Good morning!!!!

[Looking4new]

OOPS! My bad.
Can you put a suction hose down the fill hole and suck the oil out that way?

 

[buckeyefarmer]

OOPS! My bad.
Can you put a suction hose down the fill hole and suck the oil out that way?

maybe, but I can also go to a lube place and have them do it. Although I really would like a new plug, so will probably do it myself. Need to get the front end up some so I can get under it, then will try an impact on it. Did order a twist socket set.

 

[Kyle_in_Tex]

I bought one after changing the battery on my 19 RAM because it had all sorts of codes and would not go in any gear but 1st and reverse. I got kind of a fancy one as I had no idea at the time how far I was going to have to go in the programs (of course I found my old one about a week later).
I got HF's kind of up scale one; it mentioned battery reset, electric parking brake reset and a few others.
It has worked good the few times I've needed it.
View attachment 2080331

Thanks for the tips on scanners....seems they go from low priced to over $10K

Kyle use the Autel scanner. Also use a Mercedes clone scanner that came loaded on a laptop with a full complement of repair information as well. Both work well but the clone is way better

Thanks for the tip, that was quite the pillow mess.

I have Torque and a $20 reader. Been quite happy with it. I suspect it would be lacking on the newest cars. Serves my purpose though. Just used it yesterday!

So my phone upgrade to new Android won't let 3rd party software load, unless they go through the Google play system for security check. Apparently Torque hasn't and I can't find anything on the net that would lead me to believe they will. I have a Torque lite bluetooth unit for years. It will clear most common codes after alerting them to you. I tried to load newest Torque on my phone and it said uh-uh.

Strange Christmas this year. My birthday is Tuesday & have pneumonia . Wife admitted to hospital today on Leviquin IV, bronchiolitis.
Sorry...just venting, hoping things will improve!

Prayers for you and your wifey. Seems cold weather brings on the worst seasonal health issues.

Not our fault mostly they made mistake. Interesting how long it took. Did not finish city street yesterday got 268 tons down asphalt plant quit and left. Earliest we can finish after new years. Prayers you get better fuddy, terrible to be sick at Christmas. Have worked 6 days straight time to rest.

It was "no one's asphalt"

Good Morning
27° with a couple of inches of snow on the ground, going to be clear and colder as the day goes on. Forecast to be in the the low teens this time tomorrow.

Yesterday sort of followed the plan, I did get the shop rearranged and the plow on the tractor. Looks like I’ll use it this morning, so the snow doesn’t get packed down into ice as it gets colder. Hopefully I can still discern the edges of the blacktop, because I never got the markers in.
The property transfer went well. I need to change the language on the right of first refusal to his siblings slightly before it gets recorded, but the transfer is complete otherwise.
The snow put the brakes on playing music last night, some of the guys have a long drive, so we lit the fire and hung out in the old folks home.

It will be light soon, I’m going to get plowing before wife goes to farmers market, and kids show up, they are moving in today. Of course that means that we need to continue moving out. One of the hardest things to move is the over 1000 vinyl records. I’m not sure what their final disposition will be, Spotify is working great, so I’m not taking them to the old folks home, but I’m not ready to dispose of them either. So it’s upstairs in the shop for now.

I might make pancakes after plowing, especially if the kids are interested, then it will be back to cleaning and organizing in the shop, FedEx says the new welder is arriving today, so I’ll have to set that up, and move the old one out. Then we will see what the day surprises me with.
Still waiting to the executor or the estate to transfer the Lexus, they are not in any hurry about it. However their clients are….

Thanks for the tip on the scanner. It is about $100 cheaper than a good Autel. Hard to tell which will do what.
I met some folks last night that have 65 alpacas in McDade Texas. Told them I have an online buddy that his wifey has alpacas in "eastern PA". Turns out he used to work for the EMS in Bucks county many years ago, and he had a girl friend in Bristol over 30 years ago. I told him I have a handful of online friends that live in the area.

Good morning! 29˚F an un predicted freeze again. Heading to 60˚ with winds changing to Southerly and cloudless sky.

