Good Morning All. Happy Independence Day! 73° and partly cloudy. Looks like we're getting a cool spell here with temperature range between 72° and 93° for the next week or so. We hit 101° for the third day in a row yesterday. Hopefully the pool will cool off slightly, it was 85° when I got in about an hour ago. After making spaghetti sauce Monday, I spent some time yesterday freezing the ripe tomatoes that I still had left. Still have about three dozen ripening on the kitchen table with plenty more in the garden, although somewhat smaller due to the overall lack of ground moisture. With this cooler weather coming up, the plants might set a mid-summer crop for me. Otherwise I will have to wait for the fall for the next bounty.
Out in the train shed yesterday, I completed the shingles on the barn. I have turned my attention to weathering the copper roof on the cupola. I am trying a little "Blacken-It" solution (no longer available) to see what effect it has. Forgot to take a picture, maybe today. Attempted to get some freight delivered to my townspeople, but the engineers were a bit slow. Looks like they will have to do some work today on July 4. There's some priority container traffic that has to move as well. Might even move a unit grain train southward for export, just to keep things fluid; i.e. I always like to keep at least one empty track in staging.
Chet - Haven't really let the shingles bring me down, I knew in advance that it wasn't a quick job. I am not an advocate of "instant gratification" when it comes to modeling anyway. But they have been tedious. They look good and I am looking forward to adding weathering as soon as the cupola is in place. Regarding the second cutting of hay: that's up to Mother Nature. If I get decent rain before the end of July we'll get a second cutting around mid-September. Some years a third cutting is possible. While 2.25 bales/acre is disappointing, it's not far off the average of 3.
Now that you are retiring, you can get that damn bus on a flatcar!
It seems like I have seen you post about it for years! By the way, you
will find yourself busier after retiring for some reason. I did. And the "Honey-Do" list will get longer. But I also believe in staying busy as a way to keep the mind and body in shape. I am coming up on three years next week. Don't miss the work routine at all.
Sherrel - Phones are for talking to other people; cameras are for taking pictures!
Mike - Same thing with my dentist. Even with my completely overhauled mouth with eight implants and nine crowns, that he put in!
Justin - Ain't it the truth regarding the You Tube videos! And seeing one makes me want to see a dozen more, I have learned to "just say no". The key to a successful and early retirement (if that's what you want), isn't counting the years, but saving for it
now. Don't count exclusively on Sociable Security for retirement. (pun intended)
Jesse - That's a drag having to work today, but your attitude is why you are busy. Keep it up. That is really a good deal on the track, don't fret the delay in shipment. You can't use yet anyway!
Since my wife and kids are on vacation on the Gulf coast this week, I won't be cooking brisket or ribs today.
Had ribs last week anyway. So I took a rib-eye steak out of the freezer instead. Rib-eye and beer, yummy! While I have the charcoal going, I have a few brauts that I will cook and save for lunches later as well.
Everybody have a happy and safe 4th and don't lose any digits!
