Running Bear's August 2022 Coffee Shop

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Speaking of shedding trees, our Buckeye trees are starting to drop their pods. The walnuts are starting to drop also, but the ones dropping now aren't good for harvesting. We have about 15-20 walnut trees on our property that drop a lot of nuts. We harvested some last fall for the first time since we moved in 5 years ago. It's a really messy job, and time consuming, but to have fresh walnuts to roast in your own oven is really nice.
 
Good morning all,

63° and drizzle. It was 64° yesterday when I left work, so not much of a change there. It rained a lot overnight, yesterday we had some roads wash out in the northern part of the county. More rain foercast for the tomorrow as well.

Leaves - our sumac is turning a brilliant orange and red, getting ready to shed as well

The Dreaded Nest: I am talking about the thermostat. We had two in our last apartment, and they were a nightmare. We had little or no control over our environment, constantly had to override its desires, often it wouldn't respond. I guess we needed to download the app to our iphone. Of coarse, today there are no instruction manuals. Lucky if you get something when you google, probably a sketchy, lengthy diatribe about how great their device is and how wonderful we are to have one then some vague instructions on how to operate it.

so I googled it just now and I was right, the first thing that comes up is a youtube video, 16 min. in length, called the missing manual. Lets see how complicated we can make something. Give me my old Honewell round thermostat, lasts decades, and does what I tell it.

enough griping, here is a photo of the 10 year old sawmill on its new pad. Recently added the gravel leading up to the little shop, the small black goups holding the rafters on is JB weld set to reinforce the structure, added over the years.

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The new logs are pretty big, guess they were cutting down some big trees at the time.

more later, Dave LASM
 
Well, howdy there internet peeps, and those who hate their nest

I suspect that the ones "granted" by power companies have even worse limits on what you can do than a generic one. No idea which Terry got.

And, after two days away the Amish work crew showed up again. Our unit should be done by 2 or so. Hopefully, they'll be back next week and finish up.
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GOOD Morning fellow modelers and those who like "playing" with their thermostats from La, La Land! We are looking at another 94 for a high today with the old standby of sunny and breezy.
I'm on a pretty big downer for now. Too many problems with health issues to deal with - and I am just about ready to chunk in the towel and let nature take its course.
Now my BP and heart rate are/is too low for surgery on the aneurism, so the doctor took me off three of my meds to see if I can get the BP and heart up to the acceptable range. Now, being off one of those meds for prostate is making me want to pee every half hour with very low flo and amount!
If all that is not enough - my right shoulder has started to hurt! I am praying that they won't tell me that I have to have that redone - - - !
Just found out yesterday that Kate's sister, Irene (her traveling buddy) may have Multiple myeloma. She is in a hospital for several days of testing and Kate and her other sister are coming unglued at the thought.
That's the news - not anything good - Thanks for being my sounding board!

I do have ONE bright spot - A1C was 5.4 - YEA!
 
As I have posted quite a few times in the past, the lack of participation of most of the MRR club I'm in is kinda disappointing. Out of more than 30 dues paying members, only 3 have acknowledged desire to participate in this weekend's op session. This has been the ongoing level of participation over the years. I've tried to get answers, but nobody responds to questionnaires either. There are a few members who don't participate in my op sessions because I spoke out about their passing porn around the membership using the club web page a couple decades ago. Not a great idea when ya have kids viewing the activity.
I recently hooked up with another club that's south of me about 40 miles. They seem to have a high level of membership participation in their events. I'll prolly maintain membership in the club up here but also participate in the southern club as well.
 
D&J RailRoad said:
As I have posted quite a few times in the past, the lack of participation of most of the MRR club I'm in is kinda disappointing. Out of more than 30 dues paying members, only 3 have acknowledged desire to participate in this weekend's op session. This has been the ongoing level of participation over the years.
I recently hooked up with another club that's south of me about 40 miles. They seem to have a high level of membership participation in their events. I'll prolly maintain membership in the club up here but also participate in the southern club as well.
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Out of curiosity, how many people would be too many for an op session such as the one you're trying to organize? I've often thought about joining a club, but I really don't want it to be demanding of my time... I don't have a lot of time while it's warm outside, but would like to be active in the colder months.
 
