Options

Dine in or carry out only!

This morning I was reading my issue of "The Telegraph" as I normally do with my morning coffee and breakfast.  I was reading the "Praise Dates" and was focused on the Workshops/Other Events section.

The one entitled Spaghetti Dinner caught my eye.  I will quote it here:

"5-8 p.m. Sept 28.  Gordon Woman's Clubhouse, 110 College St. Gordon.  Plates are $7.  Dine in or carry out only."

The last line caused me to consider the impact of the statement.  Are there other options other than "Dine in or carry out."    If there were no other options why was the word "only" placed in the article?

I would like to know what the other option/s were.  Can anyone tell me?  Place your comment in the appropriate section below.  As Ever, The Flower Child.

"Best is yet to come"

I can still recall this headline on page 1A of The Telegraph which was delivered to my driveway on Wednesday, November  7, 2012.

We all learned that Obama wins second term.  As I read my The Telegraph this morning, September 27, 2013 I was shocked to learn that the Medical Center of Central Georgia is expecting a 30 million dollar shortfall in the upcoming fiscal year.  They have already laid off 50 employees.  The article went on to say that 100 employees at Emory in Atlanta will be laid off. 

Buried in the Article today was the statement that the situation is a direct result of passage of the "Affordable Care Act" which some know as "Obama Care."

Just think what the impact will be as we move into full implementation of this "Affordable Care!!!"  What is and will be the impact in 2014 for the Health Care Providers and the Hospitals?  

Just a few thoughts from the Flower Child as we move out into uncharted territory.  What can we expect in the future?

Happy Meals for My Bride

Fun Trucking 2013

September 27, 2013

Many years ago, in fact 40, My Bride was moppy as she celebrated her 40th Birthday.  I was working at my job at Brown and Williamson and really did not have much time to prepare for a gala event.  The Ford Pick Up Truck commercials featured the theme of "Fun Trucking" with a Ranger.  At the time we owned a Ranger and I decided that I would treat My Bride with a "Happy Meal" at the McDonalds at the corner of Riverside Drive and Northside Drive in Macon, Georgia.

Off we went with the windows wide open and we were "Fun Trucking."  My Bride did not know of my plan so we stopped at McDonalds and I ordered to Happy Meals.  I passed the clerk a $1.00 bill and asked him to deliver the Meals to our Table and sing Happy Birthday to her..  My Bride still did not know what was going on.  The Clerk delivered our meals to our table and did sing.

Long story short, the McDonalds of the first Happy Meal for My Bride does not exist.  Therefore we have had to change the locations.

This evening we went "Fun Trucking" again; however it was in a 1998 Dodge Ram.  We did roll the windows down and sped up Foster Road to Zebulon to the McDonalds.  I did not ask the Clerk to deliver the Happy Meal or sing.  

Here is My Bride displaying her "Happy Meal Queen."

We both enjoyed the healthy version of the Happy Meals.  The Apple Juice was good as well as the Apple Slices.  

We rolled the windows down for our journey home.  We both had fun and the memories of this Annual Event are things we can share when we get older.

The Seventh Year in 4-H

1958

This is a picture that I took during the Summer of 1958 of
the Farm where I and five siblings grew up.  We were all members
of the Jefferson Go-Hawks 4-H Club.
My parents purchased this farm in the Winter of 1941 when
I was a one year old Farm Baby.
This farm consists of 80 acres and the purchase price was
$8000.00 with a one percent loan from the Federal Land Bank.
This farm is still in the family.  The youngest, a boy purchased it
and still resides there.

My 4-H Story for 1958:
     This is my last year in club work because I plan on attending Valparasio University this fall.  I am eighteen years old and live on a farm near Guttenberg.  I am a member of the trinity Lutheran Church in Guttenberg and am the Treasurer of the Walther League.  I was unable to attend all our club meetings and other 4-H activities this year because I was working out for Norbert Walz to secure funds so I could go to college.
    This year I have a cow entered in the production contest.  This year was her first record so it was not the highest.  I fed my cow a ration of corn and cob meal 4 parts and 1 part oats.  Feeding and managing this cow the past year has taught me a lot that will help me in future years.
     This year I exhibited the grand champion Jersey at the county fair and I also showed the reserve.  My calf took first place honors in the produce of dam class.  Our barn was awarded first place in  cleaness and actractiveness.

