Morning By The Bay

"Like a Lake"...till the wind kicks in. :-)

September Beach

The third week of September saw some real Caribbean conditions on Fire Island. However, the weather, "it are a'changin'"! High winds and a serious dip in the temperature is on the radar.

Beach House Time

Spending September nights at the beach...Life is Good!

A Night At The Ballpark

Major fun at the Minor Leagues with the Photographer and the brother. Life is Good!

Salad And Fries

Went to the ball game last night...looking for that "different" ballpark shot when lo and behold, dinner was being served in the field level box seats!

The Cornfield

147 years ago today this rather ordinary looking farm field (aka "The Cornfield) was ground zero in the bloodiest one day battle in American history. In the four hours from 6am-10am, 8,000 men fell in this field during the early part of the battle at Antietam.

I learned (only recently) that my Mother's Grandfather, Pvt. Allen McLane, survived the 50/50 odds of making it across this field on the morning of Sept. 17th, 1862. Allen's 124th Pennsylvania Brigade started from the woods at the right hand side of this image to a point just beyond where the photo was taken. Today the quiet here is both spiritual and awe-inspiring.

Sailing Duties

It's always important to have good crew....!

Maryland Farm

Quiet Antietam morning view...

September 1862

The battle of Antietam ended Lee's advance through Maryland. Though far outnumbered, the Confederate troops inflicted heavy casualties on the Union side and most historians view the battle as a "draw". Many agree that the Civil War could have been won at Antietam if the Union Command had used all the troops held in reserve. (Abraham Lincoln fired General McClelland immediately after the battle).

Country Road

Early September in the Maryland countryside....Life is Good!

Silent Guns

Unlike other National Battlefields, Antietam has a limited number of monuments. The intent at Antietam was to create a quiet, natural environment for reflection and remembrance. Preservationists continue to take stewardship of the hallowed ground and currently are involved with reforestation of areas where timber has been harvested.

September Sailing

"As a dreamer of dreams and a travelin' man I have chalked up many a mile.... Read dozens of books about heroes and crooks.... And I learned much from both of their styles..." J. Buffett

Antietam Farming

The farm fields that are the sites of the original battlefield of Antietam are still farmed today. The fields are leased to local farmers by the National Park Service. Much the park remains today as it did in 1862.

Connections

Genealogy, searching for roots and looking for connections is perhaps a return to that universal childhood question of "where did I come from?". Feeling a self imposed sense of urgency (perhaps a post mid- life awareness) Alida and I have made many discoveries in a relatively short period of time. It's all about documentation, putting the pieces together and connecting the dots. It is fun and new discoveries are exciting.
"Where did I come from?" The geographic answer to this point in my search is in the Maryland countryside of the late 1700's and the urban landscape of a mid-1800's Philadelphia. Ireland, Scotland and Germany are on my research radar. The journey continues, life is good!

Antietam

The single bloodiest day in U.S. history occurred in western Maryland on September 17, 1862. The battle of Antietam lasted one day with a casualty count of 23,000 soldiers. We are told that between the hours of 6 am and 10 am a man went down every second during the back and forth struggle for the 24 acre "cornfield". One brigade from Louisiana (Gen. Hay's) saw 60 percent casualties in thirty minutes. It is said that every stalk of corn was shredded to the ground by weapons fire.

I was drawn to Antietam this weekend at the invitation of distant (here- to-fore unknown) cousins for a family reunion of sorts. Through my genealogy research I recently learned that my Mother's Great grandfather (my Great-Great Grandfather) fought at Antietam as a member of the 124th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry. As a part of the 12th Corps, the 124th was instrumental in capturing the "cornfield" section of the battle field. My distant third cousins were celebrating his legacy, we connected through a research website on the inter net. It was an honor and a thrill to be included and to meet "new" family members!

Right Red Return

Heading for port under a glorious September sky and having the bay all to ourselves...priceless!

September

I can feel it in the evening when closing the patio umbrella, I feel it in the morning when bringing in the paper. Summer has begun it's gradual slide into fall. September holds promise for much more wonderful weather, yet still it marks a corner turned. The bathing suit uniform adds a sweatshirt, tevas are traded for sneakers and long pants become more practical than shorts.
September is upon us. Life is good.