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It was another day at the remodel house installing insulation and install studs in the corner the attach the drywall to. Did some planning with my brother about what I should do before he can get back to the place to frame out the back wall of the kitchen removing 2 windows and putting one for over the kitchen sink.

Tomorrow should be more of the above.

Ben
 
Neb said:
It was another day at the remodel house installing insulation and install studs in the corner the attach the drywall to. Did some planning with my brother about what I should do before he can get back to the place to frame out the back wall of the kitchen removing 2 windows and putting one for over the kitchen sink.

Tomorrow should be more of the above.

Ben
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Just a little mental vacation for ya Ben 😊
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Yesterday I insulated the top portion of the wall where the vaulted ceiling makes it back up to the attic. Had to install some studs to staple the batts to and split some insulation in half to build it up because the openings in some areas between the truss framework were 8" deep and I only have 6" batts but extra insulation in are is a good thing. I still need to put OSB plywood over it in the attic to give it an added air barrier and keep me from bumping into it. The boys moved into the back bedroom yesterday so today I have to disconnect the water from the trailer and winterize it. Yay, lucky me.
One of the boys forced me to drink rum with him last night so I had a good nights sleep for the first time in several days. :ghostly:

Electricity was off this morning for maintenance so couldn't work on the house without power. We went to town for a few things and stopped at IFA to pick up a few different bags of grain. GF wants to try mixing our own bird feed instead of buying the feed pellets. It should provide more protein and be better for the birds and if it works will be less expensive.
 
About a year ago that boy pulled a trailer over a gate post. He never fixed it but he did prop up 3 gates and tied them together with wire. A royal pain! That gate gets more use than any gate on the farm. Anytime I needed to move tractors or equipment I’d have to stop, untie then pick up and move the gates.

This afternoon I started a real repair. I soon discovered he’d broken the old post off at ground level. The reason the post broke was because I put it in the ground with quikrete. It was a gate post supporting the entire weight of the gate and I meant for it to stay.

So, I had to dig around the post while using a heavy duty pry bar and a 3lb hammer to bust the concrete out.

Took over 2 hours to get the old post out and a new post in the ground. The hole ended up far to large so I used busted pieces of concrete as filler. It still took 2 new bags of quikrete to fill up the hole.

Tomorrow I have to drill holes for the gate mounting hardware, then hang the gate. Its been 3 years since I had to work this hard, gonna be sore for sure. (Oh, the new gate post is straight, the camera wasn’t level)

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We had unusually warm weather here in southern Wisconsin so I took advantage of it. Spent hours continuing to harvest herbs to bring in for drying or tincturing. I had already done so and figured the rest would go to waste, as I was "out of time" - but the weather offered another opportunity. Yesterday I learned there is a holiday market I might be able to offer some of my herbal products at ... gathering and preparing just in case there is room. Dug up some comfrey root and clipped leaves for my pain relief blend, my first year having wormwood to harvest, sage for that Thanksgiving stuffing!, and catnip - weird how that stuff makes cats hyper and people sleepy.
 

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Amish Heart said:
Let them have one of your cats?
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No way in hell! They do NOT take care of pets. They already have cats but they don't feed them regularly or very well & my friend's gf is abusive to animals. She slaps & kicks them. She won't let them stay inside even when my friend wants them inside. She would throw my cat outside & not feed it. My best mouser is the sweetest kitty. My friend's gf actually hit the cat once when she was over at my house. The cat tried to cuddle her and she got mad because she didn't want to be cuddled so she slapped the cat across the face. My brother then slapped her across the face (not too hard) & said "Don't f***ing hit my cats ever again!" If I hadn't been across the room I would have slapped her too. I already have a hard time getting my friend to take good care of my tools that I let him borrow. Not trusting him with a living creature when his gf is there.

