July 2011 Archives

Awake: 6:22am      Temp 64      Sleep 6+18      sunny      overnight @ Nicktown. 

Awake: 6:33am      Temp 64      sleep 5+59       mostly sunny      overnight @ Nicktown. 

 Awake: 6:00am     Temp 67     sleep 5+43     cloudy     overnight @ Nicktown. 

This morning, as we were talking with Rosemary & Gary, suddenly we had a dead land line phone. Kathy called them back on our cell phone, but didn't talk very long as she knew I was curious about what had happened & was anxious to start troubleshooting.

I didn't have much time to troubleshoot  as we didn't want to be late for today's invitation to Steve & his wife Heather's party for social, food & later, fireworks. 

The people we don't know? Returning to Nicktown after basically being away for over (40) yrs & trying to recognize someone's grownup son or daughter because you knew their father & mother...is quite the challenge. So yes, Dave & Carol helped us immensely in telling us who is who & where they live, etc. The the food & the varieties of different recipes were most tasty & admired. As the sun began setting, the fire crackers & sparklers were everywhere...until, the big bang came alive. 

Steve had close to (20) min of his own fireworks shooting up into the sky & then bursting with delightful colors with pops & booms. The grand finally is always the best & Steve just kept them coming with the best of booms, colors, & varieties. Thanks to Carol & Dave & their son Steve who gave us a very warm welcome & a delightful evening finish. We certainly appreciated all the good people, conversation, wine, food, & those fireworks. En route to Nicktown, we stopped & watched some more fireworks from the town of Colver.   

Lights out: 12:34am.  

Awake: 5:27am      Temp 55      sleep 5+34      sunny      overnight @ Nicktown. 

Awake: 6:02am      Temp 53      sleep 6+34      sunny      overnight @ Nicktown. 

Awake: 6:20am      Temp 53      sleep 7+10    sunny    overnight @ Nicktown. 

Awake: 6:00am      Temp 57      sleep 6+56      sunny      overnight @ Nicktown.   

Awake: 6:15am      Temp 66      sleep 6+29      off & on light rain      overnight @ Nicktown. 

Awake: 6:34am      Temp 58      sleep 6+55      sunny      overnight @ Nicktown. 

Awake: 6:54am Temp 57 sleep 6+07 sunny overnight @ Nicktown. We called Gary & Rosemary in St. Augustine & we updated each other. Today, in Nicktown is the 4th annual Car Show & 1st annual Craft show. About 1:30pm, Kathy & I walked to the community center & began our tour of the classic automobiles. Here are Kathy & Hurk looking over a classic Model T or A ? People come from near & far to attend these cars shows; here is my 1st cousin from Maryland: Cyril & his son in law Brian; Also my 1st cousin Florentz. My 1st cousin Florentz & I spent a lot of time looking closely @ these classics. Then I switched gears & spent some time with the Foote family @ their table eating hamburgers, hot dogs, etc.I had (1) hamburger. After my hamburger, I walked Matthew all around the autos in the field & pointed out various parts of the autos as best I could; each & every system, unit, etc in a car/truck that makes the automobile run. I think he enjoyed that tour. Next, the fire trucks; this young man could someday be a fireman. Yes, it's a Photo of Andrew with fireman clothes on. And Gregory in driver's seat of fire truck. Then I took a break & checked out the crafts in the gym. To wind up the day with the Foote family, we all had an ice cream bar, cone, etc. After saying our goodbyes & bon voyages to the Foote family, we went back to the M.H., changed clothes & motored to Ebensburg so Kathy & I could mow my brother's lawn before the next rainfall. That took about (2) hrs but we did a good job of it. As we snacked on popcorn, mixed nuts. & a little libation, we watched another 1/4th of the movie: "Wheeler Dealers." Lights out: 11:39pm.

Awake: 6:18am     Temp 59     sleep 5+31     light rain     overnight @ Nicktown.  

After our KK meeting, Kathy went & helped the ladies clean the church; I stayed @ the KK meeting &, then later, removed items from our M. H., & stored them elsewhere. When Kathy returned, she too, got into the cleanup spirit & started to rid ourselves of pamphlets, catalogues, books yet to read, etc, etc. We should reduce some of the M. H's weight in the process. 

K & I attended 6:00pm vigil Mass & afterward, Barry, John, Theresa, Kathy & I had some beer & a lot of good talk. 

Back @ our M.H., we watched 1/8^th of the movie: "Wheeler Dealers." 

Lights out: 12:38am. 

Awake: 6:02am Temp 63 sleep 6+11 cloudy--windy overnight @ Nicktown. 

Awake: 6:22am     Temp 69     sleep 6+55      early morn rain     overnight @ Nicktown.

