Ridgetop - our place and how we muddle along

[Baymule]

I’m so glad this has worked out for y’all. I kept looking for lower priced trailers, but they were so ragged out, that you would have spent this much fixing them up anyway. This is more than you wanted to spend, but I just had that feeling that this was the one. And it is the one! Super nice trailer! I wouldn’t bother with stall Matt’s. They are heavy and trap moisture like you said. After hauling sheep, I’ll let it dry out enough to sweep it out. About every second or third use, I take it through a car wash, then let it dry out again. When BJ and I hauled pigs to slaughter, he washed it out immediately! I think pigs aim and poop! It is up the walls and messy.

I think several coats of water seal would be a good thing, and just keep it clean.

 

[Ridgetop]

Great idea, Bay! I can put on the water seal when we get it back to California. I'll still have time to do several coats after we get the hay out. We won't be loading livestock in it until the final move to TX. I was worrying about the pregnant ewes going without water or feed on a 2-3 day trip. Thought of some ideas to water sheep on the trip. We have two 50-gallon (plastic?) food quality barrels. If we tie one in each compartment and fill them with water, we can use a hose to siphon the water out into a trough am and pm. Toss in some hay am and pm and they should be ok on the trip. Transporting the Texas 5 we used 5 gallon containers to store water for the trip. DS1 poured it into a bucket am and pm while I guarded the door against anyone trying to make a break for freedom. This should work better since I can get in the trailer and siphon the water through a hose into the drinking containers.

We have a backup camera on our 5th wheel. I will ask DH about one for the new stock trailer since with DH doing his PT. we could probably connect it to the wiring in the truck for the 5th wheel. Maybe? ??? He will know. I never thought about an interior camera. We usually stop every couple hours at rest stops and check the animals then. Good idea - will have to check the price. We also keep the trailer doors chained and padlocked. Will have to see if we are able to do that on this trailer or if we have to install a hasp. I am paranoid about people wanting to open the doors to 1. see the cute sheep, 2. steal a couple, or 3. animal rights people setting them "free".

Just sent off the check. Worried about the time frame to for the trip but, if necessary, I can drive at night. I checked the mileage to Las Cruces, NM and it is only 775 miles, Lubbock is 1140 miles. DH said they were the same distance! If worst comes to worst, I can have the seller meet us in Las Cruces. We could make that pick up in 4 days. I think DH just wants to see his ranch again. We do have quite a lot of baby stuff to take back.

I planned on having DH teach me to drive the new trailer on the way back. We will be travelling on the 40 which is pretty open road. He will have to park at the motel. LOL I might be able to pull into the gas pumps in the truck stops with his help. He has decided to teach me how to pull the flatbed trailer we have here NOW. The way back from Texas was safely several weeks away. He taught me how to drive our old 2-horse (very stressful).

I realize now that it was not learning to pull the trailers that was stressful, it was DH's teaching methods. DH starts with the history of how to pull any and all trailers, makes a lengthy sortie into the mechanics of angles when turning, sidetracks again into a lecture on proper gearing, touches briefly on proper loading, and finally after about an hour I am instructed to turn on the engine. Then he tells me to start but to "Take it easy". After ten minutes on the road, he tells me to speed up (in his defense I am going 10 mph) but also tells me that I have to remember how many feet it will take to stop the rig. As we crawl along the road, he entertains me with narrow escapes he has had with trailers that jumped their hitch, and nasty trailer accidents he has seen. Throughout the drive he corrects my hand positions, criticizes my signaling and braking, tells me that I should be using the mirrors constantly, interspersed with ejaculations of Watch Out! and Brake! When we return home, I am convinced that I should not be allowed on the road in any vehicle. By the time the lesson comes to an end, I am shaking so hard I am unable to exit the truck. When I finally stagger into the house, I hear him telling the kids that I did just fine and am safe to drive the trailer!

Not sure I am ready for this.

 

[SageHill]

I think DH just wants to see his ranch again.

I realize now that it was not learning to pull the trailers that was stressful, it was DH's teaching methods. DH starts with the history of how to pull any and all trailers, makes a lengthy sortie into the mechanics of angles

 

[Mini Horses]

DH loves driving his tractor long distances with the flat land!! That's a new toy now with increase in distance . You'll love it after the last haul you make.

