The pot of coffee is always on [even after 2 years have passed]. Come on in. Sweet ice tea too.

[cheapclassics]

Good morning all,

It is sunny and hot in SE Indiana with temps headed to the 80s today.  Dbaker48, I can sympathize with your construction woes.  When we remodeled our house several years ago, it wasn't government issues that gave us headaches, it was the shortcuts the original builder made that caused us a lot of aggravation.  It all turned out ok eventually and I hope your project does the same.  Lucas ate well last night and is feeling more like himself.  I did some yard work with some edging and trimming.  I used the newly repaired gas trimmer to "thermo-nuclear" the grass growing between the bricks in the sidewalk.  My team plays for the "championship of the world" in soccer tonight.  Hopefully we will get a win.  It will be the "Rumpus in Columbus".  I hope everyone has a good day.

Keep on training,

Mike C. from Indiana

 

[laz 57]

Hi GIZ,

  A little cooler here today at 68 to get to upper 80s.

Yesterday pruned trees took 4 pickups of old dead limbs up to recycle center.  Got a few more to do today.  Used a extension electric chain saw to get the higher limbs worked great.

Hooked up the DCS to layout and ran my MTH engines all working good.

Today maybe play with trains?

Oh yea got my workout in only ran5.5 today.

All have a good one.

laz57

[cnw1995]

 Mitch, if you're planning to be in the area,  let me know.  We don't have groundhogs - but lots of rabbits and voles - they look like little chipmunks and apparently like to winter in the garage... Hard to get rid of. Today is the daugther's birthday - the bride decided to host a party for twenty teenagers tonight - and it's raining...

[tschmidt]

Morning everyone,

It's a beautiful day here in WNY.  Temperatures should get to the low 80's before we may get some rain this evening.  I would like to get the grass cut because I am heading into West Virginia tomorrow morning.  I have to take a group of youth to West Virginia Wesleyan College for a small youth gathering till Sunday.  I have been co-coordinator Of the Council on Youth Ministry of the Northeast Jurisdiction of the UMC for the past 8 years and it's time for someone else to take over.  The northeast area is from Maine to Washington, DC and over to West Virginia.  It's been fun but now it's time to step back a little.  I hope those southerners treat us kindly.  I wonder if they will serve grits?  If they have an internet connection at the college I hope to get online if time permits.

There have been a lot of "mean" posts lately on this forum.  I enjoy seeing new people get on but when they are critical of people there is no reason for it.  I would like to see folks a little more tolerant of other's opinions. 

Have a great day all!
TomS

[jefelectric]

Good morning all,

Mike, Glad to see we have another gardener posting to the pot.  Our tomatos and peppers are doing well.  Been getting tomatos for about a month and some of the peppers are starting to turn color (hot ones).  Was hoping to get to the Reading show, but a conflict that I forgot about will prevent that.  Hope it is a success, lot of griping on the other forum about the location.

On the critter front.  This morning I looked out the bathroom window and there was a rabbit standing on his hind legs, streaching to reach the last of the portulaca that was left in one of the strawberry jugs we had planted with them.  I had sprayed with repelent several times, he must like the taste.

Jean and I mowed grass last evening, the grandson who normally does it is on vacation this week.

Laz, Only 5.5 miles?

Probably forgot something, but didn't take the time to open another page to check.

Enjoy your trains.

[Roger Bielen]

Speaking of wildlife.  We have 5 deer, 2 does and 3 fawns, that have taken up residence on our property.  Yesterday afternoon I had to shoo the fawns out of the yard so I could let the dog out, I was concerned for the dog, not the deer.  Yesterday morning I had to wait for them to decide which way they were going to head as I was leaving for work.  This morning they were all laying in the middle of the front lawn and lifted their heads just enough to watch me go down the driveway.  Also have a strong squirrle population and a few rabbits.  Haven't seen any turkeys in a few years.

Spent yesterday afternoon sharpening the mower blades and I'll put them to use as soon as I sign off here.  On the train front I continue with scratchbuilding a barn, glue a plank or two and let the glue dry realy stretches out a project.

[MartyE]

Hi all.  Geez Laz don't foget to take a day off to recoup!  According to the new Fire Fox add-on  FOXCAST looks like we'll hit around 86 today.  Hoping to get the Lionel catalog before I go to the West Coast.  Sorry Doug I'll be up in LA for the XGames so I'll miss out on the RR museum but everytime I get to SD I make a trip there.  Have a great day all!

