I've been really into this construction thing since Christmas when my wife gave me a Kato SD-40-2 and I started work on my benchwork. But lately, I find myself getting lazy. Too much springtime yard work to be done... getting the garden ready and planted and general "spring" stuff. Anyone else? D6
Ohhhh Yeahhhh...I am definately in the same boat! Yard work, bike riding etc... not to mention that the field season is starting for me so I will be out of town a lot (Wyoming next week, New Mexico soon after....) so the railroad work has slowed. I was able to start a backdrop recently though! John
Sorry to run contrary to the trend, but I've been hitting it pretty hard lately. Here in Texas, its been nice out for over a month. With being on here daily, and going to an operating session on a GREAT layout (first time I was ever at one) last week, I'm really making progress. Each time I walk into the train room (oops, nursery, sorry honey) I decide what of 3-4 projects I want to work on: ballast, detailing engines, scenery, adding trees. I'm enjoying this hobby now more than ever! Scot
It's true that spring takes its toll but it is sure nice to get outside after a long cold winter. Trees and shrubs are bursting into leaf. Nature sure continues to amaze me. Tulips and daffodils are in bloom and the grass has been cut twice already. Still too cool to be outside during the evening so thats when I get back to my railroad. It's not just now but every so often, I go through a slump or interest change then after a while get back to railroading.
Yeah, I have been doing some gardening, painting the fence, etc. but I still find time for the railroad
Well I'm sort of oppisit. I tend to do more work in the summer on my layout. Manely because the AC is on ....Mike
It is hard to justify to myself sitting in the basement when the weather is so nice,however it rained today so i had no problem!
Actually, I feel more like Im a big boy on a four percentgrade and i just lost the 100 car coal train under full power. Semester finals are over, no more class for three months, and now, gee, what do i do?!
The spring blues sure do have me!!!! I'm having a hellofa time catchin up on things in the yard and no time to play with my own trains!!!! Work and the yard seems to have a real tight hold of me!!!! I hope this soon ends and fast!!!! I got to much to do....... [ 09 May 2001: Message edited by: 7600EM_1 ]
Hmm....lessee... Grand Mesa to the east, Bookcliffs to the north, Uncompahgre Uplift and the Colorado River to the south, trout calling my name begging to be caught , summer camping... nah, can't think of a reason to put off working on the layout Acutally, once the chores get done, and in the summer days when I'm off, I'll stay under the swamp cooler and build stuff.
Its sure easy to let the layout go when you can be trackside in this beautiful weather. You can't beat the smell of spent diesel or the noise of a bouble stack running at 70mph.
Well my 2 cents worth... Yep the yard work is again upon us. Also getting a large amount of spring cleaning done. Kind of a drag but the cleaning leads to getting that closet empty to take out the wall. Garage sale is a must soon, so that will kill another weekend. But I have jumped ahead of myself a bit and got the closet doors and molding off. Still need to remove the hardware on the doors and the nails and staples( I realy can't believe they put the molding up with staples..is that common or was my house constructed cheap? But The door and moldings are going to be recycled into the new bench work. I think the molding will work for the risers not much else I don't think.The doors are going to be used for my staging yards.Split length wise and stair stepped if they are solid enough...I'll know more when I cut the first one lol. Well progress is progress I suppose.Rome nor any railroad wasn't built in a day. Later Gents.
Well for me it is the opposite probably for the fact we are now coming into winter. Less yard work but more inside work around the house. We are having a new kitchen installed next month so I will be busy painting the kitchen afterwards. I won't stop on the layout, still some wiring to do then its on to the scenery
well this may be a bit off topic but the vast knowledge of folks is a vast knowledge sometimes on many topics...so here goes. This year in the yard work department I have been over run with SNAKES. Now its not that I am not a real fan of these critters. I used to have a boa in my younger days,but outdoor wild ones give me the willies. I am not certain they are poisonous .I do have a wooded area of greenbelt behind the house.So I am certain they are just searching for food.But I would rather not get a bite to find out. They are mostly in a lesser used portion of the yard over by my pool/hot tub filter.This unfortunately is an area that is not well lit and I do use often after dark. Short of carrying around a shovel what is the best deterrent to chase them off? Will pesticides of any sort work? keep the area extra wet? extra dry? any thing anyone could reccomend I am more than willing to try.I would just as soon move them along to somewhere else as kill them.But this year particulary they are becoming quite a nuisance. Thanx in advane for any advice. Later Gents.
There is a powder you can get that snakes hate. You spread it out surrounding the area you want kept clear and they won't cross it. It is sold by one of the catalog companies but should also be available at a good garden or farm supply store. Glad I don't have that problem right now, Looked out back today to see a fox trotting across the back yard. We have lots of rattlers around here, but fortunately I'm on higher ground than they like.
Don't envy you the snake problem, having spent too many years in the Mojave desert. Sidewinders, etc. Now that we're in Oregon it's a whole different ball game. We seem to have inherited two pet young deer who must have lost their mother. They are having a great time eating all the flowers in the yards, and seem to be fearless of humans. I yell at them, they look at me. Maybe I need to take the boom box out with a recording of a steam whistle. Judging from the way the cattle reacted up in Washington last month when the SP&S 700 whistled off, it just might work.
Well guys I know whats drawing them to your pool/hot tub. Its the pumps they get warm or even hot. Snakes are cold blooded and this will attract them to you from the heat expelled by the pumps. You could turn off the pumps and then see what happens. But their goes your pool and hot tub. But thats why your getting them they like warm area's and that is why you could find snakes along railroad tracks they were sunning themself. To make their blood warm. And you've got the same situation here as to the warm pumps running. I would try the powder and see if that helps if not you know they sure do love your warm pumps to not mind that powder. I think so far this year I killed 1 snake and it was harmless a garder just a grass snake so.... But I managed to get him with the lawn mower [ 15 May 2001: Message edited by: 7600EM_1 ]
Well guys australia has the 10 most deadly spiders and I think the most poisonous snakes. A few year back I looked out my back door and saw something in the pool. I took a second look only to see a Tiger snake (a very aggressive and poisonous snake swimming in our pool. Thankfully a neighbour came over and we used the pool scoop to get it out of the pool. Snakes are strong swimmers and it even swum intot he skimmer box and swum out even with the pump running. I shuddered to think how many times I have run out of the house and dived straight into the pool. Ever since we have always looked for snakes first
I heard 22 of the world's 25 deadliest snakes make Australia home. The two Cobras (Indian and Egyptian) and the Black Mamba I think are the others.Didn't know the stats on spiders, though. I guess it goes to show - what the spiders and snakes miss, the sharks and crocs may get. Ya gotta love Australia! Gary.
