Night Noise

PHOTO OF THE DAY: January 21, 2012

2012-01-21T15:42:00.001-08:00

After a heavy snowfall, the rains and melting came.
With a break in the weather, the sun came out and glistened off the
melting snow and ice.

(CLICK image for a larger image)

Weather Forcast: 4 inches

2012-01-20T10:41:00.000-08:00

I guess my ruler is slightly off.

PHOTO OF THE DAY: November 24, 2011

2011-11-25T21:31:00.000-08:00

THANKSGIVING
Even the chickens got to enjoy a Thanksgiving meal ... of sorts

Please!

2011-11-22T10:06:00.000-08:00

http://speakupforamerica.blogspot.com

Free Stuff

2011-11-19T19:01:00.000-08:00

The folks who are GETTING the free stuff don't like the folks who
are PAYING for the free stuff, because the folks who are paying for the free stuff,
can no longer afford to pay for both the free stuff and their own stuff,

And,

The folks who are PAYING for the free stuff, want the free stuff to stop,
and the folks who are GETTING the free stuff, want even more free stuff on top of the free stuff they are already getting!

Now...

The people who are forcing the people who pay for the free stuff, have told the people who are RECEIVING the free stuff, that the people who are PAYING for the free stuff,
are being mean, prejudiced, and racist.

So...the people who are GETTING the free stuff, have been convinced they
need to hate the people who are paying for the free stuff, by the people who are forcing some people to pay for their free stuff, and giving them the free stuff in the first place.

We have let the free stuff giving go on for so long that there are now more people getting free stuff than paying for the free stuff.

Now understand this: All great democracies have committed financial suicide
somewhere between 200 and 250 years after being founded. The reason?

The voters figured out they could vote themselves money from the treasury by electing
people who promised to give them money from the treasury in exchange
for electing them.

[Think: Italy, Greece, France, UK, Spain, Iceland, US ... and on and on.]

The United States officially became a Republic in 1776, 231 years ago. The number of people now getting free stuff outnumbers the people paying for the free stuff. We have one chance to change that in 2012.

Failure to change that spells the end of the United States as we know it.

[If you doubt that, then ignore the warnings and see what happens ... much quicker than you ever imagined. [Think: "Occupy ... whatever."]

ELECTION 2012 IS COMING!

A Nation of Sheep Breeds a Government of Wolves!

PHOTO OF THE DAY: November 12, 2011

2011-11-12T08:41:00.001-08:00

First Snow

PHOTO OF THE DAY: November 6, 2011

2011-11-06T14:22:00.000-08:00

Bath Time
(Ask me If I'm Happy!)

LIVE PHOTO: Protesters

2011-10-15T08:14:00.001-07:00

(Add Your Caption here)

PHOTO OF THE DAY: "Working Late"

2011-10-15T08:07:00.001-07:00

Taken above our home, in the early evening.

(Third Place winner in Whitman County Fair "McGregor" contest.)

R J Ranch Pictures and Weather

2011-08-18T18:39:00.000-07:00

The Internet link for our ranch info recently changed. Here is the new link:

http://www.daisley.com/rjrpixs/rjrpixs.html

(Current photo)

2011-08-18T05:58:00.000-07:00

New Electric Conversion

2011-08-13T20:17:00.000-07:00

Moonshine at 8 PM on the Palouse

Photo of the Day

2011-04-11T16:05:00.001-07:00

Photo of the Day

2011-04-10T17:12:00.000-07:00

Photo of the Day

2011-04-09T07:58:00.000-07:00

Watch for a new photo (almost) daily.

Pheasant Gathering

2011-01-04T17:55:00.000-08:00

This afternoon, I looked up on the hill behind the house and saw around 20-30 Pheasants scavenging for food, where the snow had been blown off. I grabbed the video camera and
caught a few of them. They were pretty fat, also for this time of the year.

Later, I noticed three more flocks. My guess is there were 50-70 birds altogether!

The interesting this is: Pheasant hunting season just closed three days ago! How do they know?

M M X I ... 1.1.11

2010-12-31T21:17:00.001-08:00

Sunrise on a New Year

(Oh Yes ... Zero Degrees!)

