Our son Cole and his wife Kaitlin took a major plunge on Saturday! They have chosen a supplier to replace their extremely tired and very poorly designed kitchen. I have been working on the design for several months and we have finally settled on what I hope will be a very attractive and very functional kitchen. I enjoy kitchen designing enormously! I wish I had done it as a career.
We are not using a custom cabinet maker. Instead we are using a cabinet manufacturer who builds stock sized cabinets. We just can't justify spending an additional $15,000 - $20,000 on custom work. The cabinets that we have chosen are all 5/8" plywood or solid wood construction.
We are going to use quartz countertops with a matching backsplash. Based on the countertops and matching backsplashes that we saw in the showroom, the installers really know their trade.
Dianne and I will be helping with the expenses. Cole is very reluctant to take money from us, but we have explained that the money will be his eventually so he may as well have it now.
I find it very rewarding that we can help our kids when they need it. We also happen to get along with them very, very well.
Cheers!!
Dave
Edit:
I'm on the top of the page! Breakfast for everybody!!! I'll have three eggs over easy on rye toast (lightly toasted please) with a half order of home fries and two slices of tomato, and a decaf coffee with Bailey's Irish Creme!
I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!
Good morning
Flo, I'll have those eggs David left for me sunnyside and a cup of motor oil. Tell him thanks for me the next time you see him please
BroadwayLion
That's really a neat picture Lion. Did you find some crayons and draw that?
York1 I just got word that we have to go to the theater to see a movie that someone in our house wants to see. Whether or not I want to see this movie doesn't seem to matter.
I just got word that we have to go to the theater to see a movie that someone in our house wants to see. Whether or not I want to see this movie doesn't seem to matter.
Hello John
A few years ago Judy informed me we were going to a late morning matinee. I'm easy so I didn't argue about it.
It was The Wizard of Oz in 3D and I didn't regret going. I remembered how spooky the Wicked Witch and those Flying Monkeymen were when I was a Kid and they were even better in 3D
Our local radio station KQRS has stated more than once that if you start a CD of Pink Floyd Dark Side of the Moon at the same time you start a DVD of The Wizard of Oz they sync together perfectly. I don't know as I still haven't tried it yet.
MisterBeasley We get our [ eggs from the mailman. He is a local chicken farmer, and we get a dozen eggs a week for $3. There was a dry spell last year where the hens were on strike, I guess.
We get our [ eggs from the mailman. He is a local chicken farmer, and we get a dozen eggs a week for $3. There was a dry spell last year where the hens were on strike, I guess.
BATMAN
Looks like a rather Comfy Couch Brent. I don't know that one's name but it looks like Goldie is pearing outside wishing he was out there with you and I wonder who took the picture
Many dogs are quite intelligent. At one time I was so into salt water aquatics I had five aquariums scattered throughout the house. I know Nellie was jealous of the fish as the care for them was rather extensive. But one time one of our koi fish from the backyard pond flipped out of the pig bin downstairs. We would keep them that way through the winter.
Nellie saved the day. She came upstairs like Lassie acting like something was wrong to get me to go downstairs to find the fish flopping on the floor.
gmpullman No egg shortage for us Hey, what's up with that odd one? Turns out Wilson was just looking for a comfortable place to take a nap.
No egg shortage for us
Hey, what's up with that odd one?
Turns out Wilson was just looking for a comfortable place to take a nap.
Good morning Diners. A full English please, Flo and thank Dave for me when you see him.
Wilson. Funny how cats do some strange things. One of our cats loved to knock the hood over off the coldwater fish tank. Then proceed to plodge up and down the tank. Not sure if the goldfish were amused.
Jim. I agree with you about checking the WPF thread. Some great ideas are there.
Also look through model railway books. Many ideas (especially scenery) I have taken from books written in the 1950s 1960s and adapted them.
Youngest grandson is visiting today, so a day of fun ahead.
Thoughts & Peace to All who Require.
David
To the world you are someone. To someone you are the world
I cannot afford the luxury of a negative thought
As Dave says, It is near the end of the month. Just a suggestion for April. We have all been on holiday one time or another. How about pictures of trains whilst on holiday? The different trains around the world.
