Ol' Blue Truck

For My Grandkids!

Dear Olives, Bud-Bud, Dwukie & Wes-Wes,

When I was a little boy, your Great-Grandad had a truck a lot like the one in this picture.  It was a 1954 Chevy with "Don Robertson & Sons" hand-painted on the panel just behind the driver-side door.  When I saw this picture hanging on the wall of the hotel we stayed in last week outside Silver Dollar City, it made me think about one night around Christmas 1964 when that Ol' truck couldn't make it up the big snow-covered hill on the way back home to our house on the farm.
 
It had snowed a lot that day and since Dad's truck wasn't 4-wheel drive it couldn't make it up the one big snow-covered hill on Soast Road.  We got stuck part-way up the hill and had to back down so Dad could put snow-chains on the back tires.

When he got back in the truck, he said, "Hang on boys; we're gonna give it another try!"  I recall thinking something like, "Come on Blue Truck; you can do it!"

Well, that old blue truck came through that night and we made it home just in time to eat supper and get ready for bedtime stories.  I can't say for sure, but I bet my dreams that night included snowmen, firetrucks and Romp 'em Stomp em' Robots.  But that's another story:)

I'll try to keep you posted on "Christmas-Time-Ol'-Blue-Truck-Time".  In the meantime, don't forget to brush your teeth...even though they're just gonna fall out in a couple years to make room for the new ones:)

Love,
Papa

Railroads and Starship Troopers

I don't know who took this picture or where it was taken:  Perhaps somewhere in Colorado?  I'll have to ask Klietus to do a little research---he's a good researcher.

It would be safe to assume the good folks who built the transcontinental railroad across America in the 1860's would have loved to have had access to bridge building material like this.  Instead of using steel and concrete, they would have built this bridge completely out of wood timbers, tunneled through the rock or just figured out a much longer route to get around this hill.  (Now that I think about it, they would have probably put the railroad down below where the modern day folks put the highway you see in the picture.)  And they did all that by hand; thanks largely to the Chinese working man.

If you're looking for a good book about a fascinating event in American history, try "Nothing Like It In The World", by Stephen E. Ambrose.  I first read it in 2000 and enjoyed it so much I'm reading it again 17 years later.  If you don't like reading about things that actually occurred, you might try some stuff by Robert Heinlein.  I'm not related to either guy so feel free to take your pick:  You won't hurt my feelings either way:)

I'll try to keep you posted on railroad building and starship trooper kind of stuff....

P.S.  I'm in no way suggesting that intergalactic storm troopers don't actually exist.  But if they do, where in the snot were they when the blue color working man was breaking his back building the transcontinental railroad....BY HAND!

Right Here!

The older I get the more I try to stay focused on what's going on where I am.  

It seems to be human nature to think the world gets better the further away we get from where we are, but I've never bought into that line of thinking.  Most of us don't have to go far to find cool places to hang out and fun (sometimes amazing) stuff to look at or experience.  All we have to do is avail our senses.

The world is full of joy, beauty and wonder.  It's all around us.  And it doesn't require a passport to experience.  Sometimes those things are just around the corner, if not right in our own backyards:)

I've done a poor job of keeping you posted.  It's easy to get sidetracked from the important things with stuff that, in the end, may not really matter all that much....



 

Homestead Dreams

These brick steps once led the way to the front door of a house that is no longer there.  I wonder who lived in that house when it was first built?  Did they have a good life or something less than that.  What did they dream about as a child and did at least some of those dreams come true?  The answers to those questions will likely remain a mystery to me.

I wonder who will build the next house in back of these red bricks and who will be the first to make the new house their home?  Will kids live there and if so, what will they dream about when they dream about their future?   Regardless of what these children end up dreaming about I hope each has at least a few occasions when "visions of sugarplums dance in their heads"!

On sweet-dreams and long-ago-home topics, I'll try to keep you posted....

Lanterns and Overrated Service

If you watch HGTV or any similar TV shows, even occasionally, then you're well aware of the possibilities of adding to your home's ambiance for not a lot of money.  I picked up a couple of these little read lanterns at Walmart a few years ago for about $5.  With very little effort, I hung the lantern on the wall of our Missouri log cabin and BOOM there it is.

