Today is the Better Half's 77th Birthday

Wednesday October 15, 2025 

View from our backyard, Chaumont NY, a beautiful day.

Today is the Better Half's 77th Birthday. Outdoors it has been a lovely autumn day. Temperature at 55 degrees, clear sky, sunny, mild breeze. It simply can't get better than that. (Well, figuratively speaking.)

In the afternoon we took a drive, started by going down the Millens Bay Rd, having herd there was a nice farm stand somewhere along it. We came upon it and it was closed. Sign said it's open Saturday and Sundays. From there we made our way to Clayton and to Watertown. We had dinner at  the Texas Road House which was quite good. The tab came in at $100.00 and change. 

Here she is, my Better Half on her 77th birthday

My iPhone reports I walked 4,784 steps today.

Farm stand on the Millens Bay Road between Chaumont and Millens Bay

Farm stand on the Millens Bay Road between Chaumont and Millens Bay

The Texas Road House, Watertown, NY

Finished Kia Sedona Brake Job

 

New brake rotor, pads and caliper successfully installed on 2011 Kia Sedona

Today I finished replacing the brake pads, rotors and calipers on our 2011 Kia Sedona van. It came out great. Brakes and goes down the road nice and smoothly. Driver side rotor removal was difficult. The passenger side went smoothly EXCEPT: One of the bolts holding caliper bracket in place was very difficult to break free. But my large DeWalt battery powered impact driver got it apart. 

ALSO, a little trouble with passenger side caliper. Yesterday I Got new one at Auto Zone. Got home and discovered one of the pins was seized up. Could not budge it. Took it back. Watetown store didn't have another one but their Evans Mills Store did. I get home and go to install it and this one came with the wrong metal clips that the brake pads slide on! So back I go to Evans Mills and get the correct ones. This morning it all came together nicely.

I now need to get the exhaust system repaired. It's very loud. 

Later today I made a batch of Jamaican Jerk Marinade. In the evening we went to B & M's place for dinner. 

Reciept for brake purchased at Auto Zone.

New brake rotor, pads and caliper successfully installed on 2011 Kia Sedona

Kia Brake Rotor Removed Today

 Saturday October 11, 2025.

The bad brake rotor finally removed from 2011 Kia Sedona

Woke at 5:30this morning. Got out of bed at 6:30. At 8:00 I tried again to remove the kia brake rotor using a bolt to apply pressure to it. I tghtened the bolt against back side of the rotor. Then loosened it, turned the wheel a few degrees and tightened the bolt again. I did this  a few times and finally it became apparent the rotor was slowly coming off.  I had a couple errands that took me into Watertown. I was back home by 2:00. Did some more painting on the house. Then started to put new rotor on. Discovered the caliper mounting bracket pins and sleeves were seized up. Tried to buy a new bracket but instead bought the entire caliper and bracket assembly. Tomorrow will probably put it on and finish the drivers side rotor / brakes. Still need to do the passenger side. 

Nut and bolt passed through bracket mount holes and applying pressure to brake rotor.

Nut and bolt passed through bracket mount holes and applying pressure to brake rotor.

Kia Sedona Brake Rotor Replacement

 

Nut and bolt that broke as I tried to free siezed brake rotor with it. 

My 2011 Kia Sedona van needs front brake rotors. They have gotten bad, pulsing and thud-thud-thudding while braking. I've replaced rotors on every car I have owned, including this one. Some are difficult to remove as they get rusted on. Yesterday, Friday, October 9, I bought new rotors and brake pads at Auto Zone. Price came to $226.00 and change. Got home about 2:00 and thought I could get the job done then. I jacked the front of the van up and started in on the driver side. I could not get the rotor loose. I sprayed it plenty with WD40, hammered on it- a lot. Heated it with a torch. Stubborn. Will not budge. So I sprayed it with more WD40 3 or 4 more times before I went to bed. 

Earlier in the day I cut up some Brussell sprouts, sweet potatoes and italian sausage, tossing them around in a casserole with with some oil, honey, salt and pepper. Roasted the combo in 350 degree oven until done. 

