF_6LuArgNDKSEAuF8pxxmylMTdWNrkxVe3iiCuEOhr2wE7-N-9AA56bNWDNcpOOdd3tZunvnR97Y-A/s1600/9781565125247.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 261px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF6HWWtvjCOm-8AJ3kGfJ3-A33wp748T75HGZc2viMBah83xOAL52H30d6XsLSKF_6LuArgNDKSEAuF8pxxmylMTdWNrkxVe3iiCuEOhr2wE7-N-9AA56bNWDNcpOOdd3tZunvnR97Y-A/s400/9781565125247.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5773904832155730274" border="0" /></a><br />Another great one was this historical true account of a Kindergarten teacher, 29 year old <b>Laura</b> <b>Berton</b>, who goes to Alaska in 1907 to teach school and stays 25 years.<br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkjZL8h4RCVWPlIZIxYuYKPJgO2eXkHgIgPUfYiBizR8YBATEoaR4KSKtZVKAYpwsq9GRPcVXSJo2RLGH6wEVjUDGzpIpqzNhUWWCHl7jeQ-48O3ZQtlTD08pxmUDzdtVI3N8cYLK5rDM/s1600/1550173332.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 254px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkjZL8h4RCVWPlIZIxYuYKPJgO2eXkHgIgPUfYiBizR8YBATEoaR4KSKtZVKAYpwsq9GRPcVXSJo2RLGH6wEVjUDGzpIpqzNhUWWCHl7jeQ-48O3ZQtlTD08pxmUDzdtVI3N8cYLK5rDM/s400/1550173332.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5773904690028200882" border="0" /></a><br />Before we go any further I want to talk about<i><b> "book popularity"</b></i> these days. It seems readers, especially women, have gone crazy over the <b>50 Shades of Gray Series</b>. I have not nor do I intend to read these books. Since these books <i><b>"promote" </b></i>both erotic sex and domestic violence, I think it is<i><b> scary</b></i> that they are so popular. Also it seems authors now days think that in order to sell books, they must use foul language and sex to do so. I don't agree! Think<b> " To Kill A</b> <b>Mockingbird"</b> or <b>"Gone With The Wind"</b> or<i> Google</i> <b>Best Selling Books of All Time!</b> I can look past some language and some sex but I keep a donation box to put the ones that turn me off in. Here lately I find that Christian Fiction and Historical Fiction bring me the most reading pleasure! This <i><b>"Diamond of The Rockies" series by Kristien <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Heitzmann</span> </b></i>was wonderful! Set in the Colorado Gold Rush Days it tells the story of Carina <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">DiGratia's</span> move from <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Sonoma</span>,California to Crystal Colorado a tent city of miners where a woman by herself is anything but safe. It is Christian Fiction.<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3gHst3681ru33PvMlTHZt_w1sYY3h4Euo3lZRF80mr4SVj6-ze9cc5WZRvemQVgjEMAhkcG5carVVP79lIg5hWt9vgnYPVx3Yi2HzpzEKBEPgJPYDDSRT1aHzheQU4FPWnSikW4swlBQ/s1600/615doEQhZ3L._SL500_AA300_.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3gHst3681ru33PvMlTHZt_w1sYY3h4Euo3lZRF80mr4SVj6-ze9cc5WZRvemQVgjEMAhkcG5carVVP79lIg5hWt9vgnYPVx3Yi2HzpzEKBEPgJPYDDSRT1aHzheQU4FPWnSikW4swlBQ/s400/615doEQhZ3L._SL500_AA300_.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5773904402676563394" border="0" /></a>Another CF Author whom I've discovered and love is <b>Colleen <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Coble</span></b>.<br />I ordered <b>"Alaska Twilight"<br /></b>and loved it so much...........<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_sPO02CeICrFJjqxXgMOwo2jUkfU_dAK5l0zU0Xmys2QIPWXp9t4tijmGxzp2oAQMXFd4H671tzxJAC_isp8vdTPwrK78yqYHuxt7H0lFwpOYsYNlw_8pwzQmr_KOuYKyrWbkMzQyHko/s1600/101560301.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 260px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_sPO02CeICrFJjqxXgMOwo2jUkfU_dAK5l0zU0Xmys2QIPWXp9t4tijmGxzp2oAQMXFd4H671tzxJAC_isp8vdTPwrK78yqYHuxt7H0lFwpOYsYNlw_8pwzQmr_KOuYKyrWbkMzQyHko/s400/101560301.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5773904264690408722" border="0" /></a><br />I got<b> "Wyoming"</b>. It is 4 short novels in one set in the<i><b> "wild west"</b></i> territory days of Indians and Army forts that I hated to see end.<br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPvY2p0OVHMnGHQhqf1AcRlsnNeSRTT8hctWTB9tMWZv97w0351OvcTYX5kDyAAghu4l3kgsozEkDK0042KSGFv8lzYU9vMK3VNS-8PuajlgyKSclY-AwQ-7XQtV8dxcyzd8_qm5TX6u8/s1600/853185-L.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 259px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPvY2p0OVHMnGHQhqf1AcRlsnNeSRTT8hctWTB9tMWZv97w0351OvcTYX5kDyAAghu4l3kgsozEkDK0042KSGFv8lzYU9vMK3VNS-8PuajlgyKSclY-AwQ-7XQtV8dxcyzd8_qm5TX6u8/s400/853185-L.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5773904088239452466" border="0" /></a>I also ordered her<b> "Rock Harbor"</b> series of 4 books and look forward to reading them. I just finished<b> "Without A Trace"</b> and it's wonderful! One to the next!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCz0W_rbjsXDnOC4q1ydRdbHxno88iH-OXMLlSdfyR5JU5jjiMWFKaMsA9f-4bODs8H-m7BYWa9c2jYfqGHZC5kc0P_c_9WdZZeokQPZpd1hXYSCsv0vIZlv3VjtdWx6kLe0eRrj-RTuQ/s1600/Recently+Updated1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCz0W_rbjsXDnOC4q1ydRdbHxno88iH-OXMLlSdfyR5JU5jjiMWFKaMsA9f-4bODs8H-m7BYWa9c2jYfqGHZC5kc0P_c_9WdZZeokQPZpd1hXYSCsv0vIZlv3VjtdWx6kLe0eRrj-RTuQ/s400/Recently+Updated1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5773903704672553634" border="0" /></a>So....that's my list of recommendations of some great<b> 5 star reads</b> I hope you will give a try and I know you will enjoy!!Carol Murdockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16749285023748227382noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6003489296067000954.post-40534276649937702342012-07-31T01:48:00.000-05:002012-07-31T11:34:55.574-05:00Alaska Cruise - Day 6 & 7- Ketchikan & Victoria BCIt's now Day 6<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">th</span> of our <b>Alaskan Cruise</b>. At 6:00AM July 19<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">th</span> we dock in gorgeous<b> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Ketchikan</span>,</b> the <b>1st Alaskan City</b> and<b> Salmon Capital of the World..........<br /></b><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSycNNQbRo974Uh49J4ludpkWeOppGLJiGJ4HEm8SNZlzczrKWApxwPnaMIaODCbLimxE5Nj3ImOCLgon8D3gWlK0K88dIrrM6BeAo65RK4e6JdVBb3Mj5Tm5Oa6oXugeUvjodECqkmfA/s1600/Ketchikan01.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 231px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSycNNQbRo974Uh49J4ludpkWeOppGLJiGJ4HEm8SNZlzczrKWApxwPnaMIaODCbLimxE5Nj3ImOCLgon8D3gWlK0K88dIrrM6BeAo65RK4e6JdVBb3Mj5Tm5Oa6oXugeUvjodECqkmfA/s400/Ketchikan01.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5771330183030197106" border="0" /></a>And.....it's raining! Since we were the first ship this season to experience dry weather in <b>Juneau</b>, <b><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Skagway</span> </b>and <b>Tracy Arm</b>, we weren't about to complain......<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7dTIDKaILuH5ztJOX-XXjHM7eGFgz8Wo-Oz9FhhbsVNcS1CatvySOhP_RPt_qzbdaSn3mUe0bTeAgVRi4MmI50oXi0AVhDxbTWUHX8RAJ8dMwn9KqjM37ionRsl_pGCSFm4sHaKDSMNI/s1600/islandprincess_alaska049.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7dTIDKaILuH5ztJOX-XXjHM7eGFgz8Wo-Oz9FhhbsVNcS1CatvySOhP_RPt_qzbdaSn3mUe0bTeAgVRi4MmI50oXi0AVhDxbTWUHX8RAJ8dMwn9KqjM37ionRsl_pGCSFm4sHaKDSMNI/s400/islandprincess_alaska049.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5771330055228035602" border="0" /></a>This was our favorite city of the cruise, the atmosphere is wonderful!<br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCwHKQM6c4gHCyBb1M3R9_ZZ2ht7LfN2jyUK3EVJfTudbdSTkuLkkO_9q5RfXmLRU8s-d8Q4bea2pty2CYrIu7x_IiQFKDbw5QTQFv0nrgn37w70mEDSd9VifA-YRhxLNp4LuD1-PJiEk/s1600/DSC00202.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCwHKQM6c4gHCyBb1M3R9_ZZ2ht7LfN2jyUK3EVJfTudbdSTkuLkkO_9q5RfXmLRU8s-d8Q4bea2pty2CYrIu7x_IiQFKDbw5QTQFv0nrgn37w70mEDSd9VifA-YRhxLNp4LuD1-PJiEk/s400/DSC00202.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5771328525022382738" border="0" /></a>And....since <b><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Ketchikan</span></b> is <b>Alaska's</b> rainiest city, it was perfect!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2UWXo18hqfTFdEI6nI5N1EmKDTuNiGA-xgZy6F9EgiNeNRw8uWS9NJ9nVxU5i1FxqW8yNNgW6bRdsGYA76H1-M07ChKhGaqhsByQPJHmhLNyzFTJ6R-5kXq-BiFlVPoneRPAKiDaNCmE/s1600/2643449474_749e20ba88_z.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2UWXo18hqfTFdEI6nI5N1EmKDTuNiGA-xgZy6F9EgiNeNRw8uWS9NJ9nVxU5i1FxqW8yNNgW6bRdsGYA76H1-M07ChKhGaqhsByQPJHmhLNyzFTJ6R-5kXq-BiFlVPoneRPAKiDaNCmE/s400/2643449474_749e20ba88_z.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5771327949480859842" border="0" /></a><br />At 7:20 we met to board the bus for our excursion to the historic..........<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc9q5HmX-hsB9aWlVBjQ-cGnz5vsmwq07AE3eEctZAyPa0qQM0RSc6yzQ4K9_UJO5gSVrraFBfnXhUFCmnoQaT7tEDzp1EsbwlesC1Yg_ynqvHnAFs2WsfYjG6i3UKw9vUqUjlEeVtRAQ/s1600/photos.lg1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 257px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc9q5HmX-hsB9aWlVBjQ-cGnz5vsmwq07AE3eEctZAyPa0qQM0RSc6yzQ4K9_UJO5gSVrraFBfnXhUFCmnoQaT7tEDzp1EsbwlesC1Yg_ynqvHnAFs2WsfYjG6i3UKw9vUqUjlEeVtRAQ/s400/photos.lg1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5771324806994757858" border="0" /></a>Our driver dropped us off and we commenced to walk down<b> 79 </b>stair steps to the lodge....<br />Not so bad, it's the coming back up that gets you!<br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU7ibQckCg7xKN3VWQS3eNsdGMGtu_U4Ky27cUhxKOhCTy1wlkJ99ErvVnVECcSbuOQdlkBD4gccF7H2uGP9l-0SLrVekYfpjLAdLz_pGNVUgMqYzoQhYjQXkLVkv6cYu6U-fLygF-IZc/s1600/photos.lg16.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 257px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU7ibQckCg7xKN3VWQS3eNsdGMGtu_U4Ky27cUhxKOhCTy1wlkJ99ErvVnVECcSbuOQdlkBD4gccF7H2uGP9l-0SLrVekYfpjLAdLz_pGNVUgMqYzoQhYjQXkLVkv6cYu6U-fLygF-IZc/s400/photos.lg16.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5771324645468043234" border="0" /></a>Where we boarded this boat for our <b><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Dungeness</span> Crab </b>catch..........<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFkSxflebTiPMl-dq72EijTasJAbbzBfqPjNL8vpKXMbUw1gIO7g7ce2KIwjQYS0sKXRg-KmpE0sfUAPTj8dpax1uCxMEri949RoMo6vvyfUOBbXCkPsARy0A1GqaP5ql3D9zlFiuIDoE/s1600/photos.lg.w3.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 257px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFkSxflebTiPMl-dq72EijTasJAbbzBfqPjNL8vpKXMbUw1gIO7g7ce2KIwjQYS0sKXRg-KmpE0sfUAPTj8dpax1uCxMEri949RoMo6vvyfUOBbXCkPsARy0A1GqaP5ql3D9zlFiuIDoE/s400/photos.lg.w3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5771324405850377330" border="0" /></a><br />Here is a collage of "the brave" holding the crabs from our pot. Grandson Chris helps the guide pull the pot up... Now this was a hoot and we had fun!<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8OBLq3pYGqr3GLNl3rkjKb_P4w4pSEevi7T9UtGQ8D-z5dL3JB4SgVziV5RwHS3CDoo60XgvlxXN03H0alUx2Mf1zm6uNZadMU9CKPLfkHFN3GkLrVXVV-UO-tm5sTEDb3aVeQ-8KWKM/s1600/ALASKA+2012.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8OBLq3pYGqr3GLNl3rkjKb_P4w4pSEevi7T9UtGQ8D-z5dL3JB4SgVziV5RwHS3CDoo60XgvlxXN03H0alUx2Mf1zm6uNZadMU9CKPLfkHFN3GkLrVXVV-UO-tm5sTEDb3aVeQ-8KWKM/s400/ALASKA+2012.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5771323913132508226" border="0" /></a>We then cruised back to the lodge.....<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmAptljN3m3fLDY97xk97a5dT9w5xDsJcmkkxtREKBraAO7hnaDoB3-enN8HabTUN67X7cF7TbnsWKoSGLMTx9CEkGsw0Bwzu58JZBJif-ulUpCdf5ZsiNGzvNcbGy3J-NPXvFgXbZ5jY/s1600/photos.lg.w4.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 257px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmAptljN3m3fLDY97xk97a5dT9w5xDsJcmkkxtREKBraAO7hnaDoB3-enN8HabTUN67X7cF7TbnsWKoSGLMTx9CEkGsw0Bwzu58JZBJif-ulUpCdf5ZsiNGzvNcbGy3J-NPXvFgXbZ5jY/s400/photos.lg.w4.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5771319795289576914" border="0" /></a>To enjoy our<br /> " all- you- can- eat" Crab Feast!<br /><b> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Dungeness</span> Crab</b> is the best thing I've ever tasted, I put it ahead of the best<b> Lobster</b> out there!<br />They had to run us off!<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEZk3v3-g-h1MRdTssK5gmYQj5J0SqSgCmU_U1MKPNdHTYQiB5UKq3hYYEbsCh8fUWU6BYHj1EbChEhrMBNPSYvnUBtx4y0sOQ5tRdgYxpbcQ6OYiiPwfjNq7XE4j6Pi-1qpE0pfL3uCk/s1600/0000004284.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEZk3v3-g-h1MRdTssK5gmYQj5J0SqSgCmU_U1MKPNdHTYQiB5UKq3hYYEbsCh8fUWU6BYHj1EbChEhrMBNPSYvnUBtx4y0sOQ5tRdgYxpbcQ6OYiiPwfjNq7XE4j6Pi-1qpE0pfL3uCk/s400/0000004284.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5771319409253142690" border="0" /></a>The bad part was we had to be back on ship by 12:00 PM, which left us 10 minutes to shop in town. We were so disappointed as <b><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Ketchikan</span></b> is where you shop for Alaskan Made Items. :(<br /><br /><b>DAY 7............Victoria, BC</b><br />We were at sea most of the day but headed downstairs at 4:45 to watch son Todd who was in the top 3 of the talent contest that had gone on every night, belt out an awesome version of the song <b>"Free Falling"</b>. He actually lost the contest by one vote to a girl from NJ who sang a Celine Dion song. <b>( Debi Greene you should have stayed and voted! HA! )</b><br />We actually were hoping a 92 year old woman named Georgie from Washington State would win it.<br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9QXWUDe5J0Oh6IBLEKUY_Ey-VfyLot5yVaDeyiDkWtRyt3bAxZgicpQL4THiKuneHBG9KqQwnbOCgkOUvFpUxVOpOG3a1E0UOM0PQu6jl8K9GG8ZNP-zgH3p127fwEEvIapuSOoxm7rY/s1600/HPIM5448.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 301px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9QXWUDe5J0Oh6IBLEKUY_Ey-VfyLot5yVaDeyiDkWtRyt3bAxZgicpQL4THiKuneHBG9KqQwnbOCgkOUvFpUxVOpOG3a1E0UOM0PQu6jl8K9GG8ZNP-zgH3p127fwEEvIapuSOoxm7rY/s400/HPIM5448.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5771318687962113298" border="0" /></a><b>At 7:00 PM we docked in Victoria, BC......</b><br />We did not plan an excursion here since we were departing @ midnight and had to be back on ship @ 11:30 PM. There was so much packing to do after dinner since we had to have all our luggage out in the hall by midnight.<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghfaEdtFvzYZGpN3vCpexnGpWwSk57YPQ5Mb5KxUgBnjEnkm9-W_-vPbwN3SdY24skrQ6beps4fl9cui6X-3wzAtCpRdIOx3b2pT7SIvApg4BVg5Jmb8gwGFyQYhZ85d7tjEaP-TJ779Y/s1600/vict_inner_harbour.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 264px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghfaEdtFvzYZGpN3vCpexnGpWwSk57YPQ5Mb5KxUgBnjEnkm9-W_-vPbwN3SdY24skrQ6beps4fl9cui6X-3wzAtCpRdIOx3b2pT7SIvApg4BVg5Jmb8gwGFyQYhZ85d7tjEaP-TJ779Y/s400/vict_inner_harbour.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5771318104516534962" border="0" /></a><br />I took this pic of our fabulous dining room waiter<b> Noel </b>on our last night. He was just amazing every night and we actually were sad to leave him! He posed in front of the <b>"Baked Alaska"</b>.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUIk-BtWDeJ49tOk0m-FrDJpG-AUijD0foghsdDTq7mBFmVjZpNRVsomKxJMlTXQgFP_09C8Lr1DcbER4FVUDu5lVeIR5mGxMgFji8WrH_FfN7Uy9_I8oehVL-qYfzJ45xZet1nPoDYA0/s1600/HPIM5439.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 301px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUIk-BtWDeJ49tOk0m-FrDJpG-AUijD0foghsdDTq7mBFmVjZpNRVsomKxJMlTXQgFP_09C8Lr1DcbER4FVUDu5lVeIR5mGxMgFji8WrH_FfN7Uy9_I8oehVL-qYfzJ45xZet1nPoDYA0/s400/HPIM5439.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5771317900186614930" border="0" /></a><br />I want to say a special<span style="color:#000099;"><b> " THANK YOU "</b></span> to son<b> Todd, wife Lori & family</b> for giving us the gift of visiting the<b> most beautiful place we've ever seen...........<br /></b><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsp4RccFOMe8BoiE3sizE67UsqgVe693ypXHrhQqFFP_ZERbL1laLB1skqcOVg7cBhrUwsDCEprGjyKGtgmIyI8SWZGM9ygt3r40BpPyCmoSo4tzxNNqFYNVFN_ad9pwvRsnj53cE5oNU/s1600/480328_10150937184856957_1794999595_n.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsp4RccFOMe8BoiE3sizE67UsqgVe693ypXHrhQqFFP_ZERbL1laLB1skqcOVg7cBhrUwsDCEprGjyKGtgmIyI8SWZGM9ygt3r40BpPyCmoSo4tzxNNqFYNVFN_ad9pwvRsnj53cE5oNU/s400/480328_10150937184856957_1794999595_n.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5771317493883223186" border="0" /></a>We are totally in<b> LOVE</b> with her.........and we're already planning to take a trip back by air and stay at least 2 weeks!!!!<br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wLmbsMx89aA/UBfViz-4Z0I/AAAAAAAAIag/FzTwcd9muysuGO3BNk16ZY/s400/389147_10150937181036957_1653812249_n.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5771315656522794754" border="0"></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv1G3m1x8FZUCjQy_YwcNHfj3lR6CWE5XyZHsQZD1nizKbx8lUJzjCDoXrb7-xJs61xt7G_cF3hxfNLvFLXfTy0U1eP-LdtnmcIhH87W-Av38aTw2yoi2SnDsahRfgD3W4S303NHYUFK8/s1600/alaska_splash.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv1G3m1x8FZUCjQy_YwcNHfj3lR6CWE5XyZHsQZD1nizKbx8lUJzjCDoXrb7-xJs61xt7G_cF3hxfNLvFLXfTy0U1eP-LdtnmcIhH87W-Av38aTw2yoi2SnDsahRfgD3W4S303NHYUFK8/s400/alaska_splash.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5771315292840750018" border="0" /></a><b>If you've never been............GO! RUN! WALK! FLY! CRUISE! JUST GO!</b>Carol Murdockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16749285023748227382noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6003489296067000954.post-7342782639074336102012-07-30T01:53:00.000-05:002012-07-30T08:16:25.250-05:00Tracy Arm Fjord -- DAY 5<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxXoXV3kQHqpfwTsUXTunMgtzZG3IjEyBsVt4mfmlhzgAZbvvLdJef3COJtDEHXEQqCYrNxjFdOC2zd4veQeCEfGU4_cYvp2nQIcDC24hN0sxSSNdt-pggO8-a3-BePl-MjXhwyNB1hyA/s1600/sc0025c418.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxXoXV3kQHqpfwTsUXTunMgtzZG3IjEyBsVt4mfmlhzgAZbvvLdJef3COJtDEHXEQqCYrNxjFdOC2zd4veQeCEfGU4_cYvp2nQIcDC24hN0sxSSNdt-pggO8-a3-BePl-MjXhwyNB1hyA/s400/sc0025c418.