This morning, all of our KK members were invited over to Janet & Mark's gazebo for breakfast. Janet usually does this nice treat once a year & we all are thankful for her & Mark's generosity, friendliness & social gatherings. Afterward, K & I motored to Johnstown to find the McClure & McClure Company to pick out (3) glass shower doors, which we did, after looking over their samples & giving them the specs necessary to do the job. After that, we climbed back up the hill to the Market Basket & shopped for a few groceries. From there we drove over to Lowe's looking for medicine cabinets. I found one that I liked; it was well built, attractive, & priced right but Kathy did not agree. S-l-o-w-l-y she succumbed & we loaded them in our cart. We also looked @ front door levers, and drawer & cabinet pulls, of which we purchased (29)...all the cabinet pulls that they had. Kathy also bought enough mosaic tiles to finish her backsplash in the kitchen. Dinner: sausage, pasta, peppers, cantaloupe & grapes.

Lights out: 11:51pm.

Awake: 5:38am       Temp 67       sleep 6+25       morning light rain     overnight @ Nicktown.

I continued reading about Culligan & later, the Geo-system.

Late morning, we had a delivery by UPS; the sink part of the pedestal had arrived.

Early afternoon, K & I visited the tile guys & the electrical team; Bob gave us options on what switches we wanted to have dimmed on both the main floor & basement floor.

Later, Kathy went back to the church hall & helped the ladies bag noodles. During her absence, Stephanie from Blume's in Freeport called with a message for Kathy. Then Jill from Showcase Kitchens called; I was able to handle that call. Later, John from Estes delivery service called; the sink part of the pedestal arrived.

Late afternoon, I made several calls to Newell in Miami, OK in reference to my alternator over charging the batteries when the engine rpm is over (700) in our motorhome. I am getting more info from the tech guys as they tell me: the voltage can be lowered. Dinner: Pulled pork sandwich, 4-bean salad, grapes, cantaloupe & chips.

Lights out: 11:27pm.

Awake: 5:58am     Temp 65     sleep 6+53     light rain     overnight @ Nicktown.

K & I left early from the KK meeting; Kathy helped the crew make noodles & I am trying to catch up on lost time. The phone kept me busy for awhile: I had a call from Chuck in Pittsburgh relating to the granite; then a call from Stephanie also relating to the granite. Kathy called me twice & I called her once. After Kathy returned from noodle making, I briefed her on the granite calls & other short calls. Then we returned Gary's call from St. Augustine & discussed the Zack & Katie wedding, the reception, the B-B-Q & the driving trip home.

After that, we went next door & visited the construction team & the tile guys. They are all doing good work. Late afternoon, I took some time to read some of the technical data on the Culligan system. I would not like to be tested on what I read. As for the Geo-thermal technical data, a wee bit more my speed.

Dinner: sausage, pasta, peppers, asparagus & cantaloupe.

Lights out: 11:13pm.

Awake: 6:44am       Temp 65       sleep 6+57       partly sunny      overnight @ Nicktown.

Our appliances arrived this morning @ 10:55am from Cranberry Township, near Pittsburgh. (5) guys were brought along to bring in the heavy boxes, uncrate them & hook them up. The refrigerator was the heaviest by far....with the washer & dryer following. (7) appliances all together...not counting the garbage disposals or the cook-top; the cook-top was found broken at the last minute & will be shipped later.

                               Inside this box is one of the dishwashers. Most of these guys have been with the same appliance company for over (25- 30) yrs. They worked steadily until everything was out of the boxes, crates etc, & plugged in & tested satisfactory.       
                          Later morning, we had another load of brick come in; the pallets were placed in the front of the house, back of the house, & on the side of the house; wherever it was convenient for the bricklayers. I've had my humming bird feeder up & filled with nectar for several weeks now without having any customers ...but today, one little guy paid us a visit.

                              We also had a delivery from UPS this afternoon. Dinner: Tilapia fish with asparagus, spinach salad, rice & grapes.

Lights out: 11:05pm.

Awake: 7:17am       Temp 65      sleep 7+02       partly sunny      overnight @ Nicktown.

Late morning, Nick called & wished me a "Happy Father's Day" & I enjoyed the honor of wishing him a "Happy Father's Day" as well. We talked for quite a while & then I brought Kathy on to share the call. Most of our talk was the updating of our house furnishing & then we heard about his change of plans with his house project. After a good hour of sharing talk of our respective future homes, I went outside to get the BIG BURN pile ready for the Foote family's contribution of stuff.

Around 2:40pm, the Foote family arrived & @ the same time, visitors from a mile away also arrived. Dolly & her mother, Rosemary, were curious to see our house progress also; so I asked Kathy if she would tour D & R while I got started with the Foote family & the burn pile. This time, the roots & stumps were dry & I used a little more gasoline down under to get the fire burning hot. In fact, both the boys & the adults, kept our distance due to the heat from the warmer day & from the burning pile itself. After Kathy finished touring Rosemary & Dolly, we thanked them for their visit & they thanked Kathy for the tour. Then we focused on the Foote family & brought out the pulled pork, hot dogs, s'mores, big strawberries, grapes & chips.

                Later, the BIG BURN was down to ashes & the heat was acceptable.                               Then it was time for the Foote family to leave. The day went fast for us so to slow it down a little, we watched the movie: "It's Love I'm After." We watched ½.

Lights out: 11:47pm.