What did you do today? - 2023 version

[ls99]

A few days ago found buch of tiny ants swarming around one of my chimneys. Had the bug-ologist at the house this morning. He sprayed some stuff into the cracks and up along the siding. Will have a crew out in a few days to treat for ants around the entire perimeter of house.

[PaunchyPirate]

I just had a weird experience. I walked into my local PNC Bank and walked up to a teller window with a paper bag in my hand and handed the clerk a type-written note.

I was quick to let the clerk know that I needed to withdraw money from my own account in various denominations (spelled out in the note) to use as change at my garage sale this weekend.

I told her it felt weird doing this and she said "at least you aren't wearing sunglasses and a hat". We chuckled together.

[Piper20]

Quote:

Originally Posted by ls99 A few days ago found buch of tiny ants swarming around one of my chimneys. Had the bug-ologist at the house this morning. He sprayed some stuff into the cracks and up along the siding. Will have a crew out in a few days to treat for ants around the entire perimeter of house.

Is99 I used Bayer 3 years ago around the house and haven’t seen an ant yet.

Bayer Advanced 700310 Carpenter... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0001LE30G...p_mob_ap_share

[Walt34]

Yesterday, with the push of a button, I managed to break the freezer. We bought this small (15.8 CF) Whirlpool freezer in 2016 for $510 at Lowes and it has run fine since then. Then I decided to push the button that allows you to lower the temperature since it had always kept the temperature at 10°F and not zero, as I would wish. The compressor promptly quit running. Hmmm. That's not good. No amount of button-pushing or pressing-and-holding of buttons changed anything. I even resorted to reading the owner's manual. Still no joy.

So, after moving what food we could to the upstairs refrigerator freezer compartment and throwing out the rest, I took the screws holding the "user interface" (that's the part name) out and let everything warm up and dry out from the condensation in the vain hope that maybe some ice was holding contacts apart or something. Nope, nothing doing.

Oh well, glad we didn't have a pile of filet Mignon steaks in there or anything. We threw out maybe $100 worth of food. Not a budget-buster, but I hated the waste.

Looking up the part, I find that the retail price of this little circuit board with about a dozen parts on it ranges from $477 at Whirlpool's site to $250 at some unknown site, and the photo of that part only vaguely looks like the one in my freezer. A known-reputable site wants $365 for it. So now the discussion is do we buy a new freezer or roll the dice and buy the part and hope that fixes the problem. Similar freezers at Lowes and Home Depot are about $650 to $700 now. We're leaning toward a new freezer, and I am more than a bit annoyed at the price-gouging for the part. If it was just me I'd throw the thing out and be done with it but DW wants a freezer.

BTW, did you know that you can spend NINE THOUSAND DOLLARS on a home freezer? Wow. I found that one at a local appliance store, so I guess we won't be shopping there. It can have a custom front on it but I didn't see anything else about it to justify that price.

[ls99]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Piper20 Is99 I used Bayer 3 years ago around the house and haven’t seen an ant yet. Bayer Advanced 700310 Carpenter... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0001LE30G...p_mob_ap_share

Thanks, will keep reference for future. For now bug-ologist already has the job.

[steelyman]

I dipped my toe back into scanning old photographs to my computer. A mind-numbingly boring task for sure. I’m using an open source package for image organization called DigiKam. I still haven’t decided what format to use but have narrowed it down to PNG or TIFF.

Anyway, one nice thing is when you come across a photo that makes you smile. Today it was a picture taken in the late 80s. Four of us (2 guys, 2 girls) getting ready to drive to Wrigley Field in Chicago to see a Cubs game. Not all were Cubs fans, the other guy was a fierce StL fan (guess he liked winning every now and then).

At the time there was a popular movie called “Three Men And A Baby”. Being creative, we drew up a poster reminiscent of the movie poster (same lettering style). “Three Cub Fans And A Baby”, ready to use at the ball park. We didn’t leave without taking a picture of that and I’m glad it survived.

