Bogieblog

Rolling and Welding

We dropped off WS's truck for some work before he left (see next post). The guy who does his work built a house not too long ago. He did a lot of the work himself and told WS that he should stop by and see the deck railing that he built. So, since the guy lives just behind his shop, we did.

Obviously, he did a great job. To make it even more amazing, he did all the rolling of the steel by a hand roller. His whole deck, which is so large that it has a hot tub on it, has the rolled design around it (the bike design is just in the one spot). He paid so much attention to detail that he painted the areas that would be the tail light and side reflectors red.

Every time I look at the pictures, I see new detail; I just noticed the "flame" pattern in the tank area. WS and I were duly impressed. The mechanic was really happy with WS's opinion as he highly values the opinion of an experience welder and fabricator.

Jeezem it's pretty bad when even mechanics have more creative expresion than I do!

Puppy Cuteness

We went to visit friends Friday night, after dealing with the snow. The friend, who we visit once or twice a month, have a couple of Lab pups; a blonde female named Gemma, and a chocolate male named Tig (in case anyone is wondering, yes, SOA is involved - if you don't recognize the reference, then don't worry and don't bother asking).

Anyway, the pups are 6-7 months old and they spend their days playing with each other and wearing themselves out. I took a picture with my phone, to share the puppy cuteness.

Gemma is the alpha - as seems to be normal (at least in our howsehold experiences). Although they are the same age, she is a little taller and carries more weght than Tig. I'm sure at some point that Tig will outgrow Gemma, but it won't matter in the alpha matter.

They are both friendly - with Gemma being very outgoing and energetic and Tig being less outgoing (but not shy) and more of a lazy boy. He somewhat makes up for being lazy by not being piggish; in fact I am told he often doesn't finish his food.

Puppies, even at 6 months old, are always cute, and we enjoy watching them grow up.

Much Ado

We had a bit of excitement at the house last night. Karen was over and we had a late dinner. After dinner we started watching a show that we had taped last week. Shortly after that, I looked over at her, and she was leaning forward in her chair, looking very pae. I asked if she was alright, and she said she wasn't sure.

She started swaying, so I jumped up off the couch to hold her up and keep her from falling to the floor. A told WS that I needed him to help get her on the floor, but as he came over I reallized that she had totally blacked out and told WS to dial 9-1-1.

She was out for a minute or two, then came to enough to lay down on the floor. Once the Deering Rescue showed up, she was feeling a bit better, but still woozy. They checked her out and found nothing really wrong with her except her blood sugar was a bit on the low side. We gave her some juice and then told her in no-uncertain terms she was spending the night.

She has been under a lot of stress lately, so she figures between that, a couple of light drinks (she normally doesn't drink) and sitting next to the woodstove (pretty warm there), they all added up to too much for her to handle. She had bee thinking about leaving a couple of minutes before the episode occurred, so we were really happy she wasn't driving at the time.

She got up this morning feeling much better, and left a short time ago. Glad to see her recovered.

Thanks again to Deering Police and Rescue - about this time last year they were here for WS's asthma attack; no offence guys, but let's not make this a regular, yearly visit!

Unexpected Presents

I've wanted to go out for a several hour ride, to see how my bike felt, so last Sunday WS and I set out for a ride. We left about 10, went the long way to Lincoln, then the long way to Plymouth, then home. We put on about 220 miles and got home about 6.

When WS came in from getting the dogs, he announced that Karen had been by. I asked how he knew and he told me to go out on the deck. Well, when I saw this, it was pretty evident:

 
She had made our old glider cushion, with fabric of wolves and pine cones against a blue background. It was almost colorless as it had been in the sun (and rain) for many years. So Karen had taken measurements a couple of weeks ago, promising to replace it.

I would say she did a fine job!

Riding the Day Away

We went on the Sean Powers Memorial Ride yesterday. The forcast was to be in the 90's, which after several days of high temps and high humidity, probably kept some people home. There were also thundershowers earlier in the morning, which probably scared other people off. There weren't as many participants as we anticipated, but still had a showing.

The thundershowers cooled it off, so we had a very comfotable ride for the police-escorted 80 mile ride around Sunapee and the surrounding areas. I don't have any pics during the ride because I was riding my own bike, but after the ride there was a picnic and I took some pictures of bikes. 1st up is Sean's Dad's bike. An old school chopper type, but with a very nice laser cut air cleaner:

 

Sean's brother's bikes:

 
I'm not sure who's bike this is, but I don't think it was a family memeber. Still, nice graphics:

 
After eating, we all gathered together for a picture. No, I don't have a copy of the picture, but I do have a picture of the platform used for the photographer:

The Hopkinton ladder truck came out to give the photographer a lift. Good thing they didn't have a call, otherwise we would have had to leave before the picture was taken.

