Amish farm work horses in a snowy pasture one morning....
Saturday, January 31, 2009
Friday, January 30, 2009
Classic Cars! Cars! Cars!
Dodge or Chrylser
Pontiac
Chevy
Heavy Chevy
Lem's Dream Car...I can't stop showing you pictures of vintage stuff, so why not vintage cars? I have lots of pictures of 'em.
We live in Michigan, the birthplace and capitol of the automobile industry. The automobile is very celebrated here. I grew up in a family that exclusively favored Fords, and my dad worked for about 39 years (I think) for Buick. In our household, Buicks and Chevrolets have been the rule, with a couple exceptions. And now that we own a classic, a Ford is in the mix.
Sadly, of late, there's been a lot of bad news, bad press and lots of uneasiness about what is, or was the "Big Three"...and for all of our sakes, I do hope that somehow they all survive.
As far as the bridge loan they got, well, I wish them well and hope it works, and perhaps it will work with some give and take on both sides of the table. My dad and uncles worked in the "shop" --as they called it, for their whole lives--I have cousins that still do. We are all in some way dependent upon the auto industry and if it's gone, we're done. We cannot make it in this state without GM, Ford and Chrysler. Things are bad enough already. We're to nearly 11% unemployment now, our own special recession began more than six years ago so we were in the dumps even before the financial meltdown began for the rest of the country. The truck rental business has been booming, moving people out of this state by the multiple thousands.
On a brighter note, I thought it would be fun to show you some these archived photos from an auto show in our little town last year. Being that our state is so hooked, literally, on cars, we have lots and lots and lots of car shows all summer long. The classic car is celebrated and loved, awarded, ooohed and aaaahed over and envied and talked about endlessly. As kids, we'd occupy ourselves on long car trips naming what make of car just went by. (I was pretty good at it then, but I'm not sure I know what all of these cars are, but will label only the ones that I'm sure of.)
Here are some bright beauties--and all of them from a Michigan-based car company! These will remind you that summer IS coming and within six months we'll be enjoying bright sunshine, green grass, and car shows!
We plan to enter our own '67 Mustang in some car shows this summer, have joined our area Mustang Club and can't wait to get at least a patch or two or maybe even a trophy. Car people are some of the nicest people you've ever met and some of the huge car shows around our state are some of the best in the whole world. They pull up, tailgate and visit and have a good old time!
Are car shows a big thing where you live? Do you have a classic you like to show? Do any of these cars bring back memories for you? Let me know!
Let the drooling begin.....
You can see I'm checking this old Mustang out...and drooling.
We live in Michigan, the birthplace and capitol of the automobile industry. The automobile is very celebrated here. I grew up in a family that exclusively favored Fords, and my dad worked for about 39 years (I think) for Buick. In our household, Buicks and Chevrolets have been the rule, with a couple exceptions. And now that we own a classic, a Ford is in the mix.
Sadly, of late, there's been a lot of bad news, bad press and lots of uneasiness about what is, or was the "Big Three"...and for all of our sakes, I do hope that somehow they all survive.
As far as the bridge loan they got, well, I wish them well and hope it works, and perhaps it will work with some give and take on both sides of the table. My dad and uncles worked in the "shop" --as they called it, for their whole lives--I have cousins that still do. We are all in some way dependent upon the auto industry and if it's gone, we're done. We cannot make it in this state without GM, Ford and Chrysler. Things are bad enough already. We're to nearly 11% unemployment now, our own special recession began more than six years ago so we were in the dumps even before the financial meltdown began for the rest of the country. The truck rental business has been booming, moving people out of this state by the multiple thousands.
On a brighter note, I thought it would be fun to show you some these archived photos from an auto show in our little town last year. Being that our state is so hooked, literally, on cars, we have lots and lots and lots of car shows all summer long. The classic car is celebrated and loved, awarded, ooohed and aaaahed over and envied and talked about endlessly. As kids, we'd occupy ourselves on long car trips naming what make of car just went by. (I was pretty good at it then, but I'm not sure I know what all of these cars are, but will label only the ones that I'm sure of.)
