Jefferys Track Side Diner for April, 2022

[BATMAN]

Kevin, there was a similar big spat on a forum I had belonged to that discussed railroads all over the world from a historical perspective. Sometimes people are surprised when someone brings up some history from their own country and others have never heard of which they speak.

I have traveled a lot around the world and as an example, people in other parts of the world know nothing about the U.S. revolutionary war or civil war and could really care less about it and the reverse is the same. There are billions of people on this planet that have never heard of the Holy Bible. Whether it is history of other countries or religion, someone will always be offended that you don't know all about theirs. I learn to always show interest but keep my mouth shut.

My stock answer to people that put me down for not knowing more about their country was "and who is the Prime Minister of Canada?" That always shut them down pretty quick. 

We learn about things we are interested in, I love history and read a lot about it, but what has taken place on this planet during its lifetime is so vast, what I know is too small to be measured so we won't sweat it.

 I see I've got tops. Help yourselves.

 

 

[howmus]

BATMAN

We learn about things we are interested in, I love history and read a lot about it, but what has taken place on this planet during its lifetime is so vast, what I know is too small to be measured so we won't sweat it.

Amen! Amen! and AMEN!

Momma Doggie looks happy in the photo, BTW!  Puppies are like kids, they look so very sweet and cute at that age!  Unfortunately human kids sooner or later turn into Middle Schoolers which are then nobody's favorite animal!

73

["JaBear"]

BATMAN

We learn about things we are interested in, I love history and read a lot about it, but what has taken place on this planet during its lifetime is so vast, what I know is too small to be measured so we won't sweat it.

Yep!! And if by some form of divine intervention, one was to know everything, what a terribly sad bore one would be!

BATMAN

I learn to always show interest but keep my mouth shut.

I’m afraid the Bear has a very poor tolerance of idiots especially if they’re spouting absolute garbage, and is known for my lack of diplomacy!

BATMAN

who is the Prime Minister of Canada?

Justin Trudeau, though I must admit to Googling him to get the spelling right!

 

I’m with you Kevin. It’s my understanding that there was so much going on in post WW1 Russia. The place was a mess, what with such things as having just lost a war,  the ineffectual interference from the Brits and US, the Czechoslovak Legion ending up on the wrong side of the lines, and the internal strife between the Revolutionary Factions, that an invasion of Poland would be the last thing to happen.

That the Bolsheviks, as relatively minor players came out on top, I can only attribute to their superior organisation and absolute ruthlessness, and that the more moderate revolutionary factions couldn’t / wouldn’t cooperate.

 

My word, all this with my first Sunday morning coffee!!!

Cheers, the Bear.

 

[maxman]

BATMAN

who is the Prime Minister of Canada?

Justin Bieber?

Justin Timberlake?

Justin Case?

Justin Tyme?

[Track fiddler]

Evening

Hated history in my school days.  Mathematics, geometry, art, wood shop and auto mechanics, straight A's.  History, science and english, not so much.  

It's funny how interests change over the years.  I find history and some of those other subjects I disliked quite fascinating these days.  

 

Well,  I've sure been given a run for the money in my plumbing department lately.  Never been to the Doc's office so much in the last ten years as I have in the last month and a half.  One of the Joy's of getting older I guess. 

Last month a kidney stone and this month another ailment.  Started getting abdominal pain again about four days ago that worsened every day.  It felt a bit serious early this afternoon so Judy made me go in.

I thought it was that other kidney stone they found the last time as the symptoms were very similar.  Nope,  Diverticulitis this time!  Where do they come up with these medical terms?  I haven't been diving lately 

I guess it can become quite serious if not treated soon.  Good thing I went in I guess.  Getting old is a priviledge they say and I'd have to agree but it kinda sucks while I'm at it.

Never had any ailments much to speak of my whole life and then all of a sudden WHAM-O.

Doctor Goodman was a really cool guy and pretty convincing as well.  I'm making an appointment for a colonoscopy next week that was due about eight years ago.....Yuk

 

 

TF

[CNCharlie]

TF,

I was diagnosed with diverticulitis about 10 years ago when I went in for a colonoscopy. The doc couldn't do it as it was so bad and he is a surgeon too. I had a barium test instead. Anyway I wound up in emerg in 2017 with a bleed and the most experienced gastro specialist in the country happened to be on duty that day and did the colonoscopy.  It was clear but he has since retired. Not sure what to do now.

I was told that with that condition to never eat corn again nor anything with seeds such as raspberries. Keeping regular is a must to avoid problems.

I was also told that I likely had the condition for many years as in 30 or more. It does run in the family. There is no cure. You just have be careful and watch for problem signs. 

On that cheery note I think it is time to turn out the lights.

CN Charlie

 

[SeeYou190]

I need to hit the rack early tonight.

The store closes three hours early for Easter, so I need to start three hours earlier...when I am normally sleeping.

Booooooooo!

The World Is A Beautiful Place

-Photograph by Kevin Parson

See you all tomorrow.

