Up and down like a toilet seat.

The temperature,  that is.   We're finally getting a bit of our "come-upance"  on the Winter end of things.  A few days ago it was plus five,  and this morning it's something like minus 13. (wrote this a couple days ago,  sorry)  I'm not translating to Fahrenheit.  And don't get me started when it comes to the goofiness of Fahrenheit.  Why 32?  Why not,  forty-seven?

On the winter end of things,  so far I haven't really minded.   It's been suspiciously mild.  So much so that I felt compelled to go out and rake up some random leaves that were just way too messy for me to tolerate.   Trying not to slip over the edge here.

This will serve as my once quarterly blog entry.  And thanks to any and all who hang around to read this drivel.

Which brings me to a bit of a sad topic,  and that is the passing of someone who always was willing to put a comment on the blog,  and who will now be missed for that and other reasons.  Of course,  I'm referring to George Yates,  the author of Our Awesome Travels.
I never actually met George or Suzie,  but I did happen to see George a couple years back in Grand Bend,  as I was sitting in my truck waiting for a buddy to come out of Tim Horton's with our coffees.  George was just coming out of Grandpa Jimmy's,  and the first thing I noticed was the big ole hat that he had on his head.
This blogging thing can be a bit of a strange critter,  as there have been others (Rod Ivers of Retired Rod)  who have passed away,  and been sorely missed.    Margie and Bruce Mallin also come to mind.
When you read about it,  it sort of "hits you",  in a way that's hard to explain.

But,  let's not too maudlin here.


OK,  what else was I going to say?

I've been messing about in my "shop",  of course.   Finally replaced a "temporary"  out-feed attachment to my table-saw that I built in (wait for it)  1992.    It was supposed to be temporary.   Plus,  I had to mend it at least a couple times over the years decades.

Here it is:

 Simply a frame with some thin MDF attached.  It was held on with a barrel bolt and a bungee cord.  I could take it off,  fold up the legs and set it aside.

But I wanted something that was on the table saw on a more permanent basis.   Starting with this:

And then another frame attached to that:

Then you end up with this:

Which then becomes this:

I was too lazy to make new legs,  as the ones off the old extension were perfectly serviceable.


And this,  is how I spend my days.  And of course,  as I'm not overly creative/clever/whatever,  this kind of thing not only takes me forever,  but wasn't even my idea.   Stole it off the net.   Now,  in my defence,  the original was built back when cell phones were the size of a brick and the "internet"  was some sort of "inter-netting"  in swim trunks.  You know,  to help keep *things* in place.

In other news,  it's also taken me something like 30 years to finally break my wooden mallet. 
 Dang it.

Supposed to kinda look like this:

I've whaled on the end of a lot of a lot of chisels with this thing over the years,  and now I suspect I'll have to make a new one.  Again.  Dang it.   I'll stick it together with some construction adhesive,  and see how that works.

I originally made it when I was making our blanket chest.  All hand cut dovetails,  in cherry wood no less.  Coincidentally,  it was once again cherry wood that I was whaling on this time when it came asunder.

Oh and,  if you think you can just "use a hammer"?   Well yes,  you can.  Good luck.  It helps to be able to look at where you're actually placing the tip of the chisel,  as opposed to striking the end of the chisel with the hammer.  And not your hand.  A mallet is more forgiving,  that is,  easier to aim.

And there you have it.

Thanks for moving your eyes back and forth.

Keep your stick on the ice.

Fun with concrete.

And you'll notice I didn't say,  "cement".  This is I'm sure some sort of character flaw,  but I find it somewhat irksome when concrete is referred to as cement.   Bzzzzt.  Not the same.  There's cement IN concrete,  along with water,  and aggregate (sand and stone),  but cement by itself won't do much.

Anyhoo,  I'm not so sure it was actual "fun",  except of course,  that giddy feeling when the whole ordeal is finally over.
And really,  it's not quite "over"  yet.  I still have to hang a gate there,  and install a panel between that post and the house.

The wooden bits are there to keep things in place until the concrete cures which,  is probably just about....now.  As I was using some of that "quick crete"  kind of stuff that sets up almost instantly.

The "fun" part (and again,  it really wasn't)  was chipping away at the existing concrete that had been poured there by the previous owner.   Oy.   See,  there was this sort of greenhouse type of lean too that was there when we moved in. And right about where I wanted to put that post,  there had been a doorway. The previous owner (that would be my late father-in-law)  had this somewhat goofy idea that he'd be able to grow stuff for most of the year.  All that really happened was that he got a lot of bugs.

Oh and,  if you're hanging around,  thanks.    I have been painfully absent.   Just doing summer stuff.

Ooh look.  Here,  I'm on a boat.

I'm the idiot making with the bunny ears behind the head of one of my crew mates.  I'm sure she's seen that picture.  Surprised she hasn't said anything.  This was a Saturday regatta just last week.  Normally we don't have that many bodies on the boat,  as it's a wee bit tender,  meaning that weight distribution can be a challenge,  but we figured,  what the hell.  The more the merrier.

It's been a pretty good summer so far for sailing well,  with the exception of some of the earlier days when there was no wind.  AND,  we've had some seriously high water levels on the lake.

Here's a good example:

That area is normally ....dry.   This was back in June.   It's by now finally gone down,  but whether they've turned the power on at the slip yet or not is still the question.

This picture was taken after the town had come along and build a boardwalk on top of the existing boardwalk.  Which begs the question,  as this event happened two years ago,  and is likely to happen again,  why not just build a proper elevated board walk?  Then there would be no need to turn off the power?  Maybe?

Couldn't do that of course.  That would make too much sense.



Anyway,  I think that's all I got.   I'm off to grill up some burgers and cook some corn. 

Keep that stick on the ice.

Thanks for stopping by.

I'm still here. Honest.

Or maybe it should be "honestly"?   Good grammar is a touchy subject with me most days.

Anyhoo,   sorry for the absence.   They say it makes the heart grow fonder.   Or something.
I think it tends to lose you readers,  to be honest.   But I'm pretty sure there are a few die hards out there.

So,  what's been going on?   Well,  the usual actually.   Some sailing,  both Tuesday nights as well as a couple weekend outings.  I did the "Sail Past"  this year,  which is an annual tradition at the Yacht Club involving the "Blessing of the Fleet",  and then literally a sail past the Commodore.    A little hokey I realise,  but it was a nice day on the water (even though the wind died later)  and for a measly twenty bucks,  the club served what I considered to be an awesome meal of steak,  baked potato and salad.

But,  I'm going to skip ahead.   I mean,  I take pictures of stuff,  but then never get around to doing too much with the pics.   There are a few out there who might have seen the odd thing on the Book of Face,   but really?   Posting to the blog would be a bit boring I think.

That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

BUT,   this weekend was the annual "Guy's Weekend"  in Grand Bend,   and on one of our forays into town, I was sitting in the truck waiting for my buddy to come back from the coffee shop,  and I see this Dude across the road with a rather large hat on,  and I'm thinking,  "Why does that guy look familiar?"

Well,  it turns out it was a fellow blogger,  none other than George,  from Our Awesome Travels!

Of course,  by the time I remembered the extra camera I had brought along and fetched it from the back seat,  he and Suzie were just heading out.

But I do have proof!

Well,  it's only "proof"  to the person who owns that car,  and who had just come out of "Grandpa Jimmy's Scottish Bakery".  Right?   But maybe George will stop by and confirm my claim.

So,  when my buddy came out of the coffee shop,  I said something like,  "Hey,  I just saw a guy whose blog I follow!"   and he asked if I had run across the road to say "hi",   but I had to admit that,  first of all,  I didn't realise until too late just whom I was looking at and secondly,  I likely would have been run over,  as the traffic in Grand Bend at that point in time was a wee bit on the steady side.

Anyway,  I thought at least *that*  was blog worthy.


Other than that,  here we are this morning outside the Colonial Restaurant,  where our annual tradition also calls for taking our host out to breakfast before we head on back home.

And no,  the guy with his back to the camera isn't camera shy,  I just took a photo without him noticing.     Here he is expertly extricating himself from one of the sand traps at Bayview Golf Club.

Wait,  he's got his back to the camera again.   Here we go...

But then I realised,  I have another pic of the bunch of us,  in the "selfie"  style.

And.....that's all I got.

I'm out.

I'll be back again at some point.   Thanks for stopping by.

OK. Two things.

First of all,  Thursday Night Football is starting to piss me off.  I'm not sure if they have the same crew officiating every Thursday night or whatever,  but there were some head scratching moments when even Chris Collingsworth  (one of the announcers,  for the rest of you) couldn't figure out what was up.   And I'd venture to say,  he's a pretty knowledgeable guy.  Can't say the same about myself,  but if it's pointed out to me,  then I get it.

Plus,  even though I went "five for five" a few weeks back,  with a decent payout to then justify sucking for the rest of the season,  I'm getting a bit fed up with not being able to "get" that Thursday night game.  Man!

And now,  here's the other thing:

And this may be further proof that I'm an idiot,  but I'll say it anyway.

I keep forgetting to check for "Comments awaiting moderation."   

Erp.

So,  for some of you who couldn't figure out where the heck your comment went (hello, Bea!)  I do apologise.

Sorry.   (insert sad face)


Now,  for the other 80% of you   (and no,  I'm not exaggerating here)  who filled up that field with utter crap?   Go f**k yerself!   Geez!

You know,  after the first eight to ten times that you try to clog the blog with some bullsh*t message and it doesn't show up?   Maybe you might like to reconsider your marketing strategy?

Just saying.


Now go away.


Not the rest of you!

Thanks for hanging in there.

