A MAN AHEAD OF HIS TIME, FREDDY HEINEKEN

From my computer I got this story of a man ahead of his time.

Freddy Heineken, like Henry J Kaiser, was  ahead of his time. (Remember the Henry J?) Heineken decided to make a bottle for his beer that could be recycled into a brick. Notice the neck fits into a dimple in the bottom of the bottle, a perfect fit like a brick.

There were buildings made with Heineken beer bottles, but not the wave that Freddy envisioned.

Freddy thought a square bottle would be more desirable and easier to build with.

He also designed a cube, to help the building process by smoothing corners and giving some variance to length. But, in the end, people just didn't like square bottles. A round bottle fits the hand better. And, that is the end of the story. Don't I wish I had a couple of those bottles for my decorative bottle fence?
Henry J's failed to attract buyers and were sold off quickly. My father bought a second-hand one and we were teased by neighbor kids about our weird car, most likely imitating their parents talk at the dinner table.
Recycling has reached new heights and if Freddy is still around, I hope he knows he was a man ahead of his time.

I received an email about creative recycling and I could really put this to work in my yard.

I wouldn't mind an herb garden reachable from my kitchen window.

I've used plastic bottles for a number of projects, but these are better ideas than mine.

This is a great way to use an old shoe,  but I would worry about a predator bird getting to these vulnerable babies where I live.

I'd prefer to use old shoes for plants. I have several candidates in my garage.

With a long, squirrel proof wire, this would work very well, if hung far enough from the ground with no access from a table or other device.  I got my first crop of crab grass from the scattered seed on the ground. Now you can buy bird seed without noxious weed seed.

After yesterdays pouring rain and chill, we are expecting 86 degree weather today. We are in Allentown, PA. where Jim once lived many years ago. We'll go to a huge fine arts  museum so I can get my art fix.

SMALL TREASURES

Yesterday, I referred to a big black asteroid as a comet, and I stand corrected.  And, last night the moon and Jupiter were shining so brightly, my bedroom was completely navigable in the dark. I appreciate small treasures. Today I leave for Sacramento to attend to business and then look after  my two youngest grandsons over the next  four days. They too, are small treasures and I always learn something from them.

My photo file contains small treasures, a few of which I’ll post today. It never ceases to amaze me how different each builder chose to make a small, friendly edifice for our feathered friends.

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In the fall, birds really appreciate  additional food a feeder supplies. It must be kept clean.

Bird feeders are fundamentally the same, yet individual as well.
I had my windows washed on the outside yesterday. Now, I must be careful that the birds do not batter themselves on a too clean window. I’ve learned how to stop it when it happens. I cover the window from the inside with cardboard for a week or so. The sun’s position changes and the birds no longer are fooled into thinking they are flying into the reflected woody area behind them.  Birds are another small treasure that inhabit my yard. I keep water for them and a bird bath. And, I’ve decided to never own another cat. Cats are plentiful and the birds take a beating.