Quiet days.

Well, except for a little while there last Sunday when the neighbour fired up his pack-pack style leaf blower.  I appreciate the fact that he wants to get every last leaf,  but I also didn’t mind when he finally packed it in.  Barking dogs and leaf blowers seem to be the two things that just make me want to well, it’s probably a good thing there’s no ordinance in the house. 

I wouldn’t look good in an orange jumpsuit.

 

The days go by,  and I seem to find enough to occupy my time. 

 

This has been my latest obsession:

 

Doesn’t make a lot of sense,  I know.  But I had seen something “on the line”,  and then started to cogitate something similar. 

See, we used to have one of those “knife block” thingies.  Hated it.  First of all,  I don’t like sh*t on the counter. And sometimes they’re made in such a way that the knife actually goes down too far and comes in contact with the counter. 

Not bloody likely.

I think the one we had that came with the knives ended up in the fireplace.  Burnt real nice.   Hardwood and all,  y’know?

So the knives have always been in the drawer.  Not the best.

And then I saw this:

 

Well now.

Stole that off the net.  I suppose I can punt out that photo that I saved in a folder labeled “woodworking ideas”.  We’re past the “idea” stage.

Of course,  I don’t quite have a dedicated space for a whole whack of knives like that, however there’s just enough room in next to the “Lazy Susan”.

It took me a few days,  since there were a number of bits and pieces to sort out.

The result:

I couldn’t figure out if it should have some sort of handle,  and then stumbled on the idea of using the “steel” (that thing in the first slot) as the handle. 

I don’t think I’ll put any finish on it.  The top and sides are maple, and the body of the “drawer” is cherry plywood.  Had a chunk lying about.

 

 

In the meanwhile,  there was that TV that arrived a few days ago.  The stand for the old one was too small,  and too low.  I just now scanned back through the “archives” and realised I had started to come up with something on the 10th.  Seems to take me forever.

Anyhoodle,  it had to be long enough for the TV,  which meant I couldn’t really settle for a couple of those “handy panels” from the local big box store.  Wouldn’t be long enough. 

It had to be longer than four feet.  Something like 55 inches.  Yes I know, we’re all metric and everything.  But I still mostly use inches.  We’re bi-lingual up here.  I can use metric too,  if it suits me.

I put it up Saturday.

 

It’s mounted right to the studs.  Not going anywhere.

And then it took a bit of effort to install a couple contraptions.

The contraption there on the left is a somewhat antiquated Home Theatre system that is getting a bit long in the tooth.

Mind you,  it works fine.  It’s just that it’s something like 15 years old.  Only plays DVDs.  No Blue Ray.  No HDMI. 

Not making any prognostications.  Wouldn’t be prudent.  They have them on Amazon I see.  That’s all I’m sayin’.

 

And that kids,  is about it. 

Same old, same old here at the Ponderosa. 

Keep those sticks on the ice.  And thanks for stopping by.

Losing my blogging mojo.

Or at least that what it feels like.  I mean, I could sit here every day and pound out a few words.  But then, you’d be bored,  and so would I.

My life (oh geez,  this is starting to sound serious) seems to revolve around either doing little projects,  or finishing off little projects that have been hanging over my head for well,  years?  Maybe decades.  And some of them maybe aren’t quite so “little”,  but let’s not digress.

That sounds pretty freakin’ sad,  but there was that whole European Vacation thing that took up about a five year span, when not too danged much took place on the project front.  

That’s my story anyway.

So hey,  I actually finished something! 

See the trim under that window?  Finally done. Only took me, I don’t know, 15 years?  Maybe?  It’s been so long,  I forget.  AND, I thought it would be oh so neato-keeno to make my own custom trim. 

What a fool.  What was I thinking??

Because,  you know, I get about half way through and think,  “Oh gawd…”

 

Just go to the Big Box store for dummies,  and buy some trim! 

But of course, most of it is “paint grade”,  unless you get the fancy schmancy oak stuff that I’ve installed here and there.  And that stuff isn’t available at the Big Box store for dummies,  by the way. 

Got to go to an actual Lumber Store for that stuff. 

And,  we have one right here in Burlington.  I go there, any chance I get.  Click the link.  It’s a bit of a huge operation,  (Hopefully you have the bandwidth to appreciate the rather elaborate website they’ve set up)  Their deal is mostly supplying premade trusses and such to new home builders.