sonya123 said:
Where are you located? Can you get square bales and pick them up? Either way good luck, you have to feed them....
We get mostly square bales since we don't have a trailer for round bales or equipment to unload them. We have to ask neighbors to do that . How much hay do you need? I don't know how much cows eat, we only have goats and sheep ( about 5 lbs of decent hay per day in winter when there is no grass or anything else to eat for them)

Rats: rat poison works. We put it where the other animals can't get at it or use Rat X
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I'm in central Louisiana. I checked Marketplace again and every place I contacted said they don't deliver to my area.
We never use rat poison because it killed one of my favorite cats before. He caught a mouse that had eaten it and died a horrible death. Never want to see that again.
I'm still checking on marketplace but some of the sellers haven't replied yet.

Peanut said:
How many head are you feeding? A thousand pound cow will eat about 25lbs of hay per day. I count on feeding hay from 15Nov to 15mar, or 4 months. Or about 4000lbs per animal.

I augment with protein tubs, winter rye grass, early spring fescue and clover. This will allow me to cut hay consumption to around 2000lbs a head, per winter.

As of Saturday I'm down to a fat horse, a fat donkey and a puny little calf. I have 4000lbs of hay to pick up this week from a cousin, plenty for all 3 critters. It is top quality hay, heavily fertilized. My family has been using that field since about 1900 so I know the kind of hay it'll produce.

For grass seed these small over the shoulder spreaders work great. I've been using a crank spreader like this since I was a kid. They'll wear out, get a new one every 15yrs or so. Except the year my bil borrowed it, he spread fertilizer on his lawn and didn't wash/rinse thoroughly afterwards. Fertilizer will corrode metal parts so it was toast when he finally brought it back.

https://www.agrisupply.com/hand-crank-broadcast-spreader/p/32286/Hand Crank Broadcast Spreader $36.99 ea

Winter rye - I use a large pto spreader and the tractor but I'm spreading over several acres. Just run a gang disk lightly over the ground afterwards.

But the point... in south LA you can get a big jump on spring grass. By sowing winter grasses your hay burden can be rather light.
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Thanks for the info. I only have the two cows so I'm guessing around 50lbs a day they would need? I have been giving them cattle cubes and sweet feed every few days. Grass is still green right now but I don't know how nutritious it is. One of the neighborhood guys used to bring me some hay. I did manage to buy some last year that lasted awhile, but it was old hay and the cows didn't really like it. I think there is still a little left but they won't touch it. Had to order 10 bales minimum to get the guy to deliver- but he was from out-of-town. Trying to find his contact again to see if he still has any decent hay. I think we've always used bahaya. Once got alfalfa and they hated it. I saw someone selling crab grass but don't know if that is good for winter. So Fescue is good? I've seen mixed grass ones for sale. But problem is a lot of the sellers are in different states. I like using the big rolls since they last longer, but I may have to go with the bales. I have to be careful not to track any of it inside though as my brother is severely allergic to hay. So I can't get him to help move any of it.

LadyLocust said:
Just a little mental vacation for ya Ben 😊
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That reminds me of Guam.

I got up early yesterday & took my brother to get his battery replaced. It was free because it was still under warranty. Trying to see if I can get him to help me do some cleaning today. Need to get the trash taken out. Apparently the other day he complained about tripping on trash and my mom reminded him that picking up trash is his "job" but he got irritated and pretty much indicated that he thinks I should have to do it (which, I will end up doing it since it needs to be done-- I just wish he wouldn't drop trash all over the damn floor). It's like living with a toddler sometimes.

At least my kitties are keeping me warm. My orange kitty is snuggled up against my face right now.
 
Walked first and early (6:30).
Went to VA lab with DH.
Home then went to City Hall to pay water bill. Their new software isn't integrating well and they had my bill at $346 for a month. Usually $57. They said it is straightened out. We will see.
Bought powdered lime and fertilizer while I was at local hardware.
Came home and cut up carrots for dog treats and got sweet potato slices dehydrating in oven.
Walked dogs.
In a few minutes, will take ebay photos for DH.
Go back to town and get glasses fitted. Yay!
Have appt. with health insurance lady to renew or change policy.
I'm tired!
 