Gathering The Christmas Tree - "Country Style"

2010-12-20T11:49:00.000-08:00

A brief video from the R J Ranch.

PHOTO OF THE DAY: September 4, 2010

2010-09-04T16:45:00.001-07:00

Dateline: Sept 4, 2010

Who says you can't grow watermelons in Pullman?

(That's a quarter!)

PHOTO OF THE DAY: August 23, 2010

2010-08-22T20:38:00.001-07:00

"Hey, Ma, I think we took a wrong turn awhile back."

PHOTO OF THE DAY: August 6, 2010

2010-08-06T20:56:00.001-07:00

Ever wonder why your dog won't eat regular "Dog Food?"

PHOTO OF THE DAY: July 26, 2010

2010-07-26T21:25:00.000-07:00

(9 PM) Just finished a piece of CHERRY PIE that Jacquie baked today. Delicious!

Yesterday, we picked fresh cherries from the (one and only) RJ Ranch Cherry Tree.

PHOTO OF THE DAY: June 15, 2010

2010-06-15T09:33:00.000-07:00

Always fun to see.

2010-05-31T20:32:00.000-07:00

Long Shadows at evening time.

PHOTO OF THE DAY: May 20, 2010

2010-05-20T07:37:00.000-07:00

Lilac Time

PHOTO OF THE DAY: May 16, 2010

2010-05-16T17:21:00.000-07:00

Last Saturday, I taught a class in building a solar array. After the class was over I thought, "Why not put that project to good use." Hence: Here is the 875 watt solar array re-charging the batteries in my electric VW. What more can you ask for ... Sunlight to Road miles!

From The Archives

2010-04-15T20:33:00.000-07:00

This photo was taken February 14, 1966, somewhere over the Pacific Ocean between Travis Air Force Base, California and Naha Air Base, Okinawa. It is of my F-102 that I flew on that air-to-air refueling deployment mission. (Actually, it was not my airplane ... it belonged to the Air Force, but they let me fly it.)

"CLICK on photo to get a larger image."

PHOTO OF THE DAY: April 10, 2010

2010-04-10T19:56:00.000-07:00

Jacquie's eight new additions to her chicken flock went outside in the "Big Wide World" for the first time today. Panda is very intrigued with chickens and loves to watch them.
(CLICK photo for a larger image)

PHOTO OF THE DAY: March 21, 2010

2010-03-21T18:12:00.001-07:00

Up On The Rooftop ... Honk, Honk, Honk

(CLICK photo for a larger image)

From The Archives: "PHOTO OF THE DAY"

2010-01-10T19:28:00.001-08:00

Living in the country has it's rewards.

Just came across the photo again. It's good for a replay in mid-January.

PHOTO OF THE DAY: December 28, 2009

2009-12-28T22:04:00.001-08:00

Red Line

I Hope They Don't Destroy The Place!

2009-12-07T11:13:00.000-08:00

Vandals headed to bowl game

Idaho is headed back to the Humanitarian Bowl.

(From The Moscow-Pullman Daily News, 12/7/09)

PHOTO OF THE DAY: November 23, 2009

2009-11-23T08:29:00.000-08:00

Early Morning Sun Watch

(The output from solar modules can be about 15% HIGHER when cold.)

PHOTO OF THE DAY: November 16, 2009

2009-11-16T12:03:00.000-08:00

Another beautiful sunrise at the R J Ranch

PHOTO OF THE DAY: November 1, 2009

2009-11-01T10:09:00.001-08:00

Welcome Visitors

PHOTO OF THE DAY: October 18, 2009

2009-10-18T18:09:00.000-07:00

With beginning of the day, I can't help but wonder why so many foolish people seem determined to screw up the world. It doesn't matter if it's our politicians, terrorists, business crooks or Internet hoodlums.

Why ... Why ... Why?

PHOTO OF THE DAY: October 10. 2009

2009-10-10T10:41:00.000-07:00

Four Days Later: Frozen solid!

