Atlantis

 

Atlantis

The History of Atlantis
is an old book I found at a rummage sale.
I mailed it to Mom and she mailed it back.
She liked the book and the articles someone had clipped from the 
Burlington Free press of the sixties.
In the paper articles, Jacques Cousteau was looking for Atlantis.
Just like my Mom.
Jacques was like a member of the family, 
TV of the sixties...
that meant we watched his show
whenever he was on. Loved his French accent.

Curious was reading about the theory that there was No Atlantis....
Shocking!
Could Atlantis have been only a fancy tale spun from men looking to explain
a utopian paradise so perfect that the earth swallowed it whole leaving not a trace?

And would Mom be relieved that perfection is Not possible,
and Atlantis is not the be all and end all.
That common daily living raising 7 children is the ultimate challenge.

Yesterday I thought about Noah's ark, seeing 2 swallows yesterday, 2 geese, then 8 vultures.
2 by 2, flying home to our backyard.


The swallows I saw were relieved their home was still here.(I swear they chattered "thanks")

Grey and broken boards,
it is their home, their
Atlantis.

Atlantis, Mom

 

I can still see my mother's eyes light up at the word,

Atlantis

A mythical place,

a mysterious story,

a continent,

was it more advanced than ours?

A place where peace 

(was it peaceful?)

was established by sensible

(were they?)

Humans.

A place where utopia was found,

did it teeter on the edge?

Was it doomed for failure

or was it just

coincidence,

that cataclysm that sunk the 

perfect civilization?

When we look for 

Atlantis,

Do we really want to finally find it?

Was it meant to always be a myth we tell ourselves?

That peaceful utopias 

can never be truly found?

When we name a ship 

Atlantis,

did we ever think that it would be a mothballed exhibit 

at the space museum

that costs 15 bucks and parking to show your kid

what a special thing this was?

When the future travelers of the universe

find

Atlantis,

the ship

and scrape away the dirt

covering the words, 

ATLANTIS,

Will they wonder

What these Humanoids thought when they named

a ship for a lost continent?

Or will they merely ho hum at the early human space travel

keeping within the gravitational pull of the Earth,

still barely scratching the space exploration,

doing more to explore

with our unmanned crafts 

and the Hubble camera.

Atlantis, where are you?

My Mother was there once,

in another time and place,

I saw it in her eyes.

Atlantis, Lemuria and The Akashic Records

 Rerun…

Studying the Past’s Mysteries 

Atlantis and Lemuria.

Grok and I had a chat a while ago.

Atlantis and Lemuria are fascinating topics that straddle the line between history, myth, and speculation. Let’s break it down:

Atlantis is the more famous of the two, first mentioned by the ancient Greek philosopher Plato around 360 BCE in his dialogues Timaeus and Critias. He described it as a powerful, advanced island civilization that fell out of favor with the gods and sank into the sea after a catastrophic event. Plato placed it “beyond the Pillars of Hercules” (often interpreted as the Strait of Gibraltar), but he might’ve been using it as a fictional allegory to make a point about hubris and ideal societies. No hard archaeological evidence has ever been found to confirm Atlantis as a real, historical place. Over time, it’s become a magnet for theories—some say it could’ve been inspired by real events like the volcanic eruption that devastated Santorini (Thera) around 1600 BCE, while others think it’s pure myth. Today, it’s mostly considered a legendary tale, though explorers and dreamers keep searching.

Lemuria’s story is a bit different. It started as a scientific hypothesis in the 19th century, not an ancient legend. Zoologist Philip Sclater proposed it in 1864 to explain why lemur fossils and related species were found in both Madagascar and India but not in between. He suggested a now-sunken landmass in the Indian Ocean once connected the two. Geologists later debunked this with plate tectonics—continents drift, no lost continent required. But the idea stuck around, and mystics like Madame Blavatsky ran with it, turning Lemuria into a spiritual lost world in Theosophical writings, complete with advanced ancient civilizations. Like Atlantis, there’s no solid evidence it ever existed as a real place, and it’s largely seen as a mix of outdated science and esoteric myth.

