Happy April Fools Day
Today Linda and I are going to the Seattle Zoo. We plan to put food coloring in the penguin and otter swimming pools. Set free as many birds and small animals as possible. Then while Linda fakes a medical emergency in one part of the snake and reptile building I’m going to open as many snake pens as I can and strew dead feeder rats all around. Then we’ll go to the concession store and buy this year’s latest tee shirts for each of us. I think we’ll be able to mix in with the special crowd of parents and children there for the zoo’s annual Easter Egg Hunt and make our getaway.
By John W
The above was written by a gentleman that has a fantastic imagination and great sense of humor.
Book Club
Book Club was at Venita’s We chatted about The Last Green Valley by Mark Sullivan A very interesting book given what is happening in the Ukraine 
right now. It was also of personal interest for me, my father, his parents and five siblings basically escaped from this area of what at that time (1914) was Russia. They had a difficult journey but nothing like the Martel Family.
Venita served the delightful desert that is featured in blog. The April meeting will be at Shirleen’s home. The book we will be discussing is The Paris Library by Janet Skeslien Charles. Let Shirleen know if you plan to come.
Dear Neighbors
We would like to share with everyone that our neighbor, Richmond Beach Animal Hospital, would be glad to have some donations of old towels. We recently took a few clean but old bath towels and a fleece blanket to them and they were quite appreciative of our small contribution. A kind staff member there said that they go through quite a lot of clean towels every day to use for their animal patients. If you have any questions on what they would accept, here is their webpage with their phone number and email address.
What a great way of cleaning out our drawers and cabinets and be put to good use.
https://www.seattlevetassoc.com/locations/richmond-beach/
Submitted by Kayoko
Restaurant Reviews
MOTO PIZZA
414 MAIN ST.
EDMONDS
Hours
Wed. -Sat. 4-9pm
425-678-8024
We first learned of Moto Pizza in a recent Seattle Times article and happened to encounter the owner in front of its new Edmonds location a few days prior to its opening. When Moto opened, we decided to give it a try. We arrived 30 minutes before the 4:00 PM opening and were in the line forming outside. Customers can order online for pick-up or chance a walk-in purchase and get the pizza of choice before the supply for the day is exhausted – a common occurrence.
Our selection was the “All In” a more traditional pizza of cheese blend, spicy sausage, beef, pepperoni, caramelized onions, green peppers, olives, & tomato sauce. We found it delicious and intend to try some of Moto’s other Detroit-style unique offerings. A third Moto Pizza is scheduled to open soon in Belltown. Moto will be the pizza sold at the major-league baseball All-Star game in Seattle this summer. If you are a pizza fan and like to try something new, we heartily recommend Just thought of another possible item.
Charcoal
Located at 2028 Main St. Edmonds
Hours: Closed Monday and Tuesday Wed-Sat 11 AM-9 PM, Sunday 11 AM-6 PM
425-510-1092
Jerry and I went to another of Edmonds relatively new eateries, Charcoal last week.
We had a good dinner; both had smash burgers and shared a dessert. A bit industrial, if it had been busy, I think it would have been quite noisy.
It has an interesting and well-rounded menu; I think most everyone could find something they would enjoy.
Banana Delight
Serves 10
1st layer
1 stick butter Softened.
1 cup flour
1 cup chopped pecans.
Cut butter into flour, add pecans.
Press into 9×13 pan.
Bake at 350 degrees for 15 minutes.
2nd layer
1 cup powdered sugar.
1 cup Cool Whip
1 8oz softened cream cheese.
Mix together-spread onto cooled pecan layer
3rd layer
2 small boxes vanilla instant pudding
3 cups milk
Beat 2 minutes on lowest speed of mixer.
Spread onto 2nd layer.
4th layer
Sliced bananas (3-4)
5th layer
Cover with Cool Whip, sprinkle with chopped pecans.
Recipe submitted by Venita.
Venita served this to our Book Club group, it was fantastic.
