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First, we played around in our front yard.
There's a labyrinth, with a small worship house in the center. The panels within the worship house give you an idea of the Harmonists idealist theology.
Tuesday, May 22, 2007
Mother's Day Weekend
We spent Saturday of Mother's Day weekend with Betsy and Grayson at New Harmony and the Red Geranium.
First, we played around in our front yard.
There's a labyrinth, with a small worship house in the center. The panels within the worship house give you an idea of the Harmonists idealist theology.
First, we played around in our front yard.
There's a labyrinth, with a small worship house in the center. The panels within the worship house give you an idea of the Harmonists idealist theology.
Granny Maude's Weekend
Granny Maude's wishes were that her family would gather on Saturday for a reception in her honor at her church, Quaker Memorial Presbyterian, and for a family meal later in the day (one of her great traditions). Finally, a brief memorial moment during worship on Sunday.
Here are some pictures from the weekend:
Here are some pictures from the weekend:
Friday, May 18, 2007
Alma Watkins Webb
Alma Watkins Webb
1920-2007
Alma Watkins (Granny Maude) Webb, 87, of Lynchburg, died Sunday, May 13, 2007, in Drinkard Health Center. She was the wife of the late Harold Widden Webb.
Born Jan. 22, 1920, in Anson County, N.C., she was a daughter of the late John Thomas Watkins and Pearl Harward Watkins Burr.
Alma was a retired associate of JCPenney & Co., and an active member of Quaker Memorial Presbyterian Church.
In addition to her husband and parents, she was preceded in death by her two sisters, Ruth Gray and Nancy Burr; a brother, Howard Watkins, and sisters-in-law, Aline Watkins and Annie Watkins.
Alma is survived by her daughter, Sara W. Kipp and husband, John, of Lake Hartwell, S.C.; four sons, Thomas H. Webb and wife, Phyllis, David W. Webb and wife, Andrea, all of Lynchburg, R. Daniel Webb and wife, Beverly, of San Jose, Calif. and Phillip G. Webb and wife, Rayetta, of Altavista; 18 grandchildren, David and Karen Webb, Jennifer and Brad Church, Michael and Diane Webb, Stan Webb, Steve Webb, Julie and Rob Spivey, Leslie and Mark Squire, Leigh Webb, Nick Webb, Zach Webb, Danny Rivers, Steven and Becky Rivers, Sean and Lori LaRussa, Brian and Susie LaRussa, Sean and Susan Foster, Jay Kennedy, Betsy Shoub, and Kathy and Michael Erwin; 18 great-grandchildren, Audrey and Olivia Webb, Christopher and Joshua Webb, Meghan, Lilly, Luke and Joel Church, Michael, Nathan, Bethany, and Toby LaRussa, Jack Hipskind, Kennedy and Nathalie Erwin, Grayson Shoub, Savannah Rivers and Dylan Rivers; four brothers, John and Hugh Watkins, Harold and wife, Toni, and Carroll Burr and wife, Rhetta; a sister, Josephine Alexander and husband, Al; brother-in-law, F.D. Gray; and sister-in-law, Joyce Watkins.
A celebration of Alma's life will be held at 3 p.m. Saturday, May 19, 2007, at Quaker Memorial Presbyterian Church with the Rev. Corey Ingold officiating. The family will receive guests in the fellowship hall following the service and at other times at the residence of Tom Webb, 3904 Handy St.
In lieu of flowers, the family request that memorials be made to Quaker Memorial Presbyterian Church or a charity of choice.
Additional expressions of sympathy may be sent to webbsport@aol.com.
Diuguid Waterlick Chapel is in charge of arrangements.
Published in The News & Advance from 5/14/2007 - 5/16/2007.
1920-2007
Alma Watkins (Granny Maude) Webb, 87, of Lynchburg, died Sunday, May 13, 2007, in Drinkard Health Center. She was the wife of the late Harold Widden Webb.
Born Jan. 22, 1920, in Anson County, N.C., she was a daughter of the late John Thomas Watkins and Pearl Harward Watkins Burr.
Alma was a retired associate of JCPenney & Co., and an active member of Quaker Memorial Presbyterian Church.
In addition to her husband and parents, she was preceded in death by her two sisters, Ruth Gray and Nancy Burr; a brother, Howard Watkins, and sisters-in-law, Aline Watkins and Annie Watkins.
