Good morning!!!!

[kenmbz]

Happy birthday FWT, Nice cake, very thoughtful, seems you have a keeper.

 

[daugen]

Good Morning to All Who Celebrate! Currently 33° heading to a high of 39°, raining at the moment, but had been snowing off and on earlier in the morning.

Spent the weekend doing exactly what I planned, as little as possible. Only two things tractor related happened: Took the snow-push off for the bucket as to make more room in the pole barn to access the fridge there.

I turned 33 on Monday, and the girlfriend threw a party for me there in PH with the following cake:
View attachment 4627470
Since she knows me so well, guess I have to marry her now.

Like I said, a very sedate weekend. Think I spent the vast majority of it sleeping. Picked up the last minute Christmas Gifts and some cash from the bank as well.

Now back at work, getting through the last few things before the Great Holiday Ghosting begins. Last thing to figure out is where I'm going to meet my Aunt to pick up Grandma on Christmas Day.

Buppies, Praying always for you and Holly. I hope you two are together and can enjoy the Christmas Cheer!

Y'all stay safe out there and be well! No more slips and falls guys! Hope you all enjoy the holidays as much as possible and eat plenty of good food! The calories don't count this time of year!
Praying for all Ailing and Recovering!

please tell your fiance that we all love her tractor cake!
she sounds like a winner

 

[daugen]

good trip to oncologist, did not get discharged because he said new nodule on lung, and then
admitted it had nothing to do with metastatic cancer. He's a friend and I think he wanted to keep the relationship.
Since I'm reasonably sure cancer will come back, someone I want to keep in touch with.
But at least I hit the five year point with nothing spreading.

about an inch of white stuff, warm enough melting on roads but makes the fields and lawns white.
now I hope to have a nice quiet day
cleaned off the walkway, put down some ice melt.
ok, I'm closed.

 

[daugen]

pic of the day and I remember that day.
I was so pleased to get some equipment in my brand new farm shed ten years ago.
floor had dried enough, I see the diesel tank still to be installed. Within a year this shed was packed.
very overbuilt with big custom beam in back

the farm I bought for 300k would sell for $2M here. After all the improvements I made, sold for 500k.
unlikely I got all my money out of it.
honestly I was having too much fun.
and feeling good about myself for first time after my wife died.
that farm today up here would be at least $3M

that's a six times real estate factor and why folks retire down there.
I lived a champagne life on a beer budget.
now I watch my nickles living in the land of champagne...
but it's home and that's kinda invaluable.

 

[rswyan]

39F, overcast, with a bit of fog @ 10:00. Calling for a high of 49F for the day.

Got hopper feeder refilled first thing yesterday, also scattered some seeds for the ground feeders.

Took braces down on foam board.

Got folding table cleared off onto shelves and moved the stuff that was underneath it to create some space to build the next section of stud wall.

Managed to knock over a can of PB B'laster while I was doing that ... that apparently had a hole in it ... which created a spill and quite a stink ...

Woman had an appointment with Her PCP yesterday, good visit ... Her BP was way down and otherwise a good report ...

We gathered up the trash and recyclables last evening and got those loaded in the car. Woman took those up to the cans at the road then ran down and grabbed a Power Ball ticket while She was out.

She baked another couple of loaves of pumpkin bread last night and cut the spices back to half of what was called for. I killed off the last of one of the loaves She had baked previously.

Moved eight 2 x 4's over to the door going into the kitchen so they could be moved downstairs.

Made it an early night, was in bed by 22:00 ... kinda tuckered out from previous day's activities.

Slept good ... was up @ 08:30 this morning.

On the agenda for today:

Move 2 x 4's downstairs.

Get that next section of wall nailed together, stood up, and nailed into place.

Get the boxes for outlets installed, holes drilled for the wiring, and wiring run.

Maybe some more work out in the garage since it should be easy to heat.

Other than that just see what else comes up.

Hope everyone is having a decent Tuesday ...

 

[Buppies]

Nice cake thanks for sharing

Very tired I need a nap

 

[rswyan]

That is a sweat deal.

We consider ourselves very fortunate.

The family farm up until the last of the original family was alive, (I am a direct descendant) had the mineral rights on 300 acres. 200 got sold off and the 100 the house and barn is on has a gas well. Up until 40 years ago they still heated and cooked with the gas.

