Good morning!!!!

RedNeckGeek · Apr 24, 2023

Good Morning!!!! 55F @ 5:00AM. Sunny to partly cloudy. High 82F. Winds WSW at 5 to 10 mph.

Got a couple tanks of RM43 sprayed on the gravel yesterday. Probably could have done one more, but the bottle didn't have enough left in it for a full load. And like everything else, herbicide prices have skyrocketed ($120/2.5 gal -> $160), so I've been reluctant to invest in another jug. Maybe I can get by with the existing supply of glyphosate, and follow it up with Preen, but that's twice the work.

Amazon delivered the binder posts to fix the outdoor speaker, so that got taken care of yesterday, too. Gave them a little exercise, and noticed that the high frequencies aren't as crisp as I remember, so maybe the tweeters were damaged after all.

Went to use the tractor after that and noticed that the left front tire had leaked down a bit, though not as much. Decided now was as good a time as any to figure out why, and a spray of soapy water confirmed that the replacement NAPA valve stem had a very slow leak where it sealed into the rim. I had new metal stems sitting on the bench, so I pulled the wheel, used the FEL to break the bead and hold it down out of the way, and installed the new stem with a healthy dose of TriBond sealant to keep it air tight. Would have been nice to have some wrench flats on the valve stem to keep it from turning while the nut was tightened, but had to make do with a pair of needle nose Vice Grips.

With that taken care of I spread some gravel on the steep back slope above the LP tank and generator. Access wasn't very good working above the terraces, so I've got a fair amount of raking to do to get it all evenly covered. Better safe than sorry, and at nearly 80F by then, it'll be cooler this morning.

Hope everyone's week gets off to a great start!

jbrumberg · Apr 24, 2023

wngsprd said:
Here's a view from the James River Face Wilderness...the other side of the river from where I had hiked before.View attachment 797293

Billy- Thanks and thank you for sharing your picture; great photos.

txdon · Apr 24, 2023

Good morning! 51˚F cloudy, east wind, only getting to 65˚.

Wngsprd, welcome back from nursing duty, nice hiking pics.

I saw some vegan lemon bars online that called for Japanese Sweet potatoes and decided to make them. But I had a problem, the stores produce dept does not carry those potatoes and regular sweet potatoes do not have the right taste for the bars, which is a nutty brown sugar taste. I did find the potatoes on amazon and hopefully next week I can try the new lemon bars.

I also found some seeds for the black watermelon on Amazon. They are the special Densuke watermelon from Japan, the grown watermelon is very expensive. I'm out of room so maybe next year, but if any of you want to give it a go here is the amazon link: https://www.amazon.com/QAUZUY-GARDEN-Watermelon-Planting-Seedless/dp/B0BXCQWXG7/ref=sr_1_2?crid=1TJZA703K03YY&keywords=densuke+watermelon+seeds&qid=1682340574&sprefix=densuke+watermelon+seeds,aps,98&sr=8-2

The black watermelons are also difficult to grow, they have to be grafted (1:45) and this video leaves out some important information, I suspect to keep them very elusive and expensive.
After grafting all watermelons are taken off the plant except one so it will have all the nutrients and sweetness. The blackest and heaviest are sold at action and have brought $6,100.00

m7040 · Apr 24, 2023

RedNeckGeek said:
Good Morning!!!! 55F @ 5:00AM. Sunny to partly cloudy. High 82F. Winds WSW at 5 to 10 mph.

Got a couple tanks of RM43 sprayed on the gravel yesterday. Probably could have done one more, but the bottle didn't have enough left in it for a full load. And like everything else, herbicide prices have skyrocketed ($120/2.5 gal -> $160), so I've been reluctant to invest in another jug. Maybe I can get by with the existing supply of glyphosate, and follow it up with Preen, but that's twice the work.

Amazon delivered the binder posts to fix the outdoor speaker, so that got taken care of yesterday, too. Gave them a little exercise, and noticed that the high frequencies aren't as crisp as I remember, so maybe the tweeters were damaged after all.

Went to use the tractor after that and noticed that the left front tire had leaked down a bit, though not as much. Decided now was as good a time as any to figure out why, and a spray of soapy water confirmed that the replacement NAPA valve stem had a very slow leak where it sealed into the rim. I had new metal stems sitting on the bench, so I pulled the wheel, used the FEL to break the bead and hold it down out of the way, and installed the new stem with a healthy dose of TriBond sealant to keep it air tight. Would have been nice to have some wrench flats on the valve stem to keep it from turning while the nut was tightened, but had to make do with a pair of needle nose Vice Grips.

