Farmerjan's journal - Weather

[farmerjan]

@Baymule you and I are built entirely different... trending towards too much fat here... and on and off tractor and sitting on seat and up and down with raking and hills etc just isn't going to work. My jeans are fitted, and I don't buy jeans to fit the da@#ed phone...wanting to get into the next size SMALLER that I have, if I can lose some of this lard....

Gotta go in that direction Monday... if phone is there then it was meant for me to buy and try it. Still a helluva price to put out for a phone... but if I can get several years out of it.....Thought about saying the he// with it and putting in a landline and screw the cell phone....I really hate giving up this small, compact, comfortable, does what I want, phone.....sometimes I am tired of being at everyone's beck and call too....

Went and met DS and traded tedder for rake and raked the hay. It has been mostly cloudy and chilly... I think it might have hit 57 and the sun peeked out for a half hour. I had sweatshirt and then hooded thinner sweatshirt over it with hood on and headphones for ear protection... and I was not any too warm. Tomorrow is supposed to be sunnier and a little warmer...
Hay looks pretty decent... and drier than I thought it would be. I also worked the outside row in more after getting the rest raked and had more space; so it will be in the sun tomorrow. The forecast if for some dew and possible fog tonight. so it will be damp until after noon anyway. DS asked if it would make more than one wagonload, and I said 150-200 sq bales. I could be way off and it is real dry and fluffy, but there is alot of hay there for this time of year. So we will see how good a "guesser" I am tomorrow.

Came home and then went up to nurse cow pasture and fed grain and checked over cows. I think I made a mistake... I think I said that my older hol/jer with the huge udder had a heifer, but it looks like a bull calf... They all look pretty good up there, and are fat. The heifers he took up there are starting to look better since he got them out of the barn lot at doug's. There wasn't enough for them to eat there.... There is still quite a bit of grass here at the nurse cow pasture but they will eat it down pretty fast. Still, nice to see them getting fat and sassy. DS put about 40 sq bales in the barn for me for the winter; to supplement any calves I want to feed a little extra in the barn.... last years hay (2021) but it is decent grass hay... If the weather gets nasty, I like to put some in the bunk for the littler calves to go in and eat and the protection of the barn if it is snowing or raining/sleeting crappy cold weather.

I locked in the chickens, and see where the buff hen is going up in a tree behind the greenhouse/shelter. Not trying to upset her or catch her or anything at this point. One of the brahma pullets had not gone in at first and she was picking on the buff hen...before she flew up in the tree.... so that could be a consideration.
Came in, ate a hamburger patty from meat I had taken out of freezer the other day...
Going to wash my hair tonight. I was too tired to do it last night when I got home. Got a load of white clothes in the washer soaking and will hang in the morning; bring the jeans in then since I was on the tractor raking until late this afternoon and the sun never really came out to dry the dampness.

One of the farmers I called 2 weeks ago called back and said he got busy and "dropped the ball" on calling me back. He is slowly turning it over to his son I guess, as he told me to call him and see about setting up a date to test in a week or so. Owner sampler farmer has not called me back to come do the paperwork or that they have taken samples. Have to see about doing the 500 cow herd again, too....

 

[Mini Horses]

.....Thought about saying the he// with it and putting in a landline and screw the cell phone....I really hate giving up this small, compact, comfortable, does what I want, phone.....sometimes I am tired of being at everyone's beck and call too....

Yep...but --- there is that convenience of being able to call OUT from anywhere. That's the real gift of portable! Otherwise, don't answer. Another gift, caller id.

I was thrilled when landlines could be portable!

Downer of smart phone...on it more. Used to only have computer at home desk. Now it's right with me! Temptation.

 

[Baymule]

My phone sends me a weekly report of how much time I spend on it. I don’t need to be reminded! In my defense, it’s quicker to open, do what I want to do and close it up, while my ancient laptop is still in the circle of doom, trying to decide if I can get online or not.

 

[farmerjan]

Still cloudy/foggy out there this morning but it is getting lighter and brighter in the east so hopefully the sun is going to come through.
Got down to 46 and I don't think it will get real warm so probably going to leave the spider plants in... we'll see. If it warms up into the 60's with the coming rain I will put them out. Once we get past the rain for Sunday/Monday it looks to clear off and be partly to mostly sunny for another 7-10 days. So I imagine we will be into more hay. There is one place he says the owners want it made again, place has just been sold, so since some of the equipment is half way there down at dennis', still, we will go there next. I was hoping we were about done. One thing though at this late date, the hay is not "lush green" so dries much better if it is sunny. But it has to lay longer with all the heavy dew and shorter days to get dry.

