tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-83092637032513859002024-03-12T21:58:26.353-05:00SIA MCKYE OVER COFFEE~Sia McKye~http://www.blogger.com/profile/08470562659597351033noreply@blogger.comBlogger826125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8309263703251385900.post-59249492908368949632016-03-25T00:00:00.000-05:002016-04-07T07:21:24.643-05:00PAY IT FORWARD, PAY IT BACK - FOR SIA<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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Hey, Kat Sheridan here, stealing Sia’s blog for the day.
Well, not really “stealing”. It’s for a good </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUkAi9baOosDdGnKtZJeFBJ3TY2VuRjSq7wgXm19tjFiWZs3c2Fnj7YF2OeNhjSLXodWTxs8PZWhYYXwXGk02KZZRw_errY_XuPlzKXgoD4yBGSnwDPyj3jHa93tL87SMS7zS1C9ka-x4/s1600/sia-image.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUkAi9baOosDdGnKtZJeFBJ3TY2VuRjSq7wgXm19tjFiWZs3c2Fnj7YF2OeNhjSLXodWTxs8PZWhYYXwXGk02KZZRw_errY_XuPlzKXgoD4yBGSnwDPyj3jHa93tL87SMS7zS1C9ka-x4/s320/sia-image.jpg" width="276" /></a></div>
cause.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Regular readers of Over Coffee know the reason the blog is a
bit dusty and cob-webby right now is because Sia McKye is dealing with breast
cancer and the kill-you-to-cure-you nastiness of chemotherapy. That stuff will
knock the pins out from under even the strongest person (and Sia is one of the
strongest, most unrelentingly optimistic people I know!)</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Cancer treatments have a lot of nasty side effects. And one
of the nastiest is the over-the-moon high costs of treatment. Sia has shared
some numbers with me, and I’m pretty sure we could get a beach house on Waikiki
and a couple of zippy convertibles for what this costs. Sia has great
insurance, but it doesn’t pay for everything. She has one more chemo treatment
to go. A month of radiation (one a day, 5 days a week, for a month). A year of Herceptin
(every three weeks until November). Here’s what she told me about her share <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><u>so far</u></i>: “I could build a finished
(electricity & insulated) attached two bay garage <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">and</i> a new barn with my share.”</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
In spite of all this, Sia continues to read and post reviews
on Facebook when she’s feeling well enough (and sometimes when she’s not). Sia
has been a good friend to authors and bloggers from the very beginning,
generous with reviews and space here on her blog. She’s paid it forward.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div class="MsoNormal">
Now it’s time for us to pay it back.</div>
</blockquote>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Mutual good friend and angel-in-disguise Wendy Christy
started a GoFundMe account for Sia. Yes, I’m hitting you up for something, but
not necessarily money (although money would be AWESOME!) Here’s the link to Sia’s
account: <a href="https://www.gofundme.com/ddnxhu8k">https://www.gofundme.com/ddnxhu8k</a>
. As you can see, she has a long way to go to make the goal.</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
We ALL want Sia well and back to her sassy self, right here
on this blog. Here are some ways you can help (and most of them are free!)</div>
<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>Donate to her GoFundMe account. It doesn’t have to be a lot.
The price of a cup of coffee. Maybe a day or a week’s profit from a book Sia
featured on her blog for you. Don’t let the bigger donations already there
intimidate you. $5 counts as much as $500.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>I know many of you are bloggers with popular blogs. If you
have the time, space, or inclination, please mention this GoFundMe on your own blogs.
Spread the word on Facebook, Twitter, wherever you hang out in the cyberworld.
</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><b>This one is the most important</b>: In the comments below, offer
an encouraging word to Sia. Tell her how she made a difference to you. She’s
having a super rough time right now. And while you’re at it, offer a kind word
to her husband, Dan, and her son, Jake, who have been awesome, amazing
caretakers. I think the most comments she’s had on a blog post is around 70. Can
we top that?</li>
</ul>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="color: #cc0000;">And the link once more for our sassy Sia</span></b>: <a href="https://www.gofundme.com/ddnxhu8k">https://www.gofundme.com/ddnxhu8k</a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<h3 class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #cc0000;">BONUS BONUS BONUS </span></h3>
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<b>Some of you know I write back cover copy/product descriptions for authors at my web site, </b><a href="http://blurbcopy.com/" target="_blank"><b>BlurbCopy</b></a><b> (http://blurbcopy.com/) From <i>now until April 30th, 2016</i>, if you sign up for a blurb and mention Sia in the Additional Info section of the work order, I'll give you a $5 discount (normally $35, so it will only be $30) AND</b> <span style="color: #cc0000;"><b>I'll make a $5 donation to the GoFundMe account.</b></span> <b>Work orders must be submitted by no later than April 30th.</b> </div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer"><script src="http://digg.com/tools/diggthis.js" type="text/javascript"></script></div>Kat Sheridanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07115380745293826767noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8309263703251385900.post-14592310855273734042015-11-25T00:00:00.000-06:002015-11-25T06:44:40.075-06:00BEES, MEAD, AND MEDIEVAL ROMANCE<br />
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<span class="normaltextrun"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><em><strong>Today Over Coffee welcomes debut novelist Oberon Wonch. With
the “feasting season” beginning, I asked Oberon to talk about something
food-related from her medieval romance, Come to Me. Take it away, Oberon!</strong></em></span></span></div>
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</strong></span><strong><span style="background-color: inherit;">Hello, Sia</span><span style="background-color: inherit;">! Thank you for hosting me here today. I</span><span style="background-color: inherit;"> enjoy catching up on
your blog</span><span style="background-color: inherit;">
and love to linger </span></strong><br />
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<span style="background-color: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBK9sAusOv3yn8OY3YadPULH-14msKfINjWyeYIIwWNU9EeH-036LYx1AN9SgmyMjz_FMP42Rb9p15z8e5vDgVTSGcrBC7xLDAVhAc_R4p-00NodidK_KcW92AQOQcQdDgcxFculDsLq4/s1600/Obe-wine.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><strong><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBK9sAusOv3yn8OY3YadPULH-14msKfINjWyeYIIwWNU9EeH-036LYx1AN9SgmyMjz_FMP42Rb9p15z8e5vDgVTSGcrBC7xLDAVhAc_R4p-00NodidK_KcW92AQOQcQdDgcxFculDsLq4/s320/Obe-wine.jpg" width="248" /></strong></a></span></div>
<strong><span style="background-color: inherit;">over your posts of life in the Ozarks, especially </span><span style="background-color: inherit;">the</span><span style="background-color: inherit;"> photos of landscapes and
wildlife, </span><span style="background-color: inherit;">some of </span><span style="background-color: inherit;">my favorite things to get lost in on the Internet.</span><span class="eop"> </span><span style="font-family: "segoe ui" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 6.0pt;"></span>
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<strong><span class="normaltextrun">So, it’s not surprising that bees and beekeeping fascinate
me</span><span style="background-color: inherit;">,
too</span><span style="background-color: inherit;">.
Anyone else? I love the imagery of the old-timey wicker skep sitting in a
garden. </span><span style="background-color: inherit;">Since
the heroine of my first book, Come To Me, is an English noblewoman living in 11
th century England, and we know</span><span style="background-color: inherit;"> </span><span style="background-color: inherit;">from</span><span style="background-color: inherit;"> writings</span><span style="background-color: inherit;"> of the time</span><span style="background-color: inherit;"> that mead</span><span style="background-color: inherit;"> (</span><span style="background-color: inherit;">ferment</span><span style="background-color: inherit;">ed honey)</span><span style="background-color: inherit;"> was </span><span style="background-color: inherit;">a widespread favorite of the Germanic</span><span style="background-color: inherit;"> and Scandinavian peoples
of post-Roman</span><span style="background-color: inherit;"> Europe, I</span><span style="background-color: inherit;"> wanted </span><span style="background-color: inherit;">to </span><span style="background-color: inherit;">include beekeeping and</span><span style="background-color: inherit;"> mead-making in my</span><span style="background-color: inherit;"> story.</span><span class="eop"> </span><span style="font-family: "segoe ui" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 6.0pt;"></span><span style="background-color: inherit;"><span class="normaltextrun"> </span></span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="background-color: inherit;"><span class="normaltextrun">H</span></span><span style="background-color: inherit;">ere is</span><span style="background-color: inherit;"> a fraction of</span><span style="background-color: inherit;"> what I learned</span><span style="background-color: inherit;"> about bee husbandry</span><span style="background-color: inherit;">.</span><span class="eop"> </span><span style="font-family: "segoe ui" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 6.0pt;"></span><span style="background-color: inherit;"><span class="normaltextrun">8</span></span><span style="background-color: inherit;">,000-year-old cave paintings show that h</span><span style="background-color: inherit;">oney-gathering has been taking place since
pre-historic times when </span><span style="background-color: inherit;">people</span><span style="background-color: inherit;"> risked </span><span style="background-color: inherit;">life and limb</span><span style="background-color: inherit;"> to </span><span style="background-color: inherit;">climb trees and </span><span style="background-color: inherit;">rob wild hives of the sweet, gooey liquid. </span><span style="background-color: inherit;">Ancient </span><span style="background-color: inherit;">Sumerian</span><span style="background-color: inherit;">,</span><span style="background-color: inherit;"> Greek</span><span style="background-color: inherit;">,</span><span style="background-color: inherit;"> and Chinese writings
discuss managing bees and providing adequate, manmade habitats.</span><span style="background-color: inherit;"> B</span><span style="background-color: inherit;">ee</span><span style="background-color: inherit;"> culture</span><span style="background-color: inherit;"> </span><span style="background-color: inherit;">became supremely
important to the Egyptians, </span><span style="background-color: inherit;">was adopted by Rome</span><span style="background-color: inherit;">, and</span><span style="background-color: inherit;"> </span><span style="background-color: inherit;">then </span><span style="background-color: inherit;">spread through</span><span style="background-color: inherit;"> all of Europe.</span><span class="eop"> </span><span style="font-family: "segoe ui" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 6.0pt;"></span><span style="background-color: inherit;"><span class="normaltextrun"> </span></span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="background-color: inherit;"><span class="normaltextrun">Even back to our earliest days, we wanted a little
sweetener in our </span></span><span style="background-color: inherit;">cuisine and went to great lengths to procure it</span><span style="background-color: inherit;">, isn’t that something?</span><span class="eop"> </span><span style="font-family: "segoe ui" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 6.0pt;"></span><span style="background-color: inherit;"><span class="normaltextrun"> </span></span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="background-color: inherit;"><span class="normaltextrun">By the time of the Norman conquest of England in late 11</span></span><span class="normaltextrun"><span style="background-color: inherit;"><sup><span style="font-size: 9.5pt;">th</span></sup></span></span><span style="background-color: inherit;"> century AD</span><span style="background-color: inherit;">, beekeeping was an indispensable</span><span style="background-color: inherit;"> industry. </span><span style="background-color: inherit;">An Anglo-Saxon
noblewoman’s responsibilities included keeping bees</span><span style="background-color: inherit;"> (in those lovely, conical straw or wicker
baskets called skeps)</span><span style="background-color: inherit;">, extracting honey and beeswax, and overseeing mead production.</span><span class="eop"> </span><span style="font-family: "segoe ui" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 6.0pt;"></span><span style="background-color: inherit;"><span class="normaltextrun"> </span></span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="background-color: inherit;"><span class="normaltextrun">The entire arc of beekeeping, from capturing a swarm</span></span><span style="background-color: inherit;">,</span><span style="background-color: inherit;"> to monitoring hives
through the summer, to harvesting the honey and comb in the autumn</span><span style="background-color: inherit;">,</span><span style="background-color: inherit;"> is a world of
information too</span><span style="background-color: inherit;"> broad</span><span style="background-color: inherit;"> to</span><span style="background-color: inherit;"> address</span><span style="background-color: inherit;"> here. </span><span class="eop"> </span><span style="font-family: "segoe ui" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 6.0pt;"></span><span style="background-color: inherit;"><span class="normaltextrun"> </span></span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="background-color: inherit;"><span class="normaltextrun">However, making the mead </span></span><span style="background-color: inherit;">wa</span><span style="background-color: inherit;">s</span><span style="background-color: inherit;"> incredibl</span><span style="background-color: inherit;">y</span><span style="background-color: inherit;"> simple</span><span style="background-color: inherit;"> and</span><span style="background-color: inherit;"> a tribute to the thriftiness of the medieval
housekeeper.</span><span style="background-color: inherit;"> Throughout the warm months as honey was gathered, comb was squeezed
through</span><span style="background-color: inherit;">
linen</span><span style="background-color: inherit;">
gauze to extract the last drop </span><span style="background-color: inherit;">of honey </span><span style="background-color: inherit;">for household purposes.</span><span style="background-color: inherit;"> The comb </span><span style="background-color: inherit;">and the gauze were</span><span style="background-color: inherit;"> rinsed with water </span><span style="background-color: inherit;">(the comb then</span><span style="background-color: inherit;"> rendered for its wax to
make candles</span><span style="background-color: inherit;">), and the</span><span style="background-color: inherit;"> water </span><span style="background-color: inherit;">was left in covered vats to ferment</span><span style="background-color: inherit;"> via the natural yeasts existing in the honey</span><span style="background-color: inherit;"> and surrounding air</span><span style="background-color: inherit;">.</span><span class="eop"> </span><span style="font-family: "segoe ui" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 6.0pt;"></span><span style="background-color: inherit;"><span class="normaltextrun"> </span></span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="background-color: inherit;"><span class="normaltextrun">V</span></span><span style="background-color: inherit;">ariations </span><span style="background-color: inherit;">in</span><span style="background-color: inherit;"> this process</span><span style="background-color: inherit;"> were practiced</span><span style="background-color: inherit;"> (for example, herbs and spices were added for
flavor)</span><span style="background-color: inherit;">,
and later written recipes called for</span><span style="background-color: inherit;"> </span><span style="background-color: inherit;">boiling </span><span style="background-color: inherit;">4</span><span style="background-color: inherit;">-to-1 parts water and honey rather than merely
using the </span><span style="background-color: inherit;">strainings</span><span style="background-color: inherit;">.</span><span style="background-color: inherit;"> </span><span class="eop"> </span><span style="font-family: "segoe ui" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 6.0pt;"></span><span style="background-color: inherit;"><span class="normaltextrun"> </span></span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="background-color: inherit;"><span class="normaltextrun">So, </span></span><span style="background-color: inherit;">that’s my little peek into one tiny aspect of
life in the </span><span style="background-color: inherit;">Middle</span><span style="background-color: inherit;"> Ages.</span></strong></div>
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<i><span style="color: #cc0000;"><strong><span style="background-color: inherit;">A</span><span style="background-color: inherit;">re you as fascinated by </span><span style="background-color: inherit;">bees and beekeeping as I am? </span><span style="background-color: inherit;">Would you like to someday
try mead made in true medieval fashion?</span></strong></span></i><span style="background-color: inherit;"></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: inherit;"> </span><span class="eop"> </span><span style="font-family: "segoe ui" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 6.0pt;"></span></div>
Oberon Wonch’s debut medieval romance novel,
<i><b>Come To Me</b></i> is available wherever digital books are sold.<span class="normaltextrun"><b><i> </i></b></span><br />
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<span class="normaltextrun" style="font-size: large;"><b><i>Come To Me</i></b></span><span class="eop"></span> <span style="font-family: "segoe ui" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 6.0pt;"></span><span style="background-color: inherit;"><span class="normaltextrun"><i> </i></span></span></div>
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<strong><span style="background-color: inherit;"><span class="normaltextrun"><i>A maiden’s duty becomes a woman’s desire…</i></span></span><span class="eop"> </span><span style="font-family: "segoe ui" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 6.0pt;"></span><span style="background-color: inherit;"><span class="normaltextrun"> </span></span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="background-color: inherit;"><span class="normaltextrun">In this twist on the classic Cyrano story, Bridget of </span></span><span style="background-color: inherit;">Shyleburgh</span><span style="background-color: inherit;"> is ordered to help </span><span style="background-color: inherit;">Count</span><span style="background-color: inherit;"> </span><span style="background-color: inherit;">Grégoire</span><span style="background-color: inherit;"> </span><span style="background-color: inherit;">FitzHenri</span><span style="background-color: inherit;">, the new Earl of </span><span style="background-color: inherit;">Shyleburgh</span><span style="background-color: inherit;"> and</span><span style="background-color: inherit;"> the man she secretly
loves, court another woman.</span><span class="eop"> </span><span style="font-family: "segoe ui" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 6.0pt;"></span><span style="background-color: inherit;"><span class="normaltextrun"> </span></span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="background-color: inherit;"><span class="normaltextrun">Mortified at first, Bridget soon finds he</span></span><span style="background-color: inherit;">rself completely
enthralled by the earl’s </span><span style="background-color: inherit;">whispers of love and desire. </span><span style="background-color: inherit;">His</span><span style="background-color: inherit;"> heated </span><span style="background-color: inherit;">wooing</span><span style="background-color: inherit;"> tempt</span><span style="background-color: inherit;">s</span><span style="background-color: inherit;"> a fair maiden to stray
down a path filled with forbidden pleasures.</span><span class="eop"> </span><span style="font-family: "segoe ui" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 6.0pt;"></span><span style="background-color: inherit;"><span class="normaltextrun">But his words are meant for another… aren’t they? </span></span><span class="eop"> <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Come-Me-Oberon-Wonch-ebook/dp/B015WA0E4E/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1448286252&sr=8-1&keywords=come+to+me+wonch" target="_blank">Read More at Amazon</a></span><span style="font-family: "segoe ui" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 6.0pt;"></span>
</strong></div>
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<strong><span style="background-color: inherit;"><span class="normaltextrun"> </span></span><span class="eop"> </span><span style="font-family: "segoe ui" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 6.0pt;"></span></strong></div>
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<span style="background-color: inherit;"><span class="normaltextrun"><br /><strong></strong></span></span><span class="eop"></span><span style="font-family: "segoe ui" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 6.0pt;"></span></div>
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<i><strong><span style="background-color: inherit;"><span class="normaltextrun">Oberon Wonch has engaged in a love affair with books for as
long as she can remember. Penning her own stories from an early age, she later
earned a degree in World Literature while studying several languages--all in
order to learn what makes a tale endure the ages, but really just to read more
books. Her very favorite stories--both to read and write--are those that
celebrate the happily-ever-after. She enjoys connecting with readers. Contact
her through her website at www.oberonwonch.com or follow her on Twitter @</span></span><span style="background-color: inherit;">OberonWonch</span></strong><span style="background-color: inherit;"><strong> and on Facebook</strong>.</span><span class="eop"> </span></i><span style="font-family: "segoe ui" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 6.0pt;"></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "segoe ui" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 6.0pt;"></span><br /><div class="blogger-post-footer"><script src="http://digg.com/tools/diggthis.js" type="text/javascript"></script></div>Kat Sheridanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07115380745293826767noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8309263703251385900.post-86986953592912645032015-11-23T22:55:00.000-06:002015-11-22T23:14:21.647-06:00MONDAY'S MUSINGS---THE THING ABOUT CANCER<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The
thing about having cancer is its tiring.</span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Oh,
I don’t mean treatments, perse, but everything that comes with it. I get tired
of thinking about it; planning or delaying my life because of it. Then there
are my own fears and worries that creep in at odd times and bite deep. I’ve
always been independent and while I can delegate I hate losing my independence
due to lack of strength. I dislike the worry about getting to and from
appointments if I unable to drive, of being a burden, or looking at and arranging
finances.</span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Then
there is dealing with people.</span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">There
are those that care and always try to be encouraging, in spite of what’s going
on in their life; those that still want to have real conversations or share
laughter and I appreciate them. Seriously these people, and not just close
friends and family, make life good. </span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8I1qEixf8RWSotGkjLwVewyqo5BhU8912akJGesmWoXv_OQzrPNAj_1JZuNm-wHtP_LhJ8xG8vRigiZDJrsTuPDrzDoquQBt0FB9WNDdlCWscFNo2iixYGNIT3FjPy5m2jIIOK1TzsaAC/s1600/10997012_10153356760539019_2070890631771514339_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8I1qEixf8RWSotGkjLwVewyqo5BhU8912akJGesmWoXv_OQzrPNAj_1JZuNm-wHtP_LhJ8xG8vRigiZDJrsTuPDrzDoquQBt0FB9WNDdlCWscFNo2iixYGNIT3FjPy5m2jIIOK1TzsaAC/s320/10997012_10153356760539019_2070890631771514339_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">But, <i>then</i>... there are those that haven’t a
clue what to say or how to react or interact with me. They treat me as if the
cancer zombiefied my brain and its broken or not working. You know, that over
bright tone of voice one uses with a toddler or someone who is at death’s door.
I am neither. </span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Or that I’m some drama queen looking for the spotlight. </span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Seriously?</i> Who the hell would choose
something as dangerous as cancer, which can go either way, for attention? I’d
rather being doing anything but facing this. Then there are who just want to
avoid me as if this cancer thing is catching, like cooties or the ‘flu.</span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghPibQXd2pnV9DNJeV5t2_EUKcNbFITr9lh3HbHqV9yr3RXAdOl8txo0bwW2ageEfgn1kMbY5d6xjBzLd71KsNSv32RgAAHAIvGoQyABJ4HLQ6dJOKx6gMRpWps7fqzUl6vSiq5hZuqqpW/s1600/263981_507232392654535_1057682860_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghPibQXd2pnV9DNJeV5t2_EUKcNbFITr9lh3HbHqV9yr3RXAdOl8txo0bwW2ageEfgn1kMbY5d6xjBzLd71KsNSv32RgAAHAIvGoQyABJ4HLQ6dJOKx6gMRpWps7fqzUl6vSiq5hZuqqpW/s320/263981_507232392654535_1057682860_n.jpg" width="320" /></a><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The
funny thing is I do understand people and the whys and hows of how they think.
I do try to be patient and understanding but it does get wearying to the soul
and I’m not even half way through my treatments. There are times I have little
or no patience because I’m trying to deal with <em>what’s inside</em> <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">me </i>right now. I don’t have the energy to
deal with others’…problems or attitudes. I fight hard, at times, to hold on to
my patience and not rip into someone or have to call my brothers to help
dispose of a body. Not a good thing.<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> I</i> don’t like me when I get that way.</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I guess what's most frustrating in none of this is a quick fix. By that I mean nothing is going to get me through the next 3 months of radiation and chemo easy or fast--- or the 9 months beyond that with the final chemical phase of treatment. Each treatment is a necessary evil but it isn't going to make me feel better. Considering my reaction to most chemicals and meds, I suspect I'm going to be feeling like crap. I won't kid you, it all gets to me. The anticipation of what's coming...the unknown. Yeah, it gets to me on many levels.</span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I've spent considerable time, the past few months, at a hospital that deal exclusively with all sorts of cancer patients. I'm a natural people watcher and the story that peoples' faces tell...it's an eye opener. Sometimes it lifts you up and other times it breaks your heart.</span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> The sights I've seen and the stories I've heard from people fighting this war...my God. It tends to put things into perspective when I'm facing my own fears and worries. </span></b></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8AdLD2X5HbHWangloy7etLAAjBogRQB4YDkPCSuaQUsSij6OujGR1kOUNWCQtlehTy5cm1CGSrmtQEjYlEGWgyr6Cb3rMUamZy3o3zY8jHZ2ZrJ_WB_65mB9Iv1J-FhEGmi-se_2De5xX/s1600/Suck+it+up+Buttercup.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8AdLD2X5HbHWangloy7etLAAjBogRQB4YDkPCSuaQUsSij6OujGR1kOUNWCQtlehTy5cm1CGSrmtQEjYlEGWgyr6Cb3rMUamZy3o3zY8jHZ2ZrJ_WB_65mB9Iv1J-FhEGmi-se_2De5xX/s320/Suck+it+up+Buttercup.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">So, when things get...frustrating or I get a bit down, I give myself a swift kick mentally and say, <i>"Suck it up Buttercup! There are people with this same disease that would LOVE to be standing where you are now."</i> </span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">No matter what's going on in my life, I CAN'T lose sight of the long term. If everything goes right I get to live.</span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">And that's big. </span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><i>Really</i> big.</span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="color: #141823; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<div class="blogger-post-footer"><script src="http://digg.com/tools/diggthis.js" type="text/javascript"></script></div>~Sia McKye~http://www.blogger.com/profile/08470562659597351033noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8309263703251385900.post-15834994271051397752015-11-16T23:29:00.000-06:002015-11-15T23:30:19.970-06:00MONDAY'S MUSINGS— STORIES THAT INSPIRE<br />
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBxBr1CQJf8E7fcj374EQFrI4HuJZs1qUsUw21fugr6Tp30I0NUYhsJOFWRwDwdOHVZi6dz2u-zC9x9NaRPer0UamQ_gR2vgIDq0yBQmEVb-k1bx6CpFKh__caAYqQ9GWYvnuvUVMdM_JM/s1600/650811-woman-in-red-typing-on-laptop-at-home-with-a-big-red-coffee-mug2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBxBr1CQJf8E7fcj374EQFrI4HuJZs1qUsUw21fugr6Tp30I0NUYhsJOFWRwDwdOHVZi6dz2u-zC9x9NaRPer0UamQ_gR2vgIDq0yBQmEVb-k1bx6CpFKh__caAYqQ9GWYvnuvUVMdM_JM/s400/650811-woman-in-red-typing-on-laptop-at-home-with-a-big-red-coffee-mug2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #990000;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif";">As you can imagine I’ve had quite a bit of
time to read the past few months and given my journey, fighting for my life and
healing, I tend to look for things that make me laugh or inspire me. I want to
share my thoughts of a very good book I read just this past week.</span></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="color: #990000;">
</span><br />
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<span style="color: #990000;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif";">I’m not one who reads a great many
biographies or autobiographies. I’m very selective. It depends upon who is
being written about and if they’re interesting to me. I am fascinated by <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">historical</i> memoirs—journals and letters outlining
tales of success in the face of adversity.</span></b></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<span style="color: #990000;">
</span><br />
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<span style="color: #990000;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif";">I’m not big on modern day ‘memoirs’.</span></b></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<span style="color: #990000;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif";"><span style="color: #990000;">Let me tell you, this story was
interesting enough to keep me engrossed and turning the pages.</span> </span></b></div>
</blockquote>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ9ICx0N_MfQtsvHpiQ2I9fZ03hUTzQLtquB1aJkJa4yToKaPz-58BMmhvOWDLFk9-FyfgMab8e4bOzH05rGBr4CYXT55IMlneOPEV7Lx5IuipFsiWNL392VkDsWYp6XieofpLJNQ6wC3e/s1600/Mark+Koopmans+REVIVIAL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ9ICx0N_MfQtsvHpiQ2I9fZ03hUTzQLtquB1aJkJa4yToKaPz-58BMmhvOWDLFk9-FyfgMab8e4bOzH05rGBr4CYXT55IMlneOPEV7Lx5IuipFsiWNL392VkDsWYp6XieofpLJNQ6wC3e/s320/Mark+Koopmans+REVIVIAL.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="left"><td class="tr-caption"><b>BUY: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Revival-Donald-Braswell/dp/1942428626/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1447649703&sr=1-1&keywords=revival+mark+koopmans">AMAZON</a>, <a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/revival-donald-braswell/1122837094?ean=9781942428626">BARNES & NOBLE</a></b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Revival:
The Donald Braswell Story</span> </b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Mark Koopmans</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Pen-L Publishing</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">256 pages </b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #134f5c;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Smoothly
written and engrossing tale of inspiration.</span></i></b></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Revival is modern memoir but it is all about facing adversity and
triumphing despite misfortune (my favorite theme). It’s inspiring in many ways.
It tells a story of a very talented man, Donald Brazwell, well viewed by
professionals in his field, on the cusp of taking center stage in the international
music world of opera and then, through unexpected circumstances, crashes almost
into oblivion. A man who loses both his speaking and singing voice. </b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">You could
call this a living nightmare.</b></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">But, the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">interesting</i> thing is he doesn’t stay
down or become bitter whining oh ‘woe is me’, or turn to drugs or alcohol. He
learns that the sum total of life is more than one facet of it—singing. In
fact, he learns much about living and himself. He has a loving wife and three children.
He has a choice before him, being the best husband, father, and provider or
makes excuses why he can’t deal with it all. And many with his circumstances have
done just that. Instead he triumphs over adversity.</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">He faces so many
changes because his life has completely changed course and still he keeps his
eyes open to opportunities before him for making a good life for him and his
family despite those changes. What I admire was his willingness to try new
things, learn new skills so he could support his family. Yet I could see it
wasn’t easy for him. When I realize Braswell had spent well over ten years in <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">dedicated</i> study and totally focused on
his goal of becoming a world class tenor on par (probably surpassing) with
Pavarotti and Placido, with no thought to doing anything but that career I
appreciate his choices even more. I admire his willingness to shift his focus. He may
have been afraid of failure and not making the grade but self doubt didn’t stop
him from going forward and building a life for him and his family. I respect
person who can do that.</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">This story isn’t
about a saint. He railed, felt fear, wallowed a bit in self pity and felt lost.
Donald Braswell wasn’t the epitome of arrogance but he did know his worth in
the music world—he would have to if he wanted to become the great tenor he was
on his way to be. He does admit his ego had gotten the best of him at times and
in believing his own press. He also stresses he didn’t give thanks or enough
respect to God for the gift given him.</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">The writing of his
story is well done. The author has an excellent story telling ability and makes
you want to keep turning the pages to see what happens next. In good story
telling fashion the main character is flawed, faces hard times as a result of
his choices, faces a black moment, and yet has much to learn about life. There
is a clear character arc of growth. You find yourself cheering on the ‘hero’ of
the story. There is a clear picture of the secondary characters, Julie and the
Cavender brothers—I got such a clear picture of those two and love them. The delivery
is so well done that I forgot, at times, that it was about a real person. To
see Donald Braswell rising like phoenix to triumph is both heartwarming and inspirational.</b></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">This is a story well
worth reading! </b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="background-color: #134f5c;"> </span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="background-color: #134f5c;"><br /></span></span></b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0Von4zKsJpLYe-5McIxdWTNGQTxYmFCtIwfYrJm7fcKWDeaDyyWfjhvjjEf0B7w7rJhPpPkGWCqYwJ7zplpnap4RyeBk9lzIgG9hf3QMEJH46WNv-OZ0CMdvwwaImmemGX0olqEY2J7mS/s1600/Mark+Koopmans.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0Von4zKsJpLYe-5McIxdWTNGQTxYmFCtIwfYrJm7fcKWDeaDyyWfjhvjjEf0B7w7rJhPpPkGWCqYwJ7zplpnap4RyeBk9lzIgG9hf3QMEJH46WNv-OZ0CMdvwwaImmemGX0olqEY2J7mS/s1600/Mark+Koopmans.jpg" /></a><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="color: #990000;">You can find author, Mark Koopmans: </span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><a href="http://markkoopmans.blogspot.com/">Website/blog</a> </span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100010592133544&fref=ts"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">Facebook</span></b></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><a href="https://twitter.com/markjkoopmans">Twitter</a> </span></b></div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer"><script src="http://digg.com/tools/diggthis.js" type="text/javascript"></script></div>~Sia McKye~http://www.blogger.com/profile/08470562659597351033noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8309263703251385900.post-69991468422187102372015-11-09T22:41:00.000-06:002015-11-08T22:48:43.676-06:00MONDAY'S MUSINGS—HUNKERING DOWN FOR THE LONG HAUL<b><br /></b>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #990000;"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">I’ve learned much, the past couple of
months, about the battle against cancer.</span></b></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #990000;"><b>
</b></span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #990000;"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">For one thing, it’s not <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">a battle</i>, it’s a war and wars are won by
winning a <i>series</i> of battles.</span></b></span></span></div>
</blockquote>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx4vVmep_e1TAnqJF5CSg4EryJFBST2ufp3LmX34KhDktghgJF6Hyi37RCtFiFvcdqouv_ge-j2rDGDFV2MovG7ajcvWkxbcJuVvyxf0Qm7G0SbrE5UBmNrVlPtmLfb0vxfsuHZaOW4Mhn/s1600/Scott+Air+Base.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="245" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx4vVmep_e1TAnqJF5CSg4EryJFBST2ufp3LmX34KhDktghgJF6Hyi37RCtFiFvcdqouv_ge-j2rDGDFV2MovG7ajcvWkxbcJuVvyxf0Qm7G0SbrE5UBmNrVlPtmLfb0vxfsuHZaOW4Mhn/s320/Scott+Air+Base.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Mobilizing for war is arduous especially
while defending against an unexpected attack. It takes clear thought to the
goals and what will be lost if one doesn’t win. There’s the cost of fighting a
war, mentally, physically, psychologically and monetarily. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One leaves behind ‘normal’ life and has to
focus everything on fighting and winning the war. It becomes the daily
existence. One has to channel funds into getting the best weapons and equipment,
assembling a strong motivated fighting force, and have a good knowledge base of
the enemy and its goals. Not an easy task. The initial euphoria after an attack
often wears thin and so keeping the reasons and goals for fighting the war to
begin with, needs to be kept to the forefront of everyone’s mind. Then it’s
hunkering down for the long haul and fighting to win.</span></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<b>
</b><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Somewhere along the line I lost sight of
parts of that mobilization process. I was unexpectedly attacked and I mustered
up what was needed initially. Mindset, support group, funds to deal with travel
and tests. I was armed but it was only the first of the battles that needed to
be faced and although there were skirmish victories my mind lost sight of the
long haul. And it’s daunting.</span></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<b>
</b><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWS_0UA8xLn8pjaAbnNhFilwdqZ3z8siM2X02fodzgD2Ssl9scHNOrwEBpJMPfK-d0fmDbGbqHI26-D-5bsNVscNuM89ALEg54M-59kHkxdgl2otiD-71a8EP8fYqHG2gTR9AhwrO3ODbh/s1600/Lists+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWS_0UA8xLn8pjaAbnNhFilwdqZ3z8siM2X02fodzgD2Ssl9scHNOrwEBpJMPfK-d0fmDbGbqHI26-D-5bsNVscNuM89ALEg54M-59kHkxdgl2otiD-71a8EP8fYqHG2gTR9AhwrO3ODbh/s1600/Lists+2.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">I think one of the problems is I’ve had several
surgeries in my life. Usually, after a surgery for a particular thing, the mind
then faces the healing process (like rebuilding after a war). In this instance,
the removal of the tumor was successful. Pathology indicated that all was clean
in the breast. Lymph nodes all clear. My mind leaped right past the concept of
war and focused on the battle won and onto healing...wrong. It was only the
initial battle. Yes, I won that series of battles but the war was by no means
won.</span></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>
</b></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">This trip to CTCA was very intense. I had a
list of questions and one of those questions had to do with further treatment.
See, everything was healing. Pathology showed all clear, so why did I need
chemo or herceptin? I brought my page of questions forward and got back several
pages of answers and much more information for the war beyond this initial
series of battles.</span></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>
</b></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">We went back to the preliminary findings
and again defined the cancer I’m facing—Her2 positive, grade II, stage II—highly
invasive and consequently fast growing and with a penchant for stray cells to
migrate to other places and basically homestead. Without proper treatment this
cancer <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">will</i> come back and even more
aggressive than it was initially. I was given a clearer picture of what it
takes to conquer this particular type of cancer and what weapons I will need to
win the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">war</i>. </span></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLq5TZA77OJhlKuO4jc49T3lvhGsiwUojX3nCaGKIk21NP2JKW04wzBZ9ZGbyIaq8kF7LZeWPAWfYlDppgPZCcmvPm6ahdvwGLarpKUT3v1QhglHDF15gtyXbpCmFx7fVjq9uN7ZmUZ0P6/s1600/Fight+on+all+fronts.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLq5TZA77OJhlKuO4jc49T3lvhGsiwUojX3nCaGKIk21NP2JKW04wzBZ9ZGbyIaq8kF7LZeWPAWfYlDppgPZCcmvPm6ahdvwGLarpKUT3v1QhglHDF15gtyXbpCmFx7fVjq9uN7ZmUZ0P6/s320/Fight+on+all+fronts.jpg" width="214" /></a><b><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span></b></span></div>
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>
</b></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Scary stuff.</span></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<b>
</b><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Countries gearing up for war can divert resources
from existing assets and/or increase taxes to fund it. I have no one to tax and
only a limited amount of funds to divert and yet there is no question that if I
want to live and win this war, I have to go forward. On the plus side I do have
very good insurance. On the negative side the co-pays are going to hurt
financially. Then there is travel, daily food, and lodging that must be taken
care of over the next eighteen months. This war is going to be expensive.</span></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>
</b></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Just like soldiers and civilians in a war,
I want normal life back. Well, that’s not going to happen for awhile. There is
much in between the victory in these initial battles and eradicating the threat
and demolishing the enemy. All the wishing in the world isn’t going to make
this cancer go away as quickly as I want it to.</span></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<b>
</b><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisChyccBI7HRUhZIoy66_QDRvh4eEq7b49ZcV9qK289G5KjoPXB1xZEmHPRV93hxe7zXEZ_NJluJzn143GIYDnKddXdvfjeS3X1RWOVHvvq-az_yDKot-z54n6T9GaViwDBRuOCF2l_dE7/s1600/RosieTheRiveterPosterWWII.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisChyccBI7HRUhZIoy66_QDRvh4eEq7b49ZcV9qK289G5KjoPXB1xZEmHPRV93hxe7zXEZ_NJluJzn143GIYDnKddXdvfjeS3X1RWOVHvvq-az_yDKot-z54n6T9GaViwDBRuOCF2l_dE7/s320/RosieTheRiveterPosterWWII.jpg" width="244" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">All I can do is have courage and move
forward, keep my spirits up, and focus on demolishing the enemy. To do that I
have to hunker down for the long haul. </span></b></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN" style="color: #141823; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">And it <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">will</i> be a long haul. </span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></b></div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer"><script src="http://digg.com/tools/diggthis.js" type="text/javascript"></script></div>~Sia McKye~http://www.blogger.com/profile/08470562659597351033noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8309263703251385900.post-23883397885909489032015-10-26T00:20:00.000-05:002015-10-26T00:26:01.816-05:00MONDAY'S MUSINGS—EXPERIENCING THE GOOD AND BAD SIGNS OF FALL<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghcnnxrucd6rfprCMbhiBjx1xr-pZVgm5GVz5Jh8Emt9LPdR0a92XtyEqvcXQSjxDuw_Gid6kTZ66zH4UhccGvRYtHQIJ6zs2t9xMZZYKFEgE2w5W5OXq2ZRJC8poW2wJYoS2VEO5oCKc1/s1600/Sia%2527s+Field+of+Gold.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="508" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghcnnxrucd6rfprCMbhiBjx1xr-pZVgm5GVz5Jh8Emt9LPdR0a92XtyEqvcXQSjxDuw_Gid6kTZ66zH4UhccGvRYtHQIJ6zs2t9xMZZYKFEgE2w5W5OXq2ZRJC8poW2wJYoS2VEO5oCKc1/s640/Sia%2527s+Field+of+Gold.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>This is the view from my patio the week of October 15th </b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="color: #990000;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The
Missouri Ozarks are amazing regardless of the season. We span 3 temperature
ranges which spell some different weather patterns for us throughout the year
and even more so in the fall. While September spells autumn for many in other
areas of the country, September is still ‘summer’ for us. The light is waning
but the daily temps are still in the upper 80s to mid 90s (by contrast, July
and August are traditionally upper 90s to a little over 100) and the grass is
still lush and green and we’re still mowing the lawn weekly. We’re still
running the AC daily. The rivers and lakes are still warm enough to swim in
despite Labor Day closures of the pools the rivers still have plenty of
swimmers. But the temperatures <i>are</i> dropping and we are losing daylight.</span></b></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRzqNxt63qis-xYH-H5aVJwV6r1ngxAGFsovQhFqIJ8YKxsJN7brAEbFGnFRPCLQXkMMexoayTSaH8YDhrB3iRQoxkV8R4Bf5EknFl5vWHIIDzZ-YMP3_enfDZVFVIcgBaoklVnSUBlZhB/s1600/Missouri+folliage+purple+and+pinks2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRzqNxt63qis-xYH-H5aVJwV6r1ngxAGFsovQhFqIJ8YKxsJN7brAEbFGnFRPCLQXkMMexoayTSaH8YDhrB3iRQoxkV8R4Bf5EknFl5vWHIIDzZ-YMP3_enfDZVFVIcgBaoklVnSUBlZhB/s320/Missouri+folliage+purple+and+pinks2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Purples and pinks-Ceil Abbott</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">By the
latter part of September, the walnut trees start coloring up in their yellow fall
finery. They are the first to lose their leaves. The last week in September and
first week in October is when many of the vines, shrubs, berry plants and
under story trees start showing signs of fall color. My area is home to over 200
plant species and most display fall colors. An Ozark foliage turn doesn't happen as quickly as the color change in northern states. Here, in the Ozarks, we have two color peaks in the foliage.</span></b><br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span></b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZv35qGkYpSydOq7lppNrJaZYGAHRqmD6KIL9kxlHT-ucDrij8AjqMeWFOWh1_Amyx-1AkmcrJd3RXfQKymYG6vdBZZ31RJfjdD7KVG2hXrYiifTjru18u4NmfDNQBimw6SBgkwlNTuiuC/s1600/Missouri+foliage-pic2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZv35qGkYpSydOq7lppNrJaZYGAHRqmD6KIL9kxlHT-ucDrij8AjqMeWFOWh1_Amyx-1AkmcrJd3RXfQKymYG6vdBZZ31RJfjdD7KVG2hXrYiifTjru18u4NmfDNQBimw6SBgkwlNTuiuC/s400/Missouri+foliage-pic2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">There is the false peak which
usually happens between October 14-20<sup>th</sup></span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">. <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">False Peak is when you see the most intense color and the widest range of colors you'll see scarlet, deep mahogany, purple, black, blue, and multiple shades of gold. We have what you would call a 'slow turn' in foliage. It usually starts in the river and creek bottoms and then progresses up the hills. By the time peak color appears on the hillsides most of the trees along the rivers wil have long since peaked and dropped their leaves.</span></span></b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxgYAZdLHbG3Jm2x2tCM4FqVLKkuQMB4x6Cnt12o6yg7OjB38m_RYph2Ns0Ha2XT2uAts2ymjmt-HLY0GrjfSAV-iOgNXEBh9zmEWFy515V5GSKIlS1cHPJ8f1MoLi1Z3j3Vhpx_A-LGWx/s1600/Missouri+foliage_hillside2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="285" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxgYAZdLHbG3Jm2x2tCM4FqVLKkuQMB4x6Cnt12o6yg7OjB38m_RYph2Ns0Ha2XT2uAts2ymjmt-HLY0GrjfSAV-iOgNXEBh9zmEWFy515V5GSKIlS1cHPJ8f1MoLi1Z3j3Vhpx_A-LGWx/s400/Missouri+foliage_hillside2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">True peak will always occur during the last few days of October and the first few days of November, typically from October 26 to November 5th, give or take a few days. Peak foliage is highly dependent upon weather conditions. It takes clear sunny days with temperatures no warmer than mid 60's, and cooler nights with temperatures no higher than the high 30's to mid 4'0s, with a few nights in the 50's. This year true peak is a bit slow because it's been warmer during the day which delays the turn a few days. True peak colors are limited to the oranges, yellows, and mahogany hues. We have 36 species of oak here and each group had their own time table for turning and variations of colors.</span></span></b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN8oZQ2v7La9-W-lYKZM1wHp-3Yq9stK8JmROKsSLnt_ThL1FWBbM-2qu8eXxHU_CuX8ia5Cn85pg4feOCARRbgucZeojzNpdgS9BzK7siU5IKlpHuzxtG9rfYcDqFsb4My-o_5SBtVJla/s1600/woolly-Bear-.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN8oZQ2v7La9-W-lYKZM1wHp-3Yq9stK8JmROKsSLnt_ThL1FWBbM-2qu8eXxHU_CuX8ia5Cn85pg4feOCARRbgucZeojzNpdgS9BzK7siU5IKlpHuzxtG9rfYcDqFsb4My-o_5SBtVJla/s1600/woolly-Bear-.jpg" /></a><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The
weather is giving its last hurrah before the onset of the cold here in South
Central Missouri.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The days are very warm
and sunny and the nights are jacket cool. Other than the trees we do have several
more, not so pleasant, ‘signs’ of the coming cold weather. The wasps are
invading my Mums and basking on the western side of the house. Nasty things. Another
is the Woolly Bear caterpillars which are crawling everywhere—on the patio, up
the sides of the house, on trees and shrubs, and in the yard. Weather is still
warm so I’m usually barefoot and though I try to avoid them there are so many
that I can’t help but step on some. <i>Ewww</i>.</span></b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGZ88UqtPORwWYnuxKS5K2ZY5vhX1P4aA8At5MldAF7Fba8L-HFIwkZMBTeSL3IDuuwsDlhTh7MQlamc19_WQyj-zxvW1YfSkD5-hDRxj-9szJNmi9ukOTXC-zDri2hKmQ59DDIjRGGxdY/s1600/Lady+bugs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGZ88UqtPORwWYnuxKS5K2ZY5vhX1P4aA8At5MldAF7Fba8L-HFIwkZMBTeSL3IDuuwsDlhTh7MQlamc19_WQyj-zxvW1YfSkD5-hDRxj-9szJNmi9ukOTXC-zDri2hKmQ59DDIjRGGxdY/s1600/Lady+bugs.jpg" /></a><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Then
there are the Asian lady bugs. They’re wonderful for taking care of aphids and
such in the summer gardens but mid-October they start swarming and looking for
a warm place to winter and that usually is inside my house or swimming in my coffee cup. <i>Ugh</i>. And they bite.
I was lying down resting in the bedroom yesterday and happen to glance up to
the ceiling. I counted 20 above my head. I decided to go rest in the recliner
in living room. Dan cleared them out of the bedroom and he’s done this for several
days, so I can sleep. Last thing I wanted was falling lady bugs. Did I mention
they can bite?</span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">While the Missouri Ozarks are gorgeous in the autumn when
it comes to signs of fall and winter there are some I love and some I don’t.
I’m not particularly squeamish when it comes to insects, except maybe ants, but
I have to say I much prefer the fall foliage, migrating birds, and the changing of the angle of the sun and all the richness of light and shadow, to swarming
insects looking at my house as their winter paradise.</span></b><br />
<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Photos courtesy of Missouri Department of Conservation, Ceil Abbott, and personal pictures.</span> </span></b></div>
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<div class="blogger-post-footer"><script src="http://digg.com/tools/diggthis.js" type="text/javascript"></script></div>~Sia McKye~http://www.blogger.com/profile/08470562659597351033noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8309263703251385900.post-67481886147318484962015-10-19T00:48:00.000-05:002015-10-19T00:48:59.236-05:00MONDAY'S MUSINGS—IN MY MOTHER'S EYES<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">In my mother’s eyes, I can do
anything. I’m strong, courageous, smart, and determined.</span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Mom tells tales of an intrepid child
who was bold and daring. That child rarely took no for an answer. Any problem
or obstacle she faced was merely a puzzle she would study until she found the
solution. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These traits were both good
and bad depending upon the circumstances in which she used them. You see, this
little girl boldly explored her world (outside her yard) and her neighborhood
and when one considers her neighborhood was in the middle of Washington DC, it’s
a wonder her mom survived her child’s frequent and unexpected explorations. To
be fair to the parents, the house and yard, where Sia lived, was totally fenced
in with a tall fence and gate a tricky latch (which she couldn’t reach) which
would shut once you went through it. It was easy to get locked out of her yard.
What was a girl to do? She sat on the top of the steps—her mother says there
were 25 concrete steps from the back gate down into the alley—and looked at her
world. And then…well, she saw a cat. And that was, as they say, that. Sia loved
cats and all things four legged and furry.</span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">At that point, great care was taken
to be sure there was nothing around for Sia to use to unlatch the gate. But of
course, it then became a puzzle to solve. It didn’t take long to find a mop
sitting outside the back door and figure out how to use to reach up and unlatch
the gate. The mop handle then was very handy and could be used to not only open
the gate but block the gate from shutting. There were cats to visit you see and
most times she could sneak back in the yard with no one the wiser.</span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The cat was a contributing factor for
Sia’s nickname, Houdini or ‘Dini for short because once seen it couldn’t be
forgotten and where there was <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">one</i>
furry being surely there had to be more. There were people in the neighborhood Mom and Dad
didn’t know but they knew Sia and she knew them <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">especially</i> if they had animals.</span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The school across the street knew Sia,
as well, because she visited whenever her mother wasn’t looking or was involved
with feeding or bathing the baby brother. She wanted to play with the kids on
the playground or go into the classroom with them. After a few time of that
sort of escape the mop was kept in the house in a closet.</span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Then there was the day Sia saw the
school buses dropping off kids across the street and they were laughing and
playing on the playground. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There was
also a broom leaning against the wall in the kitchen…</span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Sia was able to spend a couple of blissful
hours in the classroom learning about Washington DC and the stories behind
Washington Monument, which she had visited with her parents the summer before.
