Monday, July 30, 2012

Sunday, July 29, 2012
The Original Ranch, Lakewood, New Mexico 68 degrees (for a short time) and mostly sunny to 95 degrees sunny.
Sunrise Sunday

NASCAR Sunday a day for George to rest and watch tge Brickyard 400 race.
At four o'clock Bonnie and I went to happy hour at the ranch house. After dinner we went back to the ranch house for the birthday and anniversary celebration at seven o’clock



Sunday, July 29, 2012

The Original Ranch, Lakewood, NM

Saturday, July 28, 2012
The Original Ranch, Lakewood, New Mexico 71 degrees (for a short time) and mostly cloudy to 91 degrees sunny and scattered thunderstorms forecast again today. The clouds cleared to a nice day without excessive heat.

Plumbing compleon the water heaters
Cold water to the water heaters
Richard, Neil and I worked on the floor of the pipe chase priming painting it, completed the propane gas manifold for the clothes dryers inside the building, less one elbow. Then we finished the cold water piping connecting the hot water heaters and the last two washing machines, except going thru the wall into the bathroom.

Clothes dryers propane gas
At four o'clock Bonnie and I went to happy hour at the ranch house.

Saturday, July 28, 2012

The Original Ranch, Lakewood, NM - Gas manifold

Friday, July 27, 2012
The Original Ranch, Lakewood, New Mexico 70 degrees (for a short time) and mostly cloudy to 90 degrees sunny and scattered thunderstorms forecast again today. They came late morning a little more than making everything wet for about an hour.
Cattle walking past the ranch house

I am a little late in posting these pictures for getting to download the camera for a couple of days is my only excuse. Wednesday while on the front deck I took a picture of these "locals" moving past on their way to the arroyo.
Roswell, NM Walmart
South side gas manifolds
When I went to Roswell Thursday I took this picture of the remodeled Walmart store there.
Hot and cold water shutoff's for one washing machine
North side propane gas manifold




Hot and cold water manifolds are set for four washing machines, now we need the hot and cold water for the water heaters thru the wall to complete them and on to the sink and the toilet in the next room adding in the last three washing machines. Gas manifolds for the dryers are assembled and are awaiting installation. We made and painted blocks to mount the gas manifolds and the pipes to the walls.
Painted trim
Richard put the second coat of paint on the door and window trim. Neil worked on the hot water plumbing cold in and hot out to both hot water heaters. I worked on the dryer propane gas manifold. Now it seams like everyday there is more needed from Lowes to complete these systems. Wally is working weed control in the boondock area as the summer rains are bringing the weeds up often and fast.

Water connections
At four o'clock Bonnie and I went to happy hour at the ranch house.

Friday, July 27, 2012

Thursday, July 26, 2012
The Original Ranch, Lakewood, New Mexico 72 degrees (for a short time) and mostly cloudy to 102 degrees sunny and scattered thunderstorms forecast. We had a threat of a storm but we got nothing other than a little wind.

Richard cut openings and installed gable vents in each end of the building. I glued up some of the hot water manifold, with both hot and cold water waiting for the connection to the hot water heaters. I started laying out the propane gas manifold for the six gas dryers that will be in the building when we are complete. We are planing for two additional dryers in the future. When I ran out of parts I called bonnie and we went to Carlsbad Lowes and then to Lunch.

At four o'clock Bonnie and I went to happy hour at the ranch house.

Thursday, July 26, 2012

The Original Ranch, Lakewood, NM - cat food

Wednesday, July 25, 2012
The Original Ranch, Lakewood, New Mexico 72 degrees (for a short time) and mostly sunny to 102 degrees sunny and scattered thunderstorms forecast.

Richard painted some window and door trim. I roughed out the hot water piping and together we finished the ceiling trim for the bathroom. We now need to plumb the hot water tanks into the system and finish the piping into the bathroom.

Our eighteen year old cat Merry
I went to Roswell getting food for our cat that Walmart sells coast to coast and and we purchase this cat food the cat wants but not in Eddy county since 2011. While we were in Austin, TX in May I purchased extra and had a good supply. Yesterday I could not get very much but was able to get another that so far is satisfying her.

At four o'clock Bonnie and I went to happy hour at the ranch house.

Wednesday, July 25, 2012

e Original Ranch, Lakewood, NM

Tuesday, July 24, 2012

The Original Ranch, Lakewood, New Mexico 72 degrees (for a short time) and mostly cloudy to 98 degrees and isolated thunderstorms. The thunderstorms did not come until almost four this afternoon but there were light rain showers after seven this morning. The total rain fall is small just more than enough to make everything wet.

I did see the doctor this morning and he changed some of my prescriptions and wants me back in three months.

Richard and I worked on the cold water pipes coming in to the machines and have that laid out. We will do the floor of the chase or piping area before completing the drain pipe thru the washing machine area. Soon we will be putting the floor tile down in the whole building.

At four o'clock Bonnie and I went to happy hour at the ranch house. After happy hour we went to dinner in Artesia with Ethel.

Tuesday, July 24, 2012

The Original Ranch, Lakewood, NM

Monday July 23, 2012  
     The Original Ranch, Lakewood, New Mexico 71 degrees (for a short time) and mostly cloudy to 98 degrees and mostly sunny after twelve. Yesterday they (isolated thunderstorms) never appeared here but early today they did show up, some thunder and wind gusts with a small quantity of rain before five thirty this morning. Just enough of all the parts of a monsoon. Today’s forecast is for scattered thunderstorms. Partly sunny most of the day.

Two inch vent and drain for the pet bedding washing

Progressing on the drain for the pet bedding washing and overflow of the gray water tank comes back into the building joining the pet bedding. Starting the cold water supply across the top of the chase. Wally and John added twenty five feet of hardware cloth around the east end of the building and half way down the back side. This will keep rabbits and others from making the underside of the building a home. Mike and Jan got the paint for the window and door trim and counter top we will use to cover the pipe chase at Lowes in Carlsbad. Neil added a trim piece to the air conditioner opening where the angle brackets come down to support the air conditioner.
One inch cold water supply behind the drain manifold
trim piece added to the air conditioner opening

At four o'clock Bonnie and I went to happy hour at the ranch house.

Sunday, July 22, 2012

Sunday, July 22, 2012

The Original Ranch, Lakewood, New Mexico 71 degrees (for a short time) and partly cloudy to 98 degrees and isolated thunderstorms.

I worked on Busters front awning arm making a doubler to go over the area of the cracked bolt hole. I formed the aluminum strip the same u shape of the arm and drilled a bolt hole. Nothing but that today as I rested.


aluminum strip at the arm top


The Original Ranch, Lakewood, NM - Road Runner Raceway

Saturday, July 21, 2012
The Original Ranch, Lakewood, New Mexico 71 degrees (for a short time) and mostly sunny to 98 degrees and sunny. Last night I replaced the bolt attaching the awning drum to the arm with a longer one and added a large washer to hold things together.

Awning bolt

Sunrise today
Just Neil and I worked today on the drain of the gray water (overflow) tank back into the building and the pet bedding machine drain water pipe. Wally and I also went to Lowes in Carlsbad and returned some purchases that we do not need and purchased more of what we do need bringing home money.
The picture does not capture the toal mass of grasshoppers

 
At four o'clock Bonnie and I went to happy hour at the ranch house.

Tonight I went with Wally to the Carlsbad Road Runner Raceway for a night of short track (dirt) racing. In the pictures I took there are grasshoppers filling the area in front of the lights and around us, caused us to leave early. Well the long intermission helped us in making that decision also. The racing we saw was good but both of us are morning people and it was past our bedtime.


Saturday, July 21, 2012

The Original Ranch, Lakewood, NM- neil

Friday, July 20, 2012

The Original Ranch, Lakewood, New Mexico 68 degrees (for a short time) and mostly sunny to 97 degrees and sunny.

July 20, 1969 Bonnie and I were living in Titusville, Florida with me working for Grumman Aircraft Engineering Co. Builders of and launching the Lunar Module that landed on the moon. I was working for the ground support department operating and maintaining equipment used in loading propellants, liquid oxygen, helium, and water into the spacecraft.
Six machine drain manifold
Vern and I completed two assemblies of the drain manifold now only the final two needed inside the building is at the tee fitting. We will complete that Monday morning. Neil connected the three inch return pipe to the grey water tank and cut the hole into the building for the overflow grey water. Richard and I started the cold water pipe but only to take up space so that a two inch drain can be set in for the seventh machine which will be fore pet bedding. That drain will join with the overflow drain and go the the septic tank.
Neil cutting the 3" pipe hole - Happy Birthday
At four o'clock Bonnie and I went to happy hour at the ranch house. And after dinner we went into Carlsbad for a bolt and washer for the big awning arm that attaches to the awning drum.

