It's county fair time!!

If you live in a small town anywhere in the country, you are probably aware of the county-fair.  Not the big 'state-fairs' that are put on by a lot of big companies and state-governments.  I'm talking about the smaller county-fairs that are put on by hardworking folks who sign up to be on a board, put in long hours for no money, beg for sponsors, etc. all to bring a little enjoyment to the people who live in that area.

I will gladly admit to looking forward to the local fair every year.  Of course when I was a child, it was more for the cotton-candy, popcorn, and (seemingly) rickety rides brought in by a carnival and set up to the side of the main 'arena', and I will also admit to those things still having an appeal to me.  But these days it's more the food than the rides.  Wifey still gets a thrill over those 'twist-you-till-you-throw-up' rides however.

When I was young, the other thing that I really liked was that my Dad was in a group called  "The Young Farmers".  This group ruled the last two nights of the fair.  Two full nights of tractor pulls.  When I was young, the first night was for the local folks who wanted to pull their personal tractors.  There were a LOT more little farms then, and several farmers wanting to come and join in on the local competition.  Then the second night, the big hot-rods came out.  These things were big, strong, and LOUD!

In high school, and being the son of a Farmer of course I was in FFA, as were many of my friends.  The summer would find us planning out our weekends so that we could catch all the local ones around the area.  I don't know if was due to us liking seeing things we used daily with this much power, or what but we were ALWAYS there.

Now, all of that said this weekend was the annual Franklin-Simpson County Fair.  A full week of rides, contests, and corn-dogs (Mmmmm corn-dogs).

Remembering the final two days of the fair being so much fun as a child, I looked-forward to going to the tractor-pull at the end of the week.  This year, the last two nights were in stead not only a tractor-pull, but also a demolition derby!

I have to say  I was looking forward to the weekend all week. Friday night was the tractor pull.  Since Wifey isn't that big of a tractor-pull fan (yes I married a girl from town), I went alone.  No big deal, I found me a prime spot and current wait to enjoy the sites.

At this pull, there were two different types of tractors.  Super-Stock and Modified.   I am personally a little more fond of the Super-Stock because they look more like what I used to drive on my fathers farm.

I really like how you know exactly when they are taking the weight of the sled.  In the pics above, you can see them going down the track.  On the left, you see one one in mid-pull.  On the right (sorry for the blur) you can see one starting.  Notice the exhaust. When these tractors are revving up to pull the smoke is a grayish-white.  But when they actually start pulling you can immediately see the smoke turn to a coal-black.  Yes, it's not an efficient way of doing it.  Yes, it's not the most eco-friendly thing on the planet.  Whatever, to me it's way cool.

The other type of tractor that was there were the modifieds.  These tractors are from one to I've seen as many as 6 engines on a frame all hooked to one rear-end.  Normally these are the large 'hot-rod' engines like you see in dragsters.  But other types of engines are used too.  One very unique application are turbine engines.

These engines are the engines that you would normally see powering a turbo-prop airplane engine, or a helicopter rotor.

OK, I could go on for hours on this, but I've still not gotten to the next night!  The demolition derby!  Saturday night both wifey and I went out for this event.  This event it simple.  People enter cars that have had all glass removed, reinforced with some (minimal) safety cages, and hit them into each other trying to destroy the other guys car.  The last person with a running vehicle wins.  I mean come on, what fun!

Last nights, event however came with something I've never seen.  "Lawn-Mower-Demolition-Derby".  Crazy.  The best part was the guy that was sitting behind saying, in about the most country accent available "This S#@! is about as Redneck as hell!".  I laughed, I yelled, I laughed more.  There was so much action going on I missed stuff.  We both had so much fun we are looking for others near by.  

OH, and we even got to see a live version of C.O.P.S when two in the crown were put in hand-cuffs and led away by Franklin's Finest.  For the two nights, I was out less than $50.  I mean come on, you rarely get that much entertainment for your money.


So, if anyone in the area reading this blog is on the Franklin-Simpson, Ky fair board.  Well done, and thanks for a great weekend.

Woo-Hoo, the Library!!

