Verna and Bob's Weblog

Bob

The Cactus Garden in 3D

succulents.pngLast weekend when we went to the Botanic Garden for the model railroad exhibition, we took a walk through some of our favorite sections. We’re virtually certain to find our way to the cactus and succulents garden, since it’s one of our favorite parts of the garden.

When in the garden, when I’m not taking a panoramic image, I just might be getting an image pair to merge into a 3D image. I stood to the east of the cactus garden and got this shot looking back. On the left, you can see a golden torch cactus. An agave is on the right. In the center, a yucca stalk extends upward. In the background you can see many beautiful and interesting succulents. Click on the image to enlarge.

As usual, you can view a 2D version here.

November 15, 2009 by Bob's 3D Stuff Home & Garden

Remembering Our Favorite Veteran

On this first Veterans Day after Verna’s Dad passed away, we would like to re-post this information about our favorite veteran . . .

Dad and Navy Patrol Squadron VP-26

VP-26 EmblemIt has been over sixty years since Verna’s Dad served in the U.S. Navy. He was stationed at Gibraltar in 1948 where Navy Patrol Squadron 26 had a detachment at the time.

The Cold War was fully in progress, and Dad’s Squadron was right in the thick of it all. He 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.

PB4Y-2 Privateer
Image: PB4Y-2 similar to ones in Dad’s squadron.

I did the research on his old squadron and brought him a package of information and history about VP-26, complete with pictures and the squadron patch seen above. That triggered a lot of old memories and discussions with Bill about his adventures in VP-26.

This mission statement is taken from the VP-26 Website:

Patrol Squadron VP-26, a member of Patrol Wing FIVE, is a Maritime Patrol Squadron with a worldwide theater of operations. Mission areas include: Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW), Anti-Surface Warfare (ASU), Command and Control Warfare (C2W), Command, Control, and Communications (CCC), Intelligence (INT), Mine Warfare (MIW), and Mobility (MOB). Although the “TRIDENTS” are homeported at U.S. (Naval Air Station) NAS Brunswick, Maine, their reputation is known throughout the world. The Tridents have demonstrated success in all of these tasks and in all the services performed, one thing remains constant: Team Trident is at the ready, supporting the mission… Anytime… Anywhere!

I downloaded the history file that I found on the VP-26 website and have made it available here in case you want to read about Dad’s old squadron. Click here for the Complete VP-26 History (PDF).

November 11, 2009 by Family Military

Model Train Show

The South Coast Botanic Garden is the setting for the Model Train Show this weekend, November 7-8, 2009. It’s always fun to see the variety of miniature railroad exhibits. The best modular layouts in Southern California are represented in several venues around the garden.

Verna got this shot of a red car model in a great miniature circa WWII setting. Click on the image to enlarge.

red-car.jpg

November 7, 2009 by Culture Home & Garden Leisure

Garden Cleanup

I planted an umbrella tree in one corner of the yard a few years ago to provide a barrier between our yard and the neighbors. It does the job quite nicely, but, as you can see in the “before” panel above, it’ got a little out of control. Exacerbating the control problem, a group of several California palms popped up behind the umbrella, next to the wall in back. Many people consider this variety of palm a weed – in this case, it’s true.

For the “before” picture, Verna posed me next to the garden project just as I began to whack away with the branch cutter and chain saw. Two green bins worth of tree parts later, she snapped the “after” picture. It was more work than it appears. The palms were a bitch to clean up, all intertwined and always with the little razor sharp spikes catching on stuff (luckily, I escaped any of them snagging a chunk outta me). Eventually, I will remove the palms completely, before they start moving the block walls.

Remember that little squirrel that kept popping up in people’s pictures on the web? Somehow, that little guy managed to get in the “after” picture. Maybe he was hiding there before – you just couldn’t see him through the thicket.

November 6, 2009 by California Home & Garden

Railroad Crossing

bnsf.jpg

Verna took this picture of a train crossing not too far from our house. My grandfather was a motorman on the Pacific Electric Railway – I can remember being around trains from a very early age and I still have an affinity for them. While Verna was taking still pictures, I made a video of the train crossing and posted a story on the other blog that you can see by clicking here.

November 5, 2009 by Nostalgia Photography

Avalon 1998

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