Dianna .... In China

Yes, DJ is now in China.  Check out her new blog:  http://djfchina.blogspot.com  or you can click on the link to the right.

Couque (Cookie)

Dinant has several claims to fame.  First, it's the birthplace of Adolphe Sax, inventor of the saxophone.  Second, it was known for its intricate metalworkers and copper artists in the middle ages.  Fourth, as the copperworks diminished in  importance, the artists started making intricate cookie cutters.  Dinant has many storefront bakeries holding these huge artistic cookies.  And they actually do taste quite good!

Here is Dubby holding one.  If you look closely, you can see it is an airplane.

Sand People?

Inside the citadel in Dinant (see below), in the dungeon, there was an exhibition of sand sculpture.  The artists had sculpted almost 100 Disney figures.  here are a few of them. 

Dinant sur Meuse

May 9, took the train south past Namur to another Belgian city that has been occupied since before Charlemagne. 

The town of Dinant is on the river Meuse, in a strategic location, and has a very checkered history.  The city's rcords date from the 700's.  The citadel on top of the rock overlooking the valley was built in the 1100's, and the church was rebuilt in the 1200's on the foundations of the church destroyed by falling rocks from building the citadel.

We walked around the southern part of the town, ate lunch, and encountered a most grateful resident who gave us her St. Christopher medal and other precious's as thanks for U.S. assistance in WWII, which she vividly remembers. Afterwards we took the cable car to tour the citadel. 
 Below:  view from the citadel looking south up the Meuse.

Below is the view from the citadel looking north down the Meuse towards Namur..

Looking westerly.

Dinant is the birthplace and home of a guy named Adolphe Sax.  Guess what he invented?

They have turned his home and workshop into a museum to his many inventions.  His house is about a block north of the citadel, down in the village.

Wedding Picture Set 1

Prior to departure, Ft. Lauderdale International Airport, April 5, 2012.

At 12,000 feet ASL, over Florida City, Florida, John declares:

"I now pronounce you man and wife."

Wedding Picture Set 2

The entire wedding party at Key West International Airport.

The pilots who actually flew the aircraft from Ft. Lauderdale to Key West.

Best man Nick offers the first toast, at FBO Key West.





Wedding Picture Set 3

After the toast,

the party proceeded to the beach for some photos...

Louisa and Nick.

After lunch, and a trip to the Key West Aquarium
and a walk in "old town",

the group toured Fort Monroe.

Wedding Picture Set 4

Beautiful reception Saturday night,

decorated by the bride's family and friends.

Cutting the cake.

(cake decorated by Debbie, Dianna, Louisa, and Elise)

Catered by the bride's family and friends.

Wonderful food.

... with a dance following dinner.

(DJ's were the bride's father and brothers.)



Wedding Picture Set 5

The bride's parents: 

Charlotte and Richard McEwan of Coral Springs, Florida

The bride and her father...

The groom and his mother...

Parents of the groom: 

Sister of the groom and her father...

Productive 2 Days...

Very productive 2 days:  spread 250 pounds of fertilizer (which got watered in quite well by the gentle rain that has been falling for 20 hours now); prepped and taught my Friday classes, put finishing touches on a manuscript, picked up laundry, filled the cars' gas tanks, prepared a church talk, shopped, refilled bird feeders, filled and mounted new hummingbird feeders, weeded out old clothes from closet to give away, put away winter clothes, coats and parkas, got out spring and summer clothes, paid bills, attended a ham radio club Board of Directors meeting (including picking up two of the members to take them to the meeting in Mauzy), got a haircut, washed dishes, pots and pans, made a dump run, answered students' emails, set out and re-baited groundhog trap, ...

Thanks to Dubby for going to Florida for me. That is the one thing that I was dreading doing but it had to be done.  "Thanks." 

Okay, I'll do one.

It is becoming an Internet Meme, so I'll give it a try.

ACCOUNTING PROFESSOR.

What my students think I do...

What my students tell their parents I do...

What the Dean thinks I do...

What elected officials think I do...

What my friends in the business world think I do...

What my friends in the liberal arts and sciences college think I do...

What my wife thinks I do...

What I think I do...

What I actually do...

New Hamsters

All 9 of my ham radio class students passed the exam this morning.  Every one.  Makes me proud.

A little levity...