Bogieblog

Now We're Cooking!

There are several things that I am getting used to with the new stove - nothing bad, just different than what I have gotten used to.

There is now another light in the kitchen - the clock display. I am happy to report that the numbers are large enough that I can actually see it from across the room.

The electronic timer - no more twisting of a knob and getting it somewhere close to the time I want. On the old stove, I couldn't actually set the timer for an hour. It would be somewhere close to an hour plus or minus 15 minutes. I normally just set it in 30 minute increments because that was easier. With the electronic timer, I set the exact amount of time (even 1 or 2 minutes) and it does the rest.

The stove knobs - on the old stove it was (left to right) back left burner, front left burner, back right burner, then front burner. On the new stove, the two burners on the right are reversed; front right burner back right burner. Just something I'll have to watch for a little bit.

The electronic ignition - on the old stove, the electronic ignition was instigated by turning the knob all the way counterclockwise. Once the burner was lit, I would turn it clockwise to reduce the flame. With the new stove, the electronic ignition is the first position when the knob is turned counterclockwise. To adjust the flame, I have to turn it counterclockwise some more. Another little thing that will just take a  while to get used to.

Rail Birds

Early Friday morning it snowed - not much, just a couple of inches. However, since the installation guy was coming to hook up and convert the stove to propane, I figured I better get out there and clean off the areas that he would have to walk through.

But first, I did the dishes from the evening before. As I had my hands in the soapy wate, I was watching juncos hit the platform birdfeeder that is on the railing of the deck. Although the feeder is out in the open, quite aways from any trees or bushes, they are safe from any prowling raptors. I have placed the feeder right next to the wood rack, so if anything threatens them from the sky, they can just hop down off the railing and have good cover.

One junco was in the middle of the feeder and a couple of others would land on the railing to wait their turns. But then, their feet would get cold in the snow, and they would take off, just to return a minute later. When I went out to shovel off the deck, I also cleared the snow off the railings.

After the serviceman had hooked up the stove and gone his merry way, I started slicing meat to make up some beef jerkey. I looked out the kitchen window and there were juncos lined up on the rail. This time though, they didn't take off after a short wait; they sat patiently waiting for their turn.

One junco seemed to see me in the window. He cocked an eye my way and bobbed his head a couple of times. I grinned as I fancied he was thanking me for sweeping the snow off his perch.

Simple pleasures are sometimes the best.

Gadding About

The other day, when I went to Walmart after work to pick up a few things. One of those items was windshield wiper fluid.

It has snowed every 2-3 days here lately. With all the salting of the roads going on, I have had to clean the windshield a lot during all my toing-and-froing. So, I had emptied my last bottle of fluid and I knew the resevoir in the truck was low.

After I had loaded the rest of the groceries in my vehicle, I went around front, opened the hood, and filled the resevoir. About 1/2 way thru the task I heard, "What's wrong, won't it work?". As I finished the top-off, I heard again, "What's wrong, won't it work?" just behind me.

As I replaced the resevoir cap, I looked behind me to see an elderly man looking at me with concern. "Oh, no, I'm just filling up the windshield wiper fluid,"  I assurred him. "Thank you for your concern though."

We talked a bit about the weather (it was supposed to snow again that night) and other non-consequential things. Then we returned our carts to the cart corral and wished each other a good night.

I left there thinking, "What a wonderful fellow, being concerned for a stranger."

One Down - One To Go

While Wichi Dude is waiting for interviews and such, to see if he gets to move to a different department for the company he works with, Billy has found a new job. Congratulations Billy - I hope it is everything you could wish for!

Thank You

The 744th Transportation Unit, based out of Hillsboro, should be coming home  to NH today. We are glad that our ""Ghost Riders" are back, with all members that were deployed coming home!

Welcome back and Thank You for your service to our country!

Were Was I?

At work, we are looking for a Quality Engineer. The last QE we hired didn't work out, so we have re-opened interviews. Several people interview a candidate, and if warrented, they come back for a second interview. I don't participate in the 1st round, but do in the second participate in the 2nd round (for those that are candidates for positions that I will be working closely with).

For the 2nd round interview, there are several groups that interview the person. That way we can take turns asking questions, and feed off of other people's questions. I am usually  paired with a high-ranking manager - this time our Applications Engineer was also in our group.

No Spare Buck Goes Unspent

Yesterday was busy, what with shovelling snow and filling the woodrack on the deck and shopping for a new scook stove.

Sunday I turned on the oven to cook some meatloaf, and after a couple of minutes the kitchen was filled with the smell of Propane. The oven burner was lit, so I had WS come and check it out. He too smelled the gas and thought it was getting stronger.

I turned off the stove, WS turned of the gas bottle, we opened a couple of windows and turned on a fan to get rid of the smell. Good thing the woodstove had been going all day because it was about 8 degrees out and windy - but the woodstove bravely kept the house (and part of the outdoors) warm as we aired out the fumes.

I decided that maybe I could use the cooktop burners and make dinner that way so I had WS turn the propane back on and tried that. Nope would be the answer to that one, so WS turned of the propane for good and we called out for pizza.

I love my stove. It is about 20 years old and was given to me for my Birthday by my family. It has resided in 3 different homes/appartments and 2 different states. It new enough to have electronic ignition, but old enough not to have the safety system that prevents gas from flowing if there is no electricity. This allowed the gas stove be a great back-up heater for the house before we got the woodstove. One more thing - it hass a continuous cleaning oven. An oven that keeps itself clean while I am cooking. No special cleaning cycles need to be run, no elbow grease needs to be expended - it's a wonderful thing!

But, two of the stove burners don't burn cleanely (and can't be adjusted anymore to get them to that point), the oven no longer keeps a constant or correct temperature, the door is dented (from moving mishaps) and the enamal or the stovetop has been cleaned through to the metal in some spots. Heck, looking at the lettering, you would swear it is an "NMORE" and a "UOUS CLEANINING" stove.

Relocating

It seems that the Weekend Pundit and his Fiancee have been looking for a new Manse forever. They have finally found one that fits the requirements and it sounds quite nice. Congrats!

Seeding Itch

I was already feeling the itch to start seeds for the summer, when I went to Buffy's and read her article on Winter Sowing. Damn, If I was home enough to do all the checking on the plants, I would be tempted to try it.

This year is going to be especially tough for me and the seed starting. I am used to having a greenhouse so I can start the seeds in March, repot the seedling several times, and have large plants to plant in June (our frost-free date is May 30). With the short summers, I really like to have the plants on the large size when I plant them, otherwise they don't have time to produce.

This year, I have no greenhouse so everything has to stay in the house. With creative re-location of house plants, I should have enough room for 6 seedling trays. However, if the plants get too big and need to be re-potted into larger containers, they won't be under the grow lights due to lack of space. I figure I won't be able to start seeds until April - a whole month late according to my schedule.

Added to the mix is the fact that we won't be here for about 10 days towards the end of May, so I have a real problem on my hands. Sure, I could ask the people that will take care of our animals to water - but I don't feel right about asking them to do that every day or two. That also would be the best time for hardening off the plants, but once again, it isn't right for me to ask these people to take up all their time moving plants in and out of the house.

So, the plants need to stay small, and a means of watering them while hardening them off needs to be devised. Oh yeah, add Miracle Worker to my various titles.

Congrats

Greg and his Lovely Bride had a winner go to Westminster. Although Diva didn't win top prize, she did receive a Award of Merit. For a picture of Diva looking very relaxed, go here. Make sure to check out the video of the Borzoi competition where Diva is about 9:15 into it.