Enjoy your weekend.  Or whatever.

Every day is Saturday around here,  except of course for that whole "shopping on the weekend" thing.   You kidding?   Not unless I'm desperate. 
Too many people shuffling in the aisles.   Many of them,   OLD ENOUGH to be doing it during the week!

OK,  back to normal breathing.

Time for that elusive update.

I didn't really broadcast it all that much,  but Travelling Companion and I just got back from a trip over to Europe.  Had a wonderfl time.  Saw some new countryside.  Also saw some familiar places and faces.
It's hard to know where to begin with the photos.  I took a shit load of them.  Like,  four or five hundred?   Wait,  actually,  I just looked.  634.   I think I have to do some sorting.
And no,  I'm not about to put them all up on The Book of Face.  Some folks do that,  and it's kind of like "Battle Fatigue",  only more like "Photo Fatigue".   No bueno.


The first stop was in Vienna,  where T.C. got wind of a ballet being performed at the State Opera.  Naturally,  we had to go.   It was "Schwannsee" or, for y'all what speaks English,  "Swan Lake".

I have to admit two things:  First of all,  I had never been to a ballet,  and secondly,  I quite enjoyed it.

No photos during the performance of course,  so I did snap a couple during the curtain calls.
If you're going to see a ballet,  and you've never seen one before,  I recommend going to see possibly one of the best ballet companies and orchestras on the planet.  I mean,  why see something that's half-assed?  Plus,  we were in like,  row six?   Go big or don't go I always say.


I'm not about to do a day by day kind of thing here,  so suffice to say that,  we headed back to the airport after a couple days in Vienna,  picked up a car and headed off to Slovenia.

This,  for any of you who have hanging around long enough know,  is a somewhat recurring theme.  When we lived in Vienna,  we figure we were in Slovenia about three times a year.  Summer,  winter,  fall.  Not just tourists,   ya know?

The car was a Nissan "Quasqai",  which looked suspiciously like a Murano,  or maybe a bigger better version of the "Rogue"?   Had a rogue last fall in Nova Scotia.  Didn't like it as much as the Quasqai.
Six speed manual.  Even Travelling Companion was somewhat smitten by it.   Maybe we'll trade the Merc?

Anyway,  I'll be adding some snippets over the next while.   Meanwhile,  I'm back to working on the bathroom.  Took me a couple days or more to get my head sorted out after some serious jet lag.
Needless to say,  I wasn't very peppy.   Managed to cut the grass this morning.  Been rooting around in the garden,  that kind of thing.

Tonight will be my first time on the water again since last fall.   I haven't had a chance to look,  but I suspect that the water level hasn't really gone down that much.  There was a whole bunch of more rain when we were away.

I took this a week before we left for Austria.   That's Lake Ontario.  Think about it.  Lake Ontario is bigger than Puerto Rico.   Dat's a lotta water.   Normally you step down about 10 inches to that floating slip.

At one point I read on the net (when we were overseas)  that the Town of Oakville had closed off some of the access to the walkways and such,  as there was a very real possibility of someone ending up in the drink.  Easily done if you misjudge the edge underwater there.


That's it for today.  (Hey,  I'm really dragging it here,  OK?)

Thanks for stopping by.

Keep your stick on the ice.

Not. One. Drop.

And that was a bit of a relief I must say.

It's been a while I know,  since I've uttered a peep.   I'd like to say "time constraints" or some such nonsense,  but I have to admit that it has more to do with laziness and figuring that it's not that Earth shattering to warrant a blog post.  You believe that,  right?

I should,  I suppose,  be a little more in touch with what's happening in the "Blogoshere",  but that too falls by the wayside when life starts to crowd out blogging.  Let's not forget laziness.
Then, I would have been more aware of the passing of a blogger I had followed since way back in our Vienna days.
The first shocker was when he came home to find his wife Loyce slumped over in a chair,  where she had passed away possibly a few hours earlier.   That sad day was a few years ago, September of 2013 to be exact.
And since then, he had been getting along,  A little lost,  as he put it, but had still managed to keep up with his blog,    Retired Rod


I just discovered yesterday,  or maybe it was a couple days ago,  that he too has passed away,  and that he had been afflicted with brain cancer and underwent surgery in March of last year.  Whoa!  What?

And you know, at one point when T.C. and I were doing our Christmas cards (yes, we still do that) we came to the realisation that the list wasn't getting smaller as a result of being shunned or snubbed or anything,  but rather,  that some of the recipients were starting to die off.    

Not that that has anything to do with Rod or his wife or anything,  but it's just one of those moments when you stop and think.

Let's just stop right there,  before I get all maudlin.

*****

So.   The dripping?  Or lack thereof?

Well,  I think I left off before Christmas with some drivel about the bathroom Reno?   Probably.
Oh and,  Christmas?

Right.  Merry Christmas.   Happy New Year.

The three wise guys showed up on the sixth of January,  like they do every year.

