Greetings from Northern VA diners. Visiting my daughter's home to stay with the grandchildren why she is off to LA for meetings and to attend the Olypics marathon trials on Saturday. Went for a walk this afternoon and it was very chilly and breezy in Arlington.
Chris, your yorkshire pudding looks delicious.
YGW, wow, your inspection process sounds like government run amuck. When I was building in CT, the earlier inspections could be a real pain but the final walk throughs usually resulted in very few items.
I found another rescue airedale dog so I will have company on my daily walks. We pick her up in about a week.
Hope everyone is staying warm with the cold winter weather that has finally settled in the east.
Jim
Evening Dinners
Flo, Please.
Started my day off earlier than I would have liked. Had to be at Bob's (my mechanic) today by 9:30. I had a hub bearing go bad and had to have the Un-A-Hub replaced. The bearings are sealed in the Un-A-Hub so I could not just replaces the tappered wheel bearing like the old days. But it did last 225,000 miles, so I cannot complain. Still cost $123.00 where a old style bearing would have been $15.00 plus larbor.
While I was there my wife called and said it was a Emergency! She said the washing machine had puked water all over the floor and she said "I Can See A Rust Hole!" Well, I got home and did a load of laundry, guess what, no leaks?
Train Front, I need to stay away from K-10 Model Trains! Well I need to leave the credit card at home if I do go there.
Bought Yet Another B&O engine. This one is a PK 2000 B&O GP 7 for $65.00 in the Life Like Blue Box., It also looks new in the box, came from a estate sale Ken (Owner Of K-10) bought a few weeks ago. This is one sharp looking engine! Much better looking than the Bachmann B&O GP 7 I bought last month, and it looks good. I cannot say it was a steal like the last few engines I bought, it was $69.95. But, it is a Proto 2000 and in B&O colors so I had to have it!
YGW Need some N&W coal cars? K-10 has some from the same estate sale, looks around 50 or so and all diffrent road numbers. Let me know if you like details.
See you all later
Ken
PS Galaxy, glad to have you back.
I hate Rust
well, the way I have ben congested and coughing todya, I may very well be readmitted to the hospital. I see the pulmonologist tomorrow morning, he is in the towers attached to the hospital, and I may just wander on down to the ER and see whats what. i cannot get the phlem up and out of my lungs, hence the reason for the continuous [or near continuous] coughing.
I have had pneumonia 5 times seriously in my life nad have had walking pneumonia at least as many times. In fact I had walking oneumonia when I died at work due ot the allergic reaction to the sulfa antibiotic.
I siad long ago, I figured oneumonia was what woudl finally naturally do me in Not lookign for it to happen at this time { so stop worrying Derjohn, but thanks} but Like Glen Frey of the Eagles, I may succumb by age 67 If I ever suffer another bad bout liek this one, now on what 8 weeks of it?
Two cups of hot mint tea helped soothe the cough, but it only seems to rattle around in there, nto come up.
dunno, we will see what the night and tomorrow bring. If I do get admited I can limitedly use my cell phone on the hosital's network adn let y'all know. Or maye I will just get settled for a few days and see hwat happens next.
WEll, dinner will be eihter left over chicken or left over beef, so I don't really have to cook.I was gonna cook dead pig, but not now.
I'd just be happy to be able to breathe!
I know what you all will say..."get thee to the ER now"...I may jsut do thta, you never know.
-G .
Just my thoughts, ideas, opinions and experiences. Others may vary.
HO and N Scale.
After long and careful thought, they have convinced me. I have come to the conclusion that they are right. The aliens did it.
for you Galaxy. Get it dealt with one way or the other.
=================================
Good Evening
Lots of fine recipes and dishes for the viewing here, by the looks of things.
We just got rid of the latest batch of snowsqualls...ended up with 16" out here...le sigh. Back to plowing out for the 5th time now...and the plows just started to work their way here..so my plowing will be covered up...again.
Went to do the basic survival foods buying this morning and encountered a few people who were plainly not enjoying the cold crisp air...wait until Saturday...when our high will be 0F. Back to our classic deep winter temperatures for a couple of days.
