Manatee Viewing Area At Apollo Beach Coal Fired Power Plant

Rick Nelson Dies in a Plane Crash - 28 Years Ago

Former teen idol Rick Nelson dies in plane crash in De Kalb, Texas, on December 31, 1985.

When the teenage Ricky Nelson launched his pop career in 1957 by picking up a guitar and singing at the end of an episode of The Adventures of Ozzie And Harriet, he established a template for pop-music stardom that inspired hundreds of imitators in the decades that followed.

The Plantation Shutters Arrived Today

Although all 28 windows are 3 feet by 6 feet - each shutter was made to fit  each individual window opening. There are 56 panels in all. Although our windows are plumb and square - to operate perfectly - some spacers will have to be used. The shutters are mounted inside and they are all functional. 

Posting A Story On My Web Page With A Bluetooth Keyboard

My MacBook Air is broken. The video screen has died and it would cost $300 to $500 to fix it. I decided that it is too expensive to fix for a 3 year old laptop - so I am trying to use my wireless keyboard with an ipad to post stories for when I travel.

At The Smithsonian Institution - The Florida Coal Cracker

Although I never lifted a pick or shovel in anger - nor have I read this Golden Book - the Florida Coal Cracker enjoyed this display in Washington DC.

This Man Lived in This Van At Duke To Graduate Debt-Free

See full story on living in van at Duke

On Christmas We Miss The Folks Back Home

George and Brandon Taylor

We just got home at midnight from a 5 day trip up north to Washington. Lulu and I got to see our kids and grandkids. I was lucky enough to see my sister Judy and her husband. We did not get to Tamaqua to see loved ones there.

Christmas is not Christmas without a couple hours in front of the fireplace with George and Mary Ruth Taylor. This year would even be better - Brandon is home from China. You may re-call Brandon - he was editor of the Blue and White at Tamaqua - then editor of the "Blue and White" at Penn State. Then with a fresh journalism diploma in hand - took a job in China and never looked back. Brandon lives in Hong Kong now - and I cannot imagine what that is like for the parents. But I could imagine the same thing playing out 40 years ago when George was so full of an education from Penn State and so full of pee from his youth.

Both fellas have marched to the beat of their own drums. And that is what I missed most this year in a Christmas without Tamaqua.

Merry Christmas To Our New House From Keith and Liz

Keith - Liz - Harry - on Christmas morning

One of the neatest gifts we got was a Nest from Keith and Liz. You can read all about it on Nest.com. I will be sure to do a big story when I review it. 

It is simply the coolest home thermostat ever. It is essentially a digital computer that memorizes all your HVAC settings - and controls your heat pump. It also hooks up to the Internet via wifi. You have an App on your iPhone and can monitor your home and change the settings anywhere in the world. 

We just got back at midnight from spending 5 days with the Everhart 8 in Washington. Yesterday Keith and Liz took us to see the Georgetown Hoyas clobber FIU - then they bon voyaged us at the airport. 

We should be living in our new home in two weeks. 

Safely Back In Tallahassee

Bumpy ride. Lots of rain. But a good landing got us home. We had a fantastic 5 days. It was great to spend the holidays with family.

From Harry@everhart.com

The Everhart 8 Enjoy Christmas in Washington DC

The Everhart 8 is now 4 couples - it has symmetry - like the Beatles - Jack - Kate - Drew - Robin - Liz - Keith - Harry  - Lulu. 

Kate - Drew - Liz - Keith - Robin - Drew - Lulu - Harry celebrated a wonderful year with a Christmas in the Nation's Capital. Harry and Lulu flew in for 5 days from Tallahassee FL. Drew and family drove up from Richmond VA. We celebrated in Liz and Keith's condo.

Merry Christmas From Washington, D.C. - Santa Left A Bose Sound Link Mini

We had a nice Christmas day with Keith and Liz. We did a lot of eating and drinking. 

Santa left us some neat presents. Lulu got a new gold iPhone. 

