The Martinez Family

Calvin Jones

2009-10-14T12:56:00.000-07:00

This week Daddy, Jennifer, Christopher, Cromwell, and I had the privilege to be introduced to Calvin Jones and hear him play live! Needles to say we are all big fans now!(especially Cromwell who clapped and cheered for every song!). Calvin Jones is a Reformed Christian and an absolutely amazing pianist and composer! It was a real joy hearing him play!

Here is Calvin Jones' Whitewater Chopsped Sticks that I found on Youtube, we heard him play this live and it is one of my absolute favorites!

A special day in Southern Histroy

2009-09-18T07:00:00.000-07:00

A few months ago I was reading a book, "Diary of a Southern Refugee During the War", published by Sprinkle Publication. I enjoyed it immensely, it was very interesting, though like most of that time period unavoidably sad. In September 1862 Judith McGuire, the author of the diary, recorded this proclamation by President Davis after the Second Battle of Manassas that I found particularly interesting and thought I would share. One can only wish we had politicians today that had half the faith and guts to speak like this man did 147 years ago!

"To the People of the Confederate states:

'Once more upon the plains of Manassas have our armies been blessed by the Lord of Hosts with a triumph over our enemies. It is my privilege to invite you once more to His footstool, not now with garb of fasting and sorrow, but with joy and gladness, to render thanks for the great mercies received at His hands. A few months since our enemies poured forth their invading legions upon our soil. They laid waste our fields, polluted our altars, and violated the sanctity of our homes. Around our capital they gathered their forces, and with boastful threats claimed it as already their prize. The brave troops which rallied to its defense have extinguished their vain hopes, and under the guidance of the same Almighty hand, have scattered our enemies and driven them back in dismay. Uniting those defeated forces and the various armies which had been ravaging our coasts with the army of invasion in Northern Virginia, our enemies have renewed their attempt to subjugate us at the very place where their first effort was defeated, and the vengeance of retributive justice has overtaken their entire host in a second and complete overthrow. To this signal success accorded to our arms in the East has been graciously added another, equally brilliant, in the West. On the very day on which our forces were led to victory on the plains of Manassas, in Virginia, the same Almighty arm assisted us to overcome our enemies at Richmond, in Kentucky. Thus, at one and the same time, have two great hostile armies been stricken down, and the wicked designs of our enemies set at naught. In such circumstances it is meet and right that, as a people, we should bow down in adoring thankfulness to that gracious God who has been our bulwark and defense, and to offer unto Him the tribute of thanksgiving and praise. In His hand is the issue of all events, and to Him should we in a special manner ascribe the honor of this great deliverance. Now, therefore, I, Jefferson Davis, President of the Confederate States, do issue this, my proclamation setting apart Thursday, the 18th day of September, as a day of thanksgiving and prayer to Almighty God, for the great mercies vouchsafed to our people, and more especially for the triumph of our arms at Richmond and Manassas, in Virginia, and at Richmond in Kentucky' and I do hereby invite the people of the Confederate States to meet on that day, at their respective places of public worship, and to unite in rendering thanks and praise to God for these great mercies, and implore Him to conduct our country safely through the perils which surround us, to the final attainment of the blessings of peace and security.

"Given under my hand and the seal of the Confederate States, at Richmond, this fourth day of September, A.D 1862

JEFF. DAVIS, Pres. of the C.S

'J.P BENJAMIN, Sec. of State"

From 'Diary of a Southern Refugee During the War. By a Lady of Virginia'
P. 153 Sprinkle Publications

A long over due post!

2009-06-15T15:17:00.000-07:00

Sorry I have not posted since some time around 558 B.C. I think y'all are all use to my spasmodic posting by now, but I am sorry anyway! Below are the pictures from our trip to Dallas in May, hopefully there will be more post soon to come that might bring this poor neglected blog up to date!

Visiting the E. Family!

Savannah and our one and only Lil' Wrangler Joel!

Lauren, as beautiful as ever! :)

While we were up there we introduced The E. Family to Imaginiff.

Smiling Rebecca

Rebecca and I playing imaginiff

Savannah and Lauren playing Imaginiff and Savannah taking the above pictures.

Nathan helping fold laundry

The boys playing the infernal "Babylon X-box of death" as it has been lovingly named. After hours of hearing, "all the noise, noise, noise, noise" preceding from the before mentioned contraption; Lauren and I thought it might be a good idea to found the first X-box temperance society! :)

Ladies in the kitchen.

Rebecca serving sandwiches as Lauren sets the table.

Enough food for an army was needed to feed all of us.

Sweet Rebecca

Nathan rough housing with Robert

Savannah and her Guitar

The Gents playing basketball

while the ladies inside give a sigh of relief that they temporarily don't have to talk over the X-box!

A trip to the museum

The 19th and 21st Century collide!

Styling Belles

Much to our younger sisters' horror (they did not want to be embarrassed by association) Lauren and I went all out in our costumes to go to the Texas Civil War Museum in Fort Worth.

On the way to the museum

Such darling little chipmunk cheeks!

Pretty hair

Sweet Caroline

We G.R.I.T.S proudly stand in front of a statue of Robert E. Lee

Confederate Grey

When we reached the museum we watched a really good 30 minute video on Texas' part in the War between the States. I wish they had it on YouTube so I could post it!

Calvin and I intently staring into the contents of the glass, a bit like children at a toy shop!

Some rather old but hansom uniforms!

I was surprised how small people were back in the eighteen hundreds. Most of the uniforms looked like they were for over grown boys today!

Here we have several of Gen. J.E.B Stuart's personal belongings. Spurs, watch, and even a lock of hair his wife took.

"Jine the Cavelry!"

Caroline

"I have seen some handsom uniforms decked off with buttons bright,

and some that are so very gay they almost blind the sight...

of all these handsome uniforms, I will not sing today!

My song is to the soldier boy who wears the suit of grey!

Hurrah! Hurrah! Hurrah! Hurrah! for southern boys we say,

and God bless every soldier boy that wears a suit of grey!"

Words by: Miss Carrie Bell Sinclair.

The musuem was just full of Uniforms, guns, sabres, and knick nacks and curiosities of every description!

A Keppie

The personal belongings of Charles W. Marshal

Necessary Accouterments

Bugles, Drums, and Fifes, Galore!

Fascinated and interested in something

Dragoon Sabres

An interesting fact about Terrie's Texas Rangers is that unlike most Cavelry units they rarely used sabres at all. They were generally armed with short rifles, shot guns, and multiple sixshooters a piece, and they made it their habit not to let the enemy get close enough to have to use sabres in hand to hand combat.

Soldiers' Bibles

Lauren and Johanna

Rebecca and Savannah

The Stars and Bars!

Battle worn Battle Flag.

