Good morning!!!!

[kenmbz]

Morning all, 44 going to 46, sunny, very windy.
Didn't get much done yesterday, did day job for a little bit yesterday morning and got stuff accomplished.
Went to liquor store and picked up some bottles for tonight.
Off to the last Christmas Eve at our friends house, been going there more than 20 years.
It'll be sad, but we'll figure something out for next year.
Dog walk at peddlars, still crowded, but less so than the last few weeks.

Jeep is back, I was right, it was the logic in the fuse box (another engineering failure), fixed by running a wire from fuse through firewall. Garage fixed as they have schematics etc. that I don't have.

We have a picture of my GG grandfather from my Grandfathers (Dads) side, but not sure what happened to the one of my GG grandfather on my grandmothers side, or my GG uncle the boxer.
Very few pictures from the 1800's when that side of my family came over. My mothers side came over around end of WW1 and my GGF was a POW in WW1, no pictures of him that I know of. Only stories left.

Room is looking good RS!

M7040 - glad to hear wife's hand is ok.

Talked to my Uncle last night, he still has no idea what's going on but sounds happy. He can't go out much anymore as he needs assistance just to get up, no less walk.
Talked to my Dad's GF last week too, she is still wandering around and says she started cleaning my dads clothes out, we keep trying to get her to do so , so it's less of a worry.

Be well,

 

[WinterDeere]

One kid has been sick the last several days, which means we've canceled hosting Christmas for the first time in more than 20 years. I'm actually relieved, it's always stressful and tiring. It will be a very quiet Christmas with only my wife and teens here. One of us (likely me) will have to run to church this evening with one kid while the other stays home with the sickie, but that's about the only thing planned, for this year!

 

[kenmbz]

One kid has been sick the last several days, which means we've canceled hosting Christmas for the first time in more than 20 years. I'm actually relieved, it's always stressful and tiring. It will be a very quiet Christmas with only my wife and teens here. One of us (likely me) will have to run to church this evening with one kid while the other stays home with the sickie, but that's about the only thing planned, for this year!

Tough way to get out of hosting,
Hope all feel better soon.

 

[sodamo]

Merry Christmas Eve
65°F and 1.66 inches rain

Didn’t get home from Vet until 9 pm after Kekoa being there all day. Nothing serious, 4 lumpectomies. Not that serious, our girl Kalani would get. But the tech only mentioned 2. Makes for the Vet to have a merrier Christmas. Now to keep the wounds from being licked.

Looks like a drizzly day ahead

Prayers for all
Be safe
Have a great tractor day

 

[Buppies]

Like spring outside very nice. Laid back today Precious chewed up plug to tree going to replace that.

Prayers for all silent or spoken our Country

 

[Kyle_in_Tex]

Frits, glad your wifey's hand is better.

BEF, glad you are getting some rest, shoulder getting better.

I will hope to get a nap today. Up at 2AM and wide awake. Stayed in bed watching shows on cell phone.

Got that one "type". The reason I mentioned this at all is a local mechanic said he knew someone that had a stick type that fit in the 5 gal without needing to remove the lid and he wished he could find on like that for his service truck. I did not think about cutting through the lid. Didn't have anything along (out in the field repair) that I could have cut through that plastic. Think the model I have the piston is offset.
So, the one I have worked great and it wasn't a big deal to remove the lid. Just had to be careful out in the field not to get crud in the hydro fluid. Otherwise, worked great - wished I'd bought one years ago.

I believe I would prefer a pump that installed through the spout hole. If you have to cut the lid, then the lid is worthless if you need a sealed bucket.

Of course I'd need about 4 pumps. One for each type of fluid.
Speaking of fluids, one of our courses at school is fluid dynamics. Our students get hands on experience, testing viscosities, and running different types of pumps to learn the hows and whys to use different pumps. They learn about pump failures and how to troubleshoot the causes. It really is a special lab for them. (if they pay attention and study).

44 heading to 59, and then 60 on Christmas Day. To get a White Christmas, I'll have to stare at the ceiling.

Took Della for a hike and swim and saw no one on the trail. Then dump run and errands for my wife...stopped at a wine specialty store and bought her a very nice bottle for her stocking. She's been enjoying a wine Advent calendar all month...a very nicely season-decorated box where a small bottle is hidden behind each day's door. Today is the last day, so it will be the bubbly. I went to the wine store hoping to find a full-sized bottle of one particular wine that she raved about, but had to settle for something even better.

