Wordy Wednesday

 

Words of Wisdom from Sharon McMahon 

Weekly Roll

 

We had some snow. It didn't stick around too long just long enough to cancel one day of school.

linky love

Fastest Nun in Southwest closer to Sainthood - Just found this interesting. I am not Catholic, but this nun was in New Mexico

Why you Should Add Vinegar to Bread Dough - I haven't tried this in my bread dough but intrigued

Inappropriate Thoughts

This last week I heard from my son, "Holy sh*t that worked."  That is not what I usually hear when he is sitting at his computer. I usually hear lots of swears. This was really a first. With every fiber in my being, I wanted to ask him what worked.  I didn't though. Why jinx it said my husband.  

Wordy Wednesday

 

Weekly Roll

Linky Love

Loveland Valentine Remailing Program

Podcast Recommend from my nephew - Swindled - I have listened to a few interesting stuff

Inappropriate Thoughts

 

It is not too early to think about Valentine Cards.  Send some good mail to someone. Homemade is relative.  Snail mail is not dead. 

 Deep Thoughts

Last Sunday, I sat here at the First Baptist Church for the last time as the First Baptist. Their last official service is this Sunday. It is bittersweet. The church will go on as the First Baptist joins with the First Congregational Church. This building will be their home. My parents and aunt were married here. I was baptized here. My grandparents were the janitor here and members of this church. I was married here. 

Side Quest -Washington Elm Scion

When visiting my parents in Loveland Colorado my mom mentioned the tidbit that an elm outside of a Walgreens was a seedling from a George Washington Elm.   It is named the George Washington Elm because this is the Elm that George Washington took command of the American Army in Cambridge Mass on July 3, 1775. A scion is a seedling of the same tree.

So in the interest of curiosity and history we later make a stop at the tree and Walgreens. The tree is literally part of the Walgreens parking lot.

The Washington Elm Scion and Marker is a bronze plaque mounted on a built-up wooden shaft inside an octagonal bench surrounding a huge elm tree located in a micro-park on the northwest corner of the intersection of Lincoln Avenue and Eisenhower Boulevard in Loveland.

The inscription reads:
Scion of the Washington Elm at Cambridge, Mass. Namaqua Chapter, 1931 NASDAR

On July 3, 1775, General George Washington took command of the Continental Army at a ceremonial review in Cambridge, Massachusetts, under an elm tree which has become known as the Washington Elm.

In April 1931, Namaqua Chapter received a shoot from an elm tree grown from seeds of the Washington Elm. The shoot was planted in the yard of then Lincoln School. The tree had excellent care from the custodian, but soon died to the ground. Then, a green shoot came through but it, too, died and all hope was given up. However, the following spring a green shoot again appeared which kept growing. The tree did well, but after a few years the yard was converted into a gravel playground. Somehow the tree survived.

In 1948, when the tree was dedicated and presented to the city of Loveland and to the school board, it was tall, beautifully shaped and 15 inches in diameter. A marker was placed on a band around the tree but was later removed and stored. In 1965, the tree was again in trouble. The school land was sold to a company which did not intend to save the tree but changed its mind in the face of concerted opposition to the tree’s destruction. An underground watering system was installed in addition to a concrete wall to protect it from parking lot traffic. The tree lived and is now the only known survivor of three Washington Elm scions planted in Colorado.

Early in this century it became apparent that the Washington Elm at Cambridge was doomed. In October 1922, what was left of the tree fell over with a crash as workmen were trying to bolster some live branches. A plaque now marks the site of the tree which was estimated to be over 300 years old at its death. At its prime it measured 18 feet in circumference, 100 feet in height, and 90 feet in the spread of its branches.

Namaqua Chapter of DAR (above information from DAR website)

We also realized that we have visited here in the past. There is a virtual geocache at this location.

Thousands of Washington Elm scions were sent all over the United States when the original Washington Elm fell over on October 25,1923 and the tree was divided into 1,000 pieces and distributed among each of the states and their legislatures.

Washington has a scion on the campus of UW

So, I am calling my first side quest and now you know a lot about Washington Elm Scions. It is unknown scions that are still living.

New Year, New Word

I am a big fan of one little word for the new year. My word is easy.  I don't know about you, but I could use some easy.

I was inspired by the quote above. I pretty consistently choose the harder way, and I am going to work on that.

Highlights of 2024

 It often seems like we only show the highlights on social media. 

The lows were pretty low this year and I haven't talked about them on this blog because they really involve other people. I had to start taking anxiety medicine because all the chaos in the first part of this year. Someone pointed out that I wasn't do well and I accepted the help.

Some pictures of the highlights

visiting my favorite college student at GCU but more importantly hanging out with my best friend

Entered the Recycled Art Show

heading to Beth and Micah's Wedding

spending every day until the wedding in my best friends garden

officiating this wedding

Def Leppard in Denver

my Dad's 80TH birthday

Sharon McMahon Book Tour

The Small and the Mighty

Meow Woof -- Santa Fe

My husband retired