Bob Cook's Photography Journal

The Olive ......

2006-09-10T08:46:00.000-07:00

I have owned a number of cars in my lifetime, but there is one that remains my all-time favorite vehicle. It was my first car, and I called her Olive.

She remains very special to me, and I wish that I had never sold her. Olive came into my life as a gift from my mother. That made her all the more meaningful to me. Mom and I went looking for a car. I fell for this used beetle, and she bought it for me. That was a selfless act, typical of her love for her children.

Olive was bear-bones. She had a heater and radio, but her air conditioning was to roll down the windows. She was a stick shift, of course, with that rear, air-cooled engine. Olive’s top speed was about 75 if you had the petal to the metal, and were going downhill.

Olive and I taught George how to drive a stick shift. He would really pop the clutch and the transmission would bang while he was learning, but Olive took it in stride and never complained. When we were alone, she confided in me that George was kind of rough, and she liked me best.

Olive took me and a buddy safely all the way to California and back. She wore out her tires in the Herculean effort, but never gave me a lick of engine difficulty.

Olive was my babe magnet – and you can see the babe she attracted for me. Emily already knew how to drive a stick shift when I met her, and so she and Olive made friends straight away.

I miss Olive, and sometimes think that I should get another Beetle in her memory. Maybe someday when I get rich …….

Fore Cart Training .....

2006-09-06T16:04:00.000-07:00

Grand Master Equestrian Katie purchased a Fore Cart, and is in the process of training her horses to pull it. Eventually, they will pull it together as a team. But first, they have to get very comfortable pulling it alone. Also they need to learn to respond very well to the commands. In this picture, Grand Master Equestrian Katie is walking behind the horse and cart as a safety measure while getting Dakota used to pulling the cart.

In this picture, Grand Master Equestrian Katie had “climbed aboard” and is driving Dakota. He did outstanding once Grand Master Equestrian Katie got him used to pulling. Grand Master Equestrian Katie has tremendous patience with her training. And she is firmly in command of her horses. They know who is boss.

The next step was for Grand Master Equestrian Katie to give Emily a driving lesson. Grand Master Equestrian Katie had even more patience with her mother than she did with Dakota.

Finally, Grand Master Equestrian Katie gave Caleb a lesson. Here he is doing the “Gee” (right turn) maneuver. Caleb has more experience pulling that Dakota. For him, it is more a matter of getting used to pulling this new cart, rather than learning new commands.

Grand Master Equestrian Katie, Emily, and I all had a great day.

The Mon's Breakfast ......

2006-09-04T10:52:00.000-07:00

The year was 1975. The place was Rice Lake, Ontario, Canada. The people were my best love and my two brothers. The monumental event was “The Mon’s Breakfast”.

While we normally counted on Emily for breakfast, we decided to give her a break and go to a restaurant. It was a small, Mom & Pop restaurant with a local flavor. The menu had names for breakfast combinations, and one of the choices was “The Man’s Breakfast”. It was quite a spread with a couple of fried eggs, toast, hash browns, choice of meats, and a short stack of pancakes.

Jim, in spite of being the youngest by far, ordered the Man’s Breakfast. The waitress, in astonishment that a mere boy would order such a large quantity of food, blurted out, “You want the Mon’s (sic) Breakfast????” George and I, in particular, got a huge kick out of that, in part, because of the Canadian dialect substituting “Mon’s” for “Man’s” and, of course, because she was dissing Jim in the process.

For some 31 years (and counting) after that, Emily and I have always called a huge breakfast, “The Mon’s Breakfast”.

This picture shows Jim working up an appetite for “The Mon’s Breakfast” under the watchful eye of George, on Rice Lake, somewhere off the camp site shoreline.

My Signature Maple Salmon .......

2006-08-29T15:51:00.000-07:00

Tonight I tried a new Sockeye Salmon recipe, and came up with Maple Baked Salmon. The glaze called for maple syrup. I was going to use some syrup we had on hand, but Emily said if I was going to be a great chef I needed to get some real, 100% pure maple syrup. So I stopped at the grocery on the way home from school and bought some.

We had to have salmon again tonight because I bought so much on sale at the grocery store. Yesterday’s portion was way too big, and we still had plenty left over for tonight. I had no choice, since the rain check I had was for $8.99/pound, and the current price was $15.99/pound. The $7.00/pound savings forced me to buy way too much for one meal.

This recipe turned out even better than yesterday’s Signature Salmon, so this is my new Signature Sockeye Salmon dish. It was very good.

And now for the bad news. The recipe said nothing about the possibility of the maple glaze bubbling over …. This is a picture of Emily’s oven. That big, black blob is my doing. Chef Bob may be banned from Emily’s kitchen for life……

My Signature Salmon ....

2006-08-28T15:27:00.000-07:00

Tonight I made Emily my signature oven-baked, Sockeye Salmon with Honey-Almond glaze. It included yams and a garden salad with grape tomatoes fresh from our garden.

The trained eye will note that the man’s plate has more fish, and the woman’s plate has a yellow daisy garnish. Being a man, I am of the opinion that you can’t eat a garnish. However, being a man, I am also aware that “romance” works on women. Hence the yellow daisy on Emily’s plate.

This closeup of Emily’s plate illustrates the simple, but elegant presentation. And of course, the Sockeye Salmon was “spot on” or it would never have made it to the table.

Is it possible that I am watching too much of “Hell’s Kitchen” with Chef Ramsey on TV?

The Unsuspecting Photographer ....

2006-08-26T08:26:00.000-07:00

This poor, unsuspecting photographer is about to meet a T-Rex.

The photograph has been adjusted to look more “primordial” using PhotoShop. I like the effect.

Too Hot For Human Habitation .....

2006-08-25T14:23:00.000-07:00

This is a picture of a Williamsburg, VA, guide in period costume. I kind of liked the fellow because we had the chance to chat with him for a while before the tour started, and therefore got to know him a little bit.

During the conversation we learned that he had lived in West Virginia. So I asked him how he liked living in Williamsburg. He said that Virginia is simply too hot and humid for human habitation.

We all got a kick out of that since people have lived in Virginia since before the settlers came to the new world.

West Virginia University Crew

2006-08-23T16:26:00.000-07:00

Occasionally as the dogs and I walk along the Monongahela River we get to see the West Virginia University Crew working out on the river. Tonight we saw three women’s singles and their coaches. The coaches are always in the motor boat, and the girls have to row like mad.

In this picture, they are at their turn-around point. They are gathering in the middle of the river so they can start back toward the university. It’s times like this I wish I had taken the big camera for some nice closeups. That is the best my little Canon could do.

How Could I Not Marry Her?

2006-08-23T11:13:00.000-07:00

Frank "The Enforcer" Nitti

2006-08-19T16:46:00.000-07:00

This is a picture of Jim that George and I always called his “Frank Nitti” picture. For whatever reason, George and I believed that gangster, Francesco Raffaele Nitto (better known as Frank Nitti), was always dressed to the nines. Perhaps we got that from the TV series, The Untouchables, wherein Elliot Ness and Frank Nitti squared off on a weekly basis. More likely, we had heard the term “natty” meaning neat, trim, and smart; dapper. And we were simply too stupid to know that natty was not the same thing as Nitti.

Anyway when Jim bought this suit, we began to call it his Frank Nitti suit. You can see from this picture that Jim thought he was the epitome of fashion when he put it on.

In this second picture Jim’s body language, with hands hooked nattily in his vest, again demonstrates that he had a very high opinion of himself in that suit. He was the bees’ knees.

Truth be told, I have always had a very high opinion of Jim regardless of what he was wearing.

Stroh's Beer, or How I Bought My Wife .....

2006-08-19T09:03:00.000-07:00

Before I married Emily, I worked summers for a Stroh’s Distributor in Canton. She was home with her parents in Columbus. Every weekend I would drive from Canton to Columbus to spend the weekend with her. And, of course, I would take her father a free case of Stroh’s beer. By the next weekend’s visit, that case would be empty and I would replace it with another.

While the beer took a chunk out of my weekly paycheck, plying her father with alcohol kept him from objecting to my seeing his little girl on a regular basis. In the end, he even gave his permission for me to marry her.

I have a warm spot in my heart for Stroh’s, because that is how I bought my wife.

Dapper Dan ...

2006-08-17T13:36:00.000-07:00

Here is a picture of Dapper Dan … er … Dapper George circa 1977. While I am not certain where he was going, I am certain that he was out to impress the ladies. And impress them he did! I am amazed he was still available when Chris finally reeled him in. What young lass in her right mind wouldn't want a bite of that hunk? Talk about a babe magnet ….

Of course if Dapper Dan had been reeled in circa 1977, he would have turned out like ……. Dapper Dan Junior … er … Dapper Jim.

Instead, he turned out like this!

The Eariliest Known Picture of Kevin

2006-08-16T11:09:00.000-07:00

This is the earliest picture I have of my son, Kevin.

It was taken at Emily’s baby shower in 1978.

Another Tugboat Picture

2006-08-14T09:46:00.000-07:00

I really like this picture of the tugboat working on the Monongahela River. It is perfect for showing my class when I talk about transportation modes. It is a heavily cropped image because the tug was along the opposite river bank. The weather finally cooperated. Now I need to get pictures of a railroad train and a cargo plane….

Rabbit Stalking

2006-08-13T07:38:00.000-07:00

Poor Rocky …. On our River Walks, there are tons of rabbits. At first, Rocky would chase them for all he was worth. The rabbits would simply jump to the tall weeds along the side of the gravel road, and Rocky would go right in after them.

