Coffee June 16th

Grab your boots and rake. Right after coffee we're going to go pour a 910 square foot concrete slab. But, now, the coffee is deep & rich & although breakfast has to be quick it can still be tasty. The regular cook is still asleep so Jimmy Dean will be making breakfast sandwiches. Your choice of sausage biscuit or sausage English muffin. I've had a few very poor frozen breakfast sandwiches, but Jimmy Dean's pass my test..... if I try a frozen anything and the dogs get more than I do, it doesn't get purchased ever again. Jimmy's are a bit costly but a couple times a year, OK.

OK... The concrete trucks will land at Joes at 7AM sharp. Looks like I am master of ceremony. Didn't anyone watch last time? I will be leaving right after bull floating as before noon I will be 50 miles to the north and again as master of ceremonies. I'll be taking off my boots and putting on my minister hat. Aunt Iva passed away & I will be saying the words as her ashes are put in the ground. She's the last of five sisters, one of which was my mother in law. She walked with two canes he entire life, but always, always brought a smile where ever she went.

This time next week I expect the AA will be snuffed. I finally have time to install that new fangled hybrid electricalized domestic hot water heater.

Hug your loved ones & enjoy the weekend.

Morning Freddy! Coffee is great and greatly appreciated too! Agreed, the Jimmy Dean sandwiches are the best substitute for hiring a breakfast chef. Which ever one you this direction is okay, they're both tasty.

Sounds like you've got a bid day ahead being the MC at both events. Laying down concrete isn't something everyone wants to learn, even though they should especially in times like these. Sorry to hear about the last Aunt passing but it sounds like she left everyone with a good memory.

We up early to see my son and his GF off on their big road trip. West-ward HO! They've got a great itinerary planned to visit the Midwest & Western states and the Nation's parks and roadside Americana institutions. Camping most of the way along the loop they've planned. We'll be waiting to see the pictures and emails they send along the way.

It's Father's Day weekend everyone. Enjoy tomorrow

Sorry to hear about your Aunt Iva, Freddy. Sounds like she was one of the last of a great generation. Good time of year to do concrete. Cooler in the morning but warms quickly to help the concrete cure. Myself, just grabbing a quick cup and loading the twins into the truck. They are desperately needed to be participants in a American Legion baseball doubleheader. This happenes both Saturdays and Sundays for most of the summer. Today's games are in Montreal. Nice ride! Good to be a proud Dad

I’ll tell you what Freddy, I will stop in and grab one of Jimmy Dean’s sandwiches and suck up lots of coffee and tell you everything you need to know about how to pour concrete. When you aren’t looking I’ll grab another breakfast sandwich and find an excuse for not being able to help with the concrete project. I am allergic to hard work, I break out in a sweat and get exhausted. My homeopath told me to sit in an air conditioned room, watch TV or something like that while drinking a specially prepared tonic made of fermented barley and hops. So far I believe it is working.

Summer is soon here and the 4th of July is just around the corner. I hope everyone has their stash of pyrotechnic devices. Remember: if you didn’t loose a limb or start a wildfire just how good of a time did you have? Personally I will be in Cambridge, MA to see the fireworks and hear the Boston Pops. (Sorry SMITTY)

Last night some guy walked a tightrope from the US to Canada and I don’t know why, I guess nobody told him about the bridge.

Other exciting events; last Saturday night we came home to a small (about 2’) black snake stretched out on the living room floor. An unwelcome and unexpected visitor. The hard part will be figuring out how he got here. I heard that this house had snakes in before I owned it and it is not all that uncommon around here for black snakes to find their way into stone wall cellars. The old timers will tell you that a black snake in the cellar is a good thing. I see things a bit differently; I wish they would stay out of the house.

Have a good weekend. ‘till next time….

Sorry to hear about Aunt as well, most people it seems never learn that a smile is something that not only helps others but makes your burden lighter as well. I'm off to learn how to run my neighbors baler, one of those that rolls & ties & puts plastic around then craps it out the back. I'm sure the novelty will wear off quick but "hay" it's another line on my resume.

Sorry about your Aunt my friend. I'll do some of that Jimmy Dean in her memory. Souunds like she had a good run & made the best of her situation. My youngest girl (22) has returned to the nest. Took her 1 day to get a part time job at the local grocery market & has an appt. with ATT cell in Cortland Tues. She has done the ATT thing before in Fla. Off to look at some Herefords this Am w/ an Amish neighbor. I hate this hot muggy stuff we are having right now. Have a good week end all. I'll drop my bull float off on my way to Cincy Freddy. Not much of a learning curve there Freddy.

Morning all, another cool morning in the high 50's. Nice sleeping weather. Supposed to stay under 80 today.

Sorry to hear about your Aunt, Freddy. My grandmother was one of five, as well. They're all gone now, too. Life goes on.....

This year, I am trying the lightbulb method of keeping the rust out of my stove. Placed a 75watt in it. We'll see how that works out. Since it shines thru the glass, it makes a nice night-lite for that room.

I got 2 Quads in my workshop. One of them has a crankcase (and CYLINDERS) full of gas. I think I figured this one out last night.
The other one leaked fuel out the bowl over-flow. No problem... take the bowl off and clean the float and metering needle. Now it idles high when it gets warmed up, and no amount of cranking out the idle screw will fix it.. I think the metering screw is not fully blocking the gas.

Have a good one!

Thanks for all the kind thoughts.... concrete, done. Now headed north. After that....Ahhhhhh.... time to do nuthin! Maybe watch Tiger Woods lose another.


Hope you all have a smooth day!

