Well folks ... like the title states I have had a major setback in my plans. I contacted a patton company to get some answers and maybe some help. What a shocking expirence that was, $500.00 - $800.00 non refundable for a patton search, and if all was good-to-go for the classification that I was after, then a conseptual idea patton could run me a cool $100k up to $250k. You read that right that right a possible 1/4 of a million dollars, good thing that I was sitting down ... as it was I almost dropped the phone and nearly had a heart attack.
Well there goes my idea of building my own unique cargo velomobiles for sale, that I was going to use as a retirement personal business. Now I guess I'll just build what I want for personal use and any of my friends that want one, I'll build for them with a small mark up to cover my time (@ say $10/hr) plus cost. Sounds fair to me. Any feed back on this?
I guess that this turn of events is better for me, as that way I'll have time to travel and see our world at a slower pase and have some fun along the way. Now I need that welder more than ever. I have been picking up tools along the way including a generater to mainly power the welder when I get it, also the generater works great as a camp gennie and for other electrical "toys" that I have, it just takes a little gas to ruin it. The dog is not fond of the generater though ...
Guess thats it for now my friends ... pedal on and hope to see you on the byways
HPVTraveler signing off for now ...
Saturday, August 30, 2014
Sunday, August 3, 2014
Plans begin anew ... yet again
Having recently gotten a mini laptop/tablet combination, now I can get back on line and try to pick up where I left off ... I hope.
I have been drafting possibilities while bidding my down time so I do have a place to restart from. As in all things Time is a major factor along with Money. so now to get back into the parts and equipment buying game.
just wanted to update everyone on how I was doing. Latter everyone and hopefully I'll have more good news for you all in a little bit ...
I have been drafting possibilities while bidding my down time so I do have a place to restart from. As in all things Time is a major factor along with Money. so now to get back into the parts and equipment buying game.
just wanted to update everyone on how I was doing. Latter everyone and hopefully I'll have more good news for you all in a little bit ...
Thursday, April 4, 2013
Life can get in the way ...
OK, things are progressing slowly at best like normal ... LOL. This Spring I bought a generator to help keep my landlord's Mrs out of my wallet, to pay for the electric that the Mrs half of my friend is afraid of the $$$ amount that a welder would rack up. Also bought a 90 amp electric flux-core welder. However the thing is that the first one looked like parts were missing, so I took it back ... the second welder had everything and went together easily, however no arch so it went back ... now am on the third welder and a rain day today on my first day off. Soooo will see what the weather has in store for us tomorrow.
It seems that the welder is the linchpin just now. As I have been piking up tools and bicycles to use for parts for some time now. Just waiting on getting a working welder now. Also have my plans set to go as well, including an innovation of the popular teardrop campers.
It seems that the welder is the linchpin just now. As I have been piking up tools and bicycles to use for parts for some time now. Just waiting on getting a working welder now. Also have my plans set to go as well, including an innovation of the popular teardrop campers.
So there you have it my friends,
an update on where I sit and why Am waiting ...
Hopefully my next update will be sooner than later and good news.
HPVTraveler
Sunday, November 4, 2012
Sorry that I have been away ...
I have not been able to even get on-line, for a while know. Thanks to Mother Nature. You see back in August a powerful thunder storm roared through my neck of the woods, well long story short. It had a bolt of lightning hit our fence. As it turned out the phone line was laid under the fence and was way to close to the surface. Well it took out all of our electronics that were plugged in at the time.
We were home at the time which was a good thing, so that we could put out the fires that erupted in three seperate rooms at once. I'm glad that the horses and milk goats and dogs were in the shed at the time, because it has lightning rods on top. Yes we are all fine ... no one was hurt.
We have since redug the phone line down to a depth of 6 feet. We are also slowly replacing what was distroyed. But slowly we are getting back to normal, and soon my friends I'll be able to get back into publishing my weekly posts ... which I miss doing and sharing with everyone.
We were home at the time which was a good thing, so that we could put out the fires that erupted in three seperate rooms at once. I'm glad that the horses and milk goats and dogs were in the shed at the time, because it has lightning rods on top. Yes we are all fine ... no one was hurt.
We have since redug the phone line down to a depth of 6 feet. We are also slowly replacing what was distroyed. But slowly we are getting back to normal, and soon my friends I'll be able to get back into publishing my weekly posts ... which I miss doing and sharing with everyone.
