Alphabe-Thursday Legend says

THIS IS AN ALPHABE-THURSDAY POST

The Lowell Inn - Stillwater, Minnesota..... and the loyal lions out front welcome all who enter!

Yet my letter " L " today leaves the Lowell Inn and sails away to .....


London 

...and the luxurious Crown Jewels

... legend says since 1303, after the Crown Jewels were stolen from Westminster Abbey they were kept in the basement of the Tower of London and protected by a large metal grille, and always heavily guarded.

         So many legends still exist today about one shrewd man. Colonel Thomas Blood, he was cunning and clever and a "noted bravo and desperado."


I heard this version about the legendary Crown Jewels over the radio on my morning commute.

 

Tower of London....inside and outside but long after 1671.


You can catch of glimpse of the Tower Of London Bridge in the first photo!       It was 1671 (Colonel Blood) disguised as a minister and accompanied by a female, (introduced as his wife) paid a visit to the Tower of London.    After paying their viewing fee to the Jewel House keeper they viewed the beloved "Crown Jewels."

What happens next has various reports, but long story short, Colonel Blood while posing as a minister, he and his wife quickly became close friends with the keeper and his family.

Most reports say during their first visit that the minister's wife suffered a violent stomach ache and was take to the keeper's apartment to rest.  The more than grateful minister immediately sent 4 pairs of white gloves for the keeper's wife in appreciation.

....and so the friendship began........So much so, that they were allowed many visits to the tower (to view the jewels) and the minister's (Colonel Blood's imaginary/or impostor nephew) became so enchanted with the keeper's daughter that they planned a wedding to be held in the tower.

....a view of the Tower of London....

It began as a bright and sunny day for a wedding, but quickly turned dark.


The (masquerading colonel) not only was to officiate the wedding, he also master minded a scheme to take place on their wedding day.   Because Colonel Blood had become so close to the keeper, it came as no surprise that his request to show the best man and another relative the "Crown Jewels" of course, the keeper immediately obliged.  

Only to be thwarted by the minister as he threw off his wig, exposing his true self and struck the keeper on his head with a mallet, knocking him to the floor.   They slashed him with a sword just enough to daze him.  Then the thugs quickly bound and gagged him before grabbing all the precious jewels and began their escape route.

 The bride becoming suspicious at her father's long absence went to find him. Luckily just in time to free him so he was able to close the drawbridge before the thieves escaped.



Again this legend involves numerous endings. I rather like this accounting.



Yes, believe it or not, Colonel Thomas Blood was pardoned by King Charles.  Colonel Blood demanded he would only speak with his royalty.



King Charles announced to all that Colonel Blood was too clever, so much that he was pardoned and given a high ranking position so that he could keep a watchful eye on him.

  I will forever enjoy these legends, that some of our blogging friends from England may have their own special version of Colonel Thomas Blood.... or also known as "Captain Blood" that they might wish to share..... please do...

If you want to play along with Alphabe-Thursday there's always room for more please check Jenny's blog out here to join in

or just learn more L words!

http://jennymatlock.blogspot.com/2012/02/alphabe-thursday-letter-l.html

Thematic Photographic # 182 Groceries

THIS IS A THEMATIC PHOTOGRAPHIC POST

GROCERIES  is our theme for this week.... and you can shop for more here

http://writteninc.blogspot.com/2012/02/thematic-photographic-182-groceries.html

So let's head to the grocery store....


            Are you thirsty?

Please, take your pick.  A fine selection indeed!

Look, I can see myself on this floor!

Grocery shopping, where every stop can be an adventure...depending on what you're looking for....

                         Lobster tonight maybe?

Enjoy your swim today....because the next water you meet....will not be so delightful!

Do you know what one lobster said to all the other lobsters?  
"Oh goody boys, we've been saved.  She passed us up!"



   Do you have dinner in your thoughts, that don't include taking home live choices?

Maybe you don't need something for dinner tonight......
Possibly, you crave something a little more.....

.....sweet?

There are so many to pick from........

Yet always, only a precious few get selected of course....

.....and I only shop for these items when I'm by myself.... ha ha!

So many choices, so hard to decide.  So you go home empty handed, only to wish later that you had picked something!