Alma is survived by her daughter, Sara W. Kipp and husband, John, of Lake Hartwell, S.C.; four sons, Thomas H. Webb and wife, Phyllis, David W. Webb and wife, Andrea, all of Lynchburg, R. Daniel Webb and wife, Beverly, of San Jose, Calif. and Phillip G. Webb and wife, Rayetta, of Altavista; 18 grandchildren, David and Karen Webb, Jennifer and Brad Church, Michael and Diane Webb, Stan Webb, Steve Webb, Julie and Rob Spivey, Leslie and Mark Squire, Leigh Webb, Nick Webb, Zach Webb, Danny Rivers, Steven and Becky Rivers, Sean and Lori LaRussa, Brian and Susie LaRussa, Sean and Susan Foster, Jay Kennedy, Betsy Shoub, and Kathy and Michael Erwin; 18 great-grandchildren, Audrey and Olivia Webb, Christopher and Joshua Webb, Meghan, Lilly, Luke and Joel Church, Michael, Nathan, Bethany, and Toby LaRussa, Jack Hipskind, Kennedy and Nathalie Erwin, Grayson Shoub, Savannah Rivers and Dylan Rivers; four brothers, John and Hugh Watkins, Harold and wife, Toni, and Carroll Burr and wife, Rhetta; a sister, Josephine Alexander and husband, Al; brother-in-law, F.D. Gray; and sister-in-law, Joyce Watkins.
A celebration of Alma's life will be held at 3 p.m. Saturday, May 19, 2007, at Quaker Memorial Presbyterian Church with the Rev. Corey Ingold officiating. The family will receive guests in the fellowship hall following the service and at other times at the residence of Tom Webb, 3904 Handy St.
In lieu of flowers, the family request that memorials be made to Quaker Memorial Presbyterian Church or a charity of choice.
Additional expressions of sympathy may be sent to webbsport@aol.com.
Diuguid Waterlick Chapel is in charge of arrangements.
Published in The News & Advance from 5/14/2007 - 5/16/2007.
Wednesday, May 9, 2007
Granny Maude
Just so everyone knows, Granny Maude, Kathy's grandmother, is very near to death. Kathy was with her in Lynchburg over last weekend, and is already making plans to go back in the near future to honor her after her death, which is as imminent as it can be.
Way back before Kathy and I really started dating seriously, she took Phil (college friend) and I up to Lynchburg. We were interested to see Appomattox Court House, one of our several trips to various Civil War battlegrounds. We stayed with Granny Maude at the time, my first time to meet her, and boy she was a personal tour de force, a real joy to be around, and always so loving and kind.
Of course, truth be told, when Kathy told her later that she was engaged to me, Granny Maude assumed it was "that other boy" who had come to visit, so when she met me the next time, I think she was surprised. Pleasantly or not, we shall never know.
She loved her family, her church, and JC Penney, where she had a long career. Just last year, she bought Kathy and I linens for our new home with her Penney's discount. There is a pew at Quaker Memorial that has been smoothed by her presence and that of her family over the years.
One visit in particular I will never forget. I think it may have been cousin Jennifer's wedding. Kathy and I stayed with Granny Maude, and I learned two things during that stay. First, she served me the best summer breakfast I have ever come across. A piece of sourdough bread, buttered, topped with a slice of tomato, a basil leaf, then cheese, toasted in the oven until the bread toasts and the cheese melts. Next, the place to really enjoy such a breakfast was sitting at the table, right beside her bird feeder/window box. This box protruded into her dining room, and was constructed of a one-way mirror, so that birds would come into the box and not be disturbed by the close proximity of human beings.
There are certainly other stories to tell. Like, the first Christmas I spent with the Webb family. They are a crazy bunch who love to be together. I wonder what will happen when Granny Maude is gone. I remember losing one of my grandmothers; you think life will go on as it always has. But, I've seen those cousins maybe two or three times in the intervening fifteen years since her death. Granny Maude is certainly the glue for the Webbs; there is no substitute.
I pray Godspeed to you, Granny Maude. May death be peaceful for you, and bring you ever closer to the dreams God has for you and you have for God.