Just a suggestion.
The Route of the Broadway Lion The Largest Subway Layout in North Dakota.
Here there be cats. LIONS with CAMERAS
The GF drives a Mini-Cooper that's a powder blue in color. Minis come in a vast variety of colors, mostly bright and cheerful. Seeing a bunch of them always makes me think of a bowl of M&Ms. When most of the cars on the road are drab sedans and white pickups and SUVs, they're like Dorothy waking up in a bright and colorful Oz after starting the movie in a black-and-white Kansas.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
NorthBrit How about pictures of trains whilst on holiday? The different trains around the world.
I second that idea!
6
Ray Seneca Lake, Ontario, and Western R.R. (S.L.O.&W.) in HO
We'll get there sooner or later!
howmus NorthBrit How about pictures of trains whilst on holiday? The different trains around the world. I second that idea! 6
I only get to take picktures of da suobways whenm I am on holidayze.
MisterBeasleyThe GF drives a Mini-Cooper
My very first car was an original Mini with a Cooper conversion (1000 cc engine but with a hot cam and twin SUs). It was red with a black roof. Went like stink!! Every time I see an original Mini I want to buy it! Dianne would kill me!
Oh the memories of youth!!!
Just checking in again. Another busy day, and things won't calm down until Tuesday.
Hope everyone has a good day!
York1 John
I'm back home for a couple of hours before heading out again.
Track fiddlerWe found out there's an egg shortage among other empty shelves when we went to the grocery yesterday.
I haven't heard about that. I wonder if it's related to the outbreak of the bird flu in Iowa. I know once something like this flu happens, they will kill hundreds of thousands of chickens to try to stop it from spreading.
Ed, I guess that cat doesn't bother the chickens, or they would be making a racket. That's a nice picture of the piliated woodpecker at your feeders.
Jim, I agree with your comment about the WPF and Ed. Others on there, too.
Dave, I really don't have any suggestions for where to move the diner. As long as I can get my bacon and eggs each morning, I'm happy with wherever we are.
David, you said that you have never seen a woodpecker. Is that because they are rare in the UK?
Mister Beasley, I know what you mean about the colorful minicoopers. We were driving on the Interstate one day, and a whole line of them went by on the other side. We later found out there was some kind of MiniCooper rally in a nearby town. It was a rainbow of brightly colored cars.
TF, my styrene I-beams came, but I'm not sure where to start with the bridge construction. I may try to draw a side view to the scale I want, and begin to lay out pieces based on that.
Lion, is there any progress on getting an elevator to your layout floor? Would your prior OK money for a project like that?
Ray, we haven't heard from you in a while. I hope everything is going OK with you.
The same with Bear. Hope you're OK.
Henry, I probably missed it, but it seems like I haven't heard from you in a while. Hope everything is OK with you, too.
Brent, I hope your visit with your daughter has gone well.
Earlier last week, Kevin said that he was going to try to contact Kalmbach this week. I hope he can get his posting issues resolved.
The other day, I drove to a town about 40 miles away. In March each year, over a million Sandhill Cranes gather in a 30-mile stretch of the Platte River, and then they spread out north into Canada and even across Alaska into Russia. For some reason, their migration is shaped like a funnel, and the narrowest part is just near here. It's pretty spectacular for several weeks each March. I could see large numbers from the highway. This is not my photo, but this is what you can see from the observation platforms the Crane Trust has built along the Platte River in Nebraska:
The The Florida East Coast RR's Okeechobee River bridge near Port Mayaca:
I know I've missed some people, so I hope everyone is doing well.
Edit, I've just reread my post, and it seems like I used the word 'hope' about 400 times. I hope I can find a synonym for 'hope' before I post again.
Hi John. Woodpeckers do not live in the areas I have ever lived.
Magpies, Blackbirds, Blue ***, Robins, Starlings and a host of others, but no Woodpeckers.
Good morning Diners. Tea and toast please, Janie.
A quiet time in the Diner I see.
