What do you know about golf balls? Would you have guessed that for hundreds of years prior to 1850, golf balls were made of a leather circle stuffed with feathers? In the 1840s, various experiments were performed to make a golf ball from a certain kind of tree gum which had immediate appeal. Next came the rubber-core ball in 1898….. and the simple round golf ball has become more and more sophisticated. Next time you play a round of golf, take a moment to think what’s inside that white round ball.  (I took these photos in the Arlington Country Club, near where the Stillaguamish Valley Gen Society held their conference last August.) 

What do you know about Washington’s oldest apple tree? Here is my photo of the tree in early spring but the tree still produces apples!

Imagine stretching out full length in this bathtub. Glorious thought, eh?

Pretty classy, don’t you think? Does your bathtub sit in a mahogany shell?? And did you notice the crank to add hot/cold water and then to empty the tub under “waste?”

Spotted this is a salvage yard in Salem, New Hampshire.

Ever heard of “printers devils?” Ever seen one? If you have ever been in downtown Spokane, you’ve had the opportunity to see a “real life” printers devil, aka a gargoyle. Look high atop the Spokesman-Review newspaper building….

The Spokesman-Review/Spokane Daily Chronicle newspaper building was constructed in 1891. Keeping with the custom for newspaper buildings of that day, printers devils, aka gargoyles, were set on the top of the building. The idea? To scare away any demons that might hinder the presses from getting the news out on time.

Did your hometown newspaper building have printers devils to protect the presses?

Who remembers these little tin containers? Did you use one as a child?

According to Wikipedia:  Log Cabin Syrup is a brand of pre-packaged syrups owned by Pinnacle Foods. Log Cabin Syrup was introduced in 1887. Grocer Patrick James Towle (1835-1912), who lived in the village of Forest Lake, Minnesota, initially formulated it.

I goofed. This was priced at $10 in Apple Annie’s in Cashmere and when I looked at eBay they sell for up to $25. Amazing. And empty sans syrup too!

Care to join me in feeling old today? It’s only November 8th and there are inches of snow on the ground and it’s cold and wet. Bahhumbug. Think Maxine’s advice will really help prevent old age sagging? (We wish!!)

How many of us remember listening to one of these big old radios??

Probably cost more today as an “antique” than it did when newly purchased. (Spotted it at Apple Annie’s in Cashmere.)

It’s coming to that time of year when our thoughts turn to Pumpkin Pie. I know mine, and my family’s, does. We all use my Mom’s (1921-2014) recipe and have no need to experiment with others.

Get two frozen deep-dish piecrusts. (Mom made pies, not crusts, and neither do I.) In big bowl, mix 4 eggs, a big can of pumpkin, 1 1/2 cups sugar, 1 1/2 tsp salt. In pan on stove, carefully melt 4 TB of butter into 1 3/4 cups milk. Pour the warmed mixture into the pumpkin/egg mix. Add 3 tsp pumpkin pie spice. Pour the mix into the unbaked shells. Bake 15 minutes at 450 degrees  and then 35 minutes at 350. You will like this, I guarantee!

Ever see one of these critters before?? This is a Harp Guitar and it’s being held by Gary Zimmerman in the Pioneer Descendants Hall museum which comprises the floors above the Fiske Library.

“The harp guitar (or “harp–guitar“) is a guitar-based stringed instrument with a history of well over two centuries. … The word “harp” is used in reference to its harp-like unstopped open strings. A harp guitar must have at least one unfretted string lying off the main fretboard, typically played as an open string.” (Wikipedia)

These are still being created; a new one can cost up to $8000. Yikes.

Ever have your feet measured for new shoes with the shoe clerk using one of these gadgets??? I’ve not seen one in years. Also, do you remember the big X-ray machine for your feet? You’d put on your new shoes and stick your feet into this machine and the X-ray picture will tell Mom if the shoe was the correct size. But MANOHMAN what all those X-rays did to your feet and we never knew.