My Turn

Hey Uncle Jon Jon, it was 71 degrees up here in Missouri Tuesday, YEAH!
All this talk of Papa going to Florida is for the birds. I think its my turn to go south for the winter. (it's really cold up here today, 22 degrees). Papa got to go over the summer and then he got to go to Indiana last week. So now its my turn to go somewhere.
So if I go to Florida, can we stay with you Uncle Jon Jon? or maybe with Uncle Ed? hey Uncle Bob, can we crash at your place? That way the trip will only cost Papa fuel and food. ;)

I would be real good and you wouldn't even know I was there, until I begged you to take me to Disney World and Sea World, see I would be real good.
So no more talk of racing cars, we must first talk of my sand, surf, and sun time.

Did you know today is Grandma's birthday, she says she is only 49! that means she had mom when she was only 16!!! For some reason I don't think thats the truth. But we will never tell her that we believe any different. Happy Birthday Grandma!!

One more thing, I found this really cool picture of Grandma and Papa. I think it's my favorite so far. Hope you enjoy.

I hope you all have a Happy New Year and a great 2009.

See ya soon, (hopefully)
Celebrate Life

Little Princess

I fold..................

In my last blog I talked about setting up a race car and traveling to Tampa to race against BBB and his Deere Race Car. I would employ the Bus, the Jeep, the Long Roof and Barngoddess to make this come to pass.

Since that blog:

BBB has come out talking about buying another race car.........

and the

the JEEP let me down hard by stating:

"First off....there is no way I can afford to get into a race war with the Deere racing team...........just can't afford to race with the big dogs so I'm gonna stay on the porch for this one."

it was even harder for me when

the Ole Long Roof chimed in

"By the way, if there was a way to hang that thing from the ceiling, I would. I am out of wall space!!"


AND THEN BBB SHOWED US WHO THE REST OF PACK WOULD BE



And finally, BBB lets the truth out of the bag concerning the Jeep and the Long Roof


Jeep, you and Long Roof are part of the Lee Brother's John Deere Racing Team.

Guys how could you????? And I was going to pay with more lites and more Humphrey water than BBB......................

Where is the Bus? Are you and the Barngoddess still with me???????

aaaaaaaaaaaauuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuugggggggggggggggggggg!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

A racing we will go

So I have been trying to get a reason to go to Tampa Florida for some time, in fact trying to determine why I needed to go to Tampa at all.

BUT I FOUND A REASON TO GO.

Get the Barngoddess to go in with me on this car.



or this one:



Get the Bus to repaint to the 48 car colors.



Get the Long Roof to drive up here and haul it back in his ole long roof, of course paint the Long Roof to the Lowe's colors.



Get the Jeep to run his mechanics over it to ensure it is race ready.



Head for Tampa for the races.



Of course we will have to find a Lowe's riding lawn mower and a trailer to haul it with. Painted to the Lowe's colors of course.

Horse-farmer could buy a longer trailer and haul the Lil Bronc and the Bus's Jeep down so all could play in the sand with the Jeep and the Kid.

And we could race BBB and his green Deere car all around the cul-de-sac.



Have fun, and CELEBRATE LIFE

The Pair

The pair that doubled down and got the Bus to fold.



Jeep, this is the part that is worn out that I was trying to explain to you on the phone this afternoon. By the way, when you hung up the wind stopped and temp outside was comfortable.




Hey the Barngoddess told me I forgot a portion of the trip, so I include it here.

On the way home, everytime we stopped people would ask about it. At one stop I was standing next to the Big Lil Mule filling it up with diesel and a guy walks over and asks "Is it yours?" Here's your sign. He had one and got his pictures out to show me.
When we stopped at Lebanon MO for fuel a guy asked what year it was. Said he saw it at Denny's on Bowles Road but didn't know who the drivers were.

So there, that finishes the trip ..........

tom

The Bronco Run

1,453 miles in 3 days

3 Hwy Patrol Cars seen on the road

4 Police Cars seen in private driveways

0 Accidents

0 Speeding Tickets

5 minute delay crossing bride in St Louis

2 1/2 hours waiting for seats to not show up

2 lots of old Tractors, really old

2 lots of old cars and trucks

And that summarizes the Bronco Run.

Now the fun part.

DAY ONE

Got a late start Christmas Day and was that day perfect for the trip

"Across the diocese" (famous quote by the Gentleman Farmer). It is amazing how easy the trip from the Queen City to Poplar Bluff is nowadays. 4 lane divided almost the whole way. And where 60 hwy isn't divided, it is under construction to be divided, probably finished by the summer of 09.

Just for the Long Roof --

Now the Long Roof Fan wanted me to stop and take some pictures of a bunch of ole cars that were on the north side of 60 between Mansfield and Cabool. We never saw what he was taking about. Of course I remembered as we headed east out of Willow Springs that the crazy Long Roof seldom drove divided highways, so he was probably on old 60 hwy and thus we wouldn't have seen what he was taking about, as we were east bound and down, loaded up and trucking, long way to go and a short time to get there, east bound just let this trucker roll.

Anyway by the time we hit PB, we were tired of the 4 lane and opted for Hwy 53 south to Kennett and then east to Carutherville. Has been a long long time since I have been to Kennett and southbound we went.

Now 8 miles west of Hayti we came across this interesting site on the south side of the road.

Quickstop, backup, and take picture time.

So Long Roof this is for you: Cadillac hearst, Ford Ambulance, Old Chevy truck, old ford trucks, and 3 big guard dogs, concertina wire on top of chain link fence.

I like this wagon, but Barngoddess said I got a Bronc and can't have it.


