The Dog House has Heat!

With the addition of the ceiling, we're able to heat the Tajmadog

Last week we had several days during which the morning low was around 15 degrees.  I felt sorry for Sheila and Goldie because I didn't yet have a ceiling in the Tajmadog so the wind howled through it even with the doors closed.  Well, that situation has ended.  Yesterday, Monty Love came up again and we installed R-19 insulation above the ceiling and then put up 1/2" plywood.  This closes in the building, even though I haven't quite finished insulating the walls and installing the wallboard.  I can do most of that myself, but I definitely needed help to get the ceiling up.  Goldie and Sheila approve.  And last night, I ran a small "dairy heater" and kept the dog house at about 60 degrees.  This is major progress...

Goldie is nearly as large as Sheila!

Great Moments in Automotive History

The same 1932 Plymouth about 40 years later!

In August 1965, I drove my 1932 Plymouth coupe from New London, Connecticut, to Norman, Oklahoma, to report to my new duty station.  I had been given orders to report to the Naval ROTC unit at the University of Oklahoma.  To make the trip even more interesting, I had to go by way of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where I attended a two-week-long training session at Marquette University.

I decided to stay on secondary roads as much as possible, partly because the little Plymouth could only sustain about 55 miles per hour comfortably, and partly because I wanted to experience the old Route 66 as it would have been experienced in the 1930's.  Some people accuse me of being a nostalgia buff.

On a hot August afternoon, I cruised into Claremore, Oklahoma, in need of gas.  After passing a sign that informed me that I had arrived in Claremore, the birthplace of Will Rogers, I pulled into a Gulf station.  An elderly gentleman came out into the hot sun and asked if I wanted a fill-up.  I told him I did and asked him to check the oil and water as well.  This was, after all, a time of full-service filling stations. 

As the man was filling the gas tank, he noticed the New York license plates on my car.  "Did you drive this car all the way from New York?" he asked.  I told him that I had actually started in Connecticut, driven to New York, then to Milwaukee, and was now on my way to Norman.  He looked at me in disbelief.

"This is your day to get a free tank of gas," he said.  I looked at him curiously.  "Any damn fool that would drive a car this old on a trip that long gets a free tank of gas!" was his response.  Then he proceeded to check the oil and water.  And he really wouldn't take payment for the gas!

Major Progress on the Taj-ma-dog!!

Today, my friend Monty Love came up to help me put the vinyl siding on the dog house. It's really starting to look good. After I took this picture, we put a doggy door in the entrance door that opens to the porch. The wiring is completely finished, which makes it convenient when we're using power tools. I hope to continue with the siding tomorrow...
And here's the result of Sunday's effort:

Great Holiday Snack Idea! (So simple, an engineer can make it!)

I made this turkey-cranberry roll-up snack for the gift shop on Friday and again today.  Mary Ann and I saw the idea on TV.  They are easy to make and delicious!  The recipe is here.  Enjoy...

Host of Christmas Past -- 2010

This weekend, Fayetteville again hosted its annual "Host of Christmas Past."  This is a street festival held on and around our courthouse square to promote shopping in Fayetteville.  We have lots of boutique shops.  Mary Ann is involved with Fayetteville Main Street, the organization that sponsors the event.  Even though we are not "on the square," Ebabe's Gifts has a good turnout on the day of the celebration.  The "Host" celebration includes music, drama, free movies in our art deco theater, and lots of food vendors.  It also includes yours truly as a Town Crier.  Here are a few pictures for your enjoyment:

Autumn at Ebabe's...

With the last cool front to pass through, I believe Fall has fallen.

Drunken Punkin...

Courtesy of Mr. Sponsorpants...