tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9623138545954347782024-03-13T05:51:00.126-07:00On Cedar RidgeGarryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11567294806723745592noreply@blogger.comBlogger234125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-962313854595434778.post-12486793961000040882015-02-22T10:48:00.000-08:002015-02-22T10:50:22.843-08:00Flexible Snow<p> <br />On Monday, February 16, we received over nine inches of snow.  I stepped outside and snapped a few pictures.  I took one showing the whole nine inches on the roof of our new woodshed. <br /> <br /><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-JclNiOd0G5c/VOok18CH3GI/AAAAAAAACXU/wdP_UP90xig/s1600-h/Pix%252520%2525231%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="Pix #1" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 5px auto; display: block; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="Pix #1" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-5-cHYK0xtSY/VOok2h05AlI/AAAAAAAACXc/E72GDnI_7y4/Pix%252520%2525231_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="395" height="305" /></a> <br /></p> <p>Over the next few days the temperatures remained below freezing, part of the time even below zero.  Consequently there was no melting of the snow, just a bit of settling.  Friday night and most of the day Saturday we received rain.  This caused a bit of melting and more settling.  And, this all led to some unusual happenings.  With the snow becoming saturated with water that on the roof of the woodshed began to slowly slide.  I captured a photo of this on Sunday morning.  <br /><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-QmSO5eE71EA/VOok3hYtYoI/AAAAAAAACXk/I7YArHgdEB4/s1600-h/Pix%252520%2525232%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="Pix #2" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 5px auto; display: block; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="Pix #2" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-6LLFxu_3KK0/VOok4UXv3lI/AAAAAAAACXs/rR7on-Xy5OQ/Pix%252520%2525232_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="425" height="329" /></a> <br /> </p> <p>With the whole roof full of snow sliding the expectation would be that the amount being pushed down would just fall from the lower edge of the roof.  Yeah, that was what I expected to happen anyway.  But, that wasn’t what occurred.  Here are a couple of photos, also taken on Sunday morning, of what did take place. <br /> <br /><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-MJnVCeEniXs/VOok5D5KsXI/AAAAAAAACX0/RV2I6Z6Uf1s/s1600-h/Pix%252520%2525233%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="Pix #3" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 5px auto; display: block; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="Pix #3" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-OKpPZwuddNc/VOok5eEPU0I/AAAAAAAACX8/galMoM71LDo/Pix%252520%2525233_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="284" height="385" /></a> <br /> <br /><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-oc7BxfaN1s4/VOok6reKLCI/AAAAAAAACYE/lnd_Sn5_YC0/s1600-h/Pix%252520%2525234%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="Pix #4" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 5px auto; display: block; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="Pix #4" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-bxT1ZbRcxWY/VOok7Y-7GLI/AAAAAAAACYM/2zA2VMuZduk/Pix%252520%2525234_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="399" height="308" /></a> <br /> </p> <p>As the title indicates, the snow was very flexible, not breaking off and falling as expected.  </p> Garryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11567294806723745592noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-962313854595434778.post-87990302158179244312015-02-04T19:09:00.000-08:002015-02-04T19:12:42.989-08:00What Happened to 2014?<p> <p> <p> <p> <p> </p> <p> </p> </p> <p> <p> </p> </p> </p> <p> <p> <p> </p> </p> </p> </p> <p> <p> <p> <p> <br /> </p> <p>I know that there are some of you that check back from time to time, thinking that maybe, just maybe, I’ll put up a new post.  It has been a long wait.  All of 2014 got by without a new post.  So, what happened to 2014, or maybe the question should be, what happened in 2014.  Well, here in a “Reader’s Digest” or condensed version is the answer to that question.</p> </p> </p> </p> </p> <p> <p> <p> <p> <p> <br /></p> <p> <br />In January we slaughtered and processed a cow for meat.  She was one that Darryl had for a milk cow for several years but due to some problems she was unable to conceive again and after over 2 years she had just quit producing milk.  She was a very healthy cow and Darryl did not want to ship her off to market knowing the way animals are often treated.  He made the decision that as she had been supplying milk for the family she would now supply meat.  <br /> <br /> </p> <p>In February we had some work done on the car we had purchased in December of 2013.  We knew that the right turn signal was not working but figured that was just a flasher unit.  Wrong!  As it turned out it was in the switch, which one would think wouldn’t be too bad.  BUT, it was in the combination switch in the steering column that has all kinds of things in it, such as cruise control, windshield wipers and washer, turn signals, ignition, and on and on.  The dealer diagnosed the problem, for a price, and quoted switch and labor at about $725.00!  I told them I’d just have to roll the window down and use hand signals.  However, my regular mechanic was able to get an aftermarket switch and installed it for less than half that amount. <br /> <br /></p> <p>The last of March and the first part of April Connie and I made another trip to Texas.  As I have discussed here previously we are doing prison ministry, primarily within the state of Texas.  We spent three weekends, as one can only visit inmates on the weekends.  We had the opportunity to visit 9 individuals in 5 different units.  We were also privileged to be approved as special volunteers and able to go into 4 different units with the approved volunteers for services with the inmates in each of those units.  We were blessed to meet and address and visit briefly with about 70 men in those 4 units.  We were also able to visit 2 individuals that are now out of prison plus I visited once again with the 93 year old father of one of the fellows I write to and that we were able to visit. <br /><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-N6ArLtDqozo/VNLfiRNOYKI/AAAAAAAACU8/rFd4WtdiEj8/s1600-h/Garry%25252C%252520Frank%25252C%252520Connie%252520Apr%2525202014%25255B2%25255D.jpg"> <br /> <br /><img title="Garry, Frank, Connie Apr 2014" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 5px auto; border-left: 0px; display: block; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="Garry, Frank, Connie Apr 2014" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/--XMDGW0XI2g/VNLfi2CfTnI/AAAAAAAACVA/m0bomnCXczA/Garry%25252C%252520Frank%25252C%252520Connie%252520Apr%2525202014_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="161" /></a> <br />                                   Garry, Frank and Connie <br /> <br /></p> <p>Late in April we made a trip to Indiana to visit our daughter and son-in-law.  We also were able to include a short visit to Connie’s sister, who lives about 70 miles from our daughter, in Greenville, Ohio.  We discovered that another of Connie’s sisters was also visiting from southern Indiana and it was a chance for the 3 girls to spend a little time together. <br /> <br /></p> <p>A memorable event occurred late in May.  I had been out for a walk and when I returned Connie informed me that there was a snake in the house.  She had discovered it in the window sill in the little alcove I wrote about in the post about the wall coming down.  However, when she left the room the snake left the window sill and she had no idea where it was.  We moved furniture and couldn’t find it.  We figured it would show up but knowing that and not knowing where or when made us both a little apprehensive.  Later in the afternoon one of the grandsons, Ramiah, came and helped Connie look.  He suggested that it might be under the china cabinet.  They pulled the cabinet out a ways and sure enough, there was the snake.  They called me in to catch it and carry it out of the house.  How did it get into the house?  There is a bit of a space under the screen door to the porch which he had to have come through and the door from the porch to the main part of the house was open.  <br /> <br /> </p> <p>Since January we, Darryl, Ramiah and I, had been preparing for a 40 mile long backpacking trip in the Great Smokey Mountains National Park.  We were to be joined by Darryl’s brother-in-law, Steve, and his son, Joshua.  On June 22nd we drove to Cosby, Tennessee where we met Steve and Josh (they live in North Carolina).  <br /> <br /> We began our trip the following morning on the Baxter Creek Trail, a 6.2 mile hike with a climb of 4200 feet up to a campground at the top of Mt. Sterling.  The next day was an 11 mile hike, which turned out to be our hardest day.  Climbing had been hard but nothing like much of that 11 miles that was downhill.  We were all suffering in one way or another.  The 3rd day was about 8 miles, approximately half uphill and half downhill.  I was experiencing joint pain in my right knee.  Steve was having some issues with energy levels, etc.  We decided to cut our hike short and come on out on the 4th day, only a 5 mile gentle downhill trek.  So, we ended up with a shorter hike, only 30 miles instead of 40.  But, all in all, we were pretty happy with our accomplishment.  Some of the others had done some backpacking but this was a first for me.  I’m ready to go again. <br /> <br /><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-tC0-CSpd_3o/VNLfkdkvIWI/AAAAAAAACVM/suwG3TyG9fs/s1600-h/100_2372%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="100_2372" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 5px auto; border-left: 0px; display: block; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="100_2372" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-1_ontVSYfho/VNLfk4SX2vI/AAAAAAAACVU/6_rixXE4-bs/100_2372_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /> <br /> </a>                                  Darryl, Ramiah, Joshua, Steve and me <br /> <br /><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-IJRj_CcuBs8/VNLfmONVcBI/AAAAAAAACVc/ZfGgdGWiFMI/s1600-h/100_2517%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="100_2517" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 5px auto; border-left: 0px; display: block; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="100_2517" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-nKKPlgnXot0/VNLfmfcirSI/AAAAAAAACVg/i6d4kroB03A/100_2517_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="184" height="244" /></a> <br />                                               on the trail <br /> <br /></p> <p>After returning home on Friday, the 27th, Connie and I drove to Sullivan, Illinois on Sunday the 29th for the Pifer Cousin Reunion.  We returned home the next day <br /> <br />.</p> <p>July 19th was our 50th anniversary.  Our daughter and son-in-law from Indiana, our son and his daughter from Illinois, and our granddaughter and her son from Wisconsin were all able to be here for that weekend.  We received quite a few nice cards and we are into the next 50 years now. <br /> <br /><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-R6DOu8dCM04/VNLfnTsiWcI/AAAAAAAACVs/pMH-uoOYESs/s1600-h/100_2750%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="100_2750" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 5px auto; border-left: 0px; display: block; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="100_2750" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/---zCC89GBNQ/VNLfn_iz5WI/AAAAAAAACVw/QIPYeKDhEgA/100_2750_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a> <br />                                 <br /></p> <p>In mid-August we went to the fair.  Not just any fair, but according to Connie, the best fair.  That fair was the Darke County Fair in Greenville, Ohio.  Connie has often commented when we attended other fairs, including the state fairs of Illinois and Kentucky, they were not as good as the Darke County Fair she attended a number of times in her teenage years. Connie’s sister and her husband, who live at Greenville, attend each year and we began planning after our visit to their home in 2013 to go up for the 2014 fair.  <br /> <br /> We drove up to their home on the 17th and went to the fair on the 18th.  We selected that day partly because it was “Senior Citizen’s Day” and admission was free.  And, the fair did seem to live up to Connie’s expectations. <br /> <br /></p> <p>On our return home we stopped by and spent a night and most of a day with friends we have known for over 50 years.  They live at Lancaster, Kentucky, about 100 miles from us.  We had a very good visit. <br /> <br /></p> <p>Early in September I built a new woodshed.  The current woodshed will hold only enough wood for one season and I really wanted one a bit larger.  But, the biggest reason for building one was to have my wood storage closer to the house and in a location that would ease putting wood into it.  The current shed is down a bit of an incline in the backyard.  I am unable to drive down to it so all of the wood has to be unloaded from the truck and carried down to the woodshed to be stacked.  Even with a hand truck or wheelbarrow this creates added work.  And, then when we begin using the wood in the heating season it all has to be carried up the incline to the house. <br /> <br /></p> <p>Connie wasn’t totally pleased with my choice of location for the new woodshed but it answers all of the problems with the old one.  It was placed at the front of our parking area in front of the house.  It is close to the house, I can back right up to it to unload and stack wood and it is large enough to hold 3 years or more worth of wood if it is ever filled. <br /> <br /> <br /><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-xzOZ-o4tO-0/VNLfpcbejZI/AAAAAAAACV8/hAPortFOwDE/s1600-h/IMG_0517%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_0517" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 5px auto; border-left: 0px; display: block; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_0517" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-QUKvWJUUNBY/VNLfqH09xcI/AAAAAAAACWE/NS9AX4GYgGQ/IMG_0517_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a> <br /> <br /> <br /></p> <p>Later in the month of September we receive word of two deaths in the families.  Connie’s uncle, who lived at Arcanum, Ohio, and one of my cousins living in Sullivan, Illinois, died the same day.  Her uncle’s funeral was held on September 22nd, so we drove up on the 21st and spent a couple of nights at her sister’s home.  On the 23rd we drove over to Anderson, Indiana and spent that night with our daughter and son-in-law.  We drove on over to Sullivan on the 24th, went to my cousin’s visitation that evening and the funeral the next morning, the 25th.  Following the service we drove on back home. <br /> <br /></p> <p>In mid-October some friends from Arizona were spending some time near the Kentucky Dam on Kentucky Lake.  We drove over and spent a couple of days with them and had a good visit. <br /> <br /></p> <p>On October 18th we discovered that our 20 year old freezer had quit working.  The food was beginning to thaw some, especially near the top and around the sides.  I drove over to Glasgow, Kentucky to the Lowe’s store that evening and purchase a new freezer.  Thankfully no food was lost. <br /> <br /></p> <p>Thanksgiving weekend we drove up to our daughter’s home once again.  Her two grown children from Wisconsin were there, along with our granddaughter’s little son and her boy friend.  