Prairie-Lakes Journeys from a Two Spirited View

Yunnan China Zhongdian County - now Shangri-La

2012-01-11T18:58:00.000-08:00

Here is a typical walking street in the town Zhongdian. I flew into Zhongdian county that was renamed to Xiānggélǐlā (香格里拉, Shangri-La in Chinese) in 2001, to attract tourists. Liu Jainqiang who writes for China Dialogue and his son, Legend, suggested I come here on the train to Beijing from Yanqing. Consider reading China Dialogue http://www.chinadialogue.net/article/show/single/en/4518-Vanishing-Shangri-La-1-
That he wrote. Jainqiang is a friend of my college classmate Leo Lum, whom I met at Carleton College in Northfield in the late 1960's. When I contacted Leo that I was coming to China, he encouraged me to meet him in Beijing which I did and where I had dinner in NE Beijing and met Liu Jainqiang who writes an for China dialogue.

Three Languages for a men's room in my first rustic wooden place to stay in the Yunnan Mountains of SW China. Tibetan, Chinese and then MAN in English! I found the place of the shower and refreshment at a high elevation. "Easy does it "walking on the stone paths as I am a flat lander. Able to carry my back pack at 9300 ft and got the assistance of a woman from Beijing who works in a tea house here. A friend of Jianqiang's. No problems very relaxing and beautiful place. Thanks to Liu Jainqing who writes for China Dialogue for the referral on the train to Beijing from Yanqing. Consider reading China Dialogue http://www.chinadialogue.net/article/show/single/en/4518-Vanishing-Shangri-La-1-

I got up early each day, and walked to a cafe or hostel to have breakfast and try Wifi. Here is what it looked like in Zhongdian. In China I could not access my blog so I am now writing a few months after my trip, having digested some of the experiences over time. When I entered China in Nanjing I found my access at my hotel to the internet was very limited, so I spent time seeing and experiencing each day with my camera and those I was with, my local guides. Very grateful for the clarity of what I wanted to see, and for the cost effective local places I stayed and ate in!

N's Kitchen is next to an international hostel and provided breakfasts and coffee and internet. Local yak meat replaced beef in the menu! Copies of Time and the Economist on the wall and I left fresh copies I had purchased in airports to pass along. German, French Speakers here as well as English and the Chinese who are visitors to this mostly Tibetan ethnic area!

Here I am inside the Compass Cafe that had been recommended for breakfasts. I did manage a connection to the internet here for a while and chatted with a waitperson from the Netherlands. German and English spoken here! I nice oasis here to have relaxing food and chats with folks from around the world...An elevating experience all around!

Honoring the Creation and Creator - Waters, and trees of life Eicher Cherry Highboy

2012-01-01T18:35:00.000-08:00

Celebrating my learnings here for the New Year. In my journey to Australia, in 2011, i made it to the Indian Ocean near Perth where some of my two legged friends, Oak Tree and Jasmin were surfing at this beach. On my journey I got grounded to the earth by singing songs, and respecting the plant and animal nations on this continent where aboriginal peoples have been for over 60,000 years.
Singing in indigenous languages honors the land, the waters, rivers, the trees and plants. We are all related. Did some recording this past Friday with another man who modeled singing songs to honor the Creation and Creator in a good way. One day at a time, being the center of the medicine wheel. Here is an artist group Gabby Pahinui - Wahini U*i from 1975 who supports my spirit in being grounded half way to Asia in the middle of the Peace Ocean Pacific. Peace with every breathe and every step.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xBYDxvusWao&feature=related

Henry Eicher and Emma Helena Eicher Married 20 Apr 1875 in Ellerton OH at the local Lutheran Church.

Here are Edna, their youngest child, Born 1885 with her brother Charles born 1883 at perhaps the age their parent may have purchased the cherry highboy in S Ohio.

Emma the eldest child was born in 1875, and was known as my Great Aunt Esther when I went back with my father to visit Ohio from MN. Here she is with Charles before Edna was born.

Here is Mark Mueller-Dahl of Northfield a cabinet maker and refinisher doing the hand sanding on the top, while I was hand rubbing boiled tung oil onto all the exposed sanded surfices. It was like I could feel the gratitude of the tree nation to re-energized the wood here to be used again in a good way. Thanks Mark for your respectful teaching here of how to do this in a good way.

Mark here noticing the grain coming alive with the tung oil being rubbed in,

Grateful for the finished tung oil here with this over 100 year old refurbished Shaker Style Cherry Highboy.
And to relax, thinking of Jasmin the Jiangsu Folk music sent by my Chinese Friend Tony Zhu.
Please visit

Learning Mah-Jongg Junior for the First Time Early Winter 2010 -11

2011-12-13T06:28:00.001-08:00

The Weaver- Glessner Family had a box of mah jongg, a tradtional Chinese game, in their homes for many years. I took out the tiles or bricks a lot as a kid, and never knew what they meant or how to play. My sis, Jane, seems always "game" to try something new and I was most grateful for hear enthusiasm to learn this game and have fun with it, in her home, with her husband Don and son Ryan. So here is Jane, counting the tiles as I was reading the manual and really trying the game for the first time!

During this time, I was planning for my trip to Asia and China, and it was fun for me to look at this as a connection to my family and our history looking at other cultures. I thank Xiaosong Liu, AKA "Steven" from Tianjin near Beijing helped to light that fire as well. Xie xie ni, Xiaosong. Hope your journey to San Fran is going well. This rule book helped guide us to play the game and build the walls just one time about a year ago during the winter holidays. Hopefully we might attract someone who really KNOWS, how to play the game and put it into cultural perspective. I wonder if younger folks from China play it. I did not see much of it in my travels this year and I was only in Zhongguo (the central kingdom) for about 2 weeks.

Here is the cover of the box as it was manufactured in the 1920's. I wonder if the spirit of Dr Sun Yat Sen is in it. I was able to visit his presidential palace in Nanjing this year and his burial place. Interesting it is one of the few places where the Nationalist Chinese Flag is still allowed to be in the People's Republic. So grateful for my tour guide I had in Nanjing, Tony, who supported my learning about the local buses and transport there.

Here are Jane, Don and Ryan building the walls of the tiles in the Mah-Jongg game. Really grateful to be able to bring out this old family international game and give it new life!

Another view of the game as the wall is built.

Another view. Looking forward to finding the time and the right people to play this traditional game in the weeks ahead.
Thanks, xie xie ni for your kind consideration. Ziajian! See you later. All the best....Two spirited Tom with a foot in both worlds....

Glessner History in Georgia - Kennesaw Mt 1864 - Americus 1880's

2011-11-26T18:40:00.001-08:00

From the moment I arrived at the Kennesaw Mt Visitors Center, I knew I was on the path to find and honor Edward Cowles Glessner. I had visited the grave of his father Lewis Glessner in Findlay OH and learned he had died in the battle of Kennesaw Mt in 1864. Born 27 May 1844 in Delaware OH, the second son, of Lewis, I found records here documenting that he was a private in the 57th Ohio Infantry, Morgan Smith's Division, under Gen John McPherson's Army of the Tennessee, serving under William Sherman. These are the very help staff led by WR Johnson, chief historian here, and Kay Gower. Here he gave me the info that his grave is #10036 at the Marietta Union Graveyard and gave me a map. I also was given a roster of Ohio troops which listed on page 152, Edward having volunteered at age 18 entering service Oct 7, 1862 for 3 years and was "killer June 27, 1864 in battle of Kennesaw Mountain, Ga. "

Arrow Showing the action of Ohio #57 under GSmiths Advance, the area by Pidgeon Hill where Edward fell in battle. I carried this understanding on our hike indicated on this map below.

We took the hash marked trail from the green box visitors center to the peak of Kennesaw Mountain, about 1 km (2/3 mi) walk uphill where Dana photographed Me and Scott Goodlow. (we met through MKP LKS connections)

Me and Scott Goodlow at the Atlanta Prize of War overlook.

View of place where Edward Glessner likely died in the battle for Pidgeon Hill with Little Kennesaw in the background today, in blur with the magnet showing the battle site in 1864.

Hong Kong to Bali - Asian Transition Coffee and Food

2011-10-02T19:04:00.001-07:00

On my way from Yunnan to Hong Kong, it was familiar enough to take the A41 bus from the HK airport to the Regal RIverside in Sha Tin New Territories without a hitch. Had a nice dinner with Keith my guide when I spent three days here earlier. Grateful for a real Western Breakfast here overlooking the river and noticing the high rise architecture as well as some green garden space. Most refreshing is that folks can hear and speak English. Yingyu spoken here! Ah, nice coffee with milk and they provide paper napkins too.

I flew to Bali after just one night back in HK. Fun to reconnect with Keith and then make my way to a tropical nation I have heard about for years. Very calm and smiling people. Wayan, my guide, pointed out his name is first born and very common in Bali, and I learned my name is Nyoman (third born) Thomas. Here I am on my way to Sanur Beach with Wayan pointing to a
Bougainvillea tree with purple flowers.

Here is my friend Wayan on the beach at Sanur at low tide. We walked the beach path on a fine windy day and watched parasailors and just the life on the beach.

Here is a shop along the beach in Sanur where Wayan and I walked my first full day in Bali.

Prayer and offerings to the ancestors are part of everyday life here. Here is a typical offering at a statue along the side walk

Nanjing Presidential Palace

2011-09-27T18:29:00.000-07:00

We took the bus from the Mausoleum area to the Presidential Palace, where according to wiki "Front gate of the Palace, taken in 2008, displays the sign "Office of the President" (總統府). Prior to 1947, the sign read "National Government" (國民政府)."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Presidential_Palace_(Nanjing)

When I was a kid, and before the opening of China with visits by Kissinger and Nixon in the late 1970's, the Republic of China was the only one we learned about in the US. The flag of the Republic was associated with the KMP that left the Chinese Mainland in 1949. Here from wiki about the palace and its history.

"After the Xinhai Revolution in 1911, Sun Yat-sen was sworn in at the Presidential Palace as the provisional President of the Republic of China.
However, China soon fell into Warlord era and the Palace was not officially used until 1927 when the Kuomintang (KMT)'s Northern Expedition captured Nanjing and made it into the Headquarters of the Nationalist Government. Chiang Kai-shek had his office in the palace. During the Second Sino-Japanese War (1937–1945), Chiang Kai-shek's government fled to Chongqing and the building was occupied by Wang Jingwei who collaborated with the Japanese. Following the Japanese surrender in 1945, Chiang Kai-shek's Nationalist Government reoccupied the building. In 1947, the Constitution of the Republic of China was promulgated and the Headquarters of the Nationalist Government was renamed the Office of the President.
In 1949, near the end of the Chinese Civil War, the Communist forces captured Nanjing, Chiang Kai-shek's government fled to Taiwan, and Mao Zedong declared the People's Republic of China with capital in Beijing. The building was then used for government functions. In the late 1980s it was transformed into a museum detailing China modern history. It is now one of the few places in mainland China where the Flag of the Republic of China is publicly displayed.
On April 27, 2005, the Chairman of Kuomintang, Lien Chan, visited the Palace on his trip to Mainland China, marking a symbolic return of the party to the Palace for the first time in 58 years."

Connection with History of Dr Sun Yat Sen

2011-09-27T17:47:00.001-07:00

Ever since my youth, Chinese culture and history has been an interest of mine. Elsewhere on this blog, I have scanned in photos of Chinese Stamps prior to the split in 1949, of the KMP that went to Taiwan and the PRC who claimed the mainland. Still recognized as a founder of democratic China from the time of 1912, is Dr Sun Yat Sen. This is the mausoleum area created after his death. A long walk up a gradual hill in the forest began here.

A warm day, we took to drinking bottles of water, which are 1 RMB in the market, and now 3-5 RMB in the tourist sites.

The forest walk on the way from the bus stop to the bottom of the walk up the stair.

Along the side of the road are planted many plane trees, another name for the sycamore relative in many of the world cities. The mottled bark is one of the hallmarks of indentification.

Here is a map for the entire hill or mountain where the Mausoleum is built.

Impressive stone and I think a cypress tree at the entrance to the memorial site.

Entry gate at the Beginning of the many stairs to the top. 392 according to wiki : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sun_Yat-sen_Mausoleum

The Chinese Characters likely tell the story here. Beautiful art for me AND not a lot of English here. Grateful to have a local guide to support me along the way.

Lions always seem to be big in China in the sculpture anyway. Here we are half way to the top I suppose.

Here is the building that holds Dr Sun's remians. According to wiki " . Sun was born in Guangdong province of China on November 12, 1866, and died in 1925 in Beijing, China. On April 23, 1929, the Chinese government appointed He Yingqin to be in charge of laying Dr. Sun to rest. On May 26, the coffin departed from Beijing, and on May 28, it arrived in Nanjing. On June 1, 1929, Dr. Sun was buried there. Sun, considered to be the "Father of Modern China" both in mainland China and in Taiwan, fought against the imperial Qing government and after the 1911 revolution ended the monarchy and founded the Republic of China.

Here is the view from the top and where we came from and will return to! Happy for the view!

Asian Odyssey - Hong Kong to China written from Bali

2011-09-27T17:18:00.000-07:00

Here at the Star Ferry crossing on the Hong Kong side a couple of weeks back looking at Kowloon.
I have been off the blogging grid for a couple of weeks. Left Hong Kong for Nanjing China on Sept 12th and did not have access to this blog until yesterday and my return to Hong Kong. I am actually loading these photos from a small hotel in Bali, resting here after a 5 hour flight from Hong Kong last night. Inspired to begin writing again after Paul of www.anotherdayontherun.com asked in an email "you said that you were keeping a blog too, what's the URL? Hope Honkers (Australian slang for Hong Kong) is treating you OK." Thanks Paul. I hope to connect with his famlly again. He and his wife are both nurses and have like taken a year off to travel, with a 4 yr old son and a 9th month old as well. What a journey hey!

The night before I left for China, I got a chance to view the skyline of Hong Kong Island here. Iconic view.

Here is the tower in Kowloon at night net up to celebrate the Autumn festival. Along the harbor.

Mid September I learned is a time to share moon cakes. So here is one I got on the flight to Nanjing from Hong Kong. Filled with fruit and nuts and perhaps part of an egg. I sense it is kinda like fruit cake for the American Christmas time. The two men I had as guides, both in HK and Nanjing, really don't care for them much.

I arrived in Nanjing and my friend and guide Tony found the bus to get me to my Hotel booked by the Australian Travel group Flight Center. Here is the view out of my window. Only about a half mile from the Yangtze River here.

Here is the Nanjing Train Station where much of my activities centered out of. Took a bus here from the hotel and then took the subway to a part of Nanjing where I got a Chinese Cell phone. Was very handy to call around Zhongguo.

Here is the shopping are in Nanjing where I got my China Mobile phone

Saturday in Hong Kong - Night in Kowloon

2011-09-11T05:14:00.001-07:00

Keith Lau picked me up at the HK Airport and we caught a bus (after I picked up an Octopus Card - for all transport, trains and busses, like an Oyster Card in the US) that took us directly in about 45 min to the Regal Riverside Hotel along the Shing Mun River in Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong. This is the view I found in the morning from my 15th story window. Keith had been quite organized in covering the bases on my 2 days travels here. I high school teacher of Chinese and World History and a native of New Territories, he knew all the short cuts and cheap ways to see the parts of the city, from the Star Ferry, to Peak View Point on Victoria Peak, to Up Scale Shopping and People watching at the tall tower, Two International Finance Center, that is, and then back to Kowloon on the ferry

I got a lesson in conversion as the Hong Kong Dollar has an exchange rate of about 12.83 HK per US Dollar. So this 500 dollar note is worth about 64.13 US dollars. What I find interesting is the HSBC clear writing and the direct affiliation of Hong Kong and Shanghai on the bill. I have seen the HSBC logo all over in my travels, and now knowing it stands for Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation. The new world economy for sure.

Japan transition to Hong Kong Shatin -Shing Mun River

2011-09-09T19:49:00.000-07:00

Here is a sign from the street in Tokyo where I stayed for 3 nights. I took the subway from here to visit Dr Ken on Thursday, a PA who goes to the US to learn about pediatric scientific advances for an integrative clinic in Tokyo. We met at an Autism One Conference in Chicago and I enjoyed his far reaching interest in public health. We talked about the change in radiation level from the Fukishima 3/11 event and how the diet of fish may be compromised. I remember the strontium 90 days in the US, when our nation was still testing atomic bombs in the environment.

This is the non-descript building where the administrative office is for the clinic where a met "Dr Ken". The office across the hall did not even know they had an office there. Persistence in asking for directions!

Friday AM I took a Taxi to the Tokyo rail station where I got a orange shuttle bus to Narita Airport. I made it in plenty of time to sit in the Starbucks here and check out the ambience before getting onto the China Eastern Airlines plane to Shanghai Pu Dong. Remindful of how my grandfather and my mom, likely sat in a Fred Harvey Restaurant waiting for the Santa Fe Railroad in the 1920's much as we wait for airplanes in the new Century.

I was pleasantly surprised with the free food on the China Eastern airplane. Here is the full meal I received on my way from Tokyo to Shanghai! Food is an interesting metaphor. Soba Noodles, a beef and rice dish.

And as free beverages, even got a Chinese beer after several glasses of orange juice. Staying well hydrated on this trip.

View from my first room at the Regal Riverview Hotel along the Shing Mun River in Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong. Noticing the general haze here which I sense is from the mainland Chinese nearby burning a lot of coal. Lots of activity alone the river, where I took a walk this morning. Grateful for my Amazon Herb and Probiotic Supplements that are keeping my immune system stable here!

Levels of transition. On a world finance level, here is a Hong Kong 500 dollar bill which converts to about $64.13 US. What I find interesting is the HSBC clear writing and the direct affiliation of Hong Kong and Shanghai on the bill. I have seen the HSBC logo all over in my travels, and now knowing it stands for Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation. The new world economy for sure.

Here is a park across from my hotel where many folks are doing group exercises before 7 AM. Looks like chi gong.

