Good morning!!!!

[sodamo]

69°F and .04 inches rain.

No major plans. Likely run that Ethernet for the tractor shed mast and finish my tidying efforts.

Our house is visible driving up the hill so any lights on poolside are visible. Keeping it simple, just a few strings across the front keeps Sophie happy. They are partially visible when lit from inside. The tree is all I do inside. Just an artificial one anymore, minimally decorated. I need to crank out our Christmas letter and write the checks so they can be mailed out next week.

Wonder who on GM will be first to get COVID-19 vaccine and circumstances. While willing to be an early participant I still haven’t seen where There would be early availability.

Prayers for all
Be safe
Have a great day

 

[Looking4new]

Cookie pig out at Phils!

 

[Bird]

Wonder who on GM will be first to get COVID-19 vaccine and circumstances. While willing to be an early participant I still haven’t seen where There would be early availability.

While we would certainly be WILLINHG to take the vaccine anytime, I'll have to admit that it's logical to put us old folks last.

 

[sodamo]

Nice pic, Eric

 

[sodamo]

Drew, bet you have one very pleased landlady.

 

[toppop52]

Rain finally stopped, 3.99”, the water is slowly receding but it’s going to be soggy for a while.

 

[rswyan]

39F and cloudy @ 12:00, high today only 40F.

Yesterday refilled hopper feeder, topped up squirrel feeder with what was left in the bucket (feeder was about 1/2 empty, now 1/4 full ... ), and got the Moultrie Gravity Feeder hung and filled about halfway after doing a little work on it with a heatgun. Not real impressed with the strap on it as far as it being easy to tighten. Will have to see how that holds up - it's still hanging there this morning so that's a good sign I guess. Ratchet clamp would have been better, may have to retrofit.

Got all tile moved back to the bedroom, the two bags of fiberglass batts moved out of the bath over near the access up to the attic, cleaned up cellulose in bathroom.

Called The Depot and verified crapper was in and would be available to pick up ... sooner than the 16th ... :laughing:

Lady I talked to said she said it was sitting there, staged, would be ready for pick up last night. Told her I'd probably swing by today and grab it. Email came in this morning at 12:17 AM saying it was ready to pick up ...

Spent quite bit of time watching shower failure/renovation videos by a guy on YouTube (TileGuy). After seeing those, I think I'll be pulling down the ceiling drywall in the basement below the shower ... just to be on the safe side. I already know there has been some leakage ... just don't know how bad it is. From what I've seen from up top, the wood does not appear to be dry rotted.

If the subfloor and joists seem solid, the preliminary plan for the shower base tile flange (which is rotted away) will be to sand the top of the curb, install some aluminum TileRedi z-channel (screwed to the studs), and then use Lexel to seal the shower pan curb to the z-channel. The studs will get cover with 6 mil visqueen before the z-channel gets installed.

(It's a safe bet that The Woman will not be happy about any more demolition to existing walls/ceilings but what ya gonna do ? ... )

Also watched a number of other videos just on prep/tile laying generally by other folks. Ran across this one from Ask This Old House ... thought it was pretty funny they used the same tile I'm using for the floor:

Plans for today will be to make the run and pick up the rest of the tile from the two Depots up north and then swing by the local Depot and pick up the crapper and another order I placed last night.

Hope everyone has an enjoyable, productive, and safe Saturday ... :thumbsup:

 

[daugen]

Phil, those cookies look wonderful, my favorites too.

Yes, my landlord left with a smile on her face.
She isn't used to a tenant like me...and she left me a nice amaryllis plant which I promptly planted and put on a sunny windowsill.

and if you are wondering what to do with your big Christmas bonus, well....:
https://directedmachines.com/?gclid=EAIaIQobChMI9P2Zha637QIVhzEMCh192gXfEAEYASAAEgIZ4vD_BwE

 

[rswyan]

RS, I did some shopping at Menards early yesterday. Shelves were full. Employees eager to help. Must be one of the reasons I like shopping there.

Yup ... there's a number of things I like about them.

All of the different box stores are, for me, a mix of likes/dislikes and advantages/disadvantages. Some stock items the others don't, etc, Nice to have the competition, varied selection, and choice.

Well maybe 11% helps. Be nice when it is back.

No doubt.

In terms of pure convenience, Lowes is the closest - maybe 5 - 6miles - with the local Home Depot just about 1/2 mile further away.

The closest Menards is considerably further ... probably 10 miles ...

Nice woodpecker pic ... :thumbsup:

Enjoy your time with your aunt ...

 

[RedNeckGeek]

Wonder who on GM will be first to get COVID-19 vaccine and circumstances. While willing to be an early participant I still haven’t seen where There would be early availability.

From what I've been reading, the vaccine roll out will be done according to the priorities established in each state. Some will put doctors and nurses in CoVid wards first, some folks living and working in nursing homes, some to "essential" workers, some will go by age, oldest first. In any case, there will only be 20 million doses available by year's end, and there are 350 million of us in the country. Two vaccines have already applied for emergency release, and a third is very near, probably before the end of the year. I'm hearing that there are a total of four vaccines in development. I'd guess it might be late spring or early summer before enough people have been vaccinated to slow the spread, though.

 

[RedNeckGeek]

I wonder if you could use one of those wireless endoscopes to see up under the shower pan, RS. You'd end up with a few holes to be patched, but that's a LOT less work than tearing down the ceiling. And when you're done, you still have the camera to use for other things...