Our oldest son and his daughter came from Illinois.  We took the two oldest grandchildren from here on the farm with us.  A very good time was had by all. <br /> <br /></p> <p>And, that, as I said, is the condensed version of what happened with us in 2014. </p></p></p></p></p> Garryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11567294806723745592noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-962313854595434778.post-76214720076680483302013-11-06T18:56:00.000-08:002013-11-06T19:03:42.933-08:00And, the wall came down!<p> <p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> <br />Connie and I moved here to Kentucky in the Spring of 2004.  Our first priority was to complete the house that had been started by the previous owner before Darryl bought the farm.  Darryl had told us that the house was for us, all we had to do was finish it.</p> <p>The intent of the one who started the house was for the kitchen, dining area and living room to all be one long open room.  Because at the time it appeared that our oldest son and his young daughter would be living with us we put a wall across one end of this long room to provide a small bedroom for the granddaughter.  As it turned out our son and his daughter did not stay here with us, but moved back to Illinois.  The small room was turned into a computer room for several years.  <br /></p> <p> <br /> <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-XlI3Vu8pd3M/UnsC4EFC7xI/AAAAAAAACTM/WvHo31l9U24/s1600-h/img024%25255B11%25255D.jpg"><img title="img024" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 5px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="img024" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-E3Uf7qZ-iek/UnsC4xVaNRI/AAAAAAAACTU/PD9ozvGKSB0/img024_thumb%25255B5%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="507" height="355" /></a><em>The picture above shows the wall being put in back in 2004.  The original window in the end of the room is shown. <br /></em> <br /><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-HPtiWQ9oUbM/UnsC6c3Pe0I/AAAAAAAACTc/hXTSHqj_AVk/s1600-h/Feb%252520%252520%252520%252520%252520%252520%252520%252520%252520%252520%25252027th%252520005%25255B7%25255D.jpg"><img title="Feb 27th 005" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 5px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="Feb 27th 005" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-LKeYOnmibxs/UnsC7YQdKNI/AAAAAAAACTk/lqmD_-g6Nv8/Feb%252520%252520%252520%252520%252520%252520%252520%252520%252520%252520%25252027th%252520005_thumb%25255B4%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="513" height="403" /></a> <br /> <br /></p> <p><em>This photo was taken a few years ago, showing the wall in place and with a partial view of the little room being used as our computer room</em>. <br /> <br /></p> <p>Upon remodeling the spare room last year we moved our computers into that room and the little room had some bookcases and a futon in it, but was used very little.</p> </p> <p> <p> </p> </p> </p> <p> <p> <p>   </p> <p>Prior to a visit last Spring by some friends from Texas Connie told me that I needed to remove the wall that we had put in back in 2004.  I wasn’t open to that idea at all.  I knew that would create several difficulties.  The walls were paneled with different paneling, the ceilings were different and the floors had the hardwood put down differently.  Plus, there would be the repairs needed to walls, ceiling and floor where the wall had been.  <br /> <br />But, over several weeks or months I began to visualize how this could be done.  </p> <p>By leaving a short “stub” wall on either end and letting the wall extend down form the ceiling to the height of the doorway the area could be opened up.  There would still be two rooms but with a large  “cased opening” it would seem almost like one large room.  </p> <p>So, the wall came down!  The floor was joined by filling in the void with some leftover scraps of flooring and a threshold put over that.  The walls and ceiling area were finished out and trimmed.  While at the project the old window, which was becoming difficult to open and close, was removed and replaced with a new one, which was not as tall.  </p> <p>All of this was a little late for the visit of our friends from Texas but for the times when we have quite a number here to fellowship it really seems to extend our space.  Plus, we are ready for the next visit from our Texas friends. <br /> <br /><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-BP1S5QzsHUw/UnsC8RCCmPI/AAAAAAAACTs/V_GM_qTLU8I/s1600-h/IMG_0219%25255B7%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_0219" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 5px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_0219" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-etVM9OzFVAI/UnsC9dhqFEI/AAAAAAAACT0/5lZOF9db884/IMG_0219_thumb%25255B4%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="491" height="685" /></a> <br /><em>This picture and the ones to follow show what the little room now looks like with the wall taken out. <br /></em> <br /><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-VrlY6nopQ9M/UnsC-XOIeTI/AAAAAAAACT8/DHnW8dOK0lM/s1600-h/IMG_0220%25255B7%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_0220" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 5px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_0220" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-70RdSvmZkS0/UnsC_c4izpI/AAAAAAAACUE/aJE3YPTYxjQ/IMG_0220_thumb%25255B4%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="491" height="678" /></a> <br /> <br /><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-FXxlbWkubMY/UnsDAk_4_XI/AAAAAAAACUM/6ISwbBbweoQ/s1600-h/IMG_0222%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_0222" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 5px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_0222" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-c36M-eJckFM/UnsDBUFpbsI/AAAAAAAACUU/6AFTCb3Gdh0/IMG_0222_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="508" height="393" /></a> <br /> <br /><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-6zZhT1ahUSw/UnsDCoFkFVI/AAAAAAAACUc/imVzGIEQcxs/s1600-h/IMG_0230%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_0230" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 5px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_0230" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-cFe-Zw0gUp0/UnsDDTf6III/AAAAAAAACUk/EhlAV1dBA84/IMG_0230_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="525" height="406" /></a> <br /> <br /><em>The last photo, above, was taken from in front of the kitchen sink showing the entire room, approximately 30 feet long.</em></p></p></p> Garryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11567294806723745592noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-962313854595434778.post-30374759695360280752013-06-25T18:50:00.001-07:002013-06-25T18:50:52.747-07:00It Is Chigger Season Again!<p> <p> <p> <br />I love Summer, for the most part.  I deal with the heat better than with cold BUT with Summer comes the pesky bugs, especially the chiggers.  They seem to like the taste of me for some reason.  I’ve been using powdered sulfur as a natural repellant, and I know it helps BUT I’m still getting more chigger bites than I care to count.</p> </p> <p> <p> </p> </p> </p> <p> <p> <p> <br /> <br /> </p> <p>I found a poem that tells it like it is. I was given permission by the author, Jerry Schieicher, to share it. You can find this and other poems written by Jerry on his page of the <a href="http://cowboypoetry.com/jerryschleicher.htm">cowboy poetry</a> web site. </p> <blockquote></blockquote> <p>The <a name="Chigger">Chigger</a> Blues</p> <blockquote> <p> <p> I ain't a'feered of snakes ner spiders, and ticks don't make me twitch. <br />I kin roll around nekked in a poison ivy patch and never even itch. <br />I ain't skeered much of lions ner tigers, or other carnivores much bigger. <br />The only critter that gives me the chills ... is the cold-hearted chigger. <br />They ain't no bigger than a dot. Most folks have never seen one. <br />You don't even know they bit ya', till they've already et' and gone. <br />And drilled yer skin with a bitin' end that's part needle and part digger. <br />Pound fer pound, the baddest bug around ... has got to be the chigger. <br />They crawl inside yer pants and socks, and creep into yer underdrawers. <br />And commence to have a feast, while yer doin' yer gardenin' chores. <br />It seems their spit dissolves yer hide, which they then consume with vigor. <br />Fer an arachnid version of the vampire ... I nominate the chigger. <br />I still got scars up 'n down my carcass that I reckon I'll bear fer years. <br />From clawin' at the welts they've left, from my toes up past my rear. <br />The itch they leave behind lasts much longer than you'd figger. <br />If you want to drive a man insane ... jist feed him to a chigger. <br />I've tried that nail polish myth, and doused myself with lotion. <br />But nuthin' seem to keep 'em off. There ain't no magic potion. <br />And steppin' out into my own back yard only seems to trigger <br />A fresh attack by my worst nightmare ... the man-eatin' chigger. <br />Most folks love the summer season, and fer most it's all good news. <br />Of flower gardens, fresh-mowed lawns, and backyard bar-be-cues. <br />But if you invite me to yer outdoor games, I'll respectfully refuse. <br />Cause you don't want to hear me wailin', as I sing the chigger blues. <br />© 2005, Jerry Schleicher <br />This poem may not be reprinted or reposted without the author's written permission. </p></p></blockquote></p></p> Garryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11567294806723745592noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-962313854595434778.post-17091965882674945222013-05-10T15:01:00.000-07:002013-05-10T15:07:31.444-07:00Trees in Bloom<p>I’ve been impressed by all of the trees that bloom in the Spring here on the ridge and in the area.  Cousin Mike from Canada suggested I post some pictures, so here goes. <br /> <br /><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-vGtcc_gYTJ4/UY1vNFXS4bI/AAAAAAAACPs/vAc-jnVThp8/s1600-h/IMG_1297%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: left; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_1297" border="0" alt="IMG_1297" align="left" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-hlvAKW0YZck/UY1vN9-coSI/AAAAAAAACP0/ukDAT0axnY8/IMG_1297_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="352" height="273" /></a>The redbud trees are the first trees to bloom out.  This particular tree is located near Darryl’s pond.  <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-WsXSol1RWk0/UY1vQYmYyBI/AAAAAAAACP8/gMrb-rBCCTk/s1600-h/IMG_0002%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: right; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0002" border="0" alt="IMG_0002" align="right" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-whtdiKlKlcQ/UY1vRAhiTJI/AAAAAAAACQE/ElaLQaIFi3c/IMG_0002_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="313" height="243" /></a>Before the redbud trees finish blooming the dogwood trees burst into full bloom.  This tree is near our mailbox. <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-8PiiRJKqglY/UY1vTvQgvzI/AAAAAAAACQM/kOrCCTqV8fY/s1600-h/IMG_1292%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: left; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_1292" border="0" alt="IMG_1292" align="left" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-FmhUZnR3_dY/UY1vURDMYkI/AAAAAAAACQU/QQHNJ0qtymA/IMG_1292_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="304" height="236" /></a> <br />Here is a close-up view of a redbud tree. <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-duYE_vdiJ5c/UY1vWmcXtaI/AAAAAAAACQg/1WgA6w-GoLk/s1600-h/IMG_1294%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: right; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_1294" border="0" alt="IMG_1294" align="right" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-4kXX6tIG3Xg/UY1vXRaS1oI/AAAAAAAACQo/5VxSXmeVUss/IMG_1294_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="299" height="232" /></a> <br />And, here is a close-up of a dogwood in bloom. <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-z0AHpY3nXPU/UY1vYwhuQWI/AAAAAAAACQw/0qAzhuYklMs/s1600-h/IMG_0019-2%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: left; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0019-2" border="0" alt="IMG_0019-2" align="left" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-3ic4facA5Es/UY1vZjnyRSI/AAAAAAAACQ4/2yDd7d7esuc/IMG_0019-2_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="237" height="302" /></a>Before the dogwood trees are finished blooming one can begin to see blooms way up high in the tulip poplar trees.  This photo is zoomed in quite a bit and you have to look close to see the yellow blooms. <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-SaVmw3DCai0/UY1vbd5IiDI/AAAAAAAACRA/R3t5S0sEgUE/s1600-h/IMG_6058%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: right; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_6058" border="0" alt="IMG_6058" align="right" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-lE2NGRT68jA/UY1vcIolpgI/AAAAAAAACRI/INnrnQJwe4U/IMG_6058_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="290" height="225" /></a> <br />In this photo I have zoomed in a bit more. <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-rtt2juePpW0/UY1vdomfLNI/AAAAAAAACRQ/bpCtz91tbJs/s1600-h/IMG_6060%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: left; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_6060" border="0" alt="IMG_6060" align="left" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-kfpUri5a68g/UY1veVb_MHI/AAAAAAAACRY/f6k5cNdUpIU/IMG_6060_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="317" height="246" /></a> <br />And here is an even closer look at the bloom of a tulip poplar tree. <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-tXjpIwJ2DT0/UY1vgzmkn9I/AAAAAAAACRg/1QkugkHLe3I/s1600-h/IMG_0022%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: right; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0022" border="0" alt="IMG_0022" align="right" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-P73GpB0faPI/UY1vh1v0f4I/AAAAAAAACRo/1uGeHE8Qgmo/IMG_0022_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="301" height="233" /></a> <br />Another tree that blooms at about the same time is the royal empress tree, also known as the royal princess and royal Paulownia.  This tree is on a neighboring property. <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-tBtuPmlJOzg/UY1vjuJSdXI/AAAAAAAACRw/Z2fpDPmMDXw/s1600-h/IMG_0033%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: left; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0033" border="0" alt="IMG_0033" align="left" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-t6WdIifbgtk/UY1vlDtY0nI/AAAAAAAACR4/_2JxRr12a84/IMG_0033_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="307" height="238" /></a>The numerous locust trees are also in bloom at the same time.  As you can see the trees are loaded with blooms. <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-9aR9NAVeY58/UY1vm7RHXTI/AAAAAAAACSA/Vi5Qk8n5Bm4/s1600-h/IMG_0031%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: right; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0031" border="0" alt="IMG_0031" align="right" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-_usxRfRliuU/UY1voDkjA3I/AAAAAAAACSI/5HrUcpoV59k/IMG_0031_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="298" height="231" /></a>In this final close-up photo you can see the beautiful locust blooms. </p> Garryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11567294806723745592noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-962313854595434778.post-71509676545395146962013-02-25T17:00:00.001-08:002013-02-25T17:02:05.172-08:00Do You Use PayPal?