Good Morning All. Mostly clear and 69°. Another pleasant morning here. Wind is still out of the north, holding yesterday's high to just 90°, looking at the same today and tomorrow before summer returns Thursday with an expected high of 99° through the middle of the month at least.
Finished mowing the east side of the yard as well as the entire backyard around the pool and over to the train shed yesterday. That was another 3/4 acre out of the way. Had to stop halfway through and replace a wheel bearing on the tractor. I am still not sure why they keep disintegrating on me, the grease has been applied profusely. That's the third one in 2 1/2 years. I am out of spares and have ordered more, and I have ordered a new axle end for replacement the next time I have to take it apart. I already replaced the tie rod on that side about two months ago. I am going to make a trip to Home Depot today. I need to purchase a 2"x12"x8' treated board. The only step to the back porch has split lengthwise and I'll need to replace it before my wife's knee replacement later this month; which has now been moved forward to the 20th. Nothing like a deadline.
Western omelet with a high stack of sausage patties for me this morning Flo. Heavy on the Tabasco! No toast today.
Thanks to all who liked or commented on my progress post yesterday;
Patrick, Sherrel, Chad, Guy, Jerome, James, Chet, Tom O, Hughie, Phil, Mikeknuckey, Curt, Bunker, Justin, Karl, Tom.
Not a lot of activity modelingwise yesterday in the train shed. I did overhaul all of the TOFC equipment, before I need to. Six total cars. All of them already had metal wheels and I only had to trade out one set of McHenry couplers. I re-glued two bridge plates that I had added a few days ago, using CA this time. I did not get to either of the infrastructure projects that I wanted to start, but that will come soon enough. Back porch step is first.
So I reviewed a couple of projects that I did earlier this year and took some new pictures. Some of you more recent visitors may not have seen these and others might enjoy seeing them again.
First is Majestic Hardware, a laser-cut structure from Bar Mills.
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Next door is Ma & Pa Kettle enjoying grilled burgers and a beer or two in front of their trailer.
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Guy - I like what you have done to the walls. I should do that more often than I do. Good luck fishing today.
Sherrel -
I like the idea of a driver climbing into the truck. It would be an interesting project. Do you still have my address?
Continued prayers for Kate from me and Arlene.
Chet - Before those MR's go into a box, (I have several already), I will review them and make notes of articles, issues, pages etc., of articles that I want to reference in the future. Intermixed with them are several issues of Trains as well. I have actually dug out some past issues before, based on my notes.
Mowing here in the heat isn't too bad if I have a decent breeze. Otherwise I have to stop too often for a visit in the pool. I do like that mower that
Karl posted though.
Greg - When I run my Centerline car, I use 91% alcohol. I follow it with a car that is outfitted with a felt pad to remove any residue. Thankfully I don't have to do track cleaning very often, I just do it occasionally as a precautionary measure. Ahead of the engine in the cleaning train is a Masonite car.
Your winter tales make me so glad that I don't have to deal with that s**t here.
Thankfully I have never had my credit card, only one now, AMEX, compromised. Whether it be luck or the watchful eye of AMEX, I don't know. While I am extremely careful, it will happen some day. None of us are immune to the scum that perpetrate these kinds of crime.
Today is the U.S. Coast Guard Birthday, that perennially forgotten service branch. Happy Birthday and thanks to all past and present members.
Everyone have a great day.