Friday, January 31, 2020
Custom Christmas
Here is last year's (2019) Christmas Tree Train, comprised of custom locomotive and cars. There were also a few N&W and VGN hoppers interspersed, but the ones pictured here are all custom paint jobs done by others. I have procured these cars over the last dozen years or so, but the locomotive, matching hopper and caboose were an eBay find from last year. If you have any information about the 'Rimrock Pine & Western', please let me know.
Wednesday, January 1, 2020
Revisions Revisited
It is that time of year again, when folks make resolutions. Last year I made revisions instead, and stated some goals for the railroad. And how did I do? Ugh....pretty terrible. BUT - I'm not upset with the lack of progress. I thoroughly enjoyed the little modeling I did this last year and hope to do more this year.
So what happened? A few things seemingly conspired to get in the way of modeling, all of them good. First, I went back to school. In the late winter/spring I began Ag classes at Mendocino College. Pruning, Landscape Maintenance, California Native Plants and Spring Plant ID, almost a full-time load. This led to the second distraction from the miniature world, a landscape job helping a client rehabilitate his property. The work is mostly pruning, and entirely what the doctor ordered.
Speaking of the doctor, I dropped my weight below 200 lbs for the first time in at least 20 years. This is part of a greater effort to lower my blood pressure and improve my overall health. Great success in this area. Going back to school in the Fall I took another semester of Plant ID and the Introduction to Horticulture class. Fewer classes but less stress overall. In fact, I love the learning and working with plants. They don't behave like people...
Even so, I still work with people. I preach and lead worship twice a month in a neighboring town, and that has been a blessing in terms of maintaining a skill set I had laid aside for a time and financially. From my income preaching and pruning I have been able to put 10% in the plate, 80% in savings and 10% in my spending cash.
On that last point I cringe a little. Yes, a steady supply of disposable income is great. But I had set a personal goal last year of spending less and building more, reducing the inventory in my 'Home Hobby Shop'. Instead, I found all kinds of wonderful things on eBay I never knew I needed. Truly, I did unearth some treasures, some of which will hopefully make it to this blog as topics this year, but honestly I bought more than I needed and should have walked away sooner.
If that last image sounds like a gambling reference, you're spot on, dear reader. There is an addictive quality to scouring the virtual train show that is eBay for 'deals'. As Andrew Mellen says, "Its not a deal if you don't need it". He's right. To that end, I am resolving to stay away from the 'bay for a year. If there's a genuine need to purchase something in order to finish a project, perhaps I'll break that resolution, but really, I could build all sorts of models and take the railroad further without having to purchase anything online. I can think of one thing from Amazon...but that's another post later in the year.
Last year I managed to crank out posts for the first 7 months. This year I'm going to try for at least a post a month, preferably more. I have Instagram now, though how much I'll use it remains to be seen. Despite the fracas surrounding YouTube and COPPA, I hope to also make a few videos, but don't hold your breath (unless you're under water).
Thanks to the few of you who read this blog for sticking with me. Here's to a thrifty and productive 2020!
So what happened? A few things seemingly conspired to get in the way of modeling, all of them good. First, I went back to school. In the late winter/spring I began Ag classes at Mendocino College. Pruning, Landscape Maintenance, California Native Plants and Spring Plant ID, almost a full-time load. This led to the second distraction from the miniature world, a landscape job helping a client rehabilitate his property. The work is mostly pruning, and entirely what the doctor ordered.
Speaking of the doctor, I dropped my weight below 200 lbs for the first time in at least 20 years. This is part of a greater effort to lower my blood pressure and improve my overall health. Great success in this area. Going back to school in the Fall I took another semester of Plant ID and the Introduction to Horticulture class. Fewer classes but less stress overall. In fact, I love the learning and working with plants. They don't behave like people...
Even so, I still work with people. I preach and lead worship twice a month in a neighboring town, and that has been a blessing in terms of maintaining a skill set I had laid aside for a time and financially. From my income preaching and pruning I have been able to put 10% in the plate, 80% in savings and 10% in my spending cash.
On that last point I cringe a little. Yes, a steady supply of disposable income is great. But I had set a personal goal last year of spending less and building more, reducing the inventory in my 'Home Hobby Shop'. Instead, I found all kinds of wonderful things on eBay I never knew I needed. Truly, I did unearth some treasures, some of which will hopefully make it to this blog as topics this year, but honestly I bought more than I needed and should have walked away sooner.
If that last image sounds like a gambling reference, you're spot on, dear reader. There is an addictive quality to scouring the virtual train show that is eBay for 'deals'. As Andrew Mellen says, "Its not a deal if you don't need it". He's right. To that end, I am resolving to stay away from the 'bay for a year. If there's a genuine need to purchase something in order to finish a project, perhaps I'll break that resolution, but really, I could build all sorts of models and take the railroad further without having to purchase anything online. I can think of one thing from Amazon...but that's another post later in the year.
Last year I managed to crank out posts for the first 7 months. This year I'm going to try for at least a post a month, preferably more. I have Instagram now, though how much I'll use it remains to be seen. Despite the fracas surrounding YouTube and COPPA, I hope to also make a few videos, but don't hold your breath (unless you're under water).
Thanks to the few of you who read this blog for sticking with me. Here's to a thrifty and productive 2020!
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