Not much going on here either. Playing (unpaid) taxi for members of the family today.
(Definitely) in the train room later.
Stay Safe Everyone.
York1Edit, I've just reread my post, and it seems like I used the word 'hope' about 400 times. I hope I can find a synonym for 'hope' before I post again.
https://idioms.thefreedictionary.com/hope
Hopefully, this will help?
York1Ed, I guess that cat doesn't bother the chickens, or they would be making a racket. That's a nice picture of the piliated woodpecker at your feeders.
York1Lion, is there any progress on getting an elevator to your layout floor? Would your prior OK money for a project like that?
I haven't even tried yet. Getting it past the Senior Council is the big one. That is where it has to go. Of course it will not go anywhere there if the others are not onboard.
York1
Good morning John
The easiest way is to get some railroad board and T pins at the dollar store. You're going to need the T pins.
This is the only drawing example I have left. Someone cleaned under the bed and talked me into throwing all my bridge drawings away as I don't need them anymore
I found laying out both the base and truss side in the scale drawing so they mate works well. The railroad board on foam acts as a cushion to stick your T pins. They hold the pieces your fusing together with styrene solvent and makes things easier moving along.
It's best to start with the longest pieces as all the members need to be cut accurately. If you cut a longer piece too short it's no matter as you can use it for a shorter piece somewhere else.
The scale drawing also helps as you can hold each member on it to make a straight or angled imprint with your exacto dagger blade. Then cut with your chopper I'd recommend using.
Don't look at the whole picture of the project as overwhelming. Just remember the Johnny Cash song, ...I built it "One Piece at a Time"
I realized when I was fabricating these bridges that prototypically they would have raised girders running down the center incorporated in the base framing the track rests on.
But the thicker the bridge base the lower it rests on the abutments. There was a trade-off as I want to run double stacks on my layout one day and needed the clearance (1- 3/4) (1- 11/16 min) from the rail top, N scale. Something else to think about before building your bridge.
Have fun with your Bridge Project John. If you need any help I'm usually around
They actually made the car for the song.
https://youtu.be/DZuJivIwV8o
TF
Good morning. Bacon, eggs, and black coffee, please.
TF, thanks for the advice. I'm going to lay a few more sections of track before I start the bridge construction. I'm going to take it slow to limit the careless mistakes I usually make.
How about another of the newest passenger train route being built in the U.S? Florida's Brightline.
Have a good Monday, everyone.
Rivets in sync
Ribbits in sink
Sure is quiet
Before there was YouTube:
Ozzie and Harriet by Edmund, on Flickr
I've had some YouTube commenters ask me why my sound wasn't working on some of the old 8mm movies I posted that my dad took in the 1950s. Kids these days...
You can fix aeroplanes by Edmund, on Flickr
up831Nicely done, Ed. Anyway, that's my 2 cents.
Thank you, Jim! I appreciate the compliments I was rolling along pretty well on that scene when I decided to look for the remainder of my Blair Line laser-cut wood crossings. I know I had some left over from this past project:
Crossing_grade1 by Edmund, on Flickr
Well, I just caved in and bought some more One thing I'll say about this present structure arrangement is that I'm using buildings I made some ten or fifteen years ago that I never thought I'd be using again. The feed mill has been sitting on a shelf since 1997 (I wrote the date inside) and now it will be front-and-center!
Midplan_final-overhead by Edmund, on Flickr
Cheers, Ed
I bet your Feed Mill's glad it got a second life. It appears your city is growing rather quickly and looks Excellent Ed
I've snuck a few screenshots and took a few notes on your parking lots, roads and crossings
NorthBritJust a suggestion for April. We have all been on holiday one time or another. How about pictures of trains whilst on holiday? The different trains around the world.
Regarding next month's Diner location, David's suggestion above is the only input that I am aware of that anyone has offered to answer the location question. Well David, I guess it's up to the two of us to choose.
I would like to make an alternate suggestion, although this one will likely raise a stink! How about we go to Chicago, or more specifically, to the Chicago stock yards!