The tree is already down and out.

Or course there was a moratorium on the Reno over the Christmas time,  which was fine with me,  it's not like I'm in that much of a hurry,  but now I'm back to plugging away.
And I should mention, that I had alluded to a slight "mishap"  when I was whackin' the crap out of that cast iron tub?   See,  the plan was to KEEP the sink,  so we'd not only have use of the Water Closet ("toilet" for the rest of you.)  but be able to brush teeth and wash hands and such.

You know,  just over Christmas.


Um, er, well,  see,  a five pound sledge hammer and a porcelain sink?   They don't get along.
As I was whacking away at the tub,  and it was moving ever so surreptitiously from its original spot,  one slip of the sledge, (say that ten times fast!)  and the likelihood of the sink holding water with those two big pieces missing was slim, to say the least.  Didn't take any pictures.  Sorry.

So the sink has been gone for a time.  In an "emergency"  one can still use the crapper,  but then you need to find another washroom to wash ones front feet.   Not the best arrangement.


Of course,  since I'm an idiot, (see sink 'removal' above)  I realised that,  I should have fit my shower pan in BEFORE putting up the cement board,  but that was easily remedied.  Plus, I'd rather do all the messy business before putting in that rather large and easily scratched shower pan.

The next wee job was to hook up the water supply for the new fixtures.

Always fun.

Not only that but,  due to the somewhat challenging location of where the new lines need to go,  I decided to go with Pex  pipe and fittings.  It was either that,  or rip open even more of the garage ceiling,  which really didn't thrill me.
You still have to join the pex to the existing copper,  so there was still some open flame involved,  which most always results in,  "I can smell something!"   from T.C.

Which is exactly why I tend to do those sorts of activities when she's not home.

And that is also why I waited until this morning to open the valves to the new lines.

Now,  normally,  you let the water run into the pan,  (I guess)  and that's usually after all the walls are up and tiled.  But, I really wanted to make sure that NOTHING was leaking,  so no pan with a convenient drain,  which presented a slight problem.  How to keep the water from blasting out of the open fittings?

As it so happens,  I have a couple old hose bibs kicking around,  and they're the type that screw into a threaded fitting.
Easy peasy.

Well,  the one in the picture above just happened to be soldered onto an existing pipe,  and I forget where exactly I cut that one off,  but all I had to do was solder the female fitting onto the end,  and then connect it to the nipple sticking out of the imaginary wall.   That outlet,  by the way,  is for the hand held shower head.  Just so you know.


And of course,  there's the opening for the "rain shower" up top.

Since I wanted to actually run the water,  I needed a couple buckets.    Doesn't look very elegant,  and I suspect we won't be leaving it that way for the final product.   "There we go Honey,  just hook a hose!  It'll be fine!"

Not.

And well.  Nothing leaks.

I do have those rare moments of clarity.

And,  now I guess I have to get back at it.


Keep those sticks on the ice,   and thanks for stopping by.

Here it is October, and I've been mute.

Seems that most of anything I have to say revolves around "stuff" around the house.  Hate to say it consumes most of my time,  but that does tend to be the way it goes.
We've been having a bit of a blow for the last few days,  including a whack of rain.  There has been flooding.  Thankfully not affecting us.  I'd like to think I've taken all the steps necessary to mitigate any flooding here at the Ponderosa,  but we're in a neighbourhood where the storm drains and sewer drains all FLOW TOGETHER.   No bueno.   Resolving that issue would be a somewhat major undertaking I would think.  It'll never happen.

Now, in spite of the huge system that has been dumping on us,  there was a break in the rain yesterday long enough for me to finish off yet another project.

Yes,  we now have a section of fence between us and our neighbour.  There's a plan afoot to put some sort of plant there that needs not only lots of sun,  but also something to grow against.   "Wisteria",  I think it was?   Not my department, although I'll likely be pressed into service to plant the thing.

Oh,  and when I say "finished",  I'm not.    There will be more of this type of fence,  going along the front.   Next year.   Can't wait!   Not.


The neighbour's son came over to compliment me on the look of the thing,  and I did say that I'd not recommend this particular activity as "a hobby".   It's taken me several days,  my goal being to put in one panel a day.    By "son",  I mean a dude who is about my age,  as his Mom,   who lives next door on her own,  is most certainly in her early eighties.  So her "kids" come by fairly regularly to help out. He cuts the grass.



And being on the corner is one of the reasons for the fence.   It would be nice to have an extended garden,  without the thought of someone (usually kids) deciding to take a shortcut across the corner.
The security cameras have definitely been a deterrent in that regard, or at least that has been my impression.
Hey,  I'm not about to sit there watching hours of footage to see if anyone has had to nerve to take a short cut.  It's usually only if there are definite signs,  like footprints in the snow,  or depressions in a way too soft spring lawn.  Or,  when someone is permitted to step on my brand new downspout!   Still pissed about that,  but that's another story.  I think it was someones small child,  but that was before the cameras went in,  and I can only guess from the tiny footprints in the snow.)


