Sun’s shinning….

….yippy I oh, yippy I yea. The morning’s Sun streaming in the window it’s the official last day of the known rainy month. Come on May Flowers.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Before leaving home I phoned son and laid down the law. Upon my arrival Hospital the banning was further taken care from Security to the lobby to Nurses on her floor. I enjoyed Frieda’s smiles. Nurse coming in to tell her she’d started paper work for discharge upset Herr Clink put her into a real tizzy. Then the patient advocate seeing my girl talked her into going home. So, my girl calming down needing to use the can, she exited her bed and flowed away. Upon her return she was followed back to her bed by a joining contingent of nurses, aids, and techs. Her monitor had gone berserk bringing this mob to her side. Her hospital discharge had been canceled her respiration having spiked hitting 178. Maybe they’ll get it this time? Any move she makes her breath is short and her heart races. She wants to know why.
I think I got it. I’m just to sexy for my own good.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Today I did a couple three things differently from what had almost become a normal pattern over the week. One, I had tried to phone Frieda five times today only getting her but twice. Secondly, that was about right as it usually goes, my only getting her to listen to me 40% of the time. Thirdly, seeing how quickly vegetation is starting to grow around here, alfalfa particularly talling up, it could be I’ll need be mowing hay in about three weeks. I want to be ready. The idea being fixed the fixing the damage I did to that poor mowing machine taking out a 6”x6” fence post last fall. Secondly. So I’m a two timer, when I’ve a couple three spare hours I can be readying the whole machine lowering the mowing deck, sharpening the blades, and greasing the machine‘s crazy zerks. As far as doing thing differently today I’ve just wakened after a late evening snack’s nap dutily rested up for a good night’s sleep.
“Rainbows.”
Fernan

A-hole kids

Frieda's doing well. Everyday a little more is learned her make up. I have one rather large problem of a delicate nature. I must try and exclude one of her visitors who is raising absolute Hell with her heart's BP taking to rising and bouncing around like a rubber ball. Which is serious enough and of very real concern to the Hospital staff. How'll I handle it? Meet the the problem head on regardless whom it involves or let her hosts ban these visitors for us? This problem involves a couple who've used us before.
Lawd, I'm sounding something like the long sadly missed IDF (Indy Dirt Farmer).
Help DA Fernan
PS: I'm thinking of taking them head on letting the chips fall where they may. These guys have lied, and cheated to take their mother and I for a couple buggy rides. I don't want another one regardless the final lost cost as long as it isn‘t the wrong loss.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Yesterday:
Fire wood's floating down the creek on waters havin' reached new heights, and by same token mud's have been steadily stirred to new depths.
I Thimk I could likely use a pontoon boat with twin jet drives, skis for rudders optional.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
It’s morning the day properly gated:
Do to any the more recent closer to home events, did any the loco folks watching the Royal Wedding happen to see where Her Mostess and myself weren’t? Having personally missed the Royal wedding we obviously weren’t standing in our seats. (grin)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Waking even later than usual it was near ll I could do to get away from here early for the hospital. I truly wanted to head off my trouble making kids. I did it to. Started it with a phone call to son, telling him to keep himself and particularly his wife away from my wife. I wanted his mother home and she was my very first primary concern.
That taken care of I still motored earlier than usual to head them off physically if necessary. I want my wife rested, healed, whole, free from heart attack and/or stroke.
On getting to the hospital the front desk I had to go through channels (Hospital security). And this I had to do in the presents of the patient in her room where in a security officer met with us making sure this was also Frieda’s wish. Our meeting some resistance we finally got it taken care of our way. Whew!
Going one level further I talked to her nurse. Nurse a bit hesitant at first, my explaining the storytellers lying behavior the nurse and staff finally saw it my way. This request had been also chartered. Now I too may also rest easier.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
On my hospital’s arrival the nurse was trying to ready my Frieda for discharge. Ho boy did this ever upset her. There was no changing any one’s mind. However a couple hours later Frieda on getting up to use the facility, she scarcely made it back to bed when suddenly a whole team of care givers come charging into the room. Frieda’s monitor had registered all manor of problem with her hearts workings and respiration. Her organs had just gone a moment this side of serious orbit. Her discharge was immediately negated. She staying put for at least another day. Which she had wanted all along until they had done something about her breathing. I don’t know, I just don’t know? But for now I may rest easy, knowing she enveloped in the best medical help imaginable.
“Rainbows.”
Fernan

Waking’s impressions

I shelpt real good. Waking the house was ultra quiet and cold. (brrr) I hear the very imaginable sound of water dripping off the eves. And, why not. This has got to be April, what? Who can explain it. The season’s all fouled up Springs a-wakening two weeks late April showers three weeks early. What’s either coming or going for the current labeled month’s changing of the guard. I’m getting so tired of the continued rain. We see and feel the sun’s warmth for but minutes at a time to only be follow with an absolute minimum of drizzle.
The constant mud is wearing on my knees and hips. The no drying end is so very tiresome by all inclusive stretches of any imagination.
The barnyard creek is so full of water It aught to be teaming with all manner of fish jumping for individually needed gulps of air. Rain weathered lakes and ponds standing everywhere made up of gather rain waters the earth can no longer absorb. I need cabled suspenders looped over my shoulders descending all the way to my boot tops to hold those boots on.
At least living in a comparatively safer northern state is my households blessing. Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee, many more states have seen and felt devastating tornadoes and winds. It’s so unreal, where has my mind been complaining about my mud, a small problem compared to a many other folks loss problems. Michigan’s location blessings, I’ve still got my dishes to do and kitchen floor to mop.
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House so cussed quiet. There’s none of that Birkerson patter “The Bickersons 1940s Radio Show“ periodically interrupted with hysterical laughter when one of us truly getting in good one. Della cat has taken to loving me. First it was the foot, to periodically joining me for extended periods of time pawing at my body. I’ve become Della cat’s consolation prize, for Her Mostess’s missing self.
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My out the house finding the lower barn darn near surrounded by water. We’d had three inches rainfall over night plus more sense. The calf and cow we’d put in drier isolation three days ago had to go. Poor calf th water up to its belly in places I was a-feared the barnyard creek couldn’t carry the water away fast enough. I was particularly happy with the cow and calf’s simple mildly refusing to in the same direction together at the same time. I don’t know which is dumber the animals or myself trying to move them to my will to keep them as safe as I may keep them. (sigh)
I phoned Her Mostess early morning. She started choking on the phone so bad we had to hang up. And she was telling me was getting well? Things to do Bro’ came after the cow and we moved the pair in a fair and timely manner. Then changing out of my boots into more civilized shoes I was off and running the neighborhoods. Next first stop was to gather in certain supplies. At first stop I phoned ahead my second stop’s need for medications. Back home in time to unload truck, put supplies away, I was going to eat a quick lunch. A can of beans opened, I heard a horn honk. My ride had come and my beans took to sitting with their lid off. Annie here, I was off. At Hurley Hospital my first need was the cafeteria. Had a splendid hamburger. As always this hospital’s the best kitchen is the best of its kind. there are some cooks here. I’ve never had a bad meal there ever!!!!!
Annie having medical appointments around town for herself I was thankful she included me in her loco travel plans. As it had worked out she had finished up her rounds where she had dropped me to begin with. Excluding travel time I got to sit with mine Frieda for a whole three hours. All we know is she’ll be there another day for more tests.
Her brightest moments were her doctors (each one) coming in wearing smiles, everyone of them. Heart is strong. I could be her blood may need coumadin. Oh now isn’t this just going to be Ducky? Having this in common, we’ll both be dodging the rat poison bullet. The Spring rainy season, it couldn’t be more fitting. };^))
“Rainbows.”
Fernan

“Don’t Worry!” she’d said.

Call his a short recap:
The other side the twi-light zone they’d brought mine Frieda down out-a the clouds closer to earth depositing her along the way in the cardiac unit for closer observation. That’s like just outside the ICU. A voice inside the telephone receiver had said, "Don’t worry." Yeah sure. I should-a been made of stone. I’m not to worry! The absolute center of my world is ill and I’m not to worry over a few words? I drove the longest drive in my life yesterday. “Don’t worry?” the nurse had said. I did everything but…..
Imagine my elation walking into her reassigned room to find her sitting up with wearing looked like the broadest smile, relieving my mind smile, written all across her face. (whew) I relaxed.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Looking out, seeing rain, my outlook at the weather liked to sink me as if I were a leaky boat. How much more of this must we take. Fields in Michigan so wet my neighbors along with us can’t get on our fields. Our loss of time is adding new added stated of depression upon our concerned minds. It’s beginning to look like how’ll we ever plant our yearly hayfields.
Checking the western bovine front there’re no new calves receiving a morning rinse. That’s the best outlook I’ve got this morning. Checking the ladies
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Afternoon:
Been up to see Her Mostess. The Hospital is putting her through a battery of tests. Most importantly her heart. Seems her hospital cardiologist knows well our primary care giver giving him a thumbs up continued recombination. Frieda likes him.
(I want his name. Has been months, maybe years, since I’ve seen one. Last time I saw the one I no long trust he had duplicated my medications, which after I had followed his strict directions I had been seriously prescription overdosed. Going through some varied sorts personal Hell I haven’t gone back. Learned I had better be closer to my pharmacist.)
Frieda looked good. Still not sharing direct sugar sweetening. She wants to come home. Only I’m thinking she’s better off were she is. Perhaps when this tripping’s all done she’ll regain some of her energy back and with warn weather’s promise right around the corner she’ll be able to walk some of her weight off. Well, I can hope!
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During some my morning’s motoring I observed the ladies enjoying the rain with their ears down. The sight of this I imagined them covering their ears as to shed rain water so’s they didn’t get water on their brains. (grin)
Back home I snacked for lunch trying to put away some leftovers. Clearing frig some There was one bowl the cats are going to feast on having set in frig to long.
Put afternoon time in at shop bundling up more hay-yard plus shop trash for tomorrow’s pick up. Scared up new fan belt for Ugly’s power steering pump’s need. Put a couple roaming out and about ladies and their calve back in where they belonged and patch a broken fence wire. While I put in my brand of useless shop time the sun coming out took turns with returning rain shower. I even heard some rolling thunder boomer serenades. On way home the Butternut Creek part of the Flint water shed was creeping over its banks likely from more rain than we got here to do it. What a day. An hour late for rattler time I gulped them down, fueled the 4020JD with a couple cans gas. Then needed to hay ladies here and midway down the road. Rest of my evening I get to myself. I see this evening’s entertainment spent doing dishes cleaning kitchen some. Whoopppeeee! Starting another batch laundry can wait till morning. With all this relaxation time on my hands I’ve no idea why I’m so tired before sundown. Heard from youngest son today. He still has high hopes finding himself a long haul trucking job. Oldest daughter has decided to talk to her mother these last three days. All her supposedly stellar friends have all turned their backs on her. She hasn’t braved enough to talk to me. I see it as her problem. She’s the one who left us for the rich and famous. Family? Once they leave the nest they can be such a joy or a pain in the arse. We’ve some of each.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
For supper I found a lonesome piece of chicken. I ate it with some high class mixed vegetables and tasteless rice. Wasn’t brown. Must have been some polished crap. For desert I made me a brown cow (root-beer float made with chocolate ice-cream). Still doing chores at 8:00 PM. I had my soda and drifted off.
And oh. My big mouth, I never got to the dishes nor scrubbed the kitchen floor. I’m a big bad boy!!!! zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz’s
“Rainbows.”
Fernan

