Here we go again ...

Not water this time ... it's another camping trip, the last of the season - Deer Camp.  I will be out there at least 7 days, maybe 10 - it depends on the weather and more how I feel ... it is fall and getting cold so the arthritis acts up.  The camper is packed with food and definitely warm winter clothes - we also have a warming tent that will get you out of the wind - there is always wind out there - and a heater to help you thaw out if necessary.  OK, I need to pack the boots too!!!  Don't let me forget ... , oh and the ice chests ... I'd better go move the rest into the camper ... LOL

I have the Quad trailer here so all I have to do in the morning is hook up, stop for gas and hit the road.  I'd like it to be early, but I know myself - I have to have a couple of cups of coffee and something to eat before I do anything, but I do want to try to get up by 7. Hahahahahahahaha ... boy do I know myself ... maybe 7:30 ... that just sounds better.

I will see you all when I get back ... a day or two after ...

Have a happy week
(((Hugs)))

More on water ...

I now have all the supplies and Dale will pickup the tank today.  I was also told that to save a bit of money I could buy the red-black-green pump cable separately and using 10 gauge for the red & black, but 12 gauge for the green ... It did save me money!  The pre twisted cable was $1.83/ft but purchasing the wiring separately with the red & black running 49 cents per foot and the green 12 gauge running 29 cents a foot.  That totals $1.27 per foot.  Since the wires will be in conduit it doesn't matter if it's twisted or not.

I also picked up 4 - 90 deg angle pipe for the conduit.  $1.17/ea. 

I'm sure all this technical electrical (LOL) stuff is making your head spin, it's making my head spin too, but it's a big deal to me ... LOL.  Saturday, tomorrow, should be "restoring water day"  Wahoo!!!

I'm also thinking of Deer Camp ... trying to gather my mind on that so I won't be scattered when putting the camper together ... I am sooo looking forward to having water so I can do some laundry!  I still have the dirty stuff from the Labor Day camping trip sitting there staring at me, and having added regular daily dirty stuff since the 2nd (No Water Day) I have quite a pile - and Susan too!

I am sooo looking forward to camp for 10 days to clear my mind of all problems.  Oh yeah!!!

I also ordered the vent lid so my hallway isn't the shower anymore - it should be here any day.

I'm tired just rereading my post, so I will let you go for now.  Have a wonderful day and future.
(((Hugs)))

 

Good Grief ... (OMG #2)

Well, no pun intended, it is NOT the pump.  I had a pump company come out and do an analysis on the whole mess ... and we are not getting 220v to the pump ...

There is a dead wire somewhere in the 'run' from the tank to the breaker box.  Right now we will run the new conduit and wire along the fence so we can have water.  Later we will dig down and put the new stuff in the trench. 

Mike, from the pump co., tested the pump by hooking up to his generator and we had water!!!  We flushed the toilet and filled every container we had.  I'm also still hooked up to my neighbors spigot, love my neighbors!! ... and we are still using the camper as our 2nd bathroom.  I can turn it around and dump the black tank whenever I need to sooo ...

I need to run 180-190 FEET of pump cable - the 3 wire stuff - from the pump to the breaker box.  Cable costs $1.83 per foot at Home Depot = $350 appx.  Okayyyy

I need 1" conduit to run the wire - PVC grey stuff - that's about $2.75 per 10 foot length = appx $55

AND I need a new pressure tank.  The old one is over 200 gals, which I don't need - Mike told me I can do with an 81 gal tank. = appx $350.

It really should be buried 18" deep for 180-190 feet.  I need an estimate for this one ... won't be cheep up here on my rocky acres.  I almost don't want to know, but I have to for my grant application.

The work, except the trench, can be done by Dale and I - I'm sure there will be other neighbors getting into the action too.  We'd like to get it done before Deer Camp so I can go ... and so that Susan won't be here alone without real running water!!

I also ordered the 14" x 14" vent lid to replace the one in my hallway.  The one I have is so old and cracked that we can take a shower under it when it rains ... no thanks, I prefer my real shower - with real water from the well ... LOL

I'm having a "good" day, how about you?
(((Hugs))) to all

O M G ...

I'm not having a good September ...Well, the 1st and 2nd were wonderful after a week of camping!  Wednesday morning we had no water!  I was stupefied ... this happens to other people ... well I've just become other people ... hmmm, nice.

My friend Dale stopped after work and took a look at all the gadgets and gizmo's in the pump house.  There was power to the pump, but the pump wouldn't start.  I checked fuses, Dale checked fuses ... no pump.  Dale brought me a 15-20 gal container of water to use ... my neighbor has let me attach a hose to one of their spigots ... always love your neighbors!