Mud too deep to get closer, but that is a Caddy ambulance back there


Got this one for the Bus


So on we went to Dyersburg TN. Went south and located the place we need to be tomorrow at 8 am to pick up the seats, back to Dyersburg for a Hotel. Holiday Inn express, at check in, was told the pool was closed and the hot tub wasn't working. Guess what, we didn't check in there, went down the Road to an Executive Inn, half the price of the HI Express too.

So here it is late Christmas afternoon, and time for some supper. Guess what ain't open in Dyersburg on Christmas Day. Restaurants. Yep, seems the Barngoddess and I had this same problem last Christmas Day in Columbia MO. Everything closed, even McDs, Burger King, Taco Bell. In Columbia MO last year we found a Chinese Restaurant open and had Christmas meal there. Kind of comical, yeah, and guess what was open in Dyersburg ??? Chinese Restaurant. So we have started a tradition here or what ???????????

Anyway to the motel, relaxed, good night sleep and Day Two started at 7 am.

DAY TWO

WE arrive at the place to pick up the seats a little before 8am. Now the seats were supposed to be delivered by 7 am. Guess what?? NO SEATS.....
did get a pic of this for future use:

As the seats weren't there we headed back towards Dyersburg and stopped at
'MARY LOU'S AIRPORT CAFE' for some breakfast. It looked like a Mom and Pop operation and with the name Mary Lou's it couldn't be all that bad. Forgot to take pic of the outside. Anyway, Mary Lou is about 5 ft tall and 90 lbs soaking wet, but she sure put together a great breakfast. The tables are covered with a glass top and under the glass are all kinds of stories, pictures etc. Seemed she has been hit by a tornado, had a fire, served twenty Secret Service guys when Gore came visiting one day, and on and on.

So with our bellys full, we headed back to the Seat Pick up spot. Still no seats. JR (no one in TN has a name, it's all J.R., Tiny, Little John, etc), anyway JR, calls the guy who has the seats. Well he gave them to another guy who I couldn't miss when he showed up, he drives a one ton dually and weighs about 400 pounds, His name? TINY
So we wait, Barngoddess catches me napping and takes picture, but it won't download here for some reason, I must have been snoring too loud.

Well long story short, Tiny will be there in 30 minutes. So we wait.
JR is a chevy man, all kinds of Chevys, even has a cherry 74 Chevelle SS, 454, 4 on the floor, sleeper. So we wait, 30 minutes turns into 60 minutes, turns into 90 minutes. At 10:30, TINY is still 30 minutes out.
Guess what?? we left and headed for Shelbyville KY. Now we had to be in Louisville no later than 5 pm to pick up a trailer before the place closed. It's a 5 hour run, and somewhere in there, they change the time zone to Eastern Time.

Here we go again, east bound and down, doing something like 75 to make up time.
We realized that the 4 lane we were on is just like the 4 lane I posted above.
Now for Christmas my daughter gave me the CD of Alice's Restaurant. Popped it in the player when we were in the middle of no-where and could pick up a radio station.
Had a ball listing to the full 18 minutes and 20 seconds of it. Been a long time, and we laughed heartily.
You can get anything you want at Alice's Restaurant. Walk right in, it's around the back, just a half a mile from the railroad track....... and on and on.

Anyway 4 1/2 hours later we are in Louisville loading up the trailer. For once in my life I actually said what I wanted to say to someone. The guy handling my trailer rental was gruff and seemed cranky. So I flat asked him "Are you always this way, and if you are, I want someone else to wait on me" Glad I did too, he changed his attitude and was at least tolerable. So we are off out of Louisville enroute to Wadde KY.
Met up with JJ (here we go again with the name thing), who turned out to be a really nice guy. The back seat for my Bronc was what he said it was, and he even brought along a heat box assembly. Guts weren't there, but that's ok. Now have a back seat for my Bronc, a heater assembly box, but no front seats. It was six pm when we
Left Wadde and headed for Batesville IN.
Now we had our choice, run back to Louisville, head north to Indianapolis, then east to Batesville. About 2 1/2 hours of 4 lane driving. OR 94 miles due north on US 421 cross Ohio river at Madison and continue north.
In all due respect to the Long roof, we took the 421 two lane highway route. Saw two great tractor places, had old John Deere poppers out front. Again, forgot about the camera on the seat next to me.
Arrive Batesville without incident. Barngoddess said she was glad it was dark on this trip or I would have been stopping every few miles to look at old trucks. I guess driving I wasn't able to sight see as much as she was.
Hot tub at Hampton Inn Batesville IN wasn't working........ just my luck. but the clerk, name of Jamie, called a Hampton 15 miles east and theirs was. Off we went.
Greenburg has a brand new Hampton Inn, we walked in and Ken behind the counter was in a SUIT. Treated like high class executives, and rate was lower than the other places. Hot tub was perfect ending to long frustrating day.
I called Ryan and said we'd meet him about 9 in the morning.

DAY THREE
I rolled over and looked at the alarm clock, my watch, the alarm clock, my watch and suddenly realized we were on eastern time, 1 hour ahead of my watch time. It was 9:15 am. Quick jump up, call Ryan explain time thing, downstairs for coffee and a hot breakfast (not as good as Mary Lou's, but good for a motel). Ryan's place is in the country, and we found it with only one wrong turn. The Barngoddess's eyes lit up as she saw "HER BRONC" for the first time. I knew we were going to buy it, but went thru the formalities of driving it, inspecting it, looking it over, all that stuff.
So we paid Ryan, he signed the papers and we proceeded to load "HER BRONC" on the trailer.


