Calcis

Baghdad Photos – from the 1980’s

A quick Gallery of Photos (click on thumbnails for a larger view):

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beau Scott Beau Scott

Bill Owsley Bill Owsley

Eric Dover Eric Dover

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Will be adding more band photos, soon.

– Cathy
weavercat@gmail.com

Well, the ‘test’ gallery is working (see below). It leaves a lot to be pondered; but it does allow me to add photos, without too much fuss.

As far as layout, I won’t worry about that for the moment.

I just wanted a way to show “new” addition to my photo library on this website. AND now I know that I can.

Will write more later.

– Cathy
weavercat@gmail.com

This is a “test” to see how the images for the code below will be displayed.

To view a bit larger image, click on the thumbnails photos below.

If it works out well, I will add more ‘gallery’ blocks to my future blog entries.

For now here’s some photos I took during the 1980’s.

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24 Karat

Mark Barnette Jesse Lewis 24 Karat 24 Karat 24 Karat 24 Karat 24 Karat 24 Karat 24 karat 24 Karat 

More later.

– Cathy Ann Abernathy
weavercat@gmail.com

This is a “test” to see how the images for the code below will be displayed.

If it works out well, I will add more ‘gallery’ blocks to my future blog entries.

For now here’s some photos I took during the 1980’s.

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24 Karat

More later.

– Cathy Ann Abernathy
weavercat@gmail.com

Just confirmed our first act for the 3rd Annual Mountain Echoes Festival.

TURNING POINT will be returning for a second year. They are booked in the play schedule starting at 10:00 am.

For further information about the band visit their website:

turningpointmusic.org

More as the schedule and events takes shape.

– Cathy Ann Abernathy
weavercat@gmail.com

Just been checking out some news sites. While checking the headlines I found and interesting article about “reed islands” –

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/4123926.stm

This is from the BBC News site; and tells about how modern times are affecting an ancient way of life on man-made reed islands.

Makes for a good read.

– Cathy

Well, the “index.html” for Calcis.us is live again; although it needs major updating.

I found an older version with the background and layout that I want. It seems I deleted my most recent version; and the site “welcome” page has been down for several days (or more), without me knowing about it.

Sorry.

I am updating the text for the welcome, and will ‘tweak’ it as I think it needs; but for now…it’s active.

I have other projects in the works; and they will be paying, so I’d best get to it.

I will write again soon.

Have heard some interesting developments about the Clinkscales book, the Birthday celebration on June 26th, and several other genealogy/family items.

As far as computer stuff — Mom is going to drop her computer by here tomorrow for some basi mainatenance, and software updates. It wouldn’t work to well to try and download the update on a dial-up connection. Plus there are some ‘glitche’ with the AV software, as well as with the scanner sofware — nothing too big (I trust).

This will also give me a chance to copy the photos to CD, that mom has scanned of the old family photos.

And maybe I can install FTW/family tree software, too. But that is only if I don’t get too busy doing the updates.

Anyway…I have been reading more books (which one calls to me now, but will have to wait). They are as varied as usual, but some may not be worth mentioning/reviewing. This I still have not decided. Afterall, I did go to the trouble of reading them in from cover to cover.

We will see.
Bye’ for now.

Got things to do.

– Cathy Abernathy

PS:
Link for the day?

http://www.technoprimitive.org/radar.html

A quick overall view of the radar/rain in the region, state and locally.
– CAA

June 8, 2005

There are days I sit with a stack of old books, in a shadowed room; and find myself in another place and time. With enemies unknown, and loved ones that seem to drift into my being as if they were always a part of me.

This when I lose touch with reality – time has no meaning other then the world that exist in my mind, brought on by the alternative world in these books.

Other days I can’t stand the isolation, the “psuedo-realm” that neither feeds or clothe me; but does give me new dreams and educates me about places I will never see with my own eyes. On these sunny restless days I scare up the scruffy work clothes, the gloves with well-earned holes in the fingers; and I head for the hedges, veggie plants, many weeds, and dirt of the farm.

