Welcome to the October 2005 BLOG. Didn't see the end of last month?
Click here: September 05 BLOG

Oct 32, 2005 Tue

Right. Falling a tad behind. It's the weather. Too soggy to think. Warm, but damp. For 'damp', read: raining a lot.

Porch pumpkins - last night. Hooligans smashed one of them, late in the evening, after trick and treating was over. SMASHING PUMPKINS! I said, Well, let's blow out the candles on the rest? She said, Heck no! We're letting them glow and glow.

And we did. No further problems.

The guy with the snoopy/droopy nose grew right in our former compost area, in the alley. Evie gave him his face.

Herself, as 'Hermione', with the red eyed white pumpkin - Lord Voltemort!

The girls (Janell) heading out. Evelyn had such a haul, she was willing to part with some of the booty. I ate five candy bars before bed. Can you say, Silly?

Oh oh - another scooter picture sneaks in! Plenty warm enough to ride - if it'd ever DRY UP.

The Mayor has been at it, again.
You may recall that he is a denizen of the Windy City, and those folks are all Ga Ga because their baseball team won the World Series for the first time in eighty odd years. Jim got some REALLY great photos, which he is kind enough to share. Check them out, HERE

Oct 30, 2005 Sun

It's raining. We lit the pumpkins, for effect, anyway, and grabbed a quick time exposure w/o the tripod. They look really cool.

The rain was actually a blessing, today. No scooter riding, that's true. But when a five gallon paint container tipped over and lost it's lid in the back of the truck, it wasn't the end of the world. We did leave some paint through Burlington. . .

It did take a few hours with soap and scrub brushes to get Big Bob back to normal. Since it was raining, and the paint was latex, well - it could have been much worse. All's well that ends well.

Here's one
tired puppy ready for sleep.

Oct 29, 2005 Sat

What a beautiful fall day. Ann and I scootered to La Conner, for early morning (before noon) recreation. This is a fairly short ride, less than 10 miles, taking the back roads. We were OK (as in, warm enough) in the sun, going under about 35 mph. Temps were just over 50 degrees. We'll still need some additional layers for higher speeds. A hot coffee and walk downtown felt pretty good. Note the Rainbow Bridge in the background.

Can't pass up a train sculpture ~ 

This is the first actual use of our new drive way! Ann backed Big Bob - her Toyota - up to where it was easy to load trash for a trip to the dump, tomorrow. The new shed arrives in two weeks.

The cats are very happy to have renewed access to their wire house. It got re attached to the building today, and the pet door is working again, after a several week hiatus. During which time they had to seek out their litter box in different locations each day. They had no 'kitty mistakes' during the interim, we are glad to report. Note: temps still in the fifties, after 7 PM.

This might be one of Heidi's Calendar pictures, for next year?

Robert has agreed to let us show a very reduced picture of one of his paintings. Thank you!

Oct 27, 2005 Thu

Note date and year, and author. . .

photo by Ann - Yes, Mom, I'm carving my pumpkin. . .

Wow! Are these all for ME?

Oct 25, 2005 Tue

The plumber(s) did some yeoman work, today. Two fellows, and they were good, true and FAST! I guess that's how they make the big bucks? Find a photo record
here: (hint - this is also the 'house' link at the top of the page)

Not such good luck with the furnace guys. They, too, traveled in pairs. However - they were BIG fellows - well over six feet tall and well into the two hundred pound class. It was a squeeze to get them under the house. But, squeeze they did - and allowed that this work was not in their area of expertise. Apparently, our ductwork is of the 'cheapo' variety. It can be fixed, but we'll have to hope that the guy coming tomorrow will do it - since these guys wouldn't. It's OK to be picky. At least I had a better grasp of what to ask for, after they left.

Tizzy is getting so BIG!  (nother HINT: this is also a link at the top of the page. . .)

Oct 22, 2005 Sat

Linda sends along some pictures from their recent trip with Dick and Laura to Greece. Here's Laura and John.

Linda, herownself - obviously dressed for some under water activity. . .

Dick and Laura

Before I get any more grief for poking fun at a local monument - let me hasten to add that the 'Lady of the Sea' watches eternally for homecoming sailors. This was, is and will be a fishing community.


The 'new boat' at the end of the street is growing by leaps and layers. And, what's that boat in the background? Yes! The Hugh R. Sharp, (mentioned below on the 11th) out of the water once again, for additional fine tuning.

Oct 20, 2005 Thu

We have a famous statue here in town, down by the water, and this is it. It's called; 'Woman Guzzling the Last'.

