5.31.2024

Jim had to fast this morning and then out for routine bloodwork before his physical next week.  It was another beautiful day, and the trip takes him next to the Hudson River - just a gorgeous drive. 

After lunch, time to unpack the chipper!  But check out all these staples!

Jim always removes the staples before recycling the cardboard and then recycles the staples too!

Just a few staples...

First look at the chipper!  Jim is beyond thrilled at the craftsmanship and quality.

Love this...

Plus, it's not only made in the USA but in New York!

Wow - look at all those belts!

Jim is really happy with the footprint - it's compact with both the chute and hopper folding up.  But it's still a big machine!

There's just one small problem...there's a mating issue to the Bobcat!  Jim's already talked to his salesman and he has to send pictures in.  So the saga continues.

Jim did make a trip to the recycling center and dropped off all that cardboard as well as emptied all his scrap metal buckets.

High 73.1/Low 47.3 - beautiful!

5.30.2024

 Mom had another doctor appointment today, so we were gone most of the morning.  Jim was busy with computer work and some work in the shop.

The chipper saga continues - we have spent a lot of time making phone calls to this place.  We finally got confirmation that it was to be delivered today between 10:00 and 2:00.  Jim had the forks on the Bobcat ready to go well before then.

He didn't hear anything, so about 1:30 he headed down in the Bobcat to wait.  Nothing.  After 2:00, he called the company and it was supposed to be delivered between 2:00 and 4:00.  He brought the trimmer down and cleaned up the rest of the front wall while he was waiting.  Looks so good!

4:00 came and went and Jim called again.  They said it would arrive at about 5:00.  We went up and got the trash and Jim still had to wait.  But the big tractor trailer finally arrived!

Taking it off the truck...

It weighs about 1,500 pounds, so Jim took it slowly up the hill...

Setting it down in front of the pole barn - he'll open it up tomorrow.

High 68.8/Low 50.8 - beautiful!

5.29.2024

 Mom had a doctor appointment this morning and then we did a couple grocery stops.

She joined us outside after lunch, all set up with sun hat, water and Kindle!

Jim wanted to get the excavator back in service - it hasn't been touched since last November.  Off comes the tarp...

Putting the battery back in...

Some of the bolts were corroded so he wanted to clean them up and put some anti-seize on them before putting things back together...

Cleaning connections and then putting things back together...

The excavator is amazing - except for that gas line issue we had last year that Jim fixed, it starts up first time even after sitting for months...

Taking it up to the top of the hill where we are going to do grading work...

We did some strategizing about where to stash our top soil pile.  We picked a good spot that's out of the way but still accessible.  Once the chipper comes, we'll get things cleaned out.

Chipper update - I called again about the chipper.   They finally got back to me that it shipped today.  However, Jim got an email that it was now about $900 cheaper!  So he called the guy back and hopefully we'll get the price difference.  

Bird update - we didn't have a ladder up at the pavilion to actually peek inside the nest on the rafter, but we could see tiny heads peep out.  And a mama bird is sitting on the nest up in the roof structure!  We're a little worried about the eggs in the lean to - they still haven't hatched so we're hoping their mama didn't abandon them.

High 73.2/Low 54.4 - perfect!

5.28.2024

Jim had an appointment with the local garage to get the MINI inspected for the year.  He took this picture of their chickens roaming the parking lot - too funny! 

Working on drilling and tapping the holes so he can attach the wheels to the chipper cart.  The chipper is a whole other issue we've been working.  Jim ordered it over a month ago and it was supposed to be shipped in 10-15 days.  We've emailed, called, sent smoke signals.  They promised it would ship last week and we would get shipping info.  Nothing.  I called today and had to leave messages.  We may have to cancel and go to Plan B.

Jim got the new pulleys and belt installed on the Tiger Cub...

He sharpened all three blades...

Then greased it...

That preventative maintenance done - it will be ready to get back to mowing.

It was another beautiful day - we decided to do some more yard clean up.  Getting the trimmer ready...

Doing some trimming...

I was doing some weeding on the rock walls when I found a snake curling around.  I decided to weed somewhere else!  We've seen quite a few snakes lately.

Trimming the back of the front wall...

High 70.8/Low 59.1 - gorgeous!

5.27.2024

Happy Memorial Day!  Hope everyone had a good day and took time to remember all the heroes who died so that we could have the freedoms we do today.

Jim testing a piece of siding to fit on the very last corner section of the lean to... 

Cutting just a tiny sliver off...

Mom seemed to be having trouble hearing us, so Jim joked that he would adjust her hearing aids!

Last piece fit in!  Jim still has to fasten it but it's not going anywhere for now.

Jim had other work he wanted to get done - putting on the new hydraulic pump drive belt and pulleys on the Tiger Cub.  He brought it into the auto bay and got it up on wood blocks...

Starting to take things apart...

One of the pulleys and the old belt off and next to the new ones.  This is the original belt - well over 20 years!

Jim set up the trail cam next to the man door - some animal is using the area as a toilet and we want to see what it is.  I voted for fox; Mom said wolf - I sure hope not!

High 75.9/Low 62.6 - light rain on/off

5.26.2024

Another glorious day!  We're forecast to get some rain over the next couple days, so we wanted to get some grass seed down on another area.  This area had a low spot that Jim wanted to fill in first, plus he wants to get rid of our dirt piles.  Bringing down some top soil... 

Bringing dirt and grading the area.  There weren't too many rocks in this dirt, but I picked out the bigger ones.

Doing grading the other direction...

Seven bucketsful of dirt later - looks great!

Jim raked it next...

Then I put on grass seed and we picked out any other rocks that came to the surface.  Now it just needs some nice rain and sunshine!

Jim wants to use this dirt pile to build up the area at the top of the hill where we would like to build the house.  Scooping up dirt...

More dirt scoops are starting to build up this area...

Jim found this rock - we think it's an "N" carved in the stone with a mark pointing to the left side of the rock.  A rock from long ago used to mark north?  We're definitely keeping it!

High 82.6/Low 60.6