Good morning!!!!

/ Good morning!!!! #167,501  
Passed that along to The Woman.

Personally, the smell of fish don't bother me ... unless it's rotting and stinking to high heaven. And I have smelled plenty of that.

Different story with The Woman: Her Mother never fixed fish for dinner apparently and as a consequence She doesn't like anything about it.

Oddly enough, She likes shrimp and tuna fish ... go figure.

Me, I could eat fish seven days a week ...
Careful eating a lot of fish. Some have high levels of Mercury
 
/ Good morning!!!! #167,502  
Scootr, would be nice if someone made a product you could spray down the air intake that cleaned the sensors.
 
/ Good morning!!!! #167,503  
"Did it have a CV transmission?"

Wow. Google said it did. I had no idea. The magic just worked.

Chris
 
/ Good morning!!!! #167,504  
Congrats RNG, did you get the hybrid? I'm wondering how the hybrid gets so much better mileage than the regular engine? Does it have that big of a battery to aid propulsion?

Most of the mileage comes from recovering braking energy that is normally turned into heat and worn brakes. Unless it’s a plug in hybrid, all of the energy is created by burning gas, it just wastes less. As a side benefit, my first Prius had 150k on the the front brake pads when I changed them, and even then, they still passed inspection, but they were off to replace the wheel bearings, so I figured why not..
 
/ Good morning!!!! #167,505  
31F partly clear sky for the day low 40's for high going to be windy day.

Outside chores done E muffin time.
Several red wing black birds stop by for dinner last evening first time this year :( yet to see robins bouncing on the lawn. :( 12 deer between two fields stop by,5 youngsters were chasing each other back and forth field to field. :LOL:

Plans for today...AM fill propane tank for gas grill must I was told,2 critter food stops,check maybe purchase trimmer setup with paddle head help clean lawn driveway sides of gravel I plow up 🙄 PM try raking cleaning around the house and date night.

Enjoy your day all.
 
/ Good morning!!!! #167,506  
have one last tray of bright yellow pansies to plant, probably in several planters.
but while I'm happily getting dirt under my fingernails, I'm still trying
to hold this thought: :)
:) :)
 

Attachments

  • Flagler Beach.JPG
    Flagler Beach.JPG
    3 MB · Views: 117
/ Good morning!!!! #167,507  
57 earlier, going to 53. Nice t-storm last night but less than 0.2 in. We are in the gap alot, too, riptides.

Glad Sophie's eyes are doing better.

Made my wife happy yesterday by edging around her flower garden. I had picked up a cordless edger to work with my batteries, and it did a pretty good job, once I got the hang of not bogging it down. Did a dump run, and got in a good maintenance hike before the rain hit.
 
/ Good morning!!!! #167,508  
Good morning, and happy upcoming Easter everybody!

Power went out for two days due to the ice storm on Wednesday. Couldn’t do much of anything outside, but the electrician came yesterday, and we got great things accomplished in the basement. Bad news was, since we only have 100 amp service, the inspector will not let us install a second electric stove. So, it will be propane gas in the basement.😟. Will definitely install an exterior vent for the microwave.

Looking forward to getting most of it done when he comes back next Wednesday, and then, next Thursday, heading down to Toronto and will pick up the flooring for the basement.

Meanwhile, more and more snow is melting and the creek is now roaring. Lake has ice on it still, but the lake level is rising so I have to get some work done on the boat house over at the rental property before the water gets too high.

5E757BD3-BC9E-437F-82B7-4ABAF06B2B49.jpeg


IKEA basement plan for the kitchen.

Meanwhile, the family is up, and Daughter and I will be going over to get and change some of that up that was taken down. Then, splitting wood with that gas powered wood splitter that I got from the dump. then the in-laws come up tomorrow, and it’s turkey time!😋😋😋

Have a great Easter weekend, everybody!

8BAB2B78-539A-44F3-89BA-BBB0F30BD150.jpeg


Hound dog on guard.
 
Last edited:
/ Good morning!!!! #167,509  
Congrats RNG, did you get the hybrid? I'm wondering how the hybrid gets so much better mileage than the regular engine? Does it have that big of a battery to aid propulsion?
I passed on the hybrid, Kyle. Four wheeled vehicles in my garage tend to sit more than they get driven, and that's bad medicine for the big battery in a hybrid, even worse for an all electric vehicle.

