They have gotten bigger.
Month: September 2018
Well, that was faster than I expected
I had sent photos of the clean up I had done yesterday, to my family. When my brother was out here, working on the tractor, he went into the barn to look around, and found something to use to replace the plastic jug I’d put over the outlet on the fence post.
It worked.
I’ll just have to find something to affix it in a way that will keep it from falling off in inclement weather, but will also allow me to move it easily, to access the plugs.
It never occurred to me to look in the barn; with our focus being on the inner yard, we just don’t go into the barn or out buildings very often.
The Re-Farmer
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Moving Day
There are a couple of old tractors in the outer yard. My late father gave one of them to my nephew. Today, he and my brother came over to try and get it to his place.
The first challenge: getting it out of where it had settled.
They were trying to pull it out with a tow cable, as well as a jack, and whatever they could find for traction. Oh, and take the wasp nest out of the tire rim. !! At one point, as they turned on the tow cable to pull on it a bit, his SUV instead started getting pulled backwards!
They were working on it when I left to visit with my mother. When I came back, several hours later, they were still at it!
But, they did get it out.
Not too shabby, for something that has been sitting for an estimated 25 years!
The plan was to tow it back, but there was a problem with that. It turns out it has hydraulic steering. Which means it needs to be running, in order to steer.
So they had to drive to town to pick up various things needed and, amazingly, they got it started. Then they had to figure out how to shut it off, because turning the key didn’t work. Eventually, my nephew found the choke and was able to turn it off.
What they also discovered, however, was that the coolant was pouring through the manifold. With it running, they might have been able to drive it back (which would have taken all day, because it can only go about 20 miles per hour, max!), but not with it the coolant pouring right out. They’d have to stop and fill it every couple of miles, except they wouldn’t be able to stop, so they were talking about somehow rigging a tank and a hose up, so it could be continually filled…
!!!
Long story short, it didn’t leave today. At some point, my nephew will come back with a trailer. Getting a hold of one that can handle this tractor is a whole other issue!! He just wants to get it to his place before winter sets in, at least.
So, for now, it sits in its new spot.
As for the old spot…
There is a rock pile nearby, so they used what they could find to fill the holes, along with the boards they were using for traction. Eventually, I’ll get some dirt to fill the holes. I wouldn’t want a cow to break its leg or something, if they get through the fence again.
The cows did hang around, watching the goings on, for quite a while! :-D
I’m still amazed they actually got it running. It even had clean oil in it, and good oil pressure! I think my late brother had started working on it a while back, but that would have been about 10 years ago, maybe more.
They don’t make them like this, anymore!
The Re-Farmer
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Whatcha doin’ in there?
My view out the kitchen window, this morning.
He is starting to look so grown up! :-D
The Re-Farmer
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Clean up: spruce grove, fence line, reaching the gate!
Though we had a trip into town for another medical appointment and some errands (since we were there, anyhow!) in the late morning, I decided I needed to finish clearing the fence line in the spruce grove today. My siblings and I are working things out in regards to checking on our mother over the next few days, and tomorrow is my turn. The long range forecasts say it’s going to get colder again, so today was the day, ready or not!
I am happy to say, it is now DONE! I have cleared the fence line along the spruce grove, up to the driveway gate. Anything else I am able to do before winter is bonus. Woohoo!
I took a whole bunch of before and after photos, so I’ll just set up a slide show and let them speak for themselves!
The following photos were taken from the gate side of the fence, facing north. I started inside the grove, where I left off, but realized I needed to start a new pile for cuttings. The place to do that was on the south side. Which required clearing a section of fence so I could toss things over, then working my way north to where I left off last time.
Here is what it looks like from inside the spruce grove, where I left off last time.
I managed to save one tiny little spruce tree. :-D It was in the way, to be honest, but after cutting away so many spruces that were in the fence line itself, I wanted to keep at least this one! It’s small enough that I could potentially transplant it, in the future.
As you can see in the after photos, I did break out the weed trimmer. I did the edges of the driveway, first, and even cut away some of the smaller trees on the south side of the driveway, for a bit of visibility. Next, I followed along the fence line where I worked, as this area had actual tall grass, rather than just undergrowth.
To be honest, though, one of the main reasons I did that was because I got tired of tripping over stumps I’d just cut, but couldn’t see due to the grass! I will have to see if we have some really bright spray paint, and mark some of them, for safety.
I also tidied up the two strings of Christmas lights, as well as re-attaching the top wire of the fence onto one of the fence posts, where the original U nail was simply, gone. I used the third string of lights I’d removed previously to replace burnt out and broken bulbs, and switch them all to clear bulbs. I still intend to replace them with LEDs, but just in case I can’t get to it this year, it is all fixed up for now.
I also discovered that the light strings had plastic clips on them. While on one of them, the clips were mostly broken off, I don’t know why they weren’t used to clip them to the wire, rather than wrapping them around tree branches. I also brought out the zip ties for those areas where the clips were broken, and to secure the main power cable, including all along the fence to the garage.
