tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-308072522012-02-20T16:59:42.221-05:00Just some memories I want to put down in no particular order, just as they come to me. Gotta do it before I forget them. Even got some non-memory type stuff too. Poke around & enjoy my muddled musings and, if you have time, post a comment so I'll see what you think of the place. Enjoy Yourself!Mike Shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06117271444345617080noreply@blogger.comBlogger1301100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30807252.post-85357930373868319852011-11-25T03:38:00.001-05:002012-01-03T00:29:57.906-05:00

.....arrived one winter day in March of my 11th year. It was a Saturday and my Uncle 'F' and his wife had gone to the small city on an 'errand'. Rather an unusual occurrence in winter, especially on the sketchy backwoods roads of Maine in the 1950s. Around two in the afternoon I heard his old Studebaker straining and spinning its way up into Uncle 'Rs' barnyard. Going out to see why he'd come

Mike Shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06117271444345617080noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30807252.post-24911872863544842632011-07-11T01:01:00.006-04:002011-07-11T01:06:15.017-04:00

                                     A Short Tale of Man & Boat   It's been awhile, but hoping it won't be so long between posts again. This is just a short story told to me by a friend when discussing the stuff tourists and visiting sportsmen do when here.     About 3 years ago a friend who runs a fish camp beyond the roads here told me about a NYC client. seems the guy had 2 big problems

Mike Shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06117271444345617080noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30807252.post-61953666233908194472011-06-04T23:13:00.000-04:002011-06-04T23:13:17.108-04:00

   Ahhhhhh. After too much time away, finally able to get blogging in earnest again, or probably for the first time. I've been trying for some time to get back to it, but the old grey cells have failed to find the writing rhythm needed. Tonight, the Blogging Muses took a bit of pity on me and at the same time reminded me of the signs often seen in non-English speaking countries. the fun ones to

Mike Shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06117271444345617080noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30807252.post-38593842360747432862011-02-20T02:11:00.000-05:002011-02-20T02:11:25.314-05:00

  Sometimes, during the course of our lives, occur events which force us to move on. A change of jobs, location, economic or cultural differences for various reasons, retirement, etc. My adult life while I was working required I move about pretty regularly, much of it overseas, and often meant having to involuntarily cut ties with folks I'd come to cherish as friends. Often this was due to shifts

Mike Shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06117271444345617080noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30807252.post-40592072675439585772011-01-16T03:21:00.001-05:002011-01-16T03:22:50.180-05:00

Oryctotagus cuniculus(domestic rabbit)  Once upon a time, in a land very near where I now sit, there lived two young boys. The boys were close friends and shared many good times. One such time, or rather, series of good times, was the annual outing to the nearest Agricultural Fair. In our case, this was the State Agricultural Fair as our county was actually too rural to support such an

Mike Shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06117271444345617080noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30807252.post-50903426025468552852010-12-05T00:38:00.001-05:002010-12-05T00:41:17.536-05:00

I don't mean this to be taken as a mean-spirited, sour grapes, type post. It's just that history is written by the victorious, which means it often gets distorted far from the factual accounts of what happened. This has been, and continues to be, one of the great failings of schools the world over. The result is even greater misunderstandings between different groups about the true history as

Mike Shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06117271444345617080noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30807252.post-9131503480138614732010-10-31T01:15:00.000-04:002010-10-31T01:15:59.672-04:00

                                                    T. Remington photo   Well Folks, it seems I've survived another year aboard the Big Blue Marble we call Earth. The photo above was taken near our home and the chair overlooks the area in general facing west toward New Hampshire. The views in the area all seem to call out demanding to be photographed, although the views will outlast most images

Mike Shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06117271444345617080noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30807252.post-91919081466687747062010-09-05T01:15:00.000-04:002010-09-05T01:15:56.115-04:00

My good friends George & Linda Allen of Spokane, WA belong to a Walleye Club that holds an event called C.A.S.T. where they take disadvantaged kids fishing for a day. This year it seems they were blessed to have with them this little bundle of perky sunshine in pink. Her name is Kenadie Hansberry, age 2, of Spokane.It seems that at that early age she's already developed her own sense of style.

Mike Shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06117271444345617080noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30807252.post-50485515698914050082010-07-31T19:24:00.138-04:002010-08-01T16:39:13.252-04:00

   At one time, I was actually a pretty rugged young man. Somewhat lacking in 'altitude', but endowed with an overabundance of 'attitude'. In those days, when I was freshly moved off the farms, I was up for just about anything, especially so if monetary gain was involved. At that time, in the little city near my hometown, every Friday & Saturday night had entertainment in the form of boxing

Mike Shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06117271444345617080noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30807252.post-933783811415663552010-07-16T02:46:00.001-04:002010-07-16T02:49:11.792-04:00

Some old trees don't disappear, they get transformed. Yarmouth was home to New England’s largest American Elm tree – affectionately known since the 1950s as “Herbie” – that used to reign over the corner of Yankee Drive and East Main Street. Like so many American Elms, Herbie finally succumbing to Dutch Elm Disease, an introduced fungus that is spread by bark beetles. After decades of diligent

Mike Shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06117271444345617080noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30807252.post-32529191068368196462010-07-05T02:06:00.003-04:002010-07-05T02:15:08.691-04:00

"...she's a Grand Old Rag Flag..."   And with that simple line and a little more, a wonderfully insightful and very special friend broke through my writer's blogger's block and inspired these post July 4th musings; and here's some of the stuff I discovered, some new, some known, all neat to know. I hope you like reading it as much as I liked posting it.   To start, a well known and respected

Mike Shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06117271444345617080noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30807252.post-51096963038145442752010-06-19T23:52:00.001-04:002010-06-19T23:58:22.174-04:00

Sometimes little things become such a part of our lives, we don't even think of them after awhile. Things that become habitual when we're young often follow us through our entire lives. Some of these things are good, some not so good, a few bad, and often of no consequence other than how they shape the person we've become. One little habit that almost everyone has is that of being susceptible to

Mike Shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06117271444345617080noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30807252.post-56690094653793424642010-05-21T00:40:00.003-04:002010-05-21T00:50:09.072-04:00

....core? A post by Lua Fowles on her blog  http://likeabowloforanges.wordpress.com/  sparked this idea, and for that I'm truly grateful. After reading her thoughtful words, I decided to share exactly what keeps this Old Indian farm kid grounded, a concept I was introduced to by my Group Leader when I was a wet-behind-the-ears 20-something who was trying to find out who I really was deep inside.

