Coffee Pot #3 March 2012 5+ years and going strong and its for all to chat. Plenty of coffee and sweet ice tea for all. Come and join us and chat. GRITS for the Yankees.

[jeffrey-wimberly]

Time for me to call it a night. I had a very busy day so I'll probably be stiff as a board in the morning. See y'all tomorrow.

[Anonymous]

lionroar88

Got the tile grouted, touch up done on all walls (still have to do bookshelves around fireplace and ceiling), and got the threshold cut and test fitted (will install tomorrow after grout dries)... but I found that the manufacturer did NOT cut the two thresholds exactly the same... this kind of shotty manufacturing is what drives me nuts!!! I even had Lowes put a note to the manufacturer that I needed them to be EXACT as they were spanning a 14ft opening... oh well I can't take them back now that they are cut to length and one is already in place. I WILL keep this in mind when I go to buy the hardwood planks for the dinning and living rooms later this year... most likely NOT getting them from warehouse stores... grrrrr...

Brent,

              Now you know how I feel about BLowes Lowes.

[wrmcclellan]

Evening Gang!

Warm here today! Had to spend the afternoon cleaning out old files at the main office as after 12 years I am the only one left who could evaluate which files to keep and which ones to toss/shred. The main office is moving to a new location later this year so it was time to clean out.

SubmmBob - that is really cool about the USS Iowa project. A neat battlewagon to visit is the USS Alabama in Mobile. That group has done a great job preserving, maintaining, and continuing restoration.

Chief and Buckeye - from a N TX desert dweller - what is a watershed?

Have a great evening all!

[Brutus]

RT - hope you are feeling better!  I've been sick for about 3 weeks with some crud, but finally turning the corner.  Still have a cough and some drainage, but I think some of that is allergies and the weird weather we've had here.

Fife - too funny - yeah, they can all live in grass huts, lol

Not much going on - kids are off school for a day of conferences so the house is in turmoil.  Everybody take it easy - we'll get that tardis warmed up and headed out shortly!

[8ntruck]

Mostly cloudy high 70's today.  A couple of thunder storms off in the distance in the evening.

SumBob - are the connectors for the smoke unit you are after the little three conductor square ones?  I need one.  Do you know the Radio Shack part number or are tou going to use the 'here, match this' method?

All for now.

[submmbob]

Hello all

Well all the vents are in. They just need to run the gas and electric tomorrow and hook it up.

Kev - I got to the electronics shop this afternoon. I got the connector I needed (Roy, it is a square connector, but this one is two prong). Turns out this was the last one they had from a box of surplus. Somebody recently bought the whole box, and this one had fallen out. The woman there said they were often used for cell phone and cordless batteries, so I'm going to look at those when I need another. 

While I was there I grabbed the diode and transistor for the board. Either one or the other is bad, and sometimes when ones goes out it can take out the other, so I'll be ready. Also got a new power cord for the ZW and lightened them of this as well:

DC power supply w/ fairly high amp rating. Useful for some of my tube radios, automotive testing, and can also be used as a DC model railroad transformer! I already have several pieces of EICO test equipment and love the look of their stuff.

Roy - I was on the Alabama 25 years ago when I was in construction training for the Navy in Gulfport, MS (Yes, Chief I've spent some time in the south...). She is awesome. Will be neat to see the Iowa after 20 years in mothballs and very special to help out for her next, and possibly last voyage.

Time to find a pillow. These guys come early.

Bob

[dougdagrump]

Evenin' All.

Back from the club meeting, a real barn burner tonite, munching on some leftovers for dinner.

Bob, One of our club members served a lot of time on the Iowa and has been involved with some of her exploits. I believe he said some of the organizers of this transfer were working on getting him a special berth on her final voyage.

They haven't backed off any on the weather yet, still have issued winter storm warnings for the area and especially the mountains.

Time for me to call it a nite.

Grounds have been emptied, ready for a fresh pot in the morning. 

[ChiefEagles]

Banks, sorry.  Especially hit by a vehicle.  God bless.

Bob, Lionel smoke unit?  A radio controled airplane internal extension cord fits just right.  Found this out when browzing a hobby shop several years ago while on a Bass Pro/Cabela's trip.  Phoenix is where I was, I think.  Radio Shack has really gone down hill when it comes to furnishing electronic connectors and parts.

