York1What does bother me in our house is my wife's inability to get rid of things
My wife will get rid of things, but not certain things.
She has an unbreakable attachment to anything that was given to us by someone who has since passed on. If someone gives us a gift, then dies, that item is now sacred to my wife... period.
We have two hideous end tables in our bedroom that were given to us by a family friend named Patty. Patty passed away three years ago.
I will not have those end tables in the new bedroom, but she is determined to keep them because Patty gave them to us. They do not even have drawers or match one another.
They are not even in good shape.
I tried to "accidentally" destroy one of them by stacking two three foot high piles of magazines on it. It held up. The magazines went to the recycle center.
I have sat my 300 pound self on one of them while I put on shoes and even wiggled around on it. It will not break.
When the new bedroom is done, I think this will be the biggest fight of the remodel.
-Kevin
Living the dream.
Mornin'......
York1I have my 69th in about a month
Looks like we have a bunch of young folks here in the diner... LOL One month from today I will be 74 years young! I can't die yet as I have to much to get done before I leave!
Today I am hosting a "socially distant, masked meeting" to help a couple old teachers I worked with be able to find out about the new plans for our health insurance. We were lucky to have it in our contract that we would be kept on the district insusurance plan for the rest of our lives at no cost.... Of course we were also the lowest payed teachers in the county, but...... It is good to not have to worry anout our health insurance at this point in our lives. If we live long enough we should break even on our pay... LOL One of the ladies is now 86 years young, still driving and still the one "IN CHARGE!!!" Her first name is Mabel and we have always affectionately called her "Ma".
73
Ray Seneca Lake, Ontario, and Western R.R. (S.L.O.&W.) in HO
We'll get there sooner or later!
gmpullman we had to put down one of our cats yesterday. "Baby Kitty" somehow developed something like encephalitis
Hi Ed,
I'm very sorry for your loss.
Dave
I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!
Track fiddler I can't quite say post hog now can I? But I can say good scenery is still in the running. We are a little goofy over here and sometimes cook off bigger chunks than we can chew. Goofy because a 10:00 at night dinner is not at all unusual here. Chicken enchiladas just came out of the oven and take 15 minutes to cool to eating temperature. It takes what it takes, care to join me? You can see no round waves on top because the tortillas they're making these days crack and don't work. I got sick of fighting it so I layer it like lasagna Still good though, same recipe the tortillas are flat in between instead of round around the circumference And 2 pounds of cheese It's okay, I already have my Will filed No matter no matter TF
I can't quite say post hog now can I?
But I can say good scenery is still in the running.
We are a little goofy over here and sometimes cook off bigger chunks than we can chew. Goofy because a 10:00 at night dinner is not at all unusual here.
Chicken enchiladas just came out of the oven and take 15 minutes to cool to eating temperature. It takes what it takes, care to join me?
You can see no round waves on top because the tortillas they're making these days crack and don't work. I got sick of fighting it so I layer it like lasagna
Still good though, same recipe the tortillas are flat in between instead of round around the circumference And 2 pounds of cheese It's okay, I already have my Will filed
No matter no matter
TF
My mom learned to cook Tex Mex in her families' restaurant / truck stop as a young woman. Unfortunately, IH10 eminent domain took their property, and they had to move (highway ultimately was re-aligned, and their property was spared, after the fact). HOWEVER, she knows how to make the best enchiladas. She always softens corn tortillas by frying them in hot oil for about ten seconds. That was my job when I was home. Nowadays, I do the same thing, but I use wrap them in a wet paper towell, and steam them in the microwave. Same effect; no oil. She will layer the enchiladas like you do when she doesn't have a volunteer to roll them. Yours looked delicious!
Texas has been under a mask order more or less since March. Compliance in Bryan / College Station has been pretty good. A majority of our new cases are college aged people because, well, they are college aged people...
I found out this morning that one of our retirees has passed from the covid; he is the first person to do so that I actually knew. He was a great guy; late 60s, and he had a very short period where he actually got to enjoy his retirement (less than 3 years).
Brent, I loved your comment to the non-mask wearer; I may steal that as well.
We discovered early on in our trips to watch our kids play college sports that renting a car was much smarter than racking up miles on our cars; so we did that. We had several 3,000 mile trips in a 4 day weekend.
Had to deal with a plugged main sewer line this weekend. I could not snake out the line; had to have a plumber come this morning. So, no showers, no washing, etc. Not fun, but he has already come and gone and everything is running normally.
This is day seven on my 15 day post-Orlando quarantine. Almost half way there!
