OLD VINTAGE CHRISTMAS LIGHTS, (1940=1950)

This set of outdoor Christmas lights is between 60 to 70 years old. Some of the lights still work but I can't find replacements anywhere. This string has seven lights on it and you can only connect up to four more units to it or you will have a fire hazzard. That means the most lights on one circuit would be 35. WOW!! I don't think they would fit into todays holiday lighting schemes. They still bring back fond memories of a simpler time.

MY BEST WISHES TO EVERYONE AND HAVE YOURSELF A MERRY CHRISTMAS.


Trivia:  At its thickest point, the ice in Antarctica is 15,700 feet thick.

Did You Know?   The Dragon Arum is a plant that traps flies with its flowers at night because it has the smell of rotting meat. The plant lets them go free in the morning so they can transfer its pollen.

VINTAGE OLD "PEPSODENT" TOOTHBRUSHES 'N PASTE IN MIRRORED GOLD CONTAINER

Brenda, a friend of ours, came across this old toothbrush and paste travel tin and gave it to me as she knows that I collect some weird items. It measures 2.25 inches by 3 inches. It contains a tube of Pepsodent toothpaste and two tiny brushes on the inside. It also has a tiny mirror when you open it up. The contents  have never been used so it is in perfect condition. The outside of the case has a golden metallic finish. Etched into this finish is a picture of two toothbrushes and a tube of paste surrounded by etched leaves and the words" Toothbrushes 'n paste". Not sure how old it is but it seems to be pre 1950's. Some classy lady probably kept it in her purse for emergency sake. Maybe she was waiting for a handsome fellow to sweep her off her feet and spend the night. But since it was never used that did not happen and she died an old maid. Ah, but I digress. Anyways you can put your own story to its unuse.

The toothpaste is Pepsodent. I remember using it when I was young. It was a very popular brand before the mid-1950's, but its makers were slow to add fluorideto to its formula. So sales plummeted. It is now a "value brand" selling for about half the price of similar sized tubes of Crest or Colgate. It is not sold in Canada and only .99 per cent is sold in U.S. discount stores. It is popular in India.

Remember the catchy selling slogan.

  "You'll wonder where the yellow went

   When you brush your teeth with Pepsodent"

Trivia:  In golf lingo, a putt on a hilly green is called a "Dolly parton."

Did You Know?  A turtle with 2 heads and six legs was named Cheech and Chong.

IDEAL'S WIND-UP ROBOT, MR. MACHINE---1960's and 1970's---GOOD MEMORIES OF THE PAST

Well, here it is my 60th birthday and Mr. Machine comes wrapped up nicely to brighten this winters day. My wife sure knows how to make my day special. This toy is a 1977 model. They were originally made in the 1960's. I remember seeing them for sale on television but never saw any in our Canadian stores. Only in the U.S.A. I guess.

When wound up Mr. Machine rolls forward . His legs and arms go back and forth as if he was actually walking. His mouth goes up and down as he strolls along because he also whistles on his stroll. The tune he whistles is:
                 This old man, he played one

                 He played Knick Knack on his thumb

                 With a Knick Knack patty-whack

                 Give the dog a bone

                 This old man came rolling home

I received other things also but memories are special and greatly treasured. Thanks Babe.

Trivia: Orchids release a chemical that makes bees drunk. (I always wondered how they got a "buzz" on.)

Did You Know?  To beat the economic crisis, many women in Spain have started selling their hair. Depending on the length and weight, a ponytail can be worth up to $220 when sold to a company that exports natural hair for wigs and extensions.

GODERICH TORNADO (BEFORE AND AFTER) A DAY THAT CHANGED OUR TOWN

It was Sunday, August 21 at 3:51 pm. We live in a small town of 8000. Our downtown is unique in that it is in the shape of a circle with streets running off of the circle. Like the spokes of a wheel. In the center of the circle is our courthouse, surrounded with beautiful trees and a gazebo.My sweetheart and I moved here 5 years ago and we LOVE this town. On August 21st an F3 tornado (winds up to 300 km per hour) came through and did a lot of damage.

 

Above is a music video of our town before and after this tragedy. Below are pictures of our town circle before the tornado struck and then right after. Please include our town in your prayers this Christmas.



Some t-shirts now say FUF3.

