O-HI-O, O-HI-o, O-hi-o, OHI-o, o-HIO, OHIO !!!

The view this evening out the door of the RV along side a river in the woods near a place called Marion in the state of Ohio.

Including a family of Wooducks.

(these however, are also made of wood LOL)

On Monday earlier this week while visiting my daughter is the Chicago area she was called by the HOA and told someone complained about my RV. Even though the HOA had already given me permission to park there I didnt want her to get any more complaints so I left and headed east.

The coolness of the night felt so good after a week of 90+ temps that I contnued to drive until 9 the next morning when I arrived in Marion Ohio. I found this really nice site and here I be.

Today I found that the local Heritage House had, of all things, Prince Imperial, the horse with the longest mane. As well as displays of President Harding and a huge collection of popcorn and peanut machines.

In fact Marion Ohio claims to be the popcorn capital of the world, hosting a Popcorn Festival which happens to start next week.

So, since we're here lets begin with Prince Imperial.

Prince Imperial once belonged to Napoleon. not that Napoleon, but his Nephew, Emperor Napoleon III.

In 1868 a Marion livestock breeder named Jacob Howser traveled to France and bought the Princely horse ($3,000 in 1867 dollars) whose mane was so long it dragged on the ground and thus had to be braided. Even braided it had to be looped as you can see in the picture along with how large he was.

He was shown at fairs etc and Billed as Prince Imperial the horse with the worlds longest mane.(9ft 10 inches and bangs over 7 feet)

Upon the horse's death in 1888, Jacob had him stuffed and during the off season kept him in his living room.($7,000 in 1888 dollars)

His will said that upon his death the house was to be burned with Prince Imperial inside but instead his sons kept showing him as did thier sons.

The soda fountain area in Sweeney's Drug Store 1917

An 1870 Parlor

Including a Piano.

An 1870 Boudoir.

An 1861 boys Blue Velvet Christening dress, he lies in an 1810 Cherrywood cradle on rockers

As mentioned Marion Ohio lays claim to the Popcorn Capital of the World. If you can read it here's a little history of Popcorn which has played a large part in our history doing better in rough times.

1909 Dunbar model 950 horse drawn wagon with dry popper and peanut roaster. Only one in existence. Once owned by Paul Newman in 1984 to promote his Newmans Own Popcorn. The steam engine can be fired by boiler or compressed air.

Valued at well over $100,000 this 1927 Creators Model TT Ford concessions truck is driven every year in the Popcorn Festival Parade.

Another view of the 1927 Model TT concessions truck.

1911 R.O. Stutzman Eclipse Popper and Roaster.

1899 Creators No.1 Popcorn and Roasted Peanut wagon.

Early in the 1900's a German mixed some popcorn and peanuts, covered them with a homemade glaze and Cracker Jacks entered the popcorn market.

During the time in Germany "Cracker" was slang for cool, and Jack for man thus the name.

and in every box of Cracker Jacks you found a prize. Here's a selection of prizes from 1912 forward.

There were ver 100 various popcorn machines from the 1800's on. I cant show them all or even all of the really cool ones. So, here's one more, a smaller version

This popcorn vending machine pre-dates WWII.

Snow's General Store and Mercantile was open in the late 1800's and sold pretty much everything.

Coats were inexpensive and well made for the working man.

Old men would sit by the wood heater and play checkers, there were cannisters of penny candy that actually cost a penny. You could buy anything from fresh pickles out of the open pickle barrel at the end of the counter, to food by the bag and bushel, fresh in season fruits and vegatables, bolts of cloth, clothes, handtools, and maybe even checkers. (Oh, and shorts and flipflops on a lady? No Way)

A few year later your Mom or Grandma may have used one of these 1955 Whirlpool Washers to do the family laundry if the family had the money otherwise a tub and washboard would do.

The term "Dont throw out the baby with the bath water" came from this period when a #3 washtub was the bath, the water heated on the wood cook stove. The man of the house got first dibs, then Mom, the the boys and so on down to the baby. By the time the baby got in there it would be pretty dirty and dark thus the term.

Ohio produced 8 Presidents for this country. I agree with Rutherford Hayes as said in this poster.

However he forgot God first, Family second, then America.

I defended and shed blood for My country, Our Freedoms, and My choice to be a Christian.

While I fought for all of our Freedoms.

Dont disrespect mine and I'll respect your freedom to disagree.

Marion has a large and varied history in the history of our country from the industrial revloution, to our defense mechanism, the arts, etc.

It's a beautiful state and I am happy to spend a week learning and seeing what I can.

But bottom line.

GO ALASKA !!!!!!

If he's good enough for the GOP Convention then he's good enough for my Bloggy Thing.

Go Clint !

Summer 2012, then ,,,,,,

Here it is the end of August and I am in Missoula Montana visiting Amanda and her family. School starts soon here and Sam will begin the 4th grade. It's been a nice visit but will be ending this weekend as it is time to hit the road again. This time East, for now.