Clink’s day 2

I've tried calling hr this morning. Not getting through the phones my be turned off for the hospitable staff may make uninterrupted rounds.
I'll have to try her a bit later. As for getting up to see her, that depends on a ride.
Good gosh the city was more like back to normal the traffic I was glad somebody else was driving me.
Now that I know the rest of the O2 story, I've made some three phone calls and hoping all this is straightened out before my bringing her home.
There likely be more dribbled into my urinal by this evening’s bigger splash.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Gosh I’ve got to get her out of that place. Horror stories are just waiting to happen. Frieda is allergic to a number of medications. On registering for emergency room care she produced documents the medications she had problems with. All this information was entered into her charts, plus recorded upon a second patient ID band locked on about her wrist…Get it? Wrist got it!
So, a Doctor comes in about give her a shot. She asked him what it was? He said he was giving her morphine for pain relief. She come up in her bed and gave him a solidly voiced what for. She informed him that not only was she dangerously allergic to the narcotic but this fact was also listed in her chart. She’d seen it entered; and, the same information was also printed upon a band and attached to her wrist.
My yesterday’s visit short thankful for the ride. I could only stay as long as my driver had that time to spare.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Now, for the rest of the 02 story. Some years ago (me & my memory remembers not when) Frieda was but on a C-PAC machine. More recently (via pre-mentioned excuse) Medical Home Equipment company one supplied Frieda with an 02 making machine to use in conjunction with her C-PAC. We were billed occasionally and then one day the machine quit. Frieda’s phone calls went unanswered. Desperate (instead of telling me original problem) she saw like equipment advertised on TV with phone number. She used it, called it, HME Co 2 called Doc’s office for confirmation and a current prescription order further updated. They were out that same day’s evening. HME2 called HME3. HME3 had Replaced HME1's When they went out of business. Between HME2 and HME3, HME2 withdrew all their equipment, HME3 came in with another 02 replacement machine as per the original order now short the required equipment for the updated prescribed order. Oh boy, in all this changing period space of three-day‘s time. Frieda tells me nothing. My learning of all the goof ups I got on the phone making several calls. I now wait to hear from HME3. This will be a drag. I’ve got work to do outside. Sheesh, all these idiots must have read my unwritten book on professional idiocy. ROFLMAO!!!!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
When I finally made a phone connection with Herr Clink she’s complaining all her old pains are back. That’s reasonable, I agreed then suggested. Just look outside the window. The weather had turned against the likes of us oldsters.
As for the rest of her the rest of the medical geniuses they’ve no idea what’s causing her difficult breathing. We couldn’t talk long. I suspect she felt so much better yesterday being sunny, she over did it. Could also be the young interns had their Wheaties this morning and evidently were out-running her clutches.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Bottom line, this new batch of doctorate-ed experts have no ideas nor causes for her difficult breathing.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Between the supposed in-between's towards noon I receive cal from the hostile, you’re not to worry. They had just moved Frieda down from the 9th floor to the cardiac 4th floor for more intensive monitoring her heart that had started some very erratic behavior after she had been given an intolerable drug upsetting her heart so badly an EKG reading was all over the paper. I tidied up what I was doing. Jumped into Ugly with the words, “You’re not to worry!” Yeah sure, those words running over and over again my mind I had debarked on the longest drive of my life going to the hostile. Also running through my mind how’ll I reassure her she was alright or going to be alright so’s she’d come through this latest crisis as healthy as she was a few weeks back.
On arrival seeing my bride, she was happily sitting up in a chair wearing the grandest smile, the such I was immediately relieved. A kiss hello upon her forehead, again until we know more what may deeply be her unanswered ill or ills I took to a chair to enjoy her company. Despite the move between floors she was served two lunches. She had never been denied a spoon full bite or two. I stayed a few hours to keep an eye on her a pleasurable activity I had never fallen-out looking to. By and by between rising winds and tornado warnings the hospital going into a barely normal lock down against the chance of rogue tornado’s development I found it was a good time to bid Frieda a-do and come home.
On my way home I experienced he worst part of my whole day. Stopping and topping off the Port fuel tank came to sum $75.00 and some cents.
Now that I am home there’s no definite time line as to when Frieda may come home. Della and I tolerate each other famously there’s been no lines drawn and she’s happy enough to just be regularly fed. I’m handling it. Oh, the line of the day? Frieda’s comedown out of the clouds taken up a position more down to earth! };^))
“Rainbows.”
Fernan

3rd n’last report

Been up to see my colleen. Informed, she says she’s got some communicable disease. That’s a fine thing to tell me after all these many years living under the same roof together. She’d also said she has pneumonia to go with it. Tain’t nothing like doing things right. Then to add insult to my delicately conditioned emotional injury she says I mustn’t kiss her. Now just where am I supposed to get my sugar, I ask?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Youngest daughter going up to see her Mom, helped her take a shower. Was good to hear they both cleaned up. {;^))
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Decisions, decisions, Frieda doesn’t like stuffed peppers. Herself not home I think I’ll fix some for myself. Yum-Yum!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
As certain maters continue on I must bundle our trash for tomorrows pick up. And as long as her Mostess isn’t here I must do it without description. This will never do. She’d better be getting well and back home soon. If there’s anything I dislike this arguing with only myself alone. Besides we haven’t finished the falling out argument we started fifty some odd years ago. Not by a long shot.
“Rainbows.”
Fernan

2nd report

She's doing it now...
...holding hands with handsome young doctors where she's got them surrounding her on one of them above the clouds horsepistol 9th floors.
Not looking or behaving well when I came in last night, hungry enough to devour a fighting-est Spanish bull a cape for a napkin, I dangerously loaded Her Mostess up in Ugly and bravely drove her to our favorite horsepistol's emergency room.
Talked to her this morning already. She's improving and sounding more like my girl. No idea how long they'll keep her while she continues “wheezing,” as she put it. I'll enjoy the peace and quiet around here only as long as it lasts.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
An interesting side view this whole nasty business Driving in and out of the city the traffic was exceptionally light. There were no waiting line, parking was easy, absolutely no delays, everything moved right on along.
In contrast when I started out of the hospital for my lonesome drive home Police officers were escorting troubled loose people in the hallways. Out side the E-entrance there were six ambulances, five cop cars and one fire chief’s personal car standing where there were none when we came in, and this was only shortly after 10:00 PM.
During my drive home, at traffic lights, heavy fire engines on the way back to their stations idled past me. It must have been a busy night. Oddly enough I simply don’t miss seeing some of the imagined going-on’s living my sheltered farm life.
Further along my way I saw lit a pair golden arches. I wheeled into an empty lot, spent a moment alone with a two-way talking menu, moving onto the far window. After a short custom making two double McCheeseburgers wait, I munched away along my way home. It just seemed so surreal my whole drive home so little traffic their either passing me an old slow mover the such as I or my or passing other motorist coming head on. Bright lights were the most unusual twilight zoning happening my last evening’s drive home. Erie, hey what?
(Friend Sue (mistress:^) had said I’d find some observation to write about. This may have been it?) Who has more fun accepting people? People!
“Rainbows.”
Fernan

Morning report

My Herr Clink is in the hospital where I had to leave her evening last. It irritates me some trying (to no end) to find or learn of something her problem or prognosis?
Coming evening last a few minutes late for the most usual rattler taking time, she was looking poorly. Before an hour had gone by her breathing had become checked and She started couching hard enough she looked like she was about to choke upon her own phlegm. That was it. No time to find us a ride, I took her to the Hospital myself. Thankfully Being Sunday, being Sunday evening, being Easter Day holiday, local traffic was extremely light. Signing herself in was easy hospital traffic also light. Parking Ugly was easy lots of open parking spaces. Waiting triage was only moments, and she was taken in straight away. She (We) never saw a waiting room. She was immediately set upon by nurses, techs, for vitals, and tests. Her EKG was an immediate concern. She was put on Oxygen (which we didn’t have immediately handy for driving her into the city hospital). She was put on an inhaler to help open her breathing passages. (I hope it was something she not be allergic to.) A young Doctor was in an out a couple times. He as well as everyone else listening to her organs.
She was soon moved to another (more permanent, going to keep her awhile/over night) room and one nurse to carry out Doctors orders. Even for, through, the move there was no explanations. While I was never ordered out I was never privileged any information. Even as I sat there helpless save for moral support I could do little save watch. The new nurse poked her plumbing her into a highly risen bottle lemonade on a timing delivering drip device. The hour getting late I finally had to leave her. I had a hard short on sight darkness drive home to save myself to hopefully see and bring her home today, I hope. Last I saw her the nurse was wiring her into the hospitality monitoring system.
Meanwhile, home, seeing some sun for a good sign, my own rattlers taken, putting in my waiting time before breakfast, I’ve got to find the horsepistol’s useless seeking info phone numbers. This the worst part having a loved one in hospital, The guarded information well!!!
“Rainbows” needed
Fernan