Where is "Global Warming." when you need it? ELEVEN degrees last night in Pullman. ZERO expected tonight. New record lows! (Normals: 38 low, 55 high.) I read where similiar situations are growing more frequent. The Russians seem correct: No "Warming" ... Global "Cooling" is arriving.
The cock-eyed liberals would love to control more of everthing, based upon Fat Gore's Money Grab.
Forget your Sun-Suits ... grab a parka! JMHO

PHOTO OF THE DAY: October 6, 2009

2009-10-06T21:31:00.001-07:00

Solar Powered Water Fountain

Parts List:

1) Used Internet Satellite dish (painted blue)

2) 12-volt boat bilge pump

3) Adjustable hand-held lawn sprinker head

4) 50-watt solar panel

5) plastic tub from Wal Mart

PHOTO OF THE DAY September 29, 2009

2009-09-29T10:10:00.000-07:00

Farm Garden

PHOTO OF THE DAY: September 20, 2009

2009-09-20T12:49:00.000-07:00

Not Quite Ready

No Title Required

2009-09-15T20:04:00.001-07:00

R J R Solar Commercial Project

2009-07-23T19:37:00.000-07:00

Green IT Alliance Solar Project

(First R J R Solar Commercial solar project)

7.700 kW

Week Two

2009-05-11T21:11:00.001-07:00

The lettuce is "not quite" ready to eat.

Color Me Happy

2009-05-09T21:00:00.000-07:00

Thursday, May 7, 2009 * 7:30 PM

A Small Beginning

2009-05-07T20:09:00.000-07:00

DAY 4

Small sprouts of lettuce and spinach

Under the grow lamp

This is the start of my hydroponic growing test. If it works like I think it will, I'll probably construct a large system to have fresh veggies all year long.

Check back frequently to see "How The Garden Grows."

PHOTO OF THE DAY: February 15, 2009

2009-02-15T09:23:00.000-08:00

As I was leaving Schweitzer Engineering, last week at 5 P.M., this scene greeted me.

(CLICK picture for a larger image.)

Just A Simple Urine Test - Not Too Much To Ask?

2009-02-08T12:14:00.000-08:00

Vote On a urine test: http://www.SpeakUpForAmerica.com

WWII Posters

2009-02-02T19:52:00.000-08:00

For more posters, go to:

http://www.speakupforamerica.com/

PHOTO OF THE DAY - January 23, 2009

2009-01-23T10:57:00.000-08:00

Frosting

PHOTO OF THE DAY - January 22, 2009

2009-01-22T13:31:00.000-08:00

Patchwork

PHOTO OF THE DAY - January 11, 2009

2009-01-11T20:40:00.000-08:00

Fire and Ice

Easy Come - Easy Go

2009-01-07T09:45:00.001-08:00

Welcome Guest

2009-01-05T12:07:00.001-08:00

So ... What do you plow your driveway with?

(This big guy showed up this morning about 9 AM. It was a welcome sight after another night of snow.)

Sunday Sundae

2009-01-03T20:57:00.000-08:00

A Series of pictures taken the last two days.

(CLICK any photo for a larger image)

Out The Window

Ya' Think Summer is Over?

Breaking Trail

Two Trees

Four Trees ... dah!

Barbecue Anyone?

(I actually BBQ'ed some great hamburgers tonight!)

Just Before Sunrise (-3 deg.F)

Nice Hill.

(Can you see the ananometer?)

Not much hot water production this morning.

Sun Power.

(Because solar modules produce MORE power the colder they are, power output can be GREATER than in the sunny summer.)

Field of Dreams

2009

2008-12-31T22:44:00.000-08:00

WORK ... Like you don't need the job

LOVE ... Like you never lost

DANCE ... Like no one is looking

Anon

PHOTO OF THE DAY - December 30, 2008

2008-12-30T12:39:00.001-08:00

Polar Bear On The Palouse ... ?

Or Is It A Wooly-Mammoth?

PHOTO OF THE DAY - December 29, 2008

2008-12-29T11:52:00.000-08:00

Partridges In A Pear Tree?

Well, maybe not ... But how about

Seven Chinese Pheasants In A Scrub Tree

(CLICK photo for a larger image)

Christmas Eve

2008-12-24T21:55:00.001-08:00

It's Snowing Outside

Quiet Flakes Tumble Down

Inside It's a "Christmas Eve Feeling"

Country Christmas Music Playing

Reminds Me Of How It Used To Be

In Times Past:

When Parents Read "It's A Night Before Christmas" To Us

Next To The Tree

With The Fireplace Glowing

(What Could Be In Those Packages?)

