I am so excited today! Ted and I will be traveling next to the Atlanta area in early September to attend the rehearsal dinner and wedding for my nephew, Jonathan Gravitt. My sister, Paula, has kept me posted on all of the details and we can't wait to meet everyone there.
Jon is marrying Jenny Coffer of Tucker, Georgia.
Ted and I are staying with Millie Jones Pincus in her lovely home in Lawrenceville and she promises that several of my school classmates and friends will be coming over for some get togethers. We must get busy on serious planning for our big 50th class reunion in 2010.
Note to best buds...Let me know when you are free to visit.
Until the next page turns,
Brenda
Still have tons of photos and mementos from recent trip to West Texas, Amarillo, the High Plains and other points west as soon as I can get caught up again.
Showing posts with label travel. Show all posts
Showing posts with label travel. Show all posts
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
Monday, July 14, 2008
From our Amarillo visit...
We are continuing to have fun here in Amarillo and in this part of the wonderful Texas High Plains. I am constantly amazed at the new discoveries we make each day and I have added a lot of information about the rich Texas history to my reserves for future writing. I admit I am becoming addicted to the wonderful stories of western heroes, including the strong and wild frontier women, who settled here along with their men. We've seen the big buffalo, wild deer, which we petted and fed, wild turkeys, visiting a prairie dog town, guessed about which big birds were flying over us and played in the wild Canadian River as well as crossed over the Red River several times on our excursions.
I have read seven or eight books filled with Texas history and made a good study of Charles Goodnight's life story. We have also watched the entire Lonesome Dove series with the boys and several other westerns to boot. The boys are getting into the hisotry and hopefully it will whet their interest for future study.
Goodnight was very instrumental in the settling of this area including the Palo Duro Canyon where we took grandsons Steven and Brendan for three days of exploring. We stayed in the cabin on the rim of the canyon that bears Goodnight's name and learned even more about him in the High Plains Panhandle Museum, which is one of the finest in the world. There is a small Texas town named Goodnight in his honor also, which we plan to visit on our way home.
Ted's son, Darrell, took the boys climbing (I held my breath believe me) and they both slide down the wild, 360-feet high Devil's Slide several times. They also went caving (exploring the dark big holes in the sides of the canyon walls) and we saw the exciting musical "Texas" performed in the huge outdoor amphitheater. The play has been done for some 43 years and gives a good depiction of the rough and tumble Texans who settled this country. (They really do believe it is a country and not just a state, too, and if outsiders question natives, it might just turn out to be an old fashioned brawl.)
We enrolled both grandsons in the wonderful reading program provided by the Amarillo Public Libraries. For each hour of reading, they got to mark a spot on a colorful sheet to turn in each week as we checked out books and movies to enjoy — all for free, too. When we entered the library last Friday to turn in some material, Pat, the excellent teacher over the children's programs, called out to Steven, "Hey, guys, I'm glad you're here. The numbers you left were all long distance and the city frowns on us calling too many long distance numbers." Pat had helped both boys choose and check out books of interest to them.
Steven had read 25 hours and was signed up for the huge drawing for the Extreme Read Program. Pat went on to share with us that it was Steven's name that had been drawn from the basket naming him the winner. He was given a lovely package of $20 in free movie passes, a new Batman movie and a new novel to read, along with some other goodies. He is also now entered into the drawing for the end-of-year big gift certificate to Best Buy in the amount of $100. In his mind, he has spent that $100 ten different ways!
Parents - If you have not enrolled your child in your local library programs, do so right away. There is so much good and fun information there for the sharing. Amarillo's libraries are among the finest in the nation and we've truly enjoyed going several times each week. With the high costs of books and movies, it is a Godsend to parents and grandparents, as well as teachers. The friendliness of the staff goes a long way toward making for a pleasant experience.
Brendan has learned a lot about building from his Papa Ted. Together, they have constructed a new front porch on our home here in Amarillo. Brendan has learned the seriousness of welding and helped to make some joinings of heaving metal as well as learned how to operate the drill and other tools. He particularly loves to hammer (loudly) and to dig holes in this crazy dirt.
