cold brew coffee I make in a mason jar

I've started making my coffee with a no boil method I came up with. Then I research it on-line and find out cold brew coffee is a thing these days...and has been a thing since at least 1609. It seems it's significantly lower in acid also. I like it and see no reason to go back to boiling/heating water. My way it's just regular strength but it seems the way people are doing it - it comes out like a concentrate to be mixed with water or milk when you want to use it.
Today I changed the oil and filter in the Explorer and then cleaned it out and vacuumed. I'm thinking I'll use it soon on a trip into Colorado. I'm hoping it's got one or 2 more road trips left in it.

Petra stayed wherever I put her for 2 days

Petra, literally, did not walk for over 2 days after returning from our river camping/floating trip last week end. Also she would only eat people food I cooked her. It was her sour paws mostly I guess, and maybe sourness in general from all the swimming and running around. She's all better now.

kitchen walls get some attention

I'm getting more done on the kitchen wall work. I'm skimming the walls smooth-going over the old plaster covered with glue from old plastic tile or some such thing.

Today I returned from a few nights along the Jacks Fork river. Petra is sore from all time spent in the water and on gravel hunting fish...and lot's of swimming.

Here on Bennett I did get the shed sheathing painted and my metal odds/ends hung back up. Also, a few days ago I got the rope in the tree for the future swing.

post in place, wood waiting to go back

I installed a real post, set in concrete, to support the wood stack along rear porch steps. The pipe I had pounded in the ground last fall didn't hold the firewood stack straight- the gate wouldn't latch after a while.

shed sheathing gets some protection

I've painted the remaining exposed plywood sheathing on the shed, to protect it till I find some siding I like. I used a latex roof patch and mesh tape to seal any seams and holes. It will get another coat of paint- maybe tomorrow.

yarrow and more sage

I bought some nice long leaf sage and yarrow plants while at the Tower Grove farmers market Saturday. I also worked on my future mail box post- the galvanized metal that had a previous life as a sidewalk menu board is cut and drilled to form the hidden support. The iron wheel is drilled for mounting bolts.

galvanized angle is drilled for mounting wheel and driftwood

iron wheel gets a few holes

I used some old fire bricks to form a fire pit after moving my redwood work table to clear an area. I also added a hand full of screws to the redwood bench that has needed them for several years now. All is good- and the fire pit was put to use last night.

fire pit with yellow firebrick

a wall of (evil) bamboo behind him- on neighbors property

I had someone the bamboo root/runners from the front and rear side yard- 8 hours of work over a couple days. The next thing will be to dig a trench at least 24" deep and line it with a barrier.

chives planted in the garden area

Yesterday was spent at the route K place showing it to prospective tenants and loading some more things to bring back home. I dug some chives and black eyed susans from the garden area to plant in The Lou. Today I planted these in my yard. I harvested more poke and lamb's quarters this evening. Weeds for dinner tonight.

the metal at bottom will be hidden- and ignore the hose

I brought back a piece of drift wood from rte K. I've had it  for years- it to become part of my mail box post. I've designed a post- using it and an old iron wagon wheel. I will fill the area below the mail; box with mortar and mosaic.

Today's foraged food was Lamb's Quarters. I found a nice patch growing in the rear near the driveway. I cooked it up in some soup along with red and black beans I cooked this afternoon. There is poke weed coming up all over the yard- having been a neglected and overgrown bank foreclosure.

Urban foraging-in my own yard. Fresh young Poke-weed for dinner!

bathroom sashes back in- even a curtain now

The bathroom window sashes with fresh putty and paint on exterior sides are back in place on 2nd hand window chain replacing the old rotted rope. I cleaned the storm window glass and the glass on the old wood sashes too and it's quite noticeable how much more light comes in.

the shed

progress on the siding

I started on the "barn siding" on the end of the shed yesterday. I don't have long boards so came about 1/2 way down and am not sure what I'll do with the lower portion yet. But, it looks nicer and I imagine a little improvement now and then helps the neighbors not just see it as an eyesore.

I did more on the bathroom window. I had to cut out pockets/access holes to get at the window weights. Normally they are already accessible. I replaced the old broken ropes with chain salvaged from some previous job. Yesterday I put new putty on the window sashes and today I primed and painted the exterior sides.

I found out yesterday I would be losing the Route K tenant , so today I put an ad on CL and I'm getting lots of responses. I'll weed through the folks- some will not like the house sitting close to main road or lack of dishwasher and garbage disposal.

the one I'm holding is what the other 2 used to look like

Yesterday I worked on modifying the old original air cleaner elements for the cb450. I think maybe one could still buy them new but for the money, it's better to burn/remove the old paper elements from the housings and replace with a reusable foam element. So, I burned out the old paper and then cleaned and painted the metal housings.

painted and ready for new foam filter material

Today I removed the old bathroom window sashes in order to replace the broken ropes with copper coated chain. The sashes were so in need of painting and new putty that the project is being dragged out a bit. I got them cleaned up and primed- ready for new putty.

I decided to sell the CX500 today and it went quick. My easy button really works sometime. I'm glad it's in the hands of a young guy who intends to use it daily. As a matter of fact the guy that bought it, and his friend that came with him, were both at the Vintage Bike Night last night(Cinco De Moto)- as was I.

shed end wall (nearest driveway) gets sheathed

Yesterday I worked on the shed more. I got the end wall sheathed with scrounged plywood and a bit of osb. The loft access hatch is framed in too. Also, I transplanted the remaining sunflower starts and noticed my last 2 asparagus have popped up- so I have 12 of the fine plants now.

I have been cleaning up the cb450 air box related parts. I also got the battery ground hooked up to bare metal on the motor mount at rear. The tool box is installed too.

remember last winter ?

 A fine, cool morning here in the lou. The quiet here is impressive for a city I'm used to expecting disturbances. One bicycle mile from The Bottleworks and I'm able to sleep with my windows open.

warming parts painted in me oven

Yesterday I spent a good amount of time on the cb450- as if I had nothing better to do. It was nice. I dove deeper into the wiring harness/connections. I cleaned and painted the tool box that mounts below the battery and air cleaner housing contraption. There's a lot going on in that immediate area with wiring and devices and such. I also put the cx500 speedometer back on the twisted cylinder twin from 1981.

cb450- 42 years old in June

A chilly morning and cool day. I had a fire this evening again. I tinkered with the cb450 today- organizing and figuring out the wiring in more detail. The bike has a grounding harness, separate from the main wiring harness, that seems to have been added after it left the factory- I'm going to use it. I'm now clear where the ground connections are/go and all electrical devices are accounted for.