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When I started my retirement travels in 2009, I wanted a way to share it with family and friends as it was happening. Hence, "My Travel Journal". However I realized I wouldn't always be on a trip and wondered what to do with the blog in between times. My daughter pointed out, wisely, that travels can also include trips to the kitchen to try a new recipe, trips to visit family, trips to my neighborhood Starbucks, or a fun day trip with a friend. You're welcome to join me on any of these journeys! I've set up individual pages for each of my major trips (see tabs above).

Also, I have an Etsy shop where my current needlework resides. The last pieces I posted here were in 2013! So if you'd like to see what I have accomplished recently, go to (and I apologize for having to copy and paste):

www.etsy.com/shop/thedollhouseneedle

I recently added an "Italian Word a Day" thingie which shows up at the bottom of every page. You see the word and can click to hear it pronounced. I've been enjoying it and I think my accent is improving as time goes by.

February 18, 2012

Just a Quick Note

You may remember that I was planning a trip to California with stops in at least Texas and Phoenix along the way last fall and that fell through.  Well, recently I've started thinking about it again and have been torn between doing that trip first and a trip to Europe second or vice versa.

Last week I was talking to a guy in Starbucks that I have chats with every now and then.  He travels a lot and I was telling him about my dilemma of "what to do, what to do?"  He wanted to know the reason for my trip west so I told him about visiting with my grade school best friend in Texas and having the chance to meet several other people I've become friends with on-line.  And...finally getting to see the sequoias and drive along the Pacific Coast Highway in California.

That prompted him to tell me that he had planted a sequoia tree in Huntington and also in Kentucky and Tennessee for that matter.  I just sort of looked at him dumbfounded!  And he said, "so see?  You don't need to go to California to see the sequoias!"  I said "but if you planted it, it certainly can't be very big!" and he said it was probably around 2 stories high now.  So after pulling my lower jaw up from the floor I asked for details, where it was, when he planted it, etc.  And the next day, boy, I went looking and sure enough - there it was!  So, yes, a sequoia grows in Huntington (to paraphrase a book title I read back in my youth).  And here's the picture to prove it.

I posted it in "extra large" size cause, after all, it is a sequoia tree!  My SB friend told me he thinks he planted it in 1991 and it was probably about 3 feet tall then.  I just think it's so neat that it's here in Huntington!  Makes me wish I could come back in 200 years and see if it's a giant.

UPDATE:  Got a nice note from Madison (the sequoia tree planter) with some more definite information:
"Thanks for doing the story about my planting of the Giant Sequoia tree. I did in fact plant it in 1991. It was no more than 2 feet tall then. I've planted them all over the region, and given them to others to plant as well.  During the Winter the Tree always looks dull and scruffy, but once the warm air and increased light of Spring arrives, the Tree will burst out in emerald green with new growth!"  Now that I know it's there, I will check it out periodically as the seasons pass...

And a TA-DA - I've added a new page (tabs at the top) for my favorite travel  books.  Since I've also been thinking about a European trip, I bought a Rick Steve's book the other day about Paris that makes me think the European trip will come before the "Go West, Old Woman" trip!  I love travel books and once I start to dig into them I'm rarin' to go!  So, I decided to set up a page to share some of my favorite travel books with you. I also ordered another book yesterday and will report on that after I've had a chance to look at it.

And when I was looking for my tree picture I came across this picture which I may have posted before but I sure don't remember posting it and I do love it so will post it now.  I'm thinking Chris probably took this on one of his visits here.  If he didn't, then he took one I had taken and really fixed it up.  This is the view from my windows looking at a side view of the "Tom Wolfe" house, a beautiful, old house on Fifth Avenue that is now used as offices.  I've always loved this house ever since I moved to Huntington and this picture of it is wonderful, I think.

5 comments:

Elga said...

The tree is quite something, glad you didn't have to travel far to see it :-)

And I just love that house, it has loads of character!!!!

Mary Lynne said...

Wow, Elga! You beat Chris as "first commenter" and that's hard to do. :)

And, yes, it's just kind of fun having our very own sequoia right here in Huntington. That doesn't rule out my trip out west though - that's still very much on my to do list. But if I can find a decent plane fare, I think France will come first.

Christopher said...

I do think I took that picture, and doctored it up to look aged... I like it too---what a house!
How neat to have a sequoia there... Though, someone mentioned they thrive in groves? Perhaps he needs to plant a few more to be safe?

lotusopening said...

Hello Mary Lynne,

This is Madison. Thanks for doing the story about my planting of the Giant Sequoia tree. I did in fact plant it in 1991. It was no more than 2 feet tall then. I've planted them all over the region, and given them to others to plant as well.

During the Winter the Tree always looks dull and scruffy, but once the warm air and increased light of Spring arrives, the Tree will burst out in emerald green with new growth!

Madison Reed
Blog.LotusOpening.com

Chinch said...

Catching up... Wow and what fun to have a sequoia in Huntington! And yes, Chris did the pic because I remember when you posted it the first time and I loved it then (and still do) and there was another one also doctored into sepia and you sure do have a talented son -- takes after his miniaturizing Mama. :) xoxo

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