Fernan's Shorthorn Farm Life

2012-01-28T17:19:00.000-08:00

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.

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

2012-01-28T17:11:00.000-08:00

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.

Secondly I use a saber-saw with a wood toothed saw blade starting in the sawed slot to cut out the tires beads.

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

Caught myself napping

2012-01-26T15:23:00.000-08:00

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

2012-01-26T15:22:00.000-08:00

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

Opinionsth

2012-01-25T18:45:00.000-08:00

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.

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

Opp’s

2012-01-24T16:50:00.000-08:00

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?

2012-01-24T16:39:00.000-08:00

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

1-23-2012 goofus mixes

2012-01-23T23:17:00.000-08:00

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

Sunny day, more way ‘an one

2012-01-21T16:58:00.001-08:00

‘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

What a Day?!!?!

2012-01-20T16:25:00.000-08:00

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

Lest I forget

2012-01-19T16:55:00.000-08:00

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

I-Net Wars

2012-01-18T15:59:00.000-08:00

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.

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.

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.

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

We got Rain’n’Snow.

2012-01-17T15:33:00.000-08:00

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

Switcheroos Day

2012-01-16T17:52:00.000-08:00

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.

1-13-2012 Friday the 13th

2012-01-13T18:47:00.000-08:00

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

Some mo catch-up pics

2012-01-12T17:58:00.000-08:00

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.

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.

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

Nuts twice

2012-01-11T16:37:00.000-08:00

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
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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

2012-01-10T17:44:00.000-08:00

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.
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.

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.

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

Same-o, Same-o….

2012-01-09T14:54:00.000-08:00

….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?

Purty Day

2012-01-08T14:27:00.000-08:00

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.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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

What???

2012-01-07T15:59:00.000-08:00

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

At Last

2012-01-06T17:27:00.000-08:00

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

‘Twas a sunny Day

2012-01-05T17:05:00.000-08:00

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.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Head-achy and tired, sorry folks. I’m turning in.
“Rainbows.”
Fernan

Early start….

2012-01-04T15:08:00.001-08:00

….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.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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….

2012-01-04T15:08:00.000-08:00

….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

Brrrr!

2012-01-03T15:06:00.001-08:00

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!

2012-01-03T15:06:00.000-08:00

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

just another work day

2012-01-02T16:15:00.000-08:00

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. .

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.

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

Nude Years Day

2012-01-01T17:17:00.000-08:00

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

Ho hum day

2011-12-30T16:17:00.000-08:00

T was a relatively uneventful day. Up and at’em we put our trash out with the neighbor’s. Got rid of a grow garbage menace what had homesteaded our kitchen. Yesterday chopped rain and snowed on wood to wet to burn we had to go undercover for what few dry pieces at piled rest on a pallet beside the deck under a piece of plastic.
Going to shop never made it helped bro reset hid squeeze chute and feed his animals early. Then it was lunch time.
Lunch eatened Fillip drove us over to the Crossroads There I picked up some enamel primmer, paint, what we could get a new broom handle for the one I broke this morning. Also picked up some mending plates for use on the oil house. I paid my moneys and we left the hardware store with another gallon paint coming in tomorrow and enamel paint hardener in two weeks. Now, I need to find the doors and get them over to my friend who’d said he’d paint them for me in his heated garage. One more stop and we were gone back to the shop putting three hours. I jerked on the 1850’s drive shaft for an hour, Fillip taken over for another twenty minutes the cussed drive shaft slipped out for him. After I had given up the drive shaft removal I took on taking the Perkins front motor mount bolt out. I messed that up also (if we’re counting failures). Tom helping us the guys managed to install the engines lifting plates. Finishing the afternoon the motor mount bolt still needs coming out, the bicycle chain also needs to come off. Not to bad a day really if we don’t include the disappointment in our failure to carry in dry fire wood last night.
“Rainbows.”
Fernan

12-29-2011 Woodlot visiting Day

2011-12-30T07:12:00.000-08:00

The home’s wood box empty, a wood chopping day was required. I know some might take offense I and mine should presumably take a day off. Tough!! Fillip had finally emptied the wood-hauler again and none to soon. WD45 with wood hauler in tow the wood splitter in tow we turned right out the drive for the tenant farm in the hollow. Just log splitting it didn’t take long to load said W-H trailer. Backed up to the deck and covered we can carry its load into the house after dark. Getting close to a postponed lunch Fillip’s feeding the young’n’old ladies.
I’ve taken up the time to write some of this while telling Frieda how hard I did all the work After Fillip had brought me the logs to split and also carefully stack the split wood on the trailer. (grin) Gosh, his presents is a big help.
The afternoon would find us down the road. I in shop working on the 1850 Ollie and Fillip outside working upon the oil-house. A gentle windless snow fall, temps just above freezing it was a beautiful day for a productive working atmosphere.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The afternoon didn’t go as I thought it might have gone as I had written it would. Getting back on the road arrival down the road later than intended we instead joined Bro’ in unwrapping more baked goods. This weekly task we finished just in time to see me delivered home in the last of the evening’s twilight. While we hadn’t gotten into the shop as I had hoped, we still had had a good day. When the log splitter wasn’t running right Tom had come out and tinkered with. The last time it quit we all quit and discussed (disgusted) what could really be wrong with the recently ailing motor. Myself commenting on the fuel tank had been siphoned dry the last time we used it running temperamentally and refueled with fresh gasoline, Tom disappeared coming back with some rubbing alcohol. The brave soul that he is he let me pour some the alcohol into the gas tank. A pull of the rope starting the engine once more, the engine ran like a top. Tom had cured the splitters temperamental ill’s. This was near it for the day.
“Rainbows.”
Fernan

12-27-2011 Interminably absent

2011-12-28T02:03:00.000-08:00

Apparently loosing a day I offer this dull smidgen of totally unnecessary information that’ll bore any otherwise intelligent reader. (grin) So let me get to it, even if my conribution doesn’t make total sense. I might add forgiveness is a requirement demanded from any reader who may well know me any better than I know myself anymore. Bored yet? Read on, I’m working on it.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Once Fillip and I got away from here we coffee clutched with another neighborhood family. Myself either missing or messing up my own breakfast opportunity our hosts household were serving silver dollar pancakes. Was a nicely different treat. I’m glad I hadn’t missed it. A couple cups coffee later Fillip and I were on our way. By a drugstore, the cat medicine we sought was unattainable, but we did buy milk. Next we stopped by the Crossroad’s the supermarket where my blood relative son demanded we procure cat food along with the animal wormer I was deciding on.
While we were out, Fillip ‘s carrying his paperwork we more’r’less slid into Mt Morris’s Secretary of State office to renew his teamsters driver’s license. Oh lawdy what an office full of standing room only and not much of that. Seeing that crowd and imagining sun down consuming us before Sneak would get to a friendly window, I retreated back to dumpy and retrieved a pink return slip…. ‘Twas a smooth move as he was called up within seconds. I felt so bad doing, proclaiming this act as one of self preservation we were up and out in minutes instead of hours.
On the road headed for home we encountered this ugly sight.

Poor driver’s car did a hundred and 180* turn then backing into this out of the way parking space the driver trying to avoid a deer determined to cross the road. Not so sure Dumpy could pull him back up onto the road we stood around offering our assistance as a last ditch compromise.
By’n’by a gentleman come along with a super heavy duty 4x4 with a mounted snow plow. His weight distribution better than Dumpy’s we supplied the snatch strap and a clevis to the need. That 4x4 did the job. Along with the driver’s health still in tact his car righted on the road the car hadn’t appeared to have suffered any ill effects itself. All was well what ended well.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Home again for a belated lunch, afterward, Fillip took on feeding the animals, some volunteered house work, and sleuthing about for my two lost barnyard tuxedo’s. Me, I did the only real reasonable thing to do, I ducked out, on down the road, in the shop’s direction.
Feeling good in the most recent 20 or so hours headaches pain free I wasn’t looking for any wrenching nor over sized tractor parts tussling. I merely settled into Bro’s garage calmly, quietly, seated myself with a knife in hand ‘n’wrapped baked goods for animal feeding.
On Bro’s return I assisted in his animal feeding. Then we turned to more baked goods unwrapping until we simultaneously ran out of empty tubs and my safe driving it home daylight.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
On my return home I found Sneak had found my missing tuxes. The housework while having not suffered nor backslid any iota amount with no really eye opening improvement. I was assured the housework would still be with us the day next. (sigh) They’re days a body can’t win them all. (laughter here) But my headaches appear to have left me feeling much better.
“Rainbows.”
Fernan

12-26-2011 Got high hopes…..

2011-12-28T01:59:00.001-08:00

For something like two weeks my head has ben banged away with electrically energized momentary lightening headache strikes. What? I’m using to many adjectives? Well, I’ll tell my reader at their height they tired me out to the exstent when they came upon me in unexpected series (zap, zap, zap) they rocked me. So very glad I am Fillip is here. He’s taking over the driving, machine operation’s. There’s been no skill nor chainaw operating in my hands for days. Heez! I go to get back to these activities seriously like. We’re needing fire wood, got the oil house to finish before its buried in snow, and luckily have finally gotten Bro’ seeing the necessity of replacing an 1850’s Hydra-drive transmission. After that there’s still no Winter’s ends to the have to’s before Springs reawakening. Gosh, feeling blessed, I’ve wakened up without one them instantaneous electrical stabs to the back of my head. Seeing Eric the chiropractor was the could-de-graw for his sought out help last Friday. Mind you, liken Frieda’s suggesting I haven’t put one of Eric’s return tune-up’s out of mind yet. Biggest problem facing me these next few healing days is knowing my physical limitations. Thinken is, next few days if the weather turns snooty I should be able to wrench safely, inside, without any fears any worse than the occasionally dropped nut or bolt!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I got-to make up a small immediate project recap: 1850’s transmission replacement, finish oil house, cut firewood. Then there’s the longer termed fun projects: Quad-ra-cycle, the Cushman Haulster, finish (works in progress) country Santa’s story book. And, how about the immediate transportation projects: Dumpy trucks body repairs (to make gear shifting easier (right) again), Ugly trucks transmission rebuilt, Green trucks engine rebuild and body repairs. Whew, sure glad I don’t have any more to do. But the, I’ve spotted some three (Cushman Eagle look a-likes) motor scooters for $250/00 each witch could come in handy motorized cattle rounder-uppers?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Now a moment for yesterdays claims to incidentally un-cheered production’s fame: ground grain, next tractor repair project put in shop, plus some other incidental farm’s living chores, and just plainly worrying wearing me out tired over this whole trying to keep my even living as much fun as it had once been.
Well, so much for the morbid side of the golden years aging!!! What a bunch of propaganda-ed crapola! Now I feel better, this last writtened line spilled’n’off my mind!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Opps, the sandman’s determination I neglected to finish this journal entry evening last. And, even at that I’ve evidently lost a day. Oh well ’ll write more into the next entry!
“Rainbows.”
Fernan

2011-12-28T01:59:00.000-08:00

12-26-2011 Got high hopes…..
For something like two weeks my head has been banged away with electrically energized momentary lightening headache strikes. What? I’m using to many adjectives? Well, I’ll tell my reader at their height they tired me out to the extent when they came upon me in unexpected series (zap, zap, zap) they rocked me. So very glad I am Fillip is here. He’s taking over the driving, machine operation’s. There’s been no skill nor chainsaw operating in my hands for days. Heez! I go to get back to these activities seriously like. We’re needing fire wood, got the oil house to finish before its buried in snow, and luckily have finally gotten Bro’ seeing the necessity of replacing an 1850’s Hydra-drive transmission. After that there’s still no Winter’s ends to the have to’s before Springs reawakening. Gosh, feeling blessed, I’ve wakened up without one them instantaneous electrical stabs to the back of my head. Seeing Eric the chiropractor was the could-de-graw for his sought out help last Friday. Mind you, liken Frieda’s suggesting I haven’t put one of Eric’s return tune-up’s out of mind yet. Biggest problem facing me these next few healing days is knowing my physical limitations. Thinken is, next few days if the weather turns snooty I should be able to wrench safely, inside, without any fears any worse than the occasionally dropped nut or bolt!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I got-to make up a small immediate project recap: 1850’s transmission replacement, finish oil house, cut firewood. Then there’s the longer termed fun projects: Quad-ra-cycle, the Cushman Haulster, finish (works in progress) country Santa’s story book. And, how about the immediate transportation projects: Dumpy trucks body repairs (to make gear shifting easier (right) again), Ugly trucks transmission rebuilt, Green trucks engine rebuild and body repairs. Whew, sure glad I don’t have any more to do. But the, I’ve spotted some three (Cushman Eagle look a-likes) motor scooters for $250/00 each witch could come in handy motorized cattle rounder-uppers?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Now a moment for yesterdays claims to incidentally un-cheered production’s fame: ground grain, next tractor repair project put in shop, plus some other incidental farm’s living chores, and just plainly worrying wearing me out tired over this whole trying to keep my even living as much fun as it had once been.
Well, so much for the morbid side of the golden years aging!!! What a bunch of propaganda-ed crapola! Now I feel better, this last writtened line spilled’n’off my mind!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Opps, the sandman’s determination I neglected to finish this journal entry evening last. And, even at that I’ve evidently lost a day. Oh well ’ll write more into the next entry!
“Rainbows.”
Fernan

Christmas Day

2011-12-25T18:45:00.000-08:00

It is 6:30PM and I’ve just wakened from a 3 ½ hour nap. It has been a relatively quiet day as day’s go. Everyone awoke in their own time. Shortly after I got up, I started dinner. Don’t remember having breakfast? Frieda was next having next finding string for my eventual piecing back together the sliced ham. Lastly Fillip arose requiring him to tend to and feed the animals.
While every body else was busy with whatever they were doing I peeled potatoes (spelled with an “E”), with my hunting knife, putting them on the wood stove to cook. The ham tied up I tooth picked pineapple rings and red’n’green maraschino cherries all over it. Then wondered at what temperature does one bake a previously cooked ham? Meanwhile somewhere in these preparatory times I had also peeled and cored a bowl full of cinnamon and nutmeg seasoned apple slices to fill a cooken glass pie plate. Over these apples I covered them with a mixed together oatmeal, brown sugar, and 1/8 pound stick of butter topping. Once the dessert assembled I put it in the oven when the roasted ham come out of the oven and watched from time to time until the dish’s contents had all melted down together.
To simplify dinner’s put together a couple cans and bottles were opened. A simple meal really, I had fun putting what there was of it together. Serving, explaining my hunting knife’s use I asked my eaters to pay no attention to any encountered gamy tastes; AND, be watchful of bones. Served, Susan had joined us for dinner taking with her some ham home to help us finish the leftovers this coming week.
Busiest activity all day of all us relaxed soul’s was that of restarting the woodstove fire as it repeat-ably continued going out.
Then what’d we all have for supper? Leftovers. What-else. Only differently. Why, because we all napped at different times. Like a bunch of fattened cats we all succumbed to slumber under individual needs. I was first. Frieda second and Fillip coming in last, if at all, if he had snoozed. Frieda’s nap the shortest she had made herself a sandwich and dished-up apple crisp. Not to sure about Fillip? I’ll just skip on a-long to myself. I had Fillip make me a couple ham sandwiches on whole wheat buns filled with a single slice of ham and what looked like a fist full of lettuce. Happy to see the lettuce it was a vegetable I had salvaged out of the surplus commodities of a week ago plus today’s fresh baked apple crisp. No more the ham Fillip had put on my sandwich, we’re going to suffer the land of eating leftovers for a much longer time. Nuts! It’s amazing how long the lettuce had lasted without turning brown even around the edges. Hopefully somebody will also eat a lettuce salad tomorrow. We’ll see tomorrow?
“Rainbows.”
Fernan

some bits

2011-12-23T17:03:00.000-08:00

On reaching the shop yesterday Bro’ announced he’d caught Grace (pet cow) playing with matches, herself setting a-flame a burn-pile by his hay-yard’s entrance. I don’t know? Seems we must keep an ever closer eye upon our ladies!
In all reality I have sneaking suspicion the fire was an accident. Burning permits are costing $’s and the purposes are totally ridiculous. A burn may only be 8’x8’x8’ in size. Their flames must be put out a dusk with water. If you should want to roast hotdogs and marshmallows this requires another permit. As miserably rotten day such as it was, people clustered about their warming fires in their homes or at work, in so to speak unaware what might be transpiring outdoors ideally missed any goings on’s in the neighborhood. It seems maybe a careless passerby may have started this day’s brush fire. Oh well such is life, accidents happen.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Yesterday I prepared and delivered out of our larder two boxes groceries for another neighbor.
Personally, up and at’em first thing this morning I managed to have brought up to date all my household’s script we’ll need not to run out this next week. Seems with shortened medical attention hours around the neighborhoods, one had better not become ill….!
Speaking of Ill my waking up to the misery’s, I’ve been experiencing these last ten days to two weeks, this morning. Thumping Fillip into motion I had him drive me to the local chiropractor only to find he’d started his Xmas vacation a day early, as I’d found out three more calls later.
Finally finding one DC willing to return to his office, we enjoyed a quick sandwich, before our taking off for the town of Millington.
Doc Eric working his hands on magic, I come out of his office walking straighter/taller. So were the words of Fillip, and Frieda my returning home. And, pleasantly enough since leaving the good doc’s office I haven’t had a spell since. However I must sit up tight again an ice back off’n’on for at least the next couple days. Whew! Hopefully my wife's problem has been fixed, me!
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Opp’s just took another hit????? HumBug!
“Rainbows.”
On ice……
Fernan

Continued krummy day

2011-12-22T16:47:00.000-08:00

I had a god night but shortly after rising for the day here they come. Those cussed electrical shocks just a shaking my entire being. I was no better off. Fillip watching my distress call Doc’s office. “What the Hell? They didn’t keep him for observation? We’ll see about getting you in for a MRI before January.
I did a lot of sitting around the house all morning. Experiencing some lower back discomfort during the night, Experiencing some questionable BM inconstancies I wondered if my sciatic nerves are pinched. Had Fillip take me over to my chiropractor for a lower back adjustment and see I that’d help? Great, found him closed Thursday. Have to go back tomorrow.
Was gotten out of the house after lunch gone to shop. Didn’t do much experiencing some inability to walk straight. Bummer! Sat a spell and unwrapped baked goods until all the bread was done. Then moseyed home for a continued early day. These headaches suck. Not driving, no power saw uses. I don’t get help soon, will have to find my own way to tighten up again over another malady. And, this is getting to be old hat.
Thankfully, tomorrow’s a new day!
“Rainbows.”
Fernan

12-21-2011 Crazed Out Day

2011-12-22T16:46:00.000-08:00

A rain day it is and I’m completely fuzzed-up. Lighteninged like high voltaged instantaneous comin’n’goin’s bolts started early this very AM. By 9:00 AM Fillip was determined to take me to the horsepistol. I fought it suggesting meself be taken to Dr George. Doc’s office countermanded my wishes Doc’s boss, Mrs. George, insisting over my objections Fillip take me to the horsepistol. Telling Bro’ of my plight he drove us.
On arrival triage efficiency had me ushered in in no time. Deposited in a cubical I was left to set near 2 hrs before I was looked at. Then I was tempted, BP-ed, and talked too. Shortly thereafter I was directed to be cat-scanned. The Horsepistal Doc’s conferring together found nothing discharging me six hrs later without an admittance. Best I was given was prescription for valium to be taken 3/daily until gone. Crazy! I take them valiums in those quantities I’ll likely wake up dead on the other side? Valium’s a muscle relaxant! The heart is a muscle! Taking them things would be about equal to playing with loaded drugs Russian roulette.
My Bro’s return driven drive gathering us at 4:00PM, at about six mile from home here come the those damnable stricking pains again, like lightening bolts rising for my derriere climaxing inside my cranium. Home I’ve taken a couple them acetaminophens. Them’s about as heavy an unsubscribed drug I allow myself to take, let alone anything else what may jeopardized my hanging around getting even with my Old Lady.
Again over and done with yet another kind of running it was again 4:30 early evening‘s dark. There wasn’t even enough time left to again look at our tools let alone get them out. It’s been a perfectly crazed day!
“Rainbows.”
Fernan

Invasion’s over’n’past

2011-12-19T14:53:00.000-08:00

TG! The klepto drugies have come’n’gone. TG! Cleverest thing I could have done and it worked just hunky-dorily, I’d shipped Her Mostess out of the house over to her bestest girl friend's place for a day’s visit. And none to soon. Rat soon after I had returned home here they had come pulling into our driveway. With them they had supposedly brought up a load of more Fillips belongings. Checking some his bags they contained his Winter clothing he had thought he’d never seen again. He's delighted.
My grandson supposedly having made a deal for a transmission purchase had found the seller wouldn’t be home until after 6:00 this evening. He hadn’t a name, an address, nor a phone number. Well prepared aye what? My having explained Frieda's gone to another home for a rest. Fillip telling them she had gone to a close friend of her's for a visit. I’m sure they have plenty of bogus information to chew over on their ways back-home today. I had further explained we could not hang around here all day insisting we had work to do. Luckily Her Mostess gone they decided not to hang around for six hours I was pleased they had come and gone, real gone.
Fillip and I holding down the fort when they had divided some having moseyed into the house, our forces divided upon necessity, I came in to sit-out the house while Fillip unloaded his stuff. Sheesh! What a morning we had.
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Home at near 5:00 on the dot I took my rattlers leaving the driving to Fillip. Gone before I had drowned my rattlers I can only hope the as I write this Fillip has buriedly himself gotten lost going after his Mother. I’m hoping his whole one hour round trip drive will get them home before midnight.
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Our afternoon’s efforts putting together the new Oil House I finished laying most the floor. Fillip managed to nail in more blocking. Fillip had also….ah…..never mind! We did have a good time bringing that structure closer to usefulness with every hour we manage to put on it. Unfortunately tomorrow’s going to be another short day. Meanwhile I’m wondering when will I ever see a flurry of uncommitted days so’s I may have some uninterrupted days’n’hours to get something I want-done done?
“Rainbows.”
Fernan