Placing a couple pieces of plywood in the attic over the insulation I installed. Need to rearrange the clutter in the garage again to make room for the girls saddle. I am not happy she left it outside last night but in her defense there is no good location inside for it and with the boys moved into the back room that space is no longer available. Too many people and too much stuff. I built a 2700 sq/ft house with a 1500 sq/ft garage and I have no room for stuff. Of course the house was designed for me with my 3 kids visiting the occasional weekend and summers so having the GF and her 5 kids here full time definitely took a bite out of the square footage.
GF keeps asking me to install the bath tub in the master bath. Apparently she is not fond of it sitting in the middle of the living room floor? Looks OK to me, makes a good foot rest when relaxing in the chair.
Need to mix up some more mud and tape the seems of the holes I cut in the garage wall for the electrical rewiring, need to tape 3 more seems in the back room to get that done (after I move a dozen boxes of mud out of the way), Need to mud in a few corner pieces on the drywall areas that are otherwise done. It's cold today so I will skip watering the cover crop seed I planted last week. The dirt was still wet yesterday before I watered so it should be fine to skip a day.
Yesterday we grabbed a few bags of grain to mix our own chicken feed, red wheat, corn and soybeans, so hopefully the GF works on mixing up a batch today. She has studied up on making our own feed instead of buying the processed bags of feed from the store. Supposedly the natural grain mix is better for the birds than the processed stuff and with a higher protein level the word is the birds will lay lay more eggs and older birds will be more productive and may start laying again. GF is still studying up but it makes sense and we are hopeful.
Hopefully this evening I can work in the garage again to make some more room in between the piles of clutter. If I can make space out there I can set up some scaffolding and start taping and mudding the top of the walls and ceiling in the RV garage.
Aside from that, not much of anything happening here.
 
I am still a little tired today from hiking /climbing up our mountain yesterday. I am very happy to be able to do that again. So just took care of the animals, cooked and cleaned the house today. Dentist tomorrow....I hate going to the dentist but need a filling replaced.
The weather is just beautiful here at the moment. Sunny and cool. I wished it would just stay this way.
I have 3 pumpkins left to process. I cut them up, boil them, drain and freeze or use. Lots of pumpkin pies coming soon
 
Went with husband for his doc appt, then to his allergy shot. Chic fil a for lunch, and filled a cart at Aldi's. My cousin's son is here with his tractor, loading a semi with hay. Our roundtop is filled with organic hay. Must of found a buyer for some of it. Groceries still to put away, and one little kitten passed away this morning. Don't know why. I wrapped it up, and kids will have a burial when they get home.
 
It's been feast or famine lately. Yesterday was slowish after the Monday morning catchup. Today, I've actually gotten quite a bit done. A lot of those tedious little tasks that are easy to put off or at least dread. I went to the bank, picked up Hubby's contacts, dropped off a bill, stopped at the grocer: Turkey was $14 off w/ purchase of $30 or more so got a turkey for $7.99 😊 Also, something a long time waiting was I got the two old computers cleared and reset to factory etc. and donated them (both worked.) That's 2 big ((sorta)) things gone! They had been nagging me a long time.
 
K and I got hit with a bout of food poisoning on Sunday night. Neither of us got any sleep and he stayed home from work yesterday. It was very bad but nothing worth going to the doctor for. Just vomiting and hershey squirts all night and into the morning. We spent the day on the couches in the family room dozing in and out between running to the bathrooms. The girls were well behaved and helped out as much as they could. Roo was concerned and spent the day watching over us while Juju played quietly in the playroom. I was still able to keep the girls fed and tend to the rabbits (and other animals) but the painful body aches actually had me whining when I had to move. I just drank water and chicken broth with the odd matzo bread to keep things bland. K felt well enough to try work this morning and I have been trying to do my daily chores but still feel like my stomach could go at any moment.

