Snowy Day, I Shovel Driveway, Chaumont, NY

 

Initial path shoveled in snow in our driveway.

It was a blustery, snow day here in Chaumont, NY today. High temperature was 21. I spent about two hours shoveling our sidewalk and driveway. It was windy and cold but I enjoyed being out in the crisp fresh air. My right shoulder has been bothering me much lately with a chronic pain. Shoveling snow however didn't aggravate it. 

Self portrait at end of our driveway, neighbor Jim's house is behind me. 

2 hours after I began our driveway is cleared of snow. 

PHOTOS: Snow Plow Truck Damages Rear Stairs at Clay St Apartment House

Plow truck driver pushed snow to extraordinary distance, plowing almost entire backyard.

Friday February 7, 2025 a snow plow truck was moving snow in our Clay St house driveway and hit a corner of the rear stairway. Very upsetting. This past September or October I rebuilt a portion of the stairs and I now need to do it again. I'm trying to sell the place and don't need such setbacks. I don't provide snow removal which is partly why we keep our rents a little lower. Tenants fend for themselves. However, I do go there and shovel snow anyway. As a result I've had some tenants over the years get friends with plows to do the driveway. Such was the case on this day. I have noticed my whole life how snow plow truck drivers like to show off by moving lots of snow in a short amount of time. They go to extremes plowing beyond the driveway perimeter, often tearing up the lawn and doing other damage as well. Such was the case here. 

Stairs damaged by an aggressive snow plow truck driver. 418 Clay St, Watertown.

Stairs damaged by an aggressive snow plow truck driver. 418 Clay St, Watertown.

Stairs damaged by an aggressive snow plow truck driver. 418 Clay St, Watertown.

What Caught My Eye: Building and Sky at Runnings Parking Lot Photo

 I snapped this photo in the parking lot of the Runnings store. The store is adjacent to Hannaford grocery store on Arsenal St. in Watertown, NY.  This is an example of what I call a "flat" photo. No real emphasis on depth or clearly defined separation of foreground and background. It's what caught my eye on this day, Wednesday January 29, 2025.

What Caught My Eye: Building and Sky at Runnings Parking Lot

Snow Sculptors at Dry Hill Ski Area, Watertown NY: Photos

 The photos presented here were taken yesterday (Saturday), January 25, 2025 at the Dry Hill Ski Area. The snow sculptures were created as part of Watertown Snow Town Festival. The event wrapped up this evening with a closing ceremony and fireworks. I didn't attend that. 

By the way, this is me, photo taken by Jerry Merrill.

Snow sculpture event at Dry Hill Ski Area, Watertown, NY.

Snow sculpture event at Dry Hill Ski Area, Watertown, NY.

Snow sculpture event at Dry Hill Ski Area, Watertown, NY.

Snow sculpture event at Dry Hill Ski Area, Watertown, NY.

Snow sculpture event at Dry Hill Ski Area, Watertown, NY.

Snow sculpture event at Dry Hill Ski Area, Watertown, NY.

Snow sculpture event at Dry Hill Ski Area, Watertown, NY.

Snow sculpture event at Dry Hill Ski Area, Watertown, NY.

A Cold and Beautiful North Country Day

It was a cold and beautiful day here in the North Country. When I first got up t was 5 below zero at our house in Chaumont NY. I drove my 2011 Kia Sedona van to Cheney Tire on State St in Watertown dropping it off to have some repairs done. From there I walked to our Clay St apartment and spent next 3 hours shoveling snow. The air was crisp and cold. The work kept me warm. People find it hard to believe, but I enjoyed every bit of it. Later in afternoon Cheney Tire called and said it was doubtful my van would be finished today. Work being done started out as replacing rear shocks and springs. However on way into town a new sound erupted. A thumping, bumping kind of thing. Tuns out a front wheel was loose. I guess I never torqued down the lug nuts on the wheel after I changed the front strut assembly last week.

This resulted in damage to the wheel, the lug nuts, and lug nut studs. So... more repairs... more $$.

State St, Watertown, NY this morning.

Selfie of me during walk from Cheney Tire to Clay St.

Cold, snowy scene in Watertown, NY.

Recent snow on tenants car, Clay St, Watertown, NY

Our Clay St house after I shoveled snow for 2.5 hours

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