Awoke this morning at 5:30. It was 31 degrees. I tried again to break the rotor free. Frustrated I searched youtube and found a way to use a bolt and nut to break a rotor free. YES! I have used that technique in the past. It worked then beautifully. I had forgotten about it. You pass the bolt through the bolt holes in the caliper mounting braket. The bolt is threaded through a nut between the knuckle caliper bolt hole. Tightening the bolt applies pressure on the stuck rotor. However, I still had no success. Bolts were short on threaded section. One I managed to fit and used 1/2 inch ratchet drive and torqued the bolt down until it broke. Then I had to get a saw and cut it aprt to free it from the rotor. Today I bought some better, hopefully stronger bolts at the NAPA Auto store here in Chaumont. Two bolts, and package of nuts cost $14.00! WOW! I set it up and applied pressure to the rotor, used more WD40 ad am leaving it alone overnight. Will see how I fare tomorrow.

After that I cleaned the upper boards and eves on the wall I am painting. Hopefully tomorrow I can give the wall a 2nd coat of paint. 

Brussel sprouts, Italian sausage, sweet potatoes mixed and ready to go into oven.

Brussel sprouts, Italian sausage, sweet potatoes fresh out of the oven.

Painting Section of Chaumont House

This is exterior wall of our kitchen after I scraped and sanded paint and exposed wood.

Yesterday was warm, reaching a high of 78 degrees here in Chaumont, NY.  I spent some of the morning stacking firewood. In the afternoon I scraped and  painted a section of our house. It's been needing some attention so I finally got to it. There were some obvious spots where the paint has been getting flaky, blistering. Working off ladders I began about noon. Scraped what would come off easily. Then I used a small palm sander with 60 grit and sanded the whole surface, thereby roughing up the old paint and removing any weathered surface of exposed wood. Then I used Glidden paint and a three inch brush to apply a single coat. I finished the chore about 5:30, including clean up and putting tools away. I then retired to the front porch and had a refreshing beer. It was a Dogfish 60 minute IPA. The paint was pricey and does not require a primer coat. I've never used this type of paint before. Coverage was pretty good but should have a 2nd coat. I hope to get a warm enough day soon to apply that additional coat. Today we awoke to rain that continued through the day. So, it's no day for painting.

This is exterior wall of our kitchen after 1 coat of paint.

This is paint I used for first time. No primer needed. 

Iva Smith Memorial Gallery, Yellow Barn, Hammond NY

 Saturday September 27, 2025

Evelyn Saphier, owner / curator of Iva Smith Memorial Gallery of Fine Art

Saturday afternoon I visited Evelyn Saphier at her Yellow Barn Gallery in Hammond, NY. She has invited me to do a photography show in Summer 2026. We went over some details the she requires of me, viewed the gallery space, tossed around some ideas and in general had a wonderful visit. It was a windy, warm, beautiful day to boot. Talk turned to artists / film maker Carmen D'Avino who lived in Hammond. He died , I'm guessing,  close to 15 years ago. I snapped this photo of Evelyn as we talked and toured the gallery space. The light falling upon her as she talked and gestured caught my eye. 

Wood sculpture by Carmen D'Avino at Iva Smith Memorial Gallery

Wood sculpture by Carmen D'Avino at Iva Smith Memorial Gallery

Wood sculpture by Carmen D'Avino at Iva Smith Memorial Gallery

The Iva Smith Memorial Gallery, Hammond, NY

The Iva Smith Memorial Gallery, Hammond, NY

The Iva Smith Memorial Gallery, Hammond, NY

The Iva Smith Memorial Gallery, Hammond, NY

The Leap, painting by Dawn Oman,  The Iva Smith Memorial Gallery, Hammond, NY

Hot Water Heater, New Car Tires

 

Fired up the grill today.

Got up at 5:30 this morning. Was at Lowe's at 6:30 bought a water supply line for new hot water heater I was installing at daughter S' apartment. at 7:30 I dropped our 2019Kia Sorento off at Cheney tire for troubleshooting noise emanating from rear of car. I thought maybe a wheel bearing is going bad. Walked from there to our rental house on Franklin St. Went about the business of installing the hot water heater. It went pretty smoothly. Was done about 1:00. At 2:00 I walked to Watertown Savings Bank n withdrew $700.00 to pay for car repair. Turns out the noise was caused by bad, worn tires. I had the replace all 4. From the bank I walked to Cheney Tire and picked up the vehicle with new tires. That was at 2:40. All that walking took 40minutes. Nice. It was windy and warm, perfect for a walk. Got home and grilled some chicken and some sausage. A productive day. iPhone app shows I walked a total of 13,578 steps today.

