The King, The Fish, and The Pickle - Tree Trimmin' 2

We have a neighbor in Alexandria that has a tree farm in Wisconsin. During the year he heads out a week at a time to do the pruning and all the associated (hard) work getting ready for this time of year. He very kindly included us on the list of folks here in DC who receive one of these wonderful trees - he picks out the perfect one each year.


We have a preference for Fraser Fir (the Cadillac of Christmas trees), and this year we have a 7-footer that fits nicely in our special spot in the dining room. Here is a photo of the finished product, just completed on Friday night (it has been a very busy December so far - as validated by no entries from the cabin in a couple of weeks).

As a reminder of the special place we have out in the Shenandoah Valley, this tree has some ornaments in common. I am fond of the little soldiers and other uniformed characters from the ballet "The Nutcracker" - these date to my time drinking gluhwine in the little Christmas Markets in Germany - and we have a number of series of these, most recently from the little store in New Market. Here is the king, we also have a couple of soldiers and a policeman.

Here is our little trout, there is also one on the tree at the cabin. Somewhere on both trees there is also a large mouth bass.

Last ornament photo - the Alexandria pickle. There is a German tradition to hang a pickle on the tree. It's supposed to be the last ornament up, and usually that's the case for us, although it seems we get a few new ones during the season every year, and they go right up. The rest of the story on this tradition is that the first child to find the pickle ornament gets a treat - during the New Year's Open House every child who finds it gets a cookie.

We're missing some weekends at the cabin - would like to have seen the full moon the other night from out there, outside of the DC area's light pollution.

70!

It's a quick note today to observe my dad's 70th birthday. I hope you guys are having a great day in Charlotte!

Meanwhile, here are a couple of items I thought you might enjoy, dad:

RVAH-12 "Speartips"
Established July 1, 1965 at NAS Sanford, FL with RA-5C. 4 combat cruises to Vietnam, 5 cruises to Mediterranean. Disestablished July 2, 1979.

...and from http://www.bobjellison.com/, photos of the aircraft in Sanford and Key West.

Day Trip to Philly

On Wednesday, a colleague and I took the train up to Philadelphia to work on a presentation I'm giving today and next Wednesday. We got on the Acela by Amtrak in the morning, because I also have a proposal going on overlapping with the briefing preparation - doesn't anybody know it's the holidays?

The colleague we met with has been coming down to DC for 2 days a week since October, so we thought we might turn the tables a bit and mix it up with our trip up. We boarded at DC's Union Station. Here are a few views inside.

There is a holiday tradition to put up a model train display, and this year a Norwegian village is featured. A couple of memories always come to mind when I am in the station and walking through the great hall - my mother and aunt always talk about coming through here when they were young. Those trains took them back and forth to Greensboro, I think.

Also, I thought for a moment I'd take a photo of the Pizza Uno stand - my friend Tony took me there my first night in DC after I moved up from Florida, way back when. I decided the phone cam wouldn't do justice to such a historically significant joint.

The Acela was great - just about 90 minutes, and I had the quiet space to concentrate on getting a page and a half written on the proposal - my goal was to get 5 pages done on the train up and back. Also, we discovered that John McCain was in the car in front of us; he and a couple of advisors were on the way to NYC, I guess for the Stephanopolis interview that will air on Sunday.

My colleague told me that on one of her trips, she sat in the same row with the personalities from that Extreme Makeover show, so the train must be the preferred way to travel for ABC people.

I was looking forward to walking through 30th Street Station in Philly here are some photos inside the station. For some reason, I really enjoy this space - I have had a couple of projects up here, and at least two long weekend getaways - for some reason it strikes me as just the right entry to the City of Brotherly Love.

Our company's offices were downtown, and they set us up in a windowed 16th conference room to work in, so we opened the window a bit to let the city noise come up into the room. We squeezed out a plan for recapping 1.4 million square feet up there that day, including 200K sf of data center. We'll see if we've got something the client likes...first presentation is at 10 this morning.

