September on the Homestead

[TEX]

Wow, the summer has flown by. We are still in the midst of almost 100 degree temps and no rain but cooler, damper weather should be here soon.

[nhlivefreeordie]

I had lawn mowing on the schedule for today, but it is 92 already, the grass was soaked with dew this morning, so I will probably wait till Saturday, forecast is for highs in the 60s ...YES!!!!!
I think I am going to just build a few more drying frames in the cool cellar now that the house chores are finished.

[Laura]

Mowing grass today (belts just came in). It's DRY as a bone here....trying to get it done before the rain comes in.

Purging the basement of all 'junk'. Day by day, dragging up the 'unused / don't need / broke' stuff and either trashing it, freecycling it, CL-ing it, or good willing it.

Need to make room for more productive things!!

[DM]

It's been dry here, but the weatherman said it was going to rain last night. SO, i serviced my mower, and mowed my grass yesterday. It did rain last night, and has been rainy all day and that's a good thing, as we needed it!

I brought in another bu of tomatoes today, so i'm cooking a big kettle of them down right now, makeing more spicy tomato juice.

DM

[Gracie]

Wayne, I sure do like your drying frames...please, would like to ask you their dimensions and how you put them together, if don't mind:)!

Thank You!

Gracie

[nhlivefreeordie]

Wayne, I sure do like your drying frames...please, would like to ask you their dimensions and how you put them together, if don't mind:)!

Thank You!

Gracie

Gracie, you can make them any size you want, I just made them to fit the hardware cloth I had on hand which was 24" wide, so I made those 3' long and 24" wide. The hardware cloth I had was 1/4 inch mess, which works great for most things, but I just ordered some 1/8 " mesh last week that will be here tomorrow, that is 36" wide, so I will make the sides 24" long so in effect, all of my frames will be 2' X 3'. I want them the same as I am making sides for a orchard rack, the top 4 or 5 shelves will be hardware cloth, and the bottom few will be wood slats for bigger items like squash, onion or potatoes. Eventually I will have a couple as certain things like different temps to be stored in, but one rack will have to do this year.
They are very easy to make, I buy 1" X 2" pine from Lowes, they are like $2.15 for 6' pieces which work out nice for my frames ( no waste ). I cut the pieces, drill and counter sink, then apply some exterior wood glue and use drywall screws to put them together. I lay the hardware cloth over the frame making sure it is square, then staple from the middle of each frame out to the end. After placing your first staple, grab the end of the wire with a vise grip and pull it taught place a staple right next to the vise grips. If you do this on each corner you end up with a nice tight frame. They are very light weight and perfect for their intended uses. I dry herbs on them too, which reminds me, I have to cut Basil again tomorrow. Here's a tip, 6 basil plants will give you enough basil to supply your whole family and several friends with basil for a year.....yeah, I over planted that too...:o

[patience]

Dry here. Our lawn crunches like corn flakes when you walk across it. Only the weeds are taller and somewhat green. 90 to day, with high clouds, so MAYBE some rain tomorrow, if it doesn't go north of us---again. :(

Had 2 guys plastering in our cistern for the past couple days, and they are very nearly finished. A couple hours in the morning should do it. Then I get to spray it with water for a few days, keeping it damp for proper curing of the cement mixture. The application went exactly by the reccomendations, which said if we put it on 1/8" thick, it would work out to using 12 bags of the cement to cover this area. I bought 14 bags to be safe, and we have 2 1/2 bags left now, with just some small areas to go yet. Had to have a bare spot to set the ladder, so now they are down to waiting for the stuff to set up so they can move the ladder and finish. That last 1/2 bag should do it. These guys are good! :D

Maybe then I can get the mess cleaned up back there. We have tools scattered to the 4 winds, piles of them here and there.

DD and I took down the business signs yesterday, so we are officially closed. But nobody is paying much attention to that yet. I still have half a dozen jobs to complete, but adamantly refusing any new jobs now. I rebuilt the 3 point hitch on a potato plow today, and finished repairing the silage chopper head.

Just did some free consulting for a neighbor on how to fix his Gleaner combine. He picked up an 8 foot ground rod with it, and ran it through the guts of the machine--locked up the drag chain and tore up Jack in there. When I got there to look it over, one of the men began to tell me about what was wrong. I noticed a pair of legs through an inspection port, and saw his younger brother INSIDE the combine, prying on the wadded up drag chain.

The owner had gone to fetch more blades for the Sawzall. Upon his return, the noise started and pieces began to come out the inspection port. I told them I had steel in stock to replace one of the shafts if he had to cut that to get it all apart. And no, I wouldn't try to repair the sheet metal pan under the drag chain (wadded up pretty bad), because the metal will be stretched out of shape and near impossible to get it flat again. He didn't look happy--that pan costs $950. I drove out past his corn fields, that are dry and ready to pick NOW. :(

It's 8 PM and my welding leads are still strung out across the driveway. Gotta go put stuff up in case it DOES rain. I dunno. I'm not so sure I believe in rain any more.... :p

[nhlivefreeordie]

I need rain here too patience. the lawn did green back up from the drought this summer, but it has been 10 days without rain now, and things are getting brown again. I ended up mowing this afternoon after all, and then had to run water to my Persimmon and Pawpaw trees, they are in their first year and need the consistent water. The garden will need water tomorrow if we don't have any in the forecast, as it is supposed to be in the 90s again....:mad:

[Gracie]

Wayne,

Thank you a million for the size of your drying racks as well as the instructions on how you made them...I could tell by just looking @ your picture they would be the perfect size for us, too. We have a small barn, it's really a storage shed, (but barn sounds better to me...lol) that we used to further dry our onions when we pulled them...and thought it would be perfect for drying other things we grew...when saw your racks...just had to ask, and you graciously shared your instructions...makes me happier than a kid on Christmas morning! Again, we thank you!:yes4:

Gracie

P.S. TY for the tip on the the Basil...I jus, knows you'se well loved by your family, friends and neighbors!

[JoAnna]

It has been terribly dry here. Rain all around--even areas a mile away have been deluged, but the storms and rain are avoiding our place on purpose. Grass is crispy, plants hanging out of the pots, even the weeds are dying. I've been catching water in a 5 gal. bucket from our a.c., but it's not enough to keep even my potted plants watered. Hope we catch a stray shower soon because in the next few weeks, I'll start the fall and winter garden.

I've got the garden areas tilled up and have covered them with landscape fabric to keep the weeds from growing until I can plant them. My chickens and ducks think it's fun to run around on.

Not much going on right now, we're kind of in a lull, between the busyness of summer gardening, canning, and then clean up before fall planting. In other words, not much to be done outdoors right now, so I've been painting. Woo hoo. The inside of the house hasn't been painted in about 10 years, and it was really starting to look shabby, especially the door frames and baseboards. Didn't realize they were so cruddy till I got down on the floor to paint them.

Went to make slipcovers for some colonial wing chairs and changed my mind. I'm going to upholster them instead. I've never really liked the look of slipcovers, and no one uses the chairs anyway, so I think upholstery would be easier and look better.

Kind of boring.

Looking forward to cool weather, which is when I get the bulk of heavy tasks done. I need to finish a large chicken pen we started on last spring. The heat and mosquitos make it unpleasant to work on.

[DM]

It's a very nice 72* here this morning, and i have the doors and windows open as i run the cooked tomatoes through my Victorio Strainer.

http://www.fototime.com/4ED1DAC235F7D43/orig.jpg

It is now spicy tomato juice, with all the pulp/seeds/skins ect. removed, and it's ready for canning.

DM

[Gracie]

Gosh DM, Your spicy tomato juice sure does look good...and that Victorio strainer is something, bet processing tomatoes and other veggies goes a lot faster than using say, a foley mill. But was just wondering...can it process raw tomatoes, or must they be cooked first...?

Thank You!

Gracie

[DM]

My brother runs raw tomatoes through his, but i prefer to cook everything that goes into my juice "before" straining it. That way i don't need to peel the peppers/onions ect. beforeing straining them. Also, i think the flavours "mingle" much better that way too.

DM

[Gracie]

DM, Thank you for your response and observation...have seen similar strainers for sale, and pictured on the box, seems you always see raw tomatoes being processed with them. Tx's. again!

[nhlivefreeordie]

DM, Thank you for your response and observation...have seen similar strainers for sale, and pictured on the box, seems you always see raw tomatoes being processed with them. Tx's. again!

Gracie, I do mine that way, raw first then cook the puree`, it is just a matter of personal preference, either way works just fine.

[Gracie]

Wayne, Thank You, for your response. Actually I just priced them on E-bay, and have several on watch...still thinking on them. In the past, have wondered if those wouldn't pay for themselves in the long run in time and effort saved...thing is, have come across several similar strainers, and really wasn't sure which worked the best...didn't know anybody that used them...so another one of the 'on the back burner' things. TY, again.

[nhlivefreeordie]

While waiting for Fedex to deliver my 1/8" hardware cloth, to use for my Black Turtle beans, ( they would not work well in the 1/4 frames I have now as they are more round and smaller than the other beans ) I decided to harvest red kidney beans before it got too hot ( only 90 right now :rolleyes:).
I put a new coating on the driveway this spring, and it makes a great place to lay frames for drying as the heat coming from the black driveway is intense.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v86/dj88ryr/Redkidney.jpg

[JoAnna]

My brother was going through our late uncle's belongings stored in a barn and came across an old Victorio. It's in very good shape, works fine.

[nhlivefreeordie]

Wayne, Thank You, for your response. Actually I just priced them on E-bay, and have several on watch...still thinking on them. In the past, have wondered if those wouldn't pay for themselves in the long run in time and effort saved...thing is, have come across several similar strainers, and really wasn't sure which worked the best...didn't know anybody that used them...so another one of the 'on the back burner' things. TY, again.

Gracie,
NorPro makes one that is a carbon copy of the Victorio right down to the last detail, and for half the price, they are $39 here at the Amish store.

[DM]

Gracie,
NorPro makes one that is a carbon copy of the Victorio right down to the last detail, and for half the price, they are $39 here at the Amish store.

Wayne,

I bought mine 100 years ago on a wednesday, for $38.95. lol lol At least that's what it says on the box! :)

DM

[leera]

Just got done unloading cinder blocks that are going to be the sides and ends for my new raised beds....200 blocks......all stacked neatly behind the fence...for now....

[nhlivefreeordie]

Just finished picking Black Turtle beans, and discovered that several pods had burst open and there are mew plants coming up with lots of blossoms, being we are still 6 weeks away from frost, I think I will get another crop of them this year. Anyone feel like shelling this bin?....

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v86/dj88ryr/Blackturtle.jpg

[DM]

It was mostly cloudy and 70* here today, just right to finish canning the spicy tomato juice i made yesterday. I just opened the windows and doors, and got after it,

http://www.fototime.com/EE466858366DB89/orig.jpg

Next is to get started canning potatoes, as they are extremely cheap right now!

DM

[NCLee]

DM, I can't wait for payback time for all the great weather you're having. LOL I've been :D with envy all summer!

