Had me looking back....

ohhhh.. yes it did!

When one owns a Home and finds work is "Never" done, your mind start to wonder elsewhere.
So right in the middle of finishing the backyard steps, my thoughts are already in the near future.. whats next?

Actually, I have not just one major Project coming soon, but two. Oh Joy! Do I start with taking out the Carpet in Living/Dining Room/Hallway to Master Bedroom and lay Tiles throughout, or is it my 10 year old Plan (which most likely cost's me tripple now) to build a custom Cover over my Spa? see photo

This brought me to the "Headline" of looking back. What I mean by that, is.. to the time I was living in a Apartment Building. There was no such thing, working almost every weekend on something to improve your Home. I guess, I could say.. those were the days? I wont though, after all.. it "IS" much greater to have your own little corner.. to call your personal Paradise.

It does come with a price to pay, like everything else in Life.. nothing is "Free".. even if its only your Labor! It never is.. because there are always  $ Dollar's $ attached to your Labor.. "Outgoing" kind! That can be a Hurdle sometimes for anybody.

So, I just keep being a good "Mr. Do-it-all" and do it with a Smile of course. Which I think, I do too much of.....

This shoundn't take me too long to build.. haha!

Moving-on.. no, not talking about the old TV show!

So what am I talking about?

The last two weekends, I've made quite some progress.. doing my projects!
Two weeks ago I had ordered two "Treated" red-wood boards for my Springer boards, to get going on my Stairs in the backyard. While I was waiting for those, I installed our new powerful Hood-Vent that my LaoPo so desperately wanted in her Kitchen (see Photos).

All good!

After five days, I received the Boards to my House. I had them delivered.. because they were just to long for my Truck.. at 16feet x 12 x 2 inches. Now, if I was in China.. I could have put those on a Bicycle (no kidding.. I've seen stuff like that) but not here of course.
So Sat. and yesterday I rolled up my sleeves, put on my Hat and went to work on the outside obstacle. Making measurements and all, it came to cutting out the long boards as needed. 14 steps- on a rise of 89" and length of exactly 16feet.

All marked, let's start.. after only two cuts.. I found out something important. My Skill saw blade was too dull for this Job ahead. One un-planned trip to buy a couple (just in case), as I thought.. one might not be enough for 28 of these cuts. Back home again, now it was like cutting through butter. Had it done in less then thirty minutes.. I think. This was it for Saturday, as we had some other things to take to take care of too.

Sunday, I was determent to at least put the Springer boards into the ground and secure them in place.. so not to give them time to do a number on me and warp or get out of shape some other way. One does not or should not, let long pieces of wood lie around for any length
of time. You know what happens or you'll see what happens!

I did get it done before Dinner-time and from the Photos here, it now wont take too much longer to finish. I'll put on the "Risers" (no Runners) and fill in the void with dirt and top it off with decorative rocks.. which colour we still have to choose.

More Work.. inside and outside.

We now have the Wine-Making behind us, so this leaves time for "Other" projects from the To-Do-List.

Not that I'm complaining ( just crying), it was ask for my Labor as a Contractor again.. from none other than my sweet LaoPo.
We need a better Fan over our Stove, the one build-into the Microwave is useless. I must agree with the last statement for sure. It doesn't "Suck" nothing, only makes noise.. like it does.

After all, when the Woman cooks Chinese Food.. most of the time.. two Wok's are being used at ones. She had to close all the bedroom doors, otherwise we'd smell Dinner all night long. Complains about the Oils/Grease being on the walls, made me not hesitate with this project. Off the Microwave came in no time at all and the waiting for the new commercial style Range-Hood.

While waiting, I had the great Idea.. we need Steps on the hill in our backyard. With all the Rosemary from one side to the other (4' high), I was looking for a way "Up" to the top.. in case Sprinklers needed some fixing. So I tore a three feet wide path up on one side by the Neighbors Wall/Fence. Now I also found myself building Steps with the Springer Boards 16 feet in length and a Rise of 93" inches. So now I have to decide, is it 12-15 or 16 Steps that I want?

Anyway, I finished the installation of the HD Hood Vent.. which took two days. When I read Reviews, I was warned by many Posts.. that this Unit was very hard to install. I must say, it wasn't too bad. If it wasn't for a broken Transformer bracket, that was electric welded by a machine to softly.. for the weight of the Transformer. I had to drill holes and mount it "Correctly"! Something they should have done in the first place! Second; for Power to the Motor's, all there was.. three loose Wires hanging out of the Top. No Cord, not even a three foot.. those cheapskates! For the Price, it should be Silver-plated.. the darn thing.
Boy, does it work though! It's so powerful, it sucks up a Paper from two feet away and that on "Low" first Speed. Also, so quiet on "High" the sixth Speed. Another plus is the Light, twice as bright compared to the Micro.
Qing and I are very pleased now in the Kitchen, my Good!

