MY QUALITY TIME

Friday, May 08, 2009

REMEMBERING THE TRIP TO BEAUFORT, HILTON HEAD, AND SAVANNAH GEORGIA

Over the past fifteen years my wife and I have made several trips to this area and have just enjoyed ourselves thoroughly.

First: Beaufort South Carolina :As horse-drawn carriages leisurely wind through the streets in the historic district

We would often camp at Hunting Island State Park

We are still Tent Campers at heart

Off to the beach::

The GRANDCHILDREN William & Alexandra are now in school,playing baseball, taking Taekwondo classes and growing up. Where does the time go?

Met this really HOT gal on the beach. She seems to travel a lot

Getting Hungry:

My son Nathan (second from right) joined the marines in 1994 and graduated from “boot camp” that fall

He then served several years with the marines and “saw the world”. After leaving the marines he was a deputy sheriff in Beaufort County, South Carolina. for a period of time.

Hungry Again; So we had The Sunday morning brunch at the Parris Island Traditions. Where Cassie ( Nate’s wife) was the manager.

Second: Palmetto Dunes and Hilton Head South Carolina:

When at Hilton Head we try to rent a condo at Palmetto Dunes ..

Always important to find some good seafood to eat::

My neighbors; Larry, Peg,and my wife Linda at the Old Oyster Factory.

The Chef and Linda at the Crazy Crab..

A Few more Pictures of the area then we will move on to Savannah Georgia

Picture of Intertidal Zone

I have always needed help

A few beach pictures:::::

Time for a rest

At Least one picture of a Golf Course……………………………………

Maybe One More:::(love Arthur Hill & Trent Jones)

Quick stop at Harbour Town Yacht Basin

Spent some time here; more than 40 independent boutiques, clothing shops, gift and craft galleries, nature stores, jewelry stores, independent art galleries, beach and souvenir shops.

Sometimes I get lost on those day trips…..

DAY TRIP TO SAVANNAH GEORGIA AND LUNCH AT CLARY’S CAFE (FOR ALL YOU FANS OF: “MIDNIGHT IN THE GARDEN OF GOOD AND EVIL”

RIVER STREET,CARGO SHIPS ON THE RIVER,BAGPIPES AND MORE:::

Larry & Peg they were still putting up with Linda and I. They tell me they don’t have a PROBLEM WITH LINDA

No recession here (a few years ago)

Love that Spanish Moss

Always room for more food at Clary’s.

LAST BUT NOT LEAST PICTURE FROM WARF AT TYBEE ISLAND

THANKS FOR STOPPING BY::JOE TODD

Technorati Tags: BEAUFORT SOUTH CAROLINA,HILTON HEAD,SAVANNAH GEORGIA,HISTORIC DISTRICT,CARRIAGE RIDE,HUNTING ISLAND,CAMPING,BEACH,MARINES,PARRIS ISLAND,TRADITIONS,PALMETTO DUNES,GOLF,HARBOUR TOWN,CLARY'S CAFE,SPANISH MOSS,TYBEE ISLAND,QUALITY TIME,LANCASTER OHIO

Thursday, May 07, 2009

QUICK UPDATE ON “QUALITY TIME FARMS” OR MY BACK YARD IN LANCASTER, OHIO

As I may have mentioned before, last spring I rototilled my backyard and turned it into a vegetable garden. This year for the most part all I had to do was clean up any debris, do some raking,and then plant. In cleaning up the garden area Johnny Jump-Ups were growing everywhere. I Dug them up and planted them in a large flower pot.

Nothing quite as nice as free flowers.They are a perennial and return each spring from same roots, forming expanding clump. Blooms second spring from seed.Once established, this species often spreads rapidly.

Next is the Peony Plant, I have two of them and they are planted at the back of the garden near two of the peach trees. Though they haven’t bloomed yet the time for them is getting much closer.

Peony flowers are often very fragrant and make a wonderful addition to any garden.

Now we will get down to it “FOOD”

There is an area at the back of the garden about 14 feet by 14 feet that is my strawberry patch. This patch was started with four plants. Over the last few years I would cut the runners off and start new plants.

I remember the strawberries of my childhood, dew-covered and fresh-picked early in the morning and served with shortcake and whipped cream. Won’t be long now…

One of my favorites TOMATOES..By following the tomato link I just learned, They were first cultivated by the Aztecs and Incas as early as 700 AD. Right now I have about 45 plants in the ground with about 20 more ready to plant. I’m going to have to give some of the plants away.

This picture shows one row with strawberries in background.

This next picture shows the plants I still need to do something with .

I have a total of six different varieties which I listed in a previous post and am trying out two different types of specialized soils to see what works best. If you would follow the tomato link above you would find out as I did; The French were convinced tomatoes had powerful aphrodisiac qualities and called them pommes d'amour or
l o v e - a p p l e s.

Now just for fun what is this:

Thanks for stopping by Joe Todd

Technorati Tags: QUALITY TIME,LANCASTER OHIO,VEGETABLE GARDEN,TOMATOES,PEONYS,STRAWBERRIES,JOHNNY JUMP-UPS,FOOD

Wednesday, May 06, 2009

REGULAR WEDNESDAY MEETING OF THE COMMON SENSE CLUB THIS 6TH DAY MAY 2009

The closing remarks at the club were made by our newest member Bro. An Gree , who said: “There is one trait of character, and all to common among us, that is very hurtful to ourselves and very trying to our associates. I do not call it a malady---nor a complex--- It is rather a habit of thought, or reflections when one’s attempts are not very successful, It is now called, “ SELF PITY.” No one admires it, and it surely does no good to anyone. Usually it is a figment of the imagination.

“One may reflect on, “I never had advantages, or I am not talented, or I am poor while others are prosperous and lastly, if I was only a member of the “lucky sperm club.” A sort of “odious comparison,” but not a just one. One assumes that all others are happy, or prosperous or content, when it may not be true. Even if true, why should I allow it to blight my peace, or my success. Why should I compare my “inside feelings” with others outside appearances?

“ I wonder if the poet had such people in his mind when he said:

“Twas ever thus from childhood’s hour,

I’ve seen my fondest hopes decay:

I never loved a tree or flower. But twas the first to fade away.

I never loved a dear gazelle, To glad me with its soft black eye, But when it came to know me well, And love me—it was sure to die.”

There it is. Other people’s hopes were realized and their “dear gazelles lived and loved but mine, Oh! dear! Poor me!Isn’t it pitiable?

“I like a baby and like the innocent prattle of the little ones, but when grown ups put on the “baby act” or adopt “baby talk” I am completely disgusted. Be a man or woman! The sun shines on the good and the evil. The rain falls on the just and unjust.” So, “ Be still sad heart and cease repining. Beyond the clouds is the sun still shining; Thy fate—is the common fate of all. Into each life, some rain must fall.

(As an aside: One should not as far as Bro. An Gree “He has not had just a little rain in his life it has been a downpour.”)

AS REPORTED BY SCRIBE JOE TODD 2009

Technorati Tags: LANCASTER OHIO,COMMON SENSE CLUB,TRAIT,CHARACTER,SELF PITY,LUCKY SPERM CLUB,POET,GAZELLE,BABY ACT,QUALITY TIME

Monday, May 04, 2009

JUST A FEW PICTURES FROM LANCASTER OHIO , MT PLEASANT & THE HOCKING HILLS

I am still trying to get to “Devil’s Kitchen” which is about half way up the side of Mt. Pleasant. When I was a kid it didn’t seem to be a problem. There have been two unsuccessful attempts . Next time I will try from the top down.