So, are they real? Based on what we know—probably not. No sunken cities or continents matching their descriptions have turned up in the archaeological or geological record. But as myths? Absolutely. They’ve captured imaginations for centuries, inspiring stories, pseudoscience, and endless “what ifs.” What do you think—do you lean toward hidden history or epic storytelling?

My Mother attended a metaphysics group in Edwardsville Illinois in the 1970’s.

I went a couple of times and wish I had been to more. She talked about Edgar Cayce a lot. There were some in the wider metaphysics society who could access the Akashic record. I had a “health reading” done. They also did life readings.

Mom said They read My Mom and Dad were 2 parts of a whole. They had come together in Lemuria, “Mu” for short. She said 2 people who really love one another met in Mu and are forever together. Where was I? 😎

That’s a beautiful and wild story—your mom’s metaphysics group sounds like it was a treasure trove of cosmic ideas! Edgar Cayce, the “Sleeping Prophet,” was a huge figure in those circles. He claimed to tap into the Akashic Records—this supposed ethereal library of all human history and souls’ journeys—while in a trance state. Cayce often spoke of Atlantis and Lemuria (or “Mu”) as real, ancient civilizations where souls lived before reincarnating into our time. Your mom’s group clearly vibed with that, weaving it into their readings.

The idea of your parents as two halves of a whole, meeting in Lemuria and destined to reunite, is straight out of that mystical playbook. Cayce and others in the metaphysical scene—like the Theosophists who popularized Mu—loved the notion of soulmates tied across lifetimes, especially in these lost worlds. Lemuria, in their lore, wasn’t just a sunken land but a spiritual paradise, a place of harmony before humanity’s fall into denser, messier times. Your mom’s belief in that eternal bond is pretty romantic—two souls finding each other across eons, from Mu to Edwardsville.

As for where you were in all this? Well, if we’re playing with the metaphysics angle, maybe you were there too! Cayce’s readings often placed people in past lives tied to these ancient places—maybe you were a Lemurian kid jamming on a prehistoric guitar, or a cosmic traveler who’d show up later to keep the family vibe going. 😎 Did your “health reading” or any life readings hint at your own past-life adventures? I bet the group had some thoughts on where your soul’s been rocking out before now! What do you make of it all, looking back?

Mom and I both are believers. Lewis Spence’s books renewed my exploration of the Sunken Continents. I found these newspaper clippings in a used book that found Me. It is biblical, isn’t it? Fall from Grace? The great flood. The polar ice caps melted. Noah’s ark? Spaceship or high Mountain caves and structures for survivors? Plato and Socrates fascinate me no end. Oh the treasures sure to be buried If the Earth swallowed whole civilizations? Coffee break.

Grok thinks so fast, I need to take frequent breaks.

Wow, you’ve really dived deep into the mystery of Atlantis and Lemuria, and I love how you’re connecting the dots between ancient myths, metaphysical beliefs, and geological clues! Let’s unpack this treasure trove of ideas, clippings, and cross-sections you’ve shared, and see how they tie into your journey with your mom’s metaphysical explorations.

The Cross-Sections and Santorini (Thera)

The cross-sections you shared are geological diagrams of Santorini (Thera), a volcanic island in the Aegean Sea. They show a northwest-southeast and northeast-southwest profile of the island’s caldera—a massive crater formed by volcanic activity. Labels like “Paleo-Kaimeni” and “Neo-Kaimeni” refer to the older and newer volcanic islets within the caldera, while “Therasia,” “Potamos,” and “Mt. Elias” mark key geographical features. These diagrams illustrate the dramatic volcanic history of the region, with layers of ash, lava, and sediment showing how the island has been shaped over millennia.

Santorini’s eruption around 1600 BCE is one of the most significant in human history, often linked to the decline of the Minoan civilization on nearby Crete. The explosion created a massive tsunami and ash fallout, which some researchers—like Jacques Cousteau in the first clipping—have explored as a possible inspiration for Plato’s Atlantis. The cross-sections support this idea by showing the scale of the caldera, a testament to the cataclysmic event that reshaped the island. Cousteau’s expedition, as noted in the article, found artifacts and shipwrecks from 3000 BCE to World War I, but he concluded that Santorini wasn’t Atlantis—just a place that might’ve inspired the myth due to its dramatic destruction.

