ABC Wednesday - Z is for Zinc

Z is for Zinc.............







This little pile of shiny copper is quite deceiving.

This U.S. coin - the smallest of our denominations - is a penny, and it holds a face value of one cent.

In 1982, the US government changed the composition of this coin which had been made of copper for hundreds of years.

Copper had become a precious metal, and the amount of copper in each penny gave each coin a value of .026 - doubling its value because of its metal weight.

Well, we just couldn't have that - it's not the capitalistic way.

So a new recipe for pennies was born.

They are now made of 97.5% zinc covered with an extra thin 2.5% layer of copper.

These babies are also quite toxic - the amount of zinc in them can be fatal to dogs and we can be poisoned by them if we ingest them.

But of course the amount of metal in them is now worth under .001 of a cent.

And if is anyone is caught trying to sell or export the old, real copper pennies for melt value - there is a $10,000 fine or a vacation in prison.

If you heft one of these guys - they are light as a feather. No solid feeling of a coin in the hand as with the old ones.

Oh well - at least they won't weight heavy in the pocket.



This is the third round of ABC Wednesday. If you would like to join in please visit this site for the details.

Behind the Barn for Green Thumb Sunday

Behind the Barn for Green Thumb Sunday







Green Thumb Sunday Blogroll

How to join Green Thumb Sunday


It was just after a summer shower that we came upon this beautiful green pasture just behind a big old barn in Maine.

You can still see remnants of the gray clouds to the left of the image.

All the cows were in a field further away from the barn, and I couldn't help but think that they really have a gorgeous view, and they don't even realize it.

Next week I will post an image of the cows grazing away and enjoying their beautiful pasture behind the barn.

An Old Wicker Seat

An Old Wicker Seat








This little seat is an antique piece that my grandmother handed down to my sister.

She uses it now as a seat for a teddy bear that is probably older than that chair.

It is an antique that my grandmother gladly let us play with when we visited with our dolls and had tea parties.

We could never sit on it, but the dolls were more than welcome to use it.

After dressing up in some of my Gram's clothes, scarfs, costume jewelry, and shoes, we would all sit down at a small table and partake of tea and cookies.

That tea always had milk in it - my grandmother didn't want us to get burned. It took me years to try tea again, and without the milk it is now one of my favorite beverages.

We never knew who did the stenciling or painting on the chair, or where she got it from, but as far back as I can remember, it was always around.

She never did any work on it, all of the paint and the wicker seat is original - and it has held up pretty well over the years considering it did get used by little girls.

I never thought wicker to be that durable, but after reading up about it, I discovered that if the materials are grown in the right environment, it is quite long lasting and strong.

Of course this isn't the beautiful wickerwork that today's Conservatory Furniture is constructed of, but it must have been grown correctly in its time to have held up this long.

And it is certainly not as comfortable as today's wicker either - no foam cushions to relax in. The smoothly woven rattan of today doesn't snag you either like this chair's seat does.

Still though, we treasure it for its memories and enjoyment that it brought to us from our Gram.

ABC Wednesday - Y is for Yikes!

Y is for Yikes!.............







This spiderweb of broken and shattered glass makes for a great abstract image.

While checking out the salvage cars for the upcoming auction, this windshield really stood out.

Most of the cars either had their glass intact or completely gone depending on the severity of the accident.

There are very few with this kind of damage.

This safety glass has a coating designed into it that helps to keep it intact should it get broke.

It is designed to hold its shape and act as a shield to protect the occupants.

The side window glass is designed to break into non-sharp cubes that is easily brushed off without fear of being cut.

Each step the auto designers take to ensure our safety is a plus for us consumers.



This is the third round of ABC Wednesday. If you would like to join in please visit this site for the details.

Make Mine an Audi

Make Mine an Audi








I have been luckier than most when it comes to driving different cars - all types, styles, shapes - I have driven many.

I must say though, that when it comes to handling, which I find to be very important, there is nothing like a German engineered automobile.

A tight handling, responsive car, usually in the shape of a sports car offers the best ride and driving experience for me.

It is hard to find this type of handling in a sedan or sport utility vehicle, but from what I have read about the new Audi Q7 SUV, its performance is surprising.

Not to mention it's sleek and elegantly designed body which gives it a racy look.

Surprisingly, the interior has a third row of seats. This car's cousins, the Porche Cayenne and VW Touareg, do not offer this feature.

These seats fold, flip, and slide around into 28 different configurations - sounds like it can accomodate just about anything.

The butter soft leather is luxurious and there are many bells and whistles - enough to please everyone's taste.

The cold weather package even has a heated steering wheel to go with the heated seats - what a treat in my area of the country.

The quattro all-wheel drive that Audi is notorious for is another feature that is a must-have where we live.

Except for the hefty price, this audi q7 sounds like a dream.

But what can one expect from an Audi?

Blast Off

Blast Off








My last post featured a model rocket blasting off into the sky. It was hard to see that it was a rocket as it was really moving fast, and my shutter speed was not fast enough to catch it.

This image was taken just seconds before it built up speed. It was already lifting off the launch pad as the smoke was billowing around it.

This was the biggest rocket that my son built, and he used a larger engine than he usually used in his smaller rockets.

It took off into the sky - completely out of sight.

We spent quite a bit of time looking for it, and only found part of it - the rest of it had been destroyed at some point in it's journey.

He hasn't built any in quite a while, and I must admit, I miss the launching and blasting off that we used to do.

It was a cool hobby he had, and I am glad he shared it with us.

Happy New Year to All!

Happy New Year to All!








"Cheers to a new year and another chance for us to get it right."


I read this quote by Oprah Winfrey and thought it was quite fitting for this year end.

I want to thank all who have taken the time this past year to visit my blogs. Your comments and visits are most appreciated.

I have discovered many new blogs and gained many new friends during 2008.

I look forward to another year filled with your wonderful posts and thoughts.

Wishing all a Happy New Year filled with all that is good!

Take care, my friends!