The Coffee House

MartinCrabtree · Jun 5, 2026

My long term doctor recently retired due to back issues and surgery required. I am on my second try at a large system. First one was a total disaster. This one seems to be more on the ball.

Even my old doctor used PA and CPRN so he could lighten the load on him as he aged. Never had a problem with them.

jeffashman · Jun 5, 2026

Good afternoon, Hosers! Well, life could get really exciting for folks here in North Texas. A system is expected to come through later tonight and dump rain at the rate of 2" per hour. That is a LOT of water. I'm just glad we are on the top of the ridge, and not closer to the lake downhill, because the downhill streets are going to turn into torrents. If I lived on that street, I'd move my car somewhere else, because that hydraulic pressure is going to move some of those cars. Guess it will be another weekend on not being able to go out with the camersa. Stay dry folks!

nerwin · Jun 8, 2026

Why Hello.

It's a been a while. I sometimes occasionally pop in and see what's going on but I haven't posted anything. Work has been going on, but I am ready for a vacation. Planning on taking a solo trip to Maine for a few days. Looking for suggestions

I haven't done much photography to be honest. Full time job and then projects that need to get done, I need time to rest and it's been hard picking up the camera now. It feels kind of Alien to me. I still want to, I just need to find better way to balance everything. Even if I go to Maine, I'm not sure if I WANT to actually take photos and rather just enjoy the time off. Although, I may consider shooting film.

Anyways. Just got a pair of new work boots. Sharing them because I just need to validate myself and justify myself for spending nearly $300 on boots

They sure are purdy though!

snowbear · Jun 8, 2026

Welcome back.
There are lots of places to go anvd things to see, it just depends on what you want. Plenty of coastal villages, though some will be crowded; Old Port; mountains; lakes; the North Woods. If you end up near Lewiston/Auburn, give me a shout.

MartinCrabtree · Jun 8, 2026

nerwin said:
Why Hello.

It's a been a while. I sometimes occasionally pop in and see what's going on but I haven't posted anything. Work has been going on, but I am ready for a vacation. Planning on taking a solo trip to Maine for a few days. Looking for suggestions

I haven't done much photography to be honest. Full time job and then projects that need to get done, I need time to rest and it's been hard picking up the camera now. It feels kind of Alien to me. I still want to, I just need to find better way to balance everything. Even if I go to Maine, I'm not sure if I WANT to actually take photos and rather just enjoy the time off. Although, I may consider shooting film.

Anyways. Just got a pair of new work boots. Sharing them because I just need to validate myself and justify myself for spending nearly $300 on boots

View attachment 297353

They sure are purdy though!

I wear Danner Made in USA boots these days. Used to wear Italian hiking boots too. I'm wearing Danner Fort Lewis today. I have a couple thousand in boots/shoes around the house. Dad grew up a Depression child and never had good footwear so he made sure I always had good shoes and it stuck with me. Take care of 'em and they last years. Had a pair of hiking boots that lasted 13 years before they became beyond repair.

jeffashman · Jun 8, 2026

Howdy Folks! Happy Monday! What a weekend! The rain came down hard, although I'm not sure it was a sustained 2"/hour, but it was enough that the water came up on the front entryway and managed to soak the welcome mat and leave a pile of leaves to let us know just how close it got. I really need to go down to the Lakeside trail to see if it under water, but now it is 90F/32C and extremely humid, pushing the heat index above 100F/38C. It will be hot and muggy through the rest of the week, and then more rain on the weekend (of course) and into next week. I think the drought is done around here...

snowbear · Jun 8, 2026

Currently 75/24, partly cloudy. Not much happened today, other than some housework.

I have one outside faucet on the side of the house but need water to both front and back, so I put on a small gated-wye and run two hoses. I have one of those boxes with the hose reel inside but put it in front so it wasn't taking up space in the driveway. I ran a 25-ft/7.6-m hose under the porch to the hose reel. The hose for the back just lays on the ground bedise the hopuse to the deck. It's not quite long enough so I grabbed one we brought up from MD and hooked them together. I put teflon tape on all the fittings and am using brass quick connectors.

I want to power wash the deck, before too long, but I couldn't take the nozzle off the hose extention for the back. Penetrating oil didn't work and sinv=ce it'sa rubber hose, I didn't want to use a torch. I ended up using the Dremel with a cutting wheel, a grinder bit, and ultimately a hamme to break it off. The hose fittings are brass and the nozzle was aluminum so I guess galvonic corrosion froze it on. I still need to wire-brush the threads to clean it up. Only brass for me, from now on.

Eventually I want to run PVC pipe to the dock for washing and watering.

Zoe brought us a present the other day (at 4:15 AM). Unfortunately she insisted on playing with it and it got away. She's 2 and 2.

Rickbb · Jun 8, 2026

nerwin said:
Why Hello.

It's a been a while. I sometimes occasionally pop in and see what's going on but I haven't posted anything. Work has been going on, but I am ready for a vacation. Planning on taking a solo trip to Maine for a few days. Looking for suggestions

I haven't done much photography to be honest. Full time job and then projects that need to get done, I need time to rest and it's been hard picking up the camera now. It feels kind of Alien to me. I still want to, I just need to find better way to balance everything. Even if I go to Maine, I'm not sure if I WANT to actually take photos and rather just enjoy the time off. Although, I may consider shooting film.

Anyways. Just got a pair of new work boots. Sharing them because I just need to validate myself and justify myself for spending nearly $300 on boots

View attachment 297353

They sure are purdy though!

You can never go wrong buying a good pair of boots.

CherylL · Jun 11, 2026

This week is house maintenance week. The A/C guy was out for the checkup and there may be a slight leak with the upstairs unit. Just keep an eye on it. We hired an independent guy to install a new ceiling fan. My husband doesn't do ladders at 75 anymore. Today our plumber is changing out the kitchen faucet and servicing the tankless hot water heater.

I am working on making the 3yo grand a birthday card. I make cards for all of the grands and incorporated their photo with the #. I used a little AI and layers with masks in PS. This is the front of the card and will be folded in the middle.

snowbear · Jun 11, 2026

It's hot again today, so taking it easy with doors and windows open, and running the ceiling fans. It does coll down at night so I'm not in a hurry to turn on the AC units.

Last night Zoe caught three more mice at about 11:00 pm, 2:30 am and 4:30 am. The baby girl is 5 and 2!

cgw · Jun 11, 2026

From tundra to tropics in these parts in a few short months. When nothing's any longer expected of me today, it's cold Hacker Pschorr beer and Absolut from the freezer--used therapeutically, of course!

SquarePeg · Jun 11, 2026

Sharkey the lifeguard is smiling so summer must have arrived! Today’s weather sunny and 86°

KJ_North · Jun 12, 2026

Well the countdown is really on now. My wife and i are taking our first ever Cruise on the Azamara Onward. Adults only , luxury style cruise. here is a pic of the ship and the cruise map. We board in Monte Carlo on the 18th. It is definitely a "Bucket List" trip for us.

SquarePeg · Jun 12, 2026

KJ_North said:
Well the countdown is really on now. My wife and i are taking our first ever Cruise on the Azamara Onward. Adults only , luxury style cruise. here is a pic of the ship and the cruise map. We board in Monte Carlo on the 18th. It is definitely a "Bucket List" trip for us.
View attachment 297441 View attachment 297442

Can’t wait to see your photos and hear all about the cruise. Please post a review. I’m definitely interested in doing something like this in the near future. Would love to know what you think of it.