Good Morning All. Happy Independence Day, or Fourth of July. Cloudy and 75° to start our day here in North Central Texas.
A couple of breakfast burritos here this morning, Flo. The ones with sausage, potato, egg and cheese, with a bowl full of spicy salsa to make them kick a$$.
Spent yesterday morning at Lowe's getting the new toilet for the final phase of the long-delayed bathroom remodel. Managed to remove the old one but didn't get it into the dumpster yet. Need to flag down a passing neighbor to help me lift it that high. Worst case is that I could separate the tank from the bowl and do it myself. New one is awaiting installation Friday. Most of the rest of the day was occupied with laundry and mowing. Today will see a return to mowing early, then help my wife get ready for her early vacation with the kids for the next ten days; and finally an evening of fireworks and food/beer at my brother's house in Dallas. He lives across the street from a country club that has an impressive display every Independence Day. Starting tomorrow, I'll be "home alone" for ten days except for the granddog who I will be taking care of. It's a regular thing and gives my wife and I a break from one another. It's usually an opportunity for me to do a "surprise" project around the house; especially since I don't have to pick up the tools and clean up each evening, just once after all is done.
Thanks for all of the positive comments and likes regarding the fence/scenery progress;
Dave, Sherrel, Chet, Tom, Jerome, Dave in PV, Phil, Patrick, Ken, Curt, Justin.
No real progress yesterday in the train shed. I got some things done, butt not to the picture taking stage yet.
So how about some more freight car loads. I run a unit scrap train from end-to-end with 15 cars. Here's a few gondola loads of scrap, all homemade. First up is an antique Athearn Blue Box kit from about 30 years ago.
Another Athearn car, just as old, but I purchased it in 1994.
This KCS gondola is a Roundhouse kit also at least thirty years old.
Chet - This InstaFence is a great product. I have no connection to Bar Mills, just really like their products. Much easier to use than stripwood fences, and looks just as good. They can be "stressed" with broken or missing boards, and boards can be made to misalign as needed with a little thought in advance.
Sherrel - On my layout, HOA stands for Home Owners Anarchy. Enjoy the birthday party. BTW, to add to your "
Lessons I have learned about retirement ", Sleeping eight hours a night
can become the norm, although interrupted by more numerous potty breaks.
Beady - Amusing story. Glad that it wasn't something more serious.
Greg - What's in the hands of the man along the waterside?
Mike - Wish that I could send some of our heat your way. It's not that I mind it, I've lived in this area 58 years (after living in Brooklyn) so I am used to it. I just wish that our rainfall was more evenly distributed. Our spring was overly wet, with 85% of our yearly average already recorded, and we most likely won't see any measurable rain until October, although there have been exceptions.
Terry - Sad about MAD magazine. Best wishes for your back recovery. Too bad about the meds though.
The farmer next door plowed up his just harvested wheat field Tuesday, so maybe my neighbors who regularly spend over $1000 on fireworks will send them in that direction this year instead of starting the usual grass fire in their yard. He has started a few in his dad's pasture downwind next to his before as well. I'm safe because I have a lot of acreage of green hay planted between them and me and it is hard to burn right now.
Everybody have a great day and an awesome holiday weekend if you get it.
sorry, sorry! 