It didn’t take very long for Rocky to realize that following them into the brush was useless. So he would just run at them and when they ran into the brush he would quit following.

Now Rocky has figured out that running after them is useless as well. So he “stalks” them very, very slowly. While they still run into the brush, he can often get pretty close before they scoot off. At least he gets to see them longer this way. Maybe one day he will actually catch one …… not!

Charlie Frye Gets Whacked ....

2006-08-09T09:39:00.000-07:00

I got a kick out of one drill at Browns’ Camp. The quarterbacks would go back to throw to a receiver, and a coach would wack them with a pad to try to break their concentration. This is a picture of Charlie Frye about to get whacked.

And this is a picture of Charlie actually getting whacked. How cool would it be to have that coaches job? And how quickly would he get fired if he actually hurt Charlie?

The Forecart ....

2006-08-08T13:45:00.000-07:00

On the way home from Browns’ Camp, Katie had me drive deep into Amish country to “look” at a Forecart to be pulled by both of her horses in a team of two. Of course “look” turned into “purchase”. Her first cart can be pulled by one horse at a time. This one can be pulled either by one or two horses at a time.

They loaded the cart into our truck with a forklift. That is where the story gets good. You will note that the cart is going in the truck sideways. That means that we can’t just roll it out when we get home…..

When we got home, we had no clue how to get it out of the truck. It was way too heavy for us to life or slide sideways. Katie had the idea if we could back the truck into the side of a hill, at least we wouldn’t have to drop it off the tail gate. Emily gave Katie permission to back the truck over her bushes and against the wall in our front yard. That made the drop about even with the top of the log wall, and less than a foot above ground beyond that. Katie gets credit for that.

My idea was to alternately roll each wheel a little bit back and forth in such a way as to gradually scootch the car out of the back of the truck. While it took a while, and many scootches, we finally got the cart with the leading tire on the tail gate. I get credit for that.

We were really stuck at that point. In order to turn the cart so it faced the back and could be rolled down that little drop onto the ground, the lead tire needed a little more room than was available with the tailgate. Emily got our Little Giant ladder and placed it next to the front passenger door of the truck. Then she got a metal ramp that goes with the ladder, and placed on end of the ramp on the log wall next to the tailgate, and one end on a step of the Little Giant ladder. That made the ramp an extension along side of the tailgate and wide enough for us to get the cart scootched to the point where we could turn the cart and roll it off of the tail gate onto the ground. Emily gets total credit for that.

Teamwork was the key, and now the Forecart is sitting in the garage waiting for Emily to make a cover for it. Then we will take it to the farm in the horse trailer. We could never get it back into the truck without a forklift!

Frye To Throw ....

2006-08-08T13:23:00.000-07:00

On Monday, Katie and I went to Browns’ Camp. It was hot and humid – exactly what a coach wants. But it was not what Katie and I wanted. Still, we gutted it out and had a fun time. This picture is of an offensive drill. Charlie Frye is going back to throw under the watchful eye of Head Coach Romeo Crennel in the background. Charlie looked bigger and stronger than last year. We will see if that translates into wins.

This picture is of Charlie Fry ready to launch the ball.

Unfortunately both Braylon Edwards and Kellen Winslow were left out of the practice as part of their rehabilitation. So Charlie had to throw to the likes of Joey Jurevicious, Dennis Northcutt, Frisman Jackson, and Travis Wilson.

And of course, we had to keep an eye on the Browns’ #1 draft pick, Number 95, Kamerion Wimbley.

Freezing Ohio Winters

2006-08-06T13:35:00.000-07:00

This is what happens to a dog if you leave it out in a frigid Ohio winter for too long. Even its eyebrows freeze. We put poor Gypsy out and forgot about her. He was out for an hour or so. She was not worse for the wear, but after that we started setting a timer with a buzzer whenever we put her outside. Forgetting her never happened again.

Katie's Favorite Horse

2006-08-05T07:02:00.000-07:00

As far back as I can remember, Katie has always had a special connection with horses. This Merry-Go-Round horse was one of her earliest favorites. On this particular carousel she only wanted to ride this one. So she would wait as many turns as necessary to be able to jump on this particular horse. This is one of my favorite Katie pictures, and brings back really fond memories.

My One True Love

2006-08-04T14:50:00.000-07:00

I can recognize her from any distance. Of course it helps if she is absolutely alone on a deserted beach. But even if she weren’t I can pick her out. I could even do it if I were deaf, dumb, and blind. I can sense her life force. We are one.

Emily never liked this picture because she says it makes her look bad. I love this picture because she is letting herself have fun. She is just writing in the sand without worrying what others might think. She is being the real person I get to see all the time. She is my life.

And of course, I get the outer beauty too. I am nothing without her. When that smile is directed at me, I wilt. I am hers forever. She is my one true love. Furthermore, having lived with her for many years since these pictures were taken, I have found that I love her even more with every passing day.

The Ceiling Fans

2006-08-04T14:28:00.000-07:00

Emily had been after Katie and me to replace the ceiling fan in the kitchen. The old one would no longer run, although the light still worked. Yesterday, Katie and I decided to do the project. Emily has a perm at the beauty parlor, so she let us go to Lowes and pick out a replacement ceiling fan. This Katie and I were willing to do.

At Lowes, Katie picked out a traditional looking ceiling fan. However, I put pressure on her to consider something more “modern”. With my magnetic personality, and superhuman powers of persuasion, I talked her into letting me get a fan with halogen spotlights for the lighting fixture. It was this one:

We brought it home and showed it to Emily. Again, with my magnetic personality, and superhuman powers of persuasion, I got Emily to agree that it was an OK replacement. Once I had complete clearance, Katie and I proceeded to spend the afternoon installing the fan. While we did this, Emily took a nap. When we were finished, we threw the breaker to give it electricity, and turned it on. Katie was immediately blinded by a halogen spotlight. So she began to point the spotlights in every conceivable direction and see if that helped.

The most interesting direction was when she pointed the lights toward the ceiling. Because the fan blades were spinning, these powerful halogen lights gave a strobe-like effect. The kitchen would pulse from lighter to darker. How cool was that?

Apparently not cool enough. Katie sank into a chair and said, “This will never work.” While I knew she was right, I held out hope that Emily would wake up and say it was OK. Maybe we could put horse blinders on Katie or something. So we waited for Emily to awaken.

She did, and quickly came to the same conclusion as Katie. In my desperation, I suggested moving it out our bedroom or the office. This time Katie and Emily weren’t buying. They summoned the will to defeat my magnet personality and superhuman powers of persuasion. Together they were able to do it. Had they been alone, I think I still could have won…….

So Katie and I disassembled the fan, put it back in the box, and returned it to Lowes. This time we took Emily along to pick out a fan. Emily and Katie picked one out and put it in the shopping cart. Then they asked my opinion. It was TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE to me because it had only one light bulb just like our old one. I wanted the kitchen to be brighter. So I pouted. That worked very well, and we started the hunt for another fan. Using my magnetic personality and superhuman powers of persuasion, coupled with the aforementioned pouting episode, I talked the girls into this one.

It held 1 100-watt halogen bulb, but it was the brightest ceiling fan in the store. Its blades were plastic and very short. It looked a lot like an airplane propeller. While it was very goofy, it served my function. That I could talk the women into this demonstrates that I have persuasive powers far beyond those of mortal man. Fortunately for me, before we checked out I told the women we needed to make sure that Lowes sold replacement halogen light bulbs for this thing. After all 100 watts is pretty powerful. So we went to the light bulb section and could not find one. Katie and Emily suggested I hunt down an employee and ask them if they carried the bulbs. This I proceeded to do. Alas, we were told that while Lowes did not carry the bulb, there should be an order sheet inside the box that would allow us to get them directly from the manufacturer. I was appalled. This one went back on the shelf immediately.

Perhaps the third time is a charm, because we then came up with this one.

It is a two-bulb fan – just like I wanted. Instead of installing the blades with this color, we used the white side so it would work with our white kitchen ceiling. I really like it because the kitchen is now much brighter due to the second bulb. Emily likes the quiet sound. Our old one would hum while it spun. Katie and I never noticed, but Emily did. This one is extremely quiet. You have to look at it to know the blades are moving. Katie just wanted the job to be done. It is. So it seems to work for everyone.

Katie and I are getting quite good at installing these fans. I am thinking of getting one for our bedroom. The breezes are really nice.

My Tugboat Picture

2006-08-03T08:07:00.000-07:00

This morning was beastly hot, and near 100% humidity as I walked my hounds along the Mon River. I had been hoping to get a good shot of a Tugboat pushing barges for my lecture on physical distribution. I had tried unsuccessfully earlier this summer, but today I got what I wanted. The picture is a little steamy in the background, but clear as a bell up front. In any event, it shows how the aggregate and coal-filled barges are transported.

In this picture the tugboat is bringing empty barges to be filled, and will take the filled barges back in a never-ending cycle. You can see the filled barges in the foreground, ready to be taken down river. But how do I know the barges in front of the tugboat are empty?

The answer is a simple one. Look at these barges filled with coal. Note how much of each barge is above water. Now compare that with the empty barges in front of the tugboat. The difference in the water line is striking.

Obviously you could not transport raw materials like this on rough water. The barges would swamp and sink very quickly. But rivers are almost never choppy. And yet, two barges sank in the Monongahela River not far from this spot just a few weeks ago. I have no idea what caused the River to be riley enough to swamp the barges, but sure enough it did.