There you have it, my friends,
The short and skinny;
I'll be back talking with everyone before you know it
Wednesday, August 22, 2012
Logically Thinking
Let me guess, lately you have been spending way too much of your hard earned coins, to fill your car or truck gas/fuel tanks. Not to mention all of your traffic fighting and the aggravation of stop-n-go traffic jams. Also with the weather that seams to be in extreme mode all of the time lately. Taken altogether every ones temper and nerves seem to be more and more on edge. Making a traffic jam all that much more dangerous. Maybe you are thinking that there must be a better way to get around. Something less polluting. That may help to lower your carbon footprint as well as your blood pressure. Something cheaper. But sturdy enough to hold you and some packages too. Hey, why not a bike?
That's a great idea. So, where do we start? Well let's see, you can pick up a bike at most any of the major department stores, like Wal-Mart or Kmart maybe Sears and even some hardware stores. All ranging from $50.00 to $200.00 or so, not a bad place to start. However these are the cheap ones, sort of designed to break down and wear out rather fast. If you could get five years of use out of them you would be lucky. Personally, I would say that if your funds are rather short, and whose isn't these days. Grab a cheap bike to begin with. Then shop around the local bike shops for your next replacement. Mind you these will end up running you a few more coins, something like $400.00 to $800.00 range. But still cheaper than an internal combustion engine running vehicle would set you back.
To begin with ... we need to answer some pertinent questions, To better understand how to proceed. So, why do you want to ride -- to exercise; commute to work; run errands or just for a leisurely country ride? Where do you want to ride -- potholed city streets; open roads; gravel bike roads or maybe a mix of environments? Finally, how do you like to ride -- in an upright position; leisurely paced or leaning hard forward as in a race mode where ever you go? Answering these questions will help you to figure out which bike may better suit your needs. Oh, before I forget, you may want to look into a recumbent bike or trike, they are like sitting in a recliner.
Let's look at some options here. Mountain Bikes. If your main terrain to travel on is a pockmarked city street or rough bike trails, a mountain bike might be your best choice. Chances are that you will not need a dual suspension bike, but you may feel better with front shock absorbers if the streets are really bad. Semi-slick tires grab blacktop better than knobby mountain bike tires. So if riding mainly in town, get a pair of those. Kona, Specialized, Trek and other manufactures make excellent mountain bikes that sell for $500.00 or less. Check out Mountain Bike Review (www.mtbr.com) for ratings on the latest models.
Touring Bikes. If you take to the open road more often, you will probably want a road or touring bike. These have different features than mountain bikes. Like drop handlebars, larger wheels and narrower tires. Also the frame geometry is different than other bikes. I understand that the entry-level touring bike costs a bit more than the mountain bikes, but check around with your local bike shops ~ they may have last year's model on sale. Road Bike Review (www.roadbikereview.com) has ratings on the latest models.
Cruiser & City Bikes. If you are just into leisurely riding around town and like the upright sitting position, check out what are called cruiser bikes. These are curvalicious, fairly heavy,with balloon-tires, swept back handlebars that are fun to ride, as long as the road is more or less flat. A closely related bike style is the city bike. Which is a little bit lighter than a cruiser, with narrower tires more gears and higher gearing. Googling cruiser & city bikes should give you many more sites and information on these bikes.
OK, let's fit the frame to you. Most frames - as long as they are appropriately sized for the rider's height - can be made to fit almost anybodies particular body geometry. This is, of course, absolutely specific to each person. So the only way you are going to figure out what is best for you, is to sit on a few bikes and see what is comfortable, what needs adjusting like the handlebars or the seat positions. Most bike shops are more than willing to help with adjustments, some may even loan a bike for a day. So that you will have time to figure out if the bike is right for you.
Now as for Recumbent Bikes & Trikes. These are not as well known about as a normal bike or trike is, so their price tag tends to be quite high. However (www.atomiczombie.com) is a good place to start your research on their forums as a lurker. This site sells plans for you to build and adjust your ride with a myrid of possibilities. Their form discussions are both interesting and informative. They also have a gallery that show off other people's creations from around the world.
OK, now on to some Useful Accessories. Once you have your new bike or trike, hit the road. It may not be to long before you end up wanting a few accessories, particularly if you are using your bike or trike for commuting. Full-coverage fenders are a necessity and a rack with pannier bags can be a convenient relief from wearing a backpack all of the time. A bell is handy and fun to scare the squirrels with. Lights are a must if you ride at night or early morning, also they may help to showcase you in storms and/or fog. Don't forget reflectors, they are a must by law in most places now. Now don't forget about hydration, with cup/can and bottle holders. You may even consider installing a large water hydration bag that you can sip from while you keep on pedaling down the road. Helmets claim to save lives and most places now have it on their books as the law of the land ~ That all bikers whether pedal or motor ... any cyclist must wear a helmet. At the very least a helmet gives a cyclist more places to install lights, mirrors and reflectors.
