Good morning!!!!

[LS Tractor Owner]

Good morning to all! Low of 62, calm and party cloudy sky. It happened again, dark storms and heavy rain all around, but not one drop here. I think there is a hole in the atmosphere above my house...all the moisture just gets sucked right out. Now they say "less chance of storms" and "drying out"... Drying out from what? At least it is cooler, expected high of 80.

Yesterday was very productive. We got the dogs groomed up, then finished cleaning the dirt out of the Jeep and got it all pretty on the inside again. Finally got the fence gate built, much heavier than I thought it would be. Didn't want to make it a two piece split gate, but may have to...I'll see once I install the big one (8'). Won't be using it often, so should be ok.

Today's agenda is to install the gate, clean the wifey's car (same shape as the Jeep after the dust storm), then piddle around in the shop organizing stuff. We'll see.

Drew, always nice to have a good steak dinner...we had picked up a couple of ribeyes the night before, same thing...could only eat half even though they turned out fantastic. Had the second half again last night...just as good! Our garden is wilting away, we water and water...not sure if too much, or it's just evaporating quickly. Everything has mulch, no weeds present (even they aren't growing). Only thing doing well are the tomatoes and marigolds. Oh well....

Jay, glad to hear that you are now living in comfort. Those new systems are amazing. Enjoy!

Clay, I may be too late posting this but... This year we did not want to use the central air ssystem to cool the whole house (3500sq ft) when we primarily stay / live in one end (about a 6-700 sq ft area). We were at Costco about a month ago and saw a portable heat pump unit. It is thermostat controlled, and can be wifi controlled. It has worked fantastic for cooling just the smaller area we occupy. Haven't gotten the new electric bill, but I'm sure it will still be cheaper than cooling the whole house.

Everyone have a great day, prayers for everyone sent.

 

[jbrumberg]

Ted-

Thanks.

Was your dust storm a haboob?

I can not believe your ongoing drought condition. "Wet" systems either dry up or track north and south of your area.

I hope that you get rain soon.

 

[LS Tractor Owner]

I would like your opinions.... Single neighbor lady asked me for estimates for installing about 160' of three rail fence w/ 4' high welded wire fencing stapled on, includes one 4' gate. Second project is removing a falling down rotten deck (about 4x8') at her front door and then pouring a 12x16' concrete patio.

I have done a lot of work for her in the past, and she 'prefers' my work. She has been using some local handyman services, which charges her a lot (ripping her off IMHO). I ussually charge her the exact cost of materials and just enough to cover my costs (gas, saw blades, special tools etc..). She had to make "monthly payments" for past projects (which I didn't mind, and she always paid). Now she has more available funds and wants to fix up her house (which is seriously going into disrepair over the last 5 years).

My dilemma/ problem is this: since being injured (knee), a lot of my projects / maintenance have fallen behind. I'm now about 4 months behind schedule starting my 'cottage build' (new house). This new cottage is the pivotal project that is the start of 'our new life' (slow movement towards retirement). So......

If I take on her projects, I will just delay our projects more. But... I could really use the funds she would be paying for the jobs to apply to our build (I'm paying cash as we go for the new house). Part of my willingness to do her projects is that she has no family, no help other than what she pays for, and is always getting ripped off by unscrupulous people. I feel really bad to say 'no'.

Wifey is getting very impatient and overwhelmed with the ever increasing long list that WE have. She says we don't need the money, my argument is to get it while you can. A couple thousand bucks can buy a bunch of materials/supplies.

What would you do?

By the way, I will probably going back to work full time in a couple of weeks, so my time will be even more limited.

 

[LS Tractor Owner]

Jay, it wasn't a full 'haboob' officially, but a strong downburst from a storm 50 miles away. Lasted about 20 minutes. Visibility was about 1/4 mile. Gusts were as high as 60 mph

 

[jbrumberg]

Ted-- Thanks for the Haboob response.

You have a really difficult "balance of 'needs' and 'wants'" to juggle. You are probably better off maintaining your current balance by splitting job tasks between your neighbor lady and you and your wife and "The Plan." I'd "load" the "To Do List" in favor of wifey.

Good luck.

