santafewillie
Same Ol' Buzzard
Good Morning All. Happy Independence Day. It's cloudy here and 73°, evidence of overnight rain. Since I didn't empty the gauge yesterday, the combined from yesterday and overnight is 0.45". Most of yesterday's rain fell just as we were leaving for the weekly grocery trek. High yesterday was 88°, expecting 84° today and morning showers tomorrow. These cooler temperatures should persist until mid-week.
Grocery trek yesterday went well, additional stop at Total Wines for restocking. No crowds at either place at that time of morning. Cannot believe that we got out of the grocery store for just $110 when beer was one of the purchases. Gasoline around town was still in the $2.59 to $2.64/gal range; a 4th of July gift from Big Oil!
Around the SFW estate, the pool water temperature has dropped to 86° due to all of the cloudy days lately. I picked Yellow Squash from the garden. And I did not mow, should have but the grass was too wet from the morning rain. Same right now and I'll be otherwise occupied this afternoon with the grill.
I didn't hear any fireworks last night before I took out the hearing aids; once out, forget about it! Remember that I was sleeping through a tornado last year and my wife had to wake me up to head for the safe room. Didn't notice any either when I went out to turn off the pool filter after dark. Most of my neighbors wait until tonight anyway. It will be a perfect night as the ground will be wet (minimizes grass fires) and there is supposed to be only very light winds. Clouds will minimize the moonlight.
Well, my news and information sources just shrunk by one. I used to access the CNN website for their take on the current news, but they are now behind a paywall. An already losing news site is about to lose more viewers. There's plenty of other sources that I can use. Like Dave, I am frugal and I will not pay for otherwise free web content! I only used them to get their perspective on current events, I rarely agreed with them.
Out in the train shed yesterday, I started my quarterly cleaning project. For all of you newcomers, let me explain. I have my layout divided into 8 sections, each roughly containing 40' of main line and accompanying passing sidings and industry trackage, split on two levels. All total, it's about 1300'. A few years ago, I started on a rotating cleaning schedule where I do one section (about 1/4 of either level) at the beginning of each calendar quarter, and proceed sequentially until all of it is done. Takes two years before I repeat a section. First is visual inspection of all roadbed, usually takes the first day. Next I will clean the track with a non-abrasive track cleaner. This isn't that hard as my track doesn't really get too dirty to begin with. After vacuuming, I then take each structure over to the workbench for dusting, cobweb removal, repair if needed and in some cases I improve by adding more details or figures. Vehicles are also done that way, and several are switched around for new scenic variety. Rolling stock is moved out of the way for the track portions, but is usually not removed. That is a separate project every 5-6 years, or whenever I see an issue.
This spreads the work out and takes me about a week to 10 days for each section. It is not a constant project, as I run trains and do other stuff like paint figures or make trees while all of this is going on.
Yesterday I did the visual inspection on the third quarter of the upper level. It comprises one town and it's accompanying industrial district with six switching locations. There's four other industries located along the second passing siding in town. I did not finish. This section being on the second level requires me to use a step-stool to look directly down on the track nearest the backdrop and in the center of the turnback loop where it's industrial district is located. Moving it around and clambering up and down takes extra time! Here's an older overall view of that turnback loop. There's been a couple of changes since this picture was taken in 2021.
I'll finish the visual inspection next before starting on the track cleaning.
Kusojiji -
Deacon - Thanks for the warning about Reapercon!
We go to the Houlihan's restaurant on site occasionally, and we'll have to avoid it that week. I already have too many hobbies that occupy my time and I just don't need another. Tickets are $30@, but that may only apply to participants and not casual visitors.
Karl - I know that our Lexus can hook up with the phone via Bluetooth and I could also talk to the car. I know that I could control radio and climate settings (and maybe other stuff) by talking to it as well, without the phone. But neither me or my wife is/has taken the time to implement it. It's bad enough that I have to hear my wife argue with Alexa at home! I have spoken to Alexa and gotten the "that's not very nice" response a few times! She doesn't like the "f"-word.
Louis - While I enjoyed your post, I think that we're celebrating the Revolutionary War, not the War of 1812!
Everyone have a fabulous Friday. Be safe out there and grill some big hunks of red meat. I'll provide the beer.