Some of you may or may not know, but I'm a reader.  I. LOVE. TO. READ.  So after weeks of reading everything I had here at the house that was 'on my list', AND after several suggestions by wifey to check it out, I head down to the Goodnight Memorial Library here in town. 

Now, I haven't been to this library in years.  YEARS.  All my previous memories were of the massive card catalog on the bottom floor.  I even remember having a class on how to use it.  I thought I was so cool being able to just jot up to those cool little drawers and research what I wanted, then just walk right there.  Yeah, I guess I was a geek back then too.

Well, of course technology has made it's way to my little home-town library too.  I'm sure it's been there for years.  I haven't researched it yet (I'm sure it's somewhere on the link above), but I believe it was sometime around 2000.  The reason I say that is because all of the books I've checked out so far have mid to late 1999 as the last date stamped in that little 'check-out-card-holder-thingie' in the front cover.  No, I don't know the real name for it but you all know what I'm talking about.

I must say it's nice to have the technology there.  Searching for a book is so much easier with a quick database search provided by the in-house database.  And I also like knowing if a book is there or not when I go to look for it, not just that they have it. 

I've even done an "ILL", (Intra-Library-Loan) for those of you not up on the current library lingo.  I will admit that I too didn't know this until 5 minutes after I had done it and while we were in the car driving away wifey started talking about me doing the 'ILL' and I was like 'Wha???', then she explained it.  What can I say I'm sometimes not the 'sharpest knife'.

Anyway, it's nice to know we have this great resource here in town.  I'm sure I'll be using it A LOT.

The Kitchen..Yeah still at it....

When we left off, we were now again in a working kitchen.  Yes, I popped pop-corn before putting on the cabinet handles.  To be honest, I wasn't sure where they were.  We know that somewhere in a box we have handles for the cabinets that we can use.  We bought them about a year ago, but then the whole 'getting laid-off: moving 700 miles: getting into the new job: blah,blah' happened and there you go.  They are in a box.  We will find them.

Now, I need to add one small thing here.  When we replaced our appliances, we were able to find the stove and refrigerator at a good price.  Unfortunately this store didn't have the matching dishwasher yet.  So as we finished up the cabinet install we didn't yet have the dishwasher.  We had left the needed 24 and 1/4 inches so we knew we were good.  We would keep searching, find the perfect dishwasher and put it in.  (remember the 24 and 1/4 inches?)

So that next weekend, we decide to head down to Nashville.  We hadn't had a nice day-off in a while.  We would go down and go to the Frist Center, then check the big Sears outlet, then on to our very favorite Sushi place in Brentwood.

I personally hadn't gone to the Frist Center but had wanted to.  Marsha had gone once or twice, and we were looking forward to it.  Since I hadn't been there, as we were pulling up Marsha was explaining where the parking lots were that validate parking.  But whats this?  A spot right on the curb?  Next to the side door?  And it's not a handicapped spot?  What luck!!

I say, do you think we can just go in this side door?  It was chilly and I was looking for the 'quick way' in.  We try it and yes.  Right into the lobby.  Then as we are passing by the nice security guard sitting in his little booth at that side of the lobby, he says to us "Excuse me, do you have passes for today?"

We say no (me thinking we were in trouble for my quick entry through the side door), but asked where we could purchase them.

He then said, "Oh, have these two."  FREE PASSES?  Cool...

Now, for those who do not know the Frist Center.  They evidently do this a lot.  However, I just thought we had the super-double luck-out.  A great spot right outside AND free passes?  Could this day be any better?

So we spend a couple of hours at the Frist and then head to our second destination,  the HUGE Sear's appliance outlet store. We thought that surely we would have some luck in this place with a dishwasher.  No luck.  500 Refridgerators - 8 dishwashers.  Then as we were walking out of the store to the car we happened to notice a store of the same chain we bought the other two appliances from was just next door.  We decided that since we were already here we might as well check.

So we walk in, and go right over to the appiance section.  They had the EXACT one we needed.  It was the same brand as our other two, same style, stainless we couldn't believe it.  AND it was exactly 24 and 1/8 inches wide.  We left the perfect size hole.  Needless to say, she went to pay as I ran downstairs to see what I needed to do to make enough room in the SUV to get it home.  This was turning into the best day.  So we have a nice dinner, and drive home.  We can't wait to install the new dishwasher.

