- Published on
Victor and I enjoyed beautiful fall weather at the ranch...warm sun, long shadows and ideal conditions (cool not too cold) for sleeping out on the back porch.
Very special sighting of a Bald Eagle perched in a dead tree. Also saw the gray fox that I have seen each of my last 3 - 4 trips up there.
Very special sighting of a Bald Eagle perched in a dead tree. Also saw the gray fox that I have seen each of my last 3 - 4 trips up there.
How we kept ourselves busy:
- Hauled two trailer-loads (4 bales) of straw and spread under various fruit trees for mulch. I think I am up to about 20 trees done, having done six with Allan earlier this year. Didn't finish spreading around a couple trees but have some straw clumps there ready to break apart, spread and tamp down.
- As we were working on the hillside distributing the straw mulch, we were also pulling and cutting yellow star thistle. We filled the back of the jeep with this nasty stuff then burned it in the incinerator.
- Star thistle seeds galore in the jeep led to having to do a thorough sweep-out of the jeep. Don't want to be the vector, spreading star thistle.
- Tidied up the remaining straw bales in the corral. Once these get soaked from rain, they will be much harder to work with. I hope to do more seeding at the dam, followed with straw to cover. I collected seed this year from the flourishing wild rye that I plan to use. The one steep area of the dam that we (Allan and I) seeded two years ago has done very well.
- We relocated the small construction remnant pile that was to the left of the woodshed. It consisted of smallish pieces of plywood and some roofing material. Some of the plywood is not holding up well. We put some rocks on the dirt behind the woodshed to rest the plywood on, then leaned them up against the back of the shed. the scraps of roofing material are draped over the whole. We later saw that there might be a better place to locate this out under the lean-to. We did put a couple of wood pallets together with some other pallets under the lean-to.
- Found the old ladder jacks out in the corral. I put them in the garage so they won't get any rustier and become useless. They are a functioning tool but maybe they will just be part of a decorative 'old tool display'. Either way, out of the rain.
- Victor tidied up the woodshed and stacked more firewood from the heap that is still on the ground. It hasn't been cold enough when we've been up for a fire yet, but when it is, and if it hasn't gotten soaked, this wood that hasn't made it into the shed is totally cured and should be used before going for the stacked wood. Victor left the wheelbarrow ready with firewood on the patio.
- Did a grade B sweep of the back porch (pretty darned good but not as thorough as I can be)
- Cleaned the fridge (again grade B)
- Moved a few limbs/cuttings from inside the compound to an existing pile in the corral. I realize this will need to move (along with a lot of other things). But, there is a small chance I will get it together to have the chipping program pay a visit at the end of this month.
- Brought white sugar....oh, someone already did. So, took my sugar back home.
- There were a few mouse poops on the kitchen counter. I had cleaned it thoroughly two weeks ago, so I know there has been a tiny visitor in the interim. Again, I do like having those disinfecting wipes handy.
- The lake seems to be filling pretty fast. not overflowing yet, but getting closer.
- Published on
\
Peter: We picked some persimmons & brought some to share.
Ingrid: A persimmon-a-day as they ripen, until they are gone, is my approach. 'Tis the season for that.
Work Update from PCM:
Nissan: Took bed liner out and removed a ton of crap. Cleaned the cab with soap and water, also rubbing compound on hood and wax to see what happened. The paint is really shot, but looks better. Will get some head liner spray glue and reset the detached material. I checked the tires and they were ok except the spare tire was 0 lbs. so put in 40 psi like the rest.
3rd Floor Door: The door is about done, just have to sand and paint. The rat chewing damage along the bottom is repaired with Marine epoxy, door panel split is epoxy tight and screwed, hinge cleaned and reinstalled with larger screws.
If I have time, I may go up the the ranch to install the door, water and install the new garage step I made. Also have the jeep hood hooks. The bathroom light switch needs to be wrapped with electrical tape.
Still have work to do on 3rd floor double windows to determine what can be fixed, etc. and make a plan. -PCM
Update from PWM:
Yes, the 3rd floor double window is not closing all the way and the locking mechanism is not working.
Since the board decided to keep the Nissan, my dad took it home for some TLC.