[Dr. John]

On the critter front.  This morning I looked out the bathroom window and there was a rabbit standing on his hind legs, streaching to reach the last of the portulaca that was left in one of the strawberry jugs we had planted with them.  I had sprayed with repelent several times, he must like the taste.

Jean and I mowed grass last evening, the grandson who normally does it is on vacation this week.

John, I think rabbits like just about anything but Marigolds. I've had good luck in the past keeping rabbits away from vegetables and other plants with a border of Marigolds.

Unfortunately, the deer around here seem to like Marigolds.

[Dr. John]

Speaking of wildlife.  We have 5 deer, 2 does and 3 fawns, that have taken up residence on our property.  Yesterday afternoon I had to shoo the fawns out of the yard so I could let the dog out, I was concerned for the dog, not the deer.  Yesterday morning I had to wait for them to decide which way they were going to head as I was leaving for work.  This morning they were all laying in the middle of the front lawn and lifted their heads just enough to watch me go down the driveway.  Also have a strong squirrle population and a few rabbits.  Haven't seen any turkeys in a few years.

Spent yesterday afternoon sharpening the mower blades and I'll put them to use as soon as I sign off here.  On the train front I continue with scratchbuilding a barn, glue a plank or two and let the glue dry realy stretches out a project.

Roger, I guess you have pretty much the same animal population there in Georgia that we have in central Alabama. Deer come into our yard all the time, as do rabbits and squirrels. I also see some beaver just up the road from us. On rare occassions we'll see a red or silver fox. Our dogs are fenced in, so they keep separated from the deer. Only creatures I'm concerned about are the snakes. Our two dogs have three snake bites between them in the past year. We never saw the snakes but assume copperheads as they are plentiful here.

[Roger Bielen]

Dr. John, other than killing a 4' timber rattler several years back the only snakes that I've seen recently are black snakes (protected in GA) and garters.  We've heard fox at night during thier mating season and we've had the occasional racoon.  Only armadillos I've seen nearby have been roadkill, (possum on the half shell).

Just finished cutting the grass, now that I'm done its starting to get a bit cloudy.

[csxt30]

Good Afternoon Everyone !! Not much going on here, just got home from work, & I see the grass needs cut again. A good year for grass here too !!

Hope everyone has a nice evening !

Thanks, John

[ChiefEagles]

Hey, I forgot to sing in this AM.  Read some posts and got interrupted.  Ran errand [yes back to Lowes too] and then met with Police Chief on hiring new Lt].  County Director is coming to meet with me tomorrow for lunch.  County Comm. candidate coming for lunch Friday.  Busy.  Got to go get out compound miter saw and stand.  Cut some moldings for stairs that wife wants done.   Mike T, thought all Yankees were those black ans white stirped "groundhogs".  We have enough of them moving down here now.    Time for another glass of sweet ice tea.   Later. 

[dwiemer]

Roger and Dr. John, We too have more than our share of Deer in these parts.  I have had friends over and went outside and night and shine a red lensed light on several wall mountable bucks at one time.  My wife used to tell me not to bother the deer, that was until one girdled her weeping willow tree, then she told me to "shoot 'em".  We also have our share of rattlers.  I had the dogs doing that dance thing when the bark and leap in the air all around this thing.  I then got the dogs inside and went out with the 12 ga. SxS.  Put two shots and took off its head.  Word of caution, the fangs can still kill even after the snake is dead, the venom is potent.  Killed a elderly man down here after he severed the head with a shovel.

Onto better things, late day at work, still plenty of cases to keep me busy.  I hope to be working on benchwork next week.

Dennis

[Buckeye Riveter]

Was out working on the railroad yesterday and this is what we saw in Southern Ohio.

Does that Conrail engine look like it was just painted?  There is nary a scratch on that paint.  Notice who is following the blue in Ohio.  BTW, if any of you die hard Conrail fans want a copy of this photo, just email me with your request. 

Speaking of snakes, two copperheads today.

[jefelectric]

Hey, I forgot to sing in this AM.  Read some posts and got interrupted.  Ran errand [yes back to Lowes too] and then met with Police Chief on hiring new Lt].  County Director is coming to meet with me tomorrow for lunch.  County Comm. candidate coming for lunch Friday.  Busy.  Got to go get out compound miter saw and stand.  Cut some moldings for stairs that wife wants done.   Mike T, thought all Yankees were those black ans white stirped "groundhogs".  We have enough of them moving down here now.    Time for another glass of sweet ice tea.   Later. 

