THINGS YOU SEE...

Heidy-Ho, Blogging Buddies!!

Hope you all polished off that Turkey-Lurkey and managed to do so with NO weight gain!!

So... over the past couple of months, I have taken a photo or two of things I found interesting.  One or two don't a post make... but a FEW photos?!?  Well, that's post-worthy.

Just wanted to show you these items with my comments.  Perhaps you have your own?  Please feel free to use them!

Recently, one of the cable channels showed "The Mist", a film based on a Stephen King book by the same name.  The movie was done very well and, as do most of King's plots, scared the bejeezus out of me!  As I took my morning stroll early one morning, you can imagine there was a considerable amount of hesitation on my part before I forged ahead into "the mist" that lay before me!!  If you haven't read the book and/or seen the movie, do it one evening when television is terrible and you don't want to have to think!

Looks a little scary down the road.

Whoa!!  This is really spooky!



Maybe I should just turn around here?

Obviously, I survived it and none of those nasty "creatures" resided in this mist.

On another morning walk, there had been a substantial amount of moisture in the air and I happened upon one of the most lovely webs I've seen.  Had to get a shot of that!  Hope you can see the detail that the water droplets brought out.

Really amazing stuff!

On another day, I was downtown and noticed a police escort setting up at one of the lights.  Thought I would wait it out to see what was going on... and even though I SAW, I still don't KNOW what I saw!  LOL!!  Anyone with information or even a good guess as to what I was looking at when I took the next picture is welcome to educate me!

Tenova brings up a lot of different things in Google!!  Still don't know what I saw here!

Finally, sometimes one simply happens across something completely unexpected.  I was driving on a road I take many times each week.  I crested a slight hill and immediately saw this couple along the curb to my right.  It was just so much fun, I felt compelled to find a place to turn around and return so I could catch this quick picture for you all.  Quite honestly, I think this photo speaks to the substantial manufacture of products back in the '50s and '60s!!  These clearly were not "throwaway" products.  Nope.  They were designed for YEARS of use... and held up quite nicely.  I salute them and the workers who made them!

Lining up for the last hurrah...

And so, I leave you with these things you see... with no real explanation as to why any of them found themselves in front of my camera at that given moment in time... but glad they did so I could share with you!

Until next post...

FAREWELL TO A GREAT MOM...

Heidy-Ho, Blogging Pals.

It is another sad post for me to sit down and type for you.

When I was growing up, I had a friend, Charlotte, who lived directly behind my family's home & vacant lot.  We became fast friends and would often climb our respective back fences, cross the vacant lot, and climb the other's back fence to get together to play!  Years later, we laughed about being "back fence friends."

Charlotte and I often spent the night together at one or the other house, staying up talking about the silly things most young'uns talk about.  I remember Charlotte's mother, Ann Smith, being just the nicest mom (besides my own) who would allow us to do nearly anything that wasn't illegal or harmful.  I'll never forget staying up very late one night and deciding to make fudge at some ridiculous hour!  There was no vanilla extract to be found so Charlotte and I made the executive decision to use almond extract.  Not a really bad idea... but we used FAR too much, filling the house with the scent of almond to the nth degree!!  The fudge wasn't really great either but Charlotte's mom said it was just wonderful.  Now THAT'S a great mom!!

As life happens, Ann Smith had a very serious stroke right at two years ago this December.  It was major and knocked her down pretty hard and pretty far.  There were some dicey moments when it wasn't certain she would be around much longer.

Well, my blogging pals... don't ever count someone out until they are truly out.  My friend, Charlotte, while working her very full-time job, spent every other waking moment with her mom.  She managed the care her mother received, spent uncountable hours herself working with her mom to help her gain back some skills the stroke had removed from her, read huge amounts of information about stroke victims to help her understand what her mother was going through, and completely immersed herself in providing her mother with the best possible life post-stroke.  It was amazing to watch and fruitful.  Ann Smith regained a LOT of skills, surprising most everyone... except Charlotte.  The progress was obvious and we were all cheering Mrs. Smith on to bigger and better things!

