Good Morning All. 73° and partly cloudy. Only made it to 92° yesterday, the cool front continues. Forecast is calling for scattered thunderstorms Monday and isolated thunderstorms Tuesday. What's the difference between scattered and isolated???
My foundation repair guys made it out yesterday to make some minor adjustments to the pier and beam foundation that they replaced ten years ago. Wasn't bad, they jacked up slightly at three piers (less than .5") and installed two more piers w/ short beam at an unexpected problem spot under a non-load bearing wall. An hour and fifteen minutes later and $400 lighter and they were done. Granddog was absolutely enthralled that there were four humans crawling around under the house and had to sniff each one as they came out and back under. I used to do this kind of leveling myself until it became more difficult for me to fit! After the job was done, I cooled off in the pool with a couple of beers. Hard work. Bathroom remodel contractor let us know that his helper returned safely from Mexico and that they will be back Monday to start with the tile work.
Thanks for the comments regarding yesterday's pictures,
Garry,
Johnny,
Chet,
Curt,
Sherrel, and anyone that I may have missed. Still intend to weather the barn and add some more minor details once it is "planted".
Out in the train shed, I marveled at the empty workbench, an unusual sight. I spent some time adding more ground cover to some areas along the track that I ballasted last year. It's not my next project area but I had all of the materials out already. Did some maintenance on several container well cars that have been giving me problems. Replaced some failed McHenry couplers and re-adjusted the coupler height by removing Kadee Gray washers. Repaired some upright end grabs. I am not sure how many additional McHenry's that I have on the layout, but I am at the point that I need another bulk pack of Kadee #148's. I could run a query in my freight car database to find out, but I don't think of it when I have it opened.
No mudrooms here, I just track it through the kitchen. (Willie dodges projectiles).
Johnny - The sticker shock wasn't too bad with our remodel, mainly since I had never priced these items before. $500 for a vanity with sink and no fixtures seemed reasonable and all of the different tiles didn't really add up to much. But $43 for a towel rack seemed exorbitant. My labor rate works out to about $40/hour and he pays the helper. Don't fret the time that you are spending on the lake and stream, just remember how long it took the Good Lord to do the real thing. Being able to move the cyclists is the main reason that I didn't glue them directly to the street. But that is the option of last resort if I don't find an alternative.
Greg - Sounds like you're moving right along. I like that Bar Mills fencing, I use a lot of it. Cheap and easy.
Curt - I intend to put a weather vane on the barn, hoping to find one stashed in the extra parts boxes. If not, I will find a suitable picture on the Internet and size it and print a pair of reverse copies on 65# paper to use. When I weather it, I also intend to add a lighting rod, an ever present feature on most older barns.
Chet - Landscaping looks good. I finally broke down and started buying all of my garden/landscaping tools with metal handles about seven or eight years ago. Beats the old yearly application of Neatsfoot Oil to the handles which didn't really seem to add many years to their life. Of course if I'd remembered to put them away every time that I used them, that might have helped.
Everybody have a great day and a good upcoming weekend. Wife returns tomorrow and surprisingly I really don't have much to straighten up. She'll find something to comment on anyway.