Mike Shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06117271444345617080noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30807252.post-73697860780137989352010-05-03T06:57:00.001-04:002010-05-03T06:58:01.075-04:00

.....should be shared. Therefore, here it is: Nothing Twice Wislawa Szymborska Nothing can ever happen twice. In consequence, the sorry fact is that we arrive here improvised and leave without the chance to practice. Even if there is no one dumber, if you’re the planet’s biggest dunce, you can’t repeat the class in summer: this course is only offered once. No day copies yesterday, no two

Mike Shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06117271444345617080noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30807252.post-83148403676530543492010-05-01T06:29:00.003-04:002010-05-01T06:42:27.623-04:00

.....once again. I've let my ambitions, which still think I'm a 25 year old, run the show. This obviously ignores the fact that I'm a somewhat decrepit 'Older Fellah'. This should have been driven home to my dull thinking apparatus by now, especially as my latest 'reminder' arrived last week in the form of a 'Power Chair' to attempt to prevent my nearly regular tendency to fail to remain vertical

Mike Shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06117271444345617080noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30807252.post-49296081197071124882010-04-11T16:45:00.000-04:002010-04-11T16:45:12.919-04:00

This article was recently published by CNBC and I thought it deserved as much attention as possible.Spotting Counterfeit Bills. All photos by Fred LaSenna for CNBC.com In order to stay ahead of counterfeiting, the United States government redesigns paper money on a fairly regular basis. The latest installment, a new $100 bill, is slated for unveiling on April 21. The last bill to be redesigned

Mike Shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06117271444345617080noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30807252.post-38615533189079540352010-03-07T22:37:00.004-05:002010-03-07T23:02:57.018-05:00

......once again my brain has unexpectedly gone on another vacation. And so: IT'S TRIVIA POST TIME ~El Salvador is the only nation named for Jesus Christ. ~Henry VIII of England decreed wearing a beard a taxable offense to the crown. ~Einstein's first published scientific paper was about drinking straws. In particular, he looked at the capillary forces acting on a drinking straw. It was in 1901

Mike Shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06117271444345617080noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30807252.post-73946200106148427692010-02-05T08:15:00.004-05:002010-02-05T08:21:37.258-05:00

Today's post is on a subject that really intrigues me. I LOVE any sort of old industry, tools, products, and antiques in general. Hope you enjoy it. Until next time, stay safe and stay well.

Mike Shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06117271444345617080noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30807252.post-60005766103105243492010-02-01T01:03:00.005-05:002010-02-01T01:44:11.699-05:00

Well Folks, it's finally happened to the Old Indian's little blog. Commenters posing as readers, but as phony as the infamous Non-Professor, Non-Doctor, Non-Indian, political and academic con-man, Ward Churchill, have targeted this little corner of cyberspace for their own hateful uses. This means that, in order to keep clear space for REAL readers, I've had to enable 'comment moderation'. Rest

Mike Shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06117271444345617080noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30807252.post-38567690525509094042010-01-17T23:33:00.011-05:002010-01-18T00:27:19.281-05:00

One evening last month I was idly poking about in different parts of the Internet when I happened upon some photos of something that evoked old memories of my years in Japan. Manhole covers! Actually, they're not all technically 'man'hole covers as some are quite small. One thing they have in common is that they're just one more place artistic flair can be found in that enigmatic country.

Mike Shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06117271444345617080noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30807252.post-30454537522146111342009-12-30T05:52:00.005-05:002009-12-30T06:08:36.416-05:00

Happy New Year Everyone!!! Mike S

Mike Shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06117271444345617080noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30807252.post-62796646600306767952009-12-21T14:42:00.009-05:002009-12-21T15:28:29.153-05:00

One Tribal Emblem of Many As another year draws to a close, I'd like to thank everyone who wandered by for your interest & warm comments. It's my strong desire to be able to return to blogging and reading blogs on a more steady basis. I miss reading the adventures & thoughts of my blogger friends and being able to share my thoughts with those who happen upon this site. My other abiding wish is

Mike Shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06117271444345617080noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30807252.post-70613262432390521512009-11-20T00:15:00.005-05:002009-11-20T03:40:30.467-05:00

Tonight I stepped out onto our porch/balcony for some fresh air. What struck my senses first wasn't the rain, it was the aroma of the rain. The wind was wafting softly up from the river in the bottom of our valley already infused with the unmistakable scents of woodsmoke from the houses on the other side. Along its journey it gathered the soft marshy odors from the river banks and the fresh smell

Mike Shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06117271444345617080noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30807252.post-72478130331662840572009-10-25T17:38:00.009-04:002009-10-25T18:40:25.439-04:00

Found this little clip and really like the message as it closely mirrors the way I was taught. At times I slip into being thoughtless and inconsiderate, at times it seems all in vain, at times it seems like the problems of myself or others are just too huge to tackle, but somehow we always seem to plod along and try to stay positive until either success is achieved or failure is thrust upon us.