 

[Ridgetop]

Had my first lesson on the gooseneck flatbed. I got up to 35 mph on a street where the other cars were passing me at 50. Did not hit anything on the turns. Drove about 7 miles. DH was very good with lesson. Kept telling me it was just like towing the bumper pull except for the turns. I made 3 turns with no problems. I did adjust the mirrors. Luckily, I learned a long time ago to use the side mirrors when towing. I decided that as long as I am going in a straight line all is easy. LOL More lessons later I suppose. I do need to learn to pull a gooseneck and also the 5th wheel. You never know when you will have to do it.

 

[Baymule]

You have a master teacher! I had to learn on my own. You can do this! With your trusty sidekick and trailer teacher, you got this!

 

[Ridgetop]

I am running out of stuff to pack that we don't need while here in CA. The furniture still needs to go back and all the office stuff, files, supplies, etc., need to be packed. The office will have to be the last room since we will need most of the files, etc. for business and taxes. I can start packing some of the old files into file boxes, but they might not be able to go to Texas yet. I do want to empty at least one file cabinet to move now. But the empty one is way back in the corner next to DH's desk and hard to get to. That is the cabinet I plan to leave behind but in order to move one that is easier to get to, all our current stuff has to be moved into the corner one. DH has several drawers in one of my cabinets and he doesn't know what is in them. He keeps saying he will sort it out, but the lure of computer bridge is stronger than sorting his old files. Who can blame him? I will have to do it with him to keep his nose to the grindstone. Maybe after his knee surgery he won't be spry enough to escape and I can make hm sit while I sort the files. He has stuff in several drawers pertaining to the same things so i would like to combine the same files in the same drawer. As it is now, he has me hunt through all the file cabinets for stuff that should be in a drawer with the same name.
Disorganization, thy name is DH. Not everyone can be OCD. This move will help me organize all his papers and files into the appropriate places.

Beautiful weather lately. Cloudy but pleasant, with the sun showing up in the afternoon. This morning is sunny with some clouds. Temps in the low to mid 80's and a nice breeze. With this weather I suppose I could start packing more of the tools in the shed that are in the cabinets. Maybe even take out the two cabinets ready to move to Texas. The problem with taking the tools to Texas is the possibility/probability that we will need them here. DS1 already had to go buy another cheap riveter to repair the door handle on the blue Explorer because our riveter is in Texas! LOL We have 4 or 5 sets of long pipe clamps in the CA shed and still had to buy a set in Texas to mend the buffet!

Maybe instead of packing tools, I will try getting into the Connex and finding some of the items (lamps, pix, bedspreads, wallpaper, etc.) I want for the Yantis house. I still need to take some of my furniture to Palm Springs to the consignment store too. I just want to continue moving forward. Now that we have the larger trailer, we will be able to transport more items on a trip.

We are only taking one truck back this time since DS1 is not going. DH and I are picking up the trailer o won't be towing anything back. We will be taking the 3 boxes of baby stuff along with the crib, 3 boxes of the filled quart jars, and a couple bins with lamps. Two of the shades fit inside a bin but the others will have to wait until they can be loaded in covered transport to avoid water damage. The covered storage nose of the new stock trailer will be perfect for that. We will have to cover all the furniture with waterproof tarps for the trip in November.

I will schedule the vet checks and testing on the sheep and horses for early January so results will be current for move. I need Coggins on horses, Brucellosis on rams, and hoof rot on all sheep for entry into Texas. Will also worm everyone a week or so before departure date. Maybe do twice. Also, will worm dogs. I will need to put dogs on heartworm meds also. Just want to get on with it.

 

[Ridgetop]

Spent some time making scale cut outs of furniture for the new house and playing with my floor plans. I think I need to look for a small sectional - 84" x 96" maximum. 84" x 84" preferable since the 96" side has to be on right side when facing the sofa. Hopefully will be able to find one in Palm Springs, otherwise I will have to look for a new one. I really hate buying new since I get much nicer stuff in Palm Springs at the consignment stores used. I suppose if worst comes to worst, I can take back the two matching loveseats from DD1 when she gets my white sofas. The colors of the upholstery won't work, but I suppose I can make slip covers for them and eventually have them reupholstered. They are in new condition so the thought of reupholstering them almost makes me cry. Maybe sell them in Palm Springs.

