Finally! The time has come for our "extended" cabin trip! Yea!
The plan for the day is to get our shit together and be ready to leave in the morning (Tuesday). We've scaled back our thinking as far as what to take because we have to return to DFW area in a week for various reasons. So we are taking only one vehicle this time (the van) and then on the next trip we'll take more. My brother, as usual, will house sit and take care of our sheep and cats.
I've been working all morning--cleaning, laundry, cooking, packing, etc. Now am taking a bit of a break.
Bigfoot had to go to the jobsite one more time this morning just to wrap up a few loose ends. It shouldn't take too long (although he's still gone at 1:30).
We're so excited! We might well freeze our asses off at night, but we love it, nonetheless! You can't beat sitting on the deck, wrapped in a sub-zero sleeping bag, sipping morning coffee, and enjoying the absolutely awesome view---with nothing that really HAS to be done.
19 November 2012
23 October 2012
Jack Attacked!
I think I'm finally recovered enough to write about this:
Two weeks ago this morning Jack was attacked by a coyote. Here's what happened:
We have a fenced-in back yard. This portion of the yard has a gate in the back which leads out to our "wild area." This wild area is where our two sheep live. It has lots of trees and underbrush.
Last Tuesday morning I had opened the gate leading from the back yard into the wild area in order to get back there to feed the sheep. Jack ran into the (approximately 2 acre) wild area. He does this all the time. No big deal. It's fenced. He runs around for awhile and then comes back.
This time was different. Within about 10 seconds of his disappearance into the trees I heard him yelp. "That didn't sound right," I thought. I called his name. I couldn't hear him crashing through the trees anymore. I started walking down the trail calling his name. No response. I started walking faster and calling a little more desperately. At some point I had heard another yelp and that spurred me to a jog and and more desperate calling. I rounded a corner--and there, a short distance up a small hill, stood a coyote with a completely limp Jack hanging from his mouth.
I screamed and screamed and screamed as I started to run toward them. The coyote was standing right next to the fence and leaped over it and ran away. I thought that he still had Jack in his mouth. I can't explain the horror I was feeling at this point. I ran up the hill screaming. I guess I was going to scale the fence and chase after them.
But as I ran up the hill and got closer to the location, I could see Jack's body lying in the grass. He was not moving. A wave of some type of relief washed over me--at least there was a chance to save his life if he wasn't already dead.
I got to him. He was alive. I scooped him up and cradled him like a baby. His neck was bloody. He had several puncture wounds around his neck. His tongue was sticking out. His breathing was shallow and labored. I started toward the house with him, reassuring him that everything would be all right. He still wasn't moving, but was looking at me like he was saying, "Help me, Momma."
I got to the house, very quickly called the vet, and was out the door with Jack still cradled in my arms.
I talked him through the entire ride to the vet. Speeding, driving one-handed, no seat belt. I told him to just keep breathing. The 10 minute drive seemed to take an eternity.
When I arrived at the vet, they seemed (to me) to NOT be in as much of a hurry as I was to get Jack into the back area and start some kind of treatment. They told me to take a seat and they would "be right with" me. I sat down, but shot questions at them the entire time. Has a doctor been called? When will he/she be here? How long before he can be looked at, etc. As we sat there (probably for only 2 minutes or so), Jack started shaking. I announced loudly that he was going into shock and I would REALLY like someone to take a look at him. (This is a vet that I have used for many years and I'm very happy with them and all of their staff. I'm not sure why they thought even a 2 minute delay was OK).
At this point they took us to the back and several technicians were there to look at him (the doctors had not yet arrived for the day--but I was informed that they were on their way). They took one look at him and told him, "Oh my, you look pale." ("NO SHIT!") They took him from me and took him to the back area and put him on oxygen to get him stabilized and further check him out.
So I sat in the exam room crying my eyes out for what seemed like a long time. Finally a doctor came into the room and told me he was stable and was going to be OK. They had put in an I.V., given him an injection for inflammation, and were taking X-rays in order to rule out any internal injury.
