elcamino/wheelhorse 9,320 #26 Posted October 14, 2021 I had a 1957 Renault dauphin (sp) that was the worse brakes were non existent we would open the doors to slow it down. One guy in high school (1965-1966 ) had a new one that turned over on its side in the school parking lot. Four of us picked it up and flipped it back on all 4 wheels. Never heard how he explained all the missing paint and huge mess on the driver's size to his parents. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rjg854 11,382 #27 Posted October 14, 2021 Caz if you get the chance to get inside, I sure would enjoy any pictures of the woodwork and such. I just love that type of thing 🤩 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jeff-C175 7,202 #28 Posted October 14, 2021 Caz, shoot me a PM when you return home. I have some old tools you may (or may not) be interested in... I don't know enough about them to know if they're junque or not. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
formariz 11,987 #29 Posted October 15, 2021 On 10/14/2021 at 1:51 AM, rjg854 said: Caz if you get the chance to get inside, I sure would enjoy any pictures of the woodwork and such. I just love that type of thing 🤩 Will do. This one is kind of hard to find it open, usually under guard when so. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
formariz 11,987 #30 Posted October 15, 2021 On 10/14/2021 at 2:20 AM, Jeff-C175 said: Caz, shoot me a PM when you return home. I have some old tools you may (or may not) be interested in... I don't know enough about them to know if they're junque or not. Thank you. Always interested in anything old. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
formariz 11,987 #31 Posted October 15, 2021 Went to see my close friend. Countless hours and nights spent making love to it. My favorite and most proud of ,accomplishment as a woodworker. I was extremely happy to find it beautifully kept, and proudly displayed.It has oxidized into an astonishingly beautiful tone. 4 3 4 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
formariz 11,987 #32 Posted October 15, 2021 Went to the old homestead. The new chestnut grove is growing fast , soon it will need to be thinned. Grapes have already been harvested and new wine is fermenting. The new walnut trees also already producing great sweet tasting walnuts. 4 2 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
formariz 11,987 #33 Posted October 15, 2021 Grandpa’s sharpening stone still retired on its side. The cavity in the center held water to lubricate stone. The slight concave area on side was where he first sharpened the curved adze to remove minor dings on the edge, prior to honing it on the stone. Stone is colored there from metal particles rusting. 1 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
formariz 11,987 #34 Posted October 15, 2021 Vine well over 100 years old still producing grapes. I remember as a child being told by my grandfather that his father already had told him it was there when he was a child. The only one left like that. This tree of the palm family was crucial to the vineyard maintenance. The leaves were split into thin “strings” and used to tie vines during pruning time. There was no string available to purchase so one had to be resourceful. It’s actually incredibly strong and resistant to rot. 8 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
formariz 11,987 #35 Posted October 17, 2021 Cork oak tree in family’s property. Documented to be over 300 years old and actually protected by law. Cork was last stripped a couple of years ago. Different layers evident on upper branches. 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
formariz 11,987 #36 Posted October 17, 2021 Persimmons. My favorite fruit now in season. I just sit next to the tree eating them until I get physically sick. 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DennisThornton 4,769 #37 Posted October 17, 2021 Persimmons, under appreciated fruit. Grows wild in more southern states and maybe here someday with global warming... A bit different but I love them! Got to be fully ripe for me. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
8ntruck 7,016 #38 Posted October 17, 2021 One of the projects I had as an engineer was doing a stress analysis on the steel wheel for the Renault Alliance - that boxy shaped joint venture between AMC and Renault. Turns out that the steel wheel was lighter than the optional aluminum wheel. Persimmons - I was an assistant Scout Master when my boys were in scouts. On campout, the adults would set up and operate as a patrol. We always tried to do a fancy meal over the campfire to show the kids that you could cook more than hot dogs and canned beans. One time, we roasted a turkey in a Dutch oven. I noticed a persimmon tree with ripe fruit, so we also cooked up sort of a persimmon glaze for the turkey. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