Thursday, July 19, 2012

The Original Ranch, Lakewood, NM - manifold

Wednesday, July 18, 2012
The Original Ranch, Lakewood, New Mexico 70 degrees (for a short time) and mostly sunny to 95 degrees and sunny.

Neil, Richard and Vern setup the drain Tee into the gray water tank, by drilling the holes thru the wall and panel. I went to Carlsbad Lowes for material for framing the doors and windows. I also picked up a tank fitting at a pipe store that will bring overflow water back into the building for the regular drain system. The state of New Mexico will only allow two hundred and fifty gallons of gray wash water per day spread over the ground.

At four o'clock Bonnie and I went to happy hour at the ranch house.

Thursday, July 19, 2012
The Original Ranch, Lakewood, New Mexico 70 degrees (for a short time) and mostly sunny to 97 degrees and sunny.

Another failed doctors appointment, like Tuesday the doctor did not show up for work today, vacation season. Richard, Vern got started on the washing machine platform base for the washing machines to stand on. Bob installed the bathroom door today and will do the door and window trimming coming days.

Laying out the washing machine platform
When I arrived back from artesia, and taking a review of things I needed to go to Carlsbad Lowes for a adapter fitting on the grey water tank, wall trim and one more two by six needed to finish the washing machine platform.

Part of the four inch manifold
After lunch we worked the four inch drain manifold that will collect the used water from six washing machines and deliver it to the grey water tank. Cutting and fitting the pieces together to assemble a manifold in four inch is a different experience for me not working with that size material before.

Tuesday, July 17, 2012

The Original Ranch, Lakewood, NM - Washing Machine

Monday, July 16, 2012
    The Original Ranch, Lakewood, New Mexico 69 degrees (for a short time) and sunny to 95 degrees and sunny. Vern and I installed the man way into the gray water tank, actually it was cutting a circular hole in the plastic tank. After Neil arrived we were able to reinstall the three ceiling panels that has more attachment places (for nailing the panels in place) installed in the rafters. We will start the pipe chase, and more wood is needed to construct that so Vern and I did that after lunch. Going to Carlsbad Lowes.

At four o’clock Bonnie and I went to happy hour at the ranch house. (To enlarge pictures; Click on picture to enlarge, click on the X in the upper right to return to the blog).

Tuesday, July 17, 2012
   The Original Ranch, Lakewood, New Mexico 72 degrees (for a short time) and mostly cloudy to 95 degrees and sunny with thunder heads in the west. Overnight it got windy rocking Buster and waking me.

Ceiling Cove Molding Installed
Richard and I finished the cove molding in the main room (ceiling to wall), looks good.
Pipe Chase
Then with Vern’s help we built the pipe chase to hang the plumbing and electric for the washing machines behind the washing machines.

At four o'clock Bonnie and I went to happy hour at the ranch house.
New LG Washing Machine
The Ranch’s new LG double load machine arrived today late in the afternoon.

The Original Ranch, Lakewood, NM - Humidity

Sunday, July 15, 2012
The Original Ranch, Lakewood, New Mexico 69 degrees (for a short time) and sunny to 95 degrees and sunny. This evening I noticed some water draining off of Buster from the air conditioner, a regular dripping. Humidity was reported as twenty percent, just surprised me to see that water, I guess a function of "monsoon season", as I had not noticed that before here in the desert. The area’s humidity has risen and has increased since we had the monsoon rains last week. The ground drying out and puddles drying up I guess supplying the moisture for the humidity.

Today is a rest and relaxation day for the laundry crew. NASCAR race day on TV.

I went to happy hour today as Bonnie was resting.

Saturday, July 14, 2012

The Original Ranch, Lakewood, NM - Deck Crew

Saturday, July 14, 2012
The Original Ranch, Lakewood, New Mexico 70 degrees (for a short time) and mostly sunny to 95 degrees and sunny. A really nice day again.

Deck Crew
Mac has departed The Ranch a week ago to get on with his life and today I got these pictures he had taken while we were building the deck outside the new laundry building this month. Pictured are Richard, George, Greg, Neil, Wally and Mac behind the camera. Actually standing in for Mac is his yellow screw gun perched on the post next to Wally.






and last years deck picture




The Original Ranch, Lakewood, NM - electric

Friday, July 13, 2012
The Original Ranch, Lakewood, New Mexico 70 degrees (for a short time) and mostly sunny to 93 degrees and mostly sunny. A really nice day.
ceiling rework

Richard, Neil, Vern and I completed the work on the the inside and now some of the trim around the ceiling will start over the washing machine area. We were not happy with the look of these cieling panels, took them down and added studs between the rafters to nail the panels to.

