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No experience with the models you're looking at. I have this model from Northern Tool and have been happy with it. PowerHorse 3000 2.0 gpm I appreciate the higher pressure and GPM for cleaning the house and patio's, but your needs might be different.

It's an Axis deer. A free ranging exotic in central TX. He walked out into the hay field as the rancher was rounding up hay bales. The rancher called me just as I was leaving our cabin to go hunt pigs, so I headed to the hay field instead. Exotic, so no season, permits or tags required...

The Viking served double duty this afternoon, helping me haul in this brute. This one won't be going to the train station though; it's going straight into my freezer and grill. These are some of the best eating you'll ever find.

This guy was too big for me to lift by myself, so, with the help of some old baling twine, I hauled him to the train station.

I used to tow an old aluminum Sundowner 2-horse slant w/rear tack with an F150 and 5.5 foot bed. I had an offset gooseneck to give additional cab clearance. It towed just fine.

Wow! That Cushman has a 1600lb payload. Probably doesn't tear up turf either.

My neighbor gave me a "free" Par Car electric golf cart a number of years ago. It was the most expensive free thing I've ever owned, because it needed batteries and a charger. My two young girls wore the snot out of that thing. It was pretty handy though, while it lasted. I don't think you...

I rode in a friends Polaris General the other weekend. It was appreciably quieter than my Yamaha Viking. But it's also more like a car interior, that probably helps dampen noise. I'm amazed at how smooth of a ride the Viking has though.

Completely agree. Quieter is more enjoyable to me. I have a stock F-250 crew cab long bed diesel. I have the younger generation constantly asking me if I plan to install a lift kit, change the exhaust or put aggressive tires on it. Heck no! The last thing I want is to have to lift things...

In some of my research, the Tracker 800 gets the nod as one of the quietest out there. I'm not sure where they're made, or if they're just a rebadge of another brand.

I learned there is a training course called "Stop the Bleed". It covers torniquets, applying pressure, packing a wound etc. It's given to first responders, teachers and anyone else that might be faced with a mass casualty event. I might see if I can find a place to take this course. I like...

Eddie, That's the problem with everywhere in TX right now, building everywhere. It's really changing the charm of many places in the state. Also, the property tax is becoming ridiculous. We're starting to consider OK for our retirement place, but we want to be near our kids in some respect.

I've always made it a point to be prepared. This also includes fire extinguishers and first aid/trauma kits. In my truck, I carry a self made first aid/trauma kit. Most first aid kits are loaded with bandaids, lotions and aspirin. I wanted a kit that was better suited for job site or outdoor...

I agree. It was my first attempt at smoking cheese. I go direct on the grate now.

I have 2 trailers I need to do. For the diesel and oil mix, what's the ratio? Edit: Sorry, just re-read and saw folks use 50/50. There's my project for tomorrow.

I have 2 more venison roasts thawing. I'm going to make this chipotle venison jerky recipe, this time. I bought some more LEM vac bags and also some of those oxygen absorbing packets. Chipotle Deer Jerky

I think I'd still have an issue with CFMoto. I think it's great that they assemble them here. My issue with Chinese companies is their fickleness and how quickly they seem to come and go. I expect I'd probably keep something like a UTV for a pretty long time. Heck, I've been using my Kubota...

I just put a 5lb belly in the cajun cure. I'll smoke it next weekend. Next time, I'll venture out and try the German bacon cure recipe.

I think a viable option may be a twist on what I posted above. Where nuclear (fusion or fission) is used to produce power and during the off-peak periods, the excess power is used for electrolysis to create hydrogen. The hydrogen is then used in a hydrogen fuel cell vehicle.

That's their prerogative. Then they better get working on their preferred energy source. I worked on a project years ago, where an island had windmills provide their base electrical power. During the evenings, when power demand was down, the excess electrical power then powered electrolysis...

The reality is the patentee, finds a re-listing for their drug and buys out the generic and closes it. Therefor guaranteeing their over pricing for a number of years,

So, do folks think healthcare should go back to being a "service", such as water, electricity, gas and telecommunications versus a "for profit" model? Just opening the topic for discussion.

I agree, we should have never had a system that relied on employers offering insurance.

I think I'll take the doors off my viking too. They have their place if it was muddy or driving through puddles, otherwise they're a bother. I have an 83" x 12' Lamar trailer that I haul the Viking on. It also doubles as the trailer I haul behind the Viking. I like the width for hauling the...

Are you salt intolerant? With some folks, salt can make their blood pressure rise.

I think the issue is really island nations with limited energy resources. It makes perfect sense that renewables, or nuclear would be the best energy choice. It again comes down to the best energy choice for the situation and not mandating a "one size fits all".

While they may have been pioneers with a novel healthcare model, HMO's were also seen as a way to have a profit driven healthcare alternative to a national healthcare system. The idea was pushed on Nixon, who then signed the HMO act into law. While the idea of an HMO should be a good system...

The change to "for profit" happened under Nixon when he threw a bone to his friend that started Kaiser and the HMO's. I've been able to watch firsthand, the difference between practitioners that have their own practice and those that are in a health group (like Texas Health). In fact, I...

I've never been a single-issue voter, but the medical costs in this country are becoming something I can no longer ignore and are beginning to move to the forefront of my voting considerations. I'm a logical person, so when I see inflation running at a average of 3%, but medical costs keep...

It wouldn't surprise me if the auto manufacturers were/are pushing for DPF and SCR. Both technologies/components put a lot of money in their pocket. The upfront charge for the equipment and then the increase in repair costs. It's probably one of the costliest repairs you can make. My...

With dove season (a Texas annual ritual) right around the corner, I was looking up dove recipes and stumbled upon this really cool site. They had a recipe for German bacon that piqued my interest. I have a 5lb belly in the freezer, so I might try this. German bacon recipe

Interesting, I've never heard of soaking the line in water. Learned something new.

I don't ride through much mud with my Viking, so I'm thinking of removing the doors. We do like the shoulder rest. The rancher and I were out driving around last night and they commented about how nice the shoulder rest is too. Also, about how it was louder than their Gator,

I finally got to the deer camp after all the TX hill country flooding. The rancher warned me that some of the ranch roads were pretty washed out, so I brough the new Yamaha Viking. Glad I did, the rancher wasn't kidding. I filled some feeders last night and then got out early this morning and...

I did the same and bought my Kubota L3800, rather than the newer L3901 with DPF and regen. To me, a tractor should be as simple mechanically as possible.

I don't have an issue with electric cars. I just don't like it being mandated. An electric car might be a perfect fit for my wife's driving. But it won't work for me, pulling trailers, off road driving, hauling loads etc. Not only that, but the US is in a race with the rest of the world to...

An acquaintance of mine owns a large trucking company in California. He said that when the DPF and DEF became mandated on his trucks, his towing costs (for repairs) at least doubled.

It's the cereal state. Fruits, nuts and flakes. I have a number of friends in CA and have been there frequently over the past few months. I really enjoy California. Many of the folks I meet in CA hold out hope that they'll have another "Reagan Revolution", where someone steps in with a whole...

You're correct, it looks like it's been rolled back by some current rulings. But the fact that they were even considering it until cooler heads prevailed should be equally troubling. If the political climate changes, they'll be right back pushing it again.

I hang my laundry on the line. Drives me nuts that my wife and kids always use the dryer.

I'll try to find it. It would have been on MSN or Yahoo home pages.

I saw a news article of the push to ban all diesel vehicles, mainly by 2035. Currently, there are 12 states marching down this path. It's the usual states, that are also pushing for 100% electric, by tying their laws to align with laws/rules that are passed in California. One of the things...

Like the old saying: Dilution is the solution to pollution.

I love Reagan and have been to his presidential library 4 times.

I had the same thing happen to me with an aluminum gooseneck horse trailer. The bad tire was on the rear axle, so I couldn't see it. I never even knew a tire went bad until someone pulled up next to me and caught my attention. I started using a Tireminder TPMS after that for peace of mind and...

I recently bought a racing style can at Atwoods and it works really well. I think it was a knockoff of the VP Racing and was only $28. It had a vent. Probably only a matter of time until I lose the threaded cap though.

My in-laws had a "Country Coach" (I think) RV and I was pretty impressed with the construction. I had to help them troubleshoot some things and it came with a big 3-ring binder with electrical schematics. All the wires had numbered ferrules (if stranded) and terminals were labeled. It all...

I hate splicing things and always prefer terminal strips with wire labels, terminal labels and wire ferrules if using stranded wire. When it comes to automotive, either crimp on butt splicers with dielectric grease and then heat shrunk or crimp on bullet connectors with dielectric grease, then...

When I was hauling my kids around with horses for play days, I bought a TireMinder brand for the gooseneck horse trailer. It was a life saver. The last thing you want is to be on the side of the road on a 100 degree day with horses in the trailer. With the aluminum horse trailers and fenders...

Don't take your high blood pressure lightly, it's serious.

That's what my 82yo FIL said. He recently lost his wife, who was 22 years younger than him, so stepping up to women his own age has been a bit of a shock.