Sia had a great time drawing stories about her visit. About the time her hysterical
mother, baby in her arms, was canvassing the neighbors the teacher realized she
had an extra child in her classroom. </span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The principal knew Sia, too, and was able
to reunite mother and daughter. <i>Ohhh</i>, did Sia get into major trouble with her
mom and then when her dad got home…ouch.</span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">After that there was a lock put on
the gate. Another puzzle but that’s a story for another day.</span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHDDnrvIjLkoxNVYU1ZDqB2BuSk7CPV7mvWT-YznFyqbmv-6VtN3cbn7CmoQ87HneXP08v8j4nWuYE6Tyv0t0xYaiSlLx7En6N-mR0yzBRbxJsheWhbc9Yh-yIhElcT8UZWhmHNzotLAMx/s1600/Mama.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHDDnrvIjLkoxNVYU1ZDqB2BuSk7CPV7mvWT-YznFyqbmv-6VtN3cbn7CmoQ87HneXP08v8j4nWuYE6Tyv0t0xYaiSlLx7En6N-mR0yzBRbxJsheWhbc9Yh-yIhElcT8UZWhmHNzotLAMx/s320/Mama.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My mom</td></tr>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Since my diagnosis, I've been trying to visit my mom each week and we speak by phone several times a week. She
lives an hour away from me. This past week my older sister and I visited mom
who is living with my brother now. She shared adventures of young Sia and there
was lots of laughter and good natured ribbing from my sibs. Times like this
fortify my strength and fighting spirit and that’s always good. </span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Mom told me
she was very proud of my attitude and determination in this battle. She
reminded me that I’ve always had “enormous inner strength.” That made me snort in
derision. </span></b></div>
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“I appreciate hearing that mom, but I
gotta tell ya, lately I’ve been feeling more like a <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">weeny</i> with all this."</span></b> </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> She patted my hand and smiled. "You're entitled. But honey, I KNOW you. You're going to throw those shoulders back and lift that chin of yours and walk right through the weeny and fear. You're one of the strongest people I've ever known." <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></b></div>
</blockquote>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">In my mother’s eyes I’m still strong,
courageous, smart, and determined.</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Some days I believe her.</span></b></div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer"><script src="http://digg.com/tools/diggthis.js" type="text/javascript"></script></div>~Sia McKye~http://www.blogger.com/profile/08470562659597351033noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8309263703251385900.post-26354997335120208162015-10-12T23:43:00.000-05:002015-10-11T23:46:27.693-05:00MONDAY'S MUSINGS: LEFT TURN INTO THE TWILIGHT ZONE<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTERs9AoSmVdDRk0JzwC5gDYrq398k-GWdLIiQM8ksJad-HwTLvVJlyADHmM6RHemiqzHE5_Dzwi1hD2QHAnjYtHLm84QYoOyb7mr9spInHBxo6ibPfwvZIiTfVKnCKeADkLHEwuS0FSGl/s1600/Coffee+Quotes+11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="303" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTERs9AoSmVdDRk0JzwC5gDYrq398k-GWdLIiQM8ksJad-HwTLvVJlyADHmM6RHemiqzHE5_Dzwi1hD2QHAnjYtHLm84QYoOyb7mr9spInHBxo6ibPfwvZIiTfVKnCKeADkLHEwuS0FSGl/s400/Coffee+Quotes+11.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #990000;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I know many of you have wondered
where I’ve been and why I haven’t been posting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I had every intention of posting after Labor Day and doing my normal
blog with guests and all. Unfortunately, my life took a left turn into the
twilight zone. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I cancelled my guests for
September and October.</span></b></span></span></div>
</blockquote>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I was diagnosed with breast cancer,
invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC), on September 2<sup>nd</sup>. Welcome to the
sisterhood I never wanted to be a part of. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My life ceased to resemble anything normal
after that.</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Cancer.</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">It’s such a scary word when you hear
someone has it and even more so when you find out you have it. Even with the
cure rates, which are good if you catch it early enough, there is still an
adjustment time of dealing with the word and its meaning. I can tell you that I
had to face that basement of fear before I could do anything. Or tell anyone
other than my husband.</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I found a lump the third Wednesday in
August. Being one who is very aware of her body I knew something was wrong
inside but not exactly what. I had been pondering over what it could be. In
fact I dreamed I had cancer several days before I found the lump. I think my subconscious
mind was scanning and analyzing what was going on inside. It’s done it before
and has been rather accurate when it does. </span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">My husband confirmed that no, it
wasn’t my imagination, there was a lump. He was half asleep at the time and I
assure you after he checked, at my request, he no longer was drowsy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Oh my God, there’s a lump here. You need to
get this checked out.”</span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“I will. I’m going in Tuesday for a
mammogram.” I kept it cool and easy when inside I was anything but calm. My
heart was pounding. I didn’t even try to downplay it by saying it’s probably
nothing because I suddenly knew, for a certainty, it was something.</span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I had my mammogram August 25<sup>th</sup>
and sure enough, there it was as clear as daylight. I always look at the scans
when I have them done and I watch the techs. The tech’s wide eyed look was the
only reaction she showed. If I hadn’t been watching her closely I wouldn’t have
even noticed. She looked up at me and said, ‘you knew there was a growth,
didn’t you?” <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span> </span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Sure did and I had gotten
to know it quite well in 6 days.</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnvZU-taufrjiybjbY5KOovc2IyURX0KzigWwjxmUhD4fxF17efYTh2kUyuTmJZi95V2GTCdzpx_44Hb786DFe1qu9KOACmPvaDNHDRNoO3kQyVfsgRrsAGEqLqQYk43YQjAh38XTn9iL8/s1600/Warrior.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnvZU-taufrjiybjbY5KOovc2IyURX0KzigWwjxmUhD4fxF17efYTh2kUyuTmJZi95V2GTCdzpx_44Hb786DFe1qu9KOACmPvaDNHDRNoO3kQyVfsgRrsAGEqLqQYk43YQjAh38XTn9iL8/s320/Warrior.jpg" width="212" /></a></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I told my sisters, first, because
they are incredible women and I knew I needed them on my team. By this time I
had already walked right through fear and assemble my battle gear and got my
mind into battle mode. I knew I was gearing for the battle of my life. I needed,
as any who fight cancer, a strong support team so I could kick ass. I had and
have no intention of taking any prisoners or being taken.</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I saw my doctor two days after the mammogram
and had a biopsy on the first of September and the confirmation by the second.
It was at least 1.8 centimeters by 2 centimeters. The doctor wasn’t sure
whether it was still stage 1 or in the beginning of stage two. It ended up
being stage 2, grade 2 and HER2 positive which is a protein based and not
hormone based and it wasn’t there two years ago.</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Although my local breast center was
good I opted to go to Cancer Treatment Centers of America and the Midwestern facility
in Zion, just outside of Chicago, for treatment. One of the considering factors
was that particular center has been awarded Breast Cancer center of excellence.
Not many breast centers achieve that distinction and there are only about 50 in
the United States.</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">It’s been 18 days today since the
tumor was removed. I still tire easily and don't have as much stamina but I'm healing and in pretty good spirits, over all. Just taking it slow and steady. </span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Pathology reports are good. It hadn’t yet spread to the
lymph nodes and is nowhere else in my body, yay. I go in for my first infusion
of chemo November 6<sup>th</sup>. At this point I will be receiving 4 cycles of
chemo and perjeta and then a year of herceptin. I have no idea how I will react
to all that and it differs from person to person. I’m a bit of a weeny
contemplating it. I can honestly say, I wish I didn’t have to do this part and
of course I can say no, but I don’t want to have to face this again so yes, I
will throw back my shoulders and lift my chin and do it.</span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I do reserve the right to be to
whine, be wimpy, and weak now and then. </span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The cure rate for this cancer is
excellent and I’ve met and spoken with many who have been cancer free for 5 years,
several who are celebrating 10 years and two fabulous ladies that marked year
13 and 15. Very encouraging.</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Life doesn’t come with guarantees. We
all die at some point or another but as Gandalf says, in the Lord of the Rings,
</span></b><span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“</span></span><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">…All we have to decide is what to do with the time that
is given us.”</span></i></span></b></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="color: #464646; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"> </span></i></b></div>
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<span style="background-color: #fff2cc;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I don’t choose to waste that time or
live in fear.</span></b></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<span style="background-color: #fff2cc;">
</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #fff2cc;"><span style="color: #990000;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;">“A
day may come when the courage of men fails… but it is not THIS day.”<br />
<i>– Aragorn</i></span></b></span></span></div>
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<![endif]--><span style="color: #38761d;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">I’m not sure what my posting schedule will be
the rest of this year. I'd like to try Monday Musings, at least, depending on how I feel. We’ll see.</span></b></span> </i></span></b></span></span></div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer"><script src="http://digg.com/tools/diggthis.js" type="text/javascript"></script></div>~Sia McKye~http://www.blogger.com/profile/08470562659597351033noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8309263703251385900.post-13680575362465966082015-06-29T11:36:00.000-05:002015-06-29T11:36:25.144-05:00MONDAY MUSINGS: UNPLUGGING FROM THE COMPUTER AND PLUGGING INTO LIFE<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">This
past three days I’ve unplugged from my computer. In fact, this is the first day
I’ve been back on the computer since Friday. I was surprised with my sense of
reluctance to even turn on the computer today. I don’t even want to know how
many emails I have. I’ll look later.</span></b></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ0ltI9UgYwpAcbue7ySDIshz17QvXAzMaJEGJ3K21Xtx46AhV7GxlNkyBOGmf_wTtolRgPcnC4HEtxM9k0UblUInGWZ3cWDAdBoXTnftPb7cp0FJfte419SOp4KHhJqN4IrHjNfciJE1w/s1600/562233_338746109532771_1592034154_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ0ltI9UgYwpAcbue7ySDIshz17QvXAzMaJEGJ3K21Xtx46AhV7GxlNkyBOGmf_wTtolRgPcnC4HEtxM9k0UblUInGWZ3cWDAdBoXTnftPb7cp0FJfte419SOp4KHhJqN4IrHjNfciJE1w/s1600/562233_338746109532771_1592034154_n.jpg" /></a></div>
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEins3LrcUbLTBdNo62zCF4C5KSvQYtIJqW0LCbBDTW1zWoLTLPlmYuKrgpYcaD4tAfGjMNN7417hrHirf2rtCaB5yTW-a2s2113ifkQL1XV4f3GxYHO0MdiziXottdGUGSB0h8yvzpusiiO/s1600/Missouri+Ribidoux+Creek.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEins3LrcUbLTBdNo62zCF4C5KSvQYtIJqW0LCbBDTW1zWoLTLPlmYuKrgpYcaD4tAfGjMNN7417hrHirf2rtCaB5yTW-a2s2113ifkQL1XV4f3GxYHO0MdiziXottdGUGSB0h8yvzpusiiO/s320/Missouri+Ribidoux+Creek.jpg" width="320" /></a><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">We
used the time to go a few places we’ve wanted to explore. Nothing spectacular.
We chose to follow our curiosity with a few day trips. It was a beautiful
weekend for driving. When we drive someplace together we also do a lot of
talking and that might start out with family happenings, work, and then
branches out into all sorts of interesting topics. My husband is well read and
has many interests, as do I, and he’s a good conversationalist. I love those
times when we can talk about all sorts of things. Saturday and Sunday, we spent
the morning out and about and the afternoons and evening watching movies I haven’t
had the time to see. I finally got to see the second Captain America movie,
which I loved. A lot of action and suspense and it was good to see Robert
Redford back in the movies and in a good role. </span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCjfyeyAZj7SsgYNSRTokBHvlPlEwAafHUW-7QNktiwUHwT_6gGimWLbDY8KV8n2LtxnYsoFqTT9p-ELw9ntmmqmVUqYzCCoaxdU-MAJp2buoI2rTWBDzNUwQUxLxzkWSF4b6bMR1dKdti/s1600/Bread.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCjfyeyAZj7SsgYNSRTokBHvlPlEwAafHUW-7QNktiwUHwT_6gGimWLbDY8KV8n2LtxnYsoFqTT9p-ELw9ntmmqmVUqYzCCoaxdU-MAJp2buoI2rTWBDzNUwQUxLxzkWSF4b6bMR1dKdti/s1600/Bread.jpg" /></a></div>
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">This
morning has been filled with ticking off a couple of projects that need to be
done here at the McKye household. Later this afternoon is cleared for baking. I’m
making bread and saving enough extra dough (to be stored in the fridge) for
cinnamon caramel pull-apart bread for later in the week. Yummy stuff!</span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijOxlpUR1ilgLufugl9ET4CMdFfYF6zAPfByZNBWeXvyMKRFITyDDaVFAAHJUrDQVI0_EudcUUHpblyJTOT72BUeghbgPnNSWazCwMdplC4i-5Q7DVIyz78-8D48OcmR-nUsUw7m_IZu2N/s1600/9320778-a-woman-s-ankle-with-a-ball-and-chain-hooked-to-it.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijOxlpUR1ilgLufugl9ET4CMdFfYF6zAPfByZNBWeXvyMKRFITyDDaVFAAHJUrDQVI0_EudcUUHpblyJTOT72BUeghbgPnNSWazCwMdplC4i-5Q7DVIyz78-8D48OcmR-nUsUw7m_IZu2N/s200/9320778-a-woman-s-ankle-with-a-ball-and-chain-hooked-to-it.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I
know I need to unplug from the computer more often and plan on doing so more
this summer. I’ll be around, but not as much. We have lots of things we want to
do, both projects here at home and places to see. I need to take some time off
from the ball and chain that is my computer and concentrate on some of the
simple pleasures in life. Taking time to savor the small adventures and break
away from the fog of ennui. You know living and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">experiencing</i> life rather than intellectualizing it via computer. </span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I’ll
see you again for IWSG on Wednesday. </span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I
hope you take some time, as I will be, to smell the roses and explore and
appreciate your corner of the world. Have a great week! <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></b></div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer"><script src="http://digg.com/tools/diggthis.js" type="text/javascript"></script></div>~Sia McKye~http://www.blogger.com/profile/08470562659597351033noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8309263703251385900.post-78327325161870415442015-06-22T00:01:00.000-05:002015-06-22T00:01:00.375-05:00MONDAY MUSINGS—LETTING THE CREATIVE SPIRIT PLAY<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVwjNKOmeNILGmb_j-szYCKXXNj1xyjUO89k7GT7KajCofNUeQLVOD1ZittmrVR7GXR8EWo5ehpRjd36c7pVuyJhJHskT2iRNa4wQ-Fr1J36MXOaXJ0rHug0CRFxImRGDKRDLKv0rZifdc/s1600/Coffee+Quotes+10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVwjNKOmeNILGmb_j-szYCKXXNj1xyjUO89k7GT7KajCofNUeQLVOD1ZittmrVR7GXR8EWo5ehpRjd36c7pVuyJhJHskT2iRNa4wQ-Fr1J36MXOaXJ0rHug0CRFxImRGDKRDLKv0rZifdc/s320/Coffee+Quotes+10.jpg" width="319" /></a></div>
<br />
<b><br /></b>
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<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
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<span style="color: #990000;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><b><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">I
thought I’d start the morning out with something Celtic and energetic—not sure
about you guys, but I need it. Plus, I love Slainte and really like Heath’s
fiddle playing <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">and</i> his bagpipes.
These guys are having a great time playing and that’s always a joy to hear.</span></span></b></span></span></div>
</blockquote>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe width="320" height="266" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/O2tj_zC_XX4/0.jpg" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/O2tj_zC_XX4?feature=player_embedded" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<b>
</b><div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">This
past weekend I actually only worked a half day on Saturday and off on Sunday. It’s
been a good long while since I had almost a whole weekend off. I was planning
to go see Jurassic World but Dan decided he’d rather see it next weekend.
Quality time off, what do I do? Write? Well I do have some clamoring characters
but I told them they’d just have to wait (although I did spend some time
writing in my notebook while sitting outside). <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When you spend as much time in front of a
computer as I do, the last thing you want to do is sit in front of one and so
writing was out. I couldn’t face my office or my computer another minute.</span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></b></div>
<b>
</b><div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I exercised my creative spirit in other ways.
I worked in my garden, admired my tomatoes, planted some more blueberries,
counted my healthy strawberries—about half are doing fine and I’m looking
forward to eating lots of them soon. I also worried about my eight new fruit
trees—they’re not responding from bare root. I’m giving them another week and
then if they still aren’t responding, me and the nursery staff is going to have
words.</span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></b></div>
<b>
</b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWQPQ-dcknsKBlp-aKFWUeJ77i3rYHTBhbyLaaOiknGMK1KGp9kymJqv_MBDf38VDnh0spxGCcTHY1r5gyBw5fCUlQyskS_epCJ6UMTHG94a53Ody3ZmB9hKAt2OX3lBGskN6QJrMdjc_5/s1600/cinnamon-rolls+before+frosting.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWQPQ-dcknsKBlp-aKFWUeJ77i3rYHTBhbyLaaOiknGMK1KGp9kymJqv_MBDf38VDnh0spxGCcTHY1r5gyBw5fCUlQyskS_epCJ6UMTHG94a53Ody3ZmB9hKAt2OX3lBGskN6QJrMdjc_5/s320/cinnamon-rolls+before+frosting.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">My
creative spirit also wanted to play baker. I haven’t done a lot of baking with
yeast in several years. I used to make my bread and rolls. Between having had
MRSA and then the shoulder reconstruction, I got out of the habit of that kind
of baking. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For one, it takes quite a bit
of time and physical effort. I had a hankering for yeasty cinnamon rolls. The
recipe I have used for years produces some yummy cinnamon rolls and I used to
know it by heart. I had to dig it out so I could proceed. Sheesh.</span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<b>
</b><div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaz8g6X4AQCiL6O44Dtb21aslbNGYslC9s56G7ZXDzp_EPf9h-YZnMVXuy5SIk8Nl2h_XnOsf3PnycU3ijCMPajDRrDbm69RsoINL8Uo0Vi9C8-NbrUTaX8NePl83GOVUqYsXf5-_oj_gp/s1600/Hockey+puck.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaz8g6X4AQCiL6O44Dtb21aslbNGYslC9s56G7ZXDzp_EPf9h-YZnMVXuy5SIk8Nl2h_XnOsf3PnycU3ijCMPajDRrDbm69RsoINL8Uo0Vi9C8-NbrUTaX8NePl83GOVUqYsXf5-_oj_gp/s1600/Hockey+puck.jpg" /></a><b><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The
first batch…well…let’s just say they weren’t great. Personally, I think they’d
have made great hockey pucks although the horses thought they were great.
Second batch were good but still not great. Part of it was adjusting for my new
stove (relatively new—2 years old so the proofing of the dough was different as
was this oven’s temps). The other part of the problem is when working yeast
dough it takes practice. I don’t use a bread machine and then there is
remembering temperatures for liquids so you don’t kill the yeast or being too
rough with the dough so it becomes tough. Use the skill or lose it. It all
comes back, well most of it, especially the second time around. Third batch
will be a charm—just as soon as I buy more yeast.</span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<ul>
<li><h4 class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #990000;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">So, how was your weekend? See any good
movies? Read any good books?</span></span></span></h4>
</li>
</ul>
<h4>
<span style="color: #990000;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span></span></h4>
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<li><h4 class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #990000;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Did you let your creative spirit out to
play? How did that work out for you?</span></span></span></h4>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="blogger-post-footer"><script src="http://digg.com/tools/diggthis.js" type="text/javascript"></script></div>~Sia McKye~http://www.blogger.com/profile/08470562659597351033noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8309263703251385900.post-55305537418870062272015-06-15T09:54:00.000-05:002015-06-15T09:54:12.170-05:00MONDAYS MUSINGS—TAPPING OUR EMOTIONAL BANKS<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRyvQqxTXN0ji2mpeVU8Rf-_CVYnt7UqCRIZa-9tysHwq4il_Zh34oHsTJq2-GlKWjIYvaNS5pZN6m8AZ-hd55vp3hzdRjTC6o0QMfiBDGDFFgkaedCml1-KGcezwgg2Zlp8f0l-EJfddP/s1600/Coffeecup512px.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRyvQqxTXN0ji2mpeVU8Rf-_CVYnt7UqCRIZa-9tysHwq4il_Zh34oHsTJq2-GlKWjIYvaNS5pZN6m8AZ-hd55vp3hzdRjTC6o0QMfiBDGDFFgkaedCml1-KGcezwgg2Zlp8f0l-EJfddP/s320/Coffeecup512px.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">
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<span style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Every time we define a character and
set it on a page, we delve into our emotional banks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When we withdraw emotions and life
experiences from that bank and that never leaves us unaffected.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A good example of that is if we’ve just
written a heavy emotional scene, we’re wiped.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></b></span></span></div>
<span style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Anything we create as an artist,
musician, or writer is pulled from our emotional banks.</b></span></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidGXU63YdTIEv5uCMxUkj48DolMxX8RIcUcSNzopFJ4ai8LHfTwNXdQHOLNJyCDo74fUKSibtSzmVa5hFEnFogucoQ11rmVyd_cscWS_8W-d5onNJEVGmwJA1cHYhW5MuezJRlRKWFz3GR/s1600/1329224996notes-5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="235" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidGXU63YdTIEv5uCMxUkj48DolMxX8RIcUcSNzopFJ4ai8LHfTwNXdQHOLNJyCDo74fUKSibtSzmVa5hFEnFogucoQ11rmVyd_cscWS_8W-d5onNJEVGmwJA1cHYhW5MuezJRlRKWFz3GR/s400/1329224996notes-5.jpg" width="400" /></a></b></div>
</blockquote>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">An artist pulls the emotions from
their own psyche and as they do they bring into play their sense of wonder
about life, curiosity about how and why things work. This is why a good piece
of music, object of art, and words can elicit a strong emotional response. To
create that response in others an artist first has to reach inside. And to do
that effectively, the creator is also brushed with those same emotions as they
create.</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Writing/journaling has been used as a
tool for years to help client/patients to identify problems.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The thought being, when you write about a
situation or event your emotions will spill over into what you’re writing and help
see a problem more clearly. Or at least have a starting point to repair or
modify what’s troubling you.</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Many traumatic things are totally or
partially forgotten and this is the mind’s defense mechanism. It protects. Even
when forgotten the emotional impact hasn’t been removed, only hidden. Emotions
are stored differently than memories and have a way of manifesting themselves,
or spilling over, into our dreams and other areas of life. By writing down
those emotions, we can, theoretically, recall missing parts and go about fixing
it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKOAIp7Qt2exiVWX8SOHCIogolnWgY51WqiYHV5U3cf7JqjpJEFzFAOm6vtT6fDdeBx2ls2AgkcfBL0kPsAW-TlAas8bcWX0hQKnW22OYeBvc8Yv29aY8Zpjz26ghBgAPvSzLuWhUVJT8Y/s1600/3005879503_14d6f8c0be.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKOAIp7Qt2exiVWX8SOHCIogolnWgY51WqiYHV5U3cf7JqjpJEFzFAOm6vtT6fDdeBx2ls2AgkcfBL0kPsAW-TlAas8bcWX0hQKnW22OYeBvc8Yv29aY8Zpjz26ghBgAPvSzLuWhUVJT8Y/s320/3005879503_14d6f8c0be.jpg" width="320" /></a><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">I think when we write a story we also
pull from a pool of forgotten emotions and half forgotten situations. All those
emotional feelings—the joys, sadness, anger, fear, feeling helpless, and falling
in love—are stored within our sub-conscious, or our emotional banks. </span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">In my writing, I tend to hit both ends
of the emotional spectrum. I like my characters to have layers. What has
happened to them in their past is going to affect how they react now to life’s
present situations. Of course parts of my own life experiences are used. I’m an
introspective person by nature, and an observer. I have to take care in my
writing not to overburden my readers with too much introspection/retrospection.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have to allow them to draw their own
conclusions based on their life experiences.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Sometimes I write it all out, then go back and remove all the whys
(back-story and explanations) and dribble out just enough to give the reader a
point of reference. I try to leave the actions and reactions of the characters
to define the situation.</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">I don’t always succeed, and I’m always
struggling with that, but it’s a work in progress. I feel great when I’ve drawn
good characters true to life and they move from two dimensional idea to feeling
like a real person. </span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">What helps you create realistic
emotions in your characters?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></b></div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer"><script src="http://digg.com/tools/diggthis.js" type="text/javascript"></script></div>~Sia McKye~http://www.blogger.com/profile/08470562659597351033noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8309263703251385900.post-59985082063714684712015-06-08T13:24:00.000-05:002015-06-08T13:24:27.592-05:00MONDAY MUSINGS THE PAUSE BETWEEN SPRING AND SUMMER<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmqjuY9HTBZGflYaqLwucqRBpFL-z3lCYgdZnPHfCNZRA713N8fX7jWASMdZ5It4EanJfX-PYmWc842LELg_SsZ0An7DO4bSigqtsq0J1q8LwjNbBa3UlNweGRyZTIjtMbuiknNay_4WYQ/s1600/deck-chairs-coffee11391743XSmall-260.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmqjuY9HTBZGflYaqLwucqRBpFL-z3lCYgdZnPHfCNZRA713N8fX7jWASMdZ5It4EanJfX-PYmWc842LELg_SsZ0An7DO4bSigqtsq0J1q8LwjNbBa3UlNweGRyZTIjtMbuiknNay_4WYQ/s400/deck-chairs-coffee11391743XSmall-260.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<b><br /></b>
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<span style="color: #990000;"><b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">When my spirit is troubled, sad, or feeling stressed, I
tend to walk. There’s something about being out among the trees and pastures
that soothes me. Everything is so lush and green. Part of that is because we’ve
had a cool spring and a lot of rain and part of it is because June is a
beautiful month; it’s that moment’s pause between spring and summer.</span></b></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">My walking path meanders all over our property, looping
back and forth leading me through trees and shrubs and across the pastures.
