10-1-2010 As always…..

…Got plenty choices what to do. Personally all I want to do is put the Cushman back together. There are rumors and rumbles of rain today. Come on rain. Rain will likely keep me inside. The Cushman’s inside. (hehehe)
Gosh, October already, the Fall’s rainy month here already and I’m still into summer stuff. Yeah, got more hay to cut, rake, bale, haul, and wrap. Have to either cut some replacement fence posts or sort some out of a pile railroad ties. There’s still plenty more downed trees to be cut for winter after this one’s firewood.
Now, I’ve got fall chores to do, one like filling those areas in the house that will hold it, firewood stacked in the house ahead of weather. The rainy season is about upon us again.
By the time I left the house the light show and the boomers going with it had passed east and out of sight. The clouds were breaking the sun was shinning brighter all the time. As I wanted it, it was the Cushman and myself all morning long. Trying to put it together in the chassis, after awhile I gave it up. Almost coming to speaking words my Mom would have cuffed me for I didn’t. So, I removed truckster’s seat and brought the engine and what more of it had been put together back out into the better light of day to work on it. The engine out, even freely hanging wildly in free space I managed to safety pin the throw-out bearing to the clutch fork in the bell housing. Next while the engine was just hanging around I put the transmission, it’s in-put shaft, to the bell housing wiggling it all the way in. Then it was my dinner’s break time. This was a smooth move Clyde. In addition to tightening the pressure plate bolts after dinner. I’ve also decided to make a couple inspection covers Cushman Motors had never supplied, nor used, as far as I know. These additions to keep dirt out of the bell-housing and the parts therein.


BGKC.
Fernan

Could have been better

Today would have been a bore to any one else beside me. This morning's activity was mypreparing for Cushman reassembly. Today’s afternoon I assisted Chip in cutting up the fallen tenant house tree. He is something else to watch the way he moves around up there in the air liking a little monkey.

Then this evening just as I was getting back to the Cushman…

…..I was ambushed by Bro’ to move some concrete blocks blockings for a couple moved concrete bunk feeders. My lower back in extreme pain I couldn’t do any thing with my buggy. I closed up shop for home and lots of ice on my lower back. One slight detour before settling in with my ice pack I took care of the laundry and damned near fell backward down the basement stairs. Gosh darned late afternoon weight lifting, I plainly may no longer do. BGKC.
Fernan

Hoping

Stress tests:
In plural, I have had two stress tests. The first one was during the healing the femur Shiner (2400# bull) had broken for me. It was during all those weeks and months convalescing I had my first stress test. Leg in no shape for the tread mill run I was perched on the side of a bed whereas they pushed what looked like a tricycle fork in front of me with handles for pedals. So I was to hand crank that thing for so long for so fast until my heart rate had gone over a predetermined number. When the results comeback it was all in mumble jumble. I had no idea what they were talking about. As it was hospital ordered. The final explanation which it was like would have been as I was receiving the broken leg treatment through the Hospital out patient clink. Why had I no idea I should have expected more from interns who if they hadn’t had they should have had some bedside manners explanation training. How was I to know what they were talking about? Then followed a few days later I was injected with some radio/radar/radium active something or other that only a person who’d not reached his or her maximum level was still within a safe mode to inject me. This stuff was for tracking my blood’s circulation through out my vascular system(?). I didn’t understand that test either only I was alright with no apparent problems. At least not then.
Just a couple years ago I had another stress test, this time on the treadmill. It started out easy with five gorgeous women for a working audience. On that treadmill slowly starting I was to increase my pace against a predetermining increase of an uphill climb against a gravity run. It proved to be a bust. I couldn’t break their required 100 blood pumping rate let alone sustain it. They finally got me off that thing. I was given time to calm down and rest for the alternative approach.
Looking around the room I had notice three of the women had left. Leaving me in the hands of only two. It wasn’t near as scenic a situation as it had been but I was in no condition for any thing any more strenuous than my merely sitting or lying down on my derrière, and remember a more youthful life. I started sorting these gals out. Those who’d left one must have been an overseer the other two an EMT team, their equipment hidden behind one heck of an abnormally wide door. I was supposing their stuff out of sight was kept out of my mind’s worried eye.
Next step either I was either coming back or detoured right into a medically stressed heart for the recorded tapes. Now, there’s something to screw up the senses, emotions, feelings, lawd help my mind. All said and done after the cardiologist was thought to have looked everything over, my assuming included all my asked for paper work over and over again, he started prescribing and set an appointment for a rotor router trip from my groin up to the heart.
It’d not be in several weeks later but rather six months I found I had been triply medicated through three separate individual doctors. I was so screwed up, over medicated; it’s a wonder they hadn’t put me under. I haven’t been back to that cardiologist since. I can die an easier much less painful death without any more of him. Thank You very much!!!


