Stuff

On Sunday afternoon I headed over to the shop for a bit.  Originally the plan was to clean and put things back in there place.   Well I got a little side tracked.   As I was sorting through the parts pile I started to set a few items to the side for what I thought I could make a bird out of.   I had an S wrench for the body, some tines for the head, smaller S wrenches for legs and a couple of gears and old nuts and bolts.

I tried several different variations on what it could be. Well it didn't really come out as a bird, but more like a chameleon.

Weekends Over

On Saturday we got up and went out to the flea market.  That’s always a good time.  We walked around and checked out the booths.  Came across some cool stuff but didn’t buy anything.  One thing that did catch my eye was an old wind generator.   I took a picture and will add this to the list of things I would like to make.  Mine would be for decoration, but I think it would be pretty cool.

Then we headed over to the farmers market and walked around.  We grabbed some lettuce and a few other items.  From there it was off to Wal-mart to pick up a few other items.  It was hot out on Saturday, so when we got home I aired up the swimming pool and filled it with water.   It sure felt good to jump in off/on and cool off.  This is the third time this year I have done this and if the heat keeps up I will be doing it again.

We are in what they call here the monsoon season.  It is warm during the day and we get some rain in the late afternoon that helps cool things off.  It rained on Saturday afternoon and started early today and has been overcast.

I wanted to plant another raspberry plant this year so I ran over to Home Depot this morning and bought the saddest looking plants.   I knew it was late in the year but these looked pretty bad.  I talked them into 75% off so I they were a $1.50 each.   I bought two raspberries and one blue berry.  The  blue berry plant was much better looking.   We also picked up some Shasta daisy’s.   We brought everything home and I went to work planting.

The raspberries are looking a little better now that they are in the ground and have gotten some water.   I cut off the dead leafs and cleaned the plant up.  Hopefully they will take and produce next year.  While planting Candy grabbed a picture of me planting her daisy’s. 

This evening we were sitting out back and we had a really nice red finch on the feeder.  I have been keeping the camera on the porch so that it is close and I can capture some of the wildlife.

Backyard Photo Shoot

On Wednesday I was sitting in the backyard with the camera.  I did a little backyard photo shoot and have included the pics below.  Enjoy!

More Stuff

Got some catching up to do.  Been super busy at work, as always and I am not complaining.  I have really been lazy on my walking as of late.  I did walk to work and back on Monday but found excuses the rest of the week to not do so.

We have been eating raspberries like crazy around here.  Candy likes her with her cereal in the morning.  I like mine with ice cream.   I had planed several plants last year and the year before.  They all came back and we have and are having a full harvest.  I also have blueberries and black berries but they are not ready yet.  Most likely another week or two.

This raspberry plant has had all kinds of new starters coming up.   In a couple of years we are going to have a very nice garden of berries as long as they can make it through the winters.  Each year I have covered them in mulch to help to not freeze the roots.

Today was our company picnic.  We had a great turn out and some really great food.  This year it was on the far north end of the Springs and the food came from Rudy's BBQ.   We got to play some corn hole.  It is a game like horseshoes, but with corn feed bags.  I am thinking about making up a game for us.  Candy will sew up the bean bags.  We have a great spot in the backyard to play.  With my creative skills I think I can make the platforms look pretty cool.  I may do this tomorrow.  We will see.  I need to get out and walk and I have been thinking about going fishing again.

After the picnic I headed over to the shop and was looking for something to do.  Candy had shown me a video of a humming bird water fountain.   I didn't have what I need to make it, it also requires a pulp with electricity and I am pretty much tapped out outside on outlets.  One of these days I need to run a power line under ground up to the back of the yard.  This would give me a few more options on things I could do.

I did have an old ashtray stand that I had picked up.  I think my Dad gave it to me on one of our last visits.  It was in pretty rough shape, rusty and dirty.   I took the grinder with my wire brush to it.  cleaned up all the rust and then started painting it.  I used what I had at the shop.  Painted the base in a brass color and then the rest in silver.   Painted the handle red so that it would hopefully attract the Humming birds.  Well this is the finished product.  Came out pretty nice.

Pebbles

Candy had taken this picture of Pebbles the other day.  I just had to get it in the blog.  She is such a nut.

Back Home

Greetings all, been a couple of weeks since I posted anything. So let’s see since my last post I have been I Florida, Kansas and Colorado.  I spent the week in West Palm Beach and then over to Tampa.  Then I flew over to Wichita KS, and spent the fourth of July with family.  Had a couple of days off which was nice.

Had a great time visiting with the Family and even got a little work done around the house for my parents.  Both the boys made it this year and brought their girlfriends.    We ate way to much food over the weekend and on the Holiday.  Shot off a bunch of fireworks.

One evening we all went out to dinner at Connie’s Mexico Café.  This is a favorite of most of the family. After being on the road for nine days I was glad to be back home.  

Yesterday we headed out and did some fishing.  Went back down to Brush Hollow and then over to Florence for some lunch and a little more fishing.  I didn’t catch anything but we had a great time.  Took Pebbles with us and she had a blast.  She was chasing Chipmunks and Rabbits.

Today I worked over at the shop and made up another birdhouse.  Not sure what we are going to do with it.  Used some old fence wood that I had and top that my Dad had picked up when he was out garage selling.

I did some watering and pulled weeds.  Cleaned up my mess from the project today as well as the last one I was working on.   Man it get's dirty quick from the sawing, sanding, grinding and so on.

I started laying out my next project.  I am planning on making up a large flower cart.  This should be pretty cool when done.

