<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><rss xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/" xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/" xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" version="2.0"><channel><title><![CDATA[Bits and Pieces]]></title><description><![CDATA[<p>It's been 4 months now since shoulder surgery. They say I'm near 80% completely recovered and will</p>
<p>
get complete/total recovery soon. Still go to phys therapy three times a week - it's going really great.</p>
<p>
  I have a fear of mud now. @@  And, they know this stuff, the medical folks... it takes about 5/6 months to get back.</p>

<p>
  Heard coyotes tonight way out in the woods. I have to hunt them - they are dangerous in packs. There's</p>
<p>
only three/four around this area that I have heard about. but still...</p>

<p>
  We're getting a 88% efficient fireplace insert installed tomorrow. We never have used our pretty fireplace as it</p>
<p>
was put in when we had our home built decades ago. But the insert blows out the heated air, and doesn't let</p>
<p>
cold air in, nor hot air escape. They can cut heat bills down hugely. I think we are headed for inflation bigtime...</p>
<p>
including energy prices, which will make it hyper-inflation. I hope it doesn't happen...</p>

<p>
But we have decades of hardwood to cut/split/burn, without a dent in our woods. Not that we are going off the grid,</p>
<p>
but still...</p>

<p>
  Had to get our Honda ATV fourwheeler fixed... the centrifical clutch wore out. We found out that when we putter around</p>
<p>
at low speeds, or use it for pulling weight in the wagon... etc... we should have it out of auto and on "standard" shifting.</p>
<p>
  Now they tell us. </p>

<p>
  I can use my arm to get up out of a chair, and drive the lawn mower with no problem... have to wait two weeks to</p>
<p>
see if my wonderful expert surgeon will clear me to use my chain saw. Need to cut down a bunch of wild cherry trees</p>
<p>
for the farmer next door.</p>

<p>
  Next spring, after planting, maybe before, we're going to put up a chicken coop. I'm still researching how it should</p>
<p>
be designed. And I want to get a beehive and start raising bees for honey.</p>

<p>
  I've been meeting people with a lot of leaves, and they have given me maybe a hundred bags of leaves so far.</p>
<p>
I need them for the garden planting rows, with horse manure compost, to be tilled into the soil to enrich it.</p>

<p>
  Have a wood burning stove in the greenhouse now. That should cut down on propane and electric heat...</p>

<p>
  Every time I walk out into our woods, I see squirrels. Haven't found any hunters, nor heard any. Deer season comes</p>
<p>
up in about a week, I think. I can't wait to try out my super warm winter boots. This year, I don't carry a rifle with me.</p>
<p>
I carry my 9 shot 6" barrel .22 pistol. It has to be clearly seen in it's holster.</p>
<p>
  I haven't gotten around to getting a concealed carry permit. My goofy brother in law says to not get one, or "they" will</p>
<p>
know I have one.</p>
<p>
  Well, I think I need a cc permit, so I can carry one when I want to. I can't carry concealed even on our farm.</p>
<p>
  Not that I care. but you look at Greece, Britain and France... if we have hyper inflation here, well, I want to</p>
<p>
carry a gun when we go out, or I'm out back.</p>

<p>
  I still love our Silverado. The rear gas tank holding strap broke because of rust. So, I went to the dealer and </p>
<p>
bought a new one. Twenty seven stupid bucks. Came back home, and spent two hours trying to install it.</p>
<p>
No dice. Wife came home, and helped me, but it was impossible. You can't get it pushed up to meet</p>
<p>
the threads with the bolt.</p>
<p>
  So, I went back to the dealer. Service manager says it would cost $45 bucks to simply put the too short a bolt in.</p>
<p>
  I explained I had it installed, but the bolt is too short, and/or the bracket can't be pushed up high enough.</p>
<p>
Hey, we used a jack... but it just wouldn't go up enough to start the thread.</p>

<p>
  The jerkface still said fourty five bucks. So, I said I probably would buy a new truck elsewhere and left.</p>
<p>
  well, I went to our favorite tire dealer, and the manager had one of his service guys come out and he</p>
<p>
had a hell of a time... he couldn't do it either. Until, he laughed and went and got a longer bolt, and it fixed</p>
<p>
just fine.</p>
<p>
   It took seven minutes. I tipped him ten bucks, and the manager said no charger outside of that.</p>
<p>
  You bet I'm going back there in a few weeks, and buying two new snow tire radials.</p>

<p>
   We still have to get our plywood flooring up into the loft to finish the floor of the barn. I tried tieing a rope around</p>
<p>
one of the sheets, and threw the rope up into the loft. I couldn't pull it up with my one arm. Well, I'm not 17 anymore,</p>
<p>
by decades, but even when I was out of basic, I don't think I could have done it.</p>
<p>
   I only stupidly tried because I didn't want my wife and her girlfriend to try it.</p>
<p>
  so, I have to rent a freakin scissor lift jobbie to get that wood up there. It's 14 feet. The tractor front end loader</p>
<p>
isn't high enough. </p>

<p>
  I have more work to do, than you can shake a stick at. But next year, we will know what we're doing, and </p>
<p>
be more efficient.</p>
<p>
  I am never going to walk in mud, especially after dark, ever again.</p>

<p>
  How about those BROWNS !</p>]]></description><link>https://brownsboard.com/topic/16818/bits-and-pieces</link><generator>RSS for Node</generator><lastBuildDate>Thu, 01 Oct 2026 14:05:38 GMT</lastBuildDate><atom:link href="https://brownsboard.com/topic/16818.rss" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml"/><pubDate>Thu, 11 Nov 2010 06:12:14 GMT</pubDate><ttl>60</ttl></channel></rss>