Highbinder crossed over. Never be forgotten, Running things solo on farm

[f6john]

OK this  is  Sooo cool.. Enjoy

https://twitter.com/i/status/1747612072836264159

What a great idea for InZane! Who can blow the largest ice bubble! No wait, I haven't thought this thru yet.

[LadyDraco]

 

[LadyDraco]

This  3day storm has  dropped  10" of  snow and  right now  it's  3* with wind..

I'll plow  again later , Been plowing 2 x a day .
If I could  grow a pair and use  the  tractor  and  the  blower .
And  drive  backwards all the  way down my driveway I  wouldn't  have  to work so hard.
But  that is  truly above  my comfort zone..
Now  if I  had  a  pto  in the  front . I would  use  it in a  heart beat.  

[da prez]

  I bought a Kubota for the northern estate. I never took it there. It has a front mounted 5 foot PTO blower and I bought a rear three point blade for the rear.  I have a heated cab , but no holder for the coffee cup and no stereo system (yet).  There is no snow up there but I am using it here. I cancelled my plow service. It would have been a waste of money as wet and heavy snow will not co-operate with a plow truck.
  Tracy , maybe there is someone that will help you gain confidence to learn the machine. Just a little to far to bring mine.

                                            da prez

[LadyDraco]

My driveway is  almost  a  mile  long.. Down a mountain .
with 3  big  hills maybe  4th that is  not so bad.... HB  did  it . But he  had a CDL license.
And  knew  what to do  with and IF  ,Shite  happens..
With the F 3000  and  it is  NOT 4 wheel drive .. Don was  that good  with it.
     If  I  had  my old  Kubota 70 hp.. I would  got  backwards  in a  heart beat .
It was  huge  4x4 heated/ac cab.. tunes , you name  she  was  loaded..
We  sold  her  with the  old  farm and ALL  our  haying equip.
   We  never  would  have  done  that IF we  knew  we  had  bought another  farm..

See we sold the  old  place  before  we  found another  place..

Sadly NO one  around  here  even wants  to drive   a  73 F 3000 No cab or  ROPS  .

Don't get me  wrong I have   truly had  the  Ford    since  73 ... Flat land  I'll do anything with her..
   I  live  on the  side  of  a  mountain...
NO one  wants  to go backwards  down my driveway..
Only Don would .. 
    I  had  watched  him many a  time , slide  down the  steep parts  of  the  driveway with that snow blower..
   Yeah NOT  me ...

And  who the  heck wants  to keep  trying  to take  the  blower  on and  off , So I  can spear  hay..
That's  1  more  issue  I could  NEVER  get the  blower on and off myself..
It always  took the  both of  us..

[LadyDraco]

Well today was Don's birthday ..As he would put it I living my 80th year !
I just had a shot  of old smugglers..
And I made and  baked him his favorite cake..
I think I'm going to call it....................

[LadyDraco]

Yeah sell that big 8' 3 point hitch snowblower 
And  get one  of  these  for   the quad!

https://youtu.be/3C91FLCxBr8?t=47

[GiG]

Tracy, you are an inspiration! Wish I lived closer to help with the heavy lifting around your place but I'm afraid my little Ranger truck would not make it up your  monster driveway. Many of my Yankee friends around here lie low by the fireside when the snow gets over the shoes, by the way: we've got 5or6". Just a dusting. Temps have been around 0 for about 2 weeks and my 25 year old furnace quit working so it's t fireplace/ football and celebratory shots in honor of our good friends  :smitten cheers!

[LadyDraco]

Good to see  ya  post  Gig..

In the  field  the  snow   must be  around 12" as  it was  above  my shins!
As  I  jumped down off the  tractor I was shocked on the  depth !
  I did  get a  bale  out this  morning..   
The  tractor  barely got back up to the  shop.

They say the  temps  will change  this  week. I'm looking fwd. to it.

[LadyDraco]

I  think I  needed  more  after  being  on the  phone  with FEDEX ! 

[BudMan]

I  think I  needed  more  after  being  on the  phone  with FEDEX ! 

Do you ever find yourself trying to stick your hand into the phone and have it come out the other phone and strangle someone? 

[LadyDraco]

Wouldn't  that be  great !!

[GiG]

Well, my dear sweet Theresa GF has been in Chicago at a barber expo, yeah... so I tried the hand through the phone trick. First problem: she is iunstranglablesyrangleable  with just one hand, another problem- I broke my finger attempting this stunt. Maybe a party line and GoFundMe would help... iunstrangle able auto correct makes up some intersecting words!

Btw: I would never strangle or otherwise harm my beautiful Theresa Baby, She saved my life by yelling at me in the hospital  it's an Italian Thing and I love her for it! ,:cooldude

The phone stunt is great for scratching hard to reach body parts that you don't want to be seen scratching in public. And- TBI has had zero affect on me 

[LadyDraco]

Note  to self  NEVER  touch Gig's  phone !

[LadyDraco]

Well after  all my hard  work plowing and  grooming the  driveway from that 12" was the  final total..
I  put  ash in the  bad  areas  yesterday and  this   morning  on 1  slope  that doesn't  see the  sun.
Ran the  quad  in 2  wheel.  And said ..

    I think I can get The Beast down and  back up..  It had  been 3 weeks  since  I  had  left the farm.
So I charged  the battery, aired  the  tires  ,And  loaded  a  sack of  trash on the  back seat, and  to town I went. Stopped  at our  good  mate  Fendermender , and  chatted  with him for  a  sec.
And  off  to the  dumpsters, I  left the  bike  on the  apron to the  dumpsters. the  lot looked  sketchy .
So I walked  the  sack in  and  tossed  it in the  dumpster.
Off  to town.. It was only a  22mile  round trip ride. But it  still felt good.
Got  lots  of  odd  looks, and  a few   fellas  laughing and  pointing.. Why I  have  no idea..
I was not cold .. Hell I didn't  even have  my Gerbings  with me.
It was 36*  felt like  a  tropical heat  wave.. 

[LadyDraco]

Took to day off  and  tossed  some  firewood  around..

[John Schmidt]

36*...you're stronger than me. I won't even start the trike at that temp, let alone go for a 22 mile round trip. Good on you for doing so but I'm a wus when it comes to riding in the cold. 

[LadyDraco]

Wow  it's  4months today so tonight I will toast to a life  well lived  and  greatly missed.
     Anyone  my wish just join me .. 

[Oss]

you dont have to twist my arm for a drink

Had some glenlivet aged in rum barrel with lunch

yup. nothing like a rollin start

RIP Don

[carolinarider09]

Funny thing, I am going to have the same "beverage" that OSS is having tonight.

Rest in Peace Don

[LadyDraco]

Thanks  Guys ... 
I  have  worked  my butt off  all day , trying  to stay out of  my  head.

Well I went up on the mountain wow new wash outs. Lots of down trees none in the path, I took my saw up just in case .And well brought a little locust down with me.
Just charging the battery back up and cutting up some wood that is too long.
Nothing get you out of your head , like cutting fire wood.
You Must pay attention.
    It's  funny around  4:30 I  had  realized  I  hadn't  eaten a  thing yet.

[carolinarider09]

Well, I'd say it's time for a nice meal. 

Regarding the trees, I was (for a while until I left to join the Navy) a forestry major in college. My dad was a forester as well. 

Working in the forest, with a crosscut saw and axe, thinning out the trees to allow others to grow and prosper, cleaning the ways in and out to minimize the potential damage to equipment, its like a calling to some.  Helping Mother Nature to prosper. 

I still do it on my property here. 

Raising my glass now.   RIP. 

Eat, relax and rest.   

[LadyDraco]

Well, I'd say it's time for a nice meal. 

Regarding the trees, I was (for a while until I left to join the Navy) a forestry major in college. My dad was a forester as well. 

Working in the forest, with a crosscut saw and axe, thinning out the trees to allow others to grow and prosper, cleaning the ways in and out to minimize the potential damage to equipment, its like a calling to some.  Helping Mother Nature to prosper. 

