Texas Spring/Summer Thread

CowboyRon · Apr 26, 2016

Snowback said:
I believe that the summer of 2007 was the last time they opened the spillway... That's a looong time.

I remember a high school buddy of mine drowned there in 1982. They didn't find him until some 20 years later when they had a big drought and the lake went way down.

wroughtn_harv · Apr 27, 2016

Last night's big weather event was a non-event. The tornado watch went away quickly and the hail threat turned out to be a bluff. However, they are talking about tomorrow night being the real deal bad one.

bindian · Apr 27, 2016

Harv,
The bullet Y'all dodged up there hit here. We have been without power for 17 hours now. Our street looks like a war zone. The whole Willis area was without power today. I got huge tree limbs on my roof and hanging down over my roof. My deck's roof will have to be rebuilt. Not sure about my roof, as I didn't want to tackle the trees up there after working all night. I have been up 29 hours now.

My huge bent trunk oak over my small pond snapped and was hanging on my electrical line from my transformer. The SHECO crew, that is out fixing our street now, told me to drag the tree off the line, as I wouldn't hurt anything AND they did not have any equipment in the area to do it. Well, I cut it and pulled the tree about 6 feet and the weight on the line was fixin' to snap my pole by my driveway. I drove the Mahindra down to ask him to cut the line, as I figured they didn't have any pole auger trucks nearby to replace my pole if it snapped. They came down after dark and dropped the line. The tree is now a water attraction for frogs and turtles until daylight.

But the drama for me was a huge oak uprooted and leaned into a nearby oak tree. If it had came down, it would have taken out the Mahindra and possibly the CAT. I'll attack it tomorrow. It might take out my new fence, so I gotta tag team it with the CAT pushing and the Mahindra pulling it over sideways, after digging up a hinge pivot in the ground.

I was at work when it hit. Luke was almost to work. Brady tried to go the barn from his RV trailer. He said he opened the door of his trailer and his ears started hurting bad. Then his door slammed shut, so he hunkered down in his rocking trailer.

Snowback · Apr 27, 2016

bindian said:
Harv,
The bullet Y'all dodged up there hit here. We have been without power for 17 hours now. Our street looks like a war zone. The whole Willis area was without power today. I got huge tree limbs on my roof and hanging down over my roof. My deck's roof will have to be rebuilt. Not sure about my roof, as I didn't want to tackle the trees up there after working all night. I have been up 29 hours now.

My huge bent trunk oak over my small pond snapped and was hanging on my electrical line from my transformer. The SHECO crew, that is out fixing our street now, told me to drag the tree off the line, as I wouldn't hurt anything AND they did not have any equipment in the area to do it. Well, I cut it and pulled the tree about 6 feet and the weight on the line was fixin' to snap my pole by my driveway. I drove the Mahindra down to ask him to cut the line, as I figured they didn't have any pole auger trucks nearby to replace my pole if it snapped. They came down after dark and dropped the line. The tree is now a water attraction for frogs and turtles until daylight.

But the drama for me was a huge oak uprooted and leaned into a nearby oak tree. If it had came down, it would have taken out the Mahindra and possibly the CAT. I'll attack it tomorrow. It might take out my new fence, so I gotta tag team it with the CAT pushing and the Mahindra pulling it over sideways, after digging up a hinge pivot in the ground.

I was at work when it hit. Luke was almost to work. Brady tried to go the barn from his RV trailer. He said he opened the door of his trailer and his ears started hurting bad. Then his door slammed shut, so he hunkered down in his rocking trailer.

So sorry to hear this. I'll have the 2538 out this weekend clearing downed trees for neighbors and the HOA. I'd like to help you guys too if possible. I have meetings all morning, but if there's anything I can do to help please let me know via PM and will try to make some time.

bindian · Apr 28, 2016

Snowback said:
So sorry to hear this. I'll have the 2538 out this weekend clearing downed trees for neighbors and the HOA. I'd like to help you guys too if possible. I have meetings all morning, but if there's anything I can do to help please let me know via PM and will try to make some time.

