60+ year old thread.

I like what you did with the power outlets.

THX for the link. Even with a CAT protector there is no love for the 2WD Tacoma's. If I buy another Tacoma it will be 4WD.

Today is clean the pond filter and a minor shed repair, some trim boards need to be replaced.

The new computer is installed and is a big improvement. I might add a DVD drive but I have to see a need first. A new monitor will happen next month. Some of the new monitors with high resolution and higher refresh rates are pretty inexpensive.

 

Mornin' folks... Another day in paradise.

 

Good Afternoon Porch People! Well, 0.25" is too much for the little EZ-Up, so I will fold it up, and depend on the current clouds for shade, and the rain to tell me it's break time. No rush anyway. Happy Sunday all!

 

Afternoon all. Who would think life would be so busy when your retired? Haven't been on here in quite a while. I'm doing fine and with this weeks heat coming I will be resting and keeping cool! More internet time for me.
Hope everyone is healthy and safe!

 

Just taking an old guy nap while waiting for the tri tip to cook. In an hour the place will be bustling with kids and grandkids.

 

Good morning all.

Try to stay cool up in MA today Phil.

knayrb Nice patio setup. I sort of like the TV.

Going to be warm in the DC area today. Going to get an early start on some outdoor work. I hope to be finished by 9:00.

 

Good Morning Porch folks! Gonna see if I can run just the mower quick this morning before the rains come, then get back to the project. If I wait the whole week with this rain, yard going to be thick and self propelled is just like a push mower!

 

Morning all:
Already got 2 small projects done this morning, I moved MY TOMBSTONE about 6" back on it's foundation while I still can , looking at the cemetery it seems like since they started using zero turns quite a few tombstones are being hit. Second project was putting some stones back along the drainage ditch that a bear pulled off the edge and they were blocking the ditch. Looked down at the pond and it looks like the critter stayed away from it, FOR NOW, maybe the smelly stuff I put around it actually works, especially since it got a mouthful of pine sol.

 

Morning

10:00am
100° On my screen here.

We’re gonna melt pretty soon

 

Good morning everyone!!! I'm back.

Finally got our internet service back again a few minutes ago - went out again sometime overnight late Friday or early Saturday and have been without since.

 

Thanks. This was a deal I swung with the wife. If she let me build the patio I would work for another year. That year is come and gone. Looking at January to retire now.

 

Progress made on the Pergula. Two of my sons (one lives in San Diego) and my daughter and her boyfriend all arrived to help out.

We got the main post framed and anchored. It will have a sheet metal roof, got the rafters and lattice built (measure twice, cut once). Those will go up in two parts, reinforce ridge, bolted to two halves together, and hurricane ties tie to roof to the structure. The main post is anchored with Hilti Concrete fasters into the slab. We have gotten some high winds, not taking any chances.

Westen exposure will have a slatted wall on it for sun exposure.

I kept debating about sun angle, summer vs. winter. I finally realized it best just to have the western exposure slatted, solid roof for rain. So it will be a nice year-round sitting area. Deck was nice, but rotted and too many critters under it. An ash tree provided shade, but beetles got to it. It still lasted close to forty years, so lots of shade for years. We need another Chinese Pistachio to complement our other one. Slow growing but survived our winter freeze, which was good (had to be pruned back). I had been bummed about taking out the Ash, but it would have destroyed the master bedroom with our storms, so glad he had it removed when we did.

My kids were little when I built the shed (18' x 24'), so they forget that it was a solo effort. I explained the rafters and how to place and flip up into position. 16" studs, doubleheader, 20" rafters. Everything with hurricane ties, OSB sheathing glued and nailed. Hardiboard over that. The city inspector looked it as he asked, "are you an Engineer?" I had used the Texas Coastal build regulations for structures to survive 95 mph winds. Little overkill, but for a good reason. I did have a mason do the front wall (facing the street) in brick to match the house.

I'm moving slower but still moving. The kids were happy with power tools. We were joking about how long it would take to raise an Amish Building (get 40 friends together for a barn raising). I can still swing a hammer, but boy, do my shoulders appreciate pneumatic nail guns.