Not a bad addition for about the price of a Starbucks frappuccino...not including tax or largely unearned tip.  And if we're expected to tip the coffee gal at the coffee shoppe, why don't we tip the kid who rings up our stuff at Walmart or Piggly Wiggly? They're doing at least as much work as the coffee person if not more.  Not that I have anything against the coffee folks.  Some of my best friends are coffee folks.  But what is it about pouring a cup of coffee, even if the coffee has to be steamed and frothed, that makes the person getting it for us worthy of special treatment.  Heck, I bought a chain for my Stihl 361 pro saw yesterday at the tractor place and the young lad who sold it to me had to risk potential injury climbing up a ladder to retrieve it off the top shelf in the parts room.  And, as far as I know, he didn't have a tip jar on his counter.  Now if anyone deserves a tip for retail/restaurant heroism, it was that young man!  Now that I think about it, I'm going to Starbucks right now to ask for the tip back I left last week so I can run it over to the tractor store kid.  And I'm not even going to wait until I get around to it:)

On lantern and tip related topics, I'll do my best to keep you posted....

P.S.  If anyone who reads this is a coffee barista or has a family member or close friend who is a coffee barista, I apologize if I've offended you.  I just feel that when you pay $2-$3 for a cup of black coffee, it's offensive to have a tip jar staring you in the face the entire 8 seconds it takes to pour your coffee.

P.S.  If Peter or Mauricio from 211 Cafe in downtown Bentonville reads this, I love you guys and will continue tipping for your services.  Dangit, there I go again:  More bark than bite!

When I Get Around To It

I used to know a guy who carried several little plastic discs in his pocket and when he heard someone say, "...when I get around to it" he'd take one out and hand it to them.  Printed on the front of the disc was, "Round Tuit".  Then he'd smile and say, "Now that you have a round tuit, you don't have an excuse for waiting."

With that in mind, the yellow electrical wire hanging from the loft support log in the living area of our cabin, has been hanging down like that for 14 years now. Eventually, I plan to hang a light fixture from it.  Perhaps I'll get that done one day, if I ever get a round tuit.  I'll keep you posted as things progress.

P.S. That reminds me of another project I need to get around to: Installing the converted oil lamp that used to hang in my Great-Great Grandparents farm house in Moniteau County, Missouri.  Now that's a project worthy of some attention.  Perhaps Klietus will be able to give me a hand on both lamp projects if he ever returns from his month long motor-scooter trip through the Rocky Mountains.  Has anyone seen Klietus?

Old Is Underrated!

Often times old is underrated!

This is a +120 year old original interior brick wall at Table Mesa; a restaurant on The Square in downtown Bentonville, Arkansas.  The building that this restaurant is housed in has no doubt been occupied by dozens of businesses over the years, dating back to the mid to late 19th century.  Patrons of long ago businesses at this location would have included folks who road into town on a horse or bounced in on a buggy.  These days, this place is frequented by a broadly diverse group of patrons ranging from those who arrive by modest means to "The Few, The Proud...the $5000 bicycle crowd".

Personally, I like older "previously used" things that have character and come with a story.  I've always told my bride of 36 years that if she ever "runs off" with the neighbor's pool boy, I'd probably eventually be on the look out for an older woman, as youth is largely overrated.  Not that there's anything wrong with being young.  Some of my best friends are "Yutes".  (What movie did the lead character refer to kids as "Yutes"?)  

Regarding old and not so old, I'll try to keep you posted.

P.S. If you found "Old and Ridiculous" through the Pioneer Log Homes of BC website, welcome to NW Arkansas-SW Missouri.  If you stumbled onto it while trying to find a YouTube video on how to rebuild the carburetor on a 1955 John Deere Utility Tractor.....AWESOME FOR YOU!

Keeping You Posted From Arkansas

We had a nice surprise last night at sunset.  This was the view in front of our house.  It lasted about 4 minutes.  It was a reminder to jump on opportunities when they present themselves.  The other option is to wait around for someday.  All of the good things in life are fleeting, like life itself.  So, if you've always wanted to rent a bulldozer, today might be the day.  If you do, tell them that one guy from Bentonville sent you:)

On random and often times non-related everyday topics that just happen to pop into my aging mind....I'll, I'll, wait a minute, wait a minute....oh, yeah;  I'll keep you posted.

iCed Tea

Here's an example of the kind of picture you can take with an iPhone.  As a lad growing up in small-town America I would not have been able to fathom that one day you'd be able to carry a phone in your pocket that would also take high quality pictures.  That thought still nearly blows my mind!

