That's How It's Done!

Making steady progress on the Trail Drive to Christmas challenge I set for myself, I turned my attention once again to the cabeese.  A few days back I solved the problem of how to keep the floor removable without wrecking the end ladders.  Just after that I worked on the freezers, getting them primed.  Once again I looked to the cabeese and contemplated the roof walks...oh.  Oh no.  I had forgotten that I needed styrene strip.  Actually, I had remembered and ordered some from a vendor months ago only to have them ship me the wrong product by mistake.  I forgot that I was going to look for more.

To eBay and quick!  A search turned up a seller with not only the 1x6 I like to use, but the 2x3 bracing AND a thing I never knew existed, Evergreen Scale Models ladder "kit".  Merry Christmas indeed!  What?  It's on sale with free shipping?  Happy New Year!  I honestly expected it to take a while, what with holiday shipping and the whole viral disruption slowing down the post, but no, here 'tis, on Christmas Eve.

I almost didn't recognize the package because the seller did it right.  Really right.  Observe:

Each packet taped, top bottom and sides, to a stiff cardboard backing and to each other, respectively.  All inserted into a bubble mailer envelope.

It doesn't always work like this.  I have my eBay horror stories as well, but it is nice when it turns out better than expected.  May your Christmas be filled with pleasant surprises and your New Year with results that surpass expectations!

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!