For some reason, my Dad was given the totally honorary title of Kentucky Colonel. Colonel Sanders was, too. It's a title bestowed by the governor. We have never lived in Kentucky. It was some sort of business friendship, as I recall. In my Dad's case, it had nothing to do with chicken.
We ate at a restaurant last night. It is a brewpub, probably our favorite place to eat. Most of the old staff was there. They said they were happy to be working, even though they were comfortable on unemployment.
We had Cioppino, an Italian-American fish stew, invented in San Francisco but in an Italian style. And yes, we had real draft beer!
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
I never owned a pressure cooker Ulrich. Possibly I could be missing out. I still have my old school crock pots. A big one and a medium one. For years on end quite frequently I load the thing up early in the morning over coffee. I let-er do her thing all day for 12-14 hours on low. I swear I could put an old leather shoe in there and if seasoned just right it would be just as tender as anything else in the evening
I did a little internet surfing about a week ago. I looked up the Resort I grew up on Lake Kabetogama. I couldn't believe the old sign I made with my Dad when I was 16 years old is still there. Kind of brought a tear to my eye. Being that we are in Minnesota I thought posting the sign would be quite appropriate.
Check out the 40 Years of patina on that old sign. The separation in the boards from wet-dry-hot-cold all those years. My heart is touched that same sign is still there the same as I left it. With the exception of the hand-painted Loon in the upper left corner and the Walleye in the lower right.
I cropped out the current owners on either side of the sign as I would not want someone to post my picture on the internet without permission. The letters and the lodge I grew up in were Navajo red and now they're green. I see they kept the letters up. I have a picture of myself standing next to the sign when it was brand new. I will have to find it and send it to them.
I guess I'm not the only one that got old. The sign did too
TF
The Duluth lift bridge to Park Point
Not the greatest pictures. It was a cloudy day on our boat Excursion.
I really love this hand painted sign on the side of an old wooden sided DWP caboose. One of my favorite pictures. A lot of years ago I was a sign painter so I can appreciate works like this. I have a critical eye, he could have tucked his G in a little tighter. But maybe the P, E, and G are a little thicker because it was always known as the Peg.
I've just read-up about Minnesota on Wiki and learned of it's History.
Then as usual, I turned to YouTube for some Railroad action. There was some great footage, particularly shortlines (yesteryear and present day) Grain seems to dominate the scene. I recall a Country song from around 1970 "Me and you and a dog called Boo", and wondered if the "Wheatfields of St Paul", was the Minnesota, St Paul?
I was a bit amazed to find out that the Mississippi River starts off from this far North. But for this month - it's Railroads of Minnesota. Paul
"It's the South Shore Line, Jim - but not as we know it".
Howdy .
Mike .... Thnks for the history of Col Sanders. I recall he had been bankrupt at age 65, and later his chain of restaurants grew into a big business. You added to what I recalled.
TF .... I like the DWP caboose sign. Nice pictures of the bridge.
Mr. B .... That is very interesting about your Dad.
Stix .... Thanks for posting info about the DM&IR 2-8-8-4's.
Paul .... Nice to see you in the Diner. Feel free to visit again soon.
Some of the ore was shipped by rail all of the way to the steel mill. Below is an ore train on my railroad.
GARRY
HEARTLAND DIVISION, CB&Q RR
EVERYWHERE LOST; WE HUSTLE OUR CABOOSE FOR YOU
There's that beautiful Bridge again Garry with the perfect job of weathering the cement piers!
Lazers, Paul is it? You are exactly correct on both counts. Many, many years ago the Mississippi started from a trickle out of Itasca Lake Minnesota and still does. Only difference is the start is a little wider now. I do remember my Dad telling me he once jumped over the Mississippi River. Of course I did not believe him until the one day he took me up there and we both got our feet wet. I still wonder to this day if that man did jump over the Mississippi River
And Yes, especially since the 68 million dollar renovation to Rahr in Shakopee Minnesota. Rahr of Minnesota is the main supplier of all the malt for all the beer.
I don't know if that makes us the grain capital of the world, but I do believe presently this is the largest grain elevator establishment in the world.
Rahr also has grain elevator branches in Canada, Montana and North Dakota.