Here's what Toyota has to say about the engine in the gas car:
2.5-Liter Dynamic Force 4-Cylinder DOHC D-4S Injection Dual Variable Valve Timing with intelligence (VVT-i) and Eco, Normal and Sport drive modes; 203 hp @ 6600 rpm; 184 lb.-ft. @ 5000 rpm

And here's the same info about the gas engine in the hybrid (almost word-for-word the same):
2.5-Liter Dynamic Force 4-Cylinder DOHC D-4S Injection Dual Variable Valve Timing with intelligence (VVT-i) and Eco, Normal, Sport and EV drive modes; 176 HP @ 5700 rpm; 163 lb.-ft. @ 5200 rpm

To which they add:
208 combined system net horsepower
And here are the ratings for the electric motor in the hybrid:
HP - 118, (88 kW)
Torque - 149 lb.-ft. (202 Nm)

Seems to me, combined HP should be 203 + 118 = 321 HP, but apparently the relationship isn't additive.

The gas car weighs 3310 lbs., 3480 for the hybrid. At 170 lbs. that's not as much a battery weight penalty as I'd have thought, but it's still like carrying around an extra person all the time.

Now here's what all the fuss is about, the MPG rating and cost (base model LE figures).
City/highway/combined MPG of 28/39/32 for $26,220 for the gas car
City/highway/combined MPG of 51/53/52 for $28,355 for the hybrid

It's also worth noting that the local dealer had 15 gas Camrys to choose from, but only 1 hybrid. And they're not advertising the price of the hybrid, so I wouldn't be surprised to see a very healthy "Market Adjustment" being applied in their favor.

So for me, who does almost no city driving, a gain of 14 MPG highway at a cost of $2,135 and a lot more complication, stuff to break, and much more difficulty to purchase, wasn't worth it.
 
/ Good morning!!!! #167,510  
the tale of two back yards.
one part thick and luscious grass
another part ruined by grubs and critters trying to get them.
Put down one dose of grub kill last Fall, about to go out and do another this afternoon.

got bagger off mower and put away, then struggled to grease mower deck but got them all.
Lock n'lube can't be used, not enough clearance.
Then mowed front and part of back yards.
hit a lot of pine cones, bumper year this year, not that many last year

taking a break before planting rest of pansies.

very pleased and thankful for next door neighbor who while I was away transplanted a willow tree he grew
from a clipping on a larger tree. It should look wonderful there. I drowned dozens of plants to the right of that spot, so sited
willow just outside flood zone.
 

Attachments

  • IMG_1661 (2).JPG
    IMG_1661 (2).JPG
    4.5 MB · Views: 117
/ Good morning!!!! #167,511  
Good Morning!!!! 47F @ 5:30AM. Light rain early...then remaining cloudy with showers in the afternoon. High around 60F. Winds SE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 100%. 0.18" of additional accumulation.
Started raining last night at about 10, and so far we've picked up another 0.41" of rain. After today, there's no more rain in the 10-day.

I wouldn't want to see the rain stop this early in the year, Bruce, but I wouldn't want another series of atmospheric river events, either. Just the other day I was looking at where they are maintaining the reservoir level, and believe it or not, it's actually a few feet ABOVE where it was in 2017 when they blew out the spillway. That year several atmospheric river events raised the water level over 40' in only 5 days, setting in motion events that destroyed the spillway and caused the evacuation of the town of Oroville. How quickly they forget. Or maybe they want to stress test the new nearly billion dallar spillway? :oops:

Cool photo, Ron. Thanks for sharing.

I didn't know Ford was facing emissions issues with its Diesels, Scotty. Were they being sneaky like VW?

Got a ride into town yesterday first thing to pickup the truck I left at the Toyota dealer, then had to beat it right home to meet another aborist from PG&E (the infamous electric utility/firebug). But I did manage to drop by the car parts store and pick up a bottle of ceramic car wax, thereby saving myself thousands of dollars over what the dealer would have charged.🤣 I was hoping I'd have time to snag a few groceries, too, but with a bit of construction on the way in it was getting a little too late for that. Then half way home I got a text from the arborist that he was running late🤬. So no bananas for me.

