That is a barred owl . it is saying " Who , who who cooks for you?"
we have some in our neighbor hood.
We mostly finished the exterior painting of the Southern command post. The hard part anyway. One side of the house is on the down slope of the hill and I have no ladder here tall enough to reach it. However, mister Long reach 8'to 30' pole with a roller on it worked like a charm, no ladder needed, Need to touch up, duct tape paint brush to mr long reach. Since that was so easy I did the other 2 sides with roller and no ladder. Much faster. I weed eated the forrest made it look neater.
I am tired, a little sunburned, we have a little bit to go tomorrow I spraypaint the stucco around the foundation with the air sprayer. i had to removed some jungle around the front of the house in order to do so. Picked off a few ticks, kept myself hosed in repellant.
I felt the need to come in and be somewhat of a post-hog
Another Thank You for all the support
We are going to get through this
Some Minnesota Trains
My favorite I love the Green Machines
This one isn't bad either wouldn't you agree
And nothing better than sky blue GN
P.S. I almost forgot to be a participant in the discussion
A Great Horned Owl hangs out around here now and then
Who wouldn't like that
TF
Henry.
A long, long, time ago I read an article in Sports Afield by a gentleman deer hunting, sitting just inside a tangle of wild grapes when a flock of crows chased a owl into the tangle.
One of the crows, bolder than the others, lit outboard on a large grapevine and started screaming it's brains out, so much so that the hunter was contemplating shooting the crow with his rifle. As this was going on, the crow kept hopping sidways on the grapvine, closer to the owl.
All at once the owl grabbed the crow by the neck, mid call,(Cakk--) and pulled it further into the patch. He wrote,"there were one or two further sounds, muffled, and then silence. All the other crows left the area, without another sound."
I have spoken with dedicated crow hunters, who swear that crows are so intelligent they can identify hunters in camoflauge walking across a field to a shooting spot, and would vacate the area. One of their crew came up with the idea of wearing a women's skirt as they crossed the field, the crows not being bothered by a woman. It worked----
Crows generally fly in odd numbered groups, no idea why. Many times I have counted flocks, (called a murder) to see if this is true. When I come up with an even number I will observe one usually flying well back, and at a different altitude, that the main flock, bringing it up to an odd number.
Duck hunting I will place three crow decoys well to one side of my duck tollers using them as confidence birds. Because they are so wary, many flock birds, ducks, geese, will generally land amongst the decoys believeing the area to be safe'
Crows, along with blue jays, are perhaps two of the worst predators for birds and waterfowl, along with raccoons and house cats.
Biologists used to mark duck nests in the marshes with tape tied to a stake. The crows loved this, learning that the stake represented a clutch of duck/goose eggs, or chicks. They changed this by placing the stake on the edge of the marsh, and then writing down the number of paces and compass bearing to the nest. Coons learned to track the scent trail left by the biologists and would eat the young, or eggs. They overcame this by tying cloth saturated in coyote urine to their boots, and at a distance from the nests, would sprinkle coyote urine in the trail that they made.
Coyotes will kill and eat coons, thus discourageing the coons from following the track made by the biologists.
Animals, wild or domesticated, have a lot more going for them than we give them credit for. I am just glad my Chessies do not have opposing thumbs.
herrinchoker
Well it looks like we have a deal on the property sale front. After seven months of nothing mainly due to covid 19 issues we have an agreement pending. I am just sitting here waiting for the contracts to come through to electronically sign. The first offer came in @ 6.5m on Thursday and I accepted 8.9m just now with no subjects. I am sure the Beneficiary will be delighted as they thought 7.5 would be tops. I can not tell them what I got until the Estate has some other things dealt with, which will take several months. The agent thought I was crazy for not taking much lower offers earlier. I told her at the time that brinksmanship is a dangerous game, I came out smelling like a rose.
I am not taking a fee for being the Executor as I never have, I don't charge my friends when I help them. I bet there will be a lot of PWRS gift certificates with my name on them though.
I just want to sign these contracts and go to bed as it has been a hectic 72 hours sitting here on my butt which I am not good at. I need to work for a living not sit and chit chat about money.
Bear, the car is a Vanguard estate wagon. I didn't think much of it but Dad loved Vanguards, enough to join the Vanguard club in Winnipeg. We had a bad accident in that car in December of the same year, The car was repaired. If you want to hear a haunted car story about what happened a year later I will tell it sometime.