Gypsy

2006-07-31T07:32:00.000-07:00

Gypsy was our dog before we had kids. She was a Border Collie mix, and was born under a corn crib. The owner was giving the pups away. When Emily’s horse died, I got Gypsy as a replacement love object. Emily and Gypsy bonded completely. Gypsy knew what Emily wanted before Emily said anything. They were best friends. They knew each other’s body language. But I also think Gypsy could understand English perfectly.

Then along came the Kevin. Gypsy had grown up without kids, so she had no idea what that little midget with the Frankenstein walk was all about. She tolerated Kevin more than anything else. But she never bit, or growled, or threatened him in any way.

And then came a Gelfling – Katie. Gypsy had raised Kevin, and now she had to do it all over again. This time she was better with the midget thing. She had seen it before. Also, Katie approached her a little differently than Kevin, as can be seen in a comparison of the pictures above.

Gypsy wasn’t much on looks, but she made up for it in brains. Gypsy was undoubtedly the smartest dog we ever owned. She was as good a friend as Emily ever had.

The Engineer & The Conductor

2006-07-30T13:41:00.000-07:00

Kevin was 3 and Katie was 1. They had just gotten a train for Christmas (with financial assistance from their Grandmother, Memaw). There were two rider cars, the engine and the passenger car. They had a couple other cars (flat car and caboose) that are not attached in this picture.

Anyway, Kevin thought that the Engineer was the best spot because he ran the train.

But Katie knew that the Conductor is the one who is really in charge. So it worked out fine.

The Tugboat

2006-07-27T07:03:00.000-07:00

I have been trying to get a picture of a tugboat on the Monongahela River to include in my lecture on physical distribution. I caught one yesterday, but the weather was overcast and the boat was not in a good position to get a nice picture. This is the original as it came out of the camera. I will have to keep watching and eventually get a good one.

I did crop it and try Photoshopping a little, but bad weather is still bad weather. My little Canon and I will continue to be on the lookout for Tugboats! I know there is a great shot just waiting for me to find it.

Before I Had Children ... I had Jim

2006-07-25T15:14:00.000-07:00

Florida …….1975. I had been married 3 years, and was 3 years from having our first child – Kevin. You might say I was exactly in the middle between marriage and kids. While I didn’t have kids, I had Jim. He accompanied Emily and me on a vacation to Florida.

For whatever reason, I agreed to let Jim bury me in the sand. I think he made me look pregnant.

Jim and I sailed great ships….

And fed monkeys ….

And when we needed to put him to sleep, we just put him in the back seat of the Dodge Colt and the hum of the tires knocked him right out. Truth be told, brothers don’t get any better than…… Jim.

Browns Camp

2006-07-24T07:45:00.000-07:00

It’s that time of year for NFL football. The Cleveland Browns open their training camp this Wednesday. At this point the Browns have 9 of 10 draft picks signed. Are you ready for some football?

Last year George joined us at Browns camp. It started with a great meal in George’s Tea Room the night before our venture to camp. There is nothing like fresh Ohio sweet corn. It was a fantastic start to a very fun adventure.

This is the entrance to Browns camp in Berea last year. Emily, George, and Katie are set to go. Katie has her Braylon Edwards jersey, and Emily has her Browns t-shirt. George needs to work on the Browns wardrobe.

We would obviously like to get back to Browns camp again this year. Unfortunately, it may be difficult to team up with George again because we have the end of July booked with Breyerfest and a wedding, and he has booked much of early August for Florida. (You have to be insane to book Florida in August – the hottest month of the year!)

Finally, the elf is back. The Browns have included him in this year’s camp logo. Katie isn’t fond of the little guy because she thinks he could be easily squashed like a bug. I like the little feller, because he is a link to the Browns’ past.

The Second Ride

2006-07-23T08:55:00.000-07:00

Katie’s second ride was less stressful on both Katie and Caleb. They both were much more comfortable with what was going on. Horses are not particularly fond of backing up. And the first outing, Caleb wasn’t too sure about backing up with that cart behind him. He had no way of knowing that it would keep backing up when he did. But this time he totally trusted Katie, and backed up just fine. Katie was much more relaxed in the cart. Both horse and driver seemed to be having a great time.

Unfortunately, it was a rainy day. The sky was overcast with rain clouds, so my pictures were not as bright as I would have liked. I had to do some photoshopping to make them publishable.

It started raining cutting our adventure short, and we had to quit for the day.

At the end of the ride, Katie walked Caleb back down the hill to the barn. Eventually, she will ride down the hill. But she is wisely making sure Caleb is very comfortable with his cart before going either up or down hills on board.

The Public Gaol

2006-07-22T06:27:00.000-07:00

Emily and I watched a TV series on Blackbeard, the Pirate. During that show, there was an episode where 17 of Blackbeard’s crew were held in the Williamsburg Public Gaol. It was actually filmed in the Williamsburg Gaol. That reminded me of our recent visit to Williamsburg, and my interest in the Gaol at that time.

Katie and I got a big kick out of the spelling, Gaol, and pronounced it “goal” for fun. The correct pronunciation is “jail” just as we pronounce it today.

The Gaol had two main parts. The big building in the rear is where the Gaoler lived, and had some indoor cells. Presumably women were kept in those cells. The two longer buildings in front of the Gaoler’s house are the outdoor cells. The cells were not intended for long-term confinement. One building was used to house prisoners awaiting trial for crimes, and the other building housed debtors. Debtors did not have to be housed with common criminals.

This picture shows the doors to the cells in one of the outdoor cell buildings. Multiple prisoners were kept in each cell. There was a fixed wooden boxy structure in the back corner that served as the toilet (no privacy for sure!). Presumably it stunk to high heavens in there when the cells were in use. The cell doors opened into a very small, walled exercise yard. The floors of the cells were made of strong wooden planks to prevent prisoners from digging out. I think they put straw on the floors for prisoners to sleep on.

Sentences in those days were typically fines, branding, flogging, or hanging. Presumably “cruel and unusual punishment” had a much different meaning in those days (although The Public Gaol was built and used for about 75 years before our constitution was written).

It was neat to be watching the TV show and suddenly realize that we were seeing in a place that was still fresh in our minds!

The First Ride!

2006-07-21T06:32:00.000-07:00

After several months of building her cart, Katie’s first ride was this morning! She is pictured behind Caleb, her Shire draft horse. He was fantastic at pulling Katie around. You would have thought that they were both raised Amish ….

Emily got up at 3:30 a.m., I got up at 3:45 a.m., and Katie got up at 4:00 a.m. For those who don’t get up that early, it is still dark. We had a breakfast of pancakes, and then headed out. Katie and Emily went to the stable and I walked the hounds, in the dark, along the river. After walking the hounds, I dropped them off at home and headed for the stable. I got there just as Katie was starting her training session.

First Katie walked behind the cart and let Caleb get used to it. Then the big moment arrived and she got on board. We couldn’t have hoped for a better first ride. He went at the speed she told him to, turned perfectly on the “gee” and “haw” commands, and stood still when asked. He was an astonishingly good boy.

That said, it should be noted that he was astonishingly good because Katie is such a GREAT driver. She knows when to be firm, when to encourage, and when to praise. Her commands are black and white, no shades of grey. The horse knows exactly what she wants. Katie is definitely in control.

The picture seems cloudy in the background because it was a foggy morning. It was taken around 7:00 a.m. The camera was the Nikon D100 using my 70–200mm lens.

Clouds over Morgantown

2006-07-20T07:35:00.000-07:00

Emily called Katie and me out to the back yard to watch the clouds as they moved in, framed by the evening sun. Of course, that required a camera in hand. The result is a picture of Mother Nature painting the sky.

Some Things Never Change .....

2006-07-19T16:09:00.000-07:00

Here is Seamstress Emily slaving away at her sewing machine circa 1973.

And here is Seamstress Emily slaving away at her sewing machine circa 2006. It is clear that 33 years have changed her very little!

The only difference I see is that she is now facing the opposite way.

The Cart Stand

2006-07-18T12:37:00.000-07:00

Once the cart was finished, MCK needed a “stand” to support the shafts when the cart is not in use. She got some PVC pipe and connecting pieces of various types. Using only a hacksaw, MCK created a great shaft stand. It looks even better without the towels draped over it.

Prior to her making the shaft stand, the shafts were supported by saw horses. As soon as the cover is finished, the cart will be transported to the stable and introduced to the horses.

The Cover

2006-07-17T11:51:00.000-07:00

A finished cart requires a magnificent cover to keep it looking nice. Emily is the master craftsman on this project. Emily has been working night and day, glued to her sewing machine in MCK’s sweat shop. The going rate is $0.05 per hour with no benefits. Emily is one amazing seamstress!

Our CPA - Jennifer Cook, Superstar!

2006-07-15T18:31:00.000-07:00

We just found out that Jen passed her CPA exam! w00t! All that remains is a few hours of course work and the certification is hers! The family congratulates our superstar, Jen!

As for the picture, it is a very small part of my favorite picture of Jen. It was taken by world-class photojournalist, Jim, at Jen and Kevin’s wedding. As presented, the picture is very highly cropped and then dramatically enlarged to get just Jen since today is her day. You go, girl.

By the way, that look is for Kevin. What you can’t see in this picture is that Jen is holding Kevin’s hands, and looking into his eyes as Kevin pledges his eternal love and devotion in their wedding vows.

Emily's Honeymoon

2006-07-15T11:30:00.000-07:00

We didn’t really have a honeymoon as such. Emily and I got married on a weekend in 1972 shortly after graduation, and then I had to start work on my new job that coming week So we only had a couple of days in Columbus where we got married. Of course we didn’t have any money for a honeymoon even if we would have had the time.