Savannah

Calvin completely engrossed with the placks next to the Texas battle flags

Here we GRITS are standing in front of a piano that was bought by Jefferson Davis for his niece.

This dress looks like it jumped right out of one of Augusta Jane Evans' novels!

The museum had a whole room full of dresses from the late nineteenth century.

Here Savanh told Lauren and I to look glum like all the ladies in the old pictures!

That's a little better!

Here Rebecca and I are shamelessly waltzing in the museum! Lauren and I of course started it and poor Rebecca was corrupted by our influence!

"They have arms and legs enough betwean them, and are the silliest girls in all England"

Mr. Bennet

Out side the museum

Our southern Mansion!

All good things must come to an end, and tis time to say goodbye again.

Adios Amigas!

Till next time!

Birthday Barn Dance

2009-06-15T08:33:00.000-07:00

I am sorry it has yet again been an age since I have posted anything. Computers and I don't have a very close relationship and each day we spend as little time in each other's company as we can manage; and in the mean time I fear the poor blog suffers from shameful neglect. Here are a few pictures to try and rectify this situation, though I realize they are not enough to make perfect amends!

Birthday Barn Dance!

"If you have never seen a barn dance, it is a sight to behold!"

Henry Johnson

For my Eighteenth Birthday, my family (knowing how much I love to dance) arranged and put together a barn dance for my birthday! With the help of our dear friends who attended it was certainly the best birthday a girl could ask for! Thank you everyone!

Here we are trying to reenact the Square dancing we learned at the Reformed Family Bible Conference in Bluefield, V.A. We were a little rusty, but managed!

Uh....What do we do now?

Right and Left Grand! That's better! (It helps when you have a real caller!)

Too much fun!

Rebecca and I dancing the Salty Dog! Our favorite dance to do together!

"One foot front then drag it back, then you start to ball the jack. You shake then you brake and then you sag. If your partner zigs you're suppose to zag!"

"Your heart is light, you tap your feet, in rhythm with that rag time beat! Just pack up your troubles in an old kit bag, and dance all night to the Salty Dog Rag!"

Cromwell wanted to dance too, so here he is getting a dance lesson from his Tante Jo!

I love my Nephew!!! :)

Dancing the Gay Gordon, an old Southern dance!

Robert, Jill, Calvin, and Meredith.

"Step in, step out, cross over. Step in, step out, Spin off!"

We Danced a lot of our dances to Celtic jigs and reels, and were greatly amused to see the golfers on the green across the way start to jig themselves!

The Rifle Man.

This was a new dance to us all, but it was voted one of the favorites by the end of the night!

Mr. and Mrs. S. Dancing together. :)

Lorena and Mrs. S. Executing "Ladies Chain and get spun around home."

"One, Two, pass through..."

Like most dances we had a shortage of guys, but we managed to work around that inconvenience and have fun anyway!

Getting quite dark by this time!

The Virginia Reel, an old time classic and favorite!

Bridge and pass under.

Mr. and Mrs. S. "Strip the Willow" in the Virginia Reel.

We finished the night off with one last excitement. The Nature Park where we were dancing closed at nine o'clock, our family (a little late as usual) was not packed up and ready to leave till some time a little after. So when we went to leave we found that the Ranger had already come by and closed the gate for the night, locking us inside! We were a little worried for a while, spending the night inside our cars in a park that had fines for camping over night, was not what we wanted to do! Thankfully the Ranger made one last round of the park before going home for the night and let us out! Much to our relief!

We really had a blast! Thank you everyone who participated, I hope we can do it again some time!

Huzzah for Texas!

2009-04-14T10:18:00.000-07:00

This appeared on the Drudge Report this morning! It is nice to know we still have some people with a back bone in Austin!
Huzzah for Gov. Perry, huzzah for Texas, huzzah for State's rights!

WAKE UP CALL: TEXAS GOV. BACK RESOLUTION AFFIRMING SOVEREIGNTY Tue Apr 14 2009 08:44:54 ET AUSTIN – Gov. Rick Perry joined state Rep. Brandon Creighton and sponsors of House Concurrent Resolution (HCR) 50 in support of states’ rights under the 10th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. “I believe that our federal government has become oppressive in its size, its intrusion into the lives of our citizens, and its interference with the affairs of our state,” Gov. Perry said. “That is why I am here today to express my unwavering support for efforts all across our country to reaffirm the states’ rights affirmed by the Tenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. I believe that returning to the letter and spirit of the U.S. Constitution and its essential 10th Amendment will free our state from undue regulations, and ultimately strengthen our Union.” Perry continued: "Millions of Texans are tired of Washington, DC trying to come down here to tell us how to run Texas." A number of recent federal proposals are not within the scope of the federal government’s constitutionally designated powers and impede the states’ right to govern themselves. HCR 50 affirms that Texas claims sovereignty under the 10th Amendment over all powers not otherwise granted to the federal government. It also designates that all compulsory federal legislation that requires states to comply under threat of civil or criminal penalties, or that requires states to pass legislation or lose federal funding, be prohibited or repealed. Developing...

Celtic Dreams Piano Recital

2009-03-30T07:16:00.000-07:00

Johanna's Piano Recital

March 28, 2009

Every Spring I have a Piano recital. My teacher picks a different theme each year, and goes through a lot of pain finding music to match it for all of her students. This year our theme was Ireland in honor of Saint Patrick's Day.

"Be Thou My Vision", one of my favorite hymns, was the opening song for the recital.

I also played "Scarlet O'Hara's Theme" and Edward MacDowell's "Will O' the Wisp". There were a total of 39 students who preformed that night.

Me and my dear teacher of nearly eight years Donna Cusick.

Mummy, Daddy, and me :)

Me at the piano with my beautiful bouquet!

(Thank you Grammie and Grandpa, the flowers are so lovely! I have really enjoyed them!)

The Highland Laddies

Miss Donna surprised people by arranging to have these two Bagpipers in full Scottish regalia serenade us during the reception!

They were a lot of fun to listen to and even more fun to jig to! Thank you Jill and Meredith for obliging us!

Thank you Miss Donna for all your work! It was a lot of fun!

A Day at the Races

2009-03-21T20:41:00.000-07:00

A Day at the Races!

Last Saturday the Martinez family spent their day at the races, not to see the famed feats of horses, Grey hounds, or people, however. We went to the San Patricio 37th Annual World Championship Rattlesnake Races!

Here are some of our athletes. (no one asked for autographs)

Here are the starting gates/boxes. Take a close look at the name on box 29, I love it!

More snake boxes

Rattlesnake races have a lot more to them then just snakes. Here is the egg toss game. The object is to toss an egg to your partner across from you without breaking your egg. If you successfully accomplish this, you and your partner back ten feet away from each other and he throws the egg back to you.

