March 4 – 31
Howdy everyone! I’m happy to report progress. Once again not as much progress as I’d like but progress none the less.
The trench is filled. I completed filling the trench on Saturday March 9. I switched from using the back hoe to using the tractor’s front loader to screen the dirt. It went much faster using the front loader.
Once the trench was filled, I turned my attention to preparing to move the trailers.
Using the tractor, I spread and packed gravel on the RV carport I spread all the gravel I had on hand which was enough to park the RV’s on but not enough to park the vehicles on.
I finally got around to terminating the data cables I had run from the utility shed to the RV carport.
I moved Rachel’s trailer into position on March 14 then had Drew (a local friend) come and move the 5th wheel March 17. Past time for me to get a 5th wheel hitch. Thinking that will be an April/May expenditure.
I have since replaced the 10 AMP extension cables with 30 AMP cables. The trailers are sharing a 30 AMP circuit. I took the time to bury the 30 AMP power cables in the gravel to prevent critters from coming along and chewing on them as they have done with every extension/power cable I’ve left laying across the top of the ground. They are only exposed for chewing hazard at the point where they come out of the gravel at each end.
As fire season around here is upon us, before I jump into building, I need to chip all these brush piles around here. To that end, I bought a new wood chipper that runs off the tractor’s PTO drive. I picked it up from the shipping terminal in Douglas on Wednesday March 27, Tom helped me unload it from the truck with his big CAT front loader Friday. I spent Friday afternoon unpacking it and much of Saturday assembling it. I need to run to Douglas for more hydraulic fluid for it before I can run it.
I have learned a lot this weekend. I learned how to take the back hoe off the tractor and put it back on. Taking it off is a hell of a lot easier than putting it on. That’s for sure. Hopefully it will get easier to put on in time. I certainly found a number of ways not to do it. Some how no damage done that I’m aware of. I’ve learned how to connect a category 1 three point hitch and associated PTO drive line. I learned what happens when you accidentally release the lock on a quick change grease gun when the plunger is not released. In case you are wondering, the canister containing the tube of grease falls to the ground and the spring loaded plunger expels all the grease from the tube onto the ground.
I have also ordered the bags that I will use to build with. I expect to be able to pick them up from the shipping terminal tomorrow (Monday).
Since I expect to make a Douglas run Monday, I opted not to run Saturday evening or Sunday to pickup the hydraulic fluid needed for the wood chipper. To make “good” use of time Sunday, I decided go continue digging up mesquite from around the yard. After about 3-4 hours of digging up mesquite, it occurred to me…
- I want to start building ASAP.
- I shouldn’t build until after I get all the dug up brush chipped up so it is not posing an increased fire hazard.
- I’ve been digging for hours adding to the piles that I need to chip that will further delay me starting to build. Stop digging dumb-ass. Yes mesquite shrubs are still a fire hazard but not as big of one as when it is laying on the ground drying out and I’ve cleared enough space around the structures, them burning doesn’t directly increase the risk to our belongings.
Given that epiphany, stopped digging for the day and turned my attention to answering some important questions:
- Where am I going to dig dirt from to use to build the utility structure? FYI, I plan to build a test/learning structure that I will use as a utility building and move the solar system and computer network into. It will also be home to our water pump, washing machine, and a full size refrigerator/freezer until the house is built.
- Where am I going to screen the dirt to be used for the building?
- Where am I going to put the dirt after it has been screened?
- Where am I putting the rocks that have been screened out of the dirt?
Got that all figured out, at least until I change my mind.
Last weekend while waiting for the chipper to arrive, I spent the weekend cutting a path from my back drive to an old road that used to run through the property but was in disrepair. I dug out mesquite on the road and along the sides of it. I also filled in low areas that had eroded due rain water run off.
Last week I attended my first ever Portal Rescue board meeting. Portal Rescue is the area’s all volunteer fire and EMS organization. As chance would have it, it was an annual board meeting where board members are elected. The board is comprised of the EMS Chief, the Fire Chief, two active members (fire fighter or EMT), and three members from the community at large. As board members were being nominated, one of the existing board members asked if I would be willing to serve and I agreed not expecting to get elected given all the other nominees and if I was figuring I could manage the treasure role as I’m pretty good with spreadsheets. As it turned out, I was one of the three elected. Furthermore, when we went into the back room do deliberate what roles each board member would have, it became clear that everyone had a role in mind for themselves and no one wanted the role of president. Guess who is now President of Portal Rescue Inc. This is going to be an interesting year to say the least.
My goal for the month of April is to get all the brush laying around chipped up, screen dirt for the build, and finalize the building plans so I can break ground in May. It’s going to be really interesting to see how long the build is going to take. Not planning on any windows, just a door, walls, and a roof. It would be spectacular if I could get the walls up, roof on, and outside plastered before the monsoon rains start in July. That is what I call a “stretch goal” !
I also started reading my first “for leisure” book that I’ve read in probably over 15 years and boy did I pick a doosie – “Walden” by Henry David Thoreau. I can really identify with many of his thoughts and opinions although I’m still no where near living as simply as he embraced. Interesting perspective on materialistic lifestyles back in 1854. Amazing how it still applies to today’s times.
Okay, that’s it for me until next time.
Good night everyone.
Cary
Seeking Simplicity 