Wag'in Dog

While riding through the streets of Kingsport I saw this.... I just couldn't resist taking the picture. So here it is.

Kitty Cat

Sitting in the house, out of no where comes the sound of "Meow". I look for a cat, thinking that is under the house stuck. I find it out on the front porch. It takes a leap off the porch, running to
hide. It is a very small gray tabby. I put some chopped up ham on the front porch. It ate it... I think. So that night as I carry groceries in, I leave the door to the back porch open. Later while getting a late night snack, I hear a "meow". Kinda sounded troubled. I go out to the back porch to find this Kitty Cat. While out there the Kitty is quite. I go back in the house and I hear "meow meow". After play this game for 30 minutes, I turn the lights off....get a flashlight and the search is on. I found it and picked it up thinking that I was going to get scratched or bitten, it cuddles and acts like it wanted it's momma. I held it for a few minutes, took it out the front door, set it down, went to go get it some milk. The cat took off like it had been scared. I went around the house....no where to be found. I gave up. Monday morning, drove to work about 6 miles from home. I cut the engine off.
What did I hear? "Meow Meow" ! I said out loud," YOU HAVE GOT TO BE KIDDING!"
I don't have time to take it home. So I raised my hood and this is what I saw. To make this story short at the end, 2 friends of mine came over to my truck. Got the kitty out. It had shinged whiskers on the right side of its face, and some of the hair on it's back paw. Now he has a new home and a new name "Rascal". Last I heard of him, He was doing Great!

Holston Habitat House in Kingsport April 23-25

April 23, 2009
April 24, 2009
April 25, 2009 What a great view for doing dishes!

Boys from East Tennessee State University
Shingles heading up to the roof.
Hand mixed mud...
Putting on the Roof.

Holston Habitat House in Kingsport April 16-18

April 16th- Starting on the Walls
April 17th-Frame work on the walls almost complete.
April 18th-Carrying sheets of plywood for the walls
Nailing the sheeting on.
The Blue Blaze Fast Pitch Soft-ball Team brought snacks and water to the workers for their Break.

This is Kingsport's 1st Community Built Habitat House. Yes everyone gets involved including Girls Soft Ball Teams.

Holston Habitat House in Kingsport

April 10th -The Walls are done.
April 13th-Starting on the Floor Trusses.

April 15th-Floor Trusses are all in place.

Holston Habitat House in Kingsport

April 4th was the Ground Breaking Ceremony.
This is the Family that will live in the house when it is all finished.
Tommy Phillips, Peter Borg, Larry Childress, Vic Ring, and the Mayor of Kingsport- Dennis Phillips.
April 8th - Block ready to be cemented together.
April 9th - The block make nice foundation for the house.

Holston Habitat Housing

I was asked to photograph the progress of a local Habitat House. I took on the job with no hesitation. I am going to share some of the photos with you. It is so amazing how many it takes to build a house. Then it is mind boggling the number of people that volunteers. This program is one of the best.
Mission Statement

To share the love of Christ by creating partnerships with communities, families and volunteers to improve the quality of life for families in need by providing simple decent housing and opportunities for home ownership.



http://www.holstonhabitat.org/

Morel Mushrooms

While mowing the yard yesterday, for the first time of the season, I found Morel Mushrooms. So I stopped the mower, ran to get the camera. There were a few, 8 or so, hoping for more to show up today.
They popped up out of old rotten roots of a tree. I not going to eat these. As I researched the mushrooms, come to find out that there are False Morels, and they are poisonous. But these in my yard are safe.

He Loves Me....he loves me not..

This is not really a early spring flower but I thought it would brighten my blog up some. Oh by the way He does love Me!!!!

ARES Drill

Kingsport Lifesaving Crew's Mule
Sullivan County Emergency Management Agency Vehicle
Our Team
Our Set Up; Radios, Back Up Radios, Back Up Power, Pens, Paper, and CAFFEINE!
Sullivan County Emergency Management Agency Team and Set Up, Computers with Internet.

Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES) consists of licensed amateurs who have voluntarily registered their qualifications and equipment for communications duty in the public service when disaster strikes.

A Net is when all operators report to one person in charge, which is called Net Control.

Operation in an emergency net is little different from operation in any other net, requires preparation and training. This includes training in handling of written messages--that is, what is generally known as "traffic handling.

Today I was involved in an ARES Drill. It covered 8 of the North East Counties in Tennessee. A Ham Operator was placed in the ER in every Hospital. They reported on 2 meter radio to ARES Net Control, telling how many ER beds that were available. I was at the Civic Auditorium in Kingsport. Our job was to pass messages that were handed to us, by Sullivan Co Emergency Management Agency. We passed the message by 2 meter simplex ham radio, to another station. This Station had HF capabilities. HF is High Frequency Band for making a long distance communications. They were to pass the message to Nashville. The day before the contact was made. But today the weather changed and different time of the day, so the contact didn't make it.

All in all, they said we did great. This was a Trial Drill, April 30th will be the Big Drill, Wish us LUCK!!!

Iron Lung

Iron lung is an airtight metal tank that encloses all of the body except the head and forces the lungs to inhale and exhale through regulated changes in air pressure.


I saw this today and just had to take a picture of it. Can you even image having to live in this metal tube.

The first modern and practical respirator nicknamed the "iron lung" was invented by Harvard medical researchers Philip Drinker and Louis Agassiz Shaw in 1927. The inventors used an iron box and two vacuum cleaners to build their prototype respirator. Almost the length of a subcompact car, the iron lung exerted a push-pull motion on the chest.

In 1927, the first iron lung was installed at Bellevue hospital in New York City. The first patients of the iron lung were polio sufferers with chest paralysis.

Later, John Emerson improved upon Philip Drinker’s invention and invented an iron lung that cost half as much to manufacture. http://inventors.about.com/od/istartinventions/a/iron_lung.htm

Bays Mountain Park

This was made on the lake several years ago.


Bays Mountain Park is a 3,500 acre natural preserve, established in 1971.
The Park is owned and operated by the City of Kingsport.

There are various facilities including large outdoor animal habitats for wolves, bobcats, otters, deer, and other animals native to this region. It also has a 44 acre lake, and a nature center/museum. There are 25 miles of hiking trails through vast forestland. The nature center houses a planetarium with a 40 foot diameter dome. The park offers public as well as school programs.

Lynn Garden Hardware

This was THE Hardware Store of Lynn Garden. Several years ago it closed. The memories that I have of this place. It was the place I would go with my dad, on Saturday Morning, to get parts for the Lawn Mower. Mom and I would go get canning supplies here. On the way home from school I would walk through to the back door for a cold drink of water out of the fountain.

Making of a J Pole Antenna

Cutting the copper pipe with a pipe cutter.
Assembling the antenna for a perfect fit.
Sweating the fittings together with flux, solder, and a torch.
Attaching the coax to the antenna with clamps.

Testing to see if the antenna is a good match to the Ham Radio with a SWR meter (Standing Wave Ratio).

Skateland

This building has been a home for different businesses. But several years ago the siding was taken off to reveal it's fun past.

Great Blue

While out on a walk on the Greenbelt (www.kingsportgreenbelt.com/) saw this Great Blue Heron looking for his supper. He looked my way as to be posing for a quick photo shoot.

Sorry for such a long break in posting ...internet/modem problems, had a cold, then got out of the habit. I have missed it so I am back.

Pj

Valentines Day Wedding

I attend a wedding on Valentines Day, my 2nd cousin and his beautiful bride became one that day. The day before and 22 years ago I said my I do's. I just wonder where does the time go?

Being one of the Lucky ones to have made it this long. I give some credit to the day we wed, Friday the 13th. There was also a Full Moon that night! Ah Love is in the Air........