I have no idea who won that game but I bet we drank a good amount of beer.

[Piper20]

Walt34 have you tried partsdr.com ? I ordered a bottom dishwasher rack for a Bosch. Arrived in 2 days and best price I could find.

[skyking1]

Yesterday I went out to Pete's to dump out this good gravelly stuff we had at the shop and track it into a low spot that my trailer was sitting over when I took out those stumps earlier.


They had ground and paved nearby Highway 7, and the pile of grindings was only 4 miles away. I contacted the owner and picked up 3 loads of grindings at $100 a load. One went on the loop road and the other two I dumped in the trailer parking area to spread out and track in.

[Gumby]

One of my cats caught a mouse this morning and is quite proud of himself, so I have been busy praising him for his hunting skills.

[Philliefan33]

I’m at the firehouse baking cornbread for 250 people. (Tomorrow is a chicken bbq fundraiser). I started helping with the event baking about seven years ago, then became the “head baker” a few years ago when the other guys retired from the volunteer gig. I like to bake, and its kind of fun to play in a commercial kitchen.

[pacergal]

Heading over to pick up youngest DGS for a day with Grandma and PaPa.
I so enjoy our time with the little ones, Grandchildren are such a blessing in our lives. Keeps us young and on our toes!

[Walt34]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Piper20 Walt34 have you tried partsdr.com ?

Yes I did, their prices were similar.

[street]

Quote:

Originally Posted by pacergal Heading over to pick up youngest DGS for a day with Grandma and PaPa. I so enjoy our time with the little ones, Grandchildren are such a blessing in our lives. Keeps us young and on our toes!

LOL!! You got that right. No rest when they are around that is for sure but have been blessed to have them and have them be part of our life.

[MC Rider]

Visited Dad who lives 3 hours away yesterday and today.
Came home with a Skilsaw table saw, Ryobi cordless drill, Milwaukee 1/2" Magnum Holeshooter drill, A Makita disc grinder, a metal craftsman full of wrenches etc toolbox that must weigh at least 50 pounds, a 100' extension cord 14 gauge,and a card table with 4 chairs.


Thanks, Dad. We'll be back for more another day to help clean out the garage a bit.

[skyking1]

Nice to re-home that stuff if you will use it.
I cut out blackberries and trees and pulled weeds at the office, and donated some blood below the welding glove gauntlet level.
Pulling weeds seems to be a good strengthening exercise post surgery.

[pacergal]

yard and garden work today--where are all of the bees?
We have several Lavender plants throughout our yard, normally full of bees this time of year., can hear them buzzing all day long. I have seen two!
I have purposely planted flowering shrubs, native grasses, etc to attract bees and butterflies, normally see tons of them. Hardly any this year.
My tomatoes have not done well, I have one measly wrinkled green tomato and the flowers are falling off (fertilized and watered correctly, plenty of sun).

We have had much cooler nights than normal, hoping as the weather warms more, the bees will come!

[street]

Heading a couple hours way to spend the afternoon and evening with the kids. A small western cowboy town to have supper and do some hiking and spend the day outdoors with them. Six-year-old DG is very excited for the day of fun.

Irrigated the garden and lawn this morning. The garden is fantastic this year so far. I have a lot of baseball size tomatoes on but still green.

[MBAustin]

Had a lovely "ladies day out" with 8 friends - we went shopping in Georgetown, walking around the courthouse square, then lunch. Only bummer was that one friend's husband still will not let her dine inside restaurants, so we had to sit outside in the 100 degree heat. At least we had shade and a breeze. A good time was had by all.

[Ronstar]

Went for a hike and got carried away. Wanted to do 5 miles. Ended up at 10.7 miles. With 1015' vertical gain which is a lot for an Illinois hike.

[skyking1]

Yes it is! I m still battling the blackberries at work. This evening I will go knock down those asphalt grindings.