Open Thread
By John Cole May 16th, 2010
Another content free day from me. Sorry.
We went to the greenhouse, was doing some work work that had to be done by tomorrow, and then cleaning.
Was so happy with my Fiskars Weeder
BTW- do you have any idea how hard it is to find a decent wheelbarrow? All the big box stores seem to have an exclusive contract with True-Temper, and their wheelbarrows are crap.
Posted in Black Thumb, Open Thread
We have a wheelbarrow, tire is flat. Use the little wagon behind the quad for minor stuff, front loader on the tractor for bigger jobs.
May 16th, 2010 at 6:50 pm
Yay, an open thread… I was just thinking it was time to nudge our host for an open thread.
I did fun stuff yesterday (finally saw How to Train Your Dragon) so today I had to do some house chores.
May 16th, 2010 at 6:54 pm
My neighborhood rolls with either the Flowtron Hauler Cart (available at Amazon, so you can give your blog some bucks) or the classic Radio Flyer Red Wagon.
May 16th, 2010 at 6:59 pm
Sears used to have a large selection of wheelbarrows. I haven’t checked recently but I bought one from them several years ago.
May 16th, 2010 at 7:00 pm
Craigslist says hello.
May 16th, 2010 at 7:04 pm
I’ve got my dad’s old cart. We keep repairing it instead of buying something new. It’s awesome.
May 16th, 2010 at 7:09 pm
larry craig’slist?
May 16th, 2010 at 7:14 pm
I found the ingredients for the yummiest salad in the world at the farmer’s market yesterday, so now I have to ride down to Whole Foods to get hamburger meat so we can have burgers with it. I really am trying to use my bike more for trips close to home now that I have a back rack and can carry more stuff.
May 16th, 2010 at 7:16 pm
My comment is in moderation. Not sure why but try S.e.a.rs.
May 16th, 2010 at 7:17 pm
I’ve always been very happy with anything I buy from Gardners Supply Company.
May 16th, 2010 at 7:19 pm
@Mnemosyne: Just bookmarked that – looks yummy.
There are a couple things produced by the state of Georgia that don’t induce an agony of embarassment.
May 16th, 2010 at 7:23 pm
I actually saw a great looking wheelbarrow at Costco yesterday – it had large wheels & a dumpable bed. I didn’t see a price though.
Spent the morning in the yard weeding etc. Afternoon was babysitting the grandkids. It was a glorious day as beautiful as I could ever hope for. We took them out to enjoy the day.
A very interesting first-person story about Deepwater explosion on 60 minutes – you NEED to see this.
May 16th, 2010 at 7:25 pm
Any Top Chef Masters fans here, besides me?
May 16th, 2010 at 7:31 pm
Would like some advice from you photog types out there (or none photog types for that matter.) If you were the owner of the lake house that we stayed in this weekend (bliss – more of that later) which of these two shots would you prefer to be printed and framed for hanging in said lake house. (This by the way is the view from the back porch at sunrise). The basic difference is one is framed by the trees in the yard the other isn’t. A professional photographer told me after I had taken this shot before that the one where the trees in the yard are framing the shot is the better one but I would like a second (third, fourth whatever opinion).
http://img.photobucket.com/alb.....C09830.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/alb.....C09823.jpg
Would appreciate any and all input. Ta very much.
May 16th, 2010 at 7:35 pm
Anyone mind if I break the pastoral vibe for some tasty schadenfreude? Well, it appears that, gosh, Arizona is running into a tourism shitstorm over their “papers, please” law. Now they’re launching a “rebranding” effort at the Governor’s behest. “You aren’t going to be asked for ID unless you first commit a crime,” she says.
We aren’t ever going to be asked for ID? Does she even know how police usually behave?
Meanwhile, Queen Sarah announces that “We’re all Arizonans now.” What she doesn’t mention is that some of us are white Arizonans, and some of us are brown Arizonans.
May 16th, 2010 at 7:37 pm
@Litlebritdifrnt: I like the 2nd one, more sky, less tree.
Beautiful place – is that in the US?
May 16th, 2010 at 7:39 pm
@Litlebritdifrnt: the 2d pic, ...9823.jpg
May 16th, 2010 at 7:39 pm
@Citizen_X: Perfect Republican M.O. – Create a big steaming pile of fail, then call it something else and hope the rubes are fooled again.
Fuck that.
May 16th, 2010 at 7:41 pm
Tho the first can be improved by cropping the top some.
May 16th, 2010 at 7:42 pm
@SIA:
Lake Waccamaw, NC. Largest bay Lake in NC beautiful spot.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lake_Waccamaw
May 16th, 2010 at 7:45 pm
@Litlebritdifrnt: I prefer the second one—it’s less busy.
We had a nice weekend. I got a pedicure yesterday, which was long overdue. Today we went and picked up some shrubs for the yard, and this evening, planted the lilac that SamKitten got me for Mother’s Day.
