Last Week in the Year 2020

The snow is coming down very slowly.  As I sit close to the window, I feel the cooler temperature as I look at the barren trees and wetlands.   The white snow flakes are slowly covering up the rocks and the birds are flying close together to keep warm.

I sit here and ponder that this is the last week of the year "2020".  So much happened in "2020".  It will definitely be a year that no one will forget.

The question is "what did I learn from 2020?"  As I look at the past months, weeks, days and hours, I want to think that this year was not wasted.  

What did I learn?

Am I a better person?

Am I less judgmental?

My spiritual life?

How did I see God work in my life and others?

Is my life better because of the year?

Did I complete the various tasks that I wanted to do for the year?

There are so many questions.

The one thing that I do know is that I feel peace in my life.  When everyone else is feeling turmoil and they are afraid of the unknown, I can say that there is a calmness that I can't explain.  

Isaiah 54:10 - "For the mountains may depart and the hills be removed, but my steadfast love shall not depart from you, and my covenant of peace shall not be removed," says the Lord, who has compassion on you."

As Mary pondered over the birth of Jesus, I ponder over this past year.  May I continue to allow my life to be directed by the Spirit as I encounter another year!

Losing A Parent

Today, I am writing about losing a parent.  Today is also December 7th, Pearl Harbor Day.  President Franklin Roosevelt stated that this would be "a date which will live in infamy".  Seventy-nine years ago, the Japanese sneak attack on Pearl Harbor killed 2,403 service members and civilians.  

I wouldn't say that my father's death is "a date which will live in infamy", but rather "a date which will live in glory".  A date that my dad left this earth to live in heaven.  A date that he was healed and can now hear(he was 99% deaf) and his body is healed from the multiple myeloma.

I have lost two earthly fathers, my biological on August 5, 1995 and my step-father on November 10, 2020.  My sister and I were both fortunate to have two dads.  I guess God thought we needed two to get us through life.  

My dad had been growing weak for many years.  Within three years, he lost almost fifty pounds.  Life was challenging for him for the past several years due to his lack of hearing.  Even with hearing aids, it was a challenge.  I know it was very difficult for him all these years not to hear the voices of the people that he loved.  But he always had a smile and was always asking us "do I owe you any money?"

The last week of his life, I was fortunate to be able to care for him and to nurse him.  I am not a nurse.  I have never had any children to nurse.  Here I was giving medicine to him to assist with the pain, anxiousness and confusion.  God gave me the opportunity to show love to a man who took care of my mom and the two girls that she had when they met in 1959.  They married three months later and a year and half later, she gave birth to my brother. 

To nurse someone means that the patient must be able to trust you, as well as the caregiver must respect, be kind and compassionate to the person that you are caring for.  There was a certain bond between my dad and I.  One that can not be explained.  I knew that he knew his time was not long for this world.

Until one has completely given themselves to caring for someone, one can not understand what it means to have that "warm fuzzy feeling".  It is a feel good attitude.  Glad that you could do it attitude.  Everyone needs to experience that at least once in your life.  Just by taking care of your child(ren); a family member or a friend.

I am blessed to be almost "67" and to have the opportunity to enjoy my mom and my dad .  I have so many friends my age that have lost both of their parents.  Is it hard to see them age?  Yes, it is.  But it is also a blessing to be able to take care of them as they have taken care of me.

I have now experienced the death of two fathers.  My life will never be the same.  But it is now up to me to carry the torch for the next generation of life and to celebrate each person's life.  To remind people that this older generation has a lot to share and to give.  Maybe they are older and can't move as fast or hear me as I speak, but they do have a purpose.  A purpose in showing other people how to love and how to age.  

As I look at myself, I know that I am in my last quarter of life.  Does that depress me?  If I thought about it all the time, it would.  But I choose to give all that I have in this last quarter of life.

As I reflect on the past weeks, I am reminded of the kindness that family, friends, neighbors and just other people that I have interacted with have been so loving and kind.  People do have a heart.

What do I want others to understand about losing a parent?  It is hard.  It doesn't matter what age you are or how long you have spent with a parent.   I will give myself time to grieve.  We all grieve differently and at different times.  I will reminisce about my dad with mom, my sister and other family and friends.  Everyone is placed in our lives for a reason.  I will reflect on what I have learned.   There are memories there.  Keep them alive.

I will also remind myself of God's love.  That all things are in his timing.  Such as my father's death.  Revelation 3:7 reminds us that God holds the keys to life.  

2 Corinthians 1:3-4 says "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God".

When someone loses a parent or a spouse or a good friend, be a good listener.  The truth is what can you say except "I am so sorry for your loss" or "I am very sad, please accept my condolences".  I know that if you are quiet, you will give the person the opportunity to talk about their grief or maybe they just need someone to hug and to cry.

As I move forward, I will enjoy my mom and give her the support she needs during this time.  I am thankful that I still have my mom.  She means so much to me, my sister, my niece, my great-nephew and so many others.  She has been the one to encourage us to do better, to step out and just do it!  We will now give her the encouragement that she needs.

Death is the process of life.  We are born and we die.  How will we handle it?  

I want to share some verses that have given me hope as I journey through this pain of loss.

Revelation 2:14 = "He will wipe every tear from their eyes..."

Psalm 34:18 = "He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds."

Psalm 46:10 = "He says, "Be still and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth."

1 Peter 5:7 = "Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you."

Psalm 56:8 = "Record my misery; list my tears on your scroll--are they not in your record."

Psalm 34:18 = "The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit."

Psalm 46:1 = "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble."

I could go on and on.  God's words are so comforting to me.  He is what gives me hope and a will to continue living when we do lose someone very dear to us.

My prayer is that you will be still and ask God to give you the strength that you need for a new day and a new beginning!  Show others how you need to live life now!

What Season Are You Experiencing?

For the last 6 weeks it has been fall in Northern Colorado.  There was a crispness in the air(cooler evenings/mornings & warm days).  The leaves were changing from green to red, gold, orange and brown.  The flowers were having their last hurrah at being vibrant in color.  I was enjoying every minute of the day.  Walking in my shorts during the day, riding my bike and enjoying a relaxing afternoon sitting outside in the warm sun.

With all the beauty around, there was also danger.  Forest fires were beginning to pop up throughout Colorado.  Within days, the dark heavy smoke was beginning to hang over our home.  We were being warned about the air quality due to the wildfire smoke.  Individuals, families and pets were being evacuated all around us.

