RIP at Elephant Rock

George Starr

1914-2008

One of the reasons we wanted to take a trip up to New Hampshire is to distribute Gary's father's ashes. George Starr, born in 1914 in Newport, New Hampshire, passed away in 2008 after living with us for almost seven years. We tried to think of a suitable location for his final resting place and Gary finally decided Elephant Rock would be a good place. The rock is high on a hill in the White Mountains where George can look down on his birth place. George's final resting place is a peaceful one with the sound of the wind blowing and moose calling in the distance. Rest in peace at Elephant Rock, George. Thanks for reading and for all your comments.

Happy Anniversary Baby

Twenty nine years ago today we got married in our back yard in the Sierra Nevada Mountains near Foresthill, California.

I was a better wife then, he's a better husband now, through thick and thin, for better or worse here we are today.

Vistas & Views in Selby Gardens

In the last photo log of the Marie Selby Botanical Gardens I've attempted to capture some of the vistas and views. I urge you to visit a public garden, arboretum, or even a local nursery near your home. The rewards are indescribable; my photos barely touch upon the experience.

The original Selby Mediterranean revival home which now houses a garden reading room and a cafe.

 A small shake roofed gazebo.

This is how I think palms should be grown in large groves, tall palms under planted with smaller palms.

Phormium tenax, or New Zealand flax, softening the walls of the conservatory and greenhouse.

Views of downtown Sarasota from the gardens.

Garden workshop building on the right where classes are held; condominium on the left just outside the garden confines. The pine echoes yet softens the tall white building.

 Bold use of analogous colors with coleus and impatiens.

A young palm starting it's life in a garden that's ever evolving.

A fountain cleverly planted with ferns.

Gary reflecting in the garden, captured unaware sitting on a bench.

Cone like blossoms of the Encephalartos gratus cycad palm.

My favorite palm of the day, Bismarkia nobilis, with it's blue gray foliage.

The coconut palm, loaded with coconuts, which I promised to show you.

Stained glass clerestory windows frame the interior of a large gazebo.

Another view of the small gazebo; the white barked tree dwarfs it in this long distance view.

A garden quilt on the wall of the tea room where complimentary tastes of fragrant teas can be had. The tea house is located in the former carriage house of the Selby home.

The gardens are on the shore of Sarasota bay; the bridge to St.Armands is in the distance.

 I associate the garden with the whole experience of being alive, and so, there is nothing in the range of human experience that is separate from what the garden can signify in its eagerness and its insistence, and in its driving energy to live - to grow, to bear fruit.

Stanley Kunitz

Ellis Island Discovery

Gary's grandfather, William Kankaala, immigrated to America from Finland via Ellis Island and worked as a carpenter all his life. We've kept this string line he made as a family memento. Although this is a plain piece of wood roughly made it has lasted at least two lifetimes serving it's purpose well. I like to feel the cotton string. It is twisted very tight and must be made of a high quality cotton to have lasted this long.

While I was looking at the Ellis Island site I discovered there is a search anyone can do for relatives who may have traveled to America via Ellis Island. If you locate your relative, you can bring up the actual ship manifest, a photo of the ship, and the passenger record. I became totally engrossed with searching for Gary's grandparents through the site. I quickly found a record of his paternal grandparents arrival and then found a record of his maternal grandparents.

Now I want to check with my mom to see if I can find out some information about my own maternal grandparents. Even if you don't have a relative who traveled to America via Ellis Island, this site is worth perusing just to see the ship's manifest and photos of the ships. There is even a search you can do for famous people who immigrated to America. You can also order a copy of the passenger record, the ship's manifest and a photo of the ship. I am having so much fun researching this site.

There's a lot of history to be discovered with a bit of research. Be sure to look at the Ellis Island site and read about the restoration of the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. Little did I know a simple carpenter's string line would lead me to discover so much about family history.

Butterfly Tray

Moving is a pain the neck, but sometimes there are little rewards along the way which make it all worth while. Here's a butterfly tray which Gary's mother, Ellen, loved. We've kept the tray through the years. The tray dates from the 1920s and may have been made in Brazil where vibrant winged butterflies are numerous. I can't imagine having the patience to make such a tray, painstakingly laying down each butterfly wing in this intricate pattern. The wings are then covered with glass to protect them and a wooden tray with parquetry is added as a surround. Stay tuned for more hidden treasures we have yet to discover.