Happy Monday, everyone! My herd of pups goes through treats very fast, almost as fast as I go through wine, and they have no tolerance for the supply running low. Let me tell ya, the hoity totiy organic brands they love are pricey. Okay, let's be honest, they would eat pretty much any treat, but I would never feed them anything dicey!

 

We got our online order together to everyone's satisfaction last night, and as I grumbled about the price increase in top shelf puppy jerky, they started to zone out and told me to hurry up and just hit send on the order! So I did, and voila, happy doggies!

 

Wishing everyone a wonderful week, filled with all of your favorite treats, and sending love ... 🍷💕

AAW: December 14 - 21: Bokeh

WIT: Nothing like Christmas bokeh, lol! I just got a complimentary soap dispenser in my online order, and it was glass, with a slight green soap inside, to I used it as background for my little christmas decorations. No need for social distancing here! Cropped and brightened the colours.

Lucky placing her online order - she loves sport on TV and Computer screensavers especially photos of people or birds. . .

...or how Honky Tonk and Sister Bill got their nicknames. If it happened in the Hill Country, it probably happened at Mamacitas.

 

This is an essay about the Texas Hill Country, but it's going to take me a long way around to get to the Hill Country. I'll add a paragraph here and there as the spirit moves me. Nicknames are easy to come by in the Texas Hill Country. Any naming incident that sparks a full two minutes of laughter is apt to create a life long nick name.

 

I got mine early on when Sherry began her career as a Methodist minister. Churches she was assigned to by the Bishop had never or seldom had female pastors and for the most part the pastor was called Brother Smith, Brother John, Brother Ralph or Brother Bubba, maybe even Brother Slim or Brother whatever. At Sherry's first church one of the men was speaking to Sherry in front of a crowd and referred to her as Brother Sherry. The crowd erupted in laughter and that sparked me to ad lib, "Well I guess that makes me Sister Bill." It stuck, and from then on everywhere we've gone I've become Sister Bill. Strangly enough, the Brother Sherry didn't stick and she's always been Pastor Sherry. It's funny how that works. This system makes a good litmus test as to who you can trust too. Those who use it in derision are easy to pick up on and you can depend on it, they will become your enemies. It's always good to know who your enmies are. Next time I'm in the mood to post, I'll tell you who Honky Tonk is and how she got her nickname.

 

Joy got her name from British author,Ruth Hamilton. Joy is the pianist at the First United Methodist Church in Johnson City, Texas where Sherry and I spent nine exciting years before we moved to Kerrville five years ago. Joy is my age (80+-) and grew up in a series of Methodist churches. Her father was a Methodist preacher. When she was junior high age she was so good on piano, she started playing the church organ where her father preached. Joy became famous with her junior high school peers by playing the country-western/pop hit "Pistol Packing Mama" to a slow hymn cadence in church during certain parts of the service. Her father never was able to hear the plaintive admonition, "Laaaaaaay thaaaaaat pistooooool dooooown, baaaaabe, laaaaaay thaaaaaat pistoooooool doooooown; Pistooooooool Paaaaaaacking Maaaaaaama puuuuuut thaaaaaaat guuuuuuun awaaaaaaaaay." Of one thing you can be sure, every junior high kid in the Methodist church heard the message and nobody ever figured out why the kids would often become so giggly and out of control, especially when they heard the tune telling them, "Oh, she kicked out my windshield, she hit me over the head. She cussed and cried and said I'd lied and wished that I was dead. Lay that pistol down, babe, lay that pistol down, Pistol Packing Mama, put that gun away!"

 

Naturally Joy grew into a natural musician and could improvise without even having to consciously think about it. During the nine years we were rewarded with her weekly concerts, I noticed that she would often spontaneously begin the add character to the hymns. Some came out with the feel of honky tonk country western and some even took on a boogie beat. She did this naturally, but seemed not to be able to do it on demand. Perhaps demand made her self conscious. For that reason when Ruth Hamilton begged me to tape "Honky Tonk" (that's the name Ruth began to call her because she could never remember the name Joy Feuge) and send her the tape, I made a noble effort. I was never able to get a tape, but Ruth's name "Honky Tonk" stuck and that's what we call Joy to this day. Next, I'll tell you something about a Texas Hill Country institution, Mamacita's Mexican Restaurant, serving Mexican food, but owned and operated by an American Muslim Iranian. That gets him in trouble with the area's fundamentalist cowboy Christians from time to time, to which he pays no attention and simply continues to oeprate a superb small chain of Mexican restaurants. He operates one in San Antonio, one in San Marcos, one in Fredericksburg and one in Kerrville. It just goes to show, you can't hold a good man down.

 

I've been eating at Mamacita's restaurants for years now and when I began writing this piece couldn't even remember the owner and founder's name. Sherry found this link on the internet and it is so interesting and complete I'm going to post it word for word:

 

*********************

 

Mamacita’s Mexican Restaurant: Oh Mama!

Profile

By Kathryn Jones

Thursday, 24 January 2008

 

There are four Mamacita’s Mexican Restaurants in Texas, the largest of which seats 400 people.

Premier Business Partners:

DeCoty Coffee Co.

   

Known to most as simply “Hagi,” Hossein Hagigholam left Iran for the United States in 1976 with a dream to make it big in the land of opportunity.

