A great list of knots.

Many years ago, before there was even the International Knot Tying guild, I came across this book. It is now considered the bible on knot tying.

The book was written when natural fibers were used in rope making and the book does not go into how some of the older knots can not be used with the newer rope materials.

It is a fun book, one which I carried around a lot, trying to learn many of them.

Lots of great apps out there now for IPADS and such.

Check out the list of knots on wikepedia.

LIST OF KNOTS

Solo expedition. . .

 A couple of weekends ago, while wife and daughter helped around Great Grandma's farm house for a few days, I had some time to myself.
One of these days I set out to explore an old farmstead that I have been spotting for a couple of years on our drives back and forth.
It sits off the highway, pretty far back, across a creek bottom field.

The day I went by the owner was outside so I asked permission to take some photo's and he said fine and we ended up having a good long talk about the place.

The farm was settled by his family in 1817. And they first lived in a log cabin on the site. They built this big classic beauty in 1840. When the present owner started coming here his folks lived in St Louis and shipped him off to the farm to spend most of his time with his grandparents.

The house has been tuck-pointed at some point and maintained well.
A porch no longer covers the front of the house, but you can still see the outline of where it had been.

The only thing detracting from the look of the place is the new windows. Although the shape of the window openings is the same, the newer style windows do not belong.
I am sure it was done to help cool and heat the place better.

A neat stone building is attached at the back.

It is in very fine shape.

 Also on this trip I explored some more back roads and came across this wonderful old church at Mt. Air cemetery.
Lovingly maintained next to the cemetery.
I was very much surprised and pleased to find the place wide open and well furnished.

One big room with a covered entrance.

 Inside was definitely period to about the time the place was built.
This wonderful pump organ.

 Right next to the beautiful bookcase holding bibles and hymnals

On the wall the page and attendance board.

 On another wall, this old upright piano.

 Keys on the organ.

 This is the second stove covering we have come across in the last year to make a stove safer and better looking.

 Tucked behind an extra bench is old folding tables that could be set up outside for nice weather functions.

 Although, as you can see, not original to these doors, the locks and bolts being used are still very old.

 I was afraid to turn to many pages in the bible for fair of pages coming out, so I did not find the date it was printed. But it sure was old.

Lined up, ready for church.

 The cemetery also was well taken care of, with some very old dates.

 I have never seen this type of raised plot before.
As you can see, at least four markers on top.

Probably a horse and carriage step.
There were two on the site.

 I also checked out a couple of old barns.
One in better shape. . .

. . . than another.

Also drove through Vandalia Mo and found that the old hotel, although decorated for Christmas, was for sale.
Vandalia has a very nice old main street.

But, alas, not everything I went past was worth saving.

Cool pictures from hobbit land

Here. . .

Milestones - Another one reached.

Through out our lives we are reaching and passing milestones, real or self imposed.
Some of these milestones are set by our families or society, but non-the-less we are expected to reach them and pass them.
Some, like graduations, birthdays and awards we celebrate.
Others quietly go by unannounced.
Some we can't wait to reach; most of our birthdays when we are young, winning competitions in school or sports, first prom, your first jock strap (well, except for the part where your mom is there when you get it and pays for it.)
Others, like birthdays over 40, or all the years we work at one place till the year we retire, we hope slip by unnoticed.
Some we wear as badges of honor; passing our drivers test, conformation, reaching the age old enough to vote or drink, our first kiss, our first time to . . .well you know. . . .
Others we just grit our teeth and carry on; your first colonoscopy, the first time your doctor tells you to exercise and eat more bran.
You never think you are going to make some of them; reaching forty when you are in your twenties, reaching any age when you get past fifty, your first kiss, your first time to. .   well you know. . . .
Some of them you hope you never reach; making it to forty when you are in your twenties, having to get your first job, having to make your first speech.

But none-the-less, milestone are out there and they come and go, whether real or self imposed.

I reached another this past Sunday. I hadn't been expecting it, there was no warning. It wasn't even one I had though about having to pass or even reach. And I didn't realize I had even reached the point of being able to consider it.
But it happened anyway, no fanfare, no balloons and if I hadn't commented on it myself, it would have passed unnoticed.

We usually go out to eat Sundays after church. Having a light breakfast before church usually means we are ready for a good late breakfast or lunch right after, It has become something we look forward to. We don't always go to the same place, but we do go to some more than others.
This past Sunday we returned to Bob Evans. At the time we usually arrive you are caught in that never land  between breakfast and lunch, so the menu is wide open to suit most tastes.
Wife ordered an omelet, daughter ordered a kids cheeseburger and green beans and I, seeing something I liked, in a portion I found appealing, ordered Chicken Pot pie.
It was only while reading the surrounding text that I realized I was ordering from the SENIOR MENU and that it sounded good, the price was right, the portion suitable, and most importantly, I was old enough to have that privilege.