Many of us run stock cars or even full stock trains. Visiting the Chicago stock yards could be very educational. Mind you, many of the operations at the stockyards, regardless of their location, could be pretty disgusting. Imagine being a crew member on an offal train that has been delayed for several hours on a hot summer day because of a breakdown!
I make this suggestion partly in the spirit of April 1st, but I am serious about it. Just to be sure, I'm not suggesting that we park the Diner right in the middle of the stock yards. That would kill a lot of business for sure!
Okay guys! Now it is up to you! You get to choose between the smell of hot offal on a summer's day, or going on a bunch of different holiday trains. If I don't hear from you then, with apologies to David, we're going to Chicago!!
P.S.
I apologise to anyone who thinks that I am out of line for 'demanding' that you choose where the Diner will go. All of the above was intended to be tongue in cheek. If I have offended you, please let me know and I will change my approach for next month. Visiting the stockyards could be very interesting. Just watch where you step!
Hi Dave. Chicago stockyards is fine by me. Just park the Diner away from the smell.
Good morning Diners. Tea and toast please, Chloe.
Not a lot going on here. Just taking things easy.
Will call in later.
You may think that not a lot is going on here,
But I can assure that the LION is pawing the ground waiting for a Wildebeestupon whom to POUNCE
hon30critterI would like to make an alternate suggestion, although this one will likely raise a stink! How about we go to Chicago, or more specifically, to the Chicago stock yards!
A stockyard, Eh???
Possibilities it has!
The Windy City you say?
We used to go to Chicago every spring just to have fun when that town was more relatively safe in most of the common areas. Took Amtrak down there and back a couple times.
Also the Spendy City I'd call it as it would rifle disposable money out of your pockets like running water. A lot of memories and stories I have from that town. Plenty of Railroad activity down there to say the least so Chicago sounds good to me Dave
Hi Everyone,
Brunhilda, coffee with cream, please.
Chicago stockyards is fine although the stockyards has been extinct for some time. Might be a hoot! If that is too limiting, what about possible expansion to include stockyard or livestock operations. Farmer John's meat packing in LA is a humongous operation. It's been reported that they do three trains per day. I can still hear Vin Scully talk about "Eastern (meaning Nebraska) corn fed porkers brought in and dressed fresh locally." "Dressed" has kind of a grizzly conotation. I digress. Sorry, I don't have any pictures of the place. Anyway, if there isn't enough material on Chicago, the scope could be expanded.
im fine with whatever is chosen.
Jim (with a nod to Mies Van Der Rohe)
Good morning, everyone. Bacon, eggs, and black coffee, please.
It was cold this morning for my trail walk, but the trees are budding, and the robins are all fighting each other, so spring is here.
Ed, I really like your photos of your layout's city. You have a real modeling talent.
Dave, the Chicago Stockyards sounds (not smells) good to me. Out in my part of the country, we call that the smell of money. I have nothing to contribute to that, but I will be interested to see what others post.
I'm not sure we will want to allow Lion or his friends anywhere near the stockyards.
NorthBritNot a lot going on here. Just taking things easy.
I'm in the same boat. After my busy weekend and Monday, I have several days where nothing is scheduled. It feels good to take things easier.
TF, when I was younger, I spent some time in Chicago. Your term "Spendy City" is accurate for me, too. I went through a ton of money.
Time for a late breakfast, and then time to lay more track.
KSC-2015-1806 by NASA Kennedy, on Flickr
Before we leave Florida, we should see a scene from a place that was magical when I was growing up in the 50s and 60s, Cape Canaveral, then Kennedy:
Good Morning,
Another cool day here and cloudy too. Supposed to get a little white stuff tonight.
As for next month's location, I vote for holiday trains. Chicago stockyards has little appeal for me. There used to be a major stock yard here with 2 large packing plants. The only thing remaining is the water tower with 'Union Stock Yards' still visible on the tank. The smell was awful. I remember driving by when I was a lad. I far prefer Rovos Rail.
No plans for today. I missed on my bid for the N5d consolidation. In the last seconds as has happened before. It seems you can place a high bid that is hidden from others. Doesn't seem fair.
Coffee time,
CN Charlie