Our electrical contractor completed his work today installing the remaining lights, switches, receptacles and cover plates.
Bathroom light fixture
At four o’clock Bonnie and I went to happy hour at The Ranch House.

Looking west

Friday, July 13, 2012

Thursday, July 12, 2012
The Original Ranch, Lakewood, New Mexico 68 degrees (for a short time) and partly cloudy to 86 degrees and partly cloudy.

Richard, Vern, Neil and I installed ceiling panel in the bathroom and finished the wall panels in the bathroom. After lunch Vern and I went to lowes and purchased trim material and picked up the floor tile that was ordered last month.

At four o’clock Bonnie and I were off to happy hour as I am the ding a ling today and tomorrow.

Thursday, July 12, 2012

The Original Ranch, Lakewood, NM - Chili Chapter

Wednesday, July 11, 2012
The Original Ranch, Lakewood, New Mexico 68 degrees (for a short time) and mostly cloudy to 86 degrees and partly cloudy. There were some sprinkles today but no real rain. The chance of rain goes down again as the week goes on.

Richard, Vern, Neil and I worked a short time finishing the paneling and putting up nailers, strips for attaching the ceiling paneling. Then at ten o’clock we adjourned to the Ranch House for the town hall membership meeting.

After that it was off to Carlsbad for a Escapees Chili Chapter # 23 (New Mexico) luncheon at Danny’s BBQ, you can see where I am going with this, no more getting done on the new laundry today. Or tomorrow is another day for work.
Looking west
At four o’clock Bonnie and I were off to happy hour as Bonnie is the ding a ling (master of ceremonies) this afternoon for happy hour.

Wednesday, July 11, 2012

The Original Ranch, Lakewood, NM - Rain

Tuesday, July 10, 2012
The Original Ranch, Lakewood, New Mexico 67 degrees (for a short time) and mostly cloudy to 81 degrees and mostly cloudy. Thunder shower are predicted again today seventy percent chance "monsoon season"? Over night we got the rain 1.8 inches recorded for yesterday. (To enlarge pictures; Click on picture to enlarge, click on the X in the upper right to return to the blog).

Arroyo behine the Ranchhouse (looking south)
The arroyo collected water after last nights rain, a first time for me to see water there in the arroyo. That also brings another event, frogs singing. That was aloud sound this morning pulling up at the laundry building.
Arroyo behine the Ranchhouse (looking northwest)
Mens coffee and a water committee meeting every Tuesday morning, coffee at nine water at ten and yes they do overlap. Coffee starts early and we start talking water committee early. We just cannot keep it separate. Got some pictures of the locals just outside the cattle guard today.
Locals
Richard, Vern and I worked inside today finishing the paneling with only two small wall in the bathroom left to complete. After lunch, Thunder shower received, the rain came for about half an hour a hard downpour, .6 inches of rain, nice that we got most of the outside deck work complete last week.

We have another din a ling in the family. Bonnie is the ding a ling (master of ceremonies) this afternoon for happy hour. I have done it many times before an this is Bonnie’s second volunteer for the position.

Tuesday, July 10, 2012

The Original Ranch, Lakewood, NM - Mexican train

Sunday, July 8, 2012
The Original Ranch, Lakewood, New Mexico 68 degrees (for a short time) and mostly sunny to 99 degrees and mostly sunny.

Taking it easy today, doing some chores about Buster. Bonnie and I want to happy hour and Don and Doris are back (latter Saturday) for another night (Sunday) before going to Duck Creek in Utah. The boys won Mexican train tonight.
Doris

Don

Monday, July 9, 2012
The Original Ranch, Lakewood, New Mexico 73 degrees (for a short time) and mostly cloudy to 90 degrees and mostly cloudy. Thunder shower are predicted "monsoon season"? The cloud cover kept the sun off you outside during the day but it was still a warm day. About seven fifteen the northeast sky is where the rain moving in from. Just some showers.

This morning I went to the doctor in Artesia for renewing my prescriptions and blood work. Latter I went with Greg to Lowes in Carlsbad to return some over purchase of insulation and paneling.