Way back before Kathy and I really started dating seriously, she took Phil (college friend) and I up to Lynchburg. We were interested to see Appomattox Court House, one of our several trips to various Civil War battlegrounds. We stayed with Granny Maude at the time, my first time to meet her, and boy she was a personal tour de force, a real joy to be around, and always so loving and kind.
Of course, truth be told, when Kathy told her later that she was engaged to me, Granny Maude assumed it was "that other boy" who had come to visit, so when she met me the next time, I think she was surprised. Pleasantly or not, we shall never know.
She loved her family, her church, and JC Penney, where she had a long career. Just last year, she bought Kathy and I linens for our new home with her Penney's discount. There is a pew at Quaker Memorial that has been smoothed by her presence and that of her family over the years.
One visit in particular I will never forget. I think it may have been cousin Jennifer's wedding. Kathy and I stayed with Granny Maude, and I learned two things during that stay. First, she served me the best summer breakfast I have ever come across. A piece of sourdough bread, buttered, topped with a slice of tomato, a basil leaf, then cheese, toasted in the oven until the bread toasts and the cheese melts. Next, the place to really enjoy such a breakfast was sitting at the table, right beside her bird feeder/window box. This box protruded into her dining room, and was constructed of a one-way mirror, so that birds would come into the box and not be disturbed by the close proximity of human beings.
There are certainly other stories to tell. Like, the first Christmas I spent with the Webb family. They are a crazy bunch who love to be together. I wonder what will happen when Granny Maude is gone. I remember losing one of my grandmothers; you think life will go on as it always has. But, I've seen those cousins maybe two or three times in the intervening fifteen years since her death. Granny Maude is certainly the glue for the Webbs; there is no substitute.
I pray Godspeed to you, Granny Maude. May death be peaceful for you, and bring you ever closer to the dreams God has for you and you have for God.
May the road rise up to meet you.
May the wind be always at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face;
the rains fall soft upon your fields
and until we meet again,
may God hold you in the palm of His hand.
Wilson update
Well, just one day after that long post about Wilson, with unsatisfactory photos, Wilson gave me quite the show this morning. This time, he showed me all his feathers. Take a look...
Tuesday, May 8, 2007
Wilson
Last August as the school year began, we met an interesting neighbor that has become a regular fixture around La Doña.
It was a regular school morning, as we loaded up the car to head to Highland Elementary for the beginning of the day. As we drove up LaDonna Boulevard, the strangest creature appeared out of the corner of my eye. I stopped, put the transmission in reverse, and pulled the car parallel to a blue sedan parked on the street. There, on the hood of the car, stood a wild turkey.
Each day for the next week, we saw the turkey in the same place. After that, we began to notice him in a more congested area, near the three-way stop we pass through each day on the way to Highland. Not intimidated by the slow-moving cars, the turkey took his sweet time crossing and recrossing the road, creating a traffic jam at the corner of Old State and Campground.
It was then that we began to realize how popular this turkey had become.
At Bethel's youth group a couple of weeks later, I happened to mention the turkey. One of our youth, Meghan, said, "Oh, that's Wilson. My friends (at Central High School) get really mad at that turkey because he makes them late to school." So, Wilson. The turkey had a name.
A couple of weeks later, Wilson made headlines in the local paper. Note the following:
Then we hit a cold freeze, and I had no desire to search out wild turkeys in the neighborhood. Until two weeks ago. As Natalie came out the garage headed to school, we heard Wilson in the neighbors back yard. Then we saw him. He had his feathers displayed and was walking down the yard towards our drive, ever so slowly. Closer and closer he came; we could see him between the branches and newly budding leaves. He came to the edge of the drive, in all his splendor, then turned and walked back up the hill, garbling all the way.
Since then, he has appeared in our neighbors back yard several times. I think I have even caught a glimpse of a large nest that might be his. He even made a grand appearance, as if on cue, for our friends Sam and Cheryl this past weekend; just as we were telling the story, we heard him, then saw him through the fence in our yard.
This afternoon, as I was working at home in the living room, Kery, the wonder-pointing dog, began to bark out the front French door window. Usually, I ignore her, but she kept insisting that I view her discovery. I looked out to see Wilson in our front yard. Wow! I thought, then grabbed the camera and moved ever so slowly out the front door to snap a few photos.