We went to a Columbus restaurant called the Showboat Landing. That was all she got for marrying me. Looking back, I have often wished I could have given Emily a spectacular honeymoon. She certainly deserved far better than she got. And although we have gone many places together since – none of them truly take the place of what should have been.

I am smarter now. And if I had it to do all over again, I would have told my company that I was getting married and was not starting work for two weeks – end of topic. If they didn’t like it, I would have found another, better job. Then I would have borrowed the money necessary to treat Emily to the honeymoon she deserved. Unfortunately there are no do-overs. So no honeymoon is a screw-up I just have to live with.

Fortunately for me, Emily was more interested in me than in a honeymoon. And she has given me 34 years (and counting) of married bliss. There is no luckier man on the planet.

Finished Cart!

2006-07-14T04:58:00.000-07:00

The cart is finished! w00t! These are the two women in my life and they will be the ones riding all over the farm in Katie’s cart. The keen eye will note that MCK has her emergency knife on a lanyard around her neck. This is a safety precaution and she will wear it whenever she is driving her horses.

A little more of the finished cart can be seen with MCK in the driving position and MGMD in the passenger position. Tomorrow we plan to take it out and let the horses see what they think….

We still have a little accessorizing to do, but the cart itself is definitely finished.

In a sense completion of the project brings some sadness to MGMD. I had the time of my life working with Katie on this project. I thank her from the bottom of my heart for sharing all that time with her Papa.

The Fender

2006-07-13T12:31:00.000-07:00

The last step before any accessorizing is the installation of the fenders. It took a lot of precision to get these mounted exactly where we wanted, and so that they were symmetrical when looked at from the front. Of course, the holes in the metal were not consistent, so we really had to adjust a lot to get it just right!

The Seats

2006-07-13T09:43:00.000-07:00

MCK thinks it is looking like a horse-drawn cart, even with only the driver’s seat in place!

Here are both seats in place, looking from the rear of the cart. The left, or passenger, seat folds up in order to climb in to the driving position.

Here are the seats looking from the front. Our next step is to put on the fenders. That will complete the cart so far as usability goes. Then comes some real fun. We are going to accessorize! I am thinking of making two little boxes to be placed on the shafts right behind the dash board. That will make them easily accessible to the driver on one side and the passenger on the other. I also want to make a bigger box to fit under the driver’s seat. It could be used to hold some sandwiches and drink for a picnic on a long drive. And of course we will have to mount the buggy whip holder.

2006-07-13T05:26:00.000-07:00

This picture depicts the artful directions given by MGMD as MCK installs the dash board on the cart. The dash was installed with two metal braces holding the dash to the shaft.

Here is a picture of the dash from the rear. Note that the reign rail has been attached to the top of the dash. The trained eye will also note a block of wood high atop two metal posts. This is part of the seat assembly. We plan on doing the seat next, and have a bit of a start on that project (the reason why will be explained in my next post).

Flip the Cart

2006-07-12T03:46:00.000-07:00

It is now time to flip the cart for the last time. Rickshaw Katie is pulling it out of the garage. But with the slats assembled it is too large to be able to flip by simply rotating the shafts over the wheels as we did before.

So this time we incorporated a pair of old car ramps. That gives us the height to flip the cart so it is right-side up. MGMD keeps the wheels from rolling back down the ramp while MCK flips the cart.

And then back to the garage for the dashboard, seats, and fenders.

2006-07-11T09:20:00.000-07:00

The cart’s wooden parts needed to be wrapped with vinyl where it would be rubbed by the horse or straps. There were three such points. The first to be wrapped was a long section of each shaft where the horse is likely to rub. In order to do this properly, MGMD was replaced by TBM (top boss mom). MGMD’s lack of experience was so debilitating, that TBM had to substitute to make this portion of the assembly even acceptable. As it turns out, TBM’s assistance made this assembly perfect!

The vinyl was tacked along one edge with tacks spaced exactly 1” apart. TBM had MGMD hold a ruler so that MCK could place each tack perfectly. Are you beginning to see why this came out perfectly with TBM in charge?

Then TBM used pliers to stretch the vinyl extremely tightly around the wooden shaft, until MCK pounded in each nail. Again, are you seeing why this came out perfectly?

MCK is obviously pleased with the wrapping of both shafts. This process took a very long time, and around 100 tacks.

The second wrap point was down the shaft toward the cart. It was done in exactly the same way, except that the vinyl wraps were only about 8” long. They were used to keep the reigns from rubbing the wood where a strap holds them in place. This was also done on both shafts, and was much easier than the first wrap.

The third wrap was on the singletree. It was already attached to the cart. Rather than remove it for wrap assembly, MCK and TBM got down on their knees and worked closely together in a very back-braking process. In the above picture, TBM is very tightly stretching the vinyl with a pair of pliers while MCK tacks it in place.

The finished wrap assembly was a fantastic example of world-class craftsmanship!

The Belly Cake

2006-07-11T06:06:00.000-07:00

Every year the brothers three (aka The Three Amigos), and their families get together the first weekend after the 4th of July to work on the MARS Simulations project. A tradition is to have a belly cake. This year’s belly cake is pictured above. The cake got its unusual name because last year while carrying it to the dining room table, I almost dropped it. But I was able to save the day by pressing it against my belly. While there was an indentation in the cake, it was still edible. It has thereafter been called the belly cake.

This year’s meeting was a fantastic success, although we most sincerely missed Kevin, Jen, Robbie, and Mike.

Jim was kind enough to send a picture of the original belly cake. So I used his sloppy framer for the picture. It seemed to fit the subject, if you get my meaning. Thanks, Jim……….

Upright

2006-07-10T03:06:00.000-07:00

After flipping the cart, this is what it looks like upright. To enter the cart, you step on the slats from the rear. This is a nice safety measure since you are not boarding in front of the wheels!

The major components missing from the cart are the seats, dash board, and fenders. But before we can get to those, we must put wraps on the long shafts where they will rub on the horse. It makes them very smooth and protects both the shafts and the horse.

Being close to completion is very exciting.

Flipping The Cart

2006-07-09T11:39:00.000-07:00

It became a major project to flip the cart over after completing the assembly of the the wheels, slats, springs, and what not. MCK and MGMD are working together in these pictures to accomplish that feat so that the cart can be worked on from the top, rather than from the bottom..

Wheels

2006-07-07T04:21:00.000-07:00

The wheel assembly was done it two parts. First the wheel bearing had to be packed. This required some learning on our part because neither of us had ever packed a bearing, MCK read books on the subject, and MGMD spoke with an employee of Advance Auto Parts. Together, the procedure was set. It was up to MCK to actually pack the bearings with axle grease. She did a fine job, for sure!

The wheels went on the axle, followed by the packed wheel bearings, and then the nuts. Each nut was held in place with a cotter pin through the shaft. And finally, the hubcaps were screwed on the wheels. Hallelujah – we were another major step closer to our finished cart!

Slats

2006-07-06T04:28:00.000-07:00

Next came the assembly of the slats. The careful observer will note that MCK and MGMD color coordinated their shirts to mark the “red letter day”. It was a special day because putting on the slats was a major step forward as you will see in the last picture.

MGMD is acting as a clamp, quality control expert, and countersink depth judge. MCK is doing the actual labor and maintains total responsibility for the quality of the finished product.

This was a very tedious process. There are 21 slats on the cart. Each bolt required 3 drillings, and there are two bolts on each slat. As a result MCK had to measure and very precisely drill 21x2x3= 126 times.

In the picture above, MCK is executing the first of three required drillings from the underside of the slat to mark where the bolt will go through. We had to drill from the underside because we used the attachment holes in the metal frame (already in place) to mark the spot for the holes in the slats. This pencil mark was on the bottom of the slats since we held the slats in place to make the mark.

Then MGMD would flip the slat over, and MCK would use the hole we just drilled as a guide for countersinking so that the carriage bolt would lie flat against the wood. MGMD would judge the depth of the countersink hole as described in the earlier “countersink” post.

Having drilled the countersink to the appropriate depth, MCK now used a drill bit the width of the shaft of the carriage bolt to make the final hole through the board.

Each slat was carefully placed to match the corresponding hole in the metal frame. Then the bolts were inserted and tightened. Finally, it looked like it could become a cart! We were very excited at this point because we were ready to put the wheels on next.

The Axle

2006-07-05T04:46:00.000-07:00

The axle was an interesting assembly task. It attaches to the leaf springs. However, there a a little bump in the leaf spring right about where MGMD’s right hand is holding the end of the tape. That bump fits in a hole in the axle to keep the axle from sliding left or right as the cart moves. Each leaf spring has a similar bump. The problem is – there is hole in the axle itself. So MCK had to make two of these holes at exactly the correct position in the metal axle. There was no room for error if the axle was to be held firmly in position.

MGMD required a minimum of 4 measurements and one drill this time. Katie is pictured wearing safety glasses to protect her eyes from the metal shards as she drills these retaining holes. A keen eye will note a little piece of chalk on the rubber mat adjacent to where Katie is drilling. It is there because Emily came up with a brilliant suggestion. After Katie drilled the first hole, Emily had her chalk the bump on the leaf spring very heavily. Katie inserted the hole in the axle onto one leaf spring and then laid it down in position on the chalked leaf spring. When we picked it up again, the appropriate position was perfectly marked with chalk for drilling. Emily rocks!

With the axle firmly in place, we were ready to put on the slats. w00t!

Leaf Spring Suspension

2006-07-04T05:01:00.000-07:00

Our next step was to assemble the leaf spring suspension as can be seen in the picture above..