4-24-2011 Cushman’s home

That’s right the Truckster is sitting out here right beside the driveway all fixed and ready to tend to my fields work. That is if it ever dries up. I’m happily ready the two of us taking on some those yearly preparation chores for haying and pasturing.
Now that that mechanical critter is home I’ve got some farmyard fencing to fix and no need of the Truckster this job. Still a joy to drive. Didn’t take me long driving home. Trial run don’t you know. Bro’s ranger parked down in this barn Looks like I’ll keep the Truckster in Bro’s garage a-while. Some fix? Got fence to fix and no need the Truckster’s help, so I’ll just point it the repair site and let it watch so’d it wont feel completely left out.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Easter Day it is and I’m happier than a cinnamon stick wildly flavoring a cup-a English tea. No Easter egg hunt for me. Had surrounded that basically stubborn Truckster and bent it’s will to at last serve me, as what was originally intended only some 10’r’12 yrs ago, all over again. Only driving it back to the shop it ‘s behavior was absolutely nothing like it had ever been before. Such a nicely running vehicle if it were for the fact I know it’s history it drove and behaved as thought it were new. So touched with its behavior I sanded out some vividly chipped paint on the front cowling. Washed with soap and lacquer based cleaner paint readied surface. I touched up those chipped areas with another shade wrong yellow. I’ve got the proper touch up color around here somewhere. Until found this present fiasco still looks better than the white blotches what once were. For now it suits me.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I picked up shop, filled cans with JD4020 gasoline, come home, and fueled same JD. Clock approaching 5:00 PM I had about gee-geed out. Fostering no complaints. Another beautiful calf has come into the world. What a wonderful time of year to witness life’s renewal.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
“Rainbows.”
Fernan

I’m sharing this picture with the mechanically minded.

These were the odd ball tools (or out of the most ordinary) I used in my mechanican this last couple weeks. Okay the flat like ratchet wrench saw action on Ugly’s pickup box. While almost all the rest the tools saw action on the Cushman too. Particularly handy was the peculiar looking needle nose pliers pushing’s’pulling fuel lines on and off fitting both vehicles, they also served me well holding small nuts in areas on the Cushman where I couldn’t comfortably use my fat fingers, without a dozen more same nuts for all that might have been dropped and lost. They come in sets of three’r’four from Harbor Freight.
Fernan

4-23-2011 A sunny Saturday

The morning’s Sun at least put a sparkle on all our water puddles, seas of Spring mud, and a bit-a glitter upon the barnyard creek. And instead of projected promises of fair weather, the forecast is calling for a week’s worth of rain. The poor cattle are putting up with Mother Natures yearly warming blessing’s treading mud, the calves near struggling to keep their heads and belly’s out and above the same stirred mud theirs mothers continue making whole ares of the yards and pasture pieces looking like turned sod. The daily task it has become moving new born calves and their mother’s down the road to sandier soil drier earth accommodations.
As for my present primary mechanical problem I devoted my time to the shop locked up Cushman Truckster. Unable to start the ¼ ton beast for failure the gasoline getting to the engine I took to checking out the engine’s supporting works. Fuel filter and pump working I added a fuel pressure regulator. Thought was perhaps to much gasoline going unburned had washed down the cylinder walls causing loss of compression. Took the carburetor apart, aired out all the passages, checked float level, all looked good and correct. So put it back together. Nothing to fix all was set for start up.
Before I attempted starting the engine over attempted fixing some carburetor issues, finding none I made an improvement’s change involving the professional appearance and positive workability over the maturing finish to the changes made on the steering column mounting.
Now it were time to turn engine over and hear it Spring into life. Nothing happened, even trying priming the air cleaner.
Becoming disgusted, being more than dinner time, thoughts of sticking a firecracker in the carburetor, (no room enough for dynamite) I succumbed to my belly’s need for renewed energy. Cushman book in hand I come home.
After lunch I tested the truth in my thoughts and found dry compression at 170#s, adding a couple squirts oil the compression jumped into the 190#’s. Wasn’t anything wrong with rings, pistons and rings. Next I got into the timing. Maybe I’d originally done it wrong. Unbelievable. Checking it I might have it wrong. Well maybe. This required more thought. Spending some time putting things back together: spark plugs back in, generator back on, about to do something else most likely wrong if I thought to long on it… Tom had set down and just sitting there old Eagle eye spotted a problem. Bless his heart! One of the intake manifold pipes had lost their nuts and washers leaving the intake gasket to disambiguate. Ah ha, that would do it The engine had been sucking free air rather than a gasoline-air mixture. Making a phone call it was a now or never run into town. I had fifteen minutes to make it to parts store before the next do-it chance come the Monday after Easter Sunday.
Back, I cut out a new gasket and bolted the manifold tight to the cylinder jug. It were long past rattler time, time to rattle my bones home.
Another calf I the mud, this cow-calf pair, we all joined in moving it’s family unit into the barn’s adjacent yard. Then I moved the hay rings back out beyond the mud in the last muddied field, and delivered them hay. Then we all joined forces and moved what was left of the diminishing heard back out on the near western pasture. You got Mud?
“Rainbows.”
Fernan

Goooood Friday

I guess I’ll find out how fixed Ugly is today. If I’ve no trouble for a week It should be in as near good shape as I may expect for an old rat roe bate truck.
Trick now it getting Cushman into shop?
Lastly? Nextly? A supposedly JD plow moldboard was delivered yesterday. On packaging it will tell. Installed, fields are likely two wet again to plow. I’m not going to look forward to having to deal with stuck down immediately earth bound pulled in its own self made mud hole.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Ever feel abandoned?
I started my day putting Ugly back into the shop for some tidying up. Late yesterday afternoon I remembered I had forgotten to tighten two cargo box bolts. Then there was that unneeded electric fuel pump I wanted to remove before it was all muddied up before it’s time just riding around. It is most likely without a doubt that fuel pump will find use on another machine around here. I also tried once and for all put a light bar on the cargo box right behind the cab. I was thinking a good place to add a plate for an old CB antenna mount. That wasn’t about to work without some serious unplanned heavy modifications. So that bar’s parked outside the shop door once again. Nut’s! Maybe someday. The primacy problem for mounting the light-bar was the auxiliary diesel fuel tank’s transfer pump. As long as it couldn’t moved for the light bar I moved for added convenience for my arm’s exercising on that pump’s handle for field fueling the tractors. Getting into dinner time I abandoned my tool pick up until my wanted return with the Cushman Truckster. Yeah right? Trying to fins assistance nobody but nobody had any immediate time to either drive or steer one or the other given me a helping hand tow. I was told (or delegated) to wait.
As I waited time dragged on and on I slowly started to fret a bit. Not letting a wait bother me I carefully towed the little mechanical beast out of the barn with Ugly’s help. Repositioning Ugly a couple times the machines steering hauled over both ways in turn I had finally moved up from the barn opposite the kitchen windows. Sort of having a notion this was going to happen in the back of my mind I had loaded all manner of paraphernalia to nigger-rig me some sort of a towing apparatus. First thought included a junk tire. Blocked up on a level plain to the Cushman I tried this idea and idea finding something wrong with every one of them. If it weren’t about to cut a nylon strap over a square (sharp) edge, a chain would just possibly become entangled in the front suspension. Neither those ideas looking for nothing but trouble I didn’t even give a thought to Ugly’s end of the rigging. Terry home I walked over and he had heavily planned his day and he was sewed up with waiting help, picking up and hauling a load firewood for a body heating with wood. Next, though Brad? What the, I had forgotten all about Handy? He just might be home, I gave him a call. He was awaiting for a shopping expedition ride. If we were about to do it it had to be now. Now it was. Dawn and back the including Truckster pushed into the shop, only a couple maybe hours lost, my returning Handy home his return just was rightly timed for his ride. From there the time having flown my mind was coming up on my wall hour. Add to that I had nothing in mind what little I’d do today in an afternoon’s hour left what I couldn’t do in a quarter that time morning I temporarily quit. Seeing Terry again and his help Al, I enjoyed about a half hour honest to goodness gossiping, workshop and equipment shopping talk. Why I even managed to gleam one of Tania’s exceptionally good cup’s coffee. It had been a good day after all. Now if I could only figure out what tired me out? What’s next. Time on my hands, what’ll I look for on the TV napping towards bedtime.
“Rainbows.”
Fernan

Opps, wasn't finished yet.

And, then again, After a belated diner I had to grind grain today. That meant some running around. First off was the fueling Ugly, which I had taken care of making my way home to continue my grind also stopping by the elevator for supplements. Thankfully The grind went trouble free. Any help I might have had was side tracked for a a couple calves one needing sick bay the other a new born. The last activities made my day. For some unknown reason I feel bushed
“Rainbows.”
Fernan

When I’ve got it….

….I got it! I can say that for this day of days. I spent the morning right on through dinner time finishing putting the Ugly truck back together after finding and fixing the cause of all Ugly’s problem over the last eight months. A gallon/two gallons gasoline in the two fuel tanks It was all systems go when I made an attempt to start Ugly after it five days down time. Backing Ugly’s time line back eight months hat was when I installed the second fuel tank. What had happened at that time I had run the fuel lines in and out of a tank switching four-way brass valve. Ant way all’s correct now, to Ugly’s engine is even running on the original mechanical fuel pump.
Now it seems I’ve an extra electric fuel pump on my (our) hands. That’s alright. With at least five, opps seven, machines electric fuel pump equipped there’ll by use for it sooner’r’later.
Ugly running I made a b’line for a Crossroads filling station. Patrons backed up out the door. This is now the only gas station at the Crossroads. So I braved to asked, “Can someone show me how to use a credit card in the gas pump. Another patron volunteered, my following her right out to our neighborhood local price gouging scourge. My lesson learned I thanked the rather attractive young miss suggesting, “I wish I could take you home with me.” I had said, “Only my wife would make me bring you right back.“ For my spoken thought, I got back a charming smile and a giggle as she walked away. Holy high-karamba Fatman. When I had finished fueling Ugly the gas tanks were worth more than he whole truck itself, at $3.99.9/gallon. Thinking I’d pick up a couple gallons milk while I was there it was durn near as high at $3.79/gallon. I opted to stop by the Village Grocer’s on my way home. Milk there was $2.59/gallon. With moneys left over I used the savings buying some celebration’s rolls for tomorrow morning’s breakfast treat.And returning to have I got it? I finally have gotten Ugly fixed once’n’for-all. Plus a second biggy, I made a young lady’s day righter. (grin)
“Rainbows.”
Fernan

A couple Ugly pictures:
Ugly’s cargo box hanging around in the shop.