Pinball

Today was an awesome day.  It started out with a three mile hike with Candy and Donkey.  When we got home I figured it was time to feed the squirrels.  Well today I made a new friend and I have name him Pinball.  Pinball is a squirrel and I got him to let me feed him by hand.   I went out in the backyard and shook the peanut sack.  I spotted him looking at me, so I pulled out a peanut and cracked the shell in my hand.  I just hung tight for about five minutes and then Pinball came over and slowly took the peanut out of my hand.

We did this a couple of time, I tried to get a picture but feeding a squirrel and holding a camera is a little tough.  this is the first time I have been able to get one to eat from my hand.  

I got a lot done today, from cleaning out the truck.  Syncing all my apple devices, planting some flowers, cleaning out the garage and even running over to the AT&T store.  It was a full day, that's for sure.

I cooked dinner this evening for Candy and I.  We had pork chops that I cooked in green chili.  Cooked up some tater tots and a bag of corn.  It was a great dinner.

Headed out on the road so I got packed and did a little laundry.  Really looking forwad to the 4th of July.  Will get to see my sister and her husband and kids.  Both Eric and Clark are going so it should be a good time.

That's all, got some more work to do before I head out.  Have a great evening and will catch up with you soon.

Fun in the Sun

So we did get our asses out of bed early and went fishing.  We left the house just after 6 AM.  We headed down to Brush Hollow and had a line in the water by 7:15 AM.  I am sorry to report that we or at least I didn't catch anything.  Candy read while I was fishing.  We took Donkey with us today and she had a blast.  She found squirrels, rabbits and lizards.  She was going ape shit most of the morning chasing critters around.  She was grinning from ear to ear today.

This is the second time that I have fished this area and not caught anything.  Lot of fish were jumping but I didn't hook anything.  I fished for about two hours and spent a good time laughing at Donkey as she was chasing what ever she could find.  She came across a squirrel and it ran towards Candy, I thought it was going to jump in her lap.  I packed up and then we headed down to Canyon City to stop at a quilt shop and get some lunch.

While Candy was at the quilt shop, I filled the truck with gas and then hung out waiting for her to finish up.  She wasn't long.  We grabbed some lunch and then headed out to see if we could find a place to park and eat in the shade.   We found a great spot and were able to park along the Arkansas river.  Man it was running fast and furious.   We got Donkey a burger and she was pretty happy.  Candy was walking around and taking some pictures.  She got a nice picture of a monarch hanging out. 

Donkey got out of site and then I heard a splash.  We started calling her and after a couple of minutes she came running.  She must have jumped or fallen in the river.  She was soaking wet from head to toe. She is lucky she didn't get swept away.

Our dogs name is Pebbles, but she has put on a little weight and she looks like Donkey from the movie Shrek.   I guess today with my green shirt, this would make me the Ogre.  She is a great dog and she had a blast today.  So did Candy and I, it was nice to get out and get away from the house.  If we would have stayed home I am sure I would have been working on the yard or cleaning house.  We got back to the house around 1 PM.  Once we got home I headed out and ran over to the shop and did some cleaning and worked on another rotary hoe tiller wheel project.  I plan on giving this one as a gift.  Then came back to the house and worked on cleaning up the garage.  It is still a mess from our remodel project.

Looking forward to seeing what tomorrow will bring.

Let's Go Fishing

I renewed my fishing license this evening and am planning to get out tomorrow and wet a line.  I doubt that I will catch anything but it should be a fun day.

Looking to head down to southern CO.  Going to fish in a small lake and then head further down and fish the Arkansas river.  Candy is going to go with me and I am guessing we will take Donkey with us.

Crazy week at work, busy, busy, busy, just not always sure it is a good busy.  I think I have said this before.   Oh well I just need to keep pushing rocks up the hill.

So I finished a new water feature for the yard.   It came out pretty nice when all done.   I had purchased an old pump last time I was in Kansas.  The pump is broke and not usable but for a decorative piece it works great.  I had built a bird house a year or so ago and it just happen to work out nicely.  I put a larger pump on this one and it really pushes the water through.  The sound it makes sounds great.  So nice I have been sitting on the front porch listing to the water and the birds chirping.

Yeah It's Saturday

I had a pretty awesome Saturday and hope that you did to.  Me and Donkey headed out of the house at 6:30 AM and went and got about three miles in.  Then I was off to the HD to pick up a few parts for my next projects.

I made a new bird feeder stand today and started working on my new water feature.  Once again you will see that I have incorporated another tiller wheel into the design.  More to come with tiller wheels.  I have about 30 of them of all different types. I spent most of the morning working on the bird feeder stand.   It was pretty quick to knock out.  It was just a matter of screwing all the pipe together.  I took another tiller wheel and cleaned it up and painted it copper.


I am pretty excited about my pump project.  I picked it up in KS at the scrap yard.  It's broke in a couple of places, but as a yard art piece I don't think anyone will notice as they drive by.  This morning I picked up a whiskey barrel, pump and hose.  I cleaned up the pump today, took the faucet off and ran the pump hose through to see that it would work.   I might get the base tomorrow and then it should go pretty quick.  I have a place for it all ready in the front garden.  It will replace an old ice cream bucket water feature that I had made.

I also watered the yard and cut down some starter trees.  I still need to weed eat and mow in front of the shop doors.  I might get to that tomorrow.

I cleaned out the smoker this evening.  Emptied the ash from last time and cleaned the grates.   We have a brisket marinating that I will be cooking up tomorrow.  Candy is going to cook up a couple of side dishes.  We will see who shows up.