With that taken care of I spread some gravel on the steep back slope above the LP tank and generator. Access wasn't very good working above the terraces, so I've got a fair amount of raking to do to get it all evenly covered. Better safe than sorry, and at nearly 80F by then, it'll be cooler this morning.

Hope everyone's week gets off to a great start!

Good for you doing the tire repair. I am not much for tire repairs these days leaving it to the tire shop. Done my share of those in the past. Especially the small tires are the worst.

jbrumberg · Apr 24, 2023

I was never good remembering names, but I was great at remembering “life stories.” I pulled out an old list of Who’s Who in this great thread to help me get all the wonderful “life stories” shared here associated with the correct individual.

PJS- Thanks. I was gone far too long.

Dennis- My condolences for your and your family’s loss. My + thoughts and prayers.

Billy- Again thanks and I am happy to read that your Wife’s surgery was successful and hope that she makes a full recovery as painlessly as possible and quickly.

David- I always enjoyed and still enjoy pictures of your spread and projects;nice mowing job.

RNG- I wish I had you energy level.

My weather station measured 2.70" from this weather event which is now on its way east/northeast. 39ºF was this morning's low temperature. It is currently a cloudy 40ºF. I expect to see some sun today and an afternoon high temperature ~50ºF before it clouds up again later in the afternoon. A decent day to start Spring cleanup operations and get myself motivated to swap the boxblade scraper for the tiller.

I am not in the best "place" today. One of my best friends has been having serious nosebleeds recently due to some "mass". Friday/Saturday he woke up choking on his own blood. He was diagnosed with Cancer and on his way to Mass General Sunday.

kenmbz · Apr 24, 2023

Morning, 40 going up to 60 and sunny.
Spent a few hours with the weedwacker and then mowed the side yards.
Son's friends cam over later for band practice.

PopG - looks like great fun at shadfest. We ended up parking at Lambertville station for $10, after went to the boathouse for drinks. Wife reminisced with hostess about some restaurants and people they both knew.

Good to see you back Wngsprd, and good news on the wife

Kilroy - I can only do plunge cuts on the dead Ash or they barber chair. Good job on the trees. I use a wrist rocket to shoot up the bags and line.

BEF our condolences - your family history is amazing, great it's being kept up.

Don - spending time in Japan and seeing what they do with veggies was interesting and sometimes bizarre, like tomatoes not only in multitudes of color, but also shapes. Some grown just to look good in certain dishes, talk about dedication to the art of farming.

Sorry to hear about the friends cancer Jay, dealing with a few family members with cancer now. Hope they can do something.

Be well,

Buppies · Apr 24, 2023

Jay prayers for your friend

jbrumberg · Apr 24, 2023

kenmbz said:
Morning, 40 going up to 60 and sunny.
Spent a few hours with the weedwacker and then mowed the side yards.
Son's friends cam over later for band practice.

PopG - looks like great fun at shadfest. We ended up parking at Lambertville station for $10, after went to the boathouse for drinks. Wife reminisced with hostess about some restaurants and people they both knew.

Good to see you back Wngsprd, and good news on the wife

Kilroy - I can only do plunge cuts on the dead Ash or they barber chair. Good job on the trees. I use a wrist rocket to shoot up the bags and line.

BEF our condolences - your family history is amazing, great it's being kept up.

Don - spending time in Japan and seeing what they do with veggies was interesting and sometimes bizarre, like tomatoes not only in multitudes of color, but also shapes. Some grown just to look good in certain dishes, talk about dedication to the art of farming.

Sorry to hear about the friends cancer Jay, dealing with a few family members with cancer now. Hope they can do something.

Be well,

Ken- Thanks Actually 2 of my closest friends are dealing with cancer. The other has been dealing with her breast, now lung cancer and has been the sole survivor of several different experimental treatment studies. She is still working part-time, deals with a very dysfunctional family, and takes weekend trips all around New England. She is my heroine.

An adult and recently fledged White-Breasted Nuthatch. The picture was taken a couple of days ago. I am still trying to "capture" Tufted Titmice and 3 species of woodpeckers doing the same.