Tuesday, January 31, 2012

unreal weather

If this is our January thaw it’s the longest one I can remember. And it seems it’s going to carry on right into February. Well at least it doesn’t seem to be near as muddy as the warm winter we had some ten years ago. Our temperatures reached for the 60*F mark today. And where was I working? Under Bro’s van fixen its rear brakes. About the time I was winding up the brake job, and stepping outside for a breath of fresh-air, it was were had our 4” of snow gone this afternoon?
Purely exhausted I’m ready to close this writing and shut it down. If I had just a might bit more energy I’d have tried to tell a current on going ghost story. Perhaps another evening after I’ve been given more moments like this coming up one?
“Rainbows.”
Fernan
PS: Ah nuts: I forgot to record Tom's come home today. It could be six weeks rest upon his part before he surfaces. We want him well. Not over doing it!

Monday, January 30, 2012

Oh Oh, Seems I forgit…

…something! Or maybe pooped had set in and I didn’t care. It was early to bed if nothing else enjoying a good night’s sleep.
To back up just a smidgen, we all enjoyed a gentle snow fall what might have gotten up to three’r’four inches. So prtty we enjoyed every minute of it. The scenery was simply spell binding. Falling was those kind of snow flakes sized in nickels and quarters we as children used to catch on out tongues. Any body else remember those days. Used to be hilarious fun when someone lost his’r’her balance an fallen flat faced’r’backed down in the snow. (grin)
Yesterday’s shop time we took Bro’s rear brakes apart. found brake pads gone right rear, that same corner’s caliper piston parts frozen. Parts supposed to be here this afternoon. Surprise was the delivery of a full set like new tires mounted on bud wheels for dumpy truck. Only to let it be known as ussual, just as we’ve near cleared that half the shop's ramp cleared off we’re again stacking more tires on it. (laugh) Oh well, such is progress. (hehe)
And, we even managed to fit in a couple hours watching Disney films on ABC.
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So far today running late getting off’n’on, I awoke late getting plenty of horizontal exercise shivering my butt off to lazy to either repack the woodstove with firewood of lazier to find me a second blanket. Then it was when I had gotten up on Nature’s call……
Frieda brought up the fact tomorrow is Fillip’s Birthday, then asked me what I was going to do for him. I thought for a moment, my eyes locked into hers, and said, “I guess I’ll give him the day off and take him with me.” .... “Yeah, yeah, yeah!” she’d said, You’re just going to show him another reworded work day.”
Eventually my moving the wheels of progress I turned left out of driveway and motored over to Otisville making four stops. Only had enough coin of the realm to purchase one medium bag cat food. Stopped by Pharmacist to pick up four scrips. While there I tried explaining I was trying to get off her script pills by substituting jelly beans for them. The pharmacist liked my explanation, yet, all his women associates gave me something less then a kind word or wave…. Next, I stopped us at the post-office and was relived to see our pictures weren’t posted. Just the same I made some futuristic inquiries as to postal costs and moved on. At the county library branch we picked up those infernal revving-manure forms the post office hadn’t had in years. Oh well! One more stop by the TWP Clerk’s office I signed up for a brush burning permit.
Back home I had even packed trash from the basement into recyclable feed-sacks-turned-trash-bags. Today’s the day for getting the trash out. This included rotten apples, forgotten vegetable food stuffs, and some coveted oranges I’d been accidentally denied. Whew two bags full. (groan) One change will include my pealing and coring more apples for some backed apple crisps. (yum)
After lunch we went back to cutting tires. Tires we did cut up, about five more and dually set them out for our tomorrow’s trash pick-up. That was all we could manage on-account our fingers were near froze, at least uncomfortably so. Sure felt good to get back home, inside, the stove repacked with wood for mother and the rest of us. I belatedly took my rattlers without forgetting them as I had a couple day’s ago. Whew!
As life goes on this morning’s wash had been put into the drier. And the rest of the evening’s looking promising. Now if I can only find a good TV movie for an evening’s nap so’s to rest me up for a good night’s sleep. (hehehe)
“Rainbows.”
Fernan

Saturday, January 28, 2012

Snow Day
It’s Saturday. The day after the night before. Checking with the neighbors who took to the Frankenmuth Snow-fest last night everybody had made it home safe and sound. Our neighborhood is plum full of survivors.
Snows and chilly breeses whirling around the house, outbuildings, and the shop; Fillip and I holed up inside the shop using one light to continue our tire cutting activities. Wearing a “Best” brand saw blade out and trying a new “Black & Decker” the last blade failed miserably to cut the first steel belted tire we took it to. (grumble, grumble, growl, growl) it was time again to go the Crossroads Hardware store for more “Best” saber-saw blades. On returning they were just what we needed. These “Best” blades instantly took to readily cut those steel belt liking they were butter. Getting close to running out of tires to cut we switched to breaking down some old mounted tire beads.
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Oh-boy I can’t leave this next story alone. So I’m backing the morning back up into last night’s funs. One of them was our (my) sitting across the table from these livelies. Thes pretty young ladies were part of Miss Michigan’s queen’s court one of them 2010 the other 2011. Good gosh golly holy wonders. I was surrounded in beauty, some of the prettiest flowers to grow on two stems.
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Oh, I fanaticized, for only a moment, taking them home; but, I sadly realized I’d not likely live long enough to finish bringing them up, my unable to keep up with them the could most likely kill me with kindness. Well, a dirty old man can dream can’t he?!
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It was during the senior singing contestants individually come on stage to sing their songs the first gentlemanly performance touched me so I took to holding Frieda’s hand. I couldn’t help it. It was a naturally gravitational pull of our spirits so long coming together in a long on-going growing old together. Noticed a handsome young lady I’d judge as about thirty-something thought we were a couple to watch. Frieda in her wheel chair myself standing beside her my holding her hand. The young lady had commented she’d never found such man as myself to form a loven relationship to grow old with. Her last comment was something like we made it look so easy. So much noise in that beer tent with a stage, speakers blaring, performers performing, people clapping and cheering their favorites on, I could not tell this Miss just how much I had suffered our 55yr institutional relationship. (grin, grin)
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Hold it! Backing the beer dispenser up. One of the two girls pictured above also (on left) has a thing going for the young man we gone to root for in the adult part of the singing contest. Additionally this same young man I’m talking about his having won this years singing contest the last two years running, when the only young adult lady competing against four guys. Our young man and the young lady had tied for winning scores. So, instead of a run off performance our young hero motioned to the MC to give the lady the 1st place win. Hmmmm…. I’d sure like to see out Anthony (Tony) Owens go to Nashville and win a recording contract. This gentlemanly young man can deliver a song.
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Unable to finish this, while there was still more to write about, I’ve simply have got to call it a night.
“Rainbows.”
Fernan

1-27-2012 I Surprised Me

A slow start this morning these troops reluctant to roll out of their individual rack’s. What a bunch of sleepy heads. In addition our Michigan weather has been near balmy. So balmy it’s hard to believe its supposed to be Winter. The weather’s been so warm I’ve been letting the fire go out the last three/four nights, rebuilding it a-new each morning. When we finally got it in gear we (Fillip and I) cut up tires taking two breaks to rest our hands and arms, warm our hands, and eat.
While that part of my old method of using three different saws in sequence work for dissecting a tire into three pieced trash, This time I found the tire cutting much more efficient with Fillip holding each tire down, myself cutting them with each particular saw fitted with a different blade.
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My turning a tire into trash starts with my using a home builder’s skill-saw for cutting a slot in the tire’s sidewall.
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Secondly I use a saber-saw with a wood toothed saw blade starting in the sawed slot to cut out the tires beads.
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The third saber-saw fitted with a fine toothed metal blade I use for cutting the light truck or car tire casing into three parts. A tractor driver I’ll cut into four easier to handle parts.
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For the last class act part of the day into evening we went up to Frankenmuth for their annual snow-fest winter celebration. This evening menu included a karaoke talent show. After the talent show we took a walk about taken in seeing ice’n’snow sculptures offered for our viewing pleasures.
I suppose I (we) had a good time. Taking me some four years to get to Frankenmuth for their yearly ice sculpture show’s year after year I can comfortably go back staying home to missing them from next year on again.
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Phooey! My yawning so wide, in fear of a slip of the lip and swallowing myself alive I’ve got to call this writing quits and post it tomorrow.
“Rainbows.”
Fernan

Thursday, January 26, 2012

Caught myself napping

Yeah, yeah, must of worn myself out more than I’ve realized last few days. Them damnable lightening strike headaches don’t help either.
An early Juan call got me dressed in time for his picking me up for a chauffeured grocery shopping run. Making three stops was home by 12:30PM. I enjoyed a cold peanut and jelly samitch lunch. Then just plain casually drifted off for a near 4hr nap. Curses, such a warm tempered day I wasted most of its loss getting absolutely nothing done in or around the shop.
My hay count last night will do me through winter to April 1st. Ho-boy. This feed situation’s coming up short. In my day’s travel I got me-self an alleged tip on somebody overstocked on hay. Went looking for it late this afternoon and returned home absolutely empty handed. Now what?
Tom’s been put back on respirator. To help him breath. Sent him word, “You can give Bro’ an moneys you owe me. His wife said he rolled his eyes and went back to sleep. He’s owes me zip. I’m just tickling his mind to stimulate his juices. (Grin:)
“Rainbows.”
Fernan

