my home town

[Christmas]

my home town was a great home town sitting right on the bluffs of the Mississippi River.

The city started on the bluffs with one warehouse wedged into the high wall of dirt and rock.

Cotton was king and the city grew as the call for cotton came in loud and clear. It was doing fine and spreading to the east when long came the Civil War and stunted it's growth.

On top of the war came yellow fever. For almost 10 years the fever rose and ebbed almost killing off the population. God must have stepped in and turned the tide of disease so that once again she rose like the phoenix.

More on Memphis later......I got hung up on a movie.....a pay-per-view.....RADIO with Ed Harris and Cuba Gooding.......good famil show.....not many of those around.

LATER......

[Christmas]

many and many a year ago
in a city by the water

I lived there and found it
a mix between a town
and the rural country

It grew and grew and then
came busing and neighborhoods
declined and school systems lost
support.

Who wanted to drive to the other
side of a crowed city with crowded
traffic to go to PTA meetings or
school functions.

More families than not (if they are
a two parent family) have working
partners rather than one working
outside the home and the other
caring for the baby chickens.
Now the baby chickens are fending
for themselves living behind locked
doors til the adults get home.

My city isn't what it used to be.
The caring are becoming the minority.


Sad thing is you can only fly so far
and then you leave earth. Perhaps
that is why Mars looks so interesting.

[Joyous]

Nicely said Christmas.

Sad but true. Today we are not willing to settle for less, to wait to buy things. It shows up in the uncared for children when they become uncaring adults.

On the other hand there are a good many very nice young people. Enough of the old values remaining to keep things sane.

[saes]

My home town is London-big and exciting,but I now live in a village in rural Wales where even the animals speak Welsh.
My house is hight up on a hill overlooking the valley and the Myndd Du-(Black Mountain).
The views are spectacular,and if I want to see the sea I am only 14 miles from the nearest coastal town.

You can get an idea of the view from my website-www.saes.me.uk Have a look and sign the guest book with a little about where you live.
Saes

[Paul]

Hello all from Mole Creek Tasmania, Australia. I live in Northern Tasmania midway between the cities of Launceston and Devonport. Spirit of Tasmania I,2,and 3 sail into Devonport with people and their cars and both cities have an airport. It takes 10 hours to sail to Melbourne, and 22 hours to get to Sydney on the ship but the flights are quick and it is only 40 minutes to Melbourne and 90 minutes to Sydney. I was born and raised in South Wales in a place called Pontypridd, and later Caerphilly. Mole Creek is a most beautiful part of Australia and is mainly a farming community, and also on the main tourist routes to the spectacular caved here and the wilderness tracks of the Great Western Tiers. We have a creek running through our garden and lots of trout, a platypus or two, and some very affectionate ducks keep things interesting. I too grow most of out fruit and vegies, and we have nine chickens providing the eggs. Like you people we preserve lots of things. I hope you are all well and Winter will not get too harsh for you. I will now go and have a look at the website mentioned by Saes. Bye for now.

[Christmas]

Paul, remember I told you I really like your name.

My third child a boy is named Paul.

Your country sounds interesting and I have read a number of novels dealing with Australia.

Of course there is the old mini series THE THORN BIRDS which was very popular there. I believe it was made on location.
It dealt with a sheep farming family.

My husband loves gardening but he does it more for the pleasure of it. We both like to watch the vegetables grow and then preserving it.

We have crabapple tries and mayhaw and I make jelly with the juices.

Glad to see you here.

32 days til Christmas

[saes]

Thank you Paul for the lovely message you left in the guest book on my website, and I enjoyed your website,photos and and biog.
I see you've visited Dave's cave-nice site isn't it?

Saes

[Gypsy Rose]

Gidday all, I live in Hastings, Hawke's Bay, New Zealand, known as the fruit capital. It is a rural area with Napier city close by, Napier is known worldwide for its Art Deco buildings and the week long celebrations, twenties style.
Being summer time it is a warm Friday morn. 28c (80F) the summer has been a long time coming but hopefully its here to stay for awhile.

[Christmas]

I live 10 miles east of Memphis, Tennessee right on the Mississippi River...or kinda/sorta. The river is a few miles away but down town Memphis is on the river.

It is winter here if you can call it winter. Bet your winters really are winters. It gets pretty cold in spurts but within a few days the temp. is likely to jump up 20 degrees or so. I would say average winter temperature is low fifties or high forties.

Generally, unless there is a wind I rarely wear a coat...just a sweater or shawl. I am hot natured as well.

The perfect weather for me would be 65 to 68 degrees......humidity here makes the heat less tolerable.

Memphis is located in the southern United States. Have you ever been to the states?

