Never thought retirement would be like this

Meanderer said:
It sounds like Mr Fencer is helping you, in order to help himself.
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Somehow stating it like that makes it sounds ominous. :) I guess I'm just feeling more negative about the idea this morning. It's always safer to never change things, because you have become comfortable with things the way they are. But then you might miss out on something good.

The main thing is, if it doesn't work out for some reason, can I get everyone all gone for good at the end of the summer? Not that much could go wrong in 5 months, could it? (Famous last words). It would be a learning experience for me. I know nothing about cattle.
 

A Wake-up Call.
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Meanderer said:
It sounds like Mr Fencer is helping you, in order to help himself.
Click to expand...

It does seem that way, it doesn't seem like Mr. Fencer will have much skin in the game.

Based on how long it took him to show up to build the fence and the list of excuses he had to offer I would be cautious of entering into an agreement about the fishing or the cattle.
 
Aunt Bea said:
Meanderer said:
It sounds like Mr Fencer is helping you, in order to help himself.
Click to expand...

It does seem that way, it doesn't seem like Mr. Fencer will have much skin in the game.

Based on how long it took him to show up to build the fence and the list of excuses he had to offer I would be cautious of entering into an agreement about the fishing or the cattle.
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Bea, one might also look at it this way, don't you think? ...

It sounds like you are helping Mr. Fencer, in order to help yourself.
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Maybe I'm fooling myself, but I don't think I'll have much skin in the game either. He can't let his cattle get out. He has to maintain the fence to some degree. That alone was almost like having a part time job for me. Now that I have this smaller area for the goats, I'll likely neglect the perimeter fence more, but I shouldn't.

It might be like keeping a fence repairman on retainer for 5 months.
 
NancyNGA said:
Bea, one might also look at it this way, don't you think? ...



Maybe I'm fooling myself, but I don't think I'll have much skin in the game either. He can't let his cattle get out. He has to maintain the fence to some degree. That alone was almost like having a part time job for me. Now that I have this smaller area for the goats, I'll likely neglect the perimeter fence more, but I shouldn't.

It might be like keeping a fence repairman on retainer for 5 months.
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I understand your thoughts but it seems to me that they are based on the idea that he cares as much about his cattle as you do about your goats.

No matter what you decide I wish you and the goats all the best!!!
 
The whole thing might fall through anyway. I talked to him today and he was planning on 20 head of cattle. I know there's not enough cleared land for that. He said he would bring his Gator (John Deere utility vehicle) out Sunday and take a look.

They finished everything but the electric wire today, and said they should get the rest done by noon tomorrow. He brought his son along as a helper today and marched me up to meet him. He was too embarrassed to look at me. I think he's a pretty good kid. He could have easily lied about everything, but didn't.

There are a couple things I still have to do. They bought 4' high gates like this. I'm going to cover that gap at the top with wire. That won't be hard to do.

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It *is* hard for me to take a good picture of a fence though. :)

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I've searched many times for a video on the net of a goat chewing cud, with the details, showing its neck. Could never find one, so I made one myself. This was the most amazing thing to me, when we first got our goats. Such a complicated process for eating.

Watch his neck closely when he stops chewing. You'll see something go down, and then something come up. :cool: This is Shorty.

 
The fencing crew (minus the boss) showed up Friday after lunch to work, but they had the wrong insulators. That was mostly my fault. They took off to go shopping, came back but left for the day. I knew most they wouldn't be able to find the parts close by on short notice.

They would normally work on Saturday, but it's a holiday weekend. Thinking I may start putting up the top electric line myself tomorrow. If it goes well, I'll continue Monday and see how far I can get. I think I can do it. I'm really getting exhausted with this waiting, and the earliest it could possibly be done if they do it would be Tuesday, and they might not show up next week at all.

Charge on fence today was down to only 700v. Decided long ago to disconnect the bottom electric wire around the perimeter, because it really isn't doing any good most places, so I took a quick ride around, just concentrating on the top wire, and found 3 shorts. Voltage when I got back, even less: 200v. :confused:

I was ready to put the property up for auction. In 13 years, the bottom wire was only a problem ONCE. Disconnected it from the charger: 8300 volts! Another roller coaster ride. Decided against the auction. :)　
 
I forgot about rain.
(How could I forget about rain. :confused: )

Switching to Plan B.
Oh wait! I don't have a plan B, either. :rolleyes:

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Dairy cows being released from indoor winter housing to fresh pasture for spring grazing. Down here they are allowed out all winter.

Not nearly as graceful as goats. My tenants would be black angus steers. Don't anyone get their hopes up of seeing numerous cow pictures. :rolleyes::playful:;) Fencer didn't show up today, but I forgot he said he was coming until now. Probably just talking.

 
Sun came out by noon today. Got one small section of top wire done, maybe 150 feet. It wasn't hard. Had a half roll of wire left over from another job. I think I could have finished the whole run (1200 feet) in 2 days, except the wire was too tangled up.

It is called high tensile wire, and is made to be straight, but forced into a roll. When you cut the roll open, it starts unwinding and shooting out at all directions. I didn't know that, and it took literally hours to get it back together after last time, and I still couldn't get it back perfectly.

Guess I either need to get a spool, called a spinning jenny, or give up. May look for one tomorrow and give it another try. They are more than $20 now. I thought it was just me, that I just didn't know how to unroll it, but this guy says you need a spool. I believe him now.

 
As far as letting the fencer put his cattle on your land, well I think the "analyzing it to death" is the way to go in this case! He did do a good job on the fence. Make it easy on yourself and weigh all the options.

What decision did you make on the house that your neighbor wanted to sell?

You are one busy woman! I wish I had half your energy or "spunk"! LOL
 

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