2019 Kia Sorento Rear Brake Job

Friday January 10, 2025 I replaced the rear brake pads and rotors on our 2019 Kia Sorento. Actually I only got the passenger side done. The next morning I did the driver side. There had been some pretty ugly sounds coming from the brakes which prompted me to get it done. Parts cost from Auto Zone totaled $194.58   As for weather it was sunny, no wind to speak of and temperatures from 17- 20 degrees. 

2019 Kia Sorento rear brake job. 

2019 Kia Sorento rear brake job. 

2019 Kia Sorento rear brake job. 

2019 Kia Sorento rear brake job. 

Flat Tire, Broken Spring, New Tire, New Strut, 2011 Kia Sedona

Side wall damaged by broken spring reveals why tire went flat. 

So yesterday I took the flat tire wheel off my 2011 Kia Sedona and discovered a spring broke and the sharp end gouged through the sidewall of the tire. This was the passenger side front. This same situation occurred on the drivers side a year or so ago. I bought a replacement tire from Cheney Tire in Watertown. Price with tax & fees came to $247.66 

I then went to O'Reilly Auto Parts and bought a strut and spring assembly to the tune of $235.43    

Detail of reciept from Cheney Tire in Watertown for a Firestone all season radial tire, size 220 70R/16

 

Detail of receipt from O'Reilly Auto Parts for loaded strut assembly for 2011 Ki Sedona.

Today I removed the broken strut. It was 15 to 19 degrees outdoors today. I spent a good deal of time out there and was very combfortable. There was sun and no wind. I wore 2 shirts, a winter vest and a winter coat on top of all that. I also wore long johns and a knit hat, gloves. 

3/8 socket on brake line retainer bolt

17mm wrench on strut to steering knuckle bolt.

Strut and spring assembly removed.

View of broken spring on the strut.

Flat Tire Today

Front passenger side flat tire on my 2011 Kia Sedona van

About 10:30 this morning I pulled out of the driveway and heard a grity, grating sort of sound. I thought it was probably some ice built up in fender well and rubbing on a tire. Got a couple hundred feet down the road and heard a loud noise, maybe a bang or a snap. Got back into the driveway and discovered a flat tire on passenger side front. My tire pressure warning light never came on to alert me of low pressure. If that is defective then it's possible I drove around yesterday on an under inflated tire. Then by this morning it was totally flat. I haven't bothered to take the wheel off today. I suspect there is more wrong than just a flat tire. 

Other than that it was rather a nice day. Sun all day with some snow fall and high of 26 degrees. The snow was the light, fluffy type. Last nights low was 14. 

Later in the day I found someone's debit bank card in the parking lot of the Coffeen St Kinney Drug Store. I took it inside and gave it to one of the pharmacists. She recognized the name as someone she waited on about an hour earlier.

Found a debit card at Kinney Drug Store, Watertown NY. I altered name & account number with photoshop for the image posted here.

About 5:00 today I started a charcoal fire and grilled some hamburgers. At this time the temperature was 15 degrees.

Guitar at Flower Memorial Library 120th Anniversary

 

Inside the Flower Memorial Library in Watertown, NY.

Today, Saturday January 4, 2025, marks the120th year of the Flower Memorial Library in Watertown, NY. I played guitar at their 2 hour party.There was a good turnout for the event. Quite a few people I knew attended as well as city dignitaries and other politicians and friends of the library. This was my first gig for 2025. I received many compliments. It went well. BUT- I forgot once again to ask someone to snap a photo of me playing at the event. I usually hand my iPhone off to someone to take a photo. It's possible I might get a photo from one of the attendees. Also, the local TV station was on hand covering the event. I'm writing this at 10:45 or so as I wait for the 11:00pm news. Maybe I'll show up in the piece.

Portrait Painting of Me by Jerry Merrill

Wonderful portrait of me by Jerry Merril.

Here is a painting of me playing guitar created by artist Jerry Merrill, Rodman, NY. He painted it from a photo of me taken back in October while I was playing guitar at the Orion Art Gallery on Mullin St., Watertown, NY. Jerry revealed it to me and others at Orion Gallery during their Christmas Party on Dec. 14. I was very honored that Jerry took the time to paint me. I am also impressed with the result. I truly feel he captured my likeness. I was blown away by it. Jerry and I have been friends for quite a few years. I really got to know him when he took some guitar lessons with me. Jerry is quite a prolific painter and also a talented sculptor. 

Jerry Merrill shows photo his portrait of me during Orion Art Gallery Christmas party.

Corrections Officer Academy Graduate and More

 Friday December 20, 2024.

Grandson JJ with his kids at academy graduation where he became an NY State Corrections Officer.

Grandson JJ Walts graduated from the NY State Corrections Officer Academy in Albany, NY.  I got up at 4:00am to drive his mother (my daughter) from Watertown to his place in Adams so she could be there by 5:00. She went with his girlfriend and their 2 kids to the graduation ceremony, a 3 hour drive. 

A great buy at the Runnings store in Watertown. 