Egg Bites
So easy. Really, put whatever you want in the muffin pan–the friend who gave me the idea uses the silicon muffin pans. She usually puts in sun dried tomatoes (ones in oil) some other protein- a vegetable protein or beyond meat spicy sausage- some torn up spinach leaves- maybe cheese then pour egg whites in each one to top – bake at 375 for 22-35 minutes- till set- they’ll come out puffy and fall- but just reheat in microwave. I plan to use diced veggies, spinach, and some good cheese. I’ll freeze some ground chicken or beef next time I use it and maybe use that.
Recipe submitted by Edy.
Tax time hint
This helpful hint was shared with us from another member of the Richmond Beach Condominiums.
There are tax preparers every Saturday morning for the next few weeks from 11a.m. to 3pm at the Richmond Beach Library (and Shoreline Library), part of AARP. You do not need to be a member of AARP. You do not need to be indigent. You do need to take i.d.–driver’s license will do, social security card or statement, last year’s tax return, your information for this year, and a check book. There is no charge for this service. One preparer prepares the return, another preparer goes through the return checking for accuracy. It’s printed out for your copy and they can file it on-line or you can send it via mail.
Submitted by Andi
Pill Popping
This submission from Andi is a great one for all us folks that are of a certain age. Most of us have meds that have rules as to specific times to take them, some in the AM, some with food, others with liquid, Andi found a good way to help herself accomplish this issue…
I have a medication that needs to be taken in the morning one hour before eating, but my current medical condition wants me to eat as early in the morning as possible. A friend passed along this hint. The night before, I put that morning pill on a small dish in the bathroom next to a glass of water. If (when) I use the bathroom closer to morning hours, I take the pill and go back to bed and sleep. When I get up the hour is long past and I can go straight to breakfast.
Others may have different rules and schedules but with a little, “thinking outside the box”, you can make this task easier.
Happy Birthday
Francis Lembo had birthday a couple of weeks ago that is worth a mention in our blog. Francis was 90 years old. We wish her a Happy Belated Birthday and wishing her many more.
Traveling neighbors
Carole is off to Hawaii to spend a bit of time enjoying the sunshine with her family.
We are happy to see Sheri and Bill Manson back from their winter travels.
Al Gunns is due back from California on the 24th.
Edy was in NYC for a business trip this past week.
Welcome Home.
Armchair traveling
I have been doing some research for an upcoming trip and came across a travel blog that is entertaining and helpful. If any of you are “arm chair travelers” or have any interest in the lovely city of Paris you might want to take a look at this blog.
French Frye in Paris
A You Tube presentation. This is a walking pictorial of Paris. They are short videos and show all the different neighborhood (arrondissements), of Paris. Enjoy
Walking to Prevent Falls
Falling is a common occurrence as we get older. About 1 in four of us will fall in the next six months. Here is a video that will help to prevent falls.
Dave’s Boeing story
747 GAMES
The Boeing 747, in service January 1970, came to its end of manufacturing at the last of January, 2023, an impressive 53 year run. I had recently moved back to the Seattle area, too late to have participated in the 747 design but went into a preliminary design group where we worked on 747 variations to sell a few more.
A LITTLE HISTORY
The late 1960s and early 1970s were a hot time for new airplane designs. Boeing started the 737 design (a two-engine, smaller 707-type). At the same time, studies were proceeding on a new Air Force cargo plane and an SST. The cargo airplane was to be able to load two side-by-side rows of 8’ wide cargo containers, as well as all other military equipment up to 100,000 lb tanks. Lockheed proposed a high wing plane that would have the body close to the ground with a lifting nose and a rear door/ramp for aerial drop and drive-on loading. Boeing’s design was similar but Lockheed won the competition with the C-5A.
Boeing dearly wanted to build this airplane due to studies that showed air cargo operations would be immense in the near future. With commercial versions of the C-5A, Lockheed would capture all the cargo business. Boeing changed plans then to build a new passenger airplane the size of the C-5A but keeping the capability of loading the side-by-side cargo containers. A major difference in the two planes was the height of the cargo deck above ground due to moving to a low wing design on the 747. The C-5A was maybe 5’ above ground, to make ramp loading possible. The 747 deck was 16’ high.