I will have to do something in the MBR about the windows looking into the carport. It is 3' wide x 5' tall and I couldn't figure out why a window was looking into the carport. Then I realized it was the escape window in case of fire since the hot water heater is in the hall leading to that room. The larger window is a clerestory window, so they needed an escape window. The window is off center and very annoying in terms of room design. I may have come up with a solution. I will put shutters on that window. Then I'll put a matching set of shutters on the other side of the wall to balance. The bed will be placed between the two "windows". The bed will cover part of each side of the shutters, so I need a low headboard. If I can't find what I want, I will cut a piece of plywood in an arc, pad and upholster it to make a headboard. Maybe I will find something in palm springs when looking for the sofa. It doesn't have to be part of a bedroom set, just a king size headboard - I can refinish it if necessary.

DDIL2 has taken the children with her family to the zoo. DS2 is working. Hopefully I can get some laundry done, and make a start on sorting my farm and Texas travel bills. I did manage to gather them all into a box, now I have to sort them as to which ledger to enter them. I also want to get out to the Connex and find those china lamps, the 2 water colors, and the ottoman that needs to come n since it matches the white chairs. Also a large box where I stored the rose comforter, dust ruffle, curtains, etc. I can use them in the MBR in Texas. I always liked the pattern and colors and it will save buying new. There are several sets of curtains which can be recut it necessary. I think I will take the white chairs to sell in Palm Springs along with the other furniture I have stored. Might make enough to pay for the new sofa/sectional.

 

[Ridgetop]

Change of plans! No faux window with shutters in MBR. After getting up in the middle of the night to consider where I could hang my Chinese screen (currently hanging in the LR over the sofa) I decided to use it as a headboard backdrop. It is 5' wide and 6' tall. I currently have it on a frame I made to raise it 18" from the floor, this will make it almost ceiling height in the bedroom. There is enough room to put a nightstand on one side of the bed, then the bed in the middle with the screen over it and another nightstand on the other side under the window. The window will fade to insignificance with the screen taking such a prominent place. The screen will be 12" narrower than the king size bed and I will use a low headboard. I can make a low headboard and upholster it in a light color neutral fabric if I can't find a wooden headboard in a thrift shop.

Super happy about figuring this out since it saves me work on building the faux window and shutters. I will use my oriental artwork from the living room in the bedroom with an off white or pale ecru bedspread. The pink rose bedding will stay in the Connex. Just have to decide on the color of the walls - LR is currently painted a pale tan color, but I could also go with gray. Amazing what those wall colors pull out of paintings. I was worried about leaving the screen on the walls with the grandbabies, and about storing it as well. Now I can bring it with me. It is one of the last things I bought on a shopping trip with Uncle George in Palm Springs so brings happy memories whenever I see it. The screen is damaged, the hinges are broken off the wood, so is not hinged like a normal Chinese screen. I made a support for it and the screen stands in the support which is screwed to the wall. The top of the screen is held in pace with 1" angle brackets screwed to the top of the screen. You can't see them and the screen looks like it is just floating on the wall.

I love my living room or did until I deconstructed it and packed everything. It took me 15 years to get it finished and leaving all my lovely things behind was breaking my heart. Now I can see how I can furnish the new place with my memories. Second photo shows edge of corner floor to ceiling rock fireplace to left (dark shape). Next to the fireplace is an 8' window with the view over the valley. The large red screen balanced the fireplace. Every piece in the room has wonderful memories.




Well, today is Yom Kippur. Happy holidays to everyone who keeps Yom Kippur. No school so DD1 is off work. DS1 is taking e over to her house to finally hang all her photos and pix. She has only been living in the house for 3 years. LOL She insists that she can't hang her pix herself. This is true since DSIL1 hung the pix up near the top of the ceiling in their first house. Gave you a stiff neck to see any part of the pix except the bottom of the frame. Anyway, I told her I would go over and I have to measure her living room to make sure my white sofa will fit. I will take the loveseats to Palm Springs to sell. I need a small 7-8" sectional in the new place. I will look for one in PS when we take the furniture to the consignment store.

So excited that I figured out where to put the screen in Texas!

 

[Baymule]

That is a lovely screen, I’m glad you figured out a way to make use of it.