3:00 AM again

2011-12-18T15:19:00.001-08:00

This is my forth starting over writing this journal entry. Oh, I’ll save what I have written including all my privately voiced disappointments. But rather than publicize them here I’ll put them away for now and perhaps for always leaving them for discovery long after I’m gone. The whole bunch of uselesses beyond comprehension.
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Upon a brighter note Fillip and I made some headway upon the rabbit house conversion. In addition to making some reconstruction headway, we had also managed to pick-up and spirit away some lingering useless less than stellar salvageable debris. Some cut up for firewood, some for out’n’out trash, and some for recyclable scrap. Not much goes to waste around here. Biggest single improvement bringing the new use building closer to usefulness Fillip and I managed lay down maybe 80% of the plywood flooring. Some rather useless looking pieces of lumber under my power saw’s attention have found usefulness supporting roles under the remaining unfinished floorings.
Fillips taken to wrecking some more of the building. I’ll be glad when we’ve finally finished all the riddance of those materials needing relocating for the assembly looks of the final product.
Firewood holding up for the present perhaps we’ll see some major change in our reconstruction changes tomorrow. Bare with me…..
“Rainbows.”
Fernan

Doing this’n’that

2011-12-17T17:39:00.000-08:00

Started out to do something with the rabbit hutch….now I’ve no idea if we’ve accomplished anything. Whatever we might have done before lunch time is already beyond my memory. I did remember Dumpy hadn’t had a fuel drink for gosh I wish could remember how long? Wheeling left out of down yonder’s driveway I had wondered if we would even make it to a filling station?
Once we were out on the road Fillip and I stopped by Logan’s with a small bit of fancy junk we had retrieved dumpster diving a couple weeks ago. So ideally suited to the man’s nature when Sneak and I saw it we simultaneously thought of Logan. He’s was absolutely delighted with what he called a perfect gift. Who’d ever thought? ‘T’was another prime example it‘s not the gift….it’s the thought what counts.
Moving on down the road we filled Dumpy’s fuel tank with $3.06.99/gal for gasoline. Unbelievable!
Running on south into a close east side Flint burb the first stop Home Desperate. They didn’t Have the very first prime ingredient, the passive fiberglass light panel for the side wall. Nut’s. On the road again, merely crossing the street, we went to Lowalies. What they had wasn’t quite what I wanted but it was something that would suffice. Adding 2 green and 5 white plywood sheets, plus some 1”x4”x12’ treated green boards for the shed’s door. It wasn’t until we were our way home did I realize I had forgotten hardware. No problem we stopped by Ralph's hardware store at the Crossroads getting all we needed at discounted prices plus, A BIG-A PLUS, a free five gallon tin pail for ashes.
Lunched and the big animals fed here, Dumpy unloaded, bread unwrapped, at the other end. We fed the young ladies fed two bushels baked goods on way home. Maybe we’ll finish tomorrow with more done? Beyond all else the last couple days were happily enjoyed.
“Rainbows.”
Fernan

12-16-2011 A 5 AM memory’r’2

2011-12-17T16:10:00.000-08:00

It’s 5:00 AM. I’ve made me-self a big cup of steaming tea sugared and a peppermint candy cane standing in it making a a different remember taste for this holiday’s treat memory.
In my mind I remember back that December when I taken my girl for a bride brand new. Our love haven grown over the last six months and a week I cherished her spit, sparkle, and shine. I took her shopping for all she needed. She was more fun than a brand new car. Her presents buried yet deeper into my own soul commenting whether she liked this or that all the bits of clothing I held up to her, had her try on for approval. My car never voiced oneway or another its pleasure/displeasure. My bride however so anxious to please her groom still also brand new liked everything the groom showed her had her try on and out of all these fashion’s trials and errors she wore his selections with pride and daring. She was so incredibly beautiful in my eyes, heart, and all so easy to please.
….This morning’s holiday tea is so delightfully tasteee….
I don’t remember whether Kalamazoo’s biggest department store’s name were Bloomindale’s, Macy’s, Gimble’s, or something else just as impressionable luxurious sounding. It was one of the first places I took my bride shopping. Under the Christmas seasons lights my pretty bride sparkled and twinkled swelling my heart to bursting proportions. I was so incredibly happy she had accepted me to share her life with. I wanted not but to lavish upon her all I could the best afford. We didn’t just walk through the fancily dressed store’s trimmings, It was more liking we danced, pranced, moved with merriment in our feet. I could scarcely feel the earth beneath me in her presents she had lightened my heart and soul. We bought little that day for my pocket was financially thin or better said flat. But we got to see and be seen. I wanted to share my heart’s feelings with the world. We did purchase three giant sized ornaments the biggest we had ever seen in both our lives combined. We‘d hang on our next years very own first Holiday tree. These bubbles were in part the beginning our Holiday traditions.
When we walked the streets our town by the Lake It was difficult my breaking old habits particularly when I was walking somewhere. My tall 6’5” height my 34” waist frame when I walked a straight line my long legs my bride’s limbs moving so quickly as to keep up with my sauntered steps her limbs movements looked liken a picket fence.
A couple second looks back doing things together shopping the Christmas season, attending a couple parties, coming home to snuggle by a warm fire life couldn’t have been better. Love’s commitment still brand new evenings exploring under a sofa blanket the evenings were to soon gone. New warmth in feelings accepting another soul side by side we were one building on those matters we had only dreamed of such a short few months a-fore. The twelve days of Christmas are the romantics’ best. December has been our loving-est cozy month of renewal all our married lives.
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As for my day, this is the next day. Damned if I remember what I did for my daily bread.?
“Rainbows.”
Fernan

Win some-loose some

2011-12-15T17:46:00.000-08:00

1st off I took a big-a bag of onions over to the food pantry outlet. As many the many people who’d showed up I should have taken two bags.
Went by the drug store for Fillip’s medications. There were no medications. Rite-aid corporate had messed up again.
Was close enough to lunch time by time I returned home, I lunched.
After lunch I made a trade deal with two just hanging inn there trailer tires mounted, holding air, on mobil-home trailer rims in exchange for two automobile hoods. Thought is using them under the skid beams noses to slid the oil house into position off the drive way. The auto hoods will act as the nose pieces so‘s those beam’s don‘t dig in or plow up the dirt in the area the shed‘s planned place is to come to rest.
While I was thinking about filling another two bushel tub with opened bake goods Bro‘ arrived with another full load surplus commodities. Dropping all else, even chores I hadn’t even started I got into unwrapping fruits and vegetables. While Bro’ removed the humongous boxes of baked goods into his garage and our shop for dry storage areas I had delved into preparing the fruits and vegetables for livestock feeding.
Separating food from plastic wrap I (including Fillip) we filled two field crates with numerous good eating bit of okay produce: oranges, bananas, celery, scallions, apples (2 kinds), lemons, carrots, hot house tomatoes, cherry tomatoes, a couple heads lettuce, and much more. There were umpteen packages fresh herbs and spices I tried saving for personal use. A couple field boxes we filled with cabbages, greens, lettuce, a lot of the same commodities I saved for ourselves, plus spuds. There was some other stuff to numerous my fleeting mind can’t remember. But I can write one sentence well enough. We’ve a dandy bonanza of good eating offering to fest upon the coming Holiday weeks; and, I haven’t even gotten to the baked goods yet. Good gosh Gerty. I’m drooling all over my anticipation’s key board….
Oh nuts! I had forgotten to grind grain today. I guess I know what I'll be doing 1st come morning. Duuh!
“Rainbows.”
Fernan

Rain day

2011-12-14T17:13:00.000-08:00

Cussed Cushman refusing to start even after draining fuel filter. We pushed it off to one side just possibly for the rest of the winter. Meanwhile, while Cushman’s out of the way we positioned the splitter so one of us could back the load covered Dumpy truck in far enough into barn to split its wood load. Luckily the rains had subsided about the time Dumpy’s load had been burn-ably processed. Most the load to the back carried into the house that left to the front of the bed was dumped for later stacking. Other matters pressing we had to get us on the road.
While Sneak fed the ladies I had my choice of lunches. (hehe)
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Our dinner’s consumed we went shop. Not there long I had to come home before suffering one of the 102% fall-outs. No let up in the rain we went back to shop an unwrapped 17 bushel baked goods. Running out of two bushel tubs we decided to crunch it callin’ it a day.
Early off work we procrastinated our way into a neighbor’s house looking for that just right priceless cup coffee. ‘T’was Mad Madeline’s uncle and aunt’s place. I was wanting to know what Madeline’s favorite colors are. Frieda’s made some six’r’seven crocheted blankets and is fixing to send the pretty young Miss one of her works of art.
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Getting home at an unusual reasonable hour I slipped into the kitchen to assist Fillips preparations to make a simple pizza. Quick and easy to make and loaded with ingredients from the four major food groups (or was it three groups?). Wondrously a pizza contains everything a body needs. And, I’m thinken…..
[Darn it I was just writing away here having a thought to set down and forgot it before I could finish it!]
……a mixture 1/3 store bought eggnog with 2/3’s 2% milk makes a tasty companion drink with this Holiday’s time of year’s home made pizza‘s.
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Along another vain, I’m becoming thoroughly disgusted trying to fine building material prices and locations for two reasons. I want to know how much I’m spending, have I the funds to swing them. Secondly I’m looking for that single one stop location where I may make my purchases in one convenient swell swoop over a pre-selected trail (goin’n’comin‘ route).
Nuts! Not getting anywhere on line shopping I have to give it up. Sandman’s standing over me for one thing. For an other thing......
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.....My running out of words. It’s bed time…….
“Rainbows.”
Fernan

I’ve been found out

2011-12-13T16:31:00.000-08:00

The other day (maybe a week) when Frieda’s traveling nurse had stopped I had happened to be here for a belated lunch. In her presence I had one of them mind and body shaking internally electrical storms my performing what looked like a private biological earthquake. Some of a spent-gun she’s turned me into our health-care provider. So yesterday I received a personal call upon my (not Home phone) cell phone I’m to make a post haste personal appearance before Doc. Oh crap! If I ain’t got enough trouble keeping myself together this could be another fractionally reducing the width and breadth of my neighborhood Shorthorn country activities. Fillip’s appointment yesterday I managed to postpone my commanded appearance until this afternoon. This trying to age gracefully is to soon becoming the (excuse my French) the shit’s!!!
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Opps, Forgot telling my near criminal intent surrender over an in the parking lot police chase evening last, story. So here’s my version the excitement. Having parked Dumpy in the Meijer Thrifty Acre parking lot just at sundown evening last, taking Fillips laptop ‘puter in the store with us for fear leaving unattended behind in Dumpy truck, for it’s safety sake being there on our return, we’d had it checked in on store entry before going shopping.
Pulling out our shopping lists, I marked our needs with codes so we weren’t backtracking for over looked listed needs. The shopping made easy we crossed the super store department through department cleanly and smoothly. The key, organization. Why, I had even managed the long checkout lanes honeying up to a cashier in the electronics department for a much ultra faster checkin’ out. Then it happened. Satisfied with our purchases, more than ready to depart the store’s helpfulness: A discount on a previously broken product packaging, a slight bit of slight at hand checking out, our passing through the out doors a bevy of lights, bells and whistles went off. Oh crap, was this for celebrity status or had something been overlooked in check out. Fillip’s positive thinking he announces, “That’s us!” I’m thinking, “What?” Thus to save time not passing go but rather heading straight for jail we return to the alleged scenes of our crimes. By and by a store hostess we see coming our way. I knew in a moment we had nothing to dread. The handsome lady approached us with security cops by her side. Rummaging through our purchases nothing was found. It was determined a magnet inside the ‘puter had set the alleged exiting shoplifters announcements off. Whew, the rest of the ride home remained uneventful.
We did however pass one what Fillip spotted was a ready to burn firewood pile a-side the ride home road. I nixed the stop fearing we could well have become an overly involved unseen traffic hazard in the night’s darkness and unusually heavy Holiday season shopping maniacs traffic out all over the roads. We were not alone! (grin)
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Did we accomplish anything today? I think so, in spite some of my morning could almost be classified as wasted. A useless trip into one burb was barely saved with cruise into a second adjacent burb where I dropped Fillips faux fur lined leather coat off to my favorite seamstresses for a hopefully simple zipper tang repair. Should be fixed by next wk this time.
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We did get some hours work done on the new slowly coming along Oil-House, the afternoon cut short for my Doc’s appointment. Into Doc’s office by 5 minutes of 3:00 PM we didn’t get out until 5 minutes of 6:00 PM. And then all I got was a calling promise I’ll be set up for an MRI brain. I can faithfully guarantee rat-now they’ll find nothing there. (smile)
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Our bags packed with an assortment of flashlight batteries, one jug milk and assorted medications we come home. Mom having told us earlier in the day she was making supper when we got home Fillip asking her what we were having, she answered, “Hungh?” Well, that question was answered. I asked Sneak, “Did you washout the slow cooker?” and I got a, “Hungh?”
Well now, This were we stood not that Sneak’s forgotten promise had anything to do with the lack of a prepared supper. I just plainly means Her Mostess had simply forgotten her promise. The unsightly cracked-pot condition had never been met by the Her Mostess’s eyes. Sneak however saved the moment. He managed to hustle us up a quick black olive pizza. I shall not heartedly recommend this concoction to even a potential enemy.
Here it is then my day I have had more then enough of. I change from day duds to night duds I’ll be well relaxed for sleep when I’m nodding off’s’on or is that on’n’off?
“Rainbows.”
Fernan

12-12-2011 Accomplishments gone blew-y

2011-12-12T17:27:00.000-08:00

Ever loose a day? That’s what it feels like today. I’ve been (we’ve been) busy, busy all day seemingly chasing our tails in circles as we’d gone along as it were.
We started out feeding our ladies and girls first thing, a noon hour switch out of the norm. Then took on the rabbit hutch for a spell working at it until we had accomplished the next phase I’d planned before lunch. Lunch later than usual left us with a shortened afternoon, an afternoon so short I don’t remember an accomplishment before we’d had to wrap the work day up to keep another Fillip’s medical appointment out’n’about the other side Flint, Fillip driving. A late afternoon appointment we were in’n’out before sundown.
Knowing we’d never make it home before dark I already had put together another shopping list. So it was, next stop Meijer’s Thrifty Acres. Top of the list: shower repair parts, Cat medications, and some Xmas day groceries principally a sugar cured ham ’n’ pineapple slices ‘n’ maraschino cherries, plus some other compulsive odds’n’ends bargained things. Then it was on our way home we go-ed/come.
Rainbows.”
Fernan

2011-12-11T15:02:00.000-08:00

Gonna get a lot done Sunday
Well, the plan we were going to get a lot done day. Yeah right, that was the plan. (haha) A tree coming down on a fence it meant an instant forestry problem needing immediate attention. The rabbit hutch conversion was passed over again. Instant travel required forestry tools drive to get them. The drive also included looking for a sheet metal saw blade what was never found. An instant resourceful reversing a plywood blade I'd managed to cut what amounted to some badly elements damaged squirting likw metals off the ol’hutch building. That out of the way for a moment, Fillip finely freed helping Bro run down an electrical open circuit on the livestock trailer (another immediate diversion) our dreamed labors bringing that old building up to service standards an additional side track.
Both of us side by side heading out the back forty we soon found our target tree. Fillip let me saw the easier part of tree removal while he moved the brush away and loaded the custom cut firewood’s. This worked out well for me helping my labors last longer.
One tree cut up, another a potential problem near by I took it out also. The brush thrown out into the woodlot. The fire wood loaded, we were also charged with checking fence insulators. Found one slid low, another one totally missing, the fence’s were fixed. While we were out there I took us around the pasture perimeter in search for a known wood pile I hadn’t picked up after some last Spring’s cutting. By the time we were done we had a half a dump truck load of fire wood. This is helpfully working out to keep us all cozily warm all this winter.
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Lunched late, animals fed, the afternoon was our own to make some headway on the new oil-house. We were in flight again even if it were a short one.
Returning home some three or more hours later Fillip and I had put in a little more than a couple long afternoon hours work upon the old rabbit hutch. We also sat a bit in the waning twi-light of the evening unwrapping baked goods. While we had fallen short our goals for the day we had managed to something of achieving more than perhaps realized. I’ll chalk it up as having been a real good day.
“Rainbows.”
Fernan

I Went to a vet…..

2011-12-11T00:14:00.000-08:00

….for another opinion. Not that I don’t trust all of modern medicine’s new analysts views or wonder drugs. Making a few phone calls I finally hooked up with broad minded medical office of a veterinarian nature for a late morning appointment.
For or earlier morning’s entertainment Fillip and I made a few modifications to the rabbit hutch conversion. Using some ruler’s numbers I laid out a couple penciled in lines to saw through when I’ve more than enough time to get the tools out, use them, and put them away. Finding the hutch’s left having sagged ridiculously lower over night. We jacked it up, blocked it up, and left it to its own weight sway back the opposite direction. All of a sudden t was time to pick up a couple feline passengers and hit the road with them.
To the far western end Clio’s business district we found the medical facility I had called earlier. Almost hit it on the money wheeling the wrong driveway next door. Luckily with a connecting driveway Fillip correcting my slipshod navigation with his modifying instruction I got us up to the correct doors.
Inside the facility taking a temporary seat we hadn’t waited long we were all hustled into an inner sanctum treatment area. There scales were brought in for some weights. No guess-imation here. Further examination providing nothing found between the ears, hands on examination (oh, that tickled) upper and lower belly was good, no lumps or bumps either region. One shot, both medicated behind the neck, for flea allergies, Della and Stats, the cats were ready to go.
As purr-ty as all the women were in this establishment I may just take up animal ways for my next times medical assessments and treatments.
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No exactly bad boy accompanying a couple felines, we might just as well do some shopping (shoplifting as the case may be). We stopped by TSC to pick up Fillips forgotten package of the other day. I drove us around back the Goodwill store for shoplifting goods out of their trash dumpster. Walked away with four useful goods other day we’re using what totaled $300.00 retail had we honestly bought he stuff through some heavy shopping. This trip drew a near blank. Other day’s retrieval netted a heavy winter coat, a handy small fan we’re now using to better move the woodstove heat around the house, a hair fashions drier we may use for thawing out frozen water pipes, and something else(?). However, this’ne’s a now’n’then a well worth the occasional stop.
Next stop by passing Wally World we picked up socks for her Mostess’s feet. Then drove on back into the heart of Clio’s shopping district for bananas and oranges filling a shopping cart with all manner of culinary goodies. From there on home it was back roads all the way. Lunch’s dinner hour arriving right on 3:30 PM’s time it was 4:30 PM when we finished. Nuts, to late to start anything, hardy time enough to get the tools and immediately put them away before dark it was supposedly to late to worry about doing anything else.
My shoes taken off, phone rings, fence broken down the road. Shoes on again fence was a mess. Some idiots (more troops, 4Hers this time) had their own ideas as to how to ruin a good piece of wire I knew little about. And then they wonder why the animals keep walking out for long strolls?
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Good golly Molly:
One might think an 18 ½ hour sleep would be good for an old soul. Ha! I failed to finish this journal entry evening last fallen asleep some where’s about 8:00 PM. It’s 3:00 AM now my finishing it….before I slip again into some….zzzzzzz’s
“Rainbows.”
Fernan

The Mourning After

2011-12-09T17:45:00.000-08:00

I’m going to spare my reader even a pictured dose white yarn the morning after the annually celebrated adversity mine. After all it has been over a half century mine Frieda has been taking care of me since my Mom passed the mantle of taking care of me over to mine bride of old. The search for the predicted six months we’d never last has never either been found or discovered. It would seem the stat-is-crow will just have to continue.
She said she’d slept good last night. I’d been up and down a number of times making my usual rounds hauling water, feeding fire box, re-finding my slumber. All this went on all night long save for one misery-ing round. Entering the bathing room reaching vicinity of the crown’s throne I had found I made a crash landing upon the floor. Coffee hangover for that was my strongest drink all of the celebrated hours I put in yesterday. Wondering in surprise how I had gotten there I mustered up some serious strength to get to my feet even when I had no idea where they were. Twisting my torso so one or both my arms hands could find something to grip for my landing had found me hurting in a very cramped area. That was the first cramping, a second cramp unexpectedly found my left shin bone, with an excruciating pain taking over the muscle’s occupying space. I pulled more myself up than I pushed with my aching limbs. One of them anyway. Ah, the continued adventures of aging.
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Up and my rattlers sorted for drowning, Her Mostess commented my pills were more colorful than her’s:

