Monday, July 9, 2012
Saturday, July 7, 2012
The 66 Steps
Who the $&@! invented stairs? Whatever was he/she thinking?
Certainly not about the poor person who had to take a scrub brush and hand scrub the algae off each and every one of the 66 stairs (plus landings)! Certainly not about the poor person who sent her husband to the paint store with specific instructions about the color of porch paint, only to have him return with something totally different. Certainly not about the poor person who then had to go to the paint store herself and ask the nice man to make the color a different color, and then inwardly groan as the paint became somewhat better, but also somewhat odd. And certainly not about the poor person who then said, after 2 days of bending over and painting, "So why do I care about the color? I'll just have to do it all over again in a couple years anyway."
So, a curse on you, Stair Inventor!
Certainly not about the poor person who had to take a scrub brush and hand scrub the algae off each and every one of the 66 stairs (plus landings)! Certainly not about the poor person who sent her husband to the paint store with specific instructions about the color of porch paint, only to have him return with something totally different. Certainly not about the poor person who then had to go to the paint store herself and ask the nice man to make the color a different color, and then inwardly groan as the paint became somewhat better, but also somewhat odd. And certainly not about the poor person who then said, after 2 days of bending over and painting, "So why do I care about the color? I'll just have to do it all over again in a couple years anyway."
So, a curse on you, Stair Inventor!
Friday, July 6, 2012
The Old Boat
Our neighbor's power boat recently died - while he was on the lake. His poor wife - on shore - could not even maintain a connection with 911 long enough to get help. He could have jumped out and swum to shore, but didn't want the boat to break up on the rocks which would result in the gas spilling into the lake. After waving his arms for hours, he was finally able to get someone to call for help and was towed in.
He was telling Max about this adventure and how he now fishes from his kayak. When Max asked about what he was going to do with his boat, he said he'd asked someone who said the only thing you could do was chop them up and put them in the landfill.
A light must have gone on in Max's brain because the next thing you know he is down on the beach with a chain saw. As luck would have it, he has a sharp saw and a boat that has no bottom. Ouila!
(Don't panic, Alex. He's going to borrow Uncle Tim's Sawzall to finish the job.)
He was telling Max about this adventure and how he now fishes from his kayak. When Max asked about what he was going to do with his boat, he said he'd asked someone who said the only thing you could do was chop them up and put them in the landfill.
A light must have gone on in Max's brain because the next thing you know he is down on the beach with a chain saw. As luck would have it, he has a sharp saw and a boat that has no bottom. Ouila!
(Don't panic, Alex. He's going to borrow Uncle Tim's Sawzall to finish the job.)
How We Met the Neighbors
We were awakened at 1:30 in the morning the other night by this horrible clattering sound on our beach. It was our first night in the cabin, and a thunderstorm had passed leaving a gorgeous moonrise over the lake. In addition to the racket, we could hear a man talking and a woman occasionally saying something, and see this red light bobbing around. Our first thought was that it was someone talking on a cell phone trying to get some reception. (They would have come to the wrong place.)
Max crept down the stairs to investigate while I watched safely from the porch. There he saw a young woman dressed in a skimpy white dress and rubber boots dragging a shovel. The man had a video camera and was giving her instructions. "Turn around a go toward the water. Remember your mark?"
The woman then said, "I'm stepping over some kind of pipe." So, Max piped up (groan) from out of the dark, "That's our water pipe." He'd just installed it and was pretty proud. The poor woman screamed - a real horror movie kind of scream. Maybe she was really an actress.
After apologies all around, Max met Don and his girlfriend Alice, who said they were our neighbors and were shooting a music video.
Can't imagine what the song is about.
Max crept down the stairs to investigate while I watched safely from the porch. There he saw a young woman dressed in a skimpy white dress and rubber boots dragging a shovel. The man had a video camera and was giving her instructions. "Turn around a go toward the water. Remember your mark?"
The woman then said, "I'm stepping over some kind of pipe." So, Max piped up (groan) from out of the dark, "That's our water pipe." He'd just installed it and was pretty proud. The poor woman screamed - a real horror movie kind of scream. Maybe she was really an actress.