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5770947263854880482" border="0" /></a>Day 5 Wednesday July 18th at 7:00AM we cruised into Tracy Arm Fjord. The cruise through lasted for 4 & 1/2 hours. Watching from our balcony required a hat & gloves for me as it was in the 30s due to Sawyer Glacier. My favorite site was these Eagles cruising on ice! The 2 without white heads are babies.<br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCkKQWw2_UClqkQBvVhQY9wG80unhL-xRs-oYmR9WIariTauUERrXSYqHOFRrEI4xKtU7ejTJAAzlJMt6XKAy7jfaJ67lMZeO9vKS0lOU627OQO5jnxBZwrD7uVW0bna2RoCvGqeoRMg0/s1600/-visit_to_Adventure_Bound_-20000000001729627-500x375.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCkKQWw2_UClqkQBvVhQY9wG80unhL-xRs-oYmR9WIariTauUERrXSYqHOFRrEI4xKtU7ejTJAAzlJMt6XKAy7jfaJ67lMZeO9vKS0lOU627OQO5jnxBZwrD7uVW0bna2RoCvGqeoRMg0/s400/-visit_to_Adventure_Bound_-20000000001729627-500x375.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5770946243456119714" border="0" /></a>This is a collage made from pics I took..........<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt9pb5TJc1bjJz5Lq56C86eLlfnBpVATtRQfSkMnH16pugtlZAYFKe5ADbow9Pm3ozjBDOTDfkPJAqMYdx5AB59XluHiNEfDFdvJOyNgAhcfCSNa4ftWSwPVINpdIWn6biW_MZx4jQjF8/s1600/Recently+Updated.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt9pb5TJc1bjJz5Lq56C86eLlfnBpVATtRQfSkMnH16pugtlZAYFKe5ADbow9Pm3ozjBDOTDfkPJAqMYdx5AB59XluHiNEfDFdvJOyNgAhcfCSNa4ftWSwPVINpdIWn6biW_MZx4jQjF8/s400/Recently+Updated.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5770945397816767602" border="0" /></a>Here is a great video(not mine) that will educate you on Tracy Arm history and give you your on tour........ENJOY!<br /><br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen="" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/1Q5eMR6uHjM?fs=1" frameborder="0" height="270" width="480"></iframe>Carol Murdockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16749285023748227382noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6003489296067000954.post-61634096323359745872012-07-26T11:04:00.002-05:002012-07-26T11:07:56.034-05:00Scenic Train Ride in AlaskaThis is a video (Not Made By Us) of our train ride on the White Pass/Yukon Railroad from Skagway to Fraiser BC. I will be doing a blog later on our day in Skagway. Enjoy Johnny Horton singing North To Alaska while you watch!<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen="" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/6w5fVCymMio?fs=1" frameborder="0" height="270" width="480"></iframe>Carol Murdockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16749285023748227382noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6003489296067000954.post-51931968546441047092012-07-26T08:51:00.039-05:002012-07-27T09:05:00.874-05:00Alaska Cruise Day 4... HISTORIC SKAGWAYIf you read the last post, you know that our trip started out with a few problems but after a good nights sleep aboard ship...we were ready to experience something wonderful! At 7:30 Am we left the ship to take in beautiful Skagway! ( original spelling is Skaguay)<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi41TGIEtZ9vMWPBykoGfd_TwynR5s1M3sQ1EW_yqKdbpnGVW6qtbyLtjqq1GN6gpmVvT8aN1p0-OaxcHtLSmt5sGnbbkiDNLZsTftPzSkf0ENZmFWrtwamlHCkbIyugVFojNgOVKCbCKk/s1600/2667132796_e240f971fe.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi41TGIEtZ9vMWPBykoGfd_TwynR5s1M3sQ1EW_yqKdbpnGVW6qtbyLtjqq1GN6gpmVvT8aN1p0-OaxcHtLSmt5sGnbbkiDNLZsTftPzSkf0ENZmFWrtwamlHCkbIyugVFojNgOVKCbCKk/s400/2667132796_e240f971fe.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5769508037039803330" border="0" /></a>Our excursion started with a bus taking us to the White Pass Depot to board a train to FraiserBC.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA73ijVE3Uwbn_XjYXKFQ-gbCC0-vkydE05BwFo_Czz6WEdas2YN0TKsKHDczANCSJMSysOe_PXELiz0quAvIQf7_C-8daz_Mtc6HAmRoT2Xcs_lXCzoweLfsGCP_-bfP8_5_D5kHfR4A/s1600/home3.jpg"></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDEQw_-FDGbNdBLuT3gv4H22WtZDE8QxaEPWe0J8EYWHrkHiOP_lEkBIY-1KGnCDW7tgVf4YAgUuoqE4ch43f03cnGa3oiIleoOYr4F8qJCceMiydINWElB0sL8iVIGDPOx0tfsWjTHk0/s1600/1464082426_b803673971_z.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDEQw_-FDGbNdBLuT3gv4H22WtZDE8QxaEPWe0J8EYWHrkHiOP_lEkBIY-1KGnCDW7tgVf4YAgUuoqE4ch43f03cnGa3oiIleoOYr4F8qJCceMiydINWElB0sL8iVIGDPOx0tfsWjTHk0/s400/1464082426_b803673971_z.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5769505248305185074" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidfJE5KfJ6-sWozL8ZfoLQ9TV6hoJzKhHN_xVqZI5z4Ae5rkq6nXQ1bdXkyhCWrV0yzB9Ejr8l2hp6UKa3QShxqT062AdI0ksVuKFZkWvkXENXobCr0L9kJHBM4LVhZCertBqZpIpck5Q/s1600/HPIM5340.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 301px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidfJE5KfJ6-sWozL8ZfoLQ9TV6hoJzKhHN_xVqZI5z4Ae5rkq6nXQ1bdXkyhCWrV0yzB9Ejr8l2hp6UKa3QShxqT062AdI0ksVuKFZkWvkXENXobCr0L9kJHBM4LVhZCertBqZpIpck5Q/s400/HPIM5340.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5769504994216125954" border="0" /></a>We rode this train but they also have a steam engine train, pictured below, that runs on certain days.....<br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmEP1qbpqlevXXGl4ZtFl63gDyaHB-bFMl1hQ8A3dUpD7EbZ9PbnA6lT4F_SEP8wfMQWbh_V0O2F7TcOeuht-T3Mv4YG19e1jkAcwmRZQetm6dPH2WjNDo9mhQBR-rLdl9te2pXX7FyA4/s1600/Skagway_Alaska_White_Pass_Excursion.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 268px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmEP1qbpqlevXXGl4ZtFl63gDyaHB-bFMl1hQ8A3dUpD7EbZ9PbnA6lT4F_SEP8wfMQWbh_V0O2F7TcOeuht-T3Mv4YG19e1jkAcwmRZQetm6dPH2WjNDo9mhQBR-rLdl9te2pXX7FyA4/s400/Skagway_Alaska_White_Pass_Excursion.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5769504428256402082" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6vgYo5Z_2CikVS49xohNILFtRbuOxNQqQFwAH1ySpEwH9KiI95MPklA8FZ1aAa9iwiP1xgsKUuAbVW55stiq4jdrKzAbC9XEm69SOQz_ZsHBwIOHQkPo6iVI-TiFX9JKlDvSvUwo3_TA/s1600/WP23.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6vgYo5Z_2CikVS49xohNILFtRbuOxNQqQFwAH1ySpEwH9KiI95MPklA8FZ1aAa9iwiP1xgsKUuAbVW55stiq4jdrKzAbC9XEm69SOQz_ZsHBwIOHQkPo6iVI-TiFX9JKlDvSvUwo3_TA/s400/WP23.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5769503923270011554" border="0" /></a>This was our conductor whom I thought looked straight out of the 1800s...........<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzyuXnDRSaAWGaEOyYMmoPJDQ4_2W27QUVLJ6zd3G86bZyofrGaQgX2HqgT9d7ncqEw2DukQIPu6nszyn70dwJSwU_n6qZQq3UPpQxbBPY19cNxmKwuoNOyy2JKWELF4uhaWUwBvNkzQg/s1600/HPIM5358.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 301px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzyuXnDRSaAWGaEOyYMmoPJDQ4_2W27QUVLJ6zd3G86bZyofrGaQgX2HqgT9d7ncqEw2DukQIPu6nszyn70dwJSwU_n6qZQq3UPpQxbBPY19cNxmKwuoNOyy2JKWELF4uhaWUwBvNkzQg/s400/HPIM5358.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5769501609321872882" border="0" /></a><br />DIL Lori gets serious with GD Taylor when she hears we are about to cross a VERY high bridge!<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT78C1OGE3luukXAlfcFpSk-MwYiBNDpMv3WCYmRv28NxVSBmHK4KfyaCMc6NrcUVODp9Qxq9Op7GddJzFDLHmLnCawR_uU-031WRY67rQlb77LiRKTojdBxpniCXrEKSZELyt8t6Wwr8/s1600/HPIM5351.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 301px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT78C1OGE3luukXAlfcFpSk-MwYiBNDpMv3WCYmRv28NxVSBmHK4KfyaCMc6NrcUVODp9Qxq9Op7GddJzFDLHmLnCawR_uU-031WRY67rQlb77LiRKTojdBxpniCXrEKSZELyt8t6Wwr8/s400/HPIM5351.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5769501262321010242" border="0" /></a><br />Gold was never found in Skagway but it was the point at which the prospectors got ready to leave civilization and make the long hard trek across the Yukon Pass in search of wealth. The old foot path can still be seen. When the railroad was put in, it made carrying all the gear and food they would need a much easier task.<br />An interesting fact we learned about Skagway is that no one has been born there since the 1970s. They do not have a doctor there, only a clinic with 2 nurse practitioners. Women are removed at the start of their last trimester to Anchorage or Seattle to await the birth. If they are high risk, they are moved before the last trimester.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj43_vJjM5uMOq0qk26WPc639Mjd4GskdMBnW716cRj6chIGHuEUETzP7LOwQXJS0a2aOtUPHElp6aI5t4JDV_5dCHmQrGEZpakU82_xwYJrcIMWSEh2Wl9fTgsTJ2XzlhA98czuohrfgE/s1600/HPIM5348.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 301px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj43_vJjM5uMOq0qk26WPc639Mjd4GskdMBnW716cRj6chIGHuEUETzP7LOwQXJS0a2aOtUPHElp6aI5t4JDV_5dCHmQrGEZpakU82_xwYJrcIMWSEh2Wl9fTgsTJ2XzlhA98czuohrfgE/s400/HPIM5348.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5769500978517275314" border="0" /></a>If you visit Skagway......ride the train as it will let you see a part of Alaska that will mesmerize you! The train made a couple of stops to let Hiker/Campers off. I'm assuming they were to be picked up a day or two later and taken back to Skagway.<br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvAsZp8J8_sJxncoIlNmkBa4GzOQ3yIVot2ryksefyMv5Ixx16KXjJyn91JT_M0vfQnRqUaWD5P-jCyN_qhZto3k3Ulr8Gcf7ggjQCp-LKaCExlorEWgEwXfz-2Jv4j5TaLsMPJs-gYZo/s1600/HPIM5355.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 301px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvAsZp8J8_sJxncoIlNmkBa4GzOQ3yIVot2ryksefyMv5Ixx16KXjJyn91JT_M0vfQnRqUaWD5P-jCyN_qhZto3k3Ulr8Gcf7ggjQCp-LKaCExlorEWgEwXfz-2Jv4j5TaLsMPJs-gYZo/s400/HPIM5355.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5769499635567178418" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />In the distance you can see Bridal Falls which can only be seen from the train.......<br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0hVV7nrlExkyClmEOewO50KbUwzc7guhCX4r9oYGVOf1POrxy3rDdxWWPiPtybJZETTsdp_PbLEt2AXGNCbp4PKrVqp8CD-_SJsGZobATItGEP9AJm9-aFj0iFnIEV4fOdA5aU_fyhwo/s1600/HPIM5354.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 301px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0hVV7nrlExkyClmEOewO50KbUwzc7guhCX4r9oYGVOf1POrxy3rDdxWWPiPtybJZETTsdp_PbLEt2AXGNCbp4PKrVqp8CD-_SJsGZobATItGEP9AJm9-aFj0iFnIEV4fOdA5aU_fyhwo/s400/HPIM5354.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5769499636977767938" border="0" /></a><br />For 15 years starting in 1923, George Buchanan, a Detroit Coal Merchant, began bringing groups of 50 boys and girls to Alaska to teach them about earning and saving money. This wall commemorates his effort.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIyvDekkjAvAtLSjoxTsHuwPYAgY8MjmMBQJ2LKRE0GBqtZOahDFv1k2hXpfepZ0wOtCMQlZOlmij-I5HUesFb9CVYXNcVlBLMdWPl0_5ofw6iu4ruFi8MGBiwd_QXnjOe32yzAhbgOEs/s1600/img_1173645243_16507_1247424660_mod_384_288.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 384px; height: 288px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIyvDekkjAvAtLSjoxTsHuwPYAgY8MjmMBQJ2LKRE0GBqtZOahDFv1k2hXpfepZ0wOtCMQlZOlmij-I5HUesFb9CVYXNcVlBLMdWPl0_5ofw6iu4ruFi8MGBiwd_QXnjOe32yzAhbgOEs/s400/img_1173645243_16507_1247424660_mod_384_288.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5769492658105063330" border="0" /></a>When we got to the Canadian Border at Fraiser BC our bus was there to pick us up for the ride back to Skagway via the Klondike Highway..........<br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLY24Mu6y9lYub18QZcWU9XBL4I3pDDmFQR0oAN3xzZkwB57_K6daIzbh6uYQH7xaTNaIAoGSMZBHG0xIZ5BWmXzCLeVUQhc_XNrrunrhbfoZhnf6a8JBLRqzjzW_JfRGdwAF0pMotcRk/s1600/DSC05725.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLY24Mu6y9lYub18QZcWU9XBL4I3pDDmFQR0oAN3xzZkwB57_K6daIzbh6uYQH7xaTNaIAoGSMZBHG0xIZ5BWmXzCLeVUQhc_XNrrunrhbfoZhnf6a8JBLRqzjzW_JfRGdwAF0pMotcRk/s400/DSC05725.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5769490000233623746" border="0" /></a>We enjoyed the bus ride back as you see some different scenery and our driver stopped at this sign so we could get pictures.........<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmTflpfmrwtDe2WpsQdoK-S53S0yIOwIDIb7MW5zyMyMrpghx0BZdcvRY8A4rbwl8Nqi7w4I6wYLTKxV0D2Dq6CmmTFjj5ycM62qxaPZGnLjD4vkv7WvvyYKI67Q6PsSdBF8Ms4X740r4/s1600/HPIM5363.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 301px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmTflpfmrwtDe2WpsQdoK-S53S0yIOwIDIb7MW5zyMyMrpghx0BZdcvRY8A4rbwl8Nqi7w4I6wYLTKxV0D2Dq6CmmTFjj5ycM62qxaPZGnLjD4vkv7WvvyYKI67Q6PsSdBF8Ms4X740r4/s400/HPIM5363.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5769488912265359986" border="0" /></a><br />A short distance past the sign is where we saw this Black Bear having lunch.....<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF9JYg_KZXIDuLSFvAMKo9jXWBngMLy4TKJqNI0YFu7ziAHd3P2RMM8MmSvWD4WZRQoqxzLqTzmw_56_2EnecjhCvb-G4fkZVF08g4fS8d5Qz4Yd3rfqZ1gV0ty8HAyjLZt82WRVx1Kus/s1600/HPIM5360.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 301px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF9JYg_KZXIDuLSFvAMKo9jXWBngMLy4TKJqNI0YFu7ziAHd3P2RMM8MmSvWD4WZRQoqxzLqTzmw_56_2EnecjhCvb-G4fkZVF08g4fS8d5Qz4Yd3rfqZ1gV0ty8HAyjLZt82WRVx1Kus/s400/HPIM5360.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5769488610847444706" border="0" /></a><br />He also stopped at this overlook where you can look down on Skagway and see the town along with the cruise ships in dock. On the far right are 2 Princess ships. The Golden is in front with the Diamond right behind her.<br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSBVitwXgz1Jmt8Keq-FfVTr0WgSQXRI5Eg9yzXVOcx3GDEaA57E4z3Qa_OXVtwBu4Lvu-QdlrlDEO_PggVw7lXtB_FWw6hyzbWffwe_WEcObqvDcYRxcGwXXh28bytfu4DAkvZIW1neE/s1600/2651103877_5bf5a25118.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSBVitwXgz1Jmt8Keq-FfVTr0WgSQXRI5Eg9yzXVOcx3GDEaA57E4z3Qa_OXVtwBu4Lvu-QdlrlDEO_PggVw7lXtB_FWw6hyzbWffwe_WEcObqvDcYRxcGwXXh28bytfu4DAkvZIW1neE/s400/2651103877_5bf5a25118.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5769488136229127218" border="0" /></a>We were then dropped off in downtown Skagway at the historic Skagway Inn for lunch and then picked up for some Gold Panning! This "old time prospector" was a delight!<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheAy5wvDAdW9POYvYe2FktNFrF4lL8nV19UBJk1KWfXYqNiY0d13eJTsOy0WeOOYSz0VYJxAVxrY4T0raqttXOJzs3Qi7W-eaPa6f37mFvYXsjkYU67MtR9-ExECj91UrbyT5vg8u46jE/s1600/HPIM5368.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 301px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheAy5wvDAdW9POYvYe2FktNFrF4lL8nV19UBJk1KWfXYqNiY0d13eJTsOy0WeOOYSz0VYJxAVxrY4T0raqttXOJzs3Qi7W-eaPa6f37mFvYXsjkYU67MtR9-ExECj91UrbyT5vg8u46jE/s400/HPIM5368.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5769487768753489234" border="0" /></a>The Gold Panning was located on the banks of the Skagway River...........<br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKBgv25rYJt8dB7JGLPhKVYvezPEbyqNtwar_9skqMVsHDo88VMuW1ngVlKUpe3bDaMkYWpoyhHHzB2jdZgnsENPxgqL2YTeAY55v0vEov0L5pqbLqQsIK9M-WL5XMhbTEey3tNOiX8Ao/s1600/HPIM5369.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 301px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKBgv25rYJt8dB7JGLPhKVYvezPEbyqNtwar_9skqMVsHDo88VMuW1ngVlKUpe3bDaMkYWpoyhHHzB2jdZgnsENPxgqL2YTeAY55v0vEov0L5pqbLqQsIK9M-WL5XMhbTEey3tNOiX8Ao/s400/HPIM5369.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5769487401620382674" border="0" /></a>Turns out I can add "panning" to my list of talents! I ended up doing both Hubby & son Todd's as they just couldn't "get it right"..... :)<br />After combining mine and Eric's, we had $37.51 in gold which I had put in a necklace. Todd's family of 5 panned $ 51.00 worth which was put in a necklace for DIL Lori!<br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPWMBbHJHKAsvZdytPY5GvYelA1Q5YCzNHbxcq5KWmqJgLjD31O26Yfi15mwJxV68qWeG8F48nETVmnqE2oaA3sC4G3K6rV5NuEHx-Tql_P4L23fHLIanEBiWa2vv_sZ665CNSiXCviys/s1600/HPIM5367.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 301px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPWMBbHJHKAsvZdytPY5GvYelA1Q5YCzNHbxcq5KWmqJgLjD31O26Yfi15mwJxV68qWeG8F48nETVmnqE2oaA3sC4G3K6rV5NuEHx-Tql_P4L23fHLIanEBiWa2vv_sZ665CNSiXCviys/s400/HPIM5367.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5769486723751978498" border="0" /></a><br />Here's my necklace!<br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWFMIzD3xzJsA6A8sKQzbXYPxFPG-cOM5uCJsjuEEju2nfxPMXYP26iVbihyIhEk8tSAQSppvGZ0n4CHfZ6wuW5fFEBTBu4HSDtkHUKDUexVJAQW5zfSDNDr2IOr3eikMgGuFDnsp9vC8/s1600/HPIM5475.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 301px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWFMIzD3xzJsA6A8sKQzbXYPxFPG-cOM5uCJsjuEEju2nfxPMXYP26iVbihyIhEk8tSAQSppvGZ0n4CHfZ6wuW5fFEBTBu4HSDtkHUKDUexVJAQW5zfSDNDr2IOr3eikMgGuFDnsp9vC8/s400/HPIM5475.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5769485897462674226" border="0" /></a>We were then dropped off in town for sightseeing and some shopping........<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeuPgzzMr_2u4EdsrzTwBsrt5tN8q9HYIbZCT6ktwXgpJrj-V5g4d8upHEIlqPR0lUGXq7jrNglNRUe3Gc74irIKGdQTmBuEkzl2mQ4O1z9DPcz0x42HN01ru97kxg73QSl1Y2rwu7GlQ/s1600/photo_main.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 254px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeuPgzzMr_2u4EdsrzTwBsrt5tN8q9HYIbZCT6ktwXgpJrj-V5g4d8upHEIlqPR0lUGXq7jrNglNRUe3Gc74irIKGdQTmBuEkzl2mQ4O1z9DPcz0x42HN01ru97kxg73QSl1Y2rwu7GlQ/s400/photo_main.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5769485481589564050" border="0" /></a><br />This is the 1899 Alaskan Brotherhood building whose front is made from driftwood..........<br />It now a museum........<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfy_2-FutaThwXr2FrT3LDDUB-aMbfE_4ejXTqc2ZIdWJjboBsrRS-m7khi5nkm59KdS1e6rL0t_oH8kSx3qnk2cpccdOUgWb7RJmdNZTPkdoYQPk9r2im7-fKF6Xq4r4kYV6Kk5mnPD4/s1600/HPIM5380.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 301px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfy_2-FutaThwXr2FrT3LDDUB-aMbfE_4ejXTqc2ZIdWJjboBsrRS-m7khi5nkm59KdS1e6rL0t_oH8kSx3qnk2cpccdOUgWb7RJmdNZTPkdoYQPk9r2im7-fKF6Xq4r4kYV6Kk5mnPD4/s400/HPIM5380.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5769484912451371170" border="0" /></a><br />As time to be back on ship approaches, the town empties...........<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZUFVQ1oqWij0m3e6g5Sd7VjjtnXUwe7hBfIWeZTnxE2iP7Fa1O_dz4Xgm0GtkIn578uaITTWj-yEeoJA4cpyWsfXI1a4HG5at9loEwEs1Mgjj69IJKM-pMnyxC2K5xzICkIKG1nGps_w/s1600/Itinerary_Skagway.