On the Road Again with Merle

[TheChunk91]

Well folks the time has come. Merle is heading to another okie but up Tennessee way to mqqn . A bit of freshening up and a farewell to a cousin before he goes.

 

[mrknife]

New York City has some pretty fantastic pizza, Staten Island included! But I had to take Merle to get my favorite slice, from L & B Spumoni Gardens in the Bensonhurst/Gravesend area of Brooklyn.
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I am fortunate to work just a short walk away, and a chilly, overcast day seemed like a good opportunity to avoid a crowd.
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While most New York pizza is thin, L&B makes a thicker, Sicilian pie. It is also made in the “upside down” or “grandma” style with the sauce on top of the cheese.
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The sauce is sweet and tangy. The crust crispy, yet doughy. Really unique, and perfectly done. Merle thought it reminded him of a zeppole - but pizza.
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While it’s off the beaten tourist path in south Brooklyn, if you ever want to compare the best pizzas in the city, you’ll have to make the trip! It has been imitated, but not duplicated.

The place is also popular for its Italian ices and spumoni. And the outside windows are generally pretty busy during the lunch times I’m able to visit.

Mike & Merle

Ha nice to see Merle in my neck of the woods

 

[JohnDF]

Thanks for all the pictures and tours.

 

[TheChunk91]

Thanks for all the pictures and tours.

Thanks John. It was fun, glad to do it.

 

[btb01]

We do some work for the tulsa international bus plant. During WW2 they built bombers here, and the building is a foot shy of a mile long. I hear they grew crops on the roof to disguise it from spying enemy aircraft. After the war I believe they made commercial planes for a while but now it’s all school buses. The facility is close in proximity to the tulsa air port, with smaller runways behind the plant to the west.

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That’s really cool, Paul. I actually saw that building in person last summer. We were back home in NW Arkansas and I had to pick up my brother and his family at the Tulsa airport. I was a bit early and drove from the airport to the Walmart just down the road, which took me right by there. I noticed the long building, but didn’t know what it was. That shot of the inside is awesome!

Well folks the time has come. Merle is heading to another okie but up Tennessee way to mqqn . A bit of freshening up and a farewell to a cousin before he goes.


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Thanks again for taking part and showing Merle around!

 

[TheChunk91]

That’s really cool, Paul. I actually saw that building in person last summer. We were back home in NW Arkansas and I had to pick up my brother and his family at the Tulsa airport. I was a bit early and drove from the airport to the Walmart just down the road, which took me right by there. I noticed the long building, but didn’t know what it was. That shot of the inside is awesome!



Thanks again for taking part and showing Merle around!

It was a pleasure Barrett, thanks for heading up the operation.

 

[bigfish64]

Thanks for sharing your part of the country with us, really enjoyed it!

 

[mqqn]

Thanks to Paul's quick shipping and secure packaging, Merle arrived in South Central TN safe and sound this afternoon!

I look forward to showing Merle around Jack Daniel's stomping grounds and sharing some of the festivities.

best

mqqn

 

[mbkr]

Thanks to Paul's quick shipping and secure packaging, Merle arrived in South Central TN safe and sound this afternoon!

I look forward to showing Merle around Jack Daniel's stomping grounds and sharing some of the festivities.

best

mqqn

I just got back from the Cumberland Plateau. Looking forward to the pics

 

[mqqn]

My eyes are getting so bad I had to take a picture of the pin to fully enjoy and read the writing on it -

Very cool -

I started showing Merle around, and as has been somewhat tradition here, I introduced him to his Forum brothers -

And also to the neighborhood boys -

I wanted to socialize him with some of my Jack Daniels collection and my original Tennessee Squire member card from April 28, 1982...

Then it was time to get to work - I used him to open a package from Amazon -

Merle is very sharp and took care of the package, which contained my tree-stake kit for our new cherry trees we planted on earth day. We put Merle to work cutting the paracord for the ties, which he did splendidly.

I think that is about it. He'll accompany me to early voting tomorrow, and depending on weather, perhaps some yard chores. On Wednesday we will get out and about a little.

best

mqqn

 

[btb01]

My eyes are getting so bad I had to take a picture of the pin to fully enjoy and read the writing on it -

Very cool -

Ha! Sorry about that! Here’s the full-size version of the Porchenberg seal, so you don’t have to strain your eyes.

I started showing Merle around, and as has been somewhat tradition here, I introduced him to his Forum brothers -

And also to the neighborhood boys -

I wanted to socialize him with some of my Jack Daniels collection and my original Tennessee Squire member card from April 28, 1982...

Then it was time to get to work - I used him to open a package from Amazon -

Merle is very sharp and took care of the package, which contained my tree-stake kit for our new cherry trees we planted on earth day. We put Merle to work cutting the paracord for the ties, which he did splendidly.

I think that is about it. He'll accompany me to early voting tomorrow, and depending on weather, perhaps some yard chores. On Wednesday we will get out and about a little.

best

mqqn

I’m looking forward to Merle’s time in TN. Very nice collection of forum knives you’ve got there, by the way.

 

[mqqn]

Thank you, btb01
I meant no offense. When I was a younger man I had the eyes of an eagle. At some point he took them back

The annual Forum Knife is one of the great pleasures of collecting traditional
knives in my opinion.

Best
mqqn

 

[mqqn]

Today was mostly work in the yard but we did get out to vote in the early voting primary -

Merle was on the tractor with me for a couple hours while mowing the property. It was a very pretty day, sunny, big white clouds, 66 degrees and breezy. Perfect.

Merle then got a taste of some early local strawberries; we get some awesome strawberries here and they just get sweeter as the season progresses. 1 gallon container was $10 and not a bad berry in the lot. A local lady sells them from a trailer and she picks them on her own farm. We look forward to seeing her trailer open each year.

