Good morning!!!!

[Kyle_in_Tex]

Good Morning!!!! 53F @ 5:15AM. Rain, heavy at times early. High near 60F. Winds S at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall around a quarter of an inch.
Picked up 0.67" of rain yesterday, the first since June. Long, steady drizzle, no spitting involved.:laughing: More of the same today, but with less accumulation, then no more rain for at least another 10 days. Too bad, we really need it. High winds preceded the storm front as it crossed the Sierras, and several fires started and spread rapidly in the US395 corridor yesterday.

The rainy weather also kicked solar energy production in the pants, dropping from 35 kWhr to 1.8. On days like that I put off doing laundry and working in the shop to keep grid purchases to a minimum. Didn't let it stop me from spending a few bux cooking up an Instant Pot full of rice'n'beans, though.:licking:

CoVid-19 cases are up a little bit in the county over the past two weeks, and now the governor has placed us in the most restrictive category again, closing many businesses that were just starting to make a come back. Our representatives in the state legislature are rebelling, saying that these decisions should be made at the county level, as county health officials are better informed than those at the state level. I think they're right, but will still minimize my trips to town. I'll also be taking my temperature every day, just in case I picked up something on the trip.

Never heard back on the trouble ticket I logged last week with T-Mobile for slow internet speed, so called them again yesterday. Another fifteen minutes on hold before I got through, and was told the ticket went to the wrong division, so another was started. The tech wasn't hopeful they'd find anything, as the towers are just too far away and somewhat blocked by the canyon rim. I have a line on another provider that resells AT&T LTE, which I've been told is stronger in this area, so I may give that a try if the new trouble ticket doesn't turn up any improvement.

Back on the satellite internet side, the service went out the first day of my trip, which meant I couldn't access any of the home automation services or security cameras to check on the place, and also lost a week's worth of weather data. Power cycling the modem fixed things, and that problem seems to be getting more frequent. I started work on a way to monitor the connection, and automatically power cycle the modem if it goes down, and should have something working today.

Also got caught up here, oh my you folks have been busy!

Happy Hump Day!

Clue me in. So on your solar system, doesn't it just spin the meter backwards as you make excess power, and when you use more, it goes forward? Hopefully at the end of a month, you're net zero?

Our internet is the local type with the parabolic dish aimed at the tower. It too, JUST GOES OUT SPORADICALLY. What the Henry? We have to unplug where the coax comes in the house to a little black box that is powered. We bought a new one, and the same thing. So I don't believe that the problem is on our end, unless the dish is mispointed. It can work fine for weeks, then go out 3 times in a day...

34°F and clear skies this morning, going up to 59° today.

Hoping the best for your wife, Bird.

Kyle, Bridge of Sighs is one of those classic rock/blues albums that it seems everyone owns. Robin Trower is one of those guys whose music and sound is instantly recognizable. I've always wanted to see him live, but just never have. He used to play several times a year here in St. Louis at the old Mississippi Nights venue. The guy was perpetually on tour. Seemed every time he was there, though, I was playing somewhere that night. I always thought, "I'll see him next time." Still haven't.

I always tease my Wife before relieving myself outdoors that "I'm a man ... the world is my urinal." Her typical response is, "Gross." :laughing:

Our old satellite modem that we recently replaced used to lose internet connection on occasion and need to be power cycled to fix it, RNG. That was part of the justification HughesNet used to replace it with the new unit. Almost seemed like it was a known issue.

Yes, I've never seen him. I hesitated too long to go see Rush. Wished I hadn't.

Well today at a doctors check up found out I had an embedded tick on my chest. The cardiologist dubbed it with alcohol to make it loose the grip and pulled it out. Took the med Doxycycline to avoid Lyme infection

Oh wow, hope the meds keep you safe.

Y'all have a good night. Funny one Dftodd.

 

[LS Tractor Owner]

all errands run, car has PA tag on it, but service station could not inspect it then, needed to make appt and I couldn't stay there while they inspected it. ?
I think not...
Made appt at Audi dealership in Warrington, at least I can go drool on some Porsches while I wait.

the State of Ohio goes under a three week mandatory nightly curfew from 22:00 until 05:00
geez RS, three weeks without your favorite Bubbles on the disco pole at Risque Rendezvous...sorry.