 

His initial plan was to study civil engineering. But, as fate should have it, he now owns and operates four Mamacita’s Mexican Restaurants in Kerrville, Texas, with four other locations in Fredericksburg, New Braunfels, San Marcos and San Antonio, Texas. The smallest location seats 250 people and the largest seats 400 people.

 

In an interview with Food and Drink, Hagi reveals how he transitioned from a lonely dishwasher who could barely speak English to a successful entrepreneur with plans to turn his Tex-Mex restaurant into a nationally recognized franchise.

 

The ride has not been an easy one, he adds, but with a little faith and hard work, dreams really can come true.

 

Food and Drink: What brought you to the United States?

Hossein Hagigholam: From the time I was a boy, I wanted to come to America. Before the revolution in Iran, lots of Iranians came to the United States to become engineers and doctors, and then they went back home.

 

Without any knowledge of English, my first place to go was Houston. There was a school for English as a second language called ESL Houston.

 

If there were 40 students, 35 of them were Iranians, so the teachers learned how to speak our language instead of us learning English.

 

I knew in order to make it in the United States I had to learn the language, so I researched which college in Texas had less Iranians. Shreiner College had only one Iranian student, so that’s how I ended up in Kerrville. While I studied, I found a job in the restaurants.

 

If you are a foreigner and don’t know any English, the only job you have is washing dishes. I later became a bus boy and then a waiter.

 

As a waiter, that’s when you really make it big. I was so happy about how much money I was making as a waiter that I took three jobs: the breakfast shift in one restaurant, the lunch shift in another and the dinner shift in the third.

 

I remember one time a customer asked me if we took Visa, and I thought they were asking me if I had a visa. I thought I was in trouble somehow, so I ran home as fast as I could.

 

My manager called me the next day and asked, “What happened?” I said, “Someone wanted me to show him my visa.” He said, “No, you idiot! They were asking you if we accept Visa – the credit card.”

 

FAD: I can see how you would feel anxious about that. In 1979, American hostages were taken at the embassy in Tehran and President Jimmy Carter called for all Iranian students in the U.S. whose visas had expired to leave the country by the spring of 1980. You must have been devastated.

HH: The world just shattered on me, because now I had to go back. I had learned English, started earning money and I was dating Ruth.

 

The only way I could stay in the country was if she married me, and she wouldn’t marry me. She said, “Look, I’m 20 and you’re 21. We’re young and you come from another country and my parents won’t let me.”

 

I finally talked Ruth into marrying me. You talk about begging! Her parents gave their permission because of the difficult situation, but it was on the condition that we live apart for six months.

 

I tell people I really got married for the green card, but we’re still married after 25 years and we adopted two wonderful children. I think that says a lot.

 

FAD: Is it true you named the restaurant after Ruth?

HH: She is Spanish and I used to call her “Mamacita” when I was a waiter. I decided to name the restaurant Mamacita’s because it means grandmother, good-looking lady – all the goodies.

 

FAD: In 1985, you and a business partner opened the first Mamacita’s in Kerrville. Was it challenging to get it off the ground?

HH: Not really. We opened the second restaurant in Fredericksburg in 1988, followed by one in San Marcos in 1996, and then the biggest location, which is in San Antonio, in 2003.

 

And then, in 2005, we tore our original restaurant down and built a new restaurant. If there were a place in the Guinness Book of World Records for most expensive restaurant ever built per capita, it would be this restaurant, because we spent $10 million in a city with a population of only 25,000 people.

 

It is very tough to make money when you open a $10 million restaurant, but because of our confidence and if you treat people the way you want to be treated, anything can work. In fact, Kerrville is a German town. People say, “How could an Iranian come to the United States and build a Mexican restaurant in a German community and make it?” My answer to that is, “Only in America, of course.”

 

FAD: Can you share some tips in how to run a successful restaurant?

HH: If a restaurant has five elements, the owner will hit the jackpot in this business. If he has four out of five, he will make a living out of it. And if he has less than that, it is better not to mess with the restaurant business.

 

These elements are quality, service, location, atmosphere and reasonable prices.

 

Of course quality and service are always important, but I wanted to give an atmosphere that not every causal restaurant can do. In our Kerrville location, we have a third of the actual size of the Alamo inside of our restaurant.

 

A mechanical Davy Crockett sits on top of the roof that plays the music like the movie “Alamo.” Also, in our San Antonio location, we created a village that makes you feel like you are outside even though you are inside. It has fiber-optic stars and village shops and bakeries in it.

 

FAD: Having worked in restaurants when you were in college, would you say that makes you a more empathetic boss?

HH: Many casual restaurants have just one general manager that takes care of the quality of the food and the service.

 

When I used to work in the bottom line myself, I found that it was difficult to put all of this work on the shoulder of one person and expect him to control costs and increase sales.

 

So, this is why each of our locations has two general managers – one for back of house and one for front of house. We also took away any administrative work for them. Each of our locations has at least six managers.

 

This is what makes us different. I believe in spending money to make money when it comes to [hiring good employees.] We have a good 4 percent budgeted to training at all times.

 

We talk to them about the golden rule [of the restaurant business.] If you treat someone the way you want to be treated, it will increase the sales.

 

FAD: What is Mamacita’s perspective on providing customers with exceptional service?

