Good morning!!!!

[RedNeckGeek]

RNG, found the map...see if this works...

Got it. I'm in the northern lobe of the PG&E service area 1 located in the eastern part of the Central Valley. The difference this year is that the utility is cutting power during Red Flag Warning days, letting the weather service call the shots. Before, PG&E used their own somewhat mysterious criteria, which hasn't resulted in any power cuts here except during actual fires. Either way, time to ramp up the plans for a whole house generator and a solar power array...

 

[RedNeckGeek]

Clover fields are at peak color.

The clover here was hit pretty hard by the fire, and my subsequent earlier use of pre-emergent. I still need a cover crop of some sort, but around here clover seed is pretty expensive. Do you have a favorite source, WNG?

 

[Bird]

Headed to the Oregon coast for a few days this coming weekend, so decided to mow last night so lawn was not too tall when we returned. I set the mower deck down a bit more than usual and had a blast, finishing up at dusk. We had frost this morning, should get up near 60F today.

Don't know where on the Oregon coast you're going, but we spent a very pleasant week in an RV park in Cannon Beach in the early Fall of 1992. We were in sight of the ocean, and perhaps the most unusual thing about that park was the dozens of different colored domestic rabbits running loose all over the park. Of course we had come down from the north so while we were staying in Cannon Beach, we drove down the coast sight-seeing. One of the most interesting places we visited (to me, at least) was the Tillamook Creamery, cheese factory.

 

[RedNeckGeek]

This will be a game changer for much of the entire nation. Not sure how I feel about it considering how many lawsuits were filed against the power company. While I feel there was liability, I would say that if they did like our power company, they should be shielded from most lawsuits. That is, keep the lines cleared from trees, at great expense, and regular pruning. Since the Bastrop fire, they have supposedly kept the lines cleared.

If everyone did their pre-emptive work like RNG, the chance of fire would go way down.

That's the problem, Kyle, PG&E has already been caught diverting funds originally intended for line maintenance, sending them instead to boost shareholder returns. And the gas line that blew up in San Bruno a few years ago got them on probation, and the judge has been leveling more fines on them for their continued lack of maintenance as exposed in the aftermath investigations of the 2017 fires. It really stings the rate payers to know that their neglect in large part responsible for the fires, yet we're going to pay for the fines and lawsuits with higher rates instead of forcing change in the company management to actually address the problems.

 

[LouNY]

Morning RNG;
as a work around for your mowing traction issue, while they may be unusual for mowing using tire chains will increase your traction considerably.
Good luck for your fire season this year.

 

[RedNeckGeek]

Good Morning!!!! 54F @ 8:45AM. Cloudy skies this morning will become partly cloudy this afternoon. High near 70F. Winds SE at 10 to 20 mph.

No more early morning mowing for me, but was going to get the sprayer going to give the weeds another drink until I saw the wind speeds. So nothing on the agenda this morning than to work on the van. Yesterday I made up a composite consisting of a layer of vibration damping mat, a second layer of decoupling foam, and a final layer of Mass Loaded Vinyl (MLV), all stuck together with contact cement. Panels were 19" x 26", about all that was easy to handle during the gluing stage. The first pieces were applied to the sheet metal cubby holes under the front seats where they'll also seal off a 1 1/2" diameter hole located over the top shock mount that let in a lot of tire noise. The mounts are easily accessed from the side, so I don't know what VW was thinking when they put those holes there. Then I dug out the swivel base for the passenger seat, cleaned it up and greased it well, and installed the passenger seat. So now I can give folks a ride, which might come in handy when a mechanic (a real one, not the old one) want to hear a noise or observe some other issue.

Today I want to get the awning mounted to the passenger side of the van so I'll have somewhere to get out of the sun this weekend, and put more sound deadening in around the driver and passenger foot wells. I have a carpet liner kit that would go a long way toward improving the utility of the van, and it's time to get it installed.

 

[toppop52]

Hummers have found the feeders, population is increasing daily. We mostly have Ruby Throated hummingbirds. Outdoor cats stare at them but have not attempted to catch them, they probably can’t anyway the way we have them.

 

[sodamo]

65°f and 1.85 inches rain.
Get my backhoe cleaned up today, greased, and take for test run. Been awhile since I used it, hope I remember

Prayers for all
Be safe
Have a great day

 

[jbrumberg]

Good Afternoon Everyone!!!!!

A drizzly, foggy 39ºF for today's low; a drizzly foggy 42ºF presently; a drizzly foggy ~50ºF anticipated later. I had an appointment with my neurologist earlier. I may need surgery on my left elbow if the left hand weakness worsens. We'll know for sure in 6 months. PT tomorrow morning. An ~1.5 hours in a dentist chair anticipated Thursday for some crown and cap work. A rainy week ahead; decent weather for medical/PT/dental appointments.

RNG- I am happy to see you posting. I do not mow my lower field if there is any moisture on the ground due to my slope and I do have R1's. Most tractors around here wear R1's. I hate those "pucker" moments.

Kyle- I am happy to read that you were able to tolerate a full day at work even if you think you were operating at 50%. I am sorry to read about your back. Good luck getting back in shape.

Buppies- Good luck with your doctor appointment.

Billy- Thanks for sharing your picture. It definitely looks and reads like Spring is in full swing.

Hawkeye- I hope you have a safe trip and decent weekend in OR.

I hope that everyone is having a manageable day.

My + thoughts, wishes, and prayers.

 

[sodamo]

David, best degreaser I've found for oil and especially hydraulic oil.
Chain saw oil drips, in Polaris bed, get s quick squirt. I keep a 1 qt. hand sprayer of it full strength for cleanup.

View attachment 602666

I had a "spraying" hydraulic hose leak a couple of years ago that covered my batwing rotary cutter and the whole backend of our 100 hp New Holland. I filled my pressure washer foam gun with the HD Pro and covered tractor / cutter with foam. I let it sit (cloudy day) for 20 minutes the pressured washed both with clear water.

View attachment 602667

My foam gun is same as above but, has a 3/8" quick disconnect, on the gun, instead of the M22 threads.

Rick, Ive been curious about those foggers, never got one.

I found a Youtube guy doing engine compartment cleaning with this:
from Walmart. Mix a strong mixture and use garden sprayer, let set then power wash carefully. I used in the Kioti engine compartment and it did an excellent job. Hoping for similar results on the bh.