Here are some bright beauties--and all of them from a Michigan-based car company! These will remind you that summer IS coming and within six months we'll be enjoying bright sunshine, green grass, and car shows!
We plan to enter our own '67 Mustang in some car shows this summer, have joined our area Mustang Club and can't wait to get at least a patch or two or maybe even a trophy. Car people are some of the nicest people you've ever met and some of the huge car shows around our state are some of the best in the whole world. They pull up, tailgate and visit and have a good old time!
Are car shows a big thing where you live? Do you have a classic you like to show? Do any of these cars bring back memories for you? Let me know!
Let the drooling begin.....
The cars gather at one of the last two original A & W Coney Islands in the country! This guy must have arrived early to get a premium parking spot under the awning. A Chevelle Super Sport
You can see I'm checking this old Mustang out...and drooling. 
56 or 57 Chevy
A Corvette
An old Model T
I'm thinking it's a '66
A Buick Special?
Pontiac TransAm
Chevy 
A Big Fat Olds
A Beautiful Buick
A beautiful Buick convertible, I think it's an Electra
Chevy 
Corvette
Buick
Ford BroncoExtra Gorgeous
Belongs to my sister-in-law's sister
Big daddy caddy
Buick
Chevy
Chevy
Chevy Chevelle
Cars ARE Michigan! These photos show how beautiful and colorful and unique American-made classics are.
Big daddy caddy Buick
Chevy
Chevy
Chevy Chevelle
Cars ARE Michigan! These photos show how beautiful and colorful and unique American-made classics are.Smoky Mountains Part 3-Cades Cove
If you ever go to the Smoky Mountain National Park, you will not be sorry. You could spend days and days there and not see all there is to see. It's a gorgeous place and a lot of wilderness, gentle and sometimes stark beauty, and wild animals to look at up close and personal. The place makes you feel very small and insignificant.
If you go into the park for a whole day of driving, pack your cooler and make sure you have a good full tank of gas. You won't find a lot of places to fuel up on gas or food, and when you do find one they're really busy and choices are very limited. But do be relaxed and ready to enjoy nature at its best, you will love it! Be prepared with extra camera batteries and maybe even an extra memory card for your digital because you won't be able to stop taking pictures!
Here are a few pictures we took in the Cades Cove section of the National Park, a four hour trip. There are just breathtaking views and turnoffs to stop at and take your photos or eat at a picnic table. There are twisting and beautiful wild rivers winding through the rock, crystal clear and cold. Next time we go, we'd like to check in to a rafting excursion. We can't wait to get back and take in more of the beauty this place has to offer!
Elevations run from 800 ft. to 6643 ft. at Clingman's dome, the highest point in the park, (which I will soon post about). Enjoy the beauty and remember that if you go, there are plenty of tourist traps and other attractions surrounding the area, but the starring attraction is the national park. You can buy fudge anywhere, but you can't see stuff like this in your own backyard: black bears, civil war cabins and gravestones, primitive churches and vistas that take your breath away!
July 2006
The guys just had to walk some rocks...the river or creek was crystal clear and cold.
Old pieces of the settlement that was here before it was seized via eminent domain for the National Park.
A beautiful old barn.
A gorgeous meadow with mountains in the distance. It's a great place to just pull off the trail to sit and soak in all of the beauty! Deer are grazing in the distance and not far from here we spotted a black bear.
A whitetail stops to take note of me taking his picture.
Several black bears were near the trail, and while we were stopped on the trail to take photos, one familyin the line of vehicles opened their van doors and ALL of their children (about six of them-- even the young ones!) were allowed to get out and run toward the bear (!) shouting and pointing and taking pictures. I don't know why any parent would allow that to happen, as we were way into the park and no help would be able to get there very fast if someone were to get hurt. I couldn't believe my eyes! This photo was taken with a zoom, but I believe the group of kids were no more than thirty feet from this guy!