HH: All of our customers can testify that no customer can walk out unless a manager has visited their table. We believe if a customer is unhappy, they will tell us when they leave.

 

Usually, if they are unhappy, they don’t say anything and just don’t come back.

 

But by having a manager shake hands and talk to them, they will feel comfortable enough to tell us what we did wrong.

 

We appreciate the compliments, but what we really want to hear is if there are any complaints.

 

I tell my management that when people go out to eat, they are in a good mood.

 

You never see a husband tell his wife, “Let’s go out to eat,” and the wife gets upset about it. Everybody is happy when they go out to eat, and if they choose your restaurant, you should feel honored. So, do whatever it takes to please them. They like attention.

 

You know, lots of Middle Eastern people that have businesses complain because they say we lost business because of the 9/11 terrorist action.

 

I disagree on that because my business has been doing well and I think it is because of how we treat people.

 

I make a lot of speeches about America, the land of opportunity. What I always emphasize at the end is this: Whoever doesn’t make it in this country, it is their own fault. I am one of those guys that really appreciate the country for what it has done for me.

 

FAD: What’s next for Mamacita’s?

HH: We would like to open locations in Austin, Houston and Dallas in the near future. We’ll do it one at a time. I don’t open a restaurant until I have its general managers ready. I have no plan after that yet.

 

You never know. Maybe a successful, nationally recognized chain will discover us and we could make a deal to take this nationwide.

 

********************

 

When Hagi shut down the Kerrville Mamacita's Restaurant to build that ten million dollar culinary mansion, some of the Shiite Christians in Kerrville became very upset because the architect had put a small, simple dome on the structure and it reminded them of a Muslim Mosque for some reason. They demanded the dome be removed, despite the fact the State Capitol in Austin has a dome, some churches have domes and the dome, while a Moorish design, is commonplace in Spain and Mexico AND this is a MEXICAN food restaurant, OK? My friend Frank Clark says Hagi told him, "I don't have the kind of money to buy this quality of advertising." As expected, the dome remained, the new reataurant opened and the furror subsided.

 

Second to the mechanical Davy Crockett who from time to time activates and play the fiddle on the ramparts of the similated Alamo in Mamacita's in Kerrville are the murals painted by Haigi's brother whose name I have never heard and can't find on the internet. Hagi's brother is a truly outstanding artist and at some time in the future I'm going to photograph some of the interior and post it here. Mexican restaurants around the Southwest are famous for their absolutely crude murals, but Mamacita's redeems them all. Hagi's brother is a wonderful muralist.

 

For almost fifteen years now, Mamacita's has been a part of Hill Country living for Sherry and me and the good people of the First Methodist Church in Johnson City Texas. We meet there to celebrate birthdays and for a long time after Sherry and I moved to Kerrville we met regularily at Mamacita's in Fredericksburg. Same driving distance from Kerrville and from Johnson City.

 

I recommend Mamacita's to anyone as being the best eating experience you'll ever have. Their New York strip is flawless and substitute the baked potatoe for guacamole salad and you'll have a low carb meal to die for. The Mamacita's salad is perfect weight control meal IF you'll skip the taco shell. If you're not on a diet the Mexican food is delicious, the tortillas are always hot and honey with butter is always available on request.

 

As Kathryn Jones described in her profile, I can't remember ever eating at Mamacita's without someone from management stopping by the table and asking if everything is alright, which reminds me of the only negative experience I've ever had at a Mamacita's restaurant.

 

Several years ago Sherry and I met seven or eight of the Johnson City folks at the Fredericksburg Mamacita's for one of our monthly reunions. As always I was low-carb dieting and ordered a Mamacita's Salad to get some healthy carbs as opposed to sugar laden carbs. Unlike any other Mamacita's salad I'd ever eaten this one was very short on vegetables. I mentioned it to the person next to me and when the waiter came around asking if everything was ok, that person told him my complaint. It has always been my policy NOT to complain at a restaurant, but I've worked too many police cases concerned with what a cook can do to a customer in way of retaliation. Spit in the food is the least of the possibilities. Whatever the revenge, there's always someone in the kitchen who wants to get even with the cook and so the retaliation gets reported. So, there I sit, not wanting to complain but really disappointed in the amount of vegetables I was served. My friend from Johnson City has spilled the beans and I'm forced to admit I thought the salad was skimpy. The waiter went to the kitchen and returned witha such a large plate of vegetables AND chicken which I hadn't complained about that it was obvious the cook was angered and this amount of food was his way of retaliating and an attempt to make me look foolish for daring to complain. I did eat some more vegetables and the shared the rest of the extra food with everyone at the table. Johnson City folks are not short on appetite, so nothing went to waste. I can see the cook's point of view. He or she probably sees tons of salad thrown out by customers who eat the grilled chicken, pick around on the vegetables and then send the remainder back to the kitchen to be disposed of. I was still disappointed in the arrogance of the cook and the attempt to make me look ridiculous. Maybe the cook was having trouble their spouse, who knows? In fifteen years that's the only negative experience I've had at a Mamacita's.