 

[CWB Wyo]

LS

That is the kind I was thinking about getting so I can move it from room to room. We'll start looking tomorrow on our way down to SLC. They had one at a little Shopko store in town last week.

Thanks
CWB.

 

[daugen]

What's your recipe for "baked okra"? I grew up eating fried okra, a little stewed okra, though most of my family didn't like it stewed, and okra was my first money crop as a farm kid; picked it every other day and sold it to the local grocery stores. I still like it fried AND I like pickled okra.

Bird, I'm clueless, no recipe, just winging it. Going to spray each piece with canola oil, dip in some breading, and then bake for half an hour at 350 and test.
Keep testing every ten minutes thereafter. When done, on goes sauce which is cooking very slowly and making the downstairs smell nice

 

[Bird]

Bird, I'm clueless, no recipe, just winging it. Going to spray each piece with canola oil, dip in some breading, and then bake for half an hour at 350 and test.
Keep testing every ten minutes thereafter. When done, on goes sauce which is cooking very slowly and making the downstairs smell nice

Sounds interesting; wish I was there to help you eat it.

 

[sodamo]

72°F and .36 inches rain.

Gonna attempt slow cooking some beef short ribs today.

Prayers for all

Be safe
Have a great day

 

[RedNeckGeek]

Happy wife, happy life, Ted. Were I you, especially in light of your knee, I'd thank the neighbor for her trust in you, but pass on her offer of work. Perhaps you know someone reliable that won't take advantage of her, and you could pass along that name. Or offer to look in on any workers she ends up with, and even review quotes with her. Reading your analysis tells me that you've more negatives than positives to spreading yourself thin enough to help her out with doing the actual work. Something tells me if you end up taking on her jobs, too, the temptation to overload that knee will be too great and you'll be delaying not only your own projects, but your knee's recovery as well.

:2cents:

 

[RedNeckGeek]

Blame Don! The west end of the house bakes so badly in the afternoons, the heat makes it all the way through the walls and has the A/C working overtime to keep up. Worse, the A/C itself is on that side of the house, and it can't be good to have it in the sun, too. The shades Don installed over his old pool got me thinking the same thing might work here, so I went shopping last week on Amazon and came up with these shade cloths. That end is in the shade in the early morning, so instead of sleeping in as I try to do on Sundays, I got my lazy butt up, had a cup of coffee with breakfast, and got with it. Stainless steel screw eyes were installed through the stucco at the house end, and I brought home some 1/2" rebar that I cut into 2' lengths for the stakes. Each one got a washer welded to the end to keep the ties from the cloths in place. Start to finish, it only took a couple of hours to put up, and while a strong wind will probably pull the screw eyes out or uproot the stakes, as long as I take everything down before the first storms of winter hit, I think it'll be fine. And if I'm mistaken, it was worth the hundred bux in materials to find out.

Fingers crossed...:confused3:

 

[300UGUY]

87 here in mid Michigan. Going out to putter around the shop in a bit. Yesterday, I got bit by hornets that had setup housekeeping in the light fixture on the front porch. Instead of going out for dinner, went and got some hornet spray. No hornets this morning, so that is ok. My ear and my left hand are still a little swollen. Really humid out, we went for a coffee, and the local bigbys coffee shop was full up. Most seemed to be getting iced drinks, no surprise there. Have a good one, boys!

 

[300UGUY]

View attachment 562784View attachment 562785

Blame Don! The west end of the house bakes so badly in the afternoons, the heat makes it all the way through the walls and has the A/C working overtime to keep up. Worse, the A/C itself is on that side of the house, and it can't be good to have it in the sun, too. The shades Don installed over his old pool got me thinking the same thing might work here, so I went shopping last week on Amazon and came up with these shade cloths. That end is in the shade in the early morning, so instead of sleeping in as I try to do on Sundays, I got my lazy butt up, had a cup of coffee with breakfast, and got with it. Stainless steel screw eyes were installed through the stucco at the house end, and I brought home some 1/2" rebar that I cut into 2' lengths for the stakes. Each one got a washer welded to the end to keep the ties from the cloths in place. Start to finish, it only took a couple of hours to put up, and while a strong wind will probably pull the screw eyes out or uproot the stakes, as long as I take everything down before the first storms of winter hit, I think it'll be fine. And if I'm mistaken, it was worth the hundred bux in materials to find out.