Chief, I didn't know you also sang.  I suspect that you are sending your groundhogs up north to infiltrate.  #3 suffered heart failure in my back yard today.  My back yard is only 60' X 100', luckily it is backed up by farmland.  We also have quite a few of the black and white ones.  Couple of years ago Jean's German shepherd went out for her last lap around the back yard and suddenly came bowling in through the doggie door.  Didn't take us long to figure out what happened.  She must have thought it was another dog and sniffed, you know where.  Got it full in the face.  Needless to say that made for an interesting evening.  One other thing, NS had a record quarter, looks like they may be around a while longer.

Back to trains, still painting cattle, got most of the herefords done.  Now working on a few Angus.  They are the easy ones as a lot of them are pure black not even a trace of white.  Going to add a little white to a few of them for variety.  Also working on the office/feed room for the cattle dealer.

Dennis, No dear in the back yard, but occasionally will see some in the fields in back of the house.  Our back yard is fenced and so far none have jumped into the yard.

Buckeye,  That is one nice photo, looks very professional.

Don, Do you have a construction schedule yet.  Bet you are anxious to start that layout!  How about some progress pics of the building project so we can cheer you on!

Hope everyone has a nice evening.

 

 

[dbaker48]

John  - Yeah, I think so.  We have the a/c moved next week.  I want to wait until that is DONE, before I make any other commitments.  Murphys Law - you know.. 
 So the room will take 4-6 weeks for completion, which should be mid - late September.  Then as you might know I have to be in Arizona the first 3 weeks of October on a speaking tour.  

At this rate I think I could have dug a basement by now.  Oh Well

(As a matter of fact, the room is going to be located just over my left shoulder in the signature photo)

[ChiefEagles]

Suppose to be sign in and typed too fast.  Well, shower time.  Molding job done for wife.  Plant shelf built [with embossed moldings on the edges] and installed on fancy wooden shelf brackets.  Little compressor, small nail gun, compound miter saw and stand and hand tools stored.  Takes longer to get out tools and put them up than to do the project.  With all the Craftsman tools and saws I have, would take a building as big as my back lot to hold them and not store them.  I've had to "sware off " Craftsman Club sales.   Now I have to "sware off " engines and rolling stock buying.   OH, picked a big bucket full of tomatoes and one of cucumbers this AM.  Also a few squash and lots of okra.  More tomatoes tonight with 14 ears of corn.  The last of the small patch of corn.  Time to cook some more okra, tomatoes, onions and hot peppers soup.   Later.

[Brutus]

Mike C. Thanks for the update on Lucas - God bless.

Hot hot hot today!  Kids are doing a sleepover at friends tonight.  I already pre-ordered that docksider, so waiting on them to get the shipment at Island I guess.

Haven't noticed if anyone mentioned this:  Have you guys seen the toy train Burger King commercials?  I've seen about 3 of them on one of the kid's cartoon channels - 3 or 4 kids are playing with a toy train - looks like either Fastrack or MTH track?  In one, they have a section cut out and the train is headed for a crash, but a puppet of Burger King doing a Superman schtick saves the day - the kids really seem to be having some fun with that train!

[dwiemer]

Jim,

     Just the guy I was thinking about as I returned to the pot.  My wife got a flyer from Hawthorne Village today with a set for the Munsters.  A few buildings and the characters with car, etc.  Another item you may find interesting is that we got a flyer from Michael's craft store, they have halloween Lemax Village at 25% OFF.  I know that is your kind of scenery.  Anyway, hope you get some good stuff to go with that Docksider.

Dennis

[jefelectric]

Chief, Just giving you a hard time, I knew it was a typo.  That soup sounds good.  Another of those Southern items that I like is Okra.  Used to raise it but since I am the only one that likes it, haven't raised any in quite a few years.

[dougdagrump]

Are any of you guys fans of the K-Line woodside reefers? Surfing around it seems like Just Trains is having a very nice sale on some of them. To many temptations for someone of such weak will.

[ChiefEagles]

Chief, Just giving you a hard time, I knew it was a typo.  That soup sounds good.  Another of those Southern items that I like is Okra.  Used to raise it but since I am the only one that likes it, haven't raised any in quite a few years.