1-26-2012 Suffering’s

Why must the afflicted suffer such trials, pain's; and, loved one's only capable of watching out of love.
A close friend, aged 50, near frightened to death under went heart surgery Tuesday last. Thankfully he's doing well. He will live. AND, I may continue to pick on him for whatever excuse I may conger up.
I daily watch my Frieda age more'n'more each day and am helpless to give her the old once upon a time good health back.
It took me five years to get over my father's death, his leaving me, my best teacher.
I could only cry for my mother her last eight days and celebrated her death, her soul finding peace when she'd finally gone.
I feel all these pains, especially little children who'd never had the gift of life to have really lived it. I think he worst parental pain of all comes upon us when we can't adsorb a child's pain. Words are most difficult for me to find at any or all these times when loved ones suffer and leave us. All, I may add is when her time comes, may all of the afflicted find peace.
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The little girl, 11 yr old Madeleine with her father will be profiled…err….blessed her survival the extremely rare disease she’s survived this last Fall’s months. I had worried and thought only good words for her healing. I shed a many a tear for this child. In payment for her survival I shed a couple more happy tears when she shared a hug with me some weeks back. It’s wonderful she may live the saved gift of life she’d been given.
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I must now turn away from this monitor to whip away another tear. “Rainbows!”
Fernan

Wednesday, January 25, 2012

Opinionsth

What to write about today? Had an extremely restless night. I must have endured a dozen little cat naps with short strings and threads of time wide awake. Been tired and headachy all day. For constructive activity I (we) spent most of it cutting up tires. Worst part of the whole task was wet gloves freezing my hands in them as the afternoon temperatures dropped.
Had cut up seven tires with the first saw blade. Trying to take a cut the bead shortcut ruined my fist saber saw blade. I’m guessing I wont be doing the tire cutting that way again. But must devise another surer a way to get rid of the tougher harder to cut-up the tractor steering tires into three pieces.
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Seen here a 1/3 of the cut-up tires. No longer tires, they’s trash!
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Asked about lubricant’s? Here is my many years experience on this take. I have used at least once a many so called bests….Kroll, PB Blaster, WD40, and others.
I’ve found each product’s intended purpose works best for it‘s labeled suggestions and instructions. Like ether‘s handy for winter starts and only a little dab will do it. WD40 works well in drying out gas distributor caps, sparkplugs and wires. Liquid Wrench (in my book) is the best commercial pentiterent there is. For another lubricant (old wagon spindle) I‘ve used and like diesel fuel for a starting combo pentatrent and lubricant, followed with used diesel motor oil, and then several shots bulk grease. I use used trans-draulic fluids for chain lubes. If I’m taking something new to me and old machine apart I use 50/50% ATF/acetone in a shaken pump-spray bottle. Okay so it separates. Perhaps it’s why this mix is the best. Applied shaken-ed, it separates, the acetone soaking in first, the lube sticking AFT following after it. Much like the same principle my earlier explanation’s my spindle loosening/lubing workings. Bottom line, it’s to each his own. I’ve stated some my preferences They’s what’s found in my cans, they’s what work for me, they’s what keep me economically happy.
One caution: Kerosene ain’t much good for nothing’. If anything it attracts moisture and causes submerged rust. This is just my observation. It isn’t written in stone. What I have found useful info, diesel burns hotter than kerosene in a space heater. Just one my last thoughts.
Good day
Fernan

Tuesday, January 24, 2012

Opp’s

I’ve forgotten to mention Tom’s open heart surgery went well this AM. Wishing you well friend……
May thee experience a many a bright and colorful Rainbow.”
Fernan

A Wonder Day?

Sometime evening last Bro’ called asking, “You open any gates yesterday?” That was before dark.
“No!” I answered.
Later after dark this next time Bro’ calls again, “You sure you didn’t open a gate? We found three had been opened to let the heifer‘s out.”
“No!” I repeated, “I had no need to open any gates, even one or more.”
“Somebody’s been messing around here while I was gone.” He’d said, then repeating his question.
“Look!” I said, We’ve (including Fillip) beeen to bust all day to have rearranged any gates. You know where I was all morning. I ground grain most the afternoon. And, putting the Ugly truck into the shop we tightened truck bolts!!!” Then I added, “But, we both should have a good idea who?!”
“Who?” he asks.
I told him, “Your sneaking little buddy sneak thief. That’s who. He’s likely thinking he’s getting even.”
This last part even amasses me. But I have my suspicions. I never liked his lazy arsed little buddy’s looks when Bro’ Let him move into the tenant house. No job, he was supposed to work off his rent. Pulling the plug on his phone we couldn’t get a ho;d of him. Unemployed, employment benefits run out he always seemed to have money. Particularly after my lawn tractor evaporated, the live stock feeder disappeared. The pallet fork loader no longer sitting in the barn. Plus a whole lot of other stuff!
Now, This is freaking great, an admitted thief getting even for being found out and confronted with his crimes. I tell ya???
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For a little fun….I borrowed this from I-net KL board….
“Any body see the 2255 on the photo ads with MFWD and loader and really low hours? That thing looks really sharp! I actually dreamed about buying it, and the owner found out it wouldn't fit in my barn, then wouldn't sell it to me.
Woke my wife up and told her we needed a bigger barn for my true love, and she smacked me!”
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Right turn out drive we headed for shop time. We picked up ‘n sorted salvageable useful metals from scrap. When we had finished that the apron was looking some better. Okay, we’d had a start. Next on the morning agenda we kicked some tires loose of ice ’n snow, as same with some odd’n’ends various blockings. Some barrels set up in pairs I was going to start cutting tires into throw away trash pick-up pieces. Oh yeah, that was right up ‘til I found I was out of the right saw blades. Gone to the Crossroads hardware were I heavily supplied. Getting back found my choices were all wrong. Nuts! Next I took to looking everywhere A blade may have been saved and stashed, my eventually finding enough of the right ones found in a second tool box I initiated my first cuts. Then before I had finished dissecting the first tire, here come Bro’ finally ready to round up his cattle and sort out the wayward(?) err lost(?) err let loose(?) and found in the pink healthy all at home. My sidekick and myself experienced a postponed lunch Mc Jerky Bro’ starting his day well after the crack of noon. We were so late sort all those lovely ladies and girls Fillip and I got home so late when we finished (What was it?) lunch or supper, we didn’t bother to go back to sop for only another half hour’s work. I took my meds a half hour later and had a fresh baked blue berry pie of Supper’s dessert. BGKC.
“Rainbows.”
Fernan

Monday, January 23, 2012

1-23-2012 goofus mixes

No journal entry evening last. If I must keep my time up to date we picked up our shop repair worked tools and messes. Our shop time also involved trying to solve transmission leaks. Spent some time on same endeavor again today. If leaks continue may mean pulling chrome plated pan back off to liberally buttered with some sort gasket sealed all sides the pan gasket. This is a thrilling concept to redo. First time was no picnic. I see a second time around not about to be any easier.
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Today’s adventures began with a chamfered ride around to Flint’s SW side for an EEG. Took a n hour and when all done, tech couldn’t tell me a thing. Although, while she saw some irregular brain activity and as long as she was no expert unable to read and understand the squiggles, she saw nothing in there. (grin)
My second driven request was a stop by either a grocery store for milk and ice-cream, or a stop by a drug store for milk. Evidently my driver figured I didn’t need the ice-cream. I consider myself lucky managing to bring home a couple gallon milk. For early on afternoon kicks we managed to grind grain between a couple heavier showers. Delivering it poor Ugly lost traction, my having to give up, give in, and bring up an 1850 Ollie what had the weight and traction to finish parking the ground grain gravity box into feeding position.
If we thought we had solved Ugly’s leaking transmission problem yesterday we had to run it into the shop again. Fillip took another turn tightening all the pan bolts again. If this round of wrenching hasn’t solved the problem leaking, I’ll be very unhappy.
All said and done Ugly transmission continues to need help and that kind of it only a rebuilt transmission can take care of!
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This about takes care of us for the last couple days. Yet, a shall add for the record while I’m sitting here I've felt waves of static electricity only as I can describe the queasy feelings gathering waves of what I can only describe as a packing static electricity within the back of my head as if my head was a condenser absorbing a Hell of voltage charge preparing to just a-waiting to go off.
“Rainbows.”
Fernan
PS: This’s a doubly late urinal entry. Busy, busy and just a few hrs ago strategically head-achy. So head-achy about the time I was ready to post this the back of my head had already started to stir my noodle. I not only lost instant interest, I also didn’t care whether I finished the savings. All I wanted to do was lay down to escape the pain. It worked. It’s 2:00AM and I’m snaking likely putting on my waist. GN

