Well… We finally got approved for EQIP which is federal money administered by the state. It is for pasture revitalization and some other things as well. So, the amount approved will pay for a skid steer and tree saw. Once these pastures are cleaned up and cleared, I can then use it to go commercial and hire out. So, the hunt for a good used and affordable skid steer and saw had not been going too well until this week

So…., last Monday, we went out to Longford to look at tree saws. There is a place there that makes them and ended up buying one. But, we didn’t bring it back, because wanted a rotating head and needed it about a foot longer than most of the ones they make there. Other than that, it was a good buy.

Then on Friday, we finally found a skid steer. It’s a Case 75XT. It was at McPherson which is about 175 miles southwest from here. A young farmer was selling it. I think we got a good buy on it.

The saw should be ready to pickup this week sometime and we will go to Longford, pick it up, then drive to McPherson and load the skid steer. It will be one heck of a long day, but worth it. I’m excited about getting them home and getting started on the clearing.

Other than that, there isn’t much news.

Until later….

Last night we had thunderstorms roll through. It is still overcast this morning. We received about 3″ of rain. It has cooled things down giving us a reprieve from the heat wave. It is one of the worst heat waves in history. We don’t very often see 100F, but we had a run of 9 days over 100, one day at 98 and the last 3 days over 100. We now have a couple days of cooler weather, then back into the heat.

The cattle and the goats seem to be fairing just fine in the heat.

There isn’t much happening lately. With the heat and the humidity, our heat indexes have been running 110 to 118. So, in the afternoon, I come inside and stay put until time to milk and do evening chores.

Until next time…..

We officially had 9 days of 100+ degree days, with humidity putting the heat index up to 110 to 118. Two consecutive days we tied for an all time record at 106 which was set 110 years ago. This heat wave is unusually hot and longer lasting then normal.

We got approved for EQIP which is a federal program funded by the states to assist in various pasture projects. In our case it is for clearing trees and brush on one of the farms… the 160. So, we’ve hired a guy to start with his skid steer and tree saw. In addition, we are looking for our own skid steer and tree saw.

I’ve also been trying to finish up some work with the track loader on one of the farms so that we can bring it up here. That will allow me to push the brush up into piles as our hired man cuts. That will help keep him cutting so that he doesn’t have to stop and pile it himself. He can devote all his time to nothing but cutting.

Right now the goat count stands at 37. That includes the does, bucks, doelings, and bucklings. There are 20 breeding does. I’ll be keeping back the doelings and have to cull 3 or 4 of the producing does. This is to help improve herd quality and to continue increasing the herd size. I would like to get to 50 producing does.

It’s also time to make soap again. I noticed that I’m getting low and if I get it made, it will have time to be cured before I use the last of what I already have. Soap making is not difficult and doesn’t take too long. I make a simple lye soap with no fragrances or anything else in them. However, I am thinking of adding emu oil to the next batch that will be used for bath/hand soap. But the soap I grate for laundry and for dish soap will have nothing added other than the lye, water, and lard. It makes the best dish soap.

I feel like very little has been accomplished this summer. With the excessive heat, I haven’t done as much as I should have.

Wednesday is a dental appointment. ugh! I go the UMKC (University of Missouri, Kansas City) School of Dentistry. The exams are much more thorough than in a private practice and the cost is a fraction of the cost in a private practice. I’ve been very pleased with my student dentist.

It’s also about time to think about dressing roosters. I would like to wait on cooler weather, but I don’t really want to keep them around that much longer. I will freeze only 2 or 3 of the roosters and the rest will go in the pressure cooker. They will be cooked in the pressure cooker until the meat is tender enough to fall off the bone. The skin will then be discarded, the meat removed from the bones and the meat canned in quart jars. There is always extra chicken stock in addition to what is used to fill the jars of meat. So, I will have chicken canned in its own stock and more stock to can by itself. I usually have about the same number of jars of stock as I do of chicken and stock.

Not much else is happening right now. I have much more I would like to write about, but I will have to wait. Too many more pressing items demanding my attention.