Thursday morning I started to phone around to see if I could get some help from the community or the state ... I live on less than $1000 a month ... I must have made 25 phone calls and no one knew of any help anywhere for a burned out well pump ... funny, but 1/3 to 1/2 of Klamath County is on wells ... what do people do?  I can't be the only "poor" person whose pump has gone belly up ... ?

In my journey of phone calls, I found 211.org ... you can also just dial 211, and whatever your problem is they can lead you to someone who can help ... wonderful.  I just surprised me who it was - the USDA Rural Development Dept.  It was also the only place in the state of Oregon who could help.  They have very low interest loans, or in my super low income state, they have grants.  The lady I spoke with sent out the loan/grant package Thursday night so I am hoping it will be here tomorrow.  I think I have to get 2 estimates to return with other information, but that's ok, I'm already working on that.

In the mean time we are doing what we can to survive ... bathing is the hardest ... sponge baths only do so much, but we have other neighbors who have offered their showers to us ... we WILL take advantage of their generosity - LOL.  Laundry is OK for now, but eventually we will need to wash some things ... if we can get water by the end of the week we're OK, but after that ...

What is sucky about this is that I'm suppose to be getting ready to leave for Deer Camp on the 24th for 10 days.  Not sure I'll make it this year, but we'll see.  I hope the grant doesn't take forever to be processed - that will be the deciding factor as to whether I go or not ... Maybe I can scan and email it to start and then follow up with the filled out paperwork ... I'll ask, all they can say is 'no' and I'm no worse off ...

I'll keep everyone posted about the well situation ... thank God it isn't the middle of winter!!
Hugs to you all

A few unexpected things ... LOL

The night before last we had a thunderstorms.  Not that unusual for here in August ... BUT this one was something else.  My poor dog spent at least 3 hours in the kennel flipping out.  Poor SueAnn ... It started with some rumbles off in the distance on and off, by this time I was watching the dog and the tail was starting to curl under her body ... time for the kennel ...  The thunder got louder and more frequent, then the rain started - very hard and very fast!  I had to run around the house closing windows as there was a little bit of a breeze, but not really any wind.  About 5 minutes after that the HAIL started and kept going for about 40 minutes ... I was beginning to wonder what was going to be the first thing to break that would wreak havoc with my house, or camper or the chicken coop. 

The chickens had all run inside the coop and not one stuck her head out the door to see what was happening!  The coop has a wooden top, but above that there is metal that slopes from the wood shed down to the edge of the coop.  It had to sound like war in that coop - poor girls!

Last night about 10 - 10:30 Susan heard a horrible ruckus out by the chickens ... we charged out to see what was there ... all we could see at first was 3 of the girls running around flapping their wings, hanging in the chain link surround, but then I saw a small skunk come out of the coop ... OMG, skunks kill chickens!!!  I ran in and got the broom with the long handle ... opened the gate to the pen and tried shooing the damn thing out.  Nope, not working ... now remember during all this time I had one eye on the skunks tail ... as long as the skunk was looking at me, I wasn't that scared, but if the thing had turned and put tail towards me or Susan, we would have run like bats out of hell ... I think I'm painting a picture of a 3-ring circus ... I kept thinking of my rifle and just shooting the damn thing, but I'm half blind and it's pitch dark out there - I just didn't want to add a crazy woman and her rifle to the comedy act!  After opening the gate on the pen trying to scare the skunk out, three of my girls flew out squawking loudly over and over.  They disappeared into the brush & grasses - I was more intent on the skunk at that time ... we got 2 hens in, but the third was no where to be found.  I looked and looked using a small flashlite - no chicken. 

This morning when Susan got up to feed her cats she looked outside and there was our wayward girl pacing outside the pen wondering why she was out and the others were inside ... Susan let her in and we have a happy ending.

Dale stopped by this afternoon and I showed him where I thought the little bugger got in - nope, skunks don't climb ... it got in right where the hinges on the gate are, way down at the bottom ... hmmm, baby skunk, squeeze through a small opening ... OMG there is a Momma around and she probably has more than one baby ... I put a rock on the inside of the pen and some screening in the opening by the hinges.  Hopefully that will work.  I will leave the kitchen window mostly open tonight so I can hear if anything else goes on ... no more crazy women in their fancy sleep ware ... over sized sleep shirt on one and t-shirt bottoms and a camisole on the other, both of us in slippers ... 

I think I'll stop the story and let you all catch your breath from laughing ... (I'm still laughing!)
Many hugs to you all

Oh my goodness ...

it's been way too long since I posted. 

It has been HOT here and very uncomfortable.  Hot here is in the 90's, anywhere from 90 to 99 and over is HOT, HOT, HOT!