<p> <p> </p> </p> <p> <p> <br />A number of years ago when I first started buying a few item off of Ebay I opened a PayPal account.  I’ve never had any problems, that is until recently.  Maybe you are a lot like me, I have assumed that a seller or vendor is on the up and up if they have established an account with PayPal that allows me to pay for my purchase that way rather than giving out my credit card number.  But, that is not always the case.  Let me tell you my little story. <br /> <br />I discovered that the chainsaw bar on my chainsaw was needing to be replaced.  As I often do, I shopped around online to find the best price.  The company had a nice website and offered to let me pay for the bar with my PayPal account.  I immediately received a receipt from PayPal that the money had been sent to the vendor.  I thought it a bit unusual but I did not receive a confirmation from the vendor.  I kept expecting my new bar to arrive. <br /> <br />After two weeks had gone by and I still hadn’t heard anything I sent an email to the vendor, which was not answered.  I attempted to call but got a recorded message that the number was disconnected or no longer in service.   I logged onto my PayPal account and went to the “resolution center” and gave them this information.  They encourage the buyer and seller to work things out.  They were to send a message to the seller.  Several days went by. <br /> <br />I did further checking online to see if I could find out anything else.  What I found was very interesting.  I located a second phone number, which when called resulted in the same message,  number disconnected or no longer in service.  I came across a website that told me that this company was closed.  I went to the BBB’s website and found that they had rated this particular company, on a rating of A+ to F, an F.  This they said was primarily due to unresolved complaints. <br /> <br />I updated the message board at the PayPal resolution center and then filed a claim.  The automated email indicated that they would investigate, possibly ask more questions and would make a determination within 10 days. <br /> <br />The amazing thing to me was that in only about an hour I received an email from PayPal stating they had investigated my claim and that they had issued a full refund to my credit card. <br /> <br />I’m impressed with their quick resolution and with the refund.  But, the need is there to check out who you are buying from.  Don’t assume that just because they accept PayPal they are someone you want to attempt to do business with. </p></p> Garryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11567294806723745592noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-962313854595434778.post-52102551258717790412013-01-10T15:49:00.000-08:002013-01-10T15:56:04.238-08:00A Story of a Coffee Grinder <p> <br />Some of you reading this may remember when nearly every grocery store had a commercial coffee grinder, usually located within the coffee aisle.  A lot of the coffee sold was whole bean and you were able to open the package, pour the coffee beans into the grinder, select the grind you wanted, and grind the beans right there in the store.  There are some few stores that may still have such units but not many. <br /> <br /><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-N9aPKWt8Ffw/UO9VCDQbmTI/AAAAAAAACNc/ekXlW7dYoi8/s1600-h/coffee%252520grindmaster%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 5px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="coffee grindmaster" border="0" alt="coffee grindmaster" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-bENx2kCLIoo/UO9VDBVpsZI/AAAAAAAACNk/mqP8dvTmFPw/coffee%252520grindmaster_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="167" height="246" /></a> <br />In the late 1960’s a family friend living in the Champaign, Illinois area located quite a number of these coffee grinders sitting in a warehouse, having been removed from grocery stores.  He made a deal with the owner and bought all they had for almost nothing, I believe about $5.00 each.  He cleaned them up and serviced them and resold them to friends to use to grind wheat for cereal and corn for corn meal for $10.00 each.  My parents bought one and when I saw it on one of our trips to Illinois from California where we were then living I asked them to purchase one for us, which they did.  In the summer of 1970 we packed the machine into our station wagon and hauled it back to California.  It has gone with us on every move we have made since.</p> <p> <br /> <br />We have used it to grind wheat for cereal, corn for corn meal and for baby chick feed.  However, I got into trouble some time ago when I was grinding roasted chick peas, also known as garbanzo beans.  I was roasting them and using them as a coffee substitute.    ( <a title="http://gdpifer1.blogspot.com/2008/12/brew.html" href="http://gdpifer1.blogspot.com/2008/12/brew.html">http://gdpifer1.blogspot.com/2008/12/brew.html</a> ) <br /> <br />Well, to make a long story short, the beans were quite hard and something broke.  I suspected that there was some kind of shear pin since the motor was continuing to run without a problem but the grinder wasn’t grinding.  I attempted a “hurry up” repair but couldn’t get to the area I needed without tearing things down a bit more.  Consequently the old grinder sat in the corner for the next several months. <br /> <br />Last month, one of the grandsons was helping me do some clean up and we moved the grinder into the workshop.  A day or two later we decided to take the time to tear the machine down enough to get to the grinder.  Once we got the end plate off we could see the shaft that the motor turned and it was moving freely.  And, we could see that there had been some type of “shear pin” in the end of the shaft.  All we could see was that it was a rusty, coppery color.  The grandson made the remark that when we got the old piece out we could probably replace it with a penny.  We had a good laugh. <br /> <br />However, when we did get it out what did we discover?  It actually was a penny!  And, not only did we find the two pieces of the penny, there was a small piece of another penny that had apparently sheared earlier and had never been removed.  I’m thinking the family friend replaced the first sheared penny when he was cleaning and repairing the units back in the late 1960’s as the penny we removed was a 1964 penny. <br /> <br /><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-_H_fLmfcbyA/UO9VEGGoFsI/AAAAAAAACNs/QmvI1NleM6o/s1600-h/IMG_1247%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 5px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_1247" border="0" alt="IMG_1247" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-12V2teC_ZPw/UO9VEhowe9I/AAAAAAAACN0/V-nFJYBButU/IMG_1247_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="234" height="317" /></a> <br /> <br /></p> <p>We have laughingly remarked that there wasn’t a shear pin but a shear penny!  The grandson donated a penny he had in his pocket and the old coffee grinder is working great.  We had to grind some wheat and had wheat cereal for breakfast the next day. </p> Garryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11567294806723745592noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-962313854595434778.post-22766750261082017132012-09-15T10:39:00.000-07:002012-09-15T10:42:56.098-07:00It Seems To Be Addictive<p> <p> <br />After not making any candleholders for some time I can’t seem to quit making them now.  Since my last post I have turned a few more on my Craftsman Router Crafter. <br /> <br /><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-aX6Lx6p88e0/UFS9873x6mI/AAAAAAAACLk/xy3O3QmfPBY/s1600-h/IMG_1147%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 5px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_1147" border="0" alt="IMG_1147" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-x0vuVlEHgxI/UFS9936baCI/AAAAAAAACLs/3YAIg8nm_zo/IMG_1147_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="499" height="386" /></a></p> </p> <p> <p> <br />The hollow spiral on the left was made from a piece of oak firewood.  It stands 16 inches tall and allows for a large pillar candle to be placed on top.  Here is a close-up photo. <br /> <br /><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-cA_Byb7hvqE/UFS9-5-Ee1I/AAAAAAAACL0/A0dO7AzUkR8/s1600-h/IMG_1161%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 5px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_1161" border="0" alt="IMG_1161" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-5MI4tZ4C-CQ/UFS-ANpStKI/AAAAAAAACL8/85K1X3hHPsA/IMG_1161_thumb%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="390" height="535" /></a></p> </p> <p> <br />The second from the left, pictured above, is made from Eastern Red Cedar and oak.  This was the first time I tried laminating two species together and then turning them.  Here is another photo of this 13 inch candleholder. <br /> <br /><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-3CUUdfGUytQ/UFS-BXrRmbI/AAAAAAAACME/fbJ81BE2kCo/s1600-h/IMG_1162%25255B13%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 5px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_1162" border="0" alt="IMG_1162" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-GoPWynZhQSw/UFS-CXCq28I/AAAAAAAACMM/QZT1H7U7h1o/IMG_1162_thumb%25255B7%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="411" height="574" /></a></p> <br />The third candleholder from the left is made from a piece of dogwood.  The piece had an unusual light portion running down the center of the limb.  This piece is about 9-1/2 inches tall.  Here is a picture of it by itself. <br /> <br /><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-9k823ozcnOU/UFS-EKrYyII/AAAAAAAACMU/6_HCKhelJ9k/s1600-h/IMG_1165%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 5px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_1165" border="0" alt="IMG_1165" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-UBjHfubsFyY/UFS-EzlubGI/AAAAAAAACMc/Hgso6kQ8J9k/IMG_1165_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="476" height="368" /></a> <br />The final set on the right are turned from the Mimosa (Silk Tree) that grows about everywhere here in Kentucky.  These are small, only about 5-1/2 inches tall. <br /> <br /><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-Y0t1ZW-E-zg/UFS-GQXyZEI/AAAAAAAACMk/b1kindqc1wM/s1600-h/IMG_1167%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 5px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_1167" border="0" alt="IMG_1167" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-CIOrf0RdFQw/UFS-Hf_4OkI/AAAAAAAACMs/CFjXS37K-Ys/IMG_1167_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="496" height="384" /></a> <br /> <br />Maybe I’ll find something else to do for awhile. Garryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11567294806723745592noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-962313854595434778.post-51993063885203991042012-09-02T12:19:00.000-07:002012-09-02T12:23:30.709-07:00More Candleholders<p> <br />Busy with everything else it seems, I had not ventured into the shop to turn any candleholders for quite some time.  Below are pictured ones that I made on my Craftsman Router Crafter. <br /> <br /><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-4obdzp-O8i4/UEOyD6jwESI/AAAAAAAACJ0/lLvjCuSYEb8/s1600-h/IMG_1131%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 5px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_1131" border="0" alt="IMG_1131" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-y-qO6JkYza4/UEOyETZPWQI/AAAAAAAACJ8/X3cuMEhhDcQ/IMG_1131_thumb%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="512" height="407" /></a> <br />The above photo is rather dark, so below are individual pictures. <br /> <br /><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-ClhGTHiS4CA/UEOyFzS-3-I/AAAAAAAACKE/MyhwwaRDLhw/s1600-h/IMG_1137%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 5px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_1137" border="0" alt="IMG_1137" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-SzpBhDmuDUo/UEOyGsUnoqI/AAAAAAAACKM/jtJ--zGWUfI/IMG_1137_thumb%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="520" height="411" /></a></p> <p> <br />This set is made from carob wood brought from California.  It has a beautiful red color. <br /> <br /><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-hwDFg053Jj4/UEOyHxDYkuI/AAAAAAAACKU/hGFjWmpu2qc/s1600-h/IMG_1122%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 5px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_1122" border="0" alt="IMG_1122" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-XLT88Qszi78/UEOyIz7oXvI/AAAAAAAACKc/TN2-txMNQYM/IMG_1122_thumb%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="514" height="407" /></a></p> <p> <br />These are also made from wood brought from California, olive wood.  This wood is very hard and heavy.  I believe the grain is quite beautiful. <br /> <br /><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-QgJowC-x3N4/UEOyJoiRS-I/AAAAAAAACKk/MNs3l_jToGc/s1600-h/IMG_1118%25255B7%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 5px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_1118" border="0" alt="IMG_1118" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-yhklVQiaGLQ/UEOyKrMJAiI/AAAAAAAACKs/EGuAxg9ujuU/IMG_1118_thumb%25255B4%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="488" height="672" /></a></p> <p> <br />This is another black walnut candleholder made from the old sill log I got from under the old house I tore down a couple of years ago.  It is drilled for a tea light candle. <br /> <br /><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-nlqJCdaa2Hw/UEOyLnUYo-I/AAAAAAAACK0/PXOBrnQTFQE/s1600-h/IMG_1113%25255B7%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 5px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_1113" border="0" alt="IMG_1113" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/--o-MyHzWE9o/UEOyMQQw37I/AAAAAAAACK8/CRJ3wo3KyYY/IMG_1113_thumb%25255B4%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="485" height="668" /></a></p> <p> <br />And, finally, another Eastern Red Cedar candleholder. </p> Garryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11567294806723745592noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-962313854595434778.post-85794298638811183392012-07-31T17:57:00.000-07:002012-07-31T18:07:47.050-07:00Our 48th Wedding Anniversary<p> <br />On July 19, 2012 Connie and I celebrated our 48th wedding anniversary.  We got away for a couple of days.  On the 18th we drove over to Cumberland Falls State Park for a return visit to the falls.  We had been there about 5 years ago and although we enjoyed it very much, the water in the river was quite low and there was not enough water going over the falls to fully cover all of the rocks.  We had kept promising ourselves we would go back.  So, finally we made it.  Although the summer has been quite dry there had been some rain in the local area that had the river running at normal levels. <br /> <br /><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-TfIOW67TKLg/UBiA7-JI6eI/AAAAAAAACHY/u8qqb3QKMK0/s1600-h/IMG_0933%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 5px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0933" border="0" alt="IMG_0933" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-ruhQw9rnBt8/UBiA9iq5HuI/AAAAAAAACHg/JZBiurBpwT8/IMG_0933_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="499" height="386" /></a></p> <p> <br />The falls is 125 feet wide and 68 feet tall at normal pool.  If you look closely you can see several people on the left of the falls.  This will give you a bit of an idea of the size.  The falls is referred to as the “Niagara of the South,” as it is the largest waterfall south of Niagara and east of the Mississippi river. <br /> <br />There is one thing that occurs here and in no other place in the entire western hemisphere.  