Good morning!!!!

[Looking4new]

One of the good things about being semi-retired is that I get an afternoon almost every day.

 

[KilroyJC]

Good morning! Low was 48°, only 50° currently, and raining for the past 4 hours or so. There's 1/2" in the gauge---- WOOHOO!

Supposed to rain off /on all day. Not complaining at all, we definitely need the moisture. Plus, I can now see where the rain is flowing and I can adjust my 'gravel spreading' accordingly. Diverting rain water to where it can be beneficial to the trees is the goal....

Back in the day, the worst mileage vehicle I had, was a '70 Olds 442. Had the "455ci Rocket' engine. Powerful right off the lot, but I had to "tweak" it some more.....
After installing a high lift cam, high rise twin manifold, 2- Holly 650 double pump carbs, and headers ---- well let's say it was just plain scary off the line.....

I can't remember how many sets of rear tires I went through.... And only about 6-7 mpg if it was babied.

The best mileage vehicle that I had (for the time) was an '89 GMC Suburban. 350ci (5.7L) w/ a throttle body. Got 18-20 mpg. For a 1/2 ton truck loaded with all the goodies ---- not bad. Wish I still had it. A great all around vehicle.

Considering my 2019 Nissan Frontier p/u only gets 16-17 unloaded......why? Smaller engine (4.0L), half the weight, half the size.... still trying to figure that out....

But.... our Nissan Versa Note gets a consistent 40 mpg. A little 1.6L 4 cyl. w/ a 5 speed. I should have gone with the CVT trans.... they are getting about 43 mpg. Great errand runner / commuter vehicle. It's a 2014, haven't done a thing to it except change the oil and replace the wiper blades.....oh, and 2 sets of tires....

I have held off on the new truck shopping... Ram, Dodge, and Jeep will be getting a 3.0L, Twin turbo, straight 6. If it's anything like the 4.0L straight 6, it will be bullet proof! Going to wait and see how well it performs.

Oldsmobile engines put out SCARY power - but you had to find someone who knew what to do with them. I was fortunate enough to have known someone who did. 455 over 080 Buick crank with rod journals offset ground to add .125 stroke… among other things

 

[KilroyJC]

GM UPDATE:

1)Gravel arrived, almost 11t, still ran just a bit short, but I chalk that up to inexperience with the excavator.

2) Talked to BigBoxOrange, they are still waiting on the 16 sets of cross-supports, everything else is at the store. I will call them again on Monday for an update.

Not the most heinous of grading jobs…

Of course, after I finished, I remembered something I wanted to do before I got started… duh…

 

[jbrumberg]

Most of the years we’ve been here I’ve had 2 changes of clothes going, what I call Town clothes vs work clothes. Usually by the time I’m done with work clothes they aren’t even suitable rags. Lately I’ve noticed that sometimes the work clothes sneak into town if no holes. Just yesterday my trip to Kona I noticed my work jean shorts (stained by whole) were accompanied by a town shirt.

I mix and match often. I go on a 6 week plan during flea and tick season when it comes to pants as the pyrethrum treatment wears out in ~6weeks. Sometimes earlier if the ticks get to thigh high level on the pants.

On a pizza, barbecue, or grinder "runs" I still wear my worn, ancient, well stained, Carhartt® hoodie that I bought ~1976 to add to the grease stain profile. It looks nasty coming out of the clothes dryer.

I am surprised that that old hoodie has not disappeared, but I am usually wearing it.

 

[jbrumberg]

Kilroy- Nice job with the gravel. Thanks for sharing your project.

 

[Popgadget]

Maybelline…

Now you’re talkin bout the things you used to do,,,,,

 

[Thomas]

So far just keep straightening Shepard hook this has been going on for years. Another youngster bear being a nuisance

If the youngster continue on in his good chance he'll get some learning from Dad.

 

[Thomas]

Buppies, your new visitor looks like a nice one. Good name, too.

 

[Thomas]

Buppies, nice pic of Thomas.

 

[Thomas]

Love the Thomas bear

 

[Thomas]

Specail...special thoughts for your bride Jay...stay strong.

 

[Thomas]

One of the good things about being semi-retired is that I get an afternoon almost every day.

Yup and little more on the things to do list.

 

[jbrumberg]

Thomas thanks. I walk the path of many here and there are members here ahead and also behind me on the trek of life. There are "takers" and "givers." I only see/read "givers" here.

 

[m7040]

Jay agree with you. It is funny how people perceive you. For instance the kid that will help next week had just seen the movie Gran Torino with Eastwood in the lead role. She said he is just like you. Others see it differently. I guess in her mind that was it. Kids growing up in the same household can have very different views of parents.

 

[jbrumberg]

Fritz- You and your Wife are in my Heroes/Heroines list. Perception is "reality." Perceptions may vary; but honesty, "balance," genuineness, groundedness, and love "rule" or should.

 

[buckeyefarmer]

Got the lot mowed. 4 hrs each way. Using ZT took 2 hrs to mow vs 3 hrs with tractor first time, both 60” decks.
But spent another .6 hrs on the meter trimming a little better on some edges and going over some areas. 2.2 total hours on the meter, so only 1.4 to mow without the touch up.
First mow with BX was 2.9 on the meter.
Also flew the drone a little. Put up a game cam, hope it doesn’t get stolen.
Saw 2 big deer, and almost ran over this little cutie

One of neighbors down the road drove his mower up to house next door and fiddled around. I think was keeping an eye on me.
He did this first time I mowed. I’m not sure if lady that lives there owns or rents.
Saw 1 Blacksnake and 1 groundhog.
After I got home had 1 tick crawling on floor, so all clothes went to garage for now and took shower.
Grass was pretty tall in front area along the road. Road does not follow property line.

 

[KilroyJC]

Kilroy- Nice job with the gravel. Thanks for sharing your project.

Thank you! I could have done some more back scraping, but I was already five hours in the seat, and it was time to knock off - it seemed like I was churning up more than I was compacting, I had managed to “extract“ several sq.ft. Of the weedblock cloth, and Mrs was getting tired of raking up roots!

 

[jbrumberg]

Got the lot mowed. 4 hrs each way. Using ZT took 2 hrs to mow vs 3 hrs with tractor first time, both 60” decks.
But spent another .6 hrs on the meter trimming a little better on some edges and going over some areas.
Also flew the drone a little. Put up a game cam, hope it doesn’t get stolen.
Saw 2 big deer, and almost ran over this little cutie
View attachment 801322
One of neighbors down the road drove his mower up to house next door and fiddled around. I think was keeping an eye on me.
He did this first time I mowed. I’m not sure if lady that lives there owns or rents.
Saw 1 Blacksnake and 1 groundhog.
After I got home had 1 tick crawling on floor, so all clothes went to garage for now and took shower.
Grass was pretty tall in front area along the road. Road does not follow property line.
View attachment 801323

View attachment 801324

Dennis- Thanks for sharing and keeping an eye out for the little ones.

 

[jbrumberg]

Thank you! I could have done some more back scraping, but I was already five hours in the seat, and it was time to knock off - it seemed like I was churning up more than I was compacting, I had managed to “extractL several sq.ft. Of the weedblock cloth, and Mrs was getting tired of raking up roots!

Kilroy- 5 hours seat time would be a good day for me, and time to consider other projects like a nap and/or "HH" or even both. Thanks for sharing

 

[Kyle_in_Tex]

Morning all, 48 going up to 71, Partly cloudy

Kyle - most of these laws worked well to start lowering emissions, the rest seems to just be a way for car companies to sell more cars. Companies don't like when their car/appliance lasts too long.

Ken

I figured out how we can make sure the cars last. Have the gov't mandate a 12 year/250,000 mile warranty on all power train and emissions....Before you laugh, many cars can get close to that or better. They charge enough on new vehicles to cover that warranty. If they build them right, it won't cost them much. Who's with me?


Special prayers for Jay and Frits wifeys. I pray for comfort. Frits, we know your wifey "mama'd" a lot of kids, and to do it for those not being born from herself, deserves a huge thank you and double hugs from me.

Jay, my "normal" daughter got woozy and sick in a particular restaurant once, and thereafter she would get the same (feeling bad) every time we tried going in again. I felt like the first time, it was her stomach, but thereafter was in her head. What type of psycho event would that be called? We quit trying to go since. But she may have been able to go in there lately on a date. I need to ask her. Her problem was about 6 years ago and lasted about 5 years.

Today was busy. I was able to score a 3 jaw chuck with an A type mounting system that will fit the lathe I bought from my workplace back in 2012. It was heavy, so I know what you mean RNG. Glad you got your machine together and wheel back on.

The county fair is going on nearby. Last night's music was all Latino. Not my favorite for the most part, however I do like some of the oldies that Freddie Fender played.

I got to speak to a Ph.D. from China at length today. I learned a lot. He didn't say much of anything bad about his home country. And, because he paid/worked his own way through college, he doesn't have to return to pay the gov't back. He said those who are sponsored by the gov't have to go repatriate for at least 2 years. He actually claims that much of the bad you hear from the top levels might be over blown by the media. I asked him what he knew of China helping Russia out against Ukraine, and he actually didn't know much of anything. Tells me the Chicom media holds their cards close to their chest. And that he doesn't believe what our media is saying. We talked about the place that might have incubated the alligatoritis. I can't talk about that on here though.

Anyone heard from Larro Darro? PJS, give us a sitrep, I hope you like your new job. Eric from Shropshire?

I have 2 friends that own their own small businesses. Both are looking for eager young workers, that are not afraid to work in the heat outside. Willing to train. They have had zero replies to their online posting of jobs for over 2 weeks now...

Some great pics y'all! Have a blessed day. Prayers for our team. We have so many blessings, and so many more that we aren't even aware of.