I'm not a technical guru; not technically, but it still confounds me what you can do with a small device like an iPhone.  The downside to the iWorld we live in is that a lot of folks would have a difficult time functioning outside the home without their phone or preferred device in-hand, or at least in their pocket.  I don't have any idea what that means from a long term perspective, but I'll share an example of the iEverything affect:

This past couple of weeks I've had a fine young 19 year old lad working with me on a road repair project.  He's a smart, intuitive and insightful young man (and strong as an ox, which comes in handy when lifting and toting large rocks).  Yesterday, while we were eating lunch in the shade of a tree, a frog was croaking from the spring-fed pond just above our project. He asked, "What's making that noise?", referring to the frog.  I told him it was a frog and he seemed somewhat surprised.

A little later in the day he said, "Hey Mr. Russ, there's a lizard over here on this rock; do you want to see it!"  He seemed excited.  I asked him if it was a gray one or a purple one. He said "purple".  I  told him we were covered up with lizards and that I'd seen at least a million or so of each color in my lifetime, and that I was good.  He seemed surprised that I wouldn't want to see the lizard.

Point being, this millennial generation is missing out on most of the actual cool and fun stuff while hanging out inside, staring at their device in an effort to find out what's going on where they're not.  It seems a shame to this aging Boomer.  I suppose that perspective is a sign of getting old, but I'll take old over "missing out" nearly every single time.

I'll try to keep you posted on iCed tea and iOtherstuff as I move closer and closer to becoming irrelevant to youngsters...except my grandkids:  They think I'm cool:) 

Outside Breakfast Eating

Consideration:  Take advantage of those who sleep-in.

My bride and I were strolling past the 21C Museum and Hotel just off the Bentonville Square when I noticed there was no one eating breakfast in front of the hotel.  The day had yet to warm up to it's eventual 90 degrees and all the tables were positioned comfortably in the shade.  Had we not already eaten breakfast we likely would have sat down at one of the vacant tables and enjoyed a nice cup of John (formerly known as a cup of Joe) and perhaps some farm fresh sausage and eggs.

As I took this i-picture I wondered, "How many folks right now are waiting in line at iHop or Denny's?" (Not that there's anything wrong with that.)  Missed opportunity?  If only they would have known!

On the subject of outside-breakfast-eating...I'll try to keep you posted:)

Blacksmith

Many things get better with age:  An anvil is one of them.

Given the choice between a new anvil made in China and an old anvil made someplace other than China, I'd take the old one 100 times out of 100.  I don't have anything against the Chinese, but from my limited research it appears they did not invent the anvil and are not known as anvil experts.  Reportedly, the best anvils in existence today were made from the mid 19th century up to present time. Europeans, Middle-Easterners and Americans are widely credited with making the best anvils.

Fast forward to present time and BOOM I recently discovered this anvil on the Bentonville square.  The fella using it didn't know it's exact history but guesstimated it was made in the U.S. in the 1920's or 30's.  That sounds good to me.  

I think I'll start keeping my ear to the ground for an anvil like this one.  It would make a nice addition to my barn operation.  Once I have an anvil I'll of course need a forge and a blower.  It's difficult to become a county-class blacksmith without all the right equipment.

Apparently I have quite a bit of research to do.  Then again, sometimes a person can spend all their time researching without ever actually doing anything.  Kind of like a Phd who mostly knows only what they've read.  I'm not suggesting that all Phd's or even most of them know only what they've read.  It's no doubt, however, true some of the time.  And for the record, I have nothing against Phd's.  Some of my family members are Phd's and they're fine folks.  But as the saying goes, "I'm just sayin'".

I'll try to keep you posted regarding my blacksmith operation as it moves forward...  

Mid-South/Midwest Culture

When I was a kid growing up in Rolla, Missouri, I worked at Wal-Mart (now Walmart) with a guy named David Murphy.  I always admired David for several reasons.  For starters, he always treated me with respect even though he was a few years ahead of me in school.

I always felt like if David would have had a gang he might have let me in it.  Not that I ever wanted to be in a gang, I didn't.  But had I been in a gang back in the mid 70's, I would have been proud to be in David's gang.  

Another reason I admired David was he drove one of these.  It was red and white and relatively new in 1976.  He also had a cute little blond headed girlfriend that he hauled around town.  As I recall, she was always snuggled up next to Ol' Dave while he drove around.  He seemed to have it made in my young view and that's how I developed an affinity for the K5 Blazer.