 

The Texas Hill Country is full of anomaly, so it's no wonder that an Iranian man can become a millionaire with Mexican restaurants in German communities. Fredericksburg is even more German than Kerrville. San Marcos and San Antonio have strong German influences too. Go figure. Now I want to tell you about a mystery writer who writes murder mysteries in and around Blanco County, yep, Blanco county where I was a reserve deputy for several years after I retired from SWT Police Dept. as an investigator.

 

At all those birthday parties at Mamacitas there was the "viewing of the presents and cards" ritual which I've described in the narrative of another ritual. Sherry always shops for certain people on our list and I shop for others, we've never discussed it, it just seemed to fall into place. One of the people I always bought the present for was "Honky Tonk" who is the pianist at the First Methodist Church in Johnson City and a very close friend as well. I always bought her music CDs and usually gospel music. She found out I collected author-signed books and so that's what she always gave me for my birthday.

 

My eyes were really bad for a long time and so I collected a bunch of those books without seriosly reading them. One set of books were by a young mystery writer named Ben Rehder. Joy (Honky-Tonk) went to several book signings and so I built up a collection Ben's novels. All of his novels take place in Blanco County of which Johnson City is not only the County Seat, but is the home town of former president, Lyndon B. Johnson.

 

When I retired in 1998 I was seventy-one years old and had never written anything more than a police report, but upon retiring I began to write essays and short stories and had so much fun I completely lost my identity as a police sketch artist and watercolorist. I've read a lot of the local Blanco county writing generated by the Blanco County Historical Society and others and I'm here to testify this stuff will put you to sleep quicker than prescription drugs. So you have the picture; there I was with faulty glasses, a collection of novels obviously done by a local guy...nothing here I can't wait a while for...right?

 

So, several years later and a new pair of glasses, this time prescribed by an optometrist and NOT a opthomologist...HURRAY, I can read again. So, I picked up a Ben Rehder novel and VIOLA' this guy is really good. This is really just like Blanco County. He's talking about the Sherrif's Office and I rode for several years as a reserve deputy with one of the full time deputies and we had experiences very similar to the ones Ben tells about in his novels.

 

I did feel like Ben's tales were a little tame though. Like in "Murder, She Wrote" it seemed like Blanco County might begin to compete with Cabot Cove for the title, Murder Capital of the World. I was tempted to write Ben and tell him to let go a little bit and make the cases really as bizarre as the ones we actually worked. There was the guy who carried female garments in his car and when he came up on a dead deer along the road, he'd dress the remains in the female attire and have his carnal way with them. A combination the density of cell phones and Baptists got the guy arrested pretty quickly and his case was investigated and taken to the district attorney.

 

Another case I wanted to tell Ben about was the one involving some young men who had small explosives used on coyote bait. They began a campaign to blow up all the rural mail boxes in the north part of the county. In this case the volume of the explosion plus the denisty of ranchers, pickup trucks and deer rifles brought about arrests before too many mail boxes had to be replaced or before someone was killed or injured getting their mail or before the county has to investigate the strange deaths of two young men blown up in a pickuptruck sitting in front of a rural mailbox. It would have probably been written up as a double suicide.

 

I had three of Ben's autographed books and read all three nonstop and was amazed at the quality of his writing and the universal appeal these books would have. When he spoke of eating at Ronny's Barbeque, it was like being home. I have eaten at Ronny's many times and it's just like Ben tells it.

 

When I finished each novel I passed them on to my best bud, Frank Clark, who wanted to read them because although he doesn't come from a law-enforcement background, he comes from a Central Texas deer hunting background. His wife called me and complained; she said she wasn't getting her sleep. He wakes her up all through the night laughing his ass off, so I decided I gotta get online and order everything this guy has written.

 

Online at Ben's website I was amazed to find out that Ben is writing these in a vein of HUMOR. It even cites the genre as being humorous mystery novels. What humor? These are serious law enforcement novels of Blanco County, just the way she is! Damn! Did I ever feel like a hick. I ordered everything he's written and Holy Moly which isn't even off the press yet.

 

As of today Holy Moly is the only one I haven't read. "Gun Shy" is my favorite, but there's not one in the set that isn't a fantastic read. In my case, I can't put them down and it's a good thing I'm retired, otherwise I'd have used up all my sick leave for the next two decades. Frank is still reading and Michele is beginning to look a little "red in the eye" but otherwise we'll just have to wait for "Holy Moly" to come out and hope Ben is presently working on a new novel. The main man is a game warden who helps with the Sherrif's Department's criminal cases. That's the truth or at least very close to reality, we had a game warden in Hays County who was skilled and certified in Forensic Hypnosis and worked with police sketch artists on all kinds of cases.

 

This ends my little essay on the 'Life in the Texas Hill Country" and I apologize for it being a lot longer than I intended it to be. In closing, I'll simply say, "If you're not already living in the Hill Country, start now making your plans to move here; the life you save may be your own."

 

I'm a terrible proof reader and it may be weeks before I get around to the first tip toe back through....be patient, I'm old...ok?

 

www.benrehder.com/

 

This is Ben Rehder's website and you'll be relieved to know Ben doesn't have to rely on the likes of me for his publicity. Kinky Friendman of Texas Monthly fame recommends Ben highly.

 

Images added to a new gallery page titled Prints to Purchase by HarryMorrowPhotography all images are for sale online ordering coming soon, see more at my website: www.harrymorrowphotography.com or direct to this gallery:

 

www.harrymorrowphotography.com/more-prints-to-purchase-ga...