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Noon’s writing
One full morning it had been. I put in some seat time on the digger to no avail again looking for the elusive buried power line. Doing that I even managed to slip in some Cushman engine time, enough breaks it’s ready to swing back into the truckster. I even remembered the Leland’s flat-tire jack and the woodstove’s stack fan lubricant. It has been one heck of a full morning after yesterday’s three hours napping and last night’s eleven hours sleep. Spose I needed it? One hour more that shut eye stuff I might become adversely nick named Winkle, leaving off the Rip Van.
Getting back to the lost time digging no find wire, Frieda has always said when we’s got a power or phone problem Sparky’s the one to call, the man in the know. Rechecking the distanced real-estate between Bro’s house and barn with a freshly rented even newer rented electronic up to date technology. Via the latest scans it seems I’ve been digging twenty feet to far south the newest re-established buried underground route. Still looks like another full afternoon filled with fun, fun, fun.
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My afternoon’s FUN started with digger moving excavated dirt back into the useless hole. Figuring I could make better time with little Case skid-steer I switched seats. It was probably the four approach to the eight foot deep hole the loose earth I had filled into the hole with the loader-digger gave way for a slid FUN filled ride straight down into the hole. Oh boy, More FUN looking for fitting clevises and a chain it didn’t take long to bring the runaway machine back up on top where we both belonged. Remaining undeterred I climbed right back into the little skid-steer and tendered my holes approach with a little more finesse. Several hours later the hole filled my bones feeling out of whack if not out of line I had finished my day at quarter to six, enjoy a crooked man’s FUN filled walk. Shop closed I was home doing my rattler thingy. Now, that’s been most my day with an evening yet to come? Ate supper and paid bills. BGKC.
Fernan

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On Batteries
We're using 8 diesel tractors: A Leland using the biggest single 12v bat lasting about 10/11yrs (each) twice, a 4010 JD using 2 6v bats (still a hard winter starter), a 2150 Oliver using 4 6v bat wired 12v going on 6yrs, 4 1850 Olivers two still on 12v bat they came to us with (ok for summer) and two changed over to 2 6v bats each for sure enough winter starts.
Three advantages in using deep cycle batteries for a couple extra dollars they last longer. Two 6v bat easier winter starts over one 12v or even 2 12v bat. Two 6v bat last (yrs) much longer than a single 12v bat.
One single drawback more terminal corrosion.
Believe me, we're always looking out for the best/longest lasting bat use for our bucks.
Note, anytime you've an unexplained battery failure, set it aside for a time. Given a rest and recharged chances are it'll likely come alive again. I learned this during my charter boat days, keeping two extras in replacement reserve. Any bouncing about a battery may stir settling's up from the bottom a piece may lodge between two plates temporarily shorting the battery out until that particle has burned out.
My $.02 a couple three times.
Fernan

Feelings better

What a difference new shoes make.

