Random Photos ‘You took’

[special-K]

It's not the pen you use, it's how you sign your name

Maryland is a little state. It's entire southern border is the Potomac River from source to the Chesapeake Bay. It's source marks the farthest southwest tip of the state. A surveyed vertical boundary extends north to the border with PA (Mason-Dixon line). The Fairfax Stone, named after Lord Fairfax (VA), was set to mark this point and it was a forefather of mine who guided the survey party in the 1700s. It's also the same area where Maryland's highest point, Hoye Crest, is located on top of Backbone Mt.

Before the leaves came out last year my son and I visited these locations. For fun, I included a video from Pt. Lookout which is where the Potomac meets the Chesapeake Bay. The river becomes tidal at Washington, DC. There were four lighthouses on the lower Potomac. Imagine that, lighthouses on this little trickle of water to guide ships. Now we need to get down there to check that out. Like I said, a little state, but I have never been there

Fairfax Stone w/spring behind it:

Source of the Potomac:

Third marker for western boundary from the stone. Very near Hoye Crest:

Hoye Crest:


I apologize for the sped-up driving at first. One thing I dislike that YouTubers do. Once he gets you at the point it goes to drone. The river is to the right looking out from the point

Point Lookout State Park, MD - YouTube

[CG]

We went in to Ballard the other day and took a tour of the Theo Chocolate factory. Small compared to the big boys but still interesting. Most of their chocolate is on the darker end. They gave us lots of samples and a 20% discount at the factory store. You are allowed to take pics but no video. Older fella kept taking videos with his DSLR and was told to please stop several times. His wife said he was only focusing in. Tour guy said … Well he is panning around and I can see the red recording light on his screen. Very odd experience to see this guy so blatantly ignoring. Was a small group of 8, hard to get away with stuff. I don’t have any pics, just a video .. haha, kidding. Couple of pics from the net.

From there we went to the Ballard Locks, not the official name, but most call them that. I didn’t take many pics but here is one from the fish ladder viewing windows on the side of the locks.

https://www.ballardlocks.org/

[special-K]

I have never heard of Theo Chocolate. I'll have to look into that. The small operations are all I care about. Nestle makes chocolate as well as owns half the food and beverage companies out there. I don't have to have chocolate, so I want good chocolate from a company focused on that. We have a couple companies like Theo Chocolate in Baltimore. Reb's is one. I was disappointed to see a candy shop in an old house along the Old National Pike on the way to Ellicott City is closed down. Probably the same story, got old and no one wanted to take it on. The sense of continuum is not so strong with younger generations.

That video I posted will play if you click the title up top. It plays it opens YouTube and plays it there

I wanted to show this picture taken near Hoye Crest and Fairfax Stone. The intersection of US50 and US219 in Maryland. They call US50 the loneliest hiway out in the west, desolate for long stretches. They say not so true back east, and that is true. US50 runs straight through Washington, DC, across the Chesapeake Bay Bridge, and on down to Ocean City, MD. Plenty of people, but you won't see many here at Red House. I've pulled over to eat lunch before and never saw another car.

Looking north and looking east toward Backbone Mt. The hiway runs over top of Backbone into the Potomac Valley. Beautiful views!

[FleetsidePaul]

Originally Posted by special-K

I have never heard of Theo Chocolate. I'll have to look into that. The small operations are all I care about. Nestle makes chocolate as well as owns half the food and beverage companies out there. I don't have to have chocolate, so I want good chocolate from a company focused on that. We have a couple companies like Theo Chocolate in Baltimore. Reb's is one. I was disappointed to see a candy shop in an old house along the Old National Pike on the way to Ellicott City is closed down. Probably the same story, got old and no one wanted to take it on. The sense of continuum is not so strong with younger generations.

That video I posted will play if you click the title up top. It plays it opens YouTube and plays it there

I wanted to show this picture taken near Hoye Crest and Fairfax Stone. The intersection of US50 and US219 in Maryland. They call US50 the loneliest hiway out in the west, desolate for long stretches. They say not so true back east, and that is true. US50 runs straight through Washington, DC, across the Chesapeake Bay Bridge, and on down to Ocean City, MD. Plenty of people, but you won't see many here at Red House. I've pulled over to eat lunch before and never saw another car.

Looking north and looking east toward Backbone Mt. The hiway runs over top of Backbone into the Potomac Valley. Beautiful views!