I guess I’ll close for now. I need to get started moving the old postings and photos to the new blog.

Until next time……

Well, last night I was awakened by thunderstorms with high wind, thunder, lightning, and rain. It has been one wave of storms all night and all day today. Some of the storms were forecasted to be severe east and south of here.

This evening I went to check on the garden because this afternoon we also had hail. Not a thing in the garden was hurt, but it was standing in water. So, I guess it will be 3 or 4 days before I can do more planting. I still have my corn, blackeye peas, onions, cantaloupe, watermelons, squash, okra, radishes, etc to plant. Yeah, I’ve got a long way to go, huh? But, it has been a wet spring and I’ve tilled and planted when it would be dry enough.

My new grapes also seem to be doing well. They are just regular concord grapes. I don’t think they can be beat for jellies. After I make jelly, I take the pulp that was strained out of the jelly and make jams. Can’t afford to have anything go to waste.

By the way, I was at a flea market two weeks ago and found 5 boxe of sure gel for $1.00. Good buy, I think. Anyway, I was sure happy about it.

I need to start thinking about jar domes and rings or I won’t have any come canning time. I keep forgetting about it.

Well, not much is happening so I better close and get ready for bed….. or maybe I’ll first chat a bit in the chatroom at Backwoods Home Magazine’s website. Good group of people and we have fun.

Goodnight,
Paul

Wow, finally I got started tilling the garden. I got about 1/3 of it tilled. I had the two “hoops” for “arbors” that I had planned to use for the louffas and the cucumbers. Well, … I decided I will build a third one. So, one will be for louffas, one for cucumbers, and one for my concord grapes.

I got a couple grape vines set out on each side of the soon-to-be grape arbor. Then I transplanted about 18 louffa plants on the other hoop. I also transplanted 2 rows of wild garlic.

Even though I only got about 1/3 of the garden tilled, it was still a bit wet. The dirt is clodding badly, but I will keep tilling and that will get it deeper and also pulverize it to a nice planting soil.

I also set out a couple redbud trees at the house on the west side which is also the front. I dug these up yesterday. My buddy, Richard, has a lot of them growing in the timber there and he had several coming up in the yard, so I dug those and brought them up. I wish he had dogwood. I would like to put about four dogwoods around the house.

The next thing I want to do is build a hitching post in front of the house. Of course I have a lot “wants”. LOL I still want a front porch too, … and either a cellar or partial basement,…and a smoke house…, and a greenhouse.. lol Oh, well. so much for dreams, I will work first on getting the front porch on and then the hitching post, and then the cellar or basement. But who is ever finished thinking of things they want to build or add?

Yesterday I also drove to Grandview, Missouri. I found a good deal on some bulk beeswax and even with the fuel, the two hour drive one way and the cost of the wax, it was cheaper than anywhere else I can buy it. OH! I also have to build a solar wax melter. lol I have the plans and I’ve scavenged up the materials, so I have to spend an afternoon building that and then trying it out.

After I picked up the wax, I stopped by Richard’s on the way and dug the redbuds. I also had been hauling around an outdoor woodstove that we unloaded at his place. Then I headed home.

When I got home, I had to get a couple bulls in and get them hauled to the livestock exchange to sell. It was just me, and it was a chore, but I finally got them both loaded and hauled. The weekly sale is on Tuesdays. Sorta hated to see the old bull go. He was about 16 years old and last year was the first year he didn’t do his job… with any cows…. He sure made money over the years. His calves were always great looking calves with good frame. Sorta the end of an ‘era’. lol He was a gentle old giant. I am looking forward to seeing what he weighed. He was big.

The old bull came from a Hereford Cattleman’s Select Sale. He was high bred, too. All cattle sold at the Select Sale were required to be tie broke…. um… in other words they had to be broke to be tied… or… if you had a rope and halter on them, and tied them to a post, they had to be well enough trained to just stand there. They also had to be broke to lead. So, he was tame and gentle. He wasn’t all that big at the time either. I got him home and like a high bred bull, I knew he was accustomed to being groomed and so I got out the combs and such and started combing him down. Oh… wow.. he loved the feeling. I liken it to when someone loves to get his back scratched. lol That bull would lean into me and just love to be groomed. I only did it a few times. Then as soon as he was old enough he was turned out to the cows to do the job he was “hired” to do. After that I no longer groomed him.

