Good morning!!!!

[KilroyJC]

This house sits on a level concrete slab, that sits on on rock. No stilts involved. But 30' off the back porch the slope takes off downhill at anywhere between a 17° and 25° angle. And that's what the insurance companies don't like.

I would have to switchback a driveway for the house, but that is very common out here in the Smoky Mountains. I guess the lower (not zero!) incidence of wildfires here (and more active forestry management) help in that regard here.

things to keep in mind for the future!

 

[KilroyJC]

Uphill about 100' from the house sits a 10,000 gallon water tank that in turn feeds a 2500 water tank at the house. There are sprinkler heads on the roof all the way around the house, and the pump that feeds them is driven by what amounts to an off grid power system. The insurance companies doen't give a flip; they want a fire hydrant.

I'm 6.1 miles and 11 minutes from the nearest fire station that is manned 24x7x365, and the house is still rated Protection Class 9, the worst you can get.

There's nothing but bare mineral earth for at least 100' around the house.

None of that matters to the insurance companies. If you haven't already, make a few calls to some of the bigger insurers and see if they'll quote a policy for the house you envision. Then at least you'll know one way or the other if it can be insured, and if so, for how much.

You've mentioned that there's no cell reception at the land you've purchased. So no internet via cell. Same here. Have you looked for a WiMax provider that covers the area? Or maybe the telco has run fiber? If not, you're looking at satellite, and they all suck, even Starlink. And in many areas, Starlink is so oversubscribed there's a waiting list to get on.

Not trying to give you a hard time, just sharing a bit of my 13 year experience at this place, and some of the biggest regrets I have in moving here.

Our StarLink is awesome here! And the (potential) house site should be high enough to get two bars, possibly even LOS to a cell tower two ridges over.

If we did build, we would need power run, so getting the telco to run POTS at the same time would make sense.

 

[Wagtail]

Good (Wednesday) morning. Overnight Low of -0.7C (frost) and it's presently 13.8C, calm & sunny.

It's 'into town day' for mail & groceries. Arvo plans are a trip to the tip + somehow the empty-wine-bottle box is full again.

WRT "being 'new' to the area versus being generationally 'born' in the area", I reckon it's an attitude problem... both theirs and yours. There are those whose 'identity' are rooted in where they're from. My experience has been to get involved in/with the local community... and you don't have to do much.

I'm a member of a local Church. I've helped with the local Navy Cadet Unit. I've volunteered my time & tractor at the Community Garden. With my tractor, I help 'bring in the harvest' of hay rounds for a neighbour (multi-generational local family) when asked. Heck, this Saturday I'm going to help the local Pony Club conduct an Endurance Race (a very early start & I'll freeze my butt doing traffic control). I'm a member of the local Veterans (RSL) organisation to the point where I'm called upon to conduct the various 'parades' throughout the year.

I'm not saying this to blow my own horn. Just to say that I'm accepted in this community. I've 'earned it'.

That's about it, take care all.

 

[Rich B1]

I once had a neighbor who dealt in adult pharmaceuticals, a friend that was the “enforcer” for a NEO biker gang, and a police officer who helped with the race bikes. Made for some interesting evenings in the garage. And resulted in a somewhat ugly incident with 2 federal agents who were trespassing on my property. I may have to type it out….Kilroy’s problems reminded me of my experiences

 

[rswyan]

59F and clear @ 22:15, headed down to 47F for the low in the overnight.

Got hopper and the two tube feeders refilled, also mealworm feeder which was empty by the time I got out there. Added another 20 mealworms.

Refueled Cub Cadet.

Retrieved the rest of the short plant cages and the live trap from barn along with another garden hose and the good woven landscape fabric.

Baited trap with the last anchovy and set it just before I came in this evening.

Fertilized the 3 rhubarb plants that were planted in the garden last year. Reviewed tag that came with the new ones, should be good for a limited harvest this year on the ones planted last year ... so hopefully there will be a rhubarb pie in my near future ...

