Above 1200 Sq/FT Plugger Workshop

[drivesitfar]

Loving all the pictures!!

Congrats on the successful plumbing fix. I too need to change out my grohe handheld shower extension that also is practically new since I bought it snd installed it in 2003.

 

[jon72vega]

I don't think I've ever seen one this stuck.
You did good!

 

[Jayman17]

You are busy as usual! Please let us know what you think of that pole saw you purchased after you get a chance to use it.

 

[Prospecter]

You are busy as usual! Please let us know what you think of that pole saw you purchased after you get a chance to use it.

The pole saw works well. A little top heavy, which I expect is true of most of these. I purchased it because my shoulder couldn't manage my manual pole saw, nor lift my chainsaw for pruning. I used it for several hours on a single charge in a 5 amp battery. Probably some of the name brands are better quality. Bauer has become my go to brand for tools I do not use much. I have a little depth in their batteries. I also have a power caulking gun (awesome!) and a small blower for clearing stuff in the shop.

For background, I have EGO, Bauer, Dewalt, and Metabo HPT/ Hitachi. The Bauer batteries seem comparable to the Hitachi, and clunkier than Dewalt. EGO is in a different universe.

 

[Prospecter]

An American Kestrel. A rare enough sighting for us to be excited about it. We keep our fields mowed shorter than those around us, so good rodent hunting for predators.

I got the first Garage Door Opener hung. That was enough for today. I switched to pre-assembly of parts to put up lights.

 

[M.Brane]

I don't think I've ever seen one this stuck.
You did good!

I have. Dude who lives up on the mountain trying to get his neighbor's Toy 4x unstuck buried his tractor in the process. The ground was mush. We used the big wheel loader, and 3 chains to drag it out so we wouldn't sink the loader as well. Good times.

 

[zanyad]

An American Kestrel.

 

[Prospecter]

Although we are surrounded by gravel pits and granite quarries, our land is a heavy clay. Hard to dig, easily churned up and slippery when wet. It takes very little grade to get the tractor stuck and spin the wheels when wet. I have a Dumpy Level, but it is easier to just use the Spring runoff to judge appropriate levels for good flow (like a little kid playing in the gutter, only with bigger toys), so getting stuck a few times is pretty much inevitable. Still can't find the rusted out culvert.

 

[drivesitfar]

Is that your tractor stick in the mud?? Did you get it out of this mess and any damage other than needing a good wash?

Of course we all want to know how muddy you got getting off the tractor and then back in it to get it out with maybe some help from your wife or a neighbor?

 

[Prospecter]

Yup. Our JD. The little Kubota pulled it out. Although I REALLY don't mud, it is not all that hard to get out. The problem is that the mud lubricates the wheels so there's no traction. Just need the other tractor to provide a little traction, and the bucket to push the tractor backwards a foot at a time until the stuck tractor gets a little traction.

I actually got hardly any mud on me. Just stepped off the tractor onto the grass. I put a pallet in back of the tractor to rig it with a tow chain/strap. After the mud on the tractor dries, most of it will fall off over time. Then I will hose off the rest. Easier than trying to hose off sticky clay. No damage to the JD. Had a little help with the driving from Mrs. P.

If you aren't getting stuck once in a while, you aren't working hard enough.

 

[Prospecter]

Time for another update on my activities.

A simple project to help me remember to shut everything down at night. Not sure if I like it yet.
Reminders are for boathouse propane heater, chargers, compressor, heat pump, and I don't remember what is on the other side of S and W.



My improvised bender to bend fencing into garden row covers to discourage deer and turkeys.


Here are some of the culprits. Last year's Mama and two fawns all appear pregnant.

The sun is setting further north. At winter solstice it sets south of the mountain on the left. At summer solstice, it sets about halfway up the mountain on the right.

 

[Prospecter]

A "Christmas" cactus. We especially like the red of this one. In real like it is even redder.
The daffodils are doing nicely. They are naturalized at various places around the house and field.

Both tractors home and out of the mud.

Marsh marigolds and amphibian eggs.


Mt. Katahdin on a recent trip up north.

This is the reason for the trip north. Although I have made repairs, I am still trying to get to a stable point so I can rework the plumbing there. The shower drain slipped out of the compression fitting. As best I can tell, the rubber gasket had hardened over the years. Can't explain the foam insulation.



Now that we've had a bit of a serenity break. . . Here is what the drain looks like when the PVC slips out.

 

[Prospecter]

More daffodil hyacint amphibian eggs, marsh marigolds. Skip ahead if you are not interested in gardening photos.

 

[Prospecter]

Some progress on the culvert project. I will need to do a little shovel work to move things along. Much easier to remove a stuck boot than a stuck tractor.

Amaryllis in bloom inside.

 

[drivesitfar]

Very happy to see your tractor made it out of the muddy situation!!

I love all the cool sunsets and flower pics and all the critters. I remember my uncles farm pond having some of the biggest tadpoles so guessing your evenings have more than a few toads and or frogs singing while you’re on the porch enjoying the sunsets.

Have a grand day!!

