Amaya Loves the Magnolia Flower

The Magnolia Flower is a very old and ancient flower species.

Fossils of this type of flower have been found that are 95 million

years old.  This flower is even older than bees.  So to achieve pollination,

they developed tough leaves so that the beetles could pollinate them.

Steel Magnolias is the name of a 1989 American comedy-drama film.  The movie 

is about a group of women from Louisiana.  They were as beautiful as 

magnolias and as tough as steel in the movie. The magnolia in the movie title 

specifically references a tree which they argued about at the 

beginning of the film.

This was directed in general by Amaya Jean Cleveland.

DC with Friends from Canadia

Recent Life Activity

Friends from Canadia dropped in for a visit.  B put in

a BR D for C.  It looks great!  As B would say: 38 lbs of

two-by-four's, 15 lbs of balsa wood door frame, 5 lbs of screws 

and 22 lbs of caulk.  My friend is one great caulker. 

 I miss the Rascals but they are coming home late tonight.

My Greek Project is pushed back one week.  More time

to spoil them with anything they can think to want.

I do not remember where C took this selfie of us.  We 

look happy, must have been before we walked our

8th, 9th or 10th mile in downtown DC. 

The Apple Blossoms were at their peak during our

two days of downtown DC tours.  One of those days,

we casually watched the snipers top the White House.

(Google man with BB-Gun Attacks WH Visitor's Center.)

Honeymooners in Prague

Disney World - A Second Visit - Xmas 2016

Addy, with no prompting the other nite asked if she

could try the Princess Dress on.  She wore it years ago

at her first visit to Disneyworld.

Papa thinks that 2016 it might be a good year to repeat.

Quintin thought it was a good idea too.  He wants

to go hangliding with Papa.  (He loves flying
in the nearby park swing.)

Doug Getting A Tail In Mexico

I went to Mexico, Missouri to the Zenith Aircraft Factory to

construct a tail for a Zenith 750 STOL.  While there I was able

to get a demo ride from the Company Pilot Roger.  He probably

has more hours in the Zenith airplanes than anyone in the

world - no exaggeration.  Cool guy and no doubt good pilot.

Dale from Omaha helped me out.  He chose to go the "monitor" 

route as opposed to actually building & owning his own tail.

I am sort of proud of the tail that I got in Mexico.  Hope to

maybe fly it some day.  Ask to see it sometime, snuggled

in foam in my basement workshop.  I will gladly unfoam
it and show it to you.  1/100 of my plane done!

Grand Ole Opry

Carol and I took advantage of our last trip to see Panama to go

to the Grand Ole Opry.  This was our first time which is a 

shame since we have lived in and around BNA for so long.

Darius Rucker and of course he did an old time song from

Hootie and the Blow Fish.  Something about Wheels Rolling...

Help me out here!  Got that song on the tip of your tongue?

Charley Pride and of course he did the "Devil Went Down

to Georgia."  Charley can still play a fiddle!

A Trip to KCMO to Visit Friends & Family

While Carol had a break in jury duty - we went to KCMO to visit

Mary/Randy/kids and Vinny & Carolyn.  We also got to see

old friends Dan & Kay.  The weather was great, except

for a light frosting of snow on our last night.

Thanks for putting us up you all!

As always, Vinny makes the very

best Margarita in the States.  We

have to go way down to PV to

get the best of course...

Date Afternoon - Papa & Panama at the Ceramics Shop

Panamania and I went together to a ceramics shop where Carol has 

been taking them.  She did a horse piece and I did a girl on the 

moon in a cloud.  It was more fun than I thought it would be.

Go Nana for Good Papa/Granddaughter Date Ideas!

Panama's Unicorny Horse

The "Before Firing" condition of the Moon Girl.

Cappadocia, Turkey Balloons

Istanbul Sunday

Gemlik, Turkey Early 2016

Ryman Theatre - IL Volo Concert

How Do You Know You Are Back in Germany?

How do you know that you are back in Germany for a

week of work?  Well, that is easy... you go to the coffee

machine at the gate and get a free latte, then you go to

the paper rack and pick up a free paper.

Then you walk around a bit and see the latest Audi's

sitting in the middle of the terminal.  Hmmmm... can

I get that on as a carry-on?  Probably make me check it.

Surprise Ryman Concert - The Italian Singing Trio Il Volo

Nana surprised me with a Concert at the Ryman.  We

have never heard from the the Italian Trio from Italy

called the Il Volo but they sure were good.

Thanks Carol, lovely evening in Nashville...

Quintin Likes the Swing - Nana Likes Quintin

Carol and I walked to the grade school to pick up Amaya and 

on the way backwe stopped at the park.  Q is 6-months, going on 

18-months and at the end of the park play, I stuck him in the rubber 

swing and draped his arms over the front.  He was wedged in good 

and tight.  I gave him a bit of swing and all we heard was "howling" 

of the laughter type.  He loved the free swinging motion without 

any bounds.  (I think he wants to fly with his Papa.)  

At any rate, not only did he tickle himself but he was getting 

his Nana going as well.

I love Nana when she gets gooey!  Attaboy Q!!!

Apple Blossoms Early in DC - March 15th

We went to DC early this year and the apple blossoms were

already out!  It was a beautiful day, we hopped the train downtown,

Erica picked up their 1/2 Marathon bibs, and we walked a bit.

My second time to the Treasury to try to get a tour.

Not sure they are ever open...  offered the guard to pay for a tour
but he said my dollar was practically worthless.   And no, I did
not bribe him with additional worthless dollars. 

Kris Kristofferson Tribute Concert

Carol surprised me with a Nashville Tribute Concert to Kris

by a slug of Country Western performers.

My favorite tributtee, of course, was Willie Nelson.

He and his guitar are showing their age but his voice is still

strong, clear and still really Willie sounding.

Great Night, Thanks Carol!

Low & Slow - Zenith 750 STOL

This is one of the prettiest pictures I have seen
of a plane that I would like to build.

This is my kind of flying:  low & slow!

Zenith 750 STOL

400 Hour Build (Right!?)

Build with a Viking 130 Honda Fit Engine

Free catalog from Zenith in Mexico, Missouri

Zenithair.com

A Carriage Ride With a Horse Named Sally

French Riviera - Nice, France Zoomed

All Mixed Up