Friday… Thinking, Grandma’s Shoe box

 Picture of the day:

The mystery picture, Dad on the right Uncle Clyde on the left, the center looks like dad coulda been his twin, methinks. But dad was the oldest of 13 kids.  (growing up lots of folks first name was Uncle or Aunt!)

A 'before' note: Sherry & the Hornets. She was a young mama going to help her baby boy! You girls know how that is, Hell itself wouldn't stop you!  LOL

Today’s stuff:

I was born late (family wise) and there were few OLD people left in our family. I didn’t get to know either of my grandpas. I remember Granny Lloyd very well, but not granny Darnell. Funny thing about that one I remember Granny Darnell’s daddy very well. He was Grandpa Hilly. He was actually my Great Grandpa but growing up I didn’t realize that. Yes, he outlived his family. He was a County Judge and farmer near Toccoa, GA.

Granny DArnell and her cow. Taken on the Art Cloth Mill village.

I said all that only to say when we visited Granny Lloyd she would always reach into her ‘bosom’ pullout that little clippy change purse and find me a nickel.

Below is Granny Lloyd.  I knew her better than any of my Grands.

I would thank her and run about a ¼ block to a little 6’x8’ snack shack, in a neighbor's front yard. I always bought a nickel container of salted peanuts. They advertised ‘a coin in every box,1-25 cents. Of course, it was always a penny but I kept hoping. (I did enjoy the p-nuts) I guess I have always been a ‘gambler’. ;-)

(This was taken in South Gastonia where she lived in a 'shot gun house'. Meaning a straight thru home, you could stand in the front door and see out the back door.)

But what I remember next was the ‘old worn-down Shoe Box’. She would let me get her ‘shoe box full of pictures’ down and look thru them. I would give a thousand dollars for that shoe box now with the names on the back.

Are you puzzled about any old pictures you have? I have one picture, I put it on our Kodak Frame. It is my dad and two men. One I know, is Uncle Clyde, the other remains a mystery. As far as I know there is no one alive today who would know that man. I am pretty sure he is an uncle but I had so many (14-16), I cannot place him.

Some small mysteries will never be solved in this life. I tell myself, “Live with it Jack!”

YEP, it is dangerous for me to think.

Nite Shipslog

PS: Some of the pictures I use came from cousin Dewey.  On one copy of the mystery pic I labeled the mystery man Uncle Doyle, he was daddy's BIL.

Thursday… big yard decorations

 

Picture of the day:

Today’s stuff:

WE have owned only one place that a big yard decoration would have fit. I would have loved this in my front yard:

I know not every one cares for big stuff in the yard, but what about these?

Have you seen big decoration? I think the biggest I ever did see was called Cadillac Ranch, they over did it me thinks.

Original cars, 1974.

Below are the cars now, not sure it the painting was ordered or not.

What would you use if you had a BIG home and room for an eye catcher?

Nite Shipslog

PS:

This one I do not want!

Wednesday… Stuff before it hit the fan!

 Picture of the day:

How was this material made and lifted in 432 BC?

DS2 Malanowski at the Parthenon (1970) Ski became a priest in the Orthodox Church after leaving the USN 

                            The above picture of the Parthenon in 1957

Today’s stuff:

The other day 'MA' commented on a ‘home place’, remembering a ‘swinging Bridge’. There is a swinging bridge in our past also. Kat and Dick (Sis & BIL) had a place in the NC mountains. An Old cabin that the extended family used and enjoyed. There was a swinging bridge across the mountain stream. It was actually installed & maintained by NC State DOT for years. It was a walking bridge.

All the kids loved it. One day Jack Jr. was on the bridge and screamed loudly after being stung by a hornet. Sherry (a young lady then) went bounding across the bridge, unknowingly stirring a huge hornet’s nest underneath. That was long before she wore pants. Hornets swarmed under her dress mixed in the slips and dress (modesty went to the wind, imma tell you). At least 14 made it to her legs and she suffered some terrible stings.

However, we still used the bridge and enjoyed it for many more years (with the nest gone, of course) The State finally took the bridge down.

more..

Do you ever want more? I love Butter-pecan Ice Cream. MOST of the time, when it is finished no matter how BIG the bowl was, I want just a little more.

I misplaced a lot of things in my childhood. My daddy used to tell me, “You would lose your head it it wasn’t screwed on to your neck!”

Filled the car Monday, gas cost: $3.57 per gallon.

I was over at ‘Spare Parts and Pics’. Peter went out to the Carlyle mine. Even crazy enough to walk down into one of the shafts. ‘BUT’ he mentioned all the **concrete used to make the mine workable in such a rough area. That was in the early 1900s, The mine peaked in my birth year 1939.

So I started down a rabbit trail. In my mind going back to the Pyramids. How did they do that in 2600 BC. I walked the Parthenon in Athens in 1957 & 1970, How did they do that in 432 BC?

So now I am looking in on the Aztecs on this side of the world. How did they do that in 1050 AD?

(The Pueblos actually did this but it is called Aztec)

Sorry, when I get on a rabbit trail, I get lost..

