Just a hello from the back yard

The roofing job is almost completed (didn’t I say that yesterday?). Oh well that is construction. I am preparing for our storage building out back. Today I emptied and moved the 10x12 storage bldg that was in my way . 

Sherry has already chewed me out for doing all that manual labor.  I guess it was a little too much for an old man. I moved the building about twenty feet down and 15 ft. over.  I think it was Archimedes that said, “Give me a lever long enough and I can move the earth.”  I respect the ancient, but I don’t know what he planned to use as a fulcrum!

Anyway it is done, while the tractor sat in some wooded area. I should have gotten it, but I didn’t. Sherry says no one can tell me anything.  She is usually right, but I give in grudgingly.

Sherry fixed pintos, cabbage, mac/cheese and salmon patties, great meal. We had a few stop by to eat. Mark & his family, Oh yes, Mary Ann dropped by from the mountains. Love that girl.

Thanks for coming by the log.

Nite Shipslog

PS:

Why do "tug" boats push their barges?

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I feel this old tonight after working 12 hours!

1916 Packard!!!!

I am busier than I planned

I did take time to watch my birds. I am fascinated the mommy and daddy constantly fly from early morn to night to feed the little guys. They are some real hungry little dudes.

I have one nesting in the smaller shed. I met one of the parents close up. I scared him or her. The bird was within 2 feet of me and done a quick reversal. they enter thru the Jalousie  window. I love birds. I never will forget our youngest son once looking out the back door at the birds and saying, “How can they live with our arms?” It was a real puzzle to him.

The first project is on it’s way. We have a rental house with great folks in it. We are adding a new roof and getting rid of a flat roof in the corner.  It is a little extra work but cuts down on leak problems.  Flat roofs are always a leak waiting to happen.

(This is Henry on the roof!)

I started the rood the way I wanted it and My son and his helper finished it. Our youngest son was a general contractor, a very good builder. Now since the down turn he is taking what he can to get some income. Most of the time he does what is called ‘scrapping’, finding discarded metal and selling it. It is honest ‘hard’ work, but he actually seems to have started enjoying it, but it is hard and very dirty work.  His income is much less than min. wages, he is not eligible for unemployment or any of the ‘free’ government assistance. 

That is the down side of being self employed, there is NO UNEMPLOYMENT. You use your savings, then you start selling things. BUT most self employed folk understand and know that.  some revert or turn to the bottle or drugs. That is always a danger.

Anyway, the roofing job is underway and I can turn to my main goal, of a nice storage area.

Son Jack just stopped by and brought a quart of vegan collards.  Shirl stopped by to sample them.

If I did not get by to visit & comment, be assured I read as much as I could get to. But it became today before I knew it.  hahahaha

Thanks for coming by the log.

Nite Shipslog

PS:

Why do they call it a TV set

When you only have one?
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This is a 1949 Ford Convertible.  The Fords were FAST. Kids could ‘get rubber’ in all gears with that flat head v-8.  I was never a Ford guy, but I respected them.

Just a little drama in your life!

 

Today we are knee deep in alligators, trying to clear the swamp. hahahaha

This is my Post for today! If you do not have enough drama in your life, try this.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SvZdUAsTaWM&feature=related

You might have to hold control and click the thread!

Thanks for coming by the log,

Nite Shipslog

PS:

If you think nobody cares whether you're alive or dead, try missing a couple of mortgage payments.

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Spotted this old beetle in the parking lot at the Cafeteria!

Life out back

We now are parked outback of our house that our son rents, yep so far he has paid the rent! I am happy, before leaving last fall I put up two bird houses. Now we have residents. I do not know what they are, maybe finch, but probably a Wren? But I have enjoyed mom and dad flying in with food for the hungry brood.

(Yeah I am up to early for good shots, I should be in bed)

(MY short notice water and feeder)

So I decided to feed them some wheat  bread and hand some water so mom & dad wouldn't have to go so far. I noticed they found a little of the bread. haven't seen them go for the water yet.

(Here mama is sitting on my sheds jalousie window. )

It is fun to sit and watch. The weather is supposed to warm back up here, and maybe it will be more comfortable to sit outside and watch.

We attended the memorial service of a family friend yesterday, I did not make a post because there was not time to read, comment and post.

We are fine, just busy planning a roofing job and creation of a nice storage building with a washer and dryer.  That will be a change from out little load washer/dryer.  We have the washer and dryer already.