Well, you sold the big Massey.... the Porsche would be more affordable now....

 

[txdon]

A few pics from the LookOut trail we were cedarciding this morning.
Perfect day starting 40s ending 70s.

If you go through the wooded area (2nd pic) and turn to the right (first pic) that is the view.
The few small shrubs under the oaks are the native Texas persimmons we left standing.
The park manager was impressed and will now make that an additional picnic area complete with tables.
We still have about 6 more weeks of clearing in this area.

 

[Jim Nelson]

I understand, but she sure does not want to go to the hospital, and I understand that, too. So she's sitting in her favorite spot on the sofa watching TV and I just now checked and her oxygen level is 96. Of course she has on the oxygen line to the big machine that she uses here at home, day and night. And she has the small oxygen bottles, valve, hoses, etc. that she ALWAYS uses when she leaves the house. And of course she had that portable stuff yesterday, so that's why we don't understand why the low oxygen level that they claimed AND she said the nurse told her that her heart rate was way too fast. When I checked a few minutes ago, her resting heart rate was 40.

A few years ago I had to go in for a transfusion due to anemia. I had my travel o2 bottle with me but turned it off in the waiting room. While the nurse was setting up she put the oximeter on my finger and it was 82,she put me on o2 right away and went about setting up the I.V. and transfusion gear and asked me if I had been using o2 and I said yes and explained that I had just turned it off in the waiting room to save enough to get home on.All during the 2 unit transfusion it never got over 92. After I got home and on my o2 concentrator it finally came up to 96. I monitor it from time to time and it varies from the upper 70's to 96 or 97. None of the docs have an answer so I just ignore it. I seldom feel bad from it except for occasional dizzy spells.
We are all different and some of us just don't follow the rules very well.

 

[rswyan]

35F and clear @ 21:00, headed down to an overnight low of 33F.

Squirrel feeder appeared to be occupied - pretty much continuously - for at least 4 straight hours today. I didn't walk out there and get a close look, but it didn't look like they had even dropped the level of the feed inside at all ... :thumbsup:

The Woman wonders if the opening at the bottom got plugged up with a peanut in shell ... :laughing:

Changed up plans - stayed inside and worked on bathroom. Got the last of the old cement board removed around the bottom of the shower pan, removed tile backsplash on both ends of the vanity, some wood trim, one towel rack, and the remainder of old linoleum removed off floor. Pretty much the only thing left on the floor is the mastic.

Researched refinishing shower pan (it's cast aggregate, very heavy, and ain't coming out if I can avoid it), and laying tile on a wood floor. Also did some more research on commodes, vanities, and pedestal sinks.

Temps supposed to be around 60 for a high tomorrow so back outside.

Hope everyone had a great day.

 

[rswyan]

... geez RS, three weeks without your favorite Bubbles on the disco pole at Risque Rendezvous...sorry.

We can always catch the early matinee right ? :laughing:

Don't want to disappoint "Bubbles" ...

 

[sodamo]

Went back out to work right after my previous post. About 10 minutes later started raining, .48 inches so far. Played cards with wife. Not much for progress but enjoyable.

 

[Muhammad]

I understand, but she sure does not want to go to the hospital, and I understand that, too. So she's sitting in her favorite spot on the sofa watching TV and I just now checked and her oxygen level is 96. Of course she has on the oxygen line to the big machine that she uses here at home, day and night. And she has the small oxygen bottles, valve, hoses, etc. that she ALWAYS uses when she leaves the house. And of course she had that portable stuff yesterday, so that's why we don't understand why the low oxygen level that they claimed AND she said the nurse told her that her heart rate was way too fast. When I checked a few minutes ago, her resting heart rate was 40.

Hope everything is okay with her, Bird.