Without moisture, the fires would spread.  Everyone began to pray for the moisture(rain/snow) that was needed to calm the fires.

Early Sunday morning, the moisture began with rain and quickly began to change to snow due to the drop in temperature.  Waking up to a pure, white snow covering our surroundings, you could almost begin to feel the heavy weight of forest fires lifted.  The temperature continued to drop and it snowed all day long.  By the end of the day, we had almost 10 inches of snow.   The mountains received lots of snow(one to two feet).  The fires have been tamed for now.

As I talk about the seasons, I think about the four different periods of the year(spring, summer, fall & winter).  Times of the year that the conditions of the weather are different, as well as the temperatures.  And some areas have wet or dry seasons.

Aren't our lives like seasons?  I like all seasons because they all reflect something different.  

I do enjoy the fall season, as you do enjoy the cooler evenings and warmer days.  Changes are happening.  Birds are flying south, such as the swainson hawk that flew from Loveland to Argentina; squirrels are collecting their nuts; salmon begin to swim upstream to their spawning grounds and so much more is happening.

We have all had many changes this year with COVID.  Everybody has their own story or stories.  God has worked among each one of us.  How is He working in your life?  Philippians 1:6 says "God who began the good work within you will keep right on helping you grow in His grace until His work within you is finally finished on that day when Jesus Christ returns."

And now, the season is changing into winter.  What does that mean?  To me it means, shorter days, long nights and colder days.  Does this mean that I throw in the towel?  I do believe it is a time to reflect.  "To be still and to know that God is God".  

There are seasons in our lives to allow our roots to grow deeper.  To give us the strength as we go through various trials of life.  The seasons only make us stronger, if we allow them to.

Through the seasons this year, I have gone through a lot of heartache, as I heard about the death of many friends.  It wasn't due to COVID, but to heart issues, cancer and other circumstances.  Other friends have lost jobs or their homes; some have health issues; the hatred and disrespect among individuals and our country and others are just having a hard time understanding this pandemic.

As you experience your own season, I encourage you with these verses that mean a lot to me:

"We know that in all things God works for good with those who love him, those whom he has called according to his purpose."  Romans 8:28

"To have faith is to be sure of the things we hope for, to be certain of the things we cannot see."  Hebrews 11:1

"Put it in writing, because it is not yet time for it to come true.  But the time is coming quickly, and what I show you will come true.  It may seem slow in coming, but wait for it; it will certainly take place, and it will not be delayed."  Habakkuk 2:3

"I alone know the plans I have for you, plans to bring you prosperity and not disaster, plans to bring about the future, you hope for."  Jeremiah 29:11

There are so many more verses to share.  I know that as I have gone through my many seasons of life, God has provided scriptures for me to quote, to read and to hold on to.  

I don't know what you are going through and where you have been, but I do know that there is a God that loves you and wants the best for you.  Hold on to Him, hold on to His word and just hold on to life.  The season will change.  That is a known fact.

Fall Season

This past Sunday.

Looking at the smoke from the fires at our house.

Road Trip - Day 6

Another beautiful morning!  We were packing up and moving on down the road.  Before leaving Marble Falls, we stopped at one of our favorite restaurant, Blue Bonnet Cafe.  It is definitely an icon of Marble Falls.

People have been coming to this restaurant since 1929.  It has been updated, but the great food and friendly staff has not changed.  Kenny started going to the Blue Bonnet in 1983.  His job took him there every week.  He always looked forward to going in and having Rose wait on him.  It seemed like she always knew when he would walk in, as she would have the paper and a cold glass of milk waiting for him.  Rose wasn't just any waitress.  She was the one with the beehive hairdo, long fingernails, dark lipstick and a smile.   After Kenny and I got married in 1986, we would travel from Austin about once a month to go see Rose.  Rose became like family to us.  In 1989, we moved to Bismarck, North Dakota and we continued our relationship by mail.  During our time in North Dakota, Rose was diagnosed with lung cancer and died within the year.  Our heart was sadden to hear about this.  We did find out that the owner of Blue Bonnet Cafe, John, took care of her medical bills.

Walking into the cafe, the first thing that I saw was all the different pies.  They make their pies fresh each day.  The bakers have perfected the mile-high meringue and creamy custard fillings.  They have a variety of pies to select from.  The pie that I purchased was the coconut cream pie.  We were driving to my parents and my mom loves coconut.  Also, my mom's older sister loved to bake coconut pies all the time.  It was her specialty.  Some choices of pies are the various fruits(apple, cherry, peach), pecan, fudge, peanut butter, chocolate and about seven others to choose from.

The sweet waitress came to our table and brought out her pencil and pad to take our order.  I had to have the Texas toast, eggs and grits.  Good 'ole southern breakfast.  It was nice to be there, but we missed having Rose take our order.

As we paid our bill, Kenny asked about John, the owner.  We were sad to find out that John had died in May at the age of 67.  He had suffered from complications associated with Parkinson's disease.   The obituary stated "he had purchased the Blue Bonnet Cafe in 1981 and had turned it into the world-famous  restaurant known for its southern comfort food and a myriad selection of pies".

Getting into the truck, we talked about the impact that the cafe and the people that had worked there had made on our own lives, as well as others.  Praying that the "Blue Bonnet Cafe" can survive this pandemic so that other's can be touched by the people who work there.

The truck seemed to know where it was going.   We headed north on 281 to Waco.  We were going to celebrate my dad's 90th birthday with family.  As we drove northeast on the farm-to-market roads, we enjoyed seeing the cattle grazing, windmills turning and the wide open range.  For September, the weather was nice with blue sky and puffy white clouds.  

On our way to Waco, we traveled through Gatesville.  This town has a population of about 16,000.  Some facts.  The city has five of the eight prisons and state jails for women.  The county museum has a collection of about 10,000 pairs of spurs.  Wish we would have time to stop to see all those spurs.  There is also a drive-in picture show.  It is one of the seventeen remaining.  With the pandemic, people have enjoyed going to the drive-in this summer.  The Coryell County Courthouse sits in the heart of downtown Gatesville.  This historic courthouse was built in 1897 and finished in 1898.  Stones were cut and hauled in wagons to build it.  Four statues(two of Liberty and two of Justice) adorn the top of the building and an eagle in flight tops the clock tower.  

As we left Gatesville, we drove east on US 84.  In forty-five minutes, we would be at my parent's home.  There wasn't much traffic as it was Labor Day.  We drove through several more small towns and we followed the Blue-Bell truck into McGregor.  If you have never have had Blue Bell Ice Cream, you need to try it.  In the early 1900's, a creamery in Brenham, Texas began making ice cream and delivering it to neighbors by horse and wagon.  They produce over 66 different flavors.  Enough about Blue Bell, let me tell you some facts about McGregor.  