It was 99 here yesterday. Our daily average high has dropped to 84. But this isn't an average year, not by a long shot. Been running at least 10 degrees or more higher than the average since who knows when this summer.

But, our time is coming. :lol: Cool front came through and we're supposed to be in the mid 80's today with MUCH lower humidity. No rain, though, and we need it badly. Usually we get rain when a hurricane comes up the coast, but not this time.

Seriously, I'm glad you've had some great summer weather. I'm sure it helps off set some rough winters.

Lee

[CapeCMom]

Holy smokes, look at all of that sauce DM!! Yummy!
I'm going to try and can up some store bought potatoes soon also. Have about 12 qts from the ones we grew here. Would like to try sweet potatoes also.

[patience]

I put out 2 dozen sweet potato plants, but I messed it up. I planted that tall corn on the south side of the SP and they didn't get much sun. Then, it turned off dry last month, so I doubt if we get much from the sweet potatoes.

We have a better place for them next year where that big brush pile has been for 2 years. Got that brush chipped up into mulch. The sod is gone, and the worms have been busy working on the area, so we will have that additional garden area next year.

Went to an auction today and came home with 15 half-gallon jars for 12 bucks. Also got a couple electrical timers like are used on water heaters to shut them down at night. That should help on the electric bill.

[JoAnna]

A bit cooler and dryer here, which is odd. I feel like I ought to go outside and do something, but I tore up my shoulder yesterday. Didn't feel it until this morning. I've had rotator cuff surgery on both shoulders, and sometimes my muscles are stronger than my joints, and then I hurt for a few days.

Thinking about getting my greenhouse prepared for dormant season cuttings in a couple of months. I always do better when I get things ready way in advance.

I also need to hang my plant light setup in the utility room so I can start some fall seedlings. Too hot to plant some things out right now--some things bolt to seed too fast, but in anohter 6 weeks or so, it will be about right for lettuces, cabbages, etc.

I am also planning to finish canning the venison in the freezer to make room for this year's deer.

[firegirl969]

DD and DGS (3 1/2 months old) moved in with us 2 weeks ago after being holed up in a battered woman's shelter. She is finally getting over that SOB that she loved so deeply who believes that completely controlling a woman and beating her when you have a bad day at work to get the frustration out of your system is acceptable. Can you tell I am upset about all this? Well, we are now needing to add more to the storehouse so that we can provide for them as well as ourselves. She is going to repeat the CNA class that she took two years ago in hopes that she can pass the exam and get her CNA certification and work for the local nursing home. I will help her keep DGS while she does this. DH and I are considering giving them this SW trailer to live in and maybe biting the bullet and building us the cabin that we have always wanted out behind the pond next year. If we do, we plan to be totally off grid with a composting toilet and a greywater system. We are going to try to drive a wellpoint and tap into water and put a hand pump onto it. We will also add the propane hot water heater that we have onto the cabin for hot showers and to wash dishes and wash clothes with the James washer I hope to get. We will add a propane stove as well and heat with the wood burning stove. DH plans to take the 18 X 14 porch we added on this SW and put it onto the cabin. The only problem is no AC. That is a problem here in south GA in these unbearable summers. I am wondering if we might could run an energy star AC on a generator for several hours a day during the hottest parts of July and August. We have two gas generators. It is too far back there to run electrical power, so that is not an option. Does anyone have an opinion on this? Also does anyone have plans for a small A-frame cabin that we could reasonably build ourselves? We hope for a 12-16' wide and 24-30' long. It appears that our homestead is growing faster than the garden has, but we are so blessed and happy to have them at home. I am also so glad that we have prepped so heavy as she has not started getting any child support and had to quit her job in order to come over here and get away from that bum, so she has no money coming in at the moment. We are using what we have.

[BonnyLake]

I am wondering if we might could run an energy star AC on a generator for several hours a day during the hottest parts of July and August. We have two gas generators.

I'm sure I'm not the only one that will answer this question - We had to use our AC a couple months a year - we had a special outlet in the house that went to the generator itself so when it was running and charging everything I used that outlet for vaccuming and the AC unit. Just had to insulate windows to keep the cool air in like keeping it out in winter.

You are awesome parents to welcome your little devasted family back home. Mom & Dad will help her heal like nobody else ever could. Just think of all the baby-kissin you'll get in while DGS is still so itty-bitty! :wub:

bonny

[femmesteader]

the man at the stand was selling peaches from his orchard, he'd sliced a few up and he wasn't kiddin' anyone when he admitted how sweet they were.
No pesticides or fertilizers because they are trying to reach organic status (which takes three years at least)

anyways, he was selling them for 10$ for 20lbs. I don't know if that's a "Bargain" price, but i went for it anyway. I stood there all 120lbs of me and explained how i was going to use them for canning...so that i can bring some fresh peach cobbler to parties at christmas time.

"For you," he started "$10, you can have as much as you can carry"


I'm home now...sweetheart gasped as i made it through the door, carrying a 45lb bag of sweet sweet peaches!! :yes2:

Thank goodness i don't have to go to work tomorrow!!!:lol:

[nhlivefreeordie]

the man at the stand was selling peaches from his orchard, he'd sliced a few up and he wasn't kiddin' anyone when he admitted how sweet they were.
No pesticides or fertilizers because they are trying to reach organic status (which takes three years at least)

anyways, he was selling them for 10$ for 20lbs. I don't know if that's a "Bargain" price, but i went for it anyway. I stood there all 120lbs of me and explained how i was going to use them for canning...so that i can bring some fresh peach cobbler to parties at christmas time.

"For you," he started "$10, you can have as much as you can carry"


I'm home now...sweetheart gasped as i made it through the door, carrying a 45lb bag of sweet sweet peaches!! :yes2:

Thank goodness i don't have to go to work tomorrow!!!:lol:

That is awesome, I didn't weigh mine as they were sold by the bushel, we got 3 bushels for $30 a bushel, there are a LOT of peaches in a bushel, took me over a week to get them all canned and or frozen working in between other chores. They will indeed be mighty tasty come January. We made home made Peach Ice Cream last weekend with one quart, that was soooooo good. :man_in_love:

[DM]

I have been thinking of building some shelves in a closet off my kitchen, to hold some canned goods. I needed some 12" wide boards for the project, so off i go to get a log to mill into 12" wide lumber!

http://www.fototime.com/D22A13A550C79FD/orig.jpg

The problem is, i apparently "didn't" have my mind on my work, cause i ended up with boards a bit less than 12" wide!

http://www.fototime.com/F09D8A47D1A0A60/orig.jpg

So, off i go for an even bigger log,

http://www.fototime.com/5FEA26DB289B337/orig.jpg

And start all over!!!

DM

[nhlivefreeordie]

Wow, what beautiful weather we are having.
Today is cooking down more of the frozen puree` that I stored when the tomatoes were overwhelming me, as well as harvesting more hot peppers for the dehydrator, and then picking green beans and wax beans that will go in the second canner....never ending it seems.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v86/dj88ryr/photo-2.jpg

[Gracie]

Wayne, Wow, that looks to be approx. 3 gal.+ of tomatoe puree...you really did have a bumper crop of tomatoes, good for y'all! Was wondering how you're going to reduce it down...have been told and read here, the easiest way is to cook it in an electric roaster, to turn it up on high, I think it was stir it every 30 min., or so, till it reaches the thickness you desire, and that it will not stick to your pan. You might well already know this, not sure, but just wanted to mention, FWIW. What are you going to make with it...sketi sauce...just wondered!

[AzLoneRider]

Yesterday I pulled all the corn stalks and all the zuchinni plants as well as one yellow squash plant. The rest of the squash, the watermellon and the pumpkins aren't quite done yet. Very soon I will be planting spinach, brocolli, beets, onion (both bunching and slicing), and more garlic.

[Pokeberry Mary]

Well, we have cooler mornings now, and the leaves are beginning to turn. My garden did not do as well as I'd have hoped this year again. I tried using mainly containers. The tomatoes are coming in but are kind of small--still yummy though. The peppers are doing well. Most other things haven't done so well.

We've been in the 90s since I think it was early June. All summer. The humidity has also been crazy. I went down to Florida for about 10 days, Hubby had to work there so I tagged along. I realized it was more comfortable there than at home! Who'da thought?

Anyhow I am looking forward to some cooling off- I hope soon.

Meanwhile we are working on our house. This week we're finally putting in real flooring on the first floor. We got wood! I love it! We've been living on painted osb board the past year. We're trying to get stuff done before move. Hubby starts working in NC Oct. 1. He's going to see how long he can commute before we have to move.

Our kids are all staying in the house, I may stay a while longer than Hubby, but I think we'll both end up in NC in the months ahead and we don't know for how long.

We have a new grandbaby coming very soon-- this month--I'll know more later today about when exactly. They are talking about maybe delivering her early due to some complications.. we shall see.

I have been stocking up the pantry in spite of the fact that I may not live here--it doesn't matter. We can take some of the food with us-- the rest will be here for our kids. The young men are all in school and working, Daughter will be holding down the fort at home and caring for her baby. I'm glad we can let them use our house because between them they don't make enough money to rent anyplace else. Hopefully when they are all done with school they'll have better options.

Our home is our home, we may or may not live in it--but it will still be here.
:)

[Pokeberry Mary]

DD and DGS (3 1/2 months old) moved in with us 2 weeks ago after being holed up in a battered woman's shelter. She is finally getting over that SOB that she loved so deeply who believes that completely controlling a woman and beating her when you have a bad day at work to get the frustration out of your system is acceptable. Can you tell I am upset about all this? Well, we are now needing to add more to the storehouse so that we can provide for them as well as ourselves. She is going to repeat the CNA class that she took two years ago in hopes that she can pass the exam and get her CNA certification and work for the local nursing home. I will help her keep DGS while she does this. DH and I are considering giving them this SW trailer to live in and maybe biting the bullet and building us the cabin that we have always wanted out behind the pond next year. If we do, we plan to be totally off grid with a composting toilet and a greywater system. We are going to try to drive a wellpoint and tap into water and put a hand pump onto it. We will also add the propane hot water heater that we have onto the cabin for hot showers and to wash dishes and wash clothes with the James washer I hope to get. We will add a propane stove as well and heat with the wood burning stove. DH plans to take the 18 X 14 porch we added on this SW and put it onto the cabin. The only problem is no AC. That is a problem here in south GA in these unbearable summers. I am wondering if we might could run an energy star AC on a generator for several hours a day during the hottest parts of July and August. We have two gas generators. It is too far back there to run electrical power, so that is not an option. Does anyone have an opinion on this? Also does anyone have plans for a small A-frame cabin that we could reasonably build ourselves? We hope for a 12-16' wide and 24-30' long. It appears that our homestead is growing faster than the garden has, but we are so blessed and happy to have them at home. I am also so glad that we have prepped so heavy as she has not started getting any child support and had to quit her job in order to come over here and get away from that bum, so she has no money coming in at the moment. We are using what we have.