Tales of the Cold War

Last week, I posted on Tempelhof Airport in Berlin, which is where I lived when I was stationed there in the '80's. Just as with Tempelhof, or TCA as we called it more often, I've collected a few photos on line of the place I worked when I was there.

The work location was a few miles south of Tempelhof; actually very close to the Berlin Wall. It was built on a hill, which was actually a pile of rubble cleared out from the city center after World War II. Here is an early photograph of the site, known as Marienfelde. Both of the hills here are piles of rubble.

Our jobs there were described as doing research into electromagnetic phenomena. We had shuttle buses that we rode from the housing areas to work, although you could commute via subway. If you caught a taxi, you could get there by saying you wanted to go to the "US Weather Station" or "US Radar Station" in Marienfelde, and the driver would reliably deposit you at the front gate. I guess the German word was "radarstutzpunkt." This second photo is from the early '80's, which was when I was there.

For most of my time at Marienfelde, I worked shifts. Looking back, it was a pretty brutal schedule of 12 on and 3 off - 4 swings (4pm to midnight), 24 hours off, 4 mids (midnight to 8am), 24 hours off, and the four days (8am to 4pm), and 72 hours off.

We would find ways to trick our bodies into the time changes - usually we'd find a place for an "after swings" party so that we could stay up until the morning, and then my routine for the mids-days change was to take a nap for a couple of hours and then go hang out at the Irish Pub downtown all day. My friends, I liked to call them "Guinness" and "Tullamore Dew," would often join me there, along with Stan, Henry, and a number of others.

Here is another photo of the site a few years later, late '80's. My sister and brother-in-law got to Berlin during this era, and if they went to Marienfelde, this is what it would have looked like. I don't know why these colorful flags are in the photo - they remind me of the Maryland flag. I figure this has something to do with the new IBM plant that opened across the street during those days.

Here is the last image I have, someone's photograph of the City, looking north. When the Wall came down and German Reunionification was completed, the need for electromagnetic research went away, along with the need for this building.

Today, there's not even a trace of the parking lots that were there - it's part of a park that has been made out of the old hill! The site is visible on Google Earth - a search for Berlin Marienfelde will show it. In the skyline photograph, you can just see the white radar tower on Tempelhof Airport, towards the center right edge of the photo.

The entry on Tempelhof is at:

http://hawksbillcabin.blogspot.com/2008/12/and-speaking-of-beer.html

Two More Products for the Tech-Watch Geek

In addition to the little carabiner mounted product I posted about on December 6, here are two other LL Bean “tech-watches” from this year’s catalog. This is my final entry on the LL Bean products, I plan to take a look at the Suunto product next, probably in January.

The LL Bean products were rated for customer satisfaction – the two reviewed here received 3.8 on a 5 scale. I expect that these ratings are based on the difficulty using these products – you have to invest some time in learning how to program and access the features. Chris has warned me about this, as he learned it after getting the Suunto. It looks like LL Bean has dealt with this by providing a DVD for these. Both products today retails for $170 or less.


The first item is a “High Gear” wrist watch, with the following copy:

“This watch provides you with all the data you need to make the most of your time outdoors. Multi-functional instrument is a watch, compass, thermometer, barometer and altimeter – all in one user-friendly wrist-mounted package.
“Displays time, day and date in two different time zones. Dual daily alarms and hourly chime keep you on schedule. Backlight makes it easy to see the display in the dark. Chronograph function has a 1/100 second resolution with a maximum time range of 24hr 00min 00sec. Stores up to 50 laps or 20 runs plus times for each lap and split, with best and average times.
“Digital compass features a graphic display with 360° compass bearing and adjustable declination.
“Thermometer has a resolution of 0.1° in °F and °C, and a working range of +14°F to +122°F. Digital barometer displays sea level pressure and absolute pressure in both mbar/hPa and Hg. Also shows the weather forecast.
“Digital altimeter has a working range from -2,303 ft. to 30,058 ft. Displays current, accumulated and maximum altitude in feet or meters. Graphic altitude trend display provides a quick overview. Rate of ascent and descent can be viewed and an altitude alarm set. Stores up to 15 altitude log-book memories with log date, average ascent and descent, total ascent and descent, number of hills and total time.
“The ski chrono mode allows you to input current altitude and base altitude. Manually start the timer and it will automatically stop when the base altitude is reached. Calculates speed of descent.
“Durable mineral-glass lens resists scratches. Watch is water resistant to 165 feet. Consumer serviceable battery.”

The second is carabiner mounted. Here’s the copy on it:

“Check your direction, elevation, the forecast and more with just the push of a button. This compact digital compass also includes an altimeter, barometer and thermometer. Built-in clock shows the date and time in two time zones, and has two alarms plus a stopwatch. Backlit display for easy nighttime viewing. Water resistant to 10 meters. Includes instructional DVD. Imported.”

Here is an index of the previous “tech-watch” posts:

Photo of Chris’s Suunto - http://hawksbillcabin.blogspot.com/2008/08/battle-of-species-snakes-in-pool.html

Casio Pathfinder - http://hawksbillcabin.blogspot.com/2008/07/confessions-of-tech-watch-geek.html

Tissot T-Touch - http://hawksbillcabin.blogspot.com/2008/09/tech-watch-geek-returns.html

Scottish Walk, Part 2

The Scottish Walk parade is actually part of the fund raising activities for the Compagna Center in Alexandria, which is a child literacy advocate. They run a number of programs that are intended to help prepare kids for success in school.

In addition to the parade, the center has a Christmas Market in town on Scottish Walk weekend. This year, the market was held in the Masonic Memorial - even though we live only five blocks from this monument, the opportunity to go inside is very rare, so we decided to go to the market after the parade.

The building honors George Washington, and there are some unique exhibits about him there, including this bust.

The rest of the ground floor meeting rooms were used for the Christmas Market - here are some views. Not viewable here are the etchings and artwork of other Masonic facilities that line these hallways. The Masons had an extensive building program centered more or less on the turn of the 20th Century - many of those incredible buildings are documented here.

Also, outside, there was an herbal cuttings area. They were sold out as we were leaving, but during the parade, many of the marchers were wearing bouquets of heather, obtained from here.

Alexandria's Scottish Walk

Alexandria's holiday festivities include the annual Scottish Walk - a parade that Mary and I have been going to now for 10 years.

The city's part of this is quite a tradition, and we have our own observances, too. Here are some Scottish Guards - they stop every few blocks and fire their muskets.

Drum and Pipe bands from all over the Mid-Atlantic region come in to march, and many family organization with Scottish connections are there. Also, a few dog rescue groups get together - scotties, westies, deer hound, and collies were among the groups this year, but no border collies...we've never seen more than one or two, and they've usually been "accessories" for the others.

We also get the politicians. Below, I've got a shot of Brian Moran, candidate for governor here, and Alexandria's mayor, Bill Euille, who always marches in a kilt! I understand we missed Mark Warner this year; he was always here when he was governor. John Warner didn't march but in the past he was always there in appropriate garb. I didn't hear whether Tim Kaine was in the parade this year.

Some marching bands below.

Last one, for the last couple of years, our friends Kathy and Brendan have been joining us. And we adjoin to the Pita House afterwards to warm up with some great Lebanese food.

Tech-Watch Geek Holiday Shopper

I’ve posted a few times on what I’ve been calling “tech watches.” These are multi-function timepieces that include features like an altimeter, barometer, and others – there are links below to the Casio Pathfinder entry I wrote in July, the Tissot –Touch entry from September, and the photo of my friend Chris’s Suunto (with the ring necked snake). I can see where it would be practical to have one of these even on the short hikes we take up into the Shenandoah National Park. And I’d be interested in having the barometer handy to confirm weather changes which come up quickly and can be pretty violent here in the Mid-Atlantic.

So as the LL Bean catalogs started arriving last month, I was interested to find a small keychain/carabiner-clip mounted device that includes many of these features, for less than $50.

