Home Theater Screen And Projector Installed

 

Song:  Journey To The Magical Kingdom

Group:  Future World Music

Earlier today...

I mounted the screen on the wall...

and calibrated the projector.

I had the projector table and the projector by the potbelly stove to keep them out of the way

while I drove in the mounting screws for the screen.

But I first had to take measurements and find the studs...

and then drill the preliminary holes in the studs before I drove in the screws.

I moved the screen out of the way before I took measurements.

I found the studs with no problem.

This particular stud finder is the best I had ever used.

Upon finding the middle of the stud...

it lit up.

After marking the middle of the stud on the wall...

I then measured down from the ceiling...

and where the two intersected...

I drilled and then drove in the first mounting screw.

I checked the level and proceeded to mark and drive in the final mounting screw...

after I had measured down from the ceiling to ensure an exact placement for it.

After having driven in the final screw...

...my wife helped me attach the screen onto the mounting screws

(I centered the screen off the wall speakers...

 not off the outlets).

My measurements were spot on...

so, the installment of the screen went without a hitch.

I then unpacked the projector.

I had at first...

put the projector onto a small stand.

The remote control for the projector.

The built in speakers were plenty loud.

 I had to turn it down when I had my wife look at the completed project earlier this night.

I first had the projector on the stand...

but it was too high to match the projection on the screen.

So...

I took it off the stand and placed it directly on the floor

(it has adjustable feet keeping the projector off the floor by over an inch...

which still allows adequate airflow underneath...

and I won't have to worry about knocking over the projector).

As it is an Ultra Short Throw projector...

it sits a little over one foot away from the front of the screen.

I tried out various streaming sources after registering the device to them...

as well as seeing how everything looked during the daytime.

Everything looked good...

but at night...

that is when the projector really shined.

After putting up some YouTube videos earlier this night...

I called my wife down to see how everything looked.

I sat on the floor about 10 feet away...

 and took photos of the resulting videos on the full screen.

The projection was crystal clear...

and the color saturation was superb.

I may hook up the Bose surround sound system I had gotten with the house...

 tomorrow...

but...

as for volume...

out of 100 steps in the volume control for the projector's speakers...

I had to turn it down to 25 as my wife thought anything above that level was too loud.

The video was violet...

as it was an artistic rendering of a beach sunset...

and so...

the colors were true to the video feed.

We now have to shop for some recliners.

My wife liked the view from across the room at the far wall.

I liked it best at about ten feet back.

And...

 as I was sitting on the floor when I took these photos...

sitting higher up in a recliner should really feel as if I were in a movie theater.

I am really looking forward to getting those seats for the guest room.

I already have the popcorn ready...

and I will stock up the guest room's mini fridge with my favorite drinks as well.

And...

whenever we have guests...

I will place the bed in front of the potbelly stove

so they can watch the screen from the comfort of bed.

---------

Another mini project down...

and many more to go.

We have so many more things to complete...

but...

just a little at a time.

My wife is still worn out from unpacking and arranging things to her liking.

And...

as always...

I only operate on Toller Time...

for I am the King of Camelot  :)

New Flavorful Dishes / A Peaceful Sunset

 

Song:  Stars

Artist:  Helen Jane Long

The other day...

my wife made a daikon sprout salad...

...Leek, Egg, Tofu, and Shrimp soup...

...with bread and hummus...

and tsukemono on the side...

 for me to eat.

The leek, egg, tofu, and shrimp soup was the main meal...

and as it was loaded with leek, eggs, shrimp, and tofu...

it was a full and delicious meal in and of itself.

I really loved the flavor of the soup...

as my wife had used Japanese chicken broth...

which has a delicate and more flavorful profile to it

than does the typical grocery store chicken broth.

I moved Bandi's great room bed down from the loft...

and she just loves to lie on it...

as she can fully stretch out...

and use the raised sides as a pillow at times.

Bandi is enjoying a Chewy.

I give her one of her collagen chew sticks for her to enjoy after she eats.

It not only serves to clean her teeth...

as they have the resistance of a rawhide chew stick...

but they are healthful and fully digestible...

and they have a baked in meat flavor which she just loves.

----------------

On the following day...

the Koji and Natto mixture had finished fermenting...

and I had some over rice

(extremely healthful for the gut).

And...

I had more leek, egg, tofu, and shrimp soup

(It is now my favorite soup).

And...

my wife made a spicy miso beef dish to accompany everything else.

As I had stuffed myself on this meal...

where I was going to finish up installing the movie screen 

and calibrate the movie projector...

I had instead...

just relaxed for the rest of the evening and fell asleep early...

as I knew I could just finish the entertainment room on the following day.

My wife had defrosted two packages of ground beef...

and so...

she made some curry beef for us to enjoy on the morrow.

As I was relaxing in bed...

I saw the sky turning amber...

and so...

I went up to the third deck to take some photos.

This was one of those perfect nights...

where the temperature and the mountain breeze was just right...

and the colors of the sunset were slowly transitioning from ambers to pinks...

and then fading gracefully.

Everything about this sunset was just so peaceful...

and coupled with my having had my fill of a delicious supper...

after viewing this beautiful sunset...

I just felt so relaxed and comfortable...

that I started to get drowsy.

And so...

instead of mounting the movie screen...

I just went to bed early

(Toller Time means I only do that which I wish to do...

and when I wish to do it :)

I was surrounded by the pinks of this sunset...

as Bandi and my wife joined me on the third deck until the colors faded.

So peaceful.

We are soon going to place a table and chairs out on the third deck...

as we drink peppermint tea and enjoy more beautiful sunsets...

and in greater comfort.

-----------

It is now the following day...

and I am going back down to the first floor entertainment room

to mount the movie screen...

and to set up the movie projector.

I will be taking photos of the set up...

and the subsequent calibration of the movie projector for the next article.

My wife is still unpacking her many boxes.

We will be going up Pikes Peak at another time...

as my wife wants to finish unpacking before going on any trips.

An Ordinary Day: Batch Cooking / A Short Walk / A Mini Project

 

Song:  Ordinary World

Group:  Duran Duran

Yesterday...

my wife did some batch cooking of so many of her favorite veggies.

As she was doing this...

I had gathered together and flattened out some of her moving boxes...

and bagged up smaller cardboard items and packing material

to later take them to the trash receptacles at the community center

on the way to the post office to pick up the movie projector and stand

(the next day).

My wife made some Tsukemono (Japanese Pickles)...

using a whole variety of veggies mixed with:

Rice Vinegar

Memmi

Sesame Oil

Crushed Red Pepper

These are some of my favorite pickles...

and are usually served as salad sides...

or as a side dish with larger meals.

It has a delicious combination of the:

Fresh crunch of the various veggies

Sweetness and tartness of the rice vinegar

Slight heat of the crushed Japanese red peppers

This is a staple in Japanese cuisine...

and almost all Japanese women know how to make it

(My mother used to make it as well).

Then my wife made a Natto and Koji combination

to use over rice or mixed in with udon noodles.

What makes this especially healthful is that both...

the Nato, and the Koji, are fermented.

Koji is also used in the making of Amazake...

a fermented rice drink...

of which I really love.

At the same time...

my wife made air fried cubes of sweet potatoes...

...and oven baked sweet potatoes.

My wife's completed Tsukemono.

We still have many more sweet potatoes.

I had earlier received a high joules surge protector for the home theater...

and the laser stud finder / level

(I am expecting the projector and stand today...

after which I will hang the screen and hookup the projector).

After my wife had completed her cooking session...

I told her that I had a mad craving for pizza...

and was planning on heading into Woodland Park to eat one.

As my wife wanted to go to Walmart to get some more veggies and kitchen items...

we soon departed together.

Another beautiful day as we headed out to Woodland Park.

(From the Walmart parking lot)

As per her suggestion...

I just dropped my wife off at Walmart so she could take her time shopping...

and I then headed to AJ's to satisfy my pizza craving

(My wife does not like pizza).

(On my way to AJ's...just a short distance up the highway)

I had ordered a large double sausage pizza...

and I was in heaven as I gobbled up the whole thing.

It was particularly delicious...

as I had the craving all day.

-------------

This morning...

I accompanied Bandi and my wife on a morning walk

(I hold Bandi's Leash from now on).

Although it was but a short walk...

it was still nice.

The weather...

as usual...

was just so perfect.

The temperature was in the mid 60s F (about 18 C)...

and as usual...

the constant nice alpine breeze was cooling and refreshing.

We headed up the road from home at a comfortable pace.

Looking back at home from the road was we continued on our walk.

We rested for a minute in the shade...

and turned around to go back home.

I will be accompanying them using my trike in the future...

as Bandi wanted to go at a much faster pace.

On our way back home.

On our normal days...

my wife and I will complete a walk or trike...

 do some sort of mini project afterwards...

and then spend most of the rest of the time enjoying our own personal passions.

-------------

In a short while...

I will load up the car with some of the flattened moving boxes...

and bags of trash...

take them to the community center...

pick up our mail...

and then pick up the packages awaiting us at the post office.

After coming back home...

we will probably eat...

and then after a bit...

I will hang the movie screen...

and set up the projector downstairs.

I am sure...

later tonight...

I will test out the projector.

We had also received a delivery at the house earlier...

and it was more Japanese dressings as well as other food items.

We order as many of our things online as we can.

We will be soon ordering a top of the line treadmill

for the exercise room for my wife to use during freezing or otherwise inclement weather...

and I will be soon getting a good IR Sauna for the exercise room for me to use

on an almost daily basis

(We just ordered a top sauna...

but it is on backorder until January).

Slowly...

we are setting up the house to our liking.

We still have many more furniture items to get...

but...

we wish to pick out the best ones for our needs...

and so...

we still have much shopping to do.

-------------

We are thinking of going to the top of Pikes Peak tomorrow...

and then to the Million Dollar Highway sometime next week.

But...

today is just an ordinary day for us...

starting the day with some exercise...

doing some mini projects...

enjoying some good food...

and then filling the rest of our day with our personal passions.

A day in the life...

even if it is an ordinary day...

should be set up as in life...

always with something enjoyable to which may be looked forward.

And...

as always...

make the necessary fun...

so even ordinary days become fulfilling.