And yes,  there are a bunch of rocks there next to the house (in the "back alley")  that I need to sort out.  I'm thinking there will be a rock garden somewhere out towards the corner.  

There was a guy (neighbour I'm guessing) who came by last year some time and offered to "take them off my hands",  but he also didn't offer any money,  so that was that.  Turns out,  rocks ain't "free",  even though I did go and collect them off a farmer's rock pile,  and he was happy to be rid of them,  my time and fuel might just be worth something.  Go to the local building supplier and check out the cost of granite.  You'll faint.  Seems to me I said something like, "That much for freakin' rocks?"  and decided to try and go off and collect my own.  Needed them for the pillars I built.

Supposed to go sailing tomorrow.  Not too sure about that.  That lake looks pretty damned angry right about now.  I'd prefer that the last sail of the season not be the worst sail of the season?  Just saying.

Maybe we'll just meet for a cold beverage and a few snacks.  

That's about it for the time being.  Thanks for stopping by.  Keep those sticks on the ice.

Happy Canada Day!

And yes I know,  I haven't been around much.   Not much to say,  and anything that pops into my pea brain usually gets dismissed as just more drivel.   There's enough crap on line,  don't you think?

Anyway,  we're getting some much needed rain here today,  in spite of it being "Canada Day" and all. I'm pretty sure rain is not permitted,  but then again, it'll likely clear up by later tonight.
Just in time to scare the bejeepers out of all the dogs that can't quite tolerate loud far off unexplained noises.

Speaking of which,  Daughter Number Two and Son-in-law just so happened to have adopted another dog (yes,  they now have two),   and aptly named him "Pugsly".  
He's a pug/something or other mix, go figure.
It turns out that,  and they knew this going in,   Pugsly is as deaf as a post.   Seriously.  Unless he smells you coming,  a skill he has aptly demonstrated whenever food comes in the door,  chiefly in the form of take-out, he hasn't a clue if you're around or not.
Meanwhile their first dog Kermit has always been terrified of thunder.  To the point that,  they had to get him a "thunder shirt" to try and keep him from virtually shaking himself out of his skin.
Now here's something interesting.   Having endured at least a couple thunder storms since the arrival of Pugsly,  Kermit has now become much more tolerant/immune/whatever to thunder.
Seems that,  if your buddy sitting right next to you has absolutely no reaction whatsoever to all those loud noises outside?  Maybe you just need to quit being such a big ole scaredy-cat?  And calm the hell down!   So,  you can make any assumptions you'd like about "dog psychology",  but I just thought that was interesting.  

Don't you love these little tidbits?

Clearing up by later tonight will be a good thing,  as I'll be on the boat for the next three days.   Emphasis on days.  I don't do overnights on the boat.
Just well,  no desire.
It's an annual thing that's been going on for about eight years now, having to do with something called  GHYRA.
And in case you're reluctant to click on that link,  that stands for "Greater Hamilton Yacht Racing Association".    This event involves basically sailing for the next week to such exotic locals as Oakville and Youngstown, N.Y.   I'm only going to race the first two days,  and then hook up with the boat on Friday again to sail from Newport to Bronte.
Should be fun.  I did a couple days last year.  I find that a couple days out on the water is just about enough for me.  No matter how much sun block I slather on,  between the sun in the sky and the sun off the water,  I'm just a bit pooched after two days.  
Just the same,  I'll head back out on Friday.

Of course,  a lot of the participants simply live on their boats for the week,  which can be said of the skipper and one of the crew.  Like I said before,  I have very little desire. I guess I'm just at that point where,  I'd much prefer to sleep in me own bed.  Thanks.

Even when we had the RV,  I was still "sleeping in my own bed".   There's a lot to be said for that.

Speaking of sailing,  we're well into our Tuesday night outings.  We've pretty much sucked in terms of our performance on the race course,  but as was brought forth after our evening out this past week,  "we're getting a little bit too old for this".
Just the same,  I wear my knee pads and keep the Tylenol handy.  Not about to pack it in just yet.

(Of course,  most every Wednesday I wonder just why my knees are kinda hurtin'...)

I've only included this pic of one of our competitors sailing by before the start of the race to point out the colour of the sky there.
After the first leg I think it was,  we very quickly hauled out our foul weather gear,  since it proceeded to rain like crazy.   Of course,  even though we were relatively dry,  all the sails that we had up got soaked,  which means having to hoist everything up again once at the slip and wait patiently.
You might think that it was raining at the slip as well?   Well no.  Didn't get a drop on land,  where we needed it.

I guess that's all I got.   They're calling for good weather after today,  so that would be a good thing. Sailing in the rain is certainly do-able,  but just as happily avoided.
Hey,  who knows,  I might take some pictures?

Until next time.