The Sixth Year of 4-H

1957

Alan enjoyed this year a lot.  It was full of opportunities and allowed him to participate in a variety of events.  The story for the Record Book was typed and there were many more pictures this year.  You can click on them to see them in a larger format.

My 4-H Story for 1957:

     This year of 4-H work proved to be very interesting and rewarding to me.  At the county rally last fall I was elected the county Secretary-Treasurer.  I also received the county Tractor Maintence award.

     I served as the President of my local club the Jefferson G-Hawks, which has given me very valuable leadership training.  At the December meeting I have a talk on, Nutrients Needed by Livestock.  I also gave a demonstration on the special activity for the year which was called , Rope Wick Oilers for Livestock.  Our club held twelve meetings this year and I missed one because of play practice.  The special activity this year impressed upon me the importance of livestock parasite control.

     My projects this year were one Registered Hereford Been Cow, which I raised as a calf the year before.  One Registered Jersey Senior Yearling which I also raised as  a calf, she had her first calf, a heifer the 17 of August.  For the first time this year I had a purebred Duroc Jersey Gilt which farrowed nine pigs on March 25, but two died the first day, one being steped on and the other was chilled.  I selected my swine project because I wanted to gain experience in the field of hog care and feeding.

     My Hereford was fed a little grain and all the hay she wanted in the winter.  Springtime found her on pasture and she remained there until six weeks before the county fair.  At this time I put her in the barn and fed her a grain mixture of corn and oats and all the hay she wanted.  She was pasture bred last fall and at this time she has not yet had her calf.  After the fair she again was turned on pasture.  With this project I incured two problems, one being grubs which were killed with rotoene and the second the fact that I trimed her feet very short in June, she was able to walk again at the fair.

     My Jersey was fed hay and grain during the winter.  She was turned on pasture in the spring.  In June I brought her home and started to feed her for calving a half corn and half oats ration along with hay.  In July I started to fit her for the Parish Jersey Show where I placed first in the Senior Yearling Class, being beaten in the Junior Championship show by my sister, Thelma.  Winning here made me eligible to show at the All Iowa Fair.  I will say the the competion here was really stiff I placed 16 in a class of 16.  The county fair again saw my sister take the breed championship.  I didn't do so good placing third with a red ribbion.  My Jersey has one problem and that is that she is small for her age, but her former owner told me that she is closly related to the island cattle and that might account for it.  The most important things I learned were how to care for a cow in milk, a cow before and after calving.

     My Duroc gilt was purchased from beck Brothers of Elkader.  On March 25 she had nine pigs.  At eitht weeks of age I weaned them and weighted them and found each pig to average 48 pounds.  At the fair I showed a market litter pen of three, a market hog all of which received reds their main fault being to fat for their age and weight.  I fed them as pigs every other day till two weeks Copperous which made up for a lack of iron in the sows milk.  On the other days I fed them antibotics to prevent scours.  They recieved very little protein, however they received planth of skim milk.  From starting to weaning they received rolled oats and some shelled corn and milk.  From weaning to market they were fed shelled corn and some ground oats and skimmilk.  I think the results I received from this project were very good considering the feed they received.  Next year I plan to cross these Durocs with a Landrace Boar to get a more meatier  type in my hogs.  The seven pigs however ate 110 pounds of tankage.

     This your club had an oats plot.  I was a member of the county crops judging team to the State Fair.  I had one of the top six scores in the county livestock judging contest held in connection with the county fair.  Our club had the second placed barn in the barn decoration contest at the fair.  Our club group of four Jerseys owned by our family was the Champion club group.

     While at the Cattle Congress last fall I attended the 4-H dairy banquet where I and the others on the dairy judging team from the county were awared the top Jersey judging team, award.  As lond as I have been in club work I have never missed a county rally.

