Bruch at the Cooper Kettle Nashville

 Fantastic brunch at the Cooper Kettle in Nashville.

 Beth and her cousin Eric.

 Uncle Sam and Aunt Carolyn.

 Eric and Sali.

Beautiful view of downtown Nashville.

Fore more visit: Cooper Kettle Nashville

Bird House

 We're trying this year to attract a nesting pair of bluebirds to our backyard. I visited several retail outlets finding prices from $19.99 to $59.99. After an internet search I found free plans from the US Department of Agriculture and with scrap lumber made my own.

All painted and ready to mount to the post. Now all I have to do is dig and cement the 4x4 post into the garden with a post hole shovel!

Marathon Motors Nashville

The main building was constructed in 1881 as "The Phoenix Cotton Mill" also known as the Nashville Cotton Mill. By 1910 the building was vacant.

Quietly brewing in Jackson Tennessee, was a manufacturing company started in 1874 under the name of; Sherman Manufacturing Company, later sold and renamed "Southern Engine and Boiler Works" They incorporated in 1884, producing gasoline engines and boilers.

By 1904, they had become the largest manufacturer of its kind, in the nation. Building on the success of their engines, and prosperity of their company, in 1906 Southern started production of their first automobile, designed by gifted engineer William H. Collier.

By 1910 some 600 automobiles were produced under the brand name of Southerns.

Southern Engine and Boiler Works success with automobiles caught the attention of wealthy Nashville Businessman; Augustus H. Robinson, who assembled a group of investors; that purchased the automobile division, and relocated it to the vacant Phoenix Cotton Mill building.

It was learned that another manufacturer was producing automobiles named Southern, so William Collier renamed his cars "Marathon" in honor of the 1904 Olympics.

When relocation was complete, Marathon expanded its line from the original A9 Touring Car, and B9 Rumble seat Roadster. By 1911 five models were offered, and by 1913 they had increased to 12 different models. The car was a complete success with the public, and production could hardly keep up with demand. Marathon had Dealers in every major city in America; by 1912 they had achieved production capacities of 200 cars monthly, with plans of 10,000 yearly.

Although the future seemed bright for Nashville's Marathon Motor Works, what lurked behind the scenes was not quite as rosy.

In 1913 William Collier filed charges of management impropriety, and suppliers were not being paid. The company had seen three presidents in four years. Through bad investments and management decisions, the company was in dire financial shape.

Production in Nashville had ceased by 1914. All the machinery was eventually purchased by Indiana Automakers; The Herf Brothers, who produced the car for another year in Indianapolis, under the name of Herf-Brooks.

It is not known exactly how many Marathons were produced, although only eight samples are known to exist today.

. The Nashville Marathon building remained opened, with a skeleton crew producing parts until 1918. The building sat vacant until 1922, when it was purchased by Werthan Bag Company, and subsequently filled with machinery for cotton bag manufacturing.

The original Southern Engine and Boiler Works Company in Jackson had also endured its share of financial woes. In 1917 the company was sold to an investor from Cleveland Ohio.

In 1918 the mill supply division was sold and became known as Southern Supply Company. In 1922 the remaining parts of the once great company, were purchased by none other than William H. Collier; who operated Southern Engine and Boiler Works until its complete demise in 1926.

Barry Walker; a Jackson native purchased the Nashville Marathon buildings in 1990. He has also acquired the Southern Engine and Boiler Works buildings in Jackson.

Tennessee Stayed out of the Automotive manufacturing business until the arrival of Nissan Motors (Smyrna) in 1981 and later Saturn Corp.(Spring Hill) in 1985. Today Auto manufacturing is the 10th largest industry in Tennessee.

For more visit Marathon Village

Beth's New Hair Cut

My date for the evening with her new hair cut and color!

Uncle Sam and Aunt Carolyn 50th 2013

 Sam and Carolyn

 50th Wedding Cake

 Sam, Carolyn, Aubrey and Josh

 June and Kristi

 Eric and his daughter Aubrey

 Sam and June (Brother and Sister)

Sam and Carolyn with their two sons Eric and Adam

Gifts, flowers and pictures.

Marco and Eve go to Nashville!

 It was hard for Marco to pick which toys he wanted to take with him.

 Okay all packed and ready to go.

 Rest area bathroom break!

 King size bed all to himself, lol!

 Napping before brunch.

Poor Marco was completely worn out on the drive home, lol!

American Pickers Nashville TN

Beth and I visited Nashville this weekend to celebrate her Aunt and Uncle's 50th wedding anniversary.  While there we visited the American Pickers new retail store. We had a great time and bought two "T" shirts and a computer mouse!

For more visit: American Pickers 

Chicago Snow Storm 2013

 The beginning 5:30 AM hotel parking lot.

 12 noon outside CVS in Lake Forest IL.

 3:00PM my rental car, lol!

 3:40PM drive home at 19 mph!

 10:30PM hotel parking lot. Still snowing!!

6AM the next morning my rental car from hotel window!!

Moonwalking Cow

Moonwalking Cow, permanently located at the George Bush Intercontinental Airport, was originally part of the Cow Parade Houston held in 2001 as a fundraiser for the Texas Children’s Hospital.
This cow stands eight feet tall, holds a Texas flag and stands on a base that reads “Houston We Have Landed.” The sculpture represents the merging of the arts with aeronautics, and depicts Houston’s Spirit of mingling creativity with opportunity.
Mr. Marc Ostrofsky donated this sculpture, which was created by artist Silvestri, to the City of Houston in 2001.

Whataburger.

I always enjoy my trips to TX so I can visit Whataburgers.

The golden age of drive-ins and American automobiles was just getting started back on August 8, 1950, when Harmon Dobson opened Whataburger #1. This tiny burger stand offered something people had never seen: a burger that was so big, they had to hold its five-inch bun with two hands. It was an instant success, and Harmon began to expand the business to other markets. In 1955, Harmon married Grace Williamson and became Whataburger's “First Couple.” Together, they raised three children: Hugh, Lynne and Tom. By the end of the decade, Harmon would open Whataburger #21 in Pensacola, Florida. It was the first Whataburger restaurant outside the state of Texas.

For more visit: http://www.whataburger.com/

New Airbus 321

 No more "No Smoking"! Now its "Turn off all Electronics" and Seat belts!

Got to fly on a new Airbus 321 today with its all carbon fiber wing. A beautiful thing to watch out the window.