A New Mandala

My teacher, Judy Cellars out of The Villages in Florida, recommended Roger Howell (http://www.thecarvingcorner.net/) as someone who makes great basket bases.  This is the first one I have done with one of them.  They are equisite.  My basket coiling is still a little crude, however, I learn something new each time.

Singing for World Peace

This truly touched my heart. I sometimes get so wrapped up in my own blessed life I forget to remember there is a whole world out there!!!!

Introduction

One Love from Playing for Change

“Let’s get together and feel alright." While we were filming and recording some Tibetan musicians in Dharmsala India, we passed by a small record shop on the side of the road. The shop's display featured about 50 Tibetan CD covers with one prominently displayed Bob Marley album in the middle! In that moment we truly realized the global reach of this amazing musicians!

This Song Around the World is in dedication to the love inside each of us. We can achieve far more together as a human race than we ever could apart. One Love.

ELVIS ON TOUR: 75TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION

eslTonight we went to See Elvis on Tour produced in 1972.  In this Anniversary Program people who were a part of this documentary talked about their experiences.  The program was introduced by Priscilla Presley.

This documentary was filled with pictures, audio interviews and videos.  Elvis sang many songs and you got to see behind the scenes -- things like after shows his group would get together and sing spirituals into the wee hours of the morning.  And, how he actually had stage fright before he performed.  It was great to see it.

Baltimore Maryland

On the way to Baltimore we found this little church - St. Mary's G. C. Church

We also stopped at the Aberdeen Proving Grounds.  I think I committed a federal offense photographing this helicopter.

Baltimore has two huge stadiums for the Baltimore Orioles & Ravens

We were on a quest to see Edgar Allen Poe's House and Graveyard.  Never found it.  What we found was the worse part of Baltimore.  It was a little spooky.  We also found Catheral Avenue and many old churches that were architectural wonders.

Also in Baltimore is the first George Washington monument.

Washington DC

We took a quick run through Washington DC.  I had never been there before it was so cool to see what you see in movies and in the news.  What struck me the most was how every department had its own huge building.

Capitol Building

National Archives

White House

United State Department of Commerce

Lincoln Memorial and Reflecting Pool

Other Beautiful Buildings in The National Mall

Heading for the Washington DC - Baltimore MD Area

Here we come Washington DC and Baltimore......

Was thinking about Martin and Jeff when we saw this.

Another bridge.  This one is called the Chesapeake Bay/William Preston Lane, Jr. Memorial Bridge -- Bay Bridge for short.  When we left we were in Virginia on the way we were very close to Delaware and then we were in Maryland.  Some states on the east coast are very, very small compared to Washington.

We were greeted at Fort Meade MD by three deer and a groundhog.  Never have seen a groundhog before, well, except on Groundhog Day.  Recognized him right off.

The Great Dismal Swamp

With a name like the Great Dismal Swamp we had to check it out.  The Great Dismal Swamp in 112,000 acres in Virginia.  Lake Drummond, the largest lake in Virginia is in the middle of the "swamp". 

The Swamp is so large you have to have a permit to go into it.  With the permit you get the code to the padlock on the gate.

The road is a one lane road going through lush forest, swamp stuff and beautiful folliage. 

Lance and I debated on whether it was a hurricane or fire caused these trees to die.  Turns out it was both.  A hurricane came in a knock over the trees.  When a contractor came in to clear the land a spark from their equipment started a fire. 

I stole this picture of the Great Dismal Swamp website.  It is Lake Drummond at sunset.

Kitty Hawk National Memorial

On the way to Kitty Hawk we saw monster truck track.  My goodness are they big.

There is a town called Kill Devil Hill.  It is in Dare County North Carolina.  It is named after the hill the Wright Brothers flew their experimental plane off.  The interesting thing about the first successful airplane flight in 1903 was 12 seconds long.

The hill now has a memorial to the Wright Brothers.  It is quite spectacular.

The area is also home to the world's biggest hammock.

Chesapeake Bay Bridge - Tunnel - Seventh Engineering Wonder of the Modern World

This bridge has two tunnels that go down deep in Chesapeake Bay.  The astounding thing is it is 20, yes 20, miles long.  One thing we have learned about the east cost -- there are plenty of bridges and tunnels.  The northbound side was  opened in April 1964, and cost $200,000,000.  The Southbound side was opened in April 1999, and cost another $250,000,000. 

 It received the American Society of Civil Engeers 1965 award for "Outstanding Engineering Achievement and is Designated "One of the Seven Engineering Wonders of the Modern World" in 1965.

Oh, by the way -- it costs $12.00 to go northbound and $5.00 to go southbound.  Another thing we have found on the east coast -- tolls!

There are numerous emergency pull offs along the bridge and phones.

This was the real cool part -- this is a huge barge that actually went over us as we went into one of the two tunnels on the bridge.  Yes, over us.

This is the barge on the other side of the tunnel!!!