New Project! ('What to Do, What to Do?" Update)

June Update:

I finally got around to working on the Suburban. The previous owner had installed a front basket, but it wasn't correctly aligned, and it had wedged the front fender down against the front tire. That's why the front tire wouldn't turn. Removing the basket removed the pressure, and we were rolling again.

With the basket out of the way, I could flip the bracket that held the headlight and reposition the light to be out in front. The lamp didn't work, but a new bulb from eBay fixed that. I also bought a vintage-looking bike bell on eBay.

I really like the light generator unit. You flip a tab, the generator slaps against the tire, and "Aziz, light!" Not only is it environmentally friendly, the generator's chrome looks cool, too.

I could make it work if I wanted to have both the basket and the headlight. But for now, I'm digging this look. I removed the TV screen-sized front reflector for aesthetics.

To my surprise, the bike is mechanically sound. I really didn't have to adjust or replace much. Even the flat tires were in good shape; they just needed air. So, most of my elbow grease was spent making the Suburban pretty again.

As I hoped, the surface rust wasn't too hard to remove, and the frame's paint is in really nice shape for being almost 40 years old. I was going to use a newer saddle, but the original seat just suits this bike's old school charm.

I took the bike on a test run last night, and I was amazed at how well it rode. I could shift gears with ease, and the lights have a warm, non-LED glow. The bike is so quiet, it reminded me of a cat's purr. This is a nice piece of vintage machinery.

To sell, or not to sell, that is the question. The bike's frame is too small for Daphne, and it is too big for Charlotte right now. I have no idea if Char will be into vintage stuff when she's old enough to ride this bike. I don't want to work my way around the Suburban in the garage for the next few years only to be told it's lame and that she rather have some new piece of junk. ("new piece of junk" - I'm very slowly making my way into crabby grandpa territory...)

I thought I'd go to the source. I took Char out to the garage and asked her if she thought she'd like to have this bike in a few years. She said, "Yes! I want that... Wait! If you sell it, can I have the money?"

Nope, my little capitalist is not a help, either.

What do you do with something you really like, but you can't use? Maybe I'll put it on Craigslist, and hope that no one will want it...

January '18:

I don't know what I was exactly doing at the time, but I remember thinking last week, "I wish I had a new bike project. I miss working on bicycles."

Goodwill fulfilled that wish last night. I spotted a complete, but neglected 1979 Schwinn Suburban that I couldn't walk away from. It was a daddy-daughter night, so once I had it home I only had time to fill the tires with air so the bike was easier to move. The front tire was stuck, though.

I haven't measured it yet, but this ten speed looks like it has the diminutive 17" frame. If you were trying to find a vintage steed this small, you could have a hard time. This bike sports standard 27" rims despite its petite size. New tires and tubes should be easy to find.

The basket is a nice touch, but it might be too big.

The camera's flash belies the amount of dirt and grime, but that's an easy fix. Also, steel wool will remove the light surface rust on the chrome. I'm looking forward to washing and waxing that frosty blue paint.

The original Schwinn saddle will probably have to go. It's heavier than it is comfortable. Surprisingly, the generator and the rear light both work. I'll store them for a future project.

The same goes for the "Up Periscope!" headlight. 

I refurbished a project bike like this three years ago. That was a good time, and I sold the bike to someone who really wanted it. I'm curious to see how this one comes out.

Parade Swag

The Johnston Green Days Parade was held on Saturday morning.

The parade participants throw a lot stuff at you. Don't worry; it's all good stuff.

Like her mother did when she was young, Charlotte wanted to organize all of her loot by category.

Five Popsicles, three balls, two hot dogs, two beaded necklaces, two Rice Krispy treats, a lemonade, a bag of chips, a bottle of water, a Frisbee, a chalkboard art kit, and almost as much candy as you get on Halloween.

We and Charlotte's dentist thank you, city of Johnston!

ARRRRRGGGG!!!

The world's strongest girl was spotted moving boulders at Menards.

A Family Visit

Daphne's grandpa passed away last September. We went to his funeral in Ottumwa, Iowa, but we hadn't been back to see his headstone at the cemetery. We didn't have any plans yesterday, so we took a car trip. We listened to Mr. Lemoncello’s Great Library Race on CD along the way. 

We usually head straight to Grandpa Howard's house when we get to town. It felt strange to not have that priority. His house is sold, and the new "Beware of Dog" sign in its front window punctuates the fact that Howard really is gone. 

It wasn't a day to mourn, though. We told family stories that made us laugh, and we did a couple of Howard's favorite things. Our first stop was to at the Canteen Lunch. We have had lunch there before with Daphne's grandparents, Howard and Patty, and Daphne's mom, Deb.

The first Canteen Lunch opened in 1927, and it moved to this location in 1936 (according to Wikipedia).