Thanks for stopping by.

Crazy Canadian Weather.

And,  the reason I'm in here, is because I'd rather not be out there.   Seems,  if you're not keen on the weather around here,  just wait a day or two.  Well,  sometimes maybe a week or two.  In the summer at least.  Winters?  That's another story.  They do tend to drag on.

Just a day ago,  it was going down to single digits at night (temps in "C" folks!)  and I had no issues wearing my long trousers for a brief night out last night.

Travelling Companion is away for the weekend for a "girls weekend" (and I don't even like the sound of that, but those aren't only my words) and as she offered to drive a couple other "girls" (really?) that meant that muggins here is "sans car".

Which doesn't really bother me. I mean, I made sure to pick up some beer,  and there's food in the house.  What more could I need?

 And besides,  there was an offer to come by and fetch me by one of our "pub buddies",  (also a term I'm not overly fond of,  but is a reasonable description) as a means to get to the weekly gathering at our favourite watering hole.  Gotta go to the pub!!

After that,  we went to another watering hole for a not too shabby dinner.  I paid.
Yes, I know, I'm normally pretty cheap,  but as the old man here was driven around and such,  I thought I'd step up.
In that tiny group I am in fact,  the oldest.   In the larger group, that's not quite the case.

Speaking of which,  last Sunday we said our final "goodbyes" to one of our somewhat long time friends at what was aptly named "Glynfest".   I'm pretty sure I mentioned his passing back in March. Still can't quite get past the notion that he's gone,  but I'm not going to get too maudlin.   I'll just say, I came to the realization at one point that,  I really wasn't looking forward to this gathering.  And it was not due to seeing all of those great folks,  that's for sure.  I mean,  there were people there whom I hadn't seen in a very long time.  Many hugs.  Many hugs.
No,  it was more like,  not looking forward to that final goodbye.   I guess that's it.  This is all something we have to face as the years roll by.  Gah!

This is starting to get to be a bit of a downer.  Time to snap out of it.

What else?

Well,  the "girl's weekend"  had been preceded by a "guy's weekend" back a few weeks ago.  There was golfing.  There was some *ahem* consumption of beer.  Other than that,  that's all there is to say about that.  "Cone of silence" and all.   No really.  I dare not even show you pictures.  Not for broader consumption.

Well,  I can show you the one,  as our host had set up a little "shrine" to our lost companion.

He was part of our annual "guy's weekend" group,  after all.

We did eat well though.  I have to say that.  Don't make a fuss about it,  but there was even salad. And,  not just one kind either.  We're not freakin' teenagers.  It's all about good eats,  good company etc.



I suppose I could show you another "thing" that I made for the shop.  In keeping with the "Sh*t Bob makes" theme.



It's this:

There never seems to be enough work surfaces when it comes right down to it,  and once upon a time,  I had (and still have) a set of plywood "lifts"  onto which I would place a sheet of  half inch plywood.  It was an awkward, wobbly arrangement,  and I had had enough.

This one not only has a laminate top,  but also folds up out of the way.

Thus:

Took a bit of trial and error to figure out the wooden catch at the top.  I wanted it to ride up on the side of the table as it went up against the wall,  but then to click into place without any worry of it coming down.

I think I got it.

Now I think it just needs a coat of paint.  

I'll get to it.

Oh,  and here's something you might find slightly amusing,  and I dare say something that you've experienced at least once in your life.

Ever gone back to a place of your childhood,  looked at it,  and said,  "Wow,  I thought it was bigger than that"?

Well,  a few days ago,  T.C.  and I took a little trip to the "Port Credit" area (now all "Mississauga" I think) to sort out a bank account at a credit union there,  and decided to take a drive past a house where she spent at least a few years of her childhood. 

I'm guessing from about 1952 to 1958.

She even thought the back yard was big.  Somehow I have trouble trying to picture that.

I vividly recall seeing the elementary school where I spent the first four years of school, and thought, "Wow, I thought it was bigger."   

I guess that's a common thing when you look back at your childhood through the eyes of an adult?  Well,  a grown up.  Not all of us are adults.

And by the way,  there were seven siblings.  

But you know, it's almost the same size as our family home back in rural Nova Scotia.  Maybe our place was a little wider?  No pictures, sadly that place burnt to the ground in about '68,  after we had moved to Ontario.   And,  there were six kids,  although my eldest brother had flown the coop by the time I came around. We'll not go there.

I guess that's about it for a while.

I'll *try* to not be such a stranger.   It's tough,  trust me.  I mean, do you give a rat's tiny behind if I water the plants each morning?  No,  I didn't think so.

We'll see.

Keep those sticks on the ice.

Thanks for stopping by.

Oh Boy.

And I don't quite mean,  "OH BOY"!,  but more like the way Fred Flintstone would say "Oh boy",  when he wasn't too thrilled.



I'm talking about this.

And it was my idea.  Truth be told.

Fool.

