I took this photo of one of the roses we bought yesterday at the flower concession in the supermarket. I love the bright peach color with a touch of pink around the edges. Click on the image to enlarge.
November 2010
Two Special Veterans
This Veterans Day, I would like to remember our two very special veterans. My Dad, Jack and Verna’s Dad, Bill. Both of them are gone now, but we remember and thank them for their service and for their devotion to their families.
The photos of Jack (left) and Bill were taken in 1944 and 2004, respectively.
Jack was aboard the USS Brooklyn, CL-40, from Casablanca for the east coast 17 November 1942. Between January and July 1943 The Brooklyn made three convoy escort voyages between the east coast and Casablanca and then steamed to the Mediterranean where she carried out screening and fire support duties during the invasion of Sicily.
On 15 August 1944 the USS Brooklyn furnished part of the heavy naval gunfire which preceded the landing of Allied troops on the coast of southern France. She remained on duty in the Mediterranean until 21 November 1944 when she departed Sicily for New York, arriving 30 November.
Bill, served in U.S. Naval Aviation. He was stationed at Gibraltar in 1948 where Navy Patrol Squadron 26 had a detachment in those days.
The Cold War was fully in progress, and Bill’s Squadron was right in the thick of it all. Bill was a flight crew member and flew missions on the Navy version of the old B24 – the PB4Y-2 ‘Privateer.’ He flew missions all over the Mediterranean, Europe, the North Atlantic Ocean and back to the US for logistics and repairs.
We’re proud of all of our veterans and salute them on this day. And we’re especially proud of our Dads.
Wickenburg Fly-In
Last month, we went to see the Wickenburg Fly-in and Classic Car Show at the airport on the west end of town. It was a lot of fun and there were over 80 classic cars and many interesting aircraft.
Verna was taking a photo of a Cessna 195 at the same time a Piper Colt was taking off. It’s been a number of years since I flew a Colt. I was in the Navy attending Avionics school in Millington, TN and rented a Colt to keep current. I took one of my school buddies up for a sightseeing tour over Memphis and the Mississippi River.
Click on the image to enlarge.
Pink and Yellow Plumerias
Seen on the patio this afternoon after we arrived back in the city from Arizona . . .
Click on the image to enlarge.
Our Backyard Wash in 3D
Earlier this week while we were out to our new house to deliver some electrical fixtures, I snapped a picture pair to merge into a 3D anaglyph image.
The subject is the little downhill wash that runs through our property from the hill above. The wash runs down and then below the pad where our house stands.
Verna has been putting Critter Crunch up in the wash which has successfully attracted many quail to the area. We were at the property this morning and there were several quail there quacking and having a feast.
You will need red/cyan 3D glasses to view the image – click to enlarge. If you don’t have your pair yet, you can see the 2D version here.
Sons of the Pioneers Concert
We had quite an enjoyable afternoon when we attended a concert by the Sons of the Pioneers at the Del Webb Center for the Performing Arts in Wickenburg, AZ. The group is celebrating their 75th anniversary this year and put on a great show.
My Mom and Dad loved The Sons of the Pioneers and I grew up hearing their music. Although the group we saw this afternoon were not the original 1938 members, the music was just as I remember from those many years ago.
It was a great show and both Verna and I used up a couple of tissues apiece as we went back in time to the good old cowboy music days.