 

[kaymccampbell]

Can't explain the foam insulation.

Lotta folks shoot spray foam under plastic shower pans to try to stiffen them up. It's a short term fix. I usually bed them in slow Bondo.

 

[bugnut]

Spring flowers, the hope of a new season!

 

[Prospecter]

Lotta folks shoot spray foam under plastic shower pans to try to stiffen them up. It's a short term fix. I usually bed them in slow Bondo.

Thanks Kay. I wouldn't have guessed that purpose.

 

[Prospecter]

Very happy to see your tractor made it out of the muddy situation!!

I love all the cool sunsets and flower pics and all the critters. I remember my uncles farm pond having some of the biggest tadpoles so guessing your evenings have more than a few toads and or frogs singing while you’re on the porch enjoying the sunsets.

Have a grand day!!

Thanks for checking in. Yes, the tree frogs have much to say. Kinda fun to see how close I can get before they stop singing. (They start again when I back off.) I am easily entertained.

 

[Prospecter]

Spring flowers, the hope of a new season!

You are so right. Thanks for stopping by.

 

[jon72vega]

I love spring!
You've taken some beautiful pictures!

 

[Prospecter]

I love spring!
You've taken some beautiful pictures!

Thank you Jon. We are getting there. A few forsythia. No leaves yet. Thanks for checking in.

 

[Prospecter]

It's been another one of those stretches of Dreaded Desk Work, appointments, etc. that are necessary, but not photo ops.

Some pollywogs (wood frogs) have hatched and are developing. The white dots are siblings that did not make it.


The forsythia are at peak. The town's bent metal sign post is annoying to mow around. One of these days I will need a tractor to get it out of the ground.

New sneakers (gym shoes for some of you) for the northern Toro. This is our oldest one, at 10 years old. The original ones had been plugged many times, had little tread left, and needed some more plugs. It was getting to the point where I was plugging the plugs.

Mallard at the northern place.

Retrieving equipment and decorative rocks from up north. Also some treasured heirloom Rhubarb.

Somehow I seldom seem to get a picture of the northern end of the yard, looking south in Prospect.

Now that there is a nest, Mr. Bluebird has less time to play with his reflection in the windows, and car mirrors.

Same area as the earlier picture, but looking north.

 

[drivesitfar]

Looks great. Just curious are you using the screw in rubber tire plugs that come in a nice little kit I’ve seen advertised?

Good to see you are enjoying your spring weather!!

 

[Prospecter]

Just curious are you using the screw in rubber tire plugs that come in a nice little kit I’ve seen advertised?

Now you have me curious. I have been using the self adhesive strings that you push into the hole. I've had the kit for something like 40 years. First I've heard of the screw in plugs. Sounds pretty cool. Is there a preferred brand?

 

[drivesitfar]

I’ve never actually repaired a tire with a plug cause the tire dealerships around us do it for free (they usually try to sell me new tires too). Also my wheelbarrow tires and other smallish tires are tubeless or easily replaced for new and not much money.

I’ve seen the screw in rubber plug kits in YouTube or maybe Amazon or one of our farm threads (you old farmers might be the handiest manly men on the planet btw).

Enjoy your search and hope you find something useful.

 

[Prospecter]

I’ve never actually repaired a tire with a plug cause the tire dealerships around us do it for free (they usually try to sell me new tires too). Also my wheelbarrow tires and other smallish tires are tubeless or easily replaced for new and not much money.

I’ve seen the screw in rubber plug kits in YouTube or maybe Amazon or one of our farm threads (you old farmers might be the handiest manly men on the planet btw).

Enjoy your search and hope you find something useful.

Still a great suggestion. I'll give it a try. Of course, fate being what it is, as soon as I order a kit, I won't have any flats, but that's ok, too!

 

[drivesitfar]

It’s best to be prepared and best of luck in your search.

Hope you and your bride have a nice Mother’s Day!!

 

[Prospecter]

Long time since I've updated.

The verdict on the shoulder is that if I maintain surrounding strength to stabilize the joint, I am best off avoiding surgery and injections for now. Seems to be working.

My 42" tiller. I like this best for tilling the garden. I get more rows to plant, and less space between rows to keep weeded. Also, the smaller Kubota has wider tires with smaller tugs, so it compacts the soil less.


The "furrows" are actually wheel tracks that end up as aisles between rows. The center of the planting rows are the lines marked by a bolt I put in the middle of the tiller shield.

Some much loved Rhubarb salvaged from the place in "The County."

Wire row covers to protect from deer and turkeys.

The Chaos Garden in its yellow and green Spring phase.

 

[drivesitfar]

Your place looks like heaven to me. Nice work on the garden and I bet the critters can be a bit of a pain but I’m sure you have figured out a way to live with them around.

Chaos area looks amazing to me. Also your little shed out in the field looks bigger than my garage.

Have a grand day!!

 

[Prospecter]

Your place looks like heaven to me. Nice work on the garden and I bet the critters can be a bit of a pain but I’m sure you have figured out a way to live with them around.

Chaos area looks amazing to me. Also your little shed out in the field looks bigger than my garage.