McGregor is another small town with a population of 5,000.  It is only about twenty minutes from Waco.  It is the site of the former Bluebonnet Ordnance Plant to make munitions during WWII.  After the war, the site has been used by a number of companies to make rockets.  In high school, several of my friend's fathers worked for Rocketdyne in designing rocket engines.  But now days, McGregor is known for the Magnolia House.  It was renovated by Chip and Joanna  Gaines in Season 3 of Fixer Upper as a bed and breakfast.

At 11 am sharp, Kenny and I pulled into my parent's driveway.  My sister, brother-in-law and nephew got there the day before.  My niece and her family, who live in Waco, were there to greet us.  There is something about being with family.  It had been a while since we had all been together in one location.  My dad and mom were all smiles as they had the family there.  We enjoyed some delicious barbeque beef, as well as beans and potato salad.  Of course, there was that delicious coconut pie that we had brought from the Blue Bonnet Cafe.

Celebrating dad's 90th birthday, made this Road Trip!  Like I have said road trips are all about seeing the country and stopping and visiting with family and friends.

Blue Bell Ice Cream; Blue Bonnet Cafe; pies and Coryell County Courthouse

Celebrating dad's 90th!

Road Trip - seeing Texas

Road trips are all about seeing the country as well as visiting with family and friends.  Friday night, we spent the night in Boerne, Texas.  That evening we visited with Kenny's aunt and uncles and cousins.  We hadn't seen everyone in about 4 years.  The next day would be the wedding of one of the cousin's sons.

Saturday morning, it was overcast and humid.  I don't miss the humidity even though it does keep your skin looking younger.  This morning, we were meeting a friend at a cute restaurant called The Dienger Trading Co. It was established in 1884.  A hard-working German pioneer, Joseph Dienger, settled into the Texas hill country constructed the grocery store on the street level and the family living on top.  And now it is a bakery, espresso bar and bistro where breakfast and lunch is served.

Sunday morning after meeting family for breakfast at a deli, Max & Louie's, in San Antonio, Kenny and I headed to Marble Falls.  Marble Falls is about 80 mile north of San Antonio and 35 miles northwest of Austin.  When I lived in Austin, it was always fun to take a Sunday drive to Marble Falls.  Back in the 80s, it definitely was a small town.  Now, it has a population of about 6,000.  More and more people are moving here to get away from the big cities.  It is a great place for retirement.  

Some history is that it is named after waterfalls which are now located at the bottom of Lake Marble Falls.  In 1917, the city elected the 1st female mayor, Ophelia Crosby "Birdie" Harwood, in the nation.  Even though women had yet to gain the right to vote when she took over leadership of Marble Falls.

Another fun place to see is Granite Mountain, which is a solid dome of pink granite rising over 860 feet one mile west of Marble Falls.  The pink-red colored rock has been used in the construction of the Texas State Capitol in Austin, Texas and also for the construction o f the Galveston Seawall.  

With the COVID situation, there are many restaurants and shops that have closed.  Praying that this small town will be able to make it.  Tourism is so important to this town.

Kenny and I got checked into our hotel.  Because it was Labor Day weekend, the hotel was busy.  The employees said that most of the summer it had been pretty slow.

A good friend, Julia had moved to Marble Falls about 10 years ago.  We knew her well from the church that we attended in Houston.  Julia had been a good friend of Kenny's mom.  She was turning "90" within the next week, so we wanted to visit and wish her a happy birthday.  It was so good to see her.  She was moving slower, but she still had that beautiful smile.  It is amazing what you learn about a person when you stop and listen.  In her earlier years, she had taught music in middle school for almost 20 years and then in the 70's she taught computers.  After retiring from teaching, she then did several other jobs and up until about three years ago, she was working for the newspaper office in Marble Falls.  She was rolling those newspapers and stuffing them into plastic covers.  I always wonder, who did that job.  Wow!  It just goes to show you that being physically active is very important to your life.

After visiting with Julia, we enjoyed a walk around the park watching the families fishing and playing in the lake.  Then to the top evening off was the beautiful sunset.  Another fun day on the road.

Why I Pray!

 The early mornings are the best.  As I opened up my eyes, I looked at the clock and it read 5:45 am.  It was still dark and I could feel the cool breeze as it came through the window.   I pulled the blanket up to my throat and laid there praying for family and friends. 

I stumbled into the kitchen to turn on the coffee.  As I looked through our huge picture window, I could see lights coming on across the wetlands.  Others were gradually beginning their day.  The aroma of the coffee began to wake me.  I poured some coffee into my mug and added a bit of half n'half and sipped on it very slowly as my brain began to wake up.

I wanted to begin the day sitting in my rocker and looking out into the new day.  The window faces west, so I could see the reflection of the sun rising.  The salmon, orange colors glowed in my neighbor's windows.

I gathered my various devotional books and my bible and I began to read.  The last few days I have been thinking about what someone had said about "why do people pray, if God already knows?"  That is such a great question.

I believe that God knows all things, but I don't know all things.  When I take time "to be still and to listen to Him", I begin to feel the Spirit that is within me.  By taking time to pray and to talk with God, a peace comes over me to let me know that everything will work out the way it is suppose to. 

Praying is as if you are getting a glimpse into who God is.  Such as when I watch a sunrise or sunset, I feel that I am seeing God and He is with me.

Praying gives me a calmness to understand what He is doing.  My eyes are opened and hopefully the eyes of whoever I am praying for will be opened as well.  To understand that the Lord will guide and direct each person through their situation(s) or give them the wisdom for decisions that need to be made.

God's glory will be seen as it is seen in His creation.  

Psalms 19:2-4 says, "Each day announces it to the following day; each night repeats it to the next.  No speech or words are used , no sound is heard; yet their voice goes out to all the world and is heard to the ends of the earth."

Just as each day there will be a sunrise and a sunset, there will always be His Spirit.  My prayers will help me to grow closer to Him and to know that whatever or whoever I am praying for is actually being used so that I can grow closer to Him.  

Praying is as if you are looking at God's creation.  He created all things and He knows all things.  The beauty around me is not an accident.  His prayers are not by accident.  

By praying or talking to God, I begin to reflect on what needs to change within myself.  Through prayer, He refreshes my soul, He gives me wisdom and He opens my eyes to see.

