Happy Birthday Joan & Mike
After Joan saw the 10'x10' pop-up canopy we had ordered on-line for Fred's backyard, she decided to order one for her backyard as well.
Joan's backyard area used to be shaded by a tree but the tree is no longer there.
Joan measured her back patio and determined an 8'x8' pop-up canopy would do the trick for her.
When I saw the "Happy Birthday" headband on Joan's table in her entry way I asked her when her birthday was.
"Yesterday!" she told me.
"Wow!" I explained. "Yesterday was my birthday!!!"
What a coincidence that we both were born on May 27th.
Therefore, 27 is my favourite number.
It is a perfect cube; "three cubed" or "3x3x3".
If you take the digits from '2' to '7' (27) and add them up, you arrive at...?
You guessed it...27! (2+3+4+5+6+7=27)
Here's Joan in her backyard before the canopy is erected.
And...this is the image Joan sent me after we put the canopy up.
Chris arrived on bicycle at the exact same time Lisa & I drove up.
The instructions for the canopy indicate that two people can assemble it...but having the four of us there with one person on each corner leg certainly helped out!
We admire the handiwork!
Joan is one happy birthday girl!
Pat arrived just as we were erecting the canopy to lend us a hand.
In fact, the toughest part of the job was pulling the canopy assembly out of the box it was delivered in.
We didn't want to break the box too much just in case Joan had to return the canopy.
Lisa, Joan, Pat & Chris enjoy the shade the new tent offers!
A single 'wall section' comes with the kit so Lisa & Pat investigate how it would be attached.
Of course we determine that Joan wouldn't want to use this wall section as she wouldn't be able to see her garden at all!
But at least it is there should she need it.
Heck, if Joan purchased two poles from a hardware store, she could use this wall section as an extension of the canopy itself to offer even further shade...if ever required! 😎
Joan brought out her portable step-stool for Chris to use...
...for reaching up to tie off the roof with the Velcro stripping.
Looks great!
Then it was on to our other task of the morning which actually took much, much longer to accomplish.
Joan had asked if we could install a new lock on her screen door.
There is already a lock on her main front door, but Joan prefers to leave the main door open so she can see her smaller garden out front - thus the need for a lock on that door.
The task was actually much trickier than scratch building the Taj Mahal in N-scale.
We had to make use of templates to 'score' holes before drilling.
The greatest challenge was aligning the long screws that had to go from the inside fitting into 'protruding' cavities on the outside fitting...and, just imagine, the cavities are situated within the confines of the door itself.
Also...we must take great care to not allow the bolt to fall down inside the interior of the door itself where it would be lost forever! Yikes!
The three of us took turns trying to mate the two screws inside their respective cavities...and after much trial and error...and a few other words I won't type here, we succeeded.
Here is the finished look.
The hostas in this area of Joan's garden are spectacular as is the massive bleeding heart in back!
Speaking of bleeding hearts! Wow!
Joan even has the pure white variety of bleeding heart.
It is indeed a beautiful oasis in Joan's backyard.
Joan is now totally happy in her stained glass workshop and workout area.
You will remember that the workshop area used to be Lawrence's domain for all of his tools and woodworking.
Sadly we all lost Lawrence a short while ago, but he is with us in spirit!
In fact, Lawrence was our OVGRS "Master Craftsman".
He created many structures found around the railroad including the trestle you see him working on in this image.
His creativity grabbed our attention in so many other ways as well.
It was Lawrence's wish that after he passed away all of his railroad related items, locomotives, rolling stock and various other interesting items be donated to our group.
I was so happy for Joan seeing how she is able to make valuable use of the space Lawrence spent so much time in!
In fact, her creativity knows no bounds as well!
I love Joan's fridge magnets showcasing that famous street in St. John's, Newfoundland.
The colours of the buildings and homes in her native province jump out at you in such a fun and remarkable way!
Lovely!
