Another sunny 50 degree day here in mid Mo. Stopped by Menards for more sawsall blades. They have a 15% off everything that fits in the bag sale going. When I wandered past the train shelf a yellow B&O box car with the blue chessie cat logo on it caught my eye. There was room in the bag, so my collection grew a little today.
Mornin' guys and gal(s). Sunny and 32 in the Potomac Highlands. Took the youngest princess back to college yesterday. She certainly was happy to get back to Shepherdstown. On the way back, Wifey and I stopped at Hobby Lobby and Michael's. I picked up a neat little rowboat and a 12 pack of pine trees. You could tell that the merch was still on those container ships. Wound up dining at Chili's.
Been making headway with my RR tie plant, for my area depicting Green Spring, WV. Had two big freezer bags of stained ties from the last show I attended. Made stacks of ties for a faux siding, and tie stack loads for a couple of my 19th century flatcars. Turned out nice.
Sunny and just over 50 here in mid Mo. The dumpster was finally delivered Monday. This lets me start on the next step of my porch project. Original plan was to peel the roof deck off, replace whatever rafters that needed replacing, then put a new deck and roof on it.
Well, I started peeling the deck off today. All of the rafters I have exposed so far need to be replaced. Also, I have uncovered 3 repairs in the small area where I picked up the deck. I'll probably end up rebuilding the whole porch roof with new. Not surprising for a job on a 100 year old house....
I am mentoring the local high school's robotics team. They are competing in the First Robotics Competition. Their build season started this week. The kids have decided what their robot needs to do to play this year's game, an are starting to prototype the mechanisms to manuiplate the game pieces.
I really enjoy watching the kids work through the design and build process - especially when they realize that what they are learning in their trig or algebra classes really does have applications in the real world.
M-m-mornin' b-b-boys and g-g-girl(s). Sunny and 18 along the P-p-patteson Creek cut-off. Got the pellet stove rolling, and soon I'll open the stairwell door to warm the main room.
Did some tie work after dinner, making loads for a couple of 19th century flatcars, and stacks for my tie plant. I started to get a little lower back pain, and looked up and realized I had been standing in the same spot for 90 minutes. Will do another batch tonight.
He's mister White Christmas, he's mister snow...Bah-duh-duh-duh.
Yeah, the Christmas gear all came down this weekend, exterior lights and the Robo-Tree Saturday, then the trains and train board yesterday. Interesting, as it all seems to come down faster than it goes up.
Depressing to look out the windows and see no lights. Ah, you get used to it.
Mornin' guys and gal(s). Clear and 28 (and I think that's our high for today...) along the Patterson Creek cut-off. Christmas is all stored away until next go 'round. Slowly getting back to normal, healthwise, inside Fifedom. Seems we've been battling this, that or the other since the beginning of December. Woof.
anjdevil - Continued .
Better late than never. Have a very happy, safe and prosperous 2022.
Cloudy, about 30 degrees here in mid Mo. this morning. The high school robotics season kick off is today. We get to see what this year's game is. Afternoons today and tomorrow will be spent strategizing and determining specs. for the robot. Prototyping, design, and construction starts Monday.
My wife and I stopped by the KATY depot museum yesterday to take a look at the model trains that were recently donated. We were expecting pieces of a layout. What the donation turned out to be was a disassembled layout without the bench work. A sizeable collection of HO Rock Island equipment, track, and scenery supplies. Got to make an inventory and work with the museum directors to see what they want to do with the stuff.
Wow this place is getting as bad as opening up the Aurora Cat retirees web site.
Sunny, 17 still cold, but with clouds on the way and temps to 33 with rain on very frozen ground. Will be a good day to stay off the roads. Been thimking of taking something off the layout so I can do a farm scene but I don't know what to remove. Have a friend coming over who wants to work on his RAM in my shed today. So that will be okay.
Joined 1-21-2011 TCA 13-68614
Kev, From The North Bluff Above Marseilles IL.
The sun came up. Clear, crisp morning along the Allegany front range. Dispatched the prior evening's snohizo in two sessions yesterday. Made ravioli for my gals for dinner, with garlic knots. Might get into the train room over the next few and do something.
For those who Know Rich, his mother passed away suddenly this morning.
smokey1 The word we are not allowed to say on here. and rich may have it also. Last from him as he may be going in also.
The word we are not allowed to say on here. and rich may have it also. Last from him as he may be going in also.
Jesus, Mary and Joseph, help them now in their hour of need!
Thanks RT for the info. Worried for Rich's mom as well knowing what we do.
Prayers for Jenni. I haven't heard what's happened to put her in the hospital but it can't be good.
Stay strong Rich, for both of you.
Wayne
Hi all, Woke up to 3 outside on The North Bluff. May make it to 14 today then -3 tonight. Winter. They came and filled the LP tank yesterday and I was glad to see that happen. Kids were to come out on Saturday but it has been called off because the party their folks wanted to go to had been shut down due to you know what. At last she told me she made an Apt for the kids to get their first shots. The slow turn on the late comers is starting to show around here. As my grandfather used to say, every choice has a price or a payback. Make good ones.
Fife, Bummer to hear about Jenni, I was afraid of that. Figuerd it was bad with him not posting. Prayers for her and Rich.
Guess we will just hang out and start taking down the tree. We were going to let the kids help but oh well. What do you do?
