Monday, August 29, 2011

All Day Motoring

As this title implies I motored all day. The 4-180 White twice, the Cushman a countless number of times, and the 951 Ford tractor.
1st getting the Cushman out of the way it was thoroughly involved in shuttling Sneak and/or myself hauling, tools, oils, fluids, jack, diesel and gasoline fuels.
2nd-ly I used the White 4-180 in some heavy action leveling the seed bed. Not once but also an early evening touch up 2nd time.
3rd-ly the Ford was going to be used for cultipacking (setting the seed) the hay seed planting. So while I had to drop the summer hay rake off its back we moved a 2nd hay-rake as well presumably parking them for the winter. And, while the Ford was on the move, we used it to park three hay wagons out of the way in my hay yard. Then we hooked it up to the Brillion seeder cultipacker to take it over the road to the distanced satellite new hayfield. This our last official farm act we checked in on Denny’s grocery store principally for oatmeal bread (none found) and ice-cream for her ladyship. Milk higher than gasoline at the supermarket a stop by the drug store we saved at least a couple bucks on a couple gallons milk. Arrival home about 7:30 PM. It had been a full day of tractors entertainment's times.
“Rainbows.”
Fernan

Sunday, August 28, 2011

Hit’n’Run….

….it was my clipping a mailbox. On a road with skimpy shoulders, no place to pull over only stopping would have either tied up or stopped traffic, my rolling over the narrow blacktop pavement. I mean what does a fellow do with a 4-180 White with 2 pcs implement’s 11/12’ width by 50'some in length equipment in tow. I just kept on going cataloging the fix-it to take care of later in the day.
Tractor, disc, and drag on site we attempted to make some adjustments. Yeah sure! With what? Drag hardware and wrenches last used still missing. We did manage to drop and bolt disc wings, took it found we needed Hi-Lo jack. Whelp had to take the 2150 Ollie back to shop for plow repairs anyway. It was time sure to go and initiate plan “B”.
On the road again reversing the road’s covered to head for home, approaching the mailbox fatality site the body of evidence was gone. Okay, I’ll let its owner put it back up. He likely leave hanging out there near over the road again anyway. Oh well; it could continue to be an on going to close to the road project for its owner putting it back up time and again.
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Next stop, lunch and continued on going to shop for jack and more hardware. On arrival we approached the Tall Ollie expecting to step aboard, start it and move it out of the way. It’s needed tomorrow for spreading lime. Yeah sure! It no start. Three of us spent most our times fighting, tinkering, scrutinizing, wire testing, and even replacing the tractor’s ignition switch. Was even suggested 4010 JD use with half loads. All said and done Tall’s starter going to the re-builder come morning, And, so much for plan “B.” Looks like we’ll immediately go into plan “C” come daylight tomorrow morning. Then I’ll go back to disking and dragging plowed ground for the day‘s opener……
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Good Gosh Mad Madeline update:
Stopped this evening while trying to sooth my personal disappointment to finally find out how the girl’s doing. Was told she went home a week-ago last Thursday. She’s quite subdued after her ordeal. Remains to be seen how she’ll fare over her recovery these next few months. Myself, I think it a good idea she slows down and works slowly back up to find her new limits. What am I saying? Who’s ever accomplished slowing a 10 yr old child down?
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Fillip’s cooken making mackerel patties, baked tators, and fresh sliced garden mators. I’m already drooling.
As for how I had spent my day, I was feeling a bit disappointed in getting less done than I had expected of myself. While I had wasted no time, what had been done will most likely reflect on tomorrow’s accomplishments.
Tired, to tired to pop, I was ready for sleep when supper’s eaten. And, supper was excellently delicious. But then I am easy to please.
“Rainbows.”
Fernan

Saturday, August 27, 2011

I’m so Impotent…..

….around here I’m call upon to either do this’n’that. Today I was a radiator water boy and a broken fan belt mechanneck. I not only had to travel I had to carry my own tools and mix (cut) the antifreeze I had to leave a couple wrenches behind. This was almost my entire morning. I got home at quarter to lunch.
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Afternoon saw son and myself finishing up the Tall Ollie. Yesterday I had rit we pushed the engine ahead with a body jack a whole 1/8”. Well today We pushed that same engine back that 1st traveled 1/8” with a compact jack. Dropped in the bolts and tightened them of course. I swear it took longer to pick up and put away all the tools we had either found useless or had actually worked as we wanted them to. Then there was the blocking for the third jack’s lifting. So we’d three jacks employed for installing one bicycle chain and its opening a cotter pin to stay put.
While we tidied up I had asked Sneak to clean the tractor’s battery posts. He also found some bolts either missing or loose. His going over these details we’ll find out if they did us any good tomorrow when once and for all we move that MIA tractor back out of the shop where it belongs earning its keep.
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For more excitement we picked up one them round patio tables what used to have a umbrella sailing over it. The kegs we’ll save for scrap. The table top will make a swell lid for covering a tipped on it’s side hay bale peeled for small lot feeding.
“Rainbows.”
Fernan

Friday, August 26, 2011

When frogs wear red shoes…….

…..I’ll have caught up some my internet reading “When Frogs Wear Red Shoes.” (Smiles)
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Last night's repair efforts on Dumpy good for naught. This morning I had picked up my newly ordered master brake cylinder. The part installed, a couple jerks on the bleeders, the brakes were fixed.
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This afternoon Sneak and I took to replacing the Tall Ollie’s bicycle chain. What a job? We removed the Perkins engine’s motor mount bolts. Rigged a 2x4 pry with a come-a-long and failed to gain the clearance required to put chain master links in the meeting links. Short on gained clearance I stooped to plan “B” inserting a body jack between the council pedestal and the engine block and pumped away. Just as my cell phone bargain to carry on, we had at that instant achieved the chain’s required assembly clearance.
Bro’ had broke down plowing a distanced field from here and on one leg was worried about the ½ mile trek to the front of the property and his pickup truck. Called away for an errand of mercy. Our arrival on the scene we found he’d made half the distance between beginning to end. Oh well, never mind what I was thinking involving gasoline expenditure and lost time. Getting back home, took a tea break and was in time to listen to her physical therapist’s assessment Frieda’s conditions. He to suggested she needs around the clock portable oxygen. Anyway he recorded his findings. Now w continue to a-wait the traveling nurses findings; AND, the keeping Frieda’s appointment with a special heart specialists findings and recommendations.
My squeaking enough has finally gotten my Frieda some serious attention. Not yet knowing which way the wind may finally blow Perhaps we’ll eventually have an answer we may live with.
“Rainbows.”
Fernan

When frogs wear red shoes…….

…..I’ll have caught up some my internet reading “When Frogs Wear Red Shoes.” (Smiles)
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Last nights repair efforts on Dumpy good for naught, I had picked up my newly ordered master brake cylinder. The part installed, a couple jerks on the bleeders, the brakes were fixed.
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This afternoon Sneak and I took to replacing the Tall Ollie’s bicycle chain. What a job? We removed the Perkins engine’s motor mount bolts. Rigged a 2x4 pry with a come-a-long and failed to gain the clearance required to put chain master links in the meeting links. Short on gained clearance I stooped to plan “B” inserting a body jack between the council pedestal and the engine block and pumped away. Just as my cell phone bargain to carry on, we had at that instant achieved the chain’s required assembly clearance. Bro’ had broke down plowing a distanced field from here and on one leg was worried about the ½ mile trek to the front of the property and his pickup truck. Called away for an errand of mercy. Our arrival on the scene we found he’d made half the distance between beginning to end. Oh well, never mind what I was thinking involving gasoline expenditure and lost time. Getting back home, took a tea break and was in time to listen to her physical therapist’s assessment Frieda’s conditions. He to suggested she needs around the clock portable oxygen. Anyway he recorded his findings. Now w continue to a-wait the traveling nurses findings; AND, the keeping Frieda’s appointment with a special heart specialists findings and recommendations.
My squeaking enough has finally gotten my Frieda some serious attention. Not yet knowing which way the wind may finally blow Perhaps we’ll eventually have an answer we may live with.
“Rainbows.”
Fernan

Thursday, August 25, 2011

So much…..

…..month left at the end of the money? And I’m required to purchase a new part for the dumpy truck. Argh! If this is the worst of it, fine.
In another vane, Frieda’s received by mail an appointment to see another physician about something? Either her heart or lungs week after next. So much to look forward to.
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I don’t know how other Michigan people are making it? Frieda and I now with Sneak’s company are holding our own. Although, I’d like to take a more avid interest and active part in junking to bring in a few extra bucks we could surely use, If I were to accumulate a load of scrap within our own borders I haven’t the fuel to deliver it to a junk yard for what ever price it may bring.
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Juan picking me up this AM I was delighted to go along saving me some fuel to travel work on. Picked up a few items along the way his welcomed ride.
This afternoon sure the part replacement was of no use on the Dumpy truck a new one’s ordered for morning. Nuts, I’ve got to drag out the charge card. How will I ever even out our dept to zero?
This afternoons fun involved chancing using the 4010 JD and it’s engine’s runaway tendencies. That was if we could get it started. Cussed tractor needs a couple new batteries. Suffering a distributor pump ailment I see no point in wasting money on batteries this late into a winding down summer season. My knowing of these problems I’ll keep a close check upon that engine’s character! Needed the JD for slipping though some tight quarters to bring a spring toothed drag out into the light of working the earth for a fall planting, winter rye. We also used the JD for moving the drag up the road. The drag, the disc, the 180-4 white all in my yard it’d be here we’d put it all together here. To either make things work or go together it took some imaginative trickery to fit the hitches, to put together the hydraulic hoses. A fresh can of WD40 spray was a very essential part in washing out female hose remotes and common ends. The whole process accomplished late afternoon, convoying the whole machinery parade, we’ll start it off come 8:30 > 9:00 AM tomorrow. This our day…..
“Rainbows.”
Fernan

Wednesday, August 24, 2011

Sudex’s in

Spent the entire day hauling and wrapping Sudex haulage. Dumpy truck acting up nearing end the afternoon it took some extra cautious driving bringing in the last two loads.
Tea time, rattler time, a couple moments chilling out, then it’s wanting to get my lazy backside back outside to fix Dumpy truck. Now we got a four day clear weather to make more hay. Mower needs resetting down, and other priorities to manage getting the way of also get some land plowed for fall planting. The three of me just ain’t enough, me, myself, and I.
After supper, after Mike got home, Sneak and I buggied over to borrow a 15MM wrench. Getting back to the Dumpy truck neither Sneak or I nor both of us together could we move (loosen) one nut off on a conjoined braking part. This assembly previously freed of the last 4x4 I had driven until the cab had fallen apart, we made a 2nd trip over to mike’s for use his impact wrench. Vroooom! It took the stubborn nuts off. We had free parts and back into the mechanican business. Back at the Michigan Shorthorn country ranch it was only minutes and we had the master cylinder all back together again and filled with fluid. 3rd and final motoring back to Mike’s we were returning his wrench. There we were treated to well earned beer, for both in haying and Dumpy fixing. With a friend like Mike how can neighbors ever go wrong. It’s been quite a day and via an impromptu beer relaxed, all of a sudden I’m ready for sleep.
“Rainbows.”
Fernan

Tuesday, August 23, 2011

Short’n’Sweet

Hauled‘n’wrapped Sudex off 1st field. After a 2:00 PM dinner hour, experiencing five plugs two finish balling Sudex on 2nd field. This was my long (our) day.
“Rainbows.”
Fernan

Sunday, August 21, 2011

They ain’t enough of me

To start with we all had a good sleep last night. Winders and doors open I covered up with a blanket a second night. Dialogue misinterpreted between household party’s I finally had my Wheaties to get myself on the go. Once outside the first thing I wanted was a sample of the sudex that wasn’t baled yesterday. With scissors cut up ten milligrams worth sudex into 2” lengths on a paper plate. It took 4 2.3 minute nukes to dry the sample out determining the moisture content 70% after yesterdays/all-last-0night’s continuous 1½” rains. Okay easy goes it, I’m thinking. Yeah sure….Here come Keith with a new wrinkle out of ground feed. I’ve got hay to bale. He keeps the feed needs secret. All’s not lost for I had emergency supplements down in the barn. He’d also promised he’d be back to give me a hand. I never saw him again all day.
Baling plan all but changed its start had been postponed for an hour or so. 1st thing out the drive to go for empty feed wagon. Getting back moving Sneak’s stuff out of barn, then backing out the grind machinery. The Cushman was pressed into service bringing the supplements up from the barn. The grind went alright including delivery. Planned baling start was started an hour later. Rolling up the sudex the Tall Ollie was smoking right p until I heard a very load “kur-chunk” sound coming from deep under the Tall Ollie with all loss of any forward motion. )*&(&^$)%, the Tall Ollie had just thrown it’s bicycle chain. Nuts. Not else to do I celled Sneak, “Bring truck. Must go to shop for a part and tools!” On the ball he was on scene before I had walked out to road. As it worked out we’d made a second shop trip for tire irons. Only an hour till sundown unable to replace the chain coupler we called it a day an hour before sundown.
Looks like it’ll be a tractor change tomorrow morning. Nuts! Oh well, we do what we got-a do.
Supper was good and we finished off a mixed berry pir for dessert. Supper eaten, this written I was ready for bed.
“Rainbows.”
Fernan

Saturday, August 20, 2011

Got-a Wait-a….
….for Frieda’s medical as to what’s gonna happen next. I often wonder if this waiting is a plot to drive a drive a presumed sane man nuts on a personal note.
Meanwhile, out in the varied yards, have got to worry about the animules. Two sudex crops (2 fields) cut the last two days, I’ve got to check daily, maybe even hourly, the crops moisture content. Must down to 50%, no lower than 35%. This process is almost measured and assured by guess and by golly. There are two moisture testing methods. My preferred one choice uses a very expensive moisture tester retail priced 2/3’s the bartered price paid for the dumpy truck last fall or 1/6th the bartered price of the Ugly truck 3yrs ago. Why must everything have to involve so much money? The second method involves taking samples, weighed, nuked to dry some, and then weighed again for moisture loss. I’m going to have to try the second method. Shouldn’t take more than a few minutes a couple times a day.
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Threat of rain, the crop perhaps drying down to fast went straight to baling rolled two bale, the baler broke down. Lost a drive chain. Off to the shop with the machine. It was the cutting of a brand new chain today. Getting tired putting together old chain pieces. Either way I fixed it right this time, the time taken would be the same. It was time to upgrade.
Back to the field rolled one bale. Sky clouding heavy like, going on a couple hours past dinner time, we bugged out for the feed bag. The tall Ollie parked handy like in the driveway, the Cushman taken back to the barn, Sneak and I each just beat the rain to the door. Thunder’n’lightening, weather reports, watching live Doppler radar, this was the center of an elongated stretched out rain cell that’d take its time passing over us. It was hang it up time for a good dinner. An extra pizza made last night reheated and berry pie-al-la-mode for dinner or lunch? It had to have been dinner for the extra time we taken to have enjoyed it. Why, I had even had a nap while three hours weather passed over the castle delivering three waves of ice cubes and three soft-water rinses we had gotten moisturized by up to at least 1 ½” rain. There was no going back to baling this day.
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Lets back the tractors up: I saw something I’d never seen before. A fog rising off the earth as I had passed over it cutting and windrowing the crop. Look closely the rising fog is visible over the the last two cut windrows.
Photobucket
At least four rabbits and a fawn were reported seen leaving the scene ahead or just behind the rotary conditioner and that was observing just one side the field.
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The nap, one I hadn’t taken in a long time, while I had missed seeing and feeling the rain, I had also missed some the extremely low barometric pressure upon my aging joints. And at that it seems all three of us had napped through a portion of the thunder and lightening displays of the weathers delivered rage.
Well rested I think I had steak for supper. Sneaks not to bad a cook. We all watched some TV and still bedded down our usual times. So what if I am up at 1:00 AM in the morning, when I’ve completed this, it’s back to bed I will go. Nite-nite.
“Rainbows.”
Fernan

