You Can Still Get a Great Cheap Lunch!

Greg Adams, Willow Furniture Maker, and I spent Friday and Saturday together at a show in Troy, Ohio.  I discovered the Greg enjoys exploring new towns as much as I do.  We discovered K’s Hamburger Shop.  It’s been in Troy since 1935 and is still in the original family.  It’s squeaky clean, friendly, fast, inexpensive and delicious.  Most importantly it’s a time capsule and a great place to see and hear the folks of Troy.

(It was the neon “EAT” sign that lured us in.  We’re both suckers for old neon!)

We lunched on double cheeseburgers, fries and Coca-colas.  We returned this morning.  Greg had biscuits and gravy, I had one giant hotcake (paper thin and crisp on the edges.  We both had bacon and coffee (refills $.10!)

I will have to find an excuse to get back to Troy and have a meal.

Other meals of note included Maid-Rite Sandwiches in Greenville, Ohio and Grilled Ham Sandwiches at Sparky’s Doghouse in Mt. Summit, IN.  All are highly recommended for taste and value.

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A Simple Box

I’m hitting the road tomorrow for a grand road trip through the Adirondacks, the White and Green Mountains and then (my old stomping grounds) the Maine coast (We’re popping out at Pemaquid Point Light).

I’m tagging along with photographer Ernie Mills.  We’re looking at this as an artists retreat.  I plan to bring my field guides, scope and glasses and will find and get to know many birds that I’ve not seen in years.

Ernie has encouraged me to carve in his van.  He claims he’s not worried about chips and sawdust.  I’m not ready to carve and drop the chips in the seat and on the floor so I made a little lap box to carry a few tools and catch the droppings.

Yesterday I took a quick look at the scrap materials around the shop and put together this box.  I pulled the hardware from an antique fiddle case that was falling apart. (My Roy Smeck Vita Uke came in it.) I love the ratty handle and the spotty nickle plated hasp.

Inside there are four storage cases (old metal film-strip cans) for small parts — tacks, rivets and a small pencil sharpener.  The tool compartment is stocked with just a knife, pencil, pliers and awl.  The main compartment will accommodate a full sheet of sandpaper, a few bird blanks and a sketch book.

I gave it a quick been-around-the-shop-while-painting-and-bumped-a-bit-on-the-road distressing.  It’s a bit garish, but it’ll do.

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