Yep, the small town of Faison is near Mt Olive and has a large pickle plant (Mt Olive Pickles) Just thought it would be interesting for some others to see.
Saturday, August 25, 2007
Small Town NC
As A was going to the beach recently, she spied this as they drove along I-40 east of I-95:
Yep, the small town of Faison is near Mt Olive and has a large pickle plant (Mt Olive Pickles) Just thought it would be interesting for some others to see.
Yep, the small town of Faison is near Mt Olive and has a large pickle plant (Mt Olive Pickles) Just thought it would be interesting for some others to see.
Wednesday, August 22, 2007
Cedar Chest
My sister J was changing houses and downsizing to quantity of stuff she is required to cram into her domicile. She asked and I accepted the possession of a cedar chest that belonged to my maternal Grandmother. There were two minor issues, it was in Toledo and it was locked without a known key.
The first issue was no problem. My van can handle the cedar chest and with help from my nephew BW, it was in the van in no time.
The second issue proved slightly more challenging. My father had tried every skeleton key in his possession in an effort to open the chest. The closest thing to working was the key to the door of the grandmother clock, but it would not work.
So K and I get the chest back home and get it unloaded from the Van. It is heavy because it still has STUFF in it, stuff that is not mine. So K and I go looking at the usual places for a "blank" skeleton key without success. After 5 PM, we get a suggestion to try an Antique dealer in the Downtown area, but they close at 5.
So the next day, K goes to the Antique dealer and buys a blank key for $4,using the one from the grandmother clock as an example. The dealer voiced scepticism to K that I could get the key to work and he provided the name of a local Locksmith to make this key for us if needed.
The glove was thrown down. It took me only about an hour of drilling, filing and fitting, but I found success. It took drilling out the center of the key to make it fit over the pin, shortening the flange part and install the groove in the right location. Below is a picture of the crude key that I made. It works fine.
So J, if you find a key that looks something like this, I am open to having it sent to me.
The first issue was no problem. My van can handle the cedar chest and with help from my nephew BW, it was in the van in no time.
The second issue proved slightly more challenging. My father had tried every skeleton key in his possession in an effort to open the chest. The closest thing to working was the key to the door of the grandmother clock, but it would not work.
So K and I get the chest back home and get it unloaded from the Van. It is heavy because it still has STUFF in it, stuff that is not mine. So K and I go looking at the usual places for a "blank" skeleton key without success. After 5 PM, we get a suggestion to try an Antique dealer in the Downtown area, but they close at 5.
So the next day, K goes to the Antique dealer and buys a blank key for $4,using the one from the grandmother clock as an example. The dealer voiced scepticism to K that I could get the key to work and he provided the name of a local Locksmith to make this key for us if needed.
The glove was thrown down. It took me only about an hour of drilling, filing and fitting, but I found success. It took drilling out the center of the key to make it fit over the pin, shortening the flange part and install the groove in the right location. Below is a picture of the crude key that I made. It works fine.
So J, if you find a key that looks something like this, I am open to having it sent to me.
Monday, August 20, 2007
Quilt that K made
Below are a couple of pictures of a quilt that K made as a baby shower for my neice, B. She is due to have her first in about 6 weeks. The quilt looked wonderful and the pictures do not do justice for the quilt, but I cannot stuff the quilt onto the computer screen.
Sunday, August 19, 2007
School Time Empty Nest
AT 5 PM, EDT on 8-18-07, K and I are School Year Empty Nesters. Boy this house is quiet!
As college is only 45 minutes away, A had delivered one car load of stuff to her dorm room, and had come home and spent Thursday evening at home. This past Friday, A left for school. We delivered one Van full of the remainder of A's stuff (futon, refrigerator, storage containers, multiple boxes). She is now a resident of CH NC for the school year. It was 104 when we delivered A and her stuff to her dorm, so it was quite hot.
On Saturday at 9AM, we began the drop off process for C in Durham at her new high school. Here is a picture of the entrance:
We got her stuff into her room in about 20 minutes with the help of many of the Senior students at the school, then K and I were sent to a local store to get some storage containers and other miscellaneous items that were needed. We got back in time for A to show up and to go to lunch. As there was nothing planned for the students eating wise, we went to Durham near the Duke campus for lunch. Below are some pictures of the school, C's room (very cramped) and as always A and C together.
As parents, K and I were called into 2 meetings going over the rules and regulations for the school. This was to let the parents know that there are some pretty strict rules about conduct, vices, and study that are required for the students. The school will be a challenge for C, but we know she is up to the task.
As I post this on Sunday, K and I have heard from C twice since we left at 4:30PM yesterday. C called once today, to talk with K and just say she is OK. The other time she called me to get help on a computer issue. We worked through the computer issue and she was off again in typical self sufficient C fashion.
The school encourages the students and parents to limit the contact during the first 2 weeks of class due to bonding issues. They are trying to break the dependency bond, reducing the homesickness of some of the kids.
