Good morning!!!!

/ Good morning!!!! #86,861  
RNG hope another bike finds it's way into your stable, how is your van running?

The van is parked until a new clutch master cylinder is installed. At least three other oil leaks need attention, and there's water getting inside from somewhere on the front end as well. I was hoping to get one last session with the VW mechanic to take care of the issues, but as usual, he's in no hurry to fix his work, even if all he has to do is tell me what to do next.
 
/ Good morning!!!! #86,862  
PJ, I remember churning butter when I was a kid. Seems like it took hours. It was done with the jar and paddle type.

I've never used the jar and paddle type, but sure spent plenty of time with the other kind, since making butter was a regular chore at our house. And when I started to school, we carried our lunch and there was no refrigerator for us to use at school. My lunch was usually sausage OR egg (not both) on biscuits and a pint jar of milk. I can still remember sometimes having my milk sour before lunch time, so walking home that afternoon I could just shake that jar as I walked and have a little pat of butter when I got home.

30 degrees here for a low this morning, but going for a sunny 65 according to the NWS.
 
/ Good morning!!!! #86,863  
Good morning to all! Low only went down to 29 °f, going up to 42 °F and sunny. Tomorrow the weather guessers predict more snow in the higher elevations and rain low in the valleys. That might be good to help get rid of some snow if it gets warm enough here, we're right on the snow / rain level at 7000' elevation.

Drew, have fun with the greenhouse floor, that's what it is all about...having fun doing a project.

Spent 3 hours pushing / piling snow off the driveway and road. Got it to a full 16-18' wide. Hopefully won't turn into a muddy water slide / toboggan run if we get rain.

It's rare to see a squirrel here at our place, the primarily stay in the heavily forested areas. I think the coyotes get to the ones that venture out of the forest too far. There are a few colonies of praire dogs nearby, thankfully none on our property or adjoining ones.

Not sure what today will bring. Might try to retrieve some more Christmas lights if the snow has melted off the trees enough.

Another possible task is to go retrieve a plow blade that a neighbor has and is not using. I'm want to see if I can adapt it to the tractor. Might make it easier to clear the snow than using the bucket.

I'm really p:censored: off... Ordered some snowblower belts back on the 28th, supposedly "guaranteed delivery by Jan 4th". They didn't even ship them unil the 2nd. Delivery now pushed to the 9th.

Everyone have a great day, be safe. Prayers sent
 
/ Good morning!!!! #86,864  
38° and sunny in Colorado County with light winds. Forecast is for 72° this afternoon.

We're hoping the sunshine and light breezes will start drying out our pastures as, the tractors are starting to whine & cry about not moving for 3+ weeks. Last time out, the small tractor (55 HP) made some huge ruts that will take a few hours to level back out, whenever it dries up.

I've got a couple dozen pile of limbs, from recent tree trimming, that I can't get to with tractor / grapple. I guess I'll create a few more as, still have quite a bit of tree trimming to get done.

Hoping for an excellent day for everyone.

Prayers to all.
 
/ Good morning!!!! #86,865  
Good Morning!!!! 41F @ 6:30AM. Windy with periods of rain. High 46F. Winds SE at 25 to 35 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall near a half an inch. Winds could occasionally gust over 40 mph.

Very kind of you to help your neighbor like that, Bird. A friend of mine recently took one of his mentors into his home so he'd have a place to pass on. He was a terminal cancer patient that was being kicked out of the treatment hospital because there was no hope of his recovery, and had no family close by to help. His hospice care lasted a few weeks, then he was gone. Great acts of kindness like you and my friend show shouldn't be taken for granted.