Unfortunately, life happened again and Mrs. Smith had another stroke recently.  This one knocked her back pretty far and she lost many of the skills she had worked so hard to regain.  Obviously this was difficult for her, for her daughter, and for all of her friends.  The recovery she had managed before was not happening this time around.  We all pretty much simply prayed for the best as it was clearly out of our hands.

Mrs. Smith was finally released from her troubles last week.  My friend, Charlotte, called to let me know.  It's amazing how absolutely helpless one can feel when one wants to be the most help.  All I could do was provide some food, a hug, and tell her to let me know when she was ready for any help I could offer.

So, goodbye for now, Mrs. Smith.  You were a great mom and loved by many of your daughter's friends as well as your daughter.  I will always remember you fondly as you were funny, caring, and always had time to spend with us.  I am glad you are now at peace and I will be here for your daughter as best I can.  We'll meet with you again later... and perhaps make you some of that fabulous almond fudge!!  :)

Until next post...

TRIM 'EM UP!!!

Heidy-Ho, Blogging Pals!!  Welcome Back!

It has been VERY busy here the past couple of weeks so I have lots of pictures and things to post about... but just haven't had the time to do it!  With that said, let's get started.

About 2 weeks ago, the local power company (CLECO) had their contractors out to trim around their power lines.  Our lines actually run across the back property line meaning there was a need to gain access to our backyard.  Those of you who know me well know that I do NOT trust anyone to do what they say they will do or NOT do what they say that WON'T do!!  Too many times I have been unpleasantly surprised.  So... after discussion with a supervisor at my front door, I agreed to allow access... but only with me here and watching every move they made!  :)  I'm certain they were thrilled to hear that.  And I did warn the supervisor that I was, indeed, a cranky old lady so they would need to watch it!

The "boyz" showed up on the scheduled day and, after some discussion, began their work.  Here is a view to the all-day process that followed.



Petre's Right-of-Way Maintenance

 At one point, the "big" bucket truck was required.  The "boyz" were VERY cautious, placing large mats to spread the weight of the vehicle so as to not create divets/ruts/bumps in the back yard.  I was very appreciative of their attention to that.

So, once the "big" truck was in place, it was time to begin trimming.




You're sending me WHERE?!?!?!?!?



UPSY-DAISY!!!!



Oh... up HERE!!!!

 While these young'uns apparently had no issue with riding the bucket up into the air, I assure you I would not have taken the ride myself!  They were very careful as they were tossing down the branches and limb, avoiding hitting the shed..



More my speed!  The "baby" bucket.

 The young men doing all the hard work were very polite and fun.  As I was taking pictures, I suggested perhaps I should put together a "Tree-Trimmer Calendar!"  They were quick to volunteer for the months they wanted to portray!!

At any rate, I wanted to praise them for their work and thank them for their attention to my concerns.  There was not a leaf on any of my citrus trees/shrubs that was damaged in any way.  The ground was not damaged.  They cleared the debris completely and put everything back exactly as it had been before they arrived.  After they left, the only clue there had been anyone there was the blue sky that had been hidden behind trees before that was now apparent.

So I thank the Petre's "boyz" for doing a great job and making it stress-free for me.

Until next post...

THE COURTHOUSE TOUR!!! PART II

Welcome back, Blogging Buddies!!

I figured I had better give you the second part of the Courthouse Tour before life threw me something that took me away from posting!

This section of the tour will provide you with the "not-on-the-standard-tour" locations for the most part.  I have a little more to tell you about most of these photos.

Our first stop is the office of one of the judges.  She is a friend of mine and who provided the "secret" tour of the courthouse.  Her office has been "redone" which included pulling up old flooring and doing a full refinish of the original wood floor.  Keep the photo in mind as you will see another one soon with the original wood floor that has been neglected for years.  The lesson here?  Don't ever discount a wood floor without trying to bring it back to life!!

