Ohi-o!

I never knew that Cincinnati had a bridge for "purple people."  I guess this gives the song "purple people eater" new merit.  However, today we went across the "Purple People Bridge" designed by M.J. Becker, to go from Newport, Kentucky to Cincinnati, Ohio.

The purple bridge was once used for all traffic.  There are remnants of a narrow two lane road, a pedestrian lane and on the other side of the bridge was a train line.  It was last used for automotive traffic in the 1970's, by then automobiles were much larger and according to Uncle Rick the buses took up most of the bridge as would go across.

It also had a bridge walk that allowed pedestrians to walk up flights of stairs along the top of the structure and stop in the middle above a plexiglass section.  It has since been converted to a pedestrians only bridge.  Planters of beautiful flowers have been added and the train side of the bridge has been closed off to traffic.

In addition to the purple bridge there are at least three other bridges.  There's "Big Mac,"  the "York Street Bridge,"  and the "Blue Bridge" that is a suspension bridge modeled after one of the bridges in New York. 

Afterward we went to the Cincinnatus Park, which runs along the Ohio River to the International Garden.

Located in between the parks is one of the first "water works" in the country.

What is left, is more the shell with the remnants of metal piping running through the walls and the remainder of a cistern.  Many of the original windows were bricked up or blocked with metal bars. Parts of the fourth wall have been removed and a park has taken over the interior of the original building.

The walk along the Kentucky side of the river was a charming little shopping and dining area.

 

Goats, Lambs and Family History

Josh (38 years old)

Grandpa Bob Root (45 years old)

Through one of my husband's paternal lines the Fishburns of Kansas there has evolved a yearly event called appropriately the Fishburn Family Goat Roast.  Everyone travels to Kansas and "roughs it" as Grammy likes to say.  

They have a family auction, an annual hat competition and celebrate a long and rich family history.  Though we have not yet been able to go to the annual shin-dig we've heard all the stories from our dear Grammy and Grandpa Root.  

According to Grandpa it started out as a cousins reunion for the 35 Fishburn cousins that took place as on of his cousin's farm.  He said it took place in November due to the farmers' growing season.  One of the meats that was cooked that year was a goat, so they decided that the next year they would have the reunion again and the next year they would start calling it a goat roast.

Goats it seems have played a large part of the family's life.  So since it is the goat roast the theme is goats and family history.  Grandpa has goats all over the house that were purchases from the auction and even models of past contributions to the Goat Roast.   Grandpa collects goats.

Grammy is a University of Kentucky fan, "true blue" as she would say.  She has decorated her game room in blue and white and wildcats.  She loves her basketball team.  Her other passion is dolls.

Kentucky Fried

Howdy from Kentucky!  We finally made it here to visit Grammy and Grandpa Root.  After the standby flying fiasco last year we made sure to buy tickets this year.  I ended up managing to get a cold, and by the time we got into Cincinnati I was super congested.

We went to White Castle, a fast food chain based mainly in the east.    Josh said, "White Castle has a sandwich they call "Sliders".  I couldn't figure out why at the time.  After a few hours... I found out.  They have little fried sandwiches on dinner rolls mostly grease with a little beef and onions (mine was fired halibut and cheese).

Yesterday, we started out with Grammy's big southern breakfast with ham, bacon, fresh eggs, toast, cinnamon rolls, and a fruit salad.  Unfortunately she realized to late she was out of grits.  It turned out she had three boxes of corn meal instead.

Then we got a tour of Grammy's garden.  She showed us her flowers and trees in all their variety.

She's most proud of her crépe myrtle and her her redbud trees.

Grammy says that she has 30 different roses in her garden, and that it is a pity we visited after they were done blooming.

They showed us the rocks that they had.  Many of the large stones that make up the paths in the garden are fossils they dug up on this very property.  You can see the fossils of shell fish, showing that this area was probably underwater at one point.  

The other notable rock was "The Pebble" a rock that Grammy brought with them from their home in Crown Point, Indiana.  It's got a beautiful layers on it that sparkle in the sun almost like a granite crossed with an oyster shell.

Grammy also loves to decorate with seashells they have picked up over the years on their trips to Florida during the winter.  Grammy calls Panama Beach their second home.

Two Charming Ladies

It's amazing how children grow and change.  Until you are around them on a regular basis you never remark on what things must be taught, but also what they pick up.  I've heard children compared to sponges, always observing and mimicking the behavior they are surrounded by.

Recently I've been working on manners with the girls.  Please, thank you, your welcome and best of all chewing with our mouths closed.  Mirna was so proud of herself for being able to eat politely like a big girl.

Released from Bondage!

It's amazing how changing one's appearance can liberate one's soul.  It's been about two weeks since I cut 14+ inches of hair off my head and I feel amazing.  It also helps that I was able to fit into a skirt I haven't fit into in over a year and a half yesterday. 

 I think a body goes along comfortable in a set routine and forgets what it is to take pride in one 's appearance.  Enough with complacency, as Marina said to me on Saturday, "You need some refreshing!"  I definitely feel refreshed after not only shedding the weight of all that hair but in donning a new do and embracing change.