After the Revolutionary War (War of Rebellion), a new country, the United States of America, was formed during the 1780s. Up to this war, the colonial monetary system was a Hodge podge system of bartering and the English Pound. Tobacco and nails were commonly used as money. (Maybe you've heard of a 6 penny or 10 penny nail?) After the Revolutionary War. the federal monetary system took some time to fully establish itself. Did you know that at one time individual states issued money? Tennessee was one of those as found on this promissory note where my g-g-grandfather promised to pay in 'the current money of Tennessee'. The note reads: "By the 25th of December next I promise to pay John Hord(ner)? the sum of Eight Dollars inthe current money of the State of Tennessee for value received of him this 8th of May 1827." Notice that the old style of writing the double-s appears in the word Tennessee. The first s is highly elongated above and below the base line. It has the same height and descender as the letter f and is commonly confused by transcribers. The differences are: The f's upper and lower loops are both on the right side of the vertical staff; For the s, the upper loop is the same but the lower loop is on the left side of the staff, like an elongated numeral 8. Sometime during the 1830s, this style of writing ss changed to the present modern form.

Thankfully it isn't like this today. Whenever I see pictures of the cars and trucks dealing with the snow and ice, I am so thankful I do not have to be out in that mess. I remember one Christmas when my brother came home with his three kids. We had a great visit but when he went back home to Pennsylvania, they got stuck on the turnpike and had to spend the night in the car!

A view from Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden

@murraysmom Zone 6a OH " I believe you have hit the trifecta!!" I wish! Left to right, the horses are Sensitive Prince, Alydar and Believe It. My bet was on Sensitive Prince. Alydar and Believe It would finish 2nd and third behind Affirmed, who went on to win the Triple Crown that year. I belive it was 26 years before there would be another Triple Crown winner. I was glad to have been there but it was a one and done experience for me. Too many people to watch the race. It seemed like it took thrity minutes to find out who had won.