I'm reading - The President's House by Margaret Truman

If you're enamored of the White House and like trivia, you'll enjoy The President's House. Former first daughter Margaret Truman takes readers on an entertaining tour of the people's house. She tackles everything from the evolution of the house itself, to the West Wing, the grounds, weddings and special events, presidential pets, the press and of course, the families and personalities who have called the place home.

Do you know how the White House Easter Egg Roll got started? Congress threw the kids off the Capitol grounds. The upset youngsters trekked down Pennsylvania Avenue to the White House and the Rutherfords opened the south lawn to them.

Did you know that President Coolidge had a pet raccoon? Her name was Rebecca.

Which White House groom couldn't get into his own wedding? President Wilson's daughter Jesse almost didn't get married. The security staff had been given instructions to admit no one without an invitation and while her intended remembered the ring, he forgot his invitation.

It's well worth the time for any history buff.

Worth the Price of Admission - Gone with the Wind

Ok, so it's not a new movie and it doesn't appear in a "regular" theater all that often, but it's still a great movie. Turner Classic Movies is celebrating Oscar these days and last night aired "Gone with the Wind." Most of the characters are strictly characters of their era, Scarlett, Mammy, Melanie, Ashley. What would they make of the 21st century world? And then there's Rhett, a character for the ages, can't you just see him as a modern day mogul? A good story, well told, well acted, with rich, textured sets...it just doesn't get much better. Watching "Gone with the Wind" on television just doesn't do the movie justice. This was a flick that was designed for the really big screen so if you ever get the chance to see it on the big screen. GO! It will blow you away.

I'm reading - The Countess by Rebecca Johns

This book was a delightful surprise. It is not the type of fare that I typically go for, but I'm glad that someone asked me to read it. The Countess tells the fictional story of what may perhaps be the first female serial killer.  I'll admit I had my doubts in the beginning. There was one particularly graphic scene that left me wondering what I had a agreed to. But I was able to put that behind me, and found myself becoming increasingly mesmerized by the Countess's journey from young girl, to wife, mother, widow, prisoner. Set in the late 16th and early 17th century, Johns paints a vivid picture of how difficult life was then, even for the upper class and the pressure put on very young girls in part because of the passive role they were forced to play.

I think I'm going to have to go check out Rebecca Johns other work.

The State of the Union - An Independent Response to a Constitutional Crisis

The State of the Union...a misnomer if ever there was one. When did we drop the state of the union from the State of the Union address? I don't think that any President since I've become politically aware has really talked about the state of the union. Article 2, Section 3 of the Constitution states, "He shall from time to time give to the Congress Information of the State of the Union, and recommend to their Consideration such Measures as he shall judge necessary and expedient;" It's seems to have become a more pep rally, feel good about being an American speech with a little goal setting thrown in for good measure. Talk about a constitutional crisis! Not that any of that is a bad thing. We put a man on the moon in response to a challenge issued during a State of the Union address. And we all need a certain amount of rah-rah to keep us pumped up and moving forward. Sidebar: As a person who doesn't fly, I'm excited about the prospect of high-speed rail. But I digress.

The Republican response wasn't really a response at all. Perhaps they should consider calling it something else, or waiting until they have actually developed a response to deliver it. Representative Ryan of Wisconsin was well spoken, if a bit pedagogic, but he didn't deliver a response to the State of the Union and came off looking a little foolish. For example, the President asked for suggestions as to making changes to the health care reform law to make it better; the Republican response, we are committed to repealing it because it doesn't work. It was a childish response and not very constructive. The Republican response went on to say that they are for lower taxes. Wait. I'm confused. Aren't these the same people who not so very long ago, vowed to repeal the tax cuts implemented by a former....Republican.....president. So are they for lower taxes or aren't they? And for smaller government. Wait. How much did the Executive Branch grow when the alien and sedition act was passed in 2001 at the behest of a Republican president? So are they for smaller government or aren't they?

Both parties would do well to take a stroll down the National Mall and re-read the four pages of parchment dated September 17, 1787. Yes, that's right, just four pages set in motion this almost 225-year experiment in democracy. How long was the health care reform bill? A couple of thousand pages?

May we have James, Alex and company back please?

Wordless Wednesday - The Alleghenies by Train

This mountaintop wind farm actually spans several mountaintops.

The fiery gold of fall.

Christmas Tree Farm - Which tree will adorn your house this season?

Sunrise in the Alleghenies

There is nothing quite like sunrise in the mountains. Watching the flickering shadows as the sun plays among the trees on the mountaintop as the earth wakes up. A country gentleman is standing on his front porch raising his coffee cup in greeting to the passing train. Even though it is nearly November, the occasional mountain peak is still showing their magnificent shades of red and gold. The sun glinting sideways across the deep red leaves makes them look almost plum...”purple mountain majesties.” The gold leaves haven’t yet lost their brilliance and still look like fire when the sun hits them.

I love to ride the rails. You travel through country that you might not otherwise see. There are what feels like miles and miles of coal cars parked on one of the side tracks high up in the mountains like bales of hay stacked up on the back 40 and leaving no doubt that the mine is nearby and there is still coal in these hills.

Then every once in a while you round the bend, quite literally, and the terrain opens up a little bit and there is a town, one of many you’ll encounter on your meanderings. The first thing you notice the tall, white steeple in the middle the church and the center of life in this remote community. Small little communities like those read about in history books, but that few people today will ever experience. Life here can be hard, but like so many who have come before them, these are people of faith who will find their way through.

We’ve wandered away from the river. You can tell it’s ready for winter. The water is low, waiting to be replenished by the winter snows. In some places there is almost no water. Here the water is still and so clear that you can see the riverbed, just a trickle. Snow and then spring can’t come to soon.

The Joys of Moving

Country Girl in the City is now in new digs, still in the city, but new digs. My apologies for being offline so long, but I had forgotten what a black hole comes with moving. I did a big purge of all my stuff to the benefit of the Salvation Army and the local VA hospital. It feels good to give and it feels good to have less clutter. The VA donation was the hardest. I am a true bibliofile, but my books couldn't have gone to better home. Now all I have to do is get unpacked. I'm making great progress, but am about boxed out. Then it's on to making some new duds for winter. (Where did the summer go?!) I picked up a couple of nice pieces of fabric on an expedition with mother last week and can't wait to get them all sewn up!

I haven't unearthed the research material for "Meet the Signers" yet, so it may be a couple of weeks before I continue that series, but be on the lookout for some other shorter pieces in the meantime.