Flo, I'll have chipotle chicken strips, lettuce, tomatoes and shredded chedder cheese in a wrap please..oh...and a glass of water as well. Thank you!
Have a good evening, folks!!
Any argument carried far enough will end up in Semantics--Hartz's law of rhetoric Emerald. Leemer and Southern The route of the Sceptre Express Barry
I just started my blog site...more stuff to come...
http://modeltrainswithmusic.blogspot.ca/
Good Evening,
I'm trying to type this from my tablet . I Don't care for the touch screen.
Chris, It seems we have different opinions regarding York shire pud. I don't care for the puffy, crusty type. My Grandmother made them more like those in Johns photo from the roast drippings. They were fairly flat and soft but dense and very flavourful. Let the Pud wars commence!
Time to get ready for Tai Chi.
CN Charlie
Brunhilde, a gottle of geer please and some crusty yorkies with gravy.
CNcharlie, I agree with you that yorkies cooked with beef drippings are extra flavourful. However, living in these united states its hard to get the old stlye roast beef we used to get from our butcher a the end of the street. So I just make them from scratch and cook them in vegetable oil (super hot of course).
In case anyone has not noticed I like to cook and have a kitchen full of gadgets (more than my power tools - YIKES). My wife once got me a KitchenAid food mixer for Christmas - and I loved it. Saves all that elbow work.
In case anyone was wondering what a gottle of geer was it was the inability of less skilled ventriloquists to pronounce "bottle of beer" - not the album by Fairport convention ;-)
Chris.
Loco Guy - is a state of mind - not an affinity to locomotives.
Sit back and enjoy your track...
Thanks Chris!
Evenin' folks!
Janie, just my usual decaf for the moment, please.
We are under a wind chill watch here in the Finger Lakes Region for Saturday and Sunday. Saturday the high will be 4°F and the -2°F with winds from 20 to 30 mph and wind chills reaching -35°F at times. Winter has finally arrived I guess.... Going to Canandaigua today to take care of the kitties I drove all of 300 yds. up the street before the ICE fired up. I left the car in EV mode and used the Electric to ease the burden on the gas engine while it warmed up. Once the car warmed up I put it in Hybred Vehicle Mode and ran the heater.... Outside of Canandaigua, I shut the heat off and returned to EV the rest of the way to my sister's house. Gas milage was all of 48mpg for that trip. Would normally be 70 or more. I gave the car a full charge while at her house, and on the way home did get 111mpg as I can go half of the way in EV mode. However normally I get 130mpg or more on the way home (It is downhill from Canandaigua to Geneva). That is the difference in driving in a 25mph headwind, and the fact that vehicles lose a lot of efficiency in cold weather.
I made some progress on the girder bridge scene over the past copuple of days. Looks like this now (most of the scenery on the far side of track has been finished).
Here it is with the girder bridge sitting where it will go when the rest of the scenery gets done under it.
Have a good night. My prayers for all of you in need!
73
Ray Seneca Lake, Ontario, and Western R.R. (S.L.O.&W.) in HO
We'll get there sooner or later!
Ray: love how the scenery is coming along.
Well, I'se be heading off to myself...g'night
Howdy all,
No coffee or food needed - just a quick drop in.
I have seen all the photos you post of your fantastic layouts, locos, scenery and I just wanted to share a photo of my less advanced MR layout - but I am still proud of it.
Here are my 2 BLI T1's with Bachmann Spectrum coaches and my freight train in the background.
Ignore the gubbins on the left side of the photo - its my test track and coupler height gauge track.
Yes - its life-like power loc track. And no - there aint any ballast. I invested so much in this track in my DC days I just couldn't let it go.
P.S. I forgot to mention to The Bear that the New Zealand lamb chops look FINE. I can taste the fat on the outside of those chops making my mouth water. I assume you use "proper" mint sauce. The last time I had decent lamb chops was in Kansas of all places in a rinky dink restuarant that prepared some excellent dishes.
Had a good session at Tai Chi tonight. We really enjoy it. Afterwards we did a few laps, about a mile or so before heading home.
Going to be very chilly here later tonight and tomorrow with a windchill of -41C which is still -40F. Think I'll stay inside and see if I can get that Kato PA running. I'm losing my enthusiasm for N scale but will finish that layout eventually. I don't have anything to buy for it and have all the engines and rolling stock I want. Famous last words that I refuse to be held to.
Ray, I really admire your efforts to reduce energy use. The polar bears in northern Manitoba appreciate your efforts and I hope it isn't too late for them given the rate that the polar ice is melting.
Well I think we may watch an episode of Come Dine With Me on Youtube. It is a show from England that we find amusing. There have been versions in other countries including Canada but the Canadian one wasn't very good.
Galaxy , good luck tomorrow. Sure hope the x-ray results are ok.
I got the notice today that my MRI is set for May. My doc doesn't want it until then so I will just have to wait.
Well, this engine has turned out to be non-functional. I've tried it as both DC and DCC. It doesn't move or make noises, and it doesn't even seem to be trying. It appears to have full 12-wheel drive and pickup, but I can turn the wheels on one truck and it acts like it's not connected to the motor.
I should take it apart and see. It's a challenge now.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
still choking on my own fluid, we will see what the pulmonologist says. the thing is I may sound clear until i cough and find out there is crap in the lungs I need to cough up and simply cannot. I have said for a long time pneumonia will do me in.
Still contemplating life as i know it. Such as it is, such as it will be.
so status quo.
we will see what we will see when we shall see it.
"One difference between pessimists and optimists is that while pessimists are more often right, optimists have far more fun."
Good Afternoon!
It´s past lunchtime, so all I´ll be having is a mug-load of coffee, served in my Furka-Oberalpbahn (FO) mug and a slice of that deliciously looking cherry crumble pie, please!
Today, I´ll be enjoying just running a train (or two) - no w*rk on the scenery. It´s Petra´s birthday tomorrow and I´d like to keep her happy by not making a mess of this place today.
Bear - my only encounter with mint sauce dates back about 25 years. It was one of those once in a lifetime experiences and I don´t really miss not having another opportunity to taste it.
Winter has come back for a spell. No sn*w, though, but temperatures below zero and icy fog - highly unpleasant!
Galaxy - you should be on meds expelling whatever is congesting your lung. Oh, btw, I am not agreeing to your last statement - life is what you make of it!
Good Morning
Another dul dull day for our viewing pleasure this fine morning. Currently sitting at 9F going to a high of 20F later on.
A Honey-do list showed up just as I sat down here...and I see some gotta buys are on the list. Oh, and some of them are clear across town as well from each other...oh joy. Well, it appears my traintime will be very short....le sigh.
Chloe, I'll just have a coffee for now, I'll be at the corner booth to do some moping...le sigh.
Mornin' everyone! (And a great afternoon to you Ulrich!)
Zoe, I'll have a short stack of buckwheat pancakes with real NYS Maple Syrup and a pot of Seneca Lake Blend Dark Roast Coffee to keep my R&GV RR Museum Mug full and warm for a while.
Today is cold and will be getting much colder by nightfall... Currently 21°F outside (feels like 7°) under partly cloudy skies. Tonight will get down to 4°F and the high on Saturday will be 3°F with wind chills down to -35°F or more below 0! Camping Weather!!! Yes! I actually have been camping in a tent out in the middle of a frozen lake in Cuba, NY with a wind chill that hit -70F a couple times overnight. I survived to tell about it.... Only had two Scouts and one other leader on that campout (all the others said Mommy wouldn't let them go!) and I can tell you inside the canvas tent in a double sleeping bag you could get warm. It is amazing how long ytou can wait to have to visit the little building up on the shore when it is that cold out!!!
