MIA in Facebook

This blog has had fewer posts this year as I've delved into Facebook as an experimental alternative. Facebook is a bit more convenient to share the brief adventures I've embarked up on this year. I'm hoping 2011 will be more eventful, Verizon willing! I'll still post here from time to time, and the boys and I hope to do something commercial with the .com website, if we ever find the time away from our day jobs!

The Florida Blenke Family Reunion 2010

Satellite Beach, Florida

The descended families of brothers Peter and Tobias Blenke gathered on the beach, to meet for the first time in generations.

It was good to meet this "Partying" side of the family :-)

2010 St. Patrick's HS 40th Reunion

The planned two week roadtrip from Mango to Cincinnati ended up a one week flight/roadtrip to the Cincinnati OH, Maysville KY area, cut short by a busy work schedule. I now plan to take a second trip this year to the Smokies when the Fall Colors arrive.

The St. Patrick's class of '70, one of the largest classes ever (35), had a meager turnout. Our class spread far and wide across the USA and while some of us keep in touch, it's been a while for most. Mary Lou and I sat down and pretty much figured out where everyone is, and Ann has contact with a large portion of them. Perhaps we'll get a better turnout for the 50th *-)

2010 The Tecumseh

My Brother has made an interesting discovery of a whale bone model of the Barque our forefather Michael Anton Blenke sailed to America on with his brother in 1845.

Further research on The Tecumseh...

I'm most impressed! While this collectors item is priceless, I think he's planning to duplicate it in some way. The detail is exquisite.

Roadtrips

2010 is re-discovering America year for me. With 14 days in Europe last year, I plan to see as much of the US as I can this year.

A business trip has taken me to Fort Wayne, Indiana for a week of the Midwest last month. Airports seem very busy despite the recession though it was Easter Week with Snowbirds flocking North from Florida cramming the flights.

Planning a Spring Appalachian Roadtrip in May/June through the Carolinas, West Virginia and Kentucky, partly on the Blue Ridge Parkway, then up into Eastern Kentucky to the Ohio River towns of Augusta and Maysville.

Discoveries

Gardening

Still recovering from the extremely cold winter here in Mango, but have all Spring plantings done. As a result of the cold snaps, I lost three citrus trees, two Key Limes and a Kafir Lime tree. I'll miss the Kafir lime leaves in Thai dishes, put the Persians came through OK. It's going to be a bumper year for tangerines as the trees are still loaded with blooms. All the orange and lemon trees blossomed well. The Yellow-Stripe bamboo has surprisingly recovered and I planted two new Oldhamy plants to complete the "Big Timber" backdrop. I have to learn to propagate these as they can run over $80/5gal culm and they sprout numerous culms each year.