Texas Fall/Winter thread!

[Bird]

The Detroit/Philadelphia game in progress in a snowstorm right now is as good as any comedy act you'll get to see.

 

[txdon]

BlueRiver has agreed to look at "plans" to build the perfect grapple in the Texas Grapple Shootout thread. I do not know how to draw plans, but I have some crayons. I hope he has as good an imagination as Harvey. I have a few ideas, If anyone has any thought or ideas to to incorporate into the "perfect" grapple please let me know. If it turns out good we will call it the "Texas Grapple", otherwise we'll call it the "Oklahoma Grapple."

Brandi one thing I wanted to ask you - would the hydraulic cylinders work better in the back of the grapple (vertically) or on top of the grapple for a wide opening?

 

[pacerron]

In 27 deg weather with snow covered ground and an ice pellet storm about to hit, the call is "what's for supper ?"
Boneless chuck, potatoes, and carrots plus herbs and spices slow roasted for 5 hours at 250 deg. plus a homemade
peach pie with some ice cream.

Got to load the wife up with lots of calories before sending her out to do the chores.
Ron

 

[bindian]

BlueRiver has agreed to look at "plans" to build the perfect grapple in the Texas Grapple Shootout thread. I do not know how to draw plans, but I have some crayons. I hope he has as good an imagination as Harvey. I have a few ideas, If anyone has any thought or ideas to to incorporate into the "perfect" grapple please let me know. If it turns out good we will call it the "Texas Grapple", otherwise we'll call it the "Oklahoma Grapple."

Brandi one thing I wanted to ask you - would the hydraulic cylinders work better in the back of the grapple (vertically) or on top of the grapple for a wide opening?

Don,
Grease Zert fittings that are covered in a little sleeve so they can not get knocked off. Anything that moves have a grease zert fitting. I would think you could make a bigger opening with the cylinders in back, but they might not close far enough. On top, when open and biting an object, they are up out of the way with the arm. I think cylinder placement is more governed by the design......either bucket or rake style.

I just went out and fed the catfish. You can really tell it's cold when they take twice as long to gobble up a mouthful. Not to mention taking longer to come up to eat.

Anyway, I looked at my grapple and realized you can only have vertical cylinders on the back side if your grapple arms "center" (cylinder mt. postion) is wider than the Skid Steer QA mounting area. My 72 inch one would be just wide enough.

On the arms.........have a full coverage plate shielding the arms that also brace the inner and outer teeth on each arm (bucket style) . This protects the cylinders when you go for a huge pile and when an end of a log or limb jams into that area. Be sure when all the way open, the arm can not be pushed back by your load and bend the cover plate into the cylinder. I have bent my arm plates into the cylinder, so the plates now are bent a little from being pushe into the cylinder at full open.

Have bolt or clamp on top covers on top of the cylinders and also cover all lines you can with bolt on covers. My exposed lines have a spring like coil covering the ends where they attach to the grapple from your QDs.
Clear as mud, right?
hugs, Brandi

 

[lostcreekranch]

In 27 deg weather with snow covered ground and an ice pellet storm about to hit, the call is "what's for supper ?" Boneless chuck, potatoes, and carrots plus herbs and spices slow roasted for 5 hours at 250 deg. plus a homemade peach pie with some ice cream. Got to load the wife up with lots of calories before sending her out to do the chores. Ron

MMMMMMMMM! MMMMMMMMM! GOOOD!

 

[farmgirl19]

In 27 deg weather with snow covered ground and an ice pellet storm about to hit, the call is "what's for supper ?"
Boneless chuck, potatoes, and carrots plus herbs and spices slow roasted for 5 hours at 250 deg. plus a homemade
peach pie with some ice cream.

Got to load the wife up with lots of calories before sending her out to do the chores.
Ron

With a menu like that, a lot of us "Will Work for Food".

 

[Western]

30* this morning, yet warmer than predicted again.

I had to drive to Weatherford yesterday and by the time I was returning home, a good amount of melting was going on. The problem is the water had no where to go, (trapped in the travel lanes by ice) So I am betting the roads around here will be super bad until the sun gets up good.

 

[Bird]

I didn't open the garage door Fri., Sat., & Sun. But this morning it was 30 degrees with a high of 36 forecast. Unfortunately, it never got above 32. But around 9:30 a.m., I decided to go see how bad the roads were; actually not bad at all, except for the piles of ice along side the roads. So I went to Braum's got milk and on the way back was going right by our veterinary clinic where I buy our dog food and I decided to stop and get another bag of dog food. Now it's slightly uphill from the street to their building and their parking lot was still a solid coat of ice. But there were two other vehicles there, so I pulled right up the building, put the little Ranger in Park, set the park brake, popped my seat belt loose, opened the truck door . . . . and we started sliding backwards.:shocked: As long as my foot had been on the brake, the truck stayed put, but with only the rear wheels locked, we slid. Now if I'd had sense enough to just slide or roll straight back out onto the street, I'd have been alright, but I turned the wheel to try to turn around to go out forward. Second mistake. The little truck turned a tiny bit, but then the back end went downhill faster than the front. Fortunately, there was a "curb" that kept me from going into a ditch, but it took me awhile of wheel spinning, rocking the truck back and forth, and working the steering wheel back and forth to get the back end of the truck lined up enough with the driveway to back out. I'll buy the dog food later.:laughing:

 

[dave1949]

I didn't open the garage door Fri., Sat., & Sun. But this morning it was 30 degrees with a high of 36 forecast. Unfortunately, it never got above 32. But around 9:30 a.m., I decided to go see how bad the roads were; actually not bad at all, except for the piles of ice along side the roads. So I went to Braum's got milk and on the way back was going right by our veterinary clinic where I buy our dog food and I decided to stop and get another bag of dog food. Now it's slightly uphill from the street to their building and their parking lot was still a solid coat of ice. But there were two other vehicles there, so I pulled right up the building, put the little Ranger in Park, set the park brake, popped my seat belt loose, opened the truck door . . . . and we started sliding backwards.:shocked: As long as my foot had been on the brake, the truck stayed put, but with only the rear wheels locked, we slid. Now if I'd had sense enough to just slide or roll straight back out onto the street, I'd have been alright, but I turned the wheel to try to turn around to go out forward. Second mistake. The little truck turned a tiny bit, but then the back end went downhill faster than the front. Fortunately, there was a "curb" that kept me from going into a ditch, but it took me awhile of wheel spinning, rocking the truck back and forth, and working the steering wheel back and forth to get the back end of the truck lined up enough with the driveway to back out. I'll buy the dog food later.:laughing:

Oh dear! Glad you escaped damage free. Nothing like sliding on ice to give ya the helpless feeling.

I think it is a bit of a myth that Southerners can't drive in snow and ice and people up North can. We really don't do all that well up here either unless they plow, salt and sand. A business like you visited would contract with someone to plow, spread salt and/or sand in this area where it is a normal occurrence, or we would be slip slidin' away too. :laughing:

We once sat parked in an I-80 rest area somewhere near College Station, PA all night for want of a plow truck with salt in freezing rain. They shut the road down. You just can't drive on icy roads with regular tires.

 

[jinman]

I looked up to see a FedEx truck parked on the pad I built for Ron and Betty Hall to park their motorhome. I stepped outside just as the driver came to my steps. They were clear, but I told him to just toss up the box. He did that and asked if I thought the ground was firm enough to back up beside my TLB and dump trailer to turn around. I expected him to back up more and get a run before turning, but his front tires were just off the icy driveway. As he went to drive forward, his front tires hit the hump and he started spinning with the rear coming around and down hill. I quickly jumped on the Kawasaki Mule and drove up to where he was stuck. I told him I'd get around back and give him a push since the Mule has 4WD. It also has a very high bumper and I was able to push that big stretch van full of packages right onto the driveway and up the slope. He was away in a flash, waving out the window to me.

About an hour later, I heard somebody yell, "Hello!" I looked out and it was the UPS driver. He had parked his step-van up on the county road an walked all the way down the hill to my house. I thanked him and didn't think until he was gone, but I could at least have given him a ride up the hill.:ashamed:

I really felt bad, so I bundled up really well and went out to get my tractor and clear the driveway. An hour later, I had most of it cleared or stirred up enough gravel and dirt to make the surface have good traction. I drove our car up and down the driveway without slipping one time. I can't say that it is UPS step-van drivable, but the FedEx van would probably have no problem now.

It never got above freezing today, but when the sun was out, the ice was melting. When the clouds rolled in, that melting stopped. Tonight the forecast is for 16 F and we just got a call from Alvord ISD that all classes are cancelled for tomorrow. My grandson is not shedding any tears over that.

 

[Western]

Well, it's gett'n clear we cant let some of you "re-tiredez" out by yourself anymore:laughing: But dont want to name anybody

No to little improvement out here, actually I think it is worse and my neighbor thought that too ( I think he just wants to go deer hunting one more day!)

 

[blueriver]

Well I think the little bit of sun simply glazed the top .. I'd been out a couple times ... One to check in a neighbor and two to put out hay for a friends cows ... No problem 4x4 .. Then yesterday afternoon to town .. Backed out the carport which has a slight incline ... Sat there and Just spun had to keep backing to a flat area and then move on.

Last nights chores the JD gator found itself slipping and sliding more so than any other day. ... Tomorrow we load 4 butcher hogs to go to muenster tx .. Roads will be good thinking I'll put the trailer on the JD tractor for around the yard...slicker than snot out there!!!

