New post on my new blog. . .

Trying to spread things out a little, I started a new blog for log stuff.
I will post notices here when I post there.
The Log Blog

Deck Chairs

My previous post brought up a lot of conversation about deck chairs used on beaches in the UK and else where.

When we were in the UK in 2010 we spent a day at the beach in Filey. And although to cool for people to be renting them on this day, I got a good picture of the rental stand.

Sepia Sat. - Sea side 1964

John and Doris

Aunt and Uncle in England.
I only got to meet them once in 1970 and he was one of those guys that was like a big teddy bear.
She was one of twins.

I posted this on the Sepia Saturday Blog.

I've fallen in love again, . .. and I call her Babycakes. ..

. . . and it is my nephew's fault.

It's not what you think. It's more. . . material than that.
Yes, that's her, in pink.
And she (it) is actually my daughters.
But I've fallen in love non-the-less.

It's a new cupcake maker our daughter got for Christmas.
We have yet to make a cupcake in it.
So far we have made muffins and dinner thingies, with mushrooms and something sounding like epinada's??? Something south of the border I believe.

But last night, while unsupervised by an out-to-a-meeting wife, daughter and I experimented.

If you have followed this blog for more than a couple of months you will know that I love anything with meat inside a pie crust, my favorite of course are Steak and Ale pies and Meat and Potato Pies. The latter being a comfort food from my youth.
Well, last night we tried to make mini-Meat and Potato pies.

(Fireworks in the background) And it proved quite the success.
We even made our own crust.

The inside stayed nice and hot, and with gravy and peas I was in culinary heaven.

Next up, mini-chicken pot pies and mini-Shepherd's pies.

Of yea! We made mini-peach pies for dessert.
Yum!

OK, I'm hooked. . . .

OK, like the title says, 'I'm hooked', that is, on this 'find a grave' thing.
I don't think it sounds creepy.  Does it?

It's a lot of fun.


Sat. afternoon I explored northern Lincoln County looking for two sites.
Found both, but ran out of light for one.

But the one I did get to photograph required me to ask permission at an 1860's farm house, in wonderful condition.





The site was in great shape and well taken care of.

We tend to have a very narrow view, that is most of us, of our history. Usually what we are taught or what is important to our family or local history.
We sometimes loss site of all the other facts that go into what makes the history of our areas.

For me, our local history has usually dealt with Daniel Boone, Lewis and Clark and a few other names and places.

What I have found lately, having visited many sites so far, is how rich some of the names we don't know are in contributing to our history.

Out of the four or five sites I have attended, at least three of them have had occupants that participated in our great War for Independence.
After fighting and serving so far east, at that time, from Missouri, they made their way west in the very early days of white mans time in our state.
It makes you think about the things you didn't know about our history, or at least reexamine the things you though you did.

We, my assistant and me, visited another site on Sunday. This one in an area I was much more familiar with, as was Daniel Boone.

Finding the right marker required a rubbing to come up with the name we were looking for.

Although now in a very developed area, the new landowners are taking real good care of the site.

We did drive home through one of my favorite little villages, Schluersburg. Not much left, some old farms, a nice church, and a couple of real neat dog-trot log cabins.

This first one still lived in.

And this wonderfully maintained one that now serves as a little museum.

Period doors and windows are well taken care of.

I once did some consulting on this one.
The owner was worried about a twisted log up in the top half-story, and was concerned about the safety of the structure.
I examined the log, which was gigantic, and told him in my opinion the log had twisted many, many years ago, was to large and to dry to re-twist back, and because it was so old, it wasn't going to twist anymore.

That was over twenty years ago, and it still looks sound and beautiful on these undeveloped acres.

Snow still hanging on, on the north side.

Covered and protected on the sides and back.

Assistant had been asking about wishing wells, having spotted a yard decoration one on our drive, so when chance came to explore the real thing. . .
. . . off she went..

Closing out 2012 . . . .

 Although my favorite months, Nov. and Dec. they are two of the busiest for our family, and probably most others also.
But it is usually all good stuff.

As has become tradition, Thanksgiving is with wife's family and lately held up at the farm, with dinner being at the country club hall. Plenty of room.
Lots of good places to walk.. . .

 . . . and to play with cousins.

 Can never have to many olives with Grandpa.

 

And feast with cousins.

 After Thanksgiving there was time before Christmas to have indoor play time with new best friend and do some cooking.

 All decked out, ready to cook.

 "Oh, those look good."

Daughter spent all day, with one short break for a soccer game, working on a 700 piece (OK, 693), two instruction book Lego's kit, and did it all by herself.

I know I don't have that kind of attention span.

The real king of the house.

 Christmas was held in Shelbina, and great grandma made sure we had a festive cake to celebrate with.

 With Great Grandpa Henry.

 Making decorations with cousins.

 Even a little tree with presents for the kids.

 More cousins and still nice enough to be outside for a while before dinner.

 Time to eat.

 Great Grandma handing out presents.and getting to open hers.

















Just before Christmas, pizza making party with the girl scout troop.

Funnest part, getting to eat what you make.

Christmas morning!!

'Honestly mom and dad, I did not sneak down and see this giant present for me that had a red ribbon and a moving elevator.'

It is always great getting presents that are taller than you.

Even out of the box.

The present hot seat.













A Christmas day visit to the ones we miss.

 Then over to grandma's for dinner and dessert. . .

 . . . and another pretty tree. . .

 . . . and more presents.

 Two days after Christmas we did the Magic House with the now traditional after visit stop to see how pizzas are made, , ,

 and enjoyed at 'Dewey's'

After pizza we explored a new park. . .

That had two log cabins.
Conway Park, St Louis County.












What is interesting and rare about this one is the logged gable ends. This usually indicates that the cabin is real old and has probably never been moved before.
When logs were easy to come by, but milled lumber was not, log gables were the standard.
Once better roofing supplies and milled lumber came along or in more populated areas, framed gables became common.

Of course, they had a good playground also.

This brought an end to a great year.