Crazy Times, On The Job, Smithwick, The Early DaysLeave a comment

A Loader Laying On It’s Side

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In the early days we didn’t have the best equipment to work with. We didn’t expect anything to start without jumper cables or pulling or pushing it to start it. We had an old HD 5 Allis Chalmers Track Loader that we’d been using to clean out a stock tank down on our place. When we stopped for the day, on the before we parked it beside the road so we could reach it with a pair of jumper cables. There was a road cut with the bank about four feet tall that the loader was sitting up on. When … Continue reading A Loader Laying On It’s Side

Crazy Times, The Early Days

The Crane Lawsuit

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My first experience with being involved in a lawsuit didn’t take long once I got out into the working world. Sometime in late 1970 we leased a truck out to Charlie Evans Trucking. Mr. Evans had been a trucker in Austin for many years and decided to expand his business by opening a terminal in San Antonio. I had just turned 18 years old. I decided it would be a good adventure to go there and live in an old run down motel and make hauls all around San Antonio. The Spur Motel was just a block or so down … Continue reading The Crane Lawsuit

Another Daily Happening, Crazy Times, Kenny Lewis, Smithwick, The Early Days2 Comments

Throwing A D-7 Dozer Off Of The Trailer

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Kenny and I went down to Turkey Bend and loaded a D-7 Cat Dozer and was headed back to Smithwick. The road was not paved back then, which was probably in 1968. The bar-ditch was usually wet from the springs that flowed out of the rock outcroppings. It was fairly clean without cedar brush back then. Kenny was driving too fast and got too close to the ditch as he came into the corner. This caused the truck and trailer to slam into a 4′ high vertical bank on the right side with great force. This resulted in truck and … Continue reading Throwing A D-7 Dozer Off Of The Trailer

Another Daily Happening, Crazy Times, Kenny Lewis, Smithwick, The Early Days1 Comment

The Adventures Of Driving Under-Powered Trucks

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The 60s were a different time than now when it comes to the horse power of trucks. Today our trucks operate with 500 to 600 horsepower. Back then the common range was 180 to 250 HP. We still hauled equally heavy loads over the same roads as today. Trucks were used much longer and maintained must less than by today’s standards. It was common for when we were hauling a heavy dozer in hillier areas for me to go ahead in a pickup to assist. When we knew there was a grade too steep coming up, Kenny would pull over, … Continue reading The Adventures Of Driving Under-Powered Trucks

Amazing ThingsLeave a comment

Hooked On Hydroponics

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We took our boys to Disney World back in the mid 80s. I don’t remember that much about the usual stuff at you see there. What I was most attracted to was Epcot Center. Actually I don’t remember that much about Epcot. But I do recall the demonstration about hydroponics. I loved seeing plants growing without soil, either directly in water and plant food or pea gravel medium. Almost immediately when we got back home I had to pour myself into building my own greenhouse and start hydroponic gardening. Of course there were books on the subject but it was … Continue reading Hooked On Hydroponics

My Family, Smithwick, The Early DaysLeave a comment

Let me tell you about Delbert and Nancy Boultinghouse, My Mother’s Parents

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This is a story I wrote sometime ago about my mother’s parents and what life was like back in the 1915 throughout their lives. Much, if not all of their married life was spent in Smithwick. Nancy was a member of the Martin Family from Burnet. I think Delbert was raised primarily in Smithwick. From this union came 11 children, 3 boys and 8 girls. They lived on what has always been known to me as the Old Boultinghouse Place, which is a couple of miles east of the Smithwick Cemetery. A quarter of a mile east of Balcones Springs … Continue reading Let me tell you about Delbert and Nancy Boultinghouse, My Mother’s Parents

Amazing Things, Crazy Times, My Friends, The Early DaysLeave a comment

Cruising The UT Drag

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The spring of 1971 found me and Jimmy Frasier in Austin one Friday afternoon. Probably for no other reason than hoping to find some excitement. I had a new Chevrolet pickup and we decided a drive down to the Drag was in order. We got as far a 34th street on Guadalupe, heading south when we encountered a red light. A couple of pretty young UT types were in the right lane, with us in the left. Paying more attention to the girls than to driving, when the light changed as they eased off so did we. The only obstacle … Continue reading Cruising The UT Drag

Aging, Crazy Times, Thoughts and Musings2 Comments

Meeting Up With A Legend

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A funny yet strange encounter happened at a Roadside Rest Stop today. In my travels today I had to go up to a job we are doing out west of Waco. It’s up where SpaceX tests its rocket engines. After seeing everything I needed to, I left there and the same thing happened that always happens when I go up there. I had to make a pit stop when I got south of Salado at the very nice Highway Rest Stop. When I came out I noticed an older gentleman sitting in his pickup. He motioned for me to come … Continue reading Meeting Up With A Legend

Crazy Times, Marble Falls and the Area Around it., The Early Days, Thoughts and Musings2 Comments

I Have A New Friend

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(This is a story written back in 2015) She is not really a new friend, I’ve known this lady for most of my life. But what was just a causal meeting from time to time has develop into a great fondness and friendship during the past few weeks. We were brought together by me calling her to invite her to our MFHS 45th class reunion. One thing lead to another, with me sending her a copy The Angora Chronicles book. You see, Mrs. Doris Phillips taught many Marble Falls students as well as others in places such as Mason, Bertram … Continue reading I Have A New Friend

Aging, Crazy Times, Kenny Lewis, Thoughts and MusingsLeave a comment

So Here’s The Deal

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It’s time I shoot straight with all you kind folks. I posted on my personal wall earlier tonight about a problem I’m having with carpal tunnel in both hands from typing on my iPhone too much. This is that other post: https://www.facebook.com/1525699623/posts/10225073004522025/?d=n Well here’s the deal. I’ve been working with my oldest Granddaughter, Holly Lewis to do a bunch of my stories digitally. Holly has a degree from Baylor in digital communications, so we are pretty sure that part could be accomplished. What I’m not so sure about is how this country bumpkin hick voice of mine would sound. I … Continue reading So Here’s The Deal