Within a few minutes, they let me go back to the back and see him. He was standing (yea!) in a cage all wired up with oxygen and I.V., and with a bright blue bandage wrapped around his neck. When he saw me he went crazy (like he always does--he loves him Momma) and that just made his breathing worse. I didn't stay too long because, at that point, I felt like I was making things worse by getting him agitated.
The vet wanted to keep him for most of the day, so I left. I called my boss and told her what had happened and that I was a complete wreak and there was no way I could work. (Some of you will think that is an over-reaction, but it is what it is).
I went home and spent the day re-living the vision of Jack hanging in the coyote's mouth. I REALLY could not get that out of my mind and I cried off and on all day. I called every couple of hours to check on him and was allowed to go pick him up at about 3:30 that afternoon.
We spent the rest of the day cuddled in bed. He was totally 'spent.' No interest in food (a VERY telling sign, indeed!), no interest in moving, at all. He basically just 'hunkered down' and went into healing mode.
There is a bit more to this story (as far as his recovery goes), but I'll save that for later. Suffice it to say, he is recovering, although his breathing is still not back to normal--due to the inflammation in his neck area.
I have always been a bit worried about Jack getting attacked while we were at the cabin. And we take precautions to prevent it. But I never really thought about it happening in the 'back yard'! Go figure.
So I am happy to report that Underfoot is still under foot.
Two weeks ago this morning Jack was attacked by a coyote. Here's what happened:
We have a fenced-in back yard. This portion of the yard has a gate in the back which leads out to our "wild area." This wild area is where our two sheep live. It has lots of trees and underbrush.
Last Tuesday morning I had opened the gate leading from the back yard into the wild area in order to get back there to feed the sheep. Jack ran into the (approximately 2 acre) wild area. He does this all the time. No big deal. It's fenced. He runs around for awhile and then comes back.
This time was different. Within about 10 seconds of his disappearance into the trees I heard him yelp. "That didn't sound right," I thought. I called his name. I couldn't hear him crashing through the trees anymore. I started walking down the trail calling his name. No response. I started walking faster and calling a little more desperately. At some point I had heard another yelp and that spurred me to a jog and and more desperate calling. I rounded a corner--and there, a short distance up a small hill, stood a coyote with a completely limp Jack hanging from his mouth.
I screamed and screamed and screamed as I started to run toward them. The coyote was standing right next to the fence and leaped over it and ran away. I thought that he still had Jack in his mouth. I can't explain the horror I was feeling at this point. I ran up the hill screaming. I guess I was going to scale the fence and chase after them.
But as I ran up the hill and got closer to the location, I could see Jack's body lying in the grass. He was not moving. A wave of some type of relief washed over me--at least there was a chance to save his life if he wasn't already dead.
I got to him. He was alive. I scooped him up and cradled him like a baby. His neck was bloody. He had several puncture wounds around his neck. His tongue was sticking out. His breathing was shallow and labored. I started toward the house with him, reassuring him that everything would be all right. He still wasn't moving, but was looking at me like he was saying, "Help me, Momma."
I got to the house, very quickly called the vet, and was out the door with Jack still cradled in my arms.
I talked him through the entire ride to the vet. Speeding, driving one-handed, no seat belt. I told him to just keep breathing. The 10 minute drive seemed to take an eternity.
When I arrived at the vet, they seemed (to me) to NOT be in as much of a hurry as I was to get Jack into the back area and start some kind of treatment. They told me to take a seat and they would "be right with" me. I sat down, but shot questions at them the entire time. Has a doctor been called? When will he/she be here? How long before he can be looked at, etc. As we sat there (probably for only 2 minutes or so), Jack started shaking. I announced loudly that he was going into shock and I would REALLY like someone to take a look at him. (This is a vet that I have used for many years and I'm very happy with them and all of their staff. I'm not sure why they thought even a 2 minute delay was OK).
