Where Does Occupy Wall Street Go From Here? | MichaelMoore.com

Where Does Occupy Wall Street Go From Here? | MichaelMoore.com

Rogue Squash

Hre is some produce that I think you will find interesting:

Thisis Frank's butternut squash. Things are getting out of hand.

The Daily Beast: Hold The Rye, Ctd

Hold The Rye, Ctd
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Last day of the Journey

What was going to be the second to the last day of our journey became the last day of the journey. Plan A was to stay on the Mississippi somewhere and return to Lake Mills on sunday. However, it didn't quite happen that way.
We did get up and visit the farmers market a couple blocks from the campground. There we purchased a blueberry scone, a blueberry fritter and a bag of peanut butter dog biscuits for Charlie.
We followed many, many motorcycle riders that were on their way to Sturgis for the Ralley that starts on August 8th. Frank talked to a guy from Germany that had been riding around on an old Harley through Canada and the United States and was going to end up at Sturgis. He had a little tent and was gone by morning from the campground.
We drove to the Mississippi and to LeClaire, IA. This is a river town north of Davenport a few miles. I lived there while my father was principle of schools there. I was 5 and 6 years old at the time, so over 50 years ago. I asked Frank to humor me and go find the house I had lived in back then. I hadn't been back there since I moved all those years ago. It was amazing that I found the place with relative ease.

This is the humble house that my Mother, Father, older brother, myself and younger sister lived in. This is where I learned to ride a bicycle, took ballet lessons, attended kindergarden and first grade. My Dad planted the big trees in the yard.

Here is the school, that no longer is a school, that I attended. I very nice new elementary school is now in town. Like all river towns there is a large hill that goes from the Mississippi to where I lived. I remember of being so frightened to ride my bike to school for fear of now being able to stop my bike on the big hill and ending up in the Mississippi river.

And here is a picture of the Mississippi taken from a potential campsite we chose not to stay in. All of these had been flooded recently and still showed a little ware and tare. We chose to head on home instead. After 4300 miles, we pulled into the driveway of our home. Home sweet home.

But look, nature has taken over. In the two short weeks we have been away weeds have encroached the flower beds, the squash plant is taking over the yard,and the tomato plants have become monsters. Nothing stands still.

And finally, it is my oldest daughter's birthday today. She is 25 years old and we had a great time helping her move and having her accompany us to Cape Cod. Happy Birthday, LeAnn.

Tollbooth heading West

August 5, 2011
Not much to say about today except we drove west. It was a beautiful drive through the Appalachian mountains in Pennsylvania. It was a foggy morning and the vistas were moody. We entered the Ohio turnpike and blew through the state. Next is the Indianna turnpike interstate 80/90; childhood home of Ab Lincoln (so the sign says). We are staying at another KOA tonight in northern Indianna. There is suppose to be a farmers market a couple blocks away which I hope we can look at tomorrow before we get on our way.

Going home

Tonight we are at a KOA campground. They are not our first choice. We prefer state parks or county parks. However, after an hour of stop and go traffic on Interstate 80 in the middle of the Appalachian Mountains in Pennsylvania we were burnt out and took the first thing we saw after 450 miles of driving. This morning we drove LeAnn to the bus terminal near the bottom of Cape Cod. For $20 she could get back to her apartment and save us to drive into Boston one more time. It saved us a lot of time. We drove through Massachusetts, Conneticut, New York, and now we are in the center of Pennsylvania. I took a rather poor photo out of the front of the car window to show you the scenery around here. It is actually a video, I thought it was a photo. There was a pickup truck on our tail so I couldn't compose as well as I wanted to. It reminds me a lot of Missouri sans the mountains. There is piped in music in the KOA bathroom. Early 60s. I can tell I am getting closer to the Midwest because the humidity has increased significantly. There are cicadas, a steady drone of some kind of insect, and a single bird chirping out it's bedtime song.
Tomorrow we plan for a marathon drive of a minimum of 500 miles. That will leave us a final 500 for Saturday. Otherwise we might break it up and get back on Sunday. I'd like to stay on the Mississippi River one night. We shall see.

