The Tonys

My father's name was Anton, his mothers name was Antonia and while in High School, I “inherited” the nickname Tony. The nickname has served me well and I seemed to have more friends when they could call me Tony rather than my given name of “Verlon”. With respect to my father, this picture shows a grandson, two great grandsons and me all answering to the name of Tony. We had a great time at this family reunion in Tomah, Wisconsin. 

Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia

Many people who lived in the Northern Virginia area and worked in Washington, D.C., some years ago, had cabins out in the Blue Ridge Mountains where they would spend the weekend. Our neighbors, the Johnson's had such a place that included this little barn. We enjoyed our visit with them at their cabin but other than taking this picture, didn't fully appreciate the little barn at the time. Was the ladder the only way to get to the “haymow”. Had I walked through the barn door, I wonder what I would have found. More interestingly, had I just listened, I wonder what I may have heard. I wonder....

Washington Cathedral Carillon

We had the priveledge of visiting the Washington Cathedral during the time the bells for the carillon were being installed. The carillon consists of 53 bells which were cast in Lounghborough, England. They were installed during the early 1960's and dedicated on September 22, 1963. The smallest bell of the carillon weighs 17 pounds. The largest weighs 24,000 pounds, or 12 tons, and measures eight feet, eight inches in diameter. The carillon is played via a keyboard and pedals, situated high in the Cathedral’s central tower (150 feet above the nave floor) and directly amid the bells. The keyboard controls a mechanical tracker system (similar to a tracker organ) that uses transmission wires to move the clappers. The bells remain stationary while a metal clapper strikes the inside of the casting.

Czech Mates

Who do you suppose was enjoying this session the most?? And, what tune do you think they may have been playing??

Going Green berfore it's Time

When we had 3 kids in college at the same time without any student loans, sometimes they had to go on horseback.

Sons of the South

It's not too difficult to imagine that this young man might grow-up and some day impersonate Col. Silas Burke. Sitting at the feet of these prominate southerners, he looks like he's about to fly from their lofty perch. Neat picture.

Newcomers to the Nations Capitol

This might have been on George Washington's birthday back in the days when it was a National Holiday. It appears that not much was going on at the Nations capitol but the lawns were "greening up". We could use some of that today.