----

Never Again, I Guess, Not That Way, Anyway

We Build A New Image

Different, But Warm And Solid

One That Lives On

----

For A Few Days We Forget About The Chaos Not Far Away

Can't Help But Think About How Lucky We Are

And Can't Help But Think About Those That Struggle

Help If You Can

Oh, The Weather Outside Is Frightful ....

2008-12-20T15:39:00.000-08:00

... But Actually A Bit Delightful

(Zero Degrees, but very beautiful)

PHOTO OF THE DAY - December 13, 2008

2008-12-14T10:22:00.000-08:00

First Snow, here too ... For The Record!

PHOTO OF THE DAY - December 7, 2008

2008-12-07T18:45:00.000-08:00

Fog Rolls In

PHOTO OF THE DAY - December 6, 2008

2008-12-06T21:13:00.000-08:00

Day's Work Is Done

PHOTO OF THE DAY - October 3, 2008

2008-10-03T16:25:00.000-07:00

FIRST CROP

RJR Winery

9/11/2008

2008-09-11T10:42:00.000-07:00

Lest We Forget

PHOTO OF THE DAY - September 6, 2008

2008-09-06T21:43:00.000-07:00

BREAD MAKING: Step One

PHOTO OF THE DAY - August 16, 2008

2008-08-16T21:21:00.000-07:00

Quail Family out for a stroll

R J Ranch, August 14, 2008

CLICK photo for a larger image

(See: www.SpeakUpForAmerica.com for "The Rest of The Story.")

PHOTO OF THE DAY - August 9, 2008

2008-08-09T18:43:00.001-07:00

'tunia

PHOTO OF THE DAY - August 5, 2008

2008-08-06T00:17:00.000-07:00

Palouse Orchids

(CLICK photo for a larger image)

CBS News Sunday Morning

2008-08-03T22:31:00.000-07:00

Back around 1998, when I was living in Gig Harbor, WA, my friend George S. introduced me to the TV program, "CBS News Sunday Morning." It comes on every Sunday morning (dah!) at either 6:00AM or 7:00AM, depending if it's daylight savings time, or not.

It is a good show and I've been watching it pretty faithfully ever since then. (SIDEBAR: Once in awhile, early on, George would phone me at 7:00AM, Sunday morning to remind me to tune-in. Well, as a single guy, at that time, I wasn't always receptive to the early Sunday morning phone call to remind me to turn on the TV ... but I still love 'ya, George!)

Now, we "TIVO" the show. Our typical Sunday routine is to get the coffee going and maybe a danish or cinnamon toast and prop up in bed, with Panda (The "Princess" dog) and watch the show.

This morning they had a segment on Steve Winwood, the legendary rock & roll musician. It described his estate in England and the beautiful gardens. As I watched a TV tour through his grounds, I glanced out our bedroom window and saw the scene pictured below. I couldn't help but think: The Palouse ain't all that bad, either!

( CLICK the photo for a larger image)

PHOTO OF THE DAY - July 29, 2008

2008-07-29T19:59:00.000-07:00

Early Morning Greeting

It's been a long time since I posted a sunrise photo, but this one deserves a showing.
* RJ Ranch July 29, 2008; 5:55am *

(CLICK photo for a larger image)

PHOTO OF THE DAY - July 8, 2008

2008-07-08T19:50:00.000-07:00

"Gassing Up" at the R J Ranch "Gas Station."

PHOTO OF THE DAY - June 28, 2008

2008-06-28T20:55:00.000-07:00

Alfalfa

PHOTO OF THE DAY - June 9, 2008

2008-06-09T19:59:00.001-07:00

Wise Guys

Sitting on the concrete wall behind the barn was this trio of owls. Beautiful birds!

(CLICK a photo for a larger image)

Father & Daughter

2008-06-01T08:18:00.001-07:00

The Fruit Doesn't Fall Too Far From The Tree!

PHOTO OF THE DAY - May 27, 2008

2008-05-27T19:44:00.000-07:00

A River Runs Through It.

(Union Flat Creek flowing through the RJR Ranch.)