By the end of it people were throwing eggs at each other across the expanse of the race track and a missed egg was a rather messy explosion. (We missed out on this little game, and I can't say I am too disappointed!)

A good ol' traditional sack race

Hello handsome!
Believe it or not rattle snakes have some uses, the primary reason behind rounding up all the snakes was not for racing, but for medical research and to extract their venom for anti venom. Of course rattlesnakes being a source of anti venom would not be of any value if they did not bite people in the first place, which is a little counterproductive on their part. So see below pics for other uses for Rattlesnakes.

Wallets, key chains, hair pieces, headbands, bracelets, earrings, purses, hat bands, money clips, and the sky and your imagination are the limit! And as the old adage goes, "waste not, want not." what you can't wear or sell to a hospital, might make lunch!!!

Fried Rattlesnake, YUM, YUM!!!
Not for the first time the Martinez got to dine scrumptiously on Rattlesnake. For those of you who have not had it, Rattlesnake, (like most things) taste like chicken, except it is a little more tough. Little Noah D. in the picture above certainly thought is was good and would not let anything come between him and his bit of snake for anything....

Unlike his big brother, who would not have anything to do with it!

The races begin! Object: To herd your snake with a six foot pole across the finish line on the other end of the field first, without hitting, prodding, or eating him in the process. (oh and without being bit!)

Little Josiah D. looks on with great interest. (The boys really loved the snakes!)

Each racer was given a snake handler to make sure the snakes kept on course and did not escape to terrorize the audience.

A snake being taken back to his box after a race.

Don't tread on me!

One mean looking dude!

Snake handler with handy claw.

Nate & Josiah loving every moment

This little fellow that the man is holding up was only over six feet long.

Calvin and Dad.

We spectated for a while and then were prompted to get in on the action! Calvin and I (Jo) went to enlist ourselves. I was barely two weeks under age and was turned down, but Calvin was immediately excepted and sallied forth to do his duty on the field of snake racing.

A company there sponsored him and a snake and paid the entrance fee (yes, people actually pay to race poisonous snakes!)

Calvin was given the below certificate.

It reads: "John Calvin etc. Did despite the fact that he has heretofore shown the normal amount of intelligence, prudence, perception, and sagacity expected of civilized persons, willingly and flippantly entered his mortal body into the 37th Annual World Championship Rattlesnake Races on March 21st, 2009 in Old San Patricio Texas.

Whereas, the aforementioned person, armed with only a pair of snake leggings and one 6 foot pole, did, in broad daylight, and in the presence of a multitude of horrified onlookers, cajole, guide, and pray one fully fanged vicious Rattlesnake towards the finish line of one of the most bizarre contest in human history.

And whereas, furthermore, such courage, gallantry, intrepidity, pluck, umpusilianimouse behavior (and just plain lack of horse-sense) should not go unrewarded, This certificate herewith Guarantees the aforementioned recipient, never to suffer from the bite of any Rattlesnake, provided only that said recipient never get within fifty feet of ANY snake in his lifetime, or any life to come.

Good Luck
(and may you soon return to your senses)"

Well he didn't return to his senses before the race, that's for sure!

On your mark...

Get set...

GO!

Calvin's snake was named Tail Gunner, and he really gunned for the finish line.... at first...

Tail Gunner decided that he was part Sidewinder a quarter way through, banked left, and never got back on the straight and narrow.

To make a long story short...

Calvin and Tail Gunner didn't win.

Tail Gunner being taken back to his box after the race.

The Rattlesnake racer

Part of the shout and cheer team.

Random

They were selling live snakes there too.

What a charming smile!

The petting zoo! If eating Rattlesnake does not satisfy your adventurous spirit, you come here to actually pet one. (which we all did)

Now talk about Crazy! These snake handlers take the cake! They would pick the snakes up with their little hook, put them on the table, try to hold them down with the hook as they quickly grabbed the snake behind the neck before it could strike them. We saw several unsuccesful strikes from the snakes who were being grabbed.

Well that is all for now and it is time to go. If anyone is interested in coming to Texas to see some Rattlesnakes, come in March and we will be happy to take you to the races! :)

Till next time!

Up Date

2009-02-14T17:39:00.000-08:00

Hurray! Jennifer is out of the hospital! She is mending well and in good spirits (when the antibiotics and pain meds have not completing drugged her or put to sleep!). She, Christopher, and Cromwell, will be staying with us until she is well enough to keep up with and take care of Cromwell by herself. Until then the Aunt corp is on active duty! :) Thank you all for all your prayers we are very thankful to have had them!!! God has been truly merciful! Thanks again!

The Martinez

Up Date

2009-02-12T13:32:00.000-08:00

Up Date

Jennifer surgery seams to have gone well. It was only a fifteen minute procedure, the Doctor said the infection didn't go as deep as they expected and the antibiotics she on seam to be working! Lord willing she will be able to go home tomorrow, we don't yet know when she will be able to be around baby Cromwell again. Thank you all for your payers, God is merciful!

The Martinez

Prayer request and Update

2009-02-11T20:58:00.000-08:00

Prayer Request and Update

Jennifer is going in for surgery tomorrow to have the infected area removed and cleaned out. Please keep her, Christopher, the doctors, and all of us in your prayers.

With many thanks,

The Martinez

Prayer Request

2009-02-11T12:40:00.000-08:00

Prayer Request

Please pray for our sister/daughter Jennifer, she went to the doctor today to be treated for a skin infection that has been causing her sever discomfort over the last couple of days, and after an examination the doctor ordered her to immediately go to the hospital. She has been checked in via the emergency room and put in an isolated room. From what we understand it looks like she has a very serious Staph infection. Please pray that the doctors will have wisdom in treating her, that Jennifer will have peace and comfort while in the hospital, that she will very soon be over this, and that it wont spread to any of the rest of us that have been around her the last couple of days, (especially baby Cromwell whom she will not be able to be around at all for some time). We sincerely appreciate your prayers!

The Martinez

Croquet

2009-02-05T18:47:00.000-08:00

I am sorry it has been so long since I have posted on the Martinez Family blog! I had plans for one day catching it up from the dark ages where I left it, and chronicling everything that has happened over the last year in a systematic orderly fashion. I have had to give that idea up unfortuneately due to time constraints and have decided to start afresh with the now. So as far as the world knows 2008 does not exist in Martinezmania. We hit a time warp or a black whole and the rest is not history. I will sum 2008 up in the below picture.

Martinez's 2008

Now that is taken care of, here are some pictures of the now!

Welcome to Martinezmania 2009!

Though it is perhaps not the most terribly exciting or dramatic way one could wish to open 2009, one has to start somewhere, so I will start with the friendly game of Croquet we played today...

Robert and Calvin playing Croquet... I think.

That's better!

We play are Croquet out in our horse pasture, which makes for very interesting (i.e extremely rugged) terrain .

