Above 1200 Sq/FT Cleaning Up My Shop

[oldironfarmer]

I know my posts are boring just answering comments. But things are getting better.

ANDY: I read all your posts and even though I know you are still very sad and probably will be for a while i see a lot of the old ANDY in those words so happy to have you back posting some good words for all of us.

i'm still sending prayers and hoping your life can still be great with Sharon whispering in your ear every moment. as I said I can't imagine what it would be like to lose my DREAM GIRL, but I know she's going to the right place as you know Sharon did.

feed the birds cause i'm sure Sharon is still looking out the window while you work in your shop when you do.

It's Saturday so hope you enjoy it doing whatever it is that might make you smile and remember your gal while you do.

BTW you may not have thought you could do more or something better, but I'm certain that Sharon thought you went far above what most of us would do in the same circumstances. she lived out her life in her home and watching you do what you do that i'm sure always made her smile. She's up there telling them to make room for her guy when that day comes many many years from now which might only be a few minutes up there.


cheers

Thanks, Drives! We don't know how much time each may have, for sure. She was truly a princess and I was blessed.

Andy, so many have said so much, I can only add that I saw this today and am saddened for you. Truer words and heartfelt emotions have been put on display in this thread like no other thread on GJB. All I can add is that I will add you to my prayer list to find comfort and I just want to tell you I am so sorry for you. Be well my computer friend.

Thank you. Prayers are appreciated. Life is improving. I'm thinking of planting wheat on a little acreage I have because she liked green in the winter so much.

Andy, Our family recently lost our mom in law, she was the indeed the family matriarch. Many of us are grieving but we now know she is in heaven and in no pain. She made it to 99 1/2 years. A life well lived.

While this was happening to us, You had this going on in your life also.

At the same time my computer has to go in the shop and get a drive replaced. So, I came back to this…

I am sorry for your loss. You're a strong old iron farmer. This will take all your time now, but that will be OKAY. You will meet again in heaven. You are so fortunate to have had her in your life.

Let's get together, making a broom is still on my bucket list.

Thank you. I was fortunate beyond measure. Come on out, I've got a bucket on your list and the fixin's for a broom.

Andy, as mentioned on the foundry site, you and your family are in my prayers. It is great to see you posting again. I look forward to hearing about how things are going for you. Take care and God bless.

Thank you. I appreciate the prayers. We are having beautiful weather.

Andy

Good to see you posting. It's Bathurst 1000 day here, but I tore myself away from the screen to check in here. Glad I did.

And you are more than welcome to call by. There's always a spare bed ready.

Lyndon
Vroom Vroom!

Thanks Lyndon! You may just get a visitor.

Andy we are as close as you need us to be. Bobby

Thanks, Bobby.

Such sad news. Prayers to you and your family.

Thank you. Your prayers are appreciated.

Andy,so very sad to hear about your wife. Heartfelt condolences and prayers from my family to yours.
Let the family take care of you for a while.

Best wishes
Steve

Thank you. The family is trying to help but I'm stubborn. I really was not ready to start feeding cows but here we go.

ANDY: I really hope you had a great weekend with maybe friends and family or just by yourself to feed all the critters.

more prayers sent and hope you are feeling just a tad better each day (6 SATURDAYS & A SUNDAY).

take care!!

I'm having good days with a few sad spells now and then. I guess it's to be expected, I just didn't expect it. Thought I was stronger. But I'm not.

Don
Thank you Don. It surprises me how real friendships can be forged out of virtual acquaintances. Even without meeting. There are many here whom I know are true friends. I look forward to seeing you again and meeting Ann.

Just a short note Andy
The welcome mat is out and I'm looking forward to seeing you again and on my turf. It's nice seeing you back at the key board a bit again

Don

Thanks, Don. I am looking forward to seeing your turf!

Glad to see you back, Andy. Hang in there.

Hanging by my thumbs!!

So sorry for your loss. Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.

Ron

Thank you, Ron. I appreciate all prayers.

