Recent Auto Repairs, Safety Inspection Oil Change

 Cars eat up a lot of money. The purchase price, financing, auto insurance, gasoline, maintenance. We have a 2019 Kia Sorento the we are still paying for, and and a 2011 Kia Sedona. that has been paid for for a few years now. 

March 25th I dropped the Sorento off at Watertown Main Auto, 620 W Main St., for the mandatory NY State annual safety and emissions inspection. I also had the garage change the oil for me. I can do it and have done it many times but once in a while I get lazy. The inspection revealed the car needed new front brake pads and rotors.  The total for that came to $387.34

On Monday April 15 I took the Sorento to the former Cheney Tire shop on State St and had the wheels and tires checked out and balanced. That came to $77.76

Well, wouldn't you know it the next day my Kia Sedona started making some ugly noise that sounded like it was coming from the rear brakes. I checkout out and discover a seized caliper and worn brake pads on driver side.  Parts for that job cost $201.94 at Auto Zone. I did the repair so that saved me labor cost. Took me about an hour to do the drivers side. 

The passenger side needed only brake pads. Caliper was beautiful. But the wheel was rusted in place, took forever to break it free from the hub. I sprayed it frequently with WD40, hit the wheel with a sledge hammer and all to no avail. after couple hours I soaked it again with lubricant and left it alone until next morning. 

It came free after I put 3 lug nuts back on loosely, drove forward and suddenly hit the brakes. I did that a couple times and the wheel came loose. 

So, in a months time I spent $667.04 plus a few hours of my time on these vehicles. 

Doctor's Appointment Leads To Wheel Balancing

 Friday April 12th we had to take a drive to Syracuse for a doctors appointment for the Better Half.  We took the trip with her 2019 Kia Sorento. At 60 mph or so there was a vibration in the steering wheel. At 70+mph the vibration was distinct, pronounced. Past experience lead me to believe we had a bad tire or unbalanced wheel(s). So Monday the 15th I dropped the vehicle off to Cheney Tire in Watertown. They checked it out and found two wheels that were well out of balance. They rotated the tires, balanced the wheels and the bill came to $77.76 which I thought was reasonable.  Friday the 19th we leave on a road trip to the Outer Banks in North Carolina.

The bill for balancing and rotating the tires / wheels on our 2019 Kia Sorento

On another note Cheney tire was recently sold to Steve Shannon Tire and Auto Centers.The doctor visit was a consultation in regard to the Better Half's off and on again diverticulitis.

Thomas Jefferson's 281st Birthday and My 70th Photos

Thomas Jefferson, 3rd President of the
United States, Born April 13, 1743

I was born 70 years ago on Thomas Jefferson's birthday, April 13th, 1954.  It's Thomas Jefferson's 281st.  The Better Half and I had a low key celebration. We went to Garland City Beer Works in Watertown where we had a couple of drinks and food. The band Bad Husbands Club was playing there 6-9:00.  The next day my daughter S made us some great macaroni and cheese, dropped off a couple of rib eye steaks, a 6 packof Guinness Extra Stout beer and a Friendly's ice cream cake. It was delicious. I couldn't ask for a more pleasant birthday. 

Selfie I made at Clay St on my birthday, 70 years old.
 Yikes, where did the time go?

Cheese and meat tray at Garland City Beer Works

House cocktail called Posh Purse Punch at Garland City Beer Works

House cocktail called Posh Purse Punch at Garland City Beer Works

The Bad Husbands Club trio at Garland City Beer Works

Rib Eye steaks on the grill.

Rib Eye steaks on the grill andGuinness Extra Stout Beer.

Guinness Extra Stout Beer, birthday 2024

Friendly's ice cream cake. A gift from daughter S that included
Guinness beer, steaks, mac and cheese.

Bird Nest Building on My Cement Head Art

Today I discovered that a bird has been trying to build a nest on one of my cement head art works. I suspect it was the work of Robins. They are very active this time of year. The creatures unknowingly created a most interesting and fitting hairdo for my creation. 

Birds attempt to build nest on one of my "Cement Head"
creations on my garage in Chaumont, NY. 

On another note it was a good day. Well, at least it seemed so to me from a mental standpoint. The weather though was rainy, heavy at times. By late afternoon the showers stopped, the wind picked up and it felt very humid. High temp was 64. 

Earlier today I spent a few hours at our Clay St apartment house. Put on some moulding on part of a bedroom ceiling and some baseboards in same room. This was apartment 1. Dd some minor painting in that same room. Hoping to sell the place soon.

