A-Bomb Drops in SC (really!)

I want to go to Mars Bluff, SC. As near as it is to Charlotte, I’ve never been there. I know, you are wondering... what is in Mars Bluff? Where is Mars Bluff? Why would you want to go there?

The name kind of sounds like an alien resort; it is not, of course, but what happened there is so, oh my gosh, interesting. Mars Bluff is a small community in Florence County, SC. On March 11, 1958, an Air Force Boeing B-47 was flying over the area with a nuclear bomb on board. Captain Koehler, the pilot, noted a fault light in the cockpit indicating an issue with the bomb’s harness. He notified Captain Kulka, navigator and bombardier, to check on the bomb. As Kulka was doing just that, he needed to steady himself and accidentally hit the emergency release (time for a dramatic pause)… and down, down, down went the bomb. It landed in, you guessed it, Mars Bluff.

The nuclear core was not on the bomb, but there was still enough explosive material to create a crater about 70 feet wide and 35 feet deep! There is a marker there and everything! When I read about this all I could say was, “Oh, my gosh”!! Of course there is more to the story and here is a link to additional information — check it out and you’ll say, “Oh, my gosh!” too.

Mars Bluff is on my 2018 list of things I am going to do. It is not a huge thing, or an enormous trip. I realize it might even be anticlimactic, but I want to go to Mars Bluff to see the crater where the nuclear bomb dropped in South Carolina. I’ll let you know when I get there.

Leave a comment and let me know what local thing you want to do in 2018!

 Here is a link to pictures of Mars. 

Christmas at Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden

My husband, Steven, and I had a date this holiday season. We went to the Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden to see the Christmas lights. It was chilly, but it was such an enjoyable time I thought I would share with you some of the pictures.

Holy Flying Frogs, Batman!!

I was scouting around for some trivia today. I sometimes just type in something on the internet and see what bits of information show up. Today I just typed in flying frog and I nearly croaked to find out there are really such strange creatures in this world. I had no idea, did you?

They are actually called Wallace’s Flying Frogs, and ok, so they really glide but I hope you can leap over that fact and hop along with me on this amphibian journey. They are named after Alfred Russel Wallace, a British naturalist and biologist (1823-1913), who discovered these creatures in the tropical jungles of Malaysia and Borneo.

Flying frogs' feet are large and webbed; they are called "flying" frogs because they can descend at a less than 45 degree angle, their webbed feet working like four little parachutes to glide them safely to the ground. How cool is that? They don’t have wings but they do work with what they've got. They don’t need wings to fly.

I’m telling you the truth, I’m not am-FIB-ian. After all, I read it on the web. Click below to read it for yourself!

It's a new year! (almost)

At the turn of a page, 2017 will become ‘last year’. Wow, that happened quickly! I could sit here and write about making resolutions, goals, plans, and the future, but… I am not going to do that.

Instead, I just want to wish you a wonderful and joyous end of the year and an exciting and blessed 2018. I look forward to hearing great things about you.

Be safe, love life, and cherish your family and friends.

Sincerely and with love,

Chocolate Jumbos

Merry Christmas and Happy Celebration!! 

I thought you might enjoy a favorite holiday cookie recipe, Chocolate Jumbos. They are a chocolate spice cookie with a butter cream frosting. They have a hole in the middle — and they just don't taste right without that hole. Even as I write this, my mouth begins to water for the taste of those cookies.

The recipe has been in the family since the 1800’s. We always make Chocolate Jumbos during the holidays and even now these cookies remain a family favorite. Recently my youngest daughter called me and said, “Mom, I want to make Chocolate Jumbos with you. I want to learn how to make them properly.” That made me feel good within my soul. To spend the time with my daughter carrying on a family tradition makes these cookies a taste of the past, the present, and the future.

This recipe is all we ever had to go by — just the ingredients, no other written instructions. I did make my own changes. I only use butter, no shortening.

My mother always rolled out the cookies with her rolling pin and used a biscuit cutter to cut them out into perfect circles. I have added my own flare by using a scoop. I scoop out the dough, put it on a cookie sheet I have sprayed with cooking spray, then flatten the dough with my hand. Using the handle tip of a wooden spoon, I swirl in a hole.

Have fun!! I truly hope you enjoy these cookies as much as my family does; a part of my life I share with you.