Lots of seat time yesterday, cleaning up branches and sticks from that big oak, then hauling another one down from nearby. On the return trips up the drive I used the box blade to level out the gravel. Also took a stab at filling in a hole where I'd dug out a stump a few years ago, that every summer hid in the grass waiting to trap the tractor. The rains over the past several weeks had softened the ground enough that I was able to scrape up dirt with the box blade and fill the hole, then back drag the bucket to level it out. Level isn't quite the right word, though, as it was on a very steep hillside and I could only move up and down the hill or risk rolling the tractor if it got too sideways. I wasn't able to get it perfect, but it's safe enough to drive on now without being able to see if there's a hole there or not. Enjoyed most of the sunset from the tractor seat, then decided to light a campfire and sit out watching the stars appear. The little pile of wood I stacked next to the fire ring last summer for the lizards to play in had dried out enough to light easily with the gas still left in the chainsaw after finishing the day's sawing. In fact it lit a little too easily, a sign that today's rain is badly needed. This next series of storms is expected to drop 30 - 40 inches of snow in the Sierras, and that'll go a long way to catch us up to seasonal normals. Without it, we'd be looking at drought conditions next summer for sure.

Hope everyone enjoys their weekend; I'll be catching up on housework and paperwork, and maybe do a little research on prefabricated concrete barns...
 
/ Good morning!!!! #86,866  
I'm really p:censored: off... Ordered some snowblower belts back on the 28th, supposedly "guaranteed delivery by Jan 4th". They didn't even ship them unil the 2nd. Delivery now pushed to the 9th.

Last time that happened to me, I let the manager at Best Buy know that the only reason I was buying an expensive appliance from his store is that it would be delivered in two days. It was delayed a day, I was not very happy about it and made it clear that Best Buy would be my last choice for future purchases. Not sure the fellow gave a darn or not, but venting made me feel a little better.
 
/ Good morning!!!! #86,867  
My sleep pattern has been screwed up all my life. 5 hours sleep is enough most nights. But hitting the sack between 7 and 8 pm is common. Nowadays my 5 hours of sleep gets interrupted by a need to take a P. Makes me wake up at 2 am. I force myself to stay in bed until 4 am reading or watching TV. My relatives from my mother's side of family all complain about similar sleep habits. My cousin calls it the curse of the Mortiers. My mothers maiden name.

Me too. Same problem, only I tend to fall back asleep just as the alarm goes off at 5:45am :(

I'll take Bad Renters and Herb Garden for 50!

LOL, I read it that way too at first glance.

33° this morning and forecast is for 62° and sunny.

Weekend is expected to be back in the 70’s with a five day rain break.

We got another 1” of rain yesterday so, pastures are completely saturated and tractors will stay parked until ???

We hear coyotes nightly but ..... they stay away because of our two donkeys. Donkeys are pre-wired to chase down and stomp the ..... out of coyotes.

Our local squirrels (tree rats with nice tails and good PR) totally destroyed all our patio furniture cushions so ...... I use my SR22 for a bit of target practice on them ..... every chance I get.

Hope everyone has an excellent Friday and weekend.

Prayers to all.
I keep a pellet gun by the front door handy.

Sure a bunch of us on this forum getting old and worn out; me perhaps as much as any, if not more so. And I have a next door neighbor named Jack who has barely been getting around in the house with a walker. The last few years, I've been taking him to do his grocery shopping at Walmart. I go in and get one of the power carts and take it out to the car. When we get back, I get him and his walker in the house, then I take his groceries in. I take his mail in every day, take him to doctor appointments, etc. All just little chores that don't amount to much. I've done all his yard mowing for the last 8 years, but that's getting tough for me, too. Anyway, he has a young man (mid-20s?) renting a room from him.

Jack will be 89 the 24th of this month . . . if he lives that long. Jack has for a long time spent most of his time in a power recliner in the living room, 24 hours a day, with the TV going at an ear splitting volume. Naturally, he sleeps a lot. But he goes into the kitchen to take his pills (lots of them) and eat. However a couple of weeks ago, he fell in the kitchen one night, but was able to yell loud enough that his roomer woke up and got him up and back to his recliner. But the next morning, he was just sure that he had broken his shoulder. So, with my help, he called his primary care physician. He told me that once before someone came with a portable x-ray machine and he wanted them to do that again. Instead, the doctor's office called Jack's daughter-in-law and she came, called an ambulance and got him to the hospital. But no broken bones and he did not want to stay there, so she brought him home.