All right, you bought or built it and tricked it out. Now ride it. The brakes may stick, you may be unable to shift through the full range of your gearing, the wheels may feel to "flexy", etc. These are pretty much normal symptoms of breaking in your bike. Most of your problems will occure with in the first 200 miles or so of you riding your bike or trike. If you bought your ride, take it back to where you bought it. Most reputable bike shops will do post break-in servicing for free. Even if it is not free, the small charge to readjust, tighten, realign or whatever is well worth the piece of mind to fix your wheels. If you built it (www.atomiczombie.com) is a good place to get advice on how to go about fixing your wheels on your own.
Speaking of fixing things on your own. Learning to perform basic maintaince is fun and can save you some of your hard earned coins. Also it may open up another stream of an income for you as a bicycle repairman(woman). Here are a few great on line resources: Park Tool's repair help section (www.parktool.com/repair); articles from the late bike expert Sheldon Brown (www.sheldonbrown.com) and the "Bicycle Mechanics" section of bike forums (www.bikeforums.net).
Sometimes though ~ when your hands are coated in grease and grime, and "she-who-must-be-obeyed" won't let you in the house (much less any where near the computer) ~ you need a hard copy helper. Here some excellent paper-based references: "Zinn & the Art of Mountain Bike Maintenance" (Velo-Press,2005), "Bicycling Magazine's Basic Maintenance and Repair" (Rodel Press, 1999), and "Bicycling Magazine's Complete Guide to Bicycle Maintenance and Repair" (Rodel Press, 1999) to name a few. If you buy any of these from (www.amazon.com) they will also suggest other possible choices that may also help you out of your dilemma.
Whew, will you look at that, another week has slipped me by. It seems that the longer posts take more time to prepare and to get them into a readable posting. Sorry about that my friends, but I am trying to get the facts straight so that everyone will get out of my posts, what I try to put into them. Which almost makes me glad that I am not an editor for a daily paper of some kind.
I must add a thank you to Mother Earth News Magazine for help with this post as some of the information was gleaned from an article, written in their wiser living series a "Guide to Living on Less and Loving It" in the summer of 2009. Yes I save old magazines, you never know when an article or subject will come in handy. So thank you Mother Earth News.
That's a great idea. So, where do we start? Well let's see, you can pick up a bike at most any of the major department stores, like Wal-Mart or Kmart maybe Sears and even some hardware stores. All ranging from $50.00 to $200.00 or so, not a bad place to start. However these are the cheap ones, sort of designed to break down and wear out rather fast. If you could get five years of use out of them you would be lucky. Personally, I would say that if your funds are rather short, and whose isn't these days. Grab a cheap bike to begin with. Then shop around the local bike shops for your next replacement. Mind you these will end up running you a few more coins, something like $400.00 to $800.00 range. But still cheaper than an internal combustion engine running vehicle would set you back.
To begin with ... we need to answer some pertinent questions, To better understand how to proceed. So, why do you want to ride -- to exercise; commute to work; run errands or just for a leisurely country ride? Where do you want to ride -- potholed city streets; open roads; gravel bike roads or maybe a mix of environments? Finally, how do you like to ride -- in an upright position; leisurely paced or leaning hard forward as in a race mode where ever you go? Answering these questions will help you to figure out which bike may better suit your needs. Oh, before I forget, you may want to look into a recumbent bike or trike, they are like sitting in a recliner.
Let's look at some options here. Mountain Bikes. If your main terrain to travel on is a pockmarked city street or rough bike trails, a mountain bike might be your best choice. Chances are that you will not need a dual suspension bike, but you may feel better with front shock absorbers if the streets are really bad. Semi-slick tires grab blacktop better than knobby mountain bike tires. So if riding mainly in town, get a pair of those. Kona, Specialized, Trek and other manufactures make excellent mountain bikes that sell for $500.00 or less. Check out Mountain Bike Review (www.mtbr.com) for ratings on the latest models.