Central Texas has never had a white Christmas. A white Christmas is defined by having an inch of snow on the ground on Christmas morning, the snow falling on Christmas Eve or Christmas morning. We came close in 1929 when there was a dusting of snow and 1939 when there was still a little snow on the ground from 5 days before.

I get to wear my new denim jacket and checkered red cap (with ear flaps) this morning as this will be a nice dry (but cold morning) at the farm.

Christmas Eve 2004, Victoria Texas got between 14-17 inches, but up in central Texas, they got mostly nothing.
We were down there visiting, my wife was pregnant with our oldest, and we woke up to the neighbors pulling a make shift sled behind their 4x4 truck up and down the street. It looked like dawn at 2 am due to the snow reflecting city lights back to the ground.

Happy for you and son Ken. Been up for a little while wife wants to go home waiting on mother who has been dead 22 years. Got done all we could do on city streets I think 8:30 was the time. Seven straight days of working has whipped me. No tree up too much fighting I have great aversion to fighting. When will this nightmare end?
God keeps me going with faith. I’m just not strong enough to commit her. Tried going to hospital three times,she ran off had to have local police find her twice. Presently leaving home mother is coming to get her then on Monday people from Roanoke College are moving her out. We haven’t seen any of them since 1978 wild isn’t it. If we go pick up medicine she screams out I’m stealing the money at the counter I’ve got to come up with solutions and quick. Do not mean to take up so much space sorry for that. Lots of people in far worse shape than me. Thanks for listening

Very sorry to hear this. Dementia is hard even when you have a large family to help. Can you get your son to help at all? Not telling you what to do, but I'd be telling my son/daughter how the cow eats the corn if they want to be in my will.
Prayers for your patience, and for wisdom on how best to have her treated. Prayers for Holly too.

 

[Kyle_in_Tex]

Someone on here might recognize this church.

I thought it would make a nice Christmas card to all of you.

I wish you all a Merry Christmas, and to remember the Real Reason for the Season.

 

[daugen]

22 and going down, down down

nice visit with neighbors across the street.
glad I spent the time and salt on the driveway, as they were creeping along.
neither was in very good condition but both really enjoyed getting out.
next time I have to remember to take my car across the street and ferry them back and forth.
she can drive but can barely walk.

my oil burner runs and runs, thankfully it's a small burner and I only burn 350 gallons a winter.
have been trying to use electric area heat so I can keep oil burner setting lower. Will see how my electricity bill reacts, it only
crept up 30 bucks last month to 180. When it goes over 200 it starts getting my attention.
but I refuse to be cold and thankfully going to bed early on a toasty warm bed with an electric mattress pad
means the rest of the house can get colder. Which it sure will tonight. I bet it will be 63 or 64 out in living room tomorrow morning.
as long as my one oil filled radiator electric heater in the office keeps it 75 in here, I'm a happy camper.

that looks nice Kyle.

 

[Happy in NC]

I'm sorry to hear that about Torque. I think I loaded mine from transfer

 

[Kyle_in_Tex]

So an old buddy "gifted" me his barely used Pit Boss Austin XL model, because he wanted to downsize to fit better in his garage. Caveat is, when he plugged it in after not using it for over a year, the auger seems to be loose, but the auger motor won't turn it. It seems to try and spin the auger, but it has no "ooomph". I got it to turn the auger a few turns but it struggles. The cheapest fix is the auger motor at $25. It is ordered but won't get here until the 29th.

 

[txdon]

It turned out to be a nice day at the farm. Over a hundred people had signed up to have breakfast with Santa and the tractor and trailer hauled many families around the farm.

 

[sodamo]

New fix.

While I surely don’t have the metal working skills or tool some of you, I was able to craft a fix for my broken stabilizer.

Was able to pickup this 7 inch piece of tube for a buck. 11/2x 1. Looked for something heavier gauge but would have had to go 2x2.

Able to use the pin from original.
Also 5/8 clevis.
Thought I might have to open the sides a bit, but didn’t.
Mowed for about 2 hours, some heavy stuff with great preformance.

Now if I can find the unbroken one.