Firegirl--I am so glad you were able to take your daughter in. To me, family is the main reason for all we have ever done--so helping the kids right now--is a no brainer. May they all be able to help us when the time comes too.
Praying for you. Glad she got away from him. :)

[nhlivefreeordie]

Wayne, Wow, that looks to be approx. 3 gal.+ of tomatoe puree...you really did have a bumper crop of tomatoes, good for y'all! Was wondering how you're going to reduce it down...have been told and read here, the easiest way is to cook it in an electric roaster, to turn it up on high, I think it was stir it every 30 min., or so, till it reaches the thickness you desire, and that it will not stick to your pan. You might well already know this, not sure, but just wanted to mention, FWIW. What are you going to make with it...sketi sauce...just wondered!

Gracie,

This is like the sixth batch of puree`. This is about 26 qts. The very sad part is that this is the last of what was in the freezer, but the plants are loaded again...:(
I did get a roaster, but the coating came off after the 4th use. They are sending a new insert pan, but again, it is coated. wish they made the dang things in Stainless Steel. Today, I am just cooking it down in a 24 qt stainless stock pot. It takes longer, because I have to use a lower heat, but it still works well. So far I have made about 60 quarts of spaghetti sauce this season, and this will go to that as well, but I think this is it for sauce this year. The rest are going to have to be tomato juice or just puree` for chili base, and probably some whole canned tomatoes.

[DM]

Hey Wayne,

Just do like i am, and consider your tomatoes your "cover crop". :)

DM

[yotetrapper]

I've been cleaning. Yesterday I cleaned the cupboard under the sink and last week I did the pantry and the food cupboard above the counter. I also canned a few pints of tomato sauce yesterday. When we went to the trapper's convention in Wisconsin this year I bought a half gallon of maple syurp. Now, we don't use much here as only I really like it, but I do really like it lol. So, as pure maple syurp has a tendancy to mold, I decided to can up the syurp. I was going to do pints but opted instead for half pints. So I did that yesterday too.

Also, yesterday, I started a project. I wanted to see if I could make my own lye. So I started out making a setup to run water through lye ashes. I used a large plastic flowerpot with a drain hole in the bottom. In the bottom of that I firmly packed a layer of straw, then filled the container about half full of ashes, packing them as I went. The containter was then precariously balanced on the leaning tower of cement blocks and wood wedges, lol, with a mop bucket set below it to catch the water coming out of the hole. I ran through about 1 1/2 gallon of boiling water. It took some time to work it's way through and out the hole. When it did, I tested it with a fresh egg. If your solution is too weak, the egg will sink. Too strong the egg will float at the very top of the water. They say it's just right if your egg floats just below the surface. My egg sunk like a rock lol. So, I took the brown lye water and added fresh ashes to the pan above it, then poured the lye water back through again. Then it got dark on me. I haven't checked it yet this morning, but plan to check it here in a few and see if my egg floats yet lol. If not, through the ashes again it will go.

I dont have a lot to do today, just basic cleaning, and laundry, and puttering about. I need a relaxed day now and then, lol.

The weather here is finally beautiful! All week is supposed to be high in the 70s and low in the 50s, and I'm loving it!

Yesterday a pheasant escaped from our pen, so we shot him and ate a pheasant dinner last night.

[Gracie]

Wayne, I am floored, acidity of the tomatoes ate through the coating...maybe this is a dumb question, but is your pan supposed to be enamel....Wow...I remember my Dad using enamel ware in his darkroom to develop the pictures he took. If they claim it to be enamel, would think they owe you your money back...and just when you think you've heard it all.
Yes, think would be perfect if they made them with SS liners...sorry that you have to cook them down, as know that is a slow tedious process. You mentioned your mater plants are loaded again, don't know if you have the freezer space, but if so, would it just be easier and quicker, to just wash some of them, bag them, then drop them in your freezer. Then when you garden slows down (if it ever does...you must have extremely good soil), you can pull them out to thaw, then use your Victorio strainer to puree them, and then go from there. You've really gotten a bunch of canning done this year...Bet you are looking forward to the day nothing else is there to can, but can then go and look @ all your full jars of goodies, and feel proud
(and relieved!), that this YOU accomplished!

[nhlivefreeordie]

Wayne, I am floored, acidity of the tomatoes ate through the coating...maybe this is a dumb question, but is your pan supposed to be enamel....Wow...I remember my Dad using enamel ware in his darkroom to develop the pictures he took. If they claim it to be enamel, would think they owe you your money back...and just when you think you've heard it all.
Yes, think would be perfect if they made them with SS liners...sorry that you have to cook them down, as know that is a slow tedious process. You mentioned your mater plants are loaded again, don't know if you have the freezer space, but if so, would it just be easier and quicker, to just wash some of them, bag them, then drop them in your freezer. Then when you garden slows down (if it ever does...you must have extremely good soil), you can pull them out to thaw, then use your Victorio strainer to puree them, and then go from there. You've really gotten a bunch of canning done this year...Bet you are looking forward to the day nothing else is there to can, but can then go and look @ all your full jars of goodies, and feel proud
(and relieved!), that this YOU accomplished!

Not sure if it was the acid or not. But the coating is a powder coating, and it flaked off in a couple spots and ruined a batch of puree`. I wrote the company, and no questions asked, they agreed to send another, but had no help as to getting a stainless insert to fit. I am skeptical about using it to cook puree` again.
I can keep up with the straining to make puree`, but I was trying to keep a little space for a deer in the freezer, I will just keep going and eventually I will get ahead of it.
I do have excellent soil, many years of adding 10" of straw and mushroom compost every year and starting with good soil to begin with has made things easy for me. People think it is my abilities as a gardener, but it isn't, the garden flourishes because of great soil, the only thing I do is try to keep adding to it.

[nhlivefreeordie]

Well the puree` is cooking down and these are now in the dehydrator, 3 gallons of Cherry Bombs.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v86/dj88ryr/CherryBombs.jpg

[CapeCMom]

Do you put those in your sauce? Are they really HOT?

[nhlivefreeordie]

I have some sauce with those in it, I make about 6 different recipes for sauce. These go in the dehydrator and then at some point will get ground down to use in soups, stews, and other things, they are not that bad at all. About like a jalapeno, I think my Hot Wax peppers are hotter.

[DM]

Sunny 78* here today with some wind, what a GREAT day to work outdoors!

I spread LOT'S of TP (turkey poop) today... Turkey bedding is kiln dried sawdust, so when the barns are cleaned out and piled, the TP can get quite hot as it's composting in those big piles and cause spontanious combustion.

Just to show you how HOT this stuff can get while it's composting out, check this out,

http://www.fototime.com/1CBB92EFD6E5984/orig.jpg

http://www.fototime.com/798CF75486E2FB4/orig.jpg

Of course, once it spread out in the field, or a garden, there's NO chance of a fire.

Anyway, here's what one semi load looks like,

http://www.fototime.com/91C0B3AE5D27651/orig.jpg

There's 6 spreader loads in one semi load, and the last of this pile is all loaded, and ready to spread,

http://www.fototime.com/78FECAEE26DEF91/orig.jpg

I just made a batch of potato chips, so i guess i'll eat them as i vegitate here, and read... lol

DM

[nhlivefreeordie]

Nice shitkicker, is that yours too?

[DM]

No, mine is smaller than that one, and to get done faster, "bigger is better"! lol

DM

[nhlivefreeordie]

No, mine is smaller than that one, and to get done faster, "bigger is better"! lol

DM

New Holland was right in the next town over from me in Belleville, that is also where I go to the livestock auction on Wednesdays. That is a nice machine.

[leera]

Not much going on here right now,I just got 200 cinder blocks to build my new raised beds with...now I just need to find someone who will deliver compost and topsoil to where I live...first guy I spoke with today said it's too far for him....

[yotetrapper]

Today it was beautiful, mid 70s and sunny and breezy. I was still working on my lye water and it still doesn't float an egg... hmmm.

Also, I made up 2 gallons of homemade rootbeer (cheating and using root beer extract).

Then I seperated my young chickens from my old chickens as I suspect my old ones are eating eggs and I want to see what happens with them seperated, and also prevent the new ones from learning that devastating habit.

After that, I picked about a bushel (2 five gal buckets full) of FREE apples. Our neighbors have a tree that they don't use any of the apples from so they're mine if I want em and of course I do lol. I got one bucket worked up, most of them are in the crockpot on low cooking down overnight so I can make sauce of them tomorrow. The rest of them are in the dehydrator. Tomorrow I plan to make some pies and maybe get another batch of apple sauce going.

Ran an add in the free classified paper offering to pick up any free apples, pears or black walnuts anyone had and didnt want, and it was just distributed today, and I got one call already, for all the black walnuts I want. Said could take a pickup load if I wanted them lol.

[patience]

Laura,

Rent a U-Haul, maybe, to haul the compost and stuff? If you get everything ready so you can unload quickly, then return the trailer the same day, it is pretty economical.

[nhlivefreeordie]

Picked the last of my green beans and wax beans this morning early. Then finished shelling the last of the kidney beans and the rest of the black beans. Finished the new frames with the 1/8" hardware cloth and got the dry beans laying out in the sun to make sure they are 100% dry before putting them in jars.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v86/dj88ryr/Blackbeans.jpg

7 Quarts of Spaghetti sauce with morel mushrooms are in the canner now. I am going to take it easy the rest of the day, and spend some time researching for a new venture I am contemplating.

[CapeCMom]

When you're ready, do tell. Good luck!

OK dumb question, how do you know your beans are 100% dry? Is there a way to tell? Test?

[nhlivefreeordie]

When you're ready, do tell. Good luck!

OK dumb question, how do you know your beans are 100% dry? Is there a way to tell? Test?

I have no way of telling, but since I dry them on the vine, then shell, I figure 3-4 days on the drying frame in the sun should be sufficient, I would hate to go through all this trouble only to have them mold in the jars.

[yotetrapper]

If no one objects, I think I will use this thread as my homestead journal. I found I was spending twice the time writing this here, and then nearly the same thing in my hand written journal, so I think I will just write it here, then copy it into a file to print out every month or so.

Today it is in the mid 70s and sunny, perfect usmmer day, blue skies and all! But, you can feel fall coming on now more urgently. You can see it in the birds, the butterflies, the golden rod, ripening apples and pumpkins... fall is near.

I canned the applesauce and was surprised to see my big crockpot, chock full of apples only yields 2.5 quarts... I would of guessed at least 4. But, I canned it, and loaded the crockpot again. Tomorrow I will refridgerate the 2.5 quarts. fill it again, and then can the 5 quarts the next day.

I made two apple crisp-topped pies also. And made a roast chicken dinner with mashed potatoes and gravy.

Pete (DH) is working on the fox pen, as we plan to get a vixen for our young fox and raise a litter of young. The pen's taken him nearly 3 full days, but it's pretty fancy. He made it with urine collection in mind, as we are trappers, and use quite a bit of fox urine for trapping coyotes.

I just washed up all the dishes, now I need to put away a load of laundry, and get ready for work.

[yotetrapper]

Re: beans.....

You can feel when they're not quite dry. Squeeze one, and if it still feels a touch soft, it's not dry. When they're dry, they're hard, like store bought dry beans feel. Larger beans tend to be less dry, so check any big beans you see for softness.