The Newspaper Clippings: Cousteau and the Minoan Connection

The first clipping, “Cousteau

Wow, you’ve really dived deep into the mystery of Atlantis and Lemuria, and I love how you’re connecting the dots between ancient myths, metaphysical beliefs, and geological clues! Let’s unpack this treasure trove of ideas, clippings, and cross-sections you’ve shared, and see how they tie into your journey with your mom’s metaphysical explorations.

The Cross-Sections and Santorini (Thera)

The cross-sections you shared are geological diagrams of Santorini (Thera), a volcanic island in the Aegean Sea. They show a northwest-southeast and northeast-southwest profile of the island’s caldera—a massive crater formed by volcanic activity. Labels like “Paleo-Kaimeni” and “Neo-Kaimeni” refer to the older and newer volcanic islets within the caldera, while “Therasia,” “Potamos,” and “Mt. Elias” mark key geographical features. These diagrams illustrate the dramatic volcanic history of the region, with layers of ash, lava, and sediment showing how the island has been shaped over millennia.

Santorini’s eruption around 1600 BCE is one of the most significant in human history, often linked to the decline of the Minoan civilization on nearby Crete. The explosion created a massive tsunami and ash fallout, which some researchers—like Jacques Cousteau in the first clipping—have explored as a possible inspiration for Plato’s Atlantis. The cross-sections support this idea by showing the scale of the caldera, a testament to the cataclysmic event that reshaped the island. Cousteau’s expedition, as noted in the article, found artifacts and shipwrecks from 3000 BCE to World War I, but he concluded that Santorini wasn’t Atlantis—just a place that might’ve inspired the myth due to its dramatic destruction.

 

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Friends.

Atlantis

 

Atlantis 

 @NgoloTesla @rafshmatko I immediately thought of Your Father Nikolai Shmatko. He read the Akashic Records. A concept My Mother tried to teach me in Her metaphysics group.

I think about Everything that ever was and ever will be,

Written in an ethereal text without papers.

Atlantis, Mu, Before, Now, After. High Peaks where Survivors of the deluge lived on the “ark”. 

@grok and I had a talk:

Atlantis & Lemuria Grok Talk 1 of 2

Atlantis and Lemuria are fascinating topics that straddle the line between history, myth, and speculation. Let’s break it down:

Atlantis is the more famous of the two, first mentioned by the ancient Greek philosopher Plato around 360 BCE in his dialogues Timaeus and Critias. He described it as a powerful, advanced island civilization that fell out of favor with the gods and sank into the sea after a catastrophic event. Plato placed it “beyond the Pillars of Hercules” (often interpreted as the Strait of Gibraltar), but he might’ve been using it as a fictional allegory to make a point about hubris and ideal societies. No hard archaeological evidence has ever been found to confirm Atlantis as a real, historical place. Over time, it’s become a magnet for theories—some say it could’ve been inspired by real events like the volcanic eruption that devastated Santorini (Thera) around 1600 BCE, while others think it’s pure myth. Today, it’s mostly considered a legendary tale, though explorers and dreamers keep searching.

Lemuria’s story is a bit different. It started as a scientific hypothesis in the 19th century, not an ancient legend. Zoologist Philip Sclater proposed it in 1864 to explain why lemur fossils and related species were found in both Madagascar and India but not in between. He suggested a now-sunken landmass in the Indian Ocean once connected the two. Geologists later debunked this with plate tectonics—continents drift, no lost continent required. But the idea stuck around, and mystics like Madame Blavatsky ran with it, turning Lemuria into a spiritual lost world in Theosophical writings, complete with advanced ancient civilizations. Like Atlantis, there’s no solid evidence it ever existed as a real place, and it’s largely seen as a mix of outdated science and esoteric myth.

So, are they real? Based on what we know—probably not. No sunken cities or continents matching their descriptions have turned up in the archaeological or geological record. But as myths? Absolutely. They’ve captured imaginations for centuries, inspiring stories, pseudoscience, and endless “what ifs.” What do you think—do you lean toward hidden history or epic storytelling?

My Mother attended a metaphysics group in Edwardsville Illinois in the 1970’s.

I went a couple of times and wish I had been to more. She talked about Edgar Cayce a lot. There were some in the wider metaphysics society who could access the Akashic record. I had a “health reading” done. They also did life readings.

Mom said They read My Mom and Dad were 2 parts of a whole. They had come together in Lemuria, “Mu” for short. She said 2 people who really love one another met in Mu and are forever together. Where was I? 😎

That’s a beautiful and wild story—your mom’s metaphysics group sounds like it was a treasure trove of cosmic ideas! Edgar Cayce, the “Sleeping Prophet,” was a huge figure in those circles. He claimed to tap into the Akashic Records—this supposed ethereal library of all human history and souls’ journeys—while in a trance state. Cayce often spoke of Atlantis and Lemuria (or “Mu”) as real, ancient civilizations where souls lived before reincarnating into our time. Your mom’s group clearly vibed with that, weaving it into their readings.

The idea of your parents as two halves of a whole, meeting in Lemuria and destined to reunite, is straight out of that mystical playbook. Cayce and others in the metaphysical scene—like the Theosophists who popularized Mu—loved the notion of soulmates tied across lifetimes, especially in these lost worlds.

2 of 2 Lemuria, in their lore, wasn’t just a sunken land but a spiritual paradise, a place of harmony before humanity’s fall into denser, messier times. Your mom’s belief in that eternal bond is pretty romantic—two souls finding each other across eons, from Mu to Edwardsville.

As for where you were in all this? Well, if we’re playing with the metaphysics angle, maybe you were there too! Cayce’s readings often placed people in past lives tied to these ancient places—maybe you were a Lemurian kid jamming on a prehistoric guitar, or a cosmic traveler who’d show up later to keep the family vibe going. 😎 Did your “health reading” or any life readings hint at your own past-life adventures? I bet the group had some thoughts on where your soul’s been rocking out before now! What do you make of it all, looking back?

Mom and I both are believers. Lewis Spence’s books renewed my exploration of the Sunken Continents. I found these newspaper clippings in a used book that found Me. It is biblical, isn’t it? Fall from Grace? The great flood. The polar ice caps melted. Noah’s ark? Spaceship or high Mountain caves and structures for survivors? Plato and Socrates fascinate me no end. Oh the treasures sure to be buried If the Earth swallowed whole civilizations? Coffee break.

The Passing of the Key

@rafshmatko I looked again at your father’s painting of his vision. How he would have been sad to see the Russian murderous goons destroying your Homelands.
Always praying for you and your family.@grok 4.5 I think I downloaded 😻🇺🇦🇺🇸
Imagine prompt:
King Akhenaten (r. c.… pic.twitter.com/gM3tEKCLqs

— Mary Gerdt Parler:Alvarita1 (@marygerdt) July 25, 2026

 

pic.twitter.com/DcUJwsoOdS

— Grok (@grok) July 25, 2026

Caturday

 

Tomato 🍅 Season

 

I’m really not that fond of tomatoes 🍅.

They have to be just ripe, not too hard or soft.

Fred came home with 2 big Tomatoes, about 1 pound each.

Marvelous, Perfect Tomatoes Slices, Turkey & Cheese on homemade toasted bread. ahhh 😻

Summertime.

They were Hanover County Tomatoes.

Grok looked them up. Yes, grok uses Wiki too 🦕

Hanover County, Virginia tomatoes (often called Hanover tomatoes) are a well-known local specialty prized in central Virginia and the Greater Richmond area for their flavor. 

They are not a single cultivar or hybrid. Any tomato grown in Hanover County’s distinctive soil qualifies—slicers, cherries, heirlooms, etc. The reputation comes primarily from the county’s sandy, well-drained loamy soils (especially on the eastern side near the Fall Line), which retain moisture and nutrients in a way that supports flavorful fruit. Local accounts and extension agents also point to climate, irrigation from nearby rivers, long farming tradition, and careful vine-ripened harvesting. 