I got a Bose Bluetooth sound system. You can play music and radio programming wirelessly from your iPhone or computer. With this sound system you get hi-fi sound without wires. Programs like satellite radio - recorded music -  radio - are crystal clear. It also has a built-in battery that charges in a dock. 

We also got a Nest thermostat. We will be able to control our new home's HVAC system over internet. It learns your choices and saves money. 

Tomorrow we will see Drew and family. Friday we will visit sister Judy in Wilmington. Saturday we will fly home.

It was sunny but very cold here today. We went swimming in the hotel pool. 

Jack and Tami Sent This Picture - Everhart Chalet on Christmas Eve

221 Catawissa Street        Tamaqua PA 18252

100% cedar home kit.

Built - July 1973 - by Harry and Nancy Everhart.

Other Builders - Paul Dodson - Eric Zerbe - Matt Welsh - Herbert Reigel - Ron Dietrich - Don Stidham.

Banker - Grace Hoffman - 100% Mortgage - American Bank

House Kit - Lindal Cedar Homes - Seattle WA

1000 square feet - 3 BR - 2 BA

The Everharts sold the home in 2005. 

View From Our Embassy Suite

I am posting photos from the iPad. Not bad.

As you can see - our hotel is empty.

Merry Christmas from Washington DC

We had a nice flight from capital to capital. Weather is nice here. Sunny an 40s. At  least it is dry.

Keith picked us up at the airport. We went shopping at Costco for hi lady food.

Our embassy suite is neat. Suite 611.

Lulu is unpacking and decorating.

We have free wifi. Breakfast. Evening wine reception.

The 26th we see the kids and exchange gifts.

My air book died so I am using the iPad.

We will go swimming now. More later

House Day 91 - Electrical Ready For Inspection Tomorrow - More Interior Paint - I Wiped Up The Wooden Floorsa

Nick was getting soaked pulling the main wires through the underground conduit to the house. 

Monday Monday - Today was the last work day before Christmas. It was raining outside all day, Three painters were there working on the interior woodwork. Two electricians were finishing up for the electrical inspection tomorrow. 

Nick is the major electrician on our job. He does nice work. Today - in the pouring rain - he was pulling the main wires underground to power the home. All of the boxes and outlets were terminated. The circuit breakers were placed in the main power box. 

While that work was going on - I was scrubbing the wooden floors - getting rid of any excess glue. The floors looks great - not one nail or screw was used. Everything is glued in place. 

The gas logs arrived and I prepared the hearth for them. 

Tomorrow we go up north for 5 days. The workers are taking a vacation during that time. We are closing in - 90% done. 

Harry Potter lived under the steps. We even put wood floor in Jack's secret hideaway. 

The 200  Amp service uses Square D circuit breaker format. The top 8 circuit breakers are ground fault interruptors. 

The dining room fireplace is ready for the logs. The natural gas logs will easily heat the large great hall. The fireplace will be covered with stone. The mantle will attach to the 2 x 10 plank.

The living room fireplace looks a lot  like the dining room fireplace. 

Bedroom 2 has mahogany floors and 4 windows which will have interior shutters.

Bedroom 3 faces west and the back yard. I scrubbed the floors of excess glue today.

Each bedroom has a fire detector. They are hard wired into the electrical system. This is bedroom 3.

Bedroom 2 is green. The smoke detector is not red - it is white- it is covered with protective plastic for now.

This fire detector protects the great hall.

The kitchen/dining room will have a large granite island and an even larger dining room set.

Looking through the fireplace from the dining room to the living room and the front door.

This panorama shot shows the living room.

This is bedroom 3 with its 4 windows.

House Day 91 - Electrical Ready For Inspection Tomorrow - More Interior Paint - I Wiped Up The Wooden Floors

Nick was getting soaked pulling the main wires through the underground conduit to the house. 

Monday Monday - Today was the last work day before Christmas. It was raining outside all day, Three painters were there working on the interior woodwork. Two electricians were finishing up for the electrical inspection tomorrow. 

