fence update and random pics

 

Hi all, I'v been busy working on the fence some more. Just about have all the trees trimmed back for the fence to go in. There was some dead ones that was just waiting for a wind storm to blow them down so I cut them down so they wouldn't tear up the new fence. Plus it gives me more firewood for the winter.

 

  Its been getting colder around here, got down to 31 degrees the other morning. :O)  I love the colder weather, sure makes it easier to work outside and not over heat.  The garden is done for the year, got one last bunch of zucchini last weekend, gave them to mom for making more zucchini bread :O)  She sure enjoys making it for people.. 

   Took the ac unit out of the window today too, probably get hot again just because of that lol Cleaned the ac unit up, washed it out and blew the nastys out of it. Amazing how dirty that thing gets during the summer. The hornets sure made it their home this summer, was a big wasp nest in there..

 

 

Not a good picture but I took the deer picture last weekend just across the road from my place.  His name is "Jerky" :O)  

Picture of the fence, south east corner. at the time of this picture I still had to put the wire ties on the fence.

 



 

This is the 2x4 fence stretcher I had made to make it tight. Pretty simple, two 2x4's drill three holes through both boards at the same time so the holes line up. put the bolts in and you ready to stretch fence. Just have to tighten the bolts so that it will pinch the wire between the two 2x4's.

 

As you can see I was using the tractor as a anchor, hooked the chain to the comalong and hook it to the tractor bucket and tighten.

 

Got some more power poles to make more fence posts, There are about 17 all together.

 

This is what the north fence area looked like before I got started on it. Cant even see the other end.

 

There you can see the other end, I cut some more of the trees out after this picture was taken.  You would think that with all the trees and brush getting removed and the ground being torn up that there wouldn't be any critters around at all but there still is. The next day after really messing things up, I walked down and was looking around and there was deer tracks all over the place plus the covey of quail that live around here was scratching around in the disturbed dirt.

 

Random pic with some history, these old steel wheels have been in the family for a long time, My mom with her sisters and brothers used to play on this thing when they were kids, in turn us kids played on it. Which in turn our children played on it as well.   I hope that some day my grand kids will get to play on it as well :O)  

  Its really not all that safe actually lol  you have to sit on the "axel" and hold onto the bars that are used by another person to either push or pull you around.  Had to keep your arms and feet out of the spokes that's for sure. You would learn pretty quick not to get tangled up in them lol  It was cheap intertainment and you had to use your imagination as well :O)  

And you made sure that who ever was pushing you wasn't pissed off at you too lol

 

You have seen the pickup on the right before, its dads old 1940 gmc, the other two pickups are 1950 fords. The middle one was my granddads, he bought it brand new (im pretty sure he did anyway)

The other 50 ford on the left is one that my uncle had picked up somewhere for parts.

 

If you look past the corner post down through the gape you can see the other corner post. That's where I have to run the ffence on the west side.  will be interesting to say the least. :O)

 

some of the trees that I have cut down to make room for the fence.

 

here is the other pile of trees. Yes, I will have plenty of firewood this winter. most of it was dead standing trees. There was just a few live trees. They will be good for next years fires.

 

This is my logging tongs, they sure are handy.

 

dang, got tired all of a sudden :o/  so I think I will get off here and go to bed. Been along day.  

So be safe all and visit with you all later :O)

Four Years

  My little CricketDog, It was four years ago tonight that I lost my little friend. At times it still makes me sad. She kept me sane and safe from myself at a very dark and bleak time in my life. She was my one main constant ray of sunshine and hope through many of dark times.  Most people don't know how very important she was to me, just how much I loved that little dog. For almost 12 years she was a trusted and devoted companion. I thought more of her than most people I knew.

I have yet to get another little friend, but the day will come I imagine that I will. Just not the right time yet I guess. 

 

  I miss her.

 

I know that if there is a heaven, she is there :O)  I hope to see her again someday.

 

 

 

 

 

Be safe all, talk to you all alittle later.

