Happy Birthday Ted

Guess what we had for supper. We had several little chores to take care of this afternoon which included going to Walmart. While there we  picked up a baked chicken. We have either 3 or 4 meals from one of these that end up with Chicken Noodle soup. Pretty good eating for old folks. We  met Pat down there in the grocery area. She got out the Cousins Bimonthly Newsletter earlier in the day. We all appreciate her collecting information from each of us, assembling it, and passing it on to all of us. One of the highlights of the letter was the mention of today being Cousin Ted's 92 Birthday. We certainly wish him a Happy Birthday and many more. Ted is the oldest of the remaining cousins and has done very well after humble beginnings, like we all shared. He came home from WWII, went to College, and on to get a Law Degree. He has been a successful lawyer for 60 years and still enjoys performing wedding ceremonies. In addition, he shot a hole-in-one when he was 90 years old. He and Muffy are a great pair. Congratulations.

Sadie and Being Optimistic.

I didn't get to see Sadie today but did talk to her over the phone. She didn't say a whole lot but knew who she was listening to and said "Granddad" and then told me "Bye". Elaine was able to get out to spend some time with her when her Bible Study was cancelled because of the leader being "under the weather". I picked up some guidance on my IPad at the Bank after coffee.  Our high temperature for the day was during the night with it getting colder as the day went on. We did Home Delivered Meals this morning and it was pretty chilly even by then. Seeing some of the pictures from Atlanta make us feel pretty lucky so far. We may be in line for a 2-3 inch snowfall during the next couple days. I got the bird feeder filled to help our feathered friends get through any bad weather. One of our Collard Dove's was around yesterday but the mate was not along. They usually are together but tragedy may have befallen one of them or they may have had a parting of the ways. I am not aware of their commitments but the one that was here seemed to be checking where they have nested and elsewhere around the back yard. My guess is with the feeder filled it will be back and probably have a mate along. At least I hope so. 

Life size Moose

The weekly Seward Independent newspaper out today confirmed what has been rumored for the past  couple weeks. The life-size Moose that has been seen around town was "built" here in town for Canada, and it, along with a mate, is slated to go to Russia for the winter Olympics. The family who are producing these "items" have moved to Seward recently. They have been in business for about 10 years after having worked earlier for a Fiberglass company. I understand there are Deer, Buffalo, and other similar animals in a storage area here in town. One never knows what may come from small "start-up" businesses.  Current communication technology wouldn't be what it is today without the creative young minds pursuing an idea and their dreams. We even have a newly established organization here in town to help fund such business plans before they could qualify for bank loans. Sometimes people can take advantage of opportunities, and other times, they have to make their own opportunity. I applaud the innovators including those that can make a Moose. 

State of the Union

The President's State of the Union has been a significant part of my life. Especially since our days in Washington when we in USDA were invited to suggest appropriate things that the President's speechwriter may consider. For years I took notes of the speech and didn't miss a word of the President's message. Tonight was an exception. We had already had a few clues on what President Obama might say but I had  the TV on and my camera ready. My picture was taken at 8:13 just as the President was giving the first sentence of his message. Our telephone rang just as I pushed the shutter, and it was son Tim calling. We hadn't talked for a couple weeks and had many things to discuss. In addition to family matters, we discussed Tim's High School basketball game announcing:  Duke, Creighton, Nebraska and NCAA basketball in general,  Social Security hearings, and even some mundane housekeeping chores. By the time we finished our conversation, I heard the President announce the name of the wounded solider, saw the ovation, and the speech was over. While this was a change, it was the most "enjoyable" State of the Union Message that I have never heard. I wouldn't have wanted it any other way. Carolyn stopped by this afternoon, Jon called on his way home from the train station, and then Tim's call. Three out of four is pretty good in one day. When you get to be our age, a phone call from one of our "kids" out trumps a Presidents speech every time. (I do think the response was impressive).

Welcome Home in 1980

This was in the summer of 1980. We had just returned to Nebraska after 18 years in Washington, D.C. The Florence & Tony family has grown considerably since then. Elaine and I are the "young couple" seated at the left side of the picture. Jerry, Sondra and family were there from WI; Janice and Larry from California but the rest from the local area. It was great to have this many family members welcome us home. The following picture also helped make us feel like moving back was all worthwhile when Mother and Dad so enjoyed spending time and helping out at the farm. Dad liked using the Ford tractor for a variety of tasks.  Carolyn and Julie also added to the activities. Julie was actually driving the Ford tractor by herself when she was 9 years old. 

Some Days are Better than Other

We went to a "Travelogue" of Amsterdam and Germany this afternoon in the Lower Level Conference room of the Seward Memorial Library. The young lady who made the presentation had been on a Concordia University Art study tour. While they visited many Galleries, they also toured other points of interest such as these remains of an old Concentration Camp. Having been to Germany and Amsterdam, we were a bit disappointed in the presentation but it's understandable since our iterary was not focused on Art. We also had an unusual Church service this morning. It seems that moisture has accumulated over the years under the alter as the result of water pipes that provided heating and cooling. This has created mold and a health hazard. Therefore, we had Church in Fellowship hall. Not only that, but the cold front and wind came through during the time we were in the Library and by now the temperatures have dropped some 20 degrees with 35mph winds. Our supper didn't turn out too good either but we did each have a couple good pieces of candy out of our Whitman's Sampler. Tiger Woods didn't have a very good day yesterday either. 

Documenting Change

This is a Post Card picture of the Seward, NE County Court House. It was probably taken about 25 years ago. I haven't checked the size of the tree but know that the flag pole on the dome was removed several years ago because of the pressure it was putting on the upper part of the dome. The landscape planting at the base of the building has since been replaced but I helped plant the Yew bushes back in the mid '50's that are shown. Our SCS office was on the 1st floor directly behind the monument. My desk was located so that I was able to look out of the lower-left window. I sang in a Church quartet with the County Judge who's office included the stairway to the dome. In the spring of 1952 he took me along with my 35mm camera up to the very top of the dome. I shot a roll of film from the little windows up there that don't show on this picture. These pictures  did a good job of "documenting" the businesses around the square at that time. In April 2003, my son-in-law and I went back up again and shot "follow-up" pictures. Changes had been made in the access; we had to pull ourselves up because of the bracing that had been installed. Screens had been put on the little windows to keep the pigeons out of the dome but we were able to open the screens and get some good shots. The comparison of the two sets of pictures is interesting. I know there are significant changes that have taken place around "the square"  in the past 11 years that would be interesting to document but that is not the only place where change has occurred, (Some of the 2003 pictures can be seen in my April 4, 2011 blog)