I have heard out of the big renovation in Shakopee, there is an area in this faculty that is described as something comparable to Willy Wonka's Chocolate Factory.
Afternoon Diners
Flo, give the gang a , I will take some water and Dirk a dog treat.
Garry and TF thank you for the well wishes on the broken rib and pneumonia. I am feeling much better today, I can stand up with out sreaming! Still hurts like the dickens but much better.
Later, Ken
I hate Rust
I am so glad to hear that Ken.
I have been talking to the Man Upstairs concerning you and so glad things are going the right way for you.
Those cracked ribs can take a while I know. I hope you keep getting better every day
Hi TF, Thanks for that photo of the Grain Silos. I used to work as a Draughtsman for a UK company that designed Silos for Industry. That Site is something else. Lazers is a shortened version of my surname. All thru the 1970's I was a Scooterboy, riding Lambrettas and Vespas. We all had 'handles' - nick-names usually decided by the others. I wish we'd had places like Jeffrey's Diner, KFC or Mcdonalds back in those days. It's 23:51, I'm gonna turn - in. Paul
Paul hit the rack It was good talking to you Paul and hope to do so again
Nicknames, I've had a few through life. I always liked the good ones. Ace, That was my best nickname I ever did have. It was right at the point when my life started to gel. It was a time when every thing was going perfect for me and all my friends around me.
That didn't go on forever
Bridges. My life-long love for these. When I see bridge architecture from afar I am fascinated, intrigued. I must dive in a little closer, which I always do.
Duluth has some of the most coolest bridges, not of anywhere I'm sure but the ones I have seen.
I do believe Duluth was the first city in the world that had a bridge with an intersection and a stoplight of two bridges intersecting. Unfortunately I don't have that picture but I have some pictures of bridges in Duluth. Sometimes bridges are cooler from an underneath view.
The Bong Bridge, purposely shaped in an S. A wavy line Stands Stronger than a straight line.
The fog was coming in when I took these pictures and I felt bad for the poor little seagull.
It's an S. You can't see the other side of the S because the fog was getting way too heavy
I do remember when it was being built. The Bong Bridge in Duluth is really cool
Post-hog
I do have a few more bridge pictures but unfortunately like I said I lost hundreds of pictures of Duluth in my phone that was run over by a bobcat.
I don't know where everybody is this evening? I will try to hunt down another photo treat
An old photograph of the wooden docks in Duluth. I'm sure that was before Chester Congdon started his reign.
The Glensheen Mansion was really something. All of us will never understand how an extremely wealthy Tycoon ever lived. I toured Glensheen three times.
The last time I toured it, I remember they were having problems with the Slate roofing shingles sliding off the roof. The Mansion is so old the fasteners holding the Slate shingles on the roof were rusting out and failing.
Imagine that.
A slate roof is basically forever but the steel fasteners holding them were failing on the steel tycoons house.
Good evening diners.
Flo - A nice big RBF please. Thanks.
Ken - Get better soon!!!!
Thanks to all for the neat photos so far. Cool the they let you that near the dock bridges.
Weather - Not helping the asthma issues. Cool past two days and now back to hot and humid. Early morning and late evening are rough, but I'm managing it. Not doing much during the day, only bc I am dealing with the breathing issues.
While the meds are helping, I could be doing better.
Keep all the nice info coming guys!
Hope all are well, and all enjoy the evening!
Ricky W.
HO scale Proto-freelancer.
My Railroad rules:
1: It's my railroad, my rules.
2: It's for having fun and enjoyment.
3: Any objections, consult above rules.
Beautiful evening here. It was a hot day in the 90s, but the evening has cooled off to the 70s. Wife, dog, and I just came in after sitting on the front porch for a while.
Ken, I hope your ribs heal quickly.
TF, thanks for all the bridge photos. That curved concrete bridge is neat.
I took this picture near Walker, Minnesota, several years ago. It's pretty neat that some Minnesotans combined everything you'd need for your trip -- bait, phone, and alcohol.
York1 John
I feel bad for you Ricky.
It sounds like you are suffering through some hard times. If I can be of some assistance to you of what I know. Go to the Whole Food store and get three small Beats, three Apples, three large Carrots or five and one good lime.
Put it all into a juicer and drink it and I guarantee you will feel much better by Thursday. Then do that every week.