Now I was glad I brought along my chains and chain boomers because the straps on the trailer wouldn't go around the front wheels to hold "HER BRONC" on the trailer. So twenty minutes of chaining and rechaining and we were ready to go. Barngoddess was trilled as we headed for home with Her Bronc on the back.



Our plans were to pick up US 40 at the Indiania/Illinois line and travel it to St Louis, getting off the 4 lane and see some of the country. But a phone call to the Bus and our daughter told us of the severe weather front that was headed our way. Long roof, we stayed on the 4 lane and glad we did.

Now I am 58 years old and am not too demanding, kind of easy going and tolerant of a lot. Not today. We stopped at 2 PILOT Truck Stops for fuel. at both places, the girls behind the counter were rude and curt, barking at me. Well, I will never stop at a Pilot Truck Stop again. At the second one, I couldn't get the girl to understand that I wanted to fill my truck with deisel and it would cost anywhere from 50 to 70 dollars. Pilot's are all prepay now. She wouldn't put $70 on my credit card because I might not use that much. But she would put $40 and if I needed more I could come back in and add more.
Here's where logic went out the window. I asked the girl what happened if I didn't use all $40 in filling up. Her curt reply was for me to come back in and get a refund on my card. I asked her what the difference was between putting $40 on my card and getting a refund and putting $70 on my card............ she was lost somewhere because she couldn't understand what I was saying.
So Pilot Truck Stops, you have lost my business.

Anyway we are entering Illinois and the radio starts blaring weather alerts from the National Weather Service in Lincoln. We didn't need the alerts because we were looking at the weather..... Barngoddess took a couple pics
should we be nervous???

maybe we should now be nervous????

definitely getting nervous now?????


I have always told my family members, that when I am driving you don't have to start worrying unless I say "Ah shit". And in my years of driving, I've only said that twice that I can remember.
Once, traveling to Florida, along Hwy 60 east of Willow Springs at 2:30 in the morning, I was pulling our 5th wheel travel trailer and as I topped a hill and headed down the road was filled with deer, probably about 10 of them standing in my lane. Went into the oncoming lane and drove right between them.
Second, driving ambulance, red light and siren to roll-over car wreck, car in creek with people trapped, snowing to beat the band, started up a hill and bolance went sideways, well
I didn't say AH SHIT on this trip, but almost did.

When we hit the front, I was down to 40 mph flashers on, everyone following me, including big trucks. I haven't been in wind and rain so hard since being in a hurricane. for forty minutes, 40 heart throbbing gut renching minutes, we drove thru wind and rain so hard I new Her Bronc was going to get blown off the trailer. I thought of stopping, but didn't know how long the front was going to stay so kept on going. Fought a stong headwind the rest of the way into St Louie.

Finally got out of the heavy gully washer, toad strangler rain and for the rest of the trip to St Louie we were in rain. Glad I stopped at that Wally world in Indiania and got new wiper blades for the Big Little Mule.
Crossed the bridge in downtown St Louie and picked up I44 and we knew we were home.
Stopped at Bowles Road and had chicken noodle soup at Dennys.

Here we go again with the "Brains" of some of the people in this world. I asked the manager if he knew what exit number we were at. "I don't know, it's bowles road". Ok maybe he is new to the area. The waitress brings our soup. I guess I'm supposed to eat it with a fork. Had to ask for a soup spoon. So she brings us spoons after taking the order for the couple in the booth across the room. Where are the dinner rolls that come with the soup???? Oh yeah, be right back. 10 minutes later, almost done with the now cold soup, the dinner rolls show up. At least they were hot.
Needless to say, I filled out a comment card and mailed it to Denny's customer service address.
We were going to stop for the night at Drury Inn, but remembered the last time we stopped at the Bowles Road Drury and the hot tub and pool were full of kids, with the adults drinking Bud Lites from bottles in the pool and hot tub. All kinds of glasses around waiting to be dropped and broken and stepped on.
We looked at each other and simultaneously said "Let's go home" got us to laughing.
The Big Little Mule must have known we were homeward bound on the last leg, cause it was running about 75 without a sweat. But fighting a strong headwind the whole way.

Fueled up at Sullivan, our favorite truck stop, the girl behind the counter was pleasant, friendly, and courteous. Good to be back on the road nearing the Ozarks.

We flew low from Sullivan to Marionville. Except going thru Republic and Billings. Locals in those two towns will ticket you for 2 mph over speed limit.
At 9:15 pm we arrived home. Always good to be home after being on the road.

This morning, a pic of the Big Little Mule and Her Bronc in our backyard.
Great to be home.


And that is the Bronco Run Saga.

Don't know how much fuel we used, but coming home with the headwind got about 8 to 10 mpg, without the headwind back in Indiania was getting 15 mpg. OH well.

So now it is time for the Little Princess, the Barngoddess and me to take Her Bronc off the trailer, and let the Barngoddess drive it around the farm trying it out.
Have fun and remember

Celebrate Life.

THE JEEP FIXED IT !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

So the Jeep comes to my rescue the sunday when the water pump went out on the Big Little Mule and left the Barngoddess1 stranded on US 60.

So the bill for the Jeep to fix it came to about $250 in parts, 24 cans of the light stuff made by a former St Louis owned brewery, untold amount of electricity to heat my garage. ok no big deal right


WRONG

yesterday the Shark's Angel took the Big Little Mule to the shop to get fixed.. she calls me on the phone at work and says Hey dad, it's only going to cost you $850 to get the truck fixed.

The jeep fixes my Big Little Mule, and the next day the dealer charges me $850 to fix it ...............

Is there something funny about this tale??????

Jeep, watch out traveling thru Memphis on Sat AM, I may have snowballs waiting for you.

So Santa Came and We Now Enjoy

So after talking to Bob, Jim, and John on the phone...... who knows where Joan is, Ed is at the out-laws so didn't bother those two.

So the Little Princess has been bouncing off the walls since I got home. All the gifts are wrapped and under the tree. Papa and NaNa are leaving tomorrow on their trip, so she wants to open gifts tonight.

After watching the evening news (weather of course), I turned the boob toob off and made the annual statement that illicits squeels of delight in every little girls voice. "Let's open the presents".

Now that takes precedence over everything and we soon had the big coffee table that the Long Roof Fan delivered to us from Florida in his Truckster wantabe (check it out here) http://oleragtop.blogspot.com/2008_06_01_archive.html
and we commenced to opening gifts.

Now to digress a little. When the Little Princess's mom was her age, I was on submarine duty and seemed to never be home for Christmas or her birthday. So we would have the tree up at all different times of the year. In Hawaii one year we left it up all year (went over cool at Hallowean). So we never waited till the day to open gifts. Open them as soon as they were wrapped and under the tree for two days.

So for the past two weeks, Shark's Angel and Little Princess have been trying to get me to utter those famous words "Let's open the presents". But I stood my ground this year. No opening under Christmas Day. Yeah.

With the upcoming Bronco Run that the Barngoddess1 and I are taking, we leave Christmas Day for 4 days, I finally relented and we opened gifts tonight.

I got a new pair of carhart bibber insulated overalls. My old ones saw the end of their life expectancy about 4 years ago. Barngoddess1 got a new carhart jacket with hood to wear over her bibbers. Shark's Angel got some really neat stuff that granddaughters give to mothers (earrings, etc), AND the little Princess got a couple shirts and sweat shirts that say "The Princess" on them. Plus all the other stuff.

The best gift goes to the Barngoddess1. Her birthday is 12/31 so growing up Christmas and Birthday were too close together. Anyway, every year I get her something along the line of an Aunt Mary gift (check it out here
http://fredleo.com/fredblog/backgrounder

one year we were living in Hawaii: after 6 months of endless searching, I finally found a snow shovel (excellent Birthday gift).
another year it was a wheelbarrow, another time... well you get the drift.....

So this year I buy her a 1966 Ford Bronco. We travel to Wellington MO to pick it up and it is exactly what I want. So we get it at half the asking price and trailer it home. there are some major problems with it (no heater) large gap between windshield frame and door, front seats shot, back seat missing, shifter is too stiff.... no problem for me, just let me drive it.

Wrong. The Barngoddess1 tells me that she wants a TURN-KEY 1966 Bronco and she wants it before her Birthday...... Boy am I in trouble...

So the saga of the "Bronco Run" begins......

But first, the Bus and his private RN told me long ago that they take trips by the dollar. Take $500, travel away from home until you spend half of it. Turn around and come home. Interesting concept.
So the Barngoddess1 and I do it one step further. Let's take a trip out 8 hours, go another 8 hours the second day, and return home in 8 hours the third day.

Needless to say, the "Bronco Run" is a run to get parts for MY Bronco. It is also a run to pickup the 1966 Bronco she wants.

Now the trip will be detailed here, but rest assured it will involve about 20 some hours of driving, in a triangle fashion from Springfield MO. And will probably involve traveling in snow, rain, and anything else. We are taking the Big Little Mule and should enjoy the trip.

Who said life wasn't fun. More later.

Santa Comes Early, then it's on the road again

Santa comes tonight for the Little Princess and the Horse farmer.
Barngoddess1 has to wait till Saturday.

So tomorrow is Christmas Day, and the Barngoddess1 and I will, as Willie crones
"On the road again, just can't wait to get on the road again"

tuned with Jerry Lee Lewis rock
"east bound and down, loaded up and trucking, long way to go, but a short time to get there, eastbound just let us truckers roll"

tuned with Lee Marvin
"Where'm I going I don't know, when I'm leaving I ain't certain, all I know is I am on my way, got a dream boy, got a song, paint your wagon and come along"

I promise the Long Roof Fan that I will take pictures on this trip.
I also just read the weather reports, pictures maybe of piles of that white stuff.

To all our friends and acquantances, family and close family, may your Christmas and New Years be merry and calm, may your days be filled with happiness and all.

This year has been trying, yet encouraging. Next year will be even better.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year


See you all later.
Horse-farmer and the Barngoddess1

IT IS FINISHED

Thanks to the dilegent work of The Kid and the Long Roof, the Coup D'Chicken is now complete.

Here is proof. Thanks.



The Kid and the Little Princess put it up today and now it can honorably house our little hens.

Haven Lee Farm Automotive Repair Shop

Haven Lee Farm was coined by the Gentleman Farmer and is meant as

HEAVENLY Farm, so here are a few of the current properties:

Haven Lee Farm, Marionville, Missouri
Haven Lee 5 Acre Dream, Halltown, Missouri
Haven Lee Shade Tree Repair Shop #1, Bus Division, Springfield, MO.
Haven Lee Automotive Repair Shop #2, Marionville, MO
Haven Lee Farmette, Southern Division, Panama City, Florida
Haven Lee Automotive Repair Shop #3, Jeep Division, Ormond Beach, Fl.
Haven Lee Parking Lot Repair Shop, Long Roof Division, Ormond Beach, FL
Haven Lee Farm, Racing Division, Tampa Fl.


So the past two days have been trying..... oh so trying... without the OleLongRoof here to pick on, it just hasn't been that much fun........ YEAH>>>> that's what they make cell phones for, pick it up and blame John-John.