Memorial Day 2008

2008-05-26T20:40:00.001-07:00

Flags Above The RJR Ranch

Trip to the Moscow Farmer's Market

2008-05-24T18:24:00.000-07:00

Moscow Farmers' Market Trip May 24 2008

Panda's first trip in a crowd. ("Is that person going to eat me?"

Even in a very liberal college town, some people really do appreciate the effort that our military and other's make to keep our country free. THANK YOU!

Switches ON

2008-05-19T17:31:00.000-07:00

This morning we switched the solar PV (photovoltaic) system ON. Under the standard conditions it will generate 2.5 kilowatts (kW) of power per hour.

As of 5:00pm, we have generated over 11 kW of power, even though it was turned on later in the morning and we had a partly cloudy/hazy day.

In perspective, this morning, I drove my electric VW to Pullman and back with a few shopping excursions. (23 miles, total) It took 8.5 kW of electricity to recharge the car. Bottom line: I totally recharged my car using the sun ... and I had power left over to sell back to the power company.

Here's how it works:

* Plug my car into the power grid and pay $.053 per kW/hour. Cost to charge car: $.45

* Generate 11kW of power and sell to power company @ $.15 per kW/hour. Get paid $1.65

** RESULTS: Twenty-three FREE miles of travel and made $1.20 profit, to boot!

(My gas car probably would gave burned up about one $4.00 gallon of gas!)

In a day, or so, watch the system performance at: http://rjrenergy.blogspot.com

Switches in STANDBY

2008-03-10T15:08:00.000-07:00

March 10, 2008

2,080 watts of solar power installed and ready for final hookup and pumping into the Northwest Power Grid.

PHOTO OF THE DAY - February 26, 2008

2008-02-26T14:09:00.000-08:00

Northwest Flower & Garden Show

Seattle, WA

Feb 24, 2008

We all went to the flower show (Bryan, Addi, Lyla, Roger & Jacquie) this last Sunday. Lyla wore her "Halloween" costume, which was an outfit that made her look like a flower. It was a solid "HIT" at the show. People were stumbling all over each other to get a photo of her.

Soon a man appeared and introduced himself as the "Show Director." He asked Addi to send him a couple of the pictures for possible use next year in the show promo's. She's a "Star" and only ten months old ... in fact, Sunday was her ten month birthday.

PHOTO'S OF THE DAY: February 20, 2008

2008-02-21T16:31:00.000-08:00

We had a good view of the total eclipse of the moon, last night. At the last minute, I set up one of my web cams that had a very long lens on it. (About 1000 m.m.) It made for interesting pictures. (The lack of clarity is due, in part, to the low resolution of the web cam, and at times, thin passing clouds.) The moon was virtually blacked-out in the last two shots.

PHOTO OF THE DAY: February 2, 2008

2008-02-02T16:32:00.000-08:00

UN-SNOWED IN

Last night, our neighbor, Gerald Henson, showed up with a backhoe and dug a path to the county road. He was rewarded with a bag of fresh chocolate chip cookies.

This morning we ventured to town for the first time since Monday. This is the view we had approaching Wawawai Road.

(More snow forecast for tonight!)

PHOTO OF THE DAY: January 29, 2008

2008-01-29T11:19:00.000-08:00

SNOWED IN

They are called it "The Storm Of The Decade." I believe it!

Up until today, I have been able to keep our access road open using my John Deere lawn tractor fitted with a snow plow blade. No more! In places the snow has drifted higher than the top of the tractor tires!

So, until it either melts or the county plows our road - that may be several days - we're "home bodies." The forecast is for MORE snow during the next few days.

Where is global warming, when you need it! (Interesting note: A German scientist said a month ago, "Better stock up on warm clothing because we're facing - Global COOLING!")

From The Archives

2008-01-20T16:17:00.000-08:00

This is a photo that was taken by my late brother, Scott. He really captured the action of early drag racing.

I believe this photo was taken in Deer Park, WA, when they held "semi-organized" drag racing events on the Deer Park airport runway. The photo is undated, but I believe it was taken in the late '50's.