Judy's Grandfather was a Tribal Medicine Man. I would not lead you astray.
https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=You+put+the+lime+in+the+coconut+and+drink+it+all+up.&docid=608046422592326930&mid=E4F912C83D9CBF0251CFE4F912C83D9CBF0251CF&view=detail&FORM=VIRE
Howdy Folks,
The location of this month's location piqued my curiosity. I have been working out of Belle Fourche, SD for the past 5+ years. Pronounced "bell foosh", or as we sometimes say "belly-4-shay". This is the same town that John Wayne and his young cowboys were driving the heard to in the movie "the Cowboys", even though the railroad wasn't in Belle when the movie was supposed to have taken place.
I have many miles across this state, yet never stopped at Al's Oasis in Chamberlin, but the burger sure does look good Kevin. About 100 miles west of there is "1880's town". They have many old town buildings and rr equipment. There is even an old F9 (or 7) and dining car in the back. Funny, haven't stopped there either, nor have I seen Mt Rushmore. The life of a truck driver..... Oh yeah, when a blizzard hits, you don't want to be on the road, they pull the plows and close the roads till the storm is over.
I will be relocating to the Belle area from WA state in a few months, maybe I'll get some time to see some sights then.
Kev
We ran out of toilet paper (actually we just opened the last 12 pack), so we went to Wal-Mart today.
It was almost completely empty. I wonder why no one was shopping?
Plenty of toilet paper, but the soup section was empty. I did not see any shortage of meat. We stocked up on paper towels, trash bags, razors, and a few other items.
All-In-All, things seemed very normal.
-Kevin
Living the dream.
The Duluth Depot. Out in the yard.
I was puzzled until I was told by one of the employees I could feel free to walk out in the yard. Later I gathered this was one of the locomotives that would pull one of the excursion trains up the North Shore but I wasn't there on the right day apparently.
I think it was the locomotive for the pizza train. Next time I'll call ahead
Maybe the Minnesota Zephyr but the Silver Streak again Garry
All in the crowd in Duluth.
The visit to the Depot in Duluth is well worth it. Don't forget to upgrade your tickets for a few dollars more Kids!
The reason my heart has always stayed here in Minnesota. Almost like Canada, anywhere you travel a while out of town, you get this.
Track fiddleranywhere you travel a while out of town, you get this.
That's my kind of country TF! Thanks for the photos.
Dave
I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!
Good Morning!
Got an early start this morning! It´s going to be a rather hot and humid day today, so I wanted to get things done before it´s getting too uncomfortable. The first thing was a visit to my doc to renew the prescription for my heart medications. While I was there, he found the time to check on my vitals which he wasn´t too happy about. Seems as if I have a blocked coronary artery. This will require surgical attention, should that blood thinner he gave not kick in properly. Now I have to watch out not to cut myself! It also means another blow to our relocation plans.
I am not amused!
Ken, broken ribs take quite a while to heal properly and is usually also rather painfull. When I broke 3 of my ribs, it took about 6 months before I was painfree.During the first few months I was on a morphine based painkiller pain was overwhelming. It took nearly two months to be without withdrawal symptoms after I stopped taking that stuff.
Not nice!
I hope everything will heal nicely and as speedy as possible!
Happy times!
Ulrich (aka The Tin Man)
"You´re never too old for a happy childhood!"
Third of June already!
Anyone remember the Amtrak Rainbow era? I sure do —
Empire_Builder by Edmund, on Flickr
Here's the Empire Builder in 1974 just coming into East Glacier Park
I think I've got Mrs. Pullman talked into letting me get her a new John Deere riding mower for Father's day. Our ten-year old Husky Varmint* has been patched up several times and I'm getting tired of sinking any more of my time and money into it. Supposed to be a "commercial" model but it was cheaply made like the run-of-the-mill MTD stuff.
* Husqvarna
Thinking of a JD X580 or X-590 with a 54" deck. Might toss in the snowblower, too.
I hope your condition is easily remedied, Ulrich. You too, Ken. We aint' gettin any younger!
Cheers, Ed
Tinplate Toddler Water Level Route To speed up the process, he actually invented pressure cooking. The idea of pressure cooking goes back to the year of 1679, when a Frenchman named denis Papin invented the first pressure cooker. In the 1930s, pressure cookers became available commercially, intended to shorten the time for cooking vegetables. Sanders tried to cook a chicken in it, cutting down the time in the frying pan.