I started working with Roo to learn to cook. I figure if K and I are sick again Roo needs to be able to feed herself and Juju. We started with lunch today and she will give me a hand with dinner. I also figure Thanksgiving will be a good learning experience for her.
 
Got home last night from a 6 day stretch on. Numbers in the ICU have been declining this week, so that has been a welcome reprieve.
Came home to these idiots building a road next door. Have been shaking my house all day. I can't get any peace and quiet. Its been going on since 7 am and its 2:30 pm now. I'm about to lose my mind.
Other than that, getting ready to go to MT early tomorrow morning. My FIL has atrial fib and we need to get his meds straightened out. I also just found out my uncle is in the ICU in los angeles with what sounds like diabetic ketoacidosis. He's 89. I pretty much lost touch with them about 15 years ago, but still reached out to my cousin to let him know if he needs anything, I'm here.
Dehydrating tomatoes, making homemade potato soup and beer bread, trying to relax and then heading to my daughter's volleyball awards banquet at 6pm.
 
DrJenner said:
Got home last night from a 6 day stretch on. Numbers in the ICU have been declining this week, so that has been a welcome reprieve.
Came home to these idiots building a road next door. Have been shaking my house all day. I can't get any peace and quiet. Its been going on since 7 am and its 2:30 pm now. I'm about to lose my mind.
Other than that, getting ready to go to MT early tomorrow morning. My FIL has atrial fib and we need to get his meds straightened out. I also just found out my uncle is in the ICU in los angeles with what sounds like diabetic ketoacidosis. He's 89. I pretty much lost touch with them about 15 years ago, but still reached out to my cousin to let him know if he needs anything, I'm here.
Dehydrating tomatoes, making homemade potato soup and beer bread, trying to relax and then heading to my daughter's volleyball awards banquet at 6pm.
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Hope things settle down for your family. Mind if I be nosey and ask what part of MT? And ? #2, is it nice there. (I've not been to MT for a few years and have had a hankerin' to pack up and go on a little road trip 😊).
 
LadyLocust said:
Hope things settle down for your family. Mind if I be nosey and ask what part of MT? And ? #2, is it nice there. (I've not been to MT for a few years and have had a hankerin' to pack up and go on a little road trip 😊).
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Thanks LL!
Yes he is in Livingston, MT just north of Yellowstone and east of Bozeman. I think they've already gotten snow, but its beautiful
The hairy part is always 4th of July pass - this time of year should be ok. We always go up the back way through idaho though (close to St Maries ID) and bypass Spokane - hit the freeway near Kellogg ID. Makes for a great road trip!
 
Made progress installing studs in corners and stuffing insulation.

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I can estimate 3/4 or more of the insulation in the walls is done. I have 2 more bats of the free insulation left. I will have to shuffle some stuff to get at the gaps were they will.

After that the next tasks on my plate is to run power to where the furnace will go and lighting for the basement.

Making progress.

Ben
 
Neb said:
Made progress installing studs in corners and stuffing insulation.

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I can estimate 3/4 or more of the insulation in the walls is done. I have 2 more bats of the free insulation left. I will have to shuffle some stuff to get at the gaps were they will.

After that the next tasks on my plate is to run power to where the furnace will go and lighting for the basement.

Making progress.

Ben
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Wow! It's amazing how having the insulation in makes it look more like a room - like it's coming together.
 
The quikrete I poured yesterday still hadn’t dried completely so I skipped hanging the gate. Busting concrete yesterday was a warm up for running a chainsaw this afternoon. My body is screaming at me – You Idiot!

I cleaned off about 40ft of fence, a complete mess. For decades when replacing wire, barbed or electric, the old wire gets rolled up then tossed on the pile, beside this fence. If we needed wire for any project that's where we get it, from the pile.