We’re also finding ourselves much busier lately, as he is starting to get into everything and is pulling himself up, using the furniture. Yesterday, we were in his room, and he reached out for his night-light, and I pulled his hand away and said “no”. He did it again, I did the same thing. He did it again, and I did the same thing. He stopped, looked at me, the eyes got huge and the lip started to quiver, and he just started to wail.
In other words, he got the message. And was not particularly pleased about it.
May 16th, 2010 at 7:47 pm
@Litlebritdifrnt: Sounds like an amazing place!
That is one old lake!
May 16th, 2010 at 7:48 pm
If you can’t find it in a big box store, the great back-up, and now my go to place is true value.
May 16th, 2010 at 7:49 pm
@Litlebritdifrnt: Maybe like so? http://www.flickr.com/photos/jeffreyww/4613039665/
May 16th, 2010 at 7:51 pm
Also look at Lee Valley. They have the Ferrari of carts, http://www.leevalley.com/US/ga.....&ap=1
May 16th, 2010 at 7:52 pm
@jeffreyw:
Ha! I was recropping as you were. Here is my version
http://img.photobucket.com/alb.....9833-1.jpg
May 16th, 2010 at 7:55 pm
@Litlebritdifrnt: I prefer the first choice, the lighting seems deeper and more dramatic, and the framing of the sunset is more pronounced as well.
As for a wheelbarrow, I found them too hard on my old shoulders to balance heavy loads and tote things around the yard. When I needed a replacement, I got a four wheeled dumping cart from Farm and Tractor Supply a couple years ago. Went for the cheap plastic one, about $79 bucks, and so far is holding up fine. Much easier for hauling bags of mulch, yard clippings, etc. Plus, Lily might enjoy riding in it!
May 16th, 2010 at 7:55 pm
@Toonces:
I would second on the four wheel dumping wagon. Best thing I ever bought.
May 16th, 2010 at 7:57 pm
@Litlebritdifrnt: LOL, yours is better.
May 16th, 2010 at 7:59 pm
@jeffreyw:
I think the only difference is you left a little bit more foreground.
May 16th, 2010 at 8:01 pm
@Litlebritdifrnt: The recrop is perfect – what a lovely place!
May 16th, 2010 at 8:02 pm
@SIA:
It really is a magical place. The water as it says is tea coloured, and this is what it looks like when the sun is setting on it. Liquid gold.
http://img.photobucket.com/alb.....ltered.jpg
May 16th, 2010 at 8:04 pm
@Litlebritdifrnt: yeah, didn’t do anything but take a bit off the top. I did fiddle with saturation and contrast, didn’t save those tweaks.
May 16th, 2010 at 8:05 pm
@Litlebritdifrnt: Gorgeous.
May 16th, 2010 at 8:07 pm
Looks like Rove is back and turdier than ever.
Are Democrats doing anything like this? Or is that just too much to hope for?
May 16th, 2010 at 8:08 pm
@frankdawg:
Very, very good explanation of what went wrong and why.
May 16th, 2010 at 8:15 pm
Miller makes a pretty good wheelbarrow,
May 16th, 2010 at 8:15 pm
@demo womana: Probably because you started out as “demo woman” and are now “demo womana”.
The mod filter hates change.
Are you still hammered off those 2 beers?
May 16th, 2010 at 8:16 pm
@Litlebritdifrnt: CO9823.jpg
If you’re taking all opinions.
May 16th, 2010 at 8:18 pm
@Corner Stone:
Definitely taking all opinions. Okay I have done some more tweaking, messing around with features and I sort of like this. (BTW matted and framed these are going to be presents to the owners of the lake house)
http://img.photobucket.com/alb.....9833-2.jpg
May 16th, 2010 at 8:22 pm
@Mnemosyne: Mine’s seasonal, but if you swap out the corn for sliced avocado . . .
May 16th, 2010 at 8:22 pm
@Litlebritdifrnt:
Somehow the first seems more pleasing to me. Maybe it’s the symmetry.
Both are lovely, though.
May 16th, 2010 at 8:24 pm
@Litlebritdifrnt: Honestly, the original 09823 seems more clear to me. Like it’s beautiful, serene and amazing – but there’s a way out.
May 16th, 2010 at 8:25 pm
@Litlebritdifrnt: 1st one with the crop
May 16th, 2010 at 8:31 pm
@jeffreyw:
Thanks I admire your eye and therefore appreciate your advice. Seems like 1st with the crop is winning so far.
May 16th, 2010 at 8:41 pm
Agreed. I’ve got a True Temper wheelbarrow, and it’s a rickety piece of shit. No matter how often I tighten the bolts (which is just about every time I use it) it’s always wobbly, and feels like it’s about to collapse.
I’m too cheap to buy a new one, so I’ve podunked the hell out of it. After a huge crack formed at the bottom (it’s plastic!) I took two pieces of plywood and screwed them together—one inside the barrow and the other underneath.