Mike Shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06117271444345617080noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30807252.post-34806996650002363812009-10-25T01:14:00.010-04:002009-10-25T01:56:31.023-04:00

Well, its time once again to look back over the past twelve months and take stock of life. As always, some people are sharing the earth with us that weren't here last fall; some who were here are no longer with us; and all in all, the year has been full of the usual ups and downs. We've had good health, some health scares, some things are a bit worse for wear, and some things have even been

Mike Shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06117271444345617080noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30807252.post-49394028322102720622009-09-07T23:16:00.006-04:002009-09-08T01:40:20.420-04:00

....mark the end of summer in most of the USA. At Chez Indian, the kitties are back from their 'far south' vacation, but left a note that says they're taking the day off because it's Labor Day which, contrary to common belief, wasn't originally intended to reward laborers. The original day was intended to mark the end of the idleness of summer & signal it was time to get back down to business,

Mike Shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06117271444345617080noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30807252.post-34215536086224992452009-08-01T06:32:00.005-04:002009-08-01T07:10:10.482-04:00

.....we're terribly.......OH HELL!! What I meant to say is ... PLUS....my feeble thinker is apparently all thunk out. That, AND....I broke down under the influence of 'medicinal' Single Malt Scotch & gave the Spellcheck Kitties an all expenses paid (also REALLY BARGAIN PRICED) long overdue vacation down South so they could enjoy the beach & get outta the rain for a bit. Boy, were THEY ever

Mike Shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06117271444345617080noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30807252.post-90383630083879674102009-07-01T01:33:00.006-04:002009-07-01T03:47:48.421-04:00

Okay folks, I confess. Our kitties are lovable and mischievous, but DESPISE posing for being photographed. Such endeavors are only undertaken when tranquilizers (for us), catnip, good reflexes, and leather welding apron and gloves are available and in use. Since this is so time consuming, not even taking into consideration the problems involved trying to herd five cats into one location, I must

Mike Shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06117271444345617080noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30807252.post-73127111101529810132009-06-29T07:00:00.014-04:002009-06-29T08:45:59.075-04:00

....is something I should really do more often, like writing new posts, much more often. BUT, my TV has been forcing me to watch a lot of movies lately to free up some DVR space, so.....I turned to the ever willing staff of Spellcheck Kitties who are only too happy to eagerly respond to my every whim. This is how it went, mostly, sort of, I think.... For some strange reason I can't seem to

Mike Shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06117271444345617080noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30807252.post-78788324549297863902009-06-20T01:40:00.004-04:002009-06-20T02:01:09.267-04:00

This isn't a post I'd planned, but it's so neat I couldn't help myself. Many of you have likely seen it by now. It also reminded me of trying to do much the same one summer, resulting in a broken nose and two chipped teeth. I wasn't sure which would have been worse, having the injuries myself and paying for it, or the pain being suffered by a pal, which is what actually happened. I not only

Mike Shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06117271444345617080noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30807252.post-55342264526159029422009-06-06T17:24:00.003-04:002009-06-06T23:52:56.886-04:00

Finally the day comes when an empty nest is all that remains. The parents are gone and the chick isn't found until after some careful searching.And then the little flyer is located.The little addition to the neighborhood seems fine. And apparently flight ability is part of the package Even seems that a bit of being an exhibitionist is ingrained too.And from here on, 'the sky's the limit'. Sorry

Mike Shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06117271444345617080noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30807252.post-91737999479119962282009-06-04T02:09:00.006-04:002009-06-04T02:43:42.077-04:00

Today's post is a video grouping that shows the Dove's progress from near the beginning to the early days of the chicks. While one parent is very accepting of the human intruders....... .......the other is far less trusting!! Finally we get a chance to get a better look at the youngsters. Sadly, Mother Nature has a rather decisive way of ensuring the 'survival of the fittest.' In the case of

Mike Shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06117271444345617080noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30807252.post-89541633207915705482009-05-30T19:32:00.008-04:002009-05-31T18:52:32.851-04:00

Sometimes, when the world seems all too crowded with humans and their buildings, vehicles, and all the rest that seem at times so necessary to sustain us, some little 'miracle' of nature reaches out and grasps me fully by the shoulders and wakens me from the daze that is daily life on this big blue hunka rock.Most such events go unobserved by us folks who seem to spend most of our precious hours

Mike Shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06117271444345617080noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30807252.post-30655548460649204052009-04-26T21:39:00.004-04:002009-04-26T22:00:31.238-04:00

As many of you know, my life for some time now has involved more of the visual and audio input rather than written. A little blurb on TV recently about a new pizza vending machine got me thinking once again of a subject that has always fascinated me: the vast variety of these devices around the world, their local adaptations to fit specific set of needs, and the remarkably ingenuity

Mike Shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06117271444345617080noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30807252.post-24809511930091349942009-03-28T03:06:00.008-04:002009-03-28T04:30:20.836-04:00

......I do like some things. Never sure what's good or bad, so I tend to go with what I enjoy. I will go so far as to say that most 'abstract' creations are beyond my comprehension, although the melting watches is kinda neat. Anyway, having spent a good part of this winter looking at various paintings, photos, etc I seem to have narrowed my taste down to one word: 'Strange'. As evidence here is a

Mike Shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06117271444345617080noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30807252.post-18237069697149973862009-03-08T05:01:00.016-04:002009-03-08T05:58:43.021-04:00

I really don't want to appear whiny and overwrought about such a simple matter,BUT......Since being temporarily visually 'challenged' for the last little while awaiting corrective eye surgery that's been too often delayed, AND a lover & collector of clocks of all sorts, it makes me want to.... .....at least twice a year these days having to adjust them(OKAY!! SOME of them) to reflect the correct(

Mike Shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06117271444345617080noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30807252.post-20530964189789507952009-01-18T21:51:00.008-05:002009-01-18T23:51:09.937-05:00

This past Friday, 1/16/2009, brought with it the death of my favorite artist of all eras and genres, Andrew Wyeth, at age 91. Although I am in awe of the works of so many great artists through the ages, his always seemed to call to me and bade me to gaze on his work for endless hours in order to absorb as much as my simple understanding of artworks allows. This post is offered in his memory to

Mike Shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06117271444345617080noreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30807252.post-1380890997468210862009-01-08T16:16:00.010-05:002009-01-08T18:00:33.684-05:00