Ball swamped in Coastal grass.

Getting serious!

Jo's ball

Can you tell we are in drought?

Are less then attractive and enthusiastic cheer leaders.

Calvin's ball got suck in a hole

See how deep Calvin's hole was! (Another clue that we are in drought!)

Maverick, our trusty old Lab Retriever acting as Referee.

Nice shot Becca!

Neck and neck.

Here's a cute little feller that squeezed under the fence to join are fun! Isn't he cute!!! I just hope he doesn't turn into Cabrito come Easter! (Yum,Yum!:)

Croquet, though not thrilling sport by any stretch of the word, is a great game for an afternoon one wishes to spend at leisure in the sunshine and is a Martinez favorite for this purpose! Though I must say the people in the above picture seem to have accomplished this with a little more grace, elegance, and poise, then we did!

Hopefully more post to come!

The Loveliness of Christ

2009-02-04T09:18:00.000-08:00

"There may be many Christians, most like unto young sailors, who think the shore and the whole land doth move, when the ship and they themselves are moved; just so, not a few do imagine that God moveth, and saileth, and changeth places, because their giddy souls are under sail, and subject to alteration, to ebbing and flowing; but the foundation of the Lord abideth sure."

Samuel Rutherford

Merry Christmas!

2008-12-09T07:00:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas from the Martinez Family!

Veteran's Day 2008

2008-11-11T10:08:00.000-08:00

Veteran's Day

In honor of all a Veteran's and especially our Grandfather.

My Grandfather carried a camera throughout World War II, these are some of the pictures he took that are in our possession.

My Grandfather Cpl. Roman Martinez (left) and a good friend.

Martinez was too long a name, so all my grandpa's friends called him Marty.

In the Barracks

One of Grandpa's Friends

(Robert Hill?)

Another Friend

During most of the war my Grandfather was stationed in N. Ireland

We were very excited to find these pictures! This is a twelfth of July parade! The Irish celebrating the defeat of James II while fighting the tyranny of Hitler.

Bag pipers

An Irish Country road

A castle in ruins from a previous war many years before

A very sobering picture of Belfast, North Ireland 1943.

On the back of this picture is the inscription "Bombed out"

A good friend of Grandpa's

Col. Fred Deyo in front his plane the Frisco Trudy, that my Grandpa flew in as a tail gunner. My grandpa never mentions Col. Deyo without the utmost respect and affection. He told me once that because he was so young when he enlisted, Col. Deyo looked out for him and treated like his own son.

Lt. Hill, Lt. Bergui, & 1st Sgt. Lipan

England 1944

My Grandfather flew in at least three different planes during World War II, the Frisco Trudy, the Capricorn, and the Virgin Vampire.

Both B-17 and B-24

A mission over Germany

Towards the end of the war I believe my Grandfather was stationed in both Belgium and Germany.

"Pop and the Old Man"

"To my pal Marty, Harry (Pop) Claiborn, Chief Inspector, 325th"

"Fred A. Deyo Lt Col. A.E"

"Pop" was the oldest man in the crew, and everyone ever only called him Pop or Old Doc.

Hg. Sq. 325th Air Service Group

(the Pioneer Group)

Grandpa is in the front eighth from left

Brass hats 325th Air Service Group

1944 Germany

(left to right)

Sgt. Robert Longstreet, Sgt. Old Doc (Harry Claiborn),

Sgt.Cantansereetti.

(kneeling left to right) Cpl. Roman Martinez, Lt. Robert Hill

By the end of the war Grandpa had been in England, Ireland, Scotland, France, Belgium, and Germany and was more then ready to come home.

The Hannah Overton Case

2008-10-28T10:00:00.000-07:00

Hannah Overton is a sweet godly Christian mother who was unjustly accused of capital murder by omission to act in the death of her son Andrew and sentenced to life in prison without parole. She is a native to Corpus Christi, T.X and though our family does not know her personally, we know several people who do, and we are very grieved to see justice so disgustingly perverted in our city and feel deeply for the whole Overton family. I hope any of you who have time will take some of it and listen to her story that was aired on ABC last Friday. Please keep Hannah, Larry, and their children in your prayers!

The Old Orange Flute

2008-10-21T15:07:00.000-07:00

Continuing on the note of William III, (also know as William Prince of Orange to the Dutch) here is the lyrics to a favorite humorous little song of ours. The followers of King William were called Orange Blades.

The Old Orange Flute

In the county Tyrone, in the town of Dungannon

Where many a ruckus meself had a hand in

Bob Williamson lived there, a weaver by trade

And all of us thought him a stout-hearted blade.

On the twelfth of July as it yearly did come

Bob played on the flute to the sound of the drum

You can talk of your fiddles, your harp or your lute

But there's nothing could sound like the Old Orange Flute.

But the treacherous scoundrel, he took us all in

For he married a Papish named Bridget McGinn

Turned Papish himself and forsook the Old Cause

That gave us our freedom, religion and laws.

And the boys in the county made such a stir on it

They forced Bob to flee to the province of Connaught;

Took with him his wife and his fixins, to boot,

And along with the rest went the Old Orange Flute.

Each Sunday at mass, to atone for past deeds,

Bob said Paters and Aves and counted his beads

Till one Sunday morn, at the priest's own require

Bob went for to play with the flutes in the choir.

He went for to play with the flutes in the mass

But the instrument quivered and cried."O Alas!"

And blow as he would, though he made a great noise,

The flute would play only "The Protestant Boys".

Bob jumped up and huffed, and was all in a flutter.

He pitched the old flute in the best holy water;

He thought that this charm would bring some other sound,

When he tried it again, it played "Croppies Lie Down!"

And for all he would finger and twiddle and blow

For to play Papish music, the flute would not go;

"Kick the Pope" to "Boyne Water" was all it would sound

Not one Papish bleat in it could e'er be found.

At a council of priests that was held the next day

They decided to banish the Old Flute away;

They couldn't knock heresy out of its head
So they bought Bob another to play in its stead.
And the Old Flute was doomed, and its fate was pathetic
'Twas fastened and burnt at the stake as heretic.
As the flames rose around it, you could hear a strange noise
'Twas the Old Flute still a-whistlin' "The Protestant Boys".

Tagged again

2008-10-17T16:40:00.000-07:00

Johanna has been tagged by Lauren!

Tag rules are to post the sixth picture from folder six of your computer.