Only at night during a full moon  one can see a “moon bow.”  This is much the same as a rainbow that is seen on most days but is an arc of white light.  We have never seen this but maybe sometime! <br /> <br />Leaving the falls we drove to near Knoxville, TN and spent the night.  We had made reservations at a unique “bed and breakfast.”  Here is a picture of the sign in front of the place. <br /> <br /><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-AJT2EIhxSQA/UBiA_zCfbRI/AAAAAAAACHo/xjuuxAmaU-w/s1600-h/IMG_0958%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: left; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0958" border="0" alt="IMG_0958" align="left" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-C5MmkiN8nbk/UBiBBrrxV-I/AAAAAAAACHw/EOmWCYLUPIQ/IMG_0958_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="296" height="230" /></a>We found the name of the place to be quite interesting since we live here “on Cedar Ridge.”  The cabin was moved to this location from about 3 or 4 miles away and was modernized.  It has central heat and air, a full bathroom and modern kitchen.  We opted out of the breakfast and took food and fixed our own—steak and eggs! <br /> <br /> <br /><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-xaGbmMGb2jE/UBiBEOY-aeI/AAAAAAAACH4/TOQzV_OIG6E/s1600-h/IMG_0953%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: right; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0953" border="0" alt="IMG_0953" align="right" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-qbj4YdYvnGU/UBiBFHhKvrI/AAAAAAAACIA/LAlF2yHkcZI/IMG_0953_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="304" height="236" /></a>This picture is of the exterior of the cabin.  All of the logs in the walls are original.  The setting is very nice, quite a ways off of the main street and was very quiet and peaceful.  Below are a couple of photos of the inside of the cabin. <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-_iFXmweUAes/UBiBIVmBnmI/AAAAAAAACII/TYx9K-9sD6E/s1600-h/IMG_0945%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: left; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0945" border="0" alt="IMG_0945" align="left" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-KhZDYsIOo-o/UBiBJjVeYoI/AAAAAAAACIQ/opH4xxSPdaE/IMG_0945_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="246" height="186" /></a>A very large and working fireplace is the central point in the  cabin.  Unseen in this photo is a nice sofa in front of the fireplace.  The white cabinet to the left in the photo is an entertainment center with TV and VCR. <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-PUFHwsnDaaE/UBiBLcWVnuI/AAAAAAAACIY/gtqBrISQauw/s1600-h/IMG_0948%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: right; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0948" border="0" alt="IMG_0948" align="right" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-3djeuhRP8O0/UBiBMUNwAYI/AAAAAAAACIg/3_CezCRhmgg/IMG_0948_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="246" height="186" /></a>This picture was taken from in front of the fireplace, looking up into the loft where the king-size bed was located.  After a good breakfast the next morning, the 19th, we spent several hours at the Museum of Appalachia, which was virtually next door to the cabin. <br /> <br /> <br />The museum was founded by John Rice Irwin in 1969 with one log cabin.  It is now a non-profit organization and includes dozens of historic log structures and exhibit halls with thousands of authentic artifacts from the Appalachia area.  Mr. Irwin traveled the many back roads collecting these items, items used by and often made by the mountain folk of the Southern Appalachia area. <br /> <br /><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-lRbAqz47660/UBiBNxJtphI/AAAAAAAACIo/9K8qVRmPwFU/s1600-h/IMG_0962%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 5px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0962" border="0" alt="IMG_0962" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-5RkChiUk5bM/UBiBQbxpKvI/AAAAAAAACIw/HfndSUoY3R8/IMG_0962_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="507" height="392" /></a></p> <p> <br />The view above is of part of the 60 acre museum grounds.  <br /> <br /><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-f5scyGgLqBc/UBiBS2XFkUI/AAAAAAAACI4/viW5LoBPKy0/s1600-h/IMG_0966%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: left; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0966" border="0" alt="IMG_0966" align="left" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-ZB0q43wFNeo/UBiBULnACFI/AAAAAAAACJA/vNtp2knVmso/IMG_0966_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="316" height="245" /></a>The tiny building in the photo to the left is the smallest dwelling  in the museum.  It was moved to the museum in 2007 from nearby Beard Valley, in Union County, TN.  This was the home of an old bachelor by the name of Tom Cassidy.  He is reported as saying,  “I’ve got that little cot in there, a chair, a stove for heat and cooking, a frying pan, a bean pot, on old dresser, my fiddle and my pistol;  what more does a man need? <br /> <br /> <br /><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-fjve2MUTHXE/UBiBWybNjjI/AAAAAAAACJI/E7z-owU1ALs/s1600-h/IMG_0973%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: right; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0973" border="0" alt="IMG_0973" align="right" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-OxttJVvhr2A/UBiBYQo2DZI/AAAAAAAACJQ/0MV61yRo9x8/IMG_0973_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="316" height="245" /></a>This cabin is known as the “Mark Twain Family Cabin.”  It was moved to the museum from Possum Trot, TN and once was the home of Mark Twain’s parents and some of their children.  Mark Twain (Samuel Clemons) was born 5 months after the family moved from Tennessee in 1835. <br /> <br /> <br />As I said, we spent several hours there but one could spend even more time looking at all of the interesting exhibits and reading the information that has been written about them.  We returned home that afternoon, having had an enjoyable break and a good anniversary. </p> Garryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11567294806723745592noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-962313854595434778.post-61589099006296283682012-07-22T17:57:00.000-07:002012-07-22T18:01:00.295-07:00Our 33 Day, 6731 Mile Road Trip–part 13 Recap<p> <br />As the title says, Connie and I were gone from home for 33 days (and 32 nights).  We drove nearly 7000 miles, by actual odometer readings it was 6731 miles.  We crossed or drove through a portion of 17 states.  Including Kentucky, where we started and ended up, we drove through Kentucky, a corner of Indiana, across Illinois, Missouri, a small corner of Iowa, across Nebraska, Wyoming, part of Utah, across Idaho, through much of Oregon, into and back out of Washington, down through California, across Arizona,  New Mexico, Texas, Arkansas, and half way across Tennessee before getting back to Kentucky.  <br /> <br />Of the 32 nights we were gone from home we spent 10 nights at our son’s home, 8 nights with friends, 1 night in a motel and 13 nights we slept in our van.  9 of those nights were spent in the auto parking lot at “truck stops” or as they are called most often now, Travel Plazas.  1 night was spent in a Wal-Mart parking lot and 3 nights in campgrounds. <br /> <br />If we use the amount spent for a motel for the one night as an average figure the 13 nights spent in the the van saved us almost $1000.00.  I mentioned in part 1 that we tried to figure all the ways we could cut expenses.  One way we did that, in addition to sleeping in the van, was to invest in an America the Beautiful Senior Interagency Pass available for those over 62 years of age (and it is good for a lifetime).  The pass is $10.00 plus a fee of $10.00 when ordered by mail, as I did.  With the pass we were able to visit the Oregon Trail Interpretive Center and the 3 national parks for free.  Two of the campgrounds we stayed in were in national forests and we got 50% off of the normal fee.  By my calculations we saved about $85.00 after deducting the cost of the pass. <br /> <br />I had mentioned that gasoline would be our big expense.  The lowest price we paid was $3. 299 a gallon.  Most was in the $3.50 to $3.65 range.  It was much more expensive in California and parts of Oregon and Arizona.  The most we paid was at a station just outside of Yosemite National Park, and I only bought $20.00 worth.  Regular gasoline there was $5.099 a gallon.  When I figured everything up on our return I found that we paid an average of $3.82 a gallon.  Our van performed well and we averaged 24 miles per gallon for the trip.  I felt this was quite good considering we were driving 70 miles per hour on most of the interstates and we were driving in the mountains for many of the miles. <br /> <br />We thoroughly enjoyed our road trip but perhaps the most beautiful thing we saw was this. <br /> <br /><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-K1sXWDiFf20/UAyiRoMVG7I/AAAAAAAACGw/FWYm54p6LBI/s1600-h/IMG_0175%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 5px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0175" border="0" alt="IMG_0175" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-QobFtXZkc4Y/UAyiSian5mI/AAAAAAAACG4/NbAZ9ipbEZs/IMG_0175_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="493" height="381" /></a></p> <p> <br />Yes, home sweet home.  (This photo was taken last Fall so we didn’t have the color change of the leaves greeting us on our return.) </p> Garryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11567294806723745592noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-962313854595434778.post-29444520041130092042012-07-17T19:15:00.000-07:002012-07-17T19:21:35.300-07:00Our 33 Day, 6731 Mile Road Trip–part 12<p> <br />I mentioned at the end of part 11 that we drove to Hondo, TX on day 27 of our road trip.  For the only night of our trip we had reserved a room at a motel.  As far as I could determine there was no truck stop in or near Hondo and since the temperature was quite warm we desired to have a good nights sleep and a shower before we began our busy day, May 19th. <br /> <br />We arose early and ate a bit of breakfast, then drove the 3 or 4 miles out of town to the Ruben Torres Unit.  We arrived a little before 8:00 A.M. and found that there were 15 or 20 vehicles already there waiting.  And, we all waited until 8:00 A.M. when the guards manning the guard shack began their shift.  Each vehicle went through the security check and was allowed to proceed to the parking area.  From there we were processed through the security entrance and moved on to the visitor area.  Finally, a little before 9:00 A.M. our actual visit with Juan began. <br /> <br />We had called earlier in the week and requested a 4 hour visit, the normal visit being just 2 hours.  That request was granted and the guard on duty in the visitor room situated us to the far corner, away from much of the noise of the contact visits.  Ours was a non-contact visit since we were not family.  We were not prepared for the visit to be by telephone, only being able to see Juan through the glass.  We had experienced that at the McConnell Unit last October but it was a maximum security unit.  However, we managed fine, except for the time a couple with small children or babies were seated just down the way from us.  The little ones made quite a bit of noise and even Juan could hear some of it through the phone. <br /> <br />Due to  the timing of an inmate count and the guard just not being strict with the time our 4 hour visit became 4 hours and 25 minutes.  And yet, it seemed to fly by.  The visit was about a 20 on a scale of 1 to 10.  All three of us enjoyed it greatly. <br /> <br />The man we visited at the McConnell Unit last Fall has been paroled and is living in the Austin, TX area.  We had contacted him and told him we planned to stop for a few minutes and see him.  We called him from the parking lot at the Torres Unit and let him know we were on the way.  About 2 and 1/2 hours later we were visiting with Robert at his niece’s home.  Our visit was short, only an hour or less, as we still had several miles to drive. <br /> <br />By about 7:15 P.M. we arrived in Bryan, TX at the home of Thomas and Raquel, the founders or Broken Vessels Prison Ministry.  They set some food before us and we enjoyed some good conversation before it was time for bed. <br /> <br />The next day, May 20th, the 29th day of our road trip, we were up and away early, driving to Navasota, TX to the Pack Unit where we spent most of the day.  We first visited Troy, who we had visited last Fall, for a bit over 4 hours.  We exited the unit, ate a sandwich in the parking lot, and reentered to visit with Wesley B.  Due to the timing we knew we wouldn’t be able to get in a full 4 hours with him, but due to his leg bothering him and needing to get back to his dorm we cut the visit short after about 2 and 1/2 hours or so.  Both visits were very good. <br /> <br />After returning to Bryan we accompanied Thomas and Raquel to the home of Rebecca, whom we had met last October.  What we didn’t know until we arrived in Bryan was that Rebecca had married Wayne a bit earlier in a civil ceremony and they were planning a “religious” ceremony while we were there.  As it turned out I got to walk the bride down the “aisle.”  I put that in quotes as the ceremony took place at the picnic area at Lake Bryan.  But, I’m getting ahead of the story. <br /> <br />Wesley T., that we had met last Fall, lives in the trailer park that Rebecca manages so we were able to see him and visit a bit that evening.  Of course we got to meet Wayne and we all enjoyed a bit of food together. <br /> <br />The next day was a bit of a relaxing day.  Connie and I spent a couple of hours with Wesley T. in the morning before he had to go to work and then just rested most of the rest of the day. <br /> <br />May 22nd, our 31st day, was busier.  We all had to drive out to the lake and help get things prepare for the wedding service.  Everything went well and following the ceremony we all enjoyed a good meal that had been prepared by some of the wedding parties relatives.  A little later Thomas, Raquel, Connie and I had the privilege of baptizing Wesley T. in the lake. <br /> <br />May 23rd Connie and I headed on toward Kentucky.  We had a good day, driving about 560 miles.  We spent the night at the Flying J Travel Plaza in West Memphis, AR.  The following day, May 24th, our 33rd on the road we drove the rest of the way home.  We arrived home by about 2:00 P.M.  It was good to be greeted by 4 enthusiastic grandchildren and their parents.  We felt like maybe we had been missed a little bit while we were gone. <br /> <br />I’ll bring this whole story to an end in the next part as I try to recap and summarize a bit. <br /> <br /><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-wFu8rlEY6rs/UAYdrDEMoEI/AAAAAAAACGI/7_cz3zqM9Gk/s1600-h/IMG_0883%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: left; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0883" border="0" alt="IMG_0883" align="left" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-F_ngXX1M9No/UAYdrtpntpI/AAAAAAAACGQ/K3vfh0fao88/IMG_0883_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="246" height="186" /></a>This picture was taken at the Flying J in West Memphis, AR </p> Garryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11567294806723745592noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-962313854595434778.post-78774835173416196872012-07-10T12:18:00.000-07:002012-07-10T12:23:30.877-07:00Our 33 Day, 6731 Mile Road Trip–part 11<p> <br />Following our visit with friends in Cottonwood, AZ we were back on the road on May 16th, day 25 of our road trip.  