My FIL (82 yo) lives in an active adult community, and he said the women outnumber the men almost 5:1. He said when they have a community get-together, it's a giant flirt-fest, with all the single people trying to hookup. He also said when they have a get-together at someone's house, over 50%...

Agree. Sometimes shorts aren't the best choice. I know I can overheat really easy, but I never run a chainsaw or some other at-risk tasks in shorts.

That must me it, it's the closest I've seen anyway and the same height of 12-15 feet. My Yucca's have a wider frond, but maybe that's just this cultivar.

I don't think they have any fragrance. When it comes to trimming the dead fronds, my wife and I work as a team. She'll take a bow rake and push the dead fronds up. I take the Milwaukee pole saw and cut them. Yes, all kinds of critters (lizards, hornets, spiders come out). The big garden...

I have 2 massive yucca's at my place. They both are about 15' tall and the trunks are 12" in diameter. They both had single heads, but about 15 years ago, the second one got stressed and it has about 3 intertwined heads now. They both produced a huge flower stalk this year of cream colored...

It gets complicated doing that, if you're bringing a firearm to Africa for safari. My last couple of hunting trips, I used a travel agent that specializes in traveling with firearms and knows how to work out the details.

Brett's Biltong sells a couple of different flavors. I always buy the "Angry Biltong", it's the spiciest. They also sell Droewors. They're like a dried honeycomb sausage. Incredibly addicting!

I did not use those packets, but I might on future batches. I vacuum bagged them and then put them in our spare refrigerator. I doubt this jerky will even be around long enough to go bad. I already ate a bag this morning.;)

There's a "Bretts Biltong" store in Llano, TX, near my deer lease. I'll stop in and buy $20- $30 worth for the 4.5 hour drive home. I'll devour every last scrap during that drive. They also sell meat pies. I grab some of those from time to time, along with some Windhoek beer. Bretts Biltong...

I believe Walmart is cutting back on the self-checkouts. The theft through the self-checkout lines has been astronomical.

I was going through my game freezer to gauge my stock and noticed I had 6 venison roasts. So, I thawed 4 of them and made some jerky today. It took 3-hours a batch on the pellet grill. Afterward, I put them in portions in vacuum seal bags. One thing I learned is that "Meat!" brand vacuum...

Situational awareness is everything. We were in Madrid a few years back with some friends. My friends wife got pick-pocketed and lost $4000 euro she had in her satchel. It was even one of those "pick-pocket-proof" satchels, but she had forgotten to latch the zipper. They hit her as she was...

As much as many like to disparage California, you can't deny how beautiful and vibrant it is. I was working near Santa Barbara last week and really had an enjoyable trip, from a relaxing and trendy hotel to a really nice beachside dinner. I'm heading to San Jose later this week, near the...

I can get over heated really fast. For me, I find a wet bandana around my neck can make a huge difference. I'll periodically re-wet it in a water trough or some other source.

I have a couple of rules: 1. If I'm standing up when I order. No tipping. 2. If I take it to eat elsewhere. No tipping.

We're becoming a fee-based society. People have become such poor consumers, the easiest way to trick them is to hide it in fees. Automatic billing is the other tool, getting the consumer to take their eye off the ball.

Ours is like that too. He'll lay flat on his side and scootches under the fences.

My 11 month old Black Mouth Cur got skunked for the first time last night. If he's anything like our previous BMC, it'll be the first of many times he gets sprayed. Cur dogs just don't know how to back down from a challenge. When I'm in town today, I'll stock up on more baking soda, Dawn and...

It might have been discussed already, but I'm curious about the UV light being used for adjustment after the lenses are implanted. Does anyone know how this actually works? If someone was exposed to arc flash from welding or other sources, would it have any adverse consequences? I had...

I have an ambient weather station. I started it with lithium batteries and I think it's been 2 years now. I probably need to get up and replace them. Love the weather station, even my wife looks at it and follows the weather.

Yamaha Viking offer 10 years on the belt, if that makes a difference.

I agree. I can see lots of uses for them. They look like they could take the place of many of the various automotive fasteners. Sort of a one size fits most.

I think with so many of these body panels being plastic, or securing plastic to steel, they use the plastic rivets to allow some degree of expansion and contraction between the components. Is just seems like some of these fasteners are pretty cheap and could be a little more secure fitting.

I agree on the plastic rivets. I have the same concern over their longevity. If I have issues, I might see if various types of cage nuts and dome head screws can be used in some of the areas.

