Just a head's up... the profile picture for today represents our trip to Serendipity! [Count the ice cream scoops] We leave for New York City in TWELVE DAYS!!!!
Saturday, March 31, 2012
Follow-Up
I asked, "Why did ya'll go to Tennessee. Why the Grand Ole Opry?"
I think Aunt Faye's reply speaks volumes about Mother and her sisters:
"Because it was my favorite program, and I wanted to go soooo bad your mother took me!
My favorite singer was on it. I liked so well, Ernest Tubb. He sang my favorite song the first one at eight o'clock. The only one I remember, Tomorrow Never Comes.
We had the best seats in the house. Someone was in them when we got there. We had to get an usher to ask them to move.
We left the show early so we could visit the record shop. Earnest Tubb read our names over the air, and James heard him as he was driving to pick us up.
Other places we went were Florida and Kentucky."
Aunt Faye has written accounts of all their vacations. Unfortunately, I didn't have time to read them all. I urge everyone to stop by for some interesting reading. I wish I could print them for the plane ride!
Later, Mother reminded me she carried them back when Bill and I lived in Nashville. When I said I didn't really remember, she said, "Oh, I do. I took the wrong road." Ahhhh, another one of Mother's shortcuts!
Friday, March 30, 2012
First Vacations
As we've been reminiscing about previous trips with Mother, it occurred to me that we don't know very much about Mother's first vacations. I've seen pictures and hopefully can post some soon. I'm excited about taking a trip with my sisters and asked Aunt Allyne to write a few words about early trips with her sisters.
She writes:
I'm excited about the trip. I know you all are going to have a great time...I think Norma's first vacation was when Aunt Nellie and Uncle Walter lived in Pittsburg, and they came for her. She spent a week with them. I think she was barely four. I guess it was the next Christmas she got a doll. She put one of the dresses she had packed for that trip on the doll, and it wore the dress a long time.
The next trip was the trip to Nashville, Tennessee to the Grand Ol' Opry. This was after she finished high school and a year at Kilgore Junior College. James got her a job working for Jimmy Shepherd Abstract office which was in the county clerk's office. She first bought the dark green 1939 Dodge I had bought when I worked at the Telephone Office. Then, she traded it in on a new Plymouth, also dark green, and we all began saving money to go to the Grand Ol' Opry in Norma's new car!
Maeva was fifteen months old when we made this trip. We bought a large ice chest to keep food in. Mama made a big cake. We would get food at a grocery store and stop at road side parks to eat. Once, it was raining at lunch time, and we parked under a bridge they were building.
When we got to the Mississippi river, they were building a new bridge and the only way across was by barge. The last barge of the day had just left. We had to take a ninety mile detour to the nearest bridge. The road was very crooked so we were late to our reserved motel.
They had rented our $8.50 rooms so we had to find others. Cheapest we could find was $16.50. We hadn't included in our plans. We had reserved rooms for every night and budgeted our food and gas, Opry ticket et cetera to the penny, and this meant making a new budget. We had little overhead but what if something else happened we hadn't included in our plans? Lots of fun things and such a great trip!
The trip when Ava got on Lynn's husband was to South Dakota. That was the one when James asked the Motel Clerk if she had a "swimming hole". Jack laughed so many times about how funny that girl looked! The motel where we stayed the night before didn't have a swimming pool, and that was Maeva and Ava's main conversation all that day. James was going to be sure they had a swimming pool!
I've spent many hours through the years thinking about how great those trips were, and I just hope and pray the New York trip will be just as much fun.
Much love,
Aunt Allyne
She writes:
I'm excited about the trip. I know you all are going to have a great time...I think Norma's first vacation was when Aunt Nellie and Uncle Walter lived in Pittsburg, and they came for her. She spent a week with them. I think she was barely four. I guess it was the next Christmas she got a doll. She put one of the dresses she had packed for that trip on the doll, and it wore the dress a long time.
The next trip was the trip to Nashville, Tennessee to the Grand Ol' Opry. This was after she finished high school and a year at Kilgore Junior College. James got her a job working for Jimmy Shepherd Abstract office which was in the county clerk's office. She first bought the dark green 1939 Dodge I had bought when I worked at the Telephone Office. Then, she traded it in on a new Plymouth, also dark green, and we all began saving money to go to the Grand Ol' Opry in Norma's new car!
Maeva was fifteen months old when we made this trip. We bought a large ice chest to keep food in. Mama made a big cake. We would get food at a grocery store and stop at road side parks to eat. Once, it was raining at lunch time, and we parked under a bridge they were building.
When we got to the Mississippi river, they were building a new bridge and the only way across was by barge. The last barge of the day had just left. We had to take a ninety mile detour to the nearest bridge. The road was very crooked so we were late to our reserved motel.
They had rented our $8.50 rooms so we had to find others. Cheapest we could find was $16.50. We hadn't included in our plans. We had reserved rooms for every night and budgeted our food and gas, Opry ticket et cetera to the penny, and this meant making a new budget. We had little overhead but what if something else happened we hadn't included in our plans? Lots of fun things and such a great trip!