Friday, August 19, 2011

Finish What

Now here’s title to wonder about. But its what I started out with. What commutation will ever develop as I write on will be anybody’s guess.
Frieda’s telling me of her recent communications with Doc’s office, techs coming to the house, a call from one of her medical equipment suppliers. On top all this, there’s some monkey going to look at her last night’s breath/oxygen level monitor machine to determine if she still continues to require her breathing machine/cpap, oxygen machine, emergency oxygen bottle, and/or further equipment. All this unsettling problabben is making me very nervous. And then while the official results aren’t in yet one of the the medical equipment supplier has called informing Frieda about all the miscellaneous equipment additions and updates she entitled to. I’m shaking my head. Plus about ready to go into battle over this whole indecisive mess.
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With Sneak beside me we turned right out drive to check access to a satellite field crop’s next cutting. From there we motored on to shop and finished Tall Ollie’s front tire repair. The Tall Ollie standing on all four feet we came back here to make continued repairs on rotary conditioner replacing three more blades after finishing last nights sudex hay cut. 1:00 PM machines fixed to go, we broke for lunch.
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A second right turn out of the driveway Sneak driving we head for the varied city lights what had been turned on yet in our sun’s daylight.
(1) A farmers market first for all their blueberries and some current fresh veggies, (2) gasoline stop next, (3) ahh quick stop for me another seven months supply of tobacco, (4) then on for Sneak’s driver’s license addy change, and (5) lastly this lap a save-rite every apricot can they had. Back on the road again we back-road it around the next village (6) for a TSC stop for cat food, (7) a stop at the bank two doors away, and (8) then on to Wally World for its convenience. Friedan needed a mattress pad for Sneak’s bed, plus some other listed odds and ends more reasonably priced there than where I’ll be shopping next week. We covered eight stops in exactly three hours. Got to be a record but then this wasn’t a gathering trip either.
Home in time for rattlers, and afternoon tea, we were soon on our way to cut another sudex field (a healthier appearing crop.
OMG, What a absolutely gorgeous standing crop of sudex for the most part the field averaged a foot over the Schultz Oliver tractor’s hood, some areas even higher than the tractor’s cab. The stand also so dense the customary rotary conditioners speed had to be slowen to the Ollie’s 3 ½ mph to 5 ½ mph speeds. Total cutting time including the 2 mi drive each way I had cut that 7 acre field in 2 hours. Starting some late in the afternoon working into evening I had leaning just a bit into supper time. So, now I’m expecting I’ll be continually busy the next three/four days baling, hauling, and wrapping two fields crops. So including Frieda’s health issues, all in all considering all we got done, in addition to the ground we covered it has been a fine day.
“Rainbows.”
Fernan

Thursday, August 18, 2011

No Time Line Given

Couple days ago Frieda come home with congestive heart failure news. Kind-a takes the joy out of all the best’s given this news her expected health's continued down turn and looming life's end thrown in.
Damn it! Sometimes life just smarts! Do we really want to know the expected. Maybe this is (if truth be known) my unexplained weeping. I feel as if I may only hope I be wrong. I haven’t yet finished getting even her vamping me, an innocent.
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Finished the rotary-conditioner repairs. Took Tall Ollie flat tractor flat tire apart. Found it had a good inner tube in it. Patched tube, and breaking for lunch took Schultz Ollie and mower to the field.
After lunch Sneak sent me on my mowing way while he took up KP. I mowed until machine had picked up one good sized rock. Darn rock bouncing around amongst the turtles it took out about seven blades. A run to the shop for tools and parts, and while we motored for home made a quick stop where I paid for the rocker panels and ordered cab corners and a cab support. As long as we were stopping a few more yards up the road I stopped us at Loopy Acres. Had ice water while we learned her boys had this day been taken to college. (That house ‘ill be to quiet for awhile!) Once home took my rattlers. It was that late. Got right on to making fix the one missin’ and six badly bent blades. An hour’n’half later I was back a-field finishing the mowing somewhere about 7: 30 PM.
Arriving back home, Sneak had prepared one fine meal. Home cookin’s best!
“Rainbows.”
Fernan

Wednesday, August 17, 2011

3AM going on 4AM

Back tracking what’s either coming off or going on with my eyes? When I a-woke yesterday morning I was seeing waves (wave after wave) lazy like fluids from this side of my eyes washing over my vision, floaties? In this morning’s darkness I had wakened to an itching in my eyes. I’m wanting to know what’s happening? …. Me thinks I need to dig out some old eye drops?
I bought no tobacco products day before yesterday determined to quit again (I just keep on quitting). I bought me a small package water-melon flavored Twizzlers candy. Wow, kind-a neat. I could become addicted to these.
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Much later. Oh how much later! Up for a dark of the night hour, laying back down, I slept almost three hours later than my usual. Nuts! Now when I’ve waited out my hour, had a bite to eat, I’ll be an even hour later out of here. “Crap!”
Oh, and my eyes, they’re watering for whatever reason likely unimaginable. (chuckle) Isn’t life absolutely wonderful! Bottom line, at my age, “I’ve gotten to see another day.” (smile)
Oops, Frieda had likely been up earlier. Seeing me laying back down she did so as well rather than see me cheat myself out sleep and she laid back down. Myself up I spied her sleeping even later in. I left her alone.
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Okay, I’m admittedly slow. I’ve had all night for my sweaty's words she’d spoken evening last to sink in. Doc had told my Frieda, she’s “suffering congestive heart failure.” This had got me first wondering why she still can’t have mobile oxygen if it helps her. I don’t know who wrote this rule and/or law, an insurance consortium and/or capital hill’s congress? It seems Doc could loose his license if he should prescribe such a personal mobile oxygen apparatus because her body‘s oxygen content is to high or not low enough.
This prescribing problem has repeatedly come up in my case also. I was repeatedly denied a second pain drug during any month the first one failed to work. Here we had gone way back then, and its here again, Doc’s license is jeopardized for writing more than on pain medication a month. Again it’s the law. Why? Doc is also backed up by the pharmacist that most if not all pain medication may only work for an/at-most individual’s for only a few days. That don’t mater where any patent’s need is concerned. The law is the law!
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Now I’m seeking second opinion information. I’d called hospice and waited for a return call. Meanwhile trying to use the internet a simple answer to the same question became more and more complicated the more I looked for a likewise simple question. NUTS!
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Noon rolling around as the Sun on high indicated, I got hungry wanting to go home and feed my face. Meantime while I had tried to accomplish something I merely exercised a heavy jack unsuccessfully trying to break down a front tractor tire. I looked at the mower put a piece of cardboard under for crawling around on while changing the shoes when I get to them. And still have to come up with an inner-tube. I see my morning’s efforts a near total bust. (peeved)
I guess the morning wasn’t totally wasted. I made some phone calls. Called hospice only to wait for a call back. When the call did come I asked about our rights, Frieda’s specifically. Then called Doc’s office going right over his head straight to talk to his wife who’s his primary manager. (grin) She’s seeing to it Frieda not only see’s a breathing specialist but also a cardiologist. AND, not the same cardiologist who’d miss treated me who’s near prescribed my total mind and body demise three years ago. My not trusting him I haven’t been back the last three years. I can die well enough on my own without some quack helping me out!
So this’s where we stood at 1:00 PM. And, time I go back to woik!?!?
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Expected day’s help never showed up. I fought the mower’s shoes change over all the way thru from beginning to the end. It was good my arms weren’t any shorter.
One thing leading to another the knives were a mess, most of them merely requiring turning over. Sneaky Pete having finally shown up I quit working on the machine along about 6:00 to welcome him to his new home, our house. This early quitting leaves six more knives to go. I had sharpened one, replaced three, and turned six over of the first ten knives leaving those done out of the way.
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All in all it hasn’t been a bad day for a slow starter. Tire’s off Tall Ollie, rotary conditioner change over and repairs going nicely, and best of all Sneaky Pete (Fillip), youngest son has finally arrived. Poor young man has his work cut out for him. Clearing out, clearing up, a room in this house for his own. Gosh, and now that he’s here I can surely use his extra hands around here. Gonna be more fun fitting all this together over the next going to be interesting weeks.
“Rainbows.”
Fernan

