I was out on the side of our house taking a

picture of the dark clouds coming in.

I took this picture because I noticed up there juuuust

about in the middle of this photo was a hawk with

his wings wide open just hovering, looking for lunch.

This is him a'waaaaaaay up there. Two seconds later he

dive bombed straight (and I do mean straight) down

into the canyon and out of sight. Lunch acquired.

 My dad is a professional photographer and when I was

very very very very very young, like about 7 or 8 years

old, he made this picture in an effort to help me to

understand how line screen or dots per inch or

something like that works.

I have had this picture for a whole LOT of years. I sometimes

wonder how things like this have survived through everything.

Life isn't about waiting...

Something to keep in mind anyway.

!!! Happy National Pizza Day 2018 !!!

"Yes Lizzy Tex, I DO get around."

 Kind of a follow-up to yesterday's Bonanza post.

I have one more brochure advertising the Ponderosa

Ranch at Lake Tahoe. I left this one really big so

that the photos are able to be opened in a new window

and they can be seen pretty well. If you are a Bonanza

fan and have not seen these pictures before they are

kind of fun.

I like the spotlight in the fireplace.

I wrote yesterday that

the Western Street scenes were filmed at Paramount

Studios in Hollywood. It is easy to see that the town

featured in these photos is not the Virginia City seen

on the show.

The look on Michael Landon's face as he is sitting on

his horse Cochise is CLASSIC Little Joe.

 I also remember that they were selling in one of the

town's stores the model of hat that Hoss wears. It seems

everybody wanted one when I was there. I don't

remember how much they cost or if they were a well

made brand name hat, I just remember that a lot

of folks wanted one.

Bout it for today.

 I came across a few things from travels when I was much

younger. Here is a brochure I got when I visited a place that

I LOVED: The Ponderosa Ranch from our beloved

Bonanza television show. The Ponderosa was home to the

Cartwrights. Ben, Adam, Hoss, Little Joe, the family friend and

cook, Hop Sing and later in the series, Jamie.

I think that this version of the home was really just built for fans of

the show who wanted badly to visit the Cartwright's home. I don't

think it was used more than once or twice for the show except

maybe for exterior shots.

Interiors and exterior Western Street shots were filmed at Paramount

Studios in Hollywood. There was a Ponderosa Ranch set there inside

a sound stage. Take all of this with a grain of salt though.

Anyway, I loved visiting The Ponderosa at Lake Tahoe. Unfortunately

they closed the park in 2005. The land was purchased by a private party

and fans everywhere just hope that the buyer has not razed the ranch.

I have left my scans of this brochure pretty danged big so that they

can be opened in another window to better see the photos. I like the

photo with Little Joe in the engine of the small train. I wonder how

much he "loved" engineering "Little Joe's Express".

 

On a side note... I found this picture on the Internet. It is a souvenir

tin cup from the Ponderosa Ranch. This is one item that I am so

sorry I did not buy when visiting. I love this cup. Years later some

friends went to the Ponderosa and bought one for my son, when he

was little. I wanted to steal it. I didn't. I should have.

It is long gone now.

When I took the tour at Universal Studios, at some point

I came into possession of this schedule of movies and
television shows in production. I scanned the brochure.

Wow check out the movies they are releasing soon. "Two Mules

for Sister Sara", "Airport" and "Diary of a Mad Housewife". Those

sound good. And the television shows... "Marcus Welby, M.D.",

"Ironside" and "Adam-12". I wonder who is in those. I will be

on the lookout for those shows!

I have never in my life given any never-mind to manhole

covers, but this one was underfoot when I was getting out

of the car today to go into the bank. I noticed that it was

"MADE IN INDIA". I do not know if this is unusual or

not since I have never given any never-mind to manhole

covers. But I found it interesting.

Looking at it now, I cannot help but notice how... well,
I cannot think of a word for it...  They are like tanks.

They are pretty artful too.

I wonder if anybody collects manhole covers.

 This sounded really good tonight. Hawaiian Punch (Sugar Free)

Powder Mix. Sometimes this just really hits the spot. And it

is really inexpensive stuff too.

 

I mixed it up in my Viking sized mug. I bought this mug a few

years ago. It was clearance priced and it was kind of a joke.

But it ended up being awesome to use on occasions like this.

And yes. It did hit the spot in a big way. Ice cold.

This is my wagon wheel. There are many

like it, but this one is mine.