Touring Bikes. If you take to the open road more often, you will probably want a road or touring bike. These have different features than mountain bikes. Like drop handlebars, larger wheels and narrower tires. Also the frame geometry is different than other bikes. I understand that the entry-level touring bike costs a bit more than the mountain bikes, but check around with your local bike shops ~ they may have last year's model on sale. Road Bike Review (www.roadbikereview.com) has ratings on the latest models.
Cruiser & City Bikes. If you are just into leisurely riding around town and like the upright sitting position, check out what are called cruiser bikes. These are curvalicious, fairly heavy,with balloon-tires, swept back handlebars that are fun to ride, as long as the road is more or less flat. A closely related bike style is the city bike. Which is a little bit lighter than a cruiser, with narrower tires more gears and higher gearing. Googling cruiser & city bikes should give you many more sites and information on these bikes.
OK, let's fit the frame to you. Most frames - as long as they are appropriately sized for the rider's height - can be made to fit almost anybodies particular body geometry. This is, of course, absolutely specific to each person. So the only way you are going to figure out what is best for you, is to sit on a few bikes and see what is comfortable, what needs adjusting like the handlebars or the seat positions. Most bike shops are more than willing to help with adjustments, some may even loan a bike for a day. So that you will have time to figure out if the bike is right for you.
Now as for Recumbent Bikes & Trikes. These are not as well known about as a normal bike or trike is, so their price tag tends to be quite high. However (www.atomiczombie.com) is a good place to start your research on their forums as a lurker. This site sells plans for you to build and adjust your ride with a myrid of possibilities. Their form discussions are both interesting and informative. They also have a gallery that show off other people's creations from around the world.
OK, now on to some Useful Accessories. Once you have your new bike or trike, hit the road. It may not be to long before you end up wanting a few accessories, particularly if you are using your bike or trike for commuting. Full-coverage fenders are a necessity and a rack with pannier bags can be a convenient relief from wearing a backpack all of the time. A bell is handy and fun to scare the squirrels with. Lights are a must if you ride at night or early morning, also they may help to showcase you in storms and/or fog. Don't forget reflectors, they are a must by law in most places now. Now don't forget about hydration, with cup/can and bottle holders. You may even consider installing a large water hydration bag that you can sip from while you keep on pedaling down the road. Helmets claim to save lives and most places now have it on their books as the law of the land ~ That all bikers whether pedal or motor ... any cyclist must wear a helmet. At the very least a helmet gives a cyclist more places to install lights, mirrors and reflectors.
All right, you bought or built it and tricked it out. Now ride it. The brakes may stick, you may be unable to shift through the full range of your gearing, the wheels may feel to "flexy", etc. These are pretty much normal symptoms of breaking in your bike. Most of your problems will occure with in the first 200 miles or so of you riding your bike or trike. If you bought your ride, take it back to where you bought it. Most reputable bike shops will do post break-in servicing for free. Even if it is not free, the small charge to readjust, tighten, realign or whatever is well worth the piece of mind to fix your wheels. If you built it (www.atomiczombie.com) is a good place to get advice on how to go about fixing your wheels on your own.
Speaking of fixing things on your own. Learning to perform basic maintaince is fun and can save you some of your hard earned coins. Also it may open up another stream of an income for you as a bicycle repairman(woman). Here are a few great on line resources: Park Tool's repair help section (www.parktool.com/repair); articles from the late bike expert Sheldon Brown (www.sheldonbrown.com) and the "Bicycle Mechanics" section of bike forums (www.bikeforums.net).
Sometimes though ~ when your hands are coated in grease and grime, and "she-who-must-be-obeyed" won't let you in the house (much less any where near the computer) ~ you need a hard copy helper. Here some excellent paper-based references: "Zinn & the Art of Mountain Bike Maintenance" (Velo-Press,2005), "Bicycling Magazine's Basic Maintenance and Repair" (Rodel Press, 1999), and "Bicycling Magazine's Complete Guide to Bicycle Maintenance and Repair" (Rodel Press, 1999) to name a few. If you buy any of these from (www.amazon.com) they will also suggest other possible choices that may also help you out of your dilemma.
Whew, will you look at that, another week has slipped me by. It seems that the longer posts take more time to prepare and to get them into a readable posting. Sorry about that my friends, but I am trying to get the facts straight so that everyone will get out of my posts, what I try to put into them. Which almost makes me glad that I am not an editor for a daily paper of some kind.
I must add a thank you to Mother Earth News Magazine for help with this post as some of the information was gleaned from an article, written in their wiser living series a "Guide to Living on Less and Loving It" in the summer of 2009. Yes I save old magazines, you never know when an article or subject will come in handy. So thank you Mother Earth News.