 

[RedNeckGeek]

and if you are wondering what to do with your big Christmas bonus, well....:
https://directedmachines.com/?gclid=EAIaIQobChMI9P2Zha637QIVhzEMCh192gXfEAEYASAAEgIZ4vD_BwE

Retired folks don't get Xmas bonuses, but with 40 HP it does look like a good solution for the steep terrain here. But if they don't publish a price, the old saying "if you have to ask, you probably can't afford it" most likely applies.

 

[rswyan]

I haven't been very impressed with orders placed at HD either, RS. They send the wrong stuff, or when I go to pick it up the clerks can't find it, or they send it to the wrong store and there's no more on the shelf. I was even less impressed by the "associate" that punched out the rear window of my camper shell with a forklift. Glad you're getting the tile you need, but wish you didn't have to work so hard for it.

Yeah ... one lady I spoke to at the Depot said she was expecting more stock of that mosaic tile back in this coming week ... so it appears it is a regularly stocked item. However, having made the decision to go with that specific tile, I didn't want to run the risk of coming up short and not having enough to complete the job. So doing a little running to get all of it, is ok.

I'm inclined to do the main bathroom in a similar style, using the same tile ... but I'm going to have sell that idea to someone ...

Can always vary the look with different colors for the wall paint.

Just for grins, I posted most of yesterday's Tractor Supply story into a customer service form on their website. Be interesting to see if anything happens, but I'm not holding my breath on that one.

Hope you at least get a response, if not some effort to make it right.

Enjoy the Scotch, hope ya get the solar wiring diagram sorted out, and good luck on the steam cleaner ... :thumbsup:

 

[rswyan]

I wonder if you could use one of those wireless endoscopes to see up under the shower pan, RS. You'd end up with a few holes to be patched, but that's a LOT less work than tearing down the ceiling. And when you're done, you still have the camera to use for other things...

LOL ... always so tempting ... when the possibility of new tool acquisition is involved ... :laughing:

Seriously though, the shower pan is only 3' x 3' ... and it is directly over the landing at the bottom of the stairs going down to the the basement ... shouldn't be that big of an issue just to rip out the drywall and replace it ... although mud work is one of my least favorite activities.

However, after clicking on the link, that does look very, very handy ... :thumbsup:

The Woman is going to hate you (more $$$ on tools) ... until she doesn't ...

("If these are so reasonably priced, WHY didn't we get one BEFORE ?" ... :laughing

 

[Looking4new]

Went to go into Wally World yesterday and found the parking lot jammed 1/2 full of semi-trailers. Seems they had a fire three weeks ago. Fire marshal says it was arson, started in mens wear section. I guess I will have to pay top dollar for my Foxes ginger cream cookies.

 

[pennwalk]

About the vaccine. I've read that the first 3 vaccines take 2 doses per person. They think it will take 30 days from the first shot for your body to get to peak immunity. Hopefully however they decide to give the shots they won't expose people to infection. I heard on the radio today 35 percent of people in the U.S. are thinking about not getting the vaccine which will make herd immunity a close thing. Even after you get the shots it may be possible to get infected and also to spread it to other people. Nothing is simple.

Chris

 

[Looking4new]

About the vaccine. I've read that the first 3 vaccines take 2 doses per person. They think it will take 30 days from the first shot for your body to get to peak immunity. Hopefully however they decide to give the shots they won't expose people to infection. I heard on the radio today 35 percent of people in the U.S. are thinking about not getting the vaccine which will make herd immunity a close thing. Even after you get the shots it may be possible to get infected and also to spread it to other people. Nothing is simple.

Chris

So there is really not much sense in getting the shots if they don't work.

I heard a rumor that up here in Ontario, the Premier is going to task the armed forces with making sure we are all vaccinated. I can't wait.

 

[Alien]

Morning everyone!
32 with heavy snow coming down. The wife and I went out early to get errands done. Worked out great as the stores were empty of people except us old timers. Being over 60 finally is a good thing!
Weather guessers are telling us to prepare for over a foot of snow with 45 mph winds. I have the tractor and generator waiting to go. Now just have to see what happens.

Fire is on and I'm sitting on the couch. Coffee is hot and I made a batch of cookies yesterday. (Oatmeal/raisin. dairy and gluten free. my favorite)
Life is good!
Hope everyone stays safe and healthy!

Reminds me... I had a favourite cookie too. Now 72 but I have loved them since I was a toddler. THEY STOPPED MAKING THEM!! Arghhhh!!! Griffins Round Wine. Couldn't get enough of them and now NO MORE.... New Zealand Cookies that were sold in some shops in Oz.
Life is OVER!!!!

Kyle in Texas..
Thanks for the thoughts and prayers for my Buddy. He just retired from the Air Force recently. He is a Wing Commander and a brilliant bloke.

 

[RedNeckGeek]

Reminds me... I had a favourite cookie too. Now 72 but I have loved them since I was a toddler. THEY STOPPED MAKING THEM!! Arghhhh!!! Griffins Round Wine. Couldn't get enough of them and now NO MORE.... New Zealand Cookies that were sold in some shops in Oz.
Life is OVER!!!!View attachment 678793

I feel exactly the same about Abbot's Green King, Watney Red Barrel, Newcastle Nut Brown Ale, and Whitbread Pale Ale, four all time favorite English beers that are no more. But I didn't start on them quite as young as you started on your cookies, Doug!:laughing:

 

[Alien]

Rain finally stopped, 3.99? the water is slowly receding but it痴 going to be soggy for a while. View attachment 678772

Rain is a rarity here now. A few weeks ago we had a brilliant fall but nothing since. It did help bring the grass back to life.

Rain at last - YouTube