Sunday, we get up ready to finish out the appliance install.  We remove the dishwasher from the box.  Lug it into the kitchen, get ready to put it in the whole and...

"Wait, it's not quite fitting.  Let's move it a little this way..."  Still nothing.  Hang on, we measured this. What happened?

Suddenly we noticed.  That small line we marked that had been where the end of the 9" cabinet should have been had an extra 1/4 inch beside it.  Now, I really don't know what we did.  The best we can tell, was that when we put in the shims we must have moved the cabinet just enough that the dishwasher no longer fit.

Oh well, we can just slide the cabinets down.  We loosen the screws holding down the counter top.  We take out the screws holding the cabinets to the wall.  It was then I noticed that the nice big opening that I had to secure the sink cabinet to the wall was of course NOW taken up with the sink.  So now I have maybe 4-5 inches left to work with.  Underneath the sink where I will have to do all the work upside down.  And the topper.  My shortest screwdriver was way longer than 4-5 inches.

My Grandfather had a saying.  "Always have the right tool for the job.  If you don't have the tool, make it.  If you can't make it, well you don't have any business messing with it in the first place." 

So with this sage advice in my head, and summoning all of that Herndon 'make your own tool' mojo that I had learned growing up on the farm,  AND after much scratching of the head, I create the tool I need for the job. 

I put a screw-driver bit, into a socket that is the right size, holding it in with a bit of masking tape.  Then when the 'screw-bit-socket-driver-thingie' (patent pending) is on the ratchet, I can remove the screw in a tight spot.  I get to work.

Now remember, I'm working upside down.  And it's really hard to take out a 3 inch screw a quarter turn at a time.  So I continue.

OK, my leg was tired.  So after about 30 minutes, I get one of the two screws out... Next....

OK, so we get the sink cabinet loose.  We move the cabinets down 'just a smidge', then tighten it all back up again.

Woo-Hoo, the dishwasher now fits perfectly.  I spend the next couple of hours re-assembling the plumbing for the sink, re-adjusting the cabinet doors, and finding the bandages and anti-biotic cream.  Because there is another famous Herndon saying.  Well not a saying but really kind of a curse.

"No job can be completed until blood is spilled."  Yes, sounds kinda crazy.  But any of you that grew up on a farm can attest to this.  It's very hard not to get out of a project without a few scrapes.

OK, that's the most of the 'heavy' construction.  Since this we have painted and installed new lighting, including using an old wine rack we found in conjunction with a new fixture to do something nice over the kitchen sink.

OH, and you can notice the new paint too.  Yes, we have come a long way.  We have the kitchen more or less like we want it now.  As soon as we find that magic connection on some cork flooring we'll finish it up and be really proud.  I'll circle back and put more pictures in once the 'interior designer' (wifey) has OK-ed me putting up pictures of the "Non-Construction-Zone" kitchen up on the internet.

Now, On to the Patio.....

The Kitchen... Day 3..(Or, yes still working on it...)

OK, time to put the cabinets in on the other side of the kitchen.  Now being pros for putting in the other side, we boldly move forward.  We know as we put in the bottom cabinets we need to leave 24 and 1/4 inches for the dishwasher.

We put in the bit cabinet with the nice 36" drawer,  measured 24 1/4 inches and placed the cabinet for the sink and the small 9 in cabinet.  As we place the sink cabinet, we realize that it's ever so slightly off kilter (I'm told that's what the pros say).  Having had this problem before I pull out my 'bag-o-shims' and quickly tap in a shim to make the cabinet just right.  We reset the small 9 inch cabinet, also tapping in a small shim to make it all line up just perfectly.

Great, all cabinets are in.  On to the counter top.   Realize, due to our recent move our garage is still quite full.  I dig out the saw-horses and find just enough room to put the counter top onto them and still have 8 inches to stand in to cut.  Perfect.  So I go back into the kitchen and measure how far from the wall to where the sink would be centered.  I go and make a small mark on the bottom side of the counter top.  I go measure again. I double check.  (Can you tell I'm gun shy on cutting?)

