Galen's manspace

Christmas Cookies on Broad St.

noreply@blogger.com (Manspace) — Sat, 19 Dec 2009 01:56:00 +0000

Item: Peanut Blossoms with a kiss. A Hershey's kiss that is. Ummm these are good and Donna could not be dissuaded. She was determined to make these as her mother had been known to make perhaps 96 dozens of Christmas cookies in her time which were accounted for in every cookie tin and container to hold them and records kept when a dozen or two went to the church social or to her work or friends and family to show the balance of each container.

So for 60-75 cookies mix (flour + baking soda + salt) gradually add into mixer (butter + peanut butter + sugar + brown sugar + vanilla + cream) and add 1 egg.
Roll quarter or larger sized balls of cookie dough and coat these in a bowl of sugar and space each on a cookie sheet.

Preheat the oven to 375 and leave in for 8 min. to bake and than remove to press in the Hershey kisses. Put the sheet back into the oven for another 3 min. and they are ready.

Let these cool down and enjoy. (Recipe is available upon request).

Meanwhile in the Manspace this looks like the answer to the final feature for the "Vertical Veer" chaser. This one has the corners upright and stands about 36" high. It is all down hill from there and the marbles stream off the last rail in a frenetic finish. This little feature may harness the powerful discharge in a fun finale.

Christmas path candles on Broad Street

noreply@blogger.com (Manspace) — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 00:33:00 +0000

Item: Years ago Wallace and Molly were our neighbors and came up with this idea for Broad Street in the historic district. We still have the originals but this year I will have to modify the candle base for a standard candle. The old style plumbers candles are no longer available. Most of the others have electrified theirs but Donna in the art department wants to stay with the traditional glow of a lit candle.

Time to make some sawdust in the Manspace. These are the bases cut from a piece of pretreated lumber on the band saw. A 7/8" spade bit makes the pilot hole and also yields a convenient weep hole at the bottom.

Here we go and this evening will be a good time to check for the glow.

Than there is this situation on Broad Street(rear). Mrs. Cottage decided to remove one of the trees at the back fence and today was a good one to work off the job jar a bit. This seemed like a good idea with the remains of the tree trunk. My new bench for observing the birds. So technically this is for the birds?

While we are observing nature a check on Mr. Squirrel on the Slinger finds this one. There are about three who will play with the hurler. This one hangs on the arm longer than the others and seems to be loading his cheeks. He nimbly jumps back onto the perch and sits there longer enjoying his kernels.

Lost Wages comes to Wilson

noreply@blogger.com (Manspace) — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 17:50:00 +0000

Item: Las Vegas just had some of it's wagering visitors sidetracked in Wilson, NC. Hard by the recreation park and the kiddie train station here on Raleigh Road is the Cyberspace "Sweepstakes" Internet cafe. It's gambling by another name. Kind of like recreational this and that I suppose being situated by the "Rec-center" here in Wilson is apropos. Wages lost to Vegas just got derailed here by the station and ironically a city official feels like folks will suffer lost wages but no mention of the monopoly the great state of NC has on the lottery games where just as much is wagered and lost. Much of that NC Lottery money goes to advertising but eager gamers need no invitation to this corner.
It's someways educational or instructional. Here we are in the AM on Saturday.

Wilson seems to be ahead of the others when it comes to new concepts and why not sweepstakes gambling. South Carolina has outlawed video poker so Wilson may become a magnet for those folks. An Indian Tribe has set up camp in the area to reclaim some land and in the end a casino may be their object. This is the place in the afternoon but no worry. Like the dog track in Cross Lanes (Charleston), WV and the horse race track in Charletsown, WV the parking lot is full any time of day. Canadians like NV, and WV best. Why not Wilson convenient to I-95. Open around the clock here are some early risers to the Sweeps. The recreation park is to the right and Kiddie train just behind the building.

The bright lights of Vegas have nothing on Cyberspace. Sweepstakes gambling holds this corner of Wilson best of all business enterprise that has been here before it. Here we are at dark time.