Total Solar Eclipse Photos in Chaumont, NY.

 

Total solar eclipse in Chaumont, NY. photo by Gary Walts.
Sony a6000 camera and Minolta 500mm f8 mirror lens.

Yesterday, April 8, 2024 we experienced a total solar eclipse here in Northern NY. Personally I and a few family members witnessed it from our backyard in the village of Chaumont.

We grilled some smoked sausages, had some salt potatoes and Cole slaw. We had a nice wood fire going in the fire cauldron and lit some tiki torches to add a little ambience to the transition from light to darkness. 

One f the most notable things that happened was a large number of mosquitos swarming about  when the darkness came on. There was also a distinct rapid drop in the temperature. It dropped from almost 60 degrees down to 52 degrees. 

For the most part the sky remained clear throughout. A small amount of clouds were about, but the view remained good. We had a wonderful and memorable day. We were all quite amazed by the experience. 

View looking toward my neighbors place during the eclipse, Chaumont, NY 2024

Smoked sausages on the grill. Cheddar bacon and cheddar jalapeño flavored. 

This is a composite of two photos. I'm not sure I really like it it or
did it quite well enough.

Eclipse day food. Smoked sausage sandwiches, oil and vinegar based Cole slaw, and salt potatoes.

We got a fire going well before it got dark. (This is a fire cauldron created by artists Will Salisbury and Greg Lago, two good friends who are no longer with us. I miss them.)

Family members view the eclipse in Chaumont, NY

Family members view the eclipse in Chaumont, NY

Family members view the eclipse in Chaumont, NY

Family members view the eclipse in Chaumont, NY

Family members view the eclipse in Chaumont, NY

Family members view the eclipse in Chaumont, NY

Red Chair and Old House Photo

I present here a photo from my archives dated October 2007. I don't recollect much about this photo. I somehow think it was taken near Alexandria Bay. A Facebook viewer remarked that the photo is reminiscent of an Andrew Wyeth painting. I came upon it today while looking for some photos of my late friend Greg Lago. 

Red Chair and Old House October 2007  photo copyright Gary Walts 

On another note it was mostly cloudy today, some wind from the North East and temperature about 45. I collected a rent, made a bank deposit and had a couple of guitar lessons at the Copley House here in Chaumont.

Jesus Christ Sculpture by Veronica Terrillion, Easter 2024

Jesus sculpture by Veronica Terrillion, Croghan, NY.  photo by Gary Walts

 It is Easter Sunday 2024. A couple months ago I snapped this photo of Jesus as sculpted by the late folk artist Veronica Terrillion, Croghan, NY. It its part of her "Woman Made Garden" that has fallen into a certain amount of neglect. Many years ago I met with her a number of times. Once was to photograph Her and her artwork for Adirondack Life Magazine.  Much of her work is now gone and what remains is overgrown and showing the wear of time and weather. However, it still remains inspiring and memorable. 

Cold Palm Sunday, Auto Inspection, Water Heater Replacement

Palm Sunday morning was 7 degrees.

I had an easy Palm Sunday. Got up and the temperature was 7 degrees. That's pretty cold. So I stayed close to home. Monday morning I dropped the Better Half's car off at Main Auto Parts, Watertown, for annual NY State inspection and an oil change. Then I got a call from daughter S telling me the tenant above her on Franklin St had no hot water. Checked it out and the water heater was in tough shape. leaking.  Brother Al assisted me and we went to Home Depot to buy electric water heater. Oddly, the 40 gallon size was $60 cheaper than the 30 gallon. 

40 gallon water heat, some supply lines
and a gallon of paint total was $567.36

Then the garage calls and says we need new front brake pads and rotors. So they do that. 

I set to work on the water heater. Wrapped that up about 7:00pm. Drove home to get the Better Half and drive her  into town to pick up her car. 

Wintery Weather Returns: Snow and Cold in March

 

March 19 we had a picturesque snowfall here in Chaumont NY. This is our backyard.

Wintery weather has returned to us here in Northern New York. The first couple of weeks this month we had temperatures in the 50's and 60's, I believe some areas set new records for warm temps. Yesterday we awoke to 14 degrees here in the village of Chaumont.  A few days earlier we had a classic, Currier and Ives picture snowfall. Slow falling, large fluffy snow.  This morning (Saturday 23rd) we have about 3 or 4 inches of snow and temp of 23. Chilly, chilly.

