Found this very nice Monitor blowtorch in a small antique shop last weekend. A friend in Australia that collects them tells me it is a good one and that I got it at a great price.

Spring Flowers

Here are some Spring flowers for fun. The Primroses( also called Buttercups) are in the yard and will be mowed down soon. The Hibiscus is in front of a restaurant in Alvin, Texas.

January 13th, Friday the Thirtee
nth, I visited the Alvin Opry to hear a friend sing. The Opry is just around the corner from our house, but I had never been there in its 25 or so years of its     existence                                                                                                                                                                                  http://www.alvinopry.com/
Cherie Devine came on early in the show and was GREAT! She sang a song she had written about Friday the Thirteenth,  Elvis's "You Ain't Nothin' but a Hound Dog" , and Patsy Cline's "Crazy".

Stanley 77

The IT guy here at work emailed me the other day with a What's-It that I identified readily. Seems he had found a Stanley 77 that he wasn't sure of. His pictures taken on his phone were poor, but I recognized a Stanley rod and dowel machine. He bought it at a ridiculously low price and this morning he GAVE it to me!
I intend to clean it up and mount it as a demonstration piece. It has only one cutter, but other than not having the original release for the guide plate, it is in fantastic condition, and works! I only had some soft wood to try it out with, but with some TLC and good wood, it will make dowels as it is designed to do.
These things sell at prices that would surprise you- from $200 to $500 when complete and with all the cutters.

 

After some cleaning, the Stanley 77 looks great!

 

New Year's Beginning

I got a good start on 2012 with my first sunrise of the year, taken at the Confederate Cemetery in Alvin, Texas, on January 1, 2012.

 

Then, the same day, I got my first sunset of 2012, taken off Beamer Rd, near Dixie Farm Rd., near IH 45.

Oversized Load

http://photobucket.com/oversizedload

A very large boiler was being transported to Texas City through Alvin, Texas Friday November 18, 2011. Hauling done by H Brown of Lafayette, Louisiana. Due to bridge clearances, the load had to pass through Alvin on Business 35, right through town.About 5 hours for just over a mile.

Alvin Museum Society Fall Membership Meeting 

AMS had the Fall meeting Sunday. Tom Green of Sons of the Republic of Texas and North American Vexillogical Association presented a program on "Historic Flags of Texas". Tom has collected or made over 60 historic flags. 

Here is a slideshow of the Alvin High School Class of 1961 50th Class Reunion.

Black & White shots at Twisted Cycles

Took a few grab shots while at the motorcycle shop. These were shot in B&W in-camera.

GREEN enough?

GREEN enough?, originally uploaded by Noel C. Hankamer.

We will have our 50th high school reunion at Hidden Palms in Santa Fe, Texas, this October, so I went to check the place out. Looks like a great venue, with palms, ponds, gazebos, and meeting rooms. I guess the ponds keep the plants well watered in this drought.

Classic Chevy Truck

Classic Chevy Truck, originally uploaded by Noel C. Hankamer.

If you spend anytime reading truck history you will soon learn that a common design theme which is repeated over and over again is that of "massiveness." This word was used to describe the front appearance of the new 1941 Chevrolet Trucks. Especially on light-duty trucks designers continually worked to get just the right look of massiveness and ruggedness in the truck's grille, front bumper and front fenders. I'm not so sure that the ruggedness and massiveness have stood the test of time for the 1941-1946 Chevrolet pickups. John Gunnell coined the term "Wurlitzer" for these trucks, which is a wonderfully descriptive term. I think the point is clear: these are attractive trucks but maybe not all that massive. We must admit that it is hard to miss all that bright chrome, however I tip my hat to the Chevrolet designers for their work, which has stood the test of time.

The 1941 3/4-ton Chevrolet pickup was built on a 125 1/4-inch wheelbase chassis. Series AL 3/4-ton trucks were equipped with 15-inch wheels and tires.
Posted for the Monday Photo Challenge- the letter C.

Magnolia Bloom

Magnolia Bloom, originally uploaded by Noel C. Hankamer.

The magnolias are still blooming in Alvin, Texas!

Red Leaves

Red Leaves, originally uploaded by Noel C. Hankamer.

I saw the lightplay on these red leaves from across the yard while working on a car. Just had to shoot it!

Railroad Wye Switch

Railroad Wye Switch, originally uploaded by Noel C. Hankamer.

Modern Wye switch on the Burlington line south of Alvin, Texas near Liverpool. The electric switching mechanism is much more complex than one would think. We don't see these things in everyday passing or crossing railroad tracks.

Foggy Canal With Frames

Foggy Canal With Frames, originally uploaded by Noel C. Hankamer.

Our area is criss-crossed by rice canals to irrigate the important crops in the Alvin area. Looking down the canal with the rising sun off to the left, this foggy canal drew my shooting eye to it today. Here I have made multiple reflecting frames just for fun, using Picnik.

Winter Leaves

Winter Leaves, originally uploaded by Noel C. Hankamer.

A poor little sprout that might have survived the winter, backlit by morning sun.
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Crawfish Chimney

Crawfish Chimney, originally uploaded by Noel C. Hankamer.

Crawfish burrow underground and "stack" mudballs to form a "chimney" over the burrow. this stack of mud casts a long shadow in the afternoon sun.

Soft Focus

Soft Focus, originally uploaded by Noel C. Hankamer.

Retreaded for the Monday Photo Challenge and Retread Group. Played with curves, layers, and frame in Picnik.
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Spooky Eyes

Spooky Eyes, originally uploaded by Noel C. Hankamer.

The Stars and Stripes keep watch over the spooky eyes of the skull. Perfect for the eve of an historic mid-term election!

Ring Toss

Ring Toss, originally uploaded by Noel C. Hankamer.

Just some rusty rings found tossed away, shot in B&W in camera for the Monday Photo Challenge- things that are round, or go round.
I worked on the shot in Picnik to get a grainy feel, like old B&W film.
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