Long before we got to this assembly stage, Katie had totally disassembled the leaf springs and painted both sides with primer and then two coats of Rustoleum. She used the Irwin clamps to reassemble them instead of using MGMD.

Because MGMD was not involved in the reassembly of the Leaf Springs, he had a very, very critical eye during assembly – looking for even the smallest of errors to crab about. This fact should be clearly evident to the trained eye as it is obviously depicted in the picture above. MCK seemed to be either oblivious to MGMD’s attitude, or extremely tolerant of it. My guess is that the latter is the most likely explanation for her smile.

One side of the leaf spring is bolted to the shaft, and the other side will be bolted to the axle. In the picture above, MCK has already bolted the spring to the shaft, and is preparing the top side for the axle assembly.

Up to this point, it was very easy to flip the cart over so that we could work on either the top or bottom as we saw fit. Once the leaf springs were attached, we could no longer do this. The cart remained in the upside down position until the wheels had been installed.

The Singletree, Whippletree, Whiffletree, or Swingletree

2006-07-03T04:53:00.000-07:00

One step in the cart assembly was installing the singletree. In the picture, the arrow is pointing to the singletree. It is a piece of wood that swivels and so must be attached using a metal canister that has the ability to rotate on the horizontal axis. In order to make certain the singletree does not rotate too far, straps are placed around the singletree and the cross piece connecting the two shafts. One of the straps is magnified in the circle on the left.

Unfortunately, the instructions only told us to do this – but how exactly how it should be done. MCK had to figure it out taking the parts and visualizing the end result before beginning. MGMD had to watch and say, “Um hummmm, now I see ….” Presumably she did it correctly because it looks good to MGMD.

The purpose of the singletree is to attach the harness traces so that the horse can pull the cart. It swivels a little bit so that the horse can swing it’s butt while it walks without making the cart crazily wiggle from side to side with each horse step. Pretty ingenious, huh?

The singletree is also called a whippletree, whiffletree, or swingletree, depending on the region of the United States where you live.

At this point, the cart is rightside up on the saw horses.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, GEORGE!

2006-07-02T06:33:00.000-07:00

We interrupt my Horse-drawn Cart series with a shout-out to brother, George. As usual, I am a day late, and a dollar short. My most sincere apologies, little brother. Of course I know his birthday is July 1, but it got away from me.

George is a world-class fisherman, and Christine’s best love.

We are all thinking of you and looking forward to seeing you this Friday! You rock, George.

With love,

The West Virginia Cooks

Countersink

2006-07-02T04:33:00.000-07:00

There are approximately 100 carriage bolts holding Katie’s horse-drawn cart together. A carriage bolt has a rounded head with a square metal part at the top of the shaft just below the round head. It’s purpose is to keep the bolt from turning when it is placed into a square metal hole. However, these carriage bolts were going into wood. Hence the square part of the bolt’s shaft would have kept the head about a quarter inch above the wood surface. The solution to this problem is to make the top part of the hole wide enough to allow the square part of the shaft to drop below the surface of the wood. This process is known as countersinking.

Assembling the 100 carriage bolts into the cart required three drillings each. First, a small bit was used to center the hole for the bolt in the wood. It was drilled completely through the wood using a measurement on the bottom. Then a “countersinking” bit was used to drill a hole in the top just deep enough so that the rounded head on the carriage bolt would lay flat against the wood. The first drilling was used as a guide for this second drilling. Countersinking is what Katie is doing in the picture above. The third drilling was to drill a hole the width of the bolt’s shaft through the center of the countersunk hole.

Needless to say, this was a tedious process, but one that MCK performed with consummate skill. As MGMD, it was my task to visually estimate whether the countersunk hole was deep enough so that the bolt head would lie flat against the wood surface. I became quite skilled at this. If you could imagine me looking at the hole and saying, “Deeper …. deeper ….. deeper ….. woah! ….. Drat!…too deep …. sorry!” OR ” Deeper …. deeper ….. deeper ….. woah! ….. Rats!…not deep enough …. sorry!” about a hundred times, you would understand how I came to be so proficient at doing so.

Replaced ......

2006-07-01T05:17:00.000-07:00

Even a Grease Monkey can be replaced.

At a very early stage in the process, my clamping responsibilities were reassigned by Master Craftsman Katie (MCK) to a simple set of Irwin clamps. MCK said it was not because of inferior clamping performance on my part, but because these Irwin clamps simply required less maintenance. I was simply too high maintenance for the clamping task.

I asked MCK if the Irwin clamps could inquire if she had measured twice before drilling once. She informed me that those duties were still my province. It turns out I had not been replaced - just promoted. I became Master Grease Monkey Dad (MGMD). As such, my duties were expanded to supervise the Irwin clamps.

Iam proud of my hard-earned promotion.

The Grease Monkey

2006-06-30T01:01:00.000-07:00

When we were kids, George and I had a name for a person who was nothing more than a helper to a much superior, skilled craftsman. We called that person a “grease monkey”.

In the Horse-drawn Cart building business, Katie is the master craftsman; and I am her grease monkey. You may note in the picture that Katie is organizing the work-flow process, measuring, and drilling; while I am doing my best to be a darned good clamp.

The intensity with which I am clamping demonstrates the quality of my grease monkey skill set. The intensity with which Katie is drilling demonstrates the quality of her master craftsman skill set. We make a pretty good team since our skill sets are complimentary. And so long as neither of us enters the others area of expertise, our distinctive competencies remain extremely high.

By way of example, as a fully competent grease monkey, it is my task to say, “Master Craftsman Katie, measure twice – drill once.” And it is her obligation to reply, “Grease Monkey, I have already measured twice – concentrate on your clamping.”

Katie's Horse-drawn Cart

2006-06-29T03:52:00.000-07:00

Over the next several days, these pictures will astound you. Katie has been wanting a horse-drawn cart, and so she decided to make one herself. She got the parts in a kit, and oh what a job lay before her. Every wood part needed sanded, primed, stained, and varnished. Every metal part needed primed and then painted with Rustoleum (including the heads of all the bolts!). Each piece, both wood and metal, received multiple coats at each step. Katie wanted her cart to be perfect. You cannot imagine the hours she spent just getting ready for assembly. An finally, at long last, and after countless agonizing hours of preparation, the assembly has begun!

These pictures show the beginning of assembly. The “shafts” are the long pieces laying across four saw horses. There is a wood piece connecting the two shafts to the rear. And to the front of the shafts is a “spacer” piece of wood that will be discarded once the cart is sufficiently assembled such that the shafts can no longer move apart.

The cart is going to be partially assembled upside down. At some point, she will have to turn it over.

Looking at those pictures, it is difficult to imagine that Katie will soon have a cart for her horses to pull.

Scottsdale Arizona

2006-06-28T05:46:00.000-07:00

A while back I did a lot of consulting. When possible, I would take my family with me. That was the case in 1994 when I was putting on some training programs for Kmart. I went to a meeting in Scottsdale, Arizona and took the family along. I got us a jeep tour of the area so we could see the desert scenery up close, and personal. In this picture Emily is to the back, Kevin to the left, and Katie is in the middle. It is hard to see how the Indians could eek out a living in this desert setting.

Here is a picture that includes the Jeep we toured in, as well as our guide next to the Jeep. She wore western pistols in a holster to add to the ambiance. That is legal in Arizona, and we saw several guides doing it.

Mama's Little Helper

2006-06-27T05:41:00.000-07:00

The year was 1980, and Kevin was two years old. His Mama is the most fantastic mother any kid could ever want. She had activities for him from sunrise to sunset. I am certain that she raised his IQ several points because of the constant stimulation he received as an infant. This is just one of a myriad of examples.

Kevin was baking cakes at age 2. Emily would put the Kitchen Aid mixer on the floor so Kevin could reach it. He would dump in the mix. Emily would measure the oil and Kevin would pour it in. She even let him break the eggs and put them in. I remember his technique needed a little work. Rather than crack them on the side of the bowl and pull them apart, he would just hold them over the bowl and squeeze really hard. His Mama helped him pick out the shell fragments. Emily would pour the batter into the pan, but then give Kevin back the bowl with a spatula to eat what was left on the sides. From this picture it would appear that he got more on himself than in his tummy.

We did not believe in day care, so Emily gave up her career to be a stay-at-home Mom. It was absolutely, positively the right thing to do. If there was one thing our kids could count on growing up, it was that their Mother was there whenever they needed her.

Daddy's Girl

2006-06-26T02:42:00.000-07:00

The year was 1984, and I had my very own four-year-old daughter. Daughter’s hold a special place in their father’s hearts. And mine was certainly no exception to that rule. Here is Katie on my lap while we watched the ducks along the bank of a pond. She has grown more like me with every passing year. Soon, she will be a college professor too. Watching her grow is like watching myself all over again. Only she does it better than I ever did.

Super Kids & Wonder Mom

2006-06-25T06:10:00.000-07:00

This is one of my favorite family pictures. These three people are my life. Every year, Emily would make the kids’ Halloween consumes. That year (1982) was the year of the Superman costume. We had been married 10 years, Kevin was 4 and Katie was 2.

A father couldn’t ask for better kids. My only complaint is that they would tire of playing with Dad. At some point Kevin would say, “You’re bothering me,” and Katie would say, “Go play with Mom”. But what they couldn’t say was that their father didn’t have time for them.

The only thing missing from this picture is Emily dressed as Wonder Woman. Aside from the fact that I would have died to see her in that costume, she is a wonder woman. She raised our kids to be the best that they could be, and she turned my life from beach bum to college professor. She is steadfast and the rock upon which the family was built. She is my best love.