LeAnn on the beach

Frank and Caryl in Provincetown MA

LeAnn in Provincetown

Cape Cod National Seashore

August 3 , 2011
Great thunderstorm last night.  Rumbled and lightning, steady rain but no wind so it didn't feel threatening.  LeAnn is sleeping in the little tent that frank uses when he goes to the Boundary Waters in Canada.  The ground here is sand and pine needles so there is no mud as would of been in the Midwest.
After a hardy breakfast of eggs and bacon that Frank prepared on his one burner stove we went to the beach. It was beautiful.  We got in on the Golden Pass for National Parks that frank got when he turned 62.  We have used it for discounted camping and free entry to National Parks and Corp of Engineer areas.the three of us watched the waves come in on the Atlantic side of Cape Cod.  Sun was shining, sand as far as you could see either directions.  I applied suntan lotion but both LeAnn and I got spotty burns where we missed application.  
After we had our fill of sand and beach we drove another 20 miles to the end of the peninsula to Provincetown.  It was exceedingly crowded with small narrow streets and many little specialty shops.  We bought sandwiches to eat at a little cafe and proceeded to walk down the street paralleling the coastline. LeAnn talked us into purchasing two slices of cake which the three of us proceeded to consume with gusto.  Unfortunately, we drove back to the campground in a sugar stupor.
It was a great day.  LeAnn's birthday is this Saturday so it was nice we could spend a little quality time together before we head back tomorrow to Iowa.

Boston to Cape Cod

August 2, 2011
Boston to Cape Cod
Frank, myself and Le Ann are at Maurices Campground in the center of Cape Cod National Seashore. There is ocean on both sides of us but we have yet to see any water. You drive right up the middle of the peninsula. Tomorrow we will go to one of the many beaches. We also plan to continue to the end of the peninsula to Provincetown Harbor. That is about 20 miles from here. It has rained since we have arrived. A regular thunderstorm. We had bought some haddock in Boston and Frank fried it for supper.
LeAnn's new apartment is a block away from the most amazing food market. She has no excuse not to cook for herself and try some different foods.
We finished moving one more load of items this morning which included her 6 plants and her cat. We were lucky we could park on the street last night for free.
The only thing we didn't have time to do while in boston was to eat at McCormick and Schmick which is where LeAnn is a hostess for her summer day job. It is a seafood restaurant. Maybe next time.
I have included a picture of the street she has moved from (old apartment) on Hillstreet. I love the buildings and architecture. Again, I cannot say how well frank maneuvered around the streets. The streets in Boston are so messed up, nothing is straight. The are many turn abouts, streets with five different ways to turn, merging traffic, lanes that disappear and numerous other driving obstacles. I must say that the Boston drivers were accommodating and not rude at all to the minivan with Iowa plates.

Long day

This will be short. No pictures. We spend the day moving LeAnn to her new studio apartment. It is only a mile from the old one but the traffic....I got to hand it to Frank, he did remarkably well. We made three trips today, parked the car on the street over night, and two more trips tomorrow. Than we are going to load up the car with the camping stuff again and head off to Cape Cod with LeAnn until Thursday. Then we will drop LeAnn off back at the place and start the long trip home. I do like this city. We drove by Waldens Pond today, however I only saw it on the GPS as we went by. Does that count? We drove through Harvard campus on the way to LeAnns new apartment. Wasn't that the setting in the old movie "Love Story"? This place is dripping with history and culture. I will be glad when we have this moving done.

Bridge by Fort Knox

July 31, 2011
Last day of July. Where does the time go to. Today we packed up our tenting supplies and headed back to the interstate. It was hard to leave such a beautiful place but all things have a season, and time had extinguished this experience. So we punched in our destination and let the Garmin lead us onward. I wanted to go to Freeport, Maine, where LLBean is located. But before we got there we passes Fort Knox and the most amazing bridge. The bridge is a conservatory. You can take an elevator to the top of the tower over 400 feet and look around. If someone would of asked me where Fort Knox was located I would of had no idea. but there it was, built into the side of a hill. It was built in 1844 to keep the British under control.At first I thought it was a penitentiary but it is a fort. Not the one in Tennessee that handles money. Freeport, Maine was like a Mall of America but outside. Every name brand you can think of had a store in swanky brick buildings. Frank and I definitely felt outclassed. Remember, we have had yet to shower!!! But it is a beautiful place on the ocean. Fun to look at everything. We actually left town with a purchase of lightbulbs from the drugstore for LeAnns new apartment.
After some stop and go traffic we finally found our evening campground called The Minuteman Campground. It is located right by Concord, about an hour from downtown Boston. However we will not have time to site see tomorrow as we drive into Boston for the big move. Hope I sleep tonight. By the way, I took a shower tonight, we cooked some haddock we bought before we left Acadia, and now for some sleep. Airplanes, traffic, and trains. I might have to dig out the earplugs.

Thurston's Lobster Pound

This is the lobster pound we ate at from the outside. Not very fancy but good food and very busy. One man said he has eaten there four times during his 10 day stay in the area.