While doing some research for my next blog post, I realized that it was getting harder to find anything in my well organized files.So, ignoring the sign my crack 'blog staffers' had posted,and realizing how anxious they were to have a new project to work on,and how much they LOVE being on the computer,and tackling new challenges, I got my very competent foreman to round them up.As usual, they

Mike Shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06117271444345617080noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30807252.post-68957906116587468852009-01-04T10:50:00.008-05:002009-01-04T13:14:51.685-05:00

Some more unsolicited advice, offered in good conscience by The Old Indian. This is offered as a reminder for those who, like myself, make resolutions and find them too difficult to keep if tackled all at once. This little piece has helped me keep a few in the past. After trying to follow the advice for years and still failing time after time, I added this to my daily routine. A copy clipped

Mike Shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06117271444345617080noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30807252.post-10724290892286189042008-12-25T16:37:00.009-05:002008-12-25T17:40:29.421-05:00

Sleigh Team Draft Horses Draft Horse with Alpaca in Maine While I was looking out over the sun-dappled snowy landscape across the river today, I found myself blessed with a short, happy mental journey back to a seemingly simpler time in my boyhood days on the farm. After Christmas morning milking and other chores were done and a hearty breakfast of the best the farm had to offer, we would all

Mike Shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06117271444345617080noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30807252.post-51250086432485517742008-12-21T16:31:00.007-05:002008-12-21T17:49:00.763-05:00

Hi again folks. I'm thinking of food (as usual) and thought if some of you are going to try alternative dinners, then perhaps I could share a couple alternative dessert ideas from Amy Bouchard and another from a local eatery. Bon appetit! The First One From Amy BOSTON CREAM PIECAKE: 1 3/4 cups sugar 1 1/2 sticks butter (3/4 cup) softened 2 eggs 2 teaspoons vanilla 3 cups cake flour 2 1/2

Mike Shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06117271444345617080noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30807252.post-11140801751446668632008-12-17T00:16:00.010-05:002008-12-17T02:13:22.550-05:00

While searching for tasty alternatives to the traditional 'roast' turkey or ham dinner, I mentioned my quest in an E-mail to my generous friends in Spokane, WA, George & Linda Allen (of Glacier National Park travels posted about earlier this year). They responded in their usual manner and provided me with these 3 mouth watering ideas. Thanks for sharing with us, both of you!! George's Holiday

Mike Shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06117271444345617080noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30807252.post-26452446242472938452008-12-11T10:49:00.005-05:002008-12-11T11:24:34.087-05:00

I sincerely hope this message finds all of you well and full of the Holiday Spirit, be it Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, or just the celebration of another year and the promise of the new year. Although written as a Christmas poem, this little gem seems to me to be more of an 'All Purpose' holiday message. It's Christmas Time Again (by Bob Lazzar-Atwood) Put your problems on probationRun your

Mike Shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06117271444345617080noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30807252.post-39673769940592763402008-11-26T18:59:00.008-05:002008-11-26T19:29:52.659-05:00

Well folks, it's that time of year when I reflect on all that's transpired in the past year. Lost some friends to the ravages of life, gained some new ones, had ill health and good health. Not rich, not needy. Family is doing well and so am I. Guess this year will go in the 'great' column of the old score book. I only have two columns that I use, 'really great' and 'pretty great' as I think any

Mike Shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06117271444345617080noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30807252.post-72751658477427288012008-10-18T13:46:00.010-04:002008-10-19T01:33:28.370-04:00

Nestled into the farm where I grew up was a small one bedroom house and an equally small piece of land abutting the two-lane road. The property, while fairly small, was generously blessed with lilac bushes, numerous patches of various edible berries, rhubarb, and a few well situated apple, oak, and evergreen trees. In this modest dwelling lived two spinster sisters who had lost their respective

Mike Shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06117271444345617080noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30807252.post-66192107009775827432008-10-12T15:11:00.014-04:002008-10-14T14:44:57.907-04:00

His eyes are still not allthey need to be for lotsa reading,so the Cheap Old Grouchsent us a nice request. Brother Tim sent Roscoe to help us. Thanks a lot Tim!He only drank a little (250 cases) beer and ate a buncha red hot dogs, like about $700 worth of them! Meanwhile, we searched high & low(sorta) and then And we got pretty discouragedThen Junior had a bright idea! And she gave us these

Mike Shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06117271444345617080noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30807252.post-49513181013006548552008-10-05T16:55:00.010-04:002008-10-05T18:22:28.368-04:00

.... Mike having a little trouble with reading while he awaits more eye operations. Since he knows how much we worry about his health, he has decided to team with some friends in the meantime to concentrate more on his continuing quest to better the environment by offering to sample the offerings of some others in this growing movement to see if

Mike Shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06117271444345617080noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30807252.post-70317117981835838452008-09-24T03:54:00.007-04:002008-09-24T04:21:41.414-04:00

I seem to have hit a mental block on the post I meant to do, so I enlisted the help of the always willing office crew for this offering.Some More Absolutely Useless Information From Our Junk Boxes:-Gertrude Ederle was still a teenager when she became the first woman to swim the English Channel on August 6, 1926. Not only did she swim the channel, but she broke the speed record held by a man. -The

Mike Shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06117271444345617080noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30807252.post-37009721587614707482008-09-14T16:14:00.012-04:002008-09-15T02:17:35.306-04:00

A portion of the actual river A fairly long time ago, in a place not so far from where I sit writing this, lived a young boy who had far too much curiosity, energy, bravado, and spare time on occasion for his own well being. To complicate matters more, he was pretty much a loner with the exception of about four other lads who shared the same traits and who would join together in a loose knit

Mike Shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06117271444345617080noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30807252.post-74151899527009202842008-09-01T15:23:00.016-04:002008-09-01T17:01:37.255-04:00

Since my eyes still aren't up to much use, here's a little information from an Irish Newsletter I subscribe to. I'm a great fan of Ale, Scotch, AND Irish Whiskey. Perhaps my having a great grandfather who was half Irish would account for that. Or, maybe I was just blessed with the ability to recognize quality beverages. After all, I'm also a big Moxie soda fan. I'll leave you to the reading as I