Had a nice conversation with him about all the brush under the powerlines over in the state park, and why the utility leaves standing trees that are tall enough to endanger the power lines. As always, no solutions. Turns out he lives on the other side of the canyon, a bit closer to the town of Paradise, and purchased his place a few years ago. He was fighting brush, too, and worried about the coming fire season. He saw the sprinkler system on my place, and is now thinking along the same lines for his.

After the arborist left I was checking the camera up at the gate and saw a fella hook a chain up to the trees that were across the old boat launch road and drag them out of the way. Then he and a friend started hacking away at them with a chainsaw. They were at it for most of an hour before they left. I sent a still to a neighbor and he knows who they are, so I have another difficult conversation in my future. We've had too many problems with vagrants trying to camp down there, and with fire season on the horizon, we don't need any more. Most of the locals don't understand that the road is on private property, and the state doesn't hold an easement for it, so the owners (me and my neighbor) can legally do what we will with it. Fortunately there are many downed trees nearby, and it didn't take long to block the road again with even larger trunks.

Fiddled a bit with the new car, coming up to speed with the infotainment features, setting the radio presets, checking torque on the wheels, oil level and tire pressure (they were off), and hooking up a lead for a trickle charger. I was hoping to wash and wax it, but the instructions on the bottle said to avoid getting it wet for 24 hours after application. So that'll have to wait until at least tomorrow. Just as well, as my butt was draggin' by then and it was almost dinner time anyway.

TGIF gang!
 
/ Good morning!!!! #167,512  
RNG, I bet the Camry feels like a quiet limo compared to your other vehicles.
lot of gizmos to learn about, glad you checked wheel torque.

that reminds me I need to go recheck the tightness on the chrome wheel covers on the rv.
After one almost fell off, realize the dealer has an aversion to overtightening things.
I do have a torque wrench here somewhere, but maybe the next time Popgadget and Ken come here
to fix all my stuff, we can put a torque wrench on them. I had a "tire place" do the wheels last time, didn't ask if they use a torque wrench.
I'm sure their air gun is one size fits all....

been waiting for landscapers to stop using gas powered leaf blowers. Death on my bad ear, like someone is drilling in my head.
I guess I could put my headsets on....
oh geez, here it comes back again. Near too....
headset on.
 
/ Good morning!!!! #167,513  
Good morning, 48 going to 56 today chance off rain in the next few hours.

Slept in this morning and wife is still sleeping. Walked Cody and made coffee. Cody is watching for wife getting up because she gives him a green cabbage leaf that he loves. He grabs it and goes on his platform to eat it.

Yesterday brought a load of gravel over to the ramp from the pile to be spread hopefully later today. Pulled a string for fencing and flagged for 8 ft fence post spacing.

Flowers are coming up all over. Looking great this year.

The gutter clean up people are here. They use blowers and 30 ft plastic pipes to reach the gutters
on the high side of the house.

Working on the PT excersise for the rotator cuff injury. So far only stretching to improve range of motion but is seems to work a little. Next appointment with DR if not better by then he will do an MRI to check for soft tissue damage. Hoping that there is no surgery in my future.

Have a recall on some sensor on the Ford 6.7 diesel that I have not followed up on. We don't have emissions check in our state for diesels.

IMG_1849.jpeg
 
/ Good morning!!!! #167,514  
Good morning! 39° now, high of 53° today. Temps are to slowly rise over the next week and be quite nice.

This says spring here:



Not sure what I am gonna get into today.

@Kyle_in_Tex, I can assure you it takes me more than 10 minutes to build a wheel. It can be frustrating…..then all of a sudden, it just seems to fall together.

Everyone stay safe out there
 
/ Good morning!!!! #167,515  
I do have a torque wrench here somewhere, but maybe the next time Popgadget and Ken come here
to fix all my stuff, we can put a torque wrench on them. I had a "tire place" do the wheels last time, didn't ask if they use a torque wrench.
I'm sure their air gun is one size fits all....
When I had new tires put on last year (local, small shop), I was pleasantly surprised to see them use a torque wrench.

I think these new "infotainment" dash displays on veh's are as much of a danger as texting, while driving. I have to take my eyes off the road, and try to focus on the little screen "button"/spot, to change climate control settings, radio stations, etc... We have little choice but to "adapt", I guess.
 