I just got the contracts to sign and another offer to boot from another group who just happens to be scumbags as far as we are concerned, not nice people at all. They tried threats and intimidation tactics but did not get far with me. I honestly think they are gansters by the way they behaved. They happen to own 14 acres next to the one we are selling and wanted our ten acres for their housing development. By what I know from some family members in law enforcement they are likely using the developement for money laundering. They are PO'd right now I'll tell ya. Makes my day.
Sign sealed and delivered and sent, time for Three hours early for me but I am done.
Night all.
Brent
"All of the world's problems are the result of the difference between how we think and how the world works."
BATMAN This is what you need tonight TF, so let me pour you one. I would join you but I need to keep my wits about me. The real estate tycooning went on till midnight last night and we are heading in that direction again. At least I was smart enough to hire some good help.
This is what you need tonight TF, so let me pour you one. I would join you but I need to keep my wits about me. The real estate tycooning went on till midnight last night and we are heading in that direction again.
At least I was smart enough to hire some good help.
Thank you
I am almost back to normal now
It didn't take me too long to contemplate this I did have to think a little bit but not much
It may be a while but I will riddle you back Brent
Well I was in bed and then the phone rang. A deal was struck between the buyer I sold to and someone else for the buyer to back out of the deal with my OK of course and now an even better sale price is being paid by this other group. With the covid 19 issue going on construction cost are way down and they all want to take advantage of the lower price of materials (so I have been told) After the deal goes through pieces of the land will be split off to satisfy all involved after the Estate gets its money starting with a huge deposit on Monday. TRAIN STORE HERE WE COME! Oh ya, its not my money.
The lawyer said to be prepared to stay up all night. I may be just rambling on and on in the diner tonight.
BATMANBear, the car is a Vanguard estate wagon. I didn't think much of it but Dad loved Vanguards, enough to join the Vanguard club in Winnipeg.
Brent! Nice cowboy boots!! Bet you were proud of those!!
When I was a kid I discovered a pair of knee high military dress boots in the attic of my grandparent's farm. I was told that they belonged to my grandfather's brother who was a Colonel in WWII. They fit me perfectly! I loved stomping around in them, especially because they had steel 'horseshoes' on the heels and cleats on the soles. How anyone could manage to stay standing on a paved surface amazed me. They were so slippery on the cement walkway at the farm house that they were better than roller skates! Everyone quickly got tired of me pounding the boots onto the cement as I pretended to drill like a soldier. Spoilsports!
Dave
I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!
hon30critterBrent! Nice cowboy boots!! Bet you were proud of those!!
Yep, got those somewhere along the way either in Wyoming or the Dakotas. I'd get beat up looking like that now. That was a great trip, all seven weeks of it.
The Vanguard story.
That Powder Pass pic was in the Summer of 1966 and the car was a trooper after the speedometer cable broke half a block from home when we left. It was fixed by noon and we were on our way without further incident.
We lived in the Vancouver area and my Aunt, Uncle and Cousin lived in Prince George 500 miles North. On December 23, 1966 we loaded up the Vanguard on a cold snowy day and headed off to spend Christmas with them. As we were driving up the Fraser Canyon we hit black ice on the Spuzzum bridge and did a real number on the car. Greyhound got us to Prince George and the car went to Hope BC to a body shop. We were surprised they fixed it.
After we spent Christmas in PG and it was time to come home we hopped BC rail RDCs for the 500 miles home. I think Dad must have planned the whole disaster just for the train ride. It was a long trip in the coldest of conditions and I remember the train stopping and picking up two native Indians that had been hunting in the middle of nowhere. They loaded in a couple of deer and dropped them all off at the reserve down the line a ways.
At some point in the middle of January the car had been repaired and Dad took the Greyhound the 100 miles East to hope to get it and bring it home. It was repaired well and there were no issues.
About a year later it was 3 o'clock on a cold December morning while we were all sleeping that we could hear a car horn blowing. After a few minutes we went to investigate and realized it was our Vanguard. The neighbours had also woken up and came out in their PJs and manage to help Dad shut the thing up by pulling the plug on the horn connection.We all went back to bed. The car had been fine up until that night. In the morning we realized it was the day we had the big accident the year before.
It gets better.
About three weeks later in the middle of the night again we hear a car horn, so out we go and sure enough it is the Vanguard again, but Dad had not reconnected the horn or had it fixed. Upon opening the hood again with the neighbour helping in his PJs once again it was determined that the Vanguard had duel horns and they had only disconnected the one that was blowing the first time. This time it was the other still connected horn. That day it was exactly one year to the day that he went out and picked the car up at Hope.
