Yep, I end up caving in and watching it here. But oh my goodness, you would think they were going to the Academy Awards getting ready to leave here for a game! They have to pack up my son's truck with a grill, tent, chairs, food and anything else GA related. They left at 6:30 this morning to get there for a 3:30 game! They had to get all that "tail gating" in before the game! Georgia fans are just crazy!
Never thought retirement would be like this
- Thread starter NancyNGA
- Start date
Capt Lightning
Well-known Member
- Location
- Historic Buchan, Scotland
Maggiemae, you were talking about walking behind a mower and this reminded me of an expression "To be on Shanks' pony" - meaning to be on foot. One possible origin comes from the firm of Shanks in the UK. They became known for making sanitary wear - cast iron cisterns etc.. but initially they made a large lawnmower for parks and large gardens that was pulled by a horse or pony. The operator still had to walk behind and steer , and this gave rise to the expression, "Being on Shanks' pony".
I use a self propelled mower, but it's still hard work.
I use a self propelled mower, but it's still hard work.
Speaking of mowing, I did mow the lawn out at the lake Saturday. Probably the last time for the year, except for mulching leaves. It seems like I only mowed maybe 5 times this summer? So it wasn't a big deal at all this year.
There have been 4 hummingbirds out there this summer---two males and two females. Saturday there were only two females. I'm pretty sure they weren't strangers passing through, because they weren't afraid of me at all. Read where the males leave much earlier than the females. Hmmm... Wonder what they are doing down there in Central America all that time? Partying?
Marked the old water line on the dock and measured the water down by 56 inches now. It has been really dry. Checked and found no evidence of squirrels getting, or even trying to get, inside the cabin for the winter.
Fence charge is way down. The plan is to go out tomorrow and check it. Just because that's the plan doesn't necessarily mean it will happen, though.
There have been 4 hummingbirds out there this summer---two males and two females. Saturday there were only two females. I'm pretty sure they weren't strangers passing through, because they weren't afraid of me at all. Read where the males leave much earlier than the females. Hmmm... Wonder what they are doing down there in Central America all that time? Partying?
Marked the old water line on the dock and measured the water down by 56 inches now. It has been really dry. Checked and found no evidence of squirrels getting, or even trying to get, inside the cabin for the winter.
Fence charge is way down. The plan is to go out tomorrow and check it. Just because that's the plan doesn't necessarily mean it will happen, though....the grass is low, the hummingbird population is low, the water level is low and the fence charge is low! What about you?
Let's see... I'm 5'5" but keeping a low profile.
Because....nothing noteworthy is happening here. Maybe something interesting tomorrow, along the fence, and I'll take a picture of it.
Quid pro quo: What's new with you?
Meanderer
Supreme Member
Low profile, for me as well. Yard equipment working well. Have been using ethanol free gas, as well. Using Self propelled mower for banks, and after two years, attached rear bag and am pleased with results as well. Bought two gallons of stain to stain split rail fence as well. Plan to patch cement, using two bags of cement from last year, that don't look well. Gave up this year on the bluebird houses, as they've been overrun by"immigrant" house wrens, as well. To sum it up, I am doing well!
Oh Well!
Oh Well!
Pappy
Living the Dream
Speaking of low. Leaving Thursday for Florida. It looks like we may be a couple extra days on the road and in hotels. If, and when I get there, will my double wide be turned into a single wide. In 18 years of traveling back and forth, I've never faced anything quite like this. Keep your fingers crossed. It won't be fun.
In 18 years of traveling back and forth, I've never faced anything quite like this. Keep your fingers crossed. It won't be fun.Attachments
Meanderer, you are busy as a beaver. Your post almost sounds like a poem. Just hit return/enter after each "well."
Your list reminds me of work I should do. I really should clean and waterproof the deck in town before winter. It's way past due.
And I've got 7 bags of Quikrete in the basement that have been there for probably 5-6 years, but I haven't given up on them quite yet. Sometimes they surprise you. Will use as weights for pond fish cover if nothing else. And bluebird houses...
There were many bluebirds out in the country at one time. Whole flocks would land in the yard.
So I bought some wooden bluebird houses from a group trying to raise money. They were beautiful. But the squirrels decided they wanted bigger openings. My mother put metal rings around the openings, but they figured out how to chew around them. So then I decided to make some out of PVC pipe, and mounted them on fence posts. Some birds tried to build in almost every one, but never finished, because the squirrels learned they could chew PVC as well. It was probably house wrens, now that you mention it. Anyway, I finally gave up too. {sigh}
Off to fence check early this afternoon. Hope you get all your work caught up.:rose:
Nancy, have you done "bat houses"? I have been wanting to do atleast one. We have so many trees and woods around here and I think it would be good for mosquito control. I have made cobblestones from Quikrete for my backyard where no grass was ever going to grow. Bought one of those cobblestone molds and had them lined up like little soldiers on the front walk and basement drying out before I placed them. It was a fun project.
