Long time between posts= long posts

Seeing as it is fall and I have a ton of leaves to rake I thought I would compost some of them into the pumpkin patch.  I love running the rototiller which was handed down from my father and from his father-in-law.  This old thing is a beast a really can tear up the ground and now hold an even more special place to me since my grandfather passed away last week.  Every time I use it I can think of all the times he used it and really will enjoy it even more.  I have been having some issues with it and finally it stopped working half way through the job.  After lots and lots of carburetor troubleshooting I finally ran a compression and found the compression was much too low, so I was forced to tear into it and see what was the problem.  Right away I noticed this head gasket looked a little worn.  After a couple day I got off my butt and finally got a replacement from the guy around the corner (less than $3) and put the engine back together.  The thing started right up and really has some power now.  It was dark when I finally got it running but I had to try it out, so I donned the headlamp and went to work.  Tilling the soil is great therapy.

 

Pretty obvious where the air was escaping.

 

Last week I had a job about 10 miles from the in-laws so we headed out early and spent the week at their house.  It is so nice being able to see your kids at the end of the day and I know they had a blast a grandma and grandpa’s as well.

The boys love to play the piano.

James just let one and was letting us know in this picture.  Auntie Paula's glasses were a lot of fun to play with.

Seriously cute.  The sliding glass door was licked clean by the time we left.

Having fun with grandpa petting the cat.

Again on the Piano

and with the Cats....again

Since work does not have to pay for me to stay in a hotel and I also have a food allowance I could  go out to eat with the whole family at a nice place and it did not cost me a dime.  So nice to have a good meal and say thanks to the in laws for housing me in such a practical way.  James liked the ribeye bone.

James got these car tracks a while ago and has been having a great time playing with them.  Mom and him set this one up and I was really impressed with Brenda's building skills on this.

 

Brenda had some MOPS get together game night last weekend so I got to take the boys to the mall and the play area there.  Since it gets so dark so early it is kind of hard to play outside.  I detest the Mall normally, but this one here is not busy so it is actually tolerable.

Playland time

I thought I had posted this picture before, but guess I forgot.  My mustache is much bigger now.

 

Two weeks ago we also got the opportunity to have a couple of my co-workers from San Jose who now live in Helena over.  It was a blast catching up with them and having our kids play with each other.  We had the other people we worked with in CA that are up in Spokane on a job over for dinner as well and it was so much fun catching up and seeing people from the past.  It is really amazing the people you run into at various parts of your life and you never know when you are going to run into them again.  It really is a small world.

That little girl is so cute.

James is unaware that this train is actually broken.  We got it and it never worked so he just sits on it and pushes it around.  He loves to push his brother and goes around about 100 times without stopping.  I have no idea what I would do if I had that energy.

Brothers having fun.

James is getting more and more daring.  He loves to wrestle and jump off things.

Not always a smooth landing, but fun to watch.

The boys again...and yes I realize this is now a kiddo blog.

Brenda just hanging out and being herself.  Sunglasses inside is probably not needed, but when you look this good who cares.

 

While down in Sunnyside I got a chance to ride in Jims new speedster and actually got to drive it.  There is a lot of fun to be had driving old model T’s and they each really seem to have a personality.  Each one of the rides a little different and all of them turn heads wherever they go.  James had a blast riding it as well.

I will spare you my political rants this time.



Fall Flair

With the threat of weather and winter fast approaching I thought it prudent to finally get someone to take a look at the roof and the minor leak it has.  The leak did not go into the house, but just onto another old roof section since the leak was at the interface of where the previous owner added on the front porch.  I could not figure out why the valley was leaking but upon inspection he had installed flashing and then nailed every 6 inches down the middle...bad idea.  There were several time where words were exchanged between me and the roof.  the previous owner also used shingles stacked up on each other as spacers and a lot of other non industry approved techniques that lead to the leaking.

I had contacted a roofer and he gave a me a quote of $2400 to fix the two valley's.  I just about fell over and for that much I could go to roofing school and fix the roof and still come out ahead.  After watching a couple of youtube videos and common sense in hand I got to work.

Water damage on the roof required some additional attention.  I did not get a picture of the finished project, but I figure if the past crap job only leaked a little there is no way mine is going to leak.  To top it off I only had to pay less than $400 for the materials...awesome.

With all the runs to Hopeless Depot James got his fill of popcorn and sitting on rental equipment.

North Idaho in the fall is amazing.  This is a picture I took at work the other day...it was a good day at work.

I got a chance last week to run over the St Regis and throw a line in the water.  I did not catch any fish but got some good time alone on the water and was glad to do so.  The Tamarack trees throughout the area look like they are on fire

Matthew is being so very cute nowadays and should be walking shortly.  He pulls himself up all over the place and really is fun to be around.

James has a bunch of cars that I got off craigslist a few weeks ago and is constantly asking for the "car"....I try to explain to him he has about a hundred and I have not idea which one he is talking about, but he knows and is adamant.  He also likes to haul things in his truck as shown here.

James was a horse for the churches fall flair party.  Here is is with his friend the lion.

Since Brenda and I were just going to go as cowboys I thought I would grab a lead rope and clip it on James "mane".  Everyone thought it was funny and I am sure some thought that having your kid on a leash was cruel, but I don't care.

James and Mom.

Matthew being a cute rooster to round out the farm theme.

 

And now, for another political rant: 

Health care rollout seems to be all in the news nowadays and I am a bit miffed since it is now open enrollment at work.  Since everyone now has a right to coverage the insurance companies actually have to account for those people who have life ending illnesses and under the new law can get any coverage they want.  This increased cost is of course getting passed onto the consumer of course.  Next they are going to make the companies provide life insurance to everyone even those who are going to die in a month and make the rest of us foot the bill.  Thanks Government, because of the new law I have insurance that 10% higher cost and provides 50% of the coverage it used to.  Good job providing for your responsible citizens (please note the sarcasm).  Oh, and where is me $2500 saving I was promised as "average American household"?

 

The website rollout is another one of those things that miff me.  So now, I am required to get health insurance and because most of it is online I have to get internet.  So the government is actually requiring the purchase of 2 things….wait, I also need a computer, electricity, and money to pay for it. To make this money I actually have to work since I cannot borrow all I want like the government does so that is another thing I am now required to do.  Does anyone else see a cascading effect here.  Marxbama here we come.  Another thing that really is annoying and frankly pandering to me is when the website rollout is blamed on someone, but the Obama claims to take “full responsibility” for the problems.  It is easy to take full responsibility when there is no punishment.  When you are not going to get fired or really be held accountable it is really easy to take responsibility.  Heck I also take responsibility then when someone else fixes it, I can also take credit…moronic government officials are really trying my patience.