We had no further plans to visit national parks or scenic areas but were headed to Texas.  As I posted last November Connie and I had become a part of Broken Vessels, a prison ministry.  Our intent was to visit some of the fellows we had been writing to behind the razor wire as well as spend some time with Thomas and Raquel, the founders of the ministry. <br /> <br />Before we left our friend’s home they tried to show us on the map and tell us of possible routes we could take to avoid Phoenix.  However, I felt that based on the time we were getting onto the road and the distance we had to travel that we would arrive in the Phoenix area in late morning, well past the morning rush hour.  And, that proved out to be true.  Even though there are 6 lanes of traffic each direction in parts of the city we did not experience any major difficulties. <br /> <br />We had checked the Pilot Travel Centers/Flying J directory found in the back of each months issue of Challenge Magazine (which can be picked up free at any Pilot or Flying J location) and had made Lordsburg, New Mexico our goal for the night.  There was a quite nice Flying J there.    The picture below was taken the following morning before leaving. <br /> <br /><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-M7EsnVsEmko/T_yBJNU9TbI/AAAAAAAACFQ/_ruXH20L3kM/s1600-h/IMG_0874%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 5px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0874" border="0" alt="IMG_0874" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-0eAmzoqsg7E/T_yBJxOC08I/AAAAAAAACFY/zlmbpX1cBRY/IMG_0874_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="502" height="388" /></a> <br /></p> <p>Day 26 of our trip, May 17th, we travelled on toward Texas and actually got into the big state about mid-day.  We drove about 400 miles that day, stopping for the night in Fort Stockton, TX  There was no Pilot or Flying J close but the Kwik KIng, Oasis Travel Center in Fort Stockton was quite nice.  Shortly after arriving we got to see something of interest. <br /> <br />A truck pulling a low-boy carrying a wide–load pulled into the truck lot, and I mean a wide, wide load.  It was of interest because of what that load was.  On that low-boy was the bed of one of the large mine trucks like we had seen at the Borax mine in California.  I was able to walk over and take a couple of pictures.  You can see the huge size much better than trying to picture in your mind what a truck bed 25 feet wide and 45 feet long looks like.  One of the escort vehicle drivers told me they were headed to a testing facility in Arizona. <br /> <br /><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-41RAaJBuNfc/T_yBLCiVxFI/AAAAAAAACFg/bTJFDIOEEd0/s1600-h/IMG_0875%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 5px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0875" border="0" alt="IMG_0875" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-6JKZxvuWY54/T_yBMKHkdiI/AAAAAAAACFo/gq_fUOv5UvU/IMG_0875_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="513" height="397" /></a></p> <p> <br />The following day, day 27 of our trip, May 18th, we drove the remaining 300 miles or so to Hondo, TX, our goal for the day.  In part 12 I’ll tell you of our visits in Texas. </p> Garryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11567294806723745592noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-962313854595434778.post-35847007172556117262012-06-29T13:16:00.000-07:002012-06-29T13:20:28.887-07:00Our 33 Day, 6731 Mile Road Trip–part 10 <p> <br />After spending a couple of nights and a day with a friend, as mentioned in part 9, we got back on the road May 13th, the 22nd day of our road trip.  The goal for the day was to reach a campground near Grand Canyon National Park.  One thing that we anticipated when leaving California was that we would be leaving Pacific Daylight Savings Time and would be entering Mountain Time zone.  We were changing our watches, etc. but discovered a bit later that the state of Arizona does not change to Daylight Savings Time, consequently the time on the clock was the same as what we had been on in the Pacific Daylight Savings Time. <br /> <br />We arrived at the Ten-X campground just a few miles from the park entrance about 4:30 P.M.  We found the campground to be very nice.  There are 70 camping spots and they are spread out so that one does not have extremely close neighbors.  Here are a couple of photos of our camp spot. <br /> <br /><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-pQYnDTsRDmY/T-4N4QFf-nI/AAAAAAAACDo/A61QFlhOVXY/s1600-h/IMG_0778%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 5px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0778" border="0" alt="IMG_0778" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-OgUBmzBhdoU/T-4N5Cb0lnI/AAAAAAAACDw/j_orG4jVJSc/IMG_0778_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="503" height="389" /></a></p> <p> <br /><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-nGcafkrUToE/T-4N7X3SUrI/AAAAAAAACD4/7A_hFzdj_Tc/s1600-h/IMG_0776%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 5px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0776" border="0" alt="IMG_0776" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-HzF5W93ZtfI/T-4N8FVuJ-I/AAAAAAAACEA/taXyyHvOze8/IMG_0776_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="513" height="397" /></a></p> <p> <br />In the photo of our van you can see that the windshield and side windows are covered, but since there was nobody camped behind us we did not cover the back window.  We were able to look right up at the stars, and there were lots of them. <br /> <br />After our breakfast the next morning, May 14th, our 23rd day of our trip, we were off to the canyon.  We have visited the canyon at least three previous times, the last time being in October of 1988.  Even though one may visit numerous times it is still awe inspiring.  Connie and I both took a lot of photos, it was hard to know when to quit.  All of them are impressive in their own way and it is hard to choose only 2 or 3 to post here, but here are some. <br /> <br /><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-UvSTP_B2rEM/T-4N9Q_l7NI/AAAAAAAACEI/VHREuVr2RwU/s1600-h/IMG_0783%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 5px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0783" border="0" alt="IMG_0783" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-thc15BSNRE4/T-4N-Lh81pI/AAAAAAAACEQ/pBcYbUcmWbo/IMG_0783_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="512" height="396" /></a></p> <p> <br /><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-dCIaGBU4vuY/T-4N_rJzSYI/AAAAAAAACEY/6LGmArvI5Do/s1600-h/IMG_0797%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 5px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0797" border="0" alt="IMG_0797" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-gtZ8KjE1Ylw/T-4OAaXJxzI/AAAAAAAACEg/lq6XUTr2snE/IMG_0797_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="517" height="400" /></a></p> <p> <br /><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-CXRXVzIcgzs/T-4OCK7RifI/AAAAAAAACEo/dbPrBuE5DMM/s1600-h/IMG_0811%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 5px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0811" border="0" alt="IMG_0811" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-8ldh35tGkik/T-4OCxFpo_I/AAAAAAAACEw/x5F48Ov9jmU/IMG_0811_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="515" height="398" /></a></p> <p> <br />Once we completed the drive along the south rim of the canyon we headed on back south.  </p> <p>We have friends living in Cottonwood, AZ and had made arrangements to spend a couple of nights and a day with them.  We had a very good visit with them.  In the next post we will continue the story of our 33 day road trip. </p> Garryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11567294806723745592noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-962313854595434778.post-25944294668969136652012-06-26T19:14:00.000-07:002012-06-26T19:19:05.525-07:00Our 33 Day, 6731 Mile Road Trip–part 9<p> <br />As I mentioned at the end of part 8 we stopped for the night on May 10th, the 19th day of our trip,  at a county campground in Lone Pine, California.  Portagee Joe Campground is just outside the city of Lone Pine in Inyo County and lies to the east of Mt. Whitney.  Although Mt. Whitney is taller than Mt. Shasta that we posted a picture of in part 7 it did not appear that way since there was no snow visible.  <br /> <br />I had a few questions about this campground that I did not get answers to until I returned home and did some research on the internet.  There was a sign at the campground stating that the property was leased to Inyo County by the City of Los Angeles.  How was that?  <br /> <br />There was a small stream that flowed through the campground and I wondered where the water came from since this was desert.  I discovered that it seemed to originate under a “concrete river.”  What was that ?  I’ll explain a bit of what I discovered after I post a photo of the campground and our camping spot. <br /> <br /><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-zYiRjzub6ZM/T-ptbIKHJ3I/AAAAAAAACB0/nUE_FB-wfQo/s1600-h/IMG_0741%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 5px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0741" border="0" alt="IMG_0741" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-YkN66NouoOI/T-ptbyUPY9I/AAAAAAAACB8/L8PvYdOk6II/IMG_0741_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="509" height="394" /></a></p> <p> <br />What I discovered rather gave me the answer to both questions.  The City of Los Angeles acquired the property when the first of two aqueducts were built (the first one 1908-1913 and the second 1965-1970) to bring water from the Owens Valley to Los Angeles.  This created about as many problems as it solved and can be some interesting reading if one has an interest.  Anyway, the “concrete river” right up behind the campground is one of the aqueducts. <br /> <br /><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-u6FqzTZ_zvQ/T-ptdYmt1MI/AAAAAAAACCE/aIay9sXNKF8/s1600-h/IMG_0740%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 5px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0740" border="0" alt="IMG_0740" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-uVCH2kNGimg/T-pteEDWgFI/AAAAAAAACCM/0BZNkQeqzaE/IMG_0740_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="511" height="395" /></a></p> <p> <br />This picture was taken looking right up from the campground.  Mt. Whitney is in this chain of mountains.  The aqueduct is right over the near rise, close to the power poles. <br /> <br />On day 20 of our trip we continued on South.  Having looked at a free magazine that I picked up (Scenic 395  The Official Guide) I found an interesting article on the borax mine at Boron, California which was only about 6 miles off of our route.  We drove over to Boron and first stopped at the 20 Mule Team Museum which contains a lot of interesting displays and information on the mining of borax, beginning with the mining that began in Death Valley.  <br /> <br /><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-XcVw9dEs2iI/T-ptfpWM21I/AAAAAAAACCU/56_N-VQNgNM/s1600-h/IMG_0745%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: left; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0745" border="0" alt="IMG_0745" align="left" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/--He7kjlyJ94/T-ptgPZTlfI/AAAAAAAACCc/0CsJ8DonbBw/IMG_0745_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="246" height="186" /></a> <br />We didn’t take photos in the museum but I snapped this shot of the sign out in front of the building.  After our visit here we headed out of town about 3 miles to the borax mine. <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-Tw5iRY9o4fc/T-pthW1av0I/AAAAAAAACCk/EduwDbgd_dg/s1600-h/IMG_0756%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: right; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0756" border="0" alt="IMG_0756" align="right" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-6w26U16_tso/T-ptiMiF_OI/AAAAAAAACCs/kwdrwdCBLb4/IMG_0756_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="502" height="388" /></a> <br /> <br /></p> <p> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />You may or may not be able to read what was printed on the sign outside the visitor center but it states that this site is one of the biggest and richest deposits of borax on the planet and the mine supplies nearly one half of the world’s need for borax.  First begun in the 1920’s as an underground mine it was converted to an open pit mine in 1957. <br /> <br /><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-TRQhHQSQdi8/T-ptjTvYMEI/AAAAAAAACC0/JPcmoYI2E-w/s1600-h/IMG_0758%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 5px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0758" border="0" alt="IMG_0758" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-5JlnF8EANV8/T-ptjxMtZHI/AAAAAAAACC8/TvK-ysxPH3o/IMG_0758_thumb%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="512" height="405" /></a> <br /></p> <p> <br />This view is from the visitor center of the mine pit.  Barely discernible in this photo in one of the large mine trucks hauling ore up and out of the pit. <br /> <br /><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-OWUtyeWBrqg/T-ptlGlEKOI/AAAAAAAACDE/KLyRh7Djpgs/s1600-h/IMG_0764%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 5px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0764" border="0" alt="IMG_0764" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-xqnl_0_h1Y0/T-ptl1OdHMI/AAAAAAAACDM/1zli_ST8LmM/IMG_0764_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="517" height="400" /></a></p> <p> <br />This shot was a zoomed in view of the truck and it still is hard to see, yet it is a huge truck.  The capacity of the truck is 255 tons, the truck bed is 46 feet long and 25 feet wide.  The tires are 11 feet tall (and cost $40,000.00 each!)  It has  a 2500 horsepower diesel engine that drives an alternator that powers 2 rear electric wheel motors.  Maximum speed is about 30 miles per hour but when hauling ore it moves only 3 to 5 m.p.h. <br /> <br />After leaving the mine we drove on south another 50 or 60 miles and spent a couple of nights and a day with a friend we have known for over 50 years.  In our next installment we’ll take you with us as we get back “on the road.” </p> Garryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11567294806723745592noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-962313854595434778.post-88854194527421362912012-06-20T18:41:00.000-07:002012-06-25T17:12:42.795-07:00Our 33 Day, 6731 Mile Road Trip–part 8<p> <p> <br />The goal for May 9th, the 18th day of our road trip, was Yosemite National Park.  As we neared the park we stopped at the Groveland Ranger Station to check on available campsites in the National Forest, outside of the park.  We were told that there were plenty of campsites available in all of the campgrounds so we decided to drive on another 12-15 miles to the Sweetwater Campground.  This campground was only about 10 miles from the part entrance.  We paid for and marked our campsite and drove on to the park. <br /> <br /><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-If_Ikgu5SmU/T-J8tjKtxpI/AAAAAAAAB-c/Hu0170N4gg0/s1600-h/IMG_4634%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: left; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_4634" border="0" alt="IMG_4634" align="left" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-xV3uQDdDoWI/T-J8uDaBUkI/AAAAAAAAB-k/IW5BqanmpT8/IMG_4634_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="246" height="186" /></a>We entered the park at the Big Oak Flat Entrance.  We drove to Yosemite Valley as many of the famous sites can be seen there.  We were last at Yosemite over 47 years ago.  