tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-87891334399525311112024-03-14T00:19:22.506-07:00Hammered OutThoughts on life, family and places I've been.Peter Maerzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02690110914389381412noreply@blogger.comBlogger21125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8789133439952531111.post-24446665602486613652011-08-14T20:33:00.001-07:002011-08-14T20:33:43.871-07:00Creating a shelfI have searched for a shelf to hang in my home office. The search has not gone well and I haven't found the right on. On Saturday we were at the antique mall in Allen and I saw several old drawers that gave me an idea.<br /><br /><br /><center><a href='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=11/08/14/5017.jpg'><img src='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/11/08/14/s_5017.jpg' border='0' width='210' height='281' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br />I found two shelves that look like this one.<br /><br /><br /><center><a href='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=11/08/14/5018.jpg'><img src='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/11/08/14/s_5018.jpg' border='0' width='210' height='281' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br />And a third one that was different.<br /><br /><br /><center><a href='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=11/08/14/5019.jpg'><img src='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/11/08/14/s_5019.jpg' border='0' width='210' height='281' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br />I knew I had several pieces of scrap lumber that I could use to put these together. First I cut a piece of plywood for the back.<br /><br /><br /><center><a href='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=11/08/14/5020.jpg'><img src='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/11/08/14/s_5020.jpg' border='0' width='210' height='281' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br />Then I ripped several pieces for shelves to put into the drawers.<br /><br /><br /><center><a href='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=11/08/14/5021.jpg'><img src='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/11/08/14/s_5021.jpg' border='0' width='210' height='281' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br />Here is one of the drawers with the shelves installed.<br /><br /><br /><center><a href='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=11/08/14/5022.jpg'><img src='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/11/08/14/s_5022.jpg' border='0' width='210' height='281' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br />The third shelf wound up a little different because it already had a divider down the middle of the drawer.<br /><br /><br /><center><a href='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=11/08/14/5023.jpg'><img src='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/11/08/14/s_5023.jpg' border='0' width='210' height='281' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br />Next I figured out how to attach all three drawers onto the one connecting piece. Note the closest drawer has a small divider to make it different.<br /><br /><br /><center><a href='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=11/08/14/5024.jpg'><img src='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/11/08/14/s_5024.jpg' border='0' width='281' height='210' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br />I tried several positions for the middle drawer trying to get it just right.<br /><br /><br /><br /><center><a href='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=11/08/14/5025.jpg'><img src='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/11/08/14/s_5025.jpg' border='0' width='281' height='210' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br /><br />I decided to center the middle drawer between the other two drawers.<br />Next I put a board along the top to tie the outside two together and secure them.<br /><br /><br /><center><a href='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=11/08/14/5026.jpg'><img src='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/11/08/14/s_5026.jpg' border='0' width='281' height='210' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br />Once all the pieces were secured I decided to paint everything black. As the black went on it seemed to tie everything together and it all came together.<br /><br /><br /><center><a href='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=11/08/14/5027.jpg'><img src='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/11/08/14/s_5027.jpg' border='0' width='281' height='210' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br />A little more paint and it's starting to come into focus. It will take some more coats of black to finish and maybe some accent color. On the back I attached a long piece with an angle cut that will match up to a second piece mounted on the wall. More photos of the mounting to come.<br /><br />- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad<br />Peter Maerzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02690110914389381412noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8789133439952531111.post-2764349130959189172011-07-06T21:03:00.001-07:002011-07-06T21:03:34.296-07:00How to eat a buildingYesterday I drove down Abrams Rd in Dallas and found this happening to one of the office buildings.<br /><br /><center><a href='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=11/07/06/5586.jpg'><img src='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/11/07/06/s_5586.jpg' border='0' width='210' height='281' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br />This building has been around for a long time and seems to have outlived it's usefulness. I noticed two machines, much smaller then the building, making short work of bringing it to it's knees.<br /><br /><center><a href='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=11/07/06/5589.jpg'><img src='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/11/07/06/s_5589.jpg' border='0' width='210' height='281' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br />One machine had a long neck with small but powerful jaws. It would reach into the building and tear chunks out.<br /><br /><center><a href='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=11/07/06/5595.jpg'><img src='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/11/07/06/s_5595.jpg' border='0' width='210' height='281' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br />It kept nibbling away at the bones of the building.<br /><br /><br /><center><a href='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=11/07/06/5597.jpg'><img src='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/11/07/06/s_5597.jpg' border='0' width='210' height='281' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br /><br />He was digging for the big stuff. <br />Each time a big part came out, several others would spill out!<br />Parts were falling everywhere.<br /><br /><center><a href='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=11/07/06/5601.jpg'><img src='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/11/07/06/s_5601.jpg' border='0' width='210' height='281' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br />The smaller machine had a small neck but a big mouth and great big teeth.<br />This blue machine kept returning to the little machine looking for scraps.<br />He happily filled up the blue machine.<br /><br /><center><a href='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=11/07/06/5602.jpg'><img src='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/11/07/06/s_5602.jpg' border='0' width='210' height='281' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br />They worked as a team. The big machine would toss his leftovers to the little guy.<br />Once the blue truck had his fill he took off for some exercise.<br /><br /><center><a href='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=11/07/06/5607.jpg'><img src='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/11/07/06/s_5607.jpg' border='0' width='210' height='281' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br /><br />The little machine kept picking up the scraps the big was throwing his way. <br />He was very choosy thou and kept picking out only the good stuff to keep for himself.<br /><br /><center><a href='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=11/07/06/5611.jpg'><img src='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/11/07/06/s_5611.jpg' border='0' width='210' height='281' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br />He picked thru the pile looking for just the right stuff.<br /><br /><center><a href='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=11/07/06/5614.jpg'><img src='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/11/07/06/s_5614.jpg' border='0' width='210' height='281' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br /><br />He seemed to liked the dark pieces best. <br />The blue truck must have told his friends cuz soon others arrived. <br />I think the little machine was glad to get rid of the scraps he didn't like.<br /><br /><center><a href='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=11/07/06/5616.jpg'><img src='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/11/07/06/s_5616.jpg' border='0' width='210' height='281' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br />I went by today and they were resting, I guess they eat too much yesterday!<br /><br /><center><a href='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=11/07/06/5618.jpg'><img src='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/11/07/06/s_5618.jpg' border='0' width='210' height='281' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br />The blue truck was back and could do nothing but wait.<br />Maybe I'll go back tomorrow to see if they are up to finishing off the building.<br /><br /><center><a href='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=11/07/06/5619.jpg'><img src='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/11/07/06/s_5619.jpg' border='0' width='210' height='281' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br />- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad<br />Peter Maerzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02690110914389381412noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8789133439952531111.post-86630651538235587772011-06-29T15:26:00.001-07:002011-06-30T11:32:45.571-07:00New again desk<div style="text-align: center;">We decided to move our office to the first floor at home, so I was on the hunt for a desk. After much searching I wound up at the JOT EM DOWN store in Forney Tx. I found a desk in my price range and after some negotiations (pointing out that it needed work) I got a 25% discount off of the asking price. Most of their antiques come from Europe so I think this desk is some kind of European Oak.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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<center><a href="http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=11/06/29/4436.jpg"><img border="0" height="281px" src="http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/11/06/29/s_4436.jpg" style="margin: 5px;" width="210px" /></a></center><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;">I had to take it apart as soon as I got it home to get it into the garage, so I didn't take a good before picture.</div><div style="text-align: center;">The wood was in good shape but someone thought these handles looked good!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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<center><a href="http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=11/06/29/4437.jpg"><img border="0" height="281px" src="http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/11/06/29/s_4437.jpg" style="margin: 5px;" width="210px" /></a></center><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"> It needed lots of work. Years of finish and dirt had to come off.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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<center><a href="http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=11/06/29/4438.jpg"><img border="0" height="281px" src="http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/11/06/29/s_4438.jpg" style="margin: 5px;" width="210px" /></a></center><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;">I had to glue several sections back together to strengthen them. <br />
It has two great pull out boards that create additional work surfaces. <br />
They are hidden under the top when they are put away and pull out over the drawers on both sides when in use.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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<center><a href="http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=11/06/29/4439.jpg"><img border="0" height="281px" src="http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/11/06/29/s_4439.jpg" style="margin: 5px;" width="210px" /></a></center><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;">The top had a faux leather middle piece which looked good but had black spots on it, <br />
It was dated 1979 so it was not original but added later, it had to come off and will not be reused.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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<center><a href="http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=11/06/29/4440.jpg"><img border="0" height="281px" src="http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/11/06/29/s_4440.jpg" style="margin: 5px;" width="210px" /></a></center><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;">The drawers were an indicater that the piece was very old judging by the construction and craftsmanship. They were dovetailed both on the front and the back of the drawers. <br />
This is not used in newer pieces and another indicater that it is old traditional construction. <br />
New desks may have dovetailing in the front but almost always are butt jointed in the back where most people wouldn't look. The grain in the wood was real great.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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<center><a href="http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=11/06/29/4441.jpg"><img border="0" height="281px" src="http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/11/06/29/s_4441.jpg" style="margin: 5px;" width="210px" /></a></center><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;">So I started stripping and sanding all of the pieces. It took about 6 hours to get them all done.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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<center><a href="http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=11/06/29/4442.jpg"><img border="0" height="281px" src="http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/11/06/29/s_4442.jpg" style="margin: 5px;" width="210px" /></a></center><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;">Once the sanding was done I chose dark walnut, rub on stain. </div><div style="text-align: center;">As the stain went on and soaked into the grain on the top the texture started to come to life.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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<center><a href="http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=11/06/29/4443.jpg"><img border="0" height="281px" src="http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/11/06/29/s_4443.jpg" style="margin: 5px;" width="210px" /></a></center><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;">Here is a close up of the grain on the top before the finish wax was applied. <br />
Even here you can see the great variations in the grain that almost give it a tiger stripe effect.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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<center><a href="http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=11/06/29/4444.jpg"><img border="0" height="281px" src="http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/11/06/29/s_4444.jpg" style="margin: 5px;" width="210px" /></a></center><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;">Once all of the striping ,sanding and staining was done(out on the hot driveway), <br />
I brought the parts inside to assemble and put the finish wax on. It was much cooler inside!</div><div style="text-align: center;">The modesty panel was missing so I fabricated one to replace the missing peice. </div><div style="text-align: center;">It did wonders to make the whole desk sturdier.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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<center><a href="http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=11/06/29/4445.jpg"><img border="0" height="281px" src="http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/11/06/29/s_4445.jpg" style="margin: 5px;" width="210px" /></a></center><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;">The new hardware, with the old antique look, that fits much better than the previous hardware.<br />
As my mother would say "Looks Rich!"</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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<center><a href="http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=11/06/29/4446.jpg"><img border="0" height="281px" src="http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/11/06/29/s_4446.jpg" style="margin: 5px;" width="210px" /></a></center><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;">I decided not to varnish or seal the stain, instead I applied a traditional hand rubbed wax finished.<br />
The grain on the top is incredible and really came out when the wax was applied.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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<center><a href="http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=11/06/29/4447.jpg"><img border="0" height="281px" src="http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/11/06/29/s_4447.jpg" style="margin: 5px;" width="210px" /></a></center><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;">I like it so much that it will not be covered by any leather center piece.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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<center><a href="http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=11/06/29/4448.jpg"><img border="0" height="281px" src="http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/11/06/29/s_4448.jpg" style="margin: 5px;" width="210px" /></a></center><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;">Now that this is done the plan is to finish bringing the rest of the furniture down this weekend. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Stay tuned for more pictures of the room shortly!</div><br />