Good morning all! Freddy, glad you were able to say a few words at your aunt's memorial.. It's a great honor to do that.. Celebrate and commemorate someones life on this earth. Sounds like the lady made the most of her stay.

I'm finally done with preparing for the big party next weekend.. looks like around 35-40 people on saturday for the tour and evening party, then over 110 on the list for Sunday, the BIG BBQ, and 'car show'.. gonna be 9 or 10 Pierce arrows, and about 15 other old cars from the 20's thru the 70's.
Should be good times for all.

I did manage to get the shop neat and clean.. well as neat and clean as it's gonna get !! I even mopped the floor !!

Now i'm finishing up work and preparations on my three cars I'm taking to the National Meet of the Pierce Arrow Society in Western Michigan.. centered around Kalamazoo this year. Next year it's in Carson City Nevada !! Then Rhode Island in 2014.

I hope everyone has a great weekend !!

Greg

Morning. coffee was good. early morning walk thru park and woods was beautiful before all the yard work.

sorry Freddy for your loss. God speed your MIL to heaven.

Condolences about aunt Ida. I had the convenience of the Jimmy Dean breakfast when I was commuting to the shore for work. Not too shabby and quick as can be.

Curious Freddy, did you put a vapor barrier down under the slab? Gravel? Fiber reinforced or rebar? The guy that helped me put the slab in the shop here had a method I didn't like, and the slab came out only acceptable but not the way I would have liked. I had the two car garage area prepared and a 18' screed board ready to pull across the pour. He didn't want to do it that way; instead put little stakes across the dirt floor to determine the 4" depth. He did not believe in putting a vapor barrier down either. Then as soon as the mix was in, he took off with his buddy. The mix started to firm up before I could possibly get it floated nicely. Still better than the way it was and saved a lot. I didn't realize at the time I was charged for less than a full load. Could have made a sidewalk for the same cost.
Looks like Greg has some nice toys, maybe The American Pickers will stop by.
I'm trying to move my coal in one bin to the back shed to make room for more junk. One barrow at a time, and there's a lot of fines in the stuff I have. I really want to make a sifter for the coming season.

Dann757 wrote:did you put a vapor barrier down under the slab? Gravel? Fiber reinforced or rebar?

This slab is for a mobile home so it doesn't need to be anything but heavy. The law in that town says all mobile homes will be secured to a concrete slab. It did get some rebar ( I hate "chicken wire") , but no vapor barrier as the floor of the mobile home is a vapor barrier. It did have a nice bed to go on. Earth removed, gravel filled in about 12" deep and compacted.

If it were for some other purpose then for sure 6 mil plastic is a good thing. Then shovel a ditch all around the outside edge so the outside foot is perhaps 9 inches thick. Suspend rebar into that ditch so you get double rebar on the edge four to 6 inches from the edge. Then rebar a foot from that, then rebar every 2 feet. Hold the rebar off the ground with pieces of broken brick. I've had good luck with that. Insulation? 2" of blue board. If you insulate, instead of digging a ditch, you make a flat slope over 2 feet so the edge angles from the floor thickness to 8" or so at the very edge.

Freddy. Very sorry to hear about your aunt. Hope the slab came out nice. Coffee is always good and look forward to everyones post on sat mornings. Thanks Jeff. HAPPY FATHERS DAY to all dads

Good afternoon all,
Sorry about your aunt Freddie, sounds like she was a good person to have around. Positive attitude and all. I like your method for pouring a slab a little more depth around the edges and you would have a true Alaskan floating slab!! Very rugged, last forever. If it's good enough up there it is good anywhere!! Happy Father's day to all my friend fathers on here. Enjoy the day you have earned it!

Yeah sorry to hear about that Freddy. Seems we've been on a bad stretch these past few Coffee's with losing loved ones & pets.



I finally got the lawn all taken care of. Been so busy, I haven't mowed in over 2 weeks ... and haven't weedwacked in over a month! I went through almost a tank and a half on the weedwacker! Lots o grass ... and mud ... and a few frogs & snakes .... flyin' everywhere! Did most of my street, and the whole swamp in my yard, plus all the trees, sheds, trailers, tires, and everything else with 4' tall grass around it. My forearm is killing me! And my back! Looks a little more presentable now though.

Got to take a rip on the RD today with a buddy of mine. Been so damn busy - was nice to take a break. The bike was LOVING this cool air! Mega HP!! WOOHOO!! Fun stuff. Was the first time my buddy has seen the bike run/ride since I restored it. Being a Harley guy, he was a little disappointed to see it parked outside when he rolled up. "Your riding THAT today???" When I left my street in a quarter-mile-long wheelie, he began to respect the bike. By the end of the day, he wanted to look for one for himself! The RD is to be respected dammit!

Made some progress on my buddy's '83 Honda Nighthawk 650 (CB650SC). Got all the t/s stalks replaced, hydraulic clutch working after removing the jello fluid, and started on the forks. Lots of rust that needs to be sanded, and pits that need epoxy. I'm praying the seals don't leak after all this ...




I'll take that muggy air from you Fred - I froze my ass off tonight on the bike! BRRR! Forecast for 90's all next week, so that won't be an issue going forward. I HATE being cold!

GAW - be careful in Cambridge!! The Constitution does not apply there!! Well, it doesn't really apply anywhere in MA, but even LESS so in Cambridge! Don't scare anyone - that's a jail-able offense! I seriously read that on their bylaws online ....

SWEET garage Greg! Even got nice vintage gas pumps too! SWEEEEEET!! I love those cars. If there's ever an event out this way I'll have to try to go ... although I'd probably get thrown out ...