Another day of installing outlets

When I got there, I took pictures of the progress on the garage/out building which will house the batteries and control system, some 200' away from the house. Also big enough to store a tractor, needed for all the northern Michigan snow to come!

2-1/2 day paneling bee at Dad's

From Sunday afternoon through dinner on Tuesday, just the two of us got the east gable end wall completed and the ceiling within 6 feet of the peak.

From the bottom of the stairs facing south and up:

On the stairs looking east:

From the balcony looking north:


Dad also got Ron started on a cement pad for the solar out-building/garage, as well as hired someone to help move the finish carpentry work along (banister and window trim for starters).

And (as the little tractor is at the farm for some raking duty) Dad figured out the regulator was defective, so now the charging system is working again!

Happy Fourth!

Watched the huge turn-out in P-town for the parade and attended the fireworks in the evening:




I didn't know we needed to start them so young!:




Our little pyros in the park

Tractor electrical

Spent the last couple evenings rewiring the charging system on the Allis-Chalmers D160 I have, as it has been not charging the battery well. After I replaced what I was sure the bad connection that was causing the problem, the generator light is still on! Uuuggghhhh!

Outlets at Dad's

Took 6 hours to install all the switches and outlets that I could, and made a large list of missing pieces (outlets, 3-way, 4-way, single pole, various covers, etc)

Picked Rachel up from camp

Rachel's week long camp at LSSU drew to a close today.

Got my brother to go (with his daughter) as well as Rachel's grandmother.
We got to see a slide show of their week's activities, and each student demonstrated a "final project" (each is impressive, as they were allowed only 3 hours of work!).

Rachel did a project (teamed up with her roommate) putting a couple of Fanuc robots to work (for whom my brother has been a software developer for years after graduating from the LSSU robotics program).

Click to get the .MOV:

Black Thursday

Due to the economic slowdown, 3 people were let go at our Harbor Springs facility today, and about 30 people were let go in Farmington Hills. Those of us left had our salary's cut. When will it end!?!

Father's Day!

We had to take my youngest child to summer camp at my Alma mater, LSSU. As Rachel was the recipient of the Petoskey Education Foundation's $500 scholarship award, it was too good to pass up the opportunity, and she got to apply it to LSSU's Women in Technology summer camp.

Another cool thing for the day was being driven home by my other daughter -- her first long distance drive (2 hours) with a parent in the front seat!

Holds water now!

Got some good sealer from my buddy Den, fixed it right up!

Filling the tub ... but it leaks!

Now what?!?

Last day of school & Dam Site Inn

This morning was the last day of school for our girls.
Rachel made a dress for the occasion:


I took Dawn out for 'her' anniversary tonight to the Dam Site Inn.
That's because she is working on 'our' anniversary tomorrow.

Paneling at Dad's

We finished the common wall above the stairs and the balcony on Saturday:


Sunday got a start on the east gable end wall:

Dry fitting completed

Got around to putting together the pieces to get juice out to the tub from the basement panel...

Have you heard?

See Dawn's post for puppy news...

Back to work at Dad's

Got the last Cedar closet paneling completed upstairs,
The house door from the Garage mounted,
Most (all?) the drywall up,
Started on hallway paneling,
And a decent start on the pine over the stairway.

Memorial day parade

We got out to enjoy the Memorial Day parade.

Birthday & Unpacking Day

Beckie spent her birthday helping her brother move. She got a gift from Kasey and Adam first thing in the morning:


Then the unloading began:


Wow, there's that 'Grenade' not in my yard:


Taking a walk in the yard:


Van is empty!

Moving & Music

We spent the day helping Adam get packed to head south. Of course, we had to have as much fun doing it as possible.



It's been a long time since I thought I'd see the 'Grenade' leave my back yard...






After that, we enjoyed the Band-Aid program at NCMC put on by the Petoskey Middle and High School Bands.

New addition to the family

Nathaniel 'Nate' Christopher Ross was born this afternoon to Gerald and Amanda (and Aubra), weighing 8 lbs, 15 oz. and 19.5" long.

Family get-together yesterday

We took care of Mother's day and the family get-together for Beckie's birthday in one shot. See Dawn's write-up on her blog: