Creeker’s past week’s accomplishments

[Rod Sheridan]

Happy Eclipse Day everyone, living where I do we should have a pretty exciting display this afternoon, if the cloud cover disperses.

The woodworking group I belong to had their first lunch get together since the Covid 19 pandemic.

We met at Olde Yorke Fish & Chips and had a great time.

Personally it’s been more kitchen fix up for me, painting is next.

So, what did you do last week?

Regards, Rod

[glenn bradley]

Just fairing a thumbnail profile on a couple of dresser tops.
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My 'useful' part of the day grows shorter and my project timelines extend . . .

[Paul F Franklin]

No real shop time for me. I did assemble the welding cart that I got for my birthday. Mary and I came down with some stomach bug after Easter. (the littles in the family are just germ factories, I swear) Mary had it much worse than me, but I had no appetite and a raging headache for a few days. Recovered in time to play in my first pickleball tournament at the local rec. My partner and I had bad luck in the random bracket draw, playing our first match against the team that eventually won it all, and we got schooled big time. Still fun though. In pickleball, age and treachery is no match for young legs and skill! Changed the oil on Mary's car and put on the summer tires. Her car needs new rear brakes too, so I need to get to that.

We are hoping for clearing skies ahead of the eclipse. Was raining earlier but now is just cloudy. Reasonable chance for clearing, so fingers crossed. Totality is about 3:10 here. We'll set up some lawn chairs and break out a couple of beers for the event.

[Ron Selzer]

Got out of Rehabilitation on Friday 4/5, straight to Surgeon's office for check of the stump, said 2 weeks and staples out. Prothetics rep was there set me up with a few things for caring for the stump. Told me to get a picture and they would put it on my new leg. Much happier recovering at home after 3 weeks in 3 different hospitals. PT scheduled twice a week at home and then when I get my new leg I will switch to outpatient. My older brother installed grab bars in the shower for me, Friday after I got home. In a wheelchair for now, have to stay up on my exercise or will be trapped in the house.
Target date for back in the shop is May 1st, see if I can make it. First thing will be to put everything away, seems like my wife and others can find tools, just pile them on workbench when done or leave the tools wherever in the house.

[Malcolm McLeod]

Happy Eclipse Day everyone, living where I do we should have a pretty exciting display this afternoon, if the cloud cover disperses.
...

Totality passes over the Texas Hill Country as well, but predictions of cloud cover have seemingly dampened the also-predicted influx of insanity.

I passed thru the Hill Country on Sat/Sun from Junction to San Antonio, and back up to Ft Worth (mostly Hwy 281 on the northward swing). We've had enough rain, so the bluebonnets, paintbrush, etc are in full bloom and well worth the trip, eclipse or not. Especially if you've never seen a 400ac pasture in solid blue, or 200miles of multi-colored roadside - on nearly ANY road. I figure another week before they start to fade in the south, and maybe 2-3weeks once north of Waco line.

(Even I-20 - Ft Worth to Abilene - is very well turned out this year.)

[Jim Becker]

Ron, I hope your fitting and rehab go well so you can absolutely get back into the shop at the first of the next month!

I think that this past week "eclipsed" any other week in a long time for time in the shop time actually working on things. After finishing up with some CNC work for a friend, I finally got cracking on building some cabinets for Systainer storage that have been planned for a long time now. There will be thread on this project...still deciding if I should start it now as a build thread or just do the "here's how I did it and it turned out" after it's done. I'm leaning toward the former, but will have to get myself to "do the things" for that. I started with two units but will be buying more material today to build a couple more now that I have things worked out. While generally based on the Tanos plans for their drawers, I'm rolling my own drawer system so getting those correct to handle three generations of the Systainers has been part of the process.

Other activities included mowing for the first time of the year to knock off the high spots, cleaning up a bunch of sticks from last weeks storms plus re-attaching one gutter for the same reason and thinking about some coming home improvement tasks. I'm looking forward to the much warmer weather this week with substantially less rain, so maybe I'll get a few more outside things done, too.

[Kane Bragg]

I was sidetracked by a whistling noise from my wife's Q7 engine. Now in process of pulling supercharger off and replacing PCV valve. ...And while I'm at it, the thermostat. And water pump. And cleaning the intercoolers. And throttle body. And resealing the high pressure injectors. And low pressure. And changing engine oil. And supercharger oil. And coolant. And spark plugs. And breather hoses. Major mission creep and $2K worth of parts and special tools. Brutal. Can't imagine the labor Audi would charge. Their labor rate alone is $245/hour. Back to window and door casings next week...

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[Ken Fitzgerald]

Last week we mowed, trimmed and I put down soil sterilant on the driveways.

In the shop, I got all 3 sections of the tabletop sized to final dimensions. I got the 6 pieces of breadboard ends sized to final dimensions and used a straight cutting bit to mortise them. I was waiting for a DC connection to arrive for my trim router but will use my PC 8529 router to begin the tenoning process. I did get DC adapter ordered for my 6 1/2 cordless circular saw and it arrived yesterday. I will make a quick trip to the hardware store to get a mounting screw to attack it.

[Bruce Wrenn]

Went to friend's beach house to fix dryer outlet, which wasn't wired correctly years a go. Worked on ice dam in bottom of her Sanyo refrigerator, plus got ice maker working. Changed oil in van. Cooked hot dogs for garden club Saturday at annual Azalea sale. Been doing hot dogs for over 30 years now. Sunday afternoon, fixed leaking washer for friend's daughter. Burnt another huge pile of storm debris. Burnt up lot of brain cells working on design of soil trommel, which I will use for sifting potting soil mixes. Replaced leaking pump, and lid switch on our washer Saturday afternoon. Went to Lion's Club fish fry Friday night.

[Bruce Page]

Last week I posted a pic of my MM16 departing. Today, my engine lathe is patiently waiting for the evil forklift to arrive.

[Maurice Mcmurry]

Bruce Page's posts are reminding me of the Stan Rogers song "Last Watch"



They dragged her down, dead, from Tobermory
Too cheap to spare her one last head of steam
Deep in diesel fumes embraced
Rust and soot upon the face of one who was so clean


They brought me here to watch her in the boneyard
Just two old wrecks to spend the night alone
It's the dark inside this evil place
Clouds on the moon hide her disgrace;
This whiskey hides my own


It's the last watch on the Midland
The last watch alone
One last night to love her
The last night she's whole


My guess is that we were young together
Like her's, my strength was young and hard as steel
And like her too, I knew my ground;
I scarcely felt the years go round
In answer to the wheel

[Bruce Page]

That was beautiful Maurice, thank you.

[Dennis Peacock]

Greetings,
I serviced my mower, cleaned up the yard a bit from taking down a very large Red Oak tree that was dying and leaning towards the house. Spent time reworking my old 12' utility trailer. All new wiring, new lights, and new trailer bed. Helped #3 son get his car fixed up from the damage caused from a truck losing a tire in front of him at night, destroying his front bumper, fog lights, grill and under-carriage. The day job has been SUPER busy and I am looking FORWARD to the day I can retire. I turn 65 in June of this year, so I'm hoping I can retire and do things I want to do without all the stress and pressure of computer systems engineering and I.T. Support.
That's it for me.

[Maurice Mcmurry]

That was beautiful Maurice, thank you.

Cheers! The later days are not for wimps. Another song that resonates lately is from Richard Thompson;

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