Saturday, January 21, 2012

Sunny day, more way ‘an one

‘Tis a bright bright-day. Right turn out the drive Fillip and I went shop. Stayed long enough to start fire in space heater and plugged in the Ollie’s block heater. Then we made ourselves absent looken for that just right priceless cup coffee, and we found it. Coffee clutchen and public relaten our hosts came up with a 1998 Chevt tail gate for $25.00 needing but one lower corner in need a wee bit a-fixen.
While we were gone Tom had showed up at shop. He maken like a hero he shut down Fillips runaway smoken space heater. Then started the fixed Ollie, instantaneity runnen, backed it out of the shop, drove it around the circle to report the hydra-drive worken flawlessly. By time Fillip and I had arrived on the shop scene it was close enough to lunch and we returned home. While Fillip fixed lunch I fed the ladies here and the yearling heifers down the road. Afternoon aught to go well without any other interrupting interferences. (smile)
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An after dinner lunch (via the shameless clock’s face frowns) we got the Ugly truck in, the pan dropped, cleaned, the filter replaced, the thing buttoned up, new fluid in the transmission we finished almost within seconds of my Winter’s quitting time. Driving Ugly home afterward I’d (we’d) like to think the truck’s shifting was behaving properly. Time will tell? When I had taken the pan down I had found pieces of metal what shouldn’t have been there; and, I had also found the filter hanging freely on loose bolts. It’s hard telling how much damage has been done inside the halve body; and, then what kind of damage had been done to the discs in the clutch clusters? I’m think I may just a well be thinking about re building me up a new transmission out of the two I have idoly laying around. Meanwhile I’m hoping we can bring the 1998 and 1980 truck’s back from the vary clutches of greedy junkmen. One think’s sure I’ve near got the replacement parts already on hand for the both of them.
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Good golly Marie, I think I chilled every bone in my body laying on the shop’s floor covering of cardboard where I did my sliding under and out in close quarters under that infernal Ugly truck. When 5:00PM had rolled around and I was hit 2’r’3 with them lightening strike pains to my head, I was also on the very verge of shivering and shaking from my body’s accumulated cold.
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It’s only a couple hours since I could have my supper. The electric shocks are coming at painfully steady rate. I’ve got to lay it down. No if’s, and’s or but’s. I’ve got to lay it down to escape the agony of these GD painful strikes. Meanwhile, everybody….BGKC!
Fernan

Friday, January 20, 2012

What a Day?!!?!

I don’t know whether to explanatory-it or question it? First off a call come it, “You may have to grind Sunday?” Okay, I can prepare for that. More calls made on our own behaves, we’re to go for shelled corn at noon. Meanwhile we loaded up on supplements, and went to shop There we frightened the Ollie acting like we knew what we were doing for a little while. Fillip cleaned sparkplugs we eventually need elsewhere, I went to filling quart bottles with ATF, cherry juice*. More fluids added to tractor time rolled around to noon. Went after shelled corn. No go a loaden. Sixguys elevator-ing equipment had frozen. Empty wagon dropped they’d call when it were loaded. Close enough it were lunch time. Delving into the quick and easy I had peanut’n’jelly sandwitches. I hate peanut butter’n’jelly sammitches; and, I was making them.
Okay, settled into eating, my having run out of excuses I called (I-net friend) George TX and talked a spell with him. I told him about my lunch, he laughed, I told him about my book likely coming out soon, he remarked he’d wouldn’t be around to make me a web page. I told him about my successfully completing two differently assembled azzkickers and sadly missed not them setting up and using them this last summer. Worse, I hadn’t made a flick of them in action so‘s I could show them to him.
I found him a remarkably tough guy accepting his fate, his personal end is near. I so wish I could help him, modern medicine, help him. Crap! I still don’t know what to say?
Back to the shop Fillip and I with Tom kibitzing we finished up putting the 1850 Ollie together. Tried to start it and the batteries had failed. Putting a 10 amp charger on them for over night we also received phone call wagon had been shelled corn loaded. We were off again, picked up wagon and made it over the scales just in time. Weigh slip I in hand we headed for out rural auto parts emporium getting there just in per-called time While we were on our way Fillip called them, “We’re on our way. Wait for us an extra 5min time.
We got a new transmission filter and a 5gal drum ATF at a good buy. Best part of that buy, it saved us another motored trip across the county to our bulk plant for that same fluid. I’ll accept those product chasing and lost time savings as a welcomed staying home for better use all day time for tomorrow.
Fillip’s supper was 2-good. Looks and tastes like he started out with a couple whole-wheat pizza-crusts. Then covered the processed cheese with venison sausage and crushed pineapple on one. Then again use ham for meat on the Yup, tasted like real good’n’filling. A piece of pie-ala-mode wit a scoop of ice-cream is what would make an excellent finish to tonight’s supper.
Gosh I’m about ready to call it a full day. I’m about ready to lay it out. Can’t tell whether it was the keeping up with a busy day, the cold weather (although it felt warmer today without yesterday’s wind), or the pressed for time flitting from here to there and about over our icy roads to complete my impromptu rounds.
“Rainbows.”
Fernan

Thursday, January 19, 2012

Lest I forget

Having enjoyed a good night’s sleep I waken at my most usual time, a few minutes after the five o’clock (mid-winter) challenge. Do I get up was the question? and, yes was the answer! I had to make a water haul; and, on my wayback I had better make a woodstove check. Yup, it needed feeding. I checked and moved he coals around a bit and rist rightly put in three as good a sized pies wood I could fit thru the doors. Then I cowardly returned to my pallet pulling the deep thick cozy making comforter up all about me and luxuriated the contemplation do I or do I want to get up. Not really no longed sleepy, what I had, had, had satisfied me.
Hookey, so I had once upon a time had grown to the blessed reachable height of 5’17” and knowing I’ve settled some over the years I tend to still do like to sleep kiddy-corner at least one blanky on my bed. And so it was my lying down I purposely pull and strategically gather myself under the arranged cross corner comforter over myself. Prone I pick up my feet making certain I’ve a distanced corner hanging well over my tootsies and settle them down upon the bed my feet enveloped in my covering. I roll to my right’n’left both in turn gathering similar opposite like corners as comfortably close to my body as feel huggingly tucked. Lastly, I pull the last opposite comforter’s corner just closely off sides up about my throat or at times more closely about my ears; sometimes my beard either under or over the blanket.
So, enveloped as such my cocoon feeling oh so cozy, as I luxuriated in my gathered close to me warmth. I listen to the tick-tick tock of the wall clock, the eventual snak, crakling, pops coming from within the iron firemen standing a few feet away, the otherwise silence so very close homing me in. I could have imagined I was a bear silently like hibernating in a cave on ear lightly listening to the world spinning quietly about me.
Myself comfortably cozy within my multi layered cotton shell, a figure comes quietly looming slowly moving alongside my bed. I feel a loving hand innocently take to lightly massaging my shoulder. Ohhh, that felt so good, I tried rolling myself liken a cat to slowly reposition my back to let the gentle hand rubbing shoulder to rub my spine instead.
That was awhile ago… Some how somewhere along that line of wide awake dreaming, that figure moved on and my spine felt nothing. (sigh) I do believe I’ve just experienced another indication the honeymoon is over. (Sigh) And, after only 11 lustrums. (Sigh!)
So now the chimney’s stack heat exchanger’s blower has come on, I’ve been up a-while and must at last, an hour late now, sort and take my rattlers.
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OMG! Hallelujah! I conversed with a long lost Grandson (Scot, some 200 mi away) on the land line evening last. What a glorious treat. I’d (we’d) sure like to see him. He’s 20yrs and doesn’t drive nor want to. I can drive and mustn’t. My driving range has been drastically shortened or restricted to roughly a 5mi radius. Thus we may have a difficult time getting together.
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Oh crap! I’ve got to get off’n’on and go to work or otherwise try to do something constructive today!
Getting my act restarted we put I a good afternoon, quitting only when we were cold fingered enough. The 1850’s assembly far enough along we’ve fueled and watered it. The hood needing put on we’re saving until morning when my physical strength is up to its best.
On another front I may have found a good 1989 Chevy tailgate rat here in my neighborhood again. I should know more tomorrow price and if a deal may be made. The rumors abounding are tailgates go for as much as more money than the cargo boxes. What the heck?
Sure glad we’re working inside the shop. The winter winds born in the Yukon coming down in a raging motion are chilling my every bone. Temperature wise if the winds would die we’d have some fairly decent weather.
Nuts! I’m sitting here trying to write this to the uncivilized tune strummed lightening fast notes rising upon my nerves. Some these plucks pic-ed on my nerves are shaking (rattling) every fiber my being. Dam, I was alright all afternoon. It seems every time I sit here they come. My first relief is rising upon my feet. I stay in motion the electrical pains either stay or go . My rattlers taken at about the 5:00 hr. Now I’m ready to eat supper during the upcoming 6:00 hr. Then give me another seated hour and I’ll finely find pain these last 2’r’3 hrs relief when I go horizontal. Having completed another peaceful day our labors falling just a bit short it was still a good day just the same. Maybe tomorrow I’ll get around to doing something rightly should have been done days ago. Crossing my fingers…..
“Rainbows.”
Fernan