Kamakura Diabutsu (Great Buddha) and Hase –Dera Temple and Gardens

2011-09-07T16:59:00.001-07:00

Charlie Engler, Shirley and Andy. My companions traveling to Kamakura and Yokohama on Monday. Our choice for a day trip after the typhoon cancelled Charlie, Shirley and me from the adventure. Actually all three of these folks have already scaled the mountain. Maybe next time for this guy. :-)
ref="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-K_6Qrkvsyx8/TmgI-uReu5I/AAAAAAAACM4/iK0Z2xWC1m8/s1600/IMG_1107.JPG">

Signage for me to go straight. Not a possibility for some of us, and a useful sign to find the Kamakura Diabutsu (Great Buddha) , which was our first goal before resting and eating nice big sweet grapes that Shirley chose for a snack at the temple.

Here is a sign that includes the "JR"line. This is Japan Rail, the one that has the rail pass. I got all the JR line trains for free with my pass. THere are a lot of private rail lines around Tokyo that require other ways of payment. Locals have a rechargable card like an "Oyster Card" I have seen in the states. That is what Charlie and his friends use. For me, using the coin ticket machines is the daily ritual here for non JR lines. So I keep coins 500 Y and 100 Y available. It is a cash culture so I use the ATM's like in Europe to have enough cash for each day. Also note the simple peace sign or swastica that indicates a temple. THis sign was just near the train station to direct our hike to the sites in Kamakura for the day.

Map of the Kamakura area.

We took the Hase line to near the Hase- Dera Temple and Garden that Charlie had visited before with Aka Ono's Family. Great to have Charlie as the train maven here.

Andy and me entering the Diabutsu (Great Buddha) site.

Classical view of the large metal statue of the Buddha.

When the four of us entered the Hase- Dera Temple and Garden, I noticed the lotus flowers in the pond. I quiet and reflective area. We spent a couple of hours walking around this temple.

Garden pool in the shape of a swastika. Interesting history of the symbol in the East, per Wiki "In Chinese and Japanese the swastika is also a homonym of the number 10,000, and is commonly used to represent the whole of Creation, e.g. 'the myriad things' in the Dao De Jing. During the Chinese Tang Dynasty, Empress Wu Zetian (684-704) decreed that the swastika would also be used as an alternative symbol of the Sun. In Japan, the swastika is called manji. Since the Middle Ages, it has been used as a coat of arms by various Japanese families such as Tsugaru clan, Hachisuka clan or around 60 clans that belong to Tokugawa clan.[25] On Japanese maps, a swastika (left-facing and horizontal) is used to mark the location of a Buddhist temple. The right-facing manji is often referred to as the gyaku manji (逆卍, lit. "reverse manji") or migi manji (右卍, lit. "right manji") , and can also be called kagi jūji (literally "hook cross")."

Main temple building at Hase-Dera.

Here is some insight from my experience, for those who are considering a trip to Japan.
Folks had suggested a day trip to Kamakura, even my Carleton Classmate Paul Smith who doubted that I could have a cost effective journey and include Kyoto in my 9 day trip here in Nippon. The 7 Day Japan Rail pass, paid for itself with the quick ride on the train from Narita to Tokyo Station and then the Bullet Train....Shinkansen...in local parlance. Just like theTGV in France, the Japanese evidently in the 1970's invested in rail..While the US, still stayed addicted to the automobile. It is very easy to get around here, if you are open to riding the trains, without ever getting in a car. So far I have not taken even a taxi. The test will be tomorrow morning, when I get on a subway at 6 AM to get to Tokyo Station to get on the Orange Airport Limosine for the Hour and 20 min ride to Narita, to be there over 2 hours ahead of my flight to Hong Kong.

Welcome to Tokyo and the trains to Mt Fuji - Typhoon Talas Rains

2011-09-04T18:10:00.000-07:00

I was welcomed to Shin Yokahamo station by Aki Ono and Charlie Engler (who took this photo). Aki had visited Charlie's family in Minnesota in June and I had missed meeting her as I was traveling in Illinois at the time. She and Charlie took me out for my first typical Tokyo meal nearby.

Charlie Engler, yours truly and Aki at the typical Tokyo eating place near the station. Aki demonstrated how to use the traditional grill, making a "pancake" of many ingredients.

Here Aki directed how to cover it with a sauce when she served it. Nice to have familiar faces to greet me to the big city.
And learning about a new cuisine for me.

Charlie and I got up in his apartment and had breakfast to prepared to meet is colleague, Shirley at one of the stations along the way. Transportation here is pretty much all dependent on the trains. So after getting acquainted with Shirley on the various trains, here are Charlie and Shirley on the last train to Mt Fuji looking quite hopeful for our climb. Both she and Charlie had done the trip before and we we all looking forward to the bus trip to the 5th station.

Here is the "happy volcano image on a screen behind the seat we noticed.

Upon arrival at the last station, the ticket folks made a sign of crossing their arms and said " too dangerous to go up because of the typhoon, no buses, the hiways are closed" So here are Charlie and Shirley soon after we had learned the news. We all had been planning on this for quite awhile, so we had to regroup and decided to walk down to the lake in the town and have something to eat. For me, it was often been, when in doubt, sit down regroup and consider our options.

Here is Charlie, modeling the body language of "it is closed, not available" we saw at the bus station.

At least I could capture some of the energy of planning for the ascent of the mountain and think about coming another time. Letting go. An evocative poster.

As we walked into town toward the lake this neighboorhood temple called us in for a short sweet respite to relax. Not much evidence of a nasty typhoon here as far as I could tell. :-)

A view of the lake, Kawaguchi-Ko, from near where we chose of have lunch.

Here are Shirley and Charlie admiring the hot pots with a local noodle called houtou. We got 3 different variety, kimchi, pork and pumpkin!

On the way back down toward Toyko I noticed the gardens along the tracks.

Here is the river that followed the valley where the train went, showing the large amount of water in the rivers that came in front of the typhoon.

Later on the trains, perhaps after the 10th transfer (5 trains going up, 5 trains going back according to Charlie), Charlie and Shirley seemed like in an OK mood! We climbed the trains rather than Mt Fuji!

Here is Charlie outside of the Chicken Restaurant named Toriki, in the Shinegawa area. Charlie discovered this through the Travel Channel on No Reservations, which is a show coming through Anthony Bourdain.

Here are some of what we ate. Liver, gizzards and chicken sashimi. Local speciality of this restaurant.

Kyoto final day - Temples and A Closed Garden - Typhoon!

2011-09-04T05:33:00.000-07:00

My last day in Kyoto began with a breakfast with Shuichi Nakamura a native of the area, who took his day to show me some of Kyoto. One of his favorite temple complexes is north of the downtown,Daitokuji Temple . where he took this photo of me on the serene entry way.

Here we are entering the quiet of one of the temples. So nice and green. In the background we become aware of the rain and comes and goes with typhoon Talas, locally numbered #12

Suichi helped me identify several plants including one here that is a Cornus, in English common language, a dogwood.

Also of interest he pointed out this is a bodhi tree, the same species where Buddha achieved enlightenment.

I found interesting that family temples are here on the larger grounds. So here Shuichi and I had a chance to sit and drink green tea on a red carpet. Very green and serene to learn about the history here in Kyoto in context to the modern Japan.

This is the family temple where we had the tea and sweet rice ball treat while enjoying the bamboo forest. We did notice the wind in the bamboos and the forestry workers at the temple cleaning up the ones that had fallen.

View of the temple garden where we sat for some time. Very few people out and about!

This is the family graveyard behind the family temple. Interesting to fit my size 15 feet into the slip on sandals provided to walk on the wet stones! Now I see why Asian folks don't have many tied shoes! Slipping shoes on and off so frequently entering and leaving buildings. :-)

Shuichi was kind enough to support me in carrying my luggage back to the main train station from my downtown Hotel and then suggested we see a garden (Koen) and big temple nearby. Here is the neat dragon that we found to wash our hands before entering. Now starting to understand the process of intention and purification at these temples.

This is a very large temple near to the train station that one sign says is the largest wooden building in the world and was build in 1895. I think I read that about the Buddhist temple in Nara as well. O well, a good story.
After sitting on the tatami mats inside the temple for a while, I decided to give some money for the earthquake relief up in Fukashima Prefecture. March 11, 2011, also known as 3-11 is in the background of most peoples minds here.

As most signs are in Japanese congi (characters) I found the English Signs like this one quite refreshing. Shuichi had been here in this park before and recommended it. Sadly when we rounded the corner into the quietness, we were met with the "Closed" body langauge here. Because of the typhoon! We are a long way from where the typhoon center is and it is just a little windy

So here is the sign in Japanese. Suichi says the two characters above the 12 (Talas is the 12th typhoon or tropical storm of the season) is about tyhoon! So, in what was to become a theme of acceptance, the weather started to have an impact on what I was able to visit.

Suichi was the perfect guide as we walked back to the station in time for my bullet train. Here is the bitter melon plant with fruit he says is a popular addition to cuisine from places like Okinawa. I remember trying it and the bitterness is something new to my western palate.

Rainy Friday in Higashiyama Area Kyoto - Typhoon Talas providing the moisture

2011-09-02T00:06:00.000-07:00

Decided to live more like the locals. Here is my traditional breakfast with fish and rice and a little kelp for salt flavoring. No coffee just green tea. Perhaps a clue about seeing a lot less obesity here than in American and Oz. No french fries-chips in the traditional diet. Rather enjoyable start to my day. Interesting a cold egg kinda pickled. Good enough protein. Low fat I think. Ate it all and satisfying feeling. Perhaps more ready to walk in the rain!

In the background of my day, I have been hearing about a possible Typhoon from the locals. Not really understanding much Japanese, I headed out for my day, destined to go to the nearby post office where I got cash with a minimum of a service charge. Need the cash for subway, buses and food. I left my last cap on the train yesterday, so if was fun to be greeted by the sign Chapelier, or hat maker in French across the street for the Post Office a few blocks from the Hotel Gimmond where I have been for 2 nights. My French ancestors are named Chapelier, or Chappelear in the English of my Grandfather, Harry Chappelear Glessner. Perhaps I will go to buy a new hat in the morning.

Not an alarmist really, just want to keep up on my options. Here is the NASA view of Talas and the Wiki description posted 6:40 PM like 12 minutes ago."typhoon Talas (international designation: 1112, JTWC designation: 15W) is an active tropical cyclone that is currently posed to strike Japan. It is the 12th named storm, the 7th severe tropical storm and the 5th typhoon of the 2011 Pacific typhoon season" And then "As of 1840 UTC September 1, Typhoon Talas is located within 30 nautical miles of 29.3°N 135.1°E, about 375 nmi (695 km; 432 mi) south of Kyoto, Japan. Maximum sustained winds are 65 knots (120 km/h; 75 mph), gusting to 95 knots (176 km/h; 109 mph). Minimum central pressure is 965 mbar (hPa; 28.50 InHg), and the system is moving northwest slowly. Talas is a large storm. It is anticipated to gradually drift north to Japan. " So drifting as it may, I noticed the rain intensity grew during the day as I was out walking.

Here soon after 10 AM just sprinkling rain, a typical coin operated vending machine which are very common everywhere. Coins for the train, coins and bills for all sorts of stuff. Walking west toward the river and the Higashiyama area of Kyoto.

THis shopping arcade just had folks opening up after 10 AM. Close to the Kamo River on Ryokan Sanga.

I crossed the river and noticed willows and cherries along the shore. Here I am looking back west into the city. Rain is picking up slightly. My folding umbrella comes out more.

Seemingly quite quiet and just walk down this lane that looks like residences.

After a bit I walk through one of these red arches and the energy changes to more of a spiritual quiet.

I walked up the slope from what was the Ryosoku-In Temple and discovered I was heading on the stone walks toward the Kiyomizu-Dera described in the Lonely Planet Tour Guide I had been reading. I learned this inside a coffee shop when the rain really started coming down and the wind blew my flexible umbrella apart more and more times. This is the view out a window as I watched the pine branches move more and more in the wind and rain. Hmmm.

I trudged up the wet stone street past many tea shops filled with young students, to the place to enter the large temple complex. Colorful. In the group of umbrella appears to be 3 young women dressed in the traditional geisha style (?). The riot of colors was striking with the background of the austere rain and wind.

Here is a ticket that I just carried into a dark chamber where I was greeted by a rock. As for all temples, took my shoes off, and here is where I sat when I emerged. A symbolism of entering the womb of mother earth I think I read. Pitch black and quiet. Felt more connected to the earth here than so far in Japan. I sense there is a lot of history here.

View of the green valley where the healing waters are offered to the many visitors.

Large lattice of timbers holding up the temple as seen from the steps to the water pond.

Drinking the water with the long handled cups.

Rain drops on a garden pool as I walked out of the temple complex

The wet stone stairs that I had walked up before with an increasing intensity of rain and wind, here is where I decided to take the bus back to the Kyoto train station and regroup and rest for the remaining of the day.

Toyko to Kyoto - Hikari Shinkansen "bullet train" and Bamboo Forest

2011-09-01T16:01:00.000-07:00

Took the train into Tokyo after getting my Japan Pass started on Sept 1 - 7 Days of train travel. Seems to be the preferred way of getting around here. Here is the Tokyo station where I boarded the Shinkansen to Kyoto. 2 1/2 hour trip. Ran into very kind Japanese and some English travelers who pointed me in the right direction. Just being open and willing to learn new stuff is all I need to get along. Flexibility has been a useful skill on my life;s journey thus far :-)

One of the guys from the UK took this of me as I was about to board my car #12 and get into my reserved seat. Very clean and efficient service of the trains.

Geting used to eating just with chop sticks again. This little box, reminds me of the "bento" box I had when Jane Newell, Jesse and Amy were joined by Harry Maclachlan in Bloomington for a Japan sister city celebration a few years back. When I lived in Bloomington to be close to my mom, during her 2 1/2 year stay in Eden Prairie. Very tasty treat on my way to Kyoto with Mountains and fields passing by.

Typical view out the window of the train in Central Honshu.

I had heard about the Bamboo forest walk in the Arashiyama area by the Western Mts of Kyoto area, and decided at about 4 PM after I found the Gimmond Hotel in Central Kyoto and got settled in, to go out and find "something" natural. And this is the place along the river I found after being let off the #63 bus I took from the front of the Hotel. Interesting very little if no English on the bus. Just watched how others threw their money into a plastic box by the driver on their way out, and the amount to be paid lit up on the screen depending on the number on the paper one took on the way in. Being alert in a new place! Quite exciting to be so aware and just noticing. So here is a walk way with a beautiful pine and I just was drawn up this walkway, with no English signs or maps to follow!

Looking down the river, back toward where I came. Katsura River on my map

Maybe this rock person with Japanese on it had a clue and directed me uphill on this walk!

And then of course, more clues. Actually I enjoyed being here totally alone. I guess 5 PM is closing time for a lot of places. A good clue for future visits. :-) Meditating to be walking by myself. No crowds :-)

So here is the walk I read about, the very tall bamboo, and I came down from the top side. A few walkers and joggers only at the time I was there. The bamboo are very large and graceful. Sweet place....

Love the quiet of this view.

And a lone jogger with muffled footfalls on the path

The Tenryuji Temple after the 5 PM Closing. All the Japanese Maples in a wonderful green! Nice to be tall to take the photo over the fence.

Quiet Burial Ground on the side of the hill by the bamboo forest.

Ceremonial water drinking place.

Map of the area after I visited it. Took the train and subways home after this. Earned a nice restful sleep ready for the new day!

Brisbane to Narita - New to Asia and Impressions

2011-08-31T16:36:00.000-07:00

My last night in Australia was spent sharing a "barbie", Barb-b-q, with May and Colin. We moved the gas grill from outside as we had a visit of the thunder beings along with rain. Colin grilled fish, brats, potatoes, mushrooms, and I could put on tomato sauce on the potatoes, the closest thing to ketchup I found. THanks May and Colin for your kind hospitality and having a place where I could just rest and hang out in the neighborhood. Very Asian, like a little China town. When I posted my package to the US, the two employees were speaking Chinese. Go figure. Australia in many ways prepared me as a lift off to Asia. Grateful for Colin's referral to the Flight Centre where they have a lot of experience with Asian Travel and connections.

View from morning Jet Star flight of Brisbane and the river below.

Coming into Cairns in the north of Queensland. Boarded the international flight to Narita here.

Arrived in the dark at Narita Airport. When I looked to turn on the air conditioning, still warm here, saw the balance in these two traditions here. Buddhism and Christianity. Balance? :-)

Here at the Narita Tobu Hotel Airport, many pilots and crew members from Asian Airlines. Western and Asian Food for Breky here. I nice blend of foods and the green garden in the background . Grateful most of the signs are in Japanese AND English.
O Hi O...the state my parents are from and "good morning: in Japanese, are the same.

From the bush to the colorful currency of Australia

2011-08-29T19:16:00.000-07:00

Here is a view of Belingen Camp with the gum trees behind where the Bell Birds chirped all day with an occasional whip bird and the laughing Kookaburra! Yes, here is the bush of New South Wales.

Here is the colorful currency that I have been using over the past weeks during my stay in Australia. The notes, except for the 5, have both a woman on one side and a man on the other. They also have a polymer window in each denomination. Coins have on the back One Dollar, Kangaroo, Two Dollar, Aboriginal with southern cross stars, 10 cent lyrebird, 20 cent platypus, and 50 cent national crest as well as a variety of comemeratives.

Train Journey from Brisbane to Coffs Harbor - Bellingen NSW for an NWTA

2011-08-29T17:21:00.000-07:00

Unable to secure a ride to the "Bello", Bellingen, NSW Mankind Project Weekend Training (NWTA) Colin took me to the Fruitgrove Train station down the street in Runcorn at 6 AM so I could get to the Roma Street Station to get the 7:30 train to Coffs Harbor.
Here is the interior of the train that I rode on for 5 hours. I was picked up by a van in Coffs Harbor and then we all took that drive to the site in the "bush" that the Bello Community has for their "organic" trainings. This was the word I got from Joe of Perth of how Organic the weekends are here!

Here is the view from the train of the Brisbane River as the train pulled out of the city going south.

With only 6 states to the country, both NSW and Queensland are larger than Texas. I got to see I lot of pasture land from the train.

Here is more of the varying landscape that looks to be grazing land for cattle and perhaps dairy cows.

Here is the pole shelter that one man mentioned was created 4 years ago, that is used for the trainings. Meals are created in this shelter, and Marquee's (Aussie for big tents) were set up) on here on Thursday. Here is where I reconnected with Billy Hill a local leader whom I first met when I served on the MKP International Executive Committee some 10 years ago. Wonderful heart felt connections...a home away from home in the Australian bush. It is here where I me the aboriginal elders, Uncle Larry and Uncle Tommy who supported and blessed our weekend.

