Posted By RichC on May 30, 2024
Another reminder that Liberty Township, Ohio is becoming less rural and a bit more suburban as the years go by. Commercial development is creeping closer to our neighborhood as the barn has been torn down after the passing of our farmer (turned doghouse builder) during COVID. ☹️
I thought for a moment that a new family “renting” it might buy and fix it up, but that was not to be … it sold to a newly formed LLC run by Gregory Dixon, the CEO of Hillandale Communities. I suspect something to do with outpatient services??? It could be worse.
Thankfully it is through the backyard trees and across the road from us, but still gives me pause. Hm .. like Sheldon Cooper on Young Sheldon and the Big Bang Theory, I do not do well with change.
EDIT ADD 6/4/2024: The farmhouse is now gone too. ☹️
Category: Archive, Local, Misc |
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Tags: backyard, barn, builder, development, doghouse, liberty township, ohio, rural
Posted By RichC on May 29, 2024
Last weekend Drew and Katelyn discussed their plans to bury pipes with yard pop-up that lead from their homes’ gutters and downspouts. I mentioned that I thought having downspout traps was essential when living on a property with trees, especially with underground drainage tiles. 
I think they agreed and will be adding them while finished at their new home … we did “eventually” did when replacing our gutters.
I suspect our underground pipes already have blockage due to years without downspout traps, but am hopeful that much of what flowed into those pipes was before our trees were larger (although I doubt it). Anyway, it is good to pass on to others some advice and tidbits to readers from this homeowner who may have learned the hard way?
Category: Advice, Personal, Photos, Tidbits |
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Tags: downspouts, filter, gutters, homebuilding, homeownership, traps
Posted By RichC on May 28, 2024
My son-in-law Drew sent a photo (below) of the Oostra family after spotting a Tesla Cyber Truck in Toledo, Ohio over the weekend … and knowing his consistant interest, I won’t be surprise to see one in their garage someday!
He has been “ogling” them since Elon Musk first announced the new truck in 2019 … and seeing that the family is outgrowing Drew’s Tesla Model 3 (girls are now 4 and 7), I suspect Drew will be trying to talk Katelyn into upgrading (I remember justifying by using the safer while traveling pitch and a “steal-of-a-deal” estate sale buy when talking Brenda into our 1987 Mercedes Benz 560SEL). Good family times! 😊
Category: Automotive, Memories, Personal, Photos |
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Tags: cybertruck, drew, family, ohio, tesla, toledo
Posted By RichC on May 27, 2024
Each year Memorial Day holiday often brings out the best in Americans. Those I know, at least give “thought” to the service men and women who fought and died to protect and preserve our country, our freedom and way of life. It is of course, will never be enough appreciation from those of us who benefited from, but were not even called to serve, and it is hard to fathom, at least for me, just how many patriots have given their lives for our country … and how many families suffered loss.
This year I thought about the the never-ending scroll of faces on just one of the X.com Remember The Fallen posters that I follow. Even just quickly glancing at each of the heroes listed for one year makes one realize just how many Americans served and died to preserve America. Too many have given too much for us to take our country and freedom for granted.
Category: Holiday, Millitary, Social Media, Video |
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Tags: flag, Memorial Day, mp4, Remember the fallen, remembrance, scrolling, x.com
Posted By RichC on May 26, 2024
Here’s an interesting rainy weekend workshop project idea: A squeeze clamp drill press vice to hold smaller items securely. Hm … looks interesting and simple enough.
I currently use a classic Jorgensen wood clamp called a Jorgensen Handscrew (above) to hold pieces while using the small drill press, but could use something like this. Check out the “how to” video below the break.
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Category: How-To, Video, Woodworking |
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Tags: jig, vise, woodworking, workshop, youtube
Posted By RichC on May 25, 2024
No matter how I set the trigger, our friendly cardinal regularly triggers a warning on our Wyze Cam. He is enjoyable to watch and so I really don’t mind it.