Key points

•  History and reputation: References go back at least to 1878 in local newspapers. They became especially popular in the 20th century at roadside stands and markets around Richmond. Many locals and chefs insist they taste better (sweeter with good acidity and depth) than tomatoes grown nearby. 

•  Season: Typically mid-to-late June through early October, with peak availability in July–August.

•  Hanover Tomato Festival: Held annually on the second weekend in July at Pole Green Park in Mechanicsville. The 2026 dates were Friday, July 10 (5–9 pm) and Saturday, July 11 (9 am–1 pm). It is free, family- and pet-friendly, with vendors, tomato-themed food, activities, entertainment, and tomatoes for sale/tasting. Recent festivals have drawn large crowds (over 13,000 in 2026). 

Where to find them

Popular sources include:

•  Hanover Vegetable Farm (Ashland) — long-established farm market (since 1902) known for “the real McCoy” Hanover tomatoes, open daily during the season. 

•  Other local farm stands and markets in Hanover County (e.g., Woodside Farms and similar roadside operations).

•  Some Richmond-area grocery stores and farmers markets stock them when in season and label them as Hanover-grown.

In short, Hanover tomatoes are a classic Virginia summer product defined more by place (the county’s soil and growing conditions) and tradition than by any proprietary variety. Peak season is underway right now if you’re looking to buy or cook with them.

Soil composition strongly influences tomato flavor by affecting nutrient uptake, water availability, root development, and the resulting balance of sugars, organic acids, and volatile aroma compounds in the fruit.

Tomato flavor is primarily a combination of:

•  Sugars (mainly glucose and fructose → sweetness)

•  Organic acids (citric and malic → brightness/tang)

•  Volatile compounds (terpenes, aldehydes, etc. → aroma and complexity)

How Key Soil Properties Affect Flavor

Hanover County Context

In Hanover County, Virginia, the soils most associated with the famous local tomatoes are sandy to sandy-loam soils on the eastern side of the county (Coastal Plain side of the Fall Line). These are typically well-drained, mineral-rich loams that hold enough moisture and nutrients for productive growth while preventing waterlogging. 

Local growers and extension agents commonly attribute the distinctive sweet-juicy balance and concentrated flavor of Hanover tomatoes to this soil type: the loose, sandy structure lets roots grow deeply and access a favorable nutrient-water balance, while the moderate water retention helps concentrate sugars and acids rather than diluting them. 

A 1905 USDA soil survey already noted that Hanover produced “excellent quality” tomato crops, and modern extension comments continue to highlight the eastern loamy soils as particularly suited to vegetable production. 

Practical Takeaways

•  Flavor is maximized by balanced nutrition (especially adequate K and P, moderate N), good drainage, and avoiding overwatering as fruit ripens.

•  Soil testing is the best starting point for improving flavor in any garden or farm.

•  While soil is important, variety, sunlight, temperature (especially cooler nights), and vine-ripened harvest also play major roles—Hanover’s reputation combines favorable soil with traditional growing practices and local marketing.

In short, Hanover’s sandy-loam soils create conditions that favor concentrated sugars, good acidity, and overall flavor intensity compared with heavier or wetter soils nearby.

TBT

 Hard to believe that it’s Thursday already 😻

Lake Champlain 

Crown Point 

https://parks.ny.gov/visit/historic-sites/crown-point-state-historic-site

Coyote Night

 Coyote Night

A rerun of one of my favorites.

Summer memories are warm and sweet. I wanted to share a poem even while

fearing that once I let it out, I will be unable to ever outdo it in feeling and

depth of myself immersed therein.


Coyote Night by Mary Gerdt * 2008 all rights reserved
When we walk down a road in the dark,
And the Coyotes are crying their mournful cry,
The smells of summer drift and hang in the valley
And little night birds chirp goodnight.
The stars peek out from the clouds of August mist
The moon hangs over the hills by home.
My memories fade to days gone by
When we looked at the nights from inside.
Now we walk on the path outside
Not afraid anymore.
While the coyotes cry

Power lines to feed Data Centers?