As for yesterday’s celebrations I’ll tell no extremely white lied yarns. For my brides sake she got just what she wanted and deserved:

This is what we saw evening last approaching our home’s door. A broken cross arm:

This morning a consumer’s power line repair crew finally had gotten here to safely repair the damage in the better safer daylight:

After some discussion the youngest man of the crew having drawn the short straw is up there in that lifted bucket. Note the extra temporary gadgets used for his personal safety:

While we kept one eye upon the high-linemen out front Fillip fed the ladies, I made at least three fixes to the electric fence wires. No more pictures for our morning exercises it was lunch time.
Holy Smokers, speaking about co-incidentals, I found that long lost missing mini tool (or tackle) box filled with wiring terminals. I’d been telling Fillip to keep his eyes open for an orange box. Well I was close in my color description. It’ll be right on if I were to add some yellow to the original red, then amend my words then’ll be right on. (grin)
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Follows a rant:
Trying to make phone calls to Michigan’s DHS nobody’s there to answer the phone,
Trying to make another call to the Genesee Valley agency for the aged nobody’s there also to answer the phone.
Then there are all the social worker telling us what we’re eligible for, only to be denied when we apply. Then filling out compulsory forms upon forms we find ourselves loosing benefits we’ve already had. It’s some kind of a political paper chase the State is involving us seniour citizens to get us fed up with the system and give up so’s to as waste away into oblivion.
I relinquish the soap box, who’s next:
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Afternoon shop time little more was done on rabbit hutch conversion. The right side torn out yesterday, some what tied together today, Fillip ripped out the left side old hutch today. Building setting to close to ground for comfortable working on we picked it onto 8” concrete blocks on pieces plywood (non heavy freezing down plywood’s). All this activity leading us up to 4:30 PM I called it a day for two reasons. We needed a particular piece of construction lumber for the Hutch’s left side, plus there really wasn’t enough time to either start or finish another step in the new Oil House’s reconstruction.
Fillip’s supper concoction was less than stellar, but I ate it anyway cause I was hungry.
“Rainbows.”
Fernan

Pulled three ways to Sunday

2011-12-08T18:54:00.003-08:00

Right out the drive we tackled shop work. This time we’re revamping a rabbit hutch for use as an Oil House. We’ve needed one for a ghastly long time. A building all its own fully devoted to farm oils, lubrication, plus no less than a place to keep paints, cleaners and varied fluids; anything flammable to be kept in a facility all their own safely kept away from endangering the shop.
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Now let us back the hours up. Yesterday I ran out of one my medications needing Doc’s refilling today. Oh what the heck, I called the druggist for filling all the rest my scrip’s. Nut’s!
I’ve just had to dig my travel list out of my pocket to finish a portion this writing. Two stops out of the way another super market stop needed for white vinegar. Down the street a block Dumpy needed gas. It figures I got there early enough I missed the upcoming nickel price lowering. Now, another long block, turn the corner for a last stop outlet store for all this merchant’s white yarn. Five crunched stops and I was all done.
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Back to the shop for the last of my afternoon Fillip and I worked on putting back together all that we had torn apart this morning. While we hadn’t gotten far, we’d made a good start.
This building was a rabbit hutch with multiple condominiums. The hutches coming out, a good floor and multiple shelves replacing them tires will stand on the floor along with bulk buckets of oils, grease, and fluids. It’ll also hold fuel cans. Then there are more multiple shelves for umpteen paint cans. This building will be a busy place.

This last snap shot displays the building’s framing and some damaged siding needing some addressing. This is just one more project. Hope to have it finished and parked out of the way by the coming weekend. That’ll be a good trick to pull off.

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A day visitor out by the shop commented upon my Brother’s behavior, “He’s the dumbest smart man he’d ever met.” the man had said. ROFLMAO, Fillip and I cracked up….
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Driving home the moon rising in the clear east-northeastern sky was full and the coolest white imaginable. Beautiful!
Dumpy truck parked our walking up to the house this evening Fillip looked up and saw the cross arm upon our electrical service pole cracked/splintered two/three ways. Looked to us the liken the insulator was about to either short out upon the wooden cross arm or the insulator slip enough to drop its primary line upon our service entrance. Now, that would make for a real hot/frying messy affair.
It tee’s me off, it took me a half hour or so to get in touch with the Consumers Power Company to report the accident waiting to happen and another three hours for some one to come out and officially look at it. Serious enough a work crew will supposedly be out yet this night to make a lasting repair. I don’t envy these high-line electricians.
“Rainbows.”
Fernan

Pulled three ways to Sunday

2011-12-08T18:54:00.002-08:00

Pulled three ways to Sunday

2011-12-08T18:54:00.001-08:00

Right out the drive we tackled shop work. This time we’re revamping a rabbit hutch for use as an Oil House. We’ve needed one for a ghastly long time. A building all its own fully devoted to farm oils, lubrication, plus no less than a place to keep paints, cleaners and varied fluids; anything flammable to be kept in a facility all their own safely kept away from endangering the shop.
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Now let us back the hours up. Yesterday I ran out of one my medications needing Doc’s refilling today. Oh what the heck, I called the druggist for filling all the rest my scrip’s. Nut’s!
I’ve just had to dig my travel list out of my pocket to finish a portion this writing. Two stops out of the way another super market stop needed for white vinegar. Down the street a block Dumpy needed gas. It figures I got there early enough I missed the upcoming nickel price lowering. Now, another long block, turn the corner for a last stop outlet store for all this merchant’s white yarn. Five crunched stops and I was all done.
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Back to the shop for the last of my afternoon Fillip and I worked on putting back together all that we had torn apart this morning. While we hadn’t gotten far, we’d made a good start.
This building was a rabbit hutch with multiple condominiums. The hutches coming out, a good floor and multiple shelves replacing them tires will stand on the floor along with bulk buckets of oils, grease, and fluids. It’ll also hold fuel cans. Then there are more multiple shelves for umpteen paint cans. This building will be a busy place.

This last snap shot displays the building’s framing and some damaged siding needing some addressing. This is just one more project. Hope to have it finished and parked out of the way by the coming weekend. That’ll be a good trick to pull off.
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A day visitor out by the shop commented upon my Brother’s behavior, “He’s the dumbest smart man he’d ever met.” the man had said. ROFLMAO, Fillip and I cracked up….
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Driving home the moon rising in the clear east-northeastern sky was full and the coolest white imaginable. Beautiful!
Dumpy truck parked our walking up to the house this evening Fillip looked up and saw the cross arm upon our electrical service pole cracked/splintered two/three ways. Looked to us the liken the insulator was about to either short out upon the wooden cross arm or the insulator slip enough to drop its primary line upon our service entrance. Now, that would make for a real hot/frying messy affair.
It tee’s me off, it took me a half hour or so to get in touch with the Consumers Power Company to report the accident waiting to happen and another three hours for some one to come out and officially look at it. Serious enough a work crew will supposedly be out yet this night to make a lasting repair. I don’t envy those guys.
“Rainbows.”
Fernan

Promises Made

2011-12-08T02:31:00.000-08:00

It ‘twas 1958, a relatively young man (22yrs) knowing what he was doing, a very young girl (21yrs) frightened near out of her wits, each ‘bout to each take life changing steps into brand new kind of life at any moment this very special evening.
The weather outside was frightful. Winds howling blowing snow into near impassible drifts falling before them. A car pulling up in front of a chapel the wind subsided, snow’s falling at rest, a cleared sky filled sparkling bright stars, it was a good omen. Two sets of foot prints made tracks in the snow across a parkway and up the steps to the chapel’s doors.
Inside the chapel their coats removed the a groom standing solid in his shoes, the bride stood her knees k-knocking. The groom assured the bride.
The potential bride blubbered real tears bawling her heart out exclaiming, “I shouldn’t be doing this. I’m not ready. I’m not to sure about this?!”
The prospective groom dabbing at the nervous bride’s eyes dried the tears away softly speaking these encouraging words, “Do it anyway. We’ll discus it all later.”
The brides response, simple and direst, “Okay!”
The grooms family arrives, his Mother and Brother. The pastor confident about his duties speaking to the bride, is suggesting, “When your parents come, my Girl, I’ll join you two in the chapel. If your parents don’t show up, Miss, I’ll join you two here in my study. And I‘ll make sure the whole congregation hears of it come next Sunday!”
Only a couple moments past the brides parents did show. Standing before the minister a couple/four candle softly lighting the seen, as the groom said his vows, his mother under her breath uttered, “I’m through!” Then as the bride affirmed her vows, her mother used, “I’ll give her six months?”
Leaving the church our combined lives full of promise we toured the town with our horns blaring announcing our union, another couples stake in the community.
Back at the house, the home I was leaving a wife on my arm our willingness to start another, the house was filled with surprising us guests. They were a welcomed support group after the turmoil we had gone through to us where we were.
“Best wishes! And Congratulations!” blessing joyously passed onto us, happily received, we left this party driving up the coast about twenty some miles to the first motel I knew of. Standing before the registration desk with pen in hand hovering over the card the groom had emptily headed forgotten who he was/his name, the bride sure of herself standing behind him confidently spoke his name dictating letter for letter from an alphabet the young man’s name, the couples combined Sir name for the first time, so’s he could fill in the card’s blank spaces.
Shown to a log cabined room, A fire newly laid cheerfully blazing away in a fireplace as we were about to assume our rolls for the first time. My bride knowing what she was doing with her bag retreated to the bathroom. I left to my own devices prepared myself pajama-ed to bed. Moments later here come the bride putting one knee on the humongous bed followed by the other like a cat, on all four’s she slowly approached me looking like a lynx about to devour her prey, me…! I wanted my mommy……! What had I done to last 55 lustrums.
Happy Anniversary my Dear Frieda.

My (our) Day

2011-12-07T17:03:00.002-08:00

Started out postponing breakfast for a morning spring born heifer mob who had gotten having a good time running loose about Biro’s neighborhood. Always on the ball, that bunch on the other end, I was informed I had to grind today. I don’t know how many day’s they’ve been without, I suggested they find a way to keep me better informed.
The baby bovines pushed home and gated, I put the dumpy truck backed up the grade for the feed-wagon’s hitching to Dumpy. A side trip to the elevator we had all the ingredients for a grind.
After lunch we replaced (again) the 4020’s sparkplugs, fed the animals, took splitter in tow for fix and went to shop. Well, this wasn’t all we did, only the highlights. It was a pretty day, one we proved we could enjoy. And, for best laid my plans for today, we can still do them tomorrow.
“Rainbows.”
Fernan

Bulletin Update

2011-12-07T17:03:00.001-08:00

Mid morning cell call the ground hunting blind was positively ID-ed. No bid was required as I already had owed a Sparky for a tow using his chain a few days ago. However now that a favor‘s return is involved a big-a time owing has been seriously reversed big time. Now, I‘m prettily sitting in the drivers set. Yup, I said driver‘s seat. Sparky even had the nerve I should deliver the blind, chair, and tote sack to his Loopy acres. The delivery was (is) another measure of what’s owed. (grin)
Sparky, may your every hunting outing be a successful one!
“Rainbows.”
Fernan

2011-12-07T01:13:00.000-08:00

Silence
There was a radio message from our President of the United States. I liked his voice. He sounded like a grandfather should sound like. He had a comforting voice one I liked listening to. He didn’t speak of good things around about that time. He used words I never heard before. I knew they weren’t good words by the way my parents spoke. Our home was then in total silence as if my parents were in mourning. Mr. Roosevelt spoke of a place called Pearl Harbor, an attack, our country was at war. Not many people had every heard of Pearl Harbor let alone where it was at. No TV in them days there were no instant pictures as to where it was at nor what the place looked like. Only words speaking of a big Pacific Ocean. How big was big. I had no idea. The only large body of water I had ever seen about that time was Lake Michigan each 4th of July when dad had driven us all to South Haven to see and visit his grandmother. Sitting a harbor pier, Dad showing me how to fish for perch with a cane pole in that lake that was so big to this little kid. I couldn’t see the other side and an ocean was even bigger? For the next four years national speed limits were only 35mph when we’d saved enough gas stamps to go anywhere. Dad was drafted three times, those induction notices from his marines, the navy, and army were rescinded because his civilian math and anti-aircraft gun inspections job was more important to the war effort.
To ever see what was going on in a whole world at war was seeing the movie theater news-reels. Good toys so hard to come by they were made of paper, wooden sticks, and olive drab paint; guns and machine guns, Paper air ports with paper air war planes. Paper layout with army camp tents, barracks, and parade fields. As children we played war games no body on the other side. We fought imaginary Germans and Japs.
Starting school fall of ‘41 saw class sizes double before New Years and double again before school’s out next vacation. 35 kids to a class half a day. Teachers having no time for a dyslectic kid (even before there was a name for it) my ass polished an oak bench across the hall from the principles office for days on end. I had learned to love the country, farm animals, and the solitude away from the to busy un-understanding people. My best teachers, Mom and Dad. Mon taught me how to tell time and I didn’t gt it right until she showed me how wrong. Dad patiently taught me a trade and the way of the forests and uplands.
Okay, I got carried away one thing invertibly leads into another.
“Rainbows.”
Fernan

funny-odd happening’s

2011-12-06T17:43:00.000-08:00

Bulletin: Have found a monogrammed ground blind “Bone Collector” on one of Shorthorn country’s back forty’s. Not exactly knowing what to do with it, as I’ve no more need of one, marginal eye sight, my shooten day’s having come to an end, I’ve decided to give every interested party a chance at owning and using it for themselves. So, I’m suggesting all interested parties wishing to participate in my silent auction do it with hand delivered written bids placed inside hermetically sealed envelopes into my hand sooner than later so as I may determine the lucky bidder well before Christmas Eve’s eve.
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Rather than doing whatever everybody else had in mind to make my day a busy one Fillip and I managed to take a drive down this Shorthorn country’s shady lover’s lane cutting, splitting, and wood hauler toting home the dry firewood. The load was mostly dead dried up elm with a bit of gopher (poplar) mixed in. “Gopher wood? Put a piece on the fire and go for more.”
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“Twas a pleasant day woiking out back. Saw dear twice roughly a 1/4mi away: two coming out, seeing , turning around , flags waving as they retreated back into the wood; and, 2more nosing around in a passage way between an over grown fence row and a wood lot. The weather not to cold nor to warm was a comfortable temp hovering right about freezing.
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The firewood load backed to the deck, lunch eaten Fillip riding shotgun I went to see my banker. Got a few tips coming away feel financially better. Made a second stop behind the local Goodwill outlet. I took it upon myself seeing to Fillip’s kept happy with an occasional dumpster dive. We did alright: A $250.00 minimum priced fur lined leather overcoat for fillip, found a paper shredder for myself. It’ll be right handy fixing those papers I don’t want to discard in our weekly trash, and some other odds’n’ends we can thoroughly check out tomorrow. A third stop we were shopping TSC for some animal medications for our two cats.. Lastly we made a quick stop one the AutoZone stores for a turn signal flasher. Now all of Dumpy’s lights are working as they should be.
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Returning home Fillip And I took turns unloading the wood hauler into the house. Me first while Fillip made supper. Fillip finish that task after supper as my back while maybe it hadn’t gone out my back still had a couple sore spots. All this mornings labors fit into the house by 8:30PPM. It’d had been a crazy eventful mixed up day. A full load wood cut, all of gotten inside dry, a run into one of the burb’s, Fillips priceless coat acquisition, me an office letter shredder, Finding Sparky’s ground blind and chair, seeing wildlife scampering around outback.
Tomorrow’s outlook must include cleaning and testing 4020JD sparkplugs, once and for all fix a missing window screen so’s I may securely close a bedroom window. Wouldn’t hurt to take the wood splitter along and figure out why it had failed to run all day? Yup, it has been a very amusing and rewarding day.
“Rainbows.”
Fernan

12-4-2011 Sunday’s rest

2011-12-05T03:53:00.000-08:00

“Twas a slow day as day’s go. Found hay feeder broken up. I put the ladies hay out without it. Took the broken and mangled pieces to the shop in hopes somebody would do something about it making fix.
I feel it coming, I’m about to blow my lid over the varied accusation these hay ring failures are either all my doing or fault.
The old ladies fed here, the un-bred heifers fed just down the road fed both hay and bread, Fillip and I unpackaged about seven bushel baked goods. Then took lunch and topped the afternoon of with a drive over to Otisville for Her Mostess’s scripts. Forgot about white yarn. Store probably wasn’t open anyway. Drove past both auto part merchants, they were closed. So the last diagnosis’s need for another tail lights flasher replacement will have to a-wait another day.
It had turned out to be a quiet day.
The day darkening as the clock face hands advanced it was feeling as if evening’s quiet time had started early.
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Enough of this, how about a couple pictures I took the time to take today:
This first snap shot is of the homemade frame I had added to the first sofa. We had to discard it so we could carry the old couch out to the road for trash pickup. While the original ideal frame was fastened to the sofa it also had caster under it for easy rolling upon the floor for cleaning.

While I hadn’t photographed the last sofa lift this last one wasn’t fastened to the sofa. It was more liking a box the two pieced sofa just set into it end to end. A much easier concept to work/deal with, to even include the easier feature moving the furniture into the house.
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This second snap shot is of the fiberglass clip I had gotten in a terrific good deal purchase a few days ago for my Dumpy truck‘s body repairs.

Internet information gleamed, down loaded, and studied, by the time I get to replacing Dumpy’s clip (clip=this whole one piece front end thingy) I’ll have the installation all planned out within my mind’s eye. Gosh I am already looking forward to the changes. This’ll be more fun than landscaping a model railroad’s built to scale modeled village.
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I’m already imagining the Dumpy’s painted colors visualizing the front end’s cab part a 1954’s bright GM red and the stake truck part of the bed and side boards painted a buff or light brown colorings the likes rainy weather stirs what’s thrown up all over the truck during nasty weather.
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Hokkem Smokems: I’m about 10 hours late posting this. Oh well. Say rah, say rah!
“Rainbows.”
Fernan

2011-12-03T15:32:00.000-08:00

old out-new in
Today’s accomplishment was getting the old broken down couch out to the road the new couch up from the barn. The one gone out I had given it a 1”x6” planked lift plus casters screwing that one all together. This new sofa, two equal sectional equal though opposite ends I made a frame calling it a cradle. What it amounted to was an open bottomed box made of 1”x8” planks with additional 2” legs six places about the perimeter.
Readied I thought we were going to have carry Her Mostess outside with the old sofa. The furniture moving got easier
Into it Fillip and I lowered each end making the two pieces one. My lift kit has turned out rather nice. The body easily sitting down and marvelously even easier getting up and off from. I true delight for older folks the likes of what we’re coming to be. Nuts, found one exception. Frieda’s mentioned her feet aren’t touching the floor. Oops. Well, I’m not building another frame 2” shorter. She puts her feet up most the time, anyway. No complaint out of getting up and off the couch so not all’s lost. Another though if she hadn’t complained so about her difficulty getting up’n’off the old one.
Most importantly for the very nearest future necessity the wood hauler’s finally freed for toting home some desperately needed firewood.
I guess now I had better be preparing for a long Winter’s nap for I must be brightened seeing to how much of a cord of wood I can cut and haul home, each of the next good outdoor weather day‘s.
“Rainbows.”
Fernan

Some wake up

2011-12-02T17:27:00.000-08:00

I’d had a good sleep as sleep goes. Woke at 3”as per halving to take a short walk as usual. I checked the fire, then had me a small snack: a glass milk, couple cookies, and an apple. Not yet fully awake I laid down the sandman‘s dirty tricks still closing my eyes. I soundly slept until, I‘m just short of ashamed to say 6:30 AM. No normal wake up calling, it was a hot irreverent stabbing charliehorse in my right calf. I mean a mad act gripping instantly bringing me to my feet in one smooth determined on my feet start. Marching in place I managed step it out without an continued need for a valium. Sort of pooped for the start, gone nowhere walk, leg feeling better I laid back down. Then here comes Stats (cat) nuzzling my hand looking to get my hand busily petting him. My eyes morning watering, looking thru the passing sea of controlled tears I see the clock it’s hands telling me it’s an hour’n’half past my usual wakie time, an half hour past my rattler time. It was truly time to get up and prepare for my day. Up I go for a glass water, I bend in front the stove, open it and find it burning the last piece wood I had put in earlier. I poked at the pieces half charred woods and add another drier piece to enliven the flames morning’s warmth. That crazy cat’s just what we needed around here, a fur balled normal pain in the neck.
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Oh crap, what all happened today? Lets see, the Sun had come out today after it had snowen some last night. Visited with a neighbor over coffee this morning his TWP trying to deny him his right to farm. Regardless what the high’n’mighty muckity muckity echelon want to shove he can’t do down the man’s throat. I gave him a list of the neighbors most likely be on his side. Oh oops, I forgot to mention the man raises ponies. His neighbors are objecting. Any way its becoming more interesting everyday.
Before I knew it diner tie had overtaken me. Sitting here enjoying s cold dinner offering I be jiggered if my left leg didn’t want to get up and take a walk about. That cussed restless leg syndrome had decided to kick in regardless my mind against it. Hurrying my diner I was off’s’on walking it out and getting back to work. Then at that I drove Fillip and I right into an afternoon’s spirited in load of excess commodities Bro’ had run into Flint to haul home. Must have been a ton of perfectly good onions, a pallet load mixed fruits’n’vegetables (peppers banana’s, apples, and greens), 294 cubic feet baked goods. I saved us some better onions for ourselves and neighbors, plus our household is all set for bread and cakes for another month. Fillip has already put his monogram upon a whole box full a donut holes. Stingy!
I’ve got to get to bed soon ow. Headaches and electrical nervous system strikes passing through my nerves. Some of these spikes rattle my whole frame causing my family to repeatedly ask, “Are you alright?” Perhaps if I’m prone, blanket covered nobody will see another electrical flash. So, I’ve simply got to lie down. Nite-nite!
“Rainbows.”
Fernan