There are many little hidden glens filled with wildflowers. As I wander and
pause, hidden in the trees, I see all sorts of critters.</span></b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0fiK1Yw-nlNCiJl9p40K53QEVUNDqI_10KcE7LXROkvwjsV0Z-ky4ZsUTUWR-eKSrS6-qv3BUV2qcDi2XceZb3lsnSccxfXNfof89d6cDmvJkH6HogTl823xcjSoXgHIqsweswWUk8Q-M/s1600/WI_ArmadillosinMO_Turner_022707.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0fiK1Yw-nlNCiJl9p40K53QEVUNDqI_10KcE7LXROkvwjsV0Z-ky4ZsUTUWR-eKSrS6-qv3BUV2qcDi2XceZb3lsnSccxfXNfof89d6cDmvJkH6HogTl823xcjSoXgHIqsweswWUk8Q-M/s200/WI_ArmadillosinMO_Turner_022707.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWpYqBATSXlvAyFFnjfByvj_PDApOOC0AudpRvMMiGu8EwkkzpEHLO_fZaJfm1TLjhUH7cU8VFNR40Q_fN6wEUsyILcV2PGhJVh0n1hyphenhyphenuDoz4GBXa-whYn-KeBLfgjs4IypctG6KWDl_6P/s1600/WI_MissouriGroundhog_Barnhouse_102706sm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWpYqBATSXlvAyFFnjfByvj_PDApOOC0AudpRvMMiGu8EwkkzpEHLO_fZaJfm1TLjhUH7cU8VFNR40Q_fN6wEUsyILcV2PGhJVh0n1hyphenhyphenuDoz4GBXa-whYn-KeBLfgjs4IypctG6KWDl_6P/s1600/WI_MissouriGroundhog_Barnhouse_102706sm.jpg" /></a><b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I’ve caught sight of
foxes and their kits, the quiet glide of a coyote with her pups and watched
them play like the puppies they are. We have two ponds on the property. I
usually stop at the one about a quarter of a mile down behind the house. There
are a lot of interesting sights to see if one is quiet and still. Lot of
wildlife. At one end of the pond a pair of wood ducks have made a home and
raise their babies. There’s a big abandoned tractor tire that we leave down
there for them to hide in or around. I have yet to be able to get a picture of
them. Always I see the ducklings swimming near the tire when I don’t have my
camera.</span></b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiniJnzeM2kfzV-mv1SY-lnSNBioJ36Vz01_PhPc3OYb5W9MNR0VrvFuLPnf6VMtt6hiVSpsZyAAVvZFt7pMhiQOFDORo2J6CWhTyMD9IbVNBf48_9v-WIAbETySTiIrEBAgG3gBV3NsCLL/s1600/Wood+ducks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="262" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiniJnzeM2kfzV-mv1SY-lnSNBioJ36Vz01_PhPc3OYb5W9MNR0VrvFuLPnf6VMtt6hiVSpsZyAAVvZFt7pMhiQOFDORo2J6CWhTyMD9IbVNBf48_9v-WIAbETySTiIrEBAgG3gBV3NsCLL/s400/Wood+ducks.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnpMPhiNXukLUpT2hncIUaGtAi8vbovhQf1pydDL7uM76R1h_eKBchYt1O4WpsI48DRD-bwBOIK-B1R_F5y8xfUgA2Qvma-NofQZJKWHahyHo_PNmI6YLLh9LOpFj3uYry9-ChbWLUSrVL/s1600/Doe+feeding+her+fawn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnpMPhiNXukLUpT2hncIUaGtAi8vbovhQf1pydDL7uM76R1h_eKBchYt1O4WpsI48DRD-bwBOIK-B1R_F5y8xfUgA2Qvma-NofQZJKWHahyHo_PNmI6YLLh9LOpFj3uYry9-ChbWLUSrVL/s320/Doe+feeding+her+fawn.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The pond is a nursery area for deer, turkeys, quail, and
I’ve seen woodchucks and armadillos—which are quite comical to watch. They’re
also very playful and it lifts even the lowest spirits. There is a small herd
of deer that graze on the other side of the pond and let their fawns run and
play. They bring a smile to my face as they play tag and dash about. Usually
this group raises several sets of twins. They’re fun to watch. The deer bed
down not far from the pond at night. I’m assured of seeing them in the late
afternoon.</span></b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKcL8xYbs-JLxcJT6uE1w9shL1LMudWbWE9Ge0iyC8phVEYGUHODfaZhaA9HW2pzXhoIB0uM8KFIBO61qq1m6TXgxihq1yz7rCgrJzRzjamzycSY8NZsMlICVqCzBcZ6AEbM-KM5N6alfY/s1600/baby-wild-turkeys-004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="228" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKcL8xYbs-JLxcJT6uE1w9shL1LMudWbWE9Ge0iyC8phVEYGUHODfaZhaA9HW2pzXhoIB0uM8KFIBO61qq1m6TXgxihq1yz7rCgrJzRzjamzycSY8NZsMlICVqCzBcZ6AEbM-KM5N6alfY/s320/baby-wild-turkeys-004.jpg" width="320" /></a><b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Being outside on the property strokes all my senses.
I breathe in the rich smell of growing things, the scent of the forest, a hint
of wildflowers and wild roses tickle my nose. Birdsong fills the air, the hum
of bees, the greeting from my horses, and company of my pride of ‘walking’
cats. We have many butterflies feasting on the wildflowers, the comedic antics
of the hummingbirds fussing and chasing each other. They make me laugh, silly
things. This afternoon there was an added addition of a turkey hen and her
brood of about 9 chicks, I say about, because they tend to move rather quickly
so it’s hard to count them accurately. </span></b></div>
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">
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<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">That pause between spring and summer is a great time to
walk. It's where I find my peace and I smile.</span></b></div>
</blockquote>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxNMWZ8tp0Aet5HwQhJSj39CO_TGCy-SsRq4JRNTSSvV5mr82jB7QKdv81TIm9HfJloB282lQdNz_L5j9brZIwb02OmtzWuxxCvBu32cinArF3Lu4p8rPCOmYPU88gCzpHVyH5S34bUZji/s1600/-red-fox-kit-with-turkey-feather-147.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxNMWZ8tp0Aet5HwQhJSj39CO_TGCy-SsRq4JRNTSSvV5mr82jB7QKdv81TIm9HfJloB282lQdNz_L5j9brZIwb02OmtzWuxxCvBu32cinArF3Lu4p8rPCOmYPU88gCzpHVyH5S34bUZji/s320/-red-fox-kit-with-turkey-feather-147.jpg" width="256" /></a></div>
<br />
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<div class="blogger-post-footer"><script src="http://digg.com/tools/diggthis.js" type="text/javascript"></script></div>~Sia McKye~http://www.blogger.com/profile/08470562659597351033noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8309263703251385900.post-16956092171743188592015-06-05T00:01:00.000-05:002015-06-05T00:01:00.654-05:00FEELING GOOD—HOW DO YOU CREATE IT?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="color: #990000;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">We all have things that make us feel
good; things, which bring us comfort, or lift our heart.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Maybe it’s a snatch of song, the scent of
cookies baking, watching kittens play, or the sound of a baby’s delighted
laugh.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The first snowfall and the quiet
hush of peace and beauty it brings to our heart.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s all about atmosphere.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sometimes atmosphere is something that
happens, other times it’s something we invoke.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="color: #990000;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> </span></span>
</span></span></b></div>
</blockquote>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgelOuzNcnGEFYYwkgMd8qTvcspXY3Bu-ed4dZSJHd2CfEApB1Bp9qil_jTkMn3DpgVNh5HQFNr7basej2KvCKaBnH7wMr71odnEEF14QDLH-YKwtcb5QJIjKf5QViXXACkV1POfx-1Jdlb/s1600/laughter+pic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgelOuzNcnGEFYYwkgMd8qTvcspXY3Bu-ed4dZSJHd2CfEApB1Bp9qil_jTkMn3DpgVNh5HQFNr7basej2KvCKaBnH7wMr71odnEEF14QDLH-YKwtcb5QJIjKf5QViXXACkV1POfx-1Jdlb/s200/laughter+pic.jpg" width="200" /></a><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">When I’m not in the mood to do
household tasks, but know it has to be done, I play music with a strong beat
and rhythm.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Want to set a party mood,
music again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Music and scent have always
been a big thing in my life. Music makes me feel good, adds energy and can
reset my mood.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Music is a tool I’ve used
to give the atmosphere of peace and serenity after an argument or so my baby
could sleep. </span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWOHdEjkoikmok5QOjZSqm2El40zRmn2giSCBFbHcATUS-73_dnNjFDyXvqDuG_tdR3HE7l5h5nL4EdcQ5o9lRHGujg7Xo24zbkqImdzK8VNvP46Zw5dKysPubzWEKsjA2gH2W6IjklUtP/s1600/Coffee+a+book+and+a+fire.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWOHdEjkoikmok5QOjZSqm2El40zRmn2giSCBFbHcATUS-73_dnNjFDyXvqDuG_tdR3HE7l5h5nL4EdcQ5o9lRHGujg7Xo24zbkqImdzK8VNvP46Zw5dKysPubzWEKsjA2gH2W6IjklUtP/s320/Coffee+a+book+and+a+fire.jpg" width="320" /></a><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">After a stressful day out in the world
I long for the comfort of home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I light
my scented candles, turn on music, change into something
comfortable—comfortable lounge pants, oversize shirt, a pair of soft socks or
barefoot.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If it’s cold and dreary,
cooking special foods for dinner will call upon memories of growing up or happy
times.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I surround myself with cozy
things to snuggle up to on a cold winter’s night, a funny movie, the smell of
popcorn, a down comforter, a cat in my lap, a dog at my feet, and my family
around me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A plate of homemade cookies,
the snap and crackle of a fire all are atmospheric things of comfort I
deliberately set up in my environment. </span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">How do you set the atmosphere in your
writing?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">We want to show not tell, so how do
you show the mood and tone surrounding your characters?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Dialog will give the reader verbal cues but
how you ‘paint’ your ‘scene’ gives subconscious clue to your atmosphere.</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Take a moment and think: <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At the end of the day or the close of a long
week, what does your mind leap to that spells comfort or invokes peace or happiness?</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Chances are, you will automatically add
in the atmosphere. It’s not <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">just</i> the
action or words or a place, but the background your mind layers in
subconsciously. If you contemplate how your comfort is built it becomes a
pattern to build atmosphere in your writing.</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwS7Y_dXbzgfXJtsNO-TuupCrDqcxQ92lbLz5JwN8vu7C31A9eolm-fTDM3nKeOejAQagypqkFRZq0c-3KfOt13fEIKT-GKmBcQtmon6gTl04H9XLm-pq0axUF36EgywvodZUk0e84Qaln/s1600/knitting2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="135" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwS7Y_dXbzgfXJtsNO-TuupCrDqcxQ92lbLz5JwN8vu7C31A9eolm-fTDM3nKeOejAQagypqkFRZq0c-3KfOt13fEIKT-GKmBcQtmon6gTl04H9XLm-pq0axUF36EgywvodZUk0e84Qaln/s200/knitting2.jpg" width="200" /></a><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">I’m curious. </span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">When you need to set a
particular tone or mood with your writing, what do you do to put yourself there
first?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do you use sound? Touch? Scent?
Open the inner journal of times past?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></b></div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer"><script src="http://digg.com/tools/diggthis.js" type="text/javascript"></script></div>~Sia McKye~http://www.blogger.com/profile/08470562659597351033noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8309263703251385900.post-55246639510657666742015-05-22T00:01:00.000-05:002015-05-22T00:01:00.077-05:00MEMORIAL DAY: WHY A NATIONAL CELEBRATION?<span style="color: #38761d;"><b><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>I originally wrote in 2013 but thought it fit for today's blog.</i></span></b></span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxcEXYWhqsEBSX47YtU5eJcRB_owBig-Tg_VemJ8-CWEl3-SnhrVHmSyWZ_HmPy8kBQ6IS8HiEj4uEW-INmpARmYNlRX_UTKjK092SUGhroI-CuZqwm3Fzgv2fbOuKrhfF2OokGnpZdxCC/s1600/coffee-and-a-cigar-union-corporal-civil-war-randy-steele.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxcEXYWhqsEBSX47YtU5eJcRB_owBig-Tg_VemJ8-CWEl3-SnhrVHmSyWZ_HmPy8kBQ6IS8HiEj4uEW-INmpARmYNlRX_UTKjK092SUGhroI-CuZqwm3Fzgv2fbOuKrhfF2OokGnpZdxCC/s400/coffee-and-a-cigar-union-corporal-civil-war-randy-steele.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="color: #990000; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><b>Memorial Day is for remembering the men and women who have fallen in a time of war. Unlike Veterans Day, which honors <i>all</i> those, living <i>or</i>
dead, who have served in the military. It was originally called
Decoration Day by a proclamation General John Logan, on May 5, 1868. The
proclamation also decreed it to be a National annual observation and
the first year it was held on May 30,1868. </b></span></span></blockquote>
<b><br /></b>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Remember the United States had recently fought a bloody Civil War.
The country had not yet healed. General Logan's proclamation originally
was in honor of fallen Union soldiers. The South had the Confederate
Memorial Day observances with emphasis on the lost confederate cause and
it was held in various southern states ranging from the end of April to
mid June. It wasn't until about 1913 that the two halves of the country
started showing signs of honoring <i>American</i> fallen, rather just the Union or Confederate. </b></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Even
though there were places in the United States that called it Memorial
Day, rather than Decoration Day, it wasn't until the 1940's that it
became the common name. It wasn't officially so named until 1967. That
was that year the Federal government proposed not only changing the name
but the date of celebration from May 30th to the last Monday of the
month May. The law went into effect on the federal level in May of
1971.</b></span><br />
<b><br /></b>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhjjvBPKIw-xs7XoPOl16j1uSL7RJmVIjkOFqHwJYGDo_ITWwc7wLvINTCEIhyphenhyphenHs3GyFlBeDCcmM0p8pUYAkpnXYjOGWB_gRKVU3kAQQ_SpOjzs6Ozxxx1Eh4l9nfEHRjeMSLRU8iNUKPZ/s1600/FlagCeremony4.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhjjvBPKIw-xs7XoPOl16j1uSL7RJmVIjkOFqHwJYGDo_ITWwc7wLvINTCEIhyphenhyphenHs3GyFlBeDCcmM0p8pUYAkpnXYjOGWB_gRKVU3kAQQ_SpOjzs6Ozxxx1Eh4l9nfEHRjeMSLRU8iNUKPZ/s320/FlagCeremony4.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>There
are those who may have observed the flag ceremony that goes with the
holiday, where the American flag is raised at sunrise and then slowly
lowered to half mast until noon. At 12:01 the flag is again raised full
staff for the rest of the day. </b></span><br />
<b><br /></b>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>What is the significance of this ceremony? </b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>Half mast is in honor of those million plus men and women who have
died in service to their country. Full staff represents the living
rising up who will not allow their deaths to be in vain. The living
honor this sacrifice by continuing the fight for liberty and justice for
all.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>Other celebrations held nationwide are parades, speeches, marching of
veterans from various wars, listening to bands play military aires--and
of course cookouts. This is the beginning of summer. Many choose to
celebrate the latter rather then remembering, or even knowing
the significance of the holiday. </b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>National cemeteries and military installations have solemn and formal
ceremonies. Always, there is the playing of the Taps to commemorate
those who have died; and in many places the honor guard give a
twenty-one gun salute. In this way, they give honor to the fallen heroes
who have given their lives for freedom.</b></span><br />
<b><br /></b>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/SQ6e4Og97eU/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/SQ6e4Og97eU?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe></div>
<br />
<br />
<b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I
apologize to those who don't particularly like country music, but I happen to think this is a good story set to music. A good reminder. There are quite a few unapologetic country singers who feel the
need to honor American soldiers with song and video and this is one that honors the fallen from the time this country started until today.</span></b><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color: #0b5394;">If you like the article please share. </span> </span></b></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Have a safe and happy Memorial Day! </span></span></span> </b></div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer"><script src="http://digg.com/tools/diggthis.js" type="text/javascript"></script></div>~Sia McKye~http://www.blogger.com/profile/08470562659597351033noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8309263703251385900.post-9742570765227359042015-05-18T10:39:00.000-05:002015-05-18T10:40:54.637-05:00MONDAY'S MUSINGS— BUILDING A STORY<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqG4qTiCRwYuTIu3OMny1UfAY9vce2ZVdFp-F-lW0NCt-nijdzlY03enXdfPxyXke1FGMIHduzhjP8_jLKKpCvWnGSa0vuLpAeWVc0um69RBPA225ZHh6eu0T5oVZjLSM2qRHe9RQNzBrM/s1600/TerryAske_GoodMorning_full.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="322" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqG4qTiCRwYuTIu3OMny1UfAY9vce2ZVdFp-F-lW0NCt-nijdzlY03enXdfPxyXke1FGMIHduzhjP8_jLKKpCvWnGSa0vuLpAeWVc0um69RBPA225ZHh6eu0T5oVZjLSM2qRHe9RQNzBrM/s400/TerryAske_GoodMorning_full.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: #fff2cc;"><b><span style="color: #102bb0; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">One thing I’ve learned
over the years is everyone tells a story differently. Writers build their
stories differently, too. </span></b></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: #fff2cc;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpe3edmVWzDYYya8uAbszgpr1abaS7MfTPZPWVwo5kXSPobQdLIsv8NM7TwuIQcxczb3eBbKHOa29pGdOzL8vYsFelYdaLeI-l8y6vWv_b1JjZnp68oU2FlXRyMsZzIjf9B1WNIvYjebQs/s1600/Drawing+a+outline+of+Dog%2527s+eye.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpe3edmVWzDYYya8uAbszgpr1abaS7MfTPZPWVwo5kXSPobQdLIsv8NM7TwuIQcxczb3eBbKHOa29pGdOzL8vYsFelYdaLeI-l8y6vWv_b1JjZnp68oU2FlXRyMsZzIjf9B1WNIvYjebQs/s1600/Drawing+a+outline+of+Dog%2527s+eye.jpg" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #fff2cc;"><b><span style="color: #102bb0; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">My stories come to me in a flash of an idea. A quick sketch.
Something that intrigues me whether it’s and idea from something I’ve read,
heard on the news, a snippet of conversation, and a scenario develops in mind.