I knew I should have gotten them sooner. I had mistakenly just kept putting off shopping them. Not good as I haven’t given them any proper break in time. Just the same, the old ones so bad breaking up from the inside out, these fancy looking work boots are getting broken in on the get go.
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Rain here today. Have two projects in mind for my immediate attention today. The Cushman of course, of course, to the point I may even have it running before sundown. The other one just as important the likely will only take a few minutes, clean and oil the stove pipe fan on the living room woodstove. That thing’s motor coming on day’4’yesterday is in some great need of TAC. Properly equipped I want to also use some compressed air in conjunction with the vacuum cleaner hopefully trying to keep this appliance’s accumulated dust from blown all over the house deeper than the dust already is. Have I ever mentioned I hate house work almost as much as MUD?
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I’ve gotten me another comfortable work making idear. As uncomfortable as it, they, them, hurt, pained, my knees find themselves involved in making contacts with floors, earths, and concretes, I’m thinking sewing padding into/onto my bibs where I need it when I‘m down and feeling sorely low.
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While straining my mind with thought Handy made call needing ride. Frieda said, “Better go. Looks like I’ll stay home.” She was actually looking forward to another ride, and graciously passed in Handy‘s need. It was a smaller circuit drive this morning yet eventful. Took care of Handy’s picked up and dropped off prescription. Then drove on into Mt Morris for my forgotten spark-plug. Returning I stopped us by my favorite seamstresses, presented my padded knee idear and was immediately surprised one of them knew exactly what I wanted (quilt stitched knee patches with two layers batting sewn in) and suggested it be ready for my field tests in a week. The other girl suggested I try taking Glucosamine to ease my knees discomfort. It works for her, adding an in depth testimonial. So, I stopped by a drugstore and sought some plus the pharmacist’s opinion. He gave me a strong recommendation, adding it’d take two/three/four weeks to take effect. I carried out a two months supply. I guess I’ll find out. Before I knew it was lunch time. Where do the day go.
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Lunch passing the weather continued heavy my resting my eyes for a moment, that moment lasted some three hours. Upon waking as if I were timed I’m called, and informed, “There’s still a short in the fence.” I spent the next two hours in chore boots muck-lucking and mired a time or two locating three shorts. Two of them I fixed, the third I wound exhausted wire over my arm for eventual replacement. That is if and when one of us brings the new wire home.
What little I accomplished I’m letting it do for the day. Returning home I took my rattlers plus a couple Tylenol. Then realized I had forgotten to bring home lubricant for the smoke stake fan again. Balderdash! Perhaps if and when I’m hurting less, than I’ve felt today, I’ll have it all (at least some of it) back together again. BGKC.
Fernan

Whatever good….

…lists are for, they at least remind me of what I’d forgotten. Some of an itch if my brain hadn’t remembered the every first thing I needed to do this very Monday morning, my walking out my door. It was I must go and resupply the shelled corn wagon, then check feed wagon for resupply. And, I was in such a hurry to get into cutting next winter’s firewood. Well, all that was taken care of and more including a stop by the elevator for a weight slip and supplements on one my way’s home. Along with that I had lunch
The programming flying by to fast for my overly taxed mind to comprehend, my watching this very morning’s ABC network medical part, I was either informed coconut oil is good for the fight against Alzheimer’s or was nature’s vegetable packaged fountain of youth. I’d be damned if I would mind trying it on both counts regardless to witch use it was pointed. I sure could stand another better feeling knee that the other one what I had felt some fifty-some years what had eventually got me into a lifetimes miserable happiness.
Okay, I had done finished the early part of my day about as far as I could go. Then I discovered the very tractor I was about to use for the grind had a flat tire. Oh doo doo, Needing shoes I might just a well make it a full circled drive: shoe store, hardware store, auto parts store, and grocery store. Why now? I’ll tell why! Because my right shoe isn’t doing my disposition a bit good making my right foot sore, I‘ve got-a make a change. Oh Happy Day!
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It turned into just what I thought it would, a full circle shopping trip, and blessed be the back roads. Snuck into a couple communities and got my shoes, a single wrench I didn‘t really need to make my wrenching easier, a couple needed air chucks, some nuts and six bolts in two stops (only needing two the right size), and a stop by the grocery store. I didn‘t do to badly, I only forgot the sparkplug, the summer window screening welt(?), and tomatoes.
Getting back, the barn compressor worked just well enough, long enough, to air up the Leland’s front tire. That tire held its air all during the grind and all put away. I’ll still have to fix it another day. I had ground the feed, delivered it, and made a roadside stop on my way home for the tomatoes Frieda had asked for more than once. LOL, risking again my loosing my man card, I admit her nagging had paid off! Lastly as far as I was concerned my day was done my making myself comfortable under darkening skies at 6:30 PM. Weather forecast calls for rain tonight and tomorrow. The forgotten sparkplug I failed to buy today I may pickup in Otisville come morning my not having to venture again into one of the suburbs. Whew.
As for cutting any firewood I’d have to admit it weren’t going to happen this day and it also wont happen in a rain. BGKC.
Fernan

