Don't Sit Under the Apple Tree

With anyone else but me...especially if it is a "Tull Apple Tree". 

Yes, there is a Tull Apple Tree and it is named after one of our ancestors. Best of all, we were given a sprout from our cousin's yard.  We over -wintered it in our garage for two winters and thought it was a 'goner'. We were surprised to see it survived and is thriving. It has been transferred to a garden in Benton, Arkansas, so it can stay in the family.  

The Evolution of our Tull Apple Tree

In its new 'temporary' home on the
patio...until it can be transplanted
to the garden in the Fall.

You may find more details by clicking on this link: "Tull Apple".

Briefly: Supposedly coming from France, the Tull Apple originated before 1868 on the farm of Abram Tull in Grant County, Arkansas.  It is grown from root sprouts and is well adapted to Southern growing conditions. We heard on the grapevine that one sprout may have been given to P. Allen Smith to be grown in his Heritage Apple Orchard at Moss Mountain Farm. (psst...only a rumor. I don't see it in the list on his web site!)

Our Adventure in the Land of 'AR'

ANTIQUES ROADSHOW
2015 Summer Tour
LITTLE ROCK, ARKANSAS
JULY 25, 2015

We got two
one for me
one for Chuck

It all began when a friend gave me a link to submit my name of the lottery for Little Rock 'Antiques Roadshow' tickets.  There were only (I repeat, only) 5,000 tickets available.  How could I resist.  I had tried once when they came to Little Rock several years ago, but alas, no cigar. I could only register once and they would let me know on April 28 if I had my tickets.  Yea!  

Now it was time to decide what to take. We mulled over ideas. We approached it as a 'need to know about' more than 'is this going to make us rich'? basis. Chuck decided to take two guns, a shot gun and a 22 that belonged to his Dad...yes, that is what is in the 'black' bag.  I had to hold them while he took the picture.

I knew all along that I would take an original pen and ink drawing by Blue Eagle.  It was given to my Mom in 1933 as a Christmas present from the head librarian where she worked.  I had researched it and found some information about Acee Blue Eagle, but wasn't sure if this was the same Blue Eagle.  The other I item I decided to take was a stacked cloisonne pill box that I acquired somewhere in my 'flea market' days. It had Chinese markings, but I wanted to know more about it. My items are in the small blue bag on my arm.

With the 'Black' Bag

The 'BIG' Day arrived. We left Hot Springs Village about 9:00 am and arrived a the Little Rock Convention Center at 10:30am.  From then on , it was an exercise in standing in one line after another. We wove in and out...reminded us a lot of Disney World.  We stood in line to show our tickets.  Then, we stood in line to get the category assignment for our items.  Then, when we finally found the line for our category, we stood in line some more.  

Chuck and I split up after waiting the 'Arms and Militia' (it was the shortest line) for several minutes only to have the appraiser leave to go film a segment for the show.  He got to go to another appraiser while he was waiting for this one to come back. (They did give him the right to break ahead of the line.)

My longest line was the 'Tribal Arts' line.  I waited maybe about 30 to 45 minutes before I saw my Appraiser, Bruce M. Shackleford, San Antonio, Texas.  Yes, it was a drawing by Acee Blue Eagle and was worth several hundred dollars. By the time I had my appraisal of my 'Blue Eagle' drawing the 'Asian Arts' (for the pill box) had shrunk considerably.  

I waited only about 10 or 15 minutes, to see my Appraiser, Lark E. Mason.  My pill box was Chinese and made around 1920.  He thought is was well done and 'cute', his word, and worth $50.

I have seen both appraisers on TV segments of the Roadshow.  Perhaps, you might recognize them.*  

About this time Chuck showed up.  He was 'done'...stick a fork in him.  He had lugged those guns around for three hours. It was not a pretty picture.  Then, we were both 'done'! All in all we spent about three hours at the Convention Center.  It seemed like forever, but the Adventure was worth it. Now we can hardly wait until we can see the 'Little Rock' event on TV next Fall and can say "We Were There"!

*(Don't tell anyone, but I wasn't supposed to take pictures while in the 'set' area. (Guess who didn't read any signs?:)  I did ask their permission. I wasn't caught until after Lark Mason, but by that time we were on our way out.) 

Photo Album:

An Afternoon with Muriel Anderson and Others

Sunday afternoon Chuck and I hosted a private concert in Hot Springs Village featuring Muriel Anderson.  She was our guest about this same time last year.  We have been following her since we first heard her at the Acoustic Cafe at the Second Presbyterian Church in Little Rock. 

She performs her original compositions and many familiar songs on the classical style guitar and the harp guitar.  Muriel was the first woman to win the National Finger-style Guitar Championship. She is one of the world’s foremost finger-style guitarists and harp-guitarists. She plays bluegrass, classical, and international music. She has recorded with many guitar legends including Chet Atkins. She has also performed with Victor Wooten, Les Paul, Tommy Emmanuel, and many others including Nashville Chamber Orchestra.