We had a very tight schedule as Heather and Harry were down in MA. picking up her kids from their dad's, so we rode down there to see them. We also got to see Harry's kids and their kids, which we hadn't seen since H&H went to Indiana. It was a short visit, but it was good to see them anyway.

It was a very full day, with a lot of seat time on the bikes. The weather in the afternoon turned very warm, but with comfortable humidity (65% - much better than we have been subjected to lately), so the riding was good - and all for good cause.

After The Wedding

The night of the wedding, everyone stayed up late carousing around and lighting fireworks. Others around the lake were doing the same thing (the fireworks part anyway), so we weren't keeping anyone up. Once again I was carefull not to drink much of anything so I wouldn't have to visit the porta-potty in the dark. I was also the first one awake in the morning, so took a walk. By the time I got back, no one was moving around so I ran into "town" (Colebrook, a 25 minute ride) to get a box of coffee from the Dunkin Donuts. I also got flatbread sandwiches for WS, Jimmy and myself.

It wasn't too long after I got back that the first survivors started appearing. The were were appreciative of the coffee as both of the coffee makers were in Ray and Christine's RV - and we certainly weren't going to wake them!

  

The clouds started rolling in, and distand rumbles of thunder could be heard, so we decided it was time to get packed up and leave. We were hoping to outpace the rain, but it caught up to us before we hit Colebrook. We stopped at the gas station/dunkin donuts/subway shop so the guys could put on their rain gear, and we hit the road for good.

 
 
It was miserable; in the 60's and steady downpours until we stopped for lunch in Tilton. At that point, it was still cool, but at least it quit raining and the roads started drying up. We all made it home safe and in good spirits, so nothing more can be asked.

Wedding Mishief

What is a wedding without decorating the couple's vehicle? WS figured we had plenty of materials to work with, so he set about doing up Ray's bike - Rebel was an interested spectator (and contributor of beer cans).

 
When Ray saw the bike, he about died laughing. He decided that he and Christine had to take it around the lake, so Rebel fetched Christine and Bear:

 


 

The cans took a beating, but they only lost one:

 
WS and Rebel also did a little something to their truck, which was out of view and I am unsure when they found that little surprise (after we left the next morning anyway):

And, to start their wedded bliss right, Christine found a 4-leaf clover.

 
We had a great time, Ray and Christine seemed to enjoy the antics, and no one was hurt - so I would say it was a successful day.

Sunday Ride

Last Sunday we gathered our stuff early, hopped on the bike, and rode over to Jimmy's to meet up with the folks going on the ride. Christine and Ray, Jimmy and his latest girlfriend (LG), SIL (sans BIL - who was out of town) and WS and I made up the group. We were hoping the Ray's son would join us, but it was not to be.

Bear, of course had to go with Ray and Christine (he's always a welcome addition to any ride). While everyone got their stuff together (ate breakfast sandwiches, loaded up etc), Bear snoozed for a bit:

He seemed to know when we were finally getting serious about the ride and were making final preparations:

 

We finally came up with a route to take thru the day and left about 9:45 AM. Destination, Sebago Lake in Maine. According to Mapquest, this is a little over 151 miles and 3 hours away, using main roads / highways if traveling thru Portsmouth, NH. We wanted to avoid highways and Portsmouth, as there was an airshow going on, so we chose a route 131 miles long and closer to 3.5 hours, using secondary roads.

It was a lovely ride up to the lake, with the wind cooling us down from the eventual 90+ degrees. Once we were going around the lake, it had its own cooling effect.

We stopped for lunch about 2PM at Charlie Beigg's in Windham, ME. W stopped there because it was an eatery with an enclosed and covered deck. They also didn't mind having Bear with us (he was passed over the railing so he didn't go in the building and violate any health codes). No one else was using the deck because of the heat, so we didn't have to worry about keeping the conversation down to a respectable level. The food was very good and so was the service - looking at the website I see they won several awards in 2009:

• 1st - Best Overall Restaurant
• 1st - Best Burger and Fries
• 1st - Best Happy Hour
• 2nd - place for Best Seafood behind Bob's Seafod

We really lucked out when we happened to pick them! if you are ever in the area, I definitely reccommend stopping there.

