reflections from my back porch: Reflections from my back Porch—Restoration or Preservation? - 06/03/07 10:57 PM

 
In the “Real World” of old Saint Paul—as viewed from my back porch, “Pruett’s Pig Powders” indicate that it is currently a very pleasant 61ºF, and our lens-assisted eyes tell us the sky is partly-cloudy, with the recent “Blue Moon,” no longer full, but shining brightly in the southern sky.
“I ran into Jay M. Saturday,” I said, after a sip of the usual organically & shade-grown, fair-trade, Sumatran-Roast coffee, “while walking my “Step-Dog,” Daisy.”
“Jay M?” Medford replied, while stirring his usual cream & sugar into his porcelain, not china, but made in China, Codger Collectible Mug, “Isn’t he … (9 comments)

reflections from my back porch: Sunday morning from my back porch—a short photo-tour of Saint Paul’s Riverfront - 05/26/07 11:06 PM

This morning we’ll take a little break from the antics of our two-dimensional cyber-selves and remain pretty-much connected to the real world (as connected as Med & I can be, anyway).
Medford & I are here on my back porch enjoying a beautiful Saint Paul, Minnesota sunrise, the temperature according to “Pruett’s Pig Powders” thermometer is a brisk 48ºF, and the sky is clear.
Yesterday, Med & I took a walk along the East Bank of the Mississippi River along Saint Paul’s lovely riverfront, and since we were grounded enough in the real world, brought along my little camera—so we could … (64 comments)

reflections from my back porch: Reflections from My back porch on a potentially wet day in St. Paul - 05/22/07 10:49 PM
Med and I called our meeting on my back porch to order at about 4:40am CDT, this fine 67ºF morning. As usual, we are enjoying our porcelain, not china, but made in China, Codger Collectible Mugs filled to the brim with organically & shade-grown, fair-trade, French-Roast coffee (Medford’s as usual, polluted with cream & sugar).
We are expecting significant rain later today—we’ve been promised rain for a couple of days, and only seen a drop or six.
We really need the rain! My yard is August dry—and summer hasn’t even arrived yet.  Typically during the months of May and June, we … (18 comments)

reflections from my back porch: Wednesday Morning from my back Porch—we got 200 Points for this bit-o-nothing! - 05/08/07 11:59 PM
“So why are we posting today?” Medford asked in the early Saint Paul dawn as we stood on my beck porch.
“If we don’t,” I answered after a sip of my HOT organically and shade-grown, fair-trade, Guatemalan-Roast coffee, from my April edition, ceramic, not China, but made in China, Codger-Collectible Mug™ (still available—too lazy to create a May mug), “our gentle Readers will have no place on AR to stop for their morning coffee.”
“They can’t really get coffee here!” Medford rejoined.
“Doesn’t matter.”
“Sure it matters,” Medford insisted, “oh wait—I get it! You just want the 200 points for posting. … (36 comments)

reflections from my back porch: From MY Back Porch (What DOES a Codger do when he’s not posting?) - 05/08/07 02:42 AM
Good Tuesday Morning!—It may come as a complete surprise to you, but I did not post yesterday! I made a few comments—but no post. Medford didn’t post, nor did Carl, Harold, Fred, or even the imaginary Molly. Boomer doesn’t post (yet—I’ve been working on him). Since all our other characters are imaginary—they did not post either.
So just what does a Codger do if he doesn’t post? Whatever he wants! Some of us, I guess, sit in neat rocking chairs and watch the world go by—there’s some benefit in that, I have one and I DO rock! But that soon becomes … (14 comments)

reflections from my back porch: Reflections from Jay’s Back Porch—Thursday Edition—It’s safe, no Rant Today - 05/02/07 10:58 PM
My replica Pruett’s Pig Powders thermometer indicates the current temp is 50ºF and my lens-assisted eyes tell me the sky is clear, as I await the arrival of that cranky Codger™ Medford on my back porch. Allow me to pander just a bit; how do ya like the new me on this reworked graphic?
My (porcelain, not China, but made in China) Codger Collectible™ mug of organically & shade-grown, Fair Trade, Sumatran Roast coffee, has fired up my remaining brain-synapses, in anticipation of Medford’s arrival. I can’t wait to ask him in person if he lost his mind actually posting … (13 comments)