We actually sold the parcel of land the well is on a few years ago to a neighbor who raises a few head of cattle. Nice young man.

But we structured the sale so that we retained the rights to the free gas (and the annual lease royalty) for as long as we are here in the home and had it written into the deed.

3 brothers came from Northern Ireland (about 39 miles south of Ulster) 2 came to Canada and 1 stayed in the states. They were my Great Grandfather and his brother. My Grandfather conned them into sending him to University for Pharmacy and the farm paid his tuition BUT he had to give up any rights he had to the farm. That is why I do not have the farm today. Such is life.
The farm was a Crown Land Grant/Century Farm. As a Crown grant they got the mineral rights too as long as it stayed in the family name and didn't get sold. My last name is the same as theirs. The Gaelic spelling is O'Saidhail.

Interesting bit of history there ... thanks for sharing ...

 

[ronjhall]

Tractor repair done. I had never used a 5 gallon bucket pump for the hydro fluid. On my cab tractor the fill cap is recessed under the body and a real pain to fill. But the pump made easy work of it.
Someone told me they make a pump that fits the 5 gal bucket without removing the lid, but could not find one ? Not the HF stick pump style, one actually made for that ? Anyone know ?

I had one these on 5 gallon bucket for years. Sold it last spring for $100 on Facebook Marketplace. No wonder it sold so fast.

https://www.westmarine.com/west-marine-professional-12v-oil-changer-bucket-14557425.html

 

[ronjhall]

FWT, HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!

 

[riptides]

I lived a champagne life on a beer budget.

A good outlook.

And still living.

 

[sodamo]

67°F and .55 inches rain

Got mow mowing done. A battery’s worth on the EGO.

Strange day ahead. Sophie taking her Subaru in for service. Had it a year, 1600 miles. I’m dropping Kekoa at vets. Has a small growth, looks like a blood blister along side his *****. Causes lots of licking and annoying attention from Makani causing larger area of attention.

We’ll see what else the day brings

Prayers for all
Be safe
Have a great tractor day

 

[daugen]

must be getting to the end
great big flakes of snow coming straight down
sure is pretty with the snowy woods in the background

I could be doing something useful but conserving energy is a known worthwhile activity...

 

[kenmbz]

Had to drive up to NJ to pick up a few bottles to bring to our friends tomorrow.
Everything clean until the last little town before the turn.
Guess their guy was still sleeping.

Dog is moderately happy with the snow, now melting so she will be more upset later.

 

[WinterDeere]

Have you considered reaching out to the local / state historical association, especially as you have digital scans of some things?

Oh, I've considered doing all sorts of things! Unfortunately, operating a business, restoring ancient houses and antique boats, and chasing after two teens doesn't leave a whole lot of time to pursue these idle interests. I've been sitting on about 20 family photo albums from the late 1800's and early 1900's since about 1992, and am just getting around to finally scanning the first few, now!

I also just inherited four very large Rubbermaid totes (trunk-sized) stuffed with photos from the 1940's - 2010's, when cleaning out my mother's house, which is what finally spurred me to get moving with this project. There must be many thousands of photos in all, with of course plenty of duplicates and unlabeled stuff.

Getting a platoon from one family, even an extended family is just amazing to me.

My paternal grandmother was one of 11 natural-born siblings, with another 11 foster kids going thru the house, and most enlisted in WW2 in one capacity or another. My father's father's father was one of 7 brothers, all of whom enlisted or were drafted into WW1. The number of photos of guys who look very much like their brothers, all in uniform, has my head spinning on trying to identify who is who. I think I'm going to have to spend time learning the rank and branch of each guy, in order to verify identities on some of the unlabeled photos.

The sad thing is that I didn't do more of this work when my grandparents or great-grandparents were still alive, as they could've easily identified nearly everyone in these photos, and even when/where they were taken. I still have a few aunts and uncles surviving from the 1940's who can help a bit, but either of the two generations preceeding them could've easily done this with more confidence, if I'd made the time to ask them before they passed.

 

[riptides]

The sad thing is that I didn't do more of this work when my grandparents or great-grandparents were still alive, as they could've easily identified nearly everyone in these photos, and even when/where they were taken. I still have a few aunts and uncles surviving from the 1940's who can help a bit, but either of the two generations preceeding them could've easily done this with more confidence, if I'd made the time to ask them before they passed.

