Good morning!!!!

   / Good morning!!!! #212,501  
At work, we just upgraded our 3D plastic printers. We have a class that teaches mechanical power transmission and the teams have to come up with different gear systems that get 3D printed. Some pretty cool mechanisms.
This is the nicest of the plastic printers. We also bought 3 of the smaller units to help tow the load.
Original Prusa XL Semi-assembled 5-toolhead 3D Printer - Enclosure Bundle | Original Prusa 3D printers directly from Josef Prusa

Yesterday, I was planning to make some repairs to the pond rake and actually started on it. But God had different plans. I actually heard a water leak where the buried waterline comes into my home. I think the drought caused shifting soil. The old line lasted 21 years. Filled up bathtubs with water, filled some pitchers and put them in the fridge. Started digging while not too hot, but then the sun came over my barn and it got hot. I got up to 90+ here yesterday. I put up our shade canopy and boy was that a good idea. I can't dig as well as I could when younger. You would think the dirt would be all soft and wet, but when I built this home, I put in a french drain surrounding the whole slab. So the water was going down the drain, around the home on the lower side (as it was intended) and it got things all nice a wet on that end. So my dirt I had to dig was rock hard from the drought until I got down the 2 feet to the french drain. The water line was under the drain so I had to cut out the drain and keep digging. I was going to go back with PVC just to try and hurry the job, because I had 3 people in the house. But after talking with some friends, decided to go PEX to allow for soil movement. Now I know Popgadget likes Pex A, but I have no tool to expand and not willing to get that $ deep into is, so after watching some videos to learn more about it, I bought some stainless crimp rings and a $40 Kobalt crimper tool. The Pex's flexibility actually saved me from having to go back under the home again. (I could work through the water turnoff door). $150 at Lowes and the job actually went fairly smooth...except I had bought a PVC to PEX adapter and it wouldn't fit as I hoped without a junction. I had taken off a 3/4 male to PEX adapter and just used it in a PVC threaded part with some rector seal #5. Wifey sat out by me and handed me stuff as I was prone and leaning down into the hole. I would not recommend the Kobalt crimper tool to most of you. It takes a lot of strength to use, and they make 1 handed ratcheting tools that are better I hope.

Here's where it went into the crawl space under my home. About 2' below ground level.
My cheapie but trusty 12v bilge pump for pumping the water down. I hook it a battery charger away from the water. Figure 12v won't kill me. LOL.

Screenshot 2025-10-11 074821.png


I did take the tractor down to the pond to pull more of the weeds up the banks. That is a workout for the tractor for sure. I have to stomp the differential lock while backing up to give me some extra traction, but still need more traction even though I have the 3 pt Bush Hog on the back.
I ordered some 1/4 stainless cable to replace the 1/8" which has broken twice on me. It does not do the pulling, only the lifting of the rake.

I have much to do today, but not sure which and what yet. My beautiful wifey just made me my decaf mocha pecan coffee. Yummy.

62F going to 90+. I hope to take the son to the tennis court and learn how to use their ball machine.

Prayers for our team, I also pray for peace around the world.
 
   / Good morning!!!! #212,502  
Wife is at a farmers market today hawking her alpaca goods, so it’s just Zoe and I to hold the fort down and be productive.
Zoe holding the bed down? :) Hope your wifey has a good day at the FM.

Billy, looks like a nice date night with the wifey.

I need to take my wifey on a date. We usually just like to go someplace to have a nice meal.
 
   / Good morning!!!! #212,503  
52 outside this AM, heading to mid 60's with rain moving in sometime this weekend. Maybe starting later.

Did all my chores yesterday. Even managed to get out with the wife and do some shopping. Cannot leave her alone for a minute though especially with a cart in hand. LOL. I found her flirting with the store manager and got the explanation from the manager that she is trying to get them to stock my favorite beer. What a woman. Seems only one store in the immediate area carries that brand, in bottles and she is trying to correct their mistake. LOL.

Today is a cleanup day, have guests coming into town and even the house needs a decluttering process. Not much else on the agenda. Turned the HVACs over to heat last night....guess fall is here.

Hope all have a great weekend. See you in a few, Be safe.
 
   / Good morning!!!! #212,504  
good morning, 45 going to 68 cloudy with rain later on

finished remounting of the plywood sheet on the stone wall

Mowed a couple of areas

Made scallops for dinner, delicious

Drove wife down to the old ice cream place for a cup of mint chip ice cream

Agenda for today will depend on how wife is doing
I have never cooked scallops, but have had them in a suppossedly nice restaurant. I say that because a lot of people have told me that they just cut plugs out of stingrays to substitute for scallops these days and I'm not sure what the restaurant was using.

It sounds like y'all had a good time. Prayers for her to feel better.

Drew, keep giving us more tales from your adventures. I hope the weather does not ruin anything for you.
 
   / Good morning!!!! #212,505  
I did take the tractor down to the pond to pull more of the weeds up the banks. That is a workout for the tractor for sure. I have to stomp the differential lock while backing up to give me some extra traction, but still need more traction even though I have the 3 pt Bush Hog on the back.
I
Could you post a pic of your rake set up on your tractor?
Been thinking of a way to clear my small pond.
TiA
 
   / Good morning!!!! #212,506  
Could you post a pic of your rake set up on your tractor?
Been thinking of a way to clear my small pond.
TiA
I'm embarrassed to show it. Haha. It is minimalistic and a "rehabbed" basket ball goal. Or should I say repurposed?
It is really too light duty for what I'm asking of it. But with practice, I'm learning how to "not break it immediately".
 
   / Good morning!!!! #212,508  
I was thinking more of reach
It is not that long. The tractor has 24" rim diameter front wheels and I drive it down in the water just before the axle gets to the waterline. It only has maybe 10' reach out beyond the FEL bucket.

Early on I decided to have it where it is hinged and not rigid. I wanted it to follow the contour of the bank. That was a good decision.
 
   / Good morning!!!! #212,509  
Morning all, 55 going to 66 and light rain, which was not forecast until 2pm.
So no splitting this morning.
Want to go something at the local farm/haunted hayride place later if it clears up a bit.
Went out for drinks/apps (even after 2 years it feels weird to order a club soda instead of a drink).

During the week need to put out some halloween decorations. Kinda late this year.

Be well,
 

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