New Rehm 30 gallon hot water heater installed at Franklin St, lower apartment.

Alan's Apples Caught My Eye -Photos

Apple on a tree at my Celebrity Brother's house.

I snapped these apple photos at my brother Alan's house in Calcium NY.  I stopped by his place after getting new hot water heater into the basement at daughter S ' Franklin St apartment. Al had a career in the radio and entertainment business which inspired me to give him the moniker my "Celebrity Brother."

Anyhow, he is living in the house that we grew up in having inherited it from our mother, Margaret Walts. I'm sure my father planted the apple tree many many years ago. The weeds photo is the house across the road from Al's. 

Apples on a tree at my Celebrity Brother's house.

Apple on a tree at my Celebrity Brother's house.

Weeds across the road from my Celebrity Brother's house.

These photos were taken with a Sony a6600 camera and a Minolta 200mm f2.8 lens. I was using the toy camera setting for all the photos except the one with 2 apples. Actually 3 apples if you look closely. 

New Hot Water Heater For Franklin St Apartment

Daughter S' hot water heater quit working. I installed it in our Franklin St apartment house about 20 years ago. Daughter S lives in the down stairs apartment. Got new unit at Home Depot for $379.00. I dropped it off and took it down into the basement today. I plan to install it Friday while our 2019 Kia Sorento is at Cheney's Tire having wheel bearings checked. and replaced if needed. During last weekend drive to Painseville Ohio it sounded like a noisy bearing.  

Late Firewood Delivery This Year

 

Firewood delivered September 11. Most years we get it in June.

Snapped this photo on September 11, 2025. This is firewood being dumped into our driveway in Chaumont, NY. Everything has been screwed up and off this year. We normally have the wood delivered in June, maybe as late as July. Anyhow, it is 6 cord (face cord) mostly hickory. We buy from Rob Joanette in Dexter. Price was $480.00, very nice wood. We may have enough wood left from last year year to get us through most of the upcoming winter. That will give the new wood more time to season. 

Weather recentlyhas been warm, dry, windy. Temperature a couple days ago went above 80 degrees here in Chaumont. Tomorrow we drive to Painseville, Ohio for a memorial for the Better Half's sister Cheri. 

Paint Thinner Abstract Photo: What Caught My Eye

 

Interesting formation of paint pigment that settled in bottom of can. 

                                  photo copyright Gary Walts August 205

I snapped this photo today as I was cleaning my paint brush with paint thinner. It is paint pigment deposits that settled to the bottom of a coffee can that I poured used paint thinner into. The deposits created an interesting, display of soft looking mounds in the can. Very interesting. The paint was Rustoleum oil based green paint.  Anyhow, It's what caught my eye today after I finished painting a section of lattice for the side porch of  our house in Chaumont, NY.

Sunday at the Emergency Room

 

We spent yesterday (Sunday September 14) in the emergency room at Samaritan hospital in Watertown. The Better Half had some lumbar injection tests done on Monday the 8th at the Spine and Wellness Center, Syracuse, by a Dr Trasilo. Her pain got steadily worse with each passing day until finally we had her checked out at the ER. They did a number of tests and images and ruled out the most serious and worrisome things we were concerned with. We arrived at the ER at 11:00 and left there at 9:30pm. 

Guitar Gig at Sackets Art Gallery and Snappy Grillers

Saturday September 6, 2025 

Ukulele group playing at Sackets Harbor Art Gallery

Woke up to rain, heavy at times, put a damper on my Saturday Farm Market gig. I usually play there from 11:00 - 1:00. Then I had a one hour gig at the Art Gallery in Sackets Harbor at 3:00. This was an opening for a music themed art show. A woman demonstrated a sort of new age music shower utilizing crystal bowls, a drum, rain stick and couple other instruments. She created quite a relaxing atmosphere and guided attendees through a meditation of sorts. Next up was a ukulele playing a variety of folk songs and some sing along tunes. I was on at 3:00. I was caught off guard as I wasn't expecting a recital type presentation. So I winged talking a bit about guitar history and playing pieces by Fernando Sor, Mauro Giuliani and Francisco Tarrega. Followed that with some Beatles tunes, Classical Gas, and a few others. Overall I got positive feedback and folks seemed genuinely impressed. Personally I feel it was one of  my better performances. But I did enjoy it once I got started. 

By the time I got home the weather had cleared, was windy, cool. I lit up the grill and out on some Hoffman Snappy Grillers hot dogs. Had home grown tomatoes and green beans too.

Lit up the grill for some Snappy Grillers

Hoffman Snappy Grillers 

Tomatoes and Jalapenos from our garden

Scarecrow Fishing From an Easy Chair

Scarecrow Fishing at Hayes Bay Rd, Three Mile Bay NY. copyright Gary Walts 2025

It was a warm, windy day here in Northern NY. I worked on the side porch for a good portion of the day. Then ran some errands at 3:30. Back home at 5:00 and we decided to go to the lake, Wilson Bay in Cape Vincent to be precise. On the way there we encountered this scarecrow fishing from n easy chair. It was where the Hayes Bay Road meets the Isthmus Rd (CO RT 57), Three Mile Bay. Couldn't resist snapping a couple shots.

Scarecrow Fishing at Hayes Bay Rd, Three Mile Bay NY. copyright Gary Walts 2025

Health Items: Skin, Cologuard,

 Today I sent a stool sample off to Cologuard for for routine screening for colon cancer. Then I went to a Samaritan Hospital Lab on Coffeen St, Watertown for routine blood work testing. At 2:00 I was at Northern Nurse Practitioners for a full body skin exam. That revealed a spot on my back that the nurse said looked like a squamos cell cancer. Need to get a biopsy of it. 

August 22, 2025, A Full Day.

City of Watertown viewed from a State St parking lot behind Sportsmans Barber shop.

 Friday August 22, 2025 was a busy day for me. About 9:00am I dropped some return packages at the UPS Store for the Better Half. At 11:30 I got a haircut at Sportsman's Barber Shop. At 1:00 I was picking up some items at Sam's club and saw a display for Halloween merchandise. That seems really early to me. Around 4:00 I put a coat of Olympic brand wood stain on new side porch porch floor. The area is about 5 feet by 12 feet. Took 45 minutes for that job, then had to clean my brush with mineral spirits. at about 7:00pm I grilled some cheddar Jalapeno sausages. 

Grilling sausages in evening.

First coat of stain applied to side porch.

August 22 Halloween display at Sam's Club in Watertown.

Stroll On Broadway and Wine Cruise

 What I did today, Saturday August 23, 2025.

Aboard the wine cruise on the St Lawrence River at sunset.

I played two, one hour sets at the Stroll On Broadway event in Cape Vincent this morning. Oddly, I never snapped any photos while there. First set was n front of The Little Book Shop from 11:30 to 12:30. The 2nd set was at Cup of Joy from 1:00 to 2:00. They both went well and I received many compliments. Got back home at 3:00. Brothers Ron & Al were at my house. They were out for a motorcycle ride along the St Lawrence River and were meeting brother Dale on his motorcycle in Chaumont.

The evening we spent on a wine cruise of the St Lawrence River. That was by Coyote Moon Winery and Clayton Boat Tours. It was great fun. Ticket purchase included bottle of wine and a snack box. Beer and wine slushies were also available during the cruise. Most of the passengers were affected by the spirits and the atmosphere became very festive. It was great fun and entertaining. We were back home about 9:00pm. 

Brother Al, left, and Ron at our house in Chaumont.

Sunset on the St Lawrence River .

The village of Clayton, NY, on the St Lawrence River.

Two Guitar Gigs, A Swim and Cape Vincent Photo

 Saturday August 16, 2025

Boy playing on dock, Cape Vincent, NY.  photo copyright Gary Walts

Sunny, hot and humid today. Oatmeal for breakfast. 10:30 I was at the Saturday Farm Market in JB Wise Parking Lt, Watertown NY. Played 2 hours. Back home a little before 2:00. THEN, I discovered I missed a gig. I was supposed to be at The Strand Theater in Watertown to play at 2:00 for an art auction to benefit the Lions Club. YIKES!  I thought the job was for Sunday. Anyhow, all was not lost. I was to play 2:00-3:00. Instead I played 3:00-4:00. It was a nice event. Afterwards the Better Half and I drove to Cape Vincent where I went for a swim and then snapped the above picture of a boy running on a dock. I used a Sony a6600 camera and a Minolta 500mm f8 mirror lens to grab the photo.

Guitar tips received at Saturday Farm Market

Art auction at the Strand Theater in Watertown

Art auction at the Strand Theater in Watertown

Art auction at the Strand Theater in Watertown