A change’d be nice

2011-12-01T15:40:00.000-08:00

Dear Loop:
I was so proud Dumpy truck’s behavior all day yesterday up'n'down our road rat up till the last pass coming in my own drive. Thought I'd come in the lower drive, skirted the sand'n'gravel piles, made up the first grade, coming around the bend the front tires slide sideways. I lost control, Dumpy's front tires sliding sides ways in the snow livened mud underneath. I thought I'd have to abandon Dumpy until this morning to move it on crispier frozen driveway footing. Before I got to fur away, a good Samaritan in passing on the road out front stopped and with a friendly chain brought Dumpy up on higher ground out of the consuming slippery/slimy greasy mud beneath the soggy snow. Then, I wish I could identify the good Samaritan who’d put it to me this declaration, "You owe me!" Hmmm, meanwhile, mum's the word.
First thing out of shop area this AM's going, I got to find and equip Dumpy with a couple clevises plus a tow strap and chain.
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Oh yeah, a special note for an afore mentioned neighbor I’ve an impotent message. You's and me got things to do. You getting yer snow blower out, my clearing my deck off.
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I sure could use a couple changes in the weather. First warm enough to melt this 1st snow fall off and away. Secondly turn cold enough I may enjoy 20*f temperatures, then bring on the dry snow falls. The right temperatures and a truly cold snow’s drier consistency, will make for bringing home drier cut and ready to stack instantly burnable firewood.
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I plans involving shop time, Fillip brought up again his need or his DOT physical approval papers (card). Okay, while we had clear dry roads and no employment calls I was on the internet searching for a physician doing such DOT services. A couple phone numbers and addresses for price and location comparisons, we were off. I, with my superior knowledge of the Flint area on a whole, I immediately got us lost. Trying to find directions face to face with people they were as ignorant as I had just practiced to get us where we where. Ah, but for my superior brain I celled one of the cheaper priced number’s and wallah was talked right in where we were supposed be. I’m not mentioning my embarrassment having driven by the establishment in the first passing. On arrival Fillip getting his part of the trip taken care of I delved into my truck-cabined filing attaché case and sorted out a pile of weight slips having needed sorting for some time. Another job done.
Fillip making a request his wanting go to the St Vincent De Paul store, as long as we were this deep into Flint I tuned left the next light, two’r’three miles we were there. Inside Fillip found three good pair jeans around his size. I found even more had he wanted to either gain or lose weight as needed to wear them.
Not to be out done, thinking of his mother I found her three books I thought she’d enjoy. I found me one them one cup insulated travel cups at a take me home price as well as one them “Brita” water purifying pitchers for a whole buck take me home too price. All the damage we could do to a 14dollar bill we were on our way SW this next leg our travels going to BestBuy my seeking some help with my last purchase. Nuts! Seems it was suggested I need to haul my ‘puter into the Geek Squad for an in-depth fix. I’ll see? Looks like I need to confer with my cyber neighbor’s for on line solutions to one my ‘puter problems first?
One more stop on our way home going by Thrifty Acres I stopped us in for some “Brita” filters to go along with the new found pitcher. Wallah, they had them for about $5.00@ three to a box. On the shelf the store’s offering for the same pitcher was running at $30.00@ on up. I guess I had indeed found us a bargain. Between getting home and doing my chores before dark I had beat sundown by only a half hour. Only a half hour daylight left it weren’t even enough time to turn it around let alone accomplish anything else today. I happily called it a day well spent.
And one last note, my half peeled banana still hasn’t been found as yet. Somebody’s suggested I may have lost it in my chair. My answer to that is I’ve had squishy experiences in my shorts before this; and, I hain’t experienced anything near as squishy upon my short’s outside (as I have had in them) sitting upon such a commoditized chair these last couple days.
“Rainbows.”
Fernan

No disappointments

2011-11-30T16:58:00.000-08:00

Even before I awoke I did not hear any winds howling through the attic or whistling under the eves. I knew before I looked outside it’d be pretty and a shame to spoil it with this man’s foot prints making muddy black pot holes contaminating the scene.

But sadly looking forward there’ll be the dark side, I’ll leave behind, trudging through this first snow footprints reminding me of the mud underneath. Sadly this first snow wont last. It’s beauty will wane in the next dew days and this first given teaser of what’s to come it’ll be gone.
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Now for the facts of life I woke at 3:00 AM. Made a water haul and looked for a snack to appease my stomach for a satisfied feeling for a return to bed and continued snooze. Unable to find a thing to eat we’d brought home from the market I settled for a banana. With banana peeled half way back a bite taken I looked out the door. Saw all that lovely snow whilst taking another bite and got the bright idea to take a picture even if it were a night time partial affair. Then I down loaded the photo to ‘puter and the start of another journal entry. Then I took to even put in a KP stint doing a couple sink fulls of dishes. Another hour gone by my rattler time had come around again. Those sorted and taken the rest of the household had started to stir. Coffee made, tired of looking for the goodies again I realized I hadn’t finished my banana. I took to looking or it never finding it. When the rest of this households souls were up and around I asked if anyone had seen where I had laid my banana. I got laughs. I get no respect! Fillip up I confronted him with my need of some solid nourishment. Where’d he hide everything? He gave in and had soon dug everything out. And nobody else had still seen my banana.
Light enough to see the landscape beyond the deck’s gates the Sun as coming up and the snow had painted a spectacular picture the changing wind direction placing snow dressing up’n’down the trees east’n’west’n’north sides the trees. Limbs sagged heavily under the frozen loads laden upon them. Some of these heavy weights had even brought down a number of trees. The morning’s Sun made a Gillian numbers of sparkles twinkle under the rising Sun’s influence. It has been a wondrous day to take in and enjoy the beauty of our season’s first snow fall.
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Three to four inches wet stick fallen snow it was make scrap time the deck’n’ramp. Then for an extra laugh I wrote a note sticking within the shovel hand placing it where our meals on wheels deliverer would find and read it, I wrote, “Willy, will you mind shoveling our snow!”
Shop time found us picking up, cleaning up, putting away tools. The expired transmission and transfer case were loaded on a pallet and parked upon Ol’Blue's cargo deck. Sawdust on covering the shop floor use to pick up spills was swept up and deposited in the trash.
Breaking for lunch, no one had yet found my half eaten banana. What I did get was more irreverent laughter! (cretins‘) to go with my lunch….
Time rolled around, fed ladies, gassed 4020JD with three 5gal cans gas. Then for more shop amusement I filled old juice bottles with used motor oils. Filled a lot of them. Still have more to go tomorrow until I’ve run out of bottles.
To go along with the afternoon’s fun I was ambushed again as usual. I put Fillip off onto the task his needed assistance with Bro’s chores. After that the trash was eventfully packaged and put out for roadside pickup. An hour from quitting time It was cold footed time to give it up. A body can only take so much. Besides tomorrow is another day. Meanwhile I’m more than pleased with today’s efforts We had accomplished all that I had wanted to make it a completely satisfying day. And, still no-one has found my banana….
“Rainbows.”
Fernan

2011-11-29T15:33:00.000-08:00

Another day…….
….of continued rain to dampen our souls….er….soles. On rising looking out the doors the stuff was steadily coming down, a soak-er if there ever was one. A soak-er Weatherman’s suggesting it’s a light one. He isn’t looking at it from the same angle I am. So, looks like anther good day to hole up in the shop. Been informed Tom had welded some nuts to the damaged crank bolts, removed the flex plate (some still call it a flywheel), and mounted the engine upon an engine stand, the 1st one I had already gotten out. I’d like to package the remaining heavy parts on a pallet and find a place to out of the way park it.
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Of little interest to anyone else, I’m supposing, I awoke at one of my usual times. On a day the likes of his wet one the timings okay. Thankfully I needn’t have to be on time for an off the farm job. (smiles) ‘Sides I’ve plenty to entertain me today as in any other day I wake up to. I must have a satisfying one yesterday. In a quarter hour before the cloud cover Sun had gone down, an earlier than been usual supper eaten, an early snoozer, even earlier to bed, I had forgotten to get the trash out. Likely just as well. Our packaged trash could very well fall apart today in the paper sacks I normally use. They’d be plentily twine tied packaged for this morning‘s land fill contribution.
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About 1st accomplishment for today I’ve set in motion the WiFi’s instrument all tidily hooked up and hopefully working. A mc-button pushed there’s least there’s a light on. Only one more step to go. That’s reading the operation’s disc. DamnedifIknow where it’s at, particularly after Sneak had spirited it away?
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Dreaming just before waking up I was visualizing Frieda away back when we were visiting Mom’s house one earlier Easter. I could visibly see her sitting in one of Mom’s chairs quietly napping in my mind‘s eye. She was wearing one of my bulkier plaid wool work shirts.
She was so pretty, totally unaware, my enjoying the vision of her quiet beauty carrying our first child. I don’t know what it was? It seemed to me there was an aura of satisfaction about her while at the same time. My Mom’s advice those moments, “Leave her alone. She needs her rest.” as if I were, a wanton-lover, a slave-driver, wanting to see her busily doing something too. (me?)
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Today’s single accomplishment:
Fillip and I managed to repair all off Dumpy’s lights. The head lights a radio light the only working filaments yesterday. Finding a combination short and open circuit in one tail light I declared in an assertive voice we’re replacing these poorly working tail lights with new ones. Hardest part was getting the old ones off.
Having to go to town, not to sure the lights, our plan was to be home before dark. Surprise, on the way towards town the lights all seemed to come alive on their own. Knowing we had turn signal and hazard lights again to town by time we got to town we had tail lights. Leaving for home after the last stop we had dash lights and the heater blower was working. I’ll take these small accomplishments without question.
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Backing the truck up I had two disapointments today. First one was an accidental discovery the Ol’Blue’s transmission case was cracked near ¾’s the way around the bell housing. (Big time NUTS!) It was a good thing we had power washed it yesterday, or I’d never seen that crack. While in town conferring with one of our parts suppliers I was informed the internal parts this newer 700R transmission weren’t fit-able in the older 350 GM automatic. (feeling low major disappointment) However, finding right supplier the right 350 GM automatic overhaul kit can be had for $89.00. I can cut that. Oh well, I might just as well take the 700R apart for the scrap to satisfy my own curiosity as to whether there are any salvageable useful parts for the old 350 GM trans.
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The drive home I had to let Fillip drive us. Darkening much earlier than usual under heavily overcast skies my vision had drastically diminished. Pulling into the driveway we were just a moment ahead of a freezing sticking combo wet sleet’n’snow fall. The ramp was turning into a continuously slipperier toboggan slide as we carried in our Save-A-Lot groceries. Expecting to come into a warm house, disappointment took me over the winds howling about changing direction, the house was doing its up-most to shelter us, let alone broil us. This was what I got for wanting extra warmth after a cold day facing the elements.
An hour passing since I had taken my rattlers I felt cold. So cold I imagined my only option was to dress down to my usual comfort level. Taking care of the laundry first that is just what I did. Then snuggled in under my wrapped-around pulled in tight blanky while I listened to Fillip fix (he’d said it) a ten minute supper. I’m so hungry my jaws hurt. When I’m fed I see an early evening in my immediate future.
“Rainbows.”
Fernan

Can’t take much more…..

2011-11-28T15:41:00.000-08:00

…..this! We (I) purchased one them inter-net WiFi thing-a-ma-jiggy’s Maybe over a week ago. Not in the mood morning’s to want to think about IT to pooped to take an interest in it, and with other things on my mind it had laid around unopened until day’4’yesterday. . Directions talked about all these cables we were supposed to plug in, only they weren’t there. Two/three time’s Sneak and I viewed this gadget unable to make sense of the directions. Last thoughts we needed more stuff to go along with it. That was last night.
Waking this morning I experienced a new deeper thought-out revelation from within my sleep‘s sub-conscience state! I had finally figured it out. Everything’s here. Now I can’t find the leftovers (the whole boxed contents of the thing-a-ma-jiggy) save for the confusing directions. What Sneak’s done with all the hard (E-term) stuff I don’t know. I wish he’d wake up so’s I can display my new found brilliance. It’s only moments away from use’s plugging oodles of more wires into the tangled mess continued piling higher behind my ‘puter stand. Then we can take the lap top ‘puter anywhere our laps, conveniences, and/or hearts desire dictate. Just think of it, we can ‘pute even while sitting on the throne working other lower level matters out! Hallelu-loo*-iah!
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AND another thing. While I’m reluctantly domesticating myself to the riggers of homework (housework) I want’s me a masculine like type work apron suitably designed to signify my man-kind’s changing way in continued positive male‘s way doing stuff. Okay, perhaps I used to many words but I feel as though I’m troubled trying to put just the right ones together to ‘splain my ever growing position (including responsibility)!
And, AN another thing, While Fillip’s braggin’ about all he does around here including dishes “and one thing or another,” me holding my hands up please clearly note the one who’s got the dishpan hands. (grin)
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Up, the woodstove enlivened again, coffee on, the thought of breakfast just a creeping into my mind, there came a heck of a pounding on the front door. One of Fillip’s neighboring farm colleagues was here to see where I wanted some sand and gravel he was going to haul in upon Fillips request. It’d be shortly randy was bringing us three loads sand and gravel I’ll use for filling various holes around the farmyards. Okay up and out early while I’m spotting the dumping sand and gravel site, my cell vibrates. Ho, Ho, nuts I’m informed I need to grind grain today. Again nothing like being well inform in advance any upcoming task. Sand and gravel coming, no grain to grind it looked like what I was looking forward to a great day was already going down the tubes. Oh well, I’ve been getting to heavy lately anyway, Only thing I’d had to run my aging bones frame on was the coffee I had made earlier. I had to run through two elevators, one of them a second time for a weight slip. Obviously my dishwashing‘s interrupted for what seemed like an all morning’s drive to ring all the needed elements together for the feed grind and delivery. Readied prepared to put it all to use I stopped all progress. Eat out of my breakfast I wasn’t about to find my lunch postponed.
My belly filled, the trailer loaded with our furniture I moved it outdoors. Then brought out the grinder-mixer and set up all the elements and had thought this chore’s running smoothly enough. That was right up until the tractor needing fuel the fuel was water logged. Ducky, just freaking ducky. Screens in the bottom of the funnels we’d used both doing what was expected of them, plug up tight catching’n’holding the water preventing any contaminated fuel’s entry into the tractor’s fuel delivery system. The grind completed, the feed spotted, the truck freed for Frieda and Fillip’s use to keep medical appointments, they were gone. Left to my own devices I got into moving some sand and gravel. Sand around a fountain here, gravel down in the hollow’s driveways. That was just up to quarter of 5:00 PM. I had a fence wire to put up, the Cushman to put away as I needed it to jump start the Ford loader-backhoe earlier.
Other than feeling pressured early on this morning I had finished the afternoon in a much more relaxed manner. I did enjoy my day for all those wee little exchanges between myself with a number of momentary exchanges with friends and neighbor encounter’s my travels.
“Rainbows.”
Fernan
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*loo: an UK English term for restroom. Now aren’t you just ecstatically glad you tuned in. (grin)

A gray Sunday

2011-11-27T15:20:00.000-08:00

We all awoke to a heavily overcast sky what seemed liken it were darkening ever more as the day wore on. Rain was falling most noticeably off the eves out side our windows. We all took the morning easy brunching about an hour or less before the noon hour. Fed Fillip and put in shop time splitting the engine/transmission left hanging high’n’dry those few days ago. This was interesting fun. My first concern was cleaning the whole miserably dirty mechanic off.
The power-plant set down on Dumpy’s deck We moved dumpy out across the driveway the load deck higher in the front than back the back for drainage. The power washer brought out we took turns getting wetter as it had continued the rain while we blasted away the dirt, grease, and crud off the donor parts.
Back inside the shop we commenced unbolt the pieces to divide them. The engine stand brought out didn’t find use today as we could not remover the flex plate off the engine’s crankshaft. The next best thing, I hope I haven’t screwed it up, I heated three stubborn crankshaft bolts. The last act of the afternoon in hopes by the time they’ve cooled tomorrow they’ll have cooley shrunk some making them easier to turn out. Nothing more we could do on the engine I called it a day. So we let the engine down off the truck’s deck onto a barrel still hooked to the steadying chain-fall overhead. The transmission much lighter Fillip and I muscled that part down onto another barrel. I can’t stress enough how handy a half dozen steel barrels kept around the shop make such handily instant work benches: today two for the divided power-plant components and one a tool stand.
Supper was Fillip’s home-made Yankee chili made with beans. Yum! Sure tasted good for a typically low pressured weathering bone-paining’n’head-aching day.
As of this writing desert neither decided nor additionally even thought about it isn’t looken good. Do a couple bit sized mounds nuggets count for anything?
“Rainbows.”
Fernan

A bit of this’d’that

2011-11-26T17:59:00.000-08:00

I woke up to a warm home this AM. Frieda and I slept well. In-spite of the fact I was up early. I followed Fillip to his work see the varied ways those semi’s he dries, their hoods hinged forward for engine servicing. While not one of them inspired me as to the way I’d lean for hinging my fiberglass clip on Dumpy. Seeing them was no waste of time I assure my reader.
So from here on out in no particular order these were some of my day’s highlights. I saw Butch (a body frame specialist) for some thoughts on hinging the clip. After explaining an idea he showed me how to improve on it. Later seeing Mick the race car builder body specialist (in his field). He also showed me another improvement over an idea I had for the clip’s rear of the fenders open’n’closing modification.
The ladies out here breaking up another hay ring I was obliged to load and haul it to the shop for another rebuild. Luckily a spare standing by I put it out for my ladies dining use, then fed them. Bro’s Turkeyday drive into Detroit his college buddy loaded Bro’s pickup up with all kinds of goodies: almost all the metal to assemble a yard barn or shed, a well water storage tank, and a well pump with a new motor on it.
Again I had to hold Tom off his volunteering to take my donor engine and transmission apart. Personally I’d rather like to power wash it before dis-assembly. Then put the engine on an engine stand for more Greeny truck development work later during the snow covered winter months.
Lunch was supposedly a short easily fixed quick samitch stop over what was only going to last a half hour within itself; only, what followed anther oop-ed half hour nap. Finally getting all this good stuff out of my way Frieda helped my into my new chaps and I went wood cutting. Proud of my efforts I think I had gotten a lot done. My next trip to the hollow will be handled with the wood splitter. Oh yeah, my getting back home and in for the evening Frieda helped me back out of the chaps. She’d commented something about how she’d enjoyed taking my cloths off some years ago. Hmmm, That was then, this is now this scenario ain’t the way it was back when.
The chainsaw giving some trouble, sharpening it twice was of little help. Taking a calculated chance I turned the bar over and the saw behaved much nicer. It could be, there’ll be a new saw-bar in my near future. Remarkably the saw is still using the original saw-chain. The Dumpy clip is almost sitting up again the house so’s the wind wont blow it golly-wampus away or otherwise lost to a wild element’s weathered over us fling. Yesterday’s firewood harvest is stacked upon a pallet just off to one side the deck. While it appears dry it is just barely green enough to slowly burn over night. My thought is or for two pieces a long cold winter night, this firewood may just be a welcomed warmth to keep our home cozy all night.
While I was making like I looked like I knew what I was doing (sawing) I was mentally inventorying all my projects. Sheesh! I’ve sure got a lot of them: Find some ‘79’ or ‘80 Chevy doors for the innards my new doors, the relevant thought is to clean new doors inside’n’out and give two coats paint, complete door and window hardware and interior’s finish, making them instantly mountable the day come I may replace either one or both; Good Golly Molly, I want to get back onto my quadra-cycle project, it’s practically only a manner of assembling it now…er…with merely a couple to do modified parts; of-course the engine put on the stand will need Greeny’s kaput engine standing along side for swapping out the sophisticated Vortex engine parts; and, I mustn’t forget the two tractor mounted bicycle racks for next Summer’s haying season. S’posed to rain tonight and tomorrow. Last night we listened to thunder boomers all evening long and never saw a rain drop.
So, this has been my day.
“Rainbows.”
Fernan

