Mount Everest Base Camp Brandon Taylor At Mount Everest Base Camp

Our friend and neighbor form Tamaqua PA - Brandon Taylor - just sent this picture form the baseb camp of Mount Everest. I am not sure  how far he is going up - but I was startled to see this picture. Since graduating from Penn State University about 5 years ago - Brandon has been living and working in China. He currently live sin Hong Kong.

We Went To The Rose Parade Friday - In Thomasville GA - The City of Roses.

This old Army tank was ready to break down. 

Yesterday I wanted to see the opening day of movie Draft Day with Kevin Costner. It was playing at the mall at 2:45 - so off we went. I tried to use a gift card to buy the $7.50  tickets - but it had expired.  When we got into our theatre - there were 8 people. 

Movie Review - Draft Day is a great movie. It was like your were following the General Manager of the Cleveland Browns for a day - in this case Costner. Except for a couple curses - it could be a G rated movie. 

After the movie - Lulu said she wanted to go to the Rose Parade. You re-call we went to the Rose Parade 2 years ago in Pasadena. This time the parade was in the City of Roses - Thomasville GA. It is about 25 miles north of town - we had time to get there by 6 - have supper - and watch the one hour parade. The Rose Festival is this weekend. 

We found a place called The Chop House right on Broad Street -  we could have watched the parade from the restaurant. Our dinner was excellent - the dining room was in a big old 4 story hotel. We ate under metal embossed ceilings - it reminded us of our youth in Tamaqua. We didn't watch for there  - at about 20 minutes to parade time we walked a little for exercise. there was a nice size crowd - ver y clam family atmosphere.

At 8 PM - we hopped in our car and were home in about 45 minutes.

 The parade started with the Thomasville band.

Tallahassee To Operate The Largest Fast Charging Electric Bus Fleet In The World

On our mall walk yesterday I ran into this cool electric bus.

You may re-call that 2 years ago I did a story about the London diesel-electric hybrid bus. Well Tallahassee has gone one step better. They are building a fleet of all-electric quick charge buses. Since the city owns their own power plant and electric utilities - they have an inside track to "cheap fuel."

Above you see a picture of one of the buses. It is perfectly silent. There is no idling engine belching out smoke while passengers enter. 

Here is a story from the city - 

StarMetro Unveils Electric Bus Charging Station

Largest All-Electric, Fast-Charging Bus Fleet in the U.S. Soon to be in Operation - Today, StarMetro is one step closer to launching the largest all-electric, fast-charging bus fleet in

The Everhart 8 Spent Spring Break In Tallahassee At Our New Home

Last week - for the first time - the Everhart 8 enjoyed a visit together in the new house. We went on all sorts of adventures - but mainly just enjoyed the time together. The beach - the park - the museums - the zoo - baseball games - zip lining - basketball hoops - rentals vans - MumMum's meals -  filled the week. 

Making pancakes with MumMum with cookie cutters in her new kitchen

Keith and Liz could only make it for the 3 day weekend. We went to Spring Hill Restaurant for supper Friday and Carabelle Beach Sunday. The restaurant was written up in the NY Times. they have great seafood - I had chicken.

Building Castles and Moats at Carabelle Beach on the Gulf

Now THAT is a beach shovel

The Everhart Boys Conquer the Tallahassee Museum Zip Line Adventure

Harry in Slow Motion

For Spring Break - the Everhart 8 converged in Tallahassee. One of the highlights was the Tree to Tree Adventure at the Tallahassee Museum. First - my grandson decided to do it. Then it looked like so much fun - that Pop and Drew took a chance. 

All dressed up in a harness ready to go.

With the red safety line - I was surprised how easily you adapted and trusted the equipment.

Drew walked across this 100 foot tightrope. Without the safety cable he could have been food for alligators 40 feet below.

In Florida They Say - Mow The Lawn - In The Coal Region We Say Cut The Grass

Today I cut the grass at our new home for the first time. It took 37 minutes using our John Deere 48 inch mower. It went pretty well. I had the blades set at 4 inches - so I was mostly cutting stray weeds - the grass is green now - but it has not really put down deep roots.