Tuesday, August 16, 2011

Completes & Got-to’s

Have got four hay fields yet to harvest. Have two in sudex plantings to harvest, This meaning changing shoes over on 1345 rotary-conditioner for the taller 8" cut. Also have two alfalfa fields to go needing to get out and service the old 1400 mower-conditioner on the questionably running 4010 JD for the standard short cut. The modified bale wrapper's near ready to go. Today the 2150 Ollie's near ready to work earth for a later than usual planed two fields fall planting something. If to late for alfalfa, maybe a cover winter rye crop.
I consider myself lucky to enjoy a late evening (brown cow) soda let alone swill away an o'thirty hour. Oh and my lawn is a near foot tallen again.
My days are no more near long enough. (sigh)
Darn! Just poured breakfast milk. Need to run into Otisville for waiting script meds and same time milk at druggist’s.
It was going to be an easy day!
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On the liter side:
We’ve a number of cats what include two notables.
1st There’s Della, she was brought to us via young lady moving into a pet free apartment thus unable to take her alone. This feline neutered and de-clawed always kept inside we adopted her thinking she make a useful addition to the household. So it was a while back, Frieda witnessed a mouse cutting across the kitchen floor ducking into a weakened spot under the sink. Della seeing the mouse immediately jumped upon a chair in the kitchen out of fear of the mouse. So much for a helpful family addition.
2nd, Seems a forever Sweetheart (a black & white) was born to us in this very house. She was a good kitty learning everything her mother had to teach her. She’s a mouser personified. Spring rolled along and she wanted out and was gone joining the mob down in the barn. When Fall come around she come back in the house for the Winter. She busied herself clearing and keeping this happy home free of vermin.
It had come to pass Bro’s experienced a serious rodent mouse infestation. They had nearly completely taken over his home. I called upon Sweetheart to help him out. Delivering her to his abode for his needed protection she was very put out, although that very night Bro’ had reported all manner of sounds coming from all over his house, squeaks, squeals, and screams. While she remained mad at my Brother and myself she went about what she did best, catching meese. While some meese were wily with in a month she had his house rodent free. And she had finally loosened up and had finally taken to eating from a dish he had provided for her. Spring coming around again Bro’s was about to turn her out. I intervened and brought her back home. For days she let me know full well her displeasure in me and my farming her out into another’s home not her own. It took some weeks, perhaps even months, for her to forgive me. To further exercise her displeasure with what I had innocently done to her while she’s returned to sharing her love for me, she’s since has come in, taken a quick look around a split from this house. Even the severest weather hasn’t had her wanting to come inside again. At least not for any kind of a stay be it for a daytime snooze nor an all night blizzard’s sheltering.
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My Day:
One trip into Otisville had turned into three, plus my taking Her Mostess out for lunch. All said and done Frieda’s leaving Doc’s office she’d finished up with about a dozen more’r’less new scripts.
Having already ridden into Clio with Juan, threatening the shop with a morning presence, dropping the boss by the house, receiving cell call from Shane, and we we’re back to putting some sound quality shop time. Between us we finished both the Haylage Wrapper and 2150 Ollie. The wrapper was driven out back liking a man guiding an oxen cart to the far end Bro’s hay-yard. The 2150 started, no leaks, and sounding good was hooked up to a plow and parked.
The entire shop area cleared save fore putting some wrenches away Shane and I were repeatedly on the road again. We’d brought the Schultz Oliver in it’s rotary-conditioner’s shoe changes. Secondly we brought the tall Ollie in for a front tire fix one of its 8 ply tubeless steering tires in need of an inner tube to go on working. I’m short on looking forward to either job. Lastly we moved the 2150’s setup to make way for attaching the 4010 JD to the old 1400 Hesston mower conditioner. Didn’t turn out to such a bad day after all. Managed to finish a couple jobs making then ready to rock’n’roll. Now two more fixed tomorrow I’ll have four machines ready on the line.
One more tall glass milk and it’ll be hit the sack time.
“Rainbows.”
Fernan

Monday, August 15, 2011

Changes Indelicacies

Been wonderen what the cause’s? I’ve been hauling more middle-the-nights water these last three nights than I irrigated these Shorthorn country fields these same three days. I think I’ve put it together. There are but five more weeks Summer left, but only five more weeks until Fall. My physical systems can’t handle this supple change in the daily weather offerings as well as Mother Nature. I’m a mortal soul. She’s a myth in our imaginations and men’s posted port’s ramblings. So, I’m already caught between the assured experience to feel as well as see the changing of the season’s labeled guard.
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Oh my word….. I forgot to record the Dumpy truck's two rocker panels ($35.00/pr) had arrived yesterday (a Sunday). I hadn’t expected them this soon. I’m not at all unhappy they’re here. Any day I’ve the time and the welder together at the same time they’re a body repair start.
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Wholly Sunshine Kiddies! We’re experiencing a holy rare treat seeing’n’feeling the sun high in the sky just a shinning all over us. So good feeling to mind and flesh, I’ve got plenty to do in’n’under such a most recently rare day!
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This morning’s shot out of the house I showed the ladies out here to fresh pasture. After that I was treated to fresh coffee at Juan’s. Then Juan drove Dumpy for me while I loaded a tagged hay wagon. The load on the road Shane joined me at the shop where most of today’s action revolved about the shop in’n’out-side’s. Bro' continued welding expanded metal upon haylage wrapper’s 8’ diameter-ed driven revolving ring. Shane and I went to work wrenching the 2150 back together. That was until we needed a break just about the time Bro’ showed up at the crack of his afternoon’s 1:00 PM dawn. He’s has his hours, we have ours. Shane and I broke for a quick hour’n’fifteen minute lunch.
After dinner Shane and I loaded the same hay wagon again, fed his girls and went back to wrenching. We did alright too. At least I’m happy with our progress. No parts left over even including swapping away a couple dozen assorted nuts, bolts, and washers. The hood back on (in place) the 2150 I could handle it from there tomorrow morning. Then broke late afternoon/evening’s beginning for our rest’s, and my supper. Next plan was to go back shop and touch up paint upon the hay wrapper this evening while the machine‘s warm and dry. When I had finished a half fast cleanup figuring I’d finish in the morning it was 8:30 PM the sun blazing the sky red around it half set behind a western tree line. “A red sunset in the evening, a farmer’s delight in the morning.”
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This most my day, I managed to thwart some several day’s repeated nagging pains in my left shoulder by crossing my bib’s suspenders over me right shoulder. ‘Twas one lovely day for getting it done…..well…..almost.
“Rainbows.”
Fernan

Sunday, August 14, 2011

Pay days

"Salary of retired US Presidents .............$180,000 FOR LIFE
Salary of House/Senate .......................$174,000 FOR LIFE
Salary of Speaker of the House ............$223,500 FOR LIFE
Salary of Majority/Minority Leaders ...... $193,400 FOR LIFE
......Average Salary of a teacher ................ $40,065
Average Salary of Soldier DEPLOYED IN AFGHANISTAN $38,000”
Our his/hers household’s present average combined financial contributions …………………….. $1,650 PER MONTH or …………………… $19,800/yr ‘till death do us part!
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Oops: Mad* Madeline’s surgery went well for her heart’s pacemaker installation. She may be in ICU for a couple/three more days them moved onto a heart monitoring recovery floor for an approximant couple more days before she‘s released to go home.
*mad….term suggests she repeatedly wants to go home. She had even tried conning her aunt & uncle into taking her home with them.
Personal note: Saw her picture, she’s a lovely creature. A real lap sitter candidate if she could ever be slowen, caught, and held fast. (smiles)
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I near goofed off most my morning coffee clotching. After lunch I (we) got into working on putting the 2150 Ollie making a couple set backing mistakes. Nuts! Doing some of it over I believe we’re a-long our way towards getting it right. Today the intake manifold, tomorrow the exhaust manifold (again).
Having had enough getting the manifolds started correctly it comin’ on late afternoon I took it time to split for home. Along the way I spied the yearlings were out of hay. That was an easy stop on my way home. It was also a golden opportunity to feed out one of my baling mistakes before it drawn to much tease intensive noticing from any the masses. Then having done the feeding I goof just a wee bit taken to driving the tractor home. Aware of my mistake I about turned it and parked it where I had gotten on it, for I still need to load that field out.
My finally getting it right I’m home stepping into the house out of the rain. House was smelling good Frieda’s cooking. Then sitting down to peck away at this I felt tired. My feet up, eyes heavy, for my next trick I wondered if I could stay awake through supper until bed time.
“Rainbows.”
Fernan

Saturday, August 13, 2011

She’s fired up

Frieda took a nasty tumble yesterday afternoon. I had to enlist a neighbor to help us up. That fall must have jarred something. This morning she’s domestically busy righting the kitchen and cooken. (grin) deep red kidney beans soaked over night she’s making Yankee chili adding tomatoes, Shorthorn hamburger, and spices to simmer to delight our palates.
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1st things 1st, went out back to ride fences. Getting back forgot to close the gate.
Pulling out onto the road I drove around the block. So much to do everybody I was thinking of looking up for some help had made some earlier splits.
As it was the up coming week’s county fair week, while I was cruising I stopped in on the fair grounds to check out all this year’s potential fair queen candidates. Mmm wow.
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Grandson Jake had called few days ago suggesting he had a surprise for us this weekend… He did, He talked his parents into coming up for a local mud run. Unable to find it they came here, which they had planned to do anyway. Good seeing and feeding them what ate for a change. Sitting around running our chops one the guests called out, “Cows out.” I went and looked. No tracks, but closed gate on principle just the same before some the ladies come up to join the party.
While they were here my remembering I wanted to air an ailing tire on the Tall Ollie I tried. Air tank was near empty. At least got the tire off the sidewalls.
After this gang left I didn’t do much. Getting so late a new start I saw no use in trying to so something this late in the day without flubbing it up. So, I called it a day for additional R’n’R.
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Supper was more Yankee chili (with beans). Was very satisfying. Then it was my brown cow dessert. Well fed, belly full, I was as lazy as a fat cat looking for my Mistress’s cushy pillow for to sleep on.
“Rainbows.”
Fernan