Wednesday, January 18, 2012

I-Net Wars

Hasn’t been easy getting on the I-net today. Took me two hours before FireFox accepted my wants directions. It wasn’t until I had turned on the TV news did I learn of the war between the I-Net carriers and the federal gobberment over new big brother’s ideas of implemented rules to police the I-Net.
Personally I’d like to see some cleaning up the information highways. I’m sick and tired while researching a product, machine, information, machinery parts, electronic whatever, or varied AG products for a few suggestions, being spammed with smut material. I’ve had it with FaceBook being/having had porn dumped on my FaceBook page. What the??? I believe this I-net white collar crime deserves just as much law involvement as do abiding by the rules of the road. I’d like to see fines and/or jail sentences laid on these scum promoters. AND, then this morning I object to having paid for Internet service and then having it shut down or slammed shut in my face.
Okay, I’ve opened my day’s ‘urinal with a double barreled rant…. I’m incensed….
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Now, how about a change of pace (sort-) laugh?! Remember I mentioned an impromptu shop stop yesterday. Well….., Frieda’s making like giving Sneak a whole lot of extra credit for his supper’s offering evening last. Actually Sneak with his handy can opener served a good old American dish (perhaps only recently heard of in China) “La Choy” Chow Mein. Anyway, Sneak added a small can mushrooms, a large can water chestnuts, and boiled up a heaped amount of polished rice. I fondly dislike polished rice or any polished grain for that matter. Anyway, cause Frieda and I are supposed to be eating either reduced or salt free. So, we enjoyed a purchased bottle of sweet’n’sour sauce on our dinners. That was different. Anyway, it was an inexpensive meal for three people.
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Have just experienced one continuous sleep interrupted with a water hauling night; but, I have been given yet another glorious day’s living on this sweet earth. More about it later.
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A mere wee bit later. Lazily taking my time starting my day a county grader had gone by supposedly upping the quality of mud laying over our road’s surface. Can’t have a road with substandard mud, the kind of mud what covers everything, the painted surfaces clad in dull mud colors and the insides of the fenders well packed, and let us not forget the wheels rims totting unbalancing frozen mud chunks to cause the driven vehicle to chatter and shake like a miss-played galloping kaliapee.
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Right turn out drive, 1/4mile down road, left turn Juan’s drive, we had coffee while checking on Juan’s family welfare. While there I took this picture Jeanie’s seasonal holiday toy scene she lays out on their pool table each year.
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One day soon I must take Her Mostess to see this!
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Is it “good things happen to those who patiently wait over night?” Here’s how it goes…. I had put the word out to two friends my interest in finding a good cargo box for my 1998 pickup truck. Now get this…I didn’t even have to go looking. One absolutely beautifully preserved pickup cargo box came delivered to me sight unseen this morning. Seeing it in the flesh it didn’t take long to come to a sound reasonably summed treaty. A third down the remaining two thirds balance do in a couple weeks.
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Moneys settled the cargo box was unloaded and stowed upon a couple kaput tractor driver tires. And, some of us had worried about finding any use for those tires? (grin)
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Much later, Fillip and I continued a very productive day in the shop. So productive Fillip commented the Oliver was beginning to look like a tractor again. We keep plugging away at it, for we may just have it up and running tomorrow. Here’s an interesting make shift comfortization of the shop. Fillip ignited a kerosene space heater. Under the Oliver.
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It is amazing just how comfortable it had gotten in a 19*F shop, particularly in the immediate vicinity of the tractor’s reassembly.
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It has been another fun day in my Shorthorn country corner. Coffee with friends swapping lies. (I said that?) Procuring one excellent big bulky item-ed Green-y truck part. We accomplished a whole lot of progress in putting the 1850 Oliver back together. Been a good day. I must have gotten more done than I realize for I’m experiencing some weakness in my knees and cramps in my thighs. So, in closing be thee blessed with.....
.....“Rainbows.”
Fernan

Tuesday, January 17, 2012

We got Rain’n’Snow.

Rained all morning reminding me where all the shop roof leaks were. Late afternoon the rain mixed with snow ultimately turned to just snow. The winds putting up a good breeze Mother Nature’s icing the trees real pretty like. Don’t know how much snow we’re supposed get laid over us It’s still awfully purty out there. So we’ve finally gotten some winter like weather. How long it’ll last or turn into is anybody’s guess?
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Fun today involved running over to the Crossroads. We picked up the Jonsirred’s new chain saw blade and forgot what else it was I wanted from the hardware store. Oh well, what’s new? We made a stop by the supermarket and picked up a few things while we were in the vicinity. Stopped by the bank hastily withdrawing just exactly enough money to pay for the new tires. Then we came back to the shop and worked on the 1850 Oliver until my fingers felt cold enough to fall off and then a few minutes longer to finish putting an exceptionally stubborn fuel line together. I sometimes hate to leave something undone only having to face it the next day or time.
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All in all it has been a good day. Doc’s office had called me again this afternoon. The Doc’s boss (his wife) is beginning to make a habit of this, me thinks. (grin) Anyway this time she wanted Frieda’s height. Might this be an inquiry as to how Her Mostess measures up?
I (we) keep collecting motor vehicle parts such as I (we) have been doing of late it may not be long one’r’both of us will be buried under them all. Have two individual party’s watching-out for us another cargo box for the damaged 1998 Greeny pick-em-up truck. Doing this in as much as we may just find a better one than what we’ve got. This one badly damaged and the tailgate badly rusted out, going whole hog for a better box could well be time saving and more economically installed and painted, in which case I’ll paint the whole truck. Could be when we’re done these fixed wheels may see a whole new number of useful years service, and look good while doing it.
“Rainbows.”
Fernan

Monday, January 16, 2012

Switcheroos Day

Given up on our ability to easily correct Dumpy’s driven faults we thought it the better of all the mounting evils one of us just might take up beating the poor mechanical specimen into junkyard fodder. Anyway, to carry on, carry away (so to speak) we took Dumpy down the road for a swapping out all those personal items we need for our daily toils. We moved from one decrepit monster to the other a 2 ½# single-jack*, I repackaged tow-strap, One rough looken 1st aid box, some cans motor oil, a heavy duty clevis, some loose tools, and all the unmentionable stuff what has littered the dash for days, weeks, months. All this stuff went into the Ugly truck for whatever how long the transmission will either hold-up or last.
Transportation swapped out It was either time to put in some honest hours make fix the 1850 Oliver standing within the shop’s sheltering walls.
Nearing lunch time, in no mood to tug wrestle the bicycle chain into the 1850 I gave it a good dousing with WD40 liberally sprayed all over it to loosen it up. Truth be known I had tried putting the chain on the tractor failing miserably. I chucked the idea for a-while.
Wanting to get those blank doors out of the barn for a warmer place’s painting. So, I took a walk up the hill to see if I could find them. I never got to them as the time had worked out. I instead ran right into another pair doors all together inside’n’out including the glass’s’. To heck with any other du-da fancy rebuilding. I decided I’d use those used (good looken) doors just as they are. Seems Dumpy’s destined to have some blue inside. Personally I don’t care. It’s a farm truck destined to more bruises. I also found another automatic transmission. (he he he) Now with this find, I can sure as the devil make one good working one out of the two. Looks like we’ve plenty of some good Winter’s wrenching ahead of us under the shop’s cover.
Near 1:30 we broke for lunch. Returning to the shop we wrenched on the 1850. The chain’s on, the motor mount bolts have been tightened, started fishing some of the cables, control rods and cables. Although there’re some big pieces to put back on the tractor all the hardest parts have been done. We’ll se what we’ll get done over the next few days.
“Rainbows.”
Fernan

*single-jack, is a 16” handled small 2 to 3 pound heavy hand hammer. It follows a longer handled bigger hammer 8, 10, or 12 pounds is called a double jack.