A black bear grazing in a meadow. We caught sight of him as we rounded a curve on a distant hillside meadow. I used my zoom and this is as good as I could get.
We stopped here at this primitive Baptist church and looked around and went inside and saw a lot of very interesting gravestones in the cemetery. Below is one of a Civil War soldier. This was a very pleasant place to be, very peaceful.
Cades Cove, though geographically isolated, is today a very popular tourist destination in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. A one-way, eleven mile
If you go into the park for a whole day of driving, pack your cooler and make sure you have a good full tank of gas. You won't find a lot of places to fuel up on gas or food, and when you do find one they're really busy and choices are very limited. But do be relaxed and ready to enjoy nature at its best, you will love it! Be prepared with extra camera batteries and maybe even an extra memory card for your digital because you won't be able to stop taking pictures!
Here are a few pictures we took in the Cades Cove section of the National Park, a four hour trip. There are just breathtaking views and turnoffs to stop at and take your photos or eat at a picnic table. There are twisting and beautiful wild rivers winding through the rock, crystal clear and cold. Next time we go, we'd like to check in to a rafting excursion. We can't wait to get back and take in more of the beauty this place has to offer!
Elevations run from 800 ft. to 6643 ft. at Clingman's dome, the highest point in the park, (which I will soon post about). Enjoy the beauty and remember that if you go, there are plenty of tourist traps and other attractions surrounding the area, but the starring attraction is the national park. You can buy fudge anywhere, but you can't see stuff like this in your own backyard: black bears, civil war cabins and gravestones, primitive churches and vistas that take your breath away!
July 2006
The guys just had to walk some rocks...the river or creek was crystal clear and cold.
Old pieces of the settlement that was here before it was seized via eminent domain for the National Park.
A beautiful old barn.
A gorgeous meadow with mountains in the distance. It's a great place to just pull off the trail to sit and soak in all of the beauty! Deer are grazing in the distance and not far from here we spotted a black bear.
A whitetail stops to take note of me taking his picture.
Cades Cove, though geographically isolated, is today a very popular tourist destination in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. A one-way, eleven mile
(18 km) paved loop around Cades Cove draws thousands of visitors daily, and can take over four hours to traverse during tourist season.
The cove draws attention for numerous black bear sightings, although many enthusiasts make the trip for the abundant hiking access and well-preserved 19th century homesteads. On most days, multiple deer can be seen in the meadows and woods throughout the cove. Popular hiking trails within the cove include the trails to Abrams Falls and Gregory Bald, the latter named after Russell Gregory, a prominent resident of the cove. In addition to hiking and general sightseeing, horseback and bicycle riding are popular activities. --WIKIPEDIA.COM
The cove draws attention for numerous black bear sightings, although many enthusiasts make the trip for the abundant hiking access and well-preserved 19th century homesteads. On most days, multiple deer can be seen in the meadows and woods throughout the cove. Popular hiking trails within the cove include the trails to Abrams Falls and Gregory Bald, the latter named after Russell Gregory, a prominent resident of the cove. In addition to hiking and general sightseeing, horseback and bicycle riding are popular activities. --WIKIPEDIA.COM
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Sweet and Simple!
I picked up this little white milk glass pedestal bowl from Salvation Army a few weeks ago for ninety cents. After a good scrubbing, it's now standing on the buffet as a perfect little holder for these tiny conversation hearts. (WHY do I like these? I don't know, and I even have to read what they say every time...!)
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I found a sweet lil' scrap of ribbon to thread it through the ruffled edges. I'm sure it will be changed out to match some bright jelly beans at Easter time. Sometimes it's just the simple things make you smile the most!
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Which reminds me, I need to go to Salvation Army again!
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U R sweet!
Go Girl!
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