Well… I guess that’s over and done. I also had a younger bull that I took and sold as well. He was by the old Hereford bull and out of a Texas Longhorn cow. He was very athletic looking and my neighbor was going to call a rodeo stockman and tell him about the bull so he could go buy him for a bucking bull. The young bull is hornery enough to make a good bucking bull. But, I doubt he will end up that way. I would like to have kept him but I have other young bulls that will be able to breed the cows next time.

Today the guys that have been cutting the hedge posts for fences said they would be ready to start the fences tomorrow. So, I have to go haul about 40 corner posts, and I have to get bracing pipe, bracing wire, staples, and I have to haul the t-posts. It will be one long and busy day. The corner posts probably weigh at least 300 pounds each. I will load each one onto the trailer with the track loader and chains. I am hoping I can get about 20 on a load. But, I don’t know. I should be able to get 15 to 20 at a time.

So, since I have such a long day ahead of me, I better get to bed.

Goodnight,
Paul

Well, the pickup is now out of the mud. My buddy, Richard, came to help with the pickup and we borrowed the neighbor’s John Deere 4020. It also had a bale spear on the front where the bucket goes.

Anyway, we get the pickup out,…..barely… with Richard just a spinning the rear wheels on that tractor for about 40 feet until I was where I could get traction on my own…. at least 40 feet, maybe further.

Then, the WD-45 that was still sitting there won’t start….. again… So, Richard suggested he just pull me on the tractor back to the house so I will have it close enough to work on. I said, “Okay.” So, we hadn’t gone maybe 15 feet when the back tires of the 4020 just dropped about a foot below ground. I immediately unhooked the chain. Richard tried to go forward a bit more and didn’t get very far. So, he decided to go backward and try to back out of the tracks. Of course the deep ruts were longer than the tractor. He kept spinning as he moved backward but, as soon as the front tires dropped into the ruts, the tractor came to a standstill with the rear tires spinning and coated with mud. You couldn’t even see the tread. I suggested he use the spear on front to help “pull” him out of the tracks but he was afraid of breaking the spear.

I said, “There’s no way you will break that spear.”
He said, “Knowing my luck, it would never break unless I try it.”
I said, “Yeah. You’re right. Maybe you should leave well enough alone.”

I laughed.

We drove over to see the neighbor. He lives one mile north and one mile east of me. Anyway, we get over there and he has just dismounted from his horse. (They were moving cattle all day.) We told him about the tractor being stuck, and he said it was no problem. He said that he wasn’t going to need the tractor again for a very long time and just leave it until the ground dries out some. But, the way our Spring seasons are, that could be awhile. He finally said, he would stop by after they finished moving cattle.

Well…. About 7:00 pm, the neighbor and his wife show up. He gets on the tractor and used the spear to help “pull” or “drag” him out. He worked and spun and dug in, and bounced around, but after awhile of trying, he finally got it out. So, Richard got in the tractor to take it back since his car was at the neighbor’s house. The neighbor, his wife, and I stood outside (here) and visited for quite some time. It was a nice visit. I always enjoy visiting with neighbors.

So, that is about all that has happened.

Later.

P.S. Pardon the typos. I’m tired and not in the mood to proof read. lol

As I said in my previous entry, we’ve had a lot of rain. Sunday night we had thunderstorms with over 6 inches of rain. Monday was overcast all day and we had a light rain all day. I decided to go run errands and get a pallet of barbed wire. When I called, they didn’t have a full pallet, only 12 rolls. If they get more in before the guys start the fences, I will go get another 12 rolls. If they don’t get it in quickly enough I will have to go somewhere else to get it.