Ate some scrambled eggs for breakfast, washer running with the white clothes I had been soaking... going out to open up chickens. Sure wanting the sun to come out today so we can get this hay up.

 

[Bruce]

I'm a bit late to this party but glad DS is pretty much OK even if his truck is not. In Vermont, as Ridge said, the owner of livestock that gets out, even once, can be charged with manslaughter if someone is killed hitting it. I hope DS and the GF get everything he is due and MAYBE the owners of the animals will learn they NEED to keep their animals INSIDE the fence.

If she already told DS that they weren't interested and he told me to sell it, why are they pushing this... except to think they are going to get it cheaper...

The Ford dealer is giving you a "we buy it for ... then sell it at a profit" price. You should be able to get MORE than they offered selling it privately, not less. Check the Kelley Blue Book online. IIRC That vehicle is in good shape and doesn't have a ton of miles, right? Don't take less than the KBB price for a private sale.

Next will be a new laptop... screen on this one is not wanting to even work when I do the pinching on the side of it... I use it plugged into a flat screen on the desk at home all the time anyway.

How old is the laptop? The screen can be replaced, though they aren't cheap. Just an option to consider.

Thought about saying the he// with it and putting in a landline and screw the cell phone....I really hate giving up this small, compact, comfortable, does what I want, phone.....sometimes I am tired of being at everyone's beck and call too....

Landlines can be expensive. We were paying about $90/month with unlimited long distance, weak internet (15 down, 1 up on a GOOD day) was another $50. So about $140/month including fees and taxes.

We moved our "landline" to Ooma after we got the fiber optic internet. Ooma is $15/month. We also kept the Consolidated copper line on a new number, DW wanted a landline for "in case the internet is out". I got the cheapest thing they offered, pay by the minute if you use it, no long distance so we can at least call 911 if necessary. Cost per month is $20.24 ... plus $15.11 in federal and state taxes and fees - 7 of them. Feel like I'm kinda getting screwed here. But our cell service truly SUCKS big time. Couldn't make a call if we had to, texts mostly go but often take a few tries. TracFone uses Verizon here and Verizon has the best coverage in the state. Sister-in-law (lives in Alexandria VA) has T-mobile and can use her phone here which means the tower on the farm 3/4 mile north is T-mobile. Wish it were Verizon, then we could dump the landline.

 

[SageHill]

My phone sends me a weekly report of how much time I spend on it. I don’t need to be reminded! In my defense, it’s quicker to open, do what I want to do and close it up, while my ancient laptop is still in the circle of doom, trying to decide if I can get online or not.

HA - mine does that as well. For me it's a 'game' -- can I do less each week!

 

[farmerjan]

@Bruce ; thanks for the "infos"... the ins company is getting copies of all expenses DS is incurring, including the eye dr 2 days later... and seems like they are going to cover it pretty good. DS is still having alot of shoulder and arm pain from the bruising and I told him to not be a "man" and downplay it.... he needs to make sure that there is no after effects like when people get whiplash and don't think it is bad and then have more problems down the road....
He is fighting with them about the value of the truck... what it will cost to replace with the way the market has gone up on used vehicles.... and they are still gathering info on the owners and their negligence on the animals being out... talking to neighbors and all that...
That is why we have a million dollar liability policy on the farm... because there will always be an animal that gets out on occasion.... but this is a chronic problem of neglect and negligence in maintaining the fences...

I understand about the price the ford place is offering... and that it is so that they can then resell and make a little bit... but since I offered it to GF sister for that, and this friend of GF said she was interested at the same time I figured I would be fair and offer it to them also. But I think that GF might have mentioned that I paid less... I paid 11,000 for it... and these "friends" are the kind that want something for cheap.... I am not going to sell it for that if the ford place will give me a check for 16,500. Between taxes, new title, and plates, fixing the AC leaks, interest on the borrowed money to buy it, the insurance I have already paid on it to basically sit since I don't really like to drive it, I have another 1500-2000 in it. Yes, I will make some money on it.. but the original plan was to have this as a "nice vehicle" to drive for a long time.... I did not buy it with the idea of selling it. I really thought it would be a nice "keep it until I got too old to drive" kind of vehicle, since coming from parents it was in such good shape with such low miles for the age. But, it gets lousy mileage... and that is something I like in my 2 subarus and my ranger truck... 23 and more mpg, while this gets 16 .... And the increased insurance because it is 10 years newer than my newest subaru (2000 forester and 2001 outback) was more than I expected... plus our county taxes are outrageous.... Still, If I liked driving it I would probably just keep it... I just don't like it.