You can find out all about her at:  http://murielanderson.com/

Album: Nightlight-Daylight

You can buy her newest double CD “Nightlight-Daylight”  that placed first in 11 national award categories by clicking on the link below the album cover.  And...You can also download the free track of  "What the World Needs Now Is Love" at this link:                         www.murielanderson.com/nightlight

On the guitar:

Her original composition on the harp guitar.
If you ever get the opportunity to see her live performance, do not pass it up! You will not be disappointed!

What The World Needs Now Is Love

What the world needs now is love, sweet love

It's the only thing that there's just too little of

What the world needs now is love, sweet love

No, not just for some but for everyone

Lord, we don't need another mountain

There are mountains and hillsides enough to climb

There are oceans and rivers enough to cross

Enough to last until the end of time

What the world needs now is love, sweet love

It's the only thing that there's just too little of

What the world needs now is love, sweet love

No, not just for some but for everyone

Lord, we don't need another meadow

There are corn fields and wheat fields enough to grow

There are sunbeams and moonbeams enough to shine

Oh, listen Lord, if You want to know

What the world needs now is love, sweet love

It's the only thing that there's just too little of

What the world needs now is love, sweet love

No, not just for some, oh but just for every, every, everyone

Lyrics by Hal David and

Music by Bert Bacharach

Artist: Dionne Warwick

Happy Mother's Day 2015-Repost

Remembering good times with my Mom:

Circa 1949

Circa: 1955

Circa: 1951

1958

1985

2000

I remember laying on a glider on our screened porch in 

1951 or '52...listening to the radio on Sunday afternoon.  

We listened to 'The Shadow"(Who knows what lurks in the minds of men, The Shadow knows...), "The FBI in War and Peace", "Inter-sanctum"(the door screeching as it opened).

I remember going to the movie on Christmas Eve and then to Walgreen's to buy decorations for the tree.  I still have them.  We were killing time while Santa and his reindeer had a chance to land on our roof and leave me some presents.  We didn't have a chimney so I guess he came in a window or a door!

I remember her bringing me breakfast from the Country Kitchen before I left for school.  I would call her at night about 8pm when the cafe was closing...asking her to bring me a Milky Way and a Coke on ice (shaved in a Styrofoam cup). We used to walk a lot around our neighborhood.

What great memories of a great time to have grown up and to have my Mom!

Memories of Mavis

May Day                      May Day                         May Day
May 1 is Mavis' birthday.  If my calculations are correct, she would have been 100 today. 

The McLean Girls
From Left to Right: Mary Lou, Betty, Mavis, Sybil (Mom)

Mavis, was my Mother's sister.  She is the #2 McLean girl. Mom was the #1/Oldest and Mavis was next.  I think Mom was closest to Mavis in age and temperament.  She was five when Mavis was born and they had each other for five years before Betty came along and another three before Mary Lou was born.  I think Mom watched out for Mavis.  I think that Mavis went where Mom went by looking at some of the early pictures.

Can you pick them out in this picture?

Mom and Mavis with
the Fitches in Kansas

I digress.  These are my Memories of Mavis.  

She used to take naps on the couch in the living room on 16th Street in Muskogee.  They said she had a bad ear. When she wanted to tune out her three sisters, she would turn on her 'bad ear' side and take a nap.  I imagine that was often, because if all four sister were together, they all talked at the same time. Then, Mavis would hit the couch!

I have no idea why Patricia
had her head down.

I remember Mom and Dad taking me to Muskogee to visit Mavis, Jim, Lillian, and Patricia.  I can see the adults sitting in lawn chairs outside.  I was inside reading to Lillian and Patricia at nap time.  I was a kid. I didn't know I wasn't supposed to read to them until they fell asleep.  Mavis finally came and got me.

Grandmother, Mavis, Mom

Mavis (standing)
me, and Mary Lou

She visited me several times over the years.  Some I remember; some I don't.









I thought it was neat that she was 'Mavis Davis'.  She married Jim Davis and was always with him.  The only time I remember her being without Jim was when he was in the Pacific in WWII. 

On a visit to Little Rock

The date on the back of the picture was 1942.
I think they were married at home.

Mavis was the Librarian of the family. Mom had worked in one.  I always wanted to be one-maybe because of Mavis.  I think I knew Mavis less than any one of my other aunts. She was married to Jim Davis when I came into the picture. Betty and Mary Lou were 19 and 16.  They played with me.  Mavis was 24 and an adult in my child's eyes.   She didn't play with me; she found someone who was my age to play with me.