 

For the Our Daily Challenge "Phone".

We've been reliant on our mobile devices for a while now, but in the time of Covid our link to the outside world has become even more critical - not just for connecting to our loved ones, but as a source for most of our essential needs.

Thank goodness for online ordering, and to the many many essential workers that make those delivery services work!

If only it was this easy

 

ODC - 5/15/2020 - Phone

Gray Street - the online order trade is booming. But with limited parking on this street he had to park on the main road and walk over. Silver Efex Pro 2: Kodak Tri-X 400TX Pro with 50% Yellow filter

So much has changed over the last few years - a lot of it forced by the Covid 19 "lock-downs" .

 

I remember when I had to drive 11 miles to the supermarket, spend an hour shopping and queueing to pay, then load the car and dive 11 miles home and unload the car.

 

Now its all done in the time it takes to drink a cup of coffee and a man delivers it to my door.

 

To be honest I never liked shopping.

Ari tries to snap some dramatic and artistic toy photographs.

 

In this semi-autobiographical photo (I'm not a girl, nor do I have a cozy fireplace), Ari struggles with the same challenges I often deal with; namely, a lack of sufficient, or sufficiently versatile, lighting.

 

After two decades of toy photography during which I have been fussing around around with desk lamps and flashlights, I decided to purchase some "real photography lights." I have a few items on the way via mail order (or online order, whatever it's called now) from LumeCube, and a couple of small Joby Gorillapods to use as supports.

 

Merry Post-Christmas to me, I guess.

 

28 December - A Doll A Day 2024

please visit my website and blog www.photorobsmith.com

The Covid-statistics have improved drastically over the past days and the number of patients in hospitals dipped below 2,000 for the first time in seven weeks. Still, 81 patients were taken to hospital over the past 24 hours, with 60 new deaths being reported. Two news events got my attention yesterday. Pieter de Crem, Belgium’s Interior Minister, said that borders can be opened if two countries are more or less on the same pathway where the exit strategy and Covid statistics are concerned and that most likely the Netherlands will have the best chance to be the first country that we can freely travel to. The other, more trivial news event was that the monks of the Saint Sixtus Abbey in Westvleteren will resume the sales of their world-famous trappist beer. Beer enthusiasts will have to make an online order first and pick up the crates at the abbey gate. Something to consider? Anyhow, I’m seeing happy faces pupping up throughout the city… Westerringspoorbrug, Ghent, Belgium

Arlington, Virginia, 16 May 2022

Since the start of the pandemic changed life for us all, many people have switched to online ordering and delivery of lots of life’s essentials. Trying to place an order is the first hurdle as at many times throughout the day, the supermarkets websites are overloaded with customers trying to access the pages of groceries etc to choose what they want. Most times you join a “queue” that notifies you how many customers are ahead of you and the estimated time of your wait, ranging from ten minutes or so up to an hour at popular times of day.

 

Once you have gained access, the next scramble is for a delivery slot which can be several weeks away and at times ranging from 6am to midnight!

Slot chosen, order completed, payment made, all you have to do is sit back and wait.........!

This delivery van from Waitrose is a typical example of the ones that virtually all the supermarkets use. Each Van also has a freezer section for the goods that need it.

"Online ordering"

 

Hué (Vietnam)

 

"Copyright © – Patrick Bouchenard

The reproduction, publication, modification, transmission or exploitation of any work contained here in for any use, personal or commercial, without my prior written permission is strictly prohibited. All rights reserved."

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** Check out our new South East Queensland Meetup group here **

 

About

 

After months of hard work, I'm pleased to finally announce my new website! complete with online ordering and featuring of my most popular images.

 

Visit the website now and use the Facebook 'LIKE' button to go into the draw to win a framed 30x10 inch print of your choice.

 

Oh..... a little about this image!

 

The Boulders was taken a few months ago, and yes its from 2010! I've been kept busy with my son Levi, so I've yet to really get out and make the most of 2011.

 

Enjoy.

 

- Canon 5d MK II

- ISO 100, f9, 81 seconds,18mm.

- Canon 17-40 f/4 L lens.

- Tripod.

 

Processing

 

- Contrast and Saturation in Lightroom 3.0.

 

About www.kanegledhill.com.au

 

Finally, you can now purchase your favorite panoramic landscape images all in the one place and have them shipped to your door either framed or ready to frame.

 

Launching this new website is the realisations of a dream come true, and I look forward to sharing my current and future work with you. I hope you enjoy viewing, as I have enjoyed capturing, these favorite images of mine.

“Sky what are you doing with the man’s timewaster machine?”

“I heard him say that he could order food on it and it would be delivered. I thought we could order our honey that way Posh.”

“Do you know how to use it and what to do?”

“Not yet but it can’t be difficult if the man does it.”

“I don’t know he does know Sky for I haven’t seen it deliver any food yet. It seems to me that it just shows you pictures of things and you can’t eat pictures.”

“I know Bertie and that is worrying me a little bit. Look I managed to find this shop and it says that I’m in a queue and I’m number 4,782 in line. I can’t see any queue and I think you probably would Bertie if there were more than 3. Posh is 4,782 more than 3?”