I still do it on my property here. 

Raising my glass now.   RIP. 

Eat, relax and rest.   

I did  make  myself  a  good  meal .
ground Flax , quinoa, Chia seed Encrusted Trout   Sautéed in coconut oil n butter,
Also Sautéed in Coconut oil n butter dash of water , sweet tater, Brussel sprouts, sweet onion, red pepper, broccoli , with a dash of soy sauce ,honey, salt, fresh ground pepper.

So that should have made up for , Just running on 10C of coffee..

[LadyDraco]

[LadyDraco]

Well Concord Charlie  didn't  not see  his  shadow !!
Spring is  right a round the  corner !
CC  has  a  89% accuracy, that way better  then the  weather man !

[carolinarider09]

Well Concord Charlie  didn't  not see  his  shadow !!
Spring is  right a round the  corner !
CC  has  a  89% accuracy, that way better  then the  weather man !

[LadyDraco]

I was out   on TheBeast the  other day ....

[LadyDraco]

2 saws  3  batteries  2h  3  pole trees and the rest was  dead down trees,
Not a  bad  load  of fire  wood.. for  an  old  gal...

[carolinarider09]

Not bad at all.  Looks like it was a "fun" job.  I actually like using tools like that.  Brings me back to the days when I was studying Forestry in college.

And I still use gasoline powered tools, well except for my weed eater and my "leaf" blower.

I did have a small John Deer garden tractor when we started building the house.  And I made (welded ) a nice little trailer so we could take all the tools from the storage area (actually my Observatory) to the house.  Had to dump the small John Deer (engine failure) and purchased a Massey Ferguson and then a bigger trailer.  Still have the smaller trailer. 

[Jess from VA]

Not a  bad  load  of fire  wood.. for  an  old  gal...

So, do you deliver?  

I had a good, efficient ("Federal Airtight") wood stove in my basement living room when I bought my small house.  

It didn't take much wood, and then you slowed the fire by cutting down on the air venting, so a small fire burned a long time.  And a 2 speed fan.  What the missus and I discovered was, even a small fire made the room uncomfortably (to unbearably) hot in no time.  We'd sit down there and watch the TV in our skivies (which occasionally led to other fun).  Years later, when I had to move the stove and flu out to do some necessary renovation down there, we didn't put it back.  

[LadyDraco]

I  just can't  start my old  Top handle Stihl saw  anymore ,
it has  been rebuilt 3 times  now. I could  start it after  the  first rebuild, but not on the  other  2.
Don always  had  to start it  after  that.
   Last year I  had to keep taking it  down to my neighbor's  and  he  would  start it and  I  run up the  driveway fast on the  quad  with it running, get the  gates  opened   get to where I  was cutting and  it would  die  and  have  to do the  whole  thing all over again.. I  just never  felt comfortable  using Dons  big 18" Husqvarna saw.. I tried  it 2 yrs. back with Don and  I said  to him ,I don't think so..
But I wasn't cutting  on big  logs , we  were  doing Squaw wood, and  it was just too big..For  the end  of  the  day.. 

6 of  my buddies  chipped  in and  gifted me a  big 80V 18"bar  Greenworks  pro saw..
Then  my other  buddy got  me  a  Greenworks  commercial top handle  saw 48V  12"Bar  ..
SO  I'm truly set ..The  big  one  has  2  batteries  ,
I really need  to get a  2nd  battery for 12"  the  48V .

Yeah I  don't  have  a  weed Wacker ,Had  2  but I couldn't  get  them started  a  big Stihl and  big Husqvarna. They both run great ,LOL but not for  me.
My buddy in 'Bama  is  going to sell them for  me  and I'll get  a big greenworks  one .

[LadyDraco]

That's a  nice  stove  Jess, I  have  a  Mid size  Buck..
That has  the  build  in fan.. And  yes   it's  82* in the  hot room ..LOL

[LadyDraco]

I saw  a few  Robins  yesterday and 3 Turkey Buzzards .