 

[mostly_gas]

Good evening all. 28ºFfor the start, clear sky, light breeze. Light wind, clear sky, and high temp was 52ºF. Made coffee to start day, bike ride 64 miles, managed to stay reasonably warm, lunch 1.5 hour nap will pack for trip to Saint Louis tonight, leaving after breakfast tomorrow.
Buppies glad it wasn't your fault. Sorry about asphalt plant leaving you without asphalt before quitting time. Hope you get rest and wife time. prayers sent.
Drew glad snow not interfering with plans. Nice of you all to have fun with my typos
Ron sorry you are getting colder. Glad snow shoveled off walkways, and new filters mounted on board. Glad you found some deals on ammo you can shoot. Cool pic.
Ron thanks for the link. Listening to it as I type( or try to anyway)
Thomas hope day went according to plan
Paul glad yesterday was ok, sorry no music. Hope kids move in went well. Have fun with new welder. Hope Lexus gets transferred soon.
Happy(NC) hope you enjoy the challenge of deciding where and how to mount winch. Glad you are getting your exercise in. Glad you could load the oak logs. Good luck with dealing with albums.
Scott(vt) Hope plowing went well. Have fun with grands. Granddaughter wants to know when I am moving back to Saint Louis area so I can watch great granddaughter. Hope making breakfast sandwiches went well.
Mike glad no major problems getting MIL. Hope you can get her stuff situated. Hope you can get extra stuff sold off. Sorry you will miss work's Christmas bash.
Drew glad you and fun with snow control and righting snowman.
Don sorry about unforecasted freeze, ours was forecasted. Sorry no white Christmas in Central Texas, not sure about north Texas but bet they are almost as rare. Hope you stayed warm on tractor.
Dennis sorry now snow at home.
Bill glad bills are paid, hope rabbit hole entertaining.
Ken glad driveway markers are in. Hope play and gathering were good. Congrats on son accepted at Pace U. Hope shoveling went ok.
Buppies sorry no tree. The real question is are you able to give her the care and supervision she needs. You might talk with Hospice or Home with memory care wing for possible home care options. I know you are strong enough when you are convinced it is time. Call me if you can. Still praying for you and her.
David glad good trip and material for stabilizer repair. Hope Solstice gathering good.
Dennis the question is no if they get angry/combative but how bad. Sometimes does not take much altitude change to get to snow level. Glad gift exchange was good. Sorry oil plug such a pain.
Randy(wag) hope church was good.
Dennis should that be was 6 sided plug?
Dennis good luck with plug.
Kyle sorry you can't use Torque. Cute word play. Small world we live in. Neat story on white Christmas in Victoria TX.
Kyle thanks for the Christmas card.
Drew glad good visit with Neighbors. Hope you can keep the house reasonably comfortable this winter.
Kyle is there a capacitor to help start motor?
Don glad you stayed warm and good day hauling people with tractor.
David nice fix on stabilizer. Any access to metal detector?
prayer for all, especially Jay/Peg, Kyle /Daughter, /mom's breathing, /son's migraines, Bird /aging issues,Mike /BIL in FL, Ron /heart, David(moss) /remodel, /divorce, Buppies /cancer,parathyroid,blood sugar /wife, Thomas /gout, Phil /reflux, Frits /veteran son with mental issues, /granddaughter with Evans Syndrome, Ken /dad dementia, /chronic fatigue, Diet not working, Randy(wag) /sister stoke, Steppenwolfe /son-auto immune disorder, Grev /wife's eye, Ted /knee recovery, /retirement & disability red tape, /family issues, /wife back issues and cancer, Lou /eye issues, /heart issues, /wife hip replacement, Doug and wife/health issues, / hand nerve and surgery, /fall and recovery, / wife headaches and heart eval, / David(sadamo)/Sophie's hip or leg pain, /back issue, Scaredy/shoulder dislocation, /marriage dissolving, / friend stop drinking, Dennis /retirement, /neighbor issues, /brother's lymphoma, /dad surgery recovery, Drew /back operation issues, /friend's wife cancer diagnosis and recovery, Scotty /back pain, Helogabals /wife's friend situation, Fatjay /father broken hip, ******, Ukraine war, hurricane victims, and Country.