I have the same splitter. I haven't had mine for very long, but it's surprising how easily it starts. I turn the fuel off after every use and let it run out, but it only takes 2-3 pulls to start it again, the next time I use it. It's really easy to pull the starter cord too.

My Starlink current speed is 260 down, 18 up. Still better than any of my other options.

My friend that talked me into the Viking, buys Yamaha's exclusively for his dirt and road bikes, as well as SxS's. He said the Yamaha's rarely need any valve adjustment, for the life of them. I'll check it after the initial break in, when I change the fluids. The neighbors kubota is gas...

I just bought all the fluids and filter for my first fluid change after break-in. I'll also check the valve tolerances at the same time I change the fluids. I also bought the service manual. No issues with the Viking, so far. My neighbor went for a ride in it the other evening. They have a...

I watched a video of a car engine that had a cut away so they could watch the effects of overfilling. It was pretty dramatic, but they only ran into a true problem when they had severely overfilled it. I'm sure each engine type is different though.

That sounds about right. I was $2500/eye about 3 years ago, when I went for my consult. But watch out, they start piling on more visits and costs that won't be covered by insurance. At least that's the way it happened with me. I thought it was a bit of a scam with a "bait and switch" on...

I have the issue loading my Kubota L3800 w/backhoe onto my Loadtrail car hauler 20' with megaramps. The lower boom pivot on the backhoe hits the ground. My solution is to park the trailer where I can dig a slight depression in the ground for the boom pivot to clear when loading/unloading. PITA...

If there's a range on the dipstick, I always fill to the high side of that range, not the middle of the range.

I agree with my 2003 BX2200. I think Kubota had everything perfected by that year. Then they went backwards for a few years using some plastic parts. I haven't looked at the latest offering. My wife and I keep considering selling it for a zero turn. But the BX has and continues to be...

My wife's side of the family has lots of age gaps. Her dad remarried to a girl 22 years younger. The new wife's daughter, like her mom, married a guy 20 years older. Her cousin married a guy 20 years older (they divorced). Her aunt married a guy 10 years younger. I think there's one more...

Terrible news. Please share any accident details. Crazy things can happen when working around equipment. I just learned the other day that a deer lease members 34yo son was killed in a hit and run motorcycle accident. Just shows how fleeting life can be, sometimes.

"Hatari!" with John Wayne. Just a good, clean, fun, old classic movie.

I just replaced the rear axle seals on my 2003 BX2200, 850 hours a couple months ago. I suspect the age has as much to do with them failing as the hours. Super easy job. I put the axles in the freezer and the bearings in the oven at 200F. Slipped on easy as ever. I also wiped some RTV on...

M I just looked at my door decal on my 2020 F250, Built February 2020. I agree with things constructed during Covid. I'm dealing with some industrial centrifugal fans at a jobsite that were built at the height of Covid, The manufacturers "shop job traveler" and all their shop tested fan...

I guess the 3-pin capped connector is for lights. I put a voltmeter to it and one is the neutral and the other two go hot when the lights are turned on. I thought they might be independently switched to coincide with low/high beam, but they both are hot with low beam and the voltage stays the...

How the heck do you only have 9300 miles on it? What do you use it for? Heck you're more likely to have components fail just from seals drying out, not actual wear.

I'll have to buy the shop manual for the Yamaha Viking. The new Ranch Armor rear bumper has some built in backup lights, so I was researching the best way to wire them in. Turns out the wiring harness already has connectors for adding them in. You just have to buy 3 Yamaha parts (relay, and 2...

I just hit 100,000 on my 2020 F250 6.7 The only issue I've had was a drivers side door lock solenoid sticking when it was cold. At my next oil change, I'll have all driveline fluids changed; trans, transfer, front/rear diff, test/change coolant and whatever other fluids need done. I've been...

I think they can all have their problems. I test drove a Ram back in 2020. It threw a fault code and we had to limp back to the dealership.:oops:

I'm definitely enjoying the Yamaha Viking SxS. I'm amazed at how smooth the ride is over rough ground. When the wife and I looked at them, she was leaning towards the Ranch Edition, because I think she liked the color and dress. I talked her out of it and said we could make better use of the...

There you go. A real man uses the traditional methods for an audience. You would have lost some man points if you tried anything else. Just sayin';) Just joking with you. I'm glad the tri-tips turned out well. I've grilled and smoked on a ceramic egg for years and really like the results...

Good morning again from Kauai. We had a beautiful day yesterday, sailing, swimming and snorkeling along the Napoli coast. We spread the last of my mother-in-laws ashes along the voyage. I also had to cancel my primary credit cards yesterday and swap to our backup accounts. It seems someone...