If you have never prayed, then stop and be still and talk to God as if He is standing right there in front of you.  I know you can't see Him, but you can feel His spirit.  Praying will change your heart and your outlook on life.

"I pray for you constantly, asking God...to give you spiritual wisdom...I pray that you will begin to understand the incredible greatness of his power."  Ephesians 1:16-17, 19

Road Trip - Day 3

It was a bright, sunny and hot morning as we set out for our 500 mile trip from Amarillo to San Antonio.  It was going to be a long day of traveling.  Amarillo is in the panhandle of Texas where the wind blows and you can discover sand in places that you never knew existed.  Whenever I think of Amarillo, I always think of the song "Amarillo by Morning" sung by George Strait.  Terry Stafford wrote the song after playing with his band at a rodeo in San Antonio, Texas and then drove back to his home in Amarillo.  Here I was doing the reverse, traveling to San Antonio.

Kenny and I said "good-bye" to our friends and got on Interstate 27, heading south to Lubbock.  Lubbock is known as the birthplace of rock n'roll legend Buddy Holly.  It is also home for Texas Tech University.

After we left Lubbock, we traveled the back roads instead of the interstate.

Driving through the plains, one can see the high flat plateaus with no trees.  Due to the flat area and strong, steady winds, there are numerous wind turbines throughout the area.  There are about 650 wind turbine in the panhandle.  You also notice all the oil rigs pumping.  The oil and gas industry makes up about 20% of the Texas Panhandle's economy.

After several hour of traveling southeast on the back roads, we began to see the terrain change from flat and sandy to rollings hills and rocky.  There are many geographic regions in Texas.  The regions are panhandle plains, prairies and lakes, piney woods, gulf coast, south texas plains, big bend country and the Texas Hill Country.  

The Texas Hill Country is going to be our final destination.  This region has tall rugged hills of limestone or granite.  The vegetation includes yucca and prickly pear cactus.  The predominant trees in the region are ashe juniper and Texas live oak.  In the springtime, this area is beautiful with all the red, blue and yellow wildflowers.

Cruising down the county roads, one notices the small towns, the large courthouses, cemeteries and the horses, cattle and sheep grazing on the open ranges.  In most towns, there are the town squares with the courthouses and the small stores.  In your mind, you can picture what it looked like in the late 1800s.  Families coming to town in their wagons to do their monthly shopping.  Cowboys on horseback going to the saloons.  Stagecoaches bringing people from other towns.

Road trips help you to discover how other people live.  You don't have to travel far.  Pick a day to travel to a town that could be 100 miles from you.  Don't take the interstate.  Travel the back roads and put together your own book of the area around you and discover the history.

Oil Rig

Court House in Brady

Wind Turbines

Texas Panhandle

 

Road Trip - Palo Duro Canyon

 The fun part of going on a road trip is stopping to visit friends a long the way.  We were excited about spending a few days with our friends, Paul & Marilee, who live in Canyon, Texas.  Paul is the Director of Research at West Texas University and his lovely wife, Marilee, is a teacher.  They moved here almost two years ago from Ft Collin, Colorado.  We have missed visiting with them.

Our route on Highway 287 was going to take us right by their home.  We wanted to see where they lived.  There is something about seeing your friend's homes.  When you think about them, you know exactly the environment that they live in.

After a good nights sleep, we woke up to a beautiful West Texas morning.  The sky was a beautiful baby blue color with white puffy clouds and the wind was blowing at least 7 mph.  After having our morning coffee, we packed up a breakfast picnic basket and headed to Palo Duro Canyon.  They live about twelve miles from the entrance to the Canyon.  Palo Duro has been on my bucket list for at least twenty years.  

As we approached the park, I was like a kid in a "candy store".  I was finally going to experience this beautiful park.  As we got to the park entrance, the ranger was very friendly.  She had a bright smile on her face and she was eager to hand us our information.  

From the moment that we entered, you could see the beautiful terra-cotta terrain.  You immediately knew that you were at the Grand Canyon of Texas.  The name Palo Duro is a Spanish word meaning "hard stick". This is the 2nd largest canyon in the United States.  The people in Texas say that Palo Duro Canyon is one of the best kept secrets.

We visited the museum and art gallery that is on the property.  We found a lovely spot in the shade that we could enjoy our breakfast burritos.  The shade and the breeze felt so delightful that we did not want to leave.

We drove around the canyon, which is 120 miles long and at least 6 miles wide. The colors and formations were spectacular.  One of the formations, Lighthouse is very unique.  It is the most famous rock formation in the park.  As you drive through the park, the size and the geological features and the spectacular colors reminded us of the Grand Canyon.  About thirty years ago, we did visit the Grand Canyon in Arizona.  

There is so much history with the Apaches Indians roaming through the canyon.  They were eventually replaced by the Comanche Indians and Kiowa Tribes.  In 1541, the first European explorers to discover the canyon were members of the Coronado expedition.

Captain Randolph B Marcy mapped the canyon in 1852.  In 1905, Charles N. Gould made a geological map of the canyon and named the formations.  

Besides the beauty of the park, the Canyon is also the site of an outdoor historical and musical drama, titled "Texas".  It is presented each summer by actors, singers, dancers and artists of the Texas Panhandle region.  It is one of the best-attended outdoor history drama in the nation.  But due to COVID-19, there was not a production this year.  I was sad that I wasn't able to see it.  I will just have to come back and visit my friends next year.  Hopefully, we can see it then.  

As we drove through the park, we could feel the temperature rising outside.  We weren't really prepared to go hiking, so after a couple of hours of enjoying the beauty of Palo Duro, we headed back to Canyon.

This is definitely a site that everyone needs to see.  Take time and go visit this spectacular park.

Road Trip

This morning I was up before sunrise.  Sitting in my rocker, looking out into the wetland, drinking my coffee, I was in awe of the full moon.  It was as if the moon was smiling back at me.

Today was the first day of our "Road Trip" to Texas.  I haven't traveled long distance by car in several years.  Due to the COVID situation, my husband and I felt "why not travel by car and see the USA".

If you have never taken a road trip, you need to.  It is a great way to enjoy the terrain, talk about the history of that area and just time to be with each other.

Before I talk about our 1st day of traveling, I want to share some trivia about the world's first recorded long-distance road trip by automobile.  It took place in Germany in August 1888.  The wife of the inventor of the first patented motor car traveled 66 miles, a speed of 10 miles per hour.  She traveled with her two teenage sons.  Her husband had no knowledge of this trip.

