Good morning!!!!

[rswyan]

Plans for this evening...take Mrs. out to dinner than share recliner with kittens.

Good plan ...

 

[rswyan]

53F and sunny @ 11:45, headed up to a high of 65F supposedly. Low last night hit 31.3F at Timberlink. Calling for 80F tomorrow for the high.

Suet feeders still hanging undisturbed this morning ...

Going to have to come up with a permanent solution on those ...

Got an email from the county health department to confirm my appointment for second vaccine dose tomorrow which I did.

Did not get FRP panel done for the core aerator so will just stick some cardboard - which we have no shortage of - on it to protect the paint in the meantime.

Friend is looking at replacing his ZTR, might stop over later today or tomorrow to scope out the Cub.

Grab a shower once I wake up a little more and then get started punching holes.

Hope everyone has an enjoyable, productive, and safe Saturday ...

 

[RoyJackson]

Did not get FRP panel done for the core aerator so will just stick some cardboard - which we have no shortage of - on it to protect the paint in the meantime.

Never worried about that with my Agri-Fab aerator. I've used cinder blocks and, most recently, two suitcase weights. Hardly a scratch... My neighbor has used the aerator as well and he's OCD about equipment...pretty tough powder coating, I guess. The unit has winter-overed outside at least one winter and spent last winter in a dirt floor shed. Only rust I see in minor, and that's on the tines that penetrate the dirt

 

[RoyJackson]

Boy! Breezy and chilly outside!
Got the wire (16 gauge) and some straight crimp fittings, but they had no 3-way crimp fittings at the local hardware stores. I need at least two or three. So, ordered what I need through Amazon and the project can re-start next weekend.
The lawn is pretty wet, but should dry up by afternoon (I hope). Now the forecast is for rain tonight. We'll see how it goes...
But, right now...time for some lunch and, maybe, a beer...

 

[rswyan]

RS, we have been bringing our best feeders and suet in at night for the last couple of weeks to try to discourage the coons that found them. Generally fill them so they will just run out of feed by nightfall, so the ones we leave out will be empty. But that means I'm usually out at dawn refilling before they come in.

Sounds like an entirely workable solution to the problem ...

We've had a flock of up to 40 Evening Grosbeaks that are still here. I though they would have split up and gone north or west to nest. We only rarely get the Rose-breasted that you have.

Those Evening Grosbeaks are handsome fellows - thanks for mentioning them. After looking at their pic, I probably need to look a little closer ... they look similar enough to Goldfinches, that it's possible we have had some here and I just didn't notice that they were a different species (than the Goldfinches)

I have not seen the Rose-breasted ones around here before this year ... but it's possible they have been here all along and I simply hadn't noticed them.

We always boil water and add white sugar for the hummingbirds...no dye, and wash and refill about daily.

Same ... except I don't always refill them daily. It seems that we never have enough of them to go through all the juice in our feeder in a days time. Maybe that will change will the flower propagation project and their are more flowers to attract and hold them.

If the juice starts to look cloudy, then I'll dump it and make a new batch and fill our lone feeder (after taking it apart and washing it inside and out)

When the hummers get real busy in hot weather, we have to refill more often than daily some days, but we don't fill them all the way, unless we are going off for the day.

Same here - I typically only mix one cup of water for juice which usually lasts for a number of days ... think the feeder will hold closer to two cups.

Crazy, but birds can get to be a full time job.

Easily ...

 

[sodamo]

67°F and no rain.

Should finish up the furring strips this morning and get a start on the electrical.

Dinner tonight with Happy Hour friends visiting from LA. All vaccinated and tested negative. They are part of our Zoom HH group so it isn’t like we haven’t seen them, just not in person. Apparently their property took significant maintenance after being closed up since their last visit pre COVID.

Prayers for all
Be safe
Have a great day

 

[rswyan]

Never worried about that with my Agri-Fab aerator. I've used cinder blocks and, most recently, two suitcase weights. Hardly a scratch... My neighbor has used the aerator as well and he's OCD about equipment...pretty tough powder coating, I guess. The unit has winter-overed outside at least one winter and spent last winter in a dirt floor shed. Only rust I see in minor, and that's on the tines that penetrate the dirt

Good to know ...

I had commented to The Woman that the paint on this unit seems pretty good. Definitely not thin. Dunno if it was powder cost or just regular enamel ... but powder coat can sure be real tough.

Probably one of the biggest things I have a concern with is the "bearings" in the hubs that hold the tines and allow them to spin - they are (fairly thin) plastic (split) sleeves that slip over the axle and inside the hub that the tines are attached to. Menards does off them as a replacement item ($18) but they don't stock them in the stores.

They don't call for any lubrication for them, either on assembly or as a part of periodic maintenance.

Hard to imagine those holding up ... but hey ... who knows ?

Another concern is turning with the transport wheel up and the unit engaged in the ground. They say not to make "sharp turns" ...

I'd prefer not to have to get off Cub and lower the transport wheels after every pass and I'll try to make a "wide (slow) turn" and see how it goes ... what was your experience on that ?

Were you raising the unit every time you needed to turn ?

Or were you able to successfully negotiate the turns without much difficulty with the unit engaged in the ground ?

 

[Kyle_in_Tex]

We got a very windy 2" of rain last night, and more to come today.

Yesterday, I ended up having to replace one of the bathroom sink faucets. Not too bad of a job, but squeezing thru the cab'nt door was awkward. I couldn't find a matching one, so I put the closest cheapie I could find.

Also got some mowing done with the riding mower, and the smaller tractor with the 5' shredder.

I called the company asking about my flange bearings that were due 2 days ago. He said they made a mistake on their end...

Rich, will you be watching the Atlanta TT? If anyone wants to watch American Flat Track, it's only about $12 for the season to stream. On NBC Sports Gold. Once you get to know some of the rider's and their skills, it gets really exiting. I prefer the tracks that riders can easily pass each other and don't have to ride in one line. But I have to admit, Flat Track has too long of breaks and the event can last for hours. The breaks are for the mechanics (like Rich) to hopefully get their rider back on the track. Many teams have alternate backup bikes. But not all.
Edit: It is only $1.99 month.

Prayers for Stepp's son and family, Toppop, Drew, Buppies, Mostly's wifey, Buppies, L4N DIL, LS all banged up, our Country, and all in need of healing.

 

[sodamo]

May Day is Lei Day here in Hawaii.

 

[Looking4new]

Kyle; I called the company asking about my flange bearings that were due 2 days ago. He said they made a mistake on their end...
And is he willing to overnight the parts to you?