Sleep tight.

[Hudson#685]

Good Morning:

Damp dismal morning here. I hope it stays quiet.

Brent, Where is the quality control?

Doug M, You sound like me doing yard work.

Buckeye/Chief: Water Run Off, we are going through the same here. You should see what they made a new Quick Check do. Totally ridiculous.

Everyone have a Great Day.

John

[laz 57]

Hi GUYZ,

  The EYES of MARCH are appon us  A little PUN on words.

43 and a bit rainy here.  Going up to 68.  Gotta GUN SHOW tomorrow in HARRISBURG and they are having the Big MONSTER TRUCK challlenge there too.

JEFF, nice pic of the switch tower.

BOB, good luck with the smoker.

CHUCK and BUCKEYE, TGIF!!!!

BUCKEYE, I can't read your posts to smalll.  I need bigger glasses.

Stay frosty,

laz57

[Buckeye Riveter]

TGIF

How do you default to a larger font size for one's posts? If I forget to increase the font, it is super tiny.

[Blueberryhill RR]

Good Morning from Blueberryhill RR....

It is a cloudy 54 degrees. Going up to 78 today with a chance of rain.

Today is a busy day. Chores to do and some paperwork. Not much else new. Nap, later.

Buckeye & LAZ.....TGIF

Dining car is here with Cheerios for breakfast.

Y'all have a great Friday.

Chuck

[cheapclassics]

Good morning all,

It is warm in SE Indiana with temps near 80.  Grandson has been staying with us the past couple of days.  By the time I get home, he and wife have tired each other out.  We played a board game last night, which was fun.  Going to see "The lorax" with him tonight.  With the weather so nice, I plan to work  on the mowers this weekend, and do some major cleanup work.  Maybe do taxes as well.  Hopefully attorney will have my dad's taxes done as well.  I had bran muffins on the dining car for breakfast this morning before sending it to "Points East".  TBIL and I can drive.  I hope everyone has a good day.

Keep on training,

Mike C. from Indiana

[blownout cylinder]

Good Morning

mmmm...we have Geese in our backyard..and a pair of Mallards....

Going to be clearing out here this morning of the overnight fog and thunderstorms we had last night...high of 70F expected in the sunshine...

It has been a very open winter this year, and, with what we got over the past week and into next week by the looks of things we could be seeing records being broke that stood for over 65 years .... and I, for one, am happy with this weather

Today I have another doctor's appointment and a couple of stores to check out for some new cabinets for my trainroom...

Buckeye and Laz: TGIF!!!!

Chief:  mmmmm...I thought Radio Shack no longer exists?  At least in the form I remember.......I still have an old Heathkit GR-94(?) general coverage receiver in here..tubes are getting a little soft though...getting some NOS ones soon...

Have a GREAT day!!!

 

[KRM]

Hi guys,

Not a lot of time, for the pot this morning heading to the dentist chair in a bit to get that crown installed. Going to be better off than V8 Dennis and the BIG ROOT CANAL , OUCH!! 

Still sore from the beating the stump grinder gave me yesterday.

RT, Take it easy today. 

Jim Probe, Thanks for the drive around the block.

DougM So now that you have put down the Grub killer you can bet Chief will stay away.

Brent, come on guy Git-R-Done already 

Brutus with the weather you have been having you should be well by now. 

Roy , they were showing yesterday on TV how dry you guys are. If it does rain better hope it is a slow one or it will just run over the top.

Bob, Glad you got the connector I was thinking like Chief about radio control hobby shop too. Your job on the USS Iowa sounds like it will be very cool.

 

Thanks BUCKEYE!! Much better!

Mike let me know what you think of the Lorax.

Blownout. Yeah radio Shack is still around but most stores suck, just full of junk, if you need something the web site is better.

Got to finish my Cheerios like Chuck and then run to the dentist.,

Later.

Kev

[rtraincollector]

submmbob

Forgot to mention to you guys this morning: In just over two weeks I will be going to visit a friend in the Bay area, and helping him and others work on the USS Iowa (BB-61) in preparation for her future move to LA to become a museum. She is the last battleship to go into museum status. Been dormant for over 20 years. As my friend Luke said, "this will probably be the last time anyone has an opportunity to do this." So I'll be digging out my boondockers and white hat and going up there soon.