Anyway, Tuesday morning, it was sunny but water standing everywhere. Two of the guys showed up to try to get more hedge posts cut for the fences. However, the area in which they were cutting posts was far too muddy to try to cut there on Tuesday. So, I told them they could cut the posts anywhere. They decided to drive around and look for some that would be easy to get to. After a bit, they hunted me down and told me that they were stuck and his 4-wheel drive won’t kick in. So, I got the pickup knowing I would get stuck if not careful. But, I had to risk it. I couldn’t tell them, “no.” They live 70 miles away.

So, when I got over there, I got out to hook the chain and the pickup just sank. I jumped in to try and get out of there before it sunk too deeply but it was too late. It wasn’t budging and already sank to the back bumper.

I go to get the WD. It won’t start. I go to put the newly rebuilt magneto on the WD-45, but the battery was dead. LOL…. So, I went back to the WD. I finally got it to start by first turning the hand crank one-half turn. We decided since I was stuck behind them to try and get it out and out of the way first. We worked for a long time but the tires just dug down more. So, we gathered BIG rocks and put in the tire tracks. We got the front pulled up out of the tracks but the rear tires continued to dig deeptracks. We realized it was useless. So, I suggested we try to get his out first. He hadn’t sunk as deeply as I did. After a lot of work and trying with the WD, we finally got him out but I had to pull him all the way to the top of the hill before he could get any traction.

Yesterday it rained again and was overcast all day. This morning is overcast and raining again. So.. I guess the pickup is stuck until the weather dries out a bit. LOL…

Anyway, here is the stuck pickup…..

And another……..

Later,
Paul
(aka Bucky)
(aka Curley)

There has been very little activity around here. Last Sunday night into Monday morning, we had thunderstorms with over 6 inches of rain. Then we had a light rain most of the day Monday. Everything is in such a mess around here…. lots of mud.

So, I had to go pick up the first 12 rolls of barbed wire for the new fences. It was suppose to be a pallet of rolls, but they only had 12 rolls so I got those. As soon as they get more in, I will go get 12 more rolls. If they take to long, then I will have to go somewhere else to get it so as not to hold up the guys doing the fencing.

I decided that since I couldn’t do anything outside in the rain and mud, I would get the barbed wire and a couple other errands. I had learned that there is a thrift store in Horton which is about 10 miles north of me. It is run either by the Women’s Auxilliary or the Hospital Auxilliary. (not sure which.) I was needing new work shirts for summer and winter so I thought I would find the store and see what they have. I was hoping to find some summer shirts as well as flannel shirts for next winter. Keep in mind that I wear button shirts with long sleeves year round.

I found the thrift store even though it can’t be hard. Downtown is small. The thrift store is just a door or two down from the Senior Citizens Center. I just happen to be there the day they had their $3.00 Grab Bag day. The $3.00 Grab Bag is all the shirts you can fit in a brown sack for just $3.00. I got 17 shirts in that bag! LOL It worked out to 17.6 cents per shirt. I took nearly every shirt they had in my size. The only problem is that some of them are short sleeve pull-over type shirts… but I guess I can wear them for work here at home and just change shirts if I have to go to town.

Anyway, while I was there, 4 older women were in there. I assumed they were all volunteers. However, I think only two of them were working at the time and the other two were there just to pass time and visit.

As I left, I was starting to get into the pickup when one of the ladies followed me, “Sir,…. Sir?”

I stopped and turned, “Yes, ma’am?”

She wanted to tell me that the Senior Citizens Center has a dance every first and third Fridays of the month from 7:00pm to about 10:30pm. She went on to tell me that on my first visit it is free. But, after that, it is $2.50 plus a covered dish.

I knew what she was thinking. This lady was probably in her early 70′s or so….

I asked, “Ma’am, y’all let young people attend the dances?”

She said, “No, just seniors.”

I said, “I just turned 48.”

She looked at me for a moment. Not sure if she was just surprised or embarrassed.

She said, “Oh… well, you have to be 55. Sorry.”

I said, “Dang, I guess I need to lose weight or something to look younger.”

I kindly thanked her for thinking of me and we said our “goodbyes” and she went back inside the store.

I worried on that all day. I didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. I just barely turned 48 and they thought I was a senior citizen! Oh well. She was kind to ask.

Later,