Good morning! Adventured yesterday and my daughter and I found a cool tidal pool to swim in. The pool is surprisingly deeper than it looks. Taking a 6 hour boat cruise and snorkeling today.

Another beautiful morning in Kauai. Planning to rent kayak's and explore a wildlife refuge today.

5:00 am and enjoying my Kona coffee again, listening to a Kauai day awaken. Spent a chunk of the day yesterday at the beach. The water was great, and it was relaxing as we still shake the jet lag. Heading to Haena State Park today.

It's a beautiful and relaxing morning here in Kauai. Enjoying my coffee on the Airbnb porch, listening to the birds and roosters with the sound of the surf in the distance. Here for a week with the wife, daughter and my extended in-law family. Then we'll spend a few nights on Oahu and visit...

I smoked it at 165 for almost 12 hours, until it hit 155 degrees internal. It came out spectacular! I just finished slicing it and vac sealing into 1lb bags.

Yes. Same model, but a 3 seater, no back seat. They're pretty bare bones, without a lot of gadgets, but the ride is great. Apparently, the Viking has remained unchanged for a number of product years now. I suspect they'll probably do away with it and focus on the Wolverine product line in...

I just threw a 5# belly on the smoker. It was rubbed with the cajun cure and has sat curing for 10 days.

Turf, Glad you're home and recovering. Keep up with the eye drop schedule and you'll be fine.

Good luck! The procedure is easy-peasy. You'll be in and out and amazed at your new vision.

Not the words from most men as they age...

Yamaha has always been one of the Japanese manufacturers that gets overshadowed (or over advertised) by Honda and Kawasaki. Suzuki used to be a big name in the 80's, but you don't see much advertising (or products) from them anymore. With the exception of Yamaha Waverunners, the rest of the...

I agree on providing the fuel, especially on 2-strokes. Nothing ruins equipment faster than bad fuel or wrong/cheap mix.

I tend to agree. They wouldn't change it if it worked well. They changed it because it either didn't work well or they wanted to make it cheaper. That's one of the things that sold me on the Yamaha Viking. The main components are unchanged for years and have an established track record...

I don't normally lend things. I have the philosophy that "the operator comes with the equipment" and will perform the task for a neighbor with my equipment, if they ask. Recently, I let a neighbor borrow my backhoe to bury a horse, because I was going to be out of town when they put the horse...

I use Polaris regularly on jobsites. Most are rental units. No real complaints, but I don't really have any time on a specific unit to gauge reliability. All the folks i know, in my business using Polaris UTV's on jobsites, buy Kawasaki, Honda or Yamaha for personal use. While recently...

After spending a night last week on the Queen Mary in Longbeach, I reflected on the sacrifices made by the "Greatest Generation" and all others that made sacrifices for what and where we are today.

Does anyone know if similar models sold overseas have the same NOx and particulate equipment? I believe most diesel over-the-road vehicles have them, but not sure about off-road equipment.

Ummm... smokers, grills, flat tops or what have you. What's everyone making this weekend? I started a brisket this morning. Just salt, pepper and a little garlic powder. I'll cook to about 145, then wrap in butcher paper for the remainder. Looking at about 12 hours. I'll make some German...

I was surprised to realize that I'm now at 22 years on my Kubota BX2200. It's been a phenomenal machine. Just the other week, I replaced both year axle oil seals. Only one was leaking, but the seals were cheap and replacement process was simple. The only other issue was a hole that developed...

I'll need to find a sensible trailer for hauling it. My 20' car hauler is a little overkill. Thinking of a small and light enough trailer so it can be used behind the SxS too.

A 2025 Yamaha Viking EPS followed me home today. I brought the wife and she was attracted to the Ranch edition, but we ultimately stuck with the green base model and we'll buy some aftermarket upgrades with the savings. I once again kicked the tires of the various Kawasaki's and Can Am's, but...

Good luck. It worked well with me, with no regrets. I wish the same for you.

I think I'm sold on the Yamaha Viking 3-seater. I went and looked at one today and it seemed to check all my boxes and the price was decent enough. Waiting for some slow pay customers to get current on their invoices and then I'll pull the trigger.

I'm sure you could use hot smoke. I just smoked it until it turned a light brown color.

The salt turned out great! I used coarse sea salt, spread it out on a pie pan and used the same smoke tube. Every once in a while, I'd stir the salt until it all had the color I wanted. I probably smoked it 6 hours or so. I then put it in an empty plastic salt grinder that I saved from some...

I just thawed and rubbed down another 5lb. belly. I'm making the Cajun cured bacon recipe again.