I smudged a little bit on this one. The real sixth picture from the sixth folder was of my sister's horse's giant gaping bloody wound on her leg that she got this past June from some nasty barbed wire. I did not want to post that, so here is the sixth of the sixth from my Picasa album. : )

This is a picture of King William III, victor of the battle of the Boyne, and defeater of the tyrant James II! My brother and I pulled this picture off the internet for some invitations we were making for a 12th of July party. For those of you who don't know, July 12, 1690 (by the new calender) is when William and his Protestant army defeated James' French Catholic army by the banks of the Boyne river in Ireland. This battle secured the English crown for King William III and Queen Mary II and freedom from James II for good. This is one of our family's many favorite periods of history. Not only for the significance it had directly then for England, Ireland, Scotland, and all of Europe, but for the major significance it has had on our own country's war of independence, forming of government, and the preserving of our religious freedom! Thank God for The Glorious Revolution of 1688!

His-story is so amazing!!!

I'm "It" again!

2008-10-16T15:14:00.000-07:00

Johanna has been tagged by Robert.

Tag rules: List six things you learned in the past month.

1. I learned how to play part of Tchaikovsky's "Waltz of the Flowers" (Schirmer's edition) on the piano.

2. I learned that it was someone by the name of Palladius, who was invited by King Eugenius II to purge the Scottish church of the Pelagion heresy, who laid the first stone for Romish hierarchy to set foot in Scotland about the year 450. Before then the church had held to a Presbyterian form of government.

3. I learned one little dead mouse can make a surprising amount of stink, and to be more careful sorting the laundry, because you might grab and sort a little dead stinky mouse.

4. I relearned that X-box is a "Vanity of Vanities" and "What advantage does a man have in all his work which he does under the sun?" Or "before the X-box" as it is in this case, NONE! To sum it all up X-box is a bad invention!

(as I am sure you already know,that was for you Robert:)

5. I learned that 'Philosophy' in the Greek means 'love of knowledge'

6. I learned that the movie "Fire Proof" is a very good movie!

Boy! Good thing there were only six questions, I might of run out and embarrassed myself! (just kidding of course)

I think I am a little too out of breath from being chased and tagged so offten to tag anyone else, so forgive for braking the rules! :)

The ScotsWorthies

2008-10-13T21:37:00.000-07:00

"A cloud of witnesses lie here,

Who, for Christ's interests, did appear;

For to restore true liberty,

O'erturned then by tyranny.

Theses heroes fought with great renown;

By falling got the martyr's crown!"

From the monument at Rullian Green

2008-10-04T18:24:00.000-07:00

Johanna has been tagged by Rebecca.

Tag rules

Post the rules on your blog
Answer the six questions asked
Write six random things about yourself
Post a favorite picture
Tag around six people
Link to the person who tagged you
Leave comments on their blogs to let them know they've been tagged

What was the last movie you watched? "Drums along the Mohawk"

If you could live anywhere in the world where would it be? Scotland has always been been my fanciful dream place. I am happy where I am though, and will try to be content where ever God puts me. (That task will become harder the further north and closer to Yankee land that is however.)

Pride and Prejudice or Sense and Sensibility? Pride and Prejudice without a doubt!

Skirts or Pants? I prefer wearing skirts, but I have nothing against pants. (especially when riding horses!)

Would you rather sing or play an instrument? I love doing both, but due to the quality of my voice, playing an instrument is probably the kinder deed to do for the sake of the rest of the world. (unless that instrument is something like my harmonica, with which I might very likely drive the rest of the world nuts!)

Love or hate roller coasters? I don't know, my one experience with a roller coaster was when I was six, and judging by the fact I got off of it in tears, I dear say I did not like it at the time! I very well might now however.

Six Random things about me....

I love to play the piano and been playing for over seven years.

I have loved horses almost my whole life.

One of my favorite of favorite psalms is Psalm 119:00.

I love to read, and I especially love reading history.

I think British comedies are one of the most embarrassing and stupidest creations of man (especially Monty Python) "Jeeves and Wooster" is the only one I have found I can tolerate and even like.

My brother Robert's half birthday is my birthday and his birthday is my half birthday. (We were born eighteen months apart to the day.)

Here is one of my favorite pictures called, "God speed".

I tag Sydney and Stephanie! Sorry I can't make six, most everyone I know has been tagged already!

2007 California trip 4

2008-10-02T15:13:00.000-07:00

I am going to take a quick step back into ancient history and publish this post I made forever ago, but never published for some reason. This is post 4 from our California Christmas 2007 series, you can click on Vacation in labels if you wish to read the preceding post.

An Unnatural occurrence!

The day after Christmas Grandpa and Grammie tried to take us to Big Trees, to see the giant Red Woods. On the way up the mountain it started snowing! As a matter of fact it started snowing hard enough that traffic control made us turn around because we did not have chains on our tires; but that did not matter to us Texans, it was snowing!!! You are more likely to see a Solar eclipse then snow in South Texas, so this was a big treat for us!

Texans in the snow!
On our way down the mountain we stopped for hamburgers, so we Texans got to get out and come in contact with this extraterrestrial substance. The first thing we did was start a snow fight (go figure). After our fingers were too frozen to pick up and throw anything anymore,

hostilities ceased enough to take this picture.

Moments before the cascarona snow ball was invented... hehehe. This picture was taken just a split second to early to document this

momentous occasion in human history.

Goofy girl

Snow cowboy

Go Texas!

This is our ugly little snowman. We used all the good clean snow in our war, so he got the left overs. This picture almost creates an optical allusion and makes him look big, in reality he was about ten inches tall.

Mommy in her element (snow) eating ice cream. The rest of us are not shown in this picture, but we are somewhere out of our element and drinking hot chocolate.

After a few more serious snow ball wars, the adults were able to pull us out of what little snow remained in the little restaurant's parking lot and we were back on our way down the mountain.

Next we went to Iron Stone Winery and Museum

One of the biggest gold nuggets in the world

A really nice saddle they had in the museum, that the girls really liked. It looks like it could have belonged to Trigger!

Cowboy Calvin and Sir Oliver of ...something.

The giant wine vats

The dining room with a very impressive organ.

Johanna next to a very nice grand piano on which she played some of Chopin's Fantasy Impromtu.

Robert honking a lions nose?

He looks like a real catch doesn't he? But let me tell you, in reality he turned out to be no more than a hard headed, iron fisted, cold hearted, shell!

Mum and Dad with twinkling Christmas lights.

The Lovieness of Christ

2008-09-30T16:14:00.000-07:00

"I am in as sweet communion with Christ as a poor sinner can be; and am only pained that He hath much beauty and fairness, and I little love; He great power and mercy, and I little faith; He much light, and I bleared eyes."

Samuel Rutherford

2007 California trip 3

2008-09-25T19:44:00.000-07:00

You can take the Texan out of Texas...

But you can't take the Texas out of the Texan!

Calvin blows the candles out on his cake at Grandpa and Grammie's house on his 20th birthday.

Older...but not much wiser! (at least where fire is concerned) For those of you that don't already know, Calvin is a helpless pyromaniac! In his twenty years he has achieved the record of catching the most things on fire out of all the rest of our family...combined! (Excluding only Daddy perhaps.) P.S And yes, Calvin's list of things caught on fire includes himself!