Edit: Solar Angle calculator
https://gml.noaa.gov/grad/solcalc/

Didn't snap a photo for Susan. My redhead was busy and caught a rat. My wife screamed, but I gave her lots of praise and love for catching it. Busy weekend for all of us.

 

I thought you were talking about some doggie parasite! SHEESH! The things they don't have time for on the news!

Invasive Toxic Worms Emerge in North Texas (msn.com)

Glad they only like big cities!!!

 

Good morning everyone!

Nice, hot and humid weather here - I love this time of year!!

I spent all morning yesterday caulking the seams on the trim over our 3 car garage - after replacing them twice already due to wood rot we put up all composite. Paint next but I think I'll move down to the greenhouse and mower garage and caulk those both first before we start painting. Gonna be another hot one today, too.

If you need me this afternoon, I'll be at the pool!!

 

Please post up some pics. I will probably be installing a Pergola next year but it will be a prefab one that I need to build. We are going to replace a shed in September with a quality man made materials shed. Th existing wood shed lasted over 30 years. There will be foundation work that will need to happen too.

Dental appointment today.

 

Good Morning Porch! My project needs an extra set of arms that I get today, so I concentrated on this part.


More to go! Have a great day, and stay as dry as you can! I should be wearing swim trunks so I can jump in the pool when I'm done, but we got 1 1/2" in 30 minutes yesterday after I showered. I got 2 showers because the wife forgot to move the seat back in the RAV4.

 

Mornin' all... I've got an appointment with a "financial consultant" supplied through one of my banks. I expect him to be twelve, and mortgaged up to his eyeballs, and he probably gets his "research" handed to him by the corporate sales team. But who knows... maybe he will surprise me. In any case it will be a chance to do some investigation of my own.

 

Don’t go in to the meeting with preconceived notions. My first advisor was one of the first CFP’s in my area. Yes he was young, so was I. It worked out very well.

When he retired I took the advice of my CPA and talked with several she recommended. All were good folks. The one I chose was based on geography.

I’m not exactly a dummy on financial matters but I learned a long time ago to hire a professional for the really important stuff.

 

My experience with "professionals" that supply financial advice is that the good ones are very rare. So it is impossible to enter the room without preconceptions. But... that does not mean my mind is closed, and that I can't learn or change my mind. It's not my first rodeo...

 

I'll get photos posted once I have the Pergula up and installed. Wet weather next two weeks, so it will be a challenge.

This is a Costco sold kit. Yardistry is the company. The 12' x 14' is what we went with. It's a prefab, but give yourself four people to get everything done.

We ordered the privacy wall for the western exposure.

https://www.yardistrystructures.com/12-ft-pavilion-privacy-wall/

I priced out lumber to do my own build and was close to $5000. Yardistry, via Costco, with Pavillion and the wall is about $2600. I'm impressed with the wood quality. It is prefinished, but cedar should have annually retreated. The aluminum roof is super thin, Texas hail storm will nail it, but the structure could handle corrugated galvanized steel.

Thankfully I still have my Bosch Hammer Drill (SDS drill bits) from building the shop (1500 sq ft) and shed (18 x 24). When I checked the slab, my 16' x 25' is really 15.5' wide. The post set almost 12' square, but one wall is longer than the other. Our typical breeze is N/S winds; storms roll in from the West.

It gives more backyard options; the pool has a large deck and a tree-shaded sitting area with a table of eight. The back porch is a bit cramped, grill, smoker, seating area. So move the seating (wicker furniture) under the pavilion, leaving just the grill, smoker, and smaller table under the porch (serving outdoor events).

The shed was fine when we had four kids and all sort of stuff going on (bicycles, RC cars, painting, etc.), but I'd still like to put up a false wall and make it a small cottage (18 x 12) with two coats as a rest area for cross country cyclist. If we aren't home, I could text the gate code and tell them to make themselves home, simple plumbing with the incinerator toilet. Outdoor Shower/rinse are behind the shed—warm showers host. Many families hosted me over the years, so it would be nice to have a spot for folks to stop. It beats a motel six, and the price is right (no charge, pay it forward). Most cyclists need a place to stop for the night, sleep, recharge electronics and head out early morning.

Ya, we need to downsize, but If I keep working another seven years, I might as well enjoy it.