July 4th Memory ...

Fourth of July in St. Louis MO

 

Happy New Year 2012

R.I.P.

The District School Board voted in March 2011 to close the elementary school in Pleasant Dale due to budgetary cut backs. The town had consolidated with Milford in the 70's. The district continued to support two elementary school buildings and a middle/senior high school. Forty years later it was no longer feasible to support a facility that served fewer than 35 students. So-o-o-o when the 2011/2012 school opening day arrived ... the Pleasant Dale building sat empty. The school district held an auction on October 8th of building, property and contents. A Hastings ethanol business purchased the building and land ...






Life marches on though ... new life may be pumped into the community ... with a business providing employment opportunities.

Only time will tell ~

Mother's Day 2011

MOTHER

Betti Joanne Bach Sengstake
November 24, 1926-July 23, 1995

God Saw You...

God saw you getting tired,
When a cure was not to be.
So He wrapped his arms around you,
And whispered, "come to me".

You didn't deserve what you went through,
So He gave you rest.
God's garden must be beautiful,
He only takes the best.

And when I saw you sleeping,
So peaceful and free from pain
I could not wish you back
To suffer that again.

Snow...snow...snow...

I've always loved winter scenes and Alaska provided beautiful vistas. Unfortunately I didn't carry a camera...however I had my cell phone and was able to get a beautiful picture of the ski run area (including shot of moon) at Girdwood AK enroute to the Run5 Restaurant.

I also noticed the difference between an Alaskan hoar frost (following snow flurries)

and an early morning frost near Kearney Nebraska

Alike, but different...

Water ...

Returning from Ogallala this week-end we did a drive-thru for lunch. Restaurant sat on a branch of the Platte River. Believe it or not this picture reminds me of trips with the sisters on the Mississippi River. Rather relaxing...

Happy Birthday Mom

Today my mother would have been 84 years young. She left us much to early ... I think of her every day and miss her terribly.

Mother and Me
Spring/Summer 1948

2001 Ford Mustang Convertible

I really loved this car!

Each convertible top proved to be a tighter, better fit. The Mustang was so easy to lower, no zipping of rear window or loosening interior roof. It had a 6-CD changer, leather seats, remote entry and was all power (including drivers seat). It was a sweet ride.

But as retirement loomed on the horizon I wanted something I would be able to travel great distances in...practicality won again...darn it!!!

Red Convertible obsession...

Larry and I have had many rides during our 42 years of marriage. I'd like to say that all of them were "sweet"...but when you become a parent safety becomes a major concern. When we married he drove the 67 GTX and I had a 64 Plymouth Belvidere. When finances become tight we sold mine but kept the cool car. It was pre-Michelle that we purchased a 1957 Ford Fairlane 500 as a second car. I blame that little ride for my obsession with red convertibles (with white tops).


Again, these are not our photos. I think we spent about $200 for her in the late 60's. She had glass packs...a prerequisite in our early years.


I remember purchasing a second '57 for parts. I swear this is the same car...that sat in our driveway for months while Lars worked on the convertible.

Michelle loved riding with the top down...blew her little blond curls all over the place. Again, we loved the Ford, but it was starting to need more attention "repair wise" than we had time or funds for. We traded for a Chevy pick-up we had moved to Waverly, and Larry wanted something a little more reliable to get to and from work with.

Years later (after we had moved to Pleasant Dale) we learned from a neighbor that our 57 Ford was found in a storage barn in Emerald and that he (the neighbor) had refurbished/rebuilt it and it was on the road again!

We have owned a total of four convertibles, all red and with the exception of the Mustang (hers was "camel") all had white tops. '57 Ford Fairlane 500, '84 Pontiac Sunbird, Chrysler LeBaron and the '01 Ford Mustang. I dream of one day owning a 60's era red VW...but that will only be a dream...for now anyway!

There's nothing like hitting the road with the top down on a warm sunny day with the wind blowing through your hair. I miss it yes but I have grand kids now so it's time to act like an adult...again!!!

1967 Plymouth GTX

Before we were married Larry purchased a 1967 Plymouth GTX. It was a special order and I had input to the color. Red with a black vinyl top. It was a 440 Magnum, four speed posi-traction, with bucket seats, leather interior, chrome wheels, extra wide tires on rear, with exhaust cut outs and glass packs. One real sweet ride!!!



These are not our photos, but are as close to what we once owned.

This little beauty took us on our honeymoon to California in February 1968. When we learned in early 1970 that we were expecting our first child, Michelle, we chose to sell using funds to purchase our first home. Sometimes being a grown-up can be so difficult! We loved that car...but it was time to "move on".

Oh, and we did purchase a "replacement" car...a 1957 Ford Fairlane convertible...red with white top. But, that's for another post...

Favorite Teacher...

Everyone has a favorite teacher. Mine was Mrs. Gladys Atkins, my 5th AND 6th grade teacher at Saratoga Elementary School (in the late 50's).

Last month I saw her obituary in the newspaper and was somewhat saddened. She was 88 years old, which was so hard to imagine, favorite teachers don't age do they?

I remember Mrs. Atkins as a loving, caring individual. She showed true patience when dealing with her young charges. I don't think I ever saw her upset or angry. She was the kind of a teacher you never wanted to disappoint.

I always felt safe in her presence, she gave me a warm fuzzy feeling just being in the room. I had and still have a great deal of respect for Mrs. Atkins. I hope that she knows how many life's she touched in her lifetime.

Thank you Mrs. Gladys Atkins.