Posted using BlogPress from my iPadPeter Maerzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02690110914389381412noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8789133439952531111.post-10788500918328473922011-06-24T09:03:00.000-07:002011-06-24T09:04:00.206-07:00Today I Will Make a Difference<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em></em></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>Today I will make a difference. I will begin by controlling my thoughts. A person is the product of his thoughts. I want to be happy and hopeful. Therefore, I will have thoughts that are happy and hopeful. I refuse to be victimized by my circumstances. I will not let petty inconveniences such as stoplights, long lines, and traffic jams be my masters. I will avoid negativism and gossip. Optimism will be my companion, and victory will be my hallmark. Today I will make a difference.</em></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>I will be grateful for the twenty-four hours that are before me. Time is a precious commodity. I refuse to allow what little time I have to be contaminated by self-pity, anxiety, or boredom. I will face this day with the joy of a child and the courage of a giant. I will drink each minute as though it is my last. When tomorrow comes, today will be gone forever. While it is here, I will use it for loving and giving. Today I will make a difference.</em></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>I will not let past failures haunt me. Even though my life is scarred with mistakes, I refuse to rummage through my trash heap of failures. I will admit them. I will correct them. I will press on. Victoriously. No failure is fatal. It’s OK to stumble… . I will get up. It’s OK to fail… . I will rise again. Today I will make a difference.</em></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>I will spend time with those I love. My spouse, my children, my family. A man can own the world but be poor for the lack of love. A man can own nothing and yet be wealthy in relationships. Today I will spend at least five minutes with the significant people in my world. Five quality minutes of talking or hugging or thanking or listening. Five undiluted minutes with my mate, children, and friends.</em></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><em></em></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>Today I will make a difference.</em></span><br />
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From Shaped by God (original title: On the Anvil)<br />
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Copyright (Tyndale House, 1985, 2002) Max LucadoPeter Maerzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02690110914389381412noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8789133439952531111.post-17357351511272748982011-06-11T07:06:00.001-07:002011-06-11T07:06:53.801-07:00ChangesDebi is away at a creative workshop for the weekend so I'm getting creative here at home. Currently we have a guest bedroom downstairs and an office upstairs. Here are some pictures:<br /><br /><center><a href='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=11/06/11/1305.jpg'><img src='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/11/06/11/s_1305.jpg' border='0' width='210' height='281' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br /><br /><br /><center><a href='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=11/06/11/1306.jpg'><img src='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/11/06/11/s_1306.jpg' border='0' width='210' height='281' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br />The office.<br /><br /><center><a href='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=11/06/11/1307.jpg'><img src='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/11/06/11/s_1307.jpg' border='0' width='210' height='281' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br /><br /><br /><center><a href='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=11/06/11/1308.jpg'><img src='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/11/06/11/s_1308.jpg' border='0' width='210' height='281' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br />We decided to swap the rooms so I started the process of making the change.<br /><br /><br /><center><a href='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=11/06/11/1309.jpg'><img src='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/11/06/11/s_1309.jpg' border='0' width='210' height='281' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br />First I cleaned out the downstairs room.<br /><br /><br /><center><a href='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=11/06/11/1310.jpg'><img src='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/11/06/11/s_1310.jpg' border='0' width='210' height='281' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br />I used the opportunity to make some decorative changes to our dining room.<br /><br /><center><a href='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=11/06/11/1311.jpg'><img src='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/11/06/11/s_1311.jpg' border='0' width='210' height='281' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br />Do you think Debi will like it???<br /><br /><center><a href='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=11/06/11/1312.jpg'><img src='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/11/06/11/s_1312.jpg' border='0' width='210' height='281' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br />I did get the carpet cleaned with a steam cleaner.<br /><br /><center><a href='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=11/06/11/1313.jpg'><img src='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/11/06/11/s_1313.jpg' border='0' width='210' height='281' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br />But the I got distracted and went outside to build a platform for our barbecue off the deck out back. I built the deck and the cover earlier this year.<br /><br /><center><a href='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=11/06/11/1314.jpg'><img src='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/11/06/11/s_1314.jpg' border='0' width='210' height='281' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br />The distraction was not a total loss because I did get the shelves cut for the closet to be installed in the new office. <br /><br /><center><a href='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=11/06/11/1315.jpg'><img src='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/11/06/11/s_1315.jpg' border='0' width='210' height='281' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br />I quit for the day because a close friend was in town and visiting with her was a perfect excuse to break for the day. That's where I'll pick up today.<br /><br />- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad<br /><p class='blogpress_location'>Location:<a href='http://maps.google.com/maps?q=Wooded%20Creek%20Ln,McKinney,United%20States%4033.207839%2C-96.652790&z=10'>Wooded Creek Ln,McKinney,United States</a></p>Peter Maerzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02690110914389381412noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8789133439952531111.post-9957930989992479272011-05-09T14:22:00.000-07:002011-05-09T14:22:06.807-07:00New Covered Patio<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">May in Texas is a great time of year, the weather is usually very pleasant and the days are stretching out to their summer time lengths. The last two weekends were spent working on a cover for the wood platform we have in the back yard. We had a hot tub here at one time but it is long gone and a deck is now there. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4a766nDCC2xVIpib1ok6NsuyF7u5kWERcbtSrNd9MgWnD6S-b1wbHs8VxoYlWOXHMHfW4WUgNwBYS0ixVXWS_1O5xQOS4JuSp61xO7XaH0aDxqIfxmVedwe3TWQM2qnsLUs6YU6GE43Q/s1600/DSC_1829.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="288px" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4a766nDCC2xVIpib1ok6NsuyF7u5kWERcbtSrNd9MgWnD6S-b1wbHs8VxoYlWOXHMHfW4WUgNwBYS0ixVXWS_1O5xQOS4JuSp61xO7XaH0aDxqIfxmVedwe3TWQM2qnsLUs6YU6GE43Q/s400/DSC_1829.JPG" width="400px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Last summer I built the wood deck and we purchased a table and chairs for it. You might ask...where are the table and chairs? More on that later... This May we have had our share of rain making up for the drought conditions we were experiencing. Another fact about Texas in May is that it is a precursor for hot sunny days of June, July and August that are right around the corner. We decided that the deck needed some protection from the rain and some much needed shade to allow us to enjoy it when those hot dog days of summer come our way.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2238ghOM06rzR_ZG9xhPwfF6U-mnMid5oNY_uLXobH6TvoyHxvDdrtbrsBm3bd4L_Eq3q2UjeBbtkbEqxlGWyrYXK3XbFcO3WKYTZaVEWy6Su2l5ieTHO19et3toqyA9r7j-bBVF8U3U/s1600/DSC_1830.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="267px" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2238ghOM06rzR_ZG9xhPwfF6U-mnMid5oNY_uLXobH6TvoyHxvDdrtbrsBm3bd4L_Eq3q2UjeBbtkbEqxlGWyrYXK3XbFcO3WKYTZaVEWy6Su2l5ieTHO19et3toqyA9r7j-bBVF8U3U/s400/DSC_1830.JPG" width="400px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I decided to use a simple gable design and top it with V groove tin. After approval from the HOA, very necessary step, it was time to build. I was able to put the posts in by myself, of course that's after digging four large holes to place anchors for the posts. Jared come over and helped me get the framing done and the tin on top. The framing was fairly easy and I really <span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 9.5pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">appreciated </span>Jared's help. The tin was the frustrating part, trying to punch pointy screws, recommended by the tin manufacturer, through the tin while standing on the ladder and reaching over 2 feet over the sheet is not easy. I don't know why they don't provide self taping screws! Fortunately, Jared came up with a creative way to mount the top piece as we put up the side panels so that we didn't have to climb on top to finish it up! Mike can thank Jared for that idea because he probably would have done that job!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUCCUG9KI4EytCxnH3yZIpuBFyplO2Wy4ow56EQ2YIWFc9QNDMt5JS3IyLLn11iVn9dWT4a57rUEWPfyltZvngAH2GunFr1BpQv4OBZgk3_FRNCAbzSoOqxinzWzCIL7WnYwlqJFKCfEQ/s1600/DSC_1833.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="255px" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUCCUG9KI4EytCxnH3yZIpuBFyplO2Wy4ow56EQ2YIWFc9QNDMt5JS3IyLLn11iVn9dWT4a57rUEWPfyltZvngAH2GunFr1BpQv4OBZgk3_FRNCAbzSoOqxinzWzCIL7WnYwlqJFKCfEQ/s400/DSC_1833.JPG" width="400px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The end result was quite pleasing, not bad for two weekends worth of work. I still have some wiring to do for lights and a ceiling fan, that's why the ladder is still out. Debi is already planning some special party lights for it. Now back to the table we purchase for this area. Well...as the cover was going up, Debi started saying things like" maybe we should put the gliders out here". So as the project was completed it was decided that the table and chairs would go on the patio attached to the house and the gliders would come out here.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHegpsu_8xuEADBVf8CJB10Tpl6OgMdaZQpZiVpBgobRtfblC_xFbbdI3w4V-pIdsIOUrEgzunC8Bs1XiXfRG0GNBVcoCf63WM9UlWV9LuzzVQFrJwYAGNoXKQc2vmSv-ytp4L8BWK5_w/s1600/DSC_1834.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="267px" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHegpsu_8xuEADBVf8CJB10Tpl6OgMdaZQpZiVpBgobRtfblC_xFbbdI3w4V-pIdsIOUrEgzunC8Bs1XiXfRG0GNBVcoCf63WM9UlWV9LuzzVQFrJwYAGNoXKQc2vmSv-ytp4L8BWK5_w/s400/DSC_1834.JPG" width="400px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Patio was cleared off, swept and power washed in <span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 9.5pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">preparation </span>for the new furniture. I had these louvered doors that were purchased for another project Debi had in mind but the decision was made to use them out here. Now they now provide great shade in the late afternoon. After all the scrubbing the area was ready for the furniture.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7XktuhTBLBiRtTsOIvFtOAHBsxB4CizoYmLDvim4cHiOVEADqAUmy-RMPQvzxlYuuDU_Xp7IbMX9RP7dY8xkd54ZIalJKob0u7-dDXMy1IbSV2cYjIyk7AAcsOQR7FTkRYzlUrcoW9ZU/s1600/DSC_1835.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="267px" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7XktuhTBLBiRtTsOIvFtOAHBsxB4CizoYmLDvim4cHiOVEADqAUmy-RMPQvzxlYuuDU_Xp7IbMX9RP7dY8xkd54ZIalJKob0u7-dDXMy1IbSV2cYjIyk7AAcsOQR7FTkRYzlUrcoW9ZU/s400/DSC_1835.JPG" width="400px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">While it was still drying, the table was brought up and we actually had lunch out here. It has become a very <span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 9.5pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">pleasant </span>area that we really enjoy. I will add another picture later with the full effect of the table and all of the chairs. <br />
Now I can kick back, relax and enjoy the rest of the summer...wrong! <br />
Several more projects in the works...Stay tuned!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Peter Maerzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02690110914389381412noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8789133439952531111.post-19274067689936216622011-02-09T19:47:00.000-08:002011-02-09T19:53:03.594-08:00snow birds<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It's February 9th in Mckinney Texas.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We've had unusual winter weather this year and today it sleeted and snowed again.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Tonight the temperature is going down to 9 degrees!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I love to feed the local birds in my back yard, today we had some incredible visitors show up.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH3ObFQF4fdmbQ8HK_BYqrXnju6bC6wkou1BT16Ege9kedlHZ12wJAoaB0j5CLIHxknVAlsstOZvOJs5PI7bYEqvEs1b1DDBJepCCjN8hIIfHqSCFLml1KP9vTPl4QQmGEAVLMwB0Yymo/s1600/blue+jay+and+wood+pecker.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH3ObFQF4fdmbQ8HK_BYqrXnju6bC6wkou1BT16Ege9kedlHZ12wJAoaB0j5CLIHxknVAlsstOZvOJs5PI7bYEqvEs1b1DDBJepCCjN8hIIfHqSCFLml1KP9vTPl4QQmGEAVLMwB0Yymo/s320/blue+jay+and+wood+pecker.jpg" width="299" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> This blue jay comes often but the woodpecker at the feeder was a first time visitor.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIlXrpJvCaq8ideZ0HpQLZ4Kj8aBFa3KacAJknUgP4EwAKQO_Y8k6FSEhsaBq2dK-zSILrFTkI6DaLN3ckuT8ZirNA0S5tqzfVxKIioqJiKhvoJXNRd7hH3lXVVVlvfKJviOhUczgfbkY/s1600/woodpecker+standing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="308" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIlXrpJvCaq8ideZ0HpQLZ4Kj8aBFa3KacAJknUgP4EwAKQO_Y8k6FSEhsaBq2dK-zSILrFTkI6DaLN3ckuT8ZirNA0S5tqzfVxKIioqJiKhvoJXNRd7hH3lXVVVlvfKJviOhUczgfbkY/s320/woodpecker+standing.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> He was absolutely beautiful!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG6HYxYYcu89LXSolbFeqplnRC7tFiPXPGQ2qIc3izLIOH1d5WuXRF5UTORjiUBG3DXkjv07no114vAozsMoXBoCoFG-H7ujt6CqJSZ-vhtOmjONMTqdBUwTmA0CEAlBt1O1615g7yR9M/s1600/woodpecker+far.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG6HYxYYcu89LXSolbFeqplnRC7tFiPXPGQ2qIc3izLIOH1d5WuXRF5UTORjiUBG3DXkjv07no114vAozsMoXBoCoFG-H7ujt6CqJSZ-vhtOmjONMTqdBUwTmA0CEAlBt1O1615g7yR9M/s320/woodpecker+far.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Kept pecking at the frozen seeds at the bottom of the feeder.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1X-0Ci4mqmfGgumOcbw00-TSzuLZBaw6bOo0LU9gmD1kFhgCezuy3HSzRaMTPwctxbAEf0XHWuIcVWD12__nuXfaXwke4SV7nlsCwMyhBuXi39_Lpwl5iIb1-rxY4hi9KsLAhT8H4rGA/s1600/woodpecker+at+feeder.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1X-0Ci4mqmfGgumOcbw00-TSzuLZBaw6bOo0LU9gmD1kFhgCezuy3HSzRaMTPwctxbAEf0XHWuIcVWD12__nuXfaXwke4SV7nlsCwMyhBuXi39_Lpwl5iIb1-rxY4hi9KsLAhT8H4rGA/s320/woodpecker+at+feeder.jpg" width="304" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> He has a long powerful beak.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiafgO7gdthB2oa-7xTWz2OLQH0YwRnPQPWgp3SfVUkSM1xVFqmWQYSlB_IF7Op6NLOv6nzg0RV_nnS8a5v1JNkfBN_tKeMpt776mgNwZ5JYncJ0SX7kh1rkFGRlf-oQncs8sdJr12PzK0/s1600/wood+pecker.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiafgO7gdthB2oa-7xTWz2OLQH0YwRnPQPWgp3SfVUkSM1xVFqmWQYSlB_IF7Op6NLOv6nzg0RV_nnS8a5v1JNkfBN_tKeMpt776mgNwZ5JYncJ0SX7kh1rkFGRlf-oQncs8sdJr12PzK0/s320/wood+pecker.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> He stayed for a long time.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKakRjDXrjAxs8HIU9XiIkgkoeUmWZev7NzDXRdAokdP2K_GE3w8SDdPJ5KsR4Gtsn75rl1JwIXmDKULQWt0s_WO2Q2qd3xhBgSuWG08UwqWIiRpId2l2gMjgNcnM015UoQH84Gc5lO6U/s1600/wood+pecker+looking+up.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="315" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKakRjDXrjAxs8HIU9XiIkgkoeUmWZev7NzDXRdAokdP2K_GE3w8SDdPJ5KsR4Gtsn75rl1JwIXmDKULQWt0s_WO2Q2qd3xhBgSuWG08UwqWIiRpId2l2gMjgNcnM015UoQH84Gc5lO6U/s320/wood+pecker+looking+up.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Every once in a while he would look up as if looking for something or listening for something.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe2VXhO8wMpw69hqq7zx76nnjvepoP2k6b3gg77rCfghSJc-pJfHrJ7hcUvN22x0c3JCkAy0Xd7qvPUe-ImpSU9VO8sOsRtnAbi9C5olcborGIMCWTg78WYx1e5az_OiYg5657wme2ZnY/s1600/bird+on+girl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe2VXhO8wMpw69hqq7zx76nnjvepoP2k6b3gg77rCfghSJc-pJfHrJ7hcUvN22x0c3JCkAy0Xd7qvPUe-ImpSU9VO8sOsRtnAbi9C5olcborGIMCWTg78WYx1e5az_OiYg5657wme2ZnY/s320/bird+on+girl.jpg" width="309" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> This little guy showed up in our little girl statue's lap.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKpFof8rjgJ3CJCqbAghhGW0HwOrjy3wy_myWy4-V4B7o_JAIVlExsvVUu-XjET_zhpnc5pjOAypHqitOVuSLVAXJ8GeMnDCj1kLTXgF7Q0swoe2_7M8wvsOtwChbCUMkn403EThnh1BM/s1600/bird+with+girl+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="215" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKpFof8rjgJ3CJCqbAghhGW0HwOrjy3wy_myWy4-V4B7o_JAIVlExsvVUu-XjET_zhpnc5pjOAypHqitOVuSLVAXJ8GeMnDCj1kLTXgF7Q0swoe2_7M8wvsOtwChbCUMkn403EThnh1BM/s320/bird+with+girl+2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Here was another visitor.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU5cm2J5x-bHAe95t-K2SIlgqLrvhv-zN6rECK0DZW-X-Svq91_Qq7oTm7qWiHizAOXLIZQZQ2zyarq0RCwvQP3_nSoKnItsjwW2eTG26-Aq1bCRUqDQnCkZvs37940VJA1hjDTO3ABEU/s1600/bird+with+girl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="249" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU5cm2J5x-bHAe95t-K2SIlgqLrvhv-zN6rECK0DZW-X-Svq91_Qq7oTm7qWiHizAOXLIZQZQ2zyarq0RCwvQP3_nSoKnItsjwW2eTG26-Aq1bCRUqDQnCkZvs37940VJA1hjDTO3ABEU/s320/bird+with+girl.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> They were looking for seeds on the ground.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgatwvh2_wNMmu3iDjkWQupvjkPQ7YQHTIXD06VgP8PVaSdgaep0Hd-WX8vnBu3F7-pLD3sIeRJq8bv-w4NpEGfR12qGHoWm1h4bzfFtw7ikhflh57Aop41t2vCEPWwSZke_u6n4Ancte0/s1600/black+bird+on+snow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgatwvh2_wNMmu3iDjkWQupvjkPQ7YQHTIXD06VgP8PVaSdgaep0Hd-WX8vnBu3F7-pLD3sIeRJq8bv-w4NpEGfR12qGHoWm1h4bzfFtw7ikhflh57Aop41t2vCEPWwSZke_u6n4Ancte0/s320/black+bird+on+snow.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> This guy didn't seem to mind the snow.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7vCDc6Y4Qp43foWL2hB8f1kn-VYt-LmI9xapPCMeRdYAxqrcqKKHWEgwRoqg0I2008YacPq_yU9D2t4AndgVsH4q9NoRr-Ea5TntAXWvH1EJfgda64bnEd_lZ8BkY0EbZ-nqI_VRCboc/s1600/black+bird+on+wood.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="271" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7vCDc6Y4Qp43foWL2hB8f1kn-VYt-LmI9xapPCMeRdYAxqrcqKKHWEgwRoqg0I2008YacPq_yU9D2t4AndgVsH4q9NoRr-Ea5TntAXWvH1EJfgda64bnEd_lZ8BkY0EbZ-nqI_VRCboc/s320/black+bird+on+wood.