Hey, Gary. Haven't heard from you in awhile. How's the upgrade on your barn going? Have you had any weather worth working in? I've got some poles cut for a shed but they're waiting on the hill till the mud lets up enough for me to drag them down. Just wondering how you are getting along.

-- gilly (wayoutfarm@skybest.com), April 02, 2002

Answers

Gilly, I think I have the roof sealed up (crossing fingers). Winter winds brought a couple problems to light I need to get on as soon as the weather allows. One of my big sliding doors needs to be rebuilt as the track pulled out of the wall and let it come down. Obviously I'll need some new track, too, as it was bent. I have another big door on the same wall only 20' down so it's not an emergency. I may just seal this one up for now and look into an overhead door to put there later. I actually have a brand new opener I could use with it.

Winter wasn't kind to my drive, either. I need to get some gravel down and spread as soon as I get my dump truck done. I'm knocking some of the rust off and replacing a lot of cab metal including floorboards. Right now it's almost like Fred Flintstone's car. I'm even adding some new sideboards on the bed. I may even be putting some fresh paint on it. ;o

It's the classic situation of a lot of things to do and not enough money to get all I want done. Part of the problem is this is all new to me so I seem to need everything all at once. Right now I desperately need a box blade for my tractor and a tooth bar for my loader bucket for it to be much use to me. I have to move some dirt to avoid runoff going inside before I can do much more at this point and can't do it with what I have now.

I checked into just renting a Cat D-3 dozer and can get one for the weekend for about $350. I know that'd do the job quickly but I'm no dozer operator and don't think this would be the time to try to learn. I'd rather put that money toward some things I could have forever and use those. I know it'll take a lot longer doing it this way, but I'm not in a big hurry. I have more time than money.

That's pretty much the story here. The biggest snow of the season came last week and melted in two days of rain that followed. Our problem right now is standing water with more rain even today. Not being familiar with the ground I have I'm about half afraid to even take the tractor out in it. That MFWD can still get stuck. ;o)

Good luck with your project. Maybe when it dries out a little we can each make some headway on what we need to get done. Thanks for thinking of me.

-- Gary in Indiana (gk6854@aol.com), April 03, 2002.

Glad to hear you sealed the roof, keeping it dry is imperative. You sound like me, and probably most homesteaders, projects piling up and cash flow staying the same.

I'm jealous about the dumptruck, rust and all. Ask Bren, she'll tell you I've been eyeing every dump with a for sale sign for years...not yet. I did get a big enough pick-up this year so I can get the work done that I need, and it's a crew cab so it doubles as a station wagon (remember those, before minivans?) for the family outings.

Around here you can rent a small backhoe for about $150 and get it from noon Saturday till Monday morning at that price. That's still a chunk of change, but it's something to think about. Glad to hear you're hanging in there. Don't forget to keep us updated as you dry out and get to going again.

-- gilly (wayoutfarm@skybest.com), April 03, 2002.

Gilly, I just happen to have another dump truck just like mine that's for sale if you really want one. It's a 1990 Ford F-Super Duty (class 4, now called F-450) with 8' contractor's dump bed. It has a 460 V-8, automatic transmission, solid drivetrain, great rubber and brakes. Everything works and it drives out fine. It even has a combination ball/pintle hook, plow mount, controls and hydraulics with full hydraulics at the rear, too, for a spreader or whatever.

As to renting a backhoe, I have a backhoe on my tractor so I'm set for trenching. It's another learning curve thing, but it's going to be fun once the rain stops and the temps stay above fifty. ;o)

-- Gary in Indiana (gk6854@aol.com), April 03, 2002.

Ow, that's not nice. You KNOW I want it....hey, wait a minute, we'll be in Indiana in September for a wedding...hmmm, now if I can just squeeze in some time to stick up a bank on the way up....how much ya askin?? ;^}

-- gilly (wayoutfarm@skybest.com), April 03, 2002.