Friday, August 12, 2011

Fact’r’Fiction

Some what I dude today. One thing I had to d was change the ladies pasture. That took some fixing.
It had happened A deer had originally gone thru the fence and did it ever! Along portion of wire was dragged cross-country by an opportunist bovine like kind of critter. 1st a quick trip with Dumpy as I was also going to hall dirt. Making a round about the field I saw some electric fence wire missing. Nuts! So 2nd step assess the damage and mentally list tools and supplies for repairs. Looking back towards the house’n’barnyard, lazy butted ladies were way off in another barnyard corner just a lazily complaining. Good! They weren’t coming my way. I turned out of the cow lane and loaded Dumpy while I was out there. 3rd returning to the farmyard I parked Dumpy for a loaded Cushman drive. The ladies? Still not paying any attention! So I was off and running the lane. The deer had done their numbers my having to replace a many an insulator on three legs this pasture‘s fence. Finding some wire I sorted it out of the grasses and restrung it. I had also brought out and used another wire I can’t remember from where it had came from. Two pieces taken care of I used a piece of still spooled new wire to fill the last gap and finish the fence.
4th was my need to go call the ladies out. Yeah sure. The goofy creatures were going to stand their ground untrusting me, I called and called, “Come boss!” repeatedly until one finally gave in started heading my way. A moment later another followed the first. Then when they had gotten to the lane’s gate they stopped un-budging. They weren’t going to be fooled for the knew this lane led out to the Duck Lake and they had already eaten all that off.
What the….? I hollered, I called, I finally stepped behind Cushman’s wheel and drove out the lane hollering as I went to get them to come along. I swear I heard a lot of negative grumbling. Some had it in their minds I was just taking them for a walk. When I got there parking to one side, the last of the herd still strung out were voicing their concerns, they weren’t looking forward to being fooled. By’n’by when near all of them had passed me at least one lady her tone changed actually thanked me for the new grasses change.
Parking Cushman close for later use if required took Dumpy for a drive depositing its first of three loads in a washed out drive down the road. I got caught by Bro’ which drives me nuts. I don’t mind hanging around the shop so long as I’ve got something to do, but, If nothing to do I get anxious, irritable, feeling useless, unaccomplished, and or all of the above. I hung around for a little while and talked my way out of there. From here I move a loader tractor down to the hayfield for the hay’s’ moving; and, I walked back home. Approaching my drive Frieda’s sprawled out all over the ground, under the maple tree’s shade. I asked what are you doing, as if I hadn’t already guessed. She was going to seat herself in the yard swing the swing’s frame collapsing about/around her. 350# there was no way I could help her to her feet by myself. We needed help. Yeah sure? Shane hadn’t gotten home from work yet as didn’t Mike also. No idea as to where Juan was. Terry had gone to a funeral dinner. Bro’ would’ve been no help. Chip’s completely out of the question as many hernia operation as he’s had. So, Telling Frieda not to be going anywhere I took Cushman for a drive. The guy across the street fortunate enough to be picking up some odd jobs hasn’t been getting home until after 8:00 PM lately. I knocked on a Steve’s door. No answer I figured him gone also. As I was ready to go out he’d come. I told him of Frieda’s plight and his answer, “Let me put my shoes on.” I don’t know what we’d had done without him?
Frieda in the house, I gave up the idea I was going to load and haul in one load hay. Frieda perhaps needing me I shortened my day returning to shop to push away the welder Bro’d been using out on the apron. Taking a short break I looked up Chip to see if I could have him drive Dumpy for me tomorrow while I loaded it and it‘s tow.
Now, I’ve plenty to do over the weekend. Reassemble 2150 Ollie. A couple loads hay to haul, I need to change the rotary-conditioner’s standard shoes for the tall ones for a sudex harvest. Looks like I had also better be hitching the mower-conditioner to the 4010 JD for two more alfalfa fields last cutting.
And, on the lighter side, the last time I turned into the drive, here stood a nice sized hen turkey. I would not mind having her in for dinner. (gobble, gobble)
Ooh yeah, she’s been an asset to the community. She’s been eating the tomato worms off garden Terry’s plants. (surprise, surprise) Every once in awhile the animal kingdom offers up another surprise.
“Rainbows.”
Fernan
PS: Oops, I forgot to check on Marlene today. I shall try to do better tomorrow. Oh, one more thing, The gentleman who’d help me pick Frieda up…his wife is having a golf ball sized kidney stone surgically removed this coming Thursday. So think of her also.

Thursday, August 11, 2011

Whether’r’Not….

……Everythings going right’r’wrong I’m gonna charge the day just as if I’ve got it under control. 1s7 gonna check Dumpy’s brake fluid, (I stop the leak?). 2nd may be an “enee-meany-mine-e-mo,” which one will I drive today? La Cushman’r’Dumpy? The borrow pit to wet, the sky sunny’n’bright, which’ll it be? 3rd attack the retrenching the 2150 Ollie with all the determination I may know what I’m doing. 4th bale some, sadly abused, sorry looken alfalfa hay, can’t be let gone to waste.
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My neck stiffening yesterday afternoon I’ve had evening-last’n’this-morning my nuke heated rice filled stocking wrapped about my neck. Got no idear what brought it on? Ah, wait a moment, there was that shapply miss jogging over the Butternut Creek Bridge at the same time I was driving the other way. Just shows’t’go a pretty site can be hazardous to a dirty old man’s health.
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Lastnight’s supper was a tasty beef stew a neighbor had sent over. I ate mine ladled over whole wheat bread liking an open beef sammitch. Was very good. (burp)
Made by a pretty single miss. I might better be putting her name on a special list just in case…. (grin)
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It happens every time:
To be sure the little Ford tractor had enough fuel to rake 19 acres hay I drew a can of gasoline from supply, found my funnel, and commenced to pour the gas into the funnel, the funnel then in turn was to filter the gas, The gas can nearing empty I sense something’s wrong and lifting the inverted gas can to up-right it. I was baptized with gasoline slopping over the side of a full funnel. They was clean bibs only hours before. There shouldn’t have been this spill, the funnel was supposed to handle the tractor filling. Nuts! I later found the dirt and water filtering screen in the funnel was glazed over in ax. Wax, where’d the wax come from? The diesel fuel I had poured into another machine the same funnel used last time?
Bottom line: Why is it every time I dress clean, it seem the elements are again me staying clean and fresh for no more than an hour most? It’s a conspiracy, I’m telling it as it is; OR, “It happens every time!”
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Out the door I checked Dumpy’s brake fluid. Looked good. Got on Cushman for shop travel, removed intake, and wire (power) brushed block and parts. Near ready to go back together, I had visitors. One a coyote hunter looking for a ½ a beef, and a-wanton junk buyer. When we had finished our parabling’s I closed shop for lunch.
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Shortly after lunch I started baling my hay. Finished the job along about 7:30 PM Had my supper along about 8:00. Had chicken Mc Nuggets for supper. Now, they’s something I wont go around the block. Don’t care if I never see another one again the rest of my days. Fancied up leftovers what them things are. Yuk!
“Rainbows.”
Fernan
PS: No news on Madeline today; only, she was slated for a pacemaker implant this afternoon. I’ll check on her progress tomorrow.

Wednesday, August 10, 2011

Nice Day

‘Twas a beautiful day. So nice in fact I didn’t realize I hadn’t worked under the breeze of an old salvaged squirrel cage shop fan. Spent most my time unwrenching 2150 Ollie. The new parts are here and good too go on Ollie just as soon as I’ve finished stripping the side of the block down where they’ll go.
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A neighbor with better eyesight than mine spotted my hydraulic brake leak. No time to work on it I eliminated that brake line. Sheesh, I loose another braking wheel, I’ll be needing to reline my shoes.
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Haying, I instructed Jake, whose keeping his 4H projects in Bro’s barn and yard, on how to rake hay. His getting my instructions a bit mixed up, he may well do a better job his next opportunity. Jake having raked hay until he had to be somewhere else mid-afternoon, I finished the task myself this evening. I’ll be baling the cleanest hay unimaginable having been rinsed no less than possibly a dozen times these last ten days.
Nuts, I know it’s still early but I need my heated rice filled sock for my lame neck.
“Rainbows.”
Fernan

