More Yosemite pics by Mark.

I think that Mark should have a job as a National Geographic writer/photographer. He is doing a great job right now. I hope that he is enjoying his ride as much as I am!

Mark and bike in Yosemite!

It has been over 700 miles and four or more weeks from the Mexican Border. This is the view entering Yosemite Valley. Half Dome dominates.

Here are more recent pics from Mark. My number three grandson is a bike riding photographer.

Rosa my friend with Alzheimer.

It is so sad My friend Rosa is in the advanced stages of the Alzheimer malady. I visit often. Rosa quite often will fiddle with some object for an hour or two while I am with her. On my last visit she fiddled with a handbag.

She mumbles a lot and I usually do not understand her. I will nod or say "is that right" or some other inane thing. I do enjoy my visits. I believe that she does also.

Rosa usually has the company of some of her daughter Rhonda's dogs. They are good company and obviously love Rosa.

Jasper and Waffle ares a lot of company.

Mark is nearly to Yosemite. Bike Report 6/24/2019

 Mark is my number 3 grandchild. Happy 48th Mark. Mark and his bike are almost to Yosemite. Then he is looking at the Tioga Pass. (almost 10,000 feet elevation) Mark thinks he will lay in bed for two days in Lee Vining. Here are some recent Mark pics.

Looks like a nice place for dinner.

69th Annual Ruston Peach Fest.

I love a parade! I had a good seat. I see that there is an election coming up. There were a few candidates in the parade. After the parade I attended the the Peach Fest Band Concert in the Dixie. It was great concert with much patriotic music. I got to stand when they played the Army song.

 

Memos from Joy

Joy Kathleen Newberry is my granddaughter. She and her wonderful family live nearby in West Monroe. We have had lunch together several times lately. Joy has interviewed me and has written two essays about me. They are very complimentary and mostly true. Thy have been posted on her Facebook, reposted on my Facebook, and  one of the posts was reposted on the Louisiana Tech University Kinesiology Facebook. (The essay mentions my swimming career at Tech)

I am really flattered by the comments that these Facebook posts have generated. I have posted them below so that my PrunePicker Blog followers can see what a great guy I am. (and so modest!)

Mark's Bike Ride Report. 06/15/2019

It is about 3 weeks into the ride. Mark is resting up in the town of Lake Isabella. When I first saw this place in 1951 there was no Lake. The place was just Isabella. In 1953 a dam was built and the water covered the town. The town was moved over and renamed Lake Isabella.

Mark is at the end of the first section of the Pacific Crest Bike Trail map. The second section of the trail map is shown below. This is what Mark is starting on after a couple of days rest at Lake Isabella. It is sure a beautiful route. With Yosemite and Lake Tahoe along the way. I am looking forward to Mark's pics.

Today Mark was within inches of being ran over by an 18 wheeler. We are all so very grateful for those inches!

Here are some recent pics posted by Mark.

Mark and I like these Sierra clouds. Shot by Mark at Lake Isabella.

Kristopher Kelley of the Cooley House

Kris gave the talk yesterday at the NELA Genealogical and Historical  Society. The title of his talk was "The Year of the River: How Steamboats brought Gardens to the South" His talk exposed me to much more than the title would indicate.

Kris is a fountain of knowledge about  the gardens of the South and river travel in the day of the steamboat.

Captain Shreve improved the steamboat so that they were able to go up stream. (He was the first to pilot a steamboat from New Orleans to St Louis). Trade and commerce boomed and southern gardens bloomed with flowers from all over the world.

The Cooley House is on the National Register of Historic Places. It is one of last homes built in the Prairie School of Residential Architecture. This type of architecture was started by Wright. I hope to visit it.

Chris is a good speaker and really knows his subject. I enjoyed his talk.

The Cooley Gardens.

The Cooley House. On South Grand Street in Monroe.