The  Black Vultures  hang around  all winter , but NOT the  Turkey Buzzards.

All good  signs ! That winter  is  very much on the  wane..

  As  I said  we  will still get snows , but they will all be  short lived.

The body doesn't feel too bad this morning ,

the rib cage on both sides on the back is a little tight.

But NOT bad..

[3fan4life]

I  just can't  start my old  Top handle Stihl saw  anymore ,
it has  been rebuilt 3 times  now. I could  start it after  the  first rebuild, but not on the  other  2.
Don always  had  to start it  after  that.
   Last year I  had to keep taking it  down to my neighbor's  and  he  would  start it and  I  run up the  driveway fast on the  quad  with it running, get the  gates  opened   get to where I  was cutting and  it would  die  and  have  to do the  whole  thing all over again.. I  just never  felt comfortable  using Dons  big 18" Husqvarna saw.. I tried  it 2 yrs. back with Don and  I said  to him ,I don't think so..
But I wasn't cutting  on big  logs , we  were  doing Squaw wood, and  it was just too big..For  the end  of  the  day.. 

6 of  my buddies  chipped  in and  gifted me a  big 80V 18"bar  Greenworks  pro saw..
Then  my other  buddy got  me  a  Greenworks  commercial top handle  saw 48V  12"Bar  ..
SO  I'm truly set ..The  big  one  has  2  batteries  ,
I really need  to get a  2nd  battery for 12"  the  48V .

Yeah I  don't  have  a  weed Wacker ,Had  2  but I couldn't  get  them started  a  big Stihl and  big Husqvarna. They both run great ,LOL but not for  me.
My buddy in 'Bama  is  going to sell them for  me  and I'll get  a big greenworks  one .

All of my gas tools that I only use occasionally have been converted to battery power.

I'm not sure how well a battery chainsaw holds up to cutting a cord of wood.

But, it's great for cutting a few limbs or a small tree. 

[Serk]

Yah, the only gasoline powered small tool I keep around is my chainsaw, and I'm careful to only feed it pre-mixed pre-stabilized expensive but it keeps it running well fuel I pick up at Tractor Supply...

Even my push lawn mower is battery now, just so much easier not having to fight a pull cord, clogged carb, etc....

(My riding mower is a gasoline powered John Deere, but it's bought and paid for and still runs, once it dies, who knows...)

[Jess from VA]

I used to have a gas chainsaw, but it died long ago.

I rarely have need of one anymore.

If something falls out of a big oak, I use this. 



This is fun too.


One of the many things I own that fell off a truck in front of my house. 

[3fan4life]

That was Dad's go to for tree trimming.

I've used one a hundred times or more.

Now days my go to looks like this:



With a long demolition blade, you'd be surprised at what it can cut and how fast it does it.

[LadyDraco]

I  have  cut a  3/4 of cord  with the  GreenWorks Pro already..
SO far  so good  she's  holding up great.

My normal splitter, lawn walk behind  are  pull starts , But I  can pull them as  is  the  Gennies, I  pull  them no issues . Why ?    Because  I can get a  full pull with  standing and using my whole  body..


It's just  the  saw and  weed whackers  I  can't  pull .
I really think my arms  are short ! To get that real full pull, that these  little  motors  need.


Also I need 5+ cords  of  wood  to keep the  house   warm from freezing.
Yes that 5   of  a  4x4x8

[Jess from VA]

Maybe what you need for smaller pull start machines is a way to tie them down or clamp them to a bench (or heavy stool or something), so you can put all your effort into the pull and not have to hold them down in place with one arm/hand while pulling with the other.

My gas weedwhacker is unwieldy though light and can give me trouble starting.  I hold it up in my left hand with bent elbow and kind of drop it (without letting go) while pulling up on the rope.  Using the weight of the machine to assist in the pull.  Did the same thing with my chain saw.

[LadyDraco]

Doesn't  help me  out in the  woods..
  I  don't  have the  weed whackers here  anymore.
And  well  I  just  have  the  2  gas saws..
And  my 2 Greenworks   filled  that need.