Next it goes outside again! That should keep me busy for a couple weekends (maybe three or four..), by the time its done.. she/we will find something else to occupy our "Free" time. Ooops.. did I say "Our".. I meant to say "My"!

So, it was finally Time...

... as mentioned before in an earlier Blog post, after two months it was time to Bottle our Homemade Wine and of course taste it.

After four weeks of Fermenting and equal time locked up in glass containers, to let it get clear and all settlements drop to the bottom. Like said, we had about 4 litre's to be put into Bottles and Corked. Having done that, there came the much awaited taste test.

Two Glasses ready, Qing and I toast to our first attempt at this. "One Moment though", I said in a somewhat "Loud" voice! Just in case, this stuff is lethal and we wont wake up the next morning.. shouldn't we have a talk to Tianchi before we toast and drink it down? Qing's look on her Face, was worth a Million Bucks! haha

Anyway, as one can see.. I'm still here to write about it. All was well the next morning and honestly.. that was some great Stuff. No Hang-over or Headache, if I'm not mistaken.. I actually could see better without Glasses.

So what does it taste like? I'd say.. it is like a Moscato (Dessert Wine) with a Blush colour, which of course is due to the "Red" Grapes that we added to the mostly "Green" ones. It has a strong Alcohol smell, but it is Sweet and somewhat heavy.. with a lot of "Leg's". After a Glass, it does let you know.. that it is an Alcoholic drink and I am not kidding.

Here are a couple Photo's that shows the clearness and colour.

This Month is also....

.... a special Month!
Besides celebrating October Fest, it is also Qing's Birthday soon. As it get's nearer, I'm receiving hints already.. things she wants. Or better yet, what she doesn't want.
Because, she's telling me (with serious Face) "Don't" buy me anything! My Birthday is just another day (nothing special), so she tells me.. no kidding!

I of course try to change her mind, but.. remember.. we are dealing with a Chinese Woman here. One that knows anything about Chinese Culture, knows what I'm talking about quite well.

Now, when it comes to "Mine".. all of a sudden it turns to the exact opposite side of the Coin.
You got to Love this Woman by all means! Really what matters most, is NOT material stuff.. it is that I love and respect her for who she is and that is made so easy for me.. you can not believe it. Well , unless you are married to a Chinese Woman.. understandable!
They do what ever it takes, not to put any pressure on you.. and that is the Truth and nothing but the Truth!

Ahhhh.. September!

September, now for a German.. this has a different meaning. This to us means it's "Oktoberfest" time again.  Oktoberfest in September? Don't even ask... why? Let's just say, it's a huge Festival, that needs more than a couple of weeks to celebrate throughout Germany and the World.

Talking about the World, I want to bring up.. how the Americans (away from German Club's here) celebrate this "Ones in a Year" happening. First off, they changed the "Name" to their liking... "Fall Festival"! Why? I tell you why, because they did not want to be associated with the Beer drinking.. that is consumed during that Festival. Other word's, let's NOT have too much Fun! Remember, our Children are watching!

So this being Labor Day and all, we decided to head into the Mountains.. where there was a Festival being held that weekend. I have been to this particular one, three times. Each time it changed somewhat. By that I mean, more to the US liking.

First, if your looking for German Music.. nada! Want to go eat something, you would think of German Bratwurst/Sourkraut/Potato Salad.. Nada! Well, two out of two.. so let's have a Drink or let me whisper "Beer". German Beer? Haha.. how about a Budweiser? As I see, they managed to do away with everything.. that actually had to do with the German Festival.

Made me think, what if I took one of their Holiday and named it something else and made it German on top of that? I don't think that would go over very well now, would it? Of course not, but this is America and we can do whatever we want. Yes.. that seems to be the attitude here.. if I'm wrong.. I want to hear it.

I am not Anti-American, this does hit a Nerve though and there should not be one Person, that doesn't agree with the above.

So, we had a Samuel Adams.. some Country Music and made the best of it anyway. Oh.. I forgot, buying Beer.. it doesn't matter if your 59 or 69 years old.. they still give you an Armband " Over 21" and a Stamp on your Hand to go and drink a Beer or a Glass of Wine. By this, I think .. they have gone "Nut's" and way over the Edge. That is even Funny, but it keeps a Smile on your Face. Maybe this is want they want all along?

Anyway, had a great time Visiting Family.. all the none-sense was quickly put aside. After all, we did come here to have a good time and nobody can change that.. nobody!