Today I setup my old linksys wifi box so the laptop and tablets can get on the internet. The hughesnet had funny ip info, but it all worked out just fine.
Cranked up the mower with the electric starter and hand mowed some grass in tight p[laces. Then had my brothers help in unsticking the rider. Mowed grass with it till the main belt finally gave out. It was 2 years old and starting to go, so no surprise. Emina drove the tractor back to garage.
Rerouted 10 meter vertical coax to travel trailer and got the 10 meter radio on the air with some temp connections. Must work on 20 meters over the weeekend to the Icom.
The chickens wanted to go on another field trip, so they were out wandering for several hours.
Really must start taking more pictures.
And then there are the garden plants. Some plants are doing great, like tomatoes, peppers, scallions and garlic. Then there are the others, whats up with that. Most likely to much rain and cold weather. Must get a shelter (carport type) up for next year for sure. Time will tell.
Friday, June 13, 2014
Thursday, June 12, 2014
Nice day, but...
This morning I jumped in the truck and headed north to Des Moines. Todays project is to finish painint the insode of the house on Williams Street. Except for a few small spots to be touched up with a brush, it is all done. Finally!!
In the afternoon, the MIL came by with a new list of things to do on the house. She also suggested getting a hold someone else that doesn't live 2-1/2 hours away to do some of the work and I agreed. Otherwise, this Friday I will be back to install the Tub and Shower enclosure. At that point I will be able to measure how much space is left to put in a small sink and then build a custom vanity below it.
From there I stopped by Home Depot and picked up 15 stepping stones as all the rain down at the house is turning the temporary walkway into squishy mud.
Dropped in on my brother who had picked up 2 like new storm doors and then it was head for home. Got back to the house around 8:15 or so.
In the afternoon, the MIL came by with a new list of things to do on the house. She also suggested getting a hold someone else that doesn't live 2-1/2 hours away to do some of the work and I agreed. Otherwise, this Friday I will be back to install the Tub and Shower enclosure. At that point I will be able to measure how much space is left to put in a small sink and then build a custom vanity below it.
From there I stopped by Home Depot and picked up 15 stepping stones as all the rain down at the house is turning the temporary walkway into squishy mud.
Dropped in on my brother who had picked up 2 like new storm doors and then it was head for home. Got back to the house around 8:15 or so.
Tuesday, June 10, 2014
Another rainy day
Well, it rained or drizzled most of the day today. In the middle of all that the 2 guys showed up to install DirecTV and HughesNet. By the time they were done all 3 of us were muddy and wet. So now I have DirecTV on 2 TVs and HughesNet satelite internet service to my desktop. Late afternoon, the bedroom receiver came up with a 771 error code saying it couldn't find a satelitte. Odd thing is, there is only 1 LNA on the dish feeding both receivers and the first one in the living room is working fine.
Its wet and its late, so that enough.
Its wet and its late, so that enough.
Monday, June 9, 2014
Monday - Monday
First project of the day is the assembly of a 33ft vertical antenna to be used witha tuner on 10-12-15-17-20 meters. It went to gether more or less like I had planned althought the middle section of EMT already had a slight bow in it. The bottom section is a short section of fence pipe which just slips over the 1 inch EMT bottom section. The bottom section then slips down into a chunk of 1-1/4 sched 40 PVC pipe, which for now I have mounted in a 3 ft TV antenna tripod. Looks good, now to cut and make some radials out of some old Cat 5.
Then it was off to town to get a treated 4x4 post to be used for mounting the satelite dishes on Tuesday. Also picked up an 80 lb bag of concrete mix.
Back home I lowered the post hole digger down into the previously dug hole that the rain from Saturday filled to the brim. It had gone down some, but not much. The water that is doesn't soak into clay dirt very fast. The hole is around 43-44 inches deep and didn't want to distrub the sides anymore than I had. Dropped in post and then started just pouring the concrete mix into the water around hole. Remember the hole was full of water. Surprisingly it took the whole bag of mix and a little extra I had on hand already. Went back and checked it a few hours later and it seems as solid as can be. Yes, I used my 4 ft level to make sure it was darned close to straight up and down.