ANDY: thanks for sharing the stories about your wife and her angels. I know her passing is hard and I really can't imagine how much, but just know you did the best you could to make her last days here happy as possible.

i'm sure she enjoyed watching you run around feeding all the critters and doing what you do and probably why she lasted this long.

prayers sent and hope your day is a good one.

sunny and 60's here today, but we have the leftovers from that Typhoon that hit Japan heading our way to dump a bunch of rain on us real soon. sunny and calm and maybe a bit cold or windy today in your part of the world?

take care!!

76F and light breezes today. Marvelous weather.

Your absence is understood and expected, but I've really missed my regular doses of Andy wisdom and your resilient humour.

So great to hear from you mate.

Can't imagine what you're going through, but your GJ family is here to help if and when you need it.

Thanks, mate. Things are better. And not bitter.

Well said TwoBytes !!

I am fortunate enough to have been getting it from both barrels of the Martin Humour machine behind the scenes

However, I think what people often miss is the deeply caring nature of the guy with the needle he uses to poke us with.

In our family we used to have a saying: “If you expose your ribs, you deserve to be kicked in them” which was never meant to be malicious, but certainly made you more alert to not being stoopid

I find myself often being prodded by Andy for my own rib exposing, and I love it in a perverse way.

His humour and caring deeply about people around him certainly is refreshing and I look forward to every chat we have.

Those are perversely nice words!

 

[BUGTHUG]

Andy my friend, I'm needing to come visit you sometime soon. I have some things I think you would have better use for them.
Next time you are up in my neck of the wood, feel free to stop by and give me a visit.
I have found that its nice sometimes just get in the truck and drive around, and listen to some good music or find the station of some religious talk radio. Weird but it puts your mind right. Dr. BUG, has left the building.
I hope to put the new foot pedal in one of my VW buses, and not in my mouth, or kicking my behind.

 

[drivesitfar]

Andy: good to see you are posting again and giving us some words of wisdom.

50's and rainy here yesterday and probably again today. Wish I were in Oklahoma where the temps are warmer and there's a forge with some aluminum to melt and make cool stuff.

or making a broom.

hope you had a good weekend.

take care!!

 

[jblnut]

It's been a while since I checked in Andy and for that I apologize as I have missed A LOT since the last time.

I am sorry to hear about the passing of your beautiful wife. Hearing about others loved ones passing on always motivates me to try to do better with my own because you truly never know when the last time you'll see them will be. Never go to bed angry and never end a conversation on a nasty note. It's not worth potentially regretting it for the rest of your life.

Bob hit the head right on the nail with this ....

Andy, at some point you need to get out the photo album and flip through it. If it's anything like mine it makes me laugh and cry at the same time.

Nothing makes me happier and more sad all at the same time than looking through photo albums. In the end everyone is just as alive as the memories we have of them.

Take care Andy.

 

[patlun]

As I said in my last post i become very sad when I heard the news. Sad for you. Sad for all my own losses. That is was happens when I hear about the death of someones loved ones.

After a while I becomes happy for the ones I still have and for the small simple things in life. Like sitting and talk with old friends or as now listening to some old Little Jimmy Dickens and drinking a mug of coffee after a hard day at the office. Like seeing you posting again.

Take care of yourself and don't forget to enjoy the small things, they is very important in the large thing called life.

 

[drivesitfar]

ANDY: planting a field in honor of your wife sounds like a big deal, but a great idea so you have my vote if you'd like to do that.

we planted a plant on our walkway in front of our kitchen window that we bought for my little sister's wake or celebration when liver cancer took her from us several years ago and the plant blooms the end of November and early December every year even if it's snowing which is the time of year that she passed.

still raining and 50's here, but sunshine is supposed to show up for a few days which will be nice.

enjoy your day and it sounds like you have awesome weather to maybe get out on your tractor and drive around your property if you like.

cheers

 

[Farmerjonathan]

Andy, it is nice to see some green in the winter. Can you plant the type of wheat that would make the straw for your brooms?

 

[xtremek]

I dropped off your thread back in in August. I have no words to say that are adequate. Prayers.

 

[Redwolf947]

Hope you are doing ok Andy.. What have you been up to?
Mike

 

[Farmall450]

Hopefully all is well.