 

[mostly_gas]

Good evening all. 45F for the start, clear sky, light breeze. Moderate wind with brisk gusts, clear sky and high temp 72F. Started with mowing leaves, then bike ride and nap after lunch. No gopher activity today.
Covid update: Cooke 667 confirmed cases, 44 active cases, Montague 447 confirmed cases, 43 active cases, Grayson 3623 confirmed cases, 329 active cases.
Dennis we had 4 trees dropped too close to hose for me to drop, 160 and he cleaned up and ground the stumps!
David sorry about water heater, glad Sophie takes care of you
Roy sorry about the well issues hope the ground water gets recharged soon
Luther sorry about no paper
Drew did you miss the PA winters?
Eric sorry about the extra trips but as you say don't need a gym that way
Thomas have fun shopping
Buppies should get chance to dry out, I hope gopher gone as well.
Mike glad water pressure is back, can you turn waterer off now ground is mushy?
Billy sounds like a good recovery day
Ron congrats on first snow. looks like squirrel does not like snow good to hear ear is better
Drew they are proud of their cider. we used to buy the fresh squeezed unfiltered from Echerts near PJ
Bill have fun with conveyor
Don sorry to hear about the Covid death, you much be enjoying the cedar eradication, you keep doing it
Randy hope the tests go well and the board reinforce project.
Paul sound like good deal on the batteries will they fit all your tools?
Kyle understood about Covid worries, tomorrow is day 14 after potential exposure, Did have more energy today, yesterday low was good potential for fishing
RNG good to hear the rain, talk to David about some pineapple express, should fix you right up. Any idea why modem needs power cycle all of a sudden?
Bird good to hear nothing new, do you have O2 monitering device, if so what are details?
Ted hope Walmart can do better on restocking. Good luck with clean up of shop.
Ken was ash dead? never had a problem with ash falling over.
PJ I never got to see Robin Trower either, same problem scheduling issues.
Randy cool tree !
David good luck with replacement.
Thomas don't you just love the dry air
David you just had to show it who is boss. Nice trim job
M7040 embedded tick, that is a new one to me, unless it is just the head.
Kyle watch for clouds and wind when it happens,
Don nice job cleaning out under the oaks
RS that is going to be a big project.
David send some rain to RNG
prayers for all, especially Jay/Peg, Kyle's daughter, David(moss)/remodel, RNG/fire, Ron/hearing/son, and Country
stay safe and healthy you all

 

[buckeyefarmer]

23°
Busy day.

 

[RedNeckGeek]

RNG good to hear the rain, talk to David about some pineapple express, should fix you right up. Any idea why modem needs power cycle all of a sudden?

There was a Pineapple Express predicted earlier in the week, but unfortunately, it never materialized. Maybe David can work up his mojo a little?

I suspect the modem problem has been with me all along. Since installing the auto restart, it's already been triggered two more times. That pretty much follows Paul's experience, and is all the more reason for migrating to a more reliable LTE service, if such a thing can be found.:confused3:

 

[RedNeckGeek]

Clue me in. So on your solar system, doesn't it just spin the meter backwards as you make excess power, and when you use more, it goes forward? Hopefully at the end of a month, you're net zero?

Our internet is the local type with the parabolic dish aimed at the tower. It too, JUST GOES OUT SPORADICALLY. What the Henry? We have to unplug where the coax comes in the house to a little black box that is powered. We bought a new one, and the same thing. So I don't believe that the problem is on our end, unless the dish is mispointed. It can work fine for weeks, then go out 3 times in a day...

My electricity bills are now about 20 pages long. The system seems to be tracking incremental bouts of when I buy and when I sell, then using some kind of new math I have yet to fathom to figger out who owes what to who. So far, the monthly bill has been $00.00. I suspect that on the yearly "true up" day, the real number of who owes what will appear. And at something like $0.40/kWhr, my fingers are crossed and double crossed I'm pumping more power onto the grid than I'm consuming.

Next time your network connection goes kaflooy, try unplugging the power to that module for 15 seconds, then reconnect it. If the connection comes back, chances are that the module is bad. Maybe you can put it on one of those cheap power switch adapters so you don't have to unplug anything.

https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B01894YMX4/

Then again, ISPs are famous for hiding infrastructure problems from their clients because they don't want to spend the money to fix them. The fix for that is to find another ISP, which is what I'm trying to do now.

 

[RoyJackson]

2020-11-19, 0313

15 right now...high about 40 today...

Be safe, all!

 

[NHBX]

Good morning all

16 now high around 42 and mostly sunny with light winds today.

Wife found paper goods online at Walmart and made a couple of orders with free delivery. I guess we have just become hoarders lol.

Spent most of yesterday still cleaning the shed and took a good size load to the dump. I think the mice and chipmunks are collecting stuff from the neighbors and storing it here.

