Birthday Mini-Bash

Visit Home

When I visited my family home in Alabama this past weekend, I enjoyed walking out in the yard. This is some of what I captured. The third image is of a Japanese Oak Tree.  When I was done, it was time to go inside and check out the pets.

 

And from an earlier time.........Three keys to fireproofing any relationship: escaping reality through deep sleep; maintaining romance by cuddling; and keeping the flame lit with a slew of sloppy kisses.

aerial photo of home - mid-'80s

more blog posts on the pets and home

Lovie Dovie

Rockie

Rusty

Lucky

Silver Bell

The Japanese Oak and photo with Mother

Mark's 4th birthday - backyard party

Seeing Air Jordan

These are photos of Michael Jordan I took in Birmingham at a charity golf event in 1994. Jordan had given up basketball for a year and was living in Alabama's largest city, where he suited up with the minor league baseball Barons. Click here to read about my experience with Air Jordan at Hoover Metropolitan Stadium.

My Neighbor

Our neighbor when we lived in West Asheville was a gentleman named Travis Levert. Travis was a World War II veteran and a lifelong resident of Asheville. Just a few weeks ago, Travis passed away. I always enjoyed talking with ole' Travis. He was a "card," and he will be missed.

Kade's Dad in Action

My father-in-law, Somsak Topratheep, has had a successful career as a cinematographer in Thailand. Here are a few "retro" shots of him at work. A couple of images are on sets in Beijing, China. My two favorite shots are of him shooting commercials featuring the 1988 Miss Universe, Porntip "Bui" Nakhirunkanok. Those are the photos at the beach! Also, here's a link to a writeup to a movie Kade's dad directed.

The Roney Wash Hole

I asked Susan Owens of the Wiregrass (Southeast Alabama) to collect some information about Roney Wash Hole, which is just behind her house. I recall going down there a few times for a refreshing dip on hot summer days. The writeup and info are courtesy of Susan.

Memories from my mother Sallie Roney Brannon:

This land was always thought to belong to her father, Webb Roney. Actually, he owned the land you had to cross to get to the river. The river bank land belonged to Enoch Riley. Mr. Riley lived right across the river and his family never swam in the river. My mother said that she and her sister, Martha Roney Shelley, and her brothers, John, Jack and Joe Roney, all were taught to swim in the river by my grandfather. They would work in the fields and go swimming in the middle of the day while it was so hot, then go back to field work afterwards. They always had 4th of July picnics there with a multitude of Roneys and would cook and fry fish down there at other times.

From the book The Coin : A History of Newville and the Newville Baptist Church by Roberta Whiddon "It was reported in the Newville Advertiser November 22, 1923 that Roy Roney's wife, Johnny left to go to a neighbor's house and did not return. Mr Roney began a search. The search party tracked her back and forth in the fields and branches between her house and the Chotowhatchee River, then to the river. Her body was found drifted against a log. She was the daughter of Mrs JA James and the mother of five. All children were dead except one who ws about 4 years old. The youngest child, about 2 weeks old, died two weeks earlier. It is believed grief and trouble caused her actions."

From Sidney Owens:

Sidney and his buddies....Eddie Kirkland, John Price , Hughie Kirkland and others… often went swimming in the afternoons after they became old enough to ride their motorcycles from town to the river. Sidney said he distinctly remembers on Sunday afternoons they would be swimming and then they’d hear cars coming and look up to see a group of "dress up" folks coming to the river to be baptized. He knew that Mt Pisgah Church, between Newville and Echo used the wash hole for baptisms. An ironic note: Hugh Kirkland II (Hughie) is now the pastor of Mt. Pisgah Church.

From Me:

I loved swimming in the river. I thought it was a big place when I was a little girl !! My mother would not let us go by ourselves, even when we got to be about 13 or 14...but my grandmother, Trudie Roney, would go with us ( me, Jane Shelley Pitchford, my sister Nancy and probably Phil Shelley, Jane's brother). I am not sure why Mama Trudie had to go...she did not know how to swim or drive, and she sat in a folding chair in the shade and napped !!!

The layout of the Roney wash hole completely changed when the timber was cut around it probably 25 years ago...but it is a fun and fond memory for me and most of the surrounding area!!

Victory Day

I have already highlighted some family members who served in World War II. Their stories can be found in my archives. WWII is of particular interest to me. A visit to Germany back in 1992 awakened a curiosity to read books, interview vets, tour museums, watch movies and travel to far-away destinations associated with the war. I've also sought out relationships with people of my generation who live in some of the countries (e.g. Japan, Germany, China, England) that were active participants in the war. The photos above were made by an American contact (incidentally, from Albany, GA) now working in Moscow, Russia. Just recently he attended a May 9th celebration that paid respects to Soviet veterans who served and died during WWII - or, as it's called in Russia: The Great Patriotic War. These are some of the images he took. There was a parade in Red Square, and then other festivities at the Victory Park and Museum. A couple of years ago I toured the museum. The exhibitions were mind-blowing.

Asheville, NC's SkyBar

Kade and I joined some of our friends at the SkyBar in downtown Asheville, North Carolina.  As you can tell, there were beautiful views of the city and mountains.