After lunch I opened the main chicken gate to let them out to roam the whole yard around the house. They went around twice and then back into their pen. After having observed them in their coop for quite a while now, I am convinced that I either need to build another bigger coop or remodel this one so it is twice as wide, i.e. 8 ft insted of 4 ft. They just donw;t seem to have enough room.
Then it was off to town to get a treated 4x4 post to be used for mounting the satelite dishes on Tuesday. Also picked up an 80 lb bag of concrete mix.
Back home I lowered the post hole digger down into the previously dug hole that the rain from Saturday filled to the brim. It had gone down some, but not much. The water that is doesn't soak into clay dirt very fast. The hole is around 43-44 inches deep and didn't want to distrub the sides anymore than I had. Dropped in post and then started just pouring the concrete mix into the water around hole. Remember the hole was full of water. Surprisingly it took the whole bag of mix and a little extra I had on hand already. Went back and checked it a few hours later and it seems as solid as can be. Yes, I used my 4 ft level to make sure it was darned close to straight up and down.
After lunch I opened the main chicken gate to let them out to roam the whole yard around the house. They went around twice and then back into their pen. After having observed them in their coop for quite a while now, I am convinced that I either need to build another bigger coop or remodel this one so it is twice as wide, i.e. 8 ft insted of 4 ft. They just donw;t seem to have enough room.
The Lords Day
Looks like I forgot to post this out Sunday evening, so am doing so on Monday Evening. It was a quiet easy day with not a hole lot going on. Sunday afternoon, I did go to a NEMO Ham Radio Club meeting at the Kirksville Fire Department building. It was an interesting meeting with several discussions. The antenna for the repeater is back on hold for several reasons. Concluding the meeting there was a short ARES meeting with mostly emails gathered and not much else.
On the way back to the house, I made several stops and got home with most of my items I was supposed to get. Always something seems to be forgotten.
On the way back to the house, I made several stops and got home with most of my items I was supposed to get. Always something seems to be forgotten.
Saturday, June 7, 2014
Rainy Day
Yes, once again we have flash flood warnings out for the area. Must have gotten around 3+ inches of rain today and I note that some ot the weep holes in pplant pots are not weeping fast enough. Had to poke them to get going, but they all drained back down.
Went down to chek on the little dike I had put around the hole where I am attempting to put in a well for watering the plants and other things. Bottom line, the dike failed and the hole was refilled. Thats all right becuase after spending several hours on the net searching and reading, I think I have a better plan for putting in a well. More on this subject at a later date.
My Bluetooth mouse showed up, but no instructions on how to put it into 'Find Me" mode.. After teading the instructions I finally figured it out as the instruction on the internet were wrong. Anyways a little mouse arrow now shows up on the tablet screen and function lke a regular mouse.
Not much else from the old homestead, but will try and pick up the pace tomorrow.
Went down to chek on the little dike I had put around the hole where I am attempting to put in a well for watering the plants and other things. Bottom line, the dike failed and the hole was refilled. Thats all right becuase after spending several hours on the net searching and reading, I think I have a better plan for putting in a well. More on this subject at a later date.
My Bluetooth mouse showed up, but no instructions on how to put it into 'Find Me" mode.. After teading the instructions I finally figured it out as the instruction on the internet were wrong. Anyways a little mouse arrow now shows up on the tablet screen and function lke a regular mouse.
Not much else from the old homestead, but will try and pick up the pace tomorrow.
TGIF
Off to Des Moines this morning and paint interior walls on the Williams St house. Added a couple more gallons of paint to the bucket and darned if the overall color isn't slightly darker. Now I have to paint everything a second coat for sure. Loaded up the power roller and start paining. Unlike using a regular roller and pan, now you just roll until your arm gives out and then you switch hands and keep rolling. Made super great progress and can hopefully finish next tuesday.
Stopped at the base to see some friends and check on a program. Updated 1 program in hte system and had user test out OK. Works fine and then had discussion on recent meeting to get this program out to everyone.
Then the long drive home and arrived at dusk. I am tired and this is actually getting posted out Saturday morning.
Stopped at the base to see some friends and check on a program. Updated 1 program in hte system and had user test out OK. Works fine and then had discussion on recent meeting to get this program out to everyone.
Then the long drive home and arrived at dusk. I am tired and this is actually getting posted out Saturday morning.
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