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> He was also working the seeds.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQK2wtUOc3HMg7PgeShEcPCRCXLdU2g8uAIbr93t52I5zCME4F9Auh_AP8KytX-RbkQvXjYzPIunCDKj3lBsP4gWt67MVNOng1uGmgVZtNSpwohtAHGaSji6QMZjAXXlLs6CY219LxFws/s1600/bright+yellow+close+6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQK2wtUOc3HMg7PgeShEcPCRCXLdU2g8uAIbr93t52I5zCME4F9Auh_AP8KytX-RbkQvXjYzPIunCDKj3lBsP4gWt67MVNOng1uGmgVZtNSpwohtAHGaSji6QMZjAXXlLs6CY219LxFws/s320/bright+yellow+close+6.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> The feeders were busy.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFLDDTjTh0BMQfMrMj-BoqBf6aUKDF92ytTkCB2UbAxXTAwH5-B0BpKezQUU1Kjry27sziDQ2k1bA4pjrnnwOTzG5adh-d0PJv1qqKcBZjZ6HB3r_yR3zHG_n2fxCETAUsaZHx7fmJ5WY/s1600/bright+yellow+close.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFLDDTjTh0BMQfMrMj-BoqBf6aUKDF92ytTkCB2UbAxXTAwH5-B0BpKezQUU1Kjry27sziDQ2k1bA4pjrnnwOTzG5adh-d0PJv1qqKcBZjZ6HB3r_yR3zHG_n2fxCETAUsaZHx7fmJ5WY/s320/bright+yellow+close.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> They didn't seem to mind sharing.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrtg_fIydjS-xKogsK7zvD3r29VnXCtKdRJFs3rboE3-bd8NOVgCJ8BhDhh3zSVxWJO4pQsSiJXvm4-Aq9rLBTL3CHPFbUePRd7fEQfHtQhTaRVy3DVU6KYcftlxyqzJhQC6dPY9w3oI0/s1600/bright+yellow+close2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrtg_fIydjS-xKogsK7zvD3r29VnXCtKdRJFs3rboE3-bd8NOVgCJ8BhDhh3zSVxWJO4pQsSiJXvm4-Aq9rLBTL3CHPFbUePRd7fEQfHtQhTaRVy3DVU6KYcftlxyqzJhQC6dPY9w3oI0/s320/bright+yellow+close2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Notice the feeder with the snow and ice in the background.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHfgGVtI_8RGcspYNZFTWtJPYtgLdq9PwtQyLHQYLai8qN8cNG_RlZeHqSvp3v2fVN8tasr1lP8dtV-uDugDe6jUwMV1PZhH7KOdHmA5tB0ZfzxArnYs8E1iwxEXmrS_rR7EzSXS_p8Es/s1600/bright+yellow+close4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="252" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHfgGVtI_8RGcspYNZFTWtJPYtgLdq9PwtQyLHQYLai8qN8cNG_RlZeHqSvp3v2fVN8tasr1lP8dtV-uDugDe6jUwMV1PZhH7KOdHmA5tB0ZfzxArnYs8E1iwxEXmrS_rR7EzSXS_p8Es/s320/bright+yellow+close4.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> This feeder was very busy.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9LlKCMT4L10Enu4FYIV7JoUXc43uV1VojQknMXLsLNRt5kRc-wnSQPLGD3s7shs5x0J34zXUdbbI6BdONg4CM65LQ_idUMgYnFdZP4r04uMzlXBUSYlPtxWEwwaYPLvRUAOxpRUJqeLM/s1600/bright+yellow+close5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9LlKCMT4L10Enu4FYIV7JoUXc43uV1VojQknMXLsLNRt5kRc-wnSQPLGD3s7shs5x0J34zXUdbbI6BdONg4CM65LQ_idUMgYnFdZP4r04uMzlXBUSYlPtxWEwwaYPLvRUAOxpRUJqeLM/s320/bright+yellow+close5.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> It's always interesting that different breeds don't mind being together.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEN6J5s0BUR8C45xQwh6y4Siitohd1llfLGyOb5jdKS2CiBdmS0dO5GG9C5KA51F99fNLwjvmWZ5hXQ-5Mkl0SR1zPzJ7LBcNxmMThai5QH3vcWcGrBHlszMsiiVH4acfMKOlgtFFMmLA/s1600/bright+yellow+eating+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEN6J5s0BUR8C45xQwh6y4Siitohd1llfLGyOb5jdKS2CiBdmS0dO5GG9C5KA51F99fNLwjvmWZ5hXQ-5Mkl0SR1zPzJ7LBcNxmMThai5QH3vcWcGrBHlszMsiiVH4acfMKOlgtFFMmLA/s320/bright+yellow+eating+2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> This beautiful green finch hung around.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjdahhlPFBxkclD7CDsuMliXRg5uTA6HL0ssmZxBaoXJV02m6kZMPiLhOYfDKkHb47Yg-zfsCNNB4C2yYlhMPNpI8oKFZKeNtzh1COKGST0XQKTjDm110wgHHkCvqHwa3OAIewLWaCjEs/s1600/bright+yellow+eating+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="207" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjdahhlPFBxkclD7CDsuMliXRg5uTA6HL0ssmZxBaoXJV02m6kZMPiLhOYfDKkHb47Yg-zfsCNNB4C2yYlhMPNpI8oKFZKeNtzh1COKGST0XQKTjDm110wgHHkCvqHwa3OAIewLWaCjEs/s320/bright+yellow+eating+3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> His neck and head were bright yellow.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWBk65eYDXXT4R50lWAmMFkSBSNiYNZcTWjl8ZqPKTtObGXonrzx8QDbef9ZOg8hnhm93dG88ds1BZquer7O9hfKsSIf0UL1HsQjzgifC64KNllI_XXRoAne-8yTQpkEQ1RFpn8CRyz48/s1600/bright+yellow+eating.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="210" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWBk65eYDXXT4R50lWAmMFkSBSNiYNZcTWjl8ZqPKTtObGXonrzx8QDbef9ZOg8hnhm93dG88ds1BZquer7O9hfKsSIf0UL1HsQjzgifC64KNllI_XXRoAne-8yTQpkEQ1RFpn8CRyz48/s320/bright+yellow+eating.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> He stayed busy breaking seeds out of the ice.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMH9IhFadNgB8XZYlduUY0Ss352Gctms5g3ViLMUSTlD-xVwhhEwSxcapGHMIn28Of852k9secl61ZvQZATUjRTuK7_YF02HfuRmItG7ToyOGS8w_unCYX9aE1sRcPuO3GiBPbK2BXW54/s1600/bright+yellow+face+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="215" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMH9IhFadNgB8XZYlduUY0Ss352Gctms5g3ViLMUSTlD-xVwhhEwSxcapGHMIn28Of852k9secl61ZvQZATUjRTuK7_YF02HfuRmItG7ToyOGS8w_unCYX9aE1sRcPuO3GiBPbK2BXW54/s320/bright+yellow+face+4.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> Are you looking at me?<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlOxD6aoTkDBw6Yd021Kz0VobseEmCmh4Rb7a8wvrrdzOiqJ4QM_uJXhchtVjTBk1Dx4IB3MYGfoH-FrIE7m7R6TmDcPxa1cVT1Yg96ymj_RDAhPr4G51uUOK4ZeTLrDSzb2-x6ZEwc0c/s1600/bright+yellow+face+straight+on.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlOxD6aoTkDBw6Yd021Kz0VobseEmCmh4Rb7a8wvrrdzOiqJ4QM_uJXhchtVjTBk1Dx4IB3MYGfoH-FrIE7m7R6TmDcPxa1cVT1Yg96ymj_RDAhPr4G51uUOK4ZeTLrDSzb2-x6ZEwc0c/s320/bright+yellow+face+straight+on.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> Taking a break.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmLXC1Re5o_ooMaTqA6Kn8xMtn9LQ6yzbf4Q55CcRZgrVEEp77gy710TAB6NV-kSuj74aQAPz_rQ2d9jal9mW3bxjP9pXdOJv5LpbynDYCCJZ-5Ps5483OZNFdZegJ10k2qCYrSPUGwP8/s1600/bright+yellow+face2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmLXC1Re5o_ooMaTqA6Kn8xMtn9LQ6yzbf4Q55CcRZgrVEEp77gy710TAB6NV-kSuj74aQAPz_rQ2d9jal9mW3bxjP9pXdOJv5LpbynDYCCJZ-5Ps5483OZNFdZegJ10k2qCYrSPUGwP8/s320/bright+yellow+face2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Busy...Busy....Busy</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs8_IvqwOxeMjltqgwbFy8TiHi1YBNzAhuacoT4X4hHXCNQ-KRhfqrKT9at9IK2xme4X9LKQHlzQwrTKEKaIW8Gw7fDfSvlghERncKYI_xVPsbA-e6G-U3OudWfXu-S9tMDsYTCg_wSA8/s1600/bright+yellow+face3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="222" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs8_IvqwOxeMjltqgwbFy8TiHi1YBNzAhuacoT4X4hHXCNQ-KRhfqrKT9at9IK2xme4X9LKQHlzQwrTKEKaIW8Gw7fDfSvlghERncKYI_xVPsbA-e6G-U3OudWfXu-S9tMDsYTCg_wSA8/s320/bright+yellow+face3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> There were several of them<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPfD0dxDU6LbFtD1YeA4ol_aT8zj0B7qyxu5AlJ99LpVbKa-nq89IBXETaD03Q5Ej4waJJfaeF3bVMczHm7YscS7PPTyIys9bT4wKH6fM25htx1MMhU2TwYA-7KNTFjnAaXm2IgnVNfF0/s1600/bright+yellow+neck.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPfD0dxDU6LbFtD1YeA4ol_aT8zj0B7qyxu5AlJ99LpVbKa-nq89IBXETaD03Q5Ej4waJJfaeF3bVMczHm7YscS7PPTyIys9bT4wKH6fM25htx1MMhU2TwYA-7KNTFjnAaXm2IgnVNfF0/s320/bright+yellow+neck.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> Busy place.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWsK7R_vtL-2Xm74DanHQFsOp0JT4lY75zskIKNbYqNGYsTgWFjD1v_wD9YDo5ob_T2b92RRXsZu3iZLja3WhPOFqxULywgog_Pf7RcyGH6Ww2QUkuiAx4-TTVvXjmdqTNfCIMl_hARa8/s1600/bright+yellow+on+top.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="233" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWsK7R_vtL-2Xm74DanHQFsOp0JT4lY75zskIKNbYqNGYsTgWFjD1v_wD9YDo5ob_T2b92RRXsZu3iZLja3WhPOFqxULywgog_Pf7RcyGH6Ww2QUkuiAx4-TTVvXjmdqTNfCIMl_hARa8/s320/bright+yellow+on+top.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> WOW.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrf3G9zG9aHja48GAcLJxESsrcLQP0m6P5qQez4uoM8kV7ChGZR9eSx6jfjpj2AmUM4ZX8eZQANwLVCRaRnUiuv9TEsyFcHKAoH-A2nIHsCl-4M1IxfYSF2sSJBZSE4DaqZZioumnxjbk/s1600/bright+yellow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="249" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrf3G9zG9aHja48GAcLJxESsrcLQP0m6P5qQez4uoM8kV7ChGZR9eSx6jfjpj2AmUM4ZX8eZQANwLVCRaRnUiuv9TEsyFcHKAoH-A2nIHsCl-4M1IxfYSF2sSJBZSE4DaqZZioumnxjbk/s320/bright+yellow.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> His neck seemed to glow bright yellow.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmtroCm4yvD22n1iP18M5R5Y58A_NeTKBypOkpZCbfcyg8K8OB8McTCXR996Tpe6XUjh_syUMyF9nb1ZmUKL873pPCbOFmxtCwtxVmK12htnhkk-Unq00zXa5c6kNGHE20R0wppueGhog/s1600/bright+yellow2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="289" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmtroCm4yvD22n1iP18M5R5Y58A_NeTKBypOkpZCbfcyg8K8OB8McTCXR996Tpe6XUjh_syUMyF9nb1ZmUKL873pPCbOFmxtCwtxVmK12htnhkk-Unq00zXa5c6kNGHE20R0wppueGhog/s320/bright+yellow2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> Notice the bright yellow spot on the hip.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwYtk7USJHamjOTzYW6pi3OKu7LkYZabYEcwoIb3kwQ7qDEFuIo_uz6cQV-m9EtEIXx857h3oQv5M-7Tz8zS5ecE798bkOSGlVZs3jDqhDJylHVlPdYKmd06tl2SkuA3ifVmsHkBh14C0/s1600/bright+yellow3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="252" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwYtk7USJHamjOTzYW6pi3OKu7LkYZabYEcwoIb3kwQ7qDEFuIo_uz6cQV-m9EtEIXx857h3oQv5M-7Tz8zS5ecE798bkOSGlVZs3jDqhDJylHVlPdYKmd06tl2SkuA3ifVmsHkBh14C0/s320/bright+yellow3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> He had really incredible white and black wing feathers.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg34OjhxnmyzDoEiUKfyDfqXpyZF6Hre4ENe0rsbdncV9YWjH9_VstyY1esSC9FdP5AkIUnmHhIpI6ypJZDy0zkLR1C91G6M25xwH6v-ED8L-afAM2vDywsHKs8mCI4zukjgcBEpkhMfc0/s1600/chicadee+at+the+feeder.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="264" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg34OjhxnmyzDoEiUKfyDfqXpyZF6Hre4ENe0rsbdncV9YWjH9_VstyY1esSC9FdP5AkIUnmHhIpI6ypJZDy0zkLR1C91G6M25xwH6v-ED8L-afAM2vDywsHKs8mCI4zukjgcBEpkhMfc0/s320/chicadee+at+the+feeder.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Lot of these always show up.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh72h1l3puPAkVX1OyNrdPAODT8Q7XlWJ9sVL5eo_3AkZzO4c7ig4fYKcRHgg177eBVf1FZ9h9_RHynXKLlBYP_MsjDLr3lDLzrCzwR8DEit8dDXldZt9bYlIyajeV2XmXl0RDFsmZp-qM/s1600/chicadee+at+the+feeder2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="207" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh72h1l3puPAkVX1OyNrdPAODT8Q7XlWJ9sVL5eo_3AkZzO4c7ig4fYKcRHgg177eBVf1FZ9h9_RHynXKLlBYP_MsjDLr3lDLzrCzwR8DEit8dDXldZt9bYlIyajeV2XmXl0RDFsmZp-qM/s320/chicadee+at+the+feeder2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> These little guys visit all the time.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFYUAG_0OMe0zu5Ayn1NDHVZgnMiBPyXbfNtg8t6ypAt_jqKdwuBcz8ujTk3mt2bnUgNbOwBtyPEbWYTBjZyi2lNii0_cE4VqrcnORy0zzRnw9uaegaayCXViiQBnxc7pxhiUxYM5RkG0/s1600/dove+and+ange3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="216" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFYUAG_0OMe0zu5Ayn1NDHVZgnMiBPyXbfNtg8t6ypAt_jqKdwuBcz8ujTk3mt2bnUgNbOwBtyPEbWYTBjZyi2lNii0_cE4VqrcnORy0zzRnw9uaegaayCXViiQBnxc7pxhiUxYM5RkG0/s320/dove+and+ange3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> These two decided to park themselves on the frozen bird bath.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUJlLgq0Xq9BrhQchs4gFLI-AwHEMKaUHzFRYkqAg9ofQ11bY6U_oSghPj3-WnFRE3mM-WBPCF5GGRZ5ByWmO5CbhBZvkHt9LpiRaBLUPfMTc5GvXmHIlcnNz8U90IfoQxHzdkK7nmIjU/s1600/dove+and+ange4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="228" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUJlLgq0Xq9BrhQchs4gFLI-AwHEMKaUHzFRYkqAg9ofQ11bY6U_oSghPj3-WnFRE3mM-WBPCF5GGRZ5ByWmO5CbhBZvkHt9LpiRaBLUPfMTc5GvXmHIlcnNz8U90IfoQxHzdkK7nmIjU/s320/dove+and+ange4.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Tried to get comfortable, he just finished feeding on ground below.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX9KixdgLKA7x00RL9UfxD50g6UfoaOC0G98jXH3AoDaZpjGuEnj4-XalIN5CKzi3YqGLYwZWaKyALkMmf_Mm3REIPiZFGUWZGykveWXE_BniGF0yNUiuYnuBe46JP9rRYrxJMYWxR3F4/s1600/dove+and+angel+fluffing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX9KixdgLKA7x00RL9UfxD50g6UfoaOC0G98jXH3AoDaZpjGuEnj4-XalIN5CKzi3YqGLYwZWaKyALkMmf_Mm3REIPiZFGUWZGykveWXE_BniGF0yNUiuYnuBe46JP9rRYrxJMYWxR3F4/s320/dove+and+angel+fluffing.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> He fluffed up to keep warm.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlJ2GgpAJrq2mvlZtThH92SrmvkdpkyKZblPIfmPimc_r1MSYtnoiMA0D1rHfSnGXXlkPH_NAWX-vJLRpQB_ZjT4GpV13h9pw_LSSBARL1dZsKNAtFXUl3BOzQqXC3qVe4lrhd16FpcFk/s1600/dove+and+angel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlJ2GgpAJrq2mvlZtThH92SrmvkdpkyKZblPIfmPimc_r1MSYtnoiMA0D1rHfSnGXXlkPH_NAWX-vJLRpQB_ZjT4GpV13h9pw_LSSBARL1dZsKNAtFXUl3BOzQqXC3qVe4lrhd16FpcFk/s320/dove+and+angel.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Then snuggles in for a stay.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcbQPHcGPZiGbWOWsKg3LIYKimdH226s7XciY367YzRTMaGQ8-X7Y_3benOqD-jm47Bd-U9O9edXpGOO3CGkbyWkKcf6Pq2x9Hdbcdk2fEX8drgTWr19RknRpCQp8NsJ3RbMf9mAqMRKY/s1600/dove+and+angel2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="222" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcbQPHcGPZiGbWOWsKg3LIYKimdH226s7XciY367YzRTMaGQ8-X7Y_3benOqD-jm47Bd-U9O9edXpGOO3CGkbyWkKcf6Pq2x9Hdbcdk2fEX8drgTWr19RknRpCQp8NsJ3RbMf9mAqMRKY/s320/dove+and+angel2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">He looked quite happy even though the wind was blowing and it was about 16 degrees.</div>Peter Maerzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02690110914389381412noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8789133439952531111.post-76785792824595276932011-01-21T22:27:00.000-08:002011-01-22T09:50:47.327-08:00 <br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYPw8LxZDfbrxvO9w5jh-WopGvhf2PAO9Wgc3LqEW0YB_3bn0CXeDxJmxYKUyZcZ9WcRPWGj0iAM8wiW33_rAzi0xyG-b0HKPi86tF141r-CdLfLz7tEyfZlSZAykc_fP9SYuQs945weo/s1600/DSC_0018.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="267" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYPw8LxZDfbrxvO9w5jh-WopGvhf2PAO9Wgc3LqEW0YB_3bn0CXeDxJmxYKUyZcZ9WcRPWGj0iAM8wiW33_rAzi0xyG-b0HKPi86tF141r-CdLfLz7tEyfZlSZAykc_fP9SYuQs945weo/s400/DSC_0018.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">We enjoy traveling to Muenster Tx to get some good German food and look for antiques. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Just north of town there is an area with a new revenue source that has sprung up</span>.</td></tr>
</tbody></table> <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">From the distance they look relatively small and unimpressive. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">But they have a lure...why can we see them so far away? </span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPl2nSzMQPau1hczErC5Sgq6apywtIsIAyltPCjR2XsKrYXj9jAG9YCTwfU4GTiy9gEOgASkC68lsrO5IvYT_CdhhIrN66nJL2CCpts80NSuob7m3FvzEzJrNRB0dqdstL7WFxQcIV1nI/s1600/DSC_0031.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPl2nSzMQPau1hczErC5Sgq6apywtIsIAyltPCjR2XsKrYXj9jAG9YCTwfU4GTiy9gEOgASkC68lsrO5IvYT_CdhhIrN66nJL2CCpts80NSuob7m3FvzEzJrNRB0dqdstL7WFxQcIV1nI/s320/DSC_0031.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"> As we got closer they grew as if they were sprouting out of the ground.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpFeVvOvwqZ436YjSsFd3PUN8pbjRJE7hZZWwSigyPUC98gfB4SWBnqjjW4lCLjnFyZKIUIzsYNzfbhkekrX-LbB5dtB5NIH-2G3vcwDjdJrtl-qp7fAB7S6x_53Ui1U4AZqbI3xwp_v4/s1600/DSC_0024.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpFeVvOvwqZ436YjSsFd3PUN8pbjRJE7hZZWwSigyPUC98gfB4SWBnqjjW4lCLjnFyZKIUIzsYNzfbhkekrX-LbB5dtB5NIH-2G3vcwDjdJrtl-qp7fAB7S6x_53Ui1U4AZqbI3xwp_v4/s320/DSC_0024.JPG" width="214" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"> Ranching has always been a staple of the Texas economy. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;">Today, traditional ranching can co-exsit with this new source of income.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgohKcPNZ-pRxz8-KvnD8ECc9pLlMrAb21GjZZRaOCgHou6NQkisC6nlVc38R4EnDcVhimgtHf_jHFbti5c193jXCW3B1NVT3IhaYCT1we1uI3kXyC_U8LOCJT6MJPuiKMmB4_lLdlK_YM/s1600/DSC_0038.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgohKcPNZ-pRxz8-KvnD8ECc9pLlMrAb21GjZZRaOCgHou6NQkisC6nlVc38R4EnDcVhimgtHf_jHFbti5c193jXCW3B1NVT3IhaYCT1we1uI3kXyC_U8LOCJT6MJPuiKMmB4_lLdlK_YM/s320/DSC_0038.JPG" width="214" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> As we stopped to get a picture I spotted these other wind generators in my rearview mirror.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMH8TqUzxjgfgDNWUg8aknI3jj7aRJMm73dOifprJtn2sccXnMtPuy7OfmZAugEEI-_9yd0Kv8eaRvrJ8Xev17r7J85FqtlCtXwU4Tsr8JhHTZN6iF0scfQFugtY4plza5u_nviRfY_0w/s1600/DSC_0040.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMH8TqUzxjgfgDNWUg8aknI3jj7aRJMm73dOifprJtn2sccXnMtPuy7OfmZAugEEI-_9yd0Kv8eaRvrJ8Xev17r7J85FqtlCtXwU4Tsr8JhHTZN6iF0scfQFugtY4plza5u_nviRfY_0w/s320/DSC_0040.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> We searched till we found a backroad the would get us closer to them.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZitjE0S3kU3Xj9z3UAXueXy1fyZbj68RPHTMpz6xLUHb_xVakbxunKpvAdsybgeS26S5tvItaxxlG2kI5EZ9uIh05_cbYrzYLweQBBvH8mDaizpn5ig_G1dXfKUX922supOwEc6dKBAk/s1600/DSC_0042.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZitjE0S3kU3Xj9z3UAXueXy1fyZbj68RPHTMpz6xLUHb_xVakbxunKpvAdsybgeS26S5tvItaxxlG2kI5EZ9uIh05_cbYrzYLweQBBvH8mDaizpn5ig_G1dXfKUX922supOwEc6dKBAk/s320/DSC_0042.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> It was very interesting as we got close to them. </div><div style="text-align: center;">I had the feeling that I was in a strange place surrounded by Giants.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD431hqMMstWUOpFqJrdGwUUo3WYRJoMsnEGTwPhVemuTI4OIGYAvjWuNoEv7s_REfqelGUb1MPgfcj37-IATLfPC5aY2jbelyRQWOduTBF9M9gxL9J6ainp614OuCCrfGSSAxFrMN84I/s1600/DSC_0044.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD431hqMMstWUOpFqJrdGwUUo3WYRJoMsnEGTwPhVemuTI4OIGYAvjWuNoEv7s_REfqelGUb1MPgfcj37-IATLfPC5aY2jbelyRQWOduTBF9M9gxL9J6ainp614OuCCrfGSSAxFrMN84I/s320/DSC_0044.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> The closer we got to them the greater they appeared to be and the smaller I felt.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBIBPYEft31WzMz0kJ3w6Y1VEWfbLRYLRj0Vt8p8WnXKPR0-rb9Brehvku4O4-zhmwf-2UK4N7WLf8Kezlf_0VyDZqHERqb9-N1QKKdKUSC8eORV3RMlv-YbovDJldqruinAd-LqGKPgA/s1600/DSC_0046.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBIBPYEft31WzMz0kJ3w6Y1VEWfbLRYLRj0Vt8p8WnXKPR0-rb9Brehvku4O4-zhmwf-2UK4N7WLf8Kezlf_0VyDZqHERqb9-N1QKKdKUSC8eORV3RMlv-YbovDJldqruinAd-LqGKPgA/s320/DSC_0046.JPG" width="214" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Notice how they dwarf the trees, these were not small trees.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh62pcdbik_OasuNNcPZeH7O0JGU6Xow5z7NOVa6CI9Ke75sQYsjubUznJqVXFLOdeDp9MX7dB3pvgbBfVo1GEVJYf0S_K4Y1gWfTqEmK4yc_BqowPNhRn71Zvs6tWbUskK7GpBmWCJLL4/s1600/DSC_0047.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh62pcdbik_OasuNNcPZeH7O0JGU6Xow5z7NOVa6CI9Ke75sQYsjubUznJqVXFLOdeDp9MX7dB3pvgbBfVo1GEVJYf0S_K4Y1gWfTqEmK4yc_BqowPNhRn71Zvs6tWbUskK7GpBmWCJLL4/s320/DSC_0047.JPG" width="214" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> We got close enough to hear the sound that they make. </div><div style="text-align: center;">Instead of a loud whirling noise they sound like a gentle wind blowing, it was actually soothing.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaAJ2cXikB45IEQbzIUIYugDkBnnfCJnFLM2bBKIfhZxIoZJFtjfNGt7QKbutlsqG2gdJXq5zSnEx1C7aUHI3e8-u-7RXyPTJFpAhGKTV9rnmXCxsQK5u15BBvQnb4F5Mdng2fjQFWrUs/s1600/DSC_0053.