So when the Barngoddess and I decided to buy our present acreage, the Goddess told me how big the house and the stable were going to be. I got to determine the same for the garage and the haybarn, and I made the garage extra big. Why am I bringing this up???
Well over the past two days, our garage has turned into an automotive repair shop. My last blog talked about working on our Big Little Mule. Well today it was the Jeeps turn to use the shop to work on his big white mule as some electronic piece was not functioning as it should. Now the Kid came along with the Jeep and lasted about that long.....

Enjoy lunch, visiting, racing 4 wheelers for a while, using the 22 long rifle to target practice, and then head home with his Grandpa. Of course in the trip to unload a few rounds thru the long 22, the Jeep and the Kid had to stop and play with #9. John-John and BBB just for you, check out how many layers the Kid has on. LOL



So I look out to see how the Jeep, the Kid, and the Little Princess are doing at target practice, and got to laughing so hard I had tears in my eyes. Here are the 3 of them in the back field, and there are 3 big cows and 15 little cows standing around them trying to see what is going on. I forgot to tell the Kid the baby cows will follow you around wanting to be petted.

Our animals are always named "bacon, hamburger, steak, etc" BUT this time we had too many so we just started numbering them. Odly enough, of the twenty four calves we have had this year, guess what numbers have given us the most problem....... LOL yep.



The Jeep and I continued to work on his toy to no avail, it is still acting up. So since we didn't have a computer to tell us what was wrong with the Big White Mule, thus not being able to work on it, we did the next best thing.... we started working on my Little Bronc.

But to the Bus's chagrin, and to counter his statements of yesterday, notice the hood on my little bronc and the hood on the Jeep's big white mule.



Any way, spent about 60 minutes working and got the passenger door fixed so it closes correctly. By then he had to head to his out-laws as the Sun Goddess was calling.

Anyway, we are enjoying a bit of relaxation after two hard days of work. Talked with the Olelongroof tonight and he was soooo uncomfortable, sitting on the launai overlooking the lake, shorts and complaining it was only in the 70s ..... too bad he wasn't here to enjoy.

So the Barngoddess took a hard look at the little mule I brought home for her and decided she didn't want it... You can have it, fix it up and use it until the Little Princess turns 16.

The Barngoddess told me she was taking some of her money and I was going to drive her to Indianapolis (sp) to pick up the Little Blue Bronc she really wants. So here is a pick of her Little Blue Bronc that we will be heading off east to pick up.



Remember, CELEBRATE LIFE it's the only one you got.

BBB, Long Roof, #4, #5 and #10 enjoy the Christmas time and we'll see you on the flip side.

SUNDAY RAMBLINGS

OK, MY BROTHER HAS BEEN TELLING ME ALL ABOUT HIS OLERAGTOP.

I have searched high and low all over the internet looking for this BMW I325 convertible that he claims to have.
He even had the nerve to call me today bragging about driving down the highway with the roof down, wearing shorts and a tee shirt enjoying the sun. Now this wouldn't be so bad if it wasn't 15 degrees with a wind chill of 5 above here in of MO Land.

So today, the Jeep, Barngoddess1 and I travel to Strafford MO to look at a 66 Bronco that could possibly be a parts truck for the Barngoddess1's little mule.

We found that parts truck, and you would have to pay me $100 to take it off his hands. Rotted out isn't the word for it. But I digress......

The Jeep and Barngoddess1 finally found one of those oleragtops that Long Roof has been bragging about. We even found out who makes those rag tops.
Here is a picture we found that clearly shows who makes the car,thus my inablility to find it on the internet... look at the license plate for your answer.




And that is one of the things we saw today.

Here is another, Jeep pickup, not bad at 40 mph... the Jeep and the Bus both commented that the two rims in the bed were what they both needed.
Oh well.



Of course the big little mule of the family, being driven by the Barngoddess1, broke down along the highway. The Jeep came to the rescue and here he is in his glory, 14 degrees with a 15 mph wind out of the north.



Now to be honest, the Barngoddess was driving, but the waterpump froze up, causing the belt to break. Jeep and I come to the rescue and go to the local parts house for the correct parts and end up towing the Big Little Mule home with the Jeeps big white mule. Meanwhile the Bus is heading for Sam's club to get a couple heaters for my garage so we wouldn't be freezing trying to change the water pump out.

So the Bus and I worked hard yesterday digging fence posts with NO pictures being taken to prove we actually did it. Today there were plenty of pictures. Here is one of the Jeep and the Little Princess slaving over that big little mule's engine compartment.



Here is another of the Barngoddess deciding if the Jeep was following the correct procedure in changing the pump.




And there is more coming, but the Bus, Horse-farmer, Jeep, and the Barngoddess1 all decided that if the OleLongRoofFan had been here, none of these problems would have occurred and the boys would have her Bronc running smoothly.

So JOHN-JOHN, always blame it on that child who is farthest away, and BBB says he saw you flying south of him, so you are it............

And that's some of what happened today. More later, I'm cold and the chile is hot.

WHO'S GOT THE CAMERA

So today, I take Celebrate Life magnets to the local feed store to stock the area that the feed store set aside for us to sell them. Also brought some hay bales for her stock.

Then it is back to the haybarn to put the post holer on the Deere so we can head for the Bus's daughter's little homestead to put in a few posts for cross fencing her field.

You can view her blog here http://5acredream.blogspot.com/

Anyway off we go to Halltown, and like true Lee's the Barngoddess1 and I got half way there and realized we forgot the directions. On the phone and the Bus meets us in downtown Halltown and off we go.