Her official reason of why she took this trip was to go visit her mother.  Unofficially, she intended to generate publicity for her husband's invention.  Her name was Bertha Benz.  The Benz's family eventually evolved into the present day Mercedes-Benz Company.  As Paul Harvey would say "now you know the rest of the story".

Kenny and I wanted to take the time to visit family in Texas.  Kenny's mother has three siblings that are living.  Uncle Frank and Aunt Loie live in San Antonio and Aunt Pat lives in Mars Hills, North Carolina.  Uncle Frank will be 92 in December and is still bowling and meeting friends for breakfast.  Aunt Loie will be 87 in October and keeps busy with her husband and children and grandchildren.  San Antonio would be our final destination in Texas before we drive back to Loveland.

The morning was busy packing the truck.  Knowing we had lots of room and we didn't need to worry about the weight of our luggage, we packed everything.  Kenny wanted to take boxes of books and turkey decoys for his brother, who would meet us in San Antonio from Houston.  We were definitely loaded when we pulled out of the driveway.

We would take I-25 South and then 70-east and then Highway 287 south to Texas.  Along the way, we would travel through areas that went through a lot of hardship during the 1920's and 1930's.  

As we traveled down the highway, the terrain continued to change.  We went from the mountains to the great plains.  Here we were traveling in our air condition truck with all the comforts.  I thought about the people that had traveled westward to discover new territories and new opportunities.  These people from the east set out on foot, wagon, horseback or train.  Their road trip was different than mine.

Driving along Highway 287, we saw an 18 wheeler that had been turned over.  Also, there was a guy on a Harley that was packed.  Lots of traffic on the road.  Everybody was going somewhere.

As we drove through the Comanche National Grasslands, southeast area of Colorado, I thought of the dinosaurs roaming the grasslands to the Mexican and American traders traveling through to the Santa Fe trail.  

Crossing the border from Colorado to Oklahoma, Kenny talked about the area and that the plains were the worst hit during the dust bowl.  The high plains experienced drought conditions for as many as eight years.  Passing through Boise City, Oklahoma, we discussed "Black Sunday".  Black Sunday refers to the dust storm that occurred on April 14, 1935.  It was one of the worst storms in American history and it caused immense economic and agricultural damage.  The combination of drought, erosion, bare soil  and winds caused the dust to fly freely and at high speed.  One begins to realize that every generation goes through something.  Every one stresses about the COVID pandemic, but what about the people who lived during the dust bowl.  Around 7,000 people died during the Dust Bowl.

Driving through the Oklahoma panhandle, which is a 38 mile stretch, we reached the Texas border.  It felt good to be back in "Texas".  We had another 140 mile before we got to Canyon, Texas to spend the night with friends.

After 500 miles and eight hours of driving, stopping twice, we finally reached our friends.  We were looking forward to visiting, as well as a great meal and a good nights sleep.

Tomorrow, we will see Palo Duro Canyon.  This has been on my bucket list for a long time.

As we passed this guy, I captured the moment.

Crossing into Oklahoma

Home Sweet Home

Comanche National Grassland - Colorado

A Storm is Brewing

As I looked to the south, I knew a storm was brewing.  A calmness came over me as I observed the spectacular colors.  The colors were orange, yellow, red, dark purple and so many other blended colors. These bold colors reminded me that I believe in a bold God.  Webster says that bold means "showing or requiring a fearless daring spirit".  That is my God, He is fearless.  He stands before others to protect me.

A I thought of all that is going on around the world, I knew that God would be there.  He provides refuge, security and peace.  There are days that I don't know where to turn or know how I will get through a situation.  Psalms 46 states "that God is a very present help in trouble".  God's power is thorough.  As long as He lives through me, He will protect me.

Who do you want to be there for you?  Remember the people of Judah?  When they allowed God to live among them in the city, the city was invincible.  But when they abandoned God, He no longer protected them and Jerusalem fell to the Babylonian army.

May I stand quietly before the Lord.  May I honor His power and His majesty.  I will take time each day to proclaim His name.

When the storm is brewing, I know He will be there!

 

 

A New Season

Hard to believe that we are at the end of August.  Four more months and a new year "2021" will begin.  As we all know, life has been different this year and the year is not over.  I reflect on the words of King Solomon.  "There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven." 

As I look out on the wetland area, the yellow flowers remind me that a new season is before me.  I need to find satisfaction where I am at.  God created those yellow flowers and He created me.  There is beauty all around me.  I just need to continue to keep my eyes open and to trust Him as He guides me through each season of life. 

As the life cycle of the yellow flowers will end, also the year of "2020" will also come to an end. 

May I not rush "2020", but enjoy each day that He has created and to listen as He teaches me about the cycle of seasons and life!

Turning "90", A Milestone

What milestone have you reached lately?  We all have landmarks or turning points in our own personal life; graduating from college; retiring from work; getting married; having their first born; travelling or having a special birthday.

My dad will be reaching a milestone on August 28th.  He will be turning "90".  

Worldwide, the average life expectancy of a man is 71 years.  The current life expectancy in North America of a male is 78.93 years.  And the odds of living to 90 is a 30% chance.  Dad has beat the odds.  He probably needs to go by a lotto ticket this week.

Just recently, dad told my sister that he has had a good life.  He graduated from high school, went into the Navy; got married and had a family and was successful at managing a wholesale plumbing company for almost 40 years.  For the past 30 years, he has enjoyed fishing, traveling some with my mom and just going to the lake and sitting on the dock and looking out into the wide span of water.

In the past 10 years, his hearing loss has been a challenge.  Even with his hearing aids, he is deaf.  It is very hard for him to communicate with family and friends.  His body is beginning to slow down and he enjoys his naps.  It is tough getting older, as you are not able to move as fast or think as fast as you use to.

Dad's daily schedule consists of sleeping, eating brunch and dinner, channel-surfing on the television, waiting for the mailman, writing checks for those bills and balancing the checkbook.  Not bad for being 90.

About a week ago, one of the deacons from church, Jim expressed to me how much he missed seeing dad at church and assisting him with the offering.  Even before COVID hit, dad hadn't attended church in almost two years.  It is a challenge for dad to get in and out of the car and to walk distances.

Jim looked forward to seeing dad each Sunday.  Jim knew that dad would have a twinkle in his eye and a tale to tell him.

Dad's keys for a long life are a sense of humor; marrying a good woman; fishing; things were either black or white(no gray); attending church weekly; paying your bills on time; being somewhere on time and enjoying happy hour each evening.