I've done absolutely nothing on the hugel garden - even in the early mornings it's too warm to start shoveling dirt.  I just look at it and wonder when I'm going to get to finish it ...

We, our group, went camping last weekend and had a blast!!  Ron and I went up on Wed morning, set up and relaxed in the shade ... it was hot.  Dale brought up the 5th wheel later on and Candy and the youngest grandchild, Ben, stayed.  Dale had to work on Thursday so he had to wait a day.  It was his birthday weekend, so we handed out presents.  It was still hot.

Fishing was terrible the whole weekend, so we only had one meal with fish and really nothing to bring home to freeze and enjoy during the winter ... LOL ... if they last that long!

Dale's parents came up on Saturday and spent the afternoon and evening with us.  Mom brought Ice Cream and Cake - we were styling it ... The one grand kid and the great grand kid talked Dad into doing some fishing.  He's in his 70's, not in the best health, but hasn't fished in at least 20 years.  He sat on the dock in a good chair and caught a 13" Catfish!  The biggest all weekend!  We b-b-q'd steaks with pasta salad and cake & ice cream.  We eat better when we are camping ... LOL.  Mom & Dad stayed until just before they closed the gate at the campground - 9 pm.  It was a wonderful day, full of fun and laughter.  Dale cleaned the cat and dropped it at his parents on Monday - a meal for the two of them.

I still haven't dumped the camper - it's too hot!  Everything else is out of it ...

We are trying to figure out when the next camping trip will be ... we only have one more due to money before Deer Camp.  That starts, I think, on Sept 28 and runs for 12 days.  Ron and I will go up the Tuesday before so we can get the sites we want ... two together.  It is getting earlier every year because people are discovering that the campground is open for hunting season.  I go up for maybe a week, but the guys stay for most of it.  If they get a deer early then the rest of the time is "party time".

Any way, back to the next trip - I'm not sure we want to go over Labor Day, but the 24th of Aug is out - a family thing ... LOL.  The weekend before is too close, and the weekend after is Labor Day ... so I think we will go Labor Day no matter what ... time will tell.

I will try to not go so long before the next post - I was doing well for a while, twice a week, but then the weather got HOT and I did nothing ... I sure hope these temperatures drop down to the low 80's soon - that's normal for us!

Hope you all stay cool and safe
(((Hugs)))

ps: I still haven't figured out the camera "error message" to get pictures up loaded ...

Another day ...

There is a slight breeze and the temperature is just hitting 80.  I went out about an hour ago to move some more dirt from the dirt pile to the hugel pile (garden) ... I'm about ready to go out again in a few minutes ... before the sun really hits the pile ... LOL.  I can shovel dirt for about 30 minutes and then I need a good rest. 

Susan and I planted potatoes a little over a month ago and the plants are about 6-8" tall now ... we haven't looked to see if there are any baby spuds yet, but I doubt it.  Maybe in a few weeks?

On the 17th we are going on Dale's birthday camp out, just back up to Topsy, but it is sooo nice up there.  Ron and I will leave about 10-11am to get our spots, but the rest of the gang, especially Dale, won't be there until Thursday late afternoon.  So looking forward to it.

All of a sudden there are clouds out there ... so I really should go shovel some more dirt.  If any of you get bored you can always come help ... LOL.

Had a nice 4th of July.  Spent it with friend and little itty bitty fireworks ... had Bratts, baked beans, macaroni salad and there was cake and ice cream for desert ... um ... no room!  I hope everyone had a great day and evening and stayed safe.

Hugs to all!

A little more got done ...

I got a bit more done on the Hugel garden this weekend.  Yesterday Dale stopped by with his chain saw and we cut up some more wood (I loaded some, but he did the work) ... woohoo!! ... the pieces are anywhere from 1 1/2  foot to 4 feet. It is just cut to be able to stack nicely and fit into spaces that are open.  We (he) then put some dirt on it, and today I brought 2 wheelbarrows full of chicken pen 'stuff' and covered it.  Two loads is about all my back will handle at one time ... I'm posting here and after resting up a bit will 'reload' the chicken coop with new straw.  Over time they manage to pretty much scratch it all out into the pen ... that's why I have such good 'stuff' ... LOL  I have onions that need to be planted, but have no where to put them just yet.  I need a good sized container ... maybe I'll go help myself at Dale's house ... if he has any left that he will turn loose of.

I've had one of those pounding headaches for at least 24 hrs.  It is slowly going away, but it sure does drain the energy.  Yesterday I was sooo woozy that I had trouble doing anything halfway well, but there are things that need to get done no matter what comes along ... and I do rest in between chores ...