As I close this post my friends,
Let's all try to get a little healthier while saving some of the environment,
Maybe also some of our hard earned coins,
All by pedaling our arses off ...
Monday, August 6, 2012
Knowledge Is Power ...
Let me start this post with a quick update. A few posts back I was telling you all about the way that the mosquitoes like to attack easy and sleeping prey. Well in view of the title of this post, I have stumbled on to a rather simple solution quite by accident. You see I personally do not use air conditioning at home, I can't justify the expense. So when it gets to hot to sleep comfortably, I have a fan pointed at the head of the bed. As a result I found a three fold effect was taking place. Number one, I was staying cool enough to get some sleep. Number two, once I got used to the noise of the fan working, it acted like a white noise generator allowing me to sleep better. Number three, here was the surprise. Now on windy days or nights, bugs with wings tend to be grounded. The same held true for my bed with a fan working over it, allowing for a more restful sleep. So I found a non-poison salutation to my "Hour Of The Mosquito" after all. Darn it! Here I had been hoping for a chemical cure, with the help of some kind of drinkable alcohol. Oh well, I'll just have to find another reason to have a few drinks ... LOL.
Speaking of a reason to drink, has anyone noticed that gas prices are on the rise again? Let me discuss with you a few simple tricks, that should help to stretch your fuel consumption coinages. First off, if you drive a gas or diesel guzzler ... at least park it. Better still trade it for a more economical vehicle.
OK, now for the fun of relearning "How-To-Drive-101". Take your foot off of the floorboards! Meaning for you to drive more sensibly and slowly, at least at or just under the speed limit. The experts all claim that, that one trick can increase your gas mileage by up to 23%.
Now if you know of any short cuts to your destination, take them on condition of staying out of heavy traffic. Also turn off your vehicle's air conditioner, if you don't believe me test it out for yourself. Drive like you normally do for a week. But keep a log book of miles traveled, volume of fuel used, cost of fuel, etc. Then drive economically for one week, remember to keep your log book updated. After your two week driving test compare your notes, you may be surprised. Also try to know of the cheapest gas prices in your area, and watch areas with multiple gas stations in close proximity to each other ... one may start trying to under cut the competition in effect starting a gas-price-war, which is a boon to the consumer. One more note on shortcuts, use everything at your disposal like MapQuest or Google Maps.
Now by staying out of heavy traffic, you lessen the chances of being caught in a traffic jam, or being in a multiple vehicle pile up. Stop and go traffic burns fuel really fast, also your nerves fray even faster. Road Rage is a major problem in congested traffic. Try to stay informed of road construction and traffic delays or slow downs as they can lead to already mentioned problems. personally I never drive on Inter-State Highways or Super Highways, they are death traps. www.randmcnally.com has a good link called "Driving Directions" that can help you stay informed.
Lighten the load. If you a trunk full of "stuff", find a different place to store it ... like that parked Hummer maybe. Those same experts claim that for every 100 pounds of excess weight in a vehicle makes each gallon of gas cost up to 7 cents more. Also if you are on the heavy side, loosing a few extra pounds wouldn't hurt with your fuel consumption ... it might even ease the strain on your own body's organs.
By keeping your tires properly inflated you could increase your gas mileage by 3%. That is worth about 10 cents per gallon, plus it is safer and better for you and your tires. After all a blow out at a high rate of speed, could put you and yours on the evening news, and not in a nice way.
OK I'll admit it here since I am a guy, and like most all guy's say "When all else fails, read the instructions and or manual". I too fall into that one a lot. However reading the owner's manual for your vehicle, will tell you that if you use the proper fluids, oil, coolants and such. That you could have a 2% reduction in fuel usage. Also by replacing air filters and keeping your vehicle's engine properly tuned, you could be looking at a possible gas mileage increase of up to 10%.
OK this advice may hurt a little, but it is for your own good. If you are an aggressive driver, stop your vehicle and find a good hardwood tree. Then bash your bare head on it, until you knock some sense into yourself. Sailing along serenely. Speeding. Accelerating and Breaking quickly. Also squealing your tires on the pavement, all waist your money and hurts your vehicle. As well as waisting up to 30% of your fuel. Not to mention the harm and cost-to-repair the road afterwards.