And I should say, I <i>always</i> have some daydream situation going on in my
mind. Once it reaches a certain point I have to get it out of my mind and on
paper. </span></b></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #fff2cc;"><b><span style="color: #102bb0; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">I tend to be spare when
I’m starting a story or a scene. It’s a quick sketch of what I’m seeing in my
head. I don’t have the time to layer every sensory bit <i>I</i> see and feel.</span></b></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVsPIJG_XO5X72to2ZObdaxL5wvPXEus5I4zPttLeWpBczvWRh-lZ3I0JY5jkS5KSZNIxgFioQiRrpfA3oX07_Dwo4hqf4NHM1sq4F17rTOudMhVbb52FCnOQ1x0ek29NmTqEY9MhHGXqi/s1600/Drawing+a+Dog%2527s+eye+outline+plus.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVsPIJG_XO5X72to2ZObdaxL5wvPXEus5I4zPttLeWpBczvWRh-lZ3I0JY5jkS5KSZNIxgFioQiRrpfA3oX07_Dwo4hqf4NHM1sq4F17rTOudMhVbb52FCnOQ1x0ek29NmTqEY9MhHGXqi/s1600/Drawing+a+Dog%2527s+eye+outline+plus.jpg" /></a><span style="background-color: #fff2cc;"><b><span style="color: #102bb0; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">This used to be a big
wall for me and certainly frustrating. What I saw, heard, and felt wasn’t
always there—the bare bones were. The fluid movements, the echoes of emotion
were there. I’d get to feeling like, oh my god this is such crap. Why? Because
I wasn’t looking at it properly and forgot that as I wrote the scene it was <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">my</i> mind providing all the layers, but I
wrote only the actions. For the reader to see it I had to add the layers I saw
and felt.</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #fff2cc;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuzKY0rg4JAtbN5kREt7YI_Fp9K250wsgM0zxXAjGovjizJ893RXaiCwi95N6v0-cuAD282iBzMlwE_2xTOCNpvtPeQmXqlilFdUceoyWYBrvy0jNBiDzDK0yef-UKUvDwzbNjP_0IGhvb/s1600/Drawing+a+Dog%2527s+eye+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuzKY0rg4JAtbN5kREt7YI_Fp9K250wsgM0zxXAjGovjizJ893RXaiCwi95N6v0-cuAD282iBzMlwE_2xTOCNpvtPeQmXqlilFdUceoyWYBrvy0jNBiDzDK0yef-UKUvDwzbNjP_0IGhvb/s1600/Drawing+a+Dog%2527s+eye+3.jpg" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #fff2cc;"><b><span style="color: #102bb0; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">I’ve learned a few
tricks along the way. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>For me, it very
similar to building a picture. It starts with an base outline and each pass I
add more details until it matches what’s in my head. I need to get it on paper
but I can’t let it go without going back and shading in and smudging the bare
sketch.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></b></span><br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: #fff2cc;"><b><span style="color: #102bb0; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With my story, I have to go back
and add reaction/emotions/description and adding all the fun and tantalizing
details. Even when the scenes are good initially I’m still going have to go
back and shade in more sensory details.</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #fff2cc;"><b><span style="color: #102bb0; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">I’ve also learned I’m
going to have to do that over and over as I write each chapter.</span></b><span style="color: #102bb0; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #fff2cc;"><b><span style="color: #102bb0; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Each
of my scenes has to have a goal and a reason exist. I have to ask questions of
myself. Is there enough conflict internally or externally? Especially in the
opening. Is there enough to put my reader in the scene and make them want to
read more? Am I getting them involved or are they on the sidelines? Am I using
settings and dialog that showcase my characters strengths and weaknesses or
foreshadow actions to come? </span></b></span></div>
<br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: #fff2cc;"><span style="color: #990000;"><b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">What
about you? How do you build a story? What tricks have you learned?</span></b></span></span></span></li>
</ul>
<div class="blogger-post-footer"><script src="http://digg.com/tools/diggthis.js" type="text/javascript"></script></div>~Sia McKye~http://www.blogger.com/profile/08470562659597351033noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8309263703251385900.post-7181210499211015792015-05-15T00:01:00.000-05:002015-05-15T00:01:00.165-05:00Enriching Your Writing—Colloquiums<div class="MsoNormal">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCDg5ul9abQhP0yLdjYmqI7XBpfyE7LIFpomgDSrSTkDOsXBhbLup-pPA_HFgUU5kdiUarpPxuJQcq-6hRFRlxVE_DVa29uIYJy69ebacUCGKJ2JvmDhiOro4BK42XI6mcuc2nxS1TxNWE/s1600/bowl+of+grits2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="277" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCDg5ul9abQhP0yLdjYmqI7XBpfyE7LIFpomgDSrSTkDOsXBhbLup-pPA_HFgUU5kdiUarpPxuJQcq-6hRFRlxVE_DVa29uIYJy69ebacUCGKJ2JvmDhiOro4BK42XI6mcuc2nxS1TxNWE/s400/bowl+of+grits2.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The use of slang, colloquiums, and clichés can add flavor to
your writing, so long as those devices aren’t <i>over</i> used. It can also
characterize your setting and add to your characters—without getting into a bunch
of backstory. The use of slang and colloquial phrases are usually confined to
character speech (or inner thoughts) and not to the whole manuscript. </span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Not every character will speak in the same manner (and
wouldn’t it be boring if they did). The big city girl comes to the country for
a job or another purpose. She uses proper English in her speech but hearing the
way others speak can add conflict in her perception of the people or another
character she comes into contact with. She might perceive them as uneducated
and this could cause her to make judgments or underestimate the other
character(s). That can work both ways, of course.</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">There are those who don’t agree with using slang,
colloquiums, or clichés and that’s fine, but even some of the classic literary
giants, if you will recall, used them. </span></b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpIIKOhM_GweMFUPwY_CMBvPY7n8OJt5Xlw-zMbWU-iaKm30Czi8LIWvtVnXicqlXPyN7diNjOcO_CgJOW1FLWN6Y9ylAg9n8bEhkk5RjcFbxPII3EmhFmfwitnoBN1b3RKCMatMODhq6M/s1600/Blue+collar+and+white+collar+workers.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="182" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpIIKOhM_GweMFUPwY_CMBvPY7n8OJt5Xlw-zMbWU-iaKm30Czi8LIWvtVnXicqlXPyN7diNjOcO_CgJOW1FLWN6Y9ylAg9n8bEhkk5RjcFbxPII3EmhFmfwitnoBN1b3RKCMatMODhq6M/s320/Blue+collar+and+white+collar+workers.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">A blue collar worker may have a different vernacular then a college teacher or stockbroker. A street-smart punk isn’t going to speak in perfect English
and if the author, critique partner, or editor tries to force that on the
character it will make the character flat</span></b><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcdZpGJBSTTP7fuZPEq8N1ephU2alfKK5N7a1ML5eXZeliX-8IgmreJr5cq4vIO127STKmTpxVHgLHtkstpdlTvvftQ3AbAlU1ZoiR5FBuuGTf6UPBG1sSbsZzgcBDNFMbV0buMNHThLUR/s1600/Street+punks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcdZpGJBSTTP7fuZPEq8N1ephU2alfKK5N7a1ML5eXZeliX-8IgmreJr5cq4vIO127STKmTpxVHgLHtkstpdlTvvftQ3AbAlU1ZoiR5FBuuGTf6UPBG1sSbsZzgcBDNFMbV0buMNHThLUR/s320/Street+punks.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></b></div>
<b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> and unrealistic. Someone from the
Deep South isn’t going to use his or her words or even the same sentence
structure as someone from, fill in the blank____ Maine, California, Upper
Midwest, Western states, Pennsylvania Dutch country, does. </span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Those differences can be used to give flavor to our
characters and settings.</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">An author who does this well, in my opinion, is <a href="http://carolynlbrown.com/">Carolyn Brown</a>. She writes about people from Texas and Oklahoma in small town and ranch
country. She gives richness to her stories with the use of colloquial phrases
and regional slang. Her writing pops with location, setting, and realistic
people. I laugh because it captures that area so well. Even if you’re not from
or never visited the area it works. She doesn’t waste time defining the phrases
or words she uses but the context in which they’re used is self-explanatory.</span></b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3ZiJ9qCf9mCFS-yi5LCWIQCHP7VKMRv7WoFVayADB-yb7Oe6Dnc8xNmFB2dVCUYYSsYGAzDv6o-H5lvYQfg4w5Hipp_OW7_yl9Va8WVid9RMlEiRp7SgofMy0w1NOqLXYId5PpT-k_2Ny/s1600/regency-ball-drawing-room-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="246" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3ZiJ9qCf9mCFS-yi5LCWIQCHP7VKMRv7WoFVayADB-yb7Oe6Dnc8xNmFB2dVCUYYSsYGAzDv6o-H5lvYQfg4w5Hipp_OW7_yl9Va8WVid9RMlEiRp7SgofMy0w1NOqLXYId5PpT-k_2Ny/s320/regency-ball-drawing-room-2.jpg" width="320" /></a><b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">If you write Regencies, you automatically use syntax of the
era as well as the slang. It gives the feeling of place and time. Military
suspense, thrillers, or romance use slang or jargon because the military has
its own terminology as does law enforcement. Someone writing sci-fi or
paranormal will create his or her own world jargon and slang.</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I think it’s perfectly legitimate to use colloquial speech
and clichés in your writing to add texture to your story so long as the terms
fit and aren’t use merely as a form of laziness.</span></b><br />
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<ul>
<li><span style="color: #990000;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><b>Do
you use, colloquiums, and clichés in your writing?</b></span></span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> </span></li>
</ul>
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<li><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="color: #990000;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><b>How
do you decide when and how to use them?</b></span></span>
</li>
</ul>
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<div class="blogger-post-footer"><script src="http://digg.com/tools/diggthis.js" type="text/javascript"></script></div>~Sia McKye~http://www.blogger.com/profile/08470562659597351033noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8309263703251385900.post-8740382360894398762015-05-11T11:06:00.000-05:002015-05-11T11:06:24.854-05:00MONDAY MUSINGS—THE MOMENTS BETWEEN DARK AND DAWN<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidFROPuv1hIOAxBpKiHDyML6VxuVvPTkwh8fXgmqPEuVZrOn2wNw2JPE0We3r9Bt1sAQVvqkyDirkak058L8gGphl7JymbrI6YwscrslY66rLG1c3aotm6mMp_bfo6nBrploye0InewRwH/s1600/coffee+in+the+sun.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidFROPuv1hIOAxBpKiHDyML6VxuVvPTkwh8fXgmqPEuVZrOn2wNw2JPE0We3r9Bt1sAQVvqkyDirkak058L8gGphl7JymbrI6YwscrslY66rLG1c3aotm6mMp_bfo6nBrploye0InewRwH/s400/coffee+in+the+sun.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">The moment between dark and dawn is
magical.</span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">The morning dew coats the grass and
leaves. It softly drips through the thin wisps of fog that skirt the trees and
stroke the tops of the brush. A transparent moon hangs above the western hills.
The hush of the early morning is haunted by the last echoes of the
whippoorwills. The blaze of rust as the fox fades into the tree line and home. The
triumphant cry of the owl and shriek of its prey cuts through the moment
between dark and dawn.</span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhLoc-Lcu_iNynKYemUkjDWTlQdMezdnlBPzg-5ZqjaaCn3R8D4OkCgJgrBIzUX8XUu4_CKRPUgBsqUaNo7gaXBgYC7ed3xAsA7FwHjtGslymoax_mJxAHZD0JW1I8RRLI9Y6rJFmGPK8-/s1600/Sunrise+a+hint+of+color.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhLoc-Lcu_iNynKYemUkjDWTlQdMezdnlBPzg-5ZqjaaCn3R8D4OkCgJgrBIzUX8XUu4_CKRPUgBsqUaNo7gaXBgYC7ed3xAsA7FwHjtGslymoax_mJxAHZD0JW1I8RRLI9Y6rJFmGPK8-/s320/Sunrise+a+hint+of+color.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">The breeze pushes back the dark grays
and purples of the dark leaving mauves, a blush of rose and turquoise in their wake. To the east
a crimson glow highlights the silhouette of oaks waiting to greet the sun. The scent
of flowers merges with the rich smell of fertile earth and trees.</span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">All around is the murmur and rustling
wings of birds as they stretch and shake off the shadows of the night. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mourning Doves are cooing among the branches
and flash of red and bright chirps of cardinals weaving through the leaves
toward the feeders. The sudden flutter of wings as a flock of doves land under
the bird feeders to break their morning fast. Flickers of yellow and green
announce the arrival of the finches.</span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Layer by layer the morning symphony
builds. The buzz of the bees harvesting nectar. The aerial display of the crows
against the rose and gold sky crying out a counterpoint rhythm to the chorus of
birds as they sing up the sun. </span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">The sun opens its arms on the horizon
banishing the shadows and bathes all in the golden glow of morning.</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7na6RDX546YY7qpTdn4pTqUBqUWUND30tNffmbXT0JPyYSdPCoBBWAeNR7PG6s_EV2i8fancyCpBOmsgtTP7MwQarUH2ied7CpMosmsF_jZUgHAKce_2SPL6Ew2UWuZSKVrTU4ZuCf5Zy/s1600/Sunrise.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="408" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7na6RDX546YY7qpTdn4pTqUBqUWUND30tNffmbXT0JPyYSdPCoBBWAeNR7PG6s_EV2i8fancyCpBOmsgtTP7MwQarUH2ied7CpMosmsF_jZUgHAKce_2SPL6Ew2UWuZSKVrTU4ZuCf5Zy/s640/Sunrise.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">There is just something magical in
that moment between dark and light. And it fills me with peace and quiet joy. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></b></div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer"><script src="http://digg.com/tools/diggthis.js" type="text/javascript"></script></div>~Sia McKye~http://www.blogger.com/profile/08470562659597351033noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8309263703251385900.post-48480219401010436982015-05-08T00:01:00.000-05:002015-05-08T00:01:00.471-05:00AUTHOR INTERVIEW—JADE LEE<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-CLyCFPLhzxs-rio3HCkmHSCswxWr_pE8aAox-7k1G7HyL2x4xzjCxtp-VhF3BHJxMU22bCvOI-VU-Kqm69PyX_8kB8MgmQjlNA3zhkFesyLLno9HCzyPM1tmSLJ6ADP0OVjZcb3FYpYw/s1600/coffee+wallpaper.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="199" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-CLyCFPLhzxs-rio3HCkmHSCswxWr_pE8aAox-7k1G7HyL2x4xzjCxtp-VhF3BHJxMU22bCvOI-VU-Kqm69PyX_8kB8MgmQjlNA3zhkFesyLLno9HCzyPM1tmSLJ6ADP0OVjZcb3FYpYw/s320/coffee+wallpaper.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX109440167" style="margin-left: 0px; text-indent: 0px;">
<div class="Paragraph SCX109440167" style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 6pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-right: 0px; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color: #990000;"><span style="color: #674ea7;"><span class="TextRun SCX109440167" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16px;"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX109440167" style="background-color: inherit;">Today</span></span><span class="TextRun SCX109440167" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16px;"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX109440167" style="background-color: inherit;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCX109440167" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16px;"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX109440167" style="background-color: inherit;">I'm</span></span><span class="TextRun SCX109440167" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16px;"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX109440167" style="background-color: inherit;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCX109440167" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16px;"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX109440167" style="background-color: inherit;">excited to welcome </span></span><span class="TextRun SCX109440167" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16px;"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX109440167" style="background-color: inherit;">romance author, </span></span><a href="http://jadeleeauthor.com/"><span class="TextRun SCX109440167" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16px;"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX109440167" style="background-color: inherit;">Jade Lee</span></span></a><span class="TextRun SCX109440167" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16px;"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX109440167" style="background-color: inherit;">,</span></span><span class="TextRun SCX109440167" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16px;"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX109440167" style="background-color: inherit;"> to</span></span><span class="TextRun SCX109440167" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16px;"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX109440167" style="background-color: inherit;"> Over Coffee.</span></span><span class="TextRun SCX109440167" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16px;"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX109440167" style="background-color: inherit;"> Jade’s latest title</span></span><span class="TextRun SCX109440167" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16px;"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX109440167" style="background-color: inherit;">,</span></span><span class="TextRun SCX109440167" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16px;"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX109440167" style="background-color: inherit;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCX109440167" style="font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; line-height: 16px;"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX109440167" style="background-color: inherit;">50 Ways to Ruin a Rake</span></span><span class="TextRun SCX109440167" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16px;"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX109440167" style="background-color: inherit;">, is out </span></span><span class="TextRun SCX109440167" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16px;"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX109440167" style="background-color: inherit;"> and </span></span><span class="TextRun SCX109440167" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16px;"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX109440167" style="background-color: inherit;">marks the beginning of</span></span><span class="TextRun SCX109440167" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16px;"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX109440167" style="background-color: inherit;"> her hilarious new Rakes & Rogues series. To celebrate her new</span></span><span class="TextRun SCX109440167" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16px;"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX109440167" style="background-color: inherit;"> release, Jade is here for a </span></span><span class="TextRun SCX109440167" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16px;"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX109440167" style="background-color: inherit;">mini-interview</span></span><span class="TextRun SCX109440167" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16px;"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX109440167" style="background-color: inherit;">.</span></span></span><span class="EOP SCX109440167" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16px;"></span></span></span></b></div>
</div>
</blockquote>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b> @@@</b></div>
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</blockquote>
<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX109440167" style="margin-left: 0px; text-indent: 0px;">
<div class="Paragraph SCX109440167" style="background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-family: 'Segoe UI',Tahoma,Verdana,'Sans-Serif'; font-size: 6pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-right: 0px; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
</div>
</div>
<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX109440167" style="margin-left: 0px; text-indent: 0px;">
<div class="Paragraph SCX109440167" style="background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-family: 'Segoe UI',Tahoma,Verdana,'Sans-Serif'; font-size: 6pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-right: 0px; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="color: #990000; font-size: small;"><span class="TextRun SCX109440167" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: 18px;"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX109440167" style="background-color: inherit;">What piece of writing advice sticks with you to this day?</span></span></span></span><div class="Paragraph SCX109440167" style="background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-family: 'Segoe UI',Tahoma,Verdana,'Sans-Serif'; font-size: 6pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-right: 0px; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><span class="TextRun SCX109440167" style="font-family: Calibri,Sans-Serif; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: bold; line-height: 19px;"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX109440167" style="background-color: inherit;">It’s a marathon not a sprint. A little bit every day. In the end, it’ll grow up to be a career.</span></span></span><span class="EOP SCX109440167" style="font-family: Calibri,Sans-Serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 19px;"> </span></div>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
</div>
<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX109440167" style="margin-left: 48px; text-indent: 0px;">
<div class="Paragraph SCX109440167" style="background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-family: 'Segoe UI',Tahoma,Verdana,'Sans-Serif'; font-size: 6pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-right: 0px; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
</div>
</div>
<div class="SCX109440167">
<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX109440167" style="margin-left: 0px; text-indent: 0px;">
<div class="Paragraph SCX109440167" style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 6pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-right: 0px; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="color: #990000;"><span class="TextRun SCX109440167" style="font-size: 12pt; font-weight: bold; line-height: 18px;"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX109440167" style="background-color: inherit;">What has been your biggest adventure to date?</span></span></span></span></li>
</ul>
</div>
</div>
<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX109440167" style="margin-left: 48px; text-indent: 0px;">
<div class="Paragraph SCX109440167" style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "Segoe UI",Tahoma,Verdana,"Sans-Serif"; font-size: 6pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-right: 0px; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><span class="TextRun SCX109440167" style="font-family: Calibri,Sans-Serif; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: bold; line-height: 19px;"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX109440167" style="background-color: inherit;">Writing funny. It’s a ton harder than I ever thought. But </span></span><span class="TextRun SCX109440167" style="font-family: Calibri,Sans-Serif; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: bold; line-height: 19px;"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX109440167" style="background-color: inherit;">I’m loving</span></span><span class="TextRun SCX109440167" style="font-family: Calibri,Sans-Serif; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: bold; line-height: 19px;"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX109440167" style="background-color: inherit;"> the exploration. </span></span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX109440167" style="margin-left: 0px; text-indent: 0px;">
<div class="Paragraph SCX109440167" style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "Segoe UI",Tahoma,Verdana,"Sans-Serif"; font-size: 6pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-right: 0px; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="color: #990000;"><span class="TextRun SCX109440167" style="font-size: 12pt; font-weight: bold; line-height: 18px;"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX109440167" style="background-color: inherit;">Which one of your characters do you relate to the most?</span></span></span></span><span class="EOP SCX109440167" style="font-family: Calibri,Sans-Serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 19px;"></span></li>
</ul>
</div>
</div>
<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX109440167" style="margin-left: 48px; text-indent: 0px;">
<div class="Paragraph SCX109440167" style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "Segoe UI",Tahoma,Verdana,"Sans-Serif"; font-size: 6pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-right: 0px; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><span class="TextRun SCX109440167" style="font-family: Calibri,Sans-Serif; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: bold; line-height: 19px;"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX109440167" style="background-color: inherit;">Flaky heroine with the long suffering hero who (a) GETS her and (b) translates her to the world and the world to her. That would be my husband and me. And a piece of that is in every book I write.</span></span><span class="EOP SCX109440167" style="font-family: Calibri,Sans-Serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 19px;"> </span></span></div>
</div>
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<div class="Paragraph SCX109440167" style="background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-family: 'Segoe UI',Tahoma,Verdana,'Sans-Serif'; font-size: 6pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-right: 0px; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
</div>
</div>
<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX109440167" style="margin-left: 0px; text-indent: 0px;">
<div class="Paragraph SCX109440167" style="background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-family: 'Segoe UI',Tahoma,Verdana,'Sans-Serif'; font-size: 6pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-right: 0px; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="color: #990000;"><span class="TextRun SCX109440167" style="font-size: 12pt; font-weight: bold; line-height: 18px;"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX109440167" style="background-color: inherit;">Speaking of writing funny, you mention on your blog that </span></span><span class="TextRun SCX109440167" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; line-height: 18px;"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX109440167" style="background-color: inherit;">50 Ways to Ruin a Rake</span></span><span class="TextRun SCX109440167" style="font-size: 12pt; font-weight: bold; line-height: 18px;"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX109440167" style="background-color: inherit;"> is the funniest book you've ever written. Why?</span></span></span></span><span class="EOP SCX109440167" style="font-family: Arial,Sans-Serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18px;"> </span></li>
</ul>
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<ul class="BulletListStyle1 SCX109440167">
<li class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX109440167" style="font-family: Calibri,Sans-Serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-left: 48px; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="Paragraph SCX109440167" style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "Segoe UI",Tahoma,Verdana,"Sans-Serif"; font-size: 6pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-right: 0px; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><span class="TextRun SCX109440167" style="font-family: Calibri,Sans-Serif; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: bold; line-height: 19px;"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX109440167" style="background-color: inherit;">There’s an escaped turkey in the book.</span></span><span class="EOP SCX109440167" style="font-family: Calibri,Sans-Serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 19px;"> </span></span></div>
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><span class="ListGhost SCX109440167"></span></span></li>
<li class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX109440167" style="font-family: Calibri,Sans-Serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-left: 48px; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="Paragraph SCX109440167" style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "Segoe UI",Tahoma,Verdana,"Sans-Serif"; font-size: 6pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-right: 0px; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><span class="TextRun SCX109440167" style="font-family: Calibri,Sans-Serif; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: bold; line-height: 19px;"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX109440167" style="background-color: inherit;">The turkey fights in a duel. Or a melee depending on if you count the turkey as a combatant. Which you should.</span></span><span class="EOP SCX109440167" style="font-family: Calibri,Sans-Serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 19px;"> </span></span></div>
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><span class="ListGhost SCX109440167"></span></span></li>
<li class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX109440167" style="font-family: Calibri,Sans-Serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-left: 48px; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="Paragraph SCX109440167" style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "Segoe UI",Tahoma,Verdana,"Sans-Serif"; font-size: 6pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-right: 0px; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><span class="TextRun SCX109440167" style="font-family: Calibri,Sans-Serif; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: bold; line-height: 19px;"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX109440167" style="background-color: inherit;">Everyone in the book has a plan. </span></span><span class="TextRun SCX109440167" style="font-family: Calibri,Sans-Serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; line-height: 19px;"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX109440167" style="background-color: inherit;">EVERYONE</span></span><span class="TextRun SCX109440167" style="font-family: Calibri,Sans-Serif; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: bold; line-height: 19px;"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX109440167" style="background-color: inherit;">. And their plans go horribly awry.</span></span><span class="EOP SCX109440167" style="font-family: Calibri,Sans-Serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 19px;"> </span></span></div>
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><span class="ListGhost SCX109440167"></span></span></li>
<li class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX109440167" style="font-family: Calibri,Sans-Serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-left: 48px; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="Paragraph SCX109440167" style="background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-family: 'Segoe UI',Tahoma,Verdana,'Sans-Serif'; font-size: 6pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-right: 0px; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><span class="TextRun SCX109440167" style="font-family: Calibri,Sans-Serif; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: bold; line-height: 19px;"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX109440167" style="background-color: inherit;">Because I was focused on joy when I wrote the book. </span></span></span><span class="TextRun SCX109440167" style="font-family: Calibri,Sans-Serif; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: bold; line-height: 19px;"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX109440167" style="background-color: inherit;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"> That’s been my new mantra.</span> </span></span><span class="EOP SCX109440167" style="font-family: Calibri,Sans-Serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 19px;"> </span></div>
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<div class="Paragraph SCX128024219" style="background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-family: 'Segoe UI',Tahoma,Verdana,'Sans-Serif'; font-size: 6pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-right: 0px; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
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<li><span style="color: #990000;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span class="TextRun SCX109440167" style="font-size: 12pt; font-weight: bold; line-height: 18px;"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX109440167" style="background-color: inherit;">Wait a minute. A </span></span><span class="TextRun SCX109440167" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; line-height: 18px;"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX109440167" style="background-color: inherit;">turkey</span></span></span><span class="TextRun SCX109440167" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: bold; line-height: 18px;"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX109440167" style="background-color: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"> fights a duel?</span> </span></span></span></li>
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<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX128024219" style="margin-left: 48px; text-indent: 0px;">
<div class="Paragraph SCX128024219" style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "Segoe UI",Tahoma,Verdana,"Sans-Serif"; font-size: 6pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-right: 0px; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><span class="TextRun SCX128024219" style="font-family: Calibri,Sans-Serif; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: bold; line-height: 19px;"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX128024219" style="background-color: inherit;">T</span></span><span class="TextRun SCX128024219" style="font-family: Calibri,Sans-Serif; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: bold; line-height: 19px;"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX128024219" style="background-color: inherit;">here is an escaped turkey who gets in the middle of a duel/melee, but that’s just a small piece of the book. In truth, the main thing is that the whole romp is about people with PLANS. And those plans just don’t work out how they expect. At all. And yes, this is the year of JOY for me. Everything is about being soul-deep happy. It’s not all perfect, but it’s working for me. And this book is one of the results.</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><span class="TextRun SCX128024219" style="font-family: Calibri,Sans-Serif; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: bold; line-height: 19px;"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX128024219" style="background-color: inherit;"><span style="background-color: #351c75;"><span> <span style="font-size: xx-small;"> <span style="background-color: #f1c232;"> </span></span></span></span> </span></span></span></div>
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<span class="TextRun SCX109440167" style="font-family: Calibri,Sans-Serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 17px;"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX109440167" style="background-color: inherit;"></span></span><span class="EOP SCX109440167" style="font-family: Calibri,Sans-Serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 17px;"> </span></div>
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<span class="TextRun SCX109440167" style="font-family: Calibri,Sans-Serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 17px;"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX109440167" style="background-color: inherit;"></span></span><span class="EOP SCX109440167" style="font-family: Calibri,Sans-Serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 17px;"> </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLTSCYYdm5pbScxVh9JxaUj0_jj9ED8bKvQ7Op_luTdLgSHouBq-TrHu-D-Sg47o7nv8w3MJ66jBjNmJDm6YBrb7ztf4feWHocnKG3yrZYTWYKJGi88XBdMnq6mSBZyTq4VbtGhrevsp34/s1600/Jade+Lee+50+ways+to+ruin+a+Rake.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLTSCYYdm5pbScxVh9JxaUj0_jj9ED8bKvQ7Op_luTdLgSHouBq-TrHu-D-Sg47o7nv8w3MJ66jBjNmJDm6YBrb7ztf4feWHocnKG3yrZYTWYKJGi88XBdMnq6mSBZyTq4VbtGhrevsp34/s400/Jade+Lee+50+ways+to+ruin+a+Rake.jpg" width="242" /></a><span class="TextRun SCX34048140" style="color: #31849b; font-family: Arial,Sans-Serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; line-height: 16px;"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX34048140" style="background-color: inherit;">Mellie</span></span><span class="TextRun SCX34048140" style="color: #31849b; font-family: Arial,Sans-Serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; line-height: 16px;"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX34048140" style="background-color: inherit;"> Smithson has a plan…</span></span></div>
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<span class="TextRun SCX34048140" style="color: #31849b; font-family: Arial,Sans-Serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; line-height: 16px;"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX34048140" style="background-color: inherit;"> </span></span><span class="EOP SCX34048140" style="font-family: Arial,Sans-Serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16px;"> </span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75;"><span class="TextRun SCX34048140" style="font-family: Arial,Sans-Serif; font-size: 10pt; font-weight: bold; line-height: 15px;"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX34048140" style="background-color: inherit;">Mellie</span></span><span class="TextRun SCX34048140" style="font-family: Arial,Sans-Serif; font-size: 10pt; font-weight: bold; line-height: 15px;"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX34048140" style="background-color: inherit;"> Smithson is trapped in the country with no suitors and no prospects on the horizon except, perhaps, the exasperating—although admittedly handsome—guest of her father. Unwilling to settle, </span></span><span class="TextRun SCX34048140" style="font-family: Arial,Sans-Serif; font-size: 10pt; font-weight: bold; line-height: 15px;"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX34048140" style="background-color: inherit;">Mellie</span></span><span class="TextRun SCX34048140" style="font-family: Arial,Sans-Serif; font-size: 10pt; font-weight: bold; line-height: 15px;"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX34048140" style="background-color: inherit;"> will do anything to escape to London...</span></span><span class="EOP SCX34048140" style="font-family: Arial,Sans-Serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 15px;"> </span></span></div>
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<span class="TextRun SCX34048140" style="font-family: Arial,Sans-Serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16px;"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX34048140" style="background-color: inherit;"> </span></span><span class="EOP SCX34048140" style="font-family: Arial,Sans-Serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16px;"> </span></div>
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<div class="blogger-post-footer"><script src="http://digg.com/tools/diggthis.js" type="text/javascript"></script></div>~Sia McKye~http://www.blogger.com/profile/08470562659597351033noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8309263703251385900.post-20477142752966060692015-04-29T12:31:00.000-05:002015-04-29T12:31:34.085-05:00MISSOURI YELLOWS<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
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<span style="color: #990000;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Yellow has always been a favorite
color of mine, especially in flowers and birds. After a long winter of grays
and whites, it brings a lift to the spirit.</span></b></span></span></div>
</blockquote>
<br />
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<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdGGhnnJ35pmlttMlC-wQg1aEF98TyX66q0zLsiIPhhNb32oaenMqX31d15FwGQmO4oPApDVskX8hMwH5AwFgLuN_Dth-tmEFGtYbL24ujiUxTxxuQzPyLjUJeP5TgWUkIty5vgpNOhbZq/s1600/Missouri+Yellow+Sap+sucker.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdGGhnnJ35pmlttMlC-wQg1aEF98TyX66q0zLsiIPhhNb32oaenMqX31d15FwGQmO4oPApDVskX8hMwH5AwFgLuN_Dth-tmEFGtYbL24ujiUxTxxuQzPyLjUJeP5TgWUkIty5vgpNOhbZq/s1600/Missouri+Yellow+Sap+sucker.png" height="320" width="289" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="left"><td class="tr-caption"><b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Yellow-Belly Sapsucker</span></b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Funny how such a cheerful color also
has negative connotations, but it does. The color yellow has traditionally been
associated with cowardice, treachery, inconstancy and jealousy. Interesting
that in France, the doors of traitors’ homes were daubed with yellow. It’s also
been used as an insult or challenge. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“What
are you, yellow bellied?”</i> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve even heard the term, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“you yellow-bellied sapsucker!”</i> That term originally applied to
birds that literally have a yellow belly, like the yellow-bellied sapsucker.