So we are going to put it up for sale at the 19,500 that is suggested in the JD Powers listings.... which is what it says for private sale in very good condition... gives me some wiggle room and I can always just take it to the ford place if I get to where I don't want to fool with it. The inside is like new... how much were my parents going to mess it up...or do wear and tear.... they were in their late 70's when they bought it new... sticker price was $36,000; have the paperwork. There is some dog hair from their dog in it... I am going to vacuum it out and if GF sister does not get it this weekend since her little boy is feeling better... then I am going to put it down at the friend's business with a for sale sign on it. I don't want it out there for Halloween and all the dumb idiots that might want to damage/egg it.... But Tuesday it will be there if she has not come and gotten it and I will see if I can sell it that way on my own. Getting tired of waiting for people that want to do this and do that and then it drags on and on....
As soon as it gets sold and I pay off the loan, I am going to put the new windshield in the forester that has cracked all along the bottom.. pay off a couple other bills, see about getting some of the fence up here at the house, get the guy to start on taking down the upstairs ceilings so the house can get finished..... and then probably buy the other pickup of my father's that DS bought. I can finance part of it and that will require full coverage which works for me. They don't like to put full coverage on vehicles of that age, but if financed, it is required and then I can keep it(full coverage) if I want. It too gets terrible mileage, but it is more comfortable to drive, is a supercab with the 1/2 door for the back seat, so much more "useable" and can tow a gooseneck or a "bumper pull" type trailer... and it is a 4x4, 1999, so older and the insurance will be less. It is in very good shape also with about 150,000 miles on it so low mileage also for the age. And does not have all the electronic stuff the explorer has....but has trailer towing package already on it. It is only a short bed and I prefer long beds, but it would be A LOT less than buying one off the used market that I don't know anything about. At least I know how it drives from the 12 hr trip down from NH with it... just like the drive down with the explorer...

As for the laptop... it is old, makes all sorts of noises when it is running now... cannot up grade it to the new windows versions... would cost more to fix than to replace. On top of that, if I go back to best buy, where I am going back to see about the phone... AND I get their insurance protection plan for $200 a year, it will cover ALL electronics I buy there... if I get the phone the ins is $240 for 2 years... but only covers that... if I buy a computer (which I have been looking at Walmart and Staples and online) and get the $200 insurance... it covers everything AS WELL; them setting up the new computer, transferring all the necessary stuff from the old one, installing anything I may need... and then offers tech support for the new device.
I realize that the insurance is 240 for 2 years on the phone, or 200 for one year and covers all electronics... but it also includes set up of the computer, and all troubleshooting and work on it if I need it... problems and I call them up and take it up... I go by there or fairly close to there, several times a month... could drop computer off when I am at a farm that I don't need it at, and then pick it up later...and I have the option to get the insurance for a second year for another 200. Well, if I get the phone ins for 240, and then the computer for 149 or something... I am at the 200/yr anyway... so it works out about the same... I don't have to take ins for the second year if I don't want either. And it gives me damage replacement options on the phone with less deductible if I do the Best Buy overall ins option... I can't remember everything they said... it was A LOT of stuff.....
I HAVE to do something on the phone in 45 days..... and if this computer just takes a notion one day and says KAPUT I am in deep trouble for work.... Some days I wonder when it starts to make all these weird grinding and funny noises, if it will just not start up for me.
I was basically kidding about giving up the cell phone for a landline again... but there are days.......