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZUFVQ1oqWij0m3e6g5Sd7VjjtnXUwe7hBfIWeZTnxE2iP7Fa1O_dz4Xgm0GtkIn578uaITTWj-yEeoJA4cpyWsfXI1a4HG5at9loEwEs1Mgjj69IJKM-pMnyxC2K5xzICkIKG1nGps_w/s400/Itinerary_Skagway.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5769484342863415682" border="0" /></a>Day 5 will be be the Awesome Tracy Arms Fjord.................<br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD7uYJtVgfYTbzN1a40uP8ju0pCfUmk7An2Wk3ccuEVrJnFRyxw7nnCmXoJ7DF6PnZjbh834Tqx1kMGt-ay90BntTUBJGfkS6stljPJpN69Tjfh6p9LJAesEAcUVbml6tYnFReFlGWfr0/s1600/sc0025c418.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD7uYJtVgfYTbzN1a40uP8ju0pCfUmk7An2Wk3ccuEVrJnFRyxw7nnCmXoJ7DF6PnZjbh834Tqx1kMGt-ay90BntTUBJGfkS6stljPJpN69Tjfh6p9LJAesEAcUVbml6tYnFReFlGWfr0/s400/sc0025c418.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5769477842225618930" border="0" /></a>Have a great weekend!!!Carol Murdockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16749285023748227382noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6003489296067000954.post-64028500064402237302012-07-24T07:38:00.032-05:002012-07-24T10:20:01.423-05:00Alaska Cruise 2012....First 3 & 1/2 DaysYou all know my son Todd and wife Lori gifted us with a Dream Cruise to Alaska...........<br />However it only takes one United Airlines Flight Delay to turn your dream into a nightmare!<br />Sit back and have a good laugh at our expense ??? :)<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBTA5vjiVxpVxOfR3dalfVYBq1sZ73k4tO3adcFoW9FHBW3Em_3vpoTBnYSkP4yuzuN6iJb-UbpbrNtPYlAcUc84h1SI6B01KQKT5c4uWM4CJvHMESYqVbpnsmQGsDATdoCX3QyGjracc/s1600/gI_75109_AlaskaCruiseandAir.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 187px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 249px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5768728842420529858" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBTA5vjiVxpVxOfR3dalfVYBq1sZ73k4tO3adcFoW9FHBW3Em_3vpoTBnYSkP4yuzuN6iJb-UbpbrNtPYlAcUc84h1SI6B01KQKT5c4uWM4CJvHMESYqVbpnsmQGsDATdoCX3QyGjracc/s400/gI_75109_AlaskaCruiseandAir.jpg" border="0" /></a> Friday...July 13 <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">th</span>.........</p><br /><br /><p>We left <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error">Hattiesburg</span> and drove to New Orleans to spend the night as we had to be at the airport at 4:30 AM for our 5:54 Am flight to San Fransisco aboard United. We were told the flight was delayed due to mechanical problems and "hopefully" would take off at 12:00 noon. We were then told that all flights were overbooked and we would NOT make our ship in Seattle ! <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-error">OMG</span>! I was in tears! Since our flights were booked by Princess Cruises and United guarantees you to make the ship, United told us that we were to be switched in San Fran to Alaska Airlines, put up in a hotel in Seattle and flown to Juneau on Sunday morning to join our ship at noon on Monday. Take my advice....don't EVER book on United !!!<br /><br /></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRwPYZQ90vCD6oDToeYj6kPMuuKiywn_q-kVM7DTauGuYketzr5A6iOCO7iGcHGvdG7SC-sm_KdgG5o3vcsq-jGFbdJIf5fs1t38ewpJFitChAs0EgHqRCDSmmgqlPmOgh_DhnDAFIjLU/s1600/united-airlines.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 188px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5768728642277012466" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRwPYZQ90vCD6oDToeYj6kPMuuKiywn_q-kVM7DTauGuYketzr5A6iOCO7iGcHGvdG7SC-sm_KdgG5o3vcsq-jGFbdJIf5fs1t38ewpJFitChAs0EgHqRCDSmmgqlPmOgh_DhnDAFIjLU/s400/united-airlines.jpg" border="0" /></a> So we get into bed at Comfort Inn Suites in Seattle at midnight and had to get up at 3:00 AM for our Alaska Air flight to Juneau. Alaska Airlines is awesome and they put us in 1st class to Juneau.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9w67rdNLfiJ7lZbg5YSscEWGUxw8VwfuLkyHkIYEF-1PpQkxubs3PZv1mP8GgZL-DWASw3Jt1N5JpHIm_jo6t4KpWKPDAa8UWR_bcfYwo95VOVz2DCUKLEzib9H9HRH2nlWjNn9lXdFU/s1600/Alaska-Airlines-over-Molokai-cliffs.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5768728365353558642" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9w67rdNLfiJ7lZbg5YSscEWGUxw8VwfuLkyHkIYEF-1PpQkxubs3PZv1mP8GgZL-DWASw3Jt1N5JpHIm_jo6t4KpWKPDAa8UWR_bcfYwo95VOVz2DCUKLEzib9H9HRH2nlWjNn9lXdFU/s400/Alaska-Airlines-over-Molokai-cliffs.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />We arrived in beautiful Juneau at 7:00 Am Alaska time Sunday morning.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNNmwv2bTBrtZhB0-Uqq5D_jghatKdJGKa65C20gUhQZGDwy1D8p4pjyZrPrmXPC3aPZp4lq3BaI4PlNXw-kzJ-kj3JFcyBadQ_x5uwPG1awvbpeQjVwiyCuDCjONA00fTO8bHEgNEa6g/s1600/juneau.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 258px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5768725679972077010" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNNmwv2bTBrtZhB0-Uqq5D_jghatKdJGKa65C20gUhQZGDwy1D8p4pjyZrPrmXPC3aPZp4lq3BaI4PlNXw-kzJ-kj3JFcyBadQ_x5uwPG1awvbpeQjVwiyCuDCjONA00fTO8bHEgNEa6g/s400/juneau.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />The airport is very small but so pretty. These were hanging in the airport.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjydqWChV6UAwyeQswpn9NLybFPXPY6K-wOw9AWl7SseOpk6avSJNENe1GXT9PVv4J9wrqWZhyphenhyphenP3kZjyytYI4gV8znlW2BIvrRRyRL2oBemhLpw9ZCojmToGr0IglV3Wy0pbMP4Mk3SAOU/s1600/HPIM5324.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 301px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5768725255760862002" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjydqWChV6UAwyeQswpn9NLybFPXPY6K-wOw9AWl7SseOpk6avSJNENe1GXT9PVv4J9wrqWZhyphenhyphenP3kZjyytYI4gV8znlW2BIvrRRyRL2oBemhLpw9ZCojmToGr0IglV3Wy0pbMP4Mk3SAOU/s400/HPIM5324.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />This Grizzly was hanging out in a glass cage so hubby got close..........<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKqfugrBMiS-hI52qzUtor8R_Cx3qbhSfDxNlX0rIuRdjBTgxWG9VWFzGA5qedF_hu-EpV1w5fTnxDs-PI-07Act7DDuwmvFz5J4k_lMwY2ZZFRmOV5z4eD06l6jesGiHYMM2saUuqRgU/s1600/HPIM5323.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 301px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5768724986980822690" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKqfugrBMiS-hI52qzUtor8R_Cx3qbhSfDxNlX0rIuRdjBTgxWG9VWFzGA5qedF_hu-EpV1w5fTnxDs-PI-07Act7DDuwmvFz5J4k_lMwY2ZZFRmOV5z4eD06l6jesGiHYMM2saUuqRgU/s400/HPIM5323.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />This is a view of the Taxi parking lot and a gorgeous mountain.......<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrSitexNT_qDjwgSJHRJh9rtEIciF3KM-rRcTUmnzetZ_SYCzrM_u31lBZLj9WmzAgT4FRdrgaBI06_H9PwHCQt6RAOuACJblTNi1T9dG2jolwBnR0F0vtDuWhso-iUpvIqMP8zv2thmE/s1600/HPIM5325.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 301px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5768724751448631634" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrSitexNT_qDjwgSJHRJh9rtEIciF3KM-rRcTUmnzetZ_SYCzrM_u31lBZLj9WmzAgT4FRdrgaBI06_H9PwHCQt6RAOuACJblTNi1T9dG2jolwBnR0F0vtDuWhso-iUpvIqMP8zv2thmE/s400/HPIM5325.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />We were picked up by our hotel, The Driftwood Lodge, who were absolutely wonderful in getting a room ready and letting us check in early as we'd had only 3 hours sleep. Our room was the one on the bottom right, in back of the gray and red cars.<br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw2wYB_SaiA6T-CgRqb9jmLjBgtCn9w5gLGGoZDyMQiFpKF13YHyfGzvbXRikEVcriXo67P71oe3n07C-wt7IDTG6Q1kNWhP6NBMk6Jsdw_yOoQXwiAB-Wx79yxGtc8rqn92Quw-sf17g/s1600/244600_1.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5768723916779115106" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw2wYB_SaiA6T-CgRqb9jmLjBgtCn9w5gLGGoZDyMQiFpKF13YHyfGzvbXRikEVcriXo67P71oe3n07C-wt7IDTG6Q1kNWhP6NBMk6Jsdw_yOoQXwiAB-Wx79yxGtc8rqn92Quw-sf17g/s400/244600_1.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Right next door was a wonderful cafe The Sandpiper. After a hot shower and a few hours sleep we had lunch there. Hubby tried an Elk Burger which he did not like but I had a Reuben which was so good.<br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkw9qi4ag20BTEYnLT99-hl2I6cwsCB9fPcIwVGhvg3SiADLIkqHkFOg4QcfLGCq0bX21KcGePo85qb6FMigaSJFwoLoqXJHdulIBh7V9dSQ0vCBcFcgn0xgp-ecjSGN7nV3KlDfWz0QY/s1600/p259400-Juneau-Sandpiper_Cafe.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5768723817534538370" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkw9qi4ag20BTEYnLT99-hl2I6cwsCB9fPcIwVGhvg3SiADLIkqHkFOg4QcfLGCq0bX21KcGePo85qb6FMigaSJFwoLoqXJHdulIBh7V9dSQ0vCBcFcgn0xgp-ecjSGN7nV3KlDfWz0QY/s400/p259400-Juneau-Sandpiper_Cafe.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />This was the view from our room.......<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim1Th1wa_DTSfRinmohexbAbqfFAO49GpDoEK1KAW2X575LIGidq5KeXdnyj6zhcolHwW9IKFsYTgtnFN7a5O0gpZup6Zr6k6_vq6JQ7gzQGRXOSOjpBsI-B7SR1agIodnZHg1lHt8INc/s1600/HPIM5329.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 301px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5768723487547926226" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim1Th1wa_DTSfRinmohexbAbqfFAO49GpDoEK1KAW2X575LIGidq5KeXdnyj6zhcolHwW9IKFsYTgtnFN7a5O0gpZup6Zr6k6_vq6JQ7gzQGRXOSOjpBsI-B7SR1agIodnZHg1lHt8INc/s400/HPIM5329.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Juneau is full of these huge Ravens and they have no fear of humans. I loved hearing them as they seem to converse with each other constantly.<br /><br /><br /><div><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhMcbO1x5gTw-MCfoCWl0hTb-HoVDEIbL3TKpUq5ZkyHh4dYAtOEKk9yt3pZa11wr0olzR9N84sljRUWZXeFTa8_DZfQJgzgpMnXqKUW2M9pizmjwkBw14giM5QHTGuXDyO-Pbw0HQGdI/s1600/HPIM5327.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 299px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5768718587190632898" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhMcbO1x5gTw-MCfoCWl0hTb-HoVDEIbL3TKpUq5ZkyHh4dYAtOEKk9yt3pZa11wr0olzR9N84sljRUWZXeFTa8_DZfQJgzgpMnXqKUW2M9pizmjwkBw14giM5QHTGuXDyO-Pbw0HQGdI/s400/HPIM5327.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div><br /><br /><div>We spent Sunday resting and hoping that "someone" would find the suitcase that United lost when we were in San Fran that contained most of Hubby's clothes including all his jeans and underwear ! Since the cafe closed at 2:00 PM we ordered a Pizza delivered to our room from a local place that night. Talk about heart failure! $ 30.00 for a large Pizza! Good thing United was footing the bill! At 10:30 PM a Taxi brought the suitcase and Hubby was so happy!<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1PuD4YKbk8nDyagz8l0sg7Y-wLyCX7eLLqeoqtUA8TI9A4ICThCPP4BMx6lyVaV0LPKW8QPSQ5tl2XT4Ssf5U0vzqyP2JW032tccUicrqn3tUk5Z-8hc-lmGC4tACLXnIhyu4Sxi3Jpk/s1600/HPIM5331.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 301px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5768718259383385858" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1PuD4YKbk8nDyagz8l0sg7Y-wLyCX7eLLqeoqtUA8TI9A4ICThCPP4BMx6lyVaV0LPKW8QPSQ5tl2XT4Ssf5U0vzqyP2JW032tccUicrqn3tUk5Z-8hc-lmGC4tACLXnIhyu4Sxi3Jpk/s400/HPIM5331.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Monday morning we were told by Princess that we would NOT be allowed to board until all passengers had disembarked the ship which <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">meant</span> that we would NOT get to go on our Juneau Excursion for Whale Watching & <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" class="blsp-spelling-error">Mendenhall</span> Glacier !! Here comes the tears again! So we went for a walk on the streets of Juneau and since all the shops don't open until "a ship docks" we only saw this lonely Bear.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZcsMIq6ewF7MLYXHKjQiA4KQHQ-UxH7SBTY8bOukkJN-TesSnKzsUdvM_Ntixf_zQyX_stoMXqGVXeqLiSJJjvvnJcBedltnRMZiKP9ueogNp4gMiiDMF3ii2mwKKAjLf15FL_8u6wpk/s1600/HPIM5330.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 301px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5768718007285843250" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZcsMIq6ewF7MLYXHKjQiA4KQHQ-UxH7SBTY8bOukkJN-TesSnKzsUdvM_Ntixf_zQyX_stoMXqGVXeqLiSJJjvvnJcBedltnRMZiKP9ueogNp4gMiiDMF3ii2mwKKAjLf15FL_8u6wpk/s400/HPIM5330.JPG" border="0" /></a> It was freezing and I had forgot to bring my hat & gloves on the walk. The temp was about 49 but the North Wind blows constantly and is so strong it goes right through you!<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizHOxieotVAbG9t6FJCNNP_3qtk4i14aa9b-QvMT0hshT1kHfDfH_ZIzeOui52lqc9gFFlxypS2OUbj8fW55zd0ijDi-SA-eQ87RLp_XruAXSJsiXZpc5W8lJDjXuWXa66y5gzAoz6q40/s1600/HPIM5339.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 301px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5768717643318575170" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizHOxieotVAbG9t6FJCNNP_3qtk4i14aa9b-QvMT0hshT1kHfDfH_ZIzeOui52lqc9gFFlxypS2OUbj8fW55zd0ijDi-SA-eQ87RLp_XruAXSJsiXZpc5W8lJDjXuWXa66y5gzAoz6q40/s400/HPIM5339.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />At 11:30 my son called and said they were docking so the hotel loaded us up and took us to the pier. We were shocked to see about 20 others waiting who had also missed the ship in Seattle due to United. We met 3 couples from Shreveport, La who had gone through a worse ordeal than us. We also got to see our family coming off the ship on their way to the excursion which made me feel much better. When we checked in we were told we could book a later excursion in Juneau but I WAS NOT ABOUT TO LEAVE THAT SHIP !!! :)</div><br /><br /><div>I have to say Princess treated us like royalty once we boarded.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeer0p5wu9rhYPZaO_UVfujfh3nXDv7ZvrugbL-SycyWDzyNfKGjGFxwDjwo3m1ZXXae_3dx0tLuCVyEr6b_nG4Z0DsX3EmypHMrULB7PgHFlpE0c9fa40YQkD7OLbaiLUHEFTLDK6TpI/s1600/380641_4232260365519_299055782_n.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5768717299820600370" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeer0p5wu9rhYPZaO_UVfujfh3nXDv7ZvrugbL-SycyWDzyNfKGjGFxwDjwo3m1ZXXae_3dx0tLuCVyEr6b_nG4Z0DsX3EmypHMrULB7PgHFlpE0c9fa40YQkD7OLbaiLUHEFTLDK6TpI/s400/380641_4232260365519_299055782_n.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />Of course the ship was pretty empty because everyone had been on the ship since Saturday and were ready to feel land under their feet. We also learned that in reality, we were lucky because they had gone through some rough seas and half the ship got sea sick and all the entertainment was canceled because the ship was rocking so bad.<br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1Sw4sNl8JIUFeTG2xWwk4l7HIE9NMpadPPPFbCMqr1MEobaiv90bnJam5f7VhFD8WkFib8upJ_mqrn1URkvJkpvqev-VxbHJlb7fYVsFp6JteYnlkFnXRRGbi_CtT3ANaDn3C6PT9BUo/s1600/HPIM5332.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 301px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5768717077555930466" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1Sw4sNl8JIUFeTG2xWwk4l7HIE9NMpadPPPFbCMqr1MEobaiv90bnJam5f7VhFD8WkFib8upJ_mqrn1URkvJkpvqev-VxbHJlb7fYVsFp6JteYnlkFnXRRGbi_CtT3ANaDn3C6PT9BUo/s400/HPIM5332.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />I loved this picture on the ship..........</div><br /><br /><div>So.. you now know how the Dream Cruise began....</div><br /><br /><div>Next time we'll visit <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_5" class="blsp-spelling-error">Skagway</span>....<br /></div><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzWIXAyjJMdDXlPleeddRwZEM4OYH2sNfsMFHNK1FZXCQIpMd5DY1l4EYrWjzGP4xyovzt8UiK3mjHcvBIP1adZ7-l34-jVPOVR_rpAeantmfor_WmjIF0kz802JlgjtfcPb_rpOAR1nA/s1600/HPIM5372.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 301px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5768716781230088802" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzWIXAyjJMdDXlPleeddRwZEM4OYH2sNfsMFHNK1FZXCQIpMd5DY1l4EYrWjzGP4xyovzt8UiK3mjHcvBIP1adZ7-l34-jVPOVR_rpAeantmfor_WmjIF0kz802JlgjtfcPb_rpOAR1nA/s400/HPIM5372.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div></div></div></div></div></div></div><br /><br />Thanks for laughing with me and not at me !!!! :)<br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Carol Murdockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16749285023748227382noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6003489296067000954.post-19863396780450142162012-07-03T09:12:00.024-05:002012-07-03T10:46:39.906-05:00PLANNING TO ESCAPE !!!I know we aren't the only ones who are dreaming of escaping this horrible weather.........<br />My heart goes out to all those on the Northeast without power due to storms.......<br />Those in the Florida without homes due to flooding....<br />Those in Arizona & Colorado without homes due to fire........<br />Here in the deep south we are suffering from triple digit temps, horrible humidity and drought..........<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR6IZvQezNpRWeDb_kBfUoIG2m0nimiWgeCPTABuDg5qpUk0mzdVH7ZJ8THLibjxdIex8IhUTVGDbjMCuRCrksgSxw9q1_YtywIdHFJiyfM1Vnndj-jOj-pxtLvj9BQMjmU6FJIslvaS4/s1600/dog-melts-during-record-heat-wave-funny-news-picture.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 350px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR6IZvQezNpRWeDb_kBfUoIG2m0nimiWgeCPTABuDg5qpUk0mzdVH7ZJ8THLibjxdIex8IhUTVGDbjMCuRCrksgSxw9q1_YtywIdHFJiyfM1Vnndj-jOj-pxtLvj9BQMjmU6FJIslvaS4/s400/dog-melts-during-record-heat-wave-funny-news-picture.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5760960984574083474" border="0" /></a>However we see relief on the horizon! My son Todd and his wife Lori are taking us on a 7 day cruise !!!<br />NO....this is not our luggage but it's close at least in the amount!<br />Packing is real intense since it requires packing for 2 seasons because...........<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTEswcxjMra9QUvuy5bfxUEgSrb4EWIhqQugF1ZtfMalu87VcmJuFc-d74Uxhg5pzPWsZWTJL1M-v-T4PussQyzwwuE3EBqzeCu1DV7uo0YLOs4WnZHyUrrbMB93GziDIeAXHmO5dD_4w/s1600/toomuchluggage-217x300.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 217px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTEswcxjMra9QUvuy5bfxUEgSrb4EWIhqQugF1ZtfMalu87VcmJuFc-d74Uxhg5pzPWsZWTJL1M-v-T4PussQyzwwuE3EBqzeCu1DV7uo0YLOs4WnZHyUrrbMB93GziDIeAXHmO5dD_4w/s400/toomuchluggage-217x300.