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Adding a new zone for the pumpkin patch was relatively easy, the hard part was shelling out the $88 for parts. This new setup allows for me to expand the zones with minimal effort. I plan to install a retaining wall and plant some shrubbery maybe this year.

Seed Germination Heat Factory

My two power hungry Paxville xeons run at 135w to 150w each at about 2200 BTU/hr. That power consumption is pretty much old school for dual-core processores. To add to the heat generation, my monitors produce around 1100 BTU/hr. The new dual-core processors don't use half the power but are the same speed, less heat = faster processing.

You are looking at finned heat sinks that sit on top of the processors, the sinks are each enclosed in it's own green shroud. The backside of the shrouds each have their own huge fan that runs all the time. These procs are badass!

Giant Pumpkin Seed Germination
I filed the edges of the seeds lightly with a nail file. This allows moisture into the seed easier and makes it easier for the leaves to emerge from the shell without damage. I then soaked the seeds in warm water for an hour or two and sowed them 1"-2" deep into six inch peat pots filled with a seed starter mix. I sowed one seed on it's side, and the other with the pointed end down and watered the starter mix thoroughly. I provided the seeds with warmth by setting next to my computer to improve germination rates and speed the process.

1964 Cub Cadet 100

Close to mint condition, this will be my mini project this summer. It came with a mower deck and a snow plow. It was used most of it's life as a workhorse to maintain the Excel Power Companies Rifle facility. The snow plow assembely and mower deck are in need of a total rebuild with a sandblast to welding up some cracks to new parts to factory paint and new decals. I also need to sandblast the hood and repaint befor I can apply the decals. I'm looking for a gastank and cap and a new grill. I may even install some headlight if I can find them for the right price. Last weekend I drove it around the neighborhood, it pulled the hill in 3rd without any problems.

Giant Pumpkin Garden

I'm hoping to grow a pumpkin from a couple of seeds taken from the winner of the 2006 Santa Cruz County Fair. I'm not sure how Tim got his hands on these, but nice snag! The two seeds he gave are 630 Sprinsock and a 534 Albrecht DMG. Since our soil, if you could call it soil, is void of any known nutrients, I had to import a tandem load in from Basalt. By no means is it 'black dirt' but it's as close as I'll get on the western slope. I built a rock wall and installed the dirt. My next jobs are to germinate the seeds, run power up to the garden for the heat tape in the soil, and install a dedicated valve so the garden has it's own zone. I'll update the irrigation schematic soon.

Jackson's First Soccer Game

Will he be the next Lev Yashin, Gordon Banks, or Dino Zoff??

Who are those guys anyway, and what do those guys know about making saves..

Lev Yashin: A Russian, 'the black panther', saved more than 150 penaltie shots.

Gordon Banks: A Brit, remembered for making the greatest save in footballing history - against Pele.

Dino Zoff: An Italian, He holds the record for the longest continual period without conceding a goal in international football; 1142 minutes between 1972 and 1974.

Will says Happy Easter!

Welcome to my backyard!
These big cats usually follow the deer. This year the deer around our house have been scattered. Maybe that's a good thing because they haven't bothered our fruit trees. I hope the only big cat in our area is now gone. Someone hit a cat in front of Delle's school and it died nearby a little later. People reported they saw the same cat in West Glenwood, 15 miles away. Got Glock?

Kiki's Christmas Quilt 2007
Beautifully done, we will be hanging this on our wall soon after Thanksgiving.

F4U Corsair
My favorite airplane of all time. The wings are bent so the outer wing can provide lift as the plane is banking. This plane is at the Smithsonian Air Museum at Dulles. They have lots of cool stuff there, even the Enola Gay. So far, the only people that have defaced the plane are Americans, that's weird.

Young Big Horn Sheep
Kiki and I found this herd close to Redstone, CO. There are 29 total with two young males. They'll split off and join the RAM group this summer. There are a grand total of 2 hunting tags available by lottery only for 2007. The Ranger said it tastes just like chicken, just kidding.

Day Bunk Beds
Gema likes it under the bench and to use shoes as a pillow, Indy likes the top rack.

Sylvester
About time I got a cat on this blog!

Nana, Harry, Uncle Chris, Auntie Delle

Will (5) and Harry (2)
These two are second cousins. There grandmothers are twins.

Choo-Choo
Harry loves his trains, and his Uncle ToeTone.

Miriam Jean Jans (Auntie Mimi)

November 22, 1941 - Feb 5, 2007

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Miriam "Mimi" Jean Jans (nee Howells), beloved wife, mother and sister. She passed away suddenly on Monday, February 5, 2007 at the age of 65 years. After previously beating lung cancer, she succumbed to a rapid and unexpected onset of leukemia. Mimi was born November 22, 1941 in Calgary, AB. She will be greatly missed by her loving husband Dr. Ron Jans; her four beloved children Christopher (Shantelle), Wendy (Tyson), Jennifer (Toby), Michael (Tammy) and her three grandchildren William, Jackson, and Maya, who brought her such joy; and by her two sisters and four brothers Kiki (her twin), Elizabeth (Ken), Bill (Dianne), David, Chris (Karen), and Jim (Janice). She will also be missed by her many nieces and nephews and by her brother-in-law Murray (Audrey). Mimi's faith and prayers were an important part of her life and she touched the lives of many people wit her kindness and her gentle, caring nature. She will be remembered by her family as the "Best Mom in the world!". We love you forever.

This pic was taken on my 21st birthday.

Too Cold to Fish
When ice chunks constantly bump into you and your eyelets freeze after a few casts, it's time to bail. I know the fish are out there, the Bald Eagles can't be wrong. Ted and I decided to take up fly tying to get to know the entomology of our local fishing holes. These two flys are good ones to fish right now, the smaller the better this time of year. I want to be able to tie the bugs I find when I'm out on the rivers rather than guess and go on a whim when I'm at the store. I used coper wire, thread on a 18 hook for the midge larva and chamois and peacock on a 14 hook for the caddis larva.

Snow Day
While Colorado's Front Range has had heaps of snow this year, we have had very little here on the Western Slope. We are hopeful that we will get that big dump soon.