[Gypsy Rose]

Hello Christmas, I live on the east coast of the North Island so our winters are not what you would call really cold, we get the odd cold day but that doesn't last. Snow falls only on the ranges some miles away.
We tend to be a dry climate and acording to the pundits it will get drier, I hope they are wrong.

[wolfprincess]

Originally posted by Christmas
I live 10 miles east of Memphis, Tennessee right on the Mississippi River...or kinda/sorta. The river is a few miles away but down town Memphis is on the river.

It is winter here if you can call it winter. Bet your winters really are winters. It gets pretty cold in spurts but within a few days the temp. is likely to jump up 20 degrees or so. I would say average winter temperature is low fifties or high forties.

Generally, unless there is a wind I rarely wear a coat...just a sweater or shawl. I am hot natured as well.

The perfect weather for me would be 65 to 68 degrees......humidity here makes the heat less tolerable.

Memphis is located in the southern United States. Have you ever been to the states?

Wow Christmas! I live 15 miles west of the Mississippi River except about a 3 hour drive north of Memphis on I55. Small world right?
wolfprincess

[Christmas]

how about that!

I live in Collierville....east of Memphis.

When you say west, i think Ark.

Are you that far west.

Hi neighbor

[flowergirl]

Hi All!

I've been away from this site for a while, and as live in the UK don't know much about the US save for New York City, Manhattan where I have friends and also Millbrook, upstate Nyk.
Here in the UK it is deepest winter, trees all bare of leaves, cold and miserable, and Christmas Day is the quietest day of the year outside. All the action takes place in the home with an enormous Christmas lunch, turkey and all the trimmings etc and then we all feel guilty and line up at the slimming clubs in the new year! Is it any different with you?

[wolfprincess]

Originally posted by Christmas
how about that!

I live in Collierville....east of Memphis.

When you say west, i think Ark.

Are you that far west.

Hi neighbor

Christmas:

Travel north on I55 to Cape Girardeau, Mo and I live a few miles west of there. Mileage not sure time takes about 3 hours.

Flowergirl:

Hello there! It has been a cold and dreary day in my area of the USA. Drizzly rain. I went to watch grandchildren open their gifts this morning then went to church. The rest of the day was lazy. Did no cooking for main dinner was yesterday with lots of left overs today. I do not put much into gifts for grown ups for the reason for the season is to honor the date set aside for Jesus' birth. Although I believe He was born in another time of the year I do honor the date that most believe to be His birthday. I do know that Jesus was born and He died to save the world from their sins. God bless.

wolfprincess

[Joyous]

Hello Flowergirl! So good to have another member from the UK.
Yes, it is winter here also. The trees stand bare against the harsh winds, the deep snow and today they shiver in cold rain mixed with snow.

I spent the afternoon with all my 5 children and their respective spouses, girlfriends, the grandchildren, my former husband and his lady friend. We had a wonderful time celebrating Christmas. First we ate until we felt like stuffed pigs. We had trays such as a vegetable tray with dip, meat and cheese tray, breads, chips, chestnuts wrapped in bacon and baked in some type sauce. I didn't partake of them as I don't eat pork. Also a dish made of mashed pinto beans topped with shredded cheese, black olives, chopped tomatoes and sour cream. That one is delicious. A variety of home baked cookies Everything delicious. Then we opened gifts beginning with the youngest. Then we played Scene It with the guys agaisnt the girls. Sadly we females did not win. The score at last count was 13 for us to about 40 for them. My second son pops the answers before my mind engages. We plan to play a different game next time-one that we are more apt to win. Along toward 7:30 snow began falling steadily and being reluctant to drive on slippery roads, I took early leave.

I hope everyone had a wonderful day. May our Father bless you and your's.

[Paul]

It seems you have all had a wonderful Christmas. We were invited out for Christmas Day and had a lovely time. We are also going to a friends house on new Years Eve, where a New Zealand-type BBQ is going to happen. All the food is prepared in a pit where a fire has only embers left. The food is wrapped and placed on the embers, and the pit filled in with earth, to be uncovered later and eaten. This has been a strange Christmas for us as only one of our seven children was present, and none of our eight grandchildren. I think we will have to travel next year to mainland Australia for a family Christmas. My wife Sue and I wish each and everyone of you a brilliant 2006.
Summer has hardly arrived here in Tasmania, but they are getting extremely hot days on the mainland.

[Christmas]

I can remember ......really, I can remember! back when I was young thinking....if I live to the year 2000 I will see the turn of the century and be 62.......will I live to be that old old age?

I made it.....and 5 years to boot.

2006........and I will be 68. I have passed all expectations!

2005 presented a good Christmas and I certainly hope all had a glorious, healthy, happy time.

I am already planning for next year.

Welcoming in 2006 is coming this week end. We won't go anywhere New Years eve but I think we will congregate at my sons on the 29th....Friday. All of us living in Tennessee live within a 20 mile radius so it won't be hard to meet. With this world what it is....fast and all that.....meeting two or three times during the years as a collective group is about as good as we get.

HAPPY NEW YEAR

[Joyous]

Paul, I cannot imagine Christmas without my children and grandchildren. Years past when my daughter lived in Florida and my eldest son some years as well, we only had three of the children, but now they all live nearby and I am happy as Lark.

You will soon begin a garden, right? I have about 5 months to wait, but I sure enjoy eating last year's garden. In fact I ate the last summer tomato this morning. I had wrapped it in newspaper and placed it in a brown paper bag in a cool place. It tasted wonderful today on toast with cheddar cheese. Ummmmm:)

Christmas, we stay home and relax for New Year's celebration. Back when I was young, I loved going out with the crowd, but not anymore. Peace and quiet are my cup of tea.

[Gypsy Rose]

It is summer here in N.Z. and thankfully the weather was much more settled this xmas than last. Went to the beach for a weeks holiday and had a quiet xmas, rather nice. altho the sun was shining the water was just a bit too cool for a swim, altho there were some younger ones trying it out.
Came home yesterday not a cloud in the sky to-day,ideal weather to get all the washing dry.

[Christmas]

Weather is strange.
Not sure it is any stranger than usual but the weather goes from cool (pleasantly), cold..really cold and warm. No temperature lasts more than a few days.

Christmas was pleasant weatherwise and the day itself was good.

Our family gathered at my daughter's house.....lots of food.....

Turkey/cornbread dressing and gravy
Ham, smoked and glazed and baked
deviled eggs
olives
sweet potato casserole
creamed potatoes
green beans
broccoli casserole
hot yeast rolls

pecan pie
lemon squares
lime squares
coconut cake
apple dumplings
brownies
macadamia cookies

iced tea
coke
coffee

I got full just typing the list.

[Gypsy Rose]

Christmas; what a great choice of food, xmas being summertime we now have gone away from the big midday meal that we all once used to have. Now its lighter, we don't get that sleepy feeling.:D

[Joyous]

Christmas! Is there any corn bread dressing left? I'll be right there. Everything you had sounds DEE licious. Southern cooks are excellent cooks. Well, not all of us:D .

If we cook the fresh turkey we don't get that sleepy feeling. It's the nitrates and nitrites they inject into the turkey that makes us feel groggy. I had some from a farm fresh turkey and it didn't have that effect on me.

[Gypsy Rose]

quote' If we cook the fresh turkey we don't get that sleepy feeling. It's the nitrates and nitrites they inject into the turkey that makes us feel groggy. I had some from a farm fresh turkey and it didn't have that effect on me, unquote;

Talking about the sleepy feeling I was really meaning that after a heavy meal in the summertime it tends to make you feel a bit sleepy. That is our experience.

[Joyous]

:o Gypsy, I misunderstood. I do know about the full feeling. I tend to overeat often-winter and summer.

[Paul]

We are now into the New Year, and I trust all is well with you folk. Summer finally arrived here in Tasmania, well behind the mainland states. Garden produce is prolific, and the raspberry season has treated us well with daily pickings and Sue making lots of jam. Onions, garlic, horseradish, peas,cucumbers,tomatoes of many varieties being harvested or getting close. Flowers have been good but lots of heavy rain and strong winds were a bit unkind to them. I am off to mainland Australia on Friday for 10 days. My son needs someone to help him finish off a contract as his worker let him down. I hope I am fit enough to be his labourer.He works on roofs, downpipes, gutters, insulation and skylights, and is presently working west of Sydney. I hope my ranting about my garden helps you through the rest of your Winter with the thought of your approaching Spring and many hours of joy preparing your garden.
Take great care, and bye for now.
PS. I just had a look at pictures of people who chat on this site. 240+ of them and I only recognized one(Hi Joyous) It certainly was once a busy site !

[Christmas]

Yes, once upon a time this was a busy site. Sites come and sites go. The first one I joined was a seniors site, the second one golden agers, then overfifties, brown jug, and a few others were I didn't stay too long.

I am 67 so I was about 60 the first time I joined the galaxy groups. I didn't want anything to do with a computer.....I am NOT TECHNICAL. My daughter who is technical teaches basic computer use for a bank and it was Holly who insisted I needed a computer. My husband who is a workaholic wanted me to have one so I would have "company" and possibly give him some relief.

I hesitantly agreed to try and now.......guess what.....my husband is just now passing the stage of being jealous of the time I spend on the computer and now sitting on ready when he is home.

Well, you can't have your cake and eat it too.

My picture is not on the computer but if you have seen pictures of Mrs. Santa Claus I come pretty close......guess my glasses are not quite as old fashioned but the rest of it is verrrrry close.

I love to hear about your garden......fruit, vegetables and flowers.
I like to put up jellies and some vegetables.

We especially like greens. Now greens here are called turnip greens, collards, mustard and tender greens along with spinach.

Bobby doesn't care for spinach although I do so we seldom have them. However, we have the others. When we can get them young and tender before they get very big I put them up.....I cook them just as if we were going to eat them and after they cool I freeze them. They are so young and tender they are buttery and so good. I cook a pan of cornbread and slice a sweet onion (vidalia).....have a glass of cold milk and that is dinner.

Have a safe trip and good luck helping your son. You are a good dad.

[Christmas]

I missed spelled a word.........."now" should have been NOT.

[Christmas]

I CAN NOT SPELL DIRT.......WHAT I SHOULD DO IS PROOF READ....BUT I AM A LAZY OLD LADY

[Paul]

Well, I am still in Mole Creek, and not on the Mainland as previously posted. A long story, but flights had to be cancelled on Thursday 12th Jan. I was due to fly to Sydney on the 13th. I might still go in February. The weather here is "confused", but we have had some Summer days, and I actually got burnt playing bowls on Saturday, in a seaside town called Bridport, NE corner of Tasmania. Hope everyone is well. Spring is on its way !

[Gypsy Rose]

Our weather has been 'unusual' too, not like the long hot summers that we are used to. Seems to have settled for a bit, long may it continue, I don't like to think about Autumn not being too far away.

[Shar]

Hi Paul, nice to see you again. Wow, you are a busy man! You have nudged me into getting my garlic planted (which I should have done 2 months ago) Our garden is "turned over" and ready to plant in about April since we are located in one of the warmer southern states. Also we have it in a new location, thanks to the city for cutting some trees at the back of our lot and building a retaining wall...so between and fence and the wall is an ideal garden spot.

Christmas is correct about this being a busy forum at one time. I think what changed that somewhat was there was a different format at one time and when this new format became the only one....people are hesitant to change and many compared this new format to the old one and didn't want to make the effort to learn. Just normal huh? Some of us had gone to other forums with the same type format so we kept chugging along learning this one so we stayed. Also, people do tend to post a while and then go on to other things or they have changes in their lives that cause them to either get off of the computer or become interested in other things I believe. Many of the pictures you see in the album are people that went to chat only. I think many sites that have chat and forums, you will find the majority are chatters and do not forum post. In fact, some chat sites that I go to, many are not even aware they have a forum area.

Always enjoy your posts about your country and the things you are doing Paul. Keeping busy keeps us younger feeling and fit..*G*

Hi Gypsy, hurrah, hurrah, our spring is near..one more month of no telling what kind of weather. Georgia is know to have surprises in February and even unexpected snow storms. We seem to skip the "windy March" that many states have. We do have some wind days but not the continuous days as many do. My bones says I am ready for warm weather!!

[Paul]

Hello all, from Tasmania ! I suddenly had a thought about where I was born.

My home town was called Cilfynydd. It was in South Wales, UK. I was born there. I don't remember an awful lot. I do remember a siren sounding late in each afternoon. Soon after the siren the main street became filled with pink-lipped coal miners going home to wash the coal dust off in a long tin bath that would be ready for them when they walked in. If the siren sounded during the day, it signalled an underground accident. My Dad worked at the Albion mine but when I was about 8 we moved to a place called Nantgarw, where a huge modern colliery had been constructed, and Dad became the operator of the cages that dropped deep into the earth. I lived in Nantgarw until going off to college in London in 1960 to train as a PE teacher. We came to Australia in 1972 with three very young boys. and twins on the way. These were followed by two more making a total of six boys and finally a daughter.

We live now in Mole Creek, Tasmania, and it reminds me very much of Wales. Big mountains, freezing Winters, dry stone walls, and hawthorn hedges.

[nutty jan]

My home town is London-big and exciting,but I now live in a village in rural Wales where even the animals speak Welsh.
My house is hight up on a hill overlooking the valley and the Myndd Du-(Black Mountain).
The views are spectacular,and if I want to see the sea I am only 14 miles from the nearest coastal town.

You can get an idea of the view from my website-www.saes.me.uk Have a look and sign the guest book with a little about where you live.
Saes
sounds wonderful im going to try to see your views on site thanks nutty jan