God's paintbrush.

Sometimes there is a storm and just after the

storm the sky becomes blazing like

a field of fire. Conditions have to be

just right to create these colors.

There is something scary about these skies but
also something beautiful. I always feel God's power
when I witness skies like this.

This was after a Monday night pizza dinner with the tennis

friends just outside of Puccini's at clearwater.

Pet People.

Rocko is sitting in his personal chaise.

I must admit I was worried about spending 2 nights

at Sharon's as she has 3 big dogs and 3 cats.

People who know me also know that I am not a

pet person and I just don't understand how someone

would be able to manage and care for all those pets.

I recently discovered it is "LOVE".

Rocko shares the home with these two black labs Pepper and Abbie.



I thought it amazing that they could all co-habitate under one roof
with 3 cats. This cat below I thought was pretty friendly coming
into my bed. Her name is Millie. And no I am not getting a cat.
But as cats go she was nice. I could not photograph the other 2
cats as they rarely showed their faces. That seems to be common
with some cats. They just disappear when company comes.

Here I am with one of the few dogs who likes me.
She sent me a message to tell me that. Her name is
Sophie and she is a pointer. She always comes to me
for petting.

Jill's dog Boodle nipped at me twice

I am not sure what I did to earn that. People say little dogs are like that.

Temperamental maybe but she didn't snap at others in the boat. Maybe I

should get over it.

Now this aviary thing I don't get.
This guy has this in his front room and these birds
do come to him and perch on his head. I think
they maybe more loving than fish. But I don't
get warm and cuddly over these.

Now Sugar is a whole nother matter. She is cute and cuddly and warm.

This is Diana's cat who seems to like red wine. Now there is a girl who I

may have something in common with. Still not getting a cat but I think

I will just continue to enjoy other people's pets. However don't ask your

pet to give Auntie Nettie a kiss.

My Kentucky Derby Weekend!

What do you associate with the Kentucky Derby?

Race horses and hats. Well, I had forgotten this

hat tradition or I would have arranged one but I

manged to get one for my derby photo.

Food is another tradition and great house parties

with racing pools and mint juleps. Southern

hospitality is always a Louisville hallmark but

more so during the Derby week. Margaret is

posing by her table laden with beef brisket,

sandwiches, potato salad, meat balls, cucumber

sandwiches, shrimp and lasagna to name a few.

Bourbon balls are also a great end to a meal.

Guests are eclectic. I met several psychics and people from all walks of life.

Below Sharon poses with a cocatoo who flies from head to head.

I met Sharon in Jamaica about 47 years ago. She was a lay

missionary for a small school that I taught briefly at before I

came to College.

We went to 4 different parties.

One was at her ex husband, Tony's home.

Tony is in the light colored shirt and he is

a most amazing host as well as fabulous

cook.


This is Tony's patio which is more than

beautiful

Here I am posing with Julia child who is a

lifesize doll who stands in front of his bar.

Way more than cards!

Sophie is pointer who lives with

Sarah and she is shown here waiting to greet

these new guests who are reputed to be a bit crazy.

Penny and Sarah pose in her newly updated

1st class cherry and granite kitchen. Well

maybe Penny is posing.

Don plays chopsticks while some are moved to dancing.

Maybe it was "When Irish eyes are smiling".

There was some Cole Porter played as well.

Sophie has time for all of us. I think she may be the only

dog who likes me. I remember Jill's dog almost biting me.

Dinner was an italian eggplant capionnata (spelling)

served on polenta, a green salad, focaccio bread followed

by a chocolate cake with triple whipped cream. Penny

had to whip the cream 3 times as it kept falling. It was

either a humidity thing or a brain thing. Lets go for the

1st option.

Meals are always accompanied by bottles of red wine and Stan's boxed wine.

Sarah our hostess smiles at the choice of the wine.

In euchre a winner always sits aligned with the bath tub.

In case this does not happen then you can always bring

your own bathtub.

We are pretty tired of Stan winning all the money

but besides that a perfect evening. Special thanks

to Sarah for hosting.

New and notable inventions!

Stan is a retired engineer who obviously has a lot

of spare time on his hands so he has turned his

talents to new inventions.

This is a bike helmet invented for the Indianapolis
night ride which requires a helmet for participation

Here Penny has taken it one step furthur adding a refreshment center.

We each took turns modeling this innovative invention

Some other uses may be in the coal mining industry
.

How about emergency lights for tornadoes and power outages?

Get yours at amazon.com

comes in small, medium and large

flames extra. Priced to go at $70 per unit.

Hurry while supplies last.

Early School days Jamaica.

The 1st catholic church established in Jamaica was in

1534 and was erected of local stone and was situated

in New Seville which was what the Spaniards named the

area now called Seville in St Ann. I was born about 3

miles from the site. The church was called St. Peter Martyr

and was never completed as the capitol was moved to

Spanish Town and the church fell into ruins during the

British rule. In 1925 a British landowner who then owned the

property gave it back to the Catholic Church and it was

rebuilt and named Our Lady of Perpetual Help.

Here is a photo which is exactly as I remember

it in all its quaint ivy covered beauty.

The first pastor here was Father Neil Donahue

a Jesuit priest from of Boston and he established a school

with the help of the Mercy nuns of Cincinnati.

The school was actually called Christopher Columbus High School.

Here is Father Neil in front holding his Panama style

tropical hat which was his trademark. He was introducing

his Chinese congregation to a visiting priest from

China. My aunt Kathleen is in the photo along

with some other relatives. My mother was

still an Anglican and she never became a

Catholic.

This is the church as it looks today.


This was the best school in my town. We had

to pay school fees but compared to the

alternative being offered by government

schools we were fortunate to have these

missionary schools.
These are photos of the school kids. I am the
girl next to the boy in the front row. My
sister Betty is the second to the right in
the front row and my cousin Bunty the little
girl far right next to her. She appears to be
crying.

Our uniform was ecru with maroon ties which
read CCHS. We wore berets and of course brown anklets
and shoes. Father Neil was very proud of the way he had
taken the little natives and taught us to read and write
and on this occasion he was having us perform for some
visiting dignitary from the big city. No doubt it was to
raise funds from the government. Father was always a
big fund raiser. I am dating thiese photos in the very early
1950's. I must have been 7 years old. Do the math.
Father died in Boston in a home for old Jesuit priests and
my cousin Winsome visited him before he passed away
around 1989. She said he remembered and asked about all of
his little kids in St. Ann's Bay.
As I look at the photos, I see doctors, lawyers, entertainers,
entrepreneurs, nurses and pilots. I think father did a fine job.

He had a lot of help from all those Irish nuns who were

sent to the missions. They were all quite young and loving

as I recall them. I think the Mercy nuns may have actually started

in Ireland.