That same night, he went and fell in the bathroom and his renter managed to get him back to his power recliner in the living room. A few days later, he fell again, and had to have help to get back up. So last night, he fell in the kitchen and, apparently spent about 8 hours in the kitchen floor before his renter found him and called the fire department and their ambulance crew got him up checked him over, and no broken bones, so again he did not want to go to the hospital. I think he hates hospitals even more than I do.

Meals on Wheels has been bringing him a meal 5 days a week for at least a couple of years, and I was there when they delivered it this morning. I just came from over there and Jack was in his recliner, TV turned off, the meal from today still sitting where I left I on the seat of his rollator, untouched. I think he has given up, and just wants to die, and I can't say I blame him.

Sorry to be so long winded.

Sad story Bird. You've been a saintly neighbor. I hope his next of kin are aware of the situation.

LS, I get mad when people drop the ball on ordering things I need.


Going to be a nice weather day here. The heater is running right now, but going to 72F.

Hope you all have a great day.
 
/ Good morning!!!! #86,869  
65 °F and .12 inches rain

Tough to read stories like Bird’s knowing not all age gracefully. Seems most of us are fortunate.

Prayers for all
Be safe
Have a great day
 
/ Good morning!!!! #86,870  
Last time that happened to me, I let the manager at Best Buy know that the only reason I was buying an expensive appliance from his store is that it would be delivered in two days. It was delayed a day, I was not very happy about it and made it clear that Best Buy would be my last choice for future purchases. Not sure the fellow gave a darn or not, but venting made me feel a little better.

I had 2 missed two day shipments from Amazon Logistics in one week early in December. Called up and complained. Got my money refunded and allowed to keep product. Amazon Logistics has not missed a shipment since. I suspect they were charged for the refunded money.
I am waiting on a order from Costco that was ordered last Saturday. May be delivered Monday.
 
/ Good morning!!!! #86,872  
Good Morning Everyone!!!!!!!

The freezing rain started ~4:00AM; temperature 28ºF. Our highway department actually laid some sand down on our road. We are one of the two driveways the last 1/2 mile downhill to the next town. The road crews must figure we can handle ourselves. It was a 4WD trip to the dump this morning; temperature was 34ºF. Untreated roads are still impassable. I saw one FWD car unable to get up one of the hills. Today’s high temperature will be ~34ºF

I got Yaktrax and those EnergeticSky on all my outdoor footwear. A good day to stay home.

RonJH- I hope your arm/shoulder is less painful today. PT is never fun. Thanks for sharing your picture of your resident squirrel. Our Alpha Grey squirrel had a bad attitude this AM. It was openly aggressive to all the reds and chasing them away from its” food source. All the reds found a safe perimeter distance and stood there barking at it. :cool: I’d trim that branch, but it is one of the few healthy ones remaining on that pear tree.

“…. Bird, that’s a sad story about your neighbor, but one too often told. In years gone by extended families took care of the old and young, the old could spend their final days in dignity, not so much today.”- Randy Sadly, I agree and I saw this a lot with my work with the elderly. Some admissions were literally dumped by their “loving” families. :( I saw a few hospital and nursing home admissions of an elderly person due to malnutrition/starvation and they had refrigerators at home full of delivered meals. :(.

Bird- Jack is lucky to have a supportive friend like you; so many others are not so lucky. Jack may be giving up or it could be related to diet (or lack), medication errors, UTI’s and other illnesses, dehydration, depression, and/or age related medical/physical/cognitive decline. Thank you for caring for Jack. We all should be so lucky as we decline.

Buppies- I suspect that your coywolf/coyote disappearances was due to being shot or poisoned.

Harv- I like the look. Looks to be pretty bear sturdy.:cool:

Bruce- Thanks. This may be our last St. B. rescue; especially one with no history. I do not know where he learned his collapse the knee takedown “trick”….. Not good. He’s unlearning that one.:mad:

Bill- I am happy to read that this round of snow management is completed.

Eric- I never saw a squirrel strip bark either. Your explanation seems good to me.

