Our main bathroom has been a work in progress for over a year now, as it was gutted completely including no ceiling and no floor. I’ve been spending the last couple of months doing the tile, first the walls and … Continue reading →
Unlike most Hollywood sequels, the sequel to our first greenhouse is far superior to the first one, which would have rated 0% on Rotten Tomatoes. First a quick review of version 1 of our greenhouse. In the summer of 2006, … Continue reading →
In 1994, Ferndale was the main location for filming the movie Outbreak, a story about a virus that takes over a small town. 25 years later, we’re experiencing a real outbreak, although with less catastrophic results than the movie virus. … Continue reading →
If you’re standing on a street corner, and a neon green brain, a psychedelic hippopotamus, and a fire breathing rainbow zebra striped unicorn pass by, it can only mean one thing; You’re in Arcata for the start of the 50th … Continue reading →
A couple of weeks ago Rick Phillis invited me to participate on a team going to San Jose to participate in a 12 hour slot car race. I hadn’t traveled before for a slot car race, but since it was … Continue reading →
One of my springtime rituals is riding up to Route 1 in the South Fort Mountains to see my favorite wildflower patch. I usually start trying Memorial Day weekend to see if the road is even open. But this year … Continue reading →
Apparently the saying is true, “build it and they will come”. No sooner did we put plants in the pond, the frogs moved in and started laying their eggs. But even earlier some unwanted guests moved in, mosquitoes. Since I … Continue reading →
I forgot to mention in the garden tour one special plant that is blooming right now. This plant involves my entire family with the exception of my brother Derek. It has a long history and it doesn’t look like much … Continue reading →
The winters in Ferndale can be long and wet, so wet that it makes getting any gardening done nearly impossible at times. Even mowing the lawn becomes a challenge, and unlike what I was used to in San Jose, the … Continue reading →
When we were planning the guest bathroom redo, I though it would be nice to add a stained glass window like we did in our 1914 Bungalow in San Jose. I kind of handed that project over to Lori, letting … Continue reading →
One of the true eyesores of our yard was our driveway. Our yard to the south is bordered by our neighbor’s cow pasture, and it had a fence that was practical for keeping the cows in their yard most of … Continue reading →
I’m mostly putting these notes here in case I need them again, but maybe they’ll help someone else out. About 8 years ago I bought an AT&T corded/cordless phone system for my home office and house. It is was a … Continue reading →
When we bought our 1888 Victorian home in 2000, we knew we wanted to tackle the parlor as our first interior project. Parlors were the room Victorians use to entertain, and so they were the fanciest room in the house. … Continue reading →
For the first 12 years we owned our Ferndale Victorian, the back bathroom was used more as a closet than anything else. With the lack of closet space typical in Victorians, there wasn’t a good place to store things like … Continue reading →
One of the first things Lori and I did upon moving into our 1888 Victorian on Rose Ave was to plant some roses along the avenue. Logical right? We went to Miller’s Farm Nursery and selected enough Cécile Brünner and … Continue reading →
If you’re thinking of buying a used 2001 Dodge Dakota, don’t. When we purchased our 2001 QuadCab, it was the first year Dodge made them. It was far more comfortable than the competition’s mid-sized quad cab trucks that were available … Continue reading →
Today was a momentous occasion at the Knowles house. While we have done lots of work on our 1888 Victorian in the 17 years that we’ve lived here, I can finally say one room, our bedroom, is completed. We have … Continue reading →
Well I’ve had it. With the latest revelations about Facebook’s involvement with Trump’s campaign, I find I can no longer support their business, and I certainly can’t trust them with my personal information. So I’m going to delete my Facebook … Continue reading →
While we’ve been working in the office, the guest bed that is usually in that room has been leaning on end in the hallway. Artie figured out that the top of the mattress was an comfortable and hidden place for … Continue reading →
Earlier this year I read an article about Usal Road and they had really good things to say about it, and due to its length and remoteness I saved it for when I could ride it with Blake. Usal Road … Continue reading →
Blake came up for what is becoming my Memorial Day tradition, KLRing with him around the boonies. This year I had several destinations planned for us. We started our journey up in Arcata for the start of the Kinetic Sculpture … Continue reading →
Lori has been decorating our Christmas Tree which we decided to have at the studio since we spend way more time there than at home. (It’s 9:50PM as I type this at work) She was very dismayed to find that … Continue reading →
Three of weeks ago I explored Route 30 and the fall colors were just beginning to show. So when today ended up being a beautiful day for a drive I decided to take Lori back to that area to show … Continue reading →
In 1985 Lori and I bought our condo, and one of the first things we did was go out and get some kitties. Three in fact, Fred, Lucy and Ethel. We lost Ethel after she was hit by a car, … Continue reading →
If you’ve ever placed a call to a tech support line for computer equipment, you know that usually one of the first things they’ll instruct you to do is unplug the device, wait 15 seconds, plug it back in, and … Continue reading →
Most people who have lived in California any amount of time have become familiar with Eschscholzia californica, whether they know it or not. It is after all the state flower, and it grows almost everywhere, both natively and cultivated. Yep, … Continue reading →
In Sam Harris’ book, The Moral Landscape, the author makes the point how hard it is to change someone’s belief, even when you present them with facts. To illustrate his point he provides the following example. Imagine that you are … Continue reading →
Featured prominently in the February 2012 American Motorcyclist is a full page ad for Allstate Insurance that depicts one of the worst characterizations of motorcycle safety I’ve ever seen in the magazine. Before I get to their ad, first … Continue reading →
Trevor, our part time cat, first showed up at our house in the fall of 2002. We call him our part time cat because he’ll show up religiously every day for a few days, and then we won’t see him … Continue reading →
Lori left for Paula’s house today, so I get to play bachelor for the next three days. Woohoo! Oh I’m sorry, the correct response is: “Boy I’m going to miss her”. I’m most likely to spend the weekend cleaning my … Continue reading →
It’s often true that people don’t discover their nearby attractions until relatives or friends visit from out of town and they become the tour guide. People travel all over seeking out the new and interesting, when sometimes the best places … Continue reading →