MY black Friday

2011-11-25T16:37:00.000-08:00

A-waken from a good night's sleep for a must-do water haul do, I’ve discovered somebody had changed the TV channel, I felt the woodstove’s cold and knew no-bodied put wood on the fire, and Fillip’s gone. Checking the stove further it was an opportune time to clean out the ashes. So, without a red hat, still continued looking a-bit like Poppa Smurf, taken a look both-ways out the door seeing no traffic, which wouldn’t have made any difference, I darted down the deck’s steps, across some crisp grass, and retrieved an empty steel bucket with an equally steel lid from under the ramp. Then when readied I had a new fire laid upon some saved potential coals. I headed for the coffee pot remembering there was some leftover and put it in the instant nuker. About to run me some rattler water the phone rang. My wake up call had come just about two‘n‘a-quarter hours late. Still I answered, grabbing my broom when conveniently passing it. So, while I talked with the Lady on the other end of the wire I swept the floor what I hadn’t gotten to yesterday.
The Sun’s shinning. It’s 43*. And I’m driving no further than a ¼ mile down the road for another firewood load opportunity. I don’t want to see any traffics other than what I may encounter in a couple farmyards. Frieda’s complaining continued shortness of breath. I feel well rested and ambitious as Hell my (dreaming) knowen I’ll get a lot done today. Well, I can dream can’t I?!
End morning’s writing…….
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…….beginning evening’s writing:
Oh crap! Seems I’ve inadvertently lied my day’s plans before I had even gotten them started. Alright let us skip right on along to just before noon, Fillip busy hauling combined corn into the farm silos to be dried and stored in giant steel storage bins spotted some interesting Chevy truck body parts and cell phone called me. He told me what they were along with there location. I thanked him and told him I was off and running. Oh lawd, what a fined! Fillip’s find was a brand new old stock fiberglass front fenders-hood assembly. Holy-Leo-Jay-Horse-A-Fat! No funds in my pocket, I’m not sure whether I had flown low over to the Crossroads bank before or after lunch. Which ever way if was I was back on the product scene, backed up to the whole one-pieced thing and loaded it by myself. Then just as I was walking around the house to put the asking price into an envelope wit a note and drop it all through a mail slot. Almost there the estate’s boss lady was coming around the house to meet me. The good’s paid for, some friendly conversation, I’m gonna promise myself we should all get together over coffee for some far stretched tall tale swapping. (grin) Looking it up the net the price paid was one tenth the product’s retailed selling price.
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One adventure down a second one to go:
The Chevy clip loaded on Dumpy’s back where I’ll leave it for a day or two until I’ve had some mounting short-cut advice I took it home. Going to see Butch for one kibitzer, and Mick for a second. Fillip’s invited me along with him come morning to witness some the tilt clips on the semi-tractors he’s driving.
Meanwhile, backed down to the barn Cushman out, more door opened I hitched the splitter to dumpy, loaded my forestry tools and was off down that ¼ mile to cut’n’split firewood. I didn’t get a lot done today, but I’m happy with it. Enjoyed the whole day Worst part was getting home putting tools away at dark:30. Darkening quickly at 5:00, pitch dark at 5:30 PM. I was not only home, I was in! Fillip coming in an hour later served up supper and has invited me to go along come morning to see the varied whole engine cover clips are hinged forward out over their bumpers.
I’m as happy as a seven year old boy who’s just unwrapped a brand new Christmas gift wrapped Lionel train.
“Rainbows.”
Fernan

Thanksgiving?

2011-11-24T16:20:00.000-08:00

I must admit I made a rather rash decision yesterday, particularly after following the budget like minded following of a very budget understanding do’s’n’don’ts of a retirement brought upon a lass in misery, her money matters better controlled than my own. Why, it was only a few days ago I had managed to bring my own budget problems under compete control. This latest crisis had come upon me out of the very blue my making three acquisitions yesterday for these three bodies languishing within these very four walls. I had compulsively purchased three “Forever Cuddlee“ snugfullest garments most recently spread before the weak minded shopper the like‘s of myself through an unashamed mind bending TV advertising campaign. What’s worse I’m very uncomfortably wearing one of the three outfits as I write these words to totally explain the issues of my unreasoned wayward expenditures. It was a good thing I did what I did for I had purchased the only last three garments in our sizes in our immediate area. Christmas shopping’s done early, Christmas gift giving is also all done and over with.
It’s 3:00 AM my uncomfortably wakened so warm I had kicked the very body heat saving blankets clear of my whole anatomy bed and sleeping space place. A call to nature had originally awakened me to attend to one of nature’s compulsive needs. I simply had to haul water if I hadn’t wanted a bed wetting accident I hadn’t experienced for shall I say for some roughly seventy-five years.
Now thrust upon me a totally new late night adventure not quite paralleling the outdoor adventuring a walk to an outhouse. My most recent habiting I’ve found the most satisfying in completing one of these walks I have found it rather prudent saving an all to eye widening flipping on a light I just let myself to comfortably sit down to make myself once again dryly relieved. This time wearing this strange garment. Why I call it strange? Well okay I’d explained it had an alternative escape hatch. Now this one has been rimmed wit a more modern, supposedly more fashionable zipper. There in laid a second principle problem I could not get it to work to my satisfaction, reducing me to an uncomfortable alternate method of relinquishing those waste commodities my body wanted to compulsively get rid of. I did however manage to take care of my needs by dropping the very top half of the whole garment below my waist down about my knees to relinquish said fluids and/or solids as the need have been. To this end, in another once upon a time jundra, I seriously have missed the once well thoughtfully used emergencies buttons. I can honestly declare the buttons replacements with a zipper has been seriously inadequately field tested, outhouse tested, unheated indoor facility untested, a very serious oversight. But be it as it may I shall again have to adjust to another modern man’s most recent re-development. Such is one of life’s rearrangement’s I’d guess has been thrust upon the unsuspecting modern man?
I have since returning to my late last nights bed and sleep it come to my mind an alternative method of preparedness, I could leave the cussed flap undone a waving in the breeze; BUT, for two very good reasons one of them id be damned drafty all the time and/or I’ll be damned if I’ll leave my bare derriere exposed due to an unsightly half-masted garment worn to’n’fro to conveniences.
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May your feast day’s be more congenially enjoyed than only a bit of this one around here. No having a project or work load to have to be attended to our turkey day’s involved with house cleaning, the whole immediate yard about the house picked up read up. So’s many displaced things laying about wont be the tools of wind piled snow drifts. These things as well as there’s more wood upon dumpy to put away.
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Looking outside seeing all the frost, my telling Frieda, it’d be this afternoon before the frozen dew on Dumpy’s back would be drier enough to bring into the house. I’d also told her that the wood I had split and loaded yesterday I left it on Dumpy when I went shopping so the moving breezes would also help dry that same out some more during my travels. Then the woman laughed at me! I get no respect!!!!
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Catching some the Macy’s day parade Her Mostess had suggested all I needed was a red hay and scarf to look like the Muppets Cookie Monster.
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Now for the truth:
The house is still a mess inside’n’out. What firewood on the Dumpy I’ve brought side. I sorted out of tub full those bottles and cans the recognized local stores will cash in. I’ve cut up several sheets cardboard for fire starts enhancers.
Had joined in the day’s cooking fun my preparing the veggies for the stovetop stuffing. Then after dinner I baked an apple-berry pie for a late afternoon desert. Frieda washed dishes, I washed dishes, and fillip washed dishes. Its my guess somebody will still be washing dishes tomorrow…..
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Picking up some the kitchen I carried out some turkey bones for my Sweetheart cat. Goofy think circling, darting about my feet, getting passing’s kicks. She meowed’n’hollared anxiously for the turkey tidbits she was about to get. And, then to add even more misery to my tender ears she yowled some even more when after I had emptied my tin plate into her pie plate dish. Goofus cat. That’s the thanks I get giving her treats. Yeah, she finally got to them particularly after I had taken my foot off hers, the complainer. Sheeeesh!
“Rainbows.”
Fernan

slow start

2011-11-23T15:10:00.000-08:00

Frieda hadn’t slept since about 1:00 AM, me on the other hand waking three’r’four times as the most usual I did manage to keep the fire up without totally waking up. I had a good night’s sleep.
For today’s excitement I motored right turned out the drive for the downed wood in the hollar. There I split what chunks had been last Spring’s cut, loaded it and come home for lunch. A couple quick samwitches I was off’s’running over to the Crossroads for some what I’ll call preventive Holiday shopping. Good thing too.….
Well first off Frieda wanted a new foul roasting rake for the roasting pan. Unable to find one on my own I asked one of the supermarket’s managers and he knew better where to look for one than I. I was a potentially happier turkey chef leaving the market. Next on my short list was finding some of them snuggle’s thingies advertised on TV. I know I need something new, my present night shirt frailly rotting away as I wear it. The way the sides keep ripping higher and higher the garment showing more and more limb. Now, understand me, I’m no slave to fashion dictaites but that old garment is getting a little to drafty for the long cold Winter nights we’re headed into. Luckily even, I found only two big enough at the drug store, maybe? Stopped by the dollar store for nothen! Then what the heck, hitting the road out South of the Crossroads for the General Dollar store a couple miles south, there I found one more Snuggie big enough to fit one of us, our big cans. Oh these things I’m calling Snuggies they’s are more like a heavy fleece pajama including, of all old conveniences, a built in trap door. No what I’d call substantial booties on these legged bag like garments, maybe Santa will bring us all some heavy duty hunting socks along with our lumps of coal. The way I look at it coal would be nice, it’d help keep the home fire burning.
Back home I had plenty to do, first off figure out a way to put the splitter back inside the barn. Oh boy, the quarter inch of rain we had here turned the outer barnyard into a sea of mud. I knew I’d never back that splitter back into the barn as easily as I had towed it away with Dumpy. It was going to be “Oh my aching back” a pushing and pulling on the big-a barn door a couple of twice’s. Also knowing that splitter’d be below eye level Dumpy’s truck bed, the Cushman was called to duty, and dutifully it did what was asked of it. The splitter’s put away as is the Cushman. The Dumpy truck’s backed up to the deck most of its scant load carried into the house, some in the acting woodshed and some damp woods stacked along side woodstove for drying. Some cardboards what had been in the way down in the barn now rest in woodshed until I’ve cut’em up for more easy speedy fire rebuilding kindling.
Finely taking my rattlers with the last of the twilight sinking away in the west, I’m to breathless, to tired, to make supper, Frieda’s heated a can of Progresso soup for herself. I’ll warm up some canned tamales for myself.
Fillip’s not home is still involved in harvesting corn. All in all, in spite of our aging frailties, life is good.
“Rainbows.”
Fernan
Opps: One more thing. Frieda’s already tried her “forever lazy” snuggie on and looking like a Macy’s Thanksgiving Day over head flying parade entry. (grin) No strings attached.
Oh yeah, still one more thing, everybody have a safe and sane holiday feast in a loving atmosphere.

Cats & Cats

2011-11-22T17:45:00.000-08:00

Last night, long after dark, coming in he’d told me about seeing a couple cats: one a lynx the other a mountain lion. He saw both of them some nine to ten mile ENE of us. He’d also told me about some black bears about only about seven miles SE of us their hanging out near one them land fill dump sites.
A badger was trapped north of us in Tuscola county. That animal was skinned out just four miles ENE from here.
Fillip and I seeing deer out here in the morning sunrise or evening’s twilight almost every morning and/or evening. Terry has counted twenty-three coyotes within a square mile around our two homes. Seems we’ve a fair number of turkeys around the neighborhood. Except for their nesting these birds roost in the trees far and above out of harms way during the nights. Pheasants are practically extinct and rabbit populations have been drastically reduced. Scarcely see a fox anymore. Of-course I had done my best to eliminate some seventy raccoons over a two year period ending a couple years back. Wildlife populations have surely taken some turns by the numbers counted around here.
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Today:
Speaking of wildlife numbers. While I was one the job this AM fixing to start a barn cleaning, Shane knocked off one five point buck early this morning.
An 1850 Ollie started easy enough. A Case 1816 was a little more difficult Carb float was stuck. Taking carb bowl off found it full of condensation. I don’t know how a bowl full of water could effect a float and needle vale but it did. That’ll remain one them mysteries I shan't worry about. However, had Noah only swatted those two mosquitoes….
I think we moved about 40 tons manure out to the compost site. Likely hauled in at least a tone of wood chips for lower layer bedding. On top this a nice cushy covering of shredded paper.
It was within the twilight of the evening when I had finished my day, tiredly abled enough to enter my home for a moment or two’s drowning my rattlers before I motored off to the market. (nuts) Had I made a shopping list for last night’s foray I’d not had to go to store again this evening. Oh well, I’m glad the Crossroads’ not more than four mile away. My coming out of the market it had started to rain. The same rain all of us a-massed handicappers felt coming onto us all day long.
Now perhaps I may get into splitting me-self at least one rick sized (1/3 full cord) load of wood for this house? Heaven knows this dwelling needs it!
Now, as usual, I’ve nothing profound to say, I’ll put this journal contribution to bed.
“Rainbows.”
Fernan

What the?

2011-11-21T17:52:00.000-08:00

I seem to have lost a day.. A-woke this morning with a rather loud buzzing cornering my brain between my ears. Once outside I found I had dressed wrong, but then who knows how to dress this time of year? Frost on everything skim ice on all the water puddles. By 10:00 AM my tuxedo was to much and without it to little. Tomorrow I’ve got to remember to carry along an extra heavy quilted shirt for the warmer breezes fall days as long as they last.
Right turn out the drive with chainsaw plus I drove into the place in the hollow. Sure as it be enough to do there’s plenty of wood down there. Dumpy parked I commenced to work on the last windfall. My intention is to cut and dump that green tree as far back from my door as I may comfortably dump it to dry. That first load should make for some fine burning at most a whole year from now.
A fair bit of cutting done upon my part, the saw out of gas, I took the time to start picking up my mess. Firewood on dumpy limbs and twigs into a brush pile. Wasn’t long and here come my principles pains in the butt. They decide to take over the saw. Both of them to leave the old-man to pickup and tote away the furl-wood and trash wood. First crack, “Your saw is dull.” Dull Hell, I lay it running on any log and to was cutting this tree as if it were made of butter. The second PIA took over the chainsaw and do to his vast experience he showed me a new method. Saw in position, trigger squeezed, He commenced to push and pull the saw to’n’fro as if it were a bucksaw. It just seems with these a-hole around I can’t do nothing right and they want me to give them my saw?
All the small stuff loaded on Dumpy I cut out for home only minute before the noon dinner hour. Home I used JD to carry back down the road to feed the yearling heifers wintering in the Hollow place. Had my lunch, then went down to the barn and moved and threw stuff into trash bags. This I did to find my way back to the log-splitter. It took me most the afternoon clearing a path, but I managed to move it to more handily sit by the door. Oddly enough in moving the splitter I even managed to make more room than I realized I had earlier wasted storing this mess. Before I can put it all back correct I need a hand moving a least one heavier piece.
(with finding all the extra space I’ve found where the splitter used to be, we’ve got a whole lot of new space to stack and forget Fillip’s stuff, he had brought with him. And boy, would I like to forget Fillip’s (aka. Sneak‘s) stuff. (big grin)
Well-p, While I had thought I was going to cut more wood tomorrow Farm-Boss wants my seated position in the 1618 Case to clean the barn stalls out. Tomorrow is already beginning to looken like it’s go-n-a be a crappy one. (grin)
“Rainbows.”
Fernan

At Last

2011-11-20T17:29:00.000-08:00

Date Line Sunday Foxfire farms:
Fillip and I, taking all day have finally gotten the engine, transmission, and transfer case out of the Ol‘Blue truck. While the power plant was just starting to hang about the shop, so glad that part of a miserable job is done. Now thinking how do I want to handle it next. One thing sure, I’d like to have it power washed as clean as I can muster before opening it up, or as in taking it all further apart, and hanging the block on an engine stand.
Poor Ol’Blue is once more sitting outside with the most forlorn look about it. Will be bringing it back in for some more dismantling it for parts: front and rear bumpers, oil cooler, heater core, heater blower, tail light assembles, whatever, plus the outside mirrors. Fillip see’s them used on a couple tractors.
Was supposed to have been a short day. In spite the fact my body and mind insisted on shutting down along about 4:00 PM with Fillip’s encouragement we accomplished all I wanted for today. Now should it rain I’ve a couple three shop projects to work on. If its nice be it clear weather on bare or snow covered ground I can cut’n’split fire wood Heaven knows we need a bunch.
“Rainbows.”
Fernan

My day fell apart

2011-11-19T17:24:00.000-08:00

I had to grind feed today. It seems the troops needed it yesterday only they had neglected to tell me the day before yesterday. Nobody any to anxious to help me. I took my time doing it all alone. So that job consumed most my energy. Cleaned Dumpy’s box off’r’out depending how its looked at While it was empty I took Dumpy looking for some fill dirt to dump in a water walked out hole in front one the yard’s fountains. Did little good. Those mine operator guys were roughly about a mile from home and pit combining corn. Fighting off the disappointment my unwillingness to abide by an ordered command to cut wood today, I did minimally settle in’r’down in front of the barn with a wrong sized chainsaw file and went at it sharpening my chainsaw regardless. That done perhaps I’ll get into wood cutting Monday or even Tuesday.
Tomorrow, while Fillip has the day off I want his help hoisting the power plant out of Ol’Blue, period! I can cut wood by myself in the snow even this winter.
“Rainbows.”
Fernan

Brrr

2011-11-17T18:48:00.000-08:00

It’s noon, time for lunch.
To catch up yesterday I started my morning out wrenching some primarily loosening the transmission pan bolts for a little draining. For my afternoon’s entertainment I made fix the place’s fence down in the hollow. Some that fence fixing was more liken removing and replacing. I enjoyed all these festivities feeling the Fall temperatures drop all day. The home fire’s was a welcome feeling when I did hit my door a coming in in at dark-thirty.
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Was a busy first light. Stacking three crates salvaged surplus produce for Juan to take over to the local food pantry in my stead. At 8:00AM Fillip and I were turning right out the driveway for his EEG medical appointment. Thirty-some wires hooked to his head face and body somebody either asked him a slew of standard examination questions or react on command some actions while monitored as how either his head or brain functioned. When they was all through with and released him after a three quarter hour session nobody told me nor suggested there was anything in there. (grin)
On our way home, on Linden road again, Fillip requested I stop by Meijer’s Thrifty Acres for him a pair gloves and a pound lunch meat. A couple miles up that road bouncing along not unlike I had done day’4’yesterday I spied a ways off on the right side the road a shopping an abandoned cart. The device needing but a moment to register in my brain I finally come to, too do a “U”y turn in the very middle that road fitting tat turn between the burbs, we were on our way back. Turning around a second time in a strip-mall parking lot ready to ready to assume command that cart, I wondered where all the traffic had come from? Sheesh, Let me find something good to get on and they’s all manner of onlookers surrounding and/or quaking at me. So, where’d we wheel in another mile down the road Meijer’s the very name on the cart’s handle bar’s. Ho boy!
I didn’t care who it (the cart) had belonged to? It wasn’t easy but it was loaded mine we shopped!
Temps still falling we continued on with our immediate plan, we went shopping. Fillip found his gloves, we found his lunch meat, We also found some cookies and the delicatessen where we could buy brewed coffee. Finding a table and chairs it was break time, finished we went through check out paying for all our got’s plus a savagely attacked or only half full donut box.
On the road again nobody askin’ nor carin’ the dumpy truck’s exposed load goin’ un-noticed or cared about. We motored on home. Already I’ve found that shopping cart a useful asset hauling all our groceries up the ramp and wheeled into the house in one swell swoop. More later……
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….later, much, much later.
Lunched, ready to go, first thing I did was take Fillip back to work, we need his earnings. (grin) As for me, I had to feed the ladies taking them out a hay bale. Thinking the hay would keep them busy, Dumpy loaded earlier with some sweet peppers, bread from my house, and the last of the bok choy, I delivered these few goods to the ladies in their pasture. Sheesh, what wild bunch they were running around in circles, jumping up’n’down as they ran along side Dumpy, as well as throwing their heads back‘n’forth as they moved along sid. I’ve no idea what they were celebrating. The crazy dear’s scarfing down the goodies faster than the amount I had delivered, in their excited state’s they followed me-truck back to the barn’s front most barnyard to even fallow me out, passing the forbidden gate way, my hurriedly winding my window so‘s I could yell-out a few superlatives. My verbally sounding off had worked changing the crazed mob’s carried away combined minds. Whew for a couple moments I had thoughts of having to round them up a scattered mass all over the front.n.side yards, and road going both ways hay they stayed with me up the drive.
My chores finished at home, a newly made tall tea in hand
I went down to shop and removed all but two transmission pan bolts so’s to let it really hang and drain out. Hat took only a few minutes.
As I hadn’t finished fixing the fence in the Hollow Place I took Dumpy home for an exchange of work wheels. As I had down loaded dumpy onto the Cushman and the Cushman was better suited to belaying wire, that machine and I were off an running. A couple rusty wires plus a couple breaks I had decided to take up the old wire replacing it with new. While I did this Tom had come out and started on me again, the old wire good enough and he’d fix fence. Yeah sure! I ignored him as he didn’t know what he was talking about being good enough. Yeah sure! If the critters get out I’m the one called to round them up. Then when I have to surround them to push’em through one 20’ gate way to small for these dumb animals to see. My being to tired to explain the scene better, use your imagination. Regardless what’s left of the fence to do I’ll finish it in the morning. And it’ll have been sturdily done correctly. Gosh thinking it late looking at my clock I had 15 minutes of light left. Heavy over cast dark would be quicker this evening and it was.
Good gosh, once I had gotten into the house I hadn’t realized how old I had become. Once I had sat down I didn’t want to get out of my chair. I had even asked Frieda if she’d known anybody who’d worn a barnyard tuxedo for pajamas? I had to move, for I was getting what seemed like lightening bolt jots of pain running up m spine rattling my mind and sight shaken blind. Whoopee! Last night I had some restless leg syndrome experience even my comfortably seated in my recliner, my feet up I had at least three episodes my limbs trying to make in place some short sprints. Most annoying!!!.
“Rainbows.”
Fernan

