The old ways

There are good practices, things from the past that we forget.  We forget them because for one thing we are a throw away society.  This subject came about last night as I was mentioning I cannot throw a container away.  If you are familiar with 'canning' you know about pint and quart jars.  I checked the price of jars just for the heck of it the other day and some run $1+ each.  I can remember mama giving canned stuff away and in a few weeks the jar was returned washed, with thanks. The only way a canner lost a jar was dropping it..

We are not as faithful as in the past at returning jars, but we try.

In my childhood a kid could earn some spending money by finding and saving soft drink bottles. If you took a bottle away from a store you had to pay 3¢. It still amazes me that anyone would throw a bottle out the window of a car that was worth money. But I have looked in ditches and found bottles enough to buy a Pepsi and a pack of crackers or go to a movie. When you found bottles and took them to a grocer he would give you 2 maybe 3¢, even muddy. That always amazed me because the Pepsi or Coke cost a nickel.

Many of the blogger readers who read 'Life 101' didn't notice back in the spring that Rick made a statement that dated him, it said, "Rick is OLD." Rick is a very good writer and has a pretty young wife (but he is old fashioned in some ways.) Last Spring he said, "It is time to break out the garden tools and RUB THE HANDLES DOWN WITH LINSEED OIL.

That may not mean much to some. The practice could come from military training. Years ago when the soldier carried a rifle it had a wooden stock. To keep that stock in great condition we applied linseed oil to it.  

But most likely the practice was handed down by a dad or grand parent who still had tools in their sheds that had been there 20-50 years because they were taken care of..  I have several shovels, the handles are weather cracked. If dad were alive he would shame me and say, "Son you should oil these  handles."

WE should appreciate the past enough to keep some practices alive.  It doesn't have to be a physical act, but a personal act of trust or compliment.   Life is good, some of the old paths are good to walk down, like helping a neighbor or lending a hand to some one less fortunate.

I have blogger friends who every day remind me how wonderful life and people are.

Thanks Guys (you too Rick) and thanks for stopping by the Shipslog.

Nite Shipslog

A forgotten Luxury car

The Stutz  from 1911 to 1937  The most notable the Stutz Bearcat

Coffee & containers

My job at night is preparing the coffee so Sherry can press the ‘go’ button in the morning. I am normally last to head to bed and she the first to rise.  She started buying 50% caffeine coffee for some reason (I don’t ask because I don’t care. If you are a sailor and drink coffee on the mid-watch you don’t care, just so it is black and hot).

Anyway after a couple shopping trips I suggested buying two pounds of coffee, one reg, one decaf and mixing them. (I am a cheap skate and it is cheaper that way)  Besides how do they make 50% decaf if they don’t do it the same way?

Good containers: I have a problem with throwing empty containers away. The coffee we buy now comes in cans, I save a bunch of them. We drink Green tea by the gallon jug and I keep the jugs.  I have at least 15 empty containers in my new shop already.

They work great for the small amounts of paint left in the gallon and 5 gallon cans.  They work for small containers when you are doing touch up paint work. I cut them in two and use them to hold nails by size and nuts and bolts.  The Gallon tea jugs work well as a water bowl by laying it on its side and cutting the side out for Janie the grand dog when she visits. She is a bull dog and a messy drinker anyway. LOL  I sympathize with her because like her grandpa she is deaf.

Do you have any objects that are hard to ‘throw away?’

Nite Shipslog

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Luxury cars time forgot

Isotta Fraschina (1900-1948) Italy 

Digging in the dirt and ignorance

There are times fate allows ignorance to win.  When I first had the urge to build a house I found a 'shack' for sale on a small lot, cheap. I bought it. Grandson Corey and I went over to the shack and started tearing it down.  He found a small plastic bell he liked and took it home. I told him what we were doing was a secret and he could not tell anyone where he got the bell.

(Corey with George, my partner.  Everyone loved George, he was with me over 20 years)

Sherry asked him that evening about the bell and he said, "It is a secret grandma and I can't tell anyone, and he didn't."  Of course Sherry learned about the shack and lot in a few weeks.

Ignorance. I didn't know I needed a permit to raze a house. The city let me slide after it was down. I learned my first lesson, given me by the city planner. "Mr. Darnell, I guess you were using the theory, 'It is easier to get forgiveness than permission.'  We didn't care about the shack anyway, since it had no electricity."

I didn't tell him I had never heard that statement before, but it has come in handy many times since. LOL.

When I applied for a permit to build a house, using a sketch, the city planner hemmed and hawed. Saying the lot was too small to build on, (I had no idea there was a requirement for lot size to build) but smiled and signed off on a permit.

Using a garden tiller, pick and shovel I dug my first foundation footer. The NC red dirt (clay) is tough to dig in but my first inspection was that footer. The inspector was amazed and said, "NO ONE digs a footer by hand anymore.."

That little house was the beginning of my love for building.

I said that to say this.  Today I have 'enjoyed digging in the dirt'. WOW, Florida is so easy you do not need a pick, mattock or hoe, just shovels.  Today I extended a sewer line 12 feet in an hour and a half.  Then dug  post holes for a privacy fence. I am not kidding, I dug holes 2 feet deep in less than 2 minutes with a posthole digger.  It was so easy it was almost a sin.  I love this soft dirt. (That feeling changes when it comes to areas close to bushes and trees. the roots run nearly on top of the ground.)

Nite Shipslog

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Cadillac Seville

Junior my brother stopped by our house once in one of these he had just bought. I said, "The pottery business must be booming."

He said, "Jackie, I charged it."

(Most of you know the term Charged it, is the same as financing it. Of course I knew he was kidding, he believed in debt free living)

Kilroy was here, more siblings

“Kilroy was here”

The line: 'Kilroy was here' was popular when my brothers were building their homes.  Odis was an artist, He would do Betty Grable on lumber to entertain the other's working. He did a lot of the Eyes and nose of Kilroy on scrap lumber.

Big brother Junior & wife Mozelle in front of their business on HIghway 74 in

Shelby, NC

Jr. was destined to make his mark in business and became wealthy. He did this by working year round 7 days a week, with a week off  on the 4^th.  Jr. was in the retail business, he began making concrete yard decorations such as bird baths, ducks and chickens.  He and his wife worked full time in the cotton mill, and he poured the concrete in the evenings and weekends. The business morphed into flowers, pottery and china.  They quit their jobs and built a store for their products.

 Odis and his wife Ruth. She was one sweet lady!

Odis was a craftsman and could do anything with wood.  He left the mill and our Uncle Hisure taught him the ropes of driving a truck.  He drove big rigs and in his spare time would create things of wood. He built a fleet of wooden ships. The smallest ships had 4 feet hulls and were replicas of the Pinta, Nina and Santa Marie.  The largest were nine feet hulls, air craft carriers and battle ships.  His first Battle ship, the USS North Carolina won Mechanics Illustrated Gold Hammer award and was viewed internationally in Mechanics Illustrated.

(Odis and some of his ships. He invited me to be there for a photo shoot for a Bank in Charlotte that displayed his ships at their grand opening.)

Odis lived and died within 300 yards of Jr's business but they were never close. I never understood that.  They were both great guys.  Both my heroes. 

I have known other brothers who did not get along, that always confuses me. I had no sibling that I did not love dearly and would have done anything for. I know a couple families with wonderful parents and kids that loved and played together but are pulled apart.  

For one of my books I asked friends for quote's to use. One I have never forgotten:

"When there is a disagreement, the one who loves the most will apologize first."

I will NEVER understand my brothers. There was NEVER anything open, no arguments when the family met, they talked, joked and laughed, but I knew they did not 'like' each other, and it hurt.  Little brothers can sense some things.  LOL

I am glad to read in the comments that some of you also never used the term siblings, I know folks who use it and it does sound ‘okay’, but when I try to use the word, it seems cold. I do not know why.

Nite Shipslog
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One of our Metropolitans this one was a Nash.

Siblings

I cannot remember the first time I heard that word sibling used in a normal conversation, but I am sure I was full 'growed'. . Mama always referred  to her children as brothers and sisters.  I doubt if my mama ever used the word.

 Mama and dad lost a daughter and son. Oveline, older than I and the son died before being named, after me. So I was the baby of the family and Shirl was next up the line. Kat, Jr. and Odis were older.  Shirl and I were more like the 'second family'.  We all got along well except the older brothers.  I loved them both, but they were completely different. After WWII Odis bought some lots at $25 each to build on. They were on a dirt road (two ruts). The rest of the family and some of their in-laws bought also. As a child I was privileged to see my brothers, brother in law and their wives, work together to build their homes, no electricity mind you.  They all worked together cutting trees and hauling the logs to the sawmill and used that lumber, most uncured, to build their homes.

Until he died, Dick (Kat's husband), would remind me of those times, " We would meet every evening coming from work,  standing around the fire of tree scraps and would talk and plan.  In a few minutes you could count on Jr saying, Okay boys lets do something, even if it is wrong."

As a kid I was having a ball. There were several kids and we roamed the woods and played. Many nights we slept at the building sites and ate food cooked over the coals of the days fire. I can't remember where I stayed. It must have been with Kat and Dick, they liked me. (LOL) the rest tolerated me I think.

That part of my childhood in the mid 1940's I can never forget. These men who had never built a house, had decided to have a home in the country and quit renting. I smiled when Dick said he and Kat had to finance their land, they had bought 4 lots, total cost, $100.00

Nite Shipslog

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These cars were new when my older SIBLINGS were building their homes.

 Buick

 Ford

 Dodge

Studebaker

Finished.....................I thought! LOL

Today I took some pictures of our finished house. When I mentioned 'Well it is finally finished,' My girl looked at me and said, "It will be, once we get the wall accouterments .... (things) hung and some rugs." Girls know too much stuff!  LOL

We have a very small bedroom with three windows.  We both figured we had better go with a 'full sized' rather than the Queen we prefer. So we bought this for $125.

Refinished, it looks like this: I had to move the mirror to the side to miss the window.