One of these days when my wife's not paying close attention, I may go out and buy one of these darn rigs.  If she's nice, I might let her ride with me around town.  Of course she'd probably want to snuggle all up as we cruise the Bentonville strip.  Wait a minute;  I don't believe Bentonville has a strip.  I guess I could load 'er her up and head east on I-44 until I reach my hometown.  Then we could cruise the same strip my friends and I knew so well back in the 70's.  Maybe we'd run into my Ol' friend David.  If we did, I'd offer to buy him a pizza at Alex's or Priors: his choice.  I wonder if he still has his K5?

The Chevy K5 Blazer complete with power steering, power brakes, air and an AM/FM radio tuned to KCLU;  Much better than listening to a JZ concert on your phone while shopping for ear buds on Amazon:)

Thanks so much for tuning in.  Regarding mid-south and lower midwest culture related stuff, I'll try to keep you posted...  

Rattle Snakes Go Away!

If you're visiting from France and find yourself romping through the hills of Southwest Missouri this Summer or Fall, you should be careful regarding where you put your hand.  I happened to notice this Timber Rattler a few days ago lying between some rocks about 30 feet in front of our cabin.  I was in the process of clearing away brush, rocks and leaves in an effort to keep critters like lizards, frogs, field mice and insects away from our cabin and barn.  I figure if I get rid of the "free-roaming groceries" the snakes will be less likely to come around.  

We also have an occasional Pigmy Rattle Snake, which is proof of our overall inclusive snake policy at the Robertson Rock, Squirrel and Snake Ranch.  These two snake species can look similar, but the one in this picture was a Timber Rattler.  These guys are highly venomous and not to be taken lightly.  Their bite is more than capable of killing a full grown human being, which occurs from time to time.  The good news is, given a choice, they apparently don't want anything to do with human beings and typically will try to get away as quickly as they can once they sense your presence.  Based on my personal experience, however, they also aren't afraid to stand their ground.  They blend in amazingly well in our oak and hickory forest, which is to their advantage, not ours.  Our local forest floor is a paradise for snakes of all kinds considering it's strewn with leaves, sticks, fallen branches and dead trees as well as low growing brush at the forest edge and in open areas.  

Not to worry, though, if you're contemplating a day hike, mountain bike ride or even a picnic.  On real hot days like we're currently having, rattlesnakes are more likely to be hiding under rocks and fallen trees or down some random hole in the ground.  Plus, everything I've read says rattlesnakes are more active at night than they are during the daytime; at least in Summer months.  That may well be true, but considering I've encountered at least 8 Timber Rattlers during the day so far this Summer, I hate to even think about how many of them might be crawling around the place when it's dark-thirty.  As my Ol' Grandad would have said, "Now that's something to think about!"

I'll try to keep you posted in the likely event I run across more of these darn rattlesnakes...  

Gazing at the Roses

I took this picture yesterday on the Bentonville Square.  It's easy to walk by something like this and not really notice it.  The picture quality of the iPhone 7 is quite amazing.  I don't know that the average person (me) could take a flower picture of this quality with an $800 Nikon camera.  Now that I think about it, the stinking iphone cost $1000 USD.  With that thought in mind, the darn thing should take great pictures.

Are you taking time to smell the roses and gaze at them too?

On flower related matters, I'll keep you posted....

Touring the U.S.

Gas in NW Arkansas is now less expensive than in 1975 when most of my old school mates started legally driving a motor car.  The price per gallon has gone down since I took this picture a few days ago and is now $1.85 a gallon at some locations.  That's the equivelent of about 41 cents in 1975 dollars.  Gas was around 58 cents a gallon back then in my Missouri home town and according to the US Inflation Calculator equates to $2.65 in todays dollars.  I find that somewhat amazing!

So, if you've been thinking about going on a driving tour of the U.S. there hasn't been a better time in the past 40 years or so to do that than right now.  I suggest you grab a couple pair of spare shorts, a toothbrush and maybe your favorite sunglasses, jump in the old Rambler and hit the asphalt.  And don't forget:  The gas is on the right and the brake is on the left (I'm guessing the opposite if you're tuning in from France or the U.K.)  I'll keep you posted as things develop...

French Campfire

I miss the fall and winter because it's not nearly as fun to do this when it's 90 degrees outside.  If it's been awhile since you've sat around a campfire you should try it.  I'm not sure if campfire-sit-arounds are as much a part of the French culture as they are the American rural culture but if not it may not be too late to make the adjustment. 

If you live in France, you should try setting up a nice campfire in your backyard (if you have a backyard), get a couple of bottles of your favorite wine (I hear it's plentiful over there) and invite a few of your favorite friends over for the evening.  You might even arrange to have some of those little sandwiches you're famous for on hand.  Or is it my Canadian friends who are famous for little sandwiches.  I get confused on who's famous for what food but I know the French are famous for good wine...just like Americans are known world-wide for our campfires.

I'll try to keep you posted regarding the first campfire of the upcoming fall in Southwest Missouri.

Oak Tree Table

The red oak log in the background of this picture is nearly ready to become a table in my barn.  I had it sawn into 2" thick planks about a year and a half ago and those planks have been air drying since.  I moved them into the barn last week so they can finish drying.  I'll check the moisture content soon.  It's been a lot of work just getting to this point.  We'll see if it pays off.  I'll keep you posted as this project moves along.

P.S. Regarding the post "Sucked In Like a Maniac", I decided to keep my Linkedin account open for business related purposes.  I closed out Facebook and Twitter in an attempt to continue "warding off the plug".  (If you're tuning in from Russia or France "warding off the plug" may not translate well.  In other words, I'm trying to avoid so-called "connectivity" as much as possible.  Nature is where I'd rather be connected.  I'll keep you posted on that too.  I suppose you could call this P.S. a little update on that issue.  Much better update-follow through, if I say so myself:)  

Political Opinion Not Wanted

We'd be well served to learn to laugh at ourselves now and then. Many of us simply take ourselves too seriously. (Especially celebrities and politicians: Which often times are the same person.) In reality, few people are interested in another person's opinion, unless of course it supports their own. When someone doesn't really have an opinion they'll often times look for ways to purvey someone else's. Not very original but none-the-less effective if your objective is to peeve off the other person. Some seem bent on offering-up their opinion to nearly anyone who'll listen in spite of knowing it really won't make much of a difference. Kind of like these chickens sharing their opinion about the state of the fast food "bidness". Their opinion about the boneless-skinless chicken breast probably won't stop very many people from heading down to Chic-fil-A the next time they have a hankerin' for a good Ol' chicken sandwich.

For what it's worth, the above is just my opinion. Anyway, the majority of folks are on Facebook reading opinions and not on Old and Ridiculous reading about random topics. One thing both venues have in common: Neither one really matters all that much in the grand scheme of things.
I'll keep you roasted...I mean posted.

Farmers & Markets

A Farmer's Market is a great place to exercise your legs while supporting the local folks.  You'll likely pay a little more for some of the things you buy there but it's hard to find this level of quality from a retailer who purchases tomatoes by the train car load and most of the other stuff from China or Taiwan.  You'll also meet a lot of down-to-earth regular folks who are happy making a living off the land or with their hands.

I've gotten to know a real nice guy named Roger who crafts outdoor furniture from western red cedar he has shipped in from our friends to the North (Incidentally, Canada celebrated their 150 birthday yesterday: An important day for the Blickstead's, Chevigny's and Reids, as well as other great folks like Gary Crosina and his local crew of home grown Canadians). One of Roger's swinging adirondack chairs sits on our cabin deck and gets used every time I realize it's been too long since it's been sat in.  A hand-spun coffee cup crafted on a potters wheel by a gal named D. Little gets used by the author on almost a daily basis.  A huge jar of raw honey made by local Springdale bees sits on our kitchen counter and gets dipped into with frequency: sometimes just because it's there.

Yesterday, I bought these Hand-Made in America black iron hangers from a Bentonville man who had a working forge set up in his booth at the corner of 2nd & Main.  You won't find these at Lowe's or Home Depot.  The next time I'm out at the cabin the big hanger will have a 1930's era lantern swinging from it and I'll find a couple of old family trinkets to dangle from the 2 small hooks.   

Farmers markets: a great place to find cool stuff to use and healthy things to eat.  Regarding ways you can spend your hard-earned money, "You "Cain't go no better"!

Keeping you posted from NW Arkansas and SW Missouri...

Sucked In Like a Maniac!

I've been sucked in by Apple Computer, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Linkedin and cable news to name just a few.  I can hardly believe it and I don't like it!