Mich. Deer Hunter’s Holiday

2011-11-15T17:31:00.000-08:00

With a crescendo of open gunfire coming to my ears from all around my neighborhood shooters were celebrating the changing season’s with noisy sighting in’s their favored weapons. Today the 11-15th is Michigan’s grand opening the firearms deer hunting season.
I got to miss this morning’s opener’s fresh-air, snap crackle and pop crunching fallen leaves under my feet, the noe skipped climb up, up and away off the earth on a balanced perch in a tree meant only for squirrels to climb and birds to perch on.
Opening my dad is a quick two ladies round up. Had to appropriately button tag them their traveling credentials. Their windows seats have been reserved, their chartered transportation taking them to Dizzying World completed with a many an onlooker with shouts of encouragement agreeing to assessment’s numbers for their next individually traveled destinations.
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Hearing Fillip, seeing him through glassed eyes he tended the woodstove and was gone at ¼ to 7:00. Me, I was outside at ¼ to 8:00 we’d had an over night shower, and glassing of ice laid on everything sitting still for it. The round up was a quick one, the ladies both willing to be processed for their unknown destinations. Then coming out of the chute I escorted each the ladies to their traveling places aboard the long long-trailer.
Ho boy, myself having gone out without gloves the wood heat felt good on my frosted fingers my re-entering the house. Plenty time for breakfast after the rattlers taken earlier, then I was on the road before 8:30 AM for my wrench first. Sheesh! Checking my lists I’ve got to reluctantly cover a lot of ground this morning.
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I ha a good morning’s drive. 1st stop for wrench Sears didn’t open until 10: AM. That was down right inconsiderate of them. If I wanted that wrench it meant hanging around. So, went looking for my insurance agent. He wasn’t in, still transacted some business with out him with the office girl. Then mosyed over to HF where I picked up a much better fitting tarp for the feed wagon soon needing a new one. These last two stops all well with a 1/2mi radius with Sears I didn’t have to drive far out of my way.
I must report my driven Dumpy ride down and back up Linden road, a far west side Flint artery, the ride was like a hoped ride on a kangaroo’s back across an Australian outback.
Done on the SW side Flint I got on the I-75 freeway. Four lanes wide north bound, I pushed Dumpy to its tack red line max, I watched my mirrors the gaining hoards of traffic gaining on me, the speeding away ahead of me leaving me behind. Thankfully I didn’t have a day’s travel way to go. Off at Clio I hit Wally World with Fillip’s useless second pair three week old shoes. A very nice lady took care of me this time refunding the shoes worth with a store debit card. Then just for the heck of it I checked the shoe department again. Had I learned anything? Who knows? I found another doubled the money price shoes in my size. Having had good luck with WW shoes in my size over the last six yrs three times running (or walking in my case) I bought them wearing them out of the store. Comfortable they are over what I had settled for less than 4wks ago at Payless.
On Clio’s main-drag I saw my banker for advice. We laid out a debt controlling repayment plan my debts. Things are looking up. Next stop was for farm engine motor oil and 90 gal fuel oil to top off our heating oil. Because the farm is a good oil company customer, AND there was no hurry for a refill I suggested they top off the tank sometime when in their in my neighborhood anyway/anytime, business was taken care of both party’s happy.
Next stop TSC for paws’n’claws vittles. Would you believe I made one more stop for three gallon milk to wash these late evening TV snakes down? Still one more stop to collect some old age benefits, and I was on my way home. Home unloaded 1:30 PM I wasn’t quite late enough for a lengthy dinner postponement, My lunch was a welcomed delight to my hungry face.
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Yesterday’s plant question? It is called Bok Choy, a Chinese vegetable. May be used in salads or stir fried in a wok. When I’ve time or need of a break I will look into this particular veggie eaten matter deeper.
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I did make it down to the shop. Tried out that brand new wrench and it worked beautifully. That wrench was the one and only way to get that part of the job done with the proper tool. Okay, I’d cracked the transmission from the transfer case and got me a nice stream of red juice running out from between the two parts. Hmm, I’ve the feeling I need to loosen the transmission’s oil pan just a little and let it drain it with a controlled leak. When that’s either started or done depending how it is looked at, I’ve a fence repair to seriously look at. Then figure out how I shall want to fix or entirely redo it.
My mind quickening its running dow, it is time to close and call it a day. Slumber is inviting me my participation.
“Rainbows.”
Fernan

Obits

2011-11-14T16:50:00.000-08:00

Read the obits and found neither one our names listed there. Frieda and I both slept well. Fillip’s been called to drive a farm semi. I managed without Stats (cat) help his possibly pouncing into my moment’s of sorting meds before I had gotten those same rattlers taken. Wonderful it was later to have found out he’d snuck out into the woodshed when somebody was adding fuel to the woodstove and had gotten locked out there.
I think this cat is making me paranoid. I’m always watching out for another one of his bounding upon me lap attacks. (sigh)
With Fillip gone possibly for the next twelve hours it’ll be interesting what I’ll get done by myself. May be a good day to rebuild a length of fence down the road at the hollow place.
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I can’t say it wasn’t an otherwise bad or good day. Kind-a ho-hum, say? Right turn out drive I tried getting something done on Ol’Blue which for all impractical purposes didn’t work all that well for a morning’s start.
Okay, I’ve said it before I’d had that continued feeling Bro’ slipping this time I called on him to open his door and let me in. We had to talk, rather urgently upon my part for I had forgotten to pass along a message from Mr. Rogers in our neighborhood of the elevator. We had to immediately and if not sooner get our order in for next season’s sudex seed. Seems the drought conditions in Texas this last Summer were severer than ever and seed is going to be in short supply. Its going to be first come first served the earliest arrangement. That taken care of I exited for transferring my carcass to shop and the underside of Ol’Blue to see good old Tom had started doing it to again taking out the wrong drive line bolts, the ones what would have opened the transfer case. Getting this short sighted problem taken care of and managing to remove one more the correct bolts I was soon dogged for assisting feeding his animals: A couple surplus commodity boxes a couple hay bales, not necessarily in a more planned effort involving switching a couple material handling buckets back and forth with the involvement of loader forks.
Anyway by the time these mater had been taken care of plus my dumpy tuck loaded down with another pallet load produce lunch time was upon us. I went home.
Setting in, setting down, to my lunch here come Shane to help me coax and or catch this bovine mob for sorting two out going to Dis-knee World tomorrow. Shane gone but a moment trading his truck for a 4-wheeler, then we moved some the trucked produce out and around barn into the barnyard coral. This went much easier than I had expected. Maybe a ¼hr we had the two special ladies separated from the rest. The rest turned back out to pasture the two kept sequestered I watered, and saw to their feeding those in the coral plus all those gone back to pasture.
Getting back to my lunch while it had cooled some, yet warm to the touch a minutes nuken and I was chowing down. An hour’s lunch break feeling strong again, right turn I was back to the shop. Trying to remove last two bolts between transfer case and transmission was a no go pain in my lain on floor neck. Trying all the wrenches possessed form three tool boxes none could hold those last two bolt heads without slipping, either ASE or Metric. Oh, I could fit a socket on them without room for a handle. Alright I had the size, needing an end wrench like configured to loosen those last bolts. I’d have to make some inquiring phone calls, which didn‘t work out. No local wrenches available. Not to be without some thing to do I joined Bro’ unwrapping baked goods. An hour’n’half later one them pallet-ed 4’x4’x4’ boxes was emptied; and, I was ready to go home.
Home while the ‘puter warmed up I reset the fire in the woodstove. The house warming up as needed I set to taking my rattlers and searching net for wrenches. I tried searching Auto Zone…they were absolutely useless. Next I went to Advance Auto, their catalogue offerings were much better though short sighted. Not giving up unable to do anything (get anywhere) with either stuck up Snap-On or Mac tools I went internet to Sears on line tools. Found what I wanted. Called the local Sears store 35 miles away across town Flint, they’ve got it. I’ll have my reasonably priced wrench tomorrow. And without kissing anybodies arse!!!!!
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Duffus cat: Sleeping in the woodstove’s kindling box.

Stats, is son Fillip’s cat. He’s supposed to be a good mousier. Brought home a mouse who’d gotten itself caught in a bucket. Showed it to Stats and he’d have nothen to do with it. Okay, so I showed it to my Sweetheart cat and she’d let me down also.
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Got this food article this time in the surplus commodity load.

I have no idea what this vegetable(?) is called? By the unmarked printed packaging it was raised in Michigan.
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“Rainbows.”
Fernan

almost but not quite

2011-11-13T17:15:00.000-08:00

Had thought we’d have engine/transmission out of Ol’Blue. Didn’t happen. That rat truck’s so rusted’n’greased if ain’t dig through one it’s the other. Slowly making headway. Found looking over both Ugly and Blue transmissions they won’t easily interchange. Okay, will continue pullig Blue’s trans anyway. The internal parts I’ll need to fix Ugly’s trans many are the same. One part will be a reverse band, the others perhaps some the discs. Wont be the first time I’ve used two’r’three transmission to make one. Money outlay will cover new seals.
Just when we were making good headway, Fillip got sick. Had to come home. It’s alright needed an early day anyway. I’m doing dishes, second batch washed & drip drying, third soaking. Rattlers drowned’n’downed It’ll be a good night for pizza and maybe a fresh baked pie. Good night for Xmas flicks may settle in for tall and a bag a-popcorn.
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Opps, Found I had better check weather forecast. May had to bring in more produce saved from a rain…. Forecast called scattered showers. Nuts! Plan is to share some fresh produce with the food-pantry.
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Found myself making more lists. I need to hit the road again this coming Tuesday. If Fillip’s weathered off the corn harvest we can motor the highways. If not, my lonrsome motoring will be along the slower back-ways.
“Rainbows.”
Fernan

busted up day

2011-11-12T16:13:00.000-08:00

My plan was to woik on donor Ol’Blue. It was a good idear while it lasted. Started out with good intentioned, I wound up checking fences. Took awhile to find the solid short that wind blown wildly swing gate’s damage it had caused. Then it was “It’ll only take a few moments your time to help me put out bales.” Ye, Another hour later and all I had managed to do was walk by my work piece. Getting on to 2:00 PM I was developing a deep hole of the hungry’s. I finally split swearing it’d be different when I got back.
Dropping off some plastic twine by Miss Kathy’s, she’s weaving plastic mates for Christmas gifts, I talked to her men. I hinted at I could use some help removing the engine-transmission out of Ol’Blue. Tom offered me Shane’s help after I’d had my dinner and they had sighted in their guns for another up-coming deer season.
Under the truck I was burning off exhaust system hangers when they arrived. Shane’s youthful fresh help we’d gotten the dis-assembly far enough along we should have the power plant wildly swinging in the air sometime tomorrow.
It was a bit later Bro’ having gone to town had brought home another load of left over commodities. Only one box baked goods I found bread fresh enough dated only yesterday. Five loaves I brought home to trade out the older contributions from last week. The older stuff the ladies will devour tomorrow along with a pallet full varied peppers Bro’ had loaded upon Dumpy. I’m going to save some. Oh yeah, I managed to save a box of varied squashes the likes I hadn’t brought home yet. We’s going to eat well this Winter. Rat now I’m heating me up some leftovers. Say-la-vie!
“Rainbows.”
Fernan

lots goin’ on

2011-11-11T19:05:00.000-08:00

Today’s Veterans Day. Thanks’ guys for my (our) freedoms.
The date 11-11-11 is supposedly magic to some weird folks. This is a head shaker if there ever was one?
Baby’s born “C” section all over the world so’s these babies are or have something special to talk about or distinguish them. Another head shaker. Can I suggest nutty moms?
Thinking somethin’ wrong with ‘puter I found it was the internet was slow. Had to give up research until later in the day. So glad I looked up the locations last night where I was going to today.
Here’s to hoping everybody’s had a good day.
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It’s more than half past dark by the time I got in tonight. My motoring around about Flint in Dumpy truck went without incident. My first want was for a replacement sofa. The first stop no charm my next one was. Found us a much nicer my second stop for only double the money. I’m happy! Moving on to BestBuy I picked up Fillip his new lap top computer. That was easy. Walked in grabbed one, paid for it and was on my way. Third item shopped was a wood cutters safety chainsaw chaps. A nice mature type like lady helped me. Our thinking the only take it or leave it choice was o small I tried it on twice before it fit. She suggested, “Are you pulling in your stomach to get it on?” My response, “No Mame,” I answered, “Only because you’re here.” this response cracked the poor woman up appreciating my complement. Garment paid for my next stop was another eight miles closing my circle. Stopping into a battery shop and more, I was to be educated. Unable to buy a battery for Fillip I found I may have several battery packs around here rebuilt. May also find new battery charger for cordless power tools. Moving on I stopped by Home-Depot for a couple 1”x8”x12’ boards for a HM sofa combining/lift kit for my earlier sofa purchase. Getting back to home neighborhood I closed a gate at Bro’s place that had blown open. Surprisingly no steers either came or gone out? Then I was home 12:30 PM. Had lunch before hitting the road again.
Frieda and I on time for our command appearance in Doc’s office, he had his go a-rounds with both of us. Frieda’s BP’s the last couple days plus three pro’s taking it today was averaging 150/40 using three different interments and two or three cuffs. Doc even call Frieda’s cardiologist for an instant conference call concerning my lady.
Before we could leave Doc’s office had also lost all our State’s required Doctor filled out questionnaires. Must have taken us an hour to find them, to put them in the mail. Getting home it was well into dark. Wasn’t east seeing to hay the ladies. Something has definitely got to be done about some decent tractor head lights. This if I’m going to have to drive these machines in the dark.
While I never got o see Ol’Blue it was still a productive day. Plenty of Winter projects started. I should be busy all Winter.
“Rainbows.”
Fernan

Hunten Season

2011-11-10T17:46:00.001-08:00

Yup, another hunting season has been thrust upon me. Warm weather giving way to cold, continued frosts on the pumpkins, all manner of life forms looking for those special places to hold up or hibernate for the coming Winter. It’s time for all of them buggers to take to looking out for number one. And one of them have been insistent flies. Damned cussed flies. I’ve been on a daily safari searching and destroying the bugging pests with my rapid fire “Slywater.” There’s no end to this instruments ammunition as long as my elbow and wrist hold up, my hand’s fingers never loose their grip, my hunts success shall prevail. Three kills night before last, three more kills evening last, I’m on a roll. We should be a fly a way home free any day now. Oh! No license required.
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It has quit raining overnight, the sun’s shinning, Sneak’s been called to drive. He’s even being picked by the establishment‘s boss lady. I miserably have another opportunity to work alone. (sad)rattlers taken, cereal eatened, chores done, I was on the road for the shop.
That old ‘88 Cheby’s the most miserable contrivance to ever been engineered to suffer the individual delegated to work upon it, me. One recipient nearly a decade older, the other recipient a near decade older, my looking foreword to some easier wrenching when I get to either them two. Such an infernal rust bucket. Every other nut’r’bolt seized up tighter than a witches grip on a tender child. Add to my slown wrenching misery my mind was near totally useless. Uncountable the mental lapses I thought I knew what I was doing wasn‘t conducive to making any speedy headway. An afternoon lunch and respite my return to the shop found me getting sick of sorts midway through the afternoon. I put in the rest of my wrenching time laying on my back under Ol’ Blue taking the exhaust pipes apart. Sicker still I moved outside to be freshened in a snow squall while I filled a dozen two quart plastic bottles with liquid woodstove kindling (used crankcase oil). If I’m a lazy cold morning fire builder liquid kindling makes for a much faster house warming fire starter. Bottles filled what were handy with all the dirty oils I had to fill them, that mess cleaned Up I joined Bro’ unwrapping more baked goods. That was until I had to get it home while I could still see.
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I’ve a full itinerary laid out for tomorrow. I don’t know how I’ll make all my rounds and be back for planking Her Mosrtess’s along with my own derriere in Doc’s called office commanded appearance. It’ll be a wonder should I see some of Ol’ blue tomorrow. This is all of this for now. I’ve two travelin’ lists to make for tomorrow and next Tuesday.
“Rainbows.”
Fernan

Wood & Tea

2011-11-09T18:00:00.000-08:00

4:30 AM I’m wide awake and maken tea in he heat of the wood somebody’s carelessly thrown in the stove turning this house into a boiler room.
I ain’t even wide eyed yet tears just itchen to gather and roll if they don’t dry up first. Between somebody pushen to burn my hard cut firewood and my running out of tea, it’s gon-a-be Friday when I have to run again. I’ll throw in a forth tea leaf refreshen stop some-where’s along this coming Friday’s traveled way. It could be I may just have to take to swilling more coffee between now’n’then than I want to too pacify some my cropped-up urges to snack away the calories.
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Lookin’ outside I’d seen wet. Weather forecasters tellin’ us it’s going to be spotty kind of rainy day today. It’s lookin’ like we’re in one them rainy day spots. If sneaks got the day off it’ll be a good day either for cutting’ wood and/or puttin’ Old Blue in the shop for harvestin’ mechanical organ donation day’s. It is being told we may even see snow Thursday and/or Friday.
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It’s up to five stops now as I want to shop for at least one pair safety chainsaw chaps, on Bristol Rd. I better be making a list of stops and wants.
Writing about list making, while I had to do some enriching a couple bank accounts I drove over to the Crossroads. Banked, had keys made and picked up my tea and banana’s. Because Sneak still required his medication my next drive’s leg was over to Otisville. There I shopped Denny’s for $3.00 pizzas and pies. Then hit the drugstore finding Sneak’s medical card hadn‘t been insurance company endorsed (if these are the correct words?). What the…? His needing them I paid the suggested completive Wall-Mart prices for the scrip’s.
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Backing Dump’s motoring prowess up between villages, taking my stone road filled with a many a water filled potholes. Seeing a survey crew ahead I slowed down, of course, pacing my speed as slowly as I thought safe to pass them. These guy’s paying no attention to me my approach, my unbelieving eyes, the one with the measuring wheel ignored about to set off crossing the road just as my Dumpy truck was approaching them. The one silly a-who started stepping it off right near in front of me. Dumpy having progressed to late for a quick stop the a-who who’d started walking. In the middle of his third step Dumpy’s left front tire fell hard into a big-a water filled pot hole sending up an at least nine foot tall wave of water engulfing the guy with the measuring wheel. And to add additional justice to his stupidity the rear duals hitting the same pot hole once more sent up a lesser but quite close and equally efficient second wave drenching them both there all’s. I can’t help myself. I laughed then. I’m laughing again now remembering the sight of those wet arsed careless ignorant or arrogant fools.
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This afternoons time Sneak and I opened bread wrappers, looked for some leaks in the JCB, moved some railroads locking in place the Old Blue, brought into use the solid double ended tongue, and pushed Old Blue into the shop. Blue inside Sneak and I removed it’s hood and spoke words of projected thoughts we’re going to do to take things apart. One thought was pressure washing the power plant assembly before laying a wrench on it.
Home a few moments ‘fore 6:00 PM it was near dark by 6:30 PM. Here’s one thing to the Sun’s disappearance is the physiological parallel to my hitting my wall. When it gets dark I’m ready for some big time hibernation.
“Rainbows.”
Fernan

HandiHaler

2011-11-08T19:12:00.000-08:00

Good Morning
While I soundly slept last night my two living in companions (one wife, one son) were awake most the night watching me. I slept so soundly I hadn’t any idea I was a resting center piece of conversation. I just don’t know about some people?
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This HandiHaler is almost something new. If I should by accident remember correctly I’ve seen them used in the movies some years ago to amplify some barker‘s voice.. Well. I’m going to write about it now. The name alone is a little fooler. Looking at the package what contains the Spiriva medication there in was a large but then again awfully small for an imagined haler inside it. A haler? Is it in kit form that opens out into an enormous mouth peace for talk at an ages ago crowd? Not at all.
Opening the package I found (not that this package or its contents were ever lost) a big-a sheet of finely (synonym (boldly) printed paper sheet approximately 18” high x 34” wide lightly printed both sides.
They’s more instructions on this sheet of paper than I had gotten with any my last three computers. To read this thing I had to turn on the over head schoolroom lamp on the ceiling fan, don my spectacles, and still squint to see what it had said both in pictures and texts. I must have been well over a half an hour deciphering the instructions for wildly sucking in the capsuled contents untouched by human hands. The manufacture must use some wisassed monkeys to put these medical packages together.
I’ve got to get busy and see if this stuff I’ve ingested is going to make me younger. Well, I can dream can’t I? More later……
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Over lunch I’m putting to record my morning’s activities. I’ve been on the road, to elevator, to retrieving empty feed wagon. I gathered up the last of the bottled lemonade and delivered it to my drinking neighbors, finally getting rid of the stuff. I’ve learned one my neighbors is saving me their glass bottles and jars for home made wine samples. (grin, well I never) (snicker)
I had packaged our trash putting out with it a rotten pallet to hold it all down.
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And then when the lunch hour was over I had best better to have gotten with it. Where with all the shelled corn in it’s gravity box, supplements on Dumpy’s back, the time had rolled around for the same old grind, the quickest part of the day. The grind finished it was coffee time, specially seeing as how I hadn’t had any until Sneak had made some for this infinitely small accomplishment. Coffee done, on the road, we delivered the supplemented ground feed. And approached the shop with Dumpy. Something had to be done with the clutch shifting linkage right’r’wrong oneway’r’another.
Truth be known Bro” had enlisted the volunteered assistance of a couple Shorthorn country deer slayers who from time to time put in little time for those hunting privileges. Truck jacked up and on a jack-stand I seen coming the troops to do the dirty metal bestest chimney cleaning. Had to show one of them what a ladder looked like and where it was, plus I expected it’s parked return. To the other gentleman I presented him with a wrench, wooden block, and a hammer.
Well as they had it down in good time they worked at as if they knew what they were doing. Unable to take the top off, while trying just the same to clean under the cap, the very top came off all the rivets pulled through the inner metals. Taken to the shop whilst Bro’ and his invited troops searched the shop for screws, instead of watching me, I ground the old rivets off (without leaving marks) and reaching up on a shelf brought down the screws. About the time ALL the hot shots caught up with me, I had but one of six screws left to run home and the lid was done. They could take the chimney away and put it back.
The chimney sweeps taken care of I could get back to my Dumpy truck. Sneak having worked on Dumpy’s problem, from his description his efforts, he’d missed the mark. It was my turn to get down and get under. Determined to get it done one way’r’another I wildly wrenched away far greater the numbered turns until I had put all the clutching workings in a bind. Then having Sneak a-top, the action he couldn’t see I gave’im directions as to the pushing and pulling the clutch pedal for up‘n‘down. By’n’by I had thought I had the adjustments as close as I could get it right’r’wrong I tightened only one nut down. The whole thing done I lowered the truck. Backed it out to lock up and ready to go home regardless. If it were right, okay. If not there’s tomorrow. Giving Dumpy’s shifting a trial going through, it was working just fine. I’d have to guess I got it just right.
Doing chores in the dark is for the night owls. I’m no longer near qualified enough to claim such a feathered ability.
“Rainbows.”
Fernan

*This is just another way Shorthorn country hunters earn their hunting rights around here. This also helps keep careless unknown trespassers off the properties.

