Musings

Being stuck at home for 11 months, I have had a lot of time to think about many things. That thinking time has led me to the conclusion that I have too many tools. After purchasing Casa del Blancher nearly 16 years ago, buying tools to begin a project or two was a natural extension. It was harmless. Need a screwdriver, OK go buy one. A circular saw for another project, sure why not. Years later, I have two large tool boxes full of tools plus half a shed stuffed with power tools, hand tools, and odd tools. Many of the tools I bought, aRead More →

Maybe I am showing my age a bit here, but I just don’t get it. What is it with kids watching videos of people playing video games? I really don’t get it. Three teenage sons live in our house: two of them constantly have Youtube.com videos running, watching other people play video games. Videos have a “host” who I assume is the game player, in a little window at the top of the screen. Whatever game they are playing takes up the rest of the frame. There is commentary, and more commentary. It doesn’t even seem to be tutorial-like. Watching a video of this wasRead More →

While born of modest beginnings in a factory owned by Henry Ford, I will now tell you the tale of a tractor which inflicted great fright amongst residents of an area west of Brockville. Just around the time I began high school, my Dad bought a restored Ford 8N tractor. I think it was a 1950 model but don’t quote me on this. It was a simple, humble tractor painted grey and red. You’ve likely seen them around: they are popular with collectors. When it first arrived, I hated this tractor. Later I learned to loath it. I could drive a lawn tractor and aRead More →