The remarkable RD Blakeslee (1931 – 2024) built his net worth by only investing in that which can be enjoyed during acquisition and throughout life, as opposed to papers in a drawer, like stocks and bonds. Len Penzo dot Com is grateful for the opportunity to share his inspiring and very entertaining musings and stories from his fascinating life in the biweekly “Grandfather Says” series. You can catch a fresh entry here every other Thursday. Enjoy!
- The Benefits of DIY Housing
- Never Underestimate the Utility of a Trebuchet
- What’s the Value of a Song?
- One Good Thing About Getting Old
- A Lesson on the Benefits of Working Smartly
- The Correct Way to Cope with Adversity
- The Miracle of Birth
- The Joys of Part-Time Farming
- Headless Horsemen and Horseless Carriages
- A Big Secret for Doing Well in Life
- Thanksgiving Greetings from West Virginia!
- A Few Words on Religious Conviction
- The DIY Harpsichord
- MLK’s Dream
- The Travails of Working with Stone
- The Importance of Self-Confidence and Independence
- Grandfather’s House and Custom-Built Stairs
- Something Beautiful That Money Can Never Buy
- Only Clean Firewood Will Do
- Net Worth and Real Value
- A Lesson on Real Estate Development
- A Few Words About Counterculture
- The Joy of Teachable Moments
- He’s a Cowman (He Hasn’t Been a Boy in Years)
- Here’s a Clever Way to Change Neighborhoods
- Coyote Countermeasures
- The Magic of Cape Hatteras
- The Dog Days are Here
- The Family Trip to Maine
- Grandmother’s College Graduation
- How I Order Pizza
- The Majesty of Trees
- The Meaning of Life
- Sophistication is Overrated
- The Veterans’ List
- Recipes, Recipes, Recipes
- A Quick Thought on Hubris
- The Alaskan Cabin on Chilkat Lake
- Remembering Grandfather’s Grandfather
- My Life as a Soldier
- Observations About Blessings
- A Look Back at the 29 Cars I’ve Owned
- Strange Dreams
- The Difference Between Cats and Dogs
- I’m ‘Bout Half
- Remembering an Old Friend
- The Beauty of Alaska
- A Fond Look Back at My Love of Fishing
- Political Anarchy
- The Story of Dan and Ralph
- High Wire Theater and Church Improvements
- A 4th of July to Remember
- Are You Ready for Retirement?
- The Discovery of Argobrite’s Cave
- The Carnegie Hall in Lewisburg
- The Little Kite That Could
- My Adventures With Model Airplanes
- Great Grandfather’s Stained Glass Windows
- Here Comes the Lightning Round!
- The Little Engine That Couldn’t
- I Think, Therefore I Am
- The Ghost of Major Alvah L. Miller
- Woody the Antique Dealer
- The Story of the Cowhide Guitar
- Run, Run, Rudolph!
- Twas a Time When Coal Was Used to Heat Houses
- The Rise of the Machines
- Grandfather’s Puppy
- The Boy ‘Is Just Who He Is’
- A Personal Portrait of My Time In Bergamo, Italy
- Musings on an Old-Time Liberal Education
- A Few Words on Our Nation’s Travails
- Western Civilization Is Out of Fashion
- Remembering Grandfather’s Father
- Some Thoughts on Building a Life-Long Homestead
- There Is No Escape from the Present
- Preparing for Hard Times
- A Trophy for the Natural
- Memories of a Budding Shipwright
- A Chicken Run for the Henhouse
- Happiness and Living in the Right Mold
- My First Job as a Newspaper Boy
- Spelling Bee
- Eulogy for a Friend
- Impressions In Charcoal
- The Story of Emile and Mollie
- The Heyday of Art & Culture
- Holiday Wishes!
- A Wintry View of My Raised-Bed Vegetable Garden
- Introducing the Art of Grandfather’s Wife, Tatjana
- The Early Birds
- Croc Hunting in Mindanao
- The Pogo Stick Snowshoe
- Testing an Experimental Battery Fire Container
- A Heartfelt Poem
- Signs of the Time
- The Saint & The Money Man
- The Continuing Chronicles of Elaine
- The Continuing Chronicles of Elaine, Part 2
- The Continuing Chronicles of Elaine, Part 3
- The Continuing Chronicles of Elaine, Part 4
- The Continuing Chronicles of Elaine, Part 5
- The Continuing Chronicles of Elaine, Part 6
- The Continuing Chronicles of Elaine, Part 7
- The Continuing Chronicles of Elaine, Part 8
- The Continuing Chronicles of Elaine, Part 9
- The Continuing Chronicles of Elaine, Part 10
- The Continuing Chronicles of Elaine, Part 11
- The Continuing Chronicles of Elaine, Part 12
- The Continuing Chronicles of Elaine, Part 13
- The Continuing Chronicles of Elaine, Part 14
- The Continuing Chronicles of Elaine, Part 15
- The Continuing Chronicles of Elaine, Part 16
- The Continuing Chronicles of Elaine, Part 17
- The Continuing Chronicles of Elaine, Part 18
- The Continuing Chronicles of Elaine, Part 19
- The Continuing Chronicles of Elaine, Part 20
- The Continuing Chronicles of Elaine, Part 21
- The Continuing Chronicles of Elaine, Part 22
- The Continuing Chronicles of Elaine, Part 23
- The Continuing Chronicles of Elaine, Part 24
- The Continuing Chronicles of Elaine, Part 25
- The Continuing Chronicles of Elaine, Part 26
- The Continuing Chronicles of Elaine, Part 27
- The Continuing Chronicles of Elaine, Part 28
- The Continuing Chronicles of Elaine, Part 29
- The Continuing Chronicles of Elaine, Part 30
- The Continuing Chronicles of Elaine, Part 31
- The Continuing Chronicles of Elaine, Part 32
- The Continuing Chronicles of Elaine, Part 33
- The Continuing Chronicles of Elaine, Part 34
- The Continuing Chronicles of Elaine, Part 35
- The Continuing Chronicles of Elaine, Part 36
- The Continuing Chronicles of Elaine, Part 37
- The Continuing Chronicles of Elaine, Part 38
- The Continuing Chronicles of Elaine, Part 39
- The Continuing Chronicles of Elaine, Part 40
- The Continuing Chronicles of Elaine, Part 41
- The Continuing Chronicles of Elaine, Part 42
- The Continuing Chronicles of Elaine, Part 43
- The Continuing Chronicles of Elaine, Part 44
- The Continuing Chronicles of Elaine, Part 45
- The Continuing Chronicles of Elaine, Part 46
- The Continuing Chronicles of Elaine, Part 47
- The Continuing Chronicles of Elaine, Part 48
- The Continuing Chronicles of Elaine, Part 49
- The Continuing Chronicles of Elaine, Part 50
- The Continuing Chronicles of Elaine, Part 51
- The Continuing Chronicles of Elaine, Part 52
- The Continuing Chronicles of Elaine, Part 53
- The Continuing Chronicles of Elaine, Part 54
- The Continuing Chronicles of Elaine, Part 55
- The Continuing Chronicles of Elaine, Part 56 (Coming Dec 19th!)