On the positive (for me anyway) side, the school blocks many of the social or potentially objectionable websites. IIRC, to log into Facebook and some of the perceived negative web sites, she must go somewhere else, off campus, to find an unsecured web access. As the closest is 5 or 6 blocks away and C must sign out, it is not very easy to do given the limited time available.
We will have C on an extended weekend over Labor Day, when we will go to Myrtle Beach. By that time, C may be swamped with homework. We will find out much then.
As college is only 45 minutes away, A had delivered one car load of stuff to her dorm room, and had come home and spent Thursday evening at home. This past Friday, A left for school. We delivered one Van full of the remainder of A's stuff (futon, refrigerator, storage containers, multiple boxes). She is now a resident of CH NC for the school year. It was 104 when we delivered A and her stuff to her dorm, so it was quite hot.
On Saturday at 9AM, we began the drop off process for C in Durham at her new high school. Here is a picture of the entrance:
We got her stuff into her room in about 20 minutes with the help of many of the Senior students at the school, then K and I were sent to a local store to get some storage containers and other miscellaneous items that were needed. We got back in time for A to show up and to go to lunch. As there was nothing planned for the students eating wise, we went to Durham near the Duke campus for lunch. Below are some pictures of the school, C's room (very cramped) and as always A and C together.
As parents, K and I were called into 2 meetings going over the rules and regulations for the school. This was to let the parents know that there are some pretty strict rules about conduct, vices, and study that are required for the students. The school will be a challenge for C, but we know she is up to the task.
As I post this on Sunday, K and I have heard from C twice since we left at 4:30PM yesterday. C called once today, to talk with K and just say she is OK. The other time she called me to get help on a computer issue. We worked through the computer issue and she was off again in typical self sufficient C fashion.
The school encourages the students and parents to limit the contact during the first 2 weeks of class due to bonding issues. They are trying to break the dependency bond, reducing the homesickness of some of the kids.
On the positive (for me anyway) side, the school blocks many of the social or potentially objectionable websites. IIRC, to log into Facebook and some of the perceived negative web sites, she must go somewhere else, off campus, to find an unsecured web access. As the closest is 5 or 6 blocks away and C must sign out, it is not very easy to do given the limited time available.
We will have C on an extended weekend over Labor Day, when we will go to Myrtle Beach. By that time, C may be swamped with homework. We will find out much then.
Dad's Wedding
For those of you that did not know, my father got married last weekend. Nothing unusual about that, other than he is 80 years old and married Dorothy, an 80 year old woman. My brother, sisters and I are very happy for Dad and Dorothy. I am going to try something different on this post and post links to my photobucket account for purposes of pictures.
Before the pictures, there is one minor story: My father asked me to stand for his wedding and I agreed without reservations. As I was getting ready for he wedding, I noticed a very small but new hole in the lapel of my suit about the size of a wire clothes hanger hook end. I spent about 20 minutes trying to find a way to hide the hole, finally using the boutonniere as the mask. Fast forward to about 10 minutes before the wedding was to begin. I was walking out in the church to find someone for answers to a question. My S-I-L's mother (Mrs. L) stopped me and asked a question. Her question prompted my memory...... I FORGOT THE RINGS. Yep, left them at Dad's house. I quickly excused myself from Mrs L., told Dad what had happened and hopped into the car. God and the Sylvan Police were looking out for me as I made it from the church, to Dad's house and back to the church in 6 minutes. No speeding tickets, no adverse traffic signals, back in the church before time to start the wedding.
Before the pictures, there is one minor story: My father asked me to stand for his wedding and I agreed without reservations. As I was getting ready for he wedding, I noticed a very small but new hole in the lapel of my suit about the size of a wire clothes hanger hook end. I spent about 20 minutes trying to find a way to hide the hole, finally using the boutonniere as the mask. Fast forward to about 10 minutes before the wedding was to begin. I was walking out in the church to find someone for answers to a question. My S-I-L's mother (Mrs. L) stopped me and asked a question. Her question prompted my memory...... I FORGOT THE RINGS. Yep, left them at Dad's house. I quickly excused myself from Mrs L., told Dad what had happened and hopped into the car. God and the Sylvan Police were looking out for me as I made it from the church, to Dad's house and back to the church in 6 minutes. No speeding tickets, no adverse traffic signals, back in the church before time to start the wedding.
Sunday, August 05, 2007
Power Shopping
It is "Sales Tax Free" weekend in NC, so K and I took C shopping for some of the off to school things she will need. In a little over an hour, $400 was spent in school and dorm supplies. There were no clothes purchased. That does not include the computer that was ordered today for her, for delivery when she arrives at school.
We have not decided if a dorm type refrigerator is appropriate yet or not. C will have 2 roommates when she goes off to school, so the room may get cramped and the others may bring refrigerators as well.. No need for 3.
We have not decided if a dorm type refrigerator is appropriate yet or not. C will have 2 roommates when she goes off to school, so the room may get cramped and the others may bring refrigerators as well.. No need for 3.
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