-Kevin

["JaBear"]

Good Grief Batman!!!!! While I was on line last night, out of curiosity, looked at the price of NZ lamb at the supermarket you mentioned. For 8, grass fed, (they all are) lamb loin chops, 350 grams, they were asking $127.99. I nearly fell off my chair, wondered if I was over tired and hallucinating, so accordingly went to bed!! Looking again today, I see there are, thank goodness, far more reasonable alternatives.

up831

 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.

That is the reason Jim, why I suspect a lot of country kids learnt to drive at a very early age. As a coincidence, cats think well of me Alvie has posted a photo In the Easter WPF featuring a Ferguson 28, as it was known in NZ, which along with a Series 2 Land Rover, I learnt to drive on. Having Dad, who had been a driving instructor in the British Army, helped.

 

The cattle on the farm numbered around 100 head, the number varied depending on grass growth. They were young steers, bought from the scrub country, then “fattened” before they went to the Works. While not wild, they were not beasts that you casually walked around. Having a vehicle to get behind, and a length of alkathene pipe in hand was a necessity, and to this day when on my friend’s farm, I still treat bulls and steers with a great deal of caution.  Though with his Angus breeding cows, you can just open the gate, yell “C’mon girls” and they’ll come. Incidentally the cattle yard posts were made from light railway rail and the boards were 10 x 2 s.

 

Mr.TF, unfortunately RR_Mel has hit the nail on the head!!!“Growing old is a bummer, aging is definitely not for wimps.” I try to live to the motto of the Ulysses Motorcycle Club, “Growing old disgracefully”!!

 

The World is a Beautiful Place. Some of my friends Angus breeding cows and calves.

A by Bear, on Flickr

 

Thoughts and Best Wishes to All that need them. Kia Kaha.

Cheers, the Bear.

[Track fiddler]

Good morning

Happy Easter everyone

I got up early to watch the sun rise this morning.  It was a little chilly out there but not too bad.

 

howmus

Track fiddler

Let's all think Spring!

 

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! 

This is hilarious Ray  We must not live too very far apart as that just about somes things up where I live as well.

I'm sorry to hear about your middle school friend.  69 is much too young.

 

Mr.TF, unfortunately RR_Mel has hit the nail on the head!!!“Growing old is a bummer, aging is definitely not for wimps.” I try to live to the motto of the Ulysses Motorcycle Club, “Growing old disgracefully”!!

 

Cheers, the Bear.

 

 

It looks like your bike club hit the nail on the head as well Bear  I've always liked that one of Mel's too.  I've been fond of phrases and metaphors as I picked quite a few up through life.

 

There was a friend l made at a community college taking a few architecture courses.  Mike was the phrase and metaphors man which I think accounted quit a bit for his likeable personality.

 

He is where I got the phrase "Hit the Rack" from.  We had our other friends and would go on a hunting or fishing trip by Remer, Minnesota and have beers by the bonfire in the evening.  By about 11 or so, just like clock-work, Mike would always say,  "If we want get up early and go hunting/fishing tomorrow morning, we better hit the rack".  I always followed into the cabin shortly after.  There were stacked racks up the wall to sleep, is why that saying stuck.

 

Mike also didn't get paid till Wednesday and would frequently ask to borrow a few sheets on our lunch break.  That phrase didn't stick with me as much, ...or did it?

 

My brother left his cash card on the coffee table ordering a pizza the night before the train show last Summer.  He was buying MR stuff like a mad man and ran out of money.  He turned his head a little sideways when I said, don't worry Bro, I brought plenty of sheets

 

I still to this day often wonder what ever became of my friend Mike as some friends seemed to fade away through the years when we got busy with life.

 

 

Speaking of Four Seasons, you must be going into Winter up there in NZ now.  Time to start digging out the flannels as you strike me as a flannel guy eh?  Do you happen to have your favorite ones?  I've noticed my Carhartt's get seasoned pretty well as the thinner gifted ones get lost in the closet all winter

 

 

 

Have a great Easter gentleman

 

 

 

 

 

TF

 

 

 

 

[NorthBrit]

Good afternoon Diners.  A Happy Easter.

History, Maths and English  were my favourites at school.

English literature and English Grammar   studied at St Aiden's College, Durham University.

Studied The Boer War,  European History from 1900 to 1950  and Russian History from 1910 to 1960;    all at Queen's College,   Oxford University.

Still interested in histories of Europe and Russia.

 

That's enough of 'my story'.   It is Easter.   The Easter bunny has been.  The chocolate egg has been shared.

  Tonight it is a Pork and Beef Sunday Dinner with all the trimmings.

Bring a bottle,  you are all welcome.

 

Stay Safe Everyone.

 

David

[BroadwayLion]

Happy Easter...

 

[CNCharlie]

Good Morning,

Winter refuses to let go here. That 15" of snow we got last week is still here and expecting a little more today along with a high of 32F, far below normal.

In high school, history was my best subject.  At uni though I studied commerce.

Tax guy has completed everything and both my wife and I get a decent refund. That was good news. Maybe I'll splash out on something train related. Perhaps that will stir my enthusiasm. The Pacific and a combine have been just sitting at the station for a few weeks. I did dust it yesterday.

