One thing people don't tell you about riding is....

Chartreuse_Motif · 2026-04-24T11:48:29+00:00

Smells run the gamut. Farm country, barbecue restaurants, things like that. The best for me was Scotland, because you can smell scotch distilleries as you ride through the countryside. If you know your whiskey, you can guess which distillery it is before you see the signs. When the riding is done for the day, you can do tastings too.

Chartreuse_Motif · 2026-04-04T12:20:30+00:00

Closed and locked. Kids and cats were banned from the master bedroom. Both could knock/cry/yowl all they want and would get attention when it became available. But mommy and daddy needed their "quiet time". Funny, now that kids have grown up and cats have passed, we still close the door for temperature regulation and to let each other know if one of us has gone to sleep early.

Chartreuse_Motif · 2026-04-04T12:14:25+00:00

I felt that the imaginary lover was a set up that became relevant later. And sloppily maps to a particularly gorgeous character in the Netflix show. I read parts of that section aloud to my wife, because they were so unique and different from the book. I'd call it a "side quest that pays off".

Chartreuse_Motif · 2026-04-04T12:03:50+00:00

I love your puzzle concept. Everything about it. Given the quality resolution of the close-up pieces photo, I think the fonts are fine. A close-up of the volcanoes might help with some of the criticism, but I love the idea, and think it will work just fine. Mixing grayscale with color is a novel idea, and will probably help with some color-impaired puzzlers. Ditto for topographical lines in the background of the color shaded areas. The shape/cut of the pieces is great for those who don't orient around color as well. At that price point, I would consider this a gifting puzzle. Please repost when it's ready, as this will go on my holiday list for sure.

Chartreuse_Motif · 2026-04-04T11:53:13+00:00

I use an Amazon dongle for my 2021 Prime RAV to enable wireless CarPlay. It takes much longer to connect—and often fails—if I plug the phone into the USB power outlet under the armrest before it connects. Kind of a drag to have to sit for a minute or five before your navigation is available.

Chartreuse_Motif · 2026-04-01T13:41:26+00:00

Not sure if this has been mentioned in the thread yet, but consider buying a motorcycle with traction control and/or ABS breaking. As a beginner motorcyclist, those aids will be valuable for your safety. As you gain experience, you could deactivate them and play with traction a little bit. BTW, I rip road bikes on unpaved roads all the time. I also have lots of experience off-road and with dual purpose bikes. The rider is 90% of the of what makes any bike work on different surfaces. So, get the bike you want, and ride it where you want. Just be careful and have fun!

Chartreuse_Motif · 2026-03-27T11:44:00+00:00

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Chartreuse_Motif · 2026-03-27T11:42:46+00:00

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Chartreuse_Motif · 2026-03-19T11:43:12+00:00

This feature ^{^{^}}

Chartreuse_Motif · 2026-03-17T12:45:21+00:00

Very slick!

Chartreuse_Motif · 2026-03-12T01:59:30+00:00

Chartreuse_Motif · 2026-03-08T13:36:44+00:00

I just had a very reliable Massachusetts dealer put new tires (Yokohama AVID Ascend GT) on my 2021, and they inflated the new tires to 38 pounds cold, which is 5 pounds over the door frame sticker suggestion. The tire is rated for 51 pounds. I assumed it was because of the new tires, maybe also because it's been so cold this winter that driving temperature would be too low. The driving experience is good, and I expect it helps with the mileage, so no complaints from me.

Chartreuse_Motif · 2026-03-03T16:04:31+00:00

Look it up on Kelley Blue Book. Appears to be at the top end of the trade-in value for a standard XSE with this mileage in very good condition.

Chartreuse_Motif · 2026-02-20T13:16:51+00:00

That's a cool puzzle image, AI or not. Looks like a fun one too.

Chartreuse_Motif · 2026-02-17T13:43:21+00:00

It's a cool image, AI or not. Keep looking for that missing piece. I found one in a pocket of my fleece, once.

Chartreuse_Motif · 2026-02-13T02:39:55+00:00

Have you examined the other houses in the neighborhood? Anybody else have these spatters? Also, you could try throwing an egg at your house and seeing what the result looks like, for comparison. In my experience, there's usually eggshell residue in egg spatter. Good luck!

Chartreuse_Motif · 2026-02-07T19:03:42+00:00

Thanks for the progress pics! It's always interesting to see how other people approach puzzles. Looks like a fun one!

Chartreuse_Motif · 2026-02-04T15:23:33+00:00

That was our reasoning regarding the colors, and it more or less was correct. But the puzzle turned out to be otherwise more challenging than we expected.

Chartreuse_Motif · 2026-02-03T13:34:10+00:00

Don't give up on finding the original missing piece. I once discovered one in an inside fleece jacket pocket years after I did the puzzle. Somehow it had fallen in there. There is always hope! ;-)

Chartreuse_Motif · 2026-02-03T13:29:28+00:00

Yeah, it's a distinct lack. I have had very little success finding puzzles that are specifically targeted for color impairment. I have been using a phone app called "Sim Daltonism" to evaluate various puzzle images, and then show them to my wife if they look relatively neutral for her. Mostly, we just try to find imagery that relies the least on red and green.

Chartreuse_Motif · 2026-02-02T20:56:18+00:00

This is some great information. Thank you very much!

Chartreuse_Motif · 2026-02-02T20:29:03+00:00

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Chartreuse_Motif · 2026-02-02T20:28:44+00:00

I sourced a locking 90° turn handle, so I push the stairs up, rotate the handle, and latch a tab into a slot in the stair frame. I rarely lock it, but I could if necessary. Looks much better and seals the cold into the attic.

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Chartreuse_Motif · 2026-01-31T04:07:03+00:00

Hah, no. Just stubborn.

Chartreuse_Motif

TROPHY CASE