The important rule to any shopping adventure....is to enjoy yourself..... right?!

A future grocery shopper in training. 

Saturday Centus 4 Feb 2012 Beware of The Peas

THIS IS A SATURDAY CENTUS POST

      Our Saturday Centus plays today with 100 + the prompt of "Two peas in a pod" allowing any style writing up to 105 words, and pictures too!
Brought to you by, Nonna at Tasty Tales..... go here to join in! Thanks Nonna!




        If I may continue from last week  If you recall we left off with our (could be body snatcher or? at the iron gate.

We discovered an open area and through serious pursuit made contact again. Only this time he was accompanied by a woman, and looking closer, we recognized her as our tour guide from yesterday. Fearlessly we tiptoed behind them through the village. Don't be silly, we weren't a bit nervous.

         Until they both paused, and sharply turned their heads with experienced certainty as if possibly, they felt two very stupid girls were tracking them?  Impulsively they both ducked inside ......

                              ....this building like, "two peas in a pod."

Six Word Saturday - 4 Feb 2011

IT'S SATURDAY AGAIN!

Somebody said, "When one door closes another opens."
-Alexander G. Bell but that's only part of his quote.

                We welcome Cate's, Show My Face blog across our computer screens again for

SIX WORD SATURDAY........   and this is what's been on my mind lately.

If you want to join in too or just see more go here


http://www.showmyface.com/2012/02/six-word-saturday.html




GONDOR, HOGWARTS, NARNIA, ENTERPRISE AND GALACTIC



well sort of.......but mostly........

What selling narrative can I immortalize?


No matter what
you know Star Trek and Star Wars
will always survive!

Harry Potter and all the rest as well

All are still popular fantasies

And selling more copies everyday

so I ask you....
What will our next phase be?

Sepia Saturday 4 Feb 2011 Dog or Plane Crazy

                 Who could resist such a darling threesome?

 Photographed by James Edward Abbe, on display at Library of Congress Photo and Prints Dept. about 1920, and Mack Sennett Comedies.

THIS IS A SEPIA SATURDAY POST

Grace Flandrau, (a Minnesota writer) with her faithful companion in front of the Flandrau family townhouse at 548 Portland in St. Paul, Minnesota.  Photo courtesy of Minnesota Historical Society, Minnesota History Magazine.
        One of her popular books written in 1929 was, "Then I Saw The Congo" and if you are lucky enough to own a hard copy of this.....it's worth a bit of money.....

Have you ever seen any of the White House dogs close up?  Meet Harry Waters and P. E. Allen of the White House police force with some of the White House dogs.  Photo taken, On September 23, 1929.  Courtesy of Library of Congress Library Washington, D.C.
My favorite is the dog on the left, he looks a bit lean, probably pretty tough, but he/she has a face easy to love.

What better Kodak moment then here...in Boise, Idaho with a king size shadow (the photographer) a Ford car complete with a dog on ...well...isn't that the engine area?  Probably not the best spot for a ride, but it'll do for a quick photo of the ladies inside the car.
Courtesy of Otto Jones and Library of Congress Photos and Prints Dept.


We have Bob and Rob who participate in Sepia Saturday to thank for our theme of dogs and their humans this week.




Poor puppy I think he's really bored.



 I couldn't miss following their theme, and I haven't forgotten my B-29 Bomber Plane story.... although some of you already know the story. 

      Sadly, my plane story will remain a mystery for now.  My photo order at the (usually prompt) Minnesota Historical Society Reproduction department hasn't been completely processed yet! 
But, the video clip below ties in nicely with my untold story.  Please enjoy this great"Ever After"  plane story!


Frances Rehwald they say never wanted a plain house...so she bought a Boeing 747 (at a steal for forty-thousand dollars) to recycle into her home sweet home at an estimated cost of about 2 million dollars.  Check out her video here

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DF5n68EDQvU

Alphabe-Thursday - K - Karpeles Manuscript

THIS IS AN ALPHABE-THURSDAY POST

Empty tables are good, that means everyone has left for Jenny's Alphabe-Thursday, on her "Off on my tangent" blog.

      ...and everyone is invited to Duluth.....

