It's hard to believe that April is almost over - it seems like the month only started a few days ago!
With the warmer weather, it looks like more time will be spent outside. Not necessarily outside enjoying the weather, but outside doing yard work.
It has been a rough winter around the yard - we had some wind and snow storms causing a fair bit of damage to trees that will need to be tended to. There are a lot of broken branches, and some trees may not be able to be saved. Fortunately, those trees are around the periphery of the property, in areas that are allowed to grow wild. So trimming or cutting them won't disturb any esthetics.
Also, one of my big projects this year is going to be the front lawn. It is pretty sad looking right now. A big part of it, as far as I can tell, is that we have eight trees on the from lawn, shading the grass from sunlight and then dropping leaves all over it in the fall. It is also my understanding that the trees make the soil a bit more acidic to discourage growth of other plants. So, I spread some lime on it yesterday - to be followed up with some nitrogen rich fertilizer (grass likes nitrogen) and then probably spreading new grass seed and keeping it watered.
Of course, it is going to be fun trying to fit that in around my work schedule - I lose a nine hour chunk of time every day I work - so yard care will have to either be exclusively on days off or early morning/late evening.
While regular stuff can happen on days off, I think the lawn is going to be an early morning or late evening affair - the lawn is going to need what it needs when it needs it. I am pretty sure that Mother Nature will not wait until it is convenient for me!
Wish me luck.
Wednesday, 26 April 2017
Thursday, 20 April 2017
April 20, 2017
Sometimes I feel overwhelmed by the stuff I have.
I don't think I am alone. In our society, we are expected to be good consumers, but it goes deeper than that. We say we like nice things, or we cling to an inflated sense of value - what we paid for something, or how difficult it was to find or acquire. Or, perhaps worse, we start to see ourselves as collectors.
I have a vinyl collection, about two thousand albums or so. By some measures that is a lot, and compared to some collections that is quite small. The value to me comes from several factors. Firstly it is music I liked enough to buy, it also shows how my interests have changed over the years. If I were to put it in the order I bought it, it would show my musical interests as I age as well as my particular obsessions at a given time.
However much pleasure it gives me, it also is a weight on my mind as I grow older. What to do with it, who would appreciate it, or how to store it. And that is just one area where I have collected things. We all have more than we need, and require more space to store it in.
And yet, I keep purchasing - not just vinyl, or books, or things I would like to own. But we are all expected to own more. My grandparents were happy if they owned a nice radio, or television when it came along. Now our lives are filled with televisions, computers, phones and more in the form of peripherals. Beside my computer I have a multi-function printer on one side, a flatbed scanner on the other, and the router behind me. Don't get me started on kitchen gadgets!
I often think it would be nice to pare things down, to be able to live in a smaller space without feeling cramped. Eventually, to know that when I pass, I haven't left a ton of stuff for someone else to have to decide how to dispose of. Or to have it pared down enough that they can simple move it without multiple trucks and destinations.
The challenge is to do that without losing functionality - and the ability to help oneself. I firmly believe that everyone should have a good, basic set of tools to be able to simple repairs for themselves. A bookcase for their books, for reference, education and pleasure. And so on.
I hope someday to reach that goal.
I don't think I am alone. In our society, we are expected to be good consumers, but it goes deeper than that. We say we like nice things, or we cling to an inflated sense of value - what we paid for something, or how difficult it was to find or acquire. Or, perhaps worse, we start to see ourselves as collectors.
I have a vinyl collection, about two thousand albums or so. By some measures that is a lot, and compared to some collections that is quite small. The value to me comes from several factors. Firstly it is music I liked enough to buy, it also shows how my interests have changed over the years. If I were to put it in the order I bought it, it would show my musical interests as I age as well as my particular obsessions at a given time.
However much pleasure it gives me, it also is a weight on my mind as I grow older. What to do with it, who would appreciate it, or how to store it. And that is just one area where I have collected things. We all have more than we need, and require more space to store it in.
And yet, I keep purchasing - not just vinyl, or books, or things I would like to own. But we are all expected to own more. My grandparents were happy if they owned a nice radio, or television when it came along. Now our lives are filled with televisions, computers, phones and more in the form of peripherals. Beside my computer I have a multi-function printer on one side, a flatbed scanner on the other, and the router behind me. Don't get me started on kitchen gadgets!
I often think it would be nice to pare things down, to be able to live in a smaller space without feeling cramped. Eventually, to know that when I pass, I haven't left a ton of stuff for someone else to have to decide how to dispose of. Or to have it pared down enough that they can simple move it without multiple trucks and destinations.
The challenge is to do that without losing functionality - and the ability to help oneself. I firmly believe that everyone should have a good, basic set of tools to be able to simple repairs for themselves. A bookcase for their books, for reference, education and pleasure. And so on.
I hope someday to reach that goal.
Wednesday, 12 April 2017
April 12, 2017 - Audi A6
Since the scanning of photographs has slowed down, I may as well talk about what is currently occupying my time - I recently purchased a 2000 Audi A6 as a replacement for my 2004 Lincoln Town Car.
The Lincoln has been a great car - but I am getting into issues with it that I would rather not be dealing with, namely rust. I don't mind mechanical repairs or maintenance, but there is something about starting to repair rust damage that makes me really want to avoid it.
So the Audi I purchased has 120,000 km on it and is rust free. That is not to say it doesn't need some TLC or any repair. But I feel I have a good start with the car.