Grocery trek yesterday went well, additional stop at Total Wines for restocking. No crowds at either place at that time of morning. Cannot believe that we got out of the grocery store for just $110 when beer was one of the purchases. Gasoline around town was still in the $2.59 to $2.64/gal range; a 4th of July gift from Big Oil!
Around the SFW estate, the pool water temperature has dropped to 86° due to all of the cloudy days lately. I picked Yellow Squash from the garden. And I did not mow, should have but the grass was too wet from the morning rain. Same right now and I'll be otherwise occupied this afternoon with the grill.
I didn't hear any fireworks last night before I took out the hearing aids; once out, forget about it! Remember that I was sleeping through a tornado last year and my wife had to wake me up to head for the safe room. Didn't notice any either when I went out to turn off the pool filter after dark. Most of my neighbors wait until tonight anyway. It will be a perfect night as the ground will be wet (minimizes grass fires) and there is supposed to be only very light winds. Clouds will minimize the moonlight.
Well, my news and information sources just shrunk by one. I used to access the CNN website for their take on the current news, but they are now behind a paywall. An already losing news site is about to lose more viewers. There's plenty of other sources that I can use. Like Dave, I am frugal and I will not pay for otherwise free web content! I only used them to get their perspective on current events, I rarely agreed with them.
Out in the train shed yesterday, I started my quarterly cleaning project. For all of you newcomers, let me explain. I have my layout divided into 8 sections, each roughly containing 40' of main line and accompanying passing sidings and industry trackage, split on two levels. All total, it's about 1300'. A few years ago, I started on a rotating cleaning schedule where I do one section (about 1/4 of either level) at the beginning of each calendar quarter, and proceed sequentially until all of it is done. Takes two years before I repeat a section. First is visual inspection of all roadbed, usually takes the first day. Next I will clean the track with a non-abrasive track cleaner. This isn't that hard as my track doesn't really get too dirty to begin with. After vacuuming, I then take each structure over to the workbench for dusting, cobweb removal, repair if needed and in some cases I improve by adding more details or figures. Vehicles are also done that way, and several are switched around for new scenic variety. Rolling stock is moved out of the way for the track portions, but is usually not removed. That is a separate project every 5-6 years, or whenever I see an issue.
This spreads the work out and takes me about a week to 10 days for each section. It is not a constant project, as I run trains and do other stuff like paint figures or make trees while all of this is going on.
Yesterday I did the visual inspection on the third quarter of the upper level. It comprises one town and it's accompanying industrial district with six switching locations. There's four other industries located along the second passing siding in town. I did not finish. This section being on the second level requires me to use a step-stool to look directly down on the track nearest the backdrop and in the center of the turnback loop where it's industrial district is located. Moving it around and clambering up and down takes extra time! Here's an older overall view of that turnback loop. There's been a couple of changes since this picture was taken in 2021.
I'll finish the visual inspection next before starting on the track cleaning.
Kusojiji -
I also don't live with my phone either. I make or receive 2-4 calls a week and it resides on my computer desk normally. My wife insists that I take it when I get into the car, but I don't answer if it rings! I do use it twice a day as an alarm clock to get out of the pool and to get up from my nap. I have left it in the car overnight as well, since I don't carry it when I get out. I notice text messages about a week after I receive them!
Deacon - Thanks for the warning about Reapercon!
We go to the Houlihan's restaurant on site occasionally, and we'll have to avoid it that week. I already have too many hobbies that occupy my time and I just don't need another. Tickets are $30@, but that may only apply to participants and not casual visitors.Karl - I know that our Lexus can hook up with the phone via Bluetooth and I could also talk to the car. I know that I could control radio and climate settings (and maybe other stuff) by talking to it as well, without the phone. But neither me or my wife is/has taken the time to implement it. It's bad enough that I have to hear my wife argue with Alexa at home! I have spoken to Alexa and gotten the "that's not very nice" response a few times! She doesn't like the "f"-word.
Louis - While I enjoyed your post, I think that we're celebrating the Revolutionary War, not the War of 1812!
Everyone have a fabulous Friday. Be safe out there and grill some big hunks of red meat. I'll provide the beer.
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