CNCharlie, thanks! It gets to be a game with a lot of EV and PHEV owners to see just how much efficiency we can get on the cars and I just like to see what I can get from the things I do. One of my hobbies, I guess. My best trip from my sister's house to my house was 310mpg! That was the day everything was perfect to get that. No traffic (I could get away with driving 45mph), temperature in the 70's (low wind resistance), and was able to switch from HV to EV mode in all the right places. I drive with traffic and try to be a carefull but courteous driver at all times, so getting milage like that is a rarety. I do use several hypermiling practices and have done that for years with all my vehicles (I had a lifetime average of 38mpg on my Yaris.). When I bought the PiP, the salesman (an older gent), rolled his eyes, waved his hand at me and told me all that does is send all the polution down the road to the coal fired electric plant (now closed, BTW)! I replied that I intended to get most of the power off the roof of my house! His jaw dropped and his attitude changed. Here in the Finger Lakes Region at the moment less than 9% of our electric comes from coal and a little over half is from Hydro, wind, and a little bit of solar (the rest is natural gas, and biomass). 70% of my electric comes from the roof of my house.... I best shut up before Vinnie comes over.
Bear, I'll have to try that recipe for mint sauce. I have a large clump growing right at the corner of my house at the end of my main driveway. Have to get some lamb chops this Spring... I do love leg of lamb but the rest of the family doesn't. Usually have that at the expensive hotel restaurant my sister insists we go to on Easter. Then an hour later we have another huge meal done my my son's MIL at his house. Then we have sandwiches and leftovers a couple hours after that. Gotten so I don't look forward to all the nonsense (mostly from my sister) on Easter.
Best get moving! Want to get my walk in this morning! Later...
This is a Grass Tech static grass applicator.
The bowl is about 3 inches across. The handle holds 2 D-cell batteries, which generate a static charge. I've been using this for 3 or 4 years now, and I'm stil on the original batteries. First, you paint the surface and let that dry. I brush on dilute white glue just before adding the grass. You have to put a pin or something metallic into the surface to get the "opposite charge" thing, and then you clip the wire from the applicator to the pin. You put the static grass in the bowl and shake it over the prepared surface. The charge holds the "grass" upright.
I like to mix multiple colors of static grass to get a more natural effect.
Galaxy, this may sound weird, particularly coming from a Vulcan like me, but have you tried "alternative" medications?
I treat pretty much anything with Benadryl or Delsym cough medicine, but these don't work at all for my wife. She got something from her acupuncturist a few weeks back and she swears by it. I'll have to admit that it worked for her.
The medical establishment is not really getting to the root of your problem, sad to say, and perhaps you should explore another option.
well
I saw the pulmonologist.
First the spot on the Xray is anything but just a spot on an Xray. Nothing serious according ot the CT scan. SO in the clear there.
He started on me on SPiriva inhaler and restarted another antibiotic and steroids again. He siad if I don;t show improvement in aobut 3 days, back to the ER I go to be readmitted.
so thtat is where things stand.
Train nut seems to be coping with Cristians death, but wifey is not so coping, though she is back to work. Mnay gave them donaations to help with bills.
ANd so, once agian, we will see what we will see.....
Good Afternoon.
Just got back home from driving around--and I mean around--the city. Two items are now set up on a "weird and bizarre quest" list. The both of us decided that I was not going out there tomorrow or Sunday/Monday because it is going to be bone-crackingly cccold out there!!
Got a few more gotta do's before I am done for the day so I better get at them.
Have a good afternoon!!
Flo coffee, extra hot. I'm frozen. 29 degrees F, the wind finally stopped and I got outside to try Tru Scale paint for the first time. I checked out an old thread, and all kinds of people who never used it and knew nothing about, were quite opinionated on how it should be mixed and thinned.
So much for the wisdom of the Internet. I was weathering and I did not thin it and it worked OK, but quantity of paint was less than I would have wanted it I was painting a car body.
Galaxy, good news about the spot
Ray nice stonework.
Henry
COB Potomac & Northern
Shenandoah Valley
Well, everything that needed done is now done and I am busheded. So now that I done my bit I can enjoy the next couple of days working around my trainroom.
Tonight though I am currently cuddling Lucy and being headbunted by her..
Since we are getting socked in tonight with those ol' snowsqualls I'll have a bowl of Pumpkin soup and a coffee please...I'll be at the fireplace warming up.
I need a large mug of very hot decaf please Janie!
