Thursday, July 10, 2025

The Gathering

Sioux Encampment
Jules Tavernier (PD)
At the end of the month there is to be a gathering of parts of the far flung elements of my tribe. A gathering of the clans, if you will ...



Ah, but I love that tune. (No doubt somewhere Buck is covering his ears and screaming, "Why?")

Anyhoo, with the prospect of hosting the two daughters and their tribes, minus Big Time who will be out at sea, there is much to be done. Some of that was done over the Independence Day weekend (those of you who want to call it the Fourth of July, feel free, I've no bone to pick with you), to the tune of "the deck needs painting!"

And so it did, and so it was.

The work was done in the warm sun of a few July days, waiting until the sun wasn't quite as angry as it has been of late. That is, we waited for late afternoon when the Earth had cooled somewhat. Not the Earth cooling that we old farts remember, ya know when life first arose on the planet - Well Seasoned Fool, Old NFO, and a select few others could explain that one, I was born a little later. (Think Pleistocene ...)

So that's done and the deck looks marvelous, if you ignore the age of the boards and all the various cracks and such. One of these days a project will be kicked off to replace the decking itself, the rails and such are still fine. (I hope.)

Mini-split maintenance was also in the works though we didn't do it, we let the folks who installed the gear handle that, ya know, the professionals. For which they graciously accepted a certain fee which The Missus Herself bemoans as being "too much." I agree, but then again I don't want the system to crap out when it's really hot or really cold outside. So yes, there are things that I will pay for. (Wink, wink, nudge, nudge, know what I mean?)

I have also (finally) started cleaning up the command post, i.e. my computer room / man cave. There are still piles of old copies of Proceedings to dispose of but a lot of the mess, er, possessions, have been shifted elsewhere.

While all that proceeds, I need to have a day where 1) it's not bloody raining, and 2) the temperature is below 85° F. (Of course, Fahrenheit, we're not in bloody Europe, are we? Well, some of you are but not this fellow, I was using the imperial "we.") In order to cut the grass. Something I'm used to now but still don't find enjoyable as some of you do. (I know who you are.)

Ah, the joys of home ownership.

And speaking of coffee (Who the heck was talking about coffee, Sarge?) ...

When down on the Eastern Shore for vacation, the beach house had a new appliance, one of these - 

Source
Said machine Your Humble Scribe fell in love with as did son-in-law Tuttle. The Nuke noted my enjoyment of the coffee the wee beastie produced so she bought me one of my own for Fathers Day. I use it every morning, though The Missus Herself still uses the Keurig machine most days, she also enjoys the frothy beverages produced by the Nespresso machine.

Can't start the day without good coffee now, can you?

I'm sure, for some of you, Your Mileage Will Vary.

It is ever thus.



26 comments:

  1. Indeed the joys of home ownership.....be glad for no severe hailstorms Sarge......roof replacement, handling insurance claim, initial denial, appeal......ask me how I know......(sigh). That video cleared out the sleepy cobwebs this morn....:)

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  2. Ah! The gentle, care-free life of the small plantation owner! Always something to keep the mind engaged and the body in motion.

    I've never have the pleasure of that particular version of coffee maker. How does it create the froth?

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  3. thank you for the music
    one fo these days (I'll wait around for it; just don't take too long) I'd like to be able to hear it as a preliminary piece to Beethoven's 9th at Carnegie

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  4. MBD has one of those coffee makers, produces a pretty good cuppa. A little to small for my morning needs, but enjoyable nonetheless.
    Have a good day, Sarge and all y’all!
    juvat

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    1. Yes, the portions are small for the heavy drinker. There are days where I will have two cups. It makes three different sizes depending on the pod size. I buy the bigger ones, still only about 8 ounces.

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  5. The last place I worked had a Nespresso machine in the office brake room. The manufacturing brake room had a Mr. Coffee pot. I worked in both and used both for a while. The four of us that worked in both the front office and on the manufacturing floor noticed there were no pods for the Nespresso but the front office staff all had Nespresso coffee's on their desk.

