Another Wire Donkey

I have been referring to the garage as the stable and to the bikes inside as 'steel ponies' .

After my mountain bike was run over in 2001, I replaced it with another Giant mountain bike. After awhile though, my neck started to bother me. So in 2006, Ruzter raised the handlebars for me by about 3 inches. I rode around with that modification for awhile, but my neck still bothered me, and my wrists, elbows and shoulders were not very happy.
I bought a Specialized cruiser-type bike in 2007 and that bike helped my wrists and my neck, but for some reason, when riding it, my knees started to hurt badly. The Geek and I measured the seat/pedal/ground angle and found the Giant's seat was three degrees less upright than the Specialized. I went back to the Giant as my neck and wrists hurt less on that bike than my knees did on the Specialized.

Then on Thursday, Dea, my athletic therapist, told me my sore wrists were in fact carpal tunnel. I decided then that I couldn't use the Giant anymore, even tho' I did ride it to work on Friday.

Luckily for me, The Geek stopped by Natural Cycle to pick up some cable and said their stable of Batavus bikes had been replenished.
I had been test driving a Batavus off and on for about a year both at Natural Cycle and at Red Bike in Edmonton. (The folks at Natural Cycle were starting to tease me about 'visiting my bike' whenever I came in.) Yesterday I went and bought this one. Be a tightwad, I wasn't ready to spend the money on a truly upright bike, but I figured it would be cheaper than extensive therapy or possibly surgery on my wrists.

Tina and I haven't measured the seat angle, but it feels considerably less steep than the Giant.
The Specialized is for sale. I liked it alot and I am sorry it didn't work for me.

Oh, and in Germany, bicycles are colloquially called Drahtesel. Wire Donkey. I think that is so cute!

The Outdoor Workbench

The Geek works on the new kitchen counters in the warm (at least it didn't freeze last night) spring sunshine.The long clamps are there simply to balance the project.

I guess these weren't enough of a challenge to warrant a more stable surface.

The First Hint O'Green

The grass seed is starting to sprout.

As are the rogue onions.

Mary, Mary, Quite Contrary

How does your garden grow?

With lots of help from little hands and many tiny toes.

Can't Take Us Anywhere

We tear up their driveway,

punch holes in their door...

and corrupt their children.
I have no idea why Ruzter and K let us come to visit!

Bathroom Reno Phase 11: The Sink

Now that we are able to fully utilize the bathroom, we will have to remove the non-necessary items from the cabinets above the sink. No more filler or scrapers, hello toothbrushes and toothpaste.



It is hard getting used to the fact we have another sink. I filled up the kitchen sink with hot water and dishes, then muttered to myself because I couldn't wash my hands.
The Geek started brushing her teeth in the bathroom, but finished in the kitchen.

We will take some re-conditioning.













The bracket upon which the cabinet rests.

And I don't want Tina to get too used to her new workbench.

The Fates Will Have Their Day

The Geek painted the bathroom countertop, then reached across to the workbench where the filter from the shopvac was left when she removed it to vacuum up the last bit of water in the basement.
The filter 'coughed' as it went over the wet paint.

She had to wait for the paint to dry full so she could sand the grit off and apply the last coat of paint again.