We have touched base with a couple of the neighbors, all wondering how long we will stay.  Usually my answer is ‘we will hit the road as soon as possible.

Today is Sherry’s day for Hardees, and the old folk. She has a chance to visit her brother who is always there.  When possible I opt out now, due to my hearing.

She has already took care of the important stuff. Held Stella and had Stella's mama do her hair.

Thanks for dropping by the log.

Nite Shipslog

PS:

If at first you don't succeed, sky-diving is not for you.

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In it’s day, this was a ‘very fancy’ paint job. A 1950 Ford Crestliner.

Stella Dawn McGee

View from our picture window:

Okay we are home, I guess the mainest reason is Stella.  Sherry’s newest Great Granddaughter. Facebook has been such a joy to Sherry (and me of course) her being able to see the progress of Little Stella over the past months. I know it is not like holding her, but it gives you a lot.

(Stella and her moma Sherece)

I can’t help but think how much this modern communication type means to the military away from home.  I remember awaiting mail-call for a letter, then later, awaiting a letter and a tape, reel to reel, the little 3” ones.  I cannot imagine the joy to a man & wife (plus family) to be able to know up to the minute news, and to hear or see ‘I Love and Miss you, right now’, on a screen.

(Stella is a happy baby!)

But being home has it’s good points and that is seeing all the grand kids on this coast. We have two grand sons and some greatgrands in Utah. But this is our time with the East coast bunch.

(The proud mommy!)

Shirl dropped over to welcome us, She and Sherry look on As Stella wonders who are y’all? (She will be a Southern Belle you know!)

GGrandma Sherry Holding the beauty!

They allowed me to hold her a minute, she looks just lime her mama did! She will be a beauty for sure.

So we are back, got to see Mark, Luke, Shirl, Reece and Stella.  And NOW…….

Of course we are already planning trips away, it is in the blood!!!!

The Diesel was over $4 a gallon, but by driving 53-55 mph we saved 10 gals and that is $40 on the trip!

Thanks for coming this way.

Nite Shipslog

PS:

 Why do we say something is out of whack?

What is a whack?

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This is actually the first Ford A model. My oldest son tried to tell my daddy that the A model was before the T, but Daddy would not hear of it, because he had driven what he had known as the T model and the A model, dad did not know about this one.

Leaving the Low Country

A week is very short. I just realized that actually our weeks are 6 days, one day is traveling. Ha! When we are stopping for a week at the time. We had hoped to re-tour Charleston, but no luck.  We drove over to Charleston AFB, but the weather was not conducive to touristing (my word).

(Charleston Pics, I could not find mine from the last time down!)

I still loved the drive over and back, I am hooked on roads (black top) , our friend Paula here on the blogland loves those dirt country roads.

Oh, and that reminds me. There is an OLD cemetery within walking distance of here. We walked thru it, I found one, so weather worn all you could make out was the first name ‘Judie Deveaux ’ and the dates, 1840-1909. My mind goes to wandering what did Judie see in her life. That is living thru the Civil War.  (I think it should be Uncivil War, war cannot be civil.)

Judie Deveaux

But Judie lived to see the light bulb begin to replace the kerosene lamp, but not where she lived. She lived to see a Car (maybe) and heard of the first airplane flight (1903). She never earned over a nickel an hour in her life in South Carolina.

She must have been a tough lady to live 69 years, she outlived her peers.

(A sign of Low Country,  the grave covered with concrete protection from flooding)

So much history in a grave yard, most of it forgotten in this type of cemetery. I hope some of her family is still around and remember her. Sometime I would like to find the graves of my grand parents, just to touch base. I am not sure if anyone is alive now that knows where they are buried.  We moved a lot growing up, I remember going to Georgia to funerals, but I was less than 5 years old.

We leave Wednesday morning, it is only a 3-4 hour drive. I am trying to drive 55 to save fuel.  Have you noticed diesel and gas is getting higher. I did see $3.78 reg, and $4.05 diesel here, and SC is supposed to be the cheapest state around for fuel.

Thanks for coming by the LOG.

Nite shipslog

PS:

International signs:

Cocktail lounge, Norway:
LADIES ARE REQUESTED NOT TO HAVE CHILDREN IN THE BAR.

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After I posted the silly sign from Norway, I looked for a car in Norway, I found this one. Showing that Car lovers are world wide. I do not know this car, but it is the 1930’s by the body style. (IMHO)

Gas appeared to be $13 a gal.

