Alcove /  by Dave Hileman

This creative person found a way to grow herbs, flowers and some veggies with no ground space at all. This was found along a street in Kirkwall, Scotland. And entertain her cat!

Rare /  by Dave Hileman

I am unsure if I ever saw a statue in honor of the soldiers of the Spanish American War of 1898 other than Roosevelt. This soldier was just outside the edge of the Phipps Conservatory grounds in Pittsburgh. We passed him on our way to lunch at the Porch next to the Cathedral of Learning.

And the Farm /  by Dave Hileman

This is the upper end of the valley known locally as Heilman Valley (FYI the name is spelled both ways here, the first two or three generations used Heilman but since than it can be Hileman or Heilman. Both are found in the church and on gravestones in the cemetery.) This farm was bought from the last of the Heilman named owners three years ago. The current owner’s wife was a Hileman. The farm is large but not the only one in the valley still farmed by Hileman descendants. Lovey view. The pond was just rebuilt and the structure nearby replaced a 1800’s barn that burned five years ago.

Not Every Family.... /  by Dave Hileman

has a church named for them. This is Heilman Lutheran Church near Ford City, Pennsylvania on land donated by the Heilman’s about 200/210 years ago. Jill and I were able to worship with the small congregation and I met a couple of “cousins” (a bit removed) but still neat to meet some distant relatives I did not know existed. I also viewed the original site of the Heilman family farm, but that is for another day.

My 6th Generation Great-Grandfather /  by Dave Hileman

Peter was born 11 Nov 1749, Alsace, Rheinland-Pfalz, Germany and first settled in Northampton, PA before moving to Western Pennslyvania after the Revolutionary War. Both he and two of his brothers are active soldiers. His grave is near his farm in the Heilman Valley. His sons donated the land for the church and cemetery in the early 1800’s or possibly Peter did so. The current church building was built in 1879 and I will show that tomorrow.

The Promise of Fall /  by Dave Hileman

There are hints in the less humid blue sky, the initial color changes on some leaves, the prettier light in October and the end of the wildflower succession across the meadow. Hoopers Bald, Western NC Mountains.

Hooper Bald /  by Dave Hileman

This meadow is known as Hooper Bald. The balds occur in high elevations and provide a wonderland of flowers and habitat for animals. At one time they were used to graze livestock. Occurring naturally they can revert back to forest over time.

Ravenel Bridge /  by Dave Hileman

The Arthur Ravenel Bridge spans the Cooper River between Charleston, SC and Mt Pleasant, SC. It is a stunning landmark and a fun one to walk across. A bit more from the web:

“The Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge (colloquially referred to as the Ravenel Bridge and the Cooper River Bridge[3]) is a cable-stayed bridge over the Cooper River in South Carolina, US, connecting downtown Charleston to Mount Pleasant. The bridge has a main span of 1,546 feet (471 m), the third longest among cable-stayed bridges in the Western Hemisphere. It was built using the design–build method and was designed by Parsons Brinckerhoff. Since its opening in 2005 the bridge has been considered an icon of Charleston and is one of the city's most recognizable landmarks.”

Peccary /  by Dave Hileman

This strange creature is a Peccary or Javelina and are also known as Skunk Pigs which gives an idea of the odor associated with these odd critters. They travel and live in small herds of about 6 to 9 individuals and that group is known as a squadron. This one was in the Big Bend National Park about 200 yards from the Rio Grande.

USS Yorktown /  by Dave Hileman

Rusty, Janet, Jill and I visited the USS Yorktown last month. This is a magnificent ship and one with a great history. I will drop a few photo and share some of these occasionally the next two or three weeks. Suffice it to say, we were all impressed and really felt the whole day was well worth the trip. The ship is permanently anchored in Mt Pleasant, across the river from Charleston, SC.