Since 2020 is the year of "COVID", there was no way that we were going to have a party.  So instead, we decided that dad needed to be showered with cards.  His enjoyment in life is watching for the mailman daily(except Sunday) and my sister and I thought, he should have something good in that mailbox daily.  Back in July, my sister and I put together a flyer of photos representing dad of his 90 years of life.  Of course, we had a photo of him with a mask.  We began to ask family and friends to start mailing him a card.  We wanted his birthday to be celebrated for days, weeks and months.  Dad started receiving cards back in July.  Every time, he received a card, he said "it isn't my birthday yet".  

With dad not being able to hear us explain why he has been receiving cards, I wrote him a letter.  I told him that we were letting everyone know about this great milestone that he was about to reach and it was something that needed to be celebrated.  We wanted him to be flooded with cards from all over the world and especially from the United States.

I explained that "90" is something to celebrate.  People 90 and older now comprise 4.7% of the older population(age 65 and older), as compared with only 2.8% in 1980.  Ninety is a number of humanitarianism, compassion and idealism.  It is a number of philanthropy and tolerance.  

It was also interesting to find out the various celebrities that are turning "90" in 2020.  Here are a few celebrities:

Clint Eastwood = May 31st

Sean Connery = August 25th

Gene Hackman = January 30th

Buzz Aldrin = January 20th

Justice Sandra Day O'Connor = March 26th

Robert Wagner = February 10th

John Astin = March 30th

Joanne Woodward(Paul Newman's wife) = February 27th

I let him know that he was in good company with people turning "90".  Dad knew he was in good company, as his sister will be turning "93" in September.  Longevity definitely runs in their family.

Mom has had as much fun as dad has in receiving cards daily.  She has recorded each person that has sent a card and what state or country that they are from.  He has received cards from Canada, France and Japan.  Mother has draped the cards all over the house so that dad can see them everyday.  As of today, one week before dad's 90th birthday, he has received "110 cards".  Wow!  Thank you to everyone who sent a card.  Your card made a difference.

It has touched my parent's hearts to see people take the time to send a card and letter to someone that they don't know.  I have always said that mankind is "good" and they want to do "good". 

Milestones are important.  I encourage you to take time to recognize those landmarks, achievements, anniversaries and breakthroughs.  Also, if you know of someone who is reaching a milestone, help them celebrate.

Capturing the Moment

Early morning walks are the best!  Here it is the first of August and I can already feel the change of the seasons.  The mornings are cooler and there is a crispness in the air.

This morning was even more special as I walked down the road observing all that God has created.  The new dawn light was hitting the yard of my neighbors when out of the corner of my eye, I saw a hummingbird flash by. 

I carry my I-Phone with me so that I can capture those unique moments.  Today, it was the hummingbird.  He wasn't frightened by me.  He just wanted to get the nectar from this plant.  I watched him and took several photos while he went from one flower to the next.  After he got what he wanted, he was gone.

As I continued on my walk, I thanked God for that moment.  How many times are we too busy or preoccupied or upset over something and we didn't "capture the moment".  The Bible talks about how we don't need to live in the past, but we need to live now.  We need to focus on what God is doing at that moment and what He will do in the future.

If I hadn't been looking, I would have missed this shot of the hummingbird.  Remember when Moses took the Hebrews out of Egypt.  They were always complaining.  They weren't looking at where they were.  God had performed miracles in Egypt, but the miracles would even be more spectacular in the future.  They just needed to keep their eyes open and look all around at all that God had provided.

Isaiah 43:18-19 states "Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past.  See God is doing a new thing."

Open your eyes and look at what God is doing for you even during this pandemic time!

Somewhere Over the Rainbow

I love the sound of rain.  To me there is something comforting about the clouds and hearing the rain fall to the earth from the sky.  Studies show that rain is like a lullaby that can help people to relax and to even fall asleep.  The pitter-patter on the roof or as it hits the windows gives you a sense of calmness.  

As the rain ended and I stepped outside to feel the cooler temperature, I looked to the east and I was in awe as I saw a complete rainbow.  The colors of red, orange, yellow, green and blue were striking.  I wondered if the pot of gold was waiting for me at the end of the rainbow.

With a smile on my face, humming "Somewhere over the rainbow", I enjoyed a leisurely walk around the neighbor.  

The rain and the spectacular rainbow renewed my spirit.  God's promises to Noah after the flood reminds me all that God does for me on a daily basis.  God promised Noah that never again would a flood do such destruction; that seasons will come as expected and a rainbow will be visible when it rains as a sign that God keeps His promises.

There are so many promises written in the Bible.  Begin to find them and see God's faithfulness to each of us.  The pot of gold is what God gives us if only we will ask.

What Do Bees Tell Me?

Watering the flowers today, I was amazed at all the bees flying from one flower to the next.  It is interesting to watch nature.  If we look and listen, we will learn a lot. 

Bees teach us about working as a team to get something accomplished.  Everybody has their role and their responsibility.  Of course, there is the Queen Bee.  She is usually the mother of most, if not all, the bees in the beehive.  The bees will follow and fiercely protect her.  The other bees will collect the nectar, which is for everybody.  There is so much more to learn about the bees.  One thing is that they have a good memory.  They travel long distances, but they know how to get back to their hives.

It is interesting to note that bees pollinate the crops.  The bees collect nectar and pollen from the flower of a plant.  When the bee visits the next flower or crop, some of the pollen rubs off into the plant and reproduction is beginning.  Without bees, we would not have apples, almonds, cherries, avocados, blueberries and the list goes on.  So as you can see we need the bees.

In the Bible, God talks a lot about bees and honey.   Proverbs 16:24 says "Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones."  Haven't you heard the phrase "you catch more flies with honey than you do with vinegar."

As bees are important to the environment, our words and how we speak are just as important.  Are we we speaking words of encouragement and joy or are we speaking words of destruction?  Our mouth is powerful.  What words will you speak today?

As the bees buzz around pollinating our crops to produce the various vegetables and fruits and flowers.  We also need to be buzzing around speaking words of life, encouragement, wisdom, affirmation and hope.

Bees are needed to produce crops.  People are needed for each other.  Bee that special person!

Change Begins with Me!

My mind has been going 24/7 for the last few weeks.  So much is going on in the world.  You read this and you hear that.  What is happening in our world?