Grinning from ear to ear over "The Game" as it is called.

Daddy giving his cute cheesy smirk! :)

Merry Christmas!

Grammie's pretty tree

The motley Texan crew coming down the stairs... and yes, in our pajamas! (I just realized that is slightly embarrassing to be posting on the world wide web! (Blush) Check out that knife Calvin is baring to fight off any present thieves! (He really uses it to open his presents) And by the way that isn't Robert crowning Jo with the bunny ears, that is daddy hiding around the corner.

Grammie fufilling her traditional role as Keeper of the Camera.

Jo and Becca opening presents.

Calvin and Robert opening their stockings.

Grampa Whitey opening his GPS. "For a man that has everything but a sense of direction.", said Daddy

Grammie and Mom

This is Johanna opening her knife. Calvin and Robert gave one to each of their sisters.

Calvin and Robert putting their stamp of approval on their sister's weapons.

The running joke was "This puts a whole new meaning to Bow/Beau hunting." and "All unworthy would be beaus beware!" (I know we're really warped)

Our techno Grinch.

Balancing Boowie knife Becca, balancing on the Bongo board!

We recieved this picture from our oldest sister Jennifer back home on Christmas morning. Here she is adorably four months pregnant and proudly displaying what she called "the Guppy Bowl"

Merry Christmas!

The Loveliness of Christ

2008-09-24T18:18:00.000-07:00

"I am in this house of my pilgrimage every way in good case; Christ is most kind and loving to my soul: it pleaseth Him to feast with his unseen consolations a stranger, and an exiled prisoner: and I would not exchange my Lord Jesus , with all the comfort out of heaven; His yoke is easy, and His burden light. This is His truth I now suffer for; for he hath sealed it with His blessed presence."

Samuel Rutherford

Politics

2008-09-22T17:24:00.000-07:00

Women Civil Magistrates?

Is it lawful to elect women civil magistrates? When the other options left to us are so bleak, it becomes a great temptation to say, "Yes!". John McCain's nomination of Sarah Palin for Vice President has refanned this controversy in the church into a blaze. The old question is asked, "What about Deborah?". Without a doubt Sarah Palin's faith in Jesus Christ and her strong stand against the abomination of abortion makes her seem refreshing in comparison to almost every other option that has been given us in this election. But is it really lawful by God's holy and inerrant standard to elect a woman civil magistrate? This past Sunday, due to our Minister, John Otis, being in England for a debate, our church listened to a sermon on this very subject by Pastor Joe Morecraft for the evening service. It was a truly good sermon on this topic and I believe it was a great blessing and help to all of us to better understand this issue. I can most definitely say it was a great help to me personally and my family, and I would urge any of you who can possibly make the time to please listen to it as well! Below I have posted the link where you can download it from sermonaudio.com. I pray God will bless you through it!

http://www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?SID=914081731428

Psalm 119:34-35

"Give me understanding, that I may observe Thy law,

And keep it with all my heart.

Make me walk in the path of Thy commandments,

For I delight in them."

Below I have also attached a letter written by Becky Morecraft to Sarah Palin.

September 3, 2008

Dear Sarah,

This letter is not written with the intention to demean or insult you on any level. Rather, I have a deep appreciation for you in many ways. We have many things in common—I am a Christian wife and mother of five children (one in Heaven, lost to miscarriage) and the grandmother of seven, so far—that makes me a few years older than you! I attended public schools where my mother, aunt and grandfather taught and graduated from a liberal arts college with a B.A. in English. My family has always taken strong public stands, especially when serious issues are at stake, even as you do. When my husband ran for U.S. Congress during President Reagan’s second bid for office, my children and I threw ourselves into the battle with all our time and energy. We have since supported several political candidates and are ready to do whatever we can to bring our nation back to its constitutional roots. We have taken a strong pro-life stand and given many women with unwanted pregnancies food and shelter in our own home. Oh, and I was a soccer mom and still am with my grandchildren!

But the primary basis for this letter is not simply common interests and commitments. From what I have learned of your faith, I believe that we are sisters in Christ and, therefore, both subject to His ‘rule of law’ from Scripture. It would appear that we share the belief that, ...“in Christ Himself are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.” – Col. 2:2b,3. I assume the following statement of faith, taken from the Wasilla Bible Church website where I understand you often attend, summarizes your personal faith:

The Centrality of Christ

By God’s grace everything in the life of this church will revolve around the reality of Jesus Christ – who He is, what He has done, what He is doing, and what He will do. In the words of the early Church “He is Lord” and will be recognized as such in this church with an absolute allegiance that lifts Him above all others in our hearts, in our homes, and in our congregation. It is His commands that we will obey, His warnings that we will heed, and His promises that we will hold. In every endeavor we will rely upon His power, cherish His presence, and honor His name. We will, in sum, love Him. (John 14:6)

Apparently, according to this additional statement copied from the church website, we also share the belief that God’s Word is the only solid base upon which to build our lives:

The Authority of Scripture

In order to experience and enjoy the centrality of Christ in our congregational life, we will submit to the authority of the Scriptures. They will be the foundational source of information and direction guiding our exploration of Christ’s reality. The Bible will be used to determine our doctrine, to shape our practice, and even, when needed to settle our differences with the conviction that it is the very Word of God. In all the confusion of varied opinions and above all the claims of religious authority we will hold to the scriptures as the Truth for both faith and practice. In them God has spoken and to them we will listen. (2 Timothy 3:16, 17)

In accordance with these stated beliefs, I hope you agree that the serious Christian is one who wants to “think God’s thoughts after Him,” to shape every thought, word and deed according to His Word. Is God’s Word silent about the role of the woman and our relationship to men? No, it’s clear in its mandate:

But I want you to understand that Christ is the head of every man, and the man is the head of a woman, and God is the head of Christ. -- …he is the image and glory of God; but the woman is the glory of man. -- For man does not originate from woman, but woman from man; for indeed man was not created for the woman’s sake, but woman for the man’s sake.- I Corinthians 11:3, 7, 8, 9

These verses have life-wide implications. First, it would seem obvious from this passage that in the marriage relationship, the husband is to be the functional head of the home and his wife his glorious ‘help-meet,’ a position so full-orbed for those who realize it that it is unparalleled. Entire books have been penned on this subject—I’m sure you are widely familiar with many of them as a Christian.

My friend, Susan Hunt, an Atlanta-based pastor’s wife, has written her commentary on how this verse and many others apply to the role of women in the church:

… our personal pilgrimages for the last fifteen years have solidified our adherence to the position of male headship in the church. We are increasingly convinced of the theological rightness of this position. …We further contend that rather than being restrained by our exclusion from ordination, women are actually freed from the restraint of positions of authority to be exquisite expressions of the Biblical meaning of a helper-leader. When women insist on role interchangeability within the church, everyone loses. -- Susan Hunt and Peggy Hutcheson, Leadership for Women in the Church, pp. 10, 11.