So it is about 40 degrees with the wind out of the north and it's about 35 wind chill. No big deal, I dress for the weather. The Barngoddess1 sits in the front seat of the Bus's truck keeping warm. So no big deal, Sara tells me where she wants her fence, dig a few marks in the ground with my heal, and off I go drilling holes in her pasture.

I think we did 7 holes, maybe 6, but the whole ordeal lasted maybe 60 minutes. Longer to move the Deere and talk about where and what she wanted to do with the new fencing and set up, than to drill the holes.

A few minutes showing Daniel and Sara how to place the posts, pour in the concrete mix, add a little water, top it off with soil, even gave them my favorite ground tamper to use. Load the Deere on the trailer, and arrive home 3 hours after I left.

DID ANYONE HAVE A CAMERA DURING THIS WHOLE ORDEAL?

Yes the Bus had his, the Barngoddess1 sitting in the front seat keeping warm, except for a little time helping make decisions had one.

DID ANYONE GET A PICTURE TO SEND TO THE OLELONGROOF SO HE WOULD BE JEALOUS?

NO.........

I got to get some new hired help.

And then home and working on the Barngoddess1's little mule. Anxiously waiting the Jeeps' visit to help me decifer what has been done.

So Olelongroof, the Bus and I worked hard today, and not a pic to show for it.

Missed you and the Jeep though. Would BBB been here, we would have sat in the living room and talked about drilling those holes, and never got around to doing anything except making a big dent in those 24 lites......

Later.

Who's at fault???

+So today has been a fun filled day. Lots of phone calls, lots of fuel burned, lots of interesting information obtained, good visit with the Bus, the Jeep junkie, & the Olelongrooffan.

So I gots to thinking... why on earth did the Barngoddess1 let me spend the last few weeks (3 to be exact) covering the internet looking for that elusive 66 Bronco?
Here I was comfortably enjoying life as an old hippie.... wait, I am the last of the baby boomers..
I have a a super duty crew cab for a truck, a taurus for a car, a F-1 for a second truck, and a honda civic lx for the wife's runabout.
So why on earth did I throw that civic to the wind and get the Barngoddess1 a true "rundabout"?
AH, AH AHA AHA
It's the Oleragtop, AKA Olelongrooffan, and it's his fault.
Now to understand:
I had a 1951 Ford F-1 pickup. The Bus has an old yellow short bus and several other old trucks, the Jeepjunkie has an Excursion (super big Ford that carries a bunch) and BBB has a John Deere with a race car.
So the Bus sells the old bus, I sell the F-1 and everything is fine...............
Now along comes the Oleragtop who is not content enough to just be an oletagtop.
He has to go and find an "OLELONGROOF", and life begins all over again. Now the Bus did procur his bus again, but the Oleragtop was the instigator.
So John=John, ever it be told that you were the driving force behind the Bus, the Horsefarmer, BBB and the Jeep in geeting "Oletrucksandjeeps".
love ya

tom

TKS SIS

Well I finally have to publish that the Barngoddess1 has decided to spend her inheritance and boy did she go out in style.

Knowing that I turned 16 in 1966 made the choice simple. Find a 1966 Ford Bronco and buy it, then hold the keys over my head because I couldn't drive it cause it was hers...... LOL

So the Barngoddess1 and I have been Bronco searching since she decided the Cabin wasn't for her. Endless hours on Craigs List and Ebay and Auto Trader etc... get the drift.....

So today I call a guy in Wellington MO and spend 45 minutes talking to him. 45 minutes later the Barngoddess1 and I are enroute to Wellington MO to buy this 1966 Ford Bronco. Now of the 23,776 Broncos produced in 1966, this one turns out to be the 6,056 th one built (special thanks to Olelongrooffan for proving that info). So we arrive and buy this Bronco and head home.

Well, the Jeep Junkie, the Bus and the Olelongrooffan and I have phone conversations while the Barngoddess1 and I are enroute home. Couldn't figure out why I couldn't understand them until later the Barngoddess1 looks at the phone and the volume is at the lowest level. I ain't deaf, but I sure can't hear on a cell phone unless the volume is high.... oh well.

Here are some pics of the Barngoddess1 's newest addition to the family.

1966 Ford Bronco Wagon, 4X4, 302 HO mustang engine, auto tranny, and needs a new back window. Watch out Marionville.

If you look closely, HEY A CELEBRATE LIFE STICKER ALREADY




A brief stop on the way home to have the Bus take these pics and we arrived home to do the obvious... feed the cows, the horses, fill the water tanks, chase the chickens, let the dogs out, and then and only then get the new Bronco off the trailer and into the garage. The Barngoddess1 had her first adventure of sitting in the driver's seat... second words out of her beautiful mouth... we need new seats.

Take care and let me go to bed.

Jeep and Longroof here it is.

Horse farmer.

Life's decisions

So here I am wondering which of the following the Barngoddess1 is going to want for her Christmas present this year.

After all, I am famous for getting her things that she really needs

1984 - Mililani Hawaii took me 6 months but finally found a snow shovel on Hawaii

1993 - Republic Missouri got her a wheel barrel so she could landscape our new house

2008 - Marionville MO - a Bronco to run around in ??????????

So the stage is set, which one does she

a. want

b. going to get

1973 Bronco (all original)

1966 Bronco (hardtop and hard doors not shown)

Oh the decisions, the decisions us poor folks have to make.
Since she didn't buy the cabin, she is taking her money and getting what she wants, more power to her.

Pictures on Christmas will reveal her choice.

That time of year again.