Tuesday, August 9, 2011

WET

This wet weather, if it don‘t end pretty soon I could very well prove Darwin‘s theory and turn into The Creature From The Black Lagoon. I think the Black Lagoon is in Florida? Would that make an alien in my home state of Michigan?
This waking up at the oddest hours of the night brings some me craziest thoughts. The only reasoning I may logically think of is when I’ve wakened out of a dead quiet sleep my hands are unoccupied. Hmm, I haven’t always been this way. It might have started coming about the time I started outgrowing my primeval swollen neck neck days my reproductive prime of life. Well, as long as I’m not a salmon trying to swim up stream to try spawning I might just as well go back to bed and see if some more innocent sleep will take over my mind and customarily empty it of all my imagined troubles for at least another hour.
Just had an interesting thought. If I were to shower with my clothes on I could wash my clothing at the same time before going out; and, my going out straight out of the shower will save me getting wet in the rain. Yup, with the proper approaches to my life’s style I might just gain me enough time to develop some really weird thoughts….er….ideas.
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A special note::
Oh Crap:
The little ten year old girl, Madaline her name, has had another heart attack, the seventh within the last week. Having had another along about 10:00>11:00 this AM in the presence her parents and two doctors. She was paddled back immediately. She remains in ICU. Their trying to medicate her, her future, her temporary in the vein pacemaker had been turned off when this happened. There was talk she was slated for a heart defibrillator later today.
The family continues to remain in turmoil.
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Home for lunch, bale wrapper and on the go again.
8^)^(*&%876&$%964*! Dumpy truck’s brakes are driving me nuts. Is like getting to be brakes one day’n’not der next. There’s got to be a leak somewhere I can’t either see nor find. What with all the rain and saturated and full water puddles splashing waters all up and under chassis how am ever going to find the decisive leaking wet spot. (mumble, mumble, growl, growl!)
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Remembered Yearling Heifers needed hay. Took care of them and found a mess. A portion of the fence was broken and half that mob was AWOL. I could do little by myself if I did find the escapees so I tended fence. So much for all of Bro’s trusted new help recent months. The fences were a mess. Anytime anything had broken or had become misaligned nothing was said. Instead that party merely used his imagination in whatever manner he chose to hang a broken wire, a loose wire, or gate handle. Repaired or spliced wires were deplorably fixed. A lot of good his chosen helpers were If I’ve got to constantly follow them around redoing or even doing what should have been correctly taken care of in the first place.
I found one broken insulator that was the cause of all the fence trouble to begin with and exchanged it for a new one. I sliced two broken wires, unwound two direct entanglements, replaced a missing gate handle, and made sure all the connections were correct. This only took a couple hours.
Fence fixed, I moved my ladies to the pasture closest to the lot missing the five heifers. Cattle social animals the bigger mob would likely draw the smaller bunch into them and I’d have them.
Meanwhile, while I waited for the wayward younger set to show up I attached the dumpy truck to the haylage wrapper. The drive was without incident my parking the wrapper in front of the shop for servicing and hopefully a simple modification. Seeing as it was getting late, to late to start something else I headed for home. Was there long enough to tidy up a couple odds‘n’ends. Then I hit the road going back to the scene of the wholesale escape to see what I could see. The Cushman and I covered the hollow property, the immediate neighbor east and the place between that piece and my place. Back and forth I went a couple times foliage so thick along the edges of the wood lots and ravines I didn’t see a thing. Was coaxed in to see a neighbor I had talked with for some time. Had a pop with him while catching up some. Exchanged phone numbers. Myself getting a cal the wayward beeves were spotted west of where I had been looking. It didn’t take me long to grab…pick up…talk a neighbor lady into going with me for the round up. Arriving on the scene I could see Bro’ was out numbered by these females crafty ways. I turned around and headed East to drive one the fields suffering a crop loss. I was going to do my best to out flank them. Surprise they made a wrong turn and I was about to get in their way and show them the correct way home.
This picture they guys on the left had been chased across three properties and brought to the fence they belonged in. From here on for awhile Bro’ and I took turns heading the bone heads off a number of times. All we had to do is get their cooperation to reenter their place through the gateway I had only open minutes before this shot.
Photobucket
Al long last five folks on foot, two ATV’s surrounding them we sat and worried the crits through that gat way. This was all our finishes for a kept busy day.
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Home two hours late I took my rattlers, took to waiting out my hour, and took to writing this account my day’s activities. When I’ve finished my 8:00 PM supper, I’ll be going to bed.
“Rainbows.”
Fernan

Monday, August 8, 2011

Mud

I wrote about rain last night. This evening I’m writing about the mud those rains have livened up. Coming in the lower drive I liked to have stuck the Dumpy truck fast in the lower driveway. Rocking the poor mechanical beast I did manage to rock it out by the gray hairs of my chinny-chin chin.
Goofy Dumpy trucks brakes have gone south again unable to make up their minds if they’re going to work or not. Today’s activities included failing to make a direct hook up to the empty ground feed wagon. Had to employ a bolstered JD 4010 to negotiate the mud to retrieve the wagon out to where I could finally back the Dumpy truck to it. When I got here with wagon I had to skirt my well stirred mud hole.
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It was after lunch before I spotted the processed feed, and then I merely parked Dumpy near but not to close to the shop. Then with a bucket full of tools started stripping several parts I’m thinking I’ll need to fix Dumpy. Barely getting the parts off before My personal energy had run down was so much a blessing. Looked around, listening to Bro’s ladies talking either to or about me, I fed them, burying the big skid-steer while I was at it. Luckily Chip was out and about and once again jump start the JD 4010 he pulled me out of the mire I had found myself in delivering a bale of hay.
My mind and body really worn down I hit the road. Picked up a root beer in passing home I moseyed over to Otisville for our medication refills and milk. On the way home Dumpy’s brakes were once more erratic as the Devil. Pulling in here Dumpy sailed clean through the farmyard, immediate barnyard, rolling almost completely past a couple feet short rolling through the barnyards dividing gate. It’s been a thrill a minute around here today in our Shorthorn country’s Disney land.
I’d taken my pills and sat a spell. Next trick find a way to hook hay wrapper onto dumpy and take down the road to the other end without any mishaps. Come Tuesday I’ve got to do something with the hay I cut over a week ago before it is lost. Ah yes, the thrills of easy going laid back farming.
Hopefully when the wrappers parked by using the JD 4010 I may get back at a better Dumpy’s brakes fix.
Oh yeah my trying to remember what else it was I needed to do it’s get the trash out and check my laundry. I know one thing sure!, I’m be tired enough to sleep soundly tonight.
Yeah and whooppee, there’s talk more thunder showers and rains again tonight and tomorrow.
One more picture some of the Shorthorn country driveways washouts both ends this road.
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Note my keys about center the picture for a sizing reference. This wash out is well over a foot deep. These holes raise all kinds of Hell with tractors, trucks, wagons, and machines driven and/or rolling through them.
My head nodding, whether I like it or not….
“rainbows.”
Fernan

Sunday, August 7, 2011

RAIN

It rained during the night, and it were enough to fill the farmyard creek. It sprinkled scarcely enough rain over the noon hours to make anything other than my downed hay wetter. Then not to be underdone it rained gobs’n’bunches of buckets full along a bout mid-afternoon. The shops sky lights leaking as much rain into the shop as what was falling out side. I’ve got to do something about them one these days. We had inches ever since I had cut my hay with a supposedly open window to let it dry and be balled. It’s now looking like if I can get any kind of a break I may have still save it turned into haylage before it sours.
Weather outside weathering the shop has been my refuge. The 2150 Ollie isn’t coming apart easy but it is coming apart. His taking it apart must be finished today for parts ordering tomorrow morning for a hopeful Tuesday 10:00 AM delivery.
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Update on neighbor’s niece: She was giving her nurses a hard time today. She wants to get up and raring to go….. Was sedated to quiet her down. She hasn’t had a heart attack the last couple(?) days. Kids: they just don’t understand having to be quiet (still, relaxed, in a healing mode), what do we do with them?
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I eventually managed to take the exhaust manifold off the 2150 engine. And, it is shot. Was 6:30 PM and I wasn’t feeling like wrenching anymore today.
The Cushman tailpipe repaired it needed put back on my favorite buggy. Also needed to check ladies and fences.
Stopped by Handy’s place and extended my apologies at long last loss her son. I made sure she had my telephone numbers. I’d call for her needs when I went store. She could call me if she needed something and I’d fit it in. She’s 86yrs grandson 14yrs they got a full plate full. She’s on oxygen 24/7, he’s a bit irresponsible. He and I have already had our run ins. Could be a few more in our futures.
The rain has it along with thunder and lightening plus the lights have flickered three times. That’s alright, I’m not gonna last much longer. Meanwhile….
I’ve made promises and my butt is on the line. I’ve got to finish taking manifold apart. Grind grain. Must find time to fix more of Dumpy’s brake system. I think it may need a master cylinder replacement.
Had baloney sammitch with a three bean salad. Eyes growing heaving, hair itching, I’m nearing ready for bed.
“Rainbows.”
Fernan