       You may already know this place, and when you hear Duluth, Minnesota you may think of it.  This is Spilt Rock Lighthouse just off Highway 61, northeast of Duluth.  
       Can you journey just 38 miles away from here?  To the shore of Lake Superior, near Leif Erikson Park (Rose Garden) and a spot nestled quietly among College of St. Scholastica and University of Minnesota-Duluth?  That's where my "K" destination begins.

KARPELES MANUSCRIPT

 LIBRARY MUSEUM.

and what could be better - it's a Free museum.....expect to be amazed.....

Sorry, by now all the Christmas decorations are gone.  Meet a very wise Mr. Tree.   After all, who doesn't need to read about things?

Especially important documents we've maybe only heard about.

Don't just take my word for the letter " K " and   "KARPELES MANUSCRIPT LIBRARY MUSEUM

See for yourself....

If you can't slip away to Duluth, not even by ship, check out this link to Karpeles and view much of their collections right on your own computer.  Maybe not as good as in person, but it's there at all times! 

http://www.rain.org/~karpeles/dul.html

It's both educational and entertaining!

See, the U.S. Bill of Rights, the Emancipation Proclamation Amendment, Handel's Messiah, all on display in their original handwriting!

All fields of history, exploration, literature, science, music and art.

There's even a gas bill paid by Thomas Edison!  Imagine that!


     Have you heard of the "Olive Branch Petition?"....you can see it there.

A special grouping about Sigmund Freud is going on now and lasts through April 30, 2012.

Prepare to be renewed and bring those children too busy with Angry Birds and other video games....this place will unleash surprising things!

902 East 1st Street Duluth, Minnesota


So don't forget to check out other letter "K" posts just visit Jenny!

.....and no worries, Jenny only looks like this when our assignments aren't complete!

http://jennymatlock.blogspot.com/2012/02/alphabe-thursday-letter-k.html

Thematic Photographic 181 Screens

THIS IS A THEMATIC PHOTOGRAPHIC POST

          Carmi, from Written Inc. Blog has a smart twist for TP this week ....
                       our theme is  "Screens"

               Carmi is calling for screens of any scenario - our choice.  Knowing just how much our daily lives often include, flat panel televisions, computer monitors, smart phones, tablets, all the way down to a Saitek X52 Flight Control System, it all works!

Or perhaps some other kind of screen that rocks our world....just bring them to life right here.


# 1 Screen Photo -  on a technology side

Sometimes one monitor just isn't enough... taken with my new camera.....after reading Carmi's theme for this week!

  
#2 Screen  -  on the softer side of screens......

Venture into the neighborhood and spend an evening on either side of this screened fireplace.  Order a hot brew or an ice cream cone...and watch the comings and goings of all who pass by.
Shot with my old Nikon Coolpix
If you feel the desire to post or just check out more screen posts go here

http://writteninc.blogspot.com/2012/01/thematic-photographic-181-screens.html

            

Saturday Centus We Know Where all the Bodies are Buried

THIS IS A SATURDAY CENTUS POST

Miss Nonna from, Tasty Tales blog has persuaded Miss Jenny with our centus today!

We can use up to 108 words of any genre and extra photos! 
Nonna's prompt is

"We know where all the bodies are buried." ...and Yes, it may be scary!  Or not! Let the centus begin....

Here is my centus

While snapping pictures we noticed a bald man following us.

Who was he shooting?   Always steps behind us, he was annoying.  His phone rang and we overheard, "That many bodies? I'll soon know where."

Confused, we concentrated on his target, keeping a safe distance behind.

....would he ever stop? 

What was that blue thing he dropped?

Finally, he turned at this wall.  Hanging back, we shot pictures like tourists, until .......

He used a key and slipped inside.  When we turned around Mr. C.I.A.-man had vanished.  Now it was obvious what he was looking for and....

 "we know where all the bodies are buried...."

To be continued....

If you want to view more Saturday Centus posts go here

http://jennymatlock.blogspot.com/2012/01/saturday-centus-we-know-where-all.html

Sepia Saturday 110 - Saturday 28 January 2012

THIS IS A SEPIA SATURDAY POST

Have you ever driven by a lost and forlorn abandoned house, and wondered why everyone moved away?  Was there absolutely not a soul any where who would live there?