Took us a couple years to empty the last one.  Not sure what I was thinking.
Anyway,  nothing all that new and exciting here at the Ponderosa.  I've been meaning to write...

Shameful,  I know.  There are so many fine upstanding bloggers out there who,  in spite of slaving laboriously over a well worn pair of hiking boots, (or whatever busy activity they've filled their days with) are still able to sit down at the keyboard and spout off about it.

Or other things.

I find that,  as the evening wears on,  I become more and more inclined to say,  go to bed.
Or sit like a lifeless lump.

In my defense, I have been keeping myself somewhat busy.

One of my sisters-in-law had a 65th birthday,  so I made her a little cedar planter,  thus:

I thought I had a better picture somewhere,  after I installed the little base,  but I guess not.

She was happy with it.  I mean,  what do you get a sixty-five year old person?  Especially one who has an abundance of plants?

Then,  while I was in the mood (like,  really)  I thought I'd make a planter for out on the porch for Travelling Companion.   She's been eyeing the "store bought"  plastic things,  but there was no way one of those was coming home with us.  Oh right,  buy one ugly plastic thing for a hundred bucks,  and get a second ugly plastic thing for "half off".   Now THAT'S tempting.

Not.

So this was my substitute.   

I offered to buy something to put in it,  but it seems that Mother's Day is coming up, and one of the offspring will be expected to sort that out.   

Whatever.   So it sits there empty.   For now.

In case you were wondering,  this whole post is going to be about "sh*t that Bob has made".   Just so you know.

'Cause there's more.

There was also a request for a little item for the sewing room.  Seems I can't make the room any bigger,  even though that would be kind of awesome.  So,  we have to make the best use of what's there.

Started out as a small project,  but then morphed into something a bit more than that.

Any guesses?

How about now?

And by the way,  it took me a couple tries to figure out how to make the jig that would allow me to drill holes at a 10 degree angle.  Oy.


This last one should let you figure it out.

There had to be enough room on the spindle for both the thread AND the accompanying bobbin.

There's more,  but now even I am getting bored just talking about it.

That's enough of making you move your eyes back and forth.  But hey,  thanks.

Later.

Having to face up to it.

I’ve been mulling this over over for the last few days,  unsure of what I wanted to say.  If anything.
I won’t have to tell you what “it” is,  I think you’ll figure it out.

T.C. and I got a phone call last Sunday.  I was downstairs,  vaguely aware of the phone ringing but,  and I do this more often than not,  simply ignored it.  They can leave a message,  I thought.  
But T.C. answered.

After she hung up,  she called from upstairs,  and something in the sound of her voice,  and then the look on her face,  told me something was definitely not right.
It’s a funny thing,  if you think back on how friendships are started,  and then evolve.   With ever widening circles of friends.  Some are simply in that “six degrees of separation”  category.  Some are much closer.

Our friend who passed away in his sleep some time leading up to Sunday was I hope,  in the “much closer” category.   And,  on the very rare occasion that the subject of death might come up,  he had indeed said that he simply wanted to go in his sleep.  Not that he planned it,  but he stuck to the plan.

I’m getting a little teary eyed just trying to type this.  So I don’t think I’ll be getting too long winded.

We’re off this afternoon to a gathering at one of the funeral homes for what I’m sure will be a pretty emotional time.  I’m certainly looking forward to seeing the host of people who knew this gentleman,  but in some ways I have a sense of dread.  Dreading the facing of “it”,  and the dread of knowing I’ll be a blubbering fool after the first hug.

These days,  Funeral Homes all have websites and so,  if you choose,  you can go on over there and do a little reading.  If you go down to the right bottom corner of that page,  you’ll see some photos that were taken at a couple of our trips to the drags
.
Oh and,  it was HIS idea that I should write a blog.  This was one of those ideas that was hatched over a cold beer one afternoon at our favourite pub before T.C. and I had made the move to Europe.   We hadn’t come up with a title yet,  but “The Caretaker Chronicles”  was one of the suggestions.

Hope you enjoy your Easter. 


Thanks for stopping by.

And...we're back to this.

So much nicer to have a BBQ right outside the back door. 
Don’t get me wrong,  we had a wonderful time at the Condo in Maui that we rented,  but the situation was such that,  the BBQs were down by the pool.

And I like to BBQ.

They were awesome BBQs and all that,  but getting all your “stuff” down there,  all the while having to get through one of the locked gates,  (and you had to use the key to get out too…),  was a bit of a challenge.  “Have I got everything?”  was my mantra.  Oh,  and there was no glass or breakable dishware permitted either since well,  you are in the pool area. 

So convenient.

But,  here we are again,  back in the Great White North,  where it’s actually starting to get quite green.  Mind you,  we have had SNOW IN APRIL around here,  so even though spring is around the corner,   let’s not get too cocky.