I could've run, because Wilson is not really a fearful bird. As I came out, he was nonchalantly making his way across our front yard, to our drive. He walked down our drive toward the other neighbors back yard, where his nest resides. I met him where our front walk and the drive come together, and stood within 10 feet of him snapping photos. I imagine I could've been closer, but chose to keep my distance. He is a wild turkey.
So, here are two shots. The camera buzzed out on me, so I didn't get as many shots as I wanted. As you can see, Wilson is a beautiful bird. Perhaps you will encounter him when you visit.
It was a regular school morning, as we loaded up the car to head to Highland Elementary for the beginning of the day. As we drove up LaDonna Boulevard, the strangest creature appeared out of the corner of my eye. I stopped, put the transmission in reverse, and pulled the car parallel to a blue sedan parked on the street. There, on the hood of the car, stood a wild turkey.
Each day for the next week, we saw the turkey in the same place. After that, we began to notice him in a more congested area, near the three-way stop we pass through each day on the way to Highland. Not intimidated by the slow-moving cars, the turkey took his sweet time crossing and recrossing the road, creating a traffic jam at the corner of Old State and Campground.
It was then that we began to realize how popular this turkey had become.
At Bethel's youth group a couple of weeks later, I happened to mention the turkey. One of our youth, Meghan, said, "Oh, that's Wilson. My friends (at Central High School) get really mad at that turkey because he makes them late to school." So, Wilson. The turkey had a name.
A couple of weeks later, Wilson made headlines in the local paper. Note the following:
These Wilson appearances continued on through the Christmas holidays. In late November, the same reporter wrote about Wilson again:"He blocks traffic every morning," she said, adding that Wilson backed
traffic up for about two miles the other day as motorists waited for him to give
in and head back into the woods.
Wilson has an obvious disdain for wheels.
"My kids feed him and walk right by, and tonight my parents took
pictures of him, and he usually just stands there," she said. "But my kids said
one time he chased them on their bikes, so apparently he's not aggressive unless
you are on wheels."
Wilson disappeared from sight after the holidays, and I didn't see him again. Until spring came around. I was in our laundry making coffee, it was an early spring morning, so I opened the window to let the crisp air in. I began to hear gobbling noises out the window. I looked out, but couldn't see the source.Wilson lives.
Last week, Stephanie Haggard sent me new pictures of him.
Haggard works at Kangaroo Express at the corner of Petersburg and
Stringtown roads."As you know, Wilson has become a very talked-about turkey
every day," she wrote in an e-mail.
Haggard included pictures she took of Wilson "directing traffic" this
month.
"He walks from my corner at Old State and Campground roads in the
center of the road nearly every day," she said.
For all of the Wilson fans out there, I don't know exactly what it is
about this stubborn bird that has earned your admiration, but it makes me
smile.
Then we hit a cold freeze, and I had no desire to search out wild turkeys in the neighborhood. Until two weeks ago. As Natalie came out the garage headed to school, we heard Wilson in the neighbors back yard. Then we saw him. He had his feathers displayed and was walking down the yard towards our drive, ever so slowly. Closer and closer he came; we could see him between the branches and newly budding leaves. He came to the edge of the drive, in all his splendor, then turned and walked back up the hill, garbling all the way.
Since then, he has appeared in our neighbors back yard several times. I think I have even caught a glimpse of a large nest that might be his. He even made a grand appearance, as if on cue, for our friends Sam and Cheryl this past weekend; just as we were telling the story, we heard him, then saw him through the fence in our yard.
This afternoon, as I was working at home in the living room, Kery, the wonder-pointing dog, began to bark out the front French door window. Usually, I ignore her, but she kept insisting that I view her discovery. I looked out to see Wilson in our front yard. Wow! I thought, then grabbed the camera and moved ever so slowly out the front door to snap a few photos.
I could've run, because Wilson is not really a fearful bird. As I came out, he was nonchalantly making his way across our front yard, to our drive. He walked down our drive toward the other neighbors back yard, where his nest resides. I met him where our front walk and the drive come together, and stood within 10 feet of him snapping photos. I imagine I could've been closer, but chose to keep my distance. He is a wild turkey.
So, here are two shots. The camera buzzed out on me, so I didn't get as many shots as I wanted. As you can see, Wilson is a beautiful bird. Perhaps you will encounter him when you visit.
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