 

Just drop the tomatoes in boiling water and let them sit a few.  Then take them out [I use tongs] and put them in a plate or bowl to cool some.  Chop up okra, peppers [hot and bell], onions, add bacon grease, salt, galic pepper and some black pepper.  Skin the tomatoes and "sqush' them up into the pot [leave out the cores].   Make it a slow boil.  When everything starts coming apart, you are ready.  Mine is simmering right now.  Guess it will be midnight before I get to bed.  Worth it as good soup tomorrow.

[Buckeye Riveter]

Where's Buckeye?

Here's your hint.  This is where I'm at.

[mitchelr]

Where's Buckeye?

Here's your hint.  This is where I'm at.

I'll guess Erie PA.

Mitch

[mitchelr]

Good morning from Gettysburg.  It's currently 72 with highs to be in the upper 80's again.  Yesterday wasn't too bad because the humidity stayed lower.

The Mrs. should be home today.  Talked to her last night as they were driving through Ohizo.  I miss that gal when she's not here.  She said they had a nice trip.  They got to Chicago just 10 minutes before the house inspection.  After the inspection her friend had to run to the community college to drop off some employment materials.

Finally hired our last teacher on Monday, or should I say we made the recommendation.  It is up to the HR Dept. to actually do the hiring.  Hope they will get it done soon.  Yesterday they delivered 64 new computers to school.  I never have seen so many new computers in one place.  Techs should come to setup and install about August 10.  We will also get 32 more low profile, flat screen stations for mobile carts that house 4 stations per cart to make into a mobile computer lab.

Well, I better get to work.  Still have lots to do in the little over 3 weeks until teachers return.

Take care,

Mitch

[FJ and G]

did someone say "wabbit?"

[dwiemer]

Where's Buckeye?

Here's your hint.  This is where I'm at.

Buckeye,  Since Erie was guessed, I will put one in for Philly PA.  Just a stab in the dark. Dennis

[cheapclassics]

Good morning all,

It is raining and warm in SE Indiana with temps in the 70s heading to the 80s today.  We won last night 1-0 in the championship game!!!!  It was extremely hard fought with lots of fouls and yellow cards.  What really gets me is when some one is called for a foul, they think it is not their fault.  I saw one player on the other team practically take someone's head off and was whining because he got called for it.  We got one goal in the second half, and one of the defenders made a spectacular save to preserve the win just before the end of the game.  It was hot and humid out there, but we had three subs for once and I was in and out of the game five times. 

Lucas is resting more and his appetite is starting to return.  One unexpected side benefit is that he and my wife are realizing how draining it is to drive to Indy everyday (not that I would have wanted them to go thru this just for that revelation, but I do try to find any positive aspect to any event).  No grandson yet either.  I will keep you all posted as events occur.

I hope everyone has a good day.

Keep on training,

Mike C. from Indiana

 

[Blueberryhill RR]

Good Morning from Blueberryhill........

It is a humid 74 right now.......Looks like rain. Going up to 84 today.

Buckeye....I saw a picture like that of Cincinnati. Yes ???

Well, today is a slow day. Taking it easy. Maybe work on the layout this afternoon for awhile. Got all my yard work done, so it can rain all it wants. We need some. Knock down the humidity.

I am really sleeping good at night, now. Pain is mostly gone and I am off perscription drugs. Breathing is really improved. Feels great. Have not smoked for 6 months. Don't want to. Been home now for 12 weeks. You guys sure made me feel good, with your phone calls, when I was in the hospital. You are good friends. Thank you, again.

Well, off to the Dining Car for breakfast and then out for a walk before it rains. I will talk more later.

Y'all have a great day.

Chuck

[laz 57]

HI GIZ,

Warm and humid this morning at 74, to get to 88?

MARTY, I take it easy from Thursdays to Saturdays I try to do from 3 to 4 milers on those days nice and slow.  I like to enjoy the landscape then.  I take off of the lifting part from Friday till Sunday.  Also this is my time to play GOLF and get caught up on my adult liquid beverages.

JELECTRIC,  glad to here your tomatoes are doing good.  I just ate some cherry tomatoes yesterday, SWEET!  Had a lots of string beans so far and the kholorobis are very good too.

Have a good one, and oh yes

HAPPY FRIDAY EVE!!!!

Where SPANKYBIRD haven't heard from him lately?  I need my fix of pic of the day.

laz57