And that is the story of the haunted Vanguard.
BATMANAbout three weeks later in the middle of the night again we hear a car horn, so out we go and sure enough it is the Vanguard again, but Dad had not reconnected the horn or had it fixed.
They were related? No other explanation
Cheers, Ed
herrinchokerCrows, along with blue jays, are perhaps two of the worst predators for birds and waterfowl, <SNIP> Animals, wild or domesticated, have a lot more going for them than we give them credit for.
Nova had a program many years ago at how crows were just as sophisticated as racoons at figuring out how to open puzzles to get food. The experiments that the scientists rigged for the crows to solve were amazing.
Crows are much smarter than they get credit for. Shame they are such horrible animals.
-Kevin
Living the dream.
Happy Fathers Day to all the other dads out there.
Being a father to my three girls has been the best part of my life.
Brent your friend was very astute with her money. I think you deserve the executors cut. You are doing a lot of work. It looks like Canada doesn't have an estate tax. I believe the US estate tax kicks in at 11 mil, but that provision will sunset in 2026. A few states have estate and inheritance tax. In Maryland if you leave money to distant family members or friends the inheritance tax rate is 15%. The estate tax kicks in at 5 mil.
Henry
COB Potomac & Northern
Shenandoah Valley
BigDaddy Brent your friend was very astute with her money. I think you deserve the executors cut. You are doing a lot of work. It looks like Canada doesn't have an estate tax. I believe the US estate tax kicks in at 11 mil, but that provision will sunset in a few years. A few states have estate and inheritance tax. In Maryland if you leave money to distant family members or friends the inheritance tax rate is 15%. The estate tax kicks in at 5 mil.
Brent your friend was very astute with her money. I think you deserve the executors cut. You are doing a lot of work. It looks like Canada doesn't have an estate tax. I believe the US estate tax kicks in at 11 mil, but that provision will sunset in a few years. A few states have estate and inheritance tax. In Maryland if you leave money to distant family members or friends the inheritance tax rate is 15%. The estate tax kicks in at 5 mil.
I am still up. She is leaving most of it to good causes and I am happy to help out. This Estate has been a challenge to say the least with everything closed down and her being an American with lots of assets in the U.S. The Probate courts have only just reopened so hopefully things will start to move, The borders are closed and I need to make at least three trips Stateside to deal with her assets down there.
Tax treaties between the U.S. and Canada work well only if the banks understand them. The Bank of America doesn't while Wells Fargo are right on top of things and are excellent to deal with. I am paying $1100.00 an hour when both the U.S. and Canadian Lawyers are stepping in to take care of things.
I see myself having a long Fathers Day nap today.
Good morning .....
Happy Father's Day ....
Enjoy model railroading today !
GARRY
HEARTLAND DIVISION, CB&Q RR
EVERYWHERE LOST; WE HUSTLE OUR CABOOSE FOR YOU
Good Morning,
Happy Father's Day.
As usual the weather man got it wrong and we will be having a cool day with showers so unlikely any planting will get done. It's only 60F and windy right now.
I'm debating 'pulling the trigger' on a brass loco. It is very expensive but a really exquisite model. One moment I think 'Yes I'll do it' and another 'NO, too expensive'. Another like it won't come along and while expensive it is a 'good buy' from my research. Can I live with the guilt? Not much of a problem in the scheme of things. I guess it is a distraction.
Garry, my research on Johnboy hasn't turned up anything.
Perhaps I should run trains today. I think a short beach passenger train with the Pacific on point might be in order.
We have several blue jays coming to the back yard looking for peanuts. I think they have a nest in the large spruce trees out front. While they do have a reputation for killing nestlings, scientific research has shown that reputation is largely undeserved. They make a particular sound to announce their arrival and sometimes will perch looking at the back door. 'Where are the nuts!' And of course I appear.
Well I think it is coffee time again.
CN Charlie
Happy Father's Day to everyone.
Just got back from my walk. It was delayed today while a thunderstorm rolled through.
I want to take a long nap, but it will probably be hit or miss -- some phone calls expected.
York1 John
whew ,
We finished the painting of the exterior of the Southern Command
took 3 days but got it all done. I am tired. I can post a picture when I get back to the northern command and have more data.
Eveing Diners
Flo, give the gang and I a please and Dirk a dog treat.