I realize that we live in a time when you find out information as it happens.  When President Lincoln was assassinated there was not any one filming it as it happened or captured John Wilkes Booth as he shot Lincoln.  There were probably telegrams that were sent to one town after another.  Then there were the newspapers that printed the information.  People had time to process what was going on.  We now react instantly to situations.  Is that good or is it bad?  I am not for sure.

But the one thing that I have walked away with is that "change can only begin within myself".  Until I respect , love and do something, nothing will ever happen.

Matthew West sings a song "Do Something".  These are the words:

      "I woke up this morning saw a world full of trouble now,

        Thought, how did we get so far down, and how is it going to get turned around.

        I thought, "God why don't You do something?"........

        He said, "I did....I created you!...."

God created me.  Life begins with me  There is so much being said..."don't judge", "we need to tolerate", "don't tolerate".  Where do I begin?

The eyes of our hearts need to be opened.  Jesus' eyes were opened to the woman at the well.  The Jewish leaders were trying to trap Jesus with the adulterous woman.  If Jesus said the woman should not be stoned, they would accuse him of violating Moses' law.  If he urged them to execute her, they would report him to the Romans, who did not permit the Jews to carry out their own executions.  Jesus said to them "He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first."  Jesus stooped down and wrote on the ground.  The Bible doesn't say what he wrote.  He was silent and took time.  He didn't react immediately.  The silence convicted the others.  John 8:9 states "Then those who heard it, being convicted by their conscience, went out one by one, beginning with the oldest even to the last."  Jesus looked up and the only person there was the woman.  He asked her where did everyone go.  No one had condemned her.  "And Jesus said to her, "Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more."  He did not condone her or ignored her sin.  Our change in life begins with confession and repentance with a changed heart.

Only with God's help can we accept Christ's forgiveness and to change our life.  Where does peace and tolerance begin?  It begins with admitting what the wrongdoing is and that we go and sin no more.

I am the first to admit that I am a sinner.  I will live with the consequences, but I don't have to dwell in it.  I have Jesus in my heart.  May He live in me so that I don't judge others and that I can make a difference.  What is piercing your heart?  Each one of us is a creature of God and He created us.  The change starts with each of us.

May God's Spirit sweep across our cities, states and country and that our hearts will be pierced to know that Jesus lives in each of us!

Day 12 - Au Revoir

Today has come way too fast!  I never thought I could have so much fun on a virtual/fantasy tour. Thank you for coming along with me and enjoying the trip that was suppose to be.  If we had so much fun on our virtual tour, think how much fun we will enjoy when we are actually there.

So as I wrap everything up, just let me tell you how our last night in Paris ended.

As we sat there at Angelina's, there was a table of three young French men sitting next to our table.  They were so enthralled with our conversation and of course our American accents.  One of the young men men walked up to our table and introduced himself and his two other friends.  They live in Lyon and work for a bank.  They had caught the train to Paris that morning.  They were even on the same train as we were.  Their names were Gabriel, Raphael and Alexandre.  Becca told them that she lived in Lyon as well.  To find out, they live in the same area.

The young men had been learning English for the past year.  They wanted to know if they could sit with us and practice their English.  Three young looking guys!  How could we say no?  We found out that they are roommates and work at the same bank. They were in Paris for the weekend!

About an hour later, they said that they were going to a music venue that played jazz music, and wanted to know if we would like to go.  We all looked at each other and said that it was our last night in Paris.  Let's go and enjoy it!

We got a taxi to "Jazz Cafe Montparnasse.  It is located on the legendary Left Bank, near Montparnasse Tower.  This mythical jazz venue in Paris has over 30 years of history.  When we arrived we found a table for our group of "13".  We ordered wine, prosecco and champagne.  The music was fabulous!  There was a young lady who sang and sounded just like Norah Jones.

It was a great way to end our evening.  We said good-bye to our new friends and wished them well. They got Becca's number.  So hopefully, they will call her.

Morning came early.  Jackie, Erin and I had a 12:30 pm flight to Dulles Airport and then to our destinations.  The others were flying out around 3:30 pm to Dallas. We should all arrive at our homes by 8:30 that evening.  Everyone had a great time!  THE END!

Becca, thank you for all that you did to put this trip together.  We do look forward to when we all can come together and can actually experience these places.

Also, everyone, thank you for allowing me to fantasize this trip.  In the meantime, I will continue to practice my French.

Au Revoir!  A Bientot!  (Goodbye, See you Soon!)

My virtual cigarette!  What happens in France, stays in France!

Day 11 - High Speed Train

Is it already Day 11 in France?  I have tears in my eyes, as I am not ready to end this trip.  I could spend several more weeks enjoying the countryside and the people.

We are taking the high speed train to Paris.  Should be in Paris around 11 am.   The train station was busy this morning.  It is Friday and seems like everybody is going somewhere.  People taking the train to Paris and then changing trains there to go somewhere else.

There is an average of 43 trains a day between Lyon and Paris, leaving approximately every 25 minutes.   The high speed travels at a speed up to 200mph.  When I was in Japan last November, we took the high speed train.  The ride is so smooth as you sit there reading and enjoying the countryside pass by. 

As soon as we arrived in Paris, we got a taxi and then checked in at Hotel Leopold.  After we got settled in, we were off to Angelina's.  I thought it would be a nice way to end our stay in Paris. 

Angelina was founded in 1903 by the confectioner Anton Rumpelmayer and his son, Rene.  It was named after his daughter-in-law.  The location's charm and Rumpelmayer's skill and expertise with pastries, made this tea room the place to be.  Coco Chanel would come daily and also well known French fashion designers gathered at the tearoom, as well. 

The weather has not been the best for the past several days and today was no different.  When we arrived at Angelina's, people were standing outside with their umbrellas waiting for a table.  I was so glad that I had asked Becca to make us a reservation.  We walked right up and they seated us at table "45".  The table that Coco Chanel would sit at daily to watch the people and drink her hot chocolate.
Angelina is famous for their hot chocolate(le chocolat chaud en francais), and is often cited as the best hot chocolate in Paris.  The cost is approximately 10 euros for the hot chocolate.

When you walked in, you felt that you were in a palace.  The elegant and refined decor is the work of the Belle Epoque architect, Edouard-Jean Niermans.  You felt as if you were walking back in time to the early 1900s.  It was well preserved with the plethora of mouldings, cornices, bevelled mirrors and paintings from Vincent Lorant-Heilbronn. 

