A long time ago I gave up my office space so that Far Guy could spread out…he was stuck in the back room upstairs. I no longer needed a large office space.
I encouraged him to build the shelf storage area on the wall…it is great for display and keeps the dust off some of the train cars.
This replica of the water tower in Park Rapids is a new addition. I walked by it one day with an armload of “stuff” and realized it is not fastened down. I think it is a little tall, but he researched the height and width and made it to scale. He carved it on the wood lathe.
Here is the engine coming out the covered bridge, a few hoboes are resting near the green caboose. The water tank he built many years ago… candle wax made great blue water.
Prisoners and cows occupy one corner of the layout….note the cop car!
The wall cabinet should have been larger.
His work station…I see an ambulance still in its package and another water tower still in a box.
He has lots of “stuff” to dust.
The Drive In Theater had so many cars it finally got its own table.
Far Guy collects Lionel Trains and Cars O Scale, he received a used train set for Christmas when he was about ten years old…he played “trains” often and finally all that remained was the engine and the tender when he began to collect all of the missing cars that had been blown up or started on fire…you know typical “boy” stuff. ( FYI he can still recall the hole in the side of the tanker car after it started on fire.)
I think there may be just a few extra train cars under the table…just a hunch.
It was a busy week. Many projects have been started…few have been finished.
I worked on my peyote stitch bracelet projects. Started a new pattern not sure if it will work out or not. In my head it works…but getting that idea to transfer to beads…well we will see.
I started cleaning out the kitchen drawers ..since there are seventeen drawers in my kitchen it takes awhile. Four are done and that includes the “junk” drawer which took a while. What would we do without a junk drawer? Probably throw more “stuff” away.
I worked on carving next years Christmas ornaments…still don’t have any painted to know if it is a go or not.
I shredded tax records that were over seven years old. I am waiting for W-2’s in the mail…patiently.
I crocheted on my scarf one night…I am still not pleased with the outcome and I may frog it yet again ( rip it apart).
The refrigerator is still working after the repair!
Far Guy is still waiting for his Medicare Card. We were told by our local Social Security Office that Medicare was working on it. We still have calls unreturned by the National Social Security Office that were placed a week ago…oh the wheels of government move slowly some times. Most people have their Medicare card well before they turn 65. We have been working with Social Security to change our address since last August and that still hasn’t been accomplished. So who knows how long a Medicare Card will take.
I changed the flag outside.
He made a covered bridge for his train set.
It is a great addition to his train set. He also ordered a small attachment for the vacuum cleaner so he can dust his train “stuff” gently.
Our weather is turning colder…we will be below zero for the weekend. I wish I can kept track of our sunny days this winter…I bet I could count them on one hand…what dreary days.
Lionel should have made a hot air balloon. Far Guy made his own out of one of the Lionel Christmas ornaments. I think it took him two days.
The Hot Air Balloon took the place of the Fighter Aircraft that was flying recon over the trains. I think there maybe a new airstrip someplace. I try not took look around too much.
The train layout is in a constant state of flux. Recently the Drive In Theater was moved to a separate table.
Someone will notice if you play with the cars or turn them this way or that.
This train stuff is serious business. This is the train repair/workbench upstairs.
I don’t dust the trains…someone is on his own with that.
I could encourage Far Guy to make a larger layout…we could get rid of some old furniture that we hardly ever use. Most of his train friends are in basements somewhere…at least he is upstairs.
Far Guy is feeling better, he thanks you for the well wishes. It will take a few days for him to regain his strength again. Just today he said he was weak as a kitten.
I have fixed him chicken everything… Chicken Wraps, Chicken and Rice Soup and Chicken and Dumplings… I am getting real tired of chicken. Chicken anyway is Far Guys favorite…not so much for me.
Every time grandson Adam visits he checks out the train set upstairs. The last time he was here he said “Grandpa I am not sure you have room for anything else.”
The weather is grey and gloomy. We took off for Menards in Detroit Lakes.
Someone is expanding his train area. He needed another table. Table shopping is boring, but I had a blast in the Christmas aisle!
Of course I cannot resist ornaments.
We heard from neighbor Edie that there were some Lionel Ornaments at Menards. They seemed to be the perfect holiday decoration for the train set. Far Guy agreed with me especially since they were on sale.
I plunked one down in the back of a truck at the drive in theater.
Later I came back and found them all over the train set.
Buhl Minnesota is way north of us..up on the Iron Range. It is about a 2 1/2 hour drive if you don’t lollygag.
We saw several Eagles out hunting and a few deer.