I will always remember that she helped Mom and Dad financially to pay from my college.  It wasn't a whole lot, but any amount was appreciated.  I didn't know until she was gone.  I wish I could have thanked her. I love Mavis Davis! Happy Birthday!

Walking from Seattle to Key West

with Alan Christoffersen.  Well, not literally, but 'literature-ly'.

I just finished reading The Walk, a series of five books by Richard Paul Evans.  I loved every step of the 3,000+ mile walk and the few breaks we had to take. Here are some of the highlights of our journey, book by book.


The Walk by Richard Paul Evans
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Alan has lost everything: his wife, his house, his business, and his cars.  He packs his back pack; leaves his faithful employee and friend in charge of what is left of his money and possessions; and starts walking  from Seattle, Washington to Key West, Florida. Well, I going on a his journey with him. Alan's story caught me and won't let go. While there are tender moments that make me tear-up, the story is not sappy. I am looking forward to seeing the places his journey takes him. I have been to all 50 States and I want to see if he travels through some of the same places I have. The first part of his ''Walk" keeps him in Washington State.  We get as far as Spokane before we have to come to a halt for five months.  Here we meet Angel who turns out to be a flesh and body one. There's a story here, but won't spoil it for you.  I have only been to Washington's coast; therefore, Central and Western Washington was new territory for me.


Miles to Go
I love this story. We are covering a lot of territory on this leg of the trip: Spokane to Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, where we meet Kailamai, another story. Then, we went to Ennis, Montana, through Yellowstone National Park, to Cody, Wyoming, and stopping at Rapid City, South Dakota and Mount Rushmore and Crazy Horse.  A lot of the places I have actually visited. It was fun to go there again with Alan. This series of books is a really fast read so I am reading them as one novel. The minute I finish one I start the next one.

The Road to Grace
I am still enjoying the journey.  We started out at Rapid City and went east, passing Wall Drug, everyone knows about Wall Drug. Then, we crossed the border or Idaho into Sioux City, Iowa, and went on south to Sidney.  We are halfway to Key West! We keep on going through St. Joseph and Hannibal, Missouri.  Then, we hit a speed bump in St. Louis and our journey is again delayed to get over it.  I am a meeting a lot new people from diverse backgrounds and lives. I will keep walking...just started 'A Step of Faith'.

A Step of Faith
We got over the speed bump and are on our way again. Starting in St. Louis and to Memphis, Tennessee, and Tupelo, Mississippi, to visit the haunts of The King.  Wow, we go through Birmingham, Alabama, and across, Southern Georgia.  Oops, we are going to have to take a break again.  It's been a long walk, but I am hanging in there and loving every step. We are in the South now-my part of the country. I am recognizing more of the places and certainly can relate to the people. Mr. Evans captures each moment like he has actually made this walk. Can hardly wait to get the last one!

Walking on Water
Finally, we are on the last miles of our journey. We started our journey again at the Northern border of Florida through the Okefenokee Swamp, Kennedy Space Center, Miami and finally landed at the Southernmost tip of Key West. I did not like this book as much as the other four books. There were too many pages devoted to the past history of Alan's family. I did not think it added too much to the story. The ending seemed anti-climatic. I am not sure how I wanted the story to end; it just seemed to fall short of the rest of the journey. It took so long to get here. Even the Epilogue was disappointing. I thought it needed more or maybe I was just sad to end the journey. 

Well worth the read. Recommend!
View all my reviews

A Note: What I thought most interesting?  The author and his daughter actually took this trip from Seattle to Key West by car to do the research for this book.  They actually met one of the characters along the way.  What a great way to research a book and bond with your daughter.

A DAY AT THE RACES

ARKANSAS DERBY DAY at Oaklawn Park Race Track 2015 and we were there.  I had never been to the Derby so I added it to my bucket list and took it off the same day. 





There were over 67,000 people filling the stands and the infield.  We walked through the tunnel to the infield. It was like one big party.  Live music in the Pavilion, families having picnics, and some on blankets or lawn chairs just people watching.  The weather was perfect.  Yes, some wore gaudy hats like they do at the Kentucky Derby.  (Some hats should have been left at home!)

The highlight of the day was the 11th Race when American Pharoah out ran the field in grand style.  He is considered one of the favorite contenders for the Triple Crown this year.  

Chuck bought a 'win' ticket on him and didn't cash it. The odds were 1:9 paying $2.20. He is saving it in case American Pharaoh wins the Triple Crown.  The plan is to buy a winning ticket from each of the 'Triple Crown' tracks.  Then he'll have all four tickets...hmmm!...maybe sell them of EBay.  Okay, we are just dreaming.  We'll keep them as souvenirs.

We had a great time and are putting it on our 'Do it again!' List.

Oaklawn Park from the Infield

Starting gate ready
 to be moved to the track.

Jockey lost his mount
right before he was to be loaded
into the gate.  Not sure what happened?