With the hot chocolate, we ordered Angelina's signature pastry, which is Mont-Blanc.  It is a crispy and dry French meringue under a smooth creamy dome of light whipped cream, covered by chestnut vermicelli.  Of course, none of these had calories.  I can't even begin to describe the taste.  It touched your tongue and the taste was fabulous.  Not too sweet or too bitter.  The perfect chocolate.

Due to the rain, it was nice to be in doors.  We sat there several hours, reminiscing about our trip.  Everybody went around the table talking about what they enjoyed the most.

The evening was spent packing and getting ready to fly back to the U.S. tomorrow.

Day 10 - Annecy "Venice of the Alps"

We woke up with it raining outside.  The past week has been beautiful and it looks as if it is going to be raining for the next few days.

Becca showed up with the van and the driver, Victor.  We gathered our umbrellas and jackets and boarded the van.  Today was going to be a good day even with the cooler temperature and rain.

On the 2 hour drive to Annecy, Becca talked about the area where we were going.  It was nice driving through the various villages.  People were walking in the rain and running from shop to shop.

Let me tell you about Annecy.  It is an alpine town in southeastern France, where Lake Annecy feeds into the Thiou River.  It's known for its cobbled streets, winding canals and pastel-colored houses.  The population of this quaint town is around 130,000.

Why should you visit Annecy?  It sits at the tip of the picturesque Lake Annecy(which is one of the largest lakes in France) and overlooks snow-capped mountains.  In the summer, there are plenty of sandy or grassy beaches.  You can paddleboard, scuba dive and also enjoy sailing on a catamaran.  It takes about an hour to walk around the lake.

It poured all the way to Annecy.  As we got closer, we could see a little bit of sunshine coming from that direction.  The closer we got, we were in awe of the beauty of the alps and the lake.  Victor headed to the marina where we would get on a cruise boat to have lunch and to cruise around Lake Annecy as we ate.

As we got to the boat, there were other tourists waiting to board.  Our group had its own table reserved on the inside of the boat. For lunch, we enjoyed "Tartiflette".  This is a baked dish made up of sliced potatoes, cream, lardons and onions topped with heart stopping amounts of cheese and baked in the oven.  It was served with salad and a baguette to mop up what is left on the plate.  Doesn't it sound delicious?  With the meal, let's not forget the wine and macaroons.  I am on a virtual tour, so I don't have to worry about the calories. 

Panoramic view of the mountains were breathtaking.  It is hard to imagine that the lake was formed by the melting of the Alpine glaciers, more than 18,000 years ago.  On the cruise, we passed by the Pont des Amours(the love bridge).  There is a myth that says that if two lovers kiss on the bridge, they will stay together forever. 

The flowers were spectacular.  Annecy has earned the "Golden Flower" award in 2015 for being one of the nine most-flowered cities in France.

After about 2 hours on the lake, we docked and unloaded.  Some went shopping, some wanted to sit on the beach and look at the mountains and the others decided to go tour some museums.

Around 5 pm, we loaded back up and drove back to Lyon in the rain.

Tonight, we needed to pack so that we could take the high speed train back to Paris in the morning. We will be flying out in 2 more days.  It is hard to believe that our trip is almost over.  We have been planning this trip for months and now we are at the end of it.  Life is all about planning!  If you never plan, you never do anything.

Bonne nuit!(good night)

Day 9 - The Chocolate Factory

Bonjour (good morning) to everyone!  I want to share some fun facts about Lyon.  Earlier, I had stated that Lyon is the gastronomical capital of France.  Lyon currently has "14" Michelin Star Restaurants and is home to "22" of the best places to eat in the country.

Did you know that Lyon was the birthplace of cinema?  The Lumiere Brothers created the first motion picture in 1895 and without them, it's unlikely that the film industry would be what it is today.

The best way to traverse Lyon is by bike.  A fact is, that Lyon is where bike rental service was invented.

An artistic fact about Lyon is that New York and Lyon have this in common, both cities feature statues designed by the same sculptor.  Frederic Auguste Bartholdi, who created the "Statue of Libery", also designed the "Fontaine Bartholdi".

Enough of "Fun Facts", let's get on with the tour.

With the sun shining and the temperature in the 70's, it was going to be a great day to go to the Bernachon Chocolate Factory.  Who doesn't love chocolate?

As we approached, the aroma of chocolate lured us into the small shop.  The smell alone made our mouths water with the anticipation of purchasing the various chocolate bars.

Berhachon makes the chocolate itself.  Most shops sell the chocolate they buy, but they don't actually make it.  There are very few chocolate-makers in the world, only 14 exist in the United States.  Bernachon is a small shop, but it is amazing in what they are able to produce.

Their most famous bonbons are the rich, ganache-filled palets d'Or flecked with bits of real gold.  They can barely keep these in the showcase.  One chocolate bar is called "Nuit et Jour(night and day bar, where one side is bittersweet dark chocolate and the other side is smooth milk chocolate).  Moka is made by grinding roasted coffee beans along with cocoa beans for a double-buzz, and Extra Amer is a super-dark bar of chocolate with very little sugar.

After the tour, we all had to have "chocolate".  I hope that the extras that we bought for family and friends make it back to the U.S.

Our next stop is "Les Halles Paul Bocuse".  It is only about a 5 minute walk from the Part-Dieu train station.  It is Lyon's mythic indoor food market with an international reputation for offering the very finest gourmet food.  Paul Bocuse is one of the reasons that Lyon is dubbed France's capital of gastronomy.

It was in 1859 that Lyon opened its first indoor food market in a large metallic structure located at Place Cordeliers in the centre of the city, known as the "Presqu'ile".   In 1971, Les Halles was opened.

There are fruits and vegetables, dried meats, poultry, truffles, spices, flowers and more.  There are also several bars and restaurants.   This was the perfect place for lunch.  Something for everyone.

With full stomachs, we headed to "Parc de la Tete d'Or".  This is a large urban park with 290 acres.  We observed the joggers, cyclists and families and couples boating on the lake.  Walking through the park, we noticed a small zoo with giraffes, elephants, deer, reptiles and other animals.

The sky started getting dark and we could hear thunder rumbling.  We decided it was time to get a taxi and head back to the hotel.  As we were getting our taxis', the rain drops came.  Just as we shut the door on the taxi, the sky opened up and it began to pour.

After eating all day, most of us were not really that hungry.  We decided some cheese and wine would be perfect for our evening meal.  It was going to be an early evening, as we would be traveling to Annecy tomorrow. Annecy is the "Venice of the Alps".

Bonne Soiree(have a nice evening)!

Bernachon's Signature Cake - "Le President"

Parc de la Tete d'Or