At this point they took us to the back and several technicians were there to look at him (the doctors had not yet arrived for the day--but I was informed that they were on their way). They took one look at him and told him, "Oh my, you look pale." ("NO SHIT!") They took him from me and took him to the back area and put him on oxygen to get him stabilized and further check him out.
So I sat in the exam room crying my eyes out for what seemed like a long time. Finally a doctor came into the room and told me he was stable and was going to be OK. They had put in an I.V., given him an injection for inflammation, and were taking X-rays in order to rule out any internal injury.
Within a few minutes, they let me go back to the back and see him. He was standing (yea!) in a cage all wired up with oxygen and I.V., and with a bright blue bandage wrapped around his neck. When he saw me he went crazy (like he always does--he loves him Momma) and that just made his breathing worse. I didn't stay too long because, at that point, I felt like I was making things worse by getting him agitated.
The vet wanted to keep him for most of the day, so I left. I called my boss and told her what had happened and that I was a complete wreak and there was no way I could work. (Some of you will think that is an over-reaction, but it is what it is).
I went home and spent the day re-living the vision of Jack hanging in the coyote's mouth. I REALLY could not get that out of my mind and I cried off and on all day. I called every couple of hours to check on him and was allowed to go pick him up at about 3:30 that afternoon.
We spent the rest of the day cuddled in bed. He was totally 'spent.' No interest in food (a VERY telling sign, indeed!), no interest in moving, at all. He basically just 'hunkered down' and went into healing mode.
There is a bit more to this story (as far as his recovery goes), but I'll save that for later. Suffice it to say, he is recovering, although his breathing is still not back to normal--due to the inflammation in his neck area.
I have always been a bit worried about Jack getting attacked while we were at the cabin. And we take precautions to prevent it. But I never really thought about it happening in the 'back yard'! Go figure.
So I am happy to report that Underfoot is still under foot.
02 October 2012
The Deed is Done
I waited until the end of the day yesterday and then approached my boss about my leaving for an extended period. I was a 'mess' the whole day (but very good at hiding it) and knew I had to get this thing done.
I got very 'emotional' (I'll leave it at that). LONG story short: She is as awesome as I said she was! She doesn't even want to bring anyone else in to substitute for me! They will take the baby to the church daycare and sometimes the dad will be available. And two of the weeks that I'll be gone (the week of Thanksgiving and the week of Christmas) they'll be gone, as well. She says we will work it out. Her main concern is that I won't come back. But I assured her that I would. (David--you were right!)
On to other things:
Bigfoot is a grandpa as of yesterday. His son and daughter-in-law welcomed a healthy baby boy. I guess that makes me a step-grandmother . . . But we won't 'go there.'
My mother had another visit to the ER and a 3 day stay in the hospital. I took her Saturday morning and she was released yesterday (Monday). She was having chest pain and difficulty breathing but not related to her heart this time.
Yesterday afternoon I was in her hospital room waiting for the paperwork to be completed for her release and I received a call from my dad (who lives in New York). This morning HE is going into the hospital for a cardiac catheterization. He said one of the doctors told him they "see something" in the front of his heart (whatever THAT means). So I guess I'll know by the end of the day how serious this situation is.
Yesterday was filled with all sorts of drama--good and bad. Can't wait to get to the cabin, sit on the deck, drink coffee, and stare at the mountains . . .Ahhhhhh . . .
I got very 'emotional' (I'll leave it at that). LONG story short: She is as awesome as I said she was! She doesn't even want to bring anyone else in to substitute for me! They will take the baby to the church daycare and sometimes the dad will be available. And two of the weeks that I'll be gone (the week of Thanksgiving and the week of Christmas) they'll be gone, as well. She says we will work it out. Her main concern is that I won't come back. But I assured her that I would. (David--you were right!)
On to other things:
Bigfoot is a grandpa as of yesterday. His son and daughter-in-law welcomed a healthy baby boy. I guess that makes me a step-grandmother . . . But we won't 'go there.'