I took these pictures at sunset tonight after I finished. So most of the time I am shooting into the sun. 

The 3 car garage was a bribe Lulu offered so that I would remove the metal building. Once we sold the motor home - we no longer needed a garage with 10 foot high doors.

Lulu's Easter Dinner in Tamaqua

Lulu's Family had a nice Easter dinner for her. In the picture are Dana's boyfriend - niece Dana - nephew Tyler - mother Betty - sister Lori - Dave's girlfriend Kelly - brother Dave. Missing were brother Jackie and his girlfriend Tami. The full plate in the foreground next to the kielbasa was Lulu's. 

Right now - Lulu is cruising down the Northeast Extension of the Pennsylvania Turnpike going thru the Lehigh Tunnel. She has to turn the rental car in by 8PM. She is staying in a bed and breakfast in downtown Philly the next two nights. 

Above the window on the right was Lulu's childhood bedroom. We contemplated a ladder to above that window on our 1971 elopement. 

Last night Lulu stayed with cousin Georgianne and husband Jimmy. 

Lulu Spends Easter in Tamaqua

Lulu has a conference in Philadelphia on Monday and Tuesday. She made a 2 day stop over in Tamaqua PA - our old home town.  She sent pictures of our old home. 

We built this cedar chalet in 1973 from a kit. It is  800 square feet. We lived here 30 years with 2 kids. I put the shingles on that roof - 2 times. 

Lulu is teasing me with these picture of my beloved garage. Barn roofed garage needs a stain or at least a washing. The garage had an apartment upstair swe used as a storage area and play room. 

I noted how steep our driveway was. Also - it must be garbage day on Easter Sunday :-)

Rainfall Tallahassee - Saturday

Friday - yesterday - we had 2.88 inch of rain! In all of April we have had 8.4 inches so far. We have already had 26 inches of rain this year. The average is only 17 inches to date.

The lake behind our old house is at a record high.

Cascades Park Opened 1/2 Mile From Our House

See the new park here

Our grandkids flew home to Richmond this morning. They spent a week with us. We spent lots of time in Cascades Park - our newest neighbor. 

The park includes playgrounds - a water park - an amphitheater - walking trails - gardens - a waterfall - a power plant (being turned into a "tavern on the green" restaurant - ponds - and a ball field.

Drew and I are ready to go zip gliding

Nole just went ahead 3-1. Pop Drew and Jack enjoying $2 Tuesday.

Seminoles won - 6-1. Jameis Winston pitched the 9th inning - got the save - struck 2 out. 

It was really cold and windy. Temperature dropped to 50 and windy. We were wrapped in wool blankets.

The Metal Garage Was Gone in 8 Hours

At 8 AM this morning I woke up to see the work crew had started taking down the metal garage.

It took a crew of 4 men a total of 8 hours to disassemble the building. 

New Uniforms - Some Folks Love Them - Some Will Get Used To Them

They look a lot like the stuff Maryland has been wearing. The new Seminole head looks like a white guy wearing war paint.

They now have garnet helmets for the first time - not just gold ones.

I will get used to them. I never like the old Seminole head before.

Last year the FSU uniform was picked best in the land. What does Nike do? They change them. The new ones are nice - the old ones were great - they have tradition.  The irony is the money men try to pass them off as being better to reproduce the colors - etc. But the real reason is Nike wanted to make more money - it bothers me when people do things for one reason - and say another more politically correct one. It is all about money.

The Seminole tribe approved them - and they must be pleased or we lose the name in a finger snap.

See the uniforms here -

http://www.tallahassee.com/article/20140411/FSU03/140411009/VIDEO-FSU-officially-unveils-its-new-uniforms-logo

Lulu Flew To Chicago This Morning

Lulu took this picture landing at Chicago this morning. Looks like they are landing south. 

Lulu left home at 5 AM today - bound for Chicago. The American Library Association is headquartered there. She has round the clock meetings today and tomorrow. Then she will fly home to greet the Everhart 8.

For the next week our family will be enjoying the new house. 