After apologies all around, Max met Don and his girlfriend Alice, who said they were our neighbors and were shooting a music video.
Can't imagine what the song is about.
Thursday, June 28, 2012
Wednesday, June 27, 2012
Fire Department Fun
Not sure what was happening, but it was spectacular. The geese were not too sure about it though.
Tuesday, June 26, 2012
Monday, June 25, 2012
Warming Up
A rainy day resulted in a little nip in the air, so Max raided the woodshop for some wood scraps and in no time we were toasty again.
Ahhhh, Vermont
Drove 700 miles yesterday to arrive at 9:30 last night. Enjoying a morning cup of coffee and a nice change from Tucson weather.
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| A rainy day next to the woodpile |
Saturday, June 23, 2012
Buck Creek Photos
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| Scared the living daylights out of me when I lifted the lid and saw only the ears! |
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| A real dinner tonight |
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| Chalk on road wisdom |
Love Those State Parks
Love those state parks. Spending the night in Buck Creek State Park in Springfield, OH. It was supposed to be only 4 miles from the Interstate, but we went about 5 miles on the most manicured curvy road after that to reach the campground - wide swaths of lawn mowed on either side. In the campground itself, there were grass lawns, lots of trees, and stayed in the tent section for the quiet since it is Saturday night and there is a reservoir here. (Are you sensing a theme in these state parks?) They had a cute outdoor movie theater made of a couple pieces of plywood painted white and are going to show Ice Age tonight.
Less than 700 miles from our destination (A&M, this means you! Fair Warning!) We have toyed with the idea to go for it, but our advanced age has its compensations - we are not in a hurry! So, will stay somewhere tomorrow night and be there Monday afternoon.
The Interstates were boring with lots of construction. We miss the small roads. We were within 60 miles of the Airstream factory and saw several Airstreams. Someday we'll have to take Twink back to visit her birthplace.
Here is the giant cross made out of aluminum siding - I think right across the Indiana border.
Less than 700 miles from our destination (A&M, this means you! Fair Warning!) We have toyed with the idea to go for it, but our advanced age has its compensations - we are not in a hurry! So, will stay somewhere tomorrow night and be there Monday afternoon.
The Interstates were boring with lots of construction. We miss the small roads. We were within 60 miles of the Airstream factory and saw several Airstreams. Someday we'll have to take Twink back to visit her birthplace.
Here is the giant cross made out of aluminum siding - I think right across the Indiana border.
The Big MO (and MS)
After going by Lake of the Ozarks (one of those dam created lakes that looks on the map like someone dropped a ball of blue string), we followed Highway 54 through Jefferson City, the capitol of Missouri, then followed along the Missouri River a ways through incredible fields of corn before stopping for the night at a city park in the town of Hermann.
The park had a small RV area with 18 spaces. Since we were in the 18th we were a little worried about sufficient electricity to run the A/C, but it was fine. We then engaged in the time-honored RV entertainment of watching other RVers try to park.
Max took Rosa and found a Little League game to watch. He was slightly horrified to discover that any child who wanted to play was allowed to, all at the same time. The outfield was well covered. He had to leave when Juan decided he could try to pet Rosa, despite his mother saying no, because he had 7 mean dogs. A hasty retreat was called for when Juan recruited his little sister to join in the fun.
The town was founded by the German Society (?) and has great red brick buildings. It is in the middle of Missouri wine country - beautiful green hills - and is on the Lewis and Clark Trail. It would be a good place to spend a couple days.
But in the morning we headed through St. Louis and across the Mississippi (see barges below). About 50 miles into Illinois we abandoned the 2 lane roads we've been on and took to The Big Road - the Interstate. Rosa will sit up and watch on the smaller roads if we have the windows open, but starts to fall asleep when she can't smell the countryside.
The park had a small RV area with 18 spaces. Since we were in the 18th we were a little worried about sufficient electricity to run the A/C, but it was fine. We then engaged in the time-honored RV entertainment of watching other RVers try to park.