I am grateful that I contacted a man, Peter from Victoria who was bringing a "caravan" translated, "camping trailer" to the sight, where my computer would be safe from the rain. This part of Australia is really a temperate rainforest and I learned on the weekend, how quickly the footing changes when the soil is saturated. :-) Water IS, the FiRST MEDICINE THE CREATOR GAVE US! Part of connecting to nature was the kookaburra who sang and laughed in the evening and morning. One I remember sitting in a meeting was swooped on by what some of the men call miner birds. Awesome!

In the background are thinning gum trees that Peter and some of the men explained are being thinned with the Bell Bird population. Some of the online writing: http://birdsinbackyards.net/species/Manorina-melanophrys

"Bell Miners feed as part of a colony, remaining in the canopy at or above eight metres from the ground. They mainly eat insects, especially psyllids and their lerps (sugary secretions used as protective shelters by the tiny psyllid insects) from the foliage of eucalypts."
Read about the Bell Bird http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bell_Miner

We only had this generator to keep some of the lights on at night, so it was easy to stay connected to the land and trees, as we had to access to internet and the wider world :-) Grateful I could set this up with Peter on Thursday to be part of the set up for the weekend.

Queensland Glass Mountains and Sunshine Coast

2011-08-23T23:11:00.000-07:00

My friend Colin from MKP AU, works at Griffith University here in the Brisbane area. We met at the MKP 25th Anniversary Celebration in Louisville last fall. He suggested I take an overnight trip to see the Glassmountains and the Sunshine Coast.
Well, after a stop to have lunch with Dan Adler, an American, now Aussie, I took a trip in the rain up the coast, and after stopping at in information station for Tourists, the rain was so persistent I decided to Keep it Simple and Easy Does it, as my rental car started aquaplaning on the mountain roads, my intuitions says slow down. So I learned that Capt Cook saw these mountains and they looked tall and conical like the houses that manufactured glass back in England during his time . Quite the inner parts of old volcanic cores I think!. Anyway, the National Park designations just pop up on the back roads, here where I got lost out of Beerburrum to Beerwah....and I didn't quaff a single Fosters, XXXX or other Australian Brew. It was just rainy and I took a variety of round abouts, and ended up at the end of pavement, ready to hit the outback, bush or whatever! Here is the random sign I found after being near the peak in the fog. See below.:-)

Here is the foggy peak taken out of the window of the car. Really grateful I found my way from here to Maleny, a mountain town where I picked up some Kenilworth Cheese and olives at a Fromagarie on the main street. This snack held me over for the mountain road trip through Monteville on my way to Noosaville on the Sunshine Coast.

Well, I walked from my motel, The Anchor in Noosaville and the local owners directed me to local eating places away from the main tourist strip. Dinner with Yom Tom soup at a Thai famlly spot within a nice walk. Then, the morning, after check out, to Glenny's for a proper workers
"Brecky" - It seems in Aussie Language, the nouns are just shortened and at a "y". Thus Kindergarten, is Kindy, and St Vincent De Pauls pick up and recycling is "Vinnie's! What a hoot. :-) Complete with sausage, eggs, bacon for my coastal solo bush walks :-)

The sun did come out on the sun shine coast - Here is one flower t hat struck me with its colors along the way.

Beyond the main tourist street in Noosa is this park where there are many Banksias. Here is one I found as a wandered about.

Here is one of the Pacific Beaches I wandered into. I lot of surfing here as surfing seems just something folks do in OZ.

On the way back to Brisbane on my 2 day trip, I climbed a view point off the freeway to see the Glasshouse Mountains. Here is a view with one of the grasstrees, Xanthorrhea in the foreground.

Brisbane Queensland Airport to Mullumbimbi New South Wales

2011-08-21T03:26:00.000-07:00

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Cheery seating on the train from Brisbane airport that took me downtown to Central Station. Took this train Friday early afternoon to wait for RIck Maddox and Dan Gaffney to take me to the MKP LKS AU Weekend gathering.

A bright and sunny afternoon, I walked from the Central Station to the Stamford Hotel where I check in my luggage and then walked for a couple of hours around the Brisbane River area. Here is a photo from the Botanical Garden back toward the centre city as I began my walk.

THis red-pink and yellow flower is the common bottle brush that accents a lot of the foliage in the Spring here in Oz. On the path by the river.

THis is the Goodwill Bridge in the distance where I walked to the south side of the river here in Brisbane. Struck by the many Asian culture represented here in Oz. Along the south bank here, quite a variety of ethnicities. !

First I can across a statue of Confucius given to honor the 150th anniversary of Queenland by a sister city in the PRC,People's Republic of China.

Then the Taiwan connection here with this monument. Well, the upload speeds here a Mac Donalds don't support the robust connections I am used to. More later :-( Got this uploaded at Colins place!

Soon I came across this amazing wooden Nepalese building.While standing and looking,these 4 young women students from China had me hold a Happy Birthday sign for a friend (pengyou) and we all sang Happy Birthday. Fun to have my card that has Putonghua, Mandarin Chinese on the back to share. They smiled a lot :-)

Rick Maddox gave a ride for me and Dan Gaffney who had flown a from Sydney and we drove through the dark to the site to open the circle check in on Friday night. Thats when I met Donna from the nedear Boston MA, who I learned within a few minutes that we are cousins related through our famous ancestor, Rebecca Nurse. Here is the Cafe in Mullumbimbi we went to the next morning for coffees called Poinciana after the tree on the land. During our second visit on Sunday here is Dan, after we learned these trees are native to South Africa and were brought here by one of the early owners at the time of the Boer Wars. Wow, the connections of the history of the British Empire!

Here are Rick, Brad and Peter, who with myself stayed at Brad's place not far from Mullumbimbi so we could venture forth for morning coffee and Sunday for a meal of eggs and bacon! Refreshing after the periodic rains of Friday and Saturday at the event.

Coastal Sand Dunes and Tuart Forest Western Australia

2011-08-18T03:19:00.000-07:00

While sitting at the Soul Tree Cafe in the hills, one of the workers got a call from Jeremy and Jasmin that they had lost the key for their vehicle in the sand where they were surfing after leaving Ochre Off at Kindy (Kindergarten). So having a rental car and the freedom to drive, I found their extra key at their home and here is the dunes area where we met. A 45 minute drive to the coast from their hills home.

Here I went to soak my feet in the surf of the Indian Ocean with the photo as Jasmin is frolicking in the water. A lot of folks surfing in wet suits in mid winter :-)

THey were kind enough to guide me to see another species of Banksia, Banksia menziesii, in the Tuart Forest north of Twigg Beach where we met. These are the trunks of the Eucalypt, Tuart in local parlence.

Here is the inflorescence of the Banksia menziesii, that is noted for being two colors. Hope Don Roden can check this out as he is a wood turner and has made some things out of Banksia wood I understand.

Perth Hills With Jeremy, Jasmin and Ochre

2011-08-17T03:25:00.000-07:00

Here are Jeremy and Jasmin at the Soul Tree Organic Cafe in Glen Forrest. Great food to start before Jeremy, Ochre and I did at walk in the bush.

Nyaania Creek Rehab Site for walk up the Creek. Jeremy from MKP Australia and his son Ochre led me on a walk up this valley in the Perth Hills.

Isopogon dubius (R.Br.) Druce Pincushion Coneflower;Proteaceae, one of the first plants we discovered. Helpful that Jeremy was born in the hills and does gardening!

Ochre, Jeremy's 4 year old son, and Jeremy crossing the creek midway in the walk in the bush.

Diuris longifolia R.Br. Common Donkey Orchid; found along the trail.

Cycads along the creek. All my early botany classes coming to life. Thanks to my first botanical mentor at Carleton College, Bill Muir for advocating an understanding of the spore bearing plants!

Perth Western Australia - Vegemite and Breakfast

2011-08-16T18:35:00.000-07:00

Here is the skyline of Adelaide from the river where I saw black swans at night with my guide Amir.

Quiet ocean front marina west of Adelaide we visited the morning of my flight to Perth. A nice quiet end to my laid back stay in South Australia.

Prior to leaving for Perth in the AM, I had not heard from any of the MKP AU guys regarding lodging so I booked a quick economy room in Scarborough on the beach, so I thought! :-) Anyway, the economy special with just a bed and a poor functioning wifi. One of the learnings along the trail. Entry at 7 Manning! Here is the view of spot, Part of the sunmoon resort complex on the land side of West Coast Hwy. The sun is now Out, and I am making my way to visit an organic Cafe run by Jeremy from MKP's partner Jasmin in the Perth Hills, Soul Tree Store and Cafe, Glen Forrest WA for lunch. Driving down the coast to check out the energy of Free Mantle and then through the big city. Woo hoo.

Here are the usual economic downfall news headlines, Qantas is reorganizing to do more Asian Business. Crooks found in Kentucky from Australia. Obama taking buses through MN, IL and IA while Bachman and Perry do the same for politics. Most of the NEWS here is like the TABLOIDS and a grade B movie. Ah such is life. Anyway, I am having a typical Aussie Breakfast, with cold cereal, toast with jam and VEGEMITE ....yum, the vitamin B is great, like MARMITE in the UK. I cultural treat. Grateful for the day and the beauty of CREATION. Cheers.

Adelaide south to Goolwa, fresh and salt water, Whales at Port Elliot and walk on Granite Island

2011-08-14T15:06:00.000-07:00

Amir picked me up at my apartment rental at 9 AM Sunday Morning and our first stop south was here at the McLaren Vale Visitors center which opened at 10 AM. Amir worked in the area with a partner who had a B and B for a while. He learned a lot about gardening at that time. Now he is in school and soon to finish his Bachelors in Health Sciences. He is thinking of developing an organic farm-garden with his family in his native Malaya. Fun to share our stories about life, families and travel. Thanks Amir for your great hosting here in the Adelaide area!

I view of the wine growing area looking back north over McLaren Vale.

Here is a view from Hindmarsh Island, just past Goolwa, looking west part of the complex ecological zone where the Murray River drains fresh water into the salt water ocean. According to Amir, there is a movement to re establish native plants in the area here as well. Norfolk Island Pines lining the beach in the distance, were planted thinking they would provide ship masts and they were not strong enough :-)

Amir had an intuition is was important to stop at Port Elliot. He shared that his family had joined him here sitting on the rocks and watched the seals in the surf. As soon as we arrived there were many photographers gathering on the rocks and then we saw the 2 gray shadows under the water as they moved down the coast just a few yards out to sea.

Here the locals say is a mom, Right Whale,with the white barnacles on her and one of her offspring. They mentioned these are Right Whales that migrate up the coast. We just sat on the rocks and watched. A seal swam in and out of the surf for a while as well. Such beautiful peaceful vistas here. I can really understand the attraction of this more laid back and ecological part of Australia. Amir has been a model guide for me here and I am most grateful for his intelligent passion!

Granite Island is connected to Victor Harbor by a walking causeway. Here we join Australian Families in a 45 min walk around the island. Small penguins live in the island and mostly return in the evening after going out for food :-) We took the walk here, prior to driving back to Adelaide.

Journey to South Australia - Simple and Environmental

2011-08-13T14:35:00.000-07:00

I was met at the Adelaide airport, which struck me as rather low key and down to earth by a Malaysian Adelaide University student, Amir. We have been connecting through skype, and his handle "Bluebird Bluebird" was quite apt, as after we began a hike up Waterfall Gully, to Mt Lofty in the Cleland Conservation Park, several blue tailed wrens visited us! Like Amir, very friendly and down to earth. Here is some of the ubiquitous yellow wattle, as the locals call it. It is a native acacia I think. The first falls is in the background as we began our 4 hour round trip hike to the top of Mt Lofty with the view of Adelaide to the Ocean to the West.

Very moist soil here in the valley or gully as they say here. Looks like many introduced species mixed with native ones. Here looks like a Freesia, and wiki says a popular garden plant native to S Africa. Well, I remember it as a nice bouquet plant.

About half way up the walk, after we had shared a lot of cultural stories and all, with the the cacaphony of the sulphur crested cockatoos in the background, we looked down and noticed this cluster of bright white perfect 5 petaled flowers! What I surprise when I noticed the typical reflection of a sundew, a carnivorous plant I associate with the north and the bog of N America. Well sure enough I looked up Drosera on line and found the greatest diversity here in Australia. Go figure. What I pleasant discovery at our feet. So many Aussie's use this as a training run up the hill and back! Lots of huffing and puffing. Glad we choose to slow down and notice the birds and plants. Amir says he often sees koala's up in the gum trees here. Did not see one yesterday. Perhaps today.

Here is a view of the stream valley, where there are gum (Eucalyptus) trees where I would expect willows back home. Some of the typical flowers of the Eucalyptus with the white fringe with some Banksia bristly old flowers and fruits as well. Likely what the more wild "bush" looks like. Bush, seems to be the general label for any wild place down unda.

After our about 3 hour, 4 km walk up the valley, here is the view that awaited us. To the west is Adelaide and the ocean. We passed on the libations at the top of the walk and went back to the city to a neighborhood pub that served large portions of beef schnitzel! Yum. Amir has spent time in Vienna and Switzerland and really likes the food. Great portions as a reasonable price. He went home to write a paper for a class at the University and I walk to the North Terrace area where the museums are and the Rundle Mall Shopping area. Pleasant walk and very invigorating! Glad for my health to be able bodied.

Here is the South Australia Museum where there is a large aboriginal collection with a map of the some 500+ languages and peoples that were here at the time of white contact. I was able to sit for a while and watch films of traditional people early in the 20th Century here who model how to live close to the land. They closed at 5 PM and I just had time to pop in and buy a Banksia book for my very own. Inspired by Catherine. THanks.

Here is a classic view of an indoor shopping mall for those who like these things. Not into buying "stuff" or as the Chinese would say "dongxi" which means East-West...like where stuff comes from! Keep it simple and Easy Does it. Well the internet decided to be really slow Sunday, so here I am uploading at 7 AM local time on Monday. A small modem in this rental apartment that I rebooted many times yesterday. South Australia according to Amir is the greenist of the states, pays 10 cents for each bottle recycled and even has banned plastic bags.

Here is a plane tree, a European Sycamore that reflects the history of Australia,planted throughout the city, the connection to England is still strong. Delightful to have Amir to be my guide a native of Malaysia who became an Australian citizen a few years back. He is looking to start an organic garden-farm back in Malaysia where he still has strong connections with his family there.

Hobart to Port Arthur - Tasmania Devil Close Up And Convict History

2011-08-12T00:52:00.000-07:00

I arrived in Hobart later in the afternoon, and as the shuttle driver suggested sea food by the wharf, I walk down to the water and found Mures Restaurant here by the water. So I had my fill of oysters and a local sea fish and walked back to the St Ives Motel for a restful sleep.

I had heard about Port Arthur as a planned convict village, so I read about it and the isthmus at EagleHawkNeck where I visited a building that talked of the history of convict labor during the mid 1800's when boats came to Pt Authur from England with great regularity. This is a sign from the exhabit a EagleHawk Neck. Rather bleak and spooky place.

The wind was blowing in from the East and the Ocean from the East. Here is the beach where the wind is quite chilly. Glad I had my hoodie.

My heart is warmed by this neat endemic species, of Tasmanian Banksia. Banksia marginata "Silver Banksia" taken at Eaglehawk Neck where the Tasman Peninsula narrows in its connection with the larger island. location of the "dog line" in the mid 1800's. Interesting how plants and their energy bring me into the NOW, the present, to ground me, even when the historical energy is negative. :-)

I did warm up a bit more at this park as well. A lot of myths dispelled about the "Tasmanian Devil", a carnivore that can be quite sweet if understood. Here is a feeding of a female Tasmanian Devil, Sarcophilus harrisii, at the Tasmanian Devil Conservation Park a few km north of Port Arthur where an employee is feed her fresh wallaby skin and flesh. She has 4 babies in her pouch and has adapted to life in the Park with regular feeding times.

Here are some brown Forester kangaroos in the park, Tasmania's only native kangaroo.

View of the Port Arthur Penitentiary site from the tour boat in the harbor. I took the ferry out by the Isle of the Dead, and Point Puer Boys' Prison site, prior to the tour of the buildings site by a guide. Very heavy energy here. Glad to move on to other venues! :-) Grateful for life, and to be free and not behind bars and living in an inner prison. Pilamiyayelo. "I am living in gratitude"

Freeing energy water at Silver Falls in Fern Tree, a village on the way up the road to the pinnacle of Mt Wellington. The cleansing energy of water, the first medicine the Creator gave us!

View of Hobart Harbor and the lands and waters beyond from the Pinnacle of Mt Wellington.

Final photo from Tasmania, taken at the Salamanca Art Area where I had Vietnamese Pho, Soup to warm me and nurture me along with fresh spring rolls to support a nurturing sleep as well. Comments appreciated. Cheers from the South!

Day Three in Australia Sydney to Hobart

2011-08-09T20:06:00.000-07:00

Here is the Quaker Meeting House where I stayed and met some very interesting folks. A middle aged Jewish woman who is a clothes designer looking for a Jewish husband, a 50 ish big bearded kind social worker who works for Pathways and knows Billy Hill, the founder of MKP Australia. Grateful that Catherine is a member here and recommended this as a place to get grounded :Down Unda, and grok that the sun is really in the NORTH!

Took the bus down Crown St to Oxford where I had a breakfast of an omalette, chocolate croissant and fresh squeezed fruit juice.
The area has the rainbow banners and is known to be an openly gay area. Refreshing to notice a young male couple holding hands openly and looking quite relaxed in the AM here. Ready to check out Tasmania Today.

Walk in the Bush - Wolli Creek and Cook River

2011-08-09T01:17:00.001-07:00

After Catherine and I share some Rosen Sessions at the Quaker Meeting House on Devonshire St, she introduced me to her partner Dennis who is a music teacher that moved to Australia in the 1970's. We had a breakfast down the street and then hopped on the train to the Tempe Station south of the airport near Botany Bay. Catherine has worked in a bush restoration project here to retain native species in the TVT, Twin Valleys Trail, Wolli (pronounced walleye) Creek and Cook River, after Capt. Cook. Here is the beginning of the trail going south. I keep getting turned around here, as the sun is in the north! :-) This is a photo of where the two meet with a couple of the water birds. This is a tidal river with salt water.