 And click-bait did not sent me this time. LOL

Take care...

Nite Shipslog

** Concrete: I learned that the Carlyle concrete was probably some of the first ‘Gunite’ or ‘Shotcrete’ used. Gunite is still used today but not the same methods. It was probably hauled out in bags as powder and forced into water by pressure.

Where there is a will there is a way, THEY SAY!

Tuesday… Music and lyrics

 Picture of the day:

The Darnell Brothers at a local gig.

Today’s stuff:

(first: Hey Victor, I knew about the Euro, I just forgot.  I even used to know my name!)

When I read blogs many times, I get the idea that someone writing may be a musician. Our family appreciated music. Mama started Shirley (6) on the piano and she learned. She tried me(7), but only one 50 cent lesson and I told mama ‘not for me.

Dad bought a second hand Sax from a friend, I held it for awhile, looked at it, wow, there are a lot of buttons on that dude. I gave that up too. Dad got his money back. I have few regrets in my 87 years, I just mentioned a couple.

I watch grandson Josh tickle those keys and Stephen pic the guitar and wish I has stuck with the piano. THEN the biggest regret is the sax, I love to hear that instrument. It yanks my chain. BUT I gave that up too.

I settled for the trumpet, and got pretty danged good at it, but slowly, as my sister Shirley did on the piano. I started doing my own thing on the trumpet, NOT reading music, I started playing by ear. That is ok, but it limits one. I could pick up the horn and play most anything, not even knowing the key of the music, but I could not add those cute ‘runs’ that the pro could add.

            (A real Trumpet player!)

I played the trumpet for many years in church. Sherry’s niece is a pianist/organist. WE attended the same church. Once, I asked Brenda, ‘what was that last song you played?’ She told me. The song she played was not the song I did. I laid the horn down and never picked it up again. I realized later, my hearing was my problem. A fellow named Troy, picked it up and played it. It became his horn. If you make music with a wind instrument, you do not always learn lyrics, just the music. I know few lines to songs.

Sherry took piano lessons for a while and coulda been good at it, but She lost interest. Today that is one of her regrets. Son Jack Jr. turned out to be a good trumpet player, Mark never showed any interest in musical instruments but he does have a good singing voice.

I don’t know why but I see MA, Susan, Myra and Diana (Nana) as possible piano players.

Since I am not a soothe sayer, Imma quit trying, but I think Victor may play the keyboard or a guitar. ;-) but most likely he plays chess. 

Nite Shipslog

PS:

Little Richard, and Tutti Fruti, it had to be good. that is 4 saxophones on stage!

Music is a big part of life in this world. I think the music of your teens/twenties will be the best when you look back over your life. Yeah lyrics from my teens meant so much:

A wap bob a lu bob, a lop bam boom, TUTI FRUITY AW RUTY!

WE thought it was fun anyway! ;-)

Monday… At times I do not know what to say!

 Picture of the day:

Today’s stuff:

I saw some nice used cars the other day. Price in large letters, ONLY $25,000! I have a problem, 1956, when I got my license, a NEW Ford/Chevy was $1600. Shucks the Caddy was $3100. Back then I heard the Rolls sold for about L5000 or about $20,000.

(The Rolls sells new today starting at about $350,000)

Out of my understanding! Those used cars I saw sell for more than a Brand New Rolls Royce in 1955! What happened to our economy? I guess Victor would say what happened to the euro?

Hearing that gas prices are on the rise, we filled the coach. It is full now and ready to start to NC in a few weeks. Our round trip to NC in this gas coach is 166 gallons.

We were paying about $380 round trip but now at present price of $3.45 per gallon, it will be about $520. WE can fly round trip cheaper. OUCH! Of course that flight trip cost will double too.

I hear this upward cost is only temporary, I sure hope so, because if gas goes to $4-$5 a gallon our traveling will sure be cut down LOL.

                        (I just hate to cry in public!)

I know, I know, Sherry too says I am now OLD and should not be on the road. But before I disappear I want you to know my little brain

 thinks I am as ‘cool’ as I was 70 yrs ago. Uh

 OH! AFTER I wrote that, looking back, READING IT, mmm...mmm, maybe, just maybe I could be hallucinating. I will think-on that; I hope I will be back tomorrow. ;-)

Nite Shipslog

PS: Life is good, brains may not be all they are cracked up to be, it is said some folks do not use ½ their brain capacity. It is hinted that I DO NOT USE

 mine at all. But I am trying. When I say ‘I am

 TRYING!’ Sherry says, “YOU SURE ARE!”

Sunday… Don’t tell me what I can say!

 Picture of the day:

An old General Store in Eastanollee Georgia from the time of my grandpa's store.  THANKS to Lisa up in Michigan. I will research some more I would love to have a picture back when mama was a kid.

Today’s stuff:

I order a lot of stuff like many people today. I never cease to think of how things turn around. As a kid my mama ordered from Sears & Roebuck catalog. Even her baby chicks came in the mail in a box with holes in the sides. I loved that.

And for many many years very few folks ordered, NOW? Wow, Amazon has out stripped Walmart. Who woulda thunk it?