Max took Rosa and found a Little League game to watch. He was slightly horrified to discover that any child who wanted to play was allowed to, all at the same time. The outfield was well covered. He had to leave when Juan decided he could try to pet Rosa, despite his mother saying no, because he had 7 mean dogs. A hasty retreat was called for when Juan recruited his little sister to join in the fun.
The town was founded by the German Society (?) and has great red brick buildings. It is in the middle of Missouri wine country - beautiful green hills - and is on the Lewis and Clark Trail. It would be a good place to spend a couple days.
But in the morning we headed through St. Louis and across the Mississippi (see barges below). About 50 miles into Illinois we abandoned the 2 lane roads we've been on and took to The Big Road - the Interstate. Rosa will sit up and watch on the smaller roads if we have the windows open, but starts to fall asleep when she can't smell the countryside.
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| Crossing the Mississippi in St. Louis |
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| Rosa wins the largest nose contest |
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| Missouri State Capitol |
Fort Scott, Kansas
We needed a break about the time we came upon Fort Scott, Kansas, - the city and National Historic site. Rosa endeared herself to the Ranger by barking at her in the parking lot ("The Ranger isn't going to like this, BooBoo," said Yogi Bear.)
Fort Scott has had 5 lives:
1. It was first a fort of unique buildings around a "public square" on the "Indian Frontier". When the frontier moved west, the fort was sold.
2. Pre-Civil War, during the Bleeding Kansas time, when there was a fraught vote as to whether Kansas would be a slave state or not, there was a "free state" hotel (pro-slavery) on the south side of the public square and an anti-slavery hotel on the north. (You understand the division when you hear the Southern drawls and the campground host tells you all he knows of Vermont is that it is Yankee. ) The Governor called a peace conference there which resulted in a riot. There were raids by the other side on each hotel, and blood spilled.
Max's great-great-grandfather, David Eaton, left Vermont with his family to participate in the Kansas vote. He was a Unitarian and the New England churches were urging parishioners to re-settle in Kansas to oppose slavery. He returned to Vermont when two of his sons were injured at Gettysburg and were taken to the military hospital at Brattleboro. One daughter married and stayed in Kansas. One of the injured sons, Eugene (Max's middle name) was shot in the neck and did not return to service, instead becoming an attorney and serving in his former Colonel's law office in Rutland after the war. The other, Henry Augustus Eaton, re enlisted and served until he was killed at Poplar Church in Virginia. His name is on the monument in the cemetery on North Hollow Road in Rochester where David Eaton is buried.
3. During the Civil War, it was a mobilization point for Union troops.
4. After the Civil War, it was an educational institution for black students. George Washington Carver was a graduate.
5. Now it is a National Historic Site.
The town is also charming, with covered walkways a la Tombstone but with Victorian columns.
Fort Scott has had 5 lives:
1. It was first a fort of unique buildings around a "public square" on the "Indian Frontier". When the frontier moved west, the fort was sold.
2. Pre-Civil War, during the Bleeding Kansas time, when there was a fraught vote as to whether Kansas would be a slave state or not, there was a "free state" hotel (pro-slavery) on the south side of the public square and an anti-slavery hotel on the north. (You understand the division when you hear the Southern drawls and the campground host tells you all he knows of Vermont is that it is Yankee. ) The Governor called a peace conference there which resulted in a riot. There were raids by the other side on each hotel, and blood spilled.
Max's great-great-grandfather, David Eaton, left Vermont with his family to participate in the Kansas vote. He was a Unitarian and the New England churches were urging parishioners to re-settle in Kansas to oppose slavery. He returned to Vermont when two of his sons were injured at Gettysburg and were taken to the military hospital at Brattleboro. One daughter married and stayed in Kansas. One of the injured sons, Eugene (Max's middle name) was shot in the neck and did not return to service, instead becoming an attorney and serving in his former Colonel's law office in Rutland after the war. The other, Henry Augustus Eaton, re enlisted and served until he was killed at Poplar Church in Virginia. His name is on the monument in the cemetery on North Hollow Road in Rochester where David Eaton is buried.
3. During the Civil War, it was a mobilization point for Union troops.
4. After the Civil War, it was an educational institution for black students. George Washington Carver was a graduate.
5. Now it is a National Historic Site.
The town is also charming, with covered walkways a la Tombstone but with Victorian columns.
Thursday, June 21, 2012
Content - From Gold to Green
After an anniversary breakfast in Dumas, TX, (the 32nd anniversary is ham and eggs), we headed into OK, then (in the blink of an eye) into Kansas.
Somewhere in Kansas the scenery changed from gold to green, and now we have trees. We are in a lovely Kansas State Park in El Dorado (which despite its name is very green). It borders a reservoir, so a fish cleaning station for each campsite is standard - see Rosa below. We had the beginnings of a wasp's nest in
the electric box here but the nice campground host came over with a can of wasp spray! Pizzzzzt! - problem solved!
We are now over 1,000 miles out with less than 1,500 to go. Alex called this morning to see if we were arriving before or after lunch. He was quite surprised to learn we were still in Texas. Apparently we'd been a little bit optimistic in our ETA.
Rosa immediately spotted a groundhog - see photo.
Dinner tonight courtesy Trader Joe's.
Before dinner we walked up a huge embankment and were rewarded with a view of the huge reservoir with sailboats and powerboats and the aroma of fresh water.
Somewhere in Kansas the scenery changed from gold to green, and now we have trees. We are in a lovely Kansas State Park in El Dorado (which despite its name is very green). It borders a reservoir, so a fish cleaning station for each campsite is standard - see Rosa below. We had the beginnings of a wasp's nest in
the electric box here but the nice campground host came over with a can of wasp spray! Pizzzzzt! - problem solved!
We are now over 1,000 miles out with less than 1,500 to go. Alex called this morning to see if we were arriving before or after lunch. He was quite surprised to learn we were still in Texas. Apparently we'd been a little bit optimistic in our ETA.
Rosa immediately spotted a groundhog - see photo.
Dinner tonight courtesy Trader Joe's.
Before dinner we walked up a huge embankment and were rewarded with a view of the huge reservoir with sailboats and powerboats and the aroma of fresh water.
Rosa running down the embankment to Max
No one was around so Rosa had some FREEDOM!
The fish cleaning table
Food looms large when you're on the road
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| Rosa makes friends everywhere |
Wednesday, June 20, 2012
Cities
Right across the road from the RV park in Amarillo we found a lovely city park with acres of rolling lawns, a pool, a zoo, a frisbee golf course and an amusement park. It was a delightful surprise.
America
This is the husband writing, my first entry in this blogspot. I'll go straight to the point. After only 700 miles of driving through the heartland of this country, it appears to me that commerce and agriculture have their gears in action. The cows are being milked, the trains are carrying goods and the big rigs are delivering shipments. But then after a day of travel, Susan and I pull into an RV Park, not far off the "Big Road" and find most of the RV sites are occupied by hard working families, transients, away from home, living "on the road." Hard working, decent families, doing what it takes to make a living during difficult times. Makes one feel damn fortunate to have an investment account and a choice to stay home or to travel. We have that choice, wow! So, I have determined that any individual running for President of the USA ought be required to take a month long RV trip across the country, stay in highway RV sites and SEE the country in the raw, not from a campaign bus and a fancy hotel room, seriously! The men and women that we see working from Tucson to Amarillo to Wichita are not understood by our leaders, no matter how much they claim otherwise. No one wants a hand out, but to be understood would go so far.
Amarillo
The broken down picnic table says it all. This RV park has a rating of 7.5/9.5*/8.5 (Hah!) but all we care about is electricity for the A/C because although it is only 92 degrees, it is humid. So, we are cocooning inside the Twinkie. They are also leveling the sites with crushed asphalt - nice for keeping the Twinkie (and Rosa's feet) clean, but the lady who checked us in looks like a former West Texas A & M cheerleader - A bleached blonde "do" and a smile that could disarm a nuclear weapon. Getting here involved lots of cattle (see below) especially in the town of Bovina TX, and the next town, Hereford. The only thing we saw more of - other than Texas prairie - was silos. (See below!)