On the other hand, I DO MIND the price increases hitting Americans at the gas pump, grocery store and restaurants … not to mention nearly everything else we buy! This month after month of elevated inflation is due in part by the heavy spending and money printing by our government. Congress does little to curtail giving out money for ever cause … or to other countries fighting to protect their borders and people (better wars are overseas perhaps?) President Biden doesn’t help matters with his administrations terrible policies from energy, to forgiving debt for votes to handouts for every illegal crossing the border. Grr … don’t get me started.
Now that we no longer have a family at home and are thinking about “collecting rather than paying into Social Security“ (concerning Barron’s snippet above), I thought my wife and I wouldn’t have to think all that much about the family budget and retirement enjoyment … but frankly even going out for a lunch is frustrating. Not only can’t we stop in expensively at McDonald’s for an unsatisfying fast food stop, but we can no longer comfortably sit down at Panera Bread to eat lunch on the road for $20. One would assume a cup of soup and a pick 2 half sandwich and cup of soup would be reasonable? Nope … and that’s without nagging for a “no real service” tip! 😡
Category: Business, Financial, Politics, Video |
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Tags: barrons, bird, Cam, cardinal, economy, inflation, medicare, mp4, panera, security, social security, wyze
Posted By RichC on May 24, 2024
Although it is not an immediate need, the “want” in me is growing. My 2017 iPhone 7 plus is really starting to feel old; even my daughter mentioned that my shared photos were not the quality that they should be — she has a fair point.
Phone cameras aside, the device I use the most is my aging pre-2020 iPad and sluggish, slow-to-connect, Brydge Bluetooth keyboard too. Using it as often as I do, the slowness is starting to bug me. Along with my older mobile iOS versions on both devices, not being able to update apps is becoming a problem. I can no longer use 2-factor authentication via app, but have to default to text messaging (whew, glad there is a secondary way to authenticate).
So … this leads me to checking on the latest iPads from Apple that were announced this May 2024 and in particular the mid-priced iPad Air (still more expensive that I would like). I made an inquiry with Brydge under their new Uinta Products ownership and am not happy with their current cheaper “plastic” product offerings. They sent me back a reply which indicated that there is a new aluminum keyboard in the pipeline which is still a couple months away — so I will wait a bit (the Magic Keyboard at $300 (left) is too pricey).
I “won’t“ buy an iPad without a keyboard, so we will see how desperate I am in early fall?
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Category: Apple, Cellphone, Gadget, Tablet, Technology |
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Tags: apple, ipad, iphone, tablet, tech friday, techfriday
Posted By RichC on May 23, 2024
Upstairs in the Western NY Farmhouse Barn’s workshop in 2013
In keeping with the occasional ThrowBack Thursday #TBT, the above was a pano photo of DadH’s workshop after he passed away. I mentioned to Brenda that I wondered 
how he was able to climb the stairs of the barn and work on such a large refinishing project … and she then asked, “I wonder what happened to it?” (I think it was a project for her sister Ann and Gary)
While remembering our parents’ cemetery markers this week, I took a photo of the farmhouse “buttercup” transplants growing off the corner of our back patio … I know Chris has them around her house too (I mention in 2022 as well).
EDIT Add 5/26/2024: Just a Worker Bee visiting the buttercups.
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Category: Memories, Personal, Photos, Social Media, TBT, Video |
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Tags: barn, bees, buttercups, dadh, family, farmhouse, flowers, momh, mp4, sister, TBT, workshop
Posted By RichC on May 22, 2024
This content is restricted.
Category: Archive, Personal, Photos |
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Tags: annalyn, dance, drew, ellerie, family, katelyn, ohio, oostra, recital, whitehouse
Posted By RichC on May 21, 2024
See below … 😉
While we were under a Tornado warning earlier this month, I was outside in the backyard watching the storms to the north of our house (over the roof). There was A LOT of lightning, but surprisingly not all that much thunder?
AND since today is my brother’s birthday, Happy Birthday Ron!! Congratulations to both you and Claire in closing on the property where we grew up. I can’t wait to visit.
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Category: Archive, Personal, Photos, Tidbits, Video, Weather |
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Tags: backyard, filler, mp4, ronc, thunderstorm, video