Friday, January 13, 2012

1-13-2012 Friday the 13th

It rained all day the day I slept. Plus it rained even all the night I’ve just woken from. An hour late this morning even. I asked myself, my head clear? Am I Painless? Worse, I prayed I was experiencing a clear mind to go along with the clear head. Is this double indemnity?
I’m already imagining all manner of possible temporary relief’s. I can always dive into my multitude mounting mound of pill cases. A naturally mounting collection of crap any druggie could drool over. But, read me for the truth I’ve saved every drug (that’d keep via my pharmacist’s recommendations) I’ve refrained from taking when they either didn’t work or were clearly no-longer need. Gosh, think of it. Being a thrifty pill taker I’ve got my choice of un-taken 3’s, 4’s, & barbiturates.
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Nut’s! My last written sentence has just been interrupted via, “You got to grind grain today.” message. Well now, this just might work out. I’ve taken my rattlers, done my inhaler, and after breakfast I can get out in the brand new fallen fresh spattering of snow all over ever-thing.
Yup, here it comes the headache has decided to live on. Nuts! Can I say or write “nut’s” twice in the same thought??
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It’s gone way past noon, we’ve lucked out not quite having postponed a what was supposed to be a noon meal. The day slipping madly faster by us than it looks like we may keep up with it.
The Dumpy’s clutch continues to drive us crazy. Fillip and I managed to elevate Dumpy’s front end and make some useless adjustments. Taking Dumpy to shop a fulcrum and a 2”x4” for a lever we brought back a crooked clutch pedal. Clutch action working even worse. Squirting oil over every pivot joint we could find, The pedals turned even lazier. A run over to the Crossroads our ordered parts still haven’t come in. Back continued braving bone chilling winds and snow we’re bogged down in the home yard. Managing animals fed, had to eat for our warmth's after getting Dumpy stuck. I think I’ve got just one final solution to Dumpy’s problem either needing a stronger or another clutch arm spring. Darkness about to over take us I was wishing I could find that spring before dark. I don’t know. Fed and rested a few moments. And, I’ve had to get back at it. Hell of a way to start out a new Friday the 13th day. Nut’s!
“Rainbows.”
Fernan

Thursday, January 12, 2012

Some mo catch-up pics

Our primary outside firewood pile as of yesterday is averaging 5’x’5’x16’. It’s not enough to get our home through the winter, but it is a daurn good start.
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Here’s one colossal opps. Fillip had made an initial sloppy job of cutting a bird’s-mouth plus a poorly heightened place clean cut from the opposite side. The tree started to fall. Only it had become dangerously entangled in a couple other tree’s wild grapevine entanglements for a clean fall.
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To effect a challenge to bring the tree down I re-cut a second bird’s-mouth some 18” and properly lifted 2nd ordinary tree felling cut. The tree’s wild grapevine entanglements still dangerously grasping the tree we put a chain on the primarily bulk of the tree’s trunk also fastened to the tractor. I then backed down the whole motorized wood cutting conglomeration; tractor, wood-hauler trailer, and wood-splitter in all. This was one of the last two fallen trees we had pulled out into the Summer shaded lane and cut-up day ‘for yesterday.

This last snap is showing a keyed lock in the Wood-hauler’s tongue mounted toolbox where in we may handily time savingly lockup our logging tools.
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Listen up, I want the soap box for a few:
Caught on the evening news women modeling women’s clothing must be sized between a 4 and 6. What the shriveling Hell is this. When I took my Princess for a wife she was the scrawniest tight arsed sized 12 - 125 pound bag of bones unimaginable still a-waiting certain biological animal parts only dreamed of, on either our wanted parts. (grin) Mine Princess was so skinny thoss early days when we made love we sounded like a pair of galloping dominoes thrown across a marble slab. So, it was after about twelve years marriage seven child bearings, a gained few pounds roundin' off all her sharp edges er anatomy still sized an only sized 12 weighing only a cushioned 135 pounds. My having a big framed colleen there was no God’s green earth way her bones could have been down sized (even boiled) to an average fashion model’s sized 5 anatomy. What the devil, she’d supported a 5’6” tall 38-28-39 inched hour-classed figure. I mean for the 1st 35ys our married life my hands spanned her waist with a 4” space ‘tween my thumbs and finger tips about her waist.
Bottom waist line, what’s wrong with women (average) sized in 10’s, 12’s, 14’s, or whatever dress sizes what fits them. Average sized women fall into the averaged sized 10‘s and 12‘s off the rack wear. When are these designers are going to design women’s wear for the average human female. Is this some kind of a corruptible menacing mind set to destroy the female of the human races. Perhaps we need some sort of punishment laid on these criminally insane women‘s health destroyers. I've always been happy with my sized 12 main squeeze. Never once have I ever lost her between the sheets, nor under the…..er….never mind…..I ain’t going there (again at this late date).
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All-right’r’all-wrong:
I’ve finally accomplished a truly worthless day. I didn’t get nary a thing done all the day long. A weather’s low pressure system hanging over my head for hours without end. I couldn’t even motivate myself into doing anything this AM. And, there was plenty I could get into. Re-adjust Dumpy’s clutch linkage. Work on 1850 Ollie. Make trip over to Crossroads hardware store for scads of previously ordered whatever it was I had wanted? Plus pickup two borrowed chainsaws for our next firewood foraging adventures use. Ones had the drive sprocket replaced. The other one unable to replace the coil, the hidden coil’s bare wiring was carefully taped and water-proofed. We were asked to use it and see how long it’ll run in use.
After lunch still unfeeling like even a crack of noon start on the day. I heroically went undercover (quilt really) to escape sleep the combined effects of three plaguing me headaches. The cowardly escape worked. In my sleep my head and body didn’t feel a thing. Fact, I’m so well rested I’ll sleep good tonight.
“Rainbows.”
Fernan

Wednesday, January 11, 2012

Nuts twice

Gads! I’ve been dating my journal entries last years dates. Now I’ve got to got back and sort them out re-labeling them, so to speak, so they’ll be in the proper order for futures more timely access. A-then it is about 5:00AM and I’m wide awake. It is obviously clear I may be wide awake having not adequately tiring myself out yesterday for a much longer Winter night’s sleep. Oh well, I see this early morning rising as a good time to properly date the messed up documents I’ve saved. (hahahahaa) Dig it, I’ve continued to avoid being.…..
[Oh crap, My line of thought has jumped the damned track and I’ve lost my train of thought! Has anyone ever managed to cash in a lost absent minded thought? I’d like to have gotten something back for every one I’ve ever lost or had more seriously had despondedly swept aside.! (Opps, here I go again making up another new word “despondedly.“ It makes perfectly good sense to me. The trick is don’t think about it. Just let the word roll off your mind.)]
…..nuts
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Let me go back to 5:00AM. Laying there semi-wide awake, the Telly was broad casting images of tight butts, young women’s tight butts. Ah yes I remember live images of them as an adolescent, worshipping them from a-far to even eventually inadvertently claiming one for my own. (lmao) I can’t help myself. Thimking about this sight in my mind. The Holidays not long past, the male that I am I ogled a number of sights seen while marketing….I’ve noticed a many a tight jean worn by a many a lady fair having over indulged (eaten) shall I say adding sums of surplus pounds to their derriere’s. Oh well, male that I am, I shan’t apologize, for the man that is in me. (LMAO) So there! It is written. Besides I fully intend to take my manhood’s mind with me when I go. (grin)
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Once we got going I if our movements could be called that. I was a slow moving individual all day. It was a wonder we got nything done. The wood-hauler we emptied. Wasn’t a lot of firewood but every piece cut will help keep the home fire’s going. Tried decently covering the wood pile with an old tarp. I was more’en like a churchy tarp after a slew of mice having tried homesteading it maken it extremely holey. (shall we pray)
Bro’ called us all in a dither saying his fences needed attention. That was good as we needed to get it moving around here and drove down the road. There we busied our selves taking care of odds and end’s problems with his fences. He’ll never know what all the simple things we did to bring his voltage’s meter reading up. He can drive right on by all manor of the simplest wrongs imaginable and still remain in crisis.
As usual there was no thanks for our saving the day. However, while Fillip and Bro’ went looking for more problems I doubt were there, I did managed to wrench, so to put it, on the 1850 Ollie in the shop. The weather expected to turn foul any day, hour, or moment here we’ll soon be back inside trying to get that Ollie right and back outside for other equipments additional equipment repairs. Like dumpy needs a few moments attention with another ticklish clutch linkage adjustment. I haven’t made up my mind what next we’ll try to bring in. So much to do I’m not absolutely sure what to tackle next. It’ll likely be wrong which ever way I turn to the next projects. We manage to clear the rest of the shop’s apron off we’ll be able to put two projects into the shop side by side. Let us hope…. (grin)
“Rainbows.”
Fernan

