Down to the Blacktop.

As our two sons were growing up, like all children, they were allowed to expand the range of exploring distance from our home. At first, they were allowed to visit only the nearest neighbors, those that lived not more than two houses away. Little by little they were allowed to go a little farther away from our home base. At one point in time, the line of demarcation that the boys were not to cross was about a block away from our house. Since there was fresh asphalt up to a certain point on our street about a block away, this offered a visual line for the boys. Occasionally, the neighborhood children would ride their bikes to this newly paved asphalt, or the family would take a walk to the end of our block. We all referred to this point as the "blacktop." Although all of the road was blacktop, the newer portion of the road was darker. Furthermore, the children said "we are going down to the blacktop" Also, the family walks were frequently, "down to the blacktop." Eventually, the entire service road was repaved, and there was no difference in the color of the pavement. However, the saying remained if we planned a walk, we were going "down to the blacktop."

Early the other morning, the floor of the computer room shook. After figuring out that we were not experiencing an earthquake, I looked in front of the house and saw this.
and this

and so far these machines have created this

In a few days, more workers will surely return and pave over our street one more time. There will be no line of demarcation at the end of the block. There will be no difference in color of the asphalt, but if we walk to the end of the block with our grandchildren, we will more than likely say, we are walking "down to the blacktop." Some sayings are like that. The reason for the expression disappears, but the saying remains.

Father's Day Update

Here is a 2007 Father's Day picture with Luke and Daddy D making pirate faces at a new coffee store in town called Pirates of the Care-a-Bean. The store has a fun theme and decor with a pirate nautical flair. (Pirates are the mascot of the nearby high school where Luke graduated and where Daddy D teaches chemistry and physics.) The drink sizes are called "Guppy", "Shark", and "Whaler" Hopefully, they will fare well in the storm of competition and first year business doldrums.

Luke may not consider the above an official "Father's Day Photo." Here is another picture taken yesterday on the front porch steps. This one includes the lovely Frema as well as Luke and Daddy D.

Happy Father's Day - Bubby

On this day that is set aside to honor fathers. I would like to honor the father of my children. He is a kind, loyal, compassionate, bright, and handsome man. As a child, Daddy D was affectionately called Budgee by his family. Then as happens with young men, he wished to be called by his given name, which is Miles. Today most people call him, "Miles", except for his students, who frequently call him, "Mr. D."

The proud Papa is pictured here with his first born son on his very first Father's Day. Notice that baby Dean has a green left foot. I used green food coloring to make a baby foot print on the Father's Day card. In the lower right hand corner is the gift, a wild and crazy homemade tie, that Dean and I made for our Daddy D. Little Dean helped by taking a few naps that week so that I could stitch the tie. Believe me, that was a big help because for most of his first year, our little son did not sleep...at all. Note that father and son both have beautiful dark red hair. Here is Daddy D on his 5th Father's Day in 1975 with son, Luke, on one knee, and the older son, Dean, on the other knee. Dean's red hair is now blond. However, if you look closely, you can see both sons have inherited Daddy D's dimple in the chin. Aren't they handsome?

This Father's Day picture was taken in 2001. Father and adult son, Luke, are enjoying a tasty beverage at our favorite coffee store.

This is the most recent Father's Day picture of our three guys in 2003. They all have changed since the picture in 1975. Luke is now the tallest of the three and by the end of the year will be father himself. Daddy D has added a beard to his moustache and has some silver strands in his beautiful red hair. Dean, who has traded his plaid pants for a plaid shirt, is a father to our wonderful granddaughter.

Sometimes his family members still call our Daddy D, "Budgee", especially his sweet great-niece and brilliant great-nephew. Well actually, they call him "Uncle Budgee." I like the name Budgee, but I like to call our Daddy D, "Bubby."

Happy Father's Day, Bubby.

It Looks Like Rain

My daughter called Saturday afternoon and in the midst of the conversation she said, "The leaves are turned up. It's going to rain." I looked out the window and immediately knew what she was talking about. We learned this from my mother. She would forecast the rain and be right the majority of the time. She always said that when the leaves turned up so you could see their underside it was going to rain.

She would have been right this time, because it looked like rain...

...and by Sunday morning it did!

Fun Monday - Crafts

This is my very first Fun Monday post. For this week’s challenge Karmyn has asked us to show our crafty side....by posting something that was handmade....junior high shop table, scrapbook pages, burnt meatloaf, knitting projects, muffins, whatever....

This airplane is a representation of the World War I fighter, SPAD 13. This is the kind of plane flown by ace, Eddie Rickenbacker. After the war, Rickenbacker was an active figure at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

This, however, is not an Indianapolis race car. The model shown here is a an F1 or Formula One racer or a European car. Formula One cars are thought to be the most sophisticated of the race car family.

This ship-in-the-bottle is a miniature replica of 1851 racing schooner, America. The bottle itself once held the fine Scotch whiskey, Haig and Haig. The bottle is closed with sealing wax, and a Turk's head knot of twine surrounds the neck of the bottle. I built this first of several ships-in-the-bottle in 1973.

You may have seen a puzzle like this. If not, can, you tell what it says? We have used these puzzles a few times as a craft project for children at our church. I created the pieces to construct the puzzle out of coffee stirrers and an 8 inch piece of screen framing board. I stained the board and created a pattern for children to glue the sticks to the board.

Labels: Fun Monday