Feeling sweat pour from my head, under a red bandana, rolling slowly down my spine; then tickling the small of my back — until I brush it away with an already damp shirt tale.

Is this a career?
Is this a lifestyle?

I write when something internal prompts me — nags at my mind until it spills it way on a blank page of a note book (or the white screen of the word processor).

Yes, I write. Am I a professional writer? Well, the pay isn’t easy to document. Most of the time the work is ‘disguised’ as HTML and webpage work; editing photos, and penning a few reviews for the blog on one or more web sites.

The main focus of my energy, is trying to document, and post the 1,000’s of titles that have made their way into our dwelling — most, would be perfect companions to someone who voraciously reads. Others would be the perfect budget read for a student in need of required books.

These small bundles have ‘big’ potential. Never sure which will be the next to find a home; I handle each one several times; getting a feel for its possible price, sentimental value or collectability. Some I don’t totally understand their appeal; but I am just a gatekeeper, and care-taker for these volumes until they are asked to be sent to new homes.

With this in mind I take a break, and write.

For now, the stacks await me. Keep in mind the smallest package can hold the greatest gift or memory.

– Cathy Ann Abernathy

taracat@hotmail.com

I must admit when I ran across a book with the title, “A Girl’s Guide to Trouser Trout: Reflections on Dating and Fly-Fishing”. I couldn’t resist it buying it, for the price asked at the local thrift store.

What is it about?

That is what I will learn, soon.

It is another rainy day, I have been ready reading lots the past few days; and not doing much else. I hope to be back in full swing, and cutting hedges very soon. I hate being cooped up. But with the wet weather, even if I were feeling 100% (as I can sometimes) — I would still probably be reading.

Anyway. I have not posted much in my blog recently. Guess I have been chasing too many projects, that kept me ‘out of focus’ on keeping this updated.

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BOOKS

My reading list for the past month:

“The King’s Swift Rider” (A Novel on Robert the Bruce) – By: Mollie Hunter

Good read. Since I have been reading another book documenting Robert the Bruce, the facts about the battlesbatttles, and his struggle to keep Scotland a free nation — I admire the author’s adaptation of the historical, and giving the central character a believeable role in the events that happen over a 7-year period, while Robert the Bruce fought King Edward I, then King Edward II of England.

[I just may have to keep this book in my library! -- CAA]

“Indiana Jones and the Dance of the Giants” — By: Rob MacGregor

Light action, and mystery. Does give interesting, detailed settings to the action involved. But I found the the story could have been much more ‘rich’ if the author had putting a bit more effort into the plot.

“Yankee Doodle Dead” — By: Carolyn Hart

Set on a Florida coastal island, a setting somewhat exotic, yet the region and it’s natural elements seem familiar. From the “no-see-um’s” to the small town politics, and the friction between local resisdents, and the retired military who seem to drift into the area, I can relate to the caharacters. As for the “who done it” — I would have never guessed the culprit. So as not to spoil your read, I won’t give details; but I highly recommend this book to someone who likes a good mystery.

“The Wolf and The Crown” — By: A. A. Attanasio

This books gets a bit cerebral. Giving a feshness to an ancient legend, while giving a totally new perspective to what is actually “real” vs. the grain of truth in myths.

Naturally, the plot surrounds Merlin, Arthur, and the major players in this age-old myth. The imagery is beautiful, even when the “hell” of the mystical world is described, the vivid descriptions rivet the reader, and draw them on to the next page.

The is the third in a series. I read the first one, “The Dragon and the Unicorn” but do not have the second in the series yet. I will keep this book.

“Indiana and the Philosopher’s Stone” — By: Max McCoy

Light reading, but with enough grit and action to keep me reading, I finished this book in two sittings. I want to find out what happened the next page. The draw from ne chapter to another, had the right mix of suspence, and alusions to legend to keep me glued to the page.

I had to take a break, on occasion, just to let my joints ‘thaw’ — I was so into the book, my body protested. The actio follows Indy, from the jungles, to the desert, and ultimately facing germans, who want to capture the Philosopher’s Stone. Which legend says is an ‘ultimate’ source of energy and power — giving the possessor immortality.