Bob

Missed this earlier I have 2 feelings on this 1st hated to see this done to any of them including the Missouri as she still could serve her purpose ( being a Battleship sailor) But if it has to be glad the last one is becoming a museum so others can enjoy them. I feel my tour on a battleship was my best tour  I had while in the navy.

Morning all not a lot going on here.

Hope all have a good day talk to you all later.

[cnw1995]

Aloha. Sunny and warm today again in the city which is preparing for tomorrow's St Paddy's Day bacchanalia. I will be glad when MiL's surprise party goes off tomorrow evening. I enjoyed visiting USS Massachusetts in my youth and the Intrepid in NYC. They were quite impressive. SJ, glad you weren't near the MI tornado.

[jeffrey-wimberly]

Good morning. It's 66° and cloudy and I see fog out there. The high will be 82° and mostly cloudy becoming partly cloudy later with a 20% chance of rain.

Nothing planned for today except recover from yesterday. I'm sore and stiff as a board. I my do a bit of layout maintenance later. It's been a while since any serious running of trains has been done so a quick wipe down of the track with some Krud-Kutter should be in order.

Today's photo is of my 70's era Bachmann 0-6-0 as I received it in an inheritance some years ago. It's white metal for the most part with some brass details. It runs smooth providing the track is squeaky clean and it pulls like a demon. The tender is a standard plastic Bachmann tender.

[ChiefEagles]

Morning.  Sunny and warm.  May have a shower or two during the afternoon.  Being lazy as retired folks can do.

Blownout, Radio Shack is not what it use to be.  Mainly a "junk electronics" store.  Seem to have less and less "electronic parts" items and more phones, ready made items and etc.

Buckeye Riveter

TGIF

How do you default to a larger font size for one's posts? If I forget to increase the font, it is super tiny.

You can be glad it is Friday.  Letting you have the weekend off as my SS check came right on time [actually early deposit]. 

Doug M., would love to be up in your area for the celebration tomorrow.  We are having a kids bike decoration contest and parade through the park.  I get to judge the bikes and then change into the fatcat suit to greet the kids.

Now you see why I like to play fatcat. 

Later.

[sir james I]

59 and cloudy. going to 68 or so.

Doug M. actually Charlie and I were very near the storms and tornado's. If the mess had come straight east we would have been right under it. Weather guessers said a front to the north pushed the storm a little to the S. E. so it just missed us. No new train news this morning, the usual fun chat with some of the guys last night..S.J.

[RockIsland52]

cnw1995

Got to the low 80s today. Not bad for the Ides. Also got suckered uh encouraged to put out the super-heavy deck furniture and lastly, cut back the trees over the deck. After a branch landed on my head, I'm quitting for the afternoon. Put down grub killer and fertilizer on the almost dead lawn or rather dirt speckled with a tuft of grass... Oh well, back to the basement.

DougM.........way too early for grub killer, at least for the GrubX brand (from Scotts).  June 21-30 is correct for your and my climates.  Sorry!!!  See "end of June" below.

March: Fertilizer?  First drop right now is perfect.  Re-apply every 7-8 weeks throughout the season.  Big sales right now.  I prefer to fill out thin lawn by fertilizing so it fills in the lawn.  With a dog and kids romping around, grass seed is difficult to get going unless the area is fenced off..  Grass seed should be planted when the daily temps are 70 and above (mid to late May or in the Fall by you?).  No or too little sun= poor germination, use a partial shade seed for those area.  Use a starter fertilizer with grass seed, after roughing up the dirt surface a tad.  Drop second coat of starter fertilizer two weeks after germination, it is safe for reapplication.

March:  Most Northern lawn soils test low in ph, especially if you have evergreens and pine trees.  Ideally, PH should be around 7-7.5.  Yours may currently test out at a very low 4-5 (lawn and garden centers do test for you, call first to save time from running around).  Soil test and proper ph is well worth the money you will save because the proper ph makes all of the fertilizers and seeding work so much better, and quicker.  To raise the ph, use pelletized lime.  More expensive but it stays where you put it, doesn't blow away like the powder stuff.  The bag will tell you how much to drop for every factor of 1 you want to raise the ph of the soil.  Good thing about lime is that you don't have to worry about killing anything with modest overapplication.

March use of moss killers and preventatives........yup, moss is already/still rolling here, can run rampant and spreads in your shaded and moister North side areas.  Winter doesn't kill it. There are moss killers, but I like to rake out and/or pick up what I can BEFORE I wack the rest with these products.  The higher soil ph and the steady use of lime keeps it under control after the use of moss killers. (see pelletized lime above).  In moss infested areas, get your ph up to 7 right now.  Don't wait.          

April:  For crabgrass, which dies early to late fall and reseeds itself every year, you want to apply that crabgrass preventer stuff before temperatures are regularly above 70 degrees and the crabgrass seed begins to germinate.  Crabgrass grows best when the daily high temps are 80+.   This product is called a pre-emergent and prevents the crabgrass seeds from germinating AND sets up a soil barrier for about 3 months.  I would wait until April for that stuff.  Don't use crabgrass killer pre-emergents if you are going to seed/reseed/overseed the lawn this spring.  Pre-emergents prevent germination of  every manner of seed, including grass seed (no good),  but also including some of the broadleaf weed seeds germination (beneficial)  Rather, if you are overseeding, reseeding, or starting over with an area, wait until your grass seed has germinated for about a month and then apply a crabgrass killer for actively growing crabgrass, not the pre-emergent stuff.   Alternatively, don't use crabgrass pre-emergents where you plan to seed your lawn, skip those areas..  NOTE:  If you use a crabgrass pre-emergent and then disrupt the soil barrier it has created (by subsequenr raking for example), you just wasted your money.  Rake first if you must, then apply.  Fall back is the use of the crabgrass products for already growing crabgrass. 

May:  Use a weed and feed on your second fertilizer application.  Actually works as a super fertilizer on the weeds.  The weed portion of the mix sticks to the broadleaf weed leaf, gets ingested in 24-48 hours, and the weed overgrows its root system, curls up, and dies.  Must be dropped on a wet lawn and remain undisturbed for that time frame to work.  To achieve this "undisturbed status, keep people, kids, and dogs off the lawn for at least 2 days!  Apply @ 5AM to 6AM and let the morning dew do your work for you.  Otherwise, you have to water sections of the lawn to get the weed leaves wet......a pain.

End of June: Once dropped, the length of time grub killer is effective should be printed on the bag (in months), think it is only 2.  Application timing with this product is particularly important.  To kill grubs you have to nail them right before/as they are emerging from the ground, when they are still the white larvae but before they are beetles.  Best time application for your climate (Chicago area) would be around June 21-30.  You may want to reapply then.  You will see the beetles all over the place the first 10 days of July. The larvae is what feeds on the grass roots and kills the lawn.  Most of the lawn damage you already have and/or will see in the next couple of months was done last Spring/Summer during last year's cycle.  The larvae eat the entire grass root, the lawn then cannot get water and sustenace, and dies.  This is one of those products you have to use every year in late June because while you annihilate your emrging grubs this year and protect your lawn roots you get a reinfestation from everyone and everywhere else when the beetles go back underground and start reproducing. 

More On Weeds: 

Pulling weeds by hand is hit or miss,mostly miss.  Exercise in futility.  If you don't get the entire root, the weed survives and regrows.  Rather, use Weed-B-Gone for spot weeding.  A liquid.  Safe for direct use in and on lawns, does not kill grass.  Comes in a squirt/spray bottle for for spot weeding.  Especially effective for use on tough weeds.  This is another ingested weed product, lawn must remain dry (no rain) for about 1-2 days.  then you will begin to see the weed start to yellow and die.  Particularly good for fire thistle weeds which propagate quickly, spread quickly, and is tough to kill.  I use both the spot weed sprayer and the bottle that you hook up to your garden hose for larger infested areas.  Sometimes the weed and feed (discussed above) doesn't fully eradicate clover and those violet colored thingies that infest the lawn.  This stuff will kill off the survivors.

RoundUp and like defoliants.......BEWARE, this is for use where you want nothing to grow and nothing to survive, like sidewalk and driveway cracks, around brick walkways.  Don't use in your lawn or in your gardens or you will have no lawns or gardens. It's like agent orange.  Kills everything that grows.  This is one product that if you don't respect/use properly when applying will kill shrubbery and your wife's flowers.  What typically happens to me is that when I go to squirt/spray, the wind catches the minutest amount and deposits it on my evergreens.......and where it lands is soon to be dead and gonzo.  Think "scorched earth." 

