Texas Fall/Winter thread!

[bindian]

Had a true Texas 6" rain this morning....I averaged the distance between several drops and that's what my tape measure said...6".:smiley_aafz:
Still mighty dusty, however.

Brandi, glad your tanks are going up...mine are still going down.

John,
Tanks a lot! I don't think of them as tanks. To me, tanks are what cows drink out of. The small pond wouldn't work for that with it's steep banks and stones lining the swallow end. The new pond with the island, would qualify as a stock tank.
Maybe it would work better if you tried a 12 inch ruler?
hugs, Brandi

 

[Lou66]

Dear Diary,, today I got another inch and half rain,, that makes 5 inches in the last three days,, I decided to run the disc over the hay fields,, it was almost to wet Dear Diary,, but I completed the job,, tomorrow maybe it will be a little dryer so I can drag the fields. Also Dear Diary I saw this young but nice looking lady,, I think she was in her early 60s,, I said Hi,, she smile at me,, I think she think I'm a nut.. but who cares,, I got rain..lol..kick them while they are down.. Lou

 

[Kyle_in_Tex]

We didn't get enough rain to get the topside of a cow wet.

 

[Lou66]

I know what you mean Kyle,, in 2010/2011 we got less than 5 inches for the year,, no cuttings,, had to pay 95 to 120 dollars a bale for weeds, ,they called hay,, I sold all my cows the first of this year except for four reg. heifer and one young bull.. Lou

 

[texasjohn]

Rebuilding is a long road, both pastures and herd...takes years. And rain. Rain hasn't started.
I sold 2/3 of my herd last year. Down to my best cows, 1 bull.

 

[Lou66]

Rebuilding is a long road, both pastures and herd...takes years. And rain. Rain hasn't started.
I sold 2/3 of my herd last year. Down to my best cows, 1 bull.

I only run about 25 mother cows most of the year.. and to be honest most of my cows were in their teens,, so it was time to rebuild,, it just took a drought to force me to do it.. Lou

 

[Western]

Looks like things are going to change Sunday, at least in N. Texas. Can you believe a 30% chance of snow early Monday morning where I live, no accumulation expected. Thats all good and dandy, I will take moisture in most any form right now, it's the cold air with it I wont care for. I have 2 weeks of work for the year left (contracts) and of course I work at night....outside... Supposed to hit the upper 20's a few days this week, so I'm think'n long johns:laughing:

 

[Lou66]

Good luck on the rain Dennis.. Lou

 

[Bird]

Yep, Dennis, that "slight chance" (or 20% chance) of precipitation would sure be nice if it happens, but that NWS forecast of 19 degrees Monday night doesn't sound so good.

 

[jinman]

All my outside faucets are getting wrapped and covered this weekend. I figure the rain/snow chances are just 'weather guessing background clutter,' but the cold temperatures have to be taken seriously. After all, I'm the guy who ended up with 4" of water in his basement from a busted pipe a couple of years ago.:confused2:

 

[Lou66]

look likes in the lower 30s here on the coast.. so I guess I will cut the water off at the barn and drain the lines.. Thanks Jim for the notices.. Lou

 

[Bird]

All my outside faucets are getting wrapped and covered this weekend. I figure the rain/snow chances are just 'weather guessing background clutter,' but the cold temperatures have to be taken seriously. After all, I'm the guy who ended up with 4" of water in his basement from a busted pipe a couple of years ago.:confused2:

Yeah, that water in the basement would be no fun at all.:laughing: And I already have our outside water shut off and faucets covered. That's really the only thing I don't like about cold weather; possibility of water pipes freezing.

 

[texasjohn]

76 degrees now, humid, sweating like mid summer, scheduled to be in 70's to midnight! I'll believe rain when I see more than 3 inches in my rain gauge...anything less is ineffective it is so dry...

 

[jinman]

I got all the outside faucets wrapped and foam covers in place on the outside spigots. I like to wrap the hose bibs behind the handle with a thin foam insulation wrap and then put on the foam cover. Today, I'll turn on a heater in my cabin and one in my wellhouse. I keep the inside of both at around 50 degrees and the warmth seems to penetrate the walls and keep pipes safe. I've never had a frozen pipe in my cabin. My grandson helped me by asking hundreds of questions in rapid succession.

After protecting the hose bibs, we stacked a bit over a cord of split wood out of my dump trailer. We backed the trailer up near the stacking area and I let my grandson dump the wood. The dump trailer is one of his favorites. I doubt that I'll use much more than that cord this winter since we have such mild weather here and our fires are more decorative that required. Maybe by next year I'll have my wood burning stove and be able to heat my house with wood. I'm pretty sure I could get payback on a stove in two years or less. Anyhow, my grandson was a lot of good help stacking the firewood. We should have a roaring fire going with the cold front hits today.

After stacking firewood, my grandson and I went trail riding on our Kawasaki Mule. He loves the trails and hills. He has learned just when to stop and shift to 4x4 before climbing or going over rough terrain. He's still a bit heavy footed, but that's just being a kid. He's become confident and skilled enough that I got out and let him solo up a hillside while taking a video with my cellphone. He did a great job and was sure proud of himself. Here's a link to the video:

 

[Lou66]

Jim,, Grand kids are great,, the nice thing about it is,, you can give them pocket full of candy and send them home. pay back.:laughing: We have 10 of them,, and 6 great grandkids,,
Forecast for 80 today before the cool front blows in,, possible 32 by Monday night,, I turned the water off at the barn and drained the lines in the stalls,. I'm ready.. :thumbsup:Lou

 

[jinman]

Jim,, Grand kids are great,, the nice thing about it is,, you can give them pocket full of candy and send them home.

Lou, the problem is this grandson lives with us. If I feed him candy, he bounces off of MY walls.:mur:

 

[Western]

Jim, sounds like a full day for you two!! That young man seems to be doing great! I have little doubt he is appreciative, but I think the full impact will come later in his life when he can look back as a man with a family and remember the day's working and learning with "Jaypa" (sp) No where to go but "full steam ahead" for the young man now!!

Lou, that is sure a "hand full" of "chillins" right there:laughing:

Spent part of the day yesterday, checking water lines, filling up the things that needed filling, bird food, deer feed. Then the wife and I ran to town for a few hours getting some gifts and "what nots" , wasn't near as crowded in the stores as I had dreaded.

The nights are supposed to get to 19* so not looking forward to work.

 

[Bird]

Yep, Lou, that's a bunch. We have one grandson by birth and 3 granddaughters by marriage, but they're all 4 still single and in their 20s.:laughing: And now we have a granddaughter who recently turned 8 and a grandson who recently turned 6 (brother and sister). Technically, they're still "foster" children of our younger daughter and her husband, but it seems pretty sure that they're going to be adopted permanently.

 

[Lou66]

Jim we had a grand son live with us for several years and it's true he didn't get as much candy as the rest of them.. He grew up to be a find young man,, the nice things about grandkids you only have to tell them one time,, "Don't do that are I am going to put a knot on your head".. it like someone done pre warmed them.. "that old man mean" lol..

I hope it works out for you Bird,, nothing like having grand kids around,, they will keep you young,, beside they can work on your computer when it goes down.. Lou

 

[texasjohn]

I winterized well house, pump, etc. yesterday. I've discovered another reason it's great to do dumpster diving....some time ago I found a bunch of
A/C duct insulation...tube with silver outside, inch plus of fiberglass held open by wire coil. Remove the coil and you have easy to handle insulation to go around whatever needs insulating. I love recycling stuff!

74 now, low of 36 projected tonight, 24 tomorrow night. Calf born yesterday is up, around, should be fine unless driving rain comes with the cold.