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaAJ2cXikB45IEQbzIUIYugDkBnnfCJnFLM2bBKIfhZxIoZJFtjfNGt7QKbutlsqG2gdJXq5zSnEx1C7aUHI3e8-u-7RXyPTJFpAhGKTV9rnmXCxsQK5u15BBvQnb4F5Mdng2fjQFWrUs/s320/DSC_0053.JPG" width="214" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Instead of looking offensive they actually seem to blend into the landscape.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVKPBJ4SQUgEMqReO8d-10HIwMaWaXtHp1vrRck0rUZ8OHGKXcsCZjVum-36rvKNWnIYhmlyAodUOm8x3a4VcHg-5sX1w5NlEBqTRMJA9sA81bH_nAw8TlZaInuzXyshqQq56fBEyZEMU/s1600/DSC_0055.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVKPBJ4SQUgEMqReO8d-10HIwMaWaXtHp1vrRck0rUZ8OHGKXcsCZjVum-36rvKNWnIYhmlyAodUOm8x3a4VcHg-5sX1w5NlEBqTRMJA9sA81bH_nAw8TlZaInuzXyshqQq56fBEyZEMU/s320/DSC_0055.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> I like how the branches frame them in this shot.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9p5KLioT5NTxbuFj_PCN9JIKPE3hdNvs1qFYzggj4BxmP2ufn4DA53G6wLxErIiZoP_zwsrm6eHtDsYqHzrPzBIPUDrU-Xc5Mh0qIBiM9kZ-2lsaCbNTjewSeB81FxsEGS9vtdzIZ2Dk/s1600/DSC_0057.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9p5KLioT5NTxbuFj_PCN9JIKPE3hdNvs1qFYzggj4BxmP2ufn4DA53G6wLxErIiZoP_zwsrm6eHtDsYqHzrPzBIPUDrU-Xc5Mh0qIBiM9kZ-2lsaCbNTjewSeB81FxsEGS9vtdzIZ2Dk/s320/DSC_0057.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Even though this head is way up in the air it still looks massive. </div><div style="text-align: center;">The engineering design of this incredible machine is really amazing.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Housed in this head is the main<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"> </span></span>rotor shaft and electrical generator which produces the energy at this point.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjie1gPOuNA1bu0CSgZo-fyr2ag9jjTDGS0-dDNiL3xxDAiuvAlQAF5sGsnkphoJnn2TSj7Kc4liNgYjwKmIVl6j4olwbGaMOdiGPqVyUuD31kn7h4Hgvk4bxo1OA93OKh2avep0XeY_3o/s1600/DSC_0063.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjie1gPOuNA1bu0CSgZo-fyr2ag9jjTDGS0-dDNiL3xxDAiuvAlQAF5sGsnkphoJnn2TSj7Kc4liNgYjwKmIVl6j4olwbGaMOdiGPqVyUuD31kn7h4Hgvk4bxo1OA93OKh2avep0XeY_3o/s640/DSC_0063.JPG" width="428" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Farming has also been another traditional business here in Texas.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Note the hay bails below this wind generator.</div><div style="text-align: center;">The blade can be up to 130 ft long and the shaft can be as high as 300 ft tall.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj31YUVi4m0sRBw28ZB-pZTI2kaRK32VZsh4m0tQrD_0AcR6eC4RIvchH8REtsTdtyeRFaqEq7ngPuwdt8iea7xmi1MD6NdnxjCcae_TTRP9ih594pucDkcCHK63-EUz_wAGeNA5p64Alo/s1600/DSC_0066.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj31YUVi4m0sRBw28ZB-pZTI2kaRK32VZsh4m0tQrD_0AcR6eC4RIvchH8REtsTdtyeRFaqEq7ngPuwdt8iea7xmi1MD6NdnxjCcae_TTRP9ih594pucDkcCHK63-EUz_wAGeNA5p64Alo/s400/DSC_0066.JPG" width="267" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> There are an incredible number of them in this one area. </div><div style="text-align: center;">Everywhere I looked there were more.</div><div style="text-align: center;">The tips of the blades can have a windspeed of 200 mph as they travel around.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5WBoBEpamKiZl_X52xhbWNMTfQcaQ3gB5nwQBVIqhraxrgcV5untLeykcxZjdz3xGtcjq59PdbBSCVwmQJz1sVwyFZWHu_HI6iPb3Q5uKcQ5YkYCbmJKTwnQI2f98OJ3EkKQWkZ08uZM/s1600/DSC_0069.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5WBoBEpamKiZl_X52xhbWNMTfQcaQ3gB5nwQBVIqhraxrgcV5untLeykcxZjdz3xGtcjq59PdbBSCVwmQJz1sVwyFZWHu_HI6iPb3Q5uKcQ5YkYCbmJKTwnQI2f98OJ3EkKQWkZ08uZM/s320/DSC_0069.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> At times it looked like they sprouted right out of the ground.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyI_qjEezDb5io2Gv3Adm-Q2rR0tQk9kXtfHlGLIuGqOmuop0XLwjW1euR6_chNU-ZOIxMFw4Z2OG8QGWnedlG3kxzxr-YazZ9vZ2jlXjIVKdUKUC0DN-sqL4RMBzy54ZhWJQWcXEfZ0w/s1600/DSC_0071.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyI_qjEezDb5io2Gv3Adm-Q2rR0tQk9kXtfHlGLIuGqOmuop0XLwjW1euR6_chNU-ZOIxMFw4Z2OG8QGWnedlG3kxzxr-YazZ9vZ2jlXjIVKdUKUC0DN-sqL4RMBzy54ZhWJQWcXEfZ0w/s320/DSC_0071.JPG" width="214" /></a></div><div align="center"> The blades rotate at 10-22 revolutions per minute.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"> They towered above us.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjINhujGou8EZEPVPAP-zL0Y3wAv7N25VRGfuS2GxkzBKvenlnQcsVNDsuwduGop_PEr14YvARpq1itusXezxqUk7yqxfTcAlqg7ePMS19UqZHwwa4QAhaGZ1dNqSfAjBKIH4TlIUNzbuw/s1600/DSC_0082.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjINhujGou8EZEPVPAP-zL0Y3wAv7N25VRGfuS2GxkzBKvenlnQcsVNDsuwduGop_PEr14YvARpq1itusXezxqUk7yqxfTcAlqg7ePMS19UqZHwwa4QAhaGZ1dNqSfAjBKIH4TlIUNzbuw/s320/DSC_0082.JPG" width="214" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> They seemed to go on forever!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ0Wi6ZNwrfu1l7-zDwnFyn3ZNQLz9EAmHF3NxeYb9Kze4k_ZHO8Gx3c_Q62cWyOGJUyLp0soXP_ndVhkUDbDQKhytY56lKKD5xF0pSKtTqvvcPXapPvzBoLYAJrHkbX4RoHZI4XYMTVc/s1600/DSC_0086.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ0Wi6ZNwrfu1l7-zDwnFyn3ZNQLz9EAmHF3NxeYb9Kze4k_ZHO8Gx3c_Q62cWyOGJUyLp0soXP_ndVhkUDbDQKhytY56lKKD5xF0pSKtTqvvcPXapPvzBoLYAJrHkbX4RoHZI4XYMTVc/s320/DSC_0086.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Oil has always been the "Black Gold" of Texas. <br />
But it is a lot harder to find then the wind.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Another shot with the old and the new.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhla-OSdY8P4QJqsyDm1-NOuzCtDO6koWFvCOM6IogAenss-PVP8Phhch-KmqbOsBL9YC63zRpF0GEz0xt6eAvJsD2aIaCBCHGhqQBQbcqk4BqZmHBO1OnDBxoFpj-HNVDMZ9FAnR8heoU/s1600/DSC_0084.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhla-OSdY8P4QJqsyDm1-NOuzCtDO6koWFvCOM6IogAenss-PVP8Phhch-KmqbOsBL9YC63zRpF0GEz0xt6eAvJsD2aIaCBCHGhqQBQbcqk4BqZmHBO1OnDBxoFpj-HNVDMZ9FAnR8heoU/s320/DSC_0084.JPG" width="214" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> The sky was very overcast the day we were out here. </div><div style="text-align: center;">I hope to come back soon on a sunny day.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc__e8aO_NWPiteWm01-72BJr2WCsVq5IXnE7ojH38rB5joV8hztrrDvEvu75xOsaGzHKhdchPnz6_M0woZeSeU-W2N31mZwm4O4_6J102CwAZ9tgQtKwrY0RNMTzZXoaDY2rSE05-Oyo/s1600/DSC_0088.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc__e8aO_NWPiteWm01-72BJr2WCsVq5IXnE7ojH38rB5joV8hztrrDvEvu75xOsaGzHKhdchPnz6_M0woZeSeU-W2N31mZwm4O4_6J102CwAZ9tgQtKwrY0RNMTzZXoaDY2rSE05-Oyo/s320/DSC_0088.JPG" width="214" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> This shot shows how small the old technology is next to the new technology.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDnvwpL17sax9UdZfjW-t8t6Fy1sSb0bvhHCSEsXbaKunC9Ge7O9VePTSvzDN-A-mNCiDVswc5kqULo38Lkpr5o1NlWaCGIZGuybDgh7BYA4iEFlADP1POfqn6R_O1sdv87_syjX2gjq0/s1600/DSC_0090.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDnvwpL17sax9UdZfjW-t8t6Fy1sSb0bvhHCSEsXbaKunC9Ge7O9VePTSvzDN-A-mNCiDVswc5kqULo38Lkpr5o1NlWaCGIZGuybDgh7BYA4iEFlADP1POfqn6R_O1sdv87_syjX2gjq0/s320/DSC_0090.JPG" width="214" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Of course the energy they produce needs to be delivered to market.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmipB96k6GIM_gpmd8BbnKYHiEhJnKlSw3KwfYETQ-rtqh1NUozu09sJWP4iFkbgS_33OTlvIWZDaEZGqs8ByVQ5EFxys5VkDDziYzBGV_4kQqcEAttWDS11bRQmqMsBvONylP-b5o47E/s1600/DSC_0094.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmipB96k6GIM_gpmd8BbnKYHiEhJnKlSw3KwfYETQ-rtqh1NUozu09sJWP4iFkbgS_33OTlvIWZDaEZGqs8ByVQ5EFxys5VkDDziYzBGV_4kQqcEAttWDS11bRQmqMsBvONylP-b5o47E/s320/DSC_0094.JPG" width="214" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> The delivery system is dwarfed but the production process.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoUrPGC7jVC724afAgkjr-TMnixTtaAuJs1OxI5vHedY6DwRiuU8jkEZYjvcJ7LCzl66MSHv8zvglpR4X0stZ83WGxMBzOIyc28gHEqMcCbcn7htRNcBOjAuohLg5qQYdSSsJNdkKH1DQ/s1600/DSC_0095.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoUrPGC7jVC724afAgkjr-TMnixTtaAuJs1OxI5vHedY6DwRiuU8jkEZYjvcJ7LCzl66MSHv8zvglpR4X0stZ83WGxMBzOIyc28gHEqMcCbcn7htRNcBOjAuohLg5qQYdSSsJNdkKH1DQ/s320/DSC_0095.JPG" width="214" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Traditionally the wind was harnessed to draw the water out of deep wells in this semi arid land.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Now the wind is harnessed to created energy to drive pumps which draw the water.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsrXRsz-YgfBHKMTJApocw2_3FSRW6FS1ZgXTpr-CvaAWE8h2-vQMEnD55ef6XkEdFUZ0Bp5WWVlEIQDXQl5-LexZxZHc6JE9AP0MzkKDTLeWoV57ngk2GEvj_j8joQc7y2UeO1hyE3j8/s1600/DSC_0111.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsrXRsz-YgfBHKMTJApocw2_3FSRW6FS1ZgXTpr-CvaAWE8h2-vQMEnD55ef6XkEdFUZ0Bp5WWVlEIQDXQl5-LexZxZHc6JE9AP0MzkKDTLeWoV57ngk2GEvj_j8joQc7y2UeO1hyE3j8/s320/DSC_0111.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> The windmill has a long history in Texas and has been a very dependable source of water supply.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnS6vbCCHg6FFZ3HMKJxsBhied3CIqbsXwYb1Wj3ANJ1MKtFLpeIf4152so0KbjmneLPCUbSGbhMMbODIIf3A4hdUACbKElq8eOp4GGJRp1pSgPwKzBEL1zQHBQzYgtRbGVJOFUk-i5G0/s1600/DSC_0120.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnS6vbCCHg6FFZ3HMKJxsBhied3CIqbsXwYb1Wj3ANJ1MKtFLpeIf4152so0KbjmneLPCUbSGbhMMbODIIf3A4hdUACbKElq8eOp4GGJRp1pSgPwKzBEL1zQHBQzYgtRbGVJOFUk-i5G0/s320/DSC_0120.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Now it too is dwarfed but the new player on the horizon.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLwNFuBIX4ECXEM_8VG8eFL-IylwDnpd4BzrX6hKQK9cXC4c5NqEkVch9oS16mhbShl7K1MfVqG_w5V0AZ-14nocZFuYp_HOkbbDsb4cFcJeRV04Dd9fCZw3itIqTE_68fDMvHP24KP9A/s1600/DSC_0148.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLwNFuBIX4ECXEM_8VG8eFL-IylwDnpd4BzrX6hKQK9cXC4c5NqEkVch9oS16mhbShl7K1MfVqG_w5V0AZ-14nocZFuYp_HOkbbDsb4cFcJeRV04Dd9fCZw3itIqTE_68fDMvHP24KP9A/s320/DSC_0148.JPG" width="214" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> They really were everywhere we looked.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoWF5zFe6hlktF7upPLgT_VdQjMnWT0wQAat1wJ22dqfppm38Kx3eVng7VWnllXmZub6FJBVRr_weSsQk6oabUr9uIdin-USqTluBB6eIY5aO3aI6Gss_2hbLgx1St_mbK4NcjU3d1lYY/s1600/DSC_0151.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoWF5zFe6hlktF7upPLgT_VdQjMnWT0wQAat1wJ22dqfppm38Kx3eVng7VWnllXmZub6FJBVRr_weSsQk6oabUr9uIdin-USqTluBB6eIY5aO3aI6Gss_2hbLgx1St_mbK4NcjU3d1lYY/s320/DSC_0151.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> I love this scene with the new technology towering over the fresh new crops and the regal cattle.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1ltkmD7pOVc8iAWnCKFaYrIwjq3maGAfcJR_Q0SHwItehcREj84rZvRybVd59-_ReJg7T29QizAduG_u4WHlYQqGfZPUbdj5fIytfZsWFcYvwgYeBWU6n3njjtV8hzDwi5j6MXjXjV_U/s1600/DSC_0154.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1ltkmD7pOVc8iAWnCKFaYrIwjq3maGAfcJR_Q0SHwItehcREj84rZvRybVd59-_ReJg7T29QizAduG_u4WHlYQqGfZPUbdj5fIytfZsWFcYvwgYeBWU6n3njjtV8hzDwi5j6MXjXjV_U/s320/DSC_0154.JPG" width="214" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Another great shot showing how really big they are.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJj2bf2Klr-fd647rgeXQaQYvIl0dEMad2XHKvZQtjPcd2-SFA_T-YGE-1hRwJ_tmeVU8PcsAuiO0Eku4z4JPElEZF0KQ8cvW4scyKjpynCarpavQnu2fxP3r-Ac_XSIEBB3k61lp1l74/s1600/DSC_0155.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJj2bf2Klr-fd647rgeXQaQYvIl0dEMad2XHKvZQtjPcd2-SFA_T-YGE-1hRwJ_tmeVU8PcsAuiO0Eku4z4JPElEZF0KQ8cvW4scyKjpynCarpavQnu2fxP3r-Ac_XSIEBB3k61lp1l74/s320/DSC_0155.JPG" width="214" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> This is an interesting time in the life of this land. </div><div style="text-align: center;"> Now the land owner can make his living on the land, from under the land</div><div style="text-align: center;"> and even from the sky above the land.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfxJTlugUes8R3bqXuHiZSRkBM0jTzufLu5fRkk9hiA8f-Pl0NhoJ7Wc7Q-SLi3J58rSO_ZoQmoxbEtN67777kOgegA1f8fvR5sT5YioaX69mPkMbQyo012uiH_dCPw-50ze1wkr0tbQM/s1600/DSC_0158_edited-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfxJTlugUes8R3bqXuHiZSRkBM0jTzufLu5fRkk9hiA8f-Pl0NhoJ7Wc7Q-SLi3J58rSO_ZoQmoxbEtN67777kOgegA1f8fvR5sT5YioaX69mPkMbQyo012uiH_dCPw-50ze1wkr0tbQM/s320/DSC_0158_edited-1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> They are painted grey so that they will blend with the landscape.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibSSEhWBSFLsPqYEclUDOX24tfTVQkLjlaebQg5XJ1iZlNSnlBXi6JCJhFe_RUyP4djnY7IzVMY8FxaFzUP0hNNH0H2HKLOZzikdyjuGHI9k9KHTYXMYwvGjcC7OQDD-FHIKgalw2CI2A/s1600/DSC_0159_edited-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibSSEhWBSFLsPqYEclUDOX24tfTVQkLjlaebQg5XJ1iZlNSnlBXi6JCJhFe_RUyP4djnY7IzVMY8FxaFzUP0hNNH0H2HKLOZzikdyjuGHI9k9KHTYXMYwvGjcC7OQDD-FHIKgalw2CI2A/s320/DSC_0159_edited-1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> I love this picture!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZwMsqkzbqFsXgjqOGZe5Gcnsfs_brQZGCZPi_MEACjvJk1KPQ1v9Z7_fkUId2ZbGtwme_TtQFFef4NHUL5IEmPqBTiXtYZIPLVNVn8ukZSkAuzBDIW0X3_bX570uldIiaV_TTMTLxTJM/s1600/DSC_0161_edited-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZwMsqkzbqFsXgjqOGZe5Gcnsfs_brQZGCZPi_MEACjvJk1KPQ1v9Z7_fkUId2ZbGtwme_TtQFFef4NHUL5IEmPqBTiXtYZIPLVNVn8ukZSkAuzBDIW0X3_bX570uldIiaV_TTMTLxTJM/s320/DSC_0161_edited-1.jpg" width="214" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> The road we were travelling on curved around and <br />
I was able to get one more angle and picture from further away.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio5PGeesjEjz6ki2jkHtyVHQDYAX0nDQhGAFVHROdF168goqN8ycj4GnMGK3ixXVaiBXIPy9gJRSn1JHARrYh6mbXupxRW65jQejPvs5VI8Vw0PQK24zmnbJpL3WdCARKlICb6RhddwCs/s1600/DSC_0163_edited-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio5PGeesjEjz6ki2jkHtyVHQDYAX0nDQhGAFVHROdF168goqN8ycj4GnMGK3ixXVaiBXIPy9gJRSn1JHARrYh6mbXupxRW65jQejPvs5VI8Vw0PQK24zmnbJpL3WdCARKlICb6RhddwCs/s320/DSC_0163_edited-1.jpg" width="214" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> As we got back to the main road I spotted this one last shot. </div><div style="text-align: center;">The traditional oil derricks are being converted to pump natural gas </div><div style="text-align: center;">and now they share the landscape with the new Titans of energy production.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5fUl_6MnGlaAQ7YapS9W0xtY8L82WBRvmrjTbMmkiLew2hVbqj5um0xCITqOMuavh9Cf_Aqwy11Cxk_RwRUG3jpfBLZiCRU-ih7FNMdR03WBegWfyySM5ZxbXYDl0p16wcIIygchEvsg/s1600/DSC_0166_edited-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5fUl_6MnGlaAQ7YapS9W0xtY8L82WBRvmrjTbMmkiLew2hVbqj5um0xCITqOMuavh9Cf_Aqwy11Cxk_RwRUG3jpfBLZiCRU-ih7FNMdR03WBegWfyySM5ZxbXYDl0p16wcIIygchEvsg/s320/DSC_0166_edited-1.jpg" width="214" /></a></div><div align="center">Unfortunatly our time with the gentle giants had to end. </div><div align="center">But I know this will not be the last time we visit these mamoths. </div><div align="center">In fact I hope to get back there soon and often.</div><div align="center">Maybe one day I will climb one...</div>Peter Maerzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02690110914389381412noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8789133439952531111.post-86792717912143069622010-07-21T13:55:00.000-07:002010-07-21T14:47:56.577-07:00Texas Skies<div align="center"> I love to take pictures of the dramatic skies we have here in Texas.<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5496466677854323426" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0C6dnAa0aHtDFyIAa-A7zM-efFCQi7FxyT67BpXRPPC9Q-VOfxMz466ZeYs_cg_W_zbEKSzMi_3re3EKsLLkhvsET_cH92o1esliajX-7RwRJt44Say-KQFnUmnNp52BZqh1bYukIv0Y/s400/DSCN2150.JPG" border="0" /></div><div align="center">Last Sunday we in Anna, the sun was out, the clouds were thin and the moon was visable in the sky.</div><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5496466705197072994" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL2qGFitRwin8-wFNKaU7lxJeub5y7XAVDrySqqCLCMLrQ4Nf0JEX5kRPL-8scfhqpURsW1KxtwpzcRO6aoRy4u_U5eRWGz9NoJCxfPKitQP71RnXF0Ay94Xfr91oHSKoleWY5Z0f4uqg/s400/DSCN2247.JPG" border="0" /><br /><div align="center">Suddenly, as often happens in Texas, </div><div align="center">the wind came up and the clouds started to form.</div><div align="center"> </div><br /><div align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5496466699120001538" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSCmQnH6XSoLETPPMGNgHEec4miN2KQLDNh8D0c3cSaeTXP3f3RF-XY1m7fQr2zUfcvliRCLDrevep3KAV3maaDr8jflCF44_O3wmq-mccCsfZl0fP-Ukwa2iG5dq4brvIjKnQJCsmtw8/s400/DSCN2265.JPG" border="0" /></div><div align="center">The clouds continued to build.</div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5496467936420109474" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0-mqad3oj9pHhvh7gqW3-UmNC7_FvGIUDiPL23V429wZFsDQSFqjl8x5Ex1FvX7la50-XS2mU4KRMNSLapwfjd0kkHj3ZmJB1S2kYaedvIx8TmghmAaKhnWQBTQLDhMQIQwcRnepqoNQ/s400/DSCN2277.JPG" border="0" />The sun refused to let go of the day as it continued to strike out around the clouds.</div><div align="center"><br /> <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5496466690729847314" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9cLN_VXWGAW1sLFBQPQVbIRBtVddEMcXb7WvVQLsn3ERrG954yQRlBgbPG6EggMUpRoPp3BiejJo6iamqzFoY_ElC7GBvSz2mOuWVyPMLVO3nq3DLNNEwIeSPTJpvkD4DF_4FrwXEYQ8/s400/DSCN2189.JPG" border="0" /><br />It looked like the sun beams might win!<br /><br /><div> <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5496466687651670482" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrS4dwhCqXSaA2Y8XpFVOttXxSUBTt1fiRGAlGhfr5QjsosuEH4vtC3Gjx-ERS1aMIknMF10sSTSbORkyD45C26AIAVp9UlDiT857W13pWw8mszkxMkc3AySpHC8vzJo-u3aNd-dKVMn4/s400/DSCN2180.JPG" border="0" /> <div><div><div><div><div><br />Then...just as suddenly, the wind shifted and the clouds continued to build.</div><div><br /><br /> </div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5496467962926628690" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ78fDhJwLWykgmygru6y8bpDEUOa_pErkaa2yX-KqzxGhS86JEhZcgjliMTruRLGJaLrKBjvcooaCHQ-1nYpIEVXlctFU1AuAb4cf7fhrqdhuai0gf79HcIB5nT9JHpS52qMTdhuedu0/s400/DSCN2287.JPG" border="0" /></div><div>The many shapes were magnificent and all types of clouds appeared.</div><div> </div><div> </div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5496467960078279074" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEvrq1QGYlr41clIikXUhZNtSvy_Y1b3tnyoTfYi4iDrjCuFPXvDqcWVtfGldlzPvFscIC-G6BsZEBh3C7lwBzcm2fKKQCVjpJPbB5iL_CbYS1VQNEP0b81vEQ2rP2lN6QlBzbvuTTG1U/s400/DSCN2286.JPG" border="0" /></div><div>They continues to darken as we were captivated but the changing skies.</div><div> </div><div> </div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5496467973179426882" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeIk_AAsE0zBQmS7wkSXAGk3g2sOHgVVnw0pQnFPg_X_Mu8thX5YpMrpQSu2QKHZSljrpG_9uP781dTgRLN8pnT1nusgNtUg8QHQwhD_E_zqwQkd3KtkgLYXf6yfdHFi_y43mn8POpSLQ/s400/DSCN2288.JPG" border="0" /></div><div> </div><div>Ever hopeful...the sun eluminated the top of the clouds showing us how strong it really was.</div><div><br /><br /></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5496468605910868514" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMgr_DBdNyfXg2XSlWj2ArzcgGuIYryeqKVKQeq4S73nOWC98q1qHcSOydZdfKQjFWGhlzBEwOMfr-BZ_ghlndkKIXkT75cSs3ZmThspmr5dx9hP5JW574H-6-D1Dn_u7Tg20JW7_6h9w/s400/DSCN2293.JPG" border="0" /><br />But even as strong as the sun was, the clouds would not be detered and continued to build.