Many of the native species have names new to my American ears. What I call acacia is here called "wattle". So here is a species with very interesting leaves we encountered early on the trail.

These strings of hanging pink and white bells are also a native. Stunning too.

This is another native plant to Australia. Catherine is a native of 30 miles N of Sydney and told me the name of this stunning flower with the long red stamens coming out and I forgot to write it down. Anyway, fun to know this is one of the real Australian non introduced species.

This is the fruit of Banksia serrata, I big old tree we discovered had several of these. The wood of this species from the east coast is known for its beautiful grain. The hard capsules hold a winged seed that usually needs heat to open. The fires set by aboriginal peoples allowed these to open and reseed.

Here are Dennis and Catherine on the trail when Dennis decided to take the train from an different station to practice his flute for a quartet performance.

This is a peaceful overlook of Wolli Creek where we sat and listened to the birds. I did see a pair of blue wrens prior to this and
many ibis were on the green area, that made some amazing sounds. All so new to my ears! And the smells of the eucalyptus type trees.

First Day "Down Unda" - Banksia and Sydney Harbor

2011-08-08T10:32:00.000-07:00

Here is my spirited host, Catherine at the Banksia train station not far from Sydney airport. Just prior to leaving my friend Don Roden, who has visited Australia, asked me to be on the lookout for Banksia species. Don is a wood turner and described the big cones on some varieties in West Australia near Perth. Well, Catherine is also into native species and right on que, we show up at Banksia station. Named after a famous botanist who traveled with Capt Cook, James Banks per Wiki "13 February 1743 – 19 June 1820, is credited with the introduction to the Western world of eucalyptus, acacia, mimosa, and the genus named after him, Banksia."

Soon after finding my digs at the Quaker Meeting House 1903, on Devonshire near Central Station in Surrey Hills, we walked to find a bank ATM and passed by this spring blooming Banksia. The whole energy and smells of this continent are quite different. I am writing this at after 3 AM, as my biological clock is still working to get here despite resting and sleeping most of the 16 hr flight here. :-)

Catherine was kind enough to go with me on the train to Circular Quay Stop which is at the harbor where ferries leave and between the iconic bridge and opera house. We walked together past the Opera House and many young people with musical T shirts who were learned were participating in concerts on this lovely spring day. We entered the Royal Botanic Garden that is situated on a couple of peninsulas overlooking the harbor. We shared a lunch at the Garden Shop Restaurtant outside with a chorus of noises and views of ibis and large bats (flying foxes) and later a lot of cockatoo's on this crisp sunny spring greeting day in Sydney.

After Catherine headed back to work, I walked out past the Spring Garden along the Macquarie Wall (sounds very much like Macrorie - wonder if there is a family connection?) to see some of the new whites , pinks and colors of spring here.

Finally one of the iconic image of the harbor, the bridge and opera house, taken on Mrs Macqaurie's point. Many Asia families and students, some of which I shared a casual "Ni hao" with, as I have more confidence in my Putonhua having been tutored by Tian and Ye since February in Minneapolis. Wo hen lei....>Time try a little more sleep to get into this time zone :-)

Grounded in Minnesota for Travel to the South and West -Australia and Asia

2011-08-06T05:23:00.000-07:00

I have had a vision of traveling to China since I was a kid and did the project on China in 1960. To prepare for this adventure, I appreciate the energy of Xiaosong "Steven" Liu whom I met in Oct 2009 through the Twin Cities Men's Center activities where I volunteer on the board. Online, I was led to a group of Chinese teachers, Sleepy Tigers, here in the Cities that has the goal of making learning Chinese "Fun". I have been tutored by Tian Xia, a U of M Language Grad Student,pictured here in May as she helped me move garden vegetable plants from Winsted to Crystal. We have been meeting at the SE Minneapolis LIbrary, where she has taught me how to pronounce words in putonghua for my adventure to Asia this year. Xie xie nie, pengyou Tian.

Weaver Family and Friends Memorial Gathering Pelican Lake

2011-08-01T10:32:00.000-07:00

Here is the back of the garage at my brother Jack Weaver's retirement home on the shore of Pelican Lake. After the passing of his wife Nellie in March of this year, my family in Minnesota, Sue, Nate, Jesse & Amy and myself got an invite from Jack to attend on July 30th. Grateful the 5 of us could gather in St Cloud and then drive up on this sunny day. Sammy, his daughter-in-law (below) and his daughter Kris I think supported the creation of the gathering. Kris is pictured here, with Winnie Leonard, long term neighbor up the shore with her back to the camera, with Jesse and cousin Ken from the Boston area.

Here is Samatha "Sammy" Harcount Weaver with Damyen Weaver age 4. I met these relations for the first time here at this gathering in the Weaver Garage on Pelican Lake. Also other great nephew and niece included Dakota "Cody" age 11 and Kaylee age 3.

Learning Hanyu, Chinese for basic Conversation in Chinese

2011-07-20T10:14:00.000-07:00

THis is the cover of a 20 page project I did for my social studies class at Faribault Jr High School in 1960. Back in those days I was limited by the resources found at our local libraries, Buckham Memorial and schools. No interlibrary loan or internet. Then, we had limited information on the Peoples Republic of China with the flag in the upper left and had more information about Chiang, Kai-Shek and the Nationalist Chinese on the island of Taiwan.

This is the page of numbers I copied from a reference "You Can Write Chinese" by Kurt Wiese, Viking Press 1945, the only reference I found in 1960 in the small town of Faribault. I had no one to teach me the tones and sounds of the language then, at age 13 !

Here are a few characters I copied for my project. Interesting T'ien, now in pinyan is Tian, for Heaven, Day, Sky and that is the given or first name of one of my teachers, Laoshi Tian XIa.

Here I am at the SE Minneapolis Library near the University of Minnesota, where Ye Yu, my second teacher working through Sleepy Tigers is sharing a lesson while my primary teacher, Tian Xia was back in China visiting home in Jiansu.
Here is where I found out about the tutoring services. http://www.sleepytigers.com/
Xie xie ni to Tian and Ye for their kind and fun teaching styles.

Pelican Lake Weaver Family History -Blogging Photojournalism

2011-07-15T06:20:00.000-07:00

Reading a lot about the role of social networking, cell phone photos and the new way news is shared in the 21st Century. Since beginning this blog I sense I am part of this and people contact me, when I feature someone here. Recently an entry on Marge Silvis and her life was quoted by her nephew Orville "Joe"Hognander, her nephew in an article for the Minnehaha Acedemy Newsletter. It was the comments about Marge written by Greg Larsen. So here are the Weaver's celebrating Peg's 90th Birthday that was shared with a variety of friends, including Greg Larsen and some of the Foster Family. Left to Right: Jack Weaver, Sue Weaver, Kris Weaver, Nellie Weaver, Nate Weaver, Peg Weaver, Melanie Weaver, Val Weaver, Jim Weaver, Jesse Weaver, Tom Weaver. Nate and Kris took the photo! Such talented folks.

I dedicate this to Gilbert Hovey Grosvenor (October 28, 1875 – February 4, 1966), the father of photojournalism, was the first full-time editor of National Geographic Magazine, serving from 1899 to 1954. I hope to capture that spirit as I write this blog and the Wopida News Blog going forward. http://www.wopida.com/news.html Please consider following the blog!

Overview of the guy who developed National Geographic as a photo journalistic endeavor!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gilbert_Grosvenor

Weaver Family Photos Miami Twp 1910 -1920"s

2011-07-09T12:43:00.000-07:00

Here is my father, Paul Henry Weaver with a black cat likely at Grandpa Eichers home on Bellbrook near the Eicher farm.

Henry Eicher and Noah Elwood Weaver with black cat.

Paul H Weaver with cat and vegies at Henry Eichers.

Cooling off at a swimming hole. Paul H Weaver, Elwood Weaver and other boy.

1919 Auto with Paul Henry Weaver at age 9.

Filling up an inner tube for floating, Paul H Weaver and Noah Elwood Weaver

Paul Henry on the inner tube, 1921, age 10.

Noah Elwood Weaver - Photographer West Carrollton OHIO

2011-07-04T09:22:00.000-07:00

Here is my grandfather, Noah Elwood Weaver 26 Feb 1885 - 15 Nov 1973 by the steps of the Envelope Company where he worked as an office worker accountant.

Elwood took photos that were informal at his place of work. This is unlabeled taken at the same time as the one here, Likely early 1900's ca 1908

This photo is labeled "Morris Ellsworth and First Wife, West Carrollton" Likely taken by the Envelop Company Paper Plant there.

Shot of West Carrollton High School under construction. NE Weaver lived at 321 E Main just down the street from this school that my father attended in the 1920's

This was undated and appears to be a school play rehearsal. Hope someone Googles this who knows the people and history of West Carrollton.

Familiy Reunions and Watermelon! - Ohio Brandt Reunion Montgomery Co - Stump Photos

2011-07-02T07:54:00.000-07:00

Here is a photo from the early 1900's likely as part of a Brandt Family reunion. My cousins Jeanette Allen Weaver and Wanda Grossnickel Bordeau shared stories when we connected last fall in Ohio. Here we labeled the photo as L to R Ida Esbaugh, Henry Eicher, Edna Eicher, Sarah Eshbaugh, Esther Eicher, Nettie Whiteacre, Helena Paul Eicher, and Missing are the 3 men on the right.

Well, a new angle here, This is the homestead at Pinnacle and Old Soldiers Home Rd, Jefferson Twp, Montgomery Co, label 1896. Grandmother Amelia "Mary" Brandt is on the left. Born 26 Mar 1824 Krankenhagen, Niedersachsen, Germany, Died Montgomery CO OHIO 16 Jun 1911, married 5 Jun 1848 Johann "George" Paul b 10 Aug 1824 Fellingshausen, Germany, died 24 Jun 1870 Montgomery Co, Ohio. To the right are labeled. Aunt Amelia Paul (11 Sep 1869 - 3 Sep 1945), Aunt Eliza E Paul (19 Jan 1866 - 3 Sep 1945) and sister to Esther Paul Grossnickel (her photo) Elva Irene Paul (in arms ) b 23 Jan 1894 - 13 Mar 1955

The Stump on the Paul Brandt homestead was the place of many family photos. This one has Mary Brandt in the front with Eliza and Amelia in 1907.

Here is my great Aunt, Esther Eicher, with Minnie and Henry Weitzel and Amelia Paul at the famous stump at the Paul-Brandt Farm homestead. Notice what looks like mullein in the hand of Minnie. I common plant that goes in waste areas. Fun to see the detail a century later.

Eicher Family Paul George Tree Stump, Labeled Aug 18, 1907. Here are my greataunt, Esther Eicher, her mom, Emelina Helena "Lane" Paul Eicher, with her developing thyroid goiter, she died in 1913 after surgery for the goiter, Charles Albert Eicher, Henry Eicher, Edna Helena Eicher, who married Noah Elwood Weaver in Aug of 1909. They were my grandparents.

Eicher Family Records from CA 1900 - Eicher -Weaver Family Photos - Montgomery Co

2011-05-22T09:47:00.000-07:00

Here is the logo on an envelop that held Henry Eicher's deeds and his two cemetery plot deed in Miamisburg for Aug 6 1913, when Henry paid $85 for lot 1422. And then for $12.50 on May 28th 1900 he purchased lot 372 from the Carollton Cemetery Association. Henry is my great grandfather, and father of Charles A, Edna Esther and Edna Helena Eicher.

Here is a photo that my grandfather Noah Elwood likely took. First person, Paul H Weaver in on the far left, the 8th person to the right and tallest is Henry Eicher, 9th Edna Helena Eicher, my grandmother, and the 12th is Emma Esther Eicher. I would enjoy learning who the others might be from those who stop by this blog. Please contact me Thanks Tom W

Tibet History in Stamps 1934 The Snow Lion - Dalai Lama of Today modeling peace.

2011-05-03T09:02:00.000-07:00

I am thinking of the visit of the Dalai Lama to the Twin Cities this Sunday that I will be sharing at the U of Minnesota with my Zhongguo Pengyou Tian. She has taught me about Tian, as a name for sky and heaven in Hanyu, or Putonghau, the common language of the Han People. I have always been interested in Chinese philosophy especially that of Laotze and the Tao de Ching.

For more info check out. http://www.dalailama.umn.edu/

Thinking of the meaning of Tian a men. The gate into the heavenly place or city in the Northern Capital Beijing. I have put up these stamps that my parents collected as a tribute to world peace and the teachings of the Buddha, Laotze, and Confucius. I am reminded of the art of the Three Vinegar Tasters I have up on my bedroom wall as well.

To read more about these three philosophers that I see as a foundation of ancestral philosophy of Zhongguo, see
www.edepot.com/taoism_3-vinegar-tasters.html

The Tibetan Stamps my parents collected, looks like 1934 from my fathers earlier collection.

From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Postage_stamps_and_postal_history_of_Tibet

The first adhesive stamps issued for use in Tibet were typewritten overprints on Indian postage stamps [1] through the 1903 period, during which the Tibetan Frontier Commission, led by Sir Francis Younghusband, arrived in Khamba Jong on July 7, 1903. [2] Soon after, as no progress was made in diplomatically settling issues of the Tibetan border with Sikkim, this became a military expedition. One result of the treaty signed September 7, 1904 was the establishment of Indian Postal Agencies at Gartok, in Western Tibet, and Gyantse, Pharijong and Yatung, along the Indian trade route to Lhasa [2]. Chinese forces occupied Tibet in 1909, when the Dalai Lama fled into Sikkim and India. However, there were Chinese communities in Tibet well before this, as shown by a registered letter from Wen Tsung-yao at Lhasa, January 9, 1909. Thereafter, Chinese stamps and special Chinese date stamps were used at Chabdo, Gyantse, Lhasa, Pharijong, Shigatse and Yatung. Postal communications of this period are scarce and eagerly sought after by both Chinese and Tibetan specialists [2].
First stamps of Tibet
Tibet began issuing postage stamps at the beginning of the 20th century. The first stamps were issued in Lhasa in 1912. Other series of stamps were issued in 1914, 1933, and through the end of the 1950s.
Tibetan stamps had a figure of a snowlion, the national emblem of Tibet. The stamps were marked in Tibetan characters meaning "Tibet Government" and in English by "Tibet" [3].
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/97/Stamp_Tibet_1934_4t.jpg

Postage Stamps Reflections of International Art and History

2011-04-18T04:35:00.000-07:00

When the Soviet Union, USSR, broke up, I found this sheet with Groucho Marx and John Lennon, kind of a relief with the drama of politics and two leggeds fighting over land with the dissolution of the communist state, founded through dictators like Stalin and Lenin. My parents learned Esperanto in the 1930's as an attempt to create a world language of peace and understanding, and our family had access to the dictionaries and all, and we observed Peg and Pete exchanging stamps and other items with people from over 100 nations, of many flags. How people see themselves through their postage stamps and through their colors. I purchased these stamps to share with my two sons, thinking they might catch the "stamp bug" as I have found meditating on the images, a portal into other country's view of themselves and their reality.
Here is wiki view of the nation:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abkhazia
Abkhazia in Post-Soviet Georgia
Flag of the SSR Abkhazia in 1989
Main article: Georgian–Abkhaz conflict
As the Soviet Union began to disintegrate at the end of the 1980s, ethnic tensions grew between the Abkhaz and Georgians over Georgia's moves towards independence. Many Abkhaz opposed this, fearing that an independent Georgia would lead to the elimination of their autonomy, and argued instead for the establishment of Abkhazia as a separate Soviet republic in its own right. The dispute turned violent on 16 July 1989 in Sukhumi. Sixteen Georgians are said to have been killed and another 137 injured when they tried to enroll in a Georgian University instead of an Abkhaz one. After several days of violence, Soviet troops restored order in the city and blamed rival nationalist paramilitaries for provoking confrontations.
In March 1990 Georgia declared sovereignty, unilaterally nullifying treaties concluded by the Soviet government since 1921 and thereby moving closer to independence. The Republic of Georgia boycotted the 17 March 1991 all-Union referendum on the renewal of the Soviet Union called by Mikhail Gorbachev — however, 52.3% of Abkhazia's population (almost all of the ethnic non-Georgian population) took part in the referendum and voted by an overwhelming majority (98.6%) to preserve the Union.[33][34] Most ethnic non-Georgians in Abkhazia later boycotted a 31 March referendum on Georgia’s independence, which was supported by a huge majority of Georgia's population. Within weeks, Georgia declared independence on 9 April 1991, under former Soviet dissident Zviad Gamsakhurdia. Under Gamsakhurdia, the situation was relatively calm in Abkhazia and a power-sharing agreement was soon reached between the Abkhaz and Georgian factions, granting to the Abkhaz a certain over-representation in the local legislature.[35]

Learning about Asian Cuisine and Culture

2011-04-16T06:29:00.000-07:00

Gary Engler joined me in the sushi preparation after we worked on his airplane at the St Cloud Airport. Nice and relaxing on the weekend to celebrate with home made sushi. They the tuna sashimi at Byerly's frozen and I suggested fresh stuff from the cities in the future. AND this is the first time doing it at home! Sweet From Wiki The word sashimi means "pierced body", i.e. "刺身 = sashimi = 刺し = sashi (pierced, stuck) and 身 = mi (body, meat). This word dates from the Muromachi period, and was possibly coined when the word "切る = kiru (cut), the culinary step, was considered too inauspicious to be used by anyone other than Samurai. This word may derive from the culinary practice of sticking the fish's tail and fin to the slices in identifying the fish being eaten.

A special surprise for my birthday in February occurred with Jesse and Amy here in their home in St Cloud the Monday after my birthday on Presidents Weekend. Thanks to Abraham Lincoln (Feb 12) and George Washington (Feb 22) for having their birthdays in the month of February too! So they had the day off when I came to get my van fixed at "Bodies by Uch" in Sauk Rapids Gary and I got a chance to work on his airplane too!

