Front Porch Chit Chat

[Amish Heart]

We used to drive thru Dalhart, TX alot. Are you anywhere around there, billyjack?

 

[DrPrepper]

@DrPrepper Where you been??? How ya doing??

Hi, DoubleR, I'm okay- Was in the hospital for a while, then had my hubby in the hospital. Thanks for asking!

 

[Patchouli]

@billyjack My husband "had" to live there for a few months. It was like the land before time. LOL Dinosaurs. Glad you found a place to eat. Housing was overpriced. Unemployment, drug use, crime, growth of the city itself was poor. Out in the surrounding countryside it was pretty neat looking and not too badly priced for a little land and a house. You can look up stats on Brownwood, but I would not live there.

 

[Double R]

Hi, DoubleR, I'm okay- Was in the hospital for a while, then had my hubby in the hospital. Thanks for asking!

We’re sending so many warm hugs and prayers to you and your hubby. You’ve been missed

 

[billyjack]

We used to drive thru Dalhart, TX alot. Are you anywhere around there, billyjack?

It's not real far, but I've only been there a few times. The last time was about five or six years ago.

I don't really get very far from home. In the last 20 years, not more than 200 miles on two occasions. I do make it to Amarillo once or twice a year and to Dumas on occasion. The last time I went to Dumas was for the annual dig-tess meeting.

If you aren't familiar with the dig-tess meetings they are about the rules requiring you to call 811 before digging and they can be well worth attending. I try to go every year. They serve a good meal (the caterers are out of Baton Rouge, La for the ones around here), have a presentation on excavating around pipelines, and then some of the local pipeline companies give out free gifts. They also have door prizes -- a friend of mine won a 18 volt (I think) Makita cordless electric drill this year.

They are nearly over this year's meetings, though. They appear to have them coming up real soon in Nocoma, Graham, Weatherford, Ft Worth, Cleburne, Stephenville, Decatur, and Wichita Falls and then that's it for this year. If you live near one of these, it's probably worth the couple of hours. See Paradigm for more information.

There have been years when I didn't even make it more than 50 miles from home.

 

[billyjack]

Out in the surrounding countryside it was pretty neat looking and not too badly priced for a little land and a house.

The one time I was there, my younger brother was with me and wanted to stop and visit an old girlfriend of his who had moved to Blanket. We only went into Brownwood to eat supper.

 

[Pearl]

As usual, gotta go to bed, early work day tomorrow! Good night my dear ones!!

 

[Amish Heart]

Off to bed, too. Ate too much fry pie. Everyone get a good night's sleep

 

[Double R]

Sweet dreams @Amish Heart

 

[Double R]

Evening everyone

 

[Patchouli]

Good evening, @Double R How are the tractors?

 

[Bacpacker]

Hey ladies. Hope yall are doin good

 

[Double R]

Good evening, @Double R How are the tractors?

Good evening! Tired and dirty like their driver. Made good progress. Not sure about work tomorrow though. In true fashion I start mowing the mostly dead grass and now a storm is supposed to hit tomorrow. I’ll be amazed if we get any but we may because I’m mowing

 

[Double R]

Hey ladies. Hope yall are doin good

Howdy! How are you?

 

[Bacpacker]

Howdy! How are you?

Doin good. Spent some time with mom, dad, sis and her family. Back home chilling out now

 

[Patchouli]

thinkin' about checkin' on the smoke. I bet you're glad to get that part done, @Double R See any critters?

 

[Double R]

Doin good. Spent some time with mom, dad, sis and her family. Back home chilling out now

That sounds nice

 

[Double R]

thinkin' about checkin' on the smoke. I bet you're glad to get that part done, @Double R See any critters?

Fires still going? Are you safe?
I still got a ways to go. Maybe another week or so. Critters? I always see critters. Lol Did see a bald eagle the last two days. So neat

 

[Bacpacker]

DR, how much land are you mowing? Is this being cut for hay, or just to clear land to reduce fire chances? What type mower do you use?