Ugly’s fuel tanks exposed to my examination and eventual fuel lines reroutings.

Tomorrow I’ll try to photograph the most essential tools I had used for repairing changes.

Nuts

At 2:00 AM in the morning and I am awakened by some heavy base footed band outside put on in addition to his thundering music a spectacular light-shows flashed over my windows. Now he might have presented a better show than the black and white one I saw had it been in technique color. But with such entertainment provided for my assessment I suppose I can’t be all that fussy for no more than I was paying. (sigh)
With such clash banging serenading holding my interest, I found sleep not easily found either on or under my pillow. We must have gotten at least two inches, maybe even three, for the creek had spilled well over its banks. Morning’s TV news casts reported we’d had some hail thrown at us. Frieda had said the same thing the windows taking the beatings they had. It’s a wonder then no glass was broken. So while I fruitlessly rolled between flannel sheets my mind replayed evenings and nights from an earlier time with the pretty maid I had succumbed to her trickery making it my idea to take her for a wife. I reminisced my favored roll to my right always finding cozy the warmth and softness her being, had brought into a changed boy’s lonesome life. A man I had become with the responsibilities to appreciate the wonder’s on nature between my given spouse and myself. Given? Yes given in it was her cleaver manipulating she’d chosen me to hold her close, to lovingly caress, to emotionally sooth her fevered brow for a lifetime. She was and has been my favored top billed star in my life.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
While I was witting the immediate preceding I was thinking about my Ugly truck. Today it was my plan to open the gasoline tanks and find the cause of all my Ugly’s motoring problem. Well, I opened those fuel tanks and immediately found nothen; nada zilch, zip in either one of them to most importantly a drop of gasoline in the same two empties. Now the question was how’d the full left side gasoline tank come up empty. This required some sort of action upon my part while taking my time to roll myself a smoke given me time to think about the discovery of a very out of the ordinary problem. It is about here with the flick of my bic the whole of the problem was perhaps coming to light. The next thing was to take all of Ugly truck’s pieces back together again.
Putting the tops back in the tanks was only a start. It was most important I really find the cause of all our teamed unpleasant motoring before dropping the cargo box back where it belonged bolted down.
My first idea entailed the need of another individual. Bro’ with his an old injury problem was out of the present question. Then there’s Tom always wanting to make pessimistic suggestions which usually include doing it his way be it right or wrong. I had to do it by myself; and, by myself I could take all the time I liked with all the time I needed; but, how will I do it? Trying two/three unworkable ideas the last method was the charm. I put a made up air pressure regulator on the under the hood end of the vehicle’s fuel line. Adding a couple pounds air to the disconnected under the hood gas line, going back behind the cab to look, watch and listen, while at the same time flipping a three way brass valve round the varied stops it’s quadrant for the original splitting the two tanks into one feed. Hen I was about to finish the last moved fuel line connection Tom walked in. No time to give me another quarter to half an hour this supper was most important. Phooey, I called it a day. I could make the last gasoline line relocation connection first this morning. Set box down, perhaps even have Ugly running so’s I may grind grain.
New question, who’s going to fowl it up for me tomorrow?
All in all, I had one Hell of a grand day today, doing it my way.
“Rainbows.”
Fernan

A new Day

And I’d like to know who sent us this crapy weather?
These my yesterday morning’s thoughts! All both of them. Will I ever catch up?
There's talk some low down Tenneseeon's sent us some warm air to collide with Cannook cold air rat at our southern most state border, both sides conspiring to make it snow all over our friendly state. (pea-oh-ed)
The last load high-jacked firewood backed up to the deck, snow falling an accumulation’s amount it looks like winter's start all over again. (teared)
Needless to say for all this underhandedness, I wish could heartily let somebody else have it. (mumble mumble grumble growl growl)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
That was yesterday. Today we’re getting some light showers; and, as long we’re going to have to put up with it make all our received rain light. Perhaps it’ll all warm up and we’ll start seeing some real Spring growth, fields and trees alike. (mumble mumble) Once again I wish we had some rhubarb. And while I was sitting here writing the the very “rhubarb” that word it was mentioned on the TV.
Starting out early about to walk the two mile to the shop Tom come along and gave me a ride. I asked him how he felt and he more or less suggested he was feeling better. Whatever he meant by that?
One I the shop It didn’t take me long to disconnect all the cargo box’s facets from Ugly’s frame. Then it come time to roll the ’A’ framed overhead crane about the shop floor straddling it over the ugly truck’s box. A couple nylon tow straps tucked into the box’s holed corner pockets to be held fast with a bolt run through each loop. Everything rigged I commenced to pull down on the chain-falls lifting chain. One all the rubber band stretch had been taken up that Ugly’s cargo box felt as thought it wanted to sail. It were time I got out of it to watch the two remaining frame bolts I had left in it, watch after the fuel tanks fill tubes. About the best I could do was a good foot running out of lifting chain. Then so I neither had to try to squeak under it nor more importantly have it fall on me. I hand pushed the truck forward giving me an approximate two foot opening to get at the fuel tank tops and their combination pick-up fuel level senders.
Oh? Did I fail to mention Ugly had decided not to go again? I wish I could take as many restful vacations as that multi colored old relic! That was about as I got looking into Ugly’s failure to be readily cooperative on a daily basis. Had to go back to farming this afternoon.
The dinner hour having run late sort-a, I had loaded a brought home driven empty hay wagon along with my coming home ride. Delivering that hay and assisting Bro’ with his chores gates and finding some rubber straps broken and cast about the barnyard their loosened falling away.
Did I happen to mention I hate this weather, its presence making me feel cranky.
Take for instance, the kids will complain about wet grain, yet can wander around the place doing the chores and never see a potential or real problem. Them thinking about this I’ve got something else caught in my craw. Somebody working upon one the tractors he removed a couple pieces of tin. One factory I made myself to shed winter weather off the alternator keeping it snow and ice working free. I’d not had that shielding on that tractor if it wasn’t needed and had continued doing it’s very functional job for many years, Particularly after I had fought with that very alternator two years running so long ago. One these day’s I had better find those parts and install them myself. Meanwhile, I’m trying to decide whether the idiot leaving the parts off was either lazy, a more knowledgeable know-it-all, just a plain lazy ass, dumb ass, or more than one of any the above. Then if I should say anything, I’ll likely be called a nit-picker or a trouble maker. Dumb I’ll never accept, not when I made some proven gadgets that weren’t supposed to work by learned engineering standards! Now that I am finished this day with my soap box I’ll be putting it away until next time.
Darn it, I could sure do with some better weather to brighten my disposition and the ability to once more wear an easily worn honest smile.
“Rainbows.”
Fernan

Two pictures day before yesterday:


Snow is once more gone, our being rained on now. Could use some warmer than 50* temp to see things grow.
“Rainbows.”
Fernan

Part One Tuesday

4-19-2011 The rest of the story……
….in a moment.
A couple things about evening last. For one thing, before I could do my chores around here I had to fuel the 4020JD. Now, or my regular readers, you my remember how ’T’ed off I was bout a week or ten days ago, somebody had borrowed my big-a tractor fueling funnel. Well, I wrote I had gotten it back , even worse I had wondered what I had done or where had I lost it. Okay, so I got it back. It’s under my control. I know exactly where it is. Needing it evening last to empty two five gallon cans gas into the 4020 I was back to what I call dribbling the gas from those 5-gal cans into a half sized slow going plastic funnel again. A horse on me, I know exactly where it is. I had put it in Ugly’s tool box so I know where it was when again I needed it. Yeah sure! Out had to come a step ladder so I could slowly pour out those under rigid control into a funnel’s who’s neck was smaller than the fuel can’s used to poured there contents into it.
Myself the only handy individual on two working limbs, I took every reasonable precaution to fuel that 4020 without falling off something.
For a second thing, upon my entering the barn for my two cans stowed emergency fuel (gas) I had heard more new life. I had coming to my ears the hushed, gentle little sounds of innocents, kittens mews. While I could not see them I heard them calling for their mother coming from a very general direction. I left them be. I’ll look for them another time.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Now for the rest of the story. It seems Tom hadn’t told me everything about his lower back, hips and knees for the true cause of his aching discomforts. It seems a few days ago exiting the JCB skid-steer loader he miss stepped or hadn’t a solid footing coming out of that machine and did some un-witnessed unorthodox gymnastic maneuver landing himself solidly on his can. Thus the most likely cause of all his lower back, hips and knees aches and pains. Tom seeing Doc yesterday, enough x-rays shot his amenity nothing crushed, no broken nor fractured bones were found. Found though a more than healthily useless arthritic spurs in all his joints. These were the cause of all his painful discomforts, likely along with some hidden bruising. So, Tom is relatively okay as far as safe from succumbing to any broken bones fo the time being. Wimp!
This also helps complete yesterdays events or adventures?
“Rainbows.”
Fernan