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5760959923247341410" border="0" /></a>We are going to ...........<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfOn2amv-Qj6I3qpptgDb568_mYuCyQ90QAd4iF6I3vI9kYUqKEdLDJtyCLAn9Ra1rzVLn-hcMKBdmeg_-DhmiOLRy8p2FYW8Q_GUCiR6kuWY0lbaLASkDjOg775VpaSrSG_KouibNE2g/s1600/alaska_splash.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfOn2amv-Qj6I3qpptgDb568_mYuCyQ90QAd4iF6I3vI9kYUqKEdLDJtyCLAn9Ra1rzVLn-hcMKBdmeg_-DhmiOLRy8p2FYW8Q_GUCiR6kuWY0lbaLASkDjOg775VpaSrSG_KouibNE2g/s400/alaska_splash.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5760959753509151010" border="0" /></a>We will tour Alaska's Inside Passage............<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ6XMQ4ViZ0-d_b5dZsVqkArc0sKpGBHsSxHh8PwETktd8WFoq92FoVlGbGx1H4oB5fKjajblOEGz_I0Pv4tYH7F-iFltrFv7mCiWOzP5hk49yUh-dPFQX6-yurK4TGVW3dlZ9ZzdFqUU/s1600/mapcru.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 391px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ6XMQ4ViZ0-d_b5dZsVqkArc0sKpGBHsSxHh8PwETktd8WFoq92FoVlGbGx1H4oB5fKjajblOEGz_I0Pv4tYH7F-iFltrFv7mCiWOzP5hk49yUh-dPFQX6-yurK4TGVW3dlZ9ZzdFqUU/s400/mapcru.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5760959384357238690" border="0" /></a><br />ABOARD............<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtQxAGPpLOqV6x1Ha3p9khRF8_P2U5y6nUjhvdFpziUosFLYWTE_7mYDrPNd5Z9hTshbdR1z5Q2WSiHZt9_3eSrX0QuvUKP5F17bAWVn0kvBOutF_9dRlbjINH2Il1_xUHhnhiGYjLBJE/s1600/revcover1c.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 239px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtQxAGPpLOqV6x1Ha3p9khRF8_P2U5y6nUjhvdFpziUosFLYWTE_7mYDrPNd5Z9hTshbdR1z5Q2WSiHZt9_3eSrX0QuvUKP5F17bAWVn0kvBOutF_9dRlbjINH2Il1_xUHhnhiGYjLBJE/s400/revcover1c.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5760959179629941378" border="0" /></a>We'll fly out of New Orleans to San Fransisco then on to Seattle...........<br />First port is Juneau where it's 49 degrees right now. Expected normal temps for our cruise week are 65 high/48 low.....ahhhhhhhhhh heavenly! However right now now they are running below normal.<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdfjmqPvcw4NleyRNfIBzjsyZiardNaXxOpeSnMA0HbHOl0Wb12Zc7zLBYVeSSQ446Atf1v5J-kQs2X0Vost60X2nDJhWXXZaC9Q7WZe4guVFlavKpciG7ZWFBDpFEYzOGTjtlIL4dz3Y/s1600/juneau.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 258px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdfjmqPvcw4NleyRNfIBzjsyZiardNaXxOpeSnMA0HbHOl0Wb12Zc7zLBYVeSSQ446Atf1v5J-kQs2X0Vost60X2nDJhWXXZaC9Q7WZe4guVFlavKpciG7ZWFBDpFEYzOGTjtlIL4dz3Y/s400/juneau.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5760958828138430610" border="0" /></a>In Juneau we will visit the Mendenhall Glacier..........<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQBY84_9pCdo9EJ45vo5QqiTJhlvF2p7tlrbYWYVaLQh4-RWEkU_AQya7ZU5gyvrvaNwJzPrUAzD42Huk9Qgsul9KN0xRcQrRRT0akuC5dC2lCmxy_f8VUfWd6jaMvmp7jp5Bag8h4Aes/s1600/mendenhall_glacier_alaska_poster-r55efa4bb141f49a497e4a77b06eec52a_wqa_210.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 210px; height: 210px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQBY84_9pCdo9EJ45vo5QqiTJhlvF2p7tlrbYWYVaLQh4-RWEkU_AQya7ZU5gyvrvaNwJzPrUAzD42Huk9Qgsul9KN0xRcQrRRT0akuC5dC2lCmxy_f8VUfWd6jaMvmp7jp5Bag8h4Aes/s400/mendenhall_glacier_alaska_poster-r55efa4bb141f49a497e4a77b06eec52a_wqa_210.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5760958645506756802" border="0" /></a>And go Whale Watching...........<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhal2mIT_ZUrIYfL0-ZaJGfdq2hwBG9wt3OpIW-wR1Y4ZrOowkybaOauwNJ669BAIkWsbjxzLYLHOryJN26MQ5Z4BlrJ-A_QuONYuj2qcxhyphenhyphenLyCJBmJUEL6fwHOyxHwPT8cp4ESpWEfGkY/s1600/whaleWatching.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 299px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhal2mIT_ZUrIYfL0-ZaJGfdq2hwBG9wt3OpIW-wR1Y4ZrOowkybaOauwNJ669BAIkWsbjxzLYLHOryJN26MQ5Z4BlrJ-A_QuONYuj2qcxhyphenhyphenLyCJBmJUEL6fwHOyxHwPT8cp4ESpWEfGkY/s400/whaleWatching.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5760958522587961282" border="0" /></a>Next stop....Skagway........<br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjsO4AzDxgsaNxpr_oOd1aBIhPLWpmSntkC5hjE3w6a-m0ta6WAG2nxlqlmOT9eEJNP5VQ0C4NfYHIPV44xFzgNypCU-vQkI-0NOLVQpfaM9KUVGTpd4OtUwOgahfCQU1ebmrk2t4AAqc/s1600/photo_main.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 254px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjsO4AzDxgsaNxpr_oOd1aBIhPLWpmSntkC5hjE3w6a-m0ta6WAG2nxlqlmOT9eEJNP5VQ0C4NfYHIPV44xFzgNypCU-vQkI-0NOLVQpfaM9KUVGTpd4OtUwOgahfCQU1ebmrk2t4AAqc/s400/photo_main.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5760958326440919410" border="0" /></a><br />We will board the White Pass/Yukon Railroad to Canada........<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM_ac8oUJY2Bfi7k2LhyphenhyphenrsgoYYIDn5D9tcJsONzFrA-LmS1gdhosEgqvcYg-VipH76RKpQKCXCa8eG22T7QlcONiaSMAdt7jGP7gisjQVZCF6kKCSy1KdyLrTQFRQebgAZ8WAowx-KiDU/s1600/Skagway_Alaska_White_Pass_Excursion.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 268px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM_ac8oUJY2Bfi7k2LhyphenhyphenrsgoYYIDn5D9tcJsONzFrA-LmS1gdhosEgqvcYg-VipH76RKpQKCXCa8eG22T7QlcONiaSMAdt7jGP7gisjQVZCF6kKCSy1KdyLrTQFRQebgAZ8WAowx-KiDU/s400/Skagway_Alaska_White_Pass_Excursion.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5760958043433681410" border="0" /></a>Eat lunch and do some Gold Panning.........<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUbrzHAbsH2o_1zoxKs8xgselFreK0rjdqTvrMbgLDjY4Ftydr9o0dr8WzQlsacdXnFVrkP03PN5r1jgeEiS_3-MO9bPXHVlgJyxU5S6W0COc6uZBjmK41aDkQ0wYTDd9yEESI0_fH8hE/s1600/SGY_250_1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 340px; height: 226px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUbrzHAbsH2o_1zoxKs8xgselFreK0rjdqTvrMbgLDjY4Ftydr9o0dr8WzQlsacdXnFVrkP03PN5r1jgeEiS_3-MO9bPXHVlgJyxU5S6W0COc6uZBjmK41aDkQ0wYTDd9yEESI0_fH8hE/s400/SGY_250_1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5760957907069439106" border="0" /></a><br />Then we'll cruise the gorgeous Tracy Arms Fjord...........<br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmzJZqA87B1K96-weEpNuW9ZE8j3Xs9kYKFosc874FQlcfupKOnQ1CwYVjWWnOI_KUPd-fVDD5KFuWnRw3kN-vuGo6TtPNTcA9zfkc-3j3Noq6zUpA5XVZaTBzO2SUWinmWQy1uhCkJH8/s1600/ice-tracy-arm-alaska-heather-coen.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmzJZqA87B1K96-weEpNuW9ZE8j3Xs9kYKFosc874FQlcfupKOnQ1CwYVjWWnOI_KUPd-fVDD5KFuWnRw3kN-vuGo6TtPNTcA9zfkc-3j3Noq6zUpA5XVZaTBzO2SUWinmWQy1uhCkJH8/s400/ice-tracy-arm-alaska-heather-coen.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5760957690495476594" border="0" /></a>Where lots of Grizzlies are seen...........<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbPJ60NL53M1jnyHgxVdzsLmBxiymhr1osdPlpwpQPUhlCgvCDqmw5_NU8zmdQIGn94Y2y5XZaOXN1TMyydgGmGEib_Li9-5JhUrKowjaM-_bGcnNljMu5g-097OPh3pl-0GU6G9cnC68/s1600/Alaska-2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbPJ60NL53M1jnyHgxVdzsLmBxiymhr1osdPlpwpQPUhlCgvCDqmw5_NU8zmdQIGn94Y2y5XZaOXN1TMyydgGmGEib_Li9-5JhUrKowjaM-_bGcnNljMu5g-097OPh3pl-0GU6G9cnC68/s400/Alaska-2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5760957468365936322" border="0" /></a><br />On to Ketchican.................<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDYS4RCk_YmMfSaTQ2eW_CRT35gxT1rQZYwJw6UEqSkKa_Q2BNX5_D4RrXLrL1d5vpz_j1-ccDP_s5jypyJhQPnzIxvbgUyYjjcLGc7QgprY0LFMKFolewlgrLMJNWBF5QTAVR3BAKypo/s1600/downtown-ketchikan_5515.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 264px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDYS4RCk_YmMfSaTQ2eW_CRT35gxT1rQZYwJw6UEqSkKa_Q2BNX5_D4RrXLrL1d5vpz_j1-ccDP_s5jypyJhQPnzIxvbgUyYjjcLGc7QgprY0LFMKFolewlgrLMJNWBF5QTAVR3BAKypo/s400/downtown-ketchikan_5515.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5760957004610998210" border="0" /></a>We are going wildlife exploring, Dungress Crabbing and get to have an outdoor Crab Feast...<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtP_S3qUJJWFlcuAATFzkPj7IRv0-wMcp_d4W91xe8Eh6lLgyHMMnmp6qk6Sxk33eotHAYjFNnzzeIPQwhJv_uo6aetrTQCqUMRmB7nP5mswNHhSH8ekfmiLzfIC4W8wZ_iFd_01bi-dM/s1600/0000004284.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtP_S3qUJJWFlcuAATFzkPj7IRv0-wMcp_d4W91xe8Eh6lLgyHMMnmp6qk6Sxk33eotHAYjFNnzzeIPQwhJv_uo6aetrTQCqUMRmB7nP5mswNHhSH8ekfmiLzfIC4W8wZ_iFd_01bi-dM/s400/0000004284.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5760956826310721538" border="0" /></a>Next stop.... Victoria BC for a walking tour.......<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQTV8p1riy9e2DRlhfEe613t993ETi1jL47b63RVW-RzuEx40jJ05ETfUPYXg9XsDItmPE9cY9QOn2NPoKh_1nQezs-NfMeZGADwZnhFjHVmJ8NGTCeE3A9PMDIA38HDweWpNgCSHn9ns/s1600/vict_inner_harbour.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 264px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQTV8p1riy9e2DRlhfEe613t993ETi1jL47b63RVW-RzuEx40jJ05ETfUPYXg9XsDItmPE9cY9QOn2NPoKh_1nQezs-NfMeZGADwZnhFjHVmJ8NGTCeE3A9PMDIA38HDweWpNgCSHn9ns/s400/vict_inner_harbour.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5760956708150808306" border="0" /></a>Then much to our dismay....<br />Back to this heatwave.............<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir0SclGJ_1QxIkyGp221J5k_5vG1zhYPKynp9MuKi-2PpMDVCsa-dms_QljrDmtgH4dfCXbE09C38jW9s7rnbsZX3BZHMFiWuohRSkYT0yY09jwSBPKBnv7Qz_gTXYMU1Ux1YNUY0a0j0/s1600/u1_heat-wave.gif"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 360px; height: 270px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir0SclGJ_1QxIkyGp221J5k_5vG1zhYPKynp9MuKi-2PpMDVCsa-dms_QljrDmtgH4dfCXbE09C38jW9s7rnbsZX3BZHMFiWuohRSkYT0yY09jwSBPKBnv7Qz_gTXYMU1Ux1YNUY0a0j0/s400/u1_heat-wave.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5760947319452276306" border="0" /></a><br />Where I'll be dreaming of getting this awesome Swim Spa...........<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdZyQBvAWDcH0pjlgNvTai_jEIycaG5VuRfq9OTUiW8pWPvzNqN-iL9W3FjIdBwrUw_4hfsBziAl-qgc3eyLKg62CXuuetB97oeJ3m0b-5k_QsVLmokx3AZatKD205may9Fj9xhaMLL3c/s1600/dim-3.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 299px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdZyQBvAWDcH0pjlgNvTai_jEIycaG5VuRfq9OTUiW8pWPvzNqN-iL9W3FjIdBwrUw_4hfsBziAl-qgc3eyLKg62CXuuetB97oeJ3m0b-5k_QsVLmokx3AZatKD205may9Fj9xhaMLL3c/s400/dim-3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5760947125067723426" border="0" /></a><br />However this better suits out budget !! How creative is this??<br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhpX4ZgRtlwUnX32Whs16lbE7KnKb5r1GHKeAqwoEw0CfSxNlx-v3n0CztohRzz6HFxIpd2Sy9ImK0yo425Msd5mGPg9S5pLAwzdwoQ1brk5XRiNS1A5nbdqKd-2kea39kakRlL8f9ZUk/s1600/180280_441771299189759_1190922569_n.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 323px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhpX4ZgRtlwUnX32Whs16lbE7KnKb5r1GHKeAqwoEw0CfSxNlx-v3n0CztohRzz6HFxIpd2Sy9ImK0yo425Msd5mGPg9S5pLAwzdwoQ1brk5XRiNS1A5nbdqKd-2kea39kakRlL8f9ZUk/s400/180280_441771299189759_1190922569_n.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5760946811377565186" border="0" /></a>SO.........Do any of you have a planned escape<br />Stay cool and remember, <span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;">THIS TOO SHALL PASS!</span>Carol Murdockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16749285023748227382noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6003489296067000954.post-49465886760733806862012-05-19T06:28:00.008-05:002012-05-19T07:39:45.411-05:00The Heart of The Matter..........I've gotten several e-mails and FaceBook messages wondering why I'm so "elusive" lately?<br />Truth is....I'm recouping from life having thrown me a few health curves that hit their mark!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMn3d4PYixZHz-wgWbs36Vky6Yls7mY6HJN1riM7leNktM2hbWVzvAVn5oY1WLVpTfwqs3-YW1UY5dpdPznSVgZUKg6Tn8ERu6MqxCGUkiVTTqiMGM7PKb6pjwJOIvNeB3FZcfepiOsdE/s1600/578243_3607881967990_1601937932_2837597_468968956_n.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 320px; height: 320px; text-align: center; display: block; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5744206698797592370" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMn3d4PYixZHz-wgWbs36Vky6Yls7mY6HJN1riM7leNktM2hbWVzvAVn5oY1WLVpTfwqs3-YW1UY5dpdPznSVgZUKg6Tn8ERu6MqxCGUkiVTTqiMGM7PKb6pjwJOIvNeB3FZcfepiOsdE/s400/578243_3607881967990_1601937932_2837597_468968956_n.jpg" /></a>As most of you know, I spent 5 days in the hospital after tripping over my computer modem which I had set out on the floor "like an idiot" and then forgot it was sitting there. It made 2 cuts in my left leg on the shin bone, one of which got infected. The infection went into Cellulitis which was advancing into Septicemia. NOT GOOD! It can kill you! So I spent 5 days receiving IV antibiotics to cure that. I was blessed that no bacteria was found in my blood after they grew 6 cultures for 5 days. I left the hospital on Monday April 30th. I was having a fit to get out of there as my daughter Melanie was graduating college in Nashville on Tuesday May 8th and I needed to prepare for my trip. So on Sunday May 6th we left for Nashville. We arrived at my daughters home around 3:30 PM. She cooked a wonderful dinner and all was well......<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPS-lXWndx4vHM_ct1i2g-zoQ5B1I1oHPXQCGTh6NaDxhGmcKUdvSDOUWdF3NSlIgBjb-kO3T9yybodP05lpWGRrcdm0ZXe0icLkb3q4VFVUNQudZTBDs-6s9x_YSwypxreM1CJmfKDZw/s1600/150164_404664109567145_100000706785086_1295458_373840659_n.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 400px; height: 225px; text-align: center; display: block; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5744206490884142930" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPS-lXWndx4vHM_ct1i2g-zoQ5B1I1oHPXQCGTh6NaDxhGmcKUdvSDOUWdF3NSlIgBjb-kO3T9yybodP05lpWGRrcdm0ZXe0icLkb3q4VFVUNQudZTBDs-6s9x_YSwypxreM1CJmfKDZw/s400/150164_404664109567145_100000706785086_1295458_373840659_n.jpg" /></a>At around 7 PM I went and lay down on this bed to read my book while she did laundry and our Hubby's watched TV. Shortly thereafter, my Hubby Eric came back to the adjoining bath to brush his teeth. Almost immediately I began to feel a strange pain my chest, a feeling I had never felt before.The conversation for the next few minutes went like this.....<br /><br />Me: Somethings wrong....<br />Eric: What do you mean?<br />Me: I feel a strange pain in my chest, I think I'm having a Heart Attack.......<br />Eric: Nawwwwwww!<br />Me: get me a cold wet rag I'm sweating bad!<br />Eric hands me the wet rag.....<br />Me: get me the trash can, I need to throw up!<br />Me: Call 911 !!!!!<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV2defPZGjWot6PNKj6EowKxP7B04CREuacARdx_urXrA4eQnD28JFVYgQyFdgGLPLt05tws73dmRvCDcNOYcWW4fvkvh4DGWxUPmm_8-tzI94g9hgdh6eJvZsgkiyx1QHJOgDs5lLxh4/s1600/ans7_vascular_spasm.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 400px; height: 345px; text-align: center; display: block; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5744206315749230082" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV2defPZGjWot6PNKj6EowKxP7B04CREuacARdx_urXrA4eQnD28JFVYgQyFdgGLPLt05tws73dmRvCDcNOYcWW4fvkvh4DGWxUPmm_8-tzI94g9hgdh6eJvZsgkiyx1QHJOgDs5lLxh4/s400/ans7_vascular_spasm.jpg" /></a>So......here comes the EMT's and then the Ambulance and I spend the next 38 hours in the Cardiac Unit at Saint Thomas/Baptist Hospital in Nashville after having a Heart Attack due to a coronary spasm that collapsed and artery in my heart. Now they have NO IDEA why this happened to me.This is a huge heart unit and they claim this is so rare they only see it about twice a year and that is in patients with a history of heart murmur or irregular heart beat. I had No blockages whatsoever and very little plaque. Leave it to me to stump a group of Cardiologist!<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6ageA1m4u6vBMYxK0O_VrFPD365wIQJZE4sXBGKAIA20-nb5hUv7f7ZP2QC8pqPObxP4frWiHO5J4YvhmVy2Pq88N5Jb4bBS0gjqOad-eDvUPHp3pyy8ugvpUONiLuvB2B_qya1IJbMk/s1600/148897_410863418947214_766170630_n.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 288px; height: 389px; text-align: center; display: block; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5744206165380532946" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6ageA1m4u6vBMYxK0O_VrFPD365wIQJZE4sXBGKAIA20-nb5hUv7f7ZP2QC8pqPObxP4frWiHO5J4YvhmVy2Pq88N5Jb4bBS0gjqOad-eDvUPHp3pyy8ugvpUONiLuvB2B_qya1IJbMk/s400/148897_410863418947214_766170630_n.jpg" /></a>I left the hospital at 10:30 AM on Tuesday and I was sitting right there at 7: PM when my Baby Girl took the walk!<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfGhuDmbWxHGr-T6piRAK67Lw1Hkhqly61beG2tAmQHFfYAk0Dtg7Gg3znbPhohGbCbKzmrE7r2hk5BDxoIZjtlIeO6VMtKnfNX20iniWsYKCFGw-ucitAEv3DiRs0Z9sfAwtmqbt_o8M/s1600/429245_344993398886904_159379347448311_1040365_2115051627_n.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 400px; height: 375px; text-align: center; display: block; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5744205837698036018" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfGhuDmbWxHGr-T6piRAK67Lw1Hkhqly61beG2tAmQHFfYAk0Dtg7Gg3znbPhohGbCbKzmrE7r2hk5BDxoIZjtlIeO6VMtKnfNX20iniWsYKCFGw-ucitAEv3DiRs0Z9sfAwtmqbt_o8M/s400/429245_344993398886904_159379347448311_1040365_2115051627_n.jpg" /></a>I feel like I've had my own Angel hanging out with me to get through this ordeal....</div><div>So I've been resting and doing a great deal of reading about heart problems in women as it is the #1 killer of women in America. I have to get myself in good shape fast because in July my oldest son Todd and his wife Lori are taking Eric and I on a 7 day Alaskan Cruise !!<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpcVRKko96VwOJu3kTimxQhyphenhyphennrNAoz0tdUhu7IavNG655YtWDKqJSF7-4pYcxB-emmyUwFZuC_gfvHnDSt5PUw0jy9u-X6737phXV_ceNY1EQjbK6DEIvKZ8022kpLRNJf8BRFLSp22rk/s1600/golden-princess.