The young man who owned it before me should have bought a truck - that was what he wanted (and is buying now he sod the car). I'm really not sure what made him decide that a car was the way to go, but hopefully this turns out to be to my benefit.
Like most people who are trying to sell a car that is trading for not a lot of cash, he stopped spending money on the car for upkeep. Right now, it really needs a detailing to make it look sharp again, especially the interior. I've wiped up a lot of the coffee stains, but the carpets need to be cleaned and the whole interior cleaned. up.
On to some of the things that need looking after.
When I bought the car it had some lights on - check engine, and a flashing air bag light. A trip to the local service centre cleared the codes, and I'll see what comes back on. I was told the check engine light was due to an O2 sensor, and by the codes the car was showing, that may be the case. I wonder if they appeared because he was running regular fuel instead of the premium that it calls for. No idea what caused the air bag light, but it is gone now too. As I start driving it, I can then figure out what is causing the codes, if they do return.
So, next stop is oil change. These apparently like to run full synthetic - so that is the way to go. It also appears I have an oil leak, so while it is up in the air is a good time to look for that. After that a check of the front end (I have a clunk) and some fresh tires, and I should be good to go!
All in all, not a lot to catch up on when dealing with a seventeen year old car.
But today I am driving the Lincoln - I really want to see 800,000km roll over on it before I start driving the Audi!
The Lincoln has been a great car - but I am getting into issues with it that I would rather not be dealing with, namely rust. I don't mind mechanical repairs or maintenance, but there is something about starting to repair rust damage that makes me really want to avoid it.
So the Audi I purchased has 120,000 km on it and is rust free. That is not to say it doesn't need some TLC or any repair. But I feel I have a good start with the car.
The young man who owned it before me should have bought a truck - that was what he wanted (and is buying now he sod the car). I'm really not sure what made him decide that a car was the way to go, but hopefully this turns out to be to my benefit.
Like most people who are trying to sell a car that is trading for not a lot of cash, he stopped spending money on the car for upkeep. Right now, it really needs a detailing to make it look sharp again, especially the interior. I've wiped up a lot of the coffee stains, but the carpets need to be cleaned and the whole interior cleaned. up.
On to some of the things that need looking after.
When I bought the car it had some lights on - check engine, and a flashing air bag light. A trip to the local service centre cleared the codes, and I'll see what comes back on. I was told the check engine light was due to an O2 sensor, and by the codes the car was showing, that may be the case. I wonder if they appeared because he was running regular fuel instead of the premium that it calls for. No idea what caused the air bag light, but it is gone now too. As I start driving it, I can then figure out what is causing the codes, if they do return.
So, next stop is oil change. These apparently like to run full synthetic - so that is the way to go. It also appears I have an oil leak, so while it is up in the air is a good time to look for that. After that a check of the front end (I have a clunk) and some fresh tires, and I should be good to go!
All in all, not a lot to catch up on when dealing with a seventeen year old car.
But today I am driving the Lincoln - I really want to see 800,000km roll over on it before I start driving the Audi!
Tuesday, 11 April 2017
April 11, 2017
Things are going slowly with my scanning project - things get in the way of having the time to do it.
First, my number of work days doubled - good for me, but not so good when it comes to having time to work on personal projects.
Second, I have been car shopping - on a budget. That means a lot of time searching for sale ads to see both what is available, and to get an idea of pricing. Potential candidates got followed up on by searching car forums to see what other owners have to say.
That was a major time suck - researching models and potential problem areas with each. Especially since I did not have a specific car in mind, but was casting a wide net. The only things crossed off my list were Japanese cars - only because I am not a big fan of them, not because there is anything wrong with them. In fact, if I were being sensible, they should have been my first choice.
But being sensible has never been my strong suit, so I wound up buying a used German car! lol
It will replace my Lincoln Town Car, which currently has over 797,000 km. You read that right, almost 800,000 km on the beast! The only real reason I am getting rid of it is rust issues - mostly my own fault by not undercoating it since I bought it. A lesson learned for the next car.
Well, the next car is here now, and yes, it will be undercoated as soon as I sort out a few things that will need attention. Nothing major, but general stuff that needs to be done when buying a used car: oil change, check the front end, maybe alignment and or tire replacement or rotation. And I like my mechanics too much to make them work on a car with fresh undercoating in the way or dripping on them.
Off to see what I can accomplish today!
First, my number of work days doubled - good for me, but not so good when it comes to having time to work on personal projects.
Second, I have been car shopping - on a budget. That means a lot of time searching for sale ads to see both what is available, and to get an idea of pricing. Potential candidates got followed up on by searching car forums to see what other owners have to say.
That was a major time suck - researching models and potential problem areas with each. Especially since I did not have a specific car in mind, but was casting a wide net. The only things crossed off my list were Japanese cars - only because I am not a big fan of them, not because there is anything wrong with them. In fact, if I were being sensible, they should have been my first choice.
But being sensible has never been my strong suit, so I wound up buying a used German car! lol
It will replace my Lincoln Town Car, which currently has over 797,000 km. You read that right, almost 800,000 km on the beast! The only real reason I am getting rid of it is rust issues - mostly my own fault by not undercoating it since I bought it. A lesson learned for the next car.
Well, the next car is here now, and yes, it will be undercoated as soon as I sort out a few things that will need attention. Nothing major, but general stuff that needs to be done when buying a used car: oil change, check the front end, maybe alignment and or tire replacement or rotation. And I like my mechanics too much to make them work on a car with fresh undercoating in the way or dripping on them.
Off to see what I can accomplish today!
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