Monday Made

Having a stash of plumbing parts is wise. Not fun running out to grab stuff with a bunch of other people doing the same.

After last year the neighbors here made an effort to stockpile plumbing parts.

So if one of us doesn't have a part another usually does.

The issue is trying to think ahead on everything.

We prepare but there is always something you don't think of .

I was scurriying around filling troughs and protecting faucets but didn't think to drain the hoses after I unhooked them.

Grrr.

I did a 12 page document with pictures this year on what to do. Draining water out of barn and water heater. Putting heater in the water trough for the horses. Had the wife go thru it and made her requested changes to make it easier and more understandable. For me it is a process that I go thru without thinking. Concern is if I am not around such as the wife and I going on a trip. If a pipe breaks I am the only one capable of fixing it. Others would have to call a plumber.

So the document is in a binder at the barn called "The Barn Book - How to do Things"

The water is the only thing in there now because that one is so critical. Need to put in there how to fill the water trough. Not that they don't know how, but they forget. Last year got a 2nd 100 gallon tank so I wouldn't have to drag the one we had back and forth between the pastures we use in the winter.  So we go out of town and stress that they need to be filled every day. So we are looking at security cameras and watching Apache left up a trough on one end and drop it. No water. They let the trough go empty twice on that trip. So the one is now out of commission. I do valves on the drain plug so I can fill up and drain easily.  When the trough is dropped that stuff tends to get broken. Once the horses dragged an empty trough out into the pasture, 30+ feet.  

Oi, my ad blocker isn't working on this  site anymore.  I'm gonna have to get that fixed.

The weather here in No. Cal. has been a bit too beautiful. If we don't get snow and rain Jan-April we have no water in July.  Sometimes we run out as early as mid-June.  It has been at or below freezing at night and in the sixties during the day.  Sometimes the water supply for my Spartan is frozen till mid-afternoon.  Sometimes I get slush instead of water when brushing my teeth before bed.

I've been sick the past few weeks.  I arrived here in Fawn Lodge on the 17th of Jan. and came down hard on Friday night with something that knocked me out for three days.  I don't remember anything from Friday night till Monday afternoon.  Pretty much slept for almost three days.  The coughing and hacking has been miserable.  Today was the first day I have been able to get any work done.  Even at that it was a slow start.

Getting another Ford pickup.  I'll have to reassemble the motor on this one because the previous owner bought a new one and got overwhelmed with it.   I think all the necessary parts are there.  Will find out when it's here and I can go through it.

Still working on getting my '56 wagon sorted out.  The floors have gotten to the point they have to be dealt with.  Swiss cheese is great on a sandwich, but not for floors.  Was able to make the trip from Oak Run to Fawn Lodge (65 mi) and the old girl had no trouble with going over the mountain.  There are still a few small mechanical things to be sorted out.  So happy to get her back on the road though.

Sitting here nattering along whilst the puppies are snoring in front of the cold wood stove.  'Course, it really isn't very cold out yet.  Did I mention we haven't had rain for forty days?  Well, I have to get puppy dinner and my own.  Hope everything goes fabulous for everyone.  
HUNTER, are you still alive?