 

[Grizz1963]

Hope you are doing ok Andy.. What have you been up to?
Mike

Hopefully all is well.

Morning guys,

Thank you all for your concern and care.




I continue to chat with Andy daily.

By text and video while we share progress, dinner reports and the weather plus many other shared interests and humour.

He continues to carve out a new life and existence after having 40 years of a most magnificent life. Not an easy task.

I think some days are tougher than others, though he does not ever complain, being both practical and pragmatic, he is getting on with stuff that needs doing as that’s the kind of guy he is.

Renewing old friendships, hobbies, interests, and at the same time, honouring his past while keeping his hand on all the responsibilities he has on the farm, and elsewhere.

He will be back with some more interesting updates at some point I am sure. I won’t steal the man’s thunder.


But........

Yesterday he found this beautiful Copperhead in his burn pile.....

He let it go.

Copperhead snakes are some of the more commonly seen North American snakes. They're also the most likely to bite, although their venom is relatively mild, and their bites are rarely fatal for humans.

These snakes get their name, fittingly, from their copper-red heads, according to the biology department at Pennsylvania State University. Some other snakes are referred to as copperheads, which is a common (nonscientific) name. Water moccasins (cottonmouths), radiated rat snakes, Australian copperheads and sharp-nosed pit vipers are all sometimes called copperheads, but these are different species from the North American copperhead (Agkistrodon contortrix).

Copperheads are pit vipers, like rattlesnakes and water moccasins. Pit vipers have "heat-sensory pits between eye and nostril on each side of head," which are able to detect minute differences in temperatures so that the snakes can accurately strike the source of heat, which is often potential prey. Copperhead "behavior is very much like that of most other pit vipers," said herpetologist Jeff Beane, collections manager of amphibians and reptiles at the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences.





On a slightly more personal note.

Andy has a real thing for mentoring people and has taken many under his wing over time.

One of them is this young man, introduced to Andy when he was 18 and now a very successful businessman, 38 with a wife and family of three kids.
The wife was one of those carers who made life just a bit easier for Sharon and Andy,
Andy has mentored them for a lifetime.
Now that he is rebuilding his life in various areas, he also has a grandad role by proxy.

So over the weekend, this was the Andy most of us do not get to see, with a pumpkin and team of “mentorees”



Jobs done.......

The one on the right is Andy’s work.

Sadly, one of the lanterns did have a head on collision with the floor.




So all is good at Andy’s place, and in his life while he is catching up on life.

 

[Redwolf947]

Thank you, Grizz. Good to know!

 

[TMcCay]

Thank you Grizz for the update. Glad that Andy is doing good.

 

[shortykorte]

Yes thank you for the update. Andy, the man of many talents.


Shorty Korte
Always remember quality in QST

Sent from my iPhone using Garage Journal

 

[Guster]

Thanks for the post Griz. Really happy to see Andy spending good time in good company. Especially getting into the holiday season. Hope his new life journey is a healing one that eventually brings him back to his passions and sharing it with us.

Vipers are a good thing around the farm buildings as long as you respect them they will keep you pest-free better than a cat ever could. My uncle always used to keep a concrete pad raised on some old bricks near his grain store as an to invite roaming puffadders. You could see them sunning on it some mornings and he would proudly point out the mouse bones in their **** as proof that it worked.

 

[Farmall450]

Good to see all is well.

 

[jimreed2160]

Sorry for your loss Andy. Prayers are going your way. I think about you and smile every time I smack something with that hammer you made for me. It continues to take a licking and keep on going. Tough like its maker. Time helps the days get better.

 

[KST1]

I've been away from this thread for awhile, and am saddened to hear the news.

Andy, know that you are in my thoughts during these tough times. You have exemplified what it means to stand by someone "through sickness and health". My wife has a chronic, disabling disease and I only hope I can be as good to her in the coming years as you were to yours. Thank you for the example.

-Derek

 

[bolensboneyard]

Thanks Grizz. Kids are great therapy and Andy is a great teacher.

