Above 1200 Sq/FT Plugger Workshop

[drivesitfar]

I hear you and I’m sure there is more on my list of re do’s that will hit the to do lists before I take a dirt nap.

We planted a few new things this year from seeds and starts like celery, broccoli, cilantro, and the garden is flourishing. Apparently the polinaters love cilantro that turned into flowering coriander so my brides little garden looks like Jurassic park now.

It’s been about 60 years since I drove my uncle’s tractor when I was 10 and it was a blast then. I bet moving dirt and spending a few hours on that tractor seat is therapeutic??

Enjoy your day!!

 

[Prospecter]

She is certainly making the most of her garden!

Near as I can tell, you are maybe a few months to less than a year older than I am, so probably similar in our projects.

Yep. Tractors are fun. Kind of Zen like.

 

[drivesitfar]

January ‘56 so just turned 70 this year. Funny I used to think 65 was old but other than a few more days to recover from hard work I feel great and as strong as when I was 30.

I know tractor seats even though they were made of cast iron were made well so your **** would fit and not get too sore or do the newer ones have cushions or do you have one you set in there if a long day of tractor work is needed?

Room temperature here today and sunny so hope yours is the same or stay cool.

 

[Prospecter]

January '57.

Mostly molded foam seats on newer tractors. Very comfortable, but need changing out from time to time.

82, which is still a little hot for me.

 

[M.Brane]

Pushing dirt around with machines has been a thing for me since the Tonka days. Sadly I don't get to do as much of that these days because emergency spreadsheets. About 10 years behind you guys.

 

[Prospecter]

Pushing dirt around with machines has been a thing for me since the Tonka days. Sadly I don't get to do as much of that these days because emergency spreadsheets. About 10 years behind you guys.

We will wait for you!
We lived on what our pensions would be for 3 years, investing the rest. We were able to live on what our pensions would be, and 3% of our investments per year provided the equivalent of a third income. At 62, I was only working for the fun of it, and I was not having fun, so I retired. Two years later, my wife made the same decision, for the same reason. Worked for us, but there are lots of other ideas around on how to figure this out. Probably as a spreadsheet guy, this is exactly in your wheelhouse. Check it out. Maybe you can retire sooner than you think?

 

[M.Brane]

We will wait for you!
We lived on what our pensions would be for 3 years, investing the rest. We were able to live on what our pensions would be, and 3% of our investments per year provided the equivalent of a third income. At 62, I was only working for the fun of it, and I was not having fun, so I retired. Two years later, my wife made the same decision, for the same reason. Worked for us, but there are lots of other ideas around on how to figure this out. Probably as a spreadsheet guy, this is exactly in your wheelhouse. Check it out. Maybe you can retire sooner than you think?

I have a defined benefit retirement, and a Roth. My girl has been retired for 10 years. I won't be livin' large, but I'll be OK. Looking forward to spending January looking out at the rain instead of working in it.

 

[Prospecter]

It's been a busy summer! Best get to an update. Not necessarily in the order that projects happened.

I had three days between visits and some bearable weather, so I finished up the Boathouse lighting project. A little bit tricky weaving between the attic access panel, and garage door openers. My cart was a gift from a retiring art teacher. Her art room was needed for a regular classroom due to an enrollment surge, so she had to go "Art on a Cart" and travel from class to class. Also forced to purchase her own cart. Such is the status of teachers everywhere. Anyway, she was reluctant to donate her personal cart to the district, and we offered the cart a forever home. Nice to have the lighting project finally finished. Nice light, and freed up floor space.

Well Pressure Tank: Fiddled a little with the drain, pumped up the tank, and after several weeks it seems to be holding. Can't complain about that! I did need to get a new portable compressor, since my old one is up north keeping the zero turn inflated.

Our Red Haven Peaches. First time for more than a few peaches since we planted. Also, the first time we have been able to grow our own peaches. Who says you can't teach an old plugger new tricks?

We flew to Minneapolis to deliver our grand cat to his new home. While there, we installed a door. Special order louvered door to restrict access for the grand cat, so it had to be done, but arrived oversized and broken. Glued it back together, and if you didn't know, you wouldn't know.

Installed the weather station. Unlike Ask This Old House, I don't travel with a trailer full of tools, and did not have a vehicle during the day, so these projects were with limited tools. On the other hand, deliveries are quick in the city, so that helped.

 

[Prospecter]

This is the same species as Charlotte, of Charlotte's Web fame.

The garage door trim was nailed on with bright finishing nails. Probably the nails rusted before they finished the install, and then the trim popped off. Those painted finishing screws pulled it right back into place.

Gathered some mismatched leader parts to temporarily divert water away from the house. That project will need to be completed at some point in the future.

Hung mirrors and pictures. Deconstructed some of the crates I built a few months ago in Maine to ship mirrors and pictures to Minnesota. Reassembled the workbenches that moved to MN. Some progress unpacking the workshop.

A view of the Chicago shoreline as we headed home to Maine.

With everything else this summer, we skipped the Monarch farming, but did discover one caterpillar when we go home.

The vegetables suffered from drought and neglect this summer, but the extra annuals thrived in the vegetable garden.

***

 

[Prospecter]

This year's fawns. The two that still have their spots are twins. The third that is losing its spots is an only child.

Pet Update: Quite a while ago now, Mia (tuxedo cat) died after a long and fulfilling life with us. Since then, we have had temporary care of Annabelle (Rescue dog), JaJa (cat from Paraguay), and Misha (Yellow Tom #1). All of the visitors have gone their various ways, and a bonded pair of rescue cats have adopted us. Belle (white calico) has settled right in immediately. Squash (Yellow Tom #2) is still cautiously checking the place out and not much in evidence yet.

Our corn harvest was only 40% of expected, again due to drought. We managed 12 quarts in the freezer. This is one of the super sweet varieties and freezes very well. (Midnight something. A substitute this year.)

 

[drivesitfar]

I love all the garden and critter activity pics and your project to do list is about like mine which is on top of your acreage and second home lives.

I’m guessing you are still marketing the old farm so sending some good vibes and a bit of luck your way to find a good buyer.

When you freeze your corn do you do anything besides cut it off cobs and zip lock?

Lighting in the boat shop will be nice especially in winter if you need to go out there cause it seems like we only have a few daylight hours.

Carry on and keep winterizing cause seems like another good weather season is coming to an end.