What today had brought

Fur openers, neighbor come over and helped put old TV aside and set up new one. Wow! What a difference a bright pictured new viewing we got. Okay, new TV up and running, lunch, And I was off to the shop. Once there I could literally screw something up, going like this……
In jeopardizing the sanctity of my man-card, in stead of a duct tape fix my folding windshield’s pivoting, I went and replaced the old torn vinyl with a bolted in place piano hinge.


The animals fed at the other end, looking for nothing new to do, I come home to bring in some wood. I knew I should have brought in more wood, but for a low pressure system hanging over us my joints were dramatically paining me joints everyone. It’s bad enough when one’s knees are silently screaming out in silent pain, but does it have include one’s head and fingers? Now what could possibly bee in MY head that might cause it too hurt?

On Black Walnuts gathering/cracking:
While we had walnuts closer to home, only I had rather gather them already hulled after traffic passing over them fallen under walnut tree canopy over the road a mile from home. Mom saved what onion bags she gotten from friends who'd save us them for us, then I'd hang them off nails driven into the basement's overhead floor joists.
It wasn't until I had a family of my own did I figure out how to crack them without the shells flying all over the floors for late not fancy stepping finding the lost pieces. I had either had cut or found a four inch piece of steel pipe two inches in length I'd set on another piece of half inch flat steel preferably on the floor. It was where in these pieces of combined steel the walnut was placed. By and by as time went on I fearlessly let the children have all the fun with a ball-peen swat-ski (hammer), even to separating the meats from the shells. Kids thought it great fun. And me, I unselfishly enjoyed sampling a many a the Christmas and winter candy and cookie Frieda showed the boys and girls how to make.
BGKC.
Fernan

About Theories

I’ve finally put together two theories having had argued with Herr Clink over all our many years together. I’ve also found out neither one of them works.
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Now onto matters of a less serious nature. Almost all the Cushman’s clutching parts were here this morning. Still missing a pilot bearing. (sniff) So. I had wanted lash the valves. Only I had a problem. I didn’t bring the book of instructions with me and I wasn’t I had remembered the clearances correctly. Food! By myself I decided to haul in hay. First things first I took all the wagons to the shop for airing tires. I found myself suspicious something had gone wrong; for, every last tire was holding air. (????) Two trips to spot all three the wagons first I traded truck for skidsteer loader. The wagons loaded I switched machines back. To bring the loaded wagons up. Checking last bales baled they weren’t going to keep. Only three days old I opted for wrapping them to save them and have them come out better summer fresh after a 90 days pickling. Then it was getting onto 1:00 o’clock lunch time.
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A good half day put away before lunch, planning on hitting the other end anyway for some more Cushman engine work, I was also summoned to make more dig looking for that elusive buried power line to the barn. On that scene and kept waiting I delved into the engines valves until some were ready for me. A bale of hay put out, I was then back to emptying dirt out of a hole full. And as pattern would have it I clipped the waterline again taking a longer piece to repair it this time. This project curtailed for the time being until a powerline wire finder may be begged, borrowed, or liberated this project stands at an impasse. Parts and tools stuff put away I returned to my engine and went as far as my available parts and mind would let me. Yup, A couple hours earl off, they’d been earned.
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Lets gopher ride
The distanced property line is about the most colorful fall display of color we’ve got so far.

The pastures are abounding with meadow mushrooms and puff balls some coming other going.

This an emergence of both species.
If I weren't so depleted evenings I'd bring some home, cut up, blanch, package and freeze some. But, I've only got so much energy. BGKC.
Fernan