May 16th, 2010 at 9:00 pm
@Corner Stone: I ended up with a few more beers and discovered that drinking on an empty stomach was not a good idea. Well, duh!!
You’re right about the addition of an a..Not sure how that happened but maybe I changed it last night.
May 16th, 2010 at 9:19 pm
I love both Gardener’s Supply and Lee Valley. GS tends to be overpriced on some things but very reasonable on others; Lee Valley generally has very good prices but limited selection on tools.
I’d suggest trying the A. M. Leonard website. They sell to professional landscapers (as well as the public) so their stuff is well-made but still reasonably priced. And they’ve got a better selection than anyone.
May 16th, 2010 at 9:26 pm
60 mins oil spill & la systema: real reporting for a real good purpose: one of their finest hours/ also chk out:fishgrease boom school at dkos & matteroftrust.Finally brave enough to emulate Sinead O”connor & a place for my ruined knee-hi’s for good purpose.
May 16th, 2010 at 9:27 pm
@Linkmeister:
That should work nicely—the vinegar in the dressing would keep the avocado from getting brown and icky.
May 16th, 2010 at 9:39 pm
@Litlebritdifrnt: I tweaked the copy in my photostream a bit more.
May 16th, 2010 at 9:49 pm
I’d recommend 1) getting elected to either the US House of Representatives or the Senage, then 2) protest on FoxNews that you are not carrying water for either Obama or Rahm, 3) cross your fingers that Erick Erickson gets wind of it and starts a “send in wheelbarrow to your representative” campaign for Redstate, and finally 4) await the best damn wheelbarrow you’ve ever used – the free kind.
May 16th, 2010 at 9:53 pm
@demo womana: So you’re saying you don’t..uh..remember…me and you?
To put it delicately…worlds were revealed to me last night.
May 16th, 2010 at 9:59 pm
Definitely look at the four wheelers. Unless you need to mix concrete, the the ones with drop down wire sides are great, just put in a tarp for dirt and you can haul a lot more per load than a single wheel. And they’re cute enough that you can just park it in the yard and put some flowers on it for storage.
May 16th, 2010 at 10:14 pm
Wheelbarrows suck in the garden. A two wheeled garden cart works much better. Poly tubs, aluminum frames, large wheels.
May 16th, 2010 at 10:27 pm
@Keith #52:
Okay, I know that was a typo for Senate, but I swear I read it as “Sewage”—and it made sense that way.
May 16th, 2010 at 10:42 pm
@fcc: Actually, I’ve never had an issue with my barrow. It’s done exactly what I’ve needed.
But I’ve never had a 2 wheeler either, so, meh.
May 16th, 2010 at 10:54 pm
@flukebucket:
Left me near tears. Frustration, sadness, anger.
ETA: You can watch it online here and here.
May 16th, 2010 at 10:55 pm
I use an old version of this roughneck Rubbermaid garden cart. It’s been hanging around my yard in the full Colorado sun for over a decade without showing any stress. Pulls any weight, completely load balanced. Really a wonderful little tool.
May 16th, 2010 at 11:47 pm
Costco usually has a good medium duty wheelbarrow this time of year. The two wheelers are okay for even terrain but the single wheelers are more maneuverable on uneven ground and on plank ramps and such.
May 17th, 2010 at 8:04 am
We have a two-wheeled barrow and find it superior to a standard single-wheeled barrow in all situations, especially on uneven terrain, where a single wheel is prone to tipping over sideways. That never happens with the double wheeled version.
May 17th, 2010 at 9:52 am
My Costco has a nice looking wheelbarrow on sale at the moment. You might want to check it out if there’s one near you.
Wheelbarrows seem to suffer from commodity disease; the competition has gotten so fierce to push prices low that anything but the most expensive ones are total garbage. And who can justify spending $200 on a goddamned bucket with a wheel?
May 17th, 2010 at 12:42 pm
I couldn’t believe the prices for wheelbarrows when I was looking for one a few years ago. then I stumbled on one at Costco. Better than those I saw anywhere at it only cost $59! Steel and aluminum. Not plastic junk.
May 17th, 2010 at 1:38 pm
Have what looks like a Rubbermaid Rough Rider Lawn Cart
The big wheels are helpful; have a plot of land that resembled (a year ago, pre-planting) the surface of Mars except greyer, and the cart isn’t bothered by 6-inch rocks. Bought at Lowes IIRC.
May 17th, 2010 at 6:13 pm
@Litlebritdifrnt:
Didn’t really understand your explication, but I prefer the second of the two pictures you posted. Both of them frame the lake nicely, but the first one has a “tunnel” effect because of the blackety-black around all the edges. Subtle is better.
Also, the neighbors’ boathouse protruding in the first picture is a distraction.
May 17th, 2010 at 9:25 pm
@Litlebritdifrnt:
Still the tunnel effect, I think. “Framing the picture,” like everything else, is a guideline, not a requirement. Work that negative space.
May 17th, 2010 at 9:28 pm