The mountains and waterfalls haven’t changed much but there have been a lot of changes to the roads, etc. due to a much higher number of visitors.  Where roads had been 2 way, 2 lane roads they are now one way roads.  Yosemite Village was something we remembered from our previous visits and thought we would stop there.  However, the signs told us that there was a 10 minute walk from the parking lot so we decided to pass on that.  Here are a few pictures of some of the things that have remained much the same. <br /> <br /><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-OsjbfavsquI/T-J8wlqCxiI/AAAAAAAAB-s/M6md7TgHJwY/s1600-h/IMG_0701%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 5px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0701" border="0" alt="IMG_0701" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-T4lPSfKkD4M/T-J8xdTvGZI/AAAAAAAAB-0/tBp-9eEWdhM/IMG_0701_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="503" height="389" /></a></p> <p> <br />There are a number of spectacular waterfalls at Yosemite.  This is one of the first ones we saw after entering Yosemite Valley. <br /> <br /><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-MfTOq19-XOM/T-J8zJljyBI/AAAAAAAAB-8/RHHhQVuUP2Q/s1600-h/IMG_0712%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: left; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0712" border="0" alt="IMG_0712" align="left" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-jmiOdLGGLyE/T-J8zh2BflI/AAAAAAAAB_E/IW_KK48ezRo/IMG_0712_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="322" height="250" /></a>This is Upper Yosemite Falls.  It is the larger and more spectacular of the upper and lower falls. <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-wHGeAhbeeq4/T-J83ud0VfI/AAAAAAAAB_M/-Px-OM_5sq0/s1600-h/IMG_0722%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: right; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0722" border="0" alt="IMG_0722" align="right" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-orznwYrZtJk/T-J84cQ3B0I/AAAAAAAAB_U/-TWfc1uK9uE/IMG_0722_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="307" height="238" /></a> <br />This is Half Dome.  If you have seen any photos of Yosemite you probably have seen a picture of Half Dome.  After spending some amount of time in the valley we headed back to our campsite, where we spent a relaxing evening. <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-99jd_ridl0E/T-J86BouydI/AAAAAAAAB_c/q5hCfjCHLzw/s1600-h/IMG_0727%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: left; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0727" border="0" alt="IMG_0727" align="left" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-B_hgkml0Iyc/T-J86-dY4CI/AAAAAAAAB_k/mAaClYOgd5Y/IMG_0727_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="335" height="260" /></a>This photo was taken from the parking area where we parked our van.  Behind the trees on the left in the picture you can make out a large metal box.  That was our bear locker.  All food items and cooking material were to be placed in the box overnight to keep bears from raiding.  Thankfully we didn’t see any bears but we put our items in the box. <br /> <br />We had originally thought we would drive across the park and over Tioga Pass and drive down US 395 but all reports indicated that the road over the pass was closed due to winter snows.  However, when we got in the area we began to see signs that Tioga Pass was open.  In fact it opened on Monday and we were able to cross on Thursday, May 10th.  Here are a few photos taken as we drove across.  <br /> <br /><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-IoCnxVgNKh4/T-j-Y6qh8_I/AAAAAAAACAw/93LgSN7HZUo/s1600-h/IMG_4789%25255B11%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: right; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_4789" border="0" alt="IMG_4789" align="right" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-mwX473qi2tY/T-j-Zh9GMbI/AAAAAAAACA4/PN81I1ynBcw/IMG_4789_thumb%25255B5%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="246" height="186" /></a> <br />This is another view of Half Dome—the back side—taken from Rt. 20 as we crossed the park. <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-n9Z81e_ny5U/T-j-bV83zhI/AAAAAAAACBA/rYdHYAWCFcg/s1600-h/IMG_4797%25255B8%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: left; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_4797" border="0" alt="IMG_4797" align="left" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-nchZAHppXHg/T-j-b39ENpI/AAAAAAAACBI/TWa1ZgpJsI0/IMG_4797_thumb%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="246" height="186" /></a>This pix is of some of the beautiful scenery along this route. <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-1kxbBDht65w/T-j-c-r58sI/AAAAAAAACBQ/7YorWYo6sJE/s1600-h/IMG_4826%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: right; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_4826" border="0" alt="IMG_4826" align="right" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-n0nCi8B9j9c/T-j-eOXXNLI/AAAAAAAACBY/LjEN75CxeLg/IMG_4826_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="246" height="186" /></a> <br /></p> </p> <p> <p> Just to prove that we actually did cross Tioga Pass Connie snapped this shot as we were stopped at the booth prior to exiting the park.  We still had a lot of downhill driving to do to get us down to US 395. <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />We drove south on US 395 and stopped for the night at a county campground in Lone Pine, California.  More about that in our next installment. </p></p> Garryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11567294806723745592noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-962313854595434778.post-25693666694942005742012-06-16T18:46:00.000-07:002012-06-16T18:50:51.487-07:00Our 33 Day, 6731 Mile Road Trip–part 7<p> <br />When we first began planning our trip we had discussed the possibility of visiting Crater Lake National Park.  But, everything I read indicated that the roads coming from the north and or northwest would possibly still have snow.  And, as I checked on-line I found that the road around the lake had only a limited area open.  But, all reports were that the weather was nice so we decided we would make that side trip.  We left our son’s home about noon of May 7th, the 16th day of our road trip and drove south to Central Point, Oregon where we spent the night at a Pilot Travel Center. <br /> <br />By 7:00 A.M. the next morning we were on the way to Crater Lake.  We stopped a few miles further along by a rushing mountain stream to eat our breakfast.  As we neared the park we began seeing huge piles of snow that had been pushed off of the highway.  We found that there was still a lot of snow at Crater Lake and that was why much of the road around the park was closed.  They feel good if they have the road open all the way around the lake by the 4th of July.  It is a big job removing the average 44 feet of snow they receive each winter. <br /> <br />We had to climb over the snow banks to get to where we could view the lake.  We felt blessed because at least 50% of the time in winter and spring one can not see the lake for clouds and fog.  Here are a couple of photos of the lake. <br /> <br /><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-B5rc6zHaaZQ/T9031GMqUhI/AAAAAAAAB8k/XEkmfU0IH4c/s1600-h/IMG_0654%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 5px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0654" border="0" alt="IMG_0654" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-qjJ2lnvwb2g/T9031ljpc4I/AAAAAAAAB8s/Ov-MbCjqae8/IMG_0654_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="370" height="287" /></a></p> <p> <br /> <br /><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-us7qqRZjCkU/T90328k7E6I/AAAAAAAAB80/lgnK6p6Cg_s/s1600-h/IMG_0669%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: left; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0669" border="0" alt="IMG_0669" align="left" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-gidiF3KSXk8/T9033WLiPwI/AAAAAAAAB88/UyLIp9ZPnlM/IMG_0669_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="246" height="186" /></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-otgE0c7rEmA/T9034S6krdI/AAAAAAAAB9E/vO0jy7KFnhU/s1600-h/IMG_0672%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: right; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0672" border="0" alt="IMG_0672" align="right" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-l6jvx9k0oek/T90343spE2I/AAAAAAAAB9M/O_sJ-54Vh-8/IMG_0672_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="246" height="186" /></a> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />We hadn’t stopped by the visitor’s center at the park on the way in so decided to do so on our way back out.  The ranger we talked to said that they didn’t have a lot of snow left.  To us it looked as if they did.  This picture was taken in the parking lot of the visitor’s center—the snow was in the middle of the lot. <br /> <br /><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-m00waMlq3yg/T9036UdjxhI/AAAAAAAAB9U/VFSQ7k-Bh1A/s1600-h/IMG_0681%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 5px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0681" border="0" alt="IMG_0681" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-EgNWwqdzrzo/T9036zpfKxI/AAAAAAAAB9c/tY9nQQ5InaE/IMG_0681_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="354" height="274" /></a></p> <p> <br /> <br />We were unable to use the main entrance to the visitor’s center as it was still blocked by snow.  We were told that during the winter the snow is completely over the top of the building. <br /> <br /><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-lfmOLT5aoa4/T9038BBv2MI/AAAAAAAAB9k/D1g9sZQI8_Q/s1600-h/IMG_0682%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: left; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0682" border="0" alt="IMG_0682" align="left" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-e_60CMWWVDk/T9039JfsAAI/AAAAAAAAB9s/eCVN_F_6YCQ/IMG_0682_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="279" height="216" /></a>After leaving the park we headed on our way toward California.  By traveling south-southwest we were able to get back to I-5 at Weed, California.  On the way we were in sight of Mt. Shasta for many miles.  Mt. Shasta is 14,162 feet above sea level and 11,000 feet from it’s base to the summit. <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-u5jo_Ha4Clc/T903-Nyd-RI/AAAAAAAAB90/VfaegyHStZk/s1600-h/IMG_0686%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 5px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0686" border="0" alt="IMG_0686" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-s_eDP5atJfI/T903-mNulDI/AAAAAAAAB98/R5lohBx99QU/IMG_0686_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="410" height="317" /></a></p> <p> <br />We stopped for the night of this our 17th day of our road trip at the Pilot Travel Center in Dunnigan, California, just north of Sacramento.  The next day we headed for Yosemite National Park—we’ll cover that in the next installment. </p> Garryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11567294806723745592noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-962313854595434778.post-53108403710965154572012-06-14T18:51:00.000-07:002012-06-14T19:01:05.323-07:00Our 33 Day, 6731 Mile Road Trip–part 6 <p> <br />We arrived at our son’s home the afternoon of our 6th day, April 27th and stayed until about noon of May 7th, our 16th day.  During this time we visited several interesting places within driving distance of Salem. Oregon. <br /> <br />One day we took a drive to see several historic covered bridges, taking along a picnic lunch.  The first two were in the town of Sweet Home, Oregon.  Both are pictured below. <br /> <br /><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-UW25lVJRGzE/T9qXIxOilDI/AAAAAAAAB6E/QABD-NmXk70/s1600-h/IMG_0586%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: left; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0586" border="0" alt="IMG_0586" align="left" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-Z8r3Y3X_NQc/T9qXJbcbmJI/AAAAAAAAB6M/yQ7n1heuBaA/IMG_0586_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="246" height="186" /></a>This is the Weddle Bridge at Sweet Home, Oregon.  Although the bridge is no longer in use by vehicles one is able to walk across.  There is now a park at this location and it was here that we ate our picnic lunch. <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-kk2JXqwO4XM/T9qXLPAa_MI/AAAAAAAAB6U/XCTFlGqmjCw/s1600-h/IMG_0588%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: right; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0588" border="0" alt="IMG_0588" align="right" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/--IRJX1rwhrg/T9qXLlNwt1I/AAAAAAAAB6c/23SOV3EBX38/IMG_0588_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="246" height="186" /></a>This small bridge is just a few feet away from the Weddle Bridge pictured above.  It was built for pedestrian traffic but it is closed to all traffic now.  It is the Dahrenburg Bridge. <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-QivNeyrqdbA/T9qXNTuTAjI/AAAAAAAAB6k/a9eQF1fuoIs/s1600-h/IMG_0592%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: left; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0592" border="0" alt="IMG_0592" align="left" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-cOatUUe2lVY/T9qXNw-nCdI/AAAAAAAAB6s/ehAAU4gEyR8/IMG_0592_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="246" height="186" /></a>The Short Bridge, as it is called, is still in regular use, being used to span the South Santiam.  This bridge is about 12 miles east of Sweet Home, Oregon. <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-B7kQit1QKCg/T9qXPr3y1OI/AAAAAAAAB60/srN-k4Nmq_E/s1600-h/IMG_0599%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: right; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0599" border="0" alt="IMG_0599" align="right" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-40Q8Wh39oWQ/T9qXQMYCkHI/AAAAAAAAB68/1dugBqXLKuk/IMG_0599_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="246" height="186" /></a>The Crawfordsville Bridge spans the Calapooya River and it also is closed to vehicular traffic.  It is located at the west end of Crawfordsville, Oregon beside Hwy. 228. <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />On another day we spent a few hours at the Willamette Heritage Center at the Mill in Salem, Oregon.  The following information is taken from their web site. <br /> <br /></p> <p>“A visit to the Willamette Heritage Center at The Mill is a stroll through the history of the Willamette Valley. The five-acre campus is home to fourteen historic structures that present the stories and richness of Oregon's past. </p> <p>Pioneer buildings at the Willamette Heritage Center at The Mill take visitors back to the early settlement of western Oregon. The 1841 Jason Lee House, arguably the oldest standing wooden frame house in Oregon, pre-dates the first wagon trains crossing the Oregon Trail. These structures provide a glimpse into the lives of the missionaries and pioneering families when these early founders were putting down roots in the Valley.</p> <p>The 1895 Thomas Kay Woolen Mill, one of the best-preserved Victorian-Age factories in the West and designated an American Treasure by the National Park Service, vividly tells the story of industrialization in the West.”</p> <p> <br /> <br />I especially enjoyed the tour through the mill.  Even though it has been closed since 1962 all of the machinery is still in place and the tour guide did a great job explaining the entire process of taking the wool fleece and turning it into woolen blanket material.  <br /> <br /><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-tA7m220Nfj4/T9qXRB6pOhI/AAAAAAAAB7E/RJd3RqdNdQU/s1600-h/IMG_0615%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: left; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0615" border="0" alt="IMG_0615" align="left" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-sZ6UwMxTrlc/T9qXRzkSP1I/AAAAAAAAB7M/A9Qe8G_bWUs/IMG_0615_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="303" height="235" /></a>This photo is of the Thomas Kay Woolen Mill.  The mill was in operation from 1889-1962.  The original mill burned in 1896 and was replaced with this brick building.  The entire mill was powered by water power, which turned a turbine.  A set of crown gears transferred the motion from the vertical turbine to a horizontal shaft that powered all of the machinery in the main mill. <br /> <br />One thing that Connie desired to do while in Oregon was go to the coast.  So, one day was spent driving to the coast, driving up the coast and driving back to Salem.  One of the first spots we visited was the historical Yaquina Bay Lighthouse.  It was only in operation for three years, 1871-1874.  The lighthouse lamps burned whale oil and could be seen for 12 miles. <br /> <br /><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-l8JmTDjB5GA/T9qXS2pon9I/AAAAAAAAB7U/6g3vjcfbits/s1600-h/IMG_0627%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: right; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0627" border="0" alt="IMG_0627" align="right" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-HqsY-AK_2pg/T9qXTSGz_5I/AAAAAAAAB7c/l6hBfAYGiDI/IMG_0627_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="246" height="186" /></a>The Yaquina Bay Lighthouse was the only lighthouse in Oregon that provided living quarters for the lighthouse keeper and his family.  A larger lighthouse with a light that could be seen for 22 miles was built only 3 miles away and forced the decommissioning of this one. <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-WwJF8UgUQ60/T9qXUn0A5XI/AAAAAAAAB7k/gJ_DNYzdcMw/s1600-h/IMG_0638%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: left; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0638" border="0" alt="IMG_0638" align="left" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-dfTJ1nsfNb0/T9qXVHKHL5I/AAAAAAAAB7s/88yM2e40SDc/IMG_0638_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="246" height="186" /></a>Just a short distance from the lighthouse, in the town of Newport,  we were able to view these California Sea Lions.  These are all males.  The females never leave the waters of California and the males return during the mating season, spending the rest of their time along the Oregon coast. <br /> <br /> <br />We stopped along the coast for our picnic lunch at a popular whale watching site.  We looked but never saw any whales.  Our son said that on previous trips he had seen a few.  Here is a picture of the Pacific along the Oregon coast. <br /> <br /><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-ypIiyUDM4co/T9qXWD3WxSI/AAAAAAAAB70/KAGvZWLYTjw/s1600-h/IMG_0643%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 5px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0643" border="0" alt="IMG_0643" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-zTxWRl6fDgY/T9qXWthOvHI/AAAAAAAAB78/aErbBRRewOI/IMG_0643_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="353" height="273" /></a></p> <p> <br /> <br />To conclude the visit to Oregon’s coast we stopped at the famous Tillamook Cheese factory at Tillamook, Oregon.  They seem to be known for their ice cream as well and we all had to try one of their cones before heading back to Salem. <br /> <br /><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-2ZvupQT0bWE/T9qXXiI52qI/AAAAAAAAB8E/HlgFMuWUlsE/s1600-h/IMG_0650%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 5px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0650" border="0" alt="IMG_0650" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-BBOHUmytFHU/T9qXYGoz-2I/AAAAAAAAB8M/TjgWOB87D9c/IMG_0650_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="350" height="271" /></a></p> Garryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11567294806723745592noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-962313854595434778.post-74918923472886085122012-06-11T18:32:00.000-07:002012-06-11T18:39:06.410-07:00Our 33 Day, 6731 Mile Road Trip–part 5<p> <br />As I mentioned  near the end of part 4, when we left the Pilot Travel Center at Biggs, Oregon on Friday morning, April 27, our 6th day on the road, we drove across the bridge into Washington state.  The bridge, by the way, is called by several names.  The official name seems to be The Sam Hill Memorial bridge.  It is also known as the Biggs Rapids-Sam Hill Bridge.  Samuel Hill was a business man and entrepreneur, the bridge was his dream.  He had run a ferry at that location for several years, beginning in 1925.  It was one of many that ran at that location from 1868 until the opening of the new bridge. <br /> <br />Crossing back across the bridge into Oregon we got back on I-84.  A few miles further west we pulled into Memaloose Rest Stop.  In the middle of the Columbia River is Memaloose Island, or island of the dead.  When Lewis and Clark visited the area in 1805 they called it Sepulchar Island.  Here is a quote from their journal.   </p> <p>"... passed three large rocks in The river the middle rock is large long and has Several Squar vaults on it. we call this rockey Island the Sepulchar ..." [Clark, October 29, 1805]   Below is a photo taken from the rest stop. <br /> <br /><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-40JkayGHlTQ/T9adYwyBHtI/AAAAAAAAB30/zVH6fNW6hgQ/s1600-h/IMG_0491%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0491" border="0" alt="IMG_0491" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-FbZoLA_7BtM/T9adZnTsgXI/AAAAAAAAB38/G5poQfCwHuI/IMG_0491_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="507" height="392" /></a> <br /> <br />A few miles on West we came to the area of magnificent waterfalls, perhaps the one best known is Multnomah Falls.  We stopped to see it first before getting onto the old historic highway so that we could view several of the others.  Here are a few pictures. <br /> <br /><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-zAk6robe52Q/T9adam3G1OI/AAAAAAAAB4E/AS7-MZLc_0M/s1600-h/IMG_0507%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: left; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0507" border="0" alt="IMG_0507" align="left" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-cIi4hGlcLRk/T9adbBsNdxI/AAAAAAAAB4M/Xl7Dk6rK5mg/IMG_0507_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="281" height="380" /></a>This is Multnomah Falls.  The upper and lower falls together are 620 feet high.  The bridge you see in the photo is 45 feet long and is 105 feet above the lower falls.  We hiked up to the bridge and Connie walked across.  I preferred to stay on firm ground.  I did take her picture!  There is a trail that one can take to hike to the top of the falls but when we were there it was closed due to a landslide. <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-eqXJsWMCXb0/T9adcTlVcWI/AAAAAAAAB4U/nzYBUFdkgCI/s1600-h/IMG_0531%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: right; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0531" border="0" alt="IMG_0531" align="right" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-msjkv5pvqJk/T9addClWdCI/AAAAAAAAB4c/kK5HDbfHfYM/IMG_0531_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="289" height="391" /></a>The falls pictured here is called Horsetail Falls.  It is named that apparently because it looks a lot like a horses tail!  It is 192 feet tall. <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-AghkY12u_yg/T9adeJsQFKI/AAAAAAAAB4k/Jv5lsgwFw-E/s1600-h/IMG_0555%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: left; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0555" border="0" alt="IMG_0555" align="left" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-u-l7JaIpBu0/T9aderAMDzI/AAAAAAAAB4s/5tv3BoxI8LE/IMG_0555_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="290" height="393" /></a>This is Bridal Veil Falls.  We had to hike about 2/3 of a mile roundtrip to visit this beautiful falls.  As can be seen, there are two “drops” to this falls and it is 118 feet total in height. <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />Here are two additional waterfalls that we visited, and we didn’t see them all by any means.  The one on the left is Wahkenna Falls and the one on the right is Laturell Falls. <br /> <br /> <br /><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-8MP5O8wWeaE/T9adgDCtaQI/AAAAAAAAB40/-f8wsIwD6c0/s1600-h/IMG_0544%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: left; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0544" border="0" alt="IMG_0544" align="left" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-QbSo6wbUKMg/T9adghfhQNI/AAAAAAAAB48/IV9XwZ5ov9A/IMG_0544_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="186" height="246" /></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-57j6FzwHfkc/T9adh1qnmgI/AAAAAAAAB5E/sjDjR2d8tkk/s1600-h/IMG_0567%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: right; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0567" border="0" alt="IMG_0567" align="right" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-8qSRZ0v5snI/T9adiZuKQPI/AAAAAAAAB5M/-FPNTwiI1Eg/IMG_0567_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="186" height="246" /></a> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />Here is one more photo of the Columbia River taken from the Crown Point Overlook at Vista House. <br /> <br /><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-WX-GYaXNLlQ/T9adjUr4P8I/AAAAAAAAB5U/aUZhpPD8gHQ/s1600-h/IMG_0578%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 5px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0578" border="0" alt="IMG_0578" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-0JmxRKT48GA/T9adjosYntI/AAAAAAAAB5c/yjG0t8clkAk/IMG_0578_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="330" height="256" /></a></p> <p> <br />Vista House was first proposed by Samuel Lancaster, an engineer for Multnomah County who supervised the Columbia River Highway Project.  Vista House was designed to be an observatory and a rest stop.  Construction began late 1916.  Here is a picture of Vista House. <br /> <br /><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-k-INeRcpnK4/T9adkz_xuXI/AAAAAAAAB5k/arVcbG9ss5s/s1600-h/IMG_0581%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: left; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0581" border="0" alt="IMG_0581" align="left" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-wYFcQKGC_4o/T9adlfb4f4I/AAAAAAAAB5s/gQ0tKv5KeDw/IMG_0581_thumb%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="303" height="241" /></a>It is hard to tell but that is Connie in front of Vista House.  Other than a brief stop for some lunch this was our last stop before arriving at our son’s home about 2:45 P.M.  In the next installment we’ll show you some of the places we visited during our visit. </p> Garryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11567294806723745592noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-962313854595434778.post-62850981520944940972012-06-08T15:32:00.000-07:002012-06-08T15:39:53.566-07:00Our 33 Day, 6731 Mile Road Trip–part 4<p> <br />Our fifth day on the road, April 26th, started out with rain.  We received a light shower or two during the night and woke up to a rather cool and damp morning. We got on the road a little later than normal, about 9:00 A.M. Mountain Daylight Time, primarily because we planned to make a stop about 75 miles on up the road and the place didn’t open until 9:00 A.M. Pacific Daylight Time (the time zone was just a few miles from us.) <br /> <br />Here is a photo Connie took as we traveled.  Some of her photos taken that morning showed a lot of rain drops on the windshield so this must have been during a slight let-up in the rain or she caught it just after the wiper blades had cleared the glass. <br /> <br /><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-njas9RQzyHk/T9J_GGranZI/AAAAAAAAB2c/YqnNFJ1xgeU/s1600-h/Oregon%2525201%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Oregon 1" border="0" alt="Oregon 1" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-EL3_8Cbi3bw/T9J_Gvc59PI/AAAAAAAAB2k/VGP2yQSG7ZU/Oregon%2525201_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="513" height="397" /></a>  <br />Our stopping point for the morning was the Oregon Trail Interpretive Center near Baker City, Oregon.  As their brochure says,  “The National Historic Oregon Trail Interpretive Center at Flagstaff Hill brings to life aspects of the Oregon Trail experience through living history demonstrations, interpretive programs, exhibitions,  and special events.”  We came away, after our nearly 3 hours there, with a much greater appreciation for the hardships, endurance, etc. of the 300,000 plus immigrants that made the journey westward along the Oregon Trail.  And, those folks traveled much the same route we took, without the interstates and highways that are there now.  It is hard to imagine facing the mountains, rivers, etc. with nothing more than a wagon and a team of oxen. <br /> <br /> <br /><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-HhDLvW9J98w/T9J_H5I5C8I/AAAAAAAAB2s/EArXUXhSrGM/s1600-h/IMG_0467%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: left; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0467" border="0" alt="IMG_0467" align="left" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-8jWMYHI9YPg/T9J_IMhVsAI/AAAAAAAAB20/5lqymnMxklc/IMG_0467_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="282" height="219" /></a>This is a view of a full size representation of a wagon and people making the trip.  We learned that of the 300,000 plus that made the trip, nearly 30,000 died in route.  <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-nZ-EKUzFCDY/T9J_JS0okXI/AAAAAAAAB28/ivLNxQaFm6I/s1600-h/IMG_0473%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: right; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0473" border="0" alt="IMG_0473" align="right" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-AgBgjPKmlok/T9J_J6OIhbI/AAAAAAAAB3E/gN9f7F9_GnY/IMG_0473_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="311" height="241" /></a> Another representation.  It was interesting to look at the many exhibits showing the limited amount of space in the wagons and the amount of food, tools, and personal effects each family tried to take along.  Much had to be discarded along the way due to various factors. <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />We were amazed to learn that over 300 miles of wagon ruts from over 150 years ago still remain.  We were able to view some on the grounds of the Center.  The ruts were so deep and packed so hard that to this day they are free of weeds and other growth and erosion has not totally wiped them out.  You can make out the ruts in the photo below. <br /> <br /> <br /><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-gfH5a2YZ47I/T9J_LcI0qDI/AAAAAAAAB3M/CYND1gALevE/s1600-h/IMG_0484%25255B12%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0484" border="0" alt="IMG_0484" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-nPENzihUAyM/T9J_MH5MrNI/AAAAAAAAB3U/Ps_5BjL060U/IMG_0484_thumb%25255B6%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="502" height="396" /></a> <br /> <br />By the time we had traveled northward and reached the Columbia River and began going westward again the rain had come to a stop.  The view along the river was great.  I’ll post some photos of the river in the next installment.  <br /> <br />We stopped for the night at a Pilot Travel Center at Biggs, Oregon.  