We both go out to the garage.  "Honey, can you please double-check me?  We don't want to cut this wrong."  I show her my measurements, why I measured this way, blah blah...

"Yeah, that all seems right.....wait a minute!" She says.

"WHAT?" I say.

"OK, if we have this laying here up-side down, that end there would be by the wall right?" She asks.

"Yes, I think so." I reply.

"Then shouldn't the hole for the sink be over here?" she says trying not to hurt my manly pride.

"OH!  You are so right!!" I exclaimed, "I am SO glad I asked." 

Now, for those of you out there who may find this odd.  I won't say I'm a perfect husband.  But I have at least learned to ask my wife on certain things.  Plus, I think whatever pride I may have lost being wrong was MORE than made up for not having to go buy another 10 foot section of counter-top.  We re-measure, and double-check ourselves again.  Good.  I grit my teeth and make the cut.  Perfect.

From then on things go fairly smoothly.  I even was able to put the disposal in, and get all the drain pipes together with only 1 extra trip to the store.  On top of that, not one leak.  NONE.  I usually have to futz around with it for a couple of hours until I get it all right.

We have a 'working' kitchen.

The Kitchen... Day 2...

Having gotten what we need, we head back to the house.  We decide that it would probably be smart to do one side then the other.  Yeah, that way if something unforeseen happens the ENTIRE kitchen isn't torn up at once.  So far this is all working.

"Wait!" she says, "how about if we take the bottom ones out first.  That way they will be out of the way."

"BRILLIANT!" I said. "Great idea!"

We start happily taking down the cabinets.  Suddenly, my electric screwdriver runs out of charge. "No Electric Screw-Driver, WHY NOW!!" I lamented.

I take down the last one with the good old "Standard" screw-driver and put my electric one on the charger.

Wife, "You know my brother has one of those really good electric drills.  I bet he would let us borrow it."

Hating to have to borrow yet another tool I grudgingly say, "Yeah, I'll run over there.  I have to pick XYZ at Lowe's anyway."  She calls, all is set.

So I go over to get the tools from the wife's brother.  OK, not only does he have the screw driver, but a Skill-Saw and reciprocating saw in the little tool bag.  AWESOME!!  (I love tools, can you tell?)

I get back with the tools, "Man I'm glad she thought of these!" I think as we continue.  We quickly get the old cabinets down and out to the garage.  The new cabinets go in.  It looks great! Now we are moving along.

The Sink:

I've never liked dealing with plumbing.  I absolutely HATE the idea of missing something and having a leak that won't go away or worse be hidden until you have tremendous damage.  I knew that moving to 'Plan C' required me to do more than my swapping the faucet and drain.

I remove the old sink, drain, disposal AND this gigantic filter/expansion tank.  Then the fun starts. I go to remove the cabinet.  NO, can't do that.  Whoever installed this cabinet decided to arrange the pipe so that it's through the cabinet and then makes a 90-degree turn down where the valve is.

OK, I decide to turn the water to the house and just saw off the end of the pipe where the valves are to get the cabinet out.  (Yes, there was probably a better plan but isn't there always.)  OK, we are moving forward again.  We just can't use the bathroom.  Luckily for me, this house uses that plastic pipe (PVC) for it's plumbing.  Not the best pipe to use for plumbing but very durable and usable.  PLUS, I learned how to deal with this stuff growing up on a farm.  If it had been copper I would have been in a fix since I have yet to learn how to do that.  I get the old cabinet out and repair the water lines so we can put valves back onto the ends.  One little thing, have to wait 6 hours for the glue to totally set up...  We made it.  Not the most fun afternoon.

Stay tuned.....

The Kitchen... Day 1...

So we move home - GREAT.  First thing, find somewhere to live.  For those of you who don't know Franklin, it's a rather small town.  There aren't that many apartments. And we were on a tight time frame. OH, and did I mention that my wife was still in PA and I did all the looking?  This meant meeting our Agent, going to the house, taking lots of pictures and emailing them to her.  Some times with a very crude layout of the floor plan using that lovely Paint program in Windows.

