On Saturday, David was humming “If I only had a brain…” If you remember the Wizard of Oz, you likely remember that the Scarecrow, the Tin Man and The Cowardly Lion all sang a version of that song. The Tin Man’s version starts out: “When a man’s an empty kettle, He should be on his mettle, And yet I’m torn apart. Just because I’m presumin’ That I could be kinda human If I only had a heart.”

That was the first thing that came to mind when Cee picked “Autumn – Metal” for her Fun Foto Challenge. Metal-Mettel, Maybe when Harmony gets up to the M section of Homonyms with Harmony, she’ll cover that. I know which is which, but you know how it goes once something is stuck in your head.

Let’s see if I can find some metal for the challenge.

All five of my current books are now available in audio book form thanks to Amazon KDP’s Virtual Voice process. The voice is AI generated, but I can honestly say, it’s pretty darn good. The audio books are reasonably priced (all below $7 US) and, if you already own the Kindle version and want to add an audio version, you can do that for $1.99. There is a five-minute sample on the book page for each book. If you’re interested, click on any of the Dreamer’s Alliance book links below the image or on the link below for my latest book.

Bridge to Nowhere

57 responses to “On Your Mettel – CFFC”

  1. Really liked this post.  I always thought it would be fun to shape metal ☺️👍🏻

    Sent from Yahoo Mail for iPhone

    Liked by 2 people

    1. There is something satisfying about pounding something into shape ;-)

      Liked by 1 person

  2. A most interesting photo prompt.

    Liked by 3 people

    1. Thanks Robbie. Cee sets us up with some great prompts.

      Liked by 2 people

  3. Wow. Sparks flying, for sure! Some great photos here. My very, very favorite is the Minnetonka. What a beauty! That nut-cracking alligator is a museum piece. Eighth grade, you say? Imposserous! (To quote the same movie.) The assortment of metal-working tools is mind-boggling; it isn’t easy to try to figure them out when “If I only had a brain” is stuck in your head, which is where you knew it would be.

    Liked by 3 people

    1. Wood and metal shop classes were the sweet spot of my day, Maureen. I only have the simplest of metal-working tools, and I’m not all that good with them. Still, it’s satisfying to be able to make/fix something. When I saw the prompt, that song popped into my head. I have to say, I knew it wasn’t “metal” bus I sure didn’t know how to spell “mettel” – this is why I liked shop better than spelling. I hope you have a great week.

      Liked by 2 people

  4. Great photos, Dan, and I love that alligator. :-)

    Liked by 3 people

    1. Thanks Dave. I think that’s the only shop project I have. I made it for my dad, and found in in with my mom’s stuff after she died. I think my brother has a small wooden bowl I made.

      Liked by 2 people

  5. Wonderful pictures, Dan, and thanks for the Homonyms shout out! Mettle vs Metal will most definitely be in there! 💕😊

    Liked by 3 people

    1. Thanks Harmony. This one sent me looking for the correct spelling in my title. I knew it wasn’t “metal” but I had no clue. I like that series.

      Liked by 2 people

  6. Ginger Salvatore Avatar
    Ginger Salvatore

    You certainly had the mettel to find all this metal in your files! Great collection. The sparks fascinate me….like watching flames in a fireplace. Your alligator is a masterpiece Dan. Very impressive.

    That’s a fine looking basket Faith crafted. Hope it’s still in use!

    Thing 1 and Thing 2, gotta love ’em!

    Trains and fire trucks…good use of metal there!

    Old Glory, highlighted by a shaft of sunlight and then reflected to boot! Beautiful!

    Hope your week is off to a good start. Ginger

    Sent from my iPad

    >

    Liked by 3 people

    1. Thanks Ginger. Cee does make me think because not many photos are tagged with the words she uses for prompts.

      The basket was too big for the bucket we wanted to put it in. She cut it, squeezed it together and welded it into a smaller size.

      Thing 1 and Thing 2 are in the Dr. Seuss Sculpture Garden in the museum complex in Springfield. It’s the best sculpture garden I’ve ever been to,

      Old Glory is back at half staff today (Senator Feinstein). Likely to be there all week.

      I hope you have a wonderful week!

      Liked by 1 person

      1. I’d love to see that Sculpture Garden!

        Liked by 2 people

  7. Finding metal for you would be like finding wood – easy, peasy. :-) Love Faith’s photo. Welding is something I wish I had tried back when I was younger. Enjoy the week, looks like a beauty.