On Saturday night, we visited an old fashioned drive in movie theater and saw the fabulous Hancock and The Incredilbe Hulk, both of which were very good I thought. We also sampled the hot dogs and other treats at the concession stand.
Have lots of good photos to post when time permits, but suffice it to say, this has been a wonderful Texas size adventure for all of us. When night comes and I finally get to my bed, I am exhausted, but very happy.
Until the next page turns,
Brenda
I have read seven or eight books filled with Texas history and made a good study of Charles Goodnight's life story. We have also watched the entire Lonesome Dove series with the boys and several other westerns to boot. The boys are getting into the hisotry and hopefully it will whet their interest for future study.
Goodnight was very instrumental in the settling of this area including the Palo Duro Canyon where we took grandsons Steven and Brendan for three days of exploring. We stayed in the cabin on the rim of the canyon that bears Goodnight's name and learned even more about him in the High Plains Panhandle Museum, which is one of the finest in the world. There is a small Texas town named Goodnight in his honor also, which we plan to visit on our way home.
Ted's son, Darrell, took the boys climbing (I held my breath believe me) and they both slide down the wild, 360-feet high Devil's Slide several times. They also went caving (exploring the dark big holes in the sides of the canyon walls) and we saw the exciting musical "Texas" performed in the huge outdoor amphitheater. The play has been done for some 43 years and gives a good depiction of the rough and tumble Texans who settled this country. (They really do believe it is a country and not just a state, too, and if outsiders question natives, it might just turn out to be an old fashioned brawl.)
We enrolled both grandsons in the wonderful reading program provided by the Amarillo Public Libraries. For each hour of reading, they got to mark a spot on a colorful sheet to turn in each week as we checked out books and movies to enjoy — all for free, too. When we entered the library last Friday to turn in some material, Pat, the excellent teacher over the children's programs, called out to Steven, "Hey, guys, I'm glad you're here. The numbers you left were all long distance and the city frowns on us calling too many long distance numbers." Pat had helped both boys choose and check out books of interest to them.
Steven had read 25 hours and was signed up for the huge drawing for the Extreme Read Program. Pat went on to share with us that it was Steven's name that had been drawn from the basket naming him the winner. He was given a lovely package of $20 in free movie passes, a new Batman movie and a new novel to read, along with some other goodies. He is also now entered into the drawing for the end-of-year big gift certificate to Best Buy in the amount of $100. In his mind, he has spent that $100 ten different ways!
Parents - If you have not enrolled your child in your local library programs, do so right away. There is so much good and fun information there for the sharing. Amarillo's libraries are among the finest in the nation and we've truly enjoyed going several times each week. With the high costs of books and movies, it is a Godsend to parents and grandparents, as well as teachers. The friendliness of the staff goes a long way toward making for a pleasant experience.
Brendan has learned a lot about building from his Papa Ted. Together, they have constructed a new front porch on our home here in Amarillo. Brendan has learned the seriousness of welding and helped to make some joinings of heaving metal as well as learned how to operate the drill and other tools. He particularly loves to hammer (loudly) and to dig holes in this crazy dirt.
On Saturday night, we visited an old fashioned drive in movie theater and saw the fabulous Hancock and The Incredilbe Hulk, both of which were very good I thought. We also sampled the hot dogs and other treats at the concession stand.
Have lots of good photos to post when time permits, but suffice it to say, this has been a wonderful Texas size adventure for all of us. When night comes and I finally get to my bed, I am exhausted, but very happy.
Until the next page turns,
Brenda
Thursday, May 15, 2008
Crater of Diamonds State Park gives new meaning to "finders keepers"
Retirement gives new energy and enthusiasm to travel and even with the price of gasoline on the rise, seeing America by way of enchanting back roads and hidden hideaways makes for great family fun, super photograph albums and memories of a lifetime.
Returning from a trip to Nashville in early May, my husband, Ted, took a detour through Arkansas where his parents were born and originally lived on family farms. One of the highlights of our trip was a visit to the Crater of Diamonds State Park where visitors really do get to keep whatever they find. Ted had been before, so he knew what to expect upon our arrival in Murfreesboro, a ways off the beaten path. The crater is located approximately 110 miles from busy Little Rock, the state's capitol; 60 from Hot Springs, one of the most beautiful old cities in America; and 55 miles from Texarkana, AR.
