Good morning!!!!

[wngsprd]

41, sun rising and temps will, too...to 71.

Toppop, maybe you are groggy since you added a little moonshine into that medicine ball??

BEF, hope you get some sleep.

Buppies, Coco is back to being a happy dog. Thanks for asking. Sorry you had a bear attack.

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. 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.

We always boil water and add white sugar for the hummingbirds...no dye, and wash and refill about daily. 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. Crazy, but birds can get to be a full time job.

Those Texas real estate stories are amazing. Just looking at the Austin skyline grow shows such a boom.

 

[Popgadget]

Good Morning
It’s 41 with a high of 63 forecast.
Clear skies and breezy, but nothing like yesterday’s howling winds.

Issue with AC in restaurant was an odd one. While the thermostat was calling for cooling, roof top unit was making heat. Fix was simply reprogramming the thermostat. After that got some inside chores done.

Today I’m going to put the box scraper on the tractor and spread some stone for a neighbor. I’d like to get started on repurposing some cabinets and a large countertop into a desk in my music room.

Everybody get/stay healthy out there.

 

[wngsprd]

I think yesterday was the windiest day we've had in many years that wasn't part of a hurricane or thunderstorm...Bluebird skies, but lawn furniture blowing all over the place...leaves stipped off the trees. We still managed to pick up a load of mulch and get most of it down...even with two of us, trying to stretch a tarp over the bottom of the 5'x10' trailer in that wind was a real 3 Stooges looking ordeal. Got two more yards of it and will probably need one more load.

 

[Bird]

I hope that's good news, Bird.

The roof on the first place I bought failed the per-purchase inspection, and the owner had another roof (asphalt shingle) nailed over top of the existing one. Ten years later when I sold the place, it failed again. It seems the manufacturer of the shingles was involved in a class action lawsuit, and the settlement covered half the cost. I had a little trouble finding a roofer that would nail on a third layer of shingles, but eventually did. That was probably 20 or so years ago, probably too long ago to apply to your roof, but I thought it worth mentioning.

I know it used to be common to put a second, and sometimes even a third, layer of shingles on a house, but I haven't seen or even heard of that being done around here in many, many years. Every thing I've seen done around here is that they strip the roof completely down to the wood, apply a new layer of "felt", and then nail down the shingles. The roofer I'm using plans to install Owens Corning Oakridge shingles so I think Owens Corning will be around. And my roofing company offices are less than a mile south of my house.

But I appreciate the information from you.

 

[txdon]

Every thing I've seen done around here is that they strip the roof completely down to the wood, apply a new layer of "felt", and then nail down the shingles.

After the last big hail storm about 50 houses in the neighborhood had their roofs replaced. That is also how every one was done.

 

[Rich B1]

Good morning! 35 now, supposed to get to 63 later. Was 30 when I woke up around 6:30. Cats were surprisingly calm when I woke up, didn’t get the usual “we are starving” routine. But they did crowd around once I got downstairs.

Wanted to mow last evening, but too windy and likely too wet. So there will be seat time today. Need to get some diesel first. Can is empty. And tractor is low. Need to get it done today, rain is in the forecast almost every day next week.

Wife is looking for another Craftsman garden tractor . Apparently 2 aren’t enough. But then she isn’t the one who has to keep them alive. They are tough, but the good ones are getting OLD.

Maybe some progress on the trailer today too. Figured out how to install wire in RV wall outlets without an expensive, special tool. C-clamp and a couple of small pieces of 3/4” plywood does wonders.

thoughts to everyone on the mend.

Everyone stay safe out there

 

[txdon]

Good morning 64˚F misting - 100% chance of rain today. Our lake cruise might be canceled this afternoon.

Yard is looking very green.

Total last 3 days of light rain and misting:
Tempest 1.07" - electronic
cocorahas 1.24" - gauge

 

[RedNeckGeek]

Good Morning!!!! 54F @ 6:00AM. Sunny. High 84F. Winds light and variable.
We're being placed under a Fire Weather Warning starting tomorrow morning, lasting through Tuesday. Depending on how hard the wind blows, that could escalate to a Red Flag Warning. Yesterday I counted four or five new wildfire starts state wide, so the fire season has also begun. So far at least there's been no hint of the Public Safety Power Shutoffs, but they usually go hand-in-hand with the Red Flag Warnings...

Never used anything but white sugar, a cup for every quart of water, in the hummingbird feeders. I used to boil the water, but now just put the sugar in a half gallon milk jug and fill it with cold tap water. It takes four or five rounds of shaking to dissolve, but I do 16 jugs at a time so just go round and round until they're all done. There was a surge of birds that came through in early April, but that's slacked off a bit now. Still lots of chatter and dive bombing, that's just how they roll...

I did finally get the mower on the tractor yesterday, but it tool longer than I thought it would. Got a couple hours of mowing in, on a flatter part of the lot with a lot of trees. I was thinking that the side shift on the thing would be a big help, but it doesn't have enough throw to go all the way across most of the trees. The mower is also about 18" shorter than the rear tire track, so the grass is getting mashed down multiple times before the mower even gets to it. It's getting cut, but it looks like a bad haircut.

Got the rest of the wood bucked yesterday, but when I went to fire up the bigger Stihl chainsaw, I couldn't even get a pop out of it. Used the smaller Makita instead, and it didn't have any trouble at all with the 12" rounds, and even one trunk around 16". It wouldn't cut as fast as a gas saw, and it went through a battery set in only a half hour or so, but it worked when the Stihl didn't. The new Makita pole saw should be at Home Depot for pickup next week, and if Makita adds a chainsaw to their new 40 volt line of tools, the bigger Stihl will get replaced, too.

No sign of FedEx and the front differential yesterday, then around 5PM the shipping status showed it rescheduled for today. Nice of them to let me know. Not.

Hope those on the sick list continue to heal, and everyone has a nice weekend.

 

[Looking4new]

Good morning, 26 and going up to 45°F. Wind NNW 2 mph. A few rain showers. This is in addition to the inch of snow we got yesterday. Timmins, Ontario got 5" yesterday.

A dump run is in the cards for today and a trip to Burks Falls to get a greenhouse and set that up. I have two more dump runs to do tomorrow as well as roll the driveway where I spread the gravel.
Our township has a recycle program and they sell a lot of scrap. I've got a horse drawn sickle mower and a two bottom trip plow that I haven't used in 10 years or so. They are out of here.

Time to get my but in gear.

Stay safe all

 

[MoKelly]

Here in mid-Missouri it’s going to be the pick day of the week. Sunny and mid 70’s.

My wife just left for a bike fundraising event (she is riding 50 miles round trip). She is a biking fanatic.

I will try to get some needed mowing in today. I better be successful as rain tomorrow - if the weather folks are correct. I need to get about 4 acres done. Then perhaps some trimming and weed spraying.

Maybe the worst part of Spring for me is all the weeds in the gravel road and driveway. Ugh!

Have a good one all.

MoKelly

 

[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?