A pair of a bluebirds flitted around the nesting box, that hangs on the old oak, awaiting their arrival. They know if they don't claim their temporary home first, a tree sallow might.

A ground squirrel, it's tail curled high behind it,  scampers across the lawn. Songbirds break winter's silence with joyful choruses.  Crocus  burst though the soil,  reaching for the sun. 

 Later blooming plants,  in various stages of awakening,  yawn at the sudden bursts of activity--but return to their slumber. The acreage around the Old Radio Museum seems to indicate, spring is here.

Regards- and Happy Spring!

Till next time,

Sue

phlog's blog

So here we are. We worked hard to get to this point, We realize we've been fortunate; we want to give something back. Here's what Russ' Old Radio Repair offers.

Exciting, educational, enriching, enthralling, extemporaneous and extraordinary, Eek!  What could we do to ensure the items on our "It Would Be Nice" list got checked off?
What did we want do following our early retirement? I wasn't sure, but I knew I wanted us to do it together.

I began contemplating the possibilities three years ago, when USA Today  requested people send in their "second acts."  Since people are living longer today-- thirty, forty or more years after retiring-- an opportunity exists to re-invent yourself. Your freedom is returned; it's a  once-in-a-lifetime-chance  to realize your dream. I submitted ours; much to my surprise, it was one of those selected. One of these days, I thought.
"For our next act."   (see #11)    http://mediagallery.usatoday.com/S141444

One of these days--is now. Russ retired from Verizon; his last day will  be April 4th--four days before my (unspecified th) birthday.  We have embarked upon our dream; we have began our exuberant (didn't think I had another e? ;)  journey. Russ' Old Radio Repair LLC has now come to fruition; I can't remember when I had so much fun...except when I got chosen for a Wheel of Fortune tryout last spring. 

Today, I would like to re-visit the topic, what we like about old radios. Big news first though-- we now have a  Pinterest page. Take a look!  http://www.pinterest.com/russoldradios/pins/

Okay, back on topic. What we like about old radios. Bob, you inspired me today--and gave me a chuckle too. I thank you.

Bob said:  I know what my wife would say! ...... Old Radios,  my favorite thing about them is .....they keep my husband busy and in his shop :)  

I can certainly appreciate that!  Here are other great comments we received:

Rick Zolla                                ...the great memories they bring back.
Jim Hamann                          They work.
Mark Floyd                              They glow in the dark and sound terrific. (6V6's in push-pull)
Dooley's Treasure Chest     Don't forget the smell. True.
John Williams                        the audio is better on some old tubers without breaking the bank.
                                                     And might still be working when the sdr are DOA. Have  ts520 and 
                                                     sr46 that's many many yrs old, and use everyday,
                                                      I have many radios, many sill use the old glass stuff...its cool using 
                                                      a radio that's 20 to 50 yrs old.

Thanks for the input everyone!  Enjoyed your thoughts. As matter-of-fact, I think I'll make this an ongoing feature. If you  think of anymore, please send them to: Blog Comments. I'll save them up, and when I have enough--I'll share another batch. (Almost) better than chocolate chip cookies! Just as sweet.

Till next time,

Regards, 

Sue
phlog's blog

The ink has barely dried on this blog.  A heap of magazines are aging in a basket on the kitchen counter,  a stack of books are piling up on a table in the living room. I have a problem. I am a wordaholic.
 There, I admitted it. That is suppose to be the first step to recovery, but frankly I don't think there's much hope for me. I wrote a book, have written several magazine articles, numerous newspaper features...and now, this blog. What do I write about? What don't I write about? Humor is my favorite genre. Favorite topics? Scuba diving, Fuzzy and Woolley, R Bar S (our tree farm), traveling, old radios--anything and everything I find interesting, with the hope my readers will also. I tend to have a slightly skewed view of things; I'm not sure if this works to my advantage or disadvantage. I prefer to let you, the reader, make that call. In that regard, I love feedback. I can't speak for any other writers, only myself.
For me, I get a real kick out of writing and sharing with others what I've written. I feel like the kid in class that couldn't contain herself. Visualize this. I'm sitting in the front row of my second grade class, my left arm holding up my right arm--which is frantically wriggling as I profess-- "I know, teacher, I know."  That's what being a writer--communicating the written word--feels like to me.