The last weekend of May I came to visit Amanda and family in Missoula Montana and on June 1 flew back home to Juneau Alaska with Jessica, Ashleigh, and my youngest grandchild Ruby who had also come to visit.  I visited there until August 6th or so when I returned to begin traveling again. In fact I was heading East last weekend but Amanda's babysitter ask if I would camp at thier place for a week while they went to Las Vegas. So this week while still visiting Amanda et al I also got to play with chickens and pygmy goats.

Yesterday the larger of the two "Snickers" broke his right rear leg below the knee. He couldn't get to the vet until today and since the lower part was just painfully flopping around when he moved I bandaged it then put a splint on it that went about an inch below his hoof so he could at least hobble. This morning he was eating grass and hobbling around when Amanda, Samantha, Taylor, and I took him to the vet in Amanda's car. That where he is at the moment while we await a call to come get him. I'm taking a felt marker so everyone can sign his cast before I leave. A sad day as the next day Snickers died and went to Hillbilly Heaven. I buried him on the back of the property so R.I.P. Snickers

My 67 day visit back home was filled with things to do, people to visit, and "Daddy-do" projects (which are my favorite) and even some offeres to adopt a few people so they could have a "Daddy-do" project list. LOL

The beginning of my visit wasn't a positive as little Ruby who had gotten sick in Montana was further diagnosed with pneumonia to go along with the RSV diagnoses from here. She, Ashleigh, and Dan spent a few painful and emotional draining days at Bartlett in the pediatric ICU. On Sunday they were told that she'd have to stay another night as her Oxygen levels weren't high enough. However that evening everyone was surprised by a change in plans and she could leave immediately. And immediately she did. They all enjoyed a nice night in thier own beds and Ruby in her own crib.

I was anxious to get started on the Daddy-do list but first had to deal with D-16, a thorn in my side for over a year. You see, D-16 was a mobile home I had leased to own a lady and it had been an aggravation ever since. I had heard that she had recently lost her job which was sad for her and a concern for me. So I invited her to lunch, discussed the situation, and offerred to let her out of the lease with no penalties or needs to "catch-up" I even offered up to $250 if she was out and it cleaned in 10 days. She was out and it took me two weeks and many dump-runs to get it ready to start getting it ready to sell. Obviously I was being blessed in this situation because I was able to let her out of the lease with no hard feelings on either side, I got it ready to repair quickly, the major repairs went smoothly, (even the black carpets easily became Biege again) When I was ready to re-paint, and floor coverings in the kitchen I placed a sign in the window. That evening a man called and wanted to see inside so I showed him and gave hm a as-is price. (I not paint or replace floor covering in Kitchen) he said he like it and would call me. I kind of said ok with no doubts he was another looky-loo. Imagine my surprise when he called me the next day and said he was getting me cash for the full price. Talk about blessed !! I paid off a lot of debt and made my travel budget almost double. 8)

Jessica and I built Asheligh and Dan some new steps which we enjoyed and they appreciated. As did Jessica's pup Apollo because they were a lot easier for him to get up to the porch on.

Jessica had about 20' of fence that needed removing due to heavy snow and wet ground. So her and I rebuilt that 20' and added another 20' and a gate at the rear so her yard was completely enclose and certain little puppies could not escape. And since he was a greyhound he could easily outrun everyone.

Hikes with the girls and puppies, and one with Mick were the highlight of my visit. Lunches with the girls and Ruby and occasionally Dan, a birthday party over at Micks, beautiful Alaskan weather, buying a flatbed Toyoto from Dan's twin brother for the project and then selling it after was a nice addition as not only did I get more than I paid I got the money while still there so I could put it to good use.

I left August 6 to return to the RV in Montana and visit Amanda et al again. I did get to spend 3 days getting to know Jessica's second Greyhound puppy Chronos before I left.

My visit here has been enjoyable. From hanging out with Amanda's family to dinner out, the Western Montana Fair and I went back for the demolition derby. Taylor and Samantha rode thier first rides ever. Taylor wasn't as excited about it as Samantha but I think the 90+ temp and a tired little 3 year old had a lot to do with it. Sammy got introduce to the gravitron which she really like after she quit feeling nauseous. Jason was getting tired and had work to do so he took Taylor home and Amanda, Samnatha, and I had a burget then went looking at more rides. Eventually we decided to leave so after giving all the ride tickets we had left away we went home then of course I went back to watch the demolition derby.

Between injured goats, chickens. horses, solitude, and being close enough to visit but not so close as to be in the way has made my last week enjoyable.

Leaving this weekend to head East and figure out the plans from there. (I have some family that need me but if that changes then I have some traveling plans to make before winter) North, South, East or West ,,,,, we shall see where the wind blows and I need to decide where to spend the winter this year as well.

The small trailer with the mural says Clips of Faith but on the side it says Free Movies and Free Beer.

Go figure

There were three people in this car and not an extra inch. The body was riding so low the tops of the tires were above the fender wells. Look at the bundle on top, I probably get better mileage. LOL

Oh did I mention the two German Shepards?

Eastbound and down !!!!