I wonder if Marion Post Wolcott the photographer of this humble old farmhouse knew the owners, or their story?

So often we build things that often are used in other ways, or later changed for other more suited purposes.  There are reasons for everything, or so they say.

              Alan, from Sepia Saturday blog, begins this week with an act from



The Majestic Theatre and he's calling for "Tickets please," so follow everyone to The Majestic, where it was only ever used as a cinema.

                   Or instead, follow along with me to places where someone, somewhere should have shown a bit more interest.....


    To places that were used for other things, or worse, left to rot away.


Once you were a star, for all the world to see.....what once was important one day can be worthless the next....the life of a any building.

                                         
It's so hard to believe, in 1940 the wrecking crew took this all away.......

The photo was taken in September 1939, and this empty abandoned Minneapolis Mail Order House, once housed a lively staff, to later be left all alone ....as it stands tall enough to be a castle along the Mississippi River waiting.....  Courtesy of Library of Congress Washington D.C.

So many questions we ask, never to understand the reason why.... like the photo below.....

                                 Courtesy of Library of Congress, Washington D.C. Photographs.

Can you imagine this once enchanting plantation as a house buzzing with excitement and laughter from all who entered?  There she sat nestled in a lovely location in Monticello, Georgia, until they all picked up and left her empty and abandoned.  Did any one shed a tear as they carried out their belongings, and loaded them in a truck to drive away?  I can imagine this house in it's glory days, with those amazing fireplaces!  Just what were they thinking?

Then even those lost sailors that were guided by a special light....

What causes a lighthouse to close?

Light house and keeper's house and the ever wonderful light tower, abandoned at Matinicus Rock Light Station, Matinicus Island, on Matinicus Rock, Matinicus, Knox County, Maine.  There is so much more of a story here to be told.  Courtesy of Library of Congress, Washington D.C.

Matinicus Light House, where the Coast Guard Keepers were removed from a place they often called "Alcatraz" in 1983 when the south light became automated.


 Then out of the blue, randomly unexpected things can occur, like the story below.


    On a quiet street in a secluded spot in the far back of what had been an empty lot, except of course for an enormous amount of trees and thick brush, something very unusual came to be.


        Sometimes, the most unlikely things occur, like the strangest situation on Hennepin Avenue in Minneapolis, in 1946.  During a severe housing shortage, one man stood up and allowed a family do the unthinkable, on his very own property.  It also involved a unique rebirth for all airplane enthusiasts and an idle B-29 Bomber airplane, that had been sent to the scrap-yard.

          To be continued next week.  I hope you'll return to see what unusual change in venue happened along Hennepin Avenue in Minneapolis during 1946.

                     It's possible some of you may have heard about this unlikely tale which involved a B-29 Bomber Airplane...... in the center of Minneapolis.

So, stayed tuned for our next Sepia Saturday adventures.

       




             

Six Word Saturday 28 January 2012

THIS IS A SIX WORD SATURDAY POST

            Cate, from Show My Face, blog asks for six words to express your day or life or what ever you want...  my six words today have been surfacing all week....

                     Have you ever tried chasing butterflies?

WHAT SMOOTHS,
 YOUR LIFE'S,
 BUMPY ROADS?

allow yourself to

journey into

mysterious adventures
that are
always waiting
just around the corner.

and

Sometimes just trying to stand on your head takes away a blue day...


If you feel like more Six Word Saturday go here

http://www.showmyface.com/2012/01/six-word-saturday_28.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+showmyface+%28Show+My+Face%29

Alphabe-Thursdays a Je ne sais quoi Journey

THIS IS AN
         ALPHABE-THURSDAY POST

                         Celebrating the letter " J " 

In a word,   Jenesaisquoi

  or Je ne sais quoi.....

 Just feeling jet lag, after missing last week.  Can you guess what they're selling?

                              Je ne sais quoi
            "I know not what"

                     Just Journey along with me........I'm not joking.

Just follow the jolly jargon (on the pointy sign above)


Just jog over and you'll jive once you jingle and jangle your way here but(no jay walking please)

I'm jazzed that you jaunted over to such a jaunty place as this! 
Just so we can jazz ourselves up before we jet over to the jumping-Jack java house up the street.

please no jog trotting
just dance on over


Come on
you just know
you want to
open the door

Just take a peek.  So many hats (stuff that hubby might call junk!) Oh no!  ....and so little time.  I promise it's all jazzy kinds of far out bling and other things.....just waiting.

