Between 265 & 485 SQ/FT My 16 x 24 in Michigan

[jon72vega]

Love that you still have the 1976 license plates. I wish I still had mine.

Whenever I get new personalized plates, I buy the duplicate for an extra 5 or 10 bucks so I can display them in the garage.
I think I'll move the new ones from the cabinet front to beside the Bicentennial ones.
Currently here.
Plates on cabinet by jon72vega, on Flickr

 

[Ford52PU]

Very nice! You’re going to need a taller cabinet!

 

[jon72vega]

Recent tool arrivals.
Steering wheel puller by jon72vega, on Flickr
Steering wheel puller by jon72vega, on Flickr
Mini prybars by jon72vega, on Flickr

The snow just doesn't quit.
I made an out of town trip yesterday to purchase a snow rake, (no store had locally) as the snow & ice buildup on the roofs is getting pretty deep.
I should have done this a couple of weeks ago judging by the ice buildup.
Snowrake by jon72vega, on Flickr
Snowrake by jon72vega, on Flickr

Snow/ Ice buildup by jon72vega, on Flickr
Snow/ Ice buildup by jon72vega, on Flickr
Snow/ Ice buildup by jon72vega, on Flickr

Miss Boots loves to get into Donna's yarn stash during the night, & play with (unwinding) balls of yarn.
She makes a mess thru-out the house, sometimes even down the basement steps.
I think I counted 5 separate balls unwound 1 morning.
The 1st picture is a minor example of Boot's handiwork.
The 2nd picture is what I saw Thursday morning when I got up.
Yarn by Boots by jon72vega, on Flickr
Yarn by Boots by jon72vega, on Flickr

Here's the sweet little darling.
Boots by jon72vega, on Flickr

And Mr Gizmo.
Gizmo by jon72vega, on Flickr

 

[jon72vega]

Very nice! You’re going to need a taller cabinet!

What I need is to quit collecting stuff!

 

[drivesitfar]

I never knew that you could buy extra plates when you had paid extra for a personal plate. Great idea!! I had one for a few years buyfrme probably almost caused more accidents while other drivers were to get close enough to read it and trying to figure it out. Of course you have to be on your best behavior with personal plates and with so many slow left lane drivers and road rage jerks I just mostly drive my old 20+ year old Honda now.

Cool idea about the long handled snow shovel. Sadly we haven’t had any snow this year here except a little in the mountains for the skiers.

Planning on pulling out your steering wheel for maintenance or maybe an upgrade???

Cool cats and yes it’s their world and they let us live in it!!

 

[captain14]

We got a snow rake for my parents house over 30+ years ago. I think I got it from Northern Tool before the internet was a thing. Made a call to order it. We were concerned about the truss roof and what kind of snow and ice load it could handle.


I think my brother moved it to his house when we closed their house down this past fall.

How far was the road trip to make the deal?

 

[Prospecter]

Roof raking is surprisingly hard work. It's also amazing how little it takes. Those ice dams will melt pretty quickly now that the snow is off them. Kinda old school, but these are common around here. They go on the bottom 16" of the roof. For an existing roof, you can lift a course, and tuck the top edge underneath. No more ice dams. February is the cruelest month.

I kept what was left of our 76 plates. In Illinois, we had to buy new plates every year and make the plates out to Paul Powell of shoe box money fame. The plates often corroded out before the year was out.

Always good to check in on Boots and Gizmo.

 

[Ford52PU]

Cats look cute just sitting there. Sneaky devils!!

 

[jon72vega]

I never knew that you could buy extra plates when you had paid extra for a personal plate. Great idea!! I had one for a few years buyfrme probably almost caused more accidents while other drivers were to get close enough to read it and trying to figure it out. Of course you have to be on your best behavior with personal plates and with so many slow left lane drivers and road rage jerks I just mostly drive my old 20+ year old Honda now.

Cool idea about the long handled snow shovel. Sadly we haven’t had any snow this year here except a little in the mountains for the skiers.