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| Cattle in a huge feedlot |
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| Yes, it is actually asphalt |
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| Where you have miles-long feedlots, you need a lot of grain |
Tuesday, June 19, 2012
We're Off!
After spending the last six weeks working long long long hours (that's for you J & B Mac) on a remodeling project, we are finally on our way. Rosa was exhausted after all her packing and slept soundly in the back seat. Southeastern Arizona is extreme scenery - fantastic rock formations. The Joshua Trees were all in bloom - looking like Dr. Seuss characters - but there were also green spots around Bowie with pecan orchards. Now we are in absolute heaven in the Lincoln National Forest (Apache Campground) at 9000 feet elevation outside Cloudcroft, a ski area in New Mexico. Temps in the low 80s, towering trees, and the smell of pines. Luckily the fires are to our north, although we saw lots of smoke around Alamagordo. With 350 miles under our belt, we are enjoying this peaceful spot, the only disturbance being a noisy little humming bird that keeps buzzing us. I'm afraid her nest may be nearby. Also, there are beautiful monarch butterflies [shades of Mr. Kaplan, the boys 5th grade teacher who banded[?]monarchs).National Forests are the best - no services but only $9 a night (Max gave them a $1 donation also) with a Senior Pass.
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| Pecan Orchard near Bowie, AZ |
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| Cloudcroft, NM |
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| Joshua Trees at an AZ rest area |
Monday, June 18, 2012
Getting Excited!
Tomorrow is "G" day - as in Go! Get Out of Town! Good Times Ahead! We have put the house on the market (not a pre-requisite) with the best realtor we know, have loaded the Twinkie with everything except for the refrigerated food (it is to be 106 degrees in Tucson today and we feel sorry for the refrigerator), and Rosa is nervous as a cat.The truck is all loaded also. After some experimenting with the kayaks, Max opted for the flatter position. Probably more aero-dynamic. It's the recreational equipment that takes all the room!
So, see you "in the 'Stream"!
Saturday, May 12, 2012
The Clipper, 1936
The Clipper, 1936, at the Los Angeles Museum of Modern Art
The accompanying note dubs this an "airplane without wings", and says Wally Byam was taking advantage of the burgeoning aircraft industry in Los Angeles which enabled him to hire skilled craftsmen. This was named after the Pan Am Clipper.
Thanks to CJ for this photo!
Monday, March 12, 2012
Bath Items
Question of the day: How come toothbrushes don't fit in toothbrush holders anymore? Did we really need such comfort-contoured handles? We used to have a nice toothbrush holder that came with the Airstream, but it was outmoded probably the moment it was installed.
We substituted this Ikea (surprised?) holder that had a saucer on one side for soap and a glass on the other side, then substituted 2 stainless steel glasses for those items. One glass holds the toothpaste tube, the other the toothbrushes.
Also you can see the soap dispenser in this photo. This, I would say, is the single best value investment we ever made - costing about $10 (not Ikea --Faucet.com had them). It makes life so much easier to not have to deal with soap bottles or bars of soap.
We substituted this Ikea (surprised?) holder that had a saucer on one side for soap and a glass on the other side, then substituted 2 stainless steel glasses for those items. One glass holds the toothpaste tube, the other the toothbrushes.
Also you can see the soap dispenser in this photo. This, I would say, is the single best value investment we ever made - costing about $10 (not Ikea --Faucet.com had them). It makes life so much easier to not have to deal with soap bottles or bars of soap.
Art
With our new soft blues and greens, the perfect artwork for our Airstream was watercolor paintings by our dear friend Laurie Brooks. Check out her wonderful paintings at http://lauriebrooks.net/ The colors in the photo don't do justice to the beauty of the paintings! This painting is of our son:
I will take a better picture soon!
And this one is of a Holstein cow in springtime under a flowering tree:
I will take a better picture soon!
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