Yesterday's temp was a cool 14. Today it's 23. 

Dogs in Stores: They Don't Belong There

 

A unattended dog in a Price Chopper grocery store. 

In recent years I have noticed a growing trend of people taking their dogs into stores. I find this disturbing and inconsiderate and potentially dangerous.They do not belong there. One dog in a Lowe's store set his eyes on me and growled menacingly while I was checking out.  Another time I saw two different dogs engage in a fight in a Home Depot. Their owners quickly brought it under control. A few months ago a supposed service dog was stretched out on the floor at a grocery store I frequent. Yesterday in Was-Mart a customer had a dog on one of those long, extendable lashes. That leash does nothing to keep the dog in his owner's "space."

Clearly the leash is too long and creates a potential hazard. This dog ran across the aisle in front of another shopper to check me out. It could have been a disaster.

New Door on Franklin St and a Bat In Our House June 1, 2023

This entry is from a draft I saved back on August 10, 2023. The events took place on May 31 and June 1, 2023. 

Bat on a glue board captured I our home in Chaumont, NY.

 Yesterday I spent most of the day installing a new back entrance door on our lower rental unit at 807 Franklin St, Watertown, NY.  I began about 10:00, had some unexpected assistance by Rick Seymour (my daughter's ex). He saved me hours of work. It was about 80+ degrees. That evening I grilled some hotdogs and the Better Half made a delicious macaroni salad. 

It was good day. I went to bed about 11:00. Three hours later (2:00am) the Better Half woke me and said there was a bat roosting on the bathroom door. WOW! This is the 3rd bat in our house in course of 7 or 8 years. I slammed the bathroom door shut, sealed it up with tape and forgot about it util today.

With bat locked in bathroom I went back to Franklin St house and did some finish work on new door install. At 1:00 picked up a grocery order at Hannaford's. At 3:00 I went upstairs to check on the bat. The animal was roosting on a mirror. I walked up to it with a glue board (designed to catch rat & mice) stuck it on him and it was successfully trapped. 

Jesus Sculpture by Veronica Terrillion Croghan NY

I present here a photo I snapped on March 7, 2024. It is a cement sculpture of Jesus Christ created by Veronica Terrillion. t is at the home she built in Croghan, NY. Trrillion did in 2003. Not a lot remains of her "woman made garden". What is left is weathered but still vibrant and beautiful. 

Jesus and some animals. Cement sculpture created by Veronica Terrillion on an island in a pond at here home in Croghan, NY.  photo by Gary Walts

On this particular day I was doing some work in one of our apartments at Clay St, Watertown. It was sun shiny and nice outside. At 1:00 I contacted the better half and suggested I drop what I was doing and we take a drive. So we went to Lowville to O'Brien's Farm to buy some cheese curd. Then we drove to Croghan and bought some Croghan Bologna at the Croghan Meat Market. Then we drove by Terrillion's place. Years ago I did a couple of photo stories about her and her art for the Post-Standard newspaper. I later photographed her for Adirondack Life Magazine.

What Caught My Eye: Tree, Lake, River, Gazebo Cape Vincent

This past Friday (February 23, 2024) I awoke to a sunny, cool 7 degrees Fahrenheit. I went to Clay St apartments and loaded up a bunch of trash to take to the Jefferson County Transfer Station. Mostly it was construction debris from some ongoing projects at the building. 

Late afternoon the Better Half wanted to go for a drive so we headed to Wilson's Bay in Cape Vincent which is one of our favorite swimming places. As we approached the shore there was a distinct haze or mist in the air that gave the light a nice character. Thus it was the two following photos caught my eye.

Winter tree on Wilson's Bay, Lake Ontario, Cape Vincent NY. It's what caught my eye.

Gazebo on the St. Lawrence River in Cape Vincent NY.  It's what caught my eye.

Live Trapped Two Squirrels

 I recently trapped and released two squirrels at our home in Chaumont, NY. The great squirrel I got on December 4, 2023. The red squirrel I caught yesterday, February 23, 2024. I released each one near my celebrity brother's home in Calcium. Squirrels have been a big nuisance here in Chaumont over the years. Occasionally I use a Have A Heart live animal trap. to try and get some away from our house.

Grey squirrel in live animal trap, December 4, 2023

                       

My celebrity brother Al checks out a red squirrel I caught yesterday, Feb 22, 2024

Ice Fishing Sunset Photo, Chaumont NY

 I snapped this ice fishing sunset a couple weeks ago, Feb. 4 to be exact. It's Chaumont Bay, Lake Ontario. Lens was a Minolta AF 500mm f8 mirror ( catadioptric) lens. Sony a6600 camera.