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 400px; height: 228px; text-align: center; display: block; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5744205107316268866" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpcVRKko96VwOJu3kTimxQhyphenhyphennrNAoz0tdUhu7IavNG655YtWDKqJSF7-4pYcxB-emmyUwFZuC_gfvHnDSt5PUw0jy9u-X6737phXV_ceNY1EQjbK6DEIvKZ8022kpLRNJf8BRFLSp22rk/s400/golden-princess.jpg" /></a></div><div> </div><div>So......Now you know why I've been so reclusive lately. Let me add this for you women, I had severe "crushing" chest pain,cold clammy sweating and vomiting with my attack so I KNEW what was happening. I had NO left arm pain, jaw pain or indigestion. I'm told that most women don't have these symptoms and often think it is indigestion so please be aware of your body speaking to you! </div><div> </div><div>Have a fun,safe and healthy weekend !!!!!!</div></div></div></div>Carol Murdockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16749285023748227382noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6003489296067000954.post-35348466128251820992012-03-24T01:35:00.000-05:002012-03-24T10:55:40.221-05:00" THE HEALING " by Jonathan Odell...A Beautiful Experience!Last night at 8:34 PM I came to the end of perhaps the most beautiful, magical book I've ever read!<br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWUzQjDizExIjrrn6Oxv-0t5WJlTSzg8XA2buJmmF_9d2gjcK31PXrEkITMXLck9gyv8UHdBwXUc0nyzJWvteS1ylR-ZfRDPu9tphPNiQ54RLy8o4ezO6Htf4E_gjpgC7srGmJKuctPJc/s1600/odell.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 270px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWUzQjDizExIjrrn6Oxv-0t5WJlTSzg8XA2buJmmF_9d2gjcK31PXrEkITMXLck9gyv8UHdBwXUc0nyzJWvteS1ylR-ZfRDPu9tphPNiQ54RLy8o4ezO6Htf4E_gjpgC7srGmJKuctPJc/s400/odell.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5723461718114955058" border="0" /></a>Not since I finished The Help by Kathryn Stockett has a book made me sit there and bawl like a wounded child. I knew half way through this book that even trying to review it would be hard for me. No matter what I write here, I will never do it justice. I remind myself now that I'm not a professional reviewer, I write reviews of books for my friends, those who know me through this blog and know my love of books and what I like to read in hopes I can help them choose a good book for their own reading pleasure.<br /><br />Jon Odell like me, was born and raised in Southern Mississippi, in fact just a few miles up the road in Laurel. It seems we are close to the same age also. Like most of us here, he too is wounded by the racist atmosphere we were forced to endure growing up. I think perhaps the term;<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"> " ignorance is bliss"</span> applies to most of our generation growing up here but for some of us, that bliss became a festering sore as we entered adulthood. Also like me, Jon too escaped, I fled to Tennessee, he fled to Minnesota. In 2003, I came home to find not much has changed, he hasn't.<br />Instead, he turned his wounds into what can only be described as literary genius! I'm sure that because of my past, this book touched me in ways that many who read it will never experience but no one who reads this book will be left untouched by it.<span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /><br /> In<span style="font-style: italic;"> NO WAY </span>does this book belong in the same categorization as Gone With The Wind, To Kill A Mockingbird or The Help except for the fact that it is just as powerful and deserves the same recognition.</span><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ3BrMEQYDMDo7Cz7bjZ6FYF-6qooVtCdKG5Xa3oOP6m12vfw9aQjW1hyWSJR2gg939TG1fXGVYsUrgtm0vzZOccqEn9xA3FmFgwBllVBb5FaJ68jDCxkcZVvmV7tnSN4yOYgPgLI_kR8/s1600/JO2.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 281px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ3BrMEQYDMDo7Cz7bjZ6FYF-6qooVtCdKG5Xa3oOP6m12vfw9aQjW1hyWSJR2gg939TG1fXGVYsUrgtm0vzZOccqEn9xA3FmFgwBllVBb5FaJ68jDCxkcZVvmV7tnSN4yOYgPgLI_kR8/s400/JO2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5723461572586898610" border="0" /></a><br />Set in Pre-Civil War Mississippi on a cotton plantation Jon takes takes us into the mind, body and spirit of slavery. We experience the evil of slavery through the stories of characters so real they will forever stay with us. Jon captured place so well I felt the vibes of a perfect storm seeping through the earth, coming through the air, to send this horrible institution Gone With The Wind as it should. We learn the true meaning of Freedom and In The Beginning.<br />The sad part is...racism still exist in the minds of some and I fear I will never see the end of it before my life ends.<br /><br />I know you want to hear WHAT this book is about. I'm not sure I can explain it right now as I'm still so overwhelmed by it but I'll try.<br /><br />During a Cholera out break in 1847 on the plantation the 12 year old daughter of the plantation master becomes ill. He refuses to seek help for her believing that Cholera is a "slave" disease. After her death, the Mistress insane with grief, steals the newborn Yewande from her slave mother Ella. Renames her Granada and turns her into a *pet* replacement for her dead daughter leaving the child with a confused sense of who she is and where she belongs.<br />In 1860 another *slave* disease called black tongue strikes leaving half the slaves dying.<br />The master goes to Carolina and pays 5 thousand dollars for an old woman slave doctor named Polly Shine, builds her a slave hospital and gives her free reign of the plantation. The slaves fear her, is she a hoodoo woman? What is this magic she possesses? After she cures the black tongue disease she becomes adored and revered by most of them who now call her Mother Polly.<br />The master allows Polly to choose the young girl Granada as the one she wants to train as her future replacement. Granada is sent from the big house to the hospital to live with Polly. She is afraid of Polly and hates not being able to be with her white Mistress anymore.<br />This is Polly and Granada's story................a story you won't soon forget !<br /><br />The Healing is Jonathan Odell's second novel. Below is his first, The View From Delphi. It is also set in Mississippi and deals with racism. I have read the reviews and expect to be blown away by it also. I intend to start it tonight.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8RsjIfWAQMiQmI20izj7BYsHj4lVvd4xhV_H17r8k-HgbEhKTnDHZYFlKH5nmxZqGUAuJ8uCdNWOjjmg6we0Oo6co-lC6ReuBDud_li1f-uAAVgzk120zG-pbMuhtalzsp93elQzcdt4/s1600/877316-L.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 270px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8RsjIfWAQMiQmI20izj7BYsHj4lVvd4xhV_H17r8k-HgbEhKTnDHZYFlKH5nmxZqGUAuJ8uCdNWOjjmg6we0Oo6co-lC6ReuBDud_li1f-uAAVgzk120zG-pbMuhtalzsp93elQzcdt4/s400/877316-L.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5723461402968210114" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">Have A Great Weekend Everyone! XO</span>Carol Murdockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16749285023748227382noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6003489296067000954.post-53006288216150800162012-02-23T01:33:00.001-06:002012-02-23T08:30:36.415-06:00" Saving Cee Cee Honeycutt " & More......For those of us whose passion is reading..............wonderful books just keep on coming!<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><br />" Saving Cee Cee Honeycutt " </span></span><span style="font-style: italic;">the debut Novel from <span style="font-weight: bold;">Beth Hoffman</span></span> is one those !<br /><br />I loved this book! Read it in one sitting because it was too good to lay down. Most of you have probably already read this one but if you haven't, you are in for a treat.<br />I love books told from a young girl's perspective, which I guess stems from my love of Nancy Drew. When it's a young girl whose passion is books, it's even better!<br /><br />When the setting is Savannah one of my favorite cities (been there 3 times since reading Midnight In The Garden) and the author can capture place the way Beth did, you've got me hook, line & sinker.<br /><br />The characters are so endearing you want to add them to your family tree!<span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span><br /></span>Cee Cee will steal your heart and make you yearn for this to be a series so you can be a part of her growing up.<br />Having spent her pre-teens taking care of her mentally ill mother, Cee Cee has retreated inside herself missing the joys of being a child. When her mother dies tragically, her father who travels for work sends her to live with her great Aunt Tootie in Savannah. It is here among unconditional love and tender care that Cee Cee starts to bloom from a bud to a stunning Rose! Thank you Beth for this wonderful book, can't wait to read more of your work!<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOSDwJCgIz9a6sqAmE2-Ec_bLXLsguxOEQt04VkXPwDLPyYIIXhkF9V5P84O4UMiWnhj2V3r5rrFSWAASn5HYdfWnJA4AHt7iBZH8H7Eg3paeETeQVArox0YnKhGfHaUoC0lWhn17CRpo/s1600/Saving-CeeCee-Honeycutt.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 260px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOSDwJCgIz9a6sqAmE2-Ec_bLXLsguxOEQt04VkXPwDLPyYIIXhkF9V5P84O4UMiWnhj2V3r5rrFSWAASn5HYdfWnJA4AHt7iBZH8H7Eg3paeETeQVArox0YnKhGfHaUoC0lWhn17CRpo/s400/Saving-CeeCee-Honeycutt.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5712324882355554930" border="0" /></a><br />This next book was the Goodreads Southern Lit Lovers choice for February. This was a great read also.<br /><br />Set on Mobile Bay in Alabama and written by Alabama State Poet Anne Carroll George(1927-2001) this is the story of a Southern family who gathers to mourn the family member who was the glue that held them together. It is a story of love, tolerance and misunderstanding that is unearthed by mutual grief. You will also learn about the mysterious event known as Jubilee that occurs only in this area of the country which is just fascinating!<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1BRaKhUHs4tRpEjmj-6J0l_BASTsn6uFoonzn25bwrjaqPODvPI6MhHQz-9O4l0nzH74J_ZlvzjXS4LpmvOxdTHQySXcZVeaLAjXKTatQzLS-nL1c2_mPYvBbIOmbSXpiqkzPfuz7gVg/s1600/400000000000000124334_s4.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 264px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1BRaKhUHs4tRpEjmj-6J0l_BASTsn6uFoonzn25bwrjaqPODvPI6MhHQz-9O4l0nzH74J_ZlvzjXS4LpmvOxdTHQySXcZVeaLAjXKTatQzLS-nL1c2_mPYvBbIOmbSXpiqkzPfuz7gVg/s400/400000000000000124334_s4.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5712324769997397522" border="0" /></a><br /><br />I'm also experiencing "Coming Soon" excitement! The 3rd book in Jill Marie Landis "Irish Angel"<br />series will be out March 20, 2012! The first two pictured below were wonderful!<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYCXHwVD_HRAngbQenLEpTmMED5aUiiGHf14wAqX-xkm-MhObjdvdGG5iPS_JCH5etpgnvJ6YtygJ7fGx3JVUgviT6nJ-LA7z4Ax-9iM9LNH3cspqd-iVBfDl3gTrYAm8n3EV_MX9kqu0/s1600/Jill+Marie+landis1.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 309px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYCXHwVD_HRAngbQenLEpTmMED5aUiiGHf14wAqX-xkm-MhObjdvdGG5iPS_JCH5etpgnvJ6YtygJ7fGx3JVUgviT6nJ-LA7z4Ax-9iM9LNH3cspqd-iVBfDl3gTrYAm8n3EV_MX9kqu0/s400/Jill+Marie+landis1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5712324584162844130" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Can't Wait to read this one!!!!!</span></span><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7B_sruAwnLLMWB7xFDE6Yvx2Y2EHsgj3mgc0_i-6-_aHvQqn6gx7XbG00QGJ8GHv49HwOcs7_RlnyvtqJ947sbz9nUhnveS4WZYGWPcJ54OAogLv_qLrR0jsyPJvif8YinR9jMLa3_NI/s1600/122150095.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 260px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7B_sruAwnLLMWB7xFDE6Yvx2Y2EHsgj3mgc0_i-6-_aHvQqn6gx7XbG00QGJ8GHv49HwOcs7_RlnyvtqJ947sbz9nUhnveS4WZYGWPcJ54OAogLv_qLrR0jsyPJvif8YinR9jMLa3_NI/s400/122150095.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5712324123967071122" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">ALSO.......... coming June 5th a new Karen White book!!!!<br />LOVE, Love, love........Karen White!!<br /></span><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEink9bfp_4WGrG3fXO58-mlIHTnXB7add1xbqQnZdzpKtewVZqcjY2Nw8cI8783Ubv8H3aRxjBMnu32dM4qDif6jod1UGyFDvj2evdUHibAzG-1pf-0tNcJ2wGiySsGX-CPyRuGoV4xFZI/s1600/426183_10150548418926244_35591721243_9449889_577470959_a.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 180px; height: 271px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEink9bfp_4WGrG3fXO58-mlIHTnXB7add1xbqQnZdzpKtewVZqcjY2Nw8cI8783Ubv8H3aRxjBMnu32dM4qDif6jod1UGyFDvj2evdUHibAzG-1pf-0tNcJ2wGiySsGX-CPyRuGoV4xFZI/s400/426183_10150548418926244_35591721243_9449889_577470959_a.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5712323972834706914" border="0" /></a> <span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:130%;">HAPPY READING! HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND !! XOXO</span></span></span></span>Carol Murdockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16749285023748227382noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6003489296067000954.post-82904538148173778052012-01-16T01:22:00.003-06:002012-01-16T16:43:52.135-06:00IS America In DEEP S#%T ???????????As we barrel into 2012, a year of Presidential Election, political guns are blazing and there is much debate about where our nation stands on many different issues. We are NO longer the United States of America........we are as divided as it gets on many levels. Mainly it has turned into a fight between Christians and the Politically Correct. Don't get me wrong, I'm FAR from an expert on politics. What I am is an American and a Christian who is free and independent enough to have my own beliefs and values and mature enough to make my own decisions.....<br />I heard the expression this week that we may be in Deep Sh#t.........<br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZkbxtQ8KuEmdyoQ8IykrL-Gn0UOS5BTb9_GpcJJIrf2nAPNFPOGYOXzNP1Ou6b97N9tvcBig5X2CL17sGCUlGuXKO5Jfn2BvS6lfpUDW5RvQV5sIsBfyhuqTSjEWWZlMVPlAAjorGodc/s1600/photo.16.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 383px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZkbxtQ8KuEmdyoQ8IykrL-Gn0UOS5BTb9_GpcJJIrf2nAPNFPOGYOXzNP1Ou6b97N9tvcBig5X2CL17sGCUlGuXKO5Jfn2BvS6lfpUDW5RvQV5sIsBfyhuqTSjEWWZlMVPlAAjorGodc/s400/photo.16.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5698239306050335922" border="0" /></a><br />Yes.....I do think we are in real trouble if not deep sh#t..... We are so busy trying to be politically correct our nation is sinking fast. It reminds me of the house being on fire, the dead bolt is locked and you can't find the key to get out! I look at my FaceBook page everyday and shake my head.<br />It's like we are all a bunch of dummies without brains, being judged by family, friends and neighbors by our political choices. If you don't believe in abortion, you are against a woman's right to choose! Maybe you are against it because you feel there are thousands of couples out there who yearn for a child and could give this child a life worth living. If you are against Gay marriage you are homophobic! Could be you just think that marriage descends from the bible and because you believe the bible is the word of God, you believe that marriage IS for a man and a woman. I really don't care who chooses to love whom, my job is to love you, not judge you, but it doesn't mean I'm wrong and your right! We are all supposed to be unique individuals but then we want EVERYONE to think alike or they are wrong. If you don't want to follow Christianity that's your right but don't tell me what to believe. Don't tell me that if I'm a Christian I have to vote GOP either!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju7iF2Pgsae5Q3bRxDHN4OFa9i-OiZquC-hXb96eQDgHxlDZ9c2VlKdpeCvEdL5hoJUVN67_SLY3jftDQ8PgrjkSQu8SIK_oKDngLWDq8aBOJ7ej3xVxAXdE9Uc6NMqVmIb2gqydjBGak/s1600/political-correctness-now3.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 355px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju7iF2Pgsae5Q3bRxDHN4OFa9i-OiZquC-hXb96eQDgHxlDZ9c2VlKdpeCvEdL5hoJUVN67_SLY3jftDQ8PgrjkSQu8SIK_oKDngLWDq8aBOJ7ej3xVxAXdE9Uc6NMqVmIb2gqydjBGak/s400/political-correctness-now3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5698238995696154802" border="0" /></a>I do not believe for one minute,( I'm talking my belief not yours here) that any of these clowns running for office are True Christians! I'm sick of the GOP using Christianity to run for office!<br />Let me also add that President Obama has in no way shown me that he is a True Christian either. What I do believe is, that Christians should wake up and realize that the FIX is not found in Politics and they need to stop being exploited for political gain.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgsao51jw7ZqIsoJnruObfulecteQrSvJpb0aPLx2IVldeCsXB0Goat8g7irm2gjv6e-_caecwHvdY2PSL8dDZG53z1qy9s-DDh4M17Ia58XEjMISKPNbLqhjNhVPf1KJwCYcicxqS4_U/s1600/387660_10150410128291674_84169421673_8855252_1573785718_n.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 317px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgsao51jw7ZqIsoJnruObfulecteQrSvJpb0aPLx2IVldeCsXB0Goat8g7irm2gjv6e-_caecwHvdY2PSL8dDZG53z1qy9s-DDh4M17Ia58XEjMISKPNbLqhjNhVPf1KJwCYcicxqS4_U/s400/387660_10150410128291674_84169421673_8855252_1573785718_n.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5698237351718576258" border="0" /></a><br />Haley Barbour, the outgoing Governor of Mississippi is a perfect example! I thought Haley had been a great Governor for the past 8 years and might be a good candidate for President in the future till he turned loose a slew of cold blooded murderers and rapist and gave them full pardons! If that wasn't appalling enough, he then gets on TV and claims "WE" believe in forgiveness and second chances. I'm assuming by "WE" he meant himself or the people of Mississippi. First off, he nor the people can offer forgiveness to these criminals, only God and the families of their victims have that right. Second, it was a slap in the face to the Justice System in which jurors had already done their duty!<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCIxbqwo3-ugpp7nJdnr-M3qki7kSRF51cKEjNpwlvHFscVWH4q9CyhzDtlcEhDbVM-OcPIH5_si8A8Qss-JJrxYLu54eTSBRGguoYSoh2Ic0_nZtx6w-H1-4Lp0Xzn4sk6xytDtkL7Fk/s1600/mississippi-gov-haley-barbour.