Saturday coffee May 20

[Doc Sharptail]

But if you make it for her the smell of coffee is always a good thing to wake up to.

In our case it's whoever gets up first. Our coffeemaker keeps the coffee hot and drinkable for 2 hours (SS with no heating element under pot).

Sometimes the smell of coffee is enough to wake her- sometimes not.
We tried the thermal carafe thing a few years back and ended up giving it away after less than a week.
We are both from the school of hot is the way to drink coffee. The thermal pot couldn't keep it hot enough for our likes.
Current machine is a little over 3 years old now, and the warming plate/boiler has just about had it.
Slow to brew and fast to cool...

Regards,

Doc Sharptail

[Allen]

Sometimes the smell of coffee is enough to wake her- sometimes not.
We tried the thermal carafe thing a few years back and ended up giving it away after less than a week.
We are both from the school of hot is the way to drink coffee. The thermal pot couldn't keep it hot enough for our likes.
Current machine is a little over 3 years old now, and the warming plate/boiler has just about had it.
Slow to brew and fast to cool...

Regards,

Doc Sharptail

Coffee is like music. A lot of variances. What one person likes another dislikes. It seems most people like strong coffee and a dark roast. I'm just the opposite. I like a mild roast. Personally my stomach can't tolerate anything strong. To me, with a mild roast you taste the coffee. With a med or dark roast you taste the roast.

A lot depends too upon what you put in your coffee. If you use cream and sugar ( or substitute ) you may want it strong. Straight black coffee you may want weaker. As a kid I loaded it up with crap and wanted the strong coffee for extra taste.

As far as the thermal pots go, w/o a heating element underneath you would have to lose some heat but we have to let the stuff cool a bit before drinking anyway so it never affected us. We went through 2 Cuisinart thermal coffee makers. They brewed good and had built in grinders but both of them leaked water on to the counter top. Now we use a cheapo $50 thermal pot from Black and Decker. Slow but it doesn't leak. For us it seems the heater under the pot cooks the coffee too much and changes the flavor.

[Dragonsdad]

Winter days when I'm stuck by the woodstove I'll break out the hand grinder, French press and fancy beans. I have a variety stashed for such occasions. Gives me something to look forward to. Otherwise, it's cold instant with the intent to get me going.

Just got off the phone with my firewood connection.
Sounds like next Winter's hardwood is on the way. Feeling pretty good about that. Last Winter was a squeaker. Another couple weeks of serious cold would have had me eyeing the furniture. Ordered half again what I went through last year to give me more of a cushion. Almond has to come over the pass from California. By the time it gets here it's far from cheap but worth every penny.

My stove has a really small firebox. Pine won't get the job done.

[Allen]

Winter days when I'm stuck by the woodstove I'll break out the hand grinder, French press and fancy beans. I have a variety stashed for such occasions. Gives me something to look forward to. Otherwise, it's cold instant with the intent to get me going.

Just got off the phone with my firewood connection.
Sounds like next Winter's hardwood is on the way. Feeling pretty good about that. Last Winter was a squeaker. Another couple weeks of serious cold would have had me eyeing the furniture. Ordered half again what I went through last year to give me more of a cushion. Almond has to come over the pass from California. By the time it gets here it's far from cheap but worth every penny.

My stove has a really small firebox. Pine won't get the job done.

And here I sit smothered with trees that need to be cut. After hurricanes we have so many trees down FEMA picks them up if you can haul them to the highway right of way. From there they go to county landfills until they form huge mountains. Later they are ground for mulch, bagged and distributed to stores. Some get burned or buried as land fill. A few people here have wood burning fireplaces and store wood but it takes up space and needs to be kept in a shed or lean-to.

[Dragonsdad]

*** needs to be kept in a shed or lean-to.

I've seen people stack firewood up against the house.

I'm always finding termite larvae when splitting. Carpenter ants gobble up damp pine in nothing flat. Keeping both away from the house means digging a path out to the woodshed and splitting stump pretty much first thing after a snowfall but I'm used to it. Lined the inside of the shed with some old redwood fence boards. Friends thought it was overkill.

seems to be holding up
HPIM4550.jpg

I suspect Northern Nevada has more of a winter than you folks are used to.
I had snow on the roof in early March that first fell on New Year's Eve.
Deep snow messed up more than a few buildings up at nearby Lake Tahoe.

[Dragonsdad]

There's usually a truck parked in front of that part of the shed and that's my excuse for posting the following.

SnowGate.jpg

[Allen]

We have a light snow about every 10 years or so.

It's interesting to look at but always glad it is someone else's problem.

Our winters are mild. Salt is never used on roads. When pavement on overpasses or bridges freeze sand or dirt is spread instead.

We have many other faults/hurtles here though. No place on earth is the "perfect" place to live.

PS: Those old Chevy's bring good money these days.

[Dragonsdad]

I drove it off the showroom floor of the Wimpy dealership out of 4 Corners Arizona in 1970.

It's a 'Wimpy' 1969 - 350ci / runs like a champ / body's showing it's age.
I'm likely to post this one sooner or later. If I do it now it's out of the way.
HPIM4014.jpg

[Dragonsdad]

An observation and I'll let go of this.
Never let a mule deer try to help you work on your truck.
IMGP2214.jpg

They'll talk a good game to put you at ease while they try to muscle their way in.
Next thing you know you're missing tools and they're asking for the keys.

[Allen]

Clean with lotta new parts. An electric fuel pump?

[Allen]

I thought at first the deer must be one of those fake target deers that bow hunters practice on.

Must be pretty tame. I guess you and the wifey give it handouts?

[Dragonsdad]

An electric fuel pump?
OEM mechanical / pressure limiter and filter upgrade. Mostly stock or clones of original GM parts.
I could babble on at length about what's been done over the years. Suffice to say... it runs.

divorced / two boys in their 40's

Deer come in for the apples
IMGP2866.jpg

and tend to stay for the shade.
IMGP2805.jpg

I won't try to tell you they're tame but will admit they're used to my presence.

[lyman]

neighbor's cat, that divorced them and hangs at my house most of the day,

got up a tree and over to the shed roof, likely chasing a squirrel, or something chased him,

he could not figure out how to get down, so I had to grab a ladder and pluck him off the roof,

he is a good kitteh, but not that bright

winston.jpg

[Dragonsdad]

When you went up there for him, was he glad for the help or did he try to rip you a new one?

[Allen]

neighbor's cat, that divorced them and hangs at my house most of the day,

got up a tree and over to the shed roof, likely chasing a squirrel, or something chased him,

he could not figure out how to get down, so I had to grab a ladder and pluck him off the roof,

he is a good kitteh, but not that bright

Cats live where they want to live and with whom. May stay in your yard because of shade too. If you feed him/her it is now your cat.