Last night in Acadia

July 30, 2011. Last day in Acadia

It rained last night but not seriously. No thunderstorms like predicted. Just a steady rain. Got up , ate breakfast of hard boiled eggs, yogurt and granola , and a little bacon. For coffee we are using a French press and coarsely ground coffee. Gotta have my coffee. We drove to the place we thought had showers but they didn't open until 10:00; two hours away. So it was laundry time instead. We got right into the laundry mat with a very helpful owner. It is a relief to have clean clothes. There was an outdoor artshow in the center square of Southwest Harbor with many gifted artists. I didn't buy anything but was extremely tempted. I do have their websites incase I change my mind. We shopped at a market that had all kinds of fresh fruits, vegetables, organic and gourmet foods. Bought some more coarsely ground coffee for the trip home. Also purchased a couple salads with many vegetables, assorted lettus and watercress with a dilled cucumber dressing. Fun little shops with narrow streets make the town a great place for exploration.
We drove up the west side which had been unexplored until today. We took a gravel road up to bald mountain and down to a little pond. Just when you think you are totally alone in the world, another car pops up and you have company.
Finally, the grand event of the trip, we stopped at a lobster pound for lobster. It was a great place with lobster, corn on the cob, a bun, coleslaw and blueberry cake. There was a view of the harbor and as luck would have it we had a corner table right on the harbor side.
After eating we burned up the rest of then firewood from the wood fairy, took one more walk and went to bed listening to campers talking quietly and the crackle of their fires.

Docks and lobster traps on Cranberry Island

July 29, 2011

Luck. A trip such as this does make you believe in it. For instance, a woman is sitting on the outside seat of the ferry where one can see a panoramic view of the islands.(we were headed for the Cranberry Islands on a passenger ferry). She notices that I am trying to peer over everyone to view the landscape because I am seated inside the cabin due to the number of people on the ferry. She says "I am a regular and work on the islands. I take this trip daily. Would you like my seat?". That is luck. Luck is finding a parking spot right outside a National Park site that hundreds of other people are trying to find as well as you. Luck is returning to your campsite after a long day and finding that the firewood fairy left a pile of cut wood outside your campsite for anyone to pick up and use, service of the National Park. Luck is not having it rain, as you cook your evening supper of fettachinni and green beans, as the weather announcer said it would.
One more full day here and we will start back to Boston for the "Big Move " as in moving LeAnn to her new apartment. Thunderstorms are in the forecast for this evening and tomorrow. I am prepared with my umbrella and rain jacket under my cot. I haven't taken a shower besides a sponge bath for two days. Tomorrow might be laundry and shower day. However, if it is raining, the entire island will be doing their laundry as well. Luck will really be necessary. We plan to end the day with a big lobster dinner at a place being researched for price, charm, and ambiance. More to come as far as the winner in the lobster category.

View from Jordon Pond House

July 28, 2011

Sunset at Seawall
Frank and I had a big day today. We went over to Cadillac Mountain and did the "loop". This includes many of the main sites of Acadia. There is a beautiful sand beach that rivals any other I have seen. Rocks, bolder, the tide coming in and going out. Pristine fresh water lakes with mountains reflecting. I definitely have the "I'm not in Kansas anymore" feeling. Today is why we traveled 1500 miles; to view the spectacular sites of the natural world.
Frank and I had tea and popovers on the lawn of Jordan Pond House. It was a restaurant that had been in existence since the early 1900s. People in the day would lounge on the lawn and have tea while overlooking a Jordan Pond and "Bubble Mountains".
This evening we took our chairs out to the Seawall and watched the tide come in and the sun go down.