My mother had another visit to the ER and a 3 day stay in the hospital. I took her Saturday morning and she was released yesterday (Monday). She was having chest pain and difficulty breathing but not related to her heart this time.
Yesterday afternoon I was in her hospital room waiting for the paperwork to be completed for her release and I received a call from my dad (who lives in New York). This morning HE is going into the hospital for a cardiac catheterization. He said one of the doctors told him they "see something" in the front of his heart (whatever THAT means). So I guess I'll know by the end of the day how serious this situation is.
Yesterday was filled with all sorts of drama--good and bad. Can't wait to get to the cabin, sit on the deck, drink coffee, and stare at the mountains . . .Ahhhhhh . . .
01 October 2012
Angst
I'm in major freak-out mode right now (and have been building up to it for several weeks).
Here's the deal. . . I have the best, most fun, low stress job in the world. I'm nanny to a 16-month-old toddler (Some people would not consider this fun nor non-stressful, but I do). But VERY SOON (like TODAY) I need to let my boss know that Bigfoot and I plan to take an extended trip to the cabin and, therefore, I need a 'leave of absence'.
I am DREADING this, because I love the baby. I love the family. They love me. And they are the BEST, most wonderful people to work for. And I am scared to death of their reaction. I don't know if I'll be 'sacrificing' my job when I break the news or if they would agree to get a temporary replacement and then let me come back to work when I return.
The decision to go to the cabin for awhile is an EASY one. But this 'breaking away' part of the equation is DIFFICULT. And I (we) would go even if it DID mean that I would have to sacrifice my job. I hope it doesn't come to that though.
Wish me luck . . .
Here's the deal. . . I have the best, most fun, low stress job in the world. I'm nanny to a 16-month-old toddler (Some people would not consider this fun nor non-stressful, but I do). But VERY SOON (like TODAY) I need to let my boss know that Bigfoot and I plan to take an extended trip to the cabin and, therefore, I need a 'leave of absence'.
I am DREADING this, because I love the baby. I love the family. They love me. And they are the BEST, most wonderful people to work for. And I am scared to death of their reaction. I don't know if I'll be 'sacrificing' my job when I break the news or if they would agree to get a temporary replacement and then let me come back to work when I return.
The decision to go to the cabin for awhile is an EASY one. But this 'breaking away' part of the equation is DIFFICULT. And I (we) would go even if it DID mean that I would have to sacrifice my job. I hope it doesn't come to that though.
Wish me luck . . .
26 August 2012
Copper Lust....hit the jackpot at the jobsite Saturday
A couple of weeks ago my son came up from College Station to pick up some rock crawler parts from a friend of his in the DFW area. Got a Dana 60 or 70? rear end, a turbo 400 tranny, and some big-assed rock crawler tires and wheels. He's planning to build a Caddy powered crawler and has been gathering parts. He sold his old Samari 4 cylinder crawler a few weeks ago.
He brought me a 105 gallon diesel tank that needed some repairs. He welded a plate across the end bottom corner, but when he filled it with water to test it, it had a few pin-hole leaks along the weld bead. My wire welder should have done the trick, but since I never use it the wire spool got a little rusty and he couldn't get a good tight bead. Fixed most areas, but needs to be drained down and re welded in 2 spots to stop the leaks. We pumped it out with a Harbor Freight 12V pump, but he was running late on time and had to skedaddle. I didn't have a fresh spool of wire anyway.
With this tank sitting in the back of my old 1985 F250 Lariat diesel....I'll have about 140 gallons of capacity...enough to get me to the cabin and back with one fill up. At the terrible 12 MPG this old dawg gets (they didn't have auto-trans OD back then, revs up way high at highway speeds) that's about 1600 miles after the $560 fill up.
My "Benita"....made with loving care by little Japanese hands..(Pre Fuk-us-shima era). Needs a lift kit, but can't seem to let go of the $685 for the kit alone....no install labor in that figure. Gas powered cart with a back seat. Hauls my obese butt around quite handily.
At the workplace I was finally able to get the excavation/demo sub to tear down the old ground mounted power transformer bldg that served the entire 168 apts - 10 acre site. We installed new underground elect distribution and the old bldg and transformers had to go. The power company field rep looked at the 3 giant transformers sitting inside a brick walled bldg and called them "widow makers"..said even after they are disconnected they can hold enough juice to arc out and kill a man that get's within 3 feet of them. Well Oncor finally got the trannys (that don't sound fight)....and hauled them away, leaving the bldg for us to demo.
There was a big massive disconnect box on the outside wall and 3 big metal plates penetrated thru the wall up high. I had studied them from the ground and thought...."now how can I get my hands on these plates, that looked to be copper?"....dull green, not corroded. Yesterday, being Saturday, like always...I felt compelled to make the 50 mile drive across Fort Worth, Arlington, and into Irving to the jobsite to check on things.
The demo foreman was there with his big shiney Volvo track loader with the hydra-hoe attachment and started knocking down those double wide brick walls like they were made of sugar cubes. I told him I wanted to try to save that area where the metal came through and he gently knocked the bricks away from each side and picked it up and dumped it off to one side. I plucked out these big "L shaped" plates and huffing and puffing, hauled them out of harms way. I figured them to weigh around 50-60# each...eventually got them into the trunk of my "old" Towcar...sticking out the back a foot or so...wired the trunk lid somewhat down with some baling wire and off I went. Towncars have HUGE trunk areas, but not enough for these to close.
Sweet talked Nephew Joe into coming over Sunday AM for a little work and he took them apart with my Harbor Freight impact wrench. Here are some big heavy gauge cable connectors made of brass that came off a couple of them. I stacked them up against a saw horse for a decent pic, turned around to grab the camera and "crash-bang-biff-Pow"..the saw horse fell over. Oh well, you get the picture. Haven't weighed them, but the middle sized plates are 12# each.....Not sure of the scrap value...I think around $3/lb or so. But I might get my son to slice them in half lengthwise with his fancy plasma cutter machine and they'd make great battery connector bars. But then again maybe $500 in scrap = most of the lift kit cost for the golf cart...a "Jake's brand, USA made..6" travel, long arm, adjustable" kit....the exact kind I would need around the cabin roads in South Brewster Co.?
Nice and cloudy here today, off and on light sprinkles....seems like summer just instantly switched to almost fall....like overnight. 110 temps a couple of weeks ago, now lower to mid 90's forecast for next week here in DFW area.
Ok....blah, blah...blah..sorry, long post today.
Everyone take care and HAGD
Bigfoot
09 August 2012
Quick Trip to Austin
Jack and I are making a quick trip to Austin today (I've had the week off because my employers are on vacation). I'll get to see Ben in his latest production and I'll get to see Bruce, too. It's nice to have both of my boys in the same city!
We'll be back by late morning or early afternoon tomorrow.
I feel a little bad (well, not really) because I have avoided telling my mother I'm going. She has a bad habit of inviting herself to activities--which would be fine and nice. BUT considering the last several weeks of her in-again-out-again hospital stays, I really don't want to take her too far away from 'her' hospital yet. When the subject of my trip comes up, I'll just tell her the truth. No biggie.
We'll be back by late morning or early afternoon tomorrow.
I feel a little bad (well, not really) because I have avoided telling my mother I'm going. She has a bad habit of inviting herself to activities--which would be fine and nice. BUT considering the last several weeks of her in-again-out-again hospital stays, I really don't want to take her too far away from 'her' hospital yet. When the subject of my trip comes up, I'll just tell her the truth. No biggie.
04 August 2012
new Tech.. desert cabin AC.....Mini-Split system 110V
I've been researching off grid AC systems....and thinking there ain't much for desert living, other than a swamp cooler...and this is what I found.