Here is the catalog product copy and photo:

“…It's not often that you find so much critical information for backcountry adventures packed into such a small, lightweight package. A highly accurate barometric altimeter tracks your altitude as you hike or drive over mountain passes. A barometer reads atmospheric pressure – an important indicator of changing weather – and provides advanced forecasts using icons to warn you of approaching bad weather. Keep on the right bearing while exploring the wilderness with the built-in digital compass. Also includes a thermometer, a 12/24-hour clock with alarm and calendar, backlit display for low-light conditions and a miniflashlight. Carabiner clip for easy attachment to your pack. Operates on two CR-2032 batteries, included.


“Check your direction, elevation, the forecast and more with just the push of a button. This compact digital compass also includes an altimeter, barometer and thermometer. Built-in clock shows the date and time in two time zones, and has two alarms plus a stopwatch. Backlit display for easy nighttime viewing. Water resistant to 10 meters. Includes instructional DVD. Imported.”


How about that…Mary?


Here are the previous “tech-watch” posts:
Photo of Chris’s Suunto - http://hawksbillcabin.blogspot.com/2008/08/battle-of-species-snakes-in-pool.html
Casio Pathfinder - http://hawksbillcabin.blogspot.com/2008/07/confessions-of-tech-watch-geek.html
Tissot T-Touch - http://hawksbillcabin.blogspot.com/2008/09/tech-watch-geek-returns.html

...and speaking of beer

My roommate from Berlin is in town and staying with us two days (a shout-out to Brian M from Henry here!). Whenever we get the chance to catch up in person, there is plenty to rehash and rationalize. And true to the title of this post, beer's part of it - while we are talking and probably has a role in the story that unfolds.



I thought I would use the occasion to post a couple of the photos I have begun to accumulate about where we lived and worked back then. This first one is an aerial view of Tempelhof Airport in Berlin from the 1950's. Tempelhof, or TCA, was where most of the single Air Force enlisted folks lived. We called our quarters "dorms" in the Air Force rather than barracks, and there were areas throughout this building that were used for dorms.


This next photo is from the 1984 "Open House" - I was at this one, I think I was volunteering some time to cook hamburgers in one of the fundraising booths near the grass in the upper right. At the end of the post, there's a picture of the dorms we lived in, in this photo that building is near the white tower, top center.

The last time Hank was in town (real name, Greg, we nicknamed him Henry on his arrival in Berlin) we were able to get four or five of the old gang together for a night out at the Flying Fish bar, which went pretty well, although it did wrap up at 3am, about 5 hours earlier than it might have in the old days (it was a favorite thing of mine to walk out of wherever we were into broad daylight before catching a cab home).

This time with the holidays on, we're not finding a lot of folks available to get out for this kind of thing, so we're doing more respectful things like a night out in Old Town Alexandria, and then tonight we'll meet up with another friend, Stan, from those days.

Here is the building where Henry and my two bedroom "suite" was; Brian and Stan were in this building. This is a photo from the '50's, with war damage still evident, it was cleaned up over the years and used intermittently as dorms, remodeled a final time just before we all moved in in the 1984 timeframe.

Last image is a page from the base phone book, showing where all the little shops were on Tempelhof - our exchange, the barber shop (run by a woman we called "Conan the barber"), and stuff like that...

In future posts, I'll put up some I've found of the place I worked, and where some friends worked.

A Little Holiday Cheer in New Market

Last year we spent the holidays at the Hawksbill Cabin, and we had occasion to drive over to New Market where we visited this little store, full of Christmas decorations. So on Saturday, after the stop at Southern Kitchen, we went there instead of the caverns - it was getting late in the afternoon and we needed to get back to Alexandria that evening.

This little store is chock-full of every kind of ornament and holiday display. Those little lighted buildings that people set up into panoramas fill the first room. I never realized that there are four or five specialties in this category. Between the Hawthorne Village and Department 58, you could spend your life's savings on this stuff!

The other room is focused on tree ornaments - I think there are some photos in last year's post about this too - but I really enjoy traditional "Nutcracker" ornaments. Below are the new ones my mother gave us this year (thanks Mom) and will hang on the Alexandria tree.

After we wrapped up our stop, it was back to the cabin to close up, and then on to Alexandria...where speaking of holiday cheer, I got to watch the USC - Notre Dame game, contentedly.