No symptoms yet... fingers crossed.
Hang in there Kevin. Finished my post Virginia and Georgia quarantine and tested negative so there can be light at the end of the tunnel. J.R.
Afternoon
Thanks tin can. I would place my bet your Mom's enchiladas are way better than mine! Mom's home cooking is always better. And sorry to hear about that eminent domain thing. Happened to a lot of good people that I have seen through the years.
Kevin, The quarantine thing.
If I played by the rules I should be in quarantine 24/7 all the time. Judy goes to work at that germ infested hotel and brings home whatever germs she's exposed to every day she works and it makes us really nervous. She plays by all the rules with the mask, the hand sanitizer and any thing she can do to be careful. But statistically that's not always enough and makes us really nervous.
Things are changing as her work is slowing down and she's going down to one day a week. I guess it's good they extended the unemployment for 13 weeks. Some of the hotels up here are shutting down.
Now, she as I do will have all this extra time on her hands with not a lot to do and nowhere to do it
We are very positive people though and are hanging in there holding on for the ride
That the Same I-10 expansion that took the MKT line from Eureaka Yard west?
I get to go to dinner myself on Wednesday, so I'm going to the place with the trains for Mexican food. Unfortunately, I just checked the menu, and no enchiladas. So, probably burritos. I'm going to have to make them myself, I guess. Colder weather is coming. The butcher shop where I get my chicken is open all year. This will be fun!
I hope I can get some train info on Wednesday, too. Honestly, I think finding out more about how those trains got there would be a good story for the local paper, giving a boost to the old restaurant which is leaving the trains behind and whatever new eatery takes over. Win-win, guys. Heck, I'm retired, and if the need someone to write the story, I'm available. But, burritos first.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
moelarrycurly4 That the Same I-10 expansion that took the MKT line from Eureaka Yard west?
This was as it was being built east of San Antonio, near Boerne; in the 1950s.
Hi gang!
Where do you want to take the Diner in November? (Geeze, it's November already! I hate November!!). I would love to go someplace warm but I haven't got any firm ideas. Have we been to Australia or South Africa before?
Any suggestions?
Cheers!!
For all my fellow birders, Dianne and I are missing our usual crowds of gold finches. Ever since we removed our dead mountain ash we have only had one or two gold finches at a time. We used to have 15-20 birds on the feeder regularly, and we were going through 7 lbs. of nyger seed in four or five days. The feeder has only gone down by a couple of inches in three weeks! We are at the point where we are going to throw what is currently in the feeder away and fill it with fresh seed even there is no sign of mold. However I suspect that is not the problem.
On the plus side, we have several nuthatches hanging around all the time, both white breasted and red breasted. One of them is very fussy about what sunflower seeds it will accept. It will throw a dozen or more seeds on the ground before choosing one to fly away with. The squirrels are happy with him though!
Good Evening,
Happy Birthday Henry! Mine is a week today but number 73 for me.
Another quiet day. I did do some dusting of the layout today mostly building roofs and roads. I am thinking I'll change the turnout to the harbour siding. The new Pacific derails on the frog sometimes as do other locos. The problem is the turnout is on a curve and that model of Unitrak has a large gap in the frog. I plan on changing it and putting it on the straight.
Have a nice evening,
CN Charlie
Eveing Diners
Flo, give the gang and I a please and Dirk and Robbie a dog treat.
Henry All most ! Has far as out living our dogs and it or then going too a shelter? No much as of a worry long as my daughter is a live. She is a sucker for dogs and has loved all our dogs, even after she moved out.
I would love to have another Irish Wolfhound before I go to Rainbow Bridge.
Well I am beat so later, Ken and Dirk asked "Daddy, what is a wolf hound"? It is smaller than me right Woof, Woof.
I hate Rust
Dave, that is strange about the gold finches. We had lots here from July to the end of Sept. They are gone now. They like thistles when nesting and there a lot of those along the river that is nearby. We have nuthatches all year.
As far as next month goes, I'm easy. South Africa would be fun. I went from Pretoria to Cape Town on Rovos Rail in 2015. It is all narrow guage.
Robbie is 11 1/2and has health issues. Tough to imagine no dog but we are facing that as he will be th last. I got my first dog in October 1974 . Getting old sucks.
@
CNCharlieDave, that is strange about the gold finches. We had lots here from July to the end of Sept. They are gone now.
Hi CNCharlie,
Is it normal for your gold finches to disappear at this time of year? In the past we have had them all winter in fairly decent numbers, although not as many as through the summer.