MARS

2006-06-24T04:00:00.000-07:00

I few years back I formed a little company that creates and sells marketing simulations for the academic market. Going in on the venture were Jim and Katie. I could do the design and equations, but couldn’t program. They brought the programming expertise. And we have had a great time marketing our products. The picture above is my head superimposed on the planet MARS. I made it just to learn some things about Photoshop, but liked it well enough to keep it and use it as an icon from time to time.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, JIM!

2006-06-23T03:37:00.000-07:00

As a tribute to Jim on his birthday, I thought I would post a picture of the Three Amigos. Jim is on the left, George in the middle, and I am on the right. This picture was taken in 1973 when Jim was just a teenager.

In order to understand this picture, you have to realize that people have “auras” that only psychics can see. But through the wonder of Photoshop, I was able to bring these auras out for your edification. The more brightly an aura shines, the greater the potential of the human being within.

It should be intuitively obvious, even to the most casual observer, that Jim’s aura is significantly brighter than that of his older brothers. George and I were too dumb to see it at the time, but the ensuing 33 years have demonstrated unequivocally that the aura never lies. Jim is by far, a better man than I.

That having been said, looking at the same picture without the auras, one can easily see that I (furthest right) am by far the coolest of the three. Perhaps that is God’s way of compensating for the fact that my aura is the dimmest. Alas, looking cool is not the equivalent of possessing a bright aura. However, being hyper cool is a babe magnet. Think about it, if you were a really hot babe back in the 70’s, which of these three hunks would you choose?

If you are observant, you will have already noticed that George is actually holding all of the fish. Jim and I are simply holding on to the ends of the stringer – the fishing equivalent of riding George’s coat tails. That is because George caught all of the fish. It is no surprise that George went on to become the world-class fisherman.

Jim was more interested in thinking great thoughts, planning his pathway to future success, and eating Pringles Potato Chips than throwing a line into the water.

I spent my time focusing on the hottest, coolest, most awesome babe I had ever seen – my wife. And if you look very carefully to the right of the picture you will conclude that Jim is, once again, thinking great thoughts, planning his pathway to future success, and eating rather than throwing a line into the water.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, JIM!!!!

Birthday Boy, Jim

2006-06-22T05:02:00.000-07:00

This is a “Fresco” filter on a thumbnail sized photograph of the birthday boy. First, I had to dramatically enlarge the thumbnail, and then I added the Fresco effect. While today is not his birthday, if memory serves, it comes tomorrow. However, I wanted to be the first to say “HAPPY BIRTHDAY” to the world-class photojournalist. Therefore I jumped the gun. If I am wrong, I bet I hear about it.

Emily

2006-06-21T08:14:00.000-07:00

I am still in my artsy-fartsy phase. This is a picture of my best love using a “Poster Edges” filter. It was taken back when we were dating with a film camera and then scanned to digitize it.

I don’t know if she will like it or not, but I do. I guess that is the way it is with artists – they create for themselves. Unfortunately, that doesn’t always sell. Still, since these pictures are not for sale, I can do as I please.

Christine

2006-06-20T19:17:00.000-07:00

At every event, there is always someone who stands out in a crowd. See if you can find that person in the picture above ……. yep – it is the lovely and talented Christine.

Brother George wrote me a very complimentary email on the pictures I took at Bill and Vonnie’s renewal of vows. In return, I tried to do something nice for him. This is a picture of his beloved wife. I did my best to make an “artsy” picture for him. This is a photograph taken at the event, but then I used an “artistic watercolor filter” on it to make it look like a painting. I added the frame, and voila!

As beautiful as Chris looks in this picture, it does not do her justice.

Renewal of Vows ..... Part Two

2006-06-19T11:24:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, I went to the renewal of vows for Bill and Yvonne Hill, as I said. Brother George wants to see some more pictures. So …. here is the happy couple renewing their vows.

And here are George and Christine who will be doing exactly the same thing, but on their 25th wedding anniversary – if Chris has her way (and you just KNOW that she will). I told George, on the QT, that he should promise her that he will do it on their 50th. At least that way there is a chance no one will live to have to see it.

Of course, Bill looked like he was having a GREAT time. So, maybe George will too!

And, of course, I would gladly do it a million times for the woman I love!

On the topic of my photography, I struggled mightily with the lighting. It was a combination of natural light and incandescent light. Also, I should have played more with the f-stop settings to get a variety of focus areas. I am learning, but the poor photography I leave in my wake is extremely frustrating. I want to be as good as Katie and Jim RIGHT NOW!

A Renewal of Vows ......

2006-06-18T19:45:00.000-07:00

Today Emily and I drove to Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, to witness the 50th wedding anniversary and the renewal of wedding vows for my cousin Vonnie Hill and her husband Bill. It was a wonderful service and reception afterward. I kept wishing Jim or Katie were that to take the pictures instead of me. I felt so very amateurish. Still, what I got is likely better than nothing. My plan is to take the best ones and print them. Then I am going to put them in a small album and mail them to Vonnie and Bill. Fifty years of marriage is a remarkable feat these days. They are two of the nicest people you would ever want to meet. Hence it is not so surprising that they have been able to stay happily married for a half century!

Happy Anniversary!

2006-06-17T05:25:00.000-07:00

Today is our 34th wedding anniversary. To say that I feel like the luckiest man on the planet is an understatement.

Because I get to spend the rest of my life with Emily.

This picture of Emily was taken on a beach in Florida, and is one of my two favorite pictures of her. It brings back such great memories, and her face has pulled my heart strings from day one.

This picture ranks as my all-time favorite. We took it at the Columbus Zoo. I think it is because Emily is wearing her hair exactly the way she had it the first time I saw her. This is the woman who stole my heart in a nanosecond.

And here we are in Florida with our picture taken by world-class photojournalist, Jim Cook. I believe this was his first “artsy” photograph, and I love it. For 34 years, I have been blessed beyond all understanding.

There Was A Time, Back In My Prime ....

2006-06-16T04:04:00.000-07:00

This was my dorm room as a resident assistant in the Towers Residence Halls at Kent State University. I was working on my MBA, and had this “apartment” all to myself. I also had no money. The furniture came with the apartment. The bookshelf consisted of concrete blocks and unfinished boards. The pictures were mainly glued jigsaw puzzles. And the pictures behind me were caricatures of Emily and me. But I was young, full of vinegar, and in my prime ……

I was also the luckiest man on earth, because I was engaged to her. The pink pig on the bookshelf was hers. The toothbrush and tooth on the bookshelf were made for some kind of an art project. She was the light of my life, and has only come to shine brighter over our 34 years of marriage. I am nothing without her.

And here, she is about to feed me. I had a small refrigerator, a stove, and a toaster oven. Oh, my goodness! I had Emily to love and food to eat! My life was remarkable ….

2006-06-15T06:57:00.000-07:00

It is rapidly approaching our annual MARS Corporate Meeting in Morgantown, West Virginia. It is a time that family members get together to review the past year and plan for the future. It is held the first weekend after the 4th of July holiday. It used to be held over the 4th of July, but was moved one week so there would be no driving on that dangerous weekend; what with Jim driving in from Kentucky, George driving from Ohio, and Kevin driving from Michigan..

This picture is from last year’s corporate event. While there is business, there is also some time for recreational bonding. This is an example of such bonding. My brother, George, and my son, Kevin, are engaged in some pre-golf smack talk. My other brother, Jim, and his son, Rob, are enjoying the bravado. Jim, being the world-class photojournalist is always aware of the camera; while the rest are oblivious to its intrusion.

This was a special event because it was the first time that George decided to play with the group. He was astonishingly good after a prolonged layoff from the game. We are all looking forward to bonding again this year.

A Boy And His Mom

2006-06-14T08:29:00.000-07:00

On Kevin’s last visit we went for the Riverwalk together. Kevin brought his Boxer, Kaiser. I enjoyed lagging behind a little and watching Kevin and his Mom – just like when he was little. Except this time there were 4 dawgs along. Nike is lead dog. Rocky is behind Kevin. Kaiser is right next to Kevin and exactly in front of Rocky. And Conor is back with me taking the picture. It is ALWAYS special to have the boy home.

The Tadpole and the Silver Bullfrog

2006-06-13T12:31:00.000-07:00

Katie and I have taken to riding on the Rail Trail. She decided to purchase a Tadpole for our excursions, and I have a regular bike. Katie’s is a three-wheeled contraption with two wheels front and one wheel in the back. She finds it extremely comfortable to ride. I put up with the hard seat. We are hoping that Emily will choose to join us at some point. She gets Katie’s old bike (or the Tadpole if she prefers). Since Katie has a Tadpole, I call my bike the Silver Bullfrog – get it?

Here is Katie riding along the rail trail about 4 miles out. I took the picture with one hand while riding the Silver Bullfrog behind her. She listens to music while peddling, and I just watch the world go by, lost in my thoughts. We chat quite a bit too. The riding experience is good, and good for us too!

There Is No Greater Love ....

2006-06-13T07:14:00.000-07:00

A mother’s love knows no bounds…..

Today on our Riverwalk, as we approached the river, there was a mother duck and her ducklings on the bank. As soon as she saw the three hounds she let out a warning quacking, and her babies took off for the middle of the river like they were shot from a rifle. I never saw baby ducks move so fast. As they moved toward the middle of the river they fanned out making a nice fan-shaped series of wakes in their path.

