neohic

Quick little project today. We wanted to add some lighting to the patio but didn’t want to completely commit to anything just yet. I’ve got plans for maybe next year redoing the siding on the house and it also needs a gutter on the kitchen side. She wanted a spot to add some small plants too so I got to thinking. Then tomorrow once the concrete is totally cured I’ll put some crushed granite in and then potting soil over that. Should have plenty of drainage with the braided vinyl hose running through the concrete down to the hole that was already in the bottom of the pot. I really enjoy projects like this! We spent a little more than a few hours on it once we got everything here. There still hasn’t been any real planning involved through any of this. I know that I really should be working on… say… my shop, but this is a good brake to enjoy myself and still talk myself into thinking that I’m still getting something done.

Much easier to do truck things without a top!

So I’m laying in bed last night and woke up to a light pattering of rain on the roof. “Meh… it’s not that bad.” and I fell back asleep. Not even fifteen minutes later and it’s now a healthy downpour! Meanwhile at midnight… … the only tarp I find could probably wrap the whole CJ about four times! Somehow managed to get it wrapped decent with the wind ripping too. So?… … time to let it air out. Driving into work this morning was definitely my happy place.

Still a great looking rig! Don’t be a stranger.

Right?! Now I’m considering a soft so I’ve got fewer excuses to take the top off in the future but I think it’d loose some of its charm without the crew cut on top.

Things happened today. YES!!! I finally took the top off after “test fitting” over the roll cage. I’ve been wanting to paint the very top of the top for a while now and this seemed to be the easiest solution for doing so. Maybe next weekend? Otherwise I had some running around to do along with the annual oil change. Moved up to 15/50. Good day, indeed.

Finally got back to the patio. Outdoor furniture and such to follow.

Funny how we aren’t as young and bullet proof as we once were.

I’ve been making alcohol for almost ten years now. It started with a simple whiskey recipe and then turned into a challenge of how cheap I could fabricate a still. Things escalated from there. Liquor is fun but you also only get about 20% of keepable product from what you start with. Beer is SO much more relaxing to brew and you get a bigger yield. It’s never a bad day when you can sit in the barn for a day with family and get through three batches of different beer recipes.

Racked my porter to the secondary today. Added five pounds of blackberries too. Trying to come up with a catchy name now. “Blackberry bloodbath porter”? Might add a splash of vanilla before bottling too.

Been going about a million miles per hour and so many projects but my own lately. Yesterday was time to pump the brakes. Not sure if this will turn out to be a blackberry porter, a blueberry porter, or some combination of the two perhaps with a splash of vanilla. I’ve got a week to figure it out before adding whatever at the secondary.

Good looking gang. Have fun out there, boys.

^Has a blue Olympic edition.

*waiting patiently to move to Epic threads*

^Started the CC cookbook thread which I thoroughly enjoy.

DANG!!!

Not quite as sweet as I was hoping, but also not all to surprising with how the drive home went.

I used a rattle can.

I used aircraft stripper years ago and it worked out great! The old clear lifted right off, I then gave them a good rinse with water, and they were finished up with fresh clear.

Found some remnants today while I was moving my truck home. Rest in peace, Ape.

Today started out with a continuation of house sitting for my relatives. Typically when we watch the ranch I’ll go out and start the Eliminator. I did this… and then I moved it out… … got fresh gas… rinsed off some dust… … and then I didn’t have a good enough reason to put it back. IMG_2002.MOV My wife was out there with me and she popped the question, “Why can’t we bring it home?” I had no response. Things went great!… for the most part. The drive into town felt like sitting down with an old friend. No excessive heat. No weird smells. Just a nice drive. Then there’s the last bit of the drive up to my place from the Springs that the transmission started shifting in and out of overdrive. No big deal there… it’s a winding pass uphill. Towards the top I noticed a puff of white so I pulled over. Transmission fluid everywhere. I can’t say I’m surprised though. “WHAT?! That mystery used trans I threw in it in 2006 finally blew the front seal?!” Right?… there shouldn’t be any news there especially after sitting for five years. My exhaust agrees with that diagnosis. Something else that my past self should’ve reminded me about was that pesky rear axle seal that was seeping back in 2016. “I’ll fix it when I get out to Colorado” I no doubt thought. Well… … it still leaks! A LOT!!! So, unfortunately, I’ve got some work to do before I can really start to enjoy driving it again, but at least it’s nowhere near as out of sight and out of mind. I’m now forced to move it each time I go out to the shop to work. Welcome home, buddy.

It IS home!!!