Nick is the major electrician on our job. He does nice work. Today - in the pouring rain - he was pulling the main wires underground to power the home. All of the boxes and outlets were terminated. The circuit breakers were placed in the main power box. 

While that work was going on - I was scrubbing the wooden floors - getting rid of any excess glue. The floors looks great - not one nail or screw was used. Everything is glued in place. 

The gas logs arrived and I prepared the hearth for them. 

Tomorrow we go up north for 5 days. The workers are taking a vacation during that time. We are closing in - 90% done. 

Harry Potter lived under the steps. We even put wood floor in Jack's secret hideaway. 

The 200  Amp service uses Square D circuit breaker format. The top 8 circuit breakers are ground fault interruptors. 

The dining room fireplace is ready for the logs. The natural gas logs will easily heat the large great hall. The fireplace will be covered with stone. The mantle will attach to the 2 x 10 plank.

The living room fireplace looks a lot  like the dining room fireplace. 

Bedroom 2 has mahogany floors and 4 windows which will have interior shutters.

Bedroom 3 faces west and the back yard. I scrubbed the floors of excess glue today.

Each bedroom has a fire detector. They are hard wired into the electrical system. This is bedroom 3.

Bedroom 2 is green. The smoke detector is not red - it is white- it is covered with protective plastic for now.

This fire detector protects the great hall.

The kitchen/dining room will have a large granite island and an even larger dining room set.

Looking through the fireplace from the dining room to the living room and the front door.

This panorama shot shows the living room.

This is bedroom 3 with its 4 windows.

My Favorite Bumper Sticker

On Our Walk - We Ran Into Santa

Although Santa was very busy today - he had a few minutes to pose with Lulu. He said she has been a good girl and she can have whatever she wants for Christmas. I know her wish and I think she is going to get it. 

Merry Christmas Santa - we will be looking for you in Washington DC on Christmas Eve. 

Merry Christmas to all from the Everhart 8.

House Days 89 and 90 - Completed the Mahogany Hardwood Floor

Josh Wells is putting down the last few boards in Jack's private cubby hole under the steps - like Harry Potter.

Thursday and Friday - We completed the hardwood floors. It was a long tedious job - but my crew did an excellent job. The hardwood floors are in the living room - dining room - kitchen - pantry - and 3 bedrooms. There is porcelain tile in the bathrooms - the master closet - and the laundry. In our present home- we chose to nail and screw the hardwood to the concrete floor. This time we chose to glue the tongue and groove material with a water based glue. It was my job to wipe off the completed floor - the glue comes off easily with a wet cloth. I have completed the living room - it will take me a couple days to do the rest of the floors.

Someone Posted This Really Nice Video Tamaqua Christmas Card on YouTube

If you know who made this video - please let me know so I can give them credit.

Tamaqua was my hometown for 55 years - this time of the year you think about all the good times you had there.

Pennsylvania and Florida - My Two Homes This Morning

The above pictures were stolen from Doris and Diane Hollenbach - I used their maiden name. They both are THS grads.

Doris lives in Homestead FL - Diane lives back home in Tamaqua PA. They both took these pictures at sunrise this morning out of their kitchen windows and intuitively posted them. At age 18 - Doris left home and took a job at Sears in Miami. She met her husband Elias there and they have been living the dream in the sunshine for 42 years. 

Day 88 - Installing the Hardwood Floor

Gary - Josh - and Gary worked all day installing mahogany hardwood floors. This is the pantry off the kitchen. All that is left to do are the two guest bedrooms.

Even the coat closet and the cubby hole under the steps received a glued down layer of hardwood

That is the front door and this is looking east to the street. It was a little messy because the painters were sanding all the walls and woodwork to give it another coat of paint. 

This is looking west from the living room into the diting room. We are waiting on the stone for the fireplace. As soon as it comes in - it is going up.

The vacuum cleaner is in the kitchen. The kitchen will be separated from the dining room by a granite topped island. The island will have cabinets all around it.