Also added a cup of Espoma Soil Acidifier to the 2 blueberry plants that were planted in the garden last year and got those caged and labelled. They got browsed on last fall, wasn't sure if they would would make it ... but they are looking good with some new growth ...

Now out of Soil Acidifier, will have to pick up more for the original 2 blueberry plants and any rhododendrons we plant this year.

Potted the 3 new rhubarb roots in 1 gallon pots and moved those around back.

Did the same for the 2 new blueberry plants, only used 2 gallon pots.

Raked up weeds and debris from garden and hauled 2 loads up to the compost pile.

Helped Woman repot one of her hibiscus.

Used landscape fabric staples to tack down the "extension cord" across the top of the side yard that goes over to the barn.

On the seeds I recently planted, so far the following have sprouted and broken the soil surface:

12 Yellow Crookneck Summer Squash

3 Buttercup Winter Squash

3 Cucumber Plants

I think the pots sitting on the asphalt is what causes them to germinate so quickly ... warms the soil.

Moved all those onto the Weber Grill and a trash can sitting out front, so hopefully they won't get nipped or et ...

No progress on mowing the west side today ...

Need to go close up the garage.

The bigger of the two redbud trees we transplanted last year, which is doing better than the other one. Probably about 4' tall:

The variegated hosta seem to be recovering nicely as the deer have moved on to other things (like the day lilies in the picture above):

Hope everyone had a great Tuesday ...

 

[buckeyefarmer]

Wife made a rhubarb crisp last night that was very good.

 

[rswyan]

time to conserve energy David

RS, how far are you from the Cuyahoga River?

Not very far from the Little Cuyahoga ... maybe 8 to 10 miles or so. It's just north of Downtown Akron.

Probably another 5 miles or so to a part/section of the actual Cuyahoga.

you soon may see a really big ship going up and down it.

Not likely ... unless I'm up at The Flats in Cleveland for some reason.

The mouth of the Cuyahoga where it ends in Lake Erie is about 30 or 40 miles from here and is really the only part that is navigable for large vessels.

Some remarkable seamanship to get a 600 foot ship around those tight bends in the River.

No doubt.

I'd like to see that...

We can make it happen ... just make the time and say the word ...

I watch the YT videos of the big lake ships coming in and out of the Great Lakes ports, for an old Captain, fun to watch.

Yeah ... snaking around the Cuyahoga up in The Flats is pretty impressive for sure ...

 

[mostly_gas]

