Thoughts and MusingsLeave a comment

Just in case we don’t know enough about goats, there is this:

lewisotr

Goats were one of the first animals to be tamed by humans and were being herded 9,000 years ago. Goat meat is the most consumed meat per capita worldwide Goats can be taught their name and to come when called The life span of a goat is about that of a dog Goats have a gestation period (pregnancy) of five month and the average birth rate for goats is 2.2 kids per year. Baby goats (kids) are standing and taking their first steps within minutes of being born. Each kid has a unique call, and along with its scent, that … Continue reading Just in case we don’t know enough about goats, there is this:

Amazing Things, Crazy Times, On The JobLeave a comment

With All The Rain We’ve Had……..It Can Always Be Worse.

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I think back on how wet it’s been and how devastating all the rains can be on the construction business. I will recall a couple of my biggest weather related nightmares that were a result of heavy rains. The Memorial Day Flood in Austin back in 1981 found us building Jester Blvd off of RM 2222. We were getting close to the end of it. We had been more than a year doing that project and we were days from being ready pave the roads. One single night 11 inches of rain fell on top of Jester Mountain. In just … Continue reading With All The Rain We’ve Had……..It Can Always Be Worse.

My Friends, SmithwickLeave a comment

The Gift of the Anvil

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This mini-anvil was recently given to me by a friend. “Punk” had my brother, Kenny dig it out of the barn a few weeks ago so he could bring it to me. It has become a “prize possession” to me. This little anvil only weighs slightly over 25 lbs. I’m not sure if it at one time was part of a vise or was somehow mounted on something. DL “Punk” Turner and his brother GH “Son” Turner farmed and ranched down on Cow Creek here in Burnet & Travis Counties all of thier lives. We lost son just over 4 … Continue reading The Gift of the Anvil

Crazy Times, Meeting New People, On The JobLeave a comment

“Hey Bossman”

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As hard as it is growing up in this world for teens now, it has to be so much harder for the black youth, especially in any of the large urban areas. I often think back to a half dozen black kids I befriended in the Oak Cliff in the early 90’s while doing a job there. I’ve written before about them, Freddy, Herman, Terry and the others names escape me just now. I would load them up in my suburban, after checking with their mother, grandmother or other guardian, (always a female – never remember even one of them … Continue reading “Hey Bossman”

Crazy TimesLeave a comment

A Very Memorable Vacation To California

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One of our family vacations that we were able to plan ahead and actually take was to California. I say that, because many times we planned vacations and because of being self employed the business would get shoved in front of family. For that I’m regretful but being in business afforded us opportunities that perhaps we wouldn’t have had otherwise. The year was 1986 I think. It started out in Los Angeles doing some of the same stuff most people do when they go there. A tour of Universal Studios and other Hollywood stuff, then we went to see the … Continue reading A Very Memorable Vacation To California

Thoughts and Musings, UncategorizedLeave a comment

Pénta Philia

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I am no Greek Scholar, but it’s my understanding that the above term, Pénta Philia roughly translates to Five Friends. (Five really good friends) About 30 years ago I heard a guy on the radio give a shorty commentary speaking on this topic. I was so moved by what he said I wrote to the radio station and they sent me a transcript of his commentary. I had it taped up on the office wall for a long time. I wish I still had it. I thought long and hard about it, thinking the guy was full of it. But … Continue reading Pénta Philia

Cecil LewisLeave a comment

My Own Take On Funerals

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I don’t want this to sound morbid, but I have attended so many funerals that I’ve almost developed a classifying system for them. There are the personal ones, that you have to attend. Those are family and very close friends. They are mostly sad affairs. Seldom are we ready to lose those people. While they are sad, there can be moments of joy mixed in. There are the ones that are children and there is never a way to put a happy face on that. Those are always sad, heart wrenching affairs. They haven’t got to experience nearly enough of … Continue reading My Own Take On Funerals

Cecil LewisLeave a comment

A Little Insight Into Cecil Lewis

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I hope I don’t give the impression that Cecil Lewis was an outlaw or something. He was, what can I say, he was Cecil Lewis. Truly a one of a kind. If he liked you he’d do anything for you, if he didn’t like you, he’d still do anything for you. He was liked by most people, respected by many but people knew to give him a wide berth. I owe much of my success to him. Not only in the things he taught me to do, but in the things I learned not to do. He was the nicest … Continue reading A Little Insight Into Cecil Lewis

Cecil Lewis, Crazy Times, Smithwick, The Early DaysLeave a comment

1960s Trucking

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Hauling things were much different back when I was young. Many ranchers and cowboys had a set of sideboards they’d put on the back of their pickup and then a horse and sometimes two would be loaded in the back. I can remember how unstable a 1/2 ton truck was with that much weight swaying back and forth and the high center of gravity. Many of the old-timers weren’t very accomplished drivers, either. While we did that some I think of something now that seems much more risky. Hauling a JD 450 loader in the back of a 5 yd. … Continue reading 1960s Trucking