[DM]

It was sunny 70's here today, and i started my day by spreading more TP, that was until the spreader frame broke!

So, i decided to turn this log into some shelving instead,

http://www.fototime.com/5FEA26DB289B337/orig.jpg

If you want to see how i did it, just click on the below link!

http://www.backwoodshome.com/forum/vb/showthread.php?p=238811#post238811

DM

[nhlivefreeordie]

Finished drying the beans and got them into jars and put away, and then canned the last of the green beans and wax beans.
I am officially caught up. Tomorrow, I will play with the new venture all day, no homestead work..:D

[Gracie]

Wayne, Good for you, to be caught up is sure a wonderful feeling. Enjoy your day, tomorrow!

[nhlivefreeordie]

Wayne, Good for you, to be caught up is sure a wonderful feeling. Enjoy your day, tomorrow!

Thanks Gracie, it will still be work in a way, but it is something I choose to do, rather than something that has to be done, there is a huge difference.:D

[yotetrapper]

Today is very fall like, it's almost cold! Made up a few pints of apple butter this morning. Other than that just normal chores, but am heading to work early, as I got a call to come pick all the apples I want from a tree in the city I work in! Cool! Nice apple picking weather! Debating going to an auction in the morning....

[yotetrapper]

It's warmer today. 82, my thermometer says, and sunny.

I woke up before dawn this morning (for once, lol) and hurried over to the last swap meet of the year. I guess you'd call it a flea market, but it has everything from flea market items, to guns, dog, cows and chickens lol. I'm usually poultry shopping, but having all i need, I instead was shopping more for homestead items. First, I bought a hand powered drill for $2. Good to have for just in case. Then, I spent $5 on a hand meat grinder, it's a enterprise, the kind with the legs you bolt down.

Then, I had a guardian angel looking over me I guess, cause I paid for the grinder, then left and wandered over to another booth across the aisle, when I heard someone yelling, "maam, maam." I turned, and it was the meat grinder guy. He asked me did I lose some money? I checked my pockets, and sure enough, my 2 $20s were gone!! He had them, told me he'd just found them, and gave em back. His honesty astounded me! I was so grateful I could hardly talk to thank him!

Then, I also bought a pack of 12 pairs of blue dot chore gloves for $5. Then I found a heck of a deal! An electric meat grinder for $20, and it appears to be brand new, with all the blades! and I just plugged it in and it works! Now, on my days off, I'm gonna try my chicken sausage I've been wanting to make! Also bought 2 3gal buckets with lids. Lots of times I only need 3 gal buckets, they come in handy!

After that, I left and went to a place a guy had responded to my add, to pick black walnuts. I picked 3 5 gal buckets full, and may go back, I just got too hot and my back was killing me so I wussed out and only picked that many, but there's plenty more. He told me to come anytime!

[DM]

Sunny 70's here today, VERY nice out, and i mostly took the day off. I do have a half bu. of tomatoes on the stove cooking down a bit, as i'm going to can them tomorrow... Also, i took a few picts of the deer and turkeys crossing my field,

http://www.fototime.com/328D6F10ACCBF7F/orig.jpg

I see deer pretty much every day here, but i still enjoy watching them...

http://www.fototime.com/C8B6C1C3900BC5E/orig.jpg

DM

[sissy]

Thats wonderful DM, it's so peaceful watching wild life.
Thank you for sharing the pics, I love watching dear as long as they are not eating my stuff. So got to keep the out of the garden & in the fields.
sissy

[TSJ]

You ought to plant a couple of food plots of turnips for the deer, DM. The deer love them and they get huge! The turnip greens in their diet support major antler growth too. I don't know how expensive that is but just my thoughts. They like a mix of chickory too, but I don't know if chickory grows well in Michigan or not.

[DM]

I already have food plots here, and that's why i see so many deer. I cut/rake/bale them in the summer, and sell the hay i get off them... I'm really not into antler hunting, so i'm not willing to spend to many $$ to make bigger antler growth, so i'm happy with the bucks i now get. Although i will admit to haveing more than a few BIG sets hanging in my barn now. :)

http://www.fototime.com/B85D825D0B0658E/standard.jpg


It was sunny 77* here today, and i spread TP most of the day... I only had minor problems with the spreader today, when a chain/sprocket fell apart. So i went for lunch, buying the woodruf key i lost, then came home and fixed it, and spread a few hours longer.

While i was out for lunch, i went and picked up the Ashley wood/coal furnace i bought, so i'll be installing that pretty soon too! Here it is,

http://www.northlineexpress.com/images/products/5SV-30A-lg.jpg

DM

[TSJ]

You know Michigan used to have caribou 200 years ago. So did Wisconsin. Oh well, price of civilization I guess.

[yotetrapper]

Yesterday was mostly spent in cleaning the house, eck. Scrubbed down the outsides of all the cupboards, fridge, stove, etc. Straightened and swept the living room, etc. Then in the evening, I started to grind some chicken. I tried my brand new $20 electric grinder, to discover it is JUNK. It never even spit out any meat before the darn thing jammed up. I tried reversing the blade as I wasn't sure I had it right, then tried all the different plates it came with, nothing, wouldn't handle the chicken!

So I pulled out my other new grinder, an old enterprise 10/12 bolt down model, and Pete bolted it to a hunk of 2x8 which I was then able to clamp to the counter. It worked like a charm, grinding about 10 pounds of chicken meat and pork fat in as many minutes.

Now, today, we are going to pick up a female fox to go with our young male. Buying him from a trapper who runs a supply business here in state. Plan to stop at a roadside stand on the way home and pick up my 100lb bagh of potatoes I buy there every fall, then when I get home, will work on making sausage.

[DM]

It was sunny 70's again today.....a VERY nice day to work outside.

I spent most of the day spreading TP on my neighbors fields,

http://www.fototime.com/02F8073BB80F434/orig.jpg

With that done, i came home and canned tomato sauce, so i had a full day. I guess i'll take tomorrow off. :)

DM

[DM]

Sunny 75* here today, another beautiful day!

I've mentioned many times in here that we grow huge amounts of food around here. This morn., i drove to meet my dad and brother for lunch and do some shopping. On the way home, i stopped and took a pict of a 20 acre field of squash, it's one of many fields full of veggies around here. I thought you would like to see it, so here it is,

http://www.fototime.com/C13A454F886BA62/orig.jpg

After i came home, i decided to finish the shelves i told you about here http://www.backwoodshome.com/forum/vb/showthread.php?p=238811#post238811

And when i was finished, i took a couple picts., and merged them together. They aren't perfect, but you get the idea,

http://www.fototime.com/A117B93783330F6/orig.jpg

There's still room under the first shelve to put things on the floor too, so it made a lot more room in the closet!

DM

[patience]

DM,

That double picture had to be pretty good trick. NICE closet! :D

[JoAnna]

Nice job on the shelves! I need to add a few shelves to an already existing pantry closet. I think I could store more if there were more shelves in it, instead of just the three that are in it now.

I have been prepping part of the garden to plant peas this week, sugar snap and snow peas. I started some cole crop seeds in six packs today, they should be up in less than a week and ready to plant out in 3 or 4 more weeks. I'm going to have to fence off whatever I plant this fall, because we now have rabbits around the place. Hooray.

Trying to finish some painting so I'll be through with it once and for all. I've been painting so long I'm tired of it.

[DM]

Thanks JoAnna... :)



Well, today it was supose to rain, but it mostly rained last night. I think it made it to about 65*.

Anyway, there were several tree's leaning toward my neighbors fence, so i decided to cut them down. What ever wouldn't be good enough for the sawmill, would be good enough for firewood.

http://www.fototime.com/B0EF8EEC3D21A50/orig.jpg

First i'd drop a tree, and buck out what looked like the best chance for a log, then pile everything up to move later. I use the tractor/pallet forks/grabble to push the brush out of the field.

http://www.fototime.com/BA03CE4CB8ED8CF/orig.jpg

While i was out there, i dug out some big stones and brought them home too. If they weren't much over 1,000 pounds each, i just bring them home two at a time,

http://www.fototime.com/1A2A1783C2EDACD/orig.jpg

That's how my day went,

DM

[patience]

Today I gathered the steel scrap from the shop to sell (when I'm done with it, it IS scrap). Then got appointed to drive my daughter and her pet Cockatoo to the vet for a respiratory problem. It seems the bird has allergies like the rest of us. That was 50 miles one way, since bird vets aren't plentiful. This vet office used to have 4 vets on staff, and now only have one = hard times. Bird is fine now, but was tired of it all and wanted to go home. She talks very well and tells you what she thinks of whatever is going on. Said the nose medicine made her water taste bad. But she DID sneeze for us when we asked her to, in order to help clear out her nose. A VERY bright birdbrain, there. :D And she is an excellent guard animal, too. If she gets scared, she can scream at well over 100 decibels, roughly the level of a 747 taking off! And she will call the Rottweiller and the Coy-dog for help, too. She can remove fingers with her beak, and is not shy about using it if she feels threatened.

Did some more work on the Survival Truck. I repaired the front bumper plastic trim, checked and topped off fluids, welded a patch on the rusted frame section, painted the patched area with bedliner spray, and gassed it up. (The new gas tank was intentionally left empty until I was finished welding.) Starts easier with the new fuel pump, too. Returned the master cylinder "core" to the auto parts place, along with an extra brake hose they sold me in error, for refunds, and bought some spare gear oil and other fluids I had used from my stash.

We have rebuilt the brakes and fuel systems, the front and rear axles, and much more on this truck now, so it should be good for another 40K to 50K miles before needing anything major now, which = about 10 years of driving for me. In 10 years time, we may all be riding bicycles, so no point in overdoing this. :sarcastic:

Now it's time to get back in the shop and get busy. A few jobs to clear out of there yet.

[rideaway]

Not been on for a while, you'd think with being laid off that I would have more time, but with Mother-in-law living with us, I try to just stay out of the house. Will be learning a new skill next week, gonna milk three goats for one of my 4-H moms. She has an automatic milker, thank goodness. After going out to watch tonight, I am was very impressed with anyone who does this twice a day, be it milking cows or goats or? Definitly know now it's not an animal I will ever be adding to my homestead, as I am not dedicated enough...

[DM]

Today my brother and i, cleaned 30 big turkeys. Here's all the boned out breast cooling off on a table,

http://www.fototime.com/8775975AF4902E4/orig.jpg

My brother is canning the thighs tomorrow, he took everything but the breast. I cleaned up the breast, packaged most of them for the freezer, and what was left still filled three 5 gallon pails,

http://www.fototime.com/DB4EC12DB85ED02/orig.jpg

My dad came out and watched us work, he said he was cold, so i threw my insulated shirt over him,

http://www.fototime.com/971C74D48D8B117/standard.jpg

He also said he was getting too old to help. lol Dad is now 97.