Wilson should welcome a new enterprise in town. Much has come and gone otherwise but it feels like someone upped the ante.

Al Fin Update - Deck Bird & Squirrel feeder

noreply@blogger.com (Manspace) — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 16:17:00 +0000

Update: Here is what came back from the "Art Department" over the weekend. Donnas Art has put on the finishing touch.

Item: A bird and squirrel feeder to fit on a deck top rail. Mom sets some small offerings of bread crumbs and scraps out for the birds on the top rail of the deck where she can watch the Jays scrum and Cardinals in song and finches and omnipresent sparrows set off a rowe about the morsel's just before the pesky squirrels muscle in. Why not make her a place to put these.

So let's head to the Manspace to make some sawdust. With a square of found treated lumber a circle and centering hole can be mapped out.

The centering drill bit will work on the band saw. Set the table for 15 degrees tilt and use one of the four vacated bolt holes on the top to turn the wood square through the saw.

With a 3/4" long nose cove router bit on the router table the centering bit will work with two locating positions already on the table for starting the border of the bowl and removing some more material on a second pass.

Some time at the drill press and a 1 1/2" forstner bit will eliminate a big chunk of material and fashion a bowl shape for the feeder.

A bit more finish work with a 3/4 groove bit on the router table will smooth off the bottom. A fence makes a guide to work from.

I have a piece of galvanized 18 ga. or so to cut some brackets that will keep the bowl from falling off the top of the deck railing.

Set the feeder on the top rail and turn it clockwise and the brackets should keep it in place. Now the feeder is ready for the art department. I can't wait to see what Donna's Art will do with it.

Madison 2009 Holiday Pageant (Kwanzaa-Hanukkah-Navidad)

noreply@blogger.com (Manspace) — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 16:51:00 +0000

Item: The magnet school where Granddaughter #1 attends presented their 2009 annual Holiday pageant. Here making an appearance with the audience prior to getting the production underway is the cast member herself complete with the spring loaded hat.

Madison is in the Kwanzaa skit. See her. She is the third from the left. Hanukkah had a part as did Navidad.

Santa is included in this Holiday Season show.

Another pageant in the books and Joy among friends. What fun to see the kids delight.

I think about it and ponder what part these young souls will have in the U.S. when their kids hit the stage.

Job Jar - Keeping it real

noreply@blogger.com (Manspace) — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 22:49:00 +0000

Item: The job jar needed some attention between the job searches and Donna has asked that a border be added to the guest bathroom mirror so she can take off the (6) cheesy plastic mirror brackets. I left the mirror in the same footprint and added a 3/4" riser stock to put the moulding at the same surface level. Cut the moulding to length and 45 cuts for the corners. Locate the existing holes/anchors and predrill. Glue and screws and wood putty and touch up. All done here Donna.

Please look around in your bins and drawers and attics for a lock and latch like this one. I need it for the left hand door on an antique wardrobe at the house. Wilson Hardware has everything from the 50's but this and Bryant's Lock is also out of stock. (The other item is for a new concept vertical marble chaser that is too hard to handle. Granddaughter #1 Madison came up with an idea and stay tuned to see it on "Ol" chaser #30).

This placard is affixed to the wardrobe and I contacted the Southampton U.K. records department but they could not find anything about the esteemed Mr. Dur \kin. I feel like he also was presented a watch at his retirement. Maybe not. Anyway after the U.K. responded the stream of good news from far off places started up. I think in one day I won the Irish - English - Liberian etc. etc. sweepstakes. Good news from Mr. Spamalot.

Next time we go to see Amy in NYC I want to look this place up. It was featured on the "Founding Fathers" puzzle.

I'm sorry. Did you want to see the puzzle before its undoing and we put it away and move on the another. First time we did 1000 pc. job in one afternoon and evening.

B-Day & Sleepover at 806 - Wilson

noreply@blogger.com (Manspace) — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 15:23:00 +0000

Item: Hubbub at 806 Broad Street. Number 1 daughter visited for a belated birthday celebration and Number 1 granddaughter braved a sleepover. So here is a weekend that was. The Garner Parade did not go as planned so an early morning trip to attend was forgone but it did not snow in the sunny south. Now grandkids can go. Imagine this. A 1000 pc. puzzle completed in one sitting, a gingerbread man, a couple of games of chess on my laptop, Jen's Birthday party and feast with cake + candles and ice cream, presents, a feature film in the evening, book reading, crossword puzzle in the W.D.T., breakfast service, painting at the art table, a go at the old reel mower, time for some Manspace wood projects, drip candle project, painted rocks, a game of battleship, and putting up the Christmas tree, transportation back to Garner and it feels like nap time to me.

Did I mention - contrary to the weather forecast - no snow (or global warming).

White Throated Sparrow + Bird Nest

noreply@blogger.com (Manspace) — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 01:40:00 +0000

Item: Today was for the birds. Pruning the sycamore tree in front of the house meant moving the birdhouse and lo and behold there was a nest of twigs inside. Who knew. Some little bird had set up house over the summer. It looks like a Dove set up but the entrance is way to small for that. Maybe a wren.

The bottom of the bird house is made for bird nest clean out so it is off to the Manspace. But what's this sitting here pretty as a picture. A White Throated Sparrow the likes of which has been heard for years but never before seen. The song is captivating. A tse.tse.tsseeee.tssseeeee in a long drawn out note that seems to be everywhere and anywhere and who knows where. Donna had narrowed it down to this bird and now we know what to look for. It has a white patch just below the throat and two yellow stripes going through the eyes and over the crown. We call it the "weakie bird" for the feeble but far reaching song. Hopefully this bird will sit for a pretty picture again.

Thanksgiving 2009 "Saying Grace"

noreply@blogger.com (Manspace) — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 21:32:00 +0000

Item: "Pit cooked" Thanksgiving turkey dinner in the dirt. This dirty bird may not be as bad as the PETA idea of same but say your prayers anyway. Sam & Ella may show up if this big bird does not reach 180 degrees when done. Sorry to menace the poor fowl but we will devour it gracefully. Hmmm.

After about 9 hours in the pit a 27 pound turkey should be done. Can you dig it. Yep.

With a bit of temperature taking by Pete and the Chef the verdict is in. This bird is done.

Irregardless this dinner was a delight and delectably irresistible. Here is the spread from Chef Rob. We said grace and dug in for Thanksgiving 2009. (We were equally unmerciful on the poor unwilling veggies yielding to consumption by the humans.)

Artist Stretchers - Manspace Projects

noreply@blogger.com (Manspace) — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 00:38:00 +0000

Item: Artist stretchers for Daughter #2 in NYC. These two 18"x22"x1" were called in by Amy in preparation for her next showing. Renowned and acclaimed artist Amy Longenecker-Brown can be seen at her gallery affiliation with Monya Rowe Gallery where she recently completed a solo showing.

Amy called in another request so it is off to the Manspace to make some sawdust. There is some rail stock on hand so these will be done today with some saw cuts, clamping and glue.

Here are the finished stretchers ready to go in the morning. Good painting Amy and how about a violin recital in the bargain!

Christmas serving trays - Manspace Projects

noreply@blogger.com (Manspace) — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 16:10:00 +0000

Item: Christmas serving trays. Donna has been busy in the art department getting Christmas items ready for the show this weekend. The light bulb went off in my head while getting a marble chaser base ready. Why not fashion a serving tray from one of these. Here is the progression. Chaser base in front and serving tray in back.

So with the same materials and addition of some drawer pulls this is what the art department came back with

Here are the trays at the Christmas(not) fare at the Earth Fare Market at Brier Creek in Raleigh. Daughter #1 did a video of the Whimsy Two holiday items. See it on You Tube!

Squirrel feeder video

noreply@blogger.com (Manspace) — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 02:26:00 +0000

Item: A squirrel aggravatot. Here is a video of the squirrel hurler and squirrel slinger in action. All of the squirrels on Broad street and there is only one who comes to play. This little guy enjoys the ride and picks up a few kernels at a time and enjoys them on the perch before going for another spin. Here we go.

Sometimes the critter will ride all the way round until he finds bottom and jump off and with better timing can come to 9:00 and jump nimbly back to the perch for the next go.

Road Trip items - PA

noreply@blogger.com (Manspace) — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 15:33:00 +0000

Item: On the visit to PA for Donna's brother Steve Minnich's memorial we passed these.

We also passed the Green Tree cemetery where Dad and Grandma Stauffer were interred in 2009. We passed this barn mural nearby and I remember the threshermen coming to Grandpa Stauffers farm as a kid. We went past the farm on Stauffer Rd. and there is a new crop with peaked roof looking tops on it. About the only thing working the farm is the rooster adjacent to where Grandmother kept a big garden.

Grapes! Wineries are found here and in NC and more and more US locations.

This place opens around Halloween time and is a big attraction in the Leesburg, VA area. All of D.C. has found it's way here and at night there is a stream of headlights on Rt. 7 from here to there.

This is horse country and there are several of my old horse trailer customers here.

The I-95 alternative scenic route brings you to here. Coming and going as we are finds traffic crossing this bridge over the Potomic. Monocacy on the MD side and Lovett VA on the Virginia side. This route takes longer but beats being run over on I-95 and the beltways and D.C. to Richmond Grand Prix.

Manspace Projects - Marble Chaser "Eye Candy.cane"

noreply@blogger.com (Manspace) — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 19:52:00 +0000

Item: It is time to replenish the candy cane tube marble roller and maybe in time for the Brier Creek Christmas Holiday festival at the Earth Fare Market in Raleigh.
First we have to be safe and set out the cone warning the lallygaggers, bypassers and bystanders to be especially careful of flying saw dust and unforeseen oaths emanating from the Manspace and that just in time to set the boundaries for early break chair.

This is near to final assembly and some more detail work and cutting here and there and the top magazine rail will come next. Just a little this and that to be completed.

O.K. here is the base painted version after if is tuned and adjusted and working properly and adjudged ready to roll for the wee ones. Next up is the art department. Stay tuned.

So here is what the aye's have it candy cane chaser looks like when the "Art Department" finished with it. Donna's Art decided to add some eye candy and a bit of bling.

Goodbye - M.M.I.

noreply@blogger.com (Manspace) — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 15:11:00 +0000

Item: Things just did not work out at M.M.I.. I enjoyed the work and the customers and the challenge. Somehow "Contact Points" did not fit for me. A goal of 30-50 calls a day and two hours talk time is fine if that is all you had to do. Otherwise Contact Points just upset my work flow and got in the way of doing my job. Try telling that to the manager or the corporate suggestion box. Clunky RESULT for order entry and cluttered Sales Force are enough. Programmers delight - users dilemma but enough. We can count! What counts?

So good luck MMI. Thank You for the opportunity.

Goodbye M.M.I. but hello Madison and Jen and Rob. Thank you for your card and thoughts and look out Starbucks. Surprise!

Visitors from Lancaster and Jaurez to Wilson

noreply@blogger.com (Manspace) — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 14:27:00 +0000

Item: Visitors from Lancaster County - cousin Tony & Deb came in off of I-95 on a foray that included a stop in WNC and the Blue Ridge and Biltmore. A sight seeing venture in Wilson County at this time of year is the time to find yourself in tall cotton.
We stopped on our Sunday drive and found Vollis Simpson here - a maker to the end. The Wilson Whirlygig Festival originated with Vollis Simpson in mind.

Here is the Simpson home meadow park full of Vollis Simpson apparitions and whirlygig creations. Vollis gave us a glimplse into his store of completed items. Wow!

We also stopped to see and become cotton pickers in Wilson county area.

Cotton harvest is winding down and bales of cotton are showing up at the cotton gin. Cucumbers are coming off he field now with a little help from our friends.

More visitors show up here each morning for cucumber harvests and regresso o M. in winter.

Tomorrow brings another day in the neighborhood.

Lancaster County Funerals in 2009 (so far 3)

noreply@blogger.com (Manspace) — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 22:58:00 +0000

Item: Trips to Lancaster County have been early and often in 2009 with failing health of family and finally 3 to date of funerals. I have been putting this off but here is the roll call so far.

Steve Minnich is Donna's youngest family member and his body finally gave way in October. He fought to the end.

Grandma Edit Rheinhold Stauffer passed away just one month shy of 102 and did not want her pace maker maintained and was next in July.

Dad passed away in March and got carried away. Ira Forney Longeneker Jr. and I have a feeling was ready to go to a better place.

So far all of these visits have not been a piece of cake. I suppose it could be worse.

Perhaps there is a better place.

Visitors - PA Family by way of the train.

noreply@blogger.com (Manspace) — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 01:54:00 +0000

Item: 9/16 - 9-20/09 Not so far back in the rear view we had visitors from PA. Family by train included Brother David and Nan and nephew Chris and Ma came to spend a few days in Wilson and we had a great time in late September.

Ma rented a car but we didn't do the scratch on the window. It came that way and we could still go and and it was well worth it. Thanks mom.

A day trip to Tryon Palace in New Bern, NC. This was the first provincial capital in North Carolina and the King payed. The place went to ruin until an effort by a the few to restore the grounds brought it back. The buildings and grounds make for a good destination and the town of New Bern is worth the visit as too.

Dave strolling the promenade of bears in downtown New Bern, NC Home of Pepsi.

Jen had a NC Food Bank activity but returned to join us and Chef Rob pulled together a meal for everyone and we had a good time together. Madison improvised.

As the days filled with activity we found ourselves at Vollis Simpson's whirligig expo at a late hour. Late enough to enjoy the reflected outlines of these creations.

So this is where we came in but time for departure favors a short hop to Rocky Mount station to get a better returning ticket home.

Friday Foray - Eastern NC Harvest (Corn-Cotton)

noreply@blogger.com (Manspace) — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 21:05:00 +0000

Item: The days grow short and time precious for the crop farmers in Eastern NC. Corn has to come off the field and cotton right on the heels of that. Tobacco is done or should be by now. Cucumbers are picked by the hand of the migrant that will return to Mexico for the remains of 2009.

Tobacco is about off the stalk and disced under or bush hogged into fodder. Duty for these machines is done. The corn harvest is in the wind up stages too. These charging menaces will soon retire till 2010.

So let us turn our attention to the cotton fields in Eastern NC.

It is cotton time. If you are going to be a cotton king you will need a few items. Harvesters and cotton haulers to take the fluff from the harvester hopper to the baler. Here is the line up. Harvester or three. Hauler or two. Baler or two. (Also a few support tractors and migrants).

Look. See the four picker heads with vacuum lines running to the hopper to the rear. These rotating heads have high speed spinning conical serrated spindles arranged in a spiral pattern that grab and spin and snatch the cotton out of the boll in a single pass through each row of cotton.

Here the harvester is finished with the crop to the right and auguring for the crop on the left. Farmers say that the cotton harvesters get about 90% of the boll but look. Seems like there may still be a place for a few good Ole cotton pickers probably long gone and here in interred but not forgot.

Here is the hauler coming from the harvester. It will dump into the baler and press the cotton into a transportable unit.

Here is what all the fuss is about. Bale upon bale of cotton. Hundreds will be at the area cotton gins directly.

Day is done and with it a respite. Tomorrow brings more frenzy in the fields.

Eye - See

noreply@blogger.com (Manspace) — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 04:54:00 +0000

Item: Advanced stages of diminishing sight. Here is the repository of magnify eye sight helpers found at 806 Broad St.
These things are also found in pairs or treys around the house in other various and sundry strategic locations. Also found in both sides of the beetle it sort of bugs me at-er-a-while as is spoken in Wiltson. There are about 12 or 10 categories of use for these. You name it there is a pair for every requirement and fashion statement.
Glasses were attempted. Even contact lenses. These beat all.

Say, while we are on the subject, keep looking for the finished "Red Ribbon" marble chaser which is about to roll out of the Manspace.