Arkansas is called "The Natural State" because it is blessed with an abundance of geological wonders. The Crater of Diamonds State Park is the only diamond-producing site in the world open to the public. Guests are invited to prospect in the 37-acre plowed field that is the eroded surface of an ancient volcanic pipe that brought to the surface diamonds and semi-precious stones visitors find today.
Diamonds of all colors can be found at the park, but the three most common colors unearthed are white, brown and yellow. The mine is a rock hound's delight since, along with the much sought after diamonds, over 40 types of rocks and minerals can be found here, too. These rocks and minerals include lamproite, amethyst, banded agate, jasper, peridot, garnet, quartz, calcite, barite and hematite.
John Huddleston, a local farmer who owned the property, found the first diamonds embedded in the soil in 1906 and started the diamond mining rush. Huddleston later sold his diamond-bearing land for $36,000. According to a book by Howard Miller, Huddleston became nationally famous and was referred to as "Diamond John" and the "Diamond King," but later met with misfortune and died a pauper. He is buried three miles east of the diamond field.
After a series of ill-fated mining ventures and tourist attractions, the site became an official Arkansas state park in 1972. Along with the diamond search area itself, the park has hundreds of acres of natural forest featuring a diversity of flora and fauna and offers visitors a bevy of activities. Convenient lodging and dining are nearby.
Searching for the actual diamonds in the plowed field can be done in three ways. Surface searching is walking up and down the rows of dirt looking for diamonds that have worked their way to the top of the soil. This is a productive method after a hard rain as the stones continually make their way to the surface. A second successful method used is digging in the soil and screening for diamonds and other jewels. The third method of hunting requires a lot of hard work and is usually done by guests with previous experience. It involves the digging of a deep hole or holes, removal of the soil and washing it in a series of screens.
On permanent display at Crater of Diamonds State Park, where it was discovered in 1990 by Shirley Strawn of Murfreesboro, is the "Strawn-Wagner" diamond. It is the most perfect diamond ever certified by the American Gen Society and is graded at O/O/O, ideal cut, D color and flawless, or a Triple Zero. A diamond this perfect is so rare that most jewelers and geologists will never see one during their entire career. It weighed 3.03 carats in the rough and in 1998 after it's cutting by Lazare Kaplan International of New York, the AGS certified this diamond as one in a billion.
A 40.23-carat, white diamond is the largest ever found in North America and was discovered at the Crater in 1924 by W. D. Bassum, who went by the nickname of "Uncle Sam." Thus, the giant rock is called the "Uncle Sam" diamond and was cut twice over the years with the second cutting resulting in a 12.42-carat emerald cut gem.
The 4.25-carat "Kahn Canary" was worn by First Lady Hillary Clinton at her husband's Presidential Inaugural galas in 1993 and 1997 as a unique way to represent their state of Arkansas. The diamond's owner, Stan Kahn of Pine Bluff, loaned the diamond to Mrs. Clinton.
The "Amarillo Starlight" diamond is 16.37 carats and the largest ever discovered in the Crater since it became a state park. W. W. Johnson of Amarillo made this find in 1975 while on vacation with his family. This diamond was cut into a 7.54-carat marquise shape.
In April 2008, 120 raw diamonds were found at the Crater. In the twelve months of 2007, a total of 1,024 diamonds were found and registered. On the day before our visit in early May 2008, five diamonds were found. In 1994, 1,421 diamonds were found with most years averaging 500 or better per year.
For more information on the Crater of Diamonds State Park, please call (870) 285-3113, or log onto www.craterofdiamondsstatepark.com or email craterofdiamonds@arkansas.com. The park is open year round with the exception of New Year's Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day. Adults are charged $6.50 while children, ages 6--12, are admitted for $3.50. Children under six are free. Guests may bring their own digging tools or rent them from the park.
Editor's Note - This article is taken from a series "Roads Less Traveled" by writer Brenda Cannon Henley. Henley can be reached at (409) 781-8788 or by email to brendacannonhenley@yahoo.com.
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