While all of this was going on, an SST competition was underway. Lockheed proposed a delta wing airplane. Boeing won with a variable sweep wing design. All of this new business had Boeing (and Lockheed) stretched pretty thin for engineers, production people, and money….mostly money.
STUDIES
Douglas DC-10 vs. Lockheed L-1011:
About the time the 747 was going into service, the airlines thought they should have a new, smaller, three-engine airplane to fit their routes better. Douglas and Lockheed (who had been out of the passenger business for years) proposed $40 million versions. Boeing, in no position to compete, decided to muddy the water with its own proposal…a shortened, clipped wing, three engine concept. The third engine for the first two planes was to be buried in the vertical tail. Boeing proposed to install the third engine in the large tail cone where it would be supported by a “boundary layer” inlet, a circumferential opening around the aft body leading into a duct to the engine face. Because we were working from an existing airplane and all of the tools were already paid for, Boeing priced the airplane at $27 million.
This had the intended effect, driving Douglas and Lockheed to drop their price to $30 M. and moving their “breakeven point” another 2 years further out. The financial squeeze, along with some bad luck for each, eventually was instrumental in Boeing buying McDonnell-Douglas and putting Lockheed out of the commercial airplane business. (The DC-10 lost a couple of airplanes early. The L-1011 had selected a Rolls-Royce engine. This engine was to have graphite epoxy fan blades and be very light weight. While the blades proved to be great for expected loads, tests showed erosion on the leading edges due to sand and dust particles. Rolls attempted to cure this with titanium leading edges on the graphite, but cracks developed and the engine exploded. Rolls declared bankruptcy, but was eventually saved by Britain and the U.S., to keep Lockheed in business. The engine was changed back to metal fan blades, the weight increased, and delivery was delayed for a year, putting the L-1011 delivery behind. (Each company produced these airplanes, but it is doubtful if they made any significant profit.)
After hearing the revised prices for the 3-engined airplanes, the American Airlines president asked Boeing for an evaluation of which they should buy. About the only difference in the planes was the third engine installation. We evaluated each but were unable to see any significant performance reason to choose one over the other. American bought DC-10s.
Boeing looked into the boundary layer inlets a little further. Tests indicated that erratic airflows and pressures were presented to the engine fan face. Cures were not easily accomplished and three engine 747s were forgotten.
The Japanese Two-Engine 747:
Japan showed an interest in a short range 747 (500 to 800 mile) with a large passenger load (500 to 600) for use within their country. Boeing offered a two-engine, much reduced Gross Weight version with smaller, redesigned wing and landing gear. An unchanged body had interior changes eliminating much of the galley and restroom area, with smaller seats sized to fit the smaller Asian bodies. It didn’t go far.
1970ish.
The perfect storm hit Boeing. The 747 and Pratt and Whitney had engine problems. Airplanes were rolling out of the factory, but they were supplied with big concrete weights where the engines were supposed to be. The 737 was producing new airplanes but money was slow coming in. The SST studies had hit a barrier. The Boeing design with variable sweep wings had a very long aft body. It was found that using the control column to change the pitch attitude of the airplane at supersonic speeds just bent the aft body up or down without changing directions. It was a problem of such magnitude that the design was changed to a delta wing…like Lockheed had proposed at the start! As a result of all of these problems the banks funding Boeing were coin-flipping to see whether to declare bankruptcy or to see if there was a way out. The way out forced 2/3 of the workforce out the door. That’s when someone had the sign made, “Will the last person leaving Seattle please turn out the lights.”
As it turned out, Boeing went on a campaign to sell the three engine 727, and that became the money cow that kept the company in business. Boeing was surprised to find that they could turn out 727s at the same rate with only ½ of the work force. It seems that only the cream of the builders were left after the layoffs. Not as efficient as the big airplanes, the selling point was that you could buy two for the price of one of the big planes and fit them into nearly every route. It was such a good idea that Japan’s need for a two-engine short range 747 dissolved.
