Grand Lady

My aunt at 100. Still sharp. Started the day slow but rallied. She was filling in details on pictures older than her.

Good crowd on hand.

Her daughter, my cousin, put a lot of work into the party.

Found out some interesting family history. Another ancestor I didn't know about served in the Union Army during the "War of Revolution".

For all the years I've been renting car, always got the damage wavier and never used it. All things change. Rocky Raccoon darted in front of me while I was doing 75 mph. No chance to miss him.

The car they brought to me didn't have cold a/c. No way was I going to Tulsa in a car with no a/c. They substituted a Ford Fusion Titanium, leather guts, sun roof, and lots of bells and whistles. We had an issue with the driver's seat headrest and the passenger seat belt but both my sister and I liked the car. My sister, the insurance adjuster, says that is a $3,500 oops.

Back home, very tired, and back on the job. Maybe something more this weekend. Will have a chance to read your blogs and comment. 

Time Off

Off for a few days to see an aunt celebrating her 100th birthday. (Yes, thieves, there is a house sitter at my abode) No blogging until we return.

Where are we going? This is a clue.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i1YtImqPW8c

More when we return.

Cold War Relic

Near where I live is “Missile Park”, a closed Atlas E ICBM launch facility. Sorry for the quality of the snaps but it is hard to shoot around chain link fences.

The site is now owned by the county and used to store equipment. The tour is one of the maintenance people accompanying you as you wander around. Haven’t taken it as my knees and stairs are not friends.  An acquaintance has toured the facility and enjoyed it. An Air Force vet, he says any Missileer will like it.

Colorado’s Lottery profits are used to build parks and recreational facilities (despite the howls of SJW who propose “better uses”) and years ago  funded construction of the park. In fact, the place is run down and little used but a good place to visit when you want the voices in your head not to have to compete with other distractions. The county promotes it with a web site.

http://www.co.weld.co.us/Departments/BuildingsandGrounds/MissileSitePark.html

The Atlas program is now forgotten but was a big deal back in the day. A good site for those who are interested is here.

http://www.atlasmissilesilo.com/

In that posting is a separate section on this site.

http://www.atlasmissilesilo.com/566thSMS_Site8.htm

In my travels I pass by many of these sites and the current Minutemen silos. I don’t know about others but I’m never blasé; always think of the potential destruction housed in those sites.

For all the obscene costs of these systems, every closed and abandoned one represents a victory (in my mind). Deterrence works!  

Guess Convair got it right. The Atlas is still putting cargo into orbit. Too bad the business was so poorly run. You can make a great product but Boeing makes great products and “outbusinesses” their competitors. Always liked the Convair 880 and, though I may be wrong, the Convair 990 remains the fastest subsonic airliner.

EMTs Can Do Everything

Yesterday on Hwy 26 just past Henry, NE and the Wyoming State Line was a large collection of ambulances, fire trucks, and police cars. Basically everyone in the area turned out. The reason was this.

http://www.starherald.com/news/local_news/alcohol-being-investigated-as-a-factor-in-tuesday-morning-accident/article_4d526d70-614e-11e5-a413-9bd974e7ba45.html

What caught my eye were two EMTs holding backboards like shields.

They were facing off a huge pig and keeping him away from the

accident scene. Presumably the backboards were to protect themselves if the pig got proddy. The pig seemed content to move away. Don’t think, reading the newspaper article, that he was involved in the accident. Probably loose livestock and a curious lookie lou like most everyone else.

Must applaud the two EMTs. They were doing whatever it took to control the accident scene. Triage. transport, fight pigs, whatever.

Today wouldn’t have been good for scud running.

Another reason why I won’t become a manager. I was not, repeat not, the driver of this Prius.

Back to the accident, my sister made a comment that the driver was probably glad he got to see another sunrise. The car was so battered all I can tell you is the color.

Colorado Summer

Cameron Pass, WNW of Ft Collins, CO.

But wait, there is more!

You Are Invited

Should you be in the Denver, CO area October 10th, come on over.

Written by Claudia Worth

Wednesday, 26 August 2015

UPDATE ON CIDER DAYS

We are excited about this year’s cider days Oct. 10th from 10am-4pm at the Historic Park 4610 Robb St. We will be pressing apples on our old cider presses. Cost is $3.00 per bag, box, bucket, crate, or whatever you bring them in. We combine apples for the best flavor. But will press yours separately on request. Please wash your apples.

Lunch will between 12-1 until 2:00 pm, the price is always under $10.00 Soft drinks and bottled water are extra.

Music will be provided by JoAnn and her Pick up Band. Bring your instrument and play some old fashioned music.

The White Family are planning on a family reunion at the Park. Their Family owned the Soddy and property from 1895 until 1939. Some fun and interesting stories are planned about this great family.

We will also have The Cottonwood, a booklet about the old tree by the ditch, on sale. Tours of all the buildings will be offered

Hope to see on Cider Days

Bring containers for cider.

This sod house has been plastered on the outside to preserve it. Served as a base for my family for many years including growing vegetables for the Denver markets and as a base for freight hauling over the Rockies.

To the best of my knowledge this is the only existing sod house in the greater Denver area.

Wheatridge is North of Denver on Interstate 70 at the base of the foothills.

The family will probably remain mainly sober so no fights are anticipated. Hard looks and caustic remarks may be exchanged; it is a fractious family until outsiders get involved then all bets are off.

What the hell, we're Irish.

You can get a good look on Google Earth. The brick house next door was built with a lot of the family involved as sub contractors. 

Always Watch

No matter how many times I see this I stop and watch if I can.

Scottsbluff, NE 9\16\2015 Flight for Life.

Old Farm Days

Another farm themed show. Not nearly as elaborate as Old Thresher Days although they did have an operating thresher. No horses at this show. Mainly I'm letting the pictures speak for themselves. Sorry for the tumbled mess. I'm learning this Windows 7 and the program that seems to rearrange the photos as it pleases. Yes, poor workman and all that. Bite me.