Mike Shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06117271444345617080noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30807252.post-90756791777108830492008-08-22T04:26:00.015-04:002008-08-22T06:07:05.928-04:00

........and All who need a break from life's daily trials, so that they may listen and feel renewed. ~*~ Cherokee Version ~*~ u ne la nv i u we tsii ga go yv he ihna quo tso sv wi yu lo sei ga gu yv ho nv.......................................a se no i u ne tse ii yu no du le nvta li ne dv tsi lu tsi liu dv ne u ne tsv.....................................e lo ni gv ni li squa diga lu tsv he i

Mike Shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06117271444345617080noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30807252.post-31276448808570860792008-08-12T06:08:00.002-04:002008-08-12T06:13:26.375-04:00

Hi again. Still researching the test pattern history as I'm likely certifiably nuts. I did run across this site which has a bit of historical information: http://www.pharis-video.com/p4788.htm I'd have posted it as a 'click here' link, but laziness seems to be ruling today. More if I find any. Take care.

Mike Shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06117271444345617080noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30807252.post-76998749132936380762008-08-11T02:40:00.005-04:002008-08-11T03:09:53.496-04:00

A very nice person asked me an 'Indian' question the other day that I had no answer for. What was the reason for the 'Indian Head Test Pattern' on the old over-the-air channels? Since I didn't know either, along with being endlessly curious about everything and wanting to answer my friend's query, I did some checking. Although it doesn't fully explain why an Indian image was utilized, this is

Mike Shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06117271444345617080noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30807252.post-57095219517343382162008-08-08T23:45:00.008-04:002008-08-13T00:38:19.227-04:00

This is my young friend Caleb A. practicing for his future position as Circus Fire-eater. I believe he's slowly working up to 'flaming torch swallowing'! I plan to send him a supply of 'edible' burn ointment:)

Mike Shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06117271444345617080noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30807252.post-59889046548219693902008-07-30T01:53:00.026-04:002008-07-30T04:12:31.757-04:00

First of all, my appologies to the Monty Python folks for swiping their phrase, secondly, thanks to the Coupon Council for their 'historical stuff'. And now, since we're all interested in saving money, here's some pretty useless stuff I found out when looking for savings via coupons. 1894 Coupons are born! Asa Candler, the druggist who bought the formula for Coca-Cola for $2,300, gives out

Mike Shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06117271444345617080noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30807252.post-33918574565754709042008-07-20T16:07:00.010-04:002008-07-20T17:14:41.308-04:00

Last week a couple of my friends spent some time in Kalispell, Montana and took a few rides capturing the scenery & critters in & around Glacier National Park. These are some of the photos they took & I thought I'd share them with all who visit here. The photographers, Linda & George A. The destination.... Yogi's gonna be mad!! The south end of Flathead Lake on the way.... The Two Medicine

Mike Shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06117271444345617080noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30807252.post-83358032799992196512008-07-10T04:10:00.012-04:002008-07-10T07:13:50.854-04:00

This was going to be a post about my not feeling 'the greatest I've ever been' lately, then I looked at the TV News, read the paper, and took a good look around me. What I found was what I've known all along, but sometimes tend to forget. So, I decided to turn all 'preachy' for one post and share a favorite poem, some American Indian wisdom, and a view much like my own on religion. If we all did

Mike Shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06117271444345617080noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30807252.post-62188686067221231662008-07-02T16:17:00.005-04:002008-07-02T16:31:56.045-04:00

A chance to take a brief & thoughtful pause to observe the beauty all around you and to appreciate all the joys in your life.... Until next time. Take care, be well, and "take time to smell the roses".

Mike Shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06117271444345617080noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30807252.post-19624444172894072362008-06-27T04:32:00.008-04:002008-06-27T05:39:24.972-04:00

I was approached by an 'intervention' committee tonight who told me...So I sat down and really did some serious...about a subject. I decided to ask the neighbors, but I guess I've bugged them enough, because I found this.... on their door. So, I asked a pal, who gave me his input...Another pal said he had a friend who might be able to help, so off he went to...The guy came to me with what he

Mike Shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06117271444345617080noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30807252.post-89176143753925601712008-06-15T01:37:00.016-04:002008-06-15T03:43:51.640-04:00

A pretty long (okay, a REALLY long) time ago, when I was a boy about to have a rare 'free' day in the summer on the farm, I started off by waking from a dream something like thisHaving had a dream-state bestow upon me a which I quickly committed to paper as a remarkable example of my early engineering prowess. The design was something likeAnd the object was to construct something like this,

Mike Shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06117271444345617080noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30807252.post-84700985971170453722008-06-08T06:47:00.006-04:002008-06-08T07:27:28.364-04:00

This video mostly covers a period over a decade after I left the farm to seek my way in the 'Outside World'. Having been raised by a white family as an adoptee, I still felt the discrimination growing up. Now I'm one of the 'Outside' folks, living "way off the reservation", but I'm still proud to be a member of this unique group of people. The 'old ways' and 'language' are once again being taught

Mike Shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06117271444345617080noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30807252.post-10194358310638450332008-05-17T00:05:00.011-04:002008-05-17T01:52:17.495-04:00

In the country to our north, Canada,pretty close to us here in Maine(orange), is the island of Newfoundland(red).Just under which, as indicated by the arrow & circleare the small islands shown here.The French Islands Saint Pierre and Michelon are remnants of the age of 'exploration' of the "New World" by European settlers. St. Pierre et Miquelon is a small archipelago comprised of seven islands,

Mike Shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06117271444345617080noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30807252.post-70291148051321911362008-05-06T14:54:00.013-04:002008-05-08T00:58:40.658-04:00

Since I seem to have I've been doing a lot of this. But, as I still read a lotta thisand spend time doing thisI end up collectingwhich get stuffed in places likeandSo I called in my crack 'Fact Checking Team' to do thisand appropriately dispose of the bad infoand leave me with something likeand I can use the good stuff like this:MORE ABSOLUTELY USELESS INFORMATION-The women of the Tiwi tribe in