I don't have any experience with the night vision products, but I use thermal scopes quite a bit. With thermal, the native resolution is extremely important for proper target ID. With thermal, I'd want at least 384. I started with a 384 unit and upgraded to a 640. I'm not familiar with the...

I expect your right. My FIL said some of the best greens they grew were during the winter, when they moved the tower to their garage and installed the light kit. We'll have to experiment with our crop rotation and figure out what works best at different times of the year.

Here it is. We need to harvest some of the greens and also plant some of the open spots. My wife is ordering some of the pots, so we can plant some more stuff in it.

I got it from my FIL and it was already pre-planted with some lettuce, kale and basil. I was somewhat surprised the plants weren't any worse for wear after the 65MPH ride home in my truck bed.

You only need the grow light if it's indoors, which is a nice option to have for year-round growing. Ours is flourishing on our back patio. I think the two of us will have a hard time keeping up with eating what it produces. From what I can tell, you just adjust the water PH, add the A and B...

On some models, the door is removable from the frame and you can remove it from the inside. I think the real key is to have it registered with your town and have a plan with neighbors and family to check for people being trapped in it, after an event. I'm pretty sure emergency responders know...

I got my wife a hydroponic tower for mothers day. It's this model, with the light kit, if you want to use it indoors. Tower Garden Flex I was planning to buy one, but then my FIL said he was planning to get rid of his. He's a widower now and just doesn't have the time for it or can keep up...

I've known lots of people injured loading ATV's into trucks. I'm surprised some weren't permanently injured with broken backs etc.

I went and kicked the tires at a dealer that handled Polaris, CF Moto, Kawasaki and Honda. I mainly just looked at Honda and Kawasaki. The salesman was sure pushing CF Moto and Polaris and those were most plentiful on their lot. Polaris is the most common on all the job sites I go to, but...

I'm sure you can build one, but what's your time and money worth? I have a backhoe, so I dug my own hole to their specifications. They just drove up and dropped it in the hole. I think I paid $4000. Mine is one of the sloped front concrete models, like this.

With the larger bed of the 820, I don't think the seats would have to cantilever out over the back like that. In fact, I wouldn't want them to. You'd want to be able to lean forward and rest your rifle on the cab roof. Typically, the roof has a rack that would hold a shooting bag that acts as...

I'm sort of leaning towards the Mule Pro-FX 820. With the larger bed, I could always put some removable "safari-style" seats in the bed with an over-the-cab shooting rest. It'd be a cool way to hunt pigs at night. I'd just need to watch the higher center of gravity. A smaller scale to this...

Including my original 3, here's the overall width of various models Yamaha Viking EPS= 64" Kawasaki Mule 4010= 62" Kawasaki Mule Pro-MX= 60" Honda Pioneer 700= 60" Polaris Ranger 570= 56"

You might have swayed me to a 3-seater, especially if my wife is using it.

I'm starting to go down the path of a SxS for my current 7.5 acres, deer lease and our eventual larger retirement property. I'm heading down the path of needing an ankle replacement from arthritis and my hiking is getting really painful. I think even after I get a joint replacement, rough...

Red, white and blue? 😜

I've been eating the cheese that was in this post and also a second batch that had 3 different types of cheese. All are excellent! I highly recommend trying it. I've also been giving some away to folks and they all contact me to tell me how good it is. Now I can't wait until the cold months...

Tony LLama TLX with composite toes for me. I wear these for everything.

That makes me so happy to hear that!

I think WroughtNHarv moved on to spend more time with his wife. I believe she had a cancer diagnosis, and they were "living like they were dying", spending as much time together and trying to experience all the joys of life.

Women are devious that way.

It could be worse. I have a buddy that went elephant hunting. When he came home, there was a brand new BMW in his driveway that had a vanity plate reading MYLFANT 😁

I had an issue a few months back that still bothers me. In fact, it bothers me enough that I won't do work for that customer again. I was contracted by my customer (California company) to help commission some equipment at a refinery in Louisiana. My customer was having a lot of issues with...

I love the digital door locks. We have our own codes in there, plus a few others that we can change. No keys involved. If we need someone to watch the pets, we'll program in their last 4 digits of their phone number. Then remove the code after we return.

Time of day with the sun? I try to point all of mine northerly.

I pay $1100/mo on the market place. However, I have some inherited IRA disbursements in the coming years that will make it become a roller coaster ride, trying to keep up with the discounts. The bottom line is the ACA plans are kind of crappy too. Many places won't take them and then you just...