IMPORTANT:  Dogs and children........most of the Scotts products I use are effective and safe for use with my grandkids and dogs WHEN USED EXACTLY AS DIRECTED.  Sometimes there will be a "2 day keep off the lawn" instruction, then "water in" directive.  I have not used Scotts fertilizer/insect killer combo.

Other:  like trains and lubrication, more is not better and can create more problems than it solves......except for lime to get your soil ph up to 7 quickly.  You can do that all at once..

DougM.......am forwarding to you my lawn consult bill for one six pack of OleMils

Jack

[KRM]

Well back from the dentist and the new crown is on. Went well and fast. Only thing that was a bump in the road was cutting the temp in half to get it off.

Wife took a day off to clean for the party on Sunday. Got to go to Krogers and get supplies.

Chief,

U make a great FATCAT!

Have a great day guys,

Kev.

[Stourbridge Lion]

Good Morning CTTFans!

It's another wonderful day in the Mile High City.  Currently 49F but once again heading up into the 70's with a weekend that looks to be nice as well.

As for the NCAA Basketball tournament, I am12-4 in the first half of Round 2 and this is part of a Owner/Company event as a fun employee activity the owners setup and they are also participating/winning in.    We are a small upcoming company and the owners sponsor these team building events off on on throughout the year.  They even setup some of these as fun competitions with other companies (Partners / Customers) as a way to bound us together like family.

[RockIsland52]

KEV........I am almost positive that beyond the $ and except for the travel and time away from home, you will thoroughly enjoy this assignment.  My bet is that they will "listen and then execute your suggestions" like they never did when you were an FTE.  The job satisfaction and sense of accomplishment will be high. 

Companies' managements don't ask.  Or if they do, they don't listen to their employees, where most practical and cost-effective solutions reside. 

Management gives the full time employees more lip service than anything else, then can't figure out why things are not working out too well.  They give little credence to the suggestions from their own folks, where the rubber hits the road, from the very people who have a personal stake in positve outcomes. 

Yes, a personal stake.  When company financial health and competitiveness go South, the first thing that gets wacked is headcount because it is faster and easier than making the tougher decisions, then making them work.

I like to clarify things up front.  "Give me the answer.  Do you want me to tell you what you want to hear or do you want me to tell you what you need to know?  You are signing my paychecks.  My loyalty is to you.  I get paid either way.  I'll do whatever you want.  If you want "this" fixed, give me the political support and the physical resource and it will happen."  I usually get a knowing smile back because the directness is refreshing and the decision-maker on the other side of the desk knows we will be on the same page from the outset. 

A fearless temporary employee or an outside consultant with far less to lose can get a lot done fast if supported.  It is a shame the permanent employee base receives so little respect.  Most of their knowledge and expertise is left wasting away on the table.  Companies spend money on outsiders when the insiders already have the answers. or in your case

Jack

[KRM]

RockIsland52

 March use of moss killers and preventatives........yup, moss is already/still rolling here, can run rampant and spreads in your shaded and moister North side areas.  Winter doesn't kill it. There are moss killers, but I like to rake out and/or pick up what I can BEFORE I wack the rest with these products.  The higher soil ph and the steady use of lime keeps it under control after the use of moss killers. (see pelletized lime above).  In moss infested areas, get your ph up to 7 right now.  Don't wait.          

Jack

Jack,

 tell me more,,, like what to use and where to get it. Half of my north side is moss. Old woods is the ground PH is bad I bet too.

 

Tks,

 Kev

[RockIsland52]

KRM

RockIsland52:

 March use of moss killers and preventatives........yup, moss is already/still rolling here, can run rampant and spreads in your shaded and moister North side areas.  Winter doesn't kill it. There are moss killers, but I like to rake out and/or pick up what I can BEFORE I wack the rest with these products.  The higher soil ph and the steady use of lime keeps it under control after the use of moss killers. (see pelletized lime above).  In moss infested areas, get your ph up to 7 right now.  Don't wait.          