 

[drivesitfar]

Andy: my kids drove home and said it was really windy in Kansas and Wyoming so hope it's blowing a bit less in your part of the country.

it's calm here, cloudy and mid 40's low 50's, but at least not raining for a few days.

i hope you are finding some fun things to keep yourself busy and did I hear you are going to set up the broom booth at some show?

Is Hershey keeping by your side while you watch over the bull and your herd of other critters?

take care!!!!

 

[Grizz1963]

Got a message from Andy in Oklahoma too last night.......

Obviously part of his dinner but he felt it was also appropriate for my current status.




He has been walking a lot, part of his own recovery process.



So the man is good, continues to recover and find his own pace and equilibrium

Thanks for all the care on here.

 

[fourbyford]

Hey Andy,
Great to see ya smile!
...D

 

[Guster]

It is definitely inevitable Grizz.

Good on ya. That's a fair hike Andy! Would love to see some riverside photo's next time you are out.

 

[Grizz1963]

It is definitely inevitable Grizz.

Good on ya. That's a fair hike Andy! Would love to see some riverside photo's next time you are out.

I will ask him for a pic or two.

I think these walks are really good for Andy, both physically and psychologically.

And he is trying to get around to places he has not been to for a while.



And Another.....

 

[HOTFR8]

Got a message from Andy in Oklahoma too last night.......

Great to see a smile from Andy. Also great to see he is having some fun with you Grizz.

 

[Redwolf947]

Thank you again Grizz for the update. Great to see Andy.. And yes I check this thread daily!

 

[Farmall450]

Good to see all is well in OK.

 

[bolensboneyard]

Now I got to get another printer so I can post that smile above a bench. That's what Christmas means to me!

 

[Grizz1963]

Looks like a to me.



Still getting out and about.

Smile says a lot.



Was chatting a couple of days ago early morning when he was out feeding cows......

BRRRRRRRRRRRRR !!!!

-11’C

12’F

Out there.

Said he prefered it to my hot hospital job wearing a neck tie.

 

[HOTFR8]

Now that is an interesting bike. I have posted similar works as made by a fellow here.

View media item 69100
That bike has plenty of unique character. Again nice to see a great smile as well.

 

[Finallygotit]

Thanks for the update Rian. It's good to see Andy. Hi Andy!

 

[shortykorte]

Nice walkabout Andy. Looks like you’re staying busy.

Thanks Grizz.


Shorty Korte
Always remember quality in QST

Sent from my iPhone using Garage Journal

 

[Prospecter]

Good to see the activity! In August, I found there was so much I did not understand on your thread. (I'm not specially smart!) Anyway, I set out to read from post #1 so I would have the context of the whole story. Then I caught up to September and October! I looked across to my wife, and brought her up to speed. I think about us, and can only imagine how difficult the adjustment is! Rooting for you!

 

[Redwolf947]

Hey Andy, great to see you getting out and about.. Take care my friend..
Mike

 

[Rex_A_Lott]

Too far away to help me any, but thought some of you might be interested.
https://columbus.craigslist.org/tls/d/milwaukee-huge-anvil-and-blacksmith/7020821086.html
Hope you're doing well , Andy.

 

[jbmatth]

After I pick my jaw up off the floor I'll think of a better reply. WOW

JB

 

[Farmall450]

Too far away to help me any, but thought some of you might be interested.
https://columbus.craigslist.org/tls/d/milwaukee-huge-anvil-and-blacksmith/7020821086.html
Hope you're doing well , Andy.

WOW.

Also hope you're doing well, Andy.

 

[Grizz1963]

Yesterday......



My YouTube seems to be dead. So cannot upload

But there was a missive grin inducing video too.

I will leave you with this.

 

[TwoBytes]

Woohoohoo!

Did you get taken for a ride in the car in Andy's avatar?

Can't wait to see that video Grizz.

 

[Batjac65]

I’m just a long time lurker here on GJ, but I’ve always enjoyed your posts. I’m so sorry to hear of your loss and glad to see that you’re working on picking yourself back up and moving forward. Prayers headed your way.

Incidentally, I’m an old Okie myself - born in Sapulpa just a hop skip an jump from you. Lived in Jinx as a kid but hauled away to Arkansas which became home.

Terry