I'm not so sure about the younger generation A young guy bought the little market by me and he drives from Bakersfield up and down the canyon.(about an hour each way) and works 7 days a week. All day. Every day. He's always there. I can't imagine working that hard. And that drive is a rough one. Maybe some young entrepreneur will get that candy shop back in action.

That chocolate factory brings me back to my old meter reading days. I read the meter at a chocolate factory and the smell was pure heaven. The other one was a granola factory. I'm no big fan of granola but whoa that place smelled good.

My latest. I had to plug in my phone and of course all the plugs were taken. So I see this night light taking up two outlets. I don't need a night light so I yank it out.

What I didn't know that it was also a candle air freshener. My wife put it there. I pull this thing out and my hand is covered in hot wax.

My wife made fun of me and told me that I should have known. I ask you. Does this look like a candle or a night light? It looks like a night light to me.

I burned my hand, got called an idiot, made a mess, and all I was trying to do was plug in my phone.

[special-K]

Originally Posted by FleetsidePaul

I'm not so sure about the younger generation A young guy bought the little market by me and he drives from Bakersfield up and down the canyon.(about an hour each way) and works 7 days a week. All day. Every day. He's always there. I can't imagine working that hard. And that drive is a rough one. Maybe some young entrepreneur will get that candy shop back in action....

What I didn't know that it was also a candle air freshener. My wife put it there. I pull this thing out and my hand is covered in hot wax.

My wife made fun of me and told me that I should have known. I ask you. Does this look like a candle or a night light? It looks like a night light to me.

I burned my hand, got called an idiot, made a mess, and all I was trying to do was plug in my phone.

I wasn't talking bad of the younger generation work ethic. My comment was on the lack of sense of continuum, carrying the torch for the family business through the next generation so the one that follows can do the same. I know of many businesses that were doing well with a great reputation and customer base shut down simply because no one in the family wanted to take it on.

You're not an idiot. How would anyone know, other than the one who put it there, that had hot wax in it? I never knew about those until now. I'm surprised that product exists in this sue-happy world we live in.

Random picture I took, my first cordless screw gun

[Boog]

My grandad had a hand powered drill that looked a lot like that. I played with it when I was a kid. I don't know where it ended up but I do have a couple of his old hand saws and wood planes. They just hang on the wall these days.

[Soupsdad]

And now, for something COMPLETELY different....
Saw this at a car show we went to this weekend. It's called a Youabian Puma. Thing is huge!

[Sheepdip]

Originally Posted by special-K

Random picture I took, my first cordless screw gun

That's called a "Yankee" Until the cordless drills became common those were used by carpenters and electricians for finish trim out.

[special-K]

Originally Posted by Soupsdad

And now, for something COMPLETELY different....
Saw this at a car show we went to this weekend. It's called a Youabian Puma. Thing is huge!

I'm not seeing "a pleasure to drive" here. I'm seeing something to spend money on for someone who already has everything they want and just want to spend money.

Originally Posted by CG

I asked all my buddies and family members if they wanted this wood. The only one that burns wood has more than he'll ever use for his outdoor fireplace. No one else wants it so its going to my BIL's burn pile. Going to be a while before it gets lit up again considering all the giant fires in the area.

Not placing an add either for free wood. Too many weirdos out there and I don't need them at my place.

You'd get nothing but weirdos coming for willow as firewood. It is perfect for a burn pile and that's about it... other than making ash.

Originally Posted by Sheepdip

That's called a "Yankee" Until the cordless drills became common those were used by carpenters and electricians for finish trim out.

This is the one I used. Yep, the Stanley Yankee. I dug it out from the bottom of a tool box. I haven't used that thing since I was a young man. I also have a Milwaukee drywall screw gun. Those were the first power drivers, though specialized for drywall. I remember when they came out with a clutch you put in the drill chuck then put your screw bit in that. No tension adjustment. They kind of worked and kind of seemed easier but maybe not. I remember the clutch would slip so you'd remove the clutch and try that. Sometimes strip the screw, sometimes it worked. I first learned to drill a hole, put soap on the screw, and start twisting your screwdriver. Works like a charm.

