The Coffee House

[Digger...]

Found'em, they were zipped up in the armrest of the recliner. Off to feed some birds at the wetlands reserve now...

 

[SquarePeg]

Howdy Peeps! Got back on the bicycle for the first time since my son Daniel passed. 90F and 54% humidity made it quite the ride. 8.8 miles RT, 118 FT elevation gain, 1:28:52 time at 6mph average, 145 bpm average heart rate/160bmp maximum, and I didn't die.

Good for you. It’s hard to get back into things like that after a break. When Princess was young and ready to ride I bought myself a bike so we could go together on some local bike paths. OMG was my fatass not ready for that. How in the world did we ride for hours all over the city when I was younger? (Picture the Stranger Things gang in a city and that was my childhood).

I picked up the kayaks, Friday evening. Two 12-foot kayaks don't easily fit into a 5-1/2-foot truck bed. We had to stop and reload them after a few minutes and add some bungee cords at the sterns. It took a while to get home, since I wasn't going on highways, but stopping and checking them a couple times revealed they were secure.

When we got home, I backed the truck intop the side yard and pulled them off. I jest left them in the back, figuring I'd get to the storage rack yesterday and today. When I took the first one off, rather than just drag it of the truck, I tried to flip it pover. Unfortunately I blew out a shoulder so no rack building today. I did try to install the bed rails but that didn't get beyond taking the rails and tools to the truck.

Maybe I'll paint something.

Oh boy! I have kayaked a couple of times and I enjoyed it, but I definitely can’t lift a kayak on and off of a roof rack. My friend Cheryl has been using one of those blowup kayaks. The inflator pump plugs right into your car and it doesn’t take up as much space and it’s lighter weight -obviously! When I retire, I may have to get one of those.

Speaking of retirement…

I recently accepted a retirement buyout offer at work. I was planning on retiring in 2.5 years and this buyout gets me almost there. I will find out in 2 weeks what my last day of work will be. Could be as early as September or as late as March. I'm excited!! May or may not eventually find some part time work…

Yep, and needed for other things as well. I had a Ford Ranger pickup (1980m brought it new) with a bed cap. The bed was a little linger and the cap had ladder racks, so I could just toss the canoe on the racks, tie it down with a couple three-foot bungee cords, run lines to front and rear bumbers and I was good to go. I even drilled the front bumper and put a couple eye bolds in for tying down.

Once the rails are in, I can install the Billie Bar rack in the bed. It has eight-inch risers so I can still roll up the tonneau cover and slotted cross rails. I also ordered a seven-inch riser for the front rail that's intended for a kayak mount (the boss gave me two pairs with the 'yaks). That will be enough for the kayak to clear the roof. I just need to come up with a decent tie point for the front. I have tow hooks but they are open ant "point" thje wrong way. I'll either put some eye-bolts in the bumper (the metal part) or do like another Gladiator owner did and fashion a tie point into the hood latches. I seem to have some tine since I won't actually go paddleing until after I take the class (end of August).

MLSIL and MLW found another housein ME. Built in 1805 but recently rehabbed. MLW fell in love with the double oven. My only issue is no garage and the back yard is a bit small for building one. We'd also have to check on any historiic preservation rules (within town boundary). We'll check when we go up on vacation in a few weeks. If still available, we'll take a tour and go from there.

You can put a double oven in any house you buy. Adding a new oven is so much easier than building a garage. And you’ll need one! I converted my garage into a suite for my mom and while I love having her here, not having a garage is a real pita in New England. Not even for car storage but for all the other things you keep in your garage! You can’t change the amount of land or the location.

 

[snowbear]

Oh boy! I have kayaked a couple of times and I enjoyed it, but I definitely can’t lift a kayak on and off of a roof rack. My friend Cheryl has been using one of those blowup kayaks. The inflator pump plugs right into your car and it doesn’t take up as much space and it’s lighter weight -obviously! When I retire, I may have to get one of those.