“Yes, a lot more Sky, and the reason you can’t see them is because they are in a queue on the computer in their homes.”

“Oh! In their homes you say?” Sky said shaking his head in bewilderment. “This place must sell the bestest honey on the planet then if all those people are waiting to buy some.”

“Sky if all those people are in front of you then I can’t see there being any left for you when you finally get to be served.” Said Bertie.

“Hey, you’re right Bertie. This has been most enlightening for me as I had no idea that all those people were buying our honey. It’s no wonder those small buzzy things are going crazy flying about trying to keep up with demand. You’d think they would recruit other buzzy things to help them.”

“Maybe they do Sky. Why did the picture go when you jumped on that place with all those lettery things on it?”

“Not sure Bertie, although being of a technical mind I’d say it is broken. Something to do with gremlins so I’ve heard the man say. If I give it a boost with this strange thing, he calls a mouse, that seems to do something.”

“A mouse? That is nothing like a mouse Sky.”

“I know that Posh, and Bertie knows that, but the man thinks that is what it is, so let us not disillusion him too much.”

“True, I do so agree, it is better not to tell him he’d never understand it anyway so just say nothing and pretend he is right. Mind, I’d like to see what he thinks a mouse-trap looks like. You know Bertie I do sometimes wonder about the man and his kind, for what is supposed to be the master race, I don’t see much logic, intelligence or common sense there.”

“No Posh, best just to humour them and give them a cuddle when they need it.” Said Bertie smiling sadly.

“I think I’ll leave this ordering on line and get my honey by a more direct route that doesn’t have queues that nobody can see.”

“You mean you’ll go to the shop and buy it Sky?”

“I may do, well when Posh runs out I suppose I’ll have to. Posh did you know you only have five jars left?”

“No, make that four Posh.” Said Bertie licking his lips.

  

Project 365 // Day 268

San Diego Comic-Con // Day Three

 

Day three of Comic-Con started off.... very relaxing! Since we didn't have anything to do this morning, we slept in and had a nice breakfast. I took the opportunity to start working on some packing, since we had to get very creative with our luggage.

 

We eventually made it to the convention center, and today was about the busiest day of the convention. I took this opportunity to take a lot of shots of cosplayers. While we were walking around the main hall, Ann got caught up in a random line, when she realized it was for the "Person of Interest" signing, which had Michael Emerson. She called me up, and we traded places and I got Michael Emerson to sign the front of my iPad case. I have met him a few times, and he is such a great actor!

 

While walking around on the outside of the convention hall, I spotted this girl wearing a "toad" outfit from the Super Mario games. I thought she looked very colorful, especially against the aqua color.

 

Jay & Jack's LOST fan panel was today, so we headed over to the Marriot's Santa Rosa room in the afternoon. Jay & Jack had two guest panel speakers, Ryan Ozawa from the Transmission podcast and Kris White from the official ABC LOST podcast. They had an hour discussion about the show and its legacy, and also took various questions from the audience, giving out LOST Mego toys as prizes. After the panel, Jay and I went to the Mattel online order pick-up to get our exclusives.

 

We had a nice rest of the day, eventually leaving the convention center around 6pm, to get dinner and head back to the hotel. On our way back though, we were caught in the middle of a Zombie Walk! I was so stoked because I missed last year's, so this year definitely made up for it.

 

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To see the complete San Diego Comic-Con 2011 photo gallery, click here.

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So I knew about the Lee Big Stopper since 2010 but just recently ordered it! I got it in the mail today! Woo hooo!!!! I soo look forward to using it. This pic was just taken with my cell phone and then edited with the cell phone app & adobe photoshop for phone app.

Despite my best efforts Sasha is still being sold alone and for some reason, either non shipment to stores by MGAE or lack of ordering, my stores haven't gotten anything but xpress it in. Well that's fine - I am NOT shy to online ordering and REFUSE to not go my part in keeping Sasha's numbers up. So after 2 more online orders, the later of which got in while i was at work yesterday, I'm ready to shoot my girl in all her glory!

 

First up - the largely unseen girls!

Posted on November 25, 2021

 

I tried to order online for a serving of Thanksgiving dinner to go but no luck. They don't seem to do pre-order single serving dinners no matter how many you order. Only family of six serving is available for pickup after online order. A hundred and fifty dollars... No thanks! It has gotten expensive to eat at Sam's.

 

Happy Thanksgiving, Sam!

Seen here parked up in Grove Road, Luton next to the Royal Mail Sorting Office are two ex-Metroline Volvo / Plaxton double deckers displaying the fleetname of Tates although actually owned by A to B Travel of Luton, on 18th December 2020. LR52 BLZ is at the front whilst LR52 BNL is behind.

 

The vehicles are waiting to work additional pre-Christmas worker's contract services to the Amazon warehouse at Ridgmont, the usual stopping point of the lay-by outside the County Court in Stuart Street being too small for the number of vehicles required for the pre-Christmas rush of workers, especially in 2020 with so many more people relying on online ordering for Christmas presents.

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Looking for stylish and trendy beach bags for your next vacation? We have a unique range of beach bags for you. Get Free Shipping + 15% off on first order by using this code: STYLEMYJAUNT. For online order, you can book at this www.jauntaccessories.com/collections/bag

Bit of a fun one for you today! This is a Renault Master T35, the latest iteration of the Master. This is a replica of the vans they use at Jumbo Supermarkets in the Netherlands.

