So, this blog post will expound on two days. Yesterday (Thursday) and today (Friday).
Yesterday morning, I stumbled into my clothes and out the door to feed the animals around 8 o'clock. I tried to get the three heifers that were in with the neighbor's heifer patch to come through the fence, but it didn't work. I called Daddy, who was on his way over, and he helped try once he got there. Anyway, we left off until later in the day.
After I ate breakfast, we went to town. We spent all morning running around from store to store gathering parts for the 'whizbang' chicken plucker. (I'll have to take some pictures of the completed project.) We got the plastic drum for free. :) Granddaddy used to drive oil trucks for the man we got it from. We dropped in at the gunstore--because I wanted to--and didn't buy anything; even though I did look around at holsters again.
I can't remember if we did the Tractor Supply/Do It Best dance before or after we got the barrel. (Yesterday was a long day!) Anyway, we went to DIB and looked at stuff. Then we went to TS and looked at stuff. Then Daddy went back to DIB and I dropped into the Goodwill (which is between the two stores which are in the same strip mall). I found a pair of pants--they are a bit long (no surprise there!), but they fit okay. I called Daddy, "Which store are you in?" "Tractor Supply, back in the back corner." "Okay, be right there."
From there, we went back to Do It Best and got lumber. All this took a while and my feet were hurting me and everyone knew where I was because my spurs went 'clank-clack!' with every step. I was also limping which made it even worse.
We came home, ate lunch and went to work. Daddy of course, did most of it. First he sawed the top off the barrel. Next he sawed the rim off the top of the barrel to use as the spinning 'plate' in the bottom. I attempted to help by holding onto it. Several times I got asked, "You can't hold that down?" Sorry! But that plastic is thick, that saw is vibrating it seriously, and my arms are so sweaty that they are slipping off (this was when Daddy told me: "Roll down your sleeves." Oh, duh...right. Why didn't I think of that??). Anyway, we ended up with me sitting on the thing and it still was slipping around some!
I guess the next thing was drilling the holes and putting the rubber fingers in. Daddy drilled and I helped with the fingers. Then we got the 'plate' put in with the spindle hooked up just right....
I guess that was the end of the chicken plucker for the day; since Daddy didn't have a motor--he got that this morning.
We went in and ate dinner. Then, we went out to see if we could get the last heifer back in. When I had fed them, two of them had come on in. Well, Daddy hauled an old gate out there, cut a hole in the fence and was fixing to get it up, when I noticed that "Blondie" had come on in! So, Daddy and I started patching the fence.
Sometime along here, he noticed them strolling back down the heifer patch and told me to go down the fence and check for a hole. Well...this is where I screwed up (for the second time really--my first screw up was when I didn't check the fences before putting the heifers in). Instead of heading straight to the far corner and checking on the way back, I strolled along and started stapling under a tree where none of the posts had staples.
All of a sudden, the crazies down at the end of the pasture, bolted and next thing we knew were in the neighbor's driveway! Daddy was none too happy to say the least. I made it down to the corner and found a sure-enough hole (I wonder why the neighbor's hadn't seen or fixed it...nevermind; it is still my fault that the heifers were being such a pain because I didn't check fences!) I ducked through it and attempted to run them in--no luck. (Not that I believe in luck.) I went back to where Daddy was and we hauled tools and a post down and got the hole fixed. While we were on our way down, the neighbor charged them in his truck and his dog chased them, too. Two of the three who were out came back. Once again, "Blondie" was the odd one out. Daddy and I got her in before we (Daddy) mended the fence. I need to stretch that wire along their driveway now--and replace at least one post.
By the time we got done, it was 8:30 and we were whooped.
This morning, I rode Snip. He was pretty good, except when he bucked on me...stinker. My new saddle is going to take a little bit of getting used to. It requires riding with my legs at a fuller extention--which is fine, I'm just not quite used to it yet.
After lunch, I went back to helping Daddy on the chicken plucker. He hadn't worked on it too long before lunch. By the time I got out there with the coffee, he had part of the frame already built, so I helped hold it while he put it together. Some point along the way, we took a trip to Wal-mart to get screws, a certain type of drill bit, and a battery operated drill--which is now sitting here charging after Daddy got a few screws put in with it fresh out of the box.
The motor is now attached and all the thing lacks is a belt--which I have to get.
During the afternoon, I either got something in my left eye, or got stung on the eyelid. I've never had an eyelid swell up like that. Anyway, it was an rather unpleasant sensation. I ended up getting my sunglasses (I hate sunglasses and only wear them when backing up with the bush hog) and putting them on to break the breeze away from that eye. I kept taking them off anytime I had to go dig in the bolt, washer, and nut cans...I can't see with them on!
I also changed out the tire on the Craftsman mower (it goes flat in under an hour!) The old Murry mower has the exact same rear tires so Daddy suggested I make the switch. I hadn't noticed this, but I was at anyrate pleased with the idea. I did it all by myself (except for the jacking--which was more of a lift by Daddy and a stuff the jack under by the daughter deal than an actually jacking job; and getting the snap ring back on the tire.) I also needed a tiny bit of help with the key on the axle. Anyway, it's nice not to see a flat tire on the lawn mower every time I turn around! :)
Well, I hope this dull recounting of the last two days hasn't bored you. I'm sure yesterday's tale would have been more interesting if I had typed it up last night, but I was beat and didn't feel like it.
Well, I'm off to get cleaned up!
Yesterday morning, I stumbled into my clothes and out the door to feed the animals around 8 o'clock. I tried to get the three heifers that were in with the neighbor's heifer patch to come through the fence, but it didn't work. I called Daddy, who was on his way over, and he helped try once he got there. Anyway, we left off until later in the day.
After I ate breakfast, we went to town. We spent all morning running around from store to store gathering parts for the 'whizbang' chicken plucker. (I'll have to take some pictures of the completed project.) We got the plastic drum for free. :) Granddaddy used to drive oil trucks for the man we got it from. We dropped in at the gunstore--because I wanted to--and didn't buy anything; even though I did look around at holsters again.
I can't remember if we did the Tractor Supply/Do It Best dance before or after we got the barrel. (Yesterday was a long day!) Anyway, we went to DIB and looked at stuff. Then we went to TS and looked at stuff. Then Daddy went back to DIB and I dropped into the Goodwill (which is between the two stores which are in the same strip mall). I found a pair of pants--they are a bit long (no surprise there!), but they fit okay. I called Daddy, "Which store are you in?" "Tractor Supply, back in the back corner." "Okay, be right there."
From there, we went back to Do It Best and got lumber. All this took a while and my feet were hurting me and everyone knew where I was because my spurs went 'clank-clack!' with every step. I was also limping which made it even worse.
We came home, ate lunch and went to work. Daddy of course, did most of it. First he sawed the top off the barrel. Next he sawed the rim off the top of the barrel to use as the spinning 'plate' in the bottom. I attempted to help by holding onto it. Several times I got asked, "You can't hold that down?" Sorry! But that plastic is thick, that saw is vibrating it seriously, and my arms are so sweaty that they are slipping off (this was when Daddy told me: "Roll down your sleeves." Oh, duh...right. Why didn't I think of that??). Anyway, we ended up with me sitting on the thing and it still was slipping around some!
I guess the next thing was drilling the holes and putting the rubber fingers in. Daddy drilled and I helped with the fingers. Then we got the 'plate' put in with the spindle hooked up just right....
I guess that was the end of the chicken plucker for the day; since Daddy didn't have a motor--he got that this morning.
We went in and ate dinner. Then, we went out to see if we could get the last heifer back in. When I had fed them, two of them had come on in. Well, Daddy hauled an old gate out there, cut a hole in the fence and was fixing to get it up, when I noticed that "Blondie" had come on in! So, Daddy and I started patching the fence.
Sometime along here, he noticed them strolling back down the heifer patch and told me to go down the fence and check for a hole. Well...this is where I screwed up (for the second time really--my first screw up was when I didn't check the fences before putting the heifers in). Instead of heading straight to the far corner and checking on the way back, I strolled along and started stapling under a tree where none of the posts had staples.
All of a sudden, the crazies down at the end of the pasture, bolted and next thing we knew were in the neighbor's driveway! Daddy was none too happy to say the least. I made it down to the corner and found a sure-enough hole (I wonder why the neighbor's hadn't seen or fixed it...nevermind; it is still my fault that the heifers were being such a pain because I didn't check fences!) I ducked through it and attempted to run them in--no luck. (Not that I believe in luck.) I went back to where Daddy was and we hauled tools and a post down and got the hole fixed. While we were on our way down, the neighbor charged them in his truck and his dog chased them, too. Two of the three who were out came back. Once again, "Blondie" was the odd one out. Daddy and I got her in before we (Daddy) mended the fence. I need to stretch that wire along their driveway now--and replace at least one post.
By the time we got done, it was 8:30 and we were whooped.
This morning, I rode Snip. He was pretty good, except when he bucked on me...stinker. My new saddle is going to take a little bit of getting used to. It requires riding with my legs at a fuller extention--which is fine, I'm just not quite used to it yet.
After lunch, I went back to helping Daddy on the chicken plucker. He hadn't worked on it too long before lunch. By the time I got out there with the coffee, he had part of the frame already built, so I helped hold it while he put it together. Some point along the way, we took a trip to Wal-mart to get screws, a certain type of drill bit, and a battery operated drill--which is now sitting here charging after Daddy got a few screws put in with it fresh out of the box.
The motor is now attached and all the thing lacks is a belt--which I have to get.
During the afternoon, I either got something in my left eye, or got stung on the eyelid. I've never had an eyelid swell up like that. Anyway, it was an rather unpleasant sensation. I ended up getting my sunglasses (I hate sunglasses and only wear them when backing up with the bush hog) and putting them on to break the breeze away from that eye. I kept taking them off anytime I had to go dig in the bolt, washer, and nut cans...I can't see with them on!
I also changed out the tire on the Craftsman mower (it goes flat in under an hour!) The old Murry mower has the exact same rear tires so Daddy suggested I make the switch. I hadn't noticed this, but I was at anyrate pleased with the idea. I did it all by myself (except for the jacking--which was more of a lift by Daddy and a stuff the jack under by the daughter deal than an actually jacking job; and getting the snap ring back on the tire.) I also needed a tiny bit of help with the key on the axle. Anyway, it's nice not to see a flat tire on the lawn mower every time I turn around! :)
Well, I hope this dull recounting of the last two days hasn't bored you. I'm sure yesterday's tale would have been more interesting if I had typed it up last night, but I was beat and didn't feel like it.
Well, I'm off to get cleaned up!
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