Now don't get me wrong, other than when my knees really hurt or I am trying to keep up with our six year old, I don't feel or act like a senior. Well, I do have to get up and pee a lot, but I thought that was only cause I drink a lot of tea. But other than that, I still listen to music from the 80's and we don't subscribe to public television and we don't have any chairs around the house that help me up.

The thing that really surprised me about the experience was the fact that I was proud to be able to now chose from that once forbidden category. I had made it. I could now look forward to the day when I can spend my mornings drinking coffee with other retired people at the Hardee's down the street (well, after getting the six year old off to soccer or dance or gymnastics or school or girl scouts or parties).

I didn't find myself looking around to make sure that no one saw me order from "there".
I didn't whisper it to the waitress.
She didn't laugh or ask to see some ID (maybe I should wonder about that one a little).
I just did it and didn't even flinch.
No alarms went off, no balloons came down. Time did not slow down, and it did not grow quiet.

I even enjoyed it, wasn't overly full, and took part of it home.

Another milestone passed.

I can now look forward to that chair that helps me up, and watching public tv.

Scoutings founder as an artist. . .

Illustrations like this one by B-P and other artists like him made for very adventuresome reading up through the 1960's for all adventure seeking kids.

B-P as an artist.

Catch up time - Disney World!

 Fall break and a chance to go back to the House of Mouse.
We were on our own this time. No expert guidance from our friends who helped us navigate our first trip back in April.

We choose a non-Disney property hotel for our stay, but after the first night we moved on property. Nothing was wrong with the hotel, but they had mis-represented their shuttle service for access to the parks. We were expecting several shuttles a day, but found they only offered two going to the parks, and only one returning, with that one only returning at 10 p.m.
Needless to say, with that one ride taking almost two hours with all the stops, and not wanting late nights every night, we moved on property to a Disney resort.
Room was not as big, but we had plenty of shuttles, places to eat, and lots of other stuff to do.

 We arrived early enough on Sat. to spend some time in the park in the afternoon.

We hooked up with some old friends, (that is not a fishing joke for Ariel, by the way). 

Here with Tigger.

 Made a new friend at Sleeping Beauties Carousel.

(Here with one of the evil step-sisters)

 Spent a good 20 mins or so dancing Bollywood.

 Paired up with a dynamic duo.

 Of course the place was all decked out for Christmas.

 Even Mickey

 and Minnie.

 The park did a terrific Christmas program late our third or fourth night.

While putting on a fun musical the castle kept changing color.

 We were lucky enough, our last morning in the park, to catch a new area open for dress rehearsals. (Which means the cast got to see how things were working and where things needed tweaking.)

 We found a new Little Mermaid ride open, and the lines were so short we got to ride three times, one right after the other.

Happy after three rides.

Gaston's new tavern was open, here with Gaston showing a young man how to hold the mug so his, Gaston's, mug is showing.

We did make it to Epcot this year.
Not a lot to do for the little one, and a bit crowded with a food and wine festival going on.

But we will return and experience it again.

We did however get to eat at the English Pub.

What that money would have bought.

The cost of the 2012 election will top a record $6 billion, according to the Center for Responsive Politics. If you find it difficult to visualize that figure, here are a few other ways to think about what $6 billion could buy:

— 30 million iPhone 5s;
— 3,000 New York City subway cars;
— 200 F-15 fighter jets;
— 981 public elementary schools;
— 15,503 Lamborghini Aventadors;
— 451 small hospitals;
— 545,454 1-carat Tiffany diamond engagement rings;
— 18 million iPad minis;
— 1 year of lunches for 11 million public school students;
— 4 Burj Khalifa skyscrapers (the world's tallest building).

And one more way to look at it: $6 billion could pay off less than 1 percent (0.67 percent, actually) of the projected 2013 federal deficit.

Just VOTE!

I got to the polls about 15 mins. before they open today and found myself about number 50 in line. (Ended up only taking about 15 mins.) While walking in one of the poll workers was telling everyone in line the rules we needed to follow while in line; No phones (good idea), no recording devices (another good idea), no music players or other electronic device (still good ideas), then she said no talking (what!). I hoped she was kidding, but I couldn't really tell. There wasn't much talking that early anyway. I did hear some 'goodmornings' and some 'just be glad it's not raining'. Other than that it was pretty quiet. No one while I was in line talked politics. Well, being me, once she said no talking I made every effort to at least say good morning, or thanks or something to every poll worker I came in contact with. But with that said, I do believe in certain etiquette rules at times like that, and, again, at least while I was in line everyone seemed to be well behaved. There were a couple of voters that seemed to think their time was more valuable than others and seemed to be in a hurry, but other that that. . . .. Posted below is a good piece from NPR.

Just vote!

Voting Queue Etiquette: Hey, Buddy, That's Out Of Line!

by SCOTT NEUMAN

November 06, 2012 8:16 AM

South Floridians stood in long lines Sunday during the last day of early voting in Miami.

