Thanksgiving 2010 at the Dutch Treat Loj

DTL - Thanksgiving 2010

Cooper, Jackie-O, and Chico in a quiet moment.

1st Anniversary of Ceiba`s passing

Friday was the 1st anniversary of Ceiba’s passing. It was not as difficult as I would have thought…could have been the weather. It was wet & gloomy all day – nothing like the day she passed. Saturday was unseasonably cold, but Sunday was sunny and cool/warm – just like that final day. Still miss Ceiba a lot, but the pain is not so deep. I remember and miss all the dogs in my life without exception.

Kitchen Appliances on order

New house as you come up the road.

I ordered the kitchen appliances yesterday for the new house. They are all KitchenAid brand located in Greenville, OH. Don’t even want to know where they are manufactured. We think KitchenAid is the top of the game right now – but quality in appliances seems to go from good-to-bad real fast.

All of the appliances are SS which we think will complement the natural hickory cabinets and the dark (‘Expresso’) counter top. The ‘fridge is french door style with a drawer freezer and water/ice on the front (RGH). The range is a slide-in (to the island) with a glass cook top. (Gas was out ’cause we did not want a propane tank in the yard.) The range will have a powered backdraft fan which seems very cool and we won’t have any ductwork up in the beams. Microwave is 180 degrees around on the back wall next to the refrigerator. Ergonomics of the kitchen should be perfect for a cook. Finally, the dishwasher is unique: It a single drawer which means it’s about 1/2 size normal. The idea is to run small loads with less water more frequently. Be interetsing – especially at Thanksgiving.

The real deal was price. I had tried to order at the end of January, but there was a rebate from KA that began on February 1st so I waited. I will get the rebate – $100 per item X 5 items = $500. Not bad. But…the dealer (www.homeclick.com) was running a promotion and I got an additional $399 taken off the total. Nice savings for just waiting 10 days.

We both can hardly wait to see the kitchen when it is finished. Roger and Rick have been working on the cabinets when the weather is bad (mostly rain). When it is nice out they are the ones doing the siding – something like an artist painting a barn. The finished lines of the siding are incredible truly a work of art. How can you be upset that it is taking so long?

Christmas 2008

Spent Christmas at Rushford, NY. Dick and MJ are renting a house on the other side of the lake while their new house is being built. Weather cooperated – rain and warm on the way up, bit of fog and 60ºF on the way back.

Bike Maintenance

Worked on both Austro-Diamlers yesterday (Sunday 21.DEC.08). Got the new fork in the blue one – it fits 35mm Panselas front and rear without deflating. Chris King headset will go on the new (paint) A-D. They both look great.

May Progress Report

I went down to the property at Lake Cumberland on Friday, the 16th of May. Finally seeing some progress. Posts and beams are starting to rise, the skin is on 3 sides – up to the roofline. Met Spike and we spent some time walking and looking and talking. Found a small error that’ll be fixed before it’s too late. Learned that the SIP panels for the roof are in, so, once the roof timbers are in it should be closed in pretty fast. I’d give it 3-4 weeks DOW.

Ceiba [1994-2008] R.I.P.

Halo \’Round The Moon

There’s a halo ’round the moon
So I know it ain’t to blame
‘Cause I knew what love could do
But I loved her just the same
Then I let her slip away
Now I’m all alone and blue
That’s the price I got to pay
There’s a halo ’round the moon

There’s a ghost that haunts this town
Just ask anyone you see
He drags his chain around
And no spell can set him free
And he looks a lot like me
And if you ask him why he’s bound
He’ll just say he lost the key
There’s a ghost that haunts this town

There’s no shelter from the storm
Without the lightnin’ and the rain
And love would hold no charm
If it wasn’t for the pain
And it’s always been that way
No matter what you do
No matter what you say
There’s a halo ’round the moon

Artist: Steve Earle
Song: Halo ‘Round The Moon
Album: Transcendental Blues

I love you, Ceiba.

Hammock Bliss

Graham went to the Bahamas over winter break. He took my Hammock Bliss single with him. They hung it to a tree and, suppossedly, someone different slept in it each night.

Needless to say, it also went back to OU with him rather than back to me. Got to admit, it is a really comfy ride.

No problem, I ordered a new one. I got the double this time and got the very first in their new colors. Had a really good experience ordering it, too. I love doing my business with the small operations. I think this is just a side venture out of their home in Tuscon. Couldn’t hardly wait to hang it and see it in action. I captured Chico getting the first ride.

I tried it out on the weekend, but bailed around 3:30AM. That back porch isn’t heated and it was 30º F. But it is even more comfortable than the single. The extra width allows you to lay diagonal like the Mayans do in Mexico. Isn’t education a wonderful thing?

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Chelsea graduates KSU!

Chelsea graduated Kent State University on December 16, 2006!

Raleigh 20 folder

I bought a Raleigh 20 bike on e-bay last year.

For being 35 years old it was in great shape. There is an interesting history with these: http://www.hadland.me.uk/twenty.htm and also quite an interest in modernizing them as illustrated in the photos at the end. Mine still looks about the same as above (for now).