If these principles apply in the realm of the home and church, surely they apply more broadly in the civil realm. Because you are so gifted, Sarah, your talents are in great demand. What tremendous sacrifices you, your husband and children have made over the past few years as more and bigger opportunities to serve your fellow-man have been set before you, not only in your community and state, but now nationally. I do not hesitate to recognize that you are a remarkably talented woman. But I have some serious questions I hope you will consider.

As a Christian woman, a wife and mother, surely you have wrestled with what has God called you to do. How are you to order your priorities according to Scripture? Are you over-stepping the boundaries His Word has set for you when you hold public office? I believe you are. Will you really be able to devote the time and energy necessary to raise your children as a public office holder? I think they will be cheated by receiving too little time from an exhausted, distracted mother. What sacrifices will your husband be required to make? He should be the head of your home not just a “figure-head”. What message are you sending to the young women of our nation concerning their God-given role? Did an all-wise God ‘forget’ that there are extenuating circumstances where a woman may be needed in leadership? No, He has a perfect standard and we must “trust and obey” believing that He Who has been faithful will never fail His people. He will provide leadership as well as the discipline we deserve when we lack it.

These are difficult questions, especially since it would appear you have already set a course that can’t be altered. But I believe the question in your mind should not be, “What am I capable of doing,” or, “What are the opportunities I have to serve;” rather, I believe only one question is a valid one for you as a Christian woman: “What does God’s Word tell me I should be doing.”

One of my favorite authors was a little-known, brilliant Southern woman of the 19^th century named Augusta Jane Evans. In her great novel, St. Elmo, through her main character, Edna Earle, she battles to save a Christian moral and social order, “taking her stand on the principle that woman can be most influential in society as a woman.” (italics mine) - Richard Weaver, Southern Tradition at Bay, p. 275.

Believing that the intelligent, refined, modest Christian women were the real custodians of national purity, and the sole agents who could arrest the tide of demoralization breaking over the land, she [Edna] addressed herself to the wives, mothers, and daughters of America; calling upon them to smite their false gods, and purify their shrines at which they worshipped. Jealously she contended for every woman’s right which God and nature had decreed her sex. The right to be learned, wise, noble, useful, in woman’s divinely limited sphere. The right to influence and exalt the circle in which she moved. The right to mount the sanctified beam of her own quiet hearth-stone; the right to modify and direct her husband’s opinion, if he considered her worthy and competent to guide him; the right to make her children ornaments to their nation, and a crown of glory to their [people]; the right to advise, to plead, to pray; …the right to be all the phrase ‘noble Christian woman’ means. But not the right … to trail her heaven-born purity through the dust and mire of political strife; to ascend the rosta [sic] of statesmen, whither she may send a worthy husband, son, or brother, but whither she can never go, without disgracing all womanhood.- p. 395

Sarah Palin, God calls you to a higher position than the vice-presidency of the United States. He calls you to be the most influential woman in the world today, perhaps in history, by taking your stand on the Biblical principle of His divine model of womanhood. I implore you to see yourself, not as a candidate for political office, but as a cherished child of Christ, in subjection to His prescribed pattern for life. I earnestly pray that you will make every effort to “arrest the tide of demoralization breaking over our land” as you call upon the mothers and daughters of America to “contend for every woman’s right which God has decreed upon us: the right to be learned, wise, noble, and useful in our divinely limited sphere…the right to be all the phrase ‘noble Christian woman’ means.” [paraphrasing Augusta Jane’s quote above]

I pray that you will demonstrate an even greater humility and strength of character than we have seen thus far by admitting you have taken the wrong path in accepting the nomination for vice president and ask to be released from this commitment. I will persevere in prayer for you and your family. May God richly bless you as you are faithful to Him. I would be happy to talk with you or to correspond in any way that may prove helpful. My contact information is at the bottom of this letter.

“See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the traditions of men, according to the elementary principles of the world, rather than according to Christ.” – Col. 2:8

Random Post of the week 2

2008-08-28T07:17:00.000-07:00

Cowboy George and the Dragon

The other morning when feeding the horse I, Johanna, ran into an unexpected obstacle. It would be infinitely more exciting if I said it was a foul breathed, fire breathing, hideous scaly dragon; as the title of this post might suggest. And that there was a giant tournament held to decide which knight was the bravest in the land to come rescue me. However I am very glad to say that this is not the case. For one I don't cherish the idea of being held captive by an over sized fire breathing Gieco gecko with wings. And two I have never been quite comfortable with the idea of just one brave knight coming to rescue me. If I were really being held captive by a dragon, I would want the whole army, peasants with pitch forks, and who ever else could be found to come to my rescue! Not just one brave fool dressed like a Jiffy Pop pan!!! That aside I return to my trip to feed the horse. On my way I was surprised when I nearly stepped on something that was long, red, black, and yellow. Most commonly known for his little rhyme ''Red and yellow kill a fellow'' I returned to the house, and with complete calm and composure yelled, "CalViN!...CAlvIn!...CALVIN!!! There is a Coral snake outside, and I just nearly stepped on it!" Well maybe not complete composure, but I tried. This is not our Coral snake, but this is what he looked liked.
Coral snakes are (I believe) the most poisonous snake in North America, but not the most dangerous due to there slowness, small mouths, and lack of fangs. All the same they are not the kind of guest that are nice to have around.

Cowboy George came to my rescue, and I did not mind that he did not have an army with him. Due to the slowness of the coral snake, and my brother's promptness it was not hard to relocate the foul serpent. My brother then proceeded with reconstructive surgery, or rather destructive surgery with the machete. We quickly learned why God said he would crush the serpents head rather then just cut him in half. Though in more then one piece that snake thought he could still slither off. It was then we realized this serpent was a proponent of The Divine Right of Snakes and more drastic measures had to be taken. There was only one way to dispatch a tyrant such as this. With drum roll beating and a cry of "Sic sempre tyranous!", we executed the slippery serpent by severing the head from the body and thus ended his life. The danger passed, the horse was fed, and the snake left to the birds. We named the snake Charles Stuart after King Charles Stuart I of England. The tyrant king who was known for his slippery ways, forked tongue, belief in the divine right of kings, and who met the same fate as our snake for his crimes against the people of England in 1649.

THE END

Random post of the week

2008-08-14T08:57:00.000-07:00

~Life~

He may live without books,-what is knowledge but grieving?

He may live without hope,- for what is hope but deceiving?

He may live without love,-what is passion but pining?

But where is the man who can live without dining?