The last time this fence was cleaned off I did it in 2017. Today it was filled with brush, vines (including PI), and the remnants of a huge old blackberry bushes. Not to mention a dozen rolls of old barbwire. Everything near the fence would cut, stick or poison a person.

This was the worst kind of chainsaw work, a single cut, shutoff the saw and put it down. Cut with pruning shears or wire cutters a few minutes then pick up the saw for one cut, rinse, repeat. I’d rather start the saw and cut for an hour straight, not all the stopping and starting.

I hauled 10 frontend loader buckets to the brush pile but the fence is now clean. I found that it needs 3 new posts, couldn't see them yesterday. I can make do with one new post for now.
 
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Neb said:
Made progress installing studs in corners and stuffing insulation.
....................

Making progress.

Ben
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Isn't fun having to add studs in corners and elsewhere so you can hang and secure the drywall? I didn't now of this need when I was framing my house and I was pissed when I started hanging the drywall. If I was aware of this when I was framing up the wall I would have nailed in the studs at the beginning when it woud have been easy instead of having to deal with it later on having to work around electrical and other stuff.
 
Peanut said:
The quikrete I poured yesterday still hadn’t dried completely so I skipped hanging the gate. Busting concrete yesterday was a warm up for running a chainsaw this afternoon. My body is screaming at me – You Idiot!

I cleaned off about 40ft of fence, a complete mess. For decades when replacing wire, barbed or electric, it’d get rolled up then tossed on the pile, beside this fence. If we needed wire for any project thats where we go it, from the pile.

The last time this fence was cleaned off I did it in 2017. Today it was filled with brush, vines (including PI), and the remnants of a huge old blackberry bushes. Not to mention a dozen rolls of old barbwire. Everything near the fence would cut, stick or poison a person.

This was the worst kind of chainsaw work, a single cut, shutoff the saw and put it down. Cut with pruning shears or wire cutters a few minutes then pick up the saw for one cut, rinse, repeat. I’d rather start the saw and cut for an hour straight, not all the stopping and starting.

I hauled 10 frontend loader buckets to the brush pile but the fence is now clean. I found that it needs 3 new posts, couldn't see them yesterday. I can make do with one new post for now.
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That chain saw work sounds like my weekend. Cut a little brush, drag it outta the way, cut more drag more. I ended up loading a 5x10 trailer 7 or 8 loads to the brush pile. I need to burn a couple of brush piles before long. Maybe over the holidays.

Got work scheduled on 2 different projects this weekend. Both are pretty hot and I'm glad to get them moving.

Yesterday got home from work and just flat wore out and hadn't no more than got set down and my step dad called. He had started bush hoggin his field and the tractor quit on him. It was about as far away from the house as it could get and right next to a fairly heavily used road. He wanted to know if I could come up and help him move it away from the road. Loaded up a chain and headed that way in 5pm traffic. And yes it was heavy and slow. 50 minutes later I get there right at dark. By then he had a good idea of what was wrong. We went to the field and I hooked the chain to the tractor and backed my truck up and hooked to it as well. Tried to ease into it and started spinning right away. Backed up a little and unhooked the bush hog, which was down on the ground, and took a short run to jerk the tractor and took right off with it and got it pulled most of the way to the house. We left it there till he could get back to it.

Today I called and he already had it running and was about half finished mowing by 4pm.
Mom also told me about a death they had ran across. Long story, but after my mom and dad divorced in 1962, he remarried in 1965 just before going to Vietnam. Found out my step mom I guess it is had passed away. I only had contact with her a couple times over the years. Last time was when my step brother died several years ago. Long story with all that and no reason to go into it here
 
Cascadian said:
Glad some of you still have parents and grandparents.
I am chilling on the couch resting my foot from surgery. All is well but I was so busy checking things off before being laid up I didn't really plan for boredom after. I have been doing a bit of reading.
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Knitting, crocheting, hand quilting,crossword puzzles etc.
 
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