Planning on pulling out your steering wheel for maintenance or maybe an upgrade???

Cool cats and yes it’s their world and they let us live in it!!

It's that way in Michigan, but I don't know how other states do personalized plates,

The wheel puller is for doing round 2 of attempting to get radio steering wheel controls working on the Solstice.

Yes, I am my cat's servant, LOL!

We got a snow rake for my parents house over 30+ years ago. I think I got it from Northern Tool before the internet was a thing. Made a call to order it. We were concerned about the truss roof and what kind of snow and ice load it could handle.


I think my brother moved it to his house when we closed their house down this past fall.

How far was the road trip to make the deal?

I used to have a snow rake before I had the new garage built, because It came with the house when we bought it.
I gave it away after the new garage was built because I knew the new garage would withstand the snow loading no problem.
Never considered removing snow with one for the purpose of keeping ice dams to a minimum until this year.
I waited far to long before removing the snow this past weekend.

Roof raking is surprisingly hard work. It's also amazing how little it takes. Those ice dams will melt pretty quickly now that the snow is off them. Kinda old school, but these are common around here. They go on the bottom 16" of the roof. For an existing roof, you can lift a course, and tuck the top edge underneath. No more ice dams. February is the cruelest month.

I kept what was left of our 76 plates. In Illinois, we had to buy new plates every year and make the plates out to Paul Powell of shoe box money fame. The plates often corroded out before the year was out.

Always good to check in on Boots and Gizmo.

It is very hard work.
It wore me out, and then after that I had to use the snowblower to move all the snow I pulled down.

I had to Google Paul Powell.
He was quite the corrupt politician.
Illinois seems to have had quite a few of them.
Yes the old steel plates did not hold up to the winter weather around here.

Cats look cute just sitting there. Sneaky devils!!

Cute when they're sleeping.
Gizmo & Boots by jon72vega, on Flickr

 

[Xti04]

I like those pry babies! I had a small screwdriver sized pry bar that I called my pry baby as long as I have worked on cars. I called my big bar the pry daddy. I literally trained the guy who now works for me on which one was which. He still asks for a pry baby or pry daddy if he needs me to hand him a tool.

 

[BetterDays]

@jon72vega - I have been contemplating a Maverick (A-Plan Option). What are your honest thoughts / opinions for a homeowner who just won't need to tow beyond a home depot rental and only haul primarily home depot project stuff?
I am looking at a Hybrid AWD due to the fuel economy since my work commute is 75 miles roundtrip.

Any and all feedback is appreciated.

 

[jon72vega]

I like those pry babies! I had a small screwdriver sized pry bar that I called my pry baby as long as I have worked on cars. I called my big bar the pry daddy. I literally trained the guy who now works for me on which one was which. He still asks for a pry baby or pry daddy if he needs me to hand him a tool.

They come in handy.
Here's my pry daddys.
Prybars by jon72vega, on Flickr

 

[jon72vega]

@jon72vega - I have been contemplating a Maverick (A-Plan Option). What are your honest thoughts / opinions for a homeowner who just won't need to tow beyond a home depot rental and only haul primarily home depot project stuff?
I am looking at a Hybrid AWD due to the fuel economy since my work commute is 75 miles roundtrip.

Any and all feedback is appreciated.

Mine does everything I need it to do.
I have the Ecoboost, and highly recommend.
It is comfortable to drive on a trip, and gets good gas mileage.
The MPG goes down some in the winter because I warm it up for a few minutes before leaving for work.
My work is about 40 miles round trip.
MPG as of 2-13-2026 by jon72vega, on Flickr

 

[Miss the Pontiacs]

95 pages and somehow I’ve never visited. Love your PONTIAC, Vega, furry buddies, shop, the list goes on and on. My buddy is working on a V8 Vega as well, haven’t chatted with him in awhile so I don’t know where he is on that.
Did the first few pages and then kind of skipped to the end. I’ll get around to it but just not at the moment.