One character trait I truly appreciated of Lawrence's was the pensive and patient way he answered my many questions...especially when the WDWD crew were getting down to some difficult tasks at hand.
He was a wonderful mentor to so many of us!
Steve and Lawrence are conferring on their moves when they reach their next destination during one of our Saturday morning operating sessions.
A quiet gentleman who shied away from the spotlight, Lawrence was loved by all, including our American friends who travelled up this way for our annual "Invasion of Friends" weekends.
He and Bernie always reminded me (in a gentle way) to "Measure twice and cut once!"
Here he is examining the surface bed of the trestle he will be making as Father Fred looks on.
His first trestle handled many a season with our winter recesses where it was covered in snow, but eventually a new one had to be built...but that was no problem for Lawrence!
What a strong man he was!
He could shift around these rockery stones with a single hand in creating the walls at the dry river bed!
He was always a "team player"; more apt to listen than to speak.
George is winding a story as Lawrence follows along.
No task was too dirty for Lawrence.
Bernie, Chris, Pat & I learned this early on! 😎
No problem was too tricky to solve.
Here's Pat working with him on a typical Wednesday.
Lawrence was the MVP of our WDWD crew!!!
Lawrence and Bernie are all smiles...can't you tell!
His beloved B&O Road Switcher continues to ply the rails of the IPP&W/RP&M to this day in care of our good friend, Dilip!
His spirit lives on with us each Wednesday and Saturday morning when we bring the railroad to life!
A handsome lad he was in those shades and that moustache!
Grant is enjoying his camaraderie at this moment.
We have video of Lawrence working Rat Portage on the RP&M.
His train reaches the junction trackage in this video movie.
This video showcases another of Lawrence's creative gizmos.
I'm not certain, but I believe he is running a camera ahead of the locomotive while his train arrives Ironwood.
Lawrence also designed a "distance meter" held in a gondola that ran the length of the railway and indicated the total distance run.
This video effort finds Lawrence working on his beloved trestle.
This is just one of Lawrence's many cool looking shirts!
We miss you laddy!
While Lisa & I had to head home directly from Joan's place, Pat and Chris headed over to Fred's to conduct a bunch of maintenance requirements if we are to operate this coming Saturday, weather permitting of course!
Here is Pat's message to me later in the day!
Following up on this morning's activities, Chris and I went on to Fred's after leaving Joan's.
The new-to-Fred walker is now in the boardroom by the window. The remaining muffins and donuts from Joan are in the kitchen fridge. The remaining soft drinks from Joan are in the crew lounge fridge.
I cut part of the lawn until I ran out of battery power. The batteries had not been recharged after their last use. I then tried to use the trimmer batteries, but they were completely dead and will need to be recharged. I put the lawn mower batteries on to charge and they were in fact recharged by the time I left. I also used the blower, which did have a charged battery, to blow the needles and leaves off the whole layout. That battery will need to be recharged too. I checked the cable operated turnouts and they all appear to be working fine, although if we get rain the next few days that may not remain the case.
Chris tackled the rapid weed growth in the Fallen Tree Mine to Lily area and did a good job of returning that area to normal condition.
Given that there is presently an 86% chance of 6mm of rain on Saturday, there
seemed little point in finishing cutting the lawn with the recharged batteries
in the 28 degree heat of this afternoon. So Chris and I left at about
1pm.
We did not see Father Fred, so we assume he did go to his meeting.
Pat Brewer
Thanks Pat for the update and thanks Chris for the pictures he sent my way. Thanks to Joan for the photos she sent as well!
Father Fred would be surprised to learn that the dedicated lads of the WDWD crew will come out to work on the railway even if he has to attend his luncheon meeting!
So, there you have it!
Joan...it is a total honour to share my birthday on May 27th each year with you!
Thanks to Joan, Lisa, Pat & Chris for all your hard work today!
There were a lot of fun stories shared today and loads of laughter could be heard!
We are the WDWD crew of the OVGRS in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
