My Desultory Blog

Posted By RichC on May 26, 2020

It is never as easy as expected? I’m accustom to opening the pool each season now that I’ve been doing it for 20+ years in Cincinnati and another 5 or so in Hudson before that. Each season it should get easier, right? Nope. There always something … and the job is MUCH more challenging to do by myself as my age inches ever higher (Brenda says it is all in my mind … then asks if my life insurance policy is paid up – kidding, she’s only thinking that!)

Anyway this year again … the spring rain added some silt and extra worms to the pool. On top of that, the pool pump that was making noise last year, corroded enough to freeze up (corrosion above – new motor above left). Thankfully, I have learned a few things over the years and knew those motor bearing would eventually need to be rebuilt again, so I planned ahead and purchase a new pump motor last year. Smart.

Still the removal and rebuilding of the pump motor cut into my already long day of opening the pool. Thankfully by the end of the long day, the pump is now running smoothly, the first layer of silt sucked out and cover is folded (I’ll wait for Taylor to help move it up on the storage shelf – although I’m not sure why I put it up high???)

Also reworked the electrical and added some clean wire and crimped terminals.

Category: Archive, Personal, Photos, To-Do, Weather | No Comments »
Tags: bearings, chores, clean, corrosion, electrical, house, motor, opening, pool, pump, rebuild, yard

Posted By RichC on May 25, 2020

We should probably come up with a better way to remember those who gave the ultimate sacrifice for our country than a day off work, grilling out and giving momentary lip service?

As I sat on the front porch on Sunday (something I don’t often do), I looked at the half staff flag and did think a little more deeply than usual.

Unfortunately like too many, I rarely take Memorial Day as solemnly as I should. When we really think about it, our liberty came and continues to come at a very high cost. Someone fought and too many died so that we could enjoy freedom and security in America.  I’m sure I’m not along in all too often taking that for granted?

It boggled the mind just how many times men have had to fight to preserve our way of life, yet never came home to see what they have preserved.

Category: Holiday, Millitary | No Comments »
Tags: america, flag, Holiday, Memorial Day, remember, sacrifice, thoughts

Posted By RichC on May 24, 2020

It has been a slow start to getting our yard in shape. By now we usually have the pool open and flowers planned, but for some reason (probably rain) we are not ready for summer.

Thankfully though, Saturday was nice most of the day. I waited as long as possible to add a few brown stripes to the backyard (not quite this bad) and beat the rain (still don’t have the fuel pump I ordered from Amazon for the Kubota, but gravity still works if I keep the tank full). Brenda and opted to venture out with about the entire county after following the last 8 weeks or so of stay at home orders (COVID19). Besides eating in a restaurant for the first time in a while, we also picked up some flowers in a local nursery. It was very busy … about half and half with masks?

On returning home, I continued to let the grass dry and worked on our pool decking "half-moon" area and then planted the wave petunias .. they seem to do well in that area. Brenda’s transplanted pots from last year are blooming too and we’ll need to get them in the ground soon. All in all it was a good day of work … until the washout again. More rain. Ugh.

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Category: Misc, Personal, Photos, Shopping, Weather | No Comments »
Tags: coronavirus, covid19, flowers, home, house, rain, spring, yard, yardwork

Posted By RichC on May 23, 2020

The workshop runs smother when there is “a place for everything and everything is in its place”  … to quote the printer and publisher Benjamin Franklin. On the other hand, perhaps the British are not fond of a “revolutionary” like Ben and prefer to credit Samuel Smiles, Mrs Isabella Beeton or John Hacket, Bishop of Lichfield? (link) Yes, I’m off topic with idioms … again.

If you are like me, one of the areas of a woodworking workshop that can get overly cluttered is the top of the table saw fence (or side table for that matter). I would stick everything from thin strips, hold down blocks, pencils, an aluminum yardstick, a sawdust brush and several sizes of push sticks there. I had had enough and didn’t like bending down UNDER the saw to pull a push stick or brush off of a hook either. I was usually just when I needed it most … while the saw was running – yes, a dangerous habit.

So … I decided to cut and bend a piece of leftover aluminum from my airplane building days into a shallow box/shelf right at hand height level. Here I now keep a brush and a few regularly used push sticks … although I now often use the MicroJig 3D Pushblock (top right of above photo). This anti-slip Grr-Ripper (click for image) is pricey compared to simple homemade scrap wood push sticks, but well worth it if it saves a finger or two (put one on your “want list”… you’ll thank me someday).