 

Jumbo is a major supermarket chain in the Netherlands who started expanding their potential in online ordering by launching a delivery service. You order your groceries and the next day (or whenever you like) a delivery driver will turn up at your doorstep in a Renault Master just like this! Click here for a reference pic of the real thing.

 

This has been a fun build because I got to see some pictures of how these vans work from the inside. Big trolleys with the groceries will be rolled into it to create some shelves from which the delivery driver can easily pick the order and deliver it. I tried to replicate the trolleys (even though the poles to hold them are a bit weird) with the grocery boxes and other items, and also a little hand truck that is often used to make carrying the boxes a bit easier.

 

The van itself is about as accurate as I can make it, obviously not perfect but it hopefully represents the Jumbo van as well as possible :) Obviously the company name is not present, although a brick built logo is planned.

 

The van is complete in its accurate configuration which includes the interior of the cabin. A bit basic, but so is the real one. Van drivers prefer the term 'utilitarian' :)

 

Hope you like it!

We are undergoing our third bout of lockdown, and for some the delivery of essentials after online ordering is essential. The mature, single lady next door is paranoid having everything delivered.

Big delivery trucks are a common sight outside her house - here she is having yet another brand new appliance for her kitchen. John Lewis who she ordered from is one of the most expensive companies but, with a small extra payment, will install the new and take away the old, to be ethically disposed of.

I think there is very little to replace left. Done the curtains, carpets, appliances and bed so far.

 

This DAF LF truck is a favourite for U.K. companies. This info is from Wikipedia.........

 

he DAF LF is a range of light/medium duty trucks produced by the British manufacturer Leyland Trucks.[1] It is a redevelopment from the Leyland Roadrunner of 1984.

 

The LF45 and LF55 are powered by Cummins B Series engines. The distribution truck and pickup versions of the LF45 use the 4 cylinder, LF45s with powered equipment such as bin lorries and vacuum tankers use the 6 cylinder, and all LF55s use the 6 cylinder due to their increased size and weight. The LF shares its cab with the Renault Midlum and the Volvo FL. It is also the base for medium duty trucks for Kenworth and Peterbilt.

 

The LF won the International Truck of the Year 2002 award.[2]

Feel pretty confident that this is now the purpose for the space.

 

Ithaca, NY. August 2021.

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a project to while away the hours using some of that packaging online ordering led to . . .

Ford GT Configurator is Online, and the Order Books are Open

See more ► www.sssupersports.com/2016/04/ford-gt-configurator-online...

 

Don't forget to favorite this pic and follow us for much more!

Best Pizza in Oswego, IL Research reveals that the way you eat pizza can provide important clues about your personality type. There are four distinct personality types: drivers, influencers, supporters, and careful correctors who tend to have unique ways of doing things, even small tasks like the way to eat pizza. The way people eat the best pizza in Oswego, IL can give clues about their personality. Here's what they found: How do you eat your pizza? Find out your personality by eating your favorite pizza at Domino's Pizza, where you can find something for everyone! Order now! Call us at (630) 554-7777 or order the best pizza in Oswego, IL through our online ordering app. bit.ly/DmsOswego Pizza Delivery Oswego IL Domino's Pizza Oswego IL Pizza Restaurant Oswego IL Pizza Delivery Near Oswego IL Order Pizza Online Oswego IL Pizza Place Near Oswego IL Pizza Near Oswego IL Pizza Deals Oswego IL Pizza Coupons Oswego IL Late Night Delivery Oswego IL

Making the NG cover was a wonderful surprise, and something I was not expecting; truth be told, this is my first cover! It should be on news stands everywhere now.

 

Thanks to everyone for your continuing interest in my images and comments. You're all an inspiration to me in many ways.

 

Visit me at www.gschneiderphoto.com as well - I have an RSS feed available and post all my photos there (more so than Flickr). Additionally, prints (also of this image) are available with online ordering.

Every day is someone’s birthday, so let’s have cake!

 

This Blythe doll is Ice Rune, posing for the theme “Earrings” in the Blythe a Day group on Flickr. I had a hard time choosing a pair of earrings for this picture, because I have a lot of cute ones for my dolls; a couple of years ago I placed a large online order with Claire’s when things were on sale, so they were just a few dollars a pair.

Close up detail shot of a living room from a recent shoot for a builder that just finished up this home. Edits on this one were performed in Camera Raw and then I added fire and candle flames in Photoshop.

Settings: f/11, ISO: 250, 1/15", Matrix metering, Nikon D850, single shot, Nikon 16-35mm f/4 lens, no flash, interior lights on.

I currently run a full service Real Estate Media business alongside my wall art, and various other photo ventures. 🍻🙏👆💪

Oh, and I would love to hear what other photographers call this type of shot. Here is my online order form for anyone interested: elevatedimaging.hd.pics/order

Taking a break and enjoying the view after a long hike to the top.

 

I picked up this cheap pack because I realized last minute my other pack wasn't going to work for this trip. I didn't have the time to wait on an online order from REI. The bag worked out nicely. Time well tell how long it will last.