Here is the group where we parked for lunch - we even found a bit of shade for the bikes. There were only a couple of trees big enough to give shade, but they were a bit of a walk to the eatery, so no cars had taken advantage of the shade.

After an hour or so, we got back on the bikes and headed back for home.

 

The above picture is of the Group behind us (SIL in the foreground, Ray and Christine, then Jimmy and LG), somehow WS gets to play tour guide on a lot of the rides. Not that he has ever been to the places he gets to lead to, but somehow rarely does anyone else want to take the lead.

We finally got home about 7:30. Tired but happy to have spent a hot day cooling off in the breeze.

Last Sledding

WS didn't go sledding last Sunday even though we had gotten over 21" of snow through the week. The snow was very wet and slimey, making sledding more difficult, and WS was very sore from all the shoveling of roofs.

He, Jimmy, and some other guys went up north to the Cannon Mountain / Twin Mountain region to snowmobile. Probably the last sledding of the year - we have plenty of snow left at the Bogie manse, but even 1 mile away the trails are bare (and closed).

He remembered to take the camera along, so I will share some pics with you:

   This was the first picture WS took so I assume it is their starting out point.

  This is the group that WS went with - obviously he is taking the picture, so is not featured within the group. Jimmy is on the red sled to the right of the two green sleds.

  Someone got stuck and had to dig his way out.

  Broken ski - the tip is sticking straight up and the rest of the ski is flat on the snow. The guy managed to get it fixed well enough to keep going with the group.

  Ridge top - found to be a sheer drop off on the other side. Good thing Gabe hit a rock that stopped him!

  On the way home
 
WS had lots of fun and will be sore for the next day or two, but well worth it for him.

Thanksgiving Feasting

Thanksgiving has come and gone and the fridge is groaning under the load of food still in it.

Monday, WS invited Jimmy over for Thanksgiving, though he usually has several places to go on this day, this year his only choices were too far away. So instead of the small ham and mashed potatoes that I was planning on fixing for the two of us, I had to plan on at least 4 (Jimmy eats for two every day).

The small ham I had previously gotten truly was not enough to feed the three of us, so Tuesday I went to the store and got a turkey breast to make sure we had enough meat. I also decided that a pie was in order along with some dinner rolls. I had sweet potatoes and fresh cranberries already, but was unsure if I would use them.

Wednesday evening I mixed up the green bean casserole so all I would have to do is place it in the oven. I also made a chocolate pecan bourbon pie.

The big day came and while WS raked and mulched leaves, I vacuumed and did some cooking. I woke up thinking that a pumpkin pie was also needed, so I made that while the bread machine was beating up the dough for the rolls. We had 2 bananas that were very ripe, so next I made banana bread. Next the turkey breast went into the oven, then it all came down to timing.

Jimmy arrived in early afternoon and we kept him from starving to death by bringing out a shrimp ring (WS had found it for 1/2 price - nice!), cheese and crackers (WS had cut up the cheese Wednesday night) and chips with onion dip (which WS had also prepared the night before). While we were eating, we watched Star Wars, The Empire Strikes Back. Jimmy has only seen the first Star Wars (okay, the 5th in the series, but the first out on the big screen). We had been itching to watch the movies again since going to the concert, so it all worked out.

About 5, I peeled potatoes and started cooking them; while they were cooking, I did up the rolls and got them and the green beans cooking. The last thing was to make up gravy (I decided against sweet potatoes or cranberries). WS cut up the turkey while I was pulling everything out of the oven and mashing the taters.

At half-time the end of the movie (which coincided nicely with the readiness of the food), we piled our plates high with food and started in on the 6th, um 3rd, oh to heck with it, Return of the Jedi. About half way thru the movie, the neighbor came over to chat for a while. After he left, we broke out the deserts which had waited patiently in the back room (everytime I went in there for something, I gained 10 pounds from the wonderful aromas) and watched the rest of the movie. Did I mention that Karen had stopped on her way to her daughter's to drop off a carrot cake? We certainly didn't lack for sweets!

The meal was declared as delicious by everyone. The movie night was a success (although we still have the next 3 movies to go). Jimmy was encouraged to come back for another night of feasting and lightening of the load on the fridge.

Hope everyone else's Thanksgiving was spent with good company and good food. Next up Black Friday and buying an exercise machine to help compensate for all the calories!