</div><div><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5496467949001935138" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCyNoKi4sSBCqJp4dyhFXxE7-Qjhs9VneIo3WXbieyh5hkyBKXxuvIMFY0QfUr3_iMvojZvdSWmx5HtHDP4AqsriCsP10QNL7VNFfydvhtivWf_MrIUxhXtabn0WBc6yFEgyXCPNylVp8/s400/DSCN2274.JPG" border="0" /><br /><div><div><div><div><div><div>We saw all forms of couds throughout the evening as they kept channging.<br /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5496468609749581474" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc6fm1mcXuwiUeDWCdatJm1QOhEf6kwJQ7oH9_vVOD-hOkpudrTPN-XiTi6ucDk2fu0qkZNM7stQRpBHdgWWeglVv1M6OD9yecfHOSzXz6JGUUyrYNWipxyKhI8hNECDGCBimmG2uxLKo/s400/DSCN2294.JPG" border="0" /><br />Then as evening wore on the colors started to explode!<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5496468618368076370" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPXtcZijEdTwDsvqhzyLmpYoUDS6nQWHd4holNqcjQuPsyaxaYLEuXrr2MgOJfD6qL6po9vPVTW9MNLrTVW9s06njItgqy1Loqo0MDexONM6hYl6OSivtgCP4ACvps8DcesamYHZP37nI/s400/DSCN2295.JPG" border="0" /><br />Rich Burnt Oranges...<br /><br /><div><div align="center"><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5496468623699991074" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha1VO1Zy6BAdImcT66Ci35cjfJKvlangVBvp2saDxD3mSuEalDqoLlAWnb2_rpy6JZb3dEQvJFHAqy7f44Vxz821o1m8BpaM88C66vbb8nTIQSSX_fo8hEl4HBq0i9bGC_kfBMJGZ66J8/s400/DSCN2300.JPG" border="0" /><br />Blues and Pinks...<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5496468633115883970" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicPeCovrlQfsMmp1FSea_52ve2yDtmp4dnbxAb2z98H0gxHo_-aI14hw6oMlUltekGsWp6gv5hmEoT2tJYpOLXy6scEahY3wki7vsNZPns8aK5atEksUdnyMDHEihyphenhyphen6B32TljFmlB2Wdk/s400/DSCN2304.JPG" border="0" />Dark Oranges and even Blacks.<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5496468987712187154" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP3Eft3_0aDpV3xS5N0Y9fsJCkjUFrvviMoPy92yZJD2DZZQk3Ca0RaaIhQ86WN4S-mEm58cRP31ghWYkZ50nLw-eqzFL0KhVG9begnAIbI9La3hIKIR1bEt_r2SLEw0AYEAugntBBZIQ/s400/DSCN2308.JPG" border="0" />They swirled and danced in the sky right before our eyes.<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5496468997664854498" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioGyPKx7tHCLa3ZRxhniC8Y7ioktnJY-Fi4zMXugE_5O-g8C2rm4BxA_Jmz5bG7qiWys01invIZczbFKTipMJK5guNytKTv3LnZYVAAIZvyyfmLhqdwzZjQZTOaZyh4-IwNfbqg9GH1Yg/s400/DSCN2309.JPG" border="0" /><br />How magnificant is your creation Lord! How dramatic are your canvases. </div><div>How timeless are your scenes.</div><div><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5496469003208412738" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDrUy58cmayeYwLpOOlamOuumMSJb1XyHd5RIyGZiqT54-BwQuU9JQxoLAYsbRS6qDUBmIh9YHRIbOuL7y3KDjfn-09GD0Dkq2U5nvmzN_f2j92109kH46zkztwp5kTBxk8opuXzojwJk/s400/DSCN2310.JPG" border="0" /><br />Yet ever hopeful and promising of the kindness of your Love.<br /><br /><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5496469008188871538" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw73rKCHu1JAGRDsjKIuYkB3kI84ppOdIQwOCV4IlB9KFP-JXZERynd7JK5e7UvOK-NIndP-4KvQbzVppxuo_gM9owsFSfhCXLpE5gxYEiqlhfRnBIMi11z9rrIsbTDmtOCDWuCtdXSro/s400/DSCN2311.JPG" border="0" /></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><br /></div><p align="center">Don't let life pass you by. </p><p align="center">Take time every day to notice one thing that God created for you to enjoy. </p><p align="center">It's His gift to all of us!</p><p> </p>Peter Maerzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02690110914389381412noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8789133439952531111.post-61513558687927616852010-04-04T20:35:00.000-07:002010-04-04T21:02:14.874-07:00Refinished tools<div align="center">This tool is labeled as a APEX Clutch head screwdriver</div><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456493609362897970" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhlNTRUgY2kK3emKwgYn9gxFAjYIFvAuW-VSv_FXasPX4EIpi3RI8KPv6JhgOjY6vvkOVSAEhj8k6M-vUMRPRQyHxoPO1Dw_5h5j76khKWOvQQmpU6kBTA2lk2dhQOJjgVqymXAzufdy8/s400/DSCN0183.JPG" border="0" /><br /><div align="center">It needed some work</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_W3qjLySFgmLA86M_JyLlJWOXmcFvviq8i4kXRQvhdLQImqzR8f36OjSziWwgjjY3JqZ10jdz7XOxjkmJqrx-fW6A5SLXK_zH8BaWWsl6ae89l9evqEUefikgYFXkimXRbIigcYswbFo/s1600/DSCN0182.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456493997049805266" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_W3qjLySFgmLA86M_JyLlJWOXmcFvviq8i4kXRQvhdLQImqzR8f36OjSziWwgjjY3JqZ10jdz7XOxjkmJqrx-fW6A5SLXK_zH8BaWWsl6ae89l9evqEUefikgYFXkimXRbIigcYswbFo/s400/DSCN0182.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div align="center"> It polished up very nicely.</div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggvUJhn_0TXIAnnWrv4M1PTU8tCRzwXBZxhtXQpzkIAde-L08kswXM9kR-H3hQuGbceL7BE-yHBuPfhShcImxbKqaaVkwLA34UFyPEoVG1xE7Y3B-wuouPPjjrUTHmRD5lkgLWZu57-No/s1600/DSCN0261.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456493636438197490" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggvUJhn_0TXIAnnWrv4M1PTU8tCRzwXBZxhtXQpzkIAde-L08kswXM9kR-H3hQuGbceL7BE-yHBuPfhShcImxbKqaaVkwLA34UFyPEoVG1xE7Y3B-wuouPPjjrUTHmRD5lkgLWZu57-No/s400/DSCN0261.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Here is the finished tool.<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAKPaJgMS9TBhX3mhIaCgaKgDllg7L5kmzEhraV4ei3j-4x2eMOuGw3ZryL_DoXAplE25NdL6tk-b-f1fBky9yNVMCCz8cIFAnOygBQWJlNTBmcPHHEd42JGFk3uRxoF2aW5qhj_tfQRk/s1600/DSCN0256.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456493625862272386" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAKPaJgMS9TBhX3mhIaCgaKgDllg7L5kmzEhraV4ei3j-4x2eMOuGw3ZryL_DoXAplE25NdL6tk-b-f1fBky9yNVMCCz8cIFAnOygBQWJlNTBmcPHHEd42JGFk3uRxoF2aW5qhj_tfQRk/s400/DSCN0256.JPG" border="0" /></a> I really like these folding rulers.<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456493662631622066" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 311px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtpEZ8hBwS90iSv-iG9Tb8lnXJ3tipBGz4QyskWsOoVnsU4vinfKcKg92OJVf7wUOeF53qh6PUxoMiDRtYUp9sKgUvUVRQUJNeAgYJgtF5iskcrnkBw-2Ywn5groD6FuL_Sh9-3IcoLkQ/s400/DSCN0263.JPG" border="0" /><br />This one cleaned up so that the numbers and markings were clearly visible.<br /><br /><div> <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456493643301632786" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 178px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizg9WHo4x-eSfwlh3cjzHWpQwpnQw1OrJWvRMbCa-ZZnNIaQjR6fPUhUkpFfqhVKgLJHlCyQfHB38XFFws-12EaOuj1QdBEUPncEuRkn4a9S6e5rV1v6zqLj69hagwOZhJlqs1QGSZsD4/s400/DSCN0262.JPG" border="0" /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div></div>Peter Maerzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02690110914389381412noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8789133439952531111.post-59601828951936952752010-04-04T18:42:00.000-07:002010-04-04T20:33:51.031-07:00<div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div align="center">One of my passions in life is restoring old tools to give them new life and bring the beauty out of them. Although today's tools maybe more accurate and more durable they just do not have the hand made beauty of older tools. It's very rewarding when I can take a well used, sometimes abused tool and bring the beauty back out.</div><div><br /></div><div align="center">Here are some wooden levels I've found recently, I want to share the process of the transformation. </div><div align="center"><br />Typical condition when I find them. </div><div align="center">I only buy them if the level bubbles are intact.<br /><br /></div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVcufGlbHca55qJmF-bgNDSFMMIE9NN8V9XjjsrB0Mg5itjRZVSeLOH2OuTQzUGwCNSGhcmT8a5xXoR4-cwzU50Y-Nm7vMC38ZlhFejbFSYgv2d4p1C8bbV3Ns4VI43QTe0sEHAH7m5sg/s1600/DSCN0184.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456464642759707682" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVcufGlbHca55qJmF-bgNDSFMMIE9NN8V9XjjsrB0Mg5itjRZVSeLOH2OuTQzUGwCNSGhcmT8a5xXoR4-cwzU50Y-Nm7vMC38ZlhFejbFSYgv2d4p1C8bbV3Ns4VI43QTe0sEHAH7m5sg/s400/DSCN0184.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />First sanding.<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456470898478885666" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSXmhAMDoKre6vq43tG6OoIHSMYvKVBkbu-UpTNLKpCF216hM3_68LT4GEFXMG12lock06Pwl36ayWJl561D1Qg3JMLs8kVBqmvxd65wYq7_iqz4u6YgQFLG9Hm71FFxir8jmJCBrYE-8/s400/DSCN0200.JPG" border="0" /> Then I wax them, notice the brass on this one.<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456483621731081666" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhchDjQ4Whn9EKzQm_roLuczd5rCEJrRdI6xuJwKOOLTcO8xFu66crXl7o9lToGJlkOzObcU9OOj2SgWBaAw6EEdVFwRi-SUXRmRMR73-L949baAoza3CtMSuDZjFaQrb5ZVRa2eo9tr60/s400/DSCN0248.JPG" border="0" /><br /><br />Here are several Torpedo levels that I found.<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMWDtciGumH8j1_l8cx1PUsIUU1pYlfgwChXuwnE0EaXCTG7_lYwEuwey2Vr07YkLiMWpMxBMlzemIQ21ZiUTQSwva106FaHv2_srtwDDKUIiWS43WlDmryDZmChazvbV4m82VDZ9o03M/s1600/DSCN0177.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456464626793875458" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMWDtciGumH8j1_l8cx1PUsIUU1pYlfgwChXuwnE0EaXCTG7_lYwEuwey2Vr07YkLiMWpMxBMlzemIQ21ZiUTQSwva106FaHv2_srtwDDKUIiWS43WlDmryDZmChazvbV4m82VDZ9o03M/s400/DSCN0177.JPG" border="0" /></a>Sanded </div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456475029362349506" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2HBYcCnTYrXN8pmfPbA0VU1L-ZdNSHAp1O6mBXl2pqzqBTVj1FowJ7UU4zCkZXdtCbKXjcurcfKYXAUsQA4jYj0f5oGAleJDOZYXMtn3Wq_-VfwRWJJKMJoTDfUWyXRjHbZgaLAvGBvM/s400/DSCN0192.JPG" border="0" /> <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456477893504026498" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigZhFS7t4sYKZnnpF42-sFJUW1vDurI-XaLFqgIcgyPF-8IbeumtUE19m4tZYE50qASzbtt1rl8uwKfgA3TKU0YU_-AB9TkiOX1MF7l5iHGBUGtGmIVkjePLgxqeJ8yCBmZztx86QKOME/s400/DSCN0212.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456477911961453282" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1GJyVN_tkqw61O-Ja0g_GecR2nNojiWaXpr9vkbDWUVSE-_2zRypDsZf-xjSzDgDRfBAdpRxCvVKE0tLJBPQeGHqC1Inh8MlIO6D-wxqzpiZFjHrDwcQ2rnywVkmUMszmUffTdkpvvf8/s400/DSCN0216.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456477901982130082" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjShZv-HJlhQEbd7Eip56IoWTKZiStWNeILgs6dVDhfBlnOOFMolBzb1mp0pPtQsTWkW-qdnKqutoFu39kO2esHdi9hoGePs5zqLDVBRNlQKAaXuBflxUZf6FfH8j1EW3-agRdST7qr2A4/s400/DSCN0214.JPG" border="0" /> </div><div>Then finished</div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456479704445521762" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh5mWCefdgP09jWFA3BUWXx7-PGi2N02pmB9NxFHVGz78pc_ou6QkvS6ajss5tkAOdsDZZzsLdaEVmULKxa6aZhnEuwk1_Twd6KZdTlJAHPTeF_nrz-79KnJPS6v5x_13RRt-BZb-RJCE/s400/DSCN0236.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456479684868116994" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEqE4XwOT9mHbPQkYicmnD0foxubExfdxivV-D3Zc4eEQarHL2AMNEIldTeJwRxg-o2jElINoCX2pJMRY-LNdosvCtG6gKhK-fyvwSwqbFoTgmV2YxvRtjGm-oNtHcqewKeuNBvwYupro/s400/DSCN0231.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456479716532274962" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOHgGrx0EeV2ttIwHJLVrmFvrX0GyxczyPRBhXbxN0VMQ3D45By7f0F81apupQsud2hEjwobqjow_A6aNkd_wdpsZKWv0nZelWlGCpg41C4RxFwu8eyAcVFMr-rrlV7K5t0fU_AXZMQoQ/s400/DSCN0239.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456479735467751618" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ-AbtO197JyBlbo5xx90A2S67xmkppFVlboDYTDI5-FPhvQSJka0QyjVoNxpEoAyw1WnBHu9xfCFG-xWqqC0a1lgMQQI6fHb4J_Sb2fR-F3flAG1WF-6EqvjkmStQHLem7axLvu4c4Eo/s400/DSCN0241.JPG" border="0" /> This was a heavy one with lots of brass.<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456468900637924562" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 158px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2Eedmy3PptXf9PsPTRXVqc9pYmEAaHR55Bpj7GHXVUFKl2Uveb3aUt_Wk3VwOdHo_rdsUFF04qLLbp-GM50Nx4kUOIc-RDTf0YLfksfsvrcCsbL4wJDED04ePlFkHcacYJbYho03Wtzk/s400/DSCN0189.JPG" border="0" /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456477928619792066" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmJYA5OXNAx2Y2xS1LKZeOpATrnARwS66d3nt_FPAXPJYEkRZDvVN8-ZQ2x9zfCCdxWY5YF1msktaKHq6b789q5k2C4Ofg0DFqPMVRd1MIMFN_-buydm1AyvmYYf_CWrPhyphenhyphenBmx1pd6Kxc/s400/DSCN0226.JPG" border="0" /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456487334847496210" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbP2IbPNmzv3BJDJGQuMxJZIoomQJ_sFjjkpSu0uh3zzTU_CDr20mptJQqHPcHvUKmsTNBO1nqWMlzbb_TfLaPDQYYIRWYPsooMJhIzIMBvq3X9oyMVZaRlE0Ux3StWUyUJvZkI0EEk7I/s400/DSCN0225.JPG" border="0" /><br />This one is a Stanley brand.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBqbBtgRToWOljAfCkUb8Jr5SJTkWbJbu_EziSSfmprDvQDUd_hLQEYNNM8-NnOQrqkPC4aHRBWDUwvZJSdXDzqgM_qrXx5edNpFBTbpafQlesFfVWgdCONL-Wlj7xQwXVOF4NHDDYLd8/s1600/DSCN0175.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456464615092505170" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBqbBtgRToWOljAfCkUb8Jr5SJTkWbJbu_EziSSfmprDvQDUd_hLQEYNNM8-NnOQrqkPC4aHRBWDUwvZJSdXDzqgM_qrXx5edNpFBTbpafQlesFfVWgdCONL-Wlj7xQwXVOF4NHDDYLd8/s400/DSCN0175.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456470911652288914" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-QOZ9H5LEdPaAHj7f6fsO-ZYBB8JXkpJ7LcatkjrmFQsuw-voWEpPkoOwa_QK_JacTrB15LeVDA6deheJlg9uEwlTYXejc3Pyw4txHzUYu2kB2hQAbcEBa_7A4HkOLSdXKLdIPTuIYys/s400/DSCN0202.JPG" border="0" /><br /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456475038262409426" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMOXRaC5Hh9Ryj0-S1Hbl50Mg2DtpLIaQ8AoFdZQVjrqCOoIsBwa1zzMWgwrqXHva-9fBv7R4cmurfoLmEAFDlAMim6rWsYoyKtKb8SBKQMwKfB9iU9xPuNQBV-DYxES4NCOiNBkb1BS4/s400/DSCN0203.JPG" border="0" /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456483644565720674" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7NVY_YZ5taH11TpXFtEzH8JOM_QCLyu2zKry149Af1PJSLFbCGGMycqoRDEU_DKOdFiHTu3H3S_Xoz2HaBkLmQed_RlAdMGAjTCIDg6-_ofoW-d4PANb1BevKq7PVcRikcKGtqsbZ870/s400/DSCN0244.JPG" border="0" /> Notice how nice it looks all done.<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456483639337021266" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxRYRc-ItGPECTwffsJYNQRoO3l5_tg572oXF05vHuXQM8SUIY-MnxFAGGfsMp0hqR2toDg-LUiJZCcPQ_EXcYLO4QiPf4OKM9OEPQ_gUXabG437j_Yrtzh0p1_zZDFJCtfs0reHFx0iU/s400/DSCN0245.JPG" border="0" /><br />This one was really rough.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU9ofuS2wmCkfXp2y78APO4Dg-yGqlIuFo0tq9sdH6sJqR9NPotHMsoLMdCLSDn39qg387yNTPWn7kze0NMfvYSt9y8KjT5Eqx2FGO_LMe8YZ-QYdulC0j3LhZ81FcINSuy65_zchwKV0/s1600/DSCN0174.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456464608114086882" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU9ofuS2wmCkfXp2y78APO4Dg-yGqlIuFo0tq9sdH6sJqR9NPotHMsoLMdCLSDn39qg387yNTPWn7kze0NMfvYSt9y8KjT5Eqx2FGO_LMe8YZ-QYdulC0j3LhZ81FcINSuy65_zchwKV0/s400/DSCN0174.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456475051895610626" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnKT3vYtRrzQunPsAsVx_z_s38-ZMucegA5Lb7EFgt3QNjmIH8PJKXTvGk1ao9R8BU7YiSlEUCB0Vlu3WJZmF0LHjhT3ZWy4q7TO_BKfClMYNU15MpANtQcdZhAtMKeB5gMk7EMYaSNhI/s400/DSCN0204.JPG" border="0" /> But cleaned up nicely.<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456483612486989714" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 178px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP33q4baIf4fn-ecNK372DmX5X13wiU8_z7xl909rnRBcBRCOJQVW4sWn7fN3_-nNknGT0tP17OQIPePV7yBkcr_Rwha8FPurdeVVNzcdK4I-BHTYQ6RCh_Y5qxJXbN1TmU-bAhAxdpQ4/s400/DSCN0250.JPG" border="0" /><br />Nothing special about this one...<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVm1UL1IEN9uSBJIhHRG91oXZcOpnYcsH4QojJVvADS__M2D0Rn0EpgFz_soJLcCrR6kSykO7KYbt1IEIlG4XadwiTZkqoB-GZQBNoLWvUoYz7TyXsGjfphXxurb14J7RbL68zhqxtleQ/s1600/DSCN0173.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456464601912645410" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVm1UL1IEN9uSBJIhHRG91oXZcOpnYcsH4QojJVvADS__M2D0Rn0EpgFz_soJLcCrR6kSykO7KYbt1IEIlG4XadwiTZkqoB-GZQBNoLWvUoYz7TyXsGjfphXxurb14J7RbL68zhqxtleQ/s400/DSCN0173.JPG" border="0" /></a> <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456475077341745074" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5JLLWeXBraO1_UYQFFFOY7XEghiYZ2Z9IUjPdUWCsp4vUmKblwB_h5kOYLDLRcHK0sZkFY19MXAH1QHCmOyUKstUj1qcpMiiDZlAte7Ez5EjOqzDj8eZ5zUrmK9yxdnjgy2UKRItRo8Q/s400/DSCN0206.JPG" border="0" /></div>Until the wax went on and look at how great it now is.<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456483630091022434" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXdufO356JF1LGRzay2j8PZcjTds9XJCohVtKK5gK-qY-6SmrfFdXow8sh9QE2P2_YIsYLjn0p0aM8MVDmrFSZBHNIqNR3VHnL5uIvfLDsXvTsQNevQfRqjPqXhd4HoqCG0TBWwVH-p3c/s400/DSCN0246.JPG" border="0" /><br />This one was stained blue.<br /><br /><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456468894491636034" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA6K6h0ZZxib-BWSGQqMkDhWSceJhs1kWO9T5urANxCSPkbCD83f0UPsNLHEmmqCFvVLLMzWA4CyWPhE64OplG38JdngJ3aGxQCi1roAYPgZlZR16w7kJcx1L4HvI2lt2n9d6Hr9lLFLQ/s400/DSCN0188.JPG" border="0" /> </div><div>I didn't sand all of the blue off.</div><div> </div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456470886652462466" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4W-pOlXwnTK6tcG0LGBwP2wo0oRU_02KyAazucmZEH9EUR618GjcZRiHnzbEEYuxIpXrckfyVgfAmRictH6oCPQ6hf5m-IospilzLawxiYm5_-4AEB1Eg2tvGbEAdsXYe6QRW3YL2Er8/s400/DSCN0196.JPG" border="0" /></div><div> </div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456470896788488914" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBm_jEI0l3tpBFByIcSZAGvl2pbfQISvmVKADtDWDVMIUGAz0XOh_e4XkzUgDUxZmxnDfug_d10nx87TSynS7CZ7AfYp7l7LKVFnLqfohYMIrwQNffZU5VdskNCfEwDoQlZwi8D3k5mQc/s400/DSCN0197.JPG" border="0" /> </div><div>Here it is finished with some of the blue still showing through.</div><div> </div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456479747711005922" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV0yF_3uzzp5QVCQgJ3zplYC2ZfsNa1ppqE_y-MBl0H7K5-pityPsANa5HIPaDoQj1T6N4wGukNO42BdfeWXuWlbxC32nmTSVdrIhaVKLg6PabXnmdh3oZ0Jrmo_pijW7o-gP2iTk8bNE/s400/DSCN0242.JPG" border="0" /> This was the ugly duckling<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456468874889470466" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXrDjR__fUXudlzUI-SpYTBD-Rtlljt6YScMQtGT7-pv4LgsBgEOkuQZHMywDJh3ylfQRuaU9c3UrWUqqJkTdZprBMUErZypmwop9Ol7VxHzl_Orr2AY_fklp2baGYnp3qtFRj-M_MPnQ/s400/DSCN0187.JPG" border="0" /> <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456470925817173842" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjDr4C_5jPuHxAIfi-J8FkWBHSLj9okqiYJw3m3R81RsSPR0L8BFEuUgE9YhqEHs_T61I7iQ7YgAvt08s0hR_OcLyttVQBHHGxzM7vZYRccpJNi6o_SfG7iSkSVjPMxgYI-RuCPafQir8/s400/DSCN0208.JPG" border="0" /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456475089794160914" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9B8FuvRjb-DG6DIawSWCAosAG32Xw9l3a00tlmumZhKACxOh7SGF-bWW1jeGe6fVhLJ1WkE0aptt_MbesKu0dEkfnU6urXyFO-GzpWh3uQNlintykBG7zxC_t1O-mzvnPZ-y9fvQ5NbA/s400/DSCN0209.JPG" border="0" /> Not ugly anymore.<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456477921138262994" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi056WrWqtCje4Ow0sXZ05AiRBcHCYw8okPXtS3geouKwo1DW_fZYdddnhTD8ZQPVnBM-ZaBuumhCzUhTNoWcpBJOrNdv4ClJlGyKmOw8aViRLKB7ji40dqyvADRNEXBzY1REf2JJNWnPE/s400/DSCN0224.JPG" border="0" /><br />Here is the finished lot.<br /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456485546057325538" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 228px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxztVIGCQAaepjX6aw-Ynmc008l8yL8iGxycObwfN14PR359d9r6fwIx3vMqCvIV7mm7vpa59Ad4hmarAyMEDhBRE8Fodoz9q_mKnblnXdPrcnC3ol0oSWSRGwtE4-hUZaXAstXe1VBKo/s400/DSCN0255.JPG" border="0" /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456485525310200914" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 212px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA3w9gkhHY0H26S75bHsq_FZImxRfR5BCUWopY75QJS4PbYAI9uvaSqx2-Wsfv3dZ74IVmtZhYIHn6e_ODE4RUe4bb8ucuO0X3gL7IeGjjAMZDqaJrmwUQd5MNmYPZZZQ2ZlND4FwggyY/s400/DSCN0254.JPG" border="0" /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456485509742606578" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 274px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhGkMFzvNXUKqBXE7Y_0Is44DMkh8DK4pEPoEeU5OZotap50K0NJFEi3uShVFXV-UYagh8sOPn7ylJvKoVy72E4UG8w8euZZaXeXAU-xcmcooWysCDM804YDE2dvfk7E8LeVL4w79L3KM/s400/DSCN0252.JPG" border="0" /><br />Time to look for more candidates.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Peter Maerzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02690110914389381412noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8789133439952531111.post-13207495395109997572009-03-22T05:08:00.000-07:002009-03-22T05:48:06.371-07:00<div align="center"> The tool fanatic that I am leads me to "tool up" those around me.</div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center">This week I bought Lauren a tool kit. Last week she obvserved that everyone else in her family had a tool kit! So I found a kit for her and gave it to her Friday. To my surprise it was the same one her mom has and Lauren was thrilled.</div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center">It all started when I showed her the tool kit I was collecting for her brother, Austin.<br /></div><div align="center">I found this incredible wooden kids tool set.</div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFqF1yMRoZrzp3d3cPgKb29fVuN6TV74hxwG53P68uMLw9mmTnVCyQVhTPsA1S4oWKiQ25Q-wkOerAevUDnJFeKmlFeWzuOxk59fFIvcHYpueVTkqfuJBB3pQuslhcT9v-nxrYmTU5XYQ/s1600-h/DSC_5639.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5315984643757289554" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 265px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFqF1yMRoZrzp3d3cPgKb29fVuN6TV74hxwG53P68uMLw9mmTnVCyQVhTPsA1S4oWKiQ25Q-wkOerAevUDnJFeKmlFeWzuOxk59fFIvcHYpueVTkqfuJBB3pQuslhcT9v-nxrYmTU5XYQ/s400/DSC_5639.JPG" border="0" /></a> It was missing severval pieces. One trip to Canton replaced the missing ones and provided even more pieces for the kit. The wooden mallet, the planner and the blue screw driver came with the kit.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHkDFgoHDf0sVIGwGhcDlYCXg9qG1jJXohtA1tCjlCX4zrvjluvB9mW7uNO_BILLRSa1eJ9ZRwA1DaT1I22Fr0amtJVRSR-6L1YX1ZoMj2J2t1xWKsFpFbwsmA5WiN4yceuhc5P0H5F48/s1600-h/DSC_5638.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5315984640911282370" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 265px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHkDFgoHDf0sVIGwGhcDlYCXg9qG1jJXohtA1tCjlCX4zrvjluvB9mW7uNO_BILLRSa1eJ9ZRwA1DaT1I22Fr0amtJVRSR-6L1YX1ZoMj2J2t1xWKsFpFbwsmA5WiN4yceuhc5P0H5F48/s400/DSC_5638.JPG" border="0" /></a>The wooden square was in the kit when I purchased it but everything else on this side was added. Notice the little level.<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAubvc4mrZIzg3peIaaxRcLBnc7ylcbb3aweXbzxMxbDUl1DmMu8EfETL5g4TJuJhE2L_7cHMA-sO3Ea78J7GlcKqTVkxKuVBg-AZ96YOQ89hnzirFZikvpzqPsBEtvol6NykzvWtiQYM/s1600-h/DSC_5637.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5315984631291905970" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 265px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAubvc4mrZIzg3peIaaxRcLBnc7ylcbb3aweXbzxMxbDUl1DmMu8EfETL5g4TJuJhE2L_7cHMA-sO3Ea78J7GlcKqTVkxKuVBg-AZ96YOQ89hnzirFZikvpzqPsBEtvol6NykzvWtiQYM/s400/DSC_5637.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />The kit has everything he will need. Emily had one of these kits when she was little and she spent many hours building things. But alas Austin is only one and many of these tools are still too dangerous for him to play with. We tried the other night and he was determined to hammer Grema's table.<br /><br /><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5315984627581883810" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 265px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW7_4WdbBI5EbCA-OqHqaqkpyKkWrnHckxhtmh8pr3xrJdLYZkl6mJkh4_8XL43qoYZPQRueKA8BSe-iRU_aw0NntOiJvB87UxiYfJLJIhoNXCBg3PjCscEeilvbCuLWpEfPC44sTKkfs/s400/DSC_5636.JPG" border="0" /><br />The next day I found a pattern with wooden tools for kids.</div><div>We also found this neat tool box at McKinney Trade days.<br /><div></div>Here are the tools in the holder.<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5315984650344904418" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 265px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDncM1A7KjdSf7zRuR3b3nKocIgUfYU5WZjXO5Ut4qxxEJ64wFoVCeL_tbPDiGewC3ZyX9bJDx7aVEnvU3YmhhJvPaUy67dib5GyludbjGUssCXKor8bi7HvyasAATUFSsB6CaZM8X1-o/s400/DSC_5640.JPG" border="0" /><br /><div></div>Tool One: a hammer.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNFUJtzSTFdamH8LK2tH_cZXD7DFl2Ovx-hPtRQ8Ca9kholPPRIfVoFyqsRh8yNqByZCtTtfptRCvGxAAodJVc5pnkAUp0yNfyEqYEOnkAILwho7ekwXhk6OQIfYlwalrUfjcZ_BNcDpI/s1600-h/DSC_5642.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5315984152735513346" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 265px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNFUJtzSTFdamH8LK2tH_cZXD7DFl2Ovx-hPtRQ8Ca9kholPPRIfVoFyqsRh8yNqByZCtTtfptRCvGxAAodJVc5pnkAUp0yNfyEqYEOnkAILwho7ekwXhk6OQIfYlwalrUfjcZ_BNcDpI/s400/DSC_5642.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Of course you need a Chisel.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTVsbKe5nkjfrWZlCfMeiQtkjM12LksuHtrilmQpf_l4B_ju-jERhEOeJBUlV_LT5q2NkLb03BkeEOQcbMEZH-K29XviXsxqAKoo_vKLb5w8KB740Uijly5JvKLj7sI4dGp9PJLsF1HUs/s1600-h/DSC_5643.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5315984150135291906" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 265px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTVsbKe5nkjfrWZlCfMeiQtkjM12LksuHtrilmQpf_l4B_ju-jERhEOeJBUlV_LT5q2NkLb03BkeEOQcbMEZH-K29XviXsxqAKoo_vKLb5w8KB740Uijly5JvKLj7sI4dGp9PJLsF1HUs/s400/DSC_5643.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Here they are together.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB0IqepnSq1QDDs4UoYLSpz_Ac6FduJFB4TYDrPOaf4wE-EQRIBvMaBBr3XF2sTC_2fve-GoMb9antuQO1SNvvb5dV3IP1Ze_BstU0a8FRk6SqWv9IJzbmeQfqDfzxw_wCdT7AI5Zgn94/s1600-h/DSC_5644.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5315984147831864898" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 265px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB0IqepnSq1QDDs4UoYLSpz_Ac6FduJFB4TYDrPOaf4wE-EQRIBvMaBBr3XF2sTC_2fve-GoMb9antuQO1SNvvb5dV3IP1Ze_BstU0a8FRk6SqWv9IJzbmeQfqDfzxw_wCdT7AI5Zgn94/s400/DSC_5644.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />It's important to have a planner to smooth out the wood.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbqhLk8xBIQcaWnRVBBjxgIWieS1CHvILL_V5B_n3AvsgrOvjP3k79stLdgXmgNNO4HG8QQQLxLUMmdmGV2s7K-IvmSR0igQcGnPm00kv6renjab9Xxv5tWl9EkVRMeFtEN-cIo5SGxh4/s1600-h/DSC_5645.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5315984140503064754" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 265px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbqhLk8xBIQcaWnRVBBjxgIWieS1CHvILL_V5B_n3AvsgrOvjP3k79stLdgXmgNNO4HG8QQQLxLUMmdmGV2s7K-IvmSR0igQcGnPm00kv6renjab9Xxv5tWl9EkVRMeFtEN-cIo5SGxh4/s400/DSC_5645.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Glue to join the wood.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWDZmEB9XGvsdT9MMVCwFaICwbhAr1qWusMX0NAHVrWc_znUoPH_DCn_hNuCCRQXc205DTQFh6cGKyaEYlDmWEB0Fl4c4AnykTryG2KhXaOJIJhMHWWUSKEYZM8mi2B8DrxnIx0aIc3oU/s1600-h/DSC_5647.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5315984135909248322" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 265px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWDZmEB9XGvsdT9MMVCwFaICwbhAr1qWusMX0NAHVrWc_znUoPH_DCn_hNuCCRQXc205DTQFh6cGKyaEYlDmWEB0Fl4c4AnykTryG2KhXaOJIJhMHWWUSKEYZM8mi2B8DrxnIx0aIc3oU/s400/DSC_5647.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div></div><div></div>A square is really important to get those cut at 90 degrees.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC1lW7rBySqzc9HRMiV3DzrVgRUQGDNC6XJr9orBf9xwMibyzG3sirsHsY1X5Y6L-_SvTLlFCYLn-9qRD_d2fvJ2xDlljSotKCkCEstjDZEMM-VEjY05c2xQCOCj0Y7GHoU7-5sruw244/s1600-h/DSC_5649.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5315983622203415010" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 265px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC1lW7rBySqzc9HRMiV3DzrVgRUQGDNC6XJr9orBf9xwMibyzG3sirsHsY1X5Y6L-_SvTLlFCYLn-9qRD_d2fvJ2xDlljSotKCkCEstjDZEMM-VEjY05c2xQCOCj0Y7GHoU7-5sruw244/s400/DSC_5649.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><div> </div><div>A saw is one of the most important tools. How else would you get the wood down to the right size?<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM6gKJoNf8T1Z_p_0kASeTpbwUnHfOzMsL9vkhv_p5-NUHDvcLLGfhnVYIFuMttQfmCaw6nO9wjA0jNQtj_tXQHp0neqBz5lWi7ifiP2FbmHtVlYxqZp2aQV9Wi_oStpZJgBtmQyZFpPE/s1600-h/DSC_5653.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5315983615101665314" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 265px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM6gKJoNf8T1Z_p_0kASeTpbwUnHfOzMsL9vkhv_p5-NUHDvcLLGfhnVYIFuMttQfmCaw6nO9wjA0jNQtj_tXQHp0neqBz5lWi7ifiP2FbmHtVlYxqZp2aQV9Wi_oStpZJgBtmQyZFpPE/s400/DSC_5653.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Here they are all together. I used different woods and stains to create the look and feel of real tools. <br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGpB0hZdz3_Xv7-DTgTAzGzCW8ZNe1xMuinLJdf37YXjzbgGi983W0XjtkR0MGDtdGqD_l9IvqmOQpCtu9lNIs1yfUpsCZ9KdN1RFay_bPnyhM8QxnbLfqkTdRaVGtONgWRU9kS0yONvk/s1600-h/DSC_5655.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5315983609003292866" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 265px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGpB0hZdz3_Xv7-DTgTAzGzCW8ZNe1xMuinLJdf37YXjzbgGi983W0XjtkR0MGDtdGqD_l9IvqmOQpCtu9lNIs1yfUpsCZ9KdN1RFay_bPnyhM8QxnbLfqkTdRaVGtONgWRU9kS0yONvk/s400/DSC_5655.JPG" border="0" /></a> This afternoon they will get a final coat of wax and then they will be ready for Mr Austin.<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9bTJdKUMRQYD3QEAnZkbqiN9PTOqbVDMGTtdiC_y7IEw22g60daueWS9W6eHhsCsLoDsLrQjOiOND5kMEJllH97VPl8yHzToMpF9EESdyRxZvX2hAp_CYY_ZQeYarl74JVGQVyHqA6GI/s1600-h/DSC_5657.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5315983599282207634" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 265px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9bTJdKUMRQYD3QEAnZkbqiN9PTOqbVDMGTtdiC_y7IEw22g60daueWS9W6eHhsCsLoDsLrQjOiOND5kMEJllH97VPl8yHzToMpF9EESdyRxZvX2hAp_CYY_ZQeYarl74JVGQVyHqA6GI/s400/DSC_5657.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Stay tune he will be here this afternoon to claim them!<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFZvz1zwyqr1t6nnQqf9-6mN-blFbBz24oNa3GJZUakOs7RxMMufE4w3FLzAPM_pm5wck9P9R04nxZ4ZvaXsgCszns6s_elYQUzPfQMnP94d8mTb8n9kvZH0LC9nzykjb_GrlEYiHXPQ8/s1600-h/DSC_5660.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5315983597366806402" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 265px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFZvz1zwyqr1t6nnQqf9-6mN-blFbBz24oNa3GJZUakOs7RxMMufE4w3FLzAPM_pm5wck9P9R04nxZ4ZvaXsgCszns6s_elYQUzPfQMnP94d8mTb8n9kvZH0LC9nzykjb_GrlEYiHXPQ8/s400/DSC_5660.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><br /></div>Peter Maerzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02690110914389381412noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8789133439952531111.post-83354161779819347762009-02-09T18:09:00.000-08:002009-02-09T19:27:55.644-08:00<div align="center">Winter Wonderland in Texas</div><br /><div align="center">One of the greatest things about living in Texas is that the weather here is wonderful 53 weeks out of the year. A few days a year we get to experience the wonder of the frozen world of winter. </div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center">Having grown up in Canada I used to experience this for about 5 months every year. Sure don't miss that! </div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center">The best thing about our winter days is that they only last for about a day or two. So the challenge is that when it does freeze up you have to be fast to get some good pictures of the event. </div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center">The ice usually comes at night so I went out late that night with a tripod and captured some pictures using only the street lights.</div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center">This is our tree out in front of the house.</div><br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6fANSC66_EwLmgUq2MVXFx3Jj-tsdywXXxK3eKmNC6xZ3NBIVZQKryxwpWbNA8hOVuHhWzghChmO_gMHTMgjXRXxjaDWsQZjiNUmskauSzNidAd4SbmnaADEluyBF71N8iwqKtNDCF_A/s1600-h/DSC_4136.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300990384351545522" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 265px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6fANSC66_EwLmgUq2MVXFx3Jj-tsdywXXxK3eKmNC6xZ3NBIVZQKryxwpWbNA8hOVuHhWzghChmO_gMHTMgjXRXxjaDWsQZjiNUmskauSzNidAd4SbmnaADEluyBF71N8iwqKtNDCF_A/s400/DSC_4136.JPG" border="0" /></a>The rose bushes were trapped by the frozen water. </div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj81NQEG7TXhH3bkt4jZdLBSGjp7LdKOekZqpPZ2MiQfu9RDVnaWsLXGSl4RkxniVsm917WyhVmYqQkvUn4mcPsA17HbLvFgeLcYvxINQTzEZG3MJqu-tZLnKXJR6sK0NegFnPTe3Ib1fE/s1600-h/DSC_4099.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300990380723751618" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 265px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj81NQEG7TXhH3bkt4jZdLBSGjp7LdKOekZqpPZ2MiQfu9RDVnaWsLXGSl4RkxniVsm917WyhVmYqQkvUn4mcPsA17HbLvFgeLcYvxINQTzEZG3MJqu-tZLnKXJR6sK0NegFnPTe3Ib1fE/s400/DSC_4099.JPG" border="0" /></a> It's incredible that the water dripping from this leaf would freese before it had a chance to fall off. I wonder how many drips were captured and frozen in place to create this.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp2oJ2m4p-4zwi21XQ7oYS2djG-8S8boiQpOip5SLtEy6IKYvZsIDMibJxsv2nS-wXhMQUui8EBMo5shi3G3d2XhAYrtOWrv0SJtXqauZdA2GQ0WuRcxnteFGVpp3yW5-LkHJAbWbC4eY/s1600-h/ice+drop+close.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300990378672598978" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 231px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp2oJ2m4p-4zwi21XQ7oYS2djG-8S8boiQpOip5SLtEy6IKYvZsIDMibJxsv2nS-wXhMQUui8EBMo5shi3G3d2XhAYrtOWrv0SJtXqauZdA2GQ0WuRcxnteFGVpp3yW5-LkHJAbWbC4eY/s400/ice+drop+close.jpg" border="0" /></a>As I caught the light coming through the the Icicles the light exploded into these bursts of light. No specials filters were used.<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjEbFfKoTPZuh1wb_4eentP5IolnbHz-YHzDC4Tti1rOPv1dgVSVByy2ivRQ9rIJV4jT9kXnDlGRDtjlRh_j4Y8-xml0OPeIHs_0P_0LZyQOqiEdOmQ08AvgJc8KYFJxLaE8RJWJpFgeU/s1600-h/reflections.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300990376870470514" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 258px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjEbFfKoTPZuh1wb_4eentP5IolnbHz-YHzDC4Tti1rOPv1dgVSVByy2ivRQ9rIJV4jT9kXnDlGRDtjlRh_j4Y8-xml0OPeIHs_0P_0LZyQOqiEdOmQ08AvgJc8KYFJxLaE8RJWJpFgeU/s400/reflections.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />Here I was able to capture mulitiple bursts of light.<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFvWInz5RcvX9dAutlSCn-2YQRRD7zgFiBZvf4OXanM1yd9OLzXjW9pm3nLtoWfMLxUls0wfi5fPtABX9U33LEOZjm7ImDi_01sYgYGs5_vGPwyGtgcbeoIBsTvzrlvBl6GDfiFCS2Vi0/s1600-h/light+reflected.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300990372586055458" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 297px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFvWInz5RcvX9dAutlSCn-2YQRRD7zgFiBZvf4OXanM1yd9OLzXjW9pm3nLtoWfMLxUls0wfi5fPtABX9U33LEOZjm7ImDi_01sYgYGs5_vGPwyGtgcbeoIBsTvzrlvBl6GDfiFCS2Vi0/s400/light+reflected.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />The next morning the icicles were even longer. It had continued to drizzle all night and the frozen water continued to build.<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq82S39LDFdTfRZErErbagj2i12bpXPf1u1TbIL2aFh2jP5sXohHVxfrBSUsrA1H9oLOzUGd39zzmHuu91qPtqeWfHmlanurlvUPLr8roqNlc4CqESISyvZqzcd2x8BzVCIx3TOHZ3BJA/s1600-h/DSC_4342.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300988350608924130" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 265px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq82S39LDFdTfRZErErbagj2i12bpXPf1u1TbIL2aFh2jP5sXohHVxfrBSUsrA1H9oLOzUGd39zzmHuu91qPtqeWfHmlanurlvUPLr8roqNlc4CqESISyvZqzcd2x8BzVCIx3TOHZ3BJA/s400/DSC_4342.JPG" border="0" /></a>The sunlight made everything glitter.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3S8jhAgf_Va7p1cx5KuPMQgKWyiCv8f_mBalGl1k8JUhaRtLhd84d0NLPYflXb7onWU0_BT6SGe4h6GOn-iuuHxJj0qfD8IpFyCNRGlNrfUmWTutB7hhzxgEFV24Fyi7XSME3AK5v2_4/s1600-h/DSC_4169.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300988350905658450" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 265px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3S8jhAgf_Va7p1cx5KuPMQgKWyiCv8f_mBalGl1k8JUhaRtLhd84d0NLPYflXb7onWU0_BT6SGe4h6GOn-iuuHxJj0qfD8IpFyCNRGlNrfUmWTutB7hhzxgEFV24Fyi7XSME3AK5v2_4/s400/DSC_4169.JPG" border="0" /></a> It really is incredible to see how the ice holds the life of this plant in a suspended state.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge3H01bD0yhnIdaTYQPHziCJRM62S086hPbtB_Z9P6KBMTwyKZftrPAbvOCXb-mI7-L2YQUM4S7opUAGLSsJs9AZGEBeUzaoMo4Id-VatMZlaTwcJFOownyPEb4YAKTuFktu3QTY1qHHM/s1600-h/DSC_4100.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300988346449397138" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 265px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge3H01bD0yhnIdaTYQPHziCJRM62S086hPbtB_Z9P6KBMTwyKZftrPAbvOCXb-mI7-L2YQUM4S7opUAGLSsJs9AZGEBeUzaoMo4Id-VatMZlaTwcJFOownyPEb4YAKTuFktu3QTY1qHHM/s400/DSC_4100.JPG" border="0" /></a> Here are a couple more pictures capturing the light bursting through.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMyubGux2SWnYT8yYYSfqgWxx7NajUe-4TJZupYTj-C356dil_Slq-YVjudxU7j_7wtW6Y5Y7sY_Fv1htFPKQw3ULzGemOYF3qnU0-ykteNUxchgpLQ7ky_Dby7ZlzdhlQcN6f3Y8iFtk/s1600-h/DSC_4098.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300988341466813154" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 265px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMyubGux2SWnYT8yYYSfqgWxx7NajUe-4TJZupYTj-C356dil_Slq-YVjudxU7j_7wtW6Y5Y7sY_Fv1htFPKQw3ULzGemOYF3qnU0-ykteNUxchgpLQ7ky_Dby7ZlzdhlQcN6f3Y8iFtk/s400/DSC_4098.JPG" border="0" /></a> It's now almost the middle of February, we probably will not experience this again till next year.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvrrSNMjEEgXJidSGrlg7pRzqR1f_380jbK0aYhCkSxzvPMP5NiVj8eagE1R91xurqVwGetJipsFCHCntgXTYasBj3-oR877Kyj9APwgc84u0jgiXMb7c1aStKNfZ-Gb0ZpHTyMhd88ok/s1600-h/DSC_4097.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300988339092060290" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 265px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvrrSNMjEEgXJidSGrlg7pRzqR1f_380jbK0aYhCkSxzvPMP5NiVj8eagE1R91xurqVwGetJipsFCHCntgXTYasBj3-oR877Kyj9APwgc84u0jgiXMb7c1aStKNfZ-Gb0ZpHTyMhd88ok/s400/DSC_4097.JPG" border="0" /></a>This summer when we are back in the 100's... I'll pull these images up and remember the coldness of the night when I was out taking these pictures. </div><div> </div><div>Maybe they will provide some soothing coolest on a hot sticky night.