/ Good morning!!!! #167,516  
Morning all, 53 up to 57 then down to 39 and cloudy.

Showed son how to use pole saw and weed whacker, then gave him some time on both. Pole saw was not cutting, ends up rakers needed to be taken down. These Oregon chains must be getting softer. Then show him oiler and how to sharpen.
Had him do some branch cutting on a small hung up branch. Showed him why undercut in tension etc. He seemed to be having fun.

Our huge rain storm ended up being a little bot of rain only, ok with me!

For cooking fish I use lemon.

Thomas - robins here are in large groups now if you want some of ours :) Last year we had very few, so good to see them back. We even have songbirds back unlike last year.

Have to hold off planting some of the veggies still (tomato/cucumber)


RNG - Maybe time for cement bollards or large heavy blocks to stop access from vagrant camping?

Back to the day job, relatives coming over Sunday for Easter.

Be well,

Clean up crew at work:
 

Attachments

  • IMG_0176.JPG
    IMG_0176.JPG
    2.7 MB · Views: 113
/ Good morning!!!! #167,517  
RNG, one thing I discovered was that engines with variable timing cam shafts are very sensitive to dirty oil that can gum up the mechanism so following the MFGs schedule for oil changes or early changes takes on a new importance. A kids warranty claim was denied because of lack of documentation for oil changes costing almost 3000 dollars
 
/ Good morning!!!! #167,519  
Good morning! Low of 28°, heading for 62°. Sunny and light breezes. Now, a slight chance of a sprinkle tomorrow afternoon.
Chances are super low because the humidity is around 6% and a dew point of -21°. Way too dry at the surface, so rain will just evaporate before it gets to the ground.

Started up the drip irrigation and got 4 zones done. Only 6 more zones to do.....these 6 take longer just because they are bigger and require more time / water, so maybe 3 will get done today.

Got some prep work done where the Asiatic Lilies will get transplanted to. Cleaned out about 50 of the CMU block holes. Still need to refill them with our amended soil. Probably continue with that today.... a slow process.

Need to go back to Costco today.... forgot to pick up the ham for Easter dinner. --- In my defense, it wasn't on the 'list'. Oh well.....

Drew, the tulips and daffodils look great! Hopefully word won't spread about the upcoming smorgasbord......

Dennis, front lawn looks great as usual. Are you going to start cutting the new property?

Fritz, nice flower pic too! We used to have a lot of wildflowers here, but over the years of drought, they have probably diminished 85-90% of what they used to be. I hope they re-populate....but will take years.

RNG, enjoy the new car! I agree, those hybrid numbers don't make it all that advantageous.
The only reason that we have kept our Nissan Versa Note is because of the incredible mileage ..... consistently 38 mpg highway from the little 1.6L, 4 banger and 5 speed. The CVT versions get a bit better mileage, about 1-2 more mpg's.

Everyone have a great day and a peaceful Good Friday.
 
/ Good morning!!!! #167,520  
Good Morning - currently 54° and rain..

Had a great ending to the livestock show on Wednesday night -- 112 kids showed cattle, goat, sheep & pigs from Monday thru Wed..

Hope everyone has a great day and weekend.

Mark
Mark, next time take some pics for us. Would love to see what is going on.
I might have too much of a "city boy" nose for a packed tent full of critters... ;)
Drew

got three pots of pansies made and positioned, landscapers finishing up, they use a "natural" mulch ground daily locally, still warm when they put it on.
Very dark due to moisture, dries a little lighter. Sure dresses things up, will go take a pic.
now it will show all the spots I need to fill in.
 

Marketplace Items

(2) NOS-8 LUG- 7000Ib 74SC-93 HUB FACE DROP AXLES (A60432)
(2) NOS-8 LUG-...
2025 JMR 40in Single Cylinder Brush Grapple Mini Skid Steer Attachment (A59228)
2025 JMR 40in...
2010 Toyota Tacoma 4x4 Crew Cab Pickup Truck (A59230)
2010 Toyota Tacoma...
Crown RM6025-45 4,500 LB Stand-On Electric Forklift (A59228)
Crown RM6025-45...
UNUSED FUTURE FT-CL100C HYD CLAMP GRABBER (A52706)
UNUSED FUTURE...
2020 Dodge Charger Sedan (A59231)
2020 Dodge Charger...
 
Top