The Coffee House

smoke665 · Sep 30, 2025

nerwin said:
I'm pretty sure @smoke665 can attest to that.

Yup gets used almost daily. I almost shelled out for one of the sickle bar attachments for the FEL, that would be really handy for trimming limbs along the fire lanes, but the reviews weren't great, looks a little light for limbs. Don't think my Kubota hydraulic pump has enough capacity to handle a hydraulic bush hog for the FEL.

snowbear · Sep 30, 2025

Our place isn't very big, about 3/4 acre with a nice grassy lawn in the middle but bushes and trees along each side. I want to eliminate the invasive and nuisance stuff (nightshade, rosa multiflora, woodbine/virginia creeper, thistle). There is also some flowering rush along the shore but it is in the water, so technically belongs to the State. I still may try to pull it out since the pond has beed drained until Spring for the dam rebuild.

nerwin · Sep 30, 2025

smoke665 said:
Yup gets used almost daily. I almost shelled out for one of the sickle bar attachments for the FEL, that would be really handy for trimming limbs along the fire lanes, but the reviews weren't great, looks a little light for limbs. Don't think my Kubota hydraulic pump has enough capacity to handle a hydraulic bush hog for the FEL.

I seen some of those, I think those bush hogs are better suited for skid steers as they have much higher hydraulic flow. But I have seen some attach them to FEL for light duty stuff and it worked well. But anything too hard and it's like nope.

smoke665 · Sep 30, 2025

nerwin said:
seen some of those, I think those bush hogs are better suited for skid steers as they have much higher hydraulic flow

They make an auxiliary pump and reservoir that's powered by the PTO. Let's you run high flow attachments.

smoke665 · Sep 30, 2025

@snowbear you can rent equipment to do the job fairly reasonable.

VidThreeNorth · Oct 2, 2025

Frustrating Missed Opportunity For Astro
Lately, after 21:00 it's already dark enough for astro. Getting started as late as 22:00 would not be bad. Unfortunately, if I'm not busy that late, I've gotten into the habit of dozing off. This happened tonight and I woke up at after 1:00 AM. That's too late for me to start. I expect to run time-lapses for over 2 hours. I don't want to be fiddling with my camera equipment after 3:00 AM.

snowbear · Oct 2, 2025

There's been aurora activity, visible even in Portland with all the lights. Last night I saw it on a webcame at Rangely Lake (70.65W, 44.97N), in the western part of Maine. We may not see it at home due to houses but it would be worth a short road trip.

smoke665 · Oct 5, 2025

After 46 yrs of marriage to a wonderful cook I've accepted the fact she can't make dumplings or biscuits. Thankfully before she passed my MIL taught me to make dumplings, and through much trial & error I've finally learned to make decent biscuits. This morning's batch wasn't perfect yet, but its getting there. DW downed hers with no complaints

VidThreeNorth · Oct 5, 2025

Lily Allen "Aright, Still . . . "
Back around 2006 there was a singer Lily Allen who put out this CD-ROM, and it was priced at $15.99. Back then, I didn't know that. And I didn't buy the CD-ROM. At least I didn't buy it at that time. At some later date, the CD-ROM went on sale at an HMV store, and I did buy it at "2 for $24". I bought it, but I didn't open it. It got set aside, and moved around, and gathered dust, etc.

Anyway, I ran across this old CD-ROM (and a couple of others) and decided to open it. And it's actually ok. I don't think that this "Lily Allen" person got very famous. I don't feel hugely bad about all this because I'm sure I paid for the CD-ROM, and that's all I owe anybody. Still, I wonder if I could have made a difference if I'd listened to it sooner? Maybe I would have mentioned it to somebody. Meh. . .

SquarePeg · Oct 7, 2025

Hi all. I hope everyone is enjoying the change over to fall weather. It’s been unseasonably warm here and I’m not happy about it! Heading up to Acadia NP tomorrow for the holiday weekend so I’m hoping it will be much cooler up there. The New England foliage has been lackluster this year sadly. We are in the midst of a drought and many of the trees have gone right into brown and crispy mode. Today I will be packing and cleaning - even Miss Harlie is getting a groom. Bringing her on the trip and she’s been pretty stinky lately so need to address that before we spend 4.5 hours in the car with her.

I’ve only been to Acadia/Bar Harbor twice and it was many years ago. can’t wait to explore!

cgw · Oct 7, 2025

smoke665 said:
After 46 yrs of marriage to a wonderful cook I've accepted the fact she can't make dumplings or biscuits. Thankfully before she passed my MIL taught me to make dumplings, and through much trial & error I've finally learned to make decent biscuits. This morning's batch wasn't perfect yet, but its getting there. DW downed hers with no complaints

Check out the King Arthur Baker's Companion. Xmas approacheth...

jeffashman · Oct 7, 2025

cgw said:
Check out the King Arthur Baker's Companion. Xmas approacheth...

I keep meaning to get a copy of their recipes.

smoke665 · Oct 7, 2025

cgw said:
Check out the King Arthur Baker's Companion. Xmas approacheth...

Im sure there's some good stuff there, but in the south no respectable biscuit maker would use anything but White Lilly and Southern Living is is the gold standard of recipes. :icon_biggrin:

snowbear · Oct 7, 2025

MLSIL is having her colostomy reversal surgery on Friday. MLW and Lazy Lobster will come in Thursday night, and I will go back home with Lazy Lobster on Sunday. I'll be driving the loaded trailer up, so taking the long way around, bypassing NYC.

We have a contract on the Maryland house. It's a cash offer, a bit less than we had hoped but since we are selling "as is" I really can't complain. Closing will be near the end of next week but I've been told I don't have to physically be here, so I'll stay home in Maine while MLW stays with her sister. I'll probably train down when MLSIL is able to travel to Maine, and help MLW drive back up.