</div></div></div><br /></div>Peter Maerzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02690110914389381412noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8789133439952531111.post-1184334404100623512008-12-09T20:19:00.000-08:002008-12-09T20:27:17.895-08:00christmas messageLast weekend the Facilities Managers group that I'm the president of held our annual Holiday Party. I was asked to say a few words and I'd like to share my presentation here.<br /><br />___________________________________________________________<br /><br />This Holiday season I would challenge everyone to do these simple things:<br /><br />Give Thanks, Care, Share, Give of your time.<br /><br />We live in a great country at an incredible time in the history of our nation. I believe that we have seen more change in our lifetime than any other period in the history of this country.<br /> <br />We have seen racial barriers come down.<br />We’ve experienced wars in places we knew little about – Korea, Vietnam, Iraq the first time - Desert storm, then Iraq again.<br />We’ve see the Baby boomers advance into retirement. As Dennis Hopper said “Your generation is definitely not headed for bingo night!”<br />The birth of Generation Xers , followed by Generation “Y” or Millennial.<br />Now we are experiencing the birth of Generation “Z’s” or sometimes referred to the “Internet Generation”.<br />We have seen technological advances far beyond anything the creators of Star Wars could dream up in the seventies. <br />We have seen record breaking profits and devastating losses.<br />Wow that wears me out just listing those things.<br /><br />Bottom line is “we still live in a country where we are free to go where we want, do as we please, whenever it pleases us. We can choose to work wherever we want to work. Live where we want to live. We can be friends with anyone regardless of race, politics or religion. We can choose to worship how ever we want to. <br /><br />That is not true in many parts of the world.<br /><br />So I challenge you to give “Thanks” that we live in a country where we can have very successful businesses, and were we can have great careers in an industry that makes a difference. Give thanks that you have great families, together with them you can experience the Freedoms we have.<br /><br />Out of the thankfulness comes “Caring”. Look around you and see those who are less fortunate. Don’t turn away, but get involved. Look for places to make a difference. Maybe it’s in your neighborhood with someone who has lost their job. Maybe it’s in your community where you can volunteer in a food pantry or work with less the fortunate. Perhaps it’s reaching out to an old friend who you have not seen for a long time. <br /><br />Start small and watch the momentum build. <br /><br />Through the many toys we collected at our Holiday Party, we will be touching the lives of many children. That’s a great start and I thank you for that! <br /><br />If you take time to “Care” you will make time to “Share”. Share the financial resources you have been blessed with. Share the talents you have developed - teach others. Share the energy and the optimism you create - infect others. Motivate those around you to make a difference and improve the communities you live in.<br /><br />Finally - Invest time. Invest time in yourself, you can’t help anyone when you are burned out! Invest time in family and friends. Slow down the pace long enough to relax and enjoy each other. Never loose focus on how bless we are. The time and energy you invest in others will bring you greater Joy than anything you can acquire for yourself. When all the dust clears and the chaos has ended - it’s family and friends that remain.<br /><br />For me personally this season is a time to celebrate a miracle that happened 2000 years ago. But that is a whole other discussion that I’d be happy to have that discussion off line with you.<br /><br />I don’t know this season means to you or how you will celebrate it. Do slow down and give thanks, care about those around you, share what you can and invest time wisely.Peter Maerzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02690110914389381412noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8789133439952531111.post-54777471291636449722008-11-12T13:00:00.001-08:002008-11-12T14:19:32.285-08:00Austin update<div align="center">This Halloween we had an elephant show up at the house.</div><br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV3QQJ8tYIJu9Upbl7Tgb9HOckMeqIW7L5ZzQQ5NS1iohHi1Gxd9IDoXwo0e5DpYlvaXkPg0mCUN39XsavmzpaiVxh3vJpkMiRwYFiEZv4yR3zjvzU8XJlDMdwOpiAEczN05qVDbLaDKw/s1600-h/DSC_2732.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267879809573143378" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 265px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV3QQJ8tYIJu9Upbl7Tgb9HOckMeqIW7L5ZzQQ5NS1iohHi1Gxd9IDoXwo0e5DpYlvaXkPg0mCUN39XsavmzpaiVxh3vJpkMiRwYFiEZv4yR3zjvzU8XJlDMdwOpiAEczN05qVDbLaDKw/s400/DSC_2732.JPG" border="0" /></a> He was quite FIERCE AND SKOOKY!!!!!!!!</div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267879805061648818" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 265px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_N49bx5qcCLBPuH7fGAX_LQKjppsPICR_LaHG1M22U5a8pWTghnhFt8G5XBjdbkkinIexfwGQ5Fm6GBJLm4r7M3VBbM1qKKufnBMNRdJ5VEeWkLslBZMARDgpDujKgu9sClK0aHhDWQw/s400/DSC_2748.JPG" border="0" /><br />Actually he was quite sweet and very pleased with himself!<br /><br />He made a great elephant and did very well at Trick or Treating.<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib68LPC5XQQz_0Ex9icuLzF8rtVXNIqmChUFR_dhUxr-GqoZmfBDuwDyNgim_LWFAXQJgVGh8UPAlguMSKI9Eurd_VorzQ44056fWDe2NPxgkPcMO8GWH5dJt-CWzMEKj0m_GRBPp_8Ng/s1600-h/DSC_2752.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267879814920515026" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 265px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib68LPC5XQQz_0Ex9icuLzF8rtVXNIqmChUFR_dhUxr-GqoZmfBDuwDyNgim_LWFAXQJgVGh8UPAlguMSKI9Eurd_VorzQ44056fWDe2NPxgkPcMO8GWH5dJt-CWzMEKj0m_GRBPp_8Ng/s400/DSC_2752.JPG" border="0" /></a> Big Sis came with as the beautiful German Girl with braids and all!<br />Together they made quite the candy haul.<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267889541900935938" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 265px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2dGiguR0FEFjNO7mcl9NVvYtEQUgg26ISRh0iYKiUC7zjQpZpgi4jDWVNY0dyQUCfGurLAhOPSvxe4t_OogOHdjHZ5TzcN2LxO3ISaE6_bVgdVNog1mpkHKbuUoo68YVqcV__9WEVn0Y/s400/DSC_2760.JPG" border="0" /><br />His new love is the blue antique car that we got him a while back.<br /><br />He loves to sit in it and dream about driving around the block!<br />He's not there yet but it won't be long.<br /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267879788049202146" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 265px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi8UcM9roGeMVFeoW9GtEcFAk_2gMQhxOXsrncGM67qc1D01MyBwDzz1i7H2vo0D5zf5XjrMa7QIz-yvp3FioJ5WsSPiAudFdkDONs48eRcqAVA2GkOovomEvuWLi3oF76Pzt_UZE4RcA/s400/DSC_2890.JPG" border="0" /> It's good to have a big sister who can take it out for a spin once in a while </div><div align="center">and keep it loosened up so that it's ready when time comes!!!</div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267889532282294562" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 265px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRMsZg2NLn7969J1GsfdbYASzLfJ87aPCne6jzoUuWMmqz5L1JhTuAzZwsxsUFKJS2F6B-gt9JrsqM8Tyl0hv1dzsf4xgCd6j-ZAc2-sEmbD2fKUBs3CM_2gscs-Y9vVDxZ-0w2FKX1Xk/s400/DSC_1468.JPG" border="0" />She is even nice enough to provide a ride once in a while.<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267889536123854530" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 265px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgar6jtYfBUXahYrj2NdeNqttwGDxU9nV3ITZk1Skgvm6pslCrCo_2gm6Gq2peCl1taN4VnnRxCzCF0NqN9OPSAiUpEK548jDOJ3fOb1WUvahXPBszEz-ybh3MGao7QdIeeOhIYtqGgiP4/s400/DSC_1485.JPG" border="0" />OH NO!!!!!!! </div><div align="center">I think it's pulling to the left!!!!!!!!! </div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267894290031192834" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 265px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih4MM1r0VFnqc3OiaVeYqi-tcwDLTOvszdYfSmgf9mRpM_YmNmlRpi3nPbVU5msI6hbW4HqJo0-Y8IwqhlJjSQE7oQAC3fpfDoWmVTCoQwwx5IU4nSQ2cmlyMw3aouyqvyT_36ZcOh61k/s400/DSC_2896.JPG" border="0" /></div><div align="center">BAPO I think this tire is going flat!!!!!!!!!!!!!</div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267894309011338770" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 265px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl6IBWohzYwNPtNviLWxBiGg3tkcGdvBS1c7Z_q7hMC8BoD9M1w_siWkYu_4cMlHcLO54wCKLT3zDc6kvFUBSC4W5UJGDHYR4e04EI9yq3H2Y7wC6JhXjrG9x0bvmidSI8uxPVzG8A6Qk/s400/DSC_2899.JPG" border="0" /><br />Up keep is the critical part of owning a fine Automobile and Austin insists on doing his own work.<br /><br />The fenders need constant adjusting...seems they bend at high speed!<br /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267879777621875858" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 265px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3fA500uX6UmCSezGyWxbW_NaRYNxsFcMaMCInSqZ13U1_4MF0mP1UO4jS71VnOx5lDx-fizuauW8mT9X92B3e1-cX2vh2UeTuIlm6wWRFBlUlNIWUqEGFLrP2LsyXNmj61dQQ-sfvSAw/s400/DSC_2923.JPG" border="0" /><br />Of course it is critical to keep the headlights pointed in the correct direction.<br /><br /><br />Wouldn't want them to fail us on an important trip.<br /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267889553784832802" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 265px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu1AYdypDfiKFt7QjNfU9UFtKLoo0HmrPIBeXSYFxktmPq33-ahKrsHA0XTFbbTovZZaNnnZFaPragd7bslgGGrsrjtAYczyBePtanAFjg0bfwJ4ZuBAB5HnLQfLDlwxYQKCnk6UShc_o/s400/DSC_2919.JPG" border="0" /> I think I smell antifreeze?!?!?!?</div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267894319789754978" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 265px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY_hwPEF_eZxhLTT8fPLVgLPuUJNnmyaMrPfpb5awvJ-ctwRIqL0g7vAB0w6eank1JI6bLXJZpX0qyklHo9yA_j1Z2-OdpedQ4nRWU5ZR5pfSjWx3nOiBRaev9qhumBmVL9sSl_lExnUE/s400/DSC_2921.JPG" border="0" /><br />Hum! This radiator cap seems to have come loose...better tighten it.</div><div align="center"><br /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267889549209684418" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 265px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1nTXCDcRM9jHJnHsC04mQQSWS7sdR-VbTyTPNjsDMcQkag-YcNJsQiFYw-H2huTyaKntp4kQ8KZEufAEDPmePjUUn3FuPY3ffIhUq4nL6-oYn8VhQ-Jo73MaKkPsaXlKgBC-0rf9S4do/s400/DSC_2914.JPG" border="0" />ZO!!!!!!!! That's how you adjust the windsheild.</div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267894298187099266" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 265px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4oVUGhndoTDz5DimaEl9RI55DRM6c7FthHLKe3K0CcPtYCZmVuKEQn2QbpcpT0Fu3HcvjApm_5ggEq6uJVvNQ9T6r8ltcHRCNWVi-Q65wRwYeTe-UW7PLNcz_DE8onw6npq2WoRWgxEE/s400/DSC_2908.JPG" border="0" />After a hard day of driving and working on the car a good bath is in order...<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267894279753449842" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 265px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaWW12SE0lJP1dOtUqHiAQlO8dX88vBtiRawy1QrBHD0ClaAgLC84yR2sdgPrdNGYDiXqEvedHqxVTBBCi9IrFcmUm4IRzBiQNMZhRfg0qkfrhqLmGGEMqde1pIX-SKEHx2QtWAK4PNw4/s400/DSC_1572.JPG" border="0" /><br />BAPO - DID YOU HAVE TO INCLUDE THIS PICTURE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!<br /><br /><br /></div>Peter Maerzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02690110914389381412noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8789133439952531111.post-51186415896209555112008-09-22T19:31:00.000-07:002008-09-22T20:42:05.638-07:00The Austin Effect<div align="center">Late in February our life changed...this little charactor came into our life.<br /></div><br /><br /><br /><div align="center">In a family with lots of girl he was a novelty...his name "Austin".<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5249041161454809522" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOsO-F_iJcMgFdzlbEMHNO0AvKbMDoxLG4hhluAqlWh75DbtZGhxzZ4qgMTIkZ-cyToflAliteQTyljZoH373IaSSHvAhNxpSy_rQoAgXZYVjntDmcO6Esxovt_nxTVa_PfETkulHxKsk/s400/bwDSC_6798.jpg" border="0" /></div><br /><br /><br /><div align="center">He is loved by all!!!!!!!!!</div><br /><br /><div align="center"></div><br /><br /><br /><div align="center">Especially his aunts and his big sis!<br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYvfvA19wpdpgIXDBQ1HTEM_F8ePF7jAOZrXxhDO0i3Y1S3b-_ML8FeRdB8jQGdkY_7JOW1vrwqJYClGgVI904PbHc1XA_BY5AGV3JvC8_D0ZJN75jaV8KLHzYY1UcUR1tZtGyMRu0yTI/s1600-h/DSC_6683.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5249041180340746930" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYvfvA19wpdpgIXDBQ1HTEM_F8ePF7jAOZrXxhDO0i3Y1S3b-_ML8FeRdB8jQGdkY_7JOW1vrwqJYClGgVI904PbHc1XA_BY5AGV3JvC8_D0ZJN75jaV8KLHzYY1UcUR1tZtGyMRu0yTI/s400/DSC_6683.JPG" border="0" /><br /><br /><p align="center"></a>Bapo loves him too!<br /><br /></p><br /><br /><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-ZQl-OHk-eWKmfiDP2IfceRV3XhuqlPRd1e8p1ptNgMPlLUgCth2b4ml7WluPfKbgE2CJd1PlKhTkk24022MBnI0FrB5P4EEWLWJzlBRpd9LvPNUzA1eal06vBhKi9hDhibXHKI1pxGU/s1600-h/DSC_6860.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5249041185311262082" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-ZQl-OHk-eWKmfiDP2IfceRV3XhuqlPRd1e8p1ptNgMPlLUgCth2b4ml7WluPfKbgE2CJd1PlKhTkk24022MBnI0FrB5P4EEWLWJzlBRpd9LvPNUzA1eal06vBhKi9hDhibXHKI1pxGU/s400/DSC_6860.JPG" border="0" /></a> </p><br /><br /><p align="center">Lauren still gets into the action too!<br /></p><br /><br /><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5249047688076421106" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkijJYqNnEg0u3U-ppVXp_AhzoFcG8GVZduHmf_X2zQ9gqcqrySx6fOLEwkSLWp81n8Cn18mEz1WAn7nGxhjG4M8OH9HQm5cbx7kylJsgOj_2jzvsNxK4GvBOVCywn-t_Z5otje3doTM0/s400/DSC_6869.JPG" border="0" /></p><br /><p align="center">He loves his Grema very much. </p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5249056251950072626" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmxDuxxHGkvOuwkHaRywPKotkUDPFEgiIKH7CVJokgNPCDdG_v6B-5WEmgCkM07Iva_N61VEzA_afflKUrDulFM8HV75UGI0y6xdmFUbeeKy_cDKAB4Qka4Q_0GRywj2QswEazdM_QdUU/s400/DSC_6553.JPG" border="0" /><br /><p align="center">He is quite the charactor keeping us all entertained for hours although he can be very demanding when he wants to be. He is very much like his Auntie Em, always happy, not sleeping very much, loud, and always moving!<br /></p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5249041172601416002" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn0Xi52_ODj4B5LhoXGrP9uOI9_R3aQtq-5rlcbYWwLx1h_ohs4ZkLvj-ddcWpqytwJkgh-kGH9ZHAEo2ReM6KhmNSon9lBiNzK7EuJOQk4lgX__JnxEMPzGViujkHXfaJeoan0oZgfCw/s400/DSC_6590.JPG" border="0" /><br /><br /><p align="center">Mom! What did you do with my clothes????<br /></p><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5249047678212002162" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb4HLdFg1ZMvAkig6yaFgT6E7NvdD1mirXkomlsHEydPGCbn5-vHVPzCD-xJUo5xrDf_PfRR5KD2vb5bLrCxirbKbVhCN5yhq1X5yb4kcclCI10opmOvCeyT9PBzch1dzOqat8TvKI6Nw/s400/DSC_6826.JPG" border="0" /><br /><br /><p align="center">He really enjoys just laying around and making crazy faces.<br /></p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5249047670828354242" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRcxA6goHQLG4xu0qEsQYUhcu1qMjWQfKDIlohRCifJdNBeYDLl5rRE8O3EFdUtqBe4fuCwGDzyST5iK7oSVWWL00TfbffGC_wesvvUjzuHbXjPgfncy863hhvOs5QadSFEthPUwrfVu0/s400/DSC_6643.JPG" border="0" /><br /><p align="center">Often he seems to be bored.<br /></p><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5249047692799358658" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRASHpv_giGpam4YM3K1-zjMLgl9BpbC23EvKu-gzs6HsCvgxaYQLFa_-JizWsOWWHAuPFIVIdoQDbitgJpIAqY6G_jfM2Rw2zrd2fPKdA74pGmwhhUtnX7KaiXJ8tIsq_3BdzSKYGrgY/s400/DSC_6880.JPG" border="0" /><br /><p align="center">But lately things are changing, he has discovered mobility. </p><p align="center">Notice he's quite proud of himself.</p><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5249049737013439714" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDWxo2W0NLVg6mjhFx9VaKJhasfC7uv3MyPAt-XZF_2nMgHRepFPMqDoUM9QJjc9Ps8Ir_5bzRRMhOMNSP3InPM7EJ726YaAGo9JnIEMIQAGG9_rYcVM-ARLx8qTAWj2fr_jc-jUAfD-k/s400/DSC_0920.JPG" border="0" /><br /><br /><p align="center">He really gets into playing with his little people house...literally!<br /></p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5249049742787182370" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMGDmfbvlLuVVJZJ9OUQZfiKDbGcQKEhvbV9EebcumCjbUTBdTNViKCrebx7jREk8JI6Ae_3V6vojqHU4LjzIJHGya8lRfH0briKjdrV238hfRUXCVS1PZINlkl7xbENRwV__K0zmAQH4/s400/DSC_0930.JPG" border="0" /></p><br /><p align="center">But alas all good things must come to an end. That cute little thing that used to just lay around has found out that there is a whole other world out there. To get to it you just have to pull yourself up. </p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5249049750578389650" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiOUdlZXrNon8bs9haVhNTC6SWwDfM207p5RKZF6-OlQBzX3fzfqBAaZ_YSpfPbUDz1NftEOFs_EazXdpad0qgrkQ8blC26NGUXOClURnygoSlDNg6klFBbOhp6NJyoUd3BCMi0eFmvVA/s400/DSC_0941.JPG" border="0" /></p><p align="center">And up.</p><p align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5249049756654826562" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-MWfWKoz-XCZDKIcmHqbvfxoTTLjrDJl4d31nK-Q6_tETBXhiLkbwh4uDNESOBWBrbOOvcNZLS9jFVnSPvBTUGyUd1JbcQoyprme_oIFENpSlhOXUT28ZLoDJH7-PdvEDcL-8vYwlnw8/s400/DSC_0944.JPG" border="0" /><br />See I told you that I could do it. </p><p align="center">Life has entered the next phase and he is very proud of himself.<br /></p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5249049759297508610" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKazpR7ouTvVy-TG96_hcuuzoX9Y_sZXHb7wpsYu4P4w2QQSlJwh8EvNSvWPbQTuL0gySkyDVIy4clDJB38Um9sYRx_aYBXp55eEQociNl1ixER4jf63eJtmz5DEggMBPaWCJGl6mnXBI/s400/DSC_0948.JPG" border="0" /><br />I love to watch the expression in his eyes. He is so full of life. Stay tune - it's a safe bet that he will advance to the toddling stage before we realize it.Peter Maerzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02690110914389381412noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8789133439952531111.post-91183881544489724862008-09-18T18:18:00.001-07:002008-09-21T21:49:34.982-07:00Uncle Hans<div align="center">In an earlier blog I mentioned that during our trip this summer we had the pleasure of visiting with one of my favorite uncles. His name is Hans Maerz. He was born in Hungary, the fifth son in a family of eight children. My Dad was the youngest son, Uncle Hans was nine years older than my Dad. Later I will share some of the stories they told me about their childhood.<br /></div><div align="center">Here he is walking with Debi, Austin and Lauren in his garden, one of his great passions in life. </div><br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_0lO0fNqq7L5Dzjt-345FIJJJO1h8-o-96VQS8Tz3Sfhuv0t1T3Yu2kRr9aRng1MijwVTTYYR1S23Lw0TOGdSkavcl4WFS8xl7WuLqutzbSnC5yn4rb5bPc7-SEX_SAQ3C6UCE5XywBE/s1600-h/back+yard+close+up.