Thanks, but I can handle it. Having huge equipment is a big plus. I'm going to try to get up the street to a neighbors and fix her water line. She has no home owners insurance. Seems all the original water lines on the street were ran right beside trees. Over the years.................the trees got bigger and when uprooted..take out the water lines. Mine was no different, until I move it and made it bigger.
hugs, Brandi

Bird · Apr 28, 2016

Like Harvey said, I got about .63" of rain and we had the biggest, brightest, longest lightning show I can remember seeing, but no damage. Apparently Brandi got our storm this time. Hope all goes well with the cleanup and repairs.

Snowback · Apr 28, 2016

bindian said:
Thanks, but I can handle it. Having huge equipment is a big plus.

Got it. Stay safe and good luck. Anyone else who needs a hand, please feel free to reach out.

wroughtn_harv · Apr 28, 2016

Double doggone darn Brandi, glad you're okay. Stuff is just stuff.

Get everything done you can today because tomorrow it is supposed to get real wet again.

Lou66 · Apr 28, 2016

Sorry Brandi about the bad weather,, glad your save.. rest can be rebuild,, it will gives you something to do,, on a second note: you remember that song by Marty Robbins..

Cross the Brazos at Waco
Ride hard and I'll make it by dawn
Cross the Brazos at Waco
I'm safe when I reach old San Antone,,

wonder what kind of horse he had?.. I am thinking diesel.. smile.. Lou

ch1ch2 · Apr 28, 2016

I found a wet spot that did not use to be there.

Snowback · Apr 28, 2016

ch1ch2 said:
View attachment 466500 View attachment 466501

I found a wet spot that did not use to be there.

Yikes! Does not look like an easy place to back out with loader assist. Has anyone tried the "4x4 board strapped across side of back wheel" method to get unstuck? I'm thinking about stashing the gear needed to do that out at property. I'm sure we have at least 10 spots like in you pictures that I haven't found... yet.

ch1ch2 · Apr 28, 2016

It took 4 hours to get out.
I had a 7500 pound wench pulling, a Chevy 2500 4x4 pulling, a IH 584 pulling.
I used a bucket load of fire wood from my other tractor to fill in plus two railroad ties under the grapple to get the front tires out.
I had to remove the shredder, (2500 lbs) and attached a chain to both tractors draw bars, get a running start and jerk the tractor 2 to 3 inches at a time with the wench holding from it falling back into the hole.

sseelhoff · Apr 28, 2016

ch1ch2 said:
View attachment 466500 View attachment 466501

I found a wet spot that did not use to be there.

I'm sharing this with SWMBO so she understands it's not just me. :laughing:

robbyr · Apr 28, 2016

Googled SWMBO.
Turns out I have one too.

txdon · Apr 28, 2016

ch1ch2 said:
I found a wet spot that did not use to be there.

Been there done that. It looks like you have the same sandy soil I have on my hill. Now I understand the old Tarzan movies and quicksand - the more you move the more you sink.

Brandy, it sounds like you had quite a ride, hope you get back to normal soon.

Don't mow your Horsemint - it repleals fleas, and more importantly now with all the rain, mosquitos.

"Also known as Beebalm, Horsemint is an adaptable perennial plant which repels mosquitoes much the same as citronella. It gives off a strong incense-like odor which confuses mosquitoes by masking the smell of its usual hosts."
Eartheasy Blog >> 5 Easy to Grow Mosquito-Repelling Plants

Kyle_in_Tex · Apr 28, 2016

ch1ch2 said:
View attachment 466500 View attachment 466501

I found a wet spot that did not use to be there.

Glad you got her out. I try not to use 4wd until the back wheels spin, then I engage it to back out of where I shouldn't have gone.

ch1ch2 · Apr 28, 2016

Kyle_in_Tex said:
Glad you got her out. I try not to use 4wd until the back wheels spin, then I engage it to back out of where I shouldn't have gone.

Yes, that's what I used to do also. Wish I still could. It is stuck in 4x4 and I have got stuck 2 now.

lostcreekranch · Apr 28, 2016

ch1ch2 said:
Yes, that's what I used to do also. Wish I still could. It is stuck in 4x4 and I have got stuck 2 now.

Welcome to Texas quick sand. Been there, done that many times.

Snowback · Apr 28, 2016

Glad you were able to get out without tearing up things. I am needing to plan for this future event. Here is an example of what I was mentioning earlier. Anyone ever try this strategy? Magic starts at 3 minute mark. Prep work before that.