Welllll ... I just took a 3 hour break from writing this post ... LOL   I dragged my trash can to the street; talked to Dale, when he came down with his, about the size of the garden ... we both think it has enough logs, so now it's more trips with chicken 'stuff' and then a heavy layer of dirt!!  We will have to bring in a tractor with a large front bucket so we can dig up more dirt from my south 40 ... LOL  Then I need to find a fence so all the deer can't get to the produce!  If I get this done quickly, I can put the onions in there ... hmmm ... tomorrow is another day!

I also had a huge salad for dinner and now I'm ready to crawl into my warm fuzzies and watch some TV in bed ... and knit.
(((Hugs)))

Busy as a bee ...

I've been busy (for me) and have gotten a bunch of things done - that's a nice feeling!  Of course some of the things I did could have been done a year ago ... LOL.

Last week was my daughter's 45th birthday ... phew, that makes me feel old!!  Nine days before that was my birthday, I'm now 6xxxx years old.  Nope, not telling!!

On Friday, the 14th (+15th) , the Klamath County 2013 Stand Down took place at the Fairgrounds.  The DAV had 2 days of military surplus give away to the local Veterans.  I went with a friend, Ron, and he picked up some things he needed.  He was really looking for boots, but anything from 8-10 was gone before we got to the table ... bummer.  There were tables and tables of goods, from socks in large and small - no medium ... LOL.  Shirts, jackets, backpacks, wool blankets, sleeping bags, etc.  In another section there were tables of information for services that the Veterans could apply for and get them either for free or for a reduced price. 

Ron and I were sooo tired from the waiting, sitting, standing and walking around that when we finally got to his car, we dropped into the seats like stones!  It was definitely to bed early for me and I think Ron did the same thing ... we were up at 6 am, so I'm sure he dropped out early too.

Saturday I was absolutely worthless ... I hurt in places that I forgot I even had!!  But on Sunday I got some stuff done here at the house.  I stretched out the hoses to the various places they go and looked around for some connectors - no luck.  I dumped (finally) the camper tanks - it doesn't take long, but I just hate doing it ... ugghhh!  I put it back in it's resting place until the next trip - I'm ready to go any time again.

I had over a dozen canning jars that sat out over winter and all but 6 cracked and broke.  I got my butt together and picked up all the broken ones so I could (finally) get them in the trash for pickup.  These are the ones that have sat for over a year ...

I asked Dale to bring my mower back when he brought down his trashcan ... I mowed the side yard today and have had the sprinkler going for about 4 hours, moving it from place to place.  The poor grass won't know what to do with WATER ... this is the first water, except a bit of rain, that has been put on the grass.  Oops - bad me!

I'm going to town tomorrow to pick up some things from the market.  I hate going to town; I always end up spending at least $100!  It's just inevitable. 

I'm going to go back to the couch and watch the evening news ... and maybe knit while I do.
(((Hugs)))

Now that I'm older ...

I celebrated my birthday by going camping - it's an annual event.  Both the birthday, LOL, and the camping trip.  Our little group have certain events that always included a camping trip, and we love it.  We can't afford a nice dinner out for all our birthdays, but we can afford camping!  The sad part is that only 2 out of 5 have summer birthdays the rest are one in January, one February and the last one in November and those are not good for camping.

In order to get the two campsites we really like, two of us left on Wednesday am, but still didn't get our sites ... The campground is a small one and there are only 13 available sites.  People are learning about our favorite place and it's getting tough to get our spots.  We at least need 2 sites together as we camp as one big happy family.

I've had lots of birthday wishes on my FB page and I appreciate all the people that posted.  I love my friends & family.

After getting home from camping the next day's activity always includes a trip to the market.  As usual there is a prescription to fill, and also to replace some of the things taken to camp.  We also found a potato pot for $5 and proceeded to plant them this morning.  We also stopped at the local nursery and bought some tomato plants and a little pot with 2 Cantaloupe plants in it.  Our planting season here in Southern Oregon is short, but we make do.  The Hugel garden is still only half way done, so it won't be useful until the end of the season, so next year will be it for that garden!!

The temp outside in the carport is 78 right now at 1 pm.  The temps are going to keep climbing until this weekend where it is suppose to reach the very upper 80's and lower 90's.  This is about 10-15 degrees above normal for us ... it has definitely hit Summer Mode.  I need my mower back from Dale so I can cut the 12" high weeds before I disappear in it when walking across the yard ... LOL

I got my Camper Renewal in the mail yesterday ... Ugghh! $114.75 ... it is for two years, but still, it's hard to come up with all at once when on a fixed income ... no more whining ... !

I'll leave you now with all the wisdom of my 66 years ... LOL
(((Hugs)))