Iris' 3 month road trip around the US

[Mark Sedenquist]

I've had three up-close-and-personal experiences with tornadoes on the road. From a (safe) distance it is an awesome experience -- being in the middle -or just slightly ahead of a raging tornado is another matter entirely. Glad you made it to a secure shelter!

Sounds like a great adventure you are on! Thanks for keeping us informed.

Mark

[keithg]

Happy that you are ok. Exciting reading about it though lol. Ill do my best to stay away from tornado's and read your adventures.

Keith

[justmemedia]

May 20-22 (Will catch up the other missing dates when I am at my long stay stop.)

Stayed at Deva Nell's, my cousin. This was a planned re-energize my batteries stop.

I had not had much contact with my with my mother's side of the family until I briefly met them when I was 18 and 30. We have recently made contact through Facebook. When I set up this trip, I contacted them and asked if I may visit them. They were so thrilled that I would include them on my trip. They are in their early 78 and 80.

I have been treated like the long last returning prodigal. I could not ask for nicer people to be related to.

We have been sharing stories of our grandparents. We each have a different view of them since I remember grandmother as a youngster. They actually met our Uncle Elmer and Grandpa Hughes and had some stories of their memories. (Grandpa died 7 months before I was born, and I was born on his (and his twin's) birthday. Uncle Elmer died in 1951. Both of those were gone before I was born.

And food, MY word, they feed you well here. I am not a sweets type person, and I have been offered Apricot Nectar Cake, Texas Ranger (Oatmeal Pecan) Cookies, Strawberry Cake, and more.

We have gone from being polite strangers to family.

Next step is Vicksburg, MS.

[DonnaR57]

Do the tour through Vicksburg National Military Park if you can. Quite interesting, even if you aren't a Civil War buff. It's a pretty area anyway.


Donna

[justmemedia]

Due to the fact that I am having difficulty posting in 3 different formats, I have set up a blog to report on my trip.

Please leave comments. On Blogspot, the most current post will be on the top. I will be placing the date for ease of navigation.

[justmemedia]

Am I able to "crap" here?

I have found out that without paying over $100/yr, there is not an one place that all of my friends can read and leave comments.

I think I am going to stay with blogspot, since my blog is also for a class, and this is a site that the professor can access.

[DonnaR57]

I personally wish you could just find a way to leave your trip report here. I enjoy reading it, but my time is limited (especially since I have a pile of report cards to work on for the next week or so).


Donna

[justmemedia]

I can/will continue to post the written, but the photos will only be on the blog.

Lady, I do NOT miss finishing the last requirements of putting a classroom to bed for the summer. I helped my friend in Vicksburg to cover her items and helped with organizing the cum files.

good wishes on the end-of-the-year work. Be kind to yourself.

[justmemedia]

May 8 expanded. Photos on Irisroadtrip2015.blogspot.com

May 8th
Today, was repacking the car to get ready to leave tomorrow. Even with a bit more leaving with me, the repacking makes it feel less is inside the car. I am leaving an empty box behind, and filling 2 canvas bags with beginner books that I had lent my friend. Seems to allow more space. Hey Carissa, see I keep telling you that you can never have too many bags.

California History Museum.
$9 adult fee, but does have AAA discount and Senior discount. Parking is on street or a parking lot several blocks away. There may be heavy traffic due to being close to the capital. Very well laid out. I was able to view several small groups and a large school group interact in the space with plenty of space to move and view the exhibits. The museum is completely accessible with those who have mobility issues.

Teachers and parents, there are Activity Guides to download. There is a resource section that has information for teachers (Standards aligned, Resources, Lesson Plans). Parents there are resources for your use before and after a trip.

I wanted to see the Sesquicentennial Quilt. There are more than 230 appliques.
It was so much fun to walk around the building. The online site shows off the beauty.

Art: Sesquicentennial Quilt-applique', hand quilted.
Art: Lincoln Bicentennial- Piece work, hand quilted.


Sesquicentennial Quilt. 2000.


Close up of a section of the Sesquicentennial Quilt.


Close up of a section of the border showing state flower and bird.


Close up of the stitch detail

Lincoln Bicentennial Quilt. 2009

There was also a great display of accomplished women in California's history. One of the best history was Charlotta Bass. In 1952 she was on the Presidential ballot as a VP running mate. How cool is that?




Other inductees to the California Hall of Fame. I did not include everyone, just names that caught my attention.














Armenian Journey: Immigrants in California
Since the 1880's, Armenians have been arriving in California to escape poverty, genocide, and natural disasters. Although they came mostly poor, the Armenians have been generous to give back to their countrymen around the world, and to their adopted state.

This exhibit was interesting in the varied facts and artifacts that was displayed.


Boxing in the Fields. Artist Arminee Shahnazarian Shishmanian.
Oil on canvas.

Armenian religious artifacts.
Uprooted! Japanese Americans during World War II
This exhibit shows through artifacts, art, a barrack room what life was like for many/most Japanese Americans during WWII. It is a very moving exhibit. One that deserves to be a permanent one for a reminder that America has not always been free.

My mother told me about a classmate who disappeared one day. Momma was not allowed to ask about or talk about her classmate. It was just a closed topic. Momma was 11 in 1942. I do not know if she ever saw this classmate again.

There was an American of Japanese descent there viewing the exhibit. It hit her deeply. I wish I had asked her what her memories were of that time period. I feel sad that we are losing a generation of knowledge.





A map showing where internment camps were located.

Barn at Granada Relocation Center, Amache, CO.
Artist Harry Yashio Tsuruda


Dust Storm at Poston.
Artist George Tahiri


These were made from shells at Tule Lake.




This room was dismantled from a relocation barracks. Then put back together.

Another view of the barracks.


How the barracks were marked.


Many of the interned had sons who were fighting for the US.




California History





There were many different areas of California's history displayed for the Missions, Wars, Agriculture, WWII--the good and the bad.

Book titles:
-The Japanese Internment by Rachel Hanel
-Dear Miss Breed by Joanne Oppenheim
-History through Primary Sources: How did this happen here? by Leni Dolan
-Lost Childhood: My Life in a Japanese Prison Camp During World War II by Annelex Hofstra
-Looking like the Enemy by Mary Matsuda Gruenewald
-Barbed Wire Baseball by Marissa Moss
-Baseball saved Us by Ken Mochizuki

-California History for Kids by Katy Duffield
-The Spanish Missions of California by Megan Gendell
-Children of the Dust Bowl: The True Story of the School at Weedpatch Camp by Jerry Stanley
-Strike! The Farm Workers' Fight for Their Rights by Larry Brimner
-Native Ways by Malcolm Margolin
-Courage of the 49ers by Al M Rocca


It has been a nice visit with my human friend, Jackie, and my 4-legged friends, Bubba, Lucy, Tiger, Shadow. Bindi and Blue.

Looking forward to the next adventure.

[DonnaR57]

Thanks for the titles. Some of those look like interesting reading ... once I'm done with 25+ report cards and 25+ cume files. Cover stuff???? I think I'm moving to a bigger classroom, so I have to pack up and move again!!!!



Donna