Monday.. Do you have the BEST?

 

Picture or the day:

Our family at a lake in the mts east of Salt Lake City.  This picture was DIL Carol's idea. I will always appreciate it.

Now for today’s stuff:

Families are very important to me. After growing up and being an adult, you know, like 17 years old, and pretty danged smart. I heard someone say, “I have the best mother in the world!” Ha, I thought, ‘no you don’t, I have the best mother in the world.’

Over the years I have learned many of us can have the BEST! I hear some of you old Grand parents that THINK you have the BEST Grand kids there is. “HUH uh! You have not met Corey, Ben, Reece, Josh, Stephen, Matthew or Luke; they are the best!”

So, now that I have really grown up, I have learned MANY OF US can have the BEST! I even had the BEST Mother-in-law in the world.

Our friend Myra probably thinks her Gracie and Macie are the best, but that is only because she did not know ACE, the best dog in the world.

It took me a few years to see something, Hey, there are really “MANY” who fit the description: “THE BEST IN THE WORLD.” You see I am GLAD others feel the same about, parents, kids, grands, pets etc. as I do.

Mention names like Chloe, Mackenzie, even Penelope and someone will smile from ear to ear beause they are the BEST!

It is hard to face reality, those sweet Grands have grown up and have some some great kids, our great great grands!

Nite Shipslog

PS: Snow? Some folks love it, some don’t, but it is still beautiful.

Sunday.. Hoping you handle the weather WELL

 

Picture or the day:

Grand daughter Sherece with the dogs at Mark and Corrine's house many years ago.

Now for today’s stuff:

Weather is definitely the subject. Our son JJ is looking after our new to us home in NC. That is one problem with having two homes. Even though now, one is an RV.

It is an uncertain thing to leave a house unattended for months at a time. Thankfully we have family there that looks in on things for us.

Our friend NanaDiana said it was CCCCold at their town. A lot below zero if I remember right. The coldest weather we have ever enjoyed was in North Central Missouri, WE moved there from Biloxi, MI at 80 degrees and landed in Kirksville, MO with 13 below zero. Now that was cold for Southerners. LOL

WE met a guy in Tok, Alaska who said they once had 60 below. When you have housing and clothes for cold weather we humans adjust.

WE of the USA, depend on our Electric and Gas service. We do get in a tether when we have outages.

Also we citizens here are sort of crazy. When a storm is predicted, we empty the shelves of stores, as if it will last for weeks.

Our sons keep us up to date on weather, I do check the weather at times, but normally I just take it as it comes. HOWEVER back when I was building, it was a different ball game. I remember standing next to an old Grey headed man who just happened to be black. His son or brother was Sticky, my dirt moving man. Sticky was an inspiration to me. As a matter of fact, STICKY was the title of my first book.

Sticky is sitting, he is not only the best heavy equipment operator he has a great singing voice.

Anyway, Sticky was finishing the building site. I was fretting about ordering concrete, and they were calling for rain. He smiled as he looked at me, “Son, it might rain, it might not, God is control of that end. Talk to Him about that, then handle the concrete.”

I am a believer of course, I took the old man’s wisdom to heart. I poured many foundations, slabs and drives after that, but EACH time I remembered what the old man said.

I wandered off from the subject, but I do hope and pray that the big storm they are predicting and is filling the weather reports, doesn’t effect you in a bad way.

Love you all… Until I remember what I was going to write, I remain lost.

Nite Shipslog

PS: Hoping you are safe and warm

Saturday…. Thinking

 Picture or the day:

ABove taken in London during the Depression

Below is pictures from the USA during that time.

Now for today’s stuff:

Sherry’s family did not do any camping. I introduced that to her. 

Time in the woods over night was part of my childhood. For a few days every year our family met Uncle Irvin’s family in the Pisgah Forest of North Carolina. Mama and Aunt Bert did the cooking over an open fire.

I remember so many stories told around the campfire. Strangely the area where we ‘camped’ was an area where mama and daddy lived during part of the depression time. No rent nor utilities. They said several families lived here including Mama’s sister Julia and hubby Doyle. Daddy and Doyle worked at a saw mill for what money they were able to get.

They talked about huddling in the old tent, all night, with my brothers and sisters for warmth on many wet, cold nights. They laughed at mistakes in cooking. Frying fish sometimes as small as sardines.

(Sherry & I have been in tents and nice motor homes. I miss camping in the woods)

There were Apple trees and walnut trees in the area, and they used those for food. They got their water from the mountain stream near by.

My brothers were allowed to play in the creek but could not pee in it. The adults made that a strict rule, explaining that folks down the creek used that water too.

I am always amazed at how people all over the world, made it thru The Great Depression! Ingenuity, hard work, and scraping to get by AND RAISE a family.

I was always proud to hear how my parents' made things work.

Are you old enough to have heard stories of that time?