Mike Shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06117271444345617080noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30807252.post-62265982021390123702008-04-28T02:20:00.014-04:002008-04-28T04:15:38.847-04:00

Most houses around here are quite old and most have one thing in common. Whether you live in an apartment in town like thesea regular house like thesea historic place such asa fancy old Bed & Breakfast like a farm, such as I grew up on, something like theseor perhaps something a bit more rustic likeThey tend to have windows similar to theseand need fall installation & spring removal. This

Mike Shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06117271444345617080noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30807252.post-19465012367416615172008-04-24T02:32:00.013-04:002008-04-24T05:52:12.852-04:00

Where I'm from in relation to the USA.A little closer look at the state.Where I came from in relation to the state.The Birth Of A Great Medicine Man(Passamaquoddy Legend as passed down to me, and from several other sources.)A story of old times. There was once a woman who travelled constantly through the woods. Every bush she saw she bit off, and from one of these she came to be with child. She

Mike Shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06117271444345617080noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30807252.post-47604705996081316162008-04-12T11:18:00.013-04:002008-04-12T13:25:41.648-04:00

For a while now I've been feeling kinda like this.....so I went here.....and did this.....and got the usual helpful(?) diagnosis and instructions. And so, for a short time, I'll be doing a lotta this..... and this.....so I can once again become this.....and spend much more time doing this!Until I get back, take care. Mike S.

Mike Shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06117271444345617080noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30807252.post-49040956307786027142008-04-08T04:00:00.011-04:002008-04-08T05:04:11.550-04:00

No matter where you live, what your political views may be, what you do for a living, or ANY other factor, THIS AFFECTS YOU!!! One of my greatest dreams is to have a hand in leaving something I'll not see in this lifetime, A BETTER PLANET FOR MY CHILDREN AND THEIR CHILDREN, AND THEIR CHILDREN,..............To watch this little presentation (approx 21 minutes) you can manually enter the web site

Mike Shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06117271444345617080noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30807252.post-36291398752696214232008-04-05T15:45:00.009-04:002008-04-05T16:47:58.693-04:00

Because today I feel kinda like this and my mind seems to be it's time to resort to this and this in hopes of being awarded one of these. So, Presented for your entertainment(maybe), here goes 'nothing', -In 1952, CBS made computer history by being the first to use a computer, the UNIVAC I, to forecast the U.S. presidential election.-Tablecloths were originally meant to serve as towels with which

Mike Shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06117271444345617080noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30807252.post-27540940650866087782008-03-31T17:16:00.015-04:002008-03-31T18:20:34.998-04:00

#1 April Fool's Day Joke Of All Time(maybe): The Swiss Spaghetti Harvest In 1957 the respected BBC news show Panorama announced that thanks to a very mild winter and the virtual elimination of the dreaded spaghetti weevil, Swiss farmers were enjoying a bumper spaghetti crop. It accompanied this announcement with footage of Swiss peasants pulling strands of spaghetti down from trees. Huge

Mike Shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06117271444345617080noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30807252.post-67119051303098952772008-03-31T04:26:00.011-04:002008-03-31T05:14:16.563-04:00

"If you haven't found something strange during the day, it hasn't been much of a day." ~ John A. Wheeler "The first of April, Some do say, Is set apart, As all Fool's Day. Why people call it so, Neither I, Nor themselves, Seem to know. But on this day Are people sent, On purpose, For pure merriment" ~ Anonymous April Fool's Day or All Fool's Day is light hearted day of fun

Mike Shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06117271444345617080noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30807252.post-29974442065743238572008-03-28T23:27:00.004-04:002008-03-28T23:39:53.145-04:00

A nifty little addition to the Nash-Metropolitan post sent my way by David Crews, who spent enough time here in the past to be an honorary Maine-Ah. But, since such a title doesn't officially exist, I guess he'll just have to accept my heartfelt thanks for showing us such a charming little toy. As Dave said, "I wish I could afford it", but I'm afraid it'd be 'battle stations' here if i brought it

Mike Shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06117271444345617080noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30807252.post-21851617730003383072008-03-27T17:03:00.010-04:002008-03-27T17:34:08.601-04:00

He started it allThe 'old days'One of the shops today.Making one at Amato's today."Italian" in the making.The finished product.At the foot of 'our hill' is the place on L/H side of photo with 'Pepsi" sign. This is Franchetti's, our usual supplier. It's about 100 yards(91.5 m) away.In a world of hoagies, heroes, grinders,submarines, and similar fare, Portland, Maine is known as the birthplace of

Mike Shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06117271444345617080noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30807252.post-53593574596969384992008-03-24T19:28:00.005-04:002008-03-24T19:42:17.482-04:00

The kittens were well-fed at least twice daily, but apparently the 'service' was slow! (NO KITTY WAS HARMED IN ANY WAY IN THESE VIDEOS) Not My usual type entries, just found them really cute & funny. Take care.

Mike Shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06117271444345617080noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30807252.post-91987092411739779592008-03-20T14:55:00.006-04:002008-03-20T15:41:31.970-04:00

Trivia's OriginsTrivia File LabelsTrivial Stuff AdministratorAssistant Demonstrating Proper File Retrieval ProceduresResults Of Improper File ExtractionContainers After Posting Trivia On BlogAssistant Administrator Disposing Of Used File DataSo now you know just how this worthless information is generated, filed, and properly disposed of. The preceding statement should be filed under 'Useless

Mike Shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06117271444345617080noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30807252.post-45473085654851046202008-03-16T16:21:00.014-04:002008-03-16T17:52:16.943-04:00

Map Of The Emerald IsleGenuine ShamrocksGenuine Green Scenery In EireVery often it seems, at least to me, that when I mention I'm nearly 'full blooded'(as opposed to having less blood inna veins??) Indian(N.A.), it becomes necessary for whoever I'm talking to to declare their own Indian ancestry in terms such as "I'm 1/16 Cherokee" etc. Taking this as my cue, I decided to celebrate St Patrick's

