Good Morning Everybody. It's clear and a chilly 46° to start the day here, going up 40° to a high of 86° later today. Only hit 71° yesterday. We're headed into a cooler period coming up, after tomorrow, the high temperature isn't going above 70° for the next ten days or so. Possible rain on Tuesday and Friday. I guess that I'm not quite done with the firewood yet.
A ho-hum day here yesterday, as I did some hoeing in the garden after the watering Thursday, mowed about half an acre on the north side around the train shed and pond, and trimmed some more firewood and kindling to add to next years supply. I'm still concerned about a few of my 35 year old trees that haven't budded out yet, perhaps it's the lack of rainfall. One oak, one ash and one honeylocust. The worst case scenario is that the ash will have to be professionally dismantled, the other two are in locations that I can deal with.
A pair of extra large breakfast burritos should start my day just fine Francine. Tell Mel to skip the hash-browns and just use sausage, egg and cheese.
Thanks for all of the likes and comments received yesterday regarding the ongoing layout tour;
Tom O, Joe, Guy, Karl, Hughie, Rick, Gary, Jerry, Phil, Jaz, Ken, Garry, Alan, Sherrel. They are always appreciated.
Yesterday out in the train shed, I continued with adding weeds to the grade crossing scene and I weathered the newer part of the crossing.
View attachment 126845
From there I will move over to the left of the pawn shop and fill in the area between it and the deli.
View attachment 126846
I am basically envisioning a parking area up front with a "junk" area next to the track. The backstory is that this used to be a through street until the railroad and city closed it off to reduce crossings.
On the other side of the layout room, cleaning and inspection continued. I realized that I had skipped one residence in the picture display of a trailer north of the rooming house, across from the propane distributor.
View attachment 126848
View attachment 126849
If I recall correctly, the trailer is a resin model from Nu-Comp, now defunct. Seems like I may have bumped it to the left when I was taking pictures which is why the steps don't line up with the door.
Then working south from the Saw Pit Store, we come upon a few homes. This first one is half of an older DPM "Gold" kit that I don't remember the name of.
View attachment 126850
View attachment 126851
Figures are by Woodland Scenics.
This red house is a Grandt Line Company House, with a scratchbuilt dog house.
View attachment 126852
The dog peeing on the potted plant also came from a Woodland Scenics offering.
Then we have another NuComp trailer.
View attachment 126853
These are hand-painted figures including dog are from a Preiser offering with 120 unpainted ones.
The street for these homes is off the layout about 2"
Guy -
That's the main reason that I don't attach any structures to the layout. I can take them to the workbench and clean/vacuum them there. I don't really consider it an annoyance; I knew what I was going to have to deal with before I built the layout. And then I get an opportunity with every structure to add weathering or details in some way. Sometimes I just re-position figures. They don't always get enhanced when I am doing the cleaning project, but thoughts get added to the "list", so that I remember them as small side projects to fill in when needed. For example, I am going to add another figure to the rooming house, but to make it more plausible I need another vehicle out front since Uber didn't exist in my layout era. That's another reason tof the cleanup being spread out on a two-year schedule.
Tom O - Timers are an important part of my cooking adventures. Don't ask how I know this!
Terry - Somewhat positive news about Marie. I am not sure about nursing homes as I have limited experience with them. Is home care an option? I had a lady working for me that had dialysis ports and she still worked four days a week. She lived at home by herself so as not to be a burden on her kids (other than rides), and the actual dialysis was done at a clinic near her home in the evening three days a week. Of course this was the very large city of Dallas where those services are more readily available. Good luck with whatever decision that the two of y'all make. Continued positive thoughts and prayers are coming your way.
Today is National Eight Track Tape Day, I don't know why we need a day for that. Thankfully I skipped that phase (as well as cassettes) and went from albums to CD's.
Everybody have a great Sunday and go to the church of your choice. Keep wearing that mask and make people think that you're responsible.