Transcript 2012 Annual Newsletter - M. Ingram's Photo Album

18th Annual Newsletter for 2012
By Macharold S. Ingram
December 24, 2012
Theme: Chain of Thought (See colored words.)
Dear Family and Friends…
Presented in a logical order
Copyright images
Abbreviations: P.A. – Physician’s Assistant; WBTS – War
Between The States, a.k.a. The US Civil War
[Please click through and read at your own pace.
With the salutation on this page, my newsletter
continues on successive pages in the smaller
fonts. Picture captions are in larger, bold font.]
Lumix, Playback
Mode, taken with
Kodak
2012 started optimistically. The economy seems to be improving. I had a number of
projects, including getting a new camera. Using my E-Star credits, I procured a
Panasonic Lumix in mid-January, and it has been a joy to use. Most photographs in this
presentation were taken with it. This particular picture had to be exceptional.
Right Hand as seen by a P.A.
via X-Rays
I try to be a picture of health, but
have had some ups and downs. In late
May, at a church wide skating event, I
fell backward several times and caught
myself on my right hand. This caused a
sprain which has been somewhat
painful with some temporary loss of
function. Fortunately, the pain is
subsiding and function is returning, but
the healing process has seemed slow.
More than a month later, I still felt
effects.
Effective work at Eaton continues to go well. Since
last October, I held the position of Electrical Technician,
which is what I originally hired as in 1990. Vacations
are being managed differently, from being rewarded in
arrears to being given on a real-time basis. So vacation
time earned from last year was "banked", divided into
roughly 3 portions, and we have 3 years to use that
time off. I was assigned a special project in March to
develop software to reduce wire waste. While the
“MIN-WIRE” project is very successful, there has been
a struggle for acceptance.
Barrels of Wire Offal, and a particular sample.
A Day to Forget
Speaking of such, Labor Day (Sept. 3) was a struggle
with sickness. I had been to a doctor several days earlier
and had a negative strep test. Monday, nausea, diarrhea
and dry heaves were symptomatic of a severe stomach
virus. It's a day I'd rather forget.
Forgetting the past seems
to be fashionable at Living
Water. Early on, there was
a "falling away" as many
people left after an
incident involving a pastor
selection committee. (next
slide)
GAP KIDZ Learners draw on a whiteboard after the session.
Vacation Bible School Learner turns the evangelical color wheel. The poster
pair is shown in their positions with superhero puzzles.
(cont’d) We started a Wednesday evening children's program (GAP Kidz) patterned
somewhat like AWANA‘s. In weekly (Wednesday and Sunday) and annual (Vacation Bible
School) events, I continue to invest my time with young children.
In late March, I invested in
"cyber real estate" (i.e., buying
and registering an internet
domain). I actually bought 2
sites, one of which is a pure
investment. The other [MineralsSoftware-Inventions.com] is
possibly investment-related, but
currently holds mostly
photographs. Please feel free to
visit (click for link), and be aware
that it will change sometimes.
Home Page of Minerals-Software-Inventions.com
Quilter’s Tools and Material
Changes continue with a sewing project. In early April, I got motivated again to work on
my quilt, which is now a long-term project, dating back to 2007. Because its name (and
design) will make fullest sense only when it is completed, I do not give its name nor show
it to people while it's in progress. I had to hide it quickly once when Grace called giving
me short notice of a visit.
Orchids of
Various Forms
and Colors
Grace also called on March 31 from the nearby Arboretum. There was an orchid
competition event going on which we enjoyed. We also hiked around some and visited the
bonsai displays. Grace still works as a paralegal for Larry Pfaff in Banner Elk.
Orchids of Various Forms and
Colors
Various Images in and near Cataloochee Valley
My Water Bottle is iconic in sign pictures.
Elk were not visible on my latest visit to
Cataloochee Valley on July 1. But I
enjoyed a profusion of wild flowers beside
the road and on the Divide Trail as I hiked
towards Hemphill Bald.
Flame Azalea bloom beside the Divide Trail.
The Cemetery is in Northern Rutherford County, NC.
The Hemphill-Morgan Cemetery was the object of a workday in early November. But
the real event that day was a celebration of Uncle Don's 90th birthday at North 40. It
was a surprise to him, and to others. We got some trees cut down, brush and wood
hauled away, and I got photographs of memorial stones for all interred (ancestors,
relatives and unknown slaves).
(Clockwise from upper left): Roaring Creek Falls,
Setrock Creek Falls, Sign at Campground,
Catawba Rhododendron along Blue Ridge
Parkway
A hike on Memorial Day was repeated again this
year with an excursion on the Blue Ridge Parkway
and visits to 2 waterfalls in Yancey County. Keeping
my tradition with such events, the mass of the earth
is slightly redistributed.
Backlit Leaves at a Parkway Overlook
Sign and Water Bottle near Setrock Creek Falls
(Left-to-Right): Pink Unknown Flowers, St. Andrew’s
Cross, Freshly-strung Mint Cuttings, Trillium Seedpod
Earth's plants and flora continue to hold my interest.
On July 29, hiking near North Mills River, I started a
photographic theme of "Shades of Green", having found
many juxtapositions of different plants with much
variation of color. I continued to add to my dried mint
collection. Once dry, I crumble the leaves of both
peppermint and spearmint and seep in water with tea
bags to make mint tea .
1
4
2
5
3
6
(1-4) Plant Juxtapositions at Mintz Cove, near North Mills River
(5) Plants near Rufus Morgan Falls, Macon Co.
(6) Blue spruce and holly at Arden residence
Tea-connoisseur Henrietta teaches now at Randolph Community College. Her activities last
year were given the "Master Card" treatment. (Remember the TV advertisements, in which 2 or
3 things have a price, but the final item with lasting impact is "priceless"?) She is still a CARD
(Christian Advocate Roaming Devotee) for the Master, and it is encouraging to see her
compassion to continue professional and voluntary teaching.
Cynthia continues her teaching work at NC A&T State University. She conducts nursing
classes in the ABSN (Accelerated Bachelor's program), geared to students who already have a
bachelor's degree in another field. The program is extremely geared to current society.
At the other extreme, teaching and young children are both themes for Darlene, as she
enjoys the work at a daycare facility. Her efforts will help these youngsters be independent
some day.
Financial independence was one of my goals this year. On October 29, I entered the credit
union holding my mortgage and paid it off. The feeling is exhilarating. So now I own my house
outright and the lot it sits on, having made payments for over 14 years.
After 6 years of service, my cell phone was failing (People had trouble hearing me on calls).
With the skating event injury, I was motivated to purchase a new phone. At the same time, I
bought a Jetpack for wireless internet access. Both of these devices have improved the technical
aspect of communication greatly, starting in June.
In early June, there was a weekend with 2 family events. Many of us met in West Jefferson
(Ashe County) for lunch and shopping at the cheese outlet. The second event was Cane Creek
Decoration, attended rarely for several years, with the usual good food.
Manna Food Bank helps many people in need across the area. The call for volunteers fell on
listening ears in late September, as I picked apples (probably Rome Beauties) at a harvesting
event.
Beautiful scenery was the call as I went hiking in northern Georgia and Macon County, NC.
During this extended vacation in early October, I also installed some cordless blinds, and did
other personal projects.
Although I personally voted early, the traditional Election Day is on my birthday. This year is
a presidential election, and it happens as such every 28 years. For these coincident dates, the
incumbent has always won in recent history.
Biblical history records that Apostles Peter and Paul were bound with chains (Acts 12:6-7 and
26:29). But we are free (no longer slaves to sin), and I celebrate this freedom at Christmas. The
Bible is full of the freedom concept (such as John 8:36 and Romans 6:22), so it must be very
important. So I leave you with encouragement to throw off your chains, and celebrate your
freedom this Christmas. Here’s wishing you the Merriest ever!
Living in Freedom,
Mac
Contact information:
Phone: (828) 684-4276
Personal e-mail: [email protected]
Slow mail: 298 Watson Road; Arden, NC 28704
Limited text service: [email protected] [[email protected] also works.]
[There are 3 more slides, mostly with pictures.]
(Left-to-Right) Family near cheese store, West Jefferson; Grace near Newland
waterfall; Woody’s at Decoration; Uncle Wyatt’s and Aunt Crete’s tombstone;
Possibly angelica flower near Bakersville.
Upper-Left: Schoolhouse Falls
Middle: Rufus Morgan Falls
Right: Variegated fungus
Middle-Left: Falls on Tate
Branch, northern GA
Right:
Partridge
Berries
Far Right:
Violet flowers
near
Bakersville
Left-to-Right: Grace, Andy,
Cynthia, Dad (Henry), Darlene
and Denver
Here is the news about other family members not mentioned elsewhere. Denver is a fireweather meteorologist near Atlanta. He still goes various places to teach and learn his
profession. Chris and Crystal are married, and living in Randleman. He is attending Randolph
Community college; she manages a bookstore. Dad continues some farming and gardening,
but is slowly letting it go. Andy continues to teach as a substitute, support Cynthia and
perform at living history events (WBTS re-enactments). Another of his highlights was helping
at a golfing event with several notable athletes present.
THE END