As part of my tutoring process with Sleepy Tigers, a Chinese tutoring business in Minneapolis, I went to a Saturday morning tour, given by Juliet Lee. See: www.sleepytigers.com. Here is the outside of United Noodle where many different Asian foods are featured. It is located 2015 E 24th Street Minneapolis, MN 55404,/www.unitednoodles.com, just down the street from the Coastal Seafoods at 2330 S Minnehaha Ave 55404 (612 724 7425) www.coastalseafoods.com

Here is Juliet showing us one of the special sauces. She has many families who have children who are learning Chinese. She suggested a variety of different products to purchase to learn about and practice cooking.

Here are some of the foods to sample, of a variety of Asian menus.

Peg and Pete Weaver 1938 - Graduation from Ohio State University and West Carrollton

2011-04-08T06:13:00.000-07:00

Here is a photo taken my Noah Elwood Weaver of his only child and son, Paul Henry Weaver, upon his graduation from Ohio State Medical School June 13, 1938

Here is the front of the OSU "Medical College" as labeled in my parents photo album in June 1938.

Peg Weaver worked at a civil service job here at OSU after having jobs at the YMCA in Columbus. This is labeled as Campbell Hall, leaving job for good. Peg worked as a clerk in the Home Economics Deptartment while Pete was in Med School.

This is a photo my father likely took of his mom, in her home, 321 E Main Street West Carrollton OH labelled 1938.

Photo by Paul H Weaver of his dad in the family home, labelled 1938. Likely taken just before he and Peg moved to Minneapolis for his internship at Swedish Hospital.

West Carrollton Ohio Home of Noah Elwood and Edna Eicher Weaver 1937 Visit

2011-04-08T05:27:00.000-07:00

Recently I was honored to have a man from the West Carrollton Historical Society contact me about the photos I have posted on this blog. My intention has been to honor the work of my paternal grandfather who was an adopter of new technology back a century ago. In other posts in the past, I have photos of Noah Elwood at the family farm above Miamisburg where he had motorized bicycles with the back drop of the family farm. Here are my dad, "Pete" Paul Henry Weaver in a sporty 30's outfit with his iconic pipe, likely filled with Bond Street tobacco with my mom, Peg Weaver in 1937 two years after their marriage in Findlay.

Here in the backyard of 321 E Main St, West Carrollton are Edna Eicher Weaver, my grandmother, a close family friend, Hanna Swearingen, and my parents, Paul H "Pete" Weaver with his ever present pipe and my mom, Peg Weaver reading a paper. Peg would mention as she was writing her autobiography during shared times, how she and Pete would take the interurban (train) from Columbus to Dayton and West Carrollton. While in West Carrollton she remembered learning about Pete's stamp collecting hobby which they carried on for many years, during their moving to Minnesota until my mom's passion for mushrooms took over her attention in the 1960's.

Prior to their moving to Minnesota in 1938, Pete and Peg went camping and visited Ohio parks. Here they are in the summer of 1937 at Rock House State Park in Hocking County. In their photo album this is scanned from Peg wrote "weekend spent with Betty and Cy Giddings Cantwell Cliffs Hocking County.

This composite photo is from my parents album from a Feb 1938 visit to Ash Cave in Hocking County Ohio with Bill and Betty Biel.

Gardening 2011 Some Options for Planting Vegetables

2011-04-06T06:43:00.000-07:00

BlondKoepfchen, "little blonde gird" in German, is an East German heirloom yellow cherry tomato. From the Gatersleben Seed Bank. 1" fruits in clusters with a sweet taste.

Eva Purple is a mid sized hierloom, 4-5 oz, brought from Germany in the late 1800's to Elmwood Park NJ. Cherry red flesh. Great flavor.

A very popular small cherry tomato - 1/2 - 3/4 " fruits. Great flavor, easy to grow in a patio pot. I have raised these in my Bloomington and Crystal gardens with great success.

A large blocky bell sweet pepper from Italy. Green ripens slowly into a golden yellow. Thick crisp flesh with sweet spicy flavor.

Enjoying Minnesota - The Out of Doors

2011-04-03T06:50:00.001-07:00

Spring is in the air, and I am contemplating this land of water and prairie. While scanning some old photos of my grandfather, Noah Elwood Weaver who drove the 600 miles from West Carrollton Ohio in the 40's through early 60's, I noticed we kept up the photo tradition in St Cloud as well. While training for some runs, when Nate, on the bike and Jesse, carried by me, were young, I enjoyed the campus of St Cloud State University situated on the Mississippi River some 80 miles upstream from the Twin Cities where I now reside.

While scanning photos by my grandfather Noah Elwood Weaver, I am struck by his dedication to capturing his connection to his three grandsons. He drove 600 miles to visit his only child, Paul H Weaver and his growing family in the 40's and 50's. Here are a Faribault neighbor, Michael Relyea, son of Ken and Ruth Relyea who lived on SW Third Street just to the west of our family home, with the inner tube floating on Pelican Lake in front of the Weaver-Kiekenapp-Relyea-Bowes Cabins. The Weaver boys,
Jim, Jack and Tom are to Michael's left.

Music and Culture - Silvis Energy with Weaver and Larsen Families in Faribault

2011-03-28T15:19:00.000-07:00

Here are Peg Weaver, my mom vocalist, and her best musical friend, Marjorie Hognander Silvis, piano accompanist, preparing for a recital in the late 1940's at the Guild House of the Cathedral of Our Merciful Savior in Faribault. I was inspired to add this today, as my long term friend Greg Larsen, Faribault Class of 1965, was acknowledging his mentors on his Caring Bridge Site:
Monday, March 28, 2011 8:05 AM, MDT
Musical Mentors
This is the first in a series of reflections on persons who had a strong influence in the direction of my career in music.

I. Marjorie H. Silvis: The Persuasive Authority of Accompaniment

Marjorie H. Silvis was the K-12 Vocal Music teacher at Garfield Elementary School in Faribault, Minnesota during the 1950’s.

Mrs. Silvis was a commanding presence in any setting. She wore a heady essence of perfume that pre-announced she was in the building and was also quite tall. She emphasized this height by wearing very high-heeled shoes and through platinum blond hair styled in the mode of the 1940s.

It was her commanding approach to accompanying singing with piano, however, that really caught my attention. This accompaniment featured prominent bass using doubled sub-octaves – which encouraged rich inner harmonies to emerge, as well. It wasn’t that she played/accompanied loudly. Rather, she played with such authority - even softly - that you just felt compelled to sing.

I tried to emulate this accompaniment style throughout my teaching career and I hope that, perhaps, it inspired young singers to ‘get a grip’ in realizing their own voices. I am grateful for Mrs. Silvis’ example, which led me to consider music as a profession.."

Here are the Silvi' as my father, who liked Latin and other languages, Marge and Ed with my father Paul H Weaver in the family sun porch in Faribault in Sept of 1966. Note the Cowles Family tree in the background. Ed was a speech teacher at Faribault High School and I considered the two of them to be the closest thing I had to an Uncle and Aunt. They left Faribault I think about 1961 or 62 to work for the US Informatiion Agency. Thus I missed having Marge as my High School Choral teacher, although she had a great influence on me and my interest in singing at an early age.

Their first assignment was in West Pakistan, and Ed, who was something like 6' 5" and Marge was nearly 6'1' I think, were quite the imposing pair. They brought back I lot of brass and copper things from Pakistan and had a reception at the Congregational Meeting place across from the Church where she directed the choir. The Congo, church is now a UCC named place and a few years back I went there for a Christmas Service and my friend Rev Tom George was accepted by the parish as an openly Gay Clergy in Faribault. Something I enjoyed celebrating with Tom and other folks I saw in Faribault including the Gagnon family that purchased the Family Home pictured here, at 425 SW 3rd St.

Later, this time in 1978, Ed and Marge would come back to Minnesota to visit. Here they are with Peg at Pelican Lake. Ed was from Grand Rapids and Marge from the Cities, where the Swedish Hognander Family had been influential in Minnehaha Acedemy as I recall. Very much the acedemic types and stayed with the US Government Services. I visited her church in McLean
VA and sang in her choir when John Sonnenday a Carleton Grad was the minister there, back in the day.

Her obit: SILVIS MARJORIE HOGNANDER SILVIS (Age 92) Of Greenspring Village, VA on Wednesday, August 25, 2010 at Renaissance Gardens. Beloved wife of the late Edward A. Silvis; aunt of Joe Hognander and Timothy Olmstead and great-aunt of Jason Sandeen. Memorial services will be held at Immanuel Presbyterian Church at a later date. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Immanuel Presbyterian Church, 1125 Savile Lane, McLean, VA 22101.
Washington Post
www.legacy.com/obituaries/washingtonpost/obituary.aspx?n=marjorie-h-silvis&pid=144990073

Pelican Lake - Crucible and Family Playground Remembrances 1940's -1982

2011-03-27T05:48:00.000-07:00

Here is the earliest Map that we found in the Palmer Family Cabins when the three Weaver brothers, Jim, Jack and Tom, purchased the land together in 1967. Today I am thinking about the passing of the soul of Nellie Jane Williams Weaver, of West Bend WI, my sister in law. I served as "best man" in my brother Jack's wedding on July 19 , 1969 when I first met Harold Williams her dad, I think it was in Monmouth IL, where Jack chose to go to college. I had left Friday Harbor Marine Biology Summer School early, to return for the wedding, as the three brothers had agreed to serve as best man in a rotating order. Jack having served as best man for Jim and Melanie, in Westport CT a couple of years earlier. Yesterday, Nellie's daughter Kris, had posted something on Facebook that clarified her mom's health status: "I have struggled all day to find the right words for it: my mom "passed away" yesterday. To put it in terms my mom would appreciate, I think: she has responded to another casting call and is off to her next Stage. Thanks for all of your comments, support and good stories about her."

Left to Right: Jack Weaver, Peg Weaver, Nellie Jane Williams Weaver, John Eicher Weaver II, Tom Weaver, Nate Weaver, Sue Weaver, Kris Weaver, Val Weaver, Jim Weaver. The body language and facial expressions are of great interest to me.
So thinking about the good times with Nellie and Jack is coming up for me. I think back to 1982, when we celebrated the life of Paul H Weaver, who passed over during the long cold winter, after being slowed down by his cancer. In Nellie's terms, he left the Stage of this world on , Jan 29, 1982. I have such good memories of the folks that showed up to comfort the family in our loss and grateful some photos were taken to recognize the people who came and the energy they gave for the living.

Also, seeing the photo of the family here in 1981, at the Family Cabin built in 1947, and serving as Pete and Peg's home from 1976 to 1982 for Pete, and then until 2002 when some of us moved Peg into Assisted Living in Brainerd. I am noticing prior to Paul H Weavers passing, and how the family mobile looked back then. Virginia Satir, the great family systems author, who talked about shifts in the family power and intimacy structure at the time of death comes to mind. For me, I learned with Peg, my Mom, after her husbands passing, that grieving the loss in a good way, was a real gift to us in learning how to be more nurturing and recognizing the gift of life, one day at a time. Just in time, he passed and allowed new energies to step in in 1982 for a lot of us. Perhaps others can see it in the countenances of our family and our body language as well.
(Left to Right: "Tom" Thomas G Weaver," Sue" Susan E J Weaver, Nate Weaver, Harold Williams, "Peg" Margaret G Weaver, "Jack" John Eicher Weaver I, "Pete" Paul Henry Weaver, Valerie B Weaver, Nellie Jane Williams Weaver, Kristen Derry Weaver, "Jim" James Cowles Weaver, Melanie Brick Weaver, Kenneth G Weaver, John Eicher Weaver II. Thinking about our family mobile and this quote from Virginia Satir comes to mind.
"Feelings of worth can flourish only in an atmosphere where individual differences are appreciated, mistakes are tolerated, communication is open, and rules are flexible - the kind of atmosphere that is found in a nurturing family."
Virginia Satir
And Shakespeare again, the Bard of Stratford Upon Avon.
"All the world's a stage, and all the men and women merely players: they have their exits and their entrances; and one man in his time plays many parts, his acts being seven ages. "
William Shakespeare
"Cowards die many times before their deaths; the valiant never taste of death but once. "
William Shakespeare
"If you have tears, prepare to shed them now. "
William Shakespeare
Thanks for the connection to Kris, who has been with her mom, and can reflect to others, how her mom wants to be remembered. So here are some images I find fun and memorable when I felt safe and connected with my biological family and trust and healing were shared especially in 1982, when we celebrated our fathers life with those whom his actions had impacted in a good way. Kris, Jack, John, Samantha . I trust your family and loved ones can co create ways of connection that support your grieving in a good way. I have yet of find information about your plans to create ceremonies or images of remembrance for Nellie and am open and willing to be of service, if that is a fit for you. I will call and check in later today.

Here again are the folks on the back porch of Harold Willams home in 1982 at Pelican , when the extended family showed up to honor the life of Paul H Weaver. Here, again, looking at the Shakespearean view, and our body language and all, are Peg Weaver, "Jack" John Eicher Weaver I, "Bill" William Henry Eicher" with pipe, Nellie Jane Williams Weaver, John Eicher Weaver II, Kristin Derry Weaver, "Sue" Susan E Weaver, "Nate" Nathan Blair Weaver, Valerie Brick Weaver, "Jim" James Cowles Weaver - Photo by Tom Weaver

One of the ways, I choose to honor Paul H Weaver, was to build what I called the Paul H Weaver Memorial Garage at Pelican Lake at a time when Pelican Lake and connection with my mom and brothers families was very important to me. Here are Jane and JD Banks from Neenah Wisconsin, who were very important for Peg, as Jane and Peg were classmates at Oberlin College. I learn more about this relationship, Peg outlined that in her autobiography she published for her grandkids in 1994.

One of my favorite images of Pelican Lake, is the warm connection I have with Peg and Pete's Faribault sponsors, here pictured
Bernice and John Foster. This old black and white photo is how I remember them in their cabin on Pelican Lake. John had a real estate business after working at Shattuck School, and had invested in Pelican Lake Shore.

His son John Burt Foster would visit with his four kids, Johnny, David Mary and Layton and we would enjoy the beach. I recently connected with John Burt Foster II who is a professor of English on the east coast. George Mason University I think. Here is an image of the Pelican lake Diving dock where the Weaver boys learned to swim. In this photo from 1956, I think is one of the Owen girls on the board, Johnny and David Foster. Tom Weaver, John Burt Foster, and Jim and Jack Weaver coming up the ladder.
John Foster taught at Mankato State for many years in English and I always remembered the family seemed so exotic and world wise as John was in China in the 1930's teaching in Wuhan. At this age I began collecting Chinese Stamps and of course the American view of communism and McCarthyism was all the rage during the 1950's. Thank heavens for Zhou Enlai and Richard Nixon opening the door in the 70's so to relieve the fears a lot of zenophobes try to promulgate. Grateful for having a wonderful Chinese Tutor now, Tian Xia that is encouraging me to learn the langauge and enjoy the Middle Kingdom, Zhongguo in a good way.

China Stamps Collected during the 50's and 60's

2011-03-23T16:41:00.000-07:00

When I was a boy in Faribault MN, I was fascinated by China. Sadly much of the country of Zhongguo, middle kingdom was off limits to us in the US of A, during the Cold War and I had to get stamps from Taiwan, which then, we were told was the legitimate China and democratic. Well, never big into politics, I rather just like meeting people. While a medical student in 1971, I drove to Moscow USSR with two other Minnesotans in a VW Camper! So much for the Cold War. I did know how to speak German, as we left with a new pop up Camper from Wolfsburg and headed East from Berlin! I have a whole slide show from the time.
Anyway, here are some of the stamps from Taiwan that I collected. I love the maps and the butterflies. Hope to learn from some Chinese Stamp collectors some of the history through the China Stamp Society (CSS for Short) I just joined.
ttp://www.chinastampsociety.org/ I just wrote some stuff to introduce myself and my interests in hopes i can network..guanxi anyone? with some like minded folks in China..>Taiwan and Zhongguo, I need to learn the right language....Xie Xie. Zaijian.

Here are some more stamps from Taiwan I got as a kid- I remember the one of Lincoln and likely Chang Kai Shek, (sp?) Trying to make the propiganda that Taiwan is the only China I suppose back in Cold War times. I like the colors.

Finally some other art stamps. The big ones with horses and wildlife I always liked. Wonder where the original art is? Some museum on Taiwan or on the Mainland. Perhaps someone will guide me and I can find a network, Guanxi matters...not mei guanxi :-) Leave me a comment Thanks.

Water-The First Medicine the Creator Gave Us - Driving to Colorado and visiting my dear friend Greg Larsen

2011-03-23T05:21:00.000-07:00

Elder's Meditation of the Day - March 23
"We must relearn how to cry. A strong man cries; it is the weak man who holds back his tears."
-- Archie Fire Lame Deer, LAKOTA
Indian men and other men should really meditate on this Elder's saying. So many men have been taught it is unmanly to cry, to show emotions or to feel. When people cry, the Elders say there are two types of tears – one type will taste salty; the other type will taste sweet. One is caused by pain, and the other is caused by the release from the pain, or joy tears. A strong man knows himself and knows his relationship with the Great Spirit. The release of tears is a spiritual act. Our bodies are designed to cry. We should honor our bodies and use them as the Creator intended. Great Spirit, Grandfather, today, teach me to cry.

I am sitting here meditating on the power of tears in the healing of us pitiful two leggeds. With Mother Earth and nature with the Japan earthquake and tsunami teaching me about gratitude and resilience in the time of the Great Turning, I look to those in my life that model how to live in a good way. Modeling the networking and interdependence when some of the old institutions seem to be more into money, fear, power and control that into integrity. I am looking out the window at my bird feeder today, the 3rd day of Spring and see the snow being blown horizontal from the north. The direction of the elders in one of the medicine wheels I follow. I look to the north, the color is white, like the hair of the elders for wisdom and support during this time of change. Pilamiyapelo! I am in the place of gratitude.

