Doug's Project 365

Our Boston Organics order came today.  The most unusual item this week is mixed alfalfa & radish sprouts.  Guess we’re having salad!

My trusty old Swift binoculars broke near the end of last season… one objective lens sheared right off at the threads, probably as a result of being dropped, or banged against a rock, or something.  I tried a few different approaches to repair them, but ultimately I think they’d need a new barrel.

I spent the remainder of my REI rebate this year on a new pair of binoculars.  These are of a different optical design (roof prism rather than porro prism) that allows them to be smaller, more damage-resistant, and waterproof.  But other than that, their specs and performance are remarkably similar.

I made sausages today.  What you see here is the starting point: 8 pounds of pork.

In addition to the window rebuilding project, I am also undertaking a refurbishing project at the other end of the scale — stripping the years of paint off our door hardware and refinishing it to something like what it would have looked like new.

I’m using a mild chemical stripper to remove years of paint, just soaking the parts (except the porcelain knobs) in it overnight.  Underneath it all is iron castings.  Rather than using the glossy jet black that was the original paint color, I am using a “hammered bronze” spray paint that is both forgiving and attractive.  And yes, I’m painting the screw heads.

Happy summer!

Lis’s camera chose today to take a header onto the floor, landing on its lens.  I (naturally) took it apart to see if it was salvageable.

Sadly, one of the little plastic nubbins on the lens housing (to control extending/retracting the lens for zoom) broke off.  Here you see the little camera without its skins.

We went to a housewarming BBQ at Michael and Sabrina’s today.

It was threatening to rain the whole time, but we just had a few sprinkles.

Lis and I went to the Watch City Brewery for dinner tonight. 

While the food & beer were good, better than the last time we were there a couple years ago, I was still slightly disappointed that they weren’t better.

I don’t know why, but this morning the parking garage at work was particularly full, so…

I had to park on the 4th floor.  I’m glad I remembered on my way out!

Soon we hope to join a fan club.

OK, sorry for the pun.  What I really should say is that soon we hope to join those of you who actually have exhaust fans in your bathrooms.

This evening I attended Jess Voloudakis’s birthday party, which took place somewhere I have not been in years.

Sunset has one of the largest selections of beer in New England, if not the country.  I only had 3 beers, but not a one of them was below 6.5% ABV.  I’m glad I took the train!