Now by combining your destinations ... like errands, or shopping, also going to work, stopping at the bank, or taking the kids to the park. By combining what you need or want to do, you can actually be saving time, fuel and money. Also if you do not find a convenient place to park, parking a little ways away from your destination will save gas. If you don't drive around to find the "perfect" parking spot. By taking the nearest spot and walking to your destination, may even aid in helping your heart.
Which leads me into the next best way to save even more of your hard earned coins on fuel. Walking or riding a bicycle or trike or a quadracycle. Don't take my word for it. For the ultimate fuel savings more Americans are parking their cars and trucks and walking or biking. According to www.bikewalk.org ( the National Center for Bicycling and Walking), and www.bikeleague.org (the League of American Bicyclists). For still more ideas to save gas, and stretch your fuel buying coinages try these sites ...
Speaking of a reason to drink, has anyone noticed that gas prices are on the rise again? Let me discuss with you a few simple tricks, that should help to stretch your fuel consumption coinages. First off, if you drive a gas or diesel guzzler ... at least park it. Better still trade it for a more economical vehicle.
OK, now for the fun of relearning "How-To-Drive-101". Take your foot off of the floorboards! Meaning for you to drive more sensibly and slowly, at least at or just under the speed limit. The experts all claim that, that one trick can increase your gas mileage by up to 23%.
Now if you know of any short cuts to your destination, take them on condition of staying out of heavy traffic. Also turn off your vehicle's air conditioner, if you don't believe me test it out for yourself. Drive like you normally do for a week. But keep a log book of miles traveled, volume of fuel used, cost of fuel, etc. Then drive economically for one week, remember to keep your log book updated. After your two week driving test compare your notes, you may be surprised. Also try to know of the cheapest gas prices in your area, and watch areas with multiple gas stations in close proximity to each other ... one may start trying to under cut the competition in effect starting a gas-price-war, which is a boon to the consumer. One more note on shortcuts, use everything at your disposal like MapQuest or Google Maps.
Now by staying out of heavy traffic, you lessen the chances of being caught in a traffic jam, or being in a multiple vehicle pile up. Stop and go traffic burns fuel really fast, also your nerves fray even faster. Road Rage is a major problem in congested traffic. Try to stay informed of road construction and traffic delays or slow downs as they can lead to already mentioned problems. personally I never drive on Inter-State Highways or Super Highways, they are death traps. www.randmcnally.com has a good link called "Driving Directions" that can help you stay informed.
Lighten the load. If you a trunk full of "stuff", find a different place to store it ... like that parked Hummer maybe. Those same experts claim that for every 100 pounds of excess weight in a vehicle makes each gallon of gas cost up to 7 cents more. Also if you are on the heavy side, loosing a few extra pounds wouldn't hurt with your fuel consumption ... it might even ease the strain on your own body's organs.
By keeping your tires properly inflated you could increase your gas mileage by 3%. That is worth about 10 cents per gallon, plus it is safer and better for you and your tires. After all a blow out at a high rate of speed, could put you and yours on the evening news, and not in a nice way.
OK I'll admit it here since I am a guy, and like most all guy's say "When all else fails, read the instructions and or manual". I too fall into that one a lot. However reading the owner's manual for your vehicle, will tell you that if you use the proper fluids, oil, coolants and such. That you could have a 2% reduction in fuel usage. Also by replacing air filters and keeping your vehicle's engine properly tuned, you could be looking at a possible gas mileage increase of up to 10%.
OK this advice may hurt a little, but it is for your own good. If you are an aggressive driver, stop your vehicle and find a good hardwood tree. Then bash your bare head on it, until you knock some sense into yourself. Sailing along serenely. Speeding. Accelerating and Breaking quickly. Also squealing your tires on the pavement, all waist your money and hurts your vehicle. As well as waisting up to 30% of your fuel. Not to mention the harm and cost-to-repair the road afterwards.
Now by combining your destinations ... like errands, or shopping, also going to work, stopping at the bank, or taking the kids to the park. By combining what you need or want to do, you can actually be saving time, fuel and money. Also if you do not find a convenient place to park, parking a little ways away from your destination will save gas. If you don't drive around to find the "perfect" parking spot. By taking the nearest spot and walking to your destination, may even aid in helping your heart.
Which leads me into the next best way to save even more of your hard earned coins on fuel. Walking or riding a bicycle or trike or a quadracycle. Don't take my word for it. For the ultimate fuel savings more Americans are parking their cars and trucks and walking or biking. According to www.bikewalk.org ( the National Center for Bicycling and Walking), and www.bikeleague.org (the League of American Bicyclists). For still more ideas to save gas, and stretch your fuel buying coinages try these sites ...
www.fueleconomy.gov
www.MotherEarthNews.com/Green-Transportation.aspx
There you go my friends, some hints, tips, tricks and sites to learn more from. So much for a short posting, but all-in-all good information to have.