The trip when Ava got on Lynn's husband was to South Dakota. That was the one when James asked the Motel Clerk if she had a "swimming hole". Jack laughed so many times about how funny that girl looked! The motel where we stayed the night before didn't have a swimming pool, and that was Maeva and Ava's main conversation all that day. James was going to be sure they had a swimming pool!
I've spent many hours through the years thinking about how great those trips were, and I just hope and pray the New York trip will be just as much fun.
Much love,
Aunt Allyne
Thursday, March 29, 2012
Statue of Liberty Outfit
So, I have been in the process of deciding what on earth I am going to wear in New York City! I don't know if any of you have used Polyvore.com before, but it is so fun and SO addicting!!! I have put together this outfit. These are actually items I have already (well, not exact pieces, just very similar) and plan to wear this to the Statue of Liberty. The bracelet and earrings I do not have, I just needed pieces to fill in the open spots! I am open to thoughts or suggestions on the outfit. Meredith, Mallory and Macy....I want to see your outfits!
Where the Green Grass Grows All Around
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Wednesday, March 28, 2012
Luggage
No wheels on my luggage from seventy-four,
so I might need some help thru the security door!
Who will volunteer to help me maneuver
Leave them at home – why no, never!
My little piggy wants to go too
But he’s afraid we’ll leave him at the zoo…
So I win the prize for the brightest bags
and perhaps the ugliest pig tags
To join the celebration – we just can’t wait
To the plane, the subway, the taxi we won’t be late!
Tuesday, March 27, 2012
Top of the Rock
Mother asked me the other day, “Just what is this Rock?” Well, I decided to do some research on the man it was named after…John D. Rockefeller
He was born in Richmond, New York on July 8th, 1939 – just 144 years before KK. Later he moved to Cleveland, Ohio. He grew up in a modest family home. His mother was very religious and disciplined and taught her children to work, to save, and to give to charities. Mr. Rockefeller started his own business before he was 20 years old and later with his brother and others, began the Standard Oil Company. He was a devoted Northern Baptist and Rockefeller adhered to a strict abstinence of tobacco and alcohol throughout his life. He was the first American billionaire and was considered by some to be the wealthiest man ever. According to Forbes, he was worth 318.3 billion.
From the “Top of the Rock”
Mallory's Piggy Bank
I am finally posting my piggy bank pictures that Aunt Ava, Kristin, and Meredith have been begging for me to post for about a week now. So here they are.
Bags I Love
I saw luggage like this today at Pen and Company. I have one piece of Jon Hart luggage. It's about eight years old. I like it for its durability.
Finally, Vera Bradley. So pretty and feminine. Perfect for a girl's getaway to New York City!
Ok, KK. You're next. Show off your new bag.
Secret Magazine Exchange
To pass time on the airplane, we will all need a new magazine to keep us occupied! So, to add a little spice, Delaine came up with the idea to draw names (like for Aunt Allyne's Christmas). Depending on whose name you draw, you would select a magazine that fits her (or Jackson's) particular interests. Next week we will all exchange our gifts at Mamaw's, since Mallory and I will be home for Easter.
Since physically drawing names is quite impractical via internet, we are going to switch things up a bit! Comment on this blog with your name and the number of your choice (between 1-9). Please don't repeat numbers! First comment, first serve! After you select a number, I will email/text/phone you with your assigned name (because each number represents a name)! If you have any questions- or if I didn't explain this well enough- you can also post those in the comment box!
Oh, because deadlines are our friends, you have until Wednesday, March 28, 2012 11:59pm to comment with a number before you are randomly assigned a name.
Monday, March 26, 2012
Memorable Museums
I [Meredith] wanted to create a post so that everyone could chime in without having to create an entire post alone (because we all know how much Macy hates doing anything alone :D)... So let's all pitch in snapshot thoughts about other museums we have visited! Comment on this post, or, if you want more space, create a new one!!
Since I am a Fightin' Texas Aggie I'll share about the George Bush Presidential Library & Museum on the Texas A&M Campus. I have visited the museum a couple of times; the first was with my family, and the second with the Harmony FFA. With my family I remember the virtual parachute trip and the puzzle Macy bought that we put together over and over and over. We also took pictures outside the museum by the statue of horses. Otherwise I don't remember a whole lot about the trip; however, the ag trip was just last year. We were killing time while the other teams where participating in their state contest so we had plenty of time to look around.
The feature exhibit at that time was The Heart Truth Red Dress Collection and First Ladies Red Dress Collection. There were beautiful red dresses of all types that had been worn by past first ladies and other famous ladies.
We also had fun testing out the Oval Office and President Bush's Laurel Office at Camp David.
Finally, we spent a lot of time in the really comfortable chairs in the Situation Room, where really important decisions are made at the White House.
Overall, I really enjoyed my trip to the George Bush Library and Museum and can't wait to visit the Metropolitan Museum and American Museum of Natural History in N.Y.C.!
Now it's your turn! Comment on this blog and tell about a memorable museum visit you have had!
Metropolitan Museum of Art
Originally opened February 1872, the current building was built in 1874.
The Midnight Ride of Paul Revere, Grant Wood, American artist
Head of Tutankhamun
Arms and Armor Gallery
Vermeer, Young Woman with a Water Pitcher
Van Gogh, Wheatfield with Cypresses
George Washington Crossing the Delaware
Leutze
Mary Cassatt: Young Mother Sewing
Gallery765
Empire State Building, NYC
Empire State Building…Looking up
The Empire State Building is built on land that was once bought for $ 2, 600 by John Thompson for a farm. Later the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel was built on a part of this land and eventually sold for an estimated 20 million in 1928.The actual building began on March 17, 1930. With a labor force of 3000 men the framework rose 4 1/2 stories per week. On May 1, 1931 President Hoover pressed a switch in Washington D.C. and turned on the lights, the building was officially opened.
The ESB has its own zip code, 10118.
102 floors
In 1950 a new antenna made the building 217 feet higher, for a total height of 1,467 feet.
Looking downSome of the tallest buildings members of the Lyle Family have been to…
CN Tower, 1,815 ft., 5th tallest in the world; Toronto, Canada
Willis Tower, 1,730 ft. , formerly Sears Tower in Chicago, 1974 – 1998 tallest in the world. 7th tallest, presently.
World Trade Center, 1,727 ft, tallest building in the world, 1972-1974, tallest building ever destroyed.
John Hancock Building, 1,500 ft.,World's tallest mixed-use building 1969–2008
Empire State Building, 1,474 ft, tallest freestanding structure 1931 – 1967; Tallest skyscraper 1931-1973; First skyscraper with 100+ floors, presently 17th tallest.
KK wins the prize, I think - for being up in all of them!
Why are the two heights of the Empire State Building different? I don't know - still researching...
Friday, March 23, 2012
The Statue
Did you know…
That the statue, representing liberty, was a gift from the people of France to the people of the United States for its centennial?
That the statue arrived from Paris, France in 1885 and was stored until the pedestal could be completed in 1886?
That the correct name of the Statue of Liberty is Liberty Enlightening the World ?
The seven rays of her crown show that Liberty can enlighten the seven continents and the seven seas ?
The island that Liberty Enlightening the World stands upon was at one time Fort Wood. The 11 point star fort aided in the protection of the New York Harbor?
Now you know! Check out the nps page to learn more fascinating facts.
www.nps.gov/stli/index.htm
Ava
An Apple a Day Kept the Fighting Away!
Growing up, Michael, Jeffrey, and I had the privilege of traveling with Maw-maw, Grandaddy, and Delaine many summers. One summer, I remember going to Carlsbad Caverns. Maw-maw took a picture at every corner we turned as we entered the cave! Maw-maw, are you bringing your camera? I'm sure we will have many picture taking opportunities! :)
Another trip, I remember driving through the Badlands. We were a little worried we might run out of gas while we were out in the middle of nowhere and as we continued to see abandoned cars on the side of the road, we became even more worried. I believe in New York, we should not have to be concerned about being out in the middle of nowhere!
Last, but CERTAINLY not least was the time we crossed the Rio Grande in a row boat. I was scared to death while riding in the boat, but I guess if it had tipped over the men pushing us would have been able to save me! Thankfully, I am no longer scared of boats. This is good since we will be riding the ferry to the Statue of Liberty. I believe that water might be a bit deeper than where we were on the Rio Grande.
During all of these trips, Maw-maw encouraged us to eat an apple each day. This was supposed to keep us from fighting (I'm not sure of how well that helped, JJ and MM were kind of mean). Now that we are going to the Big Apple, we might need to bring a suitcase full of apples. Especially since there are 8 women!
My Little Piggy
This little piggy went to the market.
This little piggy stayed home.
This little piggy ate roast beef.
This little piggy had none.
And this little piggy went "wee, wee, wee" all the way home....
BUT.....
My little piggy had fun days
And ate Serendipity Sundaes.
My little piggy saw a Statue with a crown
And ate a big hot dog downtown!
The Empire State Building sure was tall.
Glad my little piggy did not fall!
My little piggy went to Tiffany's
Whew, that store costs pretty pennies!
My little piggy went to Broadway.
Then to Maw-maw sang "Happy Birthday"
While your little piggies cried, "Oh, what a pity."
My little piggy went to New York City!
-KK
This little piggy stayed home.
This little piggy ate roast beef.
This little piggy had none.
And this little piggy went "wee, wee, wee" all the way home....
BUT.....
My little piggy had fun days
And ate Serendipity Sundaes.
My little piggy saw a Statue with a crown
And ate a big hot dog downtown!
The Empire State Building sure was tall.
Glad my little piggy did not fall!
My little piggy went to Tiffany's
Whew, that store costs pretty pennies!
My little piggy went to Broadway.
Then to Maw-maw sang "Happy Birthday"
While your little piggies cried, "Oh, what a pity."
My little piggy went to New York City!
-KK
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