And Merle was able to see some of our azaleas in full bloom, they are very pretty but not much fragrance to them. The hummingbirds love them though.

More to come!

best

mqqn

 

[mqqn]

Not much activity today, had to drive to Smyrna TN to take the Missus to a doctor appointment.
I did show Merle how to eat strawberries with fresh homemade shortcake!!

We head to Lynchburg tomorrow!

Best
mqqn

 

[JTB_5]

Today was mostly work in the yard but we did get out to vote in the early voting primary -

Merle was on the tractor with me for a couple hours while mowing the property. It was a very pretty day, sunny, big white clouds, 66 degrees and breezy. Perfect.

Merle then got a taste of some early local strawberries; we get some awesome strawberries here and they just get sweeter as the season progresses. 1 gallon container was $10 and not a bad berry in the lot. A local lady sells them from a trailer and she picks them on her own farm. We look forward to seeing her trailer open each year.

And Merle was able to see some of our azaleas in full bloom, they are very pretty but not much fragrance to them. The hummingbirds love them though.

More to come!

best

mqqn

Those strawberries look amazing! We're almost in season here and there are a couple of growers nearby (we also love blueberry picking).

 

[mqqn]

Merle and I went to Lynchburg this morning for Old Man Breakfast at Woodard's Grocery which also has a small cafe/diner inside where Lynchburg locals go for a good and cheap breakfast.

We were joined by one of the Jack Daniel tour guides -

Jason liked Merle -

I drove the mile or so up to the JD Visitor Center and took Merle for a stroll -

Lexi in the White Rabbit Bottle Shop got to meet Merle and vice versa -

And this gentleman and Squire, Martin, had won a trip from the UK to visit Lynchburg. Merle and I will be eating lunch with Martin tomorrow at Miss Mary Bobo's Boarding House. Pictures will follow!

My old truck at the Squire Parking at the Motlow House

Merle inspecting the Squire wares displayed inside the Squire Room at the Motlow House -

And also reviewing part of the current product lineup. Detailed viewers will see the ugly mug of a 40 year Squire in this pic as well -

This Squire was talking to me, so I introduced him to Merle.



Merle met Mr. Goose Baxter, who is an ambassador for the Tennessee Squire Association. When you visit as a Squire you can sit and have a nice chat with Goose. I often drive or ride over just to have a little relaxing chat with Goose and a cup of coffee. Goose really liked Merle and told me stories of Jack Daniel knives offered over the years.



Miss Kathy keeps the show running, sending out orders and selling merchandise to walk-in traffic. She is a sweetie!



This fellow is a friend of mine from Virgina who is down for the Wyooter Hunt tomorrow evening. Jimmy works at a beef jerky store, and he also is a professional Santa during the season.

Merle and I enjoyed some chicken street tacos later in the evening -



Charlene my good friend had bought me this balloon display and made me a pineapple angel cake for my 40th Squire Anniversary bless her heart. Merle liked her.

That's about it for today - I see how much work my elders in this thread did to get so many great and interesting pictures!

I hope you all are enjoying your week as much as Merle and I!

best

mqqn

 

[JJ_Colt45]

Merle and I went to Lynchburg this morning for Old Man Breakfast at Woodard's Grocery which also has a small cafe/diner inside where Lynchburg locals go for a good and cheap breakfast.

We were joined by one of the Jack Daniel tour guides -

Jason liked Merle -

I drove the mile or so up to the JD Visitor Center and took Merle for a stroll -

Lexi in the White Rabbit Bottle Shop got to meet Merle and vice versa -

And this gentleman and Squire, Martin, had won a trip from the UK to visit Lynchburg. Merle and I will be eating lunch with Martin tomorrow at Miss Mary Bobo's Boarding House. Pictures will follow!

My old truck at the Squire Parking at the Motlow House

Merle inspecting the Squire wares displayed inside the Squire Room at the Motlow House -

And also reviewing part of the current product lineup. Detailed viewers will see the ugly mug of a 40 year Squire in this pic as well -

This Squire was talking to me, so I introduced him to Merle.

View attachment 1804237

Merle met Mr. Goose Baxter, who is an ambassador for the Tennessee Squire Association. When you visit as a Squire you can sit and have a nice chat with Goose. I often drive or ride over just to have a little relaxing chat with Goose and a cup of coffee. Goose really liked Merle and told me stories of Jack Daniel knives offered over the years.

View attachment 1804238

Miss Kathy keeps the show running, sending out orders and selling merchandise to walk-in traffic. She is a sweetie!

View attachment 1804236

This fellow is a friend of mine from Virgina who is down for the Wyooter Hunt tomorrow evening. Jimmy works at a beef jerky store, and he also is a professional Santa during the season.

Merle and I enjoyed some chicken street tacos later in the evening -

View attachment 1804239

Charlene my good friend had bought me this balloon display and made me a pineapple angel cake for my 40th Squire Anniversary bless her heart. Merle liked her.

That's about it for today - I see how much work my elders in this thread did to get so many great and interesting pictures!

I hope you all are enjoying your week as much as Merle and I!

best

mqqn

Looks like a great way to spend the day! Thanks for sharing. Merle should sleep good tonight.

 

[Jolipapa]

Looks like a great way to spend the day! Thanks for sharing. Merle should sleep good tonight.

I hope that if you had one glass with each of those lovely characters Merle drove home!

 

[mqqn]

I hope that if you had one glass with each of those lovely characters Merle drove home!

I am not drinking due to medication I am taking, but yes, I'll let Merle take the wheel as long as he hasn't had too many drops of oil on the joints

best
mqqn

 

[JohnDF]

Looks like Merle is making a lot of new friends.