The parking lot overlooked the Columbia River. <br /> <br />   <br /><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-HnBOdehkpk8/T9J_Np2nTsI/AAAAAAAAB3c/x5kd9SRZ6Ts/s1600-h/IMG_0488%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: right; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0488" border="0" alt="IMG_0488" align="right" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-vQn2HFnDRWM/T9J_OPfAoqI/AAAAAAAAB3k/bCY5HgsBTKs/IMG_0488_thumb%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="300" height="238" /></a>This photo was taken from the corner of the Pilot lot.  The mountains in the picture are in the state of Washington.  Although we had been in the state of Washington before we just had to drive across this bridge the next morning before continuing westward, just to say we had been in that state on this trip. <br /> <br />In the next installment I’ll post some pictures of some gorgeous waterfalls. </p> Garryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11567294806723745592noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-962313854595434778.post-63518927046416285362012-06-05T19:12:00.000-07:002012-06-07T07:34:55.268-07:00Our 33 Day, 6731 Mile Road Trip–part 3<p> <br />I promised in part 2 that I would include some photos of the mountains we began to see as we got into Wyoming.  Here are a couple. <br /> <br /><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-GpOEN-C795g/T869SVOrW7I/AAAAAAAAB1U/Tj3Ql2XVBfU/s1600-h/Wyoming%2525204%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: left; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Wyoming 4" border="0" alt="Wyoming 4" align="left" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-S4CV19bn4f4/T869S-Pjw2I/AAAAAAAAB1c/CZwjPY7qfg4/Wyoming%2525204_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="364" height="285" /></a>This was taken by Connie out of the windshield, somewhere in western Wyoming. <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-kCTLzRghPiY/T869TviYQgI/AAAAAAAAB1k/IQKaQHCE8z4/s1600-h/Wyoming%2525207%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: right; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Wyoming 7" border="0" alt="Wyoming 7" align="right" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-Ts4EZagAmpU/T869UGAJyRI/AAAAAAAAB1s/DmskdBha_lg/Wyoming%2525207_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="339" height="266" /></a>As we neared Cheyenne, WY we began to see snow on some of the mountains in the distance. <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />Day four of our trip, April 25th, we left the Wal-Mart lot in Rock Springs, WY and continued our westward journey.   Less than two hours later we were entering into the state of Utah. Within a few miles we left I-80 and got onto I-84, which we would follow all the way to Portland, Oregon.  Although we were unaware of it prior to coming upon a turn-out situated for viewing it we saw a quite unusual geological formation called The Devil’s Slide.  It consists of two parallel limestone strata that protrudes 40 feet out of the side of the mountain with a 25 foot wide channel between that runs down the mountainside for hundreds of feet.  Here is a photo Connie took. <br /> <br /><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-Gc4SaLhW1e0/T869UzHCnUI/AAAAAAAAB10/CeMTHP-zNlw/s1600-h/Utah%2525201%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 5px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Utah 1" border="0" alt="Utah 1" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-IsctqJ94clo/T869Vh-m8jI/AAAAAAAAB18/a6NSDdOeiRk/Utah%2525201_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="336" height="450" /></a>  <br />By taking I-84 we did not go through Salt Lake City nor did we really get to see the great Salt Lake,  just a few spots where we got a brief glimpse of some inlets.  We did continue to see mountains.  Here is another photo taken in Utah. <br /> <br /><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-80KfYAfcHUc/T869W0yLfgI/AAAAAAAAB2E/loeyb2H7oyo/s1600-h/Utah%2525207%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: left; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Utah 7" border="0" alt="Utah 7" align="left" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-jBuanB12lBo/T869XRYdE3I/AAAAAAAAB2M/Yph-0DaJh3k/Utah%2525207_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="345" height="271" /></a>We were obviously going down at this point, as you can see the road stretching out in front of us. <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />Our goal for our fourth day had been Mt. Home, Idaho but as we had been getting ahead of our goal the previous couple of days we did so quite easily this day as well.  This was another 500+ mile day and we crossed into Oregon and stopped for the night at a Pilot Travel Center in Ontario, OR.  It was here that we “bought” our first shower at a truck stop.  We found the shower rooms to be very nice and well maintained. <br /> <br />With the next installment we will begin to detail the many places we visited in the state of Oregon. </p> Garryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11567294806723745592noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-962313854595434778.post-58988490794002255932012-06-01T10:48:00.000-07:002012-06-01T10:51:51.772-07:00Our 33 Day, 6731 Mile Road Trip-part 2<p> <p> <br />Our second day on the road, April 23, 2012, began about 8:00 A.M.  We continued West on I-70 to Kansas City, MO and then turned North on I-29.  We crossed into extreme Southwestern Iowa, travelling only about 10 miles, and turned back West on Rt. 2 which we followed all the way to Lincoln, Nebraska.  There we got onto I-80, which we would remain on for hundreds of miles, crossing all of Nebraska and Wyoming and into Utah (not all that day of course).  Our goal for the day was Lexington, Nebraska but we exceeded that by a few miles making it all the way to North Platte, Nebraska.  We stopped for the night at the Flying J, which is a part of the Pilot Travel Centers family. <br /> <br />Day three, April 24th, we continued on West, with our original goal of Wamsutter, Wyoming.  As we had exceeded our goal for the second day we easily did the same this day, making it to Rock Springs, Wyoming.  We stopped at the Flying J there, intending to spend the night but the auto lot was quite small.  We needed a few things and checked out the Wal-Mart store.  We discovered that they had a huge parking lot and there were several RV’s already there so we decided to spend the night in the Wal-Mart lot. <br /> <br /><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-kWS7EqPORyo/T8kBKd4ellI/AAAAAAAAB0c/4r2CPYvEnj0/s1600-h/Neb%252520gen%252520view%252520west%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: left; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Neb gen view west" border="0" alt="Neb gen view west" align="left" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-kb7ifiHcato/T8kBK1ZIdPI/AAAAAAAAB0k/TAwxqIPKO-M/Neb%252520gen%252520view%252520west_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="323" height="250" /></a> <br />This photo is one Connie took from the van while we were driving, showing a general view of much of the state of Nebraska. <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-HachkN2uwgw/T8kBLrDAZGI/AAAAAAAAB0s/jHpfAmXvZUM/s1600-h/Neb.%252520hwy%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: right; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Neb. hwy" border="0" alt="Neb. hwy" align="right" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-Yi-AxKjK_MY/T8kBMLbrttI/AAAAAAAAB00/ZBJ0pDps-GU/Neb.%252520hwy_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="322" height="250" /></a> <br /> <br />As we got into the Western part of Nebraska we began to see more hills and the beginnings of mountains. <br /> <br /> <br /></p> <p> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />The photo below shows the Wal-Mart “campground” in Rock Springs, WY. <br /> <br /></p> </p> <p> <p> </p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-QDPokZ4NN2k/T8kBNEu5WqI/AAAAAAAAB08/ST4gqhONmLg/s1600-h/IMG_0459%25255B12%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 5px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0459" border="0" alt="IMG_0459" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-rZWhRYxYxe4/T8kBNoDaSDI/AAAAAAAAB1E/f85jnro_kfk/IMG_0459_thumb%25255B6%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="413" height="326" /></a></p> </p> <p> <br />In the next installment I’ll include some photos of the mountains we began to see as we got into the Wyoming area. </p> Garryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11567294806723745592noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-962313854595434778.post-59485578235145540392012-05-28T14:34:00.000-07:002012-05-28T14:38:24.785-07:00Our 33 Day, 6731 Mile Road Trip—part 1<p> <p> <p> <p> <p> <p> </p> </p> <p> <p> <br />Early this year we began discussing making a trip to Oregon to visit our youngest son and his family.  We last saw them two years ago when we took the train out to Oregon.  We considered doing that again but Connie suggested that we drive.  As we began to plan the trip we decided that we would make it a little longer, time-wise, and a little longer, distance wise.  Our plan was to travel to Oregon, stay several days, then drive down through California, across Arizona and New Mexico and into Texas.  As I wrote about last fall, we are part of a prison ministry, and we desired to visit some of our brothers there.</p> </p> </p> <p> <p> <p> <br /> <br />To afford to make such a trip we began to plan ways to cut expenses.  There wasn’t much we could do to lessen the fuel costs but food and motels we could do something about.  We began planning to take much of our food with us—much of it being some of our home canned items.  To cut out the expense of motels we (along with help from my son here on the farm) designed a platform bed that would fit into our mini-van once the rear seats were removed.  I cut cardboard to fit the windows so that we could cover them at night.  Our plan was to stop at truck stops, Wal-Mart parking lots and campgrounds.</p> </p> </p> </p> <p> <p> <p> <p> <br /> <br />We embarked upon our journey on April 22, 2012.  Our goal for the day was the Pilot Travel Center in Boonville, MO.  We were up and on our way by 7:00 A.M.  By 4:30 P.M. we had completed the first 509 miles of our trip and had arrived at the Pilot in Boonville.  One of the landmarks we saw on this first day on the road was the Gateway Arch in St. Louis, MO.</p> </p> </p> </p> </p> <p> <p> <p> <p> <p> <br /> <br /><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-o6DCd6SGndY/T8PwRIZ5WYI/AAAAAAAABz0/hN7kWW0dI6c/s1600-h/Gateway%252520Arch%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Gateway Arch" border="0" alt="Gateway Arch" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-3DiRaSt9ycU/T8PwRj-9UYI/AAAAAAAABz8/BMA6-At5KOY/Gateway%252520Arch_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="461" height="356" /></a>  <br /> <br />Below is a pix of our mini-van parked in the auto parking lot at Pilot in <br />Boonville, MO. <br /> <br /><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-EJy17_el7QI/T8PwTM8qbpI/AAAAAAAAB0E/PtnI7wBUofc/s1600-h/IMG_0453%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0453" border="0" alt="IMG_0453" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-Nq8kngQAMGY/T8PwT_GNd8I/AAAAAAAAB0M/FUrkRx5fwqk/IMG_0453_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="469" height="371" /></a> <br /> <br />You can see that the cardboard window covers are in place.  The side seen from the outside is covered with a reflective insulation.  Our mattress was the thick futon mattress from the futon in our spare room at home, and it was quite comfortable.</p> </p> </p> </p> </p> </p> <p> <p> <p> <p> <p> <p> <br /> <br />Part 2 will be posted later. </p></p></p></p></p></p> Garryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11567294806723745592noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-962313854595434778.post-63988115111508577192012-04-18T19:31:00.000-07:002012-04-18T19:34:20.126-07:00WHAT KIND OF A DOG IS THIS? <p> <br />In the late 1990’s we lived in a mobile home park in Bloomington, Illinois.  One of our neighbors in the park was quite an accomplished wood carver.  He offered to teach some of us how to carve.  So, for several weeks a few of us would go down once a week to his garage workshop and work on small carving projects.  One of the projects we did was an old hound dog.  The pattern for this dog was in one of my woodworking magazines.</p> <p> <br /> <br /><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-tM-TdWv-MKU/T495n5OLuUI/AAAAAAAABzU/EkFrWu5b-nA/s1600-h/IMG_0454%252520%2525282%252529%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0454 (2)" border="0" alt="IMG_0454 (2)" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-y3yGTPC2Nvk/T495opSWIyI/AAAAAAAABzc/LWc4OmlWD3w/IMG_0454%252520%2525282%252529_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="498" height="385" /></a> <br /> <br />The photo is rather dark but you can get the idea.  He is about 4-1/2 inches tall.  A few weeks ago we kept the grandchildren who live here on the farm while my son and his wife were away for a week.  Somehow the subject of wood carving came up and the boys were ready to try their hand.  We found some old knives that could be used and then it was to the magazines we turned to find some patterns.  I found my copy of the magazine that contained the plan I had used back in the ‘90’s.  Included was a companion dog to the one I had carved. <br /> <br />So, one of the grandsons and I decided to carve this dog.  I don’t have a pix of the grandson’s finished carving but he did a good job.  Here is a photo of my dog. <br /> <br /><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-nGIcTsZL7YU/T495p8GQbrI/AAAAAAAABzk/nfJoGVM02Ss/s1600-h/IMG_0458%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0458" border="0" alt="IMG_0458" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-dXi-LPjQ2M0/T495qsKCG_I/AAAAAAAABzs/ZRtCPQugsYY/IMG_0458_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="475" height="373" /></a> <br /> <br />He is a bit shorter, only about 2-3/4” tall.  The original dog from the ‘90’s was carved from bass wood.  The 2012 dog is carved from tulip poplar from here on the farm.  Both were finished with water based poster paints. </p> Garryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11567294806723745592noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-962313854595434778.post-54748158610951987152011-12-19T17:52:00.000-08:002011-12-19T17:53:53.335-08:00LOOKS<p> <p> <br />The following story, by an unknown author, was sent to me by a friend.  I enjoyed it so much that I thought I would share it with all of you, the readers of this blog.</p> </p> <p> <p> <br /> <br />One Sunday morning the pastor of a fairly large church was about to begin his message when a man dressed in grease riddled jeans and leather jacket walked in and sat down in one of the pews.  The pastor felt rather embarrassed by the burly man’s appearance.  So, after the service was over he asked the man if he would pray and ask God if it was right to dress in such a way when attending his church.  The man said he would. <br /> <br />The following week the pastor was just beginning his message when the man walked in wearing the same greasy jeans and leather jacket and takes a seat in the back of the church. <br /> <br />After the service the pastor was furious and went to the man once again and said,  “I thought I asked you to pray to God and ask Him if He thought it was right to dress in such a way while attending my church.”  The man replied,  “I did.”  The pastor said,  “Well, what did God tell you?”  The man said,  “He told me that He didn’t have a clue as to what to wear in this church because He’s never been there before.” </p></p> Garryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11567294806723745592noreply@blogger.com0