Category: Thoughts and Musings

Marble Falls and the Area Around it., Past Angora Chronicles Stories, The History of Texas, Thoughts and Musings6 Comments

The Southwest Graphite Mines Burnet County, Texas

lewisotr

Southwest Graphite Mines operated out near Lake Buchanan, on the north side. The aerial views show it’s proximity to the dam. It ceased operations a few years ago. I have read that all graphite production now comes from other countries with no active mines left in the United States. I remember in times past seeing workers from the Graphite Mine around Burnet, covered in black. You could “only see the whites of their eyes“. There was a packaging or warehouse facility in town, Burnet, along the highway near where the Dollar General and Whataburger is now. I think there was … Continue reading The Southwest Graphite Mines Burnet County, Texas

Amazing Things, Grandchildren, Meeting New People, Thoughts and MusingsLeave a comment

You Never Know Where A Conversation Will Take You

lewisotr

Through our gathering this past Saturday to assemble information about Pure Stone (now Huber) I brought up the name Doyle Wilkes, from Bertram. He died of a heart attack while on the job at Huber some 28 1/2 years ago. When I asked Robben Thompson if she remembered him, she said he was the nicest man and the hardest worker around. When he collapsed that day, she was there and performed CPR until the First Responders arrived. I told Robben that I barely knew Doyle. We met once. But from the marriage of his Baby Girl, Katherine and my #2 … Continue reading You Never Know Where A Conversation Will Take You

Funny Happenings, My Friends, The Construction Biz, Thoughts and MusingsLeave a comment

Austin Radio People & My Friend Sonny

lewisotr

Bob Cole and Sammy Allred where the duo that probably stayed together the longest, at least to my memory. Of course there was Jim W W Travis at KVET for a long time. Tom Allen was a fixture. There were many that came through there over the years. Jerry Gee. Penny Reeves. Arlie Duff was at KOKE and moved to KVET for a while before he retired or moved on. The list is pretty long. A lessor known and remembered DJ at KVET was Sonny Butler. He was a night man a lot of the time and filled in in … Continue reading Austin Radio People & My Friend Sonny

Crazy Times, My Friends, Past Angora Chronicles Stories, Smithwick, The Early Days, Thoughts and MusingsLeave a comment

The Gift

lewisotr

Some of my best memories growing up was hauling hay and doing the hard work. Back in August of 2012 when Madeline and I turned 60, our kids along with Kenny and Carol threw us a grand party out at their place on Cow Creek. Jimmy Palmer brought me one of the best gifts I could have received. It was his hay hook that had hung in their barn for all these years. He wanted me to have it to remind me of the time that when he got out to open a gate and he got back in I … Continue reading The Gift

Another Daily Happening, Cecil Lewis, Crazy Times, Thoughts and MusingsLeave a comment

Cec And The Spare Tire Rack

lewisotr

Back in “68” Cec bought a new 1/2 Ford Pickup down at Truck City Ford on Ben White Blvd in Austin. There was a brand new thing that he couldn’t do without. Back in those days pickups never or hardly ever came with a rear bumper from the factory. They were all installed by the dealer and most of the time in this area they were supplied by D&D Bumper in Seguin, Tx. The dealership name would be imprinted in it, so when you bought a bumper you paid for the privilege of advertising where you bought your truck everywhere … Continue reading Cec And The Spare Tire Rack

Another Daily Happening, Thoughts and Musings1 Comment

I Knew When I Did It, I Was Making A Mistake:

lewisotr

I was relaxing in the hot tub killing time, by running through Facebook, when I ran across a link for life insurance. I thought, what if I bought a policy that upon my departing this life, my wife could have a windfall of funds that would allow her to make a few more trips or do something pleasurable to make my passing a bit more worthwhile for her. It wasn’t anything I was for sure going to do, but it would be easier to assess whether or not to do it, based on the costs involved. It was about a … Continue reading I Knew When I Did It, I Was Making A Mistake:

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

One Thing That Shouldn’t Be Said During Church

lewisotr

I had a good friend that was a steady church goer. When they got to the prayers and concerns portion of the service this friend stood up ask for prayers for this fellow out in West Texas. The West Texas fellow was the father of this friend of mine’s grandson. A divorce had caused a lot of consternation between each side. Back to the church house that day: He said, if old (what’s his name) doesn’t watch himself, “I’m going to drive out to West Texas and shoot him”. Now taking that this was a very small church 4 or … Continue reading One Thing That Shouldn’t Be Said During Church

Amazing Things, Cecil Lewis, Crazy Times, Funny Happenings, My Friends, Thoughts and MusingsLeave a comment

The Bet – The Naming Of A First Born

lewisotr

I got to the visitation at the funeral home for my friend LJ Henderson. Joy, LJ’s oldest daughter said “your mother’s name was Bonnie, right” ? To which I said yes. She told me the following story. LJ and Cecil were sitting in a beer joint just a couple of days before Joy Henderson was born in the early part of 1950. Both wives were heavy pregnant at the time. Cecil said, “that baby of yours is gonna be a little girl”. A little arguing went back and forth and a bet was formulated right then and there? If it … Continue reading The Bet – The Naming Of A First Born

Aging, Crazy Times, Thoughts and MusingsLeave a comment

This Had My Head Spinning

lewisotr

Woke up early this morning. Had a Facebook friend request from a fellow that I don’t actually know. I had heard the name before. We have 42 friends in common. So what’s the harm of agreeing to be his FB Friend. I was going through this fellows profile, much like I do just about every time I obtain a new friend. As I went down, carefully reading his various credentials I saw something that really looked suspect. We both had the same AIM identifier. For those that aren’t old Internet Dinosaurs, like myself, that stands for AOL-Instant-Messager. Lewisotr was my … Continue reading This Had My Head Spinning