Good Morning All. 77° and cloudy, more of the same weather today with the high reaching 99°, as it has for the last three weeks. We have a rather boring weather pattern here every summer, I think that most weathermen actually are on vacation and they just repeat the same old forecast from June 15 through August 31. Wife left yesterday for her annual "vacation without Willie" to the Texas Gulf Coast. It's actually a vacation for both of us, as I usually can get some messy home projects accomplished without having to clean up the mess until I'm done; as opposed to every day.
Got all of the parts to repair the tractor yesterday, so it's ready to go this morning. My 75 yo neighbor cut half of my hayfield yesterday before calling it a day. His limit in the tractor is about three hours at a time, his son usually does part of it. Looks like it's an average yield of three round bales/acre right now, but I won't know for sure until it gets baled next week. In rainy years, it can reach six bales/acre. No buzzards congregating anywhere, so I guess that all of the rabbits dashed out of the way.
Some progress in the train shed, managed to add the interior details to the barn. I also got the copper roofing on the barn cupola and the first eight rows of Campbell shingles on it. As I posted yesterday, this is the first time that I have used Campbell paper shingles on a structure. It will be the last.
I need to search my parts box to see if I can come up with a wind vane. I might have to scratchbuild one. Next I'll look for some pictures to see if I can duplicate some average weathering, starting with a shot of Dull Coat.
Chet - I do agree regarding tracks/trains running through the scenery, although I also have some track at the layout edge. The most prominent are the two stacked turn back loops where it is unavoidable. Hope that the jaw is feeling better soon.
You posted about outsiders moving in to your area and then wanting to make it like the area that they just escaped from. Fortunately we don't have that issue here, yet. Our isolation and sometimes inhospitable weather deters most city dwellers and "northerners" from staying. Some "ranchette" developments about eight miles away seem to have about a 30% vacancy based on the for sale signs always present. After eighteen months, many newcomers leave. The landowner/farmer/rancher across the road from me recently purchased an additional 2000 acres adjoining the 1540 that he already owns over there, totally intending to maintain its current condition, so no worries here.
Sherrel - It's not your computer weather, it's your state. Governor Moonbeam just wants longer days, so that's what he tells people, disregarding reality. Start your HOA letters with
"RV, what RV? Somebody's hallucinating!" and enclose a picture of the empty street. I have heard and read many horror stories about out of control HOA's, especially regarding flags and memorials.
Karl - Good to see you posting again.
Curt - Thankfully my store visiting stamina is greater than my wife's, so most of our forays together are short, except for the trip to get anywhere. She has knee issues and has chosen to complain rather than look at replacement. It seems that you have really taken a liking to these laser-cut wood structures in the last two years or so. It seems that I remember you posting about your first one some time in 2016, or am I thinking of someone else?
Beady - I watch the world go by from the pool, thus killing two birds with one stone, relaxing and cooling off. I also situated my modeling workbench in front of a large window in the train shed so I can watch Mother Nature's creatures from the A/C.
Phil - Good to read that conditions were good enough in the garage to run some trains.
Ken (D&J) - We're hoping that the rain you encountered in NM makes it this far east by tomorrow morning. 40% chance by the predictors. Enjoy your time with
Sherrel, my wife and I enjoyed the visit that he and Kate made here on his cross country sojourn. Continue to have a safe ride.
Terry - Sure looks like a nice campground. If it weren't for all those campers, your photo would make an excellent backdrop photo...it might still be useful.
Wow! It's almost 10:00. I may have to go straight to the train shed and skip mowing this morning, especially since it's now 81°.
Everybody have a great day.