PET SHOW AT AIRSTREAM RALLY

At our Rally, we always have a Pet Show. I went this year and just got the greatest picture. Sitting on the bench in front of me were a couple with two English Bulldogs. One of the dogs was a puppy of about 9 months. He definitely wanted to visit some other people…..like me! Here’s the shot!



And then, here’s another picture. This dog ….and his owner…. won the dog costume award. Ain’t they great?



I’ve been working a lot with the Ham Radio club. I’m the treasurer so I’m busy taking up dues and selling luncheon tickets and answering questions. I really need to spend more time going to the seminars and all the exhibits so I don’t forget why I come! But good news, they are now selling cappuccino here!

Ya’ll take care,
Suzanne

BEAUTIFUL FACILITIES

Hi ya’ll. I’m doing great. I haven’t been writing because I was either too tired or too busy. But that’s no good…..I have to stop and tell you what all is going on! I had an easy trip over, and the Rally facilities here in Perry, GA, are great. All the vendors and seminars are right here, and the buildings are well air-conditioned. And, my trailer is also well air-conditioned. Hallelujah!

I’ve been busy with the Ham Radio Club and the Choir. On Saturday and Sunday, I participated in the Ham Radio Field Day event. For you non-Hams out there…..Field Day is a 36-hour event where Hams go to the “field” and operate their radios on an “emergency basis”. This translates to mean…..go outside and use batteries or generators to power the radios. Tens of thousands of hams did this last week-end. Even as I was traveling here on Saturday, I saw a group of Hams setting up their station outside at a country church. That was going to be their “field”.

On Sunday, I sang with the choir at Chapel service, and on Monday, the choir sang at a nursing home. It was a sing-a-long with the residents. We all enjoyed it.

It’s true that the facilities here are beautiful here.

But sometimes, people aren’t lucky with their own individual sites. I thought you might enjoy this picture of my site. :) :)



So long for now,
Suzanne

P.S. The smell isn’t so hot either!

TOUR OF ANTEBELLUM HOMES

Antebellum homes. Gardens. Old oak trees. Spanish moss. I was amazed at the beautiful pre-Civil War homes here in Selma. It turns out that Selma is quite an old city. It is the second oldest surviving city in Alabama (formed in 1820). Selma was spotlighted during the Civil War because it was the most important arsenal south of Richmond. Because of this, the federal troops burned over 600 buildings when they came in 1865. And then Selma was also spotlighted in the 1960’s when the voting rights activity began there. The famous Edmund Pettus Bridge where the march to Montgomery began is still in use.

I leave Selma tomorrow and travel to Perry, GA. There is an Airstream Rally being held there. There will probably be about 800 to 900 rigs. It should be fun!

So long for now,
Suzanne

P.S. Here’s some pictures……

Here’s a photo of Sturdivant Hall which was completed in 1853.



And this is the White-Force Cottage with the plaque explaining why it is interesting.

HAM RADIO!

After two long years, I have finally made a radio contact from my trailer. And I can’t stop smiling. This has been such a struggle!

I became a ham (amateur radio operator) over 20 years ago, but I never had to do anything technical. Well, now I am learning the technical. And my stay here in Selma gave me the final boost to get “on the air.” One of the folks here at the Children’s Home just happens to be a ham with a lot of technical experience. I asked him to come check an antenna controller to make sure it was wired correctly and then to also check my antenna connection.

And, I also just plain asked…. “Is everything OK to get on the air?”

And the answer….. “Everything looks good. I’ll tune the antenna, and then it should work.”

Well, this morning, I gave it a try. I tuned in the frequency for my ham radio club, and I heard them. I gave them a call, and THEY HEARD ME!! And, that is why I just can’t stop smiling.

Take care,
Suzanne

P.S. Here's a picture of my antenna....:)

THE DOWN SIDE OF BEING AN ADULT

For the most part, I am very glad that I am an adult. I remember dreaming about being “grown up”. I would imagine how nice it would be to sit where I wanted instead of where the teacher told me. No more would I have to sit by that mean boy who made faces at me. And I could go to work instead of going to school and facing another test….especially the test where I had to know all the parish names (Plaquemines, Evangeline, Calcasieu, etc.), where they were located, and the parish seat of government! Ah, adulthood was going to be so nice.

But today, I wished that I was 12 again. I walked into the kitchen of the building where I am painting and discovered that giggly girls had taken over. Not only were they having a great time, they were also baking sugar cookies. And there was a bowl ready to be scraped out. I felt like shouting….. “DIBS on the bowl.” I could just imagine the taste. There is nothing better than cookie dough eaten with a wooden stirring spoon. Um-um good!

But, I had to keep quiet. After all, they’re the children, and they should have all the childhood pleasures possible. There’s only one solution for me…..I think I need to do some baking!

Take care,
Suzanne