MERRY CHRISTMAS to ALL!

SNOW Driving

After yesterdays post I've done a lot of dreaming about my years at the family cabin in the Sierras. And so I add this snapshot to remind me of driving during the winter.


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Yes, there were the cold nights heading into the Sierras in snowstorms; anything to get up there for a weekend of skiing. It always came down to either putting the chains on ourselves or hiring a chain monkey. I was cheap; we usually put the chains on ourselves. It made it easier that I had a front wheel drive. And then we'd return to the line of red taillights making our way towards the summit.

But then there were days like the one in this photo when the freeway was empty; silence except for the sound of the chains on the crunching snow. Heading east over the summit for Truckee and a night of fun at our favorite hangout; wall to wall ski bums. It was a bit of heaven.

There was one thing I always took along on those weekend trips that I had to carry from the parking lot for the half mile tramp along the mostly snow packed road. Oh sure, I had to carry my skis, and my weekend bag of clothes, but the most important item was the briefcase full of LPs. Joni Mitchell's Court and Spark was always along. And so now when I listen to it I see the snow drifts and hear the heavy snow falling from the pine branches. I'd put it on for inspiration while getting ready for the night out.

Eventually there'd be the long drive home in the middle of the night on the empty freeway, again heading for the summit, heading west. We never really thought of the stupidity of what we did. We weren't going to get hurt. It wasn't our time. The walk through the darkness from the parking lot to the cabin, especially in a snowstorm, could be a slog, but then there was sleep followed by another day of skiing. It's my past and at times I miss it and would love to step back in time to do it one more time.
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Tattered and Lost volumes 1 to 7 available at Amazon.

It's the FRAGILE TIME OF YEAR!

Hoping all have celebrations that bring them closer to joy, peace, and love. It's not always easy to do, but maybe we'll each find it for a few moments.

MERRY CHRISTMAS to all!

HUNGRY HORSE DAM under construction

Looking for an image for this weeks Sepia Saturday had me thinking I’d have nothing. I don’t have any vintage photos of caves unless I drag out some old Viewmaster slides of Carlsbad Caverns. That was tempting until I remembered this photo. Now is the perfect time to post this vintage snapshot.


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Looks like nothing more than an old car on a snowy mountain road, but then the title had me searching for something more.

This image shows the Hungry Horse Dam under construction in Montana. I'm guessing it was a Christmas card for the workers to send back home.


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Hungry Horse Dam is an arch dam on the South Fork Flathead River in the Rocky Mountains of the U.S. state of Montana. It is located in Flathead National Forest, in Flathead County, about 15 miles (24 km) south of the west entrance to Glacier National Park, 9 miles (14 km) southeast of Columbia Falls, and 20 miles (32 km) northeast of Kalispell. The Hungry Horse project, dam, and powerplant are operated by the United States Bureau of Reclamation.

At 564 feet (172 m) in height, the dam was the third largest dam, and second highest concrete dam, in the world at the time of its completion in 1953, with a volume of 3,100,000 cubic yards (2,400,000 m3). The dam's spillway is the highest morning glory structure in the world. The spillway is controlled by a 64-by-12-foot (20 by 3.7 m) ring gate.

Construction of Hungry Horse Dam was authorized by the Act of June 5, 1944 (58 Stat. 270, Public Law 78-329). Construction began in April 1948 and was completed on July 16, 1953. The purpose of the Hungry Horse Project, authorized by law, are irrigation, flood control, navigation, streamflow regulation, hydroelectric generation, and other beneficial uses such as recreation. However, no irrigation facilities were built and the project has no irrigation obligations. Hydroelectric power generation is the primary purpose of the dam today. Flood control is the dam's other main purpose. The dam, reservoir, and surrounding area are used for recreation. (SOURCE: Wikipedia)

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So how did the place get the name Hungry Horse?

The severe 1900-01 winter left two freight horses lost and starved in the rugged Flathead River wilderness. Found a month later, their owners nursed them back to health. "Hungry Horse" became the name of a nearby mountain and creek and, later, this Reclamation project.