Our chipmunks have also disappeared. We had two regulars and a couple of occassionals that we were feeding by hand almost every day, but about two weeks ago they just vanished. I wonder if Mother Nature is telling us that we are in for a bad winter?
Dave, our gold finches migrate but a few may stick around if it is mild til the end of Nov. Chipmunks hibrinate to their burrows. Ours hid early as it has been cold for Oct.
Good morning all. Spending some time in the train room today. It will keep me out of the icy rain that is falling.
Only magpies are seen now? The other birds seem to have left.
Take Care & Keep Safe.
David
To the world you are someone. To someone you are the world
I cannot afford the luxury of a negative thought
Howdy ...
Michigan apple cider and donuts, please.
This is frustrating. I suggested Michigan bacause I wanted to post pictures. The computer hard drive died preventing me from participating for several days. It's fixed, but then I've been too sick to do much for several days. This morning, I am at the point where I can post a little.
Owosso, MI is home for Steam Railroading Institute. Vulunteers operate steam excursions with PM 1225, a Berkshire.
Owosso was Ann Arbor RR's diesel shop was located. Later the shop was used by Tuscola & Saginaw Bay to maintain its fleet of GP35's which were former AA units.
Several years ago, Owosso hosted a meet of various operating steam lcomotives which included PM 1225 and NKP 765 (another Berkshire).
The photos below are of NKP 765 at the event.
This last photo is of PM 1225 and NKP 765
That's all for now.
Have a nice day.
GARRY
HEARTLAND DIVISION, CB&Q RR
EVERYWHERE LOST; WE HUSTLE OUR CABOOSE FOR YOU
hon30critterIs it normal for your gold finches to disappear at this time of year? In the past we have had them all winter in fairly decent numbers, although not as many as through the summer. Our chipmunks have also disappeared. We had two regulars and a couple of occassionals that we were feeding by hand almost every day, but about two weeks ago they just vanished. I wonder if Mother Nature is telling us that we are in for a bad winter?
Things are strange this year.
My Crape Myrtels never bloomed, and we are flooded with Blue-Jays this year. We normally rarely, if ever, see a Blue-Jay down here. It is not even Halloween yet, and winter birds are showing up early, and going further South.
Garry: Thank you for the steam locomotive pictures from Michigan.
SeeYou190 hon30critter Is it normal for your gold finches to disappear at this time of year? In the past we have had them all winter in fairly decent numbers, although not as many as through the summer. Our chipmunks have also disappeared. We had two regulars and a couple of occassionals that we were feeding by hand almost every day, but about two weeks ago they just vanished. I wonder if Mother Nature is telling us that we are in for a bad winter? Things are strange this year. My Crape Myrtels never bloomed, and we are flooded with Blue-Jays this year. We normally rarely, if ever, see a Blue-Jay down here. It is not even Halloween yet, and winter birds are showing up early, and going further South. Garry: Thank you for the steam locomotive pictures from Michigan. -Kevin
hon30critter Is it normal for your gold finches to disappear at this time of year? In the past we have had them all winter in fairly decent numbers, although not as many as through the summer. Our chipmunks have also disappeared. We had two regulars and a couple of occassionals that we were feeding by hand almost every day, but about two weeks ago they just vanished. I wonder if Mother Nature is telling us that we are in for a bad winter?
We live on a tidal marsh, so we see a lot of water fowl. I appears that the last of our egrets has gone for the year, and there are fewer mallards, too. Our local population of Canada Geese is gone, but we still hear transient flocks as we're on a major migratory route.
Our herons and some mallards will stay all winter. Right now we are awaiting the hooded mergansers and our other winter ducks. The winter bird feeder is out now, too. The sparrows and house finches are devouring that seed. It's great Cat TV for the cats who can't get out of the porch.
Oklahoma is getting an ice storm, way early for that.
It has been colder here in the wilds of west ky early as well.
SeeYou190 York1 What does bother me in our house is my wife's inability to get rid of things My wife will get rid of things, but not certain things. She has an unbreakable attachment to anything that was given to us by someone who has since passed on. If someone gives us a gift, then dies, that item is now sacred to my wife... period. We have two hideous end tables in our bedroom that were given to us by a family friend named Patty. Patty passed away three years ago. I will not have those end tables in the new bedroom, but she is determined to keep them because Patty gave them to us. They do not even have drawers or match one another. They are not even in good shape. I tried to "accidentally" destroy one of them by stacking two three foot high piles of magazines on it. It held up. The magazines went to the recycle center. I have sat my 300 pound self on one of them while I put on shoes and even wiggled around on it. It will not break. When the new bedroom is done, I think this will be the biggest fight of the remodel. -Kevin
York1 What does bother me in our house is my wife's inability to get rid of things
Hmmm. Since they are so sturdy and are not really nightstands, maybe you can use them as layout supports. Your wife gets to know they are still with her and contributing to the house.....