Don’t get the wrong idea, I don’t just go there and hang around.  That would be kinda creepy.  I didn’t see a “no loitering” sign, but I doubt they would need one.

Anyhoodle,  we have a bit of a new addition here at the Ponderosa.

And no, it’s not a puppy. *rolls his eyes*   Maybe, some day,  we’ll get a puppy.  We’ll alert the media.  Of course,  by the time I figure we could do with some animal companionship,  I’ll be too bloody old to take proper care of the poor thing. 

So if I really think about it, no puppy.  Thanks.

Not going to go there with the “Kids vs Pets” argument,  except to say that, at least at some point, Kids move out.

Pets just get old,  pee everywhere and ultimately croak.  Stinking up the place,  and then breaking your heart for good measure.  Then,  not only is your heart broken, but your place stinks of urine.  Lovely.

 

No, it’s the big assed TV that I’ve been wanting for the downstairs.  Of course,  the converter, or whatever you call it, is of the plain old variety,  and really should be “high def”. 

Meh. I’ll survive.

Now,  it’s not a “Smart” TV,  which doesn’t really bother me too much, as I’ll likely get something like a Roku media player.   The TV in the bedroom is a “smart” TV,  which means that T.C. can watch Netflix in bed.  AND,  any files that are on this computer can be viewed on the TV. That’s kinda cool.  Of course,  it’s the pinnacle of lazyness,  since I’d only need to copy the file onto the media player that we already have and play it through the TV that way. 

 

No pics of the actual TV just yet. 

I’m working on a bit of a cabinet thingy for it to sit on.

This was at the preliminary stages.  It’s coming along. 

I’ll probably assemble the thing some time this weekend. (this is after many days of staining, finishing, sanding etc.) 

You’ll recall that there was a big assed CRT TV down there that we bought back in the 90s,  and thought it was just the cat’s pyjamas,  until that whole “High Def” thing came along,  and then it was quite passé.  

So it went.  And then I put a smaller model down there (flat screen, of course!) for the time being,  but it just didn’t quite cut it.  24 inch?  Maybe?  Great little TV.  For a bedroom.  But even the one in our bedroom is a 42.  So it came out.

Stay tuned.  I’ll be sure and take a picture, or two.  Enjoy your weekend.

 

Thanks for lookin’.

 

Ciao.

We havin’ pie fer supper??

To which I just get a blank look.

(meant to post this last night,  but I got sucked into watching football…)

I somehow suspect that means,  “No”.

Somebody was in a baking mood today (yesterday),  and I cleared out.

Well,  I had “stuff” to do it so happened. I can always come up with some “stuff” to do.  None of which merited a picture,  but I removed a couple well worn thresholds so I could sand them down and put on some fresh finish.  Figured I’d do that right along with the trim that I’m working on.  But that’s just so much drivel.

 

Let’s get back to the pie.

 

Two of them did end up in the freezer,  BUT wait, we did cut into one of them for dessert.   Mighty fine pie.  Rumour has it T.C. might bake a couple more tomorrow.  Or something.  I dunno.  I wasn’t paying attention.

And yes,  we did have pie later on, but supper was more along the lines of actual “supper”.

When the subject of doing things like making apple sauce and such came up last Friday at the “watering hole”,  (yes. there’s apple sauce)  I’ll paraphrase one of the comments that was overheard.

“But, you were a Corporate Executive.”  The part being understood that,  ‘why would you be making all this “home made” stuff’?   To which T.C. very succinctly replied, “Was.  Was, a Corporate Executive”.   I just might be making up that last part.  It gets hard to hear much of anything in that place some days. 

Now she’s transmogrified from Corporate Executive to something more along the lines of “Suzy Homemaker”.  Who the heck was Suzy Homemaker anyway? 

Oh, apparently,  a line of toys introduced in 1966.  And the term “Suzy Homemaker” wasn’t exactly an endearing one when it was applied to anyone who was a stay at home Mom. 

I’d best be careful.  We won’t be repeating that.

 

In other “news”,  I melted some toothbrushes.  I’m sure you care.

See,  we’ve had these three used toothbrushes in one of the little flip-out hidey holes in front of the kitchen sink (somewhat useless contraptions in my opinion),  and they were put there for cleaning in the nooks and crannies in the sink drains.

Never got used.

