*crickets chirping*

Been a bit quiet on the forum front. What is everyone up to?

Usual springtime stuff; finishing putting up wood and cleaning up storm damage; watching new storms do more damage; trying to cut the weeds faster than they grow; re-cutting weeds where I've already cut; repairing and maintaining small engines; sharpening chains and other tools; cleaning out the pond; spraying poison oak and berry vines; re-spraying poison oak and berry vines; prepping house for painting (extensive due to having not done it several years ago when I should have); wondering if I ignore the painting for a few more years if all the old paint will fall off, simplifying the prep; avoiding thinking about putting a new roof on; planning re-plumbing of entire house to minimize time without water; pruning; trying to keep the wife happy; doing most of the above at her place, too; looking for love in all the wrong places; trying to find time to get on the computer; cooking, eating, sleeping and other necessary bodily functions; having a colonoscopy; getting eyes checked; taking meds; forgetting to take meds; paying property taxes; unsuccessfully trying to get said taxes reduced since house value is decreased due to recession/depression and not being painted; trying out new recipes for making cheap dog food palatable; changing from shorts to long pants to long underwear and back again based on whether it's 80 deg F out or snowing; trying to get one or more of the yard cars running; looking for stuff to do to keep from being bored; looking forward to the roses blooming so I can stop and smell them; wondering why the padding in the cell is always dingy white/grey and the helicopters black (doesn't the state have anyone with color sense?); etc.

How about you?

Oops, forgot about making the mounts and putting up solar lights on the outside of the house. And trying to research solar hot water and decide whether it's worth it to put it in while re-plumbing the house, or wait until the price of dog food goes down...

bozo wrote:

Usual springtime stuff; ...); etc.

How about you?

Sounds about what I have been up to but without the Wife. Bought a new (1981) Dozer that I have been getting running, had several people say they would buy my old dozer but somehow never show up to get it. Weather went stormy so I (Spring madness for my race) trawled around a relationship Forum for a week on the computer. Had to turn down all the young rich women that are desperately seeking a old weather/time beaten guy that lives out in the sticks. Decided I better check in with the Forum here and put some time back on it. Now the weather is great outside so will go and cut the lawn/weeds this Afternoon. I avoid the Black helicopters by wearing my "Indiana" hat when on the lawn tractor.

But other than that, doing nothing just like you Bozo.

A little work around the house with things like mowing. Put out some new solar lights, that actually seem to work. Tried some a few years ago that only worked on perfectly sunny days. These new ones charge up on cloudy days too. Had a family reunion over the weekend. Pulling season kicks off in a month so the weekends will be filled with working on our truck. Also still have a program to finish up for that.

@MattB4 - Will my 4 cylinder Camry tow your dozer back to CA? Does the trailer come with it? If so I'm there!

@bdquick - My experience with solar lights exactly. Local hardware store had a really good sale on these, so I thought I'd try a couple. Worked great, except I don't like the lenses that came on them. So I went back and got a few more. These seemed to work good, too, except the one that's got just too much shadow on the north side of the house. But even it works good on a good sunny day. Then I had a bright idea for mounting them minus the lenses on the eaves. So I went back and got a few more and some pieces and parts and am very happy with them. After watching their performance over a three day stormy period, (hail, rain, snow, one of the coldest nights all winter, constant clouds) I'm going to adjust a couple of them, but the worst would light up and dusk and go with useful light until about 3 or 4.

bozo wrote:

@MattB4 - Will my 4 cylinder Camry tow your dozer back to CA? Does the trailer come with it? If so I'm there!

Uhh the old one is 10,000lbs and while I did pull it with a 1/2 ton truck, 6 cylinder in the past, I am thinking your Camry is a bit too little. Sorta like trying to run KDE 4+ on a 386SX processor. However I got just the thing for your Camry http://www.magnatrac.com/

@bozo: in regards to tasty meals using Canine Chow as the basis, had thought of putting up some of my favorites in the recipe Forum. However, at todays prices, I have had to cut back on the expensive foods.

