On the Road Again with Merle

[Jack Black]

Thanks Jack! It was delicious, and provided a great start to the patina...one last picture before I pack him up to head back to Barrett

View attachment 1668050

Looks like Merle is off to a great start Chip

 

[btb01]

Thanks Jack! It was delicious, and provided a great start to the patina...one last picture before I pack him up to head back to Barrett

View attachment 1668050

Dang, now there's no way I'll get $600 when I put Merle on eBay!

Our host list so far is looking good. We have 23 members in the US, 2 Canadians, 2 Brits and a Scot. I'm hoping we'll get some more international members interested in showing Merle around. (I'm not going to start tagging folks and twisting arms just yet, but I will if it comes to it...) I'll wait a bit longer before publishing the host list in Post #2 (although I plan on keeping "entries" open beyond that point, so anyone who might be a little late to the party can still join in).

 

[btb01]

Look who just arrived back in Minnesota…

I’m looking forward to showing Merle around a bit before sending him off to his next destination.

 

[hornetguy]

Chip, you are full of surprises! I never thought I’d compliment someone named Merle on his backside, but it looks great! Thanks for going above and beyond! (Are you tired of me thanking you yet?)

Probably better than complimenting him on his frontside, with two nuts exposed.....

 

[WValtakis]

Probably better than complimenting him on his frontside, with two nuts exposed.....

Well played, sir.

 

[btb01]

Probably better than complimenting him on his frontside, with two nuts exposed.....

Ok, truth is maybe Merle was feeling a bit inferior to his 2AB brothers, but hey, who’s laughing now? Look at the size of those acorns!

(Well this thread got weird in a hurry…)

Anywho…

I was thinking, if the 2AB is the 2 Acorn Barlow (or 2 Acorn Bolster, depending on who you ask), does that mean Merle is now a 2ABFB? Or a 2ABFSTB?

 

[btb01]

I figured the arrival of Merle called for the opening of a new bottle. Lagavulin Offerman Edition (11 years) finished in Guinness casks.

 

[BigKurtHaze]

How delightfully porchy. I’m in, would love to extend Merle’s tour of western Oregon.

 

[Jack Black]

I figured the arrival of Merle called for the opening of a new bottle. Lagavulin Offerman Edition (11 years) finished in Guinness casks.

Lucky old Merle! Great pic Barrett

 

[Johnnythefox]

I figured the arrival of Merle called for the opening of a new bottle. Lagavulin Offerman Edition (11 years) finished in Guinness casks.

Cracking photo.
I want to drink/love Whisky but since I collapsed comatose from it at our Christmas party when I was 16 years old in the Army the very thought makes me feel ill.
I was nearly sick in the vats at Bushmills on a tour on one of the few days we had off from Belfast.
We carried every Scotsman back on the bus,you could drink as much as you wanted but couldn't take any home,happy days.

So please have a wee swally for me and enjoy.

 

[Horsewright]

I figured the arrival of Merle called for the opening of a new bottle. Lagavulin Offerman Edition (11 years) finished in Guinness casks.

Oh my!

 

[Modoc ED]

When is Merle scheduled for lift-off?

 

[btb01]

Today was just a quiet day around the house. Merle tagged along while I dropped my oldest, Eleanor, off at school, and went with me to get the oil changed in my truck. (Sorry, no photos of those thrilling adventures.)

This afternoon we took a walk around the neighborhood. The hill in the photos below is popular for sledding in winter, and is know as “Killer Hill.” (It is slightly more intimidating in person, the photos don’t quite do it justice.)

Here’s the view from the top of the hill.

Merle hopped in on a photo I was taking for another thread.

The most exciting part of the day (for me at least) was the arrival of package from Jack Black containing all sorts of goodies. Merle helped open the package, and then hopped in on that photo, as well.

Included in the package were several British sweets (a Double Decker candy bar, some Fruit Pastilles, licorice and four Fudge bars, a personal favorite, which I’m guessing I must have mentioned at some point ), a couple blueberry muffin fruit and nut bars and some savory snacks (Twiglets, which I haven’t tried before but have heard of — are they mentioned in one of these Cornetto Trilogy films? — and Bacon Fries, which sound tasty). Jack also included a Maker’s Mark Christmas jumper (I’m afraid it might be a bit small for me, but it’d probably keep a bottle if whiskey warm on a cold winters night ), a tea towel and a nice little Sheffield-made penknife with the word SKOL engraved on it. (In this case, I believe Skol is a brand of Dutch beer, but it also happens to be a cheer frequently used at Minnesota Vikings games.) I realized after I took the photo that there were a couple items that didn’t make it in, because Eleanor had already commandeered them.

Jack, thank you for the wonderful package! Now I just have to keep Merle (and Eleanor) away from the Fudge bars. (Ok, ok… I’ll share them with Eleanor.)

 

[btb01]

When is Merle scheduled for lift-off?

I’m going to spend a couple weeks showing him around here and then send him on his way. I’ll be working on the host list/order and should have that up soon.

I had originally thought the timing would work out so that Merle would be here for Thanksgiving, but Chip got him finished and back to me so fast that Thanksgiving is still four weeks away, and I’m not about to break my own rule and keep him that long.

So if anyone has big Thanksgiving plans and would like for Merle to join them, please let me know, I can put you first on the list.

 

[Jack Black]

Today was just a quiet day around the house. Merle tagged along while I dropped my oldest, Eleanor, off at school, and went with me to get the oil changed in my truck. (Sorry, no photos of those thrilling adventures.)

This afternoon we took a walk around the neighborhood. The hill in the photos below is popular for sledding in winter, and is know as “Killer Hill.” (It is slightly more intimidating in person, the photos don’t quite do it justice.)

Here’s the view from the top of the hill.

Merle hopped in on a photo I was taking for another thread.

The most exciting part of the day (for me at least) was the arrival of package from Jack Black containing all sorts of goodies. Merle helped open the package, and then hopped in on that photo, as well.

Included in the package were several British sweets (a Double Decker candy bar, some Fruit Pastilles, licorice and four Fudge bars, a personal favorite, which I’m guessing I must have mentioned at some point ), a couple blueberry muffin fruit and nut bars and some savory snacks (Twiglets, which I haven’t tried before but have heard of — are they mentioned in one of these Cornetto Trilogy films? — and Bacon Fries, which sound tasty). Jack also included a Maker’s Mark Christmas jumper (I’m afraid it might be a bit small for me, but it’d probably keep a bottle if whiskey warm on a cold winters night ), a tea towel and a nice little Sheffield-made penknife with the word SKOL engraved on it. (In this case, I believe Skol is a brand of Dutch beer, but it also happens to be a cheer frequently used at Minnesota Vikings games.) I realized after I took the photo that there were a couple items that didn’t make it in, because Eleanor had already commandeered them.

Jack, thank you for the wonderful package! Now I just have to keep Merle (and Eleanor) away from the Fudge bars. (Ok, ok… I’ll share them with Eleanor.)

I'm glad the candy made it for Halloween my friend I thought one of the girls might have a doll or something that jumper would fit! That's a nice coincidence about the Skol Penknife. Skol was a beer sold here in the 70's (the last time I had a pint of it was the day I left school! )

Edit - I just remembered there were a couple of small glass sheep in there, that you might want to watch Scout with mate I think it's really funny Eleanor ran off with the Yorkshire tat, and left you with the candy!

 

[ed_is_dead]

Bacon Fries!!!! NumNumNum
Blades upon bacon fries??
I'll get my coat...

 

[btb01]

I'm glad the candy made it for Halloween my friend I thought one of the girls might have a doll or something that jumper would fit! That's a nice coincidence about the Skol Penknife. Skol was a beer sold here in the 70's (the last time I had a pint of it was the day I left school! )

Edit - I just remembered there were a couple of small glass sheep in there, that you might want to watch Scout with mate I think it's really funny Eleanor ran off with the Yorkshire tat, and left you with the candy!

Thanks again, Jack! Eleanor asked if she could have some of the candy as soon as I opened the package, but I told her she had to wait, so she ran off with the pens instead (things she can write/draw with are right up there with candy for her). She was also really interested in the little glass sheep, which didn’t make the photo because I had set them to the side out of Scout’s reach and forgot to grab them again.

(I did share a Fudge with Eleanor after I was done with the photo.)

 

[Jack Black]

Thanks again, Jack! Eleanor asked if she could have some of the candy as soon as I opened the package, but I told her she had to wait, so she ran off with the pens instead (things she can write/draw with are right up there with candy for her). She was also really interested in the little glass sheep, which didn’t make the photo because I had set them to the side out of Scout’s reach and forgot to grab them again.

(I did share a Fudge with Eleanor after I was done with the photo.)

That's pretty cool I suddenly had one of those, "Oh no! I forgot to mention the glass sheep!" thoughts - happens all the time! I'm glad everything is OK

 

[Magizm7]

I figured the arrival of Merle called for the opening of a new bottle. Lagavulin Offerman Edition (11 years) finished in Guinness casks.

Today was just a quiet day around the house. Merle tagged along while I dropped my oldest, Eleanor, off at school, and went with me to get the oil changed in my truck. (Sorry, no photos of those thrilling adventures.)

This afternoon we took a walk around the neighborhood. The hill in the photos below is popular for sledding in winter, and is know as “Killer Hill.” (It is slightly more intimidating in person, the photos don’t quite do it justice.)

Here’s the view from the top of the hill.

Merle hopped in on a photo I was taking for another thread.

The most exciting part of the day (for me at least) was the arrival of package from Jack Black containing all sorts of goodies. Merle helped open the package, and then hopped in on that photo, as well.

Included in the package were several British sweets (a Double Decker candy bar, some Fruit Pastilles, licorice and four Fudge bars, a personal favorite, which I’m guessing I must have mentioned at some point ), a couple blueberry muffin fruit and nut bars and some savory snacks (Twiglets, which I haven’t tried before but have heard of — are they mentioned in one of these Cornetto Trilogy films? — and Bacon Fries, which sound tasty). Jack also included a Maker’s Mark Christmas jumper (I’m afraid it might be a bit small for me, but it’d probably keep a bottle if whiskey warm on a cold winters night ), a tea towel and a nice little Sheffield-made penknife with the word SKOL engraved on it. (In this case, I believe Skol is a brand of Dutch beer, but it also happens to be a cheer frequently used at Minnesota Vikings games.) I realized after I took the photo that there were a couple items that didn’t make it in, because Eleanor had already commandeered them.

Jack, thank you for the wonderful package! Now I just have to keep Merle (and Eleanor) away from the Fudge bars. (Ok, ok… I’ll share them with Eleanor.)

I could arrange for Merle to visit Nick's spiritual home. I was there in May although this is as close as I could get as it was still closed to visitors at the time.

Wonderful Autumn colours you have there Barrett and a great collection of pins (and sweets)!

 

[btb01]

Merle and I got up before the rest of the family this morning and walked down to see the sun coming up over Lake Minnetonka.