Beaufort, SC & Pat Conroy

This area brings back many memories for Sherry & I.  Beaufort is just down the road, and just past that is the ‘End of the World’, many a young man and woman have thought.  ‘PARRIS ISLAND’, or as it is affectionately referred to by Marines after they realize that it really isn’t the end of the world, Pleasure Island.

Anyway since I started reading in my late 50’s, I learned to know the name Pat Conroy. He wrote some great books:

The Water Is Wide
The Great Santini
The Lords of Discipline….. About the Citidel
The Prince of Tides & Beach Music

(an interesting Bio, if you are interested.)

http://www.patconroy.com/about.php 

These are not all but the ones I met him by reading. He grew up as the son of a Marine Officer, who called himself ‘The great Santini’. Pat wrote a book by that name, based on his childhood.

He became a teacher and took a job teaching out on a SC Island. He was fired because of a few things, one was he refused to administer or allow corporal punishment of his students. The then wrote a book called ‘The Water is Wide’, exposing the conditions in the school on the island.  It was a success and he received some awards for his truth of the system.

His life is one of ups and downs, his books are spell binding and have produced several movies.  So while we are here I think of Pat Conroy. If you haven’t read any of his books, you owe it to yourself to do so.

I am sure the rest of his books are good, those 5 I have read.

Thanks for coming by the log, as we sit in the South Carolina Low country.

Nite Shipslog

PS:

_ BRITISH HUMOUR

These are classified ads, which were actually placed in U.K. Newspapers:

FOR SALE BY OWNER. Complete set of Encyclopaedia Britannica, 45 volumes.

Excellent condition, £200 or best offer.

No longer needed, got married, wife knows everything.

(The British humour compliments of Shirl)

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1954 Firebird (Prototype)

We got to see one of these at the ‘Henry Ford’.

Breakfast……. and Hugging Oaks Church

 

When we are in a new area I inquire on the net for suggestions for a local church. The only one recommended so far here was the Huggin oaks Church, near Hampton, SC. About 15 miles on Hwy 68.

Weekends we usually have breakfast out. At home there is a great local Café called ‘Whites’. They have one of the best breakfasts anywhere at a very reasonable price. The cost for the two of us is always less than $10 including a $2 tip.

For Saturday morning, I announced to Sherry, I saw a small café in Yemassee, I want to go there for Breakfast. Then we can drive towards Hampton and stop at some yard sales.

(Not saying Yemassee is small, but this is the Country Club!)

We drove past 3 good breakfast places for a quick breakfast. Denny’s, McDonalds (good coffee) and Subway. 6 miles to my pick, CLOSED!

Okaaaaaay, no problem (Sherry loves coffee in the morning, she still doesn’t have it), we will drive up Hwy 68 and stop at another café. HA HA ON ME! We drove  on past the Huggin Oaks Church, for 21 miles before we saw a restaurant or café.  What did we find? A McDonalds and a Hardees, not a local restaurants, even in Hampton. So we ate at Hardee’s.

No yard sales that looked close to interesting, a lot of children's toys and clothes.

Now the name Huggin Oaks, had me very curious, where did the country folk come up with that name? (I had forgotten the camera) I drove into the parking lot of a very nice church, well manicured lawn, out in the country. We needed to find the service times. There on the sign was the times and a small painting of two large oaks leaning toward to each other with the branches entwined, then it hit me,  There are two oaks around like that or were, on this location, when the church was organized.

Anyway We did attend, and met some wonderful country folk.  We do this across the country, it is getting harder for me, but Sherry carries the bulk of the conversations and I smile.  happy Easter to you all.

The pastor was a retired Navy Chaplain, Bishop Strickland.

Thanks for coming by the log, now you know about a church called Huggin Oaks, file that away.

Oh, and we ate dinner at the Hampton Restaurant, Great food, but this was parked beside us in the parking lot:

a beautiful 1970 Chevy Super Sport.

Nite Shipslog

PS:

The Children's Bible in a Nutshell
In the beginning, which occurred near the start, there was nothing but God, darkness, and some gas.

The Bible says, ' The Lord thy God is one', but I think He must be a lot older than that.

Anyway, God said, 'Give me a light!' and someone did.

Then God made the world.
He split the Adam and made Eve. Adam and Eve were naked, but they weren't embarrassed because mirrors hadn't been invented yet.

Adam and Eve disobeyed God by eating one bad apple, so they were driven from the Garden of Eden..... Plymouths must have been the first car, because God drove them out in his Fury.

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The 1956 Fury