     I am a Senior in High School this year and this year like the last I am taking five subjects they are Agriculture, Physics, English, Bookkeeping, and Government.  I am also in FFA and I have sheep for a project.

     I am also a member of the Trinity Lutheran Church where I am in Choir, Luther Leauge of which I am Secretary.

     My project plans for next year to have 2 Duroc gilts that I will breed to a Landrace boar.  One Hereford Baby Been, and One Jersey Cow and one Jersey calf.  I also will split my ten FFA ewes so that I will have three in 4-H work.

                                                                The End  By Alan Thiese

Alan's Fifth Year of 4-H

1956

This year I had annotated the pictures so there is no need for my caption.  I enjoyed the club work and also took my Jersey Heifer to the Iowa State Fair in Des Moines, Iowa.  

Again, I will quote my 4-H Story which I wrote in my Record Book for the year 1956:

     My name is Alan Thiese and this is my fifth year in the Jefferson Go-Hawks 4-H Club.

     This year the Special activity for our County was Tractor Maintenance, our Club attend the meetings and worked on the books at our Monthly meetings.  Our Club held 12 meetings and I have been present for them all.   This year I was Club President and the Club's camera man.

    This year I had two registered projects.  A Jersey and a Herford Heifer.  I selected these projects so I might have an early start in building a herd of beef and dairy.  At the fairs the Judges said that my dairy calf was overfitted.  The only thing I fed my calf was oats, but I and cutting down on Oats, but I am cutting down on Oats, because I plant to take her to the Dairy Cattle Congress.  I bought my Jersey from David N. Olmsted.

     I took my Herford to the County Fair and received a blue ribbon, after the Fair I put her on pasture.  The things I learned with my Jersey were:  Proper feeding, how to fit a dairy calf, how to train a dairy calf, and how to make a calf blanket.  The things I learned with my Herford which I bought from Carl Zauche, of Pesta were:  how to train horns, proper feeding, and clipping.

     The 4-H activities I participated in were:  Judging and Demonstrations, and the 4-H Rally last Fall.  My demonstration entitled, "Air Cleaner Care" was third best in County competition of six.  In Livestock Judging at the county Fair I was fifth high with 310 points out of a possible 350.  

     Our Club received first prize in barn participation at the County fair. 

     This year was very interesting year for me, the most exciting was attending the State Fair.

                                                                            The End

    

U. S. Naval Forces Europe

Headquarters

7 North Audley Street

London W1, England

Alan, this Blog Publisher, was assigned to the Staff of U. S. Naval Forces Europe from 28 September 1966 to 1 September 1969.  

This picture was acquired well after my duty in London.
I note the barricaded streets and they were not present
during my tour.

When I first reported to duty on this Staff I was assigned to Central Files.  We processed all the incoming mail and mailed all the correspondence from the Command.  Additionally we kept the historical copies of all CINCUSNAVEUR Directives - both Instructions and short term Notices.  This was an interesting task and everyone in the office enjoyed the duty in London.  We all wore business Suits.  Upon arrival we were fitted and given two suits paid for by the U. S. Navy.  Each year thereafter we were again fitted and given a new suit.  Unfortunately I outgrew my suits after my tour and I donated them to some charity.

The structure shown above was used by the Commander in Chief for the European Theater of Operations during World War II.  General Dwight D. Eisenhower and His Wife lived in this headquarters.  During my tour of duty in London there were two Admirals who served as CINCUSNAVEUR.  The first was Admiral J. S. Thach, a World War II Pilot who developed special tactics for the U. S. Navy Pilots to use.  The second Admiral was John S. McCain.  He was the Son of a Navy Four Star Admiral as well as being a Four Star Admiral himself.  His Son, who we know as Senator John S. McCain is currently in the U. S. Senate.  I was in the Headquarters the day that the now Senator was shot down during the Vietnam War.  Of course that was a challenging day!!!

In addition to working in Central Files, my final 18 months was spent assigned to the Plans and Policy Division (N-6) of the Staff.  There I typed Plans and other general correspondence.  I was promoted to Yeoman First Class (E-6) during my time in London.  The Chief all of us worked for in the Plans and Policy Division developed a rather unique Security Classification for the material we processed each day.  He called it BBR (Burn Before Reading).  Needless to say we all did have the big picture, however we did not talk about it.