@bozo I'd be interested in seeing how you have the solar lights mounted to the eaves.

@bdquick - I'll see if I can post some pictures tomorrow, probably evening.

@MattB4 - I thought I'd already posted this once, maybe I fell asleep before I clicked send. The Magnatrac looks interesting, but I don't see a drink holder option. I'm afraid that kills the deal. Sorry.

Pet food has become outrageous, especially for us older folks on fixed incomes. However, I've found the markdown section in the local Mexican market. It's amazing the deals you can get on canned tamales in a dented can that's ten years past it's "sell by" date.

@bozo We have a local Amish store much like you're Mexican grocery store. Sometimes they even get dented food that is in date though.

Quote :

Pet food has become outrageous, especially for us older folks on fixed incomes. However, I've found the markdown section in the local Mexican market. It's amazing the deals you can get on canned tamales in a dented can that's ten years past it's "sell by" date.

It is such a shame that the old folks have to resort to eating pet food - didn't realise that the economy was so bad !javascript:emoticonp('')

After just watching our Stock Market plunge nearly 1000 in the space of a few minutes, it may not just be the old folks looking for inexpensive eats.

Quote :

After just watching our Stock Market plunge nearly 1000 in the space of a few minutes, it may not just be the old folks looking for inexpensive eats. affraid

It looked bad, but partially rebounded to close only 347 points down. Wish I had the money to play those short-term spikes and dips. Wonder how Purina did today?

checking my "canned fish" stocks and my stock of canned fish
Well at least fishing for my own lunch is a bit easier this time of year, but the motor boats really leave a poor sap like me with a nasty rash...

Quote :

@bozo I'd be interested in seeing how you have the solar lights mounted to the eaves.

Sorry I've haven't the pictures posted yet. Delay in taking them, now I can't find my camera cable, and the computer won't recognize the SD card. But I haven't forgotten.

bozo wrote:

Quote :

@bozo I'd be interested in seeing how you have the solar lights mounted to the eaves.

Sorry I've haven't the pictures posted yet. Delay in taking them, now I can't find my camera cable, and the computer won't recognize the SD card. But I haven't forgotten.

No problemo

I can't get an image posted here, so just go to:

<http://sites.google.com/site/bozosdump/>

and you should see the lamp mounted on the eave. The bracket is just bar aluminum bent into a stretched out "U" and attached to the lamp with a hose clamp at one end, and screwed to the eave at the other. If something doesn't make sense or you want to see other views, let me know.

I see what you've done. Seems simple enough. My only worry would be the electronics inside the lamp getting wet since the dome is gone. I've been trying to figure out a way I can have enough light to see to put the key in my door at night. I have lights on the side of the house but don't want to leave them on all day.

bdquick wrote:

... I've been trying to figure out a way I can have enough light to see to put the key in my door at night. I have lights on the side of the house but don't want to leave them on all day.

A simple motion sensor works fairly well to turn on a light when you get home. They do not turn on during the day. Big thing is to make sure that the eye points such that it is not set off by blowing debris. Another idea is a radio frequency control that you wire your outdoor light circuit into and carry the transmitter, the one I have is about the size of a key fob (with a key ring ) and I use it to turn on the outdoor floods when I need to see what is sneaking up on me, err... I mean when I need light.

I hate constantly on outdoor night lights so have tried various things including timer switches and the previous named devices.

I've thought about the motion detector and would get one, if I could find one that fit. The lights on the front of my house have a small screw in socket. The remote controlled one would be sweet too, but I'm not sure how hard it would be to wire in. I don't like playing with electricity much. Lately I've also been considering getting outdoor LED lights and just leaving them on. At least it wouldn't take much power.

I believe they make ones that are wired in replacing the light switch. You would have to flip the breaker and swap it out. Shouldn't be too difficult. I did a google search and see many types available. This
mentions dimming but quiet a few other things listed.

Added: I spotted at Amazon. this might be closer to what you are looking for.