Anyway as you all know once you order and it is delivered, immediately you get the auto email, “How did you like the product?” Most of the time before you have had time to even use it.

I have tried to respond, and a few times I might give them 5-star and say a few words. Once or twice I used 3-5 words, I.e. “I enjoyed the product!”

I immediately received the notation, ‘not enough words!’ What? Don’t tell me how to comment. You asked, I responded, you should be happy about anything good that is said!

Anyway, I told them I would not respond again. I know they don’t care but I definitely won’t feel bad bout NOT making a comment.

Take care out there I just wanted to VENT, Thanks.

Nite Shipslog

PS: WE are settled in Eustis again. Nice place. Mark will be over and we will attend church here in the park. Our pastor here has a dog on the stage with him. He is very wise man, an in depth sermon, very well delivered and less than 30 mins.. Singers from different states most use guitars. Good sounds...

I just  found a picture of some muddy girls. Left is Sherece, Right is her mother Corrinne.  Some competition they were in.  Running obstacle course water and mud involved.

Saturday, March 7 Just moving our home a few miles.

 Picture of the day:

The color did not come out well. Many of you know that bird head has a bright red cap. No show here.

For today:

I have enjoyed this short stay near Orlando. Too much traffic in this area to suit my sweetheart and me. But I did enjoy the Sand-hill Cranes and their crazy loud sounds. Also, I tried to get some pictures of a couple with two skinny chicks but I wasn't very successful.

I was feeling sorry for you girls the other day as I was wiping my hands on my work trousers. Girls can’t do that. Sherry said Boys are not supposed to do it either. BUT where else are we supposed to wipe ‘em? WE don’t keep a box of Kleenex with us??

We boys (NOT WEE boys) are just lucky I guess, our pants can handle it.

Works on shirts too!

Unique things:

Sherry and I watched a coach pull in, to park. A lady got out, went around and disconnected the jeep she was towing. Then moved the Jeep into a parking spot. She proceeded to back the big coach into the site perfectly and do all the hookups (Power, water and Sewer). She leveled the coach, opened the awing and went in. A few minutes later she was out under the awning, drinking a cup of coffee and reading a book. Tough lady, I want you to know, that was a job. I just about bet she wiped her hands on her pants!  LOL

She just went inside, that is her coach straight ahead of us.

Sherry said, "I wouldn’t do that. IF you were not here I would be in a house watching TV."  She could do it of course, but prefers not to wipe her hands on her pants.

Another view from our front window:

A standard view, Sherry on the phone with Jack Jr.  They do Trivia every day, some days it is a 3way call including Mark.  They love the old games.

Y’all have a great day we should be moved by now. ;-)

Nite Shipslog

PS: Life is good even if I do break the rule and wipe my hands on my pants, that’s why they go to the trouble to make ‘Spray ‘n Wash’. ;-)

Friday...Things that were...

 Picture of the day:

Things were different. This is the only thing I know of that still exists about my Grandpa Lloyds store in Eastanollee, Georgia. It is what is left of a calendar. I never saw the store but my mama worked there as a child (1909-1915)

Today’s stuff:

The surroundings of RV parks and campgrounds has changed since the arrival of COVID. WE are seeing many more children where we once only saw old folks until Summer. Example, A couple just parked across the road, they have three children, a puppy and a cat.

They are home schooled and the parents work from ‘Home’; for them, home is where you park it.

I had to smile when the oldest child asked Sherry if we had any kids? LOL The mother was there, I laughed, looking at her saying, “Yes we do but they are on Social Security.”

Electric bikes, scooters and 4 wheelers are the thing. Yes even life on the road has changed very much.

That is my sweet Sherry in her sister Collette's arms. Cute wasn't she?

I don’t guess it is sad, it is really history repeating itself IN CHANGE. i.e. Dad would say, when I wanted

 a car, “When I was a boy and wanted to go

 somewhere, I walked or rode a mule bare back. Things

 have sure changed!” And of course they had.

WE catch ourselves saying things like, “At one time we could understand the words of a song when Elvis, Sedaka, and Ray Charles sang !”

Speaking of those and hundreds more, we are reminded no matter who you are, how rich you become or famous you are; unless you are a president, inventor, or great philosopher you will be forgotten.

Our boys and cousin Steve  (nothing stays the same!)

A generation or two down the road someone may remember a grandpa or grandma named ....mmmmm ? And they will be saying, “Hey we used to do things much different than these crazy kids today!”

I hope in a few years (if time goes on and I am alive) I can still move and think well enough to tell the great grands how much fun it was to be alive in the 1940-1970 era of music and TV! (Part of the Silent Generation)

Many of my elders thought the 'Rock and Roll' teens in my time were headed to hell in a hand basket. Some folks think that today, but when I see our fantastic Grand kids, and I know you have some too; I know the country will be in pretty good hands…

Nite Shipslog

PS: Oh yes RV parks have changed, as I type this, it is about 8:30PM and I hear noise, children cutting up. We used to hear only bugs or night noises after 6PM, LOL…….Don’t leave, I’m even gonna try to do better;-)