Please be safe out there!
Mornin' guys and gal(s). Cloudy and 38 along the Alleghany front range, where they are calling for 3-6" of snohizo overnight. We missed out on the big snow in VA, so guess we're due. Bring it on.
Feeling much better, and did some grocery shopping, dry-cleaning pick-up, and pharmacy drive-thru. Youngest Princess made me Stauffer's lasagna for dinner, and it hit the spot. Put away all the outside decor, now all that is left is the tree and main floor stuff.
for Rich's Jenni, whom he had to take to the hospital a few nights back...
On Jeopardy tonight, a "model railroad" category. They were all easy!
Just received a notice from Ft Pitt, concerning the passing of John DeSantis. I was fortunate to visit his home during the TCA convention in '04 (I think). What a gentleman he was, and what a collection he had amassed. He's been featured a few times in TM videos.
88 - The best part of building the new layout is the "help" that will be ready to share the adventure. Can't wait to see trains running, soon.
Wow, 600+ accidents here in Virginia yesterday, trees down all over and folks with power out. (Not me, obviously.) Some people just don't have sense enough to stay home.
The snow came down like wet concrete yesterday. Spent this morning digging out, the driveway was surprising easy, but it took two hours to get the packed snow off the cars! And I'm still not done with Lady Firestorm's Kia Soul, that big flat roof's still covered. I've got it parked in the sun to let ol' Sol do some of the work and soften it up. Going to try it again later.
Morning gang,
Yesterday was get the tooth fixed: Good news is the filling is replaced. Bad news is the tooth is cracked and it may not last. Thought I would see how it goes. Dentist said 50/50 chance it could last for years or maybe snap next week. The option was a root canal and crown at 69 years old. Not much value in a root canal and crown at 69 on a tooth I can live without. So we will see. The throat is much better and food is passing so it is a up hill climb.
Weather on The North Bluff has been cold, was 4 yesterday morning and will be -6 Friday AM if they are right? Today will be a one day heat wave and hit 32. Been cooking wood. Boy the fireplace drafts good in the cold. I did go down and run trains the night before last and everything is working just fine. I should clean the track.
All for now.
Happy New Year all! So far there hasn't been much snow out here in western Massachusetts this winter. Interesting! I'm not sure if I want that to change, or if I want to enjoy things the way they are.Snow or not, it felt bitterly cold yesterday, and today's not looking too cozy either! A good day to stay inside by the wood stove and drink cocoa. I'm thinking it's about time to place another order of parts with Jeff Kane but I need to wrap up deciding which projects I'm going to prioritize. I need to order parts from Portlines too, but especially due to the sales tax in MA, ordering flyer parts gets expensive fast!Nothing much else is cookin', but there's still plenty to keep me occupied if I get back to working on things I've put off dealing with -Ellie
"Unless bought from a known and trusted dealer who can vouch otherwise, assume every train for sale requires servicing before use"
Evenin' fellasWelcome to 2022. LOLFife - thanks for sharing the pic of the kiddos. Was an awesome visit, thanks again. The kiddos are asking when we're going back.Spent some time 'planning' the next train garden. Started with an island configuration, but wasn't getting the look I was aiming for, so switched to a 'round-the-room' with a large space in the middle. It is coming along and I'm liking the look. I'll be able to have a long two-track station, large 'yard', nice sized town and some nice area for industry.Kev - that episode sounded rather scary! Glad you are recovering.
https://brentsandsusanspicutures.shutterfly.com/
Yeah, we're getting snow here, Ashland's about 20 miles north of the Fortress Flintlock.
We had some kind of a rip-roarin' deluge last night, woke me up in the wee hours with something rattling the sides of the house. The backyard's soaked with some major puddles. Snow's coming down this morning, not too bad though so far. Hey, I've got shovels and rock salt, I can deal with it.
Mornin guys and gal(s). Cold, but not snowing in the Highlands. Virtual Railfan shows it snowing in Ashland, VA, Jonesboro, TN, and Parkville, MO. Got Gingerbread Junction boxed up and put away, but still have two more containers of D56 to pack. Hate the styrofoam boogers...
There's talk about snow here in the morning. I don't know if it's going to stick if it comes, it's been in the high 60's the past few days and the ground's nice and warm, and today with last nights rain it's good and wet.
I went out and got two jugs of rock salt anyway. Better to have it and not need it than need it and not have it!
The crazy just keeps on coming:
Mornin' guys and gal(s). Damp and 57 in the Potomac Highlands. Watched a pretty good Rose Bowl last night, then turned in. Will start taking down decorations today.
Hey everyone! This isn't a toy train video, it's more of a railfan video, but it's done by a young friend of mine and you've GOT to see it! Darn near broadcast quality too!
You won't be sorry you watched it! A fun way to start the new year!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D44TTNPFuSA
Happy New Year, all.
Here is to peace, progress, and prosperity.
Wow, 1st day of the year, and 1st page of the coffee pot.
Got a phone call the other day telling me that the Rock Island HO layout that was donated to the KATY Depot museum has been delivered. I'll be spending some time helping with that project in the near future.
Next Saturday is the world wide kick off for the F.I.R.S.T. Robotics 2022 game. I am a mentor for the local high school robotics team, so I will be spending evenings working with the kids to design and build robots for the game. Hopefully, the pandemic will ease enough to allow the competition meets to happen this year.
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