The Weekend

It’s the weekend again, so what am I doing? Probably not much of anything. The heat this year has really sucked and to add to that, we haven’t had any rain…all summer. I have a lot of things I’d like to get done around the house, inside and out, but with this heat, I just can’t do it. Driving around isn’t even all that fun, on the back roads anyway, due to all the roads being so dry and dusty.
I don’t know, guess I’ve lost my train of thought…

Noon update – I accomplished something, I mowed the lawn around the front of the house where I’ve been watering. The rest is bone dry and only has, well, nothing growing.

Television Part Two

My new TV was delivered yesterday, and I have to say I’m quite impressed with it. The picture quality is much better than the Vizio ever was, and setup was a breeze. I linked my older Roku remote to the TV instead of the remote that came with it, they are mostly the same, I just like the older one due to it having a bit more weight to it, so it feels better to me.
Anyway, I guess that’s about it for now, just saying it’s nice to have a good image on a TV again.

Television

Well fuck! I just bought a new TV, the Visio that I have has taken a shit. I’ve been battling with it for a few weeks now, and it’s getting worse every day. The upper left corner, about half way across and down, blinks in and out, very dark and back to normal. There is also banding down the right side. So in other words, it’s really hard watching anything. I checked the warranty, but that was only for 1 year, so that was out.
After doing a lot of research, I chose a TCL 55R617 55-inch. The ratings and reviews are very very good on this TV. I ended up getting it from Amazon with a monthly payment, not a credit card, but a deal they have once it a while where you can pay by the month without any interest.

Little Drive

Went for a little drive around yesterday afternoon. Just went out Menge Creek Rd then Clear Creek Rd, and then back around to the house. It was too hot to stay around the house, so that’ why the shortish drive.

Today I didn’t do much at all, just sat out on the deck with Eli. I could have done a number of things around the house, but just not feeling like, hardly ever. I’m really missing Griz and talking to someone.

Rainbow from a couple days ago.

Sturgeon River Gorge from Yesterday

Harebell Wildflower

I so miss how Griz would look up at me when I talked with him.

Four Day Weekend

I took Friday off this week to go along with Thursday, Independence Day. Not sure why I took it off, holiday weekends are busy as fuck. I’m sure I’ll find something to do, just don’t know what yet.

Mowing Day

I need to mow again today, and it really sucks. The back half I haven’t mowed in a number of weeks and the grass and weeds are almost knee high. The front, closer to the house and what I plan to get to first, is quite deep also. I really dread mowing these days, it hurts my hips these days to walk so much back and forth on flat land, hills and around things don’t seem so bad, that’s why hiking around rivers and such is OK. If don’t get a lawn tractor soon I’m afraid this yard is going to become unwalkable because of the tall grasses.

Update 1:45 PM – I’ve been at it for 5 straight hours and I’m done for the day. I finished around the front of the house and all of the back yard. The side/back of house and up the drive still needs doing but I can’ do it today. My hips are shot for the day, and to top it off, it’s fucking 90°F outside with full sun shining and no wind, not even a breeze.

Air Conditioning

I had never tried the air conditioning in the Subaru until lately, well I found out the other day it didn’t work. So, I did some reading on it, picked up a can of A/C recharge and went to work on it. First off, because it was dry of refrigerant, the compressor wouldn’t turn on and that’s needed to refill it and check the pressure. Took the relay out, got a paperclip and jumped it so that it was always on, this way I could fill and test the pressure. I had cold air! After that was up to par, I put the relay back in and turned the air on…no go. Started thinking and took the horn relay out and put it into the A/C spot, Yay, cold air. Back to the parts store for a relay. I got that, plugged it in, tested everything, and now I’m back in business with nice cold air pumping out when I turn it on.
It’s been hot the past few days, and it looks like it’s going to stay this way for a little while. You know it’s hot when people are swimming in Lake Superior lake they were today when I was running back and forth for parts.

Two Days of Trail Driving

Yesterday and today I took Eli out on the trails. I haven’t been able to take the boys out for rides due to Grizward being so lame, so I though it would be nice for Eli to go out and about with me. Both times he’s been quite excited to go.
Yesterday we went out and hit some trails I’ve never been on before. We zigzagged many forest access roads between home and Bruce Crossing, and all points between.
Today we went out looking for some wildflowers in a couple areas knew would have some.
Kind of hard to tell how Eli is feeling about Griz, he doesn’t show emotions like Griz did, though he does seem a little down. When we go for our evening after dinner walks we pass Griz’s grave, he stops for a bit and just looks.

From yesterday’s travels

Big Snapper

This shows her size better. She takes up most of one track of a two-track.

Wild Calla Lily

Bluebead Lilly / Yellow Clintonia

Bluebead Lilly / Yellow Clintonia showing spider