:lol: I can almost picture them.
Never made a bat house, but I just now Googled them to see what they are like. I'm afraid it would have to be made out of metal because of the squirrels. Wish I could do welding. [They offer a course at the community college here.
layful:] Do bats hang around out in the woods? I've only seen them in town, hanging on the porch or down the chimney?
Stepping stones was what I had planned to use the leftover concrete for, but I never got around to it. I have thrown whole bags of Quikrete, in the paper, down on the ground, and wet them with a hose to make something like a threshold, at a gate opening on a slope, to keep it from washing out.
Edited to add: It just dawned on me...that is exactly what I can use 3 of those leftovers for, because I have another gate on a slope that is washing out. If the concrete is no good, then no harm done. Yay!!!
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The big bird showed up at the lake today. No picture---he had already taken off flying by the time I spotted him. Haven't seen one in a long time. Watched a lot of videos to make sure, and it does appear to be a great blue heron. Very common everywhere.
I've only seen one wading once. They are hard to spot when they stand still in the grass. There has always been only one. Google says they are very shy and usually travel solo, although they often nest in colonies. Where do you suppose the colony is? In addition to fish, there are videos of them eating squirrels and small turtles, among many other things.
Time lapse stills of one swallowing a carp. Where did it go?
Just one female hummer today. Could only get the fence charge up to 1600. The scythe works well on dead briars, so I'll work on that next trip. Interesting things are going on at the new neighbor's property. A new puzzle.
I've only seen one wading once. They are hard to spot when they stand still in the grass. There has always been only one. Google says they are very shy and usually travel solo, although they often nest in colonies. Where do you suppose the colony is? In addition to fish, there are videos of them eating squirrels and small turtles, among many other things.
Time lapse stills of one swallowing a carp. Where did it go?
Just one female hummer today. Could only get the fence charge up to 1600. The scythe works well on dead briars, so I'll work on that next trip. Interesting things are going on at the new neighbor's property. A new puzzle.
Ha! I need two of those, one at the cabin and one at the barn, to attract herons, so they can annoy the squirrels.
layful:We may have dodged the bullet again on this hurricane---only some rain forecast Friday. Decided to do the deck. The only picture I have is from 2005, and it looks just about this bad now. Built in 1982 and still solid, including a long run of steps up the side of the house. Probably last treated 5 years ago. I should keep a record of dates like this.
Got the easy part cleaned yesterday. Water is still beading on vertical posts from last treatment. The hard part is the outside, because it requires either a ladder, or dangling through the rail posts on your head with scrub brush. Sometimes I've skipped the outside because it is so hard to do, but this is the part that affects the looks of it the most.
I've always used Olympic Clear Wood Preservative. It is linseed oil based. But they have apparently quit making it. I don't want a stain, because it would wear off unevenly where the roof overhangs and sun hits. If I can't find anything comparable, I've half a mind to mix my own. People have posted recipes for this on the net.
Heading down to start on the outside now.
Setting a goal: Do at least 1/4 of the outside part today. A little rain won't be a problem---less rinsing.
Updates:
1:35: Going easier than I thought. Finished the boards around the outside, just under the flooring.
3:20: All railings done, including steps!
5:00: Support posts done. ALL DONE!
So, 6.5 hours, minus a couple of 20 minutes breaks, plus what I did yesterday.
Need to remember this next time when I think it's too big a job. And I didn't cut any corners. (Deck is only 10'x12')
Got the easy part cleaned yesterday. Water is still beading on vertical posts from last treatment. The hard part is the outside, because it requires either a ladder, or dangling through the rail posts on your head with scrub brush. Sometimes I've skipped the outside because it is so hard to do, but this is the part that affects the looks of it the most.
I've always used Olympic Clear Wood Preservative. It is linseed oil based. But they have apparently quit making it. I don't want a stain, because it would wear off unevenly where the roof overhangs and sun hits. If I can't find anything comparable, I've half a mind to mix my own. People have posted recipes for this on the net.
Heading down to start on the outside now.
Setting a goal: Do at least 1/4 of the outside part today. A little rain won't be a problem---less rinsing.
Updates:
1:35: Going easier than I thought. Finished the boards around the outside, just under the flooring.
3:20: All railings done, including steps!
5:00: Support posts done. ALL DONE!
So, 6.5 hours, minus a couple of 20 minutes breaks, plus what I did yesterday.
Need to remember this next time when I think it's too big a job. And I didn't cut any corners. (Deck is only 10'x12')
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That actually might not be a bad idea. They say vegetable based oils tend to mildew and turn dark. It would definitely stink.
There is a recipe for protecting old restored log cabin logs that calls for linseed oil mixed with turpentine, or mineral spirits. They sell a mildew-cide additive for oil base paint. I could throw that in.