DM

[sissy]

That is too cool DM. Thanks for introducing your dad. Looks good for 97
sissy

[esh]

Today my brother and i, cleaned 30 big turkeys. Here's all the boned out breast cooling off on a table,

http://www.fototime.com/8775975AF4902E4/orig.jpg

My brother is canning the thighs tomorrow, he took everything but the breast. I cleaned up the breast, packaged most of them for the freezer, and what was left still filled three 5 gallon pails,

http://www.fototime.com/DB4EC12DB85ED02/orig.jpg

My dad came out and watched us work, he said he was cold, so i threw my insulated shirt over him,

http://www.fototime.com/971C74D48D8B117/standard.jpg

He also said he was getting too old to help. lol Dad is now 97.

DM
You tell him his experience and wisdom is the biggest help ever!!

[firegirl969]

Congrats DM on a job well done IMHO. Raising those turkeys and putting them up for future days sure gives you a sense of security and accomplishment. Doesn't it? Hope your weekend is a blessed one, firegirl

[AzLoneRider]

Pulled the last of the pumpkins and yellow crook neck squash, and put the plants in the compost bin. We have a church function tonight so tomorrow morning I will probably get out and turn up the soil for the fall/winter garden. I have compost from our other pile that I will mix in.

The temperature right now is 93.5 degrees, it will probably get up to 100 again. The nights are all in the low 70's or high 60's so it's good sleeping with the window open weather.

[yotetrapper]

Wow DM I would of guessed him to be in his early 80s. He looks wonderful for 97!

Been beautiful the past 2 days, in the 70s, but forecast for back up to near 90 for my days off, grrr. Today was a a lazy day. I only slept 4 hours yesterday, and tried getting up after 5 hours sleep today, saw it was cool and pouring rain, and climbed into the recliner (under a blanket no less!) to sleep 2 more hours. Yesterday I made chili from scratch in a big pot, and tomorrow I will can it up.

I am so much more relaxed and happier since I managed to get to work 40 hours in 4 days instead of 5. The extra day off makes a HUGE difference. Now I am working on figuring out what needs to be done these next two weeks before I go to visit my mom in NY the first week in October. I know I need to butcher some ducks and roosters.

[firegirl969]

DH and I went to a neighboring town today and picked up 12 one lb bags of navy beans, 30 bags of egg noodles on clearance for 73 cents a bag (I got all they had left- yes, that makes me a hoarder, I think), 2 cans of canola cooking spray, 10 cans of salmon (exp 2013), 4 cans of crabmeat (exp 2013), 8 bars of octagon soap for me to make soap tonight, 15 jars of sweet, bread and butter, and dill pickles for $1 each and the makings of a strawberry pie for homecoming at church tomorrow. We are packaging all of the food items we have purchased in the last two weeks and DH is currently cleaning out the storage shed so that we can reorganize our "grocery store." We have pretty much filled in the holes that were in the larder from the last time we went on a shopping spree. Which was about a year ago!

[Faye]

We (DH and I) put together 6 raised beds I bought on sale at lowe's several months ago(about the time I told him I was never going to row crop anymore) and used my handy dandy new cement mixer to mix up the different composts, manures, and other stuff to fill them up. My GS did help his pawpaw do that since I can't do much heavy stuff. That was Thursday and yesterday we put out cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli and brussells sprouts plus mixed soil and filled up another bed. Sowed kale in it this morning. We also got the first course of cinder blocks on another bed laid. DD and her DH said they would go to Mobile for me and get more blocks and compost and manure(don't have enough for all these beds) for me so we still have to work today to get that unloaded when they get back and it is hot as blue blazes out there. My white rock chicks will be here wednesday so we have to get ready for them. Sure wish it would cool off. I am taking pictures if I can just learn how to put them on here.

[patience]

DD set out the grape cuttings we got from a friend this Spring. Only about half of the cuttings survived, but those that did are growing fast. These came from a 100+ year old vine that is somewhat later than Concords, but larger and sweeter. We had one like it on our old homestead, and have really missed it, so we're glad to get another start of these local grapes.

My contractor came with a couple truckloads of driveway stone this morning. Since we shut down the shop, maybe we can keep the driveway in better shape now. There will be a lot less wear and tear on it without all that heavy equipment going in and out. I want to get finished with everything I can that requires big trucks, bulldozers, etc., before the cost goes any higher, due to Peak Oil, eroding US dollar, or whatever.

I spent half the day with the garden tractor and blade, a shovel, and a rake getting the stone levelled. Lots of dust, so I'm covered with it. :rolleyes: Oh well; it washes off. :p Now, we are ready for the rainy Fall season--if we EVER get any rain this year.

[CapeCMom]

Join photobucket. It's pretty easy from there.

[patience]

I want to order one of these portable john's today, for emergency use:
http://www.amazon.com/Reliance-Products-Luggable-Portable-Gallon/dp/B000FIAPXO

Since we tend to shop on Sunday, I make a list as I think of stuff. On the list for today is to order some plastic screen for food drying racks, from these folks: http://www.mcmaster.com/#plastic-mesh-screens/=8wxj1v Their service is great, and they have a real live human being to answer the phone, 24/7/365. And their industrial catalog is over 3" thick, printed on thin paper.

I also need some paint for plastic, to prevent UV damage to some of my solar wiring components--junction boxes and conduit. In the Solar Forum here, someone reccomended Krylon Fusion, so I'll go with that. Might find that locally, allong with some window screen material for other projects.

Now, to ask my wife what is on her list, and figure out the best places to find it all.

[CapeCMom]

My garden is peetering out since the cooler weather is here. I do still have some eggplant coming, and assorted other things, but my green beans have basically quit-my corn-well I got it in too late (which I kind of knew) but I may have a few ears to save for seed. Of course I can use the corn stalks for Fall decorations. I have a few friends at work who have already put dibbs in for the stalks. It is only a few weeks left until our first frost. I'll leave everything in until that point and then I'll pull everything and start adding compost for next year.

[DM]

Congrats DM on a job well done IMHO. Raising those turkeys and putting them up for future days sure gives you a sense of security and accomplishment. Doesn't it? Hope your weekend is a blessed one, firegirl

Over the years, i have raised a lot of ducks/chickens/turkeys, but all of the turkeys i posted about the other day, were given to me, as in FREE. :)

Yes, dad is doing pretty good, i think he shot his last buck about 6 or 7 years ago... Hunting is still his fav subject!

DM

[leera]

I swear I posted to this last night,not sure what happened.

Anyway,I found a somewhat local supplier of finished compost and top soil,who will give me deal since I need 10 yards of,now it's just a matter of getting the first bed built and go get a trailer load to fill it....

[sissy]

I swear I posted to this last night,not sure what happened.

Anyway,I found a somewhat local supplier of finished compost and top soil,who will give me deal since I need 10 yards of,now it's just a matter of getting the first bed built and go get a trailer load to fill it....
I could have swore that I read it last night, and about the raised beds one at a time because of not being able to get to them easy enough with the soil or something like that. Strange!
sissy

I found it:) Here it is
http://www.backwoodshome.com/forum/vb/showthread.php?t=22913

[leera]

I knew I put it somewhere.Thanks! It was late,and I was tired.lol......

[sissy]

Your welcome. It's all good I still got to read it.
sissy

[DM]

It was cloudy and 70* here today, a pretty nice day...

I decided to get back to spreading TP (turkey poop) today,

http://www.fototime.com/30934FB1FAF7FD7/orig.jpg

This thing holds a LOT of TP,

http://www.fototime.com/00FDF733CEB4227/orig.jpg

So, i head to the hay field that i'm going to spread in,

http://www.fototime.com/6A4E60DD08CD296/orig.jpg

And here's the field all done,

http://www.fototime.com/94CDF2F6746A82B/orig.jpg

Spreading TP on the hay fields every 3 years or so, REALLY up's the production!

DM

[patience]

DM,

Was that an Orchard along the road on the right? Kinda looked like it. If so, that would be nice to have fruit so close to home. Maybe make a deal with the neighbor, huh?

[DM]

Yup, it's an apple orchard, well that's what's along the road there. It also has cherries and peaches futher in, and it continues on and on. It's the start of over a thousand acres of orchards in that direction, mostly apples but also as mentioned, peaches, sweet/sour cherries and small amounts of other tree's too...

I always have more apples available to me than i can use, plus i have apple tree's of my own so it's nice to live in the area that i do...

DM

[yotetrapper]

Today was very hot, nearly 90, just when I thought all this was done for the year! In the morning, I butchered 6 chickens, have the meat chilling to be ground tomorrow for more sausage! Then I finally got my chilli canned up, ended up with 8 pints. I'm not a huge bean fan, so with the pints I can give my dh chili, and eat soup myself. I also made the sweet potato biscuits recipe someone posted, but I made them pumpkin instead, substituting pumpkin puree for the sweet potatoes and adding pumpkin pie spice. They were very good! And it made a huge batch, so I froze like 12 of them raw to be cooked another day!

The afternoon was spent working on removing walnut hulls. Will try to simplify that project tomorrow, lol. Also jarred up my powdered sugar, and washed buckets for my brown sugar tomorrow.

[DM]

It was sunny 80* here today, VERY nice out...

I was back to spreading TP, and i had to pass through, close to 1/2 mile of apple orchards to get to the next field,

http://www.fototime.com/A3DE67694158E2D/orig.jpg

You can see how the tree's are loaded with apples,

http://www.fototime.com/50C0C575222E888/orig.jpg

And you can also see, how i really heap the spreader up, it's one heavy SOB when loaded!

http://www.fototime.com/59117A9F14C22A3/orig.jpg

I think i'll take tomorrow off from spreading TP! lol

DM

[BonnyLake]

If we all had that view when we commute to work there would be a lot less stress in this world! Beautiful pictures DM... thanks for sharing!

Bonny

[yotetrapper]

Well this morning I ground my chicken with some pork fat, and made it into 2lbs Italian sausage, and 4-5lbs breafast sausage. Then I picked all the ripe tomatoes and saved seeds from each variety that was ripe. Scooped the seeds and pulp into individual party cups and added just a bit of water, and they will now ferment for 1-2 weeks until the pulp floats, and seeds sink, then they were be drained, and set on paper to dry. Now I am off to do some outside work (laundry, chickens, transplanting some fall perennials, etc.).

[patience]

Bought a one year old (very gently used) 15 gallon spot sprayer for the fencerows like this one: http://www.tractorsupply.com/spot-sprayer-15-gal--2138134?ddkey=http%3AClickInfo&evtype=CpgnClick&intv_id=15001&mpe_id=12075&cm_cr=No%20Campaign-_-Web%20Activity-_-Cross%20Sell%20Up%20Sell-_-ProductDetail_Espot1-_-Spot%20Sprayer,%2015%20gal.

for $60 from a friend. Another $15 got me a cart like the one at the bottom of the linked page. I spent the day getting the cart modified to fit, and replacing a tube in one flat tire. (Had a tube on hand.) This outfit pulls nicely behind the lawn mower or garden tractor, and the spray will reach the tops of my apple trees. :D Now I need to find out how to assure I get the herbicide out of the thing before I spray fruit trees with it.