Fingers crossed...:confused3:

I’ve seen aluminum awnings on houses, primarily older ones, I’d guess pre air conditioning days. We see ads for retractibile canvas awnings here, supposed to be good in up to 100 mph winds.

 

[txdon]

Good morning hi 70s to hi 90s - and tomorrow the hundreds start till . . ?

Drew, for baked okra after they are cut and a bit of slime gets on them it make a perfect sticking surface, no oil is needed. I put a mixture of corn meal/garlic powder/cajun seasoning/onion powder, salt and pepper and shake it till it's all coated and bake till brown about 45 minutes at 350˚


Ted, I with your wife on this one, slow down. Put the neighbors projects on the back burner. Save your energy/time for your project.

RNG good shading, none of the grommets ever came out on my triangles, looks like a good idea.

Kyle, that sickle mower was the kind with a wooden shaft, I found it broken in the barn, but my dad had replaced it with a metal bar. The owners manual says it is a "John Deere Number 9 integral mower."

 

[Looking4new]

Temps are in the mid 80s today around Thunder Bay, ON. They got into the 90s yesterday. Even the air con in the truck couldn't keep up.

This is day 2 of my 36 hour reset and I already did everything I wanted to do today. I greased the compensating 5th wheel on the rear of my lead trailer, all 10 fittings.
I will be back at the grind at 4 A.M. tomorrow.

Have a safe day all

 

[txdon]

Obligatory tractor pics- JD mower

 

[RedNeckGeek]

RNG good shading, none of the grommets ever came out on my triangles, looks like a good idea.

One of the reasons I picked those particular shades, besides the good Amazon reviews, is that they have D-rings sewn onto each corner instead of grommets. I've never had much luck with grommets; they always seem to pull out sooner or later. There's also a 1" wide hem along each side where it looks like the cloth has been folded over twice before it was sewn, and the hems transition into the the loop that holds the D-ring at each corner. As long as the sun doesn't tear up the cloth, these should last several seasons.

BTW, Don, did you leave the sun shades with the new owner of you home, or did you find a use for them at your new place?

 

[txdon]

One of the reasons I picked those particular shades, besides the good Amazon reviews, is that they have D-rings sewn onto each corner instead of grommets. I've never had much luck with grommets; they always seem to pull out sooner or later. There's also a 1" wide hem along each side where it looks like the cloth has been folded over twice before it was sewn, and the hems transition into the the loop that holds the D-ring at each corner. As long as the sun doesn't tear up the cloth, these should last several seasons.

BTW, Don, did you leave the sun shades with the new owner of you home, or did you find a use for them at your new place?

You are right they are D rings. I left some with the new owner but took some new ones with me also I had about 10. My new patio faces in a NE direction so it is well shaded by the house in the evenings. It was one of the reasons we picked this particular house. I was tired of the sun before moving to Sun City. By 7pm (July) my entire back yard is in the shade, that's when I mow.

 

[daugen]

Ted, I agree totally with RNG. Turn the job down, keep your wife happy, don't blow out your knee again and get seriously disabled doing a job for someone else where if you get hurt you won't be covered by insurance. hmmmmm.

Don, what's this about cutting the okra and getting slimy? I was just going to snip off the ends and do them whole, after breading.

Find it odd that same company's organic marina sauce has 10 grams of sugar instead of the standard variety's 6 grams.
The sauce was pretty tangy, figured the little bit of extra sugar would help, and it does smooth out the sauce.

 

[jbrumberg]

300UGuy- I am sorry to read about the hornet stings. This placed reeked of neurotoxins during a following the A/C installation due to the wasps. No hornet problems here yet.

RNG- I am sorry to read about your solar gain challenges. Shades and awnings work, but decent ones are not cheap. Good luck.

Some mornings require wearing sunglasses while sitting in the kitchen here due to the sun's intensity (and not some hangover). Window shades and a retractable deck awning are in "The Plan;" after the window replacements and residing and re-roofing and ......

I used to string my saiboat's old blown out mainsail and jib across the deck. It looked weird, but it did work.