I discovered that more of the fence posts on the south side need replacing than I originally thought. I leaned on one while reaching to clear a tree at its base, and it broke at ground level!
There were some interesting finds.
Earlier in the year, I discovered there was asparagus growing at the fence line! I highly doubt this was planted deliberately, and yet, how else did it get there?
There isn’t a lot, but they have their berries now!
I didn’t know they got berries. Turns out the female plants do. Interesting!
Also, do you see that rock?
Once I started clearing around it, I realized it’s two rocks.
I’m. At a loss. It seems to random, and strange, to find two rocks cemented together like this.
There has got to be a story behind this! :-D
When all was done, I had a large new pile we’ll need to haul away.
At least this time, the pile is in an area that’s easier to get to!
After cleaning up and putting everything away, I came back to address a concern.
It’s a temporary fix. I cut out a section of one of my husband’s empty distilled water jugs (he uses distilled water for his CPAP humidifier, so we have lots!) and popped it on the post.
Why, you may ask?
This is why.
Once the trees were cleared, what little shelter there was for the outlet was gone. I don’t know how many years it’s been outside, facing down to make sure no moisture got in. It seemed so very exposed!
So this should keep the precipitation off, until I can come up with something better. Which will likely not happen until I can work on repairing the fences, so it might be a while!
While I was working on all of this, the girls were working in the West yard.
They had already done part of the yard and put the leaves on the little garden by the Old Kitchen. This is just some of the piles they rakes up today – there’s more by the fire pit!
I had commandeered the wheel barrows, so they will move the piles onto the garden tomorrow, while I am out.
They also made supper. The smell of which is making me very hungry right now!
It’s been a very productive day today! I’m so glad to finally get that fence line done.
Another thing off the list! :-D
The Re-Farmer
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Off the “get done before winter” list
Yay! I can tick “straw bale” off my list of things we need to get/do before winter!
The renter was taking his bales off our field today, and this beauty was just delivered.
That is going to be enough for so many things!
The main thing is to cover the top of the septic tank – the other thing on the list is getting that emptied, and I’ve already contacted the company about when they’re going to be in the area again. There will be enough to cover that entire corner. I’ll be able to put a nice, thick layer on the small garden by the Old Kitchen. The girls plan to rake some leaves to layer on to there today, too, so we’ll be able to build up lots of organic matter onto it. This garden slopes, so I’m loosely planning to eventually build a low retaining wall at the west end, and find a way to do the sides as well, to level it off.
We will also be able to put new straw into the old dog houses the cats use as winter shelters, and insulate the outside of them, too. I want to see if I can move those to more sheltered places, first, though.
We might even still have enough left to use the remains of the bale as a throwing target. :-D
Oh, I am so happy!
It’s the little things that make life good. :-D
The Re-Farmer
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I missed you!
I had to make a quick trip into town this morning, and came home to DahBoy, waiting for me.
Okay, so maybe he was just watching the action outside, and not really waiting for me, but it’s cute, either way. :-D
Plans have been changed for the day. I’ve learned my mother is going to be released from hospital this afternoon. They were actually going to kick her out this morning, against doctor’s orders and before confirmation for home care, but my brother talked them into making it this afternoon, as was originally being discussed. I am waiting on my brother to let me know when they are leaving, so I can meet them at my mother’s and help out.
Which meant a planned trip into town this afternoon, to drop some stuff off at the lab for my husband, got done this morning, instead.
Home care for my mother won’t start until tomorrow, but thankfully, my older brother will be able to stay overnight with my mother and be available for her until then. If he hadn’t already worked that out, chances are I’d be doing it. Hopefully, if my mother does need help with stuff beyond home care, she’ll call me, at a 20 minute drive away, instead of my brother, who is about an hour and a half away!
I think she is going to be glad to be home, and away from the noise and bustle of the hospital.
The Re-Farmer
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Digging
In the early light of the morning, I could just barely see something odd in the west yard, through the bathroom and sun room windows.
A dark something that I thought might be a lounging cat or something, at first. Except it didn’t move.
So I made sure to check when I was outside in better light.
You know those shallow holes I’ve been finding around the yard?
This one was not so shallow. LOL
I wonder what’s so tasty in our dirt that’s worth this much effort? :-D
The Re-Farmer
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Tree Kitties
Spotted out the kitchen window, while making lunch.
I know we’re going to have to take this tree down, to protect the house, but when that does eventually happen, I’m going to miss watching the cats playing in it.
And them, watching me back. :-D
The Re-Farmer
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Well, today has been an adventure (updated)
We’ve had a steady rain, all day today. A perfect day to be indoors, with a hot cup of tea.
But nooo… That would be too easy!
Late in the morning, as the girls were heading upstairs, they discovered water.
The bathroom floor had water all around the toilet, and with our uneven flooring, it also flowed into the hallway and around the doorway into my office. Continue reading
The Re-Farmer 