We have been going nuts with the 300 or so Redpolls and Juncos around our yard. With the storm last week they are flocking here as there is food. We clean all the feeders every night. 

Time for more coffee.

CN Charlie

 

[gmpullman]

 

Aaah, Spring is in the air, when a goat's fancy turns to —

Chomping on the Dandy-Lions and Daffy-Dills!

Fiona_munch by Edmund, on Flickr

Spring? It was 33°F and snowing here this morning... Brrr!

The Serengeti:

Boys by Edmund, on Flickr

Lioness-in-the-Serengeti by Edmund, on Flickr

Cheers, Ed

 

[Track fiddler]

Good evening

Hope ya'll are having a good Easter.  Got dinner ready but my gal is running late at wxxk.

 

Hi Charlie.  Everything you said matched what the Doc said yesterday.  Just another adjustment I guess.  

Are Juncos the same thing as Camp Robbers?  It rings a bell and I remember those birds were awfully brave stealing our food from the picnic table when our heads were turned

 

https://youtu.be/f4w_d6nYt9w

 

P.S.  Did you get a new goat Ed?  They sure are cute when they're young.  Wilson and the other kitty sure look content

 

TF

[gmpullman]

Track fiddler

P.S.  Did you get a new goat Ed?

That's a photo from the archive, TF. Truth told, we gave away our goat herd to a local farm for special needs adults. It was time to say goodbye to goat herding...

WM 501 by Todd Dillon, on Flickr

Cheers, Ed

[CNCharlie]

Good Afternoon,

The snow has stopped for now and we have another 3-4". 

TF, the camp robber birds are likely Canada Jays. Only find them in northern forests. Juncos are a small, dark bird with a white breast. They are ground feeders. Cute things. Living with diverticulitis isn't hard. Heck my mother had it and she was 96 when she passed. If you do get a bleed and it lasts for a few days, get to emergency fast. It can turn nasty.

CN Charlie

 

 

 

[BroadwayLion]

gmpullman

 

Aaah, Spring is in the air, when a goat's fancy turns to —

Chomping on the Dandy-Lions and Daffy-Dills!

Fiona_munch by Edmund, on Flickr

Spring? It was 33°F and snowing here this morning... Brrr!

The Serengeti:

Boys by Edmund, on Flickr

Lioness-in-the-Serengeti by Edmund, on Flickr

Cheers, Ed

 

 

 

What a nice little goat. We rtalked about raising lambs but that got voted down. I do not supphose goats wsood dew any bettor.

 

Nice kitties, and I dont even have to post a LION, that seems to have been done for me..

 

I did not go down for the Easter dinner, but the dessert is up here, so I had better go and chedck that out

 

ROAR

[SeeYou190]

Meat prices are way up down here on some items.

I did get a good deal on a superb piece of Chuck Roast this week. I slow-cooked it for 12 hours with potatoes, carrots, and onions. It was delicious.

Pork Butt Roasts are still very affordable, and one can feed my wife and I for a few days. I have really gotten close to the perfect Oven Pork Roast. They are always wonderful.

-Kevin

[gmpullman]

Track fiddler

Wilson and the other kitty sure look content

That Wilson is one cool dude. He always looks calm and in charge. The guy with him is my old Cicero. He was really a special cat to me. We were buds!

Cicero_play-4 by Edmund, on Flickr

Cicero_play-2 by Edmund, on Flickr

He had feline lukemia and died way too soon. He'll always have a special place in my memory.

Cheers, Ed

[SeeYou190]

I love the way Ed's cats look amazing in all of the pictures he shares of them.

I cannot get a good picture of my daughter's cat at all.

-Photograph by Kevin Parson

-  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -

The World Is A Beautiful Place

-Photograph by Kevin Parson

-  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -

I am going to hit the rack early tonight. I had less than four hours sleep last night, and I am really beat.

Good night all.

-Kevin

[gmpullman]

 

Somebody call a cab?

220405_7_cresson by lmyers83, on Flickr

---

 

SeeYou190

I love the way Ed's cats look amazing in all of the pictures he shares of them.

Thanks, Kevin. Keep in mind that for every photo that looks half-way respectable there were two-dozen that went in the wastebasket.

Cheers, Ed

[hon30critter]

I hope everyone has had a great Easter!

We had a special treat. Dianne found a large prime rib roast for a very low price so we smoked it for three hours at 160 degrees and it turned out beautifully. We had applied a herb rub plus copious amounts of garlic powder and some salt and pepper. I was worried that the rub would be too strong but wasn't at all. The roast came out of the smoker with an internal temperature of 160 degrees so it didn't need any oven time. It was a little past the pink stage inside but it was still extremely tender and moist. Our son Cole and his wife Kaitlin joined us for the afternoon and a good time was had by all. We gave them a big bag full of Easter goodies and some specialty beers for Cole.

We love getting together with our kids! We get along extremely well!

I hope others had similar experiences with their families.

Cheers!!

Dave

[BroadwayLion]

[BroadwayLion]

[BroadwayLion]

[BroadwayLion]

[BroadwayLion]

[BroadwayLion]

[BroadwayLion]

[BroadwayLion]