Pat Wilson - Obituary From Coal Cracker Patch. Mom's Patch Was About Two Miles From This Patch

St Nicholas west of Mahanoy City

Patricia M. "Pat" Wilson, 77, died Monday at Abington Hospice at Warminster. 

She was the beloved wife of Robert "Bob" Wilson for 55 years, whom she met in first grade. 

Born in Shenandoah Heights, she was a daughter of the late Michael and Helen Yancofski Nevadomsky.

Sunday's Walk On The Beach - At Alligator Point

It is 43 miles from our house to 1516 Alligator Drive. There is a very nice public access to a giant white beach with lots of wild life - beautiful sunsets - and places to stretch out. Lulu loves swimming there - when we first moved to Tallahassee - she wanted to buy a house there and drive 43 miles back to Tallahassee to teach. 

The road to Alligator Point is mostly a quiet two lane highway with light traffic - through a national forest. You pass through two small towns - Crawfordville and Panacea - along the way.

Joel took a few pictures of us on our walk. We walked about 3 miles on our adventure. The sun was not out - but we did get a little red on our faces. I think the Gulf water was 72. In the summer I can recall 86 degree water there. 

1516 Alligator Drive. There are a few public parking spots - with a sand path and bridge to the beach.

Lori's Last Day in Town - At Dog Et Al

Harry - Lori - and Lulu enjoyed lunch at Dog Et Al - south of the Capitol on Monroe Street. This place is a hit with guests from up North. It is decorated in a Coke motif - and they offer about 20 different condiments including - cheese - chili - onions - peppers - sauerkraut - and a few mustards. You can see our red Prius in the background outside the door. Lori will be returning home tomorrow to Tamaqua PA and work. 

We Had A Busy Sunday - Dinner at Angello's - Then A Snake - Then A Walk on the Beach - Finally A Light and Water Show

See Lulu and Lori at the Cascades Park Light and Water Show. This water park is just down the street from our home. Kids can play in it during the day.

The biggest surprise about this black racer snake is that Lulu did not run away - she stayed to watch it. 

Lori and Lori enjoyed the light - water - and sound show at Cascades Park.

George and Joel wanted to show us their new Ford Fusion Hybrid. At 11 AM - they picked us up and we headed south to the beach. First we stopped at Angello's - a famous seafood restaurant in Panacea FL.  After that we walked along Bald Point State Park and saw a black racer snake about 4 feet long.  We walked the beach at Gator Point. Time flew and it was 4 PM - so we headed home.

Lori and The Fighting Irish - Last Night

FSU won in 12 innings. Lori and Lulu got in free.

Lulu and Lori at the FSU Flying Circus

Somehow they landed these VIP seats - story later.

At the participants are FSU students.

The Sister Act Went To The Pioneer Breakfast - Now They Are Off To Join The Circus

Lori and Lulu shared a bedroom as kids - even though they were 10 years apart. Now they share tour of Tallahassee. 

The animals at the Tallahassee Museum were ready for lunch too.

Lori and Lulu are tearing up the town.

Last night they went to the Notre Dame at FSU baseball game. They went during the 7th inning - so they could get in free - and see the late action. Notre Dame quickly scored 5 runs - then FSU scored 2 to tie it in the 9th. The game ended in the 12th inning - FSU scored a walk off run. The got home around 11 PM - and went on and on about the game like a couple of bench jockeys.

Lulu's Brother Jack and Tami Are in Cozumel Mexico

Jack and Tami in the Tropics

Lulu's brother Jack and his girlfriend Tami are spending a wonderful week on an ocean cruise. The trip started in Virginia where they boarded a train to Tampa. After 16 hours of seeing the southern countryside - they made it to downtown Tampa. 

Tami was able to arrange an upgrade for a room with a balcony. She said the room and food were great. They are in Cozumel today - and they were able to get Internet service.

Tomorrow they are back in Tampa for the long trip home. Too bad the train does not pass through Tallahassee. We do have a train station but have not had passenger service since Hurricane Katrina wiped out a few bridges.

 They are in Cozumel Mexico

Their cruise ship anchored on the dock.