Category: Amazing Things

Amazing Things, Texas HistoryLeave a comment

10 South Texas Windmills by Atilano Salas

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All but two of the windmills on the ranch were built to the same design, but no two were alike when the wind put them to work. Visible for miles jutting above the chaparral, each sounded out a tuneless melody, an almost unbroken clanging, slow and comforting and rhythmic, coupled to the occasional metal-on-metal squeal of the tail adjusting to a shift in the breeze, its blades slicing air with a tempered whoosh, pulling up clear cool water flowing steadily into the cistern through the long galvanized discharge pipe. It was as though these lone sentinels scattered in a sea … Continue reading 10 South Texas Windmills by Atilano Salas

Aging, Amazing Things, Crazy Times, Thoughts and MusingsLeave a comment

Tommy Houy was a Honda Motorcycle guy all the way

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I think his first motorcycle was a 125cc that he had when I first came to school in Marble Falls. That was starting in 8th grade. I don’t think he ran all over on it, but rode it over on his side of town. Then he jumped up to a 350cc. It was metallic blue. That’s the one he wrecked on. (More on that below) During the repairing of it, he switched the color to a metal flake orange. A few years later he went up to a 450cc, then eventually a 750cc. Buy the time he and I became … Continue reading Tommy Houy was a Honda Motorcycle guy all the way

Amazing Things, Crazy Times, My Friends, Thoughts and MusingsLeave a comment

Making Friends

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It’s a funny thing about FaceBook and friendships. Let me tell you or remind you how I met Terry Robinson. Here goes: Terry was living up in the DFW area and was wanting to sell out and move down this way. In March of 2021 he thought something like if I do a search for someone that’s always posting about Bertram and Smithwick then I may find someone that has connections and may know of a place for sale in the area. Pretty ingenious thinking, right? When my name popped up he instant messaged me, introducing himself. The only problem … Continue reading Making Friends

Amazing Things, Past Angora Chronicles Stories, Thoughts and MusingsLeave a comment

Talking About Trademarks & Copyrights

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We had an accountant that worked for use for several years. Previously GK Worley had worked for a wealthy fellow over in Rockdale for a good many years. GK told me the following story. Pete Coffield, the wealthy gentleman built a new much needed motel in Rockdale many years ago. He had Whitey, his black driver, drive to the nearest town with a Holiday Inn Motel in it and take pictures of their sign. Then he took the photo to a local sign guy to build some signs for his new motel. Not wanting to copy it exactly, he had … Continue reading Talking About Trademarks & Copyrights

Amazing Things, Past Angora Chronicles Stories, The History of TexasLeave a comment

Ross Bros. Horse & Mule Company

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This was a business that was located at the Fort Worth Stockyards. The barns were wooden and destroyed by a fire on March 14, 1911. It was rebuilt using concrete and steel at a price of $300,000 and were said to be among the finest stables in the world. The Ross Brothers – Waddy, Sam & R.E. became very wealthy selling horses and mules during World War I, sending them to Europe.Once again they sold many more during WW II. Continue reading Ross Bros. Horse & Mule Company

Aging, Amazing Things, Grandchildren, My Family, My Sons, Thoughts and MusingsLeave a comment

A Father’s Day Message To My Sons & Grandsons

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Sometimes the best lessons that life gives are not about learning the right things to do, but rather learning from the things not to do. As a son, you can observe how your father handled situations, but it can be difficult to emulate his moves. Instead, it is more beneficial to watch what your father did and then avoid making the same mistakes he did. I don’t necessarily want my sons and grandsons to follow the same life journey that I have traveled, as it has been a difficult and challenging road. Fellows, take the things you observed me do … Continue reading A Father’s Day Message To My Sons & Grandsons

Aging, Amazing Things, Cecil Lewis, Thoughts and MusingsLeave a comment

Cecil Lewis, my father, was a handsome man with certain flaws

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To know him was to witness wisdom and a lot of contradictions. I didn’t resent his tough love, for it paved my way. But if I could change one thing, it would be his struggle with alcohol. Without that burden, he would have been near perfection, a true role model. Yet, I still treasure the lessons he taught me, and they are still within my heart. He was selfless, always helping others in every endeavor. He possessed both physical and emotional strength, forever. Adversity didn’t hinder him; it only made him more resilient. He taught me the worth of perseverance, … Continue reading Cecil Lewis, my father, was a handsome man with certain flaws

Amazing Things, Crazy Times, In and Around Austin, The Construction Biz, Thoughts and MusingsLeave a comment

My Trench Box Is Bigger Than Your Trench Box

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This special trench box was built in our shop and used on one project, a 72” and 84” water line line for a new water plant project in Austin, Texas. I have serious reasons to believe it is the largest trench box ever built. It measured 44’ long x 12’ tall with an 8’ tall stacker section to go on top, making it 20’ tall. This box isn’t for just anyone. We had two EX 1200 Hitachi Excavators that were used to dig and lay the pipe and took them both to advance the box ahead. The approximate weight of … Continue reading My Trench Box Is Bigger Than Your Trench Box

Amazing Things, Crazy Times, In and Around Austin, The Construction Biz5 Comments

You Have Got To Be Kidding Me

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I had a new Cat 385 that was delivered probably in 2003 or 2004. I ordered it equipped with a mass excavation boom and a short stick. I knew it would limit our ability to go very deep, but most of the jobs we were bidding on were hard rock jobs. When I compared the different stick and boom configurations, the breakout force of the one I ordered was almost double of a long stick machine. If we were going to be successful digging hard rock we need the most force that we could get at the teeth. The machine … Continue reading You Have Got To Be Kidding Me

Aging, Amazing Things, Crazy Times, Funny Happenings, The Construction Biz, Thoughts and MusingsLeave a comment

How Old Am I ?

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I’m So Old That: When I first started in the underground utility business we used batter boards and string lines for setting grade on wastewater lines. A good 6’ wooden folding engineers rule and a torpedo level were the grade setters best friend.About a decade later before lasers became widely used. (Early 1980s)Many of the old school inspectors wouldn’t trust lasers so had us set up batter boards to use to prove out that the laser was shooting a straight line and grade. I’m So Old That: John Deere and Caterpillar hadn’t started making hydraulic track excavators when I first … Continue reading How Old Am I ?