Back in the 1980's, I trained with the Living Process Community begun through the vision and work of Anne Wilson Schaef and Associates in Boulder Colorado. I remember visiting the group on Wild Tiger Lane on the road above Boulder to Nederland. It was through this group, I first connected with the Lakota medicine circle in the 80's, and was led to the inipi as a place of balance and healing. In January 2011, when I heard about the illness that my good friend Greg Larsen was facing, spirit suggested it was important to visit him as I had done on my way back from New Mexico and the First Peace Gathering I attended with the Ehama Institute Medicine Circle some two years ago. Besides, the winter gets a little long here in snow county and a had a chance to meet a couple of men I had connected with on line. I first drove to Chadron NE, and stayed with Harvey B, who works at the local college there on Thursday night - he and I staffed a weekend in LA last winter when I was able to visit the land of my Chappelear Ancestors there. Driving then on Friday to Boulder where I had a sweet Rosen Work session with Todd Schwartz and saw Pearl Street in spring flower, his family welcomed me with fresh baked Purim Taschen, a traditional cookie to celebrate the Jewish holiday of spring and a new year! Thanks a lot. Wish I had a photo and the flakey chocolate cherry flavor still lingers in my memory! Finding the VQ Hotel in Denver after a meal of Sushi with a friend, I had a restful sleep before meeting Lee at the Amtrak Station. Here is the photo Lee took of me at one of his favorite places in Denver.
Thanks Lee for the kindness and patience you demonstrated that day. The magnolia trees you care for are lucky to have you in the dry parts of Colorado!

Here is Lee's home in Colorado Springs, the orange and purple colors that he reflects in his creative website.
http://orangemagnolia.com/homepage.html
I suggest visiting and listening to the great music here. Way to go with a great marketing site, Lee!!!
My 1999 Dodge Caravan, I call my green pony in the foreground. She was "totaled" according to an insurance company in January and went through a transformational rebirth in Sauk Rapids MN, at Bodies By Uch - Thanks Gary Engler, Mike Ames, Jesse and Nate Weaver for making my visits there productive with fun heart felt connections, making proverbial lemonade out of lemons! And what a nice trip to reconnect with her energy!

Here is Lee, showing me the buds of one of his magnolias. He assured me this area would be ready for visitors in the spring who want to learn more about these special tree people. All the best for you and your magnolia friends.

The primary goal of my trip over this weekend, driving from Minnesota snow to the dryness of Colorado, was to honor the life and connection of my friend for 59+ years. When I showed up for lunch, carrying a loaf of fresh bread baked by my friend, Scott Tower of Mankato, I was greeting warmly with hugs all around with Greg and his son Joe, who had just flown in from the Twin Cities. Greg here is his always dynamic self. Directing the conversation here, with gesticulations remindful of all the years conducting himself and choirs in a good way. I love the backlighting here in his living room where we shared tea and sandwiches. Thanks Greg and Joe for your creative and dynamic presence.

When Greg and I first embraced, I noticed the scar on his right side over the temple. He mentioned that his surgical team and he talked about the question mark that has healed so well, and that he is half way through is radiation and only now is losing some of his hair. For updates, check out his Caring Bridge site. http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/greg_larsen

Here again are Greg, his trusty dog, and Joe. We chatted over lunch for an hour or two before Greg chose to nap and I needed to be on my way to Colorado Springs and then prepare to rest for my Sunday 15 hours sweet drive make to the land of where the Heavens are Reflected in the Waters. Minnesota Waste"

Newell Extended Family - Expanding Colorfully from Cuba to Bogota Columbia

2011-03-13T13:22:00.000-07:00

Here is a gathering of Jane Newell and Don Roden's extended family, honoring the adoption of three girls from Columbia for the
Hanson nuclear family of Wisconsin: Jim, Jessica, Nathan and Joshua at the far end of the table. We are sitting here next to the Mall of America at the I HOP, ready to send them off on the plane to Atlanta then Bogota. Left to right are Patrick and Rachael (Newell) Lytl, Don Roden, Nathan, Jim , Jessica and Joshua Hanson, Jane Newell, Caitlin Lytle, Vivian Lezcano-Lytle. I had a chance to chat with Vivian Lezcano-Lytle who sat next to me, about her journey to the US of A back in the early 60's from Cuba, at the early time of Fidel Castro. She moved with her mom to Dubuque Iowa, where she eventually met Peter Lytle. She described her heritage from northern Spain, Espana, in the more indigenous Celtic area of the Basque people near Santander. I am struck by the fortitude of her part of the family tree, more of a recent immigrant to the US of A. She is familiar with Victor's 1959 Cuban Cafe where I have taken many friends who might consider themselves more revolutionary.

The color and all of Victors, and thinking about 1959 and revolutionary times. I remember being there with Jane and my Chinese friend, Liu Xiaosong, zhongguoren pengyou, in pinyan Chinese, or Steven, his American name. Here he is with me and Jane, at Victors at 36th and Grand in S Minneapolis back in 2009. I still consider Xiaosong a brother, Jane, Don and I, and reflect on the Lakota tradition of all skin colors of two-leggeds being equal souls here on the planet in our Creator's eye. Xie xie, thanks, gracias for the connections.

Continuing with the revolutionary international spirit, one of the I HOP staff, Frank, the Jordanian and I connected with a "shukran" Thank you and "afwan" you are welcome" as he took my camera to the other end of the table and graciously took this photo prior to the four Hansons from Wisconsin going on the plane to Columbia. Left to Right are Jim, Jessica, and Joshua Hanson, Jane Scott Newell, Caitlin Lytle, Vivian Lezcano-Lytle, Tom Weaver (this author), Patrick Lytle, Rachael Newell Lytle, Don Roden and Nathan Hanson.

Here is Frankee, our especially colorful waiter whom I especially enjoyed chatting with. His colorful rainbow pen set added a special flair for me, and I learned about the higher quality value of pens of many colors. Signo Uni-Ball is a pen to remember.
Such a delight to share in this time and place, by the Mall of America, sending 4 special people off to Columbia who will be returning with three daughters from an orphanage in Columbia.

Here is Jane showing a charm necklace with boy and girl images with the birthstone of each of her Hanson grandchildren to share with Jessica and the Hanson family. Nathan, Joshua, and the three new members, Maria-Camella, Angie and Roci.

Here is our fun waiter Frankee, with one of his Signo Uni Ball pens in the foreground. I just LOVED the spontaneous energy here prior to and after the Hansons left on the plane. Mitakuye Oyasin.

Chappelear, William Woods - Daughter Emma- From Ohio to Missouri and Kansas, Back to Illinois

2011-03-05T05:32:00.000-08:00

Here is a poster, WW Chappelear, posted in Clinton IL in 1865. I was a shoe maker and salesman. His daughter Emma was born in Missouri and returned from the MO -KS area with her father as reflected in a history written by my great Aunt, Mary E Glessner.
"William W and Elizabeth Ewing Chappelear had eight children: Henry Stuart Chappelear (b.1841 OH), Mary Ann Chappelear (b 1842 OH, m Levi Ross), Julia Catherine Chappelear (b 1845 m John H Hall), Matilda Chappelear (b1848 OH.m Humphrey Holmes), Robert Chappelear (b 1849 OH) Aramintha Chappelear (b 1851 New Market, MO m Harvey J Smith), Emmeline Chappelear (b. Aug 25,1855 Camden Point, Platte Co. MO m Leonard C. Glessner), Leila Alice Chappelear, d Feb 1908
The Family moved as William supported the family as a “roving fiddling cobbler” traveling in a covered wagon from Ohio in 1850 to Platte, Co, MO, New Market and Camden Point in 1850’s. William W was against slavery, warned to leave Missouri and Platte Co. In 1859, he fled after a shot is fired over his bed. After crossing the cold Missouri in the covered wagon, from Missouri to Kansas where in Easton, Elizabeth caught pneumonia and died later in the year, according to Mary E Glessner, on Nov 17 and was buried on a hill over the town of Easton. From there the family left in the spring of 1860 to Clinton IA, and then to Clinton and Farmers City Illinois.

This is a portrait of Emma Chappelear Glessner, taken in Findlay Ohio. She was my great grand mother, and mother of Harry Chappelear Glessner.

Inside of a book 1892 or 3 "To Freddy from Grandma" Aug 17, Harry's 7th of 8th birthday. Showing his changing his middle name later in life. Christened Harry Frederick Glessner, by his parents, and later he changed his middle name to Chappelear to honor his mothers side of the family. Some antipathy toward his uncle Fred Glessner, my mom seemed to think. People and their resentments can be funny sometimes.

Fred Glessner's Card when he published the Hancock County Courier in Findlay OH in the late 1800's. He was the brother of Leonard Cowles Glessner, the husband of Emma Chappelear Glessner.

Faribault Minnesota Garfield School 1958 6th Grade - Minnesota Centennial TIme!

2011-03-04T06:01:00.000-08:00

I am inspired today by my good friend, Greg Larsen, who now lives in Denver Colorado and is dealing with a brain tumor.
Very inspiring how he is dealing with this part of his life. I recommend checking out his caring bridge site.
http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/greg_larsen/guestbook
Here he is in the front row,# 22, with John Parker, #24, a friend who just commented on the caring bridge site. Ann Hanson (Schrupp) is #12. Miss Pirsig is #1 and yours truly is the tall one, #10 next to Santa. I know I have a list and key for this somewhere. I will post this now and get back to this later!

This is a page from a scrap book I made in 6th Grade, with a key to the people in the photo above.
1. Miss Elsie Pirsig, 6th Grade Teacher 1957-58, 2.Dotty Perron, 3. "Margie" Margaret Knutson, 4. "Sue" Susan Heath, 5. "Steve" Stephen Hultquist, 6. Gary Fechner, 7. "Bill" William Erickson, 8. Rick "Richard" Dietrich, 9. "Kenny" Kenneth Pike, 10. "Tom" Thomas Weaver, 11. Adriana Soeters, 12. Ann Hanson, 13. Linda Davidson, 14, Lorraine Deming, 15. Cheryl Hokanson, 16. Barbara McKinny, 17. Beverly Harris, 18. "Jim" James Davis, 19. Shirley Levendowski, 20. "Susie" Susan Knott, 21. Dennis Jenson,
22. "Greg" Gregory Larsen, 23. "Jim" James Palan, 24. John Parker, 25. Kirk Chaffee, 26. "Jim" James Sartor, 27 "Ray" Raymond Webb, Not Pictured Nancy Bauer.

Here is a photo of Garfield Elementary School as this author remembers it in the 1950's. I took this photo from the "little store" on the north, once owned by Nelsons, that later expanded into Nelsons Supervalue and was known as Vink's Store when I was a grade schooler and rode my bike get food, candy and even an occasional cigarette. Building was torn down some years ago.
When Googling Garfield School Faribault i found this link:
http://petersonartfurniture.com/history2.htm
"In 1996, Northfield attorney David Hvistendahl turned the Peterson Art Furniture site into an architectural salvage sales operation, selling on a wholesale basis to renovation and historic preservation contractors. Later a retail shop was added. Hvistendahl won salvage rights to Ytterboe Hall at St. Olaf when the dorm was torn down in 1996 and to Dow Hall on the Minnesota State Academy for the Blind campus in 1998. Other salvaged locations were the Lincoln, Washington and Garfield schools in Faribault.

Here is a group of 6th grade musicians, in a photo dated 1959. Somehow I relate this to the 1958 Minnesota Centennial Celebration. Margaret Knutson, Cheryl Hokanson, - clarinets, Greg Larsen - director, Tom Weaver clarinet, Ken Pike - Baritone, Kirk Chaffee - trombone. in what looks like an attempt to re create Bavaria! Om PA!

Here is a map of Minnesota with the logo of the Centennial on a heat protector I remember buying for the family. It was used as a hot protector for dishes on tables for many years!

Weaver Family Visits to Ohio 1950's

2011-02-22T15:16:00.000-08:00

I remember visiting my Grandparents in Ohio on several trips from Minnesota. THe first is when I was 5 years old, in the summer of 1952. We flew into the Toledo airport and first visited the Glessner side of the family in Findlay where my mom was born. We then headed to West Carrollton, sound of Dayton. On this trip, I had a right arm sling, as I sustained a broken elbow when I was "helped" from one of the big spruce trees in our Faribault yard by my brother Jack. Here we sit at Ft Ancient, a park that features a 2000 yr old hilltop enclosure site, according to http://www.fortancient.org/. Left to right, Jack, Tom, Jim, Virginia, Hannah Swearington, Paul H, Peg Weaver, and Aunt Esther Eicher. Photo by Noah Elwood Weaver

The Brandt - Paul Family Tree - Esther Grossnickle 1973 Lighting the fire :-)

2011-02-16T07:08:00.000-08:00

Here is the original document that Esther Grossnickle gave me in 1973 when I came to West Carrollton for my grandfather Elwood Weaver's funeral. She was the first relative I met that had any interest in our roots and family tree on the Weaver side of the family.

Here is Johann George Paul born in Fellingshausen Germany on May 7, 1774. Church records in Fellingshausen, say the family left in 1836. Other notes say he emigrated to America in 1837. He had a cobblers, shoe shop in a long barn that sat next to the railroad tracks across the Great Miami River from West Carrollton, on the Farmerville-West Carrollton Road, which in the mid 1800's was called Whitfield. Johann George met Amelia his future wife, pictured here, when she got off the train at this location when she was coming from Germany. According to the notes of my cousin Jeanette Weaver. "many of the family pictures were taken at the George Paul farm which was on the north east corner of Hemple Road and the Soldiers Home Road. The house is no longer there. There was a huge tree that was struck my lightning, and they leveled off the bottom and left the broken back standing. You can see this in the family pictures that show the families sitting on the old tree stump."

Here is "Mary", Born Amelia Louisa Brandt, Married Johann George Paul, in her later years.

The original photo of a Brandt Family reunion at the Paul Farm.

These are the identifications for the photo,
that Jeannette Weaver, Wanda Grossnickle Bourdeau and Tom Weaver, this author figured out during out visit together in Troy- Farmersville Ohio in Oct 2010. Any additions, editing and corrections are very welcome! Thanks

At the stump on the George and Mary Paul Farm, are Emma Esther Eicher, Charles Albert Eicher and Edna Helena Eicher, siblings from the Henry Eicher and Helena "Lane" Paul part of the family tree. I am the greatgrandson of Helena Paul, Jeanette Allen Weaver is the great granddaugther of Sarah Ann Paul (we are third cousins then) and Wanda Grossnickle Bourdeau is granddaugher of John Paul. In the photo above, #5 Ida Eschbaugh is Jeannette's grandmother # 6 Edna Eicher is my grandmother, and #9 Esther Paul is Wanda's mother. Tom, Jeannette and Wanda are the kissin' 2nd and 3rd cousins!

Henry Eicher's Home Rental on Bellbrook Road

2011-02-14T19:55:00.001-08:00

Likely in the summer of 1911, N Elwood Weaver took this photo of Edna's parents, Emma Helena "Lane" Paul Eicher, with his young son, Paul Henry, on their porch facing Bellbrook Road just East of Alexandersville.

Here is Henry Eicher, who Paul Henry called Da Dad as a small boy sharing an egg with him at his home on Bellbrook Road. This is the home Henry lived in during George Eicher his brother farmed the 102 acres of land to the south. My father attributed his interest in conservation and nature to his grandfather Henry Eicher.

Here in the orchard, next to the family farm on the original Franz Eicher farm, now managed by George Eicher his son, are Edna Helena Eicher, Noah Elwood Weaver, who is the photographer, Emma Esther Eicher, Lane Paul Eicher with Paul Henry and Henry Eicher in 1911.

One of my favorites of Granddad N Elwood's photos, has a woman between young Paul Henry Weaver, and his mom, Edna Eicher, here by the creek on the George Eicher farm. This land is now in the care of Cox Arboretum and is quite grown over with a succession forest. I published an article using this photo for the Cox Arboretum a few years back.

Eicher and Weaver Connections 1885-86 Maps Miami Township - Farms

2011-02-14T09:02:00.000-08:00

Another of Noah Elwood's black and white photos of his wife, Edna, here climbing the Bindery Hill Road with their small son, Paul Henry, likely about 1914 when he was four. This is on the way to the Weaver Family Farm up from Miamisburg.

On the map here, note the CH and D Railroad on the 1885 map where the road curves up the hill where the photo above was taken. Note the apple orchard on the 110 acre farm with Noah & Magdalen Weaver labeled with the school house across the street. This is Sect 3 where Jacob Weaver homesteaded and then passed down through Phillip to Noah.

Here is the 1885 Map west of the Big Miami River, note the F Eicher 102 acres in Section 15. The creek here still exists on the Cox Arboretum land. George Eicher brother of Henry my grandfather was the last in the family to farm the land.

Here is a Noah Elwood Weaver Photo, likely with the large format camera on a tripod. Edna Helena Eicher Weaver, N Elwood Weaver, Emma Esther Eicher, Lena Brandt Paul, Paul H Weaver as an infant, and Henry Eicher at the George Eicher orchard, which is the same land the Franz Eicher purchased in the mid 1800's in Section 15, Miami Twp. Notice the orchard and farm home on the 1885 map of the F Eicher 102 acre farm. This is the home where Franz's children were born.

Here is a drawn map I found in Miamisburg that captures the flavor of the time when Noah Elwood Weaver was born on the family farm in 1885. Note the railroad at the base of the hill, bindery hill, and the drawing of the Miamisburg Binder Twine and Cordage Company.

Weaver Ancestral Farm - Near Miamisburg Ohio early 1900's

2011-02-12T11:06:00.001-08:00

Here is the home on bindery hill just west of Miamisburg Ohio where my grandfather Noah Elwood Weaver was born. My sense is this is a photo he took as he learned more and more about the art of photography. I am so grateful he was an early adopter of technology. Not scared to try the new fangled stuff! Thanks Grandpa

Here is Noah Elwood with a large format camera in West Carrollton in front of the envelope factory where he was a clerk for many years. I think this is now he got such great resolution.

Family portrait most likely by NEW, Front row, Noah Weaver 1835-1929, Harriet Weaver 1856-1952 holding Paul Henry Weaver, born Dec 24, 1910, his father Noah Elwood Weaver 1885 - 1973, back row, hired workers, male and female (with parrott), William Benton Weaver 1879- 1973, Edna Helena Eicher 1885- 1942.

Working in the wheat field by the farmstead here are two unnamed hired workers left and right side with a child on the top of the stacked wheat. To the left of the stack is Harriet "Hattie" Weaver and to the right is William Benton Weaver.

Likely a threshing machine shared by farmers, this photo was part of Noah Elwoods portfolio from that era.

Honoring the Ancestors - Speaking the truth about cultural genocide 1862-3

2011-02-05T19:24:00.000-08:00

Here is the photo of the Dakota Concentration Camp that was built by the dominant white culture for the Dakota in 1862-3 when some 1800 or so elders woman and children were herded into this stockade after a miserable walk from Mankato (Maka = earth, to = blue) , where 38 of their male relatives were hung the day after Christmas in 1862 in a mass execution, still the largest ever witnessed in the US of A, I am told. I have learned the the Germans of the 20th century have admitted their wrongs for the Holocaust of non Arians - Jews, Gays, Jahavoh's Witnesses, and have memorials to address their compassion as well as the films like Shindler's List to tell the story for healing. The Dakota People are asking for an apology and recognition by calling the event by the shadow of what really happened. Like the Wounded Knee Massacre in South Dakota, it is important to understand the blatant racism and disrespect to mend the hoop and honor all humans is relatives, to love each other, as Jesus supposedly said do to, at least in the 4 Gospels I was taught be in my Episcopal Christian basics. This display is tastefully done in the visitors center overlooking the site below Ft Snelling near the B'dota, the confluence of the Mississippi and Minnesota Rivers. Mendota is the english translation of the Dakota word.

Here is a recent artists view of what it likely looked like to be an inmate in the camp in the winter of 1862-63. I understand the
Dakota Oyate, the people were given only thin army blankets and had simple fires to stay warm with, and the soldier were free to "make their way" with the Dakota women, in this camp that is a reflection of disrespect of human rights no different from Abu Ghraib in the Allies treatment of Iraqi prisoners recently. Where is the justice and where is the healing? I man from Crow Creek, who carries the eagle staff for the Crow Creek Horse riders who ride back to this site and support the Mendota Dakota, talked of the continued affects of this racist abuse in the low self esteem on the SD Reservation that has led to series of suicides by young mothers, who have hung themselves. it was suggested that through prayer and reconciliation now, much like has been done through leaders like Nelson Mandala and Desmond Tutu in South Africa with the perpetrators of Apartheid, much can be don NOW in America with recognition of this and action by our politicians and church leaders who have the courage to share from their hearts for healing. The drum and the pipe ceremony lead here by Jimmy Anderson-Dakota and Arvol Lookinghorse- Lakota modeled how the hoop can be healed with the 50-60 of various ethnicities attending. I remember last year, my son Jesse and his girlfriend Amy attended this ceremony for which I am grateful.

Here is the view from the sculpture labeled in Dakota "Remembering and Honoring" those that died here. In the foreground is a circle of prayer ties (tobacco ties) that honor each direction and each of the four races of skin color on Mother Earth. All ceremonies that I have attended in D-Lakota tradition honor all our relations, two leggeds and our plant and animal allies as well.

Taken from where I was sitting at the drum, Jimmy Anderson, Dakota history leader with the feather fan, and with the eagle bonnet, Arvol Lookinghorse with the altar and fire prior to the pipe and prayer ceremony for the honoring of the ancestors and healing of the hoop. We gathered for our feast-Wopida at the Minneapolis Indian Center on Franklin afterwards with a planning for a world peace day event here on June 21st. Wichozani!

China Postage Stamps 1930's - Mystery of Chinese Culture, History and Language !

2011-01-22T01:45:00.000-08:00

Here are some regular stamps with Dr Sun Yat Sen then stamps from a special Sino-Swedish Expedition published to support the journey of a Swede named Hedin. From wiki http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sven_Hedin "Between 1927 and 1935 Sven Hedin led an international Sino-Swedish Expedition which investigated the meteorological, topographic and prehistoric situation in Mongolia, the Gobi desert and Xinjiang.
Sven Hedin described it as a peripatetic university in which the participating scientists worked almost independently, while he—like a local manager—negotiated with the authorities, made decisions, organized whatever was necessary, raised funds and recorded the route followed. He gave archaeologists, astronomers, botanists, geographers, geologists, meteorologists and zoologists from Sweden, Germany and China an opportunity to participate in the expedition and carry out research in their areas of specialty.
Hedin met Chiang Kai-shek in Nanjing, who thereupon became a patron of the expedition. The Sino-Swedish Expedition was honored with a Chinese postage stamp series which had a print run of 25,000. The four stamps show camels at a camp with the expedition flag and bear the Chinese text, "Postal Service of the Prosperous Middle Kingdom" and in Latin underneath, "Scientific Expedition to the Northwestern Province of China 1927-1933". A painting in the Beijing Palace Museum entitled Nomads in the Desert served as model for the series. Of the 25,000 sets, 4,000 were sold across the counter and 21,500 came into the possession of the expedition. Sven Hedin used them to finance the expedition, selling them for a price of five dollars per stamp."

This is a cover sent by Sven Hedin to his sister Alma I found on the wiki site.

I always liked this set of four, and it is all in old Chinese characters, so I don't have a clue about it. Perhaps someone from the Chinese Stamp Society will help me out. Just found a link to a Chinese Stamp Society http://www.chinastampsociety.org/index.cfm, and wrote the secretary an email. Interesting he is from Columbus OH where my parents met. Perhaps stamps might still be a vehicle for international understanding. I am not into collecting for money, rather for learning about people, values and history. So, we'll see what connections I might make!

Other stamps I think are interesting. Waiting for some history on these too. :-)

I think this commemorates something about the US Constitution and I really don't know. Always liked the cool big map of China!

Preparing for Asian Journey 2011 - Revisiting History through Chinese Postage Stamps of the 1920's

2011-01-04T05:40:00.000-08:00

“The Journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.” Lao-tze - Here is a sample from the 1920's of the postage stamps I collected, that allowed me to think about the ancient culture and people of China - Zhongguo = Middle Kingdom - Just like Minnesota being the center of "Turtle Island" As a boy, I was fascinated by the culture of China, and created a special collection. Now, as I envision a trip to Asia, discerning where to visit and for how long and with whom is a point of discernment. I went to my local AAA office and purchased books on travel in China and Japan, and plan to spend 3 weeks there, cultivating friendships on line and with Skype. Being a man of the 21st Century and looking for balance as a digestive health teacher and supporter of HIV preventive education for internationally, I look forward to seeing how safely I can travel. My experience, driving to the Soviet Union at age 24, and environmental activist will serve me well now. From: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Postage_stamps_and_postal_history_of_China
"The definitives of the "Junk issue" went on sale 5 May 1913, and continued in use into the 1930s. The low values featured a junk, while values from 15c to 50c showed a farmer reaping rice, while the dollar values depicted the three-part gateway to the Hall of Classics in Beijing. The series was first printed in London, then in Beijing from 1915; they can be distinguished by close examination." Here is the first commemorative issue "25th anniversary of the Chinese Post Office featured then president Xu Shichang in the centre, flanked by Premier Jing Yongbeng and Minister of Communication Ye Gongzuo" Yellow Green Grey and blue.

The Beijing Hall of Classics, and a "junk" - Chinese 船 ("boat, ship"), (Mandarin pinyin: chuán) with overprint, with Commemerative issued 1923-10-17 a set showing the Temple of Heaven commemorated the new constitution.

These colorful commemoratives captured my full imagination as a teen. Looking back at the era of the 1920's and the leadership of China that set the foundation for the split in 1949. From Wiki "On 1928-03-01 a set depicting Marshal of the Army and Navy Zhang Zuolin marked his assumption of that role. On 1929-04-18 Chiang Kai-shek makes a first appearance, commemorating the unification of China. Finally on 1929-05-30, two days before the event, four stamps showing Sun Yat Sen's mausoleum were issued to commemorate his state funeral.[2]" Sun Yat Sen, then on the regular issues below, starting in 1931, captured my interest as he was a "doctor". Not sure how the Chinese of today look back at these men and I still find the stamps evocative!

San Francisco Visit - December 2010 Visit - Rosen Center Berkeley

2011-01-02T05:57:00.000-08:00

Cafe Du Soleil, 200 Fillmore Street, here off of Duboce where I walked from a Camera Shop in a mall on Market Street after getting a cable to download my photos. Here I had a warm tea and food in a sweet cyber cafe atmosphere. I local woman suggested this as this is where she goes. During the Wednesday break from the Rosen Method Intensive, I took BART under the bay into downtown San Francisco. I stopped by the World HQ of Landmark Education on California off the Embarcadero and noticed the cable car. On this rainy Wednesday, Dec 15, the ides of December, I decided to check out a meeting on Market Street, walking past a lot of street people, likely homeless stopping at an Information Center that is very multicultural, talking about ebooks, ipads and Kindles with a woman from the Netherlands. As an HIV educator in the GBTQ community it was important to stop by the San Francisco LGBT Community Center at 1800 Market Street. Had a nice meal nearby in a cyber cafe with a local man I met there. Sweet to be back in SF after so many years. Came here in the late 1970's and 80's.

Here is a typical home with a tree fern growing in the front yard in Berkeley as I walked from my motel on University and 8th, close to the Berkeley Rosen Center, to the N Berkeley BART Station. Temps 50- 70 degrees everyday. All the plants thrive here!

Typical progressive bumper sticker on a car in Berkeley on my walk to the BART Sunday Morning Dec 19th, after the Rosen Intensive ended on Saturday.

On Sunday, I returned to the Embarcadero, and this time took the California St cable car to Grace Cathedral pictured here. I lot of artists in the park and just beautiful people watching and chatting a bit.

Locals recommended a concert at 3 PM and the Fairmont Hotel decorated for the season. Beautiful!

Here is the Choir part of Grace Cathedral where a chamber group with harp, accompanied a traditional Men's and Boy's Choir in the Anglican - Episcopal tradition. I introduced myself to the new female Dean of the Cathedral, who was educated in Oxford, as from the First Cathedral in Faribault MN. She didn't seem familiar with our Prairie Lakes area of Central MN :-) lol

I walked from the Cathedral down to Market and found the City Office Building here lite up with Green and Red for the season. Noticed several gay couples having there photo taken here. This is the place where Harvey Milk was assassination November 27, 1978 along with Mayor Masconi.

Known for a large number of gays in SF, this is a place to buy cheap clothes and also doubles as a place to get tested for HIV. This is on Duboce where there are a lot of street cars and near the wifi cafe I returned to prior to a walk to a 12 step meeting on Castro Street Sunday evening prior to my BART trip back to Berkeley. Great walking city and fun to be back!

Philately - What it teaches and How I enjoyed collecting in the mid 20th Century

2010-12-31T12:58:00.000-08:00

Here is a first day cover, from 1960, sent to me by a fellow young stamp collector when I was thirteen years old. His name is Isato Yoshimura who then lived in Kumamoto City - Japan. Would be interesting if he found his name in a search here! I learned that this was the 100 year commemorative of the Kanrin Maru's sailing from Japan to San Francisco Bay in the US. Here is the Wiki summary : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_warship_Kanrin_Maru

Here are coronation issues for the colonies around the Straits of Malacca. 1937 George VI with Elizabeth Angela Marguerite Bowes-Lyon, his wife, known as Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother to avoid confusion with her daughter, Queen Elizabeth II.
In 1936, her husband unexpectedly became King when her brother-in-law, Edward VIII, abdicated in order to marry the American divorcée Wallis Simpson. As Queen consort, Elizabeth accompanied her husband on diplomatic tours to France and the United States in the run-up to World War II. During the war, her seemingly indomitable spirit provided moral support to the British public. In recognition of her role as a propaganda tool, Adolf Hitler described her as "the most dangerous woman in Europe" Going to see The Kings Speech, a new movie about King George VI soon today, Thinking about King George VI, Queen Elizabeth II's father and how I collected stamps with their portraits on them. The Britiish Commonweath was a big deal when I was a little boy, and then many countries became independent in the 60's. I remember mounting the stamps as a boy and looking up where they were on a world map. Here are the stamps of Straits Settlements, then the states of Malaya that began a federation. I hope to learn more of the history as I travel to Asia in 2011!

Here are stamps in 1957 building up to independence. I like the 30 cent one with the neat map showing the states. Always liked maps. a real cartophile :-)

Postage Stamp Collecting - Family Education - Windows into the World mid 20th Century

2010-12-31T09:29:00.000-08:00

Here is a photo of Paul H Weaver MD and Peg Weaver working on their stamp collection at their Pelican Lake cabin. Likely in around 1960 when they were still active in collecting and writing people in many nations. In the early 1960’s, Peg began learning more about mushrooms and collection and identifying them and their stamp hobby waned.

Here is a photo of me Christmas of 1956, when I was 9 years old. I remember at that age being interested in collecting stamps and butterflies. By 1960 I had friend in a variety of countries I exchanged stamps with - Japan, New Zealand, Rhodesia, Australia to name a few. I remember being excited to find some stamps under the Christmas tree from special countries like China that I found very exotic, back in the day.

Here is the Temple of Heaven two colored series that I found to be special as a kid. According to the site:
http://www.philatelicdatabase.com/asia/temple-of-heaven-the-stamps-of-china/
"They were issued in 1909 to mark the first year of the reign of Emperor Hsuan Tung. He later became president and emperor of the Japanese puppet state of Manchukuo, a most interesting story which has been made into a successful movie called The Last Emperor."

This is the first page of my China Collection. Before Nixon Visited Mainland China in 1972, after I had stopped collecting stamps, the only stamps I could get were from Taiwan. These are stamps before the split in 1949.

Here are some Peoples Republic Stamps from 1959 my parents collected with kids with red scarves.

Paul H Weaver Born Dec 24, 1910 Honoring his work in Gratitude.

2010-12-24T20:40:00.000-08:00

Here is Paul Henry in 1919 at age nine, at his home 321 E Main Street he shared with his parents, Noah Elwood and Edna Eicher Waver. Perhaps this is on Christmas Day after he opened his presents. I notice there are a lot of books. I know that was a very important part of the family legacy. Today I keep finding family books from that era to pass on to the next generations. A legacy of reading and imagination!

At an earlier age, here is Paul Henry at a desk in the home, working with clay. Noah Elwood was quite a photographer and I am so grateful for the spirit of curiosity for learning, spawned by his early adoption of technology and Edna's having been a country school teacher.

In 1928, the year Paul Henry graduated from West Carrollton OH High School his family took a road trip to the Great Smokies, Virginia and Washington DC. Here he is by a Cedar, Arbor Vitae claimed to be 2000 years old in Virginia. He and my mom were very interested in Nature throughout their lifetimes.

After graduating from Ohio State University Medical School in 1938, he and my mom, moved to Minneapolis where he interned at Swedish Hospital. In 1939 they moved to Faribault some 50 miles south of the Twin Cities, where he joined the Faribault Clinic, then with an office over Payant Drug Store on the NW corner of Central and Forth, across from the Olympia Restaurant, the lights of which can be seen through the window. I remember climbing the long stairway to the second floor to visit my dad here in the 1950's before they built a new clinic building on the east side closer to the hospital.

From Snow to Rain - Rosen Connections in Berkeley

2010-12-10T08:01:00.000-08:00

Here is the view from my motel room in Berkeley on University Ave. The fall colors are from tulip trees. Interesting variety of foliage here in the bay area. My first trip back to the area since the 70's and 80's. One of Sue's best friends, Debby and along with her husband Ron and kids lived in the area. I first remember driving out to the coast in our old Rambler station wagon, likely in 1976-77 when we returned to teach botany at Camp Unistar on Cass Lake. Ron and Debby then lived on Clayton Street near Golden Gate park. Back in the day, when Sue and I attended the Duluth Unitarian group on Superior Street with the likes of Hal and Carol Leppink. Anyway, I digress. I flew out to San Francisco to attend my second Rosen Method intensive.

Here is a side street I walk down each day. Lined with older growth sycamores here catching the morning sun. I noticed that like other Mediterranean climate areas, rosemary grows well here. Take a bit off and chew.

Here is the entry way to the Rosen Center in Berkeley, a ten minute walk from 8th and University at the La Quinta.

One of the chief attractions for many of us in this intensive, is that Marion Rosen, the founder of the work, still teaches at age 96. She arrived each morning to teach along with Bill and Gloria. Here are two students, Asger from Denmark and Moa from Sweden with Marion one of the first mornings. I am very inspired by this woman who continues to share her experience, strength and hope in a good way!

Noah Elwood Weaver - Adopter of New Technology - Biking to Work - RR to NCR

2010-11-28T15:48:00.000-08:00

Noah Elwood's first bike according to my dad. Photo labeled 1902, likely at the family farm.

Here is a photo of my grandfather, Noah Elwood Weaver, wearing the hat from the Cincinnati, Hamilton, and Dayton Railroad office where he was a clerk, just down the hill from the family farm. This photo is labeled as his second motor bike from 1903-4. I remember talking with my father who supported my labeling of this. The initials E.H.E, are on the back. Certainly Edna Helena Eicher his girlfriend at the time, whom he eventually married in 1909.

CH and D office in Miamisburg where Noah Elwood, an apprentice clerk, is standing by the ladder. My father said this is where his dad worked prior to his marriage. According to the Ohio History Central Website, www.ohiohistorycentral.org/entry.php?rec=794 "CH & D's main purpose was as a commuter line. A number of new communities were built along the rail line, and wealthy people moved out of the city of Cincinnati to live in these communities. Railroads allowed people who could afford to pay the fare to live further away from where they worked.'

Here is Elwood's first motor bike with his RR Clerk hat, that he is riding to the CH and D office in Miamisburg. Labeled 1903, age 18, with his mom, Hattie Weaver in the background likely at the family farm on Bindery Hill West of Miamisburg.

NCR, Dayton, Screw Dept, 1905-06 where Elwood is standing at the upper right. He was a clerk apprentice here as well. He later became an accountant and controller at the Envelope Company in West Carrollton and Miamisburg Paper.

Among my grandfathers things I found this simple pass for the doorkeeper at NCR. My sense is that his work at NCR, a very advanced company in the US, set the stage for him to become a very successful business person in the first half of the 20th Century.

Yeoman Ancestors - Creating Connections to the Earth and Wealth Moving West

2010-11-28T09:27:00.000-08:00

My Weaver ancestors came to Pennsylvania Colony in 1751, Johann Enoch Weber, sailing on the ship Janet from Rotterdam, from Baden Wuettemburg Germany. I have no photos of that early era. I do have records of the family moving to Ohio, after Johann Jacob Weaver, who served in the Pennsylvania Colony Militia took his family west to the Greater Miami River area of the new territories open to settlement. That would be found in the Southwest part of Ohio on this map. Here they traveled in 1804-1805 and became earlier pioneers of the area after Ohio became a state.