Currently 19°F and going down to 4° overnight. That will be the high for Saturday and Saturday's low will be -3°F. Winter has finally arrived! Looking at a couple inches of white stuff on the ground by tomorrow morning. Since I have to drive to Canandaigua to feed and take care of her kitties tomorrow, I may get to see how the new tires handle on snow and icy slush. At the low temps salt doesn't really do much except make the roads icy....
V8VegaHowmus I hope you weren't doing that 45 MPH driving in southern Calif.
Not hardly!!! I take the back route on a country road from Canandaigua to Geneva. Depending on the time of day there may be a lot of traffic, or almost nothing. I try to time my trips to feed the cats during those times without much traffic. If it gets busy, I don't slow down the traffic... Heck the PiP can do 112mph if needed (limited by the computer) LOL
Barry, right about now, I miss the wood stove..... Good couple of day to hunker down here and work on the railroad I think!
Galaxy, sure hope the new meds clear things up for you, and so glad the spot was just a spot on the film and not something bad in you!
Henry, Thank you sir!
Basically got my taxes done today. Decided to do that rather than play in the train rooms. I did get another coat of plaster wash on the new plaster cloth for the other side of the track. This is the first year in 25 years or so I won't be getting a refund back. In fact I owe $1... That's what it says... My medical costs were way down from last year... I will be going back over the figures to see if I missed anything, but.
Went over to the fieldhouse to walk this morning... You know I really do enjoy the... ah... Scenery. Yep the scenery, that's a good word for it. One very attractive red head was stretching and doing some exercizes as I started to walk. I caught her eye and she did a double take and realized who I was. She was one of my students back about 18 years ago and I am good friends with her family. I used to do live sound for her dad with his band at times. I walked over and got a hug from her! There are a whole bunch of other retired teachers that walk over there so I have some good company. Today I did.... 1 whole mile! Well it's a start. I will work up to doing 2 miles 3 or 4 times a week. And then get the time down a bit. I am feeling better already!
Have a great night. Prayers going out for those in need!
Ray: We still have the fireplace but it is a little bigger now. River rock/ fieldstone with a solid oak mantle. A friend of Audrey's family put it together for us over last summer.
Anyhoo...getting a little sleepy here so I better go home to ...g'night.
Flo,a Warm Please, it is cold in the Train Room / Garage Tonight.
Work Front Sort of boring today, was not busy and not slow. Wost news I got today was with it being a Hoilday Monday I am stuck with Jerry 3 days in a row!
MisterBeasleyGalaxy, this may sound weird, particularly coming from a Vulcan like me, but have you tried "alternative" medications?
Galaxy that is something to think about. While I am not a die hard beliver I do think there is some merit. Jerry belives in it, and I swear he is so dumb that is the only reason his heat is still beating! OK, that was was a joke but I have seen some proof it works.
GM, MEN!
still contemplating life as I know it.
The antibiotics and steroids seem to be working, and the acidophilus helps the run-through-you syndrome.
The problem is, whne the antibiotics run out nad the steroids runout, will I be healed or NOT?
The trian nuts wifey is going to tattoo herself with CHristian's name and bday and the symbol for suicide on her forearm. I comprehend, but I think is excessive. We are thinking of gettting them boht a "mother's family" ring with Christian and RIP 2016 engraved insde it for each of them. At least taht they cna take off if it is offensive to anyone, like WORK. I am afraid she will have to cover it up, OR someone will continually ask her about it, and will conjur up bad memories of finding him hanging there. She went back to work this week, but found it exhausting.TN friedn will seem to be coping well with the death.
Well, I am pleased that it was just a spot on hte Xray. TG.