4-18-2011 About today

It is a good dark of the morning. I should still be asleep. Ha, well so much for sleep. Must be some sort of a preliminary plan making time. Myself to lazy to chisel any ideas in un-erasable stone I’m going to leave my day totally open for mind changing? Lets see, what shall I do?
One thing it’d be easier rolling around under Ugly on the shop’s concrete floor, This idea constitutes thinking about. It’d help to finally finish stool. Once done it may be put out of mind. Then no need to go back to it. Then worry about moving JD tractor and plow. Wait’ll last moldboard may get here early them the plow may be finished without moving it three times. Well, looks like I’ve got a few half fast ideas. As well as way yesterday had gone, I see no need to rush into today, any forethought hard and fast ideas, in anyway, shape, manner, or form… (smile)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
My morning’s shop entry found me going straight for the cut pieces for Bro’s stool. A few token nails to just hold it together Punched it full of screw holes filled with the latest new generation wood screws.
When I had finished the stool I turned to looking for my paraphernalia I use to fill quart bottles from a bulk bucket. It was getting onto 1:00PM when I had finished filling a dozen quart bottles with ATF. Then it was a bummed ride home.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Can’t believe it, Bro’ was actually communicating with me all day from before breakfast to even calling if I were ready to roll after lunch.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
My after lunch return to the shop in no particular numbered order I do-ed the following. The two tractors I wanted started refused. Had to run two different power cords to reach them for the big gun engine starter/charger. I swept out the shop floor. I cleaned the snow off Ugly so’s it could dry some before advancing it into the shop. I unloaded some the loaded cargo box as to rid Ugly of more snow. Plus it was another needed way to lighten the box’s weight. And then seeing as how the moldboard hadn’t come the JD with plow had to be moved for my pushed ugly way into the shop. The JD moved it was time to bring out an Oliver for the Ugly’s pushing. I need to photograph that mechanical process one of these days. I can’t count the number of times I’ve forgotten that little detail. That was one clean and clever innovation what took the kink out of a vehicle pushing chain. Some three and a half hour passing I had all set and ready to go, plus I had to be finishing something I had things to do to home. Feed my ladies and wrap my trash.
Hard up for a bit of help I found Chips help. He steered Ugly while I road the Ollie pushing sick truck into the shop. The Chip gave me a ride home. This was my day such as it was.
“Rainbows.”
Fernan

4-18-2011 About yesterday

Yesterday weren’t a good day. The Cushman up on for wheels I was wanting to put it in the shop for a day or two. Yet had so much to do to get it there. Other projects to get out of the way the best manner in which to do that was to just finish them, have them done once and for all. The JD plow just off the apron could either be moved or transferred from the lighter 4010JD to the heavier 2150Oliver. That requires doing sooner or later anyway. And will be a-field about that day the last moldboard gets hear. Then there’s the tattoo in seat for Bro’s need. Most of it is cut out waiting the start of assembly,
Bad Gosh, I need fix a tire on the wood-hauler. Been needed for some time. And backed up to the deck with a load of wood on it I just as soon leave it that way until I absolutely need it. So, my present thought is to either look-up or find a ready set go spare for that trailer. Be durned if I can remember if I've already made-up a spare for it? That’s something else I’d better check on today.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Well backing my morning’s efforts up I never made it to the shop. About an eighth of a mile down the road the Ugly truck quit again. It turned into one them get out and get under situation. Only a couple day miserable rain put a kybosh on that idea our living on a muddied up gravel road. The weather turning bitter cold in my Ugly’s fuel starvation difficulties I tried switching the electric fuel pump back to the mechanical pump. This was fun my fingers freezing when our rain turned into miniature snowballs. I worked at it diagnosing Ugly’s problem until the engine was covered in enough snow blowing in upon it over my shoulders. Not getting anywhere without a better tool for removing gas line clamps needing a proper wrench and my fingers requiring thawed and warmed Tom’s domicile was but a couple hundred yards away. It were time to take a walk.
At Tom’s house I found him in a wheel chair. His hips hurting so badly he couldn’t manage an easy chair and was aching to return to bed. Meany-while.., the telephones and lights for the whole neighborhood were out all up and way down our road. It just seemed as long as I was having so much fun why shouldn’t the elements really get other necessities involved also. Calling Sparky, He eventually called me back to tell me a big-a tree had been blown over (down) upon the power lines.
A proper made up nut driver put together with a combination of tool pieces I managed to change fuel pumps. Ugly’d still no go. Luckily Brad come cruising along. Between his help and the 4020JD at home we towed Ugly back to my homeyard’s driveway. The day so miserable I checked a second time upon a brand new that morning’s newly born bull calf. Then feed the ladies here and at Tom’s. This was my day or most of it. Only an hour left by the time I got in I opted to give up on my day’s entire preplanned day. Disgusted, cold, wet, and generally fully teed off I called it a day. I didn’t even push the Ugly truck into the barn. I decided to forget it until tomorrow. Now, it is that tomorrow I had put off until today. Now, I’m trying to analytically make another brand new plan for today. Bah Humbug! Looks like a fuller day to make up for my lost weekend Sunday.
“Rainbows?” {;^))
Fernan

On time….

…..I was waking up o take my rattlers. Turning on the deck light I saw we had had an overnight sprinkle, the deck barely dampened. All what was required at hat hour was to wait an hour eat something quick and head out for that mystery dry fire wood pile in the farm area I’ve nick-named the “Turtle Crossing.” At the self appointed hour stepping aboard the WD45 starting it, in to big a hurry I stalled it. Started once more it run for a few moments only to quit again for either seemingly to have quit for the rest of the day or maybe start when it was darn good or ready if and when my attempt to move it again, later.
Out and about and back to the house I checked out my next season’s firewood and found some maybe dry enough to sustain our heat for our Spring needs. Could be I wont have to throw the fire wood back outside to get at replacing my outer front door. By-gum-bo, at least on of these front doors is going to be replaced regardless come harvest-able hay or other tall crops. I have spoken, even if Greene has to wait its heart and body attention‘s.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
With a concerted effort I tried doing nothing today in reverence to the rain(?) or really an off’n’on drizzle being more like it. If our weather doesn’t become any more serious than it is now, by this evening if I can find a squeegee I might either pull’r’push enough this fallen participation together for a Shorthorn country 1/8th inch lightly rained accumulation.
Time spent in the dry of the shop I broke down the Truckster wheels and inner-tube-ed both of rear load carrying tires. As I write this, the Truckster down in the barn is standing tall on all four its own feet without blocking under the axles.
Up in the house Her Mostess is making a chocolate dump cake. Such a simple little idear I passed along to her and she’s running hard at simply dumping this’r’that in another baking dish.
If this miserable weather hasn’t done nothing else it is weighing heavily on my a multitude of spurs upon what feels like everyone my aching joints has been out upon. How many pain relievers can a body take in before a body’s liver caves in? And, this headache. Could it possibly be I’ve got more spurs upon the brain?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Perhaps yes, perhaps no, I may or may not have done my good deed for the week. I deposited a whole bucket full of dimpled eggs upon a neighbor’s chair under a his open sheltered entry. I’ll let him decide whether they’re useful for use for some sort of a sporting extravaganza he is either organizing one-way or another my delivering them in/on time?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Opps, almost forgot. I had a two nice couples (goose and gander pairs) watching me this morning as I was picking up fire wood. I’m hoping either one or both of them consider making the Duck Pond their summer nesting site for clutch making/rearing home for the season.
“Rainbows.”
Fernan

‘Twas terrible….

…….terribly good. Frieda made a drop cake today via Ms. Loopy’s, given me, spoken recipe directions. This story started a week ago my stopping by Loopy Acres my smoking and drinking her goods while at the same time checking upon her health of mine and body. Anyway while I was there she spoke a couple interesting lines. One was her reminiscing upon a time an earlier time drooling of taste treats her mother’s inventive drop cakes.
A drop cake easy to make it amounts to no more than literally dropping the ingredients into a baking dish. Loop’s ingredients first crushed pineapple dropped in the dish, secondly either an apple ot cherry pie filling, and the as either a white or yellow boxed cake mix. Everything in the dish the dish goes into a 350* oven for four hours. Frieda’s version a can pineapple blended 3-4 seconds, next reconstituted dry cherries water and all, and lastly a white cake mix unceremoniously dropped into the dish. She baked it at 350* for between two and three hours.
Terribly good, it took two helpings to satisfy my unsweetened tooths. Terribly good stuff coming out super yummy.
Thanks Loopy Mama!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Now onto some tough stuff. Frieda’s oxygen machine’s been giving her trouble. Watching TV today she got a name and phone number of a home care oxygen something or other. She called them, they caller Doc. Doc gave them an over the phone prescription,, they call Frieda back making an appointment to fix her up her breathing equipment. Insurance numbers taken care of over the phone, a very young man arrived at about 7:00 PM setting her up with all new equipment. Now, Frieda’s on 24/7 oxygen even supplied with portable traveling packs and a rack full of fresh oxy bottles.
Seems her old oxygen supplier had just up and gone out of business. Now we’re stuck with all there old equipment. No body will haul it away and we can’t get rid of it even to the extent of given the stuff away.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Shop stuff for my day’s in betweens. Was busy in more directions than I may easily count. Fixed a flat with a new inner-tube. Removed two flats off Truckster. Cut out a wanted stool into kit form, Assembly tomorrow maybe? And filled in with a whole lot times here and there upon a 6x16 JD on land plow. When the correct moldboard is shipped and here received that plow’ll be ready to go in minutes. All considered it was a fun day, including all the unpaid overtime/unappreciated vacation time missing’s, even to being down to one wheel-burrow load firewood. (nuts)
“Rainbows.”
Fernan