Tuesday, January 10, 2012

Gon-na Be Fun….
…..day to day. Have got an appointment for an MRI and given only a Flint corner Address. Near as I got it figured I either got to find some responsible person to give a defining street address or get there early enough to atempt a pan-handling for a stranger to show me the way to my 2:30PM appointment. Argh!!
If I should get an earlier start than I had yesterday there’s the chance I can bring home another load firewood and cover it all before hitting the road!
To make a good job of it makin’ the into the city drive be for naught I should do and pick-up on my Crossroads way home some chainsaw oil mix, another new saw chain, an ordered c-saw-bar, my old saw c-chain-raker’s ground down and chain 1st time machine sharpened, new chain-bar flat file, a garden rake handle, and couple gallons milk.
I had me a good nights sleep more’r’less rolling over twice sleeping 8:00PM to 6:00PM. Oh boy, that much down time should have me recharged and able to go it a Hell of an all day series of accomplishments? (I can dream) (smile)
Now, already late getting at it I’ve got to find and sort my meds. Somebody might hsve done me a favor. Mt prescriptions had been filled this time with a 90 day supply. Them’s containers are to-big to fit into my daily handy pill box case. Soooo! I must redistribute then all into smaller bottle what they will fit and stow the rest. This’ll save me 2/3d’s the scrips costs and hopefully few trips to the pharmacy. We’ll see? The money savings I already like.
All this nice open weather we’ve been experiencing may very well start coming to an end tomorrow night with chances of rain and/or snow? ‘Twas nice while it lasted. I’ve liked it. Any day now we’ll be forced back inside the shop for tractor’s and my trucks repairs. The poor old 1850 Ollie standing lonesome in there is probably feeling totally ignored and unloved by this time.
Mo later……
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….and here’s more:
Wow! I must have been wired this morning my rambling on state. Felt so much better than last night. Seems I needed and found useful the extra sleep. Worst part, I’m not the least bit better looking!!! (lol)
Once righted and settling into my grove to sort and prepare my daily doses of medications this is where I started this morning’s routines.
Photobucket and there are five more bottles not in the photo. Anybody want to help me out taken some of these and letting me know how I feel?
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This the bale Sneak dropped.
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And, here I am doing a gingerly balancing act delivering this superbly grown, cut’n’rolled up hay bale to my ladies? ‘N I made it!
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I hate fixing tires almost as much as I like tramping through the fall’n’winter’n’spring mud’s.
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This was this Winter’s 2nd valve stem failure. I did this tire repair about a week my fingers ago uncomfortably cold the tire still on the machine.
Oh he fun of farm life in our 600 acre sand box. Never knowing what needs doing next. Well, almost next. (all smiles)
Even mo later…..
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….and then again much later:
Chopping firewood we had a mite bit of trouble. 1st the second chainsaw messed up and became inoperable causing our saw cutting in half. 2nd-ly we ran out of mixed chainsaw fuel. And the time flying faster than our filling the wood-hauler fell short a full load. time running out and our having to go to keep my (head’s) MRI medical appointment on time. Lunch was quickened when Bro’ called wanting help hay his Spring heifers. While the hay was put out I dropped the second saw off to Chip from whom I had borrowed the saw. Was found later I had miscued putting the sawchain back on the saw after I had filed some burs off the saw bar. In Chip’s hands it was a simple fix. Whew, “All is well what ends well.”
Being late when I got out of this last medial facility it was going to be dark when we were to get home. Regardless, we stopped for all we could get: the gasoline oil mix and a new flat file. Next and last stop milk, tea, and joy soap. By the time we got home we had put in a day. Tomorrow we cover our winter’s firewood we’ve cut until today.
“Rainbow.”
Fernan

Monday, January 9, 2012

Same-o, Same-o….

….only not quite. The weather has started to turn dismal with a low pressure system moving in over our heads. Now, I’ve got me a terrific headache, as if I needed another one?
We’ve cut another wood-hauler load of firewood. It sits just outside the door here waiting to be stacked on a couple more pallets and then cover the stacks with some old tarps.
We’ve got the material bucket on the 4020JD to undo. The forks are needed back on the JD for feeding the ladies and the yearling heifers, here and just down the road. I feel like some extra pain relievers are in store for my level headed sanity!
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Fillip having worked for a tree trimming co for some years often has some odd ways going about it. I’ve asked him what are these funny little triggering squeezes he makes like with the chainsaw, “Vroom, vroom or vroom, vroom, vroom; before the all important giving the saw one more the last squeeze of the trigger to absolutely make the next all important looping it off cut?”
I’m not particularly happy with his lump limbbing of the firewood’s’ trunks. Kind-a makes for some rather difficult neatly stacking the firewood for drying, handy storage, and/or easily handled use.
The weather weighing heavy on my mind and body today I let Fillip do all the cutting and toting the wood to the splitter where sitting on my arse I did all the work splitting the wood into manageable stove and wife sized pieces.
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Back outside after some first class peanut and grape jelly sammitches I climbed aboard the JD n-dropped the big bucket. While I couldn’t see the exact bale forks frame, eye balling down both sides the loader frame I managed to centered it all together close enough for the latches engagements. Then went to moving hay bales. 1st hay bale was a picken-it-up salvaging Fillip had dropped again. Thankfully he hadn’t parked a tractor on top of it again. (lmho) Wish I could say I’ve never lost one. Well maybe I could if while saying it I held a pair of crossed fingers behind my back*. (grin)
Every body in the animal word fed I turned my attention to fixing three short fence runs. I’m assuming it was deer knocking them down. Now that all the deer hunting seasons have finally come to a close perhaps the deer’ll calm down an ably jump over them.
My getting back to the house I just happened to be in time to see Fillip loading and toting into the house the last arm full firewood. We may not have not appeared to have set the world on fire today not gotten as much done as we had yesterday, we're satisfied we finished it up a full day just the same.
“Rainbows.”
Fernan

*Fingers crossed behind an individuals back, that individual may tell a wee bit of a little lie. (grin) The fingers crossed, that little lie isn’t s’posed to count. Forestay?

Sunday, January 8, 2012

Purty Day

Another load of Firewood has been brought up to the house. Not sure when we’ll unload it? But its here and we’ve another pallet or two to stack it on. The heating season’s looking comfortably better.
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Returning home looking around, we’re wondering who fed the ladies. Yup, the JD had been moved. Tractor sitting on top the ground close to where the same tractor’s tires were resting in ruts. (hmmm) Tom’s has to have been here.
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Speculative plan is get loader-hoe Ford going, put material bucket on 4020 JD and move those piles on lower drive before they’s frozen solid down in my way lumps. Also plan on putting back blade on little Ford.
I guess since I’ve stuck my worked list neck out we’ll see if my words hold water.
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Story time:
Some weeks ago my keeping Sneak happy I’ve tried to stop us by a dumpster at least once a month. Sneak just plainly likes to forage for whatever he may find useful others had thrown away. I do have to acknowledge he’s come up with some useful, very useful, manufactured products. He’d gotten a $250.00 leather/faux-fur reversible winter coat for nothen. [Oh crap! I’ve forgotten what I wanted to say!!!] He’s brought to his home shirts, pants, towels, blankets, tools, working electronic products; all useful. It’s either amassing or ridiculous the (sometimes perfectly) good items people throw away.
Why when we were out the last time I even got caught up in the excitement of this treasure hunting. I brought home a perfectly good a “her ladyship’s hair drier (I’ may use to thaw winter frozen water fountains), and a slightly used wheeled body sander/polisher (merely needen a pad and discs),”
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5:00PM, finishing our day’s work right on the dot. Timing’s perfect for taking my rattlers on time. And best of all we accomplished all the tasks above I had written earlier. It’s been a good day. Somehow it just don’t seem to be right nothen gone wrong?!
“Rainbows.”
Fernan

Saturday, January 7, 2012

What???

I’m up, I’m eating, and I‘ve no idea what I’m going to do today? Although, in yesterday’s travels picking up my meds the amongst them I‘ve another new one to take. My newest doctor suggesting my system may be experiencing some inflammation about my nerves and/or blood vessels. These sort of conditions could be the cause of my latest battle against these lightening striking pains so he wrote me up another new prescription? This worried me. I’m not to sure I want to be treated with an assortment of antibiotics, for fear if a day arrives I will seriously need them, they’ll be of no use to me? So, checking with my pharmacist told me it was some sort of a nerve relaxant. Nerve relaxant? This drug eases up (lowers) the sensitivity of the nervous system thus the likelihood if my body is experiencing some inflammations about my nerves this drug should help relieve the numbers and severity of these electrical striking pained ordeals. I’m to start taking them this evening. Looks like I’ll be whatever I may be doing, I be doing it extra carefully.
Additionally I've enlarged that missing piece of cake like opening in the back side my sitting’s foam rubber cushion. Perhaps that interference pressures put back again on my misaligned repeatedly broken tail bones are the retuning cause these new pains. I don’t know? All I know is I need relief if I’m going to remain a useful citizen in my community.
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What’d we do this afternoon? Damnedifiknow? Let me start out slow. While Fillip fed the ladies I took another look at the digger-hoe and found the ground wire completely disconnected from the whatever might be called the tractor’s frame. Connecting it under a starter bolt the Crazy Ford started. Running I immediately went to moving some of the sand and gravel piles resting in the lower driveway while the thawed materials were easy to move. Just getting a good start I saw Logan coming up our road with his 2 ½ deuce. This required shutting the Ford down. Can’t miss a chance to exchange a few nouns and verbs with Logan. He’s looking for an old wagon axle and wheel for his cannon carriage. Just what I need, something else to look out for. (grin) I do like all these projects whether they’re mine or somebody else’s. (grin)
While the Ford was shut down I decided we’d better run down to shop for some oil for a 4020 JD crankcase lube change. As much trouble the old choke cable had been the poor tractors oil smell heavily contaminated with gasoline. This could be serious if gone unchecked. Also looking forward to scrapping out the chipper what had taken Bro’s leg off I decided we had better do some jacking on it to get all its extremities out of the earth up on higher drier blocking for easy hooking it up for disposal later. Meanwhile thinking I’d like to save the tongue jack, the spindles, and a nice sized sheet of steel for making Dumpy truck mud guards to go just ahead the rear wheels. Got the idea for those guards spying same on Logan’s deuce.
Some twenty minutes left before dark I thought I’d dig and spread out some more sand and gravel. The Ford electrical system dead. (Oh no!) I took those few minutes daylight I had left and started unloading the wood hauler, Fillip joining me. Mine going onto another pallet, his inside the house. When we were all done we marveled at our labors Almost a full cord resting on two pallets and another ¾ cord inside the house. And an empty wood-hauler’s already to go out for another load of firewood come morning. Then I’ll get to look at the Ford’s more current problem. Cantankerous machine!
“Rainbows.”
Fernan