Bar Harbor

July 27, 2011
Today I thought a great deal about water, in all its various forms and purposes. So far on this trip we have drove through torrential rain, saw flooded areas due to excessive rain, camped by a muddy river in Ohio, sweated through excessive humidity, searched for ice for the cooler, taken chilly showers and wonderful hot showers. This morning we woke across the bay overlooking Cadelac Mountain and Bar Harbor. The campground was for one night only in order to get a good start to get in line at Seawall Campground in Acadia National Park. The morning was foggy with drapes of haze floating across the water. All day the sky changed from sunny to rain squalls in the distance to ominous and then sunny once again. After about a one hour wait in line we were admitted to the park and got a spot. Without reservations we literally had to wait until someone checked out. But there are 200 spots in this campground alone, half of them reservable. We had no reservation.there is a shuttle bus that runs here that will take you for free ( thanks to L.L.Bean) anywhere on the island. We planto make use of that later. Today we put up the tent, and drove to the top of Cadellac Mountain. There we could see 360degrees and the entire island and then some. Next we attended the visitor center to get our bearings. I can't send pictures until tomorrow due to little to spotty Internet service. We spend some time in Bar Harbor looking around. Lots of boat rides to look at whales, watch then trap lobsters, look for Puffins and seals. We didn't sign up for anything yet.beautiful little town but so crowded. Our campground is far away from the more touristy places. We found a very out of the way place for our lobster splurge in a small town on the westside. We were both so tired we went to bed early. It has been three and a half days to get here besides getting up early this morning to get the camping spot. Now we have three full days to relax and sit by the ocean or hike the trails. Wish we brought our bikes. The trails are amazing. President Rossavelt devised a carriage system through some areas of the island for horses only. Today , they serve as walking trails, horse trails, bike paths and carriages. Guess what, no showers at the National campground. There is running water not far from us in the bathroom area. Thank heaven I am close to the facilities. I guess the shower is about 1/2 mile up the road.

The Journey is the Destination

July 26, 2011. The Journey is the Destination

It rained during the night, a steady drizzle dripping off the trees. When my little cellphone alarm went off at 5:40 a.m. It had stopped raining and was just dripping. We packed up with a wet tent once again and headed out. It was a pretty park. Before we returned to the interstate/expressway we traveled through a few small towns with churches with amazing steeples. Also a flock of Guinney hens wander across the road in no big hurry, obviously having no place in particular to be.
One more day of driving and we should arrive close to our destination. We want to be close so that tomorrow morning we will get a campsite as the previous occupants vacate their spot. We rounded New York, went over the Hudson River on an amazing bridge, circled around the outskirts of Boston metro area and headed up interstate 95 North to Maine. We decided to visit the L.L.Bean store in Freeport, Maine on the way back to Boston.

Rain, rain....go away

The camp ground last night was nothing to write home about, therefore I will not dwell on it's inadequacies. However, we were next to the Huron River, however a rather brownish color due to high water. We left again this morning bright and early. I am putting much faith in the Garmin for directions. So far the trip across Pennsylvania on Interstate 80 has ben scenic with many forests and hills. This is the same route if you went to D C with the 8th graders from Lake Mills. Right away this morning we went through a huge rainstorm and passed a car on fire on the otherwise of the interstate. Doesn't do much for casual driving. Frank does an exceptional job. We are now in the flow of it, passing the divide between the Atlantic and the Mississippi. Also passed the town where the groundhog comes out every February. Cannot spell the name of the little critter. I can see how Iowa cornfields would hold quite a novelty apart from this terrain. It is all large hardwood trees for miles. Reminds me of the books "A Light in the Forest"and "The Education of Little Tree".
Camping tonight in a county park in New York State. It rained while we set up camp and while we ate. But we were prepared with rain gear. It is actualy very peaceful with the large trees all around us. And the restroom facilities close at hand. Water dripping from the trees.

Frank in Iowa City

On the road again.....

Had a interesting first night in the campground. It was dark before we had finished eating and therefore had to clean up by lamplight. There were two thunderstorms during the night. During the first one I thought about the Native Americans and their survival in primitive dwellings, possibly not much thicker than what I am sleeping in, keeping the elements out. Thank heavens Frank has camping knowledge with all his Boundary Water experiences. We had a break in the weather and got everything packed up this morning about 5:30 a.m. Rules of the road....if you want to make miles you have to start early. Tonight I will be so tired I will not be thinking about anything.
Straight east across Iowa, the Mississippi River, close to Le Clare where I spent several years of my childhood. Across IL and road construction south of Chicago....across Indianna tollroad and now on the Ohio tollroad.
I recommend the grilled chicken Asian salad at McDonalds. Only a little over 1000 miles to get to our destination.

Ready, set, go.....

It takes an amazing amount of stuff to go camping. It is a constant struggle between what is essential and what is frivolous. The limits are space, weight, and convenience. Should I take the heavy hardbound book my sister gave me to read but I haven't got around to for six months or a paperback with incredibly small print but fits into my purse.
How many sleeveless shirts...will I ever do laundry? How long can a cabbage last without refrigeration? At what temperature does my makeup melt or Pam explode. Things to obsess about.
Anyway, we finally shut the door of the house at 2:00,which was good considering we were going to leave at high noon. The car is running a little sluggish due to the excess weight but we are at least making miles. Destination Iowa City.

Cherry tomatoes

This is a plant I paid one dollar for at the end of the school year. It will soon be bearing small tomatoes. I can't wait.