Their laptops were comparable to the ones at Staples... which will do set up and all that... and Staples ins coverage is a little cheaper... but just for the one item... Since I want it to do what I want and not try to "play with it " to figure things out... and if I need something else I can take it to them and say , I need this and they will install or work on it... I think that it is going to be the better way for me to go. If I were a computer savvy person, or if I had lots of time and the interest to get on it and "play with it" to learn stuff, then it would be different. BUT, I don't have the interest or desire to spend hours playing with it to learn things. Electronics just do not interest or intrigue me, just like doing carpenter work does not interest me... I highly admire people that do things like that, and love doing it, and do amazing things... @Bruce your woodwork in the house pictures you showed was really nice... I admire that... but I don't want to do it. Better I pay someone to do it right the first time than to try it on my own, get mad and frustrated, and then have to have someone FIX it....

It sure costs through the whazoo to go computerized and to "simplify things" as they always touted computers to do.....

 

[farmerjan]

Just a few things as I am getting ready to go to Deb's for supper. She called yesterday and said she is coming out this weekend, first time in a month... and said how about supper... so I made a lemon pound cake (mix) I had for the dessert.. she likes lemon flavored.... it fell a little in the middle for some reason, but still ought to taste good....
Got the clothes off the line. Sink full of dishes done and some things from a box from my parents in soaking...
I did put the spider plants out in the sun and warmth... it hit 63 with very little wind so nice in the sun this afternoon. Think I better scoot them in before I go. I will try to get the chickens in the crate too, so don't have to do it later.
Haven't decided exactly how/where to put up the brackets/hooks to get the bulk of the hanging plants up "hanging". I need a greenhouse for plants for the winter... that is attached to the house so I can have the house plants I want....Thinking that closing in this deck might be a good option. Have thought of it a couple times already... might be something to consider....
Fence around property is first.....!!!!!! and ceilings upstairs ...... and chicken - turkey coops is probably the first priority right now.... after going to supper this evening

 

[farmerjan]

Late Sunday morning. Down to 40 last night , 53 at present. Cool but some sun and clouds. Didn't think there would be any sun today.
Chickens let out and took fresh water out. Feeders almost empty so will stop and get a 5 gal bucket at the bin later and then fill tomorrow
.
Had a nice supper, Has anyone here ever had the "pre packaged" meals from Blue Apron? Yes, they are a definite "luxury" type deal... BUT, for the working person or couple, they do have some benefits. Deb started it because she just gets tired of cooking for herself, and it is not as pricey as it seems if you start to compare it to today's costs of eating out. She does not have a farm or animals, and lives in a suburban area where she works.
It costs her about $20-25 for a 2 person meal... which averages out to $10+ or so person. It is a balanced meal, lots of choices, and EVERYTHING is in there to prepare the meal. All the seasonings, the meat, vegs etc...
We had a honey glazed pork chop meal last night with potatoes, and a sauteed zucchini and cherry tomatoes with garlic. It was pretty good. It comes in a 2 serving deal (might also offer a family size) and it was plenty of food.
If I went out to a restaurant it would cost me at least that for a meal. It sure beats a "fast food meal" that I find less and less satisfying....
So, we had a nice meal at her house, we talked while she was making it, and it was a meal I probably would not have made for myself. I will make a meal with "one thing" because I get tired of making a whole balanced meal for just me. Cooking for 1 is not alot of fun and actually can be a chore if you come in tired at night.

Plus, this gave me an idea to cook zucchini and tomatoes with garlic like that in a little olive oil (not provided) and the honey glaze sauce to go over the pork chop was tasty and I am sure can be duplicated to make and put over your own meat.
AND if you are not a very good cook, it is a way to make a nice meal that is practically fool proof for even a beginner cook.
I had never had one before and it was pretty good.
She said she has had some real good ones and then can use the recipe/instruction card, as a reference to make a meal for herself with buying her own ingredients.
I am not an experimental cook, and eat things very plain and simple... but this was good.

Had to crate the chickens when I got home as they weren't in when I left.

Surprised to see the sun and it is warming it a little bit. More clouds moving in later by the looks of the radar, and definitely some rain tomorrow but warmer.
I imagine @Mike CHS and Teresa are getting it now. Don't think it will be as strong by the time it gets here.

Saw a mouse in the house a little bit ago... got traps set but put out a few more and a couple of sticky ones. Going to add a couple pieces of pb on cracker piece to the middle of the sticky ones. Thought I had heard some rustling the other day but nothing in the traps so sorta forgot about it.
Have a list of projects to work on so going to get at it...

 

[Mike CHS]

We got a bit of rain but not much even though what we got was appreciated.
Today was actually beautiful here with a bit more rain in the forecast although we have only gotten 1/2" so far with this fronte.