60+ year old thread.

Good Morning Porch & Happy HumpFriday! Was 71* when I got to my coffee, it's 60* now, and the wind has begun!

Glad to hear you're up at at it Mike; I knew you were tougher than that shot!!

Taxes.....Taxes....UGH! I draw just enough out of the retirement fund so that we aren't poverty level, and it irks me to that it's enough we end up paying. First year of retirement, we got a lot back, but that was the solar system. It's not a lot to pay, I'd just like to have that bracket I'm in a FEW thousand higher! Wife does a prelim run with them, then we go to an expert where we have an annuity (because it's free with the account). He has tweaked it the last two years after she's done so we don't pay very much.

And, the secret squirrel project got wrapped up yesterday afternoon! When we were last looking at the first pass tiller strip on Sunday, it didn't look like much yet. Monday, I got through the tilling and clean out, and got my little paver paths installed. I used some edging strips with big stakes to help hold them in place. Finished in time to watch the race on dirt at Bristol. Wasn't perfect, but it was fun. NASCAR cup cars are NOT dirt late models, that is for sure!





So, Tuesday should be a breeze! Put in the edger strips, place my second pavers, and finish out. It was NOT a breeze. Biggest hassle I ever had using that green strip stuff. Had to use the EdgeHog to make a secondary trench, and eventually had to SAW a groove into the dirt and roots with the Sawzall! Used the dead hammer to start the stakes, a new 4 lb. Engineers hammer to get them close, and finally a 2x4 with a sledge/ax to get them down into the ground at paver height! Dang! Had to reset the pathway pavers after all the banging! On to the big pavers, then cleaned again and mulched the open space.







And there we have it! Now, to finally install what this is being done for!!



Our own, personal, mini-orchard! A Key Lime, Myers Lemon, and Valencia Orange. Should be fun. The little pathways are so that it is easy to get to each side and collect the millions of little fruits we'll surely pick! And ease of pruning. I doubt we will see any fruit this year, but we do have very nice flowers at the moment! I stuck the "good" greenhouse plants on the mulch for the time being - they will all end up the "small size" big pots. And they are off the walk. And I don't need to move them to mow and trim anymore.




Only a few of these were harmed in the process!

 

That is some kind of fancy! I used to work for the lighting side of Philips, but they changed the name after they retired me. Because Philips wasn't a "recognized brand in lighting!". What are they called now? Signify. Surely you've heard of them......

 

Turned out to be a chain drive. Guess I need to do some PM and oil things up a bit.

 

So this



And this



End up like this.



Ready for a new owner

 

You make me wish for snow more than once a year, every 3 years!

 

Thanks all for the thoughts and words. Our friend and neighbor Ken Lombard passed early this morning. Carol is over there now. Ken's daughter and good friend were there full time over the past few days, plus the hospice folks were in and out, so his wife Jackie has had a lot of support.

Ken Lombard was a civil engineer. He worked in government, retired, then went to work for Bechtel building facilities for the military in the Middle East. He knew a lot about wines, even taught a course in college for a while. He was one heck of a cook. RIP Ken.

Okay. Deep breath.

Mike, I was worried when I saw your 'penalty box' post. Did you get the boot for 2 weeks? I hope not!

As to taxes, I have to check out that payment site. I don't want to deal with mailing checks all the time. Especially now that I'm doing mom's taxes too.

 

I have a friend that used to work for Phillips Kinetics. My first under the cabinet lights where from him. I still have 4 of the modules in the present kitchen. The other ones went to under cabinet lighting in the garage. The light strips are built like a brick out house.

 

Sorry about your neighbor sir.
The penalty box was the 15 min wait time after my shot..

 

Color Kinetics was originally in Mass. Then got bought (we bought lots of companies), and were exclusive Philips products. Then, they got "value engineered", and followed all LED production to China. And, of the 28 companies in the States that were bought, all of 2 are presently open for production. RIP Color Kinetics.

 

Dave: Sorry to hear about the loss of your neighbor and friend. In my prayers tonight.

 

@wdb
Dave, sorry to hear of your loss of your friend Ken. Take good care of his cats, they will miss him also.

 

Good morning, all!

So sorry to hear about your friend and neighbor, Dave. Ken sounds like an awesome person - and it sounds like he packed a lot of good times and experiences into his life.

The all evening/night rain we had is now, as predicted, turning into snow - just changed over in the last 20 minutes since I walked the dog. Predictions are all over the map about how much we'll get. Probably not much more than an inch or two and it should all melt by the weekend. Hopefully the driveway is warm enough that I wont even need to shovel. April begins with a cruel weather joke.

Be safe out there!!!

 

Happy April 1 everyone, keep a mirror handy!

 

No shit

 

Another action packed day today. Still raining but it is supposed to clear up this morning. Going to cook some beef ribs in the new smoker this afternoon. Guitar lesson this morning and a visit to the cardiologist at 1:00 today. Going to brine a turkey before I head off to bed tonight.
My best friend would be 72 today, sadly cancer took him away three years ago.

 

A cruel April Fools joke - our view from the hot tub this morning.

 

Cool Old Dudes
Respect
Rob

 

Good Morning @MermAndy

 

Looks like the jokes on me! Good Morning Porch Fools!