 

[buckeyefarmer]

Mostly, have safe trip tomorrow. My thumb makes lots of typos also.

My son’s girlfriend driving him up from TN tomorrow.

Ohio State has this game.

 

[Looking4new]

bef, I use spell check, unfortunately as many times as I correct it, it still uses the U.S. spelling for most words. I am constantly correcting it.

-9 now and going to -17°F overnight.

I've burned 590 U.S. gallons of furnace oil in 2024, so far. I have 12 cords of hardwood to burn through, yet. Just used up the last of last winters' left over wood. We only use the wood furnace when we are either awake or at home. The oil furnace takes up the rest. This little shack is only 1256 square feet, with a full unfinished basement. The house tank (200 gallons) is almost full and the '500' has 476 gallons to go. I think I am set for the winter.

 

[sodamo]

A major item left off my Friday morning post was the fact I needed to take the pilot for a safety inspection. Somehow I missed that it expired in November. Friday’s schedule was geared around that. About half way to town, Sophie remarks we ought to visit the Subaru dealership as it is same neighborhood as the inspection station. I agree. A bit of background we have been discussing upgrading her 2016 Pilot for several months. That meant several website visits for research. I’ve never gotten the feeling that she has completely forgiven me for selling the 2001 Sequoia when she got the Pilot. So much so that after getting my Tundra we actually “ordered” a 2025 Sequoia. Such “orders” have no timeline, with the dealer saying it could be a year. The order itself is kinda lose, nothing signed, no deposit. If you’d like to shock your system, price an upper trim level Sequoia. I’ve bought houses for less. So more recently I think her sense of frugality took hold, lots of questioning/doubts, leading to exploring alternatives, another Honda Pilot, Toyota Grand Highlander, Subaru Ascent. The Subaru made the list as her sister has had one 3 years and every visit evoked affirmative comments. No new Grand Highlanders to be had in the state, Pilot available but so is bad taste from recent Ridgeline dealings. Local Subaru had appropriate model Ascent on website last week. Her 1 hard requirement was the 2nd row captains chairs.

Strike out on Pilot inspection, inspector on vacation until after New Years. Stop at Subaru dealership before heading for next inspection station. Way in back of the lot was a Limited Ascent, with the captains chairs. This vehicle was still wrapped up from shipping, inside stuff still in bags, not in place, gas gauge on empty. Salesman got the keys and Sophie took test drive. She liked it. Minor discussion, got the price. Only a single dealership on island so no haggling, and left to get Pilot inspected.



2nd reason to be in town was a DMV appointment to get Sophie’s Handicap plates switched to Pilot, having decided against putting them on the Tundra. But can’t do that without current, valid safety inspection. Enroute to inspection station positive comments about the Subaru, at that point I tell Sophie, it doesn’t make sense to switch the plates only to trade cars and have to repeat. She agreed. Told her if you what the Subaru call the Saleman and tell him. She did, Pilot passed inspection, I cancelled DMV and back to dealership. Call it a packed 2 hours counting grocery stop. Made the deal, minus payment with arrangements to pickup Monday afternoon. Did get a tradein # on Pilot that he phoned while enroute home. We had a bunch of frozen food to get in freezer.



Back home wheels are turning, money to pay Monday, how to sell Pilot (trade offer too low). Texted the guy that actually sold us the Pilot 8 years ago and arranged to buy my Ridgeline and told him Sophie’s Pilot was available. Pics sent, offer, counter offer, agreement. Price close to what I would have expected of private sale with none of the hassle. Rather than drive the car to Kona, like we did Ridgeline he suggested his boss would meet us in Hilo late Sat morning as his son had a baseball game here. Wow. Called salesman and asked if we could get car Sat instead of Monday. He checked, as they had already started prep it was doable.