 

[jon72vega]

95 pages and somehow I’ve never visited. Love your PONTIAC, Vega, furry buddies, shop, the list goes on and on. My buddy is working on a V8 Vega as well, haven’t chatted with him in awhile so I don’t know where he is on that.
Did the first few pages and then kind of skipped to the end. I’ll get around to it but just not at the moment.

Thanks for commenting!
Your thread is one I keep current on.
I've had several Pontiacs over the years, but never thought I'd own a Pontiac convertible sports car.
Incidentally we are going to Kingston, Ontario for the NASSAM 2026 (North American Solstice & Sky Meet) get-together in June.
Will be a fun time.
When you see your V8 Vega buddy again, be sure to take some pictures, and post them on my thread.

 

[jon72vega]

The Semiquincentennial & Bicentennial license plates are all in one area now.
Semiquincentennial & Bicentennial plates by jon72vega, on Flickr

I used these toggle bolts to remount the QJ hangers with a wood spacer.
QJ hanger spacer by jon72vega, on Flickr
QJ hanger spacer by jon72vega, on Flickr
QJ hanger spacer by jon72vega, on Flickr
QJ hanger spacer by jon72vega, on Flickr
QJ hanger spacer by jon72vega, on Flickr
QJ hanger spacer by jon72vega, on Flickr
QJ hanger spacer by jon72vega, on Flickr

Here's where I found room to store the snow-rake.
Snow rake storage by jon72vega, on Flickr

We have been looking for over a year on FB Marketplace for a nice vintage YELLOW Cosco step-stool for the kitchen.
Well on Thursday the planets aligned and one popped up, in excellent shape at a very reasonable price.
And......it was less than 10 miles from our house!
Yellow Cosco stool by jon72vega, on Flickr

Also courtesy of FB Marketplace, a new DeWalt 2 AH battery for low money.
The date on it is 2015, but came as part of a kit, and the seller said he never used it.
I wanted a small battery to power the DeWalt LED lamp I recently acquired.
2 AH DeWalt battery by jon72vega, on Flickr

And last but not least, my cat friends.
Boots & Yarn by jon72vega, on Flickr
Gizmo by jon72vega, on Flickr

 

[Jgaz]

I love those Toggler brand toggle bolts.
I always keep a few on hand

 

[jon72vega]

I love those Toggler brand toggle bolts.
I always keep a few on hand

They make for a sturdy grip on the OSB I have on my walls.

 

[Jgaz]

They make for a sturdy grip on the OSB I have on my walls.

Yes, and they are especially nice when you need to remove the screws if you change your organization setup

 

[jon72vega]

Yes, and they are especially nice when you need to remove the screws if you change your organization setup

I went thru that moving a wall mounted fan to a different wall.

 

[jon72vega]

Woke up to about 12" more inches of lake effect snow this morning.
2-23-2026 by jon72vega, on Flickr
2-23-2026 by jon72vega, on Flickr

 

[xtremek]

We barely got a dusting. Glad you kept it over on your side of the state.

 

[jon72vega]

We barely got a dusting. Glad you kept it over on your side of the state.

Ha!

My brother lives in your general area (Owosso) and said he was jealous of how much snow we got.
Of course the reason he said that is he has 2 snowmobiles.

He said like you they only received a small amount.

 

[jon72vega]

Does anyone have anything good or bad to say about the 2006 thru 2009 Hummer H3?
Besides it's pretty old to be daily driving?
I've had an increasing want to own one for a couple of months now.
I've found an '06 with 49,000 miles local to me.
'06 H3 on FB Marketplace
I may go take a look at it this weekend.
2006 H3 49,000 miles by jon72vega, on Flickr
2006 H3 49,000 miles by jon72vega, on Flickr
2006 H3 49,000 miles by jon72vega, on Flickr
2006 H3 49,000 miles by jon72vega, on Flickr
2006 H3 49,000 miles by jon72vega, on Flickr
2006 H3 49,000 miles by jon72vega, on Flickr

 

[drivesitfar]

Love the Hummer. My daily driver is a 2003 Honda Pilot that just keeps going with gas fill ups and oil changes and I’d buy a nice 1997-2001 Honda CRV if one appeared in great shape. I know your Midwest weather and road treatments can be harder on vehicles but that Hummer looks pristine.