Remember the highwaymen of old? The robbers of travelers?
Well guess what, they have changed their stripes.
Now we willing fork over our hard earned coinages,
To the gas stations ...
Wednesday, August 1, 2012
Speculations ...
Oh my, will you look at that. As I sit down to work on my next blog posting. Then realizing that I have lost a whole week somewhere.
Of course it doesn't help, that at work last week I picked up a couple of night maintenance shifts. Along with three dish washing shifts. As well as working on household chores at home, and not forgetting that never ending yard work either. So my spare time was pretty much tied up with relaxing and sleeping. As personal wants, wishes, desires, dreams and hobbies, have been temporarily been put on the back burner ~ or so it would seem.
Now if our world was a little farther from the sun, the year would be a little bit longer. Also if our world spun a little more slowly, the days would be a little bit longer. But would I be able to accomplish any more in a days time? Probably not. Also if those changes happened, would it mean that life would still exist on this world as we know it? Again probably not.
Of course it doesn't help, that at work last week I picked up a couple of night maintenance shifts. Along with three dish washing shifts. As well as working on household chores at home, and not forgetting that never ending yard work either. So my spare time was pretty much tied up with relaxing and sleeping. As personal wants, wishes, desires, dreams and hobbies, have been temporarily been put on the back burner ~ or so it would seem.
Now if our world was a little farther from the sun, the year would be a little bit longer. Also if our world spun a little more slowly, the days would be a little bit longer. But would I be able to accomplish any more in a days time? Probably not. Also if those changes happened, would it mean that life would still exist on this world as we know it? Again probably not.
So my friends, I guess that;
"The hurryeder that I go, The behinder that I get";
Also seems to apply to me.
Wednesday, July 18, 2012
Cool Treats For Summer Heat ...
A couple of days ago a friend at work said that I looked like I was walking slowly and with a limp. This was about 10 days after popping my knee out of place, and re-popping it back into place. Yes it hurt. Both when it happened and a few minutes latter as I reset it right. Then I put a knee brace on to hold it together and kept on working in the yard. It hurts still and is slowing me down a bit, on the things that I want to get done in a days time. Anyhow as he made that remark about my walk and limp, he added "It's hell to get old ain't it". I countered with "I'm not old, I'm a P. Y. T.". To which he asked what was a P. Y. T.?" I said "Pretty Young Thing (and added that) that should give us both nightmares". We both chuckled. Of course the summer heat and humidity are not helping either.
Speaking of the heat let's get to the Summer treats ...
Speaking of the heat let's get to the Summer treats ...
Let's start with a good breakfast:
- 1 cup of quick oats (oatmeal)
- 1 cup puffed millet
- 1 - 2 tablespoon of raw honey (best from local bees)
- 1 cup whole milk - not pasteurized homogenized is ok but raw whole milk is best
~ Combine everything in a bowl and microwave about 2 minutes, stir it all together while hot and enjoy.
Speaking of a good breakfast, in last weeks post I alluded to the old proverb about "The Hour Of The Wolf". Again I'm not sure which country it originated in, I had thought Russia. Am now leaning more toward one of the Scandinavian countries. At any rate since our summer rains have finally started here in Florida, another vicious predator has awoken. No not the gators, a little smaller and these seem to hunt in packs. As they seek out their prey in the wee hours of early dawn. I know this for a fact as my alarm clocks are set for 5AM and 5:15AM. By which time I am already semi awake and fending off a rather vicious assault. Of what could best be described as the predator hour, but to name that said hour ... I would have to call it "The Hour Of The Mosquito". They seem to think of me as a good breakfast.
OK, back to the cool treats. Remember that you should drink before you are thirsty. Not just any drink, but a drink that will refresh and rejuvenate while you rehydrate. Sweat is salty. So salt needs to be in your food and drinks ~ sea salt is best. Sea salt also has other trace amounts of minerals that our bodies need. I first ran across this recipe for homemade "Gatorade" a few months ago.
