pictures from Clinton Presidential Library visit

trip to Clinton Presidential Library

It's chilly November a week before Thanksgiving. We flew over to Little Rock to see the new building in this very picturesque setting beside the Arkansas River. Pres. Clinton was there the day we were; in a fund raiser white tent. A huge area blocked off. We finally saw him on the 5:00 pm tv news in the hotel many hours later. My favorite part of the many items in the building itself were the annual (each year of his administration) calendar binders marked off in 15-minute blocks of time. The president is so busy that his appointments are in 15 minute increments!!
We also visited the new Heifer Intl. headquarters also set in the 30 acre spread. This is a wonderful organization to help reduce world hunger by helping people to help themselves. You can, for example, purchase a cow for a farmer in a specific region. The cow, and all needed training and expertise are given as well.
I think Clinton's influence has pervaded through the Little Rock community in some very good ways. The new public library and art gallery and genealogical center and history center are huge and very impressive. The Fish and Wildlife Center is one of four across the state - this one is in a new building including aquariums with baby alligators and many fish.
The capitol building has been completely refurbished and is quite beautiful. All decorated for Xmas.

It was so exhilarating traveling around the north part of California for a month. We spent a lot of time on the coast. We drove up to Mt. Lassen Natl. Park. We were seeing new things but things we'd seen before as well. John particularly liked going to the John Steinbeck museum in Salinas. I loved seeing the Pacific along Hiway One. The cliffs are very high and steep and the ocean waves are huge. Point Lobos below Monterrey hasn't done as well as expected. This used to be a protected preserve, but millions of visitors have left their mark.We drove from Santa Cruz down to San Simeon where we went back inland to 101 to return up to SF Bay Area. The new section of the SF Bay Bridge will be spectacular when finished. And Golden Gate Park - still so lovely - particularly the Windmill just at the western end of the park near the ocean.
In contrast, we have just returned from a week in Port Aransas on Mustang Island; a barrier island off the Gulf Coast near Corpus Christi. We had a wonderful view from the sixth floor of the condo we stayed in. We could watch the big ships and the shrimp boats going up the channels. I could take my walks every morning where the waves gently lap up to the sand and the sandpipers scurry after them digging for the little creatures they suck up.
We drove down to the Mesquite Natl. Park preserve on South Padre Island. This is one of the longest barrier island preserves in the world. The sand is so very fine in texture and so relatively clean, the sky and water so blue. The park dredges out tons of trash every year that collects on this curved island shore. This is where large sea turtles swim ashore every year to lay their eggs. The rangers protect the eggs and release the young turtles later when they are able to survive.
I resolve to take disposable gloves to any beach I visit and collect trash - especially plastic bags and bottle tops - every time I go. I suggest that everyone else do the same. We can make the world a little more beautiful....wild creatures and all the plants are so vulnerable.

July 20th 2009
We're heading out west to California....getting away from the Texas heat and drought. Give me some cool San Francisco fog for a while. At least for August.
MLM

May 18th 2009

Well folks...JJ is up there in the heady reaches of age 92 and counting....so proud of him...and he takes it in stride like everybody does it all the time!!!
MLM

I haven't been on this blog for four months. I still can't figure out what I'm doing. The three pictures I posted on April 12th 2009 Easter: The middle pic is the cross vine in the backyard in full bloom about two weeks ago. The picture of Jack with baby Adilay Graves was taken in January when Di, Lindsey and Adilay came for a visit. The picture of JJ, Di, Lindsey, Adilay and yours truly was taken on Sun City also.
JJ and I are set for a trip up to Arlington TX to watch the Rangers and the Oakland A's play baseball about April 29th. We'll stay at the new Sheraton Arlington....fun. I'll try to post some pics from that event. Love to all, Marilyn

Activity after 4 months!!!