Opps. Nother scooter picture slipped in. . .

Those were from yesterday. Today was sunny, and things happened. No more beams holding up the house! Also, more puppy stuff.

Those links are now at the top of this page - didja' notice?

Oct 19, 2005 Wed

Amidst the turmoil of a house on stilts  (iron beams?) - life goes on. Including the regular computer chores of maintenance and back up. The fine print (in the photo below) says: small external hard drive. In this case a Toshiba Laptop HD, that hooks up to Ann's (or any) computer via a USB port. One simply 'drags' her documents onto the device (in Windows Explorer) and sits back. If her computer doesn't fail this month or next, we can do it again. If it does, she doesn't lose everything.

We hesitate to sound like the voice of doom, but sooner or later -

Have we not all had catastrophic computer failures? Lost everything. It only has to happen once. Then one becomes a believer - back up back up back up.

Oct 17, 2005 Mon

This is Evelyn's first year 'En Pointe'! It only took ten years - yes - that's right - since before age four. No wonder she's so good!

Ann got a better (what a surprise!) picture of Matt and Heidi (and Tizzy) yesterday. Sure - she used 'props'!

Two other family members are making the news. My sister, Mardi Black, and Barb's husband Paul - Architect extraudinaire! (Paul has done the drawings for our contemplated upstairs work. For which we will be eternally grateful.)

Mardi got herself published in the Wayne State Law Review. She was keeping it a secret, but Dad gave it away, and told me. Then I asked for a copy.

Paul had some of his fine architectural work featured in the Skagit Valley Herald - our main local 'rag'. This is a high compliment.
Paul designed this front page HOME!

Oct 16, 2005 Sun

The rains come to WA. Warm, but damp. Should blow over by this afternoon, is what this eternal optimist is hoping. The inside work on the back room  will no doubt continue, regardless.

It did quit long enough to scooter over to Dick's and snap these couple pictures of Heidi and Matt.

With Anna~

Matt works on this research vessel~ seen at the Dakota open house last weekend. (mentioned below on Oct. 11th)

Well, you know Tizzy   went to visit, of course.

Brett and Amy send along some pictures. The new deck, that Jake helped build. It survived everything Florida weather could throw at it.

Amy and Hogan

Oct 14, 2005 Fri

Here's Fae, atop Mt. Erie, the highest point on our Island - over looking Fidalgo Bay, and incidentally, Barb and Paul's driveway. They overlook Campbell Lake - the only lake on an island that has its own island! As we've mentioned, it's in Trivial Pursuit. . .

Fae took this picture of Cass at work - who else could stay up that late?

The daylight at the bottom of this picture of our back room, (now with the interior wall surface removed) is daylight. This is bad. We are trying to remedy the situation.

This splendid piece of furniture was made by none other than Robert Smock, age 80. His first attempt ever at woodworking. It is yet to be stained, etc. I, for one, am amazed. Dad, the absent minded professor, could never change a light bulb.

Oct 13, 2005 Thu

Yes, it was sunny and in the sixties, and I rode everywhere - out to Barb and Paul's, downtown, uptown, around town. Lovely.

The giant zucchini that Grandma Laura grew. Or, should we say, left unattended? It grew to this incredible size while they were in Greece. Delicious, too. We've been eating it for days, and it isn't half gone!

No additions to the puppy page - it's right here, today~

Here's Tizzy and Ann, both nearly ready for bed. Tizzy's eyes flash blue, instead of red!? That's a puppy yawn. . .

The porch   is now block instead of brick. These guys are fast.

These should be on the boatblog - maybe tomorrow. There's a story, here.

Oct 12, 2005 Wed

What's going on with the house, you may ask?

Well. Aside from finding so much rotted wood in the back room, we are now using the same foundation blocks under the porch. Bye-bye bricks. This will be more appealing to the eye, you see. Ann figured that if these guys can hold up the entire house - well over thirty tons - they could hold up the porch slab and replace the bricks. And that's just what they're doing.

It just occurred to us that the boat we toured over the weekend, Research Vessel Hugh R. Sharp, is
THIS BOAT! that we followed in the boatblog all last year while it was being built. Almost didn't recognize the completed product.

Oct 11, 2005 Tue

The local boat builders, well, one of them, had an open house. One might tour the facilities, board some of the boats, eat donuts and drink coffee. It was fun. We rode the scooter down there, (all of 10 blocks) and took the following pictures: (the rain held off!)
This is a research vessel - the Hugh R. Sharp.  It has been built by the Dakota Industries, Anacortes Shipyard. It is simply beautiful, inside and out - and is ready to set out for Hawaii, next week.

