New truck

I have two vehicles now. I just purchased a truck at Austin Subaru. I have to say in all my years of buying cars, this was the smoothest, friendliest, QUICKEST transaction ever. Five star service! Great deal too.

Reminded me of dad.

How to stretch high voltage power lines

Happen to see a helicopter stringing line on the toll road and decided o stop and take some pictures,

Another SX 130 IS test from Steve Sierra on Vimeo.

Baseboards and trim

Started trimming out the room. I will post pictures later. Enjoy the video in the mean time,

717AH Video Fluid Head from Steve Sierra on Vimeo.

From the mouth of babes

Now for something comepletly different.

My Review

Originally submitted at RadioShack

It's all in the name

By eTrainer from Manor, Tx on 11/26/2010

4out of 5

Pros: A snap to install
Cons: Truncated song titles
Best Uses: Entertainment variety

I enjoyed Sirius and then XM programing over the years I spend a lot of hours in the car and the programing variety makes the commutes easier. That was until I had my car broken into earlier this year and my iPod and XM SkyDock stolen, I knew better than to leave it in the car, lesson learned I canceled my subscription but have really missed XM.

I've heard about the Snap and the form factor is the same as the Skydoc, the functionality is not the same but that's OK. I could not resist the Black Friday price and dropped in to pick one up.

I still had the antenna installed so I just plugged in the snap into the cigarette lighter and attached the antenna. With the included free five day trial I was listing to the radio as I pulled out from the store parking lot. Nothing could be easier.

The snap transmitter works great, sound is more than acceptable, the tuner knob is a nice way to channel surf, add to that the price and convenience, I'm very happy. lack of a scrolling artist/title kept me from giving that extra star.

(legalese)

Electrical Work

I wired the ceiling fan to a switch and added an electrical outlet.

I miss my grandmother

Jared Polins' froknowsphoto.com is a great site makes learning fun and Lil is a dream...

First test video

This video was shot with a Canon SX130 IS using the built in time-lapse miniature settings.

The Commute from Steve Sierra on Vimeo.

Fall is here

Chilly today I have the heater going in the back room, Got my new camera this morning and took some very quick shots at lunch. Enjoy.

I want this robot

LCD Loupe

I love photography and love video, I hate transferring video from tape to PC and unless you have a professional camcorder costing thousands, you are limited to or have to depth of field or manual focus controls.

The big thing in cameras now is HD video. still cameras have better controls and better picture quality that camcorders simply do not have, but technology has caught up and low end feature rich point and shots and DSLRs can now do astounding video.

This tool adapts to your camera and allows you to focus and compose your picture, especially in bright outdoor situations.

Something bad could happen...

Bad Things That Could Happen from This Is It on Vimeo.

What are you wearing for Halloween

I've been having fun creating these.

Flooring

+

The room has really come together since my last post. I have repainted the room three times, the original color chose was not working it reminded me of  hospital operating room. The second was to mossy, we have a green accent wall and did not want to repeat it. I have settled on Banana Cream Pie, a very light yellowish cream color that makes the room light up. 

The wall color accents the floor nicely. I am one case short of completing the floor but I am very happy with the results so far. I am tempted to stop by IKEA for an inspiration piece.

Pello Chair $49.95

Armrest frame: Birch veneer, Clear acrylic lacquer
Tubular frame: Steel, Pigmented epoxy/polyester powder coating
Supporting fabric: 100 % polyethylene
Fabric: 100 % cotton
Cushion: Polyurethane foam., Polyester wadding

Agen $29.95

Handwoven; each piece of furniture is unique.
Stackable chair; saves space when not in use.
Plastic feet; protect the furniture if in contact with a moist surface.

Walmart has this set, I like that wall color! Oh no an other repaint?

I love it when it all just works

DIY Music Videos

This is a making of video fro a short piece that was produced for only $2,000 and a Nikon camera.

The Making of "Whatever Lola Wants" from Dan Blank on Vimeo.

Let there be light, wind,...

I installed the ceiling fan and wired the room myself today.  I am going to give myself a break and then move to finishing the inside. I went to the movies today and saw the Kids are Alright. The interiors of the family home inspired me.

Learn more about wainscoting here.

Found my star.

I found a star that is the perfect color and size at Joanne's Fabrics.  I have some ideas fr a patio area, thinking cobble stone.

I've been busy installing a new doggie door , hanging the ceiling, sealing off and insulating the solarium.

We had a small window unit we had bought for the garage and it is doing a great job of chilling the room down.

I picked up a ceiling fan with light kit at Lowe's for $24.00  and will install that sometime this weekend. I have a new room with a view on the house! Maybe some plantation shutters, what do you think?

Machete

My brother Mike made it to the red carpet premier of Robert Rodriquez's Machete. He can be seen on the video on Austin360, see the full video @ http://www.austin360.com/video/?bcpid=89768270001&bclid=1527697012&bctid=602100071001

Now if I could only find the finising touch.

Wow it's hot...

Got an early start, but the morning clouds quickly burned off. I've been sweating like a pig, see. Wow the 47 year have left thier mark...

 

I think I've worn out poor bandit.

But your here to see the progress.