That’s mostly as they are meant for going into the mouth of a human,  and not much else. 

So I had an idea.

And a heat gun.

 

It’s plastic.  It bends.  They now kinda work.  Although, a toothbrush was never designed to be mashed into your teeth the way they need to be mashed into the stainless to get out the tea stains,  but at least they’re now (slighlty more) useful.  Otherwise, nearly impossible to clean the sink “basket”.

I think that’s called a “hack”.  Having nothing to do with a “Hakka”. 

Let’s not go down that rabbit hole. 

Sun’s shining.  There’s “stuff”.

 

I’m out.

 

Thanks for lookin’.

“We’re running out of candy!”

Said no sane person ever.

But that had no bearing on my version of reality, since it was then up to me to get to the local grocery type establishment and try and scrounge up something to hand out to the little buggers.

See,  last year we had all of about eight kids for Halloween.   That was it.  I think what has happened is,  we’ve had a bit of a “turn over” in the old neighbourhood,  and there are now a bunch of new families that have moved in.

Just a theory.

So,  having witnessed stacks upon stacks of various Halloween type treats on offer at the local grocery procuring establishment over the last several days, I was feeling a bit “Old Mother Hubbard”-ish when I went there at eight o’clock last night only to discover that the shelves were mostly bare.

Ruh-roh.

No worries,  I did find some cr*p… er,  stuff to give out.  It was all good.   The tricky bit was to try and get something that I’d be remotely interested in noshing on afterwards,  in case there were suddenly no more visitors at the door. 

Not that I really should be. 

Don’t judge me.  But there’s no way in hell I’m interested in anything that comes out of a Pez dispenser,  or that goes fizzy in your mouth.  Gah!  Just give me some good old fashioned chocolate bars. 

Did you know Pez was an Austrian thing?  I don’t think I saw one Pez dispenser the whole time we lived in Vienna.  Who knew?  Hell, there’s probably a Pez museum.  I mean,  there’s a Schnapsmuseum.  I kept seeing the signs for that,  but never did set aside the time to get there.

Oh well.

Anyhoodle,  I managed to prevail.  And got the car tucked back into the garage without running over any little goblins.  Did you see this?  Seriously?  There’s nothing but kids out there running around in the dark,  and you’re speeding??  I can’t even go there,  or I’ll type something here that I’ll for sure regret later. 

It seems that earlier on,  T.C. admitted that she just *might* have been giving out overly generous shares to whomever showed up at the door.  But then they didn’t stop coming.  We figure we had about 40-50 kids. 

I kept a low profile since, 1) Halloween has never been my “deal”,  and 2) T.C. refuses to acknowledge that it just ain’t the same since the kids moved out. 

Y’know,  time to move on. 

However,  my ears perked up when I heard her yell,  “Hey, there’s a kid coming up the driveway with a box on his head!”

 

There’s been at least one theory that he’s a character from something called “Mine craft.”

Just looked it up.  Yup.

I know nothing of these things.  Possibly since the last video game I played was along the lines of Super Mario.  Just looked that up as well.  We’re talking,  back in the 80s here kids.  Yikes.

There’s a “back story” to this you see.  Once upon a time,  when our lovely Daughter Number Two was given the task of making a hat for school when she was in Elementary School, and in spite of the fact that she is indeed a rather creative individual,  she managed to make a hat out of one of those “World Famous Chocolates”  boxes,  and wore it to school on her head!  I mean,  it was just a box.  On her head.

Her mother was just a tad mortified.  But we certainly laugh about it now.  The kid had moxy,  I’ll tell ya that much.  So naturally,  if we see a kid with a box on his head,  we go a little ape shit.  That makes perfect sense,  right?

 

Spent a few minutes this morning changing out the batteries in various smoke and CO detectors.   Hopefully you’ve done the same.  Damned near ran short of batteries,  since I discovered that a couple of the newer detectors that I installed last year took TWO batteries each.  They’re neat-o keen-o devices that have a built in LED light to help you get the hell out if they go off.  Hence the two battery program.  I sorted it out.

Now,  as long as we don’t burn any bacon or toast,  we’ll be good for another six months.   I find that if they go off,  the batteries do tend to get a bit weak. 

 

Looks like we’ll be having some outstanding weather over the next few days.  Just might have to go out and root around in the dirt one last time.

 

Keep those sticks on the ice.

Thanks for stopping by.