A Tin Man resting on a huge lawn chair in Grand Rapids. Home of Judy Garland ya you betcha!
Mountains of waste rock from the Iron Ore Mining. Yes, trees are growing on piles of rock.
Near Hibbing Minnesota.
Buhl claims to have the finest water in America. Far Guy picked up his “stuff” while I walked Chance, a small friendly dog ran up to us about the same time that the Sheriff came out of the building I asked him “Lose your Police Dog?” No he didn’t but at least he smiled, the small friendly unleashed dog belonged to some other people that were unloading. Chance was on lead…as he should be in a strange area.
The box of “train stuff” is still being evaluated.
This box should keep him occupied for awhile. It was a quick trip we only stopped twice.
Far Guy is feeling better, I am trying my best to fight off what he had…I finally got it…after six weeks of being exposed to the nasty virus it finally got me. The sore throat was replaced by head and chest congestion and body aches all over..even my toe nails and teeth ache. At least I couldn’t overdo spending the day in the car.
Yes, a tower was built upstairs. Three Erector sets were open and in the walkway…it is a good thing I didn’t wander that way in the dark. Finally the tower was complete and the Enola Gay is flying CAP (Combat Air Patrol) over the train set.
The Enola Gay was the plane that dropped the big one.
Yessiree the Enola Gay and John Wayne got the train set covered. John Wayne is back there on the big screen at the outdoor theater! I knew that display case on the wall would be filled in no time..he should build another one.
I am not sure if one more train piece can fit on this display. Every time I go by I notice something different. Our Grandson Adam studies this layout every time he is here. I can hardly wait until he sees the really cool tower and plane! Sometimes he moves things around..I would never notice but Far Guy does.
See that orange Astronaut? It was purchased for 10 cents just to see if Adam would notice it next to the rocket.
If you are an old guy you can spend hours looking and tinkering and making something out of nothing…and dusting. Lots of dusting..cause it is his “stuff.”
Far Guy passed up a train show last weekend. We usually attend the Train Show and Sale in St. Cloud twice a year. He said he thought he had enough train “stuff” for awhile:)
We took the day off yesterday and headed for a train show.
South of us the snow is not as deep..or piled as high.
It was a good train show..I bought a Zamboni..no that is not a train..and I bought some signs for Far Guys Train Set. Far Guy bought a bunch of “stuff”..he says he might qualify as a train hoarder. We stopped at a few antique shops on the way home to feed my old photograph addiction. Chance is a good traveller..he likes all the activity and looks out the window most of the time.
He got to play ball when we got home.
Some of the snow melted while we were gone. We have one inch less than Friday! Making progress!! At this rate in 11 days the snow will be gone!!
I think a bunny or a squirrel has been out there running around mashing down the snow.
I am certain that I am going just a little snow crazy..I emailed a friend in North Dakota where they are due to get 16 inches of snow and said:
“I just heard you will get 16 inches of snow..I laughed..sorry:) C”
What are friends for anyway?
We will honker down for the duration (again) ..sounds like this storm is sticking around for a little while, we are supposed to get 6 plus inches of snow and possibly some freezing rain:(
Sunday we took off and went to the Toy and Train Show. It has been marked on our calendar of events for a few months! It was interesting. This year there were many more old toys.
Some old guys must be hoarding these toys..
I enjoyed looking at all of them.
The Magic Garage and Car Box was just as much as the Magic Garage..and I did not see a car.
I recall that my brother or maybe Danny B. had a metal building..it had metal tabs and you lined up the tabs to put the building together. Sometimes the tabs would have been moved back and forth so much that they would break off. Far Guy said that there were playsets called Fort Apache, The Rifleman and Wagon Train. The one on the left is from a Western Ranch Set and the one on the right is possibly from The Rifleman.
This one caught my eye right away. Then Far Guy caught up with me..and it came home with us. It works..as in.. it still winds up. There were no cars.. Far Guy found some on Online..so at least we know what we are looking for now. The ones Online are $50 each..so we will scour antique shops and garage sales..who knows what we will find.
Since this was “a date” my date bought me a new/old book.
1927 was a good year! It only has twelve pages..but they really knew how to make books back then. The colors are awesome.
Oh yes..it was a train show. I wanted a Lionel Car that has horses or a giraffe that move their heads up and down. Far Guy was looking for a Lionel Merry Go Round. We struck out…there was one giraffe car but it was missing parts. Far Guy did buy a new signal that should light up..he is working on it..trying to figure out where he can place it! :)
** It was cloudy early Sunday morning..no Iridium Flares, Orionid Meteors or Northern Lights were seen.