Alan Diaz/AP

For most of us, Election Day marks a welcome end to months of relentless political ads and partisan bickering. You show up at your polling place, run the gantlet of sign-wielding campaign volunteers, and join your fellow Americans in long lines that inch toward the voting booth.

Maybe you while away the time quietly reflecting on the choices you're about to make. But in an age when the rules about when it's OK to express one's political opinion seem to have frayed, what if someone decides the line at the polling station is the place to talk politics?

Just ask Laura Hughey, who says she remembers one man who was "especially pushy" in making his views known as she waited to vote a few years ago. That experience has colored her views on how people ought to act at the polling station.

"Voting is a sacred privilege, says Hughey, a Dallas resident. "I don't need you to know whether or not I voted, or which candidate I voted for. I don't care to know your status or opinion either."

Gail McDonald had a totally different experience when she recently cast her ballot in Florida. She says she was surprised by all the people in line who were wearing Obama and Romney garb, because her former home state of Georgia bars such forms of "passive electioneering."Hughey was one of many people who responded to a question on NPR's Facebook page about polling station etiquette.

"I actually had a great conversation with the lady behind me in line," writes McDonald, who is a campaign volunteer for President Obama. McDonald says she felt compelled to start a conversation because the woman was wearing a button that declared: "VOTE — your vagina is counting on you."

They wound up passing the hour in line discussing politics.

Unlike Florida, many states have laws against passive electioneering, such as wearing political buttons or T-shirts within a certain distance of the voting machines — usually the demarcation is within 100-150 feet. Ann Brekke of Chicago found that out in 2008 when her 9-year-old daughter accompanied her to the polls wearing an Obama T-shirt. An election judge intercepted them and told the girl to turn the shirt inside out.

Still, electioneering laws differ and enforcement can be spotty, says Elisabeth MacNamara, national president of the League of Women Voters.

"It varies from state to state and even from county to county," MacNamara says. "Even what steps a poll worker takes [to prevent passive electioneering] vary by state."

Of course, there's no law that keeps people from discussing their political opinions as they're queuing to vote.

Christopher Mercer claims he isn't shy about letting you know who he's voting for, and that he wears political shirts and buttons when he goes to the polls. "While standing in line, I will openly engage in discourse with members of the opposition," he writes in an email to NPR.

But count Kimberley Bryan-Brown among those who believe there's a time and a place for such conversations.

"I have to say even the overheard discussions bother me, because for some reason it feels like it's breaking some sort of ethical boundary," writes Bryan-Brown of Seattle. "When it comes to the moment of voting, when you're there at the gates, so to speak, there should be a kind of political silence."

Thomas Hollihan, a professor at the University of Southern California's Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism, says that for him, voting is "a bit like church."

"Elections are civic rituals, which in some ways are similar to formal religious rituals," says Hollihan, who wrote the book Uncivil Wars: Political Campaigns in a Media Age.

"I think it means one should be on their best and most polite behavior," he says. "And that does mean to respect that in America we honor the privacy of the vote, and that we allow each person to make up his or her own mind."

Allan Louden, a professor of political communication at Wake Forest University, agrees that voter-line etiquette means talking politics is out.

"In that spot, you don't do it. That's my experience," he says. "Besides, you could even have a backlash effect. If someone's being rude, you might not want to support their candidate."

Even so, there were plenty of people who responded to NPR's Facebook call-out who thought political conversations and even buttons and T-shirts are just fine.

"It's not going to change my mind one way or the other at that point," says William Falls Jr. of North Carolina. "And really, it's not much different than the candidates' pollsters standing in front of the building with their handouts."

Katy Cline of Tyler, Tex., says the voting line ought to be as quiet as the library. So when she and her husband waited along with their 4-year-old son, Dashill, during the GOP primary, they had no intention of talking politics. Dashill had other ideas.

"There was no line at the Democratic primary, and he asked why we can't go wait in that line," Cline recalls. "So, I thought, what better time than the present to talk about it?

"I was careful not to mention who we planned to vote for," she writes, "but we told him that the next time we voted, we would all be together in one big line and that you could vote for whoever you wanted. It didn't matter which line you'd waited in this time.

"I was quite nervous when I started to talk to him about it, but everyone was pretty supportive," Cline says. "I got mostly smiles from the people in line and the poll workers."

QS #358 _ Mo Barn, IPAD

Colorful time of the year.

 My favorite time of the year.
First a wonderful display of color, followed by cooler days and chilly nights.

Of course it also means making a swing for the front yard tree.

 And getting the pumpkins ready for Halloween.

 And playing more in the swing.

And the pile of leaves.

 And outfit this year for Halloween (again made by wife)
is Lucy from Narnia.

 Our two attempts at Jack-o-lanterns.

'Smiley'

and his brother, 'Happy'.

The pair guarding the front door.