No plans for today just take it as it comes.

Stay safe and healthy
Enjoy your day everyone

 

[Looking4new]

Good morning, the temp is 35°F and going to a high of 45. Wind S 11 mph. Mostly cloudy.

A dump run is in the works for today as well as a trip to town.

I forgot to get pics of the conveyor in its original trim. I knocked the legs out from underneath it and now the trough is sitting right down almost on the running gear and will fit into the basement window. There are a couple of extra modifications I need to make but I need to get me some body tin first. Maybe I will see what I can score from the dump.


Have a safe day all

 

[mpham]

Morning everyone! 17 here going to 38. Will be making a run to pick up a ton of pellets with my buddy and checking out a new store that is opening up. After that will be puttering inside for the rest of the day.
Sure glad I got the pellet stove and chimney cleaned while it was warm last week! Nice and warm sitting on the couch drinking my coffee.
I will be nice and start my wife's car for her so it's warm as she heads to work. LOL. ( I told her to quit)
Hope everyone stays safe and healthy!

 

[daugen]

good morning all.
Strange that it can be 22 degrees here and Bill is at 35 in Northern Ontario.

embedded ticks, yuk, I had a giant one in the middle of my back/shoulder blades that dermatologist had to dig out with much effort.
Gives true meaning to the term "watch my back", particularly when you live alone.

hard cider, yes, I usually don't spend that much per bottle on wine, much less cider but this is small batch, organic, etc. and usually given as gifts, so you tend
to pay less attention to price and more for novelty.

since it's so cold out today, going to spend it organizing paperwork and filling up new three drawer file cabinet. Tomorrow I will reward myself for doing this today by starting
in the woodshop, since it's supposed to warm up to 60.

I emailed electrician and asked him if he could find alternative supplier for parts he needs to install my generator. Power was out for an hour yesterday, and while I didn't need to
run the gen in the middle of a sunny day, sure reminded me that mine isn't hooked up.
No reply from electrician, apparently there is a huge backlog of both generators and parts affecting us nationwide.

Mostly, I grew up on a farm with an apple orchard and we would take our apples to local press and get apple cider back.
The flavor and smell of the cider was heavenly. I think much of that is lost when today's cider is pasteurized for longer shelf life.

 

[Buppies]

2o high of 57 today 70 tomorrow Thomas your winter is coming do not lose faith

COVID too close for comfort employee getting tested

Prayers for Bird and his wife , Kyles daughter, all others I cannot remember our Country

 

[riptides]

26 outside right now. Heading to mid 50's today. Like Buppies, tomorrow.

Mostly, the waterers all have their own shutoffs. Even from close by to the house. They cover three stations across about 20 acres.

Buppies, stay healthy. We have one daughter that is in constant contact with people living with us. It's a lot of thinking on washing things down.

I finally scored on the porch posts. Grabbed six, needed four, will probably use all, two being set close to the front side wall. Ran into grocery store to pick up beer while we were out, it was a mad house... a mad house. Flipping insane again. Maybe we need odd/even days for out and about like when we had our first oil crisis?

Lumber looked to have been available, somewhat picked through... no shudders for the windows, special ordered, 4 to 8 weeks out. Sigh....

Hope all have a good day today. Be safe. Stay healthy my friends.

 

[Eric Salop]

Good morning, it started off a beautiful day here, didn't think I needed waterproofs to check on the sheep.



Stopped to fill up hay racks on the way back. They haven't started to eat much yet, so instead of using the tractor to lift bales down I have been leaving them stacked to stay dry, using a ladder to climb up and throw down just part of a bale every couple of days. It suddenly turned very dark while I was up there, when I climbed down I could see why. Fortunately I made it back home with 10 seconds to spare from a serious soaking :dance1:

Eric. best thing about owning a Golf Cart. Cuts down on exercise needed to walk back and forth to shop or barn.

Carting tools around at the moment is split between a wheelbarrow, the old Subaru Forester, or the tractor. The Subaru is getting on in years, maybe this is the right time to consider an alternative. I have often thought something small and electric powered would be ideal, however I have no feel for how well a golf cart can cope with a slope, particularly when the grass is wet. Any thoughts on their suitability for going up and down fields would be very welcome.