On second thought, I wonder if the tint base for deck stain would work. The label says it MUST be tinted, so I rejected that, but it might be just because you don't get UV protection without it. I think the color is what provides that. The deck has lasted 34 yrs without much UV protection.
I did find some possibly serious carpenter bee damage on the rim joists (correct term ?).
Glad I got this (almost) done. Wouldn't have remembered until too late that it needed done, if you hadn't mentioned your fence. Wouldn't have finished it so fast without posting it here as a self-challenge. Wouldn't have thought to reconsider the tint base without writing all this down. Good deal!
Lots of sore lower body muscles today---the good kind of sore. Part of that was from squeezing through the railing onto a little roof over the basement door. Signs of a possum being up there, on more than one occasion. What the heck does it do up there?
This is the deck railing from the kitchen window this morning. Picture taken from outside made it look gray, because of extreme cloud cover. I refuse to put a color on that deck, even if it's irrational, because I like the color of southern pine.
Bought 4 things for treatment today at Lowes (~4 gallons worth).
1. Olympic Wood Protector, neutral base: $28.98
2. Cabot Semi-solid Deck Stain, neutral base: $39.95
3. One gallon each of linseed oil and mineral spirits: 2 gal @ $19.48/gallon
Mildewcide would add about $4/gal. Didn't have that at Lowes. Depending on how the first two look when I open the cans, I may do an experiment. If I don't like what I see in there, I can always use it on the cabin.
Out of town
Happened to spot the last remaining wooden bluebird house still up on a tree by the end of the driveway. It looks so funny I snapped a picture to show the squirrel damage. Sad part is... it's too small for a squirrel house anyway.
Another puzzle.
Last week when I opened the door to the mobile home, there was a very faint smell, like coffee brewing. It was in every room, so I figured it must be something in the air ducts. One time a mouse died down there. Thought it might be the first stages of deterioration of a critter.
Next trip out, smell was completely gone. Today it was back again!
Could it be something that only smells when the air is humid? It also reminded me a little of a faint skunk smell. Could it be just skunk body odor, under the house?
This is the deck railing from the kitchen window this morning. Picture taken from outside made it look gray, because of extreme cloud cover. I refuse to put a color on that deck, even if it's irrational, because I like the color of southern pine.
Bought 4 things for treatment today at Lowes (~4 gallons worth).
1. Olympic Wood Protector, neutral base: $28.98
2. Cabot Semi-solid Deck Stain, neutral base: $39.95
3. One gallon each of linseed oil and mineral spirits: 2 gal @ $19.48/gallon
Mildewcide would add about $4/gal. Didn't have that at Lowes. Depending on how the first two look when I open the cans, I may do an experiment. If I don't like what I see in there, I can always use it on the cabin.
Out of town
Happened to spot the last remaining wooden bluebird house still up on a tree by the end of the driveway. It looks so funny I snapped a picture to show the squirrel damage. Sad part is... it's too small for a squirrel house anyway.
Another puzzle.
Last week when I opened the door to the mobile home, there was a very faint smell, like coffee brewing. It was in every room, so I figured it must be something in the air ducts. One time a mouse died down there. Thought it might be the first stages of deterioration of a critter.
Next trip out, smell was completely gone. Today it was back again!
Could it be something that only smells when the air is humid? It also reminded me a little of a faint skunk smell. Could it be just skunk body odor, under the house?
DaveA
Senior Member
- Location
- Coastal Massachusetts, USA
That video of the fake GBH is hysterical, given the reaction by the visitor. Our daughter has a small fish pond and last year a GBH cleaned out 12 of the 14 fish in the pond. This year she cris-crossed the pond (and around the edge) with monofilament fishing line. barely visible to us, unless you're looking closely but evidently the GBH, that has appeared, from time to time, doesn't like or understand the line against his legs. It seems to have worked this summer but maybe he'll figure it out over the winter.
Here's a guy in Florida who doesn't seem fazed by his neighbor.
Here's a guy in Florida who doesn't seem fazed by his neighbor.
This time of year that would probably be fine, as long as you paint. They don't like paint. Even pressure treated wood doesn't seem to phase them. In the spring, they will chew through wood filler to get to an active nest. I tried it.
This spring I had one on my front porch window frame, unpainted treated wood. I took a screwdriver and stuffed steel wool down as far into the hole as I could, then covered the opening with wood adhesive and smoothed it out. That seemed to work. That adhesive gets really hard. Those things are a real nuisance here.
Maybe your parents are just letting you know they are glad that you are taking care of the place. Did they like to have coffee in the mornings? I'm just saying...
We had a deck replaced this summer. Our's was 30 years old. It is a low deck and we opted not to have rails this go around. We will seal with a clear seal after it cures. I like the natural look.
I have been trying to upload pictures but it will not let me!? UGH
We had a deck replaced this summer. Our's was 30 years old. It is a low deck and we opted not to have rails this go around. We will seal with a clear seal after it cures. I like the natural look.
I have been trying to upload pictures but it will not let me!? UGH