Good morning from a strange looking sky in So. Central Wisconsin. Is it going to rain or not? Even the TV guesser this morning isn’t sure, says rain can pop up anywhere in the region. Terry turned the TV on and I am in the room because it’s a damp 66 on the deck right now. Usually I am out on either deck at 65f degrees and up but it sure didn’t feel like it. Thankfully she just moved the sound to her Bluetooth hearing aids. Peace again.

Worked on the layout. The foamcore base is in for the Transload area. I need to finalize the track arrangement, dig the 2 pits for the where things might get unloaded. Then a spray of a gray, let dry then apply the photo of the concrete parking lot I took this week. I would like to be doing the final shaping of land forms around the base, some details such as a fence and guard rails Monday or Tuesday. The days of rushing to get it all done are gone. While I have an idea of a time, if I don’t do it now, it will get done later!
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I put a large Weber stainless commercial type grill top on the Facebook Market place on Monday. 6 burner and sold it last evening and then they came back to pick it up. I really thought I over priced it but the guy said he was real happy with the price and didn’t even negotiate. 5 others were interested but of the 6 total only 2 came out to look at it. You never know!

A FB friend from my layout FAceBook page liked the weathering of the pulpwood cars I posted in the Spring. He asked Tuesday if I could do 10 cars by 9/3 for a open house. While I would love to I can’t rush like that. 2-3 cars a week for me are fine but no more then that. Finally to help him out, (sucker that I am for a sob story) I sold him 10 of mine, already weathered pending me seeing his 10 cars and condition. He should be here this morning.


Sherrel, easy for me to say, but change the attitude. Be positive, anything is possible. If I can survive 2 cancer operations, a stroke and Lymes you ain’t chunking anything my friend. Tell Kate’s sister that your buddies on MRR forums are rooting for her and what more could she ask for then that? Wish her well…

Dave, that sawmill is outstanding

Troy, won’t it be nice to have peace and quiet again

enjoy the day
 
Good Morning All. Quite foggy and 70° after the cool front and rain yesterday. Not a lot of rain, just 0.25" in about an hour. Of course it hit just as we pulled into the driveway from the grocery trek. High yesterday was just 86°, back into the 90's today. They're still predicting thunderstorms every day next week, particularly heavy Sunday and Monday. High temperature in the 80's until Labor Day weekend. Somewhat welcome relief, but the pool could possibly get too chilly.

Another average grocery trek yesterday, no surprise price increases except in the produce department. Gas everywhere was steady at $3.39-$3.45 per gallon at most places. I had enough points on my Kroger gas account for an 80¢/gal price reduction, which I gladly took. Even with the discount, it still wasn't as cheap as it was a year ago!

Thanks to one and all for the reactions and comments regarding the layout progress and the grasshoppers; George, OB Ken, Guy, Dave B, Tom O, Jeff, Sherrel, Chad, Louis, Karl, Smudge, Hughie, James, Patrick, Gary, Rick.

Out in the train shed yesterday,, I decided to leave the DPM windows in their "as made" color. Then I went looking for 14 total that I needed.
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Looks like their QA is about as good as Walther's.
I eventually found enough and installed them, the clear acetate, and dark interiors on the ground floor with shades on the upper floors. .
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Nothing real special, as this is a background structure.

Dave B - Eating that much corn, as much as I like corn, would send my daily carb intake through the roof!
Tom O - Yep! 3 mph has been my limit for a few years now.
Troy - I am only going to scatter the shoes around that I cut off the legs. Legs are going back into the scrap box.
Ken (D&J) -
D&J RailRoad said:
Peeing off the back porch? Wouldn't it start to smell like a urinal after a short while?
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Rain helps soak it in and no smell. I just use nearby trees and rotate.
Sherrel - Snap out of the doldrums. You had similar issues a couple of years ago and got over them. A positive attitude goes a long way when one's health is concerned.

Today's birthday is John Deacon's, retired bass player for the band Queen. He wrote "Another One Bites the Dust" and "Under Pressure" among many others.
Everybody have a great day.
 


JeffH said:
Speaking of shedding trees, our Buckeye trees are starting to drop their pods. The walnuts are starting to drop also, but the ones dropping now aren't good for harvesting. We have about 15-20 walnut trees on our property that drop a lot of nuts. We harvested some last fall for the first time since we moved in 5 years ago. It's a really messy job, and time consuming, but to have fresh walnuts to roast in your own oven is really nice.
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We have large cones in the front evergreen and seed pods hanging in the Mimosa tree that are still green.....lots of critter food to come!
 