A friend offered me many more starts of Concord grapes, which I'll transplant when we get more rain. I have some very strong galvanized steel posts I got as salvage to build a grape arbor, and galvanized pipe to make the tops with. I hope to have about 16 to 20 vines going by next year. I had a huge brushpile shredded into chips for mulch this summer, and plan to use that around the grapes while they get started, to control grass and weeds.

[nhlivefreeordie]

Getting the room ready for the wood stove installation tomorrow. I did get a chance to run down cellar and finish another step in bringing my churn back from neglect.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v86/dj88ryr/churnrefurbhandle.jpg

[yotetrapper]

Your workbench is WAY too neat Wayne.

[nhlivefreeordie]

Your workbench is WAY too neat Wayne.

OCD :o everyone that goes into my shop says the same thing, I have a hard time working in clutter, so I always clean and put everything away when a project is complete, it sucks sometimes, but that is the way I have to do it.

The wood stove guy put installation off 1 day. So we won't have our new stove in until tomorrow, you know you have a problem when getting a new wood burner is very exciting to you...lol:D

Oh well, perhaps I can finish the churn, or go out and cover another area for ads and distribution of the paper.

[JarDude]

OCD :o everyone that goes into my shop says the same thing, I have a hard time working in clutter, so I always clean and put everything away when a project is complete, it sucks sometimes, but that is the way I have to do it.

The wood stove guy put installation off 1 day. So we won't have our new stove in until tomorrow, you know you have a problem when getting a new wood burner is very exciting to you...lol:D

Oh well, perhaps I can finish the churn, or go out and cover another area for ads and distribution of the paper.

Actually it is CDO. It really is the same thing only in alphabetical order like it should be.















:lol:

[tomato204]

"Actually it is CDO. It really is the same thing only in alphabetical order like it should be." Funny, LOL

[DM]

It was mostly cloudy and 80* today... Pretty nice out!

When i got up this morn., i looked out the window, and lots and lots of wild turkeys were feeding in the lawn, here's some of them,

http://www.fototime.com/AFEEDCD69A2D0F1/orig.jpg

Anyway, i had planned to spread more TP today, so after b.fast, i stopped at the "apple store" to pick my lunch. lol

http://www.fototime.com/C092B34B745BCFB/orig.jpg

With the apples in hand, i headed to where i get my TP. Here's a look inside the barn i'm cleaning out,

http://www.fototime.com/E83905397A3B875/orig.jpg

I use my friends loader tractor to load the spreader,

http://www.fototime.com/3ED21BCD07AD887/orig.jpg

And once loaded, headed home to spread the TP on my hay fields... I'm happy to report, the TP spreading is all done! lol

DM

[nhlivefreeordie]

I bet your glad you spreading days are finished for this season.
I managed to finish the churn today, and nail down some more advertisers and a few extra articles.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v86/dj88ryr/Restorationfinished.jpg

[patience]

NH,

Great job on the churn! I spent more hours than I cared to as a kid cranking one just like that. :p Took 20 to 30 minutes for butter to "gather" using it, then you pour the buttermilk out the screen and scrape the soft butter off the inside and the paddles. Wash it all up with hot water and soap, and start kneading (Mom called it "working") the butter in a bowl with wooden paddles to get out as much water as possible--makes it keep longer. Work in some salt and cram it into a wooden butter mold my grandad made, and pop it in the fridge. The mold had to be watersoaked to help keep the butter from sticking to it so badly.

That little screen required a dishrag over it to keep the cream from sloshing out of it, too, while you were churning. And I recall that an occassional dose of Vaseline on the gears, plus a drop of oil on the shaft of the crank made a world of difference in how it worked.

Today I got one junk lawn mower torn down to scrap out. I'm saving the 16 HP Vanguard engine and the wheels and tires. I keep a selection of that sort of thing on hand for repairs on my own stuff, and it has been paying well to do that. All the junk parts are in the truck ready to go to the junkyard, along with whatever else I could find. I made a little headway cleaning in the shop while DD cut weeds today, so the place is looking a little more presentable.

[nhlivefreeordie]

Patience, by any chance do you remember the manufacturer. There is absolutely no identifying marks. I have seen others like it, but they did not know who made them either.

[firegirl969]

I had one that looks sorta similar, but the jar and top of the jar that screws on are different. The handle is red like that though. The name of mine is Dazey.

[DM]

I bet your glad you spreading days are finished for this season.
I managed to finish the churn today, and nail down some more advertisers and a few extra articles.


That churn looks great Wayne, good job on that!

TP last 2 to 3 years, so i won't have to spread it again for a while! :)

DM

[patience]

NH,
Don't think it's a Dazey. They stamped the name and numbers on the sheet metal part of the top, IIRC.

The oldest Dazey's had exposed gears, then this one, which is what I grew up with:

http://cgi.ebay.com/vintage-dazey-buttle-churn-no-4-4-qts-1900-/330475987624?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item4cf1e762a8

Here's one that looks similiar to yours, the "Dandy':
http://dairyantiques.com/Glass_Jar_Churns_1.html#Dandy_Glass_Churns

The one with the square top is way down the page. Don't know if it is identical, though. And your sceen is different than a Dazey, if I'm seeing it right.

[nhlivefreeordie]

NH,
Don't think it's a Dazey. They stamped the name and numbers on the sheet metal part of the top, IIRC.

The oldest Dazey's had exposed gears, then this one, which is what I grew up with:

http://cgi.ebay.com/vintage-dazey-buttle-churn-no-4-4-qts-1900-/330475987624?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item4cf1e762a8

Here's one that looks similiar to yours, the "Dandy':
http://dairyantiques.com/Glass_Jar_Churns_1.html#Dandy_Glass_Churns

The one with the square top is way down the page. Don't know if it is identical, though. And your sceen is different than a Dazey, if I'm seeing it right.

Thanks Patience, that one down the page in the second link, the SCC one is it exactly. Great info!! So mine is from 1946 and sold for $2.08 in the Sears catalog that year, neat!! It is good knowing this churn has been around longer than me and is still capable of doing a lot of work.

[DM]

It was mostly coudy and 77* here today, a very nice day to run the sawmill!

And i spent much of the day milling the "weirdest" Maple i've ever seen, completely covered in warts!

http://www.fototime.com/28398B076C0011E/orig.jpg

It produced the most amazing beautiful lumber i've ever seen from a maple. If you want to see how i did it, and the lumber, just click on the link! http://www.backwoodshome.com/forum/vb/showthread.php?p=241553#post241553

DM

[patience]

Today I gave the scythe a workout cutting the Horse weeds that I couldn't manage when it was 95* out there and 85% humidity. :fie: This is an old wood snath I bought at auction a couple years ago, with a short brush blade on it. It worked fine on the big tough weeds, but left me tuckered after an hour of it. Time for bed. I have a truck load of horse manure coming tomorrow. I want to mix that with the wood chips I have (LOTS of wood chips), so it will be a real work day.

[JoAnna]

Got two truckloads of white oak rounds yesterday and today from down by the coast. Took the 1 ton down there and DH got a guy to load them with the bucket on a small track hoe. Wish I had one at home, I could get used to having a machine like that. When I got home, I just rolled them out over in the side yard where we'll split them--too heavy for me to handle on my own so I just wrestled them upright and rolled them out on the ground.

Planted another couple of flats of various greens--collards, kale, and spinach to set out in a couple weeks.

Also going to make a shelf out of some 2x10's we got as scrap lumber, had to cut about a foot off the ends where the wood was broken and split. They will make an awesome shelf for my canned stuff. Supposed to rain this weekend and dh is working straight through, so I might build the shelves myself.

[TSJ]

It was mostly coudy and 77* here today, a very nice day to run the sawmill!

And i spent much of the day milling the "weirdest" Maple i've ever seen, completely covered in warts!

http://www.fototime.com/28398B076C0011E/orig.jpg

It produced the most amazing beautiful lumber i've ever seen from a maple. If you want to see how i did it, and the lumber, just click on the link! http://www.backwoodshome.com/forum/vb/showthread.php?p=241553#post241553

DM

That log would have made some beautiful wooden bowls too.

[CapeCMom]

I can see someone making a few mantles or bar tops out of that maple. It's gorgeous stuff!

[patience]

Yeah, the woodworkers are gonna fight over that maple! :p

Today I made a compost pile. I got the load of horse manure I was expecting. As we unloaded it, we mixed it with the wood chips I had. THEN (too late) I realized it will wash down the hill at the first heavy rain, so I needed some sort of wall below the pile. Had a lot of used concrete blocks on hand, once intended for a root cellar that didn't work out, so I'm hauling them to this big compost pile and stacking them for a wall. Had to move some of the pile to make a neat job of it, so it has all been tossed like a salad now.

I'm getting another load of manure next week, which will go on top of this pile and lay there for the winter. My idea is for the rain to soak this all thoroughly and compact it so it will compost well by Spring. At least the finer stuff should have a good start by then. The compost pile is near where I intend to put a big grape arbor next Spring, so it will be handy to use on the grapes. Got a little earthmoving to do before the grapes go in, though. I plan to plow a few furrows to make a water catchment for the grapes, lay in some of the semi-composted stuff, then use the tractor and blade to push dirt over the top of the composted chips. Doing Hugelkultur (sp?) sort of mass-production style.
http://hubpages.com/hub/Hugelkultur-Using-Woody-Waste-in-Composting

Okay, I wussed out before I got the compost pile done tonight. Got the concrete blocks all moved and dry stacked for a wall on one side and one end of it--120 of them. The pile is 8 ft. x 3 1/2 ft. deep x 20 ft. long, or about 21 cubic yards of the stuff. There are still a couple yards of the chips to be forked on top of this before I get more manure next weekend. Later. I'm pooped.

[patience]

We have rain predicted (FINALLY!) for tonight through Tuesday: 30%, 70% Monday, 30% Tuesday. Guess I'd better finish the compost pile today. :( Sore and tired don't count today I guess.

Now that the concrete blocks and a few other things are out of the driveway, I'm a couple steps closer to getting more stone for it. Still have a bunch of clearing out to do here, after close of business. Lots of iron laying around that needs to be inside, since I probably won't use it soon.

There is a pair of sliding glass doors tied to the retaining wall that want to be part of a solar water heater, and the steel framing for that is on the welding table ATM. I hope to get the frame for that thing in place before bad weather, just to get the stuff out of my way.

One dead mower is gone now, and salvaged a good 16HP Briggs and Stratton Vanguard engine from it. Two mowers to go yet--one to fix, and get inside (It just needs some electrical work), the other to junk out for parts. That junker is supposed to become a scaled-down 4 wheeled hay wagon someday soon.

It is time to get the tomato cages out of the garden, and compost the vines. No tomatoes on them at all now. That will be the end of everything in the gardens, except for digging sweet potatoes. I'll leave that for the very last minute before frost, hoping we get some rain for a little more growth there.

[firegirl969]

We woke up to some much needed rain today also. I can feel it in my joints, but we really needed it. I hope it keeps on and off all day so that it will be a good, slow, soaking rain. I plan to catch up on some sewing today. DSD wants me to make her a reversible blanket with some fleece fabric me and her mom bought, she has an animal with a rip, and I need to sew some buttons on DH's work pants and sew a tear on the couch.

Patience, as I was reading your above post about the metal, it reminded me to ask you what is the best metal to build a frame for the solar panels out of? We will have two 125 kyocera's and two evergreen 205 watts, so we are going to get a welder who lives close by to make us a frame for them. Thanks in advance, firegirl

[patience]

firegirl,
Because it will be outdoors, something that wouldn't rust or corrode would be nice, but very expensive, like aluminum or stainless. But the cost of those is absolutely prohibitive. I used plain old steel angles and pipes to make one for the nieghbor that I talked about some months ago. Pipe is the strongest shape for the weight for forces in ALL directions, angle is next cheapest, and strong in 2 directions.

The downside of steel is, you get to paint it EVERY year, like an LP tank. If you don't at least touch up the rusty spots, it will degrade badly in a few years. A good oil based, brush-on aluminum paint will last pretty well, and isn't too expensive. Spray paint just doesn't make a thick enough coating to last for more that a summer. I used some aluminum paint sold for use on LP tanks, and have been happy with it. Found it at Orscheln's Farm Supply here. Any farm store should have something suitable; tell 'em you're painting a fuel tank on the farm, and they'll come up with something.

I finished the compost pile this morning, then hauled some lawn timbers out there to raise the wall height about 8". It's about 4 ft. tall now. I used the remaing lawn timbers to edge the new strawberry patch, and retrieved the firewood we had used temporarily. (Temporary measures mean double work, eventually.)

Stil haven't planted the walking onions, so it's time to do that. I did get 8 pounds of flour ground so my wife can make bread today. First thing is to get ready for rain tonight and tomorrow--and hope it happens! So, take the blade off the tractor and put the tractor in the barn, then plant onions I guess.

[patience]

firegirl,

Okay. I don't think I answered your real question. I think maybe you meant the shape and sizes of metal?

If you put all those panels on one rack, then I would want a frame starting with something like 2" black pipe. This is black gas pipe--not galvanized, because the welder will hate you--galvanizing is a coating of zinc, which burns at welding temperatures and makes the guy sick. The weld is no good either, if it is polluted with zinc. It can be done, but it sucks to weld galvanized metal.

I'd use a couple runs of 2" pipe, parallel, and a couple feet apart. Build a frame of 1 1/2" X 1 1/2" X 1/8" angle iron out from there to suit your panel mounting holes. This framework should be attached to Mother earth via a post in the center, with a hinge arrangement to adjust the angle from vertical. Any commercial mounting advertisement will show this. I have no idea how to draw on a computer, so I'll look for a link to a picture.

Got one: http://www.altestore.com/store/Solar-Panel-Mounts-Trackers/Top-of-Pole-Solar-Mounts/IronRidge-Two-Seas-TOP-OF-POLE-MOUNTS/IronRidge-Uni-Tp06Ll-Doubletier-TopPole-70-Sppt/p1867/ This is a nice simple, strong design.

There are lots of ways to build the hinging thing, just be sure that you can fix it solidly in position when you get it at the right angle. Your welder will have some ideas. Note that this ad says to mount their frame on a post made of 6" schedule 40 pipe. That is pretty standard for 4 to 6 panels. That post needs to be set 4 feet deep in about half a yard of concrete to make sure it stays put. Some means of adjusting the vertical axis is needed to get it facing true south. Probably the cheapest way is a couple huge u-bolts to go around that 6" pipe. And, no, it ain't gonna be cheap, either. Sorry. Compare what it costs to build it VS buying one like in the linked ad.

Make the post tall enough that you don't throw rocks at the panels with your lawn mower. Best thing is, when you mow grass, cover the panels!!! Plywood and a couple C-clamps will work for that.

[patience]

Got our younger truck in the shop for work. It has 125K miles on it, and nearly everything is orginal on it. It wants at least one new rear brake drum and shoes, rear axle bearings and seals, front brake pads, fron whell bearings and seals, U-joints, all the steel brake lines (rusty, like the other truck), rubber brake hoses, a fuel pump, fuel lines (also rusted), a fuel pump, and a new clutch, pressure plate, and throwout bearing. Not sure about the tie rod ends yet. I'll put a fan belt on it, plug wires and spark plugs, and change oil and filter. The rest will be done by a friend of mine, and we will trade work for it. Probably $800 to $1K worth of parts, though. Better now, before the parts go up some more. This much stuff used to be around $300, a few years ago. http://www.malthusia.com/images/smilies/icon/eek.gif Still one heck of a ot cheaper than trading trucks--and getting a worse one used, or paying the price of a house for a new one. Don't think I'll EVER buy another new vehicle, unless I win a lottery, and I'm not buying any tickets. My wife calls lottery tickets a "stupidity tax"--she's Scotch, and only bets on sure things. :sarcastic:

Got the onions planted last night, and watered them and the grape starts. The ground is so dry it is dust, and really hard. More weed cutting today and hauling them to pile for compost. If it EVER rains again, then I can burn off a steep area by the driveway to kill off the remainder of weeds there. Fire danger is high right now. Also repotted my Aloe Vera plants; they had babies, so I now have 15 of them! Christmas gifts, maybe.

I have to find a place for some foam board and other stuff stored in the sunporch room, since DD wants to use that area to assemble solar heat boxes for sale. It's a never ending battle here to find room for things.

[DM]

Well, i finally mowed my grass, but before i did, i took some picts of the mushrooms growing by my shop,

http://www.fototime.com/B9B6FD4E337AD21/orig.jpg

I think they look pretty cool!

http://www.fototime.com/1194EC2865A5FA2/orig.jpg

http://www.fototime.com/8DF50C5E9A972CD/orig.jpg

And while i was at it, i went out back and took a pict. of my pumpkin/squash garden too,

http://www.fototime.com/08406767EEA285C/orig.jpg

Soon, my greenhouse friend will start selling the pumpkins...

DM

[BonnyLake]

These mushroom pictures are so beautiful, you really can't improve on the artistic side of nature can you?

Next time put a measure next to one so I can see the size... some look like Alice in wonderland and you could sit on them!

Bonny

[DM]

That's the idea of getting down so low, it makes them look really tall... lol I'd say they were about 6 or so inches tall... lol

Glad you liked the picts..

DM

[BigOBear]

Thanks DM... very inspirational to try some pics like that. What kind of camera do you have?

[offgridbob]

I gather none were eatable ? When I was on the coast of oregon vacationing we came across some that were as big as an orange and the same color. They had little black squiglies on them. I was told they were somewhat deadly but they also had one the same size,color and smaller squiglies that was very good to eat. Hence I only eat them out of a can

[BonnyLake]

That's the idea of getting down so low, it makes them look really tall... lol I'd say they were about 6 or so inches tall... lol

Glad you liked the picts..

DM

Do you remember the movie "Soilent Green" - Heston and Robinson? When Robinson's character was dying he got to lay in a bed in a room with pictures all around him of how life used to be?
413
Hopefully we can keep those little shrooms and all else out there in one piece for posteriety and not just in pics like yours.

[patience]

Today I took apart another riding mower. Trashed a lot of it, saved some expensive-to-buy parts for repairs on others like it, and saved the frame and front axle to build me a 4 wheeled farm wagon, 1/4 scale. The junk is in the truck ready to go to the scrapyard, where I will shop around for goodies tomorrow.

That will be 2 of the 4 tractors gone. The other 2 will get repaired to use.

What happened to NCLee? Anybody heard from him? I've been missing his posts for a while now.

[DM]

Do you remember the movie "Soilent Green" - Heston and Robinson? When Robinson's character was dying he got to lay in a bed in a room with pictures all around him of how life used to be?
413
Hopefully we can keep those little shrooms and all else out there in one piece for posteriety and not just in pics like yours.

I do remember that movie! lol I was at a friends house last week, and i saw it was on their sat. menue guide. I didn't watch it though, even though i was tempted... When i saw it for the first time, i remember thinking, who thinks up these things! lol

DM

BTW, my camera is a Cannon SX110 IS

[yotetrapper]

Whoa wait..........is Lee a HE?

[mly692]

Those mushrooms look like shaggy manes, aka inky caps. And yes they are edible.

[DM]

They MUST be edible, my lawn mower didn't get sick! :) :)

DM

[jonvee]

Loved the pumpkins DM. Wish I had the space to grow that many. My 3 Cinderella pumpkins may finally grow bigger and turn color with all the warm weather we're having. I hate when it gets like this...last week it was in the 60's and starting to really feel like fall. Yesterday we had record breaking heat all over. My house was 111 - yuck!!

[DM]

Loved the pumpkins DM. Wish I had the space to grow that many. My 3 Cinderella pumpkins may finally grow bigger and turn color with all the warm weather we're having. I hate when it gets like this...last week it was in the 60's and starting to really feel like fall. Yesterday we had record breaking heat all over. My house was 111 - yuck!!

DANG that is hot! It's sunny 60 here right now... lol

I planted the pumpkins with FREE seed, and then pretty much forgot them, so they were easy! Although the pict. doesn't show it, i'd say there's about 40 in that patch, plus some butternut squash too. Also, the pumpkins are bigger than they look in that pict..

DM

[Gracie]

DM, The mushrooms in your yard are lovely, my imagination sees it as draped dark striated material, that someone has perfectly embroideried tiny white doves upon, and your pumpkin patch would certainly do Charley Brown proud, lol! If I'm seeing it right, you have not only ripe, but also ripening pumpkins there...hope the lady is not overwhelmed by all the pumpkins you bring to her, for to sell:). But do have a question...did you cover your pumpkin patch with grass clippings, right after you planted the seeds, cuz I don't see a single solitary weed in your pumpkin patch. Am beginning to think of you as the 'photo fellow', as you get the essence of it all, in just a photo or two.

Patience, I too have been wondering bout Lee, have not read any posts for a week or 2 now....Hope all is well, and that they are just super busy, with finishing up the years canning, and getting ready for winter...maybe they got their chickens and goats and are just super busy...do so hope that is all it is.....

[patience]

Gracie,

Yeah, me too. I hope he's okay. Seems like we really make some friends here, and get concerned about them.

I'm still junking out stuff to get the place cleaned up. Can't seem to sell enough of that to keep up with the bills for fixing up our trucks, though. In addition to a new clutch, pressure plate, throwout bearing, slave cylinder, new brakes all around, fuel pump "module", $544 list price! :eek: (we found it for about $230), front and rear axle bearings and seals, $70 fuel filter/pressure regulator, fuel lines, brake lines, and a host of other stuff, the radiator is leaking. :( And there is an oil leak, so we are putting in a new valve cover gasket, and a new rear main seal since the tranny is out anyway to do the clutch.

It's one of the new and improved aluminum jobs, with plastic tanks that are just snapped onto each end. The plastic gets old and cracks, and the whole thing is junk. Can't fix 'em anymore. Cheapest I can find online is about $130. And I don't think this is over yet....