Ann, below the pilot house

Ann, in the pilot house

A sea critter dived just as I snapped - a Harbor Seal, we are pretty sure.

Now. Here is an interesting shot. First, let me say that ALL the work (well, most) you see here, was done by Ann. She discovered some rotted wood in our back room, and took after it like a terrier with a rat. We have some big work ahead of us, here. The floor is rotted. The joists under the floor, too. We did know about those, from the foundation fellows. Sadly, the 2 x 4's IN the wall, are rotted off at the bottom. Not much holding THIS wall in place. Oh well, no time like the present to replace and repair. The sawdust? The area in between the 2 x 4's is filled with it, as insulation. A common thing, 75 years ago.

Oct 08, 2005 Sat

We keep forgetting to mention this page:
Great summer pictures

This picture from yesterday ~

Actually was this picture, with some fast Adobe stuff.

To put us on this road by the water. Had to take the sunshade off my helmet - the wind was catching it on the freeway, and lifting it back. This was on the Bay road, yesterday. I know, too many new scooter pictures. OK, I'll try to lighten up. . .

Chico zonked by the fire. The
puppy (you might 'click' this link)  wears him out!

Here is Ann and Tizzy this morning, as we headed out (in the dang car) :))) for a ride down to Edmonds, where the Tuffshed dealer may be found. We wanted to inspect their product. We did. We liked it. This may do for an additional back yard storage/bike building.

Tuffshed 
we'd get something like this, but with a different roof.

Oct 07, 2005 Fri

The rains let up this afternoon, with predictable results.

Added to the

Oct 06, 2005 Thu

Too busy with new TOYS!

Oh, we are loving this! No more Goldwing. Sold. Stepped up a few years, (about ten) to this Honda Shadow. Still plenty old, a '92. But, as friend Dave from TX says, 'deals are to be had on sound, well kept machines, with low mileage'. We are finally on a bike that 'feels' just right. Low to the ground, and much lighter than the trusty Goldwing. Plus, a thumping, rumbling V-twin. Oh, we are feeling very cool. That's what the previous owner's wife had to say about her husband - 'When he's riding, he thinks he's so cool.' She did ride on the back, and spoke well of the experience. They sold because he, at 6'5", needed a Goldwing. I sold the GW to a 6'4" fellow. It fit him like a glove. This scooter fits me like a glove. Before making the deal, we had driven up to Bellingham, so that we could take it for a spin. That's what made up our minds. We both loved it!

Tizzy! - the new puppy, you'll recall - gets a
puppy page! 

Also, work progresses an the FOUNDATION 

Oct 04, 2005 Tue

Late addition - yup - back from Bellingham.

Used motorcycle.

Yesterday and today see our foundation taking shape.
Time to lay some block 

Oct 02, 2005 Sun

Evie's school picture -

A quiet Sunday. No fellows working under the house. And finally, just Ann and I. Well, and two dogs and two cats. Earlier, however, Barb and Paul and Anna had stopped by, to visit with us? No, to see the puppy. Ann found this swell cage/pen thingy that is adjustable into several shapes and sizes. Chico is so jealous that he actually WANTS to be put in there. For about thirty seconds. He has also crept into the puppies wee 'crate' when no one was looking. Ann suggests that he's merely checking for treats, not regressing.

Still not much more than a handful.

This picture of Noah went into the wrong folder - this is where it belongs. Noah lives next door. We're pals. That's Noah's sisters (Hannah and Mary) and Mom, below. Missing is brother Nathan - at football practise.

Oct 01, 2005 Sat

The combined excitement of pouring cement  and the new puppy, brings over the neighbors, from next door and across the street.

Ann and I drove to Bellingham today to test drive this scooter. We are within a couple hundred bucks of agreeing on a price. That is, with the current owner, Ann and I already agree ~ we want it ~

You can't tell from this photo, but there is a seat for Ann, with a stout padded 'Sissy Bar'.

Sep 30, 2005 Fri

Just to be different, and because we're stuck here with the contractors anyway - we'll start the October Blog page a day early, instead of three days late. So, don't be put off by the Sept starting date - this is the Oct blog.

After day long heavy rains yesterday, the weather again decides to cooperate. We are very close to pouring cement under the house. I know, we've been saying that for days, it seems. Waiting on the City Inspector, once again. It seems they either come out before you're quite ready, or not at all?

Bad enough to have the whole house sitting up like a begging dog, now there are gaping openings in the back fence, and gaping holes in the back porch floor. See the pictures.