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5247537436147051458" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_0lO0fNqq7L5Dzjt-345FIJJJO1h8-o-96VQS8Tz3Sfhuv0t1T3Yu2kRr9aRng1MijwVTTYYR1S23Lw0TOGdSkavcl4WFS8xl7WuLqutzbSnC5yn4rb5bPc7-SEX_SAQ3C6UCE5XywBE/s320/back+yard+close+up.jpg" border="0" /></a> As a child we loved to visit him, his house was always the source of many wonders. It was decorated with all kinds of treasures he had created out of wood, metal, glass, leather, rocks and many other materials. There were always new items everytime we visited.<br /></div><div align="center">Notice all of the items in the background behind Ashley and Austin. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihLTsg6wSb-3YkPbMjkOFG1ipctz8dsb7YRPfusiNLVlrS6rDuV_F-pSu5ANtgJW1T3QFDE5lJYHJ20aEfsoWeBsZhqnFAVs4EcWdhohyphenhyphenhaEHoMJK2SEaHxTKlUtujea7PX1btHxuYDMc/s1600-h/DSC_0427.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5247537439582396834" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihLTsg6wSb-3YkPbMjkOFG1ipctz8dsb7YRPfusiNLVlrS6rDuV_F-pSu5ANtgJW1T3QFDE5lJYHJ20aEfsoWeBsZhqnFAVs4EcWdhohyphenhyphenhaEHoMJK2SEaHxTKlUtujea7PX1btHxuYDMc/s320/DSC_0427.JPG" border="0" /></a> Many of these things were here when I was a child.<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5247544123863526818" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP1Fx5uCBcYlEf1xI2IA_pO3kECrimXwreOxaQOumv1MR6160mV39_pcHHGJfWPu8iv3McYD2c1n0mu5aFz2CIZnDJJqkscYwa4dZ1Nz-vDNAeecoPY1lrlCMzyWQG74JdYQwLov_IqsA/s320/DSC_0449.JPG" border="0" />Though he never had any children of his own, we were all his children. I never knew him to walk past a child without stopping to talk to them. I can remember how Ashley used to love to be around him when she was about as old as Austin is here in this picture. The next generation experienced his love on this trip.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1BOMAZgW1d8dmQcEbRnMkwAp32ARwsrTd0tvp11zYbMqvA0uISMwWvnekzvEJ_t42y4tDbCT0S83FXhdl3DbKs0LLyEU4t9VMIq4KG_qXZmjgAJenM39ZmilHgUrRWeGZB7QQ8E6HvoU/s1600-h/DSC_0436.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5247537441166169122" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1BOMAZgW1d8dmQcEbRnMkwAp32ARwsrTd0tvp11zYbMqvA0uISMwWvnekzvEJ_t42y4tDbCT0S83FXhdl3DbKs0LLyEU4t9VMIq4KG_qXZmjgAJenM39ZmilHgUrRWeGZB7QQ8E6HvoU/s320/DSC_0436.JPG" border="0" /></a> Look at the wonder in Lauren's eyes as he shows her this bear that he sculpted out of Pewter.<br /></div><div align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5247537447255393970" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqVpUoQd8VIJGTkUeWqhSycwK66tCUjupJ8V2O8iwdA92s3ZqGKsrOi4Qafs5gsB05PRbON-KmeKBPHHtJ5np2eq-3yczmOqg6JHivIrh9o-FAlvG9G37XSKhSSI6NZTPvRwegKhgtnXE/s320/DSC_0452.JPG" border="0" /></div><div align="center">He always loves to joke and laugh!<br /></div><br /><br /><div align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5247546665551424130" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4nflz3AyyW864wr6QrUf5cVX0i7MWN0o_yPsszDZcdZJXtKivaTSn8lC-zD7xgSjqg7X7lGtX_sK0DXQ4ew_w1lp1pw1TEDPlJAmVDr2NpHEadrKBU8-erPuZijc0eig6OdOY0euvrts/s320/DSC_0454.JPG" border="0" />This is a scene that he cut out of wood. </div><div align="center">I know this is a Silhouette of Jesus with the children, but I see my uncle here...a living demonstration of this in action. He loves children and they love to be around him.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMSkRWwCmh9PcD-YIqOOLRmAx93WP5UXN1G8IVpcbVwoYlJcSSkz79Q-59CNl5sOqN-cPhY0X8ogV8_fWWWJbMsY_O7pchxTD_jYNB0XSdlHuAzFgJ5Cv8go-odYSsLCfpEAcU7xL6Hzs/s1600-h/DSC_0461.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5247537453825778626" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMSkRWwCmh9PcD-YIqOOLRmAx93WP5UXN1G8IVpcbVwoYlJcSSkz79Q-59CNl5sOqN-cPhY0X8ogV8_fWWWJbMsY_O7pchxTD_jYNB0XSdlHuAzFgJ5Cv8go-odYSsLCfpEAcU7xL6Hzs/s320/DSC_0461.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><br /><br /><div align="center">Here he is sharing his love of rocks. We shut off the lights and he turned on a special light that illuminated the most incredible flourescent colors I've ever seen.</div><br /><br /><div align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5247546658246725442" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvjqzquVbih2P0-bbQSPPeCw037C2T8Z47y45pL6BkF0jhhTW5GqBRj1xXkzXUA2iihzrkqErldVKVXqZSNkEm5iiup20inO8tn854qdhNRGOBHJpn9iCWUbuer1o4uGWkxPPej-Q-0Q0/s320/DSC_0542.JPG" border="0" /></div><br /><br /><div align="center">Here are some of his amazing metal cutouts. </div><div align="center">Most of these designs were actually drawn by him.</div><br /><div align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5247546656953889394" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyXzYiUZW6f7uytvGdOI2de1gaKp9xef73-f94cwyPp7rzesXCSSSFcyB18kaW8OHyAUHZurFJupQAm1vj3TED52_DQtI1pM442DiOQZxgte1zYuYri-bWhmCe8qLcV-tAb3KcB5b_DRo/s320/DSC_0518.JPG" border="0" /></div><br /><div align="center">We spent some time in his backyard sharing his garden. </div><div align="center">The grape vine growing on the back fence came from Italy. One of his neighbors went back there for a visit and brought back some cutting from a established vineyard. He gave some to my uncle to see if he could grow it in Canada. That was in the 60's, here it is 40 years later and it's full of grapes!</div><div align="center"></div><br /><br /><div align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5247546669029015762" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiunSO-7z_KiOo_aj21jCGe6t9ZPg3Ak48FZ8KCQh6yLCBOi4Flgd3vrsNqeWLxPEg5bl-fC7ukgEAX1M6nwTgbwSjPOKTSkUB99EG32DKJzv44Vg2b7GqwNaVAL47ekdr0V6qMDpGCZr4/s320/DSC_0559.JPG" border="0" />His flowers are incredible, here he shares some with his grand neice. He loves to share the beauty of his world with everyone he touches.</div><br /><br /><div align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5247546672253179906" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc0OerxX_NOQiC1LkUTZ7B61NFOskagah3sy8o-AGXJ0PquAE3Fs1jvndPhbzXIB1CMOga4SoEkYxkyLoNVukkWhfTdnEVuY_hgNp_EZW08BHStEbu1DN5WyI_tSETJ7YwI4L88cmw8Fs/s320/DSC_0615.JPG" border="0" /></div><div align="center">Here is a close up of the flower, it's called a Tiger Lily.</div><div align="center"></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5247553312310019842" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtVVzKkcNU4jvNNbZ2e3b8VTD61GDbz-HN4h0ZMYEFrrwWimHo6t_Bx2ciyutpG9vCZKvURLjTLNhsdu-XLUT3nP93V2BHll2omrXYbGAsB_irjoz1b5shxUacG_cdPQchuUTiXUQvbes/s320/DSC_0555.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center">Here is another amazing flower from his garden.<br /></p><div align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5247553318740265666" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuYHApmuz8iCgLuuXlJzDOS0smEQFvRsU0WjmFbFkRLXuEM3fSS0hbUxvRDhvp6zbah5XDjvZBWnP33YsJZCfXSkBm31b8qTvGm0fSgJm1EMhKEGBKuafUEUqwADxBLRB_r8QIR4fvN0o/s320/DSC_0621.JPG" border="0" /></div><div align="center">His front yard is filled with roses that he grafted using wild rose stocks, marrying them to bush roses. What amazing results! Being in Canada he does have to bury the tops of these every fall to protect them from the winter frost. In the spring he uncovers them to bloom again. </div><div align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5247553340521574642" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi04WY5Tl9-1a34AJIB8ozhPOKtygMkMN0nfaWtFnteGjFV7egjPEq6aBCUGRIbMR2iH94inDguWLPV-aIWkqltH89NcnH_JIAOUIOxKVXfQrCxbmJmQ2w7-pyftbB28YvCARiau2g9IT8/s320/DSC_0589.JPG" border="0" /></div><div align="center">Our time flew by! Before we left we created some amazing images of our own. </div><div align="center">Austin was focused on Uncle Hans.</div><div align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5247553324963831906" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5uQKezcJfGH_Ow40lTZ4EKrN09PImreEzdpi5637-zqDm2ITE5C3n23jeH8VN8AX9PfHWX8_KGriFuxT-15-vbeS-AlEhlz9NV7skg2YCZ81Gtr3829MY_zt4LOGUNcH0qcZYMmxRJY8/s320/DSC_0641.JPG" border="0" /></div><div align="center">Debi took this great picture of four generations of my family.</div><div align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5247553336670684530" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWlLSbT3ZhmytP1pqevNaAMdAKe4NpIHAHuhiTlc-eAZx2ZbycfNLNk_E1QVnReYCdhyBQ91GudY7iZHyXnIuwUm3T2LJscmLPDqGcB5pQn3cnwoEuIZ1DsqhEaxJMwMwtxw09f9udMdc/s320/DSC_0636.JPG" border="0" /><br />He is now 87 years young! He told us he no longer mows his lawn...but he still does all of the gardening! </div><div align="center"></div><div align="center">He lost his wife, Elizabeth, to Bone cancer in the late 70's after many wonderful years together. They loved to spend their evenings together, him working on something and her reading to him. In the last year of my Dad's life he walked two miles twice a day to make sure my Dad was OK and taking his medicines. He has out lived my Dad by more than 15 years. Because of his love for his savior he always keeps giving. </div><div align="center"></div><div align="center">Everytime I visit him I realize it could be the last time I may be spending time in the presence of this great man of God. </div><div align="center"></div><div align="center">It makes me sad...but I also live with the knowledge that someday we will spend eternity together with our Lord, his wife, my Dad and others who have gone before us.<br /></div>Peter Maerzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02690110914389381412noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8789133439952531111.post-84341932017755296462008-09-12T11:56:00.000-07:002008-09-12T13:10:45.350-07:00"Grand" children<div align="center"> </div><div align="center">As I get older and learn to slow down, I have gained an even greater appreciation for the simple pleasures of life. That realization causes me to be amazed at the spirit of my "Grand" Children. They truly are "GRAND" in their approach to life as a constant adventure. Daily they learn about new things and new places, every day is new and fresh. Every new discovery is a great wonder!<br /></div><div align="center"><br /></div><div align="center"></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5245211751021326418" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga29MOVFl8vAQ6vIHxe1UZ9pf17vgwwZk4YnQ2zKvvwI2suSra5r5rZYGqzHbebHAy88uYDwzQeGXGMKeoATEUAQbx2K8Dm-5RxCpBlN1m4N52APdgYmzlyTz0j_exDBt-TyF30SsJDZ8/s320/DSC_0885.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center">Lauren our oldest(6yrs old) is always smiling and always happy. Here she is with her cousin Gabby as they participate in a grand tea party. Life is one big party for her and I hope she will always feel that way!<br /></p><p align="center">This summer debi and I had the pleasure of taking Lauren, her brother - Austin (more on him later) and our daughter Ashley (their Mom) to Canada. </p><p align="center">It was a great trip, one of the highlights being our visit to Niagara Falls. As she saw the falls for the first time it was amazing to see the wonder in her eyes. She had never see anything of this magnitude...even though we live in Texas and everything is bigger there!</p><p align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5245224791615731202" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBLm_SkBxa-xht-kvnMs7vDJWUBsVp0BpKDv7lMwfmZWeAiqKb7uXZTEnZqQOnB_rAiW4MjB4kZIzDkOvML9Nw2HBnhAkbs8CaSTXw_hnAanPwxLUPmb6kuM1CgaGp9D1cnpm7lJwEn1U/s320/DSC_9989.JPG" border="0" /></p><p align="center">She was amaze and couldn't see enough at first!</p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5245213493010466274" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" height="212" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzzQj8mdJVJqXMx64_sQHWixxk4Z0YBAdFcfbt0r017tQMtj_NtD_uhl9aKn3DwG1I56YmIFONjQLAKk2zY4gQhoZ1Cu0no0DLNjqJMw9zMJC_qG0b-Vz5JftBGmtKcBYyp75ayT5CaVg/s320/DSC_0031.JPG" width="263" border="0" /> <p align="center"> Here we both are doing the "Tourist" thing!<br /></p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5245220478479530402" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggWk4nrxGwuFkWOfFoRjJx3mhzIJ1GotCnNZ-X-AafKNAo7feidhTJ0KZDkdcq3Vpn2y1EgCN_1_2chq7cl0umoBQHEkagnFCTdpHXk5OafrPN7d_lXUi0tCaeFzUaDDLvoooeSxisgIk/s320/DSC_9951.JPG" border="0" /><br /><div align="center">Here is one with Mom and Austin.</div><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5245222595554159698" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKet9sh6aYk4RKibqd-wHZRyF-kPOX7xer8EPA9lq2KaFP8i4Yl7_u-g8yWs1ODKayonGkC0SySzdR2d_UOHZpHu2YGtLy99QpU9LRVUdOuum6Jj6IqJHUrM-wFOXbFH_y5mNF1TqrGyg/s320/DSC_9908.JPG" border="0" /><br /><p align="center">And here are Austin and Grema at the German Food Restaurant...great food! </p><p align="center">Austin (6mo) really was a great traveler too. Being so young I know He didn't make the memories that Lauren made but he was always happy and fun to be with.<br />We had a great time. Lauren was constantly finding new treasures.<br />Maple Leaves were one of her favorites.</p><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5245215253009284642" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid0Kmf0qcpWc5qbsXu5u0-3FZau5xo1yFqfJkuAuLXmxsMTpgZEPYCfInHYLTsHAMrMNydBjnl-XxNhhFYvMG_fZHFLSUdFk9XLt05CPoeNI0CGh7ATYMwRhlub16I4HfeRufkj1xhibE/s320/DSC_0152.JPG" border="0" /><br /><br /><div align="center">We spend 10 wonderful days together that I will never forget. </div><br /><div align="center">It was great showing her where I grew up.</div><br /><p align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5245218461816332370" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzRqL6oxo4RLC8KFW-5CU7Ya9qoP35lTdJb49tzZ1BO5RqbU0U6bDSSnx4VSm9tWGvNONTRwS0f7dQ_9L5_XCFFZ-aS9_PKp-Z9xUYwtXP941VWYJxnE7Gon3cSklhGgBdZn2ABJuI5xk/s320/DSC_0673.JPG" border="0" /> The house I grew up in.<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5245219073775664130" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5TzKB_uWX_pezeRfvh0JFVPG0rW2RiFEdNVwCjNbMFo-2-w39bLb620RROl2ysga2Lc1gHP4r_QsyysT853BL21sU5l41iM9NXMu1Dk3UfvGZRzsZ3aJjNBFnv7P5TZiGQ1Ij1nYCRGY/s320/DSC_0453.JPG" border="0" /></p><br /><p align="center">Introducing her to Uncle Hans...more on him in another issue! </p><p align="center">It was the type of trip that impacts you for the rest of your life, life at it's fullest...what we should strive to live everyday! </p><p align="center">It was incredible watching her sense of adventure as new things kept happening everyday. Her sense of wonder is inspiring. When we as adults keep our eyes on our children we too can keep life fresh as we see the world through their eyes. To often we let the grind of making a living take the living out of us. </p><p align="center">Children never forget to stop and smell the Roses, we need to learn from them. </p><br /><p align="center"><br /><br /> </p><br /><br /><div align="left"> </div>Peter Maerzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02690110914389381412noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8789133439952531111.post-78202348703274680592008-04-07T14:10:00.000-07:002008-04-07T14:16:30.173-07:00<div>Today I became a citizen of the United Sates of America!</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>I've lived here since 1982 and put off doing the paperwork till last summer. I finally took the plunge and here 8 months later the process is almost complete. I have to return to the office on Wednesday morning to take the Oath and then it is official.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>This is a proud day for me! I feel like I now belong to the place that I've called home for many years already.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>I'm proud to be living in this state! <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYgbja1_T4GloYQVcaS8_JewWJc6ftzyoYv5g8uB3vjLoMU_hwsS7TN4hdKI3pPWFoT3LWYsDFFahKq_jblJjo2R6D1Np9WjMGSFNDzsWzH5zCo4WlIiOkCHx7sUEgZ0sw3bM5sEUHgA4/s1600-h/DSC_5863.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5186615006359056210" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYgbja1_T4GloYQVcaS8_JewWJc6ftzyoYv5g8uB3vjLoMU_hwsS7TN4hdKI3pPWFoT3LWYsDFFahKq_jblJjo2R6D1Np9WjMGSFNDzsWzH5zCo4WlIiOkCHx7sUEgZ0sw3bM5sEUHgA4/s320/DSC_5863.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><div> </div><div>We live in the finest place in whole country. </div>Peter Maerzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02690110914389381412noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8789133439952531111.post-51980938721975318092008-04-02T16:00:00.000-07:002008-04-02T16:22:50.163-07:00Family<div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeaS-gSkITCsPRjfYwGNcKGt9qi6oXqDOc0bn3fe24y8k9XKOSy33cVCySmkkmeWrUFhgsETlNEK5n81YQGihvo5o9BYM10wK3MBBjeHpxwM_PiQuvujqbi2tp-HibjpBCDxAGSHVSzlw/s1600-h/bwDSC_4507.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5184791474914324258" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeaS-gSkITCsPRjfYwGNcKGt9qi6oXqDOc0bn3fe24y8k9XKOSy33cVCySmkkmeWrUFhgsETlNEK5n81YQGihvo5o9BYM10wK3MBBjeHpxwM_PiQuvujqbi2tp-HibjpBCDxAGSHVSzlw/s320/bwDSC_4507.jpg" border="0" /></a> <div><div><div>I love to take pictures. The best images I have taken have been of my family. The one displayed here was taken on the night that my grandson Austin was born. He was barely one hour old and the nurses took him to the nursery to do the usual work up. "Daddy Mike", my son in law stayed with him and several time Austin reached up to hold onto his finger. Mike is a wonderful Dad, this picture captures his love for his new son.</div></div><br /><br /><br /><div></div><div></div><br /><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4u7zY6LWekSmgEGYCzP_2ckluClPMroVKsJR3V60kM2EHKBTp4rD6hj7Hpodl9-qTRCvyRPGRAFJkUYCKucKpewfZK9zCh2jHcn50qkMV6Sjun1CDFA5_QJV37wet2emIAZ-nmPj2dRE/s1600-h/DSC_4378.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5184791702547590962" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4u7zY6LWekSmgEGYCzP_2ckluClPMroVKsJR3V60kM2EHKBTp4rD6hj7Hpodl9-qTRCvyRPGRAFJkUYCKucKpewfZK9zCh2jHcn50qkMV6Sjun1CDFA5_QJV37wet2emIAZ-nmPj2dRE/s320/DSC_4378.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div>This is my granddaughter holding her brand new brother who is only 30 minutes old at this point. I love the way that she is just beaming love as she examines him. </div><div> </div><div>She will be a great "Big Sister"<br /></div><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><div></div><div>I heard a song the other day and one of the lines went like this: " It's not who you know or what you have done, but it's how you lived that counts". </div><div></div><br /><div>These last few weeks have been incredibly busy. Days seem to fly by and sometimes it becomes a blur! We celebrated our 33 wedding anniversery last Saturday. I am truly blessed with a wonderful wife. </div><br /><div>But in those moments when I am able to slow down I love to reflect on the family that God has given to me. They are such a blessing to me and really make me feel loved.</div><br /><br /><br /><div><br /><br /></div><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><br /><div><br /><br /></div><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div></div>Peter Maerzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02690110914389381412noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8789133439952531111.post-21139792623705151142008-03-14T16:02:00.001-07:002008-03-14T16:02:54.263-07:00<span style="font-family:georgia;">new to this...thoughts to follow</span>Peter Maerzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02690110914389381412noreply@blogger.com0