So jump to it
the java is
no joke
how jovial you feel
just sipping it!


If you have the urge to learn more "J" words....please check out Jenny's blog "Off on my tangent " and her Alphabe-Thursday class for more J's....

http://jennymatlock.blogspot.com/2012/01/alphabe-thursday-letter-j.html

Je Ne Sais Quoi  live from Iceland

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kS91yH9BJ2M&feature=related

Thematic Photographic # 180 Movement

THIS IS A THEMATIC PHOTOGRAPHIC POST

           "Movement"     has literally blown in from Carmi's blog, Written Inc.  and his unbelievable capture of a flight (powered with grand-old-fashioned landing gear) is one you don't want to miss!
Check it out here

http://writteninc.blogspot.com/2012/01/thematic-photographic-180-movement.html

Let the Movement begin




A la bonne heure..... In Good Time

Today, the movement in traffic was a much better drive, compared to yesterday morning...



Then right in the middle of a normal day....movement can take us in directions we never thought we'd journey.......

Sometimes, like a wedding shower our movement takes on a new twist.


Like this

As in the bride-to-be and maid-of-honor both blindfolded and given a chest filled with "household items" to dress the bride with!

it's a new age movement....!

back to the basics with necessary things.

and yes, of course that's a potholder on her head!

and

at this point the begging began, "Please don't post this to Facebook!"
Like I said, new age movement!




Movement of the howling wind and blowing snow outside
tends to move a person inside...
yet craving for the outside
you move toward

Some of the coolest movement in water known to man

and beyond their beauty...

at the very sound of another voice,

they will change their movement, immediately.

Is it food they seek?

Or companionship?


Then on another rare movement
you are lucky enough to catch

Minnesota (and for a short while the Big Apple NYC)
very own Garrison Keillor moving along
eating a Corn Dog with mustard 
before his show at
the Minnesota State Fair
where else?

If you're wondering yes, he's moving in Red Shoes like always.


In fall we had a real surprise movement come to town...

When a stranger with horses moved in.

Movement
can free us from just another evening at home
eating the usual....served in the usual manner
Do you feel like having someone else do the cooking tonight?

Me too!  I just caught the tail end of this....trying to eat and snap at the same time...not so good ....he did amazing things with his knives, but it's what he did with the eggs that will bring us back again.....well that and the FOOD!!!!!

Saturday Centus - Cliffhanger Epilogue

THIS IS A SATURDAY CENTUS POST

       Jenny, from "Off on my tangent" blog is being especially sweet today.... and I didn't even need all 150 words she allowed, (it's our make-up gift!) ha ha ....truly, I have forgotten all about the only 50 word cut! ha ha ...

       Jenny says our Centus today shall use another writing device to create an epilogue for our 2-part cliffhanger!  Hooray!  Wonderful idea! ;)

Notice, he's holding a pretty flower? All is forgiven!

If you need refreshing, my two part cliffhanger began with a couple climbing about Mt. Desert, Maine (with sleds) and ends with her being rescued while he's in handcuffs.

My Epilogue

        As sensational stories go, fiction or not, Saturday Centus included, there’s always a superstar-reporter, Noelle Itallwright and she's ready to interview our cliffhanger actors.





The Scoundrel begins speaking to our Saved-Damsel.



“If I, the accused may clarify what really happened, you’d know I was framed!”
“You’re just worried they’ll lock you up and throw away the key.”
“That’s where you begin? Well, truthfully there are far worse things.”
“As only you, should know.”
“Really, you’re going to conclude my brief (Centus) existence without considering my version? Especially when, you never even plummeted to the bottom?”
“Remember, I was rescued.”
“Because, you stupidly slid off the edge; as I photographed the brilliant sunrise.  Now everyone assumes I’m a nasty piece of work.”

She leans in and whispers in his ear,

“Well, which sells more copy; truth or deplorable fiction?”





The End? Maybe.  Only Jenny knows for sure!

I'm leaving you with the key to unlocking more Saturday Centus, because you know you just have to read more!