Yesterday was one of those awesome days when the temps were up into shirt sleeve weather (well, for the average Canadian at least,  Floridians need not apply), but it was just a tease,  since today it’s quite cold again.  Above freezing,  but nothing that would encourage you to run out and bask in the sun.  Or roll around on the lawn.

Actually,  I’m sure it’s been a bloody long time since I’ve “rolled around on the lawn”.  Not really my “deal” for several decades at least.


To go along with the steaks, (and yes,  I realise they are small,  but they are “medallions”),  I had a hankering for some taters fried in onion. 

Maybe it takes me back to when my dear ole Ma would make “hash”,  but that’s chopped up more than this particular version.

And you’ll no doubt think this a bit odd,  but I recall that she used to use an old tin can (washed of course,  hello)  to chop up the potatoes in her cast iron frying pan.  The things you remember….
It looks somewhat bland in that photo,  but T.C. did make a salad to go along.  I don’t seem to recall such a thing as a “salad” when we had Mom’s hash. 

Salad? Did anyone eat salad back in the 50s 60s or 70s?
You just ate your vegetables.


Anyhoodle,  I’m mostly just checking here to say, “Hey,  I ain’t dead yet”,  although the blog is on the verge of being on life support. 
I’ll try and breathe some life into it from time to time. 

I promise.


Figured I should put in at least one pic from Maui.  This is my sister-in-law and I out on Maui Nui. 

I forgot to show T.C. how to zoom.

Keep those sticks on the ice.


Thanks for moving your eyes back and forth.

The Bionic FLy.

Sounds like the title to a science fiction short story by Ray Bradbury.  But no,  it was just a fly, but I swear those things are beyond normal.  It was one of them big suckers.

How can you stay aloft that long and fly that fast?  And what are you doing in the house at this time of year?

And you know, my visual acuity ain’t much to rave about these days, so I’m not quite the “dead eye” I used to be with the fly swatter.

Man, that’s annoying.

No pictures of the fly by the way.  He’s slightly mangled.  It took some doing though.  Had to trap him (her? it?) in the office, close the door behind me so he couldn’t escape, and then try not to flail about too much with the fly swatter and possibly hurt myself.
There’s usually a way that I can hurt myself, but let’s not go there.

Anyhoodle.  In other “news”,  Travelling Companion and I did get to experience the most intense pine scented air freshener that I've ever had in the car with us.  Well, I've never had one of those “Pine Scented Air Fresheners” so it wasn't much of a contest actually.

Yes,  that’s our Christmas tree.  And yes,  it’s in the car.



And man!  Did that thing smell great!

No really!

It’s been a few years since we’ve gone out to cut down a tree,  mostly as; 1) The kids are long since grown up, and; 2) It got to be that the choice of trees was getting really bad. 
Like,  we’d be there for way too long, wandering from one sad looking thing to the next.  All the while,  cold and miserable.
So ultimately, I just figured it wasn’t worth the effort,  and would simply snag one from in front of one of the local retailers.
I mean, I paid for it and all.
I can’t run that fast.

Certainly not with a tree under my arm.

Photographic proof.

I was particularly pleased with myself, having remembered to bring along a piece of closed celled foam to kneel on. 

I ain’t no fool, that ground was cold and wet. 

There were nine of us altogether,  with only one token child.

One of the other “children” (also really an adult away at University) was getting a glimpse of the tree that was going to be at her home when she got back there.  The “kids” are all mostly finishing up their exams and coming home to roost.

“How about this one?”




Such is the internet age.

The tree’s not up yet, but that’ll likely happen before the end of the week.  Today was “cleaning lady” day,  so we figured we’d wait just one more day.

Once upon a time,  we’d only put the thing up on Christmas Eve, and take it down and punt it out after January sixth.  The Twelve Days of Christmas,  in case you’re wondering.
I think that all changed when we were home “for the Holidays” from out little side life in Puerto Rico,  and knew that we’d be taking it down on the 27th,  since we were all flying back to San Juan for New Years. 

Talk about mixed feelings.  On the one hand,  throwing out a perfectly good Christmas tree, but then on the other hand, “we’re heading back South! Yee-Haw!”  
These days,  I’d just as soon stay home.  Until of course,  about the dead of winter when it’s really rather bleak out.  But of course,  you may recall the plans we made for February.  It’s just simmering there in the back of my mind.

Not particularly looking forward to the flying part.  But those mai tais are awesome.  Never knew I liked them that much. 
Mind you,  the way the Loonie is dropping,  I’ll need to be drunk most of the time I’m thinking.
Again,  let’s not go there.

Oh and by the way,  I just discovered what many of you have come across in the last little while.

 "Live Writer" no longer talks to "Google".  Or something like that.  And that sucks.  Someone always comes along and decides to F**k something up.
Just my opinion on "progress".  Or maybe it's more like "greed".  Whatever. It sucks.

So I've been very painstakingly copying and pasting everything from Live Writer over here.  PITA.



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.