Welcome to my pond - Swim, wade, or sit on the bank

[LittleLakePhil]

That was awesome! This is DH's favorite;


Fighting soldiers from the sky
Fearless men who jump and die
Men who mean just what they say
The brave men of the Green Beret

Silver wings upon their chest
These are men, America's best
One hundred men will test today
But only three win the Green Beret

Trained to live off nature's land
Trained in combat, hand-to-hand
Men who fight by night and day
Courage peak from the Green Berets

Silver wings upon their chest
These are men, America's best
One hundred men will test today
But only three win the Green Beret

Back at home a young wife waits
Her Green Beret has met his fate
He has died for those oppressed
Leaving her his last request
Put silver wings on my son's chest
Make him one of America's best
He'll be a man they'll test one day
Have him win the Green Beret.

Silver wings upon their chest
These are men, America's best
One hundred men will test today
But only three win the Green Beret.

After
all these years it still makes me cry.

I have that song......

 

[LittleLakePhil]

My father's favorite 'poems' were Budweiser jingles.

I know right.....

 

[LittleLakePhil]

A beret was earned by a select few. It signified the best of the best. Then they decided to make it standard issue. Its insulting.

They are now special forces I believe

 

[LittleLakePhil]

My brother found some old pics of my dad too. I guess they liked taking pics with their cars.
View attachment 1817165 View attachment 1817166 View attachment 1817167

You know....I don't have any pics of my dad.
Not one.

 

[LittleLakePhil]

Howdy stranger

 

[LittleLakePhil]

I've been so busy and far behind.. Sorry guys but it's always like this during the summer.
My summers aren't much longer the Al's...... And I love these long days when it's light till almost 11.
But in case I forgot ....I bought a new boat.
And had four little AC chicks hatch this week.
(, Only put eight eggs in the incubator) would have liked more but it is what it is
Call duck eggs go in tomorrow ...

 

[Alaskan]

I've been so busy and far behind.. Sorry guys but it's always like this during the summer.
My summers aren't much longer the Al's...... And I love these long days when it's light till almost 11.
But in case I forgot ....I bought a new boat.
And had four little AC chicks hatch this week.
(, Only put eight eggs in the incubator) would have liked more but it is what it is
Call duck eggs go in tomorrow ...

Fun hatch!

And good to see you!

 

[Shadrach]

I wrote that I might just remember to take my camera with me when I next left the funny farm in loony valley.
I did remember and here, particularly for @bobbi-j are some snaps I took.
So, this is Catalonia about an hour North of Barcelona. Until the end of the Spanish Civil War it was primarily agricultural. Now Catalonia is the bread basket of Spain.
Nobody here has forgotten the Civil War and many would happily have another go.
The politics here at the time of Franco was roughly divided withing families and between genders. Mostly the men were anti Franco but many women were pro Franco because Franco supported and was supported by the church. The church was the only point of social contact for many women on what were often isolated farms.
Two of my Uncles fought here in the International Brigade against Franco. My half brother is a lecturing professor specializing in the history of the region.
Catholicism still has an enormous influence here but it's a personal and private matter very unlike the evangelical bible belt of the USA. Politics, even in central Spain is center left by todays standards and far left socialism is common locally.
This is the road leading down to the track that leads to where I live. I recently got tarmacked. Before it was a mass of ditches and gullies.

This is a typical Catalonian fram house. The are hundreds of these abandoned in these mountains.

A typical old style town house.

An old farm house renovated by someone with a lot of money. This would have been productive land many years ago.

This is an old family house on a working farm.

Another farm house

A typical morning scene in one of the local villages.

Graffiti is very common here and mostly about Catalonian independence.

Another recently refurbished farm house.

I live in the valley behind the front row of trees.

 

[perchie.girl]

Shad your area is very reminiscent of The San Diego country side.... Ours is quite a bit drier so the dark green trees you have there are represented by Chaparal here...

Annual rainfall here is 9-12 inches.... Trees only show up in creek beds ... The bush you see above is White Mountain Lilac... The leaves hare shaped like Holly leaves points and all. There is a variety that has purple flowers it grows closer to the coast. More rainfall...
deb

 

[drumstick diva]

Shad your graffiti artists look as talented as the ones in Chicago.