I have found most of the LR in the house, got teh boxes in the middle of the LR cleared out, and the hangings MAY go on the walls today. I got the two new shoe racks put togthere, it is a cubby hole affair, wiht a cubby for up to 15 shoes/pairs in each unit, though a pair doesn't really fit in one cubby. so we have space for 30 shoes/pairs, sounds excessive,b ut we seem to have accumulated so many pairs of shoes! They stack with pegs for the locking in thing. Above the cubbes, there will be three of those stretchable wooden peg hook racks to hang hats/caps on. I had that by the door in the trailer,and works well! Gotta find htem,and then drill the pilot holes nad hang those too. AFTER i find hte charger for the Ryobi drill/driver! The Lithium Ion battery finally ran down on it. Lasted a looooong time, boht unused nad while in use. The disny cells nad pin art works, may also get hung todya if I feel like it. There is about 8 boxes of bookcase stuff OT unack too and that is all the boxes in the LR. The helpers who moved us tipped the bookcase ont eh side BAD MOVE i told htem, as the lawyer type glass doors for each shelf fell out. The problem is they go IN WHILE you ASSEMBLE the sides to the top/bottom, so either the whole thing need to come apart or with help If I am lucky I can unscrew/rescrew the "holders' of the doors back on/in so it will be together again. THEN the LR swill be finished! SO aobut 1/2 doen, but now we cna walk aroudn the LR and not odge boxes all over!
Then there is the 'puter room, and the kitchen to roganize. WHew! still SO much to do.
We are contemplating a slidnign glass door for the bonus {formerly the 3 season room, now 4 season as the 8 foot electic heat run actually keeps it toasty in htere} to go to the back yard. ANd to replace the triple track storm windows wiht real double pane windows. The afternoon sun really wanrms it up too,s o we can get some tropical plats like the palms i wnat to get. but for now, it will remain a half shed stuff and half room. We will also capet it eventually. so Still LOTs to do for thehosue, then we will have an open house! Gifts of cash only please, we have enough chatskies {?}.
Then there is getting a shed out back and the garden started, but that may wiat til next growing season. I will build up a raised bed wiht cedar sides, 2 2x10s on top each edges, nad put a 2x10 cedar "seat' for a border,about 4x 8 or 4x10 spaces aobut 3 side by side. I cna plant some tomato, yellow& spaghetti squashes, some zucchini, eggplant, some herbs {HERbs or ERbs depending on your pronouncing}, try some sweet corn {maybe three sisters}, some oh i don't know what all i got, Trying to find all organic heirloom type veggies for all growing, but hard to find. But alas htat will have to wiat til next year I think. there is a small raised bed plastic planters aobut 4xr4' but it is smack dab in the middle of where the slider doors will go, assuming the carpenter can find a 6'6" door height or was it 5'6" ?/i t is alower roof. the carpenter wants to raise the roof, but that is $$$$ amd may be int eh cards later, we could raise ti tothe height of the garage, both have fairly flat roofs. well the garage is flat, the porch room is slight angle with rubber roof membrane on it.
whew, now all we need is $$$.
well, iahve rambeld enough, if anyone reads it it, I will be surprised.
alter
Make it a great day!
My dad was in the clothing business and I have a lot of clothes by anyone's standards other than Oprah, but I never had 30 pair of shoes. These days I am down to sneakers, hiking boots, two pair of dress shoes and hunting boots.
For heirloom seeds check out Tomato Bob https://www.tomatobob.co/
My gardening skill have diminished or its the crappy sandy soil we have but I never got very much quantity out of the heirloom tomatos. The Green Zebras are dynamite though.
Got a new battery for my old B&D cordless screwdriver from Amazon, the only place that had one. It is 0.01" bigger in several dimensions, but works fine in the screwdriver. The charger is a separate piece and the charging lights won't come on with it. hrmph.
Sunny 23° wind 18 mph, no outside airbrush for me today. The 3 month old grand daughter is being dropped off for a few hours, so nothing is going to get done today. I did get the legs attached to my first piece of benchwork last night and I came up with a track plan that isn't terrible, but that could change when I look at it again.
Dull, snowsqualls, winds and bitter ccold out there. Sitting at -6F right now going for a high of....tadaa!!...0F. Windchills of around -16 to -22F expected.
So, no going out anywhere today. I got lots of traintime this weekend, hah!!! Oh, provided a honey do does not show up.
Chloe, I'll just have a coffee for now, please...I'll be at the RC catching up on some readinig here.