THOUGHT OF THE DAY - January 11, 2008

2008-01-12T07:51:00.001-08:00

PHOTO OF THE DAY - January 10, 2008

2008-01-10T19:55:00.000-08:00

(From the archives)

It's Somebody's Birthday Today

PHOTO OF THE DAY - January 8, 2008

2008-01-08T20:28:00.000-08:00

Blue Sky - White Snow

(CLICK photo for a larger image)

PHOTO OF THE DAY: January 6, 2008

2008-01-06T19:20:00.001-08:00

It snowed again last night.

(CLICK photo for a larger image.)

My Funny Little Christmas Eve Story

2007-12-24T20:12:00.000-08:00

When I was growing up, our family usually had their Christmas gift opening on Christmas Eve. The reason for this was we all got up on Christmas morning and drove the fifty miles out to my Grandparents ranch, north of Spokane. It was a really fun time, with all the relatives there, more presents, a big meal and lots of music.

The usual routine on Christmas Eve was for our Grandma Nana to come over, as she lived in Spokane, and after dinner the “Real Santa” would knock on the door and bring in a big bag of gifts for us kids, Scott, Carol and myself. He would hand out the gifts and admonish us not to open them up until our Dad had returned “from a last minute trip to the grocery store.” Sure enough, Dad shortly returned, having regretfully missed Santa, and we opened up the delivered presents.

As the oldest child in the family, I discovered before my younger siblings that the whole “grocery store” story was a hoax and it was really Dad that delivered the gifts on Christmas Eve. With this knowledge and a keen eye, I also discovered the “fake Santa suit” hidden in the basement.

From that point on, I pestered my Dad to let me play Santa on Christmas Eve … I wanted part of the fun, too! I think I was about ten or twelve years old when Dad finally okayed the deal and told me that I could dress up in the Santa Suit and deliver the gifts. Boy was I excited.

So, this Christmas Eve, we concocted the story that Roger had to make a last minute trip to a neighbor’s house to deliver “something.” Both Carol and Scott bought the story.

This year my big Christmas desire was for a vise! Yes, a vise … something that bolts to a workbench and holds things in place while being worked on. At this point in my life, I was an real tinkerer. (Come to think about it … I still am.) I spent hours and hours in my little workshop in the basement “inventing” things, so a real vise was an exceptionally valued gift to me.

On this particular year, after dinner on Christmas Eve, everyone was gathered, the “Roger errand story” was disseminated and little Santa was in the basement getting all dressed up, complete with a couple of pillows stuffed into the Santa Suit.

Dad gave me the Santa sack, with all the gifts in it … it seemed awfully heavy! I dragged it through the snow to the front door, rang the doorbell and “Ho-ho-ho’ed” my way into the living room. I can remember the wide-eyed look on Scott and Carol’s face … as they stared into the face of Santa! The ruse was absolutely perfect! (Or so it seemed to me!)

Carol or Scott said maybe we better wait for Roger to get back, but Dad assured them that he would be back shortly and we could just put his gifts aside, in case he got back after Santa left.

The gift handing out went quickly, as they were not being opened right them, but held until later. Toward the bottom of Santa’s sack was an awfully heavy package … real heavy. The tag read, “To Roger, from Santa.” No wonder the bag was so heavy! This was my vise! For me! I was so excited about my heavy package that I almost forgot about caring anymore about the rest of the gifts in the bag, I virtually tossed them out! I couldn't get out of the house and back into the basement fast enough! The suit came off in a rush and into a pile and I rushed back upstairs, “just back from my errand.” Breathlessly, I asked if I had missed Santa. I sensed that both Carol and Scott had figured out that things were not as them appeared. Many years later, Carol told me that “she knew all along” that it was me. Maybe she did - maybe she didn’t - I’m not betting either way.

That was the last year for Santa to deliver gifts in person on Christmas Eve. My Dad later told me that the old family Santa Suit was passed on to family friends with younger children. It was sure fun while it lasted!

Oh yes … it was a vise. Unlikely as it may seem, that vise was one of the most cherished Christmas presents I ever received. Oh, the stories that vise could tell: Sometime I’ll tell you about the gunpowder I made in my little basement workshop. In case I forget, ask me what happened when my Mom found the jar of gray powder in my shop and tossed it into the house heating furnace!

