SWCAMBORNE

In Alexandria, Virginia there are lots of organizations set up to protect and promote the interests of various groups from and to the Federal Government.  We saw the Retired Naval Officers Association and the National Association of Travel Agencies among others.  But our personal favorite was the The Institute for the Advancement of Service.

They have a web site and appear to be kind of new ageish and caring.  Here is a picture of Nurit trying to be of service to the instutite by straightening their sign.

This years henge event is a pyramid.

collecting monitors

It’s working name is: The Great Pyramid of Gates, Monitor I. It will be made of 200 plus computer monitors all of which will be salvaged for a few days on their way to being recycled. Dimensions about 20 feet high and the same on each side.  The date will be in mid November on a Sunday afternoon
Sponsorships including naming opportunities are available. An artist rendition of the completed pyramid is in the works.

The Stork is back at the pond:

Nurit saw him on Tuesday and I got this picture. He has scared the fish and tipped over the plants but most of the fish seem to have survived.  He is officially a Great Blue Heron but is commonly called a Stork or a Crane

He was in the yard while we were having an important meeting about the “Right to Migrate” documentary. A visit from a Stork is a very auspicious event and bodes well for the future of the enterprise.  It indicates that we are living in harmony with nature.
I took some camera video and will try to put it up on Utube.

Here is an idea that is so simple and obvious that the picture explains it:

You can buy one from this very clever company in the UK: IWOOT (stands for “I Want One Of Those”) I was first introduced to IWOOT by Bethany B. and have bought stuff from them. Excellent service.

“Deaning”

On Saturday during a presentation to the Parent Council at Swarthmore the new Dean of Students used the term “deaning.”  It was the first time I had heard the verb form of dean.  I was delighted.  New words that fill needs are always welcome in the english language.  In fact they should be celebrated.  Congratulations to Dean Jim Larimore for giving me and I think the world this new word. Swarthmore is a great school and is famous for the linguists on its faculty and now in the deans office.
Learning the verb deaning was one of the high points of a wonderful week on in the South East.

This is a picture of one of the flowering trees at Swarthmore this spring.  It was taken during the hour of sunshine we had on Saturday afternoon before the deluge started.

“All of us could take a lesson from the weather.

It pays no attention to criticism.”

Author Unknown

Pictures are back:

A bronze sculpture in Buckhead, GA 

Thanks to the great work of Matt G. pictures are back.   I’ll be busy the next few days catching up with all of the terrific stories I have from our trip East and they will now have photos.

On our trip east we have driven through South Carolina twice.  Both times we got off the freeway and drove through some small towns.  The people are wonderfully friendly and the scenery is beautiful.  We loved the names of some of the towns:

• Ninety Six
• Due West and
  
• Fair Play

What a great country.

While in Richmond Hill visiting Gene and Carole B we went diving in the tidal river near Gene’s house for fossilized sharks teeth. Visibility was about 6 inches with a light on but it was great fun. It really is a treasure hunt.

Ray and I ready to go 

Bill E. who is the expert finds so many that he sells them on the internet. You can see his site at Megateeth.com.

Bill in the water in full gear 

note the head light 

On this trip Bill found about 15 teeth, one of which was about 6 inches, Gene found one and Ray P found two. I didn’t find any but I did find plenty of fossiized bones and what is purported to be the ear bone of a whale.

Bill’s find 

Nurit and I drove from Atlanta to Elberton to visit the Georgia Guidestones. They are included on many lists as a Henge in Georgia. You judge: There would be a picture here but see the previous post.

There is a list of advise for the world written in eight languages on the sides of the stones:

You can follow this link to see a picture:

http://roadsidegeorgia.com/site/guidestones.html

or this one:

http://www.roadsideamerica.com/set/OVERhenges.html

Like any good henge the guide stones have an observatory feature in this case a slot that the sun shines directly through at the solistice.  Here is a view through the slot:

While we were in Elberton we also visited the Granite Museum. It has free postcards but “only take a few”. Elberton is the self proclaimed “Granite Capital of the World”

The single piece of granite in a needle is one of the prides of the town:

It was an excellent day of driving in the piedmont and seeing the dogwoods and azaleas in bloom.