Buzzards in Lake Mills

There is a tree about a block from my back kitchen window that is a roost for these large birds.

Magnolia Tree

Here is the tree Frank and I planted in memory of his Dad, Arthur Dahn, who died Sept 5th 2010. It is in full bloom right now. No leaves, just blossoms. It certainly has been a late spring.

Elk Creek

Today was the first day of a beautiful spring day. It reached 75 degrees today with the sun shining. So, Frank, Becky, Charlie and I drove to Elk Creek and walked the grassy road through the reserve.
Here are the photos resulting in that trip.

Tom and Jack: The Intertwined Lives of Thomas Hart Benton and Jackson Pollock by Henry Adams

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Very good book. I have learned much from the content. I feel the author did a wonderful job of giving a complete look at Benton's influences on Pollock's artwork and the other aspects of the unique times and culture of the 20th century artworld. I learned much from this one and would recommend it.




View all my reviews

Fingerless Mittens

I have knitted three pairs of these mittens now. The first went to LeAnn, the trial pair. The second pair I gave to my godchild, Johanna. This may go to LeAnn's friend Brian. I like the blue yarn that Becky is modeling for me in the picture. The first two pairs were done in a simple wool yarn. This one is called Jelli Beenz from the Plymouth Brand Collection. I bought the yarn from Hibbing, MN this winter with Mary and my Mother. We bought up yarn to make a baby sweater even though we don't have any babies in the family. Must of been a impulse buy. I want to learn how to knit clothing, sweaters and vests.

Now I am knitting some Bunny Nuggets. I will post when I get a few made.

March - Winter in to Spring

The push and pull of winter into spring is on.

Sunday Afternoon on the Couch

Frank and Charlie spend some quality time together.

February weather is Fickle

One day they are flying kits over Clear Lake, Iowa at the annual Kite Festival. The next day is an ice storm. Ice is still covering the trees giving them a fairytale quality at night when the light reflects off and through the branches.

Invasion

They are so quiet. Our back yard goes back quite a ways until the tree line which separates us from our neighbors. It has been a private space for the 25 years I have lived here. Then suddenly in a matter of two winters the deer have silently eaten the bottom two yards of the evergreens and there are my neighbors!!!. I am not sure what I think about the sudden exposure to what was a secluded backyard. I feel as if the deer have exposed me unnecessarily to viewers I had previously not concerned myself with. Now when I sit on the deck I will have to dress appropriately, watch that bottle of beer I am drinking, and behave as if I can be seen and scrutinized.
I am thinking of planting some fast growing plant but Frank has not given me the ok yet. What about bamboo? Any suggestions?

Clara and Mr. Tiffany

I am reading a great book called Clara and Mr. Tiffany by Susan Vreeland. I highly recommend the reading of this book.

God Bless the Child

I play the bass clarinet in the North Iowa Concert Band. Not like this,however.

Typewriter

So the question is this...should I keep this ancient typewriter or get rid of it. I like typewriters. Maybe it is nostalgic remembrances of my formative years. I remember the time I took in what was then called Junior High learning to type without looking at the keys. I never did accomplish that. Actually I always felt a sliver of quilt because I looked at the keys as if I was cheating or something. I think an old typewriter does have a nice font style that can be used in a collage or to type text. However, I need a new ribbon.

Interesting video and music

Cross Country Skiing

Frank and I went skiing at Wood Duck Marsh this morning. There was no school due to snow. Many inches but no wind as of yet. So, perfect ski weather. It is nice to have a place to ski so close by. I did have a workout, however. Frank broke trail most of the way. I tagged along.

Photogenic

My daughter LeAnn and her friend Brian in Des Moines when a woman too their picture when they were out with Brian's family. Thought it was a cute picture.

Mesa Verde Segment

Here is a painting I did in raw umber. Only one color and black and white. This was painted from a photograph I took when we were in Colorado many years ago. We might of been returning from New Mexico on a Santa Fe/Taos trip. It still is amazing that people lived in these cliffs.

Apple slices

I tried tonight to paint my apple from a couple days ago only altered. I sliced it, put it on a plate and tried to paint it in one hour. So, here is the results of "Apple Slices".

An Apple a Day

Here is a painting I worked on the last couple days of vacation. I am going to try and upload completed DIY projects I accomplish this year. This was a challenge to paint and apple from the About.com website - Painting. Let me know what you think. Pretty standard still life. I just finished the book Still life with Oysters and Lemon by Mark Doty. To really concentrate on one object to paint is a good challenge for me.