Saturday, August 16, 2025

Framing, Family and Peppers - It Was a Full 24 Hours

I spent most of yesterday working with the mat cutter. I wasn't happy with the cuts I was getting, and the blade wasn't inserting properly, so I tore it apart (again), cleaned and greased the bar along which the cutting heads move, and took the blade holder completely apart to find out what I was doing wrong. I don't know how to explain it, but I did figure it out, got the blades re-inserted (properly this time), and got it threaded back onto the guide rod. Then I adjusted that rod to give me a completely straight cut, and voila! I'm back in business. 




The mat cutter is a fairly simple piece of equipment, and when 
it is adjusted properly, it gives beautiful cuts. It was slightly 
off, so I took it apart and readjusted things. Now it's giving 
me the perfect cuts I demand. 



Today I'm cutting two pieces of glass at the shop. One of them is fairly large, so I'll need to be careful getting that one home. The other one is much smaller, so not as much of a transportation headache. We'll stop by the house on our way out to my oldest Niece's home. Her son is the hockey goalie I've spoken of before. He'll be a high school freshman this Fall, but he's going to be going to school in Wisconsin, while he's joined the feeder hockey club that has recruited him as a potential professional player. This is a HUGE step for him, and we're all very proud of what he's accomplished to this point. We're all considering this a graduation celebration, although it would still be 3-4 years before his real High School graduation would occur. He might not ever have that High School graduation, however. If he continues to excel in hockey, he'll be drafted by a professional team, work in their feeder clubs while honing his skills to a higher level, and (perhaps) be moved up to their top tier team eventually. Yeah ... he's that good! 



Flynn would normally be starting school at Centennial 
High School this Fall, and of course be on their 
hockey team. But he's being snatched up to be on a 
feeder professional team instead, and will be going 
to high school in Wisconsin, staying with a host family 
for the season. It's a BIG step upward towards his 
goal of being in the National Hockey League. 



I'm totally focused on the State Fair now. It opens Thursday, the 21st, and Chickie will be taking the day off to attend the Fair on that day, as she usually does. Sharon will fly in on the 28th and we'll be at the Fair on the 29th, 30 & 31st, and on to Ren Faire on the 1st. I'll drop Sharon back at the airport on the 2nd. 




Not everyone is into the MN State Fair, but I adore it and 
Sharon does also, as does Chickie. Jim tags along on 
one Saturday night, and all day the following Sunday. He 
loves it too, just not as much as the three of us do. We're 
admitted State Fair addicts. 



Speaking of Renaissance Festival, it opens today. We'll be heading out to the grounds tomorrow to collect our tickets and medallions for the year, say "Hello" to various friends, wander the grounds, listen to some music, and then head home early. It's been a hard week for DH and he'd rather spend his time sitting in the back yard than wandering the Fest grounds. I can get on board with that. 




There's something magical about Renaissance Festival, 
even though it's not as much fun as it used to be. It's still 
a good time with good friends, beer and music. All well 
worth my time and effort. 



So, I need to empty my dehydrator and start getting ready for work. I put a bunch of different hot peppers into the dehydrator yesterday and they should be done. If not, I'll turn the dehydrator on again for another few hours. I put in habanero, jalapeno, serrano and that large ristra red that I showed all of you last week. I'm hoping they dried well overnight and are ready for storage jars until I put them through the chopper. 


That's it for now, have an excellent Saturday and I'll be back on Monday. Slava Ukraini. 




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