Sunday, July 8, 2012

Saturday, July 7, 2012

The Original Ranch, Lakewood, New Mexico 66 degrees and mostly sunny to 95 degrees. The heat is back, the morning was good working until eleven then we stopped as there was too much sun, but we were finished about ten just cleaning up after that. The ramp is complete. Richard and Neil made short work for what needed doing. (To enlarge pictures; Click on picture to enlarge, click on the X in the upper right to return to the blog)

Morning shade for the deck
Bonnie went off to the Moose lodge to help serve the senior lunch they put on the first Saturday of the month. I arrived after eleven to eat and go to Walmart. We learned yesterday that the fireworks in Artesia were canceled because of high winds at the launch site and are rescheduled for tonight at the same time.

That tree is the provider of shade
There is no fireworks fire danger now because of the rain we have had in the area this past week. There were about twelve of us out watching the fireworks tonight. Our viewing place there was no sound with more than half of the fireworks at the horizon and the large displays above that, a nice short show.




Saturday, July 7, 2012

The Original Ranch, Lakewood, NM - Bench

Friday, July 6, 2012

The Original Ranch, Lakewood, New Mexico 66 degrees and mostly sunny to 90 degrees. It is feeling cooler after the rain yesterday. On my way into Carlsbad today we drove into rain about five miles from the ranch and were in and out of showers the rest of the trip. After the rain the temperature stayed under eighty degrees.

Handrail and kick board
Richard and I finished setting the posts for the ramp handrail and the top board. We need more wood to complete the handrail. We then built a bench for the deck although we did not have the carriage bolts for the legs we used screws as temporary fasteners.
Bench
After lunch we drove into Carlsbad Lowes for the ramp handrail wood and bench carriage bolts we need and called it a work day.

At four o’clock Bonnie and I went to happy hour.

Friday, July 6, 2012

Thursday, July 5, 2012 The Original Ranch, Lakewood, New Mexico 68 degrees and mostly sunny to 93 degrees. It is feeling cooler after the rain yesterday. the rain passed around The Ranch on the east and west sides.

Last night there was a group of us down at the end of our street to watch the fireworks in artesia. We started gathering about eight for a nine fifteen or show. It never went on as the evening went on we were seeing a nature lightening show instead with cloud to cloud and cloud to ground lightening the whole time.

 We are attended a special MEWS - (Men Eating Without Supervision) today in memorial for Ron who passed away on June 29. Ron always made sure MEWS was announced every Wednesday at happy hour and explaining the MEWS to everyone. From our limited attendance here at The Ranch eight member gentleman car pooled to the Paddock restaurant in Riverside, NM (Pecos River) for the breakfast.

Wally even had Ron’s favorite breakfast "blueberries and oatmeal" , and many memories of Ron were shared by the members present.

Bonnie went to Roswell to get Merry’s cat food and some New Mexico state tourisum handouts The Ranch needs for visitors.

No real work was accomplished today as the temperature and sun in the work area is too high after breakfast. The shade was gone in the outside work area. Before going to breakfast I got an eight foot ladder and lifted the awning drum onto the forward arm and rolled the awning in to the closed position. The attachment bolt hole is torn and the arm needs replacement.

Awning rolled in


At four o’clock I went to happy hour

Wednesday, July 4, 2012

The Original Ranch, Lakewood, NM - Independence Day

Independence Day, 236 years for these United States

 



Wednesday, July 4, 2012

The Original Ranch, Lakewood, New Mexico 72 degrees (for a short time) and mostly sunny to 91 degrees (also for a short time) and partly sunny, until it rained(To enlarge pictures; Click on picture to enlarge, click on the X in the upper right to return to the blog)
Water supply for the laundry building
Richard and Neil joined me for some brain session on the ramp handrail and digging the end post holes. We are getting some bolts at Lowes to attach the post to the ramp joists also. Latter I connected the water piping into the building. The pipe that will come out of the ground is wrapped with heat tape and insulation and an outer case of plastic pipe.

Looking to the Rig on the right I could not see anything past it
Well it happened today the thunder storm hit about four-thirty while Bonnie and I joined others at happy hour celebrating our nations birthday. "Monsoon season", the first wave of rain lasted about a half an hour coming down and being blown so there was only a hundred and fifty feet of visibility as I looked out the Ranch house window.

Two windows were open on the car and Bonnie went and closed them, the drivers seat is wet.
Buster's awning after the storm

When we returned to Buster the awning was damaged, although I have known the support arm is worn (bolt hole) holding the drum to the arm was oversize. I will get some help in the late morning to reconnect that drum to the arm. there is plenty of watyer puddles on the streets and lots.