Here are Henry Eicher and Helena Brandt, at the time of their marriage in 1875. Henry was a farmer in Montgomery County, Miami Twp. He farmed in the area the his father Franz Eicher farmed. Both were likely what is referred to as a yeomen. When researching my Weber, Weaver ancestors yesterday, the word "Yeoman", came up on the census in the late 1700's for Johann Enoch Weber's occupation. The definition is covered in a wiki link:
http://xroads.virginia.edu/~hyper/hns/yoeman/yman3.html
"Horace Greeley writes that above all professions, he would recommend farming to a son. Among his reasons is that farming is "that vocation which conduces most directly to a reverence for Honesty and Truth." More recent photos of the Weaver Family (late 1800's and early 1900's, are from my Grandfather Noah Elwood Weaver. Below is an active farmering photo of William B Weaver and his mother working the 110 acre farm that was in the family for 4 generations in Miami Twp, just above Miamisburg.

Here are a family of hired hands, a woman with an infant, Hattie Weaver, other hired hand child on top of hay, William Benton Weaver, last yeoman on the family farm, and the hired hand. (Hope this vertical photo could be horizontal :-())

Here is a photo of the Weaver and Eicher families at a time of rest and relaxation, at a cabin on Indian Lake in Ohio. Pictured: Noah Elwood Weaver, Edna Eicher Weaver, Paul Henry Weaver (by dad, likely at age 4 or so, would make it ca 1914), Henry Eicher, William Benton Weaver the last "yeoman" on the Weaver farm and Hattie Weaver, who fished into her 90's. :-)

When I began to upload photos, this photo came up. From the citified, no longer Yeoman Glessner tribe. These are products created by my Grandfather Harry Chappelear Glessner, Keen Shaving Cream, that I remember my mom talking about. Also Turpo, which I still have sample of. Prior to Harry, Leonard Cowles Glessner, my great grandfather, who married Emma Chappelear created the products, like Dr Drakes Cough Syrup. The Glessner- Chappelear line intersected in Farmer City IL in the 1870's, Len's first son, Lewis was born here. Len and Emma moved to Carlinsville IL and Sedalia MO, that latter city where Harry and his sister Mary Eleanor were born. Leonard moved back to Findlay OH at the time of the oil boom in NW OHio. He then founded the Glessner Medicine Company around 1900

Family Tree - Gathering the fruits of the nut trees in Ohio

2010-11-23T05:45:00.000-08:00

Here are friends, Dexter and Karen whom I met at the Hollow Horn Bear sun dance last summer, at a Delaware County Ohio park, with some old growth deciduous trees that include oaks and hickories. While walking with them here, I noticed hickory nuts on the ground - which I soon learned from my cousin in Troy, are part of the German lineage family stories carried on through holiday sweets. A 21st Century Facebook Friend, David sent a joke about DESSERTS is STRESSED backwards. So here is to sweet and joyful memories that come up for me as I envision my ancestors sharing stories and creating new realities around the hearth and fires of 19th Century in the mid part of North America - AKA "Turtle Island"
When I visited Ohio in October, I remember driving from Louisville and the 25th MKP International Celebration to the lands of my ancestors. Crossing the Ohio River at Cincinnati what occurred to me, that my great great grandfather Eicher, Franz Eicher b Steinwenden Rheinland Pfalz 1819 married Margaret Bohlaender b Ellenbach Rheinland Pfalz 1821, married here in the Over the Rhine neighborhood of Cincinnati on Aug 22, 1843. Henry had walked from Germany through Nancy France in 1833 down the Seine from near Paris through Rouen to board a three mast ship at Havre de Grace that carried him to Baltimore. He met is brother Phillip in Hagerstown and the two of them walked in 1835 with their family on the National Pike then down along the Little Miami thence through Bellbrook by Hole's Creek to West Carrollton and Alexandersville. He worked on a canal boat on the Greater Miami, that likely was from Piqua called the "Exchange"with John Waltz of Alexandersville. His son Henry, b 1845 farmed in Miami Twp Montgomery Co and married Emelina Helena Paul, b 1856, on April 20th 1875

Here are the processed hickory nuts that my kissing cousin Jeannette Weaver sent to me after our visit in Troy in October. It occurs to me that the light ones are likely the shagbark species with the husk gone. I went on line, to check out the different kinds. Jeannette describes the pig nut hickories, that are more bitter and likely fed to the pigs. She remembers her dad and grandmother never bringing the nuts in until the first hard frost. Her dad would bring them in in a big burlap bag, to get them from the shagbark hickory. He would also use the bark for the smoker for his bee hives. Here is a link to learn more about the hickory nuts and the different species.
www.hiltonpond.org/thisweek030908.html

Here are the hickory nuts of two species that Karen Poremski gathered in Delaware County, where my Glessner, Bixby and Cowles family intersected in the early to mid 1800's. I look forward to cracking these open at Jesse Weaver's home Dec 4, when our family gathers at his St Cloud home to celebrate. The shagbark is supposedly the sweetist and I look forward to finding out what the darker nut is. Open to comments from anyone. When my parents, moved in 1938 to Minnesota from Ohio, they brought their stories and love for nature and the trees of Ohio and back east. Interesting that the cutting board here, is butternut wood. Learning more about the low hanging fruits of life. Easy does it.

Had a heart to heart conversation with my cousin Jeannette this morning, just to make sure I have her granddaughter's name right. Here are Wanda Grossnickle Bordeau, my cousin from Canada, Elizabeth Grace Weaver b April 27, 2010 and her grandma, my cousin Jeannette Allen Weaver sitting at the kitchen table at Fred and Jeannette Weaver's home in Troy Ohio, sharing family stories. And thanks for the journeys and stories of all my relations. Mitakuye Oyasin! Gratitude, Acceptance and Service.

Faribault Walnut Bookcase-Cathedral -Reunion Friends and Flooding Sept 25 2010

2010-11-09T05:13:00.000-08:00

Creating a new reality together with friends. Sue and I lived in this big St Cloud home near SCSU from 1978 - 1999 together. When our paths separated and I moved to the Twin Cities in 1999 to create a life with more integrity for me, we continued to share our visions of being parents and staying connected with our sons, and friends in a good way. We agreed that this large walnut bookcase, purchased by my father, Paul H Weaver MD, from the supervisor at St Lucus Hospital in Faribault, and once part of the library at Seabury Seminary's Johnston Hall, built in 1888 from local limestone, would best be returned to Faribault to support the historical essence of Episcopal spiritual history in this prairie lakes town, that attracted my parents to settle here in 1939. Here are friends, Mike Ames and Gary Engler sizing up the project with Nate Weaver Saturday morning of the 25th at Sue and Nate's home.

Together we faced our fears of moving it for the third time (first Faribault to Duluth 1976, next Duluth to St Cloud 1978) and I rented a truck in Waite Park and we got plenty of steady friends to support us in this project. Here we are moving it out the front door. Sue, on her cell summoning back up support, Nate, Gary, Mike and this author.

After an uneventful drive down the freeway from St Cloud, noting no roads were closed from the rains in Faribault, three Faribault men, Jim Zotalis, Dean of the Cathedral, Patrick Justin, CFO of District One Hospital and Russell, the sexton of the Cathedral and Guild House are seen here to move the bookcase into the Cloister Walk then into the Guild House.

Here, with Patrick checking out the doors, the bookcase finds its place in the Great Hall of the Guild House, blending in with other historic aspects that Jim Zotalis shared with me about the history of the Episcopal Church in Faribault during the 1800's when "Athens of the West" was a description of a town that was the seat of the Minnesota Diocese. For more history see: www.thecathedralfaribault.com/History.dsp

After we unloaded the bookcase, I waited to meet David Currer and his partner Brian from the UK. It was David's first time backs to a Faribault High School Class Reunion. We had visited in the UK last fall when I attended the Mankind Project WEG and drove around the country side together in his sporty BMW. Sweet to finally meet Brian here in the town where David and I both
began some of our writing. Both of us wrote for the Yearbook, the Voyageur, another reflection of the French Heritage of Alexander Faribault, who was French and Dakota.

Here I am with the iconic sweep of the Viaduct in downtown Faribault, noticing the sandbagging during the floods. David and Brian are by the bridge to Teepee Tonka Park, the place I understand was a "big encampment" of the Dakota people after the 1862 Dakota Conflict when Alexander Faribault and Bishop Whipple provided shelter during a time of cultural persecution of the
indigeneous peoples of Minnesota. (Thanks Howard Heath of Hoyt Lakes for the Editing Suggestions - Glad you are awake:-))

Here is the extent of the flooding in Heritage Park, where I am standing near the Depot restaurant where they were pumping water from the basement.

Completing our tour, David, Brian and I drove to the Health Care Campus that includes District One Hospital and the iconic Johnston Hall with its limestone tower as a focal point of Faribault's East side, since its construction in 1888. The following Tuesday, I met with Patrick Justin and Dean Jim Zotalis to tour the building and then share my hope for its preservation and integration into this Campus at the District One Hospital Board Meeting. Hopefully, with financial support from a variety of sources the Ad Hoc Committee now forming through the Hospital Board, will draw on the expertise of holistic creative folks in the area, to create an integrative health care resource center that will serve the people for the next 7 generations. Peace, love, joy and beauty. Mitakuye Oyasin. D/Lakota "We are all related".

Lake Superior Bark Point - Flag River friends

2010-11-08T06:37:00.000-08:00

I arrived Saturday after a drive up from the Twin Cities with my friend Stephen Sewell, a brother from my Mankind Project I group.
Awaiting us was the fresh vistas of the south Shore of Gitchi Gummi, an Anishinabeg name for this big cold mother of waters. These stone people reflect an incredible diversity that I experienced here. Peace and connection with eight other lovely men sharing from our heart about life's transitions in a good way.

Here is the view looking west and down Bark Point toward the Wisconsin Shore. The changing horizon and the waters of the lake and the wind refreshed us as we had no real agenda other than sharing from our hearts about our passions and life's missions. After an early afternoon sauna, I drove back west to Port Wing and up the Flag River to visit Rus and Cindy Hurt, whom I had not visited here since they moved here from Duluth in 1976! Rus lived in our basement at 1716 E 5th St on the east hillside part of Duluth and created a darkroom there, where he developed photos during his trips on the ore boats and up to Cloud Bay Ontario. Memories of Cloud Bay sour dough bread and the cultures we kept going in crocks back then in the 70's.

Here is Cindy in their home, built, I understand by a "one armed man who had worked at the local sawmill" according to Rus, and he got a settlement for his arm injury and got a lot of the beams for this home. Such a warm welcome with tea and great stories. Rus is a bowl wood turner and some of his creations are visible on the top of the light wood hutch. Rus then showed me a poster of his 1976 photo called "The Roll," taken on the Irving S Olds, an ore boat he was crewing on lake Huron, was in a strom in January. Check out Rus Website: http://rushurt.com/moments/moments1.html - For the famous image that is now featured as a 8 X 12 foot enlargement on permanent exhibit "On the Water, Stories from Maritime America" at the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History in Washington DC.

Rus Hurt and Tom Weaver in front of the wood shed at the Hurt Flag River residence near Port Wing. Connection after 34 years!
Fun to share stories and see where seeds planted years ago ae coming to harvest in a good way. Thanks for the stories Rus and Cindy, and for listening to my life's journey over tea!

Ohio - Crossroads of Genealogy Stories - German - French Roots Heritage

2010-10-27T13:19:00.000-07:00

My Cousins, Jeanette Allen Weaver (Troy Ohio) taking the photo, Wanda Grossnickle Bourdeau,far right, (Tilbury Ontario) joined me at Wanda's sister's Emma Grossnickle Cline's place, here in Farmerville Ohio, where her husband Everett Cline looks on (left).
Below are some of the family photos we scanned and talked about this day, a stormy October day in Farmersville not far from the Great Miami River in southern Ohio.

Louisa Amelia "Mary" Brandt Paul in 1905 in rural Ohio. She came from Niedersachsen a small town near Rinteln bei Weser Fluss, called Krankenhagen. It was at this farm location in the early 1900's where many family photos were taken on a stump. Jefferson Twp Montgomery Co OHIO. (hmm - they seem to keep uploading upside down - Heyoka?)

Esther Eicher, born 1873,my great aunt was over 6' 1" tall, with Charles Eicher her younger brother, and father of Bill and Betty, born in 1883, and my grandmother, Edna Eicher, born 1885, at the stump on the Paul Homestead around 1907.

Brandt-Paul First Cousins Club March 1 1959. Color photo by Noah Elwood Weaver. (This authors Grandfather.) Emma Cline's House Farmersville L-R Mark Cline, Carrie Scherer, Lou Brandon, Esther Grossnickle, Virginia Magee Weaver, Flora Paul, Milton Maue, Elwood Weaver, Everett L Cline, Richard Cline, Emma Cline, Kathy Cline, Walter Paul, George Paul, David Allen, Ida Allen, Laura Isler, Edward Duncan, Esther Duncan, Sandra (granddaugher of Esther)

The Waters of Life - Easton Mountain Center,NY – Sweetwater Danby Mountain Creek, VT

2010-10-05T13:29:00.000-07:00

Arriving in the rain from Bradley Airport by Hartford CT and Springfield MA I drove with my friend Ron Christianson to Easton Mountain Retreat Center where we staffed a Gateway Weekend for Mankind Project. Here is the pond in front of the lodge where we did the NWTA Weekend.

Here is Sweetwater Creek by the Partner Earth Education Center, Danby VT, envisioned by Pamela Montgomery with the buildings maintained by Mark Carlin since 2004. See http://www.partnereartheducationcenter.com/. Mark and Pam welcomed Ron, Ivey Hardy and me to their home on Marble Mountain above Danby with fresh vegies and chili on Sunday night.

After a hearty home made breakfast of farm fresh eggs, blue berry pancakes with coffee and orange juice with Pam and Mark,
Mark let us work off the calories with a walk-climb up Marble Mountain to the middle falls here. Here are Mark and Ron at the middle falls of Sweetwater Creek.

Another view of the creek with its clear waters in the autumn.

Ron Christianson and Mark Carlin at the upper falls of Sweetwater Creek. This is where we hiked to after breakfast and before we drove back to Bradley Airport in Connecticut on Monday afternoon.

Ventures to Connecticut and Rhode Island

2010-09-17T16:46:00.000-07:00

On Wednesday morning I took the train to meet Carleton classmate Harry McLachlan in Darien and we promptly drove by Westport-Weston, where my brother Jim married back in the 60's, to meet our fellow classmate Burt Saxon in Milford. Here is Burt with his "rogues gallery" of photos in his upper room, that includes a photo of him with George W Bush in the white house where he was honored at CT Teacher of the Year. (He was coached not to bring up the "war".) Burt mentioned that he was connected to Yale, GW's alma mater, where Burt has given talks in 11 out of the 12 Yale Colleges over the years.

Here are Burt and Harry, in front of the home Burt lives in near Long Island Sound. He describes the governance as a borough and how he has been active in the community for several years.

Here are Harry and Burt overlooking the Borough of Woodmont's beach. Quite idyllic on this day!

After a lunch at the local Japanese Wasabi Restaurant in Milford, we headed to the Yale Campus and visited the Art Museum. Here are a couple of iconic views of the campus.

St Mark's in the Bowery with Mike Relyea

2010-09-17T05:23:00.000-07:00

Back in Manhattan, I visited St Mark’s in the Bowery with Mike Relyea who has served as an Episcopal minister here over the years. Peter Stuyvesant, Founder of New Amsterdam is buried here and here is a bust of the guy. Mike thinks his nose and face are reminiscent of his speech teacher at Faribault High School, Ed Silvis. Ed was a good friend of my parents.

Here is Mike, seated on the west side of the church wherehe says the placement of ashes after services is still happening in the earth.

Mike’s wife, Marlena, says "The Native American Madonna was designed and drawn on the wall by a church member
Duane Stapp. I motivated his research and filled in the colours." Marlena is originally from Germany.

Here is Mike again on the east side with a colleague at St Marks.

Here is the farmers market in front of the church that we passed through on our way to the subway and Forrest Hills in Queens

New York City Ground Zero and Brooklyn Travels

2010-09-17T04:40:00.000-07:00

On a sunny Tuesday, I ventured from the Upper West Side to the Ground Zero Site to see what is going on. Humming activity here with construction. When I walked to the controversial mosque development site at 51 W Broadway, I was grateful to see there was NO drama being acted out there today. Grateful for the very helpful NYPD folks and all.

I walked east to the 911 Memorial Planning site just across the street from the church here, St Paul's Chapel. Here I saw the current vision of what is being built on the site and what it might look like.

This iron cross memorial is on the street nearby. I sense a lot of New Yorkers are going back to business as usual nine years after the plane hit the towers.

From here I walked to the City Hall area at the base of the Brooklyn Bridge on this blue sky day.

I am struck by the blend of greenery and the image of this stone towered suspension bridge that was the first of
its kind in the history of bridge engineering!

I bit of drama began here as a helicopter and emergency vehicles headed onto the bridge. I kept walking not wanting to be a “gawker” when at the Brooklyn End one of the traffic officers (from the Dominican Republic) said a guy climbed out like he was going to jump and they talked him down.

After a great lunch at RICENY in the art area of Brooklyn near the water, Matthew Heckart and I went to view the bridge from below. Here is a photo of Matthew who recently received a monetary award to finish his Masters work. Really wonderful he has been award for his advocacy for GLBT amnesty work. Check out the link to to learn more http://design.sva.edu/site/blog/show/262 - Way to go Matthew!

Lastly is the photo he took of me!

Sept 4 Work Day - St Cloud Family Home

2010-09-13T10:48:00.001-07:00

On my way north Saturday Sept 4, Sue had asked me to work with Jesse and Nate to clean out the gutter on the house and put back the big planter that was knocked off the front porch by local revelers. Here are Jesse and Amy looking back at the ladder we set up from the view of the back yard,

Amy, Jesse and Sue steadying the ladder extended for me to remove the plants and debris in the gutter.

Nate, Sue and feline with Amy support at dining room table prior to going to the porch to replace the planter.

Jesse in the living room sharing in his dance and eagerness to get on with the work at hand.

Here are Amy, Sue and Jesse surveying the damage and the flower urn on the porch.

Susannah, Jesse and Nate getting ready to put the flower urn back on the porch pedestal.