Friday, January 6, 2012

At Last

I spent a warm comfortable all night sleep for a change. Of the one ash, two elm, and several gopher-wood trees the gopher wood last loaded, first carried in the house burned well keeping my TB (tired butt) warm all night. However, in my returning home exhaustion, Sneak only carried in that wood he fed the stove until his bed time. Wait until he wakens this morning….. (grin) My waking but twice for a couple quick water hauls, I had also done some twice bare footed dances out and onto the wood-hauler for a couple arm full’s firewood to feed that wood burner during the night. (grrr) But alas, those two trips outdoors in my swinging bottom-less short night shirt benefited me with needed fresh-air and exercise.
Morning rant over. Passing the soap box on……
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On the road shortly after 9:00 AM we picked up my meds, a med sheet, tripped 10 mile south for an outlying burb to Flint. My first medical stop place wasn’t there. Okay, taking a parked timeout to reconnoiter I decided we go back the way we’d come, slowly, what places we had to go had to b within a seeing a sign for my planned second stop we wheeled in. That walk in appointment taken care of directions gained for the location the first stops lost we had made some good time. Finished this burb we took to zig-zag-ing cross country for an additionally planned Crossroads hardware store stop. There I ordered a new chainsaw-bar. Picked up sparkplugs and saw files and arrived home at lunch time.
I didn’t even have my lunch finished and here come the phone calls. A crisis here, another one there. Sheesh! A body’d think the world was going to come to and end. So critical the caller’s needs I didn’t finish my medical phoned in personal info. I better be taking care of this come Monday morning sure!!! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Okay, as long as I’m mysteriously needed in shop, the chainsaw’s loaded, the log splitter’s hooked in tow, both to go with me. Fillip’s driving the 4020JD to shop for a original new choke cable installation. Some days ago I suggested such a choke cable and was shot-down. Now that it’s Bro’s idea it’s a-okay! Go figure?
While we waited for one of his Nib’s shortly's Fillip reconditioned the chainsaw bar, dressing the bar and guide with another fresh mill-bastard file. When he had finished I reassembled the saw making it ready to go our next time out. I also picked up an extra chain saw from Chip. He’s little use for it any more. If it’s a good runner I may strike a deal with him over it. My asking for assistance getting the wood splitter started and running went totally ignored. Okay, I surely couldn’t make it operated any worse than it had yesterday. I didn’t even start nor worked at all!!! Opening up the guess where do I start on my part I slipped into it a new sparkplug, and then with a flick of the wrist with the golden screwdriver into the only fuel jet adjusted to 80 years or more old specs the darn thing started and once warmed up ran like a top. We’s ready for another adventurous day chopping more fire wood out in the wood lot…..
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There are times I don’t know where Bro’s mind has gone. I repeatedly told him I can’t see after dark. I mean it, I’m near totally night blind any more. Maybe when he keeps me late enough a couple nights and make him not only bring me home, I make him come and get me so’s I may pick up my ride.
Fillip made supper. Wasn’t to bad, my telling Frieda “you might better use a little salt and plenty pepper on this. It’s taste is so flat it won’t hold air.”
“Rainbows.”
Fernan

Thursday, January 5, 2012

‘Twas a sunny Day

It was such a beautiful day our labors accomplishments falling well (as in way) short our expectations. Our principal task today was to cut’n’split a wood-hauler load firewood. But alas before getting to it we were summoned to run down the road and secure a load of returnable pallets and boxes for transport back to the surplus commodity’s center. Then at that, we expect Bro’ to be loaded up with another load of fruits, vegetables, and out-dated baked goods for cattle feed conversation processing.
Meanwhile, back here Fillip and I put the WD45 to the wood-hauler, the wood hauler to the wood splitter, and headed for our rendition of a lovers lane to re-supply our empty foyer. An hour into the afternoon disappointments doubled up on us. Oh woe is me (us). After we had cut for a spell the cussed log splitter failed to start. It teased us a number of times but then didn’t have the heart to help us with just one of out tasks, the splitting of some the tree trunks into fire sized woodstove fuel. A bit later the chainsaw started acting up wanting to cut in circles. No problem with the chain it was throwing out some nicely cut wood chips. The saw-bar was wearing heavier one side more so the other. Not sure what I want to do with the thing I tried calling my saw dealer. Seams he needs some numbers off the saw-bar I can’t read. Looks like another stop by the Crossroads hardware. As much time I’ve been stopping in over there I should getting my own coffee cup and a rocker.
So we come home with about a half load burnable sized firewood leaving another quarter load still out along the lane needing splitting.
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Head-achy and tired, sorry folks. I’m turning in.
“Rainbows.”
Fernan

Wednesday, January 4, 2012

Early start….

….and a good thing also. I like such prompt messages when I’ve an extra curricular activity to engage in, like feed grinding. Out extra early the two of us, Fillip and me, we took on seeing just how much we could accomplish today. Yeah right! The grind message coming early enough I didn’t have to post pone the grind. We had just the time to do it before Fillip had to motor me to another medical appointment. That I’ve got to rant about.
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One side stepping another scoundrelly questionable behavior realizing Tom’s wife was perhaps home I called her to ask if there was anything I could bring her, after her two day horsepistils stay, in the way of some comfort foods, like tomato and/or chicken noodle soup, for examples starters. She declined the offer saying she had everything she needed. Okay, I agreed with her, only additionally adding I couldn’t give her any my personal attention for I was saving myself for another. Opps, me an’ my big mouth. Frieda sitting right beside me ‘n Cathy on the other end the same wire, now I’ve got two wimmins getting on me for my words. Like what were they, encouragement or discouragement? I do like living on the edge. If nothing else I stimulated a couple wimmin's circulations.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
My Doc’s prescription appointment slip designated I was required to be on time for an MRI examination. Yeah sure. Upon arrival and the usherment into a fancy cubical I was ordered to undress for this Doc’s examination. What happened to the MRI? I had never had to bare-assed undress for an MRI before. This visit turns out to be an assessment visit. I was seriously PO-ed, and I let this Doc know it. Particularly when he wanted my immediate medication history. I had come there for an MRI, not an assessment visit. So, I had failed to bring all that paper work with me. Well I hadn’t completely undressed. This Doc hadn’t required it, therefore I didn’t sit around in this cubical freezing my gonads off.
Before we were done I was given scripts for a blood draw and tests, an EEG, and the honest to goodness MRI. Sheesh! So tomorrow I have to phone this last office with not only my meds list but also my personal care giver’s list faxed over to this last Bozo’s office my Doc’s office list my medications.
Checking my want lists, I found we could stop and impromptu-ly stop to shop Meijer’s Thrifty Acres for most our shopping list’s the household needs were take care of. While there I could even mail out my book manuscript’s last story editing and the art changes for the story’s drawings and over all approvals. Now I’m liking a little kid waiting for my could be July’s Christmas celebration. I’m so tickled I may just drift away from the Internet for awhile and take on a challenging more involved book writing. Goodness knows I’ve got more than enough material. My wife, family and it’s pets have entertained me for years.
Two more stops the Crossroads. My bank showed me how to do internet banking bill paying. Wow, what a hoot for a poor country boy. Last stop was by the Crossroads hardware store for still more Dumpy truck paint supplies. Still on order, I’m waiting for two more items.
What a day. Would rather have gotten more done on the locked up 1850 before the colder coming temps set in really cooling off the earth. Personally I’d like to see some steady 20* daily temperatures so’s Fillip and I can take on some serious firewood chopping without any insistence mud‘s interference. Well tomorrow’s another day, should I wake up. (grin)
“Rainbows.”
Fernan

Early start….