 

more pictures of fence and random

 

This is another time saving idea, Took some trash to the land fill the other day. Came back with more than I took down I think lol  Found this push lawn more and took the handles off to use as my wire unroller thingy. Works pretty slick..  Got to do some revamping on it like make a piece of pipe fit between the lower end and put a couple of spacers on it so the wire roll stays in the middle.

 

First wire strung and getting ready to unroll the woven fence wire, no I don't have anything made for doing that job but I am working on it. Some how I am going to make a pipe that will fit down the hole in the middle of the wire roll stand up straight so all I have to do is either attach it to the rear or the front of the tractor. Will take pictures when I build it and use it.

 

East side strung up too.

 

Okay :O)  east side wire strung up again

Rolled it out along the ground old school way, tiring way :O)

 

Looks kinda sad right now, just trying to get it to stand up along the posts so I can stretch it tight with the comalong (sp) hand winch basically.  I also used the tractor as well but for some reason I didn't take a picture of that. I also made another contraption out of two 2x4's that I drilled 3 holes into them. I then put bolts in them so I could clamp the 2x4's together with the wire in between.  That way I could attach a chain close to each end and stretch the wire tight. Hope that made sense. Sometime my explanations only make sense to me lol

 

as you can see, it worked because this pic shows it tightened.

 

Just a closer look at the craftsmanship and skill that it was installed :O)  Ya right lol 

 

a view from the front door of the fence.  Looking south, like that matters .

 

I was trying to get a nice picture down the fence to show that it actually is straight.

 

Another rattle snake I found on my route at work, looks really big in this pic but he was only about 18 inches long. little guy. I have been see a lot of them this year.

 

 

Was riding around my route one morning and was really feeling good and enjoying the morning and this song came on so I shot this  video of the countryside. tried sending it to a friend and it wouldn't. So I am trying it on here, hope it does.

 

 

Yes, that is my fat belly, I fell onto a piece of equipment while I was cleaning the windows, Feet slipped off and I landed on a thingymabob attached to the mower platform. Everything cleared except for my fat roll.  It just about made me pee myself alittle. It HURT....   That was about 2 weeks ago and it still looks a lot like that but its a lot more yellow now.  

 

this my uncle Vern, we were helping him move into his new place (new to him that is)  we were giving him a hard time and made him wear the improvised "Dunce" cap :O)   and yes, that is a livestock trailer that we used as a moving trailer :O)  yes, we are a bunch of red necks lol 

 

in other news, the garden is just pretty much done. Picked the last of the zucchini today, and the cherry tomato plants are just about done producing. My corn never made it thanks to the deer and coons. :O( I was really looking forward to having some sweet corn this year. Its about time to go get some manure and get the garden ready for winter.

  The weather has been really nice lately, fall is here. The trees leafs are changing colors and the critters are all scurrying around getting what they can for food. Ex specially the rats....  The damned rats.....   grrrr.

  The other morning it was thirty eight degrees,  nice sleeping weather to say the least.  :O)  I cant believe it but Saturday morning I got up and went outside to work on the fence. It was cloudy windy and down right chilly. I actually got my insulated shirt out and put it on. Uncle Gary came by and couldn't believe I had my "coat" on lol  usually I don't put it on until its really cold.  Getting to be home made bread weather along with some roasts cooked on the wood stove.  I don't know if its my imagination or not but it sure seems to taste better when its made on the wood stove :O)  I actually found my antique tin oven, I thought I had lost it but it was in dads old shop. I need to get it so I can take it apart to make a pattern out of it, its not in very good shape. rust mites have been working on it pretty hard.  Take it apart then build me a new one to use on top of the wood stove during the winters. That way I can avoid using the propane stove and save some money in the long run. :O)

 

Well all, better go for now. The washer and dryer is calling my name :O(    Take care and be careful everyone, talk to you all alittle later :O)    Be safe.

 

 

 



alot of pictures.