Just think, another year is gone by and


BBB IS

ANOTHER


YEAR OLDER

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

Is it true he is over 60???????

Paybacks really are humorous at times

So here comes another weekend and I am ready to sleep in and not let any of the farm animals demand my time until after ten in the morning.

Sounds good, or like the Gentleman Farmer used to say
"TALKS GOOD, BUT DOESN'T LISTEN SO WELL".

So once again, I am up at the unheard of hour of 6 am, tending the critters.
Come back in and after three cups of coffee to warm up, decided that if I was up, then by golly so should my little brothers. Now I know that the Jeep probably works today, so I gave him benefit of the doubt and didn't wake him. But that Olelongroof needed a proding and I called him and chewed him out for not being awake. Of course all I got was his answering machine. But I felt pretty good about waking him up.

So about three hours later, the Olelongrooffan finally gets out of bed and calls me back. Now I have been pretty good about getting on his case when he doesn't blog everyday, and I am sure to let him know if it's more than two days since he posted. Well today he got me back..... phone call goes something like this:
Phone rings: I answer and hear the following "Why haven't you blogged this week?" end of phone call.......... lots of laughter and we visited for a while, then I decided to let him go because I haven't blogged all week.

Now I read everyones blog daily, sometimes if work is a tad slow, I jump on the net and see up the Bus is up to, or if 8th of 10 or the Numbers has anything interesting to say. So I follow about the 4th picture and what it means....
WELL I can't post the 4th picture in my pictures folder, If I did we would all be in jail...... LOL......... so here is the 4th 4th picture and a brief on it:




This was a couple summers ago, before the stagecoach came into our hands, and the Barngoddess1 and I were training our little horses to pull as a team. So one afternoon I made a mudboat (but that is a different tale). So flashback to the present and in the process of working the horses as a team, we use the mudboat.

This particular afternoon, the Little Princess decided that she was big enough to drive by herself. So to make the load a little heavier, and in the process, make the horses earn some of their keep, I put 4 square bales of alfalfa on the mudboat and let the Little Princess take the reins and drive.

She really did quite well, and I was pleased that she knew the basics of what she was doing. The horses did their job according to plan and we moved about 8 square bales this way.

So that is the 4th 4th picture in MyPictures folder.

So the 5th 4th picture was again of the Little Princess, this time driving the Super C (which by the way is her tractor, and when she is a little older, I will have it restored to original and she will take me to parades, tractor runs, etc, but again that is a different tale and will be told later). So the Little Princess is helping me put up fences (NOW THIS IS PRE-TORNADO #2) and she now wants to drive her tractor back to the barn. Why not???
So here she is driving HER TRACTOR



She did extremely well, and didn't run into anything. Bet you were waiting to see what she ran into............. LOL.

She stops the tractor by turning off the key. That was two years ago, pre-tornado # 1 and # 2 and # 3; the poor super C has riden out three tornados to this day, and now sits peacefully in a corner of the big barn waiting to be restored and once again show off out here at the farm.

And that's all I got to say about My Pictures. Well for the time being anyway.

Also today the Little Princess and I butchered three nice big roosters, didn't have a camera, but trying to catch them reminded me of the keystone cops. But after catching two and running around trying to corral the rest, we caught one and that was it. So now, three nice big chickens in the freezer.

So now I have to leave because tonight is "Christmas on the Square" here in Marionville, and the daughter and granddaughter have talked me into coming down and helping out. Steph has really become involved in the local activities and it makes me smile to know that she is being counted on.

Later all and have a good day.

John.... that is my post...
tom

OUR NEW KITCHEN ISLAND BAR

Well, it never seems to amaze me what I can get done when the Barngoddess1 is helping. I only did construction, and the Barngoddess1 did all the sanding, staining and poly urehaning. Of course the Little Princess was in there sanding away too. She did a great job helping.

Anyway, after spending most of the week laying around with foot on ice and elevated, I finally got the metal bar top holders in place and the bar is done.

Well, it's done, but the floor trim is still being crafted over at the Ozarks Workshop of Jim (not the Bus).

So the olelongroof fan is out looking all over the birthplace of speed for a 66 bronco for me, and I enjoyed our phone call as he walked the infield today.

Here is the pic of the bar, and the top.
Hope you enjoy it.



And this is the top, made of maple, the grain is exceptional.

THANKS TO ALL THOSE WHO SERVE

Just a simple ice sculpture that says it all. As a former firefight (27 years worth) it touched my heart and I wanted to share with all of you. Thanks to Sharksangel for sending it to me.






Thanks to all who have served, whether in the Armed Forces, Civilian Guard, Law Enforcement, Fire or EMS. Also to our Doctors and Nurses, especially those called away from their families on this Thanksgiving Day to nuture the sick and injured.

Have a beautiful day.

CELEBRATE LIFE

What I saw today (copyright OleRagTop)

So to give my bigger younger brother his due, I have taken the liberty of using his famous qoute "WHAT I SAW TODAY" in this feature.

If you are current, or nearly current on OleLongRoofFan's blog, you know he has this thing for old long roof vehicles. In fact he even owns a 1963 Ford Falcon Econline, one of the true long roofs. His ordeal of finding it, traveling to Texas fm Florida to pick it up, and trip home is definitely worth the reading. Not that it is in the quality of reading that "Hunt for Red October" or "Hansel and Gretto" but close.
LOL gottacha ......

So I left for work today after spending the last 4 1/2 days laid up with an ankle injury that won't go away, but that isn't the point. I traveled about 3/4 mile west of us and there on the left side of the road is this other master piece.