Live Laugh Love

Live….laugh…and Love
By John McLeod

Live well dear friends
In all you do,
Tho' paths be old
Or paths be new,
But to yourself
Be ever true, 

Live well!
Laugh often friends
Tho' passing years
Bring, sometimes, smiles
And, sometimes, tears,
For mirth forever
Warms and cheers 

Laugh often!
Love much dear friends
For love will bring
The healing joy
And hope of Spring,
Where pain and fear may never dwell
Nor anguish touch….
And so Live well,
Laugh often too,
And more, dear friends,
Love much!

I could not find the right sized star I was looking for today but found a set of metal script letters I thought would be perfect in the blue relief I painted.

 

Concepts

OK I have the tar paper up and the south wall is sealed, i apply the cedar shingles tomorrow, in the mean time here is what is what I have in mind.

Missing star

The gable is almost done. But I lost my star.  need to go to the Hobby Lobby.

Gable

Busy morning on my first day of vacation. I am sitting in the living room typing this covered in paint and caulking. I've decided to add a gable that will frame a barn red Texas star. Sounds simple? I've been out in the sun and this is my progress so far.

Slow down everyone...

Getting so close now.

No pictures to share yet. We did go to the Homie today and i special ordered the last window I needed. It was just my luck that the size I needed was a stock size, 201/2 X 60. Hope it get's here soon. In the mean time I started to put in the roof, and trimmed the south wall further. Until I get some pictures posted here is a funky fresh video I found, hope you enjoy.

Steve builds a bunker?

My crazy Aunt Hazel loves going to the Mexican border town to by cheap prescription drugs or to visit the dentists. On occasion she has dragged my mother along. Mom I know you visit my blog so I wanted to share this video with you. Stay away from the border!

Found the patio doors

We were at Lowes last night and as usual had to go to the door isle looking for clearance or returned items. Guess what I found my doors marked for clearance at $270! Half price for steel french patio doors.

Mom wants a smart phone

Mom here is the phone I told you about.




LAS VEGAS--Over the last few years, Kyocera has been a reliable presence at CTIA. It's had one of the best-looking booths on the show floor, it's always introduced phones, and those new handsets have stuck to the basics. This year, however, Kyocera partly broke with tradition. It still had a spiffy booth, but its new phone, the Zio M600, is hardly a low-end device.
As we told you Tuesday, the Zio is Kyocera's first Android handset and the company's first smartphone in six years (remember the 7135?). The Zio (pronounced Zeye-oh) packs the standard Android features in a touch-screen design. Sure, it lacks some flashy offerings of the new HTC Evo 4G and the Samsung Galaxy S, but that's fine with us. Kyocera says the point of the Zio is meant to be affordable and approachable--a sort of starter smartphone if you will--and the Zio succeeds in that regard.

It's never to early to celebrate the 4th

carport.mov

Don't know what happened to the earlier post, the video was rough. I think this one is
a little clearer

Carport

Had an idea I finally committed to "paper". A permanent steel frame and awning material carport.

Awnings

I have been so busy this past weekend I forgot to post pictures of the awnings I made.

We bought the roll down shades about two years ago and have always wanted to make awnings out of them. What do you think? I may add them to the windows.

More updates

Hope everyone had a wonderful Memorial Day weekend, but it's back to the grindstone! We've been busy around the house lately. I've finished putting up the cedar skirting.

I've moved on to the inside and starting sheet rocking. I find it fun, I know lot's of people hate it, don't really know why.

It's getting hot and the snakes are out, the cat is bringing his toys in the house now. Have I mentioned I really don't like cats, this does not help their cause. Gary walked in on the cat playing with this snake in the living room floor. Did I mention I don't like snakes either?

The garden is doing very well this year, we have a bumper crops of carrots!

Gary happy...

and very proud.

I cooked chicken with these carrots, here is the very simple but VERY tasty recipe  for Aunt Teresa's Thighs

Ingredients

• 4 chicken thighs
• 1 green bell pepper, sliced
• 2 carrots, shredded
• 1 large onion, sliced
• 2 (10.75 ounce) cans condensed cream of mushroom soup 

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
2. In a 9 x 13 inch baking dish, layer in the following order: onion, bell pepper, carrots and chicken. Pour soup over the top. Cover with aluminum foil and bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 45 minutes. Remove foil and bake an additional 15 minutes.

Unbelivable

It's just been announced F1 racing is coming to Austin. Unless the treehuggers ruin it for everyone this maybe the only chance this city really gets to become world class. I still can't believe it Formula One in Austin.

The only place to build a track would be the East Side, if you live on the East side of Austin, do not complain you may know be lucky enough to make money on your property and get out of town. Win win.
 

Two sides done.

Gary's Dragon Arum, Voodoo Lily, Dragon Flower, Black Lily (Dracunculus vulgaris)

Dracunculus vulgaris is a species of aroid in the genus Dracunculus and is known variously as the Dragon Arum, the Black Arum, the Voodoo Lily, the Snake Lily, the Stink Lily, the Black Dragon, Dragonwort, and Ragons. In Greece, part of its native range, the plant is called Drakondia, the long spadex being viewed as a small dragon hiding in the spathe.^[1]
It is native to the Balkans, extending as far as Greece, Crete and the Aegean Islands, and also to the south-western parts of Anatolia.^[1]. It has been introduced to the United States and is currently present in the states of Oregon, California and Tennessee as well as the commonwealth of Puerto Rico.^[2]
The species is characterised by a large purple spathe and spadix has a very unpleasant smell reminiscent of a carcass. That is because the pollinators of this aroid are flies (Lucilia and others).