Do you like the vacant trails? I know you're a sociable guy and often reply with your meetings on the trails.
I was given a "beer advent" with different beers from Europe. But I had trouble telling one from another unless they were extreme IPA. I used to like an IPA, but now not so much.

Son and I were driving the SUV in town, and noticed a smell a few times. Turned out to be the orange coolant. Got home and had trouble finding the culprit leak. Looked at some YT videos, which gave me some leads. Yep, one of the hoses that goes from the water pump to the firewall turns out to be notorious for leaking. I was able to get one ordered, and a new thermostat, and both are to be delivered today. So Popgadget, you and I will both be messing with hoses and fluids. It turns out, that our SUV does not have a radiator drain, nor a radiator cap. Only the external overflow tank. So you have to pull off the large hose at the bottom and all the coolant gushes out everywhere. I don't like this.

Which leads to the next problem, Walmart likes to sell antifreeze but they don't like you to bring back your old antifreeze. No one wants to take it. I guess it is more to dispose of it than what it is worth? If it is worth anything.

I'm just thankful that the coolant hose didn't burst on a trip. It has a quick connect on one end and a regular clamp on the other end. The quick connect was VERY DIFFICULT to get off. I had to break the outer connector's ring (on the old hose) to get it off, the rubber hose actually broke off easy when I first grabbed it. I will need to look close at all the hoses. Starting to guess whether to keep it or move it on.

 

[buckeyefarmer]

Buppies, hope plug wasn't plugged in when it got chewed. I recall my brothers dog chewed a hot cord once and got a surprise inside.

Was hungry for shrimp, which Sams didn't have, so ran out to Costco. I was prepared for it to be a zoo, but was less people than expected, with parking spots open.. Went for 1 thing, left with 16, and $244 poorer. But got my shrimp. Picked up a 4 pack of duracell flashlights again, comes with rechargable batteries and regular. Those will get dropped in stockings tonight.

Wife found the missing camper keys, if you remember that story..... She took something out to camper today, and put on an old wind breaker since it's 50 deg out, and they were in the pocket.

Son is heading this way from Nashville. Will be a long day for him, he might meet Santa by the time he gets here. He left late, as always..

 

[buckeyefarmer]

kyle, our county recycle center where I take my oil takes antifreeze. They also take old lead acid batteries, I have a stack of them in garage from old UPS I need to take. Still got 6 gallons of old oil to take in to be all caught up.

 

[deserteagle71]

Which leads to the next problem, Walmart likes to sell antifreeze but they don't like you to bring back your old antifreeze. No one wants to take it. I guess it is more to dispose of it than what it is worth? If it is worth anything.

Ran into the same problem when I changed coolant in my truck a while back. What to do with the old coolant? Found out that the local landfill would accept it for disposal.

 

[Kyle_in_Tex]

Anyway, we plan to go to church tonight. Not sure if I'll have the SUV done or not. Might have to take my tiny sedan with 4 people. I call the sedan "my spare tire". As I bought it for not much more than some people spend on a set of tires. I did have to replace the A/C, and put a new clutch in it, each of those jobs would have set me back at least $1500 each at a dealer. So, it is worth more to me now. LOL.

Wifey got her a new Emeril french door, multi use air fryer oven for Christmas. I bought my 20 yo daughter a new 3 ton roll around floor jack and jack stands. (her boyfriend keeps borrowing mine.) Got a few things for the kids, son a new spinning reel for a vacant pole we've had for a few years.

I pray each of you have a very Merry Christmas, and remember the reason for the season!

Prayers.

 

[Kyle_in_Tex]

Took wife to big HEB grocery store that everyone loves down here about 25 miles away. It was packed. After 3 gridlocked trips around the parking lot, I just dropped off wifey and daughter, then parked a long way away. She said she got frustrated inside the store with how jam packed it was.

I have long told her I hate going to that one, because of the crowds. She usually likes going there because of the bigger store's selections, but after yesterday, she's seeing it my way now. We can just go to the smaller version pretty much from now on.

 

[rswyan]

40F and "Fair" @ 13:00, calling for a high of 42F for the day.

Happy Birthday to FWT.

Some further progress last night before I hit the rack:

Got top plate of east stud wall nailed to the floor joists.

Last stud on the end cut to length and nailed on.