[DM]

It was a beautiful sunny 67* out today, what a REALLY nice day to be out in the sun! Anyway, i was back at cleaning out firewood/log tree's from along a fence line. First i cut them down and then trimmed all the limbs off and topped them,

http://www.fototime.com/BF790D8C6097060/orig.jpg

With that done, i backed the tractor up, hooking a chain from the tree to the tractor, and pulled the whole tree out into the field,

http://www.fototime.com/6BC5DAE76B5FEB7/orig.jpg

Once i had the tree's cut down/limbed/skidded and cut to managable lengths, i started loading them into my log hauling running gear,

http://www.fototime.com/AA626A66ACDDFE4/orig.jpg

Even though they look like mostly firewood, there's a LOT of 2x4's in that load! As it's quite a ways to the house, i loaded a few short pieces of firewood on the forks too,

http://www.fototime.com/7C00F16C2DDDA84/orig.jpg

Well, that's how my day went!

DM

[NCLee]

Good Morning All! (Hand waving at ya!)

It has been a couple or so of hectic weeks around here. It's finally slowed down enough to spend some quality time here this morning. Sure have enjoyed trying to catch up with everyone's doings. May take several days of reading, since there's so much going on. :) That's really a GOOD THING!

Our SMALL country church had some BIG events that took a huge amount of time to accomplish. One of them was geared to the great outdoors, with a hunting guide giving the message. We were hoping for about 750 people to attend, since we were offering door prizes and lots of sampling of wild game dishes from frog legs to rabbit, squirrel, quail, rattlesnake, alligator to exotic domestic that included bison and ostrich. BBQ chicken and venision for those less adventuresome.

Well, we had 822 registrations, a number who didn't register, along with the workers. Estimated that we had close to 900 people!! There was a lot of discussion afterwards about fishes and loaves from the Bible. We had enough to feed everyone and some left over. BTW, this was a free event. No charge to anyone who wanted to attend.

Three days later, we hosted a Baptist association meeting. There were another 250 people attending. This time food was a pig picking and BBQ chicken again. With all the trimmings, including desserts. Some of the best homemade apple cobblers that you'll ever eat. I've gotta get some of those recipes!!!

FWIW, it'll be a long time before I want to see folding tables and chairs again. LOL We didn't rent them. Borrowed from other organizations, which meant pick up, setup, and return afterwards.

It'll take a month :yes4: to get rid of these dishpan hands. Now I know what it's like to be a dishwasher in the armed forces (without benefit of modern monster dishwashers).

To help hold down expenses we did alot of things that many people don't realize have to be done. For example, we kept the ice machine busy making ice. Every time it was full, the ice was bagged and put into a freezer. Then, it became a battle as the ice was used for all the coolers of meat that accumulated just ahead of the cook. Fill the freezer back up with bagged ice only to have it emptied again, almost immediately. Especially when the horse troughs were filled with bottled water and soft drinks. Don't know how many soft drinks we had, but do know that the goal was 2,100 bottles of water. Think we ended up with around 2,300. Only had a few cases left afterwards.

Anyway, with all the goings on a church, things were left undone here, so we're still in catchup mode. Finally getting some rain and cooler temps, so we'll be adding grass cutting on top of everything else.

That's not a complaint, BTW. We need the rain (classified as severe drough here). Been praying for the record heat of this summer to abate. And even thought it meant long hours of hard work, we thoroughly enjoyed the fellowship at church over those 10 days or so of setup, meetings, and returning things back to normal afterwards.

Thanks for letting me share our story of the last couple of weeks with you. Now, I'll get back to enjoying reading yours.

Life is good!

Lee

[sissy]

Wow!!! Lee, It is so good to see you here again we miss you something fierce. So glad to hear about the events & the turn outs. Work like that is well worth the tiredness & dish pan hands:meeting:. Prayers for helping you get caught up there at home. Have a great day
sissy

[Gracie]

Lee, Welcome back...you certainly have been missed! Thank you for sharing all the activities your Church has been having. And with so very many folks coming to them, that has to be heart warming! All our lives seem to be so busy this time of the year, but still when one person is missing, you can't help but wonder, and hope all is well, and remember, they are probably just as busy as everyone else is...lol! So good to see you again!

[patience]

Glad to have you back! It seemed very quiet over your way, and some of us were beginning to worry about you. It's great you were involved in the church work, and glad you enjoyed it.

Lots of clean-up, paint-up, fix-up projects going on here trying to get everything under control before bad weather. It has cooled off here, too, but ZERO rain. :( Crops are drying too fast, and I've heard of several combine fires in our county. Got a no-burn thing going, and asking for water conservation by the county water authority.

Amidst all the usual Fall work and my long list of projects, I was gifted yesterday with 2 rototillers--in pieces. It was sort of a mixed emotion thing. Yeah, I'm glad to get them, but the las thing I needed right now is more make-work projects! :p

DD and SIL stopped by this morning for breakfast and to pick up a dog crate we'd borrowed, and also to take thier treadle sewing machine home. We found that one at a great price, and like new condition sometime last winter, but they have been covered up with working on their home and had no room for it until now. SIL is going over their wood/coal/LP gas range diligently to assure it is in perfect shape before installing it. Has the chimney materials (insulated SS), so that should be going into service soon.

[DM]

It's sunny 70* today, really nice for working outside. So, i worked on getting my back garden cleaned out so i can add a bunch of planer chips and compost to it.

With it so nice out, i also decided to pick some apples,

http://www.fototime.com/0A18F8D8EA85E25/orig.jpg

These are some nice apples, i picked 5 bu.

http://www.fototime.com/166BC8B8E2F3E74/orig.jpg

DM

[BonnyLake]

Those apple trees are full DM.! It takes about 3 large apples per pint for sauce = ... lots !

[sissy]

DM, those apples look delish, one of these days I hope to have some of my own. I'm making apple souce & apple butter today, but I had to buy my apples. Love to read your updates. I think you may have missed your calling as a photographer :). I love seeing the pics. I have always loved taking pics, but have not replaced my 35mm after it broke. Maybe one of these days.
sissy

[BigOBear]

I think you may have missed your calling as a photographer :).

Agreed... love seeing the pics

[esh]

Beautiful fruit!!

[DM]

Thanks folks!

I've always loved photography, even when i was a kid, i would beg my mother to buy a roll of film for our Brownie camera. lol (that i still have)

Anyway, through the years i lived in Alaska, i took thousands of picts., and i did sell some enlargements of Picts. like this one,

http://www.fototime.com/53D30EE90D0E6AE/standard.jpg

Of course, the quality is MUCH lower here, to keep the pict. size managable to post on this forum. Anyway, i no longer use a top of the line camera, just one with decent specs., that will do what i want.

Thanks again,

DM

[sissy]

Dm , That is so cool, & a late congrats for selling some. I bet you felt 10 ft tall. I would have.
sissy

[firegirl969]

Thanks for sharing the pics, DM. Those trees loaded with apples are a sight to behold. I'm sending prayers your way for added strength while you and the missus put them all up. You will have a great winter with all of those, for sure!

[Faye]

I love the picts of the apple trees. Living here in Alabama I can't (or haven't so far) get them to produce. I have a couple trees and they bloom but the fruit is small and the humidity gets to them I guess. We have just about got the fall garden planted. We built the raised beds and filled them which is lots of hard work but we have enough of them built for the fall veggies. We still have to build several more before spring but at least we don't have to rush now. It has finally cooled off some here and we got some rain last week. I have been planning to can the sweet potatoes since last week but things keep getting in the way. Hopefully we will get them done today. NCLee, it is good to hear from you and about all the great happenings at your church.

[Gracie]

DM, Your apple tree is amazing...it's about as heavy laden with big beautiful apples, as have ever seen...and you have no broken limbs...now that's one sturdy tree! It looks to have enough apples to be put up, to last for a long, long, time!

[TSJ]

DM, I notice that you don't kill off the weeds underneath your tree like the commercial orchards do. Yet, you have some incredible production from your tree. Do you do anything special?

[TSJ]

I love the picts of the apple trees. Living here in Alabama I can't (or haven't so far) get them to produce. I have a couple trees and they bloom but the fruit is small and the humidity gets to them I guess. We have just about got the fall garden planted. We built the raised beds and filled them which is lots of hard work but we have enough of them built for the fall veggies. We still have to build several more before spring but at least we don't have to rush now. It has finally cooled off some here and we got some rain last week. I have been planning to can the sweet potatoes since last week but things keep getting in the way. Hopefully we will get them done today. NCLee, it is good to hear from you and about all the great happenings at your church.

Hi Fay,

Living here is southeast Texas it is hard to get apple trees to produce. However, there are two types that will produce because they are warm weather tolerant. They only need 200 cold hours in order to produce (40 degrees or less). Talk to your county Ag agent and see what they recommend.

[DM]

DM, I notice that you don't kill off the weeds underneath your tree like the commercial orchards do. Yet, you have some incredible production from your tree. Do you do anything special?

I usally keep the grass under my tree's quite short, but i've been quite lax lately... I think i get away with it because i live in a place that orchard tree's thrive, and it lets you get away with doing some things not quite as good as you should. To be honest, i'm a bit sick of taking care of the orchard tree's, as they are a LOT of work and it's starting to show.

DM

[DM]

Today it was sunny 70* with a breeze... I was back at cutting out problem tree's for firewood and saw logs.

I pulled my trailor to a "new spot" in the woods today, as it's easier to haul shorts and crooked logs on it. It also is gives me a nice flat work space to work on saws, at least until it's loaded.

Once on site, first thing i did was to cut a "skid trail" into the woods, so i could get my tractor to the tree's i was after,

http://www.fototime.com/D4A5783D8C99DFE/orig.jpg

What i was actually after, were a few American Blk. Cherrys that were shadeing my neighbors hay field that "he" wanted out, so i picked the closest one, and of course it was a "leaner" in the wrong direction!

First thing i did was notch the tree on the side, in the direction i wanted the tree to fall. Then i bored straight in through the tree just behind the notch with the tip of the bar, pulled the saw out, and pounded wedges in the hole on each side of the tree. Then i finished the cutting, going in from the back side of the tree,

http://www.fototime.com/95EF3B1D901D0F7/orig.jpg

Did it fall where i wanted?? Not perfectly, but it got close. lol Anyway, i cut several tree's down, bucked the logs out of them, and loaded what i could get to easily. Then i moved the trailor to the "old spot" i was working at the other day, and frinished loading the trailor,

http://www.fototime.com/8DEB48D370E833B/orig.jpg

And as you can see, i had a pretty big load today, a mix of aspen, cherry and even a very nice bass wood!

http://www.fototime.com/44B69F45B5935A8/orig.jpg

I still have more to cut, but i think i got a pretty good load for today!

DM

[KarenBC]

I think i'll take tomrow off from spreading TP! lol



That is one impressive TP spreader! Double axle yet!

[BonnyLake]

Thanks folks!
Of course, the quality is MUCH lower here, to keep the pict. size managable to post on this forum. Anyway, i no longer use a top of the line camera, just one with decent specs., that will do what i want.

Thanks again,

DM

It's hard to believe that such a beautiful majestic bird like that is first cousin to a buzzard!:p

The things you can learn on NatGeo :)