9/11 Ten years laster

A day that I will never forget is September 11, 2001.  There are others.  Everyone has their own version of what they remember of that day and everyone's is unique in it's own right.  But I want to tell you a different type of story.  One that you may not have heard before if for no other reason than it is my story.

See 10 years ago I was on this Ship.  I was still active duty in the US Navy.  I was worried about things like advancing to the next paygrade and getting qualifications done.

Getting these pins was important to many sailors at this time.  I was proud that I earned them.  But on 9/11 for the sailors aboard the USS Enterprise a different feeling was felt.  See for us it was 5pm as we were floating a few time zones away.  The morning of the 12th was to be a great day for many sailors as we were going to be crossing the equator a big milestone as young sailors like me become shellbacks.  But as luck would have it that honor has never been bestowed upon me.  I am still a Pollywog.  I am sure you are wondering what in the world that has to do with 9/11 right?   With so many people loosing their lives or fighting for them who cares that a sailor miles away isn't going to get to cross the equator but for us it was so much more.  Not crossing the equator meant we weren't going home.  See that was just the beginning of our long journey back home from a 6 month deployment.  We were going to cross the equator and then go around the horn of Africa.  When that first plane hit those plans were cancelled.

I started my day at 5pm as I was working nights.  I was getting ready for work at the time.  I worked in the ships Brig.  Yup thats right this gardener was a prison guard for the US Navy.  Looking at that picture of me above it's hard to see it.....but I was.  As I was getting ready the Captain came on over the ships loudspeaker to announce that a plane had hit the world trade center.  I could begin to feel the ship turn.  See the Enterprise is a Aircraft Carrier.  A very big ship that is basically a small city and for the most part you didn't feel her turn or move.  But that day we did.  By the time I was dressed and ready for work and down in the ship's Brig the second plane had hit.  We did have a few prisoners at the time and due to the situation they were on the lower level watching CNN.  As I got to the lower level the first tower fell, then the next.

For the crew of the Enterprise the next month was hard.  We couldn't sent emails home or call home.  When they did let us email we had to send that email to our boss who read it and sent it on to his boss who read it and usually sent it on home.  Security was very tight.  Eventually we just kept on working anything to keep our minds off what had happened.  Until the day that after lights out the Captain came on the 1MC (loud speaker sorry) to inform the crew that an hour ago one of our sister ships began launching missiles at the enemy.  You could hear the cheers from all over.  Smiles on everyone's faces and a new drive to get work done.

These events changed a lot for the sailors on board.  Knowing that finally after a month of silence we were doing something and that soon there would be a date set for our return home.  See my version of the events of September 11, 2001 are indeed different from others as it wasn't just one day.  For us it was over a month long.  I have since gotten out of the Military (2009) after serving 11 years.  And now 10 years laster after that day I still remember it like it was yesterday.

My thoughts and prayers go out to those who lost loved ones and to those that were helping to keep our country safe.  Even though that was me at the time I thank everyone who ever served even for a day in the Military and thank those that still are.  I know the sacrifices that you and your family have made and understand the importance of the job.  God bless you and I pray you are safe where ever you are.

Thriving Thursday - Knee high by the 4th of July

Earlier this week was the 4th of July.  An old saying of "Knee high by the 4th of July", refer's to the quality of a tall growing crop.  Crops that are long growing and tall are said to be healthy if they are knee high around the beginning of July.  Normally this is used for corn and sometime cotton but it is an old saying. This Thriving Thursday though I am using it for it's literal meaning.   What plants of yours are thriving to the point of being knee high today?

 My corn is more than knee high already.  I certainly hope that this means I will have a good crop.

After our trip my gardens were so much bigger than I remembered and my Echinacea is still blooming.  And   this guy is more than knee high.  The big leaves at the bottom of the picture are Eggplant and they too are also knee high.

 My young Rose of Sharon bushes are back to over knee high as well as the flower stalks to the hosta's.

After a lot of rough starts my morning glory plants are finally getting to be over knee high

So what is knee high in your garden this week?  What is truly Thriving this Thursday?  Post and add your link so we can all see.

I love to hear what others think so feel free to leave a comment even if you don't leave a link.

Our camping trip

Sunset on our way to the campground

Ahhhh internet so nice to have it back again.  Since a few of my readers made comments to my 4th of July post I thought maybe I would share the fun we had camping.

A lot happened most was planned, some was not. We got in late...I'm talking 9:45pm late, so luckily hubby and I have set the tent up before so we were able to do so by the light of the car headlights.

 First thing in the morning the kids got busy exploring the campsite.  Caterpillars were active and walking about so they quickly caught some.

I was busy finding bugs walking all over the car.  After the rest of the site was set up it was time to go visit some family.  Hubbies paternal Grandparents live 30 min from the campground so off we went to visit for a few hours.  A fun time was had by all.  There was talk of gardening as Grandpa Perkins walked me through what he has growing this year.I was a little jealous.  His garden was so nice and neat.  The peas looked so healthy.  Although he did ask me if I knew what a plant was as he had purchased some cabbage but out of the 6 one just didn't look like the others.  Turns out it was broccoli but cabbage #6 I found hiding under a broccoli leaf.

Back at the campground the kids got friendly with the resident Alpaca's.  Afterwards as night set it was time to cook on the stove.  Foil packs with smores to follow.  Can't have a campfire with out smores.

Hubby watching the train turn the corner

 Sunday came and it was off to the Oil Creek & Titusville Railroad where the kids got to ride a train for the first time.  Aiden guy of course was in seventh heaven as he loves trains.

Aiden found a way to see the train turning as we all stood on the open car at the end of the train.  Course on the return trip this open care was in front right behind the engine.

The happy goofy family posing for a picture.  For the 4th it was a true vacation day.  We walked around the campgrounds.  Fed the Alpaca's again, went swimming.
Fun was had by all until Tuesday morning when it all had to come to an end.

Packing up is always sad as it means the fun time of camping has come to an end.  Until next year.

Happy 4th of July weekend

Well today we are off to PA for a 4th of July camping weekend.  Before I left I wanted to share a flower that it just so pretty...

Have a wonderful weekend everyone and I will have internet again on Tuesday...4 days of no internet...oh how am I to survive.

Happy Birthday IrishGarden's

1 year ago today My Garden, My Hobbies was born.  Simply called My Garden at the time but the blog has certainly changed and evolved over the year.  My follower count has slowly climbed from the initial  0 to 42.  Still low compared to other blogs I read but that doesn't bother me.  Write it and they will read.....eventually.  I never would have thought that a year ago I would have been still blogging today.  That my garden would still be green today.  I used to kill almost everything that I touched.  If it was planted outside it may have made it.

I have learned a lot over this year thanks to google and other blogs as well as my ever growing library of books. Thank you to all my loyal readers and even to those who stop in every so often.  To those that comment thanks it's nice to see that I have new comments it lets me know someone read my post and liked it.

So here is to and another year of fun and adventures in the garden and writing about them.