1964 Ford Falcon Econoline ...... Automatic, two bucket seats in front, back seat for two against the left wall behind driver. Even has CB radio.......
Motor rebuilt back in the 70s when the Ole Man got it. He used it for transportation. has rode out two tornadoes with no major damage. New battery, turn signals don't work, brake light has comedy, one works, the other doesn't. the other does and one doesn't. Put new battery in it and drove 6 miles RT to put gas in it. Runds a little rough, but may be due to it's been sitting for a number of years. Dad is now in Nursing Home and kids want to get rid of it.

I call Richard (the son) and his sister said to put it up for sale, he wasn't sure of the price but thought around $800 was right.




So Ole long roof fan, here is what I saw today.............................

Celebrate Life.

Fun Facts

Here's some facts out of a book I got for an early Cristmas. Papa could not stand not giving it to me. Oh man, I can't use the John F. Kennedy story of him getting shot, you probably already know it. Here they are.

Old beer names,
Old Knucklehead,
3 Stooges Beer,
Kill Ugly Radio,
Flying Frog Lager.

He Said She Said,
Carpe per diem-seize the check,
The only place success comes before work is in the dictionary.

A happily ever after only comes in fairy tales.

Love to all
Little Princess.

FARM SHOW BUY

A while back I posted that the Barngoddess1 and I had gone to the Farm Show at the local Fairgrounds and picked up a new toy.

Well it has been in use for the past month and I thought the Oleragtop would get a kick out of seeing just what the Barngoddess1 bought that day.

Of course when it is time to fill it, the Barngoddess1 hooks it up to my little mule

Now my little mule isn't the white 3 wheeler in front, or the white 4 wheeler in back, but the black truck everyone is using as a couch

and goes 5 miles to the grain bin and gets it filled again.
The Little Princess loves to get corn from here, as it means simply opening the chute and here it comes.

So that is what we bought when we posted way back then.

Celebrate Life

DID IT ALL START HERE??

At times when I am laid up for whatever reason....... this week it is the left ankle that let go and I have a watermelon for a foot, on crutches, bed rest with leg elevated, ice, etc. At least no breaks found.........

I try to get my office in order and in doing so usually find something interesting.

Yesterday was one of those days and I came across some old pictrures.

Now we all know that the Barngoddess1 and I are into horses and wagons and stagecoaches, parades shows and family days at the farm.

I often wondered where we got started, and it turns out that this old photo from December of 1964 could shed some light on it.

The bus is the blurred head to the left, Jeep Junkie in front and Oleragtop to the rear.

Looks like they want to help rob the stagecoach at the next parade.

I also found out how the Jeep Junkie became famous as that great mechanical genius. This picture has been posted before, but

I STILL HAVE A SUPER C IN MY HAY BARN THAT NEEDS MECHANICAL HELP.

Sometimes it is good to go way back to the early days, 1955, December to be exact, could be 12/11 - a birthday bash, or 12/25 - Christmas time

Here is one to cherish; The Bus, BBB, and the Horsefarmer, in their younger years.



And I hope to provide a bit of education today. Ozark style

If pro is the opposite of con, what is the opposite of progress? Congress

Water is composed of two gins, Oxygin and Hydrogen. Oxygen is pure gin, Hydrogin is gin and water.

And with all the bail outs and mergers, here are a few that will probably not happen:

Hale Business Systems, Mary Kay Cosmetics, Fuller Brush and WR Grace become:
Hale Mary Fuller Grace

Knott's Berry Farm and National Organization of Women??? Knott NOW

AND THAT'S WHAT I DID TODAY

CELEBRATE LIFE

FOR THE OLERAGTOP

Just for the Oleragtop to tow behind his olelongroof.

Go to Craig's List, Springfield MO and look under car and trucks for sale.
Picture would not transfer

1947 Teardrop Trailer - $3900 (verona)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Reply to: sale-923665453@craigslist.org [?]
Date: 2008-11-17, 11:10PM CST



This is an original 1947 Teardrop not a replicant. it is in good condition. This little cutie has an icebox, pantry(tiny) and a three burner propane stove. It is twelve foot long including a 2 foot tongue. It has fenders but one needs repair. The interior sleeps two and has an interior 12 volt light.There is clothing storage. we are not flexible on this price.This is rare and you dont see many.




Location: verona
it's NOT ok to contact this poster with services or other commercial interests
PostingID: 923665453


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

What Papa taught me

Computers and Printing Press
The printing press and the computer both printed words on paper. The printing press had type. Type is a metal block with numbers or letters on it. The printing press could only print one copy at a time. Computers can print as many copies as you like.
A printing press could take hours to print one copy of a newspaper. A computer can take a matter of minutes. The printing press made books less expensive. With the computer it made books even less expensive.
Johann Gutenberg built the first printing press. Konrad Zuse built the first programmed computer. Johann Gutenberg lived 1398-1468. The computer as said had a big impact on the world.
Computers help doctors diagnose illnesses. Computers help with homework. Computers even help deaf people read messages from a telephone call. Computers help with a lot of things.
The printing press could do none of that. All it would do was print things. The printing press did print the bible. When the printing press did print things it cost a lot of money.

I had to write this for my school homework. I asked my Papa what he knew about the printing press and he knew alot. My Papa's Daddy had one and my Papa told me how to use one. I learned all about type and how to make the words come out right. Papa told me that it took a long time to make one sheet of paper and that most of the people who used to be typesetters were people my age, and I am only 10! That must have been hard work.

Thank you Grandpa Lee for teaching my Papa all about printing presses.

Oh I got a 100% on this assignment. Yeah!

Love to all,

Little Princess