 

[Bird]

Tomorrow we load 4 butcher hogs to go to muenster tx

For processing for yourself or to sell. Is Fischer's where you're taking them? We went to Fischer's last Wednesday; really didn't need anything except to get some smoked cheddar cheese, but wound up spending $95.:laughing: They had some ribeyes on sale for $6.99 a pound, and they had some of their good smoked pork chops, and of course a variety of sausages.

 

[blueriver]

Bird ... One for myself .. The other 3 for a fellow from your area that contracted 20 head of fat hogs back several months ago for his all natural meat program ... He has a customer base for all natural beef .. Which he raises and then added all natural pork to offer to his customers .. Been getting 3 to 4 hogs a month. He went thru all the hoop la to get his stuff labeled and pkged in shrink wrap for resale ... I've always used Fischers and I feel you can not beat them .. Last month he had an issue with them .. Something about he didn't think he got his pork .. Says he got way to much bacon and was lacking in other cuts and when he asked they produced several pounds in regular butcher wrap ... Anyway this time they are going to Hess .. Still having mine dropped off at Fischer

 

[blueriver]

Bird .. I forgot to add .. In my opinion it simply doesn't get any better than Fischers .. I just love walking into that store!!!

I'm 56 yrs old ate a lot of pork over the yrs and several months ago when my friend from Denton convinced me to go all natural .. Not organic .. I was reluctant to change from the old days of corn soybean meal and pre mixes .. I did change over and 90 days ago I had my first all natural 1/2 hog processed OMG it's simply amazing the taste difference .. I don't know if it's a mind set or what?

 

[Bird]

Bird .. I forgot to add .. In my opinion it simply doesn't get any better than Fischers .. I just love walking into that store!!!

I'm 56 yrs old ate a lot of pork over the yrs and several months ago when my friend from Denton convinced me to go all natural .. Not organic .. I was reluctant to change from the old days of corn soybean meal and pre mixes .. I did change over and 90 days ago I had my first all natural 1/2 hog processed OMG it's simply amazing the taste difference .. I don't know if it's a mind set or what?

It's been so long since I raised hogs, I wouldn't know anything about it at all. When I was a kid in the 4H club, I raised and showed registered Berkshires. I know I bought a hog "mash" that I mixed with water and/or our surplus milk, but also fed corn, and I bought "day old" bread from the local bakery. There used to be a "creamery" in Ardmore making butter, and for awhile, my granddad would bring me 55 gallon barrels of the buttermilk from that place.

What do you feed now that's "all natural"?

And I've never been to Hess.

 

[blueriver]

First thing I did was .. Pasture .. All hogs have ample grassland and there own ponds .. Then I bought my own grinder mixer went with "Milo" bought it the first yr from a local farmer .. Then planted my own .. And this fall put in 30 acres of wheat to harvest in the spring. Then I located a source for non GMO soybean meal .. So I grind the milo, grind Bermuda hay add the SBM and I found a pre mix that is what the feed company says it's "as close to nature" as Mother Nature herself ... Absolutely no antibiotic .. Unless it's life threating .. If I use antibiotics I keep a record of that and that hog is sold elsewhere .. This fall I baled my milo stalks and am grinding those as well.

Some of my purebred Yorkshires I sell the piglets for show pigs ... Just added some red wattles to the breeding stock.

I have 30 sows/gilts 3 boars and try to keep the farrowing barn full .. Also move a lot of 4 week old weanlings for feeder pigs

 

[Bird]

Sounds like a full time job.

 

[farmgirl19]

The sun is out!!!! Maybe the ice will go away and stay away! I have been home since this stuff moved in on Thursday. This girl is not used to being in one place that long! I might not have minded, if it was summer, and I had tractor work to do, but just keeping the fire going, and keeping feed and water to livestock, can get old very quickly!

After 2 falls on the ice Sunday afternoon, while tending livestock, it will be nice to have rugged footing under me too. Sure glad no one was around to hear me on my second spill on the ice. Y'all know I have been calling for summer's return!

 

[jinman]

It got down to 12.5 F here last night. At 8:15 this morning, the driveway alarm went off. I thought it was a fluke, but looked out to see the USPS carrier's jeep coming down my driveway. Thank goodness I plowed the driveway yesterday. She had three packages for me and said these were ones she could not get delivered yesterday. The regular mail would also be delivered later by another carrier. She had her husband driving the Jeep and she had steel spikes on her shoes so she could walk across the ice. I love our rural carriers and their dedication to their customers. I hope we never see the post office in Sunset close. It's a big part of the identity of this community as well as many other small rural towns.

Bird .. I forgot to add .. In my opinion it simply doesn't get any better than Fischers .. I just love walking into that store!!!

Please be careful on those roads. I think I-35 has been cleared, but Hwy 82 may be a bit more treacherous. Anybody who has been in Fischer's is a fan. I can't get in there and out without a visit to their strudel counter. I just finished the last of 5 lb of sausage I bought there the last time. Maybe it's time for another sausage/strudel run.:licking: I'm the only one who eats the sausage, but I have plenty of help with the strudel.:laughing: