With the Big Birthday party (a six-pack of Rolling Rock and a prime rib) the mind wanders to more suitable foods for an aging gent with an eye on 90. Getting to 73 wasn’t too tough. But, good friends, strong personal boundaries, and staying active sure helps. So, attention is now turned on the garden, … Read More
Had the weather stayed a bit warmer Saturday, I would have wired up a solar panel, charge controller, knife switch, and the on-demand 12 VDC water pump for the rainwater fresh H2O catchment system. Made me remember to write down some notes about parallels between home ownership and living on a sailboat as I did … Read More
Not too long ago – two or three years, was it? – I picked up a half-dozen 55-gallon drums up in Tyler, Texas. It was a deal I couldn’t pass up: $5 bucks each and they’d already had a preliminary rinse-out. Finally, with the old burn barrel sporting a gaping (coffee can size) hole where … Read More
Our major shop projects are on hold. A combination of weather delays (Ure doesn’t work outdoors under 50F if he can avoid it) and supply chain issues. The local lair of the Home Despots was out of the polycarbonate panel mounting strips for the Studio Grow Room. So, we await deliveries and a change in … Read More
It has been relatively quiet around Uretopia Ranch this weekend. The “Christmas Room” (solar addition) was “red-flagged” by Elaine early in the week. She was initially OK with the idea of an attached greenhouse. But, not so cool with the color of Penofin. It goes off to a medium orange/red. Very much like Redwood with … Read More
With the one-day delay in turkey overdosing (the second effort was fabulously successful – 2 lbs. worth of personal weight gain, lol), there was enough tryptophan load to keep my blood pressure and motivation on the zero peg most of Saturday. Made a few Christmas scribbles before addressing a tractor issue…plotted my revenge against conformity. … Read More
Ton to go over this morning. First, though, a useful think, or two, about the fall’s economic calamity to come. Even if you’re not subscribing to our Peoplenomics newsletter, do be aware that even though a “hard down” is likely in the US economy this fall and into early spring, there’s a case (in the charts) … Read More
There is a ton of material this morning – mostly in the form of stories and vignettes, so pour a long cup and let’s have a go at this: EBay Bargains T’other day on eBay, I was out “buying information” and I came up with a couple of real gems. Before I tell you about … Read More
Since Field Day is one of the world’s first True Prepping events, we figured a special edition of Urban would be interesting, even to non-ham radio types. Of course, there will be enough “secret sauce tossed in” to make sure Old-Timers (I was first licensed in 1963, lol) learn a few tricks along the way. What’s … Read More
Yessir: ShopTalk Sunday. As we await the opening of the “crooked casino” now part-owned by the Federal Reserve (as presumably you as a taxbleeder), we go to our Person Caves to Create. “Directions Are Wrong” Added a few more items to the stores this week. Which meant assembling another 48 X 14 x 80 inch … Read More
If a discussion about toolboxes and whether a ShopSmith (serious multi-tool) seem like an odd pairing, relax. It’s not. Both have everything to do with how you get “the job” done. Let’s Do Toolboxes First It always struck me as odd: That Pappy Ure’s shop was constantly piled with tools and projects. Yet, when we … Read More
Elaine and I had a marvelous conversation Friday about what we remembered from our youth. (Which for both is a decade over a half-century ago!). Green Jell-O at church gatherings came up. Her preference was for the Jell-O with cottage cheese. Mine? Green Jell-O with a (drained) can of mixed fruit cocktail in it. Topped with a thick … Read More
While Elaine continues on the mend from hip surgery (we did the P/T deal Friday afternoon), the joy of coming home to good food after just can’t be beat. The kitchen remodel project was, it goes without saying, delayed by the lack of two people to “work the project.” I can do a lot of … Read More