There are no pockets in a coffin. You make sure you're not a burden to those around you and try to help with the wellbeing of those you leave behind. You better enjoy the rest of it while you can, because nothing in life is guaranteed and you only take this ride in life once.

Unfortunately, not big enough for that. I think you'd need a lot more BTU's and surface area.

I use one all the time. I'll pound out chicken breasts to 1/4" thick. Mix some flour with salt, pepper and garlic powder and coat the breast, then pan sauté the breast with a good olive oil and butter. I'll then make an artichoke w/capers or some type of mushroom sauce and serve the...

Wolc, I agree completely on the relaxation of splitting and stacking. My least favorite part is driving around my lease to find standing dry oak. Lots of prickly pear and turkey pear grow at the base of the trees and lifting the rounds into the truck takes some work. It wouldn't be that bad...

I was on an overseas hunting trip and shot a couple animals that weren't on my wife's "pre-approved list". I called her and apologized and remember thinking to myself that she seemed to take the news/confession abnormally well. When I got home, I learned she had bought herself a fancy new...

I didn't do the bending. I bought it from a China outfit that makes them for the purpose, with multiple options. However, I did learn there are companies domestically that also do it. It's similar to this: Wood Fired Coil Kit I think mine was about 1/2 the cost and I could choose the end...

Surprising no. You'd sort of think for this application, it would be a pretty consistent oil across equipment. I guess I don't consider it a very demanding hydraulic application, but maybe I'm wrong. The Champion takes ISO/AW 32

While checking it out, I did notice the Home Depot folks put all the cut lock-washers on the wrong side of the flat washers when they assembled it. No big deal, I changed them around and also used locktight on everything that shouldn't come apart. A pet peeve of mine is nuts and bolts coming...

I love having a simple wading pool. It's probably one of the most enjoyable things for me, on a summer evening after dinner. Mine is just a 6' galvanized trough, that I clad in cedar. But it's perfect for 2 of us to sit in and cool off. It also has a wood fired heater. It's a coil of 1.25"...

I agree. I think most are 2-stage pumps. It's the return that seems to make the difference, as that's just unproductive time. I guess I assume the cycle time is extend/retract.

The cycle time was a factor for me. 11 seconds was one of the shortest times I've seen. It makes a difference.

I've been pretty lucky in my household. I'm probably the one that has the eccentricities in our relationship, dragging my wife on trips, hunting excursions etc. My wife would have remained pretty sheltered, had she not met me. But the reality is the stuff I like to do really hasn't been that...

Some of our standing-dry Texas oak should be a good test. TX oak is pretty dense with tight rings (less growth per year). It burns great though with great coals.

We'll have to compare notes on the Champion. I bought mine at Home Depot and it was already assembled. Although, I'll probably go through it myself. I'm a stickler when it comes to assembling things using locktite for parts that need to stay together and never-sieze on parts that need to come...

I ended up buying the Champion 27T. I've usually rented a splitter each year, but my last two rentals were a mess. I ended up having (7) 75- 80' pines come down on my back property, so I'll put it to use there first. The bark beetles killed them last year, so they've been standing-dry. When...

Eddie, I'm interested in the equipment you use to prep and maintain your beds. Especially for a garden that size. Do you use a small gas powered tiller/cultivator? What do you do for watering?

I know!! Eddie is the over-achieving friend that we never want our spouses to learn about. I've already spread all sorts of lies about Eddie to my wife. I suggest y'all do the same! 🤠

I've been considering the Champion 27 ton. Any reason to talk me out of it?

I really think the DPF and SCR requirement on ag equipment is off base. Most of this equipment is used in rural areas, so the NOx is not really a contributor to ozone in the metropolitan areas. If it is, it would probably be a fraction of 1% compared to the road/highway vehicles and other...

Lyme disease is no joke. I know 2 people that have had their lives totally ruined by it.

I'm planning to do something similar on my engine driven welder.

I have mixed views on this. There's always a risk in providing a utility to a consumer. I think in the case of the California lawsuits, the utility was between a rock and a hard place. Maintenance was required, but access and methods allowed for maintenance were restricted. Add to that...

It depends if the tree is valued as timber or an ornamental/shade tree. I used to be a certified arborist and was called to provide value for trees cut when a logger went across the line, into a new home lot. The trees he cut would have been in the immediate backyard of the proposed homesite...

I'm developing a severe smoking habit :) While waiting on the Cajun bacon to smoke, I decided to smoke some coarse sea salt using the smoke tube that I used to cold smoke cheese yesterday. The other year, I had an incredible margarita made with chargrilled oranges with smoked sea salt on the...