Mike Shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06117271444345617080noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30807252.post-15426917295030121142008-03-09T09:51:00.012-04:002008-03-16T16:21:41.774-04:00

The 'Original' style.Loadsa room for groceries or luggage!Room for how many?Blue & White 1960 VersionFinal Version in basic black. This post was inspired by having been asked by a gentleman if a Metropolitan restoration was possible at a reasonable cost. I was rather taken aback to find I was the only one of several people at the restoration shop who even knew what a Metropolitan was, looked

Mike Shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06117271444345617080noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30807252.post-33809313314779071622008-03-04T12:47:00.003-05:002008-03-04T13:24:34.700-05:00

Yesterday was an unusual day in that it was the first really sunny day in about a week here. Not only was it a nice break from almost continuous snowstorms, it gave me a chance to indulge in a favorite pass-time of mine. I wasn't truly aware how wrapped up in the pass-time I become until my better half remarked from behind me that I was coming to resemble our five cats more every day. Not being

Mike Shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06117271444345617080noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30807252.post-36950797714860320132008-02-28T12:38:00.008-05:002008-02-28T13:56:44.950-05:00

The Gregorian Calendar (partly Adapted from Formilab's Calendar Converter & aboutastro.com)In the year 1572, Ugo Boncompagni became Pope Gregory XIII and there was a crisis of the calendar. One of Christianity's most important dates was falling behind with respect to the seasons. Easter, which is based on the date of the vernal equinox was being celebrated too early in March. The cause of this

Mike Shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06117271444345617080noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30807252.post-70419388036523056532008-02-25T18:14:00.012-05:002008-02-25T18:43:02.701-05:00

Being too lazy to write anything of my own, it seemed the perfect time to clean out some more of the 'trivial junk files'. Have fun!!~Born 4 January 1838, General Tom Thumb's growth slowed at the age of 6 months, at 5 years he was signed to the circus by P.T. Barnum, and at adulthood reached a height of only 1 meter.~Because they had no proper rubbish disposal system, the streets of ancient

Mike Shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06117271444345617080noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30807252.post-41254334687566213022008-02-21T15:36:00.032-05:002008-02-21T18:17:36.008-05:00

Having spent considerable time traveling and living around the globe, I've had a chance to experience many types of public and private modes of transportation. These are only a small part of the total transportation picture as I've seen it. I'll likely post more at a later date. So, here goes.........a "tuk-tuk" in Thailand, named for the sound of the 2-cycle engine at idle.........a similar

Mike Shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06117271444345617080noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30807252.post-80693221358508569152008-02-17T04:03:00.010-05:002008-02-17T05:34:51.251-05:00

I thought it only fitting to insert a bit of Presidential knowledge(?) in the old blog, and what better excuse for White House Occupant trivia than our day to honor Presidents? The 1st bit of trivia is that although G.W. Bush is counted as #43, he's actually only had forty-one predecessors in the post. So, by 'position # sequence', here goes.....1) G. Washington, 1789-1797, was the only American

Mike Shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06117271444345617080noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30807252.post-34131674530269138152008-02-12T15:24:00.000-05:002008-02-12T16:14:31.228-05:00

Mention snow to most folks, and this is what they associate with the white stuff.But as the TV tower cam shows, on a clear day you can see the mountains. We're on the extreme right side of them thar hills.But there's also other images folks around the place have found, such as this.......and this.........and this. All being enjoyed by.................this wise fella, and..........this handsome

Mike Shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06117271444345617080noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30807252.post-76818326839752954132008-02-09T13:03:00.000-05:002008-02-09T13:12:30.313-05:00

A trait I've had all my life is collecting trivial facts about anything and everything that catches my interest. This generally includes any and all information I stumble across. This has resulted in a collection of minutiae that I can rarely recall unless prompted by a question, statement, or anything else that rings the 'weird information repository bell' in what passes for my gray matter.

Mike Shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06117271444345617080noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30807252.post-17228740625637231272008-02-08T02:18:00.000-05:002008-02-08T03:00:34.856-05:00

Our Spring sees mud dry, and ice floes to go.Our Summer sees the grass, struggle to grow.Our Fall's vibrant hues, set the trees all aglow.But Our Winter, ahhh Our Winter, has a carpet of snow!!Yes, two shots (1 & 4) are of the same tree on consecutive days this week. And the snow on the left side of image 2 isn't a tree, it's SWMBO's eyeview of the snowpile beside the car out back. And yes, I

Mike Shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06117271444345617080noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30807252.post-78111218690837572642008-02-04T23:39:00.000-05:002008-02-04T23:55:02.264-05:00

I know!I know! Enough already with all the food posts. But this was on local TV tonight & we just happened to have some 'ripe' bananas we got at a bargain intending to make banana breads & puddings. It sounded so good we HAD to try it, even SWMBO was willing to bake this, which is good, because I stink at baking anything beyond pizza. Amy was WRONG!! She came nowhere near expressing how

Mike Shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06117271444345617080noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30807252.post-81501144750559302232008-02-01T01:25:00.000-05:002008-02-01T02:59:08.944-05:00

Living, as we do, in a pretty small town with a total population of less than 7,500 counting our town and the town physically abutting ours, things are usually very quiet. On occasion, however, something out of the ordinary happens to cause a rumpus. Whether the fates save a lot of stuff up to dump on us all at once, or things just snowball into something of an 'incident' is open to debate. A few

Mike Shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06117271444345617080noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30807252.post-57992378458745130962008-01-13T16:17:00.000-05:002008-01-13T16:28:32.876-05:00

Hi Folks. I've been a bit 'under the weather' for a bit and seem to have fallen way behind on both my blog writing and reading. Still not up to snuff, but maybe this offering will appeal to some of you. It's NOT health food because I think it tastes GREAT!! Sausage and Biscuit Pot PieThis classic sausage and biscuit combination makes a good brunch or Sunday supper choice. Mixing some seasonings