Sorry I don’t know any Hummer owners but you’ve got my vote if you want to buy it cause it does look like it was well taken care of.

Keep warm!!

 

[bakmopar]

Love the Hummer. My daily driver is a 2003 Honda Pilot that just keeps going with gas fill ups and oil changes and I’d buy a nice 1997-2001 Honda CRV if one appeared in great shape. I know your Midwest weather and road treatments can be harder on vehicles but that Hummer looks pristine.

Sorry I don’t know any Hummer owners but you’ve got my vote if you want to buy it cause it does look like it was well taken care of.

Keep warm!!

How many miles on your Pilot.

 

[drivesitfar]

250,000 in my 2003 Pilot and I just drove it on an 8 hour round trip pulling my 4x8 trailer when I picked up a gym for our grandson.

It only gets 15mpg and since I don’t do much heavy hauling now so I’m looking for a nice used Acura RDX or I can pull my trailer with an old CRV (1997-2001 are favorite models to me) that gets around 25 mpg.

 

[tweidman]

We have a couple of them at work. They seemed to have held up, but the gas milage is ridiculous.

 

[jon72vega]

Love the Hummer. My daily driver is a 2003 Honda Pilot that just keeps going with gas fill ups and oil changes and I’d buy a nice 1997-2001 Honda CRV if one appeared in great shape. I know your Midwest weather and road treatments can be harder on vehicles but that Hummer looks pristine.

Sorry I don’t know any Hummer owners but you’ve got my vote if you want to buy it cause it does look like it was well taken care of.

Keep warm!!

How many miles on your Pilot.

250,000 in my 2003 Pilot and I just drove it on an 8 hour round trip pulling my 4x8 trailer when I picked up a gym for our grandson.

It only gets 15mpg and since I don’t do much heavy hauling now so I’m looking for a nice used Acura RDX or I can pull my trailer with an old CRV (1997-2001 are favorite models to me) that gets around 25 mpg.

We have a couple of them at work. They seemed to have held up, but the gas milage is ridiculous.

Thanks for the comments guys.
I created a thread in "Free Parking", 2006 thru 2009 H3 Hummer opinions wanted, and the comments there were overwhelmingly NO.
That ends that unless I find an H3 Alpha (the model with the 5.3 V8) at a reasonable price. (unlikely by what I've seen so far).

 

[jon72vega]

Last weekend I did some reorganization in this cabinet to make room for some of the recent DeWalt purchases.
Storage cabinet reorganized by jon72vega, on Flickr
Storage cabinet reorganized by jon72vega, on Flickr

Bought a couple more telescoping magnets to replace the ones with the unintentionally disassembled stalks.
Telescoping magnets by jon72vega, on Flickr

Battery adapter to allow use of the Craftsman C3 cordless handheld vacuums we have with DeWalt 20V batteries.
C3 to DeWalt 20V battery adapter by jon72vega, on Flickr
C3 handheld vacuum by jon72vega, on Flickr

Yet another low low cost new FB Marketplace battery (this time for the vacuum).
2nd 2AH battery by jon72vega, on Flickr

Here's the desk organizer all loaded up.
Pen & pencil organizer by jon72vega, on Flickr

Last weekend we came upon 19 wild turkeys, some crossing the road, & some still in the woods.
Turkeys on Kennelworth Rd by jon72vega, on Flickr
Turkeys on Kennelworth Rd by jon72vega, on Flickr

Gizmo & Boots.
Gizmo by jon72vega, on Flickr
Boots by jon72vega, on Flickr

 

[Prospecter]

You are so organized. Your shop looks really good.
Turkeys are entertaining to watch.
Always to to see what Boots and Gizmo are getting up to.

 

[drivesitfar]

I am not a fan of old made in USA cars unless made prior to 1970. That said I’m wondering what was the deal killer on that Hummer?