New Market's Southern Kitchen

It's a treat from bygone days to encounter this little diner there on the US Highway just south of town. We've been coming here over the last year, as US 11 is one of our routes to H-burg when we are running errands. Plus, it's not too far from the Shenvallee Golf Course, and other attractions.

I've read some on-line reviews - mostly written by my fellow Northern Virginians, who must be passing through New Market in a hurry to get back home. So they don't take the time to appreciate the service or the home-cooked atmosphere.

I can't say we've ever been dissappointed with the freshly fried chicken, or the basic BLT or grilled cheese. Their sides are great, a wide range of choices, all southern cuisine. The signature dish is peanut soup - it's an acquired taste and not for everyone, but it is homemade and served with pride.

These are some interior photos that I hope will capture the atmosphere of the place. It's a great stop if you are passing through there.

By the way, the little wine rack on the counter is full of North Mountain Vineyards wine - I posted on them a while back.

The Short Drive to New Market

Over the weekend, we decided to take a short drive over to New Market. We were planning to grab lunch at the Southern Kitchen and take in the Caverns over there. So after a stop in Luray to visit a few folks around town, including Howard, CFM and Andy at Evergreen Outfitters, off we went down US 211.

As we got to the top of New Market Gap, I turned off onto Crissman Hollow Road for a few moments. I wanted to show my mother the view from up there across the Valley - here's the photo. The two peaks visible on the Blue Ridge here are Hawksbill and Big Meadow, from left to right.

There was a cold front moving in - Howard told us they call these clouds, which seemed to threaten snow, "fish gills."

While we were up there, I saw a small 'for sale by owner' sign and stopped to check it out. Someone was selling an acre-sized camping lot, with the camper parked on it in place. It is in Page County, and probably has a view like the one above. However, it's size and location likely make it unperc-able. Asking price: $8K OBO...for that kind of money, we'll likely continue to invest in lots that append the Hawksbill Cabin.

A Cold One

Over the next couple of days I am planning some posts about the short ride we took over to New Market this weekend while my mother was visiting. But first, here's a little fun - I've poured myself a cold one:

Actually...

It isn't a real beer at all, it's a clever ornament that will be enshrined on our holiday tree forever more:

The New Lots

Last year, when we were first taking a look at the cabin and before we decided to buy it, we found this pathway into the woods up the hill at the back of the yard. I found it pretty curious, and at the time took a step or two in before coming back out to continue with the cabin inspection.

Last Winter Mary and I took a walk around up there to check things out. Among other things, we found one of the butterfly chair frames in there; Mary has subsequently restored those and we use them in the summer on the brick terrace.




Here are some Fall views of the woods. All totalled, these lots are approximately 3/4 acre - and we already had three lots in the original purchase. So we're up to something like an acre and a half now.

During her research to find out who owned these lots, Mary discovered that Kevin, son of the original owner and builder of the Hawksbill Cabin, owned these. He bought them in the '70's to protect the privacy of his father's land. He'd thought about selling them, but only wanted to do so if he could get a commitment that they wouldn't be developed - at the time, there was some interest in selling them singly for development.

That would have been a real pity, at least in our opinion. We agreed that they should be kept together and we're going to try and keep the six we have now together. In this little neighborhood, single lot development runs counter to what has been going on there since the '20's. It's only recently been a problem there, and we are dealing with that slowly but surely.

Meanwhile, the lot pictured above extends back into the woods until the hill falls away in a steep bluff. You can see farmland spread out below (it's not that high) and Beaver Run turns around to run below, before making its way through Jordan Hollow Farm to Hawksbill Creek about a mile from here . Mary wants to clear the path and make it a bit more "permanent" - with some mulch or possibly gravel. Then out on the bluff, maybe a fire pit with a bench, something to take a walk out to during the summer and watch the stars come out.

This last photo is the view back to the house from that lot. As you can see, it is a bit higher in elevation - the one immediately to the east of this slopes steeply down to Beaver Run, and the third lot, to the east of that one, is dissected by the little stream.