A wee bit kitten history

It was getting close to a death in the house for near sure. That bird's health was in double jeopardy with Della the house cat in the kitchen, and multi-tasken-it-kitty* Sweetheart at the front door. That birds last flight for freedom was a splendid sight to have seen by my eyes.
Fernan
*explanation:
multi-tasken-it-kitty* Sweetheart kitty is about six years old if I am remembering correctly? She was winter born in this house and stayed so a maturing house kitten into cat until one day she wanted out. Opening the door for her she was gone never looking back. At least not for about six/seven months until she wanted back in. The terrific mouser she was/is she did her job with real dedication. Which was a good deal upon both our parts until I come upon the influence of dribbling a couple pounds moth ball along the house’s foundation walls outside. She hasn't been in this house for more than a passing curiosity since. That is as quick in and an immediate out.
Something like three/four years ago though Bro’ had one serious mouse infestation taking over his house. It seemed as those miniature rodents had homesteaded every little nook and cranny his house possessed. There was but one solution as Bro’ had seen it. He’d have to run a trap line for ever how long it’d take him to eradicate them. I offered him a real live solution, Taking Sweetheart from here on down the road. My turning her loose inside his house teed her off but no end good. Mad (furious with) at me and likely the whole world I realized forgiveness would never return easily. As mad as she was hiding from me, my Brother, and the world, Bro’ related to me the next day his hearing things going thumb, bump, crash, with plenty of squeaks and groans coming from with in the very bowels of his house. For his very busy reluctant guest he put out food and water. Which while he never saw her for several days his offering seemed to disappear and/or evaporate.
For five months going by Bro’ thinking Sweetheart’s had been a long enough visitor his place having done all she been expected to do, she had returned his home to him. Then he was about to ungraciously/plainly kick her out of his house. Now, there’s a thankful lot of gratitude for you?!?!? It’s into his farmyards he wants to kick her. A cold/calloused treatment if I ever fathomed one, I objected upon Sweetheart’s behalf. She didn’t know his yards. She hadn’t grown up there. Her life by those moments was unappreciated useless to him. Without a care he was done with her caring little about her health and welfare It took me a couple days of my regaining her confidence enough to even come close to me. Then, when she braved a moment and closed the distances between us I grabbed her, an act she was not particularly happy about her little mind still remembering five months back farmed out she wasn’t exactly in an forgiving attitude towards me, we struggled. Getting her into the truck she raised/voiced more Hell unimagined, so loud he disgust seared my ears. There was no talking to her, she wasn’t about to listen, and absolutely no shutting her up. However when I got her home, she was happy to see her old stomping grounds. And the Boss lady she was it didn’t take her but a couple days to reestablish the fact the Boss was back. Gosh I love that Cat!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Now, do I dare write about my day? Hell yes! It was my day and if want to record it, I shall! Only remembering a couple highlights I’ll let the rest forgotten stuff slid. Okay there may be a better word for it but this evening I like the words “stuff “ and “slide.”
What I did manage to work on some even finished: I laid out the cuts on a piece of plywood for Bro’ a field calf tagging stool. I had brought in a chunk of mine belting and whacked off s chunk for a more closeted cutting out additional parts for a couple fence opener robots. Why I had even managed to finish one part and install it on my first new generation robot azzkicker. Almost everyday the last nearing a week now, Tom made a new conduit for a couple new hydraulic hoses to pass through inside it to protect them from excessive abuse ether rubbing themselves though or becoming snagged upon anything what may shorten their lives. I was delegated for painting it. That took awhile as a quick first this coat applied had to have time to set well so a second coat weren’t to run or slid off, as in hanging curtains in even this minor paint job.
Additionally I had gotten my ash….es (naturally containing Lime, Phosphorus, Potassium, and other good stuff, out back and spread across some of the terrain to let them help sweeten and enrich the soil I had used to fill a big-a hole. One of my early afternoon delights I saw at least three deer carrying the mail across the far end of the Duck Pond hayfield/pasture as I had entered into it. If there were more running ahead of those three I saw, I don’t know. I can attest to only the ones I seen.
So, this about the way the day went for me, doing a little of this and some of that. Oh, oh yeah! Making a call the Truckster parts should be here about next Tuesday, while it’s inner-tubes had arrived today
I’m thinking these words about cover my whole day. Any more info like concerning a couple puckers is reserved info this good night.
“Rainbow.”
Fernan

Brrr
Up for the usual water haul, brrrr, I’m cold and then chilled, if that makes any sense. Assuming my readied position in the Library I let it go. Joining me as liking the usual she winding her body in and about my calves and ankles. Thus so on my way back to my bed I check upon her wants and find she wants water. The water given she’s quite content purring some, nappy with the attention given her.
Regional temperatures hovering right about the freezing marks the house had cooled off. Being cold is one thing, being chilled is quite another. Being cold I can easily return to blissful sleep. While chilled on the other hand I shake and shiver unable to find that warmth that makes drifting back off into blissful sleep an emotional in probability. The airs were cold about me, settling back into my blanket I can’t find warmth, and uncomfortably lay there without that so sought after peace for a few more hours. N self intended making myself comfortable I check the wood stove and find a spark deep within the last morning’s ashes. A little pocking around adding a couple short pieces wood as if they are to be used as end irons in the fire box, I add a piece of paper and d few waxed milk cartons to act as kindling. Adding more firewood piece horizontal to the first two fore and aft beginning pieces, close the stove’s door and wait. I like that wait, the anticipation of radiated warmth off the heavy steel walls of that black box sitting in the middle the house. Hearing and feeling the warm I assume an comfortable feeling all is well about me. My bed has become more comfortable and cozily warm within my blankets. I expect the shadowed corners of sleep to once again over take my mind and body with the peace I so longingly desire. Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
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Zippity do da, zip pity yeah. I awoke some hours later warmed and refreshed, the smells of wood filling my nostrils grander than the disgusting scents of heating oil, natural or bottled gas’s. Then I again felt all snug and cozy.
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Now, getting down to the nitty gritty as to why I am where I’m at, While it may be difficult to put into words everything I got into today I did start and finish at least one accomplishment. I replaced a leaking tire on my most heavily used hay wagon. The deed all inclusive from the hook up, thru the drive, the jacking, the wrenching, not forgetting the breaking down, the tire irons dancing in my fingers like darning needles removing one tired tire to using them again slipping a newer tire on the same rim I had just emptied, next filling the durn thing with the freshest air I could bring to press into it, the tire reapplied to it, lastly dropping it off in the distanced hay-yard.
Not let myself to be judged a bragger, I’m closing this days urinal entry while it may contain some class if there be any found in it.
“Rainbows.”
Fernan

The unwritten

Missing even touching all the bases evening last, here they are… Here I come… Ready? So suffer!
Frieda found out at the Doctor’s office she’s suffering some eye allergies. And, Yes, We had a little tiff last night. I do’t (well for one time, one time only) I’ll cut her some slack her eyes feeling like Doc had played through (golf) through her eyes wearing his fancy spiked foot wear what steadied him T‘ing off... Have had word a long lost grandson may be coming to see us the endof the month when college semester’s over. Might be hinted at both of us are on pins’n’needles so anxious to see him. And then damnedifiknow what-else I had forgotten to set down to keep the journal more up to date.
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Know, since midnight I woke from the middle of my sleep. For something to do I looked up hard hats. I thunk I need one as much stuff I been running into lately. I don’t want to bend anything out of shape.
Since rising for the second time, after some serious coaxing upon Della’s part, I took care of Della’s sand box. Nobody can tell me animals aren’t smart. I mean she pestered me until I took care of it. Her box emptied and refreshed she disappeared now that she had gotten me to take care her need.
Our not having had a fire the fire the last three days, my looking in the wood stove it needed cleaning. Stove good’n’cold it couldn’t have been a better time. And, I could use my tin bucket with the hole in it placing a piece paper what won’t burn over said hole. I really need to bolt a genuine bright tin patch over that hole one these days, especially as hard as five gallon tin buckets are to come by. Why a bright patch? So’s the buckets’ know I care!
Up late then, no time to cook, some quick raisin bran drowned in milk for a quicker eating. Now I’ve got to get off and on. Later….
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…later with all involved within backing this ugly frame of mine up, we had an uncalled for visitor. I had all of the front doors standing wide open. An innocent enough thing to do for whatever it was doing at the time. While my back was turned in flew a bird, without so much as a friendly hello. I wasn’t privy to its presence until I had walked into the kitchen where upon that intruder commenced to check all our window pains for strength and durability. Presumably finished in the kitchen it winged its interest to the other end of the house trying out the east bedroom’s window pains. Satisfied for sure this time here come again for a second test of the kitchen sash. My having informed Frieda of our unannounced visitor she closed her bedroom door.
My having grabbed a large towel to make the webs between my crooked fingers wider/bigger, I was keen on throwing the large towel over it saving all concerned any undo injury with a thought I could show it it’s own great outdoors. My loosing tract of the winged intruder Frieda told me where she thought it had gone, in one of the upper cupboards. I gaot me a chair and testing the strength of its spindly legs I got up on it and there stood moving matter’s around in the cabinet. No bird. I moved onto the cupboard the other side the doorway and started shifting things about. Out come the bird liking to knocking itself out if crash landed on the flour shaking itself alert enough to fly into a base cabinet. Myself a little bit on the reserved side where I get down anymore seeing the grabber, or claw, as I like to call it I went fishing in a gentler manor. Pushing something the unseen corner unseen the bird come hoping, skipping and jumping into flight for a cabinet over the frig. I opened the front doors to give our charge every opportunity to change it’s mind where it might not ought to be. The doors open, my standing back out of all the flight paths to the enjoyment of the great outdoors the bird too once more took to flight leaving us without so much as even a courteous goodbye. I’m telling you, “Rude!”
Or another way of looking at the bird had missed a perfect opportunity staying for lunch, Della’s lunch. You can’t win them all cat!
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In my morning travels I made it back to the scrape yard. There I found two sets of three like pieces of stamped channel suitable enough for making as many as four tractor bicycle racks. I also picked another chunk of steel just a bold faced lying there telling me to take it home. Oh, what the heck, I’d be something to build another mystery something around someday….
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While I was walking around that junkyard I was sickened to see parts of at least three Oliver tractors smash (broken up) in the piles of iron and steel. One was a recognizable 1850 gas leavings. Sure’d liked to have had that one for gear case, rock-shaft, transmission spare, PTO, hydraulic pump parts. Gees o’ Peet!
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I don’t know I got a lot of anything done for all the afternoon. Went to bank and found myself missing something, smarts. Bought me a hard hat I could get in any color so long as it was yellow. I’m going to look like the movin’est bright wild flower aboard any moving tractor a-acrossing any field.
Havin’ goin’ over to the cross roads my favorite filling station has been closed. Darn it, why’d it have to be that one. It had the prettiest gals clerking there I used to imagine in all sorts of bikinis. I feel as if a wee bit of my world has just been crushed some.
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Getting home, taking rattlers haying the ladies a bit off their fed I gave them half the norm. I want them to conscientiously
Finish up all that I have given them. I spied another lady becoming more noticeable about to give birth within this next week. When she bags she’ll likely only be 24 hours away.
For something totally different since the last time (LOL) I tried grading out again some those Spring tractor tracked ruts in the drives. While I wasn’t totally successful in my attempt, a lot of the mess is looking more civilized. I have keep at it. A lot of clay in this farm’s soil when the earth becomes to dried out grading becomes impossible without a monstrously heavy machine. This is why I must stay with the leveling when it looks all to soon. I’d rather move the rutted earth to soon than to late. I know of what I speak here. I’ve been through it before.
“Rainbows.”
Fernan