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Thanks Judy. I did have to think for a while what photos included metal, and how I would have described them.

      Liked by 2 people

  8. Love the gator cracker!

    Liked by 2 people

    1. I made that for my dad. He loved it. I was glad to find it when we cleared out my mom’s stuff.

      Liked by 2 people

  9. I’m so glad the tin man’s song popped into your head. Thing 1 and Thing 2- perfect!

    Liked by 2 people

    1. I love those two guys, Jennie. That sculpture garden is my favorite.

      Liked by 2 people

  10. What metal working tool would you get if you could grant a wish? You said you only had the basics. Isn’t it crazy how our hobbies gro into loves and the next thing you know, you have enough stuff to fill an entire room! That’s how it is with arts and crafts anyway!
    Love the alligator…you are such a talent!!

    Liked by 2 people

    1. The one tool I keep coming close to buying is s spot welder. Very good for connecting thin sheets of metal without burning a hole in it. I had two projects recently that would have benefited from one, but I can’t justify owning one. I’m at a point where “Where would I put that?” is almost more important than, “Can I afford that?” Small spot welders are actually pretty affordable.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. I pray Santa brings you one! 😉

        Liked by 1 person

          1. Tell her to look at Harbor Freight!

            Liked by 1 person

  11. The sparky flying out the door image was cool! Your 8th grade project held up well. Does it work well for some sizes of nuts better than others?

    Liked by 1 person

    1. That alligator loves pecans and almonds (so did my dad. It can crack walnuts, but you need pretty big hands. Brazil nuts are a challenge. My dad never used it for them. Taking pictures of sparks has always been fun. It’s best when someone else is creating them.

      Liked by 1 person

  12. The ‘sparks flying’ photos are wonderful, but I really love the alligator. Catholic school in NJ was so weird. We did not have metal shop in 8th grade. At my Catholic high school, we did not have a football team because ‘contact sport,’ but we had a wrestling team. Go figure, right? And the wrestling coach was also the driving school teacher. Can’t get your frustrations out on the mat–take it to the road!! 😆

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Haha – I think every high school had a coach teaching Driver’s Ed. It did make you wonder if a physics teacher wouldn’t have been a better choice than someone who taught people how to hit. I think the alligator is the only thing that survived from my shop classes.

      Liked by 1 person

  13. This prompt was definitely in your wheelhouse Dan. And it’s a metal working wheelhouse! 😊

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thanks Cheryl. Cee’s challenges send me on scavenger hunts, but the archive is pretty big at this point.

      Liked by 1 person

  14. Great use of the prompt, Dan. Loved the alligator

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thanks John. Perhaps the best shop project I ever made.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. You should see my dog tie rack

        Liked by 1 person

  15. That alligator you made is fantastic. What cool photo gallery of metal. I’m a huge fan of the TV show Forged, so I like seeing your cutting and welding photos. :D :D

    Liked by 1 person

    1. I wanted to build a small forge, but that idea was vetoed. I don’t think the neighbors would appreciate it.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. I would encourage it :D :D

        Liked by 1 person

  16. Lots of available metal, Dan. I was especially fond of the train pics, and the flying sparks, Thanks for sharing your photos.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thanks Diana. I’m glad you enjoyed these.

      Liked by 1 person

  17. Great post, Dan. What a fun take on the challenge. I enjoyed the photos, and visiting that old song. Although when at work I tended to hum a different song from that movie. Ding Dong the Witch Is Dead… it was mostly wishful thinking. ;) Hugs.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Haha – I was known to him that a few times, too, Teagan. I hope your week is off to a good start.

      Liked by 1 person

  18. Excellent metal images! I love the alligator nut cracker.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thanks Liz. That guy has been cracking pecans and almonds for over 50 years.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. I was wondering if he was still in use!

        Liked by 1 person

  19. I love that nutcracker – what a treasure.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thanks. It was good to find that my mother had kept it.

      Like

  20. Yep, I’d say you put your mettle to the task for this challenge.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thanks Suzanne! This was fun.

      Liked by 1 person

  21. Wow! That alligator you made is pretty impressive. Oh, and thanks for the ear worm… if I only had a brain…

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Sorry about the song. The alligator is still going strong.

      Like

  22. Loved the nut cracker!!

    Like

  23. And now I’ll have an earworm for the Tin Man’s song. I like the nut cracker you made way back in 8th grade – at first glance I thought it was a bottle opener.

    Like

  24. Another well handled challenge, Dan! Good job.

    Liked by 1 person

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