What did you do in your shop today?
- Thread starter woodtickgreg
- Start date
Seems I remember a certain young lady by the name of Katy who said something about a certain van better not ever be used as a truck.
That wasn't her van - that was my Ford Escape that hit 200k miles on the drive to Colin's. I baby it (since the transmission isn't doing so well), but I have never shied away from using it to haul anything. Katy was driving up from visiting family in Illinois and we met up in Rochester after I left Colin's. I did, however, put the drill press in her van because the 3 1/2 year old was driving her up the wall - and the only way to put the car seat back in my vehicle was to move the drill press into her van. She happily obliged!
Shoot, if I'd have been thinking I'd have brought a little of my homemade apple schnapps over with me. I'm going to have to remember that for next time! (Provided my wife's family doesn't find and drink my last jar...)
Homemade apple schnapps?!
Dude, don't Bogart that jar! Send it here I will only pour myself a small shot or three and send the jar back.
Homemade apple schnapps?!
Dude, don't Bogart that jar! Send it here I will only pour myself a small shot or three and send the jar back.
I think he should bring it down when he comes for SWAT.
Tony
Homemade apple schnapps?!
Dude, don't Bogart that jar! Send it here I will only pour myself a small shot or three and send the jar back.
You mean this?
It's actually quite easy to make. I had planned to make a batch this past fall and then post a thread on how I make it, but our apple trees all had wormy apples last year and the others I know with apple trees all had a bad year with their apples too. Without apples, I wasn't able to make some. (Which is why this is my last jar... I've been reluctant to open it because I know that if I make some more this fall, it's not going to be ready to drink until about this time next year...)
It's real simple to make - some decent vodka, apples, cinnamon sticks, and then (later on) some honey. Has a real nice apple cider taste to it. The next batch I make I plan to try something different and do one of the jars with some of @sprucegum 's family's maple syrup in place of the honey - which I'm hoping to see some for sale, because I've been told to get a couple gallons of it if Dave is able to offer us some this year!
I'll definitely plan to make a thread this fall when I make a batch. Planning on a big batch this year to make up for not being able to make one last year. Fall 2014 (this batch) my friend and I worked together and used almost 3 liters of vodka - and it was my best batch yet. Split the batch with him and we've been enjoying it since.
Carrying this thing isn't that bad, but getting it down the steps into the basement by myself wasn't exactly my definition of fun, but it's down there!
Colin, I haven't drilled any holes with it yet, but it works.
Yeah, there's no comparison between this one and my old one.
Colin, I haven't drilled any holes with it yet, but it works.
Yeah, there's no comparison between this one and my old one.
Those would be interesting to make. I've made a straight up honey schnapps too and have been wanting to try out some other flavors - especially various fruits. We were promised a bucket of cherries this year from someone's tree - and if he delivers on that promise, I'm doing a batch of cherry this year too to give it a try.
And homebrewing is something I've always wanted to try - and probably will in a couple years. Ports, meads, and ciders would be fun to make too.
I have made beer and wine from kits. But surprisingly the best wine I ever made was using a couple cans of frozen grape juice and a condom as a regulator. I was shocked how well that wine turned oit. My wife and I drank it all in two evenings. I wasn't able to replicate it again and I have tried 3 times. They're always drinkable just ott as good as that particular batch.
Right now I have two Cru Specialty kits as mentioned a regular and an orange port. Their port kits are awesome I have made an orange port already and it turned out fantastic. Since I rareky drink anymore I have been in no hurry to make them.
All this talk is making me thirsty though. I need to sanitize my carboys and get to mixing......
Right now I have two Cru Specialty kits as mentioned a regular and an orange port. Their port kits are awesome I have made an orange port already and it turned out fantastic. Since I rareky drink anymore I have been in no hurry to make them.
All this talk is making me thirsty though. I need to sanitize my carboys and get to mixing......
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BTW if you ever try to buy one of the Cru Specialty fruit-flavored port kits get on their auto-ship program where they ship it to you twice a year, otherwise you will probably not be able to get one as they sell out almost immediately after they fill their auto-ship orders.
All this brewing talk is making me think about seeing if I can borrow one from Katy's cousin when we see him this summer... He's an avid homebrewer and has an impressive setup. I always drink way too much beer at his house - because it's always good beer and he's always got 4 different brews on tap.
I worked in a winery for 9 months while in school - was a fun job, but didn't get to do any of the wine making stuff as they did that at a different location, save for the aging and some of the bottling.
I spent 13 years working in and grew up in the beer business. Never have tried to home brew, but I've thought about it a lot. Tony
Should have said something, I have 4 or 5 Carboys on the shelf.....
Go back Matt, before Katy gets home!!!!!!
You and I seem like twin sons of different moms - you have dabbled in a lot of different stuff.
Keeps me out of trouble. I used to brew quite a bit until my Gastric Bypass and then quit drinking much beer since I can only have one and then I pass out.
I'll have to keep that in mind for the future - I'm probably at least a couple years out from trying my hand at homebrewing, but Kevin's talk of it today was making me think of pushing up that timetable!
Today I finally got the right belt on my JD 110 (It was in the non wood shop but still a shop 
) and gave it the first bath in probably 15 years. Everything works, the headlight is back on it (Was taken off in the 80's) and it has all of the factory belt covers and guards again, most of which had been removed over the years. Now to tear apart the mower deck and get it mowing again.
) and gave it the first bath in probably 15 years. Everything works, the headlight is back on it (Was taken off in the 80's) and it has all of the factory belt covers and guards again, most of which had been removed over the years. Now to tear apart the mower deck and get it mowing again.