Later came to mean a term for a low down coward. Poor maligned bird. </span></b><b> </b><br />
<b> </b> <br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">We do have <i>Yellow-Belly Sapsuckers</i> in
Missouri and they forage on trees in forests, orchards, and parks for insects
and they also eat fruits, nuts, and berries. Sapsuckers are woodpeckers that
drill small, closely spaced holes in trees to reach the sap and insects drawn
to the sap. They aren’t bright yellow on the bellies but more of a light yellow
wash.</span></b></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8d_q4NJAxo_aRS8gjcHgQpf8Yftum_Lg8oz2W7I72HiEQhS6WniLmZTHQZ_6DktPG_L8Nl2vDoZKLUJeRsetrfjtIJ0KVgT19Z7okoFoak50x2xWXBNTYyj02qB0NaPJFYIx70LzZyjLs/s1600/Missouri+yellow+American+Gold+finches.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8d_q4NJAxo_aRS8gjcHgQpf8Yftum_Lg8oz2W7I72HiEQhS6WniLmZTHQZ_6DktPG_L8Nl2vDoZKLUJeRsetrfjtIJ0KVgT19Z7okoFoak50x2xWXBNTYyj02qB0NaPJFYIx70LzZyjLs/s1600/Missouri+yellow+American+Gold+finches.png" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="right"><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>American Golden Finches Male and female at the feeder</b></span></td></tr>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Missouri, like many other places, do
have bright yellow <i>Goldfinches</i>. We do have them year round although there is an
influx of them in March and April.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
smile every time I see them in the trees or at the feeders and they’re like
flying yellow flowers. Goldfinches pair up and begin nesting in July and August
when the soft milkweed and thistles begin to bloom. They like to use thistle
silk for their nests. I keep a feeder with thistle and other goodies for the
finches. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I love the contrast of seeing
the yellow finches and red cardinals at the feeders.</span></b></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD8ZtpGHEvFFaP5UTOqTc2Fe0HKONEW-1VJ37lMoMDgMt3Ko1flVVkbWIXrSfiZYJ-DGGttULtuffa-LqAddIguYCBOAk1t6s6ud4p0S3CW4sbcGU4DeCmvz041_WP5_kZs7kFuVBm2n0n/s1600/Missouri+yellow+eastern_meadowlark_4-24-15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD8ZtpGHEvFFaP5UTOqTc2Fe0HKONEW-1VJ37lMoMDgMt3Ko1flVVkbWIXrSfiZYJ-DGGttULtuffa-LqAddIguYCBOAk1t6s6ud4p0S3CW4sbcGU4DeCmvz041_WP5_kZs7kFuVBm2n0n/s1600/Missouri+yellow+eastern_meadowlark_4-24-15.jpg" height="249" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">We also have <i>Eastern Meadowlarks</i>. Very
unassuming colored bird and blend right into brown underbrush. In the winter they're much easier to spot against the snow. Like the
sapsucker, they’re not obviously yellow, just their bellies. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>They’re here year round and I actually see
them more in winter as they forage in the fields but I hear them singing
throughout the warm season.</span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"></span></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHDeazB_0FBCgmanjV1E1QkL7pVUi3rJzng2dnIj-16et1yJ64-WjaagupBNL7Uo5NW79ibZbDInfMccO0q7eab5U77yAUae8kXd8GMEP71gb8k46Xp0ZlxbBXxE8fPG3xQcaU5NJSOI-i/s1600/Missouri+Yellow+prothonotary+warbler.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHDeazB_0FBCgmanjV1E1QkL7pVUi3rJzng2dnIj-16et1yJ64-WjaagupBNL7Uo5NW79ibZbDInfMccO0q7eab5U77yAUae8kXd8GMEP71gb8k46Xp0ZlxbBXxE8fPG3xQcaU5NJSOI-i/s1600/Missouri+Yellow+prothonotary+warbler.jpg" height="243" width="320" /></a></b></div>
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> </b><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Another bright yellow bird that I first
mistook</span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> for a Golden finch, until I got a closer look, is the <i>Prothonotary
Warbler</i>. It’s named after the Roman Catholic clerks who wore yellow robes. They
tend to forage for insects in fallen trees or dead standing trees and can be
found near water. We have a pond across the county road from the front yard and
we have a stream that’s shaped like a giant U around the back of our property.
They’re year round residents but, like the Goldenfinches, the rest show up in
Missouri in April and begin nesting.</span></b></span><br />
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.7pt;">
<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Missouri has lots of yellow wildflowers
to delight the senses. They’re common sights along roadways and in fields. I
have many, many wildflowers growing in the fields and love my walking track
that brings me up close to so many. It makes walking a joy.</span></b></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw1ebmH7-l1svd1EAUW1_bo0r1vz-HDlpWlEcI3PRVPXsqvx_0zzrLqzCJ5Py9uiO4Cr7H5GG_lsO-eNSfYa-WTpFmwHrKJvexagwUSovEOPbLu9IPVFlZGh9KdC70m9CmWQRKUAPQyIbz/s1600/Missouri+Yellow-Rocket.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw1ebmH7-l1svd1EAUW1_bo0r1vz-HDlpWlEcI3PRVPXsqvx_0zzrLqzCJ5Py9uiO4Cr7H5GG_lsO-eNSfYa-WTpFmwHrKJvexagwUSovEOPbLu9IPVFlZGh9KdC70m9CmWQRKUAPQyIbz/s1600/Missouri+Yellow-Rocket.png" height="299" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>Yellow Rocket Flower</b></span></td></tr>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1a5hlfcUowdryYLqiutTvaeopueodJF-dS38zReh2dN9Q8m2HtGXc01qaOwzVpHyqzHVca-sEgPgP2iH8CS7zhrUK2PCITqtycIYHKM7n67nDEV7N2AduePEbLWRx6gUzZ4keG4wgBs4F/s1600/Missouri+Yellow--Coneflowers+echinacea.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1a5hlfcUowdryYLqiutTvaeopueodJF-dS38zReh2dN9Q8m2HtGXc01qaOwzVpHyqzHVca-sEgPgP2iH8CS7zhrUK2PCITqtycIYHKM7n67nDEV7N2AduePEbLWRx6gUzZ4keG4wgBs4F/s1600/Missouri+Yellow--Coneflowers+echinacea.png" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Yellow Cone-flower, aka Echinea</span></b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></b></div>
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<tr align="left"><td class="tr-caption"><b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Finch among the Tickseed Sunflowers</span></b></td></tr>
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<tr align="right"><td class="tr-caption"><b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Common Mulleien</span></b></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Although Missouri has many outstanding
features to see and experience, for me, it’s the beauty that surrounds my house
on any given day. The animals, birds, and flowers. I love how the birdsong
fills the air, the gossip at the bird feeders, the cry of an eagle, the fuzz of
yellow-green oaks covering the hills in the spring amid the carpet of
wildflowers. </span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">It’s a wonderful place to be.</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">There are so many beautiful places in this world and I hope you've enjoyed a view of my corner of it, here, in the Ozark Mountains of Missouri. </span></b></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeAJcrhI413EQbD9wrsle4uy9DrKhFafCgdKJC_90zoMJx44z4N68YeiGtVS7AkxBIX4jreUtFmGeNM1uyAOhQDI9ohqMhTTyKvgl9NLZkjNMHb2luYCtwVBBhnyDZARmsgtFbSlQb2S9u/s1600/Missouri+Yellow-Alley+Mills+wildflowers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeAJcrhI413EQbD9wrsle4uy9DrKhFafCgdKJC_90zoMJx44z4N68YeiGtVS7AkxBIX4jreUtFmGeNM1uyAOhQDI9ohqMhTTyKvgl9NLZkjNMHb2luYCtwVBBhnyDZARmsgtFbSlQb2S9u/s1600/Missouri+Yellow-Alley+Mills+wildflowers.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Alley Springs Mill and wildflowers</span></b></td></tr>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><i><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Photos: Missouri conservation, Missouri field guide to flowers, and personal</span></i> </span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="color: #383836; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></b></div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer"><script src="http://digg.com/tools/diggthis.js" type="text/javascript"></script></div>~Sia McKye~http://www.blogger.com/profile/08470562659597351033noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8309263703251385900.post-88481281056725467092015-04-27T14:59:00.000-05:002015-04-27T14:59:44.202-05:00MONDAY MUSINGS: MISSOURI'S WINE COUNTRY<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCy5gK9YOFsJG3Wr5zEmnffWeONxeRgBUSbX4HI_OPdToGFNpAMoBw7rVDdX4EmXuJuSVBK-eFZASHETyiY3WeRAunZQtOhmqbKhjbLXQg_ByGP09p8vhLb7RbQZqe6QPWQdmNIahDH3yI/s1600/A-Z+Challenge+letter+W.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCy5gK9YOFsJG3Wr5zEmnffWeONxeRgBUSbX4HI_OPdToGFNpAMoBw7rVDdX4EmXuJuSVBK-eFZASHETyiY3WeRAunZQtOhmqbKhjbLXQg_ByGP09p8vhLb7RbQZqe6QPWQdmNIahDH3yI/s1600/A-Z+Challenge+letter+W.jpg" /></a></div>
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</b><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="color: #990000;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: 11pt;">When someone mentions American
wine country where do you picture the wine country? </span></b></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #990000;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Many would say Sonoma or Napa Valleys
and it is true northern California is world renown as wine country. They
produce premier wines well able to compete with their European counterparts and
many times surpassing them. California accounts for 90% of American wine
production.</span></b></span></span></blockquote>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCJvjWqjzJttm0QjFmJhgxv1fmOJSekbLrBbKvLi6OmSTkP2KiptI5Jydoo9C5KdB7Jryq02wEvf_CBcvM-GAZKNgqjPIyAB1yolYniGRklV15YNkGJ2fzK5mA1TP6uRf6JY6IOZjHjimy/s1600/Missouri-Wine+Grapes2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCJvjWqjzJttm0QjFmJhgxv1fmOJSekbLrBbKvLi6OmSTkP2KiptI5Jydoo9C5KdB7Jryq02wEvf_CBcvM-GAZKNgqjPIyAB1yolYniGRklV15YNkGJ2fzK5mA1TP6uRf6JY6IOZjHjimy/s1600/Missouri-Wine+Grapes2.jpg" height="52" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<b>
</b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: 11pt;">What many don’t realize is that
there are vineyards in just about every state in the United States. Granted,
not all are well known, not all vineyards produce wine grapes, and certainly
not all are designated </span><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 11pt;">federally approved as an <i>American
Viticultural Area </i>(AVA)</span><span style="font-size: 11pt;">. <span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">American Viticultural Area</span> is a
designated wine grape-growing region in the United States distinguishable by geographic</span>
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">features such as mountains and
lakes as well as climate and vineyard soil.</span></b></span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-AGxmhyphenhyphenBDpXK4lPTzB8ySZuCm8Sh50Km19aMKKwbUCpcGYtc1az6wTMa6XeNL2GcVvZybGMA-Q6hPDZfeJvKtF2wYYWVqjq3tez82P5kZlA3zxSQyuLvcVzonqjX9t_0fnwTJBuE83iKg/s1600/Missouri+Winetrail-Map.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-AGxmhyphenhyphenBDpXK4lPTzB8ySZuCm8Sh50Km19aMKKwbUCpcGYtc1az6wTMa6XeNL2GcVvZybGMA-Q6hPDZfeJvKtF2wYYWVqjq3tez82P5kZlA3zxSQyuLvcVzonqjX9t_0fnwTJBuE83iKg/s1600/Missouri+Winetrail-Map.jpg" height="264" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="left"><td class="tr-caption"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Nine Winery trails near the wineries in Missouri</span></b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b>
</b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Another interesting fact is that
Ozark Mountain area, in particular, </span><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 11pt;">The Augusta AVA, was the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">first</i> federally approved American
Viticultural Area gaining the status on June 20, 1980, eight months <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">before </i>the Napa Valley AVA in northern California</span><span style="font-size: 11pt;">.</span><span style="font-size: 11pt;"> </span></b></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Ozark Mountain AVA is located in northwest Arkansas, southern Missouri, and northeast Oklahoma. </span></b></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: 11pt;">The <i>sixth</i> largest American Viticultural Area in total size, Ozark Mountain AVA covers 3,520,000 acres. </span></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span lang="EN"></span></span></b></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 11pt;">Five smaller AVAs have been established within its boundaries, to
recognize those distinct regions whose climate, vineyard soil, or other growing
conditions create unique areas for viticulture. </span><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 11pt;">There are now five AVAs within the Ozark AVA in
Missouri. In 2009, there were 92,000 wineries. The latest figures I can find (2012)
show there are over 100,000 wineries operating in the state of Missouri.</span></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 11pt;"> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>
</b></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 11pt;">In 1855, Frederick Law Olmsted, an American landscape architect and well
known travel journalist, said Missouri and Illinois each had 1100 acres in
wine. One of the first commercial wineries established in Missouri was Mount
Pleasant Winery, founded in 1859 by Georg and Friedrich Muench. They chose the
town area of Mount Pleasant (later renamed Augusta) because it reminded them of
their home in Germany.</span></b></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>
</b></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 11pt;"><i><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Missouri was instrumental in saving the French wine industry.</span></i> </span></b></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 11pt;">In the 1860’s between two-thirds and nine-tenths of all European vineyards
were destroyed by the phylloxera (little aphid like of pests) epidemic. The rootstock
of American native species of grapes was immune to the aphids. It was because
of Missouri’s state entomologist, Charles Riley, that France’s wine industry
was saved. Riley sent <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">millions</i> of
rootstocks to France because it was found the french varieties of grapes could
be grafted to these rootstocks. There are monuments and statutes honoring Riley
and his scientific colleague,</span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"> </span><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 11pt;">J.É. Planchon, in Montpellier, France.</span></b></span><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLEPupcOXCuFw1z1dINyCV3SdGJYh1cAPY8Me9JQBdQ8-d25TI8qypS-iS3LxyBVlbNZhwtuMArfaRvu-TAwwsgUKpqUgmz0yGX0jDGI5ciFnx-vA5H6p0qvix_kKdNg-hZikg2xEM6CEm/s1600/Missouri-+wine+county+Augusta_AVA.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLEPupcOXCuFw1z1dINyCV3SdGJYh1cAPY8Me9JQBdQ8-d25TI8qypS-iS3LxyBVlbNZhwtuMArfaRvu-TAwwsgUKpqUgmz0yGX0jDGI5ciFnx-vA5H6p0qvix_kKdNg-hZikg2xEM6CEm/s1600/Missouri-+wine+county+Augusta_AVA.jpg" height="353" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Augusta AVA Wine Area</span></b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>
</b></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Meanwhile, back in Missouri, the
1860’s the wine industry centered in the German colony of Hermann, west of St.
Louis, and was also known as Missouri Rhineland. </span><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 11pt;">Later Italian
immigrants also entered wine production. In the mid-1880s, more wine was
produced by volume in Missouri than in any other state. Before Prohibition,
Missouri was the second-largest wine-producing state in the nation. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Prohibition just about destroyed the United
States wineries. It took decades to reestablish wine vineyards and wineries and
it wasn’t until the 1960’s that the vineyards recovered sufficiently to
consistently produce quality wines. In Missouri, Stone Hill Winery opened in
1965 and Mount Pleasant Winery opened shortly thereafter.</span></b></span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK1FoGIwmcPZeCr__mOxlyjD0LF9-8Lp6f3xefEjZNVI1kLmn-UqarBHguoPL6g7iOBnD_v_xd4Xi7JwcbVu5JBvRnikM5Vu_h_9ZJQHEeDcMyEKduZTy2lYuygBKl0LIhC-2RMbd4Hqcb/s1600/Missouri+-Norton_grapes_growing_in_Missouri.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK1FoGIwmcPZeCr__mOxlyjD0LF9-8Lp6f3xefEjZNVI1kLmn-UqarBHguoPL6g7iOBnD_v_xd4Xi7JwcbVu5JBvRnikM5Vu_h_9ZJQHEeDcMyEKduZTy2lYuygBKl0LIhC-2RMbd4Hqcb/s1600/Missouri+-Norton_grapes_growing_in_Missouri.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="left"><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>Native Norton wine grapes</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>
</b></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 11pt;">Missouri's climate, with its long, hot summers, good sun exposure, and thin
rocky Ozarks soil, is excellent for growing grapes. The moderate average
temperature allows natural cellaring of wine and many of Missouri’s caves have
been used both in storing wine and beer. The most prominent Missouri-grown
variety is Cynthiana/Norton, believed to be a variety of <i>Vitis aestivalis</i>.
Other varieties grown include native American grapes, Concord and Catawba, as
well as French-American hybrids such as Vignoles, Seyval, and Chambourcin.
Recently, there has been more interest in planting <i>Vitis vinifera</i> grapes
varieties, especially the fine European grapes: Cabernet Franc, Chardonnay, Petit
Verdot and Mourvedre</span><span style="font-size: 11pt;">.</span></b></span><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMLddFJp4P27b9RCaXa715SUZ625frqSLr5nB4jpALI_RxO_wtx03ND8Evzgqy4zliUTxyNCZvcNdNX39W__EsgAJmYnQNs9cbeVB6EEQ_sLhQnJsEGgCqugbBh7GqTfhuH6IeBsm4Ft0P/s1600/Missouri-Stone+Hill+Vineyards.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMLddFJp4P27b9RCaXa715SUZ625frqSLr5nB4jpALI_RxO_wtx03ND8Evzgqy4zliUTxyNCZvcNdNX39W__EsgAJmYnQNs9cbeVB6EEQ_sLhQnJsEGgCqugbBh7GqTfhuH6IeBsm4Ft0P/s1600/Missouri-Stone+Hill+Vineyards.jpg" height="265" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Some of Les Bourgeois Vineyards</span></b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 11pt;">The three largest wineries in Missouri are (in order):</span></b></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 11pt;"> </span></b></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: 11pt;"> </span></b></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnRpgPTezc5fUNHeJmBbH4Sa6RGrTC7PYeSRPxGOm2-oHv2sKKcx_sntliQFcMgK_7Kal2INfpzMtBA8bOomQNm5M7KGOK1836YwOyXFBH42HBDMWu0v_ItBrcs8haw-3LdRASO6jdqkIT/s1600/Missouri+-St+James+Winery.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnRpgPTezc5fUNHeJmBbH4Sa6RGrTC7PYeSRPxGOm2-oHv2sKKcx_sntliQFcMgK_7Kal2INfpzMtBA8bOomQNm5M7KGOK1836YwOyXFBH42HBDMWu0v_ItBrcs8haw-3LdRASO6jdqkIT/s1600/Missouri+-St+James+Winery.jpg" height="355" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>
</b></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 11pt;"><a href="http://www.stjameswinery.com/">St.James Winery</a></span></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpiUqyYnaH9F-N5IaaM_DQlc1bSLZefvbdK5VSCU-WDFKyOKirh35bSP2sozzYFms0OSVMqkM3emKCuEY0BzX3Q5fkaOaKGrHLjhMPmT49P0In3cO_i62DtQYunqs0yqlSwYWTbGMfe8fa/s1600/Missouri+Stone+Hill+Winery.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpiUqyYnaH9F-N5IaaM_DQlc1bSLZefvbdK5VSCU-WDFKyOKirh35bSP2sozzYFms0OSVMqkM3emKCuEY0BzX3Q5fkaOaKGrHLjhMPmT49P0In3cO_i62DtQYunqs0yqlSwYWTbGMfe8fa/s1600/Missouri+Stone+Hill+Winery.jpg" height="299" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 11pt;"> </span></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 11pt;"> </span></b></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 11pt;"><a href="http://www.stonehillwinery.com/">Stone Hill Winery</a></span></b></span></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 11pt;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw7eJcKBzUc3xjnwaeYJTT6Jusv9Qm292H-A8LC3ohwo1lWEzk35IQT9igtCxXOTbnNCy1v_2cgTTPbsGT01UAVlpsFiizfhc7HxIXsOM3un60CcrvtQa4L-CkU-iBYyDPegJ2sFxwoXb2/s1600/Missouri+Les+Bourgeois+Winery+and+Bistro.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw7eJcKBzUc3xjnwaeYJTT6Jusv9Qm292H-A8LC3ohwo1lWEzk35IQT9igtCxXOTbnNCy1v_2cgTTPbsGT01UAVlpsFiizfhc7HxIXsOM3un60CcrvtQa4L-CkU-iBYyDPegJ2sFxwoXb2/s1600/Missouri+Les+Bourgeois+Winery+and+Bistro.jpg" height="298" width="400" /></a></span></b></span></div>
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://missouriwine.com/"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 11pt;"> Les Bourgeois Winery and Bistro</span></b></span></a></div>
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="color: #990000;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 11pt;">Missouri is home to nine
wine trails which host wine events and festivals year round and encourage
weekend getaways to some of the established wine regions in the state.</span></b></span></span></blockquote>
<br />
<i><b><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Photos: wiki commons, Dept of Conservation, Historical Missouri Archives, personal</span></b> </i><div class="blogger-post-footer"><script src="http://digg.com/tools/diggthis.js" type="text/javascript"></script></div>~Sia McKye~http://www.blogger.com/profile/08470562659597351033noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8309263703251385900.post-23784310522922649952015-04-24T01:31:00.000-05:002015-04-24T01:31:11.026-05:00THE UNUSUAL, UNIQUE, AND UNCOVENTIONAL<br />
<b></b><br />
<b></b><br />
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="color: #990000;"><b>There
are many unusual things in Missouri. We’ve seen the history of Missouri and the
unique karst topography of the land and natural wonders—all beautiful and
interesting—but what of the cultural aspects? There are many in Missouri but
one I find most interesting is Forest Park in St. Louis. It’s history and
development as well as the buildings and landscape is an interesting study of
unique and unconventional.</b></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<b>
</b><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJs-InkkqIG0uRRNA5-_im1EKB5pOnjTsWJcqviYJvt8xeH3GwNBhGqgordWGmXn1m21sjHJjAhEE_QYRJ4ZdShvK6uKZmuCkNleU-QN_TyehKEGTiJpOZ8m4GA0WcNBOAMTHabwvzShx3/s1600/Missouri+Forest+park+map_svg.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJs-InkkqIG0uRRNA5-_im1EKB5pOnjTsWJcqviYJvt8xeH3GwNBhGqgordWGmXn1m21sjHJjAhEE_QYRJ4ZdShvK6uKZmuCkNleU-QN_TyehKEGTiJpOZ8m4GA0WcNBOAMTHabwvzShx3/s1600/Missouri+Forest+park+map_svg.png" height="245" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="left"><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #38761d;">Forest Park Map</span></b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">The
idea of a large park was the brainchild of Hiram Leffingwell, a St. Louis
developer. He proposed, in 1872, a 1,000 acre park about three miles outside
the city limits. It was approved by the Missouri General Assembly to purchase
the land for the park. In 1873 it was overturned by the Missouri Supreme Court.