The other thing, I already alluded to--is I love to read, thus learn. I have only one complaint; it seems I can never find enough time to do both! As matter-of-fact, I recently read an interesting article about mindfulness. I had intended to blog about mindfulness and old radios today, but I guess it will have to wait...

till next time.

Regards,

Sue
phlog's blog

Minimalism--a term referring to styles displaying pared-down design elements--is a popular trend in home décor. It is in one word--simplicity. Everything must have clean lines; be clutter-free, sleek and simple. 
The concept strips a household to the bare bones. It suggests austerity to me,  I can see only one advantage. A look so understated, that it defies time, might at times, serve a purpose.
Most of us can recall a decorating trend from the past we now find laughable. The yellowish-brown shag carpeting that wilted underfoot in the family room, the dark faux wood panels that heralded the den, or the pink mini-roses wallpaper slapped up in the bedroom. It's understandable how an new idea could develop to buck the backlash of a timeworn trend.

Minimalism offers stone cold hard granite, sleek stainless steel, concrete and lacquered surfaces to create a modern aesthetic. More (as I'm referring to an older aesthetic) or (maximism as Russ refers to it) offers warmth, softness, and a pleasant comfy surrounding. An ascetic, I'm not; I have to admit I love comfort.  And, I don't think of myself as old-fashioned.

I have an anti-gravity chair, a Keurig K60/K65 Special Edition Brewer and an iPad. But to be truthful, on a foggy, chilly, winter evening,  I'd much rather lounge in an overstuffed chair with a cup of slow-brewed tea and a good book. I want the reassurance of things familiar--like an old friend. I want to turn on the old radios and listen to music I've heard before. I want to know that in a world--where change happens at such a fast pace,  at times it seems almost possible to get thrown off--that some things are still predictable; that they haven't changed.

 Minimalism is full of adjectives that seem to me  to be antonyms of what creates a home. I'll take old radios, warm kitties, soft blankies and sink-in-so-deep-you-get-lost plush chairs over minimalism-- any day.

Till next time,

Regards,

Sue
phlog's blog

What do you think? Are old radios a good decorating idea?

It began as a joke. Russ had reached a milestone birthday--won't say which one;  I decided to brainstorm a memorable gift.  Applying a thought process far too convoluted to explain, I came up with an idea.

I'll take one of his favorite things--old radios, and make them related to his age in a humorous way.
I scurried to the craft for supplies. Paint, precut letters, wood glue and a flower (to serve as a wink.)

Let's see...Old Russ' Radios, Russ' Old Radios, how could I make it confusing enough to be mistaken as Old Russ' Radios?   I scooted the letters around, tried different configurations and finally arrived as the sign below. That's it,  I thought. The sign still graces the entryway to the Old Radio Museum today.

What do you think? Did I nail it? Let me know.

Till next time,

Regards,

Sue
phlog's blog

https://www.facebook.com/russoldradiorepair

 New link to RORR Facebook page- Give us a look.
We'd like, if you'd like.  :)

 

This Sparton is an example of the beauty of old radios-- outstanding design, quality materials, and masterful workmanship. These factors blended together- created magnificence works of art.
                               
                  

 During the period that this radio was manufactured, the Sparks Withington Co. (Sparton), was involved in a patent dispute with RCA over the manufacture of  vacuum tubes. The tubes for this radio are similar to those found in most other radios of the time, however few tubes were interchangeable.
A short time later the dispute was resolved. Sparks Withington began using the more conventional line of  tubes patented by RCA. The original Sparton tubes manufactured at this time are becoming scarce.

Till next time...

Regards,
Sues

phlog's blog