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 295px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCIxbqwo3-ugpp7nJdnr-M3qki7kSRF51cKEjNpwlvHFscVWH4q9CyhzDtlcEhDbVM-OcPIH5_si8A8Qss-JJrxYLu54eTSBRGguoYSoh2Ic0_nZtx6w-H1-4Lp0Xzn4sk6xytDtkL7Fk/s400/mississippi-gov-haley-barbour.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5698237251066588786" border="0" /></a>Then we have the "politically correct" photo below.....<br />A wonderful young man has gone under a vicious attack for showing his faith on the football field! Yes....people we are in DEEP when we feel the need to verbally attack a young man who has done EVERYTHING right in his life! Yet we think it's OK in the "name of Freedom of Religion" for a religion like Islam who clearly is Hell bent on destroying our nation, to do as they please?<br />YEP.....we're in Deep Sh#t, blind as bats(bats really aren't blind) stubborn as mules and about to be Gone With the Wind if we're not careful!<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4bEdB0JgledMNxAKvK6XeGrx9mNQv-jB9cH8cWNuM0kIrT2YaWog0ObACRmobsMVJAOmBZMvvClJ1XsmU2hPNBGmEisOuxXYBQVA-d_0X_Ke6i_EBBYWosmKYUVWYDsKSc2cTkwFwDGE/s1600/401974_2911883834639_1186923171_33307485_985289868_n.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 188px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4bEdB0JgledMNxAKvK6XeGrx9mNQv-jB9cH8cWNuM0kIrT2YaWog0ObACRmobsMVJAOmBZMvvClJ1XsmU2hPNBGmEisOuxXYBQVA-d_0X_Ke6i_EBBYWosmKYUVWYDsKSc2cTkwFwDGE/s400/401974_2911883834639_1186923171_33307485_985289868_n.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5698237014508774706" border="0" /></a><br />This... is what good role models inspire in our children! If you want to get honest with yourselves think about our children, the future of our country. Parents and teachers are no longer allowed to discipline our children it's child abuse. God and prayer has been stripped from our schools and now teachers are being attacked and cursed by 1st graders! The juvenile courts are overloaded and young kids are being tried as adults for murder of other kids and in some cases their own parents and grandparents! Deep sh#t doesn't come close, we are drowning in it!<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFNlnJPtQdjJq-Qdad4vcqEbJMGnMhtX480bqBOK47wgo5ce2cNE4Wu5kvpw-V_9kzb6IfpxWeqgcx99wT4IwYTvK2QO76vA_Bj1Gw9dZyXzjeEyKSyzldQzxvpbzqMXpearUKmx4JQIY/s1600/409021_10150471275752142_622347141_9118720_2126993434_n.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFNlnJPtQdjJq-Qdad4vcqEbJMGnMhtX480bqBOK47wgo5ce2cNE4Wu5kvpw-V_9kzb6IfpxWeqgcx99wT4IwYTvK2QO76vA_Bj1Gw9dZyXzjeEyKSyzldQzxvpbzqMXpearUKmx4JQIY/s400/409021_10150471275752142_622347141_9118720_2126993434_n.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5698236889539807250" border="0" /></a><br />Where is Christianity in this picture? I would say that the true Christians are in the background on the left, feeding these starving children. Yet the right side portrays the ones who appear to be celebrating the birth of Christ? I am by no means maintaining that I am some holier than thou Christian. What I am is a Christian who is in agony over the state of our nation and fed up with politics! Fed up with seeing on a daily basis people who claim not to believe in God posting over and over about it, downing those who do believe! If you don't believe WHY talk about about it so much, instead of talking about WHAT you do believe ?<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitYIqQbaofOlW-mnUI4DFGVKDXIPMa2KhgXPx2dMuUTVRjgLbPMfYm4M0TmX_Sx7u13BZHdKZg_uqF-axBCpLGDMmuxkCKNTP-XAthbh5XLPWnPnPk25nkHKLPzplTqdJpLJa6Q0GtumY/s1600/383074_210011072414942_197995260283190_480888_57146643_n.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 160px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitYIqQbaofOlW-mnUI4DFGVKDXIPMa2KhgXPx2dMuUTVRjgLbPMfYm4M0TmX_Sx7u13BZHdKZg_uqF-axBCpLGDMmuxkCKNTP-XAthbh5XLPWnPnPk25nkHKLPzplTqdJpLJa6Q0GtumY/s400/383074_210011072414942_197995260283190_480888_57146643_n.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5698236743606900402" border="0" /></a>NOW.........I want you to meet two people WHO TRULY define what Christianity really is!<br />This is Chris and Donna Speagle. They operate a food pantry near here called The People's Pantry. They feed those who fall through the cracks. People who work minimum wage jobs and don't qualify for food stamps or those that don't get enough food stamps to feed their family. Children, whose parents spend the family income on drugs or alcohol leaving them hungry. The elderly on fixed incomes. In other words, they emulate Jesus Christ by taking care of the forgotten. They do what they do because they believe that Jesus Christ has given them a calling to do this. They can tell you stories that will break your heart. They can tell how they sent numerous people to churches for help and the churches refused because the husband drank or the mother did drugs. I was so inspired when Chris said; "Jesus didn't tell us to clean them up but instead just to show them love" ! This couple does most of their giving from their own pocket. These two people are my heroes, my role models, my definition of a Christian!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIw6arpMw8VWQmW7fCTFjkETfC4Doscpbm9voKrhLAKWULOFoY5MbBF1YJkxTAJw9G8WE90aO39FRQkiD9_kNpQNNob6-dfdUuE9PxGIdx63aibvvllUP3-l5BcwdcVtJz2M8P19jlKUE/s1600/148602_108453442556665_100001760288249_58092_2228501_n.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 277px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIw6arpMw8VWQmW7fCTFjkETfC4Doscpbm9voKrhLAKWULOFoY5MbBF1YJkxTAJw9G8WE90aO39FRQkiD9_kNpQNNob6-dfdUuE9PxGIdx63aibvvllUP3-l5BcwdcVtJz2M8P19jlKUE/s400/148602_108453442556665_100001760288249_58092_2228501_n.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5698235694706085538" border="0" /></a>I guess what I'm trying to say here is.......<br />Because I profess to be a Christian, do not put me in a political category. Do not tell me how to vote. Do not quote scripture to me when you don't even believe in the scripture, the word says the devil can quote scripture! Tell me about your life, your dreams, show me pictures of your family and what excites you. Stop cramming politics down my throat because the truth is.....<br />Not one of those people in Washington can relate to you or me and they could care less where this country is headed. They have their own political agenda and it has nothing to do with religion and everything to do with money.<br /><span style="font-size:130%;">Wake Up People... We really are up Sh#t Creek without a paddle !!!!!!!!!!!</span><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbtmOHlIx97d5JoQNr8ZQ_7S057_dXHoEZ9IOEBrGsdSro5CqCovlu5-0HE4rr1EphmtKL5xqQ6BOgmr0Zx2TDCBUD2ty-T9lypXj8plnR4NOcZRnelDyBIauaJzYUt0iDcBr89XFO1CE/s1600/p327638-Missouri-Up_Shit_Creek.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbtmOHlIx97d5JoQNr8ZQ_7S057_dXHoEZ9IOEBrGsdSro5CqCovlu5-0HE4rr1EphmtKL5xqQ6BOgmr0Zx2TDCBUD2ty-T9lypXj8plnR4NOcZRnelDyBIauaJzYUt0iDcBr89XFO1CE/s400/p327638-Missouri-Up_Shit_Creek.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5698235439920925970" border="0" /></a>Let's see how many FB friends delete me after this..............Carol Murdockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16749285023748227382noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6003489296067000954.post-71869135125149982862011-12-11T01:43:00.001-06:002011-12-11T08:15:14.237-06:00ONE WRITER'S COUNTRY ESCAPE...............When you're a writer who lives in the big city of Mobile and you need a quite country escape, you find an old farm with an old barn on the Mississippi/Alabama line and turn it into an awesome country home/writer's retreat!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYB0Y9Qh9iGefEC_f3PO_ygvxNHGZsoOpmFnT4hfT2Uww-5jbET15TZKU0x7zy0Bi9Rhf07KvGUiEskMNhfOfHqBYaPcD39ygmNihyC0kL_aRoFOWEBInYvZer8GX82Gg9eMejqcRue60/s1600/get-attachment.aspx.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYB0Y9Qh9iGefEC_f3PO_ygvxNHGZsoOpmFnT4hfT2Uww-5jbET15TZKU0x7zy0Bi9Rhf07KvGUiEskMNhfOfHqBYaPcD39ygmNihyC0kL_aRoFOWEBInYvZer8GX82Gg9eMejqcRue60/s400/get-attachment.aspx.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5684869332954974850" border="0" /></a>Then...you put up a Christmas Tree and have a House Warming/Christmas Party to make all your friends go ooh and ahh!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEEiabQJHKOxVnVZtPGY_mRkvmrV_Vx8QHhtDKzriArPcZKWG3mlIW71DmZbgwaBdyjYOi7Q7KyTzqBBP3xu3-PrMt_N6s4ZCis_sVVrKEg9Dv2s0f0l0bnNuJ11_9-6e_1aVFEYJjDcY/s1600/HPIM5197.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 301px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEEiabQJHKOxVnVZtPGY_mRkvmrV_Vx8QHhtDKzriArPcZKWG3mlIW71DmZbgwaBdyjYOi7Q7KyTzqBBP3xu3-PrMt_N6s4ZCis_sVVrKEg9Dv2s0f0l0bnNuJ11_9-6e_1aVFEYJjDcY/s400/HPIM5197.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5684869123547386370" border="0" /></a>That's just what my friend Misssissippi author RC White (Ruth) and her husband Greg did!<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1ceUi0xYT1Md9ap3fXEaUeBKxf-XcVlk5kKGm05mT2Rky7aWO7YGe_iLOBHe_hbuWy9FxKV-wYoV43GbCutGsRWfq8AIcho360fSKmZTmx3Q5jOCDVoOIjRzrai-rX2378v1QtXjs0Mg/s1600/HPIM5200.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 301px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1ceUi0xYT1Md9ap3fXEaUeBKxf-XcVlk5kKGm05mT2Rky7aWO7YGe_iLOBHe_hbuWy9FxKV-wYoV43GbCutGsRWfq8AIcho360fSKmZTmx3Q5jOCDVoOIjRzrai-rX2378v1QtXjs0Mg/s400/HPIM5200.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5684868847390370610" border="0" /></a>This is a Chandelier Greg made from a table rim and antique glass insulators !! What a talented man! That's Greg in the plaid shirt. That's my hubby standing.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq5cUTJf_yOFarF5KLKHy-HofUrcibKu8c8XKx_wYGjrsENcJGrAnCbAP4Oc7-mBOwYxVKXKsSdR8IwJff6_GlkG32YqDe9Cp1jaBDSmoRfF00hwtfNpu_t7_JK-UAHrXsh_PxBRKlEc8/s1600/HPIM5199.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 301px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq5cUTJf_yOFarF5KLKHy-HofUrcibKu8c8XKx_wYGjrsENcJGrAnCbAP4Oc7-mBOwYxVKXKsSdR8IwJff6_GlkG32YqDe9Cp1jaBDSmoRfF00hwtfNpu_t7_JK-UAHrXsh_PxBRKlEc8/s400/HPIM5199.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5684868553739133538" border="0" /></a>Ruth and Greg have lots of wonderful friends who showed up to celebrate their hard work!<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOfT-tGH5JVYMyGelpgKeiPdgeUtDvX-kZBI0rQQToEI_XDdqngqj3Ur2sjW_E3YUl3-zbtreal1OiXRwSQZL5onMhji8d1ZDEhnE3uEWDTV2XieFFhBbQkPPESQUxQsgLJNE0UQg58EQ/s1600/Dec1.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOfT-tGH5JVYMyGelpgKeiPdgeUtDvX-kZBI0rQQToEI_XDdqngqj3Ur2sjW_E3YUl3-zbtreal1OiXRwSQZL5onMhji8d1ZDEhnE3uEWDTV2XieFFhBbQkPPESQUxQsgLJNE0UQg58EQ/s400/Dec1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5684868166379886882" border="0" /></a>Good food, great conversation, a wonderful time was had by all !!<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXmXvWtobXO16jyJha5OGIVBhFQ05o1MNsErEzBdv7aF9PBlIyWIU0Hab5VrIQ15daonZ0_TMrBEVRgzwSceZEyiMV4WlhukP-zUd1e5PI8KoRXNqGyrHhyphenhyphenHRft8I-8fcA4UNAssl4TVI/s1600/ruth%2527s+party.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXmXvWtobXO16jyJha5OGIVBhFQ05o1MNsErEzBdv7aF9PBlIyWIU0Hab5VrIQ15daonZ0_TMrBEVRgzwSceZEyiMV4WlhukP-zUd1e5PI8KoRXNqGyrHhyphenhyphenHRft8I-8fcA4UNAssl4TVI/s400/ruth%2527s+party.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5684867438458489938" border="0" /></a>Ruth is a former English teacher turned novelist and her books are great reads and can be found on Amazon !!!<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio9TqsmoXsYJLVv3eP3vmekfd9LBMFCJeRzZTPrKNScANNTDoLCzYaL-TynlGNJ2wzkkt8RdY7umFipZylYiBEdGonf4lSRJvjLlTXrCfIx9O1SBwfeNigeR2_UWfsZdvrl_XuKNLcd2o/s1600/HPIM1103.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 301px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio9TqsmoXsYJLVv3eP3vmekfd9LBMFCJeRzZTPrKNScANNTDoLCzYaL-TynlGNJ2wzkkt8RdY7umFipZylYiBEdGonf4lSRJvjLlTXrCfIx9O1SBwfeNigeR2_UWfsZdvrl_XuKNLcd2o/s400/HPIM1103.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5684866605949902658" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">Have a great week everyone! Get your shopping done and remember why we celebrate this season!!!!! XOXO</span>Carol Murdockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16749285023748227382noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6003489296067000954.post-53269850428662683822011-11-15T01:19:00.002-06:002011-11-15T06:37:02.946-06:00" My Motto"You All Know................<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinWwLRGYBKF7v51E7dByUegdxWESL_ssYsPjVGP9lR_Jc-2RLTsstsjdp6ahpWXji8ZqQHRexUL83WlPnO5HEUULiu-SveidrytD3ZHKECKMElzA9LA4ZEQ23J3i3zxoe_DcVovb8gHf0/s1600/309827_10150441918038554_629688553_10231458_135935891_n.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 365px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinWwLRGYBKF7v51E7dByUegdxWESL_ssYsPjVGP9lR_Jc-2RLTsstsjdp6ahpWXji8ZqQHRexUL83WlPnO5HEUULiu-SveidrytD3ZHKECKMElzA9LA4ZEQ23J3i3zxoe_DcVovb8gHf0/s400/309827_10150441918038554_629688553_10231458_135935891_n.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5675197124314496866" border="0" /></a>During my recent 2 week stay in the mountains I read these 3 books.......<br />All are set in the mountains and all 3 were really great reads.......<br />I love Ron Rash and Silas House is a new favorite as these were my first reads from him!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLyy-rlcuiL9oO8Xt1xXtj2OM6CmzSbDA4v-mdA-GGnDOKFzene0PB2ouOglL-zGasGc2E9kx8Ud-rb8aItl_Iv9Ybi1mh24kM1v7L81g5JD0t1ACfvrQO5w3rk5F1Bz-9XFlhpYJJHDo/s1600/New+Folder-1.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 309px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLyy-rlcuiL9oO8Xt1xXtj2OM6CmzSbDA4v-mdA-GGnDOKFzene0PB2ouOglL-zGasGc2E9kx8Ud-rb8aItl_Iv9Ybi1mh24kM1v7L81g5JD0t1ACfvrQO5w3rk5F1Bz-9XFlhpYJJHDo/s400/New+Folder-1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5675196972828756018" border="0" /></a>These were all delivered while I was gone and I'm having trouble choosing where to start...<br />Have any of you read any of these and if so give me your thoughts ???<br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO6TPHPNntuzjNw-hBzZsJYECeFSod_nVvv6jmQlHtC7-Sk95wFUWFy4BtuOOJRiPu7FCTkqcnXrTlaON3xmhAfA4D39f2pTI_RwnADSqTGdXN8tjG4b5EpbHBgcq2aixGMynb1Z3Iy9k/s1600/HPIM5162.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 301px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO6TPHPNntuzjNw-hBzZsJYECeFSod_nVvv6jmQlHtC7-Sk95wFUWFy4BtuOOJRiPu7FCTkqcnXrTlaON3xmhAfA4D39f2pTI_RwnADSqTGdXN8tjG4b5EpbHBgcq2aixGMynb1Z3Iy9k/s400/HPIM5162.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5675196685393701794" border="0" /></a>On a farm note.....<br />A friend gave us a cooler full of Pecans yesterday and we took them to the feed store to get them cracked. Turned out to be 45 pounds! Hubby has already shelled 2 gallon bags full and <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">hasn't</span> made a dent!!<br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">HAVE A GREAT WEEK EVERYONE and THANKS FOR STOPPING BY !!!!!!</span>Carol Murdockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16749285023748227382noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6003489296067000954.post-51743044484289775272011-11-09T07:25:00.017-06:002011-11-09T08:35:09.648-06:00SURPRISE! SURPRISE!There is nothing like Autumn in Appalachia so when I started to plan my escape to our Townsend house for leaf peeping I noticed that one of my favorite authors and blog friend Vicki Lane was having a book signing for her new book <span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">"Under The Skin" </span>in beautiful Sylva, NC at City Lights Book Store on October 29th ! So I put my plan in motion. Our mutal friend author Gary Carden lives in Sylva so I e-mailed Gary and arranged to meet him for lunch @ LuLu's on Main. It turned out that he was going to be interviewed in the City Lights Cafe by some university students for a documentary at the same time of Vicki's presentation.<br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXzMEtl-nNTL77IczoLyJ_6XJX8MGsqX9YlQ8bWxshr_aipmckx4ddNeGOIJNt-rCVXobQSakgYHP-28h38wVb2bzOaWu387CyOZZe3j4O66NszVTfvPL33AJgfDRVn2GLGk8KP2r_I7Y/s1600/city-light.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 225px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXzMEtl-nNTL77IczoLyJ_6XJX8MGsqX9YlQ8bWxshr_aipmckx4ddNeGOIJNt-rCVXobQSakgYHP-28h38wVb2bzOaWu387CyOZZe3j4O66NszVTfvPL33AJgfDRVn2GLGk8KP2r_I7Y/s400/city-light.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5672990376847888386" border="0" /></a>This is a picture I found on the internet of Sylva in the snow............<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBuoDf_g08BNSM05cj0oo6F-TAfcLT06GjBcf2YwzQ0YcYcHX89Yt1_SLGLvtoYds3O0H_ZCO6zSIzPnNRRQREuJ4sFsIQEt-qJeiF679gUVPP14mkUKYPGfhRpFHNEt0jKPPE7OfSLro/s1600/snowy_courthouse_vista.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBuoDf_g08BNSM05cj0oo6F-TAfcLT06GjBcf2YwzQ0YcYcHX89Yt1_SLGLvtoYds3O0H_ZCO6zSIzPnNRRQREuJ4sFsIQEt-qJeiF679gUVPP14mkUKYPGfhRpFHNEt0jKPPE7OfSLro/s400/snowy_courthouse_vista.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5672990252856508642" border="0" /></a>I wish I'd gotten a picture of the Surprise on Vicki's face when she looked up and saw me........<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq5ZFYqaXHocMXLhixJzcSB19JodYuau_dGC8y_EbPwGOf4wR1qr3zOCGlJjZ5bPl3u3yAJTJv5UMs-jdW0W3ohkg79tI0QjDz_TCex4uWpWttKXllft-gLXSJZ55BdIaTaJNEm2zahxI/s1600/HPIM5130.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 301px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq5ZFYqaXHocMXLhixJzcSB19JodYuau_dGC8y_EbPwGOf4wR1qr3zOCGlJjZ5bPl3u3yAJTJv5UMs-jdW0W3ohkg79tI0QjDz_TCex4uWpWttKXllft-gLXSJZ55BdIaTaJNEm2zahxI/s400/HPIM5130.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5672989612763716594" border="0" /></a>Vicki's reading and discussion was so interesting ................<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga5ljBAJNR6LtGLxNzcfd-cd3aXMn32snmrffWbp3BFPm3VKMDio8bfY5XKvPWBc5LBA3xGLmk3j4eyjza9tS7TEBT3SHRMTtZ9-lMfqnGd5AwYx8fvB5pZksMwTDSaSolztPBt1Tq8QI/s1600/HPIM5136.