JeffH said:
Out of curiosity, how many people would be too many for an op session such as the one you're trying to organize? I've often thought about joining a club, but I really don't want it to be demanding of my time... I don't have a lot of time while it's warm outside, but would like to be active in the colder months.
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For my setup. About 10 people is good. Not really getting in each other's way. Just have to be conscious of people tryin to pass ya in a couple of the isles. I guess some folks think the other person is standing there to watch him rather than following their train.
As for joining a club, you would have to determine if their meetings are mandatory. If ya don't show up when beckoned, then ya get a beat down.
 
Our gas is still around $4.41 or more depending on station and what part of town you are in. The two nearby Murphy Express are actually 4.38 and 4.39 today (they seem to move more than the other stations). The other day one of them was 4.42. All the while the Maverik nearby has been 4.41
 
Clubs:

When I lived in Florida for 17 plus years I belonged to a club in the Sarasota/Bradenton area it was called the Sarasota Model Railroad Club (SMRC) it also had a name called Myakka Valley RR club at one time but that was rubbed out at some pont. Now the club is now called Real Rail.


Just like a lot of clubs they struggled for years. Changed locations a few times and well members died off or moved away. At the time I was invloved they were looking for a new location. I liked the group. All members were very knowledgable etc in their own right. On occasions you get a few bad apples. I had a shelf layout a 2 foot deep and 10 foot wide switching yard. So going to the club was nice.

At one time this group partnered up with this group https://www.frrm.org/ but that kinda fizzed out so now they have this new location on US 41 between Sarasota and Bradenton. I have not kept up with it. I think they have some kind of relationship established but I am not sure of the details.

Anyways where was I going with this? Ah yes clubs...... are ever evolving with the influx of new members coming in and old member going out at a pretty high rate at times. The most desirable clubs that have their success are the one's that have established a solid foundation with secured location and future plans etc. Others who do not project those fail constantly.

Up here in upstate NY I have a local club that has struggled for years to establish a solid foundation and future projection. Many members are mostly seasonal/snow birds as many go south in the winter then when they return it's like they have no time for the hobby as it is summer time and well everyone goes outdoors golf etc.

I chose not to join as this is a problem that lacks consistent members and good leaders. I rather have my layout at home and do my own thing which I can afford to do now. I do marvel some of the nice clubs in the midwest and envy them. They got them huge layouts and great crew/members that seem in adundance. Their formula works. Here it seems it is very lacking. I dunno. I just like visiting from time to time then go to a few shows and I end up back home enjoying my small budding layout.
 
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Good Morning All!
60F and partly

Hasn't been cold enough for stuff to start coming off the trees. Maple is still raining on everything before it gets hot and the pine and fir trees are kinda just standing there. That Maple rain is a pain in the butt - gets on vehicles which does not wash off easy. Can't do the $5 autowash, have to get out the power sprayer and rag to deal with it. Power washer does way better than the autowash so you can tell that ima lazy!

Clubs from what I have seen are yet another PITA. There was one in Spokane I went to for awhile thinking that I would get to work on stuff for them, or at least run *long* trains. Most of the time there was no way to power the layout and they did not have any areas ready for somebody to actually do something. They have a Chubb signal system for the main line, but you think that those signals are used? Most just fly by not caring if the next block might be occupied. Most of the folks that are members are OkieDokie although there is no motivation. Pretty much sit around talking about ... you name it.

They now *require* NMRA membership before you can become a club member - geesh, wonder what that is doing for the younger crowd?

Check it out if ya wish River City Modelers

Spokane is 150ish miles from here.
Bonners Ferry probably would be doable - 45 miles.
Haven't found anything yet in Sandpoint; haven't looked that hard either. Still about 80 miles
Nothing that I have found in either Kalispell or TheFish - 90 miles to Kal, 105 to TheFish

Do I really want to join a club? Not. Do I want to host a club? Not. There are a bunch of old guys here in Libby that get together once in awhile, although I do not know if anybody has a layout for op's. Will find out more about this when we come off the road.

Later!

Edit: Forgot, except for the SI, they do have some cars of the more obscure railroads in the Inland Empire. Thought that I had also seen a Saint Maries at one time or another years ago. Check out the 'Store'.
 
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