The highlight of my Tour in London was being in the Honor Guard at Saint Paul's when the British conducted a Memorial Service to pay tribute and honor deceased General Dwight D. Eisenhower and also the President of the United States.  This Memorial Service was held on 14 April 1969.  My fondest memory of that day was when the Queen Mum walked up the red carpet into Saint Paul's and I noted that she winked at me.  Of course we were all in our Navy Dress Blues for this special day.

One more interesting item, I sailed across the Atlantic Ocean on the SS United States from New York City to South Hampton, England so that I could report for duty in London.  From my point of view, My Tour in London was the best tour of duty I experienced during my 21 year Career.

Alan's Fourth Year in 4-H

1955

I was a high school Freshman when this club year started.  My main project for my fourth year was Suffolk Sheep.  Please note the captions I included in my 4-H Record Book Pictures.

This is what Alan looked like between his
Freshman year of High School and his Sophmore year.

I attended the State Wide 4-H Short Course in June of 1955.
This was held at what we now know as Iowa State University
in Ames, Iowa.  I recall that it was known as Iowa State
College way back then.

This is my pen of three market lambs I entered in the Clayton
County Fair.  I received a Red Ribbon.  One of these
lambs competed in the Individual Market Lamb Contest.
I received a Blue Ribbon on the Market Lamb.  I suspect it is
the lamb that I am holding.  From left to right,
Myself, a fellow Club Member - Bob Walke and a fellow
High School Student - Merlin Marting.

I had just turned 15 in February of this Club Year.  I was still the slim Farm Kid and I enjoyed 4-H work.  I do not recall what I weighed, however I do know that I only weighed 132 pounds at age 21 1/2 when I joined the Navy in 1961.

Now "My 4-H Story for 1955."

     My name is Alan Thiese, this is my fourth year in club work.  I live on a farm near Guttenberg.  I am fifteen years old and will be a Sophmore in High School.

      This year I was elected Vice president of our 4-H club.  I was also our club's delegate to the Boys 4-H Short Course at Ames.  Both of these experiences taught me how to get along with other people better.  They also taught me how to be a leader.  Both of these experiences gave me a chance to get up in front of the club and talk.  My cousin Milton Borcherding and I have a team demonstration, "How Grass Conserves Soil and Moisture.  I also gave a demonstration on, "Creep for Lambs."  I attended the officers training school last November.  In June our club had its project tour.  When the club reached our place we judged my four lambs.  The highlight of my club year was the Clayton County Fair, which lasted four days.  I got a red and blue on my sheep.  On my F.F.A. Cane and Record Book I received two blues.

    My plans for my projects next year include a Jersey heifer, which will be registered.

    I am also a member of the Garnavillo F.F.A. Chapter, of which I am secretary.  My projects are a Gilt and Litter and some Sugar cane.  My Gilt is a registered Poland China.

      I am a member of the Trinity Lutheran Church of Guttenberg.

      In 4-H I had sheep for a project this year.  On January 20, the first lamb came, she got a blue ribbon as a market lamb a the fair.  This year as last year I borrowed my uncles ram to use.  Eight lambs were born, but the most discouring fact is that four died, leaving me with 3 ewes and one ram.  The ram I plan on selling for breeding purpouses.  At the fair on sale dday I sold my tow biggest ewes so I could by a Jersey calf.  Herbert Borcherding bought my ewes.  This coming year I will have six ewes.

    I think that this year was my best and most interesting year that I spent in 4-H club work.

                                                                           The End

                                                                                                   By Alan Thiese

Going Green!!

Today as I was conducting my marketing for various products for the home I noted this Tissue.  I was impressed and of course curious.  How can anyone recycle Bathroom Tissue.  I do not know about you, but I normally call this toilet paper.

I will conduct a field test and I suspect that it will work quite well.  The packaging includes this note:

"If every household in the U. S. replaced just one 4-pack of 300 sheet virgin fiber bathroom tissue with our 100% recycled product, we could save:

670,000 trees

There, now you know!!!