Gotta’s

2011-11-07T18:47:00.000-08:00

Got-to get used to the time change. I’ve got no idea what’s in man’s mind why we got to try and change the Sun’s orbit around the earth? It can’t be my old fashioned country learnen that told me the world is round. What’s any sensible Gooberment what thinks it’s doing me a favor trying the yearly speed and then slow down the earth’s turning. These cussed changes upset my balance telling of time when the sun ain’t where it’s supposed to be year-round.
Meanwhile I was waken at 3:00 AM for a water dispensing call. Since then have eaten a fruit cup and a banana. And still not feeling sleepy enough to lay it back down Even seen behind a yawn I ain’t feeling tired enough to lay back down. Nuts! The house so warm, the stove blower going strong I had thought about opening the inside door. Be my luck if I threw another log on the fire it’d only make the house hotter. A body can’t win-4-loosing.
Another continued meanwhile, I neglected to finish my last journal entry. Another got-to go and finish it rat now. (a mid-nite watered eye fits well rat here)
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Cats and cows fed, and down the rod I’d gone. Unwrapped bread for awhile until it were time to pick up sneak for a long ride across Flint town. Weren’t long at Sneak’s neurologist’s office. After some conversation Sneak was given two prescriptions. Instructions: taken them until he sees this Doctor for an EEG test in five weeks. Sneak’s Wal-Mart shoes having given out again, self destructing from the inside out. Watching along our way onto the Flint’s southwest side mall strip we spied a Gander Mountain Sporting Goods Store and found our way in. In this store we found him a well made new pair of shoes for 60% off these at the same price as the original crappy pair. Phooey Huey! This store didn’t carry my size. Next stop was as we come to it was Best-Bye. Money’s galore it’s hard to understand my credit cards were maxed out and nobody’d cash Sneak’s mounting pay-checks. Unlike all the other guys Sneak works with they’ve wives, girl friends, and/or lovers have the day light abilities to cash their checks for then until I convinced Sneak to give them to me. I’ve promised Sneak a postcard from wherever I land. (grin) Any way we did manage to bye a wireless router that nay computer in th house could use. Next stop Dunham’s Sporting Goods store checking on more shoes still looking for me. Was no good for me unless I want basketball shoes the likes I’d the play with Magic Johnson, Wilt Chamberlain, or any-other court star would chance their reputations against the likes of me. (hehe) This stop we came away empty handed.
At long last we were thinking heading for home. Decided along the way to check out the SA for our sofa needs. Found one not in the best of appearances condition but better priced this coming Friday, if they’ve still got it then. Some strong soap sude with the appropriate color dye in the wash water will do wonders for the sofa. Should we get It here. Next stops involved taking Sneak back to work. While he hauled soybeans I went to see Doc on our behaves, Frieda and mine. When he got done with me I was diagnosed with COPD, and sent home with another prescription. Whooppee! Next stop drug store. I eventually got my scripts. Was kept waiting and extra hour for Sneak’s prescription filling to be turned down. Nobody has ever heard o the Traveler’s insurance. CRAP! I’ve got to check on them again tomorrow. Good Gosh Almighty Hairy, I walked in my door at five minutes to 8:00 PM. At five minutes past 8:00 PM was eating a home made pizza main course with an all fruit pie ala mode dessert.
Was one Hell of a day today. No serious work done, but a few accomplishments either started or out of the way. One thing sure, what I either didn’t get to today I get to finish it either tomorrow or this coming Friday.
“Rainbows.”
Fernan

11-6-2011 Time change, Bah

2011-11-07T01:50:00.000-08:00

Looking at clock, thunking I’m waking right on my proffered time I was to discover I were wrong. Nuts, I had forgotten to turn my Fall’s clock back. Okay, that finality taken care of I’m supposed to be ready for an earlier daylight start. BS! Instead I want to relate some only day’s old observations.
Day before yesterday motoring down the road, roughly a mile and a quarter west of here, I had to bring the Dumpy truck to a near halt whilst what looked like a confused turkey tried her wing at directing traffic in an area where there weren’t even a crossroad unless a near by driveway counted.
Rolling again, having progressed through the gears only a block ahead my passing a Loopy Mama’s abode I saw her, riding her still new looken JD burb tractor in circles fractioning more fallen dry leaves. Dully fashion dressed layer upon layer for Winter’s still coming season she was. So greatly dressed she was she had completely topped off her look with what looked like two knit hats pulled well down over her ears.
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Taken yesterday, here’s one Fall line up picture of sorts.

Looking closely; one White 4-180, two 1850 Oliver’s, one 4wd 2150 , and a bit of a 4020 JD; may be seen.
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The day was going relatively smooth. I picked up a hay bale to give the ladies and found their table broken (hay-ring feeder). This called for instant repairs so I put a bale on the tractor’s front forks and backing up to the previously loaded hay wagon (with hay-wagon-rakes) took both up front. Dropping the wagon, connecting it to Dumpy we drove out with it and loaded the broken hay feeder on it and took the doubly loaded wagon to the shop. The broken feeder unloaded on hay rake salvaged whole sitting it to one side Sneak and I dismantled the second saving some of it making kindly out of most of it. Another hay feeder all but totally destroyed sitting over the hill, we brought it up for repairs. We replaced that challenge with another previously mended hay ring and both of us were bushwhacked before we’d made a clean get away. Okay while Sneak helped Bro’ repair the first challenge we had unloaded I busied myself picking up after the three year abandoned Old Blue pickem-up-truck. Might say I was assaying it’s temporary re-existence for my (our) scavenging the engine-transmission donor parts for giving the Ugly and the Greeny trucks their individual needs for a couple prolonged useful lives.
Holly Smokem’s Summer shade lovers. Bro’ put me onto one of the surplus commodity boxes. There in two layers deep covering the bottom were cases and cases varied lemonade and fruit flavored sealed bottle drinks. His telling me he’s going to dump the whole lot emptying the bottles and trashing them before they freeze and break, I grabbed several cases. Anybody thirsty? Trying a strawberry lemonade, it was quite tasty. Nothing I’d buy; but, at these prices, it was worth my time saving some four different flavors for next Summer. All of what I’m savng for myself I put in one them two bushel tubs. If we should have a dungeon party, all that refreshment offering would need is a couple/three bags of drink cooling ice. Now, that’s prepared!
“Rainbows.”
Fernan

Out of a mistake….

2011-11-05T14:29:00.000-07:00

….came an interesting discovery. More below….
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Waking the Cushman up, this morning, I unloaded it, putting the varied contents in varied containers for deliveries here’n’there. Haulster readied, taken down the road to the hollow, I brought home a Cushman load of damp box-elder this last Spring’s cut firewood. That made for a half a foyer (woodshed) filling. Then broke for lunch.
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….via happen chance discovery:
Having eaten only half my carry out fish dinner evening last, for lunch, I warmed up the remainder forgetting to remove the dinner’s included coleslaw. The Styrofoam box when I opened it for the second time the fish and chips were nicely warmed. As for the slaw and tartar sauce their plastic lids were also nicely melted over the edges of there Styrofoam containers. Okay the fish warm it knew little difference whether the sauce was warm or cold. The coleslaw on the other hand heated was a whole new taste different upon my pallet. I enjoyed it, suggesting to Frieda we’ve got to do this on-porpoise* again someday.
*Intentional pun!
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Having some heavy trees given me down around the corner I decided to have a word with one my neighbors about joining forces for a fall wood cutting bee. Yeah, well, it was a good idea as long as it lasted my drive over there. He’d just hauled in half his Winter’s needed firewood intending to bring the other half home tomorrow. I guess I’m on my own for my own wood cutting needs. This could well mean I’ll be doing my cutting in the snow. That’s alright, I hate getting over heated anyway.
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Afternoon rattler time also break time. A few moments sitting it out time, I still had more to do. Put Cushman away, check ladies hay, find tarp for firewood deck stacked, and looking like an early sunny Saturday evening. Sneak’s even called, expecting an early evening quitting time. Three thousand acres beans have been harvested. Combine change over’s it be back to harvesting corn come next Tuesday, provided it don’t rain.
“Rainbows.”
Fernan

2011-11-04T16:05:00.000-07:00

Had a hard night’s….
….sleep liking a log. Up only twice, neglected the stove, and woke up to the tinnitus sounds of leaking steam behind my back. I can’t figure what set these sounds off in the back of my skull. Looked like I was getting an extra early busy day to woiking to mask, shadow, or remove his aggravating sound out of my mind.
I don’t know it its just me alone or are the days growing shorter are speeding up? Seems like I’m more and more daily racing the evening hour trying to finish up my chores loosing this advancing season’s shortened useful hours. Arrggghhhh!!!!! More Later….
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This is the way some of it goes in this house….. A few days ago (I don’t remember how many!) I sat down in my chair and found my bottom back side coming in contact with a Swedish army knife. I jokingly accused Sneak of trying to stab me in the back. Well, that was then, this is now. Obviously he’s side saddled up to the ‘puter, for this morning I found a pocket flashlite down aside the cushion one side the my favorite chair and a super large sized fire-lighter down the other. I had to ask him, “What were these? A spot-lite so’s I might see to lite excessive intestinal gas (flatulence)* for an extra flame source to help heat this dwelling?”
Sneaks laughs. Nearly historically!
His mother recovering first, Her Mostess chimed in with, “It’s a good thing we all have a good sense of humor!”
Ahem, While I may have had a smile on my face, I wasn’t out’n’out laughing. (chuckle) I’d much rather he’d loose large sums of money in my chair. The quieter linen impregnated folding kind of greenbacks enough so’s I may truly become accustomed to a higher standard of living. (grin) Nough of this!
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Oh crap! Got another batch of forms in the mail yesterday I must fill out and return; and, get this, in a self addressed n stoomped envelope.
Who thinks up all this goobermint mumbo-jumbo up?
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…..It’s later and I’m home and in. Been a busy day. I’ve finally finished the lower barn’s backside service door. Well, almost, Have to either find a key for that door’s padlock or cut it off. That key not on my key ring perhaps there’s key on somebody else’s key ring.
Desperately need firewood toted into this house. Both the Dumpy truck and the Cushman need emptying out. Instead of doing that with the near immediacy the carpenter work finished, Sneak had called worrying about what he was going make for his next week’s carried lunches. So I fed my ladies, took my pills and moseyed over to the Crossroads for but a very few groceries. What the heck, having driven that far one more mile I picked us up four Friday nite fish dinners. Those smells tempting me I stopped for Sneak’s packed vittles supplies, plus sugar and cookies for her Mostess’s wants. Then it happened….Darn, darn, darn, I had walked away for the cashier forgetting my wallet. A kindly young man had run after me giving it back to me. I thanked him and turned to complete my journey home. I stopped, stood in my tracks my mind having gone blank. Scary!!! It was! What next? My crashing into my wall sometime earlier had finally caught up with me? Empty headed I stood there almost on my way out through the foyer. Which way out my mind questioned my memory? Is this a first sign of a schizophrenic* mind? That foyer with two entrances, one left the other right, also had found I had also forgotten where I had parked Dumpy. What seemed an eternal moment gone by I thought I had remembered my coming in the door from he right. I had a direction to go right or wrong; but, I was on my way. I figured as big as my dumpy truck was I shouldn’t have had any trouble finding it. True to my thought there stood Dumpy but two handicrapper parking spaces from the door. I figured I was on a roll.
Comfortably seated in Dumpy, belted in, the beast started easily. Then refused to go into gear. What the? I killed engine the transmission shifting easily given a dead engines second chance and headed home. Making my driveway Sundown was but thirty minutes away plus an added ten or so fading twilight. Forget it. I wasn’t going to clear the cargo deck of any vehicle. I was shot in both mind and body.
I ate half my fish dinner, as did Frieda, and I had a couple cookies from my pleasured purchase some famous brand coconut macaroons. Yum. They’re all for me. (grin) Frieda doesn’t like coconut.
How about this? I had some doubts whether I could finish writing this entry I had started this morning. Hooray, I’ve done it! It’s written!
“Rainbows.”
Fernan
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*(flatulence): vulgar translation; gas, fart.
*schizophrenic: I cold turkey spelled this word perfectly a little while ago. Unbelievable. A word like that normally had been good for at least an hour’s research time. (hat size had instantly grown two/three sizes larger).

It had finally come….

2011-11-03T19:45:00.000-07:00

….to pass. Yes! That is what I had written! “It had finally come to pass!” I have eaten my very first soup with my fingers this evening. It seems while I was down to the barn putting in some more time on that cussed back service door, Her Mostess, was busily stewing a chicken. It had also come to pass she had simply added an assortment of fresh vegetables needing cooking them to make them edible-ly chewy, to wit she had also added some varied other assorted leftover (shall I say) veggies. Even though these assorted morsels were put together in salads with an odd number of ingredients strangers to this soup, or any soup for that matter, the finished pot come out tasting rather good.
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Okay, as I’ve written, I spent my morning down at the barn working over a back door. Having gone as far as I could by noon, I had them put lunch away to fill der belly out. After that, I hit the road for the shop. There I gathered up those materials I thought necessary to complete my project. Them from there on I went over to the Crossroads for more materials from the loco hardware store. Everything I needed in glass jars from the shop and paper bags from the hardware, stopping back by the shop I had let myself be drafted as a part time gopher. The other parts of my time I pocked around under Dumpy’s hood testing the impedance of each ignition wire. Finding them all checking out good I still traded one-shorty off for one-longer out a back wall pigeon hole. All the ignition wires fitting tight and feeling much more securely parked by my fingers either wanton or tender approval, I finally had the Dumpy truck running like a top. (hahahohohehe) I had managed to make fix satisfactorily in my fashion rather than stooping to the combined suggestions between Tom & Bro’. I wish they’d stick to bumbling there own projects than involving me in their flaky ideas. Speaking of which I wish Bro’d finish up the rebuilding of an Oliver hydra-drive transmission. It is badly needed in two (really three) of the Oliver tractors sitting out the Winter here before next Spring‘s use.
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Well, I guess this is enough of this chatter this evening. It’s way past my bedtime. I’ve got to turn it in.
“Rainbows.”
Fernan

2011-11-02T15:49:00.000-07:00

Dumpy’s done….
….for now and on the road. Had my Dumpy truck running and moving before taking yesterday’s lunch. While Dumpy doesn’t shift as easily as I had hoped the truck shifts without those once awful noises from under the floorboards. Whew, this mechanical job is finished for now.
The normal everyday chores, setting and restringing one leg of a fence ‘cause Bro’ thinks some the pasture grass may still grow some more.
I’ve mixed emotions were this idea is concerned. Granted the Winter rye is coming up in minute fractions that doesn’t mean the tired out pasture grass is going to do some astounding growths since we’ve had several frosts and one good freeze. Well. Using the Cushman the task wasn’t to hard though time consuming.
My finishing up the Dumpy truck yesterday I can’t help myself but for taking an abnormal dislike to Tom’s sticking his nose into whatever I’m doing. Perhaps it’s my age? Perhaps it’s my acquired short time memory? But I’ve been quite capable to make my repairs for years. Now, these days setting my mind’s ideal-ed pattern as to what I’ve pre-planned my day’s activity whether it relates to my chores, equipment repairs (Dumpy fits in here), seasonal implement changeovers or other rearrangements. Bottom line, I don’t need the interruptions, unsought advice, and/or know-it-all suggestions; breaking my narrow minded concentrations to get my immediate job done. When I‘m interrupted, my mind‘s concentration broken, I often have to back up and go through my whole routine up to the present to be sure I hadn‘t missed or deleted a step. For example; some silly interruption causing me to forget to close a gate, not that there are any local bovine opportunists around here ready and willing to walk out on their owns.
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His day’s forewarning society worried about our welfare I was notified a state social worker was coming by. I managed a look in the barn feeding the cats. Then waited for another few more minutes for the official visitor to come by and interview us. Forms in duplicate, short forms, long forms, tests to determine our mental capacities; even to individually access each of us outside the other’s influence; and still more forms to answer questions during our immediate leisure. That was three hours worth taking us into the noon hour.
This afternoon I fought Dumpy’s innate determination to run badly. I suspect one or two of the sparkplug wires had deteriorated either during the recent taking apart or putting it back together. On the back shelf I found two sets wires one old yet serviceable and another long forgotten brand new.
I re-hung the lower barn’s back service door. Unable to find my construction hammer I did manage to lever and hold the door near to the proper level for running home some lag screws with out my big freaking framing hammer minor adjustments could not have been made. I had also under estimated the barn timbers prowess to hold my poor choice of screws to short. So, it looks like while I finish that door hanging task tomorrow I’ll do it with a total number of all long screws.
I want to know where do such things as three framing hammers can disappear all at the same time? I do know when I immediately want a measuring tape or ruler not one may be had. Give me a couple days later I’ll have and know where all five or more had been gathered together, as if they were conventioneers. Figures!
Days becoming shorter every day we’ll get our season’s final acceptance of the whoopee daylight savings time cushion, this next Saturday night we all get to turn our clocks back. Nuts!
It’s 6:30 PM my sitting down and I’m feeling wasted, drained, shot, kaput, and caring little even whether I have supper I’m ready for sleep.
“Rainbows.”
Fernan

Dumpy’s Day

2011-10-30T19:13:00.000-07:00

It was after being caught and survived two ambushes I’ve finally gotten the Dumpy truck together enough today after I’ve installed a new set sparkplugs and the hood‘s back on, we should be ready to go.
Thinking next two immediate projects. Find Dumpy truck’s new doors up in barn wherever they are and paint them inside and out. More importantly get the old blue 4x4 in shop to pull engine transmission assembly. Need trans for ugly. Can (will) use short block for Greeny truck’s engine repairs. When both engines Ugly and Greeny engines are out they’ll both be rolled over for their rods and mains plasti-gauging.
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On/in the home front a pallet’s been set in the basement. I carried in three kinds tators, with one more kind still coming up from the barn. Repackaged two crates apples. Consolidated three kinds squash in another box. Must re-crate these when I find another crate.
Enough produce dungeon stored. I think’s I’ll see the ladies feed on the surpluse surpluses.
Okay; so I ain’t exciting. I haven’t made up my mind whether the days are to long or too short. Have got a bunch oods’n’ends stuff still needing winterizing. And one last Ollie to free for whatever use deemed needed later. This is it.
“Rainbows.”
Fernan

Ladies Day

2011-10-29T17:58:00.000-07:00

Spent the entire morning working the chutes the farm both ends the road. The herd’s going to be three ladies smaller in a few days their leaving upon a fact finding mission one of our livestock exchanges come Tuesday.
Afternoon I emptied ashes, drove fence posts, and did some protective greasing a few tractor and implement parts. It was late afternoon by the time I finally got to look at Dumpy truck. Worked on it for only an hour-and-a-half. With any luck at all, should have Dumpy running tomorrow. When as I had hit my wall, and had yet managed to get some truck re-assembly put back together. Rather than charge on up the road I joined Bro’ de-packaging baked goods. This chore requires little knowledge nor smarts enough to avoid involvement. An easy task it was a splendid way to wind down what had been a fully busy day.
Sneak got off early today. So early I found myself not only thinking, but also suspecting he had been watching our house; not coming home before he had seen me go down the road. Kids?!?!?!???
For supper, Sneak, had deep fried some chicken and thinly sliced tators. With chilled beets for a veggie. Sparing no expense, desert was of a cup-caked variety requisitioned from a trucked in huge box commercially baked surpluses.
“Rainbows.”
Fernan

2011-10-28T17:10:00.000-07:00

Dumpy’s coming along
Spent most the day playen Mr. Fix it on the Dumpy truck.
This morning’s dumpy truck need involved bolting in the motor mounts. The bugger’s unwilling to go easily together I resorted to using an accessory body jack extra special jack between Dumpy’s engine and frame a whole inch for the last bolts fit. With the exception of going over to our rural parts supplier for a free lunch celebration Sneak and I wrenched until the Sixguys’ called him over for an evening’s semi driving hauling in soybeans.
My laying down on the floor job, climbing into the engine compartment, and stretched out leaning over the fenders for seven hours my body’s joints telegraphing my brain it had had enough. I listened, assisted Bro’ with his chores, and made a takeout run for the Friday night Order of the Eastern Star fish dinners vittles. God stuff! Three their dinner’s will feed us tonight and leave leftovers for tomorrow night. Now them’s generous portions. Can’t buy a two night fish dinner at the speaker for these girls prices.
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Here’s picture of one the cheap Harbor Freight accessory jack kit‘s tool‘s. Only twice used that kit has already paid for itself the time it has saved us wrestling seemingly impossible tasks in a faster more timely manner.