….and a good thing also. I like such prompt messages when I’ve an extra curricular activity to engage in, like feed grinding. Out extra early the two of us, Fillip and me, we took on seeing just how much we could accomplish today. Yeah right! The grind message coming early enough I didn’t have to post pone the grind. We had just the time to do it before Fillip had to motor me to another medical appointment. That I’ve got to rant about.
My Doc’s prescription appointment slip designated I was required to be on time for an MRI examination. Yeah sure. Upon arrival and the usherment into a fancy cubical I was ordered to undress for this Doc’s examination. What happened to the MRI? I had never had to bare-assed undress for an MRI before. This visit turns out to be an assessment visit. I was seriously PO-ed, and I let this Doc know it. Particularly when he wanted my immediate medication history. I had come there for an MRI, not an assessment visit. So, I had failed to bring all that paper work with me. Well I didn’t completely undress. This Doc hadn’t required it, therefore I didn’t sit around in this cubical freezing my gonads off.
Before we were done I was given scripts for an blood draw and tests, an EEG, and the honest to goodness MRI. Sheesh! So tomorrow I have to phone this last office with not only my meds list but also my personal care giver’s list faxed over to this last Bozo’s office doc’s office list my medications.
Checking my want lists, I found we could stop and impromptu-ly stop to shop Meijer’s Thrifty Acres for most our shopping list’s the household needs were take care of. While there I could even mail out my book manuscript’s last story editing and the art changes for the story’s drawings and over all approvals. Now I’m liking a little kid waiting for my could be July’s Christmas celebration. I’m so tickled I may just drift away from the Internet for awhile and take on a challenging more involved book writing. Goodness knows I’ve got more than enough material. My wife, family and it’s pets have entertained me for years.
Two more stops the Crossroads. My bank showed me how to do internet banking bill paying. Wow, what a hoot for a poor country boy. Last stop was by the Crossroads hardware store for still more Dumpy truck paint supplies. Still on order, I’m waiting for two more items.
What a day. Would rather have gotten more done on the locked up 1850 before the colder coming temps set in really cooling off the earth. Personally I’d like to see some steady 20* daily temperatures so’s Fillip and I can take on some serious firewood chopping without any insistence mud‘s interference. Well tomorrow’s another day, should I wake up. (grin)
“Rainbows.”
Fernan

Tuesday, January 3, 2012

Brrrr!

The whole of fairly well took today’s nose dived mercury temperature indicator. My fingers alone objected almost noisily. Talk about hurt. Can’t tell another soul how many times I sought ducking inside seeking warmth for them.
I remember the times where I liked putting them getting ear rupturing squeals of uncooperative denials thawing them out. But that was way back when….
Backing the weather up we damned near froze in this abode we call home. Liking a stone walled cave we all suffered the freeze searing night. These dungeon like spaces so cold I poked the basement dragon in the ribs to help take the chill off the place so’s I could even peek out from under my blankly to see if it were daylight yet. Brrrr! And then some.
Out late after a loosing battle wit the woodstove, Fillip and I hustled the firewood resting upon the pallet aside the desk and restacked the woodhauler’s load on that same pallet’s empty space. This took all the morning what was left up until we had given up to doing a drastic measure.
After brunching Fillip and I hit shop time long enough set the 1850’s power plant back into the sheltered tractor’s tub. Installed phooey, Motor mount bolts merely started, my fingers so cold it was an early quits for this day. Oh how the warmth of welcoming home felt walking in to some decently wood fueled fire, my whole being enjoyed the warm in quiet joy. Roughing it through my mail, my hands becoming warm enough we were back out side putting a small bat-charger on loader-backhoe, loaded up an oil space heater, and refueled the 4020 JD. What we didn’t finish today will still be there tomorrow.
Weather’s supposed to warm up the rest of this week. Will this be our January thaw? Making a list of things to do: Put back blade on little Ford and park it in barn. Get L-B charged up and running. Move sand and gravel piles usefully around-about the water fountain and raising lower drive’s elevation. ‘N’ spread the crushed rock where it’s needed. And, oh yeah cut-down’n’cut-up a few more standing dead dried elm and ash trees for at least two home fires. Oh yes, the fun of it all!
“Rainbows.”
Fernan

Brrrr!

The whole of fairly well took today’s nose dived mercury temperature indicator. My fingers alone objected almost noisily. Talk about hurt. Can’t tell another soul how many times I sought ducking inside seeking warmth for them.
I remember the times where I liked putting them getting ear rupturing squeals of uncooperative denials thawing them out. But that was way back when….
Backing the weather up we damned near froze in this abode we call home. Liking a stone walled cave we all suffered the freeze searing night. These dungeon like spaces so cold I poked the basement dragon in the ribs to help take the chill off the place so’s I could even peek out from under my blankly to see if it were daylight yet. Brrrr! And then some.
Out late after a loosing battle wit the woodstove, Fillip and I hustled the firewood resting upon the pallet aside the desk and restacked the woodhauler’s load on that same pallet’s empty space. This took all the morning what was left up until we had given up to doing a drastic measure.
After brunching Fillip and I hit shop time long enough set the 1850’s power plant back into the sheltered tractor’s tub. Installed phooey, Motor mount bolts merely started, my fingers so cold it was an early quits for this day. Oh how the warmth of home felt walking in to some decent wood fueled fire my whole being enjoyed the warm in quiet joy. Roughing it through my mail, my hands becoming warm enough we were back out side putting a small bat-charger on loader-backhoe, loaded up an oil space heater, and refueled the 4020 JD. What we didn’t finish today will still be there tomorrow.
Weather’s supposed to warm up the rest of this week. Will this be our January thaw? Making a list of things to do: Put back blade on little Ford and park it in barn. Get L-B charged up and running. Move sand and gravel piles usefully around-about the water fountain and raising lower drive’s elevation. ‘N’ spread the crushed rock where it’s needed. And, oh yeah cut-down’n’cut-up a few more standing dead dried elm and ash trees for at least two home fires. Oh yes, the fun of it all!
“Rainbows.”
Fernan

Monday, January 2, 2012

just another work day

Our chores supposedly done early so’s not to have to worry about the later, We finally wheeled up to the shop. Fillip having to move Dumpy,, when he backed Dumpy over this woodchuck killing him under the truck‘s wheels. .
Photobucket
Already on ice, the talk was we’d take it home for dinner later.

Here’s another shot the 1850 Ollie engine suspended from shop’s roll-about ‘A’-frame. Note the second chain-fall hooked to the Hydra-Drive transmission for removal. A few minutes later the scene was similar for the like transmission replacement.
Photobucket
This is overhead wheeled ‘A’-frame arrangement is one of the handiest tools we have ever made. Absolutely the handiest tool for fixing almost anything on (in) an Oliver tractor, for two handicapper’s.

We didn’t work long on the Ollie, having quit late for lunch followed with another appointment with my last chiropractor. Under his nimble hands an fingers He soon had me feeling better.
On our way home we took a side trip to see if we could come together with the picking up of my grandson’s 150 Ford pickup transmission. That side trip was almost a total waste of time. Searching the presumed neighborhood, meeting some nice people, engaging them in conversation Fillip and I had a good time. Still, on the road again our continued way home I found a 20’ JD transport disk. Needing a bit of TLC it really looked fairly good to me for the price. All I’ve got to do now is find the money.
We returned home in time for drowning my rattlers. Fillip carried in some firewood before he was called away to feed the yearling heifers. I cut up a mountain of cardboard boxes condensing their burnable use to fit them all in one box.
Oh boy! Tomorrow morning we can take to setting the Oliver’s power plant back into its tub. I’d like to see this project finished before the weekend.
“Rainbows.”
Fernan

Sunday, January 1, 2012

Nude Years Day

Okay I holidayed for a spell on rising this morning and got little done. By time I got out a-the house I went alone. Blocked wagon whee and moved Dumpy away from it. Next trick was to move the the 4020JD without it sliding north into either a pile of railroad tiles or my holding pile of milled ash lumber. Next trick was to take a wagon’s loaded hay ring out to the ladies and bring back the one these same ladies destroyed the last one, and still bring the tractor back. Oh what fun it is wading through an open winters dashing eight/ten inches mud feeding the animals. Yet while the easy temperatures make it easier enjoying working outdoors they don’t do anything making mud one iota better.
In my travels I feuled Dumpy, paid Logan a visit seeing his American revolutionary war cannon. I was really checking on his invitation to paint Dumpy’s new doors inside’n’out. Still short of the total required paint stuffs, and of-course the doors when I do get it all together his helping me with one my projects aught to save him a few bucks spent on some of his own projects. (Grin) He's still with me on it. Whew!
Some shop time finally put in, I managed to readied the none working Hydra-Drive unit to come off the 1850’s engine and install or at least have the rebuilt unit installed to come off tomorrow and replace it with the rebuilt unit for completion the whole power plant's installation back into the tractor.
While it was a genuinely miserably windy rainy day all day I still accomplished some headway in a couple Shorthorn country directions. Oh yeah….
Happy New Year friends and neighbors.
“Rainbows.”
Fernan