I had this '63 Nova for a short while, but I traded it for a '55 1st pickup. I think this is the only picture I have, back in '82. It had a 283/Powerglide in it, blue interior

[Steeveedee]

Originally Posted by FleetsidePaul

I'm not so sure about the younger generation A young guy bought the little market by me and he drives from Bakersfield up and down the canyon.(about an hour each way) and works 7 days a week. All day. Every day. He's always there. I can't imagine working that hard. And that drive is a rough one. Maybe some young entrepreneur will get that candy shop back in action.

That chocolate factory brings me back to my old meter reading days. I read the meter at a chocolate factory and the smell was pure heaven. The other one was a granola factory. I'm no big fan of granola but whoa that place smelled good.

My latest. I had to plug in my phone and of course all the plugs were taken. So I see this night light taking up two outlets. I don't need a night light so I yank it out.

What I didn't know that it was also a candle air freshener. My wife put it there. I pull this thing out and my hand is covered in hot wax.

My wife made fun of me and told me that I should have known. I ask you. Does this look like a candle or a night light? It looks like a night light to me.

I burned my hand, got called an idiot, made a mess, and all I was trying to do was plug in my phone.

I wouldn't have known, either. We don't use air fresheners at all. Vent fans in the bathrooms. We don't use products like Febreeze- can't stand the smell.

[CG]

What’s left of the willow tree we had taken down a few weeks ago. Looks like it still has life in it.

[FleetsidePaul]

Originally Posted by CG

What’s left of the willow tree we had taken down a few weeks ago. Looks like it still has life in it.

That's going to have sit for a while. I've tried to burn newer firewood in a pinch. It's not a good idea. It doesn't cooperate.

[Killer Bee]

need to split that big stuff to dry faster and at least 6 months to season

[CG]

Originally Posted by Killer Bee

need to split that big stuff to dry faster and at least 6 months to season

I asked all my buddies and family members if they wanted this wood. The only one that burns wood has more than he'll ever use for his outdoor fireplace. No one else wants it so its going to my BIL's burn pile. Going to be a while before it gets lit up again considering all the giant fires in the area.

Not placing an add either for free wood. Too many weirdos out there and I don't need them at my place.

[72c20customcamper]

Originally Posted by CG

I asked all my buddies and family members if they wanted this wood. The only one that burns wood has more than he'll ever use for his outdoor fireplace. No one else wants it so its going to my BIL's burn pile. Going to be a while before it gets lit up again considering all the giant fires in the area.

Not placing an add either for free wood. Too many weirdos out there and I don't need them at my place.

Willow is a very low quality firewood . Not many people will burn it

[Troy Sr]

Originally Posted by Killer Bee

need to split that big stuff to dry faster and at least 6 months to season

This is what my 80 year old dad does, he cuts up his trees and splits it for heat. PGE just cut down 30 trees on his property to clear power lines, they cut them in to 16" pieces and stacked them for him, now he needs to split it up!!! AND HE"S 80 YEARS OLD!!!!!

[CG]

Was scrounging in the fridge and found this tiny can of Coke (quarter for scale). We got it on our honeymoon when we flew SAS to Europe off a beverage cart on our way to England. The only way we could afford to go is because we stayed with my brother who was stationed in England at the time. Took some serious scrounging and a bunch of small cash wedding gifts to pull this off. Ah the good old days 36 years ago last week. We’ve kept it every fridge we’ve ever had. I have no idea what we are ever going to do with it.

[Steeveedee]

Don't drink it, now! Unless you have a need for aluminum in your diet, at least.

Congrats on 36. We had our 41ts in February.

[CG]

Originally Posted by Steeveedee

Don't drink it, now! Unless you have a need for aluminum in your diet, at least.

Congrats on 36. We had our 41ts in February.

Maybe whichever of us is kicking last will swig it down and join the first one haha.

[Steeveedee]

Originally Posted by CG

Maybe whichever of us is kicking last will swig it down and join the first one haha.

Guh...probably be a painful death.

[special-K]

It sure is a cool little momento

[Warrens69GMC]

In the shop

[special-K]

Originally Posted by Warrens69GMC

In the shop

Nice one. Reminds me of the one I ran as a kid. I can hear it pull!

[Warrens69GMC]

Originally Posted by special-K

Nice one. Reminds me of the one I ran as a kid. I can hear it pull!

The fact its still in use is impressive. Definitely has a different sound.

[yuccales]

Even pond scum can be beautiful.