When I tried it I found it very refreshing ... here it is to my tastes:
"Homemade Gatorade"
- 2 whole lemons - juiced (I pureed pulp and all except the outer skin)
- 1 whole lime - juiced (I pureed pulp and all except outer skin)
- 1 whole orange (optional) - juiced (I pureed pulp and all except outer skin)
- 1/2 cup local raw honey (contains trace minerals and natural electrolytes)
- 1/4 teaspoon sea salt (contains trace minerals and natural electrolytes) Could be replaced with Morton's Lite Salt that contains less iodine and sodium but has more potassium in it.
- 1 teaspoon dolomite powder (powdered calcium - found in health food stores)
~ If you do not have good well water or access to a natural free flowing spring, then by all means use filtered water, about a quart. In a big jug mix all ingredients together and shake well. Pour into 1 quart glass or plastic bottles and chill. When hot and sweaty shake one up and enjoy the response your body gives ...
Now this next one is called switchel, a drink that has been used for several 100 years for various reasons. We used to make up several gallons of this when working in the fields, back home on the farm. Baling hay is a lot of hot and sweaty work, hence this drink is also known as ...
Hay maker's Switchel
- 3 1/2 quarts of good well water or natural spring water or filtered water
- 1 cup black strap molasses
- 1/2 cup local raw honey
- 1/2 cup apple cider vinegar (homemade is best)
- 1 1/2 teaspoon ginger
- 3/4 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 tablespoon sea salt
- 1 tablespoon dolomite powder (powdered calcium from a health food store)
- 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
Now for a good evening meal after the day's farm chores were done, that included milking the cows (we had 80 milking head) and tending to the young stock (about 250 head from day old's to two years of age). The chicken and pigs tended to as well, and the final day's feeding for the cows. Then it was time to relax, with a quick dip in the swimming hole ~ an old gravel bed stocked with large mouth bass, boy were they good eating when we could catch them. Anyhow as the sun set, the BBQ was lit with a real wood fire. As the fire burned down to coals, for the Bratwursts to cook over, the potato salad was made. With real farm fresh eggs and homemade mayonnaise. Back on the farm we ate good and hearty because we worked and played hard. However just recently I ran across a potato salad recipe that had no eggs or mayonnaise in it. I was surprised just how good it was, also without eggs and mayo in it, it could set out longer without refrigeration being needed. It is called ...
Bulgarian Potato Salad
- 8 - 10 medium sized potatoes - red or white, I use both and leave the skins on
- 1 medium small red onion - finely chopped
- 1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil
- 1/4 cup sweet apple cider
- juice of 1/2 a lemon
- about 1 tablespoon each of fresh Dill, Cilantro,Sweet Basil, Chive, all chopped coarsely then bruised together in a mortar and pestle
- hard Ramona Cheese - to be grated as needed
- salt and pepper to taste
Now for a couple of desert ideas ...
Orangesicle Cake
- 1 (18.25oz) package of orange cake mix
- 1 (3oz) package of orange flavored gelatin mix
- 1 cup of boiling water
- 1 (3.4oz) package of instant vanilla pudding mix
- 1 cup of milk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon orange extract
- 1 (8oz) container of frozen whipped topping - thawed
~ In a medium mixing bowl make the vanilla instant pudding with only 1 cup of milk. Stir in vanilla and orange extracts. Fold in thawed whipped topping. Spread evenly over cooled cake. Chill for at least 1 hour before serving. Enjoy not only the taste, but also the oohs and aahs.
Creamsicle Cheesecake
- 16 oz cream cheese - softened
- 1/2 cup granular sugar
- 2 eggs
- 3/4 cup sour cream
- 1teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon orange extract
- 2 drops yellow food coloring
- 1 drop red food coloring
- 9" graham cracker pie crust
~ Now take that saved 1 cup of filling mixture and add the orange extract and red and yellow food colorings and beat together. Then take a spoonful at a time and randomly drop into the pie. Use a knife to swirl everything into a marble effect.
~ Bake for 30 -35 minutes or until firm around the edges - the center will be slightly loose. allow to cool for 1 hour in oven with the door open partway. Then chill for at least 8 hours before serving.
~ For a finishing touch, top each serving with a dollop of whipped cream, a orange slice twisted and draped through the whipped cream, then grate fresh orange zest over the whole of each serving. Enjoy.
As I come down to the last of the Summer treats I was planning on using for this post,
I think I'll go raid the fridge to see if my sweet tooth can be abated yet again;
Or if my house mates were instead watching my waist for me,
Meaning the treats are all gone ... at least as far as they may know.
Oh look at that, they didn't find where I hid that last piece ...
Enjoy my friends.
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