Page View By Countries

11 September - 18 September 2013

United States      451

Russia      49

United Kingdom      21

Ukraine      19

South Africa      15

China      12

Germany      7

      France      5

Ireland      4

Turkey      4

I appreciate all the Readers who Visit "The World This Week."  Thank You Very Much and have a Good Day!!!!

Alan's

Third Year of 4-H

1954

My project for the year involved sheep.  I have fond memories of how my Uncle, his Son, Milton traveled across Iowa one Fall Day to buy some Suffolk Sheep.  I purchased five ewes.  Four cost $27.00 each and the youngest one cost $30.00.

Four mature ewes with a Ram that I borrowed from my
Uncle.  I believe this was taken in the Fall of 1953.

I am on the left end of this picture.  I think this picture includes my
Sister, Thelma holding two lambs.

I believe I took this picture because from left to right the lambholders
are my Siblings, Vivian, Thelma and David.

Note the red border on this picture.  This picture was
taken near the sheep barn at the Clayton County Fair in
August 1954.  I received a red ribbon.

The lamb holders here are My Brother David, My Cousin Milton
and Myself.  I also received a red ribbon for this pen of

three market lambs.

I learned a lot during my first year with a sheep project.  I read all the literature that 4-H offered and while the four ewes had a total of 8 lambs born only 4 lived.  I also found the following comment in my 4-H record book and I quote:

"I get to have the sheep for helping my Father this club year."

Now I quote my 1954 4-H Story:

    "This is my third year in 4-H club work.  I find 4-H work very interesting.  This year I had four ewes for my project.  About two weeks after the lambs came I docked and castrated four lambs.  I tarted to creep feed them at about two weeks after they came.  I have them oats at first and switched them over to corn and oil meal.  For tour day I brushed them up.  Every day I tried to brush them.  I took a market lamb and a pen of three fat lambs to the Clayton County Fair in Aug.  I got two reds on my sheep.  I figure I did pertty good on my sheep fore this is the first year the ewes had lambs and It was the first sheep I ever took care of.  I learned a lot about sheep.  I plan tokeep up with sheep.  I also am planning on a Jersery calf next year.  Some of the things I learned are how to dock and castrate lambs, how to feed ewes before they have lambs, how to feed ewes after they have lambs.  I also learned how judge sheep on our club tour.

    I took a sample of seed corn.  I plan on taking it to the cornshow this fall.

    I also had a beef heifer.  I had her on grass all summer.  I did not take her to the fair.

                                                                                         The End

                                                                                         by Alan Thiese"

Security!!! 

U.S. Military Bases

Of course, I have been watching the Television Coverage of the tragic events that happened at the Washington Navy Yard on Monday, September 16, 2013.  Almost every report also references the tragic events that happened at Fort Hood, Texas a few years ago.

The concerns I have heard involve the question of how did this shooter gain access to the Washington Navy Yard?  We have learned that the shooter was working for a contractor who had a contract with the Navy.  Another question that has been asked is how did the shooter retain his clearance for access in as much as he was undergoing medical treatment for "Mental Issues" with the Veterans Administration Health Care System?

I would like to share a few comments that reflect my own experience as a member of our United States Navy for 21 years.  I recall that back in the early 1960s an administrative clerk (the Navy calls them Yeomen) was assigned to the Pentagon where he typed classified documents.  It seems that each time he typed a document he would make an extra copy, which he would then sell to the resident Soviet Spy assigned to collect data from people who worked for the Department of Defense.  This Yeoman was not the subject of a "background investigation."

You can be sure that a new policy soon was implemented.  Anyone who serves the Navy in Washington, D.C. will have their background investigated prior to assignment in Washington with successful results.

Because I had a completed background investigation with no problems I was now eligible for Shore Duty in Washington, D.C.  I departed the USS Ranger (CVA-61), an attack carrier assigned to the U. S. Pacific Fleet, and traveled to Washington, D.C. in July 1964.  My new duty station was at Naval Command Systems Support Activity (NAVCOSSACT) located at the Washington Navy Yard.  I was a Yeoman Third Class (E-4) when I was sent to Washington.

I was told that the average background investigation at the time mine was completed cost about $15,000.00.  I can also recall that when my background investigation was being performed that an Agent asked many people it they thought that I was of such character that the the U. S. could trust me if I was granted access to Classified Information involving the safety and security of our Nation.  

During a tour on a United States Navy Guided Missile Destroyer a few years later I was a Petty Officer First Class (E-6) and performed duties as the Ship's Secretary and the Leading Yeoman.  As the Leading Yeoman I was responsible for the administration of the Ship's Office and the Records of all the Sailors assigned.  This Guided Missile Destroyer, like all others had certain weapons systems that required individuals to have access to Classified Information and Equipment.  It was the duty of all Supervisors and Administrators to be alert for potential situations where our Shipmates with this special access would no longer be fit for their assigned duties.  It was our duty and also our obligation to report what we knew and the information would be evaluated by our Superiors.  I suspect that this would not be possible in today's "Politically Correct" work/duty situation.  However I would like to quickly point out that it did work back then.

Now to the recent events of the shootings at both Fort Hood and the Washington Navy Yard.  I am anticipating a news flash/alert that will inform us that because of Health Care Professionalism Rules that Mental Health Care Givers/Providers could not give out information concerning the patients undergoing treatment for Mental Issues.

I am suggesting that because of The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) that the Health Care Professionals treating the Shooter who killed twelve workers at the Washington Navy Yard on Monday, September 16, 2013  felt they could not notify the appropriate Chain of Command (either Military or Civilian) that Aaron A_____ had a situation that would require him to no longer perform his duties as a Contractor for any organization working for the U. S. Department of Defense.  Again, a potential "Politically Correct" work/duty situation.

As I compose this Post I have serious concerns about the security of our great Nation when we allow common sense to fly out the window.  How many innocent people (civilian and/or military) will be killed before we wake up and stop this silliness?

Of course this is a picture of this Blog Post originator when he was a Seaman assigned to the Operations Department of the Attack Carrier USS Ranger (CVA-61)  

Washington Navy Yard

Alan's Duty Station

Aug 1964 - Oct 1966

I was assigned to Naval Command System Support Activity
(NAVCOSSACT) Building 196.  This structure was formerly the
factory that manufactured the 16 inch gun barrels for the Battleships
of our Navy.  It is the red brick building with only windows
visible on the fourth floor.  It sits aside a low white structure near
the right end of this picture.  The bottom side of this picture is 11th Stree
Southeast.

I purchased these two pictures from the Department of the Navy about 20 years ago when I first developed the concept of doing a Scrap Book of my entire Navy Career. I believe these pictures were taken some time after I was stationed at the Washington Navy Yard.   After I reenlisted in 1966 I was guaranteed Shore Duty In London, England for three years.  I have fond memories of my duty in Washington, D.C. at the Washington Navy Yard.  

When I was first assigned to NAVCOSSACT I was a single Sailor and
I lived in Barracks 166, which is in the middle of the right end of this
picture.  It is build of brown bricks.  It also looks like an "H" on the
previous picture.  The bottom of this picture is the waterfront.

Alan's Second Year of 4-H Club Work

1953

My Baby Beef Project.  This picture was taken on Jan 15, 1953

If I recall correctly, I demonstrated how to wire an
electric motor so that it would spin in the opposite
direction.  You can see my Brother David to my
immediate right and to the right of him is my  Sister
Thelma.

Please click on the picture and you will be able to read the
information contained in the Newspaper article.  The photographer
for the Dubuque, Iowa Newspaper just happened to be there
as My Brother David and I waited to get our Baby Beef Projects
signed in for the Competition at the Clayton County Fair.  I named my steer "Ike"
and my brother named his Baby Beef heifer "Mamie."  You can
quickly ascertain who was our President at this time.

I will now post My 4-H Story for 1953 as I wrote it:

    My name is Alan Thiese.  I live on a farm near Guttenberg, Iowa.  This is my second in 4-H.  

    This year my project was a baby beef.  This project started November 1, 1952.  I bought it from my uncle.  It weighted 400 lbs.

    On December 28, I dehorned him, with the help of my dad.  On the third of Jan. my steer was tatooed and measured.  

     I named my steer "Ike," after the President.

    At the April Meeting I entered a hog judging contest.

    At about this time I sent 10 soil samples of dirt a teaspoon each to a lab., to be tested for organitizns.

    At the next meeting I took a bag of Pfiesters 52 seed corn.

    At the June meeting our club received a flash camera which we ordered a meeting before.  We also made last minute preperations for our tour.

    On the day of Jun 14 I washed up my steer for the tour.

    A week after the tour I bought a leather halter for the fair.

    At the next meeting I sent in my entry fees.

    At the next meeting 2 days before the fair we talked about showing and fitting our exhibits and made last preperations for our stand at the fair.

    Finally the day of the fair Aug 7-10 came.  

    I took my project to the fair.  I got a red ribbon.  I did not sell him.  I later sold him to my dad, who in turned used him to fill our locker.

    Among the things I learned are:

        how to take care of and handle a baby beef.

I will also quote the financial summary as I recorded it in my 4-H record book:

    Net Sale of all animals:                                 $212.50

    Value of premiums won:                                     3.50

    Total income from project:                                                    $216.00

    Cost of all animals at start:                              100.00

    Feed Cost:                                                     107.27

    Other expenses:                                                  3.06

    Total expenses:                                                                     $210.33

Net return from project:                                                             $5.67

I should note that at the start of the project I had estimated that I would sell the project for the sum of $336.00 with a Net Return from project estimated to be:  $116.99.  I did not do very well on estimating the cost of feed for this Baby Beef when I estimated a total of $45.91.  As I reflect back on my 4-H Club Project work as a young Iowa Farm Boy I can now state that the motto of "Learn By Doing" is very significant.  

Alan's First Year of 4-H Club Work

1951-1952

I joined 4-H as an eleven year old Farm Kid in Clayton County, Iowa.  My Brother and I joined at the same time.  Today I commence a series of Post which will feature my 4-H Club Projects.  This will be a report of My first Year.

We kept records of our projects each year.  The above snap shot is of my first project.  I will quote My 4-H Story for the Year 1952.

"My pig project started the 1st of April.  Because this is  my first year in 4-H I started my project after weaning time.  I had my pig in with dad's swine.  On the day of our tour I had it in a separate pen.  The end of my project was Aug 15 when I sold the pig.  I made $18.43 after the feed was paid for.  I would have taken my pig to the fair but because of the new sickness I could not.  Among the things I learned are as follows:

• How to judge sheep
• How to trim holfs of cow
• To be more friendly

I joined the Jefferson Go-Hawks Feb 4 and at that meeting I entered the Dairy Heifer Contest.  At the next next meeting our Leader Alphonse W. Miller read a letter from Pfister Co.  It said that any boy or girl could have 5 1/2 lb seed corn free if he would plant it and when It was ripe pick the best ears and show them at the corn show.  I took one sample.

                                                                                                                                                   The end

Homeward Bound

21 August 2013

The Final Day of Holiday 2013

Back to the real world.  The Summer Holiday of 2013 had to end.  Needless to say, My Bride and I enjoyed the Travel; however as always it was also great to be back Home.

This is the plaque at the Tennessee Welcome Center that we
relaxed at prior to arriving at Chattanooga.  The sculptures impressed me
very much.  I took these pictures to share with the Leadership
of the Arts Community here in Central Georgia.

My Bride and I usually plan our trips on I-75 so that we
can enjoy a meal at the OK Cafe located at Exit 255 just North
of downtown Atlanta, Georgia.  Our return trip was no
exception.

I always stop at the Rest Area just North of Macon on I-75
to check out the Landscaping at the Blue Star Memorial
Highway Marker erected here.  A few years ago the Pine Ridge Garden
Club here in Macon, of which I am a member sponsored
this planting.  I was the member who volunteered to plant it.

Back to reality in Macon, Georgia.  I took the opportunity on
the day of our return, August 21, 2013 to mow the gardens on the
South side of our Home.