 

[Patchouli]

@Double R the fire closest to me is listed as contained. The fires to the southwest of me, as far as I can tell from fire maps, are still burning. They are, as far as I can tell, more than an hour drive time away. But it has been very windy today and I see a smoky horizon out the window. One of my kids texted a bit ago and said it was VERY SMOKY OUT. She has a good view. Yes, I'm safe. I get to hear and see a lot of birds and always see squirrels but not much else. Love bald eagles

 

[Double R]

DR, how much land are you mowing? Is this being cut for hay, or just to clear land to reduce fire chances? What type mower do you use?

I would say approximately 50-60 acres at this facility. Another 5 acres at another facility.
Unfortunately just mowing. No haying it. Fire is the reason. There’s no longer grass eaters on it so it gets mowed. California likes to keep the state burning down every year so we take steps to protect the facilities and animals. I do it for my in-laws because they can’t anymore. Most of my mowing is done with a flail. Need a new one but the prices have become beyond ridiculous for them. Would like one for our big tractor too. We use an old rotary on the big tractor for now.

 

[Double R]

@Patchouli I’m very glad you are safe. Praying it stays that ways and your kids stay safe.
There are so many different animals around here. Plus where we work has lots of different animals. Red tail hawks, big vultures and the bald eagle were the cool birds of the day today. Saw a few coyotes on the way in. They are thick again.
Tons of cottontail rabbits. Lots of little babies running around.

 

[Bacpacker]

Good to hear you and the family are safe Patch.

Rotary mower (Bush hog is what I use). Never tried a flail before. Hopefully the terrain is pretty good and you can get thru it with no problems

 

[Patchouli]

@Double R one of my main concerns is a son who likes to help, wants to help. If he is riding along and sees an issue he will either stop to help or signal to other drivers they need to pull over. He is usually packing. I would not want him to get caught in a fire. Personally, I think he looks like an angel that could kill somebody so I'm not worried about a person hurting him.

 

[Double R]

Good to hear you and the family are safe Patch.

Rotary mower (Bush hog is what I use). Never tried a flail before. Hopefully the terrain is pretty good and you can get thru it with no problems

This little tractor was originally my father in laws. It’s way to small for what it’s being asked to do. The flail he bought is not very well built and too big for the tractor. I refuse to take our big tractor to mow for these jobs. Its what i call extreme mowing. LOTS of rocks of all sizes and hills. I’m surprised after all these years the tractor hasn’t been rolled. I definitely have a lot of heart stops. I have to mow when the grass is wet only. The rocks spark something fierce.

 

[Double R]

@Double R one of my main concerns is a son who likes to help, wants to help. If he is riding along and sees an issue he will either stop to help or signal to other drivers they need to pull over. He is usually packing. I would not want him to get caught in a fire. Personally, I think he looks like an angel that could kill somebody so I'm not worried about a person hurting him.

I understand that. I am horrible about getting involved. I tend not to these days due to safety being such an issue anymore. That and sue happy Californians.

 

[Bacpacker]

This little tractor was originally my father in laws. It’s way to small for what it’s being asked to do. The flail he bought is not very well built and too big for the tractor. I refuse to take our big tractor to mow for these jobs. Its what i call extreme mowing. LOTS of rocks of all sizes and hills. I’m surprised after all these years the tractor hasn’t been rolled. I definitely have a lot of heart stops. I have to mow when the grass is wet only. The rocks spark something fierce.

Sounds rough. You already know this, but be super careful doing that work. Rolls overs are serious stuff

 

[Double R]

Sounds rough. You already know this, but be super careful doing that work. Rolls overs are serious stuff

It’s pretty rough for sure. Far more exhausting than “regular” mowing. Go through at least 2 sets of blades just at the one facility every season. The rocks are awful. I took over the mowing 6ish years ago and have slowly collected every big rock I hit. It’s far better than it was but can’t pick up the gravel size rocks.
I have not yet rolled a tractor and pray I don’t. I don’t mow straight lines because of it. My “ocd“ goes nuts not having straight nice lines but it’s safest not too. Always glad when it’s done for the year and really glad I only have to do it once a year most years.

 

[Double R]

And I’m glad this hopefully is my last year Bring on Missouri!

 

[Bacpacker]

Stay Safe DR

And with that I'm outta here. Goodnight all