Mike Shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06117271444345617080noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30807252.post-36442307293321955582007-12-19T02:07:00.000-05:002007-12-19T06:25:37.488-05:00

This is in response to a 'special request for Amy Bouchard's Eggnog Coffee Cake recipe. It's good, as are all things Amy. For a video to accompany the recipe you can click here 'Coffee Cake'. I'm sure it's healthy or they wouldn't give out the recipe.(hehehehe) Happy munching!Amy's EggNog Coffee Cake1 ½ stick unsalted butter (room temperature)1 ½ cups granulated sugar4 large eggs2 teaspoons

Mike Shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06117271444345617080noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30807252.post-12892442363686717712007-12-09T02:50:00.000-05:002007-12-09T03:00:44.075-05:00

It is amazing the little things I missed most about Maine all the years I was away. Simple things such as red hot dogs, or Oxford relish, which became Cains, and is now made to the old relish specifications by a new third company, but marketed still as Cains. And, as you can see by the 'dog' ad above, I wasn't alone. They actually charge something like $80 for two packs of them shipped to you! A

Mike Shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06117271444345617080noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30807252.post-47835612786977563492007-11-21T15:15:00.000-05:002007-11-21T16:28:23.759-05:00

Well, as the title of this post suggests, I measure my years a bit differently than others. On the day before Thanksgiving Day it's been my habit of long standing to take a sort of personal inventory of the year just gone by. I do this at this time for several reasons, not the least of which is that there's no 'resolutions' involved. This is good for people like me who seldom meet the lofty goals

Mike Shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06117271444345617080noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30807252.post-68383344190354519582007-10-28T15:21:00.001-04:002007-10-29T14:41:01.355-04:00

Hello again, welcome to Mike's fascination with all things food, continued. Today's topic will take a bit of time, as there are so many ways to cook and eat clams, as the photos show. There's various styles of fried clams as shown above, the best of the best food in my opinion. Then steamed clams, baked in a clambake outing, clam chowder(pronounced 'chowda' here), and others not shown, such as

Mike Shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06117271444345617080noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30807252.post-86677660035283374832007-10-17T14:33:00.002-04:002008-03-31T17:16:32.558-04:00

This is the first of a planned series of short posts about my favorite 'regional' foods, most of which contributed greatly to my decision to return here for retirement. The series is a result of suggestions from SWMBO and a very close friend, seems both of them are of the opinion that I can insert thoughts of food into every conversation. Of course, after thinking about it for a couple minutes

Mike Shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06117271444345617080noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30807252.post-51506324342944927382007-10-11T15:07:00.001-04:002007-10-11T15:47:56.497-04:00

Yesterday, the sad news reached me that a friend had passed away. She was one of the regulars on a Guest Book that myself, and a great number of folks from around the world, frequent daily. "Sarah" was a friend to all the Guest Book visitors. She was also a frequent reader and sometimes poster on this Blog as well. The photo above is of a boardwalk at one of her favorite places near her home.

Mike Shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06117271444345617080noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30807252.post-80044041475036390952007-10-09T02:56:00.000-04:002007-10-09T03:07:41.203-04:00

Hi folks. I'll have a new story soon, this is the first time I've had to actually gather background material for a story. Now I've got to trim it down to digestible size so as not to bore anyone to tears. As for the title of this, seems certain parties have determined that I should give up a few of my pass-times as they tire me out to the point that I get 'not as well as I'd like' for a few days.

Mike Shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06117271444345617080noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30807252.post-81528094551581839802007-09-19T06:10:00.001-04:002007-09-19T06:43:23.915-04:00

Photo: Mosquito Mountain and Moxie Lake in the morning in the fall.Hi Y'All, I'm easing my way back into the old routines with a new perspective and appreciation for everything and everyone. To paraphrase an old quote, 'an old friend dying concentrates the mind wonderfully', and the recent absence was primarily the result of my trying to absorb the reality of the sudden death of a number of

Mike Shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06117271444345617080noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30807252.post-48674452318527055622007-09-05T17:47:00.000-04:002007-09-05T18:56:16.218-04:00

Hi Folks, Chris at Red Hog Diary bestowed an honor on me recently! Thank you Red Hog. Chris has presented me with the Blogging Star Award, which is "for bloggers who shine their light throughout the Blogosphere. Some do it with humor, others with creativity and others with their kind and thoughtful natures." Everyone knows more than a few of them so why not give them some recognition? Here's what

Mike Shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06117271444345617080noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30807252.post-77794705694896827702007-08-31T14:10:00.000-04:002007-08-31T15:19:49.126-04:00

The day here today is rather cloudy, and a 'coolish' 52F\11C, with our normal 10mph\16kph steady breeze carrying all the magnificent aromas of the woods to our door. I was just outside mulling over how soon the autumn foliage will be enchanting us with its rich tapestry of colors as far as the eye can see in every direction. Our summer season here is famously short, and therefore cherished all

Mike Shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06117271444345617080noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30807252.post-13078132330508322152007-08-15T15:39:00.000-04:002007-08-15T17:06:02.684-04:00

Hi folks, it's GREAT to be back, especially as this is the first time in several years I can actually see things as well as I could in the past. When the other eye is finished the vision should be as good, if not better, than I enjoyed as a youth.This is just a short account of how it feels to be able to see all the beauty we all take for granted in our busy lives. Yesterday was the first time my

Mike Shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06117271444345617080noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30807252.post-81112291104548435372007-07-19T05:27:00.000-04:002007-07-19T07:24:41.708-04:00

This is just a very brief tale I was reminded of a bit ago by a little talk on a guest book I visit concerning road construction. This series of events occurred over a period of only one long day during one of my stays in the quaint Asian country known in the west as Japan. It was inevitable that the foreigners working in the country would eventually wind up dating, living with, and often

Mike Shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06117271444345617080noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30807252.post-30483290765374676532007-07-11T09:00:00.000-04:002007-07-11T09:02:13.569-04:00

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