Jack

 

Jack,

 tell me more,,, like what to use and where to get it. Half of my north side is moss. Old woods is the ground PH is bad I bet too. 

Tks,

 Kev

KEV.......as everyone knows, there is nothing magic about the North side of things getting the moss:  doesn't get any direct sun, remains cooler 24/7, and remains moister 24/7.  The last areas to dry out when we have a drought.  My lawn can be parched, peel back a patch of moss and it is moist and filled with a congregation of insects and worms. 

What product to use?  I have not used anything but a heavier application of pelletized lime to maintain for about 15 years and don't recall what specific product I used to get a grip on it in the first place.  I wanted to treat 200 square yards closest to the rear of the house because the rear faces due North and receives sun only in the late afternoon (say 3PM-7PM), and I have a "privacy" row of white pines (east side of property) that blocks any morning sun. 

At the time I just drove over to my nearest private lawn and garden outfit and asked them what to do to get rid of the ground moss and how to keep it gonzo.  They gave me some moss eradication product with instructions.  I can't remember if it was liquid or pelletized to tell you the truth.  But I do recall it took the better part of a month to wack the moss.  

This place was not a big box store but also provided flowes, trees, shrubs, mulch, full landscaping services, and landscape design. 

I'll bet a Lowes or a Home Depot can provide similar expertise and sound advice......in my neck of the woods they are staffed by older guys who have been there, done that.  The older guys really know their stuff!!!!!   That is why I listen to the Chief on practical matters such as this.

Keeping the rear of the house (siding, foundation) and the deck clear of moss?  Much more difficult!   Power washer.  

Jack

[Banks]

Hello all,

TGIF!!!!!!!!!

Thanks for the thoughts on Lucy.

I have to bump the font size to read what I write.

Jack, seems like you spend a lot of time and money growing grass only to spend more time and money to cut it. Both should be spent on trains.

Unusually warm weather continues. Daffodils are blooming in the front yard. Maple trees have blossomed. Wayyyyy to early for that. Heat is also going to force me to cut a wild cherry tree before I'm ready. It's in the front yard crowding some other trees I prefer and I don't want to deal with leaves so that's tomorrow's project. That will be next winters wood for starting a fire.

Still looking for a couple of .875 x 1.375 x .020 washers for the differential in the old Oliver. I found some in the Granger catalog but I;ll have to see if they make minimum order.

Son started plowing and the ground is surprisingly dry considering all the rain we had.

Frying fish, shrimp and clams again this evening. Only 780 served last week.

SS Fund calling. Try to get back over the weekend

 

Prayers for those in need

[KRM]

Ok Jack,

 I will just look around and see what I can find. As for moss on foundations roofs, decks, siding and that sort of thing. Roundup works great just don’t spray it on anything you don’t want dead. I have used it with very good results.

Tks,

Kev

[SPMan]

Good morning all,

Waiting for rain to show up but probably won't be here until tonight.  I put a car cover on my old Buick which leaks so it probably won't rain.  That works every time.

Buckeye, thanks for increasing the font size on your post.  Thought I was going blind.

Chief, I figured you were a fat cat.  Now we have the pictures to prove it.

Interesting to hear about the Iowa battleship coming our way in the future.  I have never been on board one so this will be my chance.  I did go on the carrier Midway in San Diego.  I'm amazed how the enemy survived those 16 inch guns prior to the invasion of some of the Pacific Islands.  They must have been really dug in deep.  My Dad helped build the battleship Alabama during WWII but that was a smaller class than the Iowa.  I have a picture given out on the day of her launching from my Dad.

Gas prices on the move again here.  It hovered around 4.27 for a few days but noticed it went up to 4.29 yesterday.  For a while it was going up every day.  Probably wind up with a glut of gasoline after people cut out all unessessary driving.  Then they will raise the price again because they aren't selling enough.

V8 Dennis, where are you?  Didn't see your weather report this morning.

Jack, you should write a book called "Everything you want to know about crab grass but were afraid to ask".

Roy, hope you get some of the rain predicted for here.

later,

Ray

[cnw1995]

Rats. I always screw up the lawn. I thought I had to kill the grubs before they woke up. And I got moss everywhere - at least it's green. Thanks Jack, I've got to save your post!  Here's a view from my L ride earlier in the week.