Lens was a Minolta AF 500mm f8 mirror ( catadioptric) lens. Sony a6600 camera.

Today I took care of some business related to our apartments. Had some confusion & mixup with tenet electric bill and ours fora vacant apartment. Then I I did some work there patching holes from a wiring job I did as well as replacing some soffit on the front porch.

Winter Dog Walker Photo & a Guitar Gig

 We got some snow yesterday (Saturday). I was toying around with black and white camera setting on my iPhone 6s, looking through living room window, through the blinds, spotted this person walking a dog. Snap, snap, snap. I would like to have done better with it, but I like it. 

Person walking a dog past our house in Chaumont, NY.

I snapped this photo in the morning. In the afternoon I had a guitar gig at Orion Art Gallery, Alexandria Bay, near the thousand islands bridge. It was 2:00-4:00 and went well. Used my Guild guitar and battery powered amp. 

I forgot to have someone snap a photo of me playing. 

Clay St Apartment Electrical Work

 

This live wire comes off the bedroom ceiling fixture.
Originally it was connected to bathroom fixture.

About noon today I got to our Clay St apartment house in Watertown to do some work. There was a live electric wire coming off a ceiling fan in the larger bedroom that had been safely contained in that ceiling. BUT, in my mind it needed to be corrected. I chose to add a wall outlet to it. It is midway on the wall, rather higher than normal, but a safe & useful way to deal with the wire. 

Live wire from ceiling fixture. 

Re-routed wire ending in a wall outlet.

So that was my job for this day. 

I was done at about 4:30 t which time it began to snow and I left for home in Chaumont. 

Weather in Northern NY

Yesterday ( Tuesday Feb 13) when I got up in the morning the weather here in Chaumont, NY was 25 degrees, fog and frost on the bare ground. I didn't snap any photos. In the evening a big wind started up with some freezing sleet.

This morning, Valentine's Day,  the ground had a  light dusting of grainy snow and it was 11 degrees and sunny. By late afternoon snow was mostly gone. Our high temperature was 32. Currently at 10:45pm it is 19. 

Had a guitar lesson with MH, a fine young man with natural ability and intellect. 

Health Items: Diverticulitis Flare Up, Spot Removed From Face

So Saturday, January 27, 2024 the Better Half was sick to her her stomach for most of the day. The next couple days eating was not agreeing with her. Then we remembered past event like this and thought it might be a flareup of diverticulisis. Dr. prescribed an antibiotic, did blood test. She wasn't improving so Tuesday Feb. 6 we went to Carthage Hospital emergency room. The place was empty so took her right in. 5 hours later she was transported to Wynn Hospital in Utica, NY. Some IV antibiotics for treatment, a cat scan and other stuff concluded it was diverticulitis. I drove her home Thursday evening, arriving around 7:30. 

Bandage on my face where spot was removed by dermatologist. I've had quite few spots removed from my face over the years. 

Today (Friday) I had a crusty spot on my right cheek removed at Northern Nurse Practitioners in Watertown. They sent it out to a lab to check for skin cancer.  Hopefully it's no more than an actinic keratosis. 

Weather today was mostly sunny with high temp of 58 degrees. Quite unbelievable really. May be a record high temp. After the spot removal I did some work on Clay St apartment house front porch. 

The evening sky at 5:30 today behind our house in Chaumont, NY

Snow Sculptures, Clay St. Door Trim

Saturday February 3, 2024 

Snow sculptors at work in Watertown, NY during annual Snow Town USA festival.

Today I finished trimming out the new door at our Clay St. apartment house. 

After that I swung by the Watertown Fair Grounds to see how the snow sculptures were doing.

The snow sculptures are part of the annual SnowTown USA event. Scroll down to see more snow sculpture photos.

Finished putting trim around Clay St door today. 

Snow Town USA 2024 snow sculpturing at Watertown NY Fairgrounds 

Snow Town USA 2024 snow sculpturing at Watertown NY Fairgrounds 

Artist Jerry Merrill at work, Snow Town USA 2024 .

Snow Town USA 2024 snow sculpturing at Watertown NY Fairgrounds 

Snow Town USA 2024 snow sculpturing at Watertown NY Fairgrounds 

Snow Town USA 2024 snow sculpturing at Watertown NY Fairgrounds