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 301px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga5ljBAJNR6LtGLxNzcfd-cd3aXMn32snmrffWbp3BFPm3VKMDio8bfY5XKvPWBc5LBA3xGLmk3j4eyjza9tS7TEBT3SHRMTtZ9-lMfqnGd5AwYx8fvB5pZksMwTDSaSolztPBt1Tq8QI/s400/HPIM5136.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5672989310338480034" border="0" /></a>It's so awesome to hear the author read from from their work.........<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkfbHHpT6Y6K8weZGO1CZXcL0T6QJjfJkzCPF7m6KBHDYtJ-RtB1pWTXXreNYSF51YLrBfRkEp9jRLzKQLxGMMpyGiVgCTitwBHPb7NiA1RC56CK0t4-YyYCnRp46CqXYDlsdaKI_LQWo/s1600/HPIM5134.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 301px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkfbHHpT6Y6K8weZGO1CZXcL0T6QJjfJkzCPF7m6KBHDYtJ-RtB1pWTXXreNYSF51YLrBfRkEp9jRLzKQLxGMMpyGiVgCTitwBHPb7NiA1RC56CK0t4-YyYCnRp46CqXYDlsdaKI_LQWo/s400/HPIM5134.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5672988578335440018" border="0" /></a><br />I took this picture as I was leaving of Gary being interviewed downstairs.......<br />I really enjoyed getting to spend time with both of these extremely creative authors!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnj_doFRTWGi5vC3XNTv5rUJ2qJoqXBxc1LpY8y0wue0hBXbY5YQaRh9Z94dggrp2WGjp91GIwIlhqxvqny0LMIxePgJM954ZbPpJeJyrh6ceU2R6i3zxQ3bg8QDW_TWQ7uzjo9eqj_j8/s1600/HPIM5139.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 301px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnj_doFRTWGi5vC3XNTv5rUJ2qJoqXBxc1LpY8y0wue0hBXbY5YQaRh9Z94dggrp2WGjp91GIwIlhqxvqny0LMIxePgJM954ZbPpJeJyrh6ceU2R6i3zxQ3bg8QDW_TWQ7uzjo9eqj_j8/s400/HPIM5139.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5672988164774299698" border="0" /></a>Speaking of SURPRISES.....<br />I got one myself on the way to Sylva. It had snowed in the higher elevations of the park!<br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYttTPixR7E1rbWGQJfeO5tSi6QzS44iHsUIwcZ1TKZ3toNB8qICRBjCFR977NEiifXerCwiz8jUGZ8scmgxnySCjl9fTpwVjKLzVDJSnCntMFudELXNGpPOyVx_XyiXYSVbuhuoT_EDM/s1600/294330_2256674935001_1192180817_32022451_1774146204_n.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYttTPixR7E1rbWGQJfeO5tSi6QzS44iHsUIwcZ1TKZ3toNB8qICRBjCFR977NEiifXerCwiz8jUGZ8scmgxnySCjl9fTpwVjKLzVDJSnCntMFudELXNGpPOyVx_XyiXYSVbuhuoT_EDM/s400/294330_2256674935001_1192180817_32022451_1774146204_n.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5672987716872618834" border="0" /></a><br />It had rained the day before in Townsend but higher up the rain became Snow!<br />From Townsend through the park to Gatlinburg the leaves were just brilliant and I felt like I was driving through a painting.........<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-rDYvH-C2n4x99Badw_WvTI8eVzxR_AOObagGdxIT-4VvvCTpNgQHfAp-PELQlND_QxmuEmLTu3fEKTOBWWmmdvnvns1t5FkxsXzgHP7NVsU14unX-TEvdCaIF2ANgEy2-0TC0aMmqXA/s1600/312692_2256535051504_1192180817_32022192_693883391_n.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-rDYvH-C2n4x99Badw_WvTI8eVzxR_AOObagGdxIT-4VvvCTpNgQHfAp-PELQlND_QxmuEmLTu3fEKTOBWWmmdvnvns1t5FkxsXzgHP7NVsU14unX-TEvdCaIF2ANgEy2-0TC0aMmqXA/s400/312692_2256535051504_1192180817_32022192_693883391_n.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5672987612920321058" border="0" /></a>After turning toward Cherokee to climb the mountain I drove through a breath taking winter wonderland and the temp was 26 at New Foundland Gap !!!<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB1ifbvg_-mjjro2Hbyvxe5yttxXn0Yw3nLOwsu4Lvf3mm75fkao1r93E0pLPRFzJ_bKmJPvpUtt4PzJx_RmVk-3A2usFlmsmS2enOjHIErN4JXMuPhl9aPcM-Y1KDeIchudujYdLT6rI/s1600/381251_2256531011403_1192180817_32022180_254301542_n.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB1ifbvg_-mjjro2Hbyvxe5yttxXn0Yw3nLOwsu4Lvf3mm75fkao1r93E0pLPRFzJ_bKmJPvpUtt4PzJx_RmVk-3A2usFlmsmS2enOjHIErN4JXMuPhl9aPcM-Y1KDeIchudujYdLT6rI/s400/381251_2256531011403_1192180817_32022180_254301542_n.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5672987481130683666" border="0" /></a>My passion is reading and I'm so grateful to the authors who provide me with hours of pleasure and it is such fun to be able to support my favorite authors and the book stores that host them!<br />If you haven't read Vicki's " Elizabeth Goodweather Series you are missing out and it's time you treat yourself! "Under The Skin" is the 5th book of the series !<br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjphATVY4NpLV_LznGK61aN6W8UdPpFsb1xV5E3MbWiQ1Gwgxb1CXI2BYRlc1Nj8iIrsgDcuXbqZPtly2mZcoIscLGkkWiUHtaJ7cT96stcPuo8FL3V_oVY_FUlofyhEas7DuxZBAkB7vs/s1600/HPIM5146.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 301px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjphATVY4NpLV_LznGK61aN6W8UdPpFsb1xV5E3MbWiQ1Gwgxb1CXI2BYRlc1Nj8iIrsgDcuXbqZPtly2mZcoIscLGkkWiUHtaJ7cT96stcPuo8FL3V_oVY_FUlofyhEas7DuxZBAkB7vs/s400/HPIM5146.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5672987226934837890" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:180%;">Thanks For Stopping By !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!</span>Carol Murdockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16749285023748227382noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6003489296067000954.post-92230003289349725342011-10-23T01:39:00.004-05:002011-10-23T10:50:38.553-05:00"Ghost On Black Mountain" by Ann HiteThis debut novel....will blow you away!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMVLlVZZMQwm5AHYAbJf3FtJoJUt960hU6bRjWVCSf00C9DTUNsdAgZxjRqS5ckXQBf_8K7txtYcWzYizL8LAlr_Q14hK0u2vj4DGskihLurPjfqlSFO_HNaxkHmgvtUbFZMQokNmisho/s1600/9781451606423_500X500.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMVLlVZZMQwm5AHYAbJf3FtJoJUt960hU6bRjWVCSf00C9DTUNsdAgZxjRqS5ckXQBf_8K7txtYcWzYizL8LAlr_Q14hK0u2vj4DGskihLurPjfqlSFO_HNaxkHmgvtUbFZMQokNmisho/s400/9781451606423_500X500.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5666667556647338034" border="0" /></a>I recently got a real good laugh when I read this comment on FaceBook by a well known author:<br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;"> "these days it seems anyone with a keyboard thinks they can review books"</span><br /><br />I was born in the "land of writers"...Mississippi is a who's who of Southern Lit.........<br />William Faulkner, Eudora Welty,Willie Morris,Ellen Gilchrist,Barry Hannah, Elizabeth Spencer, Shelby Foote, Alice Walker, Walker Percy,Tennessee Williams, Richard Wright, Nevada Barr, Carolyn Haines, Charlaine Harris, Greg Iles, Melinda Haynes, John Grisham, Kathryn Stockett and Donna Tartt are just a fraction of the list.........<br /><br />Having read everyone of these authors throughout my life along with countless others from the south yes,<br />I think I and my keyboard are qualified to review books.<br />Being qualified and doing are two different things my Mother would have said. I read lots of good books<span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;"> but</span> I only review books that leave me feeling loss when they're over. Books I consider worthy of remembering not only the book but the author as well. When a true book lover reads a book she or he wants everyone to read, they've found a treasure !!!!!<br /><br />I found treasure this week in this debut novel from Georgia author Ann Hite! I was so blown away by her prose, I lay the book down, went in search of Eric and said;<br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;"> " this woman has channeled William Faulkner as her muse, she's a female Faulkner" </span><br />Throw in a dash of Ron Rash, Sharyn McCrumb, Flannery O'Conner and Sue Monk Kidd and you have.... ANN HITE !<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPb0NEA_ZkTyfkL1W1W69-gzPkDZ6TovxalsTAfHtkyBooTfZ51kxnfhqiwWJsgmsZLAcnO0CJbRVVrewLt90vyDvJg6lHxuMmSr_DIY1g5nGeywzXBu1t3hxtlqYZdVmumqRqontyrQA/s1600/Ann-Hite-photo-225x300.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 225px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPb0NEA_ZkTyfkL1W1W69-gzPkDZ6TovxalsTAfHtkyBooTfZ51kxnfhqiwWJsgmsZLAcnO0CJbRVVrewLt90vyDvJg6lHxuMmSr_DIY1g5nGeywzXBu1t3hxtlqYZdVmumqRqontyrQA/s400/Ann-Hite-photo-225x300.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5666667424068343746" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">"Ghost" is set in Black Mountain, NC, Asheville, NC and Darien, GA..............</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Told though the strong voices of 6 women linked together forever by the love,betrayal and evil deeds of one handsome, dastardly mountain man Hobbs Prichard................</span><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Nellie;</span> " he looked so far off I was afraid he might never come back"</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Josie;</span> " it's a weakness trying to keep our daughters from making the same mistakes. But I didn't make one bit of difference, I didn't stop one thing"</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Shelly;</span> " we was the only Negroes on the mountain and that made for a mighty lonely life. All I had was Faith Dobbins who made me her baby doll until I got old enough to be her maid "</span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Rose;</span><span style="font-style: italic;"> " she was prettier than me. If I had to compare myself to this girl, I was an elephant dressed up in ribbons and satin to disguise my tough hide"</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Iona;</span><span style="font-style: italic;">" it would take me years before I came to understand that every thought that came out of my head had rolled downhill from something she tried to instill in me for better or worse"</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Annie;</span> <span style="font-style: italic;">" a mother has no business living with her daughter. I might tell some important secret when I start to lose my mind"</span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Hobbs </span><span style="font-weight: bold;">Prichard's</span><span style="font-weight: bold;"> evil deeds cause spirits to roam Black Mountain and these women are the ones they haunt!!</span><br /><br /><br />Below is a trailer for the book set to Mississippi Delta Blues which I have no doubt pleases Faulkner............ :)<br /><br /><br /><br /><iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/pQq84F7-S_E?fs=1" allowfullscreen="" width="459" frameborder="0" height="344"></iframe>Carol Murdockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16749285023748227382noreply@blogger.com23tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6003489296067000954.post-63126293563046687332011-10-22T01:51:00.003-05:002011-10-22T10:56:16.999-05:00Saturday Hodge PodgeIt's been an interesting week......leaving me dragging!<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo9je6DVEvEmndWuwIaAOTk9L4e1vZXAvd8TVN-qXY-FAjy5g1cuf6ln8MalH8iFvJowfoDsqHiEu3DF9zdS3q0QGyPK3hYqgMsk-9Ue7o1eamLSOnQsz0lW-rqmFdWRlxpCZ1MJXg0kw/s1600/297459_2067677537157_1401365645_31810193_1752745965_n.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 205px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo9je6DVEvEmndWuwIaAOTk9L4e1vZXAvd8TVN-qXY-FAjy5g1cuf6ln8MalH8iFvJowfoDsqHiEu3DF9zdS3q0QGyPK3hYqgMsk-9Ue7o1eamLSOnQsz0lW-rqmFdWRlxpCZ1MJXg0kw/s400/297459_2067677537157_1401365645_31810193_1752745965_n.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5666330929026982418" border="0" /></a><br />But...........hope has risen! I'm headed for my Smokies this week for a MUCH NEEDED vacation!<br />I'm so pepped... I'm thinking I'll make the hike up to The Walker Sisters Cabin while I'm there!<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtv7xqiLSInOTuyt5adRyGaAPJ6M40ghpph4RWXEy6ROgC2wqScNWVYT1v7eNdKgQs_t-xbFOjWu4sRSP-FhoUT6eyvV-nGiD14lJf8YAUUfsbyaUjTxTGNkcHGt558GysPxMjPeElNBg/s1600/sisters+cabin1000.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtv7xqiLSInOTuyt5adRyGaAPJ6M40ghpph4RWXEy6ROgC2wqScNWVYT1v7eNdKgQs_t-xbFOjWu4sRSP-FhoUT6eyvV-nGiD14lJf8YAUUfsbyaUjTxTGNkcHGt558GysPxMjPeElNBg/s400/sisters+cabin1000.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5666330771178102162" border="0" /></a>This is the view from our Townsend cabin taken by my daughter a few weeks ago....<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDVJPJSdCdahi9LrwFuJ1efcG0dm-KASLDU7OB9FMwMCGvvkmow9WtyplYPAC04kzby1BKShbceDW9-twwT00sZ05fLP_MFRkMImCYocYkzefaMHUKdQ04ugEVtvult-jC8f8ZgB5LYH8/s1600/301654_267574199942804_100000706785086_922652_409262994_n.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDVJPJSdCdahi9LrwFuJ1efcG0dm-KASLDU7OB9FMwMCGvvkmow9WtyplYPAC04kzby1BKShbceDW9-twwT00sZ05fLP_MFRkMImCYocYkzefaMHUKdQ04ugEVtvult-jC8f8ZgB5LYH8/s400/301654_267574199942804_100000706785086_922652_409262994_n.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5666330416334644130" border="0" /></a>I'm hoping it has or will change to this while I'm there!!!!<br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggRlSmiF4yj-gpz748rb2ojESuoSYmpmMzv0Qokj284U8rnjszWfgxSQrCqApva7sDX62Bw5ANbe8T2SN43VttbkLXNr7eimVf_kfUlmYKXQw8VWm53VsDEO0hlZpuuXfQ4kHLK2_SSMg/s1600/BlueRidge2.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 291px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggRlSmiF4yj-gpz748rb2ojESuoSYmpmMzv0Qokj284U8rnjszWfgxSQrCqApva7sDX62Bw5ANbe8T2SN43VttbkLXNr7eimVf_kfUlmYKXQw8VWm53VsDEO0hlZpuuXfQ4kHLK2_SSMg/s400/BlueRidge2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5666330121656679506" border="0" /></a>And when I return to the farm, maybe this view..............<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMi2EHcJv3wcGdzQpzGfepHfASekq4l74zUFmcXgbXkC2dVwXM3JPCGoPu1UoyVCb8oTPdJzTo0b5izrHMGnTTNOt-gIA0VSTVKySq-zWrnkqr8xP6cVdp_PZawNFWs0fVkImpipqIPI4/s1600/HPIM4480.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 301px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMi2EHcJv3wcGdzQpzGfepHfASekq4l74zUFmcXgbXkC2dVwXM3JPCGoPu1UoyVCb8oTPdJzTo0b5izrHMGnTTNOt-gIA0VSTVKySq-zWrnkqr8xP6cVdp_PZawNFWs0fVkImpipqIPI4/s400/HPIM4480.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5666326347936829394" border="0" /></a>Will look like this..............<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhceL9qa9Xew-QRP8kj-CYgsmKCahjdip7BD5sRYMhLxE42kEEJxwBsFyrGDLRnoIU8N8eFaXmwkOdN5TrwIm9rhw6zgNWenoxOrDcqZnN5GZsfIve9uR1YNOWTI8ZwS5AuT2oRP8Wp414/s1600/320210_272761979423844_172010782832298_905455_331557617_n.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhceL9qa9Xew-QRP8kj-CYgsmKCahjdip7BD5sRYMhLxE42kEEJxwBsFyrGDLRnoIU8N8eFaXmwkOdN5TrwIm9rhw6zgNWenoxOrDcqZnN5GZsfIve9uR1YNOWTI8ZwS5AuT2oRP8Wp414/s400/320210_272761979423844_172010782832298_905455_331557617_n.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5666324455090059042" border="0" /></a><br />Spinach ............this went in the freezer<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkdbH8FeyuVnzVGvnKQLdtghFKlpb4T7lHoxDzTRChR6PB-wh9rZEX62a-pv9m8Jayem-hD2aGJ-qLSWGPGnHw8cPdM8ILbnU6yqTTGXfZgKBgsGIvPoE6zUaWhATs6-tPsa-uH8cwlc4/s1600/HPIM5069.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 301px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkdbH8FeyuVnzVGvnKQLdtghFKlpb4T7lHoxDzTRChR6PB-wh9rZEX62a-pv9m8Jayem-hD2aGJ-qLSWGPGnHw8cPdM8ILbnU6yqTTGXfZgKBgsGIvPoE6zUaWhATs6-tPsa-uH8cwlc4/s400/HPIM5069.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5666324217804589810" border="0" /></a><br />I put up Turnip Greens too this week! I was going to go the freezer route but decided they'd be worth the extra trouble and canned them!<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMtaCw5whDTFHq8tnrFojjDo_uByriXq2xaPOEW-6N4gsaoklf05_tW-H3Jx7XI87pRKqT6JCzxHr4Fpz9v8HJbbHWgO-7DXV6eVpDvfGNNElVB6IgpWkn9DdlueNlgzGU8VBsQtWszow/s1600/HPIM5106.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 301px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMtaCw5whDTFHq8tnrFojjDo_uByriXq2xaPOEW-6N4gsaoklf05_tW-H3Jx7XI87pRKqT6JCzxHr4Fpz9v8HJbbHWgO-7DXV6eVpDvfGNNElVB6IgpWkn9DdlueNlgzGU8VBsQtWszow/s400/HPIM5106.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5666323809690278162" border="0" /></a>The Prison Chicks are doing great! We have eggs out to you know what! We started with 9 hens and 1 rooster. We now have 16 hens and 2 roosters! That's Queen Vicki keeping her distance and posing! She lays an egg big enough to be a double yolk!<br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj51Y9nts3eRhD5Ztc7-lelwHdkxLkNTuJrfuPafAttd9aSWY7jc2jAjieaeSbvPGwNev5PX2J54BBjcB3A4xcObJmNBw-B5avcJ65d2btkrjoy_d-Eq0AW0GpQQPmdxnyFb986JwOfbus/s1600/HPIM5091.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj51Y9nts3eRhD5Ztc7-lelwHdkxLkNTuJrfuPafAttd9aSWY7jc2jAjieaeSbvPGwNev5PX2J54BBjcB3A4xcObJmNBw-B5avcJ65d2btkrjoy_d-Eq0AW0GpQQPmdxnyFb986JwOfbus/s400/HPIM5091.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5666323450768231058" border="0" /></a>Oscar Wilde is head warden and keeps a tight rope with his 4 inch spurs! He has yet to jump the young one named Bragg ( named after Rick Bragg) but I'm watching for it!<br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" try="" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcN0Mm9Hv1hoYDcVziKOTGfNAJUnruZ93tAzS1BNjeYRv7UMyCYfPWqIdO78cvkcRXWi67Ju6t3ol5ZgXFxUQOFAshC_See9J8GLsGXebhh6zt2a3NutntqrHiwyBZjtLjabmW7qtrTMg//"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 301px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0W0j8lUvpD4YCFpC9rygbA5T4kEuv3TVu_e0DtyAijsyC-tyArH3IziECUtsC_ZnObwp8i46krT9a5wh1x04I__-LhJ6H_1AS-xLIQ3QtjpWHN390qScm6sSmrGz0HP6YOFVcleino9c/s400/HPIM5097.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5666322796381760546" border="0" /></a><br />Can you believe we have been running 10 degrees cooler than the mountains this week!<br />33 night before last and 37 last night! They caught up today! Foggy Mornings too!<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCCJSjUWCP7UgYgh1Ecy3nYaawAHUv1cgaZVtmGMeQSYsqhNJVrohnQxXF1TcmCJ2aWOsjdUzf96s-YI9ffo35KS9wb6WKA0JPMeptWjzQ0Pz0_WHO7FwRMH9l3HbOpk-9bCtqn8BITCI/s1600/HPIM5087.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 301px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCCJSjUWCP7UgYgh1Ecy3nYaawAHUv1cgaZVtmGMeQSYsqhNJVrohnQxXF1TcmCJ2aWOsjdUzf96s-YI9ffo35KS9wb6WKA0JPMeptWjzQ0Pz0_WHO7FwRMH9l3HbOpk-9bCtqn8BITCI/s400/HPIM5087.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5666321682823672386" border="0" /></a>Took this pic of a "volunteer" yellow Squash plant in the pastures edge the other day.