Almost up to date now. The last 12 months were very busy---and expensive. I want to put some of this stuff down mainly to get the timeline straight.
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The booming squirrel population came back to haunt us. They eventually got into the crawl space above the ceiling in the cabin. Chewed holes through the ceiling, made a complete mess of the insulation above, and chewed down to bare wires in some places on every electric circuit that passed through the attic. Lights had been flickering for years. I was in denial because I couldn't figure out how to fix it by myself, and finally stumbled on the idea of beadboard vinyl ceiling panels!!! Spent about 8 weeks, off and on, in November-December tearing out the old ceiling, cleaning up the mess, rewiring and installing a new ceiling. I was really tickled with how it came out. It looks like an old fashioned porch ceiling and still looks good after 12 months of expansion and contraction.
Squirrels also got between the insulation and metal roofing of the barn. So next I had to place wire mesh over all the ceiling---4 days. So far so good.
The previous June my optometrist said I had beginning of cataracts. Night time driving had become almost impossible on dark country roads since then. Decided it was time to get the surgery over and done with. Around March I had the first eye done.
Postponed the second eye because we had a goat with chronic split hoof problem. He had been to 5 different vets in the course of a year, all from the same practice, and each one told us something different. It was like starting over with each different vet. Nothing worked. Finally one said it was hopeless, put him down. We took him to the Vet School at UGA and they said infection had spread into his joint and recommended amputating one half of his hoof. They had done it many times on cattle, but this would be the first for a goat. The prognosis for cattle was 18 months before tendons got too weak, but maybe it would be different on a goat since they are lighter and more agile. He is doing well so far and it's been about 8 months.
Second eye surgery done in May.
The '97 F-150 I inherited from my dad turned over 100K miles so I got a lot of work done on it. Main concern was with the brakes grabbing and knocking, shocks and suspension. Mechanic was stumped on the brakes. He finally suggested we remove the fuse from the ABS system and I could come back later (with a wink in his eye). I love this mechanic. He said ABS is only for people who don't know how to brake correctly. Everything is fine now. Hope it lasts another 100K. I hate buying new cars.
Had 7 trees removed from farm, then took the 2 pine trees down in town. Then two truckloads of topsoil to repair damaged lawn. (It rained the day after they started work.) Filling ruts and leveling out was the best strength exercise I've had in years. I may just order a load every month from now on. Then my 34 year old water heater went out.
That's about it.