 

The Elk Mountain Trail in the Wichita Mountains National Wildlife Refuge is a 2.3 mile there and back trail that features wildflowers and scenic views of the refuge as you make your way to the top of the mountain. According to AllTrails, the trail is rated at moderate and is heavily trafficked.

 

Check out our hike with more pictures - jamesjohnston.info/hiking-the-elk-mountain-trail-in-the-w...

 

The Kite Trail at the Wichita Mountains National Wildlife Refuge is a 2.4 mile heavily trafficked out and back trail. The trail features a lake, river (Cache Creek), and great views of the surrounding area. It is also the shortest trail to get you to the 40ft Hole.

 

Check out my article of our experience of the trail - jamesjohnston.info/hiking-the-kite-trail-at-the-wichita-m...

 

© James Johnston - www.EvolutionaryDesigns.net/ | www.JamesJohnston.info/

Our Daily Challenge: Surreal Changes

 

We have all seen surreal changes due to this world wide pandemic. One of the changes we have here is that we unbox a delivery outside and then bring the items into the house. Something that I had ordered did not arrive although the online order check shows that it was delivered with other items. I started off as number 953 in queue for a chat with Costco. I am now number 525. Wish me luck!

 

Thank you so much for your views, comments and favs. I really do appreciate every one! My images are posted here for your enjoyment only. All rights are reserved. Please contact me through flickr if you are interested in using one of my images for any reason

We got a huge shipment of Disney stuff today! There was about 5 sets of the sisters together! And about 13 of the "classic" Elsa doll!

 

It's ironic because my online order is still back stocked, while the store is stocked with the dolls. Lol

 

Ps... Pardon the shitty quality of this photo. It was a screenshot of my snapchat while I was working. :P

Here's something I haven't yet posted a good photo of: the online order station at this Kmart. Neat how it was tucked away like that, but even a petite-sized person would be kind of blocking the aisle if they had taken the time to sit down and use it!

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Kmart, 1974-built (closed October 2017), Old Hickory Blvd. at Hwy 45 Bypass, Jackson TN

I placed an online order for fruits & veggies from Misfit Market and it arrived today.

 

ODC - 10/2/2020 - In a box

How about gifting my books to the readers in your life for Christmas presents they'll long cherish?

 

Available at all booksellers online! Order now to have in time for Christmas gift giving!

9233 Glover Rd, Fort Langley, BC Canada

 

Neighbourhood bookshop with a cafe offering breakfast, burgers & internationally inspired entrees. Wendel’s Bookstore & Cafe offers a full espresso bar, a complete breakfast, lunch and dinner menu and creative daily specials.

 

The menu is casual, yet full of fresh and flavourful dishes. When their culinary team sits down to design our menus, great care is taken to incorporate classic favourites along with unique original dishes. They are also licensed, and have a good selection of wines and beer, with local wineries like Chaberton often making appearances.

 

The bookstore offers a wide range of fiction and non- fiction, ranging from best sellers to the classics. They are a full service bookstore with personalized service as well as an online ordering option. Cards and interesting gifts complement their great selection of books.

wendelsonline.com/wordpress/

 

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Thank-you for your visit, and any faves or comments are always greatly appreciated.

 

Sonja

  

I swear I was trying to be good. I only ordered a 10" pie to split with my wife...

I ordered my "420" less than a minute after it was available on the online order form. Well When I went to pick it up, I was handed a "Kraken" pizza. I checked my receipt, and sure enough I HAD ordered the "420". Well Sal's is a great place, and after apologizing they quickly made me what I'd ordered. AND told me to just take the "Kraken" as well. Now we have leftovers for lunch tomorrow.

Right on time, Marie's date arrived: Elvin, the new manager of the town's Mega Mart. On his way to greet Marie, he dropped off Elizabeth's online order of a paper towels bundle.

  

Dante: "Hey, cool, can I have one of those?"

 

Elizabeth: "No. You don't have four children, three pets and a roommate to clean up after."

 

Jeffrey: "Can we focus over here? I need these pages marked to be copied. Penny, did you hear me?"

 

Penny: "Sorry, Mr. Daughtery. I was watching Marie -- judging by her facial expression, her blind date isn't quite what she was expecting."

 

Elizabeth: "He delivers groceries -- he's a keeper!"

   

Best Pizza in Crest Hill, IL Pizza is undoubtedly one of the world's best-known foods. The best pizza in Crest Hill, IL is served and eaten in different ways. It's up to you on how to eat your favorite pizza - above all, it's great and tasty one way or another! Domino's Pizza serve pizzas that are well-done and ready for you to devour. Taste everything in one bite. Eating well gives a spectacular joy to life. Enjoy life more and grab a box of pizza! Call us at 815-436-8000 for your order, we deliver. You can order the best pizza in Crest Hill, IL online through Domino's online ordering app bit.ly/DomsCrestHilliL. Order your pizza with your own choice of toppings! Domino's Pizza Crest Hill IL Pizza Delivery Crest Hill IL Pizza Restaurant Crest Hill IL Pizza Delivery Near Crest Hill IL Order Pizza Online Crest Hill IL

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Towson Town Center

Kmart, would please send the ice machine to another store?

 

Mill Hall, PA. April 2017.

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I recently ordered some new succulents and cactus from an online shop. More about this on my website today if you are interested: brenhaas.com/unboxing-succulents-and-cactus/