The mother stayed along the bank and tried her best to get the hounds to follow her away from the babies. Truth be told, none of the dogs had any interest in either her or her babies. And had they shown the least interest, I would have reigned them in. But she couldn’t have known that. So she kept quacking, swimming, and flapping her wings to get the hounds to follow her. As we proceeded along the river, and away from her babies, she went right along with us quacking and flapping. When we stopped, she stopped with us, but continued her frantic entreaties for the hounds to follow her. Once we got about 50 yards from where the ducklings entered the water, she decided they were safe. So she calmed down and flew back to them. It was extremely interesting animal behavior to watch.

It also reminded me that there is no greater love on earth than a mother’s love for her babies. This mother was willing to lay down her life so that her ducklings might live.

As for the picture, it was shot with my pocket Canon. I wasn’t able to play with any settings, and it is far from the best picture I have taken. But it was handy enough to get a picture of a mother’s love. And because of the subject matter, I couldn’t bring myself to use my usual framer that shows the Camera and settings. Instead I paid tribute to this mother by using Jim Cook’s Sloppy Frame 2. She was deserving of nothing less.

The Retrieve

2006-06-12T04:12:00.000-07:00

Yesterday morning, on our Riverwalk, Nike (the Lab) asked me to throw a stick into the river for him to retrieve. His body language makes it very clear what he wants. So I picked up a stick and threw it into the Monongahela River. Off went Nike, and off went Rocky. Nike is the faster swimmer with his webbed feet, and got to the stick first. But Rocky is the more determined and wrestled the stick away from Nike. The picture catches them on their return. Nike has loved water from his youth, but Rocky has had to learn to tolerate it. It was a slow evolution, but now Rocky will even throw himself into the mighty Mon River when properly motivated.

Yesterday evening, Rocky treed a raccoon. He has done that to squirrels many times, and even to a ground hog once. Now he can add a raccoon notch to his gun. The raccoon was quite the climber. He went right up a tall tree to the very top. When he ran out of tree, he just hung on waiting for us to leave. The irritating part is that I didn’t have my camera – rats! I had obviously taken it in the morning, and almost took it again. But I figured there wouldn’t be much new to shoot the same day and didn’t. I need to make a rule that if the Nikon doesn’t go, the Canon does.

Yesterday was Rocky’s adventure day.

Conor's Mirror Image

2006-06-11T06:10:00.000-07:00

I wish I could take credit for this shot, but alas all the credit goes to Emily. Maybe she should be the photojournalist. This morning we took the hounds for our Riverwalk. I took my camera hoping to get some pictures of barges loaded with aggregate, but the Tugboat had come last night and taken them away – rats! On the way home, Emily asked for the camera to take a picture of Conor. He likes to ride with his head out the window. She said that she was going to take the picture using the outside mirror – and voila. She was using aperture priority and an f-stop at 2.8. Her idea was to get Conor in focus and blur the background. It worked amazingly well. His eyes are unfortunately squinted because of the wind from the car movement. However, I think for what she was trying to get, this is a dynamite picture. You go, girl.

Emily's Garden

2006-06-10T16:31:00.000-07:00

Emily is ever working. Her garden stands as a visual testament to that fact.

It is lush from daily watering, weedless from regular maintenance, growing perfectly from fertilization and soil loosening, and of course, laid out in very neat rows. From right to left are two tall, staked rows of two different pea varieties, a row of carrots, a row of lettuce, and then several tomato plants.

Of course her pool hasn’t a speck of dirt, there are no dandelions in the yard, and there are immaculately manicured flower beds, baskets, and pots all around the property.

I am exhausted from just seeing the results of her efforts!

Caleb & Dakota

2006-06-10T02:55:00.000-07:00

The boarding stable where I sometimes walk the hounds is the home for Katie’s two horses – Caleb and Dakota. Caleb is the Shire (draft horse) on the right, and ‘Kota Pony is the Quarter Horse on the left. Since Katie brings them in together and deals with them at the same time, they have come to see themselves as belonging together. So even though there are several horses in the herd, they can often be seen together as brothers.

Caleb is very alert and will almost always watch us when we are around. ‘Kota is less interested in our whereabouts and the picture above reflects the personalities of both. It might just be that Caleb is more interested in treats, and he knows we are the providers.

Boarding Stable

2006-06-09T08:12:00.000-07:00

This morning Katie and I took the hounds out to the boarding stable where she keeps her two horses. I decided to tote my trusty D200 with the 70–200mm lens attached. This is a picture of the farm pond that Katie took. I snapped a couple pictures, and then handed her the camera to take a couple. Hers blew mine away – as always. She is the artist, I am the journalist.

I shot this picture of Conor in the tall hay field. He is “jumping” as he moves toward me in order to motor through the tall stuff. As a result his ears are out and he has a great presence. This picture is not Photoshopped because I really liked the original picture as it came out of the camera better than what I got with Photoshop. It is only very slightly cropped and, of course, resized to make the blog come up in a reasonable time frame.

It was a bit overcast in the distance so my vistas didn’t come out in a way worth publishing. Consequently I tended to focus on the close stuff. Katie saw this leaf with enough dew still on it that it glistened in the sunlight. She suggested I take it, and so she gets the artistic credit. I did take the picture and therefore did not mind putting my name on it. I like the artsy feel of this one, even though a leaf is just …. well …. a leaf.

Blackberry Leaves

2006-06-08T06:15:00.000-07:00

This morning Emily asked me to take some pictures of her blackberry leaves. When there is moisture, the leaves form a ring of beads around the edge. The picture above shows these beads, and the one below is cropped to make them even more visible.

While I was at it, I also took a picture of a blackberry flower. It looks like we will have blackberries for the first time this year!

Cry Witch!

2006-06-08T05:27:00.000-07:00

In the evening at Colonial Williamsburg, there are plays, story-tellings, and what not. One of the activities we chose was a play called, “Cry Witch”. It was the reenactment of a real Virginia Witch Trial. The reenactment was loosely based on what sketchy information remains. I had read about it on the Internet, and learned that you should get there early to be one of the first 11 in line to get the best seats. So we did get there about an hour in advance. Katie was kind enough to hold our place while Emily and I took about a 35 minute walk. As members of the first 11, we got seated in the jury box within just a few feet of the actors. This picture shows Emily and Katie seated in the jury box.

The trial took place in the reconstructed court house. As such, we were in the courtroom just as it would have appeared over 200 years ago. The judge was the governor of Virgina. The accused was a widow from a town elsewhere in Virginia. She was being tried in Williamsburg because she was a citizen of Virginia, accused of a capital offense, and therefore had to be transported there for trial.

Both the jury members and general audience were invited to ask questions during the trial if they wished. The judge would rule on their admissibility. At the conclusion, all jury members and the audience in general, were polled for a guilty or not guilty verdict. In our case, the woman was found not guilty, although Emily, Katie, and I voted her guilty of witchcraft.

It may surprise you that we three voted her guilty, being highly intelligent modern-day people. We voted based on the evidence, not on our beliefs. The witch put up no defense other than a denial. But she failed tests that would immediately have proved her innocence. For example, when the lower court put her on water to see if she would sink – she failed to break the plane of the water. In front of our very eyes, she could not recite the Lord’s Prayer without fainting. There were witnesses against her without rebuttal, and she bore a mark on her body unlike that ever seen by midwives. Finally, her demeanor in the courtroom was reasonably witchy. After the event, I asked the goeler (pronounced jailer) what the verdict normally was. He said the witch is almost always convicted by an overwhelming majority because the case is iron-clad. It would seem that we three did our duty. Of course it helped immensely knowing that she would not really be punished. I doubt that we could have voted guilty if they were really going to harm the woman. It would have been “jury nullification time”.

Busch Gardens Williamsburg

2006-06-08T03:28:00.000-07:00

Busch Gardens, Williamsburg, has two main categories of attractions. First are the rides. From roller coasters like the one pictured above, to 3D adventure rides, to a steam locomotive. We spent a day there and did virtually all of them. Katie is the roller coaster Queen, with a “hands up ride”; while I hang on as best I can.

The second type of event consists of the shows. Pictured above is the trained pet show. It was really good. It is amazing what they can train animals to do. We enjoyed all of the shows, with the Irish Dancing and the Pet Show being our favorites.

The Jamestown Settlement

2006-06-07T04:45:00.000-07:00

Not far from Colonial Williamsburg is the Jamestown settlement – the site of the first permanent English colony in the Americas. Like in Williamsburg, “interpreters” dressed in period costumes of the 1700s interact with the tourists.This picture is from inside a replica the “James Fort” looking past the interpreters to the mast of the Godspeed – a replica of one of the three ships that brought the settlers to the new world.

Interestingly, the film in the visitors center pronounced Jamestown as “Jame-es Town”. It was if the “e” were pronounced rather than being silent as it is today. The the “s” had more of an “s” sound than the “z” sound we use in pronouncing it today. Finally, they pronounced it as if it were two words. It made me wonder if the original English pronunciation of James was really Jame-es.

A stone’s throw from the fort is a small Algonquian/Powhatan Indian village. The picture depicts an Indian interpreter taking the bark off of a long pole in order to make a lean-to. She told me that taking off the bark made the poles last much longer than if you left the bark on. That is because insects would crawl under the bark and destroy the wood. Also, the bark would trap moisture which would rot the wood faster. These interpreters were very knowledgeable for the most part, and certainly fun to talk with. The village itself had several wigwams – small oval shaped dwellings.

This picture is of the Godspeed replica. It was taken from behind a small knoll, and past a bush. I like this picture because it may have been the way that the Powhatan Indians first saw this vessel. The Godspeed was the largest of the three ships that brought the settlers. You can board and tour all three ships. Of interest to me was the fact that the passengers were all below deck on the voyage lying on top of cargo. So they had about four feet of headroom. They were not allowed above deck without permission of the Captain. What a horrible voyage that must have been.