 

  Not sure if anyone would be interested in how to build your own steel post driver but that's what this blog is about. I hate spending money for something that I can make so here is my very own driver I made in 2 hrs the night before last.  as you all know I have been building new fences around my place and I bought t-posts the other day but wasn't about to spend ( I don't know what they cost) good money on a cheap driver that you work you ass off driving the posts into the ground because they are made so light weight.

 

  So I went scrounging around my treasure (junk iron) piles and found most of what I needed, had to go to the holy of holy junk piles alittle north of me :O)  Peggy don't you tell Gary I was up there pilfering his iron pile :O)   So anyway, here are the pictures and I will give each one a little explanation as I go :O)

 

This is a piece of left over pipe from the cross bracing on the corner posts and a piece of iron off a old Something or other machinery.

 

 

Same pieces but after trimming and cutting. Took the ends off the pipe, on I squared off but the other I cut at a angle. So it wont catch on the wire while driving the post in. Around here we string one wire between the corner post or use a string line so when setting the post you can keep them in a neat orderly line. At least you try too lol

 

Here I have used the torch (oxygen and acetylene) big torch, not a hand held one like one you use for sweating copper pipes, anyway, that's another topic for another blog.

I used the torch to heat the metal bar so I could bend another 90 degree turn in the other end of it..

 

and there you go, starting to look like some over grown handles.

 

hmmm, same pic as above, oops

 

This is the chop saw I used to cut the pipe and some of the steel rod for the handles. I also used the torch on the handle too to make some of the cuts. if you look close I used the grinder to put a beveled edge on the end of it so when I weld it to the pipe the weld will penetrate between the cracks better and make a stronger weld.

 

Just a pic of the other grinder I used as well.  some times its easier to use the big one for big grinding jobs instead of the hand held one.

 

This is the torch that I used,  gotta love big boy toys :O)

 

This is the wire welder.   I have a stick welder too but wire welders work so much better (most of the time) stick welders have their uses as well, like when I'm welding big heavy iron.

 

Here it is getting ready to be welded, all the pieces cut bent and prepped, Most all.

 

Here you can see where I have used a 2x4 and some 1/2 inch particle board to shim it up so I can get the proper angle on the handles. Don't really want them sticking straight out the sides or you may take a chance of hitting the strand of barbed wire while you driving the t post in.  Like I said earlier, you can use a string line or a strand of barb wire for a guide to keep it straight up and down as well as in line with the other posts.  Anyway :O) 

 the horse shoes on the right of this picture is going to be a coat rack soon.

 

There the handles are welded onto the pipe. Not the prettiest welds but it will hold :O)

 

Here  I am using a piece of the pipe I had cut off earlier as a pattern to cut out the "plug" for the top end of the driver. Its made out of 3/8 steel plate. Used the torch to cut it out.

 

The end that needs the plate welded to it.

 

There the plate is welded in, again, not pretty but effective.

 

this picture got out of sequence, that's the plug after cutting chipping the slag off and grinding it down so it fits about 1/2 way into the pipe end. A lot of weld holds it in place. that is the end that the t post will trike each time you pick it up and let it slide back down on the post while pulling it down as well. 

 

Here is the finished and painted product, like I said 2 hrs from start to finish.

 

Here it is on its maiden fence post driving.  worked just wonderfully.  Operator is a little flawed but it all turned out pretty good.

 

This is east of the drive way. just waiting on one strand of barbed wire on the top and then the rolled fencing for the bottom.  Will look pretty good even if I do say so myself :O)

 

Looking to the west of the driveway, yes unfortunately, I have 3 more fence to build and that's just to get the property fenced in. After that I have to start building the pen fences.  Not sure when I'm actually going to get done but hopefully I will :O)

 

and there it is after a hard day at work, That is a stand that is made out of a model t rear end housing. Works pretty good for that and also a "jack" stand as well.

 

random pick, this old air compressor will one day be a wood fired BBQ grill.

 

  I hope I didn't bore you all too bad, just wanted to share the building process with you.

 

got to go so take care and be safe all :O) talk later to you.

 

 



long weekend

 

 its been along weekend of auguring fence post holes and putting more posts in. I have all of them but two to finish up the wood post phase. I have to call dig safe tomorrow morning to find out where the fiber optics cable is for sure. I really don't want to tear that stuff up, very very expensive to have it repaired the way I understand it.  Better safe than making the check book sorry.

 

I have yet to take any pic of the work so far, need too. Its looking pretty good so far. Going to drive the steel fence posts in next. Still have to buy the gates, not sure to go with green or red.

That's all I did this weekend pretty much, just worked on the fence. It only goes so fast with just me working on it :O) 

ran out of pipe to use on the bracing, had to weld two pieces together to get it done, then went over to nephews place and got some more pipe so I can finish the last corner brace after dig safe says its okay to auger the last two holes.  then I get to do it all over again and again and again lol That's just to get the property fenced in, after that I have to build some cross fences plus some pens for the animals.

I have yet to build my chicken house, need to get that done soon. Pennie has some chickens for me :O)

 

This is whats left of the bonfire from the other night.  I have it filled with wood again ready for another bonfire.

 

I found yet another bunch of llama's on my route, they like chips too.  and that is a emu in the back ground.

 

 

On my way over to my nephews I found this sign, I hope you all can see where some one added alittle more too the sign lol Thought it was funny so I backed up and snapped a pic to share with you all.

 

like I said earlier, been along weekend so with that I will say goodnight and be safe all. Talk later :O)

 

 

 



Just another day living the dream :O)

And here is the quilt I bought last Saturday at the auction I was telling you about. and no, I don't have ahead board for my bed yet lol working on getting one though.    I really like the quilt.. :O)

 

 

And here are the first two poles put up of many to come for the new fence. And there is the smartest buy that I have ever made :O)  My little tractor. As you can see it has a post hole auger as well. Thankfully or else I would just say the heck with a new fence. Or use all steel posts so I wouldn't have to dig any holes... 

Things are dry around here, I barely hit any moisture when auguring the holes. I actually used the garden hose to wet things down alittle so the dirt would tamp back in the hole tight around the pole.

 

I never get over the fact that you can auger a hole in the ground, put a post in the hole and almost use all the dirt that came out of it to tamp it back into place. Mind you its a 14 inch hole that I put in the ground then I set a 10 inch pole in the hole so the pole takes up a lot of room in the hole, and then like I said almost all the dirt will go back in around the pole.  Just doesn't seem right to have just a little bit of dirt left over. Should be a lot lol  

 

Just another angle of the left over dirt. Trying to show you all just how little is actually left over.

 

In other news, tonight I put rat poison bait bars under the hood of all my vehicles. I'm not one to really like to use any poisons but for rats I will make allowances. I really really don't like rats. they are dirty destructive nasty flea bitten evil rodent spawned in the depths of all that is unholy lol   Did I mention that I really don't like them??   That is a bait bar on top of the motor, its tied down with a piece of bailing wire or else they would pack it off and stuff it in their nest. This way they have to nibble on it right there and I can see the evidence.   And hopefully the dead carcass.....  I have had so much stuff destroyed because of these little creatures, many many dollars spent repairing things. So if I seem alittle harsh in my thoughts, well, theres good reason for it lol   as you can see just alittle bit of said damage...

 

They have just about gotten all of the heat shielding insulation chewed and shredded off the bottom of the hood.  I guess it makes really nice and warm nesting material.   grrrrrrrr..

 

Die vermin die... 

 

I have been fighting rats at work as well, they are trying to move into my company pickup and the motor grader. Not good at all.   Got bait bars tied on everything there too.  I even have them tied to the building in places as well.  But I did take the time to put them up high where no rabbits can get to them.  I built some little wire cages to go around them so the squirrels cant get to the bait bar either.  So you see, I am careful so only the rats will get to the bait bars.  

 

 

 

Okay, enough of that :O)  

 

  Today is the first day of Oct, where did august go?  This year will be over before we know it. Time sure speeds by it seems when you get older. I guess its because the older you get the more you realize just how precious time is. So we better enjoy it the best that we can :O) 

 

Got to go, talk later to you and be safe  :O)