Below is BR #1, now Blue (MIssing a dresser and chest, on the way from NC next week)

The kitchen now has some color and the microwave above the stove

 Looking from the little kitchen to the dining/ Living room combo.  Below is closer in the living room and Sherry is modeling the couch. (sorry about the light but was the best I could do.

Another angle catching our little dining room suite.

Above is Sherry in our little wash room. She has designated Monday Wash day, when in the motor home she washes about every 3 days.

Okay now for the important stuff.

No, it is not my dog house. Although she did come out and ask if I would be here all night. LOL But she was joking (I think) She B too sweet to be mean. (most of the time)

 Inside my play house. I have two saws and a compressor awaiting my attention. LOL

Finally, I did install large gates to give privacy to the motor home.

 The fence doesn't hide the motor home of course, but adds some security, if it is needed.   So far , all is well.

We are VERY pleased with the little house and parking area. 

The little house is only  about twice the size of the motor home.

Now about them danged rugs and wall hanging thangs! LOL  Just joking sweetheart, bring 'em on!

Nite Shipslog

PS: I have worked 3 hours to get the photos uploaded. I have tried  3 servers.. but it is done.

Imma thinking this is a Valiant.

Stuff

I cut my scrap paper into quarters and use them for notes.  I make notes when I have a great idea for a blog entry.  At one time my cursive was good, not calligraphy quality but neat.  NOW?  Shucks, like my daddy said when he got older, "When my writing get's cold, I cannot read it."  That is where I have been for a few years.  Even my girl will ask, "What is this word?" Pointing to a word I have written.  I have to say, "I can't remember, I must have been practicing Korean (or something)."

When I first saw this photo I thought it was a caterpillar.

On the table beside me, is a pile of wadded notes, great ideas. None of which I can make heads nor tails of. So tonight I will wing it.

On hand writing, how is yours?  Mary Ann, a dear friend has  handwriting that would match Thomas Jefferson and the forefathers who wrote the Constitution. I always marvel at her writing, she sure hasn't lost it.

I read somewhere that pretty soon we adults can write in cursive and it will be like code, the grand kids can't read it.

What about signatures, since they are talking about not teaching cursive?  However we signed a contract once online and the computer gave us pretty handwriting. So cursive wasn't needed even as a signature. 

I vow to myself I am going to endeavor to write better, so far all I have done is lie.

Speaking of lies. One short GGranddaughter story:

 This past summer while home the crowd was in the motor home for supper as often happened. I was telling Luke something and Stella wanted my attention. Thinking it was cute I said, "Wait honey, I will be with you just as soon as I finish telling Luke this lie,"

The motor home got quiet, her hand went over her mouth. Then she said, "You're going to be shoveling coal."

I didn't get it. 

Her mama explained. She knows not to tell a lie or you might go to the place with the devil, and he will have you shoveling coal for the fire.

OUCH, from the mouth of babes.

Nite Shipslog

Love those road side stands

What is going to take you out?

I have been taking two medications prescribed by “Doctors”…

a.    Pravastatin (20mg) prescribed by my VA doctor.

b.    A multi vitamin… prescribed by Dr. Sherry.

I decided a few days ago to drop the Pravastatin. It was first prescribed at 80mg.  I had a rash I attributed to the statin so I cut it in half.  Blood work looked good.  So I started having terrible leg cramps, So again Dr. Jack prescribed a cut to 20 mg.  After a year the blood work according to my Dr., “Blood work is beautiful”.  However he said I would continue to have the cramps and muscle deterioration.  So I am tired of muscle problems, I won’t list them but along with muscle weakness, the cramps have been getting worse. So this week after lots of consideration, I have dropped that.

I may go to the Dr. next year and give it a check.  Most folk would say the muscle problems are age associated, I am getting older, and that is for sure.  I cannot raise a simple tool above my head without using two hands, now that is baloney. That is not normal.  Of course that is my humble (or hard headed) educated guess.

NOW….

I know you see the same headlines that I do.

Headlines this week:

BREAKING NEWS: INGREDIENT FOUND IN MAYONNAISEAND ICE CREAM LINKED TO CANCER. (Ingredient? Emulsifiers)

20 FOODS THAT ARE BAD FOR YOUR HEALTH, AVOID THEM

EVERYDAY FOODS THAT ARE SLOWLY KILLING YOU

‘HEALTH FOODS’ THAT ARE JUNK FOOD IN DISGUISE

FOODS THAT WILL KILL YOU

HOW ‘HEALTHY FOODS’ ARE KILLING YOU

FOOD KILLS (the slow poisoning of you and your children)

ORGANIC FOOD IS BAD FOR YOU

ORGANIC FOOD. Pricey, not particularly healthy..

This has all been discussed to the extreme and folk I respect say, eat what you want in moderation.  Life is too short to cause yourself pain, and that is why I am trying to avoid the muscle cramps and strains. 

Do I read the articles I listed above, not on a bet.  I clicked on one and it lead to a book some doctor is selling. There was a lead in, but to find out the killer foods, you can go further into the hard sell and buy the book.

Life is good, I am happy.  Will I continue to listen to Dr. Sherry and take the multi-vitamin? YOU BET YOUR LIFE. ;-)

Get ready you guys:

Nite  Shipslog