Author unknown

2007 California trip 2

2008-08-09T20:36:00.001-07:00

There at last!

After a long second day of travel we made it to our destination. We met Grampa Whitey and Grammie in Monterey where they were treating us to a high class stay at the Pacific Grove. And a joyful reunion followed. After some time we settled down and goodnights were said, we retired for the night and retreated from the cold to a wonderful night's sleep in comfortable rooms with warm cheery fire places.

Jo and Becca kiss Grandpa goodnight.

The morning broke cool, crisp, and beautiful. We broke our fast in the suites' charming dining room. Here we have the knights of the breakfast table round.

Sir Robert

Sir Calvin

Lady Johanna

Lady Rebecca

The Rock incident

The four of us brave knights finished our breakfast first, so we left to go do some exploring. Behind the dining room we found a wonderful pile of inviting boulders and rocks to climb on. We didn't have many big rocks to climb back home, so the temptation was irresistible... to at least two of us. The one downside to this wonderful natural jungle gym was that it was in plain view of the dining rooms large windows and French doors. Calvin and I just had to climb those rocks though! There were no signs saying not to, and who cares if a few breakfasters see you climbing some rocks? Robert and Rebecca could not be convinced however and made sure they were far enough away and out of sight so as not to be associated with us. They were sure we were going to cause an avalanche. Combined Calvin and I didn't even weigh three hundred pounds, how could we displace several thousand pound boulders? Full of adventure we climbed.

It was beautiful up there! There was a delicious breeze blowing, the gentle winter sun was warm, and you could just see glittering Monterey bay over the tree tops. We tried to persuade Robert and Rebecca up again, they really did not know what they were missing! But they were stubburn and kept reminding us of unwanted eyes watching from the dining room .

Never the less we enjoyed ourselves. We hopped from rock to rock, enjoyed each view, and took pictures. After some time we eventually decided to come down. Calvin started down first, as spry as a mountain goat he hopped from boulder to boulder to rock...OoPs! Calvin stumbled as the very last rock he stepped on coming down shifted loose. Three mouths gaped open, six eyes nearly popped out, all hearts stopped. Not at our brother who quickly recovered himself, but at that giant rock rolling towards that big pretty dining room French window........Thud! WHEW! It just missed and hit the side of the building instead! Four sets of hearts started again. As a matter of fact they jump started into overdrive. The thought of eyes from the dining room suddenly became an uncomfortable reality. I scrambled down as quick as I could and tried to help Calvin remove the rock from the side walk and replace it where it belonged. Hmmmm... For being so willing to roll in the first place, it sure wasn't in a hurry to get back! Twerpish Rock! We pushed, we pulled, we grunted, we strained, turned red in the face and then.....! Nothing. We never got that stupid rock to budge as much as an inch. I have no idea how Calvin bouncing on it caused it to move in the first place! It was a special act of providence, and that is all anyone can say! It was meant to be there I suppose. Our efforts to move the dumb rock were obviously futile, and when someone who had seen our shenanigans from the dining came out and suggested we just leave the despised piece of matter alone before we hurt ourselves, we took her suggestion. Who knows, to this day it might still be lying rolled up against the dining room as proof of the Martinez clowns having been there.

We were not yet done with our scene making for the morning. Later right before we left, Calvin managed to catch one of Robert's fast balls in the nose while playing catch. You would have thought that you were at a crime sceen if you saw the mess it made in the parking lot!

Monterey Bay

Later we drove down to the bay, it was beautiful. We were really looking froward to the giant twenty foot tall waves Grandpa kept telling us about.Wow! Look at that wave! To poor Grandpa's chagrin the only waves that day barely broke twenty inches, and perhaps would make a tide pool proud! (Grandpa you need to come to Texas and see some real waves!)

Waves or no waves it was beautiful.

And cold! BuRrRrR!

Lone Cypress Point

The lone Cypress is the most photographed tree in the world.

Grandpa & Grammie took us on the Seventeen mile drive.
As you can see it was quite beautiful as well!

Johanna, Rebecca, Calvin, and Robert with Lone Cypress in the background.

Mum and Dad

After Monterey we took a trip down Highway 1 and saw Big Sur

Mother and daughter

Mom backdropped by Big Sur

We stopped at the Phoenix for lunch and warmed ourselves up with hot cocoa and coffees.

Shopping in Carmel

After Big Sur we went to Carmel and saw the two houses that Great Grampa built.

A very full and good day!

(Except for the rock)

2007 California trip 1

2008-08-08T16:44:00.000-07:00

The California Trip

To end the old year and kick off the new, our family decided to take a trip up to California to visit our Grandparents over Christmas and New Year! It had been about twelve years since we had traveled up there as a family, so we were over due for a visit. We went through the usual Martinez packing routine, which in and of itself can be quite exciting! We ended up vacuum sealing most everything that could be to get it to semi fit, and then stuffed all the suit cases, blankets, pillows, extra jackets, sleeping bags, scuba gear, parachutes, one submarine, the kitchen refrigerator, two elephants, and six wild and slightly squashed Texans into the car. We weren't twenty minutes on the road when we remembered we forgot the piano, but we realized we would just have to face whatever adventures lay ahead without it. Thankfully we did not forget our twenty first century version of the star of Bethlehem, that is our GPS, who's name is Miss Garmin. Without Miss Garmin we might still be lost hauling that submarine somewhere in the Arizona desert.

Look at that beautiful blue Texas sky!

We really loved West Texas! It had such a wild beauty!

We made it through the first day with only one little adventure. We nearly ran out of gas in the desert! We got to sit and watch the computer's miles till empty reading drop and drop. When we would go up hill it would say we had three miles left to go, when we got on flat land it might spike to seven. And yet there was nothing but desert as far as the eye could see. We finally found a gas station with 1 mile left to go! And we were all relieved that we would not have to camp with the coyotes!

Who would have thought you would find the star of Bethlehem in El Paso? Sure enough there it was! Shining hundreds of feet above the city. They had it on the side of a mountain, but in the pitch darkness it really did look like it was suspended in midair. We drove through New Mexico the first night and started our second day in Arizona.

Good morning Arizona!

We really liked Arizona's big cactus!

The most amusing thing we saw in Arizona was an advertisement for a shrimp farm! How they raise shrimp in the desert beats me, but I guess they manage!We somehow did not manage to get any pictures of the scenery once we reached California, but that might be because it was all covered up by a sand storm when we got there. We finally reached our destination at 11:30 PM West coast time. Boy were we tired!

Introduction

2008-08-06T19:41:00.000-07:00

Howdy from down in Texas.

Welcome to Martinezmania! We will be giving updates and pictures of what we have been doing, so as to keep y'all up to date on our comings and goings. So please stay tuned for our exclusive Texas loony tune series!
The Martinez Clan