The journey IS the story for this one. Human nature, greed, betrayal, and not be forgotten — love — are all brought into play in this tale. If you like the Indy movies, this has most of them beat.

“Red Unicorn” — By: Tanith Lee

A bit of a cerebral tale, but not without some very thought-provoking insights to wha the mind can accomplish, when given the proper motivation. Tanaquil, the ‘mending sorceress’ travels to a world, where she is drawn into a struggle of the princess, who is a double to Tanquil, and her desire to be with the man she loves. The problem? The man is engaged to the princess’s half-sister; who is the ruler of that realm.

Tanaquil has been in alternate realms/world before; but never in one where she has the magical abilities her mother possesses. In this world she has these, and well as her mending knack.

The book is not real hard reading, I would guess it was written with a younger audience in mind. I found it a delightful deversion from the more intense books I had read prior to it.

“Star Wars: Before the Storm” — By: Micheal P. Kube-McDowell

This fills in the gaps, of the Black Fleet Crisis, which I had read the third portion/book of — it lays the ground work for the Republic to find and combat the “Black Fleet”.

Leia, has a more personal problem, the off-world leader who is planning to release this fleet, may not be human; but he learns quickly how to manipulate political situations to his advantage. By mid-way through this book, Leia is doubting her leadership ability.

Luke, finds himself on a quest. Han tries to keep everything from falling apaart, and Lando with a hand-picked mech-crew is trying to unravel a mysterious ship that been encountered in the republic’s space.

I think this is a keeper.

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Family

We are keeping things together, as best we can.

Genealogy

Mom has been helping me sort out a few details on the family tree notes. She has also gotten deeply into searching for any old family photos from the Spruiell, Clinkscales, and Justice families. At last count, she and a cousin from Texas, have been able to gather photos of 7 of the 13 Clinkscales children. These are William Berry Clinkscales, and Catherine Elizabeth “Kate” Cox Clinkscales’ children.

These in the photo collection include:

Macauley Elizabeth Clinkscales
Nancy Carolina Clinkscales
Mary Catherine Clinkscales
Rebecca Matilda Clinkscales
Margaret Eungenia Clinkscales
Louis Milton Clinkscales
and
Thomas Marshall Clinkscales.

Soon, I need to get a page of the these siblings online. For now I have been adding the images to my family tree/multi-media files and waiting for more to be added.

The siblings not in pictures yet:

Jesse Clinkscales
John William Clinkscales
Elizabeth Jane Clinkscales
Asa Farnklin “Frank” Clinkscales
Exie Clinkscales
and
Daniel Clinkscales

Two of the boys died in the Civil War. So we are thinking find photos of them wil be almost impossible. But there may be some to found, yet.

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Life in General

Almost summertime, the rain we missed during May, seems to have all arrived with the beginning of June.

The is a couple of birthdays coming up. Byron’s is within the week; Aunt Alma’s 100th birthday is very near; Dave and I have an invite to her birthday celebration near Pell City. I need to verify when the feastivities are, and mark it on my calendar.

Dave is wanting to attend a seminar in Tennessee, that focuses on using bamboo for building material. Unless there a change of plans, that will be sometime later this month.

There are family members in NC, who are not doing well. There may be a necessary trip, to pay respects, soon. I don’t want to dwell on this for the moment. Life is a lot of things, not all of them happy or easy; but part of living, just the same.

So, with these two trips on the horizon; it will be a ‘given’ that the van will need a new set of tires. That could be a (mis-) adeventure in itself. Waiting in the lounge of a tire shop isn’t the best way to spend time. But it has to be done, if safe driving is expected.

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In closing:

I hope you have found my ramble entertaining. I will write again. When?

That I never know for certain. I have been doing ‘creative’ things lately, but writing doesn’t seem to be among them. Of course, that is, until now. I could find myself being very ‘talkative’ (type-a-tive)…or not.

Either way I will write soon.

– CATHY