This is sort of a continuation of the last post.
Brock could not stand to have his mother remain ignorant about cams, so he has given me a very thorough and patient explanation of what they are and what they do.
As he sensed that he was not driving home his points well enough, he pulled up an image on the Tab to illustrate what he was talking about.
I am, evidently, one of those visual learners who needs plenty of repitition to understand things. Anyhow, I heard timing, crankshaft, intake valve, exhaust, and cam----a lawn mower cam works slightly differently than a car cam, I learned.
When my boys have a bit of a hard time identifying parts of speech in sentences in English class, I try to remember that I have difficulty with all this engine stuff. I sincerely am trying to learn, though! When we hit the engine units in their science books, I defer to the boys and let them teach me!
This lesson tonight reminds me of the time Blake had me out in the shop and was showing me the inside of a transmission. He told me he wishes everyone who drives a manual transmission could see the inside of one so they could understand how to properly shift one. Says it would save him a ton of work fixing them!
Wednesday, June 20, 2012
Summer Days
First, let's talk about the weather: IT IS HOT.
I've been asked by numerous people lately if we have air conditioning at our house. No, we don't. That's the good, bad, or otherwise answer. To borrow a much used saying from Blake, "Shrugs." Yeah, it would be nice, but farmers are outside so much of the time anyhow.
Second, we decided to make a splurge appliance purchase. No, not another washer or dryer, stove or refrigerator. This time it is a 5 gallon ice cream freezer.
Paul has wanted one for quite a long time, but I dragged my feet. Not sure why, but it just seemed....well....excessive or something. Like, who has a commercial 5 gallon batch ice cream freezer or, for that matter, the ingredients on hand in such quantities to fill the thing (not to mention three phase electric)? Looks like we do. Thanks to Craigslist (and a husband who occasionally latches on to zany ideas), we---as a family---can yet again possess something for a reasonable sum that was before this time reserved only for commercial endeavors for many more dollars.
I was looking up recipes for homemade ice cream earlier. Finding virtually nothing in the 5 gallon range, I think I hit upon the right mathematical formula + ingredients that I liked. We'll see. Too late in the day we discovered the thing needs freon, so we await the refrigeration guy to swing by to fill 'er up. (He's on speed dial anyhow....).
And on to other things, Christine has some family and friend stuff going on "back home", so she stepped out of the office for the week. Shannah has been filling in for her, although I think the biggest part of what she can substitute for is to answer their business phone (and maybe billing?).
Christine is not only their secretary, but sometimes parts runner, wrench turner, inventory manager, and test driver (although it has been said that she could hone this part of her répertoire).
I told Shan to take her math and English books down there to do in between times. We'll see how *that* worked. From what I've seen, they have SO MUCH action going on there that there is nary a dull moment. Ever. I marvel for a business without a sign out front that they have THAT many customers! But, hey, they have cool bumper stickers. (<----for some reason my children have refused to let me put one on the family van. ???? LOL.)
The twins have been helping my dad change engines in an old car (they will get after me for not being more descriptive, but I forget the make and year of the car....maybe a '56 Chevy????). Dad gets a kick out of working with them, I think. Love to see that multi-generational thing going on. They took the old engine out yesterday and, as I understand it, they're putting the "new" one in today.
I heard Logan leave for work at about 12:15AM (this morning). Wow. Not sure where he's working today, but that's super early for a house-sider, isn't it??
Audrey's been taking some sign language classes at the county Adult Education Center. She has pretty much finished up the online lessons she has been doing. Besides, it's nice to have someone else to "talk" to.
For some of the boys, there's been a driving passion to work with engines. For Trevor, it's definitely all about cows. Maria, has always read voraciously and now she is writing with a measure of skill and interest; we talk of writing a book together some day. Shannah finds herself at home behind a camera (maybe we have our illustrator?). For Audrey, well, maybe she isn't *that* passionate about it, but she has always enjoyed signing.
THIS JUST IN: Brady informs me the a fore mentioned car is a 1980 Chevy Malibu. They aren't switching out engines. They took the one that was in it out to put in another cam and another transmission (or is the correct preposition "on", as in "on another cam"? I don't know what a cam is exactly, so it's no wonder I don't know!). Looks like I got the "Chevy" part correct. LOL.
For now,
~Colleen
I've been asked by numerous people lately if we have air conditioning at our house. No, we don't. That's the good, bad, or otherwise answer. To borrow a much used saying from Blake, "Shrugs." Yeah, it would be nice, but farmers are outside so much of the time anyhow.
Second, we decided to make a splurge appliance purchase. No, not another washer or dryer, stove or refrigerator. This time it is a 5 gallon ice cream freezer.
Paul has wanted one for quite a long time, but I dragged my feet. Not sure why, but it just seemed....well....excessive or something. Like, who has a commercial 5 gallon batch ice cream freezer or, for that matter, the ingredients on hand in such quantities to fill the thing (not to mention three phase electric)? Looks like we do. Thanks to Craigslist (and a husband who occasionally latches on to zany ideas), we---as a family---can yet again possess something for a reasonable sum that was before this time reserved only for commercial endeavors for many more dollars.
I was looking up recipes for homemade ice cream earlier. Finding virtually nothing in the 5 gallon range, I think I hit upon the right mathematical formula + ingredients that I liked. We'll see. Too late in the day we discovered the thing needs freon, so we await the refrigeration guy to swing by to fill 'er up. (He's on speed dial anyhow....).
And on to other things, Christine has some family and friend stuff going on "back home", so she stepped out of the office for the week. Shannah has been filling in for her, although I think the biggest part of what she can substitute for is to answer their business phone (and maybe billing?).
Christine is not only their secretary, but sometimes parts runner, wrench turner, inventory manager, and test driver (although it has been said that she could hone this part of her répertoire).
I told Shan to take her math and English books down there to do in between times. We'll see how *that* worked. From what I've seen, they have SO MUCH action going on there that there is nary a dull moment. Ever. I marvel for a business without a sign out front that they have THAT many customers! But, hey, they have cool bumper stickers. (<----for some reason my children have refused to let me put one on the family van. ???? LOL.)
The twins have been helping my dad change engines in an old car (they will get after me for not being more descriptive, but I forget the make and year of the car....maybe a '56 Chevy????). Dad gets a kick out of working with them, I think. Love to see that multi-generational thing going on. They took the old engine out yesterday and, as I understand it, they're putting the "new" one in today.
I heard Logan leave for work at about 12:15AM (this morning). Wow. Not sure where he's working today, but that's super early for a house-sider, isn't it??
Audrey's been taking some sign language classes at the county Adult Education Center. She has pretty much finished up the online lessons she has been doing. Besides, it's nice to have someone else to "talk" to.
For some of the boys, there's been a driving passion to work with engines. For Trevor, it's definitely all about cows. Maria, has always read voraciously and now she is writing with a measure of skill and interest; we talk of writing a book together some day. Shannah finds herself at home behind a camera (maybe we have our illustrator?). For Audrey, well, maybe she isn't *that* passionate about it, but she has always enjoyed signing.
THIS JUST IN: Brady informs me the a fore mentioned car is a 1980 Chevy Malibu. They aren't switching out engines. They took the one that was in it out to put in another cam and another transmission (or is the correct preposition "on", as in "on another cam"? I don't know what a cam is exactly, so it's no wonder I don't know!). Looks like I got the "Chevy" part correct. LOL.
For now,
~Colleen
Biking
I'm not sure if this guy will ever learn to use his brakes! I guess jumping off works too...just a bit more painful sometimes. :)
Trevor
Aud
Shan
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)