AGEING AND GROWING OLDER

Well it finally happened. I have aged and gotten older. I noticed this strange phenomenon about two years ago. I was brushing my teeth one morning and noticed that the person whose teeth I was polishing was not the same as my previous thousands of brushings. This person had lines and wrinkles, grey hair, grey beard and hair growing out of his ears. What the Hell happened? Time, that's what happened. It sneaked up on me. That tight, rippled tummy of mine is a bit bigger and jiggles. It never did that when I was younger. My blonde curls are now completely grey. That thick mane of long curly locks is now sparse and receding. And yes, I get tired a little bit faster than I used to. What happened to that six foot six, two hundred and fifty pound giant of a man that my lovely wife felt so safe walking into a bar with. He grew old. That's me. I aged. I bet that every man will eventually have this epiphany. The good side of this is simply the fact that I like myself more now than I did when I was younger. This is a gift I give to myself.  Maturity makes you see the world in a much different light. I don't care if my hair is not as easy to manage. I don't dwell on the fact that I have a bit of a paunch. I may tire faster but I have learned to like the occasional nap. I endeaver to smile more as I journey through my life. It takes less muscles to smile than it does to frown so I'm saving myself some energy. Burps and farts are more common now so I use them to propel me forward or to sit down. It's all in how you look at things. Life is good. That is why I have a smile on my face when my eyes open in the morning. It doesn't hurt to be waking up to a terrific, loving woman such as my wife, Karen. One night as she lay sleeping I gazed at her angelic face and noticed that she too has a few wrinkles and lines. I see these as roads that we have travelled and they have left their imprint on her as well. The roads we have journeyed were well worth the mark they have left on us and we would, without hesitation, do it all over again. Ah, that feels better. Had to get this of my chest. (Oh, that's another thing, GREY CHEST HAIR) I could go on and on.

Trivia:  Forty per cent of car theft victims admit they left their keys in the ignition. (That's what I call "bad car-ma.")


Did You Know?  Several species of Southeast Asian ants have exploding glands in their heads, allowing them to launch suicidal chemical attacks on their enemies. Kamikaze warfare by insects.

VINTAGE 1949 FORD STATION WAGON TOY (BANNER PLASTIC TOY CAR)

This is a Banner Plastic toy Ford 1949 Stationwagon. It is in excellant condition for its age. It is made of red styrene with steel axles and plastic wheels. It was made in the early 1950's. Nice for a 60 year old toy car.  Thanks for stopping by.

Trivia: The Chinese have been painting their fingernails for 5,000 years. ( My precious wife has enough nail polish for that many years, Check out my April 2nd post, THE LITTLE THINGS)

Written on a pay toilet wall:  Here I sit brokenhearted,

Paid a dime and only farted.

Yesterday I took a chance,

Saved my dime and crapped my pants.

TIN FRICTION STATION WAGON TOY WITH LUGGAGE RACK , MADE IN JAPAN, 1950's

This over 60 year old friction powered Station Wagon still runs like new even though its age is starting to show. It even has a luggage rack on the top. I never saw one of these in the fifties but there must have been some kicking around somewheres. Like many older toys this one was made in Japan. As kids we would say that it was made by the J. A. Pan Company. Japan never had the names of the companies on their products such as other companies do like Hasbro, Renwall, Corgi, etcetera, etcetera. But the quality is still there today. Not many toys that are made now will stand the test of time as the older ones.We seem to be going backwards and not ahead. Thanks for stopping by.

Trivia: What crime led to Billy the Kid's first run-in with the law? ----Stealing butter.

Did You Know? The giant Gippsland earthworm, which lives in Victoria, Australia, can reach lengths of 10 feet (3 m). The young are already 8 inches (20cm) long when they hatch and take about 5 years to reach maturity. When the giant worm was first discovered in the 1870's, its size led scientists to think it was a snake. (I would too!)

HALLOWEEN 2011

Great memories are created for kids when Halloween comes around every October 31st. I remember as a youngster, that I dreamt that I had slept right through the day and missed the "trick or treating". What a disaster!! Could you imagine, missing out on all the candy and treats. What a nightmare that was to me as a little boy. The good thing about this past memory is the fact that it was only a dream and I did go out trick and treating with a renewed gusto. But just to be on the safe side I would borrow an alarm clock and set it , just in case. It was always a nuisance when people would give you an apple because they got heavy after awhile. We wanted potato chips, chocolate bars, candy and homemade goodies. That is probably why the next morning the streets would be covered by discarded apples and other unappealing items. I never got to buy a costume so I would just make do with some old baggy clothes and maybe a cheap fake beard from the 5 and dime store. Good memories . Nowadays it is nice to go into stores on that day as the bosses will allow their staff to wear a costume to serve the customers. Never saw this happening 30 to 40 years ago. I guess we are still maturing and learning how to have a bit of fun. Here are some pictures of my wife and others at the store she works at. Enjoy.

Trivia: It's against the law to hunt camels in Arizona.Well, there goes my hunting adventure. 

Did You Know? Thousands of generations of Bogong moths have been spending their summers in caves in the Australian Alps, their dead bodies forming a carpet 5 feet (1.5m) deep. The Corpse Carpet.                                              

VINTAGE MARX FIRE DEPT WIND-UP TIN TOY CAR (1940'S)

A very classic toy car from the middle of the twentieth century. Little boys had a terrific fun time playing with this toy as it made them feel like they were actually the Fire Chief in command of their men and fire trucks. Another nice feature of this particular vehicle is the fact that the wheels on this toy are wooden. Other similar cars like this one had rubber wheels. After 6 or seven decades this car still scoots around nicely after being wound up and let go on the floor. Many toys nowadays can't last a month. Maybe that's why this toy (originally priced around 25 cents) is now worth over a hundred dollars. Enjoy.

  Trivia: Fully fifty percent of the Netherlands (my heritage country) including its two largest cities, lie below sea level.                                                      

Did You Know? A German company has invented a range of contact lenses for animals that suffer from cataracts, a condition that invariably leaves them blind. Among animals that may be treated are lions, giraffes,bears, sea lions,kangaroos and tigers.

NATES "PYTHON" BIRTHDAY, SNAKES, REPTILES, YUCK!!!!

Our grandson Nate is having a birthday party for his 7th year. It turns out that there will be a reptile show in the backyard. Nate loves these things. I, on the other hand, DO NOT!! Maybe I've repressed a bad incident from my childhood or something (I'll use any excuse) but I detest snakes. Mayhaps it is from my Bible School learnings--- remember Adam and Eve and the snake!! Anyway, I sat with all the children to hear what the fellow was teaching us about reptiles and then showing us the creatures afterward. Well, wouldn't you know it, he brings out this damn, humungous 14 foot Python. Everyone there must have thought I was brave because I still sat there. NOT! That devil of a snake had me hypnotized so that I would not move. PURE EVIL!  I no longer blame Eve of Eden for what she did by accepting that apple. The snake handler asked the children if they would like to have the Python over their neck. A majority of them said ,YESSS. Nate was first since he is the birthday boy. I watched as these little kids smiled having this monster wrapped around their tiny throats. I could not have my grandchildren see that their Grandpa (6 foot 5)was a sissy so I marched right up to the fellow and in a faltering voice said," It's my turn". My wife ran for the camera. She could not believe I would do that as she knew my fear. I DID IT! Would I do it again? No, once is enough. Enjoy.

P.S. : The Python birthday cake was delicious that our daughter Steph had made.

Trivia: Queen bees don't use their stingers--except to kill other queen bees.

Did You Know? A Kenyan man escaped from a python by biting it after the snake had wrapped him up in its coils and dragged him up a tree. During the three hour struggle, Ben Nyaumbe smothered the snakes head with his shirt to prevent it from swallowing him and then bit the python on the tip of its tail.

VINTAGE TIN LITHO NASCAR RACE CAR AND DRIVER TOY, 1950's

This is a mint condition (early 1950's) tin litho race car with a driver. It is very nice to say the least. Very detailed old toy. Very ornate for its time. This was taken out of storage after being packed away for over 50 years!! It is about 7 inches long and the race car drivers plastic head can be turned also. It is hard to find one in this condition as these never came in a box. Enjoy.


Trivia: In Bangkok, Thailand, ice skates are known as "hard water shoes.

Did You Know? White laboratory rats protect official police documents in the city of Karnal in the Indian state of Haryana by scaring away mice that would damage paperwork and eat evidence. ( I guess you would call this the "Rat Pack")

VINTAGE AUBURN RUBBER TOYS,1935-1969

In Auburn, Indiana, In 1920 the Auburn Rubber Tire factory came into being. In 1935 during the depression and cars were not selling much, they also started making rubber toys. It was a very smart move. During WW2 they made shoe soles for army boots.Auburn toys could be found in almost every sand box or childs toy box. The two I have here were made in the late 1950's or early 1960's. The convertable is a 1957 Cadillac Fleetwood or Eldorado. The previous owner painted the people in the car. Another interesting fact due to the age of these toys is that I have never come across one where the driver is a woman.  Enjoy.

Trivia: In one study, people were asked," If you could only eat one food for the rest of your life, What would it be?"  36% answered pizza.

Did You Know? A new species of rat has been discovered in Papua, New Guinea that is as big as a domestic cat. Found in the crater of the extinct volcano, Mount Bosavi, the wooly rat measures more than 32 inches (80cm) from nose to tail.

VINTAGE MARX WIND-UP "TRICKY TAXI" TOY, 1930-1940's

This terrific little Taxi was the pride and joy of young little boys 70 to 80 years ago. That means that the original owners are now in their eighties and nineties. Can you imagine? This toy car was unique for the simple reason being that it had a fifth wheel on the bottom that kept the car from driving off a tables edge. It was such a great invention that the kids almost thought it was magical. I still do.

Trivia: On average a giraffes tongue is 14 inches long.

Did You Know? German police were called to deal with a dead badger on the road near the town of Goslar ,only to find that the animal was not dead at all. He was drunk and had staggered into the middle of the road after eating overripe cherries that had fermented.

THE A-TEAM (TOY FIGURINES) MR. T AND "HOWLING MAD" MURDOCK

The show "The A- Team" was on from 1983 to 1987. My son Robbie loved to watch this series so I purchased these toy figurines for him to play with. Mr.T was a very imposing figure on the show as B.A.Baracus. Dwight Shultz played the part of "Howling Mad" Murdock. George Peppard (1928-1994) acted the part of John "Hannibal" Smith. As my son grew older he no longer had use for these toys so I put them away. I know that a time will come when he will wish he had kept some of his things . When that time comes he can have them back and won't have to hunt up replacements as I have done over the years.

Trivia: Playboy's " Playmate of the Month" was originally called the " Sweetheart of the Month".


Did You Know? For over four years, a cat in Plymouth, England, has been catching the same bus every day. Casper boards the number 3 bus at 10.55 a. m. outside his home and travels the entire 11 mile (18-km) route before returning home an hour later. He is such a regular passenger that bus drivers look out for him to make sure he gets off at the right stop.

REPLICAS OF VINTAGE 1920's FIRE ENGINE TRUCKS

These replicas of fire engines of the 1920's give a person a good idea of what these brave firefighters had to work with. I once came very close to being burned in a car accident on September 10th, 1980. You never forget the date of these life altering events. ( May 27th posting, THAT LIFE CHANGING DAY FOR ME). I didn't mention the following event in that posting as there was a lot more I could dwell on ,but I would be remiss if my writings did not mention the man that helped to save my life that day. The accident had just occured and a trucker named Jack Turley saw that flames were shooting up between my legs from under the passenger seat. Luckily I was unconscious. Jack flew back to his semi transport for his fire extinguisher and crawled over the dead body of my friend Ian to put out the flames. It was a sad day but reflecting back to that time it is nice to know that there are people willing to risk their life to save another.MY EVERLASTING THANKS TO JACK TURLEY.




Trivia: Three U.S. towns are named Santa Claus.




Did You Know? A calf born with three nostrils on a farm in Cheiry, Switzerland became so popular because of her extra nasal feature that her owner guaranteed her a home at the farm instead of being sent to market with the other calves.( Just goes to show that sometimes when you stick your nose into things ,good things can happen.)

GODERICH TORNADO AUGUST 21, 2011 (OUR TOWN)

Our beautiful town was hit by an F3 tornado two days ago. What a disaster. We love our town and know it will come back to be the" Prettiest town in Canada." This is what Queen Victoria said many, many years ago. My wife and I were fortunate that we had no damage, just a lot of clean-up on our yard. Yet ,just a few hundred feet away the damage is immense. Here are some pictures. Pray for people that were hurt and also for the life of the salt miner that died.