Now let's go up a level to what used to be the "Jurors Apartment."  I was surprised, too!  Turns out that when the courthouse was put into use, many of the jurors (who were all men, by the way) had to ride their horses into town to serve.  Since "commuting" by horse was not an efficient way to run a trial, the architect had apparently planned for that and incorporated a barracks-like environment where the jurors could "live" until the trial was completed.  (Wonder if that made for shorter trials?  Hmmmmmm.)  There were bunk-type beds lined up along the wall to the left.  The door at the back right of the photo led to the one-sink, one-toilet, one-shower, one-tub bathroom that served the jurors.  Look at the floor of this old apartment currently used for storage. and know it could look just like the one in the judge's office.

While I did not take a photo of the shower, I did appreciate the old lavatory and the beautiful clawfoot tub that are, unfortunately, probably going to simply sit and go to ruin.  I would think someone would find a repurpose use for them but doubt that will happen.

Alrighty!!  Now the REAL fun begins.  Are you ready to go to the roof?!?  Let me explain that it requires climbing up some very narrow and winding stairs... (notice the beautiful ironwork and woodwork in addition to the marble stairs!)

... until you finally reach the "hole" through which one must contort and maneuver in order to gain roof access!!!  (The judge said she "love(d) the mouse picture" which made no sense to me until I viewed the photos she sent me.)

Yes... that's the spousal-unit behind me... laughing as I try to figure out how to squeeze through this half-size door!

I gotta' tell you... this is a view of the town you won't find anywhere else!  We wandered around for a while, taking photos and just enjoying the views.  I'm keeping my rooftop photos to a minimum for you but thought you'd enjoy a couple of them.


Clock View



The Bell was in the dome previously but placed outside at some point and sits on the roof



Rooftop view of the Gothic "Hanging Jail" next door



My fellow roof-crashers!!  Susan, Judge Martha, and the Spousal-Unit

I cannot begin to tell you how happy I was to have been able to take this unusual tour... and to be able to get BACK into the "mouse hole" to return to terra firma!!


 

There were a lot of other places we were able to visit including an area that USED to be a balcony overlooking the large courtroom area.  It has been closed off and some scabbed-together HVAC equipment has been placed there.  Had there been a better vision of this historical property, perhaps things would have been different.  As it is, the parish clearly does not have the vision and this building may eventually become nothing more than storage.  There are conversations about whether to attempt a renovation or to simply find/build another building (I'm sure a cheap metal version of nothing) to use as the courthouse.  Of course, a poor parish begets bargain-basement planning.  It's unfortunate.

So... that is the end of the Beauregard Parish Courthouse tour.  I hope you enjoyed it.  A big THANK YOU to Judge Martha who made it possible!!!

Until next post...

THE COURTHOUSE TOUR!!! PART I

Heidy-Ho, Blogging Pals!!  Welcome back!

No... it's not what you think.  It was not a "forced" tour.  It was a tour unlike any most folks get to take, however, and I thought you might be interested.

First of all, the Beauregard Parish Courthouse was completed in 1914.  The "Hanging Jail" was completed that same year and was designed by the same architect although the structures are VERY different.  (Please take a few moments to click on the links and read about them!)

At any rate, I had worked at the Clerk of Court's office in the courthouse for two weeks during my high school years.  I was microfiching documents.  If you're too young to know that word, look it up!!!  I have a funny story about that short-term job and I'll be glad to tell you about it if you ask me.

I am going to provide you with a series of photos which are about half of the total you'll see.  We'll start with the basics... an exterior shot followed by some photos taken during our tour of the main floor of the 3-story building.  Believe me, this is just the beginning of a tour I won't soon forget... but you'll have to wait for the exciting second half until my next post.  I promise it will follow immediately.



  



Beautiful marble 8-point star on the main floor



The small courtroom where "minor" trials are held... whatever those are!

 



The bar and Judge's Bench as viewed from the "peanut gallery."





The Jury Box in the large courtroom.  Those chairs don't look too comfy!!





The Jury Deliberation Room - Note both ends of the table are rounded.

Doric, Ionic, or Corinthian?  Do you know which?



If you're old enough to remember Fallout Shelters, you'll also remember "Duck and Cover."



So... is this where the criminals work?  Or is this where they keep the criminals?  Hmmmmm.

I'll end this post for now.  There are about ten more photos I want to share with you.  They are even more interesting than these just due to where they were taken and what they show.

Until Part II...