gmpullmanHappy Hour
This calls for a Hafbrau Original.
-Photograph by Kevin Parson
I hope everyone can enjoy one. Virtual German Beer is not bad for anyone.
The World Is A Beautiful Place
I hope everyone is well and safe.
-Kevin
Living the dream.
York1Bear, our railroads also mostly quit hauling livestock by rail about the same time as NZ. The things I've read said that too many animals were mistreated or died enroute. In the U.S., the packing plants moved out to where the animals are raised, so rail was not really needed any more
"One difference between pessimists and optimists is that while pessimists are more often right, optimists have far more fun."
Good morning
Hope everyone has a Good Friday today. Just reflecting some thought and gratitude for what today is all about.
My Son got tired of bouncing between the hotel and airport. He threw in the towel to rent a car last evening. Drove to Fargo to stay at my Grandsons dorm room. I'm sure it was good to visit his Son at college for the night. I was glad he could make a good thing out of his inconvenience. My Grandson's roommates are out of town for Easter so it all worked out.
Glad you survived the storm Lion. This was one of the few times we didn't get hit next for a change. We got some 65 mph wind gusts that blew semi trucks over and off the road though.
Let's all think Spring!
PUR-haps take a nap today.
One for Brother Elias
Have a good Good Friday gentleman
TF
I’ve rabbited on for long enough, probably bored everyone to tears,
Hi Bear,
You are many things but boring isn't one of them. I always look forward to your posts. The article about droving was very interesting. I often think back to what my pioneer ancesters endured just to put food on the table. Today we don't know what a hard days work is, not even close!
Nice sunset!
Cheers!!
Dave
I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!
The Route of the Broadway Lion The Largest Subway Layout in North Dakota.
Here there be cats. LIONS with CAMERAS
Good morning diners. Finally have a chance to check in today. It's been a busy week.
Kevin, I got a chance to eat at the Hafbrau House restaurant in Chicago a few years back. It was very good food and the beer was great. Unfortunately, looks like Covid did them in.
Bear, interesting story! Definetely not rambling on or boring me to tears.
Brent, thanks for posting both the xray and the final results on the pups. I showed them to my youngest as she wants to be a vet and she LOVED them. Even figured out what she was looking at on the xray pretty quick without any hint from me.
I can see having flights cancelled due to winter weather, but what is really strange is we know a LOT of people who flew to Florida for spring break only to have their return flights cancelled. A couple families we even boarded before the flights got cancelled, and this was well before this winter-like weather system. Weird.
All the best to everyone.
Mike
Hi Everyone,
Brunhilda, coffee with cream, please.
Just a quick break to say hello.
Bear: your account of livestock transfer is interesting, especially how the farmers would take extra care to leisurely walk them down the road so as not to bruise or damage the meat. I once helped my uncle and my cousins transfer some Herefords from one pasture to another about a half to a mile apart. Only he didn't walk them. We jogged the whole way, which kept them moving, but didn't startle them.
I know just enough German to get myself into trouble, and I'm sure most everyone knows what the caption says. But, just in case, it says, "The plan for the day." "Before noon, nothing. Afternoon, free." Sounds like a good plan.
Jim (with a nod to Mies Van Der Rohe)
BroadwayLion
Morning all. Bring me all your coffee. Wait I know you read "bring me your coffee" I said "bring me ALL your coffee" It's going to be a long day.
Don - Specializing in layout DC->DCC conversions
Modeling C&O transition era and steel industries There's Nothing Like Big Steam!
Track fiddlerLet's all think Spring!
I am sick of Summer already.
SeeYou190 Track fiddler Let's all think Spring! I am sick of Summer already. -Kevin
Track fiddler Let's all think Spring!
Attuvian1 We may have to do a three-way swap. What we've had recently you probably would turn down.
If it includes rain, and is above freezing, I will take it!
My neighbors lawns need water.
We had a couple of inches of snow overnight into this past Monday. Melted by noon, but lots of tree damage around as it fell so wet and heavy on limbs that are budding and leafing out.
Aw Gee..... I feel so sorry for you. Up here in the Finger Lakes we have 4 different seasons. Yep! Let's see: Almost Winter, Winter, Still Winter, and Road Repair. Yep! 4 different seasons! In just a few more weeks it will stay above freezing and Road Repair will start.
Hey Brent! How are the puppies doing?
Found out this morning that a friend that I taught with at the Middle School here in Geneva died Thursday. She had Parkinson's and died from some of the complications it causes. She was in a nursing home. Died at the age of 69! From this point in life that just seems way too young to me (at 75).
73
Ray Seneca Lake, Ontario, and Western R.R. (S.L.O.&W.) in HO
We'll get there sooner or later!
Ed, Amtrac and the Amish, not only a great shot but also a thought-provoking photo.