How about this five day old Fall calf watching mom mixed in with neighborhood some of the ladies scarfing down recently unwrapped surplus bake goods.

Found me a real free bargain simply for picking it up out of somebody’s roadside trash. It’ll be joined with another bike making me a stable of two bikes (for starters) to carry upon the haying tractors next Summer. Designated AT’s they’ll save me some long (not always successful hitch hiked) walks either back home or to shop. Especially when any of the troops have forgotten to be there for me upon demand (called). Often dirty buzzards any one or the lot of them! Meanwhile, I’ve already have enough scrounged parts to easily make me two tractor fitted bicycle bike racks.

So, this more or less explains my Shorthorn country day’s activities plus pictures to go along with some the words past and present.
“Rainbows.”
Fernan

Wench lost today

2011-10-27T18:27:00.000-07:00

About ready to go out, Juan called, “Discount shopper’s day, Amigo!” We were gone, getting back at about the crack of noon.
Lunched.
Hit elevator, picked up empty grain box, setup machinery and ground grain for an afternoon activity primer. Then for some real fun we put the 445 baler in the barn. That was a teamster’s job and a half with only about an outside foot clearance either side the Oliver I had to use to park the baler indoors. Next afternoon’s steps followed us haying the ladies which included a have to move the last tractor out of way, for a last round about the farmyard drive. This next move lead us to the 4-180 White, Tom parked in the yearly winter swamp, with two implements in tow. A fairway cleared 24’ wide I drove the 4-180 out of its potential lower Winter water hole right out on to the road, up the road, through the farmyard drive proper, and out into the Westside’s roadside pasture on yonder to/thru the near back pasture and beyond driven the long way into the hay-yard where we dropped the implements. Next I parked the 4-180 in the nearer convenience of my domicile’s electrical outlets for cold season’s monthly battery charges all the tractors batteries. Well late into the afternoon it was break time. It was hot tea for me, coffee milked break for Sneak. Lastly we delivered the ground grain. When even if it were for only a few minutes we should have maybe at least looked at Dumpy’s motor mounts. Blast it! Forget it! I’ll (we’ll) look at the motor mount problems come, us up fresh, tomorrow morning. The shadows were lengthening. I’d seen the motor mounts had problems last night! It was time to go home.
“Rainbows.”
Fernan

Catching it up

2011-10-26T16:30:00.000-07:00

Been busy, busy, busy, doing a little of this’d’that adding all of them together they’ve filled my last three days. The bestest accomplishment came to us late this afternoon when the repair engine assembly and the transmission finally slid together. I’ve hauled grain, unwrapped baked goods, rounded up livestock, exchanged damaged hay feeders for good. Some of this activity alone while Sneak was putting his long days shuttling combined corn to the elevators. Some of these activities alone. Sneak rained off the crop lands was my third’n’forth hands today, even with his help, it seemed we were getting absolutely nowhere for what seemed an eternity pushen'n'pullen, shoven, rocken, pryen, liften’n’loweren chain-falls. Bro’ likely coming out to draft us into helping him with his chores, he wound-up doing the laying on the floor part giving up movement directions until the two largest principle parts fit together. It’s hallelujah time. After my supper has settled a bit and it still ain’t to late after dark I may even celebrate this first minor accomplishment with either a short beer or a bottled wine sampler.
Oh yeah, had one more surprise three days ago, we’ve got a fresh brand new Fall calf to Winter this year again. Sorry, no picture ’cause I’ve just been to busy.
“Rainbows.”
Fernan

Surprise….

2011-10-24T19:14:00.000-07:00

Today was the day Frieda’s cardiologist’s appointment had been moved a week up to. I made a phone call Frieda taking over giving all the wrong answers to some very pertinent questions. So far any positive action on it this request is leaning hard and long in the negative direction. Our first or is she the second or even maybe the third social worker to suggest we apply for this help with this help angle try. Maybe a forth SW?
Oh well, between social worker calls over land line, stopping by the house personal appearances while fitting the cardiologist in as well sure blew away this day. Late afternoon I did manage to fit in some shop time at the other end. I assisted loading out three stacks two of them pallets and the third a stack of heavy cardboard boxes. Bro’ satisfied, I turned some my time towards Dumpy truck re-lifting the engine. Engine hanging free I found the clutch fork had slipped. The throw-out bearing way off center had hindered the engine’s installation in any way, shape, manner, or form. Maybe I’ll have another (solitary this time) go at putting the engine in Dumpy truck again tomorrow.
Doing several small chores I’m surprised I managed to have gotten anything done.
“Rainbows.”
Fernan

Uneventful

2011-10-23T19:48:00.000-07:00

It could not have a more non productive day than today. Fillip and I staying home Bro’ had told us we were going to run these ladies through the chutes starting 9:30 AM. By not showing up until 11:30 AM he had managed to thoroughly waste us a half a day. In the mean-between-time Fillip and I managed clean the clutter and sweep the dirt off the Cushman. Then we commenced to reload it with firewood. When he did show up, we run all the ladies into the larger holding pen. As long as he had Keith and Shane for help, Fillip and I cut out.
We should have taken dinner, it was that late. But, instead we lowered the engine into that hollow place under Dumpy’s hood. By 2:00 PM Fillip and I were about fed up with our sorry attempts to slip the engine and transmission together. We actually ended up removing the engine a second time. We striped all our work down having to take a file to smoothing off some sticking the assemblies rough edges. When we left this afternoon (Hell, it was mid evening) we had to do some marketing for Sneaks lunches. Still don’t know if they’ll be able to negotiate the fields with their heavy trucks. If Sneak’s got another day off tomorrow I know where he’s going to spend some his time.
Oh Lawd, I’ve got to make some phone calls on Her Mostess’s behalf. I want that stubborn engine seated in Dumpy‘s bowels, and still need to be here when I’m called for two social worker’s visits. This’ll all likely require more filled out forms before all this settling into some new ways to live out some of the next days left of our lives.
I know getting down’n’up the floor working on the dumpy truck is doing a hell of number wearing me out. I remember when it was a lot easier getting back up off the floor or the ground for that matter.
One glorious observation: I’m ecstatically happy to be blessed with either a floor or a bit of earth under my feet. Why? Why of-course when I happen to drop examples of either a nut’n’bolt or a wrench. Any of these misfortunes I’m pleased that item may not have dropped any further than the surface I happen to be standing on! See how simple a single little blessing may be so helpful. I’m telling it like it is. Every once in a while my modest smarts almost frightens me.
“Rainbows.”
Fernan

10-22-2011 TGIF

2011-10-23T19:46:00.000-07:00

Sneak and I tried for all we were worth to get somewhere with the Dumpy truck repairs. Two or three setbacks had us scrambling for more parts, some special exhaust manifold studs for exhaust pipe installation when that time comes. before the parts suppliers closed shop today. By the end of my having hit the wall day my mind was in no mood to take any foolish chances on trying to set the engine back into truck. BUT, that engine is ready. All the new parts except the klutzy new clutch fork went into reassembly.
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Was visited today by another social worker for the aged checking on Frieda. Oh boy, Between condition and eligibility for other services. This isn’t exactly doing my disposition any good. Now, there’s a line I’ve written wrong. Putting it this way, between an almost daily assortment (one at a time) of forms to fill in/out, and the doors hinges being worn thin with a selection of professional medical people coming and going for my Frieda’s benefit They’s wearing me down and out. We’ve a nurse a week and two physical therapists making three day trips a week now add a social worker or two a week each one a specialist in her field.
It’s found Frieda’s eligible for this’n’or’that more times than I may count. Next problem is getting it? Seems Monday I’ve been drafted to speak upon Frieda’s behalf again. She’s already had me doing her paper work now she’s insisting I do her speaking for her. That ought to tie my up on the phone for an hour or two. AND, another social workers coming in again Monday plus the one who had been here today will be back. I think we have as many as four social workers visiting our home a month now in addition to the two physical therapists and two nurses. I be damned if I ain’t thinking about installing bleachers in out living room arena. And, for half these peoples visits Frieda calls me off whatever I maybe trying to do. That’s alright; for she’s been the center of my world, my anchor, friend, confidant, moral booster, supporter, encourager, and pleasurable mate.
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Up early this morning I experience cramps and shakes both in my hands. Now, that’s a nuisance. But, I persevered. It hadn’t been such a bad sunny day for one that was supposed to have rained all over us.
Here’s hoping Sneak and I success setting the engine back into Dumpy truck tomorrow.
“Rainbows.”
Fernan

Dumpy Hurdles

2011-10-21T17:01:00.000-07:00

Diligently thinking we’re going to set the Dumpy Truck’s world on fire we were soon disillusioned that wasn’t going to happen today. We found three of the four transmission to the bell housing bolt holes stripped. Nuts! It was time to call out for more parts and tools. Having spent a small fortune by the time we got to town after a slow morning’s start involvement with other farm issues here, I was about to spend again half the price those parts cost me, for more tools and parts we didn’t have. For starts we bought and brought home a helli-coil set of tools and the new coil-threads. Home (shop) we found we needed a 17/32 drill bit we didn’t have. On the cell phone again all I found was there wasn’t going to be an easy acquisition for one either. Then coming to our ears Bro’ was going to make a run into Flint. He’d get a bit for us. Meanwhile Sneak’s another day off right on into next Monday morning maybe? Oh yeah, Save-A-Lot just up the street we wheeled in for an assortment of coffees to satisfy some caffeine craze appetites around here.
New thoughts involving Cushman were put on hold with an incoming phone call. The livestock semen tank needing topping off The CO2 delivery man was looking for a way in to fill the farm’s semen tank. The tank refilled the Cushman skipped for the delivery man’s need I went back to work on Dumpy. Sneak finished up pressure washing the rotary-mower-conditioner clean so we may put it up and away for the Winter.
Bro’ making an appearance with the needed drill bit I immediately went to work drilling out three stripped holes. Re-threading them for the helli-coils took a little time making Bell housing ready for bolting tomorrow. I managed to cut out a new homemade inspection cover to replace the original missing one. So that’s were we left the shop. A body may “win some lose some. There’s always tomorrow.” Progress upon the new cover shall continue tomorrow from where I left off.
Have learn we’ve an dead old fallen over Oak tree to cut up for firewood today. That wood will make our woodstove dance when January gets here.
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Coming in this evening the home fire’s burning sure felt good against the chilly dampness’s having homesteaded within my aching bones throughout the day. Passing through my doors, washing up, washed up, I indulged myself with a delicious cup of hot tea. I know I had written I’d like crumpets with my tea; alright, I had to settle for shortbreads. These indulgences held me over until supper was served. This was my day!
“Rainbows.”
Fernan

Lots-a Rain

2011-10-20T17:42:00.000-07:00

It’s rained all night the night I slept. I heard the bells of Saint Mary’s a thousand choruses strong ringing all their bells simultaneously, the cable having gone out. I had listened to the wind blowing under/around the eves. I listened to the wind whistling its tunes through all the cracks around the windows and doors. I heard the basement’s sump pump removing water filtered through the basement walls. Standing on the wet rear entry door floor looking down at the barn I could see water running through that same barnyard’s creek.
Cable coming back on, its bottom traveling broadcasting lines told us of all manner of overnight happening leading right on into today: power outages, chain reaction E-way accidents, school and community closers, and floods, for the most part all this action north of us about the Saginaw and Michigan’s thumb areas.
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Fillip’s rained out and/or off the Fall harvest for a few days. Otherwise going to be a busy day. I had been informed a need for more ground grain, there’s the wanted capture two calves to putting them up in barn.
When I get back to Dumpy truck is anyone’s guess. Sneak thinks he’s seen clutch inspection cover seen on side the road around the corner. Be nice if it’s the one and fits, otherwise I must make one.
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After a near fruitless morning’s attempt to look like we knew what we were doing we finally made it into the closest burg and picked up all of Dumpy’s needed parts. Brand new they were. It’s scarce the rebuilder’s who rebuild clutch parts anymore. Resting ready to go in he shop (the parts) Sneak and I came home for a bite.
Mid day hungries satisfied we retrieved the empty wagon, stopped by the elevator for supplements, and moseyed home just like we were supposed to do. Sneak’s finally emptied the wood hauler out of the way waiting new adventures hauling in firewood. Raining as hard as it seemed to be slow soaking me to the skin as the day wore on. We’ve had three inches rain over the last 24 hrs. Needless to say I had had my fill, drying tractor seats out the sitting down on them the bloating hard-way. Today I have repeatedly wet my britches a number of times. When I hit the sack this evening where nobody’s going to see it I’ll be slipping my wetted wrinkled arse between the sheets hopping when risen in the morning they’ll look freshly ironed.
I don’t care if it’s an hour or two hours short a full day, I’ve (we’ve) put in our weathered time. It had turned into a hunkering down around the blazing woodstove for solace and warmth. To the seeked well being feeling I may very seriously add a hot steeped cup of tea served up in a fine china cup to my early evening revitalization. Anyone seen any crumpets around here?
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A couple incidentals:
1st one; whilst jockeying equipment and machines around for the grind, my stepping down from the Ugly truck, low and behold, what did my wandering eyes spy? Why the very fancy Dumpy truck keys Sneak had lost a couple weeks ago. As they are the originals I’m taking serious charge of them from here on out.
2nd one; as sneak and I were capping and wrapping up our late afternoon quitting time talking about laying today’s tarps used over things in the barn to dry out, while leaning on Ugly truck’s box-side Sneak catches a gander at a deer out off yonder almost roughly a quarter mile away along the western property line. Even continuing roughly told we saw at least five deer, one of them a buck with a truly magnificent spread. And, nobody sitting out in today’s rain to have a crack at them (him). (hehe) Meanwhile I see no point telling any doubting Thomas’s about them. I’m tired being told I don’t know of what I talk about. Well, this time I have a witness. I’ve suggested to Sneak he keep what we’ve seen our secret.
“Rainbow.”
Fernan

Rain changes…..

2011-10-19T17:27:00.000-07:00

…..the way things getting done around here.
Rain all night and likely continuing all day has brought harvesters and transport trucks home to roost. Way I here it Sneak’s truck was a three or four time break-downer all day yesterday. More anti-freeze leaks, a short or open circuit causing the truck‘s refusal to start, and a fire under the floorboards. If I hadn’t mentioned it also this Sneak’s job and harvesting fun is just around the corner at the Sixguy’s Farm.. There work today in-a big shop Snaks trucks under full cover for repairs and causes. I got-a tell ya, while farm trucks don’t necessarily roll up the miles the irregular terrain sure puts a strain on the platform, cab, engine, and suspensions.
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Me, I woke up to Charlie-horse (or cramp). That’s a great way to start any day. Lack of house work done around here has this house looking like a disaster area. Sneak’s long working hours, my also long Fall days, particularly the time to take the Dumpy truck apart so’s we may put in our time waiting for parts.
I’m thinking whitch ever the one of us who gets his outside the house work done early today, he being first, will get back here and attack this mess. I’m worrying it’ll be me. I could use a wash tub just for soaking dishes. Have I ever mentioned I like paper plates?
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Her Mostess, is still in bed, as I write these little rural gems. Meanwhile I’ve got my rattlers taken. Making plans to bring home a small floor jack, my nt looking for to bring the Cushman out into the rain. ‘Sides if I took it down the road, there’s no room for it in the shop. A flat tire maybe but not the whooooole thing! (grin)
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The wood-stove is into it’s third straight full day’s in use. The heating season is here. I’m needing a string on my finger to check our winter’s fuel oil supply level before oil prices again rise?
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I don’t remember what I did all morning but I got it all done. Noon Sneak come walking in the door rained out of the corn and bean field harvests.
This morning he spent with the r est of the harvesting mob going over his tractor, mechanican it for when they may next either get on the fields or hauling beans to distanced elevators. But for this afternoon he was mine. Between us we finished taking further dis-assembly the Dumpy trucks power plant.
Calling an innumerable number of auto wreckers no used parts were available for dumpy trucks clutching needs. Phone shopping around I found prices all over the place. Not only did the cheapest quoter get my order he also impressed me with what he knew of my needs. Parts will be here any time AM I get around to picking them up. 5:30 AM if I want them. The most we did we removed the bell housing. Oooh what we found, the remainder of the transmission bolts were loose. Dirt was found between everything. The transmissions input shaft pilot bearing was eatened out. The clutch fork and pivot ball both scored to uselessness. A portion the throw out bearing’s collar broken out.
Tomorrow’s tinkering will involve replacing the broken motor mounts. With some preliminary engine bell housing, and starter assembly I’ll be laying out and making new for the conglomerate assembly a new inspection cover I’ll make to keep farm dirt’s out of the bell housing’s housed parts.
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A headachy day coming home an hour early to a warm fire was what I needed. Not only that, I need to pitch in with the household chores.
Supper and desert were simple leftovers.
Scarcely looking forward to tomorrow. Been told I need to catch two calves. They’re likely going to be in one muddy yard by tomorrow morning. Also informed the feed box is empty. Grand! Weather reports calling for steady rains up to as much as three inches rain. Grand!
Looks like a grand time all day tomorrow?
“Rainbows.”
Fernan

Dumpy's Day

2011-10-18T17:28:00.000-07:00

Callen TSC evening last they had me a Cushman’s tire inner tube set aside. So I hit the road really badly needing it bad. Roding through Clio driving as if I was on a mission. Once I was inside the TSC merchant-eel I picked up cat foot, three bag salt, and my inner tube. Returning to the road again running Clio again I found I had won a food lottery. It filled the Ugly truck passenger seat. Next stop the Otisville pharmacy picking up Her Mostess’s prescription, another half block Ugly gassed I was headed home.
A leisurely lunch, I was shop bound. My assuming Sneak had removed a certain motor mount bolt When I was ready Dumpy wasn’t, refusing to give up its engine to my wanten arms and wondering mind. When I did finally had the engine hanging free of Dumpy’s empty insides I found the pressure plate in sorry condition all the fingers near worn into. The engine spilling some fluids into the engine compartment further examination’s waiting until morning.
Turning away from Dumpy I unloaded Ugly truck some. I mixed salt, delivering some to Bro’s ladies, the mob nearly running me over to boot. Then my trying to get out of there the Grace cow wanted to inspect my emptied bucket all the way to the gate. Animals can be so funny.
Finally packing it in, leaving shop I stopped by an on running neighborhood yard sale to check out some motoring bicycle bike racks. Wanted to see if they were easily adaptable to front tractor grill mounting for AT transportation.
Home and unloading more Ugly truck, I put tools down in barn along with an air tank, and cat food. All in all not a bad day managing to get a lot done in-spite being on the road half the day. Oh yeah, Ugly behaved marvelously making all my driving a pleasant trip twice through one town plus once a village.
“Rainbows.”
Fernan