Subaru dealer only 3/4 mile from meeting place to sell Pilot. Decided we’d just walk. Took maybe 5 minutes to transfer Pilot and get check. Asked where my truck was to get home, told him we were walking to Subaru. Nope, I’ll drive you. Dropped us off. Completed Subaru purchase and on our way. All in all, an eventful, but totally unforeseen 26 hours. Even the salesman expressed surprise how quick.

Sophie let me drive home. Nice vehicle. I think we’ll keep it. But guy who bought both Hondas suggested maybe he’d see us in 5 years.


View attachment IMG_0360.jpeg

 

[sodamo]

Happy Birthdays, Prayers, and Congrats.

Buppies, sharing with us is fine with me, if nothing else it probably means some extra prayers. Stay strong.

 

[ronjhall]

Drinking hot coffee to get me warm. 2° with clear skies this morning. Heading to 21° with mostly cloudy skies. Did not conserve as much energy as I had planned yesterday. Got laundry done and even got folded and put away. Neighbors Dad came over and we told some good stories. Going to try doing a full energy conservation day today.

Buppies, you need help. Wish I knew where to send you for it.

Prayers and best wishes for everyone.

Good Morning All.

 

[ronjhall]

Someone on here might recognize this church.

I thought it would make a nice Christmas card to all of you.

I wish you all a Merry Christmas, and to remember the Real Reason for the Season.
View attachment 2088433

Looks like church in Fedor TX.

 

[ronjhall]

Mostly, have a safe trip.

David, nice white car.

 

[daugen]

good morning all
wow is it cold out and guess who sent it down to us?
-9 now and going to -17°F overnight.
Bill, stay warm up there

if I lose electricity in this poorly insulated house, at 12 degrees out now, lower tonight,
things would get chilly in a hurry without a generator. Starting a small propane fueled gen in super
cold weather is always sketchy. If it would not start, have option of putting gasoline in gen and that
would surely run. Currently running on a 40 pounder, has always started. Issue is if it gets enough propane
flowing to run under load.

not having a wood stove is something new for me and I really miss it.

David, wow, what a day. But successful!
I am looking at same size large suv, something my head won't bang on doorframe when I get in.
Have owned an Outback and was amazed at how softly they rode; your Ascent should be very comfortable.
And lots of room in back, but one step below a Tahoe.
I've looked at Grand Highlanders also, like the 35mpg of the hybrid. Would always have third seat folded down and like
you want captains chairs.
I also looked at a Sequoia. Oh boy are they expensive, easy to spend 80 grand on one, and yes I bought a house for less also.
I think you made a good choice as long as you don't need a tow vehicle.
As a comfy get around car, that looks like a winner.
funny, what is the top speed you get on your car? 45 mph?

I'm off later this morning to drop some kid's mittens off at the local Quaker Meeting for their mitten tree today, but I can't stay because
I'm headed an hour West to friend's home in Lederach, the other side of Harleysville. Another ride out 113.
only time they could get together before Christmas

going to be a cold car seat this morning.

 

[daugen]

Don, your Christmas tractor driving sounds like a lot of fun. What is your average speed?
I'm guessing 2mph. ??

weather forecast for South and Texas is above average warmth this winter.
that will keep the snowbirds happy

 

[Happy in NC]

Good morning TBN!!
19 degrees this morning and clear!! May not make it to 40.
Decided I will break down and cut and cut some wood. That should probably bring the HVAC guy back out. They are still waiting on my parts and the heat pump is limping. 50 in here when I woke up.
Not much yesterday. Looked at the winch some more. I am still on the fence about what to do but until I am sure, I don't want to start welding. No rush.
Got just shy of 10k steps. Pretty chilly with the breeze. Dog got plenty though. 4 wheeler walked him a few times. His steps are usually a jog at least and full tilt a lot of the time. He likes racing me. Dog runs the last 1/4 mile up hill at about 20 mph. Wish I could do that. I'm usually huffing and puffing by the time I walk that same stretch.
Ran to the store a couple miles away for lottery and energy drinks.
Mostly watched TV and puttered. Torpedo running diesel keeps it warmer in there then the house.
That is about all I got. Get another cup or two of coffee and I''ll get at it. Hate getting dressed for winter too because I takes a while LOL

Have a great and safe day!!