4-11-2011 One pet peeve
I likely have a number of pet peeves, but listing them here I doubt I may even remember any to many. But for now, I’ll write about the one that has been my mind intrusive aggravater the last couple/three days. Let me start at the beginning. Some years ago, climbing on and off a tractor four time with every gate I either wanted to or needed to go through was simply wear on my old aching knees and hips. I started thinking, (A well known handicap with in local circles), There has to be a better way to pass thru any gate I choose. Thus I started researching the E-Net for radio control switching apparatus. It took me something like five years finding an purchasing the first single channel wrong one the first time. (I may still make it work at a later date?) I finally found a surplus offering three years ago and purchased two more. Building the first robot I found it a poor working asset having to give up on it. The second attempt looking good received the latest multy channeled remote radio controlled switch. OMG, it worked, but it’d be another year including a bust Summer into last year’s Fall before I finally finished it. With another radio switch, geared down drive motors, all the required cabinet materials, and knowledge to make a second robot number two will have to wait. But, still in a supply parts enough to build another one they’ll keep. I’ll deploy the first one somewhere once the Spring wet season has dried up.
A new season approaching Bro’ purchased two radio remote switched ATV electric winches. He tells me, “See what you can do with these. They seem to have a lot of your need already built into each one them.” So I’ve a whole new challenge.
Giving a couple weeks thought to the another gate opener I took it on a couple days ago. I’ve almost got it finished today. During the inter mediate time all inclusive these three days. A by stander asks me what I’m doing. I tell him and he immediately tells me I can’t do it with what part and parts I’ve started my assembly. Then when he’s nothing tangible to offer he goes on about doing something he was working on without me in the first place. I’m relieved. However, now’n’then he gives me one of them doubting Thomas’s looks. Quit understandable I wasn’t to sure how I was going to built it either. However I had what I had to start with and an idea how it’d look and work in the end. All I needed was the in between ideas and parts to bring it to a working finish.
Now looking like a workable finished product I’m getting instruction how to do this’r’that his way. Hun Funk Phooey! I’ll continue to do it my way “!!!!!!
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I googled “earth's axis movement?” And was seriously, delightfully, extraordinarily, entertained for at least a half-an-hour. I suggest and encourage folks looking in. It is an enlightening collection of informative articles. Topics included the sun, moon, and gravitation forces. The articles included earth quacks and tsunamis, their influences changing the earth’s axis, the effects these same forces have on the length of our days and nights. Try it, you may like it. Your reading it will be your believing.
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One more hour in the shop Bro was as usual un-brazenly closed mouth soul. There is no such thing as an, “At-a-boy!” to ever slip from his lips. His single greatest pleasure is finding fault in whatever it is he sees, vocalized along the line’s. “Oh crap!” almost completed he asked, “How does it work?” I explain how it’ll work and from where it’ll get the energy to do what is asked of it with a push of a button. Of course with the contraption nearing completion he also has ideas; but, my design so well designed (on my feet) his suggestions are which I with good practical sense I shot them down ending any conflict in ideas before they could irritate my soul.
Having to take Frieda to our Doctor I dropped her off an merrily went upon my way. I cruised a junkyard roughly a mile up the road. Seeing nothing of useful interest to me I drove South for my parts guy. My returns forgotten I’m to return them tomorrow when I pick up all the ordered parts in for morning pick-up unavailable today. And in some second thoughts, I’ll return to the junkyard for two, three oor more pieces steel channel suitable for the base pieces need my making some tractor mounted bicycle racks. When deserted, I may peddle back four times fast than enduring any long walk back. Enough of this line of thought. It were time I pick up Frieda from Doc’s office. My getting back for her I was more than in time enough. I waited and waited.
On returning home there was a metamorphose change from my lovable Frieda into a bossy Herr Clink. There was some question as to whether e were putting out the trash this evening. Herr Clink come across with some supportive lip. I suggested we get into it. She;s thinks she wants me to hit the road. I point out it would make little difference to me. But for herself she’d have to get off her arse. I also pointed out all I was doing around her putting up with her queenly ways suggesting she’d better put some realistic thought into her antagonizing assault upon my having asked her to bring a lonely bag of trash to the front door. I was not a happy camper, but as negotiated some fifty-four years ago. Any tiff had to be gotten over or forgotten in twenty minutes or less or face an all-night ambling tiring making up……….ruining a dawning’s readied rest.
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“Rainbows.”
Fernan

Sports

I’m not usually into sports. However this morning waking up about a half hour prior my normal wake up time TV programming was about nil. That was right up until I found a women’s collagen softball game. An I thought to myself, “This is better than nothen.“ WoW! This was fun and the action drew me in, could even had been against my will. This was a ball game fully loaded with plenty of total field team participation. Fun, Fun, Fun watching these young women playing softball. This was no only pictures mound game. Although this Big Ten UM Jordan Taylor was a gal to watch. By’n’by her dark haired-eyed big framed giant of womanhood kind-a reminded me of somebody else. Another athletic bodied babe I used to horizontally wrestled with a half a century ago. All below the belt reminiscing set a-side this Ms. Jordon is one super good softball pitcher with a athletes fielders baking her up on the big-a ball diamond. Game ended UM-13 to Purdue-1. UM women hit 4 OUT of PARK home runs. The crack of the ball bat again that pitched ball it went went higher and higher right out and beyond the playing field! This consortium of women’s ball players looked like an Olympic ball team to me. Go, go, go Ladies. And, this from an inert sports fan who could normally care less.
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Yesterday’s shopping Frieda’s purchases about broke the bank. Just dawned on me I missed last nite’s blog entry. I guess I spent some fun time contributing comments to a couple three boards when I had finally, though, late bellied up to my key board. One of my day’s highlights was stopping in checking upon a convalescing neighbor lady and her K9 buddy. It was good seeing her getting a first hand update on her rehabilitation. She looked good her eyes bright, smiling, and sparkling. Her exercising looked like she was coming along well and she’ll be kicking arse in good form soon. Her K9 buddy (Scooby) was so happy to see me coming he neglected to announce my arrival. Silly misguided dog made me feel like a celebrity. Poor thing was near worn out Scooby busy shadowing his Lord’n’master yard cleaning. That dog actually wore himself out dragen fallen tree limbs out of the woods to the fire pit. He is one of a kind wonder dog. I love that Scoob!
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Yesterdays shopping, Frieda’s mountainous (a shopping cart full yarns) contribution (two bushels full I carried into the house, once home) to the last checkout counter near broke the bank. (Somebody give me strength) I’ll know for sure after I’ve look at our bank balance. In my hunting part of the total Ugly expedition I shopped for cat food (Top the list? I must be becoming bonkers?), livestock salt, tractor fluids, equipment inner tubes, winning/loosing some parts acquisitions for farm implements and the Cushman Truckster. Most notable I picked up gasoline pressure regulator for the Truckster’s fuel pump to limit excess unburned fuels washing down the cylinder walls shortening the rebuilt engine’s life. Also needed were inner tubes for its 10/12 year old tires. They may be in next week?
All in all it had been a good day out upon a working set of wheels under our derrieres’ again. Tomorrow I can get Her Mostess into see Doc for a reacquiring sore eye lid.
Women, can’t keep them up and can’t shoot’em. (grin) Why’o’why did ever get mixed up with one? That basic little black cocktail dress in navy-blue it was. She had vamped me. Yup, she had vamped me real good!
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Here I go again? I relished the idea waking up at my own respectable time wanting that moment on to look something important on the I-net, and I forgot what it was. Curses, I am so unsoundly disgusted with this infernal instantly short time memory loss, I just want to forget it! Golden years! Bah, Humbug!
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Copy of Roost board contribution:
Board gets quiet for a couple days, I slip away a few days knee deep in other activities and Annie comes alive. Now, had I done it right or wrong to hear from the lovely lady?
Been so busy watching for calves, tinkering on Ugly 8 days to find an unwilling cause, spending watered down shopping money, worrying have we enough fire wood to make it two more months heating and thinking all that time about all the projects I had wanted to get to. Have got a number of Neighbors healing, one sadly wasting away, the spirit about gone out of him. (This man was an active farmer just down my road. Didn't face the trouble indicators in his eyes until to late. He's gone steadily blind the last five yrs until he now sits in total darkness.) His boys showing little enough interest keeping up the farm, both of them are sadly wasting away.
Hi Annie: Here's hoping your fortune has turned and improved.
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Almost right out of this morning’s house I tried grading some mud around here. Called something for even thinking about wasting my time I tried it anyway. I had made some limited headway over a couple places while getting absolutely nowhere over the third souped up area. Then spent some my time assembling, fortunately finding most the parts I needed saved here’n’there about the shop as I went. Breaking for lunch, looking back at the taking shape, form this second generation robot electric fence gate opener was looking pretty good. More later……
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….after lunch did the ladies here and half way down the road. The had gone back to the shop. Continued my robot project this time scrounging up some rabbit cage wire and made a four sided cage for the works bovine protection. While ikt had been awhile, I dragged the sheet metal brake out and bent my a four sided wire box. I wired the only open corner together with the materials own one sides little extras. It come out looking good at about the same time my personal mental and physical resources hit my proverbial mid to late afternoon wall. I was in no condition to go on, yet? I needed to salt those ladies at that end. So, I moseyed out and filled some portable red fuel cans. Put away some trash were it better belonged than in the back my truck. Made sure I had salt for the lot half way home. By the time I arrived home, removed my shoes, washed up some and took my rattlers. Sitting on my sorry butt, I finally remembered I had forgotten to salt those ladies on the other end. “Fudge!” as my Mom used to blaspheme, it seemed I had forgotten doing something so simple. Aching more than I wanted to feel, I wasn’t going back out and down there. They’ll see me tomorrow.
“Rainbows.”
Fernan

Calving Season’s Hear

Calving season's started a red (& mud-colored) bull calf I had to carry it out of ten inch mud, one hand for the calf the other for each mired in turn.

For my efforts I slept 13 hrs. Up and out, with an over slept dirty conscience, first thing this morning feeding the cow, checking the mob another bull calf roan was born to a roan cow.

This last guy bigger (much) than the first I'd to get him up beside the barn some time today.
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Ha-hal-halle-halleluiah! I finally got that Ugly truck’s problem worked out. My troubles centered around a poorly put together a starter rebuild. One of the copper field bars coming out through the starter case where it was to initially attach to the solenoid. One those bars had been drilled off center. What happened it had over time opened on the ultra thin side of the drilled hole, eventually slipping off sides breaking continuity between solenoid and starter fields. On close examination this picture there is an odd shapped piece brass bent around one side the junction making one the starter and solenoid. This where the problem, I fixed with my odd washer.

Up until this most recent ingenious fix I was a long near bringing out my nug and put that freaking Ugly out of both our miseries.
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Lower back and left knee yelling at me most the day I took a many a frequent sitting it down or out breaks. For something even more different to do out of the ordinary. I took me a chair and garden rake out in the road and tried a controlled burn my wind blown tree leaves gathered in the ditch. My hope was to uncover the tiger lily’s I had planted year before last so that they may multiply with more vigor this summer than last. Well as it turned out nothing burned against the inherited soaked up winter rains and snows. Besides it was while I was sitting on my Dad’s once upon a time referred to I had sat on my brain in my arse.
I also took a number oh walks out back worrying about that newborn wandering into a mud hole. Well, his mother had been good about staying put with her calf on an abandoned hay bale parking site.
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Getting back to the Ugly’s problem pulled the damnable started once more. Ah ha, I finally found it when changing solenoids the field bar had slipped out from underneath to conjoining screw between the major starter components. Sacrificing a barnyard’s zipper tang, them using a pair pliers and a hammer I made to hold those slippery bars together for once and for all. Upon my last components assembly it woiked. Put back in the truck, It turned the engine over. Ugly now refusing to start again. Yipes! What the same-Hell is going on. Looking the top of the engine over I found a problem in the hand chock control. A pair pliers making a couple/three hard bends I had it nicely working.
Priming the carb for about the umpteenth time Ugly’s engine come alive. Picking up my tools, gathering my leftover messes.
I let it run. Well, why not let the jalopy truck celebrate. Enough outdoor celebrating I left Ugly where it was turned off inside the barn. I did my chores. Came in and uncorked a healthy looking vino bottle. Supper was served 7:15 PM. I’m as happy as a clam. Wheel’s fixed, belly ful, hitting the bottle, and I know I’ll sleep good tonight. Best part I come up with a couple innovations for making another working robot gate opener. And where are my Cushman parts. How’d they shipped my parts, via the Siberian Express?
“Rainbows.”
Fernan

I’ve lost a day, again.

Regardless my opening remark, the 7th was a Hell of a bad day. Interruptions I got nowhere with the Ugly truck. Dam, I need it bad. There’s a dead short somewhere in the vehicles wiring.
Well as I had planned I was on the road early the WD45 and I made to the shop, rounded up all my want list’s item, when I was interrupted. Thankfully that was after my tool and parts round-up had been completed. Bro’ wanted company new calf checking. The pasture earth baren one lady looked as if she were to momentarily ready to pop. I was about to mix some salt and talked out of it for a change in mix ratios. Fat chance with Ugly down I’ll get the supplies I want on sale. Crud!
So I gassed the tractor and headed for home. It were my lunch time. I was two hours getting home running into three acquaintances. The first one, a gentleman I was thinking about calling only day before yesterday stopped out today. He caught me in Bro’s farmyard. He’d been near to Hell AND gone last fall surviving a heart attack and a quadruple bypass. Oh! Was I ever more than glad to see him.
Second interruption neighbor Brad caught me at the only corner between the farms. His news involved the family break in artist criminals who had been breaking and entering raid our neighborhood had just been caught. Mom had been casing their victims, her boys doing the break-ins when the coasts were clear. They didn’t count on somebody being home catching them in the act an held them at pistol point for the cops. Once the cops got them a talking the whole family enterprise had been revealed PLUS the cops found one of the thief’s hand gun used in a recent shooting in his car. And, this guy had only recently gotten out jail for another earlier shooting. I hope they throw the keys away after these guys career criminals making them all somebody else's locked up babes. (hehe)
Third interruption Tom comes rolling along. He’s had his head together with Bro’s and they’d decided I didn’t have enough to do! (This my story.) He tells me he’s going after a hat wagon. What I didn’t know was between them they had decided I was going to load that very empty wagon with dry bales. I didn’t know this until my lunch was interrupted, “Have you loaded the hay wagon yet?” Crap, I sure was happy to suddenly learn I was instantly expected to do this chore for everybody else. All I wanted to was work on Ugly!
The 4020JD backed up to the wagon and pinned, I was off. Cussed mud oozing out from under every and tired wheel. I’d spotted the wagon. Decided to feed my ladies looking out across the scene I see a horrific sight. A little newborn calf mired in a pool of mud. I call Bro’ reporting what I’m seeing, just so’d he'd know. I spear a wrapped bail, open it, drop a wire at the further end of the feed lot, drive out feeding the mob in a feeder some distance apart. Coming back to the calf, I twas a small one 60#’s or so I judged. I wadded in. the poor little guy (bull) was mud free his eyeballs up over his head down a fur or five inch width down his back. Holy Molly I couldn’t pick him up and carry him out of that vegetation free soup. It was one hand hold one his limbs, my other hand pulling upon my sucked in boot my foot just in it, we worked it the hard way out of that eight inch depth mud hole. The calf cleared of the mess I let his mom take over. She picked licking him off. (I’ve heard rumors about our eating a bushel of dirt before we die. She was getting more than her share.) She was/is a good momma.
Leaving my charges to themselves with a hope they stay out of trouble I move the bale ring all but lost in the bovine made mud. Re load it and thinking about loading that wagon when here comes Tom. I walks out there, hangs around, which wasn’t a bad idea keeping an eye on them while I do my loading thing. An extra ball on the loader I backed up to the wagon. All hooked up ready to roll here comes Tom, talking, “I come to hook you up. There’s no calf in the mud.” Holy Shyit, Dick Tracey, He’s had his head together with my Bro’ and he’s blind as a bat, missing the fact that calf was all mud colored save the red hairy strip over its face to the end of his tail’s body attachment. Yet, I’m assuming he thinks he’s some kind of a hero.” Cheese‘n’Crackers, It was all he could do to raise two litters of pigs before he got’em a couple/three of the whole out of them all to useful sizes. His first calving season, seeing a couple calves on the ground he’s become an expert.
By the time I had finished picking up after all the help, who’d showed up, some I was thankful to see, who’d brought up the cow and calf putting them into the barn’s adjacent sick bay yard. Lastly I closed m gates, hand fed the single cow, walked around Ugly once closing the barn, I was exhausted hurting. My day was done.
Frieda managed to make us a decent supper, I had only gotten it eatened, and I was sleeping before quarter to eight PM.
Backing my afternoon, it was an eye filled treat to see that tough little bull calf on his feet and after a couple attempts had finally found his personal dairy bar. (broad face smile here) It’d been a good and bad day all wrapped up in one collage of varied colors.
“Rainbows.”
Fernan

4-6-2011 days of hurting

In answer to an “aint so tough after all........” posting. This story, with Loopy’s help, took place back in ‘96.

I remember, (you) remember, when Shiner laid me up them's horse doctors installing one of the rifle barrels in my right leg. How about all the joys our getting me in and out of your van for all them horspistol visits? So many seerays my right limb it had been such a painful defiant one each time you hauled it and the rest of me in there. Then there were all them intimate pictures taken the durned thing taken its own sweet time a healing, had all them pictures been tacked-up around any room's walls, I'd had had the appearance of a centipede. And my hurting seemed as though it were multiplied with each picture those saw-bones had ever taken.
Cheese’n’cackers! I remember it took ever so long, way too long, in my mind way back when to ever been the perfect heel-r? So take heart our, Lovely, you too will heal. I guarantee it!

And, A big AND, a couple years later stressed over Bro’s debilitating accident, Frieda and I were invited over to one of the neighbor’s for a what out hostess had told us was going to be, something like, “You both need a good home cooked meal.” Home cooked? John had charcoal rock hard burned steaks on an outdoor grill, and the rest of the vittles we ladled straight out of paper barrels instantly delivered from the Village Grocer’s delicatessens showcases. Oh poo, you worrying about cooking. Just axe me, and I’ll contribute a couple three paper barrels home cooken straight from VG’s glass case for the party.
For along with your generosity, the twins inspired my Santa story.
Fernan
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Now onto Ugly?
I might just as well be a-foot (which I am anyway) with a field breakdown. Only in this case I managed to park some of the Leland on top of a hardwood pile, myself to darn lazy to move it. Then commenced to push Ugly inside the lower barn’s door just enough to close said barn’s door. While it drizzles all day I added jumper wires to excite the starter solenoid, which in the end worked to no avail. I even removed the battery cables for replacement, having them out and ready for a ride which had never come. The continued same old story of my most recent enjoyment of mobile life.
Okay. I’ve had all night to review and re thunk all my mistakes and what the should have been checked. So, tomorrow expected to be a drier day after today’s all day drizzle, the WD45 again pressed into service is going to transom me down to the shop for a loaded list of new idea tools and parts.
New thoughts: maybe the new battery’s no good, perhaps the alternator isn’t working (like battery the alternator looks like new, still?), Grab some additional bat cables off the wall, and some more test instruments. I better make a list: volt meters, circuit testers and light, bat tester and bat hydrometer. What else? As sure as I am of my list I’ve surely forgotten something? It can’t even begin to start working any other way! Oh yeah, Grab me another alternator even to robbing it off the once upon a time driven Old Blue truck. Now, that I have it all well thought out today's attack on Ugly, what possibly could go wrong? Is there even the slightest chance I may just perhaps get it right today.
One additional matter. I do wish the parts would get here even if they were shipped snail mail. (sigh) Not all’s lost I do like most of my open aired drives, the breeze in my face, under the overhead Sun. I must admit I do prefer the drier drives and it isn’t supposed to rain today. Hmmm, Maybe I had better mix some salt to bring back home with me? Yup, mix salt, seeing as I’ve got me alternate transportation. (hehe)
“Rainbows.”
Fernan