Jack, I am familiar enough with the state to know where Wheeling is and I did read about the young child who lost his life.  It puzzled me when I read about it so thanks for the explanation.  And I haven't heard of any problems with the Ohio River.

It's been hot here too and we've been promised rain, only to have none. 

Mary Ann

Jack, in Japan, a similar accident is taking place. The recent rain is because way of going down is abnormal.

A flood is taking place in Japan and Fukuyama. But the flood is not taking place in the area where I live in. My friends who knew the flood of Fukuyama on TV gave email anxiously.
Fukuyama is large city, and it was only a south district that the flood was caused. And it was the northern part of Fukuyama that I live, and it did not rain very much.

Sachiko thank you.   I wondered about the size of Japan compared to the State of West Virginia and was surprised to see Japan is just 6 times larger.  If Patricia looks in Alaska is huge, and 4 1/2 times the size of Japan  (seems like Google know everything)

MaryAnn you know my area, the Ohio River is wide and deep, and seldom a problem with flooding.  Down state they have the mountains, narrow valleys, rivers and streams that simply were unable to handle the heavy rain.

My birth country the Democratic Congo is around two thirds the size of Western Europe!  It is the second  largest country in Africa and  the eleventh largest in the world with 2,345,408 square kilometres (905,567 sq mi).

Bubble here is  an interesting site that will compare the size of countries and includes DR Congo.   In my case I can not only compare other countries to the US, but even to individual states. 

http://mapfight.appspot.com/

That is an interesting site, Jack.  Texas is huge but looks much smaller when compared to Alaska.  Fun to compare the different states.

Thanks Jack, that is a great site!

Jean and Bubble I just took another look and compared Alaska, our largest and Road Island    Alaska is 547.09 times as large.  It was just a speck on the photo.

Patricia, here is another picture of Taffy

[attachimg=1]

Bubble. Didn't realize that the Congo was that large. Now how was the population of it? Was there a lot more Jungle than big cities. 
I remember reading in School about the size of my Country. England part not being as big as the state I live in here. Illinois. Also the population in UK so small. NOw it is  same size and the Population unbelievable. Scary thinking about how it will get a few year from now. Maybe this getting out of the EU will help. Shocked to read that there are1.2 million Polish people now living  there.  Lots will have to leave. Only ones that won't are the Asians. But Mrs Thatcher did put a stop on some of that when she was PM.  Be interesting to see what will change back to the way it was 20 years ago and also what such as the French, Dutch and even the Germany will do.  Is you son still in Belgium?. People saying that Belgium should be sending back to UK some of the Billions of Pounds that they have been paying out to there.  Is he into Politics?

I am sorry. I didn't realize that I was still in the Photo Forum.  Maybe I should take it out. Post elsewhere but Bubble like me I think. I don't get into lots of the forums.

Lindancer  I do the same thing reading as Taffy.  Cute photo

JeanneP Stay in here, sure we get off track but that is a sign of ?  I am another that limits my posts to several discussions.

My son lives in London UK.  He is one that is very happy about the news, but he is not into politics.


congo is slightly less than one-fourth the size of the US
https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/cg.html
Natural resources:
cobalt, copper, niobium, tantalum, petroleum, industrial and gem diamonds, gold, silver, zinc, manganese, tin, uranium, coal, hydropower, timber

The current population of the Republic of the Congo is 4,738,142 as of Sunday, June 26, 2016, based on the latest United Nations estimates.

The population density in Congo is 14 per Km2 (36 people per mi2).
The total land area is 341,079 Km2 (131,691 sq. miles)
66.1 % of the population is urban (3,148,633 people in 2016)

The Democratic Republic of the Congo is a multilingual country where an estimated total of 242 languages are spoken. Ethnologue lists 215 living languages.[1] The official language, inherited from the colonial period, is French. Four indigenous languages have the status of national language: Kituba (called "Kikongo"), Lingala, Swahili and Tshiluba.

I am sure this is more than you wanted to hear!!!

I just wandered in on a whim and saw the size discussion. For a reference, you may fit in Alaska, 48 Rhode Islands or perhaps two and a half texas. If you split Alaska in half, Texas would be the third largest state.

Gloria, Taffy and Farrah share some coloring and the same expressions!

Bubble That is not Packing them into the Cities then if 66 % are out in the Urban areas.
Like India. My goodness their cities awful. I have a English friend. She goes to India a lot. Loves being in the cities. I  Love cities  to go in for a day or a few  week but prefer living in the outskirts.
Hope your family left the Congo loaded with Gold. Gem Diamonds etc.  Back in my mother side it seems like there was a family member who lived in that area and was some kind of a
Mgr. of a Mining company.  Way back in my research. Lots of family seem to have gone to  South Africa and Kenya They are the ones I thought had a comfy life. Again into mining. There for years. I did meet some who were run out of there in the late 70s and wives so upset because they found they didn't have all these servant and people taking care of them In UK. Not use to doing anything.

Jack, thanks a lot for MapFight.
This is interesting! I can compare size with your countries.

United States (9,833,000 km²) is 26.02 times as big as Japan (377,930 km²).

Alaska (US) (1,717,854 km²) is 4.55 times as big as Japan (377,930 km²

But, Japan (377,930 km²) is 17.12 times as big as Israel (22,072 km²).

Bubble, thank you very much for the site of The-world-factbook.
I will read from now on about Japan written in this.

Jeanne, I wish we had been loaded with more that a few masks and little ivory figurines!

Yes, servants were certainly a bonus to life in the colonies, but I think the long daily hours of work well paid for it.  My parents left the house before 8.oo am and were never home before 8.00 pm, with two rushed hours for lunch.
End of months with bills to be sent to customers and their own to pay, they would come back much later in the night.  Of course they had a big store and lots of things to take care off apart from selling.  Most goods came from abroad, so ordering, freeing from customs etc was done during the free hours.

At last I was able to make the video when I was hospitalized with heart failure.
I had heart failure on February 17, 2016 and was admitted to the Fukuyama Municipal Hospital from February 21 to April 27.
I worked hard at rehabilitation with my physical therapist.
Cherry blossom just bloomed, and flower of wisteria bloomed afterwards. I enjoyed floral art and worked hard while taking photos.

Sachiko,  thanks for sharing your days in the hospital.   You certainly had some beautiful views of all the flowers around the hospital. I am sure being able to look out at the pretty scenery  and flowers helped to speed up your recovery time.

It is just so nice to have you back with us.  We all enjoy your videos.

Joy

Sachiko, I agree with Joy.  The inside looks like our hospitals but wonderful surroundings.  You were so fit, wonder if it is now helping with your recovery.   Are the doctors pleased with your progress?

Sachiko, thanks for sharing that video and so glad you are doing well.  That is such a nice photo of you and your husband and also the one of you and your physical therapist.  We certainly missed you.

Sachiko,  you had beautiful surroundings outside the hospital to aid in your recovery.  I hope you are coming along OK now that you are home.  Thank you for sharing the pictures of the hospital and outside. 

Mary Ann

Sachiko.  2 months was a long time but you could take walks, It is so beautiful around the Hospital. Being able to dress and not be mostly in bed. That was good.  You really worked hard on your Rehabilitation and I am sure you are keeping it up at home. Husband keeping a good eye on you. You are looking so much better now at home.  Good that you have your Hobby of Photography. You will be back soon going to your meetings and getting back to your normal life. Not climbing up mountains I am sure but Like me you got so much traveling done in years past. Good memories to remember. Life will just be a little different but good.

We are all happy seeing you back.  Now we wait for SATO to get back also.  Health Service in Japan must be the best.

Good afternoon,  Sachiko you take such beautiful pictures.  The grounds of the hospital look lovely.  I only spent 3 weeks in rebab a year ago, and that seem like a long time to be gone from home.

Good morning!

Joy, Jack, jean, Mary Ann, JeanneP, Lindancer, thank you very very much for your warm comments!

When I would like to post my video to S&F if I left the hospital, I took photos from all over the hospitalization. But I did not recover easily before I made my video. I am pleased to have you watch my video very much now.
I will make the next video.

Yesterday we used one of Larry's Father's Day Gift cards.  Took a trip to nearby Ft. Walton Beach and enjoyed some seafood at the Red Lobster.  It has a beautiful site on the waterfront and we were seated by a window.  We enjoyed watching the geese, ducks and an occasional boat out on the water.  It was a hot day but actually very pleasant by the water when I walked out to take some photos.  Took a few pictures on the way home which I included.

https://vimeo.com/172600385

Jean, you had a nice day for your outing.  I see there are Canada geese in your area too.  Please keep them there. 

How does it seem living closer to the Gulf?

Mary Ann

Jean. I cooled down 20 deg. just watching your video. How I miss seeing the ocean.
Lots of geese there also I see.  Long as you don't get them close to your home then they look so nice.  Here there are so many because of all the man made lakes now on all the new Home areas they build and even the big stores.  Such a mess they make.

You home looks pretty. Now was that your street you were going down.  Looks nice and quiet. Not a lot of traffic and so many trees.  I envy you your area.  Office looks nice. Thank goodness all my computer stuff behind the doors of a Armoire . Just can't keep place tidy.

Jean that was great, what a trip.  Love the new home and Larry has a great office, but think I would be out and about in the yard or traveling around that area.

I have been staying close, hot and humid.  Jessie had a tumor removed (on her 15th birthday the 24th)   She is a trooper at her age, appears to be recovering fine.   I decided today to take a short trip, not to the beach, but just south a few miles to a little museum.  Got me out of the house but still able to stay out of the sun.

https://vimeo.com/172618571