Things Should be simpler

 ONE OF A KIND:

 1957 AUROURA Safety Car

Speaking of big birds yesterday. We woke one morning with this beauty on our picnic table. He jumped down and showed off  for us  just a little later

back in 2006 

For today:

 I was expected to maintain my first car. Keeping it clean was important, but changing and watching oil levels was very important, my daddy said.

It was not unusual for any car with over 50,000 miles on the odometer to ‘use oil.’ Service Stations ‘BACK THEN’ checked the oil and washed the windshields when you bought gas.  If you asked they would check the water in the battery and radiator.

Back then (40-50s) an engine needed an ‘over haul’ above 70,000 miles. Now with the improvement in engines some go up to 200,000 miles and not use or ‘burn’ oil. You seldom see a car today that ‘smokes.’ I cleaned my spark plugs every 1500-2000 miles.  Now a car will go way over 100,000 miles and not need plugs. Son Jack has an Odyssey with over 300,000 miles and just recently changed the plugs. WOW!

So some things last much longer today than they did in years past. Refrigerators, washers and dryers need repair and replacing much sooner than years past it seems. We had one refrigerator go out in about 15 years, the stove, bought at the same time died a few years later.

(I feel like this at times facing technology!)

I guess one thing that bugs me (BEING ANCIENT) is phones and Televisions. The telephone used to last forever, but NOW? You are lucky if you can keep a Smart phone 2-3 years. Plus every one we have bought in the last ten years got smarter and smarter.

And the TVs?  While in NC I bought 3 new TVs to replace the ‘now outdated’ ones. I was lucky I got replacements for $100 each. The instructions were: Plug it in, follow the SIMPLE instructions and enjoy. TODAY to an old man, there are NO SIMPLE instructions….

Then the TVs here in the motor home (that we seldom watch) refused to work right.  I found two for $80 each. More simple FIRE TVs.

A Selfie of She & Me

My sweetheart asks, “Can’t we just buy a TV plug it in and turn it on?”  The answer is a NO!

I’m griping too much, once you get them working you have clear pictures. While I was installing the last TV Son Mark caused a lot of trouble! Using the installed TV! He was showing Sherry how to get U-tube, Rumba, jambo, netfix, etc.

But at least they worked and we followed the last storm here.….

Ouch, not a button or switch anywhere, gotta have the remote…. (I lose remotes ;-(   )

Nite Shipslog

PS:      To my Blogger friends who read here!

Thank you!

Walking with Big Bird & mushrooms

  One of a kind:

1955 Chrysler GHIA Streamline

For today:

Florida’s weather allows for so many different species of animals, birds and insects.  Today on my walk I saw a darker form way up the trail. My sight is not great and I couldn’t tell the color. I thought I could be looking at maybe a fawn.

 The closer I got I could see it was a Sandhill Crane.  They are big birds, I seldom see one alone usually 2 or 3.

I had never seen this, big boy was picking a bird feeder.

They have a unique cry, it sounds sorta like a buzz and a bell to me. Anyway the closer I got it started walking away. The bird itself is striking with the Bright red mask.

(This from the net for good color)

I got to within ten feet as we walked and I talked. I asked could I just pass, sucker would not answer.

About 200 ft of walking it flew out over the canal. I thought it was gone. I kept walking and there he was again. We walked and talked for another 100 or so feet then it flew off to hide behind a post on the other side of the canal.

Then flew

(the only other walk with a bird was this pigeon he walked 1/2 mile on the Eastern shore of Virginia)

Mushrooms? Could you recognize one that is eatable?  I sure cannot. Our friends Dar and Mel from the Big “O” family in the woods of Wisconsin raise mushrooms or did. They & Hubbies can tell you every plant and animal around. BUT NOT ME!

We met a man hiking the AT that was cataloging all the mushrooms on the trail. He pointed out a ‘Watermelon’ mushroom as we talked.

From the net:

But I want to show you one. It caught my attention. What do you see?

I see a picture of flowers growing and small clouds in the sky with a dove and crow flying. Imma call this the 'Picture Mushroom', NOT safe to eat, it is ART!

BTW the RED HAT remained in place. I might move it tomorrow.

Thanks for coming this way. Someone said Thanksgiving was near!  I am Thankful for all who stop here....

    Nite Shipslog

PS:

Ants and Aunts

  One of a kind:

  This is a 1952 SOCEMA- Gregoire

Followed by a 2022  version of the 1935 COOP

I got a good laugh when my friend BUDDY said he was sending me a picture of a 1935 COOP.  He is educated, I thought he had misspelled Coupe!  LOL  It is One of a kind!!!

Thanks Bud!!!!