Speaking of retirement…

I recently accepted a retirement buyout offer at work. I was planning on retiring in 2.5 years and this buyout gets me almost there. I will find out in 2 weeks what my last day of work will be. Could be as early as September or as late as March. I'm excited!! May or may not eventually find some part time work…


You can put a double oven in any house you buy. Adding a new oven is so much easier than building a garage. And you’ll need one! I converted my garage into a suite for my mom and while I love having her here, not having a garage is a real pita in New England. Not even for car storage but for all the other things you keep in your garage! You can’t change the amount of land or the location.

Congrat's on your pending retirement! I have between five and eleven months, depending on if anyone really pisses me off. The only close inlaw left that we would even consider letting move in is MLSIL who will be with us, anyway. I can imagine not having a garage would be a pain. I'm still thinking about a boat for (freshwater) fishing but I couldn't pass up the deal on the yaks.

 

[cgw]

A good friend just lost "Padraig," an affable Irish Wolfhound with a taste for Ontario lamb and Quebec lambic beer. A big happy lug to the end.

View attachment 278066

Friends outside Belleville, Ontario raise Scottish Deerhounds and offer me a pup every few years...Jeesh, giant breeds, vet bills, more dog than house at present. Still, these big guys would fit in at the family ruin dozing by the fire. Tempted.

 

[Digger...]

Im finding it really hard for conversations on here, seems like all these forums are all the same. Basically talking to yourself and 2 & 3 word responses if that. Hmm.

 

[terri]

Today is a sad day for us, it marks the anniversary of our dear Sadie Mae unexpected passing. Many might remember she was featured here several times. Loved posing so much that we had to close the door to the studio when we were shooting someone, or she'd be right there in the shot. She was the all around best ever, my constant companion for whatever we were up to be it a great hunter in the field, some silly getup in studio, or snuggled up on my lap. RIP girl.
fall old master look.jpg by William Raber, on Flickr

Great shot of her. Of course we remember Sadie Mae - a canine ham in front of the camera if ever there was one! She always seemed to know what you were after. No doubt you still miss her.

 

[smoke665]

Im finding it really hard for conversations on here, seems like all these forums are all the same. Basically talking to yourself and 2 & 3 word responses if that. Hmm.

It's the "coffee house", imagine you're setting around a large table with several people all talking at the same time. Sometimes you get a word in, sometimes you get drowned out. Just jump in.

 

[snowbear]

Ay yuh. (2)
That means yes. (3)

 

[jeffashman]

Im finding it really hard for conversations on here, seems like all these forums are all the same. Basically talking to yourself and 2 & 3 word responses if that. Hmm.

Yup...

 

[jeffashman]

I recently accepted a retirement buyout offer at work.

Congratulations! I'm trying to hang on for another six to seven years before I make the jump into the retirement waters.

 

[Rickbb]

Im finding it really hard for conversations on here, seems like all these forums are all the same. Basically talking to yourself and 2 & 3 word responses if that. Hmm.

Sometimes a word or two is all that's needed, others an essay. If you are looking for something more in depth, start a thread of what's on your mind you want to discuss. You know, unlike your post of only 2 sentences, (not counting the hmmm).

 

[smoke665]

@Rickbb

 

[CherylL]

Speaking of retirement…

I recently accepted a retirement buyout offer at work. I was planning on retiring in 2.5 years and this buyout gets me almost there. I will find out in 2 weeks what my last day of work will be. Could be as early as September or as late as March. I'm excited!! May or may not eventually find some part time work…

Congrats! If in September just in time for the Fall leaves changing your area. Start planning your photo adventures when you get a set date.

 

[SquarePeg]

Congratulations! I'm trying to hang on for another six to seven years before I make the jump into the retirement waters.

I’m exiting early because I maybe want to do something else and to travel while I’m still young enough to enjoy it. Also my company made a very generous offer and I would essentially be working 2 yrs for free if I pass it up! Since I was looking to retire in 2.5 years, this is a no brainer.

 

[Digger...]

but I definitely can’t lift a kayak on and off of a roof rack.

Theres rollers you can suction cup to the car boot lid and the rear window, the only lifting is getting the bow on & off the boot lid and the rest is just pushing and pulling craft onto the roof racks.