Here in Texas, I've witnessed the range of the Caracara bird move north. They're now routinely found in Central TX. Caracara Bird

I started the cajun bacon smoke process. I'm smoking it with pecan pellets. When I smoked cheese yesterday, the pecan smoke was very distinctive and smelled great. I'm hoping this turns out well. Why do all the good things take time? Cure for 5-10 days, smoke for 4-8 hours. Smoking cheese...

I'm really having high hopes for this! The smell of the pecan smoke on my hands is amazing. I think it's going to have a really good flavor after everything ages and mellows.

I just finished 3 hours, pulled them off, wrapped in parchment and they're resting in the refrigerator. I started these using my ceramic egg grill with the smoke tube in the bottom. Unfortunately, it's so well insulated, I kept getting above the recommended 90 degrees. It also seemed to be...

It's a dreary rainy day and sitting at 48 degrees. I found a big block of Vermont Sharp Cheddar for sale at the store, so I figured I'd try my hand at smoking some cheese. I'm using a smoke tube and pecan pellets. 2-hours to smoke, rest in parchment for 24 hours in the fridge and then vacuum...

I've traveled for work for years and I've always enjoyed California. I've always understood that each state has its own "color", vibe and differences and I've always embraced that. It's no different for me today, than it was 35 years ago when I started traveling. I've always joked that CA was...

I'm sure your son's passing is something you'll ponder the rest of your life. I think you wouldn't be normal if you didn't. I watched my parents cope with my brothers passing at 45yo from cancer. Even in something they had little control over, I watched them second guess medical decisions and...

That's the scare tactics that the politicians and the healthcare industry lobbyists use to keep the status quo of a broken system. "Look at how messed up country X's system is!" How about looking at the other dozen or so that work well? I agree completely on the issues of how we currently pay...

I was $1700/mo. for a BCBS family of 4. I swapped to a plan on the healthcare exchange last year for $1100/mo. It's interesting that many practices won't accept plans from the healthcare exchange. I'm still looking for a better option. Don't even get me started on our broken healthcare...

I hate everything about fiberglass, except its insulating properties.

I just mixed the Cajun cure and have the 2.5# belly, thawed, rubbed and bagged. I have 2 more 5# bellies. I'll see how the Cajun comes out and if I like it, I'll do the 5# bellies the same and then slice and freeze. I need to buy a new meat slicer. I don't use one too often, so I'll...

Sorry about your son's death. I remember reading the thread. We can influence our kids only so many hours of the day, the rest of the time, the rest of society has their chance. I had a nephew that was hooked on drugs. I expect he would have also overdosed at some point, had he not died...

Even with kids with the same biology and upbringing, they can still be completely different. Our 2 girls are completely different in their personalities and life ambitions.

How well does the cured bacon store if you slice and freeze it in smaller portions?

Sounds like you did a good job at being a father. Congratulations.

If I was doing a metal building, I'd use the 3" fiberglass batt R-10 rolls (or thicker for more R) with the white reinforced vapor barrier that they make for the purpose. If the walls are 36" panels, the first roll is 4' wide and the subsequent rolls are 6' wide, so the seams are staggered from...

I just got back from a month long trip to Taiwan. Dying for some western food and being all caught up in the jetlag and time change, when I "failed open" at 3AM I wandered out to the shop freezer and pulled out a pork belly to thaw. I'm going for Cajun bacon this time. Cajun bacon recipe

I love spring turkey hunting!

That's some good-looking cedar with lots of heart wood. It should last a very long time.

I've always joked that I could never live in California, where all the things I love are illegal... and all the things I hate are legal.

Good question. Definitely TX, with a slim interest in OK. I'm wanting to be closer to Mason, TX where my deer lease is. There's still a possibility the rancher sells us a small part of their ranch. Shellie is wanting to stay closer to Dallas, maybe near Bowie, where Jimmy Inman used to live...

Yes and no. Yes on the finances being there, but I ended up taking a couple of projects and I'm booked with work until April. Currently, I'm on a disaster of a project in Taiwan and will be here for the entire month of February. The end-user is begging me to stay longer, but I have another...

Eddie, I know you and Karen do a lot of canning. Have you looked into the freeze drying? I see a lot of homestead folks touting it. The dryers are crazy expensive though.

No doubt. Especially with tomatoes, corn, squash etc. An onion, not so much. I'll leave onions to someone else to grow and reserve my labor for the more perishable/rewarding stuff.

I haven't had a garden in years, but store-bought onions always seemed cheap enough that it was simpler to just buy them. I'd expend my gardening efforts on the more specialized crops that I liked having fresh and might spoil quickly.