Have a grand day!!

Thanks. We enjoy the deer and turkeys. Hopefully the wire will discourage them. Groundhogs get live trapped and relocated. Corn sometimes gets replanted if the dead plastic crow does not discourage them. Mice and squirrels are a chronic issue.

The garden shed is 10x30. I did not want something so deep that stuff would get buried in the back.

 

[Prospecter]

Planting potatoes on the coast. These are Yukon Gold, and will have white flowers. Others will be Red Pontiac, and will have pink flowers.

Meanwhile, I am trying to reduce the weed seed bank up north. Since the garden is fallow this year, I tilled Zamboni style.

Garden features headed south.

A favorite rock headed south.

 

[Prospecter]

This is how they load seed potatoes for planting. These will become Lays Potato Chips.

x
The soil bags from earlier this spring with germinated seeds.
t
Hummers have returned.

Another potato row. Love the little tractor. I'd never get this close to that trellis with the bigger tractor.

The snow plow is moving to the Midcoast house.

 

[Prospecter]

Snow plow was unloaded at the home place. That tractor does not have the quick attach front end feature, but I was able to catch the attachment hooks on the lip of the bucket to unload and move it.

Cherished rock from the North Place was also installed at the home place.

Brugmansia making its trip from its winter basement storage to yard for the summer.

 

[Prospecter]

I should explain that the North Place is soon to go on the market, so some stuff to moving to the Home Place. I can move the tractor attachments bit by bit. Eventually I will hire a flatbed to move the tractor for me, but we still need it up north. Very handy to have a tractor in each location. The 3038 (north) has 10 more hp, and quick attach features both front and back. Made for it forks, and the snow plow come with it, and it has a hydrostatic transmission. The older 790 has no quick attach features and a standard transmission. It has other maintenance needs typical of a 25 year old tractor. Nothing fatal, but I have limited storage, so it will be time to move the 790 on to another owner at some point soon.

 

[drivesitfar]

Sounds like you’re putting a square peg in a round hole and making it work.

Just curious how much a farm sells for in Maine if you’d like to message me details or post here if you feel ok with that. Is it just acreage with a big barn or is there a house included and how many acres? Remind me how many months you have snow?

I’m betting your neighbors at both places are amazing.

Have a grand day!!

 

[Prospecter]

The Katahdin Region got frost this week in low lying regions, but no plowable snow since April. Oddly, they can have hotter summers than we do. Snow covered ground typically from Thanksgiving to St. Patrick's day. Property of any sort tends to change hands infrequently, and many of those sales are private, so no comps to give us an idea. We shall see what the agent says. Zillow would give some idea, but prices are often aspirational. The farm is 42 acres +/-. . . not surveyed, mostly open fields. A large metal machine shed large enough for 3 tractor trailers. Large hay shed open on one side that currently is rented for storage of 4 large bumper hitch RV trailers. Another dirt floor barn in poor condition, large enough for 4 pickup trucks with an attached woodshed. Concrete manure containment area, and 2 farm ponds. Snowmobile trail access at the back of the property.

On the Midcoast, we bought the home place with 35 acres in '85 for $42,000. No idea what it would sell for now. I put out my milk bottle green houses around tax day. I don't remember getting snow later than tax day for the past 40 years. The garden is planted now. Our snow cover is typically Christmas to early March. March tends to be dirty snow drifts and mud.

I've lived in NJ, Chicagoland, CT, and ME. Neighbors seem about the same everywhere. An assortment of characters. Some easy. Some difficult. Some weird. Some egos. Some busybodies. And so on.

 

[Prospecter]

With many moving related chores, my updates have taken a back seat. A few pictures of recent activities.

The chairs that go with the table I refinished and repaired a while back. Some furniture is high quality. These are more of the easily manufactured 1920s variety. Much repaired, and not a lot to work with. The seats were originally designed with a groove for caning. The seat frames are pretty rough, and never actually caned. The webbing is probably original. The fabric is at least 4th generation repair.


Probably original seat cover from the 1920s.

Frame repair, and new webbing.

 

[Prospecter]

My old 790 unloads the 2038's weight box. The 790 was barely enough, but we got the job done.

Old decking for the North Farm back deck getting planed to use to crate mirrors, etc. to move.

MidCoast Farm chaos garden.

I caned the chair backs. The spline is too big. Generally spline size is based on groove size, with adjustments to account for the woven cane. I will need to redo these. I'll chalk it up to experience. This is my first time installing pre-woven cane.

Buttercups are in bloom. A few years ago, I started mowing around the few patches. The patches have expanded and we have them all over.

Four pallets (4 tons) of sawdust bricks.

Some of the crate frames for moving.

Lupine in bloom.

 

[Prospecter]

Steel wheel from the North Farm finds a new life as garden decoration at the Midcoast Farm.

More Lupine.

Formal garden at the North Farm. I quite like the Rhubarb in flower.

Finished crates packed for moving.

Vegetable garden at the North Farm is tilled for the last time. The 3ph tiller will move south in the next week or so.

My helper pitched in on the crating.