Phil- Very little road traffic here still. Our road is still frozen. The sand may be getting iced over with no traffic. I am too disgusted to post about the next pending weather system other than posting that it will be a snow to rain event for a lot of southern NE especially coastal areas.
 
/ Good morning!!!! #86,874  
/ Good morning!!!! #86,875  
In other news, I found a renewal notice for my homeowner's insurance in the stack of mail that came while I was on the road. I was relieved to find it because I was thinking they would try to cancel the policy after the recent fire. The pile actually contained two renewal notices, one at the same premium as last year, and another almost a hundred bux lower. It seems I'm now being given credit for modern fire resistant building features like screened vents and fire resistant roof and siding. Next week I'll call the insurance agent and ask why these credits weren't applied to last year's premium, as they are not new additions to the house.:confused2::confused3:
 
/ Good morning!!!! #86,876  
RNG, they were saying thank you for not burning down your home...

came in for a few minutes, had to sit down. Plain worn out. Worked straight from 8am to just past noon, got the greenhouse done, then started
on laying additional ground fabric in the garden. Helper working on that now, I'm done.
Well...had to cut the boards twice but at least was cautious the first time to see if that "fit" would work. No, too much bounce in boards, so...haul all the boards back out again, cut off another inch, and bingo they all fit in. Got them all screwed down at the ends, then laid the plastic grid floor on top and it looks the way it did before, except about an inch higher, which is what I needed. Within 30 minutes of closing the greenhouse door it was 100 degrees in there. I opened the roof vent then. Sun is mighty bright when it comes out.

fixed one birdhouse, the painted one, now have to give some serious tlc to the other one, which I built about 12 years ago.
 

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/ Good morning!!!! #86,877  
I forgot to post the pics after plowing out the drive / road. The piles are 5-6' tall and go down the full length of the road, about 1500'.
 

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/ Good morning!!!! #86,878  
Drew, ....you thought you didn't know what you were doing....glad you got it done:thumbsup:. The tags on those trays say "Dec 30". Is that when you planted them? Can't believe they're sprouting already :D
 
/ Good morning!!!! #86,879  
We don’t have squirrels here. What we do have are mongoose. Seemingly cute when you first encounter but they have a nasty reputation. Not good around chickens. Not very sociable and fail terribly at their intended purpose - rodent control.
Have always found grey squirrels enjoyable to watch, but also had some destruction in attics both in NJ and Atlanta. Cats and wire screen to the rescue.
We also had chipmunks in Atlanta and one cat, Diamond, who loved playing catch and release. He didn’t have front claws. Wife got him to be an inside cat when we lived in a townhouse in Va, but he had other ideas. He was a rescue, actually picked him up in the middle of the street in NJ when he was maybe 4 weeks old. I had to feed him kitten replacement formula with a syringe until old enough to eat. Couldn’t maintain body temp so he lived in a cardboard box with a surgical glove filled with water heated in microwave. As both wife and i worked we had to take him to work and take care of him every break. Luckily work had a parking garage. This cat loved car rides. He was probably first cat in my life I actually liked. One of my favorite stories, once my wife came home from the hospital we would go for a walk, actually she’d be in her wheelchair, on our small street. One evening about 2 houses down, he sent this mastiff yelping under the car, the owner coming out to investigate what happened to his dog. Nothing other than getting too close to my wife and Diamond deciding he was going to protect his Mom. I was proud of him. He wandered off here in Hawaii when he was about 15yo. Strangely, he came around to both wife and I to say his farewells. I found and buried him a few days later.
 
/ Good morning!!!! #86,880  
All this talk about squirrels reminds me of our family physician when I was a little tyke. In fact, he came to my grandparents' home 5 miles out in the country on a dirt road to deliver me when I was born His name was Higgins and he came to this country from England. His "office" in Ardmore, OK, was one room of his house. There were pecan trees around the house, and in the backyard, he had a cage with some squirrels in it. So when kids went to the doctor, then he'd give us some pecans he'd shelled out to go feed the squirrels. My mother said Dr. Higgins said he could never eat a squirrel because their anatomy was too similar to a human's.
 

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