formariz 11,987 #39 Posted October 17, 2021 (edited) 3 hours ago, DennisThornton said: Got to be fully ripe for me. Definitely. Best when it can barely be handled and just disintegrates in ones hand. Edited October 17, 2021 by formariz Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DennisThornton 4,769 #40 Posted October 17, 2021 2 hours ago, formariz said: Definitely. Best when it can barely be handled and just desintegrares in ones hand. Yeah, I suspect it's a fruit that doesn't ship well or isn't appreciated if it is because they need to be dead ripe to want to write home about, or share with a forum. Maybe if one could just sit under the tree and eat only the ones that fell under a gentle breeze... Love the pictures and the shared memories! 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
formariz 11,987 #41 Posted October 17, 2021 10 minutes ago, DennisThornton said: Yeah, I suspect it's a fruit that doesn't ship well or isn't appreciated if it is because they need to be dead ripe to want to write home about, or share with a forum. Maybe if one could just sit under the tree and eat only the ones that fell under a gentle breeze... Love the pictures and the shared memories! You are right. In the States in my area they do not grow. The ones I buy there are picked too early and never ripen rendering them unedible. Exactly what I did today, just sat next to the tree and picked the totally ripe ones to eat while enjoying the peace of a slight breeze listening to the total absence of any modern human generated sounds, doing nothing or worrying about anything except for the aftermath of the persimmon binge. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
formariz 11,987 #42 Posted October 17, 2021 Newly planted olive grove belonging to wife’s family. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
formariz 11,987 #43 Posted October 17, 2021 I am glad I got this thing fully insured including tires and glass which are not part of insurance package. This thing has a serious windshield. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
formariz 11,987 #44 Posted October 18, 2021 (edited) In my in-laws house, screw from wine press. It was used until about 30 years ago when it was then dismantled to make “ improvements” . It is dated from 1772. It is about 12 feet long. Made from one entire tree. This type of setup dates back from the Romans and was prevalent in this part of country. This is what would look like . Still quite a few around totally intact. Edited October 18, 2021 by formariz 2 2 1 4 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jeff-C175 7,202 #45 Posted October 18, 2021 15 hours ago, formariz said: In the States in my area they do not grow When I moved in here in 1984 there were two Persimmon trees in my neighbor's yard. "Uncle Tom" planted them shortly after he built his home just after WW II. They were probably 50' tall. I don't know how he got them to grow this far North! Maybe nobody ever told the trees they don't survive in this zone! They got blown over in a big storm ( can't recall which one! ) sometime around the turn of the century. I miss eating the fruit! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
formariz 11,987 #46 Posted October 19, 2021 This is where the world’s largest waves have been recorded and surfing records have bee set. Today of course was just a beautiful calm day. 4 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
formariz 11,987 #47 Posted October 19, 2021 This Sanctuary is from the 14th century. Pink marble is prominent in this area some even being used as cobblestones on the road. Not one of the most elaborate interiors but beautifully executed combination of gilded carvings and “ marbled” woodwork. It has always been a source of inspiration for my work on the yokes elements of which can be recognized on them. Not so fancy is the hardware on the doors that kept the riches from being stolen but nevertheless pretty impressive. The attire on display is actually all embroidered in gold. One of many in display. 1 1 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rjg854 11,382 #48 Posted October 19, 2021 Thanks Caz Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DennisThornton 4,769 #49 Posted October 19, 2021 My goodness! Must be special to be right there and see all that and actually touch some! Extraordinary! Mind boggling that it could be built at all much less hundreds of years ago! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
formariz 11,987 #50 Posted October 19, 2021 In the 1940s when my father In law was in his early 20s he was a butcher. However to supplement his income in those hard times he also had a business where he would go in a horse carriage selling goods through the local towns. He would sell stuff such as bar soap, kerosene, olive oil and other items of local necessity. He managed to preserve that carriage totally intact with all the accessories in it down to the actual horse whip. I always admired it all of these years and now I am the happy heir to it. He gave it to me today. 1 5 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites