We racked off the mead today into the carboy and took a sample. Oooh is
it coming out good. :) This is gonna be a good batch I think.
Sunday, January 24, 2010
Friday, January 22, 2010
The popcorn incident
This happens to every parent at some point, but how we handle it
determines the future of the child in some ways. Yesterday Adrien had
some popcorn as a snack. When he was done, he dumped the cup of popcorn
crumbs on the floor. I told him to pick them up and put them back in the
cup. His response was "no". Of course, I could not let this go and told
him to pick it up. He refused, so I told him to have a seat. After
several more attempts he still refused to pick up his mess. This led to
me sitting behind him and not letting him go anywhere or play with
anything until he picked up his mess. It was now or never if I was going
to beat the stubborn, 'I'm gonna do what I want regardless of what you
say' attitude. I had a similar situation with Katie right around the
same age. Well, to make a long story short, 1 hour and 45 minutes later,
he said to me "Daddy Joe, I stink." This was after screaming crying,
stomping, etc. constantly the whole time. He had peed in his pull up a
while earlier. I said to him "Let's get this cleaned up and I'll change
your pull up." He said "ok" and started cleaning it up. I had finally
won. If this works like it did with Katie, the stubborn attitude should
end when I tell him to do something from now on.
determines the future of the child in some ways. Yesterday Adrien had
some popcorn as a snack. When he was done, he dumped the cup of popcorn
crumbs on the floor. I told him to pick them up and put them back in the
cup. His response was "no". Of course, I could not let this go and told
him to pick it up. He refused, so I told him to have a seat. After
several more attempts he still refused to pick up his mess. This led to
me sitting behind him and not letting him go anywhere or play with
anything until he picked up his mess. It was now or never if I was going
to beat the stubborn, 'I'm gonna do what I want regardless of what you
say' attitude. I had a similar situation with Katie right around the
same age. Well, to make a long story short, 1 hour and 45 minutes later,
he said to me "Daddy Joe, I stink." This was after screaming crying,
stomping, etc. constantly the whole time. He had peed in his pull up a
while earlier. I said to him "Let's get this cleaned up and I'll change
your pull up." He said "ok" and started cleaning it up. I had finally
won. If this works like it did with Katie, the stubborn attitude should
end when I tell him to do something from now on.
Sunday, January 17, 2010
The kids' ger is ready to go!
Just in case anyone is curious. I just finished the canvas for the kids'
ger. It's all set for the kids to use it now. :)
ger. It's all set for the kids to use it now. :)
The full-sized ger has been started as well. I already ripped the
plywood for the khana. In 2 weeks the khana should get a coat of paint
and then the assembly begins.
Saturday, January 16, 2010
Plywood khana - part deux
Well, after the encouraging results with the small scale model, I have
decided that it is time to build a full size ger using plywood for the
khana (if for no other reason than nobody else has done it). I bought 3
sheets of 3/8" exterior grade plywood today and headed for Garth's house
to do some serious cutting. We cut 72 1 7/8" pieces out of the 3 sheets
(and almost no waste at all except what the saw ate). We drilled 9 holes
in each on 10" centers. Now to give them a good coat of paint. My dad (a
house painter by trade) is looking into the best way to coat the ends
for waterproofing and then a coat or 2 of red & black paint. After they
are painted, I'll lace the khana together and see about the door frames
(2 of them for each ger). With some luck, I may have the roof ring up in
another month on the first of 2 16' gers.
decided that it is time to build a full size ger using plywood for the
khana (if for no other reason than nobody else has done it). I bought 3
sheets of 3/8" exterior grade plywood today and headed for Garth's house
to do some serious cutting. We cut 72 1 7/8" pieces out of the 3 sheets
(and almost no waste at all except what the saw ate). We drilled 9 holes
in each on 10" centers. Now to give them a good coat of paint. My dad (a
house painter by trade) is looking into the best way to coat the ends
for waterproofing and then a coat or 2 of red & black paint. After they
are painted, I'll lace the khana together and see about the door frames
(2 of them for each ger). With some luck, I may have the roof ring up in
another month on the first of 2 16' gers.
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Friday, January 08, 2010
Sunday, January 03, 2010
The mead is fermenting
Well, the good news is the mead is fermenting. I got up this morning and
the airlock is definitely pressurized, so everything is working as it is
supposed to. Now it is a waiting game.
the airlock is definitely pressurized, so everything is working as it is
supposed to. Now it is a waiting game.
Saturday, January 02, 2010
My first batch of mead is started...
18lb of blueberry honey, about 2 1/4lb raisins (yeast nutrient, went by
the recipes I have), and lots of spring water (6 gallons in the bucket).
I also added pectic enzyme, acid blend, and grape tannin according to
the recipe. I went with the Montrachet yeast. Now I just have to wait
for it to start doing its thing. It's sitting in my kitchen in the
bucket with an airlock, so it should maintain between 65 overnight to
70-72 during the day.
the recipes I have), and lots of spring water (6 gallons in the bucket).
I also added pectic enzyme, acid blend, and grape tannin according to
the recipe. I went with the Montrachet yeast. Now I just have to wait
for it to start doing its thing. It's sitting in my kitchen in the
bucket with an airlock, so it should maintain between 65 overnight to
70-72 during the day.
We'll know in a few months whether or not I did it right.
The point of no (re)turn
Well, the bike is our of commission for now. With the cold lately, I
haven't had it out in a few weeks anyway. I've gotten tired of dirty
chrome, and still don't understand why motorcycles have so much of it in
the first place. It's a pain to keep it clean, so I decided it was time
to go stealth. I went out to the shed and had to take the seat, rear
fender, and headlight off the bike to get to the 4 turn signals. I
brought them inside and used the dremel and a sanding drum to rough up
the chrome. I gave them 2 coats of dark gray automotive primer and they
are drying. Later tonight I should be able to do a light sanding job on
them and then give them a coat of flat black paint. If I like the
results, the headlight bucket is next since I had to take it loose to
get the front signals off anyway. After that, I'll do the handlebars,
back rest supports, and any other chrome I can take off the bike to paint.
haven't had it out in a few weeks anyway. I've gotten tired of dirty
chrome, and still don't understand why motorcycles have so much of it in
the first place. It's a pain to keep it clean, so I decided it was time
to go stealth. I went out to the shed and had to take the seat, rear
fender, and headlight off the bike to get to the 4 turn signals. I
brought them inside and used the dremel and a sanding drum to rough up
the chrome. I gave them 2 coats of dark gray automotive primer and they
are drying. Later tonight I should be able to do a light sanding job on
them and then give them a coat of flat black paint. If I like the
results, the headlight bucket is next since I had to take it loose to
get the front signals off anyway. After that, I'll do the handlebars,
back rest supports, and any other chrome I can take off the bike to paint.
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