In 2000, the city wanted to build a parking ramp in the Canteen's place, but protest against moving the Canteen was so strong that the city built a parking ramp above the Canteen by buying the rights to the air above the building. Sometimes tradition triumps over progress, and that makes me happy.

Here's the back of the tiny Canteen.  You can see how it fits under the ramp.

 Here's the front.

A Canteen employee spotted me taking the above picture, and she offered to take a picture of all three of us. 

The Des Moines Register reported in 2013 that, "New York Magazine’s online food page “Grub Street New York” put the Canteen’s loose-meat sandwiches on their list,“50 State Dinners, 2012: Food Pilgrimages You Must Make This Summer.” 

You don't stay in business for 82 years if you don't know what you are doing. These sandwiches are totally worth the trip. 

There are 16 stools that surround the horseshoe shaped counter. We got there about 11:15, so we didn't have to wait. But we would have waited if we had to.

I think the steaming process is what sets these sandwiches apart. The steamer sits in the middle of the room, and you can watch the ladies prepare the loose meat. 

I also got a sandwich to go and a window sticker for the RAV.

We headed to the cemetery after lunch. Daphne's grandma and mother's remains were cremated. Patty and Deb's ashes were interred along with Howard's body.

All three Cudworths enjoyed gardening. Daph picked up the rules and regulations about what you can and cannot plant at the cemetery's main office. She'll come back in the fall and plant some bulbs for next year. One of Howard's favorite jokes was to ask you, "Would you be offended by seeing some naked ladies?" He would then take you to his garden and show you the flowers he called "Naked Ladies". Daphne says that Grandpa would think it would be funny if she planed some of those for him.

Howard would always tell us about the new book he was reading when we visited. He loved nonfiction, and the librarians would pick out books for him to read. The man personified the phrase "life long learner".

Charlotte surprised me by asking if we could go to the Ottumwa Public Library instead of the park we usually play at. I suppose she was inspired by the audio book we were listening to in the car. After thinking about it, a library visit made perfect sense.

Daphne lived in Ottumwa until she was ten. This was her first public library.

Following Daphne's lead, we headed downstairs to the children's department.

During the drive down, Charlotte mentioned that she has read every book in the Babymouse series except book #1. She found #1 and promptly sat down to read it. I believe that Grandpa Howard approves. 

A Babymouse graphic novel takes Char about 20 minutes to read, so Daphne and I explored the library for a bit. Daphne found this shelf of books. She knows that some of these mystery books are the same ones she checked out back in the 80's. 

Char had time to make me a Father's Day gift, but that's a picture for later.

We stopped at Pella on the way home. Daphne and Char love the bakeries, and I love the meat shops. Howard always enjoyed the tins of cookies that Daphne brought him. This stop seemed appropriate, too.

Five years ago we had J&M Displays launch much of Daphne's mother's remains in a funeral shell at the National Balloon Classic in Indianola. That was per Deb's wishes. 

I passed a semi truck with this logo on the door while driving back to Des Moines.

It felt like someone had sent us a note of approval. 

On a Rainy Sunday

Lunch was at the Hessen Haus. Daphne and I ordered Rouladen Rolls and a peasant plate to share. Char ordered mac and cheese and cottage cheese from the children's menu. Char ate most of the peasant plate, and Daphne and I ate most of the mac and cheese. That's teamwork.

The Hessen Haus is Des Moines' version of an old-world German bier hall.

The Hessen Haus is also located near the Science Center of Iowa which is where we went next. The Science Center was lacking a new exhibit, but they did have a cardboard "city" for kids to explore.

These plastic screws were used to connect the cardboard boxes. I think they are a really cool idea.

We also experimented with cutting out coffee filter designs to see what shape flew the highest.

Dominos are always a good time.

So are rainy Sundays.

Summer '18: part 1

"What do you do all summer? That has to be the question that most teachers get asked.

Well, sometimes we hang out at the zoo.

There's a cool park in Altoona. (Char is at the top of the slide.)

Charlotte took a drama class, and the students performed a mad-libbed version of the Three Little Pigs as a "graduation".

It was Char's idea to have a house made of Peeps.

Charlotte is done with piano lessons for this year, so Daphne picked out some music for the two of them to practice together.

On a whim, I bought this mosaic kit at Goodwill. I thought it might be a fun family project.

I mixed the concrete; the girls did the glass arrangement. 

Cement flip flops!

For the first time in forever, we solved the "Drive Ya Nuts" puzzle. This thing has haunted me for years. Take that, "Drive Ya Nuts"!

Char led us on a trail walk behind the Urbandale library.

While Char was at drama camp, I shopped thrift stores. There was a time when I would buy a shirt as horrible as this and wear it because I thought it was funny. There was also a time when I was hopelessly single. I believe the two are connected.

I did not buy this shirt.

The shirt is funny, though.

Maybe I should have bought it...