Saturday, August 6, 2011

A busy morning

Other than for a couple hrs, I slept in, I been on the go-go since my late awakening. Loaded up dumpy with emergency food stuffs I was off to find out how the little girl who’d had been air lifted to Ann Arbor day’4’yesterday. She’s responding to treatment and doing well. Been stabilized and semi conscious in a guarded condition. They installed a temporary pacemaker in one of her veins until they’ve figured out her required medications to protect her from any further physical discomforts. Please to excuse me for my writing in general terms. Here’s no way I can keep up with all the technical medical terms. Any way with some Shorthorn country meats a few canned goods, some grains, pasta'n'mater-sauce, bread and milk the family’s larder is looking good for the next few days. Repayment involved a cup of coffee to call it quits. Please to continue remembering this 10 yr old miss, her family, their trying time.
Also been to the elevator hauling in supplement protein tubs for the livestock, even to distributing three lots some.
Lunch was leftover lasagna sweet corn and muffins.
AND! It’s raining all over me cut hay. Nuts!
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A minor plow adjustment, and borrowing Shane’s hands for a few minutes we dropped the plow. Then drove the 2150 into the shop. When it’s cooled over night I’ll start taking it apart tomorrow for a set of new manifold gaskets. How thrilling….
Little else done during this afternoon’s rain I raced through the kitchen and it’s sink full of dirty dishes, madly dashing down the dungeon steps and wrestled with the laundry. Worst part of the clash of titans as for a dark Knight’s accomplishment, it wont come to light now until morning. Darn it! I should have done something about them dishes.
“Rainbows.”
Fernan

Friday, August 5, 2011

things to do

I'm late, I'm late,
got no time to wait,
Hello, Good bye,
I got to take Herr Clink by
the Walli-Straussa and Lippincotte
fer a man's factory squeezen's.
I gotta do this fer my mate.
To see to it she’s alright.
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Getting back I went to hauling dirt over the road. Loading was easy, with about a couple hundred pound oops over weight. More about that in a moment. Taking off from here Dumpy was running well until I hit the ____Creek bottom. I was clear down into the granny gear before I made it over the far side‘s summit. Backing into position for Dumpy to dump. Dumpy couldn’t do it. I had to shovel off a couple hundred pounds dirt from the front of the load. Then returning home dumpy started running kind-a erratic. Splaining it to Frieda she suggested maybe the gas I had gotten on the way home was bad. Ducky, just freaking ducky, just what I want to do, make another mechanical fix. Well, I’ll try a shot of alcohol this next trip. If that don’t do it. Its out come the sparkplugs for an inspection/cleaning. Why me?
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Feels hot and humid today. I haven’t exerted that much energy and feel like I’m swimming against the current in my clothing, a simple single drafty shirt and plain bib’s.
I moved three loads dirt down road. Second load Dumpy ran like a top. That one cup alcohol in the gas tank did the trick.
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3:00 PM Bro’ came alive ready to set the world on fire. 2150 set up with six bottom JD plow isn’t going to word as a on land plow. I knew that, but then what do I know. He’s two plows if one them been fixed both are on land plows. But! What do I know. So the afternoon was wasted and the 2150 is in need a set of manifold gaskets. Be Tuesday before any early arrival useful engine parts.
I don’t know why he’s ALWAYS got to start anything/everything he does from behind??? So! Tomorrow I have to change plows and possibly take a Hercules engine apart. Wonderful, just freaking wonderful.
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A new neighbor his closest neighbors giving him nothing but a hard time over his wanting to raise ponies was visited by the EPA today. This he needed like a hole in the head. His family has got trouble. With in the last 36>48 hours his 10yr old niece has had five heart attacks. Her father (alone) had a Hell of a time keeping her alive between lost 911 calls and giving his daughter artificial respiration. Medics took her to nearest hospital in Saginaw. Saginaw hospital unable to handle this child’s problem the 10 year old was air evacuated to Ann Arbor University medical school Hospital.
The family gathering around, flying in, motoring in this neighbor’s going to have to feed half this 40 some family arrival. That’s a lot of food. My first task come morning is raiding our pantry and delivering several boxes food I can gather around here.
Oh, please take a moment or two and think positive for this child. Last I heard when she’s stabilized she’ll have surgery for an installed pacemaker. “Come on baby. Hang in there. For you are loved!”
I had some fun today. Looked to the wife's health. Heard some sorrowful news. Have put up with an eccentric once more. Hauled dirt. Liken a fat cat I’ve eatened Lasagna for supper.
“Rainbows.”
Fernan

Thursday, August 4, 2011

Change of activity venue

Going to pick up Shane I see a yearling heifer out. I knew how she got out but she wasn’t about to go back in the same way her three wire electric enclosure had a bite what bit her on her way out. Unable to walk her in on her terms I had to motor home for the Cushman. She gave all three of us, Kay Lee having joined in the fray, a run for it. I must have brought her near enough the gate three/four times before she got the jist of the location and ran in. Then I fixed fence. All's well what ends well. She sure ate up a lot of our morning’s time.
Hay fields wet, to wet for an early dried off dew even if we’d had one, waiting for yesterday’s most recent rains to dry off Shane and I got onto prepping the Ford loader backhoe. We checked its fluids, fueled it, and brought it home (my house). As it was nearing noon, lunch time, and the grasses drying in good shape; I’d be seen mowing alfalfa hay a bit later this very afternoon. “Bon-Voyage-E.”
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Including travel time I mowed 20 acres alfalfa hay in a couple minutes over 2’n’1/2 hours. The tractor’s hydraulics still continue to slow down as the work day wears on. The engine’s new 1” shorter alternator/fan belt may have helped some but I’m not wholly convinced. However the alternator’s diffidently working better, the amp-meter gauge needle’s wiggling.
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After slowly sipping a couple large ice tea’s Shane was after me to haul dirt. He’d said he’d be busy tomorrow, he could only help me today. So, we took both Ford loader-hoe and Dumpy truck out back and loaded truck. The first load was a skimpy couple yards. The next four loads the truck was loaded to the top of its sides with a couple exaggerated yards. Dumpy handled load well around this place each trip. However, to go out on the road the tail gate will be an absolute must. It’s unlawful to dribble an insecure load in Michigan.
“Rainbows.”
Fernan

Wednesday, August 3, 2011

The Eagle’s Sit

Yup, the Eagle had sh!t. We’ve been better and worse off financially. I’d dislike the alternative to our close pocketed financial situation, should I have got back to work off the farm. I have to admit I’m not as sharp, dexterous, limber, swift, nor as well balanced as I once was. Sheesh! I see plenty of aerial work around. What nobody wants to get up in the air anymore? My only problem with it is not the slipping and falling, it’d be the inevitable sudden landing at the bottom. I’ve had more than my share of falls and in my younger days I was resilient enough to survive them. I’m not to sure anymore?
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I’m not looking forward to hitting the road this morning. A couple (instant) medical appointments made for my frau yesterday for today and Friday has left me no time to find us alternate drivers. Nuts! Today’s drive is my more worrisome, right through the very near heart of Flint. Friday’s drive I can make it all the way on country road and a couple lesser trafficked suburbia streets.
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Son of a gun! I forgot to write about a weird on the yesterday’s road encounter. There I was minding my own business driving north on Vassar Rd. to make a passing look at a sudex planting up hat way. Well this road has had so many chuck-holes/pot-holes patched, filled, and those in turn patched again and every patching the materials use set and curing so many different shades of gray mess. So, there I was quietly motoring along when from out of nowhere, including the blue, there was this giant sized ginny-hen (speckled gray) out in the road, right down there in front of me. I walked the brakes. Gestured an open hand in surprise. Another heavy 4x4 meeting me in the oncoming lane waved at me as if I had waved at them. My mind somewhere else, seeing no feathers flying feeling no unusual lumps/bumps, both us survivors, the ginny-hen her life, me my peace of mind.
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Our trip into the SW side Flint went without incident. Braven the traffic I drove us across straight east through town to make another stop on my our way home. Traffic was lighter than it was in the burbs the last couple days. I guess something not to unexpected my eyes seeing boarded up building after building of a dying city beside these city streets I drove us on. Motive for cross town drive, I had tried to have a small oxygen bottle filled and merely ran into more red tape. What the Hell. Nobody’s got the guts to do anything out of the ordinary for someone needing a wee bit of help anymore. Wimps!
I might all add but one railroad crossing were gizzard shakers our motoring the city. I’m telling it like it is.
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Finally caught up with Shane and got his vision’s assistance to wrestle Ugly’s valve train adjustments to the new specifications.
Halle-lu-lu-iah! Ugly trucks running and ready to go on the go…. Solution was what my mechanic’s mechanic had told me what to do. He’d instructed me to back off all my engine’s rocker arms leaving only four threads showing on each stud. What about the rocker arms and pushrods looseness? He’d said just do them like I told you and call them good. Well, I did as I was told, started the engine, and it ran better than it had even when I had bought’n’brought it home three years ago. By golly, even an old phart like me learnt something new today. This new edgeimicationing’s gonna come in handy when I get to the Greeny truck’s engine change over. Is my new smartness showen???
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Fore something else to do today I tried make fix the PTO stop on the Tall Ollie to no avail. Even resorting to looking at the big book Of Ollie adjustments book of instructions I didn’t accomplish a thing. Maybe a job for the shop and the blue tipped wrench for starts. At least before the Tall Ollie’s laid up for the Winter. All for now. New day tomorrow may see me cutting hay?
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Last moment journal addition. Goes something like this. The Ugly truck home, I’d decided to take the left over parts back to Mike (who’d given them to me). Mike’s my race car builder neighbor. So it was on my arrival his place his shop was filled up with damaged crunched up race cars. Seems there had been a colossal pile up out at the local race track and all these cars were being brought to him for repairs. What a mess. Now I hadn’t planned on hanging around, but the conversation between all these owners/drivers I pulled up a chair and set a spell, there talk more colorfully entertaining than what was on tonight’s TV line up. I had to laugh at all the goings on’s in-spite of myself. It was good clean American humor at its realest best. (chuckles & grins a plenty) then come he before I were murdered.
“Rainbows.”
Fernan

Tuesday, August 2, 2011

Country song

Some impotent love song observations: Her likes; Man With a Slow Hand, Love a Rainy Night. My likes: Telephone Lineman, Behind Closed Doors, Never Count Your Winnings at the table. Our likes; Never Promised You a Rose Garden, A Kiss For Luck (Karen Carpenter).
Ever listen and adopt a song that sort-s touches yer heart or hits home. Because it touches your heart you can see your loved one’s images in your mind no mater when’r’where you’re coming’r’going. Because it hits so close to home it sticks in your mind forever. Ya never knowen when your gonna be trying’r’groping for the words or humming it?
An important day’ta’day observation: A positive maybe, we’ll get our SSI checks tomorrow.
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Weather guessers predicting thunder storms after 2:00 PM. Promices, promices! We’ve ha a few sprinkles over the noo hour and again my rattler hour.
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Michigan auto dealers complaining they can’t get enough Volts. They’re sold out before they’re even dealer delivered. One of our family’s thoughts on this matter! Bro’, Herr Clink, and I meself often remanded to medical appointments clear over to the SW side Flint, distanced 35 miles away. Okay, one them electric cars would get us there. But, how’d we get back? On top a motor vehicle rolling deck retriever? The engineers ain’t got it right yet. This broadcasted TV news the dealers short sighted dilemmas inspires me to get back at my Quadra-cycle. Show them a real economy vehicle. The machine’s steering linkage has been riding around a top Ugly’s dashboard all summer ever since all my going’s wrongs six’r’seven months ago. A limp look ahead Perhaps I may finish it enough my project it may be seen in the whole before it’s dressed in a finished machines vibrant color’s. I’ve already decided I want it a bright magenta-ed yeller’r’orange. All depends on how well the orange would show up under night’s traffic lights.
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Catching up a moment: I got the season’s only bird Sunday from a disgruntled motorist. Okay I pulled it all out on a primary county road. This could have been dangerously bar stool deprived individual was better’an 1/8 mile around a bit of a curve away. Was I supposed to wait for his highass or take my reasonable turn’s use a place on that road. I think so. It was near to a half mile, no other traffic coming’r’going, before he caught up and passed me, his left hand lifted high outside his drivers window displaying his well recognized international social distress signal. From where do basic farm commodities come from? Only the grocery store without the man (a serious steward) so often lonesomely tending his land. That’d be the day. Meanwhile, I wish I could treat this rolling jerk a place at the end of one my parade’s. I had moved it over twice in a closed intersection to let the following participants all day. Like I had written I had only continued hauling as long as the back roads traffic was light, my even avoiding the (ice-cream wanted) busier State Road.
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Tried working on Ugly. Trying to start it same-o, same-o, popping, cracking, back-firing through the carb. That’s not good. Called a mechanic’s mechanic. He suggested my backing my wrenches up and start my fixing with another approach all over again. If it works I write it out in detail if and ever when. Unable to see what I was doing, three phone calls for some help, help assured, I never saw him. Meanwhile I filled oil bottles out of bulk. Restocked Ugly’s stowed supplies, and added emergency supplies to Dumpy’s on the go storage. Then I moved me on out to Bro’s hay-yard and picked up and stuffed plastic bale coverings into recycled supplement sacks. Next I went to mixing and partially delivered the salts to the ladies. Sheesh what a beastly mob. While I was pouring the mixed salts into the salt feeders I got any number of full body massages. Cheese’n’crackers, body’d think they had never had any before or they’d better hurry before they’re cheated out-a some today.
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Thankfully my hitting my wall came later today wiping me out at about 4:30 PM. Doing all my tasks sitting down most the afternoon each of my three jobs I didn’t overly expend any unnecessary energy. As lazily as I could approach my chores had me lasting an hour‘n‘a-half longer today.
Now that I’m home I don’t care if I don’t get anything else done. It’d be all the better if I’m just plainly left alone.
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Having to do some motoring about over the noon hour Doc’s office celled me. They had two new medical appointments for Frieda tomorrow and Friday. So early are they, I’ll be kicking the rooster off his perch come morning.
“Rainbows.”
Fernan

Monday, August 1, 2011

Week End Synopsis

Hauled hay Sat & Sun. One more 1/2 load today; and, all the first cutting will be stowed in the hay-yards.
Of course, there had to be two unsolicited tests my patience:
1st; (Sat) one goofy arsed bull calf endowed with a double dose stupid outside the fence lacking smarts to be shown way inside all day long. The dairy proprietess insistent inside the wire the consumers thirst knowing at his insides, he finally got where he belonged thinking he had pulled off a fast one. I smiled and chuckled in-spit myself.
2nd; (Sun) barnyard gate left open most the weekend my coming and going this winter’s food stuffs 2 smart arsed lady opportunist's took advantage my trust yesterday's third load and walked out the gate. My parking rig to one side of the 2, stepping down with a clap of my hands they knew where they belonged. I had to laugh at them carrying their swinging luggage back inside their area in-spite of myself. Truthfully, I didn’t need these insidious entertainments. (LOL)
However, animals are so entertainingly funny! (grin)
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First thing up this morning Frieda wanted (insisted) I to run into an out lying burb for something for her. Little good it did me to argue package benefit against transportation costs. OKAY! I gave in (gave up) and motored in on side roads most the way. Meeting city traffic I tightened up, paying ever so close attention to my driving. WHEW! I made it. As long as I was in town her stop out of the way, I made three more. Not a bad trip I managed the end result our bank balances were some dollars bettered. Every little bit helps. Went Wally World for ice-cream cookies, a couple pies, and milk. Unloading truck, opening the passenger door one them pies slid out unassisted doing a complete summersault, packaging slipping and landing face down. Quickly applying the old three second rule I wasn’t about to miss eating a crispy crusted $7.50 peach pie. How that pie come about is in what I like about WW’s square tub ice-cream packaging fitting our refrigerator freezer better. Now all we got to do is sweat out the wait the next couple days to see if the eagle sh!ts.
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After lunch I fixed a fence. Almost mid afternoon weekday, maybe even the wrong day of the week, I sorrowfully missed seeing the bikinied jogger. Further on I gassed up Dumpy having gone 140 miles on the last 13 gal gas. Not bad mileage for an old hard worked ’79 1 ton Chevy. Last load hay hauled home I fed my yearling (little) girls down the road, came home and set in the shade with Frieda for awhile.
Thought I’d relax and go out later this evening and cut some bull thistle. Stuff is already started to blossom. Would like to cut it before it goes to seed. That stuff is a constant fight eliminating it. This farm was over run with that weed when we came here. Frieda worked so hard on cutting it, it brought her to tears a couple/three times. AND, I don’t care if it is different, people asking for thistle seed to feed their winter birds still drives me up the wall. Just the thought of it is horrible. If I don’t keep at it, I’ll loose headway. Right or wrong I’d rather deal with the wild hemp than the miserable thistle‘s.
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An hour after supper I was lope-shearing bull-thistle. Bending to lope them weeds off was hard on my back. Didn’t take much of that cutting to give me a back ache.
Still needing those tappet cover washers I moseyed over to Mike’s race car building garage. Customers and damaged cars all over the place II kept a low profile until he had time for me. I was penny ante among a bunch of gear jamming peddle to the metal big spender oval tract rollers. By’n’by asked what I wanted? How’d he now? And, I had me two tappet cover hold down washers. I had me what was after’n’needed. When it rain’s Ugly’s got a coming opportunity to come out of shop running great. I was a day long happy camper.
“Rainbows.”
Fernan