Crude Oil?
And with all this other activity, oil was discovered on the Alaska North Slope. The problem there was how to get it away from the North Slope. Ships were a “No Go”. Highways and railroads were non-existent and would have to pass over permafrost. A pipeline seemed the only alternative but was fraught with complications of its own. The pipe couldn’t be laid on the ground. The crude oil temperature would have to be managed and monitored…frozen crude in the pipe wouldn’t be good. It would be 500 miles over specialized support posts, insulated all the way, with dire predictions for the reindeer and other wildlife.
Boeing got the idea of possibly flying the crude down to Anchorage in 747s. It would require large, dedicated airfields at each end which would have their own set of problems. A 747 version with multiple tanks able to carry about 100,000 lb/load was dreamed up and, considering the potential cost of the pipeline, the resulting costs were competitive. It was shown to the government and to the pipeline people. Finally, the president of the pipeline company visited with the Boeing president, Bill Allen, and asked, “Are you serious about this or are you just messing with us?” We stopped work on the crude oil airplane at that time.
Liquid Natural Gas?
In those days of fossil fuel exploration a massive new natural gas field was discovered on Ellsmere Island, off the North Coast of Canada at about 80 degrees North Latitude. Even pipeline possibilities disappeared. The ocean between the North Coast and Ellsmere Island is a primary iceberg path with striations on the ocean floor showing where previous bergs had passed.
Boeing started studies of Liquid Natural Gas (LNG) transportation. An airfield and LNG plant would be required on the island, and another field and storage facilities at the south end of Hudson Bay. We started in on a new airplane (knowing nothing about cryogenics) dedicated to LNG carriage, and it was massive. The 747 Gross Weight was 785,000 lb. The new airplane would be 3,500,000 lb, with a straight wing that would have big cylindrical tubes inside to carry the LNG. Twelve 747-size engines and 12 sets of main landing gear were required. It seemed possible, airplane-wise.
The big problems for the plane were ground problems. The Landing Weight in the South would be 8 to 10% less than the Gross Weight, about 3,000,000 lb., maybe five times higher than a 747. Landing speeds were high. Even with thrust reversers and brakes, landing runs were long. We even looked at arresting cables/hooks, as in aircraft carriers. The energy absorption required would be enormous. We quit looking.
The second problem was the tremendous wing span. Landing gear were spread over the entire wing span to support the great loads from the LNG and to keep the wing off the ground. Pot holes in the runway were a problem with the possibility of un-supported sections of the wing. The runway crown was a problem because the wing would assume the shape of the runway.
The killer finally turned out to be the continuing cost of tires and brakes. The high speeds and associated wear and tear stopped all work. The natural gas of Ellsmere is still in place.
David Ridge | February, 2023
John’s quilted heart story
Our daughter Karen is a quilter, a wife, a mom, a teacher, and she Loves the Lord.
Recently she visited us for a week during her winter break. She brought along several quilted hearts with attached brief messages of hope and encouragement. I missed the explanation of what they were for and just admired her artistry. With this feedback message Karen received, it’s now clear that in one of her walks around our neighborhood, she hung a heart along the way and God used it to speak to the heart of someone who needed to receive the message. We are just awed!❤️
Shoreline, WA USA
I found this beautiful heart when I was out for my daily walk with my dog. It was hanging in the tree beside the sidewalk and I saw it had a tag and stopped to read it. I hadn’t heard about IFAQH and I wasn’t sure if I could/should take it, so I left it for someone else. But I couldn’t stop thinking about that little heart – was it meant for me? This year has been challenging. My Mom, who used to quilt, nearly died in January and I’ve been helping her get back on her feet as well as studying for a new career and helping with grandkids. I decided that if the heart was still there the next day, then it must be meant for me. Yes, it was still there so I took it home.
Thinking about the love and skill that went into making this heart makes me grateful for the kind person who is spreading joy and hope through their gift. Thank you for this beautiful quilted heart!
For more information visit the web site
John w
Happy Easter