Nite Shipslog

PS: Thanks for sticking around. Myra had a graphic on her blog lately that lets one know just how small we are in respect to the solar system. ;-) I need to KNOW that when I think I have troubles.

FRIday, Odd rules and opinions of Americans

 Picture or the day:

US Marines on liberty in Athens Greece.  No high heels here!

14 yrs later back in Athens as a Sailor.  This picture jut a few feet from the above pic.  The Acropolis has not changed. LOL

Now for today’s stuff:

WE are proud of this country, and in our travels we have tried to be careful not to insult folks of other countries and cultures.

I know it is not proper to ‘burp’ at the table, but I have heard at some countries it is considered a toast to the cook.

Before landing or docking in a foreign port Military Personnel are briefed on the do’s and don’t’s at this port or country.

When our ship anchored at Spit-head just off the South end of the English Channel. Many Sailors and Marines were headed to London to see the famous city we were briefed, and besides that, some old salts told us, “Do not dare to downgrade the Queen or challenge the Brits to a game of darts. You will lose big time in both cases.” Yep I witnessed couple incidents. OUCH.’

Other places:

Do not chew gum or bring it into Singapore.

In Thailand it is criminal to step on money if it has the image of a monarch on it. That image is revered. I enjoyed the Acropolis in Athens, I learned later it is a good thing I did not wear ‘high heeled’ shoes (LOL), that is illegal to wear at that historic site.

(bove A castle in Germany

I learned later, after driving on the Autobahn in Germany it is a crime to run out of gas on the Autobahn.

I never have driven in Japan but I have been told it is a crime to splash water on a pedestrian.

DO NOT feed the pigeons in Venice. It is a crime.

Careful wearing camouflage clothing in the Caribbean, it is a crime unless you are in their military., but not always enforced.

I am not sure how they enforce it, but I read of two cities in France where it is illegal for a visitor to die there.

A guy told me something. If you want to learn what a foreigner thinks of the USA citizen try this: when asked if you are from the USA? Cross your fingers and tell a lie, “No, I am from Toronto Canada, why do you ask?” Then the countryman will unload on the actions of ignorant Americans that aggravate his countrymen.

Sorry, for wasting your time, but I thought you might be headed to Le Lavandou or Cugnaux, France and just wanted to warn you do not die there!

Nite Shipslog

PS: Note: Those 2 cities in France have NO burial plots left.

I feel like this was a ???? entry,  sorry still feel for light between my ears..... THANKS for your thoughts.

Thursday.. Travelers

 Picture or the day:

This is as close as we got to the Eiffel tower in Paris.  To be honest I was afraid to lose the rental car we got in Germany, not knowing where or how to park.  LOL  That is true..

Now for today’s stuff:

Sherry and I were talking yesterday about our lives. We know we are Blessed (fortunate) to have lived this long. We have lived longer than any of those in our families.

(I mentioned the other day that when your age starts beginning with an 8, you know things.  LOL and think too much........ maybe)

WE grew up eating a lot of fats. Over the years our diet modified. A few years ago, we were in a country store in Eastern NC and I noticed cans of Lard, on the shelves. I hadn’t seen that in many years. In our youth lard and bacon grease was used in many recipes one way or the other.

WE even made it to Pennsylvania. They grow some delicious Corn.  We were introduced to PA by the Fletchers... ;-)

I am not saying that diet alone is our secret (If there is one). WE have been frugal most or our marriage. We avoided stress of debts that many of our friends faced. WE tried to practice, "If we cannot pay for it, we won’t buy it!”

In our family Drugs and alcohol have caused the most stress. You are so blessed if those have not interrupted your family life.

WE have stayed active and listened to old folks. I remember more than once a person over 100 saying, “Just keep moving!” I interpreted that to staying active.

                LDS Temple in Salt Lake City during renovations.  We spent a lot ot time around here and I have lost many of  my pictures.

Travel? Pictures are fine, movies are good and enough for many folks. For some reason, we wanted to experience and see places. That doesn’t make us any better, nor better off than someone who is satisfied with pictures, I still enjoy pictures of places I will never see in person.

I would love to see Australia, but I never will. Imma thinking Ireland is still a VERY small possibility.

I have met some who travel and they identify as Canadian when out of the USA.

Nite Shipslog

PS: I m a little slow lately, I feel a little dizzy or light headed again.

Wednesday…. Stuff and dominoes

 Picture or the day:

These guys are competitive for sure..

.... In Music, The twin sons of JJ. and they are good.  If you would like, try these sites, if they work?  I am a little lost with these leads:

https://www.facebook.com/StephenAndJoshDarnell   

cdbaby.com/cd/stephenandjoshdarnell

WE are proud of the talents of Josh and Stephen

Now for today’s stuff:

We humans are so easily set into a pattern by repetition. Sherry and I received our new Dominoes and decided to play.

Being creatures of habit, we both became confused because the colors of the dominoes are not what we are familiar with. Shucks, I thought there was maybe a rule of what color a number was, but not so.

We will keep on trying to get it right, maybe we will catch up. But it is nice to settle down to a game between us. Sherry is a gamer (not with the newer games, but using the older games.) Her family enjoyed sports and kept up with scores and data, I was not in that line of thinking.

I am sort of a middle of the road guy, but I do enjoy playing some games, I think down inside I do not care who wins.

Now in business, I did like to win. LOL I have had small bidding wars, mostly on the price of our houses. Looking back, I don’t think I ever sold a home for what I was asking. :-O    It took me awhile to learn to put in a little wiggle room so I could drop the price.

I’m watching the housing market now of course, and I am wondering WHEN the rug will be pulled out from under those exorbitant prices. WE would like to buy another place here in Florida, I have noticed lately the sales have slowed down.

I think this was the last house we built.  I started it and headed for Alaska, Mark finished it for me.

Maybe next fall will be the time to look for a place in northern Florida. I am thinking closer to the Georgia border. That way we would be only a day’s drive from the area of NC where most of our Grands live.

Nite Shipslog

PS: Thanks for sticking around. I still am not comfortable with a change in my typing apps(?).

Tuesday emtry with Libre-Office APP

 Picture or the day:

Paul Anderson, once listed as the strongest man in the world, he                                     was from Toccoa Georgia.

Now for today’s stuff:

Florida is a special place for us, weather of course.

 Sherry and I were both born and raised in North Carolina. I moved around with the family, until I was 17 and left home, I lived in 7 towns and attended 4 different schools.

                       Some of Sherry's family  & kin,  taken on the Imperial Village. 1940s

Sherry’s parents lived in 3 different areas of Belmont, NC. Once in the county for a short period, but most of her time was in two Mill Villages. She was born on the Climax Village moved to the country for a few months then back to Belmont town and the Imperial mill village until we married.

My parents were Sharecroppers, mainly P-nuts, in North Georgia (Toccoa area) later moved to Lowell, NC to work in the cotton mills.

Weather, we both enjoy warm weather. Our tour of duty in GITMO spoiled us. The weather there was perfect 99.5% of the time. When we had rain, it was like our childhoods when we would have a shower in the summer and an hour later it was clear again, with that sweet smell.

However about Florida. From GITMO to Albany GA for a short time then the entire base population moved to Key West. Key West was something like Cuba and ('weather-wise) we were spoiled.

I prefer warm weather, but I can tolerate cold, Sherry has a tough time with cold weather, I think mama called that ‘Cold Nature-d’.

I know this is a lot of repetition, but I am trying to get familiar with this Libre-office APP. I hope I can get it presentable. ;-)  The last one was a mess.  Having a tough-time getting a good size for my print, this seems to fair to me.

Nite Shipslog

PS: The terms Mill Hill and Mill Village are interchangeable in cotton mill country.  About the blog entries, maybe I have a handle on it. LOL

Monday and a new WORD for my blog

 Today’s Picture

The only car I ever had car-fever for.  We bought it and then gave it to my dad when we got orders to GITMO. Mama gave the car back after dad died.

Below is what I did to the car to give it to Mark for his first car.

Now for today:

I knew this time was coming so here it is, I am using LibreOffice Writer to work in a replacement.

 Just hoping this works. I do not like learning new stuff online.

I knew this time was coming so here it is, I am using 

LibreOffice Writer to work in a replacement. Just hoping this 

works. I do not like learning new stuff online.

orders to the Washington DC area. We had a 1953 Plymouth 

loaded with our earthy goods. I had NEVER thought of what 

a ,

big city was like, never needed to. WE always just drove into 

town, bought a paper, went to the want ads and found a 

place 

to live, SIMPLE (for a small town).

I bought a Washington Post. In my life I had never held a 

paper this thick. The paper was at least an inch thick. There 

were

pages,pages and pages of furnished apartments listed for 

rent or lease.

I am sure we looked strange, car loaded sitting trying to 

read 

a paper. There was a tap on he window, there stood a soldier 

in 

uniform. He introduced himself, he was on the way to work. 

He was stationed at the Pentagon. He asked us to follow him 

back home for coffee. WE followed him. At home he called his 

duty station and explained he would be late.

His wife fixed coffee and we relaxed some. He told us we 

needed to wait until a real estate agency opened and chek for 

them. I was there for a 6-8 week IBM school and he was not 

sure if we could find a place without a year’s lease.

BUT at least we had a start. WE did find a place with a 

short 

term lease and were able to settle down. It was in a large 

apartment building, and even on the first floor. We had never 

lived like this. LOL All new to us and all because of a 

stranger 

recognizing our plight. Over the years I have wished I had 

his 

name, he was surely one of those ‘angel’s in disguise.’ Because 

we were in an area of over 6 million people and the largest 

city we knew was about a 100 thousand. TRUE DAT!

So now I will see if I can post this.

This is terrible...  Will post again when I figure this out...