My "New Post" or - a Primo Sign Locale

noreply@blogger.com (Manspace) — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 00:37:00 +0000

Item: Here is my latest post - picture "Your sign here"! The best and maybe the only spot in town and a good sign that others agree.

Friday Foray - Doug's Place - cotton country

noreply@blogger.com (Manspace) — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 23:28:00 +0000

Item: I'm always struck by the apparent fraternity at "Doug's" place at the end of Shine Rd. and Fort Run dog leg. The F.D. is nearby. There is an incessant stream of in and out customer traffic but many a time in passing Doug's there is a line three and four deep vehicles parked one behind the other and sometimes half dozen of these side by side can be observed.

On this Friday evening the cooker is going and the smell of good grilling reaches the road. Some are walking up the road to get here. Others are already congregating at the picnic tables out side and under roof.

We are certainly in tall cotton all around here and in the North Carolina hinterlands "Down East" nearby Doug's place and a might neighborly too in these parts.

Ye old "Ideal Barber Shop"

noreply@blogger.com (Manspace) — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 18:18:00 +0000

Item: My new barber and his shop are a throw back to an old style barber shop in town (except for the big screen).

This one goes back a long way and Ernie is from the old school and a big heart. Ask anything about the goings on in the area and he will know. Life does not happen in a vacuum though and his daughter and her hubby live in Bentonville, AK where he is an HPE at you know where. Ernie is a flyboy for his own part.

This shop is found on the corner in La Grange, NC on the square and you can walk in any time and still get the shave behind the neck with the straight razor

Speaking of flying, here is where the painting that Amy did in 2001 of the infamous US Coast Guard to the rescue of itself in Prince Edwards Islands, CA which I was a part of in my Coastie days.

Manspace Projects - Office shelf unit

noreply@blogger.com (Manspace) — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 02:16:00 +0000

Item: A shelf for my newly arranged office space. Donna accompanied me to my new job office work space to lend some architectural and design advice along with some Feng Shui know how. Things worked out nicely and with a quick look about the building and grounds and the nearby thrift shops it became apparent that I could just as well build a shelf unit to taste. So it was off to the Manspace to make some sawdust and hubbub and a book shelf.

First is some set up and maybe a safety cone to keep out onlookers, bystanders and lallygaggers.

Begin with the base and top and add the center shelf.

There is some miscellaneous molding in the overhead so here may be a good place to put it.

About done here after the addition of some backstop bars on the back of the shelf.

Redwood stain is in reserve so that will be the color of choice. Hope it looks O.K. in the cubicle.

Not bad for a days work and fits the space to a T.

Sylvan Heights Waterfowl Park, Scotland Neck, NC

noreply@blogger.com (Manspace) — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 16:47:00 +0000

Item: A waterfowl and Eco viewing area in Northeast N.C.. The Sylvan Heights Waterfowl Park in Scotland Neck is a nice day trip and peaceful getaway from the Metro.

Scotland Neck is the typical small North Carolina town and this one has parking down the center of Main street. There is hotel in town for the stay over.

Here is the layout of the various theme areas for the park.

You already know something is foul about the park when you see the ducks wearing blue nail polish on their beaks.

Not just birds here but Butterfly's in the picnic area where we saw this Monarch.

Beware those Crown Herons that seem glad to come see you. He got hold of Donna's finger!

An inside display at the restrooms show some colorful but poisonous Dart Frogs and a Bee hive cutaway and some carnivorous flowers. The path is gravel so sandals are not so great and the layout is in a figure 8 that takes you inside the theme defined areas that are net covered and fenced. Here are some friendly waterfowl.

You can see the Toucan along with other exotic birds and some noisy Maccaws among em.

This argument has been around and still begs the question. What would chairs look like if humans knees worked the other way. The answer may be here. There would be no need for chairs or beds. Sit and sleep like a Flamingo. Breeding a Flamingo is tricky here. The Flamingo needs to have a lot of other Flamingo's around and not having enough here is no problem. Mirrors are used in the building where an egg is on the nest. Of course at the end of the day or at the half way point time out, here is where to be. On the porch.