Good evening all. 62ºF for the start, partly cloudy, light breeze. Light wind, sky became overcast, and high temp was 75ºF. Putter to start day, went to town with wife for lunch and groceries. Got bike ride in, chain on Trek cleaned and lubed, no nap.
Randy(wag) if the new horse can open the gates, will it be difficult to keep horse in the fences?
RS good to hear your wife is making progress on the weeding. Glad to hear mowing progress. Not surprised Squeak like anchovies. Great pics.
Don nice you and your wife did well in H&F tournament. Hope you can get potatoes in soon.
Kilroy sorry about the early activities. Shame The Da and ADA won't do anything about it on their street.
Buppies You are up early, hope you are sleeping well. Hope you get more rain. prayers sent
Ron hope weeding went well and Dr appointment had good news. Looks like a big appetite.
Drew sorry about pollen kicking you eyes around. Hope you got radishes.
Paul what were you flying? nice pic. Bet neighbor happy with install, Good to hear Zoe did well until distracted. As she gets older I would expect she will get less distracted.
Billy had trouble in STL with Pileated woodpeckers coming up to house. They loved the cedar lap siding. Would put tin can metal where they were punching holes, they finally gave up. Sorry about foot problem. Glad you had good lunch with family.
Kilroy sorry you did not get your gravel.
Don good luck with potato harvest. Glad you are getting Ron's pics again.
Bill sorry you are a foreigner.
Dennis sorry about the new guy attitude.
Frits can take a long time to lose the new guy name.
Dennis sorry about your wife's leg pain. prayers sent. Glad you got BX FEL greased. Hope you don't need rain as bad as Buppies.
RNG sorry about the issues installing the speaker wire. Good luck with new wire strippers. Hope you can get the stucco work done with no extra curricular activities.
Ken hope you are making progress with the cleaning and weeding.
Ted hope you get some rain. Sorry gravel interfering with progress. Hope you made progress and not get more evil eye from your wife.
Frits glad yo got flowers planted. hope mowing and service work went well.
David good to hear you made time for neighbor. Good to hear HH success, nice score on PTO shaft.
Dennis sorry to hear about brother.
Jay glad you found an electrician to get solar back up. Glad rider started and is mowing. Nice catbird
RS hope you got your agenda done.
RS thanks for the seed info.
David nice Kekoa story.
Don potatoes look good.
Dennis glad you got bolts on wheel torqued. Hope cantaloupe plants produce.
Thomas glad good work day. Hope no mattress for Boo.
Mark no one has asked for the carp.
David glad good visit with neighbor.
Drew thanks for link to new ship.
Frits glad you could provide some entertainment for wife. Sorry about electrical problem, electrical fuel shutoff?
Randy(wag) hope town run went OK and got the bottle box emptied.
RS got a lot done. nice pics
RS and Drew watch the pilots handle the Mississippi towboat also impressive, on lower Mississippi river can get up to 40 barges.
prayer for all, especially Jay/Peg, Kyle /Daughter, /mom's breathing, /learning new job, /friends upcoming new baby, /son's migraines, Bird /aging issues, Ron /heart, Billy /mom hypertension & congestive heart failure, David(moss) /remodel, /divorce, Buppies /new skin cancer spot and treatment, /back surgery healing, /wife knee healing, Thomas /gout, Phil /reflux, Frits /veteran son with mental issues, /granddaughter with Evans Syndrome, Ken /dad possible dementia, Steppenwolfe /son-auto immune disorder, Grev /wife's eye, Ted /knee recovery, /retirement & disability red tape, /family issues, Lou /eye issues, /loss of brother, /heart issues, Doug and wife/health issues, / hand nerve and surgery, /fall and recovery, / wife headaches and heart eval, / David(sadamo)/Sophie's and David's new eye surgery recovery, Chris /neighbor's granddaughter and Covid issues, Scaredy/shoulder dislocation, /marriage dissolving, / friend stop drinking, Paul/ wife's healing from back surgery, Dennis /retirement, /neighbor issues, /land development, /favorable winds not in the forecast there "alligallyitus" and back in hospital, Drew /back operation issues, /friend's wife cancer diagnosis and recovery, mike /wife's healing from surgery, Scotty /back pain, Helogabals /second opinion, /wife's friend situation, Fatjay /father broken hip, Ukraine war, and Country.

 

[Wagtail]

Randy(wag) if the new horse can open the gates, will it be difficult to keep horse in the fences?

I don't believe so. I reckon it was a combination of the "Mad Horse Woman" not quite securing that gate and that it was the horse's first night 'alone', knowing that there was another horse just there.

They're placidly hanging out with each other. Now we'll have to see how they act when (and it will happen) they're separated for riding purposes. When the "Mad Agisting Horse Woman" or her daughter takes their horse on a forest ride (a State Forest is my next-door-neighbour) the 'left behind' horse carries-on like it's the end of the world. Racing around and calling out.

 

[ronjhall]

Poured cup of hot coffee. 35° with some clear skies this morning. Heading to 60° with sunny skies. Dr. appointment went well. Got second Shingles shot while there. Arm is sore from shot. Going to take tractor down to neighbors and remove a couple of small stumps from flower garden. Then return home to mow grass.
Deer tried to hide from camera.

Everyone stay safe and well.

Good Morning All.