I know folks who can barley do anything unless there's an APP to support their actions.  I have friends who keep track of their steps, where they ride their bike, how many calories they're consuming, how much water they're not drinking, how much weight their lifting, loosing or gaining and for all I know, how many times a day they're breaking wind (I haven't checked but I bet there's an APP for it).

Also, I've fallen into the rat-trap of feeling like I have to be constantly "connected" and available to anyone on the planet who wants to contact me about darn near anything.  Somehow, I've also convinced myself that there are a bunch of people just waiting around to hear what I have to say; as if there's a shortage of opinions, ideas and suggestions floating throughout cyber space.

The truth is, I can't think of one celebrity or TV personality who's opinions I need on anything that pertains to my life, with the possible exception of Stuart Varney, Charles Payne, Jim Cramer and most of the folks on CNBC's "Fast Money".  
 
So, effective Tuesday morning, July 4, 2017, I'll be conducting an experiment by unplugging from Linkedin, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, most of cable news and all of network news.  For at least the forceable future I plan on getting most of my world updates from Mauricio; the proprietor of The 211 Cafe, just in back of the Bentonville Square.  He makes a great cup of Guatemalan coffee that's well worth the $3 it will cost you to acquire one.

For personal enjoyment and writing fulfillment, I plan to continue posting on this blog just for fun.  In the unlikely event your entertainment needs aren't fully satisfied through the nearly limitless sources vying for your attention, you can check out "Old and Ridiculous!" now and then...just for fun.  It's the one place you can find out what's been going on in my world, if you choose.

For my family and friends, my phone will be off most of the time, although I do plan on checking it  randomly and at various times throughout each day.  I never want to miss communication from my family and friends.  In the highly unlikely event of an emergency, you can contact my bride, my daughter or my Mom.

Regarding this "semi-unplugged plan"....I'll keep you posted.

Bentonville, Arkansas

Bentonville, Arkansas is a nice place to visit!  If you live in The Czech Republic, you'd probably like it here.  I'm not sure if I'd make the trip all the way from there just to visit our little town, but then again, people travel further than that to visit towns that aren't nearly as cool as Bentonville.  Now that I think about it, I'd recommend logging onto myoverpricedplaneticket.com and choose the least overpriced ticket available.  And if you're planning on staying a few nights, I highly recommend the 21c Museum Hotel, just off the Bentonville Square.  Once you get your first cup of coffee or pint of  locally brewed craft beer...you'll know what to do.
On these and similar travel related topics, I'll try to keep you posted on a more regular basis.

P.S. If you stay at the 21c, tell them "that one guy" recommended you stay there.  (There could be a free beer in it for me:)

Ol' Pal Salute!

The only thing nearly as good as a fine K9 companion is the memory of one.  Here's to our Ol' Pal Max!

In 44 years of owning cars and trucks the only vehicle I've ever named is the one I've been driving since May, 2002.  I refer to my Chevy Tahoe as the "Max-Mobile".  It was Max's favorite place to nap and hang out.  I'm guessing I hauled him around in the Tahoe at least 100,000 miles.  On top of the many miles traveled he spent countless additional hours napping in the back while it sat idol in our driveway.

Max is not the only dog deserving of the moniker "One of a kind" but he was certainly one of them.  Thanks for the memories Max...gone but not forgotten.

What Happens to all the Leaves?

Where do all the leaves go?  It seems like the oak and hickory woods of Southern Missouri should either be covered in 10 feet of top soil or 40 feet of leaves.  It's neither.  I may ask Klietus to do some light leaf-research if he's not too busy riding his motor-scooter from Arkansas to Alaska and back.  I'll check on that and in the mean time try to keep you reasonably posted....  

Simple Shakers

Most of the good things in life are simple and uncomplicated.  Like this salt and pepper shaker set perched on my Mom's window sill above her kitchen sink.  If I'm not mistaken (I'll have to confirm this with Mom), these are the same salt and pepper shakers that sat on the kitchen table in our home the entire time I was growing up.

Simple and uncomplicated?  You bet!  And, they work just as good today as they did 50 years ago.  Just turn them upside down, shake, and VOILA;  instant awesome hamburger!  No instructions required, no politics involved and so darn simple even a hard-headed (fill in the blank with the derogatory term that best describes the people who affiliate with the political party you just loath) could do it!
On random related and unrelated topics...I'll try to keep you posted.

Meandering & Lounging

Ol' Maxie Pad was one of the sweetest dogs God ever placed on the earth!  This picture was taken several years ago, shortly after his first encounter with the bovine.  Upon seeing this particular cow standing just on the other side of this fence with several of it's friends, Max ran at it at full speed, unaware of the barbed-wire fence that stood between them.  When he hit the fence, all 105 pounds of my old friend came to an immediate dead-stop.  It scared the snot out of me and for a couple of seconds I thought it might have killed him, or at least, cut him up real bad.  

Somehow, there wasn't a scratch on him, as far as I could find.  After he shook it off he walked back over to the cow and stood there waiting to see what it would do.  The rest of the cows meandered off; all except this one Ol' gal.  I don't know if it was her first encounter with a dog, but she warmed up to Max almost immediately.

From that point on Max never chased another cow; although he did bark at them every time he saw a heard meandering around a pasture.  Funny how the only thing cows seem to ever do is eat, meander, lounge and make room for more food.  And that's probably why Max ended up getting along so well with the bovine.  Like my old K9 companion, the cow seems to have a lot of this stuff figured out🐮🐮🐮

Hurry-Up!

There's a song by the group "Alabama" that starts out:

I'm in a hurry to get things done,
I rush and rush until life's no fun,
All I really gotta do is live and die,
But I'm in a hurry and don't know why..."

I'm no philosophical guru (not technically) but that song seems to accurately describe the daily life of many people.  I'm often times in a hurry and have to stop and ask myself, "Why the snot am I in such a hurry!"

The reason my old friends in the above picture enjoy our annual get-together at our cabin is largely due to the opportunity to slow down for a couple of days and tune out the busier parts of their lives.  Busy, busy, busy....Why so stinking busy!

If this sounds like you, consider pondering why you put so much pressure on yourself to move through life at breakneck speed.  The old saying "Stop and smell the roses" is good council.  Most of the best things in life cost little or no money.  Views and moments like those in these pictures are all around us.  But if we go through life at 120 miles per hour, we're likely to miss most of them.

Moose in Colorado?

I took this picture in the Summer of 2016 just outside Steam Boat Springs, Colorado. I was surprised  to discover that Moose hang out this far south.

After some very minor research I discovered that most of the Moose in the lower 48 are a smaller species of Moose than it's monstrous Alaskan cousin.  The Moose in this picture was likely transplanted by the conservation department in recent years.  (Not that there's anything wrong with that.)  I don't feel being transplanted makes this particular Moose less of a Moose than the native Moose.  Plus he was nice enough to come out of hiding long enough for me to take this drive-by picture.

If you run into my Colorado Friends, Denver-Victor or Ft. Collins-Randy, tell them I said hello and thought about them when I ran across this doggone Moose picture today.  I think that was the same trip we had a bear very nearly walk inside our cabin while we were on the deck enjoying a beverage and watching the sunset.  Unlike the Moose, the bear are native to the local area.  Not that that makes them any better in my view than the Moose.

I'll try to keep the 3 of you and Aunt Dee Dee posted on any other Moose/Bear related activity I run across.  In the meantime, I'm headed down to Dairy Queen for a brazier burger and a half gallon of hard-pack.  And it's hard to go any better than that:-)

American Dream?

~Chisel set: gift from my co-grandpa-in-law, Mike Ransom (of NJ firefighting fame)

I suppose many people go through their entire life looking for something.  Fame, fortune, notoriety, love, home ownership or a combination of these type of things; considered, by many, to be the so-called American dream.
The other day I was working in my barn/shop on a little wood project that likely will not make it into the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art collection.  It won't show up for sale on the Bentonville Square at next Summer's farmer's market.  It may not even make it out of the barn.  But as I was working on that piece of wood I realized, again, how content I was to be right there, right then, doing what I was doing.  I smiled when I realized I wasn't looking for anything.  I like my life.  I have more than I need.  I enjoy what I do for a living and I'm surrounded by people I care about and enjoy being with.  I don't know if that qualifies for, "Living the American Dream", but from where I sit, it seems more than OK.
It's a wonderful thing to be scaring 60 years old and know you're not trying to meet someone else's expectation or live someone else's dream.  It feels good to know you're happy with the overall circumstances under which you're living:)

Regarding other personal insights and random experiences, I'll try to keep you posted....