The first permanent settlers entered the Flathead Valley in 1860. As the Flathead Valley grew in the new century, so did the belief that a new dam could reduce flooding and harness the river's force to produce electricity. Montana citizens worked for 30 years toward bringing this belief to life. Federal agencies surveyed lands and began efforts toward Congressional approval to build a large water project. (SOURCE: US Bureau of Reclamation)

To read more about the history of the area click here.

And this is what the dam looks like today.

ERNIE'S FAMILY in the snow

It's been quite awhile since I posted any photos from my secret passion...Ernie. I still have some photos of Ernie to post and they will trickle in, but once they're gone.... I have not found any new Ernie snapshots in a long time. I have bought up most of what I found of his daughter. 

Today I give you Ernie's family in the snow in their neighborhood; they lived in a trailer. Other than saying they lived in a trailer I know nothing of their living situation.


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I do have to say I once saw a guy on Pawn Stars that could have passed for an old Ernie. It had me wondering and I kept it on my DVR for quite awhile. Eventually I accidentally deleted it. Still, I like to think of Ernie spending his later years someplace warm.

BUMPUSES' DOGS and Black Bart

Any minute now I expect to see the Bumpuses' dogs come running along that porch carrying turkey legs. If this doesn't make sense neither will the reference to Black Bart.

Hoping all are making holiday memories.

MERRY CHRISTMAS dreamers

CHRISTMAS

Ahhhhhhh...SPRINGTIME

Where I live we have not had snow, though "they" did sort of promise some a few weeks ago. We have had plenty of rain and more is predicted. I think we actually had Spring in January when I was able to have my doors and windows open all day. Up is down and down is up. Nothing is the least predictable anymore? Anyone think things were a bit more predictable when you were a kid?

This photo is of unknown people, given to me by my best friend. She does not know who they are, thus the reason I now have it.

I think of all the photos that get tossed because people don't recognize the subjects of the shot. Tell you what, if you know someone is going to toss photos jump between them and the trash can. Don't toss! Send them to the Tattered and Lost archives where they will be given a peaceful place to rest. Stop the madness!

COME SLIDE WITH ME

I have a packet of negatives bought at the flea market. I've never scanned any of them. I thought that every so often I'd just pull one out and scan it. We get what we get. There are I believe 29 negs in the little packet with "misc. negatives" written on the front.

The first one reminds me of one Jim Linderman at Dull Tool Dim Bulb posted the other day of a model plane coming in for a landing on a bed with a white bedspread. It was wonderfully odd, no doubt about it. This one is not quite so odd...I think...maybe. A sled made to look like a plane. Homemade or store bought? You decide.

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I'm trying to imagine some kid in this thing rattling down a hillside while the mother, wearing an apron, stands at the kitchen window with furrowed brow, fingers nervously twitching at her mouth, wondering if junior is going to survive. Don't worry mother. I've seen worse. My cousins used to sit at the top of a very steep hill on Tonka trucks and go bat-you-know-what crazy until they ran into a bush. They all strangely survived.

Of course, the geography of this landscape has me wondering if these people had a hill. Did a kid just get in it and have someone pull them while they pretended to fire the dual guns? And how did they steer this thing? Too many questions. No answers.

Hmmmm...perhaps a German spy looming in the foreground taking photos of this US top secret fighter jet? Nah. Most likely the guy that built the thing.

BUSTER in the snow

This little tyke appears to be wearing some sort of Buster Brown suit while contemplating eating some really yummy soot laden snow. Hand written caption says "Take a bite?"  

Buster Browns were popular the first part of the 20th Century and were based on a popular newspaper comic character. At this link you can see examples of a Buster Brown paper doll.

Like fads today based on Disney movies, all things Buster and Tige were popular. I remember wearing shoes made by a Buster Brown as a kid in the 50s. I believe the company in some form or other is still in business.

Check out this link at Wikipedia for more information about the comic: Buster Brown

I imagine this was a style frowned upon by most little boys. They couldn't wait to get pants that went to their ankles.

Click on the image to see it larger at Flickr.

MERRY CHRISTMAS dreams

For those who have settled down to watch A Christmas Story for the umpteenth time I give you a slightly doctored photo of a street that would be happy to have a fragile leg lamp lit in a window and two little boys smelling of wet wool with dreams of Santa in their heads. 

Merry Christmas Past and Christmas Never Was.