reflections from my back porch: Reflections from My Back Porch—Monthly Check Ride—How would YOU do! - 04/30/07 11:12 PM
Good Morning Gentle Readers! It’s a fine foggy morning here on my back porch, according to Pruett’s, the temperature is 49ºF, and I’m a happy guy! Why would I tell you I’m Happy? Aren’t you always happy, y’old coot, when you wake up alive? Well—yes that IS a good start each day. But yesterday I PASSED my monthly “Ability to Still Drive Safely Check Ride,” given by a very demanding Boomer Jack.
Check Ride? Well, I am 77 years old, and even though I think I am still competent behind the wheel, and, of course I value the freedom driving gives … (25 comments)

reflections from my back porch: Reflections from My Back Porch—We REALLY Weren’t Gonna Post Today, but… - 04/29/07 11:07 PM
Good Morning Gentle Reader! It seems our Gentle Readers can’t quite get going without a fresh Codger™ Post to go with the morning coffee, and in at least one case, ice cold Diet Coke!
My replica Pruett’s Pig Powders thermometer indicates the current temp is 57ºF, and my standard issue lens assisted eyeballs tell me the sky is clear. Later today we are expecting some much-needed rain. Yesterday we enjoyed a mostly sunny day with a high of 85ºF. St. Paul has magically turned a lovely spring green, and the lilacs are blooming. Our neighbors are all outside after spending … (14 comments)

reflections from my back porch: Reflections from my Back Porch—Jay’s High-Anxiety Adventure in a new Digi-camera Purchase - 02/04/07 01:50 AM
First—for our friends of the temperate parts of the country—I don’t believe the temperature ever went above 0ºF yesterday, I’s hovering around -13ºF on my back porch this morning, with a relatively light (8mph) wind making it feel like -26ºF. Needless to say, I didn’t tarry long on the porch.
OK, so yesterday I set out to purchase a new digital camera. My needs are simple. I don’t wish to spend an obscene amount of money. It does not have to make phone calls. I don’t really need video. I rarely feel compelled to photograph at night. Zoom, panorama, close up … (18 comments)

reflections from my back porch: Reflections from my Back Porch on a Brisk Saturday Morning! - 02/02/07 11:55 PM
A quick check of my porch thermometer revealed a temperature of -10ºF with a strong wind. Back safely inside, an on-line weather check told me the wind is northwesterly at 20mph and the wind chill factor is a very brisk -33ºF! Time to work on my winter tan!
I really need my porcelain mug of organically & shade grown, fair trade, Sumatran-blend coffee to warm my semi-frozen hands, and to warm my insides!
Friday I took a short road-trip up along US Highway 8 from Forest Lake through Chisago City and Lindstrom to Center City. I had some business in Center … (14 comments)

reflections from my back porch: Friday, Feb 02, 2007—Just Stepped out the door of My back Porch—and Stepped Right Back In! - 02/01/07 09:56 PM
It’s -07ºF with a wind chill of -26ºF on my back porch this morning. A predicted high of +10ºF  with WNW winds of 10 to 20mph, with the wind chill hovering around -10º to –20ºF! Graphic notwithstanding—I’m NOTwithSTANDING outside!
Here in Minnesota, the weather is ALWAYS a subject of conversation:
“Cold enough for ya, den?”
“Ya-sure, you betcha.”
If it gets any colder, conversations outside will cease altogether—we’re much too impatient to wait ‘til spring for the words to thaw out.
Whatcha think, den, Gentle Reader—cold enough for ya?
Jay (stayin’ inside for now) Merton … (21 comments)

reflections from my back porch: Reflections from my Back Porch Tuesday Morning - 12/18/06 10:01 PM
It is +27F, and still this morning as I stand on my back porch with my (china, not stoneware) mug of coffee (gotcha—no description) warming my hands, and jump-starting my brain, making my synapses synapse.
Today I made my first post exclusive to the group: “Codgers & Friends Conversations,” and I had heard such posts don’t qualify for points—darn—it’s true!
Will that stop us—naw, the codgers and I are determined to have fun here, points or no.  The “Old Men and Coffee Shops” series will now be exclusive to the group, but our “Reflections” series will remain right here, gentle … (18 comments)

reflections from my back porch: From my Back Porch: Where should Medford and I duck Winter in February? (a comment carnival) - 12/13/06 09:34 PM
Again this morning the temperature is hovering around the freezing mark, and it’s raining. This could cause some serious traffic problems during this morning’s rush. More importantly, to this codger anyway, it could cause some senior-sidewalk-slippage problems as I make my way to the morning meeting at the café!
This is Minnesota. This is December. In the Twin Cities the average high temp in December is +25ºF, low +10ºF with the mean temp at +18ºF, so I won’t complain about +32ºF on the 14th of December (but I will watch my step). I include the current weather conditions for the benefit … (24 comments)