Top to Bottom

This turned out to be a long journey (from top to bottom), so maybe more than one visit would be warranted to digest it all but at least we are now kind of "up to date" (with apologies to FOJTY, who IS in Kansas City)

The Top (dog)

In our kind of helter skelter approach to the Feeder columns, let’s go back to STL for another glimpse at the world of big time dog events.  I may have said this, but probably bears repeating, that when we told FOJTY we would be attending, he asked if we had seen the movie “Best in Show”.  Why, yes, we have…  “well he said, it’s just like that.”   Yeah, sure that was a parody, but this is the real thing…. Guess what.  He was right.

So while all the dogs are doing their strutting (along with the handlers) out in the ring(s), a whole different world exists “behind the curtains”.  Mostly I suppose it’s like many performances.  Stuff stacked around

And plenty of dogs, killing time in their little “houses”

Or just "hanging out"

Some almost literally

FOJTY says they do this to keep them in good shape after grooming..

Some ever hopeful for a treat

Or just plain bored

Griffs seem to have the right idea

While waiting for Duke and FOJTY, Stanley’s mom and I got along quite well..

And then eventually it’s showtime!

In the case of FOJTY’s Wirehaired Pointing Griffons, they are bred to be hunters, out in the fields, on point with quail, retrieving waterfowl, very active.  He really prefers to be out there doing field trials, or training, not prancing around a ring.  

He says some dogs (not necessarily only Griffs) spend most of their lives in those crates, going from show to show to show.   It’s an unfortunate truth (Right Al?) that in order to advance your dog in the world of ratings and thus stud fees, etc., you have to do this..

This may be the last dog show related posting.  It was an amazing experience.  What a world.  And I don’t think I saw one sequined sweat shirt with “I love my….” On the front.  Serious stuff.  

The Middle

We abandoned the original plan to visit KC and so had to skip the annual meeting of the AASLH (American Association for State and Local History), which of course is of immense interest to MFO.  The theme for the meeting was “Truth or Consequences”:

“Museums and historic sites have been ranked among America’s most trusted institutions in an age where trust continues to erode and truth sometimes becomes murky. Our history organizations maintain the trust if we continue to tell the truth. But what is truth when our work is based on interpretation of the historical evidence and interpretations change? How do people know what to believe?”

Very timely, but with our STL experience in the hotel, we mutually agreed that travel is (now) very hard on us both, and so decided to return to Maryland.  Too bad, MFO had to miss it, but by the time we got here we were pretty well tuckered out.  We were so glad we made the dog event.

The “Bottom”

So life returned to “normal”, and the Feeder had an interesting experience with a new restaurant.   One of the things I do with my limited abilities, is to be a member of the Editorial Committee for the St. Mary’s Chronicles, the newsletter of the St. Mary’s County Historical Society, published quarterly which contains articles pertaining to the history of our county.  We review potential articles, and edit where called for, and learn a lot in the process. 

We have occasional meetings of the committee to discuss philosophy, recent and potential articles, tell stories, etc.  So last week we decided to have a lunch meeting.  Since there is a preponderance of members from the western part of the county we decided to eat at The Bottom of the Hill, a relatively new place just north of Leonardtown in the shopping center with the garden place, McDonalds, and Weiss (nee Food Lion). 

Side Track, but interesting (restaurant review to follow):

During the small talk while we gathered, I mentioned that this location has had many occupants, none of which have survived very long.  When I arrived here in ’96 the spot was a Perkins (Pancake House) one of two in the vicinity as there was one also in California in Wildewood (which kind of figures in the story).  Some of the members recalled a couple of the places, but the Feeder got interested in coming up with a comprehensive list.  Well, that has proved to be an elusive task.  I posted the question on the Facebook Page: “you know you’re from St. Mary’s county if…” which features history and many interesting postings from “county folk” who post pictures of old buildings and people, etc.  You might visit the page if it interests you.  Anyway, I got dozens of replies, and sparing you the details, here is the kind of consensus of occupants (no dates).

Mattingly’s Tobacco Field

Perkins Pancake House

Alice’s Restaurant*

Arizona Pizza

Rustic River Grill

Sakura**

Pho Saigon**

Bottom of the Hill

* It may be that “Alice” was after the Perkins in Wildewood, mixed opinions

** cloudy as to which of these two preceded the other

I am not sure of the accuracy of the above.  I could not find any way of “looking it up” on a county site, although I might be able to go back and research occupancy permits (too much work!).  Pretty interesting lineup, I’m not sure another county location could top that!  Some postulated that early demises could be because of the owner, but again, no substantiation.

Anyway, this is today’s incarnation:

The inside is kind of what one might expect and is common for a County local restaurant

With photos of local interest and cute signs.  Continuing the same formula, the menu is a single laminated sheet (front and back)

With choices you can find at almost any place in the county, baskets, sandwiches, appetizers, dinners, sides hidden as usual, nothing extraordinary. It does provide a challenge for the (now sodium limited) Feeder.   You probably can’t read the above selections very well, but try to think what might be low sodium in that lineup!  Invariably, it leads him to the salads, as most of the other (good) stuff is probably pretty high in sodium (as well as mostly fried) so I (ho hum) get some salad with chicken (here it was the Santa Fe (“no added salt, dressing on side" please).  Others at the table without dietary restrictions got some very nice sandwiches

Like a Reuben

A proper Crab Melt

A fried shrimp plate

All of which looks lovely compared to

Dry chicken and bare greens.  Sigh

(not that I’m bitter mind you!)

So Bottom of the Hill is just another place to eat, at least it's not a chain, not awful, not great.  Maybe they’ll last. We’ll see.

And since it was for lunch, we didn’t worry about
DFD

And to their credit, water was served in a proper glass, so didn’t have to worry about
NMMJ