PHOTO OF THE DAY: December 24, 2007

2007-12-24T15:16:00.000-08:00

See -> http://rjranch.blogspot.com

PHOTO OF THE DAY: December 23, 2007

2007-12-23T18:10:00.001-08:00

Angel With A Broken Wing

For years and years my dad had two small WWII 50-cal. ammunition boxes stuck back in his stored "stuff." A long time ago, I looked into one of the boxes and it was full of ammo that he used for hunting. I had assumed that the other box also contained ammo. I never looked into the second box, until last week when I was arranging some thing in the barn. What a surprise! In that old ammo box was mom's long missing, but not forgotten, Nativity Scene pieces!

When we were kids growing up in Spokane, at Christmas, my mom always set up the Nativity Scene that she said had belonged to her grandmother. As kids, we really never paid much attention to it, but we knew it meant a lot to her. The last time I remember seeing it was when we lived on Wellington Place. I don't ever remember seeing it again in later years. I once asked my dad if he knew what ever happened to all the old Christmas decorations. He told me he didn't ... and I don't think he really did.

On close examination, each piece is beautifully hand-carved wood. One of the Shepard's is missing his staff and Mary is missing a hand. As I remember, there was once a shelter and a star. Those are missing, too.

The little angel has a wing broken off, but luckily, it was still in the wrapping and will be repaired after Christmas. I couldn't help but wonder if the little angel damaged her wing while trying to escape the metal ammo box. Maybe she somehow sensed the urgent need, in these later years, for her wise help and consolation.

I guess we'll never know: All I can do for her is repair the wing and restore the slightly tarnished beauty of my mother's cherished Nativity Scene.

(

PHOTO OF THE DAY - December 21, 2007

2007-12-21T20:43:00.000-08:00

Latest Example of Energy Efficient Vehicles.

(Will this soon be available through Wal-Mart?)

PHOTO OF THE DAY: December 11, 2007

2007-12-11T20:36:00.001-08:00

Lighted trees, in the snow, in front of our house.

(CLICK photo for a larger image)

COMMENT OF THE DAY

2007-12-10T18:25:00.000-08:00

December 10,2007

I thought I saw a black helicopter fly over last night. I am sure I saw the words "VOTE FOR RON PAUL" on the side.

Can that be true?

PHOTO OF THE DAY - December 9, 2007

2007-12-09T20:53:00.000-08:00

(See: http://rjranch.blogspot.com )

PHOTO OF THE DAY: December 8, 2007

2007-12-08T17:47:00.000-08:00

PEACEFUL VALLEY

Early morning fog

(CLICK photo for a larger image)

PHOTO OF THE DAY: November 19, 2007

2007-11-19T08:24:00.000-08:00

First Snow

PHOTO OF THE DAY: November 13, 2007

2007-11-13T19:35:00.000-08:00

NELLIS AIR FORCE BASE AIRSHOW
November 2007

Sigh ... If money were no object!

This is a Lockheed F-104 "StarFighter." Although it first entered service for the US Air Force in 1956, it is still being flown by a few foreign countries. (The USAF stopped flying it over 20 years ago.) From the F-104, Lockheed substantially modified it for high altitude flying and renamed it the U-2. (Remember the spy plane: U-2?)

When originally built, it was called "The Missle With A Man In It," because it was actually faster than a shell fired from a battleship! The speed is over Mach 2.5 and, in fact, is the still the fastest ever flown by an aircraft at low altitude. At high altitude, only the SR-71 was faster. If the wings look stubby, it's because they are only 7' long! Landing speed is around 200 knots!

The aircraft in the photo is probably the only privately owned F-104.

PHOTO OF THE DAY: November 5, 2007

2007-11-05T09:22:00.000-08:00

What is this all about?

I'm starting a new business in solar/alternative energy. Behind the R J Ranch house is a steep hill. Yesterday we placed an anemometer on a twenty foot mast on top of the hill to start recording wind velocities in order to determine if a windpower generator is practical for this location. We need at least a seven MPH yearly average to make it economically feasible.

DATELINE: October 22, 2007

2007-10-22T21:44:00.000-07:00

So ... What did YOU do on YOUR birthday?

(Guemes Island, WA, 10/22/2007)

"It ain't all work"