Category: Advice, Hobby, Personal, Photos, Tidbits, Woodworking | No Comments »
Tags: ben franklin, brush, efficiency, grr-ripper, idiom, idioms, pushstick, sayings, shelf, table saw, woodworking, workshop

Posted By RichC on May 22, 2020

I know it seems like a strange question, but our annual pair of ducks spend a lot of time in and around our pool. It doesn’t matter if it is covered or not, these mallard ducks do enjoy the relative safety of sleeping on the pool cover in the spring. My guess it provides them some protection from predators, namely coyotes lately. On the other hand, it does seem very strange to see a duck egg sitting on the pool cover? Was the mother-to-be frightened off just as she was ready to lay eggs or do they sometimes just plop out?

Whichever, an egg is on our pool cover … even though I know where her nest is this year – in the middle of our fire pile!  (I probably should build a coyote resistant duck house for them next year?)

And a snippet of video from the front yard nest below … 😉

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Category: Environment, Nature, Photos, Video | No Comments »
Tags: bonfire, coyote, ducks, eggs, fire pile, mallard, mp4, pool cover

Posted By RichC on May 21, 2020

Happy Birthday to my brother today. Although it is not every year I mentioned birthdays, particularly for those of us who prefer the year count be ignored, but this year with social distancing and lack of a physically connecting, I’ll post a birthday wish to Ron. Happy Birthday!

While I’m thinking about it, I came across a look-a-like or doppelgänger for him this past year (as well as our Uncle Sonny below – my dad’s brother). Ron’s look-a-like is a French businessman named Nicolas Babin who was at one time the CEO of Sony Europe and has expertise in programing and robotics. I came across the illustrated image of him on Twitter and eventually connected with him based on technology posts.  Nicolas and Ron are close to the same age and total unrelated … and although not a perfect match, people would likely believe they were brothers rather than the two of us!(see the “doppelgänger” post from 2018).

Our Uncle Sonny “Earl” Corbett and Ron from 2017 … and French businessman Nicolas Babin

Category: Archive, Human Interest, Personal, Photos | No Comments »
Tags: birthday, brother, doppelgänger, family, french, nicolas babin, ron corbett, social media, twitter

Posted By RichC on May 20, 2020

Several posts ago I mentioned that I was participating in the Makers Mob woodworking 6-week Scrapwood Challenge as part of the stay-at-home COVID19 orders. I can’t say that this project is anything great, but it did give me something to do in the evenings besides tweet political garbage or watch more outrage and debate from the talking heads on TV. Brenda is much smarter … she watches something entertaining on Netflix or Amazon Prime (although the same ones over and over). On the other hand, I was able to read a bit more and have a couple new birthday books to read (1 and 2).

Back to completing this little scrap wood project from my own questionable design.

I had been thinking about a couple simple woodworking birthday gifts for Katelyn and Taylor and also wanted to use my new lightweight MicroJig miter jig for precise cuts on the table saw. So I modified my original rectangular idea. These oddball angled cuts gave me a little bit more of a challenge. The project may never get used, but it is a simple way to hang pictures exactly where you want them on the wall (we are doing that now in the Library/Music Room after painting and my bookshelves project).

HOW TO USE IT:

Use the lightweight jig to lift artwork by the picture wire with the  hooks at the bottom of the jig (above). The center lock knob is loosened and the cross bar is lowered to the top of the picture frame and locked in place – it slides in a dovetail track. Use a couple pieces of blue painters tape to the right and left (or making slight pencil marks on the wall) at the top of the picture frame where the cross bar touch it. Check the small built in level (left) and overall height of the artwork to be sure it is where you want it located.

Take the art off the hooks and place the jig back on the wall lining the locked horizonal cross bar to the painters tape or marks. Then recheck level and put a pencil mark where the “V” notches meet the wall just below the hook (red circles above). Use those marks to line up the bottom of your new picture hooks push or hammer the hooks into the wall. When you hang the artwork, it should hang and STAY level on two new hooks at the correct height.

Category: Archive, Personal, Photos, Woodworking | No Comments »
Tags: artwork, challenge, design, hooks, makers mob, painting, picture, scrapwood, woodworking