Anyway, after many nights looking at photos while talking over long-distance and discussions of the pros and cons of house A over house B, we finally decide.  Yes, this house wasn't exactly what we wanted.  But it had a lot of what we did want.  One level (old knees don't like stairs), all brick, nice level yard, nice neighborhood.  Yes, this will do.  We know due to some of the circumstances of our purchase that we will have to do a few things here and there.  No problem.  We've done small stuff here and there.  We can do this.

Our first big project is the Kitchen: (don't you love that wallpaper!!)

Needless to say, the lovely wallpaper and the nice off-shoot cabinet there at the end just seemed to give me a sense of extreme claustrophobia with just a hint of vertigo.

At first we thought, well we can just move that one cabinet, and put the refrigerator there.  Yeah, that would work.  And we would replace that cabinet there on the end with a book-shelf.  And we'll take out that corner cabinet without a lazy susan in it too.  Why in the world would someone install a corner cabinet with no lazy susan in it! What were they thinking?  Have they not SEEN HGTV?

Minor stuff!!  We could definitely knock this out in a weekend.  I have tools!  I have the Home-Depot 1-2-3 Do-It-Yourself guide from 1995!  We can do this.

Saturday comes.  We get up early (no later than 8:30 or 9:00 am).  We are excited.  Our new kitchen will be so cool!  We take everything out of the cabinets.  We put on our work gloves.  "Honey", I said "time to take down some cabinets!"

I get up on the ladder, I get my trusty Black-N-Decker cordless drill. I'll write about my wanting to build a statue to the person who invented the electric screwdriver another time.  Let's just say that person is high on my list.

But back to the story, I get on the ladder with my trusty electric screw-driver.  The wife is there ready to grab the cabinet as it comes loose.  We are a well choreographed team of home-improvement pros.  Oh, this isn't our first go-around.  Remind me to tell you about the "Tile" project.

Down comes the first cabinet.  SWEET!  It was SO EASY!!  We can do this.  We'll have this done in no time. So we get the cabinet down where the 'book-case' will be.

Plan B:

Well, the book-case wasn't going to work out like we hoped.  No big deal we can work around it.  We take out the corner cabinet under where the book case was to be.   We are going to slide that cabinet on the other side of the kitchen into this spot.

"Wait a minute..."  "This isn't going to work.."  "Wait we measured this!" "We thought about this!"

Plan C:

Well, the cabinets weren't going to go in as smoothly as we thought.  Plus in the original plan, that's Plan A - subsection b - amendment 2.43 for those keeping up, actually said we were going to have to buy a cabinet for that spot there...

We stop and think it over again.

"You know, these cabinets ARE in pretty bad shape anyway." I said.

"Yeah I wanted to paint them anyway, I hate that shade of oak anyway." she said.

"Well since you were going to paint them anyway, why not just get some of those unfinished ones at Lowes like "Ken" and "Barbie"*?   (*Names have been changed to protect the innocent.)  I said.

"Yeah, that would just be better.  That way they will match and we don't have to search over high-and-low for just the right thing."

"Good plan."  I said and went to get the measuring tape.

Well, we need 2 of these, one of those, one that is 18-inches, one that is 36 inches....  We got the paper out and sketched it out.  We talked over what we wanted.   I measured.  She measures.  I measure again.  She measures again.  You have heard of that old rule 'measure twice-cut once'?  Yeah, something like that.

We head out to Lowe's.  They have 3 styles that we can buy off the shelf.  One that is the basic-basic.  One is the same color but different style to what we had.  But the third.  Yes, the third was perfect!  It was a nice dark wood, it was sturdy, it was perfect.  We get what we need and head back to the homestead.

Stay tuned.....

You just know it's going to be a great day when....

You tip-toe out of the bedroom after getting all of your stuff, get to the living room, and drop your shirt into a big pile of cat-hair.

Then, after using 3 sheets on the lint-roller to get it off every inch of fabric (that stuff gets everywhere), you start to work only to find the blower fan isn't working.  No Air conditioning.

THEN, you get about 10 feet from your desk and realize you left your coffee in the truck.