For today, Aunt ( ant, ahnt ):

Aunt by most Southern White Folk I know use the same pronunciation, ‘ant.’ .  My Black friends ALWAYS pronounced it ‘ahnt’. Looking back I do not know why white folk didn’t do that. I remember very well Aunt Janie, Aunt Julia and Aunt Zedda (all pronounced ant).

But this is about the insect. I believe the ant is an industrious insect. I wondered if they slept, or do they sleep in shifts?  Because those suckers can haul much sand, one grain at a time. Have ants ever visited your home? 

Ant hills have always interested me. Being from the piedmont of NC the dirt is RED, therefore all ant hills were red or actually orange.

In Florida the color depends on the depth of the ant colony. On my local hikes I have noticed a lot of ant hills, you must respect their tenacity. Lawn mowers people stepping on their houses, they just come right back.. Of course I see many ‘hills’ as I walk here in the sunshine state.

Ok I had to look this up, the worker ant takes several 6 minute naps a day, but work around the clock. The Queen on the other hand sleeps 8 hours a day like most humans.

 This hill is new, it is black like our top sand here.

 

 

 The one above is deeper, some white and pink sand, plus they have a flower in their back yard. ;-)

Below is a nice multi colored sand, they have gone thru three layers. The color of the photo does not show the beauty in the color.

 

 I wondered about the next one. Did the queen ask for a paved court yard?

Did you  know there are actual 'ant keepers?'  I did not. I am not sure why, except to study them. I respect ants, they have important jobs in the environment, but 'ain't'  any of those jobs in our home or motor home. ;-)

Also There are ant hills up to 8' in height   ;-)

Smiling,  I know........ crazy subjects from this old man.

Love all y'all!  Thanks for stopping by, comment if you like!

   Nite Shipslog

PS:

I met a dangerous character on the trail

  One of a kind:

The 1951 Studebaker Manna Ray

 For today:

On today’s walk I was reminded of how Florida is a little different than other states, especially North Carolina. Contrary to normal thinking here in Florida a million dollar mansion can be a few doors down from a $30,000 trailer.

These are about a block from our group of trailers.

These folks built knowing the trailers were just up the road. In Florida that doesn't effect appraisals much. In North Carolina, it would!)

At the county park I like to walk in I had hoped to add to my post with the red hat and jacket. I found a fishing pole and I was going to add to the post. But found someone did not appreciate the humor and the hat and jacket had been removed. The hat was thrown behind but a Budweiser Lite can had been left behind.

I put the hat back on the post and hiked into the woods.

Oh well on into the park. Uh oh, about halfway on one trail I was brought to a halt. I talk to turtles, birds, rabbits and squirrels but yesterday was the first time I got to talk to a snake.

Coiled in the middle of the trail lay this Florida Cotton Mouth. Looking closer he didn't appear threatening. (Son Mark got the ID)  I talked to Mr Snake, “You should move off the trail but for now I‘m going to walk around you, so just ignore me.” He did.  When I came back 15 minutes later he had not moved much. With a LONG stick I encouraged him off, but it didn't help. He actually appeared to be biting himself. I wonder if he committed suicide? ;-O

So today I find the snake stiff, he is dead. I hung him in a tree..  When I was a kid I was told that caused rain when it was needed.  LOL

 At the start of my walk I put the red had back on a post. When I came back 30 minutes later it was in the park on a bench. The red hat is moving around…. Me ‘n someone is having fun…

   Nite Shipslog

PS:

Have you ever used a phone patch?

 One of a kind vehicle:

 

Up is a 1950 Crysler Camera Car, below is a blacked Caddy

(NOTE: I am having trouble. I am signed with Google but Google don't know it, LOL I am not able to comment on all blogs. I hope to have it fixed soon. If you know my problem add it with a comment, I also CANNOT GET TO MY E-MAILS!!!!!)

 For today:

I saw a ham radio antenna on my walk.  That brought back so many memories. One of my jobs in the USAF was with MARS (Military Affiliated Radio System)  It is a backup system for communications tying military and international ham radio operators in national emergencies. Replacing phones and internet if lost.

The process maybe a little odd, but it is simple. A soldier in Germany goes to the MARS station to call his wife at 333 777 9898. The radio operator locates Keesler AFB call sign and places a call "AFDDJ this is AfCCO" with a phone patch. Once the radio connection is made. The Keesler operator dials the given # and tells the person answering he has a phone patch, are they familiar? If no he explains, you have a call from Germany it is on the radio. He will speak first you will hear him but he cannot hear you until you hear him say ‘over’ then it will be your time to talk. Once you have responded just say over and he will come back to you.

It takes a few tries, every one laughs. There is no privacy, everyone in the room can hear both sides of the conversation.

There are lots of funny stories, One I remember on the USS Independence.  WE were at sea. My shipmate Daniel called his wife back in Norfolk.

Keep in mind we’re all in one compartment, about 8 guys can hear the entire conversation.  Hello honey, this is Danny ‘Over’.

“Where the hell are you? Are you drunk?”---pause--- (operator says m’am you must say over when you finish)  “OVER”

“Sweetheart we are at sea. I cannot tell you where, but I wanted to tell you I am okay.” OVER

“I bet you are. I know you cannot call from a D-- ship. You are drunk at some bar in Norfolk!”  “M’am you must say.. “I know, OVER”

“Honey honest I am on the ship at sea, I must get off other guys are wanting to call their wives. I love you.” OVER

“I will say this, whenever you get home you are going to get what for because you didn’t call from a phone booth instead of the bar.”…… --silence--…..  Operator:  She has hung up, we are ‘OUT’.

Needless to say Daniel took a lot of ribbing over the rest of the cruise.  He decided to just write…..

(MARS at West Point)

Fortunately with progress both ends can communicate without the radio ‘over and out’ protocol. Of course now with the internet most conversations are via cell phone.

NiteShipslog

PS:

My hiking handicap plus sights and benefits!

  One of a kind:

 1948 Wimille

It is amazing the cars that only a few people got to see! French made by a famous Race Car driver Jean Pierre Wimille.

 For today:

For years and all our hiking Sherry had some problems with ankles and legs.  My biggest problem was burning feet. The soles of my feet would get too hot. I have said it before, the hiking originally was ALL Sherry's idea.

While hiking we once attended ‘Trail Days’ in Damascus, VA. There we chose to attend a ‘Boot Camp’. All you need to know about your feet, support and boots. Sherry got a custom pair of inserts. When I told the manager my problem, he said there is no help for that except ventilation.

I had already left boots behind and went to ‘tennis shoes’; ventilating them by using my knife and making some cuts along the sole and it was helping. I have never hiked in cold weather, if I am successful to try starting in January I guess I will find out if cold weather helps with my ‘burning feet’. LOL

Again today Bud Light wins the litter contest. (I pick them up if there is a trash can hear, Some families leave their trash containers on the road)

(above is also a Selfie, of me and my Tilley hat!  LOL)

Today's walk the sun was out and no wind the canal was flat. 

The ‘occupied side’ view above.

Opposite the canal ‘living side’ is more swamp.

 

Today I noticed what I always called Elephant Ears in the swamp. And below some greens are brighter than others.

Yes, we do have ‘sketters’ but not much different than back home in the woods.

Most days I get to exchange good mornings with an ‘old man and his son’, it makes my day. The old man is 91 and very crippled; confined to a wheel chair, but his son says ‘Daddy likes to be outside’. The old man has started smiling and giving me a wave before dropping his head again.  Yeah, it makes me smile inside.

   Nite Shipslog

PS:

That Singer!

  One of a kind:

1948 Playboy Convertible 

For today:

My mother was a singer. She had a good strong voice.  Her singing could motivate a church. She sang to Shirley and me and told stories many nights.

As a child I played on the floor many times as my mama sewed. I was fascinated by the sewing machine treadle. On the floor I could see mama’s feet working the machine pedal that turned the Big wheel that worked the machine.

As my dad worked on a church or the yard he whistled. As mama sewed she sang. She could sew or repair anything. That machine was called a Singer. Later after I learned words, I thought that might be why mama would sing.

Let me tell you, that treadle is close to the floor there were times my fascination got me too close and I would yell when my finger was mashed between the treadle edge and the floor. I think it scared me more than hurt, but of course mama would stop to pet little Jackie.

The sewing machine mechanics are fascinating. In slow motion not much, but at high speed it is shocking how the spooled thread fed thru the needle reacts with the bobbin’s thread below the sewing surface.

I never thought much of how the machine changed lives until I watched ‘Fiddler on the Roof’, one small part of the movie dealt with a tailor that was able to buy a ‘Sewing Machine’ to start a business. That stuck with me.

History of the Sewing Machine is very interesting. A sewing machine factory was once burned because the people thought the more machines built too many jobs would be lost. And later Singer lost a lawsuit for patent infringement. But still continued to make them.

(This is exactly like mama's. The drawers held lots of treasures, like her button home maker!)

Singer actually changed the world for the better.  Many inventions get headlines, i.e. light bulb, electricity control, telephones and Radio.

First came Silent movies, then the talkies, WOW! Then color. Oh yeah, then the TV.

What advancements do you see as spectacular!

Did you ever have a Black & White TV?

Do you remember Test Patterns?

   Nite Shipslog

PS: