It seems like only yesterday

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My how time flies when you're having fun.  I just realized that this is my 700th post to this blog.  Thanks to those who find it somewhat useful.

And speaking of which, the July Civil War Times has historian Gary Gallagher making some insightful comments on Civil War blogs.  He also demonstrates that he can take criticism with an admirable equanimity.  And that's kind of refreshing.

Note the magazine has yet another article on one of the most over-rated Civil War participants (pictured on the front cover) and one of my favorite Civil War historians (not to mention good friend, fellow ranger, and blogger) John Hoptak on the back cover.



Please indulge me a pet peeve:

Throwing around the nicknames of Civil War generals is no substitute for actual scholarship.  Know what I mean?

Let me supply a new crop of nicknames:

Joshua, "underpants" Chamberlain
Samuel "home fries" Sturgis
Jesse "boondocks" Reno
Nathan "double clutch" Forrest
George Sears "Christmas catalogue" Green
Oliver O. "kissy-lips" Howard

There, I must be a know-it-all too!

Keeping it lighthearted,
just north of Boonsboro,

Mannie

Spring in Boonsboro

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Even the gutters are pretty

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Staff Rides

Go here:

http://www.facebook.com/notes/antietam-national-battlefield/staff-rides-a-continuing-tradition/266188760130716


"like" and link there.

On Other Fronts...

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Historic Home Preservation


No, I'm not talking about the Joseph Poffenberger house.

A friend asked me to fabricate some missing pieces for her 1930s folk-art bungalow.

This looked like the perfect project to both kick off the shop season and to distract me from my homework; a win-win as they say.

Originally assembled with tiny brads, many of the components of this house were loose or missing entirely.

Using scrap wood, I first fabricated the missing railing and post.  

Once assembled, as a component, it was glued and clamped into place.

This was followed by tackling the missing chimneys.  By ripping a small piece of stock, I matched the dimensions of the chimneys based upon the pattern left in the paint by the originals.  I cut the resulting pieces at a 20-degree angle to match the pitch of the roof (fine tuning done on my sanding wheel).  Chimney caps, modeled off the one larger, original chimney, were cut and then beveled on my sanding wheel.  Everything got glued and clamped into place.

Aside from these major components, two smaller issues were taken care of; the cutting and shaping of a missing piece of window frame,

and the replacement of a small piece of missing wood on the front wall.

Once primed and painted, this will be up to the standards of those cool kit homes sold by Sears in the1920s and 30s.

Ready for occupancy.

Happy shop season!

Mannie

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Guess!

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In my new, temporary, assignment as a content person for the park's Facebook page, I post a quiz - the Thursday Lunchtime Puzzler - every week.

Here's this week's  

Go here:

http://www.facebook.com/notes/antietam-national-battlefield/thursday-lunchtime-puzzler/263830707033188

Guess and "like" there. I want maximum participation pals!

Thursday Lunchtime Puzzler

Here is the clue from last week:     T

By: Antietam National Battlefield

Help me keep those "likes" growing!

Typing away (and "liking" it), Just north of Sharpsburg,

Mannie

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Dog at the wheel

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Go here,

"like" there.



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Spring in My Step

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This morning was a perfect time to follow the spring which appears in the Mumma swale and slowly makes its way to the pond down at the Roulette Farm. The journey doesn't end there however as the water eventually goes swirling and gurgling down a mysterious sinkhole.

My Morning

I took this shot this morning at about 8:00

I work at a beautiful place.

Its just north of Sharpsburg.

Mannie