In 1874 the battle for a large park was spearheaded by another developer,
Andrew McKinley. He put together another proposal that met all the legal challenges
from the Supreme Court decision. However, he chose another tract of land for
the park that was in a heavily forested area even further out in the rural
areas west of the city. This tract of land was 1,375 acres with the River Des
Peres and wetlands.</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> </span></b></span></div>
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</b></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Maximillian G. Kern and Julius Pitzman designed the
Park's original plan. The park was dedicated June 24, 1876 with a crowd of
about 50,000 in attendance. </span></b></span></div>
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<b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKXG_fpt_sUP9scD0SYGP6N0zAGfZKAOiTjc3GRCeenCmjiXN0a3PxqRnUmOUBvwbvxu7f5yd9vuFZKJt8wcQ5QWVshquWjgx95_MopmnIxfq99ojWbxEC1SEwLjrXWX9bG7ByNhjqPnI-/s1600/Missouri-1904+World+fair+cascade.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKXG_fpt_sUP9scD0SYGP6N0zAGfZKAOiTjc3GRCeenCmjiXN0a3PxqRnUmOUBvwbvxu7f5yd9vuFZKJt8wcQ5QWVshquWjgx95_MopmnIxfq99ojWbxEC1SEwLjrXWX9bG7ByNhjqPnI-/s1600/Missouri-1904+World+fair+cascade.jpg" height="203" width="400" /></a></b></div>
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<b>
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<b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;">In 1901, Forest Park was selected as the location of the
1904 World's Fair, known as the Louisiana Purchase Exposition. The fair opened
April 30, 1904 and closed December 1, 1904. The Fair had many unique displays
but what seemed to cause a great deal of wonder was the relatively new invention,
electricity. Imagine what it was like to many who had never witnessed
electricity to see</span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"> </span><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;">electric
lighting, both inside and out, of all of the important buildings and roads.
They even had a display of an electrical plug and wall outlet. We take these
things for granted but it was very unusual to the majority to witness how plugs
and outlets worked.</span></b></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjogMwy93j4R_40UxIuYH4WIL1p59PR18c7AUjEQmoJFQTp0Tq2X1F5neTyz5Wm-FetmBTwyo2hF8ualY9w_1tUj-rKl1RYKwOSbcRWCUDhtjtjD8vX0rOxnelh0QjKG3MiRBDD-c1gtfFl/s1600/Missouri-+1904+looking-south-to-fest-hal.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjogMwy93j4R_40UxIuYH4WIL1p59PR18c7AUjEQmoJFQTp0Tq2X1F5neTyz5Wm-FetmBTwyo2hF8ualY9w_1tUj-rKl1RYKwOSbcRWCUDhtjtjD8vX0rOxnelh0QjKG3MiRBDD-c1gtfFl/s1600/Missouri-+1904+looking-south-to-fest-hal.jpg" height="265" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>1904 Louisiana Purchase Exposition</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;"></span></b></div>
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<b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Keep in mind Forest Park was selected in 1901 to be the
site of the world’s fair in 1904 and open its doors to the world. A great deal of work
went into the preparation of the park and buildings for displays. George
Kessler, the fair's landscape architect, dramatically changed the park: the wetlands
areas in the western part of the park were drained and converted into water
features five connected lakes were created. Sewer and water lines installed
during the fair—again an unusual happening—remained for public use in the park.
After the fair, thousands of trees were planted and vistas were created and all
the buildings created for the fair were used by the park many remain today.</span></b></div>
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<b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;"> </span></b></div>
<b>
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<b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;">One of the most unique and unusual buildings in the park
is The Jewel Box (aka</span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"> </span><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;">St. Louis
Floral Conservatory)</span><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;">. It’s an Art Deco greenhouse and was built in 1936. It’s
listed in the National Historic Register. It’s stunning.</span></b></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLQlGBCQHu6K05pLEfp2Gg8dER-31KeubXw2EJXz7tDcu2fgPfK_-FvBgBcwCcwAlvqw1KVrDyG9Ngb_MVdQW-U6cDW6egUTN28pS11zAEazehMuRDosEBEKAkab4UWdgt21kkFD-w45Bf/s1600/Missouri-The+jewel+box+by+Randy+Allen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLQlGBCQHu6K05pLEfp2Gg8dER-31KeubXw2EJXz7tDcu2fgPfK_-FvBgBcwCcwAlvqw1KVrDyG9Ngb_MVdQW-U6cDW6egUTN28pS11zAEazehMuRDosEBEKAkab4UWdgt21kkFD-w45Bf/s1600/Missouri-The+jewel+box+by+Randy+Allen.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Photo by Randy Allen more of his (& other photographers) work can be found on <a href="http://www.forestparkforever.org/">http://www.forestparkforever.org/</a></b></td></tr>
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<b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;"></span></b></div>
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<b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The Jewel Box consists of 16,664 square feet of plate
glass in over 4,000 panes, set in wood and wrought iron supports. Most of the
glass is framed by copper with a verdigris (green tint) patina. The Jewel Box
is supported by eight fixed arches, which carry the structure's weight. There
are also triangular trusses between every other arch. The ceiling is composed
of wood planking to prevent damage as Missouri has strong thunderstorms usually
accompanied by hail. </span></b></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg47LTDpPmW-2cZ-A1Z5szJmSEiMH4lNptZVCisnqlIu_fZLtvD320fPduftNsVKyne-dIBTx9S2EvEh0gsShShK16ZaGM4wTzY5pwqgO2KrVKygbe9RprxkhDYC5XUbcNs7Cl4k6a3BDxg/s1600/Missour-Forest+Park+fountains+by+Tricia.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg47LTDpPmW-2cZ-A1Z5szJmSEiMH4lNptZVCisnqlIu_fZLtvD320fPduftNsVKyne-dIBTx9S2EvEh0gsShShK16ZaGM4wTzY5pwqgO2KrVKygbe9RprxkhDYC5XUbcNs7Cl4k6a3BDxg/s1600/Missour-Forest+Park+fountains+by+Tricia.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>The arches of the floor fountains</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;"></span></b></div>
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<b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The arch theme is further carried out in the constant
stream of fountains (seen coming out of the floor of the building) that provide
a pleasing sound as well as reflective pools and moisture for the greenery.</span></b></div>
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<b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYdsJJDuv9uSknbQ9K0imJZAQ83LTgOvwrJQ2ncuM-os0mu0jMa2vQQn3zBxQxcmobA5smS3ycddulAYT1ksLOMCvj7YacOE6-MY-X4vepoMWVlpBNBzp6wMdL4VOc_b5OkQ5GvgRvoBk0/s1600/Missouri+Jewel+Box+2013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYdsJJDuv9uSknbQ9K0imJZAQ83LTgOvwrJQ2ncuM-os0mu0jMa2vQQn3zBxQxcmobA5smS3ycddulAYT1ksLOMCvj7YacOE6-MY-X4vepoMWVlpBNBzp6wMdL4VOc_b5OkQ5GvgRvoBk0/s1600/Missouri+Jewel+Box+2013.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></b></div>
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<b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The Jewel Box's entrance is a vestibule made of
limestone. Inside the greenhouse, there is a concrete-floored balcony located
across the south end.</span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"> </span><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;">A reflecting
pool lies in front of the Jewel Box's entrance.</span></b></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrd7DCKSQaDqabKqXN77G4GdAvi5j-3MjZJN-5jtrxC9WCl2ysQyeSu-lYO85bMu4v_-qamUtJVKlEKuTz-CrQBGEttzg5RK2jbaY8GdTy-m_MoSy_8lZw_M1KJF8tMD2EnHYAVbWg0Z42/s1600/Missouri-The+Muny+and+Gazebo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrd7DCKSQaDqabKqXN77G4GdAvi5j-3MjZJN-5jtrxC9WCl2ysQyeSu-lYO85bMu4v_-qamUtJVKlEKuTz-CrQBGEttzg5RK2jbaY8GdTy-m_MoSy_8lZw_M1KJF8tMD2EnHYAVbWg0Z42/s1600/Missouri-The+Muny+and+Gazebo.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Forest Park Gazebo and Muny</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;"> </span></b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="color: #660000;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><b>There are many unusual, unconventional, and unique things
located in Forest Park. Just ask the millions of visitors each year that come to look.</b></span></span></span></div>
</blockquote>
<br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b><i>Photos: National Historic Registry, Forest Park, Randy Allen </i></b></span><br />
<div class="blogger-post-footer"><script src="http://digg.com/tools/diggthis.js" type="text/javascript"></script></div>~Sia McKye~http://www.blogger.com/profile/08470562659597351033noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8309263703251385900.post-21858638592939233852015-04-22T09:08:00.001-05:002015-04-22T09:08:33.388-05:00SPRINGS OF MISSOURI AND THE OZARK MOUNTAINS<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"></span></b></div>
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">
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<span style="color: #990000;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The
Missouri Ozarks comprises one of the nation's greatest concentrations of
springs. In an average day more than a billion gallons of water flow <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">from the</i> <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">ten</i> largest springs in Missouri. There are more than 1,100 springs
currently on record, however, many springs in the Ozarks still remain
unrecorded, unmeasured, and unsampled.</span></b></span></div>
</blockquote>
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<br /></div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFHsjMGzLMA-uhU0bJWF52j_VVc04WceiQZ0o-KWiNnRYObKPdFs-KcEehjc7bIYyCDN_EcwVRJI5WKSydjOBmj4hC42z4o_ecKhCm5-hKohgPFcIPClxBgNRRPushzrkq8soHTrCk7xD-/s1600/Missouri+plateaus.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFHsjMGzLMA-uhU0bJWF52j_VVc04WceiQZ0o-KWiNnRYObKPdFs-KcEehjc7bIYyCDN_EcwVRJI5WKSydjOBmj4hC42z4o_ecKhCm5-hKohgPFcIPClxBgNRRPushzrkq8soHTrCk7xD-/s1600/Missouri+plateaus.jpg" height="328" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="left"><td class="tr-caption"><span style="color: #990000;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>Missouri Plateaus-Salem has the most caves and springs</b></span></span></td></tr>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Missouri springs are
somewhat unique since they occur mainly in dolomite, not limestone—we have the
largest number of large springs in dolomite anywhere in the United States. It's said our springs dissolve and move about 175 tons of limestone daily.</span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The
principal spring region of Missouri is the Ozarks mountains. It’s an area
characterized by deep, narrow valleys and sharp ridges in the eastern part—the
Salem Plateau—and a gently rolling landscape in the western part—the
Springfield Plateau.</span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">While
there are many springs within the Springfield Plateau, they’re not as large
or as plentiful as the springs in the Salem Plateau.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Salem Plateau has geologic formations
that are capable of storing as well as transmitting large quantities of water
through various spring outlets and the Ozarks have the highest sustained flows
in the state.</span></b></div>
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_nETpbA-5EXBxrMxX-3hFlFRiS07ShkZ9dq-xXP7emz1pgALklnG69c1PNnXTGr0pt9Uk1b_Bida4xSUSIFbZf8atI-itgNPQvJ2-BdDBqHbIa81HLXHjVJERl5TTW0xR6AphRfY2mAdR/s1600/Missouri-Big+Spring_Missouri_1-02Aug08.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_nETpbA-5EXBxrMxX-3hFlFRiS07ShkZ9dq-xXP7emz1pgALklnG69c1PNnXTGr0pt9Uk1b_Bida4xSUSIFbZf8atI-itgNPQvJ2-BdDBqHbIa81HLXHjVJERl5TTW0xR6AphRfY2mAdR/s1600/Missouri-Big+Spring_Missouri_1-02Aug08.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="right"><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>Big Springs, Van Buren, Missouri</b></span></td></tr>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">There
are at least 10 first magnitude springs located in Missouri. First magnitude is
a term applied to those springs that discharge a 100 cubic feet a <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">second</i>. One of the largest first
magnitude springs in the nation (some sources say in the world) is Big Springs,
located in Van Buren, Missouri. Big Springs discharges about 250-300 million
gallons of water a day into the Current River. To give you an idea of how much
water that is, think about the size of professional football stadium. Big
Springs discharges enough water to <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">fill</i>
that stadium every single day. </span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLz_1D0ruCty2J0V4mk5YJFSN_9VbqxoMcY4aY2EvKL67DoEoN7bsqrTvGzqmNC0uRa7xQ3laYA6XEWdOYlnbV88VMZ3oTEd34v913ieV4E8GjdEt9m3AE0vx00ngaNNyf_b3riqoQmpwK/s1600/Missouri-Greer_Spring-Oct2013-067.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLz_1D0ruCty2J0V4mk5YJFSN_9VbqxoMcY4aY2EvKL67DoEoN7bsqrTvGzqmNC0uRa7xQ3laYA6XEWdOYlnbV88VMZ3oTEd34v913ieV4E8GjdEt9m3AE0vx00ngaNNyf_b3riqoQmpwK/s1600/Missouri-Greer_Spring-Oct2013-067.jpg" height="205" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="left"><td class="tr-caption"><b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Greer Springs</span></b></td></tr>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The
second largest spring in Missouri is Greer Springs which discharges 360 cubic
feet a second—that’s 214 million gallons a day. It is a the site of the first
gristmill on the spring branch, by Captain Samuel Greer. The old mill still
stands as a piece of history.</span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Both
springs have wilderness areas along with camping, fishing, cabins or lodges. If
you like to canoe or do float trips (which I can personally tell you are
fabulous) both are wonderful ways to enjoy the wild scenery on a hot summer day. There are miles of
hiking trails. Both are incredible places to visit.</span></b></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZYujkiFHgnlhgQG7p25Nf6ZaHvYBNLlwsIBPAf0j_QckpFcQ3t5EahB0zroV9sKDLcHsCQEktHP7z8YsFolTRZktReb4d-o4NJG0whRq6nYiimZG2Kf7Vxd6HMCQb2NFI9wx73RdC3iAt/s1600/Missouri-Boiling+Springs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZYujkiFHgnlhgQG7p25Nf6ZaHvYBNLlwsIBPAf0j_QckpFcQ3t5EahB0zroV9sKDLcHsCQEktHP7z8YsFolTRZktReb4d-o4NJG0whRq6nYiimZG2Kf7Vxd6HMCQb2NFI9wx73RdC3iAt/s1600/Missouri-Boiling+Springs.jpg" height="224" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="right"><td class="tr-caption"><b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Boiling Springs. You can see the water 'boiling'.</span></b></td></tr>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The
closest spring from my house, located on the Salem Plateau, is 10 miles away and is called Boiling Springs.
The name is apt because the surface of this spring appears to boil. Don’t be
fooled, it’s icy cold about 58 degrees. Further down the river (Big Piney
River) is our favorite swimming area. Boiling Springs only puts out about 12
million gallons of water a day. So it’s small in comparison to Big Springs and
Greer, but is 14<sup>th</sup> largest spring in Missouri. The former is about 3
hours from me and the latter is about an hour. Because Boiling Springs is so
close we don’t think about the amenities but there are several places along
the river for camping (both campgrounds and primitive camping) canoeing and
float trips. Big Piney river has some great fishing if you enjoy that activity
and my family does. </span></b><br />
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4leH5Sy8J_Qk6TynwaaIdOD-1MT8doE6FrsxEVGPffsRU2it_cCR71NfHo-ukk02Q1Fr257-2YWM5CfuC-RpDT_21BanYCOjYujbBzfhTQdQoMISn7Y9eJNCT9PtKKwiX4Gk5T9tQlYMX/s1600/Missouri-Boiling+springs+area+fav+swimming+area.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4leH5Sy8J_Qk6TynwaaIdOD-1MT8doE6FrsxEVGPffsRU2it_cCR71NfHo-ukk02Q1Fr257-2YWM5CfuC-RpDT_21BanYCOjYujbBzfhTQdQoMISn7Y9eJNCT9PtKKwiX4Gk5T9tQlYMX/s1600/Missouri-Boiling+springs+area+fav+swimming+area.jpg" height="298" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="color: #990000;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Favorite swimming area on Big Piney River, near Boiling Springs. There is a very thick rope on the tree across the way to jump into the river, which is very deep over there. The shallows on this side are warmed by the sun and it's fun to sit in and watch swimmers jumping. I</span></span></b></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="color: #990000;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">f you sit still small fish will come up and investigate your feet. The water is refreshing on a hot summer day. When I'm tired of swimming I sit in a lawn chair in the sand and snooze or read. Further down the river, away from the swimming, has some great fishing.You can also harvest quite a number of crayfish to add to dinner. </span></span></span></b></blockquote>
</div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="color: #990000;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"> </span></span> </span></b></blockquote>
</div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Missouri
springs
are located in one of the most scenic sections in the nation. Our
springs are considered to be one of Missouri’s most important natural
assets
and are well protected and visited by hundreds of thousands of tourist and sportsmen each
year.</span></b><br />
<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><i><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Photos: Missouri Dept Conservation and personal</span></i> </span></span></b></div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer"><script src="http://digg.com/tools/diggthis.js" type="text/javascript"></script></div>~Sia McKye~http://www.blogger.com/profile/08470562659597351033noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8309263703251385900.post-68725425363408388292015-04-20T12:33:00.000-05:002015-04-20T12:33:20.551-05:00MONDAY MUSINGS: THE QUEST FOR MISSOURI'S FRENCH CONNECTION<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC7kNy85m5_FNRi1pDfgxI7Tj1vpQb310U1QouCFj7v2d0lsmfgQdtU9e0ZAj7k-OE98QGOkmnc43gluPXt0gUKCbQkpiHirLDlsUW5XreZ7-Kq6W3ZZBiJBxlM-snvHX3OoEiiry-AaNy/s1600/A-Z+challenge+letter+Q.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC7kNy85m5_FNRi1pDfgxI7Tj1vpQb310U1QouCFj7v2d0lsmfgQdtU9e0ZAj7k-OE98QGOkmnc43gluPXt0gUKCbQkpiHirLDlsUW5XreZ7-Kq6W3ZZBiJBxlM-snvHX3OoEiiry-AaNy/s1600/A-Z+challenge+letter+Q.jpg" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3b1Ly6N43Jw4RwcZRJkRZAT6Z4dyGRXyv2chz96w99pDjSiexaUDlkLz6toe6O0Y5_3yyvfzx4IFMTnp9OSRmJ80LGIjQgReT_qatkIldAtZtKFKSqwF6W7zcBtOfEajfin00Xjvb5P0l/s1600/Missouri+Nouvelle-France_map-en_svg.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3b1Ly6N43Jw4RwcZRJkRZAT6Z4dyGRXyv2chz96w99pDjSiexaUDlkLz6toe6O0Y5_3yyvfzx4IFMTnp9OSRmJ80LGIjQgReT_qatkIldAtZtKFKSqwF6W7zcBtOfEajfin00Xjvb5P0l/s1600/Missouri+Nouvelle-France_map-en_svg.png" height="285" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="right"><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><b>1700's French territories</b></span></span></span></td></tr>
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percentage of the American population but are less visible than other ethnic groups.
Past and present, they tend to align themselves with their new world regional
identities such as Québécois, French Canadian, Acadian, Cajun, or Louisiana
Creole. The US 2000 census noted that 450,000 residents in this country speak a
French-based Creole language (including Missouri’s dialect, Paw-Paw). It’s the third
most spoken language in America. French was once widely spoken in the Midwest,
including in Missouri, which was considered part of Louisiana.</span></b></span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4S1moW4atz4sDs2lyip9EDbAoXB56gpcVKbqfIfwNMOtmrt08I_mtLgVDBB7yM0AMO9bB0OooococLyLXXGkegMXMv58qNyGxYH0XwwsCox9qNOxcAokJfAwF2m-OucIwpFPDDPgfE_Lk/s1600/Missouri-+Coureur_de_bois+woodcut+by+arthur+heming.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4S1moW4atz4sDs2lyip9EDbAoXB56gpcVKbqfIfwNMOtmrt08I_mtLgVDBB7yM0AMO9bB0OooococLyLXXGkegMXMv58qNyGxYH0XwwsCox9qNOxcAokJfAwF2m-OucIwpFPDDPgfE_Lk/s1600/Missouri-+Coureur_de_bois+woodcut+by+arthur+heming.jpg" height="320" width="255" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>Woodcut by Arthur Heming</b></span></td></tr>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">The French were intrepid explorers. They may have
started on the east coast, as did many immigrants, but they quickly moved
westward along the rivers and lakes and south during the 17<sup>th</sup> and 18<sup>th</sup>
century and then south along the Mississippi. Fur trade was the biggest
contributor to that expansion lead by the Coureur des bois. As the fur trade
expanded, the coureur des bois were at the forefront as trappers, traders, and
explorers in the American interior.</span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">Coureur des bois, roughly translated as runner of
the woods, were French-Canadian woodsmen who traveled in New France (of which
Missouri was a part) and the interior of North America. They were adventurers
and some were explorers. They had many skills to survive in the wilderness.
They were businessmen, hunters, trappers, and expert canoeist—the main mode of
transportation. They forged ties with many of the Native peoples to learn the
land and needed skills to survive and, of course, everything about trapping and
preparing animal skins for trade with Europe. The coureur des bois were ever
questing for new territory this meant circumventing the normal channels, of getting
licensing letters of permission, by going deeper into the wilderness to trade.
So they were also, to some extent, considered outlaws operating in fur trade without
that permission from France and French officials in the new world. It was a big
money back then.</span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">The first European settlers in Missouri were
mostly ethnic French Canadians, who created their first settlement in Missouri; the present day site is about an hour south of St. Louis. </span></b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9G76LpxnbiNbyIaE-gyk2hc0ID3v96XLw_cfDp-epqHuYXMsiw2UKrWd0Mv3_GfHqdwXqAxIY2u1i04xXKYhkVCeFJCOuhu2jC9cQ4rWUh_hbvv_GAA-JRzPfS55smVOIEdNexvnAeLhX/s1600/Missouri-Old+Ste+Genevieve.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9G76LpxnbiNbyIaE-gyk2hc0ID3v96XLw_cfDp-epqHuYXMsiw2UKrWd0Mv3_GfHqdwXqAxIY2u1i04xXKYhkVCeFJCOuhu2jC9cQ4rWUh_hbvv_GAA-JRzPfS55smVOIEdNexvnAeLhX/s1600/Missouri-Old+Ste+Genevieve.jpg" height="235" style="cursor: move;" width="640" /></a></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">The
original Ste. Genevieve was established around 1750 along the western banks of
the Mississippi River. Residents were mostly farmers, miners, and merchants from the
French Canadian settlements of Illinois Country on the east side of the
Mississippi, or upper Louisiana. The city remained the original location for 35
years until the great flood of 1775 destroyed much of the property. It was
decided to move the entire village to higher ground (two miles north) a half
mile back from the river floodplain. Ste. Genevieve has the most buildings of
the French Colonial architecture in the US.</b><br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">What I find interesting in this history is the parallel
of expansion and growth along the Mississippi River at same time as the
colonies on the east-coast were developing. Granted the population on the east
coast was larger, about 900,000, but the Midwest was well populated by largely
French immigrants and Native Americans and later, Spanish, Portuguese, and
Germans. As in the east, the population and development largely moved from north
to south and was thriving.</span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">St. Louis, Missouri was founded in 1764 by French
fur traders, Pierre Laclede (we have a Laclede County named after him) and his
stepson, Rene Auguste Chouteau (he got a pond in St Louis named after him). <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In 1765
was made the capital of French Upper Louisiana. </span></b><br /><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"></span></b></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhesyrEfWxfAnQkm5j48x7oxYPG3ivFHG2T7nm1nPQ8klNJHaR0uHHpH6SJH_epvSzGMgRDMyzsLk990eu3UsOzilliHaIjKh9e4grqK6pGZSCOGUtpiG_5SObMsBwjfnq7LrI8F80IdBu2/s1600/Missouri-lithograph+of+1800+St+Louis.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhesyrEfWxfAnQkm5j48x7oxYPG3ivFHG2T7nm1nPQ8klNJHaR0uHHpH6SJH_epvSzGMgRDMyzsLk990eu3UsOzilliHaIjKh9e4grqK6pGZSCOGUtpiG_5SObMsBwjfnq7LrI8F80IdBu2/s1600/Missouri-lithograph+of+1800+St+Louis.jpg" height="260" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="left"><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #990000;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Chouteau Pond, St Louis in 1800 by John Caspar</span></b></span></td><td class="tr-caption"><br /></td></tr>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">Other cities in Missouri founded by the French
(and there are others including mining towns): <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></b></div>
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<ul>
<li><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"></span></span></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">Fort Orleans, established in 1723 along
the Missouri River was built by French Explorer, Etienne </span>Véniard De
Bourgmond. Fort Orleans was the first European post in the Missouri Valley.</b></li>
<li><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">Saint Charles </span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">was founded by Louis Blanchette, a
French Canadian explorer, in 1769.</span></b></li>
</ul>
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbTBJguUSv9fP3AThPK12ofGmEXiJUrfdN9TPG9ZOEOpQVfDZzjP2wySQApx7-SYoU158cuxxay_5NZwLUR0U4PrfN-i_bENv36-oRUITq8JYqwV-RvS-EuIYoYQavgbKcENzs7uecNOer/s1600/Missouri-+St+Joseph+Robidoux-row.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbTBJguUSv9fP3AThPK12ofGmEXiJUrfdN9TPG9ZOEOpQVfDZzjP2wySQApx7-SYoU158cuxxay_5NZwLUR0U4PrfN-i_bENv36-oRUITq8JYqwV-RvS-EuIYoYQavgbKcENzs7uecNOer/s1600/Missouri-+St+Joseph+Robidoux-row.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #990000;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Robidoux Row</span></span></b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></b><ul>
<li><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">St.