Colonial Williamsburg

2006-06-06T05:58:00.000-07:00

The family vacation took Emily, Katie, and me to Colonial Williamsburg, Virginia. It was a step back in time to the 1770s, and the founding of our nation. There are year ‘round “interpreters” who are role players in period costume. They take part in daily activities, give tours of buildings, and answer questions when asked. Above are a couple of coachmen taking tourists for a ride.

The coachman on the right, as you look at the picture, is extremely short. Katie noticed that straight away and pointed him out to me. I walked over to see exactly how short he was, and listened as he talked to some other tourists. It turns out that he was a jockey for many years, and they were discussing a race track in Ohio. Now retired, he gets to spend his time around horses and still gets paid for it. Now you know where retired jockeys find work ……

This is picture of a Colonial Maiden. I think she was taking a basket of goodies to grandma’s house. I was standing in some green space as she came walking by. I asked her if I could take a picture and she said, “Of course, good sir.” Once they go on stage, so to speak, they maintain it in speech and manner.

I saw a Colonial man of obvious means walking down the street with a purposeful quick stride. As he passed a male tourist he said, “How mark you, sir?” Moving on he passed some female tourists and politely tipped his three-cornered hat, and gave them a smile and a nod. It would seem that he was not compelled to speak to the ladies. In many ways it was these little things that made Colonial Williamsburg a very interesting, and unique place to visit.

West Virginia University

2006-06-05T04:23:00.000-07:00

Morgantown is first, and foremost, a college town. Situated along the majestic Monongahela River, the downtown campus of West Virginia University is nestled into a hillside adjacent to the main central city shopping area. A second campus was built to the north when the downtown campus space was fully utilized. It is connected to the downtown campus by a Personal Rapid Transit system (the PRT).

This picture was taken from a location on the “River Walk” that is a frequent target of my walks with the hounds. (See my River Walk post).

The Rail Trail

2006-06-04T04:43:00.000-07:00

Morgantown has a really nice “rail trail”. Some portions are wooded and others more open. Of course it used to be the railroad track, but now it is asphalt in some portions and packed gravel in others. Katie and I ride our bicycles, weather permitting, along the trail. There is an entrance just about a mile from our house at the bottom of a very long and steep hill. So we throw the bikes into the bed of our truck and drive the mile downhill to the rail trail. Then we take a nice, level, 6–10 mile cruise. Its good, and good for you too!

The Sunken Barge

2006-06-03T17:19:00.000-07:00

On the Monongahela River, just north of Morgantown city proper, is a sunken barge. It has been there for many years, and will likely be there for many more. Perhaps someone is trying to create a Great Barrier Reef so Morgantown can be like Australia.

Me Tilley

2006-06-03T12:25:00.000-07:00

The Tilley Hat, the finest in all the world. At least that is what is says inside. Those words may well be spot on, because this is by far my favorite hat. I am old enough to get away with wearing it, and have grown quite attached to it. I can put it in the clothes washer when it gets dirty and it comes out like new. It floats, and has a chin strap for windy weather. The bill keeps the rain and sun off. It is just a darn good hat. Finally it is insured against loss and guaranteed for life. What could be better than that?

If You're Not Lead Dog .....

2006-06-02T19:15:00.000-07:00

Like they say, “If you’re not lead dog, the view never changes.” I have talked about walking my boys, and it is time to meet them. Lead dog is Nike, my chocolate lab. The white dog is Rocky and the black & brown one is Conor. Rocky and Conor are both rescued from animal shelters. These three guys make sure that I get my daily exercise. Conor is part shepherd and stays close when we walk. Most often he is about three paces behind me, making sure that I don’t get lost from the herd. Rocky has to be part hound – perhaps beagle. He is the hunter, often bringing back carcass pieces that he sniffs out on our walking adventures. Nike is full bird-dog and loves to swim in the river on our walks.

River Walk

2006-06-02T12:53:00.000-07:00

Every day I walk my dogs. Recently I have been taking them on what I call the River Walk. It goes along the Monongahalia River and is a walk of contrasts. My dogs love their walks, and I appreciate them too.

On the one hand it is nature at its most scenic. You can lose yourself in your thoughts. I do a lot of thinking on these walks. It works better for me to think in nature than in a stuffy office somewhere.

On the other hand, a glance across the river shows that Morgantown is still a part of its coal mining history. You can see barges being loaded for a trip up the river. A tug boat comes and collects the full barges, and then pushes them up the river to Pittsburgh.

Happy Father's Day!

2006-06-01T07:25:00.000-07:00

I know it isn’t Father’s Day, but it is the right month. Since I recently got my new Nikon 70–200mm lens I can no longer fit my camera with the lens mounted in my old Tamrac case. So I went to my world-class photojournalist brother, Jim, for advice. After all, he is the one who told me that the Nikon 70–200mm lens was a “must have” for my photographic needs.

He told me to get this case. It is the Lowepro Toploader 75AW Camera Holster Bag.

But because I had just spent a King’s Ransom on the lens, I was having some difficulty spending another $84.80 on a case. Then Father’s day came along just in the nick of time. Splitting the cost of the gift between my wife and daughter worked. It is now out for delivery as I post this blog. I may have to open it early. Thanks Emily and Katie!

One thing I have noticed. When I ask my world-class photojournalist brother, Jim, for advice on photographic equipment; I always, without fail, certainly, in every instance, am advised to get the most expensive option. Of course, I am forced to follow his advice, else why ask?

Me Brithers

2006-05-31T13:23:00.000-07:00

This is my favorite picture of Field Marshall George, the older of my two younger brothers. He is fantastic at getting into a role, and I have thought from time to time that he should have been an actor rather than a science teacher. When I see this picture, I think that George could have played a Civil War soldier in a film, and done the part more than justice. He has a good head, and a good heart. I am fortunate to be able to call him brother.

And this is my favorite picture of my youngest brother, Jim. He has always been a “cat” person, and has several running around his home today. When I see this picture, I think that Jim was destined from early on to amount to something. For some reason he reminds me of a young Howard Hughes in this picture. He really gets into whatever he attempts until he has totally mastered it. As a child he could tear apart and rebuild a motorcycle with no mechanical training. I used to see nothing but motorcycle parts all over the garage, and later find them back into a complete running motorcycle. He has become a world-class systems programmer, a world-class photojournalist, a world-class husband and father, and a world-class brother. If there is a family genius in the Thomas Edison sense of the word, it is Jim.

A Leap Of Faith

2006-05-31T07:17:00.000-07:00

Horse lovers have a term for the form of a jumping horse. They call it “scopey”. While I am not sure of the spelling, it is pronounced “scope – ee” with a long “O” and a long “E” sound at the end. Back to the point - Nike is scopey when he jumps into the pool for his stick. You should note the bent front paws, the pointed back feet and tail, the flying ears. All the while his eyes are focused on the stick that is the target of his mighty leap of faith. I love that dog!

If You Don't Have The Right Equipment, You're Done Before You Start!

2006-05-30T18:00:00.000-07:00

My daughter, Katie, and I have two Nikon cameras, 1 Cannon camera, and some Nikon lenses. We went with Nikon because our local Photo Store pushed that brand. They carried both Nikon and Canon, but really liked the lenses for the Nikon better. Maybe they were just making a bigger margin on the Nikons – who knows. We think either Nikon or Canon is a great way to go. Anyway, we are mainly Nikon people. Our two main camera bodies are a D100 and a D200. Katie mainly shoots with the D200, and I use the D100.

We also have a pocket Canon SD550 Digital Elph. That is one sweet pocket camera! It is our concession to brother Jim who is a Canon enthusiast all the way.

We have great equipment because I grew up believing that if you don’t have the right equipment, you are done before you start. My thinking on that hasn’t changed. A great camera won’t make you a great photographer, but if you are not it isn’t the camera’s fault.

Be Glad You Are Not A Stick

2006-05-30T12:37:00.000-07:00

Our Chocolate Labrador Retriever (Nike) loves to swim in the backyard pool. I got him as a pup when my son, Kevin, went off to college. He has been my buddy ever since. While retrieving is in his blood, he prefers fetching sticks over bringing back man-made objects. I took this picture of him doing his thing on a sweltering end of May afternoon. The picture is heavily cropped to focus on my boy.

A Path to Nowhere

2006-05-29T18:03:00.000-07:00

This is one of my first pictures taken with my new Nikon 70–200mm lens. It is what my wife calls her “path to nowhere”. This was a project to get ready for our family reunion in July. To the right of the wood landscape timbers used to be a grassy hill that led up to where the trees are on the right. The dogs ran along the bottom of that hill to get to the back fense to bark at “trouble” – whatever that is. Anyway, they wore a path where the stones are now. When it rained, they tracked mud in. So my lovely wife, Emily, needed to have a more weather-resistant path for her dawgs. We began the project by adding the wooden fence for interest. Then we hung a humming bird feeder on it, and planted two honeysuckle bushes that will be trained to cover the wooden fence. At the bottom of that little hill we added the landscape timbers in preparation for holding back some mulch. Next came the landscape fabric covered with mulch. Finally we set some cement stones to form a path to nowhere. That was quite a project, but it will make the backyard look all that much better for the family reunion! And hopefully, the dawgs will quit tracking in mud.

2006-05-29T12:21:00.000-07:00

Getting Started: My world-class photojournalistic brother, Jim, finally got me to start a photographic blog. He has been doing it for quite a while at http://jimcookblog.blogspot.com/. I have to admit that his is a very tough act to follow, but I have finally taken the plunge. Pictures will be forthcoming.