Water Level Route To speed up the process, he actually invented pressure cooking.
The idea of pressure cooking goes back to the year of 1679, when a Frenchman named denis Papin invented the first pressure cooker. In the 1930s, pressure cookers became available commercially, intended to shorten the time for cooking vegetables. Sanders tried to cook a chicken in it, cutting down the time in the frying pan.
Ed, I specifically sought out a John Deere mower for my house a couple years ago. (A "D" series) I also learned the hard way that while Husqvarna makes good chainsaws, the rest of their stuff is "Meh" at best. Right along the lines of my experiences with MTD built products. Crummy is putting it nicely. Surprisingly for a Nordic company, I have had and know of others that have had horrible experiences with their snowblowers. Can't figure that one out.
Hoping today is a better day. Yesterday started out very poorly at my usual 5:00 am wake up time and only got worse right up past midnight last night. It was like everything at work and at home all went to pot at once. I was literally sitting at my desk motionless, essentially stunned at the peak of it all yesterday. Was it the 13th yesterday? Sheesh!
So let's start today off right. A hearty breakfast for all. My treat.
Mike
Nice pictures TF. That's Interstate State Park. From Taylor falls south. The park is on both sides (MN., and WI.) of the St Croix River.
There are other places like this?
Mike, that breakfast, WOW, is that one serving? that must be a plate you pass around, like family style.
My You Tube
Good Morning All,
Mid 40's again with scattered showers and the clouds scooting along up above. Should be a good day.
Thanks for al the pics - what a beautiful area. The Bong bridge should be named for Dick Bong - WWII ace of aces with 40 to his credit in the Pacific. He was based out of Darwin Au then Port Moresby for most of the time. I read his biography years ago. He was from Wisconsin so I'm unsure of the connection but there is a dearth of other noticable Bongs' out there.
Sorry to hear of all the health issues out there - I wish you all speedy or at least good progress on recoveries.
Thanks for stopping in Kev - feel free to do so when you wish in future.
Back to the shop and time to pick up tools. Ciao, J.R.
I could not sleep at all last night. First time I have had trouble sleeping in months.
Stayed awake until 5:00 AM, which is only a couple of hours late for me, but I was up at 8:00 AM, which is not normal. I am not tired, so I guess I will stay awake.
I feel fine, not sure why I did not sleep.
My medical problems are small potatoes compared to the rest of you.
I was walking the dog and though a mosquito bit me on the arm and leg, because it itched like a mosquito bite. Our local mosquito bites don't itch very long, at least for me.
The itching got worse, a lot worse. I've putting putting cortisone on it and 5 days later the elbow still itches. Doesn't look infected. I don't know if it's a spider bite or a tick bite. If it was a tick, it wasn't on there long enough to give me lyme disease.
Henry
COB Potomac & Northern
Shenandoah Valley
Henry, Itching for five days is a long time. A tick bite will normally have a red expanding ring around the area if it is Lyme disease. Often they do not itch. A spider bite can have a ring of dead skin around it usually white in color. If the later, see a doctor as it could be that flesh eating bacteria stuff which is not real common but is for real. For mosquitos I usually use Caladryl to stop the itch. We are blessed with all three in abundance here in New England. J.R.
GMTRacing The Bong bridge should be named for Dick Bong - WWII ace of aces with 40 to his credit in the Pacific. He was based out of Darwin Au then Port Moresby for most of the time. I read his biography years ago. He was from Wisconsin so I'm unsure of the connection but there is a dearth of other noticable Bongs' out there.
There is also a state DNR facility near me, Bong Recreational Area, that started out as a proposed Air Force base, Bong AFB, but was never finished. Lots of farms and land cleared for base, and landing strips built, then it shut down, I think because WWII ended. I'll have to read up on the history.
For years, GM, and American Motors used the concrete runway system as a test track, then that ended with the demise of AM, and GM leaving the Kenosha area.
The State of WI. DNR took the land over, and made it a recreational area. It's huge.
https://dnr.wi.gov/topic/parks/name/richardbong/
But wait! we're in MN, ND and SD, not WI.
Mike.