Joseph, Missouri was founded by Joseph Robidoux in 1826. </span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">His buildings known as Robidoux Row are listed on the National Register of
Historic Places. This was a center for his family enterprise of fur trading,
which he operated with his five brothers along the Mississippi and especially
the Missouri River systems. <span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Roubidoux
Creek</span> is named after him. A 57 mile scenic tributary to the Gasconade
River in south central Missouri. St. Joseph is also where the Pony Express began and Jesse James ended.</span></b></li>
</ul>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR0r7zmZ1q23M6r2rfJy_ZAiwIz8Rke5FwThivKa9aW8zNufXapULGTXrxPOZGqmmxchLbUtnkLcse0T2maMdhuOPVl0dyvqg01antvPOHk0Z00eEuGnfrY6WERYk8iZ_peznR0O0a6zBq/s1600/Missouri+Ribidoux+Creek.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR0r7zmZ1q23M6r2rfJy_ZAiwIz8Rke5FwThivKa9aW8zNufXapULGTXrxPOZGqmmxchLbUtnkLcse0T2maMdhuOPVl0dyvqg01antvPOHk0Z00eEuGnfrY6WERYk8iZ_peznR0O0a6zBq/s1600/Missouri+Ribidoux+Creek.jpg" height="299" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Ribidoux Creek</span></b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Missouri
has an interesting history. If you’re questing for a French connection in
Missouri, you don’t have far to look to find one. Other than the
Native-Americans, they were the first to settle in Missouri.</span></b></div>
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<i><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Photos wiki commons, Missouri Historical Archives, Missouri History Museum, Missouri Dept Conservation</span> </span></b></i><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"> <span lang="EN"></span></span></b></div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer"><script src="http://digg.com/tools/diggthis.js" type="text/javascript"></script></div>~Sia McKye~http://www.blogger.com/profile/08470562659597351033noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8309263703251385900.post-66805773337487021222015-04-17T12:54:00.000-05:002015-04-17T12:54:20.763-05:00OZARK TRAIL AND DEVILS BACKBONE WILDERNESS<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV2QSTabfl7IQWhh894AFDRudC_SckLICgr3lQOUs_0xK5-qxi_pXZvKPSN9ixub0Fn5Ssg6Wk10Xi65c2bXCqTAzE6njmQ1Mx-0FzC7JenZjWEP38WpC4mQSJ8gjhDuyOUjwsZ0D5i2D6/s1600/O.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV2QSTabfl7IQWhh894AFDRudC_SckLICgr3lQOUs_0xK5-qxi_pXZvKPSN9ixub0Fn5Ssg6Wk10Xi65c2bXCqTAzE6njmQ1Mx-0FzC7JenZjWEP38WpC4mQSJ8gjhDuyOUjwsZ0D5i2D6/s1600/O.jpg" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaYgZlWh2u2p2Bg_kJ5BxsZ0NWBKxS8tPwNOPgouH6oZCzgK7WHzf2oamgLyW7Ott-c_B1QAjI9UQWR3RD84s6Amf_Jb6igXdKeDMfAZgpWt2-P1rkELYmBrI2wBaJDV8tdaNBCLbuUsP8/s1600/Missouri-Topographic+map+of+Devils+Backbone.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaYgZlWh2u2p2Bg_kJ5BxsZ0NWBKxS8tPwNOPgouH6oZCzgK7WHzf2oamgLyW7Ott-c_B1QAjI9UQWR3RD84s6Amf_Jb6igXdKeDMfAZgpWt2-P1rkELYmBrI2wBaJDV8tdaNBCLbuUsP8/s1600/Missouri-Topographic+map+of+Devils+Backbone.jpg" /></a></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The <span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Devils Backbone Wilderness</span> is one of
eight wilderness areas protected and preserved in <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Missouri. It’s part of the Mark Twain National
Forest. </span></b><b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">The
Devil's Backbone is a long, narrow ridge which sits above two valleys and
provides a fabulous view in either direction. There are 13-miles of maintained
trails to explore and many options that can extend your hike or exploration of
this wilderness area. I’ve only spent a day hiking but others have spent the
weekend or longer exploring the various trails and springs. Primitive camping,
meaning using tents, not campers, is allowed.</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">There are various spur trails. </span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> </span></b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcXBR93QGrrrOy9AN_lw1yQIHnLWn_pjDX-csu2_yd9JqkoKZbY4-lHTjegrfV-Dq0ngrEm_bOCdB4cfwBrRSPn4sp1n4jyNzEz5aihUsu_fLmdSEeknuWN2Zh3Gz8oWZsav67PiwiHfJV/s1600/mISSOURI+-Ozark+Trail.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcXBR93QGrrrOy9AN_lw1yQIHnLWn_pjDX-csu2_yd9JqkoKZbY4-lHTjegrfV-Dq0ngrEm_bOCdB4cfwBrRSPn4sp1n4jyNzEz5aihUsu_fLmdSEeknuWN2Zh3Gz8oWZsav67PiwiHfJV/s1600/mISSOURI+-Ozark+Trail.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a><b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> </span></b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigyqxUdDgL-gOWoTqeA8mAK7O1wAfoENQWV9eTVo139ykBDnX3mhFSHsGXenlNyRBCgHOHoiBGkOxhYGTySnw18t-VpPFxtRkjlNrjb69eRxCQCgbrBwh5qGw-mpY2imxAyVWiv_-RdY7N/s1600/Missouri+Ozark+Trail+view.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigyqxUdDgL-gOWoTqeA8mAK7O1wAfoENQWV9eTVo139ykBDnX3mhFSHsGXenlNyRBCgHOHoiBGkOxhYGTySnw18t-VpPFxtRkjlNrjb69eRxCQCgbrBwh5qGw-mpY2imxAyVWiv_-RdY7N/s1600/Missouri+Ozark+Trail+view.jpg" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">These trails
lead to different parts of the wilderness including the one I traveled to the
Ozark Trail. The walk along here was leisurely, as the trail is wide and
relatively level. The climbs were moderate, although there is a fair amount of
ridge walking. As you walk you will see caves of various sizes in the hillsides.
There are some very rugged trails along the Devils Backbone and with elevations ranging from 1.020 feet
to 680 feet, some trails are steep. There is also three designated trailheads that give access to the Devils Backbone Wilderness (Raccoon Hollow, McGarrr Ridge, Collins Ridge, as well as Blue Springs in the North Fork Recreation area. </span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Blue Springs is amazing and yes, it <i>is</i> this blue in color. </span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"></span></b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQqko81fdVEvjC91rMcjyXtLJ_t2S1IF7f9Ole5PCpXHkxoyTNpkuvDLrGmHgQPXBiEjb0F2gMmvv7Ny6R9zIezkcSG2rO4NfQBN8NO2TG9cnjXrMbxuuos6iZf-2cpkACn35aov76f3Uo/s1600/Missouri+Ozark+trail+Blue+Springs.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQqko81fdVEvjC91rMcjyXtLJ_t2S1IF7f9Ole5PCpXHkxoyTNpkuvDLrGmHgQPXBiEjb0F2gMmvv7Ny6R9zIezkcSG2rO4NfQBN8NO2TG9cnjXrMbxuuos6iZf-2cpkACn35aov76f3Uo/s1600/Missouri+Ozark+trail+Blue+Springs.png" height="425" width="640" /></a></div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp109juIscR4CoW22B1QVrwH7sqTxvnV32BqvGf2AKhkr-4TMomhPxgJB9hcilJIkeQCIwDkOx71kiaN3ZvUjJv5AA6qWpP3be0BEYpD3Y92Gd4v1Ki9W5GfNRMtioX2SVWWNzL8_jSsha/s1600/Missouri+Redbud+and+Dogwood.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp109juIscR4CoW22B1QVrwH7sqTxvnV32BqvGf2AKhkr-4TMomhPxgJB9hcilJIkeQCIwDkOx71kiaN3ZvUjJv5AA6qWpP3be0BEYpD3Y92Gd4v1Ki9W5GfNRMtioX2SVWWNzL8_jSsha/s1600/Missouri+Redbud+and+Dogwood.jpg" height="143" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="left"><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><b><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Redbud and Dogwood in bloom</span></b></span></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Ozark Trail as well as
Devils Backbone has year round hiking accessibility but the fall and the spring
offer more temperate climates and lots of color. During the spring there are
blooming dogwood, redbud, wild azaleas and the bright soft green of spring
leafing. In the fall the oaks, sweet gum, and sugar maples offer bright colors
of yellow, orange, and reds.</span></b></span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT4OSDLCUaPNWhgb9BBrfRNSG3iKVlTYuHox5nFxrxOFhj4dyqjc5ZDd8lqJ-AEdghneJItTSo4xVPRbQKYrMD5nHJDHyQqMWNtI7DAcB8Sq50FX6wR1vvJ3XlRNvb5kB3u6g70WI4Fe5_/s1600/Missouri+Fall+color+Devils+backbone.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT4OSDLCUaPNWhgb9BBrfRNSG3iKVlTYuHox5nFxrxOFhj4dyqjc5ZDd8lqJ-AEdghneJItTSo4xVPRbQKYrMD5nHJDHyQqMWNtI7DAcB8Sq50FX6wR1vvJ3XlRNvb5kB3u6g70WI4Fe5_/s1600/Missouri+Fall+color+Devils+backbone.jpg" height="237" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Fall trails</b></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">There are a lot of
limestone glades and if you’re lucky, you'll spot white-tailed deer, gray and red
squirrels, raccoons, coyote, red and gray foxes, and bobcats. Usually an
armadillo or two and snakes. We do have two poisonous snakes, copperheads and
eastern timber rattler, these tend to get out of your way rather quickly, and are
easily avoided. </span></b></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihySkluNKxntA0ZP5azxE2VKQHDnJxleu9sA7SQ-b0Y6sJFKNh14OOJZ-65O3US3_NGXdRl1FB_effifzj-hjsrtxMTKjZGYlcFiq_Z2KO2XRS_dmR1BbwzDGpYOQ2tV0BR-yb9lJ7j3TV/s1600/Missouri+Trail+hiking.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihySkluNKxntA0ZP5azxE2VKQHDnJxleu9sA7SQ-b0Y6sJFKNh14OOJZ-65O3US3_NGXdRl1FB_effifzj-hjsrtxMTKjZGYlcFiq_Z2KO2XRS_dmR1BbwzDGpYOQ2tV0BR-yb9lJ7j3TV/s1600/Missouri+Trail+hiking.jpg" height="298" width="400" /></a></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">It’s not unusual to spot red-tailed hawks, turkey vultures, and
bald eagles floating on the tail winds. Of course we have lots of wild turkeys.
The forest is filled with songbirds and the walk is accompanied by the music of
the birds, chatter of the squirrels, and various singing insects. Speaking of
insects, we have the biting type like mosquitoes and ticks so using a good
repellant (like deep woods OFF) is smart.</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">You’ll see many springs,
creeks, rivers, and waterfalls.</b></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu340aEYlRwZnIAc4AKfKAxqDfL5ZR8_NSK4LWXWcIlcx80tBt5YDPOxni9dgA5H4cx2WsiXQmxdWjti-KLEX7vvMkmt2SIK94dSzThn2lDPIAEBn5FFnG38JJ7bhKF8JUzaIpMNhw2cCq/s1600/Missouri+waterfall+Devils+backbone.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu340aEYlRwZnIAc4AKfKAxqDfL5ZR8_NSK4LWXWcIlcx80tBt5YDPOxni9dgA5H4cx2WsiXQmxdWjti-KLEX7vvMkmt2SIK94dSzThn2lDPIAEBn5FFnG38JJ7bhKF8JUzaIpMNhw2cCq/s1600/Missouri+waterfall+Devils+backbone.jpg" height="256" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="color: #073763;"><b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">The Ozark Trial and Devils Backbone is a gorgeous area to hike and visit.</span></b></span> </span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><i><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Photos Missouri Dept of Conservation and personal</span></i></span></b><b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"></span></b></div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer"><script src="http://digg.com/tools/diggthis.js" type="text/javascript"></script></div>~Sia McKye~http://www.blogger.com/profile/08470562659597351033noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8309263703251385900.post-65904933003198674602015-04-15T10:56:00.000-05:002015-04-15T10:56:01.153-05:00MISSOURI—THE BEAUTIFUL LAND I CALL HOME <br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 7.5pt; line-height: 115%;">"A
two-fold wildlife goal of Mark Twain National Forest is to maintain viable
populations of all species while also affording a medley of activities that will
allow humans to enjoy them—everything from hunting and fishing to wildlife
viewing and photography."</span></i></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 7.5pt; line-height: 115%;"> USDA Forest Service</span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5jF9jEsqno1Nmz-XIIwErXEA5Sg1-ikfoM6l5PZ_6fR4KozH0bWMYwwlRE6cCjuMgRv9HQGQXe0U93hyYhX-12o06592dbc3rqOhscz1UuhO9HWbUMpvmg85vo4tZRnMFuKeyvckxjAkM/s1600/M.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5jF9jEsqno1Nmz-XIIwErXEA5Sg1-ikfoM6l5PZ_6fR4KozH0bWMYwwlRE6cCjuMgRv9HQGQXe0U93hyYhX-12o06592dbc3rqOhscz1UuhO9HWbUMpvmg85vo4tZRnMFuKeyvckxjAkM/s1600/M.jpg" /></a></b></div>
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I
couldn’t talk about Missouri without mentioning one of our most famous
citizens, Samuel Langhorne Clemens, aka, Mark Twain. His writing had quite an
impact in the world of his time and on Missouri.</span></b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRVqAVsVQHFruu6bxXdJIKRRewBKrUtuA8e4_TkkTwtvl5Fliovcq6nO125iSKIzICw7JidjdV08vpuN7-sSXZ_lAbdXaocFoXSjgYP9olzl_tttVpT4sRAd-66T43Nluc5ie626gMZ0iB/s1600/Missouri-Old+Mississipi+riverboat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRVqAVsVQHFruu6bxXdJIKRRewBKrUtuA8e4_TkkTwtvl5Fliovcq6nO125iSKIzICw7JidjdV08vpuN7-sSXZ_lAbdXaocFoXSjgYP9olzl_tttVpT4sRAd-66T43Nluc5ie626gMZ0iB/s1600/Missouri-Old+Mississipi+riverboat.jpg" /></a></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The
name Mark Twain was the pen name of Samuel Langhorne Clemens, American author
and humorist. The pen name itself was taken from riverboat pilot terminology
for marking the fathoms of safe water for a riverboat to travel. They used a
marked line dropped into to the water. Two fathoms was safe and they would call
out, mark twain, meaning marked, two fathoms.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The author also claimed the pen name wasn’t entirely his invention, but
had been used by Captain Isaiah Sellers who wrote about valuable news about the
condition of the Mississippi River. </span></b></div>
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_EaQUxKklHp0p1TIFx8R8zYZiE4Fyr_6pBBvI9HeAePNSsE6YbX0sNXWYbzdtNpROcNYfya8SMDfvIcxUAzF98GLwIFe9KGGkbFZN4y-dFXe7WASNjCEbqYjYKBbkFAoUUZIX4DBZYn15/s1600/Missouri-riverboats+in+St+Louis.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_EaQUxKklHp0p1TIFx8R8zYZiE4Fyr_6pBBvI9HeAePNSsE6YbX0sNXWYbzdtNpROcNYfya8SMDfvIcxUAzF98GLwIFe9KGGkbFZN4y-dFXe7WASNjCEbqYjYKBbkFAoUUZIX4DBZYn15/s1600/Missouri-riverboats+in+St+Louis.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="right"><td class="tr-caption"><b>Riverboats in St. Louis, Missouri</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>Clemens
explained,</span></b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">“Mark Twain was the nom de plume of one
Captain Isaiah Sellers, who used to write river news over it for the New
Orleans Picayune. He died in 1869 and as he could no longer need that
signature, I laid violent hands upon it without asking permission of the proprietor's
remains.”</span></i></b></div>
</blockquote>
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The interesting thing is Samuel Clemens never came back
to live in Missouri once he left the state, at age 26, during the Civil War. At
the start of the war he was working the river as a riverboat pilot. Even before
training and becoming a river pilot, Clemens wrote articles and humorous
sketches for the Hannibal Journal, which was owned by his brother, Orion. After
the war began, he followed his brother Orion to Nevada and pulled on that early
training to work as a journalist. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Clemens
traveled not only the country, but all over the world supporting himself
largely as a journalist. After he married, he settled in Connecticut.</span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA1-FtC5X1jsVNeii_8nbCps8YRKIT-_YBpPpV8AjLc9RlahbygstzSfUdDgCe0WhoDPoStn1ukq1fCne_86D-ziUgKsTAepdz5vLnLTEPfCIywDJjm3RByEG22tpAknRhd4dUjyCMTS_r/s1600/Missouri+Map+of+Mark+Twain+National+Forest.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA1-FtC5X1jsVNeii_8nbCps8YRKIT-_YBpPpV8AjLc9RlahbygstzSfUdDgCe0WhoDPoStn1ukq1fCne_86D-ziUgKsTAepdz5vLnLTEPfCIywDJjm3RByEG22tpAknRhd4dUjyCMTS_r/s1600/Missouri+Map+of+Mark+Twain+National+Forest.jpg" /></a></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Clemens
was born in Florida, Missouri, and when he was 4, his family moved to Hannibal.
The town is a port city on the Mississippi and the setting of two of his most
famous books, Tom Sawyer and The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. He was 40 when
he penned Tom Sawyer and almost 50 when The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn was
published. It was those stories that had the greatest impact for Missouri and
tourism fueling his readers to see the Mississippi and the caves of Missouri.
That interest, especially in the caves, contributed to opening our show caves.</span></b></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg1uy_fBqrJri2dgqKQmNzGvh5228BDt5bB7Wd14yxy_F3BHg0KjojCqf5dIoeIZtUQs02Qhi5Q4uTOH0WgPnTfNk1l_EpRsTrdqFWj0Xc0YcA34MWmtDY-7yJ5pB0qNKCuWWOI7UYeAJq/s1600/Missouri-Mark+Twain+Nat+Forest+summer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg1uy_fBqrJri2dgqKQmNzGvh5228BDt5bB7Wd14yxy_F3BHg0KjojCqf5dIoeIZtUQs02Qhi5Q4uTOH0WgPnTfNk1l_EpRsTrdqFWj0Xc0YcA34MWmtDY-7yJ5pB0qNKCuWWOI7UYeAJq/s1600/Missouri-Mark+Twain+Nat+Forest+summer.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="left"><td class="tr-caption">Mark Twain Forest</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8HKHlHIR161IioMNHtNmCzrpEpBis5zWkXT4eISkyGicshR88MAj9k7mUtQHOzexE3xMwwQuRS8fA6GlHypindl70BQVISf1cOij_sI5fhgQw9tRWT82mhWvOHqdNLGc5yG_QpMeRRVR_/s1600/Missouri-fishing+n+canoing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8HKHlHIR161IioMNHtNmCzrpEpBis5zWkXT4eISkyGicshR88MAj9k7mUtQHOzexE3xMwwQuRS8fA6GlHypindl70BQVISf1cOij_sI5fhgQw9tRWT82mhWvOHqdNLGc5yG_QpMeRRVR_/s1600/Missouri-fishing+n+canoing.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzDhWf-6g_uHBeIgXYY8RCNRptuN2DDUeinZGQ48G36OGkEHW5vTDfeIKgBYt62JdDvHq-D0LQpp9rCPalIEnyt-tBptBSuS_0Q-ccX1kfhhwzPjouFFWae4_5jcNJOrS57oD1Pborkz90/s1600/Missouri-Horseback+riding.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzDhWf-6g_uHBeIgXYY8RCNRptuN2DDUeinZGQ48G36OGkEHW5vTDfeIKgBYt62JdDvHq-D0LQpp9rCPalIEnyt-tBptBSuS_0Q-ccX1kfhhwzPjouFFWae4_5jcNJOrS57oD1Pborkz90/s1600/Missouri-Horseback+riding.jpg" /></a><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Missouri
Ozarks has the</span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Mark Twain National Forest, established
in 1939, located in 29 counties across southern and central Missouri and
encompasses 1.5 million acres. It has an abundance of natural springs. There are 14 floatable streams and 16 lakes
(ranging in size from 3 to 440 acres). There are places to camp and numerous
trails for hiking, biking, and horseback riding. It’s popular with hunters and
trappers, as well as anglers.</span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Many come to the Mark Twain National Forest to study and photograph wildflowers and wildlife. We have 320 species of birds, 75
species of mammals and 125 species of reptiles and amphibians. Additionally,
there are various caves to explore as well being a unique environment to study
geology, fossils, and cave inhabitants. </span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgslCVDspr9gDHIJVsO7mlZ5d_NEBcI910a21c06jz-URLn_Vae2QkAFaOVwLmtrmr5xWFWypQ2L1OZ4qkvwEKK3ZXy2F-6_z4G_NESquw9JFj0fMrl7r7bY-Xk_XENSia5HSPScJqwysqz/s1600/Missouri-+camping+MTNForest.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgslCVDspr9gDHIJVsO7mlZ5d_NEBcI910a21c06jz-URLn_Vae2QkAFaOVwLmtrmr5xWFWypQ2L1OZ4qkvwEKK3ZXy2F-6_z4G_NESquw9JFj0fMrl7r7bY-Xk_XENSia5HSPScJqwysqz/s1600/Missouri-+camping+MTNForest.jpg" /></a></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Mark
Twain may have been born here. His various writings about the area brought in
visitors from around the world. But, the enduring showcase is the wild and
beautiful land I call home— Missouri. </span></b></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5eOUJWToQkvKyfUQ-QEXSvIDR7pvMIUxefLfWvZ7ieqQ2Q8eOnwamZiwbtsAohG-992UKx3DyQtcC6HvbxU6MYozqCbIyGfiM-3qHvsLCKYb7x6IO1ZF9QKLEvigGZwzvwwrvLE9a01EH/s1600/Missouri-River+rafting.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5eOUJWToQkvKyfUQ-QEXSvIDR7pvMIUxefLfWvZ7ieqQ2Q8eOnwamZiwbtsAohG-992UKx3DyQtcC6HvbxU6MYozqCbIyGfiM-3qHvsLCKYb7x6IO1ZF9QKLEvigGZwzvwwrvLE9a01EH/s1600/Missouri-River+rafting.jpg" height="265" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Class IV rafting Missouri</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><i>Photos: Dept Conservation, wiki commons, and personal</i></span> </span></b></div>
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<div class="blogger-post-footer"><script src="http://digg.com/tools/diggthis.js" type="text/javascript"></script></div>~Sia McKye~http://www.blogger.com/profile/08470562659597351033noreply@blogger.com