Thank you, Bear
We live only ten miles away from a town with a large Amish population, in fact it is where Dee Ann grew up.
A little farther south in Ohio there are other Amish communities. The Age of Steam roundhouse is in one of these areas.
Then toward eastern Pennsylvania, Lancaster, there are others. Good, hard working folks and good neighbors.
Steam in Amish Paradise by Northern Ohio Railfanning Productions, on Flickr
12-2748cr by George Hamlin, on Flickr
Yes, that's a solar panel on the roof of the equipment shed. Some Amish have varying degrees of modern conveniences.
Cheers, Ed
Okay plan:
up831"Before noon, nothing. Afternoon, free."
Better plan:
Wake up
trains
Breakfast
Lunch
Supper
Go to sleep
Dream about trains
howmus Up here in the Finger Lakes we have 4 different seasons. Yep! Let's see: Almost Winter, Winter, Still Winter, and Road Repair.
There are various descriptions of the four seasons in South Florida.
Generally: Tourist, Rain, Hurricanes, More Rain.
I heard it was Tourist Season, does anyone know what the daily limit is this year, and how much does a permit cost?
Good afternoon from sunnyville where it is 14c.
Had an interesting day with lots going on. I was trying to cut the lawn but kept getting flagged down for phone calls. I did get it done eventually though.
ImgBB is down today so no puppy pics so far. Thanks for taking an interest and I'll get them up when I can.
Mike that was a pretty good X-Ray, one of the better ones, I'm glad your Daughter enjoyed seeing it.
Bear, I remember waaaay back when the parents started bringing home New Zealand Lamb on a regular basis, that was a long time ago and we still have lamb often. I'll have to check where it is from as we usually get it at Costco.
All this talk about moving livestock reminded me of moving the herd around the ranch. We would ride out and the horses just knew what to do. I would just sit on mine and the horse was just like a sheepdog and kept the cattle going in the right direction and would hurry up the stragglers. I don't know why we just didn't send the horses out on their own, they didn't need us telling them what to do.
The dogs were really off this morning when I let them out. I got on the boots and headed out to see what was up and came across some very big paw prints. I took a photo of them. I knew it wasn't a bear and suspected a cougar. I looked online at cougar prints and it was a pretty good match to my pics. I will be going out with the mutts for a few days. When we get bigger animals showing up they sneak in over the border from the U.S. They soon realize they are encroaching on civilization, sparse as it is, and head back.
Well, it is happy hour. I think it is a whiskey kind of night. I bet the wife will have a snort tonight she looks worn out today.
All the best to all.
Insert puppy pic here.
Brent
"All of the world's problems are the result of the difference between how we think and how the world works."
BATMAN. I took a photo of them. I knew it wasn't a bear and suspected a cougar. I looked online at cougar prints and it was a pretty good match to my pics. I will be going out with the mutts for a few days.
A Cougar is a Mountain LION. According to the North Dakota game and wildlife people you should not mess with them. If you act like food, they will treat you like food.
BroadwayLionIf you act like food, they will treat you like food.
I just assume all animals think I am food, then try to make space away from them.
Good morning Diners. A coffee on the gop please, Chloe.
I spent the best part of the day yesterday in bed as I was ill with something or other. Fortunately my oldest grandson was able to look after Dawn.
Now I am up and about catching up on things here.
Lion. Loving the pictures of the big cats. Thanks for posting.
Stay Safe Everyone.
David
To the world you are someone. To someone you are the world
I cannot afford the luxury of a negative thought
Very sad and heart wrenching to say the least. I'm certain all are aware of the horrific devastation along with the tragedy of war from past and current events. But definitely not the way that sweet little old lady is aware.
Very respectfully speaking, I think Kevin's "The world is a beautiful place" is based on beauty in the eye of the beholder of beautiful images in the world caught on film though.
An understatement is I certainly feel bad for the little old woman in the photo and everyone else affected by men of hate.
It's unfortunate that commoners, up against the powers-that-be is a losing battle on its own and relatively speaking, out of their hands.
I understood the symbolism of the Cardinal yesterday for a day of both sorrow and appreciation.
Track fiddler Very sad and heart wrenching to say the least. I'm certain all are aware of the horrific devastation along with the tragedy of war from past and current events. But definitely not the way that sweet little old lady is aware. Very respectfully speaking, I think Kevin's "The world is a beautiful place" is based on beauty in the eye of the beholder of beautiful images in the world caught on film though. An understatement is I certainly feel bad for the little old woman in the photo and everyone else affected by men of hate. It's unfortunate that commoners, up against the powers-that-be is a losing battle on its own and relatively speaking, out of their hands. I understood the symbolism of the Cardinal yesterday for a day of both sorrow and appreciation. TF
Judy and I ran to the store this morning to get our Easter egg coloring kit we forgot. We enjoy doing that every year.