"Mini Split" systems with the INVERTER compressors seems to be the deal....very popular for many years in the Far East, and Europe...and developing countries....but pretty much unheard of here in the US. Maybe due to AC manufacturers, AC svc companies and elect power companies not wanting this techno to become widespread in the land of the Consumers?
Checking around online for the best deals and what other folks have installed for off-grid...this is what I ended up buying. "Overstocked" Fedders mini splits for pretty cheap. There are plenty of Ching Chong versions a tad cheaper ...but this was Fedders...still China made. For some reason I thought this was better, but the price seemed okay, considering the22 SEER rating, at $750 plus the "line set" (copper lines) and then you gotta add the elect power line and a wire for the control to tell the condenser what to do. My former A/C repair tech son was in town so got him to do the install.......and took about an hour.
Just gotta install the inside bracket, high on the exterior wall....then make a 2" hole to the outside for the freon lines, the power line and the condensate line.
The inside unit and fitting everything thru the hole took a little time, but he did the exterior condenser "suck down" work and hooked up the flare fittings, and with power wires and a wire from the inside unit the outside unit for the remote control....and hooked to 110V.....we wuz in bid-ness!!! The unit is pre charged with R410.
He is a certified AC Tech...so he has the tools and knows what he's doing...unlike ME.....who knows Nada.
The outside condenser is about as big a a full sized suitcase....and as loud as a box fan on high...the inside unit is damn near SILENT.....remote control and all. But if you're looking for one of these for OFF GRID...it's gotta be with the "Inverter Compressor" and 110 V is best. Some have this...others do not.
This thing is a 22 SEER rating...and has Heat Pump as well...but that heat pump spins the elect meter just like the AC....but most folks don't realize that. (we have propane in winter for heat)
It does seem pricey for a 1 ton AC... compared to a good window unit....and I did get a free installation...only way to get warranteed is certified installer doing the job. But the super efficiency unit at 22SEER and with elect prices steadily going up......makes good sense.
I planned to get a 9K unit for the cabin....but guess what.....they are SOLD OUT of these "overstocked" 22 SEER Fedders Mini splits.
A standard AC unit is only "on or off" for the compressor...but these units are somewhat variable in the compressor speeds that match to what the thermostat temp setting demands.
Website is called "alpine home air"...or something like that.....free shipping and no tax. But Cust Svc sucks a bit.
FYI
Bigfoot
"Mini Split" systems with the INVERTER compressors seems to be the deal....very popular for many years in the Far East, and Europe...and developing countries....but pretty much unheard of here in the US. Maybe due to AC manufacturers, AC svc companies and elect power companies not wanting this techno to become widespread in the land of the Consumers?
Checking around online for the best deals and what other folks have installed for off-grid...this is what I ended up buying. "Overstocked" Fedders mini splits for pretty cheap. There are plenty of Ching Chong versions a tad cheaper ...but this was Fedders...still China made. For some reason I thought this was better, but the price seemed okay, considering the22 SEER rating, at $750 plus the "line set" (copper lines) and then you gotta add the elect power line and a wire for the control to tell the condenser what to do. My former A/C repair tech son was in town so got him to do the install.......and took about an hour.
He is a certified AC Tech...so he has the tools and knows what he's doing...unlike ME.....who knows Nada.
This thing is a 22 SEER rating...and has Heat Pump as well...but that heat pump spins the elect meter just like the AC....but most folks don't realize that. (we have propane in winter for heat)
It does seem pricey for a 1 ton AC... compared to a good window unit....and I did get a free installation...only way to get warranteed is certified installer doing the job. But the super efficiency unit at 22SEER and with elect prices steadily going up......makes good sense.
I planned to get a 9K unit for the cabin....but guess what.....they are SOLD OUT of these "overstocked" 22 SEER Fedders Mini splits.
A standard AC unit is only "on or off" for the compressor...but these units are somewhat variable in the compressor speeds that match to what the thermostat temp setting demands.
Website is called "alpine home air"...or something like that.....free shipping and no tax. But Cust Svc sucks a bit.
FYI
Bigfoot
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