    That was a hostile work environment. The manufacturing carried the company. The services that worked in the front office lost money in their department. I was glad to leave that job while it was still circling the bowl. They folded less than a year latter.

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    1. We used to have a Mr. Coffee, loved that thing.

      Yes, a prime annoyance of mine, the non-productive steering the boat and gobbling up resources.

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  6. Ninja drip maker. Plenty of good coffee. Combine Black Rifle CAF and Beyond Black 1:1.
    Boat Guy

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    1. I've heard that Black Rifle is good. I like their ads as well.

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  7. I tend to lean more on "the professionals" than I did in Days of Yore, mostly because I do not enjoy paying twice: Once for me to do and once for them to do it.

    We have, at Taigh na Thoirealbheach Beucail, a Keurig style machine, a Nespesso machine, a french press, and a drip coffee maker. I used to not be quite as much a fan of the Keurig/Nespresso, but it does wonders for controlling my intake and there are some interesting flavours. Also, the Keurig style machine comes with a reusable container, which I grind coffee for (so slightly more "environmentally friendly".

    Shout out for Binky Bun Coffee, who donates 15% of their fee to rabbit rescues. Save the bunnies! https://binkybuncoffee.com/

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    1. We had a reusable cup for the Keurig, which The Missus Herself decided to give away as "we don't ever use it." I pointed out that the correct phrase was "we haven't used it yet." I got a kit for the Nespresso where I can grind my own and refill the pods. Asked her to please not give this one away. And stop throwing the pods away, they are reusable once cleaned and refilled. The kit comes with the "lids" and a doo-hickey to pack the coffee correctly.

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  8. Whenever I think of Proceedings, I remember that scene in Hunt for Red October, when Jack Ryan had one in his briefcase. That might have been my first encounter with the mag.

    Nespresso- Only had coffee from those in some hotel rooms, but it's dang good. I have briefly thought about a purchase, but those pods make me shudder at the cost. Not sure I'm that much of a connoisseur .

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    1. You have to really, really like the coffee as the pods are a bit pricey. I look at it this way, "Hey, still cheaper than Starbucks!"

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    2. The Nuke now has a requirement to resupply each B-day, Christmas, Fathers Day!

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  9. Coffee. Not long after the world was created, the Mr Coffee machine was born. Copies soon followed. A proper cup of coffee is made with dark roast with a dash of cinnamon. Once poured in a cup, a generous spoonful of raw, unfiltered, local source honey and a dash of heavy cream is added. Now the morning can begin. A backup old school percolator is in a nearby drawer in case the power goes out.
    Most Sunday mornings, our group goes to a local VFW for a typical artery clogging military breakfast. There, raw black coffee is drunk in memory of times past.

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    1. "Proper" coffee lies upon the taste buds of the consumer, though the ay you make it sounds pretty good.

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  10. When I saw the Sioux Encampment header picture I remembered that the mountain man rendezvous was starting this weekend in Wyoming. I'd like to see that, maybe next year...

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  11. Coffee is my go-to when I'm having the very odd day of asthma. Big container of convenience store coffee with sugar and some creamer/milk. Caffeine and sugar tend to open up the lung sacks and the heat helps. Milk/creamer and sugar to make the coffee taste really good.

    I've tried StoreBucks coffee and other store-bought coffee and I prefer convenience store coffee hands down.

    I don't drink it enough to purchase a maker, and Mrs. Andrew doesn't like the smell (bad associations) so when the need arises, convenience store coffee it is.

    Otherwise, Diet Dr. Pepper or Diet Coke on most days and tea when I want something hot.

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    1. To each his own, as I mentioned above, taste is an individual thing, there is no right or wrong, only what works for the individual.

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  12. I remember Joe DiMaggio doing TV commercials for Mr Coffee long ago.
    Jim

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    1. So do I! Now that brings back memories, good ones.

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Just be polite... that's all I ask. (For Buck)
Can't be nice, go somewhere else...

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