...and you get to look at them a lot.
- Douglas
SeeYou190My Crape Myrtels never bloomed, and we are flooded with Blue-Jays this year.
We have a Blue Jay that will not be leaving. A hawk got it at our feeder.
That was unusual for us. Normally the Blue Jays and Cardinals are too wary and too quick for the hawk to get them. The hawks here usually go for the doves and pigeons in our yard.
York1 John
I asked my doctor if I gave up delicious food and all alcohol, would I live longer? He said, "No, but it will seem longer."
York1 We have a Blue Jay that will not be leaving. A hawk got it at our feeder. That was unusual for us. Normally the Blue Jays and Cardinals are too wary and too quick for the hawk to get them. The hawks here usually go for the doves and pigeons in our yard.
Somebody posted a picture of one of our local Great Blue Herons. It has gotten its bill entangled in some plastic netting, and can't fish like it should. Right now, it's still avoiding people, but I hope someone can get close enough once it gets weaker to free it.
The Natural Resources people are all tied up dealing with an oil spill of unknown origin, and the bird rescue people don't want anything to do with it. There are only a few of them around, so I hope something can be done for it.
Good day from the beautiful West Coast where we have a high OC but no rain.
It is definitely a much cooler fall than usual around here and we set a new 101-year record low temp for Oct 25.
Mr B, we had a bald eagle take up residence in the back yard for a few days and we were waiting for it to get weak enough to grab and take to the wildlife sanctuary. He disappeared before that could happen so he may have recovered from his injury enough to move on.
Went shopping for all the appliances for the new kitchen and went to the custom cabinet shop. The appliances are going to be a problem as the cupboards are bare and March is when we may get some of the things we actually want. The wife wants quartz countertops in the kitchen, that's a lot of quartz. I can see the house sinking on that side. The water is still coming out from under the tiles so I am wondering how far it actually migrated. I may be replacing plywood.
I was on the bike this morning and the kid comes in and says he has to get to Victoria for a meeting (Government work) and I need to drive him to the ferry. I am soaked through so towelled off changed in two minutes flat and got him to the ferry just in time to catch the noon sailing. All the way to the ferry he had his laptop open and was on a conference video call and booked a room at the snazzy hotel he stays at. I would never enjoy that pace but he is thriving.
As he climbed out of the truck I asked him if he had his toothbrush. He looked at me and said I guess I am buying another new one.
I need a shower.
All the best to all.
Brent
"All of the world's problems are the result of the difference between how we think and how the world works."
BATMANThe wife wants quartz countertops in the kitchen, that's a lot of quartz.
Just a half-hour ago, the contractor left our house with his samples. My wife is putting in new cabinets and quartz countertops.
The island is large, and the quartz countertop will be a lot of square feet.
With three daughters, their houses have three different surfaces. One has quartz, one has granite, and one has quartzite. My wife originally wanted quartzite, which is natural stone, but it is more expensive (in most cases), and requires more care.
I'm happy she picked quartz. I'm also happy that any house construction from now on will be done by professionals. My house renovation days are over.
Kevin, the contractor told us "two weeks". The new cabinets and the quartz tops will be done in "two weeks". I'll let you know in January how the "two weeks" worked out.
We redid our kitchen countertops two years ago with quartz; they look good and no maintenance. Same contractor is coming next week to tile our two bathrooms and our closet; replacing some really bad linoleum, especially in the spare bathroom.
John it depends on the cabinets. I moved in mid-August. My builder said the wait time for the cabinets we have went for 2 weeks to 6 weeks to NLA.
I a amazed that some "essential" businesses are thriving and others are all but closed up. I hunted with a guy that owns a farm supply store and he tells me his sales of hog feed have doubled over last year. People didn't like seeing empty meat shelves earlier this year.
Not sure I would have hogs for that reason. Nascar driver Clint Boyer said his wife had a couple rescue pigs. Two rescue pigs turn into a couple dozen pigs in no time at all. Pigs don't smell like something, I cannot mention, that smells bad, they smell EXACTLY like that substance.
Henry
COB Potomac & Northern
Shenandoah Valley