Had a nices Fathers day. Daughter and her husband came over for a few hours. I enjoyed ger company even tho I point of views differ on what is going on in the nation. She has never worn a badge, so I understand, will I guess. No need for a skillet Steve O I am done.
Later, Ken and Dirk say's Woof, Woof!
I hate Rust
The GF and I had a nice dinner tonight at a local seafood place. Just great food, better than anything from there before, and that says a lot. I think the local chefs have had a chance to up their game. What's not to love?
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
Good morning. Bacon, eggs, and coffee after a nice two mile trail walk.
I wish I had some train pictures from Minnesota, North Dakota, or South Dakota.
When my daughters were young, every night I would read to them from the set of The Little House books. After we moved to the midwest, one of the first things we wanted to do was travel to the sites that Laura Engalls Wilder wrote about.
This picture is in Minnesota where the family lived in a dugout before moving to South Dakota.
If you have kids or grandkids, this is a great trip to make pioneer history come alive. De Smet, South Dakota, has a nice collection of houses and displays from when the family lived there.
Good morning everyone. It is looking to be a beautiful, but hot, day here.
I am hoping to get a lot of the final work completed in the garage. I am taking up the protective covering off of the tile floor and moving things to their proper homes.
Hello?
[crickets] Coffee pot's cold?
Maybe a movie will bring some folks in —
The opening scene reminds me of the Pink Floyd Us and Them video. Some good sound bites here, too. "A Lick and a promise and the train is on the way again".
I'm watching today's Talladegha race on the DVR. My eyes welled up over the support the drivers showed for their fellow driver.
Hot and humid, they forecast thunderstorms for 3,4,5, 6, and 7 o'clock. Currently some light rain falling.No news on the house settlement. The builder of the new home uses a software package that is supposed to keep us updated on the selections, the progress and the finances. A software glitch increased the price of our home by 1/4 million over this weekend. That was a pucker moment. The builder assures us that is not real.
I packed up the box that has held building unseen for the last 30 years. I have a DPM? iron front building that I did a great paint job on, but didn't install any interior or lights. It's definitely a candidate for some City Classics add ons.
Here is a picture of the Southern Command.
Found one tick on me. lots of chiggar bites... too much tromping through the underbrush.
Flo, give the gang and I a and Dirk a dog treat.
Mixed day today.
Work Front went well. While I only had 3 customers they all bought to the tune of $2145.00 and I made a little extra in spiff money.
Dirk Pip Front, not so good. He has hurt his right front leg again! This is the 4th time and the worst. Wife could not even get him to go out to pee and it had been 24 hours! When I got home I carried him out to the mail box and man he hosed! I am taking him to the Vet and have to be there at 8:45 AM nd we have to call when we are there and wait in the car while they check him out. Then I get to go to work. Left a note on the store door saying I will be opening around 1:00 PM.
Worst his leg has huurt so far, he just carrying it and not want to touch the floor.
MLC Good looking Command Post!
Time to love on Dirk.
Later, Ken and Dirk says Daddy it hurts.
MLC: the colour you picked for the house looks perfect. It really fits into the surroundings nicely.
moelarrycurly4Here is a picture of the Southern Command.
MLC,
Your Southern Command looks idyllic. I really miss going to our family cottage in Killarney but we put the property up for sale because we couldn't afford to replace the building which has been on the verge of collapsing for years.
I hope you and your family can enjoy it for generations.
gmpullmanMaybe a movie will bring some folks in
That was interesting. We humans are a messy lot, although I suspect that the amount of garbage on the floor in the passenger compartment might have been augmented a bit for cinematic purposes.
Thanks Ed.
Good evening .
MLC ..... Your Southern Command looks like a very nice, cozy place. Nice painting job.
CN Charlie ..... I did not have any luck tracking down John Boy. DID you get my PM ?
.....
Meanwhile, back on our adventure in MN, ND, and SD. .....
Burlington's Deadwood Branch operated in SD's Black Hills.
Below is a trestle over Sheeps Canyon in the late 1800's.
Next is a photo of CB&Q 4100. It is one of a handful of 2-6-6-2's operated by Burlinton on the Deadwood Branch from about 1910 until the 1950's when they were replaced with EMD SD7's.
Heartland Division CB&QMeanwhile, back on our adventure in MN, ND, and SD. ..... Burlington's Deadwood Branch operated in SD's Black Hills. Below is a trestle over Sheeps Canyon in the late 1800's.
Thanks Garry,
Every time I see a huge wooden trestle I marvel at the engineering. I don't like heights so they scare me a bit too!