My wife sat through three weeks of looking at pictures with her mom. One generation removed from the pics and huge amounts could not be identified by time, place or persons.

Don't feel bad, Unless the pics are labeled, it is a crap shoot.

 

[buckeyefarmer]

Very tired I need a nap

Me too

 

[WinterDeere]

My wife sat through three weeks of looking at pictures with her mom. One generation removed from the pics and huge amounts could not be identified by time, place or persons.

Don't feel bad, Unless the pics are labeled, it is a crap shoot.

I've been able to place most, by either collecting the partial notes on several duplicates found in other albums, or in some cases doing deed searches on property records for mailing addresses listed on envelopes into which the photos were placed. Some circuitous methods, but I'm getting ID's on more than 90% of them.

Just found the ID on one from the 1890's, by an address and last name written on the back of the photo. Had to go thru a deed search to get there, but I was able to match an age and address to the residents of that home at that time.

 

[Looking4new]

Well, the house tank is full according to the gauge. The big tank is down to 1/4 so I should have enough fuel to cover me until mid January.
We got 2" of heavy wet packing snow/heart attack snow. I'll plow tomorrow. Christmas day looks like it will be sunny and colder. 19°F
The oil furnace runs when the thermostat calls for heat under 76°F. When the outside temperature gets down to about 20F and lower we fire up the wood furnace (Drolet) in the basement. When it gets down to below zero, then the upstairs wood stove (Regency 2400) gets fired up, too.
Before the stroke I would keep the wood furnace going 27/7, but post stroke I don't do well on stairs, I haven't been in the basement since May 2024.

 

[Looking4new]

Good Morning from Central Texas.
At 5am the weather station says 70.2 degrees and 67.4 Dew Point - forecast is 80 today. Who likes the cold, but 80 degrees is too warm if the sun is out - 60-65 would be nice.
Tractor repair done. I had never used a 5 gallon bucket pump for the hydro fluid. On my cab tractor the fill cap is recessed under the body and a real pain to fill. But the pump made easy work of it.
Someone told me they make a pump that fits the 5 gal bucket without removing the lid, but could not find one ? Not the HF stick pump style, one actually made for that ? Anyone know ?
Nothing pressing today, go for a long walk to fetch tractor back to the house and some leaf pickup.
Hope everyone stays safe and has a great day !

This is off the amazon U.S. site, but they know I am in Canada so they quote in Canuck bux.
Amazon.com: GROZ 44150 Heavy Duty Lever Action Bucket Pump – Up to 60 ML Per Stroke – for 5 Gallon Pails – Transfer Heavy Oils, Engine Oils, and Transmission Fluid – Industrial Grade : Automotive

 

[buckeyefarmer]

I've been sitting on about 20 family photo albums from the late 1800's and early 1900's since about 1992, and am just getting around to finally scanning the first few, now!

I also just inherited four very large Rubbermaid totes (trunk-sized) stuffed with photos from the 1940's - 2010's, when cleaning out my mother's house, which is what finally spurred me to get moving with this project. There must be many thousands of photos in all, with of course plenty of duplicates and unlabeled stuff.


My paternal grandmother was one of 11 natural-born siblings, with another 11 foster kids going thru the house, and most enlisted in WW2 in one capacity or another. My father's father's father was one of 7 brothers, all of whom enlisted or were drafted into WW1. The number of photos of guys who look very much like their brothers, all in uniform, has my head spinning on trying to identify who is who. I think I'm going to have to spend time learning the rank and branch of each guy, in order to verify identities on some of the unlabeled photos.

The sad thing is that I didn't do more of this work when my grandparents or great-grandparents were still alive, as they could've easily identified nearly everyone in these photos, and even when/where they were taken. I still have a few aunts and uncles surviving from the 1940's who can help a bit, but either of the two generations preceeding them could've easily done this with more confidence, if I'd made the time to ask them before they passed.

I wish I knew who people were in some of my old photos also. As a kid I remember my grandmother talking about the depression, so much info gets lost by time. I scanned all my old photos and slides with flatbed scanner, and labeled as I went.