The Runnings store on Arsenal had a great sale on 1/2 inch Dewalt battery powered impact wrench. It was $199.00 including case, battery. These tools normally go for $350.00  I've been wanting one for quite some time and at this price I jumped on it. Merry Christmas to me. 

A chicken chimichanga for dinner at Jeb's in Lowville, NY. Absolutely delicious 

At 5:00 pm I drove my son T to Lowville where he needed to pickup his car that had been in the garage for repairs. Celebrity Brother Al went along. There was wet snow roads most of the way. We stopped at Jeb's restaurant in Lowville and had a great dinner. T & I each had chicken chimichangas with side of beans and rice, lettuce. It was most excellent. Al had a fish dinner.  Got back home to Chaumont about 9:00

Snowman Christmas decoration outside Jeb's restaurant in Lowville, NY

Snow, Wind, and Power Outage today in Chaumont, NY

 

Snowy scene in Chaumont, NY today. View of my neighbors place from our backyard. 

Awoke to very high winds today, strong gusts at times. Blowing snow and new lake effect snow carried by the winds. Thought we might have a tree or two blow down, but that didn't happen. However about 8:15 this morning our electric power service went out. It came back on around 10:30. This afternoon we decorated our Christmas tree. 

Our Christmas tree, decorated this afternoon, Thursday December 12, 2024

I Take 11,000+ Steps Shoveling Snow, December 2, 2024

 

Clay St apartment house during lake effect snowstorm.

I shoveled snow at our Watertown apartment houses after the lake effect snowstorm dumped about 4 feet of the white stuff in the city. This would bee the big storm right after Thanksgiving Day. I spent three hours at Clay Street cutting through the snowbank and clearing section of te driveway. Then I went to our Franklin St place where I helped my daughter S shovel section of her driveway. I spent better than an hour there. It was satisfying work, great outdoor exercise. I truly enjoy it. My iPhone recorded that I walked 11,979 steps this day. 

Clay St. snow shoveling Dec.2, 2024

Clay St. snow shoveling Dec.2, 2024

Clay St. snow shoveling Dec.2, 2024

Our Franklin St. house,  Dec.2, 2024

Daughter S shovels snow, Franklin St., Watertown, NY.

Photos First Snow of Winter 2024-2025 Watertown, New York

 

Lake effect snow hits Watertown, NY on Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving. photo copyright Gary Walts

I snapped these photos in Watertown, NY, yesterday which was the day after Thanksgiving, also known as Black Friday. The weather services have been predicting as much as 5 to 6 feet of lake effect snow could hit parts of Oswego, Jefferson and Lewis counties. 

Lake effect snow hits Watertown, NY on Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving. photo copyright Gary Walts

Lake effect snow hits Watertown, NY on Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving. photo copyright Gary Walts

Lake effect snow hits Watertown, NY on Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving. photo copyright Gary Walts

Lake effect snow hits Watertown, NY on Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving. photo copyright Gary Walts

Lake effect snow hits Watertown, NY on Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving. photo copyright Gary Walts

Thanksgiving 2024: Turkey Prep and Soap Bubbles

 

Detail of soap bubbles in a coffee cup. Most fascinating. 

It is November 28, 2024, Thanksgiving Day. I thawed our 23 pound frozen turkey by immersing it in  water in cooler. Changing the water every 30 minutes. It worked well. It had already begun thaw in the refrigerator for about 3 days befor finishing it yesterday in the water bath. This morning I dried the bird, rubbed it with olive oil and sprinkled Bells Poultry seasoning all over it. I also put some carrots, onions, and celery chunks in the cavity. During clean up my eye caught the soap bubbles in a coffee cup. Fascinating. 

Soap Bubbles caught my eye during cleanup this morning.

Thawed the turkey in a water bath, changing it every 30 minutes. 

23 pound turkey for this years Thanksgiving dinner.

Halloween 2024 at Our House in Chaumont, NY

Our candy supply for 2024 Halloween Trick or Treaters

Halloween here in Chaumont, NY was exceptionally wrm and nice. A bit breezy and 72 degrees. That resulted in a record number of trick or treaters showing up at our door. We always hand out full size candy bars that we buy at Sam's Club. We had 140 candy bars and had 160 trick or treaters. When we got down to 20 bars grandson N and his girlfriend ran to the Dolar General and picked up a couple of mixed bag  small bars. Thast carried us through to the end. Most years we average 100 to 120 trick or treaters. 

Me enjoying a beer and the warm weather, all set for the Trick or Treaters.

Guitar Gig at Orion Art Gallery

I play guitar at Orion Art Gallery's Halloween party. I love this photo
snapped by artist Alice Elisabeth.

This is photo of me playing guitar at Orion Art Gallery, Mullin St, Watertown, NY. I felt I played well and the music was received well.  Played 6-8:00, enjoyed good food and company. 

It was a beautiful day here in the north Country, temperature hitting 72 degrees, sunny. The Better Half & I had breakfast a a diner/bakery here in the village of Chaumont.  Afterwards I raked some leaves, prepared some food for tomorrow's Halloween party at our house. The gig went well and finished the evening watching the5th game of the World Series between the NY Yankees and the Los Angeles Dodgers. The Dodgers won tonights game 7-6, clinching the World Series title.