Not a big Feast tomorrow because Judy had all her lower teeth pulled out a few days ago. She had her uppers done a few years ago. She got the dentures that are a bit discolored to fit her age. They look quite believable and I told her they look nice.
So just the Easter eggs, mashed potatoes and gravy and banana vanilla wafer pudding this year. The Wafers get quite soggy and will be manageable for her to chew
I don't think it would be fair to eat one of those big juicy Honey Baked Ham Company hams in front of her So I'm skipping that this year...
Have a wonderful Saturday gentleman
SeeYou190 I just assume all animals think I am food, then try to make space away from them. -Kevin
Our cats don't think I'm food. They think I'm a component of the can opener system
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
MisterBeasley Our cats don't think I'm food. They think I'm a component of the can opener system
Good morning from the sunny West Coast.
BroadwayLionA Cougar is a Mountain LION. According to the North Dakota game and wildlife people you should not mess with them. If you act like food, they will treat you like food.
Went out with the dogs last night and this morning and there were no more paw prints, so I guess the big cat has moved on. If the dogs are altogether the cat will move on, however, it would make short work out of a lone Golden Retriever.
I came close to being cougar food in 1976. Early one morning I was walking past lumber stacked high in a carport and saw something move out of the corner of my eye. Looked up and on top of the lumber a cougar was looking down at me, our noses could not have been more than a metre apart. Before I had time to react it turned and jumped off and ran down into the ravine behind the house. Our neighbour had found two paws from their cat down in the ravine a few days after it had gone missing.
Here are yesterday's puppy pics. ImgBB is up and running again.
I have a very busy day today, going to see the kid's new digs and see what needs to be done as far as the light renovation work he wants to get done. He is working today as usual, but he is at his old place, so I will pick him up on the way to the new place. Judging by the photos it will be paint, new cupboard doors in the bedroom and maybe new appliances, the floors are gorgeous hardwood. After he bought the place the owner asked if he wanted all the furnishings, they grabbed it all as it is very high-end stuff. Including two huge Sony TVs, one in the bedroom and the other in the living room. The guy didn't want a penny for any of it. I will be taking his old stuff to the dump or here to give away on FB marketplace.
My daughter also said she is going to try and make a late ferry and come home today, so now I have to get to the chocolatier to buy a couple of pounds of eggs to hide. She is 21 but old habits die hard.
Good morning all.
Had a bad experience with my wargaming group last night.
The game last night was using Great War Spearhead rules, so I just assumed the scenario would either be Western Front or Eastern Front WW1 in Europe. Instead, it was a post-war scenario where Russia had invaded Poland during the Russian Revolution.
I said I was unaware that Russia had invaded another country during its revolution, and that seemed kind of an odd thing to do, starting another front with a new enemy during a civil war.
Well, my historical knowledge is definitely not as fine tuned and deep as others in the group, and the mood became mean spirited towards me very quickly. My status as a "real gamer" was brought into question, and there were insults and mean comments aplenty. This was just because I asked a question that I would have liked to have known the answer to.
This brought back memories of why I left Scale Rails of Southwest Florida back in 1992.
In military history, I have a basic understanding of the Seven Years War, American War for Independence, World War 1, World War 2, and Vietnam. Everything else is just a mish-mashed collection of random facts. Russian Revolution, I don't know much at all.
Railroads are the same way. I know a bit about how Steam Locomotives work, the NYC & PRR, Santa Fe, and Seaboard/Family Lines. If you want to know anything about the Southern Pacific, you better go find someone else.
When I parted ways with SRSWF, I was in my mid-20s, and a group of older die-hard railfans had taken up mean-spirited picking at my lack of knowledge. Last night felt a lot like that again.
I really don't want to participate in an activity where your status in the group is based on deep knowledge of trivial facts. I just don't have the desire for that level of knowledge.
I decided I wanted no part of a group that looked down on anyone less than a "real model railroader" in their flock.
In wargaming I know the rules, have a plan, move figures, and roll dice.
In model railroading, I can build a layout, add scenery, and run trains.
I know what brings me enjoyment, and I feel no need to ever be a know-it-all.
Sorry for the rant (if anyone is still reading).
SeeYou190I decided I wanted no part of a group that looked down on anyone less than a "real model railroader" in their flock.
Of the half-dozen or so "organizations" I've either been directly involved in or have inside knowlege of they have all failed or were dissolved over what basically boils down to egotistical issues. A couple of them splintered into rogue factions and then proceeded to fail as well.
They all had their "pecking order" and a core group of insiders who ruled the roost and you didn't dare go against the grain. There are some organizations that have stood the test of time and I'm sure there is a well planned and democratic set of rules, and a means to enforce said rules that keep these groups viable.
Those are sadly not the norm, though.
Here comes the Bunny!
Energizer by Edmund, on Flickr