Bumpy Flight!

 

Coming down through a thunderstorm Thursday evening on my return flight to Atlanta was to say the least an interesting ride. As I said on Facebook if I wasn’t an old Air Force guy I would have been concerned. Can you say rock and roll?!!!

Crossing the active runway looking back at the thunderstorm! You can see traffic still in the air making their way down through the storm. They called a ground stop just after we landed!

Glenn Curtis Biplane

It was in 1910 that Glenn H. Curtiss risked his life to fly from Cleveland to Cedar point and return, setting a new world record for over-water! Curtiss rose to fame by making the first officially witnessed flight in North America, winning a race at the world's first international air meet in France, and making the first long-distance flight in the United States.

 His company built aircraft for the U.S. Army and Navy, and during the years leading up to World War I, his experiments with seaplanes led to advances in naval aviation. Curtiss civil and military aircraft were predominant in the inter-war and World War II eras.

This replica hangs in the food court at the Greater Rochester NY Airport!

What is man without the beasts?

 

This statue is located in the center of the B concourse in the Greater Rochester NY Airport. It depicts five Native American animal statues with a quote from Chief Seattle inscribed at the base that reads:

"What is man without the beasts? If all the beasts were gone, men would die from great loneliness of spirit, for whatever happens to the beasts also happens to man. All things are connected. Whatever befalls the earth befalls the children of the earth."

Chief Seattle - Suqwamish & Duwamish

First Class Bump

 Got as first class bump on my return flight to Atlanta Thursday evening. I was a bit tired from a busy week so it felt really nice in those big seats!

 View of first class from my seat.

Enjoying an ice cold coke in a real glass in first class!

Pencil Cactus

In 1996 my pencil cactus started out as a small 4" birthday present from Beth. As you can see it enjoys the hot summers on the deck and has grown to well over 6'.

The pencil cactus has begun it's yearly display of green leaf like flowers.

Cactus in bloom

With the hot weather we've been having even my cactus have started to bloom!

The Three Amigos!

The Three Amigos after napping all day in the coolness of the den wake up 

simultaneously at 5PM looking for dinner! How do they tell time???

Basement floor painting

I took some time during the hotter days of my vacation and re-painted the basement floor.

The floor was last painted in 1997. Thanks to Home Depot for making a great floor paint.

July 4th 2012

Since the State of Georgia banded aerial fireworks and Gab’s concern with obeying the law of the land this year’s fireworks were all confined to the ground with the exception of one wayward star shell that somehow got mixed in. I have no idea how that got in there, lol!

Positioned at the end of Gram's driveway the display stands ready for the darkness!

 The launch control master begins his count down! 10,9,8,7,6,5,4,3,2,1....

Let the show begin!!!

Thanks Gram for letting us mess up your driveway again this year.

Warning, lol!!

Go ahead make my day punk, lol!!!

Roses for Beth

Because of my newly found skills at feeding and caring for roses I have had more blooms this year than ever before. I made this small arrangement for Beth from a Red Canadian Tea Rose and Pink Knock Out Roses. She really enjoyed them!

Rolling in the grass!

With the weather being so hot and uncomfortable Marco enjoys rolling in the cool grass during his morning walk. I tried it and it feels pretty good, lol!

Georgia State Capital Dome

The Classical Renaissance architecture of Georgia's State Capitol resembles that of the United States Capitol. Completed in 1889, the building was designed by architects Willoughby J. Edbrooke and Franklin P. Burnham of Chicago, Illinois and constructed by Miles and Horne of Toledo, Ohio.

The front of the Capitol faces west on Washington street. The facade features a four-story portico with stone pediment, supported by six Corinthian columns set on large stone piers. Georgia's coat-of-arms, with two figures on each side, is engraved on the pediment.

The Capitol's interior reflects the Victorian style of its day. It was among the earliest buildings to have elevators, central steam heat, and combination gas and steam lights. Classical pilasters and oak paneling are used throughout the building.

The open central rotunda is flanked by two wings, each with a grand staircase and three-story atrium crowned by clerestory windows.

Originally constructed of terra cotta and covered with tin, the present dome is gilded with native gold.

Happy Canada Day

Canada celebrated her 145^th birthday Sunday and I proudly flew my flag!! 

“You can take a Canadian out of Canada but you can never take Canada out of a Canadian!” 

Happy Birthday Canada.

Laura's Potato Salad and BBQ Chicken

 Tried my cousin Laura's yummy Potato Salad recipe last weekend and it was a big hit with Table 9!

The only improvement suggested was to cut the potato smaller!

Very yummy BBQ chicken.

Weekend Heat Wave

 

Well we survived the weekend heat wave that forced us all inside to enjoy the AC. Temperatures on the deck reached 106F/40C under the shade of the patio umbrella. Standing in the direct sunlight was brutal! Monday July 2^nd finds us a bit cooler with possible thunderstorms!

Almost hot enough to melt a dog!!