Another outlet box mounted on that stud and wire run to it.

Vacuumed off some of the original R-19 insulation and got that stuck back up on top in between the joists

More unfaced R-11 cut to length and placed between the studs.

Remainder of a polysio panel cut @ 13.5" and split in half to be placed at the top of the north wall.

Reconfigured Bessey clamps from clamps to spreaders.

On the agenda for today:

Dole out another week's worth of meds (Done)

Get that panel glued up at the top of the north wall.

Cut more unfaced fiberglass insulation and get that put up in the stud cavities.

Get more insulation added between floor joists.

One set of steel shelves moved out of the way and finish building the last section of studs for the east wall after caulking the bottom of the foam board.. Looks to be around 4' left to to do.

May have to run over to the barn and grab more 2 x 4's to finish that up.

Beyond that just see what else comes up.

Woman is out picking up the turkey from a relative which She will cook for the family Christmas meal tomorrow + doing some last minute shopping, also delivering pumpkin bread to friend/neighbor.

Tonight She will head over to another friend/neighbor's who lost her son to cancer and spend Christmas Eve with her.

Hope everyone is having a good Christmas Eve Day ...

 

[daugen]

finally home, got the car washed, surprised the line wasn't out to the street,
visited my friend in Doylestown and now plan on doing nothing.
lot of traffic out on the roads, at least a warm sunny 46

 

[ronjhall]

My 1 1/4” mallet I have been using to put things together and take apart for over 60 years. The nylon ends are pressed on. It was good to be able to make new ends

 

[daugen]

Ron, that looks like a well loved thumper.

boater visitor from Florida in shopping center lot today
I liked his nautical decoration, probably to keep from wacking shins

 

[txdon]

Took wife to big HEB grocery store that everyone loves down here about 25 miles away. It was packed. After 3 gridlocked trips around the parking lot, I just dropped off wifey and daughter, then parked a long way away. She said she got frustrated inside the store with how jam packed it was.

I have long told her I hate going to that one, because of the crowds. She usually likes going there because of the bigger store's selections, but after yesterday, she's seeing it my way now. We can just go to the smaller version pretty much from now on.

We were going to stop by the Bastrop HEB on the way back from Galveston the Monday before Thanksgiving and there was no parking for miles around. We left.

 

[Thomas]

22F cloudy.
1-3 inches snow they say for us ended up with 6",least it was fluffy snow for plowing.

Afternoon took my sweet time doing snow removal,kinda nice in a way puttering outside instead holding recliner down.

Mrs. just said nachos ready in 10mins gotta scoot get my bib.

Enjoy your evening all.

 

[Wagtail]

Good Christmas Day (Thursday) morning. [He's BEEN! HES'S BEEN!!] Overnight Low was a nippy 6.4C and it's presently just 16.6C, mostly cloudy with a fairly steady wind... it's supposed to be Summer.

Last night's service was lovely and I managed to return home, after cleaning up and locking the Church, by 0040. I woke up by 0715, having received a couple of overseas texts around 0230 & 0530.

I'll toddle over to my neighbour's in a few hours to enjoy a Christmas luncheon/drinks.

The "He's BEEN! HES'S BEEN!!" Christmas morning exclamation is a family tradition from the early 1960's, ever since my Father spent practically all night assembling a present from Santa... he'd just gone to bed when I awoke.

That's about it, take care all and have a joyous day.

 

[Looking4new]

I got all my plowing done in 3 hours today. Everybody scraped down to the ice, myself included.
If I have it figured out right, there are 86 gallons left in the 500 gallon tank and the house tank is full, as is the tractor.
I will probably order the oil for the second week in January and fill the house tank while he is pumping into the big tank.
The last time we did that it worked out good. Pumped 476 gallons into a 500 gallon tank and I filled the house tank at the same time.
The house tank isn't certified with this supplier but the big tank is (being it is brand new and not connected to the house). The driver tells me that it is none of his business where the oil goes after it hits the 500.
The way I see it, in the winter time it doesn't matter if the big tank gets full (500 gallons). It won't expand before I use at least 100 gallons of it. In the summertime neither tank is kept over 3/4 full.

 

[scott_vt]

Good Tractor Evening,
We are watching the grands while our youngest son and DIL head up the street to celebrate with our neighbors across the street from us.
Our Grand Fog Riley is relaxing with Kathleen.