Since I e seen you do repairs on your vehicles that most dealerships and mechanics can’t do I wasn’t worried that the Hummer would be an issue. Of course nobody wants to spend more time (and money) on vehicles than driving them.

Cats look happy and in control.

 

[jon72vega]

You are so organized. Your shop looks really good.
Turkeys are entertaining to watch.
Always to to see what Boots and Gizmo are getting up to.

Thank you.
Those turkeys were huge, I've never seen any that big.
Our cats are always up to something, not always a good thing.

I am not a fan of old made in USA cars unless made prior to 1970. That said I’m wondering what was the deal killer on that Hummer?

Since I e seen you do repairs on your vehicles that most dealerships and mechanics can’t do I wasn’t worried that the Hummer would be an issue. Of course nobody wants to spend more time (and money) on vehicles than driving them.

Cats look happy and in control.

No real deal killer, just with so many negative comments I just felt it was the smart decision to pass on getting one UNLESS I can find a 5.3 V8 at a reasonable price. (not likely from what I've seen so far).

I'm almost 73 years old, and I don't want to be working on a daily driver just to keep it running.
I did enough of that in my younger years cause I had to.

The cats always seem to be in control.

 

[sean Buick 76]

I'm glad to see the Vega is still with you and just in storage! I was getting a bit concerned after catching up on updates and not seeing it. Nice progress!

 

[jon72vega]

I'm glad to see the Vega is still with you and just in storage! I was getting a bit concerned after catching up on updates and not seeing it. Nice progress!

Ya, it spent the winter in a storage spot across town.
It'll be trading places soon with the Solstice so I can give it a good look-over, & change the oil & filter etc.

 

[Denwood]

Recent tool arrivals.
Steering wheel puller by jon72vega, on Flickr
Steering wheel puller by jon72vega, on Flickr
Mini prybars by jon72vega, on Flickr

The snow just doesn't quit.
I made an out of town trip yesterday to purchase a snow rake, (no store had locally) as the snow & ice buildup on the roofs is getting pretty deep.
I should have done this a couple of weeks ago judging by the ice buildup.
Snowrake by jon72vega, on Flickr
Snowrake by jon72vega, on Flickr

Snow/ Ice buildup by jon72vega, on Flickr
Snow/ Ice buildup by jon72vega, on Flickr
Snow/ Ice buildup by jon72vega, on Flickr

Miss Boots loves to get into Donna's yarn stash during the night, & play with (unwinding) balls of yarn.
She makes a mess thru-out the house, sometimes even down the basement steps.
I think I counted 5 separate balls unwound 1 morning.
The 1st picture is a minor example of Boot's handiwork.
The 2nd picture is what I saw Thursday morning when I got up.
Yarn by Boots by jon72vega, on Flickr
Yarn by Boots by jon72vega, on Flickr

Here's the sweet little darling.
Boots by jon72vega, on Flickr

And Mr Gizmo.
Gizmo by jon72vega, on Flickr

Try leaving out some knitting needles overnight and see what they come up with...slippers?

 

[Prospecter]

Ya, it spent the winter in a storage spot across town.
It'll be trading places soon with the Solstice so I can give it a good look-over, & change the oil & filter etc.

A sure sign of Spring!

 

[jon72vega]

Try leaving out some knitting needles overnight and see what they come up with...slippers?

I could leave these out, and maybe get a masterpiece???
3-D printed organizer by jon72vega, on Flickr

A sure sign of Spring!

I am so ready for spring to arrive.

 

[Jgaz]

I am so ready for spring to arrive.

But……speaking from experience on the east side of Michigan…..You know there is at least one more storm left in the season.

 

[Denwood]

I could leave these out, and maybe get a masterpiece???
3-D printed organizer by jon72vega, on Flickr


I am so ready for spring to arrive.

Now that's the idea

On winter, we just got another 71 cm (over 2 feet!) or so of snow on the top side of Superior...we got a lot of snow this year.