<br />It had blooms but I bet the cold got em!<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBhFoWL7E1x8_elqjQzwaM54VxjZpo_SNRyaBuVCGzzzSJ2VXnIWYkkq5RBZqL4pTgphHCShpuZQ7Od8kFx73q4NBCRHJ_tbJqzedUGD4V3_Q7KGtSZHEVixuX62VPq2Q9ajo0Uo3zglM/s1600/HPIM5090.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 301px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBhFoWL7E1x8_elqjQzwaM54VxjZpo_SNRyaBuVCGzzzSJ2VXnIWYkkq5RBZqL4pTgphHCShpuZQ7Od8kFx73q4NBCRHJ_tbJqzedUGD4V3_Q7KGtSZHEVixuX62VPq2Q9ajo0Uo3zglM/s400/HPIM5090.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5666320139017043858" border="0" /></a>My faithful Rosemary bush!<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0Jpr6OodErk-xkiEC1lrAY5lLZeU7NyT2SC4RhZ4JoYgb25BvnNj9VHbyU9jLtzWWZvY6s_HQDoV7Awgo6yr5Atod9cDfbTLKzUaHrnYgUjO2MHNvXNewC_3xnrUVgQ7XrFMVGmyKVK4/s1600/HPIM5089.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 301px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0Jpr6OodErk-xkiEC1lrAY5lLZeU7NyT2SC4RhZ4JoYgb25BvnNj9VHbyU9jLtzWWZvY6s_HQDoV7Awgo6yr5Atod9cDfbTLKzUaHrnYgUjO2MHNvXNewC_3xnrUVgQ7XrFMVGmyKVK4/s400/HPIM5089.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5666319801949756338" border="0" /></a><br />My Butterfly Weed keeps on keeping on! Waiting on the Monarchs?<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHAkIRvCpjei7c8NwSJnjaP0UOnaXvrFkoKn4Pe_NTJv7hn_cmMdAKeUY9vQDp1a1VPaVAoKw_6OEQRH8zaD1wIZiyqzh5oimtVDGSWcGObbIjxR9S2j1mcjT_RNKb5eXl_qBR4nW_hRk/s1600/HPIM5085.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 301px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHAkIRvCpjei7c8NwSJnjaP0UOnaXvrFkoKn4Pe_NTJv7hn_cmMdAKeUY9vQDp1a1VPaVAoKw_6OEQRH8zaD1wIZiyqzh5oimtVDGSWcGObbIjxR9S2j1mcjT_RNKb5eXl_qBR4nW_hRk/s400/HPIM5085.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5666319402524023682" border="0" /></a>This is a Double Bloom Hardy Hibiscus! It doesn't bloom till fall..........<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbuZpLQ0tZ19JmicRQJN2YAFaksBQII40a1H7Yn5isDWI1e4zNUASt1RX7AvWjQE4NXmC1ptopw1y2uGBw_H6SuFcDKWLU_ybdDryuwDHKVLo-gzgJnGCRSDtg40LuSzG1xI3sqzZukrI/s1600/HPIM5082.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 301px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbuZpLQ0tZ19JmicRQJN2YAFaksBQII40a1H7Yn5isDWI1e4zNUASt1RX7AvWjQE4NXmC1ptopw1y2uGBw_H6SuFcDKWLU_ybdDryuwDHKVLo-gzgJnGCRSDtg40LuSzG1xI3sqzZukrI/s400/HPIM5082.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5666319119953157602" border="0" /></a>Ahhhhhhhhh the Roses! This is the front bed.........<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMUYGegFNo88so95mQi3xbxtziV8kjuR05ZsjhFXPB_qKs1AFkJGr0C2i1FxfTM7kpom2SfdHhv2xJ7QGWhAO4_Py4fM-QDFbwKGFHIQ771kSysRV8CPm_7ZErWTZ0KUA-Ng-QM2UT1Oo/s1600/HPIM5079.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 301px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMUYGegFNo88so95mQi3xbxtziV8kjuR05ZsjhFXPB_qKs1AFkJGr0C2i1FxfTM7kpom2SfdHhv2xJ7QGWhAO4_Py4fM-QDFbwKGFHIQ771kSysRV8CPm_7ZErWTZ0KUA-Ng-QM2UT1Oo/s400/HPIM5079.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5666318735857609298" border="0" /></a>One of the back beds..........<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNRZyJguuU9s-7uiCdxf2kDke4_epCXToqffpAVGyKd9Ez8T8Vhw6ckLLko4KSXRikYapg2NsfjdKcj8pBYiGCDsgJJfiDXIPS6BBn2BkKACzye2ajiOoYCSr07Ypw1hAvWxwYOxw3haw/s1600/HPIM5099.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 301px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNRZyJguuU9s-7uiCdxf2kDke4_epCXToqffpAVGyKd9Ez8T8Vhw6ckLLko4KSXRikYapg2NsfjdKcj8pBYiGCDsgJJfiDXIPS6BBn2BkKACzye2ajiOoYCSr07Ypw1hAvWxwYOxw3haw/s400/HPIM5099.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5666318372760371842" border="0" /></a>And some I gathered this morning....I froze my patooty off too!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSqmHwjE-QAtFGqWf-ny-WNjLRMMQt33d4rJ6oc7LEvkcgkbzI5M6QzbeBtcKbnDublnMP4A5U2nJMwl-JAsVkrGdmGzHt0k5HeoG4NYosRgKIxy5MRTdvwjLjSQn1QS_MDO6lwuMoJhc/s1600/HPIM5105.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 301px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSqmHwjE-QAtFGqWf-ny-WNjLRMMQt33d4rJ6oc7LEvkcgkbzI5M6QzbeBtcKbnDublnMP4A5U2nJMwl-JAsVkrGdmGzHt0k5HeoG4NYosRgKIxy5MRTdvwjLjSQn1QS_MDO6lwuMoJhc/s400/HPIM5105.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5666316038057923602" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:180%;">HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND YA"LL.......XOXO</span>Carol Murdockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16749285023748227382noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6003489296067000954.post-40614717803605640612011-10-15T08:05:00.020-05:002011-10-18T08:08:55.783-05:00" UNDER THE SKIN " by VICKI LANE...TRULY OOLY De'Vine<span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);font-size:130%;" >The Wait Is Over ! It's Tuesday October 18, 2011! The 5th book in the Elizabeth Goodweather Mystery Series by Vicki Lane is here!</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG2T_dKXHvLjx8CoLKCH9GqVqftDyAFjq_vVUB_Hgmht6PJRBZnmQscD-g_roDF6zwhLMn7xal_JwuGhUTURFjMbiC6jDLe_fojxLtuGw2AwOjvqJ1Wjlp5is3xKauUkpWGByBkCe9cGE/s1600/304023_2503121494781_1155296000_2910229_945591448_n.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 206px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG2T_dKXHvLjx8CoLKCH9GqVqftDyAFjq_vVUB_Hgmht6PJRBZnmQscD-g_roDF6zwhLMn7xal_JwuGhUTURFjMbiC6jDLe_fojxLtuGw2AwOjvqJ1Wjlp5is3xKauUkpWGByBkCe9cGE/s400/304023_2503121494781_1155296000_2910229_945591448_n.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5663723655960694530" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">It's hard to believe that it's been 3 years ( June 2008) since Vicki Lane left us all on a cliff in " Dark Season"! So long in fact, I had to re-read "Dark Season" recently to remember what cliff I was on in preparation for being<span style="font-style: italic;"> <span style="font-weight: bold;">honored</span></span> with an ARC of " Under The Skin " !!<br />Those of you who visit this blog know: <span style="font-weight: bold;">" I Am A Connoisseur of North Carolina Authors and their works "!</span> I've read them all! They are a special breed, right up there with<span style="font-weight: bold;"> MISSISSIPPI</span> ( you know we have Faulkner,Welty, Morris, Grisham, Stockett to name a few)<br />and... <span style="font-weight: bold;">Vicki Lane is a "blue blood" among her NC peers!<br /><br />" UNDER THE SKIN " .....WOW!<br />In my opinion her best yet...</span><span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">" Of Two Sisters....One is always the watcher..</span> <span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">One the dancer".....Louise Gluck</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">" Rivalry adds so much to the charms of one's conquests"...</span><br /> <span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">Louisa May Alcott<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">In " Under The Skin" we delve into the relationship of Elizabeth and her only sister Gloria. Rivalry comes front and center as Elizabeth the "watcher" is sucked into the vortex of Gloria the "dancer"....<br />As with all Vicki's books, we are treated to then and now of Western NC which I love!<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">" Then" being Hot Springs, NC 1887 where The De'Vine sisters are perpetrating a "medium" scheme of bringing forth the dead in their much sought after seances....<br />" Now" being not only Elizabeth's home, Full Circle Farm but also present day Hot Springs where Gloria has taken the reluctant Elizabeth for their own seance with the departed!<br />Gloria has come from her home in Florida in hopes of hiding out from her current(3rd) husband whom she's convinced is trying to kill her, landing full force in the middle of Elizabeth's wedding planning, where she causes chaos and resentment to take over Elizabeth's life.<br />The reader is treated to not only a great mystery but an up close look at the complicated bond that exists between two very different sisters from two very different eras.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVMFGdFo-3hd35umQhurLz96DeQnbiCoYoXn4LIsZ3IFidJ42XbLL-8OY0qTiJoDaUll9iyn_4RFxduAI541mOMQ1RV80sQcjFmpwObeXn9I-2ggptQiHvZRfuXQu-PVFT8RfhC3uzP90/s1600/Vicki%2527s+Farm.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 309px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVMFGdFo-3hd35umQhurLz96DeQnbiCoYoXn4LIsZ3IFidJ42XbLL-8OY0qTiJoDaUll9iyn_4RFxduAI541mOMQ1RV80sQcjFmpwObeXn9I-2ggptQiHvZRfuXQu-PVFT8RfhC3uzP90/s400/Vicki%2527s+Farm.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5663722079390195042" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">It was 3 years ago yesterday that I discovered the works of Vicki Lane! I was fortunate that she already had written 4 books in The Elizabeth Goodweather Series and I ordered all 4! We have become good friends and<span style="font-style: italic;"> "sisters of the written word"</span>in these past 3 years and she is one of my VERY favorite authors. She has that "rare " ability to capture place so well.........you have to see it for yourself!<br /><br />She made me fall in love with Western NC and last year I was blessed with the opportunity to visit with her@ Full Circle Farm and enjoy a wonderful meal I still remember well !<br />Above is a collage of pics I took on her gorgeous farm while there........<br /><br />Below you'll see my complete collection of Vicki's wonderful books!!!!!<br />If you haven't read them.... shame on you! You are missing out!<br /></span><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn_IGt0-7qZbyo52RDwDG-RV6KXFmAw2j8POhLraMeifNHv4U9vNyixcNC4BXGF481A7NDOMtznamKafxLESu3rfkcNeuI1x9DcKf5LYNBZ_v_klLD_8comWQoF4_rG0HhvNPpgOnWkJI/s1600/HPIM5013.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 301px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn_IGt0-7qZbyo52RDwDG-RV6KXFmAw2j8POhLraMeifNHv4U9vNyixcNC4BXGF481A7NDOMtznamKafxLESu3rfkcNeuI1x9DcKf5LYNBZ_v_klLD_8comWQoF4_rG0HhvNPpgOnWkJI/s400/HPIM5013.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5663705156025372786" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);font-size:130%;" >AND.....Vicki, please tell me I don't have to wait 3 more years to visit with our girl Elizabeth!!!</span>Carol Murdockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16749285023748227382noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6003489296067000954.post-15136096976427667722011-10-13T01:08:00.002-05:002011-10-13T12:52:42.765-05:00" THE BEACH HOUSE " by Mary Alice MonroeSeveral months ago one of my friends recommended a book " Time Is a River" by Mary Alice Monroe to me and though I had never read any of her work I agreed that it sounded like one I'd enjoy. I loved it, so I purchased 2 more! "The Beach House" and it's sequel "Swimming Lessons".<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghOZiyVFrDtvG3GTie0rPyCbp-ufwp6WBPazICq9dZnoReg4ph5nxOuD1S3l7ZYs6tIaafk9gtq9Qf0p4fXC-x_wEUMW-X78Z-LhU6p_YLZpkI6P53URsZr7wdlMgG4CR3pxadgkHTIPM/s1600/2004781355-260x260-0-0_Book_The_Beach_House_Mary_Alice_Monroe.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 260px; height: 260px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghOZiyVFrDtvG3GTie0rPyCbp-ufwp6WBPazICq9dZnoReg4ph5nxOuD1S3l7ZYs6tIaafk9gtq9Qf0p4fXC-x_wEUMW-X78Z-LhU6p_YLZpkI6P53URsZr7wdlMgG4CR3pxadgkHTIPM/s400/2004781355-260x260-0-0_Book_The_Beach_House_Mary_Alice_Monroe.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5663017986820441122" border="0" /></a><br />I wasn't sure about "The Beach House" because it was centered around a woman named Lovie Rutledge who was a Turtle Lady. The Turtle Ladies are a group of women on the Isle of Palms, SC who protect the Loggerhead Hatchlings. Now I love nature in all forms but I'd never given Loggerheads much thought. Now, they will never leave my thoughts!<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhnAARtTf4rPRIqkzf-vR2YYUjlV6kGFcv1PJMFFs3ZllPosoV0azNUUv3FcwAEZ8_CKKhiaVpIxeqZeLSC9KP5NGRwHCUXo3u37IAJW6vmAFsYQ3FWk_V1mtiaF_8LLCluwlTEyFeY1I/s1600/Wild_Dunes_release_close_up.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 354px; height: 283px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhnAARtTf4rPRIqkzf-vR2YYUjlV6kGFcv1PJMFFs3ZllPosoV0azNUUv3FcwAEZ8_CKKhiaVpIxeqZeLSC9KP5NGRwHCUXo3u37IAJW6vmAFsYQ3FWk_V1mtiaF_8LLCluwlTEyFeY1I/s400/Wild_Dunes_release_close_up.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5663017901388604882" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">Mary Alice Monroe</span> is a readers dream author! Not only is her writing superb but she has something many writers lack, the ability to<span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">"capture place"</span> so well you are <span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">THERE</span> while you're reading and dying to <span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">GO THERE</span> when you get to the books end!<br />Another endearing quality of her work is ,<span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"> whatever the theme</span> in the book, (in this case Loggerheads) you are in love with it at the end. I wanted to learn to <span style="font-weight: bold;">Fly-Fish</span> after reading<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">" Time Is A</span> <span style="font-weight: bold;">River "!</span><br />I was up till 12:38 am finishing this book last night. It takes a <span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">awesome</span></span><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;"> book</span><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"> </span></span>to keep me up past<span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"> </span></span>10:00 pm ! When it was over, I bawled like a baby!<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">"The Beach House"</span> is a wonderful Women's Fiction read. Trust me, you will fall in love with the books characters, with <span style="font-weight: bold;">Isle of Palms, SC</span> and <span style="font-weight: bold;">YES</span>, you will<span style="font-weight: bold;"> LOVE</span> those endangered <span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">Loggerheads</span> with all your heart and want to be a<span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"> Turtle Lady</span> yourself !!!!!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpPlx3tLfhJKYst1QRpStY_RRKB9MFH3m4wCXbNnarKT9aMfmykniBxNCZRBcjvp_mYVIY06Y4F-7orEuRRhHNmnjT6Aek8aD-QA516z3WkXcN3ftN2Q-9q4-qjtahk-M1FCRc6easxOw/s1600/isle_of_palms_caes1330.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpPlx3tLfhJKYst1QRpStY_RRKB9MFH3m4wCXbNnarKT9aMfmykniBxNCZRBcjvp_mYVIY06Y4F-7orEuRRhHNmnjT6Aek8aD-QA516z3WkXcN3ftN2Q-9q4-qjtahk-M1FCRc6easxOw/s400/isle_of_palms_caes1330.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5663017709948358274" border="0" /></a>This is an Ariel view of Isle of Palms. We have planned a trip in the Spring to Myrtle Beach, Folly Beach and Charleston, Isle of Palms is now a MUST see also! Can't wait!<br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyjAws2AQWhODYw76j2gYmDCQQ9GlHlfGrFBezz6b4OgYJCYf6iqsOoFILQs0htFVBlRZp2OfWCC3RXsw1pqOGv3jAFisdvfaI0-i_gVuzvWUnOIJa43Xa7pKNNdfRcHK86nNAzStblfE/s1600/200-loggerhead-nester-in-pit-800-x-550.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 275px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyjAws2AQWhODYw76j2gYmDCQQ9GlHlfGrFBezz6b4OgYJCYf6iqsOoFILQs0htFVBlRZp2OfWCC3RXsw1pqOGv3jAFisdvfaI0-i_gVuzvWUnOIJa43Xa7pKNNdfRcHK86nNAzStblfE/s400/200-loggerhead-nester-in-pit-800-x-550.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5663017599665639714" border="0" /></a>I probably won't get to see a Mother Loggerhead lay her nest of eggs......<br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxlOclN0DSj0iwqAGs3J67czKGOQn63XmbkC6VRr7b14iG-cZRlPxzk8z8t44px9SM-YEKk6hNEVi8kl9Kq-TZj1C4JmEus4AD3GXXl9zlDhkxLsm0QjSBsBNjjNFxRyEhxgYGv4naU5s/s1600/loggerhead_hatchlings.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 312px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxlOclN0DSj0iwqAGs3J67czKGOQn63XmbkC6VRr7b14iG-cZRlPxzk8z8t44px9SM-YEKk6hNEVi8kl9Kq-TZj1C4JmEus4AD3GXXl9zlDhkxLsm0QjSBsBNjjNFxRyEhxgYGv4naU5s/s400/loggerhead_hatchlings.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5663017498232329170" border="0" /></a>OR...watch the hatchling's when they "boil" out of the nest and head to the ocean...<br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGEW5A8ab5jhz1dEq4ukEVRQdmBgtLfTSb8ApSVUC188qEQkObXasf7DX-wXDkbAdVY80a3mrzNbjtlu5D5TGb1CqvIp2Ud2jRbQJ8yTHTsJyR6neh6FEd-8yN0c9AwflItH5twYRn46c/s1600/4c3232.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 360px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGEW5A8ab5jhz1dEq4ukEVRQdmBgtLfTSb8ApSVUC188qEQkObXasf7DX-wXDkbAdVY80a3mrzNbjtlu5D5TGb1CqvIp2Ud2jRbQJ8yTHTsJyR6neh6FEd-8yN0c9AwflItH5twYRn46c/s400/4c3232.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5663017384339543394" border="0" /></a>BUT...if I'm lucky I will get to stay in this beach house while on the Isle...In the meantime...<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQH4CG1HQTpwXeFAeH_cvWaBRZud3ASp4YqPAxcHzBkV46w9hK0mZxvZ3Nu2MLrNmspFTTjhCu-apcDHLeLAs122EmCWp6QW7dhTkeU63KehkUHja3WoIMU-ko0mggauRV7ttzSicXA6E/s1600/swimming-lessons-mary-alice-monroe-book-cover-art.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 316px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQH4CG1HQTpwXeFAeH_cvWaBRZud3ASp4YqPAxcHzBkV46w9hK0mZxvZ3Nu2MLrNmspFTTjhCu-apcDHLeLAs122EmCWp6QW7dhTkeU63KehkUHja3WoIMU-ko0mggauRV7ttzSicXA6E/s400/swimming-lessons-mary-alice-monroe-book